Exercise and Your Health

You always hear people say, “You need to exercise regularly to maintain your health”, but just how much does exercise really do for your health overall? Are the health benefits of exercise really worth the effort it takes to exercise regularly? Can’t you just eat better and still maintain your health just the same? Can anyone tell me what the real health benefits of exercise are or is it all just speculation based on heresy?

Alright then, here are some really good reasons to consider for making exercise part of your healthy lifestyle:

Americans spend more than $600 billion dollars per year for health care. That equals almost $3,000 for every single person in the whole population of the country. Sadly, this financial commitment has shown no signs of any decrease, nor has it produced fully acceptable results with regard to treating a wide variety of chronic health problems.
Attempts have been made to identify the factors which have been major contributions to the epidemic of medical problems in our society today and a number of probable reasons for why so many people are so seemingly unhealthy have been named as; poor eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, poor health habits (i.e. smoking).

At the same time, studies have been done to see what, if anything can be done to lower either the number or the severity of the medical problems affecting the public. These studies have shown some convincing evidence that exercise has substantial medical benefits for people of all ages. Two of the most publicized efforts to investigate the possible link between exercise and disease were longitudinal studies, each of which used more than 10,000 subjects.

Some years ago, in a study of 17,000 Harvard graduates, Ralph Paffenbarger, M.D., found that men who expended 300 calories per day, the equivalent of walking briskly for 45 minutes, reduced their death rates from all causes by 28% and lived an average of two years longer than their sedentary former classmates.

A more recent study conducted by Steven Blair, P.E.D., of the Institute of Aerobics Research in Dallas documented the fact that a relatively moderate amount of exercise has a significant effect on the mortality rate of both men and women. The data was adjusted for age differences between subjects in an eight year study of 13,344 individuals and the conclusion was that the higher the fitness level, the lower the death rate. An analysis of the data yielded by both studies suggests one conclusion…exercise is medicine!

Accepting the idea that regular exercise can play an important role in reducing your risk of incurring a medical problem and reducing your overall health care costs is a critical step. While listing all of the medical problems and conditions that can be at least partially treated and controlled by exercise would be very extensive, here are a few of the most significant health concerns and the manner in which exercise is thought to help in each case.

Allergies: exercise is one of the body’s most efficient ways to control nasal congestion.
Angina: regular aerobic exercise dilates vessels, increasing blood flow, thereby improving your body’s ability to extract oxygen from the bloodstream.

Anxiety: exercise triggers the release of mood-altering chemicals in the brain.
Arthritis: by making the skeletal joints move, exercise induces the manufacture of synovial fluid and helps to distribute it over the cartilage and to force it to circulate throughout the joint space.

Back pain: exercise helps to strengthen the abdominal muscles and the lower back muscles.

Cholesterol: exercise will raise your HDL (the good cholesterol) in the blood and lower your LDL levels, the bad cholesterol.

Diabetes: exercise helps lower excess blood sugar levels and improves your circulation
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Heart disease: exercise, by lowering your body fat, lowering your LDL levels, decreasing your blood pressure, lowering your heart rate and increasing heart and lung efficiency, lowers your risk of heart problems.

Knee problems: exercise helps strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the knee making it more able to withstand stress.

Menstrual problems and PMS: exercise helps to control the hormonal imbalances often associated with PMS by increasing the release of beta-endorphins.

Osteoporosis: exercise promotes bone density, lowering the risk of suffering a bone fracture.

Overweight problems: exercise suppresses your appetite, increases your metabolic rate, burns fat and increases lean muscle mass.

So, are the benefits of regular exercise really worth the effort? Should you make exercise a part of your lifestyle? Absolutely! As you can see, in many ways, your life may depend on it.

Exercise And Proper Diet

For the past several years, there is hullabaloo on the need to be slim and sexy. Grocery shelves are filled with several food supplements and other products that promise certain health and wellness benefits. Home TV shopping channels also offer everything from slimming tea to herbal soap to ‘instant abs’ exercise gadgets. Gyms across the country are fast gaining members who are willing to sweat it out just to burn excess calories from mindless munching and eating. There is also an increasing number of vegetarianism and raw food diet converts who vow to trade juicy hamburgers for fresh vegetables and fruits. People who are stressed out dream of luxurious spa treatments, Thai and Swedish massages, and detoxification diets. All of a sudden, there’s the need to attain fitness and healthy living. This desire can be attributed to man’s realization that the world he is living in is too polluted and toxic. Fitness and healthy living seems to be man’s only hope in staying sane and sound in this otherwise hostile world.

If one wishes to achieve fitness and healthy living, he should go for ‘holistic’ approach. A person who wants to have super-fit body goes to the gym a lot and sticks to rigorous exercise routines. There’s nothing seemingly wrong with this but he should also see to it he is eating the right kinds of food. It is not enough to be physically fit outside; one has to strive to be internally and externally healthy. Body builders have to follow specific diets appropriate for his physical needs. It is a must to consult personal trainers who can prescribe a proper workout routine and the corresponding diet needed for such routine. Furthermore, people with weight problems should not only focus on improving their diet. Overweight and obese people also need to regularly exercise. One sure way to improve one’s health condition is through exercising and eating wisely. A person should consider these two key aspects as a two-in-one package.

Fitness and healthy living cannot be attained without the exercise of one’s will. An overweight person cannot be fit and healthy just be watching TV all day and expecting to wake up slim the next morning. Fitness and healthy living requires a lot of effort and involves many decision-making opportunities. One must be really determined to improve his diet and religiously follow exercise routines to be able to resist temptations that may go along the way. Sometimes, it is too tempting to pig out a little more often and to just watch movies at home instead of exercising and eating good food. But if a person firmly decided to be slim and sexy, he should be willing to let go of life’s needless pleasures.

Good Health Is Counting

Did you know that everything that gets you moving can and will contribute to your health-from walking to a high-intensity aerobics class?

Research shows that regular exercise can lower the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and certain cancers. And exercise helps people manage a great number of other health issues, including depression and anxiety, arthritis, osteoporosis and maybe even dementia. Experts say that it may even help slow the aging process. And it makes you feel good!

The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the nonprofit association for the fitness industry, reminds people that any physical activity is better than none. The health benefits from physical activity are cumulative. The most important thing is getting started. So get moving-whether that means taking the stairs, parking farther out or walking on a treadmill. Newcomers to physical activity should start slowly and gradually work up to exercising for longer periods of time.

For many Americans, taking those first steps toward building the exercise habit can be difficult and intimidating. So during the month of May, participating health clubs will open their doors for several days to the public, free of charge, so more Americans can benefit from the safe, supportive, and enjoyable environments that health clubs offer. It’s part of the IHRSA-organized Get Active America! program to encourage more Americans to exercise for their health.

Whether you’re a senior, a mid-lifer, a 20-something or a teen, there’s a health club that can provide you with the support you need to create a workable exercise routine that fits your life. There’s a network of professionals across the country eager to help.

Remember: It’s never too late, and it’s never too little to enjoy the benefits of exercise. Do it for your health!

Key to Healthy Skin

Regular exercise and physical activities like weight training, yoga, and aerobic exercises have been known to improve physique and aid in weight-loss. People workout regularly so that they can develop a more toned and leaner physique. They do this by burning fat through exercise. Working out also promotes greater muscle density, bone strength, and helps reduce the risk of breaking bones as one gets older. Recent medical studies suggest that regular exercise and physical activities may also be beneficial to overall skin health and clean the skin of acne and other impurities. Adding exercise in a daily routine is essential for skin care.

Exercise improves the skin by improving the blood circulation in the body and, therefore, provide oxygen and other nutrients to the skin cells. As one sweats, the body removes toxins through the open pores of the skin. This process effectively cleanses the pores from dead skin cells, dirt, and excess sebum. Sebum is the oil secretions of the sebaceous glands and may clog pores that cause the production of acne. This substance is scentless but its bacterial breakdown may produce odors. In addition to these benefits, exercise enables the kidneys and liver to function properly. These developments makes the elimination of toxins from the body more effective and efficient. It is always best to take a shower after a workout since bathing washes away any waste material and bacteria that is present on the skin. It also prevents the buildup of bacteria that is attracted to sweat. These bacteria may cause body odor and the development of acne.

Drinking enough water after working out may guarantee proper hydration of the body and help reduce skin dryness and is important factor in skin care. However, it is advised to drink the right amounts of water because too much or too little may bring unwanted effects. Needless to say, water is essential in eliminating body toxins and in replacing all the water that was lost from sweating during exercise.
A better physique and healthy-looking skin are not the only benefits of exercise and physical activities. They also have emotional and mental benefits. These activities are good for stress relief and in keeping the mind active and focused. This is possible because of moderate or intense physical activities may prompt the body to produce substances called endorphins. These substances are produced by the brain that may elevate one’s mood and eliminate feelings of stress and anxiety. This effect is called by many health experts as the “runner’s high.

Furthermore, individuals who want to engage in exercise and other physical activities should consult health professionals or train with a professional instructor. Because improper or too much training may do more harm than good. Extreme exercise may increase the production of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These hormones aid the body switch to more efficient fat-burning metabolism to preserve glycogen in the muscles and aid blood vessels in the delivery of oxygen to the muscles.

Stress overload can occur if an individual does not reduce the intensity of training even for short periods. This may cause an increase in white blood cells that eliminate bacteria, viruses, and even cancer cells. When the intense exercise is finished, the number of immune cells may decrease. It is theorized that any viruses or bacteria present in this stage may multiply and cause infection which may weaken the immune system. Exercising is critical in overall health and skin care. Adding them in one’s lifestyle may lead to the development of healthy-looking skin.

Exercises to Fitness

Have you ever felt tired and stressed out from work and by the time you get home you see your three children running towards you asking you to play basketball with them? You refused and promised them that you will after you take you rest.

Instead of disappointing your children, why not say, “yes” after all? You will be surprised by the amount of energy you will have after that 30-minute activity.

Did you know that by exercising at a moderate pace for only 30 minutes, you would feel a lot better, mentally? It has been proven that this improves the appetite and sharpens your style in problem solving. Not only that. You will also feel that it is easier to sleep at night if you do moderate exercises even for only 30 minutes every day.

What are the benefits of regular exercise? It promotes self-discipline and has a positive impact how you perceive life. Exercise helps in lifting your spirits and getting you out of any depression. For first timers, it can be done for 15 minutes for 2 to 3 days a week. You can increase the time you spend once your body gets tuned up for it.

DON’T you ever force your body! If you get hurt, then stop. You can take a break from exercising for a few days and then you can start again but you need to start from day 1.

Here are some moderate exercises you can do and enjoy:

1. Do the Walking. Make use of your surroundings. You can walk your dog, with your partner or child. Encourage your family to do the walking exercise daily and you will find yourself burning calories while enjoying the surroundings and getting enough sunlight that is also good for your body.

2. Discover the wonders of Yoga. Yoga is one effective exercise that energizes not only your body but also your soul. You may want to learn even the basic yoga positions that are not too complicated but proven effective. A five-minute yoga exercise can perk you up and recharge your body with the energy you lost for the whole day. You relax and at the same time you stretch!

3. Engage yourself into sports. Play basketball, football, baseball, tennis or badminton. Many doctors have recommended sports as an effective way to stay fit and healthy. Sports can also be done in moderation. Do not take it seriously. Shooting basketball with a friend is one moderate exercise that is also considered a sport.

4. Join exercise programs at work. If you still do not have exercises programs at work, then why not start it? You can talk to your boss about it and start with your colleagues. You do not only lose calories but it is also one good way to bond with them. This can be done 30 minutes, 3 times a week.

5. Exercise while doing household chores. Gardening, raking leaves, lawn mowing, doing the laundry, vacuuming and car washing are effective moderate exercises at home. Make use of these chores to sweat and burn calories. Instead of using machines and gadgets to perform these chores, why not do it with your hands and lose some fats?

Making exercises as part of your daily routines will surprise you of how much calories you will lose. Doing these moderate exercises of the same amount every day can burn 150 calories up to 1,000 calories a day!

How the Body Senescence in Healthy Aging

Each day we all face the possibilities of getting some type of illnesses. Each day we live, we face common colds, allergies, flu, pneumonia, joint injuries and so on. Each day we live, we face the chances of reducing our life expectancy because at any moment someone could die from an accident or violence. Violence takes place in all our communities, which each day we all face the risk of becoming the next victim. Sure, you can spend your life in blindness believing that it can’t happen to you, but what happens on the day it does happen to you or someone you love. Are you ready to face the reality then? If you built your strengths, you would prepare for the unknown or inevitable because the fact is it can happen to you.

Facing reality head-on is something many people dread. The fact is when you face reality head-on you are preparing to take action when the day arrives. For instance, if you prepare to prevent hurricanes or tornadoes from destroying your home, you are taking steps to live healthier and happier, since you will be prepared if that day arrives. Likewise, when you consider healthy aging, if you take steps now you will be prepared to endure whatever doors open in your future, including disease, wrinkles, and so on.

On this note we are going to discuss a few ailments or conditions that all people may face as they begin to age.

Your brain:
Your brain is a natural gift that holds dendrites, blood cells, tissues, cells, etc, and all these elements channel down to your central nervous system. (CNS) As you start to age, your brain will decrease its flow of blood and your many levels of chemicals in the brain and body will decline as they go through the senescence of change. This means that your CNS will also decline its functions.

Moreover, when you begin aging you eyes are affected as well. As you grow older, the lens will stiffen. Your retina may feel less responsive to daylight or artificial light. In addition, your pupils may start to react slower.

How the ears, mouth and smell are affected:
As you begin to age your may find that your high-pitch hearing frequencies are less responsive. Your nose may not have the ability to identify scents or odors. In addition, you may not like the foods you once enjoyed since your tastes will change as well.

How aging affects the heart:
Aging affects the heart. Aging causes the pulse acceleration to lower. Your blood and heart muscles will stiffen and decrease production. In addition, your heart may not respond to natural things it once responded to at one time.

Your lungs will lose its ability to obtain air, moving it freely as it once did. Each breath you take will not carry the oxygen it once did to your blood. Aging will also change your liver. Your liver may reduce in size. Your liver may also decrease its blood flow.

As you grow older and these elements of your makeup change, it will affect your kidneys, bladder, colon, or large intestines, skin, immune system, metabolism, and your reproductive organs. A male will lose his reproductive organs ability to function proper, since the prostate glands will enlarge. The male will also lose reproduction of testosterone echelons. In addition, the blood will cease its flow to the male organs, such as the penis.

As you grow older you will experience many changes, which is why it is time to say now, it can happen to me and do something about it.

Choosing A Health Insurance Plan

The purpose of health insurance is to protect you from the alarming cost of medical care by providing you with insurance coverage for specified health and medical care services. Generally, you will pay a monthly premium, a deductible, and co-payments for services you receive. The cost for insurance is significantly less than if you had to pay for medical care out of your pocket. There are three basic types of health insurance, fee for service, consumer-directed, and managed care. These basic types of insurance plans cover hospital, medical, and surgical expenses, and depending on the particular plan you choose, possibly prescription drugs, mental/behavioral care, and dental.

A fee for service plan means the health care professional you choose will be paid a fee for each service provided to you. You can choose your own doctor and the insurance claim can be filed by either the doctor or the patient. A managed care plan will provide coverage to their members and offers incentives for patients who choose doctors participating in the plan’s network. The 3 types of managed care plans are HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans.

An HMO allows you to receive medical care through a network of participating physicians. You will generally select a primary care doctor, who will then refer you to a specialist when necessary. A PPO combines various features of an HMO and a fee for service plan. Members can choose from network doctors and pay lower upfront expenses, or choose any doctor they desire and pay more out of pocket expenses. A consumer-directed health plan gives members more choices and options in making health care decisions. Consumer-directed plans include a health account or fund designated for health care expenses. At the end of each year, unused funds will roll over to the next year.

A health insurance premium is the fee paid to the insurer to purchase health coverage. Premiums can be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually. Deductibles are the amount you will pay for covered services within a certain time frame, according to the terms of your plan, before you will be entitled to insurance benefits. Members with a high deductible may have to pay the first one thousand dollars of yearly medical expenses before the insurance would begin to pay, and those with a higher or lower deductibles would pay more or less, depending on the particular amounts specified in their plan. A co-payment is a stated amount or percentage that must be paid by the member along with each doctor visit, medical procedure, or prescription. For example, if your specified co-payments are $25, you will pay the first $25 of each doctor visit and your insurance would cover additional charges. Most insurance plans specify a different co-payment amount for prescriptions, doctor visits, and hospital or surgical care.

In choosing which type of health insurance plan is right for you, you must consider the affordability of doctor visits and hospital care, the amount of the monthly premium, the amount of the deductibles, and the amount of the co-payments. Make sure the plan you chose offers coverage for services you will actually use such as doctors, prescriptions, laboratory costs, treatment for preexisting conditions, and out-of-network care. Check the rating of the insurance company in question, the number of patient complaints in the past year, doctor drop out rates if the insurance plan includes a network, and the number of members who have dropped out of the plan in the past year. Health insurance that is subsidized by your employer is generally the least expensive, but if your employer does not offer health insurance, you should consider an individual health insurance policy. The cost of medical care is far too expensive to risk not having health insurance.

Consumer Health Insurance

Have you ever wondered what would happen if all of a sudden there is a health problem in the family and you have no resources to tackle that situation? Well this can only be described as carelessness. You ought to keep yourself prepared for mishaps in life and the best way to go for that is through consumer health insurance.

Mishaps and accidents do not have harbingers attached to them that is why it is important to have health insurance in addition there is also the old saying of precaution is better than cure which is also true in this regard.

The purpose of the consumer health insurance is to make a person feel secure about his future so that the life can be enjoyed to its fullest. That is why various consumer health insurance policies have been made available for the people who want to get insured.

These policies include:

Fee for service – is a traditional type of health insurance scheme where the agency pays a percentage of the costs and you pay the remaining. Premiums are generally higher in this scenario.

Managed care plans – other incarnations for this are health maintenance organizations (HMO’s), preferred provider organizations (PPO’s) or primary care provider (PCP) in this you pay monthly premiums and when you use the policy you only need to pay a small amount called co pay. The amount is £10 to £15.

COBRA – this is an option offered by the federal government of USA it stands for consolidated omnibus reconciliation act of 1985. With this you can also insure for other aspects that you want to insure.

People with health problems or any other pre existing conditions in usual scenario will find it difficult to get these consumer health insurances. However they can go in for other offerings like temporary coverage, open enrollment or HIPAA.

To get consumer health insurance the best way to go for that is through a broker. A broker can help you in many matters apart from getting you a deal well suited to you.

• A broker can help you in making decision on which scheme to choose a guaranteed renewable or a non cancelable one.
• A broker can answer your queries that you may have regarding the consumer health insurance.
• A broker can help you get a scheme where you can reduce your monthly premiums to as low as 50% of the earlier amounts.
• A broker will provide you guidance at every step of the process of consumer health insurance.

That is why you should go in for consumer health insurance through a broker.

Mean can be any of many but the purpose is one and that is consumer health insurance. No matter what the profile of a person is safety comes first and for that the most appropriate way is the path of consumer health insurance.

Every Baby Deserves The Best

As a parent, you want to give your child the best shot at a long, healthy life. A key to ensuring your child’s well- being is on-time vaccination against devastating but avoidable diseases.

One such disease is Haemophilus influenzae type b, commonly referred to as Hib. Hib disease usually occurs in infants and preschool children and is caused by bacteria. Hib can develop into a serious, often life-threatening illness. Most children will survive a Hib infection, but they may experience a number of potentially life-long complications. A disease called bacterial meningitis, which causes swelling of the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord, is the most common Hib infection. Survivors of Hib meningitis may suffer mental retardation, deafness, learning disabilities, motor abnormalities or seizures.

Prevention Is Key

The good news is that prevention is available. “Hib vaccination in this country has been so successful that many parents and pediatricians have never even seen the disease, much less the permanent damage it can cause,” said David Greenberg, M.D., Director, Scientific & Medical Affairs, sanofi pasteur. “As long as parents and health care providers continue to vaccinate infants and children on time, we can prevent the return of this disease. Even one case is too many.”

Amazingly, just two short decades ago, about 20,000 people-most under the age of 5-suffered from Hib infections each year. But today, thanks to the introduction of ActHIB (Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine [Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate]) and other vaccines that protect against the disease, fewer than 100 cases are reported annually.

While the number of Hib cases is currently low, health experts caution parents that they shouldn’t let their guard down and remind them that the best protection is through on-time immunization. Your child can get Hib by being around children and adults who may be carriers of the bacteria and not know it. Day care attendance, having school-aged siblings and living in a large household each increase the risk for disease.

On-Time Vaccination

Is The Goal

Since the late 1980s, immunization during infancy has been the most effective way to prevent Hib. Protection starts with a series of vaccinations between 2 and 6 months of age, followed by a booster dose between 12 and 18 months of age. The injections should be received at these specific ages, so no matter how busy you are, be sure to bring your child in for all scheduled vaccination visits.

Today, Hib is rare, but it is still a threat. That is why it is important that babies receive recommended immunizations on time. Talk to your health care provider or local health department about Hib vaccination, or go to www.Hibdisease.com or www.Hib.com for more information about Hib and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Safety Information

There are risks associated with all vaccines. Local and systemic adverse reactions to ActHIB vaccine may include injection-site redness, swelling and tenderness, as well as fever, irritability and drowsiness. Other local and systemic adverse reactions may occur. ActHIB vaccine is contraindicated in children known to have experienced a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine component or following a prior dose of the vaccine, as well as in children who are less than 6 weeks of age because of the potential for development of immunologic tolerance. Because intramuscular injections can cause injection-site bruising, if it is determined that the potential benefits clearly outweigh the risk, intramuscular injections should be given with caution to persons with any bleeding disorder. Vaccination should be delayed in children with moderate or severe acute illnesses; however, minor illnesses (such as mild upper respiratory infection) are not contraindications to vaccination.

Evening Primrose Oil And Health Benefits

Evening primrose is an indigenous plant to North America. The flowers have a strong, sweet scent, and only bloom at night during the months of June through October. Evening primrose has been used for hundreds of years to treat various ailments of the skin and muscular system. Several Native American tribes discovered that the entire plant is edible, and could be used as a painkiller in addition to everyday consumption. In Europe it is a proven treatment for PMS. The bark and leaves of evening primrose are said to have astringent and sedative properties. It has been proven to be effective treatment in regards to gastro-intestinal disorders, asthma and chronic or whooping coughs.

Evening primrose is rich in amino acids and essential amino acids such as omega 6. Essential fatty acids magnetize oxygen as well as produce electrical currents. Once in the body amino acids and essential amino acids are transformed into hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which condense allergic response and inflammation.

Existence without essential fatty acids is impossible because they are vital to the electrical reactions of cells. Essential fatty acids carry vitamins, enhance metabolism and transport oxygen to the tissues. They are indispensable to the adrenal glands, brain cells, retinas, sensory organs, synapses and testes. Essential fatty acids act as solvents to eliminate hardened fat inside the human body. They are also involved in generating the electric currents that maintain regular heartbeats, regulating chromosome stability and will even help with weight loss.

Here is a list of major constituents found in evening primrose: Alanine (0.5%), arginine (1.5%), aspartic acid (1.2%), beta-sitosterol (1.2-2.5%), calcium (1.3-1.8%), cellulose (27%), gamma-linolenic acid (0.5-10%), glutamic acid (2.7%), glycine (1%), fat (15-32%), fiber (43%), histidine (0.4%), isoleucine (0.5%), leucine (1%), lignin (16%), linoleic acid (12-22%), lysine (0.3%), methionine (0.6%), phenylalanine (0.7%), proline (0.6%), protein (15-17%), serine (0.9%) threonine (0.4%), tryptophan (up to 1.6%), tyrosine (0.4%), valine (up to 0.8%) and other lesser constituents.

Gamma linolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Gamma linolenic acid (or GLA) aids the body to manufacture energy, and it also helps to form parts of the structural fats that encompass bone marrow, the brain, cell membranes and muscles. Gamma linolenic acid is transformed by the body into prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help the body because of their anti-inflammatory properties. Prostaglandins can also act like a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. They are hormone-like substances produced in the body’s tissues.

Prostaglandin deficiency can result in disruption of the nerve impulse transmission, increase blood clotting time, inflammation and weaken immune response. Evening primrose oil with a high concentration of gamma linolenic acid is favorable for ailments related to essential fatty acid deficiency and the inability to metabolize essential fatty acids.

Evening primrose oil is beneficial in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, lowering blood cholesterol levels, asthma, allergies, PMS, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, skin irritation, rashes, anxiety, water retention, breast soreness, depression, coughs, irritability, and the prevention of benign prostatic hypertrophy. It can also act as a stimulant for the digestive system, liver and spleen.

Evening primrose oil has also been indispensable in the treatment of acne, brittle nails, eczema, hyperactivity, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy and alcohol related liver damage. There are other conditions where evening primrose is currently being tested for effectiveness, including breast cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.

Scientists have said that the studies on evening primrose have been promising, however there is not enough conclusive data available at this time. People with seizure disorders should only use omega-6 supplements of any kind, under the care and supervision of a licensed medical doctor, because omega-6 including gamma linolenic acid has had reports of inducing seizures in seizure-vulnerable persons.

When purchasing evening primrose oil it is important that the company states the percentages of gamma linolenic acid as well as the percentage of linoleic acid. Most quality oils will have between 7-10% GLA and 40-75% LA (the higher the percentages the better). If the company you are ordering the evening primrose oil does not list the GLA or LA content with their product it is advised to call them and get the percentage information on the 2 major constituent levels in their evening primrose oil.

The best evening primrose contains 10.3% gamma linolenic acid and 75% linoleic acid, available as carrier oil. Evening primrose can be used all over the body. Use it as a base to blend a therapeutic mix of essential oils for your specific ailment or as facial and body treatment to combat acne, dry, scared, mature, discolored and irritated skin. Of course it can also be used alone to produce beneficial therapeutic action. Evening primrose is a beautiful flowering plant, and an invaluable therapeutic emollient for general well being.

Free Health Insurance Quote

Health insurance is an important aspect of life and it should not be over looked just because you do not have proper knowledge of the topic and how to deal with that. Never the less now even that problem of yours is solved as well with the free heath insurance quote.

A free health insurance quote is something that can help you estimate how and what you need to do while looking for health insurance.

With so many different options as regards to choosing policies available it sometimes becomes difficult to estimate as what could be ideal for us. That is where we can use these free health insurance quotes to their optimum. A health insurance quote used well can save the users plenty of money when it comes to paying of monthly premiums.

The policies that the users can get nowadays are the following:

Fee for services it is a traditional type of health insurance policy. Where you pay a percentage of the cost and it has higher monthly premiums. So a health insurance quote will definitely help people in choosing a better plan.

There are also other management care plans also known as HMOs (health maintenance organizations) here the users pay monthly premiums and a small amount called the co pay at the time when you use the policy. The premiums are lower but the health insurance quote can help you understand the policy better and can offer you a deal better still.

There are other policies as well like COBRA where you can take the help of a health insurance quote to understand the proposition better.

A free health insurance is almost like a benediction for people who have pre existing conditions. It means that they either have health problems or some other thing they can choose any of these policies.
• Temporary coverage
• HIPAA
• State requirements
A health insurance quote will be useful with that as well to the people with pre existing conditions.

A free health insurance quote can be availed either by logging online or by taking the services of a broker. A broker will not only suggest a good deal but he will also guide you through the whole health insurance process. You can clear all your queries regarding the process of health insurance as well. Also you can get some valuable tips from a broker as well which will further make the health insurance policy more attractive.

It is always better to have health insurance whether it is for you or a family member. What can help you get one such policy or at least understand it better is a free health insurance quote. So if you are looking for health insurance it is advisable to first go in for a free health insurance quote.

Prostate and Sexual Health

Lycopene is considered by many specialists as one of the most potent antioxidants known to man due to its ability to prevent the development of certain cancers and other ailments. Lycopene is an antioxidant that is present in red fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, watermelon, and grapefruits. This antioxidant may help prevent cell damage that can be caused by oxidative stress, pollution, and many more. Lycopene may also prevent the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and male infertility. In addition to these health benefits, lycopene may prevent the development of prostate cancer, one of the leading causes of male sexual health problems.

The prostate is walnut-size gland that is located just below the bladder and is prone to many male urinary tract problems, cancer, benign enlargement, inflammation, and many more. With an estimated 18,000 new cases a year in the United States, it has become of the most common causes of male malignancy.

Prostate cancer is any tumor or abnormal growth of cells in the tissues of the prostate gland and probably beyond the prostate. The exact cause of this kind of cancer is not known. Many health experts believe that one’s age and family history may play a role in the chances of developing this dreaded disease. Prostate cancer is very common among black men and male patients over 50 years old. Medical studies show that this ailment is most likely caused by changes in male testosterone levels. This hormone is produced by the testes which influences the development and spread of prostate cancer. Thus, men with higher testosterone levels are more prone to acquire this health ailment. Age is a prevailing factor in the risk for the development of prostate cancer. As men get older, the risk of acquiring this cancer may also increase. Failure to treat this condition may impair a man’s overall well- being and sexual health.

The role of lycopene in preventing prostate cancer is unclear. However, several health studies suggest that this antioxidant is a key factor in reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer. This is possible because lycopene is a phytochemical that acts as a cancer-blocking agent that may help prevent carcinogens (agents that are involved in the formation of cancer) from interacting with other cellular components. This factor is essential in cancer prevention. Aside from lycopene, other cancer-suppressing phytochemicals include beta-carotene, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, resveratrol, gingerol, capsaicin, and many more.

Studies that focus on the health benefits of lycopene is a reminder that engaging in healthy lifestyles and partaking in healthy diets are essential in preventing the formation of prostate cancer and other kinds of cancers. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, foods high in monosodium glutamate (MSG), and other substances that may irritate the urinary tract is important to prostate health. If these things cannot be avoided, eating or drinking them in moderation is the next best preventive measure. In addition to these factors, exercising and cutting down on animal fat consumption and eating lots of fiber, fruits, and vegetables may improve one’s health.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are the natural product of plant metabolism. They are considered the liquid immune system of the plant. Essential oils come from the stems, seeds, leaves, bark, roots, rinds, flower petals and grasses of plants.

When you buy essential oils don’t be upset at the price. First off, they are well worth it. Secondly, when used properly it only takes a very small amount to accomplish the task. You’ll also want to try to purchase organic essential oils. The more pure the essential oil the more potent it will be. All natural and chemical free should be the only type of essential oil you purchase. Other modifications and processing can alter the strength and the purity of the oil. Essential oils that are extra virgin or cold pressed are great ones to use.

Essential oils can be used for a variety of purposes. Aromatherapy, bath oils, medicinal uses, and massage are only a few of the typical uses for essential oils. For a natural, effective therapy, no matter what the purpose, there is most likely an essential oil available to suite your needs.

When thinking about aromatherapy essential oil there is a variety out there from which to make your choices. The purer an aromatherapy essential oil the more potent the therapeutic effects. There is a wide range of aromatherapy essential oils all with their own unique therapeutic qualities.

Here is some information help you decide to buy any essential oil. To start, your essential oils have to be diluted into base oils. Diluting will make the substance go further and last longer. Dilution of essential oils will not reduce the effects.

Massage therapy essential oils can just as well be used in baths. Since a nice warm bath can be a great way to unwind at the end of the day, what better way to relax than to include a product that will help in many more ways, from rejuvenating the spirit and the mind to conditioning the skin. It is important to note that oil will cause the surface of the tub to become very slick, so use caution when exiting the tub and be sure to wash the tub out thoroughly when finished to avoid an accident the next time you bathe.

As with any product it is always important to check the contents of the oils and purchase them from a reputable company where you have more assurance of the ingredients used. Particular medical condition may cause adverse reactions when using these oils. If you have high blood pressure, pregnancy, epilepsy, heart conditions, diabetes and more consult with a physician before use. Remember, it is a good rule of thumb to spend a little time doing your homework first rather than pay for it later with your health.

Essential Oil Diffusing With an Electric Nebulizer

What Is an Electric Nebulizer and How Does It Work?

An electric nebulizing diffuser is a small device that has a motor housing and a glass nebulizer. The motor housing and glass nebulizer piece are often connected by a small length of rubber tubing. One or more essential oils are dispensed into an opening near the base of the glass piece. When the diffuser is turned on, the essential oils are aspirated toward the top of the glass nebulizer, where a small stream of air micronizes the essential oils into extremely fine droplets. This fine mist is expelled out the top of the glass nebulizer into the room.

Why Is Nebulizer Diffusion More Effective Than Other Types of Diffusion?

Other methods of essential oil diffusion include using lamp rings, a candle to heat the oil, or passive diffusion with an aromatherapy stone or a cotton ball. Heat diffusion is less desirable because alters the molecular constituents of the essential oil. Passive diffusion is typically very slow, particularly with less volatile essential oils, providing inferior therapeutic benefit.

With a nebulizing diffuser, no heat is used, so the molecular make up of the essential oils remains in tact. In most cases, all molecular components of the essential oil are expelled into the air, as opposed to passive diffusion where the smallest molecules evaporate first, with heavier molecules evaporating more slowly or not at all.

3 Health Benefits of Essential Oil Diffusing With a Nebulizer

1. Therapeutic Effects of Essential Oil Inhalation
Because the nebulizer produces such a fine essential oil mist, oils are easily absorbed via the lungs through inhalation. Nebulizing essential oils that affect the breathing passages – nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs – can have dramatic therapeutic benefits, and may help alleviate conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

2. Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral Effects
Essential oils are known to be effective against bacteria, molds, and viruses, and diffusion of essential oils has been shown to reduce surface and air microbes. This may be especially helpful for those with mold allergies. Electric nebulizers disperse essential oils into the room in such a way that can not be achieved by other diffusion methods.

3. Enhanced Emotional and Mood Effects of Aromatherapy
Specific essential oils are recognized for mood lifting, calming, relaxing, or mind focusing effects. With a more concentrated and complete dispersion of essential oils into the room, electric diffusion with a nebulizer enhances these effects.

Don’t forget to rotate the essential oils you use, to help avoid sensitization, and only diffuse for a few minutes at a time, with at least a half hour break in between.

Equine Health

If you own a horse, you are probably aware of the time and money needed to properly care for this amazing creature. Since horses have a longer life than do most animals, keeping them healthy can be somewhat of a challenge. Still, there are several things you can do to help ensure your horse stays healthy. Below are five tips that will help you get started down the right path.

Feeding your horse a well-balanced diet is one of the most important aspects of good equine health. If you are unsure of what this actually entails, consult with your veterinarian to find out what types of grains and other feeds may be appropriate for the type of horse you own. Age may also make a difference, so it is also important to keep this in mind when choosing the proper diet.

Keep your horse’s digestive tract healthy by de-worming on a regular basis. Failure to do this can result in your horse having worms that can result in significant harm, or even sometimes in death. This is important with many animals, and should be tended to regularly.

Make sure your horse receives vaccinations on a regular schedule so as to ward off critical diseases and conditions that can prove fatal. This is just as important for animals as it is for people, so be sure to treat this with great care. Keep a log of such vaccinations so that you will know when the various vaccinations are due. This can also help if there is ever a situation where the vet needs to know of previous vaccinations. While your vet will probably keep records of this, it is a good idea for you to have them as well.

It is very important that you keep a close eye on your horse’s feet. Poorly kept feet can lead to a variety of lameness problems, and can be very painful for your horse. You should also make sure your horse is shoed properly, and whenever necessary, as this will help as well.

Finally, make sure your veterinarian gives your horse a check up once a year. This is just as important for animals as it is for humans, and will alert you to any health problems so that they may be treated early on. It will also insure that your horse receives any necessary procedures and vaccinations on a regular basis, and will lead to overall good equine health.

Hair Care Tips

Hair is an important aspect of an individual’s appearance. It is natural and is determined at the time of birth. It generates from the number of roots in the scalp. Each hair grows up to a certain length and then stops naturally. It even sheds down at some point. New hair shaft replaces the lost hair. Now this new hair needs to be taken care of.

Healthy hair is a mirror to a good health. But due to the velocity of life one tends to skip over health issues leaving apart hair care. Here are a few hair care tips to ease hair loss and achieve manageable healthy hair.

Balanced Diet: Hair being a part of your body is affected by the food intake of an individual. It is recommended that a daily diet should be balanced with adequate amount of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins and minerals. An individual having oily hair should avoid intake of oily food items. Drinking plenty of water cleanses the toxins in turn enabling healthy hair growth.

Natural Hair Care: Brushing your hair regularly to stimulate the scalp will keep it looking healthy and lustrous. Never attack wet hair with a brush, no matter how rushed for time you are. Tangles in wet hair are best removed with a wide-toothed comb. A warm oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate and moisturize the scalp.

Air dry: Blow drying your hair robs off the excess moisture. It damages your hair even more. Let your hair air-dry whenever possible. Stand under the fan and run your fingers gently through the hair helping it dry.

Various hair care products are available in the market to help your hair restore its natural health and protect it from chemicals. Hair gels, creams, oils, shampoo, conditioner and hair softeners are to name a few. A wide range of hair care accessories in hair spray, tweezers, hair scissors, hair cutting scissors, sheers, professional sheers, hair sheers, hair comb, bobby pin, head band, eyelash curler, hair brush, and shower cap accessories are available.

For each hair care accessory and product, a full description of the product, picture of the package and the directions for its use is given.

In order to purchase a hair care product or accessory, one need not go searching for a salon or beauty shop. You can order it online. It’s the easiest way to purchase the right product to spruce your hair.

Healthy hair is a blessing. Treat your hair right for lustrous and healthy hair.

Oxygen Colon Cleanser

Bowel habit is a topic we seldom pick up even in our close circle, but we all secretly admit the value of a problem-free bowel habit and its multiple effects in our lives. We all know how frustrating it feels like starting the day with a nagging constipation and just on contemplating the effects of the attack of diarrhea, chills run down through our blood. Now while the symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, poor skin, trouble in losing weight, all result from the wickedness of a clogged colon, a healthy colon not only relieves you directly from these complaints, it ensures you an overall health. You can try different methods to get a healthy colon, but according to the experts the method that brings in most dramatic result is the Oxygen Colon Cleanser.

An oxygen colon cleanser is typically an oral solution for colon cleansing which takes the forms like Capsules and powder rich in oxygen-based chemicals. It is a way of cleansing your colon by releasing revitalizing oxygen to the systems of the body. Bad food habits lead to covering up of the colon walls with indigested wastes and an oxidation reduction reaction help to melt away those compacted matters. Specialized ozonated elements used in Oxygen colon cleansers break the solid toxic mass into a liquid or gas form and as a result it cleanse the entire intestinal tract and supply essential oxygen along the way. The best quality oxygen colon cleansers affect the whole system and work for other aspects of constipation treatments.

Now the question is why should we opt for oxygen colon cleanser when so many other options are available? The answer lies in its unique ability to help in the growth of helpful bacteria that ease our digestion process. But as for the other methods, they do away with these helpful bacteria in their efforts of eliminating impacted wastes harmful bacteria.

As opposed to other methods, oxygen therapy is also able to cleanse and detoxify the entire colon by eliminating all the old, impacted fecal matters. It clears the entire intestinal tract, and initiates a normal bowel processes.

It is often recommended that you should use oxygen-based cleansers along with colon hydrotherapy. It not only cleanses, also refreshes the entire intestinal tract. These cleansers have the ability of traveling to the kidneys and bladder. In the process the urinary tract gets purified as well.

You need not get panicked if you get watery, gaseous stools as a result of taking oxygen colon cleansers; it is not diarrhea. It is simply the result of oxidation or the process of turning a solid into a liquid or gas. If you want to see the best result, take at least gallon water per day to keep your system hydrated.

Enjoying Yoga to Live Healthy Aging

Yoga is a sort of exercise. Yoga assists one with controlling various aspects of the body and mind. Yoga helps you to take control of your Central Nervous System (CNS) and more. Enjoying yoga on a daily scale will build you up, which you will notice changes (Good changes), such as a boosted self-esteem. Your body will feel stronger also. For more than 5000 years, people have enjoyed yoga. Yoga derived from the India nations, which many believed that the act has helped millions of American citizens take control of their body and mind. Yoga has proven to reduce stress, which promotes the nervous system helping it to stay strong. Yoga when enjoyed on a regularly scale is a great method to help you with many pressures. Yoga combines spirituality, exercise, positive thinking, breathing and so on to help you enjoy healthy aging.

The Pros and Cons in Yoga:
Yoga is a valued practice for many people worldwide. Yoga incorporates fitness, health, gymnastics, and training in a set of rules. Yoga helps you to maintain or loose weight. Yoga is a stress reducing machine. Yoga will train your mind, since it teaches you to control your thoughts through meditation and breathing. Breathing right is essential to yoga’s creators. When you practice yoga, it keeps you in contact with your inner self. You learn to balance your mind and body, which leads to good health. Your emotions are controlled as well, which means fears, doubts, and other negative influences will not take control of your life. Rather you will have control. As you practice yoga, you will feel comfortable with you and the people around you. The world will become yours, since you learn to communicate effectively and stop sweating the small stuff. The cons in yoga, includes that some types of yoga training is not right for everyone. Another con inside yoga is that you sometimes have to modify the workouts to benefit your body type and to withhold the workout suited for your strengths. This is not a con necessarily, but it can be if you have to figure out where beginners start.

How to get started:
The first thing you should do is see your family doctor. Make sure you are able to enjoy the type of yoga you choose. When your doctor approves of your choice of yoga steps start out slowly. Guide your way into mediate exercising. Yoga will put you in connection with your spiritual side, so prepare to find a new you. When you first start yoga, perhaps you would benefit from joining groups that practice yoga. The group sessions may inspire you to continue your journey to healthy aging. Having support is essential for all of us, which yoga groups can become your support team. If you cannot find a group in your area, visit your local library. You can also purchase books that train you how to enjoy yoga. Videos are available as well.

Where do I go after I’ve trained in yoga?
After you have taking the steps to get started, you will need to find a quiet area that makes you feel comfortable. You want to avoid interruptions while practicing yoga.

When will I notice the change in me?
Like everything in life, you will not notice a change in you right away. It takes time to notice or feel the changes. If you do this like your suppose to do on a regular basis you will see some changes gradually. Keep in mind that yoga is teaching you how to control your mind, body and emotions. Work with yoga and yoga will work with you.

Enjoy Summer And Vacation Good Health

Summer can be a real health challenge. Our ambitious travel plans leave us vulnerable to new influences from the new environments we so eagerly embrace. Here are some practical tips on how to stay balanced, energetic and well.

Dehydration

You needn’t cross the desert to suffer from dehydration. Many of us suffer chronic dehydration simply because we don’t drink as much water as we should. Our bodies are 65-80% of water, depending on our age. To keep them in balance, it’s no surprise – we need lots of water! And many people just don’t drink enough of it. Sodas, juices, coffee and teas do not answer the same need, with the result that the flow in our body systems is disturbed. Our arteries become polluted and our organ function is compromised. People with cardiac disease, and kidney and gallbladder stones often don’t drink 6-8 glasses of water a day and are chronically dehydrated.

Drinking only sodas, coffee, alcohol and the like also depletes our minerals and vitamins, harming us even more. To counteract this depletion we need a quality multivitamin. How to know what constitutes good quality? Put your multivitamin in a glass of water. If it hasn’t dissolved in ½ hour it will probably not be absorbed in your body, but will simply be eliminated. Be sure, too, that it is as natural as possible. For example, Vitamin E called tocopheryl is obtained naturally. If this is not stated on the bottle, it is probably an artificially derived version that is inferior.

Stress and Depression

Stressed out? Use Vitamin C daily. If you want to detoxify as well, take at least 2000 mg. per day. Depressed? Send me an email. I am working on two articles full of practical suggestions that will make a difference.

Get a good massage: Your friend doesn’t have to be an expert to rub some Oil of Oregano into your muscles with love and goodwill. You will feel your muscles relaxing as oxygen penetrates deep into the tissue. Don’t forget your shoulders and neck, the places we most often tend to tense up. Where to obtain Oil of Oregano?

Eat fruits and vegetables in abundance and avoid sugars. Did you know that every bacteria and virus loves to grow on sugar? Avoid polyunsaturated fats, use unheated cold-pressed olive oil as much as possible, and use flaxseed to get your omega 3.

Summer flu

Stomach flu (or gastroenteritis) is often caused by a virus or food poisoning. Avoid solids for the first day. Drink water, broth (?Pieternel?) and some apple juice to maintain your electrolyte levels. A tablespoon of acidophilus every hour can be beneficial. When you can tolerate solids, start with grated apple and cinnamon, mashed bananas and rice water (water and rice has been cooked). Aloe Vera juice is also a good option, or kefir in its natural form. If this goes well, expand your variety of foods slowly.

Sunburn

Aloe Vera is excellent for sunburn, whether in juice form or straight from the plant. See www.pieternel.com
It’s best to avoid extended exposure to sunshine as much as possible. It can dry out the mucus in your nose, eyes and ears. To cleanse and make these parts succulent again, use a solution of salt water. Warm up one cup of water with a pinch of salt – about as salty as your tears. Let it cool, then put it into a dropper bottle. Use it to clean out your nose, eyes and ears, where it can accelerate the hygienic discharge of mucus.

Swimmer’s Ear (and Earaches generally)

Is anything more relaxing than getting away from it all with a good swim? For some though, this means “swimmer’s ear” and earaches. But these need not discourage you. For problems with swimmer’s ear use Earacheaway. The name says it all. This is a remedy with a base of olive leave extract and vinegar that will relieve your infected ears. For more information see

Be sure to enjoy your life and radiate love, so love finds its way back to you.

Warmly, Pieternel van Giersbergen

Enjoy a healthier lifestyle with more fruits and vegetables

Everyone agrees on the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables, but not enough people are following this important advice. Dietary experts recommend that every person should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables is one of the easiest changes you can make to increase your level of health, lose weight and gain fitness.

The latest food guidelines recommend that adults eat from five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. While that may seem like a lot, it is an important goal to strive for, and a very reachable one.

A serving of a fruit or vegetable is equal to:

1. 1 medium sized vegetable or fruit (such as an apple, orange or banana)
2. 2 small fruits (such as kiwi fruit or plums)
3. ½ cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruits or vegetables
4. ½ cup of 100% fruit juice
5. ¼ cup of dried fruit
6. 1 cup of green salad

Study after study has shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases and conditions. One reason for the recommendation that everyone increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables is that many of these foods have been shown to have strong antioxidant qualities.

Many fruits and vegetables have high amounts of many antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C. In addition to their importance as source of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables also provide essential dietary fiber.

Many people do not realize, that in addition to vitamin C, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits also contain significant amounts of fiber. Fiber plays an important role in digestion, and it is thought to have protective qualities against heart disease and some forms of cancer. In addition, fiber is thought to have the ability to lower high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Another great feature of fruits and vegetables, especially to those watching their weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, and low calorie nature of these foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels of fats, and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for long-term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories than many other types of foods.

Fruits and vegetables have a lot of advantages besides just their nutritional importance. For one thing, they taste great and add a great deal of variety to everyday meals. Fruits and vegetables come in such a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors that they can be used in virtually every meal. Those seeking to maximize their consumption of fruits and vegetables should get into the habit of using fruits in salads, as toppings and as garnishes.

No matter what your reason for following a healthy diet, we believe you will find that eating more fruits and vegetables is a delicious, as well as a nutritious, way to get the vitamins and minerals you need every day.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. When word gets around about your command of healthy diet facts, others who need to know about fruits and vegetables will start to actively seek you out.

Health With Essential Oils

In today’s hectic and fast-paced life it’s important to spend some “me” time pampering and relaxing yourself. Today, there are numerous relaxation options available as well as several ways to relieve stress, enjoy and rejuvenate your senses and body. A great way to experience a heaven-like, self-indulgent beauty treatment is at a day spa or a beauty salon. Beauty professionals use 100% natural and pure oils extracted from plants and herbs, known as essential oils, to cure, heal, and energize your body.

Need for Essential Oils
A good body massage at the hands of an experienced masseur is not just physically rewarding but also emotionally advantageous to your body. Massage and body massage oils are perfect for pampering and relieving the stress and tension of your body and mind. Essential oil blends are the traditional and age-old cures to enhance the feeling of being healthy, vitalized, as well as spread a general sense of positivity and goodwill. Essential massage oils, when used for massages, not only moisturize the skin, but also ease muscle tension and help you de-stress and relax.

Essential oils such as Orange, Lemon, and others are full of rich minerals and vitamins. There composition is such that they can be absorbed by the skin with ease and offer deep-tissue treatments for the body. You can use aromatherapy essential oils as home spa oils as well. These oils are perfect for use as bath oils and after bath moisturizing.

History of Essential Oils
History of essential oils is as unique and interesting as the oils themselves. Used by the early civilizations such as Indians, Chinese, Egyptians, and Babylonians essential oils have also been mentioned in the Bible. The ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and some Chinese manuscripts have records of physicians and priests using oils extracted from plans to make some of the earliest known medicines. These oils were also used for protection against diseases and for curing wounds and ache as well as during religious ceremonies, embalming the dead, and as perfumes!

Several royalties such as Cleopatra was fully aware of the power of essential oils and would use them to attract men towards her. She also used them for a glowing, supple skin and thick, dark, lustrous hair.

Extraction of Essential Oils
All-natural and pure essential oils are aromatic or fragrant extracts of trees, flowers, herbs, spices, bark, fruits, seeds, and fibers by the process of distillation, or solvent extraction. Since essential oils are essential to the plants’ growth process and to the substances that give them their special fragrance, they are also known as “life force.” There are more than 150 different types of essential oils that are used in aromatherapy. Some of the essential oils are more expensive than others. This could be due to the rarity of the sources or the complexity of the extraction process. Emu Oil, extracted from Emu bird is very expensive but excellent for the skin, wrinkles, and overall beauty. On the other hand, orange, lemon, sage, rosemary, patchouli, and others are fairly inexpensive and easily available in the supermarkets.

Benefits of Essential Oils
Essential oils are wonderful for us. Not only because they are completely natural and don’t have any side effects but also because they give us more than physical relief. If you use essential oils on a regular basis, your will feel healthier, fitter, mentally stronger, psychologically more in control, besides having a higher immunity level against common illnesses such as colds, fevers, allergies etc.

Different essential oils offer different benefits. Some may offer unique healing, antiseptic properties while others may offer anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, expectorating, and diuretic properties. You must seek a aroma therapist before buying an essential oil for treating a serious ailment.

However, you may use the more common essential oils such as Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea-tree, Ylang Ylang for relaxation and enjoyment as well.

Some Essential Oils for Health and Beauty
We thought with all this talk about essential oils, you may now just want to know which ones you can buy without having to peel through layers of research for spending money on consulting a professional. And remember, each of these essential beauty oils have their own healing properties that offer your skin a rosy and healthy glow. So here goes:

1. Sunflower Oil – Grown by American Indians for 1000s of years, this oil is extracted from sunflower seeds and is rich in minerals and in Vitamins A, and E.

2. Olive Oil- One of the most cherished, valuable, and powerful multi-use beauty/health oil, it has also been called “liquid gold” do to its miraculous powers for improving the texture and appearance of your skin. Olive oil leaves your skin feeling soft and your complexion glowing due to the high mineral content, Vitamin E, and vital fatty acids!

3. Jojoba Oil – Obtained from the seeds of the desert plant Jojoba, the oil is light and waxy. Excessively being used as a humectant, Jojoba oil creates a protective layer on the surface of your skin to lock the moisture in so that your skin stay hydrated and soft even in winter!

Essential oils are a perfect way to look beautiful and stay healthy for longer!

Enhance Your Childrens Fitness

If you own a children’s fitness business and want to add to your services, try offering a preschool exercise program in your local area. Preschool exercise programs are much needed, but too often, they get put on the back burner in schools, daycares, and other preschool organizations. Some may feel it’s not that important that preschoolers exercise on a regular basis, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Fitness is very important for preschoolers and it helps them establish good habits that can last a lifetime.

Offer a Preschool P.E.

Many older children participate in some sort of P.E. (physical education) class at school, but many preschoolers don’t. P.E. is a class offered at a set time for about an hour a day when kids exercise and play sports such as softball, basketball, and dodge ball. With a preschool P.E., you can schedule to come to the preschool class at a set time each day to teach the children age-appropriate exercises and other fun, active stuff to get in shape.

Some of the preschool fitness activities you can offer in your classes include aerobic exercises, fun dances, gymnastics, and age-appropriate sports. You can also incorporate nutrition information and provide take-home items such hand-outs, newsletters for parents, take-home coloring sheets, DVDs, music CDs, and other items to enhance the preschool exercise classes.

If you’re unable to instruct the classes yourself, you can approach preschools about starting their own program. Your children’s fitness business can provide the supplies and training they need. The curriculum you provide will teach the instructors how to help preschool children learn about fitness and nutrition, stay in shape for the long term, and improve self-esteem.

The Benefits of Preschool Fitness

Preschool fitness offers many benefits for children, parents, and teachers. The children in the program learn the importance of exercise in a fun, exciting way, and they learn how to warm up, cool down, and stretch their muscles for more flexibility. Preschool exercise promotes cardiovascular health at a young age and helps children develop good exercise and eating habits that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Preschool fitness programs can reach into the children’s homes to help parents combat childhood obesity at home. Teachers involved in the program may see an improvement in class moral, and more energy and clearer minds in their preschoolers, which can result in a better teaching and learning environment.

Getting Started with a Preschool Fitness Program

Whether your children’s fitness business is located in a storefront or you travel to different schools or homes, you can easily incorporate a preschool fitness program with your current offerings. There are many great franchises dedicated to helping you start your own program. These will provide the curriculum and other items needed to teach the classes. In a storefront setting, you can set up displays for local teachers to sign up as preschool fitness instructors. Or, you can visit local preschool establishments to ask about starting a program.

Use online resources to find a kid’s fitness program franchise that will work well with your business. Look for a program that offers a variety of exercise techniques and materials so the kids won’t become bored with the program. Preschoolers have a short attention span so the more new techniques you can offer, the more effective it will be.

A preschool exercise program can enhance your children’s fitness business in more ways than one. It enables you to bring a positive influence to local daycares and schools while helping many impressionable preschool kids learn to get in shape and stay healthy!

Enhance Vitality

Mangosteen is a tropical evergreen tree from the Guttiferae family that grows primarily in Thailand, parts of India, the Malay Peninsula, and the Philippines. The tree yields a sweet, edible dark purple fruit that is parthenogenesis, meaning it doesn’t require fertilization. Besides being eaten in its natural raw state, it’s also used in jellies, jams, fruit juices, and a wide variety of mangosteen nutritional supplements.

Mangosteen in the Health Food Market

Mangosteen is not only a delicious fruit, but is also emerging as what is often called a super fruit in today’s health food market. It is usually advertised as a fruit that’s rich in nutrition with great antioxidant strength and that reduces risk of disease, although studies are still underway in the United States to learn about the full potential of mangosteen.

Mangosteen nutritional supplements are usually offered in the form of a liquid vitamin mixed with other nutrition sources such as plant-source minerals rich in antioxidants, aloe vera, green tea, and a combination of other health-enhancing vitamins.

Mangosteen and Xanthones

Xanthones are chemical compounds that are either produced synthetically or found in naturally grown fruits and vegetables. They are powerful antioxidants and are part of a family called phytonutrients. So far about 200 xanthones have been discovered. Around forty of these have been found in mangosteen. PubMed.gov documents much research on mangosteen and xanthones. Antioxidants are beneficial because they help rid the human body of free radicals, or toxins, that often build up in the body and cause health problems or disease. Toxin build-up has been known to cause cancer, heart disease, and other harmful diseases.

Mangosteen Nutritional Supplements and Your Health

Although not a cure all, mangosteen does offer a number of health benefits. With proper concentration as a liquid vitamin, it can help improve vitality and physical energy, protect your heart, promote healthy skin, eyes, and teeth, support the immune system, and enhance the digestive system.

Combining mangosteen minerals with other nutritional sources such as organic green tea and aloe vera enhances mangosteen’s benefits further. Green tea is known for its powerful antioxidant properties. Aloe vera contains natural dietary sugars that support the body’s immune system and enhance cellular functions.

Shopping for Mangosteen Nutritional Supplements

Mangosteen nutritional supplements can usually be found online or in your local health food and vitamin store or pharmacy. The liquid vitamin supplement gives you a healthy diet supplement that’s delicious too! Whether shopping online or off-line, be sure the mangosteen product reveals exactly what ingredients are used and the actual percentage of xanthones it contains from the mangosteen fruit. There are many products on the market that make big claims, but only contain a very small amount of mangosteen extracts. Or, they don’t supplement it with other sources of nutrition for maximum benefits.

You can easily do research online to discover the many benefits of mangosteen and to find products that are rich in mangosteen antioxidants. With mangosteen and other healthy fruits and vegetables, you can start on the road to better health today.

Energy Drink With A Healthy Heritage

Studies have shown that specific compounds in green tea are potent weapons against life-threatening disease, including cancer, stroke and heart disease. The power of green tea is shown in many recent scientific articles that describe benefits on body functions such as immunity, cardiovascular function, brain function-even weight control. In addition, certain components of green tea may help improve blood cholesterol levels.

Now, taking the benefit of green tea one step further, a new product from AriZona Beverages called Green Tea Energy Drink combines an ancient beverage with a modern energy formula-a complete, balanced blend of vitamins, minerals and herbs-for a healthy boost.

One of the key components of this new drink is B vitamins, which are necessary for cell growth, health and metabolism. They play a critical role in maintaining a healthy central nervous system and can dramatically affect mental functions by helping to maintain a positive mental attitude and enhancing learning abilities, including cognition, long- and short-term memory, stimulus response and mental energy.

In addition to 100 percent of the recommended daily values of vitamins B6, B12 and C, AriZona Green Tea Energy Drink contains such performance ingredients as:

• Guarana-A naturally occurring caffeine source that has traditionally been used as an energy tonic and to increase mental acuity and long-term memory, increase physical endurance, combat premature aging and increase libido.

• Taurine-One of the most abundant amino acids in the body, taurine regulates heartbeat, maintains cell membrane stability and helps prevent brain cell overactivity.

• Panax ginseng-A classic root that contains compounds known as adaptogens. Adaptogens are believed to be helpful for people dealing with physical and/or emotional stress.

AriZona Green Tea Energy Drink is a lightly carbonated, thirst-quenching creation that offers a unique combination of science, performance and refreshment in a great-tasting quaff. It’s available in both regular and diet-both packing the same terrific flavor and nutritional punch.

Energy Balance in the Body

Historical references to a universal energy field date back as far as 5000 B.C. to India where prana was considered to be the basic source of life. In China it was referred to as chi and was believed to be in all matter. Two polar forces were recognized, yin and yang. When these two forces were in balance one was considered to be healthy. More recently Western medicine has begun to recognize energy within the body with the advent of devices capable of detecting its effects in the body. Energy fields associated with the human body have been detected by electroencephalograms (EEG), electrocardiograms (ECG), and very highly sensitive devices such as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID). Practitioners of alternative forms of health care often believe much of the illness we see in the human body is the result either a blockage of the flow of the energy of the body, or an imbalance in the energy from one side of the body to the other. When the energy balance is restored, the body begins the healing process. Often, symptoms seem to almost miraculously lessen or even disappear. Energy imbalance is the result of too much nerve energy being sent to a part of the body in response to pain or dysfunction. The body gets caught in an endless loop of trying to make corrections. The result is an imbalance in which the deficient side develops painful trigger points. These trigger points are formed in the areas where acupuncture meridians are located. Therapies have been developed using these points to release blockages of energy and allow the proper amount of energy to flow. One does not need to use needles. These are the same acupressure points used by massage therapist to release tension, increase blood flow, and strengthen the body’s natural life force to assist in healing.

When energy is flowing to one side of the body more than the other, it can be easily felt in the form of muscle tension. Nerve impulses are sent along the nerves to muscles and other locations in the body. In the muscles this naturally causes them to be more contracted. A muscle that is contracted is shorter than a muscle that is relaxed. As a result of the increased muscle contraction, one entire side of the body will often feel tighter. How can we balance this energy and cause both sides of the body to be equally relaxed? The method is simple.

Trigger points are located by their tenderness, and once located, gentle pressure is applied. The initial stimulation of the trigger point sends a signal to the central nervous system to send more energy to the deficient side. The side that was getting the excessive energy suddenly has energy diverted from it, and the deficient side begins to receive an increase in energy. After a short time, a balance is achieved. The body is then able to use its resources for healing instead of continually attempting to bring the flow of its energy back into balance.

Empowering Your Emotional Health

There is a phenomenal rise in the growth of fitness clubs and gyms. People have become conscious of their body image that they are willing to go through the extra mile just to achieve that sculptured body. Almost every fitness buff wants to achieve the same figure displayed by models in the pages of the magazines, on billboards, on television, and on movie screens. People try to find sensible and sustainable ways to achieve and maintain a physically fit body. Yet what is often overlooked is the need to take care of another important aspect of their well-being: their emotional health.
Having a healthy mind and spirit go well with a healthy body. Emotional health is considered an integral part of man’s overall wellness. Neglecting your emotional health can damage your physical health in the process. Research has shown that one of the leading contributors to illness is stress caused by unresolved emotional issues.
Psychologists believe that feelings or emotions such as fear, joy, sadness, anxiety and anger are mental responses to events, circumstances, people, or our own thoughts and memories. They course through our conscious and unconscious beings at all times, whether at critical junctures or during seemingly inconsequential moments of our lives.
Biologists, on the other hand, tell us that our emotions are rooted in self-preservation, triggering physiological reactions that enable us to find food, escape danger, and reproduce. Author Daniel Goleman pointed out in his work, Emotional Intelligence that “…all emotions are, in essence, impulses to act, the instant plans for handling life that evolution has instilled in us.”
Emotions have also evolved into facial expressions and body language so that each member of the group can signal his or her wants and needs to other members. As John D. Mayer, a leading expert in the study of emotions, has remarked: “Emotions convey information…about relationships.”
Our emotion can be so powerful that it can even make us sick. It can also be a means to gain healing. Emotions are relayed to the immune system through the autonomic nervous system. When people experience anxiety, depression and other painful emotions, the immune system can be affected and may cause risk for a whole host of illnesses. In the same way, having a healthy emotional outlook in life can boost the resistance against disease.
Mayer has emphasized that people can reason with emotions in the same way they reason with cognitive information. It can be said that a person can actually solve emotional problems just as mathematicians solve math problems, Mayer said. However, he also acknowledged that some emotions, such as grief and anger, can be harder to reason effectively with than others. Oftentimes, identifying the various emotions at play can be extremely difficult.
Not many experts agree that human beings are born with a full range of emotions. Instead, they theorize that people were born with instincts and urges, along with an innate capacity for feeling. As people grow older, they acquire personalities and nurture relationships with others, thus, helping these instincts and urges develop into full-fledged emotions.
Emotional health consists of five key components:
1. Being aware of your emotions. Emotionally healthy people are in touch with their emotions and can identify and acknowledge them as experience.
2. Being able to process your emotions. After connecting with their emotions, emotionally healthy people develop appropriate ways of expressing them.
3. Being sensitive to other people and their emotions and having the ability to empathize. The ability to identify their own emotions enables emotionally healthy people to identify emotions in others and to have an intuitive sense of what it feels like to experience them.
4. Being self-empowered. Emotionally healthy people honor their emotions, which empowers them to fulfill their goals.
5. Being in healthy relationships. Using their emotional intelligence and empathy, emotionally healthy people build and maintain strong, functioning relationships.
Just as emotional health can affect a person’s physical health, the same is true with one’s lifestyle making a direct impact on emotional health. Vitamins and minerals stimulates the production of chemicals in the brain. These are known as neurotransmitters that regulate our physical and mental health functions, including the way we process emotions. Minor deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to depression and irritability. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies also hamper our ability to concentrate and stay motivated.
Definitely, unhealthy foods can adversely affect emotional health. Excessive intake of caffeine also causes physiological and psychological side effects that are often seen in people suffering from anxiety, while a diet with too much sugar has been linked to depression, aggression, and impaired judgment.
Many experts believe that people with strong spiritual fervor tend to have healthier immune systems and were less prone to anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure. It can be surmised that the faith of religious adherents gave them an enhanced sense of well-being which helped reduce their levels of stress.

Elliptical Trainer Review

One of the most crucial features to consider when purchasing an elliptical trainer is the warranty. The extent of the warranty speaks volumes as to the quality and the durability of the machine.

There is a relative new player in the elliptical trainer industry, Sole Fitness. They are defining their niche by offering one of the most extensive warranties available at any price range. This includes 5 year coverage on parts and electronics, and 2 year labor. (Excludes the E25)

Why is the warranty so important when purchasing fitness equipment? First, it reduces your liability if the machine breaks down. Replacing parts and hiring someone to service your elliptical trainer can be very costly. Second, the warranty generally reflects the quality of the machine.

When you think about it, a warranty is based on simple economics. If an elliptical trainer is built to last then the manufacturer can offer a generous warranty. On the other hand, if the machine is of questionable quality, it would be cost prohibitive to support it with a lengthy warranty. The company would go broke with service costs.

Why do you think cheap elliptical trainers come with a 90 day parts and labor warranty? It’s because the manufacturers do not have much faith the machine will last much longer than that.

Beyond their warranty coverage, Sole Fitness is building some excellent elliptical trainers. In a recent test I very impressed with the smooth elliptical motion, and how quiet it was, even when I cranked up the resistance. I also liked the 20” stride. Most ellipticals are built with a 16”-18” stride. With a smaller stride you often feel like your workout is constrained, and the elliptical motion bouncy. For someone who is over 6’ the longer stride is a must, but even for people of average height the 20” stride feels natural and comfortable.

Sole has an excellent reputation. Their treadmills have won several “Best Buy” awards. TreadmillDoctor.com calls their folding treadmills, “One of the best fold-ups on the planet.”

In addition, their treadmills are used by the Hilton chain for in-room fitness. Having been proven in a commercial environment, this is a statement on the durability of their machines. This same quality can be found in their elliptical trainers.

Elliptical Trainer

Having an elliptical trainer as a cardio workout companion pays handsome health dividends. Improved cardiovascular function, overall conditioning, and healthy weight loss due to a revved up metabolism, are all part and parcel of the benefits of an elliptical trainer package.

Although these machines were primarily developed as a low-impact exercise solution, elliptical trainers have become superb general fitness tools, as discussed at Best-Gym-Equipment.com. They offer continuous motion, without the commotion, so to speak!

With the help of the firm footing provided by the elliptical trainer’s footpads or footplates, the user ‘walks’ with a natural, smooth, flowing movement. The result is bone-strengthening, weight-bearing, fat-burning, aerobic exercise, without the jarring that is a major cause of joint injuries.

You will have a riot on your hands if only your hips, glutes, and legs are called to ‘gym’ service. Maintain bodily harmony and peace, by looking at elliptical trainers that sport crosstraining handlebars. This will get your upper body into the game, placating complaining hips and thighs.

By following this strategy, you maximize the calorie-burning benefit you derive from your time on the elliptical trainer. At the same time, you will be strengthening your arms, back, chest, and shoulders.

Elliptical Trainer – A Basic Checklist:

Adjustable Resistance: As your body adapts to the cardio workout, and your aerobic capacity increases, you will need an adjustable resistance feature to maintain the effectiveness off the elliptical trainer program. Look for a machine that offers this feature at the push of a button. You don’t want to lose your momentum, while changing gear.

Backing Up Is Beneficial: An elliptical trainer should offer both forward and reverse motion. This prevents repetitive strain injuries, by cajoling different muscles into action. It also adds variety to your exercise routine, maintaining interest.

Concise Consoles: Make sure that you will be able to understand the workings of the elliptical trainer’s console. Functionality and clear programming are vital. Some machines conveniently accommodate more than one user.

Do-It-Yourself: Most elliptical trainers feature a wide variety of pre-set programs – more than enough to test your limits for some time. However, you may want the option to customize programs to allow for your particular needs. Check that this will be possible.

Even Fluency: When testing an elliptical trainer, a clear sign of the quality of the machine, is the fluency of the motion, and a low noise level. Any sign of instability, is a sign to focus on a different model.

Footprint Fit: If space is a problem, an elliptical trainer may be an ideal option, as it usually is quite a compact piece of fitness equipment. Many models come with wheels for no-fuss mobility.

Heart Rate Monitor: Most elliptical trainers feature hand grip sensors on the handlebars. In any cardiovascular exercise program, it is vital to monitor your heart rate, in order to make adjustments to the workout intensity. A heart monitor strap may also be available.

Incline Incentive: A quality elliptical trainer will have as one of its features, an 0% to 10% adjustable incline, allowing you to up the ante as your muscle power increase. For maximum cardiovascular and strength-building benefits, it is important to retain an element of challenge in your routine.

Jolts And Jars: When testing an elliptical trainer, look for a completely smooth movement, without any jolts or bouncyness in the footpads.

Knee-Demands: An elliptical trainer often is a suitable option to consider, if you are experiencing any knee problems. The natural movement promotes proper alignment of ankle, knee, and hip. However, it is always safe to check with a health practitioner, if you have any medical concerns.

Length Of Stride: Test the elliptical trainer to make sure that it is completely comfortable. Don’t let the machine cramp your style!

All the prominent manufacturers have designed state-of-the-art, feature-rich crosstrainers. The only way to make sure that you find the perfect partner for your cardio workout, is to thoroughly test a wide range of elliptical trainers.

California Schools Districts

In June of 2006, superintendent of public instruction Jack O’Connell awarded $150,000 in grants to 11 districts within the California schools. The funds are for California schools student attendance at the California Health Science Education Institute and associated costs of the program.

Currently, there are numerous jobs in the healthcare industry for applicants with college and only high school degrees. The healthcare industry is in desperate need of well-educated people to fill an increasing number of positions projected for the future. This need gives today’s California schools students opportunities for future careers that will provide them a comfortable lifestyle.

These healthcare jobs are demanding; however, and require rich and rigorous core curriculums for students from kindergarten through high school. The grants will help prepare California schools students for such careers, as well as meet the demand for well-educated workers in the healthcare industry — a win-win situation for everyone.

The funds ultimately are designed to help California schools students consider such careers. The eligible districts within the California schools already have Health Science Pathways in place. They are quality programs that help prepare students for healthcare careers. Districts that participate are eligible for up to $15,000 in grant money, distributed in two payments. The first payment of 75 percent is received before students attend the Institute. The remaining 25 percent is received upon completion of Institute attendance and application requirements.

The fulfillment of each district grant requires:

• Development teams that consist of teachers, administrators, counselors, postsecondary partners, and healthcare industry partners;
• District teams must attend the annual California Health Science Educators Institute, held in Los Angeles every June;
• Teams develop and submit a health science pathway strategic plan, as directed by the Institute;
• A team approach is used in all facets of the California schools program;
• Districts and their teams also must submit to the California schools letters of commitment to the California Health Science Education Institute program; and
• California schools students must attend the California Health Science Education Institute.

The funds for the new California schools program were made available through a partnership between the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency and the California schools. The new programs goes a long way to support enrichment and improvement of the Health Science Pathway program in the California schools, as well as satisfying a community need and offering more opportunities for students in the future.

Ehat Is Health Insurance

Health insurance will open flourishing for medication and doctors odyssey much easier. Many companies present their employees health insurance as incentives to motion and in direction
to get going out-and-out that employees are red enough to loom to work each day.

A health insurance for those who have families will succor property for prescription medication for spawn who bring about sick or injured. People who have families motive to make having health care a priority. While health plans can vary, hugely can wherewithal almost all medical expenses. Employees bestow to health plans through their salaries. Each week, juice is absorbed out of their earnings and used for the health care plan. Employers pay the majority of the cost for the plan, but employee contributions can be a sizable amount of money.

Those who actualize not have a health insurance entrust have to chips very additional for doctor’s visits and medication. This can curtains the internal budget and could hinder receiving the right medical care. Those with families have to find jobs that offer some type of health insurance.

Individual health insurance can be uncommonly expensive. Those who are students, self-employed, or who functioning part-time may have to occupancy their accept force in decree to have the coverage they leave need. This can cost more than the regular visits because premiums are very high. But for those who cannot find another job or who cannot leave school, buying a health insurance is the only way to have enough coverage in case of an emergency. Before resorting to buying a health plan, people should research other alternatives that may work. This could save people money in the long run that could be used for other expenses.

Having health insurance is important, but in consequence is propitious various bills on run as well.

Omega 3 Oils

Eggs have many health benefits, among them being the fact they can be an excellent source of omega-3 oils that can promote better health in those that take it as a supplement. Hens fed on flax seeds are particularly high in omega-3 fatty acids, although eggs have many health benefits other than omega-3.

Most of the health benefits of Omega fatty acids are well known, although many more are being continually discovered as scientists research the uses to which the substances can be put in our bodies. Omega-3 fatty acids have long carbon chains that are polyunsaturated, i.e. contain multiple double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain. As opposed to saturated fatty acids with no double bonds. They are important components of our neurological systems and help to build up cell membranes, but are probably best known for their effect in protecting us from cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids can help us to maintain a healthy heart, and so enable us to live longer.

The current western diet has been changing to reduce cholesterol intake and improve our lifestyle. However, this has not all been well advised, and the resultant diet is rich in vegetable oils as opposite to animal fats, the relative levels of omega fatty acids having changed in favor of omega-6 fatty acids. These omega-6 fats are not as healthy for us as omega-3, and can lead to a thrombogenic state that more easily leads to cardiovascular diseases and blood clots. Rather than a normal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of around 2:1, this ‘improved’ diet has increased it to anything up to 50:1.

The American Heart Association has been advocating a diet richer in omega-3 fatty acids since 1996, yet while research continues to favor omega-3, the increase in consumption of vegetable oils has continued to increase, and with it a reduction in the overall health of a nation.

Omega-3 enriched eggs have been introduced as one means of redressing the balance. Hens fed on flax seeds lay eggs with a much higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids than normal: up to and over 150mg per egg. Such eggs also have reduced cholesterol – over 15% less, and also are higher in vitamin E, a strong antioxidant, by up to 300%.

Two of the components of omega-3 oils, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, are what are known as ‘essential’ fatty acids. The term means that they cannot be manufactured in your body, so must essentially be introduced through your diet. When the human body developed to what it is now, the consumption of fish and other oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids was a significant part of our diets, and allowed our bodies to develop the biochemistry and metabolism that it uses today.

If we now upset that biochemistry by cutting our intake of unsaturated fatty acids, our metabolism will suffer and our general health decline. This is one reason why humans should interfere with their natural eating habits as little as possible, or if we do so excessively we should use supplements to replace what we are excluding from diets that have been natural to us for countless millennia. It is dangerous now for the human race to suddenly switch to a significantly different diet without suitable supplementation, because we do not know the long terms effects of doing so.

One way to maintain a steady intake of the fatty acids our metabolism needs in order to ensure our survival is to eat eggs, and especially omega-3 enriched eggs. Of course, eggs have a lot more beneficial health effects than just omega-3. Take choline for example. This is a trimethylated compound that is important in the metabolism of fats. It is the newest official B vitamin, and is an essential component of cell membranes. It is particularly important for the maintenance of the health of your brain, and preventing many brain disorders.

It is also important in methylation, an important biochemical process, and also in the biochemical synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This substance is used to pass messages between nerve cells and from nerve cells to muscles, and a deficiency can cause many health problems, including heart disease and diseases of the vascular system. Methylation is a very important biochemical reaction, being used particularly in messages between body cells and is used to switch genes on and off.

Up to 90% of Americans are deficient in choline, and subject to many diseases because of it. Symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, excess fat concentrations in the blood and problems with your nerves and muscular control. It can cause liver problems and heart problems, and cause a number of brain disorders.

Choline is available in the diet from lecithin and egg yolks, and also soya beans, flax seeds, peanuts and potatoes. The typical American diet is not conducive to an adequate choline intake, and increased egg consumption can help to redress this. This is particularly true of eggs from hens fed with flax seeds, or linseed, from which the triple benefits of choline, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E are obtained. Just two eggs will provide you with almost 50% of your daily requirement of choline.

Some are wary about the cholesterol content of eggs, but studies have indicated that it not so much the amount of dietary cholesterol that is eaten, but saturated fats that cause the excess deposition of cholesterol in the arteries. Cholesterol is an essential part of human biochemistry, and without any we could not survive. In fact, studies have shown that eating two eggs daily can improve your cholesterol levels

Eggs are also rich in lutein, and contain more than vegetables such as spinach. Lutein is an important carotenoid that is believed to prevent age related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness, and also prevents the development of cataracts. Eggs also appear to have anti-clotting properties on the blood, and so help to reduce the thrombogenesis of omega-6 fatty acids.

Without a doubt, eating eggs is very good for your health, and especially so if they are rich is omega-3 fatty acids. They contain a wide variety of nutrients and truly are a complete food packaged by nature. Some may prefer to stay away from eggs and miss the omega-3 benefits so there is an alternative for diets that exclude eggs. Omega-3 is available in a supplement form that one can take on a daily basis to reap the benefits omega-3 presents.

Effects of steroids on your general health

Steroids were invented during the first quarter of the 20th century. Since then, they’ve been used to treat various medical conditions including puberty delays, low appetite, chronic wasting conditions due to cancer, AIDS, bone growth etc. Anabolic steroids are commonly known for their impressive enhancement of muscle growth and athletic performance. These substances are derived from the male hormone, testosterone and hence, also possess androgenic qualities. So, they also affect sexual characteristics when used.

Due to their ability to enhance strength and athletic performance, many sportspeople started abusing these drugs as early as the 60s. Overdose and wrong usage lead to various side-effects and to control use of steroids, many countries imposed restrictions on their manufacture and distribution. Today, anabolic steroids can ONLY be purchased with a valid prescription.
The most common effects of the intake of anabolic steroids are:
• Increases bone growth.
• Increases muscle growth in a short period of time, and thereby increases overall body mass.
• Burns excess body fat and reduces weight considerably.
• Affects sexual characteristics. In men, this means higher estrogen levels as the body works to balance hormone levels. The breast-like features might be developed further. Women may face a change in the working of vocal chords and therefore a deeper voice.
• Increases growth of hair (head, facial and pubic).
• Elevates blood pressure.
• Increases LDL cholesterol levels and decreases HDL levels. This may lead to cardiovascular complications.
• Increases acne levels.
With all of that said, the reader is advised to be extremely careful when choosing to actually buy anabolic steroids. Looking to acquire these without a medical prescription might lead to illegal dealings and finally, legal troubles. Also, you must seek and heed professional medical advice at every level of steroid usage. This ensures safe and beneficial use of these substances.

Effects of steroids

Anabolic steroids are most commonly known for their usage in sports and bodybuilding. These steroids are capable of manipulating protein synthesis within the muscular cells, thereby stimulating growth. Anabolic steroids are so called because they boost anabolic processes. They are direct derivatives of testosterone, the male hormone, and thus possess certain androgenic properties which allow them to affect sexual processes.
Steroids find extensive use in competitive sports, bodybuilding and modeling because of their effectiveness. However, they do have their own share of harmful side-effects. The most common effects of anabolic steroids are:

• Disturbance in hormone production. This is because steroids are hormones themselves and the excess of testosterone disturbs the hormone balance, prompting the body to work to restore the balance.
• Increased estrogen. This happens due to imbalance of hormones. Results in breast-enlargement in men. In women, enlargement of the clitoris, hair growth and deepening of the voice are most common.
• Possible liver damage. This is known to happen when steroids are consumed orally. The reason is that many enzymes in the liver are altered due to the nature of anabolic steroids.
• Elevated cholesterol levels. Many sportspeople who use steroids have been tested to show high LDL and low HDL levels of cholesterol.
• Cardiovascular complications. The alteration of cholesterol levels might lead to heart-related diseases.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Increased acne levels.
• Possible sterility. Although rare, it is a potential risk which may occur due to the imbalance in testosterone levels.

Considering the harmful effects, it is the responsibility of the reader to do his/her research before actually deciding to buy anabolic steroids. Due to popular abuse of these substances, they have been banned by almost all major sports bodies. Not only that, many countries including the USA place them under “controlled substances”. It is illegal to purchase them without a prescription. Hence, be aware of the consequences before buying steroids.

Male and Female Sexual Health

Over-training has become a common practice nowadays. Many people workout because they want to gain muscle, lose some weight, and achieve the physique that they have been dreaming off. These individuals are often in such a hurry to achieve their ideal physique that they forget to follow fitness safety guidelines. Many athletes who over-train exercise for about six hours a day — a length of time that is considered to be excessive. These individuals do not realize that over-training may do more harm than good. Too much or too intense training may lead to injuries, low testosterone levels among men and amenorrhea in women.

Some medical studies suggest that over-training may cause a temporary decrease in testosterone levels. Testosterone is the principal male sex hormone which plays an important role in libido, immune function, energy, and many more. This hormone is essential for the development of male sex and reproductive organs like the penis, testicles, and the prostate. Low levels of testosterone may cause a problem to many men.

A temporary reduction in sperm count and quality which may lead to temporary infertility may also be experienced by men who over-train. This happens because the body literally kills itself during training and needs time to recuperate to build muscles and improve the body. Too much or too intense physical activity may reduce the level of hormones in the bloodstream and therefore affect sperm production. The decrease in these components is temporary and may return to normal after a few days of rest.

Women who engage in over-training are at risk of many health problems like amenorrhea, a term that refers to the absence of menstrual periods. This is experienced by women because of extremely low body fat content. Missed menstruation is often linked to decreased estrogen (primary female sex hormone) levels. Several medical studies show that amenorrheic women, and those who have body fats below 10% of the ideal measure may have a hard time getting pregnant. In addition to this, amenorrhea may also lead to osteoporosis, an ailment which decreases bone density, making the bones vulnerable to fracture and other injuries. Bones usually become brittle when people are much older, but some young women, especially the ones who experience amenorrhea develop brittle bones at a very young age.

Signs and symptoms of over-training may include the following:

missed or irregular menstrual periods
extreme thinness
extreme or rapid weight loss
behaviors that reflect frequent like eating very little, not eating in front of others, and focus on low-calorie food
frequent and intense exercising (taking aerobics class followed by a five mile run, swimming for long hours, and weight-lifting
an “I can’t miss a day of workout” attitude
anxious preoccupation with injuries
exercising despite illness, bad weather, injury and other conditions that may require resting
too much self-criticism or self-dissatisfaction
extreme anxiety and low self-esteem
fatigue
sleep difficulties
feeling cold most of the time
constant conversations about weight

If these signs are experienced, it is important to make adjustments in one’s exercise routine and eating regimen. Exercising in moderation and reducing the intensity from time to time, coupled with healthy diets may help prevent the adverse effects of over-training. For women, it is also best to seek advice from one’s doctor to make sure that one’s missed periods is not a sign of over-training. Individuals who want to lose weight properly are encouraged to consult doctors and other health professionals for advice. Understanding the proper workout regimen, and including a healthy diet in one’s lifestyle may lead to improved health and overall well-being.

Tobacco On Your Dental Health

There is a belief in some areas that good oral hygiene can offset the destructive effects of spit tobacco. That belief could not be farther from the truth. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a government agency dealing with oral health, “there is no evidence that brushing and flossing will undo the harm that dip and chew are doing to your teeth and gums.”

Spit tobacco can be many different forms. It may be in powder form such as snuff. It could be “chew” tobacco in a leaf form, loose or twisted, dry or moist. But whatever the name, it is still tobacco.

The tobacco industry prefers to call it smokeless tobacco. The name gives lulls you into the feeling that this type of tobacco consumption is not as bad as cigarettes or other types of tobacco smoking materials. Do not be fooled. This type of tobacco can be devastating to not only your dental hygiene, but also your health in general.

Consider some of the things that spit tobacco can cause.

Cancer of the mouth tops the list as the most dangerous of the effects. It is no respecter of age. This self-induced disease attacks the young as well as the old.

The U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, M.D., in 1986 declared that “smokeless tobacco represents a significant health risk. It is not a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes. It can cause cancer…”

Since those that chew or dip leave the tobacco in their mouth for extended periods of time, usually in the same place, this can cause the gums to pull away from the tooth in that area. When the gums pull away from the tooth, sensitive tooth roots are exposed providing an access to the root for any number of problems; sensitivity, decay and infection just to name a few.

Another of those problems is the side effect of the sugar contained in spit tobacco. The longer sugar remains in the mouth the more damage it will do. The extended periods that spit tobacco remains in the mouth provide a perfect opportunity for the sugars to work on the tooth root, causing massive tooth decay.

Many sports figures, as positive influences to youth, are speaking out against spit tobacco. Torii Hunter, Minnesota Twins American League winner of the Gold Glove award, six years in a row has come out strong against spit tobacco. Olympic gold medal winners, Picabo Street (alpine skiing) and Dominique Dawes (gymnastics) have lent the weight of their names to the campaign against spit tobacco along with the mega-star Jackie Chan.

Spit tobacco does cause harm, sometimes deadly, to whoever may use it. No matter how much we brush or floss; the effects cannot be overcome unless the habit is stopped.

If you are currently using spit tobacco and want to quit, there are some excellent guidelines given by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Check out their website for a step-by-step guide: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/SpitTobacco/QuittingGuide

Follow the guidelines, quit or help someone quit and let me know so that I can celebrate with you. This is a dental problem that we have the power to end.

Effective Sexual Health Product For Woman Or Man

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It also combats male pattern boldness and contributes to a man’s overall sexual health regimen. Doctors and therapists say that romance and sexual well-being are important for a woman’s health and quality of life. There are many routes a person can take to seek a higher level of sexual health. I am not impressed with arginine, I don’t think it is an effective sexual health product for a woman or a man. A manmade ingredient of many plastics, cosmetics and other consumer products may be interfering with male sexual health and prenatal male sexual development. Ikawe is formulated to enhance sexual performance, stamina and desire, strengthen erections and greatly improve overall sexual and systemic health.

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Kwaopet is a premium grade Thai herbal product derived mainly from the Red Kwal Krua (Butea Superba) under the research of Dr. Wichai Cherdshewasart. The results of the studies indicated that this herb shows vasodilation effect especially at the penis. Thus elevate the erectile efficiency and strength. It also promotes energetic body without any nervous, muscular or cardiac over stimulation.

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Effective Golf Fitness Equipment

Golf fitness equipment is designed to help a golfer build strength in certain muscles so as to improve their golf game and lower their scores.

The problem is that there are so many different golf fitness equipment in the market these days that it is difficult to identify the really effective ones and the duds or inappropriate ones.

The situation is hardly helped by the fact that clever marketing is usually put to use in promoting a vast majority of golf fitness equipment. The result is that many disappointed golfers have ended up with loads of the stuff in their garages that has hardly improved their game.

In fact you would find some who would confidently tell you that their game has gotten worse rather than better.

Golf fitness equipment that I have found to be very effective is the weighted club. This is a very golf-specific piece of equipment because one ends up going through the exact same motions you do with an ordinary club but with more weight.

This greatly helps in strengthening and conditioning all the relevant muscles used in the golf swing.

The inside approach is another great golf fitness equipmentto help improve any golf swing. This particular device is extremely useful for slicers and helps deal with this problem fairly quickly.

As golf fitness equipment,exercise tubing is very affordable and yet very effective. The strength of this device is in its’ ability to break down the golf swing into as many different phases as you would like to focus on for the sake of improvements. It offers specific resistance training for each phase.

Golf exercise balls are the sort of golf fitness equipment that any golfer with a bad back should have. There are almost countless different stretch exercises that you can with it.

And what makes this golf training aid even more attractive is the fact that you can do your exercises in the office or at home when you have a moment.

Simple dumbbells can also be very useful golf fitness equipment to have around.

Edipsos

Edipsos (or Aidipsos, or Aedipsos for others) is located at the green northern part of Evia (or Euboea) island which is the second largest in Greece.

Edipsos spa, known since ancient times for its medicinal springs, mentioned by both Aristotle and Strabo and, nowadays one of the best known Greek holiday resorts.

Evia has been blessed with an incredible landscape that throbs with verdant forests, rivers, spa and ravines, infinite beaches and crystal waters. Furthermore, the archaeological findings render the island even more interesting, while the various beautiful settlements embellish the island even more.

The 80% of the Evias’ hotels are in Edipsos. That percent of hotels indicates how popular touristic place Edipsos is. Some of the hotels (not all) of Edipsos have indoors health spa facilities. One of them is our hotel, Capri hotel and its Health spa Hall.

Capri hotel is located in the beautiful town of Edipsos, at the best site of it, with unlimited view to the mountain and the sea.

Thousands of tourists are visiting Edipsos not only for the health spa facilities that it has but also for the dry climate, the sunny beaches (crowdy or not it’s up to you to choose), the many natural attractions, the calm way of living, the smily faces of local people.

The sure thing about the hot springs of Edipsos is that it’s recommended for those people that are filled up with stress from the modern way of life. Here you can spend your time in the way that we had to live every day in our cities, with no problems to worry about, with magnificent natural places to visit, with excellent beaches for swimming, with health spa facilities for relief your pains or relaxing you, with fine quality Greek food to taste and beside of all those with good honest people around you ready to help and advise you.

The Most Common Mental Health Disorders Today

Statistics about mental health problems are now becoming more increasingly alarming. The key factors in the apparent rise in mental health cases have not yet been fully determined. In fact, authorities may have released inaccurate figures since people tend to hide mental illness or ignore them. This is also the reason why many mental health problems worsen. Perhaps, the only good news to come out from this is that there are some common mental health disorders and conditions among the statistics. According to the records of a number of Washington-based psychiatric hospitals, there are four particularly common strands of mental health problems that have been recorded.

Depression

Among all the common mental health disorders, depression is stated as being the most common. Approximately 80% of the population has experienced clinical depression at one point in their lives. In the early stages, this problem can be alleviated through counseling. However, the problem lies in the fact that most people tend to see the early stages of depression as just a negative mood swing. Since it is typically difficult for most people to detect depression until it has taken full effect, the condition can often go completely unnoticed. For some people, the physical and mental changes are gradual, which only makes it harder to detect the problem.

Bi-polar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, as compared with depression, is more difficult to detect. The condition causes the person’s mood to swing, being manic one moment and depressed in the next. While this usually fits the stereotype of people with this particular strain of mental health illness, the reality is that there are periods where the person exhibits a relatively normal mood. This period of normalcy between the high and low points is often enough for casual observers to discount the possibility of a person having bi-polar disorder. Often, casual observers and the patient himself will only note the frequency of the mood swings and the possibility of a problem much later on. On occasion, a session of psychiatric counseling mandated by company policy can detect the problem. However, not all companies have such a system in place.

Schizophrenia

Approximately two million people are suffering from schizophrenia at any given time, which should be a cause for alarm. The condition is often characterized by the patient hearing “voices” in their head that no one else can hear, a typical trait of insane people. This mental health condition has a number of sub-varieties and can effectively disable a person’s ability to interact with others if left unattended or treated. Schizophrenia can also sometimes cause other mental health disorders. While there are medications that have been proven to alleviate the problem, there are still some cases where medication must be complimented by counseling. Roughly 20% of people who develop the condition never fully recover and times of great stress and anxiety can sometimes result in a relapse.

Alzheimer’s

Arguably, Alzheimer’s Disease is among the most debilitating mental conditions known to man. The increasing frequency of the condition has caused alarm since current medications only help ease the symptoms and not really treat the condition. Usually diagnosed during the latter years of a person, Alzheimer’s can take an immense toll on one’s life and relationships. As a debilitating condition, it rapidly takes away the patient’s self-confidence and ability to physically function in a normal way. In contrast to other mental health problems, Alzheimer’s is relatively easy to detect if the person is properly informed. However, as previously mentioned, the disease is difficult to treat with any level of certainty. Counseling is known to have minimal effects even the mildest of cases. There is still no psychoactive medication that has shown appreciable effects other than “delaying the inevitable.”

As these mental health conditions eclipse the human mind, it has become more clear that more work needs to be done in terms of research and drug development.

Eating Healthy When Eating Out

If you go out to a restaurant to eat, you probably
watch your calories very closely. To assist you
with your calorie watching when dining out, these
tips will help you make the most of it.

– Always order salad dressings or sauces on the side,
as this way you have control over how much you add
to your meal.

– When you order grilled fish or vegetables, you
should ask that the food be grilled without butter
or oil, or prepared with very little or either or.

– Anytime you order pasta dishes, be on the lookout
for tomato based sauces instead of the cream based
sauces. Tomato based sauces are much lower in fat
and calories, and tomato sauce can even be counted
as a vegetable!

– You should always try to drink water, diet soda,
or tea instead of soda or beverages that contain
alcohol.

– If you order dessert, share with a friend. Half
of the dessert will equal half of the calories.

– When you choose a soup, remember that cream
based soups are higher in fat and calories than
other soups. A soup can be a great appetizer, as
most are low in calories and you fill you up pretty
fast.

– When ordering a baked potato, ask for salsa instead
of sour cream, butter, cheese, or even bacon. Salsa
is very low in calories and provides a healthy
alternative with plenty of flavor and spice.

– When you are full, stop eating. Listen to your
body and what it tells you.

– If you get full, take half of your meal home.
The second portion of your meal can serve as a second
meal later. This way, you get two meals for the
price of one.

– If you’re looking to eat less, order two appetizers
or an appetizer and a salad as your meal.

– If you get a choice of side dishes, get a baked
potato or steamed vegetables instead of french
fries.

– Always look for food on the menu that’s baked,
grilled, broiled, poached, or steamed. These types
of cooking use less fat in the cooking process and
are usually much lower in calories.

– Plain bread or rolls are low in both fat and
calories. When you add the butter and oil, you
increase the fat and calorie intake.

– As key ingredients to your meal, choose dishes
with fruits and vegetables. Both fruits and
vegetables are great sources of dietary fiber as
well as many vitamins and minerals.

– Choose foods made with whole grains, such as
whole wheat bread and dishes made with brown rice.

– If you crave dessert, look for something with
low fat, such as berries or fruit.

– Always remember not to deprive yourself of the
foods you truly love. All types of foods can fit
into a well balanced diet.

Eating Healthy On Vacation

It can be very tempting to abandon your good sense
of healthy eating on vacation. Although you may
strive for healthy eating, it’s easy to drift off
and grab an ice cream cone here and there. There
are however, ways to watch what you eat on
vacation.

It’s easier than ever these days to request a low
fat or vegetarian meal on airplane flights. If
you choose to instead drive to your destination,
the quest to find healthy food can get a bit more
complicated.

Rather than simply relying on greasy foods for
nutrition, pack some nutritious foods in a cooler
full of ice packs. Fruits and vegetables, crackers,
yogurt, and sandwiches are all great to have with
you on the road.

Once you arrive at your hotel, you should do
yourself a favor and turn the minibar key down – as
this helps to avoid the temptation. If your hotel
offers a continental breakfast, stick to fruits,
cereals, and proteins. If your hotel has a stove
or microwave, consider bringing your own healthy
food with you.

If you simply must eat out, do so only when you
are hungry. Restaurants will usually serve large
portions, so be careful. If you do go a bit over
on a meal, simply cut back on the next.

If you find it hard to fit in three square meals
a day, try to fit in six smaller meals or snacks,
as your body needs fuel every four hours or so.
When you eat out, avoid appetizers. Whatever you
do, do not miss any meals.

When it’s possible, you should avoid eating large
meals at night. When your body gets ready for
sleep and slows down, it also burns calories at a
much slower pace. Never eat bread before bed, and
make sure to avoid the butter. Choose fish or
poultry for your meal instead, and include
vegetables as a side dish.

Even though it may sound hard, eating healthy on
vacation isn’t really that difficult. All you have
to do is use a little will power, and pass up
foods that you know aren’t good for you. This
way, you’ll enjoy healthy eating and a healthy
lifestyle wherever you go.

The next time you go on a vacation, always remember
that eating healthy is a way of life. You can
afford to get something you crave, although you
shouldn’t make a habit of it. One ice cream
cone or a pizza isn’t going to matter – as long as
you know when to stop.