National Female Bodybuilding Coalition to Host Forum

The recently framed National Female Bodybuilding Coalition (NFBC) will have a gathering on July 12, 2012. They will talk about the past, present, and fate of the game of female weight training. The NFBC is a consortium of regarded and acclaimed characteristic female working out legends to instruct ladies about weight training. Their general objective is to keep the game of female weight training alive. As indicated by Trina Smith, an NFBC fellow benefactor, “we will probably return to nuts and bolts with explicit, functional data in regards to ladies’ physical make-up rivalries, otherwise known as female weight training. You’ll leave feeling stimulated, taught, enlivened and roused!”

What is Natural Female Bodybuilding?

Bodybuilding is defined as any activity that builds an aesthetically pleasing muscular body.

Female bodybuilding has been around since the late 1970s when women started taking part in bodybuilding competitions. The ’80s and ’90s were filled with controversy as new hormone therapies were introduced. The majority of the controversy was around maintaining “femininity” and the use of these hormone therapies to alter their physique. In 2000, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) completely altered their rules for the famed Ms. Olympia contest. Jim Manion, chairman of the Professional Judges committee, stated that women would be judged on healthy appearance, face, make-up and skin tone. He further added that criteria would include “symmetry, presentation, separations, and muscularity but not to the extreme.” In 2005, Manion introduces a 20 percent rule. Essentially, this rule called for a 20 percent reduction in muscularity.

Due to women’s lack of testosterone, it is not possible for women to gain the massive muscle that is present in males. In the past, anabolic steroids and other synthetic chemicals used to build muscle were very popular in female bodybuilding. Fortunately, this trend has been curbed with the modern popularity of natural bodybuilding. This is essentially the same type of training, however without any sort of unnatural synthetic chemicals. Many natural strength training supplements are available at BodyBuilding Factory, a website devoted to supplements for training. Modern female bodybuilding has split into many subgenres, such as fitness, fit body, bikini and women’s figure competitions. All of these have their roots in traditional women’s bodybuilding.

What Will the NFBC Forum Discuss?

The NFBC forum will primarily discuss the present state of female bodybuilding. Many famous figures and bodybuilding titleholders will be attending a roundtable discussion, such as Joan Lopez, Chrissy Zmijewski, and Michelle Shepard. Many different topics will be discussed during the NFBC forum as well:

The differences between figure and bodybuilding
Diet and nutrition for a healthy life and bodybuilding
reception of muscular women
Stage presentation and posing
Benefits of bodybuilding competitions
Promoting ideas to keep the sport alive

The titleholders will provide a unique perspective on the above topics, as many of them have been involved with the sport throughout its evolution. According to Katy Wayman-White, co-founder of NFBC and bodybuilder, “There has been a decline in media coverage of female bodybuilders, showing more favor to figure and fitness models. Therefore, a majority of women have chosen to compete in figure, fitness, and now bikini. Can it be that female bodybuilding is out of sight—out of mind?” While figure and fitness models stem from the female bodybuilding tree, it has become more popular than female bodybuilding itself. This forum aims to change that and bring female bodybuilding back into the spotlight.

An Exciting Opportunity

Terry Reeves, NFBC roundtable organizer, and natural bodybuilding champion says that the forum, “should be a hoot and totally captivating. Count on it!” If you are an appreciator of the sport and competition of female bodybuilding, this forum promises to be enlightening and exhilarating. The roundtable will be in a Q&A format—you’ll be able to ask legends of the sport any pressing questions. You will also be able to be an active participant in the effort to ensure a lasting life for female bodybuilding

Nursing vs. Midwifery – An Overview

Nursing vs. Midwifery – An Overview

For many centuries, a dark veil was pulled over the birthing process, as it was believed to be an inherently womanly sphere, where a male presence would only get in the way. Great noblewomen and female royalty of the Medieval and Renaissance time would be shut away for their lying-ins before birth for a month or more, confined to one bedchamber with the windows sealed, dark curtains pulled across to prevent harmful sunlight from entering and a fire lit at the hearth – even if it was a broiling hot summer outside

Their ladies-in-waiting were flanked by midwives, usually older, experienced women who had attended many births over their years and assisted in deliveries. Midwives took with them into the birthing chambers a special aura of knowledge and comfort (though in some cases, the difference between a midwife and pre-modern notions of a village which were somewhat interchangeable). They were the medical experts of the time, the closest thing to nurses at the birthing bedside that women had.

Incredibly, it wasn’t until the early 20th century in England that midwives were required to have certification, or until the 1920s in the United States that nurse-midwives (of necessity schooled in formal medical training) were introduced. Today, both midwives and nurses in the hospital setting have carved out niches, both of which, though their focuses differ, are aimed to bring the mother through her delivery and produce a healthy new baby.

Certified Professional Midwives

Today, the modern midwife must be certified, no doubt in part due to the campaign doctors took up against them throughout the 20th century, citing larger amounts of child and mother deaths at their hands. A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) now studies midwifery on her own, through apprenticeship, in a private midwifery school or in a university or college-based program, which is distinct from nursing and then goes on to receive certification from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). A midwife can and often does assist the mother in a hospital setting, but she is also the primary caregiver during a home birth and will stay with her patient after delivery to ensure that all is well and no further attention is necessary (that of a medical sort must be provided in a hospital). Midwives appeal to mothers who want a more natural birth, the way women did it long before organized hospitals and IVs with painkillers.

Resident Nurses

Nurses, on the other hand, follow the traditional educational route, with nursing school or a variety of nursing degrees, like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the RN to BSN (Resident Nurse to Bachelor of Science Nursing), even master’s and doctoral programs. Resident nurses, in fact, have a multitude of educational opportunities available if they wish to continue their studies; a graduate degree is a way of obtaining a higher salary, and nurses can get something like an RN to MSN online.

Nurses, of course, work specifically in hospitals and are not necessarily confined to the labor and delivery department, though some may particularly prefer it. Nurses also don’t perform the actual deliveries – that job is in the hands of an obstetrician.

Certified Nurse – Midwives

The certified nurse-midwife is an amalgam of the two professions and one which might be very appealing to expectant mothers. A certified nurse-midwife has both the education of a traditionally trained nurse (most have graduate degrees, as the profession is considered that of an advanced practice nurse) and the certification of a midwife, allowing them to work in both hospital and home settings. She provides for her patient the thorough medical background of a nurse with the focus and expertise of a midwife and can be an all-around reassuring presence for a woman in labor.

Salary Expectations

Midwives do not come cheap. The average salary for a midwife is currently well over $60,000 annually, and some make over $100,000. In comparison, the average nurse salary can range anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000, but of course, graduate levels of education, plus years of experience may skew the amount higher. Certified nurse-midwives can expect salaries comparable to that of nurses, though privately practicing can provide a higher salary range.

So before you get your RN BSN degree or pursue your future as a midwife, take some time and contrast and compare these very different, but very similar vocations. Each has a rich history and a bright future.

The author of this post is Michelle Gavins, who is studying to become an obstetrician. Michelle loves children and can’t wait to finish her degree.

The Deadly Side Effects of Drug Usage

The Deadly Side Effects of Drug Usage

Drug and alcohol addiction can be devastating to people on so many different levels. Addiction can change the way a person thinks and it can change the way a person behaves. Addiction also affects more than simply the person that is addicted; it has an effect on everyone in their life. The entire family can suffer from one person’s addiction, but the worst effects of addiction are on the human body. Addiction can change the human body and these changes are never for the better. Addiction can introduce disease into the human body and these diseases are often life-threatening.

Hepatitis C

Currently there are over 300 million people who are infected with Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a virus and this virus can be spread through the use of intravenous drugs. It is estimated that over 10,000 people die each and every year from complications associated with Hepatitis C. It is a deadly epidemic that can often be avoided.

How Does Hepatitis C Affect the Body?

Hepatitis C affects the liver, which has the function to keep the body clean. You could think of it as essentially a natural filter; you cannot live without a liver. Hepatitis C affects everyone differently. Some people will show signs of the disease and quickly become sick. Others may show no signs or symptoms for up to 20 years, but then Hepatitis C starts to attack the liver. Hepatitis C can scar the liver and, even worse, it can cause cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure, which can lead to ultimately death.

Are There Any Symptoms or Signs?

Some people will not show any signs or symptoms of a Hepatitis C infection. The most common symptoms of a hepatitis C infection are: swelling of the abdomen, cloudy urine, right upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, fatigue, itching and loss of appetite.

Can You Protect Yourself from Hepatitis C?

There is no known cure for Hepatitis C at the moment. However, you can protect yourself by avoiding intravenous drugs. This is not the only way that Hepatitis C is spread either; Hepatitis C can also be spread through sexual contact.

Hepatitis C is not the lone dangerous disease that can be contracted from drug use. People who use intravenous drugs can also become infected with HIV. HIV can also be spread through sexual contact, as well. A person that is addicted to intravenous drugs can become infected with HIV and then they can pass the infection on to it any person they have sexual intercourse with; this is just one example of how drug addiction can affect people who don’t actually use drugs.

How Dangerous is HIV?

It is estimated that over 34 million people are currently infected with the HIV virus. Of these 34 million people, 50 percent are women and just over 3 million are children. It is also estimated that around 3 million people are infected each year. The yearly death toll from HIV is estimated to be at 3 million people. It is extremely dangerous and thus extremely deadly.

Do Drugs Cause HIV?

Drugs are not the actual cause HIV. HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency virus. It is not the drugs that cause the spread of the virus, but how they are used. Dirty needles are the number one cause of HIV among drug users.

Can You Protect Yourself from HIV?

The best protection against HIV is to never use intravenous drugs and always have protected sex. If you have to use a needle, do not use a needle that has been used by anyone else. This is just asking for trouble and never let anyone else use a needle on you. You might not know where the needle came from or where it has been.

There are plenty of cities all over the United States that actually offer needle exchange programs. Using a needle exchange program has two benefits. One, you can get a clean needle and two, your dirty needles are properly disposed of. This helps prevent further infection of HIV.

Drug addiction can lead to premature death in several ways. These are only two of the most common ways that drugs kill millions of people every year. One of the best methods of avoiding these problems is to stay sober and not engage in risky behavior.

About the Author: Russell Jensen is a contributing author who works as a nurse in a rehab clinic. He has seen numerous drug-related cases in his time.

Importance of Nutrition in Recovery

Importance of Nutrition in Recovery

Rehabilitation for addiction to drugs and alcohol is a multifaceted process, combining detoxification, treatment for withdrawal and various types of therapy, all designed to get patients out of their pattern of substance abuse and into a healthy, productive life.

While detox and therapy are important parts of the recovery process, there is another important area of recovery that’s often overlooked: nutrition. Addicts often have serious health issues as a result of their substance abuse, not the least of which is malnutrition, due to focusing on drugs or alcohol instead of good eating habits. In addition, studies have shown that the right combinations of foods, vitamins, and nutrients can make a measurable difference in reducing the symptoms of withdrawal, detoxifying the body and increasing the chances of successful recovery.

Effects of Substance Abuse on the Body

Quite simply, addicts tend to be malnourished. Alcohol, for example, is high in fat and calories but offers no nutritional value. As a result, addicts often feel full after drinking, and fail to eat – thereby failing to give their body the nutrients it needs to function properly. Other drugs actually damage the internal organs in addition to curbing appetite, and as a result, rehabilitation patients are likely to experience gastrointestinal issues. These issues make the process of withdrawal and detoxification unpleasant and painful, but getting into a pattern of eating healthy meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help repair that damage and reduce the discomfort caused by those symptoms.

Food and Mood

Study after study has shown that food has a powerful effect on mood – in both addicts and non-addicts. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can actually improve a person’s mood and keep them focused and alert. In the case of an addict, keeping an even keel helps prevent cravings and in some cases, a relapse. One of the most important parts of recovery for an addict is learning to maintain his or her mood, as mood swings can lead to powerful cravings for drugs or alcohol. When the recovering addict’s diet is full of healthy foods, though, and he or she eats regularly, those mood swings can be reduced or eliminated.

Best Foods to Eat

Research has shown that certain foods are better for addicts to consume than others, and many treatment centers, such as those found at http://www.treatmentforsuccess.com adhere to these guidelines when working with patients.

Those in recovery should make a point to eat a diet full of protein-rich foods, such as chicken, fish, lean meat and tofu. Protein is especially important because it increases the production of “feel-good” chemicals in the brain and helps repair damaged tissue throughout the body. However, it’s important to choose lean foods, and avoid saturated fats, to maintain overall health.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are also important, as they are packed with vitamins and minerals that can help your body repair itself from the damage caused by drugs and alcohol, and help you feel good. Fiber-rich foods – including whole grains, beans and produce – are also important to get your digestive system working again and help flush the toxins from your system.

The Significance of Supplements

Some experts recommend a supplement in addition to a balanced diet for those in recovery. Drugs and alcohol tend to reduce overall levels of vitamins B and C as well as zinc from the body. These vitamins are vital to your overall health, and help restore your body and maintain your mood. In addition, a small piece of good quality chocolate once a day has been shown to improve mood and offers health benefits for the heart and cardiovascular system.

Of course, as with any nutrition plan, there are some foods that those in recovery should avoid. Processed and packaged foods, while convenient, aren’t generally high in nutritional value. Fill up on whole, fresh foods instead. Recovering addicts should also try to avoid caffeine and excess sugar and salt – and stay hydrated with water. Substance abuse often caused dehydration, and drinking plenty of water can help rehydrate the body and repair damage to organs and tissues.

While it’s important for recovering addicts to maintain a healthy diet as part of an overall plan for returning to health, it’s more important to stay away from addictive substances. If avoiding sugary snacks or potato chips is making someone antsy or angry, then it’s perfectly okay to indulge. Long-term recovery is the goal, and as the patient grows stronger through therapy and support, the chances of sticking to a healthy diet increase as well.

About the Author: Oliver Castle is a licensed nutritionist who specializes in working with recovering alcoholics to improve their overall health after sobriety.

Strawberries – Health Remedies and Benefits

Strawberries – Health Remedies and Benefits

Most recent research has demonstrated that strawberries upgrade safeguard arrangement of the body and assume an essential job in wellbeing support. Strawberries contain the high substance of nutrient C which supports barrier arrangement of the body. Different nutrients, mineral, and substances present upgrade cells work as well as anticipate harmful development and heart issues. Strawberries lessen the number of free radicals in a body (some the free radicals are known to cause malignant development). A standard admission of strawberries goes about as a shield against malignant growth.

Strawberries contain fiber, silicon, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iodine, folic acid, phytochemicals, vitamin-B2, and vitamin B6. It is beneficial for joint pains. Anti-aging chemicals present in strawberries prevent wrinkles from developing, giving a younger look. Phytochemicals present in strawberries maintain cholesterol level of the body, while potassium and magnesium control high blood pressure.

You can save yourself from day-to-day virus attacks if you need strawberries regularly Strawberries contain a mineral called boron which increases sex hormones in women and prove helpful in sexually related diseases. Strawberries are also beneficial for weak bones and teeth problems.

If you feel thirsty all the time, eat strawberries! Strawberries not only refresh skin but also finish pimples and spots on face, thereby giving a clearer look.

let’s have an indebt look at Strawberries enormous benefits

§ Among the 50 best antioxidant foods strawberries are ranked at number four after blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries. High antioxidants save our body from an excess of free radicals. These free radicals are a major cause behind eye problems and other muscular degeneration diseases.

§ Strawberries are known to inhibit and halt the movement of carcinogen-cancer causative agents. Thanks to anti-inflammatory agents, vitamin c, kaempferol which make a strong defense mechanism against cancer.

Strawberries slow down the aging process! With growing age come problems like losing memory, shivering and weak remembrance power. Actually, free radicals present in blood cause degeneration of brain tissues resulting in adverse effects on the nervous system. But don’t you worry; strawberries are there to help you out! High vitamin c and phytochemicals neutralize the effects of oxidants and also revitalize the aging system.

Strawberries contain folate which is known to shield from birth-surrenders, helping in kid sustenance amid pregnancy and keeping up the legitimate structure of bones.

A measure of strawberries contains 21% of manganese which is fundamental for various cardiovascular illnesses. It lessens cell aggravation and assumes the main job in adapting to free radicals and oxidants.

High convergence of iodine in strawberries guarantees legitimate working of thyroid organ and sensory system.

It is safe to say that you are a heart tolerant? Do you have powerless heart muscles and elevated cholesterol level? At that point, strawberries are made for you! No fats, folate, phytochemicals, and nutrient c structure a wellbeing shield around cardiovascular muscles and successfully lessen cholesterol level. Potassium and magnesium present controls circulatory strain delivered by overabundance admission of sodium.

Hard, gleaming, dim red, typical size and crown of green leaves are the markers of a new strawberry. Strawberries with yellow spots, light red or light green shading are not new. Specialists state that strawberries must be washed before use. Besides, refrigerating strawberries for beyond what two days can be hurtful. Patients of kidneys, pancreas, and liver must maintain a strategic distance from strawberries.

A few cures of strawberries are as per the following

Strawberry face cover

Ladies who have dark colored shading or have a gripe of pimples and spots must utilize this face veil. It will illuminate their skin. First, smash a few strawberries. Take wheat grain, nectar rose water and blend them all in pulverized strawberries. Spread the readied blend all over and delicately rub. Leave the veil flawless for 15 minutes and wash with warm water later on. You can utilize this face cover once every three days.

Strawberry yogurts shake

1 container yogurt, 1 glass milk, 8 strawberries, 3 spoons of white sugar and ice. Mix them all in a blender and here it is; a tasty yogurt shake is prepared. Serve it to your visitor and appreciate the evaluation!

Strawberry tooth glue!

Brush your teeth with squashed strawberries for an all the more brightening look. Be that as it may, know! Promptly brush your teeth with a fluoride tooth glue a short time later as acidic nature of strawberries is bad for teeth.

Strawberries for velvety, reflexive hair

Take 8 strawberries and one tablespoon mayonnaise. Combine fixings and apply on clammy hair. Covering hair with a shower top and a warm towel is suggested. Hang tight for no less than 10 minutes and afterward cleanser of course

Yale Study Reveals this Marijuana May Be Gateway Drug

Yale Study Reveals this Marijuana May Be Gateway Drug

A recent study by Yale University School of Medicine reveals that marijuana may really be a gateway drug, leading not only to cocaine and heroin use, but heavy prescription drug abuse.

The study shows that men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five who start with tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana eventually turn to prescription drug abuse. For women, marijuana seems to be the sole culprit. Such studies have been done for years on cocaine and heroin, but with prescription drug abuse currently at unprecedented numbers, experts felt that a new study was in order.

Yale Study Reveals this Marijuana May Be Gateway Drug

Researchers studied information from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 versions of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. They looked at a sample of 55,215 eighteen to 25-year-olds and found that 12 percent reported that they were abusing prescription opioids. In this group, approximately 57 percent had used alcohol, 56 percent had smoked cigarettes and 34 percent had used marijuana.

Among men and women, it was found that marijuana users were 2.5 times more likely to abuse prescription opioids than those who had never used. While there was no association between alcohol or tobacco use among women, it was found that men who smoked cigarettes or drank alcohol were 25 percent more likely to abuse prescription drugs.

The Controversy

There are those who disagree with the study, however, and believe that it is spreading propaganda. Groups such as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) point out that while many who use marijuana do eventually turn to heavier drugs, the drug itself may not be causing this. Experts say that the study does not necessarily prove a direct relationship between marijuana and heavy drug use, but it is a start.

A common argument against marijuana being a gateway drug is that adolescents turn to harder drugs because of peer pressure – increasingly online – or emotional pressures. However, studies have been done on animal models demonstrating that cannabis does affect the reward sensors in the brain and can affect future sensitivity to heroin.

Why Prescription Drug Abuse?

According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately five million people were users of prescription drugs at that time. About 16 million people reported using prescription painkillers for non-medical reasons at least once the year before and there are an estimated seven million Americans addicted to psychotherapeutic drugs. Furthermore, prescription painkillers are the most abused drugs, besides marijuana, among young Americans.

While Americans only represent five percent of the world’s population, they consume 80 percent of all prescription painkillers more than all other countries in the world combined. Not only are prescription drugs available through prescription, friends, and family, they are sold on the street and snorted, injected or ingested just like other illicit drugs.

Experts who have worked with addicts know that overcoming addiction is a long road. When drugs such as marijuana lose their potency, users typically turn to heavier drugs to give them the same high.

Becky Winslow is a freelance writer and consultant for Narconon where her primary goal is to educate young adults of the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. Winslow has been drug-free for three years now and feels writing is her anti-drug.

Frightening Link Between Alcohol and Domestic Abuse

Frightening Link Between Alcohol and Domestic Abuse.

According to a recent Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) report, 92 percent of domestic abusers and victims reported the use of illicit drugs or alcohol on the day of the incident. For many, this startling statistic confirms the mythological link between alcohol abuse and domestic violence. However, to say that the abuse of alcohol directly leads to domestic abuse is an oversimplification of this phenomenon. Instead, it’s important to explore the unavoidable link between alcohol abuse and domestic violence, and what individuals suffering in silence can do to seek help.

Potential Reasons Why Alcohol Abusers also Commit Acts of Domestic Violence

Several studies on the relationship between alcohol abuse and domestic violence have been conducted, and although the minor findings may vary, the general consensus is that alcohol cannot suddenly transform a healthy individual into an aggressive abuser. So why is there such a startling correlation between the two separate social problems?

Here are a handful of theories as to why the incidents of domestic abuse are often associated with chemical dependency on alcohol

The excuse. Many times, an abuser will consume alcohol and use his impaired judgment as an excuse for battering his family members. Alcohol negates responsibility for his actions, giving the abuser a justifiable reason to act out his need for violence and control.
A disruption in normal thought patterns. Alcohol disrupts normal cognitive function, causing an inability for the abuser to process information correctly.
A link to aggression. Several studies have found that a person’s natural tendency toward aggression is often magnified after consuming alcohol.
Learned behavior. Alcohol abuse and domestic violence are, in many cases, both considered learned behavior. A child is often more at risk for enacting the two if he or she is raised in an abusive and alcohol-dependent environment.

The Role of Alcohol Abuse and the Victim

There’s a startling link between the increased incidences of alcohol abuse among victims of domestic violence as well. Once again, there’s no concrete reason for this link, but there are several theories as to why battered women begin to abuse alcohol:

Manipulation. In many cases, the woman can be coerced or forced into consuming alcohol by her partner. Instead of inciting violence, the woman will consume alcohol to appease her abuser.
Numbing the emotional and physical pain. Many individuals use alcohol as a way to escape from the pain of their everyday existence. For a battered woman, alcohol is an inexpensive way to escape the torment of living in an abusive home.
Their children. It’s a startling fact that many women won’t seek help for a chemical dependency either because a shelter or program won’t admit them while under the influence, or simply because they’re afraid to leave their children with an abusive mate.

Substance Abuse and Children

In many homes, the abuse of alcohol and drugs becomes the parent’s main focus, leading to neglect or violence against children. Parents are unable to provide their children with the consistency required because they’re too focused on their next fix. A survey conducted by the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse found that nearly 80 percent of all child abuse cases are linked with the abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Drug and alcohol abuse take its toll on children in a number of ways, including

Problems learning and interacting with the other children in school
Emotional problems and anxiety
An inability to trust any adult,
The increased risk of becoming abusive or dependent on drugs and alcohol later in life.

Seeking Help

The startling link between alcohol abuse and domestic violence has prompted many rehabilitation facilities to address both issues. However, there are still many community-based programs that are ill-equipped to handle an abuse victim who is also suffering from chemical dependency issues.

There’s no evidence to support the myth that alcohol causes domestic violence; this includes incidents of violence against men. If you’re a man living in an abusive home, don’t hesitate to seek help for yourself and your children.