Acne is one of the major skin related problems that are encountered by many people these days. Moreover, this type of problems will result in loss of your confidence. Even though there are hundreds of skin care products and programs floating in the market, finding the right one could be a daunting task. Moreover, if you use a low quality product there are chances of experiencing different types of side effects. Therefore, going for natural solutions will be a wise option for you. When it comes to acne, Dead Sea slats will be a good option for you. As these salts contain a large amount of minerals in it, it can provide you many benefits. It will not only help you to treat your acne problem, but also provide many other benefits for your skin.
You will be able to eliminate the occurrence of pores, marks ect from your skin with the help of Dead Sea Salt. Moreover, they can also nourish your skin. If you visit Dead Sea, you will be able to find different types of treatment programs. Most of them are done with the use of Dead Sea mud and salt. Apart from helping you to get rid of skin related problems, they can also strengthen your bones and marrows. You can also find many genuine products in the markets, which are made by using the minerals of the sea. Using these products can also provide you many benefits. However, as mentioned above, before selecting a product it is very important to do a proper research on them. You should check the ingredients included in the product as well as reputation of the manufacturer for obtaining the best results. This will help you to find the right product for treating your acne problems.
It is difficult to keep your body in good shape if you spend eight hours a day eating poorly and not moving. Unfortunately, working in the office leads to exactly that. Break rooms are filled with high calorie junk food, and most office tasks are best done while sitting down. Office fitness does not have to be just a dream, though. Work some of these tips into your daily routine and you will be well on your way to good health.
1. Stay Away From the Break Room: Office vending machines are often full of fattening, non-nutritious foods. If you find yourself tempted by the sight of potato chips and candy bars, stay away from vending machines.
2. Stretch: Sitting for too long can lead to stiff muscles and a sore back. Whenever you can, take a little time to stretch your back, arms, and legs.
3. Eat Nuts: Nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are high in healthy fats. These will keep you full longer than junk food, plus they're easy to store in your office.
4. Take the Stairs: You have probably heard this one before, but it is a great way to improve your office fitness. Instead of waiting for the elevator, take the stairs to your office. If you work on the thirtieth floor, try taking a few flights before you hop on the elevator.
5. Shake Your Hands: Repetitive tasks like typing can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. To make sure this does not happen, shake out the muscles in your hands from time to time.
6. Stay Away From Sweets: It's tempting to leave candies in or on your desk, but if you are continually reaching for them all you are doing is pouring empty calories into your body. This is a surefire way to sabotage your office fitness goals. Get rid of the candy jar and you may find yourself getting rid of a few unwanted pounds.
7. Visit Your Coworkers: Office fitness does not have to come from big changes: doing little things can add up. Instead of calling or emailing your coworkers, take the time to walk down the hall to visit them.
8. Move Your Legs: The circulation in your legs can slow down if they are unused under a desk all day. Do some leg lifts while seated to keep your blood flowing.
9. Sip Water: Any kind of soda (even diet types) introduces a lot of nasty chemicals in your body. Be kind to yourself and drink water instead. This will both hydrate you and help clear toxins out of your body.
10. Smile: Office fitness is not all physical. Approach your work with a positive attitude and you will feel better all over. You might even have more energy to exercise at your desk or around the building.
I invite you to learn more about how anybody (that includes you!) can achieve office fitness. |
There's no question that visiting the gym and obtaining a pleasant exercise at least 3 days in a week is the perfect way to stay fit. An individual perhaps all have time in the gym yet there are times when it isn't possible.
A better option is to think of an efficient home workout routine that will provide the best results that an individual is seeking for. This program will definitely boost the strength of the body having incredible benefits. Moreover, this will condition the body to avoid fatigue and eliminates the boring feeling while working out that will drive the body to strive harder.
Many individuals are busy doing their work and they don't have the time to travel to the gym to work out. This is perhaps one reason why obesity had widely spread. Many individuals are likewise obtaining health troubles connected with overweight suchlike hypertension, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. In order to prevent all these troubles, an exact home workout routine must be utilized. One must plan the routine that will provide complete exercise without spending enough time and money.
It is important to begin having an objective and observe what is being accomplished. For instance, one can ask him or herself if the plan of losing weight after working out or simply just to have firm muscles. If a person doesn't desire to reduce weight, it is necessary to have a particular program to follow.
After setting the objectives, it is important to establish the schedules. Determine how much time to use and which part of the body that needs to be developed during workout. Typically, for active individuals, just 2-3 muscle groups required to be develop a day.
Once you have performed these, it's time to execute the workout. Many exercises can be performed for every muscle group. Keep in mind, a person focuses only 2-3 muscle groups a day and increasing the routine once established the first option. Knowing this, one should pick those workouts that will provide maximum outcomes and provide the good rewards for the body too.
When doing a home workout routine, execute a periodic evaluation. This will help to check if there is improvement or not. It is necessary to evaluate this in order to decide, whether to continue the routine or will require some changes.
Therefore, before starting the workout it is crucial to study the proper guideline to obtain absolute results.
Many people, specifically women are diagnosed with an eating disorder either anorexia or bulimia. Anorexia is considered when you are excessively concerned in losing weight. On the other hand, bulimia is characterized by bingeing and followed by self-induced vomiting. You should be aware that the two eating disorders have different signs and symptoms.
People with these conditions have psychological and behavioral symptoms that you can be easily recognized. You can become extremely underweight, which can cause you to feel depressed. This is due to social withdrawal and the negative impression about having an eating disorder. You can also have an obsession with food. You may constantly collect copies of recipes and become fond of preparing meals with specific calorie count. Aside from being diagnosed with an eating disorder, you may also have an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If you have anorexia or bulimia, your heart rate and blood pressure may fall. These are manifestations of weight loss. You may also experience constipation because the rate of your metabolism is decreased and unstable. Severe cases can affect the endocrine system. This can result to irregularities in the menstrual cycle and possible amenorrhea. You may also have notable changes in your urinary system. You may have either an increased or decreased frequency in urination.
Women with bulimia are more prone to have weight fluctuations. Because of excessive eating that may or may not be followed by purging or self-induced vomiting, the rate of your metabolism is not constant. This may result into an ineffective weight loss. On the other hand, there are those that use other means of losing weight such as consuming diuretics and laxatives. These can affect the normal function of your urinary and digestive system.
With the eagerness to lose weight and food-related obsessions, your relationships with other people are also affected. There are instances that you become too focused in exercising that you forget to socialize with your family and friends. With the fear to gain weight, you may also tend to disregard attending family events and even a simple dinner date with your friends. You may also feel unattractive because you are too skinny. These are effects of anorexia or bulimia. Because of this, you refrain from going out with the fear that people may comment on your physical appearance. It is best that you consult a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms that were mentioned. If you have a family member that is observed to have changes in her behavior, it is also advisable that you take the liberty to bring her to a specialist.
Food is fuel for the human body, and we eat it to get ourselves through the day. We also gather around the dinner table to celebrate special events and spend time with our loved ones. In times of grief, it's common to offer food to the bereaved. Is it any wonder that food and emotions are so connected?
Unfortunately, some people feel compelled to eat far past the point of satiety. This is done in an attempt to calm volatile emotions or to fill an emotional void.
The National Institute of Health estimates that 3% of Americans (over 9 million people) suffer from compulsive overeating, also known as Binge Eating Disorder. This disease can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and feelings of intense guilt and shame.
Emotional eaters tend to be guided by their emotions rather than their hunger. Some eat when they are sad, lonely, or bored. Others eat when they are stressed out.
Most are simply carrying on behaviors learned in childhood, when food was associated with comfort and reward. Emotional eating has little to do with actual hunger, and everything to do with unfulfilled needs.
If you think you or someone you love might be struggling with compulsive emotional eating, follow these steps to start the recovery process.
Recognize the signs of emotional eating.
Emotional eaters tend to eat until they are uncomfortably full, and they usually eat alone because they are self-conscious about the amount of food they are consuming. After an emotional eating binge, they might feel disgusted, guilty, or depressed about their lack of self-control.
Learn to identify your triggers.
Every emotional eating episode has a trigger. Think back to a time when you engaged in compulsive eating. Was it a reaction to a particularly stressful day? Were you consoling yourself with food to overcome loneliness or boredom? Were you relieved that a stressful period in your life had finally come to an end? All of these situations can lead to an emotional eating binge.
Discover your true needs.
It's not always an easy process, but if you want to overcome emotional eating, you must learn to recognize and ask for what you truly need. Do you need food, or do you need affection? Do you need food, or do you need to feel appreciated? When your true needs are fulfilled, the compulsion to eat will go away.
Keep a food journal.
A food journal is an excellent way to keep track of your food intake. You can also use it to track your feelings and emotional eating triggers. This will help you identify the thought processes leading up to a binge. Once you can identify these thoughts, you can take steps to change them and head off the next binge before it occurs.
Replace food with other rewards.
Learn to reward yourself with treats other than food. If you need to feel pampered after meeting a stressful deadline, celebrate with a massage or a luxurious bubble bath. If you want to celebrate after losing ten pounds, buy yourself a new outfit or something related to a favorite hobby.
Too many of us turn automatically to food as a reward, forgetting that there are many healthier ways to splurge!
Talk to someone who understands.
Millions of people struggle with emotional eating, and you do not need to go through recovery alone. Sometimes it helps to hear from others who have beaten the disorder, and others who face the same challenges as you.
When you start considering detoxification diet, you often get caught up in looking for the right plan for you. You may have some questions and doubts - are detox detox diets safe? How do I choose the right meals? If that questions are familiar, read on before starting your diet with wrong objectives or information.
The main point that the detox diet is based on, is that plenty of the foods we serve every day on our tables may be devastating to our health. Toxins included in those foods are usually kept in the tissue of our organisms. And there is only one way to get rid of them efficiently - detoxification. And by detoxification I mean consuming only particular types of foods, that are not processed or modified. Eating those carefully selected nutrients will help our bodies get rid of the toxic substances and improve our overall health.
Some easy and popular diets are based on the scientifically proven fact, that if you replace all the junk food with healthy ingredients like vegetables and fruits, you will eventually start losing weight. The other key factor of those diets is water - and lots of it. You should at least drink 2 litres of water a day, and skip the fizzy drinks.
But not every detox diet is so easy. There are some people that promote very strange diets - like the lemonade diet. Its main principle is drinking enormous amounts of liquids (like lemonade) and skipping all the foods, in the effort of cleansing your body from toxins. Although there are people claiming to have good results with this type of diet, they don't seem too trustworthy. In my opinion, starving yourself is dangerous for your health and should not be used as a way to lose weight.
The first thing you need to do before starting your new detoxification diet is consulting your doctor. They have the necessary knowledge to tell you if the plan you chose is safe for you to use, and if it is going to provide results. Also remember, that some diet specialists will advise methods that were not scientifically proven to work. Do your homework - visit your doctor and ask him for security measures and possible dangers of your diet plan.
After you have talked to your doctor, it's time to start your diet. Your strong will is required here - stick to the diet rules and stop eating the forbidden foods, also make sure that you consume your meals more often, but in smaller quantities. Another crucial point is physical exercise. You should create a plan for regular activities, as they are very beneficial for your health and also good mood. If you are not able to complete the exercises you planned in good form, consider lowering the amount of exercise till your fitness level goes up. If exercises make you nauseous, stop doing them. A detox diet can help you a lot, but if not done well, it may do serious damage to your body. Always remember to listen to what your body is telling you - if you feel good on the diet, that's great. If you feel sick, depressed or dizzy, you could have chosen the wrong diet.
It should come as no surprise that arthritis pain cure comes with a lot of no's and yes's before you can figure out which one will best handle the pain you are experiencing. If you are one of the people who has been experiencing a lot of pain due to arthritis, the time has come for you to take the helm and do something about your condition. If you can sufficiently reduce your pain, you can resume your normal working life.
Don't make the mistake so many people make when it comes to arthritis pain cure. You must not avoid visiting your doctor. This is not a condition for self-diagnosis, because unintended consequences may come to haunt you. If you do go to see your doctor, you are likely to get treatments that may actually relieve a lot of your pain.
One other thing not to avoid is the search for natural remedies. These alternative treatments can be of significant value, even if you are going to use them alongside with what your doctor orders. What you need to keep in mind is that the various cures you try work together rather than against each other. Your doctor can help you with this. If you use care, you are not going to run into a situation that can make things worse rather than better. So it's a truly good idea to keep abreast of what does or does not mix without causing you more harm than good.
Arthritis cure may also involve some kind of physical therapy. A physical therapist is going to be able to help you come up with a regimen that you can do in your own home on a regular basis. Any kind of physical therapy may take time before you can actually feel the results.
With the right kind of physical therapy, you may soon find that you are regaining your mobility as you take control of your pain. If this should happen, you will undoubtedly experience a returning to the things you used to be able to do in your life.
The arthritis pain sure in your special case may simply be something unique to you. If you take drugs to control your pain, that may just be one facet of the many other things you may use in combination with drugs to alleviate your pain. This means that more than one thing needs to be employed to get the maximum relief for your condition.
Candle making has become a very popular hobby and art as many individuals learn to make these attractive products at home. You can find how-to candle making kits with full instructions on how to make candles of all kinds and styles in addition to the many books and online videos on the subject. Making scented candles opens up yet another line of candle making known as essential oil candles.
By definition, essential oils are oils extracted from many different kinds of plants, flowers, fruits or herbs that are used to scent various products to include natural candles, soaps, perfumes, etc. These oils are a hot commodity on the market today as consumers recognize the therapeutic values they have to offer. Many of these oil types are well known for their medicinal and homeopathic qualities which make them a bit expensive to buy. Adding to the cost factor is the fact that the oils are 100% natural, and the process of extraction requires a large amount of plant matter to extract a small amount of oil. Hence when a product is said to contain essential oils the price will be higher due to the work involved in acquiring the oil.
When it comes to combining these oils with the production of all natural candles or handmade soy candles, the result is aromatherapy soy candles - a winning combination that people all over the country can enjoy. Since the invention of soy wax, the use of aromatherapy soy candles has grown to become one of the most popular candle types on the market.
Why do essential oils need to be combined with only all natural products? To help understand this concept you need to understand the process of aromatherapy. Basically aromatherapy consists of using the aroma of these natural oils to help improve the emotional, physical and psychological well being of an individual. When these aromas are mixed with non-natural chemicals their aroma is no longer pure, hence its therapeutic properties are curtailed. That is why the oils cannot be used with a paraffin candle, for example, which emits strong chemical substances into the air when it is burned as the soot and carcinogens emitted by the paraffin would contaminate the aroma from the essential oils, rendering its healing properties useless.
To fully benefit from the healing properties of these natural oils in your candles, only all natural candles or handmade soy candles should be used in conjunction with essential oils. As natural soy candles can be made in all shapes, sizes and colors you will have no problem finding candles that can beautifully complement the existing decorations of your home while you receive the wonderful effects of its aroma. Friends and family alike will be able to enjoy attractive styles and designs of essential oil candles and their distinct scents during special events, family gatherings or festive occasions without suffering negative effects or allergy causing aromas. In addition, you will be able to add just the right scent to individual areas of your home to create the precise ambiance or mood you desire.
For most fitness enthusiasts, the rule of thumb is to watch what you eat because that determines whether you put on weight or not in the long run. Very simply, more calories means a greater chance to put on weight, and lesser the calories means staying within the recommended daily limit.
However, when it comes to sushi, one does notice a trend of calories between Western and traditional sushi in its various forms, with the former containing more calories than the latter. And the primary reason for this to occur is largely due to the kind of ingredients, toppings and condiments in the Western version.
Now, before one takes these figures in a literal sense, you must remember that each chef when preparing either type of sushi, usually adds his or own 'special' ingredients that can either add to the number of calories for the particular 'sushi' mentioned here, so these figures can swing in either direction, give or take a few calories. One trick to check the calorie value is to check the nutritional value of meals provided at the sushi bar or restaurant that you intend to visit.
Although sushi was about just eating fish, not only has this changed but even the way it is prepared as well. And these distinctions stem from either the way it is eaten, the kind of ingredients that are added and even the way it is assembled and arranged, with each region of Japan creating their unique style of the popular sushi types.
Here are the eight types of sushi, right from its origin, and that is in existence today:
1) Nigirizushi - an oblong mound of sushi rice to which wasabi is added along with a topping that is wrapped around it.
2) Makizushi - this is a type of sushi roll that is wrapped in nori, while specific toppings are selected for their distinct flavor and taste.
3) Oshizushi - Known to be a pressed sushi made by an oshibako making a rectangular block.
4) Inarizushi - Stuffed sushi that consists of a pouch made from tofu and filled with sushi rice.
5) Sukeroku - Prepared as a combination of Makizushi and Inarizushi, it can be called 'fast food' sushi.
6) Chirashizushi - Known as scattered sushi, it consists of a bowl of rice with ingredients mixed in it.
7) Narezushi - Earliest form of sushi, where the ingredients consisted of rice and fish, and after preparation, only the fish was eaten.
For example, the Shrimp Tempura Roll is around 500 calories while the Kappa Maki Roll is about 130 calories, with fat content being ranging from zero to about 21 g. If you compared these figures with almost every form of traditional sushi, the calorie value range between 40 to 65 calories per serving. What a difference!
However, in the larger scheme of things, sushi (whether Western of traditional) can be considered a healthy food as compared to most junk foods that hit the roof in terms of calories and does nothing but make you eat more so that you can put on weight.
If you eat a good diet, odds are that you will get enough vitamin B in your diet through existing meals. The diets of most people in the country, however, are relatively poor. In this case, you will probably need to take supplements to ensure that you are getting all of the vitamin B that you need.
There are multiple forms of vitamin B. Vitamin B1 or thiamine, is the type of vitamin B which has been shown to have an effect on anxiety. Natural sources of this vitamin include beef and other meats, milk and other dairy products, oats, and nuts and seeds. In addition, many foods that we eat every day such as cereals and breads are fortified with the vitamin. An excellent supplement to use if your body has a deficiency in thiamine is brewer's yeast. And, for those who love fruits, oranges have an above average amount of thiamine in them.
The lack of thiamine seems to be a factor in many sorts of anxiety related conditions. When tested, people that show signs of agitation, fear of closed or open spaces, as well as many types of psychosomatic problems - seem to have below normal levels of vitamin B. This does not mean that the lack of the vitamin is causing the anxiety condition. It simply means that, in some way, there is a correlation between the two things. The most likely explanation is that certain people are, by nature, more prone to anxiety attacks. In these people, Thiamine, in a way, acts as a drug and helps to moderate and lessen those feelings of anxiousness.
Another B vitamin that has shown signs of having a positive effect in reducing anxiety is vitamin B8 or inositol. Unfortunately, although it has shown much promise, there have not been enough studies on this vitamin to conclusively conclude one way or another if it can be an effective, dependable treatment. Foods that have high levels of inositol include organ meats like liver, fruits such as bananas and raisins, and supplements such as wheat germ and brewer's yeast.
When tested, many people seem to have a deficiency in vitamin B. One of the reasons is that we eat so many refined foods where this nutritional resource has been stripped from the food. To counteract this, as much as possible, try to change your diet to include more whole foods and unprocessed foods
What truly is the impact of panic attack disorder on the life of a sufferer? Well let me start by saying that it might begin by being a once in a while occurrence which is often overlooked, but left untreated this disorder has the potential to literally ruin the sufferers life.
Left untreated, the attacks will often begin to occur ever more frequently and their strength will also begin to become more severe. As any sufferer of panic attack disorder will be able to tell you, the more room you give these attacks to manifest, the more they begin to breakdown the freedom which you have as an individual.
Panic attack disorder has the potential to cause the sufferer to:
- Develop fears of having illnesses and sicknesses which they do not have
- Withdraw from society and social circles
- Avoid doing certain things or going to certain types of places
- Develop phobias relating to what is causing their panic attacks
- Fear that they might be going insane or even be about to die
These are but a few examples of the negative impact which panic attack disorder and anxiety are likely to have on the individual who is suffering from the disorder. Very normally it will also lead to heightened depression which is a very dangerous combination when accompanied by panic and anxiety.
Luckily there are totally natural and healthy ways for one to be able to overcome anxiety and panic attacks and it need not include the use of expensive medications which are far too often addictive and have numerous very severe side effects.
In order to truly be able to overcome this type of disorder, one first needs to understand it in its entirety and then to begin to make use of some very simple but effective natural treatments or techniques.
Why is it that so many people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars per year on pills and other medications so as to be able to overcome this type of disorder, when what they should rather be doing is looking for ways to address the cause of their disorder instead of trying to disguise the symptoms?
I always say that one's willingness to invest in yourself is the first step towards overcoming anything which might have a negative impact in our lives and this is no different when it comes to overcoming panic attack disorder or any similar mental disorder.
By understanding what you are up against completely, you will be arming yourself with the most effective tool anyone can give you, the tool of knowing and not fearing.
Find the Right Health Plan For Your Family
0 comments Posted by freakymom at Tuesday, January 06, 2009Common Types of Health Plans:
Preferred Provider Organizations - These health plans include a network of medical providers that you can get medical service from for the lowest costs. You will still be covered if you choose a non-network provider, but at a lower level. PPO plans are popular because they offer the most flexibility, but are still simple to use. Because they combine simplicity, network coverage, and some flexibility, PPO plans are very popular with consumers and medical providers.
Health Maintenance Organizations - You have to use your network providers to get coverage, but they are usually simple to use and provide very comprehensive coverage. HMO plans are not that flexible, but they work well for some people who live in an area with a good network of health care providers.
Note that with both HMO and PPO plans, you usually have exceptions to network coverage rules. For instance, non-network emergency services will be covered. You may be able to get other services covered if the plan network does not have a provider available. Be sure to get any non-network and non-emergency services approved by the company in advance.
Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Health Insurance - These plans combine a higher yearly deductible medical plan with a tax advantage savings accounts. These work out well for people who like to control their spending, and who will commit to be disciplined savers. The savings account will also pay for some medical expenses that most major medical plans do not cover like vision or dental care.
Specified Benefit Plans - These may provide coverage for specific illnesses or injuries that are outlined in the policy. Some cover many different medical services, but some are very specific. For instance, you can buy cancer plans or hospitalization plans. These can be purchased to stand alone, or to provide additional security in case of a major medical problem. The amount of coverage will be clearly defined in the policy.
Mini Med Plans - This type of health insurance is not meant to be major medical health insurance, and will not offer complete coverage for large dollar medical items. They can be useful to provide more coverage when combined with a high deductible major medical insurance plan. But most of the time people buy them as stand alone policies because of the lower cost and easier underwriting. Make sure you understand how they will cover you before you need to use them.
I cannot tell you which health insurance plan, or combination of health insurance plans, will be the right one for you. Your own health, age, location, and budget will affect your decision. You need to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different options.
Is there anything better for your body than a health cleanse? If you can think of anything I would bet it can't complete with the positive effects of under going a complete cleanse. The problem for most people that try to lose weight is that they are doing so without ridding their body of the poisonous toxins that prevent their metabolism from performing at optimum level. A complete health cleanse can do wonders for your waist line as well as many other extra benefits, let us take a look at a few:
1. Weight loss - As previously mentioned, a complete cleanse can do wonders for you. It will allow your liver to filter toxins better and process your food quickly and as a result it will allow your body to digest and metabolize your food quicker.
2. Increased energy level - One of the most undeniable benefits of a complete cleanse is the increased amount of energy one has. For all of those coffee drinkers, you will no longer NEED coffee but of course can drink for the fun of it.
3. Overall positive health - The revitalizing effects that a health cleanse can have on your organs alone is truly astounding! There are some experts that feel that regular cleansing can in fact put ten or more added years on to the life of your liver, colon, etc..
For a list of many other benefits, types of health cleanse and much more I have provided a link at the bottom of the page.
Your All-in-One site for finding the right cleanse! Health Cleanse is the place to visit.
Cleansing tips, articles, links and a FREE gift can be found here! Colon Cleaning is a gold mine.
If you have angina or congestive heart failure, a daily glass of hawthorn tea can greatly enhance your health. Hawthorn is both extraordinarily safe and extraordinarily effective in treating various forms of heart disease, as was finally recognized by the American Heart Association in an article printed in its journal in May 2002. This herb contains a variety of flavonoids. Some increase blood flow through the coronary arteries. Some increase left ventricular pressure, making each heartbeat stronger. Some accelerate the heart rate-and some decelerate it. But the most important property of hawthorn is its ability to protect the heart from the effects of oxygen deprivation.
Heart cells, like many other tissues, are able to adapt to oxygen deprivation. They shift their energy production from pathways requiring the use of oxygen to pathways requiring the use of fatty acids. However, when their oxygen supply is restored they are sometimes damaged and sometimes destroyed.
When heart pain is induced by the failure of the heart muscle to pump blood, the neutrophils of the immune release a compound known as human neutrophil elastase (HNE), allowing the arteries to stretch back to a more normal size. The process of relaxing the artery, however, releases massive quantities of free radicals that disrupt the cholesterol coats of heart cells and interfere with the action of L-carnitine. At least one of the flavonoid compounds in hawthorn counteracts HNE.
Hawthorn has several other beneficial effects. Animal studies have found that hawthorn stimulates the liver to use LDL cholesterol to make bile salts, cholesterol salts that are flushed out of the liver into the stool. Other studies with laboratory animals have found that the hawthorn compound monoacetyl-vitexin rhamnoside relaxes the linings of the arteries, permitting greater blood flow, through a complicated chemical process. And at least one animal study suggests that hawthorn can prevent irreversible tissue damage during heart attack
Hawthorn is also helpful for people who have lupus. Hawthorn reduces fatigue caused by exercise or exertion by counteracting blood-clotting factor called canavanine that is overabundant in lupus patients. Hawthorn is especially useful when lupus is aggravated by certain foods in the diet, especially alfalfa sprouts.
There are very few precautions for the use of hawthorn. It is almost completely nontoxic. Like many other natural treatments for angina, however, it can cause diarrhea the first few days you take it.
The easiest way to make hawthorn tea is to use tea bags. Most blends emphasize hawthorn flowers rather than hawthorn berries. Sicilian Nights Tea combines hawthorn flowers with cherries, lemon peel, hibiscus, and rose hips for a sweet and sour combination. Blue Mountains Paradise Hawthorn Tea combines hawthorn and vanilla. Hawthorn berry teas are usually a little less expensive but not quite as cardioprotective. If you use hawthorn berries to make tea, you will probably want to add honey or stevia as a sweetener.
There are an abundance of diets on the market that claim this elusive road to well-being. High carbohydrates, low carbohydrates. High protein, low protein. Total vegetarian containing no animal protein. High fat, low fat. Sugar busters. All eating plans very diverse, yet they all lay claim to greater health: reducing heart disease, cancer and diabetes while at the same time lowering cholesterol. How is it possible that seemingly conflicting diets profess similar success yet still be factual? For a limited time such assertions can be true. For a limited time. When we drastically alter our diet, our body will respond in kind-drastically. Sometimes, it is to our benefit, other times not. But what research has shown is that the benefits from these restrictive diets are often temporary. Credible scientific and nutritional studies have proven the healthiest eating plans are diets that are balanced by containing food choices from all food groups. The American Dietetic Association, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, and other major medical societies agree.
Ok. So, a healthy, well-balanced diet is the first step in searching for health, but what comprises this "healthy, well-balance diet" and how can it be measured? By life spans. The people who live the longest have the best diets.
According to the United Nations World Population study, the ten countries with the greatest life expectancies are Andorra, Macau, Japan, San Marino, Singapore, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Sweden, Australia, and Switzerland. The United States has an overall life expectancy of 78.06, making it 45 in the United Nations' ranking. I have examined three of these top ten countries and their lifestyles in Searching for Health.
Andorra has the longest life span with an overall life expectancy of 83.52. Andorra is a small mountainous country in southeastern Europe, located high in the eastern Pyrenees Mountain between France and Spain. Andorran cuisine is composed of meat (usually lamb and pork), fish, pasta, vegetables, fruits, dairy (usually cheese), and bread. Olive oil is used in cooking. Wine is the preferred beverage. Luis Pallares, an Andorran consulting surgeon, said it is common to perform surgery on people in their eighties and nineties. They soon return to their normal lives. A frequent question from the patients is "how soon will I be able to walk in the mountains again, tend my garden and go into the woods to gather mushrooms?"
Japan is the third ranking with an overall life expectancy of 82.02. Japan is an island country in East Asia, located to the east of China. Japanese cuisine is based on combining staple foods like rice or noodles, with a soup-usually a fish or meat broth-and dishes made from fish, meat, vegetable, fruit, and tofu, a soy product. Meals usually end with drinking green tea. The most popular exercise is walking.
Australia is the ninth ranking with an overall life expectancy of 80.62. Australia is a country in the Southern Hemisphere surrounded by the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Australians eat meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit, and vegemite, a dark paste made from yeast extract spread on toast and crackers. Coffee and beer are the preferred beverages. Since Australia has one of the highest incidence of pet ownership in the world, walking the dog is the most popular exercise.
In reviewing the lifestyles of these three countries, I discovered that the diets are basically similar with a few exchanges, for example, like rice in Japan, pasta in Andorra, and crackers and toast in Australia. Walking is the common exercise in all three countries. Evidence of the health benefits of walking has been documented by the recent Women's Health Study, a major research project that verified walking 15 minutes a day cut the risk of death from heart attack and stroke in half.
Walking is also a great stress reducer. Reducing stress is a vital component to health and longevity. The time honored mind-body techniques such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and meditation to reduce stress have passed the litmus test of rigorous medical investigations. Positive effects on heart health, blood pressure, insulin, arthritis, and tension headaches are documented with the reduction of stress through these alternative therapies.
Searching for Health provides insight into achieving better health and a longer life expectancy by adapting our lifestyles. These are the tools to become authors of our own health.
Health Savings Accounts and Chiropractic Care
0 comments Posted by freakymom at Saturday, November 08, 2008Many research studies have shown that chiropractic care is beneficial and that it is more cost effective in the treatment of low back pain and other common musculoskeletal conditions than traditional Western medicine is. Chiropractic also lowers health care costs by focusing on prevention, was well as on treatment.
It is surprising that health insurers choose not to cover treatment that is as beneficial and cost effective as chiropractic care is. Studies have continually shown that individuals who seek the care of a chiropractor on a regular basis are healthier and, generally, spend less on health care than those who do not.
Chiropractic Care and Consumers
What is not surprising is that consumers are wise enough to see the advantages of chiropractic care. Many people prefer to see a chiropractor simply because they see tangible benefits from the care they receive. Many others are disillusioned with traditional Western medicine and the healthcare system, and they look for alternatives such as chiropractic care.
It is clear, both from patient testimonies and from clinical research that consumers benefit from chiropractic care. Unfortunately, they may have difficulty affording chiropractic care because it's often excluded from healthcare insurance policies.
Health Savings Accounts can help consumers afford chiropractic care, even when it is excluded from their health insurance policy. They can pay for chiropractic care and other alternative medicine with pre-tax dollars by using a Health Savings Account.
Many chiropractors keep their costs as low as possible in order to make chiropractic care more available to consumers. They can, however, only absorb so much of the cost of providing that care. Another way chiropractors can help clients gain access to chiropractic care is to encourage the use of Health Savings Accounts.
Health Savings Accounts and Consumer Choice
The combination of a Health Savings Account and a High Deductible Health Insurance plan is supposed to encourage individuals to become thoughtful, wise consumers of health care. The individual is spending more of his or her own dollars on healthcare, so she will be more concerned about how those dollars are spent.
Health Savings Accounts give consumers more choice in how their healthcare dollars are spent. Money in the HSA must be spent on approved medical expenses, but there are really very few restrictions on what kind of healthcare you choose. More and more chiropractic patients are discovering that having an HSA is saving them money on their medical expenses.
Traditional health insurance has gatekeepers and controls. Even when chiropractic care is covered (not typical on individual plans), the individual requesting chiropractic care may be required to go see their family physician (or gatekeeper) and get a referral. Not all medical doctors will refer to chiropractors. If chiropractic care is covered on the health insurance plan, and if you can get a referral (which amounts to permission to see the chiropractor), there may be limits to the number and types of treatments you can receive.
Using a Health Savings Account to pay for chiropractic care gives you, the consumer, more choice. You can choose what type of medical treatment to get, where you will get that treatment, and how many treatments you will get. You can spend HSA dollars on preventive care as well, and actually have the government give you a tax deduction for keeping your family well.
Health Care Products You Should Use For Elder Care
0 comments Posted by freakymom at Wednesday, October 22, 2008Caring for the elderly whether in a care home or at your home requires a large amount of different sorts of medical supplies. These often need to be bought in bulk form, from a wholesale health supplier. They will be able to supply you with most of the equipment that you need such as wholesale latex gloves, incontinence pads and disposable plastic aprons. These are the supplies that you will be using frequently to clean up and reduce mess and to help stop the spread of diseases.
There are different types of glove available for various tasks and they come in a wide range of materials as people can often have allergies to materials like latex. You also find that some gloves contain powder where as others do not and are called powder free gloves. Powder is often put into gloves to make them easier to put on if the task you are performing means that your hands are damp. There have been issues in the medical industry with regards to powdered gloves as the powder can sometimes cause problems when performing tasks like surgery. This has meant that more medical institutions have now switched to powder free gloves in most cases, as they are a lot safer to use when you are working with wounds.
If you are interested in buying bulk medical supplies for a nursing home or for caring at home then you should visit Gompels Healthcare. Gomples provide a range of different solutions and products including Powder Free Vinyl Gloves, Incontinence Pads, Janitorial Supplies and Latex Gloves.
Should You Hire a Home Health Aide Privately?
0 comments Posted by freakymom at Monday, October 06, 2008Should you contact a local home care agency? Or, should you hire a home health aide privately? Many people are reluctant to use a home care agency because they think the cost is higher than hiring someone on their own.
This article will focus on many of the important factors you should consider when choosing whether to use an agency or hire privately. Your decision may have unintended consequences. There is really a lot more at stake than just how much it will cost.
Legal Issues
If you hire someone, they are your employee. You must comply with laws dealing with immigration and naturalization, income tax, Social Security and Medicare tax, unemployment tax, and workers compensation insurance. A home care agency has procedures in place for these matters.
Medical Supervision
Home health aides complete a six to eight week certification program. Dealing with medical and health issues requires much more training than could possibly be offered in these programs. Having a nurse from a home care agency supervise the home health aide can be critical to insuring proper care.
Continuing Education
Once a home health aide has completed a certification program, there is no requirement for ongoing training. When a home health aide works for a home care agency, there are mandatory classes in such areas as infection control, recognizing potential problems and patient safety.
Background Checks
The personal history of someone applying for a job as a home health aide is very important. What is their previous experience? What do their references say about them? Is there any criminal record in this person's past? Home care agencies have trained human resources personal to deal with these questions.
Health Screening
Are you prepared to have someone go for a pre-employment physical examination to be sure they are able to perform the work? How will you do yearly TB testing? Drug testing? For a home care agency these are ordinary processes.
Replacements
No one can work every single day without fail. What happens when the home health aide calls out sick? Wants a day off or vacation? Pregnancy leave? What if the home health aide just quits? What if there are personality conflicts? A home care agency can insure continuous, uninterrupted service.
Insurance
What if household items are damaged or missing? (Bonding) What happens if the home health aide hurts someone? (Liability) Gets hurt on the job? (Workers Compensation) Gets sick? (Health Care) A home care agency is set up to handle all of these issues.
Whatever decision you make, make an informed decision. Try to weigh what you see as the cost against each of the above factors. What would it cost to be involved in a workers compensation problem? What would happen if there was a time delay in getting a replacement for a caregiver? What if you unknowingly hired someone with a criminal background?
Before I became an elder law and estate planning attorney, I was a physical therapist for many years. During those years as a physical therapist, many of them were spent in the home care field. I have a great deal of experience in this area. So, if you or someone you know needs help deciding weather to hire a home health aide privately or through a home care agency call me at my office (203) 488-5586.
Why would someone travel to India and not to Thailand?
Although the cost difference between treatment in India and Thailand is not much, India offers what you call a language advantage - a patient would surely prefer a country where English is widely spoken. Also, it is believed that the facilities in India are more suited for International patients.
India is also working hard to increase it's infrastructure to better suit the needs of patients coming to India for treatments such as heart surgey, knee replacement, other orthopaedic treatments, cosmetic surgery, eye care, dental treatment or any other treatment for that matter. This is one of the primary fields which India intends to explore during the coming years.
How can you trust Indian Doctors?
Well, many highly qualified doctors have had some form of training from abroad , specially USA and UK. Indian surgeons and doctors are known for their skill and research throughout the world.
India has over 150000 medical tourists each year and this figure is rising at a high pace. Some recent programs recently on BBC and CNBC have reinstated the fact that medical tourism is a good idea if - you want to save costs, you need the treatment to be done at your time and convenience, you need a high quality budget incorporated.
