There has been lots of hype in the last few years about how one little purple berry is the answer to all our weight loss problems. Celebrity endorsements, Internet advertising, and the appearance of acai berries in nearly every product in the grocery store have only added to the confusion. So what’s the truth about this intriguing berry? Is it a miracle-cure for obesity, or just another weight-loss myth?

Acai berries grow on Acai Palm trees throughout Central and South America. They’ve long been a staple of the indigenous people’s diets, and have recently been “discovered” by western science.

The basis for the hype that surrounds this blueberry-like fruit is that it is packed with immune-boosting antioxidants, the likes of which you can’t find anywhere else on earth. Antioxidants are an important part of a healthy eating plan. They’re like little riot police, putting a stop to all those hoodlums, the free radicals. Free radicals are to blame for everything from aging to cancer, so they need to be stopped.

What’s not so clear is if free radicals have much to do with weight gain, or the inability to shed those unwanted pounds. Free radicals come from things like fried foods, so there appears to be a correlation between them and weight gain. But free radicals are also caused by many other things, including respiration. So it’s unclear whether or not free radicals cause us to gain weight, or if it’s all that fried food we’re eating. Certainly, adding a few antioxidants to your diet can’t hurt, though. The question is, are acai berries the best foods for the job?

Well, acai berries are fairly bursting with antioxidants, but they’re not really any better source than locally grown blueberries or raspberries. In fact, they may even contain less antioxidants than black cherries. So if you really want to gain the benefits of all those antioxidants, grab a bottle of blueberry or cherry juice rather than acai berry juice. Your wallet will thank you.

But what about those super-concentrated acai berry supplements? Surely those are better for promoting weight loss than cherry juice? Not likely. Not only are nutritional supplements not regulated – and therefore not measured for effectiveness or even the presence of the very nutrient they claim to contain – but the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society have both stood out against taking supplements of this kind. The truth is, ingesting too many of these types of nutrients can be worse for your health than not taking any at all. In fact, some studies have shown that people who take antioxidant supplements are more likely to suffer a heart attack.

Are acai berries healthy? Certainly. So are all dark-colored fruits and vegetables, and you should absolutely add more of them to your diet. But it’s unrealistic to expect to lose weight simply because you ate some acai berry. Weight loss is a simple equation: burn more calories than you ingest. That means the only sure-fire way to lose weight is to eat less and move more.

Men call it their “beer gut.” Women sometimes call it their “post baby” fat. No matter what you call it, belly fat is not something anyone wants. Yet, is it possible to lose it?

The obvious answer is that a good eating program is going to help you lose weight, so there’s a good chance that you will lose belly fat as a result. If a change in your eating is the approach you decide to take, here are some dietary changes you may want to consider. Read the rest of this entry

Why My Child Has Autism?

What is autism?

A very well-known developmental disability, autism results from a neurological disorder that greatly affects the normal functions of the brain. Because of the disruption in how the brain should be normally wired, the development of an autistic person’s social interaction and communication skills are severely slowed down. People who suffer from this disability also have difficulty with non-verbal communication and activities that have to do with play and banter.

How is autism manifested?

Kids who have autism find it hard to express themselves using words. As a result, they retreat back to being alone and keeping to themselves since they cannot communicate with other people without someone’s help. Also, those with autism are observed to react to usual environmental phenomena in very unusual ways. For instance, what is perceived to be normal, common sounds may sound too bothersome for someone with autism, causing them to cover their ears. Also, certain tactile sensations may make a person with autism feel uncomfortable. Read the rest of this entry

Acne is known as one of the most common and chronic skin disorders in the world today. Acne has been reported to affect millions of people. These people are of every gender, race, and age. Research has shown that it has been seen in the female population in the amount of 80 percent and the male population is shown to be 90 percent, in the teenage population. Acne is also known to occur in adults and infants as well. It normally is seen on the neck, face, back, and chest. This condition is both bothering and annoying and should be addressed, if at all possible. Read the rest of this entry

Acid reflux is made up of chronic symptoms and  or mucosal damage that are caused by the abnormal reflux of stomach contents, namely the powerful stomach acid. When the gastric contents are expelled into the esophagus, this creates discomfort, pain and possibly lasting tissue damage. Read the rest of this entry

Something you need to keep in mind and never forget is that when you exercise, you are training for life.  You still may spend an hour a day in the gym, although that will still leave another 23 hours or so for your muscles to function without using any fancy equipment. Read the rest of this entry

Life is full of ups and downs and sometimes has a few sideways thrown in too. When things go wrong or don’t go as planned, or when something happens to throw us off balance and doubt ourselves it can be tough to deal with. After all, we all want things to go well and to end up as ‘winners’. But life will always throw challenges at us, and we can’t control everything. Nor should we try. It’s not what happens to you but what you do with what happens to you that makes the difference. Here are three easy ways that you can always come out on top. Read the rest of this entry

Stress is fast becoming the biggest health problem in modern societies. Financial pressures, work pressures, family pressures – so much to do so little time to do it all! Here’s five quick ways to ease the pressure and relieve stress: Read the rest of this entry

The human body is made up of over 75% of water, and as we all know, we cannot live without water.  The
fact is, we can only survive for a total of 3 days without water.  Water has however, been replaced in
most diets by soft drinks and other sugar sweetened
refreshments.  Keep in mind that water is a healthier and necessary for leading yourself towards a better
health and longevity. Read the rest of this entry