Sex, Health, Diet Info

As a rule, we take on several extra kilos during winter and we hasten to stick to a diet. Unfortunately, when we exclude harmful (from our point of view) food, we deprive ourselves of vitamins necessary for our health.

As the food industry evolved, more carbohydrates have been introduced into our daily diet, thus causing an imbalance in our metabolism to burn fat. The reason for our extra weight can also be attributed to the many grains and starches in our diet (pasta, rice, breads, and potatoes). The Zone Diet’s approach calls for a return to the diets of our ancestors where meat, fruits, and vegetables are the main dietary foods.

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for heart disease and cerebrovascular attacks. As more and more people suffer from this condition, scientists and medical specialists work side by side trying to find more effective methods to promote weight loss. They state categorically the importance of eating healthy and avoiding harmful food, adding physical exercise at the top of the list.

You’ll still eat plenty of lean protein, vegetables, eggs, cheeses, and nuts, but you also get to add in some of your favorite carbohydrates and sugars. You’ll learn the difference between good carbs and bad carbs and learn to balance foods so that you stay full and have plenty of energy! You stick to this phase of the diet until you reach your target weight.

Hydrox-Slim’s special blend of natural elements causes a natural physiological response of the body called thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is the process by which the human body creates heat. Substances that cause this effect are called thermogenics and are commonly used in products for losing weight.

Which program or diet product is right for you? That’s a personal decision, and one you should likely discuss with your doctor. It needs to fit your health, goals and lifestyle. Not all products are created the same.

It is also important to drink enough fluids on a cleanse. You should try to include at least 8 glasses of water daily to ensure that you are allowing toxins to be flushed out.

It is also said that vitamin D benefits the immune system since the T-cells or immune cells have receptors for vitamin D. It acts by boosting phagocytosis, the bodily functions to combat tumours, modulate neuromuscular and immune functions and reduce inflammation.

At the maintenance stage of the soft diet you would be met with getting over 400% of the regularly values for vitamin C, but during the induction duration only 33%. What kind of sense does this make? As a matter of fact, many people are ignoring this fact and continue to consume such nutritionals.

High in vitamins are fruits and vegetables. Many of these are good antioxidants sources as well. High-color food choices mean high vitamin content thus high energy storage. Look for yellow-orange, red, deep green, and blue in your food. For athletes, five to nine fruit and vegetable servings are recommended each day. Grains also contain both vitamins and minerals.

Read About bodybuilding Also Read About vitamin B-complex and benefits of vitamin B3

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/vitamin-diet-for-body-builders-1395747.html

Definitely cholesterol testing is the most important aspect of life. Cholesterol is required for a body but not in excess. It is a steroid in the cell membrane that appears to be insoluble and waxy in nature. This is an essential sterol in the human body, but when it is in excess it tends to clog the blood vessels since it is insoluble. This leads to a heart attack, so cholesterol testing is very important.

There are two types of cholesterol which can be put into simple terms as harmful and harmless cholesterol. The harmful one is Low Density Lipo Protein which circulates in the blood combining other substances and making the blood thick causing a heart attack. On the other hand the HDL cholesterol takes excess cholesterol to the liver and keeps a check on the blood not allowing it to thicken. This process avoids heart attacks.

Prestigious institutions like American College of Preventive Medicine, American Heart Association, American Association of Family Physicians, American College of Cardiology, and over 40 others have endorsed the NCEP guidelines. Only the American College of Physicians have registered a dissent that cholesterol measurement is unwarranted in young adults and older men.

The expert panel of NCEP recommends that cholesterol levels should be checked at least once in 5 years in all adults, and HDL cholesterol is to be measured at the same time. Accurate and precise measurement of blood cholesterol is extremely important in the NCEP’S program. It stresses on accurate and precise measurement of blood cholesterol to reduce mortality and morbidity that attribute to coronary heart disease. A Cholesterol Reference Method of Laboratory Network was set up to improve measurement of cholesterol with validation of traceability of their assays.

Cholesterol testing is unique because it is not diagnostic in nature but aims to estimate the risk of attracting a disease. This is to be considered as part of routine checkups, which will highlight the impending problems that are to come. Cholesterol testing can be done every five years in a normal person, but it should be more frequent in patients who have a known record of high cholesterol. Smokers, cholesterol patients, diabetics and hypertension patients or those who are above 45 years should be tested regularly.

Though regular tests for adults about 20 years is not necessary children need to be screened for cholesterol, especially obese patients who are more prone to diabetes and high cholesterol levels leading to heart attacks, especially in obese children.

Be happy and live well if your cholesterol testing results is 200mg/dl it means favorable or if it is 200-239mg/dl too it is on the border level. Contrary, if your level exceeds 240 mg/dl it spells danger. Take immediate steps to reduce the level and take frequent tests till it is under control, or it may lead to a heart attack.

Visit the Cholesterol Scoop for more information on Raise Good Cholesterol.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/cholesterol-testing-the-cornerstone-of-efforts-to-save-your-life-1344696.html

Anyone serious about fitness must dread traveling for business or pleasure.  While many hotels have gyms; you never know if their gym hours will match your availability or if the equipment is what you want.  While you always need to travel light, there are five tools that everyone can fit into their luggage that can help you get all the exercise needed to stay fit while on the go.  

Pack ankle and wrist weights.  These work for any exercise you normally use a free weight or dumbbell form, but have the added benefit of packing quickly and easily.  I recommend wearing your weights when running around airports to double up your travel time making connections or waiting for boarding.  Put them on when doing squats, sit-ups and push-ups for added weight and resistance.  They can also help turn a morning jog from a cardio calorie-burn into a lean muscle building activity.   

Speaking of morning jogs; the biggest mistake most people make when traveling is not bringing along athletic shoes or sneakers.  Even if you aren’t a runner, pack a pair of tennis shoes and spend some time wearing them.  Walk the hotel corridors or go up and down the stairs, enjoy a morning stroll along Main Street or in a nearby park.  Having good athletic shoes will allow you to take these walks with less chance of injury and stress on your feet, making the exercise more enjoyable and less painful.  

Another great tool to bring with you is a tennis ball or racquet ball.  No, the point isn’t to play tennis or racquetball: although, if the hotel has courts those CAN be great ways to get a workout in.  Instead, grip the ball in one hand and squeeze as hard as you can to provide your forearms and hands with a good strength building exercise.  A racquet ball packs light and takes up little space, making it an ideal choice for an exercise like this.

Resistance bands also pack light and are helpful when doing a variety of exercises.  A resistance band and related exercises provide basic arm and strength training.  There are many exercises available with resistance bands, but one great exercise is to use resistance bands while performing squats.  Squats alone are great lower body strength, but by stepping on the resistance band shoulder length apart and holding them at chest level, you will expand the benefits of the squat to your upper body as well.  Another great resistance band exercise is to ones are using resistance bands during squats and

Finally, one tool that almost everyone forgets is the proper nutrition your body needs to sustain exercise and strength training.  A lightweight choice is to bring whey protein supplements.  Most whey protein comes in a powdered form which you add to water to make a tasty and nutritious whey protein shake.  Since your hotel or motel will provide the water, all you are packing is the lightweight powder.  Whey protein provides your muscles with the right sort of building blocks to both develop and maintain lean muscle.

For more info on protein shakes, visit Top Form Supplements

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/5-exercise-tools-to-bring-when-traveling-1304239.html

The following is an excerpt from Hot and Cold Health by R. G. Heft (Acupuncture Physician FL 1992- 2002) based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines and the questioning and counseling of 10,000+ Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on the theory, observation that everything is an ongoing balance of opposites, many of which we control through diet, exercise, sex, thought, etc.

Know the whole before attempting to diagnose and or treat the part, as you cannot cure the part ithout curing the whole. The whole is equal to and greater than the sum of its parts.  If you cannot afford or do not want to risk your money ($20 or less), then I will send, email you the E Book (Adobe file, 1,005 KB) for free.  Your health is  more important than my bank account. Email me (rgheft@netzero.com) your request or questions.  Peace.

The skin is the body’s largest organ. It has several functions.

(1) Acts as a protective cover, shield, barrier between the body and the external environment (heat, cold, dryness, dampness, wind)

(2) Has pores, openings allowing the body to release excessive heat, energy (in the form of perspiration) and or retain heat, energy.

(3) Sebaceous glands located throughout the body in the dermis (layer of skin below epidermis, outer layer of skin) secrete sebum an oily liquid that moistens the skin and hair. It also helps the body retain heat. Acne (raised, red lesions, pustules, blackheads, etc.) is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands affecting primarily the face and shoulders

The skin is made from food, nutrients. There are only two kinds of foods, nutrients: building and cleansing. Building nutrients, foods (protein, fat, meat, eggs, cheese, beans, etc.) build and fuel. Cleansing nutrients, foods (water, minerals, fruit, vegetables, grains, etc.) reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten.

Long-term low protein, low fat (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, etc.) and high carbohydrate (bread, pasta, salads, tropical fruits, juices, smoothies, etc.) diets tend to cool, weaken and dilute digestion, reducing nutrient absorption, decreasing and thinning the blood (blood deficiency). Blood deficiency, in the extreme, tends to weaken, sag, thin, dry, crack and or bleed the skin producing partial facial flushing, red spots, splotches, acne, cracked skin, bleeding, pustules, eczema, exposed capillaries, blue veins and or translucent skin.

Too many building foods, protein and fat, especially animal (red meat, pork, chicken, eggs, cheese, fried foods, oil, etc.), in addition to alcohol, sugar tends to cause raised, red, hard painful, oily pimples, pus, boils and or dry flaky skin; warts, moles, psoriasis, tumors, etc. All excess sugar is turned into fat. Protein and fat build, thicken, fuel and heat. Too much tends to thicken, overbuild and overheat the blood, which in turn, overbuilds, overheats the skin.

The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended. Try to eat simply and do not overeat. For deficiency, increase protein, fat (eggs, turkey, chicken, etc.), spices, cooked foods, (soups, vegetables), and a small amount of fruit (avoid tropical), for balance. For the overbuilt, eat less animal (red meat, pork, veal, chicken, etc.) and more beans, nuts, seeds, rice, vegetables, fruit (apples, pineapple, etc.). Space and or skip meals, especially dinner. Experience hunger and quench with water.

The beauty, health of the skin, starts in the inside via simple diet. From the outside, you can use good quality soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, etc. I highly recommend Aubrey Organics and Zia Cosmetics. Calendula oil is great for burns helps prevent scarring.

Eczema (cold, damp)

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory condition of the skin that produces blister like formations that weep, release fluid before forming a crust, scale and or flake. Itching may also occur. Poor diet is a major cause.

The body digests, transforms food, nutrients into blood, into structure (skin) into function, into health or disease. There are only two kinds of nutrients, foods: building and cleansing. Building nutrients (protein and fat) build and fuel. Cleansing nutrients (water, sugar, minerals, etc.) reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten. The correct amount of building and cleansing builds and maintains healthy skin (thick, firm, strong, etc. The incorrect amounts, build too much or too little skin. Too little protein and fat tends to under build, thin and weaken the skin causing it to crack, bleed and or infect.

The symptoms of eczema indicate deficiency via breakdown (falling apart). Low protein and low fat diets, in the extreme, tend to thin and weaken all structure and function, including the skin. Too many carbohydrates (pasta, bread, salads, tropical fruits, juices, etc.) tend to dilute and weaken digestion (acid, enzymes) reducing nutrient absorption (especially protein and fat), blood, which in turn, dilutes, weakens and thins everything else skin, hair, bones, memory, vision, etc.

Case history: In 1989, I developed a bad, hideous case of eczema. It first started as a pimple, blister on my index finger (left hand). Over the course of two months, it (blisters, cracked skin, bleeding, pus, etc.) spread to every finger up the back of hand to the arm. My other hand was affected eventually although not as bad. This happened while I was going to acupuncture school. It was gross. I tried every Chinese herbal remedy. Nothing worked. My skin kept getting worse and worse. I eventually turned to Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurvedic Healing, and Yoga of Herbs by Dr. David Frawley, O.M.D.), which recommended the use of spices. My diet at the time was bland, low protein, low fat, sweet and cooling. I was living in Hollywood. Fl. I reduced juices, fruits, increased protein and fat and started cooking with spices (fennel, cumin, coriander, ginger, etc.). I always used at least five spices. Within three weeks, my eczema cleared up. My digestion also improved less bloating, gas, burping, farting, etc. I did have eczema as a teenager, although not as serious.  

Diet related eczema is simple but time consuming to cure as the skin takes time to rebuild via proper diet. The middle diet, daily meal plan, adjusted accordingly is recommended. Reduce salads, raw vegetables, tropical and citrus fruits, cold drinks, milk and yogurt

Other causes of eczema: low levels of hydrochloric acid, Candidiasis and or food allergies, all of which can all be caused by poor diet (low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate, in the extreme).

        Psoriasis (hot)

Psoriasis is a painful chronic skin disorder characterized by dry, red, scaly skin covering the scalp, genitalia, skin, etc. that alternates between exacerbation and remission. It is a disease of excess, caused in general by too much protein and fat, especially red meat, pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, lasagna, oily, greasy foods (fries, chips, etc.) in addition to alcohol and sweets. Psoriasis generally occurs in conjunction with liver congestion, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, etc. The colder middle diet, meal plan is recommended.

Hot and Cold Health

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I PHILOSOPHY AND DIET

Chapter 1 The Way of Thinking Chapter 2 The Way of Food Chapter 3 Digestion, Spices and Chinese Herbs Chapter 4 Cooking Class

SECTION II BIOLOGY, EAST AND WEST

Chapter 5 Three Treasures Chapter 6 Blood and Body Fluids Chapter 7 Spleen Chapter 8 Stomach Small Intestine Chapter 9 Large Intestine and Urinary Bladder Chapter 10 Heart Chapter 11 Liver & Gall Bladder Chapter 12 Lungs Chapter 13 Kidneys Chapter 14 Disease and Diagnosis

SECTION III DISEASES A- Z

Chap 15 A Diseases AIDS 141 Alzheimer s 143 Anal fissure 143 Anemia 144 Anger 145 Aging 146 Anxiety 147 Arthritis 148 Asthma 152 ADD 154 Auto-immune 154 Chap 16 B Diseases Blood 157 Blood Pressure 158 Body Odor 159 Bones 161 Breast lumps 162 Bronchitis 164 Chap 17  C Diseases Candidiasis 167 Canker Sores 169 Cellulite 171 Cholesterol 173 Chronic Fatigue 175 Circulation 176 Cirrhosis 178 Cold hands, feet 178 Cold (lungs) Constipation 180 Coughing 182 Crohn s 182 Chap 18 D Diseases Depression 185 Detoxification 188 Diabetes 191 Diarrhea 193 Diuretics 195 Dizziness 195 Dysmenorrhea 196 Chap 19 E-F Diseases Ear Infections 197 Eczema 197 Edema 200 Endometriosis 202 Eyes 202 Fear 204 Fever 204 Fibrocystic Breasts 204 Fibroids 205 Fibromyalgia 205 Forgetfulness 207 Frigidity 208 Chap 20 G-H Diseases Gall Stones 209 GERD, GIRD 210 Gout 212 Hair Loss 213 Hearing Loss 215 Hepatitis 218 Herpes 220 Hot Flashes 220 Hysteria 221 Chap 21 I-J Diseases Infertility 223 Inflammation 223 Insomnia 224 Irritable Bowel 226 Itching 227 Jaundice 227 Chap 22 K-O Diseases Kidney Stones 229 Miscarriage 230 Mucous 231 M. Sclerosis 231 Nails 233 Nausea 235 Numbness 236 Obesity 237 Osteoporosis 238 Chap 23 P-R Diseases Pediatric 241 Perspiration 244 Plantar F. 244 Pregnancy 248 PMS 250 Prostate 251 Psoriasis 252 Rashes 252 Restless Leg 252 Chap 24 S-Z Diseases Sex 255 Shaking, tremors 257 Sinusitis 258 Skin Diseases 259 Sleep Apnea 261 Snoring 262 Sweaty hands 263 Teeth 264 Tumors 266 Urinary T. I. 267 Varicose Veins 269 Weight loss 270 Yeast infection 274 Chap 25 Case Histories 275

SECTION IV DAILY PRACTICES

 Chapter 26 The Way of Breathing, Chap 27 Exercise, Chap 28 Meditation 303, Chap 29 Spiritual Practices (belief in God)  307 Appendix 313 Bibliography 315 About the Author 317

One of the advantages of reaching midlife is that we are finally finished with all those issues that make childhood and adolescence such a pain in the neck, such as needing set bedtimes as well as  regular dental and eye checkups; having to worry about using protection during sex and about cigarette smoking; getting all those shots to prevent diseases and wearing helmets to prevent sports injuries; needing to eat all our vegetables and avoid sugar as well as not missing gym class. What a relief to let these issues fade right along with our memories of tetherball on the school playground!

Not so fast. Would it surprise you to know that you still have to be aware of each and every one of the above so-called “child/adolescent” health issues?  

For instance, what about set bedtimes? The obvious reason that we needed enforced, regular  bedtimes each night was so that we would get enough sleep. Being tired and sleepy the next day in school caused everything from lousy concentration to crabby moods. Now that we’re in midlife, many of us believe that sleep is no longer an issue. This is not the case at all. It’s still essential to our health and wellbeing. Recent studies have shown that not only do sleep disturbances often indicate a serious health problem, but that lack of sleep can actually cause health problems, such as weight gain. Polls have shown that nearly two thirds of adults over the age of sixty-five have sleep complaints, but that less than 15 per cent of them have been formally diagnosed with a sleep problem. Why? Because we don’t mention sleep problems to our health care providers. Our mothers were right — we still need to be concerned about our bedtimes.

Once we’ve gotten the glasses we need and all our baby teeth are gone, we no longer need to get regular eye and dental checkups as we did in our younger years, right? Again — no. Although our vision does remain stable from young adulthood until we need bifocals, there are common eye diseases that begin to occur in midlife, and that can lead to blindness if not diagnosed.  And even though we no longer have our baby teeth,  other dental issues take the forefront upon reaching midlife, such as gum inflammation which has been shown to be associated with diabetes and heart disease. So, continued regular dental and eye checks are as important as in our younger years. 

And what about sex at midlife and beyond?  We’ve moved from groping and being groped in the backseat of the car to more sophisticated maneuvers in a comfortable bed, and finally, finally no longer have to worry about pregnancy. So we don’t need protection; or so many of us think. Although it’s true that once menopause arrives one can’t get pregnant (warning: make sure you have completed menopause before assuming this as diagnosing menopause can be tricky),  protection is still needed during sex because of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Yes, we can still get those, and in some cases are even more prone to becoming infected after menopause, even after a hysterectomy. And even though we’re past the childbearing years and our reproductive organs seem to have no further use, we still need regular pelvic exams and Pap smears. It is also important at that exam to discuss with our healthcare providers the need for testing for STIs; if there is a new partner or the worry that the current partner is not monogamous, this testing is a must.

STIs are not the only threat held over from our adolescent years; so is cigarette smoking. Many women in midlife think that there is no reason to stop smoking cigarettes at this age, since they wrongly assume that the damage is already done from all the prior years of smoking. This is not the case. No matter how many years one has smoked, stopping can prevent further damage to the heart, blood vessels, and lungs, and in some cases can reverse some of that damage.  

Also relevant to the lungs is the fact that asthma can begin in midlife, where once it was thought to only begin in childhood.  The two major causes seem to be occupational exposure to substances that damage the lungs, and the recreational exposure to air pollution by adults who run predominantly outside. So, a new onset of shortness of breath at this age — even if it occurs only with exercise — does not necessarily mean heart disease; remember that we can develop asthma now.

Did you think you were finished with all those horrible shots you had to have in childhood and adolescence? Sorry, you’re not. There is a recommended immunization schedule for adults in midlife and beyond, just as there are for children. At certain ages over 50 and at certain intervals, you’ll need shots against the flu, certain types of pneumonia, tetanus, and in some instances, shingles and hepatitis.  Ask your primary care provider about these.

And did you pack away your helmet when you gave away your bike with training wheels? Probably ok to have done this since now you will need a bigger size helmet. But you do need a helmet. A recent report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that sports-related injuries in the Baby Boomer population was on the rise, with over 1 million injuries in this age group in 1998 alone, most of the injuries being due to bicycling and basketball.  The same report said that the many head injuries associated with bicycling were probably due to the fact that Baby Boomers use helmets less than younger people do.

The fact that exercise and proper nutrition are as important in midlife and beyond as in childhood may not come as a surprise. Regular exercise at this age has been shown to increase longevity and wellbeing, postpone and possibly prevent dementia, strokes, heart disease, and diabetes, and aid in the treatment of depression. Important to know as well is that several different types of regular exercise are recommended at this age, including aerobic (cardio) exercise, weight-bearing exercise or strength training, and exercises to improve balance and flexibility.

What we eat as we get older is every bit as important as it was in our younger years. One particular healthy way of eating, the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to stave off dementia, prevent heart disease and diabetes, maintain a healthy cholesterol level, and improve longevity. One study showed that this diet even improved sexual function in certain women! This diet is exactly as expected given its name: lots of natural whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, and nuts, lots of fish and olive oil, moderate amounts of wine, and limited amounts of foods containing refined sugar. Controlling the portions of the foods we eat is even more important at this age. Our metabolic rate decreases with age, making it easier to gain weight while eating the same amounts of food as in our younger years.  

So, as you are rummaging through your mother’s attic looking at your old dolls, baseball bat and Ouija Board, and breathing a sigh of relief that you no longer have to worry about being picked for a baseball team or that your best friend copied your paper doll’s dress, don’t get lulled into complacency about your health. Although you once may have thought that taking care of yourself  health-wise would get easier as you get older, you know now that that’s not true. Make your appointments for regular checkups, get more than 5 hours of sleep a night, use protection when having sex, particularly with a new partner, stop smoking no matter how old you are, get the recommended immunizations, be careful and wear your helmet and seatbelts, and exercise regularly and eat well. Your mother’s recommendations from your childhood continue to apply!

©2008 Janet Horn, M.D.

Author Bio
Dr. Janet Horn is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, with training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She spent many years on the fulltime faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she published articles in medical journals on her research interests, including sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and women’s health. She was also the primary author of several chapters in medical textbooks.  She started her solo private practice in 1990 while continuing to teach as an Associate Professor of Medicine on the part time faculty at Hopkins. She has been selected by Baltimore Magazine as one of the “Top Doctors in Baltimore” and by the Maryland Daily Record as one of the “Top 100 Women in Maryland.”   She is included in the books Consumer’s Guide to Top Doctors (in the US) and Best Doctors in America, Southeast Region.  She is the co-author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond, which will be available this September from New Harbinger Publications.

The physical and emotional health of women can have much broader impacts on the people closest to them and, others may argue, the social and economic health of the society as a whole. This is because women are often the primary care givers for ageing parents and children, and can take on nurturing roles within their local communities and schools as well.

The physical, emotional and mental health of women can therefore be the basis for the good health of everyone else. Men, too, have their trials and challenges but for a moment let’s consider women’s health.

Whether it is in the home or workplace, whether as a new mother or grandmother, whether it is as sister or best friend, wife or lover, women lead very busy lives! Taking on these significant responsibilities, and trying to lead with strength and support with tenderness, can sometimes mean there is very little energy leftover to care for oneself.

To safe guard your own health and happiness consider the following five sure-fire ways to boost your quality of life, relieve anxiety and take better care of you.

Exercise: Exercise is nice to think about but not so easy to do, especially if you haven’t done much in a while. The amazing thing about it is that just a little has a big effect. It will improve your mood almost straight away, and over time, your muscles and bones, which in turn will improve your overall heath especially later in life after menopause. You will be so glad you did any, and if it can be a little weight-bearing exercise, even better.

Walking is the easiest way to start if you haven’t been active for a while. Start slowly and work up to a fast walk for 20 to 30 minutes several times a week. Biking, dancing and stair-climbing are also good and free. Joining a gym or yoga class is also a great idea, if you can manage it, but it takes more time and money because you’ll need to get to classes on time and may need guidance with some of the exercises.

Food: What you eat has a big impact on your energy levels and mood, as well as your general health. Eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables is important for energy and to ensure you get enough vitamins and minerals. Vegetables also assist in cleaning toxins from your system, as toxins can cause you to feel sluggish and gain weight.

Be sure to include plenty of water in your daily intake as well to make sure you stay hydrated; after all, your brain is depending on water to help you function at your best.

Relax: It is important for you to take the time to allow yourself to feel relaxed and peaceful sometime during your busy day. You may have a hobby, like to read, or enjoy your early morning tea alone. Take the time to be still at least once a day, and do something that feels good for you so you can have a moment where you can breathe and let your mind wander.

Surprisingly, without trying, you may find at this time that solutions to problems become evident. Laughter is another way to relax and let your thoughts go free for a short time. Try to laugh each day!

Regular checkups: There’s nothing worse than having an ache or pain and, not knowing what it is; you imagine all sorts of health problems.

Put your mind at rest and go see your doctor for the usual check ups. If you have no major problems you will worry less about the little aches and pains, and if you are heading for something serious, you will have caught it early which will help you get the best possible treatment sooner.

Try new things: Today it is easy to get good information about almost anything, from how to make a pond skimmer to how to keep the romance in your life. If there is something you’ve been curious about why not give it a try? From pottery to golf; guitar lessons to salsa dancing; digital photography to pattern making and fashion design. You could make your own cosmetics, eco-makeover your house, teach yourself to weld, or build a pizza oven in your backyard.

Learning new things, putting yourself in a situation to meet new people, and getting outside of your normal routine can improve yourself esteem and make life more interesting. You’ll be pleased you found the time to do something for you.

A study of traditional Chinese medicine must begin with its five basic elements. The elements are important and controlling parts of the universe. The list includes water, fire, earth, wood and metal. These elements influence how the body functions. These are fundamental things an acupuncturist must have in mind to do treatment. These are also basic ideas in the study of Chinese culture in general.

This is sometimes a hard idea for Westerners studying China to grasp. These ideas might seem mythical or mystical to some Westerners. But whether one uses Chinese or Western ideas as starting points, they sometimes lead to the same conclusions. This is true despite their different ways of seeing the connections between medicine and life.

The body and the five elements are connected by ‘qi’ (sometimes spelled ‘chi’), the Chinese idea of energy. Illness is seen as an occasion when the five elements are unbalanced and need to be rebalanced by acupuncture. There must be proper flow of qi in the body.

The Chinese terms “yin” and “yang” are familiar to most Westerners. These terms are a Chinese way of expressing positive and negative. The Chinese assign yin and yang values to almost everything. Yin and yang are opposite, like winter and summer. The positive is yin and the negative is yang The yin encompasses the light in the world, Spring, rebirth and the warm parts of life. The beauty of the world and of nature is yin. Yang includes everything dark in the world. Yang encompasses the ends of things like the hibernation of plants and animals, winter, end of summer and other things going down. Each of the five major elements has its yin and its yang nature. Yin and yang are also important aspects of the body.

Listing parts of the body: dampness is an important yang aspect of the stomach and spleen. The bladder and kidneys are associated with cold. The heart and small intestines are related to fire. Pair the element of metal and the quality of dryness with the large intestines and the lungs. Associate wood with the liver and the gallbladder with wind.

One has to know how these elements are used within the ancient Chinese medical treatment catalog. The art of the acupuncturist is within these ideas when practiced correctly.

More discussion of these issues can be found at Healing Reader.

Noo Yawka has a wide variety of interests — and blogs to follow them. Hope to see you at one of his blogs, such as the one linked in this article, Healing Reader.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/acupunctures-five-pillars-1718701.html

AmAre Way ( http://www.amareway.org/ ) is a verb standing for “To Love” in Italian language, a culture which is strongly family-oriented. It is also our personal development plan, which keeps in consideration the power of context:

Aware (Being)
Meditating
Active (Being)
Respectful (Being)
Eating (properly)

If we want to look a bit more under the surface, it also shows we are united in an interconnected universe: there is no (I) Am without (We) are. This is an extremely simple concept to understand, but which has positive effects for a lifetime. If you want to walk this path toward holistic living, just add this blog to your favourites. If you just passed by, and you think you’ll not return, we hope at least you’ll bring with you these simple five steps to happiness, and we hope they will be as beneficial to you as they have been to us.

A – Aware (Being)
Being aware is the process which turns our lives and improves them. It is not a one-time task, it is a life-long exploration. It can start in different ways, from different reasons. Being aware starts with understanding that, while the past made us what we are today, and the future may give us the time to put our skills at the service of our beloved ones, the present is the only tense which really counts, and here the only place where we are. Being aware also means considering the needs and wants of ourselves, the people who are dear to us, the people who do not arise any specific feeling in us, and the ones who we would not rather meet.

M – Meditating
Meditating can be done in a non-sectarian or religious way. Praying is a form of meditation, loving kindness is contemplated in meditation, meditating may also be a way to relax the mind. It can be done standing, sitting, walking, and it has also been said that sleeping may be the most effective form of meditation.

A – Active (Being)
Being active to put in practice what we learn is extremely important. That shows to us if we are motivated enough, and also provide a loop of thinking-acting-rethinking which is the way to progress. Holistic living is a state of mind, and also a state of action. One basic example about the importante of being active. We can find online thousands of tasty recipes, but even if we learn them by heart, they do not feed us. We can also find many advices about empowering people and solving the world’s challenges; words and speeches are as important as the actions they inspire.

R – Respectful (Being)
Being respectful starts with respecting ourselves. By being both objective and loving about who we are, we build the start for improving relationship with the one we care for, and the world. Being respectful with ourselves is implemented in many ways: listening to our body, for signals it may be very comfortable, in need of a rest, etc. Listening to our feelings, needs and wants, and communicate them in a respectful way to our beloved ones. We also need to be respectful of other people, and environment. And respect the power of the context, which is formed by the place and time where events take place.

E – Eating (properly)
Eating properly is self-evident: we are what we eat! Still, even if we heard it many times, we need to remind it to ourselves when we sit at the table. Eating properly is a form of respect towards our body; and also towards the generations which preceded us, and to whom we owe our nativity.

http://www.holistichealthm.com/ is a Holistic Health Magazine: interviews with holistic health practitioners, holistic health news, retrospectives, and prospectives on future developments of holistic health.

http://www.mypacis.com/ is devoted to aromatherapy and meditation techniques for inner peace: aromatherapy articles, meditation. Aromatherapy articles, aromatherapy essential oils, aromatherapy forum, aromatherapy info, aromatherapy information, aromatherapy magazine

http://www.amareway.org is an Italian verb which stands for “To Love”. It also summarizes what we need to be happy:

Aware (Being)
Meditating
Active (Being)
Respectful (Being)
Eating (properly)

If we want to digg a bit more under the surface, it also shows we are united in an interconnected universe: there is no (I) Am without (We) are. This is an extremely simple concept to understand, but which has positive effects for a lifetime. If you want to walk this path toward holistic living, just add this blog to your favourites. If you just passed by, and you think you’ll not return, we hope at least you’ll bring with you these simple five steps to happiness, and we hope they will be as beneficial to you as they have been to us.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/free-personal-development-plan-in-five-points-personal-development-articles-amd-blog-1697732.html