Archives for June 2011

Supporting Hormonal Balance With Omega-3

June 30, 2011 By Samuel

Hormonal Imbalance is probably something that you have heard from your Health class in high school, regardless whether you were scared about its potential effect in your life, it is best to have a brief yet thorough understanding of what it’s about and methods as well as alternatives to have the imbalance corrected.

Hormonal Imbalance is a condition where there is either so much or so little of certain hormone in the body. Hormones act like messengers, they travel through the bloodstreams to the tissues and the organs; they are produced in the Endocrine glands. Most of the symptoms that a person has hormonal imbalance are hot flushes, irritability, tiredness, anxiety and trouble sleeping. Some people have signs of PMS, andropause or menopause.

The Nature’s Way

Although there are already highly modernized schemes to cover the problem of hormonal imbalance, some people would still want to resort to using natural methods. And when it comes to natural solutions, omega-3 can create big differences so long as it is taken regularly and properly.

In trying to address issues with hormonal imbalance, omega-3 will definitely of big help. Along with omega-6 essential fatty acids, these two will aid in keeping the hormonal balance in your body. Omega-3 fatty acids are elements that our body cannot produce, therefore we have to consume them or take omega-3 supplements. The most common sources for omega-3 are fishes, the likes of tuna, mackerel and sardines; they are the most abundant sources because the essential DHA and EPA are directly given to your body and there will be no need for you system to break it down to get the essential part. However flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are also good sources as well. Just make sure that you consume a total of 300 mg. of omega-3 DHA and another 300 mg. EPA. Omega-6 is likewise important to keep the hormones balanced, as such 100 mg. of this will be enough.

A Change of Lifestyle, A Change of Heart

By incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your diet and your body, you enable the fats to create healthy, flexible and responsive cell membranes that accommodates cells in a rather more convenient and easy way. While such is the primary health benefit of fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids likewise help in the body by ensuring that the cellular receptor sites are repaired, in good condition and will work in optimal force anytime.

If you already feel some symptoms, immediately change your diet and alter your lifestyle. As early as the first sign, think if you are living a healthy life. Your hormones will most likely be in a good and balanced condition so long as you lead a healthy living. Try your best to keep away from chemicals that may hinder your hormones from working properly. Cut down the dairy products and meat consumption little by little so your body will be able to adjust. These two food groups are known to have high level of chemicals stored in the animal fats and may create very bad effect on your hormones.

Five Natural and Common Remedies for Nasal Allergy Sufferers

June 25, 2011 By Angela

Chemical fertilizer and preservatives can leave their traces in some over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications that are commonly used. If you wish to avoid the risk, however minute it is, of those elements, you may find success in countering your allergies and symptoms with some simple, natural remedies. As always, converse with your physician before initiating any homeopathic or herbal remedy.

1) For sinus congestion and cough, people find relief with Allium Cepa. Taking regularly for approximately a week, depending on the severity of your suffering, can greatly ease the discomfort and facilitate clearer airways. Also commonly known as a bulb onion, this red-onion extract is usually available at any pharmacy or health food store that supplies homeopathic remedies. To make your own, be sure to use only a small amount of the juice: It, like that of other onions, can portray the â€œtoo much of a good thingâ€ tearing and nasal discharge if taken in too large of doses. Usually, a drop or two in six to eight ounces of water is sufficient. Flavor it with lemon, if you wish. The Vitamin C from the citrus is good for you. Allium Cepa can be especially effective against hay fever.

2) Known commonly as Goldenseal, Hydrastis Canadensis can be an alternative to Allium Cepa if the extract is not available. Goldenseal can also be effective against fevers as well as minor allergy symptoms. NOTE: This perennial herb can easily be exposed to herbicides and other harmful chemicals. Unless you grow your own in an environmentally controlled area, picking this plant from the wild and using it is not recommended. Your pharmacist can answer any question you have regarding brands in stores.

3) For pollen allergy sufferers, seek a source of local, natural honey. Bees carry the pollen into the hive, and minute portions of it are incorporated into the honey. A teaspoon daily will aid your body in slowly building an immunity, creating your own natural anti-histamine. This remedy is not recommended for people suffering from diabetes, obesity or other sweet-element danger condition.

4) Stinging Nettle tea can be especially effective for nasal allergy sufferers. If the hairs on the outside of this plant come in contact with your skin, they can cause itching and burning even in non-allergy sufferers. If you harvest your own, please use hand and arm protection. Also called burn hazel and burn weed, the plant has long been used in poultices, dried powders and, of course, teas. Stinging Nettle tea can reduce or eliminate allergens from your blood stream, helping your body to flush them away. It is also effective in treating arthritis, weight loss and high blood sugar.

5) Some allergy sufferers find some level of relief with Triphala, an Ayurvedic herb. It works in much the same fashion as Stinging Nettle tea as a blood cleanser, but there can be some uncomfortable side effects, for it also is very effective as a counter-agent to constipation and abdominal pain. It can also reduce blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol. For some people, this herb can also stimulate the appetite. Triphala is considered a very effective remedy to Irritable Bowel Syndrome as well.

Good luck and good health to you as you explore these common natural remedies to many nasal allergy symptoms. Taken with care and consistency, you too may find extended relief from any of the above solutions.

Article contributed by Sara Woods from Coupon Croc. Don’t let your allergies or your budget get in the way of your vacation this year, grab a Travelodge discount code 2011 and save on your travel plans.

Three Awesome Calorie-Counting Apps for Your Smartphone

June 24, 2011 By Angela

Keeping track of daily calorie intake is a critical part of any successful diet and weight loss program. Studies show people who log the foods they eat and track calorie and nutritional information lose more weight than those who donâ€™t. Counting and tracking calories can be tricky and time-consuming without the right tools. Fortunately, iPhone, Android and Blackberry smartphone applications have come to the rescue making this an easy task. There are many mobile applications available such as The Calorie Counter app from FatSecret.com, The Calorie Tracker application from Livestrong.com, and Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker from MyFitnessPal.com.

FatSecret’s Calorie Counter

The Calorie Counter app from FatSecret.com is a free and fully functional application for tracking and managing weight loss. The program features a quick-pick food menu to get calories and nutritional information that the user can save in the food diary. One of its best features is a bar code scanner for quickly finding packaged food items in the database. Users can track daily fitness activity through the exercise diary. In addition, the app charts weight loss progress for easy viewing. The journal feature is especially useful for chronicling successes and obstacles. Users can synchronize data entered into the application with a free online account at FatSecret.com, but the application does not require the online account for full functionality.

LiveStrong Calorie Tracker

The Calorie Tracker application from Livestrong.com is a companion to the Daily Plate service on the Livestrong.com website. The tracking application is available to download for $2.99, and features a 525,000-item food database and a 2000+ fitness activity database. The applicationâ€™s screens are easy to understand and maneuver. The My Plate screen provides a summary of the dayâ€™s calories consumed and burned, and gives a net caloric intake. The My Weight screen shows a weight-loss progress chart. The Food screen provides a search bar to find foods, and displays recently viewed foods in the window. After selecting a food, easily enter the time eaten, meal, and serving size and save by tapping the I Ate This button. The Fitness screen has a search bar, and displays fitness activities along with the calories burned per minute.

MyFitnessPal

The Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker from MyFitnessPal.com claims to be the fastest and easiest calorie counter app for iPhones. It is available free of charge, and can be used alone or synchronized with an online account. It features a 750,000-item food database for calories and nutritional data, although a smaller database is available for off-line use. The application contains a standard food diary, exercise diary and progress chart. The exercise database contains only about 350 fitness activities, which is smaller than other calorie trackers. One reason for this is it lacks specific strength training exercises. On the plus side, this application has a recipe calculator, making entry of homemade meals very easy.

No matter what application is used, choosing a calorie tracking application is a start in the right direction toward weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Jessica Bosari writes about nutrition at LowFatDietPlan.org. The site explains the latest nutrition research and helps readers fit the information into their diet plans.

BHI Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-06-24

June 24, 2011 By Steven Kirchhof

Reportlinker Adds Vitamins and Dietary Supplements – Trends and Prospects 2011: Reportlinker.com announces that … http://bit.ly/lZopiG #
Coop's expands core by giving Upstate ZX Fitness members a great deal: A Greenville-based fitness chain is getti… http://bit.ly/kDfb5v #
five Types of Alternative Medicine for Superior Blood Stress …: If you suffer high blood pressure, Design Many… http://bit.ly/j8m10W #
Does prayer exist, in Washington's eyes?: Hereâ€™s a great paradox of our time: Half of the adults in America now… http://yhoo.it/m6duBI #
Fitness teacher: No regrets about Weiner exchanges: Athens fitness instructor Traci Nobles said on the "Today" s… http://bit.ly/l7skJZ #
Autism & Alternative Medicine: The Case of Lupron: A recent article in The Atlantic about the "triumph of new-ag… http://bit.ly/ldxSGl #
Longer looks: Turning doctors' views of alternative therapies; a male birth control pill; teenagers and tanning … http://bit.ly/jlvMpM #
Peak of fitness: Now she's truly a "cross-country" runner. Gloria Linares, 60, achieved something not many peopl… http://nyp.st/kEHK7x #
Alternative Medicine Techniques | World Health Info: What are the techniques of alternative medicine This articl… http://bit.ly/lF2vtL #
Fitness calendar: Aerobics AEROBICS/TONING: 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Adult Center annex, 3738 Halifax Drive,… http://bit.ly/mMJipf #
Great video about the US food supply. http://fb.me/XoOB70uf #
Alternative medicine health fair is Tuesday in Fayetteville: An alternative medicine health fair is Tuesday at H… http://bit.ly/jIrzsy #
David Lloyd Leisure Recruits for New Farnham Health, Sport and Fitness Facility: – http://bit.ly/iFgtyV #
Parents warned about alternative medicine: 22 June 2011 Parents are being warned to check with their child's doc… http://bit.ly/iz21uA #
Fitness Program Helps Train All Types Of People: A fitness program gets you ready to compete with others around … http://bit.ly/kKjPk1 #
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Helps Gut Problems: Parents Say Complementary and Alternative Medicine He… http://bit.ly/lNScMp #
fitness hits the streets – Thu, 23 Jun 2011 PST: Spokanes Summer Parkways, now in its second year, brought skate… http://bit.ly/m399RN #

3 Great Summer Exercises To Get Into Shape

June 23, 2011 By Angela

Summer is officially here, the days seem to last forever and we havenâ€™t had to even look at our winter coat in months so now is the time to get out there and start enjoying the summer sun and get yourself into shape. There are plenty of outdoor activities you can try that donâ€™t have to cost the earth and that are going to get you fighting fit in no time.

Swimming

Swimming is something that most of us learn to do as children but then never seem to bother with once weâ€™re adults unless weâ€™re on holiday and just having a poolside splash about. Swimming is not the ideal exercise if youâ€™re looking to lose weight but if you simply want to get into shape swimming is a great cardiovascular workout. It getâ€™s your whole body moving, strengthens and tones your muscles and itâ€™s also proven to be a good sport to relax you.

Everyone can swim, itâ€™s a natural instinct but obviously if youâ€™re not confident stick to the shallow water. If you havenâ€™t been swimming in a while start off with an achievable goal like ten lengths of the pool for your first session with only the one rest stop half way through. Try to go at least twice a week and add two more lengths each time you go. Before you know it youâ€™ll have built up your endurance levels, be generally fitter and feel more toned.

Swimming is a great summer sport because on a hot summers day the thereâ€™s nothing quite like the thought of jumping into a large cool pool of water. Most towns and cities will have public swimming pools that arenâ€™t too expensive and easy to get to.

Cycling

Cycling is another great cheap sport anyone can try for the summer months. Like swimming, most of us learn to ride a bike when weâ€™re kids and never bother to get on a bike once weâ€™ve got our drivers license. If youâ€™re new to cycling youâ€™re not going to want to rush out to buy a brand new bike but if you ask around your friends and family youâ€™re bound to know someone who has one that you could borrow for a while. Once youâ€™ve got used to the idea itâ€™s easy to pick up a cheap bike online.

Itâ€™s very important to remember your safety when it comes cycling, even if youâ€™re not intending to ride very fast itâ€™s imperative you have a helmet and safety pads. Itâ€™s also a good idea to invest in a good pair of sunglasses if youâ€™re cycling in the summer, these will not only keep the sun out your eyes but theyâ€™ll also keep any bugs out too. Donâ€™t forget your water; itâ€™s very easy to get dehydrated when youâ€™re out for a ride so make sure youâ€™ve got plenty to drink.

Cycling is another great cardiovascular sport which means itâ€™s great for keeping your heart in shape and improving your overall fitness levels. Once youâ€™ve invested in your bike itâ€™s going to be free to ride it and with a little investigation youâ€™re sure to find some great local parks and areas of natural beauty you can ride in.

Running

For most of us the idea of running fills us with dread but itâ€™s the cheapest and easiest sport you can try to get in shape. When the summer weather kicks in it can be a great way to get out in the evenings and unwind after a stressful day in the office. All you need is a good pair of running shoes, if theyâ€™re too lose or too small theyâ€™re going give you blisters so make sure youâ€™re wearing something that fits properly.

If you havenâ€™t run since high school (or the last time you were about to miss the bus) then you need to start off slow and easy. For your first outing run for a minute then walk for a minute then the next day try running for two minutes and walking for one. If youâ€™re making the effort to get out and run a few times a week it wonâ€™t be long before youâ€™ve got a good level of stamina and youâ€™re able to run without getting too out of breath.

Running is another great cardiovascular exercise thatâ€™s going to strengthen your heart and itâ€™s also great for weight loss so long as youâ€™re using it as part of a healthy balanced diet. Itâ€™s also something anyone can do anywhere, whether youâ€™re just going for a run in your own neighborhood or round the local park, summer is a great time to start running.

One of the most important parts of a good workout is making sure youâ€™ve got the right clothing, Surfdome are the online lifestyle store who stock everything from Animal clothing to Quiksilver