Tips Guides

A healthy lifestyle may seem out of reach for most people who are too busy with job and family commitments, who lack initiative or who have simply too little time on their hands. It doesn’t have to be. Eating a more healthful diet, adding a little more exercise to your daily routine, quitting smoking, maintaining a normal weight and limiting alcohol consumption each are small steps that add up to major benefits for your body.

Eating right does not have to be a chore. Simple changes you can make while on your next visit to the grocery store can get you on the right path to eating better. Small substitutions like eating more fruit and veggies and eating less refined and processed foods over time saves calories and adds nutrients to your diet.

Don’t force yourself to shelve your entire diet and start with something restrictive. Feeling deprived leads to failure. Go slow and enjoy each new item you add to your diet.

Exercise does not have to be a dirty word. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, start slow and increase your activity level as you reach small goals you set for yourself. It may be just using the stairs at work instead of using the elevator.

Over time, you might decide to walk for part of your lunch break. Eventually you may want to join a fitness center to increase your progress. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and enjoy.

If you smoke, consider a smoking cessation program. There are medications in pill, patch and gum form that can assist you in stopping. Talking to a counselor or adopting a quit-smoking buddy has been shown to help smokers quit smoking at higher rate than trying to go it alone. Side effects of smoking include rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath and more serious problems like cancer, emphysema and heart disease can eventually develop.

Drinking alcohol in moderation has actually been shown to benefit the cardiovascular system. However, consuming more than a glass or two a day can cause liver damage. The liver acts as a giant filter system of the body.

When the filter is clogged, the body does not function properly. Jaundice, gallstones, blood clotting difficulties, organ failure and death can result when the liver is compromised.

Knowing your body mass index (BMI) can help you calculate what a healthy weight is for your body type. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight by the square of your height or go online and use a BMI calculating tool. Regulating your diet and adding exercise can help stabilize your weight.

So you’ve let yourself go. You don’t feel fit. You lack energy. Serious health issues may run in your family. What to do? It is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Integrate more healthful food choices into your life. Add health fitness to your routine.

Quit smoking and have a glass of red wine with dinner. Eating better and increasing your activity level helps you maintain a normal weight. Each little change gets you closer to the lifestyle goals you set for yourself.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our portal for more great information on living a healthy lifestyle, and leave a comment at our pacemaster treadmill blog.

Many individuals choose to go to a medical spa to pamper themselves or to unwind from a long stressful day. The spa allows you to relax, allowing your mind to clear. It will also offer several rejuvenation and anti-aging treatments done by a licensed practitioner, such as Botox and Restylane injections, microdermabrasions or facials. After visiting, you can feel like a new person.

A medical spa, sometimes referred to as a day spa, has a licensed health care professional on staff. These professionals, who are usually doctors experienced in cosmetic procedures, offer a variety of remedies to help you look and feel better.

Laser treatments, microdermabrasions, facials, Botox, Restylane and other procedures performed have been proven to have long-lasting aesthetic benefits. Botox has become a very popular non-surgical facelift procedure in recent years.

Many baby boomers are getting Botox injections to combat the effects of wrinkles, fine lines, crow’s feet and other unwanted facial features, and get a more youthful and refreshed look. At a medi spa, the injections usually take about ten minutes, but results can last for months. The doctor injects the chemical, temporarily weakening the facial muscles in the area, resulting in softening of deep lines and wrinkles on the face.

Others chose to get Restylane procedures done during their stay. During a Restylane treatment, cosmetic dermal fillers are injected to replace lost volume in the face, creating youthful looking skin. It erases moderate to severe facial wrinkles all over the face including the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth. The procedure is non-surgical, and its effects are almost automatic.

Many people go to medi spas to eliminate spider veins, vascular lesions and broken vessels. After the procedure, most patients see up to an 80% reduction in the appearance of unwanted veins. If you want to get this procedure, you will have to go to the doctor for a consultation. During your consultation, the doctor will explain the procedure thoroughly and give you an idea of the outcome you can expect.

You can also get laser treatments to improve sun-damaged skin, lighten sun spots. Laser treatments also take away pre-cancerous cells and treat acne as well. Others get facials, which is a cosmetic treatment on the face.

The resort should customize all treatments to your individual skin type, and offer a complete range of advanced spa procedures, including laser hair removal and therapeutic massages, which can relax anyone after a long day at work.

At a resort you can also use the the sauna to relax from a hard day, or get a manicure and pedicure, which leaves your hands and feet refreshed and much smoother. Many centers offer specialized cosmetic products, which allow the customer to continue with beauty treatments at home.

A good spa should be quiet or have soothing music to create a peaceful and serene ambience, and the surroundings should bring you to a state of relaxation. Medical spas are no longer just a luxury for wealthy socialites. With many affordable treatments to help you de-stress and rejuvenate your skin, the treatment here can soothe your body, mind and spirit.

Experience the latest techniques in skin rejuvenation and wrinkle treatments like Botox. Murrietta cosmetic surgeon designs individual treatment plans in the safety and tranquility of the Renuance medi spa. Visit www.renuance.net to learn more.

When it comes to the health of the nation, there are two classes of people. Those who don’t give their health a second thought until it starts to disintegrate and those who firmly believe in covering their backs, so to speak, by taking out health insurance and also implementing preventative measures to look after themselves before an event.

This second group are the ones that will be interested in new findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. For reasons not yet fully understood, studies have shown that women who take a daily dose of aspirin are thirteen per cent less likely to suffer breast cancer. With more good news, the study also concluded that a daily dose of ibuprofen reduced the risks by twenty one per cent.

These painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are normally only reached for when a pain starts to interfere with everyday activities, unless you have a heart condition when aspirin is recommended for its blood thinning qualities.

A total of thirty eight studies were carried out by the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the University of Santiago de Compostela with the results pooled for the report. It involved 2.7 million women.

For British women who reach the age of 90, 12 per cent can expect to experience breast cancer. If this could be reduced by preventative measures, this would save many lives and for those who declared themselves to be taking such measures, this could possibly help reduce the premiums of some health insurance companies because the insured party would be seen as less of a risk.

It should be remembered that this study is not conclusive in that all contributing factors cannot be explained. A lot of health issues also involve lifestyle and diet as preventative measures. That said, Dr Mahyar Etminan of the University of British Columbia is encouraged. He says that anything that helps them to better understand the pathology of this disease is sending them in the right direction to save lives. He also goes on to stress that the routine use of these drugs should not be entered into without further trials as mis-use can increase the risk of stomach ulcers and kidney problems.

Cancer Research UK doctor, Dr Jodie Moffat, agrees saying that more research is needed but the results so far look promising.

Past studies have already shown that aspirin helps fight heart disease and tests have been so successful that it is now routine for GP’s to recommend the daily dose to heart patients. It has also been found to lower blood pressure and hold back Alzheimers as well as being linked to lower incidents of bowel, mouth and throat cancers. So what is it about these little white pills that could possibly have such cancer preventing properties?

Some medical experts believe it is because they block enzymes that contribute to inflammation and cancers. It is already known that thinning the blood with aspirin prevents the formation of clots, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is also a possibility that aspirin helps to prevent the build up of harmful proteins in the brain and it is this that is thought to contribute towards the assistance for Alzheimers patients.

Whatever the reasons, let’s hope that studies continue in this vain bringing us all welcome relief in the short term of reduced health insurance premiums and of longer, healthier lives in the long term.

Shaun Parker is a leading medical expert with many years of experience in the area of medical research. Find out more about health insurance at http://www.health-on-line.co.uk

There is always a lot of talk about magnetic back therapy and what it may be able to do for chronic back pain. This is because back pain is very hard to treat and may require very expensive surgery and endless appointments to the chiropractor. People with chronic back pain are always looking for new ways to treat their pain so if magnetic back therapy solutions exist, they are hard to resist for the average back pain sufferer.

It is not surprising that about 80% of people suffer from back pain at least once in their lifetime. Chronic back pain is very common, and often times, someone may hurt themselves and not even realize it until months or years later. Equally not surprising, there are a large number of back therapy treatments. Magnetic therapy is on this long list of treatments. But why?

Magnetic back therapy is very easy to apply as a therapy, because you simply buy a chair, mattress or car seat with powerful magnets in the cushions and go about your regular day and night. It’s like receiving treatment every time you sit, sleep or drive. On top of this, there are no known side effects to using magnetic back therapy on a daily basis.

But does magnetic back therapy work to help alleviate chronic back pain?

- Magnetic Back Therapy Solutions:

There are those who believe chronic back pain can be treated through the use of magnetic therapy. Magnetic therapy has been attributed to alleviating chronic pain in many different parts of the body, however this information is purely anecdotal and inconclusive. Thus we have magnetic back therapy and the controversy behind using it as a therapeutic method.

It deserves clarification: magnetic back therapy solutions have not been proven conclusively to alleviate back pain, chronic or otherwise. This is because all the magnetic back therapy evidence has been provided through testimonials and not scientific studies. This is not to say that magnetic back therapy does not work but rather that magnetic therapy studies do not provide sufficient evidence to make claims that magnets will cure your chronic back pain.

One of the prevailing theories about magnetic back therapy is that electrical activity in the back reacts with magnets and is used to assist in the healing process thus alleviating pain. Still another theory suggests that magnetic back therapy can lesson back muscle spasms and may interfere with electrochemical reactions alleviating a cells ability to tell the brain it is in pain. And still some even suggest it may completely erase chronic back pain if the magnets are used throughout the day and night and applied properly.

For instance, a supportive chair with magnets in the cushions, magnetic mattress pads or even magnetic car seats with the proper gauss rating and positioning would be seen by magnetic back therapy enthusiasts as more than sufficient in allowing the magnetic fields to work.

There are obviously a lot of products on the market for back pain, and a lot of magnetic therapy products available for chronic pain in general. Remember that magnetic therapy might be the answer to you chronic back pain if other methods have failed to give you the results you are looking for. But don’t expect to find conclusive studies showing magnetic back therapy will heal or cure your back pain. They simply do not exist and our understanding as to whether or not magnets can cure chronic back pain is certainly up for debate.

Seth has a B.S. in Instructional Technology and a masters degree in information science. If you want to find out more about magnetic therapy along with additional studies that provide evidence on both sides of the magnetic therapy debate, go to MagnetPainTherapy.Com

Abhyanga and Mardana ( massage ) is one of the oldest kind of treatment known to mankind. Shiroabhyanga or head massage is the best method to apply oil to the scalp and hair.

Ayurvedic oil should be applied after warming. Pour oil into a bowl and place this in hot water to warm it to a comfortable temperature. Make sure the oil is comfortable to touch before application. Take sufficient amount of oil and using the pads of finger apply oil little by little to different parts of the scalp. It is not advisable to use much force. Allow the oil to seep into the scalp. Massaging with circulation motion is recommended. When performing massage, slow and purposeful movements will relax the nervous system and calm the mind, where as steady and brisk movement will enhance circulation and energy. It is sensible to mix both type of movements.

Leave the oil on the scalp to the desired amount of time, this is dictated by the viciated dosha, time of application, severity of disease and the season of application. The oil can even be left over night for better results. It is also desirable to apply oil to the ears, inside of both foot and back of scalp. A towel dipped in hot water can be warped around the head for added conditioning and softening of hair.

Washing the hair with natural gentle shampoo is advocated to remove the oil. Thali powder is a herbal shampoo powder with no chemicals can be used regularly to wash the hair. The process can be repeated according to disease conditions and viciated dosha.

Commonly used ayurvedic hair oils are Trichup oil, Dhathri hair oil, Sesa oil, Nutrich oil and Neelibhringadi coconut oil.

In Ayurveda hair loss is attributed to excessive pitta dosha and hence in general the treatment strategy is aimed towards reducing pitta dosha.

Pitta is increased by excessive indulgence of fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods. Apart from these, tea, coffee, alcohol, meats and smoking can attribute towards increase in pitta.

For this Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba ) oil is the most common choice of medicated oil. Mahabringaraja taila and Nilibhringadi coconut oil is also considered to be a good choice. These are for external application. Apart from these Amalaki (Embelica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) is a best remedy for hair fall. They can be taken internally.

Powder of Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba ) should also be given orally. The mode of administration is one teaspoon twice a day mixed with honey on empty stomach.

If baldness appears in young age, Hasti danta mashi ( teeth of elephant) is of great purpose. These are to be mixed with honey and applied externally. This is generally done afternoon and is allowed to dry up. It is of note that this might cause irritation and reddish discolouration of skin at beginning but with continued application hair begins to grow.

Narasimha rasayan is specially indicated for the hair loss. It also increases sexual power in both sexes and increases the volume of semen in males. Most common oils used are Trichup oil, Dhathri hair oil, Sesa oil, Nutrich oil and Neelibhringadi coconut oil.

Apart from medicines nourishing diet like butter, ghee, milk and other high-protein diet is strongly recommended. Anxiety, sleepless nights, suppression of natural urges, excessive indulgence in sex is to be avoided so is fried foods.

Dr Rajesh Nair is the consultant of world’s largest online ayurvedic store http://www.ayurvedaforall.com. Please check his favourite Ayurvedic hair oils and herbal medicines.

Low Back pain is caused due to stress and tension in the muscles that support the spine. Ayurveda differentiates low back pain into three basic subtypes or doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. These categories are used to both classify a patient individual body type, or prakriti, and the individual’s disease state or vikriti. This type of differential diagnosis allows the practitioner to “treat the patient, not the disease”.

The main Cause of low back pain can be counted as:

a) Sedentary lifestyle, stress, overuse or under use of the back, postural mistakes.

b) Infection in the spinal cord or the nerves produces fever and lethargy.

c) Spinal tumor compresses the spine or nerve roots and cause pain.

d) Lack of exercise or incorrect exercise.

e) Too much weight or overweight.

It is better to detect the low back pain early and all cases need to be evaluated by a medical expert for diagnosis and treatment. A tailor made treatment is done according to individual body constitution and accordingly following life style modifications are to be made.

a) If you are a computer professional or an office going person, be careful not to sit in a stretch and strain yourself for a long time.

b) Reduce the consumption of vata-increasing foods,
like pinto beans, adzuki beans, and garbanzo beans cold salads.

c) Follow a daily routine as regards to time of meals, number of meals, time to and from bed, exercise, relaxing.

d) For leisure time choose calming activities such as quiet walks in nature or parks.

e) Live in a warm and moist climate where you can get fresh air and sunshine.

f) Undergoing periodical warm oil massage or spinal bath.

g) Eat warm cooked meals that are a little oil, not dry.

h) Minimize sexual activity when you have back pain.

i) Make it a habit of doing yoga regularly.

j) Avoid exposure to cold weather.

k) Swimming is a good exercise.

l) Avoid lifting heavy objects.

m) Avoid high-heeled shoes.

n) Avoid a sagging bed.

o) Consult an expert at the earliest.

Ayurveda, Indian holistic medical system is based upon the universal natural law of balancing the five elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth) that make up the physical body. When one or more of these elements go out of balance diseases like Low back problems affect the spine’s flexibility and strength which causes pain.

1) Treatment in Ayurveda is to bring the vitiated
‘dosha’ back to the state of equilibrium and thereby to the state of health.For treating low back pain, internal as well as external treatments are done.

2) Detoxification through taking castor oil three
times per week for one month to get rid of excess apana.

3) Panchakarma treatments helps in relieving backache and correcting abnormalities in which organic oils and herbs are used. Herbal preparations like
‘Asthavargam’,'Rasnasaptakam’, ‘Maharasnadi’,'Dhanwantharam’ are administered internally.

Abhyanga Massage: A one hour full body Abhyanga Massage using warm herbal organic oil like Murivenna, Dhanwantharam oil.

Enema: Herbal oil induced to lubricate the intestinal wall. Nourishing and pacifying to the body.

Basti: Is a herbal enema treats the entire length of the colon. Not only is feces flushed from the system but also ama (toxins) is removed from the tissues. Health and balanced colon function is restored as tissues and organs are rebuilt.Drugs like Yogaraja guggulu, Lakshadiguggulu, Triphala Guggulu,
Mahanarayana tailam are useful in this condition.

4) Yoga postures that promote focus and strengthening without reproducting back pain. Start with simple back-bends, such as Locust, Cat, and Sunbird.To keep the spine aligned practice Hero Pose.

5)Strong even breathing emphasizing the inhale,
especially into the areas of pain.

6)Aromatherapy with basil,frangipani,henna or cinnamon.

7)Grounding activity like gardening.

8)The spine needs stability and, therefore, the mind should be relaxed and focus on the specific areas of back pain. To achieve this the Mantra “I am safe and secure in the world. I have everything I need to thrive in the world” should be practiced. And with this practice, we can redirect the body’s energy and reduce the pain.

Dr Rajesh Nair is the consultant of world’s largest online ayurvedic store http://www.ayurvedaforall.com. Please check his favourite Ayurvedic low back pain medicines and herbal medicines.