Archive for March, 2011

Hormones in our body are crucial for our wellbeing because they regulate all our physiological functions. From helping our body with the metabolism to improving cellular regeneration, they are a vital component for our good health in general. We are often in better shape physically and mentally when a balance of hormones is maintained in our bodies. However when that equilibrium is affected we start seeing its effects and need Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy to set the balance right once again.

There are several reasons that can cause hormonal equilibrium to be disturbed in our bodies. It could be due to age or an illness or some kind of stress. Whatever reason it might be, you will start feeling its effects in form tiredness and generally feeling less energetic.

Bio Identical Hormones are as the name suggests, identical to endogenous ones on a molecular level. They are administered to you in case of equilibrium shifts in your body so that a balance in maintained and you feel energetic again.

Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy includes identifying any hormonal deficiencies in your body and addressing the issue directly. Not only deficiencies, but excesses in some cases, which can be as detrimental to your bodies, can be suppressed.

Steps involved in Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy are:

* You need to start with a consultation with a specialist physician. Make sure you work with a certified professional experienced in this specific field because it’s a niche area.
* Simple tests like blood, urine and saliva samples over a period of 24 hours are needed to analyze the level of hormones in your body. A comprehensive map of levels will be done to pinpoint the deficiencies and excesses if any.
* Once your physicians have the results they will determine the exact therapy regimen for your system. You will be given a specific mix of good quality, synthetic hormones that will set the balance right in your body.
* The medication is in the form of pills that can be taken orally, or gels. Patches can be used in some cases as well.
* Once you have started the treatment you should start seeing the benefits in a couple of months. You will feel less tried and generally refreshed as your stamina will improve drastically.

Weigh your options carefully and start feeling better.By Melani Harriet

Fit for Life

Life is a gift to us and it should be lived out to its fullest. Most of us came into this world being blessed with whole and healthy bodies, but unfortunately many of us have neglected taking care of the awesome body we were given. We have not nourished and exercised it as we should and so we have diminished the energy and vibrancy that life should be lived with. In addition, we’ve also diminished the number of years that we should be living.

Proper nutrition is first and foremost in being fit for life. Healthy eating involves eating balanced meals that would include foods from each category of the food groups, namely grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, oils and meats. However, it is your age, sex, body size, and your level of activity that will determine the size of your servings from each group. One tip however, is to limit the amount of foods consumed from the oils and sweets group as they contain little or no nutritional value to your body. Another useful tip is to try to eat a variety of foods, incorporating foods of different colours. The more colours and textures in your meals is the better range of nutrients you’ll get. The reality, however, is that many people are not eating properly, some because of hectic and busy lifestyles, so it is a good and beneficial thing to take a good multivitamin tablet daily.

Regular exercise is important for staying healthy and maintaining the right weight. It is said and I believe that it is a fact that people who exercise live longer and feel better in their body. Exercise can reduce the effects of stress by reducing hypertension and it can delay or prevent heart problems, diabetes, and even some cancers. There are a myriad of ways to exercise the body from low intensity to high intensity workouts. It all depends on the individual. There are a variety of exercise equipment, devices, and gear to assist in getting it done. The key is to find and do something that is fun whether it be walking, hiking, biking, swimming, aerobics, or weight training, the important thing is establish and maintain a regular routine of exercise and physical activity.

In conclusion, maintaining a healthy and physically active lifestyle, has positive effects on the brain and promotes and overall feeling of well-being. So let’s be intentional about getting ourselves fit for life.
By Marcia Foster

The Experience Of Child Abuse

It is a God given right that children be loved, unfortunately there are children that suffer though their childhoods experiencing abuse. There are different kinds of child abuse, it can be physical, emotional or mental or sexual. Any kind of abuse may and probably will have very drastic effects on the abused child and they will need special attention and support from those who care and love them.

Physical abuse involves abuse in a physical capacity. This involves causing a child physical abuse or refraining from giving them the food or other nutrients that they need in order to be healthy. Emotional abuse on the other side is a type of abuse that effects a child’s emotions, this can include saying things that lowers the child’s self worth. The third type of child abuse is sexual abuse and it is one of the worst kinds of abuse because it is so evasive.

There are several causes of child abuse, just like any other kind of abuse. The biggest cause is mental illness as well as other psychology problems. Many people who suffer from mental illness often cause children harm even if they are unaware of themselves doing it. A lot of the time problems at home or within a family are stressors for child abuse. Parents or guardians that have trouble abusing drugs often and easily cause harm to their children, as well as parents that have money troubles.

Stress is a major factor and sometimes a root cause of child abuse. In order to work with and help a child that has been abused you need to know what the cause of the child’s abuse is, in order to help in the right ways. Experiencing child abuse will likely have an emotional and psychological impact on the child even if they don’t always display them. Some abused children have thoughts of suicide because of being abused.

The varying effects from being abused vary on how much they were abused. The more abuse the child deals with the more they will be affected by it. Children who have suffered or do suffer from abuse also have trust issues and therefore have trouble making new relationships with people. Other results from being abused are low self esteem, eating disorders and physical disabilities.

Psycho therapies are done to treat cases in which children who have been abused because most of the time it is very traumatic. Parenting classes taught to children when they are growing up is a great way to break the cycle and prevent the same mistakes from happening with future generations.

Child neglect and abuse is something that needs attention because it concerns something so precious, the children of this world. Having family seminars and family planning courses available is a good way to help prevent child abuse in the future. Organizations such as UNICEF work hard to treat these problems. Children are the most important part of society so they deserve to be respected and treated with love and care.
By Katrina Polder

If you really want to hang around on this Earth for as long as possible, and you would have to think that desire would be expressed by almost everybody, listed below are 10 things you can do that can help you reach that goal. As soon as you’ve made all 10 a part of your life, chances are very good you’ll feel like a brand new person.

No. 1: We’ve all been made aware of the assertion that you are what you eat, and actually that happens to be the absolute truth.

Your diet today will show up on your face and body during the years to come. Because it’s truly the only body you’ll ever have, look after it by eating the healthiest way. Choose lean meats, keep your portions reasonable, drink plenty of water and eat your fruits and veggies.

No. 2: Work up a sweat. But don’t beat yourself up in the event you can’t engage in physical activity on a daily basis. It’s all right to have a day off. It’s okay to exercise three days a week. Something is better than nothing. But you’ll realize you are eager to get back to exercising if you find an exercise routine that’s a lot of fun. Even though exercising and fun don’t sound like they should be in the same sentence, you’ll quickly find out they’re highly compatible. Make it rewarding.

No. 3: Don’t forget to have a good laugh. In fact, laugh a whole lot. Look for the humor in all you do, from your occupation to your exercise regimen. Laughter will help decrease stress and has many, many other advantages as well.

No. 4: Of the 10 different ways to live longer, just about the most critical is to remain optimistic. Optimistic individuals live longer than pessimistic people. Your mind is one of your most powerful weapons against thoughts that can drag you down.

If you find yourself starting to think negative thoughts (such as, “I won’t get that job,” or “this isn’t going to work out well,”) pause and point out to yourself that you don’t know the future.

All you’ve got is the time right now. Generally, we presume the worst, and it rarely comes to pass. We squander all that time on the negative, imagining all the bad that “could” take place, and then it doesn’t.

No. 5: Make certain that you remain social. People who have recurring get-togethers with friends enjoy a longer life. A substantial social network helps people enjoy friendships in which they can find acceptance and support.

No. 6: If you’ve got undesirable habits that might hurt your health (you know what they are), eliminate them.

No. 7: If you don’t have a pet, give some thought to getting one. Having a pet decreases anxiety and anxiety can lead to a variety of illnesses.

No. 8: Yet another significant way in the 10 ways to live longer would be to indulge yourself. Treat yourself kindly. A lot of times we treat ourselves in ways we wouldn’t treat our worst enemy. Don’t beat yourself up psychologically.

No. 9: Also, don’t delay doing what you look forward to. Saving for the future is essential but don’t become Grinch-like in your mission to save. Be sure you spend both money and time on the things that bring you satisfaction.

No. 10: Finally, make certain you take supplements that have anti-aging properties.

These 10 steps will not only show you how to live longer, they also will help you sustain maximum health throughout the years.By Dave Tishendorf

Yoga Forms – An Intro

Yoga has been practiced for more than five thousand years now. And it continues to be a viable fitness regimen for most people until today. There are many forms of yoga, ranging from physical to devotional practices, from gentle stretches to those that give you a nice cardio workout. Whatever style you choose, breathwork and postures are sure to be a common feature of each. No matter what level of fitness you are in, there’s bound to be a certain form of Yoga that fits your needs.

Iyengar is usually the preferred exercise for those just introduced to Yoga. Focusing on postures and breathing, Iyengar Yoga aims to strengthen the body and increase flexibility through the poses. Postures are held for a certain time to build alignment and body awareness. As practitioners continue with the exercises, they strive to perfect the poses as it takes them to a much deeper level of awareness and concentration. In the Vinyasa Yoga regimen, one posture flows to the next, simulating a dance. Poses are not as held as long as in other forms of Yoga. The popular Power Yoga created by Bender Birch is a type of Yoga in the Vinyasa tradition. Anusara Yoga is another style founded by John Friend which aims to focus more on emotional and spiritual awareness.

Still using body alignment to teach awareness, Anusara nevertheless is “heart-oriented” and teaches poses from the “inside out.” Viniyoga is another style that is fit for beginners. It’s a gentle Yoga practice that puts emphasis on retraining the body so it acquires healthful patterns and poses through more efficient movement and postures. Bikram Yoga, meanwhile, is unique from all the other forms of Yoga since it is practiced in a room heated at 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The 26 poses is said to release toxins from your body even as it gives you a full body workout and a more intense stretch. It’s the kind of Yoga preferred by those who wish to lose weight through Yoga. Finally, Kundalini Yoga aims to tap the line of energy that flows along your spine by repeating postures rhythmically instead of holding them. This form was introduced in America by Yogi Bhajan in 1969.

Whatever Yoga style you ultimately seek to participate in, what’s important is consistency of practice and observance of proper form and breathing. Try to get a good Yoga workout at least two times a week and don’t hold your breath in any of the poses. Rather, aim for steady and rhythmic nose breathing (which your instructor will teach you) so that you get relaxation and the proper stretch at the same time. If you’re a true neophyte at Yoga, be prepared with a Yoga mat and some Yoga blocks and straps so that you can modify certain poses that may be difficult to do at first. Wear comfortable clothing that won’t interfere with any of the poses. Like any form of exercise, stop when you feel pain at any point during the exercise.

In Bikram Yoga, especially, nausea and dizziness are common, so make sure that you are properly hydrated before the workout. Stop and rest when you feel faint and return only when you feel better.
By Joycelyn Graydon