Crochet Doily

I made this doily for my daughter.

To stop persistent cough

Treatment:
To stop night time coughing in a child (or an adult, as! we found out personally),
put Vicks Vapor Rub generously on the bottom of the feet
at bedtime and then cover with socks.

Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about five minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. This works 100 percent of the time, and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. 

In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly. I heard the head of the Canada Research Council describe these findings on the part of their scientists when they were investigating the effectiveness and usage of prescription cough medicines in children, as compared to alternative therapies like acupressure.  It was a surprising finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, and in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly. 

Why Butter is Better than Margarine, Shortening and Spreads

Why Butter is Better

• Vitamins ...
  
  
  Butter is a rich source of easily absorbed vitamin A, needed for a wide range of functions, from maintaining good vision to keeping the endocrine system in top shape.
  Butter also contains all the other fat-soluble vitamins (D, E and K2), which are often lacking in the modern industrial diet.
• Minerals ...
  
  
  Butter is rich in important trace minerals, including manganese, chromium, zinc, copper and selenium (a powerful antioxidant). Butter provides more selenium per gram than wheat germ or herring. Butter is also an excellent source of iodine.
• Fatty Acids ...

• Butter provides appreciable amounts of short- and medium-chain fatty acids, which support immune function, boost metabolism and have anti-microbial properties; that is, they fight against pathogenic microorganisms in the intestinal tract.
  Butter also provides the perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats. Arachidonic acid in butter is important for brain function, skin health and prostaglandin balance.
• Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) ...
  
  
  When butter comes from cows eating green grass, it contains high levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a compound that gives excellent protection against cancer and also helps your body build muscle rather than store fat.
• Glycospingolipids ...
  
  
  These are a special category of fatty acids that protect against gastrointestinal infections, especially in the very young and the elderly. Children given reduced-fat milks have higher rates of diarrhea than those who drink whole milk.
• Cholesterol ...
  
  
  Despite all of the misinformation you may have heard, cholesterol is needed to maintain intestinal health and for brain and nervous system development in the young.
• Wulzen Factor ...
  
  
  A hormone-like substance that prevents arthritis and joint stiffness, ensuring that calcium in your body is put into your bones rather than your joints and other tissues. The Wulzen factor is present only in raw butter and cream; it is destroyed by pasteurization.

Butter and Your Health

Is butter really healthy? Let us count the ways …

1. Heart Disease
   
   
   Butter contains many nutrients that protect against heart disease including vitamins A, D, K2, and E, lecithin, iodine and selenium. A Medical Research Council survey showed that men eating butter ran half the risk of developing heart disease as those using margarine (Nutrition Week 3/22/91, 21:12).
2. Cancer
   
   
   The short- and medium-chain fatty acids in butter have strong anti-tumor effects. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in butter from grass-fed cows also gives excellent protection against cancer.
3. Arthritis
   
   
   The Wulzen or "anti-stiffness" factor in raw butter and also Vitamin K2 in grasss-fed butter, protect against calcification of the joints as well as hardening of the arteries, cataracts and calcification of the pineal gland. Calves fed pasteurized milk or skim milk develop joint stiffness and do not thrive.
4. Osteoporosis
   
   
   Vitamins A, D and K2 in butter are essential for the proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus and hence necessary for strong bones and teeth.
5. Thyroid Health
   
   
   Butter is a good source of iodine, in a highly absorbable form. Butter consumption prevents goiter in mountainous areas where seafood is not available. In addition, vitamin A in butter is essential for proper functioning of the thyroid gland.
6. Digestion
   
   
   Glycospingolipids in butterfat protect against gastrointestinal infection, especially in the very young and the elderly.
7. Growth & Development
   
   
   Many factors in the butter ensure optimal growth of children, especially iodine and vitamins A, D and K2. Low-fat diets have been linked to failure to thrive in children -- yet low-fat diets are often recommended for youngsters!
8. Asthma
   
   
   Saturated fats in butter are critical to lung function and protect against asthma.
9. Overweight
   
   
   CLA and short- and medium-chain fatty acids in butter help control weight gain.
10. Fertility
    
    
    Many nutrients contained in butter are needed for fertility and normal reproduction.

Why You Should Avoid Margarine, Shortening and Spreads

There are a myriad of unhealthy components to margarine and other butter imposters, including:

• Trans fats: These unnatural fats in margarine, shortenings and spreads are formed during the process of hydrogenation, which turns liquid vegetable oils into a solid fat
  
  
  Trans fats contribute to heart disease, cancer, bone problems, hormonal imbalance and skin disease; infertility, difficulties in pregnancy and problems with lactation; and low birth weight, growth problems and learning disabilities in children.
  A  panel of scientists determined that man-made trans fats are unsafe at any level. (Small amounts of natural trans fats occur in butter and other animal fats, but these are not harmful.)
• Free radicals: Free radicals and other toxic breakdown products are the result of high temperature industrial processing of vegetable oils. They contribute to numerous health problems, including cancer and heart disease.
• Synthetic vitamins: Synthetic vitamin A and other vitamins are added to margarine and spreads. These often have an opposite (and detrimental) effect compared to the natural vitamins in butter.
• Emulsifiers and preservatives: Numerous additives of questionable safety are added to margarines and spreads. Most vegetable shortening is stabilized with preservatives like BHT.
• Hexane and other solvents: Used in the extraction process, these industrial chemicals can have toxic effects.
• Bleach: The natural color of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is grey so manufacturers bleach it to make it white. Yellow coloring is then added to margarine and spreads.
• Artificial flavors: These help mask the terrible taste and odor of partially hydrogenated oils, and provide a fake butter taste.
• Mono- and di-glycerides: These contain trans fats that manufacturers do not have to list on the label. They are used in high amounts in so-called "low-trans" spreads.
• Soy protein isolate: This highly processed powder is added to "low-trans" spreads to give them body. It can contribute to thyroid dysfunction, digestive disorders and many other health problems.
• Sterols: Often added to spreads to give them cholesterol-lowering qualities, these estrogen compounds can cause endocrine problems; in animals these sterols contribute to sexual inversion.

How to Purchase Butter

The BEST butter is raw butter from grass-fed cows, preferably organic. Next is pasteurized butter from grass-fed cows, followed by regular pasteurized butter from supermarkets. Even the latter two are still a much healthier choice than margarine or spreads.

for recipes see-
http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/ 

Berries for health

Strawberries and raspberries have a phytochemical called ellagic acid. This powerful antioxidant may actually fight cancer in several ways at once, including deactivating certain cancer causing substances and slowing the growth of cancer cells.

Blueberries for Health 
The potent antioxidents in blueberries may have wide value in supporting our health, starting with cancer. Antioxidants fight cancer by ridding the body of free radicals before they can do their damage to cells. Try topping oatmeal, cold cereal, yogurt, even salad with blueberries to boost your intake of these healthful berries.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic Pregnancy

eThis is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate treatment. It happens when an embryo implants and begins growing somewhere outside of the uterus, usually the fallopian tube. The symptoms include sharp pelvic pain or cramps (particularly on one side), vaginal bleeding, nausea, and dizziness. Urgent medical attention is needed.

I had this, it was detected through ultrasound, as I had no symptoms at all of pregnancy, but had severe pain in my lower abdomen. Once the cause was known, had an emergency MTP done, that happened years ago !

Coffee helps to cure migraines

cure migraines with coffee
Prone to migraines? Try muscling-up your painkiller with a coffee chaser. Whatever over-the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers at the National Headache Foundation say washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of coffee will boost the effectiveness of your medication by 40 percent or more. Experts say caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more quickly and more effectively.

Paget's Disease: A New Kind of Breast cancer

New kind of Breast Cancer - DO NOT DELETE Please forward to all of the women in your lives mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, friends etc.   In November, a rare kind of breast cancer was found.  A lady developed a rash on her breast,  similar to that of young mothers who are nursing..   Because her mammogram had been clear, the doctor treated her with antibiotics for infections.  After 2 rounds, it continued to get worse, so her doctor sent her for another mammogram. This time it showed a  mass. A biopsy found a fast growing malignancy.  Chemo was started in order to shrink the  growth; then a mastectomy was performed;  then a full round of Chemo; then radiation.  After about 9 months of intense treatment, she was given a clean bill of health.  She had one year of living each day to its fullest. Then the cancer returned to the liver area. She  took 4 treatments and decided that she wanted quality of life, not the after effects of Chemo.  She had 5 great months and she planned each detail of the final days.   After a few days of needing  morphine, she died.  She left this message to be delivered to women  everywhere:    Women,   PLEASE be alert to anything that is not normal, and be persistent in getting help as soon as  possible.     Paget's Disease: This is a rare form of breast cancer, and is on the outside of the breast, on the nipple and aureole.  It appeared as a rash, which later became a  lesion with a crusty outer edge.  I would not  have ever suspected it to be  breast cancer but it was. My nipple never seemed any different to me, but the rash bothered me, so I went to the doctor for that. Sometimes, it itched and was  sore,  but other than that it didn't bother me.   It was just ugly and a nuisance, and could  not be cleared up with all the creams  prescribed by  my doctor and dermatologist for the dermatitis on my eyes just prior to this outbreak.  They seemed a little concerned but did not warn me it could be cancerous.   Now, I suspect not many women out there know a lesion or rash on the nipple or aureole can be breast cancer.   (Mine started out as a single red pimple on the  aureole. One of the biggest  problems with  Paget's disease of the  nipple is that the symptoms appear to be  harmless. It is frequently  thought to be a  skin inflammation or infection,  leading to unfortunate delays in detection and  care.)    What   are the symptoms?  1.   A persistent redness, oozing, and crusting  of  your nipple causing it to itch and burn  (As I  stated, mine did not itch or burn  much, and had no oozing I was aware of,  but it did have a  crust along the outer  edge on one side.) 2.  A sore  on your nipple that will not heal. (Mine was on the aureole area with a whitish thick looking area in center of  nipple). 3  Usually only one nipple is affected. How is it  diagnosed? Your  doctor will do a physical exam  and should  suggest having a mammogram of both breasts, done immediately.  Even though the redness, oozing and crusting closely resemble dermatitis (inflammation of the  skin), your  doctor should suspect cancer  if the sore is only  on one breast. Your  doctor should order a biopsy  of your sore  to confirm what is going  on.  This   message should be taken seriously and  passed on  to as many of your relatives and  friends as  possible; it could save someone's life. My breast cancer has spread and metastasized to my bones after receiving mega doses of   chemotherapy, 28 treatments of radiation and  taking Tamaxofin.  If this had been diagnosed as  breast cancer in the  beginning, perhaps it would not have spread.... TO  ALL  READERS: This is sad as women are not aware of Paget's disease.  If, by  passing  this around on the e-mail, we can  make others aware of it and its potential danger, we are helping women everywhere. Please,  if you can, take a moment to forward this  message to as many people as possible,  especially  to your family and friends. It only takes a moment, yet the results could save a life.           Ps- best wishes to all for the coming festive season, take care, enjoy yourselves. for those interested in recipes, you may kindly view my blog http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

I'll be away for a month, so more posts after my return, take care.

Tips to tackle diabetes

Emotional support is as important as good nutrition and fitness, like in any other disease.
 Switch to high-fiber foods. Eat whole grains. Refined carbs with high glycemic loads – such as white bread and processed foods – increase diabetes risk.

Studies show that people who eat whole grains have a lower risk of developing the disease. Why? Fiber. It allows the body to digest food without the spike in blood sugar.


 Write down all that you eat.  Keep track of the food you eat, how much you exercise and your weight loss. It's a useful tool where you can start to see patterns, as when you eat what your weight & blood sugar increases.

 Don't keep sitting in a place for too long, be on the move. Want to cut your diabetes risk by 35%? Just take a brisk hour-long walk daily, she says. Even after your hour is up, find ways to stay active throughout the day. Carry groceries from the car to the house in two trips instead of one, she suggests. Get extra exercise with a fun activity like a dance class. Take your dog for a walk as it will help you both !


Transplant your trans fats.  Trans fats – anything containing partially hydrogenated oils – boost belly fat and increase heart disease and diabetes risk. Plus they’re high in calories.

Trans fat can also raise your cholesterol levels, which can raise heart disease risk. Replenish your cupboards with foods containing polyunsaturated fats such as nuts, fish and soybean oil.

 Make a plan. Set a goal for each workout to maximize your exercise routine. When you know what you want to accomplish, you’ll be able to set aside enough energy to follow through, whether it’s a one-hour walk or three sets of tricep extensions. 
Losing a little weight, will boost you to work better.


Pick your proteins. A few simple swaps can do wonders for your diet. Cut back on red meat and go for more poultry, seafood and legumes, such as beans, lentils and nuts. All are good sources of protein, but leaner choices are lower in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories, which, in turn, can reduce your risk of heart disease and other diabetes complications.

 Treat your feet. Did you know that more than 60% of foot and leg amputations are diabetes-related? According to the ADA, foot problems usually occur when nerve damage (neuropathy) results in a loss of feeling in your feet. make sure that each morning & night you check your feet to know if there are any sores, as most diabetic patients have no sensation in their feet, so if you check regularly then you know that you've not hurt yourself anywhere. Better to wear shoes, as it protects you feet better than open sandals.


Quit smoking as it is bad for your diabetes & your heart, also you're well aware that smoking leads to                 various cancers too. So, why invite trouble.


Lift weights. Heart disease is a major concern for people with diabetes. But the risk of both chronic illnesses is lower when the body is lean, she says.

Experts suggest you lose 5-10% of your body weight and do 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, five times a week.

Strength-training is good to get rid of visceral fat (the kind that surrounds internal organs and creates the pot belly), because it’s the most dangerous for cardiovascular health.

 You are what you drink. High-fructose corn syrup in sodas and other beverages is bad news, especially for those at risk for diabetes. These drinks have loads of sugar and empty calories that leave you feeling unsatisfied. Swap your soda for water or unsweetened beverages.

Even fruit juice is high in sugar, so stick to the fruit itself. But if you take diabetes medication, keep juice or other fast-acting sugars handy in case your blood sugar dips too low.

 

Dementia

To ward off  dementia, you need to start taking care of your  brain in your 30s and 40s - or even  earlier. I was planning to send this to the "seniors" only but then changed my mind after reading the highlighted portion. Dementia    Most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late. Experts say that if you really want to ward off  dementia, you need to start taking care of your  brain in your 30s and 40s - or even  earlier. "More and more research is suggesting that lifestyle is very important to your brain's health," says  Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a neuro-psychologist and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "If you want to  live a long, healthy life, then many of us need to start as early as we can." So what can you do to beef up your brain - and possibly ward off dementia?  Nussbaum, who recently gave a speech on the topic for the  Winter Park (Fla.) Health Foundation, offers 20 tips that may help. 1.  Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers.  If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire.     2.  Develop a hobby or two.  Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex.         3.  Practise writing with your non-dominant hand several minutes everyday.  This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.     4.  Take dance lessons.  In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the  only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.  The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.      5.  Need a hobby? Start gardening.  Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia!  Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual  and spatial reasoning to lay out a  garden.      6. Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain.  Or... buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day.     7.  Read and write daily.  Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information.  Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well.       8.  Start knitting.  Using both hands works both sides of your brain.  And it's a stress reducer.     9.  Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are  working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other.   A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of  Alzheimer's disease for four years.  And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them  early.      10.  Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly.  Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too.  Playing  solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too.       11.  Take classes throughout your lifetime.  Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer.  Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease.     12.  Listen to classical music.  A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why.     13.  Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.      14.  Travel.  When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment.  A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there.      15.  Pray.  Daily prayer appears to help your immune system.  And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report  happier, healthier lives. 16.  Learn to meditate.  It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life.       17.  Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia.      18.  Eat more foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too.      19.  Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells.     20.  Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends.   You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go.           DOING ALL 20 THINGS LISTED ABOVE AND YOU WILL NOT FIND ENOUGH TIME IN YOUR LIFE TO FIT IN DEMENTIA AS WELL: IN OTHER WORDS, "CONTINUE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ALREADY DO AND YOU WILL HAVE COVERED MOST OF THE THINGS LISTED!"

Foot Destressor

Step-by-Step Foot Destressor
Lee's do-it-yourself foot massage is based on the principles of ayurvedic reflexology.

1. Wash your feet with warm soap and water, then wipe them dry.
2. Apply a small amount of sesame seed or almond massage oil mixed with lavender essential oils. 
3. Start rubbing at the base of your little toe.
4. Move over to the base of the next toe and continue rubbing.
5. Apply slight pressure on the flesh between your little toe and the next toe over.
6. Now move to your middle toe.
7. Massage, stretch, and pull your middle toe in a circular motion, then do the same with your other toes.
8. With your fingertips or the palms of your hands, gently apply pressure to both sides of your heel just below the ankle, and then rub around your ankle clockwise to boost energy and circulation.
9. Finally, knead and squeeze your calf muscle to release tension.
10. Repeat on the second foot.

13 Things You Never Knew About Your Weight

1. It Really Is Genetic

When scientists first discovered it in certain chubby mice, they called it simply the fatso gene. Years later, when they scoured the human genome for markers that increased vulnerability to type 2 diabetes, the fatso gene (now more politely called FTO) showed up there too. Turns out, people with two copies of the gene were 40 percent more likely to have diabetes and 60 percent more likely to be obese than those without it. Those with only one copy of the gene weighed more too.

2. Some People Just Have More Fat Cells

And the range is enormous, with some people having twice as many fat cells as others have, says Kirsty Spalding, PhD, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Even if you've lost a few pounds (or gained some), your fat-cell count remains, holding tight to the fat already inside and forever thirsting to be filled up with more. (To add insult to injury, the fat cells of overweight and obese people hold more fat too.)

New fat cells emerge during childhood but seem to stop by adolescence. Those of us destined to have a lot of these cells probably start producing them as young as age two. The cells' rate of growth may be faster, too-even if kids cut way back on calories.

Strangers have written to Spalding, telling her how depressed they are by her research. But she says her news isn't all bleak. You're better off with more fat cells, she says, than with fewer fat cells that become overstuffed and enlarged. (New research suggests that the overstuffed group are more vulnerable to obesity—related health complications.) So while you can't reduce your total number of fat cells, there are things you can do to keep them small. 

3. You Can Change Your Metabolism

Another Scandinavian team looked into what happens at the cellular level when you gain weight. Kirsi Pietiläinen, PhD, an assistant professor of nutrition at Helsinki University Central Hospital, studied sets of twins where one was fat and the other thin, and learned that fat cells in heavier twins underwent metabolic changes that make it more difficult to burn fat. Pietiläinen's team suspects that gaining as little as 11 pounds can slow metabolism and send you spiraling into a vicious cycle: As you gain more fat, it becomes harder to lose it.

4. Stress Fattens You Up

The most direct route is the food-in-mouth syndrome: Stressful circumstances (your bank account, your boss) spark cravings for carbohydrate-rich snack foods, which in turn calm stress hormones. (When researchers in one study took away high-carb food from stressed mice, their stress hormones surged.)

Stress hormones also ramp up fat storage. For our prehistoric ancestors, stress meant drought or approaching tigers, and a rapid-storage process made sense; we needed the extra energy to survive food shortages or do battle. Today we take our stress sitting down—and the unused calories accumulate in our midsection.

To whittle yourself back down to size, in addition to your usual workout routine, make time for stress relief—whether it's a yoga class or quality time with family.

5. Mom's Pregnancy Sealed Your Fate

A mother's cigarettes increase the risk of low birth weight, and alcohol can damage her baby's brain. So why wouldn't unhealthy foods wreak similar havoc? A growing body of science suggests that sugary and fatty foods, consumed even before you're born, do exactly that. A Pennington study on rodents reports that overweight females have higher levels of glucose and free fatty acids floating around in the womb than normal-weight ones do. These molecules trigger the release of proteins that can upset the appetite-control and metabolic systems in the developing brain.


What's true for mice is often true for humans too. Doctors from State University of New York Downstate Medical Center compared children born before their mothers had gastric bypass surgery with siblings born later. Women weighed less after the surgery, as expected, but their children were also half as likely to be obese. Because siblings have such similar genetic profiles, the researchers attributed the weight differences to changes in the womb environment. Moms-to-be, take note: You can give your kids a head start by eating well before they're born.

6. Sleep More, Lose More

When patients see Louis Aronne, MD, past president of the Obesity Society and author of the forthcoming book The Skinny, they're as likely to have their sleep assessed as their eating habits. If patients are getting less than seven to eight hours, Dr. Aronne may prescribe more shut-eye rather than the latest diet or drug. With more sleep, he says, "they have a greater sense of fullness, and they'll spontaneously lose weight."
Why? University of Chicago researchers reported that sleep deprivation upsets our hormone balance, triggering both a decrease in leptin (which helps you feel full) and an increase of ghrelin (which triggers hunger). As a result, we think we're hungry even though we aren't—and so we eat. Indeed, sleep may be the cheapest and easiest obesity treatment there is.

7. Your Spouse's Weight Matters

When Jodi Dixon's six-foot-two, 360-pound husband lost 125 pounds, she had mixed feelings. She was the one who always watched her weight and exercised; she was always the one trying to get her husband to be more active. Mort, a medical sales rep, was always the life of the party, says his wife, a 43-year-old mother of two in Freehold, New Jersey. But when he lost the weight, it was different.

"Men and women would flock to him, drawn to his charisma," she recalls. "I felt jealous." Dixon comforted herself with food and gained 20 pounds before she decided to take action. She began biking with her husband and enrolled in a diet program. Eventually she trimmed down, too, shedding 30 pounds, and has her sights on losing more.

Dixon credits the weight gain, and the loss, to her jealousy. But research shows that weight gain and loss can be, well, contagious. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that if one spouse is obese, the other is 37 percent more likely to become obese too. The researchers concluded that obesity seems to spread through social networks.

As in Dixon's case, slimming down seems to be catching, at least within the family: When Dixon launched her weight-loss plan, her eldest daughter, also overweight, followed her mom's healthy habits and lost 40 pounds.

8. Achoo! A Virus Can Cause Obesity

Adenoviruses are responsible for a host of ills, from upper respiratory tract problems to gastrointestinal troubles. The link to fat was uncovered when researchers at the University of Wisconsin injected chickens with the viruses and found that certain strains fattened them up.

Stem cells, known for their chameleon-like abilities to transform, also turned into fat cells when infected with the viruses. "The virus seems to increase the number of fat cells in the body as well as the fat content of these cells," says Nikhil Dhurandhar, PhD, now an associate professor of infections and obesity at Pennington.

Human studies, including comparisons of twins, suggest that obese people are indeed more likely to harbor antibodies for a particular virus, known as adenovirus-36.

We have flu shots; could an obesity vaccine be the next step? It may sound far-fetched, but "that's what they said about cervical cancer too," says Dhurandhar.

9. Cookies Really Are Addictive

While food is not addictive the way cocaine or alcohol is, scientists in recent years have found some uncanny similarities. When subjects at Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia were shown the names of foods they liked, the parts of the brain that got excited were the same parts activated in drug addicts. It may have to do with dopamine, the hormone linked to motivation and pleasure, say researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. If obese people have fewer dopamine receptors, they may need more food to get antioxid

10. Ear Infections Can Taint Your Taste Buds

For years, the team at Linda Bartoshuk's taste lab at the University of Florida wondered why people who tasted food less intensely than others seemed more likely to be fat. Researcher Derek Snyder had a theory: Could an ear infection, which can damage a taste nerve running through the middle ear, be the missing link? After tabulating 6,584 questionnaires, the team discovered that those over 35 who had suffered several ear infections had almost double the chance of being obese.

Responses to additional questions provided clues as to why. Former ear-infection patients were a little more likely to love sweets and fatty foods—perhaps because the damaged nerve causes them to have a higher threshold for sensing sweetness and fattiness. Even a small increase in calories from bad food choices adds up over time.

Childhood ear infections are as hard to avoid as the colds that tend to bring them on, but limiting passive smoke seems to drive down incidents of ear infection. If you're an overweight adult who suffered a severe ear infection as a child, it may be worth paying attention to the taste and texture of your food. Simply finding healthier substitutes, such as fruit instead of candy, or olive oil instead of butter, may help drive you toward eating better and weighing less.

11. Antioxidants Are Also Anti-Fat

Free radicals are now blamed not only for making you look old but also for making you fat. Zane Andrews, PhD, a neuroendocrinologist at Monash University in Australia, says these oxidizing molecules damage the cells that tell us we're full. Free radicals emerge when we eat (something even the keenest dieter must do to survive), but they're especially prevalent when we gorge on candy bars, chips, and other carbohydrates. With every passing year, these fullness signifiers suffer wear and tear-causing the "stop eating!" signal to get weaker and appetites (and possibly our stomachs) to get bigger. The best way to fight back? Avoid the junk and load up on colorful, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.

12. Pick a Diet, Any Diet

As established diet books constantly reinvent themselves to sell copies and win converts, a curious phenomenon has emerged: Ornish, Atkins, and everyone in between are sounding remarkably similar. The low-fat gurus now say that certain fats are okay, while the low-carb proponents are beginning to endorse whole grains. With every new guideline and selling point, each diet acknowledges that there are really four basic rules to healthy eating.
* Consume carbs in the form of whole grains and fiber.
* Avoid trans fats and saturated fats.
* Eat lean protein.
* Fill up on fruits and vegetables.

The low-carb South Beach Diet, for example, now espouses the virtues of eating the Mediterranean way-including lots of carbohydrate-rich fruits and vegetables. The latest Atkins book emphasizes the "good carb" message too. Weight Watchers, a champion of the points system, is now offering a "no counting" option based on healthy choices like those above. Jenny Craig is pushing Volumetrics, a high-volume, low-calorie strategy. And everyone gives a thumbs-down to processed and sugary carbohydrates, which cause insulin to spike and can lead to more fat and even diabetes.

13. You Can Be Fat and Fit

A growing body of literature suggests that size doesn't matter when it comes to your health. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine surveyed 5,440 American adults and found that 51 percent of the overweight and almost 32 percent of the obese had mostly normal cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and other measures of good health.

The personality diet

Have you ever done the same diet as a friend and one of you has lost weight while the other hasn't? It could be down to your personality.

Neuroscientist Daniel Amen has developed a diet which ditches counting calories and focuses on your personality traits, identifying your weaknesses and telling you which foods you should eat and which you to avoid.

He writes: "We looked at the brains of our overweight patients and discovered there was not one brain pattern associated with being overweight: there were at least five different types: compulsive overeaters, impulsive overeaters, compulsive-impulsive overeaters, sad or emotional overeaters and anxious overeaters."

Find out what personality diet you should be on...

Compulsive eater

You are: compulsive, argumentative, prone to excess, have trouble sleeping, a grudge-bearer.

What works: salmon, brown rice, sunflower seeds, skinless turkey, bananas, herbal tea and complex carbohydrates, which help the body produce more serotonin, improving mood.

What doesn't work: high protein diets and caffeine, which increase focus - which compulsive eaters already have tons of.

Emotional eater

You are: easily bored, have a low self-esteem, feel anxious, comfort-eat, suffer with IBS or headaches.

What works: eggs, liver, walnuts, mackerel, broccoli, essential oils, and outdoor workouts, and they should increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids which help calm the body by reducing inflammation.

What doesn't work: not getting enough sleep and isolating yourself from family and friends.

Impulsive eater

You are: disorganised, easily distracted, prone to eating when you're not hungry, often running late.

What works: chicken, turkey, eggs, fish, shellfish, steak, oats and green tea, as these raise levels of dopamine in the brain and boost concentration.

What doesn't work: high-carb or sugary diets as serotonin-boosting carbohydrates are disastrous for impulsive sorts as they simply lower their control further.

Compulsive-Impulsive eater

You: share characteristics from both compulsive and impulsive eaters and think about food all day long.

What works: green tea, eating healthy options, exercise, goal setting, plenty of sunlight and fresh air.

What doesn't work: St John's wort.

Anxious eater

You: bite your nails, have regular headaches, suffer from muscle tension, are easily startled, experience heart palpitations, are shy and feel uncomfortable in social situations.

What works: wholegrains, dairy products, citrus fruit, spinach, almonds, lentils, walnuts, omega 3-6-9 supplements and meditation.

What doesn't work: too much animal protein, and they should avoid alcohol and caffeine as they use food to medicate their feelings of tension, nervousness and fear.

What to eat to boost your energy levels

When you feel your energy levels running low, do you automatically pour yourself another coffee or gulp down a chocolate bar? Unfortunately, this is the wrong way to put extra fuel in your engine; while you may experience a sudden surge of energy, this will quickly be followed by a crash, leaving you feel even more tired and listless than when you started.

The quality of your diet has a huge impact on how you feel, and if you are constantly running out of gas, then this is a sure sign that you need to start eating better. Healthy foods will keep your blood sugar levels steady, thus preventing these highs and lows that make it hard to get through the day without a siesta.

Here is our list of foods which will keep your energy levels topped up.

LENTILS - A great source of protein and carbohydrates, lentils are also low in fat and calories, meaning they'll keep you feeling full up and satisfied without adding to your waistline. They are also rich in B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc - all of which your body needs to keep energy levels revved up. Beans, meanwhile, are packed with fibre, which results in a slow release of glucose and sustained energy throughout the day, rather than the short spike in blood sugar that higher GI foods - such as white rice and pasta - can cause.

GREEN TEA - Forget sugary fizzy pop and highly caffeinated drinks when you need an energy boost - green tea is the beverage for you. Green tea does deliver a caffeine pick-me-up, but contains much less than your regular latte, which means it packs a punch without overdoing it and, once again, you're less likely to come crashing back down to earth 30 minutes later. Researchers at the Biological Sciences Laboratories in Tochigi, Japan, found that regular consumption of green tea can boost endurance during exercise by up to 24%, so it's a great fitness supplement too. Finally, green tea is also packed full of antioxidants, which help prevent free radical damage to your cells and protect your body from conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

HONEY - When you are forced to cut down on high-calorie processed foods, it's normal to miss the sweet taste of some of your favourite sugary snacks. Don't worry - you don't have to go cold turkey. Honey, a natural wonder-food, will satisfy your sweet tooth while also giving you a much-needed injection of energy. Honey is a healthy source of carbohydrates, which are the building blocks of energy, and is famous for its ability to give you a 'hit' just when you need it; runners often have honey on toast a few hours before a race for this very reason. Honey contains glucose and fructose, and it's this combination which is behind the energy kick - glucose provides the instant boost while fructose contributes to a more sustained release of energy which can be absorbed more slowly by your body, so you won't feel the need to stop half way round the running track.

BROWN RICE - The humble rice kernel supplies half of the daily calories for half of the world's population, but if you opt for white rice you aren't fully benefitting from its amazing energy-giving properties. During the milling and polishing process, white rice is stripped of almost all of its B vitamins, manganese, phosphorus, iron, dietary fibre and essential fatty acids, all of which we need for energy (especially the B vitamins and manganese, which helps convert protein and carbohydrates into energy). Brown rice, on the other hand, has only been robbed of its outer layer, the hull, so its nutritional value remains intact. Trust us, you'll soon get used to the taste, and you'll feel much better for making the switch. The same rules apply to other 'good' forms of carbohydrate, which are the body's preferred source of fuel and even raise serotonin levels. Choose whole-grain bread, pasta, and cereals as well as rice to keep blood sugar and energy levels stable.

WATER - Avoid the midday slump by taking on enough water each day, as this has been shown to improve alertness, concentration, cognitive function and light a fire under your body's metabolic rate - so it will help keep your weight down too. Water is essential for carrying out numerous chemical processes in the body, such as getting rid of waste and carrying important nutrients to your cells, so without it you'll quickly become dehydrated and fatigued. While thirst is a sign you need water, don't wait until your resources are depleted. Aim for 6-8 medium sized glasses a day. As well as drinking enough water to keep your energy levels up, it's also important to avoid fluids that will make you feel sluggish. Cut down on caffeine to prevent those artificial highs, while also limiting alcohol, which can act as a depressant and interrupt your sleep patterns.

NUTS - Many people shy away from nuts because of their high fat content, but they should play a key role in your healthy, balanced diet. Nuts like cashews, almonds, hazelnuts and Brazils are rich in unsaturated fat, the 'good' kind, so as long as you eat them in moderation, you won't have to worry about piling on the pounds. These nuts also contain a bounty of magnesium, which the body needs to convert sugar into energy. Brazil nuts will also pump you full of selenium, which is thought to improve general mood. Finally, eating peanut butter (again, not too much of it) with whole-grain bread or bagel is the perfect strategy for keeping your blood sugar levels steady, and you firing on all cylinders.

SEEDS - Cast aside any preconceived notions about seeds being tantamount to bird food, for these are a viable snack that offer an energy kick and numerous health benefits. Pumpkin seeds, for example, are rich in magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and protein, all of which you need on a daily basis to keep you feeling energetic. Though surprisingly calorific - 100g of pumpkin seeds provides over 500 calories - much of this comes from fatty acids which work to increase the levels of good cholesterol in your blood so are much more preferable to the empty calories you get from a bag of crisps. Sunflower seeds, meanwhile, are full of vitamins E and B6, selenium and manganese, as well as a healthy mix of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

CHOCOLATE - Yes, chocolate! Did we say anything about giving up all the things you love? What is more important is making sure you choose the right varieties of your favourite treats so as not to compromise your health. As far as chocolate goes, turn your back on bog-standard, trans-fat saturated brands and swap for something that won't sap your energy levels and add some chub to your figure. Chocolate will always contain sugar and fat so we don't advocate eating huge quantities of it, but a couple of squares of high-quality dark chocolate can work wonders when you are trying to emerge from a slump. Numerous studies have shown that chocs can raise energy levels; the bioactive compounds in cocoa also work towards healthy blood flow and blood pressure. If you want to be ultra-virtuous, forgo the chocolate entirely and buy yourself a block of raw cacao and grate it over certain foods (it's particularly good with porridge!).

GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES - Popeye was on to something. Although eating your greens won't result in bulging muscles (thankfully), it will turbo-charge your energy levels. Spinach and other green leafy vegetables such as kale contain nitrates, which boost the part of the cells that provide the body with energy. These are among the most nutrient-rich foods you can find, containing umpteen vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which reduce stress responses in the body - meaning you can put your energy to better use. Green leafy veggies are also rich in folate, which can reduce the risk of depression.

FRESH FRUIT - In our search for a quick energy fix, we can often overlook the obvious options. You may think you need sugar injection from fizzy drinks or sweets, but remember those half-time oranges you used to get at school? Fruits like oranges and strawberries are packed full of vitamin C and also deliver a mother lode of fructose, aka natural sugar. Blueberries are also an excellent choice when you begin to slip into an afternoon coma; the vit C and niacin combination helps the body to convert food into energy, while also satisfying your sweet tooth. Bananas, meanwhile, have been referred to as 'nature's Mars Bar', and just one can give you enough of a kick for a 45-minute workout. This is because bananas contain fructose, glucose, sucrose and fibre, which combine to give you an instant but sustained energy boost. Finally, we need bananas for potassium, a nutrient which the body is unable to store for long and without which we begin to experience a slump.