Monday, November 30, 2009

Vitamins for Your Mental Health


Vitamins help you body in a number of different ways. However many people do not realize that vitamins are also crucial for helping the health of your mind. Depression is one of the many mental illnesses that can really help to ruin a person’s life if left untreated. If you are hoping to deal with your depression in a way that is healthy to your body but does not include the use of drugs, you might want to gain a better understand of just how vitamins can work for your depression. Vitamin supplements can help you fight your depression.

First and foremost, study the B vitamins. B-complex vitamins are essential to your well-being, including your mental and emotional health. They are water-soluble, which means that they cannot be stored in the body over time to be used at a later date, and so you must eat foods rich in B vitamins every day or take vitamin supplements. B-vitamins that could cause or add to your depression include thiamin, which provides energy to your brain, and pantothenic acid, which is crucial in the formation of certain hormones that suppress depression. Most other B vitamins affect your mental and emotional state as well, and because they are broken down in the body by alcohol and sugar, many people find it a struggle to eat enough food rich in the B vitamins. You should talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements in these areas in order to treat your depression.

Vitamin C is also extremely important in the fight against depression. Normal levels are usually easy to achieve in the body, but you might find that you need a boost from vitamin supplements if you have recently have surgery or an inflammatory illness. Lack of vitamin C is common if you are stressed or pregnant, so be particularly mindful of your depression during these times of life.

A variety of minerals, like magnesium, calcium, and zinc can also help you to fight your depression. The bottom line is that it is important for you to talk to a doctor if you believe that you are depressed. Vitamin supplements and medical care can help you to fight depression in many cases. You doctor will be able to recommend brands that are of high quality and instruct you on how to take the vitamin supplements so that your body can get all of the nutrients it needs to stay happy and healthy, both physically and mentally.

Dress Attire for Yoga Class


If you are thinking about starting a yoga class you will want to consider what you wear to the class before you go. You will find that yoga involves many different moves or positions while in a single routine. You will need to dress so that you will be comfortable and it won’t create problems for you if were to stretch or move a certain way. You will find that if you don’t wear the correct type of clothing you may not get everything that you would hope to get from a yoga class. You will find that there are many clothing companies that have a variety of clothing for those who are practicing or learning yoga. As you know yoga is increasing in popularity in the past few years and it is considerate for these companies to offer you the clothing.

Choose yoga clothing that is comfortable for your body when you are moving. Clothing that is too tight may “ride up” and shift in uncomfortable ways as your limbs rub against one another, for example. You will want to wear clothing that you feel good in and that you feel good about your body. You will want to feel comfortable no matter what size you are so that you can feel less self conscious if you think that your pants are too tight or such. In all honesty, everyone is probably too engrossed in class to notice what you are wearing, but poor clothing can be a mental block and prevent you from learning.

You will also find that poor clothing choices can be quite embarrassing. Remember that yoga involves inverting your body in many cases. Don’t go with too loose of clothing because the sag or fall of the clothing may show off more than you want to. Not only is this embarrassing for you, but you will also notice that everyone else will feel uncomfortable. Clothing that is too tight can be stretched too far and rip during class. Tight clothing can also be too revealing if there are members of the opposite sex enrolled in your yoga class. Always be respect towards those who are around you and always wear things that are comfortable.

Yoga is an exercise, and like all exercises, you will sweat. Take this into consideration when choosing the fabric that you want to wear. Also, think about the fact that some fabrics will absorb the sweat so that you can remain dry during the workout, but still burn those calories. If your clothing is wet, it could be dangerous to attempt some positions, and the same is true if your clothing is too loose.

If you aren’t sure what clothing you will want to wear to your classes, you will want to do some of the basic moves and see how you feel or look in the clothing. You will want to choose outfits that are comfortable and that you feel good in. You will want to also ask your teacher for any suggestions. You will find that your clothing is very important when it comes to beginning a yoga class.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Planning an Escape


If you want to travel to the Caribbean, one of the most important things you can to is plan it completely. Planning it now may be a lot of work, but if you do it before ever leaving home, you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation while there. No matter which Caribbean island you want to visit, planning is very important.

First, plan how you want to get to your destination. Because of the nature of the Caribbean, flying straight to your destination is not you sole choice. You do so if you choose, but you can also take a cruise throughout the Caribbean islands and visit a bunch of different port cities. In either case, you should plan your transportation as one of the first and foremost aspects of your vacation. Often, you can get a cheaper deal on tickets if you plan far in advance.

You should also consider your accommodations when traveling to the Caribbean. You first choice is, of course, any one of the many hotels and resorts scattered around the islands and catering especially to tourists. Many of these places to stay are completely Americanized and some even are owned by America companies. Another choice you have is the all-inclusive resort. Found on many of the Caribbean islands, all-inclusive resorts are great because they include meals, tours, private beaches, and more for free. If these don’t strike your fancy, you can also try booking a room in a smaller hotel or bed and breakfast, where you can get a true cultural experience.

Once you have your transportation and hotel figured out, you should consider planning certain activities. You can leave a number of days open for relaxing on the beach and spur of the moment tours, but if you don’t plan ahead for some of your activities, you may not be able to fit them into your schedule once there. It is best to plan ahead a bit, but not too much. This is the best way to enjoy your Caribbean vacation.

The last thing you should consider planning is a back up. Things inevitably go wrong on any vacation, so if it rains, have something to do other than lie on the beach. If the hotel overbooks accidentally, be prepared by knowing the names and numbers of some other hotels that might have open rooms. The key to a great vacation in the Caribbean is not to have everything go smoothly, but rather to enjoy it no matter what.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Talking to Your Doctor about Weight Loss


Weight loss is very important, regardless of if you are doing it for cosmetic reasons or for health reasons. When you lose weight and remain at a healthy weight, you can be sure to stay happy and healthy more easily than if you had simply been at a larger weight. Losing weight can be difficult, but if you talk to your doctor about the situation, you have a better chance of reaching your weight loss goals.

Talking to a doctor about weight loss can be embarrassing for some people. No one likes to admit having a problem with this issue. However, if you identify it, your doctor can know that you want to change and make lots of suggestions for you. Believe me, whatever your medical condition, you doctor has dealt with it before and so there is not reason to feel embarrassed in any way about dealing with weight loss.

When you approach your doctor about your weight situation, it is best to do so at the beginning of your appointment, rather than at the end. If your appointment is running later, your doctor may feel rushed to talk to you about your wait at the end, since there are other patients waiting for see him or her. Therefore, ask your questions right from the start or schedule another appointment in order to fully be able to discuss weight loss.

If it helps you to remember, write down all of your questions before you go in for your appointment. Your doctor is a busy person, so having your questions ready will make sure that you have time to get answers to all of them. This will also ensure that you don’t forget any of the questions that you wish to ask, because it may be a few weeks before you can make another appointment to again speak with your doctor.

Some key questions that you should ask include those about your personal statistics, such as asking how high your cholesterol is or how much weight you need to lose to be at a personal normal body weight for your age and height. You should then ask your doctor to clarify anything you don’t understand regarding your weight, share with your tips for healthy eating, help you work out an exercise plan, and make recommendation for personal trainers or guides that can help you on your journey. Your doctor truly will be you best advice throughout your weight loss journey, and he or she can help you to realize all of your goals in a healthy and safe way.

Vitamins for Disease Prevention


There are many different aspects of the food that we eat that help to protect us. Our body can take the food that we eat and turn it into energy. However, our body cannot produce several things that we need in order to survive. In order to do the things that our cells need to do to be healthy and to get by in life, our body has to receive several types of vitamins and minerals. Our body does not make these vitamins and minerals; they are instead gleaned from the food that we eat. There are many ways to get vitamins and minerals from food, so a balanced and healthy diet is always recommended. If you are eating foods from all of the food groups in a balanced manner, you are going to find that you are getting the correct vitamins and minerals. This means that your cells are going to be able to do the work that they need to do to make your body function correctly.

However, if you are not able to get the vitamins and minerals that you need, you are going to find that actually your body is not able to function. This is why some people choose to use vitamin and mineral supplements – because they know they aren’t get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals through what they eat.

Whether you get your vitamins through the food that you eat, or through supplements, there is no joke that they are very good for you, and in fact they are essential for you to stay healthy. One of the main jobs that vitamins and minerals do for you is the prevention of disease. When you have the correct vitamins and minerals, your cells are going to be able to break them down and use them in many different ways. The best way that they can use the vitamins and minerals is to use them to strengthen themselves and to put up barriers against disease. The barriers that are built with the correct vitamins and minerals are going to allow you to not get sick as often and to not be as prone to disease.

If you truly want to be healthy, you should make sure that you have a balanced diet that includes the vitamins and minerals that are needed to make your body strong and healthy. This will increase your immune system, helping to prevent all kinds of illnesses.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Say Cheese: Dental Benefits


Dental insurance is often an afterthought when obtaining health insurance for a number of reasons. Some people may simply dislike the dentist and use the lack of dental insurance as a reason to not visit the dentist; others may feel that dental insurance is not worth the added cost to their monthly health insurance premium. Still others may simply feel that their teeth are in good shape and there is little need to spend the extra money to cover a part of their body that does not currently have any problems. Nevertheless, dental insurance is important because of several benefits.

When people think of the cost of dental work or procedures, they often think of costly bills. Even simple procedures like getting your wisdom teeth removed can average in the hundreds of dollars per tooth! However, one obvious benefit to dental insurance is the coverage of simple but costly dental procedures such as getting a tooth removed. In the end, the slight increase in a monthly premium may be worth it to avoid a high dental bill. Moreover, dental insurance also helps financially if a dental emergency develops. Perhaps you are in need of a root canal or dental implants – both extremely costly procedures that you often do not anticipate. Dental insurance will most likely cover a portion, if not all of these expensive procedures.

Also, while many feel that brushing and flossing daily is all the dental care they need this is simply not true – even for young, healthy adults. Dental disease is common and can affect your body in a number of ways. For instance, some dental diseases left untreated can lead to more serious medical issues such as kidney infections or even diabetes. Most people do now know of the connection between dental diseases and other illnesses. Thus, having dental insurance that covers routine visits to the dentist, which can help uncover dental diseases early, is extremely important. Dental insurance is designed to encourage preventative care, because spotting dental diseases or dental problems early reduces the overall cost of treatment.

Dental insurance may seem like just another gimmick to get a few more dollars out of you, but it is essential for your health. Your regular health insurance plan, whether it is through your employer as a group plan or an individual plan, should offer you the option of buying dental insurance coverage, and you should consider this piece of the plan thoroughly when purchasing health insurance.

Cupping as an Effective Acupuncture Method


Acupuncture happens to be a traditional Chinese medical treatment and you will find that the insertion of these thin needles that will hit your tension points will relieve all pain that you have. You will find that pain from your back, cramps, nausea, and can help you with serious conditions like infertility and cancer. You will find that there are a lot of benefits that you can get from using acupuncture and cupping is used along with acupuncture. Cupping is another traditional Chinese remedy that will help you to relieve pain and it is used to generate good energies. You will find that acupuncture is something that is done by a professional and they will give you more information before you decide to go through with the procedure.

Suction is the basic concept of cupping traditionally; small cups or jars (usually made from glass or bamboo) are heated from the inside with fire to create a vacuum and then placed on the body. The cups are heated and placed to the skin to begin suction and are left on the body for at least fifteen minutes, however, the treatment can be much longer. Today, this technique can be done with a suctioning pump as well. This allows more regulation of the suction created. In either case, the placement of the suctioning device is crucial. There are acupuncture sports that the professional will place a cup on each to help relieve your pain or you can be placed around a specific problem region.. It was thought in ancient China that by stimulating these areas, you could rid the body of negative energies like diseases and pain. Some people believe that cupping will open up the lungs and you’ll be able to let out all the toxins through your breathing and through your skin pores. You will find that it can make breathing easier for you. It is also believed to draw the cold and dampness out of your system, creating a healthier body overall.

There have been researches done to show and prove that there are a lot of real benefits from cupping and it’s not just an old tale. Cupping helps stimulate the blood vessels in an affected area, drawing out old blood that settles in a bruise or otherwise pained area and making room for new blood, with a fresh supply of oxygen, to make its way to the area. Since it is creating a better environment, you will find that the tissues will begin to repair themselves.

You will want to keep in mind that cupping is not right for everyone. You will find that if you are pregnant you should be very careful with cupping and it shouldn’t be done where there are open sores or wounds. You will find that there should not be cupping where there is excess hair or on body parts that have different angles and surfaces. When you begin cupping you will begin to see large bruises from the cupping and it just goes and shows that this is proof that it is working, but you will notice that these bruises will disappear within a week. Ask your doctor if cupping is right for you, if you are willing to turn to alternative medications.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Weight Loss and Your Family



Many people are trying to lose weight, but have you ever considered losing weight as a family? Typically, when one member of the family is not eating healthy foods, the rest of the family is also participating in unhealthy behaviors. Working together as a family to lose weight can be the push you need to actually do it. After all, you want what is best for your family, right?
Start by planning healthy meals together. Working as a family, you can split up the responsibilities. For example, have your spouse go grocery shopping, while you cook and your children do the dishes. Whenever you cook a healthy meal, make extras and take that along to work the next day instead of relying on take-out and fast food. Cooking together also helps you bond and can teach both you and your children valuable life skills.

As a family, join a gym as well. Sometimes there is a family discount if three or more members of a household join the same gym, and often the facilities found here are better than any exercising machines you may have at home. As a family, you can also play tennis or racquetball together or motivate one another to work out. Some gyms even have fun family resources, like family softball leagues and indoor swimming pools.

When you want to lose weight, working together as a family to set goals can also work really well. Setting goals is important for any weight loss program, but as a family you can work together to push one another. Some husband and wife teams even like some friendly competition when losing weight. For example, challenge your spouse to prepare for a marathon, train together, and then compete during the actual race to see who finishes first or finishes the most of the race.

No matter how much weight you want to lose, it is always easier to do so when you have people to help you along the way. Your family is perfect for this because you live together and already know one another’s eating and work out habits. When you lose weight together, you have a great chance to bond as well, providing strong family ties and better relationships in general. Losing weight is never easy, but with a little help from your family members, all of your weight loss goals can definitely be achieved one by one.

The Advantages of Weight Loss



It seems like everyone is trying to lose weight—but why? Actually, there are a number of reasons why a person may want to lose rate, and these reasons are justified. Losing weight does have great advantages. Of course, there are always going to be horror stories about people who fall into the traps of eating disorders, but for the most part, losing weight is greatly to your advantage.
The most obvious advantage to weight loss is, of course, the health benefits. When you are heavier than normal, you put our body at risk to develop a number of disease and conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and intestinal diseases. These can be prevents and more easily treated if you lose weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is something that you and your doctor should discuss in order to make the best decisions for your body’s health.

There are, however, other advantages as well. First and foremost, when you are of a normal weight, shopping for clothing is more fun and easier because you actually fit into clothing more readily. It can often be less expensive as well. The extra large sizes and beyond use more fabric to make, so many manufacturers raise the prices for these larger articles of clothing.

Losing weight also can teach you about healthy eating, which opens up a whole new world when it comes to food. Cooking with healthy, fresh ingredients can be really fun, and it can be an activity your do with a spouse or children so that the entire family is eating more healthy foods and focused on losing extra weight and maintain healthy weights.

Of course, one of the best advantages is how you will feel about yourself after you’ve lost the weight. Who doesn’t want to receive compliments from coworkers? Who doesn’t want to attend their high school reunions looking even prettier than when actually in high school? Who doesn’t want to smile at their appearance every day when looking in the mirror? Of course, for some people, this takes more than losing weight, but it’s a good start. Discuss your weight loss and potential happiness with a counselor to learn how feeling better about yourself can be possible.

There are a number of other advantages to losing weight as well—you’ll have more energy, be better able to play with your children, have a sense of achievement and much, much more. If you think that you’ve like to take advantage of these great things about weight loss, talk to your doctor today to find out how that can be possible.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

How Effective Are Alternative Treatments against Allergies?


How effective complementary treatments will be for you may depend on how severe your symptoms are, your biochemistry and the types of therapies you consider. While many studies suggest alternative medicine is not helpful for allergies, an equal number suggest complementary therapies are very helpful for reducing allergies and allergic symptoms.

Currently, statistics derived from the National Institutes of Health and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American acknowledge that almost half of the population at some point considers alternative medicine to treat allergies and other common health problems.

Roughly 40 percent of those have tried one or more types of alternative therapies, suggesting the trend toward alternative medicine is growing, and that people are willing to try just about anything to relieve their symptoms.

Many times, you’ll find if you talk to your doctor they may encourage you to give some alternative therapies a try, as long as you use caution. You should not for example, stop carrying around your emergency epinephrine kit because you decide you want to treat your allergies with alternative medicine.

You also don’t want to throw out your inhaler until you find an effective treatment or combination of treatments that works well for you. For many, this will involve a process of trial and error. What most people find is they can gradually reduce the amount of over-the-counter remedies they use for therapy by combining traditional healing with complementary medical practices.

Are Multivitamins for You?


A multivitamin is a supplement that you can take that has many different types of vitamins and minerals in it. It is important because if you don’t have time to be taking all of the separate vitamins, you might not be getting all that you need. If you are able to take a good multivitamin, you will find that you are getting the recommended daily allowance and that you are healthier.

Multivitamins are also important because they might help you avoid getting too much of certain vitamins or minerals. They are made with certain doses in mind, and they are made to create a situation in which you are getting just enough of a certain vitamin or mineral. If you simply take the one a day multivitamin as it is instructed, you are going to find that it is impossible for you to get too much and therefore that fear is avoided.

There are several different types of multivitamins that are made for different groups of people. The reason that we need to take vitamins and minerals is that our bodies are not capable of producing all of the vitamins and minerals that we need, and these usually are supplemented from food. However, there are many situations today where people don’t’ get the right kind of balanced diets that they need, and they are going to end up with vitamin deficiencies. Therefore, taking a multivitamin is going to allow you to get all of the vitamins that you need.

You might be a part of several different groups that need multivitamins. These usually include groups that are at a high risk for not getting the kind of nutritional support that is needed, such as the elderly, those prone to sickness, or those with allergies that prevent them from eating certain foods. If you are pregnant or nursing, you are also going to find that you might need some multivitamins to make sure that you are getting all of the healthy aspects that you can for your child.

Remember that like with anything, certain multivitamins are made to handle certain things and they have different kinds of vitamins included in them. It is very important that you follow the directions on the multivitamins and that you are taking them exactly as instructed, because even though vitamins are good for you, too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Vitamin Poisoning: It Can Happen to You


You should know that as with everything, getting just the right amount of vitamins and minerals is important. Your body is capable of doing many great things for you, and producing much of what you need to get by in this life. However, there are certain things that your body does not produce, which is part of the reason that we need to eat foods. Some of the energy that is produced by the foods goes towards moving and reproducing cells. However, our bodies also glean much from the food that we eat – vitamins and minerals are just part of what we get.

Vitamins and minerals cannot be made by our bodies, but are very important for our bodies to continue to be running as successfully as they are. This means that if for some reason you aren’t getting the right kinds, or the right amounts, of vitamins and minerals in your diet, you might need to take vitamin or mineral supplements in order to make up for what you are not getting in your food. You should know that taking vitamin and mineral supplements can be very good for you, and can make you much more healthy. However, they can be dangerous, so it is very important that you follow directions and never take more than it is recommended to take of any vitamins or minerals.

One of the most important things is that you remember in the case of vitamins and minerals, there is such a thing as too much of something that is good. If you have too much vitamin D, you can be causing damage to your kidneys. If you have too much vitamin A, you can be causing damage to your liver. If you have too much niacin you can cause heart and liver problems. This is called vitamin poisoning.

One of the most important things to remember is that your body will tell you if you are getting too much of something, long before poisoning and damage will occur. Signs of vitamin poisoning when it comes to vitamin supplements would include nausea and vomiting as well as diarrhea. These will occur before your organs are damaged, and if you pay attention to your body you should be able to stop it right there and then and not create more damage or danger to yourself. Most of the signs of supplement overdose will simply fade away when you have gotten rid of the excess and haven’t overdosed again. Unlike drugs, vitamin overdose and poisoning are not likely to lead to permanent damage, but can if you are not careful.

Getting familiar with Yoga equipment


For those who are into learning yoga, you will find that there are a few things that you might want to purchase to help you learn yoga and get the proper training. When it comes to the yoga equipment you will want to make sure that you are safe and performing the moves or poses correctly. This means that you will want to go shopping for some yoga equipment. There are a few things that you will need to pick up.

First a foremost, it is important for anyone practicing yoga to have a good mat. Mats come in all shapes and sizes, so you have many choices when making a purchase. Look for a mat that is large enough for you when you are sitting. The mat should be dense, but not to the point where you sink in or wobble while doing your poses. Mats that are lined with non-slide material are your safest bet, as they will protect you even when you are doing more complicated poses. However, make sure that it is washable and many can be cleaned in the machine washer. Remember, yoga is exercise, so wash your mat every few sessions to prevent the spread of bacteria and other germs.

You will also find that there are a number of things that you can buy and use in your daily sessions. Many things can be used to correct your posture. Blocks made especially for yoga students are available in most stores. Made of dense foam, they can be used to help learn specific positions. These are light and strong so that you can easily take them to and from your class. Bolsters can also be used for the same purpose, and although they are heavier, they more easily conform to the shape you need.

Next, you may consider purchasing a bag to carry your equipment. You will find that mats are large and difficult to carry, but there are easily able to be carried when you get some special yoga bags. Again, remember to find a material that is not only durable, but also washable, so that you can prevent the spread of germs.

More advanced yoga students may wish to consider other props to help with stretching and correcting postures. You can also get a yoga sling and hang it from the ceiling. This will help you to do some of the inverted positions. Yoga ropes also come in handy here, and sets of ropes can be mounted to your walls and ceilings to help your posture and flexibility. If you think that they sound overwhelming like your moving too fast, you can also get some sandbags will handles. These can be used to create a bigger stretch when you are doing certain poses.

You will want to purchase some books and videos on yoga so that you can continue to learn the art of yoga when you aren’t in class or if you just want to learn more about yoga in general. When it comes to learning new poses you will find that it is easier if you have an coach or instructor to help and show you the correct way. You will watch videos and books to help with your performance, but they also make great gifts for most yoga students.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Advantages to Managed Care Plans


There are many different types of Health insurance plans out there. Picking the right one for yourself can be troublesome in the beginning, especially if you don’t know what you are looking for. You might have trouble deciding which one would be better for you.

Health insurance is divided into two large categories—indemnity and managed care plans. Indemnity plans, also commonly called reimbursement plans, will reimburse your medical expenses up to a certain limit. Under the Reimbursement plan, the insurer pays a percentage of the total charges, regardless of how much the charges are. With the indemnity plan, the insurer will pay a specified amount every day for a specified number of days. The amount reimbursed does not rely on the cost of medical care, but what you are reimbursed will never exceed your expenses.

The other popular type of health insurance plans is managed care plans. The three types of policies categorized as managed care plans are HMOs, POSs, and PPOs. This type of insurance is more popular than the indemnity plan, as they offer more flexibility. With these types of options you either pay a monthly fee no matter how many times you see a doctor, or pay a co-payment but no monthly fee. With managed care plans, you are given options of care. The plan you choose and the amount of money you wish to pay determines how big of a network of doctors and specialists you can see and still be covered under the plan. Some managed car plans (most often PPOs) offer sponsorship programs from a network of hospitals and medical services. You can often get this kind of plan through your employer.

Managed healthcare plans are better for the average person due to the fact that they are more cost effective. While indemnity plans may give you a lot more freedom in cost, you will have to use the healthcare provider that the insurer chooses. If you have a specific disability, this can present itself as a problem. In the long run, a managed care plan will save you money, especially if emergencies arise when you are out of town. These types of plans also are more flexible in policy. Before you purchase any kind of health insurance, be sure to research the many options available for you and your family to ensure you receive the best coverage possible for the lowest monthly premium or deductible.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Nutrition and acupuncture


If you have recently started to see an acupuncturist, you will find that there are many people who are joining you in the practice. Yu will find that you will want to start a new diet to help you get the most out of your appointments. You will find that if you begin to eat healthy, you body will be able to help the acupuncture to have a good effect. You will begin to clear up some of your health problems. Look acupuncture as a way that you can have a totally new life and a healthier one to boot. You will find that when you change your diet, you’ll feel better and you’ll be able to live longer and happier.

Every person, before beginning a new diet program, should speak with a medical doctor about the effects this will have on your body. Ask your acupuncturist to help you out with your diet. You will find that there are able to suggest what foods will benefit you the most. Be sure to check with a professional before making any major changes so that you can be sure these are the changes your body needs. For some reason, if you begin to feel tired, weaken, or ill, you may want to contact your doctor about the things that you can do to make yourself feel better.

Some times your acupuncturist will recommend things that you should take like herbs. He or she may make a tea for you to drink or have you swallow an herbal supplement in pill form before beginning your acupuncture session. You will want to tell your acupuncturist everything that you are allergic to so you will want to be careful. Some acupuncturists sell you tea bags that you can use at home or suggest foods that will create the same effect. Herbal medication has been proven to help some people with certain diseases or such.

With the diet, herbs, and acupuncture, you will be able to improve the way that you digest your food. This will help your body use the food in the best way possible. For example, chew each bit of food very thoroughly before swallowing, instead of eating large bites quickly. Traditionally, you will want to pat very close attention to the food that you are eating. Instead of watching television while you eat, learn to enjoy each bite. This will help focus all of the body’s energy to the stomach.

With diet and eating, you should be concerned and you will want to talk to your acupuncturist about all of the things that you should take inconsideration. Even though they may not make and specific recommendations, you will be able to talk to your doctor about your diet and you’ll be able to benefit greatly from the acupuncture treatments and a healthier lifestyle.

The Importance of High Quality Vitamin Supplements


Vitamins are very important to our bodies. There are thirteen different vitamins that our bodies need. Some of these are fat-soluble, while others are water-soluble. They are used for everything from regulating organ function to producing hormones. Most people find they can get enough vitamins in their foods like fruits and vegetables, but if you do not, you can take vitamin supplements as well. However, if you want to take supplements, you should be concern with the quality of those supplements.

The first step you should take if you want to take vitamin supplements is to talk to your doctor or a health care professional. Vitamin supplements are not regulated by the government like drugs are. They are instead classified as food products. Therefore, some are not as safe as others. You doctor can tell you a number of things about the different vitamins you can take. Simply put, vitamin supplements are meant to help your body, not to hurt you, and your doctor can make sure that this is not a problem.

Of course, vitamin quality is of utmost importance. Because vitamin supplements are not classified as drugs, every brand can make their vitamin supplements differently. If you need a vitamin supplement to replace the vitamins you are not getting from your daily diet, then you want to make sure that you are getting the strength your doctor recommends. Some vitamin brands are very high quality and some are not. It’s up to you to figure out which brand of vitamin supplements to purchase.

When you’re in the health food store facing a wall, which one should you choose? To start, look at the specific brands your doctor recommends, because these will be the brands that are proven to work and safe to use. However, your doctor may know of more than one safe brand of vitamin supplement. If so, it is up to you to use the one that is right for you.

The label is very important because it will tell you how potent the vitamin supplements are and give you directions on how to take them. Some vitamin supplements come with special instructions. Remember to follow them all very carefully to keep your body healthy and safe. High quality comes with all of the directions you need to take the vitamin. If there are no directions clearly printed on the supplement bottle, you should purchase another brand. Also remember that price comes with quality. Higher quality supplements may be a bit more expensive, but in the end they may be the best choice for your body.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

High Fiber Diets


Fiber is mostly polysaccharides composed of glucose units, but human digestive enzymes cannot break the bonding of these units. We can think of fiber as non-starch polysaccharides. These include cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and some other types of fiber. That might sound like Greek to you, but fiber is an important part of our daily diet, and a high fiber diet might be perfect for your body.

Depending on their solubility in water, there are of two main types of fiber: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Both of these types are important for optimum health. Fiber has a number of health benefits and hence is highly recommended in daily food. Some of its health benefits are:
• It promotes the feelings of fullness and reduces energy consumption.
• It prevents constipation, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal problems.
• Fiber helps prevent bacterial infection of the appendix.
• It reduces the risk of colon cancer.
• It stimulates the muscles of the digestive tract and helps them retain their health and tone.

To keep the digestive tract healthy and prevent other disorders like hemorrhoids and intestinal problems, people normally need 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily. These can be obtained from a variety of plants, vegetables and fruits. Fibers are especially abundant in whole foods. All fruits are rich in fiber. For just 2 grams of fiber, you could eat 1 small apple, 1 peach, 1 small banana, 2 prunes, 16 large cherries, or a number of other fruits. Grains also contain fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, simply try 1 slice of whole wheat bread, 2 slices of cracked wheat bread, 1 cup of cooked oatmeal, 2 cups of popped popcorn, or ¼ of a cup of corn bran.

If you are on a low-carb diet, you can try eating cooked vegetables to provide your body with adequate fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, eat ½ of a cup of broccoli, 1 cup of celery, ½ of a cup of carrots, 1 small potato, 1 large tomato, or a variety of beans. Beans, or any type of legume, are the real powerhouses for fiber. By only eating ½ of a cup of kidney beans, 1 cup of dried peas or lentils, or ½ of a cup of canned baked beans, you can provide your body with a whopping 8 grams of fiber. If all else fails, small amounts of fiber can also be found in peanuts, walnuts, and pickles, so there is really no excuse for not getting enough fiber in your diet!

Eight Limbs: Ashtanga Yoga


Did you know that Ashtanga means literally “eight limbs? It is a reference to the eight elements that will help define your lifestyle. You will find that your limbs will cover all the attitudes that you have towards that world. Make sure that your attitude towards yourself and the art of yoga considers the eight limbs.

This is better known as power yoga, but you will find that if you do some specialized form of Hatha yoga you will be able to use the third and forth limbs when it comes to poses and breathing exercises. You will find that it will provide an intense workout.

Six series of poses within Ashtanga yoga allow for steps of progression in skill, strength, and flexibility. After learning the order of poses from an instructor (the first series includes 75 poses and can take two hours to complete), students often practice Ashtanga independently. This will allow you to progress at your own pace, but also master each series one at a time.

With 75 poses in the first series alone, Ashtanga yoga can be difficult to learn, especially with the Sanskrit names.

There are many famous athletes will prefer Astango yoga since it is a full body workout. With meditation downplayed and the poses emphasized, "power yoga" focuses on building flexibility, stamina, and strength, tied into breathing control, with breathing synchronized with the poses. With each breath you will do one pose. The focal point of the eyes is also controlled, to create a unified control of the looking point, the breathing, and the bodily position.

"Intense" describes Ashtanga yoga as a whole. Ashtanga yoga stresses breathing and poses to produce some heat from the inside so that you can detoxify the body. You will be able to cleanse the body including the organs and muscles. Make sure you have time for a shower after the Ashtanga yoga lesson! The results include improved circulation and a body that's both strong and lithe.

With a warm environment you will find that Ashtanga yoga will help you to get comfortable and learn to be flexible. You will want to do a proper warm-up and relaxing session so that you can go this form of yoga without harming yourself. You will find that the demands of this exercise yoga means that you will have to become cautious. You don’t want to overwork or strain your muscles. You might do some physical damage. There are people who just should not and can not do this form of yoga.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Fad Diets


Fad diets are a sort of diet plan or aid that aims at losing weight, usually in a relatively short time. Fad diets attract a large number of people who suffer from weight problems and are helplessly looking to some way of arriving at a shapely physique. The problem with fad diets is that their fat-reducing effect is temporary and results in quick regain of weight. What is worse is that most of these diets are harmful to health.

Fad diets are not as new as they might seem at first. These date back to the mid 19th century when an obese Londoner was prescribed such a diet on experimental basis. Now, after a century and a half, fad diets have become popular among people with weight problems. Teens and young adults especially flock to fad diets for answers to weight problems.

Fad diets are usually centered on a higher consumption of fats or proteins while stressing to go easy on or, in some cases, completely cut out carbohydrates. It is the low intake of carbohydrates that brings about rapid weight loss. In fact, this rapid loss is the loss of water that glycogen has stored. With loss of glycogen, the large amount of water stored in it is also lost and body weight drops. The fats are still there and as the fad diets are given up, the body regains its proportion of water lost. Weight is put back on as fast as it was lost.

Normally, carbohydrates remain the source of energy for work. With fad diets, the carbs are no longer there so the body starts using the stored fat, breaking it down. This may appear beneficial but in fact it is not. In the absence of carbs, fats cannot be completely oxidized and put to work. Hence, the body feels fatigued and weak. In addition, the ketone molecules resulting from the fat-breakdown accumulate in the blood and are excreted out via urine, causing dehydration.

Given the harmful health effects of fad diets, it is important for us, especially the weight-conscious people, to recognize and beware of these diet plans. Watch out for diets that:
• Promise quick weight loss
• Publicize before and after pictures
• Present weight-loss testimonials
• Tend to limit natural food choices
• Require a large sum of money

Fad diets may be popular, but they can greatly hurt your body. Be careful with any diet or exercise program and ask your doctor to be sure it is safe.

Food Pyramid


An overwhelming variety of both natural and highly processed foods is available at the market. To guide people in picking healthy food items, the US Department of Agriculture has designed the food pyramid. It is a labeled illustration, shaped like a pyramid, which demonstrates groups of essential food types and the quantity in which a normal individual requires each of these foods.

At the base of the food pyramid are such food items that serve as ready sources of energy. These are rich in starch, low in fat, and include cereals, pasta, bread, and different types of grains. By the specifications of the food pyramid, a normal adult individual needs 6 to 11 servings of these items daily. Whole grains are the best and healthiest food of this group. In a single serving of these foods you can include a slice of bread, a cup of cereal flakes, one flat tortilla, and one ounce of rice or pasta.

As the geometry of the food pyramid shows, vegetables and fruits are required in less quantity than carbohydrates. Normally, a grown person would need 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 4 servings of fruits daily. The high fiber content of vegetables and fruits make them ideal food items as fiber keeps the bowel movements in order. In addition, they are both rich in vitamins (required for immunity and general health) and minerals, which ensure the proper functioning of various body organs. Among vegetables, go for more dark green vegetables and try to pick fresh fruits instead of fruit juices.

Next upper chamber in the food pyramid is occupied by proteins and dairy products. You need 2 to 3 servings daily of each of these foods. Protein comes from lean meat, eggs, fish, beans, and nuts. It is advisable to remove the visible fat on the meat so as to make it a low fat item. Be moderate in using nuts, since they also hold fats. Among the dairy products, milk is the complete diet with most of the required vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Cheese and yogurt are also recommended dairy foods. Try to abstain from high intake of ice cream and cheese that is high in fat.

Lastly, at the top of the food pyramid lie fats, including oils, and sweets. The recommended quantity of these items is limited to sparing use. Butter, cream, oils, candies, margarines etc., are all foods that are not easy to digest and hence should be used in minimal amounts. However, it is an important part of our diet, just as all the other parts of the food pyramid are important as well.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Acupuncture can be used for anyone



Like anything else, there is a wide range of ways that you can practice acupuncture and you will find that when you are an acupuncturist that you have to be proficient with all of the techniques while specialize in one type of kind. You should know that acupuncture is not right for everyone and not all techniques are right for everyone. The acupuncturist will determine what is best for you and your ailments. You will find that this type of therapy can help you with stomachaches, headaches, arthritis, infertility, back pains, and certain diseases or conditions. You will find that it can help you with just about any time of pain and your pain can be corrected by the use of acupuncture.
If you think about acupuncture, you may think of it as a Traditional Chinese medicine. You will want to lye on your stomach for the entire procedure or at least sit in a comfortable chair. Needles only slightly thicker than hairs are inserted into the body in multiple spots, called meridians, in order to help the energy flow of the body, called qi. Although most popular in the world overall and certainly within the United States, TCM acupuncture is not the only technique that can help you rid your body of bad energy flow.

Japanese acupuncturists have a slightly varied technique. When it comes to getting Japanese acupuncture, you will find that it can be less intrusive and rigorous, but you may also find it to be more pleasing and appealing. Use thinner or shorter needles many times. Japanese acupuncture also uses fewer needles in general.

Another technique is Korean hand acupuncture. This is a good type for those who have issues with sitting or lying for long periods. It is also a good way to begin acupuncture if the methods are at first a bit scary to you. Korean hand acupuncture does not only target problems with the hands and fingers, such as arthritis. You will find that there are points on your hands that will affect the entire body. Learning these many points is an art, and so Korean hand acupuncturists are highly skilled professionals. Another form of acupuncture that can be done in one bodily location for those who cannot have needles placed at all points on the body is called auricircular acupuncture. With this, the needles will be placed near your ears. This is used very successfully is drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

For those who have pain in their life, acupuncture can be a good way to help with your specific needs. You will want to make sure that the acupuncturists you will want to make sure that there techniques are good for you.

Treatments for High Blood Pressure


There are many things that you can do to naturally lower your blood pressure, and there are also many medications that you can take to make sure that your blood pressure stays as low as possible for your body.

First of all, you need to be sure that you are always eating a diet that is low in fat and cholesterol. This is your best defense against high blood pressure. If you can incorporate healthy food into your life as something that you are always doing, you are going to find that you are able to lower your blood pressure at least a little bit simply by eating the right foods. This is important to do, and it is important to start right now. Eating healthy food is something that can help your body, but it is something that you have to keep up, and something that you have to do for a long time. If you have been in the habit of eating foods that are bad for you, you are going to find that it takes a long time for a healthy diet to make a real difference. However, you shouldn’t give up, because it is something that will do wonders for you.

You should also be sure that you are getting plenty of exercise. This is something that is important, but you have to make sure that it is the right kind. Remember that the best kind of exercise for lowering your blood pressure is something that gets your heart moving. You want to make sure that your heart is very healthy, and that you are getting enough exercise.

However, it might be that even though you are eating right and getting enough exercise, you still have to deal with high blood pressure. This might be because you have abused your body for awhile and you need to have some time for your body to heal. It might be that you have been eating a high fat diet for many years, and you need to take the time to get your body back to where it should be. Or it might be that you have a condition that makes you have high blood pressure, even if you don’t do anything wrong. In these cases, it might become important to use blood pressure medication. This will help you to regulate your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about the different medications, and what they can do for you when it comes to lowering your blood pressure. There are also a variety of natural techniques, like acupuncture and massage that can be used to lower your blood pressure. Look into all of these options before finding one that is right for you.

Links for further reading:
Free book about getting rid of bad habits
Free book about lowering your cholesterol

Monday, November 16, 2009

Alcohol and Blood Pressure


As much as blood pressure is affected by various states of the body throughout the day, as well as various diseases that are seen in many people, it can also be affected by outside influences such as food and drinks. Specifically, alcoholic drinks are a major factor that influences blood pressure in a person. It is important that more people pay attention to the relationship between alcohol and blood pressure because it is such an important relationship that could very well determine whether or not you are a healthy or unhealthy individual. Drinking alcohol could also increase the chance of other medical issues which may then indirectly lead to an increase in blood pressure.

Regular drinkers are exceptionally prone to having high blood pressure, because they harm their kidneys in such a way that more pressure is exerted on arteries and such, since the kidneys are closely connected with blood pressure. Drinkers should limit the amount they drink to one or two drinks every day or so. Women should be expecially careful as to how much they drink because their tolerance is normally lower than a man’s. If blood pressure becomes a strong problem due to drinking, doctors are very likely to administer some strong medicine to a person.

Alcohol also causes some people to become overweight. At the very least, it is a contributing factor to being overweight, due the number of calories alcohol contains. That beer gut people get after downing a six pack a day is not only making you look bad, chances are it’s also raising your blood pressure to dangerously high levels. After all, the more fat a person has on them, the more pressure that fat is going to put on arteries, which will, in turn, raise the pressure of the blood pressing against those arteries.

Because of the strong correlation between alcohol and high blood pressure, it is plain to see that drinking less is going to drastically help keep a person’s blood pressure down. Besides the other obvious health risks that could be avoided by drinking less, not having to worry about a high blood pressure could be one of the best to consider. Physicians with patients who have a high blood pressure should give out regulations and limits in regards to drinking in order to better prepare people for the consequences they could encounter.

Stay Legal! Avoiding Insurance Fraud


Everyone knows that the health insurance industry is continually raising monthly premiums, and many feel this is unjust to you as the consumer. However, the health insurance industry has had to fight increasing health insurance fraud. The amount of money spent on investigating and prosecuting fraud is then passed on to policyholders. Many people do not understand what health insurance fraud entails, though. With reports estimating health insurance fraud is a $30 billion to over $100 billion industry per year, the topic should not be taken lightly. Every health insurance policyholder should understand what health insurance fraud is and its consequences. By doing so, you are more able to recognize and fight fraud.

Health insurance fraud is typically defined as intentionally deceiving, misrepresenting, or concealing information to receive benefits from the insurance company. Essentially this means that you assert that you paid for certain medical procedures or expenses out-of-pocket which you have not actually received, and you are submitting claims to the insurance company to receive reimbursement. Another example of member fraud is to conceal pre-existing conditions or to alter medical documents so that non-policyholders or ineligible members receive medical benefits under your policy. Perhaps your sister does not have insurance and needs medical attention. Having her use your name and policy to cover the expenses is health insurance fraud. While you may think that this is a small issue in comparison to your sister receiving treatment, it is actually very serious to your health insurance company and industry, and will result in fines and possible imprisonment if your are caught.

Not only policyholders commit fraud, but providers (physicians, hospitals, etc.) do as well. Since physicians and hospitals bill the insurance company for services they provide for you, they are also receiving reimbursement from the insurance company. When providers commit fraud, they may be billing the insurance company at higher rates for services rendered or they may bill for services you never received. In these cases, you will probably be asked to cooperate in the insurance company’s investigation.

Another type of health insurance fraud that has developed recently targets the policyholder more than the insurance company. Schemes have developed where fake insurance companies or agents sign unsuspecting customers for coverage at surprisingly low premium rates. They often act much like a regular insurance company for the first few months, paying for smaller medical claims like physicians visits. But once you have a more serious medical condition that needs treatment, the insurance company will disappear – along with the money you have been paying in premiums.

The rule with health insurance fraud is much like that of any other scam: if a deal seems too good to be true, just remember - it probably is. Remember to be honest in your dealings with health insurance companies and expect the same in the return from these companies, as well as your health care providers. Stay legal to avoid fines and prison and to continue receiving health insurance coverage.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Healthy Eating with Little Money



If you are interesting in eating a healthy diet compared to your current diet, I have good news or you—you don’t have to be rich to do so. It is fully possible to involve yourself in healthy eating, even if you are on a very tight budget. This may require a little bit of extra time and effort to plan your meals, but you can make good and inexpensive food choice in order to provide your body with excellent nutrition.
First, it is important to plan for your healthy diet. When you go shopping, take a list with you of the healthy foods you need to purchase instead of walking up and down the aisles without a plan. When you have a shopping list, you are less likely to purchase random junk foods that you do not need, and so you’ll save money as well as be good to your health. Planning ahead with a list also allows you to look through store sales fliers in order to choose healthy foods that are offered at discount prices that week in particular. When you do go shopping, make sure that it is not on an empty stomach, when you will be craving fatting foods and will be more likely to overspend and waste money on unhealthy products.

You should also consider purchasing items in bulk. Many club stores have a membership fee, but you can save a lot of money if you have an adequate amount of freezer and pantry space. Look at the healthy foods you need, and then head to the bulk-food supply store in order to grab enough of the item for the next month. Remember to choose foods that are both healthy and the freeze readily.

Eat at home as much as possible. When you go out to eat or stop at a fast food restaurant on your way to and from work or during your lunch break, you will pay extra money for the convenience of someone else preparing the food. These foods are also usually high in calories and low in nutrients. Instead, calculate the money you would normally spend to eat out and then use it to buy more expensive healthy ingredients at the supermarket. You can make breakfast and dinner and also pack a lunch to carry to work or school.

Purchase foods that are in season. Fresh fruits and vegetables are usually very high in nutrients, but when you want strawberries in January, you’ll end up paying the extra price. Learn when fruits come into season in your climate and purchase them at those times of year. You can learn to can or otherwise preserve these fruits and vegetables if you want to have them all year round! Of course, heading to your local farmer’s market is a great way to purchase these items and save money. Healthy eating on a budget is all about being creative with the money you do have.

Links for further reading:
Everything You Need To Organize, Shop And Cook Smart
Free book about family budget

Friday, November 13, 2009

Locating an Acupuncturist?


Acupuncture has become a very popular treatment for health related issues of all kinds. You will be able to relieve stress and anxiety along with all sorts of body pains. Acupuncture is something that can be risky, however, with sterilization of needles can have the anxiety. With a trained acupuncturist, you will be able to relieve your pain and find a certified acupuncturist to help you. There are lot of ways that you can locate a professional.

Most people will use the word of mouth to find an acupuncturist. You would be surprised at the number of people who have regular acupuncture treatments. For some, it’s like going to the chiropractor to get your back realigned – a weekly or bi-weekly treatment to make life easier. You may want to ask your friends or family of their opinion to some of the local acupuncturists. Maybe they see an acupuncturist that they really like or maybe they have seen an acupuncturist that they did not like. Both are important to note. If a friend has a bad experience with an acupuncturist, be careful. You will find a good many unlicensed practitioners, but you will be putting yourself at more risk than you bargain for if you see someone without a license. If your friends do not see an acupuncturist, perhaps someone they know does. This is the beauty of word of mouth; there is an endless network of opinions and resources.

You will find that many of your friends and family members, along with the healthcare professionals to help you find a licensed acupuncturist in your area. In fact, because of its popularity and effectiveness, many medical professionals are becoming certified acupuncturists. However, if your doctor ends up recommending that acupuncture is a method of treatment, then they will be able to recommend someone for you to go and see.

A lot of people will also go online and find an acupuncturist to help them relive their pains. Because most states require acupuncturists to be licensed, there is also a database of competent acupuncture practitioners. If you look up the American Association of Oriental Medicine, you will be able to find acupuncturist nation wide. This association is comprised of state acupuncture and medical boards. Besides the nationwide search, there are also links to each state medical board or acupuncture licensing department, where you may also search for licensed practitioners near you.

If you are looking for an acupuncturist, you will find that there are many concerns that will allow you to feel safe and comfortable. You will want to make sure that you see the credentials of the acupuncturist before you contact the stat’s acupuncture licensing board. Also, you may want to arrange a meeting with your acupuncturist to learn about how they go about the practice and how they handle the professional end of the process. Make sure that you find a good acupuncturist, because it can be hard to find a good one.

Just how safe is acupuncture


Acupuncture happens to be a very popular and profitable form of medicine, since millions of people will use acupuncture to treat all of their health issues. You will find that you can go from back pain to headaches to sleeping disorders. There is a lot of uncertainly about acupuncture, however, you will find that this articles has a lot of advantages and disadvantages for you to consider.

Most people who are not familiar with acupuncture are often worried about needles being inserted into the body. This is a typical concern that should be serious, however, you should know that if it is done properly, you will be able to have acupuncture performed properly and safely. There are licensed acupuncturists, who must pass state-established training standards to become certified, and many doctors and specialists, such as neurologists or those working in physical medicine, are becoming certified in order to perform acupuncture as a treatment option for patients.

You should know that the United States FDA or Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of needles only by licensed practitioners. This approval should ease some concerns about acupuncture as a safe practice. In fact, there have been very few complaints logged at the FDA about acupuncture. There have been concerns and complaints of non-sterile needles that can end up spreading infection and disease. Thus, if you are seeking acupuncture treatment, ensure that the acupuncture needles have been sterilized. Professional acupuncturists will certainly work with sterile needles to ensure client safety.

Certainly, with acupuncture, there is the risk of a needle being inserted too deeply, which could cause organs to be punctured. This risk if a very small risk and you should begin to think about all of the millions of people who have seen success in acupuncture treatments, and there are very few cases of needles puncturing organs. Furthermore, this sort of situation can most likely be avoided by undergoing treatment with a licensed acupuncture practitioner. In addition, if you feel serious pain when getting the needles injected, you may want to talk to the practitioner because they may be putting them in too deep. In fact, some people do not even feel the needles being inserted into your pressure points. If you do feel pain after or during an acupuncture treatment, you should see a medical doctor right away.

There are two risks that you will want to consider dangerous or unsafe. You will want to think about both of these risks, but also know that they can be avoided if you use a qualified acupuncture practitioner that has been certified and has some experience. With the millions of people who have tried it and had success, you will find that your health issues may become a lot better for everyone with the use of acupuncture. You can also rest assured that the procedure can be completely safe if you take all the right precautions.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Carbohydrate Craze


Carbohydrates have been put into the spotlight ever since diets like the Atkin’s Diet and the South Beach Diet have recommended cutting carbohydrates out of your meals as much as possible. However, before you make an drastic decisions about what foods to include and not include, it is crucial to learn about carbohydrates and what they do for your body.

In short, carbohydrates can be good or bad for your body. It is necessary to eat enough good carbohydrates, because that is how our body has enough energy for low-intensity activities during the day. Carbohydrates are famously found in breads and grains, but actually they are also found in a number of other foods as well, such as fruits and vegetables. When keeping an eye on your intake of carbohydrates it is important to distinguish the good from the bad.

All carbohydrates are basically sugars. Complex carbohydrates are the good carbohydrates for your body. These strings of sugar are very difficult to break down and trap over nutrients like vitamins and minerals in the sugar strings. As they slowly break down, the other nutrients are also released into your body, and you can provide with fuel for a number of hours.

Bad carbohydrates, on the other hand, are simple sugars. Because their structure is not complex, it is easy to break down and holds little nutrients for your body other than the sugars from which it is made. Your body breaks down these carbohydrates rather quickly and what it cannot use is converted to fat and stored in the body. Staying away from simple carbohydrates is what most diets recommend, since they have little nutritional value when compared to complex carbohydrates.

More importantly than how carbohydrates work in the body and the difference between good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates is how you can actually eat these carbohydrates! First, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These foods include carbohydrates, but also a variety of other nutrients needed by your body. Another great tip is to cut the white bread and bread products out of your diet and replace then with whole wheat or 12-grain breads instead. Look at the packaging. Foods rich in fiber are probably a source of good carbohydrates.

Learning the difference between good and bad carbohydrates is very important if you wish to have a healthy diet. It is not good for your body to cut out carbohydrates completely—in fact, that is very difficult to do unless you only eat meat! Eating a healthy and balanced diet means including good carbohydrates into your meals.

Why Breakfast Really is the Most Important Meal of the Day


By now, I’m sure you’ve heard people say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, that doesn’t stop millions of Americans, and people around the world, from skipping breakfast or opting for only a drink of coffee. The truth is that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, and you will have a much more healthy diet if you include breakfast in your daily life.

Breakfast is rightly named—break fast. When you sleep, you are not eating for 6 to 9 hours at least, and more if you haven’t eaten since dinner the night before. Therefore, breakfast is the first time you’ll be eating anything for a very long period of time. Some nutrients, like proteins, cannot be stored in the body and are therefore not present, so the body needs you to replenish the “low” levels of such nutrients. Breakfast is like the match that lights the fire. It truly is a very important source of energy for your body in the morning.

Eating breakfast in the morning also helps you avoid some illnesses and disease. For example, your sugar levels are probably out of whack from not eating for many hours, so having breakfast levels out the amount of sugars in your body, helping to prevent diabetes. Eating a healthy breakfast also helps you to provide food to your stomach so that you don’t overeat at lunch because you are so hungry. Overeating leads to obesity, which comes with a whole host of problems, including heart disease.

Healthy breakfast foods, like eggs, fruit, or bran cereal are also a good source of many of the vitamins and minerals a person needs during the day. If you don’t eat these things in the morning, it will be hard to make up for that loss later in the day. Remember that without the proper amounts of nutrients, you body will not function correctly. When you eat a healthy breakfast, it also makes you choose healthier foods during the rest of the day, so that you continue to get the proper nutrients needed for your body.

Setting aside 15 minutes in the morning to eat breakfast every day can truly make a great different in your diet. In the best case, your breakfast will include foods from at least three different food groups. For example, you can have whole grain toast (bread food group) with peanut butter (protein food group) and a banana (fruit food group). Top that off with a glass of milk to drink, and you’ve even hit a fourth food group. Breakfast does not have to include a heavy pancakes and sausage meal every day to be healthy, and even grabbing a single piece of fruit or a muffin is better than skipping the meal completely. Breakfast is important to your health!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Five Elements in Acupuncture


You will study the five main elements or the most fundamental things of acupuncture and you will be able to study the traditional Chinese medicine. You will find that there is an important part of the universe that controls something. You will find that there is earth, water, fire, metal, and wood. You will learn how the five elements and their meanings can affect the body and how it is important for any acupuncturist to take these ideas in mind. If you are interested in acupuncture or in the Chinese culture, you will want to research more about the five elements and get a better understanding of the Chinese world of view.

Most of the time Chinese ideas of the elements sound something of mythology or mystical to the Western Society, but these elements will bring you to the same conclusion of Western Medicine, except it has a different way of relating life to medicine. The five elements relate closely with the idea of “qi,” or energy in the body. Acupuncture seeks to resolve imbalances in the five elements, which result in the disruption of the flow of qi in the body.

As you may know, the Chinese look at everything in the aspect of yin and yang; everything has a positive, everything as a negative. The Chinese also look at everything with a view of yin and yang. You can think of yin and yang as opposites in the terms of spring and winter. Yin is associated with all of that is positive. You will find that the rebirth, warmth of life, spring, and all of the light in the world is Yin. Yin is the beauty of the world. It is the beauty of nature. When it comes to Yang, you will find that it is everything dark in the world. Things like winter, downward actions, hibernation, and dying of summer is what Yang is referred to. Each element can be associated with either yin or yang, and each of these pairings in turn represents a part of the body.

When it comes to the spleen and stomach, you will find dampness or yang. You will find that coldness is linked to the kidneys and bladder. Then the heart and the small intestine is paired with fire, while metal is associated to the large intestine, lungs, and dryness. As for the wood, you will find it to be associated with the liver and the gallbladder is the wind. When you study these elements and the body, you will begin to know how you can treat your ailments and you will be able to use acupuncture to help your body get back in line. In fact, many studies will support all of these associations. You will need to remember that you need to be open to new ideas and then you can find ways to live in a healthy way.