Insomnia - Three Ways Get A Peaceful Night’s Sleep
March 10, 2010
Insomnia - Three Ways Get A Peaceful Night’s Sleep
by: Jim Brackin
Everyone has the occasional bad night’s sleep. But if the odd sleepless night is replaced by regular sleeplessness then you may be experiencing a form of insomnia.
Insomnia is a common problem as highlighted by a recent Which? report that suggested in the United Kingdom “Up to one in four people report difficulty sleeping at least three times a week, and the problem is more common in older people.” In the United States it’s estimated that $2.4 billion is spent a year on insomnia prescriptions and remedies. Non-prescription remedies sales including sales of melatonin top hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
The five most common symptoms associated with insomnia are;
1. Difficulty falling asleep.
2. Frequently waking up during the night.
3. Difficulty returning to sleep.
4. Waking up too early in the morning.
5. Un-refreshing sleep.
Guide to Natural Acne Treatments
March 10, 2010
Guide to Natural Acne Treatments
by: Ruth Stattmiller
Acne is a problem for many people. There are a variety of products that are designed to get rid of or reduce acne. However, many people do not know that there are natural ways to reduce acne, or completely eliminate it. The best way to naturally get rid of pimples is to consider the causes of acne. By avoiding the causes of acne, you can greatly reduce the amount of acne you have.
Acne is caused by hormones. When trying to prevent acne it is advisable to try to reduce your body’s production of certain hormones. The body produces a large amount of hormones in stressful situations. People who are extremely stressed have an overproduction of hormones. Relaxation techniques such as Yoga, T’ai Chi and deep breathing can help reduce stress and limit hormone production. Additionally, avoiding caffeine can help because caffeine stimulates hormone production. Finally, exercise is very beneficial for reducing acne. Exercise reduces stress and works to rebalance hormones.
Why Aren’t You Using Online Fitness Coaching?
March 8, 2010
Why Aren’t You Using Online Fitness Coaching?
by: Gary Matthews
If I were to tell you that you could burn away as much fat as possible by sitting at your computer twiddling your fingers and toes, would you believe me? Well I sure hope you don’t!
However, losing weight in the confines of your own home at your computer is not only possible, it’s a reality. What I mean is that you can use the advice that’s given to you through online fitness coaching to pursue a more productive way of burning off undesired fat and reach your fitness goals.
Any program, no matter how difficult or time consuming takes EFFORT. Through online coaching, anyone can receive the advice and the motivation to put 100% effort into their fitness goals. The end result whether its weight loss, toning, and muscle gain can be achieved with certainty.
It’s all about saving time and money!
If you can imagine yourself with a personal trainer at the gym, receiving face to face advice, and helping you out physically with your exercise routine. Then by all means sign up to one of your local programs and off you go! There’s nothing wrong with having your own personal trainer.
IPL or Intense Pulsed Light Therapy - The Gentle Alternative for Wrinkles
March 7, 2010
IPL or Intense Pulsed Light Therapy - The Gentle Alternative for Wrinkles
by: Wendy Owen
Laser treatments have come a long way since they first appeared in the mid nineties. IPL - also called Flashlamp, MultiLight or Photo Laser - can perform minor miracles on sun damaged skin (photoaging) anywhere on the body, but most significantly on the face and hands.
IPL is a safer option than tradition laser resurfacing and is commonly used for facial hair removal, removal of birth marks and even tattoo removal. What we are mainly concerned with here, however, is skin resurfacing. Skin resurfacing can eliminate fine lines, spider veins and pigmentation and significantly reduce deep lines and acne scarring.
Broad spectrum light is a lot more gentle on the skin and the risk of burning or blistering is significantly reduced. So much so that IPL can even be used for the treatment of redness and rosacea. Many patients have also noticed a reduction in pore size and a smoother skin.
The benefits are ongoing too. IPL stimulates the skin to produce more collagen, plumping out the skin and making it appear younger.
Why Organic?
March 6, 2010
Why Organic?
by: Pamela Cronan-Maddox
“Beauty is a glorious gift of nature.” Homer
What you put on your skin is absorbed through your skin. To be more precise, the skin absorbs approximately 60% of any substance applied to it. Hence the success of trans-dermal skin patches prescribed by physicians to deliver medications.
Unfortunately, most of the skin care products mass produced for the market today, even those claiming to be `all natural’ and/or `botanically based’ products, contain harsh, toxic and even possibly carcinogenic ingredients that actually contribute to disorders of the skin and accelerate the aging process.
There is a growing concern from consumers about the ingredients in the personal care products they use daily. In a recent study by the US General Accounting Office (GAO), 125 ingredients found in cosmetics are suspected of causing cancer. Twenty ingredients have been implicated in causing birth defects. Twenty ingredients may cause adverse neurological symptoms, such as headaches and convulsions. Most of these toxic chemicals are so inexpensive that they are used in extremely high concentrations in many personal care products.
Using the Swiss Ball for Improved Posture and Increased Strength
March 5, 2010
Using the Swiss Ball for Improved Posture and Increased Strength
by: Dan Farrell
For individuals looking for better posture and increased flexibility and strength, nothing could be easier than training with a Swiss ball.
WHAT IS A SWISS BALL?
The Swiss ball, also called the Stability ball, Exercise ball, Flexibility ball or other names, is a large, inflated, rubber ball. The Swiss ball was originally created in Italy in the 1960’s and provides instability or resistance which requires the user to rely on ‘core’ muscles to retain balance - thus improving strength and flexibility of those muscles.
A Swiss doctor studied its use in a clinical setting by incorporating the ball in rehabilitation therapy. While it is still used in physiotherapy it has also become known in the general fitness world as an adaptable and enjoyable addition to routines building strength, flexibility and proper posture.
WHO CAN USE THE SWISS BALL?
Because the Swiss ball is so easy to use and enjoyable, it is able to be used by almost everyone, young or old. However, because the Swiss ball is designed to create instability (thus forcing the body’s own muscles to be employed) there is a need for caution. The elderly, injured, pregnant women or anyone otherwise subject to a lack of stability or increased risk of falling, should not use the Swiss ball without personal instruction and care.
A Bird-Flu Pandemic Could Start Tomorrow
March 5, 2010
A Bird-Flu Pandemic Could Start Tomorrow
by: Bradford Frank M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
Bird flu is a disease caused by a specific type of avian (bird) influenza virus, the so-called H5N1 virus. This virus was first discovered in birds in China in 1997 and since then has infected 125 people in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia, killing 64 of them. It is spread by infected migratory birds (including wild ducks and geese) to domestic poultry (primarily chickens, ducks, and turkeys), and then to humans.
Since 1997, and especially since the beginning of 2004, approximately 150 million birds have either died from the disease or been killed to prevent further spread. Nevertheless, this very infectious and deadly virus has spread relentlessly to China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Laos, Russia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, Romania, England, Croatia, Macedonia, and other countries. This ongoing geographic extension of the virus is of great concern around the world. It is feared that it will continue to spread to all continents, including the Western Hemisphere—and it no doubt will.
What on Earth are Enzymes?
March 2, 2010
What on Earth are Enzymes?
by: Dianne Ronnow
Enzymes are the workers in our body that make everything function, by enabling chemical reactions. All living cells contain enzymes. They are hard to visualize, since they are not something tangible, but our lives depend on them.
There are many kinds of enzymes, and they do everything from helping us breath to our start of life at conception. Eighty percent of our DNA code relates to enzymes. But the kind of enzymes discussed here relate to our digestion and the food we eat.
In the process of digestion, the digestive enzymes in our bodies break down food into tiny particles that are easily assimilated by the body into the blood stream. These are compounds that the body can use for fuel, growth and repair. One food may take hundreds of different types of enzymes for the body to digest.
Holiday Table Strategies
March 1, 2010
Holiday Table Strategies
by: Joey Dweck
It’s that time of year again and for most of us that will mean rounds of parties, get-togethers and holiday dinners. While the holidays are a great time to get-together with family and friends, they can be a real threat to our diets. This year instead of giving up holiday get-togethers all together or giving in to the decadent fare spread out before you and regretting it later learn how to successfully manage the holidays with some creative table strategies.
When planning strategies to keep your diet intact throughout the holidays, there are two main fronts you need to wage on the Battle of the Bulge. First, you need to work on diet strategies for events that you host and second, strategies for events that you do not host.
Hosting holiday events can be a lot of work, but it does give you a tremendous advantage in terms of managing your diet. Many people are reluctant to even attempt incorporating their diet plans into the foods they offer at holiday get-togethers because they are concerned they will offend their family and friends.
Why Do Liquid Vitamins Contain Antioxidants?
February 28, 2010
Why Do Liquid Vitamins Contain Antioxidants?
by: Kristy Haugen
Vitamins offer many health benefits. Many only think they need to take a good vitamin supplement because their mother said so. However, vitamin supplements offer antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin A. These antioxidants combat reactive oxygen intermediates (free radicals). In order for us to understand why it is important to take a vitamin supplement rich in antioxidants, we need to understand free radicals.
Most recall the widely recognized chlorofluorocarbons which were free radicals produced by solar radiation that caused depletion of the ozone layer. This is probably the most familiar free radical that jogs the memory. However, free radicals have been linked to several diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis to name a few. But what are free radicals?
Free radicals are simply atoms or groups of atoms with unpaired electrons in the outer (valence) shell. Why is this so deadly? Most atoms want to attain a stable outer shell. In order to be stable, free radicals must obtain an electron so that the electrons are paired. Because the outer shell contains unpaired electrons, free radicals are extremely reactive.
