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Archive for October, 2009

Relief for aching joints

31 Oct

Many people find relief through acupuncture and massage. Sometimes the solution is as simple as having the right shoes. For many sufferers, however, replacing the joint is the only option. The success rate of knee and hip replacements is high. They last for 15 to 20 years, but even if an implant does last that long, recipients under the age of 65 will probably require at least one surgery to correct for wear and tear. And implants are expensive.

Alternatives to total knee and hip replacements are emerging. Hip resurfacing involves capping rather than replacing the doom of the thigh bone. While traditional hip replacement patients are advised to avoid high impact activities, those with the resurfaced hip have fewer restrictions. Hip resurfacing is best suited for people under 65 and without arthritic conditions in multiple joints.

If you are lucky enough to still have a healthy joint, start taking Care of them now. Maintain a healthy body weight, and make good posture a habit: change sitting positions often and learned how to lift and carry heavy objects properly. Eat a diet rich in vitamins C, which slows the pace of dissipating cartilage and calcium for skeletal strength. Avoid high heels, and chose appropriate shoes for walking and sports.
The regular exercise programme, one of the best things you can do is walk 2 to 3 km a day, is good for both your joints and your overall health. Alternate jogging with laps at the swimming pool or cycling. Rushing to the gym during lunch hour isn’t a good idea if you can’t do a proper warm-up and cool down. These days people are always in a hurry, they want to do everything right away. But hurrying is a certain way of getting hurt.

 
 

Eat for the season

30 Oct

It is the nature of food, to be cold, neutral or hot. When the body is hot, it is good to have cool or cold food to clear away heat and eliminate toxins. Hot foods warm the interior and dispel cold to treat the symptoms linked with excess cold. Traditional Chinese medicine divides food into three categories-yin, yang and neutral. Yin foods are cool or cold in nature, whereas yang food is the opposite and warms the body. Neutral foods do not influence any hot or cold syndromes in the body. The ultimate goal of traditional Chinese medicine food therapy is to maintain a healthy balance based on the effect food is perceived to have on the body. By balancing our diet, we create harmony within the body, resulting in health and well-being.

Many of us already instinctively meet our body’s needs to balance food with the season. In winter it is common to consume more soup, stew and other hot foods than in the summer. Whereas in summer we go in search of more cold foods like fruits and juices.

Cold or cool foods

Strawberries, cucumber, pears, mango, spinach, tomatoes, bananas, clams, crab, grapefruit, lettuce, watercress, watermelon, apples are all cold foods.

Neutral foods

Beef, beets, carrots, celery, corn, eggs, potatoes, white sugar form the neutral food group.

Warm or hot foods

Cherries, chicken, dates, Leeks, sunflower seeds, wine, raspberries, shrimp, peaches, garlic, ginger, wine, ham, onion, pepper, mutton form the hot food group.

 
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Posted in Food

 

E Cigarettes

28 Oct

One of the leading causes of death these days is cancer. Cancer can be caused due to several reasons but the main one is smoking. Smoking is done but lots of people these days. They easily get addicted to it without knowing the dangers. There are many other dangers of smoking too apart from cancer. It not only affects you, it also affects those who are around you. Even if they want to give it up after a while, many will not be able to. They will not be able to think and live normally without a smoke.
The latest technology which would provide a solution for these people is an e cigarette. An e cigarette is very much similar to normal cigarettes except that it is completely harmless. There are so many harmful chemicals in normal cigarettes which are not present in e cigarettes. It is safe for you and also for those around you. The product is gaining popularity slowly and the most recommended one for new users are the e cigarette starter kits which will contain all the required items for a beginner. Once you start using them, you will not find the urge to smoke normal cigarettes and your life will be out of danger. You can use the e liquid which is available to fill them and use them over.

 
 

Perfect Teeth

25 Oct

Indeed, few adults wear braces just to make their teeth look attractive. They often have much more serious reason. Some people have too much space between their teeth. This does not look good, but the major problem for such people is that they constantly bite on their gums costing their teeth to loosen.
Very protruding teeth prevent the mouth from closing properly, in which case, people breathe through their mouth and develop plaque and gum problem. The teeth also do not fit together well because of jaw problems. And there are gaps between teeth because certain teeth do not appear when they should. These gaps can be closed using braces, thus obviating the need for an expensive bridge later on. In such cases, braces save money.

Whether braces work or not does not depend widely on your orthodontist. Good hygiene is essential and the patient must also have the self-discipline to continue the treatment that can sometimes take years. Healthy teeth are very important to young and old alike. Most adult patients with braces are extremely pleased with the results of their treatment. Adults who feel they are too old for orthodontic treatment should have a talk with their dentist. Things are not as they used to be, there is a good chance that they will be able to get the right help.

 
 

Applications of Olive Oil

23 Oct

To lower blood cholesterol levels

The monounsaturated fatty acids in the olive oil help lower LDL-bad cholesterol- levels without affecting HDL-good cholesterol-or triglyceride levels. To lower your cholesterol, at least 15% of your daily calories should come from monounsaturated fatty acids. Whenever possible, use olive oil in place of butter or other vegetable oils in cooking, in preparing dressings for salads or vegetables and in making sandwiches.

To treat ear complaints

To clear stopped-up ear, put a few drops of lukewarm olive oil in the affected ear. Lie for five minutes on the opposite side, then turnover, so that the olive oil can flow out again. (caution: do not put any liquid in your ear if you think you may have a perforated eardrum) For minor ear aches, soak a cotton pad in olive oil; then add five drops of lavender oil. Place it loosely in your outer ear until the pain abates.

To prevent hair loss

Massage your scalp with all the olive oil every evening for eight days. Let the treatment work overnight; washout in the morning.

To moisturise skin

Apply daily to dry spots or stretch marks.

To help build strong fingernails and soften cuticles, soak your nails each night in a mixture of three parts lukewarm olive oil to one part freshly squeezed lemon juice. Put on cloth gloves and let the oil penetrate overnight. Your nails will gradually become more resistant to breaking and chipping.

Olive oil is used for cardiovascular diseases, high blood cholesterol, earache, constipation, stomach upsets, dry skin and stretch marks.

 
 

The Silent Killer

20 Oct

images4The coronary arteries are small vessels `that fan out over the heart and feed it with blood, enabling the heart to pump an average of five litters of blood to the various organs around the body. When these arteries are damaged or constricted, the heart muscle becomes starved for blood, resulting in crippling chest pain, called angina, and lethal heart attacks.
Damage to these arteries can also occur when smokers inhale, releasing a cocktail of toxic chemicals that is absorbed into their blood. High blood pressure can cause damage as it forces the heart to work harder. A diet high in saturated fat, obesity and lack of exercise also puts you at risk.
Coronary heart disease is an insidious killer that takes years to develop, often striking with little warning. On average, CHD occurs at least 10 to 15 years earlier among Indians than among Westerners. Unlike in the West where many people suffer from a single blocked artery, Indians are often found having a double or even triple artery blockage.
People often come close to dying before they realise that it is not too late to change. Looking after one’s heart is truly a matter of life and death.

 
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Posted in Disease

 

Online Insurance

20 Oct

The present economic condition is at its worst and many people struggle to satisfy their basic needs. There is no guarantee for anything in life and anything can happen to us. The crime rate also is at its highest possible state and it is recommended to insure whatever we have. We can insure everything from our car and home to our health and family. If we insure our property and anything happens to it, the insurance company will replace it completely. Similarly if we insure our car and any damage happens to our car in an accident, the insurance company will again claim responsibility and pay for the damages. When it comes to insuring yourself, this is highly recommended for the men in the family who contribute to the majority of the family’s income. Anything happens to you and the insurance company will pay your family a compensation amount which will take care of them. It is very important to find a good insurance company which can be trusted. We should not be cheated later on. An online insurance is similar to normal insurance policies. There are many sites offering online insurance policies. We should find a company which provides affordable health insurance policies. We should also remember to get an auto insurance quote before getting an auto insurance.

 
 

Water

18 Oct

Img-waterWe are always told to drink a lot of water, especially when exercising. But it seems the extra water can do more harm than good, if you dilute yourself too much the sodium level in your blood can drop, leading to lethargy, disorientation, seizures and respiratory distress. Runners while in a long race, did not have the time to over drink, but those who were not running competitively made a stop at every water station: many surely gained weight during the race and had dangerously low sodium levels.
We all lose water and salt at different rates. If you are doing a long-run, customize your fluid replacement. Eating salty snacks during the race may also help.

 
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Posted in Food, Health

 

Mortgage Loans

15 Oct

The present economic situation is at a really poor state and the financial stability of many has been accepted. Many top business men have come down due to huge losses and they are struggling to make an ends meet. The unemployment rate is very high too with many people having lost their jobs. One of the best options for those who are sitting without doing anything is to start some business of their own. This is indeed a risky thing to be done. You should be willing to struggle if you want to succeed in life. You need to put in lots of hard work. You cannot start a business without any investment. The investment for your business would be the next big problem. You can find a mortgage loan which will help find your business in the beginning. Later on you can repay the loan. There are many things which must be considered before you get a loan. You should check out the mortgage rates of all the companies which offer mortgage loans before deciding on one. The mortgage rate of a company plays a vital role in your profit as the amount you will be repaying depends on the rate. The refinance mortgage rate is another factor which must be taken into account before getting a loan.

 
 

Napping makes you smart

15 Oct

Very few of us get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Even if we have the time to nap, we don’t, for fear of spoiling night-time sleep. But napping doesn’t make nodding off at night more difficult-it helps in sharpening of the mind. Work is done better, after you take a nap. Daytime snooze has no effect on night-time sleep quality or quantity.

Not all of us can take a daily nap, squeezing in a siesta on the weekend can also help. This napping is also called the beauty sleep as it makes us fresh and young. When you are deprived of sleep, your brain gets tired, you’re not able to think properly and do any work. So this napping in the middle of the day helps in compensating for the sleep, you have lost.

Just close your eyes with cut cucumber on your closed lids, this helps in cooling the tired eyes and helps to remove the dark rings under your eyes. Applying a little castor oil on your lids helps to get rid of the puffiness in the eyes. The beauty sleep not only makes us beautiful but also refreshes our brain, which has become tired after a long day.

 
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Posted in Health