In underdeveloped countries, inadequate nutrition is the main cause of blindness. Vitamins are antioxidants that keep our body including our eyes healthy. Vitamins A, C, and E have all been shown to be important in eyehealth. There is increasing evidence that many fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables and fish contains components which are important for eye health.
Vitamin A
Most mothers will tell their children to finish their carrots as it is good for the eyes. Carrots are loaded with Vitamin A. One carrot contains double the USA. recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A. This vitamin is critical in preventing many diseases connected with eyesight. Most importantly it prevents night blindness. Vitamin A deficiency also leads to xerophthalmia, dryness in the eyes, corneal ulcers and swollen eyelids. All these can lead to blindness. Vitamin A is also important as people age, as it prevents cataracts from forming and helps in preventing blindness from macular degeneration. The recommended intake for males is 1000 retinal equivalents (RE) while females need about 800 RE per day, if you feel you are not meeting this with your diet then you may wish to consider an eye health supplement. It is important to read labels if taking Vitamin A eye health supplements as is can be toxic if large amounts area taken. This is also particularly important when you are pregnant as excess Vitamins A can cause birth defects.
Most red, yellow or orange foods contain beta-carotene. The body converts beta-carotene into Vitamin A. Along with carrots, fruits like cantaloupe, mango, vegetables like pumpkin, red pepper, papaya and mango are excellent sources of beta-carotene. Vitamin A is also found in spinach and other green leafy vegetables, sweet potato, fish, especially cod liver oil and chicken or meat liver.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is often called a superhero and is certainly a key ingredient in any eye health supplement. It helps in preventing many age-related vision problems such as cataract. This occurs when there is a buildup of protein which eventually clouds the vision. Vitamins C may also help in delaying age-related macular degeneration which has no cure. A survey showed that if the onset of cataracts could be delayed by ten years, then related operations could be avoided. This is because most cataracts set in as people get older and surgeries are usually done above the age of 65 or 70 meaning that if they are delayed by ten years, cataract will not develop in the person's lifetime.
Vitamin C is found in all citrus fruits, guava, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, raspberries, tomatoes, plums, green leafy vegetables, red and green peppers, papaya, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, grapes, potatoes, spinach kiwifruit and cranberries. In fact most fruit and vegetable sources contain some Vitamin C. It can also be found in some animal sources but cooking destroys Vitamin C. The USA recommended allowance for Vitamin C in both males and females is 60 milligrams per day. The human body cannot synthesize this vitamin nor does it stay in the body for long. Factors like smoking, pollution, diabetes and other problems affect its absorption. Processing destroys Vitamin C so it is best to eat fresh fruits and vegetables to get the maximum benefits.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E also helps in preventing cataracts and macular degeneration and optimizing eye health. The USA recommended daily allowance is 10 mg for males and 8 mg for females. This is found in all nuts, legumes and some fruits like mango, again if dietary intake is not adequate then an eye health supplement may be a good idea.
Research has shown that bioflavonoids also act as important antioxidants and they help us to absorb Vitamin C better. These are the compounds that give fruits their color. Lutein and Zeaxanthin, two other antioxidants found naturally in vegetables and fruits also help in eye health. It is also important to consume foods rich in essential fatty acids and minerals for better eyesight. All in all, it would be best to increase the daily fruit and vegetable intake to keep those peepers in good shape, if this kind of food doesn't tickle you fancy then it may be worth considering an eye health supplement.
Author Bio:
Mitamins team
bd@mitamins.net
Mitamins' aim is to custom-made the best natural remedies to complement the treatment of your concerns. Our unique process allows you to combine multiple formulas into a single formula, in a single bottle, and avoid overdose and interactions.
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Sunday, July 20, 2008
Is The Color You See, The Actual Color? Color Blindness
Have you ever been shopping in the mall and noticed someone wearing colors that don't match in any way, not even in the sense of fashion? Next time you see this, if you were to ask the person wearing the colors, chances are they will not be accurate about the color. That person may not be committing a fashion crime but instead is someone who is color blind.
A lot of people are unsure what colorblindness really is. When there is a defect in the cone receptors in the retinas of the eyes, it is called color blindness. Being unable to see one color, or shades of one colors, or not being able to see color at all, are all indicators of color blindness. It is believed that it is a genetic trait and it appears that more males are affected by color blindness than females.
Almost all people who are colorblind see some color. For someone to see no color at all is quite rare but not unheard of. Color blindness is a result of a cone defect, a condition where it is difficult to distinguish specific colors. The absence or of color-sensitive cells in the retina is what causes it. The retina is the nerve layer at the back of the eye that converts light into nerve signals. Green/red color blindness is the most common type but there is also yellow/blue in which there is no test to check for it.
Color problems are with certain color combinations such as yellow on green, green on red, red on green, blue on red, red on blue, and red on black are the most common type of problems with those who have color blindness. The best thing to do if you think you may be color blind is to take a test. A picture composed of different colored dots is shown during a color blindness test. The nurse or doctor determines a person may be color blind based on if a person can't see the picture or number within the dots. The bad news about color blindness is that it cannot be treated. Tinted eyeglasses can help some but will not treat colorblindness.
A lot of people are unsure what colorblindness really is. When there is a defect in the cone receptors in the retinas of the eyes, it is called color blindness. Being unable to see one color, or shades of one colors, or not being able to see color at all, are all indicators of color blindness. It is believed that it is a genetic trait and it appears that more males are affected by color blindness than females.
Almost all people who are colorblind see some color. For someone to see no color at all is quite rare but not unheard of. Color blindness is a result of a cone defect, a condition where it is difficult to distinguish specific colors. The absence or of color-sensitive cells in the retina is what causes it. The retina is the nerve layer at the back of the eye that converts light into nerve signals. Green/red color blindness is the most common type but there is also yellow/blue in which there is no test to check for it.
Color problems are with certain color combinations such as yellow on green, green on red, red on green, blue on red, red on blue, and red on black are the most common type of problems with those who have color blindness. The best thing to do if you think you may be color blind is to take a test. A picture composed of different colored dots is shown during a color blindness test. The nurse or doctor determines a person may be color blind based on if a person can't see the picture or number within the dots. The bad news about color blindness is that it cannot be treated. Tinted eyeglasses can help some but will not treat colorblindness.
Dry Eyes
The eye is a vital organ that converts the reflected light from an object into neuron signals and feed them to the brain for processing and identification of the object.
The eyes can suffer from various conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, conjunctivitis, cataract, astigmatism, glaucoma, sty, infection and tumors. The eyelids blink several times a minute to clean the eyes and keep them moist, using the secretion of tears from the lacrimal gland. The lids also have a fast reflex action to protect the eyes.
Tears serve an important function in the health of the eyes. They wash off dust, chemicals, germs and other foreign bodies. They control the microorganisms in the eyes with their enzymes. In a condition called �dry eyes,� the tear gland does not secrete enough tears, or the quality of the liquid is poor and evaporates very fast. Normally the tears form three layers over the eye. The lacrimal glands produce water, and the small glands produce oil and mucus. The bottom mucus layer covers the cornea, and over it is the water layer with some nutrients. The outer oil layer prevents the water from evaporating.
Dry eyes are one of the old age problems, where not enough oil is produced. Some medications cause this problem. Hot, dry and windy weather can also lead to this problem. Menopause, thyroid conditions and vitamin A deficiency can also cause it. The person with dry eyes has itching, burning, irritation, blurred vision, discomfort and redness of the eyes. Surprisingly, there may be more tears secreted.
Treatment for dry eyes is planned only after finding the root cause of the problem. For old people with no specific problem, artificial tears two to three times a day and an ointment during the night can take care of the problem. The passage from the eyes to the nose, which normally drains the tears, can be plugged to keep enough tears in the eyes.
Dry eyes, if left untreated, can cause more severe problems for the eye. Drinking plenty of water, taking the eyes off of paperwork or the computer periodically, and blinking the eyelids deliberately are some of the ways we can assist our eyes.
http://www.z-eyes.com/ provides detailed information on Eyes, Dry Eyes, Red Eyes, Puffy Eyes and more.
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
The eyes can suffer from various conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, conjunctivitis, cataract, astigmatism, glaucoma, sty, infection and tumors. The eyelids blink several times a minute to clean the eyes and keep them moist, using the secretion of tears from the lacrimal gland. The lids also have a fast reflex action to protect the eyes.
Tears serve an important function in the health of the eyes. They wash off dust, chemicals, germs and other foreign bodies. They control the microorganisms in the eyes with their enzymes. In a condition called �dry eyes,� the tear gland does not secrete enough tears, or the quality of the liquid is poor and evaporates very fast. Normally the tears form three layers over the eye. The lacrimal glands produce water, and the small glands produce oil and mucus. The bottom mucus layer covers the cornea, and over it is the water layer with some nutrients. The outer oil layer prevents the water from evaporating.
Dry eyes are one of the old age problems, where not enough oil is produced. Some medications cause this problem. Hot, dry and windy weather can also lead to this problem. Menopause, thyroid conditions and vitamin A deficiency can also cause it. The person with dry eyes has itching, burning, irritation, blurred vision, discomfort and redness of the eyes. Surprisingly, there may be more tears secreted.
Treatment for dry eyes is planned only after finding the root cause of the problem. For old people with no specific problem, artificial tears two to three times a day and an ointment during the night can take care of the problem. The passage from the eyes to the nose, which normally drains the tears, can be plugged to keep enough tears in the eyes.
Dry eyes, if left untreated, can cause more severe problems for the eye. Drinking plenty of water, taking the eyes off of paperwork or the computer periodically, and blinking the eyelids deliberately are some of the ways we can assist our eyes.
http://www.z-eyes.com/ provides detailed information on Eyes, Dry Eyes, Red Eyes, Puffy Eyes and more.
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
The way to stronger bones
HERE'S one reason why children should eat their broccoli fruits and vegetables build strong bones, a new study shows. Boys who ate the most fruits and vegetables showed the greatest accumulation of minerals in their bones throughout childhood and adolescence, Dr Hassanali Vatanparast of the University of Saskatchewan in the US and his colleagues found.
Higher bone mineral content translates to denser, stronger bones. Boys who exercised more and consumed more calcium also developed stronger bones over the course of the study. Vatanparast points out that while adolescence is the prime time for building bone mass, children frequently don't take enough calcium for optimum bone strength. Failing to form strong bones in youth boosts the risk of problems later on, such as osteoporosis.
www.medical-explorer.com
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Higher bone mineral content translates to denser, stronger bones. Boys who exercised more and consumed more calcium also developed stronger bones over the course of the study. Vatanparast points out that while adolescence is the prime time for building bone mass, children frequently don't take enough calcium for optimum bone strength. Failing to form strong bones in youth boosts the risk of problems later on, such as osteoporosis.
www.medical-explorer.com
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Osteoporosis Treatments
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones of our body become brittle due to lesser bone density. Osteoporosis does not have a complete cure, but nowadays there are different forms of treatment that help prevent fractures and increase bone density.
Basically, osteoporosis has medication that helps in two ways: they lessen bone breakdown through anti-reabsorption agents and also stimulate the formation of new bone through anabolic agents. This medication should be taken continuously to get its full benefits, as bone loss resumes once the medications are stopped. Calcium, exercise and vitamin D are important first steps for maintaining healthy bones for any age. Take calcium and vitamin D supplements, as they are needed for osteoporosis treatment. It is important to take supplements of vitamin D and calcium together, as this increases calcium absorption in the bones. Regular exercise also increases bone density and muscle mass in the body. The best forms of exercise are aerobics, jogging, weightlifting and resistance training.
Another important form of treatment for osteoporosis is hormone replacement therapy, where drugs are used to restore estrogen and progesterone levels that are lost due to menopause. However, it should be remembered that long-term use of HRT is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Calcitonin is another hormone that breaks down a bone; its supplements are injected for treatment of osteoporosis. Biphosphates are injected as a treatment to decrease the effects of osteoclasts, which leads to less bone breaking down, without a decrease in bone density. This is ideally taken daily, once a week or once monthly. Those past menopause who do not take HRT take an oral medication of Raloxifene, which acts like estrogen in some parts of the body without actually causing a general estrogen effect.
Osteoporosis Treatments provides detailed information on Osteoporosis, Osteoporosis Treatments, Osteoporosis Prevention, Causes Of Osteoporosis and more. Osteoporosis Treatments is affiliated with Osteoarthritis Symptom.
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Basically, osteoporosis has medication that helps in two ways: they lessen bone breakdown through anti-reabsorption agents and also stimulate the formation of new bone through anabolic agents. This medication should be taken continuously to get its full benefits, as bone loss resumes once the medications are stopped. Calcium, exercise and vitamin D are important first steps for maintaining healthy bones for any age. Take calcium and vitamin D supplements, as they are needed for osteoporosis treatment. It is important to take supplements of vitamin D and calcium together, as this increases calcium absorption in the bones. Regular exercise also increases bone density and muscle mass in the body. The best forms of exercise are aerobics, jogging, weightlifting and resistance training.
Another important form of treatment for osteoporosis is hormone replacement therapy, where drugs are used to restore estrogen and progesterone levels that are lost due to menopause. However, it should be remembered that long-term use of HRT is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Calcitonin is another hormone that breaks down a bone; its supplements are injected for treatment of osteoporosis. Biphosphates are injected as a treatment to decrease the effects of osteoclasts, which leads to less bone breaking down, without a decrease in bone density. This is ideally taken daily, once a week or once monthly. Those past menopause who do not take HRT take an oral medication of Raloxifene, which acts like estrogen in some parts of the body without actually causing a general estrogen effect.
Osteoporosis Treatments provides detailed information on Osteoporosis, Osteoporosis Treatments, Osteoporosis Prevention, Causes Of Osteoporosis and more. Osteoporosis Treatments is affiliated with Osteoarthritis Symptom.
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Bone Loss
Osteoporosis Bone is made up of calcium and protein. There are two types of bone -- compact and spongy bone. Each bone in the body contains some of each type. Compact bone appears hard and solid, and is found on the outside of bones. Spongy bone is found on the inside of bones and is filled with holes.
Bone is constantly undergoing change with old bone broken down and new bone formed every day. When young, more bone is formed than is broken down with the peak bone mass reached by 30 years of age. After that, more bone is broken down than is formed. This small amount of bone loss continues for the rest of life.
Bone loss increases after the menopause when the ovaries stop producing oestrogen, which protects against bone loss.
A little bit of bone loss does not usually cause problems. However, excessive bone loss results in osteoporosis which is characterised by compromised bone strength resulting in an increased risk of fracture. Although the bones are still of the same size, the outside walls of compact bone becomes thinner and the holes in spongy bone become larger, thereby weakening the bone considerably.
The condition of a woman's skeleton depends on two factors -- the amount of bone attained before the menopause and the rate of bone loss thereafter.
The initial signs of osteoporosis are seen in bones that have a lot of spongy bone i.e. spine, hip and wrist.
The symptoms of osteoporosis do not appear until a lot of bone is lost, thus explaining why it is called a silent disease. They include backache, pain, decrease in height and slight back curvature. When there is a fracture, there will be pain, tenderness and even deformity.
Osteoporosis is measured using bone density. The World Health Organisation has defined the following categories using the T Score, which is the bone density of an individual expressed in standard deviations compared to young adults:
• Normal bone density is less than one standard deviation (T-1) below the young adult mean.
• Osteopenia is one to 1.25 (T-1 to T-2.5) below the young adult mean.
• Osteoporosis is more than 2.5 standard deviations (>T-2.5) below the young adult mean.
Another term used in bone density measurement is the Z score, which is the individual's bone density expressed in standard deviation units compared to an age matched population.
Osteoporotic fractures are increasingly common in all Asian countries. The impact of these fractures is tremendous. It affects the physical, psychosocial and financial aspects of a patient's life and that of the family and community. There is a mortality risk of about 25% in the first year. The quality of life is also substantially affected. About 10% will be bedridden and 25% wheel chair bound. In addition, there is chronic disabling pain with effects on the patient's emotional and mental lives.
Women are at greater risk of osteoporosis than men because their bones are smaller and lighter. The factors that increase risk of osteoporosis include:
Ethnicity. Caucasian and Asian women are at greater risk.
Family history.
Slender build.
Natural menopause because the protective effect of oestrogens on bone is lost. Menopause is the biggest culprit in the process of bone loss.
Surgical removal of the ovaries causes a sudden decrease in oestrogen resulting in rapid bone loss unless it is replaced.
Low calcium diet. Calcium slows the rate of bone loss. The recommended daily requirement is 1,000g before the menopause and 1,500g after the menopause.
Lack of exercise. Just as muscles become stronger with exercise, so do bones. Exercise increases bone mass before the menopause and slows down bone loss after the menopause.
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Tobacco and alcohol use.
Medicines like diuretics, steroids and anticonvulsants.
www.medical-explorer.com
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Bone is constantly undergoing change with old bone broken down and new bone formed every day. When young, more bone is formed than is broken down with the peak bone mass reached by 30 years of age. After that, more bone is broken down than is formed. This small amount of bone loss continues for the rest of life.
Bone loss increases after the menopause when the ovaries stop producing oestrogen, which protects against bone loss.
A little bit of bone loss does not usually cause problems. However, excessive bone loss results in osteoporosis which is characterised by compromised bone strength resulting in an increased risk of fracture. Although the bones are still of the same size, the outside walls of compact bone becomes thinner and the holes in spongy bone become larger, thereby weakening the bone considerably.
The condition of a woman's skeleton depends on two factors -- the amount of bone attained before the menopause and the rate of bone loss thereafter.
The initial signs of osteoporosis are seen in bones that have a lot of spongy bone i.e. spine, hip and wrist.
The symptoms of osteoporosis do not appear until a lot of bone is lost, thus explaining why it is called a silent disease. They include backache, pain, decrease in height and slight back curvature. When there is a fracture, there will be pain, tenderness and even deformity.
Osteoporosis is measured using bone density. The World Health Organisation has defined the following categories using the T Score, which is the bone density of an individual expressed in standard deviations compared to young adults:
• Normal bone density is less than one standard deviation (T-1) below the young adult mean.
• Osteopenia is one to 1.25 (T-1 to T-2.5) below the young adult mean.
• Osteoporosis is more than 2.5 standard deviations (>T-2.5) below the young adult mean.
Another term used in bone density measurement is the Z score, which is the individual's bone density expressed in standard deviation units compared to an age matched population.
Osteoporotic fractures are increasingly common in all Asian countries. The impact of these fractures is tremendous. It affects the physical, psychosocial and financial aspects of a patient's life and that of the family and community. There is a mortality risk of about 25% in the first year. The quality of life is also substantially affected. About 10% will be bedridden and 25% wheel chair bound. In addition, there is chronic disabling pain with effects on the patient's emotional and mental lives.
Women are at greater risk of osteoporosis than men because their bones are smaller and lighter. The factors that increase risk of osteoporosis include:
Ethnicity. Caucasian and Asian women are at greater risk.
Family history.
Slender build.
Natural menopause because the protective effect of oestrogens on bone is lost. Menopause is the biggest culprit in the process of bone loss.
Surgical removal of the ovaries causes a sudden decrease in oestrogen resulting in rapid bone loss unless it is replaced.
Low calcium diet. Calcium slows the rate of bone loss. The recommended daily requirement is 1,000g before the menopause and 1,500g after the menopause.
Lack of exercise. Just as muscles become stronger with exercise, so do bones. Exercise increases bone mass before the menopause and slows down bone loss after the menopause.
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Tobacco and alcohol use.
Medicines like diuretics, steroids and anticonvulsants.
www.medical-explorer.com
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Prevent Injuries With Prehabilitation
Performing Strengthening and Stretching Exercises will Help Reduce Injury Risks Before an Injury Occurs.
“Prehabilitation†is nothing new to many professional athletes and trainers, but it is now becoming more widely recognized by the mainstream medical community and individual athletes as a means to help eliminate the possibility of an injury before it ever occurs.
Prehabilitation incorporates strengthening and stretching exercises for specific groups of muscles in order to help reduce the risk of injury, before an injury actually occurs. It is the “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure†approach to physical training, albeit for work or recreational activities. Pre-habilitation is sport and work-specific and addresses common injuries and strength imbalances that occur in the particular sport or activity that the individual is involved.
• For example: A common injury suffered by tennis players is lateral epicondylitis, or Tennis Elbow. This is often caused by the high forces involved in the backhand as the musculotendinous or tenoperiosteal junctions of the extensor muscles that cross the elbow joint are overstressed due to lack of overall strength of the finger, wrist and elbow extensor muscles. The constant gripping of the tennis racquet, coupled by forceful wrist and elbow extension, wrist and forearm supination and external rotation of the shoulder during the backhand swing, against a fast moving object, causes jarring, vibration and micro trauma to occur at the musculotendinous and tenoperiosteal junctions of the extensor group at the elbow junction. This repeated trauma to the extensor group can cause micro-tears, swelling and result in atrophy of the extensor group. The result is a muscle imbalance that occurs between the flexor and extensor groups.
Prehabilitation would require the stretching and lengthening of the flexor group and the strengthening of the extensor group beyond the amount of force that is applied to it when repeatedly hitting a backhand. If the force applied during each backhand stroke is 100lbs. X 40 backhands, then the extensor group needs to be strengthened in order to withstand 120lbs. X 60 backhands.
Prehabilitaion requires that the muscle group is strengthened in order to perform the sport or activity and not that the muscle group is strengthened while performing the sport or activity. Strengthening the muscle group beyond what it will be called upon to do, or beyond its normal strength requirements, will help reduce the possibility of an injury occurring.
Knowing this information about the sport or activity that you perform, and the fact that injuries are common, the personal trainer or clinical therapist working with a tennis player, carpal tunnel patient or any other situation should recommend exercises to develop the strength and stability for each individuals need. This will avoid any potential strength imbalance and raise the individuals ability to withstand the forces of the the sport or activity performed, therefore “prehabilitating†the injury.
Muscle imbalances like this occur throughout the entire body and must be addressed before injury occurs:
The following is a brief summary of common injuries of the upper extremity, the sports and activities in which they often occur, and recommended prehabilitation stretches and exercises.
SHOULDER TENDONITIS:
Sports: Swimming, Tennis, Javelin, Discus, Shot Put
Work: Construction, painting, housework, cleaning, etc.
Shoulder tendonitis is related to weak rotator cuff musculature and an imbalance of strength in the shoulder. The following are exercises that would be very useful for shoulder injury “pre-habilitationâ€.
STRETCHES:
• Low/Mid/High Chest.
• Anterior Deltoid.
• Internal Rotators.
EXERCISES:
Rear Diagonal Pull. This exercise works the whole of the rear deltoid, rhomboids, teres minor and major, supraspinatus and infraspinatus.
Single Arm Row. This exercise works the rear deltoid, rhomboids, mid trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscles.
External Rotation. This exercise works the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles along with the posterior shoulder group.
LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS:
Sports: Tennis, Golf
Work: Typing, construction, etc.
Often this injury occurs because of poor technique, which places too much strain on the wrist and elbow musculature. This stress can be offset by strengthening the wrist and elbow muscles, particularly the finger, wrist and elbow extensors and wrist and forearm supinators.
STRETCHES:
• Finger / Wrist Flexors.
• Wrist / Forearm - Ulnar Deviators.
• Wrist / Forearm Pronators.
EXERCISES:
Palm-Up Elbow Moving or Palm-Up Isolated Extension Exercises. Thumb-Up Elbow Moving and Thumb-Up Isolated Extension Exercises.
Supination Isolated Exercises.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
Sports: Tennis, Javelin, Shot Put.
Work: Typing, Mousing, Writing, Driving, Assembly, etc.
Often this injury occurs because of a muscle imbalance between the strong, overused flexor muscles that “close†the hand and the weak, underdeveloped extensor muscles that “open†the hand. This injury can be offset by stretching and lengthening the overly restrictive flexor muscles and strengthening and shortening the underdeveloped finger and wrist extensor muscles in order to correct the muscle imbalance and increase the space within the carpal tunnel.
STRETCHES:
• Finger / Wrist Flexors.
• Wrist / Forearm Pronators.
• Wrist / Forearm Supinators.
EXERCISES:
Palm-Up Elbow Moving or Palm-Up Isolated Extension Exercises.
Pronation Exercises.
Supination Exercises.
Jeff Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world for the prevention and rehabilitation of repetitive strain injuries. repetitive-strain.com
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
“Prehabilitation†is nothing new to many professional athletes and trainers, but it is now becoming more widely recognized by the mainstream medical community and individual athletes as a means to help eliminate the possibility of an injury before it ever occurs.
Prehabilitation incorporates strengthening and stretching exercises for specific groups of muscles in order to help reduce the risk of injury, before an injury actually occurs. It is the “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure†approach to physical training, albeit for work or recreational activities. Pre-habilitation is sport and work-specific and addresses common injuries and strength imbalances that occur in the particular sport or activity that the individual is involved.
• For example: A common injury suffered by tennis players is lateral epicondylitis, or Tennis Elbow. This is often caused by the high forces involved in the backhand as the musculotendinous or tenoperiosteal junctions of the extensor muscles that cross the elbow joint are overstressed due to lack of overall strength of the finger, wrist and elbow extensor muscles. The constant gripping of the tennis racquet, coupled by forceful wrist and elbow extension, wrist and forearm supination and external rotation of the shoulder during the backhand swing, against a fast moving object, causes jarring, vibration and micro trauma to occur at the musculotendinous and tenoperiosteal junctions of the extensor group at the elbow junction. This repeated trauma to the extensor group can cause micro-tears, swelling and result in atrophy of the extensor group. The result is a muscle imbalance that occurs between the flexor and extensor groups.
Prehabilitation would require the stretching and lengthening of the flexor group and the strengthening of the extensor group beyond the amount of force that is applied to it when repeatedly hitting a backhand. If the force applied during each backhand stroke is 100lbs. X 40 backhands, then the extensor group needs to be strengthened in order to withstand 120lbs. X 60 backhands.
Prehabilitaion requires that the muscle group is strengthened in order to perform the sport or activity and not that the muscle group is strengthened while performing the sport or activity. Strengthening the muscle group beyond what it will be called upon to do, or beyond its normal strength requirements, will help reduce the possibility of an injury occurring.
Knowing this information about the sport or activity that you perform, and the fact that injuries are common, the personal trainer or clinical therapist working with a tennis player, carpal tunnel patient or any other situation should recommend exercises to develop the strength and stability for each individuals need. This will avoid any potential strength imbalance and raise the individuals ability to withstand the forces of the the sport or activity performed, therefore “prehabilitating†the injury.
Muscle imbalances like this occur throughout the entire body and must be addressed before injury occurs:
The following is a brief summary of common injuries of the upper extremity, the sports and activities in which they often occur, and recommended prehabilitation stretches and exercises.
SHOULDER TENDONITIS:
Sports: Swimming, Tennis, Javelin, Discus, Shot Put
Work: Construction, painting, housework, cleaning, etc.
Shoulder tendonitis is related to weak rotator cuff musculature and an imbalance of strength in the shoulder. The following are exercises that would be very useful for shoulder injury “pre-habilitationâ€.
STRETCHES:
• Low/Mid/High Chest.
• Anterior Deltoid.
• Internal Rotators.
EXERCISES:
Rear Diagonal Pull. This exercise works the whole of the rear deltoid, rhomboids, teres minor and major, supraspinatus and infraspinatus.
Single Arm Row. This exercise works the rear deltoid, rhomboids, mid trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscles.
External Rotation. This exercise works the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles along with the posterior shoulder group.
LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS:
Sports: Tennis, Golf
Work: Typing, construction, etc.
Often this injury occurs because of poor technique, which places too much strain on the wrist and elbow musculature. This stress can be offset by strengthening the wrist and elbow muscles, particularly the finger, wrist and elbow extensors and wrist and forearm supinators.
STRETCHES:
• Finger / Wrist Flexors.
• Wrist / Forearm - Ulnar Deviators.
• Wrist / Forearm Pronators.
EXERCISES:
Palm-Up Elbow Moving or Palm-Up Isolated Extension Exercises. Thumb-Up Elbow Moving and Thumb-Up Isolated Extension Exercises.
Supination Isolated Exercises.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
Sports: Tennis, Javelin, Shot Put.
Work: Typing, Mousing, Writing, Driving, Assembly, etc.
Often this injury occurs because of a muscle imbalance between the strong, overused flexor muscles that “close†the hand and the weak, underdeveloped extensor muscles that “open†the hand. This injury can be offset by stretching and lengthening the overly restrictive flexor muscles and strengthening and shortening the underdeveloped finger and wrist extensor muscles in order to correct the muscle imbalance and increase the space within the carpal tunnel.
STRETCHES:
• Finger / Wrist Flexors.
• Wrist / Forearm Pronators.
• Wrist / Forearm Supinators.
EXERCISES:
Palm-Up Elbow Moving or Palm-Up Isolated Extension Exercises.
Pronation Exercises.
Supination Exercises.
Jeff Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world for the prevention and rehabilitation of repetitive strain injuries. repetitive-strain.com
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Natural home remedies asthma
Causes of Symptoms: Asthma is a disorder of the respiratory system characterized by severe paroxysms of difficult breathing. The onset of an attack is sudden, though the patient starts feeling uneasy, drowsy and irritable a little before the difficulty of breathing starts. Respiration becomes difficult and the breath comes with a wheezing and sometimes whistling sound. The general belief is that asthma is a chronic disease and that once gotten continues to dog its victim till the day he dies.
In fact, asthma is caused by excess of phlegm and the inability of the body to expel it. If the patient gives up foods which tend to increase the phlegm, e.g., rice, flour passed through a sieve, sugar, lentils, milk and curds, he can find relief. He should be put on foods, which discourages phlegm, such as green vegetables, fruits, and the like. That would tend to reduce the amount of phlegm present in the body and the disease will leave him. Unfortunately, under the false impression that asthma being a weakening diseases, the patients are fed on high protein diets like meat, fish, milk and milk products and fats and that makes their condition worse.
Treatment: An asthma patient must select foods, which help contain the amount of phlegm in the body. For breakfast he should take food like orange, tomato, papaya, guava, mango and rose apple and vegetables like carrots. His dinner and lunch should consist of boiled vegetables. His bath is recommended in the morning and evening to perk up his digestive powers. Taking a walk is also recommended, if jogging is beyond the capacity o the patient.
Asthma, particularly when its attack is severe, tends to destroy the appetite of the patient. He should not be forced to eat. He should keep fasting till the attack is over. The only thing he should take is a cup of warm water every two hours. An enema taken at that time would be doubly beneficial. If this regimen is followed, the attack will not last for more than 36 hours and its virulence in case of a recurrence would be very much less.
An asthma patient should regularly fast one a week and takes an enema the morning after the fast to clear his bowels. If he is unable to fast regularly, he must not hesitate to stop eating the moment the attack comes. A fortnight after the treatment has been started the patient can take cow’s unboiled milk or curd with a breakfast of fruit. The sufferers from this disease should be extremely careful in his eating habits. He must never overeat. The amount of food taken at one time should be so measured that he must feel extremely hungry at the time of the next meal. A salt-free diet would be the best.
At the onset of the attack, soaking of the feet in the warm water can relieve the agony to a large extent. A chest pack can also help, even though on application it may seem to aggravate the attach. The pack applied in the afternoon and immediately before sleep would do wonders. The main aim of natural treatment of asthma should be to augment the vital force of the body with the help of proper diet and a natural living in which clean water and sunshine play an important part.
The above regimen is helpful in dealing with tonsillitis also.
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
In fact, asthma is caused by excess of phlegm and the inability of the body to expel it. If the patient gives up foods which tend to increase the phlegm, e.g., rice, flour passed through a sieve, sugar, lentils, milk and curds, he can find relief. He should be put on foods, which discourages phlegm, such as green vegetables, fruits, and the like. That would tend to reduce the amount of phlegm present in the body and the disease will leave him. Unfortunately, under the false impression that asthma being a weakening diseases, the patients are fed on high protein diets like meat, fish, milk and milk products and fats and that makes their condition worse.
Treatment: An asthma patient must select foods, which help contain the amount of phlegm in the body. For breakfast he should take food like orange, tomato, papaya, guava, mango and rose apple and vegetables like carrots. His dinner and lunch should consist of boiled vegetables. His bath is recommended in the morning and evening to perk up his digestive powers. Taking a walk is also recommended, if jogging is beyond the capacity o the patient.
Asthma, particularly when its attack is severe, tends to destroy the appetite of the patient. He should not be forced to eat. He should keep fasting till the attack is over. The only thing he should take is a cup of warm water every two hours. An enema taken at that time would be doubly beneficial. If this regimen is followed, the attack will not last for more than 36 hours and its virulence in case of a recurrence would be very much less.
An asthma patient should regularly fast one a week and takes an enema the morning after the fast to clear his bowels. If he is unable to fast regularly, he must not hesitate to stop eating the moment the attack comes. A fortnight after the treatment has been started the patient can take cow’s unboiled milk or curd with a breakfast of fruit. The sufferers from this disease should be extremely careful in his eating habits. He must never overeat. The amount of food taken at one time should be so measured that he must feel extremely hungry at the time of the next meal. A salt-free diet would be the best.
At the onset of the attack, soaking of the feet in the warm water can relieve the agony to a large extent. A chest pack can also help, even though on application it may seem to aggravate the attach. The pack applied in the afternoon and immediately before sleep would do wonders. The main aim of natural treatment of asthma should be to augment the vital force of the body with the help of proper diet and a natural living in which clean water and sunshine play an important part.
The above regimen is helpful in dealing with tonsillitis also.
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
How to Relief with Allergies?
What are Allergies?
An allergies is an abnormal reaction to ordinarily harmless substance or substances. These sensitizing substances, called allergens, may be inhaled, swallowed or come into contact with the skin.Substances that cause allergic reactions, such as certain foods, dust, plant pollen, or medicines, are known as allergens.
What are the Symptoms of Allergies ?
An allergy is actually a malfunction of the immune system, which attacks invaders or antibodies.Allergic reactions can be mild, like a runny nose, or they can be severe, like difficulty breathing.Allergic asthma caused by allergens such as mites and pollens, and stinging insect allergy.Allergic reaction to something that is breathed into the lungs in a person who is susceptible.
What Medications to Treat Allergies?
Medications such as pills or nasal sprays are often used to treat allergies.Many effective medications are available to treat common allergies. AANGAMIK DMG:
AANGAMIK DMG is the only pure DMG product that contains no fillers or binders and is therefore pure and non-allergenic.
Allercetin Allergy & Sinus:
Allercetin is a Bio-Aligned Formula that utilizes natural homeopathic remedies for the treatment of allergies.
Allergiemittel AllerAide:
Allergiemittel AllerAide temporarily relieves minor allergic symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, watery eyes, eczema, wheezing, and shortness of breath caused by allergies.
How to care with Allergies?
1.Wear a mask whenever dusting or mowing a lawn Stop smoking.
2.Keep family pets out of certain rooms, like your bedroom, and bathe them if necessary.
3.Avoid using aspirin, which has been reported to allow food allergens to be more effectively absorbed by the body.
4.Remove carpets or rugs from your room.Install an air-purification system at home.
More Detail About Allergies Relief
Author By Michal John
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
An allergies is an abnormal reaction to ordinarily harmless substance or substances. These sensitizing substances, called allergens, may be inhaled, swallowed or come into contact with the skin.Substances that cause allergic reactions, such as certain foods, dust, plant pollen, or medicines, are known as allergens.
What are the Symptoms of Allergies ?
An allergy is actually a malfunction of the immune system, which attacks invaders or antibodies.Allergic reactions can be mild, like a runny nose, or they can be severe, like difficulty breathing.Allergic asthma caused by allergens such as mites and pollens, and stinging insect allergy.Allergic reaction to something that is breathed into the lungs in a person who is susceptible.
What Medications to Treat Allergies?
Medications such as pills or nasal sprays are often used to treat allergies.Many effective medications are available to treat common allergies. AANGAMIK DMG:
AANGAMIK DMG is the only pure DMG product that contains no fillers or binders and is therefore pure and non-allergenic.
Allercetin Allergy & Sinus:
Allercetin is a Bio-Aligned Formula that utilizes natural homeopathic remedies for the treatment of allergies.
Allergiemittel AllerAide:
Allergiemittel AllerAide temporarily relieves minor allergic symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, watery eyes, eczema, wheezing, and shortness of breath caused by allergies.
How to care with Allergies?
1.Wear a mask whenever dusting or mowing a lawn Stop smoking.
2.Keep family pets out of certain rooms, like your bedroom, and bathe them if necessary.
3.Avoid using aspirin, which has been reported to allow food allergens to be more effectively absorbed by the body.
4.Remove carpets or rugs from your room.Install an air-purification system at home.
More Detail About Allergies Relief
Author By Michal John
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
Friday, July 18, 2008
What Are Healthy Eating Habits?
From the Nutritional Pyramid to eat all of your vegetables, your doctor, school health classes and your mother have stressed healthy eating habits. The concept of eating healthy foods has been promoted ever since we learned that what we eat has a direct effect on our health.
Healthy eating is a habit of selecting the quantity and quality of foods that will either improve or maintain a good level of health. Usually, this means following the guidelines set by those who know the best, including scientific researchers, doctors, and nutritionists.
Health professionals set nutritional recommendations based on the ingredients and contents of food items. How fast and efficiently the body breaks down a food item and uses it for energy influences the way certain eating habits are viewed. For example, eating foods filled with sugar will not do much for maintaining a healthy body. The empty calories that sweets have actually aid in weight gain and increased glucose levels, which affect a variety of health concerns, such as diabetes.
The concept of healthy eating has changed over the years. This can be seen through the shift in the commonly used Nutritional Pyramid. In the past, the Pyramid gave daily recommendations on how many servings from each food group was needed to achieve healthy eating habits. Everyone was expected to follow the same recommendations. Today, these guidelines are now based on the differences that individuals have. The new serving suggestions now take into account factors such as weight, height, level of physical activity, age and gender.
By entering your information on the MyPyramid.gov website, you will receive a personalized plan suggesting the best selections from each food group that will keep you healthy. You will also receive advice on how to couple healthy eating habits with an acceptable amount of physical activity. The goal is to achieve an overall increase in health through a better balance of nutrition, calories and exercise.
Living a healthy life through the foods we eat means taking into account all of the factors that come with various eating habits. This includes the total amount of calorie consumption throughout the day. Healthy eating deals with the balance of important nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. For example, there are some carbohydrates considered healthier than others. Knowing how to separate good carbs from bad carbs contributes to nourishing eating habits that last a lifetime.
To improve your health, one should consume more nutritious foods, such as brown rice and green vegetables, while at the same time, decreasing the consumption of candy bars, fried foods and soda. Foods rich in vitamins contribute to healthy eating practices. You should also know that the way you prepare your food also has an influence on your health. For example, fruits and vegetables retain more vitamins and nutrients when eaten raw, rather than boiled, steamed or cooked in the microwave. Avoiding foods with a high concentration of dyes, artificial sweeteners and preservatives is also helpful.
For more information, there are numerous resources that offer a list of healthy foods and advice for healthy eating practices. These references may be found on the Internet, in the local bookstore, at the library and throughout your doctors office. Learning how to eat right will not only boost your overall health, but also lead to securing a longer, more productive life.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Copyright http://www.healthdietplan.com, Tarja Anchor; Kajava Therapist, Holistic Health Practitioner. More information about nutrition, healthy diet plan, food supplements, and healthy weight loss at Healthdietplan.com
Healthy eating is a habit of selecting the quantity and quality of foods that will either improve or maintain a good level of health. Usually, this means following the guidelines set by those who know the best, including scientific researchers, doctors, and nutritionists.
Health professionals set nutritional recommendations based on the ingredients and contents of food items. How fast and efficiently the body breaks down a food item and uses it for energy influences the way certain eating habits are viewed. For example, eating foods filled with sugar will not do much for maintaining a healthy body. The empty calories that sweets have actually aid in weight gain and increased glucose levels, which affect a variety of health concerns, such as diabetes.
The concept of healthy eating has changed over the years. This can be seen through the shift in the commonly used Nutritional Pyramid. In the past, the Pyramid gave daily recommendations on how many servings from each food group was needed to achieve healthy eating habits. Everyone was expected to follow the same recommendations. Today, these guidelines are now based on the differences that individuals have. The new serving suggestions now take into account factors such as weight, height, level of physical activity, age and gender.
By entering your information on the MyPyramid.gov website, you will receive a personalized plan suggesting the best selections from each food group that will keep you healthy. You will also receive advice on how to couple healthy eating habits with an acceptable amount of physical activity. The goal is to achieve an overall increase in health through a better balance of nutrition, calories and exercise.
Living a healthy life through the foods we eat means taking into account all of the factors that come with various eating habits. This includes the total amount of calorie consumption throughout the day. Healthy eating deals with the balance of important nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. For example, there are some carbohydrates considered healthier than others. Knowing how to separate good carbs from bad carbs contributes to nourishing eating habits that last a lifetime.
To improve your health, one should consume more nutritious foods, such as brown rice and green vegetables, while at the same time, decreasing the consumption of candy bars, fried foods and soda. Foods rich in vitamins contribute to healthy eating practices. You should also know that the way you prepare your food also has an influence on your health. For example, fruits and vegetables retain more vitamins and nutrients when eaten raw, rather than boiled, steamed or cooked in the microwave. Avoiding foods with a high concentration of dyes, artificial sweeteners and preservatives is also helpful.
For more information, there are numerous resources that offer a list of healthy foods and advice for healthy eating practices. These references may be found on the Internet, in the local bookstore, at the library and throughout your doctors office. Learning how to eat right will not only boost your overall health, but also lead to securing a longer, more productive life.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Copyright http://www.healthdietplan.com, Tarja Anchor; Kajava Therapist, Holistic Health Practitioner. More information about nutrition, healthy diet plan, food supplements, and healthy weight loss at Healthdietplan.com
Diets For Kids
First of all, kids should not diet! They should play, burn calories and replenish them with good nutrition.
It's only when children eat too many sugars (and too many calories) and then do not burn them that things start to go wrong. As a parent, there are many things you can do to improve the eating habits of your children, and breakfast is a good place to begin.
Cereals are too sweet to be true. Very few breakfast cereals are actually sugar free. Almost all of them contain large quantities of sugar. Be sure to read the labels when shopping for cereals, and opt for products high in fiber (at least 6 to 8 grams fiber per serving) and low in sugar (less than 20 grams sugar per serving). Good alternatives include oatmeal or sugar-free corn flakes.
Read the labels on cereals and look for the ones that are high in fiber and low in sugar. Encourage them to sweeten their cereal with fruit such as sliced banana, apple, pear, or a few raisins instead of sprinkling sugar. The best snack option for a child is a fruit. You should always have a mountain of fresh, appealing fruit at home for them to nibble whenever they feel hungry. Send them to school with some fruit rather than money for buying junk food.
Another good habit to develop in your children is eating vegetables with each meal and, as a rule, eating something raw. Many children eat too few vegetables. The trick is to prepare vegetables in a tasty way that tempts your child. Use different types of flavorings, seasonings and dressings to make a vegetable dish more palatable. Don't overcook vegetables because it robs them of important nutrients. Raw carrots are usually a favorite with children as are peas and either mashed or baked potatoes. It's best if you can help your child get used to eating potatoes with the skin intact; it's much healthier. Serve something raw with each meal- such as carrots, cabbage or tomatoes helps children develop a taste for salad foods.
Protein intake is very important for growing children. Protein can be derived from meat, chicken, eggs, fish, and sprouts. For active children, and children entering adolescence, parents might want to consider a protein supplement, especially if the child is a pure vegetarian, and /or eats too many junk foods. You should ask your pediatrician and/or a nutritionist about whether this is appropriate. There are many protein supplements on the market so, if you are going to add them to your child's diet, ask someone knowledgeable about which are best.
Now that many experts have raised awareness of what's lacking in many children's diets, caring parents are looking for solutions. Here's what we know about some of the nutritional imbalances affecting many children.
Sugar imbalance Deficiency of vitamins, minerals, often zinc, B12 and niacin Deficiency of essential fatty acids (such as fish oil)
Consult your physician to recommend a good, chewable multivitamin and mineral formula designed for children. Children need all the nutrients but especially:
Vitamin A to help resist infection
Vitamin D to aid calcium absorption
Vitamins B and C for brain development
Zinc to assist growth
Plus chromium, selenium, magnesium and manganese.
Check that all of these are present in a multivitamin formulation for children, especially zinc.
For younger children, some doctors suggest liquid vitamins with droppers. Supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) have been found to be associated with higher problem solving abilities in kids.
As a parent, it's time for you to take the initiative for your child. You can take the first step by insisting on some good habits. Teach them to eat during designated meal and snack times. For example, don't let them get into the habit of eating in front of the television, or eating freely all day and all night long.
So start building the foundation for a lifetime of good food and fitness habits in your children. Although you can expect some complaining in the short term, you'll be glad you did it. And so will your kids.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
For more information and to register for free diet plans and grocery lists, visit http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/ , for exercises for women, visit http://www.toningforwomen.com/ and to train with Nitin, visit http://www.phonefitnesstrainer.com/
It's only when children eat too many sugars (and too many calories) and then do not burn them that things start to go wrong. As a parent, there are many things you can do to improve the eating habits of your children, and breakfast is a good place to begin.
Cereals are too sweet to be true. Very few breakfast cereals are actually sugar free. Almost all of them contain large quantities of sugar. Be sure to read the labels when shopping for cereals, and opt for products high in fiber (at least 6 to 8 grams fiber per serving) and low in sugar (less than 20 grams sugar per serving). Good alternatives include oatmeal or sugar-free corn flakes.
Read the labels on cereals and look for the ones that are high in fiber and low in sugar. Encourage them to sweeten their cereal with fruit such as sliced banana, apple, pear, or a few raisins instead of sprinkling sugar. The best snack option for a child is a fruit. You should always have a mountain of fresh, appealing fruit at home for them to nibble whenever they feel hungry. Send them to school with some fruit rather than money for buying junk food.
Another good habit to develop in your children is eating vegetables with each meal and, as a rule, eating something raw. Many children eat too few vegetables. The trick is to prepare vegetables in a tasty way that tempts your child. Use different types of flavorings, seasonings and dressings to make a vegetable dish more palatable. Don't overcook vegetables because it robs them of important nutrients. Raw carrots are usually a favorite with children as are peas and either mashed or baked potatoes. It's best if you can help your child get used to eating potatoes with the skin intact; it's much healthier. Serve something raw with each meal- such as carrots, cabbage or tomatoes helps children develop a taste for salad foods.
Protein intake is very important for growing children. Protein can be derived from meat, chicken, eggs, fish, and sprouts. For active children, and children entering adolescence, parents might want to consider a protein supplement, especially if the child is a pure vegetarian, and /or eats too many junk foods. You should ask your pediatrician and/or a nutritionist about whether this is appropriate. There are many protein supplements on the market so, if you are going to add them to your child's diet, ask someone knowledgeable about which are best.
Now that many experts have raised awareness of what's lacking in many children's diets, caring parents are looking for solutions. Here's what we know about some of the nutritional imbalances affecting many children.
Sugar imbalance Deficiency of vitamins, minerals, often zinc, B12 and niacin Deficiency of essential fatty acids (such as fish oil)
Consult your physician to recommend a good, chewable multivitamin and mineral formula designed for children. Children need all the nutrients but especially:
Vitamin A to help resist infection
Vitamin D to aid calcium absorption
Vitamins B and C for brain development
Zinc to assist growth
Plus chromium, selenium, magnesium and manganese.
Check that all of these are present in a multivitamin formulation for children, especially zinc.
For younger children, some doctors suggest liquid vitamins with droppers. Supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) have been found to be associated with higher problem solving abilities in kids.
As a parent, it's time for you to take the initiative for your child. You can take the first step by insisting on some good habits. Teach them to eat during designated meal and snack times. For example, don't let them get into the habit of eating in front of the television, or eating freely all day and all night long.
So start building the foundation for a lifetime of good food and fitness habits in your children. Although you can expect some complaining in the short term, you'll be glad you did it. And so will your kids.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
For more information and to register for free diet plans and grocery lists, visit http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/ , for exercises for women, visit http://www.toningforwomen.com/ and to train with Nitin, visit http://www.phonefitnesstrainer.com/
Is It Only The Sugar? Diabetes Awareness
Diabetes is something we hear about often these days. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes.
When the world went fat-free, sugar took over to add taste to otherwise lame tasting foods. Unfortunately there is sugar in most packaged and fast food. You have to really study the labels to see if sugar is added to even seemingly non-sugar needing foods. Take packaged smoked salmon for example. Why do I need sugar in my salmon, or my tomato sauce? In my sushi? Or salad dressing?
Is it only the sugar ?
Omitting the processed sugary snacks, cookies, and foods with sugar added is not the only thing to do for prevention of a potential sugar overload lurking around the corner. Whether you already have diabetes, pre-diabetes, or just want to bring more awareness around sugar into your life, this hopefully will help you out. Most people think that diabetes is only about getting the sugar and simple carbs out of the diet. It is NOT. Meat and dairy plays a role as well. Surprise to most of you?
A new study that just came out says that a low-fat vegan diet treats type 2 diabetes more effectively than a standard diabetes diet, according to a study in Diabetes Care, a journal published by the American Diabetes Association. Study participants on the low-fat vegan diet showed dramatic improvement in four disease markers: blood sugar control, cholesterol reduction, weight control, and kidney function.
This is not surprising news to the macrobiotic world though. Michio Kushi has for years recommended wholegrain, especially millet, round sweet vegetable, especially pumpkin, and beans, especially adzuki beans, for diabetes. These are foods that help strengthen the pancreas.
In her book What to Eat, Marion Nestle talks about how children with type 1 diabetes often have antibodies against cow-milk proteins, which might have cross-reacted and destroyed the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
In another study, just one egg per day added to the diet of diabetics doubled their risk of heart disease.
And how does meat fit in? Excess meat not only makes you highly acidic, it also affects your pancreas, which then can affect insulin production. Animal fat and saturated fat is actually linked to insulin resistance.
Diabetes Prevention: Where does the sweetness in life come from?
Replace sugary substances with naturally sweet foods; omit cookies and candy. But also remember the fruit juices, sport drinks, and all those so-called naturally sweetened ice-teas.
Watch out for granola bars and other health fakes that promise energy. They are normally loaded with sugar, which indeed gives you energy, here and now. But increased health? No.
Instead blend fruit juices with water, put some fresh lemon in water, have chilled peppermint tea or unsweetened green tea. Choose fresh fruit and nuts instead of granola bars.
Replace refined grain and flour with wholegrain. People who eat wholegrain have a lower risk of diabetes, say researchers at the University of Minnesota. Wholegrain, fiber from grains, and the magnesium found in wholegrain seem to have a positive effect on diabetes, the study concluded.
Refined grain converts to sugar too fast as it does not have the same fiber content as wholegrain. This means omit or at least limit, all refined flour, wheat, tropical fruit, most cold cereals (normally coated in a sweetener), regular refined wheatflour pasta and white rice.
It is also best to omit bread because of the yeast. Yeast can cause bacteria overgrowth and increase mycotoxins, which are linked to diabetes. You can get bread from sprouted grain instead that are actually quite delicious. As for the yeast, this also includes beer, wine, and all other baked goods.
Add more fiber rich food:
-Wholegrain (millet, oats, rye, bran, brown rice, quinoa, barley and buckwheat)
- Legumes; beans, lentils, peas.
- Have lots of most vegetables. For some root vegetables are fine, for others, be careful with the glycemic index. The more fiber in the vegetables, the slower the sugar is absorbed. Pumpkin is also recommended.
- Fresh fruit (dried fruit has a higher glycemic index).
- Alkalize with a lot of green food and chlorophyll. Dark leafy greens such as kale, fiber rich green food such as broccoli, brusselssprouts, string beans, asparagus; and green drinks from cereal grasses such as wheatgrass, if you are on a health track.
- Limit saturated and animal fats. This means meat and dairy products such as cheese, butter, and milk. There are also mycotoxins found in meat, again linked to diabetes.
- Instead, get your healthy fats from foods rich in omega 3. Nuts, seeds, avocado, flaxseed, olive and flaxseed oil. Some fish can be implemented especially those higher in omega 3 fatty acids. (Wild salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines).
- And of course, do not forget to exercise, move, breathe, de-stress (stress causes acidity in the body as well)
In his book, The Healing Power of Illness, Thorwald Dethlefsen draws the parallel between the pancreas (the organ weakened in diabetes) and our longing for love. Is that why we crave the sweet stuff?
SO: Since I always come from the perspective of Self-Nourishment, consider where your sweetness in life is coming from. Don't let it be the substitute of sugar, let it be the real stuff as in good healthy food, nature, love, community, laughter, and some nice ME-time.
In a nutshell:
1. A carefully balanced diet based on whole foods; wholegrain, beans and lentils, vegetables and fruit, plus low in saturated and animal fat.
2. A pure, positive, and creative mind. -Try some meditation. And a loving, open heart. -Especially when it comes to loving yourself.
3. An active lifestyle, which includes work, physical movement, and breathing exercises. -Yoga works well, so does nice walks or bicycle rides.
LIFE IS SWEET AFTER ALL.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Food and Nourishment Consultant Jeanette Bronee, Path for Life SelfNourishment Center, http://www.pathforlife.com supports people as they change food and lifestyle habits. As a resource, inspiration and support, she helps you discover new tools for optimal self nourishment.
When the world went fat-free, sugar took over to add taste to otherwise lame tasting foods. Unfortunately there is sugar in most packaged and fast food. You have to really study the labels to see if sugar is added to even seemingly non-sugar needing foods. Take packaged smoked salmon for example. Why do I need sugar in my salmon, or my tomato sauce? In my sushi? Or salad dressing?
Is it only the sugar ?
Omitting the processed sugary snacks, cookies, and foods with sugar added is not the only thing to do for prevention of a potential sugar overload lurking around the corner. Whether you already have diabetes, pre-diabetes, or just want to bring more awareness around sugar into your life, this hopefully will help you out. Most people think that diabetes is only about getting the sugar and simple carbs out of the diet. It is NOT. Meat and dairy plays a role as well. Surprise to most of you?
A new study that just came out says that a low-fat vegan diet treats type 2 diabetes more effectively than a standard diabetes diet, according to a study in Diabetes Care, a journal published by the American Diabetes Association. Study participants on the low-fat vegan diet showed dramatic improvement in four disease markers: blood sugar control, cholesterol reduction, weight control, and kidney function.
This is not surprising news to the macrobiotic world though. Michio Kushi has for years recommended wholegrain, especially millet, round sweet vegetable, especially pumpkin, and beans, especially adzuki beans, for diabetes. These are foods that help strengthen the pancreas.
In her book What to Eat, Marion Nestle talks about how children with type 1 diabetes often have antibodies against cow-milk proteins, which might have cross-reacted and destroyed the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
In another study, just one egg per day added to the diet of diabetics doubled their risk of heart disease.
And how does meat fit in? Excess meat not only makes you highly acidic, it also affects your pancreas, which then can affect insulin production. Animal fat and saturated fat is actually linked to insulin resistance.
Diabetes Prevention: Where does the sweetness in life come from?
Replace sugary substances with naturally sweet foods; omit cookies and candy. But also remember the fruit juices, sport drinks, and all those so-called naturally sweetened ice-teas.
Watch out for granola bars and other health fakes that promise energy. They are normally loaded with sugar, which indeed gives you energy, here and now. But increased health? No.
Instead blend fruit juices with water, put some fresh lemon in water, have chilled peppermint tea or unsweetened green tea. Choose fresh fruit and nuts instead of granola bars.
Replace refined grain and flour with wholegrain. People who eat wholegrain have a lower risk of diabetes, say researchers at the University of Minnesota. Wholegrain, fiber from grains, and the magnesium found in wholegrain seem to have a positive effect on diabetes, the study concluded.
Refined grain converts to sugar too fast as it does not have the same fiber content as wholegrain. This means omit or at least limit, all refined flour, wheat, tropical fruit, most cold cereals (normally coated in a sweetener), regular refined wheatflour pasta and white rice.
It is also best to omit bread because of the yeast. Yeast can cause bacteria overgrowth and increase mycotoxins, which are linked to diabetes. You can get bread from sprouted grain instead that are actually quite delicious. As for the yeast, this also includes beer, wine, and all other baked goods.
Add more fiber rich food:
-Wholegrain (millet, oats, rye, bran, brown rice, quinoa, barley and buckwheat)
- Legumes; beans, lentils, peas.
- Have lots of most vegetables. For some root vegetables are fine, for others, be careful with the glycemic index. The more fiber in the vegetables, the slower the sugar is absorbed. Pumpkin is also recommended.
- Fresh fruit (dried fruit has a higher glycemic index).
- Alkalize with a lot of green food and chlorophyll. Dark leafy greens such as kale, fiber rich green food such as broccoli, brusselssprouts, string beans, asparagus; and green drinks from cereal grasses such as wheatgrass, if you are on a health track.
- Limit saturated and animal fats. This means meat and dairy products such as cheese, butter, and milk. There are also mycotoxins found in meat, again linked to diabetes.
- Instead, get your healthy fats from foods rich in omega 3. Nuts, seeds, avocado, flaxseed, olive and flaxseed oil. Some fish can be implemented especially those higher in omega 3 fatty acids. (Wild salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines).
- And of course, do not forget to exercise, move, breathe, de-stress (stress causes acidity in the body as well)
In his book, The Healing Power of Illness, Thorwald Dethlefsen draws the parallel between the pancreas (the organ weakened in diabetes) and our longing for love. Is that why we crave the sweet stuff?
SO: Since I always come from the perspective of Self-Nourishment, consider where your sweetness in life is coming from. Don't let it be the substitute of sugar, let it be the real stuff as in good healthy food, nature, love, community, laughter, and some nice ME-time.
In a nutshell:
1. A carefully balanced diet based on whole foods; wholegrain, beans and lentils, vegetables and fruit, plus low in saturated and animal fat.
2. A pure, positive, and creative mind. -Try some meditation. And a loving, open heart. -Especially when it comes to loving yourself.
3. An active lifestyle, which includes work, physical movement, and breathing exercises. -Yoga works well, so does nice walks or bicycle rides.
LIFE IS SWEET AFTER ALL.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Food and Nourishment Consultant Jeanette Bronee, Path for Life SelfNourishment Center, http://www.pathforlife.com supports people as they change food and lifestyle habits. As a resource, inspiration and support, she helps you discover new tools for optimal self nourishment.
Changing Your Eating Habits
Because all of us have been brought up eating junk food, well most of us, it is not easy to change our eating habits. Your eating habits have developed since childhood based on what your mothers or fathers cooked and what your psychological make-up was during that time.
The foods you eat and crave help keep pass trauma and present anxiety in check. Food helps make you feel good when you start to feel bad. Eating is a natural defense mechanism that the brain-body uses to keep you from going crazy.
So, you see, it is very difficult to change our eating habits. When we do, we start to feel bad. We start to feel uncomfortable, we feel pain, we have withdrawal symptoms, and we may feel sick. Is it any wonder that any of us ever succeed in changing our eating habits?
I consider every thing that has been packaged to be junk food. There are a few exception and you need to read ingredient labels carefully. Very few food manufacturers and even restaurants prepare food with your health in mind. Of course, they want to satisfy you, but they don't use foods that are in your best interest.
Most people eat junk food 85% of the time and then eat good food the other 15%. It should be the reverse of this - eat good food 85% and junk food 15% of the time.
To have better health, here are some foods to stop eating. Eliminate these foods over the next two to three weeks.
· Milk (non-fat or no-fat also) - is a mucus and acid forming food. Milk creates mucus in the body and makes the lymph liquid (we will talk about lymph later) in your body acidic, which attracts parasites and other pathogens. (In the place of milk almond milk or goats milk)
Cancer thrives in a body that is acidic.
o Bread - white bread is also acid and mucus forming. It is also more difficult to pass through the colon and gives rise to constipation.
Sugar the #1 food additive. Sugar is in most of all the products that you buy.
· Sodas (regular or diet)- are extremely high in sugar or artificial sugar - 7 teaspoons per can. Most people drink over 35 gallons per year. Sugar is a body poison and leads to many disease - diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and osteoarthritis and so on.
o Sugar, also, depletes your B-vitamins and calcium and magnesium from your bones and teeth.
o In addition, since sodas are in aluminum cans, aluminum can go into the soda because most sodas contain phosphoric acid. Aluminum has been associated with senility and Alzheimer disease.
o Calcium is also leached from your body to neutralize the phosphoric acid. (Its healthier to drink juices of all kinds)
There is just no way around it. Sodas suck health right out of your body.
· Regular salt (NaCl) - excessive salt intake is related to high blood pressure, edema, and imbalances in the minerals in your lymph liquid. Sodium, Na, in salt attracts water so the more sodium you eat that more water your body will hold. (Use sea salt, it has 25% less sodium, use low salt soy sauce, and herbs to flavor your food)
o Most people eat too much salt - over 10,000 milligrams per day. We only need around 200-300 mg per day.
o Excess salt is also in involved with kidney problems, cardiovascular disease, stomach cancer, and excess sensitive to stress.
o Get your Sodium from eating vegetables that are high in sodium. When you get your salt from vegetables it is organic salt, which does not have the same effect in your body as inorganic salt from a shaker. You need a lot of organic salt or Na in your body. Your stomach is a Na organ. It needs organic salt, Na, to keep its lining from being eaten by the hydrochloric acid in your stomach - an ulcer.
o Foods high in organic sodium are apples, apricots, asparagus, greens, red cabbage, carrots, celery, dulse, egg yolks, figs, fish, raisins, prunes, and lentils.
For the next two weeks try adding the following foods to your eating habits.
· lecithin - is 30-40% choline, which is used throughout your body. This is why you want to include it in your diet.
o choline is one of the main chemicals in our cell membrane.
o It is used in our brains to create the neurotransmitter acytlcholine, which is required for thinking and memory. Consider lecithin brain food.
o It is used by the liver, which helps to prevent a fatty liver. A fatty liver prevents you from losing weight around your belly.
o it helps to break up fats into tiny goblets so that they are easily digestible and will reduce your cholesterol.
o it helps to keep cholesterol from clinging to your artery walls.
· flax seed oil - is an essential oil, omega 3. This means your body does not make it and it is necessary for you to eat it so that you can live without illness or pain.
o it helps to detoxify the liver
o it stimulates the production of bile. Remember that bile helps to breakdown fat so that the liver can better metabolize it.
o stimulates the body to burn fat.
o apple juice and apples - are high in vitamin A, in Potassium and have other minerals that strengthen the blood. They contain malic and tartaric acids, which keep the liver healthy and promote good digestion. Apples help you to lose weight by providing fiber and keeping you regular.
o fiber - you need 30-35 grams of fiber every day. Most people only get up to 10-15 grams. Fiber is one foods that reduce your transient time in the colon. Fiber helps to keep your colon clean, reduce cholesterol, remove toxins from your body and eliminate constipation.
There you have it. If you can accomplish these changes in one year, you will notice a big difference in the way you feel and the health that you have.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author: Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. He writes a newsletter called "Natural Remedies That work." You can subscribe to his newsletter and read some of the back issues, which give you information of how to have better health. Read his latest newsletter at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/archive.html
The foods you eat and crave help keep pass trauma and present anxiety in check. Food helps make you feel good when you start to feel bad. Eating is a natural defense mechanism that the brain-body uses to keep you from going crazy.
So, you see, it is very difficult to change our eating habits. When we do, we start to feel bad. We start to feel uncomfortable, we feel pain, we have withdrawal symptoms, and we may feel sick. Is it any wonder that any of us ever succeed in changing our eating habits?
I consider every thing that has been packaged to be junk food. There are a few exception and you need to read ingredient labels carefully. Very few food manufacturers and even restaurants prepare food with your health in mind. Of course, they want to satisfy you, but they don't use foods that are in your best interest.
Most people eat junk food 85% of the time and then eat good food the other 15%. It should be the reverse of this - eat good food 85% and junk food 15% of the time.
To have better health, here are some foods to stop eating. Eliminate these foods over the next two to three weeks.
· Milk (non-fat or no-fat also) - is a mucus and acid forming food. Milk creates mucus in the body and makes the lymph liquid (we will talk about lymph later) in your body acidic, which attracts parasites and other pathogens. (In the place of milk almond milk or goats milk)
Cancer thrives in a body that is acidic.
o Bread - white bread is also acid and mucus forming. It is also more difficult to pass through the colon and gives rise to constipation.
Sugar the #1 food additive. Sugar is in most of all the products that you buy.
· Sodas (regular or diet)- are extremely high in sugar or artificial sugar - 7 teaspoons per can. Most people drink over 35 gallons per year. Sugar is a body poison and leads to many disease - diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and osteoarthritis and so on.
o Sugar, also, depletes your B-vitamins and calcium and magnesium from your bones and teeth.
o In addition, since sodas are in aluminum cans, aluminum can go into the soda because most sodas contain phosphoric acid. Aluminum has been associated with senility and Alzheimer disease.
o Calcium is also leached from your body to neutralize the phosphoric acid. (Its healthier to drink juices of all kinds)
There is just no way around it. Sodas suck health right out of your body.
· Regular salt (NaCl) - excessive salt intake is related to high blood pressure, edema, and imbalances in the minerals in your lymph liquid. Sodium, Na, in salt attracts water so the more sodium you eat that more water your body will hold. (Use sea salt, it has 25% less sodium, use low salt soy sauce, and herbs to flavor your food)
o Most people eat too much salt - over 10,000 milligrams per day. We only need around 200-300 mg per day.
o Excess salt is also in involved with kidney problems, cardiovascular disease, stomach cancer, and excess sensitive to stress.
o Get your Sodium from eating vegetables that are high in sodium. When you get your salt from vegetables it is organic salt, which does not have the same effect in your body as inorganic salt from a shaker. You need a lot of organic salt or Na in your body. Your stomach is a Na organ. It needs organic salt, Na, to keep its lining from being eaten by the hydrochloric acid in your stomach - an ulcer.
o Foods high in organic sodium are apples, apricots, asparagus, greens, red cabbage, carrots, celery, dulse, egg yolks, figs, fish, raisins, prunes, and lentils.
For the next two weeks try adding the following foods to your eating habits.
· lecithin - is 30-40% choline, which is used throughout your body. This is why you want to include it in your diet.
o choline is one of the main chemicals in our cell membrane.
o It is used in our brains to create the neurotransmitter acytlcholine, which is required for thinking and memory. Consider lecithin brain food.
o It is used by the liver, which helps to prevent a fatty liver. A fatty liver prevents you from losing weight around your belly.
o it helps to break up fats into tiny goblets so that they are easily digestible and will reduce your cholesterol.
o it helps to keep cholesterol from clinging to your artery walls.
· flax seed oil - is an essential oil, omega 3. This means your body does not make it and it is necessary for you to eat it so that you can live without illness or pain.
o it helps to detoxify the liver
o it stimulates the production of bile. Remember that bile helps to breakdown fat so that the liver can better metabolize it.
o stimulates the body to burn fat.
o apple juice and apples - are high in vitamin A, in Potassium and have other minerals that strengthen the blood. They contain malic and tartaric acids, which keep the liver healthy and promote good digestion. Apples help you to lose weight by providing fiber and keeping you regular.
o fiber - you need 30-35 grams of fiber every day. Most people only get up to 10-15 grams. Fiber is one foods that reduce your transient time in the colon. Fiber helps to keep your colon clean, reduce cholesterol, remove toxins from your body and eliminate constipation.
There you have it. If you can accomplish these changes in one year, you will notice a big difference in the way you feel and the health that you have.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author: Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. He writes a newsletter called "Natural Remedies That work." You can subscribe to his newsletter and read some of the back issues, which give you information of how to have better health. Read his latest newsletter at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/archive.html
Easy Natural Home Remedies To Cleanse Your Body
Your body is an amazing machine, a testament to evolution and nature, and in this day and age it needs to be taken care of. Everything we take into our bodies makes an impact. In these times of fast food, every soda or cup of coffee, every breath we take makes an impression and imprint on our bodies. Nowhere is this more evident than the liver.
The liver is one of the organs that helps purify our bodies, along with the kidneys and the intestines, so it is in our best interests to keep these organs working at maximum effectiveness. These organs working together are what keeps toxins from building up in our bodies. If they aren't functioning correctly; we're letting toxins build up in our bodies that lead to poor health.
Here are some of the ways you can help keep your body free of toxins and these organs working at peak efficiency. Drink plenty of water. Water is used to help flush the system of toxins and harmful substances. Most of us don't intake half the amount of water we actually need. Eat fresh foods. The majority of food we eat is highly processed, or packed full of chemicals, and lacks the nutritional values of the less processed, fresh counterparts. Eating a healthy diet of nutrient packed fresh foods like vegetables and fresh fruits can go a long way to making your body healthy and strong.
Everyone has parasites living in their bodies. Some are good and are suppose to be there, some are foreign and need to be removed in order to purge our body of toxins. Try natural elements to help rid yourself of these.
Here are some to try
Cloves: these get rid of parasite eggs
Pumpkin seeds: are great for killing off the parasite worms themselves
Garlic: we've all heard of the healthy benefits of garlic, it provides a natural anti-bacterial agent, and comes in odorless varieties.
Fiber: this important element keeps your intestines moving freely and prevents toxins from being reabsorbed.
Bitter tasting things: like grapefruit seeds and lemon, help to keep toxins from building up in the liver and are naturally anti-bacterial.
Finally, eat smaller meals.
We tend to be on the go, so eat large meals as little as possible, this actually puts a strain on our systems. Eating more frequently and smaller portions help us get the most out of our diet. Avoid processed tap water; it simply adds chemicals you're trying to get rid of. Eat raw foods and hearty grains rather than heavily processed and refined foods. Our bodies are naturally designed for rougher food sources and work better on a heartier diet.
Taking these steps will go a long way in helping you naturally cleanse your body of unwanted toxins and parasites and lead you to better health. You'll have more energy, feel good about yourself and know that you're working at your potential.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Did you find those tips on "Easy Natural Home Remedies To Cleanse Your Body" useful? If so,you can find out more about it here: http://Live-O-Natural.com
The liver is one of the organs that helps purify our bodies, along with the kidneys and the intestines, so it is in our best interests to keep these organs working at maximum effectiveness. These organs working together are what keeps toxins from building up in our bodies. If they aren't functioning correctly; we're letting toxins build up in our bodies that lead to poor health.
Here are some of the ways you can help keep your body free of toxins and these organs working at peak efficiency. Drink plenty of water. Water is used to help flush the system of toxins and harmful substances. Most of us don't intake half the amount of water we actually need. Eat fresh foods. The majority of food we eat is highly processed, or packed full of chemicals, and lacks the nutritional values of the less processed, fresh counterparts. Eating a healthy diet of nutrient packed fresh foods like vegetables and fresh fruits can go a long way to making your body healthy and strong.
Everyone has parasites living in their bodies. Some are good and are suppose to be there, some are foreign and need to be removed in order to purge our body of toxins. Try natural elements to help rid yourself of these.
Here are some to try
Cloves: these get rid of parasite eggs
Pumpkin seeds: are great for killing off the parasite worms themselves
Garlic: we've all heard of the healthy benefits of garlic, it provides a natural anti-bacterial agent, and comes in odorless varieties.
Fiber: this important element keeps your intestines moving freely and prevents toxins from being reabsorbed.
Bitter tasting things: like grapefruit seeds and lemon, help to keep toxins from building up in the liver and are naturally anti-bacterial.
Finally, eat smaller meals.
We tend to be on the go, so eat large meals as little as possible, this actually puts a strain on our systems. Eating more frequently and smaller portions help us get the most out of our diet. Avoid processed tap water; it simply adds chemicals you're trying to get rid of. Eat raw foods and hearty grains rather than heavily processed and refined foods. Our bodies are naturally designed for rougher food sources and work better on a heartier diet.
Taking these steps will go a long way in helping you naturally cleanse your body of unwanted toxins and parasites and lead you to better health. You'll have more energy, feel good about yourself and know that you're working at your potential.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Did you find those tips on "Easy Natural Home Remedies To Cleanse Your Body" useful? If so,you can find out more about it here: http://Live-O-Natural.com
Definition of a Healthy Snack?
You'll never get an argument if you say, "We need to find healthier snack solutions." It's not controversial to say "Unhealthy Snacking is among the top reasons for Americans being overweight and obese in unprecedented, never before seen in the history of the planet numbers. That said, try to move forward and then define what the definition of a "Healthy Snack" is, and that's where the fireworks begin.
Some people will point anything that says "all natural" as being a healthy snack solution. But really, "all natural" says very little about the nutrition quality of the snack. Many juice boxes or fruit drinks are "All Natural" and yet loaded with sugar. Going further on concept of sugar content, many snacks are billed as "low-fat" or "Reduced Fat." It's important to note that many of these reduced fat items have more sugar than their "Regular Fat" counterpart. It's often the case that lowfat items have more actual calories and sugar. They've simply replaced one nutrition impediment with another.
Also beware of beef stick type products. People will often look at various beef sticks and assume their healthy snack solutions. After all, they aren't candy! But these products fool people in a similar way to how "Fruit juices" and "Fruit Snacks" do. While Fruit Juices are often loaded with sugar, many beef stick products are almost all fat! Truth be told, this is usually the case. In order to find a dried meat product that is not all fat, you need to look at certain types of beef jerky.
The bottom line in all of this is that you can't believe the hype. Don't buy into advertising slogans, jingles or whatever else the multi-million dollar industry has concocted to convince you of the merits of their product. There is only one source of truth, and that's the nutrition data printed on the back of the package. While there is not absolute for parameters of healthy snack solutions, you can usually be safe following the CA SB-19 guidelines for snacks in schools which state that snacks should be less than 35% fat, less than 35% sugar, less than 10% saturated fat and less than 250 calories per container. Short of simply saying "I'm only going to eat carrots and celery, while drinking only water," the above guidelines are a good place to start. Since we all need definitions and guidelines by which to conduct our lives, and our eating, the 35/35/10/250 description is an excellent goal to aspire to.
So go forth and spread the healthy snack numerical mantra of 35/35/10/250. Become an educated snack consumer; watch the pounds peel away from you as newfound energy come to you.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Alec Moreland is concerned with fostering healthy eating habits and fighting obesity in our Nation's Youth. Learn to combine fundraising with promoting a Healthy America at http://healthyfundraisingsolutions.com/ Contact Alec at alec@healthyfundraisingsolutions.com
Some people will point anything that says "all natural" as being a healthy snack solution. But really, "all natural" says very little about the nutrition quality of the snack. Many juice boxes or fruit drinks are "All Natural" and yet loaded with sugar. Going further on concept of sugar content, many snacks are billed as "low-fat" or "Reduced Fat." It's important to note that many of these reduced fat items have more sugar than their "Regular Fat" counterpart. It's often the case that lowfat items have more actual calories and sugar. They've simply replaced one nutrition impediment with another.
Also beware of beef stick type products. People will often look at various beef sticks and assume their healthy snack solutions. After all, they aren't candy! But these products fool people in a similar way to how "Fruit juices" and "Fruit Snacks" do. While Fruit Juices are often loaded with sugar, many beef stick products are almost all fat! Truth be told, this is usually the case. In order to find a dried meat product that is not all fat, you need to look at certain types of beef jerky.
The bottom line in all of this is that you can't believe the hype. Don't buy into advertising slogans, jingles or whatever else the multi-million dollar industry has concocted to convince you of the merits of their product. There is only one source of truth, and that's the nutrition data printed on the back of the package. While there is not absolute for parameters of healthy snack solutions, you can usually be safe following the CA SB-19 guidelines for snacks in schools which state that snacks should be less than 35% fat, less than 35% sugar, less than 10% saturated fat and less than 250 calories per container. Short of simply saying "I'm only going to eat carrots and celery, while drinking only water," the above guidelines are a good place to start. Since we all need definitions and guidelines by which to conduct our lives, and our eating, the 35/35/10/250 description is an excellent goal to aspire to.
So go forth and spread the healthy snack numerical mantra of 35/35/10/250. Become an educated snack consumer; watch the pounds peel away from you as newfound energy come to you.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Alec Moreland is concerned with fostering healthy eating habits and fighting obesity in our Nation's Youth. Learn to combine fundraising with promoting a Healthy America at http://healthyfundraisingsolutions.com/ Contact Alec at alec@healthyfundraisingsolutions.com
Removing Stretch Marks
After your baby is born, stretch marks will not fade instantaneously. They may last for a very long time, and you won't eliminate them before at least six months after you have your baby. Normally, stretch marks will fade with time, and if you followed the advices on how you can avoid stretch marks you can actually be fine with the results of the natural process. There are many scar serums that will, if used faithfully in the first months after pregnancy, help your scars heal even more. Not everyone is happy with natural curing as a stretch mark solution, and many women seek more permanent stretch mark removal options. Fortunately there are many options available for sufferers who are wondering how to get rid of stretch marks, although results vary as do the costs associated with them. Stretch marks pose absolutely no health risks and don't interfere with your organism's ability to function and therefore stretch mark elimination is considered a cosmetic intervention. In all but strong weight loss cases, most insurance companies won't cover the cost of cosmetic surgeries. If you couldn't prevent stretch marks from forming, before going through any medical intervention, please research the risks and issues carefully. Surgeries, by their very nature, are an invasive intervention. Always go to a specialist and review their references. There have been many women who have visited 'discount' surgeons, or travelled to other countries to have surgeries done at a lower cost than they could at a trained specialist, with terrible results. There are a number of cases of misaligned belly buttons, a minor issue compared to massive scarring, infections, and even death that others have experienced. Surgical Stretch Mark Removal Stretch mark surgery (usually referred to as 'plastic surgery') is the best solution to make stretch marks go away. Abdominoplasty, usually known as a 'tummy tuck', will remove skin under the belly button (which happens to be where the majority of stretch marks occur during pregnancy), and, as a result, removes the stretch marks completely. Plastic surgery can be done any where there is excess skin (thighs, upper arms, etc.) As with any surgery, a tummy tuck will produce scarring of its own, which will fade the first year after surgery. The surgical incisions are usually done low in the abdomen so that they can be dissimulated by bikini bottoms or other clothing. Most insurance companies do not cover the cost associated with a plastic surgeon making a surgery to remove a stretch mark. Prevent them from forming if you can, because the cost of the surgery depends on where you have the surgery done (some doctors and hospitals charge more than others), but a good estimate of cost would be somewhere from $4000 to $7500.
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About the Author: A new skin care product is now available to alleviate all kind of skin blemishes. Made with biological ingredients, it ensures a scarless healing and the recovery of your old skin.
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About the Author: A new skin care product is now available to alleviate all kind of skin blemishes. Made with biological ingredients, it ensures a scarless healing and the recovery of your old skin.
How Your Hunger Affects Your Weight
The major reason people eat is because they are hungry. Unfortunately, hunger is not the only reason for eating. Some people don't eat at all if they are sick or worried while others eat much more when stress overwhelms them. Hunger is a good reason to eat but hunger doesn't necessarily mean physical hunger.
A study of hunger in children, which was conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics says that appetite is a learned response as determined by past food experiences. Appetite is different than hunger. Appetite is based a lot on the conscious and subconscious feelings that we have associated with food in the past. Since eating habits are learned in early childhood, their parents' attitude about meals and foods plays a major part in their eating habits.
If children are nagged to "clean your plate" or are offered cookies or candy as a reward for "being good," this affects their adult appetite responses.
We have seen that dietary habits are set early in life. Food preferences are also set early on. Once food preferences have been set it is very difficult to change them. It has been shown that some starving people will refuse to eat strange foods or foods that are against their religious or cultural beliefs.
Food and appetite play a confusing part in peoples' lives. Some families eat moderate portion sizes. Others are taught to eat a great deal more than they need. Parents show their love by feeding their loved ones.
It is unfortunate, but there are parents that are cruel or do not give their children what they need emotionally. Some of these children will grow up to use food to try to fill the empty feeling that they have - they are trying to nourish themselves emotionally with food.
People overeat for a variety of reasons. Knowing what those reasons the may help break the cycle. Some people eat because they're happy or sad and others stop eating for the same reasons. This lack of appetite is especially true for the elderly who live alone. They eat more processed foods and a less balanced diet because it's too much trouble to cook "just for myself."
We've established that people eat because they're hungry. But, what is the definition of hunger? Hunger is "a sensation produced by a complex mechanism governed by the nervous system. It makes the stomach contract and gives you that "hungry" sensation. This sensation can be relieved by eating, of course, but it can also be temporarily relieved by smoking, drinking cold water or by being distracted by something of interest.
There are people whose hunger is seldom relieved even when their stomachs are full. This tells us that hunger is not only a physical mechanism but it is also controlled by our emotions. It is our emotions, our past food experiences and our genes that have made us what we are - underweight, ideal weight, overweight or somewhere in between.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Jude Wright is an author and webmistress of multiple websites. Visit her site at http://Nutritious-cooking.com for nutrition information, healthy recipes and meal plans.
A study of hunger in children, which was conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics says that appetite is a learned response as determined by past food experiences. Appetite is different than hunger. Appetite is based a lot on the conscious and subconscious feelings that we have associated with food in the past. Since eating habits are learned in early childhood, their parents' attitude about meals and foods plays a major part in their eating habits.
If children are nagged to "clean your plate" or are offered cookies or candy as a reward for "being good," this affects their adult appetite responses.
We have seen that dietary habits are set early in life. Food preferences are also set early on. Once food preferences have been set it is very difficult to change them. It has been shown that some starving people will refuse to eat strange foods or foods that are against their religious or cultural beliefs.
Food and appetite play a confusing part in peoples' lives. Some families eat moderate portion sizes. Others are taught to eat a great deal more than they need. Parents show their love by feeding their loved ones.
It is unfortunate, but there are parents that are cruel or do not give their children what they need emotionally. Some of these children will grow up to use food to try to fill the empty feeling that they have - they are trying to nourish themselves emotionally with food.
People overeat for a variety of reasons. Knowing what those reasons the may help break the cycle. Some people eat because they're happy or sad and others stop eating for the same reasons. This lack of appetite is especially true for the elderly who live alone. They eat more processed foods and a less balanced diet because it's too much trouble to cook "just for myself."
We've established that people eat because they're hungry. But, what is the definition of hunger? Hunger is "a sensation produced by a complex mechanism governed by the nervous system. It makes the stomach contract and gives you that "hungry" sensation. This sensation can be relieved by eating, of course, but it can also be temporarily relieved by smoking, drinking cold water or by being distracted by something of interest.
There are people whose hunger is seldom relieved even when their stomachs are full. This tells us that hunger is not only a physical mechanism but it is also controlled by our emotions. It is our emotions, our past food experiences and our genes that have made us what we are - underweight, ideal weight, overweight or somewhere in between.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Jude Wright is an author and webmistress of multiple websites. Visit her site at http://Nutritious-cooking.com for nutrition information, healthy recipes and meal plans.
The Cholesterol Diet: Foods to Lower Your Cholesterol and Foods to Avoid
Cholesterol comes in two major forms and it is important to not only understand the difference between the two forms, but also understand the types of foods that increase "good" cholesterol while lowering "bad" cholesterol. Only through such understanding can you choose a diet that can lower your risk of developing coronary heart disease and help prevent a heart attack or stroke.
HDL versus LDL Cholesterol
Because cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood, it must be transported by lipoproteins to and from the cells within the body. HDL, or "good" cholesterol is high density lipoprotein and it carries up to 1/3 of the blood cholesterol throughout the body. HDL is considered "good" cholesterol because high levels of HDL have been shown to protect against heart disease and heart attack. LDL, on the other hand, is considered to be "bad" cholesterol. When excessive amounts of low density lipoprotein are in the blood, it can accumulate within the inner walls of the arteries over time and form plague that can restrict blood flow through the arteries.
The Sources of Cholesterol
The cholesterol in your bloodstream comes from both the food you eat as well as naturally from your own body. Nearly 75 percent of the cholesterol located in your blood is produced by your liver and other cells within your body while the other 25 percent comes from the food you eat. LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, is produced naturally by the body, but hereditary factors may cause your body to produce too much of the cholesterol. This is why it is important to make healthy dietary choices to better control the 25 percent of cholesterol production that comes from food.
Food to Avoid
Food high in saturated and trans fats: Avoid eating food high in saturated and trans fats. Read food labels to determine the amount of saturated and trans fats they contain. These labels will help you avoid foods high in fat and allow you to choose more healthy alternatives. Also look for foods with the heart-check mark symbol on their label. This label indicates that the food is approved by the American Heart Association as part of a healthy diet.
Whole fat dairy products: Avoid whole fat dairy products such as whole milk, butter, full-fat cheese and yogurt. If possible, replace them with fat-free, reduced-fat or low-fat dairy products.
Foods high in dietary cholesterol: Avoid foods high in dietary cholesterol including whole eggs, shellfish, and organ meats. Replace whole eggs with egg whites and organ meats with lean meats. As a goal, try to limit your intake of cholesterol to less than 300 mg a day.
Foods to Lower "Bad" Cholesterol
Almonds and walnuts: Almonds and walnuts have been shown to lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. Just about a handful of almonds or walnuts a days can significantly lower your cholesterol levels while improving the health of your blood vessels.
Foods with soluble fiber: Oatmeal contains soluble fiber that can lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, while keeping HDL, or "good" cholesterol, constant. Additional foods containing soluble fiber include apples, pears, barley and rice.
Foods with omega 3 fatty acids: Fish contains omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to lower LDL while raising HDL cholesterol. Recommended fish with omega 3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, albacore tuna and mackerel. Food other than fish containing omega 3 fatty acids include canola oil, flaxseed and soybean oil.
Preparing a Diet
Begin by determining your dietary goals. Do you need to lower your cholesterol considerably or only slightly? Do you want to lose weight at the same time as you lower your cholesterol? Will this be a short-term dietary change or a complete lifestyle change?
Only once you know your goals can you properly plan your new diet plan and begin to lower your bad cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Frank Clark is a staff writer at Proexercise.com, http://www.proexercise.com, an online retailer of fitness products including nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbs.
HDL versus LDL Cholesterol
Because cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood, it must be transported by lipoproteins to and from the cells within the body. HDL, or "good" cholesterol is high density lipoprotein and it carries up to 1/3 of the blood cholesterol throughout the body. HDL is considered "good" cholesterol because high levels of HDL have been shown to protect against heart disease and heart attack. LDL, on the other hand, is considered to be "bad" cholesterol. When excessive amounts of low density lipoprotein are in the blood, it can accumulate within the inner walls of the arteries over time and form plague that can restrict blood flow through the arteries.
The Sources of Cholesterol
The cholesterol in your bloodstream comes from both the food you eat as well as naturally from your own body. Nearly 75 percent of the cholesterol located in your blood is produced by your liver and other cells within your body while the other 25 percent comes from the food you eat. LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, is produced naturally by the body, but hereditary factors may cause your body to produce too much of the cholesterol. This is why it is important to make healthy dietary choices to better control the 25 percent of cholesterol production that comes from food.
Food to Avoid
Food high in saturated and trans fats: Avoid eating food high in saturated and trans fats. Read food labels to determine the amount of saturated and trans fats they contain. These labels will help you avoid foods high in fat and allow you to choose more healthy alternatives. Also look for foods with the heart-check mark symbol on their label. This label indicates that the food is approved by the American Heart Association as part of a healthy diet.
Whole fat dairy products: Avoid whole fat dairy products such as whole milk, butter, full-fat cheese and yogurt. If possible, replace them with fat-free, reduced-fat or low-fat dairy products.
Foods high in dietary cholesterol: Avoid foods high in dietary cholesterol including whole eggs, shellfish, and organ meats. Replace whole eggs with egg whites and organ meats with lean meats. As a goal, try to limit your intake of cholesterol to less than 300 mg a day.
Foods to Lower "Bad" Cholesterol
Almonds and walnuts: Almonds and walnuts have been shown to lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. Just about a handful of almonds or walnuts a days can significantly lower your cholesterol levels while improving the health of your blood vessels.
Foods with soluble fiber: Oatmeal contains soluble fiber that can lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, while keeping HDL, or "good" cholesterol, constant. Additional foods containing soluble fiber include apples, pears, barley and rice.
Foods with omega 3 fatty acids: Fish contains omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to lower LDL while raising HDL cholesterol. Recommended fish with omega 3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, albacore tuna and mackerel. Food other than fish containing omega 3 fatty acids include canola oil, flaxseed and soybean oil.
Preparing a Diet
Begin by determining your dietary goals. Do you need to lower your cholesterol considerably or only slightly? Do you want to lose weight at the same time as you lower your cholesterol? Will this be a short-term dietary change or a complete lifestyle change?
Only once you know your goals can you properly plan your new diet plan and begin to lower your bad cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Frank Clark is a staff writer at Proexercise.com, http://www.proexercise.com, an online retailer of fitness products including nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbs.
3 Secrets to Healthy Skin
We can't deny the fact that in this world of beauty magazines, you would always feel that there is a need to look good. But what would you feel when there are red oily humps on your face? Of course, this would greatly affect your self-confidence and outlook on life. So while it is worthwhile to seek out effective acne treatments, it's important to also remember several important facts. You should think about these three important things before trying to find a solution to your acne problem: Good acne solutions will take time to work. Do not fall for the promises of overnight cures. To properly cure acne, time and patience is needed. You will need to wait until the acne begins to subside and the area begins to heal. Follow the directions for the treatment. Not all of us will find success with the various methods available. What works for one or two people may not be what's right for you. We all have individual needs that are often different than that of others, so be sure to consider all of your options to make the best choice possible. You may need a dermatologist's advice. Do not experiment on your skin. Acne is a sensitive skin problem so it needs delicate way of treatment. Seek an expert's help or else you could end up with a worse condition. There's no denying society favors those who look good. But we do not have to look perfect in order to meet that standard. We just have to have the right amount of confidence and it could be obtained if one feels comfortable with his or her self. This is achieved when you get the healthy skin you desire...through patience and dedication.
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About the Author: Acne Help Pages is an online knowledgebase covering everything related to acne and related skin problems. Here you can find information on the causes of acne to common acne solutions. You can also read what others are doing to obtain healthy skin at our treatment results page.
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About the Author: Acne Help Pages is an online knowledgebase covering everything related to acne and related skin problems. Here you can find information on the causes of acne to common acne solutions. You can also read what others are doing to obtain healthy skin at our treatment results page.
Lower Your Cholesterol For A Healthier Life
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that the body needs to function normally. Your body uses cholesterol to produce certain hormones and make vitamin D. It also produces bile acids that digest fat. But your body only needs a small amount of cholesterol to perform these functions. Too much cholesterol in your bloodstream will start to adhere to the artery walls and form blockages. These blockages are the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
It is important that you keep your cholesterol at a healthy level. While high cholesterol can be hereditary, a lot of our cholesterol problems come from the food we eat and lack of exercise.
The best way to lower your cholesterol is to lose weight. Being overweight interrupts the bodys metabolism causing the body to hang onto too much fat. Following a low fat, low cholesterol diet and getting more exercise will help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol.
Here is a guide on what foods to eat and what foods to limit:
Food you should eat:-
* 5 servings per day of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
* 6 servings per day of whole grain breads, rice and pasta. Oatmeal is especially beneficial.
* 2 to 4 servings of fat free or low fat milk products.
* 6 ounces of lean meats or skinless poultry per day.
* Beans and peas.
* Nuts and seeds in limited amounts.
* Unsaturated vegetable oils. But limit the amount of margarine and spreads made from them.
Foods to Limit:-
* Whole milk, creams and ice cream.
* Butter, egg yolks and cheese.
* Untrimmed fatty meats and organ meats.
* Processed meats such as Bologna, hot dogs, salami and sausage.
* Bakery goods made with saturated fats and egg yolks.
* Coconut oils, palm oils and palm kernal oil which are saturated fats.
* Solid fats such as shortening, partially hydrogenated margarine and lard.
* Fried foods.
Lowering cholesterol does not mean that you cut out all the fats. You just exchange them. The above guidelines should help you determine how to do this.
There is a lot of focus on cutting back on the fats in the food we eat but did you know that there are beverages that can help lower cholesterol? Studies have shown that green tea has a lot of powerful antioxidants that help lower cholesterol and can even lower blood pressure.
Orange juice contains folic acids that help lower homocysteine levels in the body. High homocysteine levels can cause cholesterol to change into oxidized low density lipoprotein which can damage the arteries. It can also make blood clot easier and increase the risk of blockages.
Grape juice is loaded with certain antioxidants that help prevent red blood cells from clumping together to form clots.
Research has proven that having 1 to 3 ounces of wine a day can lower your risk of heart attack. But do not drink it if you have an alcohol dependency problem or high blood pressure.
Keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level takes some effort on your part. Lose weight, exercise, quit smoking and eat healthily. This may seem like a lot to some but you only have one heart. It is your responsibility to take good care of it.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Dawn Robertshaw has written numerous articles and ebooks on coping with life in the 21st century. For more free articles, tips, advice and a range of health and relationship targeted information products in written and audio form for immediate download visit us at http://www.InThe21stCentury.com
It is important that you keep your cholesterol at a healthy level. While high cholesterol can be hereditary, a lot of our cholesterol problems come from the food we eat and lack of exercise.
The best way to lower your cholesterol is to lose weight. Being overweight interrupts the bodys metabolism causing the body to hang onto too much fat. Following a low fat, low cholesterol diet and getting more exercise will help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol.
Here is a guide on what foods to eat and what foods to limit:
Food you should eat:-
* 5 servings per day of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
* 6 servings per day of whole grain breads, rice and pasta. Oatmeal is especially beneficial.
* 2 to 4 servings of fat free or low fat milk products.
* 6 ounces of lean meats or skinless poultry per day.
* Beans and peas.
* Nuts and seeds in limited amounts.
* Unsaturated vegetable oils. But limit the amount of margarine and spreads made from them.
Foods to Limit:-
* Whole milk, creams and ice cream.
* Butter, egg yolks and cheese.
* Untrimmed fatty meats and organ meats.
* Processed meats such as Bologna, hot dogs, salami and sausage.
* Bakery goods made with saturated fats and egg yolks.
* Coconut oils, palm oils and palm kernal oil which are saturated fats.
* Solid fats such as shortening, partially hydrogenated margarine and lard.
* Fried foods.
Lowering cholesterol does not mean that you cut out all the fats. You just exchange them. The above guidelines should help you determine how to do this.
There is a lot of focus on cutting back on the fats in the food we eat but did you know that there are beverages that can help lower cholesterol? Studies have shown that green tea has a lot of powerful antioxidants that help lower cholesterol and can even lower blood pressure.
Orange juice contains folic acids that help lower homocysteine levels in the body. High homocysteine levels can cause cholesterol to change into oxidized low density lipoprotein which can damage the arteries. It can also make blood clot easier and increase the risk of blockages.
Grape juice is loaded with certain antioxidants that help prevent red blood cells from clumping together to form clots.
Research has proven that having 1 to 3 ounces of wine a day can lower your risk of heart attack. But do not drink it if you have an alcohol dependency problem or high blood pressure.
Keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level takes some effort on your part. Lose weight, exercise, quit smoking and eat healthily. This may seem like a lot to some but you only have one heart. It is your responsibility to take good care of it.
Source: Free Articles
About the Author
Dawn Robertshaw has written numerous articles and ebooks on coping with life in the 21st century. For more free articles, tips, advice and a range of health and relationship targeted information products in written and audio form for immediate download visit us at http://www.InThe21stCentury.com
Health And Fitness, The Basic Story
First of all, let me say that you and you only have the power to influence how healthy you want to be. Your diet should at least be 1/3 fruits and vegetables. The daily food intake should be this category of food and the resulting health benefits will include lowering your risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Diabetes can happen also, once you pull the trigger on that, there is no going back. Keep in mind that you should limit the starchy carbs you eat (bread and pasta).
Health insurance plans "fee for service" is where the insurance company pays a fee for the services offered to the insured people. So with that said make sure and do your research of the various plans in order to see what other medical services are available. Also note what restrictions are in place, respective to the plan you are thinking about purchasing. A health care plan that offers full or partial coverage for those additional services may be worth paying a few extra dollars for each month in the health insurance rate.
In the event that you do get ill and need their services of your health plan they will then scrutinize your records with the hopes of finding a reason not to pay your health insurance related claims. Other things to be taken into your decision while picking out a health insurance policy are how the plan handles medical care like physical. Is there vision care or dental services? What is the care and counseling for mental health? What are the services for drug and alcohol abuse; is there ongoing care for chronic and long-term diseases. Is there alternative medical care like acupuncture; does it cover experimental treatments and therapies.
Diet and lifestyle (fitness) play important roles in keeping you healthy. Exercise is so important that it requires a special emphasis. Lack of exercise is very bad for your health. There are so many other benefits of exercise but they are well beyond the scope of this article. Your healthy lifestyle can easily help you in bringing down the health insurance premium. Detecting an illness early on can vastly improve recovery rates whilst the process itself can help identify unhealthy lifestyle habits which can be remedied.
Private health insurance is one of those lifestyle choices all us of face. If you are not doing so already, I encourage you to consider practical new ways to start a healthy lifestyle for you and your family today. There are preventable things that you can cut from you life like tobacco. Obesity from a poorly planed diet and lack of exercise in your life is something that can be prevented.
In closing remember these few things to improve your health, eat more raw vegetables and less junk food. See your doctor more often and the biggest tip of all is having a meeting with a Nutritionist/Dietitian. This person will and teaches you so much about the foods you eat, you will be so surprised.
Source: Free Articles
Health insurance plans "fee for service" is where the insurance company pays a fee for the services offered to the insured people. So with that said make sure and do your research of the various plans in order to see what other medical services are available. Also note what restrictions are in place, respective to the plan you are thinking about purchasing. A health care plan that offers full or partial coverage for those additional services may be worth paying a few extra dollars for each month in the health insurance rate.
In the event that you do get ill and need their services of your health plan they will then scrutinize your records with the hopes of finding a reason not to pay your health insurance related claims. Other things to be taken into your decision while picking out a health insurance policy are how the plan handles medical care like physical. Is there vision care or dental services? What is the care and counseling for mental health? What are the services for drug and alcohol abuse; is there ongoing care for chronic and long-term diseases. Is there alternative medical care like acupuncture; does it cover experimental treatments and therapies.
Diet and lifestyle (fitness) play important roles in keeping you healthy. Exercise is so important that it requires a special emphasis. Lack of exercise is very bad for your health. There are so many other benefits of exercise but they are well beyond the scope of this article. Your healthy lifestyle can easily help you in bringing down the health insurance premium. Detecting an illness early on can vastly improve recovery rates whilst the process itself can help identify unhealthy lifestyle habits which can be remedied.
Private health insurance is one of those lifestyle choices all us of face. If you are not doing so already, I encourage you to consider practical new ways to start a healthy lifestyle for you and your family today. There are preventable things that you can cut from you life like tobacco. Obesity from a poorly planed diet and lack of exercise in your life is something that can be prevented.
In closing remember these few things to improve your health, eat more raw vegetables and less junk food. See your doctor more often and the biggest tip of all is having a meeting with a Nutritionist/Dietitian. This person will and teaches you so much about the foods you eat, you will be so surprised.
Source: Free Articles
Is High Fiber Food Important?
What is Fiber?
Fiber is made up of the indigestible parts of plants which pass through the stomach and intestines. Its main role is to keep the digestive system healthy. Fiber is a carbohydrate and can help to stabilise glucose and cholesterol levels.
Not enough high fiber food in your diet may result in you getting one of the following disorders:
Constipation; this is a difficulty in passing hard faeces and in some cases can be extremely painful. In later stages of constipation, the abdomen may become distended and tender.
Irritable bowel syndrome; you may experience some pain, flatulence and bloating of the abdomen.
Diverticulitis; these are small hernias of the digestive tract.
Heart disease, a narrowing of the arteries caused by high cholesterol
Colorectal cancer also called colon or bowel cancer; includes cancerous growths in the colon and rectum.
Haemorrhoids, also commonly known as piles; are varicose veins or swelling and inflammation of the rectum and anus.
It is also worth mentioning that the digestive system slows down with age so a high fiber diet is more important for older people.
Insoluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber can be found in a variety of foods; vegetables such as carrot, celery, green beans, cauliflower and potato skins, whole grain foods, bran, nuts and seeds, and the skins of some fruit (including tomatoes)
Their major role is to bulk faeces and prevent constipation and associated problems. It provides bulk to the diet and speeds everything through the bowel and may help to prevent bowel cancer.
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber can be found in fruits such as apples, bananas and berries, vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, potatoes and yams, peas and beans, oats, rye and barley.
Soluble fiber also lowers cholesterol levels and helps to prevent heart disease. It can also help to prevent constipation.
Resistant Starch
This is found in many foods like grains, firm bananas, lentils and potatoes. It helps to improve bowel health.
How Much Do You Need?
Opinion varies around the world, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) ranges from 12 to 30 grams per day for adults. Children should eat 10 grams plus 1 gram per year of their age. For example, a 4 year old should eat 14 grams per day.
Tips To Help Boost Your Intake:-
*Change to wholemeal or wholegrain breads or rolls; these contain all 3 parts of the grain.
*Eat breakfast cereals which are wholegrain or contain wheat, bran or oats.
*Eat wholemeal pasta and brown rice.
*Eat fresh fruit rather than drinking fruit juice because fruit juice is often sweetened and contains artificial colors and flavors but fresh fruit has natural sugars and is full of essential vitamins and minerals.
*Add beans, barley and lentils into your soups and casseroles.
*Eat a variety of fruit and vegetables. They are low in fat, salt and sugar and a good source of dietary fiber.
*Make sure that you drink lots of fluid to enable your body to digest the fiber.
Fiber can help in weight loss because foods high in fiber are often bulky and more filling. Therefore, you will get fuller quicker and will not eat as much.
Fiber slows glucose absorption from the small intestine into the blood and therefore reduces the possibility of a surge of insulin.
Although fiber is an important factor in your diet, it is also important to gradually increase your fiber intake, a sudden increase could cause increased flatulence and abdominal pains.
Always remember to contact your Family Practitioner, Dietician or Child Health Nurse for further advice before making any changes to your diet and health program.
Source: Free Articles
Fiber is made up of the indigestible parts of plants which pass through the stomach and intestines. Its main role is to keep the digestive system healthy. Fiber is a carbohydrate and can help to stabilise glucose and cholesterol levels.
Not enough high fiber food in your diet may result in you getting one of the following disorders:
Constipation; this is a difficulty in passing hard faeces and in some cases can be extremely painful. In later stages of constipation, the abdomen may become distended and tender.
Irritable bowel syndrome; you may experience some pain, flatulence and bloating of the abdomen.
Diverticulitis; these are small hernias of the digestive tract.
Heart disease, a narrowing of the arteries caused by high cholesterol
Colorectal cancer also called colon or bowel cancer; includes cancerous growths in the colon and rectum.
Haemorrhoids, also commonly known as piles; are varicose veins or swelling and inflammation of the rectum and anus.
It is also worth mentioning that the digestive system slows down with age so a high fiber diet is more important for older people.
Insoluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber can be found in a variety of foods; vegetables such as carrot, celery, green beans, cauliflower and potato skins, whole grain foods, bran, nuts and seeds, and the skins of some fruit (including tomatoes)
Their major role is to bulk faeces and prevent constipation and associated problems. It provides bulk to the diet and speeds everything through the bowel and may help to prevent bowel cancer.
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber can be found in fruits such as apples, bananas and berries, vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, potatoes and yams, peas and beans, oats, rye and barley.
Soluble fiber also lowers cholesterol levels and helps to prevent heart disease. It can also help to prevent constipation.
Resistant Starch
This is found in many foods like grains, firm bananas, lentils and potatoes. It helps to improve bowel health.
How Much Do You Need?
Opinion varies around the world, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) ranges from 12 to 30 grams per day for adults. Children should eat 10 grams plus 1 gram per year of their age. For example, a 4 year old should eat 14 grams per day.
Tips To Help Boost Your Intake:-
*Change to wholemeal or wholegrain breads or rolls; these contain all 3 parts of the grain.
*Eat breakfast cereals which are wholegrain or contain wheat, bran or oats.
*Eat wholemeal pasta and brown rice.
*Eat fresh fruit rather than drinking fruit juice because fruit juice is often sweetened and contains artificial colors and flavors but fresh fruit has natural sugars and is full of essential vitamins and minerals.
*Add beans, barley and lentils into your soups and casseroles.
*Eat a variety of fruit and vegetables. They are low in fat, salt and sugar and a good source of dietary fiber.
*Make sure that you drink lots of fluid to enable your body to digest the fiber.
Fiber can help in weight loss because foods high in fiber are often bulky and more filling. Therefore, you will get fuller quicker and will not eat as much.
Fiber slows glucose absorption from the small intestine into the blood and therefore reduces the possibility of a surge of insulin.
Although fiber is an important factor in your diet, it is also important to gradually increase your fiber intake, a sudden increase could cause increased flatulence and abdominal pains.
Always remember to contact your Family Practitioner, Dietician or Child Health Nurse for further advice before making any changes to your diet and health program.
Source: Free Articles
Natural Nutrition: Regain Your Health With Proper Nutrition
Natural nutrition has two governing precepts: the body has the remarkable power to heal itself but is also unable to work against itself. Natural nutrition is not only about what we ingest in the form of food and drink it is also about taking responsibility for the quality of our decisions.
The multitude of combinations of ingredients naturally found in fresh produce, as opposed to supplements, are essential in order to maintain peak health. Choose to take in to your body only those foods that are full of natural enzymes and nutrients and your body will feel and look healthier and more energized. Many health conditions can be treated successfully through proper nutrition.
Nutrition Should Not Come From A Factory
Stay away from foods which have unnatural additives, which have been irradiated and which are genetically modified. Processed, prepackaged, refined, manufactured, artificially flavored and/or colored, preservative-laden, chemically treated, or chemically engineered foods are highly discouraged. They do not contain the nutritional value of whole foods and they contain many additives, which further depletes the system of essential nutrients. To keep in tune with the cycles of nature you can select foods that are in season.
Consume Natural Vitamins
The body requires vitamins which for the most part should come from selecting nutritious foods. Keep in mind that vitamins consumed as a supplement are missing most of the enzymes, co-enzymes, minerals, mineral activators and other substances that work with vitamins which allow them to be absorbed and fully used by the body.
Nature Heals
Your body is for the most part a self repairing machine if it has the required nutrients and is not compromised by toxins and pollution. Unfortunately we live in a toxic environment and the mass market food supply no longer provides all the nutrients we need. The first essential step toward wellness, therefore, is to be sure you are getting the correct amounts of the proper nutrients by choosing only the freshest, least altered foods.
Balance
Various health conditions have been corrected time and time again by supplying the body's requirement for balanced nutrition. Rather than treating areas or symptoms in isolation, natural nutrition treats the whole person, restoring a state of balance, so that the body may then correct its own symptoms. High quality natural nutrition is about 'balance' not 'potency'.
Natural Nutrition Is Healthy
By consuming natural nutrition you are able to reverse many conditions including:
Allergies
Arthritis/Rheumatism
Asthma
Childrens' behavioral problems
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
IBS/Digestive complaints
Headaches
Infertility
Skin problems, including Acne, eczema and psoriasis
Weight problems
Summary
Natural nutrition is about handing us back control of our own health, enabling us to see and feel what is going on and take action accordingly. It is without a doubt the most effective form of nutrition. Consuming only natural ingredients continually keeps us aware of our current health picture.
Unnatural nutrition is one of the major causes of many of our diseases, while natural nutrition is an equally powerful agent in curing these diseases and rejuvenating our health. A poor diet could be unknowingly contributing to your pain and discomfort, short temper, heartburn, fatigue, weight gain, depression, allergies, and anxiety.
Source: Free Articles
The multitude of combinations of ingredients naturally found in fresh produce, as opposed to supplements, are essential in order to maintain peak health. Choose to take in to your body only those foods that are full of natural enzymes and nutrients and your body will feel and look healthier and more energized. Many health conditions can be treated successfully through proper nutrition.
Nutrition Should Not Come From A Factory
Stay away from foods which have unnatural additives, which have been irradiated and which are genetically modified. Processed, prepackaged, refined, manufactured, artificially flavored and/or colored, preservative-laden, chemically treated, or chemically engineered foods are highly discouraged. They do not contain the nutritional value of whole foods and they contain many additives, which further depletes the system of essential nutrients. To keep in tune with the cycles of nature you can select foods that are in season.
Consume Natural Vitamins
The body requires vitamins which for the most part should come from selecting nutritious foods. Keep in mind that vitamins consumed as a supplement are missing most of the enzymes, co-enzymes, minerals, mineral activators and other substances that work with vitamins which allow them to be absorbed and fully used by the body.
Nature Heals
Your body is for the most part a self repairing machine if it has the required nutrients and is not compromised by toxins and pollution. Unfortunately we live in a toxic environment and the mass market food supply no longer provides all the nutrients we need. The first essential step toward wellness, therefore, is to be sure you are getting the correct amounts of the proper nutrients by choosing only the freshest, least altered foods.
Balance
Various health conditions have been corrected time and time again by supplying the body's requirement for balanced nutrition. Rather than treating areas or symptoms in isolation, natural nutrition treats the whole person, restoring a state of balance, so that the body may then correct its own symptoms. High quality natural nutrition is about 'balance' not 'potency'.
Natural Nutrition Is Healthy
By consuming natural nutrition you are able to reverse many conditions including:
Allergies
Arthritis/Rheumatism
Asthma
Childrens' behavioral problems
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
IBS/Digestive complaints
Headaches
Infertility
Skin problems, including Acne, eczema and psoriasis
Weight problems
Summary
Natural nutrition is about handing us back control of our own health, enabling us to see and feel what is going on and take action accordingly. It is without a doubt the most effective form of nutrition. Consuming only natural ingredients continually keeps us aware of our current health picture.
Unnatural nutrition is one of the major causes of many of our diseases, while natural nutrition is an equally powerful agent in curing these diseases and rejuvenating our health. A poor diet could be unknowingly contributing to your pain and discomfort, short temper, heartburn, fatigue, weight gain, depression, allergies, and anxiety.
Source: Free Articles
Using facial masks and scrubs
Even though a facial mask or facial scrub isn’t completely necessary for beautiful skin, it can help it to be extra soft and clean. You can use these daily or once in a while, it all depends on what you want to get out of them. Follow the following steps to learn how to effectively take advantage of the benefits of facial masks and scrubs.
Facial scrubs remove dead skin cells. Scrubs have tiny beads within the wash that smooth your skin. They slough off dead skin cells to reveal a new layer of skin. If you have a problem with buildup on your skin such as makeup or excessive oil, a scrub is perfect.
When you want to use a scrub, you can use it instead of a regular cleanser. Apply a small amount to your face. Now you need to spend at least 30 seconds gently scrubbing your face. Be sure to scrub it well or it won’t work. When you use a facial scrub, you might notice your skin looks red. This is because you have removed the old skin to show the younger, new skin underneath.
The benefits of a facial mask are a bit different. Some masks are used to clear acne. They dry the skin drying out the acne you already have. The benefit of most masks is to tighten your skin. It tightens the skin by shrinking your pores. This makes your pores less visible and your skin tighter. As we all know, saggy skin is not pretty! Facial masks can also make your skin very soft and touchable.
You can include this step immediately after washing. Pat your skin dry or leave it slightly damp. The more moisture you have on your skin, the longer it will take the mask to dry. Apply the mask to your fingertips and massage it into your skin. Avoid your eyes and mouth. Put it anywhere you want tighter and cleaner skin. Let it dry on your face. This might take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, so make sure you have time set aside to do this.
Applying chamomile tea bags to your eyes can help relieve puffiness. Be careful not to move your face. It will start to feel tight and your face may feel so tight that you can’t move it. If you move it, you will break it up and not give it enough chance to tighten your skin. When it is completely dry, wipe it off with a wash cloth and wash again if necessary.
These are two great treatments for your face. You can include them in your daily routine, or you can use them as a special treat once a week or every so often. Use these methods to help your skin stay young and look beautiful.
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About the Author: Do you want to know more about facial masks and scrubs andfacial moisturizers and where to get them? To learn more about your skin and how to take care of it, go to BeautifulSoftSkin.com.
Facial scrubs remove dead skin cells. Scrubs have tiny beads within the wash that smooth your skin. They slough off dead skin cells to reveal a new layer of skin. If you have a problem with buildup on your skin such as makeup or excessive oil, a scrub is perfect.
When you want to use a scrub, you can use it instead of a regular cleanser. Apply a small amount to your face. Now you need to spend at least 30 seconds gently scrubbing your face. Be sure to scrub it well or it won’t work. When you use a facial scrub, you might notice your skin looks red. This is because you have removed the old skin to show the younger, new skin underneath.
The benefits of a facial mask are a bit different. Some masks are used to clear acne. They dry the skin drying out the acne you already have. The benefit of most masks is to tighten your skin. It tightens the skin by shrinking your pores. This makes your pores less visible and your skin tighter. As we all know, saggy skin is not pretty! Facial masks can also make your skin very soft and touchable.
You can include this step immediately after washing. Pat your skin dry or leave it slightly damp. The more moisture you have on your skin, the longer it will take the mask to dry. Apply the mask to your fingertips and massage it into your skin. Avoid your eyes and mouth. Put it anywhere you want tighter and cleaner skin. Let it dry on your face. This might take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, so make sure you have time set aside to do this.
Applying chamomile tea bags to your eyes can help relieve puffiness. Be careful not to move your face. It will start to feel tight and your face may feel so tight that you can’t move it. If you move it, you will break it up and not give it enough chance to tighten your skin. When it is completely dry, wipe it off with a wash cloth and wash again if necessary.
These are two great treatments for your face. You can include them in your daily routine, or you can use them as a special treat once a week or every so often. Use these methods to help your skin stay young and look beautiful.
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About the Author: Do you want to know more about facial masks and scrubs andfacial moisturizers and where to get them? To learn more about your skin and how to take care of it, go to BeautifulSoftSkin.com.
10 Reasons in Favour of Healthy Drinking Water
"Water is the safest thing for you to drink. What we mean by “water” is plain water, mineral water, seltzer water, sparkling water or any other water you may have in your area that has ZERO calories. Be sure to check the label on any water you buy because you may be shocked to see sugar or sodium or caffeine, or all three, in some of your favourite water
1. Water is the essence of life. Life cannot exist without water. We must always be adding fresh water to our bodies in order to keep them well hydrated. Water can be a wonder cure for a lot of common illnesses such as headaches, fatigue, joint pain, and much more. We can go for weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. Over half your body is made up of water.
2. Water prevents and cures heartburn. Heartburn is an indication of water deficiency in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is a major thirst signal of the human body. The use of antacids or other tablets in dealing with this pain does not correct dehydration, and the body goes on suffering because of its water shortage. Tragedy: if you don’t identify heartburn as a symptom of dehydration and you keep treating it with antacids and other pills it will, in time, create inflammation of the stomach and duodenum, hiatal hernia, ulceration, and ultimately cancers in the gastrointestinal tract, including the liver and pancreas.
3. Water jump starts your body: while your mind may react to caffeine in the morning, water helps the rest of your body get moving. It begins by helping to ease dry mouth and goes on to work the magic of motion throughout your system. Soda and coffee don’t count. Although they are liquid beverages, the caffeine in both can in fact add to fluid loss through diuresis.
4. Water helps preserve healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite. Water also reduces feelings of hunger. The kidneys can’t work properly without enough water. Some of the load is moved to the liver when this occurs. The liver metabolizes stored fat for energy, so the body burns less fat if the liver is doing some of the kidneys’ work.
5. Water washes out toxins and other metabolic waste products from the body. It helps get rid of excess nitrogen, urea, and ketones, so it is particularly important when following a high protein diet. You need even more water to help your kidneys do their work if you’re eating big to gain weight.
6. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, adequate fluid replacement helps to maintain hydration therefore optimizing and enhancing performance of those participating in regular exercise. They suggest flavored waters to promote hydration and to increase palatability. Products such as Gatorade’s Propel Fitness Water are, therefore, terrific substitutes for plain water to increase fluid intake and meet the optimum consumption of water per day, thus enhancing performance and lessening the possibility of dehydration.
7. Women who drink more than five glasses of water a day are 41% less likely to die from a heart attack than those who drink less than two glasses. The protective effect of water is even greater in men. Not all liquids are equal. The consumption of other liquids such as coffee, tea, juice, milk and alcohol actually increase your risk of heart attack.
8. Michaud and coworkers found that the incidence of cancer in the urinary bladder was reduced significantly by a high fluid intake in a ten-year study involving nearly 48,000 men. The top 20% of subjects who participated in the study drank 2500 ml per day or more, while the bottom 20% drank 1200 ml or less. The authors concluded that within this range, the risk of bladder cancer decreased by 7% for every 240 ml of fluid added.
9. When you don’t have enough water in your body, your cells start to draw water from the bloodstream. Your heart has to work harder because your blood gets sludgy, and your body starts to redirect blood away from less vital areas. Dehydration can set in even before you start to feel thirsty. This is a great strain on the body because it impairs the kidneys in their vital function of purifying the blood and helping the body get rid of toxins.
10. Water is the nutrient your body needs the most. Between 55 and 75 percent of adult body weight is water, and it is critical in regulating all body organs and temperature as well as dissolving solids and moving nutrients throughout the body. Research has shown that proper hydration may minimize chronic pains such as rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain, migraines and colitis as well as lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
The best way to figure out if you’re drinking enough water is to look at your urine. It should be a very light shade of yellow. Drink up if it’s darker. Let your thirst guide you, also. You might not need eight glasses to feel hydrated on a mild day. You could crave nine or 10 if it’s hot or you’re exercising. Bottom line? Your body is 90 percent waterand needs it for digestion, healthy skin, blood circulation, temperature control and lots of other reasons.
Water is an essential part of your body. The standard is about 8-10 cups a day for adults, although there is still dispute on how much is enough. Drink soda, tea and coffee in moderation. Sweet beverages and those with caffeine reduce the hydrating effect of liquid and may create other health threats. Honest to goodness water is the gold standard with the ability for 100% water replacement."
1. Water is the essence of life. Life cannot exist without water. We must always be adding fresh water to our bodies in order to keep them well hydrated. Water can be a wonder cure for a lot of common illnesses such as headaches, fatigue, joint pain, and much more. We can go for weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. Over half your body is made up of water.
2. Water prevents and cures heartburn. Heartburn is an indication of water deficiency in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is a major thirst signal of the human body. The use of antacids or other tablets in dealing with this pain does not correct dehydration, and the body goes on suffering because of its water shortage. Tragedy: if you don’t identify heartburn as a symptom of dehydration and you keep treating it with antacids and other pills it will, in time, create inflammation of the stomach and duodenum, hiatal hernia, ulceration, and ultimately cancers in the gastrointestinal tract, including the liver and pancreas.
3. Water jump starts your body: while your mind may react to caffeine in the morning, water helps the rest of your body get moving. It begins by helping to ease dry mouth and goes on to work the magic of motion throughout your system. Soda and coffee don’t count. Although they are liquid beverages, the caffeine in both can in fact add to fluid loss through diuresis.
4. Water helps preserve healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite. Water also reduces feelings of hunger. The kidneys can’t work properly without enough water. Some of the load is moved to the liver when this occurs. The liver metabolizes stored fat for energy, so the body burns less fat if the liver is doing some of the kidneys’ work.
5. Water washes out toxins and other metabolic waste products from the body. It helps get rid of excess nitrogen, urea, and ketones, so it is particularly important when following a high protein diet. You need even more water to help your kidneys do their work if you’re eating big to gain weight.
6. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, adequate fluid replacement helps to maintain hydration therefore optimizing and enhancing performance of those participating in regular exercise. They suggest flavored waters to promote hydration and to increase palatability. Products such as Gatorade’s Propel Fitness Water are, therefore, terrific substitutes for plain water to increase fluid intake and meet the optimum consumption of water per day, thus enhancing performance and lessening the possibility of dehydration.
7. Women who drink more than five glasses of water a day are 41% less likely to die from a heart attack than those who drink less than two glasses. The protective effect of water is even greater in men. Not all liquids are equal. The consumption of other liquids such as coffee, tea, juice, milk and alcohol actually increase your risk of heart attack.
8. Michaud and coworkers found that the incidence of cancer in the urinary bladder was reduced significantly by a high fluid intake in a ten-year study involving nearly 48,000 men. The top 20% of subjects who participated in the study drank 2500 ml per day or more, while the bottom 20% drank 1200 ml or less. The authors concluded that within this range, the risk of bladder cancer decreased by 7% for every 240 ml of fluid added.
9. When you don’t have enough water in your body, your cells start to draw water from the bloodstream. Your heart has to work harder because your blood gets sludgy, and your body starts to redirect blood away from less vital areas. Dehydration can set in even before you start to feel thirsty. This is a great strain on the body because it impairs the kidneys in their vital function of purifying the blood and helping the body get rid of toxins.
10. Water is the nutrient your body needs the most. Between 55 and 75 percent of adult body weight is water, and it is critical in regulating all body organs and temperature as well as dissolving solids and moving nutrients throughout the body. Research has shown that proper hydration may minimize chronic pains such as rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain, migraines and colitis as well as lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
The best way to figure out if you’re drinking enough water is to look at your urine. It should be a very light shade of yellow. Drink up if it’s darker. Let your thirst guide you, also. You might not need eight glasses to feel hydrated on a mild day. You could crave nine or 10 if it’s hot or you’re exercising. Bottom line? Your body is 90 percent waterand needs it for digestion, healthy skin, blood circulation, temperature control and lots of other reasons.
Water is an essential part of your body. The standard is about 8-10 cups a day for adults, although there is still dispute on how much is enough. Drink soda, tea and coffee in moderation. Sweet beverages and those with caffeine reduce the hydrating effect of liquid and may create other health threats. Honest to goodness water is the gold standard with the ability for 100% water replacement."
Do You Eat Healthy Foods?
Many people forget about the nutritional values of foods when planning their meals. After all, it's so much easier to just stop at their favorite fast food restaurant on their way home from work.
Everyone knows they should be eating more healthy foods, but some people aren't quite sure where to start. Here are some things to look for when trying to plan healthier meals.
Are you eating lots of fruits and vegetables? The majority of us do not eat adequate amounts to keep us healthy. Experts recommend that we eat between 5 to 9 servings every day. That adds up to about 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables. Choose a variety of vegetables and fruits in different colors. Dark green vegetables like spinach, for instance, contain more nutritients than lighter colored vegetables.
Are you eating grains and cereals? Besides the well-known benefits of dietary fiber, grains and cereals provide many important nutrients for your health. Whole grain breads and cereals are much preferred over refined white breads or rice.
Are you eating a wide variety of foods? They say that variety is the spice of life. In reality, it's the basis of a healthy diet. Our bodies need food from all of the food groups to function at peak performance. These food groups consist of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, beans and nuts. Sorry...candy is not a food group.
Do you eat breakfast every day? Yes, it's true: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a good breakfast will give you the energy you need to make it through the morning and help eliminate those high-fat splurges.
Do you drink plenty of water? Soda and coffee may be liquid but they do not replace the water that your body needs. We need at least 16 ounces of water each day to keep ourselves hydrated and flush out the impurities that we may have accumulated in our digestive systems.
How much fat do you eat? Dietary fat is our enemy. Even though our bodies need a certain amount of fat, most of us consume 200 to 300 percent more than we need. That's a scary thought! So, when you are making your food choices, look at the labels to see how much fat is contained in the food item. Vegetables and fruits are naturally lower in fat than meats.
How much salt, sugar and alcohol are you eating? Here again, moderation is the key. Serious problems can occur when you overdo. Salt can lead to water retention, weight gain and heart problems. Sugar, when eaten in large quantities over a long period of time can contribute to diabetes. And, excessive alcohol consumption is bad for the kidneys.
Your body will tell you when you are not getting (or when you are getting too much) of a certain kind of food. If you are gaining weight, you know you are either eating portions that are too large or you are eating foods that are high in fat. Feeling tired can mean that you're not getting the nutrients from the foods required by your body to function.
Eating healthy foods is not as difficult as it sounds. In a nutshell: drink more water, eat less fats and sugars, and eat more fruits, vegetables and grains.
Source: Free Articles
Everyone knows they should be eating more healthy foods, but some people aren't quite sure where to start. Here are some things to look for when trying to plan healthier meals.
Are you eating lots of fruits and vegetables? The majority of us do not eat adequate amounts to keep us healthy. Experts recommend that we eat between 5 to 9 servings every day. That adds up to about 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables. Choose a variety of vegetables and fruits in different colors. Dark green vegetables like spinach, for instance, contain more nutritients than lighter colored vegetables.
Are you eating grains and cereals? Besides the well-known benefits of dietary fiber, grains and cereals provide many important nutrients for your health. Whole grain breads and cereals are much preferred over refined white breads or rice.
Are you eating a wide variety of foods? They say that variety is the spice of life. In reality, it's the basis of a healthy diet. Our bodies need food from all of the food groups to function at peak performance. These food groups consist of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, beans and nuts. Sorry...candy is not a food group.
Do you eat breakfast every day? Yes, it's true: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a good breakfast will give you the energy you need to make it through the morning and help eliminate those high-fat splurges.
Do you drink plenty of water? Soda and coffee may be liquid but they do not replace the water that your body needs. We need at least 16 ounces of water each day to keep ourselves hydrated and flush out the impurities that we may have accumulated in our digestive systems.
How much fat do you eat? Dietary fat is our enemy. Even though our bodies need a certain amount of fat, most of us consume 200 to 300 percent more than we need. That's a scary thought! So, when you are making your food choices, look at the labels to see how much fat is contained in the food item. Vegetables and fruits are naturally lower in fat than meats.
How much salt, sugar and alcohol are you eating? Here again, moderation is the key. Serious problems can occur when you overdo. Salt can lead to water retention, weight gain and heart problems. Sugar, when eaten in large quantities over a long period of time can contribute to diabetes. And, excessive alcohol consumption is bad for the kidneys.
Your body will tell you when you are not getting (or when you are getting too much) of a certain kind of food. If you are gaining weight, you know you are either eating portions that are too large or you are eating foods that are high in fat. Feeling tired can mean that you're not getting the nutrients from the foods required by your body to function.
Eating healthy foods is not as difficult as it sounds. In a nutshell: drink more water, eat less fats and sugars, and eat more fruits, vegetables and grains.
Source: Free Articles
The Secret Of Shutting Your Brain Off To Sleep
Are you still thinking about that annoying coworker, what to eat for tomorrow night's dinner or money issues before shutting your eyes at night? Is it preventing you from getting sleep? If so, you may be in need of a few secrets that will help you shut your brain off to sleep. After all, staying awake worrying isn't going to help you deal with them in the morning. In fact, it will harm your ability to do so.
Meditation and learning to breath
Everyone knows how to breath, right? Sure they do, but do they know how to breathe properly to calm their minds and bodies?
Basically, before going to bed, you find a relaxing atmosphere. Perhaps you enjoy candlelight, and the color scheme of your living room. You can either lie down in your living room or sit in a comfortable chair and light a candle. It's important to be relaxed in order to get the best results.
Now take a few deep breaths, close your eyes and try to push all of the clambering thoughts from your mind. Take a deep breath through your nose. You want to do this slowly, while concentrating on your body, and once your lungs are full of air, release it slowly through your mouth.
Now set a rhythm, and you will hopefully fall into a light meditative state. Using this technique before bed has helped a great deal of people relax, and get a better night sleep. Yoga, which teaches this sort of breathing, while tiring your body out at the same time, can be a huge benefit for people who have trouble sleeping at night.
Massage
I nice back or body massage can be a wonderful tool when trying to get some shut-eye. Getting those knots of tension massaged out of your system can be relaxing and many people fall asleep while getting the massage. You can also get the massage before or after your meditation session to boost the effects.
Making love
Or if you were a little frisky after your massage, perhaps your partner would be up for a little nookie. Sex releases chemicals in the brain that naturally help you to relax and fall asleep. Plus, a little bit of post-sex cuddling never hurts either.
Reading
Reading before bed can help you shut your mind off and divert your attention from the day's events. However, this method only works for about 50% of people, but if you've tried everything else, this may be the answer for you.
Hot bath
I nice hot bath, some candlelight and a good book could be the answer you're looking for. You could also relax in the tub before heading off for your massage and meditation session. Sounds a lot like paradise, right? Just make sure you have your bath an hour or so before bed so your body temperature can settle down afterwards.
If you're looking to shut your brain off to sleep, try these secrets. While there is no solution that works for everybody, these secrets will help the majority of them. You just have to find the technique that works for you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author: How can a set of 850 year old exercises help you sleep? Find out here at TheInsomniaCode.com!
Meditation and learning to breath
Everyone knows how to breath, right? Sure they do, but do they know how to breathe properly to calm their minds and bodies?
Basically, before going to bed, you find a relaxing atmosphere. Perhaps you enjoy candlelight, and the color scheme of your living room. You can either lie down in your living room or sit in a comfortable chair and light a candle. It's important to be relaxed in order to get the best results.
Now take a few deep breaths, close your eyes and try to push all of the clambering thoughts from your mind. Take a deep breath through your nose. You want to do this slowly, while concentrating on your body, and once your lungs are full of air, release it slowly through your mouth.
Now set a rhythm, and you will hopefully fall into a light meditative state. Using this technique before bed has helped a great deal of people relax, and get a better night sleep. Yoga, which teaches this sort of breathing, while tiring your body out at the same time, can be a huge benefit for people who have trouble sleeping at night.
Massage
I nice back or body massage can be a wonderful tool when trying to get some shut-eye. Getting those knots of tension massaged out of your system can be relaxing and many people fall asleep while getting the massage. You can also get the massage before or after your meditation session to boost the effects.
Making love
Or if you were a little frisky after your massage, perhaps your partner would be up for a little nookie. Sex releases chemicals in the brain that naturally help you to relax and fall asleep. Plus, a little bit of post-sex cuddling never hurts either.
Reading
Reading before bed can help you shut your mind off and divert your attention from the day's events. However, this method only works for about 50% of people, but if you've tried everything else, this may be the answer for you.
Hot bath
I nice hot bath, some candlelight and a good book could be the answer you're looking for. You could also relax in the tub before heading off for your massage and meditation session. Sounds a lot like paradise, right? Just make sure you have your bath an hour or so before bed so your body temperature can settle down afterwards.
If you're looking to shut your brain off to sleep, try these secrets. While there is no solution that works for everybody, these secrets will help the majority of them. You just have to find the technique that works for you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author: How can a set of 850 year old exercises help you sleep? Find out here at TheInsomniaCode.com!
Papaya - The Healthy Food
Papaya – For Health
The papaya or paw paw is native to tropical America, but it is now grown in most tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The large pear shaped fruits grow up to 8 inches in length approximately. Some varieties remain green when ripe, but most turn deep yellow and orange. Papayas have deep salmon pink flesh, with an abundance of grey-black seeds in the central cavity, which are edible. The soft, juicy sweet flesh tastes like a cross between melons and peaches.
The Goodness of Papaya
Papayas are rich in Vitamin A and Calcium and contain large quantities of the enzyme papain, which breaks down protein and can be used to tenderize meat. Papain also makes this fruit very easy to digest.
How to Buy
Choose uniformly yellow fruit. Sniff them, the scent should be delicate. Do not buy papayas with damaged or shriveled skins since they bruise easily. If the fruit is not ripe, check the skin around the stem end, it should be yellow, otherwise the papaya will never ripen. Ripe papayas should be eaten immediately. Fruit that is not quite ripe should be left at room temperature until soft and yellow.
How to Cook
Simply cut the papayas in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds from the cavity. You can eat the seeds (they have a peppery flavor), but they are not particularly pleasant. Squeeze a little lime or lemon juice on the flesh before serving. Papayas can be used in the same way as melons, served solo with a squeeze of lime or sprinkled with ground ginger and served with meat. The cubed flesh can be added to fruit salads, made into ice-creams and fruit drinks or served with yogurt. Finely chopped papaya is perfect with chilies in fresh salsa. The skin can be used to tenderize cheaper cuts of meat. The papain however, prevents gelatine from setting, so do not attempt to make a fresh fruit jelly, cold soufflé or mousse with papaya. Papayas which are not fully ripe can be used in salads, while fruit that is still hard is ideal for relishes and jams.
Medicinal Benefits
1. Consumption of ripe fruit is good for the treatment of ringworms, green fruit treats high blood pressure and is used as an aphrodisiac.
2. The fruit can be directly applied topically to skin sores.
3. The seeds are anti-inflammatory and analgesic and they are used to treat stomach ache and fungal infections.
4. The leaves are used as heart tonic, analgesic and for the treatment of stomach ache.
5. The roots are used as analgesic.
Source: Free Articles
The papaya or paw paw is native to tropical America, but it is now grown in most tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The large pear shaped fruits grow up to 8 inches in length approximately. Some varieties remain green when ripe, but most turn deep yellow and orange. Papayas have deep salmon pink flesh, with an abundance of grey-black seeds in the central cavity, which are edible. The soft, juicy sweet flesh tastes like a cross between melons and peaches.
The Goodness of Papaya
Papayas are rich in Vitamin A and Calcium and contain large quantities of the enzyme papain, which breaks down protein and can be used to tenderize meat. Papain also makes this fruit very easy to digest.
How to Buy
Choose uniformly yellow fruit. Sniff them, the scent should be delicate. Do not buy papayas with damaged or shriveled skins since they bruise easily. If the fruit is not ripe, check the skin around the stem end, it should be yellow, otherwise the papaya will never ripen. Ripe papayas should be eaten immediately. Fruit that is not quite ripe should be left at room temperature until soft and yellow.
How to Cook
Simply cut the papayas in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds from the cavity. You can eat the seeds (they have a peppery flavor), but they are not particularly pleasant. Squeeze a little lime or lemon juice on the flesh before serving. Papayas can be used in the same way as melons, served solo with a squeeze of lime or sprinkled with ground ginger and served with meat. The cubed flesh can be added to fruit salads, made into ice-creams and fruit drinks or served with yogurt. Finely chopped papaya is perfect with chilies in fresh salsa. The skin can be used to tenderize cheaper cuts of meat. The papain however, prevents gelatine from setting, so do not attempt to make a fresh fruit jelly, cold soufflé or mousse with papaya. Papayas which are not fully ripe can be used in salads, while fruit that is still hard is ideal for relishes and jams.
Medicinal Benefits
1. Consumption of ripe fruit is good for the treatment of ringworms, green fruit treats high blood pressure and is used as an aphrodisiac.
2. The fruit can be directly applied topically to skin sores.
3. The seeds are anti-inflammatory and analgesic and they are used to treat stomach ache and fungal infections.
4. The leaves are used as heart tonic, analgesic and for the treatment of stomach ache.
5. The roots are used as analgesic.
Source: Free Articles
6 Ways to Increase Your Energy All Day
Everyone wants more energy. How many of us slam countless energy drinks and cups of coffee to try to obtain it? Americans are always working hard, but due to our unhealthy lifestyle, we are always desperately struggling to keep our energy up. Within this report, I have detailed six simple techniques I use each day to keep myself “up” all day long.
Hill Sprints
You really need to try these! In order to have “gratuitous” amounts of energy, you have to keep your pulse / metabolism stimulated all day. When it comes to keeping your metabolism up all day, hill sprints are incredibly effective. With any high intensity aerobic workout or interval training, very little time is required, yet the heart stays stimulated much longer than normal aerobics. Hill sprints are even more effective than normal sprints because of the added effort of ascending the hill – followed by an easy descent.
I recommend a hill with a surface run of about 100 feet. This will be long enough to make you winded when you’re pushing it, but still makes it possible to pause at the top and have the feeling of “reaching the summit” on each sprint. As with any exercise, stretch and warm up properly to avoid injury and “over-doing it.” After warming up, walk up and down the hill a few times. After you have a feel for the hill, you may jog up and down it a few times. Practice stopping at the same point at the bottom (a line or mark helps) and turning around at the same point at the summit.
After you have a feel for the entire sprint route, you may begin sprinting. I recommend a pattern similar to the following:
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Walk down
Sprint up – Walk down
Sprint up – Walk down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Skip up – Sprint down
Skip up – Sprint down
Skip up – Sprint down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Skip up – Skip down
Skip up – Skip down
Skip up – Skip down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Sprint down (as hard as you can)
Sprint up – Jog down
Jog up – Jog down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
You’re done!
It is an absolutely brutal workout when you push it. However, your pulse will stay elevated much longer, giving you more energy and making this workout an effective fat burner for the whole day. The most important part is warming up and cooling down slowly to avoid pulling any muscles or hurting your lungs. If done correctly, you’ll feel the energy gains the entire day! The effort required also increases oxidation in your blood, making you more relaxed and helping to provide you with clearer thoughts.
Ginseng
Caffeine seriously makes your body hate you. Don’t use it. If you’ve read my report “Decaf: Breaking Your Caffeine Addiction” you understand my strong viewpoints on the subject of caffeine. There are many superior supplements that can provide you with solid energy that lasts throughout your day. Unlike caffeine, you will not “burn out.”
One of my favorites is ginseng. It’s highly underrated. It’s completely natural, and has been used for thousands of years to promote vitality and longevity. I consume the root extract; however it is possible to gain the same results by chewing on the root itself. Ginseng stimulates your metabolism and increases the efficiency with which your body uses carbohydrates and proteins, without making you feel “cranked.” It has also been proven to increase physical and mental endurance. In addition, ginseng has profound immune system-enhancing effects. The recommended dosage is 200-300 mg per day. I take 250 mg each day, and feel great as a result.
Ginkgo Biloba
Another excellent supplement is ginkgo biloba. It has been shown to improve thinking, learning, memory, muscular endurance and blood flow. Ginkgo biloba is another herb which has been used for thousands of years improve mind and body functions. Extract from the leaves of the tree is the active ingredient. The recommended doseage is 120 mg. Be aware that due to the way in which your body handles ginkgo biloba, it may take up to six weeks to notice the results… so don’t give up! Take it daily.
Green Tea Extract
My third favorite natural supplement is green tea extract. Green tea has countless benefits, including improved blood flow, fighting infections, lowering cholesterol levels, weight loss, reduced body odor, improved metabolic rate (without increasing heart rate) and improved mental alertness. Green tea is truly a super supplement. I could list many more benefits, but I would like you to go do your own research on it, and discover the many ways in which it will improve your body and mind. The typical recommended dosage extract is 150-450 mg per day. I take only 200 mg each day, and I feel superb!
Water
Water is crucial for keeping your energy up throughout the day. Insufficient water consumption has been shown to be a huge factor in people feeling run-down at work, especially during the late morning and early afternoon timeframe. Drinking water keeps your physiological systems working properly and flushes out toxins as you go throughout your day, allowing you to operate much more efficiently. Water stimulates the metabolism. It does this in several ways, and one way is the simple fact that when cold water enters your body, your body must raise your heart rate to heat the water in order to maintain equilibrium. Water stimulates your digestion by making it easier for your stomach to break down your food and transport it to the cells in your body. At the very least, the majority of your physiological systems are used / stimulated when drinking water. Thus, simply pounding glasses of water, processing them and using the bathroom will help keep you awake and alert.
At the very minimum, your body needs about 0.5 ounces of water per pound of body weight. For increased energy, I recommend increasing your intake to 0.75 ounces per pound. You will really feel the difference!
Diet
Your diet is massively critical in regulating your energy! I have enough content on the subject to write an entire book, but I will keep this brief. If you are following the typical American “diet” of greasy, fried, refined and sweetened foods, you’ll feel incredible changes by changing how you eat!
Out of all the physically fit and energetic people I know, unquestionably, the ones with the “cleanest” diets are the ones with the highest energy levels!
Grease, simple sugars and processed fats all add to mental “fog” and hurt your body in countless ways. Clean up your diet. Eliminate sweets, greasy / fried meals, heavy starches, and heavily processed food. You will feel a difference quickly.
The excessive carbohydrates that most people consume via sweet snacks, juices and pizza, for example sap energy all on their own. The heavier the meal, the more blood your body must allocate to digest it. As a result, most people are in a continuous state of digestion the entire day, and a good portion of their blood that could be flowing in their brain is spent digesting the sweetened and processed snacks they consume to “gain energy.”
So, tomorrow go to the store and purchase the supplements I have recommended. Start doing hill sprints (in the morning or afternoon). Take ginseng, ginkgo biloba and green tea extract. Slam glasses of water and clean up your diet!
You WILL have more energy!
These, of course are all physical ways to increase your energy. Keep an eye on our site as we teach you how critical your thoughts are to your energy levels and how to change them… you’ll be able to elevate your day to a whole new level.
Hill Sprints
You really need to try these! In order to have “gratuitous” amounts of energy, you have to keep your pulse / metabolism stimulated all day. When it comes to keeping your metabolism up all day, hill sprints are incredibly effective. With any high intensity aerobic workout or interval training, very little time is required, yet the heart stays stimulated much longer than normal aerobics. Hill sprints are even more effective than normal sprints because of the added effort of ascending the hill – followed by an easy descent.
I recommend a hill with a surface run of about 100 feet. This will be long enough to make you winded when you’re pushing it, but still makes it possible to pause at the top and have the feeling of “reaching the summit” on each sprint. As with any exercise, stretch and warm up properly to avoid injury and “over-doing it.” After warming up, walk up and down the hill a few times. After you have a feel for the hill, you may jog up and down it a few times. Practice stopping at the same point at the bottom (a line or mark helps) and turning around at the same point at the summit.
After you have a feel for the entire sprint route, you may begin sprinting. I recommend a pattern similar to the following:
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Walk down
Sprint up – Walk down
Sprint up – Walk down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
Sprint up – Sprint down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Skip up – Sprint down
Skip up – Sprint down
Skip up – Sprint down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Skip up – Skip down
Skip up – Skip down
Skip up – Skip down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Sprint up – Sprint down (as hard as you can)
Sprint up – Jog down
Jog up – Jog down
30 second break (stretch and breathe)
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
Walk up – Walk down
You’re done!
It is an absolutely brutal workout when you push it. However, your pulse will stay elevated much longer, giving you more energy and making this workout an effective fat burner for the whole day. The most important part is warming up and cooling down slowly to avoid pulling any muscles or hurting your lungs. If done correctly, you’ll feel the energy gains the entire day! The effort required also increases oxidation in your blood, making you more relaxed and helping to provide you with clearer thoughts.
Ginseng
Caffeine seriously makes your body hate you. Don’t use it. If you’ve read my report “Decaf: Breaking Your Caffeine Addiction” you understand my strong viewpoints on the subject of caffeine. There are many superior supplements that can provide you with solid energy that lasts throughout your day. Unlike caffeine, you will not “burn out.”
One of my favorites is ginseng. It’s highly underrated. It’s completely natural, and has been used for thousands of years to promote vitality and longevity. I consume the root extract; however it is possible to gain the same results by chewing on the root itself. Ginseng stimulates your metabolism and increases the efficiency with which your body uses carbohydrates and proteins, without making you feel “cranked.” It has also been proven to increase physical and mental endurance. In addition, ginseng has profound immune system-enhancing effects. The recommended dosage is 200-300 mg per day. I take 250 mg each day, and feel great as a result.
Ginkgo Biloba
Another excellent supplement is ginkgo biloba. It has been shown to improve thinking, learning, memory, muscular endurance and blood flow. Ginkgo biloba is another herb which has been used for thousands of years improve mind and body functions. Extract from the leaves of the tree is the active ingredient. The recommended doseage is 120 mg. Be aware that due to the way in which your body handles ginkgo biloba, it may take up to six weeks to notice the results… so don’t give up! Take it daily.
Green Tea Extract
My third favorite natural supplement is green tea extract. Green tea has countless benefits, including improved blood flow, fighting infections, lowering cholesterol levels, weight loss, reduced body odor, improved metabolic rate (without increasing heart rate) and improved mental alertness. Green tea is truly a super supplement. I could list many more benefits, but I would like you to go do your own research on it, and discover the many ways in which it will improve your body and mind. The typical recommended dosage extract is 150-450 mg per day. I take only 200 mg each day, and I feel superb!
Water
Water is crucial for keeping your energy up throughout the day. Insufficient water consumption has been shown to be a huge factor in people feeling run-down at work, especially during the late morning and early afternoon timeframe. Drinking water keeps your physiological systems working properly and flushes out toxins as you go throughout your day, allowing you to operate much more efficiently. Water stimulates the metabolism. It does this in several ways, and one way is the simple fact that when cold water enters your body, your body must raise your heart rate to heat the water in order to maintain equilibrium. Water stimulates your digestion by making it easier for your stomach to break down your food and transport it to the cells in your body. At the very least, the majority of your physiological systems are used / stimulated when drinking water. Thus, simply pounding glasses of water, processing them and using the bathroom will help keep you awake and alert.
At the very minimum, your body needs about 0.5 ounces of water per pound of body weight. For increased energy, I recommend increasing your intake to 0.75 ounces per pound. You will really feel the difference!
Diet
Your diet is massively critical in regulating your energy! I have enough content on the subject to write an entire book, but I will keep this brief. If you are following the typical American “diet” of greasy, fried, refined and sweetened foods, you’ll feel incredible changes by changing how you eat!
Out of all the physically fit and energetic people I know, unquestionably, the ones with the “cleanest” diets are the ones with the highest energy levels!
Grease, simple sugars and processed fats all add to mental “fog” and hurt your body in countless ways. Clean up your diet. Eliminate sweets, greasy / fried meals, heavy starches, and heavily processed food. You will feel a difference quickly.
The excessive carbohydrates that most people consume via sweet snacks, juices and pizza, for example sap energy all on their own. The heavier the meal, the more blood your body must allocate to digest it. As a result, most people are in a continuous state of digestion the entire day, and a good portion of their blood that could be flowing in their brain is spent digesting the sweetened and processed snacks they consume to “gain energy.”
So, tomorrow go to the store and purchase the supplements I have recommended. Start doing hill sprints (in the morning or afternoon). Take ginseng, ginkgo biloba and green tea extract. Slam glasses of water and clean up your diet!
You WILL have more energy!
These, of course are all physical ways to increase your energy. Keep an eye on our site as we teach you how critical your thoughts are to your energy levels and how to change them… you’ll be able to elevate your day to a whole new level.
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