Archive for November, 2008|Monthly archive page
Staying Fit With the Use of Exercise Machines
People have been looking for ways to lose excess weight. The sad part is that they just aren’t sure how to go about in doing it. There have been numerous methods and diet fads that came and went; some have succeeded on their goals while others remain clueless on what to do.
Why Exercise Machines
Losing weight with the help of exercise machines is one of the greatest options in working out. This is an effective method because you can change the workouts as you try different machines. This means you have the power to change the routines any time you want. A lot of people can quickly get bored by merely running, walking or doing the usual aerobics.
Hitting the gym is one great way to enjoy the different exercise machines that are available. A gym membership may come in handy as you get access to every exercise machine that the gym has.
The use of exercise machines means you can target to trim down different areas of your body. Machines give great cardio workouts and you can also target different groups of muscles and tone them according to your desire.
Most fitness centre’s goal is for their clients to lose weight. The need to lose weight has become an overwhelming source of business for these fitness gyms that the industry continues to thrive each and every year. Along with these fitness centres, the manufacturers of exercise machines as well as their dealers are enjoying increasing sales each year.
Getting to Know Some of the Machines
If you’re all geared up to exercise and improve your workout, these are the exercise machines that you would be seeing in most fitness centres (remember that exercise machines are categorized according to type of workout that they provide):
Cardiovascular or cardio exercise machines are those machines that help to improve heart health and burn fat. Cardio exercise machines accomplish these by raising your heart rate. Examples of cardio exercise machines are: treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, and stair climbers. Most of these exercise equipments have display screens that monitor your heart rate as you workout. Other data such as the number of kilometres or miles that you have travelled are also displayed. Some machines even display the total amount of calories that you have burned during the workout session.
Strength training machines on the other hand, are more varied. Examples are free weights, weight machines, and other types of machines. Free weights come in various sizes, shapes and weights. There are round weights which can be attached at the end of certain barbells. There are also handheld barbells and medicine balls.
Weight machines often have a stack of weights that are attached to a pulley which you can lift through pulling or pushing some parts of the exercise machine. These machines are safer to use and are user-friendly. You could easily adjust the amount of weight that you want to train with without having to carry heavy, round weights and placing them at the end of barbells. With these machines, you just select a pin and choose the amount of weight that you want to lift.
There are some exercise machines that do not include weights such as chin up bars (targets the biceps and triceps), crunch machines (exercises the abdominals), elastic bands, etc.
Losing weight with the use of exercise machines does work but you have to couple it with a will to accomplish the goals that you have set-this combination works wonders.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/staying-fit-with-the-use-of-exercise-machines-622362.html
Surgery for Migraine Headaches New Option
Numerous specific medications and treatments are in use today to help control or end migraines. Many good medications will stop migraines
within a few minutes of taking the medication. Certain other medications need to be taken on a regular basis to control migraines and keep them at bay. Then there are the noninvasive therapies including, aromatherapy, ice packs, massage and magnetic therapy among others.
The latest weapon against migraine is surgery. This is not a new procedure and has been used in facial plastic surgery for some time now. This surgery has only recently been initiated in the US and involves removing the corrugator muscle found above the eyebrows. The theory is that the surgery eliminates migraines by eliminating the muscle, responsible for negative interaction with nerves around the area creating the migraines. This is an extremely drastic and radical approach to traditional treatment against debilitating migraines.
The surgery targets the trigger point where migraine headaches usually begin. On eliminating the muscle, the point at which it interacts with surrounding nerves, which creates the debilitating pain and pressure is removed. This procedure does not help all migraines. It will only work for corrugator muscle triggered migraines and the specific nerve group in the head. A screening test must be done to determine if this trigger is the cause and if the patient is a suitable candidate for the surgery.
It is important to understand that though the surgery eliminates the trigger and therefore the pain, it does not remove or cure the root cause of migraines. Although the pain and symptoms are gone the root problem may still exist and might need to be addressed by the patient.
Tumors, high blood pressure, aneurysm, stroke and heart problems are some of the health issues linked to migraines. Whether the patient decides to pursue surgery or not, there should be close consultation with one’s doctor for determining the cause of the migraine.
The migraine surgery is a great help and relief to many migraine sufferers. All patients must research and study the consequence of the surgical procedure. Surgery is an extremely invasive procedure and is best avoided if not necessary. The risk reward factor is in full affect as with the surgery a person’s life may be greatly improved outweighing any risks of the procedure.
It is a good idea to discuss all treatment choices with your doctor before making any decisions regarding surgery.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/surgery-for-migraine-headaches-new-option-622751.html
The Pre-diabetes Prevention Plan to Lower Blood Sugar
Many people struggle to control their weight. However, while they are going on and off various diets, they fail to realize that they are also struggling to control blood sugar. Actually, the cause of blood-sugar problems may be weight problems, as being overweight and having blood sugar problems tend to go hand in hand. Too many blood sugar swings during the day tend to increase hunger jags, snacking, and overeating. When you overeat, you’re much more likely to add on the pounds, setting the stage for obesity, pre-diabetes, and full blown diabetes.
Sadly, both pre-diabetes and overweight have become modern epidemics that are out of control, with two of every three Americans being overweight and over 100 million people having some signs of pre-diabetes. Both of these illnesses are nutritional disorders that result from eating too many unhealthful foods. However, there is good news: you can reverse pre-diabetes and control your weight.
One can self-diagnose pre-diabetes by looking for the most visible symptom: being chubby or fat around the waist. Other clues are cravings sweets and starchy foods, not being hungry at breakfast, and feeling tired or mentally fuzzy after lunch. Many physicians diagnose pre-diabetes when a patient’s fasting blood sugar falls between 100 and 124 mg/dl. There are several dietary factors that significantly increase the risk of overweight. Some of these being: too many calories, too many refined carbs, especially sugars, and too many unhealthful oils.
The average woman needs about 1,600 calories and the typical man needs about 2,000 calories daily, but the average American now consumes 3,900 calories each day, making it difficult to burn off all these calories and causing the accumulation of body fat. Because most excess calories take form of refined carbs and sugars, which are digested rapidly, rapid or extreme spikes in blood sugar levels, elevated insulin levels, and bouts of hunger result, which stimulate low blood sugar. Trans fats, which are found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, interfere with the body’s processing of fats and often lead to weight gain. Most of these problematic calories are found in fast foods, microwave foods, and other types of convenience foods, which are all best if they are avoided.
Even though pre-diabetes can be scary, it’s actually an opportunity to improve your eating habits and regain your health. To improve your health you can emphasize quality protein, emphasize high-fiber vegetables and fruits, include grapefruit in your diet, use more vinegar, and add some cinnamon. Since protein stabilizes and safely lowers blood sugar levels, be sure to start each day with some protein with breakfast and eat a little protein with each meal.
Most veggies and fruits are rich in fiber, which helps to lower blood sugar, so opt for salads and steamed broccoli while avoiding crutons, potatoes, bananas, and pears. Despite the calories, eating fresh grapefruit can help in weight reduction. The acetic acid in vinegar can also help to improve blood sugar and insulin levels, reduce appetite, and help with weight loss. Adding cinnamon has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels. There are also several supplements that have exceptional value in improving insulin function or lowering blood sugar levels. These include lipoic acid, chromium, silymarin, omega-3 fish oils, vitamin D, and Pycnogenol.
You can also enhance the benefits of diet and supplements by increasing your physical activity as it helps build muscle and burn blood sugar and fat. Tackling pre-diabetes can not only reduce your long-term risk for health problems, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, but also can allow you to quickly gain more energy and feel less post-meal fatigue.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-prediabetes-prevention-plan-to-lower-blood-sugar-623029.html
Positive Benefits of Exercise
The next time you are thinking about hitting the gym but your bed seems a lot more comfortable and it’s a lot more tempting to hit the Snooze button on your alarm than to get up, do keep in mind that there are many positive benefits to exercise. While it may still be tempting to stay put, once you do get up and moving, you will know that you are doing something that will improve your life and your health long after the workout is done.
OK, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. But just look at the potential payoffs of firing your snooze button.
Exercise is a Great Stress Reliever
We all have a ton of stress in our lives these days and regular exercise gives us an outlet for those feelings. Instead of carrying around our frustration like a big ball of negativity that pushes down on us, getting physical helps us to diffuse those feelings.
If you want to get the focus off of your own frustration, choose a sport that pits you against an opponent, such as a game of one-on-one basketball. You will be so focused on what the person you are playing against is doing that you won’t have time to think about the problems you have been experiencing at work or whatever is bothering you at that moment in time.
Exercise Helps to Develop a Positive Attitude
When you treat your body well by giving it regular physical activity, something amazing happens. You start to feel better about life in general, not just when you are actually exercising, but after you have finished working out.
Being physically active releases endorphins, the body’s “feel good” hormones. These are the same ones that provide the euphoric feeling that comes with being in love (or eating chocolate). When you work up a sweat on a regular basis, you allow your body experience this wonderful state and you don’t need to worry about whether you will be rejected (such as if you were in love) or gaining weight (from eating too much chocolate).
Exercise Gives Your Metabolism a Boost
If you include working out with weights as part of your routine, over time you will start to develop lean muscle. Muscle needs nutrients to keep them healthy and once the percentage of body fat starts to go down, your metabolism will kick into higher gear automatically to keep your muscles well fed. This will make it easier for you to lose weight, which will certainly give your self-image a boost.
Exercise Can Help Combat Depression
In addition to an increased level of self-confidence, regular exercise may help to combat feelings of depression. It’s a simple solution to a problem that many people struggle with. There are no side effects, like there can be with medications. Exercising is a safe pastime, so long as you don’t push yourself too hard, too soon.
These are just a few of the benefits to getting active on a regular basis. Rather than exercise on your own, why don’t you find an exercise buddy and get started right away?
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/positive-benefits-of-exercise-623168.html
Korean Ginseng and Korean Red Ginseng
What is Korean Ginseng?
Korean ginseng is the root of a plant that has been used in Asian medicine for thousands of years, and is believed to have immune-system boosting properties. Korean ginseng generally refers to the root of the slow-growing plant in Korea that is part of the Panax genus. This plant is able to grow in colder areas of Asia, including Korea. Korean ginseng is both harvested in the wild and cultivated.
What is Korean Red Ginseng?
Red Korean ginseng is panax ginseng that is harvested after 6 years and has either been steamed or sun dried. It is often marinated in an herbal brew that causes the ginseng to become brittle. Red ginseng is made from cultivated roots from South Korea. It is believed to have a positive effect on energy and increase sexual function.
What is Korean Ginseng used for?
- Ginseng is an herb that is used to support overall health and to give a boost to the immune system
- Lower blood glucose
- Control blood pressure
- Increase stamina
- Improve mental and physical performance
- Speed recovery from illness
- Increase energy
- Stimulate sexual function
- Enhance libido
How does it work?
The root of Korean ginseng, as well as other Asian and Panax ginsengs contain active chemical components called ginsenosides or panaxosides, which are believed to be responsible for ginseng’s medicinal properties.
Is Korean Ginseng and Korean Red Ginseng safe to consume?
Korean ginseng and Korean red ginseng are classified as a “Generally Recognized As Safe” food or GRAS for short by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ginseng is not a drug and should not be taken like a drug.
What studies have been done on the effects of Ginseng?
- Studies done in 2001 have shown that red ginseng extract reduces the incidence of cancer, with heat treated or steamed red ginseng having a greater effect
- Studies done in 2002 in a double-blind study on the effect of Korean red ginseng as a treatment for impotence reported that it can be effective in treating males for erectile dysfunction
- A study done in 2002 on the effect of red ginseng on postoperative immunity and survival in patients with gastric cancer that showed a significantly higher five-year disease free survival rate and overall survival rate in patients that took red ginseng powder
Can you overdose on ginseng?
Ginseng is considered generally safe to consume, even in large amounts, but this should be evaluated on a case by case basis with the evaluation of the individual’s health at the time. Ginseng is known to lower blood glucose levels and treat type II diabetes, so if you are currently taking prescription medication to lower your blood glucose levels then it would be wise to consult with your physician and monitor your blood glucose levels regularly.
In what forms can I take Korean ginseng and Korean Red Ginseng?
Korean ginseng is available dried as the normal root and also prepared in tablets, capsules, teas, drinks, extracts and creams as well as many other readily available forms.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/korean-ginseng-and-korean-red-ginseng-623276.html
Loosing Weight by Having Fun
Physical Activity is an important aspect of weight loss
and overall health. Pills, diets and other gimmicks that promise results without effort are ignoring the health benefits of regular physical activity. In order to be truly healthy, you must exercise, but there is an endless variety of activities that will help us accomplish this goal. Exercise doesn’t have to be limited to an endless walk that doesn’t get you anywhere. You can get fit while playing with our friends instead. So get off of the treadmill and go play.
The key to weight loss is to burn more calories that you consume. This can be done by exercising, by restricting calories, or, more effectively, by a combination of the two. Exercising while eating more calories than we need makes our efforts seem futile, as progress is painstakingly slow. Though we will still reap the physical benefits that come with regular activity, reducing our intake at the same time will allow us to see the benefits of our efforts. Those benefits will be visible to other people as well.
Dieting without exercise, on the other hand does slow the downward spiral that overeating sets us on. However, it doesn’t help our bodies regain the level of fitness that will have us feeling our best. A combination of eating right and exercising really is the magic pill we keep searching for. Now that we are motivated to eat right and exercise, we are ready to get moving. Instead of joining the gym and making exercise a chore, go play.
Find a friend and play a game of tennis or racquetball. Courts are often located at local parks. Go for a bicycle ride with a friend or family member. You can ride through the neighborhood or check around for a bike trail. They are becoming more common in communities.
Play a game of basketball with your buddies from work. Basketball hoops can be found at a local park, hung over the garage or freestanding and adjustable hoops can even be set by the driveway. Playing a vigorous game with friends is a sure way to slim down and you’ll have a blast doing it. Set a regular schedule for getting together for games, this way you can help each other stay motivated.
Swimming is also excellent exercise and many communities have a pool available for lap swimmers in the summer months. Some even have indoor pools available year round. While swimming laps isn’t much of a group activity, it is an excellent choice of exercise and most of us consider it to be a fun pass-time. This makes it a good choice addition to the workout routine, as it will be considered more fun than work.
Taking the dog for a walk can be beneficial to both of you. He’ll enjoy the outing and you’ll feel better too. Walking briskly will of course, burn more calories than a leisurely stroll, but every step you take is a step in the right direction.
The goal in all of this play is to improve your overall physical condition. You want to see progress in your stamina and strength. Keep playing and even if progress is slow in the beginning, you’ll soon find that you can play longer and harder than before.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/loosing-weight-by-having-fun-623410.html
Facts You Need to Know About Osteoporosis
Many health articles indicate that the first time a person realizes that they have osteoporosis is when a fracture occurs, often without a slip or fall. As these symptoms do not usually occur at the early stage of the condition, it is sometimes difficult to detect.
What is Osteoporosis?
Most health articles describe osteoporosis as a condition that causes thinning of weakening of the density of bone mass. Often covered in menopause information, osteoporosis means a person will have weaker bones and a higher risk of bone fracture. It is not arthritis, which leads to problems in joints due to cartilage wear. Rather, it is a problem of the bone and its ability to support the weight of your body.
Menopause information further says there are two main categories of osteoporosis – Type 1 and Type II. Type I occurs in post-menopausal women and is caused by estrogen deficiency. Type II is due to aging and calcium deficiency over long periods of time. While generally assumed they are typical menopause symptoms, Type II occurs in both men and women.
What it the cause?
Both men and women reach their peak bone mass in the third decade of life. After that, bone mass gradually and steadily decreases. In pregnant and lactating women, the rate of bone mass will temporarily decrease when the increased calcium demands of pregnancy or breast-feeding are not met by increased dietary intake of calcium. Menopause symptoms also show a significant decrease of bone mass in the immediate post-menopausal period.
Women are especially prone to developing thin bones because they don’t develop as much bone while younger and the rate of bone loss in women is greater than men. Because of this, health articles indicate age and gender are the most important risk factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other important risk factors that may contribute to developing osteoporosis include northern European ancestry, hypothyroidism, anti-convulsive medications, and a sedentary lifestyle. Americans are especially prone – the exact cause of this is not known. We do know that this is not entirely related to ancestry as studies have shown that individuals that integrate into the United States from other countries develop an American’s higher risk of osteoporosis.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
The most useful test is called bone densitmetry or dexa scan. While this test does require special equipment, it was proven safe, however, exposes the patient to small amounts of radiation that is useful for detecting early osteoporosis.
What is the Treatment?
There are three major treatments, which include exercise, nutrition supplementation (up to 1500 mg. of calcium supplement daily), and medication. Since often included in menopause symptoms, hormonal replacement therapy, or HRT, helps maintain and potentially increase bone mass after menopause. While there are other side effects to HRT, such as uterine and breast cancer, blood clots, and strokes, estrogen (or HRT therapy) may be effective.
In summary, it is of the utmost importance that all individuals (especially women) remain active to help maintain strong bones. Even simple forms of exercise, like walking or aerobics, help significantly. Maintaining adequate calcium intake and potentially HRT should be considered.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/facts-you-need-to-know-about-osteoporosis-623646.html
Using Your Facial Features to Choose the Right Glasses
It is very important that you choose the right glasses for you. If not, then everyone who looks at you is going to notice the poor fitting glasses before they notice anything else about you. That is the curse of glasses: they are the first thing that individuals see when they look at your face. If they look bad, they’re going to be noticed. If they look good, they’re going to be noticed. Either way, they are going to be noticed. There is no hiding behind a black curtain in this case.
The best way to find the right glasses for you is to use your facial features. You must accentuate good features and calm down bad features. It is amazing how the right pair of glasses can make you look entirely different. It is kind of like a face lift without actually having surgery.
The only way your new glasses are going to work is if you abide by what your facial features are telling you. Here are the different facial types and what style of glasses are the best for those types:
- The round face: The jaw bone and brow lines are softer with a round face. This means that the length and the width of the face are about the same. The idea is to find glasses that will make the face look thinner and not so short. The glasses that you want if you have this face type is a pair that is wide and narrow. This means the rectangular style of glasses will be best. If the glasses have a brow bar, the glasses will give the appearance of the eye being pulled upward.
- The long face: This is when the face has more length than width, so you know you don’t want a rectangular frame. Individuals with long faces also tend to have long noses, so there is a desire to shorten that up as well. Glasses with horizontal lines that are strong with a sort of triangular shape to them may work, as well as glasses that are round and less narrow. For the long nose, having a low bridge will help with that.
- The oval face: The oval face is the perfect face shape and is the easiest to choose glasses for. This means that, if you have an oval face, you can choose any type of glasses you want.
- The heart shape face: The jaw line is small, but the forehead is wide. The idea is to minimize the width of the face with an oval pair of glasses. This equalizes the width between your forehead and your jaw line. Rectangular and rimless are also options with this face type.
- The rectangular face: This face already has a strong square shape, so it is ideal to stick with circular frames to make the strong square features a bit softer. The nose is also a bit long, so the circular frames will shorten it up a bit.
- The square face: The angles for the brow lines and the jaw are quite strong. The face is long as it is wide, so the idea is to make the face seem thinner and to reduce those strong angles. That means the ideal pair of glasses is oval frames that are narrow. That will soften up all of those strong angles and make your face look softer.
If you are still not sure of your face shape, ask your optometrist or someone trained in the field so that they can tell you. That way you can pick the perfect pair of glasses and look great!
Find The Most Suitable Massage Style For You
Every type of massage is a unique experience. While all massage styles are united in their aim to promote relaxation, relieve stress and improve one’s overall health and well-being, each of these has its own way and techniques of accomplishing these goals.
And because there are so many styles to choose from, it’s hard to know which one is most suitable for you. If it’s your first time to get a massage and you have no idea what the terms Swedish or Shiatsu means, or if you’ve already indulged in a dozen massage sessions but still have not found which style tickles your fancy, here are many types of massages for you know which one is right for you.
Swedish massage – This is one of the most popular types of massage technique in the United States and in other Western countries. This style refers a collection of massage techniques that revolve around long smooth strokes, kneading, circular movements on the layers of muscles with the use of oil or massage lotion. It enables the muscles to relax as the massage therapist applies pressure on the deep muscles and bones. And because it’s gentle and comforting, a first time recipient of a massage will probably enjoy a Swedish style.
Shiatsu Massage – Originating from Japan , this style of massage utilizes finger and palm pressures on the body’s acupuncture meridians and energy channels to free any obstructions and stimulate the flow of energy, thus helping the body regain balance and improve circulation. In this type, no massage oil and lotion are used. If you’re the type who’s always stressed out and you don’t mind a little pain, this style is highly recommended.
Hot stone massage – Water-treated, heated massage stones are the primary element in a hot stone massage therapy. Because of their innate healing power and ability to penetrate muscles, basalt stones are placed on certain key points in the body called energy centers to promote relaxation, regain the body’s balance, and improve circulation, loosen tension in the muscles and release harmful body toxins. Not only for relaxation purposes, this style of massage has also become a popular alternative means of treatment for some health conditions like arthritis, depression, anxiety attacks and insomnia. The hot stone massage is ideal for those who want to relax and at the same time improve some bodily conditions as well as for those who prefer gentle and lighter massage.
Thai massage – This type of bodywork which rooted from Ancient Thailand over 2,500 years ago encompasses point pressures and stretching techniques that seek to open up energy lines or “sens”. If you’re a yoga lover, Thai massage is perfect for you because unlike most massages, this one does not have you lying or sitting down all throughout the session but constantly moves the body to different yogic and therapeutic positions while massaging your body using the fingers, palms, elbows and feet of the massage therapist. This type of massage is good if you want to improve your flexibility and range of motion.
Reflexology – This one is an Ancient Chinese technique that involves application of pressure on points of the feet, hands and ears that are connected to particular organs and systems of the body. If your work requires you to stand all day, it’s a good idea to try reflexology.
Aromatherapy – In this type of massage, the sense of touch is not the only area that experiences satisfaction but so is the sense of smell. Utilizing a wide range of scented oils, each catering to a specific need, aromatherapy does wonders for those who are in need of relaxation, recharging, stress-reduction, and improvement of conditions that are psychological and emotional in nature such as depression and anxiety. This system was developed by Egyptians who discovered that the combination of essential oils and massage can heal and treat stress-related health conditions.
Sports massage – This style includes deep tissue manipulation to release muscular tensions, and stretches to re-align overused muscular fibers. Athletes are the most common clients for this kind of massage. But you don’t have to be a professional sportsman to get one. If you live an active lifestyle and you often engage in physically demanding work out, sports massage is ideal for you.
Pregnancy massage – This is a specialized kind of massage that is designed specifically for the delicate needs of an expectant mother. This is a safe massage that can greatly reduce stress and anxiety, decrease swelling and relieve back pains.
People are different from each other. So are massage styles. A style suitable for one person may not be right for another. It’s important that you find which style is ideal for you so you get the most out of the massage experience you choose to indulge in.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/find-the-most-suitable-massage-style-for-you-623873.html
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