Saturday, 5 October 2013

Backache/Back pain

Backache/Back pain

Almost everyone has low back pain at one time or another. It has become an occupational hazard in many different kinds of work (like sitting at a desk in front of a computer, lifting heavy loads etc). Low back pain is often caused by overuse, strain, or injury. Most sudden back pain is due to a sprain or a small tear in a muscle or ligament. Having a nagging ache in lower back or a sharp, localized pain and stiffness is due to a muscle spasm in the area. The usual causes of back pain and sciatica include lifting awkwardly or sudden twisting, but factors such as poor posture, pregnancy, and being inactive or unfit may make the back more vulnerable. Less often, low back pain is the result of arthritis, compression fractures caused by bone loss (osteoporosis), illness, or a spine problem that you may have had since you were born. Emotional factors can also lead to back pain. People who aredepressed, under stress, or unhappy in their work are more likely to have chronic back pain. Most back pain can be effectively treated within 4 to 6 weeks of home treatment, but a ruptured or slipped disk often requires intensive medical care.

Home Remedies
  • Cold pack: Apply a cold pack (bag of ice) to the painful area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Apply at least three times a day.
  • Garlic: Take two or three cloves of garlic every morning.
  • Ginger: Apply a paste made of ginger powder mixed with sufficient water to the affected area. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, wash it off, and then rub the back with some eucalyptus (Nilgiri) oil.
  • Garlic oil: Rubbing the painful area of the back with garlic oil is also effective for relieving the pain. The oil is prepared by frying 10 cloves of garlic in 60 ml of mustard oil or sesame oil on a slow fire till the garlic turn brown. Then, the cooled oil should be applied vigorously on the back, and allowed to remain there for 2 or 3 hours. Take a warm bath afterwards. It should be done for atleast 15 days.
  • Lemon: Take the juice of one lemon mixed with little common salt twice a day.
  • Potato: Application of raw potato in the form of a poultice is very effective, especially in a low backache.
Do's
  • If you are overweight, lose weight.
  • Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes/sandals.
  • Make sure your work surface is at a comfortable height for you.
  • Use a chair with a good lower back support.
  • If you are sitting for a long period of time, try resting your feet on the floor, or on a low stool. Take frequent breaks to stretch.
  • If you have to drive long distances, try using a pillow or rolled-up towel behind the small of your back. Also, be sure to stop often and walk around for a few minutes.
  • If you have trouble sleeping, try sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees, or sleep on your side with your knees bent and a pillow between your knees.
  • Sit quietly and meditate, or observe your breathing. This will help to relax tense muscles.
  • Get regular, low-impact exercise. Some gentle yoga exercises can help to relieve the pain.
  • Practice safe ways of lifting and moving heavy objects to reduce the risk of straining your back. While lifting, bend your knees and keep your back straight, keep the object you are lifting close to your belly button, and avoid lifting and twisting at the same time.
Don’ts
  • Avoid exposure to cold weather or cold winds.
  • If you smoke, quit. Smoking decreases blood flow and prevents healing.
  • Avoid over physical exercise.
  • Avoid heavy lifting.
  • Avoid lifting with twisting, bending forward, or reaching.
  • Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Change your position frequently (every 15 to 30 minutes).
See Doctor
  • Have severe Backache.
  • Back pain follows an injury.
  • Losing weight or have a fever.
  • Have difficulty in controlling your bowels or bladder; tingling and numbness in the anal or genital area; or muscle weakness

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

A Killer In Your Fridge ~ Sweet Poison…A MUST READ

Rhonda Gessner

Rhonda Gessner

A Killer In Your Fridge ~ Sweet Poison…A MUST READ

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013



In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick She had, stomach spasms, and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.
By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick she just knew she was dying.
She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter’s name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.
She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.
On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn’t find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.
I recalled an article a friend of mine, e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.
I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda! I e-mailed her an article my friend, a lawyer, had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda, AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn’t feel 100% but, she sure felt a lot better.
She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.
Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda.. and literally dying a slow and miserable death
When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery. And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life. If it says ‘SUGAR FREE’ on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!  I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on ‘ASPARTAME,’ marketed as ‘Nutra Sweet,’ ‘Equal,’ and ‘Spoonful. ‘In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.
I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.
Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!
Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues it’s use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.
In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We’ve seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly.
This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, ‘If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs,
Cramps,
Vertigo,
Dizziness,
Headaches,
Tinnitus,
Joint pain,
Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!’ People were jumping up during the lecture saying, ‘I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?’
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!
Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates.
It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!
These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve ’tissue specimens.’
Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!
Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the ‘diet products’ and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period. Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.
Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE.. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, Seizures, Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks, Uncontrollable anger and rage. Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well. Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.
So called ‘behavior modification prescription drugs’ (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place!  Most of these children were being ‘poisoned’ on a daily basis with the very foods that were ‘better for them than sugar. ‘It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.
Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners.
There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.’
Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.
Sadly, MONSANTO’S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a ‘piece of the Aspartame pie. ‘I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.
And isn’t it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?
This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products. Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants.
The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioural symptoms.  The bill was killed. It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you’re informed now!
Note:  I have been studying health and nutrition for 35 years.  What I’ve learned in the past 3 years has been by far…the most valuable.  My husband was diagnosed with liver disease 3 years ago, and that sent me on a very aggressive search for help.  I came across an article about Dr. Otto Warburg that said…he won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for proving that no disease including cancer, can survive in an alkaline body.  From there…a friend told me about a Japanese medical device that makes alkaline water.  She went on to tell me that since our body is 70% water, drinking alkaline ionized water is the easiest way to raise your pH.  It makes perfect sense…the health “puzzle” is made up of many pieces including water, diet, exercise, sleep, etc.  But since 3/4 of that puzzle is made up of one big piece…WATER, drinking enough of the “right” kind of water will have a HUGE impact on your health.  If you’d like to learn more, click on the link and request your FREE eBook on Healthy Water:   http://www.usakangenwater.net
(just sharing the Aspartame article from another blog…i’m not the author.  i did write the Note…water is my area of expertise.)

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Resistance Training

Resistance Training for my legs and arms has started with very little help from my drill sergeant, but I hope I can get out of bed in the morning thanks to Chris  — feeling exhausted at Barataria Home.
Note, you may observe a bump on my left knee .... that is my bone sticking out like that lol. just another change

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

BENEFITS OF EXERCISE :In order to feel better, posses more energy and live long, the health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity must be acknowledged. Below are ways in which exercise can improve your life.



Exercise controls weight 
Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways by taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Exercise combats health conditions and diseases.
No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls. 

Exercise improves mood.
 A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk helps a person to experience an emotional lift. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

Exercise boosts energy.
 Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance when winded by grocery shopping or household chores. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.


Exercise promotes better sleep.
Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep. 

Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life.
Regular physical activity leaves one feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.

 Exercise can be fun.                         
Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. 


Exercising can help you look better. 
People who exercise burn more calories and look more toned than those who don't. In fact, exercise is one of the most important parts of keeping your body at a healthy weight.

Exercise can help a person age well.  
This may not seem important now, but your body will thank you later. Women are especially prone to a condition called osteoporosis (a weakening of the bones) as they get older. Studies have found that weight-bearing exercises like jumping, running, or brisk walking  can help girls and boys keep their bones strong.


Meals for Mind and Body:Blackberry-Banana Slim-Down Smoothie

Banana and blackberries blended with light coconut milk, low-fat yogurt, and a touch of lemon zest and honey. 

Blackberries really fill you up, thanks to all that fiber. Bananas contain resistant starch (RS), a carb that acts like fiber and also helps you feel full and slim down. (Underripe ones give the biggest RS benefit.) The oil found in coconut fruit helps you shed belly fat, while yogurt (along with other dairy products) is a top source of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fatty acid that fights off fat. 

The Benefit: unleashes your natural fat-burning power and has only 250 calories and 5g of fat.
 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups frozen blackberries
  • 1 small banana, sliced
  • 1/2 cup light coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Preparation

Process blackberries, banana, coconut milk, yogurt, lemon juice, honey, and lemon zest in a blender until smooth. Divide the mixture evenly into 2 chilled glasses, and serve.

Nutritional Information

Calories per serving:250
Fat per serving:5g
Saturated fat per serving:3g
Monounsaturated fat per serving:0.0g
Polyunsaturated fat per serving:0.0g
Protein per serving:6g
Carbohydrates per serving:52g
Fiber per serving:9g
Cholesterol per serving:4mg
Iron per serving:2mg
Sodium per serving:61mg
Calcium per serving:161mg

Good to Know

Blackberries are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants.

Meals for Mind and Body:Mediterranean Detox Salad


Mediterranean Detox Salad

Watercress, artichokes, celery, red onion, and feta tossed with cucumber vinaigrette.

Loaded with bloat-fighting water, cukes also have vitamin C and caffeic acid, which combats swelling. Watercress and artichokes both have diuretic properties to help you beat the bloat, and artichokes are also a natural source of the soluble fiber inulin. The sodium and potassium in celery help bring your fluids back into balance.

The Benefit: flushes toxins and beats the bloat for a mere 170 calories and 11g of fat.

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) English cucumber
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 6 cups trimmed watercress
  • 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
  • 2 large celery stalks, sliced
  • 1/2 cup sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese

Preparation

Cut cucumber in half, and slice crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Process 3/4 cup cucumber and lemon juice in blender. Add olive oil in a thin stream; pulse until combined. Season the dressing with black pepper, to taste; transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining 1 cup cucumber, watercress, artichoke hearts, celery, red onion, and feta cheese to a bowl. Toss with the dressing, and divide among 4 bowls; serve.

Nutritional Information

Calories per serving:170
Fat per serving:11g
Saturated fat per serving:4g
Monounsaturated fat per serving:6g
Polyunsaturated fat per serving:1g
Protein per serving:7g
Carbohydrates per serving:12g
Fiber per serving:1g
Cholesterol per serving:17mg
Iron per serving:2mg
Sodium per serving:411mg
Calcium per serving:

Meals for Mind and Body :Feel-Good Salmon Sandwich


Levi Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Dash of salt
  • 1 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 4 toasted whole-grain rolls
  • 4 radicchio leaves

PreparationPut spinach, walnuts, garlic clove, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a dash of salt into a food processor; pulse, scraping down sides of bowl, until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a bowl; cover and chill. Combine paprika, dark brown sugar, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Pat dry salmon fillets; sprinkle tops with spice mixture. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook fish 7 minutes on both sides or until golden and cooked through. Split rolls in half; spread 1 tablespoon pesto on each bottom, and top with 1 fillet and 1 radicchio leaf. Add tops of rolls. Serve with extra pesto.




Nutritional Information

Calories per serving:420
Fat per serving:35g
Saturated fat per serving:5g
Monounsaturated fat per serving:13g
Polyunsaturated fat per serving:15g
Protein per serving:12g
Carbohydrates per serving:22g
Fiber per serving:9g
Cholesterol per serving:9mg
Iron per serving:6mg
Sodium per serving:380mg
Calcium per serving:246mg





When the Noise Gets Too Loud

When the Noise Gets Too Loud There are days when life feels like a whirlwind of responsibilities, expectations, disappointments, and endless...