Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood
vessel walls as it circulates through the body. When the
heart pumps more blood and if the arteries are narrow, the
higher the pressure. Narrow arteries also make the heart
work harder. Daily life events, such as exercise, stress or
emotions can cause the pressure to rise temporarily. This is
normal. But chronic high blood pressure must be treated.
Some of the symptoms of high blood pressure or hypertension
are headaches, nose bleeding and sweating. Hypertension is
sometimes also said to be the "silent-killer". In some
cases, it's symptom free until you have a heart attack or
stroke.
Blood Pressure numbers:
Systolic and Diastolic are the two measurements used in
blood pressure. For example, 120/80. Systolic, 120 from the
example, is the measurement of the blood pressure during the
heart beat. Diastolic, 80 from the example, is the blood
pressure level when the heart is at rest in between heart
beats. It is said to be in normal range when the measurement
is 120/80.
Diet and life style changes:
Consuming a diet rich in plant foods is one of the best ways
to reduce blood pressure. Plant foods are generally richer
in blood pressure-lowering potassium than animal products.
Also, they are not loaded with sodium, as many packaged
foods are. Salt (sodium chloride) plays a major role in
hypertension. People who consume less salt have little
problem with hypertension.
One teaspoon of salt contains 2,325 mg of sodium. In order
to lower the blood pressure its suggested to take 1,500 to
2,000 mg daily. But remember to consult with your own doctor
for individual intake levels. Some of the main source of
excess sodium in your system comes from packaged and
processed foods.
Some of the foods that are low in fats and high in
potassium, calcium and magnesium, which help lower the blood
pressure, are as follows: Whole grains, fish, nuts and
poultry. Celery, onions and garlic also can help reducing
blood pressure.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Fat Burning Foods
Want to lose weight the natural way? Then get to know now
what are the fat burning foods that could help you burn your
excess and stubborn fats naturally.
When you go for fat burning foods, you won't need to take
those fat loss pills and supplements widely promoted
nowadays. But of course, you need to be disciplined and do
some exercises. Some weight loss programs may help you
eventually.
Right now, here is good list of fat burning foods. These
foods are believed to burn more calories than the calorie
content of the food itself, thus fighting stored fat:
* Foods with chillies or red chillies - these can
greatly help as chillies actually contain capsaicin that is
good for increasing metabolism.
* Vitamin C rich fruits - include oranges, limes,
lemons, tangerines, guava, and grapefruit. These fruits are
known for having fat burning properties that cause dilution
of fat.
* Apples and Berries - have great fat burning
properties. Pectin found in apples help in absorbing water
from food which helps in releasing the fat deposits from
the body as well as restrict the cells to absorb the fat.
* Dairy products - include cheese, milk and yogurt at
most. Calcium in these products was discovered to increase
fat breakdown in fat cells, thus helps in boosting weight
loss.
* Vegetables - includes asparagus, cabbage, carrot, beet
root, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. These all have great fat
burning properties.
* Nuts - act like fuel so the body can burn fat. Eating nuts
will make a person full, so lessens the tendency for a person
to overeat.
These foods have the potential to burn fats, but of course success
will still depend on the person. Nonetheless, these foods must be
accompanied by exercise to make the most out of their fat
burning potential.
what are the fat burning foods that could help you burn your
excess and stubborn fats naturally.
When you go for fat burning foods, you won't need to take
those fat loss pills and supplements widely promoted
nowadays. But of course, you need to be disciplined and do
some exercises. Some weight loss programs may help you
eventually.
Right now, here is good list of fat burning foods. These
foods are believed to burn more calories than the calorie
content of the food itself, thus fighting stored fat:
* Foods with chillies or red chillies - these can
greatly help as chillies actually contain capsaicin that is
good for increasing metabolism.
* Vitamin C rich fruits - include oranges, limes,
lemons, tangerines, guava, and grapefruit. These fruits are
known for having fat burning properties that cause dilution
of fat.
* Apples and Berries - have great fat burning
properties. Pectin found in apples help in absorbing water
from food which helps in releasing the fat deposits from
the body as well as restrict the cells to absorb the fat.
* Dairy products - include cheese, milk and yogurt at
most. Calcium in these products was discovered to increase
fat breakdown in fat cells, thus helps in boosting weight
loss.
* Vegetables - includes asparagus, cabbage, carrot, beet
root, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. These all have great fat
burning properties.
* Nuts - act like fuel so the body can burn fat. Eating nuts
will make a person full, so lessens the tendency for a person
to overeat.
These foods have the potential to burn fats, but of course success
will still depend on the person. Nonetheless, these foods must be
accompanied by exercise to make the most out of their fat
burning potential.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Balance Training - Get A Complete Workout
Athletes in any sport must focus on several areas of the
body during their training. A strength-based workout
consists of much more than basic stamina and physical
strength; you can train for boxing by using kettle bells,
power bags and boxing rings to focus on your upper body.
This process will enable you to work on your flexibility,
provide a total body workout and will help you to become
aware of mobility limits. One simple way to achieve this is
to focus on balance training in your workout.
Balance training is used by many athletes, martial artists
and physical therapists around the world. It is a
concentrated focus on your body, of maintaining position and
coordination through time and movement. The power bag is one
example and is a useful tool that can be included in your
stretches before and after working out and it can be used
with equipment or be used free standing.
The balance ball is another example. This tool will stretch out
under-used muscles and help to increase movement, which will
limit any muscle adhesion.
While useful, balance training isn't something that you can
just rush into. Many physical trainers will tell you
outright what balance exercises will work for you and which
ones to avoid, as well as which ones can be dangerous based
on your current level of training.
As always, any training should be done in moderation and all
athletes should ease into their training as they go. Always
consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
The use of balance training combined with other,
muscle-group orientated training will have a
significant impact on your results.
body during their training. A strength-based workout
consists of much more than basic stamina and physical
strength; you can train for boxing by using kettle bells,
power bags and boxing rings to focus on your upper body.
This process will enable you to work on your flexibility,
provide a total body workout and will help you to become
aware of mobility limits. One simple way to achieve this is
to focus on balance training in your workout.
Balance training is used by many athletes, martial artists
and physical therapists around the world. It is a
concentrated focus on your body, of maintaining position and
coordination through time and movement. The power bag is one
example and is a useful tool that can be included in your
stretches before and after working out and it can be used
with equipment or be used free standing.
The balance ball is another example. This tool will stretch out
under-used muscles and help to increase movement, which will
limit any muscle adhesion.
While useful, balance training isn't something that you can
just rush into. Many physical trainers will tell you
outright what balance exercises will work for you and which
ones to avoid, as well as which ones can be dangerous based
on your current level of training.
As always, any training should be done in moderation and all
athletes should ease into their training as they go. Always
consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
The use of balance training combined with other,
muscle-group orientated training will have a
significant impact on your results.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Water Or Coke?
This I got from a very cool site: thatwasfunny.com As you can fathom
from the title this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, but I dare say, some of
this is true. What do you think?
from the title this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, but I dare say, some of
this is true. What do you think?
WATER
1. We all know that water is important but I’ve never seen it written down like this before.
2. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world population)
3. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
4. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.
5. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U- Washington study.
6. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
7. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
8. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
9. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?
COKE
1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.
3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of
Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, Remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.
8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.
For Your Info:
1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its Ph is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.
2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.
3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!
Now the question is, would you like a glass of WATER
or COKE ?
Once again thanks to thatwasfunny.com
Why A High Protein Meal Plan?
Weight loss and diet plans have become a full-fledged
industry today. As people become more and more health
conscious, they are looking for better and more effective
ways of losing extra weight and getting into shape.
Another addition to the many available diet plans is the
high protein diet meal plan. This plan requires you to
increase the protein content in your diet. This diet plan is
the latest fad in the health world as it allows you to lose
and control your weight without starving yourself.
Protein diet is not the same as Atkins diet. Atkins diet
allows its followers to eat as many calories as they want to
and that diet often contains large amounts of fat. A protein
diet meal plan involves food items with high protein content
but with limited calories and fats.
The benefits of a high protein diet in weight loss have been
recently discovered. Researchers have found out that a diet
with high proteins and lesser carbohydrates helps our body
to burn calories at a much faster rate. This helps us lose
weight and burn the fat that's accumulated in our body.
Another benefit of following a protein diet is that it helps
us consume fewer calories. Studies have shown that people
who eat a meal with high protein content don't feel the need
to snack in between meals.
Recent studies show that we consume more calories when
presented with a large variety of food items. By avoiding
carbohydrates and preferring only proteins, we also limit
the variety of food items we can consume. Thus, it cuts the
calories we consume and helps us lose weight.
So what exactly is there in a protein diet meal plan? Well,
to cut a long story short, this meal plan excludes all the
starch and flour based food items like bread, sugar,
potatoes, etc. But you are allowed to eat protein food like
meat and poultry. You can eat light carbohydrates like green
vegetables but must avoid all types of complex
carbohydrates.
This diet plan requires you to eat small portions of protein
rich meals many times a day. You can decide the size of each
portion according to your requirement. But before trying out
this diet, you must remember that this diet is not for
everyone.
You must consult your doctor or dietitian before trying such
a diet plan, in fact before starting any diet plan. And if your doctor
approves it, you can start your diet plan and start losing those extra pounds.
industry today. As people become more and more health
conscious, they are looking for better and more effective
ways of losing extra weight and getting into shape.
Another addition to the many available diet plans is the
high protein diet meal plan. This plan requires you to
increase the protein content in your diet. This diet plan is
the latest fad in the health world as it allows you to lose
and control your weight without starving yourself.
Protein diet is not the same as Atkins diet. Atkins diet
allows its followers to eat as many calories as they want to
and that diet often contains large amounts of fat. A protein
diet meal plan involves food items with high protein content
but with limited calories and fats.
The benefits of a high protein diet in weight loss have been
recently discovered. Researchers have found out that a diet
with high proteins and lesser carbohydrates helps our body
to burn calories at a much faster rate. This helps us lose
weight and burn the fat that's accumulated in our body.
Another benefit of following a protein diet is that it helps
us consume fewer calories. Studies have shown that people
who eat a meal with high protein content don't feel the need
to snack in between meals.
Recent studies show that we consume more calories when
presented with a large variety of food items. By avoiding
carbohydrates and preferring only proteins, we also limit
the variety of food items we can consume. Thus, it cuts the
calories we consume and helps us lose weight.
So what exactly is there in a protein diet meal plan? Well,
to cut a long story short, this meal plan excludes all the
starch and flour based food items like bread, sugar,
potatoes, etc. But you are allowed to eat protein food like
meat and poultry. You can eat light carbohydrates like green
vegetables but must avoid all types of complex
carbohydrates.
This diet plan requires you to eat small portions of protein
rich meals many times a day. You can decide the size of each
portion according to your requirement. But before trying out
this diet, you must remember that this diet is not for
everyone.
You must consult your doctor or dietitian before trying such
a diet plan, in fact before starting any diet plan. And if your doctor
approves it, you can start your diet plan and start losing those extra pounds.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Common Causes Of Migraine Headaches
With the fast paced lifestyle we all lead nowadays, it's not
uncommon that more and more people are getting migraines as
a result of the stress. This greatly affects our productivity,
not to mention our quality of living. Thus, modern medicine
has tried to come up with a battery of drugs to battle this
growing pandemic.
But even with recent medical and technological advances,
most doctors and scientist still can't identify the specific
factors involved in causing migraines. Some argue that it
has to do with the amount of serotonin in our brains. They
claim that when serotonin levels drop, the sudden imbalance
can lead to a migraine.
A migraine usually presents itself with a number of symptoms.
People often experience light sensitivities, with some saying that
they can see colors or spots in their vision. Others claim
that their scalp feels soft to the touch.
Mood swings are also a common symptom of migraines. People
can go from happy to sad, calm to angry, right before a
migraine hits, making it uncomfortable for the suffering
person and the people around them.
Most migraines usually come and go, but one that lasts for
days may be a sign of a more serious problem. Most stem
from personal bad habits, such as stress and an unhealthy diet.
Sleep and drinking plenty of fluids usually help, but you
can also take a few of the dozen or more over the counter
medicines designed to help relieve migraines.
With all that said, it's important to reduce the amount of
stress in your life. Not only is it unhealthy, but it is
one of the most common causes of migraine headaches. If
you do get a migraine headache attack, just try to relax and
find a quiet place to lie down. Pick some place dark, to
cut the effects of light sensitivity, and apply a cold
compress to your head, while gently massaging your scalp
every so often.
Food sensitivities are also known to trigger migraines.
Dairy and those containing dairy products, such as milk and
coffee, can also trigger migraine headaches, as well as food
additives like MSG. Excessive consumption of these foods
react with a person's body chemistry, triggering the onset of
a migraine headache.
uncommon that more and more people are getting migraines as
a result of the stress. This greatly affects our productivity,
not to mention our quality of living. Thus, modern medicine
has tried to come up with a battery of drugs to battle this
growing pandemic.
But even with recent medical and technological advances,
most doctors and scientist still can't identify the specific
factors involved in causing migraines. Some argue that it
has to do with the amount of serotonin in our brains. They
claim that when serotonin levels drop, the sudden imbalance
can lead to a migraine.
A migraine usually presents itself with a number of symptoms.
People often experience light sensitivities, with some saying that
they can see colors or spots in their vision. Others claim
that their scalp feels soft to the touch.
Mood swings are also a common symptom of migraines. People
can go from happy to sad, calm to angry, right before a
migraine hits, making it uncomfortable for the suffering
person and the people around them.
Most migraines usually come and go, but one that lasts for
days may be a sign of a more serious problem. Most stem
from personal bad habits, such as stress and an unhealthy diet.
Sleep and drinking plenty of fluids usually help, but you
can also take a few of the dozen or more over the counter
medicines designed to help relieve migraines.
With all that said, it's important to reduce the amount of
stress in your life. Not only is it unhealthy, but it is
one of the most common causes of migraine headaches. If
you do get a migraine headache attack, just try to relax and
find a quiet place to lie down. Pick some place dark, to
cut the effects of light sensitivity, and apply a cold
compress to your head, while gently massaging your scalp
every so often.
Food sensitivities are also known to trigger migraines.
Dairy and those containing dairy products, such as milk and
coffee, can also trigger migraine headaches, as well as food
additives like MSG. Excessive consumption of these foods
react with a person's body chemistry, triggering the onset of
a migraine headache.
Monday, 2 February 2009
I LOVE BANANAS!!!
A friend of mine sent me this piece on bananas, and since its my favorite fruit, along with strawberries, I found it brilliant and thought it a good idea to share it with you. Read on and be amazed:
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.
It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight:
and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:
According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'
PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe....polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.
What's your take on bananas, and if its not your favorite what fruit is?
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