Health and Medical Articles

Title: Do you know that stress may affect your health? Author: Bozena Klimaszewski Article: Many people think that succumbing to stress is a sign of weakness, but nothing could be further from the truth! Chronic stress may paralyze your life. Moreover, people today are living with a significantly higher level of stress than their parents or their grandparents did. Stress can cause very real health problems and if you think that you might be affected, there are a few things that you should think about. The effects of stress The first thing is that stress-related health issues can creep up on you. While stress can be traced directly to a specific source, say, an accident or the death of a loved one, it can also be a great deal more insidious than that. If conditions at your workplace have been going steadily downhill, you might find stress problems creeping up on you. One day, you'll look up and realize that your jaw's been tight for what feels like months or that you've been running a constant, low-grade level of illness. Stress can seep into your life very subtly, so it is important to be self-aware. What are some early warning signs of stress-related problems? There are some early warning signs that stress might be becoming a problem for you. Have you noticed that you are having sleeping troubles? Stress can do a number of things to your sleeping cycles. It can make you an insomniac or can make you want to sleep for long stretches of time. While getting a good night's sleep is beneficial, sleeping to escape stress will leave you feeling sore and irritable. If you find that your temperature has gotten shorter, or that you've fallen prey to bouts of depression and anxiety, there is a good chance that stress is overtaking your life. How does stress affect your health? A constant, unexplainable illness can also be a sign of stress adversely affecting your life. Some people describe a constant upset stomach, while others complain of persistent headaches. Either of these things can make the business of trying to live your life difficult and they are just tow examples of the way that stress affects your body. The list of illnesses that are related to stress is quite long. Stomach cramping, bloating, hives, insomnia, quickened weight gain and weight loss, high blood pressure and neck and back pain are just a few of the things that can result from stress, and it certainly doesn't end there. You'll find that stress can have some lingering effects as well; stress can make it harder for women to get pregnant and lead to heart problems that can linger for ages. What should I do if I suspect that stress might be affecting my health? Many of the symptoms above might have deeper related issues, so if your symptoms are becoming severe enough that you are worrying about them, take your concerns to a doctor. A doctor can always rule out any physical causes, and if necessary, a doctor can also point you in the right direction for therapy or counseling. How can I manage my stress? If you find that stress lies at the root of your problems, there are many things that you can do to try to manage it. Different methods work for different people, so keep at it until you find one that works for you. The first thing that you should do is make sure that you have identified the source of stress, and if possible, attempt to change it. While this is impossible if the stress is caused by the loss or behavior of a loved one, there is definitely something you can do if the stress is caused by a job or an irresponsible friend. When you remove the thing that creates stress from your life or exert control over it, you will find that your stress related issues will disappear or become greatly minimized. Similarly, some people deal with stress by engaging outwardly. They use relaxation techniques like yoga or jogging to clear their minds and give them a place to think. If you feel that your stress-levels are affecting the way you live your life, don't be afraid to take charge! Through good stress management, you can banish health-related stress issues and enjoy a better standard of life. About the author: I am a retired pharmacist. My areas of interest include holistic and alternative medicine, sleep problems, a healthy lifestyle and also travel and cooking. Title: Stress Relief With Herbs: Discover How These Herbal Remedies Can Calm You Down In A Hurry Author: Elisabeth Kuhn Article: You've heard about herbs and that they might bring stress relief, but you may have hesitated. Are they safe? Which ones to take? How much? Which ones are the best ones? Sure, there's Valium, but synthetic drugs can have so many side effects. How about something more gentle and natural? There are quite a few herbs that can help relieve stress symptoms and generally do so without affecting your ability to think clearly. Herbs have been used for generations, and for the most part, they're not only highly effective with few side effects, but they're cheaper than prescription medication too. Just be sure not to underestimate them. Herbs can be very powerful, and you need to learn how they work and be aware of possible interactions between herbs and any other drugs you might be taking. In order to understand how herbs can help, it's useful to know what happens when we are stressed. First of all, when stressed, we become tense throughout our bodies. Our muscles tighten, our brain becomes overwhelmed with stimulation, and our nervous systems go into high gear. If this condition persists too long or is repeated too frequently, our bodies will begin to break down. That's why it's important to find a way to relieve stress without adding even more stressors to our bodies, as is often the case with drugs or alcohol. And that's where herbs fit in. Here are some favorite herbs for stress relief. People respond better to some than to others. The key is to experiment, pay close attention to their effects on you, and find those that work best for you. Hops We tend to relate hops to beer, but it is also used as tea to relieve depression and calm the nervous system. It also helps alleviate other conditions often associated with stress, such as digestive disturbances. Skullcap Skullcap is a plant that grows freely in North American and in tropical climates. It is one of 50 fundamental herbs used in Chinese herbology. For centuries, Chinese physicians have used it as to calm nervous tension and anxiety. Passion Flower Passion Flower is found worldwide, except in Antarctica and Europe. It is popular in Europe to relieve nervous tension. The leaves can be used to make tea to relieve insomnia, depression and anxiety. Valerian Valerian has been used in Europe for generations. It's highly effective in calming stressed nerves. Its smell may take some getting used to, but once you reap the benefits, you may actually come to like it (or at least develop positive associations with it). If you find the odour too hard to take, try it in tablet or pill form. It works just as well. Lemon Balm Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family. Originating in Europe, it is well known for its calming effect. It can be taken as an herbal tea and can be used as aromatherapy. Chamomile Chamomile is a long-time favourite that is usually drunk as a tea to trigger relaxation and improve sleep. Green Tea We've heard a lot lately about green tea. It is now readily available in any grocery or convenience store as an iced tea, in tea bags, and other formats. It is a natural relaxant, in part because of theanine, a main substance of green tea. But be careful... If also contains caffeine, though not very much. However, if you're not used to caffeine, it may keep you awake at night. You'll find various combinations of these herbs as calming teas in your grocery store or in pill form in your local health food store. Which ones work best? Personally, I like ones that include passion flower and/or valerian best. And hops, especially when you're ready for sleep. My recommendation for you? Try some of them and keep tabs on how they work for you. You may never need another Valium ever again. Just remember that herbs too are powerful. Be very careful with driving and operating machinery until you know how they affect you. And, of course, you may want to check with your doctor first. About the author: Ready to reclaim YOUR inner calm? Get Elisabeth Kuhn's FREE stress-busting special report and your free e-course on how to live a more joyful and successful life. Title: Job Stress, Health, And Unexpected Consequences: How Stress-Caused Health Problems Can Kill Your Career Author: Elisabeth Kuhn Article: In Japan they have a word for what happens when you work too much, so much until you fall over dead: Karoshi, which means death by overwork. But even in Japan, most people don't usually die from working too much - they just get sick and suffer. And suffering, year after year, can be a prescription for career disaster... Job stress results when we work too much or under bad circumstances, and it's not news to anyone that such stress can make us sick. But there's a wrinkle that flies under the radar in the stress and health discussion: Not only can an excessively stressful career make us sick, but once we get sick, our lower energy levels affect the quality and quantity of the work we can do, and sooner or later, our impaired performance can in turn ruin our careers. Unfortunately, excess stress on a daily basis is something all too familiar to lots of people. And for all too many, it has already resulted in an assortment of health problems, ranging from the merely annoying, embarrassing, and slightly painful, such as cold sores, acne, neck pain, headaches, and hair loss, all the way to obesity, heart attacks, and even death. Sometimes things can get so bad, that karoshi may seem like a merciful way out. But let's focus on the kinds of health consequences that result from stress that doesn't quite kill you and on the impact they can have on your career in turn. If the stress is ongoing, and it usually is, you may well end up suffering for years, alive but not so well. We know that when the body experiences stress, it releases adrenalin and cortisol as part of our primitive fight-or-flight response. These important hormones help increase the oxygen level in the blood and boost the sugar in the blood - preparing us to either flee or fight. That reaction may have been useful in an era where fighting or fleeing would have been considered reasonable options. But if your boss is yelling at you, neither bonking him on the kisser nor running away screaming qualifies as appropriate behavior. Instead, there you are, a sitting duck, flooded with stress hormones that have no place to go and serve no purpose except wreak havoc on your well-being. What havoc? For example, the immune system is suppressed or damaged, which compromises your body's ability to resist infection. So you're the first to catch the office cold and the last to recover from it. And then there are a number of chronic health conditions are either caused or made worse by stress, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, migraine headaches, and heart disease. Some research suggests that stress can even cause cancer - or push the body over that critical hurdle where our immune system is just no longer strong enough to fight it off. There are also slightly less obvious conditions, less obvious at least to the outside observer: depression, fibromyalgia, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and adrenal burnout. They all have in common that they'll sap your energy and make it very difficult to get much work done. Come performance review, you'll have some explaining to do. And if anything, that'll make your stress-levels even worse. Can you see where this is heading? Stress may hurt your body, but it will also hurt your career if you don't manage to get on top of it. Ratcheting down your stress levels has got to be a top priority, because it may not only cost you your health but your job as well. And then, what will you do for health insurance? About the author: Ready to reclaim YOUR inner calm? Get Elisabeth Kuhn's FREE stress-busting special report and your free e-course on how to live a more joyful and successful life.

Title: Fit for Life Author: Sandra Prior Article: You've been using the same workout for 20 years. The result? Two arthritic shoulders and a sacroiliac joint that threatens to immobilize you every time you get out the car. But it's not too late for you. Tips for Enhancing Performance Running Pounding the pavements erodes your body's natural shock absorbers - cartilage, tendons, muscles and ligaments. Each step exerts a force of up to five times your weight and encourages these body parts to protest through inflammation, pain and even rupture. Walk as well as run. Varying intensity within a workout is a tactic runners use to get faster or go longer. Walking burns the same number of kilojoules as running and reduces common overuse injuries, such as shin splints. Use a one-to-one ratio if you're getting into shape after a layoff, then gradually ratchet up the run portion. Walk one kilometer for every six kilometers you run. Triathlons These events are filled with former distance runners looking for a new rush and a way to take some strain off their battered bones. Triathlon training also allows a marathoner to use health benefits gained from years of long distance training; increased lung capacity and an abundance of slow twitch muscle fibers, which enhance aerobic endurance. Rugby/Soccer The sudden starts and stops involved in touch rugby place tremendous lateral force on your ankles and knees, and the diving (actually landing) sends injury causing shock waves throughout your body. Break a sweat before you start playing. One guy we know hits the hot showers for 10 minutes before playing to make sure he's warm. No showers? This simple 10 minute warm up will drastically reduce your chances of getting hurt. Do each of these the length of the field up to the half way line and back while wind milling your arms, then stretch as usual; jog, skip, shuffle (continually slide one leg to meet the other without crossing them; don't forget to bend your knees), karaoke (run sideways, continually crossing one leg in front of and then behind the other), run backwards and skip as high as you can. Volleyball This activity incorporates the same lateral movement and quick jumping ability you've developed, but it doesn't require you to cover as much ground. Cricket Playing cricket does little to improve your overall fitness so you have to put in time away from the pitch if you want to avoid rotator cuff tears and elbow or shoulder tendonosis. Lift weights. It will strengthen your rotator cuff and surrounding muscles to protect you from suffering a tear. The best moves are; lateral raise, lat pull downs and lat rows. Stretch your shoulders before the first over by raising your throwing arm straight above your head, bending it at the elbow, then gently pushing it down and toward your spine with your other hand. Repeat with the opposite arm. Golf Golf is easier on your body because you don't have the sudden starts and stops, and the swing aren't as violent. Since the ball isn't moving, you don't have to reach at odd angles to hit it, which can cause muscle strains. Golf is also better for your heart and gobbles up plenty of kilojoules. Swimming Because swimming is non weight bearing, injuries are few. When swimmers do get hurt, they tend to suffer from overuse injuries in their shoulders and knees. Have a coach analyze your stroke each year for glitches so you don't fall into injury inducing bad habits. Mix breaststroke, backstroke or butterfly in with your freestyle every fourth lap to reduce your risk of hurting a shoulder joint. Strength training is important for swimmers to help balance their musculature and to strengthen bones and tendons that don't get trained in the pool. The most important lifts; bench press for balance and squats for push off and kicking. Single Scull Rowing Single scull rowing will capitalize on the endurance and pain tolerance you've built while still allowing you to compete mano-a-mano on the water using your arms and legs to pull you through. Cycling Crashes cause most injuries - damn drivers - but repeating the same motion again and again and again while sitting hunched over the handlebar also puts stress on the vertebrae in your lower back, which causes pain. Simply changing the angle of your bike seat could save your back. Back pain in cyclists is caused when the angle between the pelvis and the lower end of the spinal column is overextended. Tilting the seat forward 10 to 15 degrees reduces the strain on the muscles and realigns the bones. Most important; spin, don't strain, by using higher gears. Lower gears can make you feel like you're working much harder, but a faster cadence is easier on your body and more efficient. Soccer You've spent years building endurance and Lance-like quads. Now use them on the field, where both qualities will give you a leg up on the competition, and the wide variety of movements you'll deploy will round out your fitness. You'll also play on grass, which is heaven for joints and muscles. Tennis Nearly half of all tennis players suffer from 'tennis elbow' (medial epicondylitis). Lower back strains and shoulder and ankle injuries are common. Playing a lot of tennis weakens your shoulder blade muscles by repeatedly stretching and fatiguing the tissues. Tennis is a terrific lifelong sport - if you keep your strength and flexibility by doing strength training and stretching. To get the great workout without the elbow or shoulder problems, do military presses. While sitting on a bench or chair, raise a pair of dumbbells to shoulder height. Press the weights overhead. Do 10 to 12 repetitions. Repeat. Martial Arts Martial arts, such as tae kwon do or kickboxing, enhance the abilities you've developed in tennis, while adding the missing factor of flexibility. You can also take out your aggression on a real person while eliminating the repetitive motion that causes injuries in tennis. About the author: Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu. Title: Exercise is the Best Way to Improve Your Health Author: Cindy Browne Article: Too many people don't get enough exercise and that isn't good for their overall health. You may not realize just how much it is affecting you though. Instead of relying upon vitamins and other supplements though you should turn to natural ways to get your body in better shape. I am talking about much more than your weight and physical appearance though. Exercising definitely helps your body to look better as you will be burning calories. It also helps you to release endorphins which improve your mood. If you are tired all the time even after a full night of sleep you may think you are just too wiped out to exercise. Yet if you are exercising you will find you have more energy than before. Even 30 minutes a day will get you rejuvenated. Exercise often gets a very bad name though and it shouldn't be that way. Too many people look at exercising as something that they don't want to do. Why? No one ever said that exercising couldn't be fun! Do you enjoy walking and listening to music? If so you have the perfect combination for a great exercise routine. Do you enjoy playing basketball? Then play a game to get your daily exercise. Find great forms of exercise you can do indoors and outdoors. That way no matter what the weather is doing you can fit it into your schedule. It is a good idea to think of several forms of exercise you enjoy as well. That way you don't get bored with the same old routine every day. No matter what your current health is you can get exercise. It doesn't have to be high impact in order to get results. One of the most effective forms of exercise is yoga and it helps both your mind and your body. You will be amazed at how much better you look and feel in just a short period of time. When you incorporate a regular exercise routine into your day, your mental health will be better as well. This is important because you need to be sharp all day long. You need to be able to concentrate and to make wise decisions. Exercise will help get rid of unwanted stress as well so you can focus on those things that are important. You owe it to yourself to look and feel as good as you possibly can. Make a commitment now to getting more exercise that you enjoy. It is a good idea to talk to your doctor first and get a full assessment of your current fitness level. Then you can increase what you do at regular intervals. This method will prove to help you get results without hurting yourself. Exercising is good for your heart, your body, and your mind. Take part in it every day so that you can avoid common health problems. Preventative methods for your physical and mental health are easier to deal with than ongoing problems that can result from not doing so. If you want to live a long and healthy life today is the day to make necessary changes so it can happen. About the author: Cindy Browne loves everything to do with alternative health and is an author of articles about alternative medicine blog. Visit her site for more information on getting healthy. Title: The Good Effects of Exercising Author: Karen Lincoln Article: Some people wonder why it is necessary to exercise. Why do you need to eat healthy food and hit the gym? For many reasons, exercising coupled with proper diet results to a lot of goodness. The good effects of exercising do not only make your life a lot convenient but also worry-free. Exercising can be done in many ways: jogging, walking, sit-ups, jumping, hula hooping, dancing, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, football, and a lot more. It doesn't really matter what type of physical activity you get yourself hooked to. The point is when you are able to sweat out for 30 minutes to an hour or more, that means you are burning calories and increasing your resistance. The good effects of exercising are measurable and visible in the way you are. If you are too idle to be moving, possibilities of becoming weak and overweight are higher. Overdoing any physical activity, however, is not too good. You may be injured or worn out if you exercise too much. Learning the good effects of exercising might inspire you to get on your feet and walk your way to a healthier you. 1. Exercising reduces weight. Young and old are concerned about how to manage weight and stay in shape. In the United States, a large portion of the young population is obese. When you are worried about your excess fats and calories, you should be doing any kind of exercise. Being overweight or obese can lead to many disadvantages physically and emotionally. Your moves are controlled and your self-esteem is low. In addition, obesity may lead to diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, intestinal defects, and other diseases. Overweight people tend to be lazy as well. To drop down inches and pounds, you need to be exercising. It's always best to stay in shape to avoid diseases from attacking you. Performing cardiovascular exercises for at least 20 minutes or longer will allow you to burn calories. Burning calories successively will help you reduce weight. Walking or jogging can be a good start. Eventually, your body will be able to tolerate higher level of exercises like high-low aerobics, body pump, kickboxing, swimming, etc. 2. Exercising builds a perfect physique. It's always nice to trot around the school grounds or go to the beach when you are able to flaunt a perfect shape. It's awkward to be showing off in bikini or trunks when you have chubby belly or flabby arms and legs. You will definitely be upset to notice some are making fun of your being fat. If you're a man, your ego is touched when you see women around are laughing at you for your fatty build. If you're a woman, you would be ashamed to wear a sexy swimsuit. People can be judgmental; it's a biting reality. To avoid embarrassment, you should do something about it by exercising. The good effects of exercising can manifest largely on how your body looks. Get yourself a good exercise program so that you can be shapely and sexy. Nice abs, muscular arms, firm chest, well-toned body--you'll achieve all of these if you exercise regularly. You can do it at home or any fitness club nearby for at least thrice a week for 2 hours to do cardio, toning and firming. It is important to note that exercising would only give you that perfect shape you aim for if you work on it with discipline and consistency. 3. Exercising makes you popular and moneyed. Once you are well toned and shapely, you always call people's attention. You become a head-turner, so to speak. Exercising makes you popular and moneyed because talent scouts and sports agents will likely get you for a fashion show or sports opportunity. After all the exercises you have been through, your body deserves some recognition. You do, too. Take for instance those National Football League (NFL) or National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Not only are they paid very well, they're also famous. 4. Exercising helps you avoid sickness. Your chances of getting sick are lower if you exercise. Exercising helps you avoid acquiring any type of health-related disease. If you're cholesterol is high, you are like high in blood pressure which is not normal. Exercising daily will combat disease-causing bacteria and increase antibodies to keep us ill free. About the author: If you are looking for more information and tips on getting fit while you sit then why not visit our to get healthy website.

Title: Alternative Medicine: The Quest for Reliable Online Information Author: Chris Robertson Article: The Web is teeming with information about every imaginable topic, yet it's often hard to distinguish between legitimate information and that which is bogus. Furthermore, it's not always obvious when a website is genuinely providing information as a public service, and when there is a profit motive behind the information presented. In other words, sometimes you can trust what you read and sometimes the information is slanted in order to get you to buy something. In most cases, this conundrum is fairly inconsequential; when it comes to your health, though, you want to make sure that the information you're getting is both correct and unbiased. This is particularly true in the realm of alternative medicine, when separating out the snake oil salespeople from the straight shooters can make a significant difference in your health and well-being. What are some of the hallmarks of a reputable alternative medicine site? First of all, it should be a true informational site. This means that the site shouldn't sell specific products or services. In other words, you shouldn't be able to spend a dime on the website. Second, the site should be constantly evolving. Alternative medicine or complementary medicine continues to be an emerging field in the United States, so new information is always coming to the surface. The site you rely upon should be updated to reflect new information as it becomes available. Third, the site should offer in-depth information about a realm of conditions and treatments. For example, you should be able to find helpful resources about everything from heart disease and cancer to skin care and fitness. Fourth, there should be a mechanism for you to participate. For instance, you should be able to post comments, questions, or concerns about a particular form of treatment or condition. Fifth, the site should value quality over quantity. For example, instead of having hundreds of reviews of mediocre books, an alternative medicine website should weed out the wheat from the chaff and only post reviews of books that meet a certain standard of excellence. Sixth, the site should stress the concept of complementary medicine. This addresses an ongoing debate about the role of alternative remedies, namely, whether they are to be used as a substitute for traditional medicine or as an adjunct to it. A site that encourages you to embrace both traditional and alternative medicine is likely to be more objective than a website that promotes one over the other. Seventh, if you're looking for a referral, the site should be able to provide you with free referrals to alternative providers for treating specific conditions like psoriasis, heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis - with one caveat. The caveat is that the site shouldn't accept any compensation from the providers in exchange for the referrals. The bottom line is that an alternative medicine website should provide you with the unbiased information you need to take charge of your own health. It should acknowledge that you know your body better than any health practitioner does, and that you can take steps to improve your own health and well-being. But most of all, it should offer straightforward information free of charge. About the author: Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: Alternative Medicine Visit Majon's Health and Beauty directory. Title: Traditional Chinese Medicine - A New Perspective of Healing Author: Sandi H. Article: While we in the West are more familiar with the way doctors practice traditional medicine for healing, the ancient Eastern practice of medicine known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM), has recently become popular in the West as an alternative to traditional medicine. In order to understand the way illness is treated in traditional Chinese medicine, we need to understand their view of illness in the human body. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the Taoist philosophy that the human body is a universe with a set of complete and interconnected systems. Those systems usually work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the body. This is the principle of yin and yang. These two opposites are constantly in motion, creating a fluctuating balance in a healthy body. Illness occurs when either yin or yang is in a state of prolonged excess or deficiency. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are trained to view the body, mind and spirit as one system and to treat the disease in a holistic manner. The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi (breath or life force), blood, jing (essence), other bodily fluids, the five elements, emotions and the soul or spirit (shen). Typical therapies for traditional Chinese medicine include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi Gong exercises. Acupuncture treatment stimulates certain areas of the external body along the body's meridian lines. Herbal medicine acts on zang-fu organs internally and Qi Gong aims to restore the flow inside the network through the regulation of qi. When seeking treatment from a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, you will usually be asked questions about your emotional and mental life as well as your physical symptoms. You may also have your pulse taken several times, once for each internal organ, and the color and texture of your tongue will be checked. The practitioner will then create a customized treatment plan designed to improve your overall health, instead of just for the illness you sought treatment for. In most cases, the practitioner will use acupuncture to stimulate specific points along your meridians in order to bring qi back into balance. He may also use moxibustion (application of small mounds of burning herbs), cupping (use of suction cups), or deep tissue massage. You may also get a prescription for a combination of herbs and ingredients formulated to correct whatever imbalances the practitioner thinks may be causing your illness. You would typically brew these herbs into a tea, or they may come in pill or extract form. Lastly, you may be asked to practice Qi Gong or Tai Chi (slow and gentle martial arts that combine breathing, movement, and meditation) to balance and strengthen your qi. Depending on which treatments are used, traditional Chinese medicine can be quite safe and effective. Acupuncture is usually quite safe as long as your practitioner uses properly sterilized or disposable needles to prevent infection. You need to let your acupuncturist know if you are taking pain relievers as they can exacerbate bruising from the needles. The use of herbal combinations can be a bit of a problem. Many Chinese herbalists won't tell you what's in the mixture which could contain trace amounts of dangerous substances such as mercury or arsenic. You should let her practitioner know about any drugs you are taking and let your doctor know of any herbs you are taking as certain herbs and mixtures may adversely interact with the drugs. If you are looking for an alternative to traditional medicine, and would like to treat your illness in a more holistic manner, traditional Chinese medicine may be your answer. About the author: A self-proclaimed information addict, Sandi H. has come to the conclusion that knowledge is power when it comes to finding alternative healing methods to traditional medicine. The more you know, the better choices you make toward choosing alternative healing methods. Go to www.alternativemedicineinfoguide.com to find more information on alternative healing methods to meet your specific needs. Title: Is Your Health Really Affected From Fast Food Consumption in a Negative Way? Author: Sherrie Chastain Article: One sunny afternoon last summer John could feel the warm rays of the sun as he pulled into the gas station in his shiny new black corvette convertible. He remembered handing the salesman a check for his entire savings and the salesman giving him the owners manual with all the required specs so the car could achieve the highest level of performance. He pulled up close to the air and water station. After he opened the locking gas cap he began to fill the tank with the water hose, he decided the 50 cents for the water was better than the $4.oo a gallon for gas." Seems rather absurd, doesn't it? That is why it is so very hard for me to understand why there is even a controversy over health and fast food consumption having negative effects. If you look at your bodies requirements for the highest quality of life you can achieve and you understand that everything you consume is where all of these required elements come from, then it is very easy to understand if you want optimum health, then and only then, will you fully understand the real reasons fast food consumption has such negative effects upon your body. Your health is a direct reflection of the daily choices you make about your diet, nutrition and fitness. Many people are now turning to holistic healing, natural remedies and alternative medicine to help them achieve their optimum level of health. These practices rely heavily on functional medicine, where the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated instead of the symptoms. Because it is easier and much more effective to prevent than to cure for optimum health, you must examine your diet and make sure you are getting the proper nutrition along with a consistent fitness program. The water you drink is the most important element to achieve optimum health. It should be as pure as possible and structured. Your body is over 75% water and your brain is approximately 80% water. The mid afternoon lull that most people feel is dehydration. You should drink water instead of sugar or caffeinated drinks, which only provide a temporary "pick me up. With the amount of toxins in food, water and air today you must choose organic food as often as you can. Almost 80% of toxins come from meat and dairy, so if you must consume these always choose organic. Vegetables and fruits should be peeled if they are not organic or washed with a tsp. of vinegar in a gallon of purified water. Some vegetables and fruits like cucumbers and melons pull the toxins in, so your best choice is organic. Until recently your choices for good health and fast food consumption were mostly negative. Even though many fast food restaurants now carry salads and healthier food choices, there is still a huge health risk and fast food consumption in a very negative way, because normally only one item that is ordered is healthy to accompany other very unhealthy over processed choices. Many times the salads are loaded with extra ingredients like cheese, croutons and salad dressings that have lots of calories and are highly processed. The key to optimum health is a diet and nutrition program consisting mainly of organic vegetables with some fruits eaten as unprocessed and raw as possible, along with a fitness plan that is steady and consistent, like walking. To enjoy good health your diet, nutrition and fitness program must be of number one concern to you. Do you want to join the two thirds of America that is overweight and on the road to overall illness and early death? You have the power to change your future, because the choices you make today for your health on your diet, nutrition and fitness will greatly impact your future health. When food becomes nothing more to you than nutrition, these choices will be easy. In the words of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research "If the doctors of today do not become the nutritionists of tomorrow, then the nutritionists of today will become the doctors of tomorrow." About the author: Sherrie Chastain Holistic Healing Health Care Consultant Helping People Find Health Happiness & Success In Their Physical, Mental & Financial Lives For 25 Years Holistic Healing, Natural Remedies, Alternative Medicine

Title: What to Consider When Comparing Health Care Plans Author: Nammy Mike Article: To watch over our health we see our doctors regularly. Medical services could sometimes be very expensive so we need to have a health care plan that can aid in financing any future health-related expenses. This could become a very daunting task, the selection of a health care plan, since there are so many packages available. To help you get one, here are some factors to consider. - There are health care plans that require you to see their network of medical practitioners only. If you currently have your own physician, check with him if he is affiliated with any health plan organizations so you can immediately zoom in on a choice. If you want to keep this doctor, it will be best to go after the health package that will cover his services. Should you have to see another doctor, make sure you establish his reputation and credibility first. The doctor's proximity to your place of work or residence is also an important consideration here and what their schedules for consultations are like. - If your condition is special and you need to see a specialist for it for some time, you might also consider the health plan to cover him. If you have a current specialist taking care of you, go for the health institution that he is affiliated with. - Check how these health plan organizations cover for pre-existing conditions. Many people tend to get confused about it and forget to consider it in their choice for a health plan. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act dictates that pre-existing conditions must be covered by a plan if you have already been insured with them for 12 months. There are health plans that cover a pre-existing condition fully, but there are those that cover it for a specific period of time only. In selecting a plan, do not dare forget about inquiring about this. - Once you've settled on a plan, you should know which hospitals could cover you so that in case of emergency you have a heads-up on where to go for medical attention. Check with the health plan provider what their definition of "emergency" is so you can match and re-align your own definition if ever. You also have to double-check if you need to consult with your physician first before undergoing any emergency care. - The regular physical examinations are important to help you screen your body's condition every now and then. This must be fully covered by the plan you are getting. Most of the providers have this covered but there are some that do not so make sure you ask for this particular service. Check too, if your children's check-ups and immunizations can be covered. - If you are currently under prescription and you will be for a long time, you should consider that plan which can offer a good deal with prescriptions. This service varies so come up with a few good health plans to compare before you make a decision. There are those that do not cover this at all and others that have certain conditions for coverage. - Check for additional services the plan can extend like drug and alcohol rehabilitation, mental health care and counseling, home or nursing home health care, alternative or chiropractic care, etc. - Now compare the costs for these plans and check which has the best benefits for you at the most affordable rates. - Finally, find out what the exclusions are. There are certain conditions or illnesses that are not covered so you should find out what these are so you can use your health care plan accordingly. About the author: The article is written by Nammy Mike. Please visit following websites for more information: http://www.commonhealtharticles.com http://www.frecklemedical.com Title: What's All the Buzz About Organic Foods? Author: Angelle Batten Article: There's so much buzz about organic foods these days. It's becoming more and more mainstream all the time. Conscientious moms (and dads) are voting with their dollars and big business is finally listening. You may even purchase some organic milk or maybe organic apples at your house. If you're like I was initially, you go to pick up the gallon of organic milk, and you're eye catches the price difference of the conventional milk. You may feel a twinge of uncertainty - is this really worth it or am I being taken for a ride here? Or, you may all ready know what I now realize, that organic foods are very important for growing children's bodies, and you feel a bit mad that you have to pay more in order to provide your kids with food that's not covered in cancer-causing pesticides or that didn't come from genetically modified seeds. You may even wonder (yes,I have wondered this), what was I thinking when I signed-up for this parenting thing? I certainly never realized how much I would be thinking about things like food and poop (that's a whole other story). But, here I am and I am thinking about those things because I have little people who are counting on that fact. What is Organic Exactly? So, back to what's all the buzz about organic? Well, first let's define organic. I'll refer to Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician, who spells it out on his website: "Organic refers to the way agricultural products—food and fiber—are grown and processed. It is an ecological system that relies on healthy, rich soil to produce plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of innovative practices that work with nature, instead of against it, such as crop rotation, cover crop planting, beneficial insect release and composting. In the case of livestock, no antibiotics or synthetic hormones are permitted. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic practices mean: No pesticides to contaminate our soil and water or injure farm workers; No fertilizers to runoff and contaminate rivers, lakes and oceans; And, a healthier and more sustainable environment for us all." So, Why is This Issue So Important for Our Children? The chemicals used in conventional farming are known to pose many health risks to humans, especially children. Children's cells are literally made out of the food they eat. The nutrients and the non-nutrients, like the chemicals and artificial ingredients, are the building blocks for their cells and their cells in turn build their organs. Cells also communicate with other cells. If children's cells are being built out of toxic chemicals, it's easy to see how they may start talking jibberish to each other and how they may not be building the healthiest of bodies. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Children are at a greater risk for some pesticides for a number of reasons. Children's internal organs are still developing and maturing and their enzymatic, metabolic, and immune systems may provide less natural protection than those of an adult. There are "critical periods" in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual's biological system operates. Children may be exposed more to certain pesticides because they often eat different foods than adults." A study conducted by the University of Washington tracked a group of preschool children. There were 18 with organic diets and 21 with conventional diets. Their urine was analyzed for evidence of exposure to five different kinds of toxic pesticides. The researchers found that the average total was six- to almost nine-times higher for children with conventional diets than for children with organic diets. Okay, But Why Does Organic Food Cost so Much More? There are many reasons organic foods cost more - it is more labor intensive due to not using pesticides to protect the crops, there is more cost in creating and maintaining healthy soils that will produce nutrient-rich, healthy plants, and government subsidies offered to conventional farmers may not be available to organic farmers. Whatever the reasons, it is important to realize that while the cost may be more for the organic foods, the benefits for our families are much greater. I only have one chance to help build those bones and those hearts and those eyes, and since it took 30 years for the government to realize that DDT was responsible for so many medical problems and deaths of many children before it was banned in the US, I'm not going to leave it up to the EPA to decide what's safe for my growing kids. I know intuitively, and I'm sure you do too, that foods that aren't sprayed with a host of chemicals are a lot healthier for everyone, especially kids. It becomes a matter of adjusting our spending priorities and doing the best we can to protect our children from the chemicals that are so prominent in our environment. Buying organic foods, even if it is just some of our weekly groceries, is one way we can protect our children. About the author: Health Kids, Happy Moms @ http://www.nourishyourkids.com Two moms, one a Holistic Health Educator and the other a Holistic Pediatrician, help moms raise healthier children. Title: Spinal Decompression Therapy For Relieving Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease Author: Dan Raymond Article: It's nearly impossible to meet someone who has never been troubled by back problems in their life. In point of fact, it is one of the more common life experiences that we have to contend with, whether we like it or not. There are situations, however, when it becomes something more than just a simple lower back pain issue. One example is if the individual is afflicted with degenerative disc disease. During our younger days, our bodies are more harmonious and balanced. This is also evident in our spinal vertebrae which is still very flexible, which allows us to bend our spine in a good number of different ways. Once we age a bit, we can lose some of that suppleness and one of the reasons is due to degenerative disc disease. You are probably aware that our spine is not made of a single bone, like you think of when you look at your arm or maybe your leg. It is constructed by smaller bones with flexible discs in between. The discs are full of fluids and it is what allows our spine to move in such a way that we can do things such as bend over and twist. The purpose of the discs is to act as shock absorbers and cushions to protect the spinal bones. If these discs should happen to degenerate, however, it can push on delicate spinal nerve endings and can be particularly painful if we sit or stand for long periods of time. While you may suffer from degenerative disc disease this does not always mean that you have to live in pain forever. In fact, there are many different options that are available for this kind of disease Consider a few examples: Something as easy as applying a hot or cold compress can help. Also, shedding a few pounds can take some of the pressure off the spine. Improving your posture or perhaps using orthopedic shoes could be helpful too. An alternative that is gaining in popularity is DRX9000 spinal decompression therapy. This non-invasive method is used to relieve pressure on the supporting structions of the spine and thus provide pain relief and even healing of the problems with the discs. A growing number of back pain sufferers are considering this alternative due to their preference for a non-invasive and non-surgical method as their starting alternative for reducing the pain. If you're having a problem with degenerative disc disease, take a look at some of the options that are available. You're sure to find one that is going to help you with your particular needs. This article is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor before considering any medical treatment. About the author: Learn more about back pain relief from degenerative disc disease using the non-surgical DRX 9000 machine at http://www.drx9000-spinal-decompression.com, a very useful site with good information on the DRX 9000 spinal decompression system.

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