Artichoke to lower cholesterol

Recently my alternative healthcare practitioner suggested I take artichoke to lower my blood cholesterol. Does it work?

Many people eat artichoke leaf extracts for the treatment of elevated lipids. However, there are no good studies to show that it does anything. The few limited studies are not impressive and the lowering of cholesterol is mild at best. If you have high cholesterol, I suggest you stop relying on artichoke leaves. I highly recommend exercise and if that fails you may need to take the statin medications. In the meantime, stop smoking and decrease ingestion of fatty foods. Stop relying on a single plant or herb to maintain good health.

Green tea to lower blood pressure?

I have heard that drinking red tea (Roselle) may help lower blood pressure. Is this true?

No, you heard wrong. Millions of people seem to think that drinking tea is good for health. So far, there is no evidence that tea is anything more than a social beverage. Over the past 3 decades, hundreds of types of tea have been developed with hyped up health benefits. The manufacturers of tea products are simply scamming people with false claims about its health benefits. Orientals have been drinking tea for centuries and their health does not appear to be any better than Westerners. There is no harm in drinking tea but if you expect your blood pressure to drop, you are sadly mistaken. Marketing tea for health benefits is now a major scam. Every type of tea is being hyped up to cure everything under the SUN. Unfortunately, there are many gullible and stupid people who believe such crap and fall for unproven therapies.

Bitter orange and weight loss

Can one lose weight with Bitter orange?

Many people are buying bitter orange in bulk in the hope that it can help with weight loss. Bitter orange (citrus aurantium) has been in the news ever since ephedra was taken off the market for health concerns.

People who take bitter orange claim that is it a great alternative to ephedra and works well for weight loss; however, there is no clear evidence that it does in fact reduce weight.

Recent studies indicate that while bitter orange may work in a few individuals, it is also associated with similar side effects like ephedra. Extracts of the bitter orange plant have revealed two potent chemicals called synephrine and octopamine. Both these compounds are very similar in their activity to ephedrine in ephedra.

Experts claim that excess ingestion of these substances can increase blood pressure, alter heart rate and rhythm and can even induce heart attacks, strokes and even sudden death.

More over bitter orange can also interfere with many pharmaceutical drugs leading to adverse side effects.

The problem with bitter orange is that it is listed as a health food supplement and does not undergo the rigorous testing that is required of pharmaceutical drugs. Further, many potent and toxic substances found in the product are not even listed on the label. For this reason, many people who take bitter orange are prone to developing side effects and dangerous complications. Individuals who have heart disease, high blood pressure or problems with their heart rate should avoid bitter orange. While some individuals may lose weight with bitter orange this is not a universal finding. The best and surest way to lose weight is to eat less and walk more. This may not sound too appealing but it definitely works and is a lot cheaper than any health supplement.

Butt lift or butt implant?

Is the butt lift procedure the same as butt implant surgery?

No, the butt lift procedure is like a breast lift. The surgeon lifts and tightens up the skin around your buttocks. The excess skin is removed and the deeper tissues are adjusted so your buttocks look tight, sexy, and curvaceous. In addition, the surgeon will ensure that the bottoms match the upper body in size and shape. With a buttock implant, various prosthetic materials are inserted into the butocks to make then bigger, like in breast augmentation.

Another option to Butt lift surgery

Is there any alternative to butt lift surgery?

Sure, there is a great alternative. For most people, the butt is the last thing one looks at every morning. The majority of people want their face, hair, and waist to look great. If you have the money, then you may undergo this surgery. But if you do not have money and your butt is bothering you too much, then perhaps you should take some Prozac. This is cheaper and safer than a butt lift procedure.

Cost of Butt lift surgery

What is cost of butt lift procedure?

It depends on where you live and who does it. However, rest assured, it is not cheap. The average cost of butt lift surgery is about $ 8,000. Of course, some high-end surgeons charge $15,000 or more. Surgery is usually more expensive on the East and West coast, and slightly cheaper if you live in central or southern part of the country. Do not forget, plastic surgeons are like the airline industry. They tend to jack up the prices for blood work; anesthesia, consultation, hospital fees, and medications- so do ask and get in writing what is the final cost. Butt lift surgery is a lot cheaper in south and central america, but if there is a screw up, you are in big shit (PS-screw ups in plastic surgery are very common-just read the news)

Liposuction on buttocks

Can liposuction be performed on the buttocks?

If you pay a plastic surgeon money, he/she will perform liposuction anywhere on your body. Sure, liposuction can be used to remove small pockets of fat and reshape the buttocks. However, this is not a permanent treatment and the fat pockets will come back. Liposuction on the buttocks is done just underneath the skin because there are large nerves running deep down. Injury to the sciatic nerve can be a painful problem for life.