Improving the quality of life through health and nutrition involve following a diet pattern and adequate levels of nutrition to prevent diseases and maintain physical fitness. Issues of malnutrition would be related to deficiencies of vitamins or nutrients and intake of supplements form an important part of disease prevention strategy and helps in improving energy levels (Papers4you.com, 2006). The use of supplements in disease conditions such as high cholesterol levels has been studied to understand the positive and negative impact of dietary supplements on the health of individuals. For instance, vitamin A deficiency can be a major public health concern and many countries implement strategies to prevent such deficiency cases (Whiting et al, 2006). Vitamin C or ascorbic acid can be detrimental when deficient or in excess and recommended doses of Vitamin C have been given by various countries. Public health authorities across the world encourage individuals to change their health status by adopting new behaviors such as giving up smoking or changing dietary patterns. Apart from vitamins and minerals, fatty acids play an important role in modulation and prevention of diseases. However, maintaining a strict dietary pattern and fitness regimen could be explained with the help of social control and cultural values. Fitness levels are determined with measures on speed, strength and flexibility of athletes or even ordinary individuals and energy costs are directly related to nutrition, diet, exercise and physiology (Papers4you.com, 2006). In this context the relevance of the gym culture may be studied as the gym going motivation may be similar to the motivation to follow a strict diet pattern and this in turn have an impact on general health and fitness levels (Bull, et al 2006). This is because any kind of rigorous physical exercise brings about thermo regulation that facilitates heat loss and regulates internal body temperature. One of the important issues in nutrition and health studies would be prevalence of diseases and diet patterns and lifestyle have a direct impact on the health status of individuals. Smoking for instance has been related to lung cancer and heart disease by analyzing data on mortality rates, smoking habits, lung cancer and coronary heart disease and the health benefits of quitting smoking have also been established in several studies (Saijo, 2006). An important topic of nutrition studies is life expectancy and health and disease in the elderly. The problem of malnutrition is increased during old age as the elderly may have inadequate diet and poor mobility that prevent them from following a recommended diet pattern. In certain cases, poor nutrition can lead to chronic conditions and poor physical mobility and the elderly would thus need specific interventions and effective treatment patterns. General studies on gender variations in life expectancy and illnesses have shown that women tend to live longer than men but also tend to report illnesses more than men (WHO, 2000).

Bibliography

Bull, Sheana; Eakin, Elizabeth; Reeves, Marina; Kimberly, Riley (2006), Multi-level support for physical activity and healthy eating, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Volume 54, Number 5, pp. 585-593(9)

Papers For You (2006) "C/N/14. How does the disciplinary regime of dieting (and/ or exercising) work to produce 'docile bodies'? ", http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtothers10.htm

Papers For You (2006) "S/PS/24. An attempt to change health behaviour by eating five portions of fruit and vegetables daily: A critical evaluation", Papers4you.com

Saijo, Nagahiro (2006) Recent trends in the treatment of advanced lung cancer Cancer Science, Volume 97, Number 6, pp. 448-452(5)

Whiting, Susan J.; Barabash, Wade A. (2006) Dietary Reference Intakes for the micronutrients: considerations for physical activity Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, Volume 31, Number 1, 1 February, pp. 80-85(6)

WHO factsheet - Women, Ageing and Health (2000) http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs252/en/

About the Author

Copyright © 2006 Verena Veneeva. Professional Writer working for http://www.coursework4you.co.uk

Shape, Feb, 2006 by Tajinder Rehal
Suzanne's challenge
Suzanne Munro weighed 200 pounds when she became a flight attendant. "Between the long hours and constant traveling, I never exercised and always ate out," she recalls. Five years later, Suzanne wore a size 26 and weighed 275 pounds.
Her turning point
When Suzanne started experiencing constant back and foot pain, she saw her doctor for advice. "She confirmed that my weight was to blame," she recalls. "I desperately needed to lose weight."
Her weight-loss & exercise plan
After discussing her food habits, Suzanne's doctor suggested that she start eating breakfast (a meal she always skipped) followed by a healthy meal or snack (such as oatmeal and fruit or a slice of whole-wheat toast with a teaspoon of peanut butter) every 3-4 hours. She advised Suzanne to keep a food journal to help her stay accountable for every morsel, and to start an exercise program, such as walking.
Making success happen
As she drove home from the doctor's office that afternoon, Suzanne felt determined to succeed. "I was tired of carrying around this extra weight and always being in pain," she says.
With her doctor's advice in mind, Suzanne started reading food labels and saw that there were lowfat and low-calorie versions of almost every kind of food. "I didn't have to deprive myself of anything," she says.
Suzanne started to exercise that evening by going for a mile walk around her apartment complex. "It felt good to get moving and finally do something about my weight," she says. Suzanne began substituting walks with friends instead of food-related activities and kept walking 3-4 evenings a week. She also bought an elliptical trainer to add variety to her workouts. "I set it up in my living room so I could exercise late at night while watching my favorite TV shows," Suzanne says.
Determined to keep losing weight, Suzanne carried healthful portable foods to work, such as fruit and lowfat yogurt, and turkey sandwiches made with whole-grain bread. She also began to order selections marked "healthy" on restaurant menus.
A year and a half later, Suzanne reached her goal weight of 150 pounds. She now wears a size 8. "When family and friends ask me how I've lost 125 pounds, I tell them I did it the old-fashioned way--by never using the four-letter word diet and instead changing my habits," she says.
RELATED ARTICLE: Suzanne Munro
California
Age 35

The 2 types of diabetes are type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control glucose levels. Type II diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels or the cells not responding to insulin. When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as insulin resistance. When a subject is diagnosed with type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are prescribed as measures to help with insulin resistance. If this does not control glucose levels, then medication is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes include: inactivity, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Inactivity alone is a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to diabetes type II. Exercise will have a positive effect on diabetes type II while improving insulin sensitivity while type I cannot be controlled be an exercise program. Over 90f individuals with diabetes have type II.Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. Therefore it is important to understand the differences in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important for an individual who has diabetes to check with a physician before beginning an exercise program. When training with a diabetic, it is important to understand the dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to exercise. An individual with type I diabetes injecting their normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a matter of minutes.Before engaging in exercise, it is important for blood sugar levels to be tested to make sure that they are not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, during, after and three to five hours after exercise. During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it is important for diabetics to consume ample carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia.Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous activity.As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates should also be present during training to assist in raising blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low.
About the AuthorThis article provided courtesy of http://www.cholesterol-answers.com/ Source: ArticleTrader.com

by Jim O'Connor

More and more people are turning to weightlifting to preserve youth, maintain strength, and even reduce body fat. Numerous studies point out the wonderful benefits of weightlifting. However, what is the right way to do it?

Bodybuilders, and even casual fitness enthusiasts, should understand a simple weightlifting program blueprint prior to training. By following this proven blueprint, increasing muscle mass has never been easier.

Designing an effective weightlifting program is as simple as following the proven steps listed below. Follow these steps, and you will be on your way towards greater muscle, greater bone strength, and even less body fat.

Step 1 - Determine Your Goals - Sit down with a pen and paper, and outline your weightlifting goals. Be specific! What exactly do you want to accomplish, and by when? Write them down, visualize them, and repeat them daily.

A goal isn't a goal until it has been written down. This is the first crucial step in designing your weightlifting program.

Step 2 - Evaluate Your Medical History - When designing your weightlifting program, determine which exercises may hinder your medically challenged areas. Consider modifying certain exercises that could possibly cause problems.

I recommend getting a medical physical prior to engaging in an exercise program. Sometimes your doctor can locate a medical limitation you didn't even know you had. You should also discuss your exercise program with your physician asking if there are any medical limitations.

Step 3 - Program Design - Next, you will, once again, want to sit down at a computer, or have a paper and pen ready to begin outlining your specific program. What follows are some weightlifting program design tips you should consider.

Determine how many sets, exercises, and reps per body part you intend to perform. You should not be doing more than two sets of weights for each exercise. Use one as a warm up, and the other as an all-out "work set." You should only be doing one to three different exercises per body part. Please remember, weightlifting is anaerobic, not aerobic. The intensity should be high, depending upon your goals, while the volume, or sets should be low.

According to your goals, you can either train for strength by doing very heavy weight and low reps, or for endurance, lower weights, more reps. For bodybuilders, I recommend 8-12 reps per set.

Make sure you have incorporated enough rest days between workouts. You should have this all outlined prior to lifting your first weight. Depending on your goals, once again, you should only be weightlifting one to two days per week, maximum. The higher your intensity, the more rest you will need.

Another tip I would like you to consider is the speed of reps. Make sure you are letting the muscle do the work, and not the external force - momentum. I always recommend using a two second positive, and a four second negative cadence.

As far as breaking up your body-parts up, I recommend a split routine. In a weightlifting workout split routine, you can really maximize your muscle producing days. An example would be one workout doing chest, and back, while the next workout exercises legs.

Consider what time of the day; and where you going to workout. Have this all planned out prior to your first repetition. Are you working out at home with dumbbells, or are you joining a gym?

If you are planning on exercising the entire body in one workout, make sure you start with the largest muscle groups first, and work your way to the smallest. An example would be glutes, quads, back, chest, shoulders, then arms.

Step 4 - Schedule Training Sessions On Your Calendar - Once you have completed your plan, schedule your training sessions on your calendar.

Step 5 - Stay Consistent - Consistency in training is crucial. Stick to your scheduled training appointments you placed on your calendar.

Step 6 - Monitor Progress - That what is not measured can't improve! Record your progress and results. This is a great motivator as well as a secret results-producing tool. Reps, weight, and days between workouts should be tracked at all times.

Step 7 - Evaluate The Data - Evaluate the tracked data. If you are not getting the results you had hoped for, modify the weightlifting routine, and continue to track progress. Evaluate each workout.

By following the seven basic steps above, you can quickly design a weightlifting routine that delivers results.

*** Attention: Ezine Editors / Website Owners *** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine, Blog, Autoresponder, or on your website as long as the links, and resource box are not altered in any way.

Jim O'Connor - Exercise Physiologist / The Fitness Promoter

Copyright (c) - Wellness Word, LLC 9461 Charleville Blvd. #312 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 1-866-935-5967

Jim O'Connor, a Beverly Hills fitness expert and bodybuilder, is the author and publisher of Wellness Word Multimedia Newsletter. He is also the promoter of Bodybuilding Hub.com. To discover more weightlifting program tips, visit the Bodybuilding Hub.

About the Author

Jim O'Connor, A Beverly Hills celebrity fitness consultant, has conducted thousands of personal fitness consultations with celebrities, business executives, and highly motivated individuals throughout Los Angeles. He is the Chief Exercise Physiologist for Wellness WORD, LLC, a health, fitness, and nutrition promotion company.

http://www.bestexerciseguide.com

I receive many questions about the junior golfer and golf fitness programs. The questions are on a number of different topics, but they generally fall into three or four different categories. Typically the questions are; at what should a junior golfer begin utilizing golf fitness exercises, how often should a junior golfer implement golf fitness exercises, and finally what are the best golf fitness exercises for the junior golfer? Typically this last question is the most commonly asked question. This article is intended to provide some answers to the question; what are the best golf fitness exercises for the junior golfer?

First and foremost golf fitness exercises can be of great benefit to the junior golfer provided a few principles are adhered to in the development of such a golf fitness program. We are obviously aware certain exercises are beneficial to the golfer and others are not. Keep in mind regardless if you are a junior, professional, or senior the exercises within your golf fitness program should center upon developing the body around the golf swing.

This single principle indicates certain exercises are of greater benefit to the golfer than others. Generally speaking, the exercises should focus on developing your body to the positions, movements, and physical requirements of the golf swing. This equates to exercises developing the required flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power required of the golf swing. For example, we are fully aware the golf swing requires you to make a full shoulder turn. A portion of the ability to make a full shoulder turn is contingent upon the golfer's flexibility (regardless of if you are a junior golfer or not). If you are lacking flexibility the ability to make a full shoulder turn, the golf swing will be compromised, and compensations may set into your golf swing. That being said, a portion of your golf fitness exercises, specifically your golf flexibility exercises will focus on developing a full and effortless shoulder turn.

The junior golfer is really no different than golfers of a different age when it comes to the basic principles of a golf fitness program. The goal of the golf fitness program is the same, and the physical components of the body to be developed are the same. The goal of the golf fitness program is to develop your body around the golf swing in order to create a more powerful, consistent, and accurate golf swing.

The difference for the junior golfer comes down to what are the best exercises within each of these categories. Typically the junior golfer is not as physically developed as an adult thus changing the exercise prescriptions that are best for them. Meaning, the categories to develop within the body for the golf swing are the same as the adult golfer, but modifications in certain exercises are required to counteract the physical development of the junior golfer.

Typically flexibility exercises for the junior golfer can be the exact same as for any other age golfer. Generally speaking, flexibility training is often much easier for the junior golfer to perform because muscles and connective tissues tend to be more flexible when we are young.

Progressing to balance exercises. Often the junior golfer is not as kinesthetically developed as an adult. Their bodies, control of the limbs, and knowing where the body is in space tends to be less developed at younger ages. For this reason we must modify some of the balance exercises to a lower level of difficulty. For example, a junior golfer may have difficulty performing an advanced airplane rotation found in my golf fitness book. As a result a modification may be required in the exercise. The adjustment could consist of keeping the junior golfer using the basic airplane rotation and adding more repetitions to increase the difficulty.

Another adjustment is usually required for the endurance, strength, and power exercises for the junior golfer. Golf fitness exercises found within these categories of training are geared towards increasing muscular strength, endurance, and power. In order to improve these components of the muscles in anyone (junior golfer included) we must overload the body with a higher workload than it is accustomed too. For example, if you were a bodybuilder and wanted get bigger biceps. You may choose to perform bicep dumbbells curls with a 50 lb. dumbbell. In the beginning this exercise may be very difficult to perform. The reason is the 50 lb. dumbbell is overloading your bicep. Over time the bicep gets stronger and the 50 lb. dumbbell gets easier to lift. This is an example of how to overload the muscles of your body to get stronger.

Many of these exercises to develop increased strength, endurance, and power can require the use of external resistance: In the form of dumbbells, elastic tubing, medicine balls, etc. The mistake with junior golfers is externally loading these exercises too much. For example, using to heavy of dumbbells for a certain exercises. The result is a compromise in form and loss of benefit from the exercise. For this reason, I have found it best for the junior golfer to use their body weight as resistance first. Then slowly progress to adding external resistance in the form of tubing, medicine balls, etc...

This format allows the junior golfer to progress in the development of their bodies for the golf swing properly. It allows them to focus on exercise technique and execution rather than the amount of weight lifted.

To recap, modifications for the junior golfer in terms of their program is required. It is a simple process if they are not overloaded with resistance or difficulty of exercise. The goal for the junior golfer is the same as any other golfer; develop the body around the golf swing. The physical components to be developed by a golf fitness program are again the same; flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power. The difference for the junior golfer lies within the implementation of the exercises within these categories in the golf fitness program.

Sean Cochran

About the Author

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

http://www.bestexerciseguide.com