Many would like to deny this, but deep down inside, most of them would like to change their lifestyle

There has been a lot of flak with how USA has been flirting with health problems because of obesity. More and more people are getting drowned in the onslaught of fast food and junk foods. Remember the movie "Upsize Me"? It played a parody on how Americans are stuffing themselves silly with fatty foods. Over sixty percent of American citizens are considered obese or bordering into it. Many would like to deny this, but deep down inside, most of them would like to change their eating lifestyle.

The fitness and health industry of America is a multibillion business that are resting on the obesity fears of the citizens. Many know the consequences of being fat and would like to change. From aerobics, to exercise machines, to instructional videos, food supplement, diet pills and lots more. Many have embarked on the loss-fat voyage hoping to conquer their binges but no one truly wants to work hard for it. The options provided by the industry keeps their hopes alive in looking and feeling better without breaking a sweat.

So when the emergence of diet pills in popularity came, with promises like, "melt away pounds easily." "Look better in not time at all." Look and Feel great without exercising," and lots more, many people were excited about that concept and jumped into the frenzy. So many questions have cropped up though, is it really that good? Would it really work? Does it have any side effects? Can they really deliver on those promises?

Recent studies have shown that some do really work, the problem is, many have been documented to suffer from health setbacks. Heart related problems have arisen and many deaths have been linked to such diet pills.

So how do you know which diet pill would be good for you? Well, only a doctor can truly say. It would be best to subject yourself to a thorough physical first to see the risks that could be involved in taking diet pills.

There is a plethora of diet pills flooding in the market and these are categorized into three types. OTC's or Over the Counter, these are diet pills that can be bought in drug store without the need for doctor's prescriptions. They usually contain little chemicals that can affect the human system much. They are considered less dangerous but is also subjected to FDA testing first before sold to the market.

Another form of diet pills is the Herbal supplements. They are not usually labeled as drugs and can also be bought without a prescription. They claim to be all-natural but are still subjected to FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) scrutiny. Then there are the prescription diet pills. They are only sold with doctors' prescriptions and are tightly regulated by the FDA. Doctors also conduct close monitoring on their patients who take this form of diet pills for any damage or risk to their health.

With so many forms, varieties and types, these diet pills don't usually work for everyone since they have different chemical composition as well as the patients have different reactions.

Diet pills can have inadvertent effect on each individual. Common side effects are, uncomfortable cramping, gas and diarrhea. This is due to the fact that the drug is taking away important vitamin supplements to the body. That is why some people are advised to take vitamin supplements as well. Some experience a raise in heart palpitation and blood pressure, with this comes along the increase in the risk of a stroke or a heart attack.

When it comes to losing fat, nothing still beats good old hard work and discipline. Even the so called natural diet pills and herbal diet pill products have effects on some people, bad ones. Working up a sweat and following a natural balanced diet is still the best way to go. Get yourself a buddy to guide you and assist you in your weight loss program. Diet pills can be bad, don't get me wrong. You will have to exercise and watch what you eat. In no time at all you'll meet the fitter, healthier more confident you.

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Ancient Toothless Pterosaurs Once Dominated the World's Skies

Ancient Toothless Pterosaurs Once Dominated the World's Skies - Giant toothless pterosaurs with wingspans stretching 39 feet (12 meters) across ruled the skies 60 million years ago, and new research suggests that these ancient flying creatures once had a worldwide presence, and likely played an important role in the Late Cretaceous ecosystem.

Despite their formidable size, the pterosaurs in the Azhdarchidae family had no teeth. The new research suggests they replaced their toothed relatives as the dominant species when high levels of carbon dioxide killed off important microscopic marine creatures, leading to a mass extinction about 90 million years ago.

An artist's illustration of the Azhdarchid pterosaur species Quetzalcoatlus northropi 

"This shift in dominance from toothed to toothless pterodactyloids apparently reflects some fundamental changes in Cretaceous ecosystems, which we still poorly understand," Alexander Averianov, from the Russian Academy of Sciences, wrote in a new study of this type of pterosaur. 

Fossil records show that pterosaurs were likely the first airborne vertebrates and they took to the skies around 220 million years ago. Some were so large they likely had to get a running start before taking off and had a hard time landing, according to research presented at the 2012 Geological Society of America meeting. The name Azhdarchidae comes from the Persian word "aždarha," which means dragon.These toothless creatures lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 70 million years ago.

Scientists know little about pterosaurs, since their fossil record is largely incomplete. Pterosaur bones are more fragile than other dinosaur bones and there are few that have survived. Most Azhdarchidae pterosaur fossils are preserved in soft sediment deposits called Konservat-Lagerstätten. These kinds of fossils are rare for the Late Cretaceous, so paleontologists have a hard time piecing together the pterosaur lineage.

"Azhdarchidae currently represents a real nightmare for pterosaur taxonomists," Averianov wrote in the paper.

Fossil evidence suggests that after toothless 'dragon' pterosaurs replaced their toothed relatives, they became one of the dominant creatures in the Late Cretaceous period.

In a 2008 review of Azhdarchidae, scientists examined 32 bones, but Averianov examined 54 known Azhdarchidae fossils: 51 bones and three fossilized tracks. The giant birds likely lived in a variety of environments, but after closely examining the sediments in which the fossils were discovered, Averianov discovered that most of the toothless pterosaurs probably lived near lakes and rivers and along coastlines.

About 13 percent of the pterosaur fossils were found in lake sediments, 17 percent from river sediments, 17 percent from coastal plains, 18 percent from estuaries and 35 percent from marine sediments.

Most Azhdarchidae species are only defined based on a few fragmented bones. The more complete skeletons scientists have discovered are not very well preserved. This lack of fossils led researchers to create an "inflated" number of pterosaur species, according to Averianov. After reviewing the taxonomy, Averianov found that paleontologists created separate species of Azhdarchidae based on sparse fossil evidence and may have misclassified some of the bone fragments.

In an effort to learn more about the evolution of pterosaurs, scientists created an online database of fossils called PteroTerra,which maps out the distribution of these ancient creatures using Google Earth. ( livescience.com )

The new taxonomy research was published Aug. 11 in the journal ZooKeys.

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Fossils show huge penguin once roamed New Zealand

Fossils show huge penguin once roamed New Zealand - Fossilised remains of one of the largest penguins ever, an “elegant” giant standing 1.3 metres tall, have been found in New Zealand, scientists said on Tuesday.

The penguin lived 27-24 million years ago, when New Zealand was mostly underwater and consisted of isolated, rocky outcrops that offered protection from predators and plentiful food supplies, researchers said.

The first traces of the penguin, dubbed Kairuku – Maori for diver who returns with food – was found embedded in a cliff at Waimate in the South Island by University of Otago paleontologist professor Ewen Fordyce in 1977.

 

Over the years, Fordyce discovered more complete remains and invited University of North Carolina specialist Dan Ksepka to help reconstruct the lost giant in 2009.

They determined the bird was much larger than the biggest modern penguin, the Emperor, which grows up to 1.0-metres, and weighed in at 60 kilograms, twice as much as the Emperor.

“Kairuku was an elegant bird by penguin standards, with a slender body and long flippers, but short, thick legs and feet,” Ksepka said.

Fordyce said the bird’s large size was an adaption that allowed it to swim further and dive deeper than its modern-day counterparts.

He was unsure why it became extinct, suggesting climate change or increased predation from dolphins and seals as possible reasons for its demise.

The findings were published in the latest edition of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

In 2010 scientists reported finding a fossilised specimen from 36 million years ago estimated to have been 1.5 metres tall. ( dawn.com )

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Scientists reconstruct extinct giant penguin

Scientists reconstruct extinct giant penguin - It has taken 26 million years, but scientists say getting the first glimpse at what a long-extinct giant penguin looked like was worth the wait.

Experts from New Zealand and the United States have reconstructed the fossil skeleton of one of the giant sea birds for the first time, revealing long wings, a slender build and a spear-like bill that have them describing it as one elegant bird.

In research published this week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, the scientists say the bird they have dubbed Kairuku _ Maori for “diver who returns with food” _ stood about 4 feet 2 inches (1.3 meters) tall and had a body shape unique from any previously known penguin, living or extinct. Kairuku lived in the Oligocene period, about 26 million years ago.

 

The first Kairuku bones were discovered 35 years ago in New Zealand by Ewan Fordyce, a professor of geology at New Zealand’s University of Otago. He recently teamed up with Dan Ksepka, a research assistant professor at North Carolina State University, to reconstruct a skeleton from multiple sets of fossils, using a king penguin as a model.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Fordyce told The Associated Press. “We’ve got enough from three key specimens to get a pretty reliable construction of its body size.”

Fordyce said the bird’s elongated bill may have been useful in catching swift prey and its large body size likely helped it swim longer distances and dive deeper than modern-day penguins.

The bird is about a foot (30 centimeters) taller than the largest modern-day penguin, the emperor. It would have weighed about 132 pounds (60 kilograms), 50 per cent more than an emperor.

When Kairuku was alive, most of modern-day New Zealand was submerged beneath the ocean. The scientists believe the remaining isolated, rocky land masses helped keep the penguins safe from potential predators and provided them with plentiful supplies of food.

Fordyce said there are several reasons why the giant penguins might have become extinct: It could have been from climate change, the arrival of new predators, or increased competition for food from seals and other creatures. ( dawn.com )

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Is this the oldest lifeform on earth? The 34,000-year-old bacteria that's still alive

Is this the oldest lifeform on earth? The 34,000-year-old bacteria that's still alive - A scientist has discovered 34,000-year-old bacteria buried underneath a Californian desert.

The discovery was made after researchers dug up salt crystals below Death Valley in Eastern California for climate research.

Ancient microbes were found trapped inside tiny, fluid-filled chambers within the crystals.

Ancient microbes: Scientists have discovered 34,000-year-old bacteria inside ancient salt crystals (File Photo)

'It was actually a very big surprise to me,' said Brian Schubert, who made the discovery.

'They're alive, but they're not using any energy to swim around, they're not reproducing,' he told OurAmazingPlanet. 'They're not doing anything at all except maintaining themselves.'

Schubert, who is now an assistant researcher at the University of Hawaii, said the bacteria was shrunken and small, and suspended in a type of hibernation state.

The reason for the microbes' astounding life span appears to be due to the fact that they were trapped alongside the algae of a group called Dunaliella.

Significant discovery: The crystals were found below the desert of Death Valley National Park in Eastern California (pictured)

'The most exciting part to me was when we were able to identify the Dunaliella cells in there, because there were hints that could be a food source,' he added.

Tim Lowenstein, a professor in the geology department at Binghamton University says that new research indicates this process can occur in modern saline lake.

'It's permanently sealed inside the salt, like little time capsules,' said Lowenstein.

The new findings, along with details of Schubert’s work, are published in the January 2011 edition of GSA Today, the publication of the Geological Society of America. ( dailymail.co.uk )

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Vitamins for Female Hair Loss Prevention

Vitamins for Female Hair Loss Prevention. In today's image conscious society, physical appearance is more important than ever to a woman's self-esteem. Imagine the heartache caused when a woman notices her hair thinning?

It is estimated that over 25 million women experience thinning hair in the United States. Many are genetically predisposed to the condition. Most wonder if there are any natural remedies to help or prevent their female hair loss.

Several vitamins have been found to be very effective in supporting female hair health. Of course, many factors may contribute to female hair loss but proper nutrition can help prevent further thinning and more loss.

Vitamin A has been found to support the healthy development of tissues and cells in the body and also supports healthy hair. This important vitamin promotes healthy hair follicles by keeping the root of the hair lubricated. Vitamin A can be found in green vegetables, particularly the leafy ones, red, orange and yellow vegetables, liver and eggs.

Many good multivitamins contain the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, so don't take additional supplements without a physician's supervision. Overdoses of vitamin A can be dangerous.

A healthy scalp is also essential to healthy hair. Vitamin E supports a healthy scalp by helping to increase the oxygen supplied through the blood.

Americans rarely suffer from a vitamin E deficiency, but increasing one's intake of green leafy vegetables, fortified grains and cereals and nuts can help ensure that this important nutrient is adequate. Vitamin E supplements are also available for this matter.

The B vitamins are also important for hair health. Regulating the amount of iron in the blood, these vitamins also help oxygen flow through the lungs to the tissues.

Of course, a B vitamin deficiency would damage the hair and scalp by limiting the amount of oxygen that these tissues receive. B vitamins are available as supplements and in several foods, including proteins and soybeans, cereals, nuts and wheat germ.

If a proper nutrition that involves essential vitamins and minerals helps in hair loss prevention and a good healthy scalp, then paying extra attention to the food and supplements that you eat is well worth the time and effort!

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Natural Acne Treatment For Your Skin

Natural Acne Treatment For Your Skin. Acne is an embarrassing problem affecting both adults and teens today at ever increasing rates.

Many of the prescription and over the counter treatments sold for this condition treat only the surface symptoms without ever addressing the underlying causes. In the long run, these treatments can actually make acne worse by suppressing the symptoms, drying the skin and causing further imbalances. Many of these treatments are expensive and have very serious side effects as well.

Natural acne remedies are less expensive and more effective than prescription medications in treating this common problem. Most are made of plant extracts that dry up pimples and soothe the skin.

For example, tea tree oil has been used for thousands of years as a natural antibacterial and acne treatment with great success. Many other natural acne treatments contain grapeseed oil, vitamin E, calendula and aloe vera. Applied topically, these extracts have soothing and drying effects on the breakouts.

Acne can also be treated with dietary changes. Most importantly, drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water per day flushes toxins from the system and hydrates the body. Limiting processed foods and substituting whole foods including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains also has benefits for the skin.

Adding a good multivitamin to your daily regimen will also help your body beat acne "from the inside out." Vitamin A, B, C, E, chromium and zinc are all vital for healthy skin. Azelaic acid, available in your health foods store, restricts keratin production and helps beat acne, with results that rival benzyl peroxide and retin A.

Since many of today's prescription medications are harsh and carry the risk of devastating side effects, why not try a natural acne treatment? Not only will you save time and money, but your skin will thank you as well.

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