Information About Health

2006-10-07T03:45:00.000-07:00

The Truth About Fossilized Coral Calcium

I wouldn't say that I am a sickly person by any means, After all I played ruby for twenty years, ran four marathons, scuba dived several hundred times, participated in shotokan karate for eight years, rode horses from childhood to this day and spent several years in a field unit in the army. I do, however, have a few niggly problems that irritate me from time to time. One of them is bad skin.
I could talk about other all of my problems and how they are affected by fossilized coral calcium but for the purposes of this report I think that it is enough to talk about my skin.
For many years I was an industrial chef and my hands were forever covered in any one (or more) of many types spices, herbs, oils or sauces. As time passed my hands became very sensitive to just about everything I came into contact with and I developed very severe topical dermatitis which needed a course of steriods to cure. However, to be fair, I really need to make a confession. I never used any skin creams at all for the simple reason that they just were not a "Guy" thing. Chances are that if I had been more attentive to my well being and used hand creams I could well have avoided my skin problem altogether.
But that's all water under the bridge. I had a very serious, painfull skin condition which almost prevented me from working for an extensive period of time. The medical treatment that I received took a long time to cure the it. I knew that I couldn't use steriods all the time so I set out to search for a more permanent solution.
I must have tried a thousand different creams ranging from olive oil, to avacado, from aloe vera to honey, all with vitamin E and you name it.
One thing that my dermatologist said stuck in my mind. He said that the spices irritate the problem but the real problem causing the exema was the water that was an integral part of my daily work rutine. He told me that the water was washing all the natural defenses out of my skin. I asked him what substances were being washed out of my skin and he said,"well, all of them, fats, vitamins, minerals and trace elements".
This information was buzzing around my mind for a long time until one day I opened one of those anoying spam e-mails that we all get that only had the words, fossilized coral calcium in the subject line. On opening the e-mail I clicked a link to a website and began to read about the supposed benefits of fossilized coral calcium. At the end of the text, I thought about what I had read and decided to add the link to my favorites.
It took some time for me to return to re-read the information on the web site. I was sceptical about what they were selling. I asked myself, is it a scam? Are they selling talc? You know, all the usual fears that we all have. Finally I decided to throw caution to the wind and I ordered a couple of bottles of fossilized coral calcium. I was pleasantly surprized when the order came within the week.
I started to take the recommended dose and waited to see if there were any ill effects. I felt nothing so I felt comfortable in continuing the treatment. Bit by bit I began to notice a difference in the condition of my skin. Firstly, I noticed that the thickness of my skin was improving, and secondly, it gradually lost it's sensitivity to the substances that I work with.
Generally all my little niggly complaints seemed to vanish into thin air. Form that day I am an avid believer in the benefits of fossilized coral calcium and nobody will budge me from that belief.
Don't get me wrong, I am not pushing this product on anybody I believe that everybody should weigh their situation up very seriously and only when they have reached an educated opinion based on their research and common sense, should they order any health product.
As far as I am concerned fossilized coral calcium was a God send and as long as I can afford it I will continue to take it.

2006-10-07T03:43:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a complex system of therapy formulated in the East and now famous universally. Even though yoga is a comprehensive system which includes different methods such as Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Mantra Yoga, the exercise part called yogasana is popular in the West. The yoga practitioners advocate several benefits such as physical, psychological and spiritual, for yoga and the testimonials of many of the followers were supporting their argument. And now the popularity of yoga enhances enormously as the scientific crowd is coming up with substantiating evidences for the benefits of yoga. However the most pronouncing benefit of yoga, which distinguishes it from the other similar therapies, will be its spiritual benefits.
The term spiritual benefits may be reviewed by different people with apparent dimensions. Usually spirituality refers to something related with religion or god. However in the perspective of yoga, spirituality is not only dealing with god but also with the soul or inner consciousness. Certainly yoga was related to religions as most of its preachers were sanyasis, the Hindu religious mendicants. However, yoga had a broader perspective and it was considered as the method to reach the inner consciousness. The Hindu believers say that yoga will trigger the energy circles of the body and help to reach the epitome of the energy.
Yoga is actually using the techniques to attain absolute peace. According to the principles, the focus of yoga is to attribute the complete freedom from the birth, death and concomitant evils of life. However, if you are not so religious enough though, the basic spiritual benefits such as improved concentration, regulated breath and clarity of mind will be certainly beneficial for the restoration of a sound life. The command over the breath will be an advantage to lose tension and help for better stress management. The improved concentration and clarity of mind assist to enhance your skills and increase productivity.
The advanced spiritual benefits of yoga include the psychic control, mind control and thought control. The relaxation in the thoughts will help you gain the knowledge. Along with improvement, the flexibility of the attitude of the person will also change. The experiences of yoga practicing people show that they became more compassionate about the surroundings and fellow beings. The control over the thoughts will help to suppress the materialistic pressures of the life. However the ultimate spiritual benefit of yoga will be the self realization. The understanding of self will help assure the healing of the pain of the body as well as the mind.

2006-09-29T03:11:00.000-07:00

I’ll always remember my visits to San Francisco and passing groups of older adults in the parks, practicing Tai Chi. Just watching them brought peace, and you could tell they were entirely involved in their activity. It has always interested me, but I have to admit I have yet to experience it. However, just recently, at a Mindful Eating workshop, we did ‘purposeful walking’, taking very slow and controlled steps ‘with intention’. We could feel every single muscle working as we minutely and consciously lifted a foot, moved it forward, and placed it in front of the other one. This reminded me of what Tai Chi might be like.

But what is Tai Chi, why do people practice it, and can anyone do it? Tai Chi was originally a deadly art, guarded by a few families and used for killing. Traditionalists believe that it is important for students of this ancient art to remember its roots, because the techniques of relaxation and breath control were developed for the express purpose of injuring the opponent in an efficient, scientific manner.

Today, of course, we no longer need to practice this martial art for the purpose of killing our enemy. However, some say that now we can use this practice to fight the enemy of fatigue, stress, overwork or lack of understanding of oneself and one’s body. Daily practice of Tai Chi promotes mental clarity and a healthy body, assists with balance and helps the circulation of the blood.

Someone doing Tai Chi (pronounced “tie chee”) will move slowly and gently, while breathing and meditating. This is why it is sometimes called "moving meditation". Many practitioners believe that Tai Chi helps the flow throughout the body of a proposed vital energy called qi (pronounced "chee," it means "air," "puff," or "power"). In the United States, Tai Chi for health purposes is part of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. People who practice Tai Chi do so to improve their health, yet it is not fully known what changes occur in the body during Tai Chi, and whether it does, in fact, influence health.

Over the years, several styles and variations have been developed. Taoist Tai Chi was introduced to the US by Master Moy Lin-shin, which emphasizes more elongating and stretching movements. Tai Chi Chuan is descended from the Lang family, but has several family variations. Someone doing Tai Chi for health moves in a slow and relaxed and graceful way, either on one’s own or in a group. These movements make up forms (or routines). Some movements are named for animals or birds. The simplest style of Tai Chi uses 13 movements, while more complex styles can use dozens – Taoist Tai Chi has 108 basic moves. Each of these movements flows into the next. The whole body is in motion, with movements performed gently and at the same speed. It is important to keep the body upright.

Like other CAM approaches, there are aspects of Tai Chi which everyone does not agree. Since there is little known scientifically about it, accepting its teachings is a matter of faith rather than evidence-based science. Also, in addition to more traditional styles, some blends of Tai Chi styles have evolved, such as those mentioned above. This creates a differing of opinion of which styles represent “true” Tai Chi.

Other important elements in Tai Chi are breathing and meditation. It is important to concentrate, breathe in a deep and relaxed manner. The benefits of this breathing and meditation include massaging the internal organs, helping with the exchange of gases in the lungs, helping the digestive system, increasing calmness and improving balance.

Health benefits of Tai Chi:

People practice Tai Chi for several health reasons, such as:

• To gain benefits from exercise. It is a low-impact form of exercise. It’s also weight-bearing, which is beneficial to the bones. Additionally, it is an aerobic form of exercise.

• To improve muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility.

• To improve balance. To have a lower risk for falls, beneficial for the elderly.

• To easy arthritis pain and stiffness.

• For health benefits from the meditation.

• To improve sleep and overall wellness.

Although Tai Chi for health is considered a safe practice, it is always recommended to check with your healthcare provider before beginning any type of exercise.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• If your body is improperly positioned while doing Tai Chi, you could not only end up with sore muscles, but even sprains.

• Instructors recommend not practicing Tai Chi after eating, when tired, or when you are ill.

• Caution should be used if you have any of these conditions: Pregnancy, hernia, joint problems, back pain, sprains, fractures or osteoporosis.

In the US, people do not have to be health professionals or licensed to practice or teach Tai Chi. It is not regulated by state or Federal governments and there is no standard training for Tai Chi teachers. If you are considering learning Tai Chi, ask about your teacher’s training and experience. Learning Tai Chi from a teacher is encouraged over learning from videos or books. This will help you to know if you are practicing the movements safely and correctly. The idea that sickness and disease arise out of imbalances in a vital energy field is part of some other CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies, such as Reiki and homeopathy. Within CAM, Tai Chi is a type of mind-body medicine. Mind-body medicine focuses on the interactions among the brain, body, mind and behavior, and the ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual and behavioral factors affect health.

More information on Tai Chi, and NCCAM-Funded Research on Tai Chi, can be found at the NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) website at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/taichi/.

Tai Chi has been around for centuries, but practicing it as a healing activity is relatively new. If it’s something you have ever had an interest in, find someone educated in the practice and give it a try! I’ll look forward to seeing you out in the park one day, totally focused on balancing your qi

2006-09-29T03:09:00.000-07:00

Cut back on cola. Drinking even just one cola per day can increase your chances of osteoporosis. The phosphoric acid in the cola sucks out the calcium from the body. And, it doesn’t matter how much milk you drink. Substitute cola with water, or juices. For a healthy diet try some of the great natural fruit flavored waters available today. And for a healthy weight loss, nothing beats good old refreshing water.

The gap between sexes is getting smaller. Women’s health and men’s health: Women have outlived men in the western world for years. Woman tended to die less from preventable diseases than men. However, the rise in female smokers and the decrease in exercise are closing the gap. Women beware.

Worried about iron deficiency? Ask your doctor to test your iron. Then, if you are a woman between the ages of 19 and 49, eating red meat, green vegetables *leafy, can help you get the recommended intake of 18 milligrams of iron. Talk to your doctor about this. This is a very important women’s health issue.

Thinking of changing to a vegetarian diet? Here are six benefits. 1 – A vegetarian diet is great for the heart and has proven to lower the risk of coronary disease. 2 – This can lower your cholesterol levels by up to 35%. 3 – A vegetarian diet can also lower your blood pressure. 35% of vegetarians improve in their hypertension readings. 4 – Your colon will love this diet. You tremendously decrease your risk of colon cancer. 5 - If you plan your meals properly, even study the glycemic diet, your diabetes will be much easier to control. 6 – There is a reduced risk of gallstones.

New fortified foods help you to meet your daily requirements easier.

Tips for diets: -Choose a wide variety of foods, try not to restrict yourself. -Supplement with Omega 3. By now I am sure you have heard that Omega 3 is considered this centuries medical miracle. -Research what natural herbal dietary supplement may be good for you. -And, make sure you include calcium rich foods, especially for women’s health concerns.

Oral Cancer – Lower the likelihood of developing this disease. -don’t smoke, or chew tobacco. -don’t drink too much alcohol. -Always practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularily. -Use a lip balm with SPF 15.

Take stock of where you are. If you have a health goal established, in order to get there you need to know where you are today. So, take stock of yourself.

Blood Pressure – How low should your blood pressure go? Normal blood pressure should be 120/80. Apparently researches are now looking at whether this is really low enough. Tests are now showing that even lower blood pressure than the norm will increase your heart health and lower your risk for heart disease. Getting to your healthy weight and getting lots of exercise will help to naturally lower your blood pressure.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is designed for educational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice.

Health

2006-09-22T00:48:00.000-07:00

People who have breathing problems during sleep may be more likely to develop depression, compared with sleepers who breathe easily.
So say Paul Peppard, PhD, and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study supports the theory that breathing problems during sleep (sleep-related breathing disorder) may be a cause of depression, and doctors should keep that in mind, Peppard's team notes.
The researchers studied about 1,400 Wisconsin adults for up to 16 years.
Participants were 30-60 years old (average age: late 40s to mid-50s).
Every four years, participants did three things:
Spent a night at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's sleep lab.
Completed a depression questionnaire.
Reported any medicines they were taking, including antidepressants.
Over 16 years, they completed a combined total of about 3,200 sessions at the sleep lab.
During those sessions, the researchers counted how many times each participant had breathing problems during sleep.
Breathing Easy... or Not
About 330 participants had no breathing problems during sleep.
The rest of the participants fell into three groups:
Minimal sleep-related breathing disorder (less than 5 hourly events)
Mild sleep-related breathing disorder (5 to 14 hourly events)
Moderate to worse sleep-related breathing disorder (at least 15 hourly events)
More than 1,900 had minimal sleep-related breathing disorder. Another 600 or so had mild sleep-related breathing disorder. About 350 had moderate or worse sleep-related breathing disorder.
Depression Link
Even slight cases of sleep-related breathing disorder predicted depression risk, the study shows.
Compared with participants without breathing problems during sleep, those with moderate or worse sleep breathing problems were 2.6 times more likely to become depressed during the study.
The odds were also high for participants with less severe cases of sleep-related breathing disorder.
Compared with sleepers who breathed easily, those with mild sleep-related breathing disorder were twice as likely to become depressed during the study.
By the same comparison, those with minimal breathing problems were 60% as likely to become depressed during the study.
Adjusting for other factors didn't change the results.
In light of the findings, doctors should watch for depression in patients with sleep-related breathing disorder, the researchers write.