Acid and Alkaline Forming Effects of Food

[Extracted from Dr Ben Kim's blog for everyone's information]

Is it true that each food that you eat can cause your blood to become more alkaline or acidic ?

The answer is : not really. The pH of your blood is tightly regulated by a complex system of buffers that are continuously at work to maintain a range of 7.35 to 7.45, which is slightly more alkaline than pure water.

If the pH of your blood falls below 7.35, the result is a condition called acidosis, a state that leads to central nervous system depression. Severe acidosis - where blood pH falls below 7.00 - can lead to a coma and even death.



If the pH of your blood rises above 7.45, the result is alkalosis. Severe alkalosis can also lead to death, but through a different mechanism - alkalosis causes all of the nerves in your body to become hypersensitive and over-excitable, often resulting in muscle spasms, nervousness, and convulsions; it's usually the convulsions that cause death in severe cases.

The bottom line is that if you're out and about, your body is doing an adequate job of keeping your blood pH somewhere between 7.35 to 7.45, and the foods that you are eating are not causing any wild deviations of your blood pH.



So what's up with all the hype about the need to alkalize your body ? And what's to be made of the claim that being too acidic can cause osteoporosis, kidney stones, and a number of other undesirable health challenges ?

As usual, the answers to such questions about human health can be found by understanding basic principles of human physiology. So let's take a look at the fundamentals of pH and how your body regulates the acid-alkaline balance of its fluids on a moment-to-moment basis.



pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a liquid is. With respect to your health, the liquids involved are your body fluids, which can be categorized into the following two main groups :

1. Intracellular fluid, which is the fluid found in all of your cells. Intracellular fluid is often called cytosol, and makes up about two-thirds of the total amount of fluid in your body.

2. Extracellular fluid, which is the fluid found outside of your cells. Extracellular fluids are further classified as one of two types :

* Plasma, which is fluid that makes up your blood.
* Interstitial fluid, which occupies all of the spaces that surround your tissues. Interstitial fluid includes the fluids found in your eyes, lymphatic system, joints, nervous system, and between the protective membranes that surround your cardiovascular, respiratory, and abdominal cavities.

Your blood (plasma) needs to maintain a pH of 7.35 to 7.45 for your cells to function properly. Why your cells require your blood to maintain a pH in this range to stay healthy is beyond the scope of this article, but the most important reason is that all of the proteins that work in your body have to maintain a specific geometric shape to function, and the three-dimensional shapes of the proteins in your body are affected by the tiniest changes in the pH of your body fluids.



The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A liquid that has a pH of 7 is considered to be neutral (pure water is generally considered to have a neutral pH). Fluids that have a pH below 7 - like lemon juice and coffee - are considered to be acidic. And fluids that have a pH above 7 - like human blood and milk of magnesia - are considered to be alkaline.



It's important to note that on the pH scale, each number represents a tenfold difference from adjacent numbers; in other words, a liquid that has a pH of 6 is ten times more acidic than a liquid that has a pH of 7, and a liquid with a pH of 5 is one hundred times more acidic than pure water. Most carbonated soft drinks (pop) have a pH of about 3, making them about ten thousand times more acidic than pure water. Please remember this the next time you think about drinking a can of pop.

When you ingest foods and liquids, the end products of digestion and assimilation of nutrients often results in an acid or alkaline-forming effect - the end products are sometimes called acid ash or alkaline ash.

Also, as your cells produce energy on a continual basis, a number of different acids are formed and released into your body fluids. These acids - generated by your everyday metabolic activities - are unavoidable; as long as your body has to generate energy to survive, it will produce a continuous supply of acids.

So there are two main forces at work on a daily basis that can disrupt the pH of your body fluids - these forces are the acid or alkaline-forming effects of foods and liquids that you ingest, and the acids that you generate through regular metabolic activities. Fortunately, your body has three major mechanisms at work at all times to prevent these forces from shifting the pH of your blood outside of the 7.35 to 7.45 range.

These mechanisms are :

1. Buffer Systems
* Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate Buffer System
* Protein Buffer System
* Phosphate Buffer System

2. Exhalation of Carbon Dioxide

3. Elimination of Hydrogen Ions via Kidneys

It's not in the scope of this article to discuss the mechanisms listed above in detail. For this article, I only want to point out that these systems are in place to prevent dietary, metabolic, and other factors from pushing the pH of your blood outside of the 7.35 to 7.45 range.

When people encourage you to "alkalize your blood," most of them mean that you should eat plenty of foods that have an alkaline-forming effect on your system. The reason for making this suggestion is that the vast majority of highly processed foods - like white flour products and white sugar - have an acid-forming effect on your system, and if you spend years eating a poor diet that is mainly acid-forming, you will overwork some of the buffering systems mentioned above to a point where you could create undesirable changes in your health.

For example, your phosphate buffer system uses different phosphate ions in your body to neutralize strong acids and bases. About 85% of the phosphate ions that are used in your phosphate buffer system comes from calcium phosphate salts, which are structural components of your bones and teeth. If your body fluids are regularly exposed to large quantities of acid-forming foods and liquids, your body will draw upon its calcium phosphate reserves to supply your phosphate buffer system to neutralize the acid-forming effects of your diet. Over time, this may lead to structural weakness in your bones and teeth.

Drawing on your calcium phosphate reserves at a high rate can also increase the amount of calcium that is eliminated via your genito-urinary system, which is why a predominantly acid-forming diet can increase your risk of developing calcium-rich kidney stones.

This is just one example of how your buffering systems can be overtaxed to a point where you experience negative health consequences. Since your buffering systems have to work all the time anyway to neutralize the acids that are formed from everyday metabolic activities, it's in your best interest to follow a diet that doesn't create unnecessary work for your buffering systems.
Acid and Alkaline-Forming Effects of Common Foods

Generally speaking, most vegetables and fruits have an alkaline-forming effect on your body fluids.

Most grains, animal foods, and highly processed foods have an acid-forming effect on your body fluids.

Your health is best served by a good mix of nutrient-dense, alkaline and acid-forming foods; ideally, you want to eat more alkaline-forming foods than acid-forming foods to have the net acid and alkaline-forming effects of your diet match the slightly alkaline pH of your blood.

The following lists indicate which common foods have an alkaline-forming effect on your body fluids, and which ones result in acid ash formation when they are digested and assimilated into your system.

Foods that have a Moderate to Strong Alkaline-Forming Effect

Watermelon
Lemons
Cantaloupe
Celery
Limes
Mango
Honeydew
Papaya
Parsley
Seaweed
Sweet, seedless grapes
Watercress
Asparagus
Kiwi
Pears
Pineapple
Raisins
Vegetable juices
Apples
Apricots
Alfalfa sprouts
Avocados
Bananas
Garlic
Ginger
Peaches
Nectarines
Grapefruit
Oranges
Most herbs
Peas
Lettuce
Broccoli
Cauliflower

Foods that have a Moderate to Strong Acid-Forming Effect

Alcohol
Soft drinks (pop)
Tobacco
Coffee
White sugar
Refined Salt
Artificial sweeteners
Antibiotics (and most drugs)
White flour products (including pasta)
Seafood
White vinegar
Barley
Most boxed cereals
Cheese
Most beans
Flesh meats
Most types of bread

Please note that these lists of acid and alkaline-forming foods are not comprehensive, nor are they meant to be.

If you're eating mainly grains, flour products, animal foods, and washing these foods down with coffee, soda, and milk, you will almost certainly improve your health by replacing some of your food and beverage choices with fresh vegetables and fruits.

The primary purpose of this article is to offer information that explains why I believe that you don't need to take one or more nutritional supplements for the sole purpose of alkalizing your body. Your body is already designed to keep the pH of your body fluids in a tight, slightly alkaline range.

The ideal scenario is to make fresh vegetables and fruits the centerpieces of your diet, and to eat small amounts of any other nutrient-dense foods that your appetite calls for and that experience shows your body can tolerate.

Saucha Oral Hygiene and Healthy Aging

by Ram

White Rose by Melina Meza

In the Sadhana Pada of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali we are introduced to the yamas and niyamas that can be looked at as universal morality and personal observances. The five niyamas are observances/practices of self-training and deal with how we relate to ourselves inwardly. In my previous blog article santosha or true happiness, I mentioned that happy people have an advantage over unhappy ones—they are not only healthier but they may also live longer. In addition to santosha, the second of the five niyamas is saucha that literally means cleanliness/purity. In Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sutras Patanjali describes saucha as:

Sauchat Sva-Anga Jugupsa Paraih Asamsargah

Through cleanliness (saucha) and purity of entire body (Sva-anga), the mind (tends toward the divine) gets drawn away (jugupsa) and ceases contact (asamsargah) with the external, physical world (pariah). When the physical body is clean, our five senses are controlled, the mind is pure and, we develop the awareness about our true inner self. —trans. by Swami Jnaneshvara

Saucha is purification on all levels (body, mind and our environment). It includes keeping our body clean, eating healthy food and harboring pure thoughts. A purified body brings clarity and purity to the mind. A clear and pure mind draws only harmonious impressions that allow the individual to walk on the path of truth. Thus, saucha not only lays the foundation for good health of body and mind, it also serves as an essential portal to understand our true nature. Therefore, it becomes essential to find time each day to practice the observance of saucha. The saucha recommended after a good night sleep is oral hygiene: brushing our teeth, cleaning the gums and scraping the tongue. According to the Ayurvedic system of medicine, clean teeth, strong gums and a clear tongue serve as strong indicators of a harmonious body and mind devoid of any toxins and negativity respectively.

Now research studies from several independent groups not only confirm the importance of oral hygiene but also suggest that diseases that affect the tongue, gums or teeth can negatively affect several aspects of our health and impact the aging process as well (see Periodontal infections: a risk factor for various systemic diseases and Toothbrushing, inflammation, and risk of cardiovascular disease).  Some of the conclusions from these studies include:

1. Oral disease increases the risk of many other diseases and is devastating to the immune system.
2. Oral diseases will reduce the length of your life. People with gingivitis and periodontitis have a 20-50 percent higher chance of dying than those who are free of this disease.
3. Men under age 50 who have advanced periodontal disease are three times more likely to die prematurely and three times more likely to die from heart disease than those who have healthy teeth and gums (after controlling for other pertinent factors, such as smoking, alcohol, and overeating).
4. Poor oral hygiene together with any associated diseases served as strong indicator of premature death. Young people who had a maximum oral hygiene index of 6 had a three to four times higher risk of dying sooner than those who had a hygiene index of 0 (0 indicating ideal oral hygiene and 6 poor oral hygiene).
5. Dental diseases and tooth loss not only make you look older, they actually make you older. Gum diseases not only increase the risk of many serious diseases but it can actually shorten our life expectancy These diseases can make our chronological age more than 3.4 years older. Furthermore, the absence of periodontal diseases makes you 6.4 years younger than the median person.

Thus, the evidence supporting the role of dental disease in general health problems are not only strong and conclusive, in addition the studies also suggest that by eliminating gum disease you can expect to live longer. Therefore, instead of choosing to have gold in the teeth, silver in the hair or metal plates inside the body, why not just opt for a regular oral hygiene and cleanliness. Remember, saucha leads to santosha so let’s begin the day with clean teeth and a harmonious smile!

Subscribe to Yoga for Healthy Aging by Email ° Follow Yoga for Healthy Aging on Facebook ° Join this site with Google Friend Connect

Subscribe to YOGA FOR HEALTHY AGING by Email ° Follow Yoga for Healthy Aging on Facebook 

Popular Black spots and floaters in the eye

In this posting we tend to definitely will enable you to obtain a helpful research motivated by simply seek regarding existing posts Black spots and floaters in the eye possibility argument considering various owners exactly who are searhing for the piece. with referrals Obtaining most of us work with many yahoo and google take a look at pics that happen to be strongly related to Black spots and floaters in the eye .

Pictured preceding it is easy to download and read and even keep it all within the personal pc disc drive to ensure whenever you demand it will be straightaway connected readily. Black spots and floaters in the eye will be the essential in your case who seem to wants to relevant themes. Subsequently we tend to only took typically the thing to gather the with regard to the advantage of the site visitors. Lesemarke some of our web-site the fact that will allow you to seek out extra reports associated with the actual key phrases

Black spots and floaters in the eye - that will help cultivate the interest of your prospects can be boastful to build this page. increasing the standard of this content might you put on in the future to enable you to actually comprehend right after looking over this submit. Last but not least, it's not at all a number of words and phrases that need to be meant to tell people. and yet a result of policies from tongue, we're able to basically show typically the Black spots and floaters in the eye dialogue upward right here

Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Update 14 Early Positive Results in Ongoing Gene Therapy Wet AMD and Stargardt’s Disease Studies

Last week, Oxford BioMedica and its partner Sanofi announced positive results in their ongoing gene therapy clinical trials for wet AMD and Stargardt’s disease. In an interim review of their Phase I (RetinoStat) and Phase I/IIa (StarGen) trials, the Data Safetly Monitoring Board (DSMB), an independent panel of specialists in the fields of ophthalmology, virology and vectorology, gave the go ahead to proceed to a final patient cohort in the Phase I study in the case of the RetinoStat trial, and to a third patient cohort in the Phase I/IIa study of the StarGen trial.

The companies announced the following:

DSMB highlights of ongoing RetinoStat Phase I study:

● Nine patients treated to date (n=3 at each of dose levels 1, 2 and 3)

● No serious adverse events related to RetinoStat or its method of administration

● Long-term safety profile now up to 18 months post-treatment (dose level 1)

● Successful retinal transduction, as shown by substantial increase in expression and secretion of endostatin and angiostatin proteins measured in the anterior chamber of the eye following a single administration of RetinoStat. So far, expression is sustained for up to 12 months post-treatment at dose level 1 (n=3) and up to six months post-treatment at dose level 2 (n=3) (The extent of the followup to date on dose level 2. Longer term results are expected to be achieved.)

● DSMB support received to proceed to final patient cohort (n=9, confirmatory dose level)

The RetinoStat open label, dose escalation Phase I study will enrol 18 patients total with"wet" AMD and will evaluate three dose levels to assess safety and aspects of ocular physiology.

The study is led by Professor Peter Campochiaro at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore and Oxford BioMedica has now opened a second clinical site at the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland with Dr Andy Lauer as principal investigator.

Further results from this study are expected in Q4 2012.

On the basis of pre-clinical data, it is anticipated that RetinoStat may require only a single administration which would give the product a significant advantage in the market over currently available treatments that often require frequent, repeated administration.

DSMB highlights of ongoing StarGen Phase I/IIa study:

● Eight patients treated at dose level 1 to date (n=4 severe level of disease, n=4 less severe)

● No serious adverse events related to StarGen or its method of administration

● Long-term safety profile now up to 12 months post-treatment (dose level 1)

● DSMB support received to proceed to third patient cohort (n=4, dose level 2)

The StarGen open label, dose escalation Phase I/IIa study will enrol up to 28 patients and will

evaluate three dose levels for safety, tolerability and aspects of biological activity.

In the US, the study is led by Professor David Wilson at the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon. In France, Professor Jose-Alain Sahel leads the study at Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Paris.

StarGen has received European and US Orphan Drug Designation which brings development, regulatory and commercial benefits.

Further results from this study are expected in Q4 2012.

As noted above for the RetinoStat treatment, on the basis of pre-clinical data, it is anticipated that a single application of StarGen to the retina could potentially either provide long-term or permanent correction. There are currently no approved treatments available for Stargardt disease.

John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford BioMedica, said:"The continued progress of our ophthalmology portfolio, supported by another positive DSMB review, is encouraging - particularly given that early RetinoStat data demonstrate sustained therapeutic protein expression in the eye following a single administration. The favourable safety profile of our novel ocular gene therapies further supports the wider LentiVector platform safety package with over 33 patients treated to date across the ocular and Parkinson's disease programmes."

Weight Loss Begins With Ambition Determination And These Tips

By Shana Gretzler

Losing weight requires hard work and dedication. Most people have trouble losing weight because they do not take it seriously enough and often, sabotage themselves by making bad decisions or they just give up too easily. This article contains many tips and advice to make losing weight a little easier for anyone.

When you are trying to shed the pounds, avoid temptation. Do not buy anything for your pantry that has the potential to tempt you away from your goals. Skip all of the sugary snack type food. Instead, fill your cupboards with all of your favorite fruits and vegetables. You can indulge on fresh fruit and vegetables and feel no guilt.

Eating an apple before every meal will help you lose weight faster. Not only is it a healthy way to get lots of fiber and extra water in to your diet, but it will also fill you up before you begin eating the main portion of your meal. You will eat less of the higher fat and calorie filled foods and therefore consume less calories overall. As we all know, less calories means less pounds.

A good tip to help you lose weight is to aim for a pound of total weight loss each week. If you lose more than that, it may not be good for you. Losing weight quickly is not only unhealthy, you will probably end up putting the pounds straight back on.

A good way to help you lose weight, is to reduce the amount of salt you add to your food. Consuming too much sodium can make you bloated and can also, raise your blood pressure. Instead, try to use other alternatives to salt or just keep your salt intake low.

When you're cleaning your house, why not clean your kitchen of unhealthy foods as well? Take the time to go through your cupboards, fridge and pantry and toss out all the cookies, chips and other junk food that you have sitting around. If they're not there to tempt you, you'll be more likely to eat a healthy diet.

A great tip to live healthier is to consume five or six small meals a day instead of the typical three meals. Studies have shown that eating smaller meals more often throughout the day will help you stay at your ideal weight because it boosts your metabolism and prevents you from overeating.

Drinking water is an obvious weight-loss suggestion, but did you know it can also affect your appetite at mealtime? Next time you're sitting down to dinner, try drinking a large (16-oz or more) glass of cool water before you sit down to eat. You may find that your stomach has less room for food and that you will eat less.

When losing weight it's important to not deny yourself. If you tell yourself you can't have something, you are going to end up wanting it even more. When that craving hits, only have a bite or two, and see if that causes your craving to pass. If losing weight becomes too complicated, you probably won't stick to it.

Say you're a condiment lover. You love to slather mayonnaise on your sandwiches. One of many small changes that can save you hundreds of calories over time is to simply use mustard instead of mayo on your next sandwich. Depending on how much mayo you used to use, you could save up to 100 calories from that simple swap.

Pilates Marin

As you can see, weight loss doesn't need to be a drastic, grueling, and miserable process. With small, measured steps and lifestyle changes, you can make serious progress gradually. Building a knowledge of your body and healthy ways to combat excess pounds is your first step to making a better life!

About the Author:

Synergy+ is a fitness and rehabilitation studio located in Corte Madera, California and offers great fitness alternatives for women at the Pilates Marin studio. Check out their website for more information at http://synergyptpilates.com

How Pasco County Chiropractic Care Helps Relieve Back Pain Safely And Naturally

By Hector Calibugar

Therapy includes a comprehensive approach and the means of restoring physical operation without surgery or harsh methods. Pasco County chiropractic focuses on supporting balance of the spinal column and bodily wellness with the aim of improving health and mobility without limitations. The experience of back pain requires a very specific approach to identify the cause and the appropriate recovery plan for improved physical operation.

Back pain is a common condition that includes symptoms in the upper vertebrae to lower spine. Men and women suffering from debilitating symptoms can result from both acute and chronic disorders that may benefit from spinal alignment where imbalance is present. A chiropractor must examine the spine, joints, and tissues to determine the factors affecting wellness.

Misalignment of the spinal column can be caused by trauma to the back, obesity, and bad posture. The changes in positions of the vertebrae can cause severe strain on its connected nerves and soft tissues. The pressure requires corrective methods to protect the nervous tissues and the symptoms associated with abnormal structures.

Back pain resulting from a misaligned spinal column can be addressed with the application of adjustments. The chiropractor will use a small instrument or hands to apply pressure to the spine and return the joints to its original state. Once aligned, stress on physical components is relieved and a gradual reduction in symptoms may occur.

Muscle tension in the lumbar region can cause ongoing dysfunction and may occur due to sports, sudden slips, and physical actions. Swelling, inflammation, and tension in the upper cervical spine may be combined with headaches. The application of natural technique to relax the tissues and rehabilitation through exercise can strengthen tissues and promote flexibility.

Once the structural alignment of the body is balanced, it promotes fuller function. Nerve irritation and muscle tension are leading causes of back ache and can be corrected without invasive measures. For both sudden injuries and chronic conditions, recovery and management plans can be created to provide all patients with relief and smooth operation.

About the Author:

Chiropractic care alleviates migraine headache, neck, back and hip pain naturally, safely and quickly. Get more info about a well-respected Pasco County chiropractic doctor at http://www.cravenchiropractic.com now.

Getting Fit Takes Difficult Work And Persistence

By Michael King

Fitness should be enjoyable. Many people don't realize that they can have a great time while strengthening their body. The tips that are offered below will introduce you to exciting strategies that fitness can be merged into your life and improve your general health. You're the sole one that may make the choice to be healthy.

If you want to get into shape, the best thing you can do is to combine different types of exercises. To get the best from your time you need to work all of your different muscle groupings. Do arm exercises, leg exercises, and cardio exercises fairly constantly to ensure that you whole body gets a good work out.

Get a pet. Pets keep you more active. While just about any kind of pet will add some extra movement and responsibility to your day, pets that you have to walk are usually ideal. Walking the dog is a terrific way to add slightly more fitness to your average routine.

If you would like to raise your fat consuming potential, it's a good idea to exercise early in the morning. Exercising when you wake up, kicks your metabolic rate into overdrive and lets you stay energized all day. The food you consume will be broken down more efficiently and you're much less certain to store subcutaneous fat, after morning exercise routines.

Reduce the prospects of being wounded by walking with correct posture. Your shoulders should be back and your body upright. Keep your elbows at right angles as you swing your arms. Swing your arms in opposition to your forward foot. When you take a step let you heel fall first then move the remainder of your foot forward.

After each workout, one thing you might need to do is take protein. This can be either in the shape of a protein shake, a protein bar, or basically any meat product. This allows for your muscles to recover faster from your workout and overall make your muscles grow larger.

When attempting to be physically fit, cardiovascular exercise should play a part in your exercise routine. Any kind of movement that gets your heart beating fast (running, riding a bike) will really help to burn calories, and keep off unwished-for fat. Cardiovascular exercise will help in keeping your body healthy and powerful.

One critical tip for living healthy is to get a sufficient amount of exercise. You should intend to do both aerobic coaching and strength training at least three times per week. Doing both of these can help to cut cardiovascular risk, weight and diabetes. Exercise in addition has been shown to reduce stress and depression.

Having trouble keeping up with your exercise? If you only train in a gym, that might be a part of the reason why. Try some outdoor exercising so you can enjoy unpolluted air and nature. This will invigorate your workout routine and breath new life into your dedication to fitness.

Working out doesn't need to be a chore, uninteresting, or irritating. The tips above have provided you with valuable info with regard to setting and reaching fitness targets. Getting healthy does not have to be difficult after you find something that you really like doing.

About the Author:

These fitness tips have been brought to you by the playground gym. They are the leader in Crossfit Fort Lauderdale . If you are looking for a Fort Lauderdale Crossfit give them a call today.

Doterra Essential Oils Kits And Their Many Usages

By Roseann Hudson

In the olden days, you would see that in every household you can see different kinds of substances. These are plant extracts that are used to treat minor illnesses such as cough and colds. As of today, it is still widely used but for a different purpose already.

As a person, you are bound to have several favorites. In this case, you would likely want to have an entire set of good smelling essential oils that you can use everyday. This is the reason why companies who manufacture these kinds of products offer entire packages. For example, the Doterra essential oils kits that contain a variety of oils. They are also offering varying packages according to what the customer wants.

The main use of these oils these days are to spread a good scent. If you are having odor problems then this is the natural solution for it. But in the olden days, these things are primarily use as medication for the different types of illnesses. It is natural since it is extracted from different herbs and plants. It gives off scents and it is also beneficial for the health.

Contrary to the believe of many, these substances does not contain any kind of fat. This is the reason why others do not use it. But it is only called oils because of its consistency that is quite similar to that of an oil.

If you think that just because it makes your place smell good, the benefits are limited there. There are still other things that you could get from essential oils. And these functions can be more essential than just making your room smell good. You can also use it to freshen up the clothes that you have in the cabinets and drawers. Because there are certain garments that you do not use often, it might smell old. And that is not a very good scent. What you can do is drop a few oils on it.

Your bathroom has the capacity to stink up your whole place. This is especially so if it is not cleaned well. One tip that you should follow is to put a few drops in a few cotton balls. Be sure to put it in places where it would not get wet since this would lessen the fragrance that it would give off.

If you are going to use your vacuum for cleaning, you can also spread the good smell this way. By adding a strip of cloth with oil at the sucking end of the vacuum, you can scatter the scent and sanitize at the same time.

Another area where these essences are of great use is your cooking site. In some situations, the odor of the food that you are cooking is so strong that it lingers for a longer period of time and would stick to some of the garments hanging in your kitchen like the curtains. The advice for this is to mask it with spice oils.

When buying an entire kit, you need to see if it contains all of the fragrances and essentials that you like. Remember that it can be used as a medication. And you should be sure that the kit is complete with all of it to ensure that your money is worth it.

About the Author:

Find an overview of the benefits you get when you purchase doTERRA essential oils kits online and view our selection of kits at http://www.discovernaturalsolutions.com now.

Yoga for Better Sleep Workshop and Tip

by Nina

Cairns by Nina Zolotow

I don’t teach workshops very often, but when I do, I focus on topics I really care about. My upcoming workshop on Saturday April 6th, 2-5pm at Brentwood Yoga Center focuses on one of my favorite topics: Yoga for Better Sleep. (to register, go to http://brentwoodyogacenter.com/workshops ) This is topic is dear to my heart because, well, it’s something I have to practice myself on a regular basis. Even small amounts of stress can disrupt my ability to fall sleep or to sleep soundly (interestingly, that’s something that seems to run in my family). Fortunately I’ve learned a number of techniques both for reducing my stress levels in general and for lulling myself to sleep while I’m in bed. And my feeling about teaching these techniques to others is that if I’ve helped just one person to achieve better sleep, than I’ve been successful!

I’ve written about this topic in general on the blog (see Day to Night and Yoga for Insomnia, Part 1). But the other night as I was lying in bed not sleeping, I realized that if I had to choose one single technique above all the others, it would be the breath practice I turn to almost automatically these days. And I decided then and there I wanted to share it with you all.

For most of us, what is happening when we’re lying in bed sleepless is that our minds are churning, thinking about the day’s events, ruminating about the past or worrying about the future, which stimulates our nervous systems. Turning our minds to a neutral focus, such as the breath, allows us to let go—at least temporarily—of those disturbing thoughts and helps calm the nervous system, switching on the relaxation response. And in my case, after 10 to 20 minutes of breath practice, I almost always end up drifting back to sleep.

Start by practicing simple breath awareness. This means focusing your mind on how your breath moves in your body, perhaps on how your belly rises and falls with your breath or, if it’s easier, how your chest moves with your breath. You could also focus on the more subtle sensations, such as the feeling of your breath moving in and out or your nostrils or, if you prefer, the sound your breath makes in your body. I actually like to lie on my back with my hands on my  belly because that makes it very easy for me to feel the movement in my abdomen.

For some of you, this simple practice may be enough. For myself, I like to use a more structured technique of extending my exhalation. Extending the exhalation in particular helps calm the nervous system (your heart rate slows on your exhalation) but I also find it engages my mind more completely. To do this, when you reach the end of your exhalation, simply add a beat or two—without straining—before turning on to your inhalation. Keep it relaxed and easy. And if the practice aggravates you, simply return to your natural breath.

If at any point you realize your attention has wandered from your breath (it will, of course), simply—and without self judgment—bring your attention back to your breath.

I confess that, in addition to all that, I also count my breaths. I got the idea from Baxter who showed me a technique using your fingers that he learned when he studied at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Madiram. This really helps me keep my mind engaged, and when I start to really lose track of where I am, that’s when I’m starting to fall asleep. However, this may be, well, too anal for you. (Hey, I’m just trying to be honest about what I really do—and what really works for me.) Basically, you need to experiment and see what works for you. Maybe you’ll even come up with new variations. If whatever you are doing is working, then it’s right for you.

You can do this breath practice every night when you get into bed or just on those nights when you start to realize—it sometimes takes a while catch yourself—that you’re having trouble falling asleep or are wide awake in the middle of the night.

I have more tricks up my sleeve and hope to share them with some of you in person at my April workshop, but in the meantime, if I help just one person.....

Subscribe to Yoga for Healthy Aging by Email ° Follow Yoga for Healthy Aging on Facebook ° Join this site with Google Friend Connect

Important Facts On Gastric Banding And Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Martha Foster

Lifestyle changes are highly recommend as ways of losing weight and remaining healthy. Unfortunately, these two are not effective in everyone and there is often a need for other options. Surgical weight loss procedures such as gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy have increased in popularity in New York in recent years due to their effectiveness and safety profile. The two are types of bariatric surgery.

The two types of procedures are restrictive surgeries. This means that they reduce the size of the stomach which effectively reduces the amount of food that it can hold. Persons who have had the procedures begin to have early satiety which reduces their food intake. Over time, they begin to lose weight since most of the food that is eaten is used to provide energy and very little, if any, is stored as fat.

Gastric banding is achieved by use of a silicon band using laparascopic approach. When the band is slipped onto the upper part of the stomach (the fundus), it squeezes it to leave just a small outlet. The estimated capacity of this pouch is one ounce of food. Laparascopic procedures, use small entry points (ports) that result in smaller scars later on. This is in contrast to open surgeries in which large incisions have to be made.

The band is usually connected to the skin using a small plastic tube. This helps the surgeon (and the patient) to exert some control over the band. By injecting or removing saline (or water) into this tube, the pressure that is exerted on the stomach can be increased or reduced as desired. An increase in the squeeze may be needed if the rate of weight loss is too slow. A reduction may be needed, on the other hand, if there are adverse side effects of the operation.

The results of gastric banding greatly vary from one person to another. Studies show that most people achieve weight loss of between 40 and 50% in a few months. While it is a generally safe procedure, there are a number of side effects that one should anticipate. Those that are most commonly encountered include vomiting, nausea, minor bleeding and infections. Adjusting the squeeze helps reduce the nausea and vomiting.

Sleeve gastrectomy (or gastric sleeve) refers to the surgical removal of a part of the stomach. This may be as much as 80%. The remaining stomach is a tubular pouch which closely resembles a banana. This method helps reduce weight in two ways: reduced capacity of the stomach and faster movement of food (hence less absorption). The shape is also believed to influence gastric hormone production such that one feels less hungry.

Sleeve gastrectomy is safe for use in children and adolescents. There are no adverse effects on growth for children aged less than fourteen years according to studies. The main side effects of this operation include leakage, aversion to food, vomiting, esophageal spasms and infections among others. With time, the stomach may dilate. This occurs over years and is rarely a cause for worry.

The two bariatric operations are usually done as day cases. You can home on the same day that you are operated. One can resume their daily routine within 24 to 48 hours. The general advice is that one remains on light diet consisting of mashed up foods and liquids for at least two weeks. Soft foods and the regular diet follow thereafter.

About the Author:

If you are looking for info about gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy, go to our web pages online here today. Further details are available at http://lapspecialists.com now.

PRIVATE CLIENT STUDIES – Arthur D Little 1972 1994 and Spectrum Consulting 1994 2001

In addition to the hundreds of articles and columns written over my 30-plus years of consulting, I led over 100 client-sponsored studies, covering a variety of topics. Here are the titles of most of the reports I either wrote or led the effort in producing. Some of the titles have been partly redacted to prevent identification of the client.

Note that nearly all of the studies until 1985 involved contact lenses, at which time I began consulting in medical lasers.

(Bolded studies can be found online.)

1972
● Worldwide Review of Soft Contact Lenses Made of Hydron (B&L Soflens), August 1972

1974
● Technological Developments in Ophthalmic Lens Materials and Processes, February 1974

1976
● The Contact Lens Business--An Emerging Opportunity, June 1976
● Investigation of the Coating Buildup Problem on Soft Contact Lenses, November 1976
● The Soft Contact Lens Business--Profile of an Opportunity, December 1976

1978
● Technical Assessment of a Soft Contact Lens Automated Machining Center, April 1978

1979
● The Contact Lens Solutions Business: An Opportunity for -- --, January 1979
● An Evaluation of Wesley-Jessen's Contact Lens Technology, August 1979
● Identification of a Soft Contact Lens Licensing Partner for -- --, November 1979
● Current and Future Developments in the Contact Lens Industry, December 1979
● An Evaluation of Titmus Eurocon's Contact Lens Technology, December 1979

1980
● A Technology Forecast: Vision Devices 1980-2000, January 1980
● The Development of an Improved Eyeglass Frame Material and Manufacturing Process, March 1980

1981
● Projections of the Markets for Hard Gas Permeable Contact Lenses, January 1981
● The Technical Evaluation of Frontier Contact Lenses Inc., January 1981
● An Overview of the U.S. Contact Lens Business, January 1981
● The Development of Novel Low Cost Disinfection Systems for Soft Contact Lenses, February 1981
● A Worldwide Review of Hard Gas Permeable Contact Lenses, February 1981
● Technical Evaluation of a New Contact Lens Manufacturing Process, February 1981
● An Analysis of the Contact Lens Business of -- --, March 1981
● A Worldwide Overview of the Ophthalmic Industry for the Scottish Development Authority, June 1981
● A Comparison of Low, Medium, and High Water Content Contact Lens Systems, July 1981

1982
● Technical Evaluation of an IOL Research and Manufacturing Operation, January 1982
● The Offering of a Contact Lens Company to Prospective Buyers, Winter 1982
● The Offering of a Retail Optical Business (Inventory, Lab Equipment and Fully-Equipped Dispensing Offices) to Prospective Buyers, Spring 1982
● The Development of a Low Cost Chemical Disinfection System for Soft Contact Lenses, February 1982
● An Overview of Diagnostic and Surgical Ophthalmic Equipment, July 1982
● Current Developments in Hard Gas Permeable Contact Lenses, December 1982

1983
● Assessment of a New Contact Lens Manufacturing Technology, January 1983
● Evaluation of a Soft Lens Cleaning Device, February 1983
● Technological Developments in the U.S. Contact Lens Industry, April 1983
● Near Term Trends in the U.S. Contact Lens Industry, June 1983
● Technological Assessment of -- --, October 1983
● Packaging of a Peroxide Neutralization System, November 1983
● Analysis of R&D and Regulatory Capabilities of Major U.S. Contact Lens Companies, December 1983

1984
● Background Papers on Soft Contact Lenses and Care Products, January 1984
● A Background Report on the Contact Lens Industry in the U.S., January 1984
● The Establishment of a Transfer Price for Contact Lens Blanks, January 1984
● Development of a Tensile Testing Method for Contact Lens Materials, January 1984
● An Overview of Trends and Developments in Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses, March 1984
● The Offering of a Contact Lens Laboratory and Fitting Clinic, April 1984
● The Establishment of a Transfer Price for Intraocular Lenses, April 1984
● The Outlook for the Ophthalmic Products Industry, May 1984
● An Assessment of Competitive Soft Lens Tinting Technologies, June 1984
● Current Trends in the U.S. Contact Lens Industry, September 1984
● Survey of Practitioner Attitudes Toward Cosmetic Extended Wear, November 1984

1985
● Comparison of Estimated Soft Lens Manufacturing Costs, February 1985
● An Update of Near Term Trends in the U.S. Contact Lens Industry, May 1985
● Contact Lens Manufacturing Techniques, August 1985
● The Offering of a New Soft Bifocal Contact Lens for Licensing, September 1985
● Entry Strategy to the U.S. Contact Lens Market, October 1985
● Update of the U.S. Ophthalmic Industry, November 1985
● Technology Assessment of the Green YAG Laser, November 1985

1986
● The Outlook for Refractive Surgery: The Impact of the LRK Technique, March 1986
● The Valuation of an IOL and a Surgical Instrument Companies, June 1986
● The Valuation of an Ophthalmic Products Company, November 1986
● A Brief Study of the CL Market in Japan, November 1986
● The Valuation of an Ophthalmic Instrument Company, December 1986

1987
● Ophthalmology Technical Alert Service, 1987
● An Overview of the Presbyopic Market Place: The Prospects for a New Viable Bifocal Contact Lens Design, February 1987
● A Detailed Survey of the CL Market in Japan, February 1987
● The Outlook for Viscoelastic Substances in Ophthalmology, May 1987
● An International Overview of Contact Lenses, June 1987
● The Nature and Evolution of the Soft Contact Lens Industry in the United States, August 1987 (B&L vs. the IRS)

1988
● The Current and Theoretical Production Capacity of the U.S. Contact Lens Industry, April 1988
● Evaluation of CooperVision, June 1988
● Medical Laser Overview, August, 1988
● Technical and Market Analysis of -- --, July 1988
● Ophthalmic Market Overview, September 1988
● Technology Overview: Ultrasound Catheter Market, December 1988

1989
● Ophthalmic Surgical Equipment Overview, March 1989
● U.S. Market for Soft Contact Lens Lubricant/Rewetting Drops, March 1989
● Contact Lens and Care Product Market Overview, May 1989
● Update: The Outlook for Laser Refractive Surgery, August 1989

1990
● Development of a Manufacturing Plan for Medical Lasers: Product Selection, January 1990
● Technology Overview: Phoenix Laser Systems, March 1990
● Current Developments in Laser Refractive Surgery, July 1990
● Opportunities for Collaboration, September, 1990
● An Evaluation of a New Eyeglass Lens Molding Process, Phase I: Technology Overview, September 1990
● Overview of High-Index Plastic Eyeglass Lens Materials, November 1990
● Background Information on the Contact Lens Industry, December, 1990
● Profitability in the Ophthalmic Industry, December, 1990

1991
● Contact Lens and Care Product Overview, January, 1991
● Current Developments in Laser Refractive Surgery, March 1991
● An Overview of the U.S. IOL Industry, April 1991
● Ophthalmic Industry Overview, August 1991
● Overview of Current Developments in Refractive Surgery, August 1991
● Technology Overview: Phoenix Laser Systems, October 1991
● Overview of the IOL Industry, September 1991

1992
● Excimer Lasers in Surgery, February 1992
● Current Developments in Laser Refractive Surgery, March 1992, updated July 1992
● New Ophthalmic Laser Technologies, June 1992
● Historical Overview of Ophthalmic Lasers in the Mid-1980s (legal case), July 1992
● Medical Laser Technology Alert Reports, monthly, July 1992 - April 1993

1993
● Technology Overview and Strategic Partnering for Unique Medical Laser Product Company, September 1993
● The Outlook for Refractive Surgery Centers, September 1993
● A Cost Comparison of Refractive Surgery vs. Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses, October 1993
● An Overview of Current Developments in Refractive Surgery, December 1993

1994
● An Assessment of a Laser-based Method to Alleviate Heart Attacks, February 1994
● The Outlook for a Laser-based Technique to Cure Psoriasis, March 1994
● Current Developments in Laser Refractive Surgery, August 1994, updated April 1995
● An Assessment of an Unique Laser-based Technique to Diagnose Severe Burns, August 1994

1995
● Estimated Market for a New Mid-IR Laser Delivery Fiber, February 1995
● The Outlook for Refractive Surgery, March 1995
● An Analysis of the Hawaii PRK Market, May 1995

1996
● Potential Laser (and non-laser) Sources for Activating Photofrin, March 1996
● Search for a Diode Laser Source for Activating Photofrin, April 1996
● A White Paper -- Laser Hair Removal: An Application Whose Time has Come, October 1996
● Worldwide Market Overview of Ophthalmic and Dermatologic Lasers, December 1996

1997
● U.S. Market Opportunities for ICON Centers for Cosmetic Surgery, March 1997
● Refractive & Cosmetic Surgery -- Any Synergies?, November 1997
● An Overview of the Medical Laser Industry, December 1997

1998
● Worldwide Medical Laser Marketplace, May 1998
● An Investigation into the Use of "Bermuda Cards", July 1998
● Review of Photodynamic Therapy for Treating ARMD, December 1998

1999
● Update: Trends in Refractive and Cosmetic Laser Surgery, November 1999
● An Evaluation of ThermoLase's Technologies, December 1999

2000
● A Look at the Future of Refractive Surgery, February 2000

2001
● A Brief Overview of the Opportunities for a 3 micron Medical Laser System, July 2001
● Adoption Rates of Soft Contact Lenses, IOLs, and Refractive Surgery, September 2001

Important Things And Tips Regarding Post Rehabilitation

By Kenneth Wright

People who have undergone physical therapy feel frightened to return to their normal routines, especially after being discharged. There is always the fear of being injured again while they do their daily activities. The good news is that there are several steps they can certainly take in order to go back to their regular routines while ensuring that they avoid injury.

Many people feel that having a routine after his or her physical therapy is scary because they always think about how hard it can be. They do not realize that post rehabilitation Carmel CA is actually an integral part of the recovery process because it will aid them in the maintenance of their development in physical therapy and will help in keeping their bodies healthier to steer away from possible injury. One must be aware of things or tips that they need to observe in going through post rehab.

As you develop your post rehabilitation routine, it is important that you consult therapeutic experts and other medical professionals who can work with you. They will have the ability to arrange exercise routines which will be helpful for the particular injury you have had, as well as create limits to avoid strain. They likewise can provide advice in order for you to be able to recover quicker.

However, recovering much faster is not equivalent to overdoing or stressing yourself. This means that an individual going through post rehab should be aware that starting slow and gradually increasing your routines in terms of time and intensity is vital so as not to stress your recovering body. In order to come up with the proper exercise, seek the advice of an expert.

Warming up before doing any physical activity which will involve a lot of stretching is vital to avoid injuring yourself. Stretching will prevent your muscles from strains while other warm up routines will increase your heart rate and your blood circulation to loosen joints and increase blood flood to the muscles. A six to ten minute warm up is advised by most experts.

Eating as well as drinking before, during and after exercising should always be observed. This is to be able to refuel yourself as well as to replenish your body of the energy and the fluids it may have lost because of the exercise. Have healthy snacks and drink lots of water so that you can stay away from being dehydrated.

Furthermore, make it a habit to listen to the things that your body might be telling you such as pain. It is common for people to feel pain especially when doing routines but acute ones can be a sign of a more serious issue, such as an injury. Once felt, immediately put a stop to your workout and seek the help of your doctor.

Although it may not be necessary, you may also want to check out post rehabilitation centers. Such places provide equipment that can help you in your routines and they also hire trained professionals to answer your questions, if you have any. But it is till up to you if you wish to enroll in such as it can also cost you money.

Remember that the road to recovery will not be as easy as you think. There are many things that need to be considered and steps that should be observed. However, what is good is that you could always start somewhere.

About the Author:

If you are searching for information about post rehabilitation Carmel CA residents can visit our web pages online today. More details are available at http://nexuspilates.com/services.html now.

Aerobic Exercise Benefits And How To Guide

By Jasmine Greene

Dr. Kenneth Cooper, an exercise physiologist at San Antonio Air Force Hospital, was the first to coin the term "aerobics." He developed a heart rate formula of subtracting your age from 220 and exercising with the heart rate at 60-80% of that number. Originally this formula was designed for astronauts, but the benefits of "aerobics" soon convinced Dr. Cooper that this type of exercise is beneficial to everybody.

Since then studies have demonstrated many benefits of regular aerobic exercise, including:

*Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight (Aerobic exercise burns fat!)

*Increased long-term energy and stamina

*Improved mood

*Pain relief (by natural endorphin production)

*Stronger heart and better circulation (by keeping arteries clear and preventing heart disease)

*Improved blood sugar control and adrenal health

*Lower blood pressure

*Stronger bones and prevention of osteoporosis

*Stronger immune system

*Longer life expectancy

If you have been battling low energy, poor endurance, aches and pains, too much body fat, stress, or sugar and carb cravings, your body is probably not getting enough aerobic exercise!

The exercise intensity and duration determine whether the muscles work aerobically or anaerobically. Aerobic exercise requires a very specific level of intensity for at least thirty minutes at a time. If the heart rate is too low or too high, the exercise becomes anaerobic instead.

In aerobic exercise, the body burns fat and converts it into energy. Because this process requires oxygen, it is called "aerobic." Aerobic exercise is useful for improving muscle endurance (allowing for hours or days of work without fatigue). This is extra important for the muscles which support posture, joints, and the arches of the feet. So insufficient aerobic exercise will raise the probability of joint problems, injuries, fallen arches, and low stamina.

In anaerobic exercise, the body burns sugar (glucose) for energy. As the name "anaerobic" suggests, oxygen is not required for this type of energy production. Burning sugar is useful for providing short term speed and power. Muscles cannot burn sugar for long, though, and so they fatigue quickly. Most people have no shortage of anaerobic exercise -- even when you're sitting, your body is doing some tasks anaerobically. Plus virtually all sports are anaerobic in nature due to their alternating bursts of high intensity (anaerobic) exercise and rest.

Dr. Phil Maffetone is an internationally recognized researcher who has greatly improved our understanding of aerobic exercise and endurance training. He studied many variables, including heart rate, gait, and muscle imbalances in many athletes before and after workouts. Dr. Maffetone discovered that the athletes who exercised using Dr. Cooper's original formula often ended up over-training and suffering from injuries, pain, joint problems, and distorted posture and body mechanics. His work led Dr. Maffetone to develop a new and improved formula for calculating each person's target heart rate for true aerobic exercise.

Follow these four simple steps to ensure your training is aerobic and to enjoy all the benefits of aerobic exercise:

1. Invest in a heart rate monitor, one with a chest strap as well as a wrist watch. It's not a good idea to exercise without one because you'll have no way of knowing if your pace is correct. There are many brands and models available to you. Polar is an industry leader and is usually a safe bet. If you work out in a gym, make sure your monitor is coded so that there is no electrical interference from other devices nearby.

2. Calculate your maximum aerobic heart rate using Dr. Maffetone's formula. Just subtract your age from 180 to calculate your maximum aerobic heart rate. For example, a 33 year old who wants to exercise aerobically would have a maximum heart rate of 147 beats per minute. Modifiers and exceptions to this formula are as follows:

*Subtract another 10 from the max heart rate if you're recovering from a major illness or surgery, or if you take any regular medications.

*Subtract another 5 from the max aerobic heart rate if you're injured, have regressed in competition or training, suffer from more than two bouts of cold/flu each year, have asthma or allergies, are just beginning to train, or if you have not been training consistently (Dr. Maffetone defines consistency as at least 4 times per week for 2 years).

*Add 5 to the max heart rate if you've trained consistently for more than 2 years without any injuries or problems and have made progress in competition.

*Add 10 to the max heart rate if you're over the age of 65.

*This formula does not apply to those age 16 or younger. The best bet for these athletes is 165 as the max heart rate.

*If in doubt, choose the lower maximum heart rate.

3. Calculate your minimum aerobic heart rate by subtracting 10 from the max aerobic heart rate. For a healthy 34 year old, the max heart rate is 146 and the minimum is 136.

4. Jog, walk, swim, or bike while using the heart rate monitor. Be sure to stay within your aerobic heart rate zone for at least 30 minutes at a time, and at least 3 times per week. Do not exceed 90 minutes at a time without a doctor's supervision.

As you will soon discover, it's amazingly easy to exercise aerobically. It doesn't take much effort to elevate your heart rate to the target zone. This is good news for couch potatoes (Talk about exercising smarter, not harder!), but can be frustrating for athletes who don't want to slow down. However, athletes must train aerobically to protect their bodies. The silver lining for athletes is that, as your heart becomes more aerobically fit, you'll be able to pick up the pace without exceeding the maximum aerobic heart rate. With the aid of your heart rate monitor, you'll soon also discover that any activity other than running, walking, cycling or swimming (at a constant pace) is likely to be anaerobic.

As a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and athlete, I've noticed remarkable benefits with aerobic exercise for both myself and my patients. The immediate and long-term benefits are well worth the effort!

About the Author:

Jasmine Greene is an educator on health, wellness, and holistic medicine. Are you looking for a Glen Ellyn Chiropractor? Consider a visit to Kinesis Healthcare.

Essential Oil Nasal Inhalers Offering Benefits At Home And On The Road

By Gregory Wilson

Aromatherapy is used in many countries and has been for centuries. The scents of the oils used have properties that can be relaxing, energizing, and healing. Diffusers are devices commonly utilized to spread the aromas in rooms but aren't always practical for when you are on the go. For this purpose and others, essential oil nasal inhalers can be the solution. These are compact and portable items that can be put into a purse, pocket, or wallet. You can choose from a variety of scent sticks based on the intended purpose. These sticks are easily replaced whenever needed.

There are many benefits to using aromatherapy. Scents of oils may be utilized for calming or energizing the body, easing cold symptoms, and more. All of the effects depends on what fragrances are combined together and how they are applied.

Oil diffusers are fairly common tools used by people who enjoy aromatherapy. However, these items can't be used everywhere. It is also more difficult to take them with you while traveling or running errands. However, there is another device that is quite convenient to use wherever you may be.

This item is known as the nasal inhaler. This is a compact product that can fit into a purse, pocket, car glove compartment, and various other small locations. There are a number of these items available and they do range a bit in size. However, most of these objects are quite compact and portable.

Because each fragrance and combination of oils may have a varying effect on the body, it is convenient to carry one for each need. For example, if you have trouble sleeping, you might want one to help relax you. However, you may also wish to have one to clear your sinuses if you have a cold virus. The list goes on. The size of these items is quite convenient for this reason and others.

There are certain kinds of oils used for specific purposes. Peppermint may be used for dual purposes such as relaxation or improving the ability to breathe. Lemon is often appreciated for its ability to energize the body, reduce the feelings of depression, as well as increase the level of concentration. Lavender may have similar uses as well as to help with insomnia.

The sticks that are used in these inhalers come in all sorts of fragrances. You may decide to have just one scent or several different ones. The sticks are easily replaced when the times comes. They are also quite cost efficient even when you use several different essential oil combinations.

Nasal inhalers that have use essential oils can offer convenient solutions for various situations. These items are compact so you can carry them with you wherever you go. There are numerous scents available. This enables you to select the types you need whether for relaxation, energy, and overall better health. You can find those fragrances that reduce the symptoms of cold viruses as well. The scent sticks for the inhalers are replaceable, making the objects quite cost efficient even with regular use.

About the Author:

Find an overview of the advantages you get when you use essential oil nasal inhalers and view our selection of nasal inhalers at http://www.soseo.ca now.

Austin TX Nutrition And Fitness Tips Are Offered To Local Residents

By Carla Bergoba

When someone places value on maintaining a healthy mind and body, there are valuable things to be learned from a chiropractic neurologist. There is a difference between the chiropractor and the chiropractic neurologist. That is the extra years of education completed by the latter. It equips him to offer services such as consultations with physicians on hard to evaluate cases. Wellness care at Austin Chiropractic Neurology includes tips on proper nutrition and physical fitness.

Free radicals are harmful molecules that, when they accumulate in the system, can damage the health. There are foods that act to destroy these damaging free radicals. Planning a beneficial diet with this professional can maintain good health to last a lifetime.

Free radicals are eliminated by antioxidants when you consume dark colored vegetables and fruits. Berries are good, especially blueberries. You can be taught what to eat. All the known advice on maintaining a healthy body is available to you as a client. Learn the appropriate number of calories to consume and how much protein you need on a daily basis.

Regular exercise is another way to extend your life. The extra years you may gain will be enjoyable because you will feel well enough to continue your favorite activities. It is also beneficial to have annual wellness checks of the spine and nervous system. By doing this any abnormalities can be detected before they become more serious.

Years of study to achieve the doctoral level, plus board certification, prepare this professional to make successful evaluations when other health care providers cannot. He is often called upon to consult with physicians on enigmatic cases. Other chiropractors and health care workers refer clients to him for evaluation.

In recent years the danger of concussion among high school athletes has aroused concern. A baseline neurological assessment may prove invaluable. A board certified chiropractic neurologist can provide this and keep a medical record against which to gauge future injuries. In case the child is hurt, this information will help to formulate the best healing plan.

About the Author:

You can get excellent nutrition and fitness tips and more info about an experienced Austin chiropractic neurology professional at http://www.drpurelife.com right now.

Part 3 The History of Exposure Therapy Hans Eysenck and Learned Behavior

Hans Eysenck was yet another British psychologist who explored behavior therapy beginning in the 1950's, and who wrote a damning article in 1952 about the ineffectiveness of psychotherapy. As Freud envisioned it, a psychotherapist could take the process of psychotherapy and deduce the facts from it, rather than studying what the facts actually were. I am staggered by the traces of this that still affect the practice of therapy in the 21st century. I have vague memories of reading about behavior therapy in social studies class, and the fear that people would be reduced to laboratory rats conditioned to do tasks for food. But there is something immensely liberating in the idea that our symptoms are in part a "learned behavior" which is unadaptive, and which can be unlearned.

It's as if we are running our own little laboratory within our own mind every time we have an obsessive thought, feel intense anxiety, and then apply a compulsion that reduces the anxiety quickly, but then rebounds in the long term.

In 1960, his article, Personality and Behaviour Therapy(Proc R Soc Med. 1960 July; 53(7): 504–508), he explores the uses of BT in "neuroses," a term not as popular as it once was. He cites the study from 1920 about "little Albert," an 11 month old boy who was conditioned to fear rats because whenever he reached for the animal, the experimenter would make a loud noise. This of course is probably where my vague uneasiness comes from, since freaking out small children is not acceptable. These early studies may be the roots of the discomfort many current therapists have about Exposure and Response Therapy, but it is worth stepping back from the old history and consider the even older history of Freudian psychoanalysis which brought a whole tradition of showing patients ink blots, asking what they saw, and building elaborate theories of their personality based on a puddle of ink.

The point that really stuck with me was Eysenck's description of avoidance--if Albert could've been exposed to a white rat for a long period of time, without the loud noise, the fear could be undone, but as he ironically puts it, "Little Albert is a free agent," and is going to avoid even the chance of encountering a white rat, thereby never getting a chance to break free of the fear. If we are willing to risk feeling the initial fear liberty is possible. I know that it feels as if we face the fear every day, we do things we don't want to do, and yet the OCD persists.

This is a frustrating and painful place to be in. I make a phone call, and it actually goes ok, but by the next time I'm anxious again as if I'd never done it before. It's taken me a long time to comprehend that I've had much more practice avoiding phone calls than making them, and what we practice tends to get better. Slogging through the anxiousness of the initial surge of fear without my compulsions sucks, but persistence in practicing strengthens the possibility of getting better.

Tips On Selecting And Buy Motives Cosmetics Professionally

By Leslie Ball

Motives cosmetics are well known make up, skin and body care products. Experts in beauty industry will guide you through range of beauty products. If you are intending to buy motives cosmetics, the following tips will be of assistance.

There are simply too many aspects to find in order to hire a professional. A great number of these traits have quite a bit to do with their professionalism and interest or the funds to deliver the outcomes you specify. In case you opt to enlist a service provider without observing these indispensable recommendations, you will find it hard to arrive at your dreams.

An experienced partner should have the crucial working experience if you want to attain the envisioned benefits promptly. A competent service provider ought to have the capacity to resolve universal errors systematically. As you express the problem to the practitioners, some practitioners may possibly develop the most reliable approaches to approach your issues.

A knowledgeable practitioner must have the preferred technological craftsmanship so that they can work for you adequately. Besides their college qualifications, those technicians have achieved the understanding that helps the service providers to implement the typical activities as soon as possible. The power to speed up these kinds of steps is terribly vital most definitely, when there is a short time frame. Because of this, the professional people shun nonessential problems which might skyrocket the cost of many of these duties.

Any properly authorized professionals need the important devices so that accomplish the undertaking as quickly as possible. Recently, there are so many tools that help professionals to expand their overall performance. Well versed individuals obtain many of these tools in order to accommodate you in the best possible way.

In combination with investing on the gadgets, the experts additionally recruit some other staff members who retain and also restore these tools in order to meet the the modern trends already in the market. Successful traders who trust in archaic tools cannot catch up with the requirements of the contemporary user and as such, some might lag behind. These professional people need the technical support of experienced staff members to hasten the assignments.

Any licensed professional must render cost effective professional services to their clientele. A result of the high level of opposition, consumers are looking to find cost-effective rates in this particular business. Companies who are able to use their expertise and even novelty to restrict their premiums to a large extent can afford to offer authentic solutions at a small amount. The expense of routine maintenance is essential and subsequently, practitioners who promote the good units assist the potential customers to economize primarily when focusing on renovation.

The capacity to adjust the solutions to suit your particular tastes and choices is also important. Even while the customary functions are provided at a practical fee, a handful of buyers can pay higher rates to be able to obtain the items that go with their personal life styles. Professional people who may have the capability to customize the familiar products and services to fit their selections are going to have better returns.

About the Author:

You can visit mlcustomers.com for more helpful information about Tips On Selecting And Buy Motives Cosmetics Professionally.

The Ins and Outs of Hyperactivity in Children

As a parent, loving your children is an instinct that comes natural. Of course certain circumstances arise when you get frustrated and impatient with them like if they are particularly hyperactive, do not beat yourself up about it. There are special ways to handle them that have proven effective by many experts and fellow parents. Here are some tips on how to manage hyperactive children anybody can use.

1. It is important that you set a structured schedule pattern for the child. All children will benefit from having a routine, but more so if he or she is inclined to be hyperactive. If they get used to a particular way or time on how to do things, then they will fall into the pattern more easily. For instance, if you consistently tuck them in bed at 8pm and wait for them to sleep; then they will be conditioned to sleep at 8pm.

2. Establish an understandable set of rules that the child should learn to abide by. Go down to their level, look them in the eyes, clearly explain what behavior is expected of them and make them know the resulting consequences of not following these. Let them repeat back to you what you just said. Be firm in dealing with hyperactive children so that they learn and do not stray from favorable conduct.

3. Not every minute of your day should be spent in following rules and schedules. It is also good to spend quality time with your child without any agenda but to have fun and bond with them. Read him a book, bring him to the local playground or hang out with him in your backyard and find out the simple joys and pleasures that make up his world.

4. Hyperactive children have a seemingly boundless supply of energy in them which often makes for exasperating moments when focus is needed. Manage this by implementing time for physical activity. Running, basketball or any other form of exercise help in letting out excess energy and also improve their mood.

5. Some things that are common to us may trigger sudden violent reactions from hyperactive children. Loud and unnecessary sounds and overly animated videos lead to wild and hyper behavior. Avoid this by keeping television to a minimum and closely monitoring the television programs they view.

6. When managing hyperactive children, use positive reinforcement as opposed to punishment or excessive scolding. Hyperactive kids oftentimes receive a lot of negative attention which don't do anything to help them. Children always respond better to praise and when they get affirmation, they will look for ways to please you more with good behavior.

Often, parents feel helpless and at a loss on how to deal with hyperactive children. You need to remember that because they don't possess the same capacities normal children do so they don't always mean to do the things they do. Follow these simple tips and let them know how much you love them every time you can.

About the Author: By Stacey Warner

Have you ever wondered on how to handle hyperactive kids in a safe and effective way? Now you can find out important facts that will teach you how to deal with a hyperactive child properly in this super helpful website today.

Tension Headaches and Yoga

by Baxter

Let me start off today’s post by personally wishing you all a Happy New Year! We are seven days into 2014 already, and Nina and I are excited to continue our work here at Yoga for Healthy Aging in the coming year. Today’s post comes out of something a few friends mentioned the day after their NYE celebrations: a lot of them had hangover headaches! Surprise, surprise! But I just happen to be preparing a workshop on headaches for the upcoming Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco in a few weeks, and when I reviewed what we have written on the topic, I was surprised to find that we had not specifically talked about the most common form of headache that people experience (fortunately not hangover headaches): tension or musculoskeletal tension headaches. Sure, we alluded to it on our pretty thorough discussion on Yoga and Migraines last year, but I thought it would be well worth a focused look at tension headaches today. So here we go!

Tension headaches are indeed the most common headaches people experience, although the exact causes are not yet entirely clear. According to the Mayo Clinic website:

“A tension headache is generally a diffuse, mild to moderate pain in your head that's often described as feeling like a tight band around your head.”

Very encouragingly, the site states, “managing a tension headache is often a balance between fostering healthy habits, finding effective nondrug treatments and using medications appropriately.” Why do I find this encouraging? I am always excited when modern western medicine discovers that lifestyle and non-drug therapies are the better first choice in addressing a health concern. Bravo!

It is important, before we discuss yoga options for tension headaches (TH) to be clear on what constitutes a tension headache, and how it is different from migraines, for instance. According to the Mayo Clinic, a tension headache typically has the following symptoms:

• dull, aching head pain
• tightness or pressure across your forehead and the sides and back of your head
• tenderness on your scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles

I am sure some of you can identify with this and are likely massaging those areas right now! Modern western medicine splits tension headaches into two categories, those that are episodic and those that are chronic. An episodic tension headache is one that lasts from 30 minutes to a week (or more). A chronic tension headache is one that you experience at least 15 days a month for at least three months. 

Tension headaches can be hard to distinguish from the less common migraine headaches, and can even occur in people who also suffer from migraines. The Mayo Clinic points out some helpful distinguishing features between the two:

“Unlike some forms of migraine, tension headache usually isn't associated with visual disturbances, nausea or vomiting. Although physical activity typically aggravates migraine pain, it doesn't make tension headache pain worse. An increased sensitivity to either light or sound can occur with a tension headache, but these aren't common symptoms.”

The fact that physical activity does not usually worsen tension headaches is helpful to know when you are considering whether or not to do an asana practice when you already have a headache. And it is a way to test out your particular headache to see if it is tension or migraine.

It is still not clear what the underlying cause is for these common headaches. Some specialists link them to muscle contractions anywhere above the shoulders that might be encouraged by emotions, tension or stress, even though research does not support muscle contraction as the cause. The most common theories suggest that people with tension headaches have a heightened sensitivity to pain and stress. And related to that, stress turns out to be the number one trigger of tension headaches. Statistically, according to one study, 90% of women and 70% of men experience tension headaches at some point in their lives, with the peak incidence in people in their 40s.

The gang at Mayo Clinic did disappoint me a bit. Following their initial statements about non-drug treatment, they launch into medication choices before discussing lifestyle and alternative therapies—you all came so close! But when they finally do get to the non-drug options, stress management and improved posture are two of the three main recommendations. We have discussed this in many other posts, so by now we all realize that yoga rocks for addressing these options. And yoga does get the nod as a possible preventive treatment option for tension headaches.

Nina did a nice job in her headache prevention posts Preventing Migraines (and Other Headaches), Part 1 and Part 2 in outlining good yoga options for migraines and tension headaches (see also Peaceful Poses for Stress, Anxiety, Neck Pain and Headache Prevention). In general, because tension headaches are not typically worsened by physical activity, an active asana practice could be appropriate for when you have a headache as well as for headache prevention. I cannot tell you how many times students have come into class complaining of a headache, only to state on departure that their headache was now gone. And since most of the classes I teach include some short vinyasa portions, either reclining or standing, such as Sun or Moon Salutations for a few rounds, as well as static poses, a short pranayama session and a 10-minute Savasana (Relaxation pose), I can conclude that a well-balanced yoga practice can be both preventative and prescriptive.

Here are some of my favorite specific approaches for treating and/or preventing tension headaches:

Releasing muscle tension in neck and head. Even though muscle contraction does not appear to be the main cause or clear cause of tension headaches, I’d still focus much of the yoga asana practice on the area at and above your shoulders to release any excessive muscle tightness. Our shoulder series Opening Tight Shoulders, along with Owl and Curious Dog neck movements (see Neck Muscle Strain and Spasm) would be excellent additions to a daily home practice.

Refining your asana choices. Monitoring the effect of certain groups of yoga poses to see if they aggravate or improve headache symptoms is always a good idea. The more you start to understand how your body interacts with the practice, the better your personal practice will develop to support lessening your chances of getting tension headaches.

Finding the best stress practices for you. In addition to the more active practices of yoga, experimenting with quieter options is also essential in preventing and treating tension. A weekly restorative class or home practice (see Mini Restorative Practice) or the periodic use of Supported Relaxation pose (see Savasana Variations) and a yoga nidra recording (see Yoga Nidra and Deep Physical Relaxation) will work nicely for many. Pranayama practices such as 1:2 ratio breathing (the inhalation is 1/2  the length of the exhalation) or gradual lengthening of both inhale and exhale equally are great beginning breath practices to try. Short sitting or reclining meditation practices for 5 to 10 minutes are also great stress reducers.

Resetting pain sensitivity. Just as regular stretching of the hamstrings in Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) tends to lower the intensity of the perceived stretch discomfort over time, a general yoga practice has the potential to lower the heightened pain sensitivity that some people may have. There is no study to presently prove that last assertion, but it seems reasonable to observe in your own situation if adding in a regular, reasonable home practice begins to change the frequency and intensity of your tension headaches.

Please let us know what you find out if 2014 is the year you ramp up your practice with the intention to improve your tension headaches!

Subscribe to Yoga for Healthy Aging by Email ° Follow Yoga for Healthy Aging on Facebook ° Join this site with Google Friend Connect