Archive for the ‘health and fitness’ Category
Natural Detoxification Products that Help Regulate and Cleanse your Body
Everyone, no matter how careful you are, somehow consumes minute traces of toxins each day. Foods may contain tiny amounts of herbicides or pesticides in addition to growth hormones and various preservatives. Food dyes, chemicals, fillers and even tranquilizers and antibiotics have been found in food. Polluting your body has never been easier. That is why you need to detoxify your body on occasion for optimal health and performance.
These toxins can build up in your body, particularly in naturally detoxifying organs such as the kidneys, liver and even the skin. If these organs are compromised, so is your health. The good news is there are a few natural detoxification products that can help regulate your digestive system as well as cleanse the body. The result is a stronger immune system and the ability to fight off infection and disease. There is no need to follow any professed detoxifying diets as many of them are devoid of essential nutrients. By just adding a few key foods into your diet, your body will undergo a natural detoxification.
1. Flaxseed – Flaxseed has several properties which are beneficial for the body, with detoxifying properties being one of them. The natural oils of this flaxseed lubricate your intestinal walls so that any toxins are absorbed by the oil and then eliminated by the body rather than absorbed into the intestine itself. In addition, flaxseed provides both soluble as well as insoluble fiber which provides the bulk necessary to maintain function as well as “scrub” the intestinal walls of biological waste so that it can be eliminated normally.
2. Green Foods – The antioxidants and chlorophyll from green leafy vegetables in addition to blue green algae and spirulina bacteria help detoxify the body of pesticides, herbicides and heavy metal accumulation in the body. In addition, these green options cleanse the liver which helps in screening out the harmful effects of cleaning products and even smog. Good green food to incorporate includes Swiss shard, kale, dark green leafy lettuce, spinach, barley and wheatgrass.
3. Citrus Foods – Citrus fruits are one of the best ways to detoxify your body. Full of antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients, vitamin C is a powerful detox vitamin found in all citrus. Fruits like lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits work to not only flush toxins away but also kick start the enzyme processes in the digestive tract. Vitamin C basically latches onto the different toxins in your body and turns them into something that can be digested and eliminated. Drinking hot tea with lemon, freshly squeezed lemonade or orange juice can boost your detoxification process.
4. Psyllium – Often found in diet fiber additives in powder and capsule form, psyllium husks aid in the digestion and elimination process. Psyllium bulks up your stool with increased water content which also makes the stool softer and easier to pass. This fiber additive forms a gelatinous mass which absorbs any toxins that pass through your digestive tract.
5. Natural Sulfur-Based Foods – Eaten raw or processed through a juicer, there are a number of vegetables containing sulfur compounds that aid the liver in detoxifying your body. Onions, cabbage, broccoli, garlic, brussel sprouts, kale, artichokes, beets and cauliflower contain sulfur as well as glutathione, a strong antioxidant which helps neutralize the toxins from food and the environment. Spices like oregano and turmeric also are helpful.
Whether you choose one natural detoxification product or a combination of them, you may have to experiment. Depending on the level or type of detoxification you need depends on which products you consume. For instance, if your bowels do not eliminate regularly, you will want to concentrate on the psyllium and flaxseed. However, if you are regularly exposed to smog, cigarette smoke, pesticide or herbicides, a combination of products with strong antioxidant properties like citrus, green and sulfur based foods would be best.
After Brain Radiation Exercise Can Aid Recovery
Exercise is a key factor in improving both memory and mood after whole-brain radiation treatments in rodents, according to data presented by Duke University scientists at the Society for Neuroscience meeting. “This is the first demonstration that exercise can prevent a decline in memory after whole-brain radiation treatment,” said lead researcher and graduate student Sarah Wong-Goodrich of the Duke Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Program Helps Kids Switch Over to Healthy Behaviors
Triple intervention enforces message at home, school and in the community, researchers say
TUESDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) — A family, school and community intervention program improved children’s eating and exercise habits and reduced the amount of time they spent in front of the television, a U.S. study has found.
The eight-month program, called The Switch, included 1,323 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at 10 schools in Lakeville, Minn., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The program was developed by the Minneapolis-based National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF). Read more
Treating Arthritis with Bee Venom
Bees have obviously been around for a long time. My knowledge of bees was that they produced honey, which I like, and give stings, which I don’t. But it turns out that even the stings have beneficial properties.
There is a growing number of people that practice apitherapy, the use of beehive products, which includes honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom. Apitherapy has been around for a long time. In fact, Hippocrates, the Greek physician and philosopher, used bee venom to treat joint pain and swelling. But it is not just the holistic practitioners that use bee venom for treatment of pain and inflammation but those who practice conventional medicine have also been exploring the use of bee venom for treating a wide variety of conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, chronic back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
Honeybee venom contains 40 ingredients, at least 18 of which reduce pain and inflammation. These include mellitin, an anti-inflammatory agent which is one hundred times stronger than cortisone, adolapin, which is both anti-inflammatory and pain-blocking, dopamine and seratonin. It is believed that the combination of substances in bee venom causes the release of natural healing compounds in the body.
A study conducted by researchers in South Korea published in late 2004 delved into the contribution of mellitin. They found that mellitin inhibited the release of inflammatory genes that are involved in immune reactions. They concluded that “The potency of melittin in the inhibition of the inflammatory response may be of great benefit in degenerative and inflammatory diseases such as RA”.
Traditionally, bee venom was administered with live bees. For many people, the treatment, or the thought of getting stung, was a hindrance to trying this therapy. Manyapitherapy patients, however, find that the relief from their chronic pain far outweighs the discomfort from stings. Some of these patients endure up to 80 bee stings a day, although for most three to four stings, three times a week is effective. There are also injectable forms of venom, as well as creams and ointments.
Here are a couple of good resources: Bees Don’t Get Arthritis
Originally posted 2007-10-30 12:43:03. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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Eating healthy on the cheap
We’re all cutting corners these days and finding ways to make our dollar go further. That might mean eliminating lavish items and activities, and even paring down the basic necessities. While some of us are tightening our wallets when it comes to spending, many are expanding their waistlines by turning to inexpensive, low-quality food. According to Slate, fast food giant McDonald’s is making a killing off the nation’s recession, with sales in 2008 surpassing the previous 2 years. They opened nearly 600 additional stores in 2008.
Many people have the perception that eating healthy is expensive and in fact, a luxury. We maintain that buying wholesome food is possible, even if your family is sticking to a tight budget. The truth is, buying processed foods and eating poorly can lead to a variety of diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Choosing fresh, healthy foods can improve your diet, quality of life and also prevent food-related illnesses, saving you costly bills at the doctor’s office.
With just a little preparation and grocery list in-hand, you can make healthy shopping an affordable and achievable goal. Check out graduate Michelle Pfennighaus’ blog, where she shares some of her penny-pinching tips for eating healthy food on a budget.
1. Cut back on animal products
2. Eat more beans and whole grains
3. Learn to adore the bulk aisle, buy only what you need
4. Drink water, cut back on bottled beverages
5. Eliminate prepared/processed food
6. Use what you have already, even if it means changing a recipe a little.
7. Plan, plan, plan. Don’t put it in your cart without knowing what you’re going to do with it.
Finally, be creative with your shopping and meal planning and have fun!
The Pros of Protein
You’re starving. Your stomach is screaming with hunger, demanding that you fill its emptiness with food. Unable to ignore the strengthening pangs, you examine the contents of your kitchen and to your horror, find that there’s not much. Your options are limited to pretzels, last night’s onion rings or some …
Balanced Choices Pave the Way to Good Health and Longevity
Last week I found an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine reversed memory loss in aged mice bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article lead with the angle that “Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup.” It went on to discuss coterminous studies published online July 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that showed that caffeine notably decreased abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, both in the brains and in the blood of mice displaying symptoms of the disease.
However, before you decide to add an extra cup of coffee to your morning routine, let me, Dr. Jamie Phillips warn you that under “Related Stories” on the website were at least two articles about studies that showed the not-so-healthy effects of caffeine, “Morning Jolt of Caffeine May Mask Serious Sleep Problems,” and “Coffee Consumption Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Persons With Certain Gene Variation.”
Nearly any angle of thought, it seems to me, especially when it has to do with age-related health issues, can be corroborated, or at least bolstered, by other related studies. The “good/bad” studies related to caffeine certainly aren’t, by any means, the only ones. But, it did get me to pondering about the likelihood that there will never be just “one thing” that will irrefutably help we, humans, to live longer, healthier lives. Humans are dynamic, biological beings. We aren’t raised in unnatural confinement We are free to participate in life. And, moreover, though Alzheimer’s disease is likely on the rise, obviously none of us has been “artificially induced to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” therefore caffeine isn’t absolutely the “one thing” that is going to prevent or reverse it.
Our body is an exquisite, involved system that is designed to function homeostasis (balance). Consequently good health is about a healthy, balanced attitude towards living, as opposed to our being blindly convinced by the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one particular thing under the illusion that it will reverse all of the other immoderate and unhealthy things we have done to our bodies.
As a doctor of chiropractic in Santa Barbara, it is my belief that every moment of the day we have an opportunity to choose healthfully for our body, decisions that will assist us to live longer, healthier lives. When it comes to what is good for our body, we know what genuinely “feels” right and what doesn’t. So, I just wanted to pass along some thoughts for you to keep in mind the next time you consider having that extra cup of coffee or second glass of red wine. There is no “one thing” that will do “everything” for your good health.
A Nutritious Diet and Conservative Exercise Can Reduce Arthritis Suffering
San Diego Chiropractor: Chiropractic and Arthritis
Do you suffer from painful arthritis? Do you also have a problem with your weight? If you’ve answered in the affirmative to both questions, more than likely you’re having back pain not only due to arthritis, but also because of the strain your weight is putting on your spine. The body was not designed to carry around additional weight in the form of body fat. If you are carrying around even an additional 20 or 30 pounds day in and day out, your spine, which supports the body, is being put under a great deal of strain. This kind of strain can created aberrations of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can generate arthritic changes in the spine and continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have begun. In addition, your body may compensate in other ways, for instance your hips moving forward or tilting to support the excess pounds. This can pinch the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.
A new survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research firm based in Rosemont, Ill., shows that approximately 62% of adults and 34% of children are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis escalates with increasing weight. Research indicates that sustaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decelerate disease progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can lessen the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do quite a lot to relieve back pain as well.
In order for an individual to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other regions of the body, a good diet and regular exercise is mandatory. Even though this information probably doesn’t seem like anything new, it genuinely is the only action for you to take in order to get out of pain and regain your life.
First of all, let’s discuss the topic of dieting. The majority diets (and there are hundreds from which to choose) can be temporarily useful. Sadly, the diet industry is not interested in having you lose weight permanently because as a result they would not have you as a customer. Eating a life-enriching diet (as a lifestyle choice and not a temporary fix) and cutting your calories so that you are at a slight calorie “deficit,” is the only approach to losing weight in a healthy, permanent manner. Shedding a lot of pounds too fast is not only unhealthy, but unsafe. You should be losing about 2 pounds every week in order for it to be truly effective.
Research has proved that exercise and physical activity not only reduces pain and augments function, but genuinely postpones disability. Be certain to get no less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity no less than 3 days a week. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.
In addition to the benefits your joints will undergo from exercise, chiropractic adjustments are a highly beneficial way to get motion back in the joints of your spine and other places in your body. A well-adjusted spine makes exercise and physical activity a lot easier and actually slows down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine published the findings of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis. Of those people, 63% answered the survey by saying they were taking advantage of some type of “complementary care” as named by the study. Of those individuals, 31% were using chiropractic. Possibly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those trying chiropractic found it beneficial. Explaining why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, the responders provided a number of reasons: 1) to control pain, 2) they’d heard that it helps, 3) they felt assured that it is safe, 4) it had assisted someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t stopping the pain.
Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been assisting people suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic problems for over a hundred years. Not only can arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine be caused by the misaligned vertebra that your San Diego chiropractor will adjust, if left unchanged misalignments can lower resistance and immunity, which can lead to new health conditions.
It is always wise to see a health care professional to get information about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an excellent resource for information on the kind of lifestyle changes that you will require to help you to manage your arthritis. Moreover, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will evaluate any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be compounding your arthritic pain.
Can Chiropractic Treatment Help Arthritis?
Chicago Chiropractor and Arthritis
Introduction
One of the most commonly misunderstood conditions among sufferers is arthritis..Often the word, “arthritis,” brings to mind a future that includes crippled and twisted joints. But, many conditions from benign to severe are catalogued under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will confine this discourse to the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care
Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the terms for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the deterioration of the cartilage that protects the joint surfaces. Degenerative changes in the joint happens when joint cartilage is damaged and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is normally preserved by the cartilage. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are familiarly called bone spurs. These spurs can cause painful irritation to other tissues around the joint, in this way complicating the already painful condition.
The most common areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, principally in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to influence both the onset and severity of DJD.
The symptoms of DJD invariably involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. As the condition continues there can be loss of mobility, particularly when weight-bearing joints such as hips or knees are involved. In some cases, if the joint is measurably worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should attempt to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.
The best management of DJD is, naturally, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.
- One should always make sure that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are correctly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
- People involved in occupations that demand standing or walking should wear appropriate shoes that give good support and shock absorption.
- Excess body weight can produce increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.
- Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and create knee pain.
- The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants contained in fruits and vegetables are vital for healthy joints and a healthy body.
Recent studies have shown that long-term use of the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can not only assist with DJD symptoms, but can possibly help to rebuild joint cartilage.
Chiropractic adjustments are not only safe, but an effectual treatment for arthritis, and can help to restore proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Chicago chiropractor has many of years of training in helping people with arthritis pain. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally a brace is required to help stabilize the joint in order to alleviate pain. A chiropractor may suggest exercises such as stretching, yoga, tai chi and other gentle mobilizing activities to help maintain arthritic joints.
Gout
Gouty arthritis is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood and the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. The most common joints are the big toes, the knees, ankles and wrists, and is often characterized by acute pain and swelling. A large number of people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are usually brought on by binge eating of agitative foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Specific foods such as red meat (especially organ meat), certain seafood, legumes, and mushrooms contain the natural substance, Purines, that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Since individuals with gout cannot properly metabolize uric acid, the increase in the bloodstream causes joint problems. In addition to the foods specified and additional foods containing Purines, other dietary restrictions must be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The direct cause is not known, but it is thought to be connected to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, while other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness irritated by movement is generally associated with the disease. Further symptoms can consist of general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. There are specific blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic manipulations. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting individuals in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.
Fat in the Front Can Mean Pain in the Back
There are plenty of men and women today in a daily struggle to lose weight, especially excess weight around the middle. But, the need to lose weight is, quite frequently, more than merely a cosmetic issue. The fact of the matter is, if people are lugging around too much weight in their midsection, their back is going to be in pain as an outcome.
Most men and women who are overweight experience moderate to severe back pain. The reason for this is because the spine was not made to haul anything that weighs more than the body is at its naturally healthy weight. As a human being puts on extra poundage, the spine starts to unduly stress and to compress, causing a lot of pain and discomfort. In addition, it can have an impact on the pelvis, tilting it forward and possibly compelling it to pinch the sciatic nerve. This is a primary reason why those who are overweight tend to have problems with their lower back. The suffering is due to either sciatica or the distorting of the spinal column.
If this situation sounds painfully familiar, and it’s your desire to get out pain, certainly the thing to do is to take off the extra weight that you are carrying around, and your spine will immediately respond and reestablish its regular position. Unfortunately, weight loss isn’t easy and it can take time, even with the best of intentions. The good news is you don’t have to live with back pain as you lose the weight. A Costa Mesa chiropractor can assist you in getting the pain relief you’ll need as you shed the extra pounds.
Even so, you will still need to lose the extra weight, and not having back pain will actually help you do it. Losing the extra weight naturally and healthfully is necessary, and there are two (simple but not easy) things that can’t fail: Get some kind of exercise every day, even if it’s just a small amount, and make sure that you take in fewer calories than you burn! Sure, you’ve heard about these two things before. But, now that you’re aware your back is depending on you, it definitely time to get truly motivated.
Start exercising slowly, especially if you’re having problems with back pain. And, most importantly, be sure to seek out Costa Mesa chiropractic care so that you don’t make the mistake that many people do, which is to exercise into the pain. That will only make matters worse. Exercise, though occasionally uncomfortable, should never be painful or cause pain. That’s why it’s essential to see a chiropractor if you’re having difficulties with back pain.
Do simple stretching exercises and also concentrate on your core abdominal body muscles. Strong stomach muscles aid in relieving back pain. Your chiropractor will be able to offer exercises that are best for you, individually. Within just a week or two of dedication to shedding the pounds that are creating your back pain and possibly other health difficulties as well, you should begin to notice a significant difference in the way that you feel.