Prevent Acid Reflux With Fermented Foods

We have a new 23-year-old addition to our work family. His name is Reid and he works in our finance department. Reid is a strapping and healthy looking young man. You would never think that he wasn't in perfect health; but illness wears many hats and can slowly tear down your health. I have the pleasure of working with Reid every day, but have not yet sold him on our healthy life style. Reid enjoys and embraces our baking and food preparation for lunch, but that's about as far as he's embraced our way of a healthier lifestyle.

Cleaning my office lead to a lesson in gut health

Well, Mama Yapp was cleaning the office and actually looking for dirty cups and glasses to wash. I love a clean office! While I was wiping off Reid's desk I noticed this wonderful young man had a package of Rolaids sitting on his desk and it was almost empty! EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK! This poor guy was suffering in my office and I had no idea! I know handling our finances may be challenging at times-especially, as a new growing business-but knew that there was more to his acid reflux than stress. There's been a problem brewing for years-maybe even since childhood.

We need to focus less on medications and more on balancing gut bacteria

Poor and/or inefficient digestion leads to low stomach acid and is the main cause of many ailments. If you think I'm exaggerating, here is a list of complications associated with low stomach acid:

• Damage to gut lining
• Inflammation of gut lining
• Malabsorption of nutrients
• Compromised immune system
• Accumulation of toxins and liver damage
• Brain damage that may lead to lack of self-control
• Impaired coordination
• Aggression
• Memory loss
• Muscle weakness and/or damage
• Pancreatic degeneration
• Food allergies
• Slow digestion

Does excess acid cause acid reflux?

It's funny how people assume acid reflux is normal and not the serious issue it truly is. As Weston Price Organization points out, just because a lot of people take anti-acids, that doesn't make it healthy. In fact, a healthy gut is actually very acidic and it's people with low levels of stomach acid that often have compromised immune systems. Why? Because low acid levels promote the growth of sugar and other bad bacteria in your gut. This interferes with your body's ability to digest efficiently. So even if you eat whole organic foods, thinking you're being healthy, you may not be addressing the real problem. Low stomach acid turns any fruit you eat into sugar and feeds the bad bacteria in your gut. Unfortunately, this makes your body crave carbohydrates and more sugar causing even more damage. It's a vicious cycle that causes much harm to your body. Acid reflux is really a sign of poor digestion and may lead to malnutrition! The Weston Price Organization states eating fermented foods improves digestion, supplies live enzymes and adds good bacteria to support digestive health and reduces acid reflux.

It's been estimated that almost 50% of the US population is affected by acid reflux.

That's an awful lot of over-the-counter and prescription medicine being sold. No wonder Big Pharma prefers medication rather than natural healing prospects. Dr. Mercola suggests that replenishing your good gut bacteria with fermented foods is one of the first steps to take in healing acid reflux. Many people believe that eating yogurt will help, but he cautions against eating store bought processed yogurt as it is high in sugar and low in live probiotic cultures. Any dairy causes inflammation, so yogurt is just not effective. Dr. Mercola states that there may be very few instances where medication is needed on a short-term basis. Unfortunately, many people stay on medication for years. Consuming acid reflux medication over a long period of time increases your chance of:

• Pneumonia
• Bone loss
• Hip fractures
• Infection with Clostridium difficile (a harmful intestinal bacteria)
• Bleeding ulcers
• Infection with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (a rare condition that causes your stomach to produce excess acid)
• Severe acid reflux (an endoscopy is needed confirmed that your esophagus is damaged)

Acid Reflux is more than heartburn and doesn't stop at the stomach.

Did you know that there is a connection between acid reflux and the colon? In a recent study comparing people diagnosed with acid reflux and those diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), 34% of the acid reflux patients also had IBS. Interestingly, 64% of those first diagnosed with IBS also had acid reflux. There is a definite overlap between the two diseases. Researchers are still trying to figure out which causes which, but to me it's like what came first-the chicken or the egg? Does it really matter? The fact is that both acid reflux and IBS are painful diseases that can be healed with the help of fermented probiotic foods! We need to balance our gut bacteria and replenish live enzymes and amino acids to help our digestion and our health.

Once again it all starts in your GUT and the balance of good vs. bad bacteria!

Yes, I know, I went there again. But it's true! Heal your gut; heal your body. Heal your gut; heal your brain. Heal your gut; heal your life! Seriously, heal your gut and you heal your blood, skin, heart and the list goes on and on! It's exhausting repeating this so many times and I know I may sound like a broken record, but I will keep saying it until my last breath! Sadly, I know many people who suffer from acid reflux. For example, my nephew Tim has been dealing with this most of his adult life and now has to sleep sitting up in a recliner bed. When you don't catch it early enough, much damage may occur.

Cleaning the office of clutter led to the process of helping Reid's!

So after Reid learned about gut health and acid reflux he decided to drink the proverbial glass of Kool-aid (or should I say fermented foods) and come over to the green side. He left the office that day determined to begin the journey to heal his acid reflux, gut and health. Because Reid has had acid reflux for so long, I know that he's not getting enough amino acids he needs. Fermented foods will not only replenish his good gut bacteria, but give him the amino acids his body needs to digest and perform at its best. We'll be sure to update you on his progress!

It may seem like this article is just about Reid

But it's about much more. It's about you, your parents, your children and your friends too. It's about everyone you care about! Be your own warrior and learn about the real causes of acid reflux and the importance of replenishing live enzymes, amino acids and good gut bacteria. How are you going to get your life and the lives of your loved ones on the road to health? From the inside out, it all centers on your gut bacteria! Is your gut waving a red flag?

Let the healing begin...

Tamara Yapp

The company's CEO and Founder Tamara Yapp, a mother of seven and wife, is the lively, relatable host of http://www.RealFoodRealLife.tv. She created this company and this show to provide information on the newest and most effective ways to lead a healthy lifestyle. Much of the knowledge Yapp shares comes from her lengthy journey interviewing renowned doctors and health experts, and conducting research to help heal her son CJ, who was diagnosed with autism, Crohn's disease and colitis.

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Head Trauma and Brain Injury - Learn What to Do Before It Happens

Perhaps it's a motorcycle accident, or even a car accident. Or suddenly hit by an object. Maybe someone carried out an assault. Or it could come from being too close to a blast that causes a sudden pressure change inside the head. Any way it happens, traumatic brain injury occurs far too often. It's estimated that in the US there are about 1.7 million occurrences. The chances are, therefore, that it will affect you, either directly or indirectly.[I]

The thing is, the injury could be really serious even though nothing much appears wrong on the outside. That's why it pays to have some facts at hand for assessing how serious it might be. Whether mild or deadly, the bottom line is that getting the appropriate help as quickly as possible means a speedier and more complete recovery.

How Does Brain Trauma Take Place?

The analogy of an egg can give you an idea of how serious brain damage can take place without much - or even any - outward sign of damage. Think of the cranium - all the bones that hold the brain - as being like the shell of an egg with the brain like the yolk inside the egg. When traumatized, the outer cranium/shell may remain intact, but inside, the brain/ egg yolk can be violently displaced as it is thrown within the white of the egg, or the cerebral spinal fluid.

What Should You Do Immediately?

First, you need to call 911 - or get someone to call 911 and get an ambulance on the way immediately if the injured person has:

Blood or clear fluids coming from the ears or nose;

Slurred speech;

Unconsciousness, confusion, dizziness, or drowsiness;

Unequal pupil size or blurred or double vision.

Do not move the person's head, as they may have a broken neck and you could cause them to stop breathing or become paralyzed from moving it. Instead if you have something cold, put it next to their head WITHOUT MOVING THEIR HEAD.

Then, assuming it's someone else and not you who's injured, you can help to a great extent by letting emergency personnel know the extent of the injury even before they arrive on the scene. Research has demonstrated that the more quickly an injured person is assessed and appropriate emergency treatment given, the better the outcome down the road.

If you're talking to emergency personnel on a cell phone before they arrive, here's some of what they will want to know. In addition to whether or not the person is breathing, it will help them to know:

• The person's eye opening response: do they open their eyes spontaneously, do they blink, respond with their eyes to verbal stimuli, command or speech, only to pain, or no eye response.


• How do they respond to verbal input: do they seem oriented? Confused in their conversation even though they have the ability to respond to questions, do they answer inappropriately or with incomprehensible speech, or give no response?


• What is their motor response? Can they obey a command for movement (such as can you lift your finger, stick out your tongue, etc.), do they move purposefully in response to pain, do they withdraw from pain, flex in response to pain, extend their body in response to pain or give no response?

The answers to these questions are ones that can tell professionals the part of the brain may be injured, the extent and severity of the insult, and the depth of injury, for example, and whether the person's head injury is minor, moderate or severe.[ii]

Aftereffects of a traumatic brain injury:

Once the emergency is taken care of and the person is medically stable, they may have been discharged from the hospital and told they can go on with their normal life. But that doesn't mean the traumatic brain injury problems are done. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the signs and symptoms of a TBI "can be subtle and may not appear until days or weeks following the injury or may even be missed as people may look fine even though they may act or feel differently.

The following are some common signs and symptoms that the traumatic brain injury is still an issue:

Headaches or neck pain that do not go away;

Difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions;

Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading;

Getting lost or easily confused;

Feeling tired all of the time, having no energy or motivation;

Mood changes (feeling sad or angry for no reason);

Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping);

Light-headedness, dizziness, or loss of balance;

Urge to vomit (nausea);

Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, or distractions;

Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily;

Loss of sense of smell or taste; and

Ringing in the ears."

If these symptoms are taking place, it's time to get to appropriate health professionals who can provide the ongoing care necessary to bring about further recovery and healing. This may take the form of targeted nutritional support, massage and/or chiropractic care, herbs, physical therapy or homeopathy.

As judgment and decision-making are affected as part of the injury, others may need to play an active role in seeing to it that these treatment options are found and instigated. That's because the very after-effects of the injury can play against the injured person finding these options, making the appointments and remembering to show up for them.

The bottom line is that the sooner these are put in place, the more likely it is that the person will be able to fully recover.

[I] Corrigan JD, Selassie AW, Orman J A. "The epidemiology of traumatic brain injury", Journal of Head Trauma Rehab. 2010;25 (2): 72 - 80.

[ii] This information is part of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which is based on verbal performance, motor responsiveness, and eye opening to the appropriate stimuli. Source: CDC. Mass Casualties. Available at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties.

For lots of tips to support your better health and greater well-being of body, mind, spirit, emotions and relationships, and to request a topic you'd like covered, go to http://www.betterhealthbytes.com. We encourage you to request a topic, especially because in doing so, you assist others who have the same concerns.

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What Causes Mental Illness? Clear Explanations In Dreams

After discovering the existence of the anti-conscience (because I was obeying the divine guidance in dreams) I didn't have time to think about this matter. I suddenly had to deal with various unbearable symptoms. My anti-conscience started attacking my conscience with the intention to generate a severe mental illness.

I had to offer resistance to all the absurd thoughts and the unbearable symptoms generated by the anti-conscience as if nothing was happening to me. I was working many hours in a store in the center of Athens (which belonged to my mother and my aunt), and I was silently praying all the time and remembering that I was fighting craziness. This fight lasted eight months.

Then, I stopped having absurd thoughts and unbearable symptoms. I had to get adapted to my reality after learning the truth about the human brain. This part was very hard, but not as hard as fighting absurdity.

I had to fight absurdity from the beginning of 1989 until September of this year, when I was 28-years-old. I worked for one year in a travel agency. One year later (in September of 1990) I had my first patient.

I cured a young woman who suffered from agoraphobia through dream translation. Her treatment lasted eight months like mine, even though my case was worse than hers. Eight months was the necessary time for a basic psychotherapy.

This was only the first treatment of a long list. After this simple case I had to deal with more complicated ones. However, I already knew all the stages of craziness. My fight against my anti-conscience showed me everything the demon can do to destroy our conscience.

So, from being an ignorant and neurotic researcher in the beginning of 1984, I became a mental health therapist in 1990. This miracle could happen because I precisely obeyed the divine guidance.

I don't think you believe that I could learn how to cure mental illnesses in six years only by reading books written by ignorant human beings, but if you do, I have to clearly tell you that this is an illusion.

Mental illnesses are invincible diseases. Only God knows how to deal with them. Our psychiatrists, neurologists, and psychologists may try very hard to eliminate mental illnesses, but they are invincible. Our knowledge always will be insufficient before this danger.

We depend on the divine guidance to be able to deal with mental disorders. Everyone must recognize this truth with humbleness and gratitude because God didn't abandon us.

God is an excellent doctor and teacher.

The lessons I had were superior. This is why I could clearly understand that our psychiatrists are doing everything the wrong way. Their dangerous medications destroy their patients' immune system.

The mentally ill must fight absurdity by offering resistance to the absurdity of their anti-conscience, otherwise they will keep having absurd thoughts and unbearable symptoms forever and never recover their conscience.

You can find sound mental health and become a psychotherapist like me by following the divine guidance in your dreams, and help other people do the same after translating their dreams for them. The doctor is God, and not the dream translator. You only have to translate the unconscious messages and help everyone put the unconscious guidance into practice in their daily lives.

God knows how to solve everyone's psychological problems. The dream translator simply follows God's instructions.

This is why I could become a doctor so fast. I'm a doctor helper. The real doctor is God, even though I assume the full responsibility for everyone's mental condition.

The safety of this psychotherapeutical method is guaranteed, while other methods are dangerous and inefficient. I'm not afraid to deal with severe mental illnesses because God is a genius and I simply obey His guidance.

I teach you how to understand the divine guidance and change your behavior after having this knowledge. Only God knows what kind of information can help you discover what you have to understand in order to solve your psychological problems.

If you don't have time for studies I can translate your dreams for you, but this knowledge is not as complicated as it used to be when Carl Jung discovered the extraordinary method of dream interpretation that accurately transcribes God's words in dreams.

I simplified and clarified his work. Learning the dream language is not a problem. The problem is the fight against your satanic anti-conscience.

Only by understanding God's words in your dreams you won't be automatically cured. You have to do what God shows you in your dreams. Your participation in your treatment is indispensable because you must acquire consciousness and become more intelligent as you fight your anti-conscience.

The knowledge you have must help you change your behavior and your life. This knowledge won't help you if you disregard it in your daily life. This means that you have to be an obedient patient to see positive results.

I will give you an example to help you understand this part. Let's suppose that you had a dream about one of your friends who is insecure and false.

Dream translation:

This friend represents a part of your personality that is insecure and false like him. You have to stop having this behavior because it is generated by your absurd anti-conscience.

Now, if you won't do what the unconscious mind is telling you, you won't be cured. If in your daily life when you are with your friends you keep having this insecure and false behavior, and i.e. you smile only in order to be kind, even though you dislike what someone else said, you are not obeying the guidance you had in your dream.

You have to fight this absurd behavior.

Why should you smile when you disagree with what someone else said?

Are you smiling because you want to seem to agree with your friends?

Or are you smiling because you don't think before doing something?

I will make you these questions when I will translate your dream, but if you will translate this dream based on my lessons you must make them yourself.

God makes you think and try to understand why He sent you a certain message.

Whenever you will perceive that you have the tendency to have a false behavior because you want to be socially accepted, you must stop and change your attitude. Instead of smiling, you have to remain serious if you disagree with what someone said.

If you will keep smiling even though you know that this behavior is absurd, you won't be cured. You have to consciously stop doing what is absurd after noticing it in your behavior.

Your participation is indispensable because you must learn how to control your behavior. You cannot be indifferent and keep making the same mistake, as if you didn't know that your behavior is absurd.

Your dreams and your daily life are connected. Your dreams are about you, your mental health, your past, your traumas, your present and your future, the people who are important for you, the person you love, the dangers of the outside world that can affect your life, and many other matters that could have a negative impact on your mental condition.

Christina Sponias continued Carl Jung's research into the human psyche, discovering the cure for all mental illnesses, and simplifying the scientific method of dream interpretation that teaches you how to exactly translate the meaning of your dreams, so that you can find health, wisdom and happiness.
Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com

Click Here to download a Free Sample of the eBook Dream Interpretation as a Science (86 pages!).

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Hand Surgeons Want to Help You Regain Mobility

In this high technological age of computers and sedentary lifestyles, we need to learn how to keep our bodies strong and healthy. We all have aches and pains from time to time, but how do we know when these are more than day-to-day wear and tear? Ideally, we never want to have to visit the doctor, but poor choices or bad luck can land us in the hospital for a variety of reasons. Hand surgeons can share some helpful tips about how to recognize that you've pushed your body too far.

One common issue is arthritis, or the degeneration of cartilage between the bones in our joints. There are a variety of types of this joint disease, which can stem from either genetics, disease, or overuse. Common symptoms include having difficulty moving your hands. They will be stiff, and it will probably hurt when you try to use them. A strong sign will come when you notice that you cannot return your joints to a normal, resting position.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is what we all think of when we consider computer-related injuries. It is caused by the compression of the wrist's median nerve and prevents the area from sending messages to the brain. As a result, symptoms include numbness, pain, and a "tingly" sensation in fingers, wrists, and arms. It may be most clear that you are suffering from CTS when your arms are weaker than usual and you have trouble holding on tightly to objects or completing simple tasks. Surprisingly, there is little research actually connecting CTS to repetitive use of the hands. While the exact cause is unknown to hand surgeons, it has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, joint dislocation, and fractures and hormonal changes in women, particularly during pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome, or menopause.

There are a variety of sports injuries that can contribute to degeneration of our elbows, which also fall squarely into the realm of the hand surgeon as well. They mostly stem from cumulative wear and tear and do not necessarily directly relate to sports, even with such names as golfer's elbow (cumulative trauma to the inner elbow), tennis elbow (cumulative trauma to the outer elbow), and skier's thumb (hyperextension of the thumb). The last of these has the simplest cause: you probably landed on your thumb and it went the wrong way. You may wonder if you have golfer's elbow when the inside of your elbow is tender and in pain, particularly when you flex your wrist and/or try to hold objects. The symptoms for tennis elbow are much more severe and include a burning pain and tenderness on the outside of your elbow joint and down your forearm. This pain often increases over the course of many weeks.

If you find yourself suffering from any of these conditions, you should see your local hand surgeon for a diagnosis as soon as possible. If you cannot see one quickly, ice is may calm the symptoms and make them more bearable. Heat is okay as well, but only for short periods and when interchanged with ice. Regardless of home treatments, it is important to get in touch with a medical professional ensure that you will quickly regain full mobility in your hand.

Looking for reliable hand surgeons? Cleveland, Ohio residents can learn more about area medical professionals by visiting http://www.oaidocs.com/OurAdvancedServices/HandUpperExtremity/tabid/8823/.

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In a Perfect Healthcare World

What can be done to bring the human touch back to health care?

The health care industry has seen some dramatic changes in the past couple decades. With the rise of technology, everything has seemed to gone digital. Health records have gone electronic, a new health app is born every minute, and telemedicine has replaced face-to-face appointments. Then there are all the new healthcare policies and laws that people have to navigate. Trying to get health care insurance was a big fiasco in itself. Meanwhile, workloads for health care providers have increased, causing a great deal of frustration and burnout.

As all of this is going on, many people have lost sight of what health care is all about, which is healing people and caring for them. Organizations have become occupied with ways to cut costs, make more money, and expedite interactions with patients.

Yes, there are patient advocate groups and people who do remember why they got into the medical field in the first place, it seems as if they've been lost in the shuffle. Progress is being made as their voices have become more amplified with the Internet and social media, but at the same time change doesn't seem to be coming fast enough. Because the media wants to focus on the politics and business of healthcare, we oftentimes get sucked into the drama, which is a major distraction.

You have to wonder sometimes if change will ever be made.

So what would this ideal medical world look like if we could shut out all the noise of politics and the business of healthcare?

First, there would be a culture of putting people first above everything else. Healthcare organizations would look out for their employees and ensure their wellbeing at all times. This means all medical professionals' workloads would be less so they're not experiencing burnout. Hospital executives would be concerned more with employee morale and patient safety rather than how much money they're making or saving.

As for medical professionals, the threat of being sued for medical malpractice wouldn't be a thought in their minds because they are so focused on being present with each and every patient. They genuinely care for their patients and develop relationships with them through constant communication. As a result, patients would feel protected and trust their healthcare providers.

Lastly, hospitals and medicine would truly contribute to healing people. Hospitals would be warm, inviting, and comfortable places. Processes and procedures would operate smoothly because everyone within the organization doesn't feel rushed, overworked, or overwhelmed with paperwork. There would be enough staff to take care of patients in a timely manner. People support each other and look out for one another. Everyone has the same vision.

What do you think? Can we work together to change the way people view healthcare?

Maria Palma is a writer for Nexus Insurance Services, a California-based malpractice insurance broker specializing in medical malpractice insurance.

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Importance of Awareness on Wellness and Health

Health and Wellness is about having an enhanced quality of life, personal growth, and potential through our positive lifestyle behaviors and attitudes. We can improve our health by taking responsibility of our own health and well-being by having an appropriate nutrition, physical activity, stress-coping methods, and a positive outlook in life.

Physical wellness involves factors that are necessary to be in our top condition. Achieving optimal physical wellness could be attained through the combination of exercise and healthy eating habits. It includes building our muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular strength and flexibility.

It is also about our awareness and responsibility towards ourselves in caring for our health for minor illnesses and knowing when to seek for professional help when necessary. It also enables us to understand our body warning signs and appreciate sound nutrition that will lead to enhanced self-esteem and self-control.

We need to maximize our level of health and wellness in order for us to live long and have healthy lives. This is possible through a balanced life in which we take care of our minds, bodies and spirits. We should focus more on the physical benefits of a good exercise and a healthy diet. In doing this, we are able to achieve a state of wellness and a sense of peace.

If we live a stressful life, wellness will help lessen these stresses and improve our physical health. When wellness is heightened, our productivity level will also be harnessed such as at home, at work and even in our relationships. It allows us to have a happier environment. We cannot only improve ourselves but also other people's lives.

First, we can achieve wellness through exercise and nutrition. Our bodies demand the right foods. It we exercise regularly and eat healthy and nutritious food, we will be able to attain wellness.

Second, we need to relax ourselves. We need to free our minds from unwanted stressors that would bring down our energy level, emotional and physical wellness.

Third, it is very important for us to maintain a healthy relationship with our family and our fellow. We need to boost our linkages and connections especially if we want others to support us.

Finally, we need to realize that wellness is completely up to us if we want to stay healthy, happy and live life to the fullest. We all have the capacity to accomplish wellness and health in our lives.

This article is about wellness and health especially in terms of physical wellness that is necessary to have a health mind and an energetic body.

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4 Unusual Ways To Improve Your Health

While there are many ways on how to attain good health, there are some ways that are uncommon, but they are very effective. If you are wondering which these ways are, here they are:

Shirodhara

This is an oil massage that is available in many spas. Here the therapist applies warm, aromatic oil on your forehead. The oil runs through your hair and creates a relaxed and blissful sensation that makes you feel good about yourself.

In most of the cases the treatment takes up to 30 minutes and experts have shown that it aids in improving your hair and scalp. It also relieves headaches, irritability, anxiety and anger.

Tongue scraping

Your tongue is an indicator of your overall health; therefore, you should take a look at it every morning in order to know your health status. If it has a layer of white film, it means that your system needs a little boost in order to increase the rate at which your body expels toxins.

To prevent the tongue buildup from going back into your system, you should gently scrape the top layer of your tongue using a plastic dental scraper. For ideal results you should scrape your tongue before and after brushing. In addition to preventing the buildup from getting into your system, tongue scraping aids in increasing the rate of digestion.

Nasal flushing

This method requires you to pour water into one nostril and let it run out from the other nostril. The practice has been around for thousands of years and it plays a major role in eliminating nasal congestion. This is because it removes any lingering gunk. It also aids in eliminating sinus pain. This is because all the itchy pollen is removed.

The practice also boosts your natural senses since it clears out the connected passages to your ears and throat.

Exfoliation and oil massage

Before you bath or shower, you should gently exfoliate your skin using a dry brush or dry washcloth. You should then massage your skin using natural massage oil. The oil can be coconut or sesame seed oil.

For ideal results you should use circular motions on your tummy and joints. Doing this aids in ensuring that your joints and nerves are relaxed thus healthy and fit.

Conclusion

These are some of the uncommon ways of attaining good health. For ideal results you should ensure that you do it correctly. For example, if you are massaging yourself ensure that you do it properly.

We have plenty of information on hospital and health. We also have plenty of health care tips that will be of great help to you. To get full access to the information visit the given links.

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Health And Fitness Guide: What Are Fitness Activity Trackers

Getting physically fit can be hard and tough, especially for individuals who are not physically active. However, thanks to the profusion of health gadgets in the market today, many individuals find themselves motivated to improve their well-being. One of these gadgets is the so-called "fitness activity trackers".

These trackers are popular among health buffs as they document the person's activities and provide feedbacks which might be helpful, especially if the person engaged in the exercise has ailments or wants to monitor their activities.

For those who are interested in purchasing a fitness activity tracker, there are some things that must be considered. There are several types in the market; however each one is different and figuring out exactly what one needs will help save time and maximizes the gadget's potential.

Fitness Trackers

Fitness trackers come in various shapes and sizes. Some are manufactured as wrist bands, sports watches or as clip-ons. Depending on the person, clip-ons are perfect for those who want to discreetly monitor their activities. Trackers that have features of sports watches help fitness enthusiasts monitor their activities and provide the user with details such as heart rate, calories burn as well as distance and steps made.

What to Look For in a Tracker

Before purchasing a tracker, it is necessary that one identifies what type of tracker would most benefit them which they can maximize in the long run. One of the things that one should consider is the features included in the tracker. Some have heart rate monitoring capability while others don't. Some devices that don't have the heart rate monitoring feature may have other special features such as blood pressure monitoring or calorie consumption which one might need. Other trackers also have GPS tracking enabled on them, sleep monitoring as well as other features. Do note though that the more features a device has, the more expensive it will cost. As a sports watch can be expensive, a fitness tracker designed as one can have the same features of a sport watch without the extra cost.

Another thing that one should also check is the battery life of the device. Some devices can last for three days, some up to a week while those with batteries included can last for a year. Device compatibility with smartphone apps is also another thing to consider as some devices can be synced with the person's smartphone and help make the data collection easier.

If you are interested in learning more about the best fitness tracker, please visit our site today. We provide reviews on the latest products in the market to help consumers make smart buying choices.

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Creating a Fitness Plan - The Benefits

You have a lot of choices when you are thinking about getting into shape. There always seems to be a better fitness plan that will really get your body back where it was or where you would like it to be. But frankly many of these hot new fitness plans may not be right for you or your fitness goals.

Why not create your own personal fitness plan instead of trying every new plan that comes along and hoping for the best,. You're a unique individual with your own skills and interests. You also have unique goals and challenges.
The benefits of creating your own personal fitness plan include:

1. It's based on your current fitness level - You know where you're at right now and you know your limits. This is important because it gives you a realistic starting point. It gives you the room to improve and grow without having someone else's expectations set upon you.

2. It's focused on your goals - You want to get a beach body, great! You want to lose weight, fantastic. You want to improve your endurance and run that marathon next year, super! All of those goals are wonderful goals.

Your fitness goal, whatever it may be, is what you'll frame your entire fitness program around. It's what will keep you motivated and excited to exercise and succeed. That just doesn't happen when you're working on a goal that someone else has set for you.

3. It fits your personality - The truth is that there are different types of fitness personalities. When you identify yours, and we'll help you with that, you'll find that exercise is much more enjoyable. And it should be fun, right? Exercise shouldn't be just one more chore on your schedule.

4. It supports your schedule - Speaking of schedule, when you create your own fitness plan you're fitting it into your life, not the other way around. It becomes a realistic part of your life.

5. It caters to your motivation style - What motivates you may be different than what motivates someone else. With your personal fitness plan, you create a plan that fits your motivation style. It's built into your plan and success is practically guaranteed.

When you follow the steps to create a fitness plan, you're not taking the easy road. There's a fine line between pushing yourself too hard and taking it too easy on yourself. This is why planning is important. Identify the types of activities you enjoy and what you want to get out of your fitness program - find what your fitness goals are. Then create a program that supports you to succeed.

Please click the CREATING A FITNESS PLAN link below in the resource author box.

Please visit http://www.Ct-50FitnessFatLoss.com for more DETAILS that may HELP with CREATING A FITNESS PLAN

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_L._Taylor

Comfort, Convenience, and More: How Concierge Services in Hospitals Work

Hospitals around the country are beginning to offer concierge services to provide their patients a level of convenience that was never before available. They run the gamut from arranging for pet care, picking up meals from outside restaurants, and many more.

Helping in More Ways than One

There are some patients who can't rely on friends and family members to take care of all their needs. For example, they may need to have their cars moved if they have to stay at a medical facility for an extended period of time, or they may need help writing a letter to their insurance company.

These services can be a huge relief for someone who requires extensive medical help that will keep them away from home for weeks or months. In some instances, people believe these services even helped them recover sooner because their minds were eased of everyday worries and burdens. Family members benefit as well because they are able to stay with their loved ones longer rather than having to leave to run errands. While many hospitals offer the service for patients and their family members, some offer them to their staff members as well. For instance, a concierge may arrange car detailing, clerical help, shipping, travel, laundry services, and also personal shopping.

Comfort and Convenience

Hospitals offer a wide variety of concierge services. For instance, most of them fill prescriptions for patients before they leave the facility, while others provide upgraded amenities such as robes, linens and, in certain circumstances, even spa treatments. Typically, the concierge will consult with a patient's nursing team and doctors to determine how they can best meet their needs.

Other services include access to a DVD player, a fax machine, or any specialty furniture they may need. In addition, they may help arrange pet visits, a morning newspaper, snacks, and beauty salon services.

Visitor Benefits

In some instances, these conveniences aren't limited to people undergoing medical treatment. Some hospitals provide concierge services to visitors as well. They may help arrange transportation to and from train stations, bus stations, hotels, and airports. They can also help arrange valet parking and even limousine transportation.

Room Amenities

There are some hospitals that will provide upgraded amenities to make a patient's stay as relaxing and comfortable as possible. They may, for example, bring in contractors or decorators to paint rooms in colors that will reduce stress, provide comfortable bedding for visitors planning to stay the night, and implement noise control features.

Many medical facilities have found that concierges not only improve the experiences of patients and visitors but can also improve staff productivity as well. This is a national trend that does not show any signs of ending any time soon.

Looking for great hospitals in New Orleans, LA? Find information about services and more by visiting http://www.ejgh.org/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abigail_Aaronson

What Are the Best Shoes for Your Feet to Avoid Foot Pain?

If you are suffering from foot pain or are trying to avoid foot pain, you might be wondering what are the best shoes for your feet to reduce foot pain. Certain shoes may be much easier on your feet and reduce your risk of foot problems and discomfort.

The Podiatrist Society will give an endorsement to specific shoes if they are good for your feet. Some of the more common comfortable shoes they have endorsed are: Dansko, Merrill and Clarke. These brands are designed to provide good arch support and a wide toe box. They are also constructed with a supportive cushioned heel to eliminate heel pain.

An expensive dress shoe that is designed by a female orthopaedic surgeon trained in foot and ankle surgery is Taryn Rose. These are designed especially to accommodate a painful foot while also providing the design appeal of high fashion.

If you have foot problems and you find that wearing high heels is painful, try wearing a wedge or platform dress shoe. It will give you more height while also putting less stress on your feet.

When looking for a running or workout shoe, the key components are a wide heel with a thick sole and a built in arch support. Workout shoes wear out. When they start to lose their cushion or the rubber on the sole begins to wear off, it is time to buy new shoes. Runners may want to keep track of their daily mileage so they know how many miles are on the shoes. Depending on the shoe type they should typically be replaced every 200-300 miles.

If you have a lot of foot pain, switching out shoes every other day is another useful tip. Changing your shoes will change the contact points on your feet. By wearing different shoes on different days, you may reduce foot pain. Alternating between two different pair of shoes can be helpful.

Walking barefoot on a hard surface such as a hardwood floor can worsen foot pain. If your home is not carpeted, consider wearing a shoe in your home for added comfort and support.

When you are shopping for new shoes, keep in mind that the toe box of the shoe should be wider or at least the same width as your foot. If you are placing your foot in a shoe that is more narrow than your foot it can create pain and ultimately a bunion deformity.

Taking care of your feet is important for your overall health and wellbeing. If you suffer from foot pain, standing, walking and running can be much more difficult. If you have ongoing foot pain or some type of foot condition like plantar fasciitis or bunions, you may want to seek help from a qualified medical provider for a diagnosis and additional treatment options. Ignoring persistent foot pain is not recommended since it may become more severe and lead to other problems.

Dr. Stacie L. Grossfeld is a board certified Orthopaedic Surgeon practicing in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Fowler-Kennedy Sports Medicine Center. Dr. Grossfeld currently works as a louisville orthopedic surgeon in private practice at Orthopaedic Specialists and serves as a team doctor for several teams in the Louisville, Kentucky area. Dr. Grossfeld also serves as a clinical instructor at the University of Louisville. To learn more about her Louisville orthopedic medical practice, Orthopaedic Specialists call 502-212-2663.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacie_L._Grossfeld,_MD

Heel Pain? It Could Be Plantar Fasciitis

Your feet take a beating every day. Think about how much walking you do in just your day to day activities. If you are active in sports your feet take even more abuse and you may experience heel pain. Even people who are not athletic can experience heel pain, and the most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis.

This is the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament which connects your heel to the front of your foot. The plantar fascia ligament supports the arch of your foot and helps you walk correctly. These ligaments act as shock absorbers and too much pressure on your feet can tear or damage them. This in turn can cause stiffness and heel pain.

Risk Factors

If you are carrying extra weight you are at a greater risk for this condition. Women who are pregnant may experience plantar fasciitis because of the extra weight carried during pregnancy. Long distance runners or people that stand on their feet for long periods of time, such as factory workers, are also at greater risk. This condition is more common in women than men, and in both men and women between the ages of 40 and 70.

People with existing foot problems, for example high arches or flat feet, and people that have tight Achilles tendons may also be at a higher risk for this condition. If you are in any of these groups you may be able to avoid plantar fasciitis by wearing shoes with good arch support and firm soles.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms are stiffness and pain in the heel of the foot. The pain may develop slowly or be a sudden sharp. Some people experience a burning sensation or an ache on the bottom of their feet. The pain may be worse in the morning when you first get out of bed or if you have been lying down or sitting for an extended period. Also heel stiffness may make it hard to climb stairs. The pain from plantar fasciitis is not usually felt during prolonged activity, but may develop just after stopping because of the flare up of inflammation.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your doctor will examine your feet and check for tenderness or soreness. He may also ask you to flex your foot while he pushes on your heel to gauge your pain. Your doctor may also order an MRI or x-ray to rule out fracture or other foot problems.

Most cases of plantar fasciitis can be relieved by rest and the use of over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen. If this treatment does not give you relief an injection of a corticosteroid into the damaged ligament may be a treatment option. A small and painless electrical current used in conjunction with topical corticosteroids on the skin of your heel may also be used to relieve pain and inflammation.

Physical therapy to stretch your Achilles tendon, plantar fascia, and leg muscles is a good choice for the treatment of this condition. In very severe cases surgery may be needed. In this surgery the ligament is partially detached and a second surgery is needed to lengthen the calf muscle. This is a very involved surgery and used only for very severe cases or in the event of an injury.

If you suffer from heel pain make an appointment with your doctor to rule out inflammation of the plantar fascia. This common condition can usually be treated easily with rest and NSAIDs, but if that does not give you relief be sure to visit your doctor and get the relief you need.

Kathryn McDowell is a health writer with a mission to educate her readers on a variety of conditions. She also explores the various treatments and recommends visiting an orthopedic doctor for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_McDowell

A Parent's Perspective on Mental Health and the Challenges Our Children Face

By Todd R Ramsey

I've always found writing a therapeutic venture. It allows us to strip away our feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and imagined reactions and take a good look at the items at hand. 

There is something about seeing your thoughts crystallized in writing that frees us. 

That allows us to share and reflect in an objective fashion and truly challenge ourselves to see through to a reality that is both part of our life and yet easier to deal with as it is expressed in writing - once removed as it were.

Take this article for instance. For many many years the subject of mental health has not been discussed openly in families, schools, or work. Yet if someone were to break a leg, get in a car accident, or suffer a fall down a set of stairs people can see the injury. 

They can imagine what it would be like to see another car come crashing into theirs or to feel a tumble down the stairs. However it is very difficult for someone to understand the level of anxiety that keeps a young child indoors or the constant gnawing pain that can only be removed by taking a sharp object and constantly cutting parts of her body and then in a wave of guilt, hide these from those who love her. 

We need to break the silence and spend time engaging our children.

There is an attitude in some circles that if we don't acknowledge a problem and cater to it it will go away (the ostrich) or that it is a phase that our children will grow out of (the idealist), yet today more and more children are dealing with mental health. Some of these do not survive this fight. 

Society has not coped well with this particular epidemic. Parents are not taught the warning signs and children are not taught that it is OK to be open about mental health. 

Children withdraw into their technology - learning to communicate and interact with the world from behind the screen of a phone. Parents give their children their space thinking that this is just a phase of growing up. In reality it is often a call for help. This call for help is cast out into the Internet and if the child is lucky enough they find virtual support. If they are not lucky, their sense of being alone, abandoned and of little worth grows. It is time to put down (or at least reduce) our technology and talk to our children. 

We need to hug them and accept them for who they are. Every child has value and needs to understand that we value them, love them, and want them in our life.

As a parent when our children grow older we try to remember the way they once were. We try to recapture that moment of joy when they said "Dad" the first time. Or when they took their first steps. Or when it was OK to walk through a mall holding hands with your little girl without getting weird sidelong glances.

But things change and the passage of time causes our children to take their own paths. Paths that can be terrifying for them and for us. We lose the ability to just hold hands and be together. Now it is rush from here to there, take them to friend's houses or even - tragically so - sit on the sidelines feeling helpless as they struggle with mental health issues, depression and suicidal tendencies.

Time passes and you watch the system that is supposed to be helping your child fails time and again. Finally in a desperate cry for help - or with an impulsive decision to end the pain, she attempts suicide. It is one week before her 19th Birthday.

After she ingests numerous pills (her stated "method" of suicide) she has the presence of mind before she passes out to call you. You manage to keep her on the phone while you drive erratically to her mother's house. Police and EMS have been dispatched.

At the hospital you wait overnight while toxicology reports come in and nurses continually check upon the little girl that you could once hold in a single hand. No longer, she is now a full grown adult nearing the cusp of her next birthday.

Suddenly in the midst of this you start hyperventilating. It only takes a moment for this to happen, yet you feel as if your beating heart has been ripped from your chest and raised high on a sacrificial altar. 

Panic ensues, tearfulness begins, the spiral continues as you frantically try to grip the edges and lever yourself back into a position if strength. Back into a position where you can rationally deal with the facts and the reality of your situation.

You have just had a panic attack. A small vision of what your child faces on a daily basis.

Reflecting on this you realize just how strong your daughter is. She deals with this feeling, the hopelessness and guilt and pain daily. Now you understand a little bit and can begin the journey to help your child.

Fast forward and your daughter, now approaching twenty, is out of hospital. She still goes back every weekday for a half day program. She is recovering and has good days and bad days. She fights everyday to remind herself of how much she is loved, needed and valued. 

You also remind her of this every chance you get.

Occasionally you hear people talking about mental health and how someone is 'better' or 'cured' and you feel a bit of anger. The reality is that mental illness takes time to heal. It could take years before someone is fully comfortable and able to manage the stresses of life or the anxiety causing moments.

Your job, as a parent, is to stand strong and support your child. Be available and be understanding. You do have the ability to help your child just be consistent with your support and avoid placing guilt.

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Todd Ramsey is a strategist, innovator and leader who focuses on developing leaders within his teams/client's organizations - whether they are at technology, telecommunications, or energy companies. 

His success is built upon understanding the real issues in a situation and approaching these with integrity, passion, focus, and driving results in a professional manner where the client (internal or external) feels valued and respected. Most importantly he is the father two wonderful children that he cherishes and would do anything for.

In addition to consulting on Leadership, Sales, and Renewable Energy/Telecommunications and Technology, Mr. Ramsey is the VP Business Development at Whitby Hydro Energy Services

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_R_Ramsey