Sunday, September 27, 2009

Health Yoga: A Look Inside

Health Yoga is probably the best exercise you can do for yourself. In addition to that, it helps to strengthen your immune system, allowing you to fight off disease, illness, lethargy, deterioration from the natural aging process and a host of other benefits.

There are so many diseases and medications in our day and age that it's only normal for people who care about their body to search for natural ways to improve their health. With health yoga, we are able to heal our body in a physical, emotional and spiritual way that actually works. Living in the Western world, we are offered various treatments for the illnesses, some of which have horrific side effects. So it is always a good idea to look towards nature and within our own body to cure ailments.

Stress and trauma are the top causes of various health conditions involving the heart and body. For instance, stress can cause soft tissue in the body to contract and become hard to help protect the body. But when too much stress is placed on the body or the individual is traumatized from physical or mental injury, the body will try to limit its movement to prevent further damage. Over time this then causes the individual to become more rigid, stiff and less agile.

In other cases, trauma and stress can cause problems for your mental well-being as well. Emotional stress can create problems for the mind, body and soul, causing them to narrow and compress. Over time, this compressing begins to constrict the emotional and physical state. So those of you who are feeling heartache and a "pain in your side" or feeling uneasy, it could be due to stress or trauma.

To make more sense, when your mind, body and soul are restricted, you become slower and your health goes downhill. Your body won't be able to process nutrients, oxygen or even calmness. Now, your body and mind have to overwork, causing you to become ill, fatigued or even depressed and angry.

With health yoga, you are able to relieve your mind, body and soul of its torment from stress and trauma. By practicing postures, or in yoga terms, Asanas and pranayamas (your control of subtle life forces through breathing techniques), you will be able to protect your mind, body and soul's health and endurance. Health yoga can help to reestablish your emotional, physical and spiritual self back to its normal state and balance. Being in sync with all aspects of yourself allows you to become a better person overall. Other techniques I find useful are mudras, which are hand gestures and positions, as well as bandhas, which are yoga locks that hold in pranayama (the life force).

So all in all, if you're looking to try to better your mind, body, soul and health, try health yoga. Research these terms on the internet and follow through by practicing the movements and getting in sync with your better self.

Friday, September 18, 2009

15 Best Diet Tips Ever

Everyone knows the keys to losing weight: Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple enough, but in the context of real life and its demands, it can be anything but simple. So how do successful losers do it? To find out, WebMD asked experts across the country for their best diet tips.
Here's what they said:
Best Diet Tip No. 1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need.
"If you don't like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Best Diet Tip No. 2: Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.
Start by focusing on getting the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
"It sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it, because at the same time you are meeting your fiber goals and feeling more satisfied from the volume of food," says chef Laura Pansiero, RD.
You're also less likely to overeat because fruits and vegetables displace fat in the diet. And that's not to mention the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. More than 200 studies have documented the disease-preventing qualities of phytochemicals found in produce, says Pansiero.
Her suggestion for getting more: Work vegetables into meals instead of just serving them as sides on a plate.
"I love to take seasonal vegetables and make stir-fries, frittatas, risotto, pilafs, soups, or layer on sandwiches," Pansiero says. "It is so easy to buy a variety of vegetables and incorporate them into dishes."
Best Diet Tip No. 3: Consider whether you're really hungry.
Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger, suggests Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry?
"Hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it," she says.
When you're done eating, you should feel better -- not stuffed, bloated, or tired.
"Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably," says May.
Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullness.
Best Diet Tip No. 4: Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax.
"Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit," says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Malena Perdomo, RD.
Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream. Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea, suggests Perdomo.

Best Diet Tip No. 5: Enjoy your favorite foods.
"I think putting your favorite foods off limits leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating," says Sass.
Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag.
"You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation," says Sass.
Best Diet Tip No. 6: Enjoy your treats away from home.
When you need a treat, Ellie Krieger, RD, host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite, suggests taking a walk to your local ice cream parlor or planning a family outing.
"By making it into an adventure, you don't have to worry about the temptation of having treats in the house, and it is a fun and pleasurable way to make it work when you are trying to lose weight," says Krieger.
And for those times you just can't get out? Krieger stocks her kitchen with fresh fruit, which she thinks can be every bit as delicious as any other dessert.
Best Diet Tip No. 7: Eat several mini-meals during the day.
If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. But when you're hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be challenging.
"Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight," says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD.
She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying as many of them as you can early in the day -- dinner should be the last time you eat.
Best Diet Tip No. 8: Eat protein at every meal.
Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control.
" Diets higher in protein [and] moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss," says University of Illinois protein researcher Donald Layman, PhD.
Getting enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.
Best Diet Tip No. 9: Spice it up.
Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied.
"Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so you won't eat as much," says Perdomo.
When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy for a long-lasting burst of sweetness with just a few calories.

Best Diet Tip No. 10: Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods.
Having ready-to-eat snacks and meals-in-minutes staples on hand sets you up for success. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-through or call in a pizza order if you can make a healthy meal in 5 or 10 minutes.
Sass stocks her kitchen with:
94% fat-free microwave popcorn (20-25 calories per cup, and you can make it in two minutes or less)
Frozen vegetables
Bags of pre-washed greens
Canned diced tomatoes
Canned beans
Whole-grain wraps or pitas
Pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts
A few containers of pre-cooked brown rice
Within minutes, she can toss together a healthy medley.
Best Diet Tip No. 11: Order children’s portions at restaurants.
"When you are eating out, order a child's pizza or a small sandwich as an easy way to trim calories and get your portions under control," suggest Perdomo.
Another trick is to use smaller plates. This helps the portions look like more, and if your mind is satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.
Best Diet Tip No. 12: Eat foods in season.
"If you don't love certain fruits or vegetables, it could be because you ate them out of season when they have little taste or flavor," says Pensiero. "When you eat seasonally, fruits and vegetables are more flavorful, at their best, and I promise you won't be disappointed."
At GiGi's Trattoria, her restaurant in Rhinebeck, N.Y., she serves simple fruit desserts, like naturally sweet strawberries topped with aged balsamic vinegar, or low-fat yogurt or fresh berries in a compote.
Best Diet Tip No. 13: Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables.
Simply by eating less pasta or bread and more veggies, you could lose a dress or pants size in a year.
"You can save from 100-200 calories if you reduce the portion of starch on your plate and increase the amount of vegetables," says Sass.
Best Diet Tip No. 14: Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress.
Sooner or later, you're going to be faced with a stressful situation. Instead of turning to food for comfort, be prepared with some non-food tactics that work for you.
Sass suggests reading a few chapters in a novel, listening to music, writing in a journal, practicing meditative deep breathing, or looking at a photo album of loved ones.
Best Diet Tip No. 15: Be physically active.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, don't use exercise either to punish yourself for eating or to "earn" the right to eat more.
"When you do, it sets up a negative thought pattern, which is why so many people say they hate to exercise," says May.
Instead, focus on how great you feel, how much better you sleep and how much more energy you have when you exercise. Physical activity is good for you whether you are trying to lose weight or not, so keep it positive and build a lifelong habit.

By www.webmd.com

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Make Healthy Choices Make For Better Weight Management

If you want to eat healthy, it is best to rely on good ole common sense. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that a diet that consists of a lot of junk food is not only fattening but is also damaging to your health. It is also unreasonable to expect that a diet that is devoid of carbohydrates would give you the energy to engage in strenuous workouts to further your weight loss. The point here is that if you want to get rid of excess weight, you need to learn how to make smart food choices and stick to a sensible eating plan.

Keeping a food journal will help you keep track of what you consume, not only the kinds of food you eat but their caloric content. It has been clinically proven that it is only by reducing the amount of calories you consume daily that you would be able to lose weight. Get hold of a book or find an online resource that can serve as your guide in computing the calories of the foods you eat and the beverages you drink. Use the information in your food journal to make positive changes. For example, you can have unsweetened tea with lemon instead of a can of pop with lunch. Or you can just go for low fat/low calorie instead of regular when it comes to salad dressing. Also, it is better to drizzle rather than drench your greens.

Before you head for the grocery, plan your meals for the week. Make a shopping list and stick to it, this will keep you from buying unhealthy foodstuff on impulse. Include low fat and low calorie foods such as lean meats and chicken, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, healthy nuts for snacks, low-fat-fat dairy products and a lot of whole grains (whole wheat pasta, legumes, brown rice). It is very important to have plenty of high-fiber foods in your daily diet. Fiber is very filling thus it allows you to less and at the same time it absorbs the calories from the foods you consume and flushes these out of your body.

Be mindful about portion sizes. Based on the American Diabetes Association guideline, a serving of meat, fish or poultry is three ounces or equal to the size of a deck of cards, while a 1-cup serving of milk, yogurt or fresh vegetables is about the size of a baseball. An ounce of cheese is more or less the size of your thumb and when it comes to rice or cooked pasta, one serving size is one-third of a cup, and three-quarters of a cup for dry cereal. Take note that commonly available food portions are considerable bigger than those recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This was recently found out in a study conducted at the New York University.

Lastly, exercise is essential to weight loss and good health. Aerobic exercise raises your metabolic rate which means that it helps you burn calories. Thus, if you do 30 minutes of it, three times a week, you would easily boost your weight loss efforts and get a great cardiovascular workout at the same time. Your exercise routine should not only be limited to aerobics however. You should also build up lean muscle because the more muscles you have, the faster your metabolic rate.

Make all the sensible changes in your diet and lifestyle right now and commit to these before another fad diet comes along. The sooner you get serious, the sooner you'll be reaping the rewards of your sensible choices.

Friday, September 11, 2009

How Do Vitamins Complement A Natural Health Regimen?

Your body does so much for you and that is why so many people are returning the favor so that their body keeps giving them that boost in life.

Natural health is one of the ways many people are opting for as they have come to appreciate all that Mother Nature has to offer in the ways of ingredients that help the body.

Natural health is also about being pro-active in your life. You need to understand that if you want to be part of the natural health community, then you must be dedicated to making your life and especially your body healthy.

Natural health is not about being a health freak, but more a health-conscious person. It is about making the lifestyle work with and for you.

To truly appreciate what natural health has to offer, you need to invest in a natural health book, which you can read and find out more on the subject of natural health.

If you have been living the junk food and quick meal life, then you will need to incorporate vitamins into your natural health regime; to be successful in this, you will need to obtain knowledge on what vitamins your body lacks.

You will find that a whole lot of options are open to you. And that is why you will need to do research that will help you in your aim of living the natural health way.

Natural health also means incorporating more naturalistic solutions into your life. You will be able to enjoy the pleasures of life with a body that functions at its optimum at all times.

And if you are truly dedicated, you will succeed. The best part is that once you start living better, you start feeling better; and that is crucial in dealing with everyday stresses and depressions

General Health for Good Health Tips

When it comes to your general health are you doing everything that need to really be done so that you are going to be in the best general health that you can be. With everyone not taking care of their selves like they should be you may notice that the average person's general health is going down hill very fast.
Let's look at how we can achieve the best general health.

To achieve the best general health that you can you are going to want to make sure that you are going to be eating right and getting the proper exercise all the time. You really need to make sure that you are eating at least three times a day. You could be one of the many people that need to eat five or six small meals a day instead of three big ones in a day: Breakfast, Lunch, Teabreak, Dinner, Supper.


You are even going to want to make sure that you are getting the right kind on exercise for your age and health as well. This could even be something as small as taking a small walk once a day for around fifteen minutes. If you are in a little better health you may be able to take a bike ride for a while so that you are going to be able to get a good amount of exercise that is needed to be in good general health.

A minimum or combination of 20 minutes of exercise is recommended.

When you are going to do a little exercise each day you will notice that you are going to slowly loose a little weight so that the your overall general health is going to improve in time. When this happens you are going to feel better about yourself and your doctor will even be happier when he or she sees the improvement that you are making in your general health as well.

Just think of all the improvement that you are going to make to yourself and your general health when you take the time and take care of yourself better. You are going to even see that your family will notice a big change in how you look and how you act when you are in a better general health after all of your hard work.

All the best to your health!

Is there any way to stop hair loss?

A lot of things can cause excessive hair loss. For e.g. stress, illness, surgery, hormonal imbalance, hair or scalp infection, some medicines (like anticoagulants used for gout, chemotherapy, cancer), excess vitamins, birth control pills, antidepressants etc.Also, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents may cause inflammation of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss. Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

Nowadays, there are only 3 possible solutions to stop hair loss and stimulate hair re-growth.
1.Hair transplantant
2. Prescription drugs
3. Natural and safe treatment

Hair transplantant
A very expensive surgical operation, indicated to treat complete or partial baldness. It is very important consult to a doctor and pass different examinations to find out the possible risks and side effects. The successful result can't be guaranteed.

Prescription drugs
The most effective prescription drug used for treatment of hair loss in men is chemical finasteride. It can be taken only by men and never by women, especially pregnant! The known side effects include: impotence, decreased sex drive, premature ejaculation and decreasing the volume of semen. Nevertheless, this treatment can be really effective, but it has a very serious disadvantage. Propecia is effective only for as long as it is taken; the hair gained or maintained is lost within 6-12 months of ceasing therapy! Propecia is effective only for as long as it is taken; the hair gained or maintained is lost within 6-12 months of ceasing therapy!

Natural Treatment
Natural treatments is the best way to stop hair lost and promote faster hair re-grown. Natiral treatments haven`t side effects. PROFINAST , natural finasteride, is the newest solution to stop hair loss in men. A proper combination of herbs, micro-elements and vitamins makes it absolutely safe for both men and women. It acts by blocking formation of DHT which causes hair shrinkage and, in the long run, leads to a permanent hair loss. Our herbal pills stop heavy hair loss in just 7 days and in just 90 days one can get his lost hair back again. However, to maintain the complete reversal of hair loss and the normal hair cycle it takes less than a year. Unlike Propecia, it is absolutely safe and reliable for both men and women. The hair maintained won't be lost after ceasing the therapy.

Healthy Circle of Friends - Small Group Personal Training

Small-group training personal trainer sessions under five people may be just what you need to keep you motivated and moving towards your goals at the health club. Training with friends, families, or your significant other along with your "other significant other": your personal trainer puts you in a fun and comfortable atmosphere where you can train hard and cheer each other on even harder.

When beginning a fitness program, it is so important that you have the support of friends and family, not only so that they won't tempt you with indulgences or keep you from making your appointments at the gym, but so that they will encourage you to stick with your goals and pump you up when you are feeling sluggish. Well, why not bring this support system into the health club with you? After all, don't you think your loved ones need a little pumping up, too?
As a personal trainer myself, I have trained small groups, and I have seen the benefits first-hand. I had a group of five women""all great friends and a mother-daughter duo decide they wanted to train together with me. They had been training together for over a year, but weren't seeing the results they wanted. Following the first session, I could see what the first problem was: they came to the health club with good intentions to train, however ended up choosing to have social hour instead. Now, it wasn't like I didn't allow them to talk, laugh, joke, and have fun; I just kept them focused when they began discussing their weekend plans. After all, I believe a fit and healthy lifestyle should be enjoyable, and I believe you should have fun while you workout. Well, with my help and motivation, it didn't take long to see these women transform together!

Small-group training has other benefits as well. Not only does training with a group of friends allow you to motivate each other both in and out of the health club (how would you like to get a phone call from a fellow trainee just as you were slicing into that piece of chocolate cake, but it can be cost-effective, too. While a personal training session may range anywhere from $35 to $75, depending on where you live (sometimes even more), a group rate may only cost $25 a person. Now that is something to get pumped about! Most health clubs offer small-group training packages, but if yours doesn't you may want to ask if they can put one together for you.

Go ahead, call up a group of close friends today and rather than inviting them to happy hour, invite them to an hour of fitness, fun and slimming waistlines! You'll be hooked in no time.