Archive for the 'Health And Fitness' Category

Energy Drinks – Health Risks – These Are Not For Kids

November 1st, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
Energy drinks are all the rage these days. They are sold everywhere. They are being marketed to consumers under 30, and a niche market has become college students and athletes. More marketing towards young people is happening, even though many energy drinks have warnings on the can that they are not for kids. The manufacturers might claim they’re not marketing to kids, but when the distributors say they want to come to our schools and distribute products for free, and pamphlets, it sounds to me they’re marketing to kids.

They are a convenient drink touted as drinks that give you energy and keep you active and alert. Energy drinks do not offer any good nutrients that our bodies need. They do offer health risks.

• Energy drinks contain large doses of caffeine and sugar in them along with other stimulants such as ephedrine, guarana, and ginseng

• Energy drinks contain as much caffeine as in a cup of coffee. The difference in drinking a cup of coffee and an energy drink is with coffee it’s sipped, energy drinks are guzzled and many times drank one after another

• Consumed quickly, the caffeine and sugar rush into your blood stream, giving you a caffeine jolt and raising your blood sugar levels and blood pressure, making your heart beat faster

• High levels of sugar and caffeine may produce symptoms including irritability, anxiety, sleeplessness, and nausea severe enough to require hospitalization

• Energy drinks have also been known to dehydrate our bodies if we drink them while we exercise

•Energy drinks have become popular as mixers for alcoholic beverages. The quick energy provided by the caffeine and sugar counteract the drowsiness produced by alcohol, and the drinker will be able to party longer.

•They’ll also enjoy a bigger hangover the next morning thanks to dehydration produced by the caffeine.

• One hidden danger is that drinkers may be unaware of how intoxicated they are and attempt to drive, or drink to extreme excess.

• Once the stimulant effect of the caffeine wears off, the depression of the central nervous system remains and the drinker could vomit in their sleep, aspirate the vomit and suffocate, or experience respiratory distress.

Pregnant women and children should never drink energy drinks.

My family gets healthy energy through fruits, veggies and more, naturally.

By: Robin Plan

About the Author:
Robin Plan markets a new class of Whole Food Multi Supplements with her home business. She’s a stay at home mom and caretaker of many animals. Her website is Whole Food and More Her blog Real Nutrition Supplements has been featured on major media sites like Fox.com and Rueters.com.



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How a Sports Injury Chiropractor Can Heal You

October 31st, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
No matter what kind of sport you play, there is the chance of injury. If you are wise, you will seek medical advice because this injury could progress to something worse and even more painful. A sports injury chiropractor could give you medical advice, health and nutritional information, and also chiropractic treatment. If you have an injury you could go to a sports injury chiroprator and get helped in many different ways.

Like any doctor or physical therapist, sports injury chiropractor’s goal is to restore your body to it’s normal function. Because pain starts in the nerves and spinal areas, chiropractors eliminate blockages, and provide pain relief. A sports injury chiropractor can also prefect injurys again and keep the body well maintained. Because the body is in less risk of physical injury your performance in games and practice can also increase.

If the problem lies in your nutritional aspect of your life, your sports injury chiropractor can help there too. They can give you advice on your diet and which foods to stay away from. They have counseled everyone from olympic althetes, runners, stunt people, professional athleates and body builders.

An sports injury chiropractor can also specailize in areas outside of the playing field. They can also deal with car accidents, or other types of accidents. Lower back pain and joint pain are also areas they can help with. Some other areas are hip pain, shin splints, leg injurys, carpal tunnel, whiplash, muscle spasams and others.

If you have any of these types of injuries you might want to see a sports injury chiropractor. It is an alternative medicine that works! Fixing the injury or joints will help to relieve the pain you are feeling. There’s no need to suffer any more. If traditional health care isn’t helping you, turn to the alternative.

By: Jason Katzenback

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The Many Facets Of Degenerative Spine

September 19th, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
Many people believe that back problems are something that only come to those of advanced age, and although there is a lot of truth in this remark it is not always the case that young people do not suffer from back problems. One type of condition that affects the bank and the neck, and which is increasingly common for those of advanced years, is what is known as degenerative spine. There are many different types of degenerative spine, and the condition can affect the neck and the arms as well as the back itself. However, young people can also suffer from various types of degenerative spine conditions, and because of this it is obvious that the causes are not always age related.

One of the main things that can cause spinal problems of this nature is heavy smoking. Those who do smoke in any way at all will often have health problems, but heavy smoking really can affect the vertebrae and the discs of the back to an extent that it begins to cause problems, even before age has taken its toll. It is because of this fact that anyone who begins to have problems with the back should seriously take a look at their lifestyle, and if they are a smoker they should see a medical profession to see whether or not this could be the cause of the impending greater problems.

The good thing about spotting the condition very early is that changes in lifestyle can be made which can often have a very great improving effect on the condition itself. As well as changes in lifestyle it may be possible to undergo some kind of drug treatment in order to nullify the effects to a certain extent. And the younger the patient, the more likely it is that any surgical procedures which may need to be carried out will also stand a much greater chance of success.

The important thing is to not ignore any type of back problem in the hope that it may go away. The chances are that it is probably something benign, but if you do know that you have a lifestyle that can lead to problems such as degenerative spine it may be worth while seeking medical help as early as possible, and then the changes in lifestyle can be made and any medical procedures that are needed can be carried out as early as possible.

By: Carl Formby

About the Author:
Carl Formby owns and operates http://www.degenerativediskdiseases.com , a site with information on Degenerative Spine and Congenital Scoliosis



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Food Intolerance Testing: Food For Thought

September 8th, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
Having a food intolerance is not the same as having a food allergy. If you have a food allergy, your body identifies problem food as a “toxic invader” and goes into anaphylactic shock when it is ingested.

Food intolerance is also linked to your body’s sensitivity to certain foods however it is not immune mediated. Food intolerance is sometimes caused by intestinal lining damage. In a perfectly healthy person, the intestinal lining which contains small holes, acts as a filter by preventing undigested particles of food and toxins from entering the bloodstream and allowing nutrients through.

However, if these small holes become enlarged then the intestinal lining’s ability to act as an effective filter is reduced. This is called “Leaky Gut” and it can cause a number of food intolerances. Recent research has shown that Leaky Gut can cause eczema and asthma.

However, there are plenty of other food intolerances that are not caused by Leaky Gut and are instead just to do with the fact that your body finds it difficult to cope with certain types of food.

Food Intolerance Testing

If you find that you suffer regularly from migraines, bloating and abdominal pains or any other on going physical complaint, then you might have a food intolerance.

The only way to identify this is through food intolerance testing. There are a number of ways to conduct food intolerance testing. We recommend the food intolerance indicator test as a first step. This is a simple blood test that identifies whether or not you actually have a food intolerance.
If the result comes back positive, then you can arrange to have further in-depth food intolerance testing to find out exactly which foods are causing you problems. Since the second test is more expensive than the first, it is better to start off with the food intolerance indicator test. That way, if you don’t have a food intolerance you won’t have wasted money on the second test.

Food intolerance testing is a simple, quick and affordable way to getting on the path to good health and a sense of well being.

By: Elizabeth Harfleet

About the Author:
Elizabeth Harfleet, is a leading a UK based nutritional therapist who sells food intolerance testing kits via her website.



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An Introduction to the Anatomy of the Spine – The Spinal Column

August 5th, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
An Overview of the Spine

The spine is a complex part of your body, and can be broken down into three main categories. The spinal column contains the bones that make up your spine, including the discs. Second, there are neural elements contained in the spine, such as the spinal cord and nerve roots. The rest of the elements of your backbone can be categorized as supporting structures. These structures include muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

The Spinal Column

Here, we will focus on the spinal column, which is made up of the collection of bones found in your back, in which the ribs connect to. The spinal column serves many purposes and functions. In terms of its purpose in the spine itself, it provides a base for attachment of the spine’s ligaments, tendons, and muscles. It protects the spinal cord, nerve roots, and many internal organs, as well as provides the main structural support for most of your body, including your head, shoulders, and chest. The spinal column gives your body proper balance and weight distribution, as well as allows your torso to have the range of motion it does, like bending forward, backward, side to side, and rotate.

Anatomy

The spinal column is made up of 32-34 individual vertebrae, which are the bones that provide the basis for the spine. These vertebrae are broken down into five main groups, according to their location on the backbone. Starting at the base of the skull, there are 7 cervical vertebrae, which make up the neck. Below those, we find 12 thoracic vertebrae, located in the upper back. The lower back (below the curve) consists of 5 vertebrae called lumbar vertebrae. Located just below those, there is a group of 5 more vertebrae. These are joined, or fused together to produce the sacrum, which is a part of the pelvis. At the very lower end of the spine is the coccyx, or tailbone. This is made of 3-5 fused vertebrae.

Each individual vertebra is made up of several parts and each one has unique features depending on the region in which it is found. Every vertebra, regardless of location, has three basic functional parts: the drum-shaped vertebral body, designed to bear weight and withstand compression or loading; the posterior (backside) arch, made of the lamina, pedicles and facet joints; and the transverse processes, to which muscles attach.

Between each of these vertebrae are intervertebral discs, commonly shortened to just “discs”. These are made of very strong, hard tissues which connect each vertebra to the next. They are located in the front of the spine and are what give your torso the ability to move forward, backward, side to side, and to rotate.

By: Kathleen Whitlow

About the Author:
Kathleen Whitlow is a marketing agent of Richmond Spine. The spinal surgery office provides spinal surgery, treatment for spinal disorders, and information throughout Richmond Virginia and surrounding areas. For more information on their Spinal Surgery Richmond Virginia please visit their website.



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Health-Care Scare Review

July 22nd, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
In society today, and the way we as humans live, health care is a very important factor that we all MUST have in our lives. There are many people out there today who do not have health care and live life day by day and never even stop to think about the risk or consequences they could one day face. They may be many reason people do not have health care insurance but one thing is for sure. It defiantly has a lot to do with the cost.

How much do we spend in Health care?

We spend $2.2 trillion a year for health care, and everyday 14,000 Americans lose there health insurance, causing those with pre-existing medical issues unable to obtain medical insurance. This is one of the main reasons why so many people have to end up filing for bankruptcy. They are already predicting that health care costs will double in within the next decade.

Why is health care so expensive?

I think the real question is, why is everything so expensive? Well the economy is changing and it costs more to make certain things, which causes the costs to be on the rise. In the past 5-6 years basically everything has been affected, and the health care is one of the most affected issues, because it is a necessity to us as humans in order to afford to pay for accidents or issues that arise with our body.

How to better afford to pay for it:

Well if you are looking for a way to better afford to pay for healthcare then have you ever considered looking into a work from home opportunity that is virtually automated and could have you earning up to $1,000.00 a day in as little as 72 hours.

By: Nathan Wright

About the Author:
To learn more about different reviews and how you could be earning up to $1,000.00 a day, with little or no previous experience online as well as how to find the best Online Job Opportunities and how to protect your Financial future, go now to http://www.cash1kdaily.com

Nathan Wright is an accomplished Entrepreneur, Top internet Marketer and International Team Mentor who trains both Total Beginners to the Online world, and Seasoned Pros to achieve Financial Freedom By creating wealth and prosperity online! For more information on the Top internet Marketing Tactics, and how to find the Best Job Opportunities that you can use Now to build the most successful online business, please visit http://www.cash1kdaily.com



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Sports Injuries – Acute, Chronic and Heat-Related

June 13th, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
Sports Injuries

Even though participating in sports is an excellent way to get exercise, blow off some steam and interact with friends, it can also be quite dangerous if an accident occurs. Many sports involve projectiles, hard and heavy equipment, high speeds and strong torquing of joints. It only takes one moment of recklessness or negligence for you to suffer an extremely painful and devastating injury.

Sports injuries are typically classified into two different categories: acute and chronic injuries. Acute injuries occur after one, single moment of trauma. Chronic injuries, on the other hand, arise over a period of time through repeated misuse or overtraining.

Acute Injuries

When the body sustains an extremely large or abnormally-angled impact force, or if a joint suffers too strong a torque, then an acute injury may occur. For example, suffering a strong football tackle or twisting the knee unusually when running may result in an acute injury. The following are generally considered to be acute wounds:

·         Tears and sprains

·         Fractures

·         Dislocations

·         Bruises and lacerations

·         Concussions

·         Knee and other joint injuries

The above are generally characterized by sudden and sharp pain, swelling, tenderness to the touch, and visible abnormalities in the area of harm.

Chronic Injuries

Chronic injuries arise from overuse or repeated, poor technique. Shin splints, for example, are considered to be chronic injuries. Other pains that may be considered chronic include the following:

·         Tendonitis

·         Runners knee

·         Growth plate injuries

·         Stress fractures

Chronic injuries are characterized by swelling, more severe pain when engaged in physical activity, and a dull ache when at rest.

Heat-Related Illnesses

If players are not given adequate rest and rehydration time while exercising in hot environments, they may run the risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses. It is important for coaches to allow their teams and players enough time to replenish their bodies of lost fluids and minerals, rest their muscles and cool down.

Heat-related injuries and illnesses begin as mild ailments, but if the body continues to exert itself in the heat, these conditions can become dangerous. Heat-related injuries tend to progress in the following order:  heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Contact Us

If you have suffered a sports-related injury as the result of another person’s negligence, then you may have the right to claim damages. The Phoenix personal injury lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, PLC can help you explore your legal rights and options. Learn more by going to http://www.phoenix-personalinjuryattorney.com/.

By: Joseph Devine

About the Author:
Joseph Devine



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When Treating Arthritis, There are Definite Foods to Avoid, and Specific Arthritis Foods to Eat

May 4th, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
Foods to Avoid

You need to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio in any of the foods you eat is as low as possible – this is because excess phosphorus will increase the loss of calcium from the body and worsen the condition. The more phosphorous-containing foods you eat, the more you need to supplement with a good source of calcium.

Reduce your intake of:

• red meat, red-fleshed fish

• most grains, especially wheat.

Eliminate:

• soft drinks – high in phosphoric acid

• organ meat (liver, kidney), processed meat – especially high in phosphorus

• caffeine – increases the rate of loss of minerals and nutrients

• fried foods and vegetable oil – a high intake of fried foods and omega 6 from vegetable oil can make the inflammation worse

• sugar – results in poor absorption of nutrients

• antacids – neutralize stomach acid and result in poor absorption of calcium (heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and NOT ENOUGH stomach acid!)

Important Note: Eliminate the bad fats such as margarine, cooking with too much vegetable oil and fried foods from your diet. A high intake of vegetable oil (a source of Omega 6) needs to be avoided as this will aggravate any inflammation.

Arthritis Foods

The best arthritis foods are diets high in calcium and magnesium and other trace minerals – this will ensure healthy bone and bone matrix structure. Specific nutrients are also required to build bone and bone structure.
Calcium: Non fat milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, snow peas, soybeans, tofu, sardines, salmon, walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, kale and other green leafy vegetables, broccoli, alfalfa seeds – to name a few. Milk isn’t a great source of calcium because it has a low magnesium content and you need magnesium to get the calcium into your bones.

Magnesium: Many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, bananas and apricots – all these make great arthritis foods.
Vitamin D: is required to get the calcium into the bones. The best source is the sun – about 10 minutes per day is fine. Other sources include dairy products and fatty fish.

Trace minerals: Boron and Manganese are important to help the body absorb Calcium; the best sources of Boron are green leafy vegetables, apples, almonds pears and legumes. For Manganese, look for ginger and oats as your arthritis foods.

Collagen & Support Tissues: Collagen is part of our bone matrix, the cartilage in our joints and in the fluid that protects and lubricates our joints. It’s also part of our skin, hair and the connective tissues of the body.

Arthritis foods containing the following nutrients will provide nutrition for bone support: zinc, copper, selenium and beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Green leafy vegetables and pumpkin seeds are good sources of zinc; selenium may be found in brazil nuts from Brazil (because of the high selenium content in the soil); while Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. Eggs and meat are good sources of amino acids which form part of the collagen structure.
Essential Fatty Acids – are excellent arthritis foods and are required for the body’s natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory responses. They are also part of the protective joint fluid. Best sources are from fish (particularly oily fish such as salmon and mackerel), animal fat and some oils such as flaxseed (for omega 3)and borage oil (for omega 6).

Regarding essential fatty acids, ideally you should consume Omega 6 EFA & Omega 3 EFA at a ratio of 2:1. Most people find it very difficult to get this right (the average ratio in the U.S. and UK is around 10:1) so we suggest you use an EFA Supplement from a quality source.

Final Note on Arthritis Foods

While it is possible to meet some of your dietary requirements from the food you eat, if you are serious about preventing or reversing arthritis, you need to consume these arthritis foods in combination with nutrient supplements.

Also consider that the majority of the food we eat is grown in minerally-depleted soils – so an almond may not contain all the calcium and magnesium it’s supposed to have, sad but true!

If you have a busy lifestyle, eat junk food and/or can’t get enough fresh food in your daily life, then you should consider supplementing with all 90 essential nutrients including plant derived colloidal minerals and supplements containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Calcium and magnesium are normally very difficult to absorb from our arthritis foods diet and from supplements, however, calcium liquid supplements containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin D and Glucosamine are a good way to supplement your diet.

Supplements that specifically assist with maintenance and repair of the joint such as Glucosamine, are also beneficial. If you suffer pain and inflammation, then CM Cream has been scientifically and medically proven to relieve pain and improve mobility.

The use of a digestive enzyme supplement – will improve the absorption of the good arthritis foods you eat and will maximize the benefit you receive from taking supplements. As we all reach the age of 40, our stomach acid concentration begins to fall and this can lead to complications of existing chronic disease conditions, such arthritis.

Summary

1. Avoid foods high in phosphorus – particularly SOFT DRINKS, processed foods, processed meat and organ meat. No fried foods, cooking oil or margarine – use butter small amounts of extra virgin olive oil.

2. Eliminate caffeine and sugar from your diet and stop taking antacids.

3. Consume food with a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and eggs. Reduce your intake of red meat and fish.

4. Consider the use of supplements to support and reverse your arthritis, and digestive enzymes to maximise the absorption of the food and of the supplements.

By: Paul Newland

About the Author:
Copyright http://www.Global-Longevity.com

Paul Newland is a health writer, sports training consultant and martial arts instructor and manages the Global-Longevity.com website. He is the author of numerous health information books and guides, including the Wellness Report, The Ultimate Antioxidant Report, The Selenium Report, The Bird Flu Report, The Ultimate Nutrient Guide and The Essential Fatty Acid Report and The Ultimate Sports Nutrition Guide – available Free (for a limited time) through Global-Longevity.com



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Sports-Related Injuries

April 30th, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
Sports Injuries

Participating in sports activities is a great way to exercise, release your competitive edge and simply have fun with friends. Many people compete on teams and individually, competitively and for fun. However, despite the many pleasures that sports may bring to their participants, they also have associated risks. A number of injuries, ranging from mild to severe, can result from a sports accident.

There are three main types of injuries that an individual may sustain while exercising and playing sports: acute injuries, chronic injuries, and heat-related illnesses. When poor equipment is used, when players or coaches behave negligently, and when a participant is not in proper shape, these injuries can occur.

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries result from a singular moment of extreme impact or torque. For example, twisting the knee in a football accident applies a large amount of torque to the joint and can cause damage. Being hit with a baseball results in the delivery of a large amount of force to one area of the body. One can suffer a large amount of harm as a result.

Common acute injuries include the following:

·         Sprains and tears

·         Knee injuries

·         Fractures

·         Dislocations

·         Lacerations and bruises

Typically, acute injuries result from accidents. These may be incidental, or they may result from another player’s negligence.

Chronic Injuries

Chronic injuries arise over time as the result of poor training techniques or overworking the body. They may also arise if the player continually fails to warm up and stretch before engaging in physical activity or if the player is out of shape.

Common chronic injuries include stress fractures, tendonitis and growth plate damage.

Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat-related illnesses occur when a player spends too much time in the heat without replenishing the body with lost fluids and minerals and without allowing the body to cool down. Typically, the first signs of developing heat-related illnesses are heat rash and heat cramps. The skin becomes irritated and itchy, since swollen glands prevent the body from allowing sweat out. Muscles cramp up from being overworked with little fluid intake and salt replenishment.

As the body temperature rises, one will begin to experience heat exhaustion. When the body can no longer effectively regulate its temperature, the player will suffer heat stroke, which is extremely dangerous.

Often, players will suffer from heat-related illnesses when their coaches do not allow them enough rest and hydration time.

Contact Us

If you have suffered a serious sports-related injury as the result of another party’s negligence, then you may have the right to claim compensation. The Las Vegas personal injury lawyers of Palmer & Associates, P.C. can help you learn more about your legal rights. To get more information, visit http://wpalmerandassociates.com/.

By: Joseph Devine

About the Author:
Joseph Devine



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Why Use a Sports Injury Chiropractor

April 18th, 2009 -- Posted in Health And Fitness | No Comments »
How can a Sports Injury Chiropractor Help You

If you are an athlete that struggles with hamstring injuries and other back related strains a sports injury chiropractor can help you. A sports injury chiropractor will relieve the tension on your legs and back by unblocking the areas around your nerves and spine.

Sports injury chiropractors have many years of experience which makes them qualified to deal with problems that you may be facing. Sports injury chiropractors examine all aspects of your life from a nutritional, diet and fitness level standpoint, to help maximize your performance and get the most from your body. Sports injury chiropractors have helped many professional athletes including runners, Olympians and professional sports athletes.

Sports injury chiropractors are qualified in giving full chiropractic care in other areas and can help people who have suffered a car accident as well. All chiropractors can help with back pain, neck pain and pain to do with the joints. There is also some evidence that chiropractors can help with muscle spasms, whiplash and carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you have tried mainstream forms of medicine and you are finding that it is not providing the relief that you want. Than try a sports injury chiropractor this form of alternative medicine can be used in conjunction with other mainstream forms of medicine.

Ben Brook is webmaster of Chiropractor Articles and Resources were you will find many articles and resources about chiropractors.

By: Ben Brook

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