Health in a Blog

7 Super Foods to Lose Belly Fat and Lead a Healthy Life

2009-09-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

You probably know the saying: You are what You eat. It's an old saying but a very true one. Eating right is the most important thing when it comes to losing belly fat and leading a healthy life. This article will include a list of 7 super foods which can help you lose more belly fat and remain healthy.

7 Super Foods

1. Avocado - This is one of the healthiest food items around. Avocados are high in fat, but it's good fat. Avocados are high in fiber and Vitamins C and B6. It can be served as part of a salad, in a sandwich, or even as a snack. Avocados reduce heart related risks.

2. Nuts - Nuts of all kind are high in fat, but, like avocados, this is good, unsaturated fat. Nuts are also high in protein and a small serving is enough to fill you up. Nuts and seeds have been shown to reduce risk of heart diseases, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer. They can also help you lose tummy fat, as they provide you with the fat you need, but of the good kind.

3. Tea - Tea, and especially green tea, is a super food. It is rich in antioxidants and so slows the aging process. Tea also helps to prevent osteoporosis. Try to drink tea with honey instead of sugar.

4. Chili Peppers - This is a food item which can help you lose belly fat faster since it inhibits your appetite. Chili peppers are rich in vitamins C and A, and also contain antioxidants. Some researchers believe that chili peppers boost metabolism, so you can actually burn more calories after eating them.

5. Blueberries - This is probably the most antioxidant rich food there is. With zero fat and hardly any calories, this tiny fruit can help invigorate your immune system and also help you lose belly fat.

6. Salmon - Salmon is one of the healthiest fish in the world. It is rich in Omega 3 acids and also high in protein. It's healthy for the nervous systems as well as many other health benefits.

7. Olive oil - Olive oil is the perfect dressing for any salad. It is high in good fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants. It's also good for your cholesterol.

Incorporating these 7 super foods into your diet will improve your health and help you lose belly fat faster.
To read how you can start to lose as much as 9 lbs. in 11 days and keep it off, visit this webpage: FatLoss4Idiots - Lose Belly Fat

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3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Brain Power

2009-09-01T02:44:00.000-07:00

Google "improve brain power" and you'll find all sorts of tips, techniques, books, and games explaining how you could improve your brain power. Most of them involve physical exercise, balanced nutrition and complex mental exercises.

While it would be cool if everyone could incorporate these tips, I highly doubt that after reading such advice you will start jogging for one hour every morning and change your diet to incorporate more fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Some people don't do that even when they are at risk of having a heart attack!

For the lazy crowd looking to give a little boost to the brain functions, is there anything easier? Luckily yes.

Switch the side of your mouse-pad: Yes, it is as simple as that.

By switching the side of your mouse-pad you will force yourself to use your non-dominant hand. This, in turn, will stimulate the neural connections between the right and left hemispheres on your brain. Scientific research confirmed that people that use both hands equally have 10% more nerve fibers joining the two sides of the brain.

Ideally you want to perform as many activities as possible with your non-dominant hand, but some of them might become cumbersome. I tried to brush my teeth using my left hand for one week or so, only to find out that the tartar was building up.

Using the mouse with the opposite hand is something that you can easily integrate into your life. During the first couple of days it will feel weird, and you might need to switch back when using programs that require intense "clicking" sessions. After this adaptation phase however, you'll be navigating the computer just as efficiently with both hands.

Force yourself to remember things:

Sometimes you want to remember the name of a song that is playing or the name of an old acquaintance that passed by . It is right there, on the tip of your tongue, but you can't remember it. What would you normally do in such situation? Probably ask some nearby friend for the name, and upon the revelation you will even shout marveled, "Oh yeah! That is it."

The next time this happens force yourself to remember that name. The brain can be stimulated just like your muscles and the more you exercise it the stronger it will get.

Do not limit yourself to remembering names. Are you calling your mother to get the phone number of your uncle? Forget pen and paper - you can memorize it. Try to look at the keyboard of your phone in order to create a mental picture of what the sequence of numbers looks like.

The worse that can happens is that you will need to call your mom again...

Play games that involve some thinking:

You don't need to participate in the Mathematical Olympic Games in order to stretch your brain capabilities. Oh no, games and activities as simple as sudoku or crosswords will already have a tangible impact upon your brain performance.

Regularity is very important here, so try to incorporate these games or exercises into your routine. You could bring a crosswords book with you on the daily commute, for instance. Personally I like to play a chess match every day before I start working. It takes around 15 minutes, but it ensures that my brain gets a kick-start every morning.

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Importance of Vitamin Bs (multi-vitamin)

2009-09-01T01:36:00.000-07:00

B-complex vitamins, what are they? These are the vitamins that are an essential part of our diet. We need these for breaking down carbohydrates to give us energy, breaking down fats and proteins, muscle tone, skin, hair, and eyes. They also help with our growth and development. If we don’t get enough B vitamins, serious health problems can occur.

There are eight vitamins in this group. But the common three are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and folic acid (B9). You can find these vitamins naturally in whole-grain cereals, meats, fish, fruits, green vegetables, milk, rice, eggs, and nuts. The B-complex vitamins are water soluble. This means your body will keep what it needs and get rid of the rest.

We need thiamine to turn the carbohydrates we eat into glucose, a simple sugar. It is also an important vitamin to keep your nervous system working properly. If you do not get enough thiamine, you could have one or more of several health problems. Some of these problems are anemia (the red blood cells don’t deliver oxygen to the body), muscles get smaller and weaker, muscle spasms, or even paralysis. Other health problems include lack of coordination, short-term memory, and sensitivity of the teeth, gums, and cheeks.

Riboflavin also breaks down carbohydrates, but in addition it breaks down fats and proteins. We need riboflavin for our skin and eyes to be healthy. It creates a chemical reaction in our bodies that adds oxygen to things in the body. Skin disorders and swelling of the mouth and nose are signs of not getting enough riboflavin in your diet. It also causes anemia and your eyes can become very sensitive to light. Riboflavin is found mostly in dairy products—milk, eggs, and cheese. But it is also in whole-grains, meat, and peas.

Folic Acid is one of the most important of the B-complex vitamins, especially for pregnant women. It works together with vitamin B12 to create DNA. This vitamin is necessary for all biochemical reactions in the body. Doctors recommend that women who can become pregnant take at least 400 mcg of folic acid, and women who are pregnant need to raise it to 600-800 mcg a day to help give the fetus the vitamins it needs and prevent birth defects such at spina bifida. As with thiamine and riboflavin, a shortage of folic acid can cause anemia. It can also cause poor growth and problems with the mouth. You can find folic acid naturally in green vegetables, whole grain cereals, and in other foods.

Studies have also shown that people who do not get enough folic acid have a higher risk of getting certain types of cancers. One way to make sure you get enough B-complex vitamins in your diet is to take a good multi-vitamin. There are many benefits of taking a daily multivitamin. Multivitamins help to fill in the gaps of the vitamins we did not get from our food. Any excess will just be flushed from the body. Especially with women who can become pregnant or are pregnant, taking a good daily multivitamin can help the fetus get its proper nutrition.

Taking a good multivitamin can help you get the amount of the B-complex vitamins your body needs to be healthy and strong. It will also save you in the long run with doctor’s bills. It is never too late to start taking a multivitamin.

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Lead a Healthy Life With the Right Vitamins

2009-08-29T01:35:00.000-07:00

Do you feel inactive and stressed out? Are you lacking the enthusiasm to lead a happy and healthy life? If the answer is yes, you need to take these things into concern. As a common saying goes, healthy body is the way to a healthy mind. The saying may be old but its significance is still very true, if you are not feeling healthy from within you can never a have an active mind. In this regard sometimes you don't fall prey to some illness but then you tend to lose the resistance or stamina.

If you are losing your stamina then it's about time for you to wake up and smell the coffee. Start taking vitamins and make your life healthy and lively. You resort to a professional check up so as to be sure of the dosage you need and as per the prescribed dosage take the best liquid vitamins available. It is the best way to energise your body and mind, as it boosts your energy level.

The basic benefits of using high potency liquid vitamins:

There are various types of such vitamins which are found in the market. But according to your deficiency or requirement you can pick up the right dose and enhance your life to a great extent. The main benefits of such vitamins and supplements are as follows:

• First and foremost it gives a kick to your laid back life
• There are various types of such food supplement which you need to consume as per your requirements
• The water soluble vitamins are doing a very good business, which is quiet evident if consider its market demand.
• It helps you to regain the lost energy and lead a healthy life
• It boosts your energy level and this also to an extent helps you to be more confident and enjoy life to the fullest.

There are always wrong notions about them as it is consumed only when your body is deficient of such vital vitamins. But the fact is that if you want a healthy lifestyle then you must always take it on regular basis and maintain good health.

As in today's time people are very particular about their health so water soluble health supplements are more preferable since it is easy to consume. Liquid vitamins are easily consumed and this doesn't leave you with the feeling of taking a medicine. Now, if you want to energise your body then start consuming the right vitamins. If you are absolutely ok with your body then you can see an immediate change in and around, as you will start living life in a very positive way. Though it is hard to connect but then it is the way to lead a happy life. So, enjoy life to the fullest and let us not forget that a healthy body is the only vitamin to happiness.

Health Risks: How To Recognize High Blood Pressure

2009-08-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

Information about how to tell if you have high blood pressure and what to do if you have been told that you do.

Most medical ailments are noticeable after a symptom or two has alerted us. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the “silent killer”, since it rarely displays any signs or symptoms. Not only is high blood pressure linked to many strokes, heart attacks and heart failures, it can also impair a person’s vision and leave them with kidney damage. High blood pressure currently has no cure, but can be controlled through diet and medication. Women should be especially concerned, since nearly half of all women over the age of 55 have high blood pressure, with women of African descent having the most common and most severe tendencies. Overall, 1 out of ever 4 Americans, male or female has high blood pressure. Out of every 5 cases of heart failure in women, 3 are related to high blood pressure.

Genetics and certain activities can heighten the risk of getting high blood pressure. Although genetics cannot be halted, there are other steps you can take to reduce your risk. One is to reduce your weight, if you are more than 30 pounds overweight. Another is to reduce your amount of salt intake. Drinking and smoking are also known to be factors in many high blood pressure cases.

As people become older, their blood pressure tends to increase, making the elderly one of the likeliest groups to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can causing narrowing of the blood vessels, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. The overexertion of the heart can lead to stroke, heart failure and death.

Since high blood pressure has no true sign, the only way to really know if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked every year. Potassium is proven to have some connection in lowering blood pressure, so health workers strongly recommend that to prevent or lower high blood pressure, an average day should include at least 3500mg of potassium. Diet should include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, but avoid salty and fatty foods. Limit alcohol intake to under servings per day.

If you’re found to have high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s orders precisely and inform him of any other medications you are currently taking. If you’re pregnant, taking birth control pills, on estrogen or hormone replacement, have regular check ups which include a screening for high blood pressure.

For the most accurate blood pressure reading, don’t drink coffee for at least 30 minutes before having the test, sit still for 5 minutes before having the testing, empty your bladder before the screening and get 2 readings, then take the average between them. If medication is prescribed, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to take it the rest of your life. Sometimes the blood pressure can be lowered by changes in daily habits, or a combination of medications, but after keeping blood pressure down for some time, the physician could recommend that you stop the medication altogether. Continue to have yearly check ups to keep an eye on your blood pressure, even if it’s normal for now.

Written by Frances Wright

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Twenty three health tips

2009-08-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

1. Before you drink coffee in the morning, drink a glass of water (keep a steady supply of water at your desk). This will help minimize the negative fidgety-buzz that coffee can give you.

2. Start your day off with a 20 minute walk.

3. Walk away from the computer at least once every two hours and take a step outside.

4. Keep at least one 10-25 pound dumbell by your desk, and use it at least once a day when you notice that your in the middle of a productivity funk.

5. Eat one small meal every 2-3 hours.

6. Start your day off with twenty minutes of Yoga or Pilates. I'm personally a fan of the GAIAM series.

7. If you can't sleep, take a sleeping pill. Sleep is critical to your overall well being. Just make sure not to take sleeping pills more than 3 days in a row.

8. If you feel sluggish, get down on the floor and do some push-ups.

9. If your mind feels twitchy, it's probably because you've had too much coffee. Drink some water and get some fresh air.

10. If you feel depressed or sad, immediately find a friend on AIM or in a private forum to talk with. It does wonders.

11. Buy an odometer/speedometer for your bike. Then go for a bike ride around 2pm each day. It'll give you a "second-wind" for the day. Challenge yourself to go a little bit further and a little bit faster each day.

12. If you're in a healthy relationship, have sex at least once every 3 days. I'm dead serious about this. It can be critical to both mental and physical stability.

13. If you're addicted to IMing, porn, RSS reading, movie watching, shoe shopping, music searching or whatever else dominates your time.... TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOURSELF and YOUR TIME ... addictions of any kind are not healthy - a healthy person has full control over him or herself.

14. Once a quarter, try something new. A hobby, an online project, a daily habit. Trying something new and succeeding at it is both physically stimulating and mentally liberating.

15. Buy a dog. While a puppy may result in mental torture and sleep deprivation for a few months, the benefits are pricless. Dogs lift your spirit and can give you the incentive you need to take a walk. But please don't buy a dog unless you are serious about giving it a walk at least twice a day.

16. Try detoxing your body for a week. When I'm feeling really bad physically, I use two principles: A) Drink nothing but water and B) Eat nothing but fruits, vegetables and nuts

17. Get some sun. Seriously. Half an hour of good skin exposure to the sun can revive the body.

18. Find an excercise partner to help stay motivated. If you can't find an exercise partner, motivate yourself through the habit forming stage with a massively enticing reward (50 inch Samsung LCD with a PS3 anyone)?

19. Minimize your intake of processed breads and carbs. Keep a healthy stash of nuts and fruits (grapes and walnuts are a great snack) to satisfy your snack cravings.

20. Guys, challenge yourself to work on the beer gut everyday for 10 minutes and stick with it. Take that challenge as seriously as you take your latest internet project or fantasy football team. Girls, challenge yourself to work on the cellulite areas. Take that challenge as seriously as you take your latest internet project or the your desire to get your 101st handbag.

21. Don't drink alcohol after 7pm. Not only can it prevent you from sleeping deeply, but it can also result in more carb-based weight gain. Or...you might wake up the next day with a bad headache;-)

22. Challenge yourself to save alcohol and desserts only on the weekends. Your body will feel much more stable during the week if you keep it toxic free.

23. Your mental health demands that you are working on projects that you enjoy and that elicit creativity. If you find yourself bogged down in meaningless, tedious work, start taking the steps to transition into healthy, rewarding work by carving out time each day to pursue your own interests (rather than those of your boss - even if your boss in an alter-ego of yourself:)

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Health behaviors

2009-08-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

What behaviours are involved in each of the following dimensions of health? Match the examples of behaviour to the appropriate category. For example, 'following a balanced diet' can be matched with 'Physical Health'.

Health Categories

Physical Health
Emotional Health
Social Health
Mental Health
Spiritual Health

Behaviour Examples

Care for your soul
Organise your thoughts
Empathise with others
Be creative
Exercise
Ability to deal with failure
Empathise with others
Adequate rest
Consider new ideas
Interact with family
Controlling your own behaviour
Respect others
Healthy diet
Search for wisdom
Interact with friends

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Types of Health

2009-08-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

Environmental Health

Environmental health refers to the state of the natural systems of our planet and to the physical environments that people construct around them. Of fundamental importance to living things, including people, are the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil we depend on to grow so much of our food. Keeping the air, the water and the soil as healthy and unpolluted as possible is vital for environmental health. The preservation of biodiversity, the conservation of natural places and the creation of buildings and spaces where people can live and work comfortably are also important dimensions/elements of environmental health.

Community Health

The health of a community can be measured by its physical health and by the nature of its social systems, particularly the interrelationships between community members.

Some important dimensions/elements of community health are:

Inclusive social structures (structures meeting the needs of all community members);
Cohesion created by valuing diversity and encouraging participation and cooperation;
The provision of accessible community services;
The opportunity for community members to earn a living;
The opportunity for community members to enjoy leisure time.

While healthy communities are not free of conflict, opportunities are created for the productive and peaceful resolution of conflict.

Personal Health

Physical

Physical health is about being fit, having enough energy for both your daily work and your leisure activities, and not being sick. It means that your body systems are working well including your immune system which works to resist infections. Physical health involves getting adequate rest and sleep and having a balanced nutritional intake. Physical activity is an important part of maintaining personal physical health.

Emotional

Emotional health involves liking yourself and accepting others. It means understanding your own emotions, and having the ability to listen to others and empathise with their emotions. Importantly, it also means being able to express emotions productively. It includes controlling your own behaviour, and being able to deal with success, failure and challenge.

Emotional health means moving from emotional dependence to interdependence as we grow up. Emotional interdependence includes the ability to provide emotional support for others.

Being emotionally mature enables a person to have considerable control over their quality of life. Emotional maturity also encourages cooperation and productive relationships between people.

Intellectual/Mental

Intellectual or mental health involves a person's ability to think clearly and logically and to make decisions - that is, it involves the way in which our minds operate. It includes being able to reason and question, to challenge ideas and plan actions. The ability to organise, process and evaluate information is an essential part of intellectual health. Also important are: the ability to see things from a number of perspectives, a willingness to consider new ideas and the ability to assess risk, creativity, curiosity and intuition.

Social

Social health involves the ability to interact positively with friends, family and other members of the community. Relationships that are built on social needs, such as a sense of belonging, acceptance and being cared for, as well as caring for others, contribute to social health. Another aspect of social health is the ability to use diverse social skills in a variety of contexts.

Spiritual

Spiritual health involves working out what you believe in, having a purpose in life and being in touch with your inner self. It includes making meaning for yourself by exploring ethical and philosophical questions. For some people, spiritual health may include the adoption of religious beliefs. Such beliefs can take many forms, including a profound connection to a particular place or to elements of the natural world.

Spiritual health may include: caring for your soul; respecting life; searching for wisdom; listening to your inner voice; searching for universal truths or individual truths. Maintaining spiritual health is often seen as a journey in which the directions you take, and your motivation for taking these particular directions, are important.

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What is health?

2009-08-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life: where they learn, work, play and love. Health is created by caring for oneself and others, by being able to make decisions and have control over one's life circumstances, and by ensuring that the society one lives in creates conditions that allow the attainment of health by all its members.

Source: Quoted in Davy, J., Parker, R. & Patterson, J. 1994. Health Moves 2: Senior Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Heinemann, Port Melbourne, Vic., p. 445.

This definition reflects a very broad view of health. In contrast, many generations of Australians have grown up with the narrow view that health is simply the absence of disease. The definition above suggests that health consists of many dimensions, including the personal physical dimension that most people associate with the term 'health'.

Different writers/researchers in the field of health describe the dimensions of health in different ways. Some refer only to individual or personal health, while others also include environmental and/or community dimensions. The Dimensions of personal health include: the physical, emotional, intellectual/mental, social and spiritual.

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