In order to determine how many calories your body needs, think of your energy requirements as a bank account. When you consume calories you make a deposit. When your body spends energy on work, you make a withdrawal. The amount of energy you withdraw each day can be divided into two parts. The energy your body needs at rest and the energy your body needs at work. You need to keep your energy account in balance and need to take in enough energy each day to cover your withdrawals.

In general, infants and adolescents burn more energy per pound than adults do. This is because they are continually developing large amounts of tissue. An average man also burns more energy than an average women because his body is larger and has more muscle. It is unfair but a man who weighs 150 pounds can consume 10 percent more calories than a woman who weighs 150 pounds and still not gain weight.

On the bright side, even when you are resting your body is busy using energy. Your heart beats, your lungs contract and expand, your intestines digest food, your liver processes nutrients. Your glands secrete hormones and your muscles flex. The energy that your body uses to do all this stuff is called resting energy expenditure or abbreviated as REE. The REE can also be known as basal metabolism. The REE accounts for a large 60 to 70 percent of all the energy we need each day.

In order to find your resting expenditure you need to first determine your weight in kilograms. One kilogram equals 2.2 pounds so divide your weight in pounds by 2.2. An 18-30 year old male needs (15.3 x weight in kg) + 679 calories. A 30-60 year old male needs (11.6 x weight in kg) + 879 calories. An 18-30 year old female needs (14.7 x weight in kg) + 496 calories. A 30-60 year old female needs (8.7 x weight in kg) + 829 calories.

I have recently received a few questions about the benefits of fish oil for infants. The questions probably arise from studies concerning a reduction of infant health problems that has been seen when the mother's intake of omega-3 fatty acids and specifically DHA or docosahexaenoic acid is sufficient. It is always best to consult your doctor, but here are some of the standard recommendations.

The World Health Organization, as well as other major public health organizations, recommends breast milk only for the first six months of life. If breast-feeding is not possible, properly manufactured infant formulas are the best solution. Many brands are now fortified with DHA, which eliminates the need of fish oil for infants.

Most infant health problems are caused by poor nutrition, either the mother's low nutrient intake during pregnancy or insubstantial nutrient intake during the first year of life. If Mom is getting all of the nutrition that she needs, then her breast milk will contain everything that baby needs. If Mom's nutrient intake is low, a couple of things can happen.

First of all, Mom's blood levels of DHA are extremely low right before and after delivery. Nutrients necessary for normal brain development are being funneled to the baby. After delivery, while breastfeeding, the baby's needs will come first. So, it is easy for mom to suffer from symptoms associated with poor nutrition, one of the most common is post-partum depression.

One of the most common infant health problems (affecting one in five babies in developing countries) caused by inadequate nutrient intake during pregnancy is low birth weight. In industrialized nations, the problem is less common, but not unheard of, particularly when prenatal care or advice is not followed. Most obstetricians, midwives and nurse practitioners prescribe prenatal vitamins. Many have started recommending omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, as well.

So, while no one is recommending omega-3 fish oil for infants, they are recommended the supplement for pregnant and lactating women. Research has shown that good omega-3 intake during pregnancy and while breastfeeding helps prevent a number of child and infant health problems, including:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Poor vision
- Low birth weight
- Attention deficit disorders
- Learning and behavioral problems

Pediatricians do not usually recommend fish oil for infants, because it is unnecessary. But, after the first year, nutritional supplements are often recommended. If you are concerned about your child's nutrient intake, consult your pediatrician. If you are pregnant or nursing and you are concerned about infant health problems that arise from poor nutrition, you might consider an omega-3 supplement. Just be sure to choose a good one.

There are concerns about contamination and oxidation. Some manufacturers carefully address those concerns, either by having the natural triglycerides evaluated for purity or by using good purification methods, such as molecular distillation.
Check for a Certificate of Analysis to be sure.

If you still have questions about fish oil for infants, please consult your healthcare professional. Good nutrition in early life creates a good foundation for health in the future.

And now please visit the XtendFishOil website listed below for updated information on fish oil for infants.

It is important to check the EPA and DHA in fish oil supplements. The content of those specific fatty acids varies greatly. The health problems that may be alleviated by supplementation are numerous, but if the fatty acid content is low, then you are wasting your money, no matter how little that you spend.

Here are some suggestions for choosing a valuable supplement.

You Want a Minimum of 500mg of Total Omega-3s

Typically, each capsule contains 1000mg or one gram of fat, but only so much of that is omega-3 fat. The total DPA (another omega-3) EPA and DHA in fish oil supplements should be listed on the label. That total should be at least 500mg. For the prevention of chronic and life threatening health problems, the average adult should take at least two capsules per day. More may be recommended for specific health problems, such as arthritis.

You Want Very Low Omega-6 Content

We get too many omega-6s in our diet, anyway. But, all supplements will contain at least a small amount of omega6s. Check the label. There should be a maximum of 40mg per 1000mg capsule or less than 4%. Omega-6s contribute to inflammation and chronic health problems, as well as heart disease.

You Want High Docosahexaenoic Acid Content

The total EPA and DHA in fish oil varies, as mentioned earlier, but in most cases, the Eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA content is higher. You want a supplement that contains at least 280mg of Docosahexaenoic acid and at least 120mg of Eicosapentaenoic acid. At two capsules per day, that is equivalent to amounts that have proven to be beneficial for health problems, in clinical studies. Some of the problems that have been alleviated include depression and attention deficit disorders, stress and anxiety, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, high blood triglycerides and irregular heartbeats.

You Want No Impurities

That might seem obvious, but independent laboratory analysis has shown that some brands contain cancer-causing contaminants, such as PCBs and dioxins. Mercury is another common contaminant. The only way to be confident about what you are buying is to check the manufacturer's standards for purity.

If they adhere to the International Fish Oil Standards, then that's pretty good. But, some manufacturers have even higher standards. The IFOS allows for a certain amount of contaminants to be present in each batch.

There are no official regulations or industry standards concerning the amount of EPA and DHA in fish oil supplements. The levels can be high or low. Some manufacturers make standard and "plus" versions that contain higher amounts.
Impurities can cause health problems. Increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids can alleviate them. But, the two can cancel each other out. It is possible to get the benefits, without the risks. You just have to be careful about which brand you buy.

Remember that the EPA and DHA in fish oil vary. Always check the nutrition facts, before you buy. You can do that by reading the label on the bottle or by visiting the manufacturer's website.

And now please visit the XtendFishOil website listed below for updated information on EPA and DHA in fish oil and health problems .

Where did 'Everything in moderation' come from? Is it some remnant of earlier puritanical times to prevent people from engaging in overt excessiveness? Does it come from some fear of denying ourselves the things we think are pleasurable? Or is it just simply the ultimate rationalization of our denial that we as a society engage in disease-producing lifestyle behaviors?

If science has shown that what the optimal levels of exercise and sleep that are needed for optimal health; and if science has shown what foods bring us not only toward health but away from disease, does it make any sense to 'moderate' them and 'balance' them out with seemingly pleasurable but unhealthy lifestyle choices such as eating nutrient poor, health-robbing processed foods full of sugar or artificial sweeteners, unhealthy oils, man-made chemical additives, flavors, and preservatives? Is it really okay to eat donuts, pasta, deep fried foods, and get too little sleep, in moderation? Is there a moderate amount of hydrogenated oils, MSG, artificial sweeteners, or soda pop made with phosphoric acid and high fructose corn syrup that our bodies can metabolize and still remain healthy?

Should we only drink a moderate amount of water? Or should we drink the right amount, the optimal amount? Should we exercise moderately or optimally? Should we eat the optimal amount of vegetables which provide the vitamins, minerals, trace elements, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and fiber that are essential for every cell in our bodies? Or should we eat them in moderation, balancing those health-promoting foods with tortilla chips, soda pop, white flour and processed dairy, foods nonexistent when the genetic code for optimal health physiology was being formed?

If something you eat or drink doesn't cause immediate toxicity but will ultimately undermine your health, is it okay to consume them over time, leading to disease? In other words, if science has shown beyond a shadow of doubt that certain lifestyle choices lead to a breakdown in health over time, is it okay to engage in those behaviors 'in moderation'?

Seeking Pleasure and Avoiding Pain - Our Genetic Blueprint
As science has come to learn what the neurobiological mechanisms that drive us toward certain choices or behaviors, which are, in their simplest or most primitive form, the seeking of pleasure and the avoidance of pain, it is quite understandable why we would choose to satisfy cravings and desires. The problem lies with the choices available to us in today's modern world.

During the time of our genetic molding approximately 40,000 years ago in the Paleolithic era, there weren't food choices that carried the burden of toxicity and disease that exist today. As early humans, we of course sought out pleasurable foods such as sweet berries, honey, fatty animals, and ripened fruit and vegetables that served both our body's physiologic needs for health and our pleasure drives simultaneously. Foods that could cause epidemic rates of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity either didn't exist, required tremendous amount of energy expenditure to acquire, or were seldom consumed. For example, the choice between fresh water and foul, stagnant water was 'no-brainer'; stagnant water didn't taste good and made you sick. Today though, we have Frappuccinos, Diet Coke, Monster Energy drinks and other unnatural processed foods made with chemical ingredients that taste great due to their ability to hyper-stimulate pleasure centers in the brain and lead to a myriad of health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, senile dementia and osteoporosis - food choices that were nonexistent in the history of man until very recently. We now have intensely sweetened foods and foods seasoned with a group of chemicals called neuroexcitotoxins such as MSG, that literally hijack the pleasure centers of the brain creating unnatural neuroadaptive responses leading to inappropriate lifestyle behavior choices driven by unnatural cravings.

The solution? Whenever you are about to buy or eat any food, ask yourself 'Was this food 20,000 years ago?' If you can't answer yes, then don't eat it; chances are it's what I like to call "sick and sad food".

Live Excessively
Do all the things science has now shown to promote health, in excess! Exercise, drink lots of pure water, eat lots of organic vegetables and fruit, raw nuts and seeds, grass-fed lean animals, and cold-water fish - in excess (hint: you can't do these things in excess; try drinking too much water - the body self-regulates naturally). Don't 'moderate' them, don't be fooled into thinking it's okay to 'balance' those health-promoting lifestyle choices with disease-producing behaviors done in moderation. Just because they won't kill you overnight, doesn't mean they won't kill you. Pursuing health through mitigation is a false paradigm.

What are the Secrets of DHA Fish Oil for Beautiful Skin

What is DHA fish oil?

DHA is a specific omega-3 fatty acid known as Docosahexaenoic acid. The three letter abbreviation is easier to remember. All of the omega-3s have a similar abbreviation. For example, EPA is Eicosapentaenoic acid.
The omega-3 content of fish oils vary, tremendously. Most of them contain mostly EPA, which is considered important to human health, but Docosahexaenoic acid is considered much more important.

Why is it being recommended for beautiful skin?

There are a several reasons. Number one, the first symptom of fatty acid deficiency in the diet is dry skin. Number two, improving moisture content improves firmness, which reduces wrinkles and other signs of age. Number three; recent studies have shown that daily supplementation over the course of three months improves firmness by 10%. Firmer skin is more beautiful skin. That's why the supplement is being recommended.

How can I be sure that I am getting the best DHA fish oil that money can buy?

Reading the label is one step, but there is some information that is not included on it. Avoiding the discount brands is a good idea, because the manufacturers are obviously cutting corners, somewhere. With all of the contaminants that are in our fish and our oceans, we cannot take the chance of buying from a manufacturer that might not be taking all of the necessary precautions.

Whether you are interested in beautiful skin or some of the other benefits, you should find out if the manufacturer has a website. And, when you visit that site, look for a COA or Certificate of Analysis from an independent laboratory. The COA will list some of the most common contaminants and whether or not they were detected.

What are the other benefits of DHA fish oil?

The benefits seen in clinical and laboratory studies are too numerous to fully cover here.

But, this list will give you an idea:
- Reduced pain and improvement in joint function
- Improved brain function-reduced feelings of depression and improvement in attention deficit disorders
- Improved visual acuity in infants
- Reduced blood triglyceride levels
- Improvement in "good" HDL cholesterol levels
- Improved sperm count and sperm motility
- Reduced risk of asthma and allergies in children
- Reduced risk of premature birth in pregnant women
- Reduced risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke
- Reduced risk of some types of cancer
- Reduction of symptoms of irritable bowel and inflammatory bowel disease

As you can see, having more beautiful skin is only one of many benefits and that is not even a complete list. There is really no single supplement that provides as many benefits as DHA fish oil. Just shop carefully and buy a good brand of DHA fish oil.

And now please visit the XtendFishOil website listed below for updated information on the Secrets of DHA Fish Oil and Beautiful Skin..