Healthy Reader

Office Massages Keep Workers Healthier

Conner Flynn — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:34:49 +0000

With the economy tanking, even some big corporations are trying to save money. One way they are doing it is by hiring massage therapists to come to their businesses and give employees massages at or near their workstations.

This increases productivity and relieves stress, therefore its better for the company and the worker. It makes for a much healthier work environment and saves a ton of money in medical bills, where stress may have otherwise been more expensive.

”The massages we provide are not the type of luxury that you might find at a resort spa,” said Alana Eve Burman, president and founder of JoyLife Therapeutics, a provider of corporate massage worldwide. “The cost is much lower, and employees get a significant stress relief and morale boost.”

If only we could all get massaged while we work.

Three Foods That Help Fight Diabetes

Conner Flynn — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:59:49 +0000

The numbers are staggering. Roughly 24 million Americans have diabetes, and some studies suggest that as much as 6 million don’t even know they have it. Another 57 million are thought to have prediabetes, a condition that boosts risks for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. What quick tricks can you use to try to avoid prediabetes and diabetes?

Vitamin C: One European study found that people who have the most vitamin C in their bodies had the lowest incidence of diabetes. Fruits and veggies like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli are a great source.

Spice: Researchers from the University of Georgia tested 24 common herbs and spices. What they discovered is that their antioxidants could prevent inflammation associated with diabetes. Cloves and cinnamon both got high rankings. So spice things up.

Brown rice: A compound in the rice reduces nerve and blood vessel damage from diabetes, according to experts. Soaking the dry rice in water overnight awakens the compound.

Just these three tricks should help and it’s nice to have the research to back it up.

[Health]

GPS Shoes Help Keep Track Of Alzheimer’s Patients

Conner Flynn — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:43:13 +0000

If you have ever had an older family member who has Alzheimers, then you know how difficult it can be just to keep tabs on them. It’s sort of like having a small child. They tend to live in their own world and can wander off the instant you divert your attention. Sometimes you even need the help of local police to find them.

Rather than having to keep searching for lost Alzheimer’s patients, Aetrex Worldwide and GTS Corp have teamed up to put GPS transmitters inside of shoes. A simple and brilliant solution. A wristband might be even better as some won’t bother to put on their shoes.

The devices are accurate to within 30 feet, and safety zones can be set, so as soon as a patient leaves the zone they can easily be found. It will save caregivers a lot of headaches that’s for sure. It will also save institutions a lot of time and money.

[SB]

6 Essential Flat-Belly Foods

Conner Flynn — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:36:53 +0000

First, we have to emphasize that your belly is not going to get flat just from what you eat. It takes exercise as well and a lot of it. But there are certain foods that can help keep your belly flat. This is a good time of year to go over some of these, what with backyard BBQs and ice cream around every corner. These will do your belly in(Or should I say out) in no time.

Six foods that will help are Quinoa, Green Tea, Kefir, Avocado, eggs and grapefruit. For full details, hit the link and learn more about these half-dozen foods. Implement them into your diet now. Don’t wait. There are too many tasty diversions in the summertime.

[yahoo]

Antibiotics May Increase Risk For Ear Infection

Conner Flynn — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:37:41 +0000

Antibiotics, thanks to overuse, often do more harm than good. For instance, repeated use in treating acute ear infections in children increases the risk of recurrent ear infections by 20 percent. Researchers have found that 63 percent of children given amoxicillin experienced a recurrent ear infection within three years, compared with 43 percent of children given a placebo at the time of their initial infection.

The moral of this tale? Let so many “drugs”, don’t believe the hype when it comes to antibiotics. The body is designed to fight things and by doing so, raises your immunity. Antibiotics only hinder this whole process and with repeated use, will weaken your immune system. Hit the link for the full rundown on the study. It confirms what we already know. That antibiotics should be used sparingly.

[Health]

How Safe Is Flouride In Our Drinking Water?

Conner Flynn — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:51:15 +0000

There’s a huge debate about flouride in our water. We have had flouride in drinking water since the sixties when it was thought to help with tooth decay. Modern research has now shown us that it can have harmful side effects and the amount should be lowered. Hell, we should get rid of it.

In fact, the World Health Organization wants much lower levels. It has been connected with all sorts of things, like bone cancer and even 10,000 cancer deaths annually. The problem has to do with the fact that what they add is a waste product.

It’s mainly silicoflouride, a waste product of the aluminum industry, which is 80% more toxic than the natural type of flouride. Overdosing is as easy as eating and drinking processed foods that are made with it as well as regularly drinking large amounts of water, and using toothpaste that has it.

Keep in mind, that it has never actually been shown that it helps with tooth decay at all. You can cut down your intake(Since it’s been forced on you and I) by just by filtering your water. We really need to get it out of our water completely.

Much like all of the prescription drugs in our society, this was introduced without any testing or knowledge of the consequences, but now we need a serious look at this water pollutant.

Mississippi Is The Fattest State

Conner Flynn — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:18:48 +0000

Mississippi’s still the fattest state, but Alabama is a close second. Yep, it’s that time again. Time for the nation’s annual obesity rankings. The good news is that Colorado is pretty lean. The bad news is that that is about all the good news there is. In 31 states, more than one in four adults are obese, according to a report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over just the past year, and sadly no state experienced a noteworthy decline.

It’s news that affects us all. We’ve been waiting for a surge in Medicare as baby boomers begin turning 65, but it’s very clear that fat will be a huge factor as well as age. The rate of obesity is higher among 55- to 64-year-olds across the board, than among the 65-and-beyond group.

It doesn’t take a genius to see the impending disaster from such figures. But you can do your part by staying on the lean side. It not only saves the rest of us money, but it will save you money as well.

[Yahoo]

Use Acupuncture To Fight Insomnia

Conner Flynn — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:48:11 +0000

Many people swear by acupuncture for a variety of health related issues, but did you know it can also help fight insomnia? Some studies say that it’s effective 90% of the time.

Insomnia is caused by a lack of serotonin. Acupuncture increases serotonin, which is related to melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. Acupuncture stimulates the body in such a way that it balances out. Needles are inserted at various locations. The length of the treatments vary but are typically about 45 minutes, a few times a week.

Many people say that they sleep better after the treatment. It’s something to consider in the fight against insomnia and you may find that it helps cure some of your other ailments as well.

Too Much Sugar Causes Wrinkles?

Conner Flynn — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:59:54 +0000

Like most health topics there are several schools of thought regarding what causes wrinkles. Sugar is one culprit that supposedly will make you more wrinkly. Sugar triggers a natural process called glycation, which is the same chemical reaction that turns meat brown when you cook it. The sugars bind with tissues to form molecules called advanced glycation end products(AGEs), which are harmful and damage elastin and collagen. Your skin needs those two substances to stay supple and elastic. AGEs also damage the kidneys, brain and other essential organs.

Sucks for all of us sugar fiends, but those treats may be making us look older.

A 2007 study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that sugar’s effects on the skin begin to show at about age 35. The older you are, the more pronounced it becomes. as you get older. It’s not just soda and candy either. Other foods with a high glycemic index, like white bread, pasta and potatoes also cause the formation of AGEs, because they are quickly converted to sugar in the bloodstream.

I’m not sure we can blame sugar for all of our wrinkles, but it certainly doesn’t help. The bottom line is that better snacking may be in order so that we don’t all look like Pug dogs in the face.

[Yahoo]

Baldness Treatments That Work

Conner Flynn — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:02:57 +0000

Men’s Health has an interesting article on baldness treatments, if you happen to be a Jean Luc Picard or George Costanza and need some extra help. These days there are more baldness treatments than ever and they claim that some actually work. It might be worth checking out.

Whether it’s pills, plugs, lasers, surgery, lotions or potions, men like to have a full head of hair to make them feel and look complete. The article may help you sort out the scams from actual things that might help. Unless you are the type of guy who just wants to use that spray can stuff and paint your bald spot. If you’re happy with that, just disregard this article.

[MH]