Guest Post--New Reasons to Quit Smoking from the Surgeon General

Bad news for smokers: your habit might cause even more health problems than you previously believed.

According to a new report released by the Surgeon General, smoking increases the risk for diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, erectile dysfunction, impaired fertility, colorectal and liver cancer, and immune system weakness.

The news isn’t great for people who spend a lot of time around smokers either: according to the report, second-hand smoke increases the risk for strokes in non-smokers.

It’s been 50 years since the U.S. Surgeon General released a report officially linking smoking to lung cancer, and the knowledge of just how much damage smoking can do to your health has helped a lot of people kick the habit. We’ve come a long way, but smoking is still a popular habit in our country, and roughly 20.8 million people have died of smoking-related diseases since that original report in 1964.

For many of those people who smoke today, knowing the additional risk for the diseases outlined in the Surgeon General’s report won’t be a strong enough motivation to quit. After all, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who believes that smoking is actually good for them. People don’t smoke for their health; they smoke because it’s an addictive habit they get into, and trying to quit can lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

In addition to knowing the health risks, many people need a stronger motivation to quit smoking. Here are just a few that have worked for some former smokers:

Parents sometimes find motivation by telling themselves they don’t want their children to pick up the habit, and that they don’t want to die before their time of a smoking-related disease and miss seeing their children (or grandchildren!) grow up.

Recent studies have proved that exercise temporarily reduces cigarette cravings, and getting into a regular exercise routine has helped many people quit smoking. It also motivates people to stay smoke-free so that they can get in better shape and enjoy an active lifestyle.

One company now produces smoking cessation software that shows smokers what they would look when they’re older if they continue to smoke regularly. Since smoking a pack a day causes a person to take on the wrinkles of someone 1.4 times their age, some people are successfully able to scare themselves into quitting after seeing how their habit will impact their appearance.

A researcher from the University of Georgia recently found that smokers who use social media as a motivational tool during their quitting attempt are more likely to stay smoke-free than those who don’t use social media. Many people update their progress on Facebook, Twitter, or health-specific social media sites to give themselves a support network and greater accountability.

When it comes down to it, it doesn’t really matter whether people give up smoking because of health concerns or because of another motivational factor. What matters is that people find a tool that empowers them to kick the habit and live a healthier lifestyle.

 

Juliana Weiss-Roessler is a freelance writer and co-owner of Weiss-Roessler Writing with her husband Josh. She writes about a wide range of topics, including health, fitness, and running a small business. She currently lives in Austin, TX with Josh, her 20-month-old son, and two rescue dogs.

Change is Possible

I am always on the look out for success stories, and motivational articles. I came across this success story on the Huffington Post website.

Joseph D. Airdo once weighed over 400 pounds and wore a 7XL shirt. Today he is 285 pounds lighter and says that he lost the weight solely from diet and exercise alone.

These are my favorite success stories, because they don't involve any gimmicks or expensive surgeries, just hard work. Joseph says of his success:

People are desperate for that magic bullet or pill, but there isn't any. People ask all the time about how I did it and how I eat now. I feel that it is harder to keep the weight off than it was to lose it. But they don't want to hear what I have to say about keeping it off. I am looked at and perceived by others in a completely different light since I have lost the weight. I get respect now instead of ridicule and laughter.

Continue reading Joseph's story here.

Guest Post--5 Ways to Makeover Your Diet and Start a Healthy Lifestyle

Most of us could stand to eat a healthier diet. Yet many of us get so caught up in our busy schedules that we don't have the time or the motivation to do more than run through a drive through on the way home or to throw a pre-packaged meal in the microwave. Fatty, processed foods start to make up the majority of our diet and fresh fruits and vegetables start to become little more than garnishes.

If your diet looks like this, it may seem too difficult to change it now. However, there are several easy changes you can make to your diet right now to start making it over for a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few ideas:

Eat Three Meals a Day

Skipping meals -- especially breakfast -- can send your blood sugar crashing, intensify cravings for unhealthy foods, and slow down your metabolism, making it harder for you to burn off excess calories. Make sure you eat three meals a day to give your body a slow and steady release of energy throughout the day, and to ensure that you are able to make informed choices at every meal and reach for healthy options rather than grabbing at whatever is available because you feel out of control from hunger or cravings.

Eat More Fruits and Veggies

Rather than focusing on everything that you CAN'T have, just focus on adding the things that you CAN have -- like all the fruits and veggies you want. Add fruits and vegetables to every meal and snack. You'll fill up on these healthy foods and feel less of an impulse to eat unhealthy foods. And even if you're still reaching for a bowl of ice cream after you've eaten, at least you can be sure you'll eat less ice cream than you would have if you had not already filled up on the healthy stuff.

Drink More Water

Drinking plenty of water can help you regulate your blood sugar levels, control your appetite and keep your energy levels up -- all of which will keep you from reaching for unhealthy foods out of boredom or because you have strong cravings. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day,  or more if you are active (which you should be anyway).

Eat More Whole Foods

Processed foods are convenient, and they make meal prep much easier. However, they are also loaded with excess sodium, sugar, and fat, as well as chemicals, additives, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavorings. Choosing unprocessed, homemade versions of your favorite treats is a simple way to make them healthier. Make foods yourself with whole, natural ingredients, and you will get more nutrients and less harmful chemicals.

Eat Less Sugar

Sugar is toxic. It contributes to hormonal imbalances, chronic health problems, and even disease. While some sugar is OK as an occasional treat, far too many of our foods have hidden sugars that lead to an excess of it in our diets. Cut out as much sugar as you can be eliminating known sources of it in your diet and looking for hidden sugars in foods by reading labels. You'll not only lose weight, but you'll also improve your overall health.

It need not be overly complicated or difficult to make over your diet. You can start with these five simple changes that will have a big impact on your health.

What changes have you made to your diet to make it healthier? Share your tips for a diet makeover in the comments!

Sarah Rexman is the main researcher and writer for bedbugs.org. Her most recent accomplishment includes graduating from Florida State, with a degree in environmental science.  Her current focus for the site involves researching bedbug pesticides and online guides to extermination.

Guest Post- 5 Ways to Improve Your Fertility

Having a baby may have been a life-long dream of yours, but if you experienced infertility or poor fertility, you may have thought that dream was lost. Most women who experience problems with fertility can improve their odds of getting pregnant by making some simple lifestyle changes. Of course, more serious medical issues will require a doctor's treatment.

However, if you have been trying to get pregnant for many months and are still not having any luck, here's how you can improve your fertility and give yourself a second chance at getting pregnant:

Improve Your Diet

Diet can have a significant impact on your fertility. try to reduce or eliminate processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar. Eat organic if you can. Above all, eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, lean meat, and whole grains.

It is important to make sure you are getting enough of all the important nutrients, including protein, zinc, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins, which all play a role in fertility. It is also key to get plenty of healthy fats.

Exercise

Exercise helps you to maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, and regulate your hormones -- all of which are key to improving your fertility. Exercise can also ensure healthy circulation.

Be sure not to overdo it, as too much exercise can also hurt your fertility. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise three to four times a week should be plenty.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Getting enough sleep ensures that your body is healthy and is able to function optimally. When you sleep, all of your bodily systems are repaired and rejuvenated. Too little sleep and your body starts to suffer. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of restful sleep each night in order to improve your fertility -- as well as your odds of sustaining a healthy pregnancy.

Reduce Stress

Stress has serious physical consequences for your body. When you are trying to get pregnant, stress can create serious hormonal imbalances that make it difficult to impossible to conceive. Reduce stress where you can, and you will improve your fertility significantly.

Chart Your Cycles

Your body has peak fertility times each month -- typically about two weeks after the start of your last period. Chart your cycles to keep track of your periods and your ovulation so that you know when your best chances of getting pregnant are. You can even monitor your temperature and other fertility signs to increase your odds.

Improving your fertility and getting a second chance at having a baby is often a matter of taking simple steps such as these. Improving your diet and exercise, making sure you get enough sleep, reducing your stress, and monitoring your cycles can help give you the best odds of improving your fertility.

Heather Green is a Christian mom, freelance writer, pet lover and the resident blogger for OnlineNursingDegrees.org, a free informational website offering tips and advice about online guides and medical transcription programs.