Lower Back Pain Explained

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Very often lower back pain is caused by a muscular imbalance in the the legs, hips and shoulders and this imbalance will cause back pain.




NOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

No More Boring Chicken

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As a fitness enthusiast, chicken is probably a standard food item on your dinner table. And for good reason! It's an inexpensive, versatile, easy-to-cook, low-fat, high-protein food choice that goes well with other foods.
What else can you ask for? Well, chicken can get a little boring if eaten day in and day out. There's only so much you can do with barbeque sauce! So we've gathered 10 tips and recipes to spice up chicken and make this mainstay a whole lot tastier.
As A High Source Of Protein,Chicken Is A Staple In Any Bodybuilders Kitchen.
Tip 1 Marinating
For a richer flavor, season and marinate your chicken for 24 hours before cooking and store it in the refrigerator.
The longer you keep chicken in a marinade, the more it'll be infused with flavor.
Tip 2 Healthy Marinating
To keep meals healthier, marinate chicken in seasoned fruit juice or chicken broth instead of oil-based marinades before grilling or broiling. Always store chicken in the fridge while it marinates, even if you only plan to let it soak for 30 minutes.
Tip 3 Seasoning
Use bold seasonings like freshly grated lemon peel, minced hot peppers, fresh herbs, and infused vinegars to add flavor to chicken dishes without adding fat.
Use Bold Seasonings To Add FlavorTo Chicken Dishes Without Adding Fat.
Tip 4 Non-Stick Skillets
Sauteed chicken tastes great, but can be fattening if you use oil or butter. Instead, eliminate the need for oil and butter by using a non-stick skillet. Trim all visible fat from cuts of chicken and add some onions, green peppers, and spices.
Tip 5 Cooking Thermostat
Drying out chicken by overcooking it can ruin its taste. To get around this problem, use a cooking thermometer to determine when your chicken is cooked just right. The internal temperature of a whole chicken should reach 180 degrees F and chicken breasts should be cooked to a temperature of 170 degrees F.
Another way to see if chicken is done is to pierce the thickest part of the meat to see if the juices run clear. If they're clear and not pink, the chicken is ready.
Tip 6 Skin
When baking a whole chicken, it's best to keep the skin on to avoid drying out the meat. The skin helps hold in the juices and flavor of the meat. It can be easily removed after cooking.
Source :- http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/iovate2.htm
Higher Power Creatine 1000 grams - Only $36.95 at Bodybuilding.com!

Smart Choices To Reduce Calories

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Here are some ways to cut calories while you are confronted with endless parties and buffets.
(Don't leave left overs at home - take them to the office so that your nasty colleagues can get fatter and fatter while you remain slim !)

GO for WHITE meat - If you see delicious dark bits of turkey, go for turkey breasts instead - reduce your calories here about 100 calories
FORGET cranberry sauce- opt for a fruit flavoured jelly - 200 calories less !
AVOID things like chocolate fudge - try fruit (any fruit you like) dipped in a light chocolate syrup - again here you could save up to 100 calories.
KEEP AWAY from pecan pie - go for pumpkin pie if you can - up to 200 calories less.

Keep up your exercise regime and don't worry too much - there are lots of smart ways to keep the calories down but the best way of all is to GO FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET

Avoid Overeating At Christmas

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Here is some help on avoiding overeating.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Stop Bad Breath In SEVEN Days

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The key to a healthy mouth is to stop gum disease. This condition is usually fairly easily recognized in that the first symptoms are swollen red gums, rather than firm, pink ones which is their normal state. Bad breath may also be a problem. Gum disease (the early stage is called gingivitis) can be difficult to detect as it advances very slowly and is a painless condition.




TURN AROUND BAD BREATH IN 7 DAYS


Enjoy the Video !

Sciatica Explained

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If you suffer from sciatica or lower back pain, you can read an interesting article on sciatica here.

You can also watch the video below

How Safe Are Your Childrens Toys?

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Breaking News! Nearly a third of 1,200 children's toys tested contained lead and other toxic chemicals like arsenic! What are the dangerous chemicals and what can you do about it ?
The main ones are lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.

Why be alarmed ? Well, babies and children frequently put toys in their mouths and these toxic chemicals have been linked to reproductive problems, learning disabilities, hormone problems and cancer.

"Toxic chemicals have no place in children's toys, period," said Ted Schettler, MD, Science Director at the Science and Environmental Health Network. "Even low-level toxic chemical exposures can have lifelong impacts. Getting toxic chemicals out of children's toys is a moral and medical imperative."

The good news is that safe toys are possible. 28% of the products tested did not contain any lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or PVC, including many made in China. Examples of healthier toys include: Amazing Animals Hippo by Fisher-Price (made in China); Caterpillar Grasping Toy by Melissa and Doug (made in Vietnam); and B.R. Bruin Stacking Cups (made in China).

FIND OUT WHICH TOYS ARE SAFE



Source http://www.emaxhealth.com/50/18749.html

Kwanzaa Holiday And Recipes

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From December 26th to January 1st the African- American community in the USA will be celebrating the seven day holiday which originated in the first fruits celebrations in African cultures. It is now becoming an established holiday and celebrations range from giving gifts, candle lighting and feasts.

While many people believe it is an ancient African harvest festival, it was not born in pre-colonial West Africa, but in 1960s southern California. It is the brainchild of African-American radical activist, academic and convicted felon Ron Karenga ex Black Panther. He founded the festival way back in the 1960's in California when the civil rights movement was in full swing. It was and still is a way of connecting with the African roots and culture. It was also thought of as an alternative to Christmas , perhaps considered by many to be too Eurocentric.

Here is a link to Kwanzaa Recipes

Home Remedies For Lower Back Pain

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If you suffer from lower back pain, here are some tips:-

1. Exercise rather than bed rest is by far the best solution, if you are not in too much pain.

2. Inactivity after an acute attack will only make things worse. Get moving as soon as you can.

3. The back muscles have to be kept in top shape so that they support your back.
Flabby muscles will not give you the support you need and may well cause a sudden injury if you make a brusque movement.

4. No sprawling on the couch or other couch potato habits. The back needs support.

5. Try postural stretching exercises - the examples on the video are a great way to start.

6. Avoid standing for long periods, keep a good posture and use safe techniques for lifting heavy objects.

If you want to consider some other techniques to solve your back pain click here

Tips On How To Avoid Overeating

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Now that the holiday season is upon us, temptation is lurking everywhere! Here are some tips to help you resist overeating.

First, you are invited out. You will be tempted to graze too long at the buffet. First tip is to drink at least a glass of water an hour before you go out. Water has zero calories and will help to make you feel full, so you will eat less.

Second thing I do is alternate wine with water- so one glass of wine followed by one glass of water and so on. I also try to make sure that nobody will fill my wine glass right up to the top. You can cut your alcohol consumption by at least half !

If I am buffet grazing, I always try to take very small helpings and then find a seat and preferably away from that tempting table!

I always go very easy on stuffing and gravy – just a little sample to remind me what they taste like. Also try to fill up on cranberry sauce – cranberries are great antioxidants.

When it comes to sweets and desserts, temptation is even stronger as the pies are scrumptious. Well, pecan pie with whipped full fat cream will fill me up with 700 calories ! That is half your daily amount of calories! A healthy alternative is pumpkin pie and forget the cream.

Last but not least, forget the doggy bags – it is just prolonging the temptation.

After all the holidays are over, the average American will have put on 5 pounds but if you follow my advice above, you will not be one of them !

If you do need help, Here Is A Great Diet

The Prostate Western !

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Worried about your prostate ? Here is a great video - talking about something really important from a funny angle. If you want to solve your prostate problem,Get More Info on Prostate Dr. for Prostatitis, BPH, and Enlarged Prostate Problems

Magnolia Bark And Bad Breath !

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Here is a great video about using a tongue scraper which will help you prevent bad breath!

Latest research carried out by a well known mint company have found that the extract from the bark of the magnolia tree may well be the answer for killing off bacteria in the mouth which cause bad breath.They carried out tests which showed that when this substance was used in a mint, it killed off almost 60% of the bacteria which cause this awful smell compared with about 4% in a normal mint. Here on the right is a winter scene that reminds me of fresh things like sweet smelling breath!

If you suffer from bad breath, you are not alone. Experts now say that this is a major social and psychological problem which affects the majority of the population, Yes, it is that bad ! But babies, cats and dogs also suffer from the same problem.

While we are waiting for this new wonderful magnolia bark mint to solve bad breath problems we may have to look for other more immediate solutions. Apart from oral hygiene and other short term measures, you may want to look at the site below which will explain all abut bad breath and offer a lasting solution.


DON'T LET BAD BREATH RUIN YOUR LIFE

Stop Smoking In Three Minutes!

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Just got back from Naples- a city I know very well, having lived there for some time. The craziest thing happened while I was there! The city council passed a law forbidding smokers to smoke in the public parks near children under 12 years of age and pregnant mothers !! Well, no notices were up in the parks and people seemed a little bemused, to say the least. How far away should you be from the little kids or pregnant moms? Nobody seems to know. Many people were interviewed on TV and opinions ranged from :-
1.Why this law when the city has enormous public health problems from uncollected rubbish, dirty streets and public health services not working, not to mention smog from traffic (Sunday was No-Drive Sunday in an effort to reduce the smog).
2. The law is rarely enforced so this will be another one for the collection.
3. Nobody seems too concerned about all the little kids who grow up in homes where both parents are heavy smokers ! That will be the next law ! Watch this space !!
In the meantime, here is a site I can recommend for smokers who might want to give up. And if you don't , just go for a walk in the park and make sure you keep away from all those kids and pregnant moms!

Here is a site I can recommend if you want to give up smoking.

Doubts About Obesity Drug

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Two studies have cast a negative light on the obesity drug Acomplia, launched by the world's third largest pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis. The FDA had already rejected it in June but now these two studies have fueled even more doubts about it.

The two studies were published in The Lancet and The British Medical Journal and basically have found that there are risks of mood disorders, anxiety and depression. Sanofi have replied that these are two researchers' views and is gathering more data to defend the drug and intends to resubmit to the FDA.

These studies have cast doubts about the long term effects of such drugs.

Maybe if you are considering an obesity drug, you may want to try an alternative. The best one in my opinion is Fat Loss 4 Idiots.

Morning Yoga Exercise

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Here is a great way to start the day !

Beginners Guide To Yoga And Meditation. Stressed Out? Do You Feel Like The World Is Crashing Down Around You? Want To Take A Vacation That Will Relax Your Mind, Body And Spirit? CLICK HERE

Four Foods To Lower Cholesterol

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High cholesterol is bad news because it can lead to heart disease and cause strokes. It is now clear from the latest statistics that more and more younger people are on these cholesterol lowering drugs and that is yet another sign that the obesity epidemic is raging.

Below, you will find my top four foods which can be a help in lowering cholesterol. The photo above shows my beach on the Med - you will see why in a moment!

The first one is tomatoes, in any shape or form, preferably cooked. Tomatoes contain lycopene which is great at stopping the oxidation of LDL cholesterol often known as bad cholesterol. Studies have shown that large consumption of lycopene can indeed reduce cholesterol levels.

Second on my list is fish, especially the high fat fish such as wild salmon, trout, herring and mackerel. These fish contain a fatty acid which is known as Omega-3. This type of fat has been shown to lower cholesterol as evidenced by all the studies that have been done on the Eskimos who are great fish eaters.

Soy is in third place for me although the American Heart Association has found that soy has a minimal effect on blood pressure and cholesterol. I know that it is full of vitamins and minerals and more importantly it provides me with low-fat protein which is an important element in my diet. That saves me from eating too many eggs and red meat, which in my opinion gives it a high ranking.

Any type of nuts from walnuts, almonds, cashews and so on, come in fourth place. The first reason is that nuts are great sources of the healthy kind of fat and also contains Omega-3, not to mention some valuable minerals. The great thing about nuts is not only all the valuable nutrients they contain such as calcium, potassium , folic acid, Vitamin E but the fact that they contain lots of fibre which gives you a sense of fullness. Because they contain lots of fat (unsaturated), a handful of nuts a day is quite enough !

These top foods I have outlined are just a few of those mentioned in the Mediterranean Diet which has been the at the centre of attention for a long time now. Studies show that people living in the Mediterranean basin actually have a lower rate of cholesterol and heart disease than many other nations. It has nothing to do with the sun - it is what they eat !


TRY THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET - YOU WILL NEVER LOOK BACK !

New Techniques In Prostate Surgery

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Most men will run a mile from a urologist - me included ! The greatest fear men have when they come up against a prostate problem is that they will remain impotent.

There is good news , however. The latest techniques in prostate surgery mean that they are less invasive and the risk of impotence and incontinence is much reduced. More and more men now have children at a later age . The main reason why the prostate grows is because there are hormonal changes which take place as we get older and this results in an enlarged prostate.
Green light laser surgery is now a well established technique. This selects the tissue to be removed and saves the healthier tissues including the nerves. A spinal anesthetic is used and it only requires an overnight stay in hospital. There is no bleeding, and the risk of retrograde ejaculation is reduced by 50%.

In cases where there is a swollen prostate, due to a chronic prostatitis, for which there is no known explanation and which antibiotics do not work efficiently, the patient may well be advised to opt for thermoablation by radio frequency. The heat destroys the nerves causing the pain and discomfort while preserving the sexual function of the patient.

In cases where there is a tumour of the prostate, the new technique HIFU ( high intensity focus ultrasound) can be carried out. Already in Europe alone, there have been 12,000 operations using this technique which consists of bombarding the cancerous tissues with ultrasound waves.
In 80% of the operations, the tumour is eliminated and does not case sexual impotence. No blood vessels are cut open thereby practically eliminating the risk of metastasis.

Scared of surgery ? Herbal remedies are a valid alternative.

FOR A NATURAL PROSTATE CURE CLICK HERE

Is Sleep the Key To Obesity?

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Research just published shows that children who get a good night's sleep are LESS likely to end up with layers of fat, ie. obese ! Actually this evidence has also been found in adults and the reason is apparently that you
trigger off a hormonal imbalance which causes an increase in appetite when you do not get a really good night's rest.

When they studied the kids (about 800 from 10 different US cities)they found that only about 11% of the ones who had about 11 or 12 hours sleep, were likely to be obese by the age of 11. The ones who had less than 9 hours sleep were more likely to get fat - 22% by the age of 11.

The reasons for this are not at all clear. But the weight of the parents and their parenting techniques was not taken into account and when they are obese, this could well influence the child negatively. Another reason may be that tired children will not go out and play and therefore stay at home and inevitably eat more snacks and burn fewer calories.

What to do with kids who don't want to go to sleep?. Taking all the electronic gadgets such as playstations, TVs and computers OUT OF THEIR BEDROOMS would be a great start. For advice with problem kids, ,
Click on this link

Fed Up With Health Warnings?

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After yesterday's World Cancer Research Fund report, there were lots of interesting reactions on the forums and message boards across the world. I began to wonder if some people are beginning to turn off because they are suffering from 'health message fatigue'!!

I have divided the reactions into four main camps. The first one is the one where people say , why bother , when your number is up, you have to go and that is it. Why spoil the fun and go on and on about all these food and drink warnings. Truly a case of eat, drink and be happy, for to-morrow we die. I thought the funniest comment was from a guy who wrote : "What is the point of dying fit and healthy?"

The second camp were very resentful and claimed that they worked so hard that it was impossible NOT to buy prepackaged junk food and anyway they did not have the time to chop up all those vegetables to put in the wok ! They also asked why is it that all the normal food we eat, like bread, bacon and beer is bad for us ?

"Being alive has a 100% death rate - guaranteed !" This was the next group who were resigned to dying - rather like the ones who say "Life's a bitch and then you die". This group didn't seem that happy with their lot - maybe now that it is autumn, they are suffering from SAD (seasonal
affective disorder) ! Some were so cynical that they suggested that governments should not bother too much about all these obese people given that it was such an expense to keep them alive. Better to let them die off !

The next group were very up- beat - these were all the fit ones who looked great, felt wonderful and absolutely basked in the comments from their nearest and dearest about how WELL they looked. These are the ones who take all those health warnings seriously! But they did point out too that there were so many good things to eat, that really it was no problem to choose the good stuff. This crowd sounded as if they were really enjoying themselves but not without a few sacrifices!

The final group were very sensible and made a few suggestions. How about these - ration red meat and alcohol? Offer vouchers for fruit and vegetables? What about cleaning up the environment -surely air pollution and all those toxins are more damaging to our health ? Others are convinced that we are brainwashed by the junk food industry and it is all a dastardly plot to remove us from this planet before we cost the nation too much!

Somebody also remarked that the exact date of your death is written in your DNA. I would rather not know! Depending on which camp you are in, you may find the link below a great
help or just one big yawn! If the latter, you can go back to being a couch potato!

STICK AROUND FOR ANOTHER BIT - ENJOY LIFE AND GREAT FOOD!

Cancer Linked To Obesity

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Breaking News! The World Cancer Research Fund has just issued a report (based on 7,000 studies worldwide !) saying that there IS a link between obesity and cancer. Stay slim and stay alive ! They found this link in six types of cancer. Avoid too much wine and red meat is the key message.

Maximum of two small glasses a wine a day for a man and just one for a woman.

Not more than 500 gr of red meat a week.

Avoid processed meats like ham and bacon- eat very little if you can.

Breastfeeding for the first six months is a plus - helps prevent breast cancer.


Why is body fat so bad ? Basically there is a link- fat cells release estrogen and growth hormones and these are risky. This fat includes belly fat!

The report makes 10 recommendations including 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, rising to 60 minutes; drinking water rather than sugary drinks; eating fruit, vegetables and fiber and limiting salt consumption.

Don't Be Fat - Try The Fat Burning Bible


Get the full World Cancer Research Fund report here

http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/

Five Tips To Beat Stress

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Did you know that as many as 1 in 3 people suffer from extreme stress on a regular basis ?

That really was a surprise for me. Not surprisingly, work and money were at the top of the list as being the main causes of stress and then fairly closely followed by family, children and health problems.

The American Psychological Association has just published a report which they carried out on stress and its causes.

The most shocking figure I think was where I read that up to 70% of the people who are stressed out know that they should or could get help from professionals and yet only a miserly 7% actually got help. Managing stress is mainly a skill that can be learnt, fortunately.

Here are 5 tips to help beat stress and get out of the jungle (alive !)

1. Identify just WHAT is causing the stress. Could be an on- going situation or an event associated with work etc.

2. Sit down and list the symptoms you suffer from when you are stressed out. This is great for
helping you to go on red alert when it happens. Symptoms vary from individual to individual but common ones are muscle tension, headaches,palpitations and inability to think straight.

3. Analyze your behaviour in a stressful situation. Are you making things worse ? Learn how to say 'NO' and learn to defend yourself when people or work make impossible demands.

4. Learn to cosset and spoil yourself . Carve time out for yourself- go for exercise, relaxation , massage, gym, exercise or just a walk round the block.

5. Find a sympathetic listener, preferably those closer to you sentimentally. You need support so seek it out.

Find out how a fellow sufferer managed to get out of the stress jungle. Loads of good advice and just down to earth ways to combat stress :-

DON'T LET STRESS GET YOU DOWN !

Hillary Clinton Likes French Fries!

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Obviously Hillary Clinton was not too worried about her diet when she stopped at a roadside eatery the other day and had French fries and a ground beef sandwich. Hardly a great example for the nation. She said she had a weakness for French fries ! For somebody campaigning for public health insurance, not exactly a great advertisement for healthy eating. The photo shows
the leftovers from the 'meal' (lol!) but she did have unsweetened iced tea!

As for myself, I can only say that I have enjoyed excellent health for over thirty years now and I am convinced that this is due in no small way to the Mediterranean diet I have followed. Living in Italy meant it was a natural choice! But apart from my own personal experience, there are lots of studies which show that the Mediterranean diet does indeed lower the risk of heart disease and even cancer rates. French fries (or freedom fries) are not exactly a prominent feature of this diet and with good reason. Many pre schoolers who were surveyed and had eaten lots of French fries then were at greater risk of getting cancer according to the Nurses' Health Study published in the International Journal of Cancer. The Mediterranean diet has been studied for a very long time now and is regarded as one of the healthiest options around. It is simple, tasty and not at all difficult to master the recipes.

The Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Greece and southern Italy have always had a long dietary tradition of good food based on natural healthy ingredients. This now forms the basis of the Mediterranean Diet which has become famous all over the world. Why is it so famous? Partly because many scientific bodies, such as Harvard University, have carried out extensive research which shows that this diet is effective in reducing the risk of heart attacks and lowering cancer rates as well.

Are you interested in eating healthily without these fussy finicky diets where you have to weigh everything and calculate calories as well ?

Visit this link :-

http://tinyurl.com/29h3jc

Facts On Weight Loss

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The experts tell us that it is simple to diet - there is no ideal diet on the market except the one that tells us to move our bodies more and to consume fewer calories in order to get rid of excess weight

Why do we want to lose weight ? It has a lot to do with our self esteem and our self-image. We may want to get rid of body fat because we feel uncomfortable and lack confidence. Why is it not just a simple equation ? In a way it is very simple - we have to move more and eat less. But the simplicity ends there because we all process and metabolize food at different rates. We will be heartened by the good news in that we are less likely to have heart attack or a stroke if we are successful in losing weight and are able to get in shape.
The first basic rule of weight loss is that you have to eat less than you burn up through movement and exercise. Now it does not matter where the calories come from ( i.e. carbohydrates, proteins or fats). How can you do that ? Here are some tips :- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. You can also make some smart choices when it comes to salad dressings and cheeses just by simply choosing the low-fat option. Breakfast is a great place to start - here you can choose low-fat milk and yogurt,eggs and lean meat such as diced chicken.

A group of researchers at the University of Colorado recently published some good news. They have been tracking successful weight losers , i.e. those who managed to lose at least 60 pounds and were successful in keeping it off for five years! Another group of researchers with the National Weight Control Registry found that the success stories were those people who managed to keep their daily intake of calories to around the 1,400 level. More good news is that in many major US cities (New York included), restaurants are obliged to publish the calorie information on their menus.

And what, you may ask is the ideal diet ? Is there such a thing? That may well be a matter of opinion but for me, personally, there is one that excels all the others and that is the Mediterranean Diet. As I have been living in Italy and on a Mediterranean type diet for over thirty years, I should know something about it ! Look at the photo of pasta with wild mushrooms and green peppers! Click here for more recipes:-

http://tinyurl.com/29h3jc

Too Much Salt !

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"Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" sang Mary Poppins. But she never mentioned all the salt we eat! Actually we just need the equivalent of a spoonful of salt every day in our diets. But if you go to a fast food joint (Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Beef Burger, KFC), you and you kids are more than likely to get a massive dose of salt. Researchers and consumer groups are on the warpath in the UK where they claim that just one meal from Pizza Hut contains FOUR times the daily limit for a six year old! If the kids go on at that rate, they are more than likely to have heart problems and high blood pressure in adult life. Not much of a treat for a kid!

In spite of recommendations about salt intake which were issued way back in 2004, it still seems that salt is being used more than generously by the fast food chains. They, in turn claim that they have reduced the amount of salt they are using in their meals. McDonalds claim that they no longer use salt in their French Fries and that it is up to the customer to add it or not.

Recommended salt consumption for an adult is about 5 grms. But if you go to Pizza Hut and ask for the Meat Feast Italian which includes meat feast pizza, potato wedges and cheesecake, then you are going to get a massive 9.7 grams of salt !

If you are worried about your salt intake and sugar intake, you can get some great ideas from the site below:-

http://tinyurl.com/39ndft

Fitness First

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I thought I was doing pretty well with my twice a week step class which lasts an hour - so that is two hours a week when I certainly break a sweat and the class includes strength training as well in the second part. So, I was feeling great until I read the latest guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine which says that healthy adults aged 18-65 should be doing a fairly intense cardio 30 minutes a day for five days a week. Well, on reflection, that is only half an hour a week out, let us say, but the ideal would be to do it every day. As I am just about to turn 60, I feel I am not doing too badly! I have put my photo up to-day just to show that I am not decrepit yet !

I have been reading a lot about strength training and apparently as we get older, it gets even more important. Why? Well, the fact is that we lose from 5-7 ponds of muscle tissue every decade of our lives and of course we tend to get a little fatter around the waist. Adults who are 65 and over should strength train a few times a week. The benefits are enormous from speeding up a metabolism that is inevitably slowing down, to boosting our immune systems and of course preventing osteoporosis. Strength training can help to keep your bones strong.

When you do strength training, apparently the best movements are those that involve the whole body , such as bicep curls, benchpress and the squat. These involve more muscles and also are similar to everyday movements like carrying the shopping upstairs or carrying luggage. Remember you should change your program after about six weeks and increase the intensity as the body will adapt to the stress involved.

Click on Mike Geary's site to get a really great program for a healthier body, no matter what age you are.

Greens Are Valuable Ally In Cancer Fight

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You probably know that dark green leafy vegetables are a great ally in the fight against cancer. I would add soy beans to the list as well (well, they are all vegetables). Once the Hong Kong population went over to fast food and forgot about their soya sauce and soy beans, cancer rates shot up.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a balanced diet with green leaf vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer by up to 40%.. For more on cancer, read the article on Ways To Prevent Cancer

So, according to them, here is what we should be eating :-

Garlic and Green Tea:- Not necessarily together ! Anyway, they say we should be putting lots of garlic in our food (problems of bad breath?). Lots of green teas around. Avoid supplements with these ingredients- they will not do you much good.

Lentils And All Their Cousins:- Beans in the form of lentils, peas offer high protection. Apparently they do protect the cells from genetic damage which might lead to cancer. They are also said to protect you from breast cancer and cancer of the pancreas. Soya comes into this group and that is often quoted as a great help in preventing cancer of the prostate.

Fruit :-

Berry fruits are great - Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries. They can apparently slow down
reproduction of cancer cells. Not only that , they are great antioxidants which are a valuable ally in slowing down the aging process.

Vegetables:-

Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage regulate enzymes which can protect us against cancer.
Spinach and other dark leafy greens have lots of fibre, folate and carotenoids. All these help in the prevention of cancer.

Grapes :- Unfortunately you cannot get your daily dose of grapes by drinking wine ! It would be a great bonus ! Red and purple grapes can slow can slow cancer cells.

Add to all those above, foods such as whole grains and tomatoes, and you have a healthy diet.

For more on beating cancer by preventing it and other healthy life choices click on the link below :-

http://tinyurl.com/373839

Bickering Harms Your Heart

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Breaking News tells us about a very interesting British study just released in the October issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. This study showed that those people who indulged in constant bickering with their nearest and dearest increased their risk of having a heart attack by up to a third. Now we all know that social relationships have an enormous influence on our health. Lonely people or those who are not in a loving supportive relationship are more likely to suffer from health problems. This study certainly demonstrates this.

The study asked 9,000 British civil servants to give details about their primary relationship.
The study then followed them for 12 long years and monitored their record of heart disease.
The first thing they noticed was that the sex or social class of the interviewees had no effect at all on the incidence of heart disease. They did find that those who were undergoing stressful situations or were forced to bicker with their partners/spouses were subject to more worrying and anxiety which in turn had physical side effects which were damaging their hearts.

Counselling and training can help, of course. There are lots of ways we can protect our hearts- first and foremost by trying to improve the quality of our social relationships especially in the primary one. Secondly, we can make sure we relax to lessen worry and tension. There are a wide range of activities from exercise to massage to relaxation therapy. Thirdly we can look at our diet and the most studied diet is The Mediterranean Diet. If you want to really give your heart a rest and a boost, try this diet which has been proved over and over again that it will protect your heart and improve the quality of your life .

Find out more about this great diet :-

http://tinyurl.com/2pzm6o

Sex Is Good For Your Heart

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Breaking News and Good News! Sex is a great way to prevent disease. The British Heart Foundation (and they should know something about it!) are running a campaign called "Get Your 30 Minutes A Day any way". There are lots of ways you can keep your heart healthy and stave off heart disease. Sex is just one of them !

If you have sex three times a week during they year, that burns about the same number of calories as if you had run 120 kilometres. Sex is great fun and great for the body too. It can do your immune system a power of good, help reduce migraine headaches and reduce your chances of getting a stroke or a heart attack.

According to a recent study in the UK, anyone who lives a sedentary lifestyle is much more at risk from suffering a heart attack. So, if you are a couch potato, you have been warned!

Well, there are lots of other ways of keeping your heart healthy, besides sex. These more boring options are: sweating in the gym, walking the dog, jogging, housework, swimming, gardening
and of course taking the stairs rather than the elevator!

One thing everyone is agreed on of course is that eating right is also great for your heart. You don't want to clog those arteries with that awful cholesterol, do you?. Click below for a great
healthy diet 'The Mediterranean Diet', admired and studied the world over as a great way to healthy living and a healthy heart .

Time to make a move, diet right and get some get great advice. It's EASY and the food is just GREAT!

http://tinyurl.com/2pzm6o

Europeans Less Obese Than Americans

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Why do you think that Europeans have a lower obesity rate than Americans ? A friend of mine, just back from the States, could not get over the fact that there are food outlets everywhere you go ! The smell of food is everywhere - that was the reason he said why there are so many obese people around.

First the bad news. Fat is not beautiful. Obesity now is one of the major reasons why chronic illnesses are spiking in the US. The cost in health care is enormous as illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes eat up (pardon the pun, lol!) up to 150 billion dollars in health care.
Of all of the chronic diseases the over fifties featured prominently.

Now, the good news - that is if you live in Europe. The Europeans are much healthier and just not as fat. The obesity rate among Americans is 33 percent, compared with 17 percent in 10 western European nations according to researchers at Emory university. That is evident when you land at a European airport but also the health care bills are about 50% less than the American one. Up to 100 billion dollars could be saved on health bills in the USA if people were less obese.

I firmly believe that the Europeans have a head start over the Americans when it comes to their diet and I am talking here about the Mediterranean Diet.

People who believe their health may be at risk due to a stressful lifestyle, burnout, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, faulty dietary habits need to take action. You will find all the information you need to know about the Mediterranean Diet in the link below to help you live a healthy slim life!

http://tinyurl.com/2pzm6o

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Myths About Breast Cancer

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Which presidential candidate has the best plan to eradicate breast cancer?. Watch the videos on the National Breast Cancer Coalition and cast your vote !

In spite of all the research, we still do not know the real cause of breast cancer although lots of studies have found that certain lifestyles and diets will certainly increase the risk. These have been detailed in this blog, alcoholic consumption, stress etc but of course the risk is always there. The emphasis has to be on prevention and education. In a recent survey about two thirds of the women (aged 18-24) who were interviewed stated that they really believed that breast cancer can be prevented- yet it is still a widespread disease.

The sad fact is that many women still have misconceptions about the disease. For example, a large number believe that the disease is genetic but statistics show that only about 5-10% of cases are caused by genetic mutation.

Self examinations and mammograms are useful but sometimes there are errors in diagnosis and self- exams can lead to anxiety and unnecessary biopsies.

The idea to interview presidential candidates and ask them what their policy and program is to prevent and raise awareness of breast cancer, has won much praise and maybe it should be used to ask them about other burning issues !!

The site below has a lot more information on cancer prevention.

http://tinyurl.com/373839







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Stress And Breast Cancer

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Stress can lead to all sorts of problems. Do you feel on top of your job ? Or is your job on top of you ?? Researchers have carried out extensive research on a group of Swedish women and the results have just been published. This study took 14 years to complete and involved 36,000 Swedish women. They were aged from 30 to 50. 767 volunteers. after the 14 year study, had developed breast cancer. In investigating these cases, they found that if the women were in stressful jobs or felt that they were not on top of their jobs, then they were 30% more likely to develop breast cancer. The women who felt more stressed or were in such demanding jobs that their stress levels rose, were at most risk. The figures fell sharply for women who felt at ease with their jobs or who did not feel that stress in the workplace was a problem. Interestingly enough, no link was found between stress and cancer in women who were working part-time.

Researchers really do not know why stress should increase the risk of cancer. Estrogen levels do rise with stress and it is well known that this is a contributory cause of cancer. They still do not know why estrogen levels rise when stress kicks in. There are other contributory factors too which were all taken into account such as age, weight, number of children and alcohol consumption.

BEAT CANCER -PREVENT CANCER

Click on this link for all the info you need :_

http://tinyurl.com/373839

Depression In Pregnant Moms

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Did you know that as many as 1 in 7 pregnant moms suffer from depression at around the time of their pregnancy? Figures just released show that depression just does not happen after the birth of the child :- post- natal depression is well documented. Nowadays, it is likely to happen during pregnancy as well. Prior to giving birth, 9% of pregnant moms suffer from depression and these are at greater risk after the birth for chronic depression. This can be treated with psychotherapy and in more severe cases, anti-depressants can be prescribed. The problem is that these moms who suffer from this condition after the birth of the child may have problem in bonding with their offspring. The child may suffer as a result.

Very often anxiety disorders are a warning signal that depression may be in the offing. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from anxiety.Mild to moderate anxiety may be present if a person has difficulty in concentrating or has low energy levels and is demotivated. When the person sinks into helplessness, confusion and extreme worry, then depression may be the diagnosis. The patient cannot carry out his/her normal routine.

Common anxiety symptoms (at a physical level) are :- myalgias (muscular aches and soreness),
trembling or shaking, sweating, dizziness, easily out of breath and sometimes a tight throat or a similar feeling in the chest. Unfortunately anxiety affects that part of the brain which governs our communication and creativity. Patients with an anxiety disorder frequently have relationship problems . They are irritable and full of doom and gloom, feel sad and worry
excessively.

If you would like to consider a completely natural remedy for anxiety disorders, the link below will be a great help:-

http://tinyurl.com/3ady9q

Alcohol Ups Breast Cancer Risk

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Breaking news suggests that a few alcoholic drinks a day- let us say three? - will increase the risk of breast cancer in women - just as bad as smoking a packet of cigarettes! And it does not matter which is your favourite tipple - it can be beer, wine or whisky- the fact is that the amount of alcohol consumed is the key factor. Some people believed up to now that it would depend on which type of drink you like to imbibe but it is the quantity that counts.

Breast cancer , although the death rates are dropping, is still a killer. Worldwide, it will affect 1.2 million people this year alone and will kill 500,000.

As regards heart protection moderate consumption of alcohol seems to be a good element as the alcohol tends to aid the production of good cholesterol. That is the good news. The bad news is that ethyl alcohol contained in any alcoholic drink increase the risk of breast cancer.

Researchers who looked at the drinking habits of over 70,000 women from all ages and ethnic backgrounds found that those who consumed up to two drinks a day were increasing their risk of getting breast cancer by 10% when compared with those women who had less than one drink a day. When the women drank more than three drinks a day, then the risk jumped to 30%.

Are you worried about cancer - what can you do about it ? Click on the site below for useful. helpful information:-

BEAT CANCER - PREVENT CANCER

http://tinyurl.com/373839

Dangers Of Belly Fat

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First the bad news! Belly fat is "metabolically active" and could possibly increase colon cancer risk by raising levels of certain hormones that affect cell growth, including the growth of cancer cells. Belly fat is incredibly common and it is not unlikely to see that even slim people have a tummy that they would gladly get rid of.


Belly fat is easier to carry and thus fat is difficult to lose because it is the body's stored extra energy, and years of evolution have trained the human body to be reluctant to let go of its emergency source of energy. Belly fat is more dangerous for health than overall weight gain in any age, especially in children. You may think belly fat is limited to the stuff out front that you can grab with your hand — but it's the fat you can't see that's really a cause for concern.


Changing your habits can be tough, so look for ways to kick-start a new diet and exercise routine.The most important way to lose belly fat is to ensure you have a diet that provides a negative calorie intake. The American College of Sports Medicine agrees -- the best way to achieve a "six pack" of abs is to focus more on lowering total body fat through aerobic exercise and diet. I have the hardest time maintaining an exercise and diet routine and to really make these a part of my life.

Take a step in the right direction- lose that ugly belly fat and reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Sign up now :-

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Acupuncture For Back Pain ?

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If you suffer from back pain or sciatica, then you are in good company. It is calculated that over 75% of people will suffer from this condition at some point in their lives. Statistics show that almost 5 million working days a year are lost because of lower back pain.

Breaking news to-day suggests if you suffer from back pain, then acupuncture could well be the answer. It seems that it is twice as effective as your ordinary pain killer! But get this - research shows that where fake acupuncture was used - ie that the needles were not inserted either deeply enough or in the right places, then the results were similar to real acupuncture which suggests that this treatment relies mostly on the patients' psychological conviction that they are getting better! But having said that, the results did show that acupuncture or even fake acupuncture was twice as effective in curing back pain than conventional medicines.

Treatment For Lower Back Pain .

Exercises need to be done twice a day and under supervision of a trainer or instructor.
Exercising the lower back area and postural stretching can be enormously beneficial. Careful attention needs to be paid to posture and body mechanics to get the maximum benefit from the exercises.

Overall, sciatica sufferers can avoid a lot of agonising back pain by maintaining a support for the back while sitting (avoiding sprawling on a couch!) and maintaining good posture, avoiding standing for long periods of time and using safe techniques for lifting heavy objects. Caring for your back should be an essential part of your daily routine.

Had enough of pain killers? Don't want to try the needles? There IS a natural cure for back pain and it would be crazy to pass this up! Go to this link now !

http://tinyurl.com/2qtsx7

High GI Carbs Cause Fatty Livers

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A US study just published in the Obesity magazine (Sept 2007) shows that all those high GI carbs such as white rice, cereals are not good for our livers. In fact they say that they can cause fatty livers which can lead to hepatitis and that can sometimes be fatal. Did you know that the French "pate' di foie gras" (means pate' of fatty livers!) is made from ducks and geese fed on high GI(glycemic index) carbs. Lots of children who are becoming obese are already affected by fatty livers which means that they are at high risk of developing serious liver diseases when they grow up. this happens because these foods spike the blood sugar quickly because the starch in them is broken down real fast. Not only that but it shoves up the production of insulin and tells the body to store more fat. it also places great stress on the liver. Result ?- a nice fatty liver !

Clinical trials show that this trend can be reversed by just changing our diet. Low GI carbs are most vegetables, fruit , beans and some unprocessed grains. The starch in these foods are digested much more slowly and the blood sugar rises slowly as well - a much healthier option.

Want to lean lots more about a healthier Mediterranean Diet which contains lots of low GI carbs? Want a leaner body, healthier heart? Click here for this healthy option :-

http://tinyurl.com/29h3jc

Change Your Training Variables

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Have you ever reached a plateau in your workout routines when you felt that you were going nowhere? You suddenly find that you are weaker and you have put on a few pounds ? And this setback happens almost overnight when a few days ago you were looking good, gaining strength and losing a bit of that awful fat. This happens to almost everyone so not to worry !

I know lots of guys who stick religiously to 3 sets of 10-12 reps for each exercise. They also have the classic rest of a few minutes between their sets. These guys look like they are on auto-pilot! Let us look at a few examples to help you get more creative:

* Why not 10 sets of 3 , with just a mere 20 seconds of rest between the sets?

* Have you thought about using a lighter than normal weight – try 1 set of 50 reps for each exercise.

* Go for close to your maximum weight and 10 sets of 1 rep, with 30 seconds rest between sets.

* Try a heavier weight and go for 6 sets of 6 reps and you can do a sprint on the treadmill for 3 minutes between each set of weight lifting.

* Choose one full body exercise – that would be , say, a dumbbell squat and presses. Do that exercise for a full 20 minutes. That is pretty intense but it does vary the routine.

* Do a workout based on your bodyweight only – so go for the push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups and dips. Add in a few squats and lunges.

* Do a full circuit (12 different exercises) which cover the whole body –no rest between exercises.

* Next time round, do the same as above but change the order round – last one first and so on.

* Vary your speeds – on one workout go for faster repetition – on the next one go at dead slow speed

* Try to vary your weekly routine – one week you can do three workouts of an hour each. Next week, change that to five shorter workouts of just 30 minutes each.

Are you really interested in taking your training seriously and getting rid of fat while getting into top gear with your training ? Go to the following site, get your FREE fat –loss report which will give you a mere 27 ways to boost your metabolism and lose that belly fat !

http://tinyurl.com/3529q5

Eat Less - Live Longer

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In Breaking News yesterday we talked a little about sirtuins and their possible role in helping us live longer. To-day I want to explain a little more about this latest research.

Scientists have found that if animals reduce their intake of calories – say by 40%- then they live longer ! So, we need to starve ourselves ?

Not exactly- but when you eat less- this protects our cells from aging. How ? Well, the little batteries inside each of our cells – this is called the mitochondria – get charged when
there is a lower intake of calories. So to charge our batteries, we need to eat less because it seems, when we do that the enzymes called SIRT3 and SIRT4 kick in and the little cellular battery works more efficiently and that means it will protect us from disease and help us live longer. This is what has happened in animal research but it points the way to interesting developments for human beings.

Now aging is a very complex process – but the research I have outlined above would seem to indicate that researchers at Harvard medical School have found something which regulates aging and this could be the future of developing drugs which will enhance the production of SIRT3 and SIRT4. These sirtuins stave off the decay and decline of cells. If that were to happen , then a simple anti- age pill would help us to live longer and also protect us from all the old age diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease.

So, what do we need to do while waiting for this super anti-age pill? Eat the right foods, get exercise and avoid loneliness. The link below is a great place to start with all the information you need to live longer now !

http://tinyurl.com/2csey9

The Role Of Sirtuins In Anti-Aging

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Anti-age pill? Well, not just yet! Research just published to-day says that they have found some ways the body can activate its own built-in anti- age mechanisms. It is well known that animals on very low calorie diets live longer. So, we just need to eat less? Well, that would help as we eat far too much anyway.

The new research is focusing on a a group of enzymes called sirtuins. Ever heard of them ?
Probably not but we are going to hear lots more about these in the future. These enzymes are
controlled by genes called SIRT1 and SIRT2. These genes help to make cells last longer and they are basically little nodules full of energy which will rejuvenate our cells which will help us live longer and stay healthy - very important! Researchers are going to target these genes in making drugs which will probably stave off old age and typical illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis. If they can develop a pill which will increase our levels of SIRT1,2,3 &4 thereby slowing down aging and also preventing the diseases mentioned above.

But for the moment , the best way to stay young is to eat fruit and vegetables, get exercise every day, use a sunscreen and look after minor health problems when they affect you and above all maintain close ties with family and friends.

The link below will give you a great start in finding the right superfoods to help you live a very long time

http://tinyurl.com/2csey9

ADHD Drugs A Heart Risk?

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The FDA will be collaborating with two agencies to examine possible side effects of drugs (eg Ritalin, Adderall) used in ADHD treatment. This study is going to take two years and will include all drugs taken to cure ADHD. Millions of Americans are taking these medicines and not only children.

What is ADHD ?

ADHD is a common behavioural disorder that affects an estimated 8% to 10% of school-age children. It is diagnosed approximately three times more often in boys than in girls. ADHD is often called "the benevolent diagnosis." There is strong evidence to support the fact that it is very likely caused by biological factors which influence neurotransmitter activity in certain parts of the brain, and which have a strong genetic basis. The condition is characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsiveness. ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, too much sugar, or vaccines. Recent research suggests that food additives and food colourings may be to blame . Living with ADHD
can present various challenges

The problem seems to lie in the fact that these drugs raise the heart rate and blood pressure as well and that could possibly increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes or other problems .

This study wants to find out more about the risks associated with the ADHD drugs. If you would like to seek an alternative treatment for your child rather than going down the medication road, you may find the site below helpful.

GET HELP With ADHD :-

http://tinyurl.com/2kuawc

Keep A Healthy Heart

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Breaking News ! The old stethoscope is about to be made redundant ! Why ? Medics have found that an Mp3 is much more effective. At a recent conference in Stockholm medics reported that the old stethoscope is quite adequate but the doctors listening to those sounds from deep within your body have problems in interpreting them. Have you ever heard your heart ? I did once when a medic connected the stethoscope to a speaker on his computer and my heart sounded like a monster taking a mud bath ! Researchers found that medics have real problems in deciphering all those sounds that are coming from our heart lungs and bronchial tubes and trying to tell if we have a healthy heart. And the arrival of the electronic version did nothing to improve matters. Actually they would have to listen to those sounds 500 times before they could be sure of a diagnosis ! A Canadian researcher Neil Skjodt from Edmonton solved the problem by putting an Mp3 on his patients' chests and the quality of the recording was so much better ! Other researchers listening to those noble sounds confirmed his hunch and were delighted with the quality of the recording. And the great thing is that this recording can be stored and listened to by other doctors in case of a doubtful diagnosis.

Well, whatever the doctor uses to listen to your heart he will ask you ONE question and that will be about your diet. The Mediterranean Diet is famous the world over and researched by prestigious institutions such as the American Heart Foundation and Harvard and has been shown to be a most valuable asset in keeping a healthy heart. As well as some exercise of course!

Look at the photograph above! This is the beach in Italy where I swim from April to November and where I also enjoy a Mediterranean diet . Lucky me !

Find out about how you can keep YOUR heart healthy by clicking on this link :-

http://roblok1.roybarker2.hop.clickbank.net/

Natural Anxiety Remedy

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A friend of mine has suffered from a tight throat for many months now. This was how he described the symptoms which were quite frightening. “ I felt my throat tightening and the windpipe closing up and cutting off my air supply and I found it really hard to breathe. I also found my throat quite painful. It was actually like when you feel happy or sad and your throat constricts”. He asked me if I knew of a natural anxiety remedy

He had all the tests done and the doctor told him it was a symptom of anxiety and that he needed to relax and reduce the stress in his life. Not happy with that, he spent a lot of money on visiting a throat specialist. He found there was nothing wrong with his throat and confirmed the family doctor’s diagnosis.

He had other symptoms of an anxiety disorder as well:-

1.Stomach upsets, disturbed digestive system.

2. Dizziness, light- headed feeling.

3. Headaches.

4. Insomnia

5. Lack of energy.

The doctor recommended that he try the following natural remedy for stress and anxiety. As I am a rather anxious person myself, I was very keen to learn about this :-

1. Relaxation technique for the throat – this really works and you can feel better immediately.

2. Physical exercise

3. Massage

4. Breathing exercises –close your eyes- imagine there is no one around and you have no problems ! lol. Long deep breaths really help – this is a great one to help you get to sleep, I found.

I found that the site below is a comprehensive and really effective way to get rid of stress and anxiety.

It incorporates some of the techniques above but also includes some new ones.

http://tinyurl.com/3ady9q