"Freshman Fifteen" Avoided by Finding a Heavy Roommate

A new study presented at a meeting of the American Society of Health Economists reveals that female college students who have heavier roommates are apt to gain less weight than those who room with thinner students.

Co-author of the study, Kandice Kapinos, explained that 144 female freshman students who were randomly assigned roommates were surveyed and asked about the following:  their height and weight, their exercise habits, whether or not they were on a diet, and whether or not they took weight loss supplements.

Kapinos found that those young women who roomed with heavier students gained a lesser amount of weight: ½ pound, compared to 2.5 pounds.

The reasons for this may seem somewhat counterintuitive, as other research, such as one published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, showed that obesity can be socially contagious.  In explaining the discrepancy between the two studies, Kapinos states that the key difference is that roommate relationships are random, whereas those we choose to befriend and marry are more like we are.

The specific reason why heavier roommates result in less weight gain may also seem counterintuitive at first glance.  The researchers contend that the behaviors of heavier roommates are what is contagious in a dormitory scenario.  In other words, heavier students are more likely to diet, exercise and use weight loss supplements than thinner students.  Students rooming with young women who practice weight management tend to take on their regimens.

A subtle implication of this study that can be easily missed is the fact that other research has shown that people who are overweight can STILL be fit if they engage in physical activity of some sort.

Steven Blair of the Cooper Institute claims that people who are overweight (not obese) and fit have one-half the death rate of normal weight people who are not fit.  In fact, Blair describes himself as "a fat guy who runs every day."

How can that be?  Simply because there are other variables besides weight that can determine whether or not a person is fit.  To be considered fit, a person must:

*Be a non-smoker
*Engage in physical activity for at least thirty minutes a day, even if exercise
is done in increments
*Have healthy cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood sugar (no diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes)
*Have no family history of chronic illness

Waist size also plays a role; according to WebMD, a woman with a 35 inch waist or less, or a man with a waist size of 40 inches or less may still be considered healthy, even if he or she is carrying a few unwanted pounds.

The key factor, of course, is exercise. A thin person who doesn't exercise is just as unfit as an overweight person who isn't physically active. So, while "overweight and fit" isn't necessarily oxymoronic, "sedentary and fit" is. One cannot avoid exercise like the plague and still be considered fit.

The bottom line is that a physically fit person still reaps the benefits of exercise even if there is no weight loss. And, even a slight reduction in weight (5-7%) has been linked to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Most of the time, weight loss is a serendipitous by product of a physically active lifestyle. However, even if that weight loss
is negligible, or is slow in coming off, the benefits exercise are still myriad.

Weight Loss and Sports Supplement Company, iSatori Technologies, Recognized for Top Innovation with Five “Best of the Best” Awards

 Because of their truly innovative technologies in weight loss and sport supplements, iSatori Technologies (http://www.isatoritech.com) is recognized by Jeff Everson's Planet Muscle "Best of the Best" Awards with five Supplement Category Wins:

>> Best Liquid Protein: Liquid Morph+™ Platinum Winner

>> Best Fat Burner: MX-LS7™ Honorable Mention

>> Radical Breakthrough Product: Flash Point™ Platinum Winner

>> Carnosine (Reducing Hydrogen Ion) Focus: H-Blocker™ Platinum Winner

>> Testosterone Elevation: Isa-Test™ GF Silver Winner

“We're really passionate about driving product innovations; it’s ingrained into our culture here,” explains Stephen Adele, CEO of iSatori Technologies (http://www.isatoritech.com), “which is why you won't ever see us launching a ‘me-too’ type product and why we're recognized as product leaders by credible experts, including Jeff Everson.”

Adele goes on to say, “We have one simple rule: if we can't turn a category upside down, completely reinvent it, or create an entirely new category, we don't want to do it. What's more, you'll never see us introduce a product unless it's something that really excites us. And that means it's a product we can't wait to use ourselves, too!”

With a company culture that prides itself on truly revolutionary product innovations, it’s no wonder iSatori has been showered with industry and leadership awards. Notable awards such as the Gold Award from Nutrition Business Journal; Entrepreneur of the Year finalist by Ernst & Young; Outstanding Young Coloradan by the Jaycee’s; and finalist for Best Boss of the Year by Fortune Small Business. And now five category wins from Jeff Everson's Planet Muscle Magazine for their product innovations in weight loss, protein, testosterone, and sports performance.

To learn more about iSatori’s innovation and powerful diet and performance supplements, you can visit them online at http://www.iSatoriTech.com or call iSatori Technologies direct at 1-866-688-7679.

Retailers interested in carrying any of iSatori’s product innovations should contact Europa Sports, America's largest sports nutrition distributor, at 1-800-447-4795, or visit www.EuropaSports.com

About iSatori Technologies:
Based in Golden, Colorado, iSatori Technologies was founded in early 2002 by Stephen Adele to provide clinically tested nutritional supplements and is the only company dedicated to providing complete dietary and exercise solutions for building a better body and living a healthier, richer life. iSatori's life-enhancement, weight-loss, and muscle-building supplements, such as Eat-Smart® Bar, SUB-TEST™, MORPH MEGADRIVE™, FLASH POINT™, Amino-Phase™, Isa-Test™, Lean System 7®, Energize®, MX-LS7™, Curvelle, MORPH™, and Liquid MORPH+™ are available in over 31,000 retail stores nationwide, including GNC and online at drugstore.com, as well as in 12 countries. iSatori recently received the industry's NBJ Gold Award for Growth in Small Companies category.

New Herbal Tea Line Gains Attention World Wide as a Good-For-You Beverage

 For consumers who are interested in felling better, losing weight, clearing their skin or boosting their immune system, herbs fit the bill perfectly. However, not all herbs taste good, in fact some are down right nasty. Fortunately, this line of herbal teas are super tasty and will pass the test of your pickiest people. Designed by a Master Herbalist, Nicole Carter, not only do they taste great, they work.

Nicole Carter who also has been teaching herbal medicine classes in her community for many years started the Herbal Experience in 2010. She says that everyone can improve their health with herbs, tea just happens to be an easy and fun way to get them in. "People have come to my classes for years to learn about herbs, I always taught them how to blend tea and use it for different health concerns. They just like to have it done and ready. So, I created a line for those people. It's easy for them, tastes good and does the job" says Nicole of her new tea line.

The new line includes the most popular Thin Me T, for weight loss, Immune T for preventing viral illness, Pretty T to get your exterior gorgeous and Cleanz T to keep your interior ship shape. Nicole has also designed a tea just for pregnant and nursing moms, Mommy T. "This was actually my first blend that I developed and sold to other mom's like myself who were dealing with the issues for pregnancy and beyond,” said Nicole of the Mommy T.

If you think adults are the only ones who can gain the benefits of herbal teas, guess again. With the introduction of Kide T, Nicole hopes to change the thinking of parents from giving sugar-laden juices, to healthy herbal teas with no sugar, no caffeine and lots of nutrients. Triana Hunter, a pediatric nurse of 13 years says "Kids really need lots of nutritional support, especially with what they are bombarded with these days. This tea is great and I recommend it to all my mommies."

The tea blends by Herbal Experience are making their way into many retail outlets across the country and can be purchased directly from their website at www.herbalexperience.com. They offer free samples of 6 blends as well as free shipping on all orders within the U.S

Breakthrough Natural Treatment for Recurring Vaginal Thrush

5% of women in the UK suffer from recurring vaginal yeast infection according to the NHS, and have tried almost everything from herbal pills, to anti-candida diet, anti-fungal capsules, and OTC remedy but they are still not able to get rid of pain and suffering from recurring vaginal thrush.

A new natural treatment for recurring thrush is soon hitting the market –it is Effective, Safe, and Purely Natural. It is an excellent cure for chronic yeast infections that are difficult to treat.

Alaczen is a perfect combination of probiotics supplements that can help women to get rid of recurring yeast infection without any side effects.

The 4 strains of probiotics in Alaczen are blended together to make a one easy-to swallow capsule that help treat chronic yeast infections completely.

This natural treatment for recurring thrush is 100% safe, certified and contains only natural probiotics.

There is NO trace of harmful chemicals and the 4 different strains of probiotics used in the recurring thrush treatment will boost the immune system and kill the candida, preventing thrush to infect the intimate parts.

Using this natural treatment for recurring thrush is the best way to get rid of all the pain, suffering, soreness, and affliction caused by recurrent yeast infection.

It is formulated after through medicinal research and personal experience from women suffering from recurring vaginal thrush.

The new natural treatment for recurring thrush is a combination of science and nature and is truly superior to take care of your chronic yeast infections.

GPUs slick up with oil sleuths

I stopped by the Oil & Gas track at the 2010 GPU Tech conference this morning and learned quite a bit about the key drivers on the exploration side of the industry. I already knew the key drivers on the distribution side of the business - potato chips, watery fountain drinks and herbal energy pills - but that was presumably covered in a different break-out session. In this session, the speaker, from the exploration arm of oil giant Schlumberger, did a great job of laying out the big picture and relating it to their computing challenges.

It breaks down like this: we're hungry for oil and they need to find more of it. The costs of finding and extracting black gold have escalated as the easy stuff laying around the surface has already been found. While there is lots of oil out there, it's either still hiding or is buried beneath deep oceans or under piles of rocks. Finding it and pulling it out is where computers come in handy.

I've heard the term seismic processing for years and understand the concept - it's where you send waves into rocks and see how long it takes them to bounce off the rocks and hit receivers located somewhere else. Do this enough and you'll build up a good picture of what's located in the various strata underneath the surface. The more waves you send at a higher frequency, the better the picture. But this tends to send the amount of data you end up processing through the roof.

For example, the average ship running seismic gear has between 20,000 and 25,000 sensors on board, and you typically use several ships in concert to survey an area. This will yield anywhere from 50 to 200TB of data per run and take five to seven days of solid processing on a large number of systems to get results. If you ramp up the resolution, it can take 15,000-20,000 compute nodes running days or weeks to complete the job.

The competitive advantage for the surveying company comes from delivering high-quality results quicker than the next guy. Computing power is critical in winning that race. These oil and gas guys are brand agnostic to the extreme - they buy what yields the best price/performance (with an emphasis on performance) at any given time. Sometimes that means Intel, sometimes it means AMD - but right now, it means GPUs. Lots of GPUs, in fact.

Between June and October 2009, they almost doubled their overall capacity by adding GPU compute capacity and since then have doubled it again. They've seen about a six-fold reduction in overall cost and a five-fold increase in performance on their algorithms. According to the speaker, they didn't have much problem porting their code or performance tuning it to run under CUDA. Their analytical tools are a fairly limited set and all are embarrassingly parallel, making them a near perfect fit for the GPU computing model.

Getting such a non-qualified endorsement for GPU computing isn't surprising at the GPU Technology Conference, right? But it's a more compelling story when it comes from real world practitioners, rather than marketing slide monkeys or coin-operated sales people.

Shoptalk: Using plants, not pills, to stay healthy

Q: Can you tell me about your business at Dream Tide Farm?

A: Well, we are an organic certified medicinal herb farm. We do sell culinary as well, but the main focus is on plants that heal. Both grown and wild crafted

Q: What exactly are medicinal herbs?

A: Pharmaceuticals are synthetic, but most of them are derived from plant medicine. Back years ago, for instance, the willow bark is where aspirin came from. With the turn of the century and industrial revolution, scientist began to synthesize medicine, but 80 percent of the world still uses plant medicine. Plants whose properties support and maintain wellness, as well as heal ailments. It's nature's remedies.

Q: How did you become interested in organic medicinal herbs?

A: I've always had an interest since I was young in plants and started studying 10 years ago. That hooked me into starting my farm.

Q: You just opened the business, right? What made you turn the farm into a business?

A: I've gardened here for 20 years and have seen an interest in plant medicine grow. With health care costs rising and people losing their health care, it's now more important than ever. I encourage people to consider taking charge of their own wellness through the use of medicinal herbs and plants.

Q: What is your background?

A: I'm also an attorney and I practice from here, at the farm. I'm a certified herbalist, I've studied with different master herbalists, both in Maine at Avena and out of state, with some of the more well-known herbalists. I've also studied Native American spiritual healing, and that's one of the lectures we'll be having in October. So it's like an ongoing continuing process of exposing oneself to various teachers.

Q: What is your goal in offering public workshops?

A: The goal for public workshops is to create an opportunity for the public to learn about backyard medicine. Whether it's creating your garden or wild craft harvesting, it's a way to learn about the healing properties of plants and how to make natural remedies from the plants.

Q: What do you offer at Dream Tide Farm?

A: People can contact us for consultations, always working along with their own health care provider. We harvest and make herbal products including tinctures, elixirs, teas, salves and lotions, as well as provide raw honey. People can purchase by e-mailing and we'll provide a more detailed list or products available. I like to individualize the products for people. If people are interested, we also provide individual workshops, including making your own tea garden or herbal medicine cabinet. So we provide general workshops, special requests for individual workshops, consultations and products.

Q: Could you tell me a bit more about the winter medicine cabinet?

A: During the winter months, we're often faced with various illnesses, both viral and bacterial. There are many natural antidotes to these. An herbal medicine cabinet provides one with freshly made remedies. More importantly, a medicine cabinet includes wellness products that help boost one's own immune system, so the body can defend itself against such ailments. Elderberry is one of the old-time favorite winter remedies for cold and flus. The elder flowers are used to help reduce fevers and the elderberry has antiviral properties. Elderberry gets its name from the elderberry jam, wine or cordials given to the elders during the winter months to help keep them strong and healthy. I make an elderberry syrup. It's delicious.

Q: Do you have regular farm hours?

A: Just by e-mail right now, and when we have the workshops, the farm will be open. Come (next) summer we'll have more set hours. You can check the website for current hours. We're working toward an apothecary.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

A: Well, the first thing I would say is know your source for your herbs. Local is better. If they're organic, even better. Like Hippocrates said, "Let thy food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be thy food." Take the next step to find out what's in what plant to help you stay well.

Party pills and poppers may be legal but be aware of risks

PUPILS in Derby schools are to have lessons about the dangers of "legal high" drugs.

Sparked by fears that young people think it is safe to use such drugs as mephedrone, the lesson will be aimed at pupils in years seven to 11.

The synthetic stimulant was legal until April. Other legal highs the lesson will highlight are poppers and herbal party pills.

The idea has been developed by Derby City Council's healthy schools team after intense media coverage earlier this year about mephedrone, also known as Meow Meow, being linked to 18 deaths.

The lesson, which will be taught in schools before Christmas, has been developed in partnership with the Derby branch of drug treatment charity Addaction.

Jonathan Watson, project co-ordinator, said the main focus of the lesson would be raising awareness.

He said: "Legal drugs can be sold near schools and young people might think it is safe to use them.

"But the main message is, just because it is legal, it doesn't mean it is safe.

"All teachers will be given guidance and told what to deliver to the pupils.

"But if needs be, then Addaction workers can go into the schools and give the lesson."

Michelle Slater, the city council healthy schools' young persons' senior officer in drugs and alcohol, said the lessons are in response to Government advice issued earlier this year.

She said: "We need to continually support schools and pupils so this lesson was developed. It is a one-off lesson and teachers will be able to deliver it in a way they feel comfortable."

Ms Slater said not every school pupil would have to take part.

"If a school feels their younger pupils do not need the lesson then they can choose not to give it to them," she said.

During the summer holidays, Addaction workers offered secondary school staff advice on what to do if a pupil is found to have taken drugs during school-time.

The council's healthy schools team has also provided head teachers across the city with up-to-date national and local information on how to manage drug-related incidents related to mephedrone and legal highs.

Ash Venkatesh, acting head teacher at Littleover Community School, said it was important for pupils to understand the dangers.

He said: "The situation around legal highs is constantly changing, for example, new substances are on the market all the time.

"It is important we keep our advice to pupils up to date."

Mephedrone, a stimulant sold as plant food, was upgraded to a class B drug in April this year after 18 deaths in the UK were linked to it.

How to treat arthritis with herbal tonics

Arthritis is not only a very painful issue to have to deal with, but it can also be one that is absolutely debilitating. There is more than one type of arthritis, but general arthritis is a deterioration and/or inflammation of one or more of the joints. Arthritis often comes with age and may also be an issue that has been caused by certain occupations or activities. There are some instances, however, when even very young people suffer with arthritis. The symptoms of arthritis include, swelling, pain, warmth, stiffness, and redness in and around the joint that is affected.

There are pharmaceutical methods for relieving some of the symptoms of arthritis, as well as surgical options. However, for some people, these are not the options that they prefer and for some, they may not even find relief from them. There are more natural means of relieving the discomfort and pain that arthritis causes, which may be not only preferred, but even more effective for some people.

Glucosamine and MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) are some of the most popular herbal methods of treating arthritis today. You can purchase them seperately or as a combination product. They can be taken in pill form or in liquid form. The liquid may not be nearly as palatable to some, but it generally absorbs into the body faster and more effectively than the pills do. The glucosamine is helpful because it is actually are able to assist in pain relief by relieving some of the inflammation, as well as in repairing the joint tissues that have been damaged. The MSM, on the hand, has been shown to repair cell walls, adding flexibility so that fluids can pass through more freely.

Chondroitin sulfate is a compound that the body has in it which is a very important part of proper cartilage growth and development. Because cartilage helps to protect the joints, when it is damaged or missing, these joints are going to suffer a great deal of damage. Taking a chondroitin supplement will encourage the body to begin making more of its own cartilage to protect these joints.

Alfalfa Tonic is a brand of product that some patients with arthritis have found helpful in relieving many of their symptoms. Included in this supplement are, low-temperature fluid extracts of Cola, Gentian, Hydrastis and Oregon Grape root. Naturally, as the name states, the primary ingredient is an extract of organically grown alfalfa concentrate. This product may also help to increase energy levels, mental and emotional issues, and digestion.

While not every product will work for every person, these are some that are worth a try. For those with arthritis that is causing them pain and stiffness, limiting their lives in ways that they would rather not have limited, they may find some relief from the symptoms at the same time that they are helping to repair the body. Life with arthritis is a frustrating and uncomfortable one at best, but in trying some of the above products, you may be able to find some relief and repair.

Herbal sleep remedies

Herbal remedies have proved to help getting a good sleep. There is no need to use sleeping pills when you feel falling asleep is difficult or you have night with insomnia. Taking sleeping pills is easy, but it is not the best solution. Most of them create addiction if used a long time. Then next day you will feel dizzy and sleepy. Herbal remedies act less aggressively than pills do.

Before using any herbal remedies for a better sleep, you have to consider that insomnia may be caused by certain events of the day or habits that can influence sleep. Stressful situations or traumatic events play an important role for the quality of sleep. Surpass them with the help of the following herbal remedies, but also avoiding such events to disturb your sleep. Bad habits such as coffee drinking late at night may also be an important cause of bad sleep.

Valerian root

Even if it has an unpleasant smell, it is one of the most efficient herbal remedy for inducing the sleep. There are many other herbal remedies indicated in case of bad sleep or insomnia, but Valerian root effect is guaranteed and proved by specialists. It can be found under many forms: tea, tincture and pills. Valerian tincture is said to bring forward the deep sleep without dreams, decreasing the number of wake-ups in the night. Generally a six month treatment with a teaspoonful of tincture diluted in water served in the evening has wonderful effects after the first three weeks. Valerian root is also good for depression and anxiety.

Chamomile

It is one of the oldest and most used herbal remedy for sleep disorders. It brings forward a good calming sleep due to its wonderful natural properties. Chamomile tea must be prepared with hot water, but without letting the herb to boil because it will lose its properties. Drink two cups of an infusion made from two teaspoonful of herb into 250 ml of hot water. Strain and drink after ten minutes.

Lavender

It is one of the best known herbal remedies for insomnia. Lavender is a very good sedative due to its delicate perfume that relaxes the nervous system and reduces stress. Lavender oil can be used in aromatherapy to relax and induce sleeping. Use small quantities as lavender has a strong perfume.

Celery

A celery root eaten before going to sleep may bring you a good sleep. It is a less known herbal remedy, but the root is said to contain some compounds that decrease the concentration of the stress hormones. Celery root also contains certain substances that calm the nervous system.

There are many other herbal remedies such as: lemon, lime flower, passiflora, balm or hops. Use them as herbal tea before going to bed or in other forms found on the market, most of them in various combinations. Such herbs are calming and induce a quiet sleep. For a more pleasant taste and a better effect, add some honey to the herbal tea. Sleep well!