Some people consider that the myth of the Fountain of Youth has been around for as long as people have been growing old. There are traces of it in stories of pools or springs that heal sickness and disability or restore life to the dead, in almost all cultures.

However, the legend of the Fountain of Youth is a little different, in fact. Its waters are supposed to have restorative powers which keep us young and immortal or at least, young and healthy until our dying day.

Belief in the Fountain of Youth was widespread among the native people of the Caribbean islands at the time when the Spanish were discovering the American continents. The Arawak people of Cuba and Puerto Rico told the Spanish explorers that the fountain was believed to be in the land of Bimini to the north, approximately where the Bahamas are located. An Arawak tribal chief who had disappeared in search of it and never returned was said to be still enjoying his youth beside the fountain centuries later. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: America, Arawak tribal chief, Caribbean, Caribbean islands, Charlotte, Cuba, David Copperfield, first Governor, Florida, Juan Ponce de Leon, magician, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, United States, Youth Archeological Park

OK, so now it is the next day and I do not want to spoil for anyone but you should have watched the Biggest Loser Couples finale already. So here it is…Helen won!

The final three were Helen Phillips, Tara Costa and America chose Mike Morelli over his dad.

As usual you did not have to watch the season to watch the finale with all the kicked off contenstents on the show and weighing in.

First of course were the highlights of all the people this season and then the weight ins. In a big surprise the first guy kicked off, Jerry Hayes. losing a pile of weight, 177 pounds, and taking home $100,000 as the biggest at home loser.

That part itself took a couple of hours

Then the final three, with intros and how they got here which was really nice to see. This season has seemed long and it was nice to see all the transformations from beginning to last night. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: America, Helen Philips Wins Biggest Loser, Helen Phillips, Jerry Hayes, Mike Morelli, Tara Costa, the Biggest Loser, USD

NBC will be finally ending this marathon couple of seasons of the Biggest Loser tonight. Last fall they started Biggest Loser and then after a couple of weeks or so break came right back with Biggest Loser Couples. Tonight the finale will be three hours (I guess Celebrity Apprentice set the finale expectation), and we will once again see another person crowned Biggest Loser.

If you remember back to last week both Tara Costa and Helen Phillips made it to the finals and now Mike Morelli, and his dad Ron Morelli (never seen those last names before, It took time to find them) are in the America votes section to see who makes it to the final three.

I am pretty excited to see what happens tonight, I am a big fan of Tara as she seems to work so hard and never gives up no matter what the challenge is. I am surprised that Helen made it so far since she did not seem to have any big weeks, kind of stayed under the radar and kept losing week after week. And of course Mike who has been amazing in his real determination, showing his emotions and working until he was sick. Ron, I am not so sure about, since about the third week Ron’s only reason for being on the show has been to protect Mike and get him to the finals and with his health problems he has not had much of a chance to lose as much weight as he could have with a healthy body.

Who do you want to see win? Are you excited about the Biggest Loser Couples finale tonight or are you kind of burnt out from the show being so many hours each season? It will all be over in a few more hours

Oh, and they just started filming the next season of Biggest Loser!

Tags: America, Helen Phillips, Mike Morelli, Ron Morelli, Tara Costa, the Biggest Loser

It is said that America tops the obese adult population in the world, which is of course true. However, one seems to overlook the fact that America is also home to the highest population of obese children. If WHO (World Health Organization) is to be believed, our world contains more than twenty million obese kids, most of whom are in the age group of five-eight.

WHO also says that childhood obesity has reached the level of an epidemic in America, so much so that in the past three decades the number of obese American kids has more than tripled. Isn’t your child one of them too? It is time to take control of your kid’s life and help him lead the kind of comfortable and healthy life we would want him to lead. And this is only possible by helping him get rid of the extra pounds.

In fact, if America tops the number of obese kids, even third world countries are not far behind. You would think that an economically backward continent like Africa would have skinny kids because most of their parents are too poor to feed them properly, let alone overfeed them. However, very often our beliefs don’t coincide with reality. Just recently a special task force sent to Africa to gauge the health stats of the people living there encountered more obese kids than malnourished children.

You maybe thinking: why all this hullabaloo about childhood obesity? What is wrong if the belly of your kid if a tad fatter than his peers? The answer is: just like overweight adults, fat kids are also likely to suffer from harmful diseases such as high blood pressure, type 1 diabetes, hypertension, fatigue, heart diseases, and in some cases, even early death.

Believe it or not, the root cause of childhood obesity has little to do with genetics and more with poor lifestyle habits. Often people add two and two and jump to the conclusion that the kid is fat because of his parents. But that is not true at all. Kids emulate the unhealthy habits of their parents and naturally become fat like them. If you and your kids follow healthy lifestyle habits, both of you would be able to get rid of fat very quickly.

Truth to be told, the onus of the rising levels of childhood obesity lies on parents to a great extent. We parents prefer our kids to have junk foods since they can be easily procured from outside and help save the time we would have spent on cooking. A diet rich in fat and sugar could only make your child fatter and fatter. There is really nothing new to be said about it. Unless you are willing to spend a little time and energy in cooking healthy foods at home, don’t expect your kids to become any slimmer.

Apart from making them eat healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, it is also important that you try to reduce their intake of soda and fizzy drinks.

Controlling the food habits of your kids is only half the battle won, the other half being that of encouraging them to become more active. If you are concerned about your child’s future and wish to offer him a healthy life, you would need to take him away from Xbox and PSPs to outdoor sports such as cricket, basketball, tennis, etc. Encouraging them to indulge in cardiovascular activities such as swimming, dancing, rope jumping, etc., would also help them burn fat and lose weight.

Tags: Africa, America, basketball, cricket, diabetes, energy, fatigue, food habits, heart diseases, high blood pressure, hypertension, obesity, outdoor sports, Swimming, Tennis, World Health Organization

Even a few years ago the position of ‘epidemic’ was hold either by cancer or drugs. Not any more. Thanks to the fast and unheeded lifestyle lived by most American teenagers, teenage obesity has almost become one of America’s leading epidemics, and this is not an exaggeration.

Believe it or not, it didn’t become an epidemic in one day or year. During the last five decades Americans have become somewhat lazier and started preferring easy and comfortable lifestyle to hard work. American adults were probably the first to fall prey to obesity, followed by children and teenagers. Today American teenagers ape the unhealthy lifestyle habits of their parents, and teenage obesity is the natural outcome of it.

If you are a red-blooded American citizen you would probably voice a loud “NO” against obesity. After all, if a large percentage of a country’s population suffers from the pangs of killer obesity, what would be the future of such a country. It is no secret that people can keep their native country healthy only when they are fit and healthy themselves, and the secret to living a long and healthy life lies in losing the extra pounds.

Apart from the fact that obesity is itself a disease, it also brings forth several other killer diseases into the human body such as diabetes, hypertension, fatigue, irritability, high blood pressure, heart-related problems, stroke, etc., and even though instances of obesity-related deaths are rare, they DO occur nonetheless.

As for remedy, there is really nothing unique and new to be said here. Since it all started with following an easy and fast lifestyle, people need to revert the process by copying the healthy habits followed by their forefathers. In good old times, teenagers used to play outdoor sports such as volleyball, tennis, basketball, etc. Some of them even used to indulge in hula hooping, rope jumping, skiing, scuba diving, etc. Today’s teens prefer to sit at home and watch television or play video games. Is it then any wonder if they become overweight in due course of time?

Coming over to foods – chips, popcorn balls, candies and chocolates are as much favored by a teen as a pre-teen. In fact even adults take a fancy to these delicious foods. When teens see their parents enjoying a packet of popcorn while watching a Hollywood movie, they get even more encouraged to follow the same routine. Add to that the fact that today’s teens attend dozens of parties just like their parents and you cannot expect a party without beer or soda.

Junk foods have entrapped us so much that we have almost made them an integral part of our staple diet by eating them all the time, be it at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Once again the outcome of following such unhealthy eating habits couldn’t be anything else except obesity.

It is difficult to modify a teenager’s eating habits unless you take recourse to coercion in some form or other, which in turn would do more harm than good. The best way to tackle the situation is by monitoring your kid’s lifestyle habits right from the start.

From a very young age, they should be taught the benefits of playing tennis over watching videos games or PSPs. They should also be taught that chips and cookies are not their friends and that they should eat organic fruits and vegetables as often as possible. These simple measures would go a long way in keeping them fit and healthy throughout their whole life.

Don’t forget that you should also follow the same healthy lifestyle you expect your children to follow.

Tags: America, basketball, cancer, diabetes, fatigue, high blood pressure, hypertension, obesity, outdoor sports, scuba diving, skiing, stroke, Tennis, volleyball

There is really nothing surprising about the fact that America is host to the highest number of obese kids. If you ever visit a decent American fast food restaurant, you would find out almost an equal number of kids and adults eating out there. In fact people there not only eat fast foods outside but bring them at home to eat during lunch or dinner time. In short, fast food seems to have become almost an integral part of American diet.

Eating once in a while at a fast good restaurant is one thing, but making it a habit and considering junk foods to be part of your staple diet is going to make you and your kid fat and nothing more. These foods have an attractive outer appearance and also taste great in mouth, but once they go inside the body, they get deposited as fat and make the person overweight. Thankfully there are certain simple and easy ways to get rid of this menace. Read on to find out about these ways.

It would of course be wrong on your part to put the entire blame of adopting unhealthy eating habits on kids. After all, don’t children pick up habits only from their parents? They have enough knowledge to understand what their parents are doing, but are not intelligent enough to differentiate between good and bad eating habits.

As a parent, it is your duty to guide your kid during his childhood. Many parents, some purely out of laziness and others because of lack of time, ask their children to have their fill at a local fast food restaurant. Why? It is easy and effortless, since parents don’t need to spend time on cooking. The concept may look attractive on the surface but the ending is obviously not so good.

Now the question-why should you worry about your kids’ health. Kids should remain fit and healthy not just for cosmetic reasons and social acceptance but to keep themselves away from harmful diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc., which go side by side with obesity. If you don’t want your kid to suffer from these terrible maladies and die an early death, your best bet is to start taking the following three measures right now.

1. Breakfast is important: Starting the day with a healthy breakfast is as much important for you as your kids. Very often, adults skip breakfast citing ‘lack of time’ or ‘important business appointments’ as excuses. Children too follow them, their excuses being either ‘lots of homework’ or ‘getting delayed for school’. However if you or your kid skip breakfast, it won’t be unnatural for either of you to gorge on a couple of burgers later in the day when you would no longer be able to put up with hunger.

Eating breakfast regularly is as much important as having a healthy breakfast. White breads, sodas, burgers, French fries, etc. are NOT what you should include in your kids’ breakfast. Kids should have a breakfast rich in protein which can be found in plenty in chicken, eggs, etc. Salads are also a good breakfast food. Apart from that, any homemade meal cooked using low-calorie oil would make for an ideal breakfast food.

2. Make the food attractive: Unlike adults, kids won’t eat anything which doesn’t taste or look good. They may not be willing to eat something as dull as vegetables, but top it with cheese, and they would lick the plate dry. Same goes for pasta. Instead of serving them plain pasta, try serving it in “shapely” form.

To give you an idea, how about a triangular or octopus-shaped pasta. The more visually appealing the food is, the more attracted they would be to it. Slowly they would get so accustomed to healthy meals that their addiction to junk foods would wear off.

3. Let them eat small: The principle of eating in small portions applies as much to kids as adults. It is no use forcing your child to eat a bucketful of rice when he doesn’t need it. Instead, you should serve him the same rice in three or four smaller installments.

Kids are habitual grazers, which means that they would take longer to eat than an adult. This is a good habit, so don’t discourage it. Let them enjoy every bite of the food they eat, as they are likely to become satiated quicker this way than otherwise. As a result, there is much less of a chance of them ever overeating.

Tags: America, breakfast food, diabetes, food, food restaurant, heart disease, hypertension, local fast food restaurant, low-calorie oil, obesity

There are millions of people in America who contend that body detoxification systems and plans are the way to go in order to have a healthy body and lifestyle. It is true that these types of detox plans do work for the body, but it’s also important to realize why they do work. For example, think about the fact that more than one-third of people living in the United States will all suffer from some form of cancer in their lives. Whether it’s breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, blood cancer, or prostate cancer, the list of the types of cancers that can be formed is pretty long. Along with cancers, though, there are probably millions upon millions of tiny molecules of toxins and bacteria that we come in contact with every day. For these reasons a total body detoxification system is needed to make sure that we don’t fall prey to the sicknesses of the culture.

In order to complete a body detoxification there are actually several ways to do it. All of the methods that are used in a body detoxification mainly depend on the individual person and her or her preferences. There are all sorts of ways to cleanse the body of foreign substances and toxins, but a couple of those ways include coffee detoxification, foot detoxification, as well as other conventional methods, too. We will detail several types of detox systems to help the body and you can choose what is best for you.

Coffee Detoxification

The concept of the coffee detoxification system is pretty simple, but it is basically going to be a coffee enema that the individual undergoes. This is a detoxification process that will certainly cleanse the whole body instead of focusing on specific parts of it. However, if one is going to complete a coffee enema then the first thing that is needed is the ingredients. Because typical commercial coffees, such as Folgers and other popular name brands are not produced for total body detox plans, one will need to look to the organic section of the grocery store. Purchasing organically grown coffee beans (ones that aren’t sprayed with pesticides) and boiling it just as you would any other coffee beans is necessary. After you have separated the liquid from the coffee grounds only then should you place it in the enema to get started.

Raw Juices

Another way to complete a total body detoxification is through the use of raw juices. There are many types of juices that one can use in order to complete a detox plan, but the number one thing that one must realize is that he or she will benefit the most from raw juices. These raw juices include things like broccoli, spinach, kale, along with many others. Along with drinking raw juices, though, during this detoxification, one should also digest plenty of vegetable soup.

Conventional Detoxification Methods

The type of conventional method that is typically used to undergo a body detoxification is a sauna or heat room. Many people take advantage of these at their local gym, but they can also be placed in a house. Using a sauna will benefit you in the long run by getting rid of toxins in the body and there are some that will actually use infra red to complete the job.

All of these methods of detoxification, though, are certain to rid the body and cleanse it for the time being. Of course, you’ll want to repeat the process over again frequently, but there are definitely many ways to do so!

master cleanse secrets" />

The toughest part about a cleanse is doing it right and fighting to get though not eating for a while. Of course the most popular cleanse is the master cleanse. The master cleanse secrets will help you to get the most out of the master cleanse.

Tags: America, body detoxification systems, breast cancer, cancer, cancers, colon cancer, detox systems, enema, lung cancer, prostate cancer, sauna, United States

Next to obesity, dental care for kids is probably on the top priority list of parents. And why not? After all, in America alone, at least a quarter of kids aged between 2-5 years and half of those aged between 12-15 years suffer from tooth problems. Tooth decay is one of the major diseases in the US. So how do you make sure that your kids don’t suffer from this problem? Read on to find out the answer.

1. A stitch in time saves nine: For the first few days immediately after your baby is born, make sure you wash the mouth of your baby regularly. Use a wet washcloth to clean your baby’s gums after every meal. When it is time for the baby’s teeth to erupt, use a little fluoridated toothpaste and a soft brush to brush the teeth of your baby gently.

Teaching your kids the value of maintaining good oral health is the key. Make sure that they brush their teeth regularly twice a day, once in the morning and again at evening or night. As a parent, insist that your kids follow good oral hygiene rules. Taking these steps will make sure that your kids don’t suffer from diseases such as gingivitis or cavities later in life.

2. Involve your kids in an oral healthcare program at a very early age: Involving your kids with a pediatric dentist at an early stage will make sure that your kids take good care of their teeth. Starting from your kid’s first birthday, you should schedule a regular oral health appointment with the dentist.

3. Teach your kids proper brushing techniques: Tell your kids that it is essential that they regularly spit out the toothpaste after the brushing is over. If they are too young to spit the toothpaste on their own, they should use a non-fluoridated toothpaste until they are old enough to spit out the toothpaste all by themselves. In fact, as soon as your kid is two or three years old, you should start teaching them proper brushing techniques. Until they reach the age of eight or nine, you should also teach them how to floss gently. As your kids become older, they will be able to do it all by themselves.

4. Teach your kids how to eat properly: Teaching your kids good eating habits and advising them to avoid eating junk foods such as chocolates and candies will go a long way in keeping their teeth in good health.

Tags: America, dentist, Gingivitis, obesity, oral healthcare program, pediatric dentist, United States

If there are thousands of overweight adults in America, there are also an equal number of obese kids as well. Thanks to the awareness generated by media, not only adults but even kids have started understanding the benefits of weight loss. No wonder that now want their belly to be as flat as that of Daniel Radcliffe or Emma Watson. However, just like adults, they too adopt unhealthy weight loss methods which hurt them more than help. And that is where the problem starts.

Just like adults, kids too are attracted by the lure of weight loss pills and supplements which promise ‘fast weight loss’. Now I am not sure whether it would be proper to blame the kids squarely for this behavior because adults are no different either, are they? Children learn from their parents, and since the mind of kids can be easily influenced, they are likely to take a wrong decision and harm themselves. Plus considering the age of kids, they shouldn’t be allowed to take consume weight loss pills.

As adults, it is our duty to guide and protect our kids from all harm. The best way to help kids lose weight is by making them follow a fun weight loss approach, something which would not only make them happy but also burn those annoying fat deposits. So is there really any such method? In this article I will tell you about just that.

Weight loss camp is one of the best ways to help kids lose weight. Weight loss camps are specifically designed for combating childhood obesity. In these camps, your kid wouldn’t only be able to lose weight in a fun way but also discover that weight loss needs self-discipline, determination and commitment on his part. In short, he would not only see the fun side of life but also its tough part. When he is trained to fight against weight loss in a tough way, he would be able to lose weight pretty fast.

Now the fun part. Obviously your kid wouldn’t be the only one being trained in the weight loss camp; there would also be several other kids of his age suffering from the same ‘weight’ problem. This way your kid would not only be encouraged and motivated to lose weight, but also won’t be afraid of the taunts of his peers.

Moreover your kid can play with other kids; keep in mind that playing outdoor games is also a great way to burn fat and lose weight.

All in all, if you have trouble persuading your kid to lose weight with the help of the conventional dieting and exercising programs, a weight loss camp is the answer.

Tags: America, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, obesity

So tonight we sat down and watched the finale of Biggest Loser Families. My daughter, wife, and I had a great time watching everyone looking great after there big losses.

The show started with the decision that America made between Heba and Ed to see which half of the couple was going to be the third finalist.

After the decision that america made they markched out the people that were kicked of the Biggest Loser Families four at a time until there was no more skinny people left. Every time that they brought out another four people we were more shocked at how fantastic they all looked. After the weigh in decided who was the winner of the $100,000 at home trained prize they moved on to showing us the transformations of the final two that we had not already seen.

Now for the spoilers, click the “Read the rest of this story” link to see who won.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: allison sweeney, America, bob harper, USD