Drink This First Thing In The Morning

Posted on August 17, 2013 by admin

Drink THIS First Thing in the Morning:

This daily trick can help you detoxify, improve your digestion and

boost your metabolism & energy levels

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist

Author of the best seller: The Top 101 Foods that FIGHT Aging

You’re bombarded with toxins in today’s modern world… everywhere

from the polluted air you breathe, the water you drink, the shampoos and

other cosmetics that lather your body with chemicals, and of course, all

of the chemical additives, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and other

harmful compounds in the food that you eat.

All of these TOXINS can have harmful effects on your body, harming

your metabolism and hormones, impairing your digestive system, and

zapping your energy levels.

If I could tell you ONE thing that you could do each morning right as

you wake up to help your body eliminate some of these toxins, improve

your digestion, stimulate your metabolism, and BOOST your energy,

would you do it?

Of course you would… and it takes less than 1 minute!

Here’s the trick…

Immediately upon waking each day, squeeze about 1/2 to 1 full lemon

(depending on size of the lemon) into an 8 oz glass of warm or room

temperature purified water. This is gentler on your body first thing in the

morning compared to ice cold water. I’ve found that slicing the lemon

into quarters before squeezing by hand is easier than squeezing halves.

Drink this at least 10 minutes before eating any food for the day.

Make sure to use fresh organic lemons to make this drink, and not

bottled lemon juice. You want to use organic lemons to avoid the

pesticides that can accumulate.

3 Major benefits of this morning drink to your body, health, and

energy:

According to a leading health publication, TheAlternativeDaily.com:

“The health promoting benefits of lemons are powerful. For centuries, it

has been known that lemons contain powerful antibacterial, antiviral and

immune boosting components. We know that lemons are a great digestive

aid and liver cleanser. Lemons contain citric acid, magnesium,

bioflavonoids, vitamin C, pectin, calcium and limonene, which

supercharge our immunity so that the body can fight infection.

Lemons are considered one of the most alkalizing foods you can eat.

This may seem untrue as they are acidic on their own. However, in the

body, lemons are alkaline; the citric acid does not create acidity once it

has been metabolized. The minerals in lemons are actually what helps to

alkalize the blood. Most people are too acidic (from eating too much

sugar and grains), and drinking warm lemon water helps reduce overall

acidity, drawing uric acid from the joints. This reduces the pain and

inflammation which many people feel. And the American Cancer Society

recommends warm lemon water to encourage regular bowel movements.”

Benefits that you can enjoy:

1. Improves your digestion:

Lemon juice helps your body improve digestion and stimulates bile

production. Lemon juice can even be an aid for heartburn and indigestion.

2. Boosts your energy for the day:

Even just the scent of lemon juice has been shown to improve your mood

and energy levels, and reduce anxiety. Plus the detoxifying effect and

alkalizing effect of fresh organic lemon juice can improve your energy

through the removal of toxins from your body.

3. Helps you to lose fat:

Since lemon juice helps to improve your digestive system, aids in

removal of toxins, and increases your energy levels, this all combines

together to help you to lose body fat as well through improving your

hormonal balance… Yet another reason to add warm lemon water to

your daily morning routine!

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Breaking: SOME Morning After Pills Will Be OTC

Posted on June 5, 2013 by admin

The battle over where Plan B belongs in the drugstore continues: First, an April judicial ruling required the FDA to make emergency contraceptives available over the counter without any point-of-sale or age restrictions. Then, the Department of Justice later appealed the decision, asking for a temporary suspension of the case. The latest update: Earlier today, The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FDA must provide unrestricted over-the-counter access to some forms of emergency contraception, but not others, according to a recent press release from the Reproductive Health Technologies Project.

The new ruling says that the FDA does not need to provide OTC access to one-pill versions of emergency contraception (like Plan B One-Step); however, they do need to make two-pill versions available OTC immediately, without any age or point-of-sale restrictions. Essentially, it enforces the original order to put the morning after pill on store shelves, but only as it applies to the two-pill methods. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, the FDA will now have 14 days to appeal this ruling, or they could comply and start working on getting two-pill doses (like the generic Levonorgestral tablets, 0.75mg) moved out from behind the pharmacy counter.

So why are they allowing the two-pill dose to hit shelves instead of the much more widely available one-pill version? It isn’t entirely clear. “I think it’s based on legal and procedural issues, not with what has been shown to be a safe and effective product—both in one pill and two pill versions,” says Susannah Baruch, interim president and CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project.

While it might seem confusing that some forms of emergency contraception will be on store shelves while others will be behind the counter (and still others will require a prescription!), it’s important to note that all options are safe and effective forms of backup birth control, says Baruch. And this new ruling will mean that you can get the morning after pill whenever you need it—albeit in a slightly less convenient two-pill formula.

“This is a good day,” says Baruch.” We’re happy with the decision and eager to see what happens next. The path to full access to emergency contraception is open and we’re headed down that path.”

photo: WaveBreak Media/Thinkstock

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Is The New Morning Sickness Drug Safe?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by admin

If Kate Middleton’s pregnancy has taught us anything, it’s that, for some women, morning sickness is way more than just a pregnancy-related annoyance. In fact, about one percent of pregnant women suffer from symptoms that are so severe, they actually require medical treatment. Luckily for these women, the FDA just approved a drug to treat morning sickness—the first in more than 30 years.

The drug, Diclegis, should be available by the end of May. While you may not have heard of it before, it’s actually far from new: Diclegis was sold in the U.S. more than 50 years ago under a different brand name, Bendectin. Bendectin was approved by the FDA in 1956 for the treatment of vomiting and nausea due to pregnancy. However, many women who took Bendectin ultimately filed lawsuits against the manufacturer, claiming that it caused birth defects. The FDA continued to maintain that Bendectin was completely safe, but the lawsuits persisted. Swamped by legal costs and bad press, the manufacturer stopped making the drug in 1983.

As scary as this all may sound, there is no clinical evidence to suggest that Diclegis can harm a fetus. In fact, Diclegis has been tested extensively in the intervening 30 years. Two meta-analyses of existing research have concluded that it’s safe for a growing baby. In 1999, the FDA announced publicly that the drug was not discontinued for safety reasons. Now, a Canadian manufacturer has stepped in, tested the drug under a new name, and received FDA approval.

Many doctors have welcomed the development with open arms. “It’s a very well-studied medicine,” says Jeffrey Ecker, MD, an obstetrician at Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “The available information does not suggest a risk.” In fact, the ACOG has recommended the two main ingredients in Diclegis—pyridoxine hydrochloride and doxylamine succinate—as a treatment for morning sickness for the past nine years.

Bottom line: All signs indicate that Diclegis is safe. Still not sure if this pill is right for you? This info will help you decide.

What is it?
Diclegis contains pyridoxine hydrochloride and doxylamine succinate. Pyridoxine is a form of vitamin B6, and doxylamine is an antihistamine (also found in certain allergy medicines). The tablets are delayed-release, so taking two at bedtime should help prevent the onset of morning sickness. If your symptoms are severe enough, you can take two more tablets throughout the day to keep your nausea in check. It’s not known why these ingredients work to reduce morning sickness, but in a recent study, it was found to be more effective than a placebo at reducing nausea and vomiting symptoms.

What are the possible side effects?
Drowsiness is the main one. Like all antihistamines, doxylamine is known to make you sleepy. It’s best to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery while on the medicine.

How do you know if you should take it?
If dietary and lifestyle changes aren’t working to ease your morning sickness, you may want to try taking vitamin B6 (one of the two ingredients in the drug) on its own. Ecker commonly prescribes 25 to 50 mg of B6, to be taken two to three times a day, to women with morning sickness. But if the B6 doesn’t help you, Diclegis may be your best bet.

“As with all medicines, folks that have had reactions to the ingredients shouldn’t take them,” says Ecker. If you know you have a B6 allergy or have reacted badly to anti-histamines in the past, skip this drug. For most people, though, these ingredients shouldn’t cause any problems—just easier mornings for moms-to-be.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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BREAKING: The Morning After Pill May Soon Be OTC

Posted on April 5, 2013 by admin

In breaking birth control news, a federal judge has ordered the FDA to make emergency contraceptives available over the counter and without any point-of-sale or age restrictions. That means that all levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives (including Plan B, Plan B One-Step, and its generics) would be available without a script to women of all ages (previously, women under 17 had to get an Rx from their doc). Even more exciting: It’ll be available on actual store shelves—right next to the condoms and pain relievers—rather than behind the pharmacy counter. And as anyone who has had to frantically search for a 24-hour pharmacy or deal with a judgy pharmacist can tell you—this is huge!

“Today is an enormous victory for all women,” says Susannah Baruch, interim president and CEO of Reproductive Health Technologies Project. “This decision is giving every woman and couple easier access to a safe and effective birth control option.”

Back in 2011, the FDA planned to make emergency contraception available OTC for women of all ages, but that recommendation was overturned by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. In his decision today, Judge Edward Korman of the District Court of Eastern New York wrote that those restrictions were “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable.”

Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Plan B will be out on store shelves tomorrow. The Justice Department now has 30 days to make an appeal, though experts believe they’ll have a hard time making a case for it. If there aren’t any appeals, the FDA will then reach out to the manufacturers of Plan B and its generics to update their labeling to reflect these changes, says Baruch. “There is no exact timeline, but we wouldn’t expect there to be too many more delays,” says Baruch.

So what can you expect if all goes according to plan? Essentially, you could buy emergency contraception from any store that sells other OTC medications without having to chat up a pharmacist. “We no longer have to find on a Sunday morning or a Saturday night an open pharmacy counter with a pharmacist on duty,” says Susan Wood, PhD, associate professor of health policy and of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University. “You can purchase it as you would any other over-the-counter product.” And in terms of cost, the price will likely stay the same as it was behind the counter. The only difference will be for women who might have had a prescription for the drug and therefore might have had this covered under their insurance, says Wood. Those women will now have to pay the actual retail cost, which is typically around $ 50.

While we still don’t have a clear ETA for emergency contraception on drugstore shelves, the new ruling sends a message that access to birth control is something that should not come with limitations. “This is a stamp of approval for its safety,” says Baruch. “I hope we will not see any more unnecessary restrictions.”

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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How to Become a Morning Workout Person

Posted on February 4, 2013 by admin

Put down the banana, rise-and-grinders: According to a new study published online in the British Journal of Nutrition, people who exercise early in the morning on an empty stomach burn more fat than those who nosh before hitting the gym.

Researchers at Northumbria University asked 12 physically active men to hit treadmills in the morning—some on an empty stomach, and some who had eaten breakfast. The results showed two significant findings: Early workouts didn’t cause participants to feel hungrier or eat more throughout the day, and those who exercised in a fasted state also burned 20 percent more fat than those who chowed down prior to sweating.

This news may be easy enough for early birds to swallow, but what if you’re the type of person who has a profound relationship with your snooze button? Here, seven tips to learn how to tackle exercise first thing in the AM—so you can take advantage of a study like this, too.

Sleep in your gym gear
Your gym shorts and sweatshirt are comfortable already, so why make an additional change before you exercise? “Sleep in your workout gear or work out in your pajamas,” says NYC-based trainer Larysa DiDio. “Sometimes the extra 10 minutes it takes to get dressed is the difference between going to the gym or ditching it.”

Wake up and smell the coffee
Auto-set your coffee maker in the evening, before you hit the hay. “Studies show that the smell of coffee energizes you,” says DiDio. “So the smell of brewing coffee in the morning will get you going before you get out of bed.”

Stretch while sleepy-eyed
Hit snooze, and then start stretching in bed to wake up and skip a step later. Didio recommends this routine:
1) Piriformis stretch. Bend your right knee, and cross it over your other leg. Pull your knee into your chest. Repeat with the other side.
2) Spine and upper body stretch. Extend your legs out straight, extend your arms overhead, and then reach.
3) Hamstring stretch. Bend your left knee slightly, and extend your right leg up toward the ceiling. Gently pull your leg at the ankle or knee towards your head. Repeat with the other side.

Set your alarm to blood-pumping beats
Are Rihanna and Gaga on your workout playlist? If that’s what livens you up, make a rockin’ song your wake-up call. “Set your alarm to kick-ass music,” DiDio says. “Fast-paced music gets us going and the heart rate moving.”

Make it habitual
Don’t think of morning workouts as forever, which will be too daunting a challenge for reformed night owls. Just find a way to get up a few days in a row. “Three times will make a habit,” DiDio says. “The more you work out in the morning, the more you’ll get used to it. Schedule your morning workouts in the beginning of the week and stick to them.”

Commit to a short workout
If you feel too tired at the start of your workout for a full hour, convince yourself to put in just 15 good minutes instead. “The shorter amount of time commitment will get you out of bed quicker, and chances are, you’ll stay for longer,” DiDio says.

Drink up
While this new study suggests you should exercise on an empty stomach, still sip some water before hitting the gym. “Put a glass of water by your bed and drink it first thing,” DiDio says. “Water energizes and refreshes the body, and gets you going.”

photo: Yellowj/Shutterstock

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How to Deal With Severe Morning Sickness

Posted on December 13, 2012 by admin

When news broke of Kate Middleton’s pregnancy last week, the Duchess of Cambridge wasn’t exactly out celebrating. Middleton was quickly admitted to a central London hospital with hyperemesis gravidarum, otherwise known as severe morning sickness. Fortunately for the duchess (or, rather, future moms-to-be who suffer the same fate), research is being conducted on an existing drug that seems to also be effective at treating morning sickness, according to a study in the journal Early Human Development.

The drug gabapentin, an anti-seizure and anti-pain medication, has been shown to relieve nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. In a small 2010 study, researchers tested the drug’s effectiveness in seven pregnant women with severe symptoms. The participants saw an average of 80 percent reduction in nausea and 94 percent reduction in vomiting after two weeks. “The drug showed remarkable effects in women who were very sick with this condition and were let down by other treatments,” says lead study author Thomas Guttuso, M.D., assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Unfortunately, additional research and placebo studies need to be done on the medication before OB/GYNs will feel comfortable prescribing it to pregnant women. In the meantime, try these doctor-approved remedies for fighting off brutal morning sickness.

Take a supplement
Along with your recommended prenatal vitamins, Guttuso suggests vitamin B6 for relief from nausea and vomiting. Most women should take 10-25mg three times a day, he says. But make sure to run any new supplements by your doctor before you begin taking them.

Drink tons of fluids
If you’re getting sick often, make sure to amp up your water intake. Replenishing fluids is even more important than keeping food down, says Peter Bernstein, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Montefiore Medical Center. “If you get dehydrated, you’ll feel a lot worse,” he says.

Overhaul your eating schedule
Instead of chowing down at your regular mealtimes, snack on several lighter dishes during the day. “Usually having bland, small meals throughout the day will help women tolerate morning sickness much better,” says Guttuso. Try a whole wheat bagel with butter, or apple slices and toast.

Plump up your pillows
Staying in bed might seem like a cure-all, but the wrong position can send you right back to the bathroom. “Lying flat can aggravate indigestion and make things worse,” says Bernstein, and getting up out of bed too quickly can also trigger nausea. Use extra pillows to prop yourself up so that both your head and shoulders are raised. “Keep a little something next to the bed, like crackers,” says Bernstein, “So that even before you bring your head off the pillow, you have something in your stomach to settle it.”

Limit risky foods
Those pregnancy cravings might be telling you to order extra jalapenos, but don’t give in. Certain foods, like anything spicy or acidic, can upset your stomach and make morning sickness worse, says Bernstein. That means holding off on the burritos, tomato sauce, and orange juice for a while.

Keep mints in your bag
Peppermint has been found to help settle your stomach, says Bernstein. Plus, the strong aroma can mask any unpleasant smells that might set you off. Stash some mints in your purse for emergencies—like when you’re passing a seafood market and feel a wave of nausea coming on.

Image: Stockbyte/Thinkstock

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The Morning Routine That Banishes Food Cravings

Posted on October 29, 2012 by admin

Do you always feel ravenous by 10 a.m.? Here’s a counter-intuitive way to fix that: Work out before work. Turns out exercise actually reduces the brain’s motivation for food, according to a new study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

In the study, researchers examined the food motivation of 18 normal-weight women and 17 clinically obese women over two separate days by exposing them to images of food or flowers while using electroencephalogram (EEG) technology to measure the strength of their brain waves. On the first day of the study, the women walked briskly for 45 minutes on a treadmill before researchers showed them the images, but on the second day, the experiment was repeated without the exercise. The women logged their physical activity and food intake on both days.

“We were looking at how strongly the brain’s response associated with attention was directed toward food stimuli,” explains study co-author Michael J. Larson, PhD, assistant professor of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center at Brigham Young University.

What researchers found was that both the normal-weight and obese women paid less attention to the food images right after exercising, regardless of their weight. Meanwhile, exercise had no effect on brain response to the flowers. According to Larson, this means that exercise appears to affect the way our brains respond to food in particular, which could in turn affect our decisions about what and how much we eat–at least right after exercising.

Moreover, the food and physical activity logs of the study subjects revealed that exercise didn’t lead to overeating later in the day. In fact, women who began the day with exercise got more physical activity throughout the rest of the day, without eating more to compensate for the extra calories burned.

If you don’t have time to work out before work, that’s okay–there are other ways to stave off cravings throughout the day.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Athens Java Hut

Serving Jittery Joe's Coffee, Cecilia Villaveces, Cakes and Italian Gelato

Tag Archives: Morning

Drink This First Thing In The Morning

Breaking: SOME Morning After Pills Will Be OTC

Is The New Morning Sickness Drug Safe?

BREAKING: The Morning After Pill May Soon Be OTC

How to Become a Morning Workout Person

How to Deal With Severe Morning Sickness

The Morning Routine That Banishes Food Cravings