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One of the most common mistakes made about autism is that Asperger’s Syndrome and high functioning autism are the same thing. Many parents struggle with this problem because there is so much information out there that uses the two terms interchangeably. There are many crossover symptoms between Asperger’s Syndrome and high functioning autism which can make it very challenging to tell the difference between the two. Furthermore, many doctors and scientists differ in their definitions of the two disorders.

High functioning autism is an unofficial designation for people who have autism but whose symptoms are not severe. High functioning autistic children have an average or above-average intelligence level and will generally maintain an adequate vocabulary. However their learning comprehension is typically behind other children at the same age. Furthermore, high functioning autistic children will generally not express much emotional detail in their speech, and struggle with interpreting non-verbal cues.

There is no solid line between the diagnosis of low functioning and high functioning autism. Though some doctors use an IQ score as an indicator to help with the diagnosis, the function level of autism is not based on IQ alone. There are also elements of language processing, behavioral elements, and other non-verbal details, which must be considered above and beyond measurable intelligence levels. Furthermore, standard IQ testing is typically inaccurate for autistic children as the testing itself may involve skills with which an autistic child struggles.

Whether high or low functioning, autism will typically present in around the age of two years old with a sudden regression or presentation of autistic symptoms.

On the other hand, Asperger’s Syndrome is a separate autism spectrum disorder. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome struggle with social interactions and restrictions, and tend to have intensely narrow interests in subjects and activities. However, unlike with autism – even high functioning autism – there is no cognitive development or language delay. Though language may be used atypically and motor skills may be clumsy at times, their development is normal.

Asperger’s Syndrome will typically present in children at about the age of three. Brain imaging has shown structural and functional differences within certain brain regions among children without autism spectrum disorders, children with Asperger’s Syndrome, and children who are high functioning autistics.

Children with Asperger’s Syndrome often fail to display empathy in their behaviors. It is social interaction where these children face their deepest challenges. Many struggle or fail to develop friendships, don’t take pleasure in achievements or spontaneous activities with others, lack in emotional and social reciprocity, and have diminished non-verbal communication behaviors such as facial expressions, postures, eye contact, and overall gestures.

However, children with classic autism (even those who are high functioning), Asperger’s Syndrome children will not typically withdraw from other people. In fact, even if they are awkward in their method, they will often approach others and begin a discussion. It is conversation where their struggle may occur, as a discussion for a child with Asperger’s Syndrome may simply consist of a long-winded single-sided speech about something the child truly enjoys, without any need for contribution from the other people present.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about different types of autism including high functioning autism

In the Western world there is often a huge disparity between what our bodies need and what they actually get. Your body is an organism more complex than the most powerful computer and needs regular nutrition in order to function properly and regenerate.

This nourishment is derived from a balanced and varied diet, high in the vitamins, minerals and other substances that are vital for maintaining the health of any individual. Unfortunately, our lifestyles are often not conducive to good health, and all too regularly our diet lacks the nutrition we require.

Eat your way to good health

We are only now beginning to realise just how profound an effect diet has on our lives. Of course, most people recognise that consuming large amounts of unhealthy food can lead to weight gain, but what they fail to understand is that almost all key health factors are affected by diet, including:

* Digestion.

* Energy levels.

* Heart rate and circulation.

* Hormones.

* Thyroid/metabolism.

* Stress levels.

* Immunity.

Imbalances and deficiencies of essential nutrients affect the way you look and feel. Help maintain good health by ensuring your diet contains all the nutrients your body needs.

Vitamins, minerals and the rest…

Water

The importance of water cannot be underestimated. It is genuinely recommended that you drink two litres of water a day, an amount that should be increased when exercising.

Carbohydrates

Although they often get a bad press, we could not function without carbohydrates. The digestive tract is responsible for breaking down all carbohydrates into glucose, the body’s main source of fuel.

Fibre

Fibre is essential for moving food through the digestive system and also has an important role to play in many other bodily functions.

Protein

Protein is vital for the growth, maintenance and repair of all body components. A lack of sufficient protein in our diets can lead to problems with tissues, nerves, bones, muscles, internal organs, blood, skin, hair and nails.

Fats

Good fats, composing of fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, are essential. These fats perform many biological roles, including assisting brain function.

Vitamin A

Plays an important role in eye and skin health, enhances immunity, assists in bone and teeth formation and acts as an antioxidant protecting against disease.

The B vitamins

Essential for the nervous system, help digestion, muscle, skin, eyes, hair, liver and brain function, reduce stress and are required to release energy from carbohydrates.

Vitamin C

Acts as an antioxidant and is necessary for tissue growth and repair, healthy gums and bones. Also helps in the absorption of iron and is useful when the body is under stress.

Vitamin D

Protects against muscle weakness, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, as it is required for the absorption and utilisation of calcium.

Vitamin E

This powerful antioxidant protects against heart disease, cancer and ageing, as well as improving circulation and helping to repair damaged tissue.

Vitamin K

Required for the normal clotting of blood and promotes healthy liver function.

Folate

Healthy cell division and replication depends upon adequate intake of folate, which is also important in pregnancy and for foetal development.

Calcium

Essential for bone and teeth health, helps prevent osteoporosis and is important for blood clotting and nerve function.

Iron

Iron is required for energy production and a healthy immune system, and it also carries oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body.

Zinc

Required for fertility, a healthy reproductive system and healthy skin. Zinc also protects the liver and the body against free radicals.

Selenium

Performs several vital functions, including protecting the body against heart disease, cancer, ageing and damage to the heart and liver.

Magnesium

A vital catalyst in releasing energy, magnesium is also good for cardio health and works with calcium to maintain healthy bones.

Potassium

Your body needs potassium to maintain a healthy nervous system and regular heart rhythm. It also helps promote healthy blood pressure and helps control the body’s water balance.

Phosphorus

Helps convert food into energy, is needed for blood clotting and forms an essential part of all body cells.

Sodium

Essential for water balance and healthy nerve and muscle function.

Gillian McKeith is a holistic nutritionist who has made it her life

Serious freelance writers know their income may come from other sources, not just writing articles for magazines or clients. Ultimately, their freelance writing leads to writing books or e-books for themselves or as ghostwrites. If you decide to ghostwrite e-books and trade paperbacks, consider the following:

If a client hires you as a “work-for-hire” ghostwriter, then the client pays you for your work, and he owns all rights. Make sure: 1) You receive a 50% retainer before you begin the work; and 2) You receive the balance at or right before delivery. That’s it. If the book turns out to be a great success, great! That’s wonderful! You should be extremely proud — but from a distance! To be a successful ghostwriter, you must enjoy your glory as a ghostwriter in the shadows. Many ghostwriters prefer it that way.

TIP #1: As a ghostwriter, you should always try to meet the needs of the true “author” of the work. Cover the content they want and do your best to make the client happy.

TIP #2: As with writing any book, ghostwriting involves lot of revisions and changes as far out as two months, especially if the book needs to go through an editor or publisher. You should make changes as needed. However, don’t wait on final payment if your client hasn’t received final approval from his publisher.

TIP #3: Always write your ghostwrites as if they are your own. Write with quality and professionalism in mind.

TIP #4: Never sign a non-compete contract on the subject of gaming or poker. It is crazy for the client to ask but crazier for you to do it. If a client asks for one, walk away. You have your own work to protect as well as the client’s work.

TIP #5: You owe the client exceptional work and the client you work for owes you money for a job well done.

TIP #6: If your client is dissatisfied with the end result, even after he’s paid you, make it right for the client. Satisfied clients usually become repeat clients; they will bring you steady work and referrals.

TIP #7: Consider using a pen name as a ghostwriter.

My friend, Shelly Unger, a freelance writer and ghostwriter, said she uses a pen name when she ghostwrites. She said, “I’ve written most of my ghostwrites and presented them to my clients under a pen name. First, if someone decides to spam me, there’s no harm done to the name for which I write my own work under. Secondly, when I write for a client, I have no idea what the client will do to the work, after all it is his work once it leaves my hands. The client may add content which I may not like or he may write something that is not my style of writing.” This is something to remember if you write for clients as ghostwrites. The client hires you to do a job and the client owns the work after it leaves your hands.

You can find many ghostwriting gigs on FreelanceWriting.com, Elance.com, Guru.com, GetAFreelancer.com, Indeed.com, and CraigsList.com. The other way is to create your own ghostwriting gigs by networking and marketing.

If you choose to write your own books and e-books, then follow these tips:

TIP # 1: Know your market and know where you can gain the most readership.

TIP # 2: Remember, non-fiction typically outsells fiction.

TIP # 3: Have your manuscript ready before you approach a publisher for electronic submissions or for trade submissions.

TIP # 4: As you are writing your manuscript, begin searching for markets where you will want to submit your work.

TIP # 5: Buy a Writer’s Market book so you can read over the markets and decide the best market for your manuscript.

TIP # 6: Avoid work-for-hire contracts from publishers. Sure, what publisher wouldn’t prefer to pay an up-front fee to a writer in lieu of royalties? Go for the royalties and take a chance on your own talents.

TIP # 7: Know your topic.

Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer’s guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com

As a freelance writer, you will compete against many writers who are just as talented as you are. You will also compete against writers who write poorly and who offer their writing services at ridiculously low fees. These writers can and do get jobs. Many times you will tempt yourself to lower your rates to match or beat the bids to snag the project. Don’t do it! You are a professional. Professional writers don’t lower their rates or work for next to nothing.

Many individuals who lack writing skills drive down rates, way below what professional writers can rightfully charge. If the true professionals do not keep up their prices, this will become an even bigger problem. Just because writers from other countries want to work for eight or nine American dollars per hour, this doesn’t mean you should. As a writer, you can earn far more than many freelance writers — and certainly more than freelance writers who speak little English but still bid on the English-speaking jobs at much lower rates.

Visit any writer’s marketplace and scan through the projects. You will discover all types of bid prices and proposals. What you won’t see is how these writers came up with their bid prices or how they decided what and what not to include in their bid proposals. Often times these writers don’t know how they came up with their fees for bidding either. It becomes obvious when you see the same project posting listed under different genres or price ranges. Some of the same writers will bid on the same projects with a large spread in proposed bids. It is quite comical.

If you want prospective clients to take you seriously, you need to do three things: 1) You need a website that lists your rates; 2) You need to be consistent with your rates; and 3) You need to collect a retainer up front before you start.

Freelance writers need to know what they can charge based on the job at hand. This can vary depending on the marketplace. When it comes down to freelance writing, here is the truth in a nutshell: You can charge whatever it is you want to charge. You can base your fees on whatever you want to base your fees. The trick is finding someone to pay it who believes it is a fair price.

Freelance writers are a rare breed. Many of them are quite difficult. There is no need to be one of them. Decide on your fees and stick to them. Keeping your fees consistent enables you to keep your bookkeeping simple. You are a writer, not an accountant. Simplicity in accounting should appeal to you. Regardless of how much work you find, keep yourself grounded. Make your job fun. Take things in stride. The money will come.

The following information will help you set your rates. These rates may vary according to your experience and specialization.

WHAT TO CHARGE

Many writers will charge way too much for their services while others will charge way too little. You can find current market rates in Writer’s Market. You can also use the following as a guideline until you feel you have a good sense of what you want to charge. Remember, you can charge anything you want to charge. Always ask yourself what your time and skills are worth. More importantly, do clients feel you are worth what you are charging?

Take a look:

• News Articles ( web related ): $15-50 per page

• E-books:$15-25 per page

• Novels and Books: $75 per page

• Radio Commentary: $200 per hour

• Magazine articles: Expect anywhere from $600-$2000 per article

• Articles for web content, not related to news: $10-$50 per article based on word count and other aspects of the job (such as keywords, etc.)

Some writers prefer to charge by the word too. This is slightly different as it varies on several factors. If you are going to charge on a per word basis, decide how much that is and stick with it on all your projects of varying lengths. Often the rate per word charge fluctuates by writer depending on what the writer is writing (article, book, and web content).

Whatever you choose to charge, consider the time you spend creating the work. Remember, if you are an educated writer in your field, you should be able to realize anywhere from $30-$75 per hour.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER ABOUT RATES

You cannot please everyone all of the time. You will find publishers, editors, and clients who hire you on a fast turn around. Even though they expect quality, they also expect you to write top-notch, award-winning material.

If a client tells you up front the deadline is important, be realistic in your talents and realize you are at a disadvantage before you start. If you have a demanding buyer with demanding deadlines, then realize you may feel you cannot craft the best copy you can. You should know your own pace and when you know you can’t deliver your best manuscript. If this is the case, then ask the client for more time.

Also watch for up and coming savvy trade book publishers who hire writers to write an e-book and fully intend to market it as a trade paperback. Know this before you take the job. In fact, when you bid on e-books, expect it. If you want to charge more based on that possibility, then build it into your bid. Often, if you approach a potential client by e-mail, they will respond with a request for an author to pen an e-book for them. Many times this ghostwritten book will end up on the shelves. As long as you did your job and you got paid, what do you care? Sure, the client may have used a less than honest approach, but as a writer, you will see this every day on the freelance postings. These clients are trying to save money and this is why they do this. You can’t really blame them. The client wants to turn a book over quickly too. If they were to present a ghostwriter with a writing opportunity to write a manuscript for publication, it would take much longer and cost a lot more for their manuscript.

Even though many people work with a rate sheet as their guide, others realize it is sometimes impossible to stick to their rates. You should establish some parameters when varying from your rates if you decide to offer a discount to a client. If you are working within a tight deadline, don’t vary much because 18 hour days can be part of your reality when you’re up against a tight web content deadline. By the end of those jobs, you want clients to pay you. Writers should stick to a rate sheet for their services. When pushed to turn out a job quickly, you should never discount a project, but instead raise your rates!

Another subject has come up in many incidences on the subject of whether the writer should charge for re-writes. Many writers do charge for re-writes, especially if the client is unreasonable. If you provide re-writes for a client, make sure the client has paid you in full for the project.

Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer’s guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com

For the individual living with diabetes, there is perhaps nothing more important than living a healthy lifestyle, which includes both diet and nutrition. Diabetic cooking and proper nutrition and diet can be the determining factors in the quality of life they will have. Developing healthy eating habits can not only help a diabetic control his or her weight, but it can also play an important role in helping them control their blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and maintain healthy blood-glucose levels.

There are dozens of diets on the market today, and different approaches to diabetic cooking that claim to have benefits for a variety of groups. However for the diabetic, most experts in the field recommend a diet that is relatively high in carbohydrate intake. In fact, a typical recommended diet for a diabetic may allow for more than half of the individual’s daily calories to come from carbohydrates, while allowing less than thirty percent of the individual’s daily calories to come from fat and protein, respectively. In terms of diabetic cooking, this means having to employ the technique of cooking and eating several small meals throughout the day, instead of a few large ones, is also recommended, as this has been shown to both help keep the body’s metabolism operating at high levels, and prevent spikes or drops in blood-glucose levels.

A diabetic diet and diabetic cooking does not have to be limiting, or flavorless. Foods from every group can be a part of a diabetics’ diet, without having to compromise health or taste.

From the fruit group, diabetic cooking can include a variety of fruits, including apples, oranges, peaches, and plums. Each of these fruits provides plenty of soluble fiber, as well as added sugar for the body.

Whole grain bread, as well as whole meal pasta and breakfast cereals that are high in insoluble fiber, are also beneficial to a diabetic’s diet. The minerals they supply can actually help enhance the action of insulin.

Fish can literally serve as lifesavers for diabetics, especially considering the fact that fish like salmon and sardines are full of omega 3 fatty acids, which most experts agree can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Diabetic cooking should always include a little seafood.

To wash down all of that healthy food, consider the old standard: water. Beverages that are herb-based are also highly recommended for diabetics. Coffee and other drinks that contain caffeine should be avoided if possible, as should alcohol. If you have to have that cold glass of milk, fill up a glass with skim milk, since it is lower in fat that the other choices.

Since vegetables are rich in fiber and carbohydrates, they are certainly a welcome part of any diabetic diet. Beans and lentils are especially recommended, as are asparagus, broccoli, and cauliflower, as well as spinach, kale, tomatoes, and green beans. A good serving of cucumbers, and even a few onions and some garlic have also proven beneficial.

After going through the carbs and the fats, a diabetic now has to make choices related to protein. Lean meat and red meat, along with skinless poultry and fish, have proven to be excellent sources of protein, and important to healthy diabetic cooking. The key when eating meat is to limit the amount of fat that is consumed, since it is one of the best ways to maintain weight, and keep the body’s cholesterol levels low

All about Diabetic Cooking- to keep You Healthy And Happy! For more tips and info on diabetic cooking, visit Diabetic Cooking Secrets Get your Free e-book on GI (Glycemic Index)- See how easily you can use GI as your guide to live healthier.

Did it ever cross your mind that maybe those amazing authors whose work gets lapped up by the New Yorker can’t write or spell nearly as well as those five-star reviews suggest? Or that editors often miss crucial spelling errors and word omissions that can make a work seem amateurish? If so, you’re thinking of the realm of the mystical proofreader who often makes published material look perfect and impeccable.

Proofreaders are the final line of defense before publication of material. Even though their lot is often lumped in with that of copywriters and editors, they are in fact a different breed altogether. After initial editing for clarity and coherence, and typesetting of a manuscript, the publishers rely on freelance proofreaders to check for formatting, spelling and manuscript errors/omissions. Freelance proofreaders hone an impeccable sense of grammar, and their spelling is second to none. More importantly, they pay attention to minuscule details. They carefully read every line and cross-reference with the original manuscript. Proofreaders make all the difference between a perfect run and a thousand disseminated copies of an error-riddled manuscript. Elsewhere, proof-readers pore over web content, brochures, and just about anything that requires error-checking.

Error-correction requires one of two things, depending on for whom and for what medium the finished product is being generated. Don’t panic, however, as the requirements to become a successful freelance proofreading are not nearly as prolific as one might imagine.

If one is proofreading for hard copy, such as a book, then the publisher requires you to know the correct “mark-up” conventions, as dictated by the chosen Style Manual of the employer. Consult the Chicago Manual of Style as a baseline for all other Style Manuals. Many big publishers will have their own bastardized style format which they will introduce to you during the process of undertaking a proof-reading position. Corrections you mark for would be implemented or reviewed by another party and the final manuscript would move to the next stage of publication.

However, if you find yourself employed within a less formal setting, then you are both the one to mark and correct a manuscript. Manuals of style are much less important here, and you may find that your role cross-pollinates somewhat with that of a freelance copywriter, as text may require rewrites under your guidance.

Gaining work to proofread and write may be initially difficult, as your abilities remain unproven. A few good ways to build an impressive CV include finding part-time work with a facility that already provides proof reading services, and a degree or diploma with a focus on formal editing will help (but this is by no means necessary) to impress skeptical clients. Forming relationships with established copywriters and proof-readers (as well as SEO technicians), will lead to trickle-down benefits as overflow from their successes comes to you. As always, the local community (particularly restaurants and other service-type establishments) is a viable source of income and networking, and offers gigs to rewrite menus and advertising content.

Volunteer positions on websites and an online blog that showcases your writing and/or abilities can also be helpful. Never forget to take advantage of unorthodox opportunities like contacting websites and organizations about poorly written or extremely typo-riddled print. Offer to produce new copy and give them a sample of a rewritten passage from their published text as proof of your viability. While this may not work all the time, you may just impress enough to get your foot in the door, and that’s all you need.

While your job description may be radically different depending on the expectations of those who employ you, with the proviso that you bring high-level language skills and a beady editor’s eye for detail to the table, appreciation for your work skills is assured. Here your best hope for steady employment lies with being fluid and adaptable. Ready yourself to fill roles wherever and whenever they pop up, and you’re sure to succeed.

Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer’s guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com

Language is not logical, as even those behind the very best attempts at machine translation will happily attest to. Indeed, if I were to try and decode this article into German using something akin to Babel Fish, I’d end up with something closer to Fermat’s Last Theorem than a guide on how to be a butt-kicking, name-taking freelance translator.

For prose in one language to reach another without it being cruelly and sometimes hilariously mangled, it needs that human touch. Many people understand translation is spending long hours burning the midnight oil with a dictionary in either hand, but that simply is not so. Being bi-lingual is one thing; being fluent and understanding the connotations and implications of prose in each language is an entirely different thing. And let’s not forget about all that comes with working to be a skilled writer, as a complex and difficult personal enterprise.

Taking all of the above into account, as a freelance translator, your job will lie not in the hard, fast and loose distilling of basic meaning from one language to another, as in real-time verbal translation. No, instead you’ll be faced with taking a written manuscript (be it technical or classical) and carefully translating it into the target language.

Sounds difficult? Certainly, but it’s also rewarding! A writer who wants to rise to the top of his or her craft does well to take the time to not only write well, by the standards of their peers, but also to intimately comprehend the syntax and grammar of their chosen language.

One of the most oft-recommended pathways to marked improvement in an area like freelance translation is to dedicate yourself to intimately learning a second language beside your own mother-tongue. Besides the infinitely rewarding consequences (whether you’re looking for new social connections, a complex intellectual challenge or simply a way to qualify for far-flung international work), it can also act as a doorway to lucrative employment. As with most things, the more work you do, the better you get, the more work you get to do.

Why? Not only are translators rare, but they act in themselves as gateways to new markets. Right now, you’re reading this article in English. While the native audience for the language is huge, an even greater percentage of the literate world has no access to it for a lack of English-language skills. Unlocking that massive percentile can mean a vastly improved gross turnover for any organization with a significantly established interest.

So, if one presumes you’ve got a serious handle on at least two languages and an eye for the written word, how do you go about cultivating a successful career from such a useful skill? Firstly, you build up your portfolio, and you make a name for yourself. Find magazine or newspaper articles and translate them (with all original credit attached, of course), and then post them to a free blog you can set up through online services such as Google’s Blogger and Wordpress’ blogging platforms.

As a step up, translate book prose from small or local book and magazine publishers, and attempt to get in touch with the appropriate publishers about producing a translated work. Never underestimate the value of pro-bono work. If it comes to that, look for restaurants and businesses that deal or sell using your languages of choice, and offer to provide them with the appropriate alternate signage should they be lacking it, or, alternately, should you find it lacking.

Websites often will accept offers to translate their content into new languages to increase their appeal. Trawling the SourceForge or FreshMeat databases for projects to fan-translate older video games scripts or to produce official translated versions of open-source software can net you with impressive credentials when you look to accept contract work from larger organizations.

Don’t forget to practice technical translation, since we all know how prolific those little user-instruction booklets bundled with your latest microwave or vacuum cleaner are. You know, the ones with the seventeen different sets of translated instructions?

It won’t be unusual to discover your writing skills can be just as in demand as those that power your incredible translation abilities. Always keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to combine the skill-sets of a writer and translator, as one who not only writes the original material but then goes on to translate it!

Translators often have to actively sell their skills to the market through cold calling and constant inquisitiveness regarding any potential need to produce translated material. Always draw the line at begging; but by the same token, don’t be afraid to go in for the hard sell when you think it’s appropriate. Impress with your willingness to seek out work and to prove yourself, and you can often find yourself already in the door.

Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer’s guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com

An overactive bladder is a common complaint for pregnant women and men with enlarged prostates. Nearly 30 million people in the United States complain of incontinence. The problem is prevalent, yet can still be embarrassing. Even minor leaking can stop you dead in your tracks.

Pressure on the bladder makes it feel as if you always have to go to the bathroom. There is nothing worse than having to run to the restroom throughout the day, whether you are at work, at home or on a vacation. Making frequent pit stops is not in your best interest. Having an accident is worse.

Possible Bladder Problems

Bladder problems can occur in a number of ways. Be aware of these issues and don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor to get help if you experience any of the following:

* Weak muscles that allow urine to leak

* Weak lining of the bladder that causes the urgency to urinate

* Obstruction of the flow of urine (often with an enlarged prostate)

* Bed-wetting

* Going to the bathroom more than eight times per day

* Getting up more than once per night with the strong urge to urinate

* Urinary tract infections

* Burning and irritation when you urinate

* Cloudy or bloody urine

Supporting a Healthy Bladder

There are some simple habits you can get into that will help support a healthy bladder. Consistency is the best policy to avoid potential problems down the line.

* Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day

* Relax when you are going to the bathroom; don’t force it

* Cut back on caffeinated drinks

* Drink cranberry juice

* Eat healthy meals

* Get daily exercise

* Fully empty your bladder every time you urinate

* Talk to your doctor as needed; don’t ignore problems

Create a Healthy Bladder with Butterbur

Butterbur is taken from the root of a purple flowering plant that has been used for fighting fevers, asthma, colds and urinary problems.

Butterbur is a supplement that supports healthy bladder functioning. It is an anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory. It works to relax the muscles of the bladder and reduce pressure. It is also good for liver problems, gastrointestinal disorders, kidney stones, ulcers, painful menstrual periods, and muscle spasms. Butterbur acts as a natural pain reliever, making bladder problems easier to handle.

People are becoming more reluctant to take prescription drugs for things like urinary tract infections. Antibiotics build up to the point where our bodies resist them and then no longer work. There are also unhealthy side effects that come with prescription drugs.

Naturally, this is leading more people to search for home remedies. Butterbur is an herb that can help relieve bladder problems without relying on an antibiotic. Of course, healthy habits that prevent urinary tract infections and other bladder problems are recommended. Early detection and treatment are in order when the bladder is not functioning well though.

Research shows that butterbur can reduce the sudden urge to urinate. It can restore the bladder to a healthy state and reduce your trips to the restroom. Make sure you are eating healthy foods, drinking cranberry juice, getting regular exercise and taking a butterbur supplement to relieve bladder problems.

More information on butterbur extract is available at VitaNet

Having trouble burning off that fat… falling off your diet plan again and again?

Everyone everywhere is making diet mistakes every day. And they’re all pretty similar. Not the little slips where you gulp down a plate of ice cream in a moment of weakness… we can deal with those. But the mistakes that cause your diet plan to fail… these are the dangerous ones.

1. The “Stick to the Plan - No Compromises” Attitude

It seems once again “it’s all in your attitude”.

You pick out a complicated diet that is almost impossible to maintain. Before you start you purge your kitchen of any items that aren’t on the program. You plan to be the ace dieter… but in a few days or a week or two it just seems so darn hard and so fun.

And then what? You quit… and you feel like a loser… again! And you go out and buy all that “bad” food you’ve been craving that you threw out last week.

The way forward is to make small changes to what you eat so that you have a slow but steady weight loss.

Here’s the question to ask yourself: “Am I really serious about permanent weight loss or is it just a nice daydream?”

2. The Attitude of Sacrifice

This is a really big one!

You attitude is: “I’m on this diet for a month - I’ll lose 10 pounds and then it’s back to eating the way I enjoy”.

Well… you’re not alone on this one. We all do it. Why? Because overeating is an addiction and its obsessive compulsive, so overcoming the craving is a real challenge.

This is probably the biggest danger of all. If you don’t first get that craving under control then you are doomed to failure.

It is better to include a little of everything in your diet and learn to enjoy it in small quantities. Yes, even chocolate… as long as it’s low sugar dark chocolate!

3. Failing to Achieve your goal.

If you fail at your goal it may not seem like much. After all… you’ve done it before… right? But every time we fail we create another burden of shame to lug around. And like most people we just stuff them is a hidden place and ignore them. But they eat away at us.

Every goal failure sets us up for another one until we change our way of setting up our goals.

It’s critical to set achievable goals. Think them out and write them down. Ask yourself this question: “Am I absolutely certain I can achieve this goal?” If you’re not certain then the goal is too big.

Most people set their goals the wrong way!

The smart way to set achievable goals is to create a goal that is an action that you have total control over. Setting a goal to lose two pounds in two weeks is not a goal you can control. So you set yourself up to lose.

Make the plan of losing two pounds in two weeks your “intention” not your “goal” and then set up an action plan to achieve it.

Here’s a goal that you can control: “I’ll drink two glasses of water today” or “I won’t eat bread for the next hour”.

You see the difference? You have no control whatever over how much weight you can lose in what time, but for short periods you can control what you eat!

The best solution of course is to find a way to lose weight quite rapidly without needing to struggle with hunger all the time. All you need to do is to get control of the carbohydrate craving and eliminate it quickly. Then your goals are not such a struggle.

If you would like to know how to make this happen then I can help.

I have recently written a book entitled “Lose Weight - Never Go Hungry” which lays out a plan for overcoming carbohydrate addiction and losing w You can download it FREE here: “Lose Weight - Never Go Hungry”

An imbalance of hormones in the body can cause a host of problems. Prostaglandin is a fatty acid that takes on the characteristics of a hormone. This fluid is isolated from the male prostate. In women, it is known for its pain relieving effect on the uterus and is often used during labor and delivery to calm contractions and reduce cramping.

Prostaglandin soothes muscle contractions, reduces pain, reduces inflammation and controls hormones. When it isn’t functioning properly, however, you will likely experience more pain and discomfort. CLA is one supplement that can help support natural prostaglandin production.

Conjugates Linolic Acid (CLA)

CLA is sometimes suggested for overweight and obese people for weight loss. It is a trans fat that is said to reduce belly fat. It is a popular dietary supplement. CLA is a designer fat in some ways. It acts as a good fat in the body, much like olive oil and similar products that are healthy for you. It is a lipid that is structured in a way that promotes health and improves prostaglandin production.

CLA helps to build muscle, burn fat, increase metabolism and fight cancer. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol and enhances the immune system to fight off germs and diseases. It also acts as a natural fatty acid. It can be found in your diet in beef and dairy products. The omega 6 fatty acid in CLA offers a lubricant for the body. It smoothes body functions and gets things moving again.

The beauty of taking a CLA capsule is that it provides you with the fatty acids your body needs without the guilt of eating the extra calorie-laden foods. You can change your composition of fat and muscle while eating less food and without drastically changing your lifestyle.

Most experts agree that CLA is safe for human consumption and are reasonably certain of the positive benefits it can offer. However, there is inconclusive data from research studies that have been conducted thus far. Further testing in humans must be done to determine the effectiveness of CLA and the possible side effects it may bring.

Studies on Prostaglandin Production and CLA

According to Mark Cook and his team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, CLA supplements work to naturally regulate COX-2 proteins.

Studies on animals have recently shown that CLA can control bone loss by allowing better calcium absorption. This is made possible by lowering prostaglandin levels in bone tissue. Further studies on humans and prostaglandin need to occur before there is any concrete evidence.

Research does suggest some side effects from consuming synthetic CLA. It can cause lowered good cholesterol, higher glucose levels and insulin resistance. Though studies on animals have shown that eating foods high in CLA rather than taking a supplement is safer, it would not be practical for people to eat that much meat and cheese.

There is not enough evidence to prove that CLA can support normal prostaglandin production. CLA is deemed safe as a supplement for now, but experts caution users not to exceed 1000 milligrams of CLA per day just as a precaution. Too much of a good thing can be problematic, as well.

More information on CLA is available at VitaNet