The Negative Effects Of Belly Fat Can Be Reduced By Modest Exercise

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: A little exercise goes a long way. A study from the University of Illinois suggests that the negative effects of belly fat can be reduced by moderate exercise, even if you don’t change your diet. That fatty midsection can increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Read more at medicalnewstoday.com.

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Smoking during Pregnancy may Cause Aggression in Children

Newsflash—smoking is bad for pregnant women. And not just them. New evidence from a Canadian study suggests that smoking during pregnancy is a cause of aggression in children, making them quicker to hit, kick, bite or bully than the children of women who do not smoke. This is on top of the established health problems related to the children of smokers, including prematurity, SIDS, low birth weight, respiratory problems and birth defects.

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3 Natural Ways to Curb Bad Breath

Bad breath is bad news for your social life and your oral health. Instead of reaching for the mouthwash or those zesty mints, reach for these three simple tips from Dr. Andrew Weil.

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Emotional eating — healing starts with awareness

On womentowomen.com, Nurse Practitioner Marcelle Pick has an excellent—and hopeful—piece on emotional eating. While emotional issues are unique to the individual, certain universalities do apply. It’s important to understand the root of your eating behaviors, or else when I say, “Three meals, no snacks,” you’re going to think, “Well, I’ve already failed before I’ve started; why bother?” And what is thought of as emotional eating often has its roots in physiology. Please, if you sense that what’s eating you is what’s making you eat, get help. When you want to feel better and be healthier, the resources are there for you.
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Go Ahead, Push Your Weight Around

You know that body weight you’ve been lugging around? It can make itself useful. With your bodyweight as the resistance in certain exercises, you get a perfectly good workout without spending on weights or a gym membership. Some of the best of these exercises are collected in an article on goodhealth.com, a website of the Seton family of hospitals. This idea also goes along with one of my main principles, which is that people will exercise if it’s convenient. And what’s more convenient than needing no equipment and being able to exercise wherever and whenever you have a few spare minutes?

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Music That Soothes The Heart

Did you know that listening to mellow songs help people with heart problems? Sounds interesting, doesn't it?

According to a study conducted by Temple University, patients with heart problems who listen to mellow music reduced their heart rates, breathing rate and blood pressure. It is more effective if the patients choose their own tunes than listen to tunes chosen by the researchers.

Music with sedative qualities such as slow tempo is able to relax people with heart problems due to its soothing effect and relaxing beat.

People with heart diseases should make music their daily medicine and a part of their daily routine. Listening to music can help them slowly overcome their sickness and make them feel that everything will be alright. Music has a truly therapeutic effect. Stress, heartaches and weary minds are miles away if you drown it in the magic of music.

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Depression Increases Possibility of Heart Attack

According to a study conducted with 63, 469 women, researchers found that women who were clinically depressed were more than twice likely to suffer a fatal heart attack. The study started with women who were healthy and followed them as they started showing symptoms of depression or started taking anti depression drugs. Once the woman is depressed, she will more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol, factors which can trigger heart disease.

The study also raised the possibility that those symptoms were caused by the drugs, which in my opinion and experience working with people can be very true.

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A 3 Feet Tall Giant

Sean Stephenson was born with a condition that has not only limited his growth, but also makes his bones very weak. By the time he was 18 he had suffered more than 200 bone fractures.

At 30 years old, Sean is a psychotherapist, a motivational speaker, has written a book, and is working on his PHD. How about that for not letting difficulties stop him...

One of my favorite quotes comes from his mom. When he was on 4th grade on Halloween, he tripped over a door frame and broke his leg. His mom asked: "is this going to be a gift, or a burden?"

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Fruits and Veggetables and Long Term Weight Loss

A recent study by Consumer Reports looked at people who don't seem to gain weight as they age. The study, not surprisingly, found that getting a large part of nutrition from fruits and vegetables was a common factor among those people.

Fruits and veggies are low in calories, high in volume and high in critically important nutrients. Eating fruits and vegetables can turn off your cravings for other food and shorten food addiction cycle.

Here are some of the fruits and veggies that you can choose from:
Green team: composed of dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, turnip greens, mustard and collard greens and deep green lettuces. These veggies prevent heart disease and detoxify carcinogens.

Red team: red fruits and veggies like red bell peppers, watermelon and tomatoes. They are full of lycopene, the carotenoid that offers high levels of protection against prostate cancer.

Orange team: carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and oranges are high in beta-carotene which prevents cancers of lungs and stomach and lowers risk of heart disease.
Purple team: composed of grapes, blueberries and eggplant which are cancer fighters.
White team: potatoes, mushrooms, bananas and onions are good sources of potassium and vitamins and fights cancer and heart disease.

Brown team: beans, pintos and lentils are foods with high level of protein and are sources of iron and phosphorus. Their fiber content keeps cholesterol right where they should be.

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Natural Ways to Avoid Varicose Veins

Varicose vein is a common problem which occurs mostly on women, but can also happen to men. If you want to alleviate this condition, here are some steps for you.

Tip 1: Exercise regularly

Exercising promotes healthy blood circulation. It also helps you lose weight and avoid obesity which are factors that trigger varicose veins. Exercise makes your legs healthy and strong.

Tip 2: Avoid Leg placement
Prolonged standing or crossing of legs (when sitting) without moving or changing position can strain your blood vessels. Elevate your legs whenever possible to promote rest and relaxation to your legs.

Tip 3: Grape seed extract
Grape seed extract contains proanthocyanidins, a powerful antioxidant compounds which gives more elasticity to blood vessels and less likely to leak the fluids that cause swelling on the legs. It helps in varicose veins and other vascular problems.

Tip 4: Horse chestnut seed extract (HCSE)
HCSE contains an active ingredient called escin. Escin is a compound that helps support normal vessel wall functioning that is good for chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency is a syndrome that includes leg swelling, varicose veins, leg pain, itching and skin ulcers.

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Worst Lunches In America-And What to Have Instead

If you are like the majority of the population, you eat out at least once a week. Also, many people find themselves having to have lunch out every day because of work.

Here are some of the worst lunches on the menu of some popular restaurants, and some healthier alternatives.

You should’t eat these:

• Quizno's: Don't order the Large Prime Rib Cheesesteake Sub-1,490 calories , 92 g fat and 2, 620 mg sodium. Order the Small Turkey Ranch and Swiss Sub- 410 calories, 17 g fat and 1,230 mg sodium.

• Chili's: Don't order the Crispy Sweet Chile Glazed Chicken Crispers-1,930 calories, 112 g fat and 4,190 mg sodium. Order the Classic Chicken Fajitas- 370 calories, 11 g fat and 2,000 mg sodium.

• Arby's: Don't order the Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon Sandwich- 817 calories, 37 g fat and 2,146 mg sodium. Order the Sourdough Roast Beef Melt- 351 calories, 14 g fat and 1,048 mg sodium

• Dairy Queen: Don't order the Chicken Strip Basket with Country Gravy (6 piece)- 1,640 calories, 74 g fat and 3,690 mg sodium. Order the Crispy Chicken Sandwich- 560 calories, 28 g fat and 980 mg sodium

A high fat, high carb meal will make you feel sluggish and will hinder your performance at work. A healthy lunch can maximize your afternoon performance. Keep that in mind when you are choosing your lunch.

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Facts About Swine Flu

I'm sure by now we are all aware of the new influenza virus that has affected many in Mexico and it's making its way into the U.S. and the rest of the world. Although the latest news seem to indicate that the virus is not as deadly as initially feared, we still want to protect ourselves. What are the symptoms of this flu and how can we avoid getting affected?

The symptoms of swine flu virus are fever, chills, headache, body aches, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing and sore throat. Vomiting and diarrhea can also be present.

If you live in or travel to a swine flu affected area and become ill with the symptoms mentioned above, immediately consult a doctor. This way you will be treated immediately if you unluckily caught the virus. Avoid contact with other people if you have the illness to stop the virus from spreading and affecting them.

Here are some things you can to to minimize the risk of getting and spreading the flu:

• Be sure to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze then wash your hands to get rid of the germs.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. You can also use an alcohol.
• Avoid putting your hands on your face.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick, stay at home to avoid contact with others that can also be infected by the germs.

Keep your immune system healthy, get enough sleep and engage in regular exercise.

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