Obesity is a growing epidemic in North America and someone needs to be held responsible for all the available fast food. I know that personal responsibility is an obvious option, however, fast food is just that -fast, cheap and easy to justify. So if the health board decides to make a Big Mac or a Whopper a bit less desirable -then all the power to them.

I realize we have become a fast food nation, but with baby steps, I think the general public could be swayed from eating their way into numerous health problems. And the idea of displaying calorie counts in bold numbers right beside the food item in a fast food restaurant would certainly deter me from ordering. I also think that it would force the fast food industry to shape up and offer a few more healthy choices.

If it is the fear of making an eyesore of the menu, I think that is a small price to pay -- what do you think?

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When I say "our" role, I mean you and I -people living their lives relatively free from the threat of hunger and rampantly spreading diseases.
My thought process was sparked by viewing a documentary that aired on the CBC, about photographers in the line of fire. There are many mind blowing and disturbing images of starving children and horrific statistics revealing death by numbers -but are we desensitized to all this as we sit comfortably in front of our TVs?
Journalist and author, Stephanie Nolen, appeared on The Hour, to talk about her new book, 28, a journal on AIDS in Africa and how desperate the situation has become due to world wide indifference.
I realize the task of lending a helping hand may appear daunting, but really the best thing to do is educate yourself and simply spread the word through advocacy.

Want to learn more about how you can help? Click here.

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Once you loose out on sleep that's it, there's no turning back. Yes that's right, all you insomniacs who promise to catch up on your sleep tomorrow, can forget it.

A common misconception about losing out on sleep is that you have the opportunity to bank your REM hours, but the fact is that once the body misses out on a good night sleep, the damage is already done. And on top of that, the effects of not getting your necessary eight hours of sleep per night can rish your good health. In fact, health problems such as diabetes and obesity can result from lack of sleep. The longer you are awake the more you tend to eat and it will usually be something easy like junk food.

I find the best thing to do in order to maintain a healthy sleep pattern is to stick to some sort of routine. Once your body gets used to eating and exercising at the same time each night, bedtime should follow.

How do you maintain full eight hours of sleep?

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Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a fairly well know chemical imbalance in children, teens and adults which impairs concentration and learning skills.

There are a couple of treatment options for ADHD, including medications that regulate dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain and secondly, behavior modification therapies. A recent study suggests that administering drugs which alter dopamine within the brain may lead to possible drug addictions in the future. A series of tests performed on lab rats indicated that cocaine produces a similar result by releasing dopamine into the brain.

There are alternative therapies and behavior modification options that can aid and help control the symptoms of ADHD in your children. The process of modifying a child's behavior may prove to be harder work than a simple handful of pills a day, but I know first hand that it works. So my question to you is why risk possible side effect and choose to prescribe when other options are available?

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Now, before you deem me to be insane, think this one through. Laughing is not only a great release, but also a coping mechanism for stress and when coupled with yoga how can you go wrong?
Ha ha or Hasya yoga combines breathing techniques with chanting laughter. The general goal is to inspire genuine laughter through a series of ha has and ho hos. This may sound absurd, however, I know first hand that once you pretend to laugh, the real thing is soon to follow. Once you've caught your breath, you feel like you've had a workout and a load lifted off your shoulders. This exercise enables the events of the day to melt away, leaving you relaxed and content.
How do you deal with stress?

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Aside from the obvious pain caused by a bang to the funny bone or that pesky hang nail, several pains should not be ignored and could instead be signs of possible health problems to come.

Listen to your body and if you feel a persistent tummy burn, be sure to ask your doctor about ulcers. As well, instead of just ignoring particularly bad menstrual cramps, check into the possibility of endometriosis. Now don't get all paranoid and turn into a hypochondriac, but also take special note of sore throats and gums or a horse voice that persist beyond a couple of days. All these minor symptoms can lead to major health issues. This article outlines the six pains that require attention.

What are your experiences with these symptoms?

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Your head is full of extraneous information that can fuzz up your daily functioning memory. Our minds try to organize tasks and memories in some sort of order of priority.

I have found that if you take five minutes or so to write down all your daily chores as apposed to trying to remember each short term deed, you will clear your mind for the more important long term memories. I tend to be a bit on the disorganize end of the spectrum, so I take a note pad with me everywhere. Having a good organized head space will allow you to reduce the stress that every day life can dish out.

So when you pick up the phone to call your best friend or partner and draw a blank on the phone number or forget your pin number, perhaps it's just filed away temporarily out of access to enable more free thinking space.

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Summer is just around the corner and we all want to look good for the beach. There is always so much focus on building beautiful abs and thighs, but what about your back?

A strong spine can help posture while elongating your body and preventing future health problems. I know first hand what it's like to have a hurt back and I am very careful to maintain my back muscles. I have learned several methods to gaining a strong spine, some of which are outlined here. I fully encourage everyone and anyone to improve and build back muscle, as a result you will look and feel great.

Are you bringing sexy back?

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There seems to be a considerable amount of controversy when it comes to advice on the daily intake of aspirin. This article weighs the pros and cons, especially for elderly patients. You may be young now, but consider the future.

Ingesting aspirin each day just for the sake of lowering the risk of stroke is not a good idea unless recommended by your doctor. There are various conflicting studies that outline both benefits and risks; however, I suggest discussing this topic with your doctor before taking any action. Know your body's limits, because there can be many side effects resulting from prolonged use of aspirin.

Should people take an aspirin a day?

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That's right people, according to this recent study, 72 minutes of exercise per week is considered sufficient.

I know as well as the next person how hard it can be to get motivated from the couch to the gym, so gain some perspective. An hour or so of physical activity is nothing on the grand scale of things and it can make a significant difference in your daily life. So I say, stand up, put on your runners and get going for a walk, run or bike ride. If neither of these options sound appealing, perhaps joining an amateur ball team or dance lessons is more to your taste.

What do you do to keep fit?

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