Good Article For Those Trying To Build Muscle

Post-exercise refuelling: all at once, or spread out?

http://sweatscience.com/post-exercise-refuelling-all-at-once-or-spread-out/

Metabolism Enemy #5 – Candida Albicans Overgrowth

The topic of the candida albicans yeast is something so important to know about because it has been discovered that this yeast lowers the metabolism of the body. Candida albicans is one of the many organisms that live inside the human body. Different organisms exist most especially in the intestinal area, called the "gut flora". Within these organisms there are different classes of bacteria, various types of yeast, viruses and certain types of parasites. We don’t necessarily like to think of these types of things, but the truth is that various types of organisms like these survive inside of our body.

All humans are born with the candida yeast as a part of their intestinal and vaginal flora. It is a natural organism in all human and because it is normal to a certain amount traditional medicine hasn't placed much importance on the subject. However, since the 1980s various prominent allergists and specialists in infectious organisms have given the voice of alert about the growing infections of the candida yeast. Dr. William G. Crook, an allergist with his book, "Yeast Connection Handbook", is possibly the main exponent of what some have called "the silent epidemic of the candida albicans yeast”.

When this yeast has overgrown in the body, it causes what is called a "systemic infection". It is at this point that the candida yeast is transported through the blood and it invades other organs in the body creating serious health and metabolism problems. People with systemic infections from this yeast always have a "slow metabolism" and cannot lose weight under any diet or exercise plan. If they do lose weight, they do at such a slow rate that they generally get discouraged.

A researcher of this subject found that the candida albicans yeast produces 78 different toxins inside the body and this created a toxic and acidic environment inside the body, which basically turns off the metabolism. Having a very developed candida colony or an "overgrowth" of this yeast in the body is one of the main reasons why some people have a "slow metabolism". As long as they have this yeast infection in their body, no effort they make will work for them. The body of a person who has an "overgrowth" of the candida yeast is full of toxins produced by yeast.

It seems as if nothing produces an increase of the metabolism and allows more noticeable weight loss like doing a program of a candida yeast body cleansing. There are laboratory tests to detect if your candida albicans yeast infection is severe, but the test that measures that various toxin levels that produce this yeast in the blood cost more than $300 and really are not available in the majority of laboratories. The best way to find out if the body is infected by this yeast is to us a list of "indicators" that was developed by Dr. William Cook for his patients. Perhaps the clearest signs that you have severe infection of the candida albicans in your body are itching on your skin (mainly at night or after showering); you often have stomach or intestinal gases after eating, having sinusitis or suffering from migraines.

The complete list of the symptoms of candida albicans is the following:

Acne

· Allergies in humid environments

· Allergies to some foods

· Allergies to certain metal jewelry

· Continuously tired

· Urinary tract infections (cystitis)

· Constant or frequent Diarrhea

· Pain or vaginal burning while having sex

· Headaches or migraines

· Severe menstrual pain - PMS

· Muscular pain

· Constipation

· Fatigue or weakness

· Vaginal itching or discharge

· Coldness in extremities

· Excessive stomach or intestinal gas

· Ear infections

· Irregularity or troubles with menstruation

· Irritability or depression

· Itchy skin

· Digestive gas problems

· Excessive dryness of the skin

· A "taste of metal" in the mouth

· Rash or spots on the skin after sunbathing

· Sensitivity to solar light, teary eyes

· Sensitivity to odors from cigarettes, perfumes or chemicals

· Sinusitis

The more of these symptoms you have in your body the more severe the infection of the candida yeast. This list of symptoms is lengthy and a person can begin to justify symptoms based on other sicknesses or hereditary factors that their body has. The reality is that when a person does a candida yeast body cleansing, the majority if not all of these symptoms will disappear completely. After a natural candida yeast cleansing program people are finally able to lose weight much faster and the cleanse also eliminates a majority of the symptoms that this yeast causes.

Reducing a severe infection of this yeast is not an easy task. When we attack the yeast with natural fungicides, like oregano, the reaction can be really unpleasant (headaches, diarrhea, muscular pain, etc.). We have had to learn to increase the dose of natural fungicides "little by little". On the other hand to be successful, you can’t use common oregano oil like what they sell in natural food stores. The regular oregano oil reduces the infection of candida albicans only in the intestines and this is not good enough, given that the candida infection is generally spread throughout the entire body.

Throughout the years and hundreds of test and trials, people succeeded in finding a natural oregano oil supplement that is emulsified. An emulsion is a mixture of two generally unblendable substances like water and oil. The active yeast killing ingredient in oregano is an oily substance called carvacol. Oils don't mix well with water and our blood is primarily composed of water. This oregano oil supplement had the advantage of being emulsified and thus mixes well and travels well in the blood and kills the yeast in all of the parts of the body where it could be invading it.

The candida albicans yeast colony in the body can never be eliminated 100% since the yeast is a natural inhabitant of the body. The strategy that is used is to reduce the yeast colony to the point in which it stops being a problem to your metabolism. If a yeast infection is reduced in size, say from 100% to 20%, we will have had a success and the person will be rewarded for their efforts by losing weight. They will also experience an obvious improvement in their general state of health.

In order to resolve the problems the candida yeast causes for the metabolism and health, it is vital to educate the infected person about the characteristics of candida albicans. Part of the strategy is to educate the person so that they don't unknowingly contribute to creating a suitable environment for the growth of this yeast and so that they don't in a short time go back to having a new overgrowth that lowers their metabolism. The education includes making the person understand which factors are the ones that promote the growth of this yeast inside their body.

The factors that contribute to overgrowth of the candida yeast are:

Excess of fined refined carbohydrates:

Refined carbohydrates (sugar, candy, bread, rice, etc.) produce an excess of glucose in the blood and this excess of glucose feeds the appetite of the candida yeast and makes it grow excessively. It’s like putting fertilizer on a weed. When someone maintains high levels of glucose in their body due to their diet high in refined carbohydrates or sweet carbohydrates, the yeast feeds off of it, which makes it grow and reproduce at an accelerated rate. Someone who is accustomed to eating a lot of sweet foods will see their metabolism owed year after year until it turns into a "slow metabolism".

Taking antibiotics:

Antibiotics get rid of the bacteria that cause infections in the body, but they also get rid of the "good bacteria" that live in the intestines and vaginal area that are natural enemies of the candida albicans yeast. When the intestinal and vaginal flora die due to the dose of antibiotics, the yeast is left without competition and opposition and it invades the rest of the body quickly. When someone finds themselves obligated to take antibiotics, they should make sure to also take a supplement to replace the intestinal bacteria with "friendly bacteria". The "friendly bacteria" have names like acidophilus, bulgaricus, and bifidus. In all natural food stores they offer supplements that contain these types of beneficial bacteria which replace the lost "friendly bacteria" that an antibiotic medicine killed and that way your body isn't missing intestinal and vaginal friendly bacteria that protect you from the candida yeast.

Taking Estrogen:

Contraceptive pills, estrogen patches and medications for menopause speed up the growth of this and cause an overgrowth. Many women lose their figures after using contraceptive pills or contraceptive patches for just a few months. Estrogen, of course, is a hormone that accumulates fat and makes you fat, but also has the effects of being a growth factor for the candida albicans yeast. In other words it allows this yeast to grow quicker.

Taking Cortisone:

This medication, cortisone, which is used to lower inflammation in the body, also lowers the immune system and causes the candida albicans yeast to grow increasingly faster, which then lowers the metabolism. For example, people who suffer from asthma use an inhaler with a medication derived from cortisone. In addition many of these people not only suffer from asthma, but they also start to have weight and obesity problems.

Drinking alcoholic beverages:

When someone had a systemic infection of the candida yeast they should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages since this yeast lives on alcohol much easier than sugar.

Thyroid gland problems:

The thyroid gland and its related systems control the body’s metabolism, temperature and immune system. It is a fact that people with hypothyroidism suffer from frequent colds and infections because their immune system is low. People that have deficient thyroid gland systems tend to have strong infections of this candida yeast. This happens because their immunological systems are not protecting them from the yeast with the normal efficiency of an agile immune system.

It is Vital to know the factors that make the candida albicans yeast grow inside your body. If someone intends on lowering their level of infection of the candida yeast but doesn't take into consideration these factors that contribute to create a favorable environment for the yeast, then not much time will pass before their metabolism is lowered by a new increase of the infection with this yeast. The idea is to reduce the infection in order to recover the metabolism and change your lifestyle to see that this yeast doesn’t come back with equal or greater force.

Diabetics, as a result of their diabetic condition, are extremely infected with the candida albicans yeast. Diabetes, by definition is a condition in which glucose levels are abnormally high. It could be said that the body of a diabetic is like a paradise for yeast like candida albicans because of its constant high abundance of glucose.

-Frank Suarez, author of "The Power of Your Metabolism"

Metabolism Enemy #4 - Female Hormones

Women’s bodies are more complex than men’s due to their hormonal system. It is a well-known fact that men lose weight more easily, while women experience much more difficulty in losing weight. This is due to the following reasons:

1.) Men have more muscle and therefore use more energy and "burn" fat easier

2.) Men produce the male hormone testosterone, which is a muscle constructing and fat burning hormone.

3.) Women produce the hormone estrogen, which is a hormone that accumulates fat in the body.

4.) Women tend to have higher emotional stress levels than men and therefore produce higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is a hormone that accumulates fat in the abdomen and hips.

It is due to these factors that women always lose weight slower than men. One of the reasons, the excess of the hormone estrogen has to do with a condition that many women, especially over weight ones, suffer from. The condition is called "estrogen predominance". This hormone, estrogen, in reality is a group of various substances that are vital to a women's body.

Without estrogen, pregnancy couldn't exist, nor would they have menstruation, breasts or soft skin. Estrogen is a hormone that a woman’s body balances with another hormone that is produced during ovulation called progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone that reflects its name very well because it allows "gestation" or becoming pregnant.

Women’s bodies depend on a certain hormonal balance between these two hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Just about everyone knows that estrogen is produced in the ovaries of women. But few know that the body’s fat also produces estrogen with the help of an enzyme called aromatase. Fat produces estrogen and that’s why obese men develop breasts and start to have more feminine characteristics, even to the point where their tone of voice changes in pitch.

In his book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause", Dr. John Lee explains the problem of the "estrogen predomination" in women. It is a condition where the body of an overweight woman keeps producing estrogen from her fat even if her ovaries don't work anymore. When the estrogen isn't being balanced in the body by the progesterone hormone, which is only produced during ovulation, it increases an "estrogen predominance" that doesn't allow the woman to lose weight. A "predomination" means that the estrogen dominates the body internally because the progesterone isn't there to oppose it. This creates a situation that makes it very difficult for women to lose weight because the excess estrogen accumulates fat and makes you gain weight and at the same time doesn't allow fat loss.

The problem is that the estrogen hormone accumulates fat and makes you gain weight. This has been a well known fact for many years; you might have seen in the news that some years ago the pig and the hen breeders tried to make their animals gain weight by supplementing their diet with estrogen to make them fatter. This was publicized on the front pad of newspaper around the country as a scandal and as a result, many people are still upset about the attempted manipulations in using estrogen to make the animals gain weight. They still refuse to consume chicken due to the fear that it contains estrogen.

When a woman suffers from an "estrogen predomination" she can experience the following symptoms:

1.) Accumulation of fat in the hips and abdomen

2.) Reoccurring yeast infections

3.) Autoimmune conditions like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia

4.) Difficulty losing weight of losing weight very slowly

5.) Difficulty becoming pregnant

6.) Water retention (edema)

7.) Lack of energy or constantly tired

8.) History of breast cancer or uterine cancer

9.) History of fibroids, edemas or vaginal polyps

10.) History of having miscarriages

11.) Painful menstruation cramps

12.) Osteoporosis (loss of bone density)

13.) Facial hair

14.) Loss of sexual interest

15.) Excessive menstrual bleeding

16.) Breast tenderness

17.) Sleeping too lightly or sleeping difficulties

"Estrogen predomination" keeps the metabolism low and makes it very difficult for the women suffering from this condition to lose weight. Estrogen is a growth promotion agent for cancerous cells, which is why having "estrogen predominance", puts a woman at a high risk for breast and uterine cancer.

When a woman starts getting a lot of facial hair, it is generally a result of the "estrogen predominance" that makes the body produce more masculine hormones(androgens) to counteract the estrogen. The body will do its best to try and balance out the "estrogen predominance" by producing more masculine hormones if it can't produce the progesterone it needs. This increases facial and body hair.

The solution for women is to use natural progesterone cream. This natural hormone is applied to the skin and counteracts the harmful effects of the "estrogen predominance", successfully balancing the hormonal system. The natural progesterone has a calming and antidepressant effect. Also, it helps women have deeper, sounder sleep.

For women that have experienced a great deal of difficulty in losing weight and especially those that have gained a lot of weight in their hips and abdomen (caused by estrogen), the natural progesterone cream can be an excellent help. Along with all of these benefits, natural progesterone also has an anti aging effect on the body, Women who use natural progesterone have nice skin. Natural progesterone also has an effect of detaining bone loss or even helping to recover bone that has been lost due to a condition called osteoporosis. This is something that can be proven months after having begun to use the cream by doing a bone density exam and comparing it to an exam done before using natural progesterone.

If your weight or obesity problem is centered in lower parts of your body (hips and abdomen) and you are feeling various symptoms like those described for "estrogen predominance", you could experience a miracle in starting to use the natural progesterone cream. When the "estrogen predominance" is very strong, the use of the natural progesterone cream causes an amazing increase in the metabolism and helps achieve the balance that your body needs to stay at its optimum state. I recommend that you buy and read the book by Dr. John Lee on this topic.

-Frank Suarez, Author of the book “The Power of Your Metabolism”

Chiropractors Warn About "Text Neck"

Several stories appeared in a number of publications warning people about the dangers of texting excessively. Chiropractors are leading the call of caution that texting for hours puts the neck in a position that creates health issues.

A CBS News story on October 10, 2011 advises the readers to "Add 'text neck' to your new world, digital dictionary". The problem is that continuously texting causes a person to lean their head forward for long periods of time thus causing a loss of the normal forward curve in the neck. Chiropractors have warned for years that a loss of forward curve in the neck leads to a variety of health issues. Texting is the latest and most popular new technology that leads to this neck problem.

This problem has become international as was pointed out in an October 6, 2011 story in a British publication, the Telegraph. The story quotes Dr. Rachael Lancaster, a chiropractor from Leeds England, "Text neck is caused by the neck being flexed for a prolonged period of time. Sufferers are increasing as the use of smart phones and tablet computers become more popular."

Dr. Lancaster likens it to putting other parts of your body into an awkward position for long periods of time. "Imagine sitting on your ankle sideways for 10 minutes. It would feel stiff and sore when you returned it to its natural position. That is exactly what people are doing with their necks. If people continue to put their necks in these positions, the body will gradually adapt to the stresses."

Dr. Tim Hutchful, of the British Chiropractic Association noted that doctors are seeing a rising number of patients with similar neck problems. He explained the problem by saying, "When the head is over the shoulders it is a bit like a balanced see-saw, and when you move it forward you need to put a force in place to keep it in that position. The longer you are in that position for, the more the muscles have to accommodate it."

An October 7, 2011 story from MSNBC on this same subject quoted Texas chiropractor and spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association Dr. Cynthia Vaughn who stated, "It’s a known phenomenon and that’s increasing and doctors need to educate their patients on the proper ergonomics of this." Dr. Vaughn continued by offering a practical solution to prolonged texting, "I tell my patients the easiest thing to do is pick up the phone and call people."