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How To Have A Healthy Heart

root — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:08:45 +0200

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Keeping our hearts healthy is important, but how do we do it? Fortunately the answers to this are very clear. Being overweight, particularly if you carry the weight around your waist, puts unnecessary strain on the heart. To find out if you have a problem you need to know your height to weight ratio (WHR). To work this out measure round your waist in centimetres and divide it by your hip circumference. The measurements need to be in centimetres, so if your measuring tape is in inches, multiply each measurement by 2.5 before dividing one by the other. If the figure you end up with is greater than 0.9 for men and 0.8 for women then your fat distribution is likely to be associated with an magnified risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Research has shown that many fat people with angina, raised blood cholesterol and high blood pressure found their condition improved greatly, even after losing only many of their excess weight. galore of those who kept their weight off were able to reduce their medication or flat stop it entirely. Exercise is important for your heart too. If you take regular exercise, it will speed up your basal metabolic rate. This means that you will burn more calories, not only when you are exercising but for some time afterwards as well. People often imagine that they have to exercise hard to have an effect, but it’s enough just to take exercise that leaves you warm and breathing heavily, but still able to hold a conversation. Did you know that each day most of us take between 3,000-4,000 steps? And that's antimonopoly not enough. Experts say that we should aim to take 10,000 steps to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Increasing to 10,000 steps a day will burn between 2,000 and 3,500 unnecessary calories per week, which will result in achieving a vastly better health profile and longer lifespan. There are lots of ways you can increase the number of steps you take: get up to change the TV rather than using the remote; park further from the supermarket; take a walk around the local park or your garden/yard; walk rather than take the car on short journeys. Using a pedometer will help motivate you to clock up those extra steps. Giving up smoking is likely to have a melodramatic effect on your heart. Carbon monoxide produced when you smoke cigarettes attaches to red blood cells, so that in smokers up to half the blood can be carrying carbon monoxide rather than oxygen. No wonder many smokers are breathless! If you need help giving up smoking, try one of the books or CD’s by Allen Carr. He has helped thousands of people to give up. And, if you don’t already, start flossing your teeth! This may seem bizarre in relation to the heart, but it has been shown that there is a link between gum disease and heart disease. The exact mechanism isn’t understood fully yet, but flossing your teeth and having regular dental checks is consequential for a healthy heart. Finally, give and receive love. The scientific evidence isn’t there (yet) for how important this is for our hearts, but it has been established that people who have loving relationships also tend to have long and happy lives.

Calcium: The Miracle Mineral

root — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:08:45 +0200

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We’ve heard it not single once or twice or flat thrice but a lot of times. If you want wholesome bones and teeth then pack up on the Calcium intake. While it is true that calcium is absolutely necessary to the health and strength of bones and teeth, this virtual mineral also serves several else important purposes in the body. Yet, many people still routinely fail to consume enough calcium in their daily diets. In addition to the benefits to teeth and bones, calcium plays a role in blood clotting, muscle functions, and the cell membranes maintenance. It is also important to the prevention of debilitating boney diseases, such as osteoporosis. Despite the celebrated importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium daily, some research have found that as more as 75% of Americans do not have a sufficient regular intake of calcium. Comprising most of these numbers are those who are following strict vegetarian diets. Fortunately, there are several varieties of calcium supplements available on the market. Adults need between cardinal mgs and 1300 mgs of calcium per day and should not exceed beyond 2500 mgs as overdose in daily calcium intake can cause other health problems. Your health care nonrecreational can help you to choose the amount that you need daily as preexisting conditions, much as bone loss or damage due to previous deficiencies, can make a difference in how much you should be attractive daily. The most common calcium supplements include calcium citrate, calcium carbonate, oyster shell or boney meal based calcium supplements, chromatic calcium, and calcium gluconate and calcium lactate based supplements. In choosing your supplement, you should be awake of how to read the label to ensure that you are getting the amount of calcium that you think you are. Elemental calcium is the term used for the calcium that your body will be able to absorb. Some supplements have this and other types of calcium, but it is only the elemental calcium that can count towards your regular intake. Calcium is absorbed unsurpassed in acidic circumstances, which is why many supplements are advisable for use after meals, when the stomach acids are at higher levels. Current research has found that calcium citrate is the most efficient of the supplements because it can be absorbed easily by the system. However, although it is absorbed easier and can be taken at some time of day, whether or not there is food in the stomach, this type of calcium supplement often contains little of the elemental calcium, and thus more pills daily will be needed. On the else hand, calcium carbonate is the most common over the negative calcium supplement. It has a special instruction though and that is it should be usurped only after meals when there is increased stomach acid production. These, however, should be watched for sodium content. Calcium is needed by our system to enable us to live healthy and sane lives. Insufficient daily supply of this mineral in our body can lead to numerous health problems causing not only a lot of damage in the pockets but also an insane lifestyle. To avoid these complications and inconvenience, it is therefore essential to intake the word-perfect amount of calcium needed regular by our body. A less research and consultation with a nutritional specialist can help you to plan your daily diet so as to be competent to obtain the healthy amount of daily calcium.

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A Cancer Statistic? Not You, Not Me

root — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:08:45 +0200

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For some, a diagnosis of cancer evokes frightening images of unpleasant treatments and unwanted results. For others, it evokes a surreal state of numbness, as if they are no longer a part of this world. No matter how one reacts emotionally to their diagnosis, one question and one question alone emerges almost immediately. “Doctor, what are my chances?” The desire to know the doctor’s belief concerning our probable fate is of overriding importance. I know. I’ve been there. Naturally, we want to hear there’s a 100% cure; but most doctors can’t and won’t make us that promise. Still, the answer to the question is typically phased as a percentage. Fortunately, my doctor had a finer answer. One January morning in 1998, my hip seemed to catch as I swung my feet out of bed. The catch wasn’t debilitating. In fact, I played 9 holes of golf that day. It never occurred to me the problem was anything else than a pulled muscle. Yet, cardinal days later I found myself in a hospital bed, sick from exploratory surgery, where masses of tumors had been saved in lymph nodes in contrasting parts of my body. The surgeon had done nothing but sew me back up. The next day a new doctor, an oncologist, came by my hospital room, and I asked him the question: “What are my chances?” “I prefer not to talk in those terms,” he replied. He explained that statistics come from studies that are usually a hardly a years old, and that most could be considered outdated by the time they are published. And who was to say the factors affecting the specific people in those studies were exactly like the factors present in my case? I listened, but I wasn’t sure I believed. I had always heard people talk of survival in terms of chances, but I remained quiet as he continued. He said my situation was serious. The tumors were fused against vital arteries and attempting to remove them was risky as I might be lost on the operating table. We needed to begin treatment the following Monday (this was Friday). We would mount an aggressive counterattack on these renegade cells with high powered chemotherapy and we would be working with cardinal of the best radiologists around. I was scared. I didn’t want to think about the treatment. I just welcome him to get rid of the cancer. We agreed I would think about what he had told me and he would come back the next day to answer my questions. Before he’d arrived that day, a friend dropped a book off for me to read. It was about surviving cancer treatment with the use of meditation and guided imagery. I had no experience with those techniques, but was open to learning about them, as by now I was searching for any support in dealing with the threat before me. I was not yet convinced by the doctor’s statement concerning “scientific studies.” After all, every person I had ever know or heard of with cancer knew what their chances were. Perhaps he just didn’t want to tell me how hopeless my situation really was. I had practiced law for twenty years and was a skeptic. Without corroborating evidence, I did not believe. I upturned to the book on the hospital tray for a necessary a diversion and began to read. An entire radical world opened up. I read about the mind/body connection and about medical doctors who believed in the healing power of hope and faith. I read success stories of people who saw their treatments as opportunities for survival, as opposed to dreaded ordeals. I read about finding one’s true self and true healing. And as I read, a deep-seated truth emerged. A diagnosis is needed for survival. A prognosis is not. The question I’d asked my doctor the night before was one I didn’t need answered. I had welcome statistics. I had wanted to know the odds. But I wasn’t a statistic. None of us are. We are each distinctly different human beings, and our lives can only be compact by statistics if we allow ourselves to believe we are controlled by what may have happened to others. Through the wisdom of my doctor and the thoughtfulness of a friend with a book, my understanding of my destiny had been reshaped. God made each of us as individuals, with the ability to have individual futures that are unique. If a diagnosis of cancer or some other life threatening event is thrust upon, we are not bound to despair. We have the God’s permission to help shape our future, and the most destructive thing we can do is believe otherwise. Copyright © 2005 Alpha Ward-Burns. Alpha Ward-Burns, a cancer survivor and co-founder of Skin Solved, a skincare company devoted to beautiful, healthy skin, is currently working on a book concerning her treatment and recovery from cancer. You may contact Alpha at http://www.skinsolved.com Article Source: http://www.articledepot.co.uk

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Today’s Sunless Self-Tanning Products are Better than Ever

root — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:38:45 +0200

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With skin cancer diagnoses being more prevalent than all else cancers combined, more and much people are turning to self-tanners to obtain that “sun-kissed” look year round. Fortunately, today’s self-tanners have come a long-life way since their introduction in the mid 1960’s. Nearly all self-tanners contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the active ingredient. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, DHA is the safest, most effective ingredient in sunless tanning. As a colorless chemical derived from glycerin, it interacts with amino acids in exanimate skin cells to produce a brown color change. The resulting color change usually lasts anywhere from five to cardinal days, depending upon individual skin chemistry. However, a perfect sunless chromatic is not purely dependent upon DHA alone. Most self-tanners generally recommend exfoliating and showering before applying the product. Additionally, the application method can significantly impact individual tanning results. With technological advances, sunless tanning enthusiasts no longer need to rely on messy creams and lotions to provide a glowing tan. Some of today’s easiest and most effective self-tanners actually come in a towelette form, whereby a sunless tanning “wipe” has been impregnated with DHA. Unlike the lotions and creams of yesterday, most tanning towelettes do not require ready to get dressed post application. There are even a few tanning towelettes on the market that do not contain added dyes or stains, which is typically what produces the “orange” look that most self-tanners provide. By using a sunless tanning towelette without any added dye or stain, clothes and sheets are not at risk for being discolored. Best of all, cardinal of the great things about self-tanning, aside from the evident avoidance of skin cancer, is the ability to achieve a beautiful, glowing tan all throughout the year.

Crippling our Children the Heelys Way – And now in Adult models too!

root — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:38:45 +0200

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“Heelys – The only shoe with a removable wheel in the heel”. – http://www.heelys.com I patterned that Heelys had the unsurpassed description of their own product, so I decided not to re-invent the wheel and derived it verbatim. Fortunately, or maybe not, Heelys’ positioning in the market has made them the “Scotch Tape” of the wheel in the heel industry. Customers interchangeably use the term “Scotch Tape” for adhesive tape and Heelys for every shoe with a wheel in the heel. Prior to our discussion proper, I essential point out that I am impartial to genuine Heelys or third world knock-outs. Hence, we shall use the term Heelys generically. The widespread sales of Heelys have spanned from South Africa to China. In every queen-size city, we see children whizzing by in the trademark “Crocodile Mouth” stance. It looks something like this > ; a toppled over “V” on cardinal tip. The other reason I call it the “Crocodile Mouth” stance is when an influent kid cannot stop in time! I assure you – your abdomen feels exactly like it has been gorged by a crocodile! Unfortunately, the real high risk victims are our little children. They can look forward to the following problems after long use: 1) Neck & Upper rearmost Injury 2) Lower Back Injury 3) Hip Injury Neck & high Back Injury The natural skating position of the Heelys forces the neck to push the head outwards to balance a body that is now poised to fall backwards. The neck and shoulder muscles are strained to push the head forward to counteract gravity. However, our neck muscles were not made to hold our head out on a horizontal plane. This is a stop gap measure by our body to prevent us from toppling. Sadly, the damage is not going to be stop gap nor temporary. Back Injury The skating position of the Heelys compels the lumbar curve of our backs to flex AGAINST its natural curve, creating a flat lower back instead of a concave one. To be antitrust - the skating can be done with a natural curve but it takes great effort; and I certainly do not see children doing it! Fortunately, in the walking mode, genuine Heelys allow you to take dead the wheel but parallel brands usually do not. Remember to always get your child to take out the wheel. Do not allow them to be lazy! Constant walking on shoes that pivot on rollers (now that wheels have taken the place of the heels) conditions our gait muscles to walk in a manner contrary to unbleached stride patterns. This leads to knee, shin and foot injuries later in life. Hip Injury Balancing in a forward motion on cardinal back wheel is no simple task! Hence, our children’s unbleached sense of balance intervenes by skating with one foot in front of the other. The centre of gravity effectively expands along the diagonal axis, creating a more stable base to balance on. In other circumstances, this would be a beautiful celebration of the human body’s ability to adapt. Unfortunately, in this case, it is a predisposition to a life of agony. Modern children spend most of their time seated behind desks and computer. The rare minutes of movement they have in a day will be constrained by the muscular requirements for the precarious Heelys balancing act. Their hips will be locked in an awkward skewed fashion, having to constantly compensate for the imbalance. The Long Run Occasional postural stress on our human bodies is not a problem. It single becomes a critical problem when it involves children in their formative years. Prolonged exposure to un-natural stressors on our posture forces our body to evolve by strengthening those incorrect, evanescent function, muscles. In the absence of postural rehabilitation, this is the only defence mechanism, albeit temporary. These reinforced muscles become a ticking time bomb ready to fail. It is our children’s future that we hold in our hands. This article may not have been written supported on a field study but it is definitely based on fundamental anatomic principles. Yes, I may not know what exactly constitutes prolonged use; but let’s try looking at it inversely. What are the unique benefits of wearing Heelys that would justify this lifelong risk? In a nutshell, dump the Heelys. For the unfortunate children and adults who are already suffering from degenerative postural pains, fret not. The damage is chronic but not irreparable. Get FREE Health Coaching to overcome this problem at http://phenogy.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Reproduction of this article You are released to reproduce this article on condition that it is reproduced in its entirety (this segment can be removed) and with all the hyperlinks intact. The article is not allowed to be sent out as spam, unsolicited mail or in print format. Phenogy Health Advisors Pte. Ltd. Reserves the right to ask any person to remove the article from their site or email in the event of abuse. Earn Money! – Receive Commission when you sign up for our Affiliate programmes. You can change the links to include you Affiliate Id and leave us to do complete the rest! Earn money in your sleep without ever needing to know nuts about health! We do everything. Find dead more on our Affiliate Page at http://phenogy.com/joinus.htm = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The author, Winston Ng, is an avid peak performance coach and CEO of Phenogy Health Advisors Pte Ltd, based in Singapore. His Health Consultancy programmes are renowned worldwide for their efficiency, simplicity and independent unbiased advice. The Phenogy Health Concierge™ is unparalleled internationally in providing unkind edge Natural Health Alternatives to the busy individual who needs viable options to invasive surgery, dangerous synthetic pills and expensive ineffective therapies! They want you to experience their service before spending a single dime! Receive released Health Coaching and find dead more about their E-Manuals and Consultancy Services! http://phenogy.com Winston Ng and his Coaches are contactable at enquiries@phenogy.com Article Source: http://www.articledepot.co.uk

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Changing Opinions on RGP Contact Lenses

root — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:08:45 +0200

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RGP contact lenses, also celebrated as rigid gas permeable lenses, have made quite a hardly a strides over the past decade and can provide comfort and improved vision to the wearer. However, many people have a negative opinion associated with RGP lenses. Fortunately, these lenses have changed for the better and are on a comeback. Rigid gas permeable lenses actually have quite a few bonuses that brushed contact lenses cannot provide. For instance, RGP lenses provide the wearer with increased eye health because these contacts can breathe and circulate oxygen to the eye. RGP contact lenses have many positives and they antimonopoly might change your opinion regarding these lenses. RGP lenses are much durable and resistant to protein buildup than their softer counterparts. This leads to easier handling and clearer vision because buildup does not occur so easily. Also, these contacts generally provide clearer and crisper vision, anyway, because they are more rigid. RGP contacts are more long and so they generally penultimate longer because they are not so fragile. This is bully for the RGP contact wearer because these contacts are a little pricier than soft lenses. However, they are generally cheaper over the long haul because they last so much longer if taken care of. Another extraordinary trait of RGP lenses is because of their durability they can be marked with L and R to denote which eye the lens is for. This certainly eliminates any confusion. The biggest negative associated with RGP lenses these days is it takes longer for the eye to accept them and be accustomed to wearing them. This is opposed to soft lenses which generally just takes a few days. These lenses essential also be worn on a regular basis so as not to go through the process of re-aclimating the eye to the lens. If you had a negative opinion of RGP lenses in the past this information should show you that RGP lenses have come a long-life way and are certainly a viable contact lens option.

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Understanding And Eliminating Hemorrhoids Naturally

root — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:38:45 +0200

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Annoying, uncomfortable and many time embarrassing, hemorrhoids are a usual and fortunately not serious health concern. A hemorrhoid is identified as any abnormally unhealthy veins in the anus or rectum. There are cardinal different types of hemorrhoids: domestic and external. Internal hemorrhoids don’t hurt or itch. They can’t be felt because they form deep inside the rectum. External hemorrhoids are the cause of the pain, itching and burning that you often hear about on TV. If you are wondering if you are suffering from hemorrhoids, their symptoms include: rectal tenderness and bleeding, itching, painful bowel movements – especially with straining. Sometimes a lump that can be felt in the anus or there may be a slight protrusion of tissue. Sufferers may also experience a discharge of mucus aft a bowel movement. When a hemorrhoid is irritated, the surrounding tissue can swell, burn, itch, become painful or bleed. This can take place for a number of reasons. Most often, they form because of repeated excessive pressure in rectal or anal veins, usually as a result of straining to pass bowel movement. effortful puts pressure on the rectum and causes blood to enlarge, swell and bulge the walls of the veins. Once a rectal vein has been stretched and a hemorrhoid forms, they are difficult to get rid of and it takes less effortful for them to recur. In addition, heavy lifting, pregnancy & delivery, obesity, overeating, deficient exercise and prolonged sitting – especially on toilet can cause hemorrhoids to form. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, medical treatment may be required. Sometimes a painful blood clot may form in the hemorrhoid. It should also be sought dead if there is excessive blood loss or if an infection develops. It may also be wise to seek medical advice in order to rule out cancer of the rectum or colon. Recommendations For Wellness Ice packs and frozen probes can be inserted into the anus to reduce swelling. It can also provide relief from the itching and burning experienced flat if it is only temporary. Try taking a Stiz bath. Fill your tub with 4-5 inches of warm water and sit in it for 15 minutes after a bowel movement. A Stiz bath can help reduce swelling and help relieve the itchy burning feeling that is often experienced aft a bowel movement. Avoid reading or spending excess time on the toilet. If it takes you more than 3-5 minutes to have a bowel movement, then something is wrong. Don’t scratch. While scratching can make a hemorrhoid feel temporarily better, scratching can damage the walls of the veins and create more problems. Using pads soaked with witch hazel can provide evanescent relief from the burning and itching often experienced with hemorrhoids. Eat lots of fruit, especially ones with outer skins such as apples, peaches and pears. In addition to the added fiber the skin has, it will also help to add moisture to your stool. Incorporate bulk forming fibers such as psyllium into your diet to help soften the stool and make the passage of a bowel movement easier and reduce straining. Dietary fiber holds water and help to keep the stool soft, while added bulk help to move the stool through the colon. Make sure you drink your 8 cups of water a day. Water is critical for providing the colon with enough moisture so that your stools do not dry out. This is especially true if you are taking dietary fiber supplements. If you suffer from constipation, try eating a few dried prunes or drinking some prune juice. In addition to adding fiber, prunes have a moderate laxative effect. Herbs such as casgara segrada, turkey rhubarb or herbal combinations such as Natures Sunshine’s LBS II and B-X can be used to evacuate the colon. While these should be used with caution, they are less aggressive than many commercial laxatives that are available at the supermarket. Always stand and walk during your breaks at work and try to stand and walk at least 5 minutes every hour. This can help avoid honorable pressure on your rectum. If your job requires heavy lifting, make sure you exhale when as you strain or lift and whatever you do, don’t hold your breath. Butchers Broom is bully for a wide range of circulatory ailments, especially ones involving veins. White Oak Bark can be used to shrink swollen tissues & helps normalize bleeding. © Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer 2005. All rights reserved. Naturopathic Physician,

A Look at Acid Reflux and Your Diet

root — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:38:45 +0100

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There is an undeniable connection between the occurrence of unpleasant reflux and diet. Everything in your body has a half-hardy balance. The human body is a miracle of systems that maintains just the right conditions to keep everything running smoothly. Therefore it’s the healthiest when there is an acidic balance or equilibrium. The stomach regulates acidic digestion with enzymes that convert acids into manageable alcalescent or basal substances. However, when there is an over-production of acid, usually helped along by lifestyle choices like overeating or smoking, acid reflux is possible to occur, and if it goes unregulated, acid reflux disease can develop. Fortunately, acid reflux and diet can be effectively built by launching a few lifestyle changes. One of the most important things you can do to cool heartburn down is to avoid certain foods. In many cases, just changing the diet is all that is necessary to control acid reflux. Most health care professionals recommend a low-acid diet consisting of more alkaline or basal foods. Foods such as chocolate, foods with a lot of unnecessary cheese, tomato sauce or catsup based foods, onions, chilies, caffeinated beverages, fatty or fried foods, alcohol, mint, and citrus fruits have been known to aggravate digestion, acting as catalysts for acid reflux. So what foods are safe to eat? The important qualities in heartburn-friendly foods, for most people, are low blubbery and non-spicy. So, with that in mind you can probably guess that leafy greens and broccoli, lean cuts of cooked meat, egg whites, low-fat cheeses like feta, apples and bananas, multi-grain breads, and low-fat salad dressings are good choices. Junk food? Occasionally, but with caution, choose fat free cookies, toughened potato chips, or red licorice. A good exercise to do if you suffer from heartburn regularly is to create a food diary and log your meal intake for 2 or 3 weeks. Then note each time you experience heartburn in order to target the foods you need to avoid. In addition to making better food choices, consider changing your portion perception. Overeating is another acid reflux aggravator. Exercise caloric conscientiousness and choose to skip that ordinal helping or fatty side dish, eat slow and drink plenty of water. Living without heartburn is within anyone’s grasp, and shouldn’t require drastic medical treatment. Simple, reasonable modifications in your eating habits can do wonders for quelling acid reflux, not to mention improving overall health.