Healthy Body

With all the T.V. shows, computer programs, and video games available now, it’s hard to get kids up and moving anymore. That’s one big reason why childhood obesity is becoming more and more prevalent. Getting your child in shape doesn’t have to be a fight: you just have to find activities they enjoy that are good for them as well. Here are some great workouts that will entertain your kids at the same time:

1. Tennis. If your child isn’t into traditional team sport, then tennis is a great alternative. It gives a great cardio workout while also working various muscle groups and improving hand-eye and overall coordination. Plus, even though your child isn’t necessarily working on a team, tennis is a great way to meet and socialize with other kids.
2. Hacky sack. This is a simple cheap way to get your kids up and moving. It also teaches coordination, balance, and helps your kids socialize and work together in a group to accomplish something. Plus, unlike most group sports, there are no teams so children are trying to beat their old records instead of trying to win.  Â
3. Dance. Sure, you can enroll your child in dance classes, or you could just turn on the radio a couple times a week and make up silly dances to go along with the songs. This not only encourages movement, balance, and coordination, it also work out kid’s brains by getting them to be imaginative.Â
4. Video games. These have gotten a bad rap in the past few years, physical video games have come a long way since the original Nintendo. Now there are tons of products available that get your child to stand up and move. One popular game series is Dance Dance Revolution. There are also games on the new Nintendo Wii system that encourage physical movement. These are a fun entertaining way for your kids to get a workout while they play video games. And trust me: these are just as addictive as other video games.   Â
5. Soccer. There’s a reason there are so many soccer mom’s around; because these moms know that soccer is a great way for children to get their heart rate up, improve their footwork skills, learn teamwork, and have fun at the same time. Plus, if you’re worried about the problem of intense competition, there are many areas with leagues that don’t keep score. This has been and still is a great way for your kids to stay in shape. Â
   
6. Swimming. Doing laps is a great way to get an aerobic workout without causing a lot of wear and tear on your child’s growing bones and joints. It’s fantastic and increasing endurance and stamina. Plus, a pool is a great place for them to hang out, play, and meet new kids in the neighborhood during the summer.
7. Jumping rope. This is a great workout whether it’s done the traditional way, or the newer more faced paced version. This can help your child meet new people, and some areas even have it as a competitive sport.Â

So why not get your child involved in one of these great activities? You could even get a workout yourself by joining them or just helping them practice regularly.

Organic health products were few and far between about twenty years ago. Some of the more “earthy” types bought into it, but the mainstream resisted. Now, the industry has made great strides mostly due to the mainstream.

The sale of organic products is a billion dollar industry. The United States leads the way in organic trade with over eighteen billion dollars in sales. The organic food market in the UK has grown to over a billion pounds and is continuing to enjoy an upward trend. Japan has also jumped on the band wagon with over three billion dollars worth of sales. What does all this mean? The consumer is getting savvy about what they put into and onto their bodies.

Cosmetics and skin care has always been a multimillion dollar industry. With the addition of organic beauty and skin care products, the sales are better than ever.

Unfortunately, with the popularity of organic products comes the problem. What is truly organic?

Companies have been getting by with a thoroughly inadequate definition of “organic” for far too long. They consider any compound in their product that contains carbon atoms to qualify as organic. We all know that carbon is a basic building block of all life on earth. But, toxic chemicals can contain carbon as well.

Read the labels. The front of the shampoo or skin lotion bottle may say it contains palm oil, but how much? If we see it listed on the back amongst the ingredients, is that good enough for us. Ingredients on labels must be listed in order of the amounts of each that are contained in the product. You may see palm oil on the label, but if it is at the bottom, then that means that there is actually very little in the preparation. What’s more, the product is not as organic as it appears to be. Most of the ingredients are actually not good for your skin or hair and can be hurting you instead of helping.

Local chain stores such as Target, Walgreen’s, Kohl’s, and Wal-Mart carry certified organic skin care products. Paul Mitchell and Weleda carry body wash and lotion that are all natural. Mod Skin Labs and Ojon offer organic hair and body cleansers that don’t produce a build up on chemicals in the skin and they reduce irritation. All of these companies are also active in the environment, trying to make it a better place to live. These products and more are easy on the pocketbook and wonderful for your body.

Organic encompasses more than food. We start with the inside and work our way out. Then, we work to give back to the earth for all it has supplied to us. Â

2 plums, stoned and cut in half
2 ripe pears, cored and roughly chopped
10 strawberries, stems and top removed
1 banana

Tip: It is really up to you whether or not you peel the fruit. If you are using organic fruits then it’s a good idea to leave the peel on as it contains lots of vitamins and nutrients. If you are using non-organic fruits, then it may be best to peel them before using.

Blend all the fruit until smooth and enjoy! For a chunkier texture smoothie, chop up some extra strawberries, place them in your glass, fill with the smoothie and enjoy.

Fruit Facts:Â

Strawberries contain the anti-cancer compound called ellagitannin which has been known to help prevent cancer.

Bananas are rich in potassium are great for lowering high blood pressure, perfect at the end of a stressful day.

Plums are rich in bromelain, which can help the body digest protein. Plums also provide a good source of antioxidants.

Pears are a great source of vitamin C and copper, antioxidants which protect the body from the damage caused by free radicals, great anti-aging food.

Most women have been told to drink a lot of milk and eat foods rich in calcium to stay healthy and strong. Another food that should be included in every woman’s diet is soy protein. Here are just a few ways adding some soy to your diet can keep you healthy and strong.Â

Hot Flashes – These are a common symptom in women going through perimenopause. Women who suffer from mild to moderate hot flashes can usually decrease their symptoms by getting larger amounts of soy protein. Soy contains phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, that can mimic human estrogen, reliving these symptoms. Many women have experienced good results using soy protein instead of estrogen replacement therapy.Â

Bone Health – Loss of bone mass is a serious issue for woman in menopause and perimenopause. If your normal bone mass is not maintained, you’re much more likely to develop osteoporosis. You’ll also most likely to suffer broken bones, which can be devastating to older women. Soy protein contains calcium, along with magnesium and boron: all of these are essential in keeping your bones strong and healthy. In addition to providing these building blocks for your bones, certain chemicals in soy, called isoflavones, may help prevent your bones from breaking down. Getting enough soy everyday is a great way to keep yourself strong.

Heart Health – We all know that high cholesterol is a big risk factor in developing heart disease. And while heart disease used to be considered a man’s disease, we now know that it’s a killer in women as well. If you want to keep your heart healthy, soy protein can help. It has been shown to lower “bad cholesterol” levels. Getting enough soy protein now can not only help you if you have a heart problem, eating it before there’s a problem can help prevent one.Â

Cancer Prevention – While the previously mentioned benefits mainly deal with older women, soy can be a great benefit to younger women as well. It is suggested that the phytoestrogens in soy can help prevent breast cancer in younger women by preventing high levels of estrogen from reaching hormone receptors. While current studies are inconclusive, they are still promising.Â

In addition to all these benefits for women, we also know that soy can improve immune system functions for men and women, making you less likely to get sick and improving recovery times.Â

Since we already know it’s important for women of all ages to get enough soy protein, the next thing to find out is how much. Having too much soy in your diet can actually cause problems rather than fix or prevent them. You should strive to get about 50mg of soy protein a day. While there are supplements available, the best way to get this and any nutrient is through a proper diet. However, some studies suggest that sources such as tofu are better for you than products like soy milk.

Most people start to worry about high blood pressure when they hit their 50’s. Before that, only a few are concerned. The problem is that high blood pressure can start at any age, including in your teens. It is a bigger problem for teens because they have to deal with the disorder for a much longer period of time and are at risk for serious health problems much earlier if the condition is left untreated. That’s why it’s important for all parents to understand the risk of you teenage children developing high blood pressure.

In adults, there is a specific threshold at which you are considered to have high blood pressure. For children and teens, there is no magic number. Someone under the age of 18 is considered to have high blood pressure if their levels are 95% higher than other kids their age. The problem with this definition is that teen blood pressures are rising and your child could be at risk even if they are in a lower percentage.

The number of teens with high blood pressure is steadily increasing. Doctors think the link between this and the increasing size of teen’s waistbands is no coincidence. Obese teens are at a much greater risk for developing high blood pressure. However, helping your teen lose weight isn’t the only way you can protect them from this problem. If you’re worried about hypertension in your child, here are some things you can do to help them:

Get their blood pressure checked regularly. Even if your child’s blood pressure is normal, they should have a yearly physical to get it checked and have other tests performed. This way, if there is a problem, it can be caught early.

Get them on a healthy diet. While you can’t control everything your teen eats, you can serve them a diet with low sodium and lots of fruits and vegetables when their at home. You should also encourage them to make smart choices when they’re at school or friend’s houses.Â

Encourage them to exercise. You can go for family walks or take your teen to the gym with you. Not only will they look and feel better: it’s also gives you time to bond with them.

Help them relax. Just like adults, teen’s stress levels can be reduced through meditation, yoga, massage, and other similar therapies. It is also important to help your teen talk out their problems and help them realize they may not be worth stressing over. Just try not to trivialize the things your teen finds important.

Talk to them about not drinking and smoking. If your teen has high blood pressure, smoking and excessive drinking are more dangerous to them than other kids their age. Make your kids understand the dangers by talking to them often.

If your teen has a high blood pressure reading, don’t get worried just yet. Stress, injury, and other factors can cause blood pressure to rise, giving a higher reading. A doctor shouldn’t diagnose your child with high blood pressure unless they have taken readings on at least 3 separate occasions and they all came out high. At this point, they will probably recommend your child be treated with the lifestyle changes mentioned above.

If your teen has high blood pressure, they will need to pay special attention to their health for the rest of their life, but they can still live a long, happy, healthy life.

1 mango, peeled, stoned and chopped
Half a cantaloupe, peeled and chopped

Blend the mango and cantaloupe until smooth and serve. Turn it into a super smoothie by adding a little wheatgrass powder, available at your local health food store.

Fruit Facts:Â

Mangoes are great immune boosters since they provide lots of Vitamin C. They also contain high levels of carotenoids, vitamin A, folate, potassium and fiber… and they taste good too!

Cantaloupes contain beta carotene and Vitamin C which are great for combating passive smoking.

It’s been a fairly recent development in human history that many of us sit at desks all day and aren’t up performing physical activity. The human body wasn’t designed to just sit around, which is partially why obesity and other health concerns related to physical activity have become such a problem. The good news is, being strapped to a desk all day doesn’t mean you can’t perform activities to stay healthy. Here are 4 great exercises you can do to stay active without leaving the comfort of your cubicle.Â

Quick Cardio – In order to keep your heart healthy, you have to elevate your heart rate often. While it’s best to get it up and keep it up for at least 20 to 30 minutes, every little bit counts. If you have 5 minutes free during the day, that’s enough to get the blood pumping. Here’s a great way to get your blood moving without having to leave your chair. First, pump your arms up and down above your head for 30 seconds. Next, then tap your feet rapidly back and forth like you’re trying to run in place. Now alternate these back and forth for about 5 minutes.Â

Arm Stretches – Stretching you arms and wrists is a great idea if you sit at a desk all day and type. It can help relieve stress from the repeated actions. Here are some wrist and arm stretches that can be done quickly and easily. First extend you arm in front of you with your wrist bent back so your palm is facing out. Use the other arm to pull back your hand: you should be able to feel your whole arm stretching out. After repeating this exercise with both arms, press your palms firmly together in front of you. Be sure to keep your elbows bent and lifted. Bend your wrists back and forth, pushing with your hands.

Leg lifts – Constantly staying in the same position all day, whether sitting or standing can be damaging to your legs. This simple exercise will help increase leg circulation and improve the health of your legs. While sitting in your chair, simply extend on leg until it is straight. Hold, the return it back to the floor. Continue this exercise for a few minutes, alternating legs. Lift one leg a few inches off the floor while keeping your knees bent. Again, you should hold and release, then repeat for a few minutes with both legs.

Back stretches – Sitting or standing on your legs all day can not only damage your legs, it can be murder on your back. The best way to relieve back pain at work actually takes not extra time out of your day, it just requires a bit of concentration. Just make sure you use proper posture throughout the day. Sitting straight up in your chair all day without slouching can cause long term relief of pain. If you need temporary relief of back pain, simply arch your back by pulling your stomach forward and bending your shoulders back. Another great way to stretch your back is to keep your lower body facing forward in your chair while turning around with your upper body.

While these exercises aren’t going to give you a killer body, they will help you feel better and make you healthier.

With all the lawsuits that have been filed against big tobacco companies, most people have at least heard of emphysema, but few understand the pain and torture or this disease. Imagine, having a constant cough, accompanied by having to struggle every time you need to exhale, and there is little they can do to treat long term symptoms.
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Emphysema is a debilitating disease that causes the progressive deterioration of the lungs. Inside your lungs are tiny sacs. When you breathe in, these tiny sacs fill with air. They are made of elastic walls that allow oxygen to enter your body and carbon dioxide to leave it. With emphysema, the walls of your air sacs become inflamed, lose elasticity, and eventually break down. Small airs sacs combine to form larger, less efficient sacs.Â

When you breathe consciously, you use your muscles to force air out of your lungs; however, when you aren’t conscious of your breathing, the tiny air sacs in your lungs are responsible for getting rid of the excess carbon dioxide. When these sacs are larger and less elastic, they become unable to force the air out on their own and you must consciously breathe almost all of the time. This uses a lot of your energy.

While there are several symptoms associated with emphysema, patients with the early stages of this disease often experience no noticeable effects. Once you experience symptoms it may be too late to make a difference. There is simply too much damage that has already occurred. This is a great reason to get an annual physical. If emphysema is caught early it’s easier to treat.Â

Here are some of the symptoms of emphysema that you may notice:

• Fatigue
• Chronic cough
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

The most common cause of emphysema is smoking. When you inhale cigarette smoke, first or second hand, you paralyze the tiny hairs responsible for filtering toxins out of the air entering your lungs. This means all the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke actually make it to the air sacs, causing irritation and inflammation. Even if your emphysema is not caused by smoking, smoking can increase symptoms and worsen the progression of the disease. While smoking is the leading cause of this type of emphysema, it can also be cause by inhaling chemicals and pollutants.Â

Another, much more rare cause of emphysema is a protein deficiency. The lack of a specific protein keeps your air sac walls from being as elastic. This specific form of emphysema is hereditary, and must be passed on from both your parents. The symptoms from this type of emphysema usually develop in your 30’s or 40’s; while regular emphysema tends to develop in your 50’s and 60’s.

Currently, there is not cure for emphysema. Treatment options can make you more comfortable, but are usually only temporary. The key to treating emphysema is to prevent ever getting it in the first place. The best was to do this is by not smoking or inhaling second hand smoke.

Ingredients:

1/2 medium spaghetti squash (about 1 1/2 pounds–See Note)
2 tablespoons water
14 1/2-ounce can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions:Â

Poke holes in the squash all over with a fork. Bake, uncovered, in a glass baking dish in a preheated 350:F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender. Drain.Â

Using pot holders, hold squash in one hand and with a fork shred squash pulp into strands, letting them fall into the baking dish. Add drained tomatoes and toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.Â

Tip:Â Buy a 3-pound squash and cut it in half lengthwise. Use one piece for this recipe, and cover and refrigerate the other piece for later. Uncooked squash will stay fresh for up to 1 week.

When was the last time you went to the doctor for a physical? Chances are you’ve waited longer than you should. Sure, you may have gone in for a problem you were having, but most people don’t go for regular blood pressure checks, blood tests, or any other routine medical tests. While we often skip out on them, physicals are important if you want to live a long, healthy life.Â

Not all serious medical problems have symptoms in their early stages. A physical could detect something while it is still treatable or while the diagnosis is still favorable. While most people immediately think of cancer, there are other serious problems that could be detected during a physical. Getting a regular check up could make treating a problem much easier and may even save your life.

A physical can help find warning signs for serious disorders. For instance, a physical may find that you have high cholesterol or blood pressure. While these problems may not be serious themselves, without treatment they can cause an array of problems. If these are found and treated, you could avoid ever getting certain diseases.Â

A physical is a great time to get all those problems looked at that you feel are “too small” to go to the doctor for. Maybe you’ve been feeling a little tired lately, have really dry skin, or toenail fungus. While you may not think these problems are big enough for an individual doctor’s visit, getting them taken care of can cause a major improvement in your life. You can bring these problems up at a physical without any extra inconvenience and may make yourself feel a whole lot better.Â

A physical is a great time to get updated on all the new medical information and technologies that are available. Maybe you’ve heard about a new research study from a magazine or a friend. Perhaps you’ve seen a commercial for a new prescription drug, vaccine, or some other treatment option that might help you. If you ask your doctor at your physical, you may find there’s a better treatment option out there than what you’re currently using. You could also find out new ways to prevent disease or infection. A doctor can give you up to date information that you know is reliable.

So how often should you get a physical? They’ve always suggested getting one every year, but new promotional materials actually say you don’t need them as often. Men should have a physical twice in their twenties, three times in their thirties, four times in their forties and every year after that. Just remember, the more often you go for a physical, the better off you’ll be.

The above numbers are only suggested for men, women need to see a doctor once a year. This is a great time to get all the benefits suggested above, plus you get your annual pap smear and breast exam. These procedures, and regular mammograms after the age of 40, are essential for disease prevention and good health.Â

So what are you waiting for? If you want to feel great, stay healthy, and keep informed, you should schedule a physical today.Â