Category Archives: Health

Homemade Pimple Treatments – Does it Beat OTC?

Posted by gisbert on February 5, 2009 None comments

Rather than treating your pimples with harsh commercial products that can contain harmful chemicals, you can get rid of your pimples with a few simple ingredients from your kitchen.

Because OTC (over the counter) pimple remedies contain chemicals foreign to the skin, you can do more harm than good while using them. Your skin works hard to maintain the proper pH and OTC products often upset the complexion’s delicate balance. When this happens, your glands often produce even more oil, resulting in more pimples. It’s a vicious cycle that can usually be broken only by abandoning the medicines that keep your acne under control. But you have to do something, right? Look to your kitchen for everything you need to treat your pimples, gently and naturally!

Banishing pimples can be as easy as reaching for breakfast-oatmeal! Plain oatmeal mixed with water is a great facial scrub. It will exfoliate dead cells that clog the pores but is so gentle that it won’t damage the skin or leave it raw as many commercial scrubs do. When you combine oatmeal with plain yogurt and honey, it becomes a good spot treatment for pimples. Simply leave it on the site until it dries and wash it off with warm water. The healing properties of oatmeal are actually good for your face and won’t over-dry it.

A very effective treatment for pimples is to dab on some apple cider vinegar and let dry before rinsing it off with warm water. This is also good for the entire face. It will leave your complexion clean, soft and supple while making the pimples disappear.

Tea is wonderful beverage but also good for treating pimple. A few teabags steeped with two teaspoons of basil is an excellent way to rid yourself of pimples. After the mixture cools, apply it with cotton balls to the affected areas and let dry. Store the remainder in the refrigerator for future use. Using this treatment a few times a day will quickly rid your face of pimples.

You may be wondering how to keep your face clean if you abandon the commercial products you’ve been using. Salt water is the best cleanser for your skin! One half teaspoon of salt in a quart of water is the right mixture for most skin; use it at lukewarm temperature for a healthy, well-balanced complexion. The salt will rinse away excess oil and dry the skin just enough to discourage pimples while not over stimulating oil glands.

Vegetables are not only good for your body but also for your pimples. Rubbing a tomato wedge on your pimples will make them disappear, sometimes in less than twenty-four hours. Cucumber slices do the job a bit more slowly but are a less acidic method. You can also use potato slices. Raw garlic rubbed on the pimples a few times a day will also banish them just as well as the tomato but can be unpleasant unless you enjoy the scent of garlic.

Use Of Lower Back Pain Remedies

Posted by apurvashree on January 20, 2009 None comments

Back pain has now become a very common problem which can affect any age group. The pain in the lower back can be due to injury or accident, displaced disc, degenerated muscle etc. There are several exercises and stretches that can constitute a good lower backache remedy. The treatment for the problem can be usage of medication, physical exercises or acupuncture etc., based on the intensity of the problem. Having a pain in the back can be very depressing and can affect your daily routine and work. It is important to keep the back in shape to do your work without any pain and difficulty.

One of the best home remedy is to do simple stretches. Stretches, in general, give a lot of strength to the muscles and relaxes your muscles. Giving a good stretch to your back muscles will also stretch your abdominal muscles and make them stronger. Having strong muscles can prevent any back trouble and will also give you a strong back. Your muscles loosen up, thereby enhancing better blood flow throughout the muscle. You need to consult your doctor before resorting to any type of stretches. Some wrong stretches can aggravate your problem, causing more damage to the area.

Other Methods

Chiropractors can also suggest treatment for the backache relief. A lower back pain is mostly caused due to wrong alignment of the back. Chiropractors are specialists of lower backache. A good chiropractor will give you the right guidance for your pain relief.

You can also choose to use a heating pad in the affected area. Heat is a good back pain remedy and will loosen up the back, causing less stiffness. This treatment will give you a solution but it is important to understand the cause of the pain to heal the area.

Surgery can be taken up as the last option for treatment. This is recommended only if the stretching and exercises do not help in curing. A surgery is also accompanied with risks and hence should be resorted to only if it is the last option.

The lower back pain remedies have to be followed religiously and with discipline to alleviate the back problem. Back problems can be very annoying as the pain can affect your behavior. Always follow the advice of your doctor to get quick relief from the pain. Take frequent breaks and take plenty of rest from your work when you are under the treatment. Avoid sitting for extended periods of time and always try to maintain a good posture while sitting or standing.

There are several lower back pain remedies. You need to consult the doctor for the best back pain relief that is suited for providing relief.

Dieters and Diabetics No Longer Need to Swim Against the Current

Posted by globalhealthnews on July 27, 2008 None comments

Most of us have heard about the benefits of eating certain kinds of seaweed. But recently, scientists have discovered a type of carotenoid called Fucoxanthin that is being haled as the new miracle food. It’s an antioxidant that experts believe promotes weight loss, and can even help to treat diabetes and cancer.

Fucoxanthin is found in wakame and hijiki, two kinds of brown seaweed, as well as some forms of red and green seaweed. This is the same seaweed that consumers find wrapped around most of their sushi rolls. At one billion years old, wakame is one of the oldest types of ocean plants ever discovered that still exist today. Asians have been consuming it for thousands of years and visibly benefit from it.

Some animal testing in labs has determined that Fucoxanthin will help treat diabetes in the near future. The supplement can diminish insulin and blood glucose levels by promoting the development of DHA in the body. DHA, otherwise known as omega-3, has proven to decrease bad cholesterol, balance insulin production and improve metabolism.

The improvement of triglycerides, and thus metabolism, instigated studies at the Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan to find out if Fucoxanthin can be used as a weight loss tool. It turns out that Fucoxanthin promotes fat burning by escalating the use of thermogenin. This stimulates a protein called UCP1, which turns energy to heat by oxidizing body fat.

The process of metabolic thermogenin is when the body burns fat for use as energy. This is the same process that is used by bears to stay warm in the winter when they hibernate. In other words, a person could stay perfectly still for a long time, and still burn fat while taking Fucoxanthin as directed. It also seems to have a positive effect on the kind of fat that attaches itself to the heart, abdomen and other organs thus reducing heart disease and helping to control diabetes. In studies, rodents lost about 10% of their body fat when given Fucoxanthin as 2% of their diet.

The other use found for Fucoxanthin is quite astonishing. There has been some test-tube evidence that Fucoxanthin may help fight tumors. This particular use is inconclusive, but more research is being done to find out if Fucoxanthin can be used to help fight tumors in cancer patients along with other medical treatments.

Rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and B6, among others, wakame is a very wholesome food. Although it’s tempting to go to your local sushi bar and load up on sushi and sea weed salad, it is important to know that sea weed actually contains fairly large amounts of iodine as well. Consuming large portions of it can lead to iodine poisoning which can harm the thyroids.

While this does not mean that eating seaweed is unsafe, it is much safer to get Fucoxanthin in the form of a pill or supplement rather than gorge yourself on Japanese food. There seems to be no known negative side effect of taking Fucoxanthin as a dietary supplement.

Susan Chadwick writes for Global Health News, covering topics in all areas of health, from weight loss to internal cleansing.

Fucoxanthin is sold under the brand name Fuco Prime and can be found at www.FucoPrime.com or Fuco Prime by Nature’s Biology

Switch To HEPA Filters And Breathe Easier

Posted by toofan on July 26, 2008 None comments

Having a respiratory illness can, at times be debilitating and leave the sufferer feeling uncomfortable and unable to breath properly without difficultly. If you have breathing problems then you will understand just how problematic it can be to be in an environment that is stuffy and stale with dust particles and other debris floating around. Just a few minutes spent in a room that is poorly ventilated can be agony and leave the sufferer feeling ill for some time. One of the best ways in which to avoid situations like this is to use a good filtration system.

Today the best filter that is around and can be a massive a help for anyone with breathing problems and allergies is a HEPA filter. HEPA or high efficiency particulate air filters are the only filter that can eliminate 99.995% of all airborne particles, leaving the air fresh and clean without any pollutants. This makes them the ideal choice for anyone who has trouble breathing, suffers from allergies or begins to feel unwell when in an atmosphere that is stale with little ventilation.

When HEPA filters were first developed they were primarily used in hospitals to aid health and prevent the spread of airborne bacteria. These filters were also fitted with ultraviolet, high energy light units which were designed to kill any remaining bacteria that were attached to the filters. Although these type of filters are not needed in the home or office they are still used in hospitals to stop the spread of illnesses.

If you are looking to change the filters in your home or workplace to HEPA ones you are making the right decision as HEPA filters will make the world of difference to the air quality in your home or office. You can fit HEPA filters into your air conditioning system which will mean that the risk of breathing problems due to dust, dust mite faeces, pollen and other irritants is reduced significantly. You can easily fit HEPA filters into your air conditioning system without the need to replace anything else or incur extra cost other than that of the filters.

Perhaps you would like to have even greater protection from other allergy inducing particles such as pet dander or dust and mites in carpets and upholstery. If this is the case you should invest in a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner which will get rid of 99.995% of the particles hidden in fabrics which also contribute to poor breathing.

One thing is for sure, when you switch your regular filters in your air conditioner to HEPA filters you will soon be breathing the cleanest air you can, and you will feel much better for it. So if you value your health and the health of your family or workforce use HEPA filters. If you need assistance with changing your filters in your air conditioning system get in touch with your local HVAC professional who can help you with a filter solution to meet your needs perfectly.

Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com.

Help Your Child To Avoid Adult Health Worries

Posted by sparta on July 26, 2008 None comments

We see far too many parents these days willing to keep their child subdued with food treats in the hope that they will be still and quiet, needing less attention. This is lazy parenting and quite clear that the parents either don’t know or don’t care about the knock on effects that this behaviour brings about.

Some parents think that they will score points with their offspring, bringing favour and unconditional love if they give their child everything they ask for. This is not showing love to a child. Sometimes saying no is more loving than giving in.

So, what are the knock on effects and are they really that bad? Given that the incidents of childhood obesity have doubled in the last 25 years, the physical effects of obesity in childhood and later life cannot be ignored.

This is the reason that health insurance companies request information on weight, height and diet. Weight is a serious issue and responsible for a great many health problems that the health insurance companies may well end up paying out for. The higher the weight, the more the health insurance premiums will cost and the higher the risk to your overall health and length and quality of life.

This all begins in early childhood and the diet we receive from our parents is vital in determining our health later on in life. Fat cells are manufactured in the first few years of life to accommodate the amount of fat consumed. At some point the body stops making fat cells and we then have the amount of fat cells that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. They will expand or shrink depending upon the amount of fat we consume but we cannot change the amount in existence.

Massive studies have been conducted throughout various countries and it has been observed that thirteen is a bit of a turning point when it comes to the age of a child’s obesity causing lasting effects. For children that are obese, the risk of adult coronary heart disease was proportionally higher. If a child is obese at the age of seven, a sensible diet and exercise plan will reverse some of the damage done. If a child is still obese by the age of thirteen then the chances that they will suffer coronary heart disease between the ages of 25 and 60, are up by 33%.

Of course, there are other factors that can contribute to a child being overweight, but if the reason is purely taking in more energy than is being expended, then this child is exposed to the risk of heart disease, diabetes, vascular abnormalities, thrombosis, stroke and premature death. Health insurance companies are well aware of these factors because they pay out for health care to try and put it right all the time.

In the UK alone, one in ten children six year old children are considered obese. This has doubled in the last twenty five years and this is the time when parents need to nip it in the bud. The government are rolling out initiatives to educate parents and children about healthier lifestyles and diets and it takes a concerted effort for us all to stick to.

If we could take a look inside our bodies at what we are doing, if we could take a look into the future and see not only the health problems that will be avoided but all the heartache that goes with it, we may think twice before we shut our babies up with more food.

Health expert Catherine Harvey looks at the effects that obesity can have on life insurance premiums and what we can do about it.

Ways Of Getting Back Pain Relief

Posted by apurvashree on July 26, 2008 None comments

Back pain can be a very distressing problem in your life. It will not only affect you physically but can be emotionally very depressing. It is important to get back pain relief as this pain can affect your life at home as well as at work. You need to get relief to have a normal daily routine. Any pain can affect your behavior and can also cause a lot of stress in your life. It is thus important to understand and implement ways to get relief from your backache.

Less exercise can make our bones brittle. It is always important to do regular exercise as this is a good option to strengthen your lower back muscles. It is also necessary to maintain proper body weight. Excess body weight can put a lot of strain on your back and affect the muscles. Exercises will help in maintaining a good and healthy body. It will help in strengthening the muscles, thus preventing them from getting weak and tired. This is an essential move for lower backache respite.

You can also get treatment by way of medicines. Medicines should be used very diligently as they can be quite addictive. You can grow immune to the dosage and will require a stronger dose for cure. The dose and type of medicines will be based upon the intensity of the pain. An anti inflammatory drug can also be given if there is inflammation in the area. Some people may also use an ice pack or heat pad along with the anti inflammatory drugs to get some relief.

Backpain remedies can also be achieved by following some simple steps. Getting any sleep when you have a pain can be quite difficult. This increases the stress to your body and also adds to the pain. The best way to go to sleep is to lie on one side with the knees bent at a 90 degree angle. This puts lesser stress on the spine. You can also try and sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees.

Some people also go in for massages for backache relief. The massage helps relax their muscles and also relieves them from pain. You need a trained masseur who can give you a soothing treatment. One can also visit the spa for the massage. There are several remedies for achieving pain relief. You need to choose the one that is best suited for your body and the one which gives you the best relief and treatment. Always get the proper guidance from your doctor and follow his advice to get the best possible treatment.

Getting back pain relief is important to lead a normal and stress free life. You can follow many remedies for back pain, however, stick to those which work best for your body. back pain remedies should be carefully chosen to get quick relief from pain.

How To Be Independent With Schizophrenia

Posted by schizo1 on July 26, 2008 None comments

When people suffer from schizophrenia mean the condition where a person may find it difficult to differentiate what is real and what is not. It is a mental disorder that causes the patient to suffer from auditory hallucinations (i.e. hearing voices), paranoid or bizarre delusions, and disorganized speech and thinking. Most of the time, a person who suffer from schizophrenia is likely to suffer from clinical depression and anxiety disorders as well, that can result in social withdrawal.

However, schizophrenia can be cured. There are cases where people recover from their illnesses and got back to living a normal life. As long as there is self-motivation, support from family and friends, and help from professionals, then curing schizophrenia is not impossible. During the first stages of schizophrenia where the patient is not aware of his problems or does not have the capacity to help himself, support from his loved ones is perhaps the most important thing to help him get back on his feet. However, after a while, he should try and seek independence so that he can recover and return to his normal life. After all, although it is their responsibility to take care of an ill family member, his relatives do have their own lives.

There are a few things that people who suffer from schizophrenia can do to be independent. Below is a list of things that should be kept in mind if one desires to help himself cope with the disorder.

1. Self-education
If one wishes to cope with schizophrenia, first he has to learn about the disorder. He should know what the disorder is, what causes it, what its symptoms are and how to cope with it. The more he knows about schizophrenia, the better his chances are to deal with it as he could make better decisions should he be faced with problems.

2. Self-awareness
Once he has learnt all there is to know about schizophrenia, then the next thing he should do is to be aware. He should recognize early signs such as:
* Not bothering to look after himself (i.e. not eating, not cleaning or cooking, not changing clothes)
* Feeling anxious and not sleeping
* Feeling fearful and a bit suspicious, worrying of other people’s motives
* Having difficulties concentrating
* Hearing voices quietly or occasionally

Recognizing the signs early mean that there is more time do something about them, thus lessening the chance for schizophrenia to strike again.

3. Self-control
Aside from self-awareness, one should always be able to control himself. He should avoid things that could make his illness worse –things like drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs, and getting into stressful situations such as spending too much time with people. He should also always look after his body; he should eat well, sleep well, exercise regularly, and take his medications so that he stays at the top of his game.

Finding things to busy himself with is also a good idea to control voices. He should find the things he loves to do or spend some time with friends and family. Drowning out voices can be done by watching TV or listening to the radio. Joining a self-help group of people with similar experiences is also a good option as it can help reduce stress and overcome the difficulties and symptoms of schizophrenia.

Getting help from friends and family members is also important as sometimes one may not always be at his best to help himself. One should tell them about the signs of schizophrenia and ask them to remind him if he starts to display them.

Ronen David is the chairman of “Malam” (an Israeli organization supporting and representing those dealing with mental disabilities). He is the author of the “How to Cope With Psychosis & Schizophrenia Self Help Handbook”.
Visit his web site and learn Dealing With Schizophrenia

What Causes Back Pain And Its Remedies

Posted by apurvashree on July 26, 2008 None comments

The ageing population in America is usually more susceptible to back pain back pain and many approaches have been developed to treat the backaches. However, to treat backache, the first step is to know what causes back pain. There are several causes including various physical and emotional factors that can give arise to back problems. Back pain, if left untreated, can lead to a debilitating degree of physical discomfort.

Causes

Among numerous reasons for backache, some of the most common causes of backache are:

1. Strenuous physical exercises such as weight lifting
2. Wrong posture while sitting or standing
3. Sitting for prolonged hours in the same position
4. Stomach disorder
5. Pregnancy: Every pregnant woman goes through the backache suffering at some or the other point of time during the pregnancy period. This is especially so during the last few months of pregnancy.
6. Use of high heels: This causes strain in the back muscles, leading to severe pain
7. Open spine surgery can also give rise to FBSS (failed back spine surgery), which can lead to chronic ache in the back, arms or legs. Other causes include, spondylosis, herniated disc, sciatica, and spinal stenosis.

Types Have Back Pain Treatment

From medication to exercises, there are many types of treatment available for pain in the back. Majority of the Americans suffer from chronic backache because of which they remain absent from work for longer periods. This has also resulted in the advent of a large number of backache therapies. There are both long period therapies and short period therapies. For immediate relief, the latter is usually preferred. However, for eradicating backache problems from your life, one needs to follow long-term therapies. Whatever type of treatment you choose, you first need to know what causes back pain to you and eliminate or minimize that cause.

You can find relief from pain in the back with the help of physical exercises, yoga and acupuncture therapies. However, if the problem becomes unbearable, the only alternative would be to consult a doctor or chiropractor.

Apart from these, there are various other therapies and home treatments to minimize the pain. These include medications, exercises, physical therapy or electrical stimulation and surgeries. Surgeries involve spinal surgical procedures, which are also referred to as open procedures.These involve a longer recuperative time, larger incisions etc. Endoscopic surgical techniques make use of a larger view of the surgical passageway.

The Bonati procedure requires special mention here. In this procedure, the patient is able to communicate with the surgeons throughout the surgical operation. This is possible by the use of lower anesthesia and endoscopic surgery.

Therapy Through Yoga,

Yoga helps to relieve stress from our lower back, spine, and muscles along the spine and neck. It encourages a positive view of life and helps us change the way we look i.e. our perception or the way we look at things. This goes a long way in easing our tension and helps through a series of exercises, meant to ease the muscle pain in our joints and back.

To find a suitable treatment for backache, you first need to find out what causes of back pain. Once back pain causes are identified, back pain treatment can be sought for.

All The Truth About Fat

Posted by jerleung on July 26, 2008 None comments

Everyone talks about fat nowadays. It seems that it become the focus of most people these days. When we are still small children, our parents and teachers will tell us that fat is not good for us.

In fact, you should not only focus on fat. This is especially true if you are trying to lose weight. You should also think about calorie if you are trying to lose a few pounds. You will need to consider both calorie and fat if you want to succeed in your weight loss plan.

The first thing you need to make sure is that you should not eat too much junk food. I bet most people will know this. This is junk food is usually loaded with fat. And it will not be good for our weight loss plan. In fact, it may even ruin your plan if you eat too much junk food. However, as discussed, you do not only consider the fat content. You also need to think about your weight loss plan in terms of calories. There will be a lot of sugar from candy. If you eat too many candies, it will provide you more calorie than you need. And this will eventually make you gain weight. From here you should understand why you should also consider the calorie intake apart from the fat intake. You will gain weight if you only think about fat without considering calorie.

As a matter of fact, we get the energy for our daily activities mainly from carbs. You will eat things such as bread, pasta and rice everyday in order to get the carbs. However, one thing you should be careful is that excessive carbs in our body will be stored as fat in our body. As a result, eating too much bread may not be a good idea.

Let us get back to the notion of fact. We should not take too much saturated fat. In most cases food such as potato chips and fries will be rich in saturated fat. As you may probably know, too much of this fat will probably cause heart attacks. This can in fact pose real health problem to us.

You should use as little oil as possible. When you really need to use it, you should consider using oil like olive oil because this kind of oil is low in saturated fat. This will certainly be a lot healthier for you.

The author has a website on Health, Fitness and Wellness. Be sure to check Healthy Weight Loss Plan and the article Weight Loss Pill Review.

Food Additives That Can Challenge Your Health

Posted by gaia22 on July 26, 2008 None comments

There are a number of food additives that can challenge your health. These additives are particular substances that are added to specific foods in order to improve the appearance, the taste, and even to preserve the flavor that the food has. There are natural based additives and there are artificial based food additives. While additives have been used in various types of foods for hundreds of years, medical professionals have recently discovered that some of these substances can actually challenge the health. Here, you will learn about the food additives that you should avoid because of the fact that they compromise your health.

Additives to Avoid

1. Aspartame – This food additive is a type of artificial sweetener that is used in a number of products like beverages, cereals, over-the-counter medicines, sweeteners, and more. It has been found that this food additive can result in birth defects, cancer – especially in the brain, diabetes, seizures, emotional complications, and more.

2. Sodium Nitrate – Generally, this substance adds coloring and preserves foods like bacon, corned beef, and various types of sandwich meats. Individuals who ingested this additive on a regular basis often were found to suffer from cancers.

3. Sodium Chloride – You probably know this additive by the name “salt”. This substance has been linked to health complications like high blood pressure, stroke, and even failure of the kidneys!

4. BHT/BHA – This substance actually has a purpose of preserving foods like gums and cereals. Unfortunately, they are considered to be “oxidants” which can lead to cancer in various areas of the body.

5. White Sugar – We all know what white sugar is. This substance actually has no nutritional value whatsoever and can lead to health complications.

6. Propyl Gallate – This additive is often found in various types of meats. There is strong evidence to indicate that it may be linked to the development of various types of cancers.

7. Potassium Bromate – This additive is used to increase the volume of foods such as flour and various types of breads. When animals were studied to determine the side effects of this substance, it was found that they developed different types of cancers.

8. Monosodium Glutamate – This additive is often added to soups and similar substances to enhance the overall flavoring. It has been linked to damage in the nerve cells of the body and can result in nausea and even headaches.

9. Olestra – You can find this food additive in various types of potato chips. This can affect the body’s ability to properly absorb essential vitamins and nutrients. In addition to this, it has been linked to gastrointestinal complications such as cramping and even diarrhea.

10. Food Colorings – Food colorings that are blue, yellow, red, and green have all been linked to various types of tumors and cancers that can develop in the body.

Conclusion

It is important that you avoid the consumption of food additives at all cost. These substances can prove to be a real challenge to your overall health. It is important to consume natural foods that can provide essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to the body. This will ensure that the body is able to function appropriately and maintain itself properly.

Gaetane Ross is a Certified Natural Health Consultant who has spent over 4 years focusing on Nutrition and Health. She also specializes in Alternative Medicine, Spiritual Healing and Healthy Lifestyle.

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