5 Ways To Get Rid Of A Cold Fast!

If you're already sick (like I am -- and I never get sick), these remedies will have you on the mend in no time.

TAKE ZINC. In a study at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, people who used an over-the-counter (OTC) zinc nasal spray four times a day recovered almost two days faster and had fewer symptoms than those given a placebo. Another study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that volunteers treated with zinc lozenges had colds that lasted about half the time as those who didn't pop zinc -- four and a half days instead of eight.

EAT CHICKEN SOUP. Mom was right: A Nebraska Medical Center Study shows that the broth reduces inflammation and inhibits the activity of neutrophils, the white blood cells that may increase mucus production.

TRY GINSENG. People who took 200mg of ginseng twice daily during cold and flu season had shorter colds than those who just popped a placebo, according to a study performed at the University of Alberta, Canada.

STAY IN BED. If your body is exhausted, it will be that much harder for it to fight the virus. If you must go to work, at least get a good night's rest: People who sleep four hours a night have weaker immune systems than those who get a seven and a half to eight and a half hours, according to a University of Chicago study.

TREAT YOUR SYMPTOMS. To power through the day, look for a product that contains the nasal decongestant phenylephrine. It's a stimulant, so it won't leave you feeling groggy. It can temporarily drive up blood pressure, though, so if you've got hypertension, talk to your doctor before using it. Choose a remedy that has an antihistamine, as well as acetaminophen. The antihitamine will make you drowsy, and the acetaminophen will relieve the fever and achiness that may keep you up. If coughing is disturbing your sleep, an OTC with dextromethorphan will help.

Article originally appeared on Fitness, food, gadgetry, life, travel and trends (http://www.lift-magazine.com/).

Losing Weight Can Cost You - WORK OUT!

Wake up. When is everyone going to figure this stuff out? All the fancy, well-marketed diet gimmicks in the world won't fix you. If you don't raise your heart rate and exert yourself, you'll keep getting what you've been getting. Read below...

Assuming you've already decided that the money-saving "eat less" method won't work for you: How much will it cost to lose 30 lbs? Bankrate checked out five diet programs and calculated the total cost based on losing the recommended healthy amount of weight per week:

• Jenny Craig: $399 with a payment plan or $358 upfront, not including food.

• LA Weight Loss: Calculating the cost with a setup fee of $174 and $7 per week charge, the total cost of the plan is $685 for 73 weeks, not including the cost of food and L A Lite bars.

• NutriSystem: $1,174.88, including all food, except fresh greens and dairy.

• Weight Watchers: The total cost is between $214.80 and $299.80, depending on location, not including food.

• The Zone Diet: $3,599.10 to $4,798.80 including all food.

Low carb. Low fat. Low energy. A low-down, dirty drag. I still like the eat less (and eat REAL) method, but to each his own!

Article originally appeared on Fitness, food, gadgetry, life, travel and trends (http://www.lift-magazine.com/).

Behind-the-Scenes Workouts for Movie "300"

Arnold and Old School Bodybuilding Clips

Some key events of 1975 include:

• Gerald Ford was President
• Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl IX
• Vietnam War continues
• Watergate convictions
• "Jaws" is released
• Jimmy Hoffa comes up "missing"
• Ali vs. Frazier "The Thrilla in Manila"
• Bill Gates coins the term "Micro-soft," later to become Microsoft Corporation
  

Maybe the Best 3 Rounds of Boxing Ever...

A Trainer could have Helped...

Fabulous Fiber

Fiber is the part of plant foods that the body cannot digest. It moves through the digestive system, absorbing water. This helps eliminate food waste from the body more quickly. Since fiber is not absorbed, it is not a nutrient. Rather, we refer to fiber as a "component" of food.

Fiber is found in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, dry beans and peas, nuts, seeds, bread, and cereals. (It is not found in animal products — meat, milk, eggs.) Fiber can also be added to foods during processing.

Fiber’s health benefits

Fiber comes in two varieties: soluble, which dissolves in water, and insoluble, which does not. Although fiber does not nourish our bodies, it has other ways of promoting good health as the chart below illustrates.

	Soluble Fiber	Insoluble Fiber (Roughage)
Name	Pectins, gums, mucilages	Cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin
What it does	Dissolves in water, forming a gel in intestines	Holds on to water, moving waste through intestines
How it promotes good health	Binds to fatty substances in the intestines and helps carry them out as waste, lowering LDL or bad cholesterol Regulates the body's use of sugars, helping to keep hunger and blood sugar in check.	Helps push food through the intestines quickly, promoting regularity and helping prevent constipation.
Where it's found	Dried beans and peas, lentils, oats, barley, apples, bananas, citrus fruits, berries, pears, carrots	Whole-wheat products, wheat and corn bran, brown rice, oats, cauliflower, green beans, potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, fruit skins (apple, peach, pear)

Reprinted from Harvard Health Publications