Wednesday, November 13, 2013

What Is A High Protein Diet, What It Consists Of, And Why It Is Beneficial To Your Health

A high protein diet consists of increasing your diet protein intake while lowering the consumption of carbohydrates and fats in each meal. The ideal protein consumption is usually 30% in your daily diet, while a diet high in protein usually incorporates around 50% or more protein in your everyday meals. There has been no adverse side effects in doing so with a healthy body. Although those with weak or malfunctioning kidneys and livers may be negatively affected in the surge of protein levels in the body. By keeping your meals filled with complex carbohydrates and fiber-rich foods and limited to healthy fats, pairing this with lean meat or protein-rich foods can help you lose weight and combat fat. The typical fastfood diet that is rich in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats will only lead to health problems further down the road as fats and unhealthy substances are not utilized by the body but merely stored as excess fat in problem areas like the lower abdomen, the stomach, the derriere, thighs and arms.
Insulin is seen as the prime culprit in managing the human metabolic system. Higher levels of insulin store fat longer in the body which makes it more difficult to get rid off in the long run. By eating copious amounts of carbohydrates and sugars, the body converts these into glucose. To counteract with the glucose levels in the blood, insulin levels spike and flood the body. A low carbohydrate is seen as an ideal way to keep insulin levels at a minimum. When paired with healthy fats and an increased quantity in diet protein, lesser percentage of carbohydrates in the diet can lead to a healthier lifestyle and eventually, weight and fat loss.

What is a high protein diet? It is one that increases overall diet protein consumption over carbohydrates and fats in your daily diet. A diet high protein consists of leaner cuts of meat and plant-sourced proteins which keeps calorie levels to a minimum but nutrient levels at its peak. A study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition placed a controlled number of people on a diet with increased protein levels while keeping carbohydrate levels moderate and fat levels low. The results revealed that the subjects had lost weight and reduced the fat in the bloodstream. Subjects also noted that they were satisfied longer without experiencing cravings or hunger pangs, a consistent effect of carbohydrate and sugar intake.

Normally, a woman should reach at least 46 grams of diet protein everyday while men should reach 56 grams on a daily basis. More activities that lead to a higher metabolic rate may require much higher levels of diet protein in every meal to compensate for all the calories burned. Protein also helps repair the body at a cellular level. Endurance trainers and weight lifters choose to eat protein-rich foods after training to help repair torn muscle tissue. The intake of protein also provides the body with the nine essential amino acids needed in performing its functions properly which include the transportation of oxygen to the different organs, creating antibodies to strengthen the immune system, creating new cells and tissues needed for the body’s growth and development.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Consultation and Supervision Services for Clinical Social Workers

Thousands of Americans seek help on an annual basis for issues relating to depression, anxiety and excessive fatigue. Such problems may be treated as an illness and approached from a medical standpoint. The key to successful treatment not only lies on the patient's willingness to follow through with the treatment but also on the staff to properly administer therapy that is conducive to recovery. Medical professionals are subject to the highest standards of professionalism and must demonstrate competency and be able to adhere to medical protocols and procedures.

Clinical social workers pursuing licensure must undergo evaluation and supervision from a senior licensed professional. The exact requirements and hours may differ from state to state. Clinical Supervision Houston may be conducted individually or in a group session. Supervision is not just about overseeing the staff and making sure they perform their duties correctly. It is just as much about providing assistance and making sure that workers have someone in a senior position that they can turn to for guidance. The people under supervision will become tomorrow's leaders in the clinical industry and should receive the adequate training and supervision so that they have the skills to provide the best quality care for their patients.

The supervisor's role is extensive and includes making sure that supervisees develop skills integral for their job duties. This includes the ability to diagnose and conduct mental status exams when evaluating a patient. They will also become familiar with conceptualization skills, treatment planning and learn to make decisions that fall within ethical standards.

A good supervisor worth his or her salt approaches clinical and social work as a science as well as an art. This means giving supervisees the basic skills needed to excel at their profession while also giving them enough flexibility to develop their own way of establishing a worker/patient relationship.

Mental health professionals provide a service that helps patients achieve a pathway to healing. As such, they need to demonstrate a high level of professional competency when working with a wide spectrum of patients. In order to foster growth and development in their field, supervisors need to provide workers with the right combination of training and hands-on experience. The relationship should be more than just a mere supervisor overseeing the work of a supervisee. It should be one of a mentor who the individual can learn to trust as an authoritative professional with a genuine interest in helping his staff succeed.

Clinics looking to provide supervision for their staff can hire a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Mental Health Supervision Texas provides the next generation of clinical and social workers with the real world experience needed to provide their patients with the best quality care.

Being a clinical and mental health worker is a demanding and exhausting profession. However, it is also a rewarding experience, and the satisfaction gained from helping a patient makes the effort worth it. With a supervisor, supervisees can learn to effectively navigate through a profession that can at times lead to burnout.


Author Bio. :
Anthony R. Morris provides Clinical Supervision Houston for clinical social workers. Mental Health Supervision Texas services have helped countless workers in the field obtain licensure.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Teens and Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating

Eating disorders are a serious problem. They have severe health consequences and can be deadly if they go untreated. There are different types, each with their own set of symptoms, signs and causes. The most common are anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

Anorexia

Teens with anorexia feel that they are fat, even if they are dangerously underweight. Those who suffer from this condition will restrict their diet, existing on as few calories as possible.

Some of the signs include obsessive calorie counting, weight loss, dry and dull hair, and dry skin. Teens will often try to hide the disorder, claiming that they have already eaten elsewhere or bringing up other excuses. They may also wear loose and baggy clothing to hide the weight loss.

The exact cause is unknown. Some experts believe it is a combination of psychological, environmental, and biological factors. Other personality disorders can also worsen anorexia.

Bulimia

Like with anorexia, teens with bulimia also have self image problems. Bulimic teens will eat excessive amounts of food and then force themselves to purge. This can be done through vomiting, extreme exercise, laxatives, or enemas. Unlike with anorexia, bulimics are often of normal weight or may even be overweight.

One of the most apparent symptoms is eating large amounts of food, much of it unhealthy. A teen may quickly excuse himself or herself after eating in order to purge. Empty food wrappers, hidden or missing food, tooth decay, and a tendency to base their self-esteem on their weight are also signs of a problem.

Again, the exact cause is unknown. Most experts feel it is a combination of social pressures, personality traits and genetics.

Binge Eating

Teens who binge eat have out of control eating patterns, but they will not purge. They will frequently eat an excessive and unusual amount of food. This is usually done in secret, since teens will feel embarrassed or guilty about their eating.   

Symptoms include frequent solitary overeating, eating despite being full, eating rapidly and consuming food when feeling anxious, depressed or isolated. Teens with a binge eating problem will also attempt to diet, but do not have very good results.

The specific causes vary from teen to teen. Experts believe psychological issues, social pressure to diet, and learned behavior can all contribute to the condition. Eating disorders are hard to treat, and can be deadly. Get your teen the help he or she needs today.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Be Enlightened On What Medical Detox Entails


Detoxification, simply referred to as detox, is the process of removing harmful or toxic substances from living organisms, usually from humans. When a person's body is contaminated with a particular chemical or psychoactive substance, his or her life is usually affected negatively and if the condition goes unchecked, it might deteriorate. Detoxification is classified as medicinal or physiological according to the method used to eliminate the substances. 

Medicinal detoxification is used to remove ingested poison or addictive drugs through methods such as dialysis or the use of antidotes. This helps reduce the initial concentration of a drug in a person's body. In rehabilitation centers, for instance, 
medical detox is offered and supervised by qualified professionals with a view to disengage addicts from their former life of addiction. Although it takes time and determination, this approach is often successful when done right.

Many individuals are struggling to overcome drug abuse but they lack a way out. In fact, several people exhibit withdrawal symptoms, an indication that their bodies have acclimatized to the drug. This withdrawal makes it difficult to stop using a psychoactive substance despite its negative effects. Luckily, detoxification brings solutions to such people by flushing out their bodies and helping them live without the drug. 

After medical detox, it is important to note that although the harmful substance is eliminated from one's body, this cannot prevent one from reverting to drug abuse. Other therapies and approaches must be employed to help the patient avoid drug abuse and maintain his or her new condition. It is therefore advisable to consult a specialist who will combine several therapies to remedy the condition.

For more information on medical detoxification, click 
here.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

5 Easy Roofing Maintenance Ideas



It’s never a bad idea to have the name and number of a reliable roofing company on hand. A good roofing company will have the materials and experience necessary for any work that might need to be done with your roof, no matter what type of roof it is. They will be able to work with your schedule and budget to make sure your roof continues to look great, and protect you from the elements.

The range of services you should demand of a quality roofing company is considerable, but by no means do you need to rely on a roofing company for everything. There are a number of home improvement jobs involving your roof that you can handle on your own.

The DIY approach to roofing isn’t always going to work, but there are several things you can do on your own.

DIY Roofing Tips
You can keep the form and function of your roof in peak condition by any one of these five DIY roofing tips:

·         Ice buildup can become a serious problem during the wintertime. The shingles, roof membrane and gutters can all become areas prone to ice buildup. When this buildup reaches the point in the wall line where the home is heated, an interior drip can begin. Try installing a drip guard, but also remember that ice and rain shields, not to mention proper ventilation, are important as well.
·         Finding a leak is really just a question of eliminating likelihoods. Go through the areas that are the most likely to be suffering from leaks in your roof, install new shingles, and seal it watertight. If you haven’t solved the problem, keep going. At the very least, you have one last area you’ll have to worry about in the future.
·         Fixing a leak quickly is important, but don’t be in too much of a rush. If it’s raining, or if the roof is covered in ice and snow, it’s a better idea to wait for better weather conditions.
·         A great way to find leaks is to wait until it’s nice out, and then take a hose onto the roof to spray the area down.
·         Clogged gutters can be the cause for a leaky roof more often than you might think. Clean your gutters more regularly.

These are all easy ways to keep a small leak in your roof from becoming a serious problem.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Aging Means Keeping Bodies Healthy



Staying healthy as you age is not just a matter of physical health, it also about mental health and having enthusiasm for life. Aging is a process that brings about major life changes, whether you want it to or not. You will not look or feel the same; more people that you love will pass on, and you will probably enter retirement. Some people look at these changes in the context of time is running out, especially when issues with their kidneys, bones or other body parts go awry. What you should really be thinking, is that retirement gives you free time to enjoy life, learn new things, go new places, and do all the things that you never had time for before.
Fearing Change
Change is not easy for anyone, and for some these changes that come with age are the hardest of all. It really is one of the periods of your life, which brings the most major changes. The attitude with which you approach this part of your life can greatly affect your physical and mental health. That attitude will also determine whether you spend this time really living or just biding time and waiting for whatever comes next. Some of this fear of change has been generated by myths about aging. Most of these myths are accepted as factual, when the truth is that nothing could be farther from the truth. For example:
        Now that you are aging, all you have to look forward to is health problems and even disability. – This is pure and simple hogwash. While there are some illnesses and diseases that are more prevalent as you age, if you are a healthy, active person, there is no reason for you to contract these diseases and disabilities; nothing is inevitable.  You definitely don’t need to fear kidney transplants, renal failure or anything else society deems appropriate to gossip about.
        Now that you are aging, you will never feel good any more. This is one of the worst negative myths. There is no reason why you should feel any worse than you did yesterday or last week. Besides, now that you have more time for you, and to devote to a healthy diet and exercise, there is no reason that you should not feel better than ever!
        Your memory will be the next thing to go. – Poppycock! Nutrition and exercise are what the brain needs to stay healthy. Your brain can always learn new things, and there are many tactics for retaining the health of your brain.
        You are not able to change your life at this late date; you are stuck with what you’ve got. – Wrong, wrong and wrong! This is the perfect time to change everything about your life if your heart desires it. Once you have retired and do not have that regular daily 9 to 5 routine, you are free to go anywhere and do anything you like. Try going back to school, join clubs, travel, or even move to some exotic place. The sky is the limit!
Conclusion
There will always be stress, sadness and disappointment in life; it’s just all part of the game of life. It may be different as you age, but that doesn’t mean it is any worse than it ever was. Challenges make you stronger, teach you coping skills, and they increase your resilience to stress. Remember to keep fluids always down the hatch since kidney transplant surgery isn’t usually given to excessively old individuals.
Suffer from kidney stones?  Look at this for kidney stone treatment formen.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Baby Federal volunteers honor

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Bay Federal Credit Union staff show off governor’s medal for volunteer service: From left, Angelica Reyes, Tonée Picard, Carrie Birkhofer and Laura Owen.

Introduced in July, the 100 percent post-consum-er recycled polyethylene terephthalate plastic clamshell was a first for the fresh-cut salad industry. It requires less energy and water to produce than virgin plastic and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less solid waste. It also creates a demand for recycled plastic.

The Edison Awards are the Oscars of marketing, voted on by the 2,000 members of the nonprofit Marketing Executives Networking Group. Amazon Gift Card Generator are judged on innovation, success and societal impact.

Organic grower Earthbound Farm has won silver in the energy and sustainability category of the 2010 Edison Best New Product Awards for its new plastic clamshell package.

An employee steering committee oversees community activities. Volunteer teams participate in 30 to 38 school or nonprofit activities a year, cleaning up beaches, staffing fund-

“It’s a cultural value for us,” said Tonée Picard, Bay Federal’s executive vice president and chief marketing and development officer.

In seven years, Bay Federal employees have volunteered for 49 different nonprofits.

unteer in San Luis Obispo, Rocklin Volunteers in Police Service, WriteGirls of Los Angeles, Taproot Foundation and Cisco.

“The evening was magical and very inspirational,” said Bay Federal President and CEO Carrie Birkhofer, who attended with several employees.“ Due to the small size of the event, we were able to mingle with the first lady and share some of the challenges we are facing in Santa Cruz County and how important it is for people to volunteer their time to help each other. I came home with a network of friends and great ideas.”

The governor called all of the medal winners heroes.

Other honorees included the president of San Diego’s Just in Time for Foster Youth, an Americorps vol-

“One hundred percent of their employees volunteered seven years in a row,” she said.“ That’s phenomenal.”

Delaney felt the credit union’s track record was exceptional.

The local credit union, which serves three counties with 186 employees, wa s t h e wi n n e r i n t h e small business volunteer program category.

“Isn’t that the coolest thing ever?” said Karen Delaney, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Volunteer Center. Delaney nominated Bay Federal in

March.

“I hope that news of what we are doing inspires others to make a difference in their own neighborhoods a n d c i t i e s ,” B i r k h o f e r said.

Inspired by one employee’s desire to help children with disabilities, coworkers chose to refresh the aging summer camp for children with physic a l a n d d e v e l o pme n t a l disabilities. All materials were donated — paint, l umb e r , h a r dwa r e a n d plants — and a local contractor provided two probono painting crews.

One charity is the focus each month, with efforts g o i n g we l l b e y o n d t h e standard donation box in the lobby. One employee group transformed their break room into an Italian restaurant to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network; 13 employees shaved their heads to raise money for the same cause. Last year, employees raised $ 56,000 for 10 charities, gathered 368 cell phones for soldiers, 230 winter coats for children, registered 405 marrow donors and collected food and school supplies.

hofer, the team produced a brief documentary video, designed print materials and wrote press releases, public service announcements, speeches and radio commercials. The result: An increase in food collected of 200,000 pounds the first year, another increase of 200,000 pounds the second year and 100,000 pounds last year.

About 50 volunteers participated in the Extreme Camp Makeover for Easter Seals, working for an entire weekend.

raisers, helping the homeless and assisting the Capitola art and wine festival.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Roofing is an underappreciated art and science


  Roofing is an underappreciated art and science. Construction industry professionals refer to roofs as roofing systems. Seemingly simple, a roof is a complex, highly engineered system for keeping the weather out of your home and the energy inside.
  Roofing a home starts with rafters. These rafters are joined together to form trusses, which give the familiar V shape to most roofs. The trusses are engineered systems designed to withstand the weight of roofing materials, water, snow and wind. Once in place, they must be protected from the weather. Weather, especially winter weather, is the enemy of your roof.
  The roofing material that repels the weather is applied in multiple layers. The first layer is plywood or other sheathing to provide a foundation for subsequent layers. This provides a solid layer for further sheathing and helps anchor the rafters in place.
  Over the plywood is laid another layer of roofing. This is tar paper or felt. The purpose of this impermeable layer is to provide a moisture barrier to prevent air exchange through the roof. Limiting the air exchange keeps expensive conditioned air being lost to the outdoors. At this layer leaks begin to be a concern. Typically the felt or paper is laid down with the upslope edge fastened and the remaining fastened down with adhesive. Construction adhesives that are long lasting and resistant to temperature change are used.
  The outermost layer is what most people see as roofing. It is the visible layer that can be seen from the outside of the house. A wide variety of materials may be used. Historically, people have used whatever durable materials were at hand to roof their homes. In Europe thatch, stone, slate, wood and copper were commonly used roofing materials. In America, shingles were used very early and have lasted until current day. Advances in roofing material have included asphalt shingles overtaking wood shingles in widespread use. Galvanized metal made its debut and has become widely popular for outbuildings and barns.
  The outermost layer of roofing is critical for preventing leaks. Water is the enemy of any roofing system and the outer layer bears the brunt of the weather. Not only must it be laid in a manner that prevents the infiltration of water, but it must withstand temperature changes and all sorts of weather without fasteners loosening. These requirements make roofing a skilled job and roof systems remarkable structural accomplishments.