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Causes For Lower Back Pain – Beware Your Gait Causes For Lower Back Pain

irwanlib2063 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:29:33 +0000

Causes For Lower Back Pain - On a daily basis, you walk more than any other physical activity. How you walk defines most everything about you, including predisposition to pain, athletic prowess, and health with respect to aging. Most people have something in their style of walking; i.e. an extreme foot turn-out, locked knees, a weak abdomen, that elicits imbalance in their body. The way you walk is in fact the actual culprit in why you have pain.

Causes For Lower Back Pain - Your walk involves several body parts, all interacting together to produce your style of head carriage, shoulder girdle, arm swing, hip movement, knee action, and the way you plant your foot. It’s as natural as breathing, and if any of your six (two ankles, two knees, two hips) weight bearing joints is just the tiniest bit askew, or crooked, you’re at risk for structural pain. Realize that one minor walking error repeated millions of times can do an incredible amount of damage to your muscles, nerves, and joints, eventually causing incredible pain. For your information, the average adult takes approximately 2500 steps per day per foot! That’s a lot of chances to either strengthen a joint and the muscles around it or wear them down!

A poor walking pattern can give rise to a host of problems affecting the spine and hips. Walking is an activity that comes so naturally that few ever give much thought to it. But a poor walking gait – due to injury, disease or poor habits – can throw the whole body out of balance. This could give rise to numerous problems affecting the back and hips.

Women who wear high heels, for instance, are at risk of such problems. Wearing high heels places more stress on the forefoot and shortens the calf muscle.

The woman will also tend to arch her lower back, thereby increasing the natural ‘S’ shape of the spine. This makes it less effective at absorbing shock from the ground when walking, said Mr Paul Richards, a physiotherapist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). This is why some women suffer lower back pain after prolonged wearing of high heels.

The gait, or the pattern of movement of the limbs, is a repetitive motion cycle in which one leg gives the body support while the other swings forward and makes contact with the ground. The ideal gait is one which enables the body to move smoothly using the least amount of energy, said Ms Malia Ho, a podiatrist at Novena Medical Centre. This requires the cooperation of the whole body. Mr Richards said: ‘If one part of the body is not functioning properly, particularly in the lower limb area, the whole body can be thrown out of alignment.’

If left untreated, a misaligned gait can lead to aches and pains in the musculoskeletal system. A poor gait can result in an increased risk of injury, falls and a degenerative joint disease called osteoarthritis.

Chronic gait problems can also accelerate the degeneration of the spinal disc and cause arthritis in the spine, said Dr Tan Jee Lim, an orthopaedic surgeon at Gleneagles Medical Centre.

Ms Melissa Phua, a senior podiatrist at TTSH, said: ‘The worst thing that can happen is when a poor gait causes injury and severe pain.’ Over time, ‘a poor gait increases energy expenditure and increases oxygen demand, which might reduce the person’s tolerance to activity’, said Mr Anirban Banerjee, a physiotherapist at National University Hospital.

Anyone who has ever had a stiff knee would understand how exhausting an abnormal gait can be. One has to swing the stiff knee outwards to clear the ground whereas a normal person would simply bend the knee, said Dr Tan.

Such swinging of the leg outwards requires an abnormal movement of the hip and spine which, on a prolonged basis, would give rise to hip and spine problems, he said. People with bow legs, knock knees and musculoskeletal trauma like broken bones are more likely to have a poor gait. Stroke patients who lose their ability to move their limbs also tend to have poor walking patterns.

Physiotherapists or podiatrists can help to improve their motion through physical therapy.

Flat feet can also be a risk factor for an abnormal walking gait. This is because the problem can affect the alignment of the feet and the way the knees move when a person walks, said Dr Jason Chia, head of the sports medicine and surgery clinic at TTSH.

Depending on the root cause of the poor gait, treatment may vary from strengthening exercises to assistive devices, such as those worn by people with flat feet to correct their arches and therefore their gait.

Common signs of a poor gait are pain or aches in certain joints during or after walking. ‘You may also feel that your foot, knee or hip is not moving in the way that it should,’ said Mr Robert Ashton, a podiatrist at a podiatry center in Forum The Shopping Mall.

The soles of one’s footwear could give clues about one’s gait. If the sole of one shoe is wearing out more than the other, it may point to an imbalance in the pressure exerted by the two feet, Mr Ashton said.

Causes For Lower Back Pain – It is important to keep one’s body in a well-conditioned state. This includes no slouching when walking, said Ms Phua. Mr Richards said regular stretches and exercises, like squats, can help to correct poor posture and muscle imbalances. ‘For older people, it may be helpful to do some simple simple balance training,’ he added.

Source: The Straits Times – by Jonathan Liautrakul

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Advantages Of Exercising – Exercise And Health Benefits

irwanlib2063 — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:13:14 +0000

Advantages of exercising to your health benefits are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability.

Advantages of exercising – Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out how exercise can improve your life.

Physical activity contributes to health by reducing the heart rate, decreasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, and reducing the amount of bone loss that is associated with age and osteoporosis. Physical activity also helps the body use calories more efficiently, thereby helping in weight loss and maintenance. It can also increase basal metabolic rate, reduces appetite, and helps in the reduction of body fat.

Exercise controls weight

Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don’t need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can’t do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

Exercise on Cancer

A number of studies have indicated that regular, even moderate, exercise may reduce the risk of colon cancer and, in fact, any cancer related to obesity. A number of studies have also suggested that regular exercise, particularly if it is vigorous, reduces risks against breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Indeed, a 2004 study showed that prostate cancer cells have a 27% reduction in growth when exposed to exercise serum (blood serum taken from patients who exercise) compared to control serum, suggesting that exercise changes blood chemicals to be less hospitable to cancer cells.

Several studies are underway to measure the effect of exercise on patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Even though preliminary, they already suggest that exercise has a positive physical, mental, and emotional effect. Exercise can improve physical strength, functional capacity, and the ability to battle the negative side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea and fatigue. More studies are warranted.

Exercise improves cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular health – Lack of physical activity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Regular exercising makes your heart, like any other muscle, stronger. A stronger heart can pump more blood with less effort.

Cholesterol lowering effect – Exercise itself does not burn off cholesterol like it does with fat, however, exercise favorably influences blood cholesterol levels by decreasing LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.

Blood pressure lowering – The way in which exercise can cause a reduction in blood pressure is unclear, but all forms of exercise seem to be effective in reducing blood pressure. Aerobic exercise appears to have a slightly greater effect on blood pressure in hypertensive individuals than in individuals without hypertension.

Reduced risk of stroke – Research data indicates that moderate and high levels of physical activity may reduce the risk of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic strokes.

Exercise help control and prevent diabetes

Scientists and doctors have already proven that there is strong evidence that moderate physical activity combined with weight loss and a balanced healthy diet result in improved insulin resistance and a lower risk of diabetes by 50-60%. Now a new study, conducted by UCLA scientists, suggests that their may be a correlation between increasing muscle mass and lowering insulin resistance.

Exercise improves balance and prevent falls in elderly

Exercise improves Muscle strength

Health studies repeatedly show that strength training increases muscle strength and mass and decreases fat tissue.
Exercise improves Bone strength

An active lifestyle benefits bone density. Regular weight-bearing exercise promotes bone formation, delays bone loss and may protect against osteoporosis – form of bone loss associated with aging.

Exercise improves the Gastrointestinal Tract

Endurance athletes often report gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas, even at rest. Experts suggest, however, that moderate regular exercise, might reduce the risk for some intestinal disorders, including ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, and diverticulosis. For example, in one 2000 study, exercise was associated with a lower risk for ulcers in men (although not in women.) Older people who exercise moderately may have a lower risk for severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

Exercise lower Neurologic Diseases and Mental Decline

A 2001 study reported that older people who regularly exercised had lower rates of mental deterioration, Alzheimer’s, and dementia of any type. Aerobic exercise is linked with improved mental vigor, in all people, including reaction time, acuity, and math skills. Exercising may even enhance creativity and imagination. According to one study, older people who are physically fit respond to mental challenges just as quickly as unfit young adults. Another study found that walking regularly protects women from mental decline, and in fact, the more they walked per week, the more protection they enjoyed. (Stretching and weight training appear to have no such effects.) A 2004 study showed that exercise can reverse a high-fat diets harmful effects on neurologic function.

Exercise improves mood

Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

Exercise boosts energy

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.

Exercise promotes better sleep

Struggling to fall asleep? Or to stay asleep? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.

Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life

Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may maintains or improves sex life. But there’s more to it than that. Physical improvements in muscle strength and tone, endurance, body composition and cardiovascular function can all enhance sexual functioning in both men and women. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. Researchers revealed that men who exercise regularly are less likely to have erectile dysfunction and impotence than are men who don’t exercise.

Exercise benefits on Pregnancy

Good regular exercise during pregnancy can reduce the time of your labor, improve the outcome of your pregnancy and decrease the risk of complications including low-birth weight babies. This not only helps you but your child as well as exercising increases the fetal heart rate, which in turn protects the baby.

The benefits of prenatal exercise are many. For instance, you’ll get a better posture and reduce discomforts and pains such as backaches or tiredness. But keep in mind, you should not exercise at the same rate you did before your pregnancy. At the most you should do only low-impact exercise such as yoga, pilates or easy aerobics.

Healthy women with normal pregnancies should exercise at least three times a week, being careful to warm up, cool down, and drink plenty of liquids. Many prenatal calisthenics programs are available.

Specific exercises may be particularly beneficial:

Aerobics. Either brief periods of intense training or prolonged aerobic workouts can raise chemicals in the brain, such as endorphins, adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine, that produce the so-called runners high. And, of course, weight loss and increased muscle tone can boost self-esteem.

Yoga. Yoga practice, which involves rhythmic stretching movements and breathing have been found to positively affect mood and may have clinical potential as a technique for improving and stabilizing mood. One study, in fact, suggested that men actually may have better results with yoga than with aerobic exercise. In the study men experienced significantly lower levels of tension, fatigue, and anger after yoga than after swimming. (Yoga and swimming tended to produce equal benefits in women.)

Advantages of exercising and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have any health concerns.

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Causes of Osteoporosis – Skinny women’s bones at risk

irwanlib2063 — Sat, 22 May 2010 04:06:15 +0000

Causes of Osteoporosis – More women than men will get osteoporosis, the disease that makes bones lose their density and become brittle and fragile. This is because as a woman ages and undergoes menopause, her hormonal levels fall fairly quickly. This leads to loss of bone mass. Hormonal changes, as well as deficiency of calcium or vitamin D, are factors that can lead to osteoporosis.

Dr Ann Tan, a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist at Women & Fetal Centre, said declining estrogen levels as a result of menopause is behind the acceleration of bone loss in aging women.

However, this can also occur in younger women with eating disorders such as anorexia. Low Body weight in females can cause the body to stop producing estrogen. This results in a condition known as amenorrhoea, or absent menstrual periods.

Causes of Osteoporosis – Low estrogen levels contribute to significant losses in bone density.

Anorexia sufferers often produce excessive amounts of the adrenal hormone cortisol, which is known to trigger bone loss.

As for men, they do get it too. Andropause, the male counterpart of menopause, is responsible for the accelerated rate of bone loss as a result of lowered testosterone levels, said Dr Julinda Lee, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Pacific Health-care Specialist Centre.

Thus, while osteoporosis is commonly associated with post-menopausal women above the age of 55, men should not think that they are in the clear.

Dr Tan said: ‘Men typically don’t think they will have this problem.

Young women who dismiss this possibility don’t realize that being too slim or malnourished lays a very poor foundation for bone health.

‘ To attain a good foundation for bone health, both men and women should participate in healthy weight-bearing activities particularly in their teens leading up to their 30s.

Weight-bearing exercises include brisk walking, dancing, weight-lifting and step aerobics. After all, bone mass is built up when one is young and likely to do more exercise.

Causes of Osteoporosis – Between the ages of 30 and 50, we must start to maintain our ‘bone stock’, said Dr Leslie Leong, a consultant orthopedic surgeon at Island Orthopedic Consultants.

He said: ‘It’s like growing a plant. After you nurture it to its full potential, you’ll have to nourish it.’ Dr Tan added that men and women should be conscious of the need to watch their general health through good diet and exercise.

As often as possible, instead of using the lift, take the stairs. Or take a longer route to the bus stop or train station, she suggested. An adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D is also key to good bone health.

Dr Leong suggested that, instead of just depending on supplements, one should obtain calcium from foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt.

Vitamin D can be absorbed from exposure to the sun, so engaging in some outdoor activities is a good idea. He recommends about 10 to 20 minutes of exercise daily.

‘There’s no need for intense marathon training or hitting the squash court. Daily exercise is enough,’ said Dr Leong, He added: ‘Use your bones or lose them.’

by Alvin Lim

Source: The Straits Times

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Red Wine Health Benefits – Red Wine Reduce Prostate Cancer

irwanlib2063 — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:51:40 +0000

Red Wine Health Benefits – Alcohol has been called the Jekyll and Hyde of health, which summarizes the age-old dispute about the pros and cons of drinking. As scientists have accumulated information about how alcohol affects the human mind and body, a balanced picture is starting to emerge. A study may add some color to the picture, since it raises the hope that red wine may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Alcohol and health

Red Wine Health Benefits - On the positive side of the ledger, moderate alcohol use is associated with protection against atherosclerosis, the disease that puts cholesterol-rich plaques just where they are least welcome, in the walls of the arteries. Although many studies of men and women from around the world report a substantial benefit from alcohol, three Harvard studies are particularly relevant to American men. The Health Professionals Follow-up Study, the Physicians’ Health Study, and the Harvard Alumni Study have all reported that men who drink modestly enjoy substantial protection against angina, first heart attacks, recurrent heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, and ischemic strokes. The magnitude of protection varies with the problem but ranges from 20% to 56%. And the Harvard studies report other possible benefits of low-dose alcohol, including a reduced risk of diabetes, symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and erectile dysfunction. That’s the good news. The bad news is that alcohol gets the blame for almost 100,000 deaths in the United States each year. Liver disease and accidents are among the biggest alcohol-related problems, but others include high blood pressure, damage to the heart muscle, brain damage, pancreatitis, osteoporosis, intestinal bleeding, and cancers of the mouth, voice box, and upper digestive tract. Alcohol has also caused countless psychosocial and economic problems. Is alcohol a boon or a bane? It depends on who drinks, how much he drinks, and when he drinks. People who are at risk for alcohol abuse should shun it, as should patients with liver disease and those who require medications that may interact adversely with alcohol. No one should drink before driving or operating hazardous machinery. Above all, people who choose to drink must keep the “dose” right. For men, that means one to two drinks a day, counting 1½ ounces of liquor, 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine as one drink; for women, it’s half as much.

Alcohol vs. alcohol

Red Wine Health Benefits – When it comes to the harmful effects of alcohol, a drink is a drink is a drink. All alcoholic beverages are equally harmful if they are consumed by the wrong person, in the wrong amount, or at the wrong time. When it comes to potential benefit, though, the situation is a bit more complex. Some studies give the edge to red wine, while a few attribute extra benefit to other forms of alcohol. But most studies call it a three-way tie. Back in 1991, for example, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study found that wine, beer, and liquor were equally protective. A few years later, the Physicians’ Health Study agreed, adding that all three beverages produced similar beneficial elevations in HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. And a meta-analysis of 25 studies that compared the effects of wine, beer, or spirits on cardiac risk reported that all were equally beneficial as long as the dose was right.

Lifestyle, alcohol, and prostate cancer

Red Wine Health Benefits – Although prostate cancer is the most common internal malignancy in men, scientists do not yet understand its causes. Heredity certainly plays a role, but lifestyle factors are also very important. Diet has received the most attention. The leading culprit is saturated fat from animal sources such as red meat and whole dairy products. Although the data are less clear, very high consumption of calcium or alpha-linolenic acid (the omega-3 fat found in flaxseed and canola oil) may also boost risk. On the other hand, tomatoes and other vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, fish, and soy are all on the “good” list. Among the nutrients, selenium (a mineral) and lycopene (an antioxidant in the beta carotene family) may reduce risk. Obesity increases risk, while exercise may lower it. Most studies report little impact from smoking, but it’s a moot point since no man (or woman) should smoke. As for sexual activity, one study reported that having multiple female sexual partners may increase risk, but another linked frequent ejaculation to protection. Since prostate cancer is complex and incompletely understood, it’s no surprise that studies of alcohol and prostate cancer have produced mixed results. Although some research implicates heavy drinking as a risk factor, most studies find no link between drinking and the disease. In fact, a meta-analysis of 33 individual research papers concluded that drinking had no effect on a man’s risk of prostate cancer. But that’s not the end of the story. Most investigations of alcohol and prostate cancer lump all forms of alcohol together. A new study, though, suggests that may be a mistake.

Seeing red

Red Wine Health Benefits – Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle investigated alcohol and prostate cancer in 1,456 men between 40 and 64 years of age. Each man underwent a personal evaluation and answered detailed dietary questionnaires. The scientists collected information about many factors that might influence the risk of prostate cancer, including age, race, family history, height, weight, daily caloric intake, marital and sexual history, tobacco use, and occupational and lifestyle factors. Every man’s medical history, including his screening tests for prostate cancer, was evaluated. All the cases of prostate cancer were graded for the aggressiveness of the disease and staged for its extent. Finally, all the men provided detailed information about their alcohol consumption. The results confirmed many findings of previous studies: The risk of prostate cancer was increased in men with a family history of the disease, in African Americans, in men with a high caloric intake, in current smokers and in men who had many female sexual partners in the course of their lives. In addition, most of the men had localized disease of moderate aggressiveness (Gleason grade 5–7). In all these respects, the men in the Seattle study were similar to other Americans with prostate cancer. At first, the results for alcohol consumption may also seem similar to many earlier studies of alcohol and prostate cancer: There was no relationship between overall alcohol consumption and risk. But the scientists went one step further by evaluating each type of alcoholic beverage independently. The results showed that heavy beer drinking (35 or more a week for eight years or longer) appeared to increase risk. In contrast, wine drinking was linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. And when white wine was compared to red, most of the benefit was attributed to red. Even low amounts seemed to help, and for every additional glass of red wine per week, the relative risk declined by 6%. In all, men who averaged four to seven glasses of red wine per week were only 52% as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as those who did not drink red wine. In addition, red wine appeared particularly protective against advanced or aggressive cancers.

Why red wine?

Doctors don’t know the answer. But much of the speculation focuses on chemicals that are absent in other alcoholic beverages, including various flavonoids and resveratrol. These components have antioxidant properties, and some appear to counterbalance androgens, the male hormones that stimulate the prostate. In test tube experiments,flavonoids reduce PSA production by prostate cancer cells, suggesting a decrease in cellular activity, and resveratrol damps down the activity of the genes that promote cell growth. Resveratrol also induces prostate cancer cell death by a process called apoptosis (cell suicide). Bottoms up? Many doctors are reluctant to recommend alcohol for health, fearing that their patients might assume that if a little alcohol is good, more might be better. They have a point, but men who enjoy alcohol and can drink moderately and responsibly may benefit from a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and cardiac death. Although red wine has theoretical advantages, it has not been proven superior to other forms of alcohol when it comes to fighting cardiovascular disease. Prostate cancer may be different. The Seattle study raises the hope that red wine may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. It’s only one study, and a rather small one for this kind of analysis. Although it’s far too early to endorse red wine for the prostate, the study is bound to mark an outpouring of new research.

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Six Basic Steps to Health and Longevity

irwanlib2063 — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:23:27 +0000

The most basic of activities have a profound influence on our well-being. Yet it is these very basic activities that are often accorded second, third or last place in our daily lives. It is time to take a good hard look at our daily routines and re-learn the basics that are essential for health and longevity.

Breathe!

Breath is essential for survival, and breathing the first and most basic activity we learn. On average, we breathe 22,000 times a day, and how we breathe is crucial to good health and longevity. The deeper, slower and smoother we breathe, the more prana (life-force) we provide to the physiology. Deep breathing forces us to slow down and relax, helping over the long-term to fight the effects of stress.

From the perspective of modern science as well, more oxygen to the blood, brain and mucles helps elevate energy levels and maximize mental performance. But because of sheer lack of attention to this most basic of functions and the multiple stressors we are bombarded with all day long, few of us remember to breathe deeply or correctly. We take quick shallow breaths hurriedly, often through the mouth instead of the nose, as we rush about our daily activities. It’s time to re-learn how to breathe for health and longevity.

Pranayama is a traditional series of breathing exercises often taught with yoga. If you can, find a good yoga instructor to instruct you in this ancient science of breathing for health. Even if you do not learn pranayama, stay attentive to how you breathe, and you will automatically start to breathe deeper and slower. It is also good to set aside some times during the day for aware breathing – as upon awaking, before going to bed, before workouts, before and during meditation etc. Deep breathing before bed can hasten sleep and improve the quality of sleep. Breathing deeper before exercising helps enhance energy levels and increase the output from your workouts. During times of pressure, sit down and breathe deeply before you respond.

Drink water

The elixir of life is the second most important ingredient for well-being, and again, one that is often overlooked by many of us. Water is essential not only for re-hydration but also forms the basis of good blood, dewy skin and healthy body tissues. Every cell in your body, as well as the space between cells, every tissue and every organ needs water.

From the perspective of modern science as well, drinking about one-half of your weight in fluid ounces of water each day is essential for health. While Ayurvedic healers do not specify a blanket quantity, they recommend using your urine as a guide to whether you need to drink more water – if your urine is not clear or it looks too concentrated, you need more water. Inadequate water can cause headaches and grogginess and more severe dehydration has even more serious health repercussions. As we grow older, our body’s thirst signals become weaker, and it is then even more important to remember to drink enough water through the day.

While we need to drink a lot of water through the day, it’s important to sip the water over time rather than gulp down large quantities at a time. Do not drink too much water just before or during a meal. Ayurvedic healers also recommend spice teas – water boiled with therapeutic spices for added health benefit. Also, remember that it’s important to drink water-milk, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks do not count. Fruits and vegetables with high water content, fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups suited to your constitution are helpful, but it is also important to drink just plain pure water each day. Make sure the water you drink is pure; have your drinking water tested for purity and use a good filter.

Eat Right

This is an exhortation Ayurvedic healers never tire of voicing over and over again. The right kind and quantity of food is so important that it is accorded an even higher status than medicine in Ayurveda. ‘Annaha brahmaha’ goes the Ayurvedic saying – Food is divine. Eating inappropriate foods or following poor eating routines and habits not only have short-term repercussions on energy levels, mental clarity and emotional well-being, they also seriously damage health and well-being over the long-term sometimes causing irreversible damage to the physiology and shortening our life-span.

Ayurvedic healers do not have a one-size-fits-all approach to diet and nutrition. Your dietary needs are unique to you, and you have to develop the diet that is ideal for you over time. There are general guidelines for food choices for people with more or less of each of the three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha -in their prakriti (original constitution) and vikriti (current state of the doshas), but within these general guidelines you can choose what works best for you. Listen to your physiology carefully and it will guide you to the foods that enhance not just your physical but also mental and emotional balance. Whatever your food choices, eat pure, fresh, whole, natural foods.

Follow a good eating routine. Do not take short-cuts with your meals, sandwiching them between other activities. Treat mealtimes as sacred. Prepare and cook your food with loving care and attention and eat in silence or in a harmonious atmosphere. Prepared lovingly and eaten with gratitude and reverence, the food will turn to ojas in your system – the substance that Ayurveda defines as the essence of life and the finest product of the eating and digestion process.

Sleep

Another basic for health and longevity, sleep is becoming a rare commodity for many in our frenetic, 24/7 society. According to Ayurveda as well as modern science, sleep is essential for our minds and bodies to recharge and prepare for the next day.

Lack of sleep impairs the digestion, contributes to ama accumulation, clouds the brain and places greater demands on every part of the physiology with each passing day. Modern science has linked sleep deprivation to elevated blood pressure, obesity and depression.

Ayurveda does not prescribe eight hours of sleep each night for everyone. You have to determine the sleep quota that is adequate for you to function at peak levels by monitoring your sleep and activity levels over a period of time. Times of extra pressure need to be compensated with extra sleep time.

The quality of sleep is as important as the quantity of sleep you get. Ayurveda defines the most productive sleep as occurring when the mind, the charioteer of the senses, is completely disengaged from the senses. Sleep obtained in the earlier part of the night is more productive, so go to bed early, definitely before 10 pm, and arise early, before 6 am. Aromatherapy, a soothing cup of herbal tea, deep breathing and a bedtime lower limb massage can all help you fall asleep easier and enjoy a deeper, more restful quality of sleep. Abhyanga, the daily Ayurvedic massage, is also helpful for promoting a better quality of sleep.

Exercise

Just as good quality sleep at night is essential to help the physiology recharge, adequate levels of physical and mental activity during the day are important for well-being and longevity. The Ayurvedic daily routine encompasses both physical exercise and mental activity, and the view of modern science as well is that the admonition – use it or lose it – is equally valid for your muscles as it is for your brain.

As with diet and sleep, Ayurvedic healers recommend structuring an exercise program that is ideal for your needs. If you are trying to balance Kapha dosha, for instance, you would choose more robust forms of exercise such as aerobics, singles tennis or long-distance jogging. If you are trying to keep Pitta in balance, swimming in summer and skiing in winter might be options to investigate. Walking and yoga are universally beneficial because they can be tailored to individual needs, and convenient because they need no special equipment, can be done alone and everyday.

Exercise early in the day for increased energy levels during the day and ease of falling asleep at night. Do not exercise on an empty stomach or just after a meal. Do not exercise to the point of pain or exhaustion. Moderation in exercise is the key to balance.

To stay in shape mentally, make lifelong learning an integral part of life. Travel, enjoy new experiences, read, do puzzles, or take up a new hobby or project to keep the mind sharp and alert. Gardening, music, teaching and volunteering are examples of activities that can be mentally enriching and emotionally and spiritually rewarding. If your work involves intense mental activity, stay recharged by taking frequent short breaks to breathe deeply, stretch or drink some water.

Meditate

Take thirty minutes each day to recharge body, mind, senses, heart and spirit with meditation. Research shows that meditation helps enhance your ability to manage stress, it promotes mental clarity and emotional balance and does wonders for physical health from promoting good sleep to reducing hypertension.

Meditation can be done in the morning or the evening or both morning and evening. Meditate in a silent, serene atmosphere, in a room free of clutter or amid nature. Sit erect, facing east or north, and start with a few minutes of aware breathing before beginning your meditation. After your meditation, take a few minutes to rest quietly before resuming your daily routine. The aroma of pure sandalwood and Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi can help enhance the quality of your meditation.

by Shreelata Suresh

Shreelata Suresh is a yoga instructor from the Bay Area, and she writes on yoga and Ayurveda for different publications. To subscribe to free newsletters on Ayurveda, or for more information, please visit http://www.ayurbalance.com.

Disclaimer:
Information provided in this article is for the sole purpose of imparting education on Ayurveda and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.

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Causes of Acidosis and Its Natural Treatment

irwanlib2063 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:17:13 +0000

Causes of Acidosis can be caused of our daily diets which are too rich in acids-forming foods. An imbalance of acids and bicarbonate in the body may lead to acidosis: metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis. Overproduction of acid or the inability of the kidneys to remove sufficient acid from the body results in metabolic acidosis while an overabundance of carbon dioxide in the body causes respiratory acidosis. Metabolic acidosis may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue and faster breathing. Respiratory acidosis may result in headaches, confusion and shallow or slow breathing. Doctors treat the condition by dealing with the underlying causes of acidosis.

Causes of Acidosis – Over acidity, which can become a dangerous condition that weakens all body systems, is very common today. It gives rise to an internal environment conducive to disease, as opposed to a pH-balanced environment which allows normal body function necessary for the body to resist disease. A healthy body maintains adequate alkaline reserves to meet emergency demands. When excess acids (acidosis) must be neutralized, our alkaline reserves are depleted, leaving the body in a weakened condition.

Causes of Acidosis – Every day we wage our own private war against molds, yeasts, bacteria, viruses and fungi. By using antibiotics as the first line of defense we have encouraged the development of more powerfully bugs and bacteria. Our immune systems are becoming weaker and over-taxed in this war. Louis Pasteur declared the germ theory of disease that states germs are the cause of disease. But note Dr. Pasteur’s dying words: “The germ is nothing, the inner terrain is everything”.

The concept of acid alkaline imbalance as the cause of disease is not new. In 1933 a New York doctor named William Howard Hay published a ground-breaking book, A New Health Era in which he maintains that all disease is caused by autotoxication (or “self-poisoning”) due to acidosis in the body.

Now we depart from health in just the proportion to which we have allowed our alkalis to be dissipated by introduction of acid-forming food in too great amount… It may seem strange to say that all disease is the same thing, no matter what its myriad modes of expression, but it is verily so.
William Howard Hay, M.D.

More recently, in his remarkable book Alkalize or Die , Dr. Theodore A. Baroody, N.D., D.C., Ph.D. says essentially the same thing: “The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What does matter is that they all come from the same root cause…too much tissue acid waste in the body!”

Modern science has revealed that the cause of aging may be far more simple than previously thought.
Almost 99% of the components of food that we consume every day are composed of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen with only 1% been minerals.

The wastes produced from food are highly acidic and acidosis is one of the main contributors that lead to the aging process and various illnesses. Acid waste is excreted from the human body in the form of or sweat. But the wastes not excreted will be circulating around in the , in the body. This acidic waste will gradually accumulate somewhere in our capillaries vessels, and eventually clog them up. Also as a consequence of this, the cells of the human body will be deprived of their supply of oxygen and essential nutrients, rendering these cells inactive in reproduction. That’s the main reason why people age. Moreover, with the capillary vessels clogged up, the function of every organ in the human body accumulating acidic waste will begin to deteriorate, causing serious illnesses in the long run.

So when does the accumulation of age-contributing acidic waste begin?

Scientists say that aging begins when a child starts to wean. An unborn child lives on nutrients from his mother while in the womb and the body of the baby becomes alkaline, owing to the consumption of alkaline minerals.

Naturally, this is due to the release of alkaline minerals from the mother. This release of alkaline minerals during pregnancy does temporarily weaken the mother’s body, causing a lack of appetite etc.

The baby will remain alkaline while breast feeding, but will begin to reduce in alkalinity once put on infant cereals.

If the cause of aging lies in acidosis, then the answer to longer life must lie in eliminating such acidic wastes. Hence, to neutralize acidic meals, alkaline water could be the answer. Many doctors recommend a vegetarian or low meat diet as alkaline minerals and vegetables help neutralize acidic waste. But vegetables only contain a very small amount of alkaline minerals and that is why a very large quantity of vegetables needs to be consumed in order to neutralize these wastes in the body.

We live and die at the cellular level. All the billions of cells that make up our human body are slightly alkaline, and must maintain alkalinity in order to function and remain healthy and alive. However their cellular activity creates acid and this acid is what gives the cell energy and function. As each alkaline cell performs its task of respiration, it secretes metabolic wastes, and these end products of cellular metabolism are acid in nature.

Although these wastes are used for energy and function, they must not be allowed to build up. One example of this is the often painful lactic acid which is created through exercise. The body will go to great lengths to neutralize and detoxify these acids before they act as poisons in and around the cell, ultimately changing the environment of the cell. Most people and clinical practitioners believe the immune system is the body’s first line of defense, but in actuality it is not. It is very important, but more like a very sophisticated clean-up service. We must instead look at the importance of pH balance as the first and major line of defense against sickness and disease and for health and vitality.

Drinking alkaline water is an easy and efficient way to help neutralize an acidic human body.

One American cancer center showed significant improvements in their cancer therapy by getting 1,000 patients to drink 7 glasses of alkaline water a day. Their research concluded that the alkaline minerals in natural, alkaline water with a pH 7.5 helped to neutralize acidosis and thus helped to prevent cancer.

Water, the origin of Life, contains 2 parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Alkaline water is water that contains a larger amount of oxygen as compared to hydrogen. By drinking alkaline water, we increase our intake of oxygen compared to drinking plain water. The advantage of drinking alkaline water is that while being absorbed by the body, it helps neutralize acidic wastes, making them more soluble in the vessels. Thus, acidic wastes will be easily drained out of the body in the form of or sweat.

If we were to ask what is us, the answer might be ACIDOSIS. It has been strated that an acidic, anaerobic (lacking oxygen) body environment encourages the breeding of fungus, mold, bacteria, and viruses. Let us look at an example. If we were to seal the door to our freezer and then unplug it, come back and open the door in two weeks, what would we find? Mold, bacteria and microscopic bugs that are growing and multiplying. Where did they all come from? They did not sneak in – remember the door was sealed. The answer is . . . they were always there.

It is simply that the environment changed to a more inviting and healthy one for these ‘critters’ to live in. This can be likened to a shift in our biological terrain from a healthy oxygenated, alkaline environment to an unhealthy anaerobic acidic environment. You see what is healthy for us is unhealthy for the body attackers and what is healthy for them is what is unhealthy for our body.

Understanding pH

pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14 – the lower the pH the more acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more alkaline (or base) the solution. When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline it has a pH of 7 which is neutral.

Water is the most abundant compound in the human body, comprising 70% of the body. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio called the pH which is a balance between positively charges ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) The body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is compromised many problems can occur.

It is important to understand that we are not talking about stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. We are talking about the pH of the body’s fluids and tissues which is an entirely different matter.

Test Your Body’s Acidity or Alkalinity with pH Strips

It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if your body’s pH needs immediate attention. By using pH test strips, you can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home. There is much to discover so that pH test result can be meaningful. Rather than give simplistic guidelines here it is recommended you look online or purchase a book on this subject from our online store.

Urine pH

The results of testing indicate how well your body is assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. These are called the “acid buffers” because they are used by the body to control the acid level. If acid levels are too high, the body will not be able to excrete acid. It must either store the acid in body tissues (autotoxication) or buffer it – that is, borrow minerals from organs, bones, etc. in order to neutralize acidity.

Saliva pH

You may also want to test the pH of your saliva. The results of saliva testing indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in your body, especially the activity of the liver and stomach. This reveals the flow of enzymes running through your body and shows their effect on all the body systems. Some people will have acidic pH readings from both and saliva. This is referred to as “double acid.”

Keeping the Balance Right for Excellent Health

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them. If you are not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance. Even the right herbal program may not work if your body is struggling with acidosis.

A state of acidosis is simply the lack of oxygen and available calcium which the body uses to maintain its alkaline balance. Calcium makes up 1.6% of our body weight. It is literally the human glue that holds the body together. Calcium is so biochemically active that it has been likened to an octopus. A calcium ion can hold onto seven other molecules while it grabs onto one molecule of water. No other ion can do this. And it is the right size to easily get in and out of the human cell. As it does this, it takes a chain of nutrients into the cell and then leaves to get more nutrients.

What Causes Me to be Acidic?

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical American diet, which is far too high in acid-producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables. Additionally, we eat acid-producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink acid-producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks. We use too many , which are acid-forming; and we use artificial chemical sweeteners like NutraSweet, Equal, or aspartame, which are extremely acid-forming. One of the best things we can do to correct an overly-acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle.

Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition forces the body to borrow minerals including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium, from vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to high acidity. A condition that may go undetected for years.

One of the first warning signs of an acidic biological terrain is calcium deposits. In testing where calcium deposits come not it has always been shown that they come from the structural calcium of our bones and teeth and never from the calcium in our water or diet.

This is important because it means that if calcium deposits are forming, we know our inner biological terrain is too acidic. Our dietary intake of calcium is not keeping up with the calcium buffering needed and we are actively pulling calcium from our bones and teeth. It all works like a little train, from the bones to the fluids and cells, to the . As our biological terrain becomes acidic, our pH level drops. When this happens we start losing calcium out of the , the bones, and the tissues. This is a safety mechanism. Now your biological terrain’s oxygen level drops leaving you tired and fatigued, allowing fungus, mold, parasites, bad bacteria, and viral infections to flourish and gain a hold throughout the body. It is interesting to note that you often won’t have just some of these invaders. If you have Candida you will likely have bad bacteria, fungus, and parasites because they all flourish in the same terrain.

Mild acidosis can cause such problems as:

Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of vessels and the reduction of oxygen.
Weight gain, obesity and diabetes.
Bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones.
Immune deficiency.
Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to cancerous mutations.
Premature aging.
Osteoporosis; weak, brittle bones, hip fractures and bone spurs.
Joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup.
Low energy and chronic fatigue.

A recent seven year study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, on 9,000 women showed that those who have chronic acidosis are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have normal pH levels. The scientists who carried out this experiment believe that many of the hip fractures prevalent among middle aged women are connected to high acidity caused by a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. This is because the body borrows calcium from the bones in order to balance pH.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

The biggest problem scientists have found is that over time the human body becomes depleted of calcium. A compound called mono-ortho-calcium phosphate is the chemical buffer for the . This buffer maintains the alkaline level (or the lack of acidity) in your . Without it you would die. If the acidity level of your changes even slightly you die immediately. But in order to supply enough calcium for buffering we must have enough calcium being absorbed from our diet or our body will simply rob the needed calcium from our bones and teeth.

The more acidic we become, the harder it is for oxygen to be present, so our biological terrain also becomes more anaerobic. Without adequate oxygenation, unfriendly bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungus can live and prosper. Then our cells cannot carry on their life-giving functions in a very efficient manner because our biological chemical reactions need oxygen.

Some Common Diseases and their Relationship to Acidity

Cancer

While the normal cells of the human body degenerate, and acidic wastes accumulate, cancer will make a genetic transformation and keep propagating itself in order to survive in such acidic surroundings.

There have been two theories on the basic causes of cancer. One is the oxygen deficiency theory by a German biochemist, Dr. Warback. The other is the theory of acidic cells, by a Japanese doctor, Dr. Airashi.

Dr. Warback discovered that if oxygen is removed from a health cell, the cell will start to turn cancerous. Dr. Warback won the Nobel prize by proving this theory through his many experiments.

Dr. Airashi showed that cells that survive in acidic environments will eventually develop cancerous characteristics.

Even though cancer cells are eliminated entirely through an operation, they reoccur because the acidic surroundings still remain after the operation. So, to help prevent this, we should stop the development of acidosis by drinking alkaline water every day, eating the right foods, avoiding stress, living in a healthy environment and exercising.

Obesity

The human body is very intelligent. As we become more and more acidic the body starts to set up defense mechanisms to keep the damaging acid from entering our vital organs. It is known that acid gets stored in fat cells. After all, if the acid does come into contact with an organ the acid has a chance to eat holes in the tissue. This may cause the cells to mutate. The oxygen level drops in this acidic environment and calcium begins to be depleted.

So as a defense mechanism, your body may actually make fat to protect you from your overly-acidic self. Those fat cells and cellulite deposits may actually be packing up the acid and trying to keep it a safe distance from your organs. The fat may be saving your vital organs from damage. Many people have found that a return to a healthy inner biological terrain helps them to lose excess fat.

Diabetes

When acidic wastes accumulate in the pancreas, diabetes can develop due to lack of insulin in the body. Doctors say that symptoms of diabetes appear mainly in people above 40, with no symptoms of diabetes in their 20s. How do they differ from each other?

In general, the quantity of accumulated acidic wastes after the age of 40 is far more than those in their 20s, especially in the pancreas. Nevertheless, we can help avoid the onset of diabetes if we flush out the acidic waste in our bodies by drinking alkaline water.

Hypertension

Hypertension is a common illness that occurs due to three reasons.
1) Hypertension caused by clogged capillary vessels due to physical reasons.
2) Narrowed vessels caused by acidic wastes.
Thus, pressure has to be higher naturally in order to supply sufficient quantities of through the narrow vessels.
3) Lack of oxygen due to chemical reasons, namely solidified acidic waste in the vessels.

Hypotension

Hypotension occurs as the heart muscles deteriorate due to a lack of calcium ions, caused by acidic waste.

A patient with hypotension may regain his health by drinking enough alkaline water. This is because calcium ions in alkaline water can help to restore the heart’s activities when caused by a lack of calcium ions.

Kidney Ailment and Kidney Stone

One of the major functions of alkaline water is to purify or help remove the wastes in the body. The accumulation of excessive wastes in the kidneys weakens the kidneys. When cells survive in an excessive acidic environment, swelling of the kidneys occurs.

In order to remain healthy, cells should expel all the waste produced by them. But if the becomes more acidic them the waste will cling to the walls of cells, causing solidification of acidic fluoride in the kidneys and kidney stones.

Osteoporosis and Gout

Human bones function as a calcium bank for the body. A combination of calcium and phosphorus, bones stay healthy as long as there are adequate amounts of these two substances present. To neutralize excessive quantities of waste or acidity, the body starts to deprive the bones of calcium, which may be harmful to the body. Symptoms of calcium deficiency are not evident through X-ray examinations and are only visible when 30-40% of the calcium in the bone has already been depleted.

Gout happens when calcium accumulates in the capillary vessels of the hands and legs. Normally, gout occurs in toe joints, knee joints, and finger joints and drinking alkaline water is one of the best treatments.

Chronic constipation

Dr. Choi, a medical practitioner at the Seoul National Medical University, observed 15 patients (10 men and 5 women) who had suffered from constipation for over a year. Results showed that the symptoms of constipation were alleviated when alkaline water was consumed for a period of 1-2 weeks. Twelve of the fifteen patients recovered remarkably well after this period. This is true because by lubricating the wastes secreted on the walls of the large intestine, excretion become easier.

Dr. Choi also observed that there was a remarkable improvement in how alert his patients were after drinking alkaline water.

Stress and Headache

When we suffer from stress, our body produces more acidic waste, leading to acidosis. Physical stress can be relieved by getting a good rest. Nowadays, however, most of us do not find the time to relieve mental stress. Continued long term stress will create harmful problems like headaches, mental disorder, bad temper and unbalanced hormone excretion, etc. There are two kinds of stress. One is physical stress caused by physical activities and the other is mental stress caused by mental fatigue.

To conclude it is reasonable to say that there are no specific diseases, only specific disease conditions.

There is only one disease. And that one disease is acidosis.

The statements enclosed herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Administration. The products mentioned on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your family doctor.

For those who are not so sceptical about the benefits of the alkaline lifestyle, alkaline water helps to neutralise acids and remove toxins from the body – it is a great cleanser and helps to detoxify our system. Contact powerhealths(a)gmail.com if you are interested in the best economical machine to produce alkaline water at the convenience of your home.

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Exercises For Osteoporosis – Healthy Bone : Move It or Lose It

irwanlib2063 — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:44:16 +0000

Exercises For Osteoporosis – The first thing that comes to mind when you talk about bone is calcium. But the journey to good bone health does not stop at getting the right nutrients. Getting the right exercise is also important for strengthening bones.

Don’t think that our bones are rigid. In fact, they’re not only strong, but also flexible. That’s how gymnasts are able to bend their bodies to seemingly impossible shapes without breaking their bones!

Exercises For Osteoporosis – Because bone is living tissue, it is constantly reacting to the stress human activities put on it. With the right exercise and training, you can bend your bones to unbelievable angles too.

A bone consists of a combination of collagen and mineral crystals comprising calcium and phosphate. This collagen matrix allows bone to expand and contract without breaking. In other words, your bones will respond and become stronger to resist the force that regular exercise puts on it. Similarly, if you are physically inactive, your bones get weaker and more frail, exposing them to greater risk of fracture.

Hey, lazy bones, get up and work out!

It’s a weight thing

Exercises For Osteoporosis – Any exercise that requires you to carry your weight and go against gravity can help you improve or maintain bone mass. The strain of carrying your weight and the push and pull of your muscles will stimulate bone formation, thus making it stronger.

High-impact, weight-bearing exercises are the most effective for building strong bones, but do them only if you don’t have low bone mass or osteoporosis.

Exercise is meant to build bone, not break it. Activities like running, jumping, hiking, and dancing, and playing sports like tennis and badminton constitute high-impact weight-bearing exercises.

On the other hand, low-impact weight-bearing exercises like walking and low-impact aerobics are more suitable for those who want to build strong bones but cannot do high impact exercises. You can also do resistance training and strengthening exercises like lifting weights or doing push-ups.

Be safe, however, by consulting your doctor or personal trainer first to avoid hurting yourself.

For the elderly, fall-related fractures can be debilitating. Up to 20% of those suffering from a hip fracture die within a year while two thirds of those who survive are disabled. Precautionary measures need to be taken to prevent this from happening.

Besides making sure that your house and surroundings are free from fall risks, you must also take steps to improve improve your balance and posture through exercise. Doing tai chi or yoga can give you better balance, posture, and coordination, which in turn can help prevent falls.

Everybody can do it

Exercises For Osteoporosis – Exercise for healthy bone can be tailored to suit every life stage and need. Exercise can help build healthy bone during childhood and maintain bone health during adulthood. Older people who exercise regularly can strengthen their bones and reduce their risk of fracture.

So no matter what age you are, or what physical condition you are in, you can find an exercise that benefits you.

Although non-weightbearing exercises can have cardiovascular benefits and are good for building muscles, they are not necessarily as effective as weight bearing ones. So if we’re talking about good bone health, then any activity that places a load on your bones is the way to go.

It is, however, dangerous to exercise without knowing your limits. Too much exercise can cause stress fractures and joint damage. Some exercises may even cause falls and so increase your risk of fractures. Those with osteoporosis and the elderly can put themselves at greater risk of fractures if they start off a rigorous exercise regime without consulting a doctor or physician.

Every exercise should be tailored to suit your needs and abilities. Approximately 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week is generally recommended, but if you have low bone mass, are over the age of 50, or osteoporotic, you should seek professional advice before starting an exercise routine.

Be wary of common exercise pitfalls like laziness or time constraints. Exercise can be incorporated in your daily lives to suit your needs and lifestyle so it doesn’t have to be a chore. Be creative and make sure you enjoy doing it. That way, you will be more likely to continue doing it instead of putting in a half-hearted effort.

Building healthy bone is a life-long commitment and physical activity can go a long way in helping you achieve it. Whether you’re at home, work, or school, you can incorporate exercise to suit your lifestyles. In the end, what matters is that you get moving and that you enjoy the benefits for life.

Working out

There are many ways to incorporate exercise into daily life. Here are some suggestions:

At work

Use the stairs instead of the lift.
Walk more by going to the restroom on the floor above you and take the stairs.
Park a little further from your office so you can walk more.
Go offline and deliver documents to colleagues by hand instead of by email.
Walk instead of driving when going out for lunch.

At home

Use the stairs instead of the lift if you live in an apartment complex.
Carry your laundry basket up and down the stairs.
March in place whenever you’re stuck with doing chores such as washing the dishes or doing the laundry.
Do some jumping jacks while watching television.
Turn on some music and dance!
Walk up and down the stairs as a form of exercise.

At school

Use the restroom on a different level, or at the other end of your building.
Earn brownie points while building strong bones by helping your teachers carry their things.
Walk around school instead of sitting around while waiting for the first bell to ring.

The Star/Asia News Network

This article was contributed by the Osteoporosis Awareness Society of Kuala Lumpur as part of its Healthy Bone For Life programme and supported by educational grants from Fonterra Brands (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Rottapharm Madaus.

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Dehydration Symptoms In Adults – Your Body Cries for Water

irwanlib2063 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:07:54 +0000

Dehydration Symptoms In Adults - The human body is a bio-electrical water machine which requires at least a quart for every 50 lbs of body weight daily. The blood itself is made up of a large percentage watery serum. The lymph fluids which transport waste and nutrients (comprising four times the volume of blood in the body) are made from the water we consume. Every cell that makes us who we are literally owes its life to an adequate supply of fresh and clean water we consume. When the body does not receive a reliable, constant supply of water, it has to ration what is available and cut back on certain functions to make the supply go round. Essential systems like the brain are prioritized; others are impaired or cut back until the brain has decided a reliable source of water has been accumulated.

Dehydration Symptoms In Adults – “Chronic pains of the body which cannot easily be explained as injury or infection, should first and foremost be interpreted as signals of chronic water shortage in the area where the pain is registered. These pain signals should first be considered and excluded as primary indicators for dehydration of the body before any other complicated procedures are forced on the patient.” – Dr F Batmanghelidj

Dehydration Symptoms In Adults - Most of us have become dangerously and chronically dehydrated (especially the elderly), since we decided water was too bland to drink and ignored it in favor of addictive sodas, beer, wine, flavored water, other chemical-laced water alternatives and/or simply tea and coffee. It is a sad facts that most doctors today cannot readily identify the many water-deficient diseases and associated pains. Thus the underlying dehydration process continues to wreak its havoc while the inevitable drugs given will switch off the warning signals/symptoms.

Dehydration Symptoms In Adults

Consider the following conditions:

Heartburn, ‘high cholesterol’, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, asthma, lupus, cancer formation, hot flushes and menstrual problems, diabetes, obesity, bulimia, allergies, migraine headaches, general aches and pains, chronic fatigue syndrome, ME, angina, lower back pain, gout, kidney stones, skin disorders, fungal/yeast overgrowth, multiple sclerosis, morning sickness, depression, heavy/burdensome periods, colitis, dyspepsia, peptic ulcers…

Are all of these conditions linked to a chronic state of dehydration?

World-renowned water expert Dr Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, in his latest bestseller, Water and Salt – Your Healers From Within, maintains that the above conditions are the body’s many cries for water, complaints dramatically improved with a consistent and long-term intake of the fresh, clean water. Dr Batman’s timely work has helped thousands quash long-term health problems effortlessly and inexpensively. He writes:

“The report of my having successfully treated with water more than three thousand people with symptoms and clinical signs of peptic ulcer disease was published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology in June 1983. I came away from that experience with the understanding that the people I treated were thirsty, and I uncovered the phenomenon that ‘pain’ in the body indicates thirst, even though the condition is classified as a disease.”

Water is used by the body for digestion, detoxifying cells, watering the lungs, lubricating joints, keeping the body alkalized and a host of cleaning duties. Many warning signals (‘symptoms’) arise out of the body’s inability to neutralize or rid itself of acid, a common enough complaint given the number of antacids sold around the world each day.

‘I drink coffee, tea, diet sodas, beer and a host of other liquids. They contain water, don’t they?’

This is a common and dangerous misconception. Many of today’s designer drinks are diuretic in their effect (water-expelling) because their mostly acidic compositions require the body to give up water and alkalizing minerals to eliminate their harmful residues. Diet sodas especially are harmful in that they require large amounts of body-water to neutralize the phosphoric acid component (2.8 pH). Cells that started off healthy and ‘plum-like’ shrivel to prunes as water, the stuff of life, is progressively denied them. The sick in our hospitals are fed the sodas, tea and coffee they ask for in woeful ignorance of the damage wrought to the micro cell-world within them.

Batmanghelidj’s extraordinary work should rightly be considered by a mainstream medical community ever fixated on the drug cure.

Below is a summary of body functions and that rely on an adequate intake of water:

Brain function: The brain comprises 2% of the body’s total weight, yet receives 15-20% of the blood supply, mostly comprised of water. Dehydration will affect cognitive ability drastically, and, through histamine’s action, can create depressive states (many anti-depressant medications are anti-histamines).

Bone function: Bones require plentiful supplies of water. 75% of the weight of the upper body, for instance, is supported by the water core contained within the fifth lumbar disc, the remaining 25% by muscle fibers around the spine.

Nerve function: Microstreams exist along the length of nerves which transport nutrients and conduct energy along microtubules to the synapses to transmit messages. Dehydration disrupts proper nerve function, resulting in the sensation of pain.

Hydrolysis: Water, far from being an inert solvent, is intricately involved in the body’s water-dependent chemical reactions. Lack of water means incomplete or faulty metabolic processes, with obvious implications for continued health and well-being. Proteins and enzymes, for instance, do not function as well in acidic solutions of higher viscosity (stickiness) where the body is dehydrated.

Cellular energy: As water is drawn through the cell membrane, its osmotic flow generates a voltage gradient which can be used in the manufacture of ATP and GTP energy. Dehydration will obviously affect the proper functioning of cells and even kill them.

Histamine: This neurotransmitter plays a major role in activating systems which encourage water intake when dehydration is detected. Functions in the body which consume large quantities of water are cut back, namely the bronchial tubes constricted to cut down on water use in the lungs; increased peristalsis in the bowels to wring more water out of fecal material, and so on. Other signs of histamine’s activity, namely allergies, asthma, depression and chronic pains, are interpreted by the physician as ‘disease’ and treated with anti-histamines, pain-killers (analgesics), etc. Thus the signals of thirst are turned off and the dehydration state continues unabated.

Dyspepsia (heartburn/reflux): Over time, this can lead to ulceration and even cancer. Dr Batmanghelidj recommends that these conditions – also gastritis and duodenitis – be treated with water alone as they are one of the body’s major thirst signals. Arrested in his native Iran by the Revolutionary Council during the troubles of the late 1970′s, Dr B was confined to Evin prison, Tehran, during which time he successfully treated with water alone over three thousand people complaining of dyspeptic pain and associated symptoms.

Digestion: Requires plentiful supplies of water. The stomach relies on mucus lining the walls to shield it from the effects of the stomach’s hydrochloric acid. A bicarbonate solution is produced from the cells in the lining which neutralizes any acid attempting to break through the mucus. Water is needed to maintain this effective defense system. Too little water, and the mucus barrier is ineffectual, the acid will penetrate and will lead to pain. Ideally, water should be consumed half an hour before a meal, in time to anticipate the production of digestive acid from glands in the stomach wall.

Ulcers: Often located at the valve between the stomach and duodenum. Said to be caused by curved bacteria known as helicobacters. Yet many people have helicobacters in their small intestine, yet not all of them suffer from ulcers. Histamine-producing nerves are located at this site, which monitor the through-put of acidic food chyme from the stomach into the intestine. Histamine has growth-hormone effects on these micro-organisms, resulting in small intestine bacterial overgrowths (SIBOs). Once again, an adequate regime of water intake will allow all the functions relating to digestion to normalize. Prolonged water intake should therefore be considered before more drastic drug treatments are entered into.

By Phillip Day
Investigative Journalist & Founder of “The Campaign For Truth In Medicine”

As Featured in Food Matters

Just to give a further idea of the importance of water in our diets, to survive the body can stand to lose the following:

50% of your glucose
50% of your fat
50% of your protein; but
only 20% of your water!

So water is important, but what about the quality of water?

The average suggestion of water consumption per day ranges from 2.5 litres to 4 litres – so it is imperative that we ensure that this water is of the highest quality.

There is a lot of discussion about the merits of alkaline water (particularly in the open publishing medium known as the Internet) – however, regardless of who you listen to regarding this debate there is one thing that is certain:

the process of making making water alkaline increases the purity of the water by filtering out toxins and impurities

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Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction

irwanlib2063 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:00:36 +0000

Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction - Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is when a man can’t get and keep an erection long enough to have sex on at least 50% of tries. Most men have ED every once in a while or for short periods of time. About 34% of men in Canada have ED regularly. ED is most common in men over the age of 65, though it can occur in middle-aged and younger men. It often has a cause that can be treated.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction can occur when something prevents your body from producing an erection. Such obstacles can arise at the level of the brain and nervous system, as well as, in the blood vessels in the penis and pelvic area.

It should be noted that ED that happens every now and then may be caused by drinking too much alcohol or by feeling over-tired. However, ED that happens more often may have a physical cause – this is the case in about half of the men with ED.

Erectile Dysfunction - The main physical causes of ED include habits and diseases that damage the blood vessels. This damage can block the flow of blood into the penis, which subsequently impairs its ability to function properly.

Physical causes include alcohol, smoking (and most drugs), cardiovascular issues such as atherosclerosis, endocrine disorders such diabetes and hypothyroidism, and neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

To boot, psychological factors also play a big role in ED. For instance, stress has a vasoconstricting effect (or narrowing effect on the arteries), which reduces the blood flow to the penis. Aside from stress, other mental/emotional causes include feeling nervous about sex (perhaps because of a past event), being troubled by problems with your partner, feeling depressed or sad, and feeling so self-conscious that you can’t enjoy sex.

Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction

The key to dealing with the physical causes of ED is to understand that physically it is very much a “cardiovascular issue”. This means that dietary and lifestyle measures should be in place to support your arteries and ensure unimpeded. So with that in mind, here are a number of “natural” tips to prevent or improve ED:

Decrease alcohol intake – alcohol is a depressant of the nervous system and will thus impair proper nerve transmission to the penis.
Avoid smoking as it constricts the blood vessels, thus reducing blood flow to where you need it the most.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants and bioflavonoids promote healthy blood vessels.
Eat niacin-rich foods (ie. tuna, peanuts, asparagus, avocado) and foods rich in magnesium (ie. cacao and any of the green vegetables) for they dilate the blood vessels, promoting better blood flow.
Eating sesame seeds and coriander may help as they enhance sexual vigor.There are also a number of natural supplements that may prove beneficial as well. They include:
Vitamin B complex – the B vitamins are nervous system supporters and better help your body deal with stress. Improving both of these areas greatly alleviates the pressure on erectile issues.
Vitamins A, C, E and zinc – powerful antioxidants which minimize free radical damage to the blood vessels.
Fish or flax seed oil for their omega-3 fatty acids – these healthy fats are “cardio-protective” and powerful anti-inflammatories that improve blood flow.
Coenzyme Q10 and germanium as they increase the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s cells. Oxygen is the life-blood of the cells and without they cannot function properly. More oxygen also comes with better blood supply to the penile region.
The amino acid, arginine, as it increases sperm count, sperm motility, and the production of testoterone.

With all of these suggestions it is important to remember that a healthy raw foods diet is truly the best approach to dealing with ED (and pretty much every other condition). So adding one or two supplements won’t make a big difference if your diet and lifestyle choices impose too much stress on your cardiovascular system.

Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction - Finally, in addition to eating well, regular exercise and a more empowering mental outlook can be of benefit. Try adding 2-3 days of cardiovascular exercise like running, biking, or cycling to your regime. Also, meditation and visualization are powerful de-stressors (relieving the stress on your reproductive blood vessels) and great for your overall health.

by Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN
Author, Eating for Energy

CLICK HERE for a natural diet that will keep
your manhood strong and healthy!

REFERENCES:
Stadler-Mitrea, L. Pathology and Nutrition: A Guide for Professionals. CSNN Publishing. 2005.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada website:

http://www.cfpc.ca/english/cfpc/programs/patient%20education/erectile%20dysfunction/default.asp?s=1

Last Longer During Sex! And Last Up To 20 Minutes or
More Before Ejaculating!

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Treating High Blood Pressure – Cure for High Blood Pressure

irwanlib2063 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:57:15 +0000

Treating High Blood Pressure – Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition caused when constricted arteries decrease blood flow and makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood and nutrients throughout the body.

In most cases, hypertension has no known cause, though it may be triggered by factors such as obesity, excess alcohol consumption, high sodium intake or stress. In about 5% of cases, high blood pressure is caused by kidney or liver diseases or as a side effect of certain medications.

Treating High Blood Pressure – Relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation can reduce stress-related hypertension. People with stress-related hypertension can also learn stress management techniques that may help lower lower blood pressure.

A variety of nutritional and herbal supplements have been found useful for treating hypertension as well. In particular, garlic, hawthorn, and coenzyme Q-10 supplements are widely used by herbalists to treat hypertension.

Antioxidant vitamins, the minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids are also linked to lower blood pressure. These nutrients should be abundant in a healthy diet, especially for people with hypertension.

Treating High Blood Pressure

Diet – dietary modification is one of the most common Cure for high blood pressure. Providing your body with adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium is necessary in controlling blood pressure. Foods rich in these vitamins include avacados, bananas, cantaloupe, nectarines, nuts, rice, potatoes, kidney beans, and broccoli.

Garlic – garlic is a well-known hypertension herbal remedy and is a Cure for high blood pressure that has been proven to help lower blood pressure by up to 10%.

Co Q10 is another of the hypertension herbal remedies that is commonly recommended when treating hypertension.

Relaxing your blood vessels has also been shown to reduce blood pressure and taking Passiflora incarnate is a Cure for high blood pressure.

Nervous tension can often lead to hypertension and alleviating this using a muscle relaxant known as Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose bark) is a Cure for high blood pressure.

Ginkgo biloba is a well-studied hypertension herbal remedy and has been shown to be just effective as pharmaceutical drugs when treating irregular heart beats and is a Cure for high blood pressure.

Agathosma betulina is an anti-inflammatory herb that also has diuretic properties and is a Cure for high blood pressure.

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