The Health Benefits of Deep Breathing
Most Americans today are unhealthy for one simple reason. They do not breathe properly. Improper breathing can bring on everything from anxiety and panic attacks to being unable to get rid of the carbon dioxide that builds up in our body. We literally starve ourselves of the oxygen we need to survive.
Our society has developed a very sedentary lifestyle, whether it be from working at our computers or playing video games on television. We simply do not get the exercise that we need, and as a result our bodies are not getting enough oxygen. To give you a more graphic picture, it is as if we are smothering ourselves, but instead of death coming in a short time, we are prolonging the process.
The limiting of oxygen to our bodies causes our lungs to function improperly, which can cause us to be susceptible to any number of diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. It is vital to our health that we learn how to breath properly. Fortunately, there are several exercises that can be done to improve our breathing techniques.
The best advice is to start with basics. Learn the proper breathing techniques. When you are breathing correctly you will notice your stomach moving more than your chest. Also start taking in a little more oxygen each time, until you are beathing in long, slow breathes rather than short, shallow breathes. You will begin to find your mood improving and you will have more energy.
There are several websites which are dedicated to the process of healthy breathing. The most important thing is to do it. Many people have intended to start exercising, but their body breaks down before they actually get it done. If you want to save your life, start breathing.…
Schwinn 460 Elliptical Trainer Review
The Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer is designed to provide you with a lower-body workout. You can also easily adjust the stride length to suit your needs. You can find this model for an average price of $1000. Keep reading to learn about some of its features.
Stride
According to the elliptical machine reviews one of the best features of the Schwinn 460 is its V-Stride technology. You can change the stride length of the machine easily. The unit also has both fixed and moving handlebars.
Foot Plates
The Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer is equipped with articulating foot plates. This helps minimize the impact on your heels. The foot plates are also independent of each other. Therefore, you can target muscles on both sides of your body.
Resistance
The Schwinn 460 is fitted with a 25-pound steel flywheel and a computer-controlled drive system. The magnetic resistance system is designed for quiet operation. You can choose between 16 different resistance levels.
Console
The Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer has a touchscreen console. This back-lit console displays various information such as time, interval time, distance, pulse, and calories. It also shows your speed and resistance level.
Programs
The Schwinn 460 offers 16 different workout programs. There is a manual program and 11 workout profiles. The trainer also has two custom programs that tracks results and programs for two different users.
Transport
Another nice feature of the Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer is how easy it is to transport. It is fitted with non-skid wheels so that you can roll it along easily. There is also a handle to make transport a bit easier.
Extras
The Schwinn 460 provides an assortment of comfort features. It has an large bottle holder that can fit bottles with a four inch diameter. The trainer is also equipped with an adjustable cooling fan.
The Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer allows you to change its stride length easily. There are also 16 different workout programs and resistance levels. You will also like the comfort features such as the bottle holder and adjustable cooling fan. The machine is also easy to transport thanks to the non-skid wheels and handle it has.…
I Took Back My Health by Leaving Fast Food Behind
I stopped eating all fast food items from fast food restaurants five years ago. After reading several books, doing research and simply buying healthier food at grocery stores it was an easy concept to follow through on.
You see, when I worked at a full time job, I bought junk food at all the fast food restaurants. I ate Wendy's, Arby's, Mc Donald's and Burger King Whoppers. This was my lunch nearly everyday. I also worked at a department store which served junk food that I loved eating a hot dog, and nachos smothered with cheese on the days I didn't have time to drive to the nearest fast food place.
The thing was two hours after paying for and eating this utter junk, I would be super hungry again. On my fifteen minute work break, I wound up eating more junk food from my job's snack bar.
After I had my first child, I had even less time in the morning to eat, and to pack a lunch, so I continued driving to the nearest fast food restaurant to buy the least expensive meals on their menus. I also took my son when he was old enough to chew food, to fast food places to buy him this utter junk. We lived on Coca-Cola, French fries, and cheeseburgers.
I started tapering off on my unhealthy eating habit when my stomach started bothering me 24-7. I started feeling like I was going to throw up and I either couldn't go to the bathroom or I was always going. I experienced many days where I had to call in sick even though we needed the money. After being hospitalized with pneumonia for four days, I stopped eating fast food for a year. I discovered the food, or what passes for food, I was putting into my body was filled with too many bad things, and I felt better when I ate healthier foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and food my husband and I made at home. I discovered that the best foods were the meals we made from scratch that were not premade or just needed to be popped into the microwave.
After my second bout of pneumonia and a nasty bout of colitis when I lost ten pounds in one week, my unending love for fast food died a quick death by simply saying those two words, "Never again."…
All about wondrous herb Kratom
Kratom is a wondrous herb. The reason why we assertively call it wondrous is because it works in a peculiar way- it has different effects when taken in different dosages. There are active alkaloids present in the herb that not only make it an effective sedative but also help it double as a strong stimulant. And no, its effects are not entirely dependent on the dosage; it has a track record of showing different results in different people taking it. So, it won’t be wrong to call it a versatile herb.Now, what these considerations mean and make pretty obvious is that one shouldn’t begin with a high dose. You should start taking Kratom in a low dose to, at least, be able to figure out how your body adapts to it.
The stimulant level:
When you keep the dosage of Kratom low, it works as a stimulant working wonders on your energy levels. You feel more active, alert and sometimes, more sexually driven. There have also been instances when Kratom in low doses made people friendlier, chatty, and not much surprisingly, more sociable. A lot of people would love this version of their own self; but many also dislike being edgy or on toes all the time.
The Sedative Level:
When Kratom is taken in high doses, it reduces both physical and emotional pain. So, the user feels and appears calm and composed. There have also been evidences when the user felt like entering into a state of trance or extreme pleasure. This waking dream’ state induced from Kratom was highly popular in the 19th century.
There may be mild side-effects like sweating, itching or nausea but they subside when the user lie down and rests. The sedative effects of Kratom usually last for six to seven hours and the dosage may be increased for long-lasting effects.
What are the risks?
One of the biggest risks of taking Kratom is that it makes you feel extremely drowsy, and its users often fall asleep. Hence, it’s advisable not to engage in any physical activity that might cause dangers, post its use. Staying away from driving and operating machinery can save you from a lot of dangers. To steer clear from this side effect, you can take Kratom with other herbs or drugs.
Can Kratom cause addictions?
If consumed mindfully, it doesn’t cause addictions. Nevertheless, there have been a couple of reports …
3 Strategies for the best Men’s Health and fitness
These days, increasingly more men are interested in health and fitness programs. This is not surprising since most people are concerned about obesity and health conditions today such as diabetes, heart disease, prostate cancer and more.
These are more than enough reasons to motivate anyone to get into good shape. I’m going to show you three strategies for successful men’s health and fitness.
There is no easy and quick way for you to get in good shape, so you must be prepared to put in the time and effort to achieve the desired results. A combination of a healthy diet, strength training and cardio exercises will go a long way towards your overall fitness.
Just follow these three suggestions for a healthy and strong body:
- Record Everything: You want to write down what you are doing in your exercise routine so you can see how you are progressing. First, write down your weight loss goal. Then write down each exercise for your exercise routine.
How many repetitions of each exercise did you do that day? Write it down in your log. You will then be able to see where you need to change things for the better and how well you can do. When you have achieved your weight loss goal, this is a good time to add weight in your weight lifting routine.
- Each Session: Make sure you include weight lifting three times a week in your routine. This will help you to get the best results from your training sessions.
You will now be growing your muscles. As you weight lift three, maybe four times per week, you muscles have time to increase and rebuild. If you don’t continue to push those muscles, they just go back to where they were.
- Eat Lots of Protein: When compared to women, it is much easier for men to lose weight. Men’s health and fitness programs always recommend protein to grow your muscles and to help you recover.
In general, men who are working out 4 or more times each week must eat about one gram of protein on those days for each pound of body weight. It’s also important to eat meals with 0. 25 grams of protein right after each workout.
If possible, try to eat thirty minutes after a rigorous workout because your body will need some high-quality protein to recover fully. Build your muscles by breaking down …
Trending Skincare: 6 Benefits of Microneedling &ndash
If you want the ultimate rejuvenating treatment and booster for your skin, then Microneedling is just for you.
Microneedling therapy is a minimally invasive skin-rejuvenation procedure that involves the use of a device with fine needles rooted in it. The needles are used to make microscopic punctures in the outermost layer of the skin, creating tiny wounds which prompt the body to create new collagen and elastin to fill these tiny holes. The result is an improvement in skin firmness and texture, along with a reduction in pore size, scars and stretch marks.
Now that you know what it is and how it works, is it not time to find out what some of the incredible benefits one finds with Microneedling are?
- Microneedling for Fine Lines and Wrinkles
All that time spent in the sun when you were younger may have caused a significant amount of sun damage, facial wrinkles and thinning of the skin which results in the loss of elastin and collagen. You can expect to see significant improvement due to the fact it promotes natural elastin and collagen. Minimisation in wrinkles, fine lines and scars will all be remarkably noticeable. The build up of collagen and elastin also helps strengthen and thicken skin. This will reduce skin thinning that is often associated with ageing.
- Premature Skin Ageing
Microneedling applies the same function with premature skin ageing as with wrinkles and fine lines by prompting collagen and elastin growth. When the skin thickens, and the avoidance of collagen breakdown occurs, the ageing process slows down.
- Scars
If you are one of the many people that suffer from acne scars or any scarring on the skin for that matter, then MIRA Clinic skin needling Perth (Microneedling) is the solution for you. It is proven to immensely improve or even fade out the majority of scarring with the exception of keloid scars.
- Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are more stubborn to treat than most scarring; however, there have been several reports from patients who have been satisfied with the results from their Microneedling treatment.
- Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a condition in which small areas of the skin become darker than the rest. Often dark patches of skin form when the skin cells in those areas begin generating too much melanin. Over activity of the melanin-producing cells can be triggered by a variety of causes, including certain medical conditions and medications. Although, one …
How Music Impacts Your Workouts
According to research, music affects your mind and body. Mental changes take place in
your mind when you listen to music, boosting endurance by up to 15 percent and giving you an adrenaline rush that helps to further reach your goals of being healthier and more fit.
Four factors contribute to a songs way of motivating you; musicality, rhythm response, cultural impact, and association. Musicality is a songs melody and harmony, which are known as the internal factors. Your musical background or preferences influence you cultural impact and association which you the listener has with the music. These are known as the external factors. Rhythm response is linked to the beats per minute(BPM) of the song and the heartbeat of the person exercising.
Did you know that 7 percent less oxygen is needed when you work out with music? It also helps block out that certain part of your conscience that tells you to give up which boosts your exercise efforts up to 10 percent! The rush that you get from listening to music while exercising gives you that extra boost of energy that makes you feel as though you can keep exercising for hours on end. Since listening to music will keep your efforts up longer, your workouts will be more effective, this in return will have you leaner and in better shape than you ever thought you would be in!
What kind of music makes you want to get up and move? Any music that motivates you while exercising can increase your heart rate and numb your reaction time of being fatigued by a workout. Slow and energetic music is great for a warm up, but fast tempo music will get you up and raging during a workout. Just make sure that you gradually slow the music down towards the middle to the end of your workout so that you don’t burn yourself out to quickly.
The music that you choose to workout with does not have to be a certain theme, although it could be if you choose to. Whether your motivational music if from Taylor Swift to Lil Wayne all the way to BB King, the only music that will have you putting more effort and endurance into your exercising is music that inspires and motivates YOU.
If you have no idea about what type of music gets you revved up during a workout, try experimenting …
Parathyroid Disease
Most people do not know that they have one parathyroid, let alone four of them, but the parathyroid glands serve a very important purpose – to regulate calcium levels in the body.
Calcium
It is a well known fact that calcium makes strong bones and teeth. Less well known is the fact that our muscular and nervous systems also need calcium in order to function properly. The four parathyroid glands, usually located in the neck, just behind the thyroid gland, regulate blood calcium levels to ensure proper distribution of this mineral.
When blood calcium levels fall too low the parathyroid glands produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone or PTH. PTH signals the body to release calcium from the bones and into the bloodstream where it can be carried to the organs that need it. When blood calcium levels reach certain levels the Parathyroid glands will slow or even shut down PTH production.
Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Parathyroid disease, also called primary hyperparathyroidism, results when one or more of the parathyroid glands grows abnormally and becomes a non-cancerous tumor. When this happens the over grown gland(s) produces an excess of PTH, robbing the bones of calcium and overloading other systems. Over time, high blood calcium can impact the liver, kidneys, arteries, heart, stomach, and nervous system.
Symptoms of Hyperparathyroidism
Since calcium is used by the nervous system hyperparathyroidism will usually impact the way a person feels. Many patients experience an inability to concentrate, low energy levels, depression, irritability, trouble sleeping, memory troubles, loss of interest in activities, and fatigue. Physical symptoms can include kidney stones, high blood pressure, recurrent headaches, heart palpitations, acid reflux (heartburn) and pain in the bones. All patients with primary hyperparathyroidism will eventually develop osteoporosis (thinning of the bones).
Diagnosis of Hyperparathyroidism
Simple blood tests can detect hyperparathyroidism. Your doctor will check your serum calcium levels; if the serum calcium is elevated (above 10.4) your doctor will then check your PTH levels. If PTH levels are also high then the patient is diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. However, it is possible to have high calcium levels, but not high PTH levels. High calcium levels are always a concern and should not be ignored just because they are “slightly elevated” or do not coincide with elevated PTH levels.
Another test used to diagnose parathyroid disease is a sestamibi scan. When undergoing a sestamibi scan the patient will be injected with a mild …
Treatments for Canine Kidney Disease
According to Only Natural Pet, kidney disease is a common ailment for dogs over the age of 10. As your dog's body suffers from the normal wear and tear as the years go on, her kidneys can fail. When this occurs, knowing the different remedies available to you can help you and your dog's veterinarian decide on the best course of action for your dog's situation.
Diet
Your dog's veterinarian may recommend a special diet to help combat the effects of kidney disease. Usually, the diet includes low protein, low phosphorus and low sodium foods. According to Healthy Happy Dogs, low protein diets are controversial amongst some vets since if they are not monitored they can cause your dog to be malnourished. However, a low protein diet produces less nitrogenous waste which means less nausea and vomiting for your dog. Reversely, some vets will recommend a diet that is higher in good quality proteins. These diets are often made from homemade foods using good quality meat. Low phosphorus diets help limit the amount of minerals that build up in the kidneys which can help slow down the development of the disease. Low sodium diets also put less strain on the kidneys.
ACE Inhibitors
Depending on your dog's specific situation, your vet may recommend a medication, such as an ACE inhibitor. These drugs, which are usually used to help humans with high blood pressure and heart disease, can help slow down the development of the disease. They are also beneficial since there are little known side effects when administrated appropriately.
Supplements
Nutritional supplements can help the development of the disease in different ways. It's common for dogs with kidney disease to have problems eating which can lead to weight loss or anemia. Some vets will recommend giving your dog B-vitamins to help encourage your dog to eat. Another common supplement is Omega-3 fatty acids, usually in the form of fish oils. In conjunction with vitamin E, they can help decrease kidney swelling.
Other Methods
If you are looking for a more holistic approach, there are steps you can take. Lowering the stress in your dog's life can help his quality of life. One way to accomplish this is to give your dog flower essences which can improve the mood on your dog. Acupuncture is another option. Acupuncture is known to slow the development of the disease and help prolong your dog's …
How you can Know Healthy foods to Eat &ndash
Healthy foods are foods that enhance your healthy living. These foods make you grow. They give you energy with which to work. Eating healthy foods can heal you when you fall sick and it can help your body repair any damaged part. Healthy foods can make you look ‘every year young’ and they can make you have a healthy long life.
The foundation for a proper nutrition is in whole, pure and natural foods. Without proper healthy eating, you can never achieve and maintain good health. Good health through healthy eating is only possible when you know what to eat at the right quantity and at the right time.
There are five major groups of healthy foods. However, at any one meal, you need a combination of 2 or 3 groups in order to achieve a balanced diet. But first, let me show you the food groups.
- Whole Grains: Grains are rich in proteins, minerals and starch. This group includes foods like rice, oats, corn, beans, soybeans, peas, wheat, etc.
- Tubers: Tubers are high polysaccharide carbohydrates. When you eat this class of healthy food, their sugars provide the most important source of energy for your body. The foods in this category include potato, yam, plantain, cassava, etc.
- Fruits & Vegetables: When you regularly eat fruits and vegetables, you acquire a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that are needed and easily assimilated by your body. Some of these fruits are apple, orange, lemon, watermelon, banana, pineapple, avocado, etc. For the vegetables, your body needs tomato, cucumber, cabbage, pumpkin, carrot, garlic, onion, green beans, etc.
- Seafoods: Seafoods are high in fatty acids, iodine, omega-3 and vitamins A, D & K. The foods in this group include fish and fish liver oil.
- Fat: Fat should not be omitted in your healthy food diet so long as it is not more than 30% of your daily calorie intake. One of the best sources of fat is from cold-pressed vegetable oils such as soybean oil, fresh palm fruit oil and groundnut oil. These oils are rich in essential fatty acids, lecithin, and vitamins A & E.
Variety, they say, is the spice of life. Remember that by combining the above healthy food groups in the right proportion will help your body acquire the nutrients you need to boost your immune system in order to adequately fight infections; repair or replace dead cells and tissues; …
