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Health Myths Exposed Part 1
January 24th, 2010 
admin We’ve all heard things from friends or family about what is the best way to get healthy fast.
These Health Myths will clear the air on a few of some regularly heard myths.
Health Myth #1:You’ll know if you are having a heart attack.
Not always. Only half of those who’ve suffered from a heart attack felt a symptom. That means that the other half never felt any symptom, or didn’t recognize it. There are several signs most common to a heart attack:
chest discomfort (pressure, squeezing, or fullness)
shortness of breath
nausea
cold sweat
discomfort in upper body (arm, back, neck, jaw, or shoulder)
sudden extreme fatigue (without lack of sleep)
Because the heart’s nerves don’t feel pain directly, symptoms can be unpredictable.
Health Myth #2: Pampering can speed recovery from back pain.
False. You know if you’ve ever strained your back that the pain is intense. In fact, if you rated it on a scale of 1-10, it would be a 99! Experiencing back pain is excruciatingly painful and makes it difficult to even walk without great uncomfort. The best medicine seems like a day of bedrest where you’re propped up on pillows. Ringing your bell to have your honey bring you ice packs, ibuprofen, and put on the latest movie. However this is a bad idea. Your sweetheart may feel like they are being kind by offering all this attention, but you really need to move around. In order to recover from that back strain, you need to stay as active as possible, strengthening the back muscles. Staying in bed for two or three days slows your recuperation. Walking is best.
Health Myth #3: Blood in the toilet means cancer.
False. You probably do not have cancer, especially if it is a small amount. Of course it is always wise to check with your Dr. Typically a small drop of bright red blood is a sign of hemorrhoids, and it only takes one drop to taint the whole bowl red. There are over the counter tests that can be done at home to check for even microscopic amounts of blood, just ask the pharmacist. Don’t panic, but do check it out with your medical professional to be safe.
Health Myth #4: You can really eliminate a problem area by doing specific exericses.
False again. If you have a flabby belly, and want to get rid of it, a bunch of crunches will not make your bulge disappear. Unfortunately that’s not how the body works. In order to reduce any problem areas, an overall workout is necessary. Do not expect crunches or squats to spot reduce those extra rolls – although it will tone muscle.
Health Myth #5: Men can drink more than women.
True. Because men have an enzyme that metabolizes more of the alcohol before it’s absorbed into the bloodstream. Women don’t have as much of this specific enzyme and also don’t have as much water in their bodies. This extra water men contain in their bodies also helps decreases blood-alcohol levels drink for drink.
Good health and fitness are not just a trend but a way of life.
Top 5 Widespread Yoga Myths Exposed
January 24th, 2010 admin It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.
Top 5 Myths About Yoga:
1. Yoga is a Form of Physical Exercise:
This is perhaps the most common view of yoga. That it is a form of physical exercise. This certainly needs to be clarified and I am going to provide some details about true yoga practice in order to do this.
Yoga is actually has 8 parts to it, with the physical aspect being just 1. These 8 parts, include yoga dos, yoga don’ts, physical exercises (asana), breathing exercises, sense control, concentration, meditation and divine union.
So you can see from above that although the physical aspect of yoga, which is called asana, is an important part of yoga, yoga as a whole is certainly more that just a series of postures and movements. Yoga is essentially a spiritual science whose objective is to still the mind of thoughts, so that the truth of Oneness hidden behind the waves of the mind can be clearly seen and embraced.
2. Yoga is a Religion:
The other extreme and incorrect view on yoga is that is it a religion. Commonly yoga is considered part of Hindu religion, but yoga is not a religion. It is a time tested spiritual science with the goal of revealing the true nature of reality. As indicated above, yoga practice is a step by step process with the end goal of calming down the thought waves in our mind and thus prevent them from distorting the truth.
3. To Practice Yoga You Must be Vegetarian:
There is a notion floating around that in order to practice yoga you must not eat meat and be a vegetarian. This is not true. Although there are tremendous benefits to being vegetarian and this is being more and more validated by the mainstream medical community, there is no requirement of vegetarianism in order to practice yoga.
One point I would like to add here is that, vegetarianism is consistent with the non-violence which yoga advocates and it certainly would be to your benefit to reduce meat intake, nevertheless, you don’t have to be vegetarian in order to be a great yogi.
4. You Need to be Initiated by a Guru:
I have also come across this notion that many believe you need to be initiated and have a guru in order to learn and practice yoga. This is not true. According to yoga, the true guru is within and although it would be to your benefit to learn yoga from an accomplished teacher, this is not a requirement.
5. You Have to be Flexible to do Yoga:
Not so. No doubt yoga will improve your flexibility, along with your strength, balance and overall health, but in order to practice yoga you do not have to be flexible. Yoga is designed to be practiced by all.
Different bodies have different degrees of flexibility and in this case one size does not fit all. For most of the complex yoga posture which require great flexibility to do, there are plenty of modifications which allow you to get the same benefits for those who are less flexible. In fact one of the original reasons I took up yoga because I was not flexible and wanted to improve this aspect of my physical dimension.
Summary:
So there you have the top 5 myths about yoga. Essentially, what these myths do is prevent people from taking up this wonderful science. So if you feel you will have to change faiths, find gurus, stop eating meat or are too inflexible to take up yoga practice, you are wrong. Don’t pass up the wonderful opportunity to learn and practice this amazing science, which helps you discover your true divine and eternal nature.
Cholesterol and Heart Diseases – Exposed
January 24th, 2010 admin You must have heard of the term blood lipids? Which is a medical name given to all the fatty substance in the blood, including cholesterol? Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all body cells. It is produced by the body, and is important for the body to function properly. In fact, the body makes about 80 per cent, the rest 20 per cent comes from dietary sources. Without cholesterol, our bodies would be unable to function properly. About half of American adults have high level of cholesterol and about 1 in 5 has a high-risk zone level.
Cholesterol is particularly important in the formation of brain cells, nerve tissue, and the spinal cord. It helps to produce bile that metabolizes fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K. But too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for coronary heart disease and stroke.
As we all know, fat deposits in the arterial wall is the major cause of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The deposits of fats in the arteries make the wall narrower and so reduce blood flow to the heart muscles (myocardium). The arteries can become clogged and narrow, and blood flow reduced. If this plaque ruptures, a blood clot may form here or a piece may break off and travel in the bloodstream. If a blood clot blocks the blood flow to your heart, it causes a heart attack. If a blood clot blocks an artery leading to the brain, a stroke results. This whole process is more likely to happen to a person with a high level of bad blood cholesterol in the blood.
But Cholesterol is difficult to measure because the level in the blood includes several different types, and put simply, there are good and bad cholesterol in our body. There is enough evidence to show that the risk of Coronary heart disease rises as total cholesterol level increases.
First get to know the different types of cholesterol to determine which one is actually a threat to our health. Blood cholesterol is referred to as total cholesterol (TC) and there are two types:
High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) often called the good cholesterol helps to protect against heart diseases. This type of cholesterol transfers the fatty deposits away from the arteries and they are usually low in hyperinsulinism which is dangerous to the heart.
Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) is a bad form of cholesterol which deposits blood fats in the arteries and therefore is associated with increased risk of heart attack. Triglycerides are another common type of fat in the body. They’re a good energy source that our body also makes mostly. High levels of blood triglycerides are often found in people who are overweight, have high cholesterol levels, heart problems, and diabetes.
So, we no know that a measure of cholesterol by itself does not count since if the cholesterol level is high, it may be due to high HDL-C (good one) or high LDL-C (bad one). So a breakdown of the type of cholesterol has to be measured.
There is enough evidence to show that the risk of heart disease rises as total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C levels increases. And because HDL-C is the good cholesterol, it is expected that high level of it will help lower the risk of coronary heart disease. So high level of HDL-C appears to neutralize the potential adverse effect of raised total cholesterol level in our blood.
Blood cholesterol level are measured by blood test and the ideal total is less than 5.0mmol/L. for instance, in the Framingham Heart study, people with a total cholesterol level of about 6.5mmol/L had a heart attack risk two or three times higher than people with level less than 5mmol/L.
Your genetic makeup is partly responsible for determining your blood cholesterol level. Some families carry genes for raised level of various kinds of blood fats. But in all, diet plays the most important role in determining cholesterol levels in the body.
Animal and dairy fats like beef, pork, eggs, cheese, some vegetable oil raises blood cholesterol, do the first step of preventing heart diseases significantly in both men and women is to reduce the amount of saturated or animal fats contents in meals. But rather, replace animal and dairy fats with vegetable fats which are low-saturated and may lower
blood cholesterol. Eat more of fruits, wholegrain meal, and fresh vegetables. Do physical activities at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week.
Many people who have angina or a heart attack have high lipid level which are partly as a result of diet and partly genetic. By good and careful dieting plan, you can reduce blood cholesterol levels by 10-20 per cent. For greater lowering of cholesterol, drugs are usually necessary. Drugs like Statins, Resins and Fibrates are very useful. See your doctor for effective treatment plan.
To learn more about cholesterol and heart diseases visit http://www.heartcares.blogspot.com
Knowledge is power, so Learn and Live!
Organic Skin Care – Skin Care Industry Exposed
January 23rd, 2010 admin Organic skin care products are the ideal way to care for your skin as well as your family’s skin, especially infants and children. But when shopping for organic skin care products you must be aware that there is no regulation over the term “organic” in the skincare industry.
Manufacturers can make claims that their products are natural or organic without certification.
Many companies use marketing tactics like listing “from coconut” of “from olives” in the ingredients to make you believe the product is natural.
The truth is, they can extract anything from a natural source and process it so that, chemically speaking, it no longer has any relationship with the original source.
This is why it is so important for you to buy only products certified by the USDA. You must see the USDA logo in order to be one hundred percent certain that your skin care products are organic.
Some of the most trusted companies like Jason, Avalon Organics and even Burt’s Bees are beginning to allow ingredients such as parabens, nanoparticles and fragrance to creep into their products.
Companies and products that were once original and authentic, in an effort to compete in the trendy organic market, have comprimised integrity for profit.
I could write for day about all of the information needed to enable you in making the most informed decision for you and your family’s skin care. The amount of information can be overwhelming to say the least.
I recommend the Environmental Working Groups “Skin Deep” cosmetic database. The EWG continuously updates and holds the cosmetics world to a higher standard.
They offer powerful statistics and extensive resources allowing you to build your own knowledge base. EWG’s database allows you to search for a specific product and returns detailed information about the ingredients and side effects.
The rating system for the evaluative safety is as follows:
0-2: Low Hazard 3-6: Moderate Hazard 7-10: High Hazard
Also listed are toxic and hazardous chemicals and potential health risks associated with usage of the product that contains such chemicals…I encourage you to use this resource as we all have to search for our favorite products and see how they measure up.
Beauty cosmetics are another issue entirely. Organic Makeup? Did you know there was such a thing? There is, but…beware. Regulations of the cosmetics industry are so loose that it is difficult to trust any company’s statements to be legitimate. That is topic best left for another article.
But, quality skin care is not a replacement for a healthy diet and lifestyle. Your skin is part of the big picture of overall health and wellness.
Your skin is a direct reflection of what your body is experiencing internally. The more stress in your life and the less quality nutrition you put into your body the more you will experience problems with your skin.
Your skin grows from the inside out, so your overall nutritional levels really matter.
Skin is the largest organ of the body. Your skin protects your internal organs from infection, injury and helps to detoxify your entire body through perspiration. The healthier your skin, the better barrier it provides to viruses and bacteria.
Skin produces and stores Vitamin D, a crucial element of a healthy immune system. And let’s not forget how your skin simply (and not so simply) protects you from extreme changes in temperature by controlling the heat flow between you and your environment.
Now knowing that our skin is such a vital and sensitive organ of our body, why are we so careless in how we care for it? In a society so obsessed with fighting the signs of aging, why are we so quick to resort to extreme measures such as surgery and chemicals?