Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Health Tips

Mental Attitude: Adjusting Your Attitude. “Change surroundings and take long journeys. Strictly avoid frightening ideas. Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements. Listen to music.”
Cornelius Celsus, (ca 25BC- ca 50) Roman encyclopedist and physician

Health Alert: United States, Using Drugs for Health?
Top five countries in drug expenditure per capita.
US $752
France $599
Canada $559
Italy $512
Iceland $494
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Diet: Restricted Over-Indulgence. Researchers from the University of Alberta have discovered diet drinks and snacks, at least in juvenile rats can actually promote weight gain. They found after a period of being fed such dietary items, they tended to go “hog wild” when presented with normal foods. While the reason for the effect (which was not seen in adult rats) is not clearly understood, the authors suspect the youngsters’ appetite mechanisms were thrown out of kilter by the specialty foods. In light of this study, they recommend that children be fed a diet of well-balanced foods in their natural form.
Obesity, Aug 2007

Exercise: Strength Training – Just 20 minutes of basic exercises, two days a week, will help firm and tone the whole body. Strength training will modestly increase metabolism, helping to burn more calories, even when you are resting.
American Council on Exercise

Chiropractic: Muscle Tension Test. Remember you are continually re-injuring yourself by carrying groceries, shoveling, sitting at a computer, sleeping wrong or lifting wrong, etc. Try this: sit-up straight in a chair, have a friend feel the muscle tension in your shoulders. Then lean your head and shoulders forward simulating working on the computer. The tension instantly increases, which will lead to muscle soreness if sustained for a long period of time. So watch your posture, stretch and take breaks.

Wellness/Prevention: Sunlight Cuts Breast Cancer. Sunlight exerts a powerful effect against advanced breast cancer. The effect was only significant in light-skinned women, but it translated into a 47% lower risk of the disease. Researchers suspect vitamin D, formed in light-skinned individuals exposed to the ultraviolet rays, is responsible for the benefit. Vitamin D formation is reduced as skin tone darkens.
American Journal of Epidemiology, Oct 2007

Quote: “Without health, life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering.”
Francois Rabelais

No comments:

Post a Comment