Considering Artificial Insemination Consider these Things

Artificial insemination, often referred to as AI, is the practice of placing sperm directly into a woman’s womb, with the goal of fertilizing an egg.  In order to have the best chance of success, this procedure is typically completed during the most fertile time of a woman’s cycle, approximately 24-48 hours before ovulation should occur.  The sperm for this procedure usually comes from a woman’s male spouse or significant other, however donor sperm may be used if the partner is infertile or there is no male partner.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI treatment) is the most frequently used method of artificial insemination.  It is a fairly straightforward procedure that is performed when there is a diagnosis of endometriosis, irregular ovulation or unexplained infertility.  Because an IUI is so simple to do, the procedure costs much less than other assisted reproductive technologies.  While there are several other AI methods that can be considered, statistics show that IUI has the best success rate.  Depending on a patient’s reproductive history and diagnosis, a reproductive specialist may suggest an ICI (intracervical insemination) or an ITI (intratubal insemination) procedure to achieve pregnancy.

If you have just recently received an infertility diagnosis, or if you are researching fertility treatment options, you may be wondering when a reproductive specialist might recommend artificial insemination.  There are many different circumstances when artificial insemination would be considered as the first step in the fertility treatment process.  Artificial insemination would certainly be helpful in the following scenarios:

1.   An unmarried woman may want to build a family on her own and chooses to use a sperm donor.

2.   A woman is diagnosed with infertility caused by endometriosis.  Unless the endometriosis is severe, artificial insemination is often successful.
3.   Sometimes a couple is unable to have intercourse due to another medical issue, however healthy eggs and sperm are available.  In such cases, artificial insemination is used to place the sperm in the womb.

4.   Sometimes, sperm cannot complete the journey to the womb due to cervical factor infertility.  In such cases, the cervix is unable to produce enough mucus to aid the sperm in its travels, or the mucus contains some sort of substance that kills the sperm along the way. An AI procedure bypasses the need for cervical mucus, depositing the sperm directly into the womb.

5.   While this scenario is rare, sometimes a woman has an allergy to semen.  There are certain proteins in the sperm that can cause an allergic reaction.  Most of those proteins are removed before the sperm is inserted during an IUI procedure.

6.   If a man is unable to have sex due to erectile dysfunction, an artificial insemination procedure is often suggested.

7.   In some cases, a semen analysis shows that not enough healthy sperm are produced to fertilize the egg.

8.   There are times when a man could become infertile due to some type of medical treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation.  When therapy-related infertility is a possibility the man choose to freeze his sperm to be used at a later date – via artificial insemination.

9.   When two women in a same sex relationship want to raise a child together, one of the women can receive donor sperm via artificial insemination.

10.  When two men in a same sex relationship want to raise a child together, one of the men can provide sperm for a surrogate via artificial insemination.

11.  There are times when the cause of infertility cannot be established. On a case-by-case basis, a reproductive specialist may recommend an IUI to achieve pregnancy. Also there are many good fertility clinic in mumbai which can help you in cost-effective way

Natures Way Metabolic Reset Weight Loss Shake Review

Most of us have lost the ability to determine if we are hungry or not.  Often it is not until we are “unbutton your pants” or I’ll explode full that we stop eating.  Natures Way Metabolic Reset shakes addresses the satiety factor and helps you to feel full, even with few calories in your stomach.  When we eat a large meal, stomach receptors feel that our stomach contents is at its limit.  It sends a signal to the brain to stop eating.  Many of us have conditioned ourselves to either ignore the signal, or eat way past the disdended feeling before the brain is signaled.  With this meal replacement shake, you will feel physically full because of the fiber in the shake, and you will also get essential vitamins and fiber, without all the calories.  From there the people at Nature’s Way assume you can reprogram your hunger cues, decrease your cravings and appetite, and begin to eat a modest amount of food again, without going into insulin overdrive.

The ingredients in Natures Way Weight Loss water drinks:

    The macronutrient breakdown. There are 130 calories but 4 grams of fiber and 21 grams of protein.  Great source of protein for so few calories.  There is only one gram of sugar and no fructose.
    The vitamins: While most of the vitamins and minerals are present, they each represent about 33% of the Daily Value.  If you intend to drink two shakes a day with a modest dinner, you may still fall short with some nutrients.  Following up with a good multi vitamin may be prudent.
    The Protien:  The protein is derived from whey protein isolate, the most expensive and best performing protein in supplements today.  This protein contains all the amino acids necessary for building muscle, metabolic functioning, blood sugar control, and satiety.  They say protein and fat are the foods with the highest satiety, so this is a good thing to include.
    The fiber: Natures Way proprietary blend of fiber is called viscofiber.  This is a blend of fibers that can potentially absorb more water and form a jell like substance to fill the stomach. While nature’s way claims their blend to be the most effective fiber for weight loss, appetite control, and cravings, I have read the same thing from fibers of other companies.  I don’t know that they’ve pitted this specific fiber blend against other weight loss fiber blends.  However, it performs better than standard dietary fiber.

Pro’s

    There are no stimulants in this weight loss shake.
    This can replace a meal, thereby saving money at that meal.
    Tastes great even without fructose or artificial sweeteners.

Con’s  

    With only 130 calories, there may not be enough energy in this shake to take it for long periods of time.  People may get too few calories and feel full anyway, thereby risking nutrient deficiencies.

Conclusion

Shakes like Natures Way Metabolic Reset is a safe and effective way to lose weight.  If the goal is to replace a meal and help you to feel full with fewer calories, it just may have the right ingredients to accomplish this.  The fiber, protein, and nutrients in this product would be safe and healthy to experiment with for weight loss.

How To Remove Iron From Drinking Water The Easiest Way

One of the most common water quality problems is how to remove iron from drinking water. Too much iron in water makes a metallic taste as well as making food turn black during cooking. So too much iron in water makes for nasty tasting water as well as making some bad looking food too. There are health risks with iron in water too.
One of the health problems is some people have a genetic tendency to store iron in the body. This means iron accumulates over time and can be the start of a whole range of health issues. Also excessive manganese, another mineral, is often present in high iron water. That can cause some other health problems too.

Getting the iron out may require different processes depending on the amount of iron and the type of water. Sometimes use of chemicals is required to help in the elimination of the iron. Then a filter system can get at the chemicals to purify the water.

Many times getting the iron out is fairly easy. Sometimes all you may need is a whole house water filtration system that just includes a special cartridge made to get out the iron. That's the simplest solution if a special filter will work.

You can often remove iron from drinking water with a special cartridge that's part of home water filtration systems. Especially reverse osmosis water filter systems can include a special filter that reduces iron. That one filter may be enough to produce good tasting water with reduced iron content.

Al Bullington, a retired mechanical engineer, runs an informational website where he reviews the best ways to get pure water. Get free tips at his site on choosing home water filtration systems.

Moxibustion works well with Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique for unblocking qi (the energy that allegedly permeates all things) by inserting disposable needles at particular points on the body to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang.

When yin and yang are in harmony, qi flows freely within the body and a person is healthy. When a person is sick, diseased, or injured, there is an obstruction of qi along one of the meridians. Traditional Chinese Medicine has identified some 2,000 specific points where needles are to be inserted for specific effects.

What does acupuncture feel like? Do the needles hurt?

People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel minimal or no pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.

What is moxibustion?

Moxibustion, or moxa for short, is an ancient form of heat therapy. Moxa uses the ground up leaves of the plant mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris or ai ye in Chinese). The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to a smoother flow of blood and qi.

How does moxibustion work? Does it hurt?

There are two types of moxibustion -- direct and indirect.

In direct moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of herb is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. The patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience any pain, blistering or scarring unless the moxa is left in place for too long.

Indirect moxibustion is currently the more popular form of care because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red.

Who is moxibustion good for?

It is used specifically for patients suffering from cold or stagnant constitutions. It should not be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat.

"It is especially good for women who have joint pains, menstrual cramps, irregular periods, and infertility."

How is acupuncture paired with moxibustion?

When the needles are in the body, the smoldering moxa stick is held a couple inches away from the skin, usually around the inserted needles. The practitioner will monitor the heat level, and work with the patient to provide a therapeutic level of heat while maintaining comfort and safety.

This simultaneous use of moxibustion with the acupuncture needle intensifies the therapeutic benefit of the given acupuncture point.

Can anybody practise moxibustion?

Moxibustion is usually taught as part of a qualified acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine degree programme. It takes skill and caution. "It is equivalent to holding a red-hot coal an inch above someone's skin."

Learn the facts about Acai

One of the most nutritious berries on the market, the acai berry, is found in the rain forests of South America . Arguably the most nutritious berry, the acai (A sci EE) berry has more nutrients in it than any other berry currently on the market.

The berry comes the from the acai palm, where it grows in strings. The palm itself is 15-25 meters tall with multiple trunks. The average palm has four to eight trunks, each one four to six inches in diameter, but palms with as many 25 trunks aren't uncommon. The fruit itself is under an inch in diameter, with a single large seed inside. The palm grows best in low-lit swampy areas, such as are found in the Brazilian rain forest, but it has been spread by animals throughout the Amazon basin. Each trunk produces four to eight bunches of berries throughout the year, with the dry season seeing the largest fruit production. An acai palm generally doesn't start producing fruit until it is about four to five years old.

The acai palm was originally harvested for its palm hearts, taking the place of another palm that had been harvested almost to the point of extinction. The multiple trunks of the acai palm can be removed, and the palm's trunks will grow back. Acai palms now provide most of the world's palm hearts, but over-harvesting is becoming a problem. However, as the palm hearts aren't as profitable as the acai berry juice is becoming, and as palm heart production is sustainable, the palm's berries may save the trees in the long run.

From the acai palm (euterpe oleracea) comes both its berries and the palm heart (a cluster of new leaves, also known as "cabbage). It grows quickly in the swamps of Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname. Not only is it used for food; the fronds themselves are used to thatch homes as well as for weaving.

The juice of the acai berry is also used in the preparation of patients for MRI scans of the gastrointestinal tract as a contrasting agent. Another use is as an astringent, an agent that contracts or shrinks tissues, which decreases secretions and controls bleeding.

The locals use acai to create creams, and in a porridge with manioc meal, bananas, or even fish. The seed makes an excellent fertilizer (it has even started to be used for this in the United States), and can even be seen in local handicrafts (most notably necklaces). Specific parts of the plant can be burned to produce an insect repellent. The palm hearts are used for salads, creams, stuffing, and even the feeding of domesticated animals, and the roots are used in herbal remedies for maladies such as bleeding and worms. Different parts of the acai palm have been used to cure a wide range of diseases such as anemia, diarrhea, fever, liver diseases, malaria, and muscle and menstrual pain.

Most important is the acai berry. Besides being used for juice, it is also used as a flavoring and colorant in wines and liqueurs. The berries are an excellent source of essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6) plus oleic acid (Omega-9), which are good for lowering low-density lipoprotein levels. The berry also contains phytosterols (compounds of plant cell membranes), which help reduce blood plasma cholesterol.

The berries contain amino acids and vital trace elements vital to muscle contraction and regeneration, and they also provide dietary fiber (excellent for dietary tract health). Acai berries possess high levels of calcium, vitamins a and e, and phosphorus, as well as high concentrations of polyphenols, making them an excellent source of antioxidants. In fact, it's a much better source of antioxidants than foods such as blueberries, oranges, and even red wine.

Studies show a link between the use of antioxidants and increased longevity, and antioxidants also help in the fight against premature aging, cancer, cardiovascular and ophthalmological diseases, and other age-related degenerative problems. Acai may also help boost brain activity, support healthy cholesterol levels, make the skin healthy and supple, and provide natural energy.

Acai berries may be a proverbial "Fountain of Youth." Comparing them to milk, the berries contain 3 times as many lipids, seven times as many carbohydrates, 118 times more iron, nine times as much Vitamin B1, and eight times as much Vitamin C. They also have the same amount of protein and calcium as milk.

Acai juice is popular among the locals where it grows, and is seen as a "poor man's juice." In a single day, 400,000 pounds of fruit is sold daily in just one city. The juice is served in plastic bags, and goes for about $2 per liter in some areas, making it very affordable for even the poorest families. The fruit itself is also a staple in the diets of many locals, especially when mixed with manioc to create porridge.

In short, the acai palm is used for a number of things from art to repellent to medicine, and its berries are starting to a find their way into a number of dietary supplements. The berries have definite value as part of a healthy diet.

What's Missing Could Be Making You Sick

Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables you eat today are not as nutritious as the food from fifty years ago.

Who says so? The USDA. When you compare the Food Composition Tables from the 1950 Agriculture Handbook with the latest version, you'll see the shocking truth.

In fact, that is exactly what researchers Donald Davis, Melvin Epp, and Hugh Riordan did. They compared the data for 43 garden crops. They found that the group of vegetables showed "statistical reliable declines" for many nutrients.

There was less riboflavin, protein, iron, vitamin C, Vitamin A, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, and other nutrients. In some cases the nutrient drop was more than 50%.

The cause of these nutrient losses may have been from changes in the vegetable varieties, according to the researchers. It seems that the plant breeders are more interested in vegetables that ship well and look good on store shelves. Appearance is everything when it comes to creating profits. Nutrition is a secondary consideration.

Not mentioned was the probable lack of trace plant nutrients in soil that has been mined by unsustainable farming practices over the years. This is what the organic farming people have been saying for years.

The nutrition shortage in almost all people is made even worse by our food choices. Instant, prepackaged, processed foods supply refined carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and little else. It's a lot like the farming practices that feed the crops with high nitrogen chemical fertilizers, potassium, and phosphorus and nothing else.

We end up eating bloated, unhealthy, nutrient lacking foods that give us bloated, unhealthy bodies. Could this be the real cause of the growing obesity problem around the world? We're all over-stuffing ourselves trying to get the nutrition our body's intelligence knows we need to be healthy.