Alkaline Water Benefits - Give You More Energy and Better Health

It is very important for every individual to stay healthy despite of the circumstances of life. The world has lots of many wonderful ways to offer on how to balance a good and healthy lifestyle. Living a healthy life is the secret to gain happiness and contentment because it helps you remain confident about yourself, look good on the outside which may eventually reflected from the inside and feel younger.Since the environment is full of temptations, sometimes it is not easy to maintain a good health. There are many fast food restaurants that offer unhealthy meals, hectic work schedules that keep you away from your regular exercise, technological gadgets that give you more chances to be idle or feel lazy and others. These must not be excuses of not keeping an optimum health. Fortunately, more health programs and diet plans are created to make it easier for people to be accustomed with healthier living. One of them is the alkaline diet which encourages a person to balance his or her intake of alkaline foods. This diet plan does not only concentrate on the foods to eat but also beverages to drink.The alkaline diet plan includes the regular consumption of alkaline water. This is not just simple water you can take from the tap of your kitchen. It is not also the water you mostly found on commercial bottles. It is a very special kind of water that must be included on the healthy routine of a person who wants to maintain a great body shape, sound mind and better life. With alkaline water benefits of drinking it are what can guarantee you.The main goal of an alkaline diet is to maintain the blood pH levels of a person. This is achieved if the necessary minerals and nutrients are absorbed by the body. Most of these minerals are found in alkaline foods and water. Some of the minerals produced by alkaline water are zinc, iron, calcium, phosphorous and iodine. These are actually considered microminerals which can provide alkaline water benefits. The lack or absence of these nutrients in the body can cause a person to easily inherit certain illnesses and poor level of energy.


It is important then to have an adequate amount of alkaline water in the body. The suggested intake of this kind of water must still be at least eight glasses in a day. This water helps remove toxins and bad chemicals in the body including fat. Thus, it is also a safe and healthy way to lose pounds and reduce premature aging. The best things of all are the alkaline water benefits behind it. You can have a healthier body, sounder mind and better health in a long process.As mentioned previously, some of the alkaline water benefits include the reduction of possible premature aging. So, any bottles of alkaline water contain anti-aging and antioxidant properties. These are properties that can keep you to have a healthy, fairer and younger skin. If you want to stay beautiful even when you turn 30, 40 or older, drink more water that consists alkaline.Another benefit alkaline water can provide is the low risk of having low blood pH levels. A well balanced blood pH levels help you avoid mental problems, emotional instability and damages cells. This clearly means that you cannot only inherit a pretty good body shape but also a more stable mind and stronger emotions.With all these alkaline water benefits, there is no doubt that any person may want to ignore and disregard this totally. It is best to follow this suggestion in order to retain a good overall health that can prolong for years.Learn additional alkaline water benefits at acid alkaline diet. This site offers a free alkaline chart, tips and other essential information you need to know.

The Benefits Of Yoga For Biking Enthusiasts

Most people wouldn't automatically make a connection between practicing yoga and riding a bicycle. After all, riding a bike is something you do zooming through the great outdoors. Yoga, on the other hand, is usually done inside in a single room, and although you may be stretching your mental and physical abilities, you are hardly hurtling through space. Yet, believe it or not, there are real benefits of yoga for biking enthusiasts.Enhanced Strength and EnduranceOne of the best ways to improve your overall physical strength is through yoga, because the practice of yoga helps to develop every muscle in your body. In contrast, when it comes to bicycling, the strength and endurance benefits are often limited to the lower body, especially the legs. When it comes to other parts of the body such as the chest and back, the amount of development is not as great. Through the use of yoga, you can develop these other areas that don't get enough exercise while bicycling. Later, you can use that increased strength and endurance to handle and balance the bike better while having better endurance on long rides.Greater FlexibilityIf there is one thing most people get out of practicing yoga, it is better flexibility of movement. This is very helpful to cyclists, who tend to have problems with tightening of the muscles of the ankles and hips. The overuse of these muscles can result in feelings of soreness and stiffness, which can be a disadvantage when racing or on long rides. With greater flexibility due to the practice of yoga, cyclists can avoid or delay the onset of cycling related muscle soreness.


Better Mental FocusBecause yoga includes non-physical aspects such as intense mental focus and a higher awareness of breathing, it can also aid in developing skills that are beneficial to bicycling. For example, knowing how to breathe consciously can help a cyclist to not lose their breath from exertion. Better mental focus helps to raise awareness of one's surroundings and the actions of other bikers, both of which will help make you a better racing and long distance biker. The better mental focus also helps you to remain calm under competitive pressure.Injury PreventionYoga is all about balance, both of the body and mind. Bicyclists are also very much into balance, and for the very practical reason that a bicyclist that can't maintain their balance is likely to fall and be injured. The same balance that enables you to perform complicated yoga movements will help you to keep your bike upright on the road and when riding in close quarters with other riders. If you do fall off your bike, then a stronger sense of balance can help you to land better and avoid injury.Yoga and TrainingThe truth is that bicyclists who also practice yoga are better cyclists both mentally and physically than if they did not. Try thinking of yoga as just another dimension of biking training, something done to ensure that you have the strength, flexibility and focus for maximum biking performance and as a way to avoid injuries. The bottom line is that the use of yoga for biking enthusiasts to enhance their performance is something that will result in many benefits for bikers.

Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptoms and The Number 1 Cause of It!

Today I'm going to share the leading mitral valve prolapse symptoms and the number 1 cause of it. Inside your body you have something that delivers oxygen and nutrients to organs and removes waste, do you know what this is? Yes, it's blood and you need the heart to pump this blood. Blood flows into the hearts right chamber called the atrium to another chamber so it can be brought to the lungs. Once the blood gets the oxygen it goes back to the hearts left atrium and between the two chambers is the mitral valve.This mitral valve is almost like a pair of swinging doors. When someone has mitral valve prolapse or MVP for short these doors don't work properly and blood enters the rear atrium, where it is not supposed to go. The most common reason this takes place is due to a small growth of collagen on the outside of the mitral valve door.Sometimes there are no symptoms of this problem and the only way it's discovered is through a stethoscope. A medical doctor then can sometimes hear a clicking noise, which is the valve closing. Another sound that may be heard is the blood that moves back to the atrium that it is not supposed to go.Anytime something goes wrong in the human body there is usually one universal symptom and do you know what it is? Pain is a signal that you have a health problem and chest pain is a sign something may be wrong with the heart muscle. The heart could feel like it's skipping a beat or perhaps beating very quickly.


You may be wondering what kind of health problems this causes right? MVP can bring about problems with blood flow that could cause shortness of breath. This is when someone feels they are not getting enough oxygen when they breath or they have trouble breathing. Another symptom might be fatigue, feeling light headed or not being able to think clearly.The only way to truly know is to get an exam through a physician. This is just one reason why routine checkups can be so helpful, because they can help catch a problem before it happens.To sum everything up the leading mitral valve prolapse symptoms is a click and blood moving sound with a stethoscope. A person could feel chest pains, irregular and a faster heart beat. Other signs of this problem could be shortness of breath, fatigue, feeling light headed and not being able to think clearly. Usually this condition is caused by a small growth of collagen on the outside of this valve.

Hitting Fitness Goals With A Life Coach

Health and fitness journeys can be a gradual and unspectacular process. This was the case for one determined individual who is now an inspiring life coach: During the course of her 20s, bit by bit, she started making positive changes in the approach to looking after herself. Twenty years later, it's a journey that continues - and one that has never been regretted. Yet for so many people, the idea of taking the first step toward improving their physical wellbeing seems almost as exotic as a trip to the moon.Such a journey can lead to some unexpected places. There are many things that can be explored for the purpose of improving health: one can live in yoga schools in India and Thailand, go swimming for lap after lap in the local pool, hike up and down mountains, or experiment with diet, acupuncture and Reiki, to cite a few examples. Of course, there's also the option of going to the gym, and you may find that it really isn't so bad at all! Fortunately, for many, this doesn't necessarily have to be a solo journey; in a life coach community, there's a lot of mutual support, and an appreciation that this is a truly worthwhile goal.During the process of getting healthier, there is also the bonus of learning a lot about the role of the mind in the search for change and greater happiness. Unfortunately, for many people, unconscious self-sabotage is a constant challenge.


People living all around the world, for example, have a friend (or three) who has joined a gym, but has hardly ever been there. "I'm too busy," they say - but not too busy for so many of the other activities life offers. Of course, for those who are serious about positive change, a life coach could be the answer!And of course, it's an issue that manifests in many different ways.There are plenty of overweight people who would like to be slimmer, smokers who know that the perfect time to give up is now, and people suffering the effects of years of inactivity: low energy, low motivation, and low happiness levels.As hinted above, a big part of the problem is the power of the unconscious mind to prevent change, and in some countries, life coaching often revolves around sidestepping - or simply changing - people's internal programming.In a big city, there are of course a lot of other concerns that people want to address in their search for increased happiness, but, as a life coach, addressing clients' health and fitness is up there among the most common - and most rewarding - parts of the job. More information mentioned here.

Benefits Of Apple

Benefits of AppleAn old proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is 100% true. Really what an amazing fruit! Let's explore wonderful benefits of apple on human health.What's makes an apple wonderful?Apple contain following important components which make it beneficial for us,• Flavonols: (Quercetin, but also Kaempferol and Myricetin)
• Catechins: (especially epicatechin)
• Anthocyanins (if the apples are red-skinned)
• Chlorogenic acid,
• Phloridizin
• Procyanidins
• And several dozen more health-supportive polyphenol nutrients.
• Fiber: soluble fiber pectin
• Vitamin C.How apple is beneficial to us?1. For healthy eyes:It contains a considerable amount of both vitamin A and vitamin C, which help to treat night blindness. Another recent long-term study suggests that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants like apples are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.2. For healthy heart:A fresh apple is an ideal snack. They are rich in flavonoids, antioxidants that help prevent heart disease but you must eat the skin. Decreased lipid per-oxidation is a key factor in lowering risk of many chronic heart problems. Recent research has shown that the quercetin content of apples also provides our cardiovascular system with anti-inflammatory benefits.3. Apples prevent high blood pressure:Adults who eat apples are 37 percent less likely to have hypertension, according to a recent food database analysis.4. Apples fight high cholesterol:Apples are low in calories and high in the soluble fiber pectin, which helps lower artery-damaging LDL blood cholesterol levels.5. Apples help to fight Alzheimer's: A special ingredient in apples called quercetin can protect brain cells from free radical damage and it higher the level of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which help the patient fight against Alzheimer's disease.6. Apples prevent different type of cancers:Colon Cancer: When the natural fiber in apples ferments in the colon, it produces chemicals that help fight the formation of cancer cells, according to recent research from Germany. Other studies have shown that one type of antioxidant found in apples, called procyanidins, triggered a series of cell signals that resulted in cancer cell's death.Pancreatic Cancer: Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent.Cancer of liver, colon and breast: Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds tri-terpenoids in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumors in rats.Colorectal cancer: The National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fiber intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.Lung Cancer: Researchers aren't certain why apples are so closely associated with reduction of lung cancer risk. Their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits are definitely involved here, but they don't fully explain why apples are such a standout in this health benefit area. We look forward to future research that will help shed light on this unique capacity in apples.7. Apples stabilize blood sugar:Quercetin and other flavonoids found in apples slow down of carbohydrate digestion. Polyphenols in apples clearly lower the rate of glucose absorption from our digestive tract. The polyphenols found in apple can stimulation of the pancreas to put out more insulin. Polyphenols in apples help to activate the muscle cell insulin receptors, and in this way, they help facilitate passage of sugar from our bloodstream up into our cells. Once again, the result is better blood sugar regulation in our body.


• One group of researchers discovered that women who ate at least one apple a day were 28 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those who ate none.• Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don't eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fiber, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.8. Anemia Treatment:Apples are packed with iron, so they offer a convenient way to treat anemia. Iron increases hemoglobin levels in the body, which counteracts the effects of anemia. That's why it can help to eat an apple if you happen to feel weak or faint. The natural sugars combined with the rich iron content will help give you the boost you need to feel alert again.9. Energy Booster:The natural sugars in apples are good for more than just their sweet taste. They also provide a natural energy boost. That's why apples are a great choice for an early-morning snack or a post- workout treat. They taste great while also giving you the perk you need without having to drink caffeine or energy drinks.10. Apples boost gum health:Eating an apple doesn't actually cleanse the teeth, biting and chewing one stimulates the gums, and the sweetness of the apple prompts an increased flow of saliva, which reduces tooth decay by lowering the level of bacteria in the mouth.11. Apples help you lose weight:Apples are packed with fiber and water, so your stomach will want less food. Plus, studies out of Washington State and Brazil have shown that people who eat at least three apples or pears a day lose weight.12. Anti-Asthma Benefits:Like the lung cancer benefits of apples, the anti-asthma benefits have been somewhat surprising to health researchers. Multiple studies have shown apple intake to be associated with decreased risk of asthma.13. Great fiber content:Because apples are high in fiber this makes them a great candidate for helping you to lower your cholesterol. Eating an apple before your meal will curve your appetite and give you the feeling of having a full stomach. This is due to the high amounts of fiber that the apple contains.14. Reduce inflammation:This fruit contains a soluble fiber that reduces inflammation associated with obesity. This is important because at the bottom of over 70% of all disease is inflammation. That is incredible. Many of the inflammatory hormones are bad fats. The fiber that is inside of the apple clings to the fats and dispels them from the body.15. Strengthen your immune system:Studies show that if you eat a diet rich in flavanoids then you will every honest expectation of lowering your risk of getting certain cancers like prostate cancer or colon cancer. Apples just so happen to contain large amounts of flavanoids.16. Keeps your skin healthy:Apple contains nutrients that nourish your skin well.• Vitamin A: It plays an important role in skin development and also helps immature skin to develop into mature and functional skin tissue. Vitamin A might also reduce the risk of skin cancer, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, although more research is needed to know its exact role in cancer prevention. A large apple provides 120 international units of vitamin A. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, this makes up 5 percent of the daily vitamin A requirements for women or 4 percent for men• Copper: It helps you make melanin which protects you from the sun's ultraviolet rays, so provides natural sun protection. Melanin also makes up an essential part of other tissues, including your eyes and hair. According to Linus Pauling Institute, each large apple contains 60 micrograms of copper, or 7 percent of your daily copper requirements.• Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps you make collagen, a crucial structural component of skin and helps maintain your skin's waterproof barrier. A large apple contains 10.3 milligrams of vitamin C, 14 percent of the daily vitamin C requirements for women and or 11 percent for men, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.

What to Expect Before and After Hip Replacement Surgery

For all orthopedic surgeries, it is important to keep good lines of communication with your doctor, so you know what is happening. The procedure could be the best treatment for you to continue a happy and productive lifestyle. However, knowing what should happen before and after is key to a successful outcome. Education is the best first step to a successful hip replacement surgery.Before all orthopedic surgeries, it is important to have clearance by your primary care physician. To be certain no issues could prevent a successful operation, a thorough set of tests and evaluations will be performed. Your primary doctor can also provide you with necessary medical records and operating notes from prior surgeries that could help the surgeon. It is wise to make an appointment with someone from the surgical office to help you understand all of the benefits and risks, as well as what you will be expected to do after to help with a speedy recovery. Also, be sure to verify that everything will be covered by your insurance company.Some orthopedic surgeries require that you give blood donations prior to the operation, in case it is needed. Your surgeon's office will provide that information, along with a list of medications that you should begin taking or stop taking in order to prepare your body. It is important to give the doctor a complete list of what you are taking, including prescription medications, over the counter options, and vitamins or supplements. All medical professionals involved need as much information as they can get in order to make the best decisions to help you.Adjustments to make the home a better environment for recovery is also important before orthopedic surgeries. Trip hazards should be dealt with, such as area rugs and electrical cords. Extra furniture should be moved to make room for walking aids. Handrails can be installed in the bathroom and near steps. And all personal items should be placed within easy reach from the bed or chair.


Depending on the type of hip replacement surgery, the doctor will use local or general anesthesia. Sometimes metal, plastic, or ceramic parts are inserted into the thigh bone, replacing the natural ball that creates the pivoting joint there. Often, the hip socket in the pelvic bone is resurfaced, to make it smooth again. Cartilage damage can also be repaired with joint material.Directly after orthopedic surgeries, you can expect to stay in the hospital until the doctor feels you are ready to leave, which could be a few days, or up to a week. An IV will be used in the beginning, and nausea or constipation is common. Due to being bedridden, a catheter will likely be used, along with a compression pump to help with circulation. After a day or so, you should be able to get out of bed with help. A physical therapist will begin teaching you how to walk and move again. You will learn what types of movements to do, as well as what types to avoid.Once discharged from the hospital, common sense dictates that a friend or family member be available to take you home. Someone will need to be with you for a while, due to limited mobility and medications. Watch your wound site for redness or drainage and monitor your temperature, to be sure there is no infection. You will likely need help performing basic daily tasks for a period of time. Your physical therapy will continue and pushing yourself to regain flexibility, endurance, and strength is encouraged. Because of a better working joint, most patients experience an improved quality of life.Remember to check with your doctor before starting any treatment or medical remedy.

Exploring Holistic Nutrition

Suppose you've been getting acid reflux after meals. You visit the doctor and surprisingly, you weren't prescribed any medication. The doctor asked about your diet and recommended you change it. You were advised to avoid refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, carbonated beverages, juices, processed foods, breads, pastas and any food from a box. The doctor suggested that you eat more leafy green vegetables, fruits nuts, eggs, oats and meats, all of which are organic. After this, he sends you on your way. Perhaps you felt like your time was wasted and try to get a prescription elsewhere.If you thought about what the doctor said, maybe you considered it as a long term solution. Consider the change in diet as a way to improve your health. The medication doesn't fix the problem, it simply masks it (poorly). One of the many problems with processed foods, is that they are typically highly acidic. They are acid forming in your body, which puts your body at risk for many illnesses. Our blood should measure at around 7.3 on the pH scale. Seven on the scale is neutral, with anything above being alkaline and below being acid. Although citrus fruits are regarded as an acidic food, they are actually alkaline forming in our bodies. Meats, however will test on the alkaline side but are actually acid forming in our bodies. Research what foods are alkaline forming and let them make up sixty to eighty percent of your diet.


You don't have to avoid acid forming foods completely. You should pick the ones that are nutritious, such as eggs and beans, among others. This is why you were given the list of foods to avoid. Those foods provide your body with nothing useful. The foods you eat should nourish your body and provide energy. If what you eat is toxic to your body, then your health will suffer. Become more conscious of ingredients and less conscious of calories. The ingredients should be simple and not synthetic. The objective here isn't to cure acid reflux, it is to take steps to improve overall wellness. Eat healthier, live better and prevent your body from breaking down. Get out of the cycle of relying on medication to heal you. Dig deeper to find the root of the problem and correct it. There is no quick fix. The solution requires a lifestyle change that many are reluctant to make.

Everybody Has a Story to Tell: Getting Past "Stuck" With Cranial Sacral Therapy

All of us have at some time or other been overwhelmed by difficult or traumatic experiences, whether physical or emotional. Our body deals with the trauma in the best way it can through the development of patterns which shape itself around these experiences. For example, simple accidents such as a bad fall or blow may leave a residue pattern or compression in the tissues. Emotional stresses such as relationship break ups, moving home, and changing jobs can overwhelm your nervous system and leave unresolved shock inside your body. Anything unresolved in your body continues to activate the fight-flight behaviour of your nervous system which can lead to a pattern of tension and pain.Cranial Sacral therapy approaches the body by listening to how it expresses itself at the present moment. The therapist, by resting her hands gently on the body, may detect many different levels of pattern. These can be felt as muscle tension, fascial compression, connective tissue twists and pulls, or an imbalance or weakness in the cranial rhythm. It is the non-invasive and gentle nature of Cranial Sacral Therapy that enables the tissues to tell their own story.Receiving a Cranial Sacral treatment enables the brain to go into "neutral". Quieting the mind invites the healing intelligence in your brain to come forth. Instead of struggle and fear and suppression there is a deep peace and a surrender to the natural wisdom in you to heal. When the mind is in neutral it is not sending reactive signals to the body that tighten the muscles. The body can let go of pressure and can take in deeper breaths, bringing more oxygen and cleansing to the cells. Alarm mode messengers such as adrenaline, cortisol and histamine can be effectively eliminated from the body. Many symptoms such as swelling, infections, inflammation, headaches, high blood pressure, nerve pain, fatigue and low immune system can be traced back to an abundance of these reactive chemical messengers.


The process of unwinding occurs as the patterns of restriction are listened to and recognized. The cranial rhythm rises and resonates in vibration with the awareness of the traumatic experience. The release of trauma patterns may be experienced in many ways, such as sensations of tingling, pulsation or heat or emotional release. The therapist recognizes the wisdom of the body in organizing itself around trauma, so does not force anyone into processing these restrictions before they are ready. Instead, much of the work is concerned with building up internal resources, so that healing can take place with respect to the body's own timing and journey.The beauty of the body is that it is designed to free up pressures when it feels safe to do so. Cranial Sacral therapy can loosen up a tight sacrum and mobilize your pelvis and hips. The pelvis area, involved in birth, creation, stability and elimination, is an important area to health and well-being. If there is trauma to this area there may be restriction in nerves and blood vessels which are responsible for the flow of nutrients in and the flow of cellular waste products out. There are often restrictions that link the pelvis area through the dural membrane along the spine to the cranium. The bones of the cranium work in pairs and have a gentle rhythm that unlatches tension much like the hinges on a door. The cranial fluid moves rhythmically around the brain and spinal cord bringing proper nerve communication and cleansing to every cell. This is why Cranial Sacral therapy is so effective for relief from headaches and jaw pain and tension.When tension is released from the body, there is more flexibility in the musculature, less inflammation, improved immune function, more endorphins, more energy and clarity of thought.

What Is Soy Lecithin? Benefits and Risks!

In this article I'm going to answer the question what is soy lecithin and I'm going to share how it is used. Have you ever seen this substance in a mayonnaise, salad dressings or chocolate? One of the ways soy lecithin is used is to enable water and oil to mix better. With chocolate is used to create a better texture, so its appearance is more pleasing to the eye. The second use of this substance is to extend shelf life, so a product can last longer without spoiling. Also it's used to reduce sticking. In fact if you look at the ingredients of a cooking spray there is a good chance soy lecithin will be one of the ingredients. It's also used in bread dough to help make it easier to work with, and cake mixes.Now you know why companies put this ingredient in various food products let's talk about what it does to the human body. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center it is likely safe to consume and the biggest risk is taking too much of it. If someone takes several grams of it they could experience a stomach ache, nausea and diarrhea.One of the problems with soy lecithin is that it's a soy product. Over 90% of soy products in the United States are genetically modified. There is some debate on whether genetically modified organisms or GMO for short is unhealthy. One solid piece of evidence that it is unhealthy is the fact many countries have banned the substance. Right now there are over 26 countries that have banned GMO's including Germany, Australia and Russia. The second piece of evidence that it is unhealthy is that there are some studies that show it to harm health.


In one study published in the Journal Organic Systems scientists took a group of pigs and gave them either a diet of food with GMO's or food that with no GMO's in it for 23 weeks. The result was that the pigs that ate a diet of GMO's experienced more severe stomach inflammation and a 25% heavier uterus.There is some good news to soy lecithin and that is that it can provide some benefits. It has an ingredient known as choline. This is one reason why some dietary supplements contain it. It isn't proven, but there is a link with a choline deficiency and memory loss. This does make sense because it has a role in the creation of cell membranes and being used in nerve signals. There is also a link that if someone doesn't have enough choline in their body they have an increased risk of liver damage.To sum everything up soy lecithin is used to make water and oil mix better. It can extend the shelf life of certain products and to reduce sticking. The big danger with it is there could be some negative effects if someone takes too much. Also if it's made with GMO's there could be negative health consequences. A few of the benefits of this substance is that it can reduce the chance of memory problems and liver damage.

Reflections on Fathers' Day

I was sitting at my computer today thinking about my blogs for next week when it occurred to me that today is arguably one of the most important days on any man's calendar. Why? If you are a father, grand-father or, (fanfare!) great-grand-father, you will know what I am talking about. If you do not fit into one of these categories, then I hope that one day you will experience the joys, despair and beauty that being a Dad can be.But, there is more to this than the relationships with your children and their children. What about the relationship with yourself? Are you healthy, happy and able to live the life you want to live? Are you able to actively engage with your children and grandchildren in physical sports and activities? If the answer is yes, good on you and keep doing what you are doing. If the answer is no, please keep reading and consider how life could be not how it currently is!What does it mean to me to be able to get out in a park, or on the beach, and throw a ball around, kick a football, play volleyball or play-wrestle with my grandchildren? Honestly, there is nothing in the world that I would not do to be able to continue doing all of these things and be safe in the knowledge that I am fit, strong and resilient enough to keep up with them and not injure myself.So you are over 40, so you are carrying too much weight, so you work long hours; So What!! In December 2012 I weighed 130 kgs, was carrying over 30% body fat and felt like a slug. Today, I weighed in at 90.7 kgs, my body fat is now 17.4% (and falling) and just last weekend, I ran 5 kms in under 30 minutes.


I am no superhuman, I work the same as everybody else, I have life, work and family stressors that I need to deal with on a daily basis but I know that my health and fitness are the key things that underpin my ability to perform at my best every day, whether that is at work, home or at play.OK, you are male and over 40! Can you remember back in high school how much leaner you were and how much more energy you seemed to have? You can get back to being high school lean and full of energy again. You won't have to mortgage your house or spend hour upon hour in the gym.What it will take, is commitment, consistency and a level of discipline that you probably haven't had in your personal life before. The rewards? They are enormous! You will return to a healthy state, you will shed unwanted, and unnecessary, body fat, you will build muscle and build a metabolism that will have you firing on all cylinders all day (and night) long. Your spouse will love the new you (that does not mean she doesn't already), your children and grandchildren will discover that the 'old man' is fun to be around and is actually 'tougher' than they thought.More importantly, you will be putting years into the bank. There have been hundreds of studies over the years into the effects of regular exercise and healthy nutrition and without exception, they all point to a marked extension in life expectancy and that those extra years are less likely to be consumed by chronic disease and debilitation.Have a fantastic Fathers' Day and I hope there are many more to follow.

Achieve Your Wellness Goals With Help From a Health Coach

You may be feeling that your career is not shaping according to your expectations, or perhaps you are thinking that you need to add to your educational qualifications. If you are in business, you may be thinking on the lines of seeking advice from a professional business coach. Or, you think that your relationship is not really fulfilling. Under all such circumstances, people are prompted to seek the help of life coaches. Now, assume that all your attempts to lose weight through various diet programs have failed to bring in positive results, and you are at wits ends to know how to proceed for achieving your targeted goals. Here, you'll find a health coach helpful in making the necessary changes to your diet and lifestyle.What are they?Health coaches are professionals who coach people motivated to follow healthier lifestyles. Generally, they are freelancers who may be associated with other practitioners, like massage therapists, chiropractors or a wellness/fitness center.Well, anybody can claim to be a health coach, but some go to join a course and get a certificate. The job of a health coach is not to diagnose or prescribe, as some may wrongly claim to be. Some of these professionals may have a background in nursing or be experienced in connected fields, like acupuncture, personal training or acupressure.Like any other coach, a health coach works with its client to understand what is stopping them from reaching their goals. You can opt to seek assistance from a coach for making changes in your lifestyle, but a coach may work keeping in mind the diagnosis provided by a doctor. For instance, your physician may ask you to control your intake of sugar, but he may lack the time to guide you by preparing a detailed diet program, which includes helpful recipes. For that purpose, you'll realize your that health coach can be of great help, and assist your treatment.


How do they work?The majority of wellness or health coaches would want to know your personal goals, and design a plan to help you achieve it. Usually, coaches assist their clients for a specified length of time, for example three to six months, during which they help the clients to bring changes in their lifestyle and get used to them. They can offer their services to an individual or may coach a group of people needing their support. Some may guide their clients through telephonic talks.You should understand that a professional nutritionist or dietician is mainly concerned about your diet, but a health coach takes a more holistic approach to your lifestyle that could have a direct or indirect bearing on your health. These would naturally include the quality of sleep, the management of stress, self care, satisfactory relationships and career aspects. A health coach makes specific suggestions that you need to follow, and keeps a check on how well you are following them during the course of your meetings with him.

Oxycodone Vs. Hydrocodone - Which One Is Better?

Both Hydrocodone and Oxyxodone are well known chemical drugs which are used as pain medications by many consumers worldwide. In fact, they are the generic names of some of the popular brands of pain killers. For example, hydrocodone is used in medicines like Lortab, Vicodin, Lorcet, etc., and Oxycodone is marketed under the name of NSAID, OxyContin, Ibuprofen, Porcocet and Paracetamol. Generally, Oxycodone is considered stronger among the two. A 5 mg dosage of Oxycodone is equivalent to 7.5 mg dosage of Hydrocodone in order to bring about the same effect. It is also better to consume Oxycodone if people have a strong stomach. For people with weak stomach, Hydrocodone would be a better option. Therefore, in case of Oxycodone vs. Hydrocodone, the former has greater potential for relieving pain. On the other hand, Hydrocodone also brings about the same effects, but for a short duration and the pain would gain effect.In addition to that, Hydrocodone has a large number of side effects compared to Oxycodone. Oxycodone is available in the market in the form of a single-ingredient drug or in a combination with some active ingredients. Hydrocodone is only available as a combination of several ingredients. Due to the potential abuse, Oxyxodone is less prescribed by healthcare providers. People easily get addicted to it as it brings instant euphoria on consumption. Its effect also lasts for a longer duration. Also, Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled drug whereas Hydrocodone is a Schedule III controlled drug. This means that the prescription of Oxycodone requires utmost care than the prescription of Hydrocodone.Oxycodone is used for controlling chronic pains within moderate and moderately severe levels. It brings about instant relief from pain and maintains its effect for about 6 to 8 hours up to a maximum of 12 hours. It has been efficient in improving the quality of life of individuals under severe types of pains. Oxycodone is also against chronic cancer pains. The controlled-release oral tablets of Oxycodone are known to produce better results in the management of severe cancer pains compared to the instant-release Oxycodone, hydromorphone and morphine dosages. It also shows less side effects than those drugs is very well used as an alternative to morphine in treating cancer pain.


Hydrocodone, on the other hand is used as an anti-tussive and narcotic analgesic. It is often prescribed in combination with Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. The anti-tussive use of Hydrocodone is done to treat severe or moderate pain arising because of the cough problems. The pain relieving action of Hydrocodone starts within 20 to 30 minutes of consumption and remains for about 4 to 8 hours. As a result, the dosages of Hydrocodone are set at intervals of every 4 to 6 hours. Hydrocodone can cause psychological and physical dependence by forming a habit, if it is consumed very frequently. It has got a great abuse potential. It relieves the acute pain by binding the receptors to the CNS. It brings about a warm numbing sensation in the body which feels very pleasant and causes euphoria. Patients with cardiac and pulmonary diseases are prescribed the hydrocodone dosages under utmost medical supervision as it could prove to be fatal for them. The narcotic effect of Hydrocodone is enhanced when consumed along with grapefruit juice.

What's Bad About Good Posture?

Want to improve your posture without undue tension and strain?Making improvements in our posture is a very desirable pursuit, and the usual paradigm focuses on muscle strength and stretching. Another approach is to bring a clearer focus to how optimal skeletal alignments can naturally allow movement to be easy, fluid and effective.But what happens when our habitual posture leads us towards undue stress and tension in our very effort to improve posture? As humans we are all born and learn how to move with perfect posture. If you want to re-learn how to regain this natural posture it's essential that you commit to learning how to re-tune your movement sense.One holistic definition of good posture and movement is the ability and awareness to allow the natural flow of breath during the activities of everyday living. What is the main 'thing' that may interrupt this natural flow of breath you ask?The answer: The way in which we respond to 'things' and events. There is nothing good or bad about 'response', to be alive is to simply to be and respond. Posture isn't just a habit, but it's an embodied outcome of how we subconsciously react to everyday happenings and stimuli. We may have 'learned' to swing between fight or flight responses as we go through our daily activities, then our posture and movement simply follows suit.We all still have perfect posture, but if this perfect is some how fixed in accordance to our subconscious habits (fight/flight response), then this can hurt, really hurt. Once we learn to observer our posture/movement habits in a constructive, fun and engaging manner, then we learn to engage a natural process that can lead to continual improvements in posture and movement. Having good posture then becomes a skill that we choose to practice, not something that we beat ourselves up about.


So, if you want to stop hurting and regain the natural posture that is your birthright, try committing to re-learning where your natural joints of movement are. In a sense you learn to commit to who you are, a big idea, yes! It can only be achieved through the little tinny things of everyday living. This way we set our whole self up for tiny and paramount bits of learning through out the day. Hence, our nervous system doesn't get tired, afraid or overloaded. Learning and renewing in this way is a universal principle, age-old, common to all cultures, practical and logical.Pain in your back, neck, shoulder or wrist affects the way you move and feel, so every activity that you engage in becomes a possibility to undo the tensions that caused the hurts, you become your own teacher. It takes a little practice with a qualified Alexander Technique practitioner to get there. But it's a wonderful investment in your wellbeing and health.Now we are moving towards a mind/body paradigm of good posture. After all, part of being a human is to be a creature of habit, yet within that we can easily cultivate the habit to choose how we move.

Breaking the Stress Cycle

Your boss is getting on your nerves. You have to get a project finished, but the phone keeps ringing. You still have not met the right person to marry to have the children you want so badly, or you have children that are so bad you hardly want them. Your car breaks down; your bills are piling up; your in-laws are coming to dinner; your mother says she never sees you anymore; you are overwhelmed by your cholesterol count, your sodium intake, your sugar intake, and your fat intake.YOU'VE GOT STRESS!!!There is simply no escaping it. Our lives and the world we live in are loaded with stress. More than 66% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related disorders. Each week, 112 million people take medication for stress-related disorders. Job stress costs American industry more than $150 billion yearly in absenteeism, lost productivity, accidents, and medical insurance.It is worth noting that some stress may be good. Many people are more alert, more productive, and consequently happier and healthier with a certain amount of stress. Beyond that, however, it stops contributing to your ability to function and starts inhibiting it.Stress is a double-edged sword. "Things going wrong" produce stress and in turn cause more things to go wrong. Stress over an extended period of time can make you quit your job or lead to depression or to drugs and alcohol. All of these can and will certainly affect your ability to perform, your ability to earn money, and your quality of life.We all need to do more to overcome the effects of stress. We have to learn to find balance in our work and personal lives. Certainly there are some things that you simply cannot do anything about such as the unexpected death of a loved one, natural disasters, and accidents.


However, everyone can and should carefully examine their lives and make an honest attempt to reduce the stress producing circumstances that make unnecessary demands upon them. Determine which things you can do something about and concentrate your time and energy on them rather than on things you cannot control.We need to emphasize wellness, relaxation, and positive thinking, whatever the circumstance.Chiropractic should also play an important role in your stress management. When a stress-inducing event occurs, muscles contract, breathing becomes faster and deeper, heart rate increases, and digestion is halted.Continually contracted muscles cause subluxation, which lowers your ability to deal with stress. Of course, just as different situations produce varying amounts of stress for different people, different stress management techniques will have varying degrees of effectiveness. Some people may benefit from exercise while others respond to meditation, deep breathing, or spending time on an enjoyable hobby.Chiropractic, however, can work for everyone because it reduces nerve system stress. Reducing nerve system stress allows the body to adapt to our daily stress overloads more efficiently.Chiropractic care, positive thinking, and other stress management techniques can create a sense of well-being and lead to a longer, more productive, happier, and healthier life.This article appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #08

Bawaseer Upchar Surgical and Non Surgical Treatments to Cure

'Haemorrhoids' is the clinical term for a common lifestyle disease 'Piles', which is also known as 'Bawaseer' (in Hindi). Bawaseer is the anorectal condition wherein the veins around the anal region are swollen due to excess pressure. It occurs in four grades depending on the symptoms, which worsen from Grade I to Grade IV.Piles are a common lifestyle ailment in males and females, and may develop at any age. However, the ailment is more commonly seen in aged individuals, pregnant women, and obese individuals.Signs & SymptomsThe common noticeable symptoms of bawaseer include anorectal pain, bleeding during or right after bowel movements, anal swelling, and itching & burning sensation. Some patients may also experience symptoms such as a lump formed in or around the anus, slimy discharge of mucus, and feeling of incomplete evacuation.Factors Contributing to BawaseerThe key cause for developing bawaseer is increased pressure on abdomen. However, there are many other factors that contribute to piles - constipation, strained bowel movements, repeated diarrhoea, poor dietary habits, physically inactive lifestyle, regular lifting of heavy loads or weight lifting (as a sport), weak rectum, and family history of piles.Bawaseer TreatmentBawaseer is often mild and can be easily cured by adopting simple diet & lifestyle changes. Thousands of herbal and Ayurvedic home remedies can effectively cure first or second grade bawaseer. However, in some cases, symptoms may reoccur after a while or persist even after regular medication. As the ailment advances to severe stage, the spectrum of treatment widens and the patient might have to switch to surgical intervention as per the recommendation by a bawaseer doctor.


• Conventional Surgical Treatment - Open Surgery
• Latest Technology Treatment - Stapler Surgery, Laser Haemorrhoidoplasty (LHP), Laser SurgerySelf-help Regarding BawaseerA few practicable diet and lifestyle changes can help to relieve most of the symptoms.Diet• Consume fibre-rich diet
• Include whole grains, bran, oats, brown rice, legumes, and vegetables in dailyDiet• Snack on fresh seasonal fruits, dried fruits and fruit juices
• Drink plenty of water all through the day
• Drink enough of non-caffeinated & non-alcoholic fluidsLifestyle• Avoid straining during bowel movements to avoid constipation consequences
• Maintain anal hygiene
• Take regular sitz/warm bath to prevent anal swelling and pain
• Follow regular physical exerciseBy now, you might have understood the factors contributing to Bawaseer (Piles), its treatment methodologies and self-help techniques (dietary modification & lifestyle changes) to cure piles. Stay tuned for latest updates on piles.

How To Test For Adrenal Fatigue

Most health experts will say that it is impossible to diagnose adrenal fatigue using just a single test or symptom. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, a lot of doctors as well as naturopath will need to look at a wide range of tests and take note a couple of symptoms. And this will indeed require an extensive knowledge and experience of the many various body systems. Also, this will require some patience. In fact, it might need 2-3 visits to the doctor before you can be sure that you do really have adrenal fatigue.You must know that testing for adrenal fatigue might take several forms. There are tests that will measure your hormonal levels and others will measure neurotransmitters - these tests will provide an idea on how well the patient is feeling.Different Tests To Diagnose Adrenal FatigueCortisol Tests - This is the most common test being used these days. You must be aware though that there are several types of such test. Also, the correct interpretation of results is very important. The doctor might order blood, urine, or saliva tests in order to measure cortisol - this will actually depend on his or her preference. However, the saliva cortisol testing is considered the most accurate since it provides a far better estimate of the cortisol levels present in your cells where the hormone reactions are taking place. Be reminded that it is very important for you to be well-hydrated before you undergo such test since dehydration will skew the results. Furthermore, saliva testing is considered an excellent way of monitoring progress as your cortisol levels start to return to normal.


Thyroid Tests - The complexity of the human body will mean that one part of the endocrine system is dependent on another part. Indeed, there are relationships and connections that exist between every body system. Thus, a weakness in one area will provide great changes in another. Studies have shown that if the pituitary gland or hypothalamus weakens, it will lead to lower thyroid function. This further means that if your blood test will suggest mild hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue might be its underlying problem.Neurotransmitter Testing - Neurotransmitters are considered another part of the endocrine system. These are otherwise known as chemical messengers which transmits messages between cells like cortisol. With prolonged stress, they can be depleted. This test is conducted first thing in the morning and is actually best accomplished through urine test.To learn more about Adrenal Fatigue and how to treat it naturally, check out this site.

Heartburn / GERD - What Are the Triggers?

Heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflex disease) - What are the Triggers?
For more than thirty years, I have had to deal with the intolerable discomfort of heartburn and GERD. I have found that almost everyone gets heartburn at one time or another and in most cases at least once a month. Usually the cause is obvious like eating spicy or rich foods - a Thanksgiving dinner, French fries, chili or devil food cake, however there are several less obvious heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflex disease) triggers. As an alternative to expensive prescription medications, I found that from the food you eat, to the clothes you wear, there are lifestyle changes that you should consider implementing if you want to reduce the recurrence of heartburn or GERD.Be Aware of the Triggers... Smoking
Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health but here is just one more reason to quit. Smoking can weaken the one-way valve between the stomach and esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES is weakened stomach acid or gastric and duodenal juice flows back into the esophagus causing fat-digesting bile salts to travel up from the small intestine to the stomach. The bile cuts down on saliva that contains bicarbonate which is a natural acid-fighter which is required to flush stomach acid out of the esophagus.Being overweight
The more your body mass index (BMI) and the higher your weight, the greater your risk of acid reflux issues. Women, especially premenopausal, seem to have more issue than men. Why? Excess abdominal fat that places pressure on the stomach, chemical make-up, hormonal changes, poor diet and eating habits have all been identified as heartburn offenders.What are you wearing?
In order to avoid stomach acid from being pushed back into the esophagus you need to watch what you wear. Stay away from belts, waistbands, tight fitting clothes, hosiery and underwear.Trim the Fat
Certain foods including but not limited to spicy foods, fatty red meat, fried foods, citrus fruit, raw onion, tomatoes, butter, oil, fat, peppermint, chocolate, and caffeine are all known for aggravating the signs of heartburn.Eating Large Meals
Eating large meals or over eating creating a very full stomach can cause the lower aesophageal sphincter valve (LES) between your stomach and esophagus to relax. When the LES valve relaxes, the stomach acids are pushed back up into the esophagus.
Instead of eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is more beneficial to eat several (5 or 6) small meals throughout the day. Eating late at night or laying down right after meals can trigger GERD symptoms too.


Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter allowing the stomach acid to move up into the esophagus.Drinking more than seven drinks of alcohol per week or on a regular basis means you are very likely to develop heartburn.Heads up - Eat well
Eating late at night or laying down right after meals can trigger heartburn. In order to alleviate this issue and allow the stomach acid to better drain out of the esophagus, elevate your head and upper body six to eight inches while you sleep.
Unless you have a hospital style bed that you can adjust, get a foam wedge or use specially designed blocks. Simply using pillows won't work since this just raises your head up instead of your body from the waist up.Medication
Several medications can trigger heartburn. If you considered that the medication you are taking could be causing your heartburn, check with your doctor before you choose to stop taking a drug on your own. Certain prescription drugs can trigger heartburn and GERD including antibiotics, osteoporosis drugs, high blood pressure medication - calcium channel blockers, albuterol which is a bronchodilator taken by asthma sufferers, some sedatives as well as ibuprofen or naproxen when used regularly.Fish oil supplements
Omega-3 fatty acids are a wonderful, natural supplement for overall health management and specifically for depression and heart disease however, they can also cause heartburn.
The fish is an excellent food for heartburn sufferers since it is low in fat and high in protein. Nevertheless, the oil is responsible for gastrointestinal issues.Peppermint
If you would like to settle an upset stomach, many people turn to peppermint tea, peppermint-oil capsules, and even peppermint candies. Peppermint can be good for you but the effects fail someone that suffers from GERD because the soothing, numbing effect of menthol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) valve between the stomach and esophagus causing stomach acids to travel up the esophagus provoking heartburn.Your genetic make-up
Studies have shown that genetic factors count for 30% to 45% toward your risk of GERD. Genectic factors include stomach function or a hypersensitivity to stomach acids. The other 55% to 70% depends on: whether you smoke, what you eat, your weight or how much you exercise.

Do Workplace Health Promotion (Wellness) Programs Work? A Whale of a Tale

Just a couple weeks ago I posted this epic guidance: "8 Ways to Debunk Wellness and Health Promotion Research Papers." It obviously rocked the world of the scientific health-publishing community.Since then, editorial review boards of respected research journals in the population and workplace-health fields have called emergency meetings. The boards admitted a need for more diligence in evaluating article submissions, and then improving objective, peer-review standards prior to publication. My phone is ringing off the hook. HA! NOT!!In fact, the Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine (JOEM) just published an article titled, "Does Whale Oil Illuminate Darkness Effectively?" Well, that wasn't exactly the title. But it was close. It was actually, "Do Workplace Health Promotion (Wellness) Programs Work?" The article manages to include most of my eight warning signs for being invalid.My colleague (defined as another person who knows the lyrics for the great tunes of the 60s and 70s) Jon Robison, PhD (see note below) just asked 13 questions about the JOEM paper of the lead author, which I think should be answered.The reference to "the parallel universe" means that the conclusions Goetzel and company came up with have no relation to our known laws of science. The conclusions are not of this earth. In essence, you have to suspend reality to accept Goetzel's claims. That's a fair criticism.Al Lewis, PhD, and Vik Khanna, have been calling Dr. Goetzel on these issues for years. If you haven't read Lewis and Khanna's book, "Surviving Workplace Wellness, With Your Dignity, Finances and (Major) Organs Intact," you should if you're working in workplace wellness or health promotion. And of course, don't miss the most in-depth (and sometimes scathing) review of that work, which I bravely posted, "Al Lewis and Vik Khanna criticized me in their new book, Surviving Workplace Wellness. And now my life is over."


Khanna (once again) took exception to Goetzel's JOEM paper in his post, "Do Workplace Health Promotion Wellness Programs Work?: Ron Goetzel's circularity." Lewis makes a comment on Khanna's blog opening with the statement, "It might be nice if Mr. Goetzel actually responded for a change." Indeed.What You As a Wellness or Health-Promotion Professional Should DoOften employers and some brokers are unknowingly complicit in allowing these invasive and ineffective wellness programs into workplaces. Workplace wellness as it's currently practiced is starting to be challenged by mainstream media and the weakness of the concept is becoming more widely understood.And not too long ago I published, "5 Questions That Will Make Your Wellness Vendors Think They're Having a Bad Nightmare... A Workplace-Wellness Critique."I don't suggest an anti-wellness movement. But the entire paradigm, our thinking about it, and new solutions are needed. There are a lot of good people out there with better ideas based on common sense and sound science. That's why I remain optimistic that workplace wellness can transition, change, and evolve into a meaningful and effective way to help people enjoy their careers and to be healthier. But we have to let go of what doesn't work.Which reminds me of a popular old quote, "There is no right way to do the wrong thing."

Shingles - If You Had Chickenpox You Can Still Avoid It

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and is also called herpes zoster. Shingles affects the nerve endings of the skin and can appear anywhere on the body. It seems to prefer the abdominal skin located under the ribs leading towards the navel. Other areas like the female vaginal tissues and the inside of the mouth are also prime locations.Most adults have had chicken pox as a child and aside from having a slight fever and an itching rash, it passed and was soon forgotten. But once that virus enters the body it does not go away. It lays dormant for years in the spinal cord and nerve ganglia. In many cases it stays dormant for life. But if your immune system is compromised for any reason or length of time, it can re-appear causing serious problems.The infection advances to the nerve endings causing extreme pain, burning, and itching. This action causes the affected area to become extremely sensitive. Approximately 90% of adults who had chicken pox as a child are at risk for contracting shingles.Shortly before an attack you will experience three or four days of chills, fever, and aches. This will be followed by tiny fluid filled blisters surrounded by a red rim. The affected area becomes extremely painful and sensitive to the touch. Shingles strikes over one million people a year, most of these people are over the age of fifty. A logical reason for that statistic is, as we get older our immune systems have a tendency to become less efficient.For people with depressed immune systems, shingles and it's aftermath can be earth shattering. The disease can spread to the internal organs. This can result in deafness, blindness, and even death.Your best defense against this disease is to keep your immune system at peak efficiency. If you are under age fifty, don't assume you are automatically safe. If you are over age fifty don't assume you will automatically contract this disease. Keep your immune systems functioning efficiently by eating healthy, taking supplements, and avoiding drugs (legal, illegal or over the counter).


Beware of corticosteroid drugs, which are frequently prescribed for shingles patients. When these drugs are taken for long periods of time, they frequently cause a weakening of the immune system. And a weakened immune system is a prime target for future attacks. Also painkillers containing acetaminophen (Tylenol) will aggravate the blisters.Cleansing of the blood is necessary to eliminate acid wastes and to alkalize the blood. The following are some ways of cleansing your system using natural methods.1. Do a 3 day juice cleanse or a supplement cleanse. Then juice a carrot, beet, and cucumber and drink it every morning for three days. Also juice an apple and drink it every evening for the next three evenings.
2. Eat only fresh, raw, organic fruits and vegetables for the next ten days. Enzymes from fresh organic fruits and vegetables will reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
3. After your 10 day fruit and veggie fast, add Vitamin B Complex 100mg supplements to your routine along with some miso soup, brown rice, and dark leafy greens.
4. Avoid acidic foods like eggs, fried foods, grain fed red meat, and cheese. Also avoid refined foods like sugars, and processed meats.
5. Stop eating foods that have preservatives, artificial flavorings, and colorings.
6. Take an Epsom Salt bath to neutralize the acids in your body.
7. Get some early morning sunlight on your body for the healing properties of Vitamin D. If the sun doesn't shine very often in your area, try some supplemental Vitamin D3, (2000+)IU.
8. Try to remain stress free. If you can remain calm and keep a positive attitude your inner being will benefit. Stress and negative thoughts create acids that deplete the protective nerve coverings. That causes pain.
9. Acupuncture has a good track record when it comes to relieving the symptoms of shingles.
10. Your body has been programed towards self-healing, let Mother Nature do her work.

Aesthetic Treatment Options: Are Natural Fillers Right for You?

While natural fillers are extremely popular, it is extremely important that you carefully weigh all of your options before deciding whether or not this kind of procedure is right for you. Do some homework, talk to others who may have undergone similar treatments, and speak with your doctor before making any sort of commitment. Here is some important information regarding what to expect once you schedule your appointment.What to ExpectFirst of all, you should never have any sort of treatment involving natural fillers performed in any sort of non-medical setting such as a salon. You need to have a qualified doctor perform this procedure to make sure it is applied safely and effectively.You will probably only need one office visit for your treatment, and it should only take a maximum of 30 minutes. Prior to any injection you may receive, a medical professional will probably apply a nerve block or anesthetic. However, this may or may not take place depending on the type of natural fillers being used and the area that is going to be treated. For example, lips often need nerve block, while hands usually do not. You will likely be tested to make sure you are not allergic to the substances used during your treatment. There will probably be several injections in the area being treated so that you can get the best results. While you may feel a slight burning or stinging sensation, the level of discomfort should be extremely minor.


After the ProcedureYour dermatologist may recommend that you ice the area for about 15-20 minutes before you leave the office to reduce any swelling and redness that may occur. However, once you leave, you should be able to resume your everyday activities immediately. You will probably even be able to apply makeup. Just try to avoid any sort of strenuous activity for the next 24 hours.Once you get back home, don't use a tanning bed or any other sort of tanning equipment for a few days, and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Your doctor can provide you specific information regarding how long you should avoid sunlight. Try not to touch the area for three days unless you are instructed by your dermatologist to massage the area.When You'll See ResultsSome natural fillers provide immediate, or nearly immediate, results. However, your medical professional can provide you with more detailed information. You may notice results as soon as you leave the office, or it may take two or three weeks for the change to become visible. It's important to note, however, that the more conservative the approach, the more natural the results.Natural fillers can be a great way to have the appearance you've wanted for years. The more prepared you are beforehand, the more comfortable you will be with the procedure you undergo.

Where the Mind Enters Into Fitness

Have you ever experienced those days where your workout or training session seemed more difficult than usual? Have you missed a few sessions and then found it very hard to return to training? Let's identify that wall that stops you and throw some advice your way.Our minds can act as a great asset or a great hindrance to our lives. The power of the mind is unlimited and can literally propel us through any wall that stops us from achieving what we really want to.Now, your mind is subject to the conditioning that both you and the world around you give it. The exciting thing is that you have the power to influence your behaviours. You can do this at any point you choose, through your thoughts. Let's take a practical example. How many people join the gym, fired up to make a difference to their health and fitness yet find that a few weeks or months later they are rarely, if ever, working out? I know it's happened to me in the past and chances are it's happened to most people at one time or another. Why does this happen?Think of your life as a line. You may have spent months or years not going to the gym. You have months or years of experience of not working out. You decide to join the gym because of some stimulus (advertising or new year for example). You start working out but sooner or later your previous programming kicks in and you stop working out. Seems a bit doom and gloom? It's all about mental preparation and conditioning.Think about it, would you enter a marathon when you hadn't done any running at all? Absolutely not! Your body would not be prepared, you wouldn't have put in the training. The mind is exactly the same! When you join the gym to make a difference to your body, you must also commit to make a difference to your mind. How can you do that? Lets look at that.Goals, Goals, Goals!!!When you join the gym and have your induction/orientation session the trainer usually asks you something along the lines of "what do you want to achieve". What's the usual response? "I want to improve my fitness", "I want to bulk up" or "I want to lose weight". That's NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH!! Those that manage people will probably have heard of the SMART acronym:SpecificMeasureableAchievableRealisticTime BoundWhen you answer this question, it is best to have thought about your goals using the SMART acronym. Let's take an example of a SMART goal related to fitness.Gym instructor - "What do you want to achieve?"You - "I want to lose 20 pounds in weight. I want to have lost the 20 pounds by the end of the sixth week from today. I can workout three times a week for an hour each session".Now the gym instructor can give you some feedback about that statement, he or she will either tell you that it is realistic and achievable or will alter your expectations for the desired weight loss. They can also tailor the exercises to ensure that you reach your goal. The other benefit to this is that you are making a definite contract with yourself. You are clear what you want to achieve, you know your timescales and you have obtained a means of achieving that goal. Already you feel mentally clearer about how you are going to bring about your desired change.


Talk to yourself - Yes, really - do it!If you dip a toe into most of the self-help literature that is available on the market you will see that self-talk is the foundation of their methods. How many times have you felt your mood change due to a thought? A thought it a form of self talk. Your thoughts affect your feelings, which in turn affect your behaviours. So if you are thinking "it's cold, I don't know where my gym bag is" or "I can't listen to my music, I'll go to the gym later when my phone is charged", you are affecting your feelings and therefore your behaviour (i.e. you don't go to the gym).Most of our behaviours are on auto-pilot because of habit. When you start a new workout regime, to make it stick you have to create a habit. You have all of this pre-conditioning that tells you that it is better to stay in bed or do something else now and workout later. You need to change that with self-talk. Let's take the goal to lose 20 pounds in six weeks.Use something like the below:"My goal is to lose 20 pounds in six weeks from XX date. I will achieve this by going to the gym XX times a week and following the workout that has been provided to me to reach this goal. I feel good about exercising and I always have the energy and motivation to complete my workout. It feels good knowing that I am taking action to reach my goal".Say that to yourself everyday, morning and night. You are starting to mentally prepare yourself. You are personalising your goal, which you have made definite through the SMART acronym. You have a definite means of achieving that goal and you are firing yourself up to achieve it.If you still find that you are hesitant to get up and go workout try a method recommended by Dr Steve Peters in his excellent book "The Chimp Paradox". Dr Peters recommends counting to ten the moment you wake up. By the time you reach ten you should be up and taking action. If you are getting up to go to the gym, you should be up and have you hands on your gym clothes. This is a great way to outsmart the excuses, they don't have time to try to convince you that the bed is warmer! I recommend Dr Peter's book to you as a simple way of explaining why people act the way they do and to help you get some control over your thoughts.Another great book to read is "What to say when you talk to yourself" by Dr Shad Helmstetter. It's a fantastic book on self talk and includes pre written statements on all subjects from controlling worry to losing weight.So, to recap. Be specific with your goals, talk to yourself positively about achieving your goals and stick to your plan. You'll soon develop the habit of exercise. Once you've lost your 20 pounds, if that is your goal, set yourself another SMART goal and ask your gym instructor to set your program accordingly.I would love to hear from you about the methods you use to keep up your motivation to exercise. I've set up a post on my blog, which can be found at http://pmcfitness.blog.com/2014/08/31/staying-motivated/To your health!Bye for nowPaul
PMC Fitness

The Wealth or Health Imbalance

By definition the noun health means sound in body, mind and spirit, and to be free from physical disease or pain. This definition easily creates a kaleidoscope of images in the mind. These mental pictures can range from delicious and balanced meals made with organic fresh foods to the perfect physique with strength and stamina at any age. Seldom are we reminded by these portraits that good health is a free gift from God the giver and sustainer of life, or that food was created by God for man.Food was one of the first currencies used, and has left an enduring mark throughout world history. The Ancient text records for us in Genesis 25:32 that Esau sold to h his birthright (special rights, responsibilities, and privileges of the first-born son) to his brother for the immediate satisfaction of food. Today modern currency is often spoken of in terms of food. We call ourselves breadwinners because we work hard to bring home the bacon or make enough dough, and the business world calls market- share a piece of the pie.It's ironic that we respect how the capital investment of money affects our wealth and quantity in life, but overlook how the capital of food impacts our health and our quality of life? Sadly we readily invest in wealth, but generally not in health. Our time frame for money is distant but for food it is so near that for many of us it is only as far as the next potato chip or cookie. We look short- term for taste convenience and not long-term enough for good health and its future benefits. Think about this, we buy lottery tickets hoping to win big rather than buy healthy snacks and knowing we win big for our heart's health. We readily buy books on investment management, but rarely books on dietary fat and dietary salt reduction. We vigorously seek new avenues of wealth in green technology and ignore test proven green salads and vegetables and their super food health benefits.


What if we were to make a national commitment to investing in health, which would become the normal expectation for any responsible adult? The experts who provide guidance counseling toward better choices,- dietitians, health coaches, and other qualified healthcare experts,- would be valued universally as we do financial planners and investment strategists. What if we made a commitment to the idea that health is irreplaceable wealth and looked at weight loss as profit or weight gain as a stock we can't afford to hold on to? Or if we viewed lower blood sugars as we do lower interest rates on auto loans? For many of us a drop in weight and blood pressure would be a major success.What if we realized that we are rewarded for choosing better nutrition or for having a portfolio of healthy lifestyle choices with fewer and lower health care costs and virtually no physical restraints imposed on us by poor health, we might believe health is wealth to be enjoyed now.

Multiple Sclerosis Is Not Caused By Vaccines

Previous studies that had linked multiple sclerosis and vaccines may have been because of the vaccine's ability to accelerate the disease's spread without the obvious symptoms. However, it has recently been found that the vaccines do not cause/create multiple sclerosis in the patients. Scientists have researched around 4,700 people who had been vaccinated for hepatitis B (Hep B) and the human papillomavirus (HPV). It was found that these vaccines did not cause any risks of developing the disease or any other similar nervous system diseases for that matter.A few anti-vaccine social groups had raised concerns that the Hep B and HPV vaccines that could lead to the devastation of myelin (an insulating material found around parts of the nerve cells called axons). This type of damage is called as demyelination. This condition can result into a number of neurodegenerative autoimmuno diseases.The studies previously conducted on this topic have been very shallow and most have found no relation between the disease and vaccinations; however, two studies did suggest a slight increase in the risk of the disease' spread. Hence, the matter remains controversial. This latest study has been the largest until date and has kept track of the patients for three years after they had themselves vaccinated. In the results published on October 20, in the JAMA Neurology journal, the scientists suggested that the small risk of developing the disease after being vaccinated that was found in earlier studies, was actually when they already had multiple sclerosis or any other neurodegenerative autoimmune diseases. It is most probably because the patients who receive vaccinations, move more quickly from the subclinical stage (a stage where symptoms are not visible) to a stage with visible symptoms. The report's lead author was Dr. Annette Langer-Gould.


She stated that an even larger scale study was required to come to any conclusions. However, it can be currently said that any associations that have been found till date, might just be coincidental. For example, women are at a higher risk of multiple sclerosis as compared to men, while they are most likely to be vaccinated after their diagnosis. The situation is similar to how autism is revealed in babies at the time when they are about to be vaccinated for several diseases. Further research is therefore required to make sure that there is no connection between the two. Until then, risking the combination of both is a risk.

Who You Gonna Call? A Quick Guide To The Lesser Known Medical Specialist

We have come a long way since the days where doctors believed a few leeches, carefully applied to the body, could cure just about any ailment. We may not yet understand all the intricacies of how our bodies work and the diseases that threaten us but the medical community now has a pretty good idea of how complicated it all really is. Doctors spend years specializing in just one small, or not so small, part of the body or ailment. And for this we are grateful. But who can keep track of it all?Do you need to visit your cardiologist, dermatologist, paediatrician or neurologist? What does it mean when your GP (General Practitioner by the way) sends you off to see the pulmonologist?Well here is your quick guide to the lesser known medical specialist:Cardiologist: This is the specialist who deals with matters of the heart: that is the physical muscle that sits inside your chest and pumps blood through your body.Dermatologist: As a dermatologist will tell you, "Skin, skin what a wonderful thing; keeps the outsides out and the insides in". This doctor specializes in all matters of the skin.Paediatrician: This doctor specializes in the health of children and babies.Occupational Medicine Practitioner: This is not a well known branch of medicine, but it really should be. Your occupational practitioner is the one you call when work and disease meet. Are you worried about the chemicals you may be breathing in at work? Have a chronic cough that goes away when you take leave, or perhaps you hurt your shoulder in an old sports injury and can't perform the task your boss needs you to do. Your occupational medical practitioner specialises in diseases caused by the workplace, and decides when diseases should keep you out of the workplace.


Neurologist: Contrary to popular belief this is not necessarily a brain specialist. A neurologist treats disorders of the nervous system. That includes diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.Gastroenterologist: This is the doctor you call when your digestive system is not working as it should be. This specialist deals specifically with diseases of the digestive tract, in other words, the path your food takes in and out of your body.Rheumatologist: As the name suggests a rheumatologist specializes in rheumatic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. This is, in short, diseases that affect the joints, muscles and bones.Pulmonologist or Pulmonary Specialist: Having trouble breathing? Then a pulmonologist is the doctor for you. This doctor specializes in diseases of the lungs.This is really only the tip of the iceberg in terms of medical specializations, but fortunately, as the patient you do not need to know them all. The best process to follow if things are not working quite as they should be in any part of your body, is to first visit your GP. He or she will then assess the situation, and if need be, send you off to the right expert.Which medical specialist would you like to know more about? Leave a comment below.

CPR for Dysfunctional Workplace Cultures - And Why You Should Never Name a Restaurant "Heimlich's

Many years ago my wife and I were attending a small wedding rehearsal dinner at a popular local restaurant. The groom suddenly stopped eating, looked wide-eyed, and displayed all the symptoms of having his windpipe plugged. He couldn't even breathe in to make a noise. A couple nearby people tried to assist him but with no result.So I jumped up, shrugged my cape over my shoulder (the one with the S on it), took in an extra dose of adrenalin from my 200,000-year-old physiology, and performed a perfectly executed Heimlich Maneuver. The results were spectacular. The groom survived to get hitched the next day. But the whole affair put a bit of a damper on everyone's dining experience - I mean everyone in the entire restaurant. Ever since then we have referred to that restaurant as Heimlich's and have never gone back.You can draw a few points from this story:1. Never name a restaurant "Heimlich's."
2. There is a super hero within all of us.
3. First aid is transcending experience.OK, now hang in here with me for a minute.I just read this quote in a respected business publication referring to what works in wellness programs. "... our culture is really something where that 'stick' will work a little bit better, so we decided to do a [premium] surcharge if people decided not to participate."I am not going to name names here. I am sure the person who said this has a heart (that requires defrosting) somewhere inside and will come to rue the day this appeared in the media. And this is from one of those "Best Places to Work" award winners (which goes to show that filling out forms has become an advanced art form).I got thinking about these two disjointed stories (my CPR experience and the premium surcharge comment), and it occurred to me that onsite first-aid training would be more of a true wellness activity than most stuff going on in the name of wellness today. Here are six reasons why I say that.1. You attend a first-aid class so you'll be prepared to help others in an emergency. The cause is bigger than you. That's intrinsic motivation. That's why you won't have to incent anyone to participate.2. You gain an understanding of valuable new information and immediately applicable skills, often working in a team format. The social connection is strong.3. You have to study a little, and practice these skills to be proficient. That's autonomy.4. Often a local organization such as the Red Cross, American Heart Association (AHA) chapter, YMCA, or the fire department, etc., can come in and conduct the program. That's community.


5. You end up with a certificate of proficiency in the techniques you've mastered. That's recognition of accomplishment.6. It doesn't cost hardly anything. That's cool.Compare that with the "stick culture" mentioned above. Punishment is a pretty blunt tool. You can get compliance. But it's often humiliating, negatively affects the most vulnerable among us, destroys intrinsic motivation, and repels people with other options.OK, now hang in here for just one more segue.The defense: "Objection, your Honor. Where is this going?"Connors: "Your Honor, I plan to connect the dots now and show that healthy workplace cultures can be demonstrated inexpensively and quickly."Judge: I've got to hear this one, Mr. Connors. Make it quick or I'll hold you in contempt. And put on a tie the next time you come into my court.Connors: "Yes, Ma'am. Thank you, Your Honor."Put on a workplace conducted "hands-only CPR" classSee the AHA's Two Steps to Staying Alive Program. The best practice now for CPR is chest compression only (like priming a pump). You do the 100 required compressions per minute to the beat of the song, Staying Alive. The science and best practice standards behind "compression only" are compelling. In addition, there is a new device called the CPR RsQ Assist®. The slogan is, "When Your Hand Needs A Hand®." It's an ingeniously simple device that is catching on with first responders all over the country. I heard about it from a friend who works with first responders.Here's what you need to do:1. Look into introducing the AHA's hands only CPR techniques using the CPR RsQ Assist device. My wife and I are going to be carrying these in our automobiles.Note: I have no financial interest in suggesting you purchase or use this device. I just like the thing.2. Plan a small communication strategy to introduce the program. Video some of the program, and report on it in internal and community media using print and video. Everyone will have fun.3. Note how popular and appreciative everyone is for having the program offered onsite. Report that data to management.4. Plan your next first-aid event.Summary: This simple onsite program will be a "blinding flash of the obvious" in what actually can help build healthy cultures, as opposed to programs that do just the opposite. I rest my case.

How to Overcome Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome

Experts say that dysfunctional adrenal glands cause adrenal fatigue syndrome. The said glands produce cortisol, a hormone responsible for helping the body deal with stress. Now, going back to the problem, people can mostly identify what causes their stress. What happens after they find the cause then? Most people just let the condition worsen instead of looking for ways to overcome it. The following are a few basic steps to help you overcome your adrenal fatigue syndrome.Consult your doctorNever hesitate to ask your doctor if you are not sure about your condition. The symptoms of adrenal fatigue syndrome are closely related to that of chronic fatigue syndrome. Patients usually feel a general weakness in the body and headache. They also find it hard to give their full attention on a certain task. Fatigue is mostly a physical condition, but your mental and emotional states have certain contributions on it as well. Your doctor will know how to deal with your adrenal fatigue syndrome. He or she will also advise you on the best treatment for your case.Get enough restNow that you have discovered that you have adrenal fatigue syndrome, getting enough rest is a priority. You need to get proper rest even if, at first, it can do nothing to alleviate you fatigue. Your overall recovery does not only depend on the treatment your doctor gives you. It needs to start with you. Your unhealthy habits might be the cause of adrenal fatigue syndrome at the first place. It greatly helps if, along with your treatments, you start taking proper sleep as well.


Eat healthyWhile you are on the subject of getting healthy, start minding what you eat too. Junk food is part of your unhealthy lifestyle. Find healthy alternatives to the junk you always eat. As mentioned earlier, getting back your health starts with your own determination. Love your vegetables like a good kid. There are also plenty of fruits if you can't stand vegetables. The important thing is to avoid eating junk food at all cost. If you really miss them, ask your doctor for an occasional window where you can eat your favorite junk food. However, if your doctor can't give you your window, just accept your fate and move on.Find time to exercise Just because you have a major case of adrenal fatigue syndrome does not mean you can skip exercise altogether. Exercise is a vital part of your recovery. However, in order to avoid exhausting yourself, ask your doctor on the types of exercise that are good for your condition. There might also be some exercises during your therapy, so ask your doctor if you can back it up with a little more exercise routines at home. Fatigue is a very tiresome business. You might work a bit before you can overcome your adrenal fatigue syndrome. However, you can progress further with the right treatment and a healthy lifestyle.

When Your Heart Rhythm Isn't Normal

Arrhythmia" means your heartbeat is irregular. It doesn't necessarily mean your heart is beating too fast or too slow. It just means it's out of its normal rhythm.It may feel like your heart skipped a beat, added a beat, is "fluttering," or is beating too fast (which doctors call tachycardia) or too slow (called bradycardia). Or, you might not notice anything, since some arrhythmias are "silent."Arrhythmias can be an emergency, or they may be harmless. If you feel something unusual happening with your heartbeat, call 911 so doctors can find out why it's happening and what you need to do about it.Causes and TypesYou could have an arrhythmia even if your heart is healthy. Or it could happen because you have:Heart disease
The wrong balance of electrolytes (such as sodium or potassium) in your blood
Changes in your heart muscle
Injury from a heart attack
Healing process after heart surgeryThe many types of arrhythmias include:Premature atrial contractions. These are early extra beats that start in the heart's upper chambers, called the atria. They are harmless and generally don't need treatment.Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). These are among the most common arrhythmias. They're the "skipped heartbeat" we all occasionally feel. It can be related to stress, too much caffeine or nicotine, or too much exercise. But sometimes, PVCs can be caused by heart disease or electrolyte imbalance. If you have a lot of PVCs, or symptoms linked to them, see a heart doctor (cardiologist).


Atrial fibrillation. This common irregular heart rhythm causes the upper chambers of the heart to contract abnormally.Atrial flutter. This is an arrhythmia that's usually more organized and regular than atrial fibrillation. It happens most often in people with heart disease and in the first week after heart surgery. It often changes to atrial fibrillation.Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). A rapid heart rate, usually with a regular rhythm, starting from above the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles. PSVT begins and ends suddenly.Accessory pathway tachycardias. You can get a rapid heart rate because there is an extra pathway between the heart's upper and lower chambers. It's just like if there was an extra road on your way home as well as your usual route, so cars can move around faster. When that happens in your heart, it can cause a fast heart rhythm, which doctors call tachycardia. The impulses that control your heart rhythm travel around the heart very quickly, making it beat unusually fast.AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. This is another type of fast heartbeat. It's caused by there being an extra pathway through a part of the heart called the AV node. It can cause heart palpitations, fainting, or heart failure. In some cases, you can stop it simply by breathing in and bearing down. Some drugs can also stop this heart rhythm.

How to Incorporate More Raw Foods Into Your Diet

Not everyone wants to be a full raw vegan. However, even adding in more fruits and veggies into your diet can create amazing changes, such as increased energy and weight loss. Here are some tips to add more raw foods into your life on a daily basis.1) Make a raw food rule such as having a raw breakfast each day. You can do a green smoothie of bananas, water or coconut water, and kale or spinach. It's quick, will jumpstart your energy for the day, and set you off on the right foot. You can also just grab some fruit, peel it, and eat it. Fruit is the ultimate fast food and very portable. Most people aren't too hungry at breakfast and eat alone. This would be the best meal to eat your raw.Make sure you eat enough though. Two bananas is only 200 calories and won't cut it. You'll be ravenous by lunch and overeat. This will lead to a slow metabolism and weight gain. Eat at least 500 calories for breakfast and get used to the abundance.2) Pack raw foods such as fruit, dried fruit, and some nuts with you on the go, so you can always have a healthy choice. What's really frustrating is if you want to eat something healthy, but don't have any options. That's a major bummer. Our society is so out of touch with how to eat properly. There are often not many healthy raw options available when you are eating on the go. It's no wonder we have an obesity epidemic and 1 out of 2 Americans die of heart disease. It always helps to pack some raw healthy choices with you so you can always be prepared.3) Have a healthy attitude about healthy foods. There could be all the organic raw foods underneath your face, but if you are having negative thoughts about them, you won't eat them. Focus on the benefits of raw foods. Get excited about all the amazing changes that are going to happen. Some examples would be weight loss, increased energy, clearer skin, and feeling better! Don't think that you are depriving yourself. This is an abundant lifestyle, with large portions, and you can eat as much as you want! On the other way of eating you'd always have to portion control your food anyways or else you'd balloon up. Plus, what are you depriving yourself of really? Toxins and chemicals that will make you gain weight, cause premature aging, and lethargy? Remember, it's just a different way of eating that will taste better overtime and deliver amazing changes in your life. Every time you have a negative thought about raw foods, try to create a counter argument that addresses the flip side. Such as if you think raw foods aren't as tasty, the counterargument could be that they will taste better over time and that life will be more tasty. You will have more energy, look and feel better, and have a greater vitality which will make your daily life more exciting and pleasurable. And yes your taste buds regenerate over time and acquire a taste for the raw foods.


So those are some tips to add more raw foods into your life. To get started on your raw food journey visit rawvegandietrecipes.com Transition to a high or full raw foods diet today!

Royal Jelly To Boost Your Health

Royal jelly is a nutritional food secreted by worker bees in a beehive. The substance is usually fed to all colony larvae. However, when there is a need for a new queen bee, a group of the larvae are fed large quantities of the jelly. This exclusive feeding of royal jelly is what turns the normal bees into queen bees with a longer life expectancy compared to the worker bees. The queen bees are also much larger and end up laying thousands of eggs daily. In essence, this jelly variety can also be as beneficial to humans and luckily it is now available in supplement form. You can now easily boost your health using royal jelly supplements.The Benefits of Royal Jelly

Controls cholesterol - Research conducted on volunteers prove that eating this jelly variety greatly decreases low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol without harming the levels of good cholesterol in anyway. The supplement can be a better natural option of keeping cholesterol levels down.

Prevents osteoporosis and bone loss - Studies have also shown that it prevents osteoporosis through the enhancement of intestinal calcium absorption. The enhanced absorption of calcium then makes it possible for the same to be deposited to the bone structure also preventing bone loss.

Protects from cancer - This jelly has a way of fighting cancer through the inhibition of blood supply to tumors. It works by suppressing the effects of blood vessel formations hence easily fighting cancers especially breast cancer. A daily dose of the royal jelly supplement can protect you from cancer.

Acts as an anti-inflammatory - Considering that chronic inflammation can be the cause of heart disease as well as other degenerative diseases including arthritis and Alzheimer's, royal jelly stands to be very helpful. Tests on pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1, TNF-alpha and IL-6 ended up suppressing inflammatory compounds. Those with a history of Alzheimer's disease and heart disease will find the royal jelly very helpful in keeping these diseases under control.




Promotes healing - The jelly has minerals and vitamins including zinc, acetyl-choline, Vitamins B3, B2, B1, B6 and B5. They are all good for the skin and the acids contained in the jelly enhance the production of collagen thus leading to a glowing healthy skin. It shortens healing through skin renewal by nucleic acid, flavonoids, hormones and enzymes that it contains. The use of fresh royal jelly powder or supplements daily will optimize skin health.

Improves blood pressure and blood sugar - This is another one of the benefits. It decreases blood vessel constriction and this leads to lower systolic blood pressure and also reduces the insulin triglyceride levels. It can therefore be used as a functional food in the prevention of insulin resistance and blood pressure.

Protects the liver - The liver is exposed to lots of toxins from different things, including water taps and different kinds of drugs. This is one of the most important organs considering that everything that is ingested must pass through it for filtration. There is therefore a need to keep the liver healthy and clean. Royal jelly offers protective effects by flushing out the toxins.