Social Phobias

These anxiety disorders are triggered by certain types of people, relationships, and social situations.

1. Venustraphobia: Also known as caligynephobia, this is the fear of beautiful women, and may be caused by low self-confidence or putting too much pressure on appearances.
2. Anthropophobia: This phobia literally refers to the fear of people but can also mean the fear of having company.
3. Aphephobia: This phobia causes people to feel afraid when touched.
4. Autodysomophobia: If you have a bad or "vile" odor, you may trigger someone who has autodysomophobia.
5. Deipnophobia: Dinner parties, dining and dinner conversation are all off limits for people who suffer from this phobia.
6. Nomophobia: This modern phobia affects people who are very afraid of losing cell phone contact.
7. Soteriophobia: Some seriously independent-minded individuals may have soteriophobia, or the fear of becoming dependent on someone else.
8. Sociophobia: Those who fear being judged by society suffer from sociophobia.
9. Gamophobia: It’s not just an excuse: some people actually have a valid fear of getting married.
10. Syngenesophobia: While there are certainly jokes about scary stepmothers or in-laws, this phobia refers to the fear of all relatives.
11. Ecclesiophobia: The fear of church and going to church is called ecclesiophobia.

Zoophobias

Many people are afraid of snakes, rats or bats, but these phobias represent the fear of more random animals.

12. Ornithophobia: The fear of birds — especially pigeons — is referred to as ornithophobia, and is actually a fairly common phobia.
13. Lutraphobia: While some people think they’re cute, others are afraid of otters.
14. Equinophobia: The fear of horses is also called equinophobia.
15. Zemmiphobia: It certainly sounds frightening: zemmiphobia is the fear of "the great mole rat."

Natural Environment Phobias

Wind, the Northern lights, and even flowers are just too stressful for people with the following phobias.

16. Aerophobia: Those with aerophobia — the fear of drafts, air swallowing and airborne diseases or germs — may wish to wear face masks, especially in public.
17. Pteridophobia: For some, being near ferns is too frightening.
18. Anthophobia: Most people are happy to receive flowers, but anthophobia refers to the fear of them.
19. Ancraophobia: The fear of wind is also called anemophobia.
20. Heliphobia: Nighttime hours come as a relief for those who are afraid of sunlight.
21. Auroraphobia: Those who are afraid of the Northern Aurora lights have auroraphobia.
22. Chionophobia: Instead of hoping for snow, those with chionophobia must dread it.

Personal Phobias

People who have trouble dealing with certain aspects of their own character or appearance suffer from these phobias.

23. Spectrophobia: Those who are too afraid to look at their own reflection in a mirror have spectrophobia.
24. Athazagoraphobia: Athazagoraphobia is the fear of being forgotten, and also the name of this blog.
25. Gelotophobia: Those who fear being laughed at — and actually evaluate social situations for "signs of laughter and ridicule" — suffer from gelotophobia

Physical Objects

From red lights to knees, here are some weird phobias involving physical objects and body parts.

26. Selenophobia: Selenophobia is the term for the fear of the moon.
27. Asymmetriphobia: If you’re afraid of mismatched socks or asymmetrical objects, you have asymmetriphobia.
28. Aurophobia: Most people would be ecstatic to have the chance to find gold, but people who suffer from aurophobia are petrified of it.
29. Ereuthophobia: The fear of red lights is called ereuthophobia.
30. Genuphobia: Knees can cause great irritation and fear in people with genuphobia.
31. Automatonophobia: The fear of human-like figures, like dummies or wax figures, is called automatonophobia.
32. Atephobia: Visiting ancient Greek or Roman ruins would be a nightmare for those with atephobia, or the fear of ruins and old buildings.
33. Aulophobia: Aulophobia refers to the fear of flutes.
34. Dextrophobia: People with this phobia do not like having objects situated to their right.
35. Linonophobia: Though it’s useful, string is the cause of anxiety for people with linonophobia.
36. Papyrophobia: Paper is the cause of great anxiety and even fear in people who suffer from papyrophobia.
37. Domatophobia: One wonders where people with this phobia — the fear of houses and being inside houses — live.

Ideas and Concepts

Certain intangibles cause a lot of anxiety and irritation in some people, even seemingly harmless ideas like depth or newness.

38. Tachophobia: Anyone who suffers from tachophobia — the fear of speed — may be afraid of riding in cars or trains.
39. Xerophobia: The fear of dryness is also called xerophobia.
40. Arithmophobia: Arithmophobia means to the fear of numbers generally, but can also refer to the fear of math, numerals, certain numbers, calculations, and/or calculus.
41. Bathophobia: This obscure phobia refers to the fear of depth.
42. Cainophobia: Sometimes called cainotophobia, this is the fear of anything new.
43. Macrophobia: Doctor’s offices and holiday shopping trips must be nightmares for people who suffer from macrophobia, or the fear of long waits.
44. Hagiophobia: Holy figures and holy things or ideas are feared by people with hagiophobia.
45. Sophophobia: Those who are afraid of learning anything new have sophophobia.
46. Barophobia: While it’s common to have a fear of flying or a fear of heights, others have a fear of gravity, or barophobia.
47. Rhabdophobia: This anxiety disorder means several things: the fear of magic and a magic wand, being beaten by a rod, or being very harshly criticized.
48. Symbolophobia: Figurative and symbolic ideas can become a legitimate phobia for some.
49. Chronophobia: The fear of time is referred to as chronophobia.
50. Mnemophobia: The fear of memories is called mnemophobia.
51. Philosophobia: It can be a challenging subject, but for some individuals, philosophy is legitimately terrifying.

Activities

Sitting, standing and walking are sore spots for people who suffer from these and other phobias.

52. Ablutophobia: Ablutophobia is the fear of washing or bathing.
53. Amaxophobia: The fear of riding in cars is referred to as amaxophobia, and can cause problems especially for those living in suburban areas.
54. Agyrophobia: Even if there are no cars around, some people still suffer from the fear of crossing roads.
55. Chorophobia: Weddings, prom, and parties must pose lots of problems for those who suffer from the fear of dancing.
56. Ergophobia: If you miss a day at the office, you could try telling your boss that you’ve suddenly developed ergophobia, or the fear of work and/or functioning.
57. Kyphophobia: Being in the stooping position causes too much anxiety for people with kyphophobia.
58. Mageirocophobia: Cooking is a source of anxiety for people with mageirocophobia.
59. Scriptophobia: A common phobia is the fear of speaking in public, but scriptophobia is the fear of writing in public.
60. Sitophobia: The fear of eating is called sitophobia, and can become very serious.
61. Basiphobia: Those who are too afraid to walk or stand because of the possibility of falling have basiphobia.
62. Cathisophobia: Conversely, this is the fear of sitting down.

Group or Race Phobias

These prejudicial phobias are the result of the fear of random groups of people.

63. Bolshephobia: Some people are afraid of meeting or hearing about Bolsheviks, and their disorder is called Bolshephobia.
64. Apotemnophobia: People with amputations cause fear and anxiety in those who suffer from apotemnophobia.
65. Walloonphobia: This disorder refers to the fear of Walloons, a group of people of German and Celtic origin living in Belgium.
66. Parthenophobia: Those who are afraid of virgins and young girls suffer from parthenophobia.
67. Ephebiphobia: This term refers to the fear of teenagers.
68. Pedophobia: Children are actually frightening to people with pedophobia.
69. Dutchphobia: Some people believe that the Dutch are upsetting, perhaps because of their traditional costumes.
70. Heterophobia: Homophobia is a well-known, though controversial, phobia, but heterophobia refers to the fear of heterosexuals.
71. Transphobia: The fear of transsexual or transgender people is called transphobia.
72. Hoplophobia: The fear of people who own firearms is called hoplophobia.
73. Iatrophobia: Those who are afraid of or discriminate against doctors have iatrophobia.

Sickness and Injuries

The fear of particular diseases and injuries are outlined in this list.

74. Albuminurophobia: This very specific phobia refers to the fear of kidney disease.
75. Aeronausiphobia: Phobialist.com describes this phobia as the fear of vomiting due to airsickness.
76. Amychophobia: People who suffer from amychophobia — the fear of scratches — are probably very protective of themselves and their skin.
77. Anklyophobia: Some people are actually afraid that their joints will stop working, and this fear is called anklyophobia.
78. Blood-injection-injury type phobia: This odd phobia group includes trypanophobia (the fear of injections); hemophobia (the fear of blood) and the fear of invasive medical procedures.
79. Body dysmorphic disorder: Also referred to as BDD, this body image disorder causes people to imagine that they have or will develop physical deformities.
80. Ataxiophobia: The fear of not being able to use your muscles properly is called ataxiophobia.
81. Injury phobia: If you’re afraid of being injured, you have injury phobia.
82. Syphilophobia: One hopes that having a fear of syphilis would inspire more responsible romantic encounters.
83. Chemophobia: Those who get too carried away with organic diets or going green may be at risk for chemophobia, a condition that refers to the fear of all chemicals and preference for natural elements.
84. Rhypophobia: People who are afraid of defecation have rhypophobia, and are at risk for other health problems.

Truly Bizarre Phobias

In this list, you’ll find some of the weirdest phobias out there, from the fear of purple to the fear of constipation.

85. Allodoxaphobia: If you like to voice your thoughts on a particular subject, you may want to stay away from people with allodoxaphobia, or the fear of opinions.
86. Porphyrophobia: The color purple causes some people to be very afraid and develop this condition.
87. Arachibutyrophobia: If you’re desperately afraid of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, you have arachibutyrophobia.
88. Blennophobia: Unless you’re in a science fiction movie, you probably won’t come into contact with slime, but some people are afraid of it anyway.
89. Cardiophobia: Although the heart is your lifeline, some people are afraid of it.
90. Coprastasophobia: Some people are actually terribly afraid of becoming constipated.
91. Didaskaleinophobia: If you’d rather skip class, just claim this phobia, which refers to the fear of going to school.
92. Nomatophobia: This phobia refers to the fear of names.
93. Lipophobia: The fear of fats in food may be blamed on the red meat scare of 1977.
94. Hormephobia: Hormephobia refers to a person’s fear of experiencing shock, which is probably made more likely after an anxiety attack.
95. Sesquipedalophobia: This term refers to the fear of long words, and seems like a cruel joke.
96. Phobophobia: This condition is described as a rare disorder and refers to the fear of having a phobia.
97. Hellenologophobia: Confusing, highly technical terminology — including Greek terms — make those with hellenologophobia anxious.
98. Cymophobia: It’s understandable that some people might be afraid of waves, but this phobia also refers to the fear of "wave-like motions."
99. Pteronophobia: The idea of being tickled with feathers is upsetting for those with pteronophobia.
100. Optophobia: Opening one’s eyes is just too stressful for some individuals.

1. Second Life: The immensely popular SecondLife virtual reality grid has been used in education, business training exercises and more. The health care industry has used Second Life to encourage advanced training for doctors and nurses, as a place for teens to learn about adolescent health issues, and more.
2. Virtual Medical Centre: Patients can visit Virtual Medical Centre to learn about their health risks, current health and medical condition, drug information, treatment options and a lot more. The Australian-based site also features 3D medical animations, medical videos, information on special events and conferences, research and medical trials, and more.
3. ThirdAid: Touted as "the patient to patient health community," ThirdAid invites members to join communities based on their medical condition. Currently, the site sponsors 800 different medical communities for patients to share advice, treatment and side effect risks, and other information and support.
4. Cancer backup: This UK-based community publishes information so that cancer patients can research treatments, find doctors and learn all about the different types of cancer in one easy-to-access spot. Cancer backup also lets patients "speak to a nurse" and join the What Now? cancer community for chats, videos, forums, blogs and more.
5. Patients Like Me: This virtual world is just for patients who want to find comfort, information and support from other people fighting the same illness or living with the same health condition. Patients Like Me features online communities for anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, biploar disorder, OCD, and others.
6. Ozmosis: Doctors get together in this corner of the Internet to discuss treatment trends, drug information, research, events and a lot more. It’s also free for all doctors to join.
7. Sermo: Sermo is another virtual world for doctors and is currently advertised as "the largest online physicians’ community." Here, doctors can participate in clinical discussions, discuss the future of health care, network, share tips on health care technology and treatments, and more. Sermo is for doctors only and is a safe, secure portal for information sharing.
8. Nurse’s Cafe: Nurses get together through this social network to talk about jobs, continuing education, health care trends and more.
9. MDAdvice.com: Whether you’re a patient, nurse, medical student or other doctor, take advantage of the "ask a doctor" feature on MDAdvice.com to get information about a medical condition without submitting your personal information.
10. Starbright World: Teenagers suffering from chronic diseases, as well as teenage siblings of patients with serious medical problems, can find support and information within this virtual world. Starbright World connects patients to each other, so they can offer advice and support while fighting disease. The social media site also sponsors essay contests, games and more.
11. Nurse Connect: Nurse Connect is another virtual community devoted to bringing nurses together. Members can ask a nurse a question, locate nurses in their area, swap career information and learn about continuing education and nursing training programs.
12. Doctors Lounge: Doctors Lounge isn’t just for doctors: this virtual world is made up of nurses, doctors and others in the health care industry, as well as anyone who wants to ask questions and learn more about a particular medical condition. Doctors Lounge also features clinical news, health care trends, conference information, journal summaries and plenty of information for specialties like pediatrics or infections.
13. New Media Medicine: New Media Medicine currently welcomes over 46,000 members to take advantage of its social networking capabilities. Medical students and doctors get together on New Media Medicine to talk about the industry, school, medicine and treatments, watch videos and more.
14. WrongDiagnosis.com: This online portal features loads of information on symptoms, treatments, diseases and more. WrongDiagnosis.com also sponsors an online community, videos, medical tools, an ask-a-doctor feature, and plenty more for researching medical conditions.
15. MayoClinic.com: Doctors, nurses and patients can get lost playing around with the features, tools and informational articles on MayoClinic.com. Finding authoritative, accurate and updated information is easy when you visit this site. Visitors can look up a symptom, find out their risk factor for a particular disease, learn how to deal with chronic diseases and medical treatments, research drugs, watch medical videos, listen to podcasts, read blogs, ask a specialist and more.
16. Free Dive: Patients, especially children patients, fighting chronic diseases can play this game to distract them from painful, stressful medical procedures. The game "invites players to swim with sea turtles and tropical fish as they hunt for hidden treasure" in a 3D, virtual reality game designed to soothe and distract.
17. allnurses.com: Nurses and nursing students will find articles, forums, contests and medical information on this social networking site.
18. Sim City Medical Centre: Sim City is another great place to set up a virtual world for patients, medical training and socializing.
19. WebAnatomy: The University of Minnesota’s WebAnatomy center quizzes you on anatomy, medical terms and more. You can take a test yourself or compete against the clock or other players.
20. Nursing Center: Nurses can get lost in this virtual world just for them. It includes a career center and job search, nurse community, conference and event calendar, drug updates, journal articles and more.
21. Medical Gross Anatomy Games: Anyone can play these online medical training games to learn about the movements of the lower and upper limbs, discover the nervous system and spinal cord, learn about cells and tissues, and more.
22. Pulse!!: This computer simulation game is used in medical schools and nursing schools across the country. Pulse!! is funded by the federal government and works on PCs.
23. Personal Investigator: Teens struggling with depression and other mental health problems can use Personal Investigator as part of their therapy. Players can talk about their problems with virtual detectives, listen to testimonials from other teens, and hunt for clues, or answers, to their problems.
24. BBronkie the Bronchiasaurus: Kids and adults can learn how to monitor and treat asthma with this game.
25. HIV/AIDS Interactive Nights Out: Use this game to teach young people about HIV/AIDS risk factors like drugs, sports and unprotected sex.

1. The Angry Pharmacist: For opinionated posts about drugs, patients, and pharmacy in general, read through this blog and see how this blogger earned his name.
2. Jim Plagakis: This pharmacist’s blog discusses current trends and problems in the world of pharmacy.
3. Drug Monkey: According to this blog, ”your pharmacist my hate you.” Take a look and find out why.
4. Drugs R Phun: This pharmacist blows off steam from the stress of the job by telling anecdotal stories about patients that come to her pharmacy.
5. Fast Food Pharmacy: This blog is dedicated to the in and out, fast paced pharmacy world. Laughs and strange patient stories are guaranteed when you visit.
6. The Angriest Pharmacist: This blog is not for the faint of heart. For real, unadulterated opinions on the day to day life of a pharmacist, browse through the posts on this blog.
7. And You Wonder Why Your Pharmacist Never Smiles: This blogger focuses on the pharmacist-patient relationship and certainly has a lot to say on the matter.
8. The Frantic Pharmacist: Take a look at what this pharmacist has to say about the profession, and the ups and downs that come along with dealing with patients as well as colleagues.
9. Farmacy is Fun: Farmacy is Fun takes a lighthearted approach to dealing with patients and their care.
10. A Day at the Pharmacy: The posts on this blog come from a provincial UK Pharmacist who discusses dealing with annoying, as well as ”occasionally lovely” patients and their needs.
11. Pharmacy Slave: Think you have it bad? Read this blogger’s humorous posts and breathe a sigh of relief.
12. Pharm Barbie: Read the musings of this pharmacy student who works ”twiddling her thumbs in a chain pharmacy.”
13. Pharmer Jane: For a good mix of humor, advice, and discussion related to daily life in the pharmacy, take a peek at what Pharmer Jane has to say.
14. Pissed Pharmacist: The tagline says, ”I think I need a new job.” That’s just the beginning. For curt, abbreviated humorous posts and rants about being a pharmacist, check this blog out.
15. SomePharmacyGuy: Find musings on the daily grind of pharmacy, from interpreting doctors’ handwriting to dealing with irritating patients when you visit this Australian pharmacist’s blog.
16. Soul Sucking Pharmacy: Read humorous posts from a pharmacist who guarantees that his blog is not HIPAA compliant.
17. Pharmacy God: This retail pharmacy veteran relates tales of being a pharmacist in a time when the job entails far more than just filling prescriptions.
18. The Politically Incorrect Pharmacist: This blogger strives to ”tell it like it is,” without holding back. Amuse yourself with his fearless posts about the world of pharmacy.
19. The Ole’ Apothecary: This blog is about ”pondering what pharmacy is and where it’s going.” The posts range from serious, to humorous, to raving rants.
20. Pharmacy Chick: Another retail pharmacist blogs about the daily goings-on at a pharmacy. The posts on this site are eloquently written and humorous, and give some insight to the reader in the process.

Pharmacy News and Informational Blogs All pharmacy blogs are not about just the day-to-day dealings with patients. The following blogs are about helping other pharmacists to stay informed, whether about the latest recall, HIPAA compliance, or a whole host of other pharmacy-related issues.

21. Pharmacist Daily: Find current and relevant information for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and contribute to the discussions related to a constantly-changing profession.
22. The Blonde Pharmacist: News and information on the latest pharmacy issues can be found on this blog, along with some strongly-voiced opinions regarding some hot-button issues.
23. Pharmacy and Health Blog: This blog has many posts related to new and cutting-edge treatments and articles related to patient care as well as the profession itself. See what you can learn about the latest health trends, or comment on an existing post.
24. Online Pharmacy News: Find interesting stories, features, and the latest developments in pharmacy news when you visit this blog.
25. RaPharmacy (Canadian Pharmacy News): Take a look at this blog to learn more about drugs for male sexual health and news related to this topic.
26. Online Pharmacy Technician Schools: The goal of this blog is to help keep pharmacists in the know regarding key issues related to giving excellent patient care. Check out what other pharmacists have to say and gather tips, advice, and best practices as well.
27. Fierce Health IT: For up-to-date news related to the world of patient care and pharmacy in a technological context, look no further than Fierce Health IT.
28. PRIME Pharmacist Case Studies: Stay abreast of what’s going on in the world of case studies involving various frequently-prescribed medications and their interactions. Find common side effects and more when you look into the latest case studies on this blog.
29. Bioethics.net: Be informed of current ethical dilemmas facing medical professionals and pharmacist, and see how your peers are responding to these dilemmas.

Professional Development Blogs Staying on top of all of the information and technology in any field can be quite a chore. See what these bloggers have to say in relation to the professional development of a pharmacist.

30. Transitional Committee Blog: Read this blog for views on pharmacy as a profession that is in constant flux. Articles and editorials regarding the role of the pharmacist are primarily featured
31. Pharmacist’s Place: Check out this blog for important discussions, from whether certification is more important than experience, to the value of continuing your education in the field of pharmacy.

Pharmacology Blogs Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. The following blogs feature articles related to drug interactions of various kinds.

32. Pharmacology Journal: Pharmacists may gain some insight about clinical pharmacology by visiting this site.
33. Indiana Systematic Thinking: Posts related to mental health pharmacology, as well as other pharmacology-related posts are available through Indiana Systematic Thinking.
34. Ask a Scientician: This blog, posted by an online pharmacist, has valuable information on drug interactions and pharmacology.
35. My Dominant Hemisphere: Find in-depth articles and best practices related to various pharmacological issues, among other things when you visit this blog.
36. Lancashire Care Library and Information Service: Browse through this blog’s treasure trove of pharmacy and pharmacological posts.

Pharmaceutical Blogs Once a drug’s ability to change an organism’s function is established as having medicinal value, it is then considered a pharmaceutical. Take some time to look through these blogs for more information on specific pharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals in general.

37. Eye on FDA: Get the latest news and information related to the Food and Drug Administration’s impact and relationship with pharmaceuticals and the companies that produce them.
38. Black Triangle: Join discussion groups or peruse the articles related to drugs and their effects on patients.
39. Pharma Marketing Blog: Opinions on pharmaceutical companies and their marketing practices, as well as the effects of their drugs on the public is the focus of this blogger’s attention.
40. WSJ Health Blog: Sift through Wall Street Journal’s authoritative collection of articles on pharmaceuticals and health care.
41. Pharma Blogosphere: As the site it self declares, this is ”a blog about blogging in the pharmaceutical industry.”
42. Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma: Updated posts on ethical issues and news related to big pharmaceutical companies can be found on this particular blog.
43. In The Pipeline: This blog is hosted by a man who has worked for several major pharmaceutical companies over the last nineteen years. For an informed, insider opinion about the inner workings of pharmaceutical companies, visit his blog.
44. The IN VIVO Blog: Browse through an amazing amount of articles and research on a wide variety of topics related to the pharmaceutical industry on The IN VIVO Blog.
45. Jim Edwards’s NRx: Look to the blog for news and information on the drug business that ”the media hasn’t written yet.”
46. Fierce Pharma: Turn to Fierce Pharma for daily updates related to big pharmaceutical companies and their products.
47. Prescription Access Litigation: Stay informed regarding consumer education, class action lawsuits, and drug industry accountability issues by visiting this blog.
48. Nurse Practitioner Program: Keep heathly with drug awareness tips from a nurse practitioner blogger.
49. Drug Injury Watch: Drug Injury Watch provides readers with new and information related to side effects and interactions of prescription drugs.
50. Pharmalive: This blog is the self-proclaimed ”pulse of the pharmaceutical industry. Articles, information, commentary and much more related to pharmaceuticals are available for readers to look through.

Medications Some medications may help you out greatly but have side effects that cause you to put on weight. Remember, even if you do suspect your medication is the problem behind your weight gain, never stop taking it without consulting a medical professional.

1. Steroids. Steroids such as prednisone, often given to suppress inflammation caused by arthritis, skin rashes and asthma, can cause you to retain more water than you should and in effect put on weight.
2. Antidepressants. If you’re on an SSRI like Prozac or Zoloft, you may be experiencing one of the common side effects, which is weight gain. These medications can decrease your metabolic rate or can cause hormonal changes leading to greater hunger.
3. Diabetes medications. Diabeta and Diabinese, two medications often prescribed to diabetics, cause sometimes cause weight gain. Be aware, however, that other drugs prescribed for diabetes like Symlin can actually cause you to lose weight.
4. Heartburn treatments. Those suffering from horrible acid reflux can often find solace in a heartburn medication like Prevacid and Nexium. These drugs can sometimes cause slight weight gain though in some individuals they react differently, causing a weight loss.
5. Birth control. If you’ve just begun taking birth control and you notice you’ve put on a few pounds, the pill could be the cause. However, weight gain associated with the pill is rarely over a few pounds and should be fairly slight.
6. Migraine relievers. Migraines can totally sidetrack your day but they may also be sidetracking your diet. Some medications can cause weight gain, so ask a nurse or doctor if you can switch to a different brand which might have less of an effect.
7. Seizure preventatives. There are several medications out there that can help seizure sufferers but some may cause weight gain, while others like Zonegran can be weight neutral or assist in weight loss.

Lifestyle Small changes in the way you live or elements of your daily life may be to blame for your weight gain.

8. Going on vacation. If you’ve just gotten back from vacation and noticed you’ve put on a few pounds, you’re not alone. Studies have shown that people often throw good eating habits out the window when they’re on a break, so give yourself a few weeks to get back into the habit of eating right and you’re likely to see the gain go away.
9. Working too much. Being a workaholic can not only stress you out and lead to weight gain, but it’s more than likely requiring that you spend hours in front of a computer screen, not moving much. This inactivity can cause you to burn few calories than usual and put on a few pounds over time.
10. Lack of sleep. As odd as it may seem, not getting enough sleep could be a major reason that you’re putting on weight. When you’re tired your body can’t function as it normally would and begins storing more fat.
11. Stress. Whether you’re stressed about a job, home life or something else, you could be setting yourself up to put on more weight. Our bodies react to stress by slowing down and storing more energy, anticipating hard times ahead.
12. Relying on "low fat" foods. Don’t fall for the low fat packaging on many supposedly healthy foods. Many of these foods contain just as many calories as their high fat counterparts and aren’t really all that healthy at all.
13. Not eating enough fiber. Studies have shown the fiber creates a feeling of fullness and satisfaction when eating that can cause you to eat less. If you feel like you just can’t get full, try switching to a higher fiber diet.
14. Too much high fructose corn syrup. A major ingredient in many sweet treats, this syrupy substance can also be a contributor to weight gain. Your body uses fructose more like a fat than it does glucose, another sugar, which it uses more as an energy source.
15. Drinking too much soda. While it may help perk you up when you’re dragging after lunch, too much soda can help you to pack on the pounds. Containing loads of high fructose corn syrup not to mention calories, soda can be a quiet culprit in weight gain, so if you can’t give it up at least try switching to diet.
16. Friends who are overeaters. If you find that when you go out to dinner with your friends that they encourage you to eat more than you should you may be putting on weight that you could otherwise avoid. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid these friends, just do things that don’t involve eating or be firm about being full.
17. Paying with credit cards at dinner. Studies by major credit card companies have shown that people are inclined to order more food when they are paying by credit card rather than with cash. Keep your hungry eyes from wandering by paying for your meals with paper rather than plastic.
18. Not eating enough. Oddly enough, starving yourself may have the opposite effect than what you desire, at least at first. When your body is starving it will slow down your metabolism and store energy, causing food to stick around longer. So eat right instead of just eating less.
19. Quitting smoking. Some people find that they pack on a few pounds after they quit smoking. Of course, this shouldn’t be a deterrent to quitting as the health benefits of not smoking far outweigh the costs of a few pounds. Just work to compensate for the change by adjusting your diet and lifestyle.
20. Small lifestyle changes. Sometimes your life with undergo small changes that you may not even be aware of related to your eating habits and fitness. Think hard about something that could have changed in your life that would be causing a weight gain.
21. Settling into a relationship. The old stereotype may be true, being in love can cause you to put on more weight. If you notice that you may be a little less conscious about what you eat nowadays, try to get your sweetie involved as well and make it a dual effort to stay fit and sexy.
22. Portion size. Just because something is put in front of you doesn’t mean you have to eat it. You may not realize you’re eating far too much due to simply being served more, so watch what you’re eating.
23. Spending too much time at the bar. Beer and mixed drinks can form a sneaky way for calories to creep into your diet. If you’ve been drinking more than usual your liquid diet could be to blame for your weight gain.
24. Feeling guilty. Many people feel guilty about putting on weight and get depressed, sometimes giving up or emotionally eating instead. Don’t beat yourself up over a few pounds, just try to do better in the future.
25. Skipping meals. Skipping meals can slow down your metabolism and cause you to overeat when you do actually sit down to a meal. So space your meals throughout the day to avoid meal related weight gain.
26. Eating too fast. You may be starving, but slow down and take time to enjoy your meal. It will give your body a chance to register that it’s full before you eat too much.
27. Not intensifying your workout routine. You may be working out, but are you working hard enough? Over time you need to ramp up your workout routine to get the same effect, so make sure you’re not just working out in name alone.

General Physical Factors Look to these things for possible explanations of strange weight gain.

28. Menopause. Menopause causes many changes in the body, one possible one being a redistribution of weight in the body, moving from the hips to the midsection. Hormonal changes can also trigger greater appetite, poor sleep and depression.
29. Food allergies. Some food allergies, even mild ones, may be causing you to put on weight. As odd as it may sound, when you eat these foods you’re allergic to it can cause an addictive effect, making you crave the food even when you’re full.
30. Aging. Most people, as they age, feel their metabolisms beginning to slow down. If you’re not feeling that its as easy to lose weight as it used to be, take this into account and start working at a program that better reflects your new needs.
31. Depression. While depression can cause a loss of appetite in some people it can also cause an increase in others. Many eat to fill the sadness they are feeling. This emotional eating is harmful to both your mental and psychical health, so seek medical treatment if you think that this is the case for your weight gain.
32. Getting a cold. New studies suggest that getting a cold may actually cause you to gain weight. Certain viruses seem to increase the number of cells that develop into fat, causing a marked increase in weight over time.
33. Inflammation. Many lifestyle factors including stress, smoking and lack of sleep can contribute to inflammation and certain foods can have an inflammatory effect as well. This can lead to weight gains where you feel there should be none.
34. Your genes. While we are all responsible for our own choices, to some degree our ability to lose and maintain weight is determined by our genes. Some people will need to work harder to lose the pounds than others and will be fighting against their natural propensity for weight gain.
35. Building muscle. If you’ve been working out a lot and find that you’ve actually put on weight, don’t freak out. It could just be that you’ve put on muscle weight and are healthier than you were before, despite the increased weight.
36. Pregnancy. While this may be somewhat obvious, pregnancy is a reason for unexplained weight gain and unless you’re entirely sure it’s not the reason for yours don’t completely discount it– many pregnancies are unexpected surprises.
37. Water retention. Most women are familiar with the bloating that can happen when their menstrual cycles are on the horizon but there are times when this water weight gain can be more serious can caused by kidney or heart failure so it’s important to get unexplained water retention checked out.

Disease and Illness You may be aware you have one of these conditions or just think you might, but it could be the source of your weight gain.

38. Thyroid problems. A common but sometimes undiagnosed cause of weight gain is hypothyroidism. It causes a deficiency in the thyroid hormones leading to fatigue, weight gain and slowed metabolism though much of the weight loss associated with its regulation comes from loss of accumulated body fluids.
39. Cushing’s syndrome. This syndrome is caused by an excess of the hormone cortisol in the body, the same one that’s released when you’re feeling stressed, and causes your body to react in much the same way it would to stress, storing energy and putting on weight.
40. Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency. Essential fatty acids, such as in flaxseed oil, help our bodies to manufacture hormones and maintain a good metabolism. Deficiencies in these can cause cravings for unhealthy foods and metabolic problems and over time, weight gain.
41. Kidney disease. One of the symptoms of kidney disease can be weight gain due to fluid retention. If you’re noticing an especially large amount of bloating without a particular reason, head to your doctor as soon as you can to rule out this serious condition.
42. Heart trouble. An sign of heart trouble may actually be weight gain. This can be caused by your body retaining more fluid than usual. If you can push your fingertip into the skin and it leaves a mark rather than springing back you’re retaining water and should head to the doctor.
43. Blood sugar imbalances. Eating simple carbs can cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar which in turn can cause more cravings for sugary foods as your body struggles to maintain a balance.
44. Ovarian cysts. Women should look out for polycystic ovary syndrome. It can potentially cause a weight gain of up to 30 pounds over a period of years and over goes unnoticed because it’s so gradual. Caregivers are unsure why exactly it causes weight gain but have noted that it appears to be genetic, so get checked out if you know a family member who’s had it.
45. Tumors. In women, sometimes rapid, unexplained weight gain can be associated with ovarian tumors. Many of these are benign, but if left unchecked can grow to huge proportions.
46. Liver dysfunction. Problems with the liver can often be associated with weight gain. Your body may start retaining excess fluid and you will notice a little tightness around your waistline even though you have little appetite. If you suspect this is the reason for your weight gain get to the doctor ASAP.
47. Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia often causes weight gain as it causes hormonal imbalances, affecting levels of cortisol, thyroid, serotonin and insulin, as well as the production of growth hormones. This means your metabolism can slow down and you can put on weight.
48. Breast cancer treatments. Women undergoing chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer may find that they are packing on a few extra pounds. This phenomenon is not yet understood, but shouldn’t be a major cause for alarm if treatment is going well.
49. Adrenal dysfunction. Dysfunctions in the adrenal glands can lead to imbalances in your body’s hormones, upsetting your metabolism and natural balance. Sometimes, this can lead to a noticeable gain in weight.
50. Sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can prevent you from getting a truly restful nights sleep and because of this lack of sleep leave you feeling unrested, stressed out and irritable. Not getting enough sleep can lead to the slowing of your metabolism and sometimes cravings for less than healthy foods.

1. Calorie Calculator – Daily Caloric Needs: Find out how many calories you need to consume everyday based on your age, weight, eight, exercise level and sex.
2. Stevens Creek Calorie Calculator: Type in your weight, age, sex and activity levels to find out how many calories you burn and how many you need to intake each day.
3. Tool: Calorie Calculator: Use the Mayo Clinic’s simple calorie calculator to get an estimate of how many calories you need to maintain your weight.
4. Calorie Calculator: Type in the food items you consume to figure out how many calories and fat grams you’re consuming.
5. Activity Calorie Calculator: Fill in your weight and the amount of time you want to spend exercising. This calculator then shows you how many calories you can burn doing various exercises for that amount of time.
6. Calories Burned Estimator: Learn how many calories your active clients burn doing various activities using this calculator.
7. Calorie Calculator: Find out how many calories you burn doing the ski machine, weight lifting, aerobics, golf, tennis and more.
8. Diet Power 4.4: This software program manages your calories in a Calorie Bank, which contains data for 21,000 foods.
9. Adult Energy Needs and BMI Calculator: Help adult clients figure out their needed caloric intake here.
10. Fat and Calorie Calculator: The Food Network’s calculator estimates how many calories are in foods like meatloaf, chicken, grapes and more.

Nutrition Information and News Get information on the food pyramid, nutrition facts labels and more here.

11. What’s In Food: Help your clients better understand carbohydrates, sodium, antioxidants and other food ingredients with these charts and guides.
12. My Pyramid e-Catalog: This tool connects teachers and nutritionists to education materials about the Food Pyramid.
13. Nutrition Facts and Information Center: Look up information on vitamins, nutrients, minerals the Food Pyramid, nutrition needs and more on this site.
14. Nutrition Information and Resource Center: Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences provides this resources, full of information about food science, nutrition for chronic disease and more.
15. Learn to Read Food Labels: This diagram can be a good refresher for you or for your clients
16. Nutrition Data Sheets: Enter a product ID number or product description to get the nutrition data on practically any food.
17. Vegetable Nutrition Data: Quickly look up nutrition information for vegetables like celery, onion, potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, okra, bell peppers and more.
18. Pizza Hut Nutrition Calculator: The next time one of your client’s wants to skip a healthy option in favor of Pizza Hut, show them this calculator.
19. The Lowdown on Nutrition Data: Direct your clients to this page if they want more information on proteins, the relation of sleep to nutrition and more.
20. Vitamins and Mineral Supplements: This very detailed article and chart goes over nutrition deficiencies and the benefits of different vitamins and minerals.

Government Resources and Guides Turn to Nutrition.gov and similar government resources to learn about advocacy campaigns, weight loss programs and more.

21. Nutrition.gov: This website features a "What’s in Food" section, weight management tools and guides, and plenty of information about the campaign to help Americans lose weight.
22. Eat Smart. Play Hard: This resources is marketed for teachers, but anyone trying to get adults or kids to eat healthy and exercise can use the materials as part of their lesson.
23. Food Safety Information: The USDA site has news stories, guides for food preparation and more for safe and healthy eating.
24. Healthy Meals Resource System: Nutritionists with children as clients can use this resource to find materials that promote healthy eating, menu planning, and more.
25. National Agricultural Library: This index quickly connects you to all kinds of nutrition and health information, from binge eating to child nutrition to vegetarian nutrition.
26. How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label: Teach your clients how to read the nutrition facts label when they’re at the grocery store by using this tool.
27. Nutrition: This nutrition center from MedLine Plus features basic information on nutrients, tips for eating healthy, and lots of news stories and articles about nutrition.
28. Fruits and Veggies Matter: This government campaign features materials for figuring out portion size, healthy recipes and benefits of eating fruits and veggies.
29. Nutrition Resources for Health Professionals: Find data and statistics, nutrition plans, reports and recommendations, fact sheets and more.
30. Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Make sure your diet plans adhere to this system.

Tools for Your Clients Refer your clients to these web tools that help them keep track of their diet, learn about menu planning, and setting goals.

31. My Health Record: Lifeclinic’s tool organizes your personal health records, family records, cholesterol measurements, weight and more.
32. NutritionData: Clients can use this site to log their calorie consumption and create menu plans.
33. Food and Nutrition: TeensHealth’s archive of nutrition articles includes titles like "5 Reasons to Pack Your Lunch," "A Guide to Eating for Sports," and "Hunger and Malnutrition."
34. Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid Tool: Whether you want to lose weight or maintain your current weight, this tool can help clients figure out how to make the most of the food pyramid.
35. MealsMatter: Set up an account here to track meals, menu plans, a personal nutrition planner and more.
36. America on the Move: Join this program to access tools like the daily activity log, step counter, weekly chef videos, Cut 100 Calories tool and more.
37. Look at 300 Calories: To give your clients a better perspective on portion size, show them this diagram.
38. MyPyramid Game: Build your own food pyramid based on your activity levels.
39. Calcium Quiz: Take this quiz to find out if you’re getting enough calcium.
40. My Fitness Planner: Track your fitness goals and your activity levels here.

Organization and Tracking This list includes tools that are useful for nutritionists and their clients, from avoiding weekend diet traps to managing health calculators to maintaining an online food diary.

41. free dieting: This weight loss guide has loads of tools, including health calculators, fitness and workout programs, tips for losing weight and more.
42. NutriBase: This software program can be a great tool for clients and nutritionists, as it allows you to track menu items, find recipes, view a nutrient selection list, get meal plans, set up nutrition goals and more.
43. Weekend Diet Traps: This guide shares tips on how to keep your diet organized and on-track, even on the weekend.
44. The Dietician’s Planner: This very easy-to-use planner tracks intake of all parts of the food pyramid.
45. FitDay Free Diet and Weight Loss Journal: Suggest this tool to clients who have a hard time keeping up with their goals and daily meals.
46. iFitOne: Use this weight loss motivation and tracking tool to help clients reach their goals.
47. NutriDiary: Use this free diet diary to track the weight loss of your clients.
48. MyNetDiary: This is another online diet journal that can be used to figure out our nutrition needs, plan out meals and track weight loss.
49. StartYourDiet.com: Here, nutritionists and clients can link up with diet buddies, monitor their diets, plan meals and more.
50. Weight-by-Date: Windows users can use this software program to track nutrition and weight loss.

Managing Your Business Becoming a successful nutritionist or dietitian takes more than just knowledge about healthy living. Use these tools to organize your finances, contact management and more.

51. Highrise: Track and manage all of your contact information and contact history with this tool.
52. Breeze: Spread the word about new specials and services with this e-mail campaign tool.
53. Harvest: Use this time-tracking tool to help you with invoicing as you zip from one appointment to the next.
54. Box.net: If you keep client files and diet tracking files on your computer, use this system to share information and free up space elsewhere.
55. Nolo: If you need to manage contracts and other legal paperwork, use this system to help you out.
56. Backpack: Use this popular tool to organize all of your paperwork, to-do lists and more.
57. Google Calendar: Use Google Calendar to keep track of appointments and events, wherever you are.
58. Escrow: Escrow is another finance management tool that’s great for those with their own business.
59. GoToMeeting: Nutritionists who are juggling lots of different clients can use this tool to remind them of upcoming appointments.
60. ConferenceCall: Broaden your business to clients across the country when you use a web conferencing tool like this one.

Networking and Communities Nutritionists can reap the benefits of networking organizations and online communities. From advertising ideas to sharing tips and recruiting clients to learning about new recipes, tools and diets, these sites afford nutritionists and dietitians all kinds of opportunities.

61. International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists: Become a member of the IAACN to become certified, network and more.
62. American Dietetic Association: Food and nutrition professionals can join this group to learn about research projects, education and advocacy, conferences and more.
63. Tropicana Nutrition Institute: This worldwide organization encourages discussion about nutrition science, general health and more.
64. National Association of Sports Nutrition: Access certification programs, jobs and more through this network.
65. Ask the Dietician: Learn about a different specialty on this site, which provides dietitians’ answers to questions about food allergies, cholesterol, migraines, junk food and more.
66. NutriCoach: Become a member to access file sharing capabilities, videos, nutrition and health news and more.
67. Fat Secret: Learn about different diets, share recipes, maintain a food diary and network on this site.
68. dietGuild: Join this group to share tips and build up your business, or refer clients to the community to get inspired to lose weight.
69. Wellsphere: This site encourages users to "indulge in healthier living." Learn about local gyms and exercise opportunities, meet other members and read about healthy eating.
70. The DailyPlate: This fun to use tracker lets you create a page and join groups, search diets and maintain a free food diary.

Healthy Food Guides and Recipes Continue learning about healthy eating, vitamins, recipes and organic eating to share the newest trends and news with clients.

71. Shopping Tips for Healthy Eating: Read this article to help your clients figure out smart shopping tips.
72. Top Tips for Eating More Fruit and Veg: This easy guide can help stubborn and picky eaters incorporate more fruits and veggies into their diet.
73. NutritionData blog: This diet and fitness blog has great recipe ideas, motivation for working out and more.
74. 4 Best Web Tools to Help You Eat Local: Encourage your clients to eat local, which will motivate them to try out seasonal vegetables and more produce in general.
75. DietDetective: Visit this site to learn about different types of healthy foods, read blogs about diet and nutrition, perform a food search and more.
76. VegWeb: Find all types of vegetarian recipes here.
77. Healthy Desserts on a Budget: Share these yummy but healthy dessert ideas with clients concerned with their food budgets.
78. 5 Best and Healthiest Foods: This guide, written by dietitians, includes soy, greens, berries, salmon and whole grains.
79. Cheap Healthy Good: Visit this blog to get recipe ideas and information about buying local.
80. The World’s Healthiest Foods: Get nutrition information, recipe ideas and more on the world’s healthiest foods and ingredients here.

Learning About Different Food, Medical and Diet Plans To broaden your expertise, learn about different food plans, special diets and medical conditions that affect diet.

81. Diet Pyramids: Get an overview of the traditional diet pyramids, as well as a Mediterranean diet pyramid, Latin American diet pyramid and others.
82. Diabetes Healthy Eating Tools: Tools in this set include a blood sugar demo, breakfast matchmaker, carb choices calculator minerals guide and more.
83. Healthy Eating at Any Age: Check this guide for an estimate of the daily caloric needs of males and females from toddler age to over 50.
84. The Dysphagia Calculator: If you have clients with dysphagia, use this tool to create menu plans.
85. Seafood Watch: For diets rich in seafood, track local fish populations and use the mercury calculator.
86. The Athlete’s Calculator: Athletes need special diet plans, and you can use this tool to stay organized.
87. 20 Unhealthy Foods That You Think are Healthy but are Actually Killing You Slowly: Get the lowdown on labels that claim to be "fat free" and "sugar free" here.
88. Special Diets and Recipes: If you have a client with heartburn, cancer or high cholesterol, use this list to come up with healthy and safe recipes.
89. Special Diets Resource Guide: Find recipes and food information for clients with celiac disease, ADD, egg allergies, nut and peanut allergies and more.
90. Food and Diet: This website has lots of great recipe ideas for picky eaters, as well as nutrition information and details for low fat, high protein and low calorie diets.

Educational and Professional Tools and Guides Here you can find salary reports, education programs and job boards for nutritionists and dietitians.

91. Dietitians and Nutritionists: Get an overview of salary information, education and training, job outlook and more for these two occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
92. Nutrition Education: Learn about the types of classes and programs nutrition students will be expected to take.
93. Who is a Dietitian and What is a Nutritionist?: Find out what these two professionals do on a daily basis, where to find dietitians in your area, median salary information and more.
94. Dietitians and Nutrition: Look up programs and continuing education credits for dietitians and nutritionists here.
95. Nutrition Jobs: This job board is just for job seekers and employers in the nutrition industry, and featured employers include ARAMARK, Healthcare Services Group and Sodexo.
96. RDLink Jobs: Search for jobs in the diet and nutrition industry here.
97. DietitianNutritionist.com: Search for jobs, continuing education resources, publications and more on this site.
98. Nutrition Explorations: Find education materials and more on this site for nutrition professionals, parents and educators.
99. National Dairy Council Nutrition Education Materials: From kids’ health education tools to client education tools, you’ll find what you need to teach your clients about nutrition here.
100. Nutritionist: Check out this information from The Princeton Review about what it takes to become a nutritionist.

Insurance This list is full of articles and tips for understanding what kind of health insurance you need, how to get it, and how to stand up for your rights against insurance agencies.

1. Health Insurance 101: Get an overview of the major types of health insurance, as well as definitions of health insurance terms like PPO, HMO, co-payments and more on this website.
2. Health Insurance is Complicated…: RevolutionHealth’s health insurance guide includes tips on using your plan, understanding medical privacy, tips on changing your insurance, figuring out payment options and more.
3. A Consumer Guide to Handling Disputes with Your Employer or Private Health Plan: This guide is from 2005 but still features significant points for consumers who want to file a claim or make a complaint about their health insurance.
4. Health Insurance for Freelancers: Professionals who are self-employed can learn about their health insurance options here.
5. How to Pick and Insurance Plan You Can Afford: This news article encourages consumers to think about generic vs. brand-name drug coverage, lifetime coverage limit and other factors.
6. Health Insurance Eligibility Quiz: Take this quiz to find out if you can receive subsidized or low-cost insurance.
7. Artist’s Health Insurance: Here you can learn about temporary health insurance, discounts, networks that provide health insurance and more.
8. Medicare.gov: This official website has information and tools for drug coverage, lowering your health care costs and more.
9. Health Insurance: Understanding Your Health Plan’s Rules: This article goes over all the grim realities of health insurance plans.
10. 6 Tips to Choosing the Right Health Insurance: Reporter Jean Chatzky’s tips include asking a broker, setting up a health savings account and negotiating your prescriptions.

Health Records Keep track of your medical records with these innovative online tools.

11. HealthRecordsOnline: Pay for a subscription to this company’s services, and you’ll be able to access your health records and let your caregiver find your records online.
12. HealthVault: Microsoft’s HealthVault is free to use and lets members "collect, store and share information with family members" and eventually doctors.
13. Access My Records: This program lets medical professionals view your records from a cell phone through your AccessID card.
14. iHealthRecord: This program works with Google Health and doctors around the country to keep your health information safe and cohesive.
15. healthizen: This site lets members manage their health records, understand and read their vitals, figure out risk assessments, access health and diet calculators and more.
16. Personal Medical Diary: Keep track of your medication, pharmacies, doctors, tests, office visits, vitals and more with this tool.
17. Your Personal Health Record: This online diary lets you organize pages to keep track of emergency contact information, vital signs, appointments, medical history, prescriptions and more. Fill in your information and the portable booklet will be mailed to you.
18. Google Health: Organize your health records and information on Google Health, a program that can also share your records with doctors.
19. Consider your priorities: Determine what kind of online medical records system you want to set up. Do you want one that will help doctors in another part of the country access your records in case of a vacation-related emergency? Or, do you want a program that lets you and your regular doctor share files and lab results more quickly and without office visits?
20. Remember your privacy: Sure, it’s more convenient, but remember to be extremely defensive regarding your medical privacy. Set up passwords, make sure your Internet connection is safe, and find out exactly who is going to be peeking at your medical records before you set up an online system.

Locating Medical Care When you need help locating medical care while you’re on vacation or when you’ve just moved to a new town, use these tools to locate hospitals and clinics. You can also find specialists in your own hometown.

21. AMA DoctorFinder: The American Medical Association allows you to search "virtually every licensed physician in the United States" using this tool.
22. WebMD Physician Directory: Once you’ve looked up your symptoms on WebMD, search for a doctor in your area by zip code, city, state, last name or specialty.
23. FamilyDoctor.org: Click on a state or type in your zip code to start this family doctor search.
24. Find a Hospital: MedlinePlus’ directory lets you search by name, zip code or city to connect patients to nearby hospitals.
25. DoctorDirectory.com Specialty Search: Browse specialties like osteopathic medicine, family practice, radiology and X-rays, allergies, infectious disease and more with this tool.
26. UCompareHealthCare: This service is linked with About.com and gives the public the tools to compare and locate doctors and hospitals, nursing homes, fertility clinics, mammography centers and more.

Home Remedies and Alternative Medicine Discover what home remedies and alternative medicine can do for your health and your medical care budget.

27. Medline Plus Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Look up your symptoms and more in the directories and reference guides on this site.
28. Home Remedies: Look up remedies for conditions like arthritis, indigestion, hay fever, yeast infections, nausea and more on this site.
29. Natural Herbs Guide: From Chinese herbs to antioxidants to herbal medicine, use this guide to ease symptoms without paying too much at the pharmacy.
30. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Here you’ll find alternative and natural medical treatments from a safe, authoritative source.

Free and Discounted Medical Care and Tools For links to free and/or discounted medical care, look here.

31. HRSA Find a Health Center: This government site connects Americans to federally-funded health care centers.
32. Free and/or Low Cost Medical Care: This About.com article outlines free clinics for children and adults.
33. MediLexicon Internet Browser Medical Toolbar: Install this web surfing tool in order to quickly look up medical abbreviations, terms in a medical dictionary, access pharmaceutical companies and more.
34. Harvard Medical School Open Course Initiative: To learn more about your body, drugs, pain management, biology and other medical and health care issues, take a free class from Harvard Medical School through this system.
35. FreeMedicalCamps.com: Look up free clinics and dental clinics by state using this tool.

Authoritative Websites for Diagnosis and Advice Go beyond Google-ing your symptoms when you look up diseases, ask a specialist, and take advantage of the free medical tools on these sites.

36. Healthline: Look up information on diseases or search your symptoms on this site.
37. WebMD: This awesome site features medical articles, a pill identifier, hospital and doctor finder, discussion boards, personal health record and more.
38. MayoClinic.com: Access free medical tools to determine your health, risk factors and symptoms. MayoClinic.com also publishes articles from doctors and nurses, and you can even submit questions to be answered by specialists.
39. Wrong Diagnosis: Avoid misdiagnosing your symptoms when you take a closer look at the tools and articles on this site. Nothing can compare with a visit to your doctor, but this site can get you started.
40. HealthCentral.com: This network features articles, videos, Q&A opportunities, health tools, a drug library and a lot more.
41. MedicalStudent.com: Access textbooks and more from top medical schools by visiting this site.
42. Medscape: WebMD’s other site, Medscape, invites the public to visit its specialty sites to learn more about certain conditions and treatments. Browse specialties like HIV/AIDS, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, dermatology and others.
43. HRSA.gov: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides information and links to sites about transplants and organ donation, free health care, vaccine injuries and more.

Tips for Organization and Budgeting Keeping your medical records and health history organized is paramount to saving money and staying healthy. Get more tips and tools here.

44. Family Health Budget: Use this tool to organize your family’s medical expenses online.
45. 50 Easy Tips to Lower Your Healthcare Expenses: Get insurance hacks and more from this article.
46. Paying for health care in retirement: This guide will help you plan for the high medical expenses you may incur during retirement.
47. Start a health savings account: Starting a health savings account is becoming a more popular solution for many Americans.
48. Organize your health: Here you’ll find out what you need to include in an organized medical history diary.
49. Planning for Health Emergencies Eases Stress of Family Travel: Before going on vacation or sending your children off to college, come up with a medical care plan just in case.
50. Medical Power of Attorney Form: Fill out and submit a form like this one to designate someone to make all medical decisions for you in case you’re unable to do so.

Beginners If you’re just getting started, you’ll want to check out these videos for yoga beginners.

1. Kundalini Yoga for Beginners and Beyond: Watch this video to get an introduction to Kundalini yoga.
2. Kabbalah Yoga for Ambitious Beginners: Get the basics of Kabbalah yoga from this routine.
3. Yoga for Beginners: Patricia Walden shows you how to get started with yoga.
4. Full Spectrum Yoga for Beginners: Watch this video to learn how to do full spectrum yoga.
5. Denise Austin Xtralight Beginners Yoga Essentials: Learn really easy yoga moves from Denise Austin in this video.
6. Beginner Yoga with Shiva Rea: Shiva Rea will guide you though a beginner’s yoga sequence.
7. Element Yoga for Beginners: Elena Brower walks you through a variety of different basic yoga poses.
8. Lunar Yoga Sequence for Beginners: Desi Bartlett’s Lunar Yoga sequence incorporates slow, deep stretches.
9. Best Beginner Kundalini Yoga Exercises: Get started with Kundalini yoga by using this video.

Remedies See how yoga can be used to heal in these videos.

10. Kundalini Yoga Headache Remedy Interactive: With the instruction in this video, you can learn how to cure headaches with Kundalini yoga.
11. Yoga for stress management: Watch the Mayo Clinic’s yoga video to get your stress under control.
12. How to do Restorative Poses in Yoga: Watch this video to learn about restorative yoga poses.
13. How to do Restorative Poses in Yoga Part 2: Learn even more restorative yoga poses in this tutorial video.
14. Your Ticket to Weight Loss: Yoga: This video explains how you can use yoga for weight loss.
15. Avoid Aches by Doing Yoga: Watch this video to learn how you can avoid aches, pains, and injuries with yoga.
16. How to Relax with Yoga: Unwind from a busy day with the yoga presented in this video.
17. Stress Relief Yoga: Relieve your stress with this yoga video for beginners.
18. Yoga for Neck Pain: Relieve the pain in your neck with this instructional video.
19. Yoga for Sleep, Insomnia, or Deep Relaxation: Become calm, restful and relaxed instantly by using the yoga exercises in this video.

Training Check out these videos to learn about how yoga can improve your sports training.

20. Yoga for Surfers: Fluid Power Yoga: These yoga poses will make you a more powerful surfer.
21. Yoga Exercises to Burn Fat and Lose Weight: The yoga exercises in this set will help you lose weight, burn fat, and tone your muscles.
22. Yoga for Board Sports: Learn about yoga balance, breathing, and meditation that can help you with board sports.
23. Athlete Yoga: Watch this video to learn a few useful yoga postures for athletes.
24. Yoga for Weight Loss: This video offers a calorie burning yoga sequence for your whole body.
25. Yoga for Surfers: Fit, Focused, Fearless: This strengthening and stretching routine will improve your fitness as a surfer.
26. Breathing Exercises-Introduction to Pranayama: Gain the ability to breathe deeply and fully with this video’s instruction.
27. Yoga for Fitness, Wellness, Mental Health, and a Flexible Body: Cass Naumann explains the benefits of yoga and shows you how to do different yoga positions and poses.
28. Introduction to Yoga for Surfers: Find poses and postures to do before, during, and after your surf in this video.

Yoga Systems Learn about new and different yoga systems like Hatha, Kabbalah, and Ashtanga yoga in these videos.

29. Hatha Yoga Video Class: Check out this video to learn about Hatha yoga.
30. Preparing for the Light-Kabbalah Yoga: Even if you have no yoga experience, you can try this Kaballah yoga video.
31. A Guide to Hatha Yoga: Find out how to do Hatha yoga with this video.
32. How to do Guided Relaxation in Ashtanga Yoga: Check out this video to learn how to relax in Ashtanga yoga.
33. A Guide to Kundalini Yoga: This video explains the basics of Kundalini yoga.
34. A Guide to Ashtanga Yoga: Watch this video to learn basic poses and concepts from Ashtanga yoga.
35. Hatha Yoga Flow: Watch a full 43 minute Hatha yoga class in this video.

Morning Exercises Get your day started off right with these yoga morning rituals.

36. Morning Yoga: In this video, you’ll see yoga positions that are great for waking up.
37. AM Energizer: Try this video’s routine, and you won’t need coffee in the morning.
38. Morning Yoga Energizer: Get energized for the day with this video’s routine.
39. Wake up Yoga in Bed: Use your bed as a yoga mat and wake up energized using the yoga sequence in this video.
40. Model Yoga: Morning Routine: Adopt this video as part of your morning routine for more energy and better health.
41. Wake up Happy With Esther: Improve your morning mood and start your day right with this yoga video.

Sexual Health The exercises in these yoga videos will help you improve your virility and sexual satisfaction.

42. Yoga for Better Sex: Watch this yoga routine to learn how to release tension for better sex.
43. Advanced Sacral Sex Chakra Yoga: These yoga exercises will help you become more virile.
44. Tantric Yoga for Lovers: Increase your sexual energy and share a yoga routine with your partner by following this instructional video.
45. Better Sex Through Yoga: Watch a Better Sex Through Yoga class in this video.
46. Basic Tantra Yoga: Follow Julia Tindall through a basic pelvic and heart warming tantra yoga exercise.

Problem Areas Work out specific parts of your body with these yoga videos.

47. Abs Yoga Workout for Beginners: With these yoga poses, you’ll be able to firm up your abs.
48. How to do the Six Moves of the Spine: Pay special attention to your spine with these yoga poses.
49. Radiating Yoga Abs Workout with Shiva Rea: Shiva Rea’s yoga video will show you how to strengthen your core with yoga.
50. Yoga for Your Eyes-Using Yoga to Heal: This video will show you how yoga can improve your sight.
51. Yoga Quick Fix for Calves and Shins: Watch this video to find out how to quickly tighten your calves and shins.
52. Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain: Watch Michael Riel’s video designed to release your neck and shoulder muscles.
53. How to Perform Arm Balance in Yoga: Check out this video to learn how to balance your arms while doing yoga.
54. Yoga for Killer Legs: This yoga routine will help you build great legs.
55. Core Yoga Exercises for Ripped Abs: Build six-pack abs with these yoga exercises that are great for your core.
56. Yoga Girl: Yoga Exercise Routine: Improve your posture with the poses in this video.
57. Yoga for Stiff Shoulders: Relieve shoulder pain and make your shoulders more flexible by using this video’s instructions.
58. How to do Dynamic Core Work in Yoga: Bring dynamic core work into your yoga session with this video.
59. How to do Static Core Work in Yoga: Similar to dynamic core work, this video demonstrates static core work in yoga.
60. Back Insurance: Check out this video to find a yoga post that will help prevent back injury.
61. Developing Arm Strength: Make your upper body and arms stronger with these intermediate and advanced yoga postures.

Specific Poses & Postures Follow these videos along to learn how to do yoga poses and postures.

62. Full Saddle Pose in Yoga: John Paul Grilley demonstrates the full saddle pose.
63. Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Demonstrate Tree Pose: Learn how to do the tree pose from these two instructors.
64. Yoga Deep Breathing Exercise: Open up energy pathways and improve your respiratory system with this breathing exercise.
65. Plank Pose: With the plank pose, you’ll strengthen your abs, arms, and legs.
66. How to do Unlinked Sun Salutes in Yoga: With this video, you’ll learn how to do unlinked sun salutes.
67. How to do Breath in Time in Yoga: Manipulate your breath in time with this video.
68. Plank Pose Flow in Yoga: Learn how to do the plank pose from this video.
69. Yoga Postures-The Warrior: Strengthen your entire body with the warrior posture.
70. How to do the Cobra Pose in Yoga: This video will show you how to perfect the cobra pose.
71. Yoga Class Session-A Routine of 20 Yoga Postures: Learn 20 different postures from this yoga video.
72. How to do a Yoga Stretching Exercise: Find out how to properly stretch in yoga with this video.
73. Advanced Yoga Headstand: Here you’ll find a challenging way to get into a headstand.
74. Camel and Bear Poses in Yoga: Learn how to do the Camel and Bear poses in Yin yoga from this video.
75. Yoga for Flexibility: Designed for both beginners and intermediate yoga students, this class will show you how to improve your flexibility with yoga.
76. How to do Closing in Yoga: This video demonstrates a final yoga position.

Prenatal Yoga Improve the health of your pregnancy by using the yoga techniques in these videos.

77. An Introduction to Prenatal Yoga for Pregnant Women: Get started with prenatal yoga using this video.
78. Goddess Pose for Parental Yoga: Prepare for labor, delivery, and recovery with this prenatal pose.
79. Pregnancy Yoga: See the routine that a yoga expert has done throughout her pregnancy in this video.
80. Opening Breath for Parental Yoga: Improve your breathing techniques with this yoga video.
81. Leg Drop Pose for Prenatal Yoga: Practice the leg drop pose using the instructions in this video.
82. Prenatal Yoga Positions and Techniques: Learn a few different prenatal yoga poses from this video.
83. Yoga for Pregnancy, Labor and Birth: Rid yourself of aches and strengthen your body for labor and delivery with the exercises shown in this video.
84. Prenatal Yoga Squat Position for Pregnant Women: This video will show you how to do the yoga squat position as a pregnant woman.
85. 9 1/2 Months Pregnant Jess Wants Her Baby Now!: Watch this video to learn about labor inducing pressure points.

Office Stay healthy at the office with these simple yoga videos for work.

86. Subtle Stretches to Use at Work: Stretch out your sore muscles at work with this video.
87. Office Yoga with Tara Stiles: Relieve tension in your shoulders, lower back and wrists with this video’s yoga exercises.
88. Side Stretch Exercise for Office Yoga: Watch this video to learn how to do a side stretch exercise at work.
89. Desktop Office Yoga Step 1- To Prepare: Get ready to do office yoga with this instructional video.
90. Desktop Office Yoga Step 2- Arm Raise: Stretch your arms with this office yoga video.
91. Desktop Office Yoga Step 3- Chest Stretch: Follow this office yoga video to stretch your chest.
92. Hip Stretch Exercise for Office Yoga: Stretch out your hips at work with this yoga exercise for the office.
93. Breathing Meditation for Energy: Get more energy with these yoga breathing and meditation techniques you can use at the office.
94. Seated Twist with Legs Crossed Exercise for Office Yoga: Try this seated yoga twist exercise to stretch out at work.
95. Thigh Stretch Exercise for Office Yoga: Use these yoga thigh stretches to loosen up at the office.
96. Spine Stretch Exercise for Office Yoga: This video will show you how to stretch your spine at work with simple yoga spine exercises.

Yoga for Kids Practice yoga with your kids with the help of these videos.

97. Yoga for Kids: Silly to Calm: Calm your kids down by doing these yoga poses with them.
98. Your Move by WhimYoga: In this video, parents and children instruct each other to do yoga moves.
99. Kids’ Yoga: See how a few kids do yoga on Fox and Friends.
100. My First Yoga: Watch a kids’ yoga class in action in this video and follow along with your children.

To that end, the ideas listed below will provide you with useful and credible links for more information. Although these links are numbered, they are not listed by value. Your Heart | Ethnicity & Heredity | Blood Pressure | Cholesterol | Diabetes | Altering Habits | Diet | Exercise | Emotional Aspects | Aging

Your Heart

In previous generations, accidents, poor sanitation and childhood diseases were the big three that contributed to a shorter life span. Today, a full third of all Americans will cut their life short with heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 696,947 people died of heart disease in 2002, and fifty-one percent of those deaths included women. The total equaled twenty-nine percent of all U.S. deaths. If you want to live to age 99, your heart’s health is an important ingredient in meeting your goal. The habits listed below, therefore, can help you take the first steps toward your goal:

1. Learn more: This link will take you to the American Heart Association, where you can continue to learn about heart disease as long as you live. Basically, diseases of the heart an circulatory system are called cardiovascular disease, or CVD. CVD comes in two main forms: heart disease (CHD) and stroke. A heart attack occurs when an individual develops a blockage in one of the arteries supplying blood to his or her heart. A stroke is the result of a blockage in one of the arteries to the brain. In either case, the story is the same. Lack of blood stops the heart or brain from working so the body shuts down. CVD is the number one cause of death in America.
2. Learn the symptoms: Almost a full half of cardiac deaths occur before emergency services or transport to a hospital. When you learn the symptoms of heart disease, you may prevent a fatal occurrence. If you feel that you fit any of the profiles listed on this link to WebMD, then contact your physician immediately for more information, no matter your age.
3. Ethnicity matters: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, African Americans, Hispanics and Caucasian individuals. But, this picture is general, as scientists have found over the past few decades that some groups of people seem to be spiking in heart disease. The other factors to consider include income level, physical activity, eating habits and more.
4. Heredity matters as well: In a study concluded in 2007, a team at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health found that, regardless of age or lifestyle factors, if any sibling, brother or sister suffers a heart attack or chest pain from blocked arteries, the chances of any healthy brothers developing similar problems rises within ten years by twenty percent. If your siblings, parents or grandparents have a history of heart disease, don’t ignore the possibility that you inherited their problems.
5. Check your blood pressure: Of the 50 million Americans who have high blood pressure (the leading contributor to heart disease) thirty-five percent don’t know they have it. High blood pressure is easily detectable and usually controllable. An inexpensive blood pressure cuff and gauge, available at most drug stores, can be used regularly to monitor your blood pressure.
6. Control your ‘bad’ cholesterol: It’s proven that the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Studies among people with heart disease have shown that lowering high blood cholesterol can reduce the risk of dying of heart disease, having a nonfatal heart attack, and needing heart bypass surgery or angioplasty. Studies among people without heart disease have shown that lowering high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure can reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
7. Avoid or control diabetes: More than sixty-five percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. With diabetes, heart attacks occur earlier in life and often result in death. By managing diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, people with diabetes can reduce their risk.
8. Avoid or quit smoking: Cigarette smoking accounts for about one-fifth of all deaths from heart disease in the United States. Smokers have a two- to fourfold increase in coronary artery disease and about a 70 percent higher death rate from coronary artery disease than do nonsmokers. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, as former smokers have the same risk levels as nonsmokers after five to fifteen years.
9. Increase physical activity: Physical inactivity is estimated to cause 1.9 million premature deaths worldwide annually, and a lack of exercise or physical activity contributes to an increase in heart disease, Type II diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity and premature aging.
10. Maintain a healthy weight: This link will take you to the Texas Heart Institute, where you’ll learn that obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease. When you consider that one out of every three Americans are "obese," you may realize that the numbers of Americans who will die from heart disease will increase drastically from the 2002 numbers listed previously. Lose weight, so you won’t become a statistic at an early age.

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Ethnicity & Heredity

More and more health sites have focused on ethnicity and heredity as factors in longevity. Although you cannot control these factors, your ability to live a longer life can increase if you develop a habit around learning about your risk factors. The following links will lead you to more information so that you can begin to try to live a longer life. Much more study is anticipated in this arena, so it might help to stay abreast of any news. Much can change in the next 99 years…

11. Lose inherited bad habits: According to Rowe and Kahn, authors of Successful Aging, genetics count only for thirty percent of an individual’s ability to achieve longevity. Sometimes, the habits that individuals "inherit" are the culprits behind a short lifespan. "People tend to live and eat the same as their relatives."
12. Know your cancer risks: African Americans are 50 percent more likely to develop esophageal cancer than whites. Most esophageal cancers in African Americans are the squamous cell type. In contrast, adenocarcinomas are the most common form of esophageal cancer in whites. These ethnic differences might be attributed to interaction between genetic and lifestyle factors, such as genetic susceptibility to carcinogens and ethnic variations in exposure to certain pollutants.
13. Learn more about cancer: Cancer is the leading cause of death for Asians and Pacific Islanders accounting for 26.1 percent of all deaths. But, while cancer may be selective in some cases, but it can strike anyone. Learn more about all types of cancer and about your risks at this link to the American Cancer Society.
14. You can inherit high blood pressure: You have a higher risk of high blood pressure if you have a family history of the disease. High blood pressure also is more common in African Americans than in Caucasians. Take advantage of the tips listed below to learn more about how to manage this deterrent to longevity.
15. Learn about familial hypercholesterolemia: Your genes influence how high your LDL ("bad") cholesterol is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood. One specific form of inherited high cholesterol that affects 1 in 500 people is familial hypercholesterolemia, which often leads to early heart disease. But even if you do not have a specific genetic form of high cholesterol, genes play a role in influencing your LDL-cholesterol level, no matter your ethnicity.
16. Understand diabetes risks: Some ethnic groups, particularly African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic Americans, have higher risk factors for diabetes. But, if you don’t belong to any of these ethnic groups, don’t act smug just yet – if you have a parent or sibling who has diabetes – no matter your ethnicity – your risk level just went up as well.
17. Learn more about your ancestry: Many people know very little about their grandparents or great-grandparents. Yet, these individuals may hold the key to your longevity. Begin to learn more about how to research your ancestry at RootsWeb or through Cyndi’s List – two other sites that hold valuable information.
18. Test your DNA: Prices on DNA self-testing have fallen dramatically since this concept was introduced several years ago. While DNA testing is fairly accurate, be aware that some tests are erroneous. But, some tests are very accurate, so be prepared to learn that you may not be who you thought you were. DNA testing can cut through traditional family oral histories like a knife and reveal genetic secrets that may have been hidden for generations.
19. Look for risk factors: This link will take you to a story about a certain drug used to treat epilepsy that is distributed in Canada. It seems this drug may create an increased risk of serious skin reactions for patients of Asian descent. This is the type of news that can help you to avoid health risks, but only if you know your ethnicity and heritage.

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Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer," as the symptoms are invisible. The only way to survive high blood pressure problems is to test yourself regularly and to change your habits to fit those listed below:

20. Learn about this silent killer: High blood pressure that goes undetected or isn’t properly controlled can lead to heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke or premature death. Yet, high blood pressure often goes undetected as it shows very few symptoms. Learn more, otherwise this ’silent killer’ may thwart your ‘live to 99′ goal.
21. Learn about risk factors: If you have kidney disease, are obese, inactive or if you drink alcohol frequently, you might want to check your blood pressure on a regular basis. Diabetics and women who take oral contraceptives also need to be aware of their risks for high blood pressure.
22. Learn how to take your own blood pressure: The information contained at this link will help you get started with self-monitoring at home.
23. Learn about healthy blood pressure rates: Now that you know how to take your own blood pressure, you can compare your blood pressure rates among other people in your age group with these charts.
24. Learn about hypertension: Hypertension is the term that medical professionals use to describe high blood pressure. Some factors are easily controlled, while other factors – like heredity and ethnicity – can’t be changed. But, awareness of these factors can alert you to maintain vigilance on checking your blood pressure.
25. Learn which medicines to take: Some doctors may put you on medicine to help regulate your blood pressure if you have hypertension or prehypertension (warning signs of high blood pressure). Be aware that you may not be able to take some medications, and that you may not be able to mix other prescription or over-the-counter meds with your blood pressure pills. Once you begin to take medication for high blood pressure, you may need to take it for the rest of your life. So, ask your caregiver about a trial period first to see how you might react.
26. Lose weight: Although some folks find it difficult to lose weight, a matter of just ten pounds can decrease your risk for high blood pressure. But, crash diets don’t cut the cake. Learn how to lose weight safely through this link.
27. Watch your sodium intake: Even if you aren’t overweight and if your blood pressure is normal, you can decrease your chances of developing hypertension if you watch your sodium intake (frozen food often is a culprit) and use spices on your food instead.
28. Say hi to the Dash Diet: This diet was created specifically for people who suffer from hypertension. This plan, which is endorsed by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health, has been proven to lower blood pressure in just two weeks through an increase in fruits, vegetables, grains and low-fat dairy foods to help keep your blood pressure happy.
29. Limit alcohol intake: Studies have shown that moderate drinking can raise levels of "good cholesterol," which helps prevent harmful blood clots and helps keep blood flowing smoothly through our bodies, reducing risks of heart attack and stroke. But, anything over a glass or two daily can create problems for some individuals. It can interfere with medications, add calories and increase blood pressure.

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Cholesterol

High cholesterol is another silent killer. Learn more how to manage this disease, which you can reverse once you’ve been diagnosed.

30. Learn about cholesterol: All humans have cholesterol. But, some cholesterol is ‘good,’ and some is ‘bad.’ Learn about the difference so you can live longer.
31. Learn about symptoms: Surprise. There’s not much to learn here, because – like high blood pressure – high cholesterol shows no symptoms. Like blood pressure, you can learn about your cholesterol levels through routine testing. Unlike blood pressure, this test something that you cannot do at home yourself.
32. Get the most out of your tests: If you’ve never been tested for high cholesterol, it might be best to obtain a complete lipid profile. This test can perform a base for future tests. The best time to have this series of tests done is when you’re healthy (wait a few weeks after any illness). But, if that’s not possible, do it anyway so that you’ll have something to work with in the future.
33. Test your body fat: Although this test will not provide the precise information that a lipid test will offer, you can bet your cookies that this self-test will let you know if your weight is a factor in possible cholesterol problems. This link, by the way, will take you to the Cholesterol Network, a great resource designed to prevent and reduce high cholesterol.
34. Learn what cholesterol levels mean: This concise list will provide all the information you’ll need to know about how to decrease your "bad" cholesterol.
35. Meet the NCEP: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) launched the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in November 1985. The goal of the NCEP is to contribute to reducing illness and death from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the United States by reducing the percent of Americans with high blood cholesterol. If you seriously want to increase your longevity, you will visit this site.
36. Avoid medication when possible: Cholesterol-lowering medicine often contains statins, which have side effects that can include intestinal problems, liver damage and muscle soreness for some people. Instead of jumping on the medicine bandwagon, work with your physician to try a remedy of diet and exercise for six months to a year first. If that doesn’t lower your cholesterol levels, then talk with your doctor about the possibility of symptoms before you take any medication. Or, talk with your doctor about other alternatives.
37. Link health issues together: If you have high blood pressure, then you may have high cholesterol as well. A 2006 study suggested that high total cholesterol may also contribute to the development of high blood pressure in men.
38. Women should watch HDL levels: In one study, at total cholesterol levels above 200, women with HDL levels below 50 had a higher death rate than those with levels above 50, regardless of their LDL cholesterol levels. Testing, diet, exercise and a doctor’s advice can help women overcome this problem.
39. Learn your fats: Not all fats are ‘bad,’ and you need some fat in your diet to maintain a well-lubricated circulatory system. Read about the ‘good’ fats that will help you live to age 99.

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Diabetes

The incident of diabetes, especially Type II, is on the rise. You can measure how well you’re doing with your goal to reach age 99 if you haven’t developed this disease, as Type II diabetes is the result of doing everything you can do to shorten your lifespan. Read on…

40. Learn about diabetes: This simple tutorial on diabetes explains Type I and Type II diabetes. The latter type usually occurs in adults over 35 years old, but can affect anyone, including children. The National Institutes of Health state that 95 percent of all diabetes cases are Type II, which is triggered by obesity, a lack of exercise, increased age and to some degree, genetic predisposition.
41. Learn your risk: Take this simple test to see if you’re at risk for diabetes. Even if your risk factors are low, you’ll learn that some factors like age, race, and family history of diabetes cannot be changed. In this case, there are things you can do to avoid developing full-blown diabetes.
42. Learn the symptoms: The American Diabetes Association states that diabetes often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms seem harmless. But, if you’re aware of the symptoms (and there are seven of them), then you can decrease your chances of developing complications from this disease.
43. Scare yourself silly: If the symptoms above aren’t enough to motivate you to prevent diabetes, learn more about how this disease can affect you. You can lose your eyesight, lose entire limbs, your kidneys can fail (yes, we’re talking dialysis) and it causes almost a full half of all fatal heart attacks.
44. Learn about tests: If you develop any of the above symptoms, contact your caregiver to schedule a test for diabetes. You can learn about all the tests at this link.
45. Test at home: In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the first over-the-counter test that measures glycated hemoglobin in people with diabetes to help monitor how well they are managing their disease (glycemic control). Now, individuals can obtain test kits without a prescription. These kits provide immediate results of blood sugar levels, but the person who uses home testing must understand what the test reveals.
46. Exercise, no matter what: Results from a 19 year international study with 3,708 patients with Type II diabetes, men and women, 25-to-74 years old, has shown that increasing physical activity reduced the risk of death for men and women of all ages, smokers and nonsmokers alike, regardless of body mass index, blood pressure or cholesterol level.
47. Create a healthy diet plan: For most diabetics, a ’special’ diabetic diet means eating in moderation, at regular times, and choosing a diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
48. Go ahead, dine out: The American Diabetes Association provides some simple guidelines to eating out at restaurants for those who need to watch their diabetes (or for anyone who wants to make healthy food choices).
49. Lose weight: Even people who have prediabetes (people at risk of developing full-blown diabetes) and who are obese can stop the progression of this disease if they lose weight. The healthy diet plans outlined in the links above will help anyone lose weight if he or she normally doesn’t eat a healthy diet.

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Altering Habits

Changing a lifestyle is not easy, and new habits sometimes are difficult to learn. But, the following habits can help you reach that age 99 goal with some degree of fun, excitement and ease.

50. Sell yourself on lifestyle changes: Some dietary (or physical) changes may need to be conducted immediately, especially if you discover that you have dangerously high blood pressure or prediabetes. Otherwise, you may need to sell yourself on lifestyle changes to avoid life-shortening problems down the road. This article will give you a leg up on making those moves.
51. Find help: The Helpguide.org site linked here is just one of many sites that can provide valuable information on various diseases and healthier living. The mission mission for this site is to empower you and your loved ones to understand, prevent, and resolve life’s challenges in mental health, relationships, lifestyle and aging.
52. Find support: While this link points to a ‘weight loss buddy’ site, you can find other sites that have forums or other means to contact people who may share your goal of making it to age 99. These sites may include those that focus only on people who have high blood pressure, or on those who are living with cancer. When you’re making lifestyle changes, it’s always easier to reach your goals when you’re not alone.
53. Set goals: One of the factors for successful eating changes is to set a goal first. If you need to lose weight, then determine how much weight you want to lose. If you want to cut sugar or salt intake, then learn about the foods you’ll need to eliminate from your diet. Small goals, or ‘one step at a time’ goals will help you feel more successful and more willing to tackle the next goal.
54. Make healthier choices one step at a time: For instance, if you’re making a trip to the grocery store, then plan ahead, eat before you shop, and shop around the perimeter of the store where the healthiest foods are located. This is just one step in the path to creating a healthier lifestyle.
55. Keep a journal: This link is to just one of many sources online where you can keep track of what you eat. Other journals might help you to keep track of what you eat as well as your exercise routine. No matter what you use, journals can help you keep track of small successes and setbacks. If you keep a journal, you can learn more about yourself and why you succeeded in one instance and failed in another.
56. Laugh more: Laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function. Some research suggests that laughter may also reduce the risk of heart disease. If you surf to the link attached to this tip, you’ll learn that laughter does much, much more – and the results are all positive. If you’re planning to live a long time, then you might want to laugh – and laugh often.
57. Reward yourself: It’s a good idea to reward yourself for your lifestyle changes, but, don’t do it with food. Instead, take yourself to a movie or spend time relaxing in a hot bath. Read a book, visit friends or do whatever it takes to feel like you’ve just patted yourself on the back. If you don’t know how to reward yourself, you might learn – after all, you’re going to live until you’re age 99, right? Long time to go without some sort of self-indulgence!

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Diet

If you’ve read through this list to this point, then you know that good nutrition is a cornerstone to a healthy life. And, a healthy life can be a longer life. The following habits will help you reach this goal.

58. Avoid fruit juices: Unless you own a juicer, it’s best if you avoid fruit juice. Many brand juices contain up to ten teaspoons of sugar per cup. The exception is some organic or natural juice products that contain only juice. This is especially true for children. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children who drink too much juice can become obese, develop cavities, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems such as excessive gas, bloating and abdominal pain.
59. Eat more fresh fruit: Canned fruits often contain sugary syrup and dried fruits often are high in calories. Fresh, or even frozen, fruit is a much better choice. Eat a variety of fruits to get the full impact of their healthy contributions.
60. Avoid fried foods: Fried vegetables are not as good as raw, baked, steamed, grilled or broiled vegetables, so don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re eating healthy when you eat fried brocolli. Fried foods, depending upon the oil used for frying, can cause obesity and cancer.
61. Eat whole grain foods: Just because a bread package contains the words, "stone-ground, multi-grain or 100% wheat or bran," this does not mean that the product is whole grain. Look for the words, "whole grain" or "100% whole wheat."
62. Switch to healthy oils: Choose vegetable oils such as olive, canola or peanut oils, avocados, fatty fish such as salmon, nuts and seeds to build up your ‘good’ cholesterol.
63. Avoid red meat: Red meat does contain immense amounts of protein, but eating a lot of red meat may increase your risk for colon cancer. Also, red meat contains unhealthy fats. If you eat red meat daily, a switch to other forms of protein can improve your cholesterol levels dramatically. Finally, a new study conducted in the UK indicates that a high level of red meat consumption is an independent risk factor for inflammatory arthritis.
64. Eat alternative protein: You might be surprised at all the choices you have to obtain protein. Choose black beans, navy beans, garbanzos and lentils. Or try nuts like almonds, walnuts and pecans for your protein. Soy products, such as tofu, also provide all the protein you might need on a daily basis. But, avoid salted or sugary nuts and refried beans, as salt, sugar and fried foods don’t add to a healthy bottom line.
65. Choose healthy animal protein: Omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish can reduce your risks of heart disease. Other meats that can help in that regard are chicken, turkey and eggs. At all times, choose lean white meat, egg whites, fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, canned light tuna and wild salmon.
66. Limit sodium to 2,300 mg per day: This is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt. Look for hidden sources of salt in canned soups, frozen meals and other package foods. The more salt you consume, the higher your risk for high blood pressure problems.
67. Avoid fish high in mercury: Those choices include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish and albacore tuna. This is especially true if you’re a heavy fish eater. Reduce your consumption to about once per week. It has been shown that mercury levels from fish eating can be reduced, but it usually takes about six months.
68. Drink more water: But only if you drink less than eight cups (not glasses) of water per day. You may need to drink more water if you’re physically active, pregnant or breastfeeding, live in a warmer climate, or have certain health problems. Heavy people may also need more water to stay hydrated.
69. Learn how to read food labels: Don’t trust food companies to keep you living to age 99. You will need to take responsibility to learn how to read labels and to understand which ingredients will harm you and which ones will keep you healthy.

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Exercise

You’ve heard it one-thousand times, right? Lack of exercise will shorten your life, make you feel horrible and prevent you from enjoying life to its fullest. But, you don’t need to develop the habits of a professional weight lifter. Instead, the following habits will help you stay healthy without hurting your body or your attitude.

70. Get medical clearance [PDF]: If you haven’t exercised in a long time or if you’re in poor health, you’ll need to get your physician’s approval for any type of physical activity. Additionally, if you intend to use an exercise center or a gym, they may include a permission form in your membership papers. This link goes to a form used by the O’Connor Recreation Center (Johns Hopkins), and it’s a fairly standard form designed to protect you and the center from any possible injury and lawsuits, respectively.
71. Start slow: Exercise will tax your heart and it also will raise your blood pressure for a short period of time, so starting out slow is the key. Plus, when you start slowly, you can help to avoid possible injury or strain from pushing yourself too hard and too fast.
72. You can gain results without pain: In fact, exercise shouldn’t be painful. Granted, if you haven’t moved a muscle for a while, you might experience some pain for a day or so after a workout, but the "no pain, no gain" theory is a myth. If you do experience pain while exercising, it might be a warning sign that you’re injured – so stop and check out the source of your pain before you go any further.
73. Avoid sitting for long periods of time: By definition, sitting in a chair all day is against Mother Nature, and you know what happens when you go against her…This is just one way to tell you to get up and move. This article, however, will provide you with numerous other reasons to avoid sitting for a long period of time.
74. Move, move, move: This article provides you with 25 ideas that will help you get started with moving more, or with ideas that will supplement your regular exercise program. Short ten-minute bursts of movement during the day can add up, and these activities will move you to do more!
75. Find an enjoyable activity: It’s harder to make an activity more enjoyable than it is to enter into an activity that you already enjoy. If you’ve always loved dancing, or if swimming turns you on, or if walking across the country like Forest Gump has always been your ideal way to fit in some aerobic exercise, then do it. Senior communities usually offer a wide range of opportunities to stay active and meet people with similar interests.
76. Use exercise to quit smoking: According to a recent UK study, even light exercise can help smokers quit smoking. So, when you get a craving, get up and take a five-minute walk. Not only will you burn calories, but you’ll reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
77. Get good shoes: There’s really no need to splurge on special exercise clothing unless you plan on a gym romance. But, do get a good pair of exercise shoes. A good pair of shoes can help you to avoid pain and injuries that could be avoidable. Outfit states that a good rule of thumb is to replace those shoes every 300-500 miles (as in walking, etc.) or every three months if you exercise as recommended below.
78. DIY home gym: Speaking of gyms, you can create your own at home. This project not only will save you tons of money on that sexy exercise clothing (you can exercise in your pajamas or in much less) and the cost of a gym membership, but it may increase the value of your home if you’re a home owner. A home gym will be there every day, too, taunting you to get up and move. Since you don’t need to trek down the street or to the next neighborhood to visit the local gym, you’ll also save money on gas.
79. Enjoy the benefits: Exercise, even moderate and light exercise, will improve your mood and your sex life. Beyond this, exercise will strengthen you and your heart and lungs and can help you live a long, long time.

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Emotional Aspects

Why are you planning to live to age 99? If you’re planning to live a long life to enjoy all that life has to offer, then you’ll learn at some point that joy often is balanced with pain. If you live long enough, you’ll experience the deaths of loved ones, accidents, injuries, illnesses and more unpleasant experiences. Your attitude and ability to roll with these emotional punches often will determine your longevity as well as the quality of your life. The following links will help you get through trying times.

80. Know the signs of depression: We all have moods that are less than pleasant, and this is normal. But, when a low mood persists, and it interferes with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun, it’s no longer normal. You’re now dealing with depression. Learn the signs and symptoms of depression and how this emotional problem can affect people at different ages.
81. Improve your outlook: Although it’s wise to get professional help when you’re depressed, this link leads to an article that lists several ways you can help improve your perspective on life, even if you’re just feeling low.
82. Help others: Nothing will help you feel better than to get outside yourself and focus on others’ needs. Look for volunteer opportunities, help an elderly neighbor or offer a free babysitting service to a young couple who cannot afford a sitter for a little time alone. All these little gestures will provide you with some space so you can get away from your issues as well.
83. Don’t carry grudges: Although 99 years is a long time to live, life is too short to hold onto a grudge. Smoldering over a real or imagined slight or injury can prevent you from feeling peace, hope, gratitude and joy. Life is filled with enough pain, so stop inflicting it on yourself by learning how to forgive.
84. Learn how to cope with grief: Grief is the feelings you experience when faced with loss. Although the loss of loved ones can bring the deepest and most long-lasting grief, other incidents can engender the same feelings. Rejection by a loved one, illness that causes you to miss out on activities that you enjoy, or other missed opportunities all can bring on a period of grieving. Learn how to cope with loss through articles like the one linked to this tip.
85. Learn the stages of grief: There are five stages of grief, and each stage is well defined. If you understand that grief often arrives on the heels of a sudden tragedy (death, the knowledge of a fatal illness, etc.), the ability to draw on information like this may help you cope with your losses.
86. Try alternative healing: Traditional western medicine often deals with emotional issues separate from physical problems. Alternative therapies often include the whole person – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. This link will steer you to CAM, or a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. This page succinctly explains complimentary, alternative and integrative techniques that can help heal the whole person, rather than a part of the whole.
87. Learn how to meditate: This site is run by a person who prefers to use the term, "conscious relaxation," in place of the word, "meditation." This skill can help you learn how to relax, to take time to reflect on things you want to change in your life, and to create a space where you can slow down and feel some peace. You can’t keep going ninety-to-nothing for 99 years, after all…
88. Get into creative therapy: You can’t work for 99 years, and we doubt you would want to keep working all you life. Art therapy provides one way to enjoy creative skills while turning your anger and pain into something beautiful. If you’re not into art, try therapeutic/creative writing instead. The point is to stretch yourself so that you can be the best person you can be during this lifetime.
89. Don’t discount nutrition and physical activity: If you’ve neglected your diet and ignored your exercise routine while feeling low, or if you never have taken care of yourself, you may be surprised to discover that nutrition and exercise can affect your frame of mind. Learn more about how to balance your boy so you’re ready to take on all life has to offer.

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Aging

Did you think that you would stay 29 forever? Getting to age 99 will take some work. Aging in itself is a process that requires constant physical, emotional, mental and spiritual adjustments. The better you take care of your body, the more chances you have of dealing with the aging process. But, it never hurts to be prepared; so the following links will help you develop some habits now that will help you deal with aging later.

90. Woman and aging: Women have special aging problems when they encounter menopause. Learn more now about this stage of life so that you’ll know what to expect. This knowledge can help you live longer as you deal with issues that affect your physical and emotional health.
91. Men and aging: Men may experience problems with erectile dysfunction (ED), and many times this problem is a symptom of a disease such as diabetes. In addition, many common medicines used to regulate blood pressure, allergies, depression, stress and ulcers can produce ED as a side effect. No matter the cause, ED can serve as a warning sign that something is physically or emotionally out of whack. While ED may not be thrilling, its presence can save your life.
92. Develop healthy sexual habits: Good sex can prompt the release of substances that bolster the immune system. Plus, it releases endorphins that act as painkillers and reduce anxiety. It benefits the heart and lungs by increasing breathing and circulation and it helps us to relax and feel good about ourselves. So, don’t let aging hold you back. Unfortunately, diseases like diabetes and heart disease can cut your life – and your sex life – short. So, stay healthy, and learn more about healthy sex habits now so that you can enjoy sex as long as you live.
93. Remain active, especially after age 50: Regular exercise will help protect you from chronic disease, improve your mood and lower your chances of injury. The older you are, the more you have to gain from exercise. All it takes is 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You even can take your exercise in three ten-minute sessions on weekdays with weekends off!
94. Exercise for your brain: Two studies released in 2004 showed that regular exercise, including walking at an easy pace, seems to protect the aging brain from erosion in thinking ability — and even from Alzheimer’s. If you want to remember living to age 99, then get up and move!
95. Check your ears: Hearing loss is not prevalent, but it does become an issue with aging. Between 25 and 40 percent of the population aged 60 and older is hearing impaired. Learn more about different types of hearing loss and how to cope with this disability now.
96. Check your thyroid: Approximately 25 percent of the elderly population suffers from some form of mental illness. A significant number of these cases may be related to thyroid disease. And, many times this condition goes undetected. So, make it a habit now, no matter your age, to ask your physician about thyroid issues.
97. Check your eyesight: This habit begins before you can make your own eye appointments. And, an eye care professional should see your baby blues (or browns, or greens) at least every two years. The reason for this is that many health issues can be diagnosed through eye problems. Learn more and be diligent, as a loss of eyesight would be a huge loss, especially when many sight problems can be rectified if caught early.
98. Keep track of sleeping patterns: Sometimes, sleeplessness will not affect your daily living. In this case, perhaps you have entered the "I need less sleep during this time of my life" zone. If lack of sleep is interfering with your memory, your ability to maintain concentration or with your daily life, then you have issues. Disturbed sleep, waking up tired every day, and other symptoms of insomnia are not a normal part of aging. Instead, poor sleep habits and conditions such as untreated sleep disorders, medications, or medical problems can accumulate and compound to result in sleeplessness. Learn more about healthy and unhealthy sleep patterns and what you can do to get a good night’s rest.
99. Challenge your brain: No matter your age, you can begin this habit now and carry it with you to the next life. Mental exercises can strengthen and enhance cognitive functions over time. This link will take you to a page that contains exercises for your brain that you can use even without a computer!
100. Learn about Alzheimer’s disease: Even if you don’t develop this disease, if you live long enough you may know someone who will. This link provides a checklist to help you recognize the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding this disease may not help you live longer, but you may relax when you learn that it’s normal to experience some memory issues no matter your age.

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The list below is numbered and the categories are alphabetized, but that does not mean that we value one tip over another.

Acupuncture | Chelation | Chiropractic | Dietary supplements | Disease and Health | Prescription Drugs | Homeopathy | Nutrition | Miscellaneous

Acupuncture

If you follow the links in the tips listed below to learn more about acupuncture, you may begin to realize that this treatment has become a foundation for many individuals who seek wellness without drug therapies.

1. Although scientists don’t fully understand how or why acupuncture works, some studies indicate that it may provide a number of medical benefits from reducing pain to helping with chemotherapy-induced nausea.
2. A new study found significant reductions in both dry mouth and pain and shoulder dysfunction after neck dissection in patients receiving acupuncture.
3. Acupuncture has expanded to include: sonopuncture, an acupuncture technique that uses sound waves to stimulate the acupuncture sites, or acupoints; Electroacupuncture, which uses tiny electrical charges, with or without needles, to stimulate the same acupoints that are used in traditional acupuncture, and; moxibustion, which describes a technique where acupuncuturists us burning herbs to stimulate acupoints.
4. Acupuncture has been effectively used for the treatment of back pain, headache, migraine, and sports injuries. However, acupuncture provides more than pain relief. It is helpful in treating anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, abdominal, menstrual cramps, weight control, infertility and more.
5. Studies have shown that acupuncture provides a hypo-aldosteronemic effect. This is a condition that affects most people who have high blood pressure. With acupuncture, polypeptides beta-endorphins that bring about pressure to the arteries are reduced.
6. Natural face-lifts are increasingly more sought after and acupuncture, according to some sources, is a very simple, effective way to get results.
7. It is advised that acupuncture patients avoid over-exercising, engaging in sexual activity, and drinking alcoholic beverages within six hours before or after treatments.
8. Acupuncture is not without risks. There have been reports of burning sensations and minor bleeding during and after treatments. From common sense, some people may experience allergic reactions to needles that are made from substances other than surgical steel and risks of infection from unsterilized needles is a possibility. Also, it is contraindicated to needle the abdomen and lumbosacral areas of pregnant women, and some people have reported more serious reactions, such as dizziness, sweatiness, or nausea during or after a treatment.
9. On the other hand, acupuncturists pay five percent less than traditional doctors for malpractice insurance because traditional medicine is riskier. For instance, medications, even when taken in proper dosages, cause an estimated 106,000 fatalities in hospitals in the U.S. each year, often from ‘abnormal’ physiological responses.
10. Don’t tell veterinarians who are licensed in animal acupuncture that this treatment is a placebo. They may laugh at you. Animal acupuncture has helped to remove barriers against the idea that acupuncture is “quack” medicine, as acupuncture seems to work for animals.

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Chelation

Chelation therapy often is used as a detox treatment that eliminates heavy metals from the body. But, chelation has come into the limelight recently for its heart-healing possibilities (yet to be clinically tested) and other uses.

11. Chelation therapy is a recognized treatment for heavy metal (such as lead) poisoning. EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid), injected into the blood, will bind the metals and allow them to be removed from the body in the urine.
12. Diagnosis of heavy metal toxicity is serious and must be made by a physician based on clinical symptoms in conjunction with laboratory testing. Chelating agents are potentially toxic and should not be used unless absolutely indicated.
13. Chelation therapy has resulted in only three deaths in three states (Texas, Pennsylvania, and Oregon) between 2003 and 2005. In all three cases, incidents of miscommunication and drug confusion may be to blame for the deaths. Two deaths involved children, and childhood deaths caused by cardiac arrest associated with chelation therapy have not been documented previously.
14. It has been found that this therapy may benefit symptoms of atherosclerosis and arterial blockage. Perhaps, as some doctors indicate, EDTA acts to reduce excess levels of intracellular trace elements located in diseased tissues.
15. Autistic children often are treated with chelation therapy, as there’s been a debate as to whether some forms of autism can be linked to mercury or other toxins in vaccines. Some doctors believe there is a link, while others do not, saying that there now is only mercury in flu vaccinations. While some doctors and parents are advocates of it, the Federal Drug Administration has not approved it.

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Chiropractic

Chiropractic practice has become respected to the point where many insurance companies recognize chiropractic treatments as legitimate solutions for many bodily ills. Yet, this practice still maintains a level of controversy, even among wellness fanatics.

16. There are more than 60,000 active chiropractic licenses in the United States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands officially recognize chiropractic as a health care profession.
17. Chiropractic care can help alleviate the pain and symptoms of many neck, back, and other musculoskeletal problems, offering a successful alternative to traditional, risky open back and neck surgeries.
18. Chiropractors believe that structural problems can cause dysfunction in the nervous system, leading to a host of aches, pains, and other conditions. Their objective is to realign the body in a way that restores and preserves health, and to accomplish this without drugs or surgery.
19. With that said, research shows that mainstream treatments for lower back pain are equally effective.
20. Be aware that some therapists, such as those who practice what is known as orthopractic manual therapy have banned all high velocity upper neck rotation when the head is held in a position of extension. It seems that this practice can result in an incidence of stroke within forty-eight hours after manipulation.
21. To become a certified animal chiropractor, one must first become a licensed veterinarian or a licensed chiropractor. The course work for either license involves approximately 8 years of college and rigorous courses of study. Once the license of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Doctor of Chiropractic has been granted, an individual is able to apply to attend the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, (AVCA), courses which will lead to certification as an animal chiropractor, C.A.C.
22. Chiropractors must be licensed, which requires 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education, the completion of a 4-year chiropractic college course, and passing scores on national and State examinations.
23. California has a 24-visit cap on on chiropractic treatments for workers’ compensation injuries, which was ruled constitutional by a states appeals court in the 2008 case of Jose Facundo-Guerrero vs. Workers Compensation Appeals Board (WACB), Nurserymen’s Exchange et al. The appeals court upheld the WCAB’s decision finding that the state’s legislature had the authority to address a workers’ comp crisis the state faced in 2003 by placing limits on chiropractic visits, among other things.
24. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a directive in May 2008 that orders the Pentagon to make chiropractic care a standard benefit for all active-duty military personnel. The legislation is contained in H.R. 5658, a bill authorizing defense programs in fiscal year 2009, and is based in part on recommendations from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC).
25. Out of a desire to serve and to fill in a vitally important health care gap, ICA (International Chiropractor’s Association) doctors around the U.S. have extended an offer of care for one full year for any US military veteran returning from overseas deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq, at no charge. The concept was developed by ICA’s Southern Regional Director Dr. R.J. Kelly, who had initiated such a program in his own personal practice, with very positive results among veterans.

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Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements in this case represent both those aids that claim to help individuals to lose weight and vitamins and mineral supplements that claim to bring better health to individuals. Many wellness advocates feel that all supplements are unnecessary if the individual maintains a well-balanced and healthy diet. From the news shown below, you might wonder why supplements often are heralded as ‘healthy.’

26. Many heralded dietary supplements have the potential for harm, especially when taken in large doses or in various combinations with one another or with medically prescribed prescription drugs.
27. In May, eight- and 32-ounce bottles of “Total Body Formula” in tropical orange and peach nectar flavors and the 32-ounce bottle of “Total Body Mega Formula” in orange/tangerine, have been voluntarily recalled by Total Body Essential Nutrition of Atlanta. The FDA analyzed the product, according to the state Department of Health, and found extremely high levels of selenium – up to 40,800 micrograms per serving, more than 200 times the amount indicated on the labels. People who consume the product may develop reactions that include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and joint pain and fatigue five to 10 days after using the product. The symptoms can be followed by hair loss, nail brittleness and neurological abnormalities, such as numbness in hands, feet or limbs, as well as kidney and liver dysfunction.
28. Before the United States congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994, the term “dietary supplement” referred to products made of one or more of the essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and protein. DSHEA expanded the definition stating that herbs, or other botanicals (except tobacco), and any dietary substance that can be used to supplement the diet were to be included in the definition.
29. A product sold as a dietary supplement and promoted on its label or in labeling as a treatment, prevention or cure for a specific disease or condition would be considered an unapproved – and thus illegal – drug. To maintain the product’s status as a dietary supplement, the label and labeling must be consistent with the provisions in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994.
30. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put out new regulations in 2007 to help improve the safety and consistency of supplements, some of these rules will not be fully in effect until 2010.
31. GlaxoSimthKline (GSK) – the manufacturer of Alli, the first over-the-counter weight loss drug – on April 17, 2008 submitted its 33-page petition to the FDA asking the agency to consider weight loss claims for dietary supplements as disease claims. This petition means that the FDA should consider overweight and obesity as diseases.
32. Sometimes the willingness to think that if something is good, then more of it is better. This is not the case with many supplements. Too much vitamin A, for instance, can cause birth defects, liver problems, weak bones and nervous system disorders. Too much calcium can cause kidney problems and block your ability to use other minerals in your diet.
33. On the other hand, some supplements may never harm you, but they also may not help with any cures. For instance, there is some evidence that omega-3 free fatty acids are helpful in reducing the risk for heart disease. But, according to researchers, other, proven medications are a better bet for preventing relapse in individuals who suffer from Crohn’s disease than omega-3 free fatty acids.
34. Weight-loss supplements widely available for purchase online often include ingredients that are potentially hazardous to your heart, and a new study shows the labels often don’t include this warning. One of the hazardous ingredients that was found in the products has been banned on the U.S. market since 2004, according to study author Dr. Alireza Nazeri, an internist and cardiology research fellow at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, in Houston.
35. In a recent authoritative gene array study conducted by researchers at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and Lifegen Technologies in Madison, Wisconsin, it was shown that a dose of resveratrol (rez-vair-aw-trawl) 343 milligrams per day (4.9 mg per kilogram of body weight) produces a gene activation profile similar to a calorie restricted diet. Supra-high doses (greater than 500 milligrams), which often are recommended, are not required and may produce side effects such as evidence that supra-high dose resveratrol inhibits the absorption of folic acid (vitamin B9), an essential nutrient needed for DNA repair.
36. Research studies in people to prove that a dietary supplement is safe are not required before the supplement is marketed, unlike for drugs. It is the responsibility of dietary supplement manufacturers/distributors to ensure that their products are safe and that their label claims are accurate and truthful. If the FDA finds a supplement to be unsafe once it is on the market, only then can it take action against the manufacturer and/or distributor, such as by issuing a warning or requiring the product to be removed from the marketplace.
37. A 2004 report by the National Institutes of Health found that there is nearly $16 billion in supplement sales a year in the nation, with roughly 1,000 new products being developed each year.

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Disease and Health

Although some of the information below may seem depressing, it’s good to know that the body is fairly resilient and a change in actions, thinking and attitude often can make a dramatic change in a person’s health. Now, if that change can occur across entire states and nations, imagine the possibilities…

38. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, chronic disease is now the principal cause of disability and use of health services. Chronic disease accounts for 78 percent of U.S. health expenditures, and state budgets are affected by these higher medical costs, largely due to additional costs associated with Medicare and Medicaid.
39. A number of studies have tied low blood levels of HDL (the “good” cholesterol) to an increased risk of ischemic heart disease. However, recent studies have shown that low HDL, in and of itself, is not a heart disease risk factor.
40. Alcohol has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and now this new study shows drinking may also reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis by up to 50 percent.
41. Americans have levels of dustborne compounds, known as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), in their bodies that are seven to 35 times higher than those in Europeans. These PBDEs, which include fire retardants, may affect adults with an underactive thyroid gland, who may experience symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, dry skin, lower libido, depression, brittle nails and elevated cholesterol. Worse, even mild hypothyroidism may increase the risk of fatal heart disease.
42. According to a recent report by The World Health Organization (WHO), chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, is responsible for more than 60 percent of all deaths globally and is projected to account for 47 million deaths annually in the next 25 years. The WHO estimates that between 2005-2015, income loss (in international dollars) from these chronic diseases could rise to as much as $558 billion in China, $237 billion in India, $33 billion in Russia and $33 billion in the UK.
43. An estimated 20 to 30 percent of all Americans have some degree of fatty liver disease, making it the most prevalent liver disease in this country. Losing 10 percent of your body weight is often enough to return liver function back to normal.
44. Rice and fresh fruit consumption in Japan has fallen by about half since 1970, while beef consumption is up more than 40 percent and coffee drinking has tripled. Notably, the number of diabetics in Japan has doubled in the past 15 years, and the government estimates that a further 10 million people have the warning signs for the disease. This is particularly troubling in a rapidly aging country like Japan, adding to the strain on Japan’s national health insurance program.
45. In response to new concerns about health in the workplace, Harrah’s and Horseshoe casinos now offer employees incentives to get into shape. Employees from every level and department can participate. Prizes are awarded for the highest percentage of weight lost and the largest change in percent of body fat. The fittest staff member can receive up to $1,000.
46. In a March 2008 report, the CDC revealed that one in four U.S. girls aged 15 to 24 is infected with an STD. The most commonly transmitted STDs are human papillomavirus, Chlamydia, herpes simplex virus and trichomoniasis.
47. Florida has hit a new low, ranked close to the bottom of a new national survey on healthcare; just a spot above Oklahoma. The first-ever state-by-state health system report focused on children’s health care and finds Florida’s kids have limited access to health services, and higher than normal health insurance costs.
48. Salt Lake City, Utah, Honolulu, Hawaii and Colorado Springs, Colorado rank first, second and third out of 49 mid-sized cities (560,000 to 1.45 million population range) as “heart-friendly” municipalities for women by the American Heart Association. All rankings were based on the benefits each city has to offer and residents’ lifestyle choices.
49. Researchers found that among 9100 middle-aged men at higher-than-average risk of heart disease, those with gout were more likely to die of a heart attack or other cardiovascular cause over 17 years.
50. The European Union is preparing to introduce tough new rules on car advertising just like cigarette advertising, forcing manufacturers to print large “health-like” warnings detailing gas consumption and emissions.
51. Anti-smoking advocates and government agencies from Australia to Malaysia and beyond are calling for cigarette distributors to expand health warnings on cigarette packs and to eliminate any artwork that would appeal to younger potential smokers. One such legislation in Malaysia gives distributors until the end of 2008 to implement the changes, which include pictorial health warnings on the front and back of cigarette packs.
52. New research shows that children who live in countries at higher latitudes, such as Canada, where there is less sunlight for much of the year, are far more likely to develop juvenile diabetes than kids who live at or near the equator.

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Prescription Drugs

While traditional medicine has helped many people recover from debilitating disease, the same medicines may have adverse effects on other individuals. The following tips may help you understand more about the legal drug industry, and whether drugs need to be in your wellness plans.

53. California Attorney General Jerry Brown, accompanied by Danville father Bob Pack, have just announced a plan this month (June 2008) to enable doctors and pharmacies to check patients’ drug history through an Internet program. The purpose of the program is to prevent drug addicts from collecting multiple narcotics prescriptions from many different doctors.
54. A full ten percent of Americans – children, teens and adults – take antidepressants in the form of Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor or Cymbalta.
55. “Puppy Prozac” (specifically the antidepressant clomipramine), commonly is used to curb aggression and lessen obsessive compulsive behaviors, such as constant licking in dogs and cats and feather picking in birds.
56. Over 70 million Americans reportedly suffer from insomnia, opening a market for a new class of non-narcotic sleep drugs, like Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata. Americans spent almost $1.8 billion filling more than 16 million prescriptions for Ambien and Ambien CR last year, and almost $713 million on over 6 million prescriptions of Lunesta, according to Drug Topics digital magazine.
57. While older sleep aid pills are much more likely to cause daytime sedation, addiction and withdrawal symptoms, drug classified as nonbenzodiazepines (NBZs), including Lunesta and Ambien, seem just as likely to cause amnesia and erratic behavior such as eating binges, driving cars and engaging in other activities that they later cannot remember. The Wall Street Journal relates one story of a woman who painted her front door in her sleep, and in some cases, people have even set fire to their homes while in the seemingly-hypnotic state sometimes caused by the drugs.
58. UK’s huge over-the-counter (OTC) painkiller market jumped by nearly a quarter between 2001 and 2006, according to the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, the OTC drug-industry body. The increase, from £406 million to £500 million, excludes “impulse outlets” such as newsagents and gas stations, from which about 40 per cent of British consumers claim to get their OTC drugs. Anadin’s maker, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, says that last year it sold nearly 27 million packs of the pills, and adds, “If stacked on top of each other, they would reach over 56 times the height of Mount Everest.”
59. Of the 700 participants in a 2006 study, 22.9% reported having loaned their medications to someone else and 26.9% reported having borrowed someone else’s prescription. An even greater proportion of participants reported situations in which medication sharing was acceptable to them.
60. Ghanaians have learned that all anti-malaria drugs that are sent to the West Afrika sub region are fake and therefore useless. The BBC Radio Five Live show in Ghana intimated that the fake drugs industry is worth a whopping $30bn a year.
61. A list of the top 20 prescribed drugs in 2007 compiled by Emergis, a company that manages drug claims for about half the private drug plans in Canada, contains twenty drugs that eat the lions’ share of private insurance dollars. Lipitor, one of five cholesterol-lowering agents on the list, is number one.
62. The current warning on Roche Laboratories’ Tamiflu (generic name oseltamivir) urges close monitoring of flu patients, particularly children, for “increased risk of self injury and confusion shortly after taking Tamiflu.” The panel recommended that this warning be strengthened to say that “in some cases, these behaviors resulted in serious injuries, including death, in adult and pediatric patients.”
63. A study in the current issue of the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma links Merck’s osteoporosis drug Fosamax to a rare type of fracture in the femur. This isn’t the first time that Fosamax has been linked to rare side effects in a small number of patients – there’s pending litigation against Fosamax maker Merck from people alleging the drug caused their jaw bones to erode.
64. Bimatoprost was first used by Allergan in its drug Lumigan, which can alleviate eye pressure caused by glaucoma. As a secondary effect, the drug was observed to make patients’ eyelashes grow longer. Now, this drug may be on the market next year as a complementary addition to Botox, also made by Allergan.
65. The FDA is looking into a class of drugs called tumor-necrosis-factor blockers because of 30 reports over the last decade that the drugs could cause cancer in children and young adults. The blockers treat various forms of arthritis including juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Crohn’s disease.
66. The antibiotic, Biaxin, has been known to cause such side-effects as anxiety, behavioral changes, confused states, convulsions, depersonalization, disorientation, hallucinations, insomnia, manic behavior, nightmares, psychosis, tinnitus, tremor and vertigo. These conditions were highlighted recently by a Canadian man who stole a taxi and ripped out its meter.
67. Pfizer’s smoking-cessation drug Chantix, which has come under fire for its potential for suicidal thinking in some patients, came in for a bit more trouble in May 2008 when the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) barred pilots and air traffic controllers from taking the drug.
68. On the other hand, health officials in the federal government are urging smokers to use Chantix as part of their efforts to stop smoking despite the drug’s association to suicidal thoughts and behavior. And, while the new smoking cessation guidelines, published by the US Public Health Service, do note the Chantix links with suicide and other psychiatric side effects, the Pfizer drug is promoted as the method most likely to help smokers wanting to quit. The new guidelines are creating controversy, not only because of the strong Chantix recommendation, but also because their lead author, Dr. Michael Fiore, has ties to Pfizer.
69. Pfizer’s Neurontin and Lyrica, J&J’s Topamax, GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s Lamictal, Meda AB’s Felbatol, UCB SA’s Keppra, Novartis AG’s Trileptal, Cephalon Inc.’s Gabitril, Abbott Laboratories’ Depakote, Eisai Co.’s Zonegran, and carbamazepine, sold by several drugmakers all are epilepsy drugs that may be required by U.S. regulators to warn patients that their products double the chances of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

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Homeopathy

Homeopathy is an ancient ‘medicine,’ one that many skeptics treat as an outdated and unsophisticated method of wellness. On the other hand, some individuals swear by homeopathy, which – as you’ll soon learn – includes many natural treatments as well as some odd ways to treat human ills.

70. Laws about what is required to practice homeopathy vary among states. Three states (Connecticut, Arizona, and Nevada) license medical doctors specifically for homeopathy.
71. In homeopathy, like cures like. For example, if the symptoms of your cold are similar to poisoning by mercury, then mercury would be your homeopathic remedy.
72. In some cases, homeopathically-prepared opium is recommended for traumatic stress syndrome. Homeopathically-prepared opium is available in the US only to DEA-licensed physicians.
73. According to some documents, there is virtually no scientific evidence that homeopathic remedies are effective. This does not mean that patients don’t feel better or actually get better after seeing a homeopath as homeopathy can aid the placebo effect, the post hoc fallacy and the regressive fallacy (or, put simply, wishful thinking).
74. With that said, people with almost all types of mental, emotional and physical problems such as headaches, PMS (Post Menstrual Syndrome) and actual fears and anxieties can be helped with homeopathy.
75. Additionally, worldwide, homeopathy has continued to grow and, according to the World Health Organization, is the most widely practiced alternative form of medicine, second only to allopathic medicine (otherwise known as Western medicine, biomedicine, scientific medicine, or modern medicine).
76. A group of 118 children with eczema were tested to understand the effects of homeopathy. 54 had homeopathy and the rest conventional treatment for one year. Both groups reported similar levels of improvement, although doctors noted that the symptoms were better in those treated with homeopathy.
77. While on a course of homeopathic treatment, you should avoid strong flavors such as mint (including toothpaste), coffee or camphor.

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Nutrition

This category, according to many wellness experts, is the true foundation for wellness. Yet, many people don’t understand how to eat, what to eat, or how to portion their foods. As you’ll soon learn, the learning seems to never end, especially when many marketed foods can be dangerous to your health.

78. Nutrition is the cornerstone of naturopathy, and a number of medical doctors who want to ride the growing wellness wave are claiming to be naturopathic doctors. A medical diploma, even from the best medical school, does not make these doctors naturopaths. A practitioner who claims to be a naturopathic doctor will have a diploma that clearly states they have earned the degree.
79. Thanks to marketing that pushes dark chocolate as a healthy option for a sweet tooth, the sales of premium chocolate grew more than 30 percent this year alone, following three years of double-digit growth.
80. People who eat a lot of fruit and have a high intake of flavonoids perform better on tests of verbal fluency, logical reasoning and visual memory – three skills that translate into doing your job better, faster and smarter.
81. Soy health is controversial. Although it is a lean source of plant protein found without saturated fat, which is healthy and can prevent certain types of heart disease, cancer survivors should eat soy in moderation or not at all. Cancer survivors, specifically women who have had breast cancer, need to be cautious of soy because of its plant estrogen, which could stimulate cancer cells, according to the American Dietetic Association.
82. Alberta is the first Canadian province to introduce food guidelines specifically targeting children and their caregivers at facilities outside schools. Their 2008 nutrition guidelines, meant for day-care and recreation centers as well as schools, is pointed toward curving childhood obesity and early indications of adult onset diabetes.
83. A U.S. research team from Emory University in Atlanta analyzed urine samples from children ages three to 11 who ate only organic foods and found that they contained virtually no metabolites of two common pesticides, malathion and chlorpyrifos. However, once the children returned to eating conventionally grown foods, concentrations of these pesticide metabolites quickly climbed as high as 263 parts per billion.
84. Kellogg has vowed that, by the end of this year, it would either make its least-healthy products a bit healthier or that it would stop advertising them to children under age 12. It has also agreed to stop using licensed cartoon characters – Spider-Man and Shrek and their like but not proprietary characters like Tony the Tiger – to promote the foods they make that fail to meet certain nutritional standards. Thirteen other major food companies – including Kraft, General Foods, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Burger King and McDonald’s – have made similar pledges, some of which are already in effect.
85. School board members in Arlington Heights, Illinois, voted to ban birthday cakes and cupcakes from classrooms next year as part of a new wellness policy. Birthday parties are still OK.
86. The Center for Weight and Health at UC Berkeley, states that sugared beverage consumption has increased 500 percent over the past five decades – at a rate that roughly corresponds with the increase in overweight children. In response to this news, public health leaders from six Bay Area counties in California recently gathered in Oakland to launch the area’s first “Soda Free Summer” campaign. Alameda County ran a successful “Soda Free Summer” pilot project last year, in which 42 percent of the participants polled reported reducing their soda consumption during the summer campaign, with half of those giving it up altogether.
87. The health and wellness market for foods has increased in tune to the news that many people worldwide are overweight and unhealthy. In just one market, sales projections show the potential value of the green tea market in 2011 will be $204m in the U.S. and Europe combined. Green tea sales in the U.S. increased by 6.1 percent between 2000 and 2005.
88. Studies have shown that it sometimes takes 15 to 20 tries before finicky kids will accept new flavors and textures. This is why it normally takes a full month for school kids to accept new and healthier food programs where peas really are green and fruit really is crunchy.
89. In June, a consumer advocacy group called on the Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of eight artificial colorings in food. According to Michael F Jacobson, executive director of the CSPI in Washington, D.C., Americans are now consuming twice as much food dye per person as they did five decades ago. The blue color of Aunt Jemima Blueberry Waffles does not come from blueberries, neither does the yellow of Kraft Mac and Cheese come from the cheese. The dyes used to impart color in these foods may be very harmful and may lead to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in some children.
90. In the first human study of its kind, scientists at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) randomly assigned 10 people with hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) to receive daily probiotic milk drinks or placebo. The results showed that the milk drink that contained the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) has been shown to help hay fever sufferers.
91. A large new study published in the journal BMJ finds that people who adhered closely to a traditional Mediterranean diet, which is also low in meat and dairy products, had “substantial protection” against Type 2 diabetes.

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Miscellanous

The following information did not seem to fit any other category, but we wanted to include the tips for your entertainment and/or enlightenment.

92. Australian researchers have recently discovered that heavy cannabis use causes significant brain injury, memory loss, difficulties learning new information, and psychotic symptoms, such as delusions of persecution [paranoia], delusions of mind-reading, and bizarre social behaviors in even non-vulnerable users.
93. A bill passed by the California state Assembly, now in the state Senate, would make selling the hallucinogenic drug salvia to anyone under the age of 18 a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines. The drug, an herb in the mint family native to Mexico, is legally available to people of all ages in California. Though the high from the salvia leaf by itself, whether smoked or chewed, is relatively short-lived and mild, the drug is much more commonly used in a concentrated form that has far stronger hallucinogenic effects, such as out-of-body experiences.
94. New York men are slathering up their torsos with the hemorrhoid cream, Preparation H, to make themselves look “ripped.” This medicine has long been used by body builders in need of a quick fix for a problem area prior to competition, as well as women looking to reduce puffiness around their eyes.
95. Humans share a common ancestor with the platypus that lived approximately 170 million years ago. This discovery will provide an essential background to future advances in understanding mammalian biology and evolution.
96. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), shifting its previous position, has told companies they must allow shareholders to vote on a proposal for universal health insurance coverage. Many companies say the health care principles are not a proper matter for shareholders to vote on, and they have tried to keep the proposal out of proxy statements prepared for their 2008 annual meetings.
97. According an August 2000 article in The Law Enforcement Trainer magazine, more than 2,000 U.S. police officers have heart attacks and die each year in the line of duty. This is shocking when you consider that approximately 100 police officers die each year at the hands of suspects.
98. Research by Northeastern University secretly tracked the locations of 100,000 people outside the United States through their cellphone use and concluded that most people rarely stray more than a few miles from home. Although this first-of-its-kind study raises privacy and ethical questions for its monitoring methods, which would be illegal in the United States, it revealed that people only move within a 20-mile-wide circle for half a year. The results, which also show that people exhibit similar patterns whether they travel long distances or short ones, could open new frontiers in fields such as disease tracking and urban planning.
99. Twelve different new research projects will determine how interactive games can be used to improve public health and the health care profession. The studies, which will last between one to two years,are part of a new $2 million grant from philanthropic group the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by the University of California Santa Barbara’s Health Games Research Center. The studies will last between one to two years.
100. Cigarette smoking may improve attention and short-term memory in persons with schizophrenia by stimulating nicotine receptors in the brain, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine researchers in the June issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry.
101. The modern era of health tourism is considered to have begun in 1939 when Deborah and Edmond Szekely opened a US $17.50-a-week, bring-your-tent spa and healthy-living retreat, which became the renowned Rancho La Puerta fitness resort in Mexico.

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The following list is designed to help you lose fifty pounds within one year by changing unhealthy choices to healthy choices. If you do the math, this means that you can lose approximately one pound per week if you follow the suggestions listed below. Of course, you possibly could lose those fifty pounds within a month if you eat nothing but celery and exercise 24/7, but why think about torturing yourself to become healthy? Losing weight can become an agreeable challenge that may change your life for the better, but only if you don’t bite off more than you can chew (literally).

First Steps

The first steps to begin a healthy weight-loss program are usually the hardest. But, if you can adopt even one or two of the following life-changing suggestions, you may begin to realize that this healthy weight-loss task may not be so difficult after all:

1. Set a goal: You may not need to lose fifty pounds. Or, you may need to lose more than fifty pounds. You may have a certain clothing size in mind, or an ideal weight goal. Are your goals realistic? Realistic goals are more attainable and satisfying, so discover if you’re on target by using a body weight calculator.
2. Take “Before” and “After” photos: If you can still fit into last year’s bathing suit, don that puppy and get someone you trust to take ‘before’ photos from all four sides. That’s one way to capture reality. The ‘after’ photos are much more fun, and if you take them once a month over the upcoming year, you’ll begin to see your progress visually.
3. Tell your friends and family about your goal: You don’t need to talk about your weight-loss goals constantly. Just let them know you’re taking care of your health and you need their support. If you don’t inform them about your goals, then you run the risk of sabotaging your efforts. The hardest person to get on your side may be your partner or spouse. They may like you “just as you are,” because they may fear the changes you’re about to make. Remember that you’re making these changes for your health.
4. Learn how to measure your food: You don’t need expensive equipment to accomplish this task, as you can use your hand as a substitute for various measurements. While the portions contained in that link are easy to remember, the best tool to help avoid overeating is to realize that your stomach, when empty, is about the size of your fist. But, the stomach can expand to include that 14-ounce steak along with that baked potato loaded with butter and sour cream and that cheesecake for dessert. If you remember the ‘fist’ measurement, you may begin to feel better about yourself as you reduce the size of your meals (as compensation, you’ll soon learn that can eat more than three meals per day).
5. Use the scales: You can measure your weight-loss progress with scales. Some experts state you shouldn’t weigh yourself more than once per week. However, if you want to weigh yourself every day, go for it. But, realize that daily weight loss measurements are tricky – they’re like taking two steps forward and one step backward. Use a weekly number to chart your real progress. And, try to weigh yourself at the same time each day (say, before you eat breakfast).
6. Food is not a therapist: Learn other ways to deal with your emotions other than eating. When food is used as a substitute for therapy, it may cost you more in the long run than seeing an actual therapist. If you use food as a means to fight boredom, find other ways to fill your time (like following the suggestions listed here).
7. Look for silver linings: A defeatist attitude doesn’t win rewards. If avoiding food is difficult for you, find a mantra that you can repeat such as, “I want to look fabulous for my 25th reunion.” If exercise brings you to tears, try, “I can do this for thirty minutes.” Keep repeating those mantras, and before you know it something else will capture your attention.
8. Dear Food Diary: If you begin to keep a food diary, you can begin to learn how much you really consume, when you’re prone to eat more, and how you feel when you’re eating (go back to #6). Find a printable chart that allows room for notes so you remember to jot down everything that you eat or drink as you eat or drink (even water). This effort will help you learn about correct portions and to keep track of your nutrients, as well as learn about your previous habits so you know what you need to change.
9. Clean out the kitchen cabinets and pantry: You want to remove temptation when possible. But, don’t use this suggestion as an excuse to eat your way through all the junk food piled up in your kitchen storage areas. Instead, use this exercise as a way to learn how to read labels (see #14 below). As you learn more about the difference between ‘healthy’ food and junk, you can begin to toss those foods that will clog your arteries and keep those foods that may be useful.
10. Clean out your closet: You may have clothes that you used to wear “back when” you were thin. Keep those clothes if you want to use them as an incentive to reach your goal. Otherwise, donate them or sell them in a yard sale. Purchase new clothes as you begin to lose weight and donate the “fat” clothes that don’t fit anymore. The idea of having to purchase new “fat” clothes may deter you from gaining weight again. If you want to go this route, avoid expensive clothes until you reach your ‘ideal’ weight. Instead, shop at consignment stores where you can find designer labels at bargain-basement prices.
11. Develop attitude: No matter how unhealthy or overweight you feel, try to dress your best – even when at home alone. Wearing sloppy x-large t-shirts and sweatpants only allows you to hide from yourself, not from others. When you do go out to eat with family, friends or business associates, your care to your dress will garner compliments, which will remind you why you’re going through this lifestyle change in the first place.

At the Grocery Store

Learning how to shop for healthy food takes a lifetime of learning, so please don’t feel discouraged if this task seems overwhelming. Instead, use the following tips to help streamline your shopping excursions.

12. Follow a diet plan: Find a diet that seems healthy to you (or that has been recommended for you), and borrow from their food plan to build a shopping list.
13. Avoid these foods: Shopping is easier if you remember to: 1) avoid partially hydrogenated oils; 2) avoid high-fructose corn syrup; 3) choose a short ingredient list over a long ingredient list on any label, and; 4) look for two or more grams of fiber per 100 calories in all grain products such as breads, cereals, crackers and chips.
14. Read labels: Bring a magnifying glass with you if you need it, as label-reading can provide a wealth of information. You can learn about all the nutrients and additives, calories, and serving sizes for each item from that label. Usually, all the information provided is meant for one serving, so note the number of servings per container. If it says, “1,” then it’s a perfect size for one individual. If it says “2,” then find someone to share that item with you.
15. Avoid junk and fast food: You can avoid entire aisles at the grocery store if you take a list with you. A planned, rather than impromptu, trip to the grocery store will insure that you have all the healthy food you need at home. No need to visit the junk food section, no need to head out for fast food.
16. Linger in the vegetable section: Get to know vegetables, as they are your friends. You can eat more food if you bulk it up with vegetables. Add them to omelets, pasta, and sandwiches to gain more satisfaction from your meals.
17. Avoid white foods: White foods usually equal foods filled with white flour and/or sugar. Both products will play with your blood sugar and lead to weight gain. Instead, look for brown while grain breads and brown rice, as these foods will fill you up, provide fiber, and contribute to your healthy new lifestyle.
18. Avoid red meat: If you like to eat meat, head toward the chicken and fish rather than the red meat. Red meat can contribute to many physical problems, including colon cancer.
19. Use spices: Flavorings such as hot sauce and spices will help you wean yourself away from relying on butter and high-calories sauces to flavor your foods. These spices contain few calories and plenty of flavor.
20. Buy fruit instead of fruit juice: Fruit juice often contains extra sugars and additives (unless it’s 100% fruit juice). If you eat the actual fruit, you gain fiber and you feel fuller for the same (and often less!) calorie count.
21. Think small: You may purchase food in bulk if you have a large family, but that doesn’t mean that you need to eat bulk-sized portions. When you buy meat, buy smaller cuts. When you order a sub, order the six-inch sub rather than the twelve-inch sub. Think small, and you can reduce your daily calorie count by the hundreds.
22. Try a frozen diet dinner: Frozen foods often contain high sodium and additives so you don’t want to make a habit of eating them; however, you might try one or two diet meals a week just to learn about portion sizes. These frozen dinners are ideal tools to understand how to portion your vegetables, starches and protein. Plus, some meals even contain a low-calorie dessert!

The Dining Room

23. Paint the dining room blue: The color blue is an appetite suppressant, which is why you’ll never see that color in any fast food restaurant. Use blue plates, a blue tablecloth, or paint the walls blue to help keep your hunger at bay.
24. Use smaller plates: If you pile a small plate with food, that’s still less food than a large plate piled with food. Also, try using smaller glasses for juices, coffee, etc.
25. Leave bowls of food in the kitchen: If the food isn’t on the table, you can’t reach for it. By the time you put down that napkin and stand up and grab your plate to head for the kitchen, that time will provide enough space to think twice about that second helping.
26. Keep vegetables on the table: If you keep a plate of sliced vegetables handy on the table, you can appease your urge for second helpings in a healthy and satisfying way. Eating water-rich foods such as zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumbers during meals reduces your overall calorie consumption and they will fill you up fast. One example from that link: “Pasta salad bulked up with zucchini, carrots and other veggies, which have a high water content, can provide a portion double the size for the same calories as a salad made without the veggies.”
27. Shut down the kitchen after every meal: After every meal, put everything away, take care of the dishes, wipe down counters and turn off the light. Your kitchen isn’t a restaurant, so you can “close shop” after each meal. This habit will help you to reduce calories by eliminating between-meal and late-night snacks.
28. Brush your teeth after every meal: A clean taste in your mouth will become a signal that you are through eating, and this habit even may lead to a new lifestyle.

What You Drink

29. Drink your coffee black: Stick with plain ol’ Jane coffee rather than the fancy brands. Every bit of cream, sugar, whipped cream and sweet syrup you use in your coffee will pack on the calories. Once you get used to the coffee without all those condiments, you may actually taste the coffee.
30. Read the labels (again): Even a one-calorie soda can add to the pounds. If you drink one one-calorie soda per day, that’s 365 calories per year, or about 1/3 pound of body weight. When added to other excess calories (that one bite of cookie, or that extra glass of juice, or that handful of chips), then you easily can add 100 or more calories per day over your goal, or one pound per year.
31. Drink more water: Once you read those labels, you might not want some of those extra ingredients in your body. You can continue with your coffee and/or juice before or with breakfast, but drink water after breakfast for the rest of the day. You might want to print out this information about what soda does to your body and tape it to your fridge to help you avoid temptation. Water is zero calories, but it may seem boring. Add some lemon or lime juice from a real lemon or lime until you get into the water habit.
32. Switch from whole milk to milk with less fat: Each step downward from whole milk to 2% mile to 1% milk to skim cuts calories by twenty percent with each reduction. Once you’ve made the switch to skim milk from whole milk, you will have reduced your calories by half and trimmed fat by 95 percent. And, don’t believe the dairy industry when they advertise about losing weight by drinking milk. Milk cannot help you to lose weight.
33. Order by the glass: If you want to have wine, order by the glass and not by the bottle. If you want a beer, order by the glass and not by the pitcher. A glass of wine and an occasional beer may not harm your health, but alcohol contains sugar and is high in calories. So, moderation is key so you can keep track of how much you drink at any one sitting.

How You Eat

34. Avoid fried foods: Try grilling, baking,roasting, broiling, boiling, or raw foods to cut calories and fat. Fried foods can contribute to cancer risk, let alone add more fat to your diet.
35. Begin with soup or salad: This habit will help reduce your desire ro overeat, and it will add water-rich foods to your diet (see #25). Try to avoid cream- or milk-based soups, as those soups provide more calories and fat. Dip your fork into salad dressing rather than pouring over your salad. This habit will provide you with that taste you want, but you’ll end up eating less dressing.
36. Finish with fruit: Substitute fruit for dessert for added fiber, vitamins and minerals.
37. Eat more often: Think of your body as a furnace and the food as the fuel that stokes the fire. If you pile on too much fuel at one sitting, it’s just like adding too much wood to the fire at one time. Instead, eat more often throughout the day and in smaller portions, much like adding small portions of wood to a fire to keep it burning stable all day long. Your body will release less insulin, which keeps blood sugar steady. Additionally, smaller meals more often will help control hunger (see below).
38. Cut back on portions: This practice is especially helpful when you dine out at restaurants. Restaurants serve overly-large portions on large plates. When you plate arrives, set aside one-third of your food to take home with you for a later meal. You’ll eat less and save money as you turn one meal into two!
39. Eat at home: It’s difficult to eat at home when you work at an office, especially for lunch. But, if you can eat most of your meals at home or prepare your lunches for the office, you have more control over the ingredients in your meals and you don’t need to worry about food quality or quantity.
40. Be mindful of what you eat: Eat slowly and calmly, because your food isn’t going to get up and run away and this practice is better for your health. Put your fork down between each bite until you get in the habit of chewing food before you swallow it. Chewing helps your digestive juices, and eating slowly will help you learn to “feel” when you’re full.

Oh Yes — And Exercise

No exercise is created equal, which is a good thing, because everyone is different. No matter if you like to run, jog, walk, ride a bicycle, dance or stretch – the important thing is to get up and move to something you enjoy. Moving burns calories and burning calories will help you to lose weight, reduce blood pressure and increase metabolism. Don’t do too much too soon if you’ve been inactive, and don’t believe the “no pain, no gain” mentality. The following tips focus mainly on walking, an easy exercise that provides plenty of healthy weight-loss results.

41. One pound per week: If you’re not losing one pound per week on your chosen diet and exercise programs, then you may have stalled or finished all these programs have to offer. You may need to push yourself a little harder or even rest for a week or two until you body catches up with all the changes you’ve made. Alternately, if you’re losing more than one pound per week, you’re doing great – just don’t expect to lose a pound per day, otherwise you can become ill. See your doctor if you are losing too much weight too quickly, especially if you aren’t on a diet or exercise plan.
42. Muscle weighs more than fat: Muscle does weigh more than fat, which may be why you’ve stalled out on your program if you’ve been lifting weights or doing strength training. However, you don’t want to lose that muscle. Muscle helps to burn fat, and you’ll begin to see results in your shape within weeks after you begin to exercise.
43. Buy a pedometer: You don’t need an expensive pedometer, but don’t skimp on this item, either. Once you own one, clip it to the waist of your pants and start walking. Try to aim for 5,000 steps a day if you’re unaccustomed to walking. Then, see what it would take for you to reach 10,000 steps per day. The first goal will help you maintain weight, and 10,000 steps per day will help you lose weight.
44. Walk before dinner: If you take a short twenty-minute walk before you eat dinner you’ll help to suppress your appetite.
45. Use the stairs: Spend 10 minutes a day walking up and down stairs. The Centers for Disease Control says that’s all it takes to help you shed as much as 10 pounds a year (assuming you don’t start eating more).
46. Walk instead of snacking: If you feel the urge for a snack, get up and walk right past that refrigerator. Short walks are as beneficial as long ones, and these short jaunts may help you to get past that craving as you stretch your legs and work off pent-up energy.
47. Do housework with energy: Vacuuming, scrubbing, cleaning and washing all burn calories. Who knew that spring/summer/fall/winter cleaning could be so healthy?
48. Sacrifice some TV: Decide now which shows you can sacrifice, as exercise will cut into yout TV time. Plus, it’s difficult to snack out on high-calorie foods when you’re on that treadmill or lifting those weights.
49. Find a weight-loss buddy: Or, a walking buddy or a diet buddy. Find someone who needs a friend as well to get through some tough times on this change of lifestyle. You’ll encourage each other and the companionship will make time fly. Find an online buddy, as this plan works just as well.
50. Kiss someone you love: Yes — kissing is an aerobic exercise and it burns approximately 6.4 calories per minute. If you kiss a person you love (not just anyone, mind you) for ten minutes a day, you could lose up to eight pounds per year!