Wellness Sultana

Yoga for Beginners

2012-02-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

Chances are good that you've heard of yoga, or know someone who practices it. You've been thinking about trying it yourself, but you'd like to know more about it. Is it meditation? Is it exercise? Will it improve your posture or help relieve stress? The answer is that yoga is a little bit of all of these things and more.

Yoga is the harmony of mind, body and spirit. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "union." It is a discipline that started in India. People who practice yoga do so to achieve balance within the body by gaining strength and flexibility. This is done by performing different poses. Almost anyone can do yoga, even if you are not very strong or coordinated. The longer you perform the movements, the more your strength and flexibility will improve.

Yoga is not about trying to be better than everyone else: it is about doing the best you can and using it to improve your life.

There are many benefits to practicing yoga besides getting stronger and more flexible. It can improve sleep, reduce symptoms of asthma, and decrease anger and stress. Regular practice helps to improve feelings of anxiety and moodiness more than jogging or walking. It gives you greater feelings of well-being and increases your quality of life.

Yoga is so powerful it has even been shown to help people who have problems with addiction. It has been studied extensively in medical science and found to be an excellent form of mind-body exercise. And you will see the benefits quickly.

It is fairly easy to get started in yoga. The first thing you will need to do is decide what type of yoga you want to practice. Once you've decided on the style you're interested in, find a place that teaches a class in that style. There are good resources to help you with this: the internet, local newspapers and fitness magazines. If you live in an area that doesn't offer any classes, you can find yoga videos online to help you learn. If at all possible, however, go to a class. Learning directly from a teacher is the best option for beginners.

Your instructor will tell you on the first day of class what you will need to bring with you. On the first day wear comfortable clothing in a fabric that breathes easily. A T-shirt and exercise pants or shorts are fine. Most yoga is taught and practiced barefoot, so you won't need to worry about having a certain type of shoe. You'll probably need to buy or rent a yoga mat. They can be purchased for as little as $20.00. There are other items you might use depending on the type of yoga you've chosen to study.

During the study of yoga, you can expect to learn breathing exercises and stretching techniques. Then you will progress to learning poses. There will be warm-up poses to start, followed by progressively difficult ones. If a pose is too hard for you to achieve right away or you are getting too tired, you can rest in what is known as Child's Pose, with your knees spread and your body leaning forward until your forehead touches the floor. After the poses are finished, there is a cool down period and the final relaxation. Depending on your level of fitness you could be mildly or severely sore a day or two after your first class.

There are many different kinds of yoga, each with a different focus. The basic poses will be nearly the same no matter what style you decide on, but each style has a different emphasis:

Hatha: is a slow-paced style that is very good for beginners to learn basic poses.

Vinyasa: is a more vigorous style where poses are matched to your breathing.

Ashtanga: is very fast-paced with constant movement from pose to pose.

Iyengar: focuses more on body alignment and holding poses for long periods of time.

Bikram: is practiced in a room where the temperature is between 95 to 100 degrees so that you can be cleansed through sweating.

Anusara: is a light-hearted form good for students of different abilities that emphasize the goodness in all beings.

Sivananda yoga: focuses on core principles such as proper diet and positive thinking.

Yin Yoga: concentrates on sitting still for long periods of time to stretch connective tissue.

Yoga is great for children and adults of all ages to improve physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It can fit easily into your schedule and requires little equipment and no prior experience. As you progress, the movements will become easier and you will feel more relaxed and confident performing them. No matter where you learn or which style you study, yoga is an excellent path for a healthier, more relaxed life.

Nathan Joynt writes for Gaiam.com, a leading lifestyle media company and world leader of quality yoga products and fitness videos online.

Self Discipline and Dieting

2012-02-22T02:39:00.001-08:00

Being and staying healthy is very important. Doing so is a good way to prevent diseases from inflicting our at-risk bodies from the simple flu to potentially life-threatening diseases such as heart conditions and breathing problems. However, going on a healthy diet is very difficult. An even more difficult task than this is actually maintaining your progress and gains. Among others, it will require a big amount of discipline for sustenance so your efforts do not go to waste.

Planning

It would be very hard to get anywhere without coming up with achievable goals where you will base everything you will be doing in the entire feat. Instead of the single goal of “weight loss”, come up with simple steps that will lead you there. In this manner, you can easily commit to these simple steps and actually get to where you want to be. You can start with food item swapping to their healthier alternatives and then gradually work into incorporating that in your daily diet. Before you know it, you will have achieved you ultimate goal of weight loss without you even knowing it.

Enjoy

Think of eating as an enjoyable experience. Otherwise, you will never have the will to follow and stick to your diet plan. You might not be able to take in the food items that you would want to eat but there are some ways for you to make eating more desirable. Do so by slowly eating and chewing your food so you can fully enjoy its flavors. You can also dine with good company or take in small portions so you can eat more than three times all throughout the day.

Track

Know the progress of your dieting feat by monitoring and recording your activity levels, food items eaten, and your overall weight loss. Not only will this be important for your health care provider to determine if there are changes in your current diet plan that needed to be issued but this will also serve as your own tool to keep you motivated and push you to go on with the whole diet process.

Reward

Along with positive reinforcement, a reward can help you sustain the discipline that is required in dieting. You just have to make sure that the reward will come right after you have achieved a goal. Opt to give yourself small rewards for small goals achieved as doing things on a bigger scale will require great effort. These self-motivators can come in the form of a new book, a spa treatment, or even a half-day off from your obligations.

Exercise

A good companion of diet is exercise. A good exercise routine will help in both achieving that desired weight along with its maintenance. Apart from calorie building and muscle building, it is also a very effective way to relieve and even eliminate stress. You do not have to go the gym or work with complex equipment, a simple half hour or brisk walking or jogging would be good enough.

Resource Box:

Amy C. is a fitness aficionado and blogger who takes a fancy on the many ways to live a healthier lifestyle. Her interest is especially geared into the various forms of dieting and its maintenance. During her downtime, she helps with the administrative and blogging activities of Greyside Group, a maritime security and executive protection company. Stay tuned for her next dieting tips on her next post.

Keeping and Regaining Natural Hair Color

2012-02-18T04:14:00.001-08:00

Do you ever go to the mirror and see a gray hair on top of your head and just want to yank it out? It can happen when you are young and middle aged as well as when you are older. And, nobody wants to lose their natural hair color, but everyone has a certain age when they will most likely start to have gray hair. So, is there any hope of keeping your natural hair color longer or reversing gray hair? What are the alternatives? Most people choose to dye their hair when this dilemma starts to happen.

There are some natural solutions that you can try in order to: not have your hair color turn gray so fast. You might think that having hair turn gray is your genetic fate, but it is possible to increase or decrease this likelihood. You can have premature gray hair at a young age, or you can regain your natural hair color back at an older age. Here are some helpful tips.

Avoid Sugar - Sugar depletes vitamins and minerals. And, when that happens, you won't have the various essential nutrients that your body needs to help you keep your natural hair color. It has also been found through various studies, that regular white table sugar is a form of narcotics, like alcohol. It gives people an initial high and can be very addictive. Have you ever seen someone who has been alcoholic? They tend to look a lot older than their actual age.
Use Sprouts as Part of Your Daily Meal Plans - There is a lady named Ann Wigmore who was able to regain her natural hair color back through growing and eating sprouts. She wrote a book called Sprouting, where she explains all the benefits of sprouts and how to sprout various types of seeds. Sprouts have a much higher degree of nutrition than the original seed. They are alive with enzymes, and are very usable by the body. She and others have followed a raw diet plan which includes sprouts, and they were able to get their original hair color back.
Eat Foods that are High in Minerals - Getting enough nutrients in your diet will help you have the proper nutrition and healthier head of hair. Getting your minerals through supplements is one of the worst ways to increase minerals in your body. Many of these supplements are nothing more than powdered rocks. They aren't recognized by the body as a digestible form of food. It's far better to get your minerals from foods you eat. Plants are able to assimilate the minerals from the ground, and humans assimilate the minerals from the plants in a natural form. The two best food sources for extra minerals are dark greens and molasses.
Learn How to Handle Stress - Too much stress in your life can bring on some premature aging, unless you learn how to deal with it effectively. It's important to do whatever you can to maintain good health. Working too much and not sleeping or relaxing enough is not good. Having too many worries about the choices your children make can really tax your mental health. If you don't learn some helpful coping strategies this can be aging. People joke about stresses causing them to get gray hair, and it's really true.
Take a Brisk Walk for 30 Minutes Daily - Exercising daily will do a lot to promote youthfulness, reduce the risk of diseases, and even help to prevent premature aging. People that exercise everyday feel happier and have a more youthful glow and energy. Active people get proper circulation, which helps to fight off free radicals.

The best strategy for maintaining natural hair color, as long as possible, is to practice healthier eating, exercise regularly, get sufficient sleep, and have a positive mental attitude. If you already have gray hair and would like to reverse it, try an improved diet that includes plenty of sprouts and raw foods.

About the Author: Janet Hailstone is a nutrition and cooking instructor for Community Education at Dixie State College in Southern Utah. She has a blog at NutriBuff.com and recommends Treadmill Coupons deals on youthful exercise equipment.

Have the Perfect Smile on your Wedding Day

2012-02-18T02:41:00.000-08:00

Everyone wants to look special on their wedding day – the groom included – but with all the costs of paying for your venue, food, outfits and flowers, finding the cash to get your teeth whitened isn’t always an option.

Especially if you plan to go to your dentist. Teeth whitening at your dentist costs on average £400 – more than you can afford.

So what can you do?

The last thing you want is to look back on your wedding photos and see yellow, discoloured teeth.

Learn how to whiten your teeth naturally

Your dentist isn’t your only route to whiter teeth. In fact there are a number of natural alternatives which can help to lighten your teeth and remove staining.

Strawberries – this fruit contains healthy acids which can help to remove spots and staining. Simply cut one in half and rub the inside of the strawberry over your teeth, before rinsing and brushing and strawberries can help to gently whiten your teeth.

Alternatively you can try rubbing these onto your teeth: hard wood ash (a natural teeth whitener it contains potassium hydroxide); orange peel or lemon juice and salt (blend in equal amounts)
Eliminate common causes of teeth staining – coffee, wine, smoking, sugary foods… are all common causes of staining which over time can make your teeth look discoloured. To help reduce staining on your teeth try to limit if not eliminate these from your day to day diet, as well as brush regularly to stop them from staining your teeth.
Adopt good dental hygiene – it is surprising how many of us don’t brush our teeth twice a day let alone floss. However good dental hygiene can help to remove stains and the build up of bacteria and food particles which can cause plaque. So aim to brush your teeth at least 2 times a day for 3 minutes and floss in the evening.

Taking care of your teeth is certainly a good starting point for helping to improve the health and appearance of your teeth. However if you are looking for a significant difference to the appearance of your teeth on your wedding day, then any of the following can offer an affordable route to whitening your teeth.

Home teeth whitening kits – using the exact same gel used by dentists, teeth whitening kits contain 120ml/cc of 16% Carbamide Peroxide which has been proven to: enter the pores on your teeth, create active oxygen that converts coloured compounds into colourless compounds and whiten your teeth by up to 11 shades in 2 weeks.

And available for less than £40, teeth whitening kits are nearly 10 times cheaper than going to your dentist.
Teeth whitening strips – weaker in concentration compared to teeth whitening gels, these strips are applied directly to your teeth for a few hours a day and can help to whiten your teeth. Just be careful when applying, otherwise your teeth may end up looking streaky. Usual cost: £45-£70
Teeth whitening pens – unlike the previous 2 products, you control how much you apply as you rub the teeth whitening pen onto each tooth. Once again be careful when applying to not put more on one tooth than another. Start in price from £14.99.

Achieving a whiter smile for your wedding day is possible, and doesn’t have to be costly. So if you are looking to brighten your smile, why not give the above tips a try and ensure you look radiant on your big day.

Thank you for reading, my name is Tracey and I work as a dental nurse in the day but at night I write about how to whiten teeth without spending a fortune at the dentist. (Just don’t tell my boss!)

Reasons to Treat Yourself to a Spa Vacation

2012-02-17T02:28:00.000-08:00

In recent years, spa vacations have increased in popularity. During one quick retreat, spa goers can enjoy relaxing massages, rejuvenating skin treatments, luxurious pedicures and dozens of other services. If you’ve been considering a spa vacation, but not sure it’s the best choice for you, here are four reasons to embark on a pampering getaway.

Relax and Recharge

Today, people lead more hectic and over-scheduled lives than ever. Treating yourself to a spa vacation allows you to relax and unplug from daily pressures. And nothing melts away stress like a soothing massage, facial or body treatment. In fact, many spas offer stress-reducing services such as hot stone massages, ultra-cleansing treatments and scalp reflexology. Your spa vacation will leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated for weeks to come.

Invest in Your Health

Many spa therapies are extremely healthy for the mind, body and soul. Services such as massages and reflexology are excellent ways to relieve stress. Body treatments such as salt scrubs and body wraps are great for moisturizing dry skin to reveal a healthy, youthful glow. Hair treatments can help restore your hair’s health, vibrancy and strength. In addition, many facial services can help reduce acne, irritations and other problematic skin conditions. If you’re still ambivalent about taking a spa vacation, think of it as an investment in your health.

Pain Management

Do you suffer from muscle soreness or joint aches? Spa vacations are also a great way to reduce body pain. Many spa masseuses can focus on your trouble areas to relieve stress, tightness and discomfort. Some spas and spa resorts even offer hydrotherapy, which uses water to diminish or eliminate pain. Recognized as a legitimate pain treatment by many pain management clinics, hydrotherapy consists of sitting in a whirlpool or bathtub filled with warm water jet streams. Hydrotherapy can also include relaxing in steam rooms and taking therapeutic showers. As an organic method to ease pain, warm water naturally soothes and relaxes the body.

Conditions that can be treated by hydrotherapy include:
• Acne
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Muscle and joint pain
• Cold and flu
• Depression

Time with Family and Friends

Feeling disconnected from your friends or family? Taking time for a spa vacation is a great way to reconnect. In addition to receiving one-on-one services, spas also allow clients to enjoy treatments with others. Couples massages, pedicures, manicures and hydrotherapy sessions are great ways to catch up with your loved ones in a relaxing environment. Whether you’re looking for a girl’s getaway, mother-daughter time or a romantic weekend with your significant other, spa vacations can help solidify bonds with friends and family.

Taking a spa vacation is more than just enjoying beauty and massage treatments – it allows you to relax and refuel while taking proactive steps to better health. Spa vacations also help you reconnect with the most important people in your lives – including yourself! Book your spa vacation today and feel more relaxed and revitalized tomorrow.

Rosie writes on behalf of St Martins Chalets a business based in the St Martins, Austria specialising in Holidays to Austria, St Martins are a great choice for a ski holiday in Austria at a beautiful eco lodge in the heart of the Austrian Alpes.

Reviewing the Schwinn 220 Recumbent Home Exercise Bicycle

2012-02-16T02:34:00.002-08:00

Most people know what it's like to exercise using a traditional bicycle machine, but recumbent technology is the future for home gyms. People appreciate the ability to work out with an added degree of comfort and far less stress on their joints and back. One of the major barriers for many people when it comes to buying a home recumbent bike is the initial cost and size of the machine itself. Thankfully, these machines are becoming much more practical and user-friendly. That means you don't have to sign up to a professional gym anymore to use one regularly, and the Schwinn 220 is something you can bring into your own home at a reasonable price.

Know what to Expect
Make no mistake, this is a serious piece of exercise equipment that requires dedication in order to use properly. You want to make sure that you have realistic expectations so that you don't get too excited about this product only to have it end up in your garage or storage closet a few months down the line. You're still going to have to do the work and this machine will not be some magical answer to your weight loss or fitness efforts. But if you are serious about getting fit or already have a workout plan in place, then the Schwinn 220 could be the best possible addition to your home gym.

Schwinn Reliability
From the get go, you'll see that the Schwinn 220 is built for both comfort and durability. It has a solid frame that can support up to 300 pounds of user weight and a solid frame that is built to last. You'll also appreciate its quiet operation and it's definitely something you can set in front of a big screen TV to keep yourself distracted while you work out. There is also an available magazine rack that you can use to read while you work out. Assembly of this machine will likely take you less than one hour, but once everything is put in place this bike is easy to maintain and very practical to use.

Customize Your Workout
One of the best aspects about this product is the ability to customize your routine which means it can accommodate people of all fitness levels. Whether you are looking to get back into the action after living a sedentary lifestyle or you're already and exercise enthusiast, you find a way to use the Schwinn 220 four maximum results.

There are 16 different resistance settings and each one is individual enough that you'll notice a difference. You are perfectly free to start off slow and build up your endurance levels, and it feels good to accomplish personal goals related to working your way up. You can also use 12 separate workout programs with the help of the onboard computer and monitor. The computer is useful for keeping track of information related to your work out that you can later use to find tune your exercise plan. You can even come up with your own custom fat loss workouts eventually as you become even more familiar with this bike. This is a quality purchase that will pay for itself eventually if you keep up with regular use and maintain it properly.

Part of a Larger Approach
Whether you’re aiming for fast weight loss or general fitness, this Schwinn model can help you achieve your goals. As part of a general plan for healthy living that includes better food choices, there’s no telling how much value you can get from this model. Affordable, practical, and powerful – Schwinn has come up with a winner.

This review comes to use from rabbitsadvice.com where you can find more information on healthy living with an eye on weight loss. You can find further tips and reviews for other great pieces of home exercise equipment.

Best Hair Care Tips for Chilly Weather

2012-02-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

It is well known that our hair can be affected by high temperatures caused by heating tools for example, or simply by the sun. However, a lot of people don’t know that low temperatures or cold wind can also damage the hair.

Because of cold and other external factors, the hair becomes coarse, hard and dry which may lead to breakage, split ends and a lot of other problems. This can be avoided by paying extra attention to your hair during the cold season.

Tip #1: Invest in a Good Leave-In Conditioner

One of the most important things during the winter is to moisturize your hair on a regular basis, even every day or once in a couple of days. Buy yourself a quality leave in conditioner and make sure to keep your hair moisturized, especially your ends. If you dye your hair, the level of care and protection needs to be increased even more.

Besides your “homemade” hair regimen, my personal recommendation is to get a professional treatment once in three weeks or so. An appointment to your local salon will make your hair shiny and healthy again. It will only take 45 minutes of your time.

Tip #2: Regular Trims to Boost Healthy Texture

Another important tip is to trim your hair more often during the winter, because you are more likely to get split ends during the cold season. However this leads to another problem. Combined with the fact that hair grows slower during the cold season, trimming will prevent you from retaining length. So, if you are having this issue you might want to consider a hair growth vitamin such as biotin.

If you use a lot of styling products make sure you choose the best one for your hair. Try to avoid chemicals or heavy products that put a lot of weight on the hair. I personally like to use a lot of water based products.

Tip #3: Revitalize Your Hair From Inside Out

What you eat is extremely important as well, not only for your general health but also for the health of your hair. Foods high in vitamins, minerals, zinc and magnesium are good for your hair and will provide a higher level of protection. If you feel that you can’t get enough nutrients into your system you can take supplements as well.

To round things up, our hair needs lot of attention and care during the winter, and taking good care of it will definitely pay off.

Author bio:

Christine is a part time blogger and hair care junkie. If you are thinking or using biotin vitamin make sure to check out her article on biotin side effects.

7 Health Benefits of Eating More Protein

2012-02-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

Protein is one of the most misunderstood nutrients in the human diet. Ask any weightlifter in the local gym and you’ll find that this is the general consensus: The more the merrier! That seems logical. We know that protein, the matrix of amino acids, is the primary fuel of muscle growth and brain health, but if we adopt the “more is more” philosophy in other areas of life we may find ourselves in a rut.

Red wine, for example offers numerous heart benefits, but it would be false to then assume that drinking a bottle a day would be even that much healthier for your heart. The opposite would be true! In fact, studies show that if proteins make up more than 30% of your caloric intake you could experience both added stress on your internal organs and an increased propensity to gaining fat. But most people don’t have this problem with protein. Most people don’t get enough! If you don’t plan on overdosing, proteins are incredibly important nutrients to consider when planning meals. Here are seven reasons why:

1. Enjoy Healthy Food

When considering healthy foods, simple tastiness seems insignificant (or unthinkable). However, this must not be overlooked. Healthy proteins make meals much more satisfying! Beans, edamame, chicken, fish, peanut butter, and milk ought to be staples in every meal. Foods that are high in protein also have a higher caloric intake and can allow you to eat less but feel the same level satisfaction of having a much larger meal. Healthy food can be very tasty! Take pleasure in satisfying foods.

2. Be Energized

Protein molecules are bursting with energy that is ready to use. The calories contained in proteins provide long, sustained energy.

A gram of protein has just as many calories (energy measure) as a gram of sugar. However, simple sugars, of which glucose is the most simple, are immediately used by the body. When being burned, sugars provide a quick abundance of energy. Afterwards, there is no energy left. This is why people experience a sugar high and then a crash after eating a bunch of candy.

Proteins are not used as quickly by cells. Proteins provide energy that lasts for hours, so people do not experience a crash 30 minutes after eating. For athletes, this means they will have energy throughout their sporting events. For everyone, this means they will not be hungry between meals.

Fats must be processed by the body before they can be used. Proteins, in contrast, provide energy that can be used immediately without being transformed. In fact, many proteins are in the exact form that cells need to function.

3. Successful Dieting

Many people enjoy protein-rich diets more than others because they can eat the foods they like. Rather than reducing calories by restricting food intake, high-protein diets allow individuals to eat a wider variety of foods, feel fuller longer, and therefore reduce calories, without even thinking about it. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition has shown that people consume fewer calories when they eat high-protein diets than when they are not on diets. This happens naturally and takes the chore out of counting calories.

4. Lose Weight

Since diets rich with protein reduce caloric intake, they lead to weight loss. A separate study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that a high-protein diet and exercise helped people lose weight. Dieters often have greater success with these diets than others because they are less tempted to cheat. They feel full, and therefore have little reason to have another snack.

5. Build Muscles

Proteins are commonly referred to as building blocks, for good reason. They are the molecules that cells need to build new cells and repair damaged ones.

Proteins are necessary to build muscles. During a workout, miniscule rips are made in the cells of muscles--once these are repaired, new muscle mass are created--proteins are the molecules responsible for this process.

6. Help Cells

Without proteins, cells would be unable to function. Cells use proteins in many ways. They are converted into enzymes, which trigger chemical reactions, and they are used to transport water across cellular walls. Proteins are even used to produce hormones.

7. Eat Less Junk Food

Since proteins make people feel full, those who eat them are naturally inclined to eat less. In contrast, eating junk food and fast food temporarily satisfy hunger (although MSG laced burgers are high in protein as well). These unnatural foods cause the body to desire more of it. Increasing the body's need for healthy protein intake will reduce the cravings for junk and fast foods.

Proteins are used by the body in many ways. Cells need them to function and the many benefits help people lead healthier lives. Thankfully, incorporating protein into a diet is simple and delicious.

A healthy diet is a balanced diet. Although proteins play a significant role in the body, they do not constitute the entire diet. Understanding how beneficial proteins are to body cells will encourage persons to partake in healthy amounts in their diet.

Author Bio: Jason S. writes for IronScience, a manufacturer of quality nutritional supplements such as whey protein and creatine monohydrate.

The Effects Alcohol Can Have

2012-01-28T02:29:00.000-08:00

Excessive consumption of alcohol has considerable negative effects on an individual and collectively as a society. Many road accidents recorded throughout the world and over the past decade have been caused by careless drivers who are under the influence of alcohol. Other intoxication risks are fire injuries, suicides, as well as child abuse cases. This is why most countries institute laws against driving “under the influence.”

Social Impact:

Apart from intoxication risks, excessive consumption of alcohol leads to many social problems including the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI), divorce, domestic violence and infidelity. Alcohol’s negative impact on society can be classified as short term and long term effects and varies depending on an individual’s age, drinking experience, weight, type of alcohol consumed, among other factors.

Effects on the Body:

Immediately after consuming alcohol beyond your tolerance level, you will experience impaired vision, nausea, poor judgment, and impaired body coordination. Loss of memory is an all too common and dangerous response to drinking, especially when done among strangers. Alcohol decreases circulation by constricting blood vessels, and is another reason for diabetics to stay away from the bottle.

Diseases Linked to Alcohol

Fatal diseases have been linked to prolonged alcohol consumption. Brain damage for instance can occur as a result of excessive drinking leading to loss of memory, unconsciousness, impaired vision and speech. If you have any of these symptoms you should visit your doctor who may carry out a MRI scan to see if there is any long term damage done. In addition to that, one can also suffer from high blood pressure, stroke, liver cirrhosis or cancer.

Men vs. Women’s Response to Alcohol:

Men who consume alcohol on a regular basis suffer from sexual impotence or low sex libido. For women, inebriation is closely associated with illicit sexual behavior and multiple sexual partners. If a woman drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy they end up exposing their child to lung infections such as pneumonia. Expectant women are usually advised to take an ultrasound scan so that the development of the unborn child can be monitored constantly. It is also wrong to drink alcohol when you are breastfeeding because whatever you consume will be present in breast milk.

Quitting Alcohol

Some of the withdrawal symptoms that an individual can be subjected to when quitting alcohol are tremors, nausea, anxiety, migraines, sweating. The worst symptom is depression because it can end up being permanent. It is advisable to seek assistance from a therapist when you start experiencing depression.

To reduce the immediate effects of alcohol, you should never drink on an empty stomach. Ensure that you space your drinks with water to reduce your blood sugar levels and increase blood volume. In addition to that, do not operate any machinery when under the influence of alcohol.

Varicose Veins: You Don't Need To Put Up With Them

2012-01-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

Varicose veins can cause pain and discomfort, exacerbating the feeling of fatigue and strain in the legs. On top of this, they can also make patients feel unattractive and self-conscious, preventing them from enjoying their life to the full. This is a real shame, because varicose veins are actually quite simple to treat and remove. Depending on the size and scale of the veins themselves, there are a number of ways to treat the condition today.

Treatment

For minor cases where there are only a very few varicose and spider veins, physicians will typically suggest non-surgical means of treatment, including exercises, weight loss, using compression stockings to increase blood circulation, keeping the legs elevated to ease circulation, and trying to avoid long periods of standing, sitting, or generally remaining stationary.

With regards to treating spider veins, clinicians may opt to perform a sclerotherapy, whereby the veins themselves are sealed through a series of chemical injections which act to close the vein walls completely.
Alternatively, spider veins can be treated through a series of laser treatments which fade the veins as well.

However, these treatments are only effective for mild cases and are not as appropriate for veins which bulge out of the skin. In these instances, surgical intervention is likely to be the only solution. Typically, it involves stripping the vein in a procedure which does involve anaesthetics. The physician will make incisions in the back of the knee and the groin through which the varicose vein is pulled with a specially designed tool.

Although the procedure is an effective way to treat varicose veins, it is associated with increased pain and bruising after the surgery, and therefore prolongs the recovery period for patients.

Recently, however, there have been major improvements in the application of laser technology to remove and treat varicose veins, which also reduces the length of time taken to carry out the procedure. This treatment involves inserting a device into the target vein, to which a catheter delivers radiofrequency/laser energy.

In order to make the blood within the vein clot and seal the vein itself, the endovenous laser generates heat at over 700 degress Celsius. In contrast, radiofrequency devices deliver far less intensive temperatures and work to shrink the walls of the vein. Arguably, this method is a far more comfortable experience for the patient, as it also limits the trauma sustained by the surrounding tissues, and causes less pain and bruising than the laser method.

So, if you’re suffering from pain and discomfort and want to get rid of those varicose veins once and for all, you don’t need to ‘put up’ with it any longer.

We provide advice and support on varicose veins treatment in Birmingham, helping our patients claim back their quality of life in no time.

5 Symptoms that Should Never be Ignored

2012-01-08T01:56:00.000-08:00

No one wants to have to rush to the emergency room as soon as a mysterious symptom arises – in most cases, minor aches and pains can arrive and disappear very quickly, with no apparent cause. However, pain is an indication from your body that something is wrong, and ignoring it could prove life-threatening. It is always best to be cautious, particularly when dealing with those who have a history of medical complications. Here are some physical symptoms that you should not ignore.

1. Chest pain

Discomfort in the chest is usually caused by one of a range of benign and easily-treatable conditions, such as a peptic ulcer or acid reflux. But it is also one of the key symptoms of a heart attack. However, most people, particularly women, downplay the severity of chest pains, and it is for this reason that 64% of women who die as a result of a heart attack do not even reach the ER. Heart problems are usually indicated by intense pressure in the bottom half of the chest. If experienced in conjunction with fatigue, nausea, feeling faint and breathing difficulties, get to an emergency room.

2. Fainting

Fainting is caused by a sudden and dramatic fall in blood pressure, preventing sufficient blood from flowing to the brain. Usually, this does not indicate a serious medical problem and can be brought on by stress or fear. However, if a person faints after serious physical exertion, without feeling light-headed, or takes more than one minute to become conscious, fainting may indicate a heart complication or a stroke. Take the afflicted person to the ER immediately.

3. Persistent leg pains

Aches and pain in the legs can be the result of benign issues such as intense exercise or poor circulation. However, recurring or chronic pains or cramping in the legs could be the result of a clot or problems with the circulatory system, particularly the heart, and the patient should be taken to the ER.

4. Unusual lumps or bumps

90% of lumps and bumps found on the human body are simply benign cysts, warts, boils or lipomas (growths around fatty deposits under the skin), all of which are completely harmless. However, if you find a lump anywhere on your body that is unusual and does not go away, it is sensible to consult your doctor to ensure that it is not cancerous.

5. Severe headache

Everyone gets headaches from time to time, but if the pain is constant and severe it could be your body telling you that something is not right. In combination with additional symptoms it may indicate a risk of strokes, inflammation of the blood vessels, or even a tumor in the brain and it should be treated as a medical emergency.

Author Bio: Emily is a health blogger and also a contributing writer for IBStreatments.com, a site that discusses a variety of treatments for irritable bowel syndrome including natural remedies and other medications, like Paxil for IBS treatment.

The Secret to Lean Muscles Like Track and Field Stars

2011-12-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

I recently met a few of my fellow Jamaican Olympic athletes, and I must admit I was immediately awestruck by their magnificent physique. It is not that you don’t expect a well-defined, chiseled body—they do work extremely hard at it--but at close range you begin to separate them from the rest of us, based simply on lean muscle mass.

They are, after all track and field stars and they look it. The likes of Bolt, Powell, Foster-Hylton, and Campbell-Brown, are just a few Jamaican athletes with international star power, whose surnames alone, sufficiently identifies them. What inspires me most about these athletes is the way they maintain their state of physical and mental conditioning. The discipline and effort involved in honing their talent, staying in shape on-and-off season, and performing at the peak of their game when needed, encouraged me to do my own research on their training techniques.

If the results of my regular 30 minute workout could produce the lean contours exhibited in some of the athletes, I would have outdone myself. It made me wonder about persons of average level of fitness, how long they would need to “sweat it” in the gym to gain the lean muscles of an athlete?

Not as long as you would think! You can get some amazing results with 30 minutes a day of high intensity workout mixed into your regular fitness program. It does not require endless hours at the gym, but you must be willing to commit to a regimen and work feverishly-hard during the 30 minute sessions.

Lesson #1: Athletes Are Natural Competitors

The first lesson is to have a burning desire to achieve your fitness target, and then go for it until you see the results. Athletes are naturally talented and they all possess one admirable distinction from many of us, a highly competitive nature. They have an innate fire to be the best, a spirited vigor that fuels their appetite to go after gold, and that’s the stuff that creates top athletes in the world.

Brigitte Foster-Hylton made history for women after the age of 30. At the brink of retirement, Foster-Hylton was suddenly heralded to the top. She was the oldest athlete at 34 years to win Olympic gold in Berlin, 2009.

The fastest man on the planet, Bolt, along with several other world-ranking athletes will tell you stories about overcoming obstacles (injuries, demotivated spirit), using inner strength and resilience to be where they are today.

Creating a body like an Olympic athlete requires you to build upon elements of fortitude as the foundation for success. Finding creative ways to motivate yourself will keep you focused and will create the difference between mediocrity and extraordinary achievements. You do get what you put in!

Lesson #2: Mix Your Workout with High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Track athletes train according to their area of specialty. Short distance runners, for example, have to complete sprinting exercises in seconds at maximum effort to achieve fast twitch muscle fibers for high energy and endurance. A sprinter’s ability to transfer power from the feet to the rest of the body requires targeted training. High intensity interval training (HIIT) is the conditioning exercise of choice for coaches.

If you want to look like a sprinter you would have to train like one. HIIT allows you to burn more calories in the least amount of time while targeting specific muscle groups. Areas such as hip flexors, hamstring, quads and core will promote speed, agility and quickness on the track.

This type of work out is not easy and is geared towards persons who have already attained intermediate to advanced levels of fitness. If you are a fan of P90X, the popular exercise program that uses the term “muscle confusion” as part of its marketing slogan, then you have a basic idea of what is involved in HIIT. Your workout is short because at the end of it you are left utterly depleted of energy.

It is not strange for some athletes to get sick and gag during a session, mostly due to the high level of stress placed on the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Training examples may include sprinting/swimming/jumping rope drills at 100% effort with little rest time, along with high-knee skips, bunny hops, and frog leaps to build explosive strength and stamina.

High intensity training produces Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), which essentially means it will rapidly increase your metabolism in just 1 session of maximum effort, allowing your metabolism to remain elevated for up to 36 hours. It is a great addition to a regular strength training program and can be incorporated at least 3 times per week for 30 minutes.

Lesson #3 Nutrition and Energy Boosters

Nutrition and exercise are inextricably linked. You cannot have one without the other and many world class athletes depend on the guidelines of a dietician to help maximize calorie intake to achieve the optimum energy level desired to complete a strenuous workout.

To power a track athlete through to a 100- 200 meter race requires high carbohydrate intake and sufficient glycogen stores. Explosive muscle contractions during a race are fueled with carbohydrates to meet the demands of intense movements. Protein and fat, though equally important, are not as rapidly oxidized as filling up on dietary carbohydrates.

Regardless, the majority of an athlete’s food intake still comes from protein with the right balance distributed as 60% protein, 30% carbs, and 10% fat. Sprinters need a minimum of 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight to build and maintain muscles.

Supplements are recommended though not considered essential. Creatine and glutamine mixes provide a well- deserved boost for pre-and-post HIIT workouts. Creatine helps replenish energy stores lost during high intensity training, while glutamine, a type of amino acid, supports the immune system, builds muscles, and boost fast recovery after a maximum workout.

Olympian Bolt, nicknamed “lightning bolt” is one of a few athletes who does not take supplements, but admits to occasional intake of vitamin C.

Lesson #4 Learn the Principles of Sports Neurology

A new type of training called sports neurology fixates on the role of the central nervous system (CNS) in achieving maximum adaptation to a strenuous workout schedule. It uses a cognitive level of training to condition the mind and body to prevent early fatigue. Improving mental focus is one of the critical components to this scientific based training. The program includes high tech applications of cold light laser to activate parts of the brain for improved performance.

The cerebellum and diencephalon are 2 very important areas of the brain in CNS training. When stimulated they allow an athlete to execute outstanding feats as the brain efficiently synchronizes to intense demands placed on the whole body.

Will power and motivational techniques are included within the principles of sports neurology. They are positively related to goal pursuits and are methods that can be matriculated into any challenging workout to lessen fatigue and improve efficiency.

If you want to look like you belong with the track and field stars, then take these lessons from their own workout regimen. To perform these drills without health risks, your level of fitness should be between intermediate to advanced level. For those who feel they are fit for the challenge: it is an excellent way to energize your workout, sculpt your muscles, and achieve allover body conditioning, especially in time for the upcoming Olympics.

Simple Pilates Exercises for Your Home Workout

2011-12-18T16:02:00.000-08:00

Pilates exercises have a huge range of workout programs and these can be performed by people of any age, shape and size. Even Hollywood celebrities are known to do these exercises and it keeps them fit, healthy, fresh and energetic.

It was Joseph Pilates, a boxer cum circus performer, who started the Pilates series of exercises and ever since, these workouts have become so popular that they are performed regularly by millions of people all over the world.

Unlike many other forms of exercise, Pilates method of exercising believed in the balanced development of the body which essentially involved four elements. There is core strength, flexibility, control and then there is body-consciousness which helps you achieve efficient and graceful body movements. Pilates method of exercise is aimed at them all and combines breathing and exercise manoeuvres.

The biggest advantage of these exercises is that they are perfectly easy to do, fairly enough, and dancers love it. These exercises will help you solve several health related issues too.

Here are a couple of simple Pilates exercises that you can do for your stomach.

Lie on your back, on the Pilates mat with your arms by your side. Bend your legs and place your feet on the floor just hip space apart. While you inhale, you can activate your T-zone (the “T” formed by a horizontal line from the hip bones and a vertical line down toward the pelvic floor muscles, otherwise referred to as your lower abdominals) and you can tilt your knees towards the floor. It should be a perfectly controlled exercise as you strengthen your stomach muscles.

This exercise is also quite easy to do; the spine stretch exercise. You will have to sit on the floor to do this exercise, keeping your arms and legs straight. Slouch forward while stretching your spine as far as it can go.

When you want to do these workouts at home, it is advisable that you start after taking some private lessons. A Pilates ring, foam ball, Pilates ball and flex band will be ideal for start up exercises. The success of Pilates exercises will depend on how normally you can breathe. You should do them without strain. When you do these exercises you can breathe in through the nose and breathe out through your mouth.

There are simple Pilates workouts for pregnant and postnatal women. Doing these exercises on a regular basis will prepare your body for childbirth and help reduce delivery pains and cramps. You will almost have a painless childbirth if you keep your body fit by doing the right kind of exercises. However you should never do them alone, but only under the guidance of an instructor.

Be aware of the changes in your body each time you do these exercises. Oppositional stretch exercises accompanied by pelvic exercises and breathing exercises will be a good idea at this time.

Benefits of Pilates exercises:

● Keeping your body healthy and toned

● Fat burning exercises that help shed excess weight

● Regulating your metabolism

● More fluidity and flexibility in movements

● Decreasing back and neck pains

● They are energising exercises, which will keep you in good shape, both physically and mentally

● Your body movements will be co-ordinated and you will feel an increase in strength and stamina

Tess Mathews is a freelance writer and a fitness freak. She loves to keep herself fit and spends at least an hour everyday with her workout equipment. In busy days, she chooses to do vibration exercises and has a Crazy Fit Massager for that.

The Best Outdoor Work-Outs for Couples

2011-12-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

As much as you want to trim down your shape, it gets boring to step in gyms day after day. Why don’t you make it an outdoor activity for once? It would be best if you ask your partner to come with you. You are not only becoming physically fit, both of you are strengthening the bonds of your relationship. Below, you will see some outdoor activities which will help you perspire without the need of those bulky gym equipment.

Spend your weekend hiking. Drop your business suits, office bags and fancy gadgets. It’s about time that you go natural. Check out your nearest hiking spot for an exciting exploration of nature. You can ask your partner to save one whole weekend for this. Hiking can be very strenuous but fun. Both of you will have a great time flexing those muscles while you enjoy the great view. I suggest that you bring your tent and spend the entire night at the camp site. Don’t forget your fishing rods! Get the biggest catch for a festive evening.

Play Frisbee at your local park. Frisbee disks won’t cost you a lot. Visit your local park and use the vast area. When playing this game, you have no choice but to run and jump. I believe that it’s better than staying in the gym with your treadmills and gym balls.

To make it more fun, the winner of the game becomes the master of the day. That means, he or she can ask you to cook dinner. Perhaps, they can ask you to a 30 - minute massage. You are not only getting in shape, you are having more emotional attachment. It’s good for your relationship.

Visit the nearest theme parks. You think that theme parks are for kids. Well, I believe there’s a kid inside everyone of us. It seems that it’s a bizarre work out place. However, this can be a great spot to do fun and weird exercises.

Have breathing exercises while riding an extreme coaster. Shape up your biceps with fun games. Think about the huge hammers for this. Or if you want, you can just jog from one ride to another. This can be very good for you. It’s recommended that you lighten up. Forget about your reports just for this day.

Straighten your garden. If you don’t have time to leave your premises, you can just go to your backyard. Trim down your grass and replace your flowers. Trust me, in just an hour, you’ll be sweating like a professional athlete.

Heavy gym equipments are not the only things that can help you get fit. Throw your dumbbells and get your backpacks, garden rakes and a bottle of water. Let’s do the alternative exercises to be physically and emotionally fit.

Toni Okeson is a mother of two and always checks for discount Theme Park Coupons before heading out with the kids. This site offers specials for just about every theme park in the U.S., including Walt Disney Coupons for all 9 of their U.S. parks

How Probiotics Can Help Improve Your Health

2011-12-08T01:44:00.000-08:00

Physicians who are associated with the modalities of complementary and alternative medicine are quick to recommend probiotics to their patients.

Although not new, its recent resurgence on the market, packaged in different forms, has sparked interest from individuals interested in natural health.

Probiotics is said to be an immune system booster that protects and fights against disease processes by enhancing our own humoral defenses.

As many questions arise as to the potential benefits of probiotics, we have provided answers to some of the most popular questions asked of its applications.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are a type of microorganism found in fermented foods such as yogurt. They are also referred to as the "good bacteria". Researchers have been studying probiotics for several years and found that there are many potential health benefits. Studies have shown that probiotics can help treat diarrhea, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, reduce cholesterol level and prevent inflammation.

How do probiotics help treat diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a condition that occurs when food or fluid passes through the digestion system too quickly. Probiotics help prevent diarrhea by promoting normal digestion. They also help reduce some of the symptoms that are associated with gastroenteritis (stomach flu).

How do probiotics help lower blood pressure?

Ace-Inhibitors are a class of medications commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure. They work by regulating ACE, which is one of the enzymes that control blood pressure. Researchers believe that probiotics work the same way to reduce blood pressure.

How do probiotics help boost the immune system?

There has been evidence to suggest that probiotics can help boost the immune system. Natural killer cells and T lymphocytes are the parts of the immune system that are responsible for fighting infections. Researchers believe that probiotics can help increase the number of T lymphocytes and natural killer cells.

How do probiotics help reduce cholesterol level?

There have been studies done in animals that suggest that probiotics can help reduce cholesterol level. Bile is a fluid produced in the liver that helps reabsorb cholesterol. Researchers believe that probiotics help break down bile, which prevent cholesterol from being reabsorbed in the bloodstream.

How do probiotics help prevent inflammation?

Chronic inflammation is the root cause of numerous health problems. Probiotics can help prevent inflammation from occurring. Researchers believe that probiotics help prevent white blood cells and fluids from accumulating in the blood vessels.

Other conditions that probiotics may benefit:

There has been evidence to suggest that probiotics can benefit the following conditions:

*eczema
*cold
*the flu
*bladder cancer
*colon cancer
*Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)
*yeast infections
*urinary tract infections
*intestinal infections
*lactose intolerance
*ulterative colitis
*dental caries

How can I get more probiotics in my diet?

Yogurt and low-fat dairy products are the best sources for probiotics. They are also found in soy products and certain juices. You may also want to consider taking a supplement, but it is wise to consult with a doctor before doing so.

Diet Frustrations: Is Morning Snacking Really To Be Blamed?

2011-12-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

To snack or not to snack, that is the question? Which one serves as the right guideline worth applying to your diet program?

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association revealed that snacking between breakfast and lunch is likely to ruin your weight loss plan by packing on extra calories.

Women who avoided snacking in the midmorning were likely to maintain a weight loss of 11 percent of body weight over the course of a year as opposed to those women who chose to snack; their snacking accounted for a weight loss of only 7 percent of body weight.

This new data contradict previous weight loss studies that show snacking as a healthy habit to incorporate in your diet to stave off cravings and reduce overeating at meal times?

A few weeks before this no munching guideline was announced, another published study outlined that people who “snack have diets that are slightly healthier overall than people who don’t snack.” Both studies’ have opposing viewpoints and were published within the same month. It is no wonder why a large number of individuals are frustrated with changing diet rules and misleading headlines on weight reduction. So which is the real healthy weight loss solution?

The study is available online; gather your individual perspective on the recommended guidelines for dieters instead of accepting snippet reports. Gain insight into the reason why morning snacking was underscored as counterproductive to weight loss.

Morning snacking is not the cause but a precursor to psychological and emotional cravings not borne out of hunger. Individuals who consume snacks less than 2 hours after a meal are likely to carry-out “mindless snacking habits” throughout the day. Emotional eaters tend to reach out for comfort foods such as: doughnuts, chocolates, fries, and other decadent high calorie snacks. Overall, they consume more calories at each meal.

Researchers, who conducted the study, stated that “the urge to grab a snack during the relatively short time between breakfast and lunch could be a sign of generally less healthy eating.” The same researchers also say “eating healthy snacks can help dieters reach their goal by staving off hunger.”

If you are still on-the-fence as to which snacking rule to comply with just remember this: the bulk of your food intake should come from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. To get the recommended amount in your diet without supplements requires that you snack. Snacking on healthy foods, counting calories, and getting a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day is the right start to any diet plan.

Article first published as Diet Frustrations: Is Morning Snacking Really To Be Blamed? on Technorati.

Are The Elliptical Machines Bad For Your Knees?

2011-12-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

An elliptical machine, also known as a cross trainer, is a piece of equipment that is commonly used in walking and running exercises.

A common question asked by many is whether elliptical machines have a bad effect on the knees? The truth is that elliptical machines are beneficial to one's general health as they help burn excess calories in the body. As for the knees, they help in building strong muscles for a perfect knee fitness for those with weak knees. This will provide stability when walking, running or standing for long hours.

Unlike other machines, an elliptical machine has a reduced impact, which is not bad for the knees. While training with this equipment, the foot doesn't leave the paddle so the strain in the joints is far reduced. In fact, working on an elliptical machine is highly recommended for people who have suffered knee injuries before. Minimal workout on this machine will help heal the destroyed knee ligaments in a shorter period of time.

Research done by leading institutions like Harvard University highly recommend the use of elliptical machines to patients who have knee injuries. Studies show that elliptical machines reduce the likelihood of knee joint complications, heal the muscles around the knees, and make them strong as they were before.

The majority of body therapists and physical trainers have included an elliptical machine workout in their programs, especially to patients who have suffered knee damage. They claim that regular exercise on these machines help reduce the amount of pain on the wounded knees and slowly regains motion as the knee heals within the required period of time. For knees that may seem to have changed their position, an elliptical machine workout helps return the knee back to the original point with no strain at all.

Though good for knees, elliptical machines should be set to the standard settings of one's preference and ability. Patients with knee injuries should follow the advice of their physicians so as not to damage their knees permanently. A prolonged rigorous workout may damage your knees with time or cause unending pain to them. They also may not be the best solution to those who want faster results to heal their knees within a short period of time.

If you're wondering whether an elliptical machine is bad for your knees, the facts speak very reassuringly for themselves. If carefully used, the impact on your knees is positive and with long lasting benefits.
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About the author: K. M. Morgan is the blogger behind the reviews of elliptical machines blog. It's a free website he uses to share reviews about the best selling elliptical machine brands (i.e. Proform elliptical reviews) to help people compare the products available on the market and save money.

Tips for Recovering from Sports Injuries

2011-12-03T03:33:00.000-08:00

As an athlete the longer you are incapacitated, the harder it is for you to get back on form and compete. Yet, it is essential that you don’t push your body too far too soon or you could risk further injury.

So what can you do?

If you are looking to reduce your down time, then there are a number of techniques you can do to decrease joint pain and get yourself literally back on the track.

Coping with Sports Injuries

Physical rehab is only part of the recovery process. To help reduce your down time, it is essential that you also use psychological skills, as your reaction to an injury could prevent you from recovering faster.

Denial, anger, sadness, depression… all of these emotions can set you back if you let them as they will prevent you from focusing on your recovery and getting better.

For this reason, you need to find out and accept the following. Only by doing so can you recover quicker:

- What is your diagnosis?
- How long will it take you to recover?
- What is the purpose of the treatments they are offering you?
- What can you expect from rehab? What will you be expected to do?
- Are there any alternative workouts you can safely do?
- How can you spot if you are getting worse?

Many athletes make the mistake of playing through the pain and ignoring the advice of physiotherapists, but this could be a huge mistake.

Without properly addressing your injury and giving it time to heal, you could potentially cause yourself permanent, more damaging injuries which could prevent you from competing for good.

That is why we recommend doing the following:

• Accept responsibility for your injury – you need to accept that you have an injury and that only with positive thinking can you take control of your recovery process. Do not dwell on the past and who caused it. Focus on your recovery.

• Stay positive – you need to be committed to recovering from your injury, and this means going to physiotherapy, working hard and listening to the advice of health and athletic professionals. Avoid any negative or self-defeating thoughts and remind yourself that you can recover and that you can succeed.

• Get support – do not isolate yourself from your friends, family or team mates. Instead let them be a shoulder to your recovery and let their encouragement spur you on.

• Set realistic goals – be realistic with your recovery time and don’t expect too much too soon. Instead, set training challenges that focus more on recovery than your performance.

• Maintain your fitness – depending on the type of injury you have, you can modify your training routine and keep your fitness levels up. Aim to include cardiovascular and strength training as they can help you to experience natural pain relief as well as strengthen your injured ligaments/muscles.

For example, if you cannot run – swim or cycle.

• Compression sportswear – even without injury, compression sportswear helps to reduce the risk of muscle injury and can assist with your recovery.

• Follow the right form of treatment – most sports injuries are treated using the following formulation: PRICE –Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation and Stabilise.

When you injure yourself, initial inflammation will normally last 5 days. During this time it is important that you address signs of inflammation, joint/ligament pain, swelling and loss of mobility as they will influence your long term recovery.

Prevention

Some sports injuries are simply unavoidable especially in contact sports; however there are a number of steps you can take to prevent a sports injury from happening or from happening again. Try to incorporate the following into your routine:

• Properly warm up – stretch and get your heart pumping before you begin training
• Take time off – your body needs at least 1 day off a week to recover
• Wear the right clothing – pads, helmets, mouthpieces etc should all be made to fit, ensuring for thorough protection
• Strength training – conditioning exercises can help to strengthen your muscles and improve flexibility
• Assess your pain – if you feel any amount of joint pain, stop and drink plenty of fluids (this can prevent heat injury)

It is possible to be the athlete you’ve always wanted to be. Just be careful to use the right kind of joint pain relief for your injury and ensure that you do not try to do too much too soon. With the right steps you can take control of your recovery time.

This post was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Provailen, an option for natural pain relief and joint pain relief.

Acupuncture for Kids – How safe is it?

2011-11-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

Picture a child under several needle punctures without any form of sedation. Would you consider it, if your child were ill and not responding to conventional medical treatment? A surprising number of parents have.

Although the action of taking your child to see a trained acupuncturist may seem unnatural for some parents, for others it seemed the only course of remedy. Their willingness to have their children undergo this traditional Chinese practice have enabled research studies to be conducted, which has since provided evidence for its acceptance into Western culture.

Acupuncture is an alternative treatment modality that reportedly offers curative benefits to patients for specific types of ailments through insertion and manipulation of thin needles in the body.

After careful review of studies spanning 60 years, Dr. Sunita Vohra, professor in the Department of Paediatrics and her colleagues of the University of Alberta in Edmonton assert “acupuncture is safe for children.” The study was recently published in the Medical Journal, which now joins other peer reviewed evidence-based standards.

The recurring theme throughout the study, however, is one that strongly touts the treatment safe, only when administered by trained practitioners. Based on review of 37 studies in over half a century Dr. Vohra decisively concludes the procedure safe for children.

In the findings, 1,422 children were successfully treated with few exceptions of mild adverse effects dominating the reports. These adverse effects included pain, bruising, bleeding and worsening of symptoms occurring in 168 of the 1,422 children in the studies.

Severe effects were also reported. Twenty-five (25) serious events occurred in children with needle acupuncture; the majority of cases resulted in thumb deformity, usually after 1 year of treatment.

Also, “five serious infections consisted of one case of HIV, one sacroiliitis, one septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint, a pyogenic spondylitis, and a case of sub-periosteal abscess and osteomyelitis of the frontal bone.” These reports reflected sub-standard sterile technique in performance of the procedure.

In one serious event a boy died having received a cardiac rupture. The autopsy report revealed needle holes in the diaphragm, the pericardium, and right ventricular wall, for which the cause of death was deemed puncture of the heart.

“Current acupuncture regulations precisely detail protocols intended to maximize the safety of acupuncture practice, including procedures for sterilization and needling in the areas of organs,” researchers said. They however, added that “it is unknown what regulations were in place at the times and places of these adverse events.”

For parents to take their children to an acupuncturist for treatment imply that: either they believe in the health promotional benefits of homeopathic medicine or have resorted to its technique, having exhausted all options in the medical system. Despair and lack of satisfactory answers for their children’s ailments are compelling reasons why parents will seek alternative forms of therapy.

But can this review convince a wider cross-section of families that acupuncture is safe for their children? Based on what researchers have said “the small number of participants included in the reviewed studies has limited the ability to draw conclusions about the overall safety of pediatric acupuncture,” they acknowledged.

Article first published as Acupuncture for Kids â€“ How Safe is it? on Technorati.

How to create a detox diet

2011-11-19T03:50:00.000-08:00

If you are genuinely interested in freeing your body from the damaging effects of toxins, following a detox diet once a month can help.

Proven to eliminate free radicals which can damage cells and reduce the efficiency of your metabolism, following a detox plan for a few days a month can help to improve your health and ultimately your weight loss over the long term.

Where do I start?

Before you jump on the band wagon and sign up for the latest celebrity diet, stop. Celebrity diets are notorious for cutting out major food groups in their quest to trigger weight loss and can often leave you feeling fatigued, dizzy and deprived of essential nutrients.

To detox properly, you need to incorporate the following kind of dietary plan:

Breakfast

Swap milk for water and make some porridge topped with banana, raisins and sweetened honey
Mix a healthy fruit salad with natural yoghurt and a sprinkle of oats
Create a fruit smoothie using fresh fruit, natural yoghurt and honey (if you like it sweet)
Cover muesli with some oats, seeds, nuts and dried fruit before finishing with some natural yoghurt

Lunch

Combine some vegetables or lentil soup with 2 oatcakes
Top a freshly baked jacket potato with tuna mixed with sweetcorn and natural yoghurt. Serve with a side of salad
Serve rice cakes with rocket, avocado, tomatoes, basil and black pepper before finishing with a handful of unsalted nuts
Create your own homemade guacamole from avocado, lemon juice, fresh chilli, tomato and garlic and serve with vegetable crudités and oatcakes
Try fresh avocado served with prawns, salad, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice
Serve a grilled cod fillet on a jacket potato and finish with steamed vegetables

Dinner

Create your own Chinese stir-fry using bok choi, spring onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and beansprouts in a little olive oil, garlic and ginger. Finish with brown rice
Combine a baked jacket potato with a salmon fillet and steamed vegetables
Combine a selection of vegetables (onions, mushrooms, peppers, courgette and leek) with prawns and fry before finishing with tomatoes, black pepper and tuna and a side of noodles
Stir fry onions, peppers, baby sweetcorn and mushrooms before combining with tomatoes, white wine vinegar and honey. Serve with brown rice
Create your own potato and bean casserole using onions, carrot, parsnip, potatoes, beans and garlic

These are just a handful of meal choices you can make whilst detoxing. However it is important to remember that this is not a long term dietary choice as you need to eat a balanced diet which includes lean meats, fibre and dairy products to ensure your body gets plenty of protein and calcium to build strong bones and muscles.

For this reason, only incorporate this dietary plan into your routine for a few days each month – though there is no harm including some of these meal options in your day to day diet – and make sure to eat a balanced diet of all your major food groups.

Alternatively, why not add a detox product into your dietary plan? Detox drinks and supplements can help to cleanse your system without having to cut dairy, meat and the occasional treat from your diet.

Instead you can healthily eat in moderation and continue enjoying food without feeling guilty.
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Acne – Why Do You Get It? How Do You Get Rid of It?

2011-11-15T00:36:00.000-08:00

Few of us escape without some experience with acne. Whether it’s just a passing meeting or a full-blown relationship, acne is not a pleasant encounter for anyone.

The term “acne” actually covers a variety of skin conditions from red scaly skin to blackheads to pinheads to pimples.

The skin structures of hair follicles and their accompanying sebaceous glands are what are involved, and that’s why most acne breakouts are seen on the face, chest and back, places where these structures are the most dense. However, cystic acne will also show up in the armpits, groin, and on the buttocks – places where sweat commonly collects in the hair follicles.

Many of you are probably most familiar with acne as a condition of adolescence. This is because during puberty the increase of testosterone (yes, for both boys and girls) exacerbates the situation. However, many adults also suffer from acne well into their 30’s and 40’s. And due to hormonal changes pregnancy can also cause an acne flair-up.

Unfortunately, if you experience a severe bout of acne, scarring can result – both physically and emotionally.

So whether you’re a teen, a pregnant woman, or a 40-something businessman, the following information on acne treatments might just be what you’ve been looking for. As a dermatologist I’m happy to let you know that today there are some truly remarkable acne treatments available from your medical specialist.

1. ELOS Blue Light Acne Laser. This laser treatment specifically targets and destroys acne bacteria, in addition to shrinking oil glands and thus decreasing oil production. The best results are seen when the treatment is performed once every 2 weeks for 10 weeks total. Treatment is comfortable and you're able to resume normal activity immediately after treatment.

2. PDT for Acne. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a unique and highly effective treatment for moderate to severe acne. There are 3 steps to this treatment: 1) Gentle microdermabrasion 2) Application of the light-absorbing agent Levulan. 3) ELOS blue light acne laser. The best results of PDT are seen with 2 or 3 treatments performed once every 4-6 weeks.

3. Chemical Peels. The best peel for a mild acne treatment is the gentle glycolic acid Vivite "peel with no peel.” This brightens and exfoliates your skin plus gives it a beautiful glow with no downtime. Chemical peels are great to give your skin a quick fix before special events.

4. Cortisone Shots. This is ideal for the cystic acne that rears its ugly head during menstrual periods and times of stress. One quick and easy injection to the pimple and within hours it is smaller and flatter and by the next day the pimple can be completely gone. No downtime and no hassle.

5. Extraction. This is performed to unclog pores and smooth bumpy skin caused by whiteheads and blackheads. Regular extractions are important in breaking the cycle of acne and improving the appearance of your skin.

As you can see there are many choices available for treating acne. Acne no longer has to cause physical discomfort or emotional pain. Talk with your dermatologist today to find out what treatment is best for you.

Dr. Tess Mauricio, “America's Favorite Dermatologist,” is an author, renowned international speaker,physician educator and nationally known media personality. She is the Founder of Scripps Ranch Dermatology & Cosmetic center in San Diego and Dr. Tess Dermatology in La Jolla, California. Learn more online at drtessmd.

Skin Rejuvenation: A Review Of Botox

2011-11-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Usually by age 30 expression lines begin to set in. Over time, what becomes most noticeable in the mirror are frown lines around the forehead, crow's feet of the eyes, and laugh lines around the mouth.

Although natural anti-aging remedies continue to produce glowing skin results, many persons feel nature could use a little more help. Such persons have questions they want answered on Botox. If this is your thinking, then this review is for you.

Botox is clinically renowned to rejuvenate skin and is the primary agent behind many satisfied clients. Here are a few commonly asked questions and useful information on the product:

How long does Botox treatment last?

If you are considering having Botox then one of the most likely questions you will ask is: "how long does Botox last?" It is best to first understand exactly what Botox is to give you a greater understanding of the Botox procedure. Botox is effectively a neuro toxin which is produced naturally by a bacterium called Clostridium Botulinum. The way Botox works is by blocking the electric signal that is passed along our nerves to various muscles within our body and face. By carefully injecting Botox into certain nerves within the face, you can prevent the contraction of the target muscles. For example, one of the most common uses of Botox is to treat the frown lines that appear in the forehead. The reason these frown lines appear is because of the contraction of muscles within the forehead. If these muscles are relaxed by using Botox, then the frown lines will disappear. Although 99% of Botox injections are carried out for cosmetic purposes, Botox does have some medical benefits too. Botox for sweating and Botox for migraines are both examples of conditions that can be treated using Botox.

How effective is Botox and how long does it last?

Botox is extremely effective at treating certain imperfections of the face including frown lines and crow’s feet, although the results are not permanent. The effects of Botox will typically last for around 4 months although there is some variation between individuals. The following lists the factors that are most likely to affect how long Botox will last:

Genetics: Some people will find that the effects of Botox last longer for them and this is just due to how quickly their body metabolises the toxin. There is no way of knowing this before you have your first Botox injection.

Age: The results of Botox will normally last for longer if you are younger.

Repeat treatments: Botox typically lasts longer if you are having it done for the second or third time. The reason for this is that there is some underlying weakening of the muscles following Botox so if the procedure is repeated the results will last even longer. Although this is the case, the maximum length of time Botox will last is 6 months.

The extent of the wrinkles etc.: Botox has its limits and cannot treat deep frown lines or excessive wrinkles. Botox is not a miracle cure and if you have extensive wrinkles that need treating you will have to consider a surgical procedure such as a face lift.

In summary you can expect the effects of Botox to last for around 4 months with an absolute maximum of 6 months. The results are generally extremely impressive and most people choose to have the procedure repeated a second or third time to maintain the same results. It is rare to experience any Botox side effects and the downtime is practically zero meaning it is an extremely convenient treatment. Just make sure you take into account the fact that you need to repeat the procedure when you are calculating the cost of Botox. This is the main disadvantage of Botox as it is not actually treating the underlying wrinkles; rather it is temporarily disguising them! Once you stop using Botox the wrinkles will return!

Type 2 Diabetes – Are We Doing Enough to Raise Awareness?

2011-10-31T19:19:00.000-07:00

Is type 2 diabetes taken as seriously as it should? Mainly a preventable disease, its alarming rise has become as acceptable and downplayed as obesity. In fact obesity is the common thread that binds early onset diabetes. Diabetes is not given the serious attention that it deserves, partly because the cause and effect of diabetes is not clearly defined.

Diabetes: Defined

Type 2 diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas in which needed insulin is not produced in adequate amounts in the body to metabolize blood glucose [sugar] for the cells. Without insulin the cells are starved of glucose, even amidst high levels in the blood. This is called hyperglycemia and is the primary contributor to cardiovascular diseases in diabetics.

When our cells are unable to metabolize glucose, it compensates for lack of energy by releasing stored fat and protein, broken down into ketone bodies. Because ketone bodies are acidic substances an individual is also at risk for ketoacidosis [formerly called diabetic coma].

Causes of Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is mainly a “lifestyle” disease. Once prevalent among 40+ age groups is now common place among adolescents. Overwhelming evidence points to poor nutrition and lack of exercise as the primary cause. Ignorance and poor management of the disease introduce the second part of the equation.

Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes runs parallel to the rise in obesity. In fact the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) links obesity-diabetes-inactivity much like a revolving door, one begets the other. It is the 6^th leading cause of death in the United State, with 1.3 million cases diagnosed per year.

Adding to this problem is a worsening economic climate. Increasing poverty among ethnic groups (Hispanic, Native American, Afro-Caribbean) limit choices to cheaper, less nutritious food selection.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) released a study published by New England Journal of Medicine supporting the fact that families who moved from poverty to marginally better neighborhoods experienced long-term “reductions in diabetes and extreme obesity.”

Effects of Diabetes on the Body

Diabetes effects are insidious. Many individuals are unaware of the disease until serious complications develop. Hyperglycemia causes blockages in blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Plaque buildup and narrowing of the arteries are common causes of heart diseases and stroke among diabetics. Poor circulation is another reason for foot amputations from gangrene.

So how do we address this epidemic? Direct educational campaign is a start. Clear understanding of diabetes, its cause and effects must become an active part of more governmental and private agency campaigns.

Education and management are half the battle won against diabetes, the other half is up to you.

Harnessing Time – the Art of Productivity

2011-10-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had the experience of looking back on your week with the sinking feeling that you didn't get as much done as you'd hoped? When building a successful career or a business, your time is perhaps your most valuable asset, and your income is a direct result of how you spend your time.

This article looks at something we’re all trying to increase, productivity. Be it in our homes, at work or simply managing all the other every day tasks we set ourselves – we’ve listened to the experts and pulled together a list of helpful hints on how to harness the key to productivity.

Learn to speed read. Yes, even on this article! Look for the points most relevant to you and move on…

Just start. You’ve heard it before, but trust me it’s true - at times, starting is the hardest part. Once you get going, you will quickly get into a rhythm that could last for hours.

Exercise. Research has shown that midday exercise boosts productivity and morale in the workplace. Take a short walk at lunch to maximise your productivity or take up a relaxing exercise such as Yoga – great for body and mind.

Love what you do. We know it’s not always easy (there are days we all feel the world is against!) Enjoying what you do is the ultimate way to increase your productivity – it’s a pleasure, not a chore!

Complete your most dreaded tasks first thing in the morning. Whichever activity you are dreading the most is probably the one you need to complete first thing in the morning.

Learn to say “No”. We can’t do everything and therefore we must learn when to say no in order to save our sanity.

Single-handling. Once you begin a task, stick with it until it’s 100% complete. Don’t switch tasks in the middle. When distractions come up, jot them down to be dealt with later.

Tell other people about your goals and you will instantly be held accountable. People remember things long after you tell them. By setting yourself up to have a vision and objective for the future and sharing it you’ll feel you need to get these goals into motion.

Shop online whenever possible to avoid going to the shops for hours on end (You’re here – why not start today?)

Get plenty of sleep. When you work online, sleep can become a long lost memory. However, it’s important to get plenty of sleep so that your working hours can be as productive as possible. Try a little aromatherapy oil on your pillow, wearing comfortable pyjamas, having a warm bath and drink or short read are all said to help create a good sleep routine.

Glittering prizes. Give yourself frequent rewards for achievement. See a movie, book a professional massage, or spend a day at an amusement park. Most of all, don’t feel guilty about taking this time off – you deserve it!

Eliminate all distractions. This includes the phone, email notifications, and having multiple web browsers open on the desktop.

Intuition. Learn to trust your gut instinct. It will get rid of hours of deliberation (Plus It’s probably right!)

Keep a notebook and pen on hand at all times. This way, you can write down your thoughts, to-dos, and ideas at any time. The key is to get everything out of your head and onto paper. This way, your subconscious mind won’t be reminding you about it every other second.

Listen to educational audio books while you’re driving to work, cleaning the house, exercising, or cooking dinner. Audio learning has the power to add hours to your day. Not to mention, your cranium is sure to thank you for it.

Author, Gill Owen from Lovestretch.com

As a business woman and pilates teacher, founder Gill Owen wanted to find non-restrictive clothing with style, quality and versatility at it's heart. Buying with this in mind, Gill sought out the best stretchwear brands from across the globe to create an online boutique offering stylish, chic and enduring fashion, which provides comfort throughout the day.

Thanks also to productivity experts: Kim Roach

Uncover 3 Anti-aging Facts About Aloe Vera: What You Can Do At Home

2011-10-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

The aloe plant has been known for years by holistic beauty specialists for its phenomenal ability to speed-up cell renewal for youthful skin. It continues to be hailed for its astounding medicinal and anti-aging properties!

You can easily grow aloe at home—maintenance free—and derive all the youthful benefits! Just break off a part of the leaf and apply the fresh gel on the skin.

Learn how you can improve the beauty of your skin with aloe’s anti-aging facts:

Fact #1: Anti-Aging Ingredients

Aloe’s many ingredients have kept researchers busy for years. Aloe has the unique ability to stimulate cell renewal 8 times faster than normal cell reproduction. Little wonder, as aloe contains essential ingredients sought after in many beauty products:

· 20 amino acids [building blocks of protein for cell renewal]

· Vitamins-A, C, E, B1-2, B6, B12 [antioxidants, cell growth and metabolism]

· 200 phytonutrients [including enzymes, such as coenzyme Q10]

· 20 minerals [calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, phosphorus, and more...]

Home Anti-aging Treatment Mask:

1. Cleanse the face

2. Put on your favorite night-time moisturizer

3. Slice a fresh piece of aloe (remove thorns) and pat the gel all over face and neck

Note. use the yellowish ooze--though not pleasant--is packed with anti-aging properties. Done twice per week, aloe will rejuvenate any dull, blemished skin.

Fact#2: Fast Absorption into the Skin

In studies conducted by Dr. Ivan E. Danhof, M.D., Ph.D., President of North Texas Research Laboratories, aloe is able to penetrate the skin 4 times faster than water. This means aloe’s anti-aging nutrients are absorbed deeper and faster than water can reach!

Home Anti-aging Treatment:

· Allow the benefits of aloe to penetrate deep into the skin while exercising, doing house chores, or relaxing in front of the television

· For daily use, refrigerate. Wrap aloe in foil and apply on cleansed face with/without moisturizer.

Note: Aloe must be use within 5 days while in the refrigerator. Its potency diminishes quickly after being cut.

Fact #3: Moisture, Protection & Healing Properties

Aloe contains polysaccharides, which gives the gel its mystifying moisture-binding properties. According to Danhof, as we age epidermal cells become weak and water escapes from our skin resulting in dry, aging skin. Aloe makes epidermal cells tight-fitting, protecting and moisturizing the skin from pollutants.

Home Anti-aging Treatment: Pat a slice of aloe over cleansed lightly moisturized skin, for dry skin.

Many believe aloe is God’s gift to mankind; it is a powerhouse of ingredients packed into one plant.

Aloe is still a challenge to scientists so, why depend on technology when you can reap the benefits directly from your garden. This is the secret to glowing, blemish free complexion; use it today!