So what the heck!? Two weeks ago I find out I have Osteopenia, and today I'm told I have hypothyroidism! This gettin old thing can really bite!
Well, actually I have known I had the thyroid condition for several years, but, being the naturalist that I am, I don't take medication for it. I do have several of the symptoms and never really associated them with my low thyroid, but after talking to my doctor's office today, I think it's time to pay attention!
Here's an article that will hopefully help anyone who has the condition with treatment options that include diet as well as medication. To your health! (Kathie)
How to Treat Thyroid Problems Naturally Through Diet and Supplements
There are two common problems associated with the thyroid gland, namely hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, common symptoms include over-activity, weight loss and nervousness. In hypothyroidism, common symptoms include lack of energy, weight gain and swelling of the throat. These two conditions are often considered as being two opposite problems, both due to incorrect functioning of the thyroid gland, which controls our metabolism.
Hypothyroidism is commonly caused in later life by excess stress and stimulants.
You will benefit from following a healthy, balanced diet containing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and their juices. Choose organic options wherever possible. You should limit the amount of meat, to avoid saturated fat, and should choose protein instead from fish (poached, grilled or baked tuna, salmon, herring or mackerel especially), quinoa, seeds, nuts, tofu and quorn. You will need to select whole grains and avoid refined carbohydrates. You should strictly avoid all stimulants, including sugar, chocolate, coffee, tea and alcohol. You should also avoid salt and foods containing added salt. You should drink plenty of water to cleanse the body. Your diet should include seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, flax) and their cold pressed oils as a source of essential fatty acids.
You may require a low dose of thyroxine, or the amino acid tyrosine from which thyroxine is produced, and you should discuss this with your doctor or nutritionist.
Supplements will be very important in allowing your body to return to good health. Your supplement programme should be made up as follows:
2 x multivitamin and mineral daily - several vitamins and minerals will be helpful, especially Vitamins C and the B complex, manganese, selenium and zinc. Supplementing individual vitamins and minerals is not advised.
2 x essential fatty acids - these will reduce inflammation and boost the immune system
If you are SICK and TIRED of being ill, in pain and discomfort, it is time you took natural action to let your body get back into good health!
For the next 3 days, I'm offering my report "Feel Great Now" completely FREE: http://glyco247.wordpress.com/free-report
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katie_Rebecca_Williams
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The holiday cheer of BEER
When Christmas comes around, most of the people in the world go into a tailspin. We may think we know the people around us, but when it comes time to buy them gifts is when we find out that we just may not know them as good as we thought. So make it easy on yourself, especially when it comes to the beer enthusiasts among your friends and family.
Beer Signs
If your friend or family member who is a beer enthusiast has a bar in his home, he will always love a new beer sign. Beer signs add a touch of authenticity and are normally the afterthoughts once the bar is built, equipped and fully stocked. So, buying a beer sign will definitely put a smile on any beer enthusiast's face.
You can learn your friend or family member's favorite beer and buy a sign that highlights that brand. Neon signs are great additions to a home bar and you can get just about any flavor of beer you want. But, you can also just buy a funny beer sign like, "I Only Drink to Make You More Interesting" or "Beer - Helping Ugly People Have Sex Since 1862!" Make them laugh and you've given them a gift that really keeps on giving.
Beer Glasses and Mugs
If you know your beer enthusiast's favorite beer, another great gift you can give is a collection of beer glasses or beer mugs. Now, these really do come in all shapes and sizes. Every brand you can imagine for every type of glass imaginable. Every beer enthusiast I know will greatly enjoy any addition to their bar. Even if they already have a set like the one you are giving them. The more the merrier is the golden rule among beer enthusiasts and that includes glasses and mugs.
Small Items
If you have plenty of beer enthusiasts on your list, then you might want to go for smaller items. There certainly are plenty of funny, little knick-knacks you can get that will satisfy everyone you have to gift this year. Bottle Koozies keep the beer cold and come in just about every brand or you can go for ones that have jokes. Chuggler Mugs hold a good bit of beer that you can sip or chug with the beer pong attachment. That's one that most of your beer enthusiasts will absolutely love to have.
Larger Items
If the beer enthusiast is someone a little closer to you that you would really like to surprise this year, there are plenty of things you can give them that will absolutely make the day. Beer Pong tables are offered in regulation size for everyone who loves to play the game. Kegerators are small Keg Refrigerators that are perfect for any home bar, even if it's just a small one or one just getting started in a small room. The Jagermeister machine keeps the Jager at perfect temperature for those who love the smooth taste of a good shot.
You may have to bang your head against the wall for just about everyone else in your family. But, you can take it easy on yourself by indulging your beer enthusiasts' interests with beer items of all kinds. There is something for everyone whether they already have everything or not.
Stan Schubridge is a beer enthusiast who loves tasting new beers and attending beer events. Staying up to date on new innovations in beer and beer products keeps Stan on top of the beer world. You can read a great deal about beer and what Stan has found at Beertaps.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Schubridge
Beer Signs
If your friend or family member who is a beer enthusiast has a bar in his home, he will always love a new beer sign. Beer signs add a touch of authenticity and are normally the afterthoughts once the bar is built, equipped and fully stocked. So, buying a beer sign will definitely put a smile on any beer enthusiast's face.
You can learn your friend or family member's favorite beer and buy a sign that highlights that brand. Neon signs are great additions to a home bar and you can get just about any flavor of beer you want. But, you can also just buy a funny beer sign like, "I Only Drink to Make You More Interesting" or "Beer - Helping Ugly People Have Sex Since 1862!" Make them laugh and you've given them a gift that really keeps on giving.
Beer Glasses and Mugs
If you know your beer enthusiast's favorite beer, another great gift you can give is a collection of beer glasses or beer mugs. Now, these really do come in all shapes and sizes. Every brand you can imagine for every type of glass imaginable. Every beer enthusiast I know will greatly enjoy any addition to their bar. Even if they already have a set like the one you are giving them. The more the merrier is the golden rule among beer enthusiasts and that includes glasses and mugs.
Small Items
If you have plenty of beer enthusiasts on your list, then you might want to go for smaller items. There certainly are plenty of funny, little knick-knacks you can get that will satisfy everyone you have to gift this year. Bottle Koozies keep the beer cold and come in just about every brand or you can go for ones that have jokes. Chuggler Mugs hold a good bit of beer that you can sip or chug with the beer pong attachment. That's one that most of your beer enthusiasts will absolutely love to have.
Larger Items
If the beer enthusiast is someone a little closer to you that you would really like to surprise this year, there are plenty of things you can give them that will absolutely make the day. Beer Pong tables are offered in regulation size for everyone who loves to play the game. Kegerators are small Keg Refrigerators that are perfect for any home bar, even if it's just a small one or one just getting started in a small room. The Jagermeister machine keeps the Jager at perfect temperature for those who love the smooth taste of a good shot.
You may have to bang your head against the wall for just about everyone else in your family. But, you can take it easy on yourself by indulging your beer enthusiasts' interests with beer items of all kinds. There is something for everyone whether they already have everything or not.
Stan Schubridge is a beer enthusiast who loves tasting new beers and attending beer events. Staying up to date on new innovations in beer and beer products keeps Stan on top of the beer world. You can read a great deal about beer and what Stan has found at Beertaps.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Schubridge
Saturday, December 5, 2009
What did Jesus eat?
Drawing on the inspiration of loaves, fish, and wine, a doctor from Florida has published a self-help manual called "What would Jesus Eat?". After the launch of this unique book, Jesus officially joined the US fight against fat. Eating is a lifestyle; a day-to-day routine that should sustain a healthy emotional and mental attitude and pump us with continuous energy. Ok, enough talk, are you ready for my secrets.
What would Jesus Eat?
Jesus ate a Mediterranean style cooking that hasn't changed much in the past 2000 years. We know that Jesus ate a lot of fruit, a lot of fish, a lot of whole grains, and that he liked vegetables and olive oil. And lets not forget, every healthy Mediterranean meal is topped off with a wine of your choice. Wine is a valuable part of a healthy diet.
Whole-grains are the best form of carbohydrates and pack a powerful energy booster. Next time your at the grocery, look for pasta, pancakes, and bread that are made up of whole grains.
Feeling sluggish during the day?
Are eating habits make a large contribution to our energy levels. A balanced combination of carbohydrates, protein, and fat eaten at regular intervals will help keep your energy level high. On the other hand, not drinking enough liquids will cause you to feel fatigued and fried and fatty foods can make you feel sluggish. Cookies, candy bars, sodas, and fruit drinks will all deplete your energy levels. Because these foods are loaded with simple sugars, they cause a quick energy boost followed by a prompt decline that will often leave you more drained than before. Caffeine also has this same effect.
Foods that make you drowsy
Carbohydrates leave you feeling calm and relaxed. Ever noticed that right after lunch always seems to be the perfect time for a nap. Do avoid this drowsiness effect, pack some protein into your diet, but remember, everything in moderation.
Foods that energize
Get plenty of iron. Many women lack energy because they lack iron in their diet. This can usually be fixed with an iron supplement.
Boost your metabolism by eating once every three to four hours. Have some fruit or carrot sticks handy when you're on the run. Our bodies increase their metabolism each time we eat. We can boost are metabolism with healthy snacks throughout the day.
Go all natural. Eating only whole, natural foods helps to maximize energy levels. Try to limit processed foods as much as possible.
Exercise. This is the number one metabolism booster. If you can do a quick walk during your lunchtime, this is sure to keep you running on high for the afternoon.
GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore thousands of unique and unusual baby names. Read articles on parenting, family, home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alli_Ross
What would Jesus Eat?
Jesus ate a Mediterranean style cooking that hasn't changed much in the past 2000 years. We know that Jesus ate a lot of fruit, a lot of fish, a lot of whole grains, and that he liked vegetables and olive oil. And lets not forget, every healthy Mediterranean meal is topped off with a wine of your choice. Wine is a valuable part of a healthy diet.
Whole-grains are the best form of carbohydrates and pack a powerful energy booster. Next time your at the grocery, look for pasta, pancakes, and bread that are made up of whole grains.
Feeling sluggish during the day?
Are eating habits make a large contribution to our energy levels. A balanced combination of carbohydrates, protein, and fat eaten at regular intervals will help keep your energy level high. On the other hand, not drinking enough liquids will cause you to feel fatigued and fried and fatty foods can make you feel sluggish. Cookies, candy bars, sodas, and fruit drinks will all deplete your energy levels. Because these foods are loaded with simple sugars, they cause a quick energy boost followed by a prompt decline that will often leave you more drained than before. Caffeine also has this same effect.
Foods that make you drowsy
Carbohydrates leave you feeling calm and relaxed. Ever noticed that right after lunch always seems to be the perfect time for a nap. Do avoid this drowsiness effect, pack some protein into your diet, but remember, everything in moderation.
Foods that energize
Get plenty of iron. Many women lack energy because they lack iron in their diet. This can usually be fixed with an iron supplement.
Boost your metabolism by eating once every three to four hours. Have some fruit or carrot sticks handy when you're on the run. Our bodies increase their metabolism each time we eat. We can boost are metabolism with healthy snacks throughout the day.
Go all natural. Eating only whole, natural foods helps to maximize energy levels. Try to limit processed foods as much as possible.
Exercise. This is the number one metabolism booster. If you can do a quick walk during your lunchtime, this is sure to keep you running on high for the afternoon.
GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore thousands of unique and unusual baby names. Read articles on parenting, family, home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alli_Ross
Saturday, November 28, 2009
New Book Offers How to Change Your Lifestyle to Live the Life You Deserve
Debi Waldeck continues her informative and fascinating "In the Beginning...there was wellness" series with this second volume, Forever Young and Vibrant, and it is just as interesting and useful as the first volume.
After telling her personal story in the first book of her and her children's health issues, Debi uses this second book to talk less about the biology and nutritional needs of our bodies and more about how we can reach optimal health by changing our lifestyle and what we can do to improve the process of giving our bodies what they actually need.
In "Forever Young and Vibrant," Debi Waldeck discusses the current lifestyle of Americans, particularly poor nutritional practices, that are leading to cancer, migraine headaches, stomach complaints, and other ailments. Debi offers practical advice and information from cutting edge research on whether to supplement our diets with additional vitamins-the recommended daily allowances are far lower than what would give us desired wellness in her opinion. She discusses fats, trans-fats, radical agents, the importance of our pH balance, how our body creates insulin, and why we must love our livers. The information provided goes far beyond simple dieting and nutrition to make us understand how our bodies work in relation to what we eat. In some respects, the research on the effects of our current nutrition is frightening, but by following Debi Waldeck's advice, we can improve our diets, strengthen our immune systems, and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
I can't imagine any reader will not take away something of value from this book. I learned enormous amounts of information about diet. I had already heard about the value of understanding the body's pH, but Waldeck goes into great detail about how to stabilize pH values and what foods create acid or alkaline responses in our bodies. After years of suffering from stomach complaints, I found the chapter on pH alone is worth ten times the book's cover price. Anyone with a family history of diabetes, cancer or even obesity will find information here that can improve if not prolong or even save his or her life.
As with all the books in this series, Debi also includes several practical tips for the reader in her "Laughter, Lifestyle or Leverage Principles." These principles are summaries in one sentence of what to remember from her discussion. A few of my favorites include:
Lifestyle Principle #21
Eat 75% foods that are alkaline and only 25% that are acid forming-unless you supplement heavily with minerals and greens
Laughter Principle #27
Motivation comes when the pain of your current situation is greater than the pain of changing it
Laughter Principle #28
Laughter and progress come easier when you trust yourself
Leverage Principle #1
100% of the money you have depends on how you think about money, rather than on your education, your family or your luck
These are just a few examples from this second volume, but all the principles in all the books contain wonderful advice.
Debi Waldeck also ends each chapter of each book with the "Debi's Dialogue" section-a section that was inspired by her never-ending quest for answers to her questions. In this section she provides answers to some of her questions while also asking new ones. Here is one of my favorites examples of "Debi's Dialogue" from the second book:
Why do we resist change?
As Marianne Williamson said, "We are afraid of our own power."
Why?
Because change gives you an opportunity to know yourself and people are afraid to see themselves.
Why?
Because people see themselves through the eyes of all who have come before and judged them. People do not look at themselves through God's eyes. If they did, they would stare all day long.
Why?
Because people do not know God. Very few people know God.
How can we come to know God?
You start to know God when you learn to love yourself. To know God means you choose to love yourself exactly the way you are now-male, female, black, white, yellow, red, fat, skinny, ugly, pretty. The problem is that people seek man's approval before and above God's approval.
Why?
Because people have no faith. Faith is the opposite of fear. People are in fear and the cycle begins again.
Okay, everyone knows that faith is not fear. We know what it isn't, so what is faith?
Finally, in all three books, including this volume, Debi Waldeck includes a concise glossary of every term she uses in that individual book. In "Forever Young and Vibrant," the glossary includes terms ranging from Fructo-oligosaccharides to Methionine to Serotonin. If you don't know what these terms mean, you need to. This book will help you achieve the wellness that should have always been yours. Remember that knowledge is power. This book will be your start to knowing legitimately, rather than using some fad diet, how to improve your health for the long run.
In this review, I can only just begin to summarize the many valuable discussions provided in "Forever Young and Vibrant" in the "In the Beginning...there was wellness" series. Grab your copy today-it's like an instruction manual to live your life by so you can start to feel as good as you have always deserved-as good as God intended from the beginning for you to feel.
Tyler R. Tichelaar holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Northern Michigan University and a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. His family's long relationship with Upper Michigan and his avid interest in genealogy inspired Dr. Tichelaar to write his Marquette Trilogy: Iron Pioneers, The Queen City, and Superior Heritage. Dr. Tichelaar is also a professional book reviewer and editor. For more information about Tyler R. Tichelaar, his writing, and his author services, visit:
http://www.MarquetteFiction.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyler_Tichelaar
After telling her personal story in the first book of her and her children's health issues, Debi uses this second book to talk less about the biology and nutritional needs of our bodies and more about how we can reach optimal health by changing our lifestyle and what we can do to improve the process of giving our bodies what they actually need.
In "Forever Young and Vibrant," Debi Waldeck discusses the current lifestyle of Americans, particularly poor nutritional practices, that are leading to cancer, migraine headaches, stomach complaints, and other ailments. Debi offers practical advice and information from cutting edge research on whether to supplement our diets with additional vitamins-the recommended daily allowances are far lower than what would give us desired wellness in her opinion. She discusses fats, trans-fats, radical agents, the importance of our pH balance, how our body creates insulin, and why we must love our livers. The information provided goes far beyond simple dieting and nutrition to make us understand how our bodies work in relation to what we eat. In some respects, the research on the effects of our current nutrition is frightening, but by following Debi Waldeck's advice, we can improve our diets, strengthen our immune systems, and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
I can't imagine any reader will not take away something of value from this book. I learned enormous amounts of information about diet. I had already heard about the value of understanding the body's pH, but Waldeck goes into great detail about how to stabilize pH values and what foods create acid or alkaline responses in our bodies. After years of suffering from stomach complaints, I found the chapter on pH alone is worth ten times the book's cover price. Anyone with a family history of diabetes, cancer or even obesity will find information here that can improve if not prolong or even save his or her life.
As with all the books in this series, Debi also includes several practical tips for the reader in her "Laughter, Lifestyle or Leverage Principles." These principles are summaries in one sentence of what to remember from her discussion. A few of my favorites include:
Lifestyle Principle #21
Eat 75% foods that are alkaline and only 25% that are acid forming-unless you supplement heavily with minerals and greens
Laughter Principle #27
Motivation comes when the pain of your current situation is greater than the pain of changing it
Laughter Principle #28
Laughter and progress come easier when you trust yourself
Leverage Principle #1
100% of the money you have depends on how you think about money, rather than on your education, your family or your luck
These are just a few examples from this second volume, but all the principles in all the books contain wonderful advice.
Debi Waldeck also ends each chapter of each book with the "Debi's Dialogue" section-a section that was inspired by her never-ending quest for answers to her questions. In this section she provides answers to some of her questions while also asking new ones. Here is one of my favorites examples of "Debi's Dialogue" from the second book:
Why do we resist change?
As Marianne Williamson said, "We are afraid of our own power."
Why?
Because change gives you an opportunity to know yourself and people are afraid to see themselves.
Why?
Because people see themselves through the eyes of all who have come before and judged them. People do not look at themselves through God's eyes. If they did, they would stare all day long.
Why?
Because people do not know God. Very few people know God.
How can we come to know God?
You start to know God when you learn to love yourself. To know God means you choose to love yourself exactly the way you are now-male, female, black, white, yellow, red, fat, skinny, ugly, pretty. The problem is that people seek man's approval before and above God's approval.
Why?
Because people have no faith. Faith is the opposite of fear. People are in fear and the cycle begins again.
Okay, everyone knows that faith is not fear. We know what it isn't, so what is faith?
Finally, in all three books, including this volume, Debi Waldeck includes a concise glossary of every term she uses in that individual book. In "Forever Young and Vibrant," the glossary includes terms ranging from Fructo-oligosaccharides to Methionine to Serotonin. If you don't know what these terms mean, you need to. This book will help you achieve the wellness that should have always been yours. Remember that knowledge is power. This book will be your start to knowing legitimately, rather than using some fad diet, how to improve your health for the long run.
In this review, I can only just begin to summarize the many valuable discussions provided in "Forever Young and Vibrant" in the "In the Beginning...there was wellness" series. Grab your copy today-it's like an instruction manual to live your life by so you can start to feel as good as you have always deserved-as good as God intended from the beginning for you to feel.
Tyler R. Tichelaar holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Northern Michigan University and a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. His family's long relationship with Upper Michigan and his avid interest in genealogy inspired Dr. Tichelaar to write his Marquette Trilogy: Iron Pioneers, The Queen City, and Superior Heritage. Dr. Tichelaar is also a professional book reviewer and editor. For more information about Tyler R. Tichelaar, his writing, and his author services, visit:
http://www.MarquetteFiction.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyler_Tichelaar
Monday, November 23, 2009
Advantages of Walking
Ask any doctor for easiest and fastest route into exercise for the beginner and they'll more than likely recommend walking. There are a great deal of advantages associated with this form of exercise and if your just starting out or even too overweight for other more strenuous fitness activities then walking is the obvious answer.
It's not enough however to simply go out walking in a relaxed fashion. You need to really stride and move your arms to create a fast paced walk, as though you were in hurry to get somewhere. This is important as to gain the maximum amount of benefit you need to increase your heart rate up to a point where you will begin to burn fat. This heart rate zone is a calculation arrived at by taking into consideration your sex, height and weight.
Walking is obviously free however there a two very important investments you should consider to really gain the most benefit from your new fitness regime. We have already spoken about heart rate and you should seriously consider buying a heart rate monitor watch. This will be an invaluable training aid and will provide you with your heart rate plus other useful information such as distance traveled, calories burned and time. You can keep a fitness diary with the information each day and track your progress.
Secondly you'll need good quality walking or running shoes and yes there is a difference! You certainly don't have to buy the most expensive pair in the store, it's much more important that the shoes you buy are well fitted to your feet and will provide the necessary support.
The writer is an expert online reviewer. Be sure to visit his website for great product reviews on vintage Christmas decorations. Plus check out his latest blog for more expert product reviews.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Payo_W_Perry
It's not enough however to simply go out walking in a relaxed fashion. You need to really stride and move your arms to create a fast paced walk, as though you were in hurry to get somewhere. This is important as to gain the maximum amount of benefit you need to increase your heart rate up to a point where you will begin to burn fat. This heart rate zone is a calculation arrived at by taking into consideration your sex, height and weight.
Walking is obviously free however there a two very important investments you should consider to really gain the most benefit from your new fitness regime. We have already spoken about heart rate and you should seriously consider buying a heart rate monitor watch. This will be an invaluable training aid and will provide you with your heart rate plus other useful information such as distance traveled, calories burned and time. You can keep a fitness diary with the information each day and track your progress.
Secondly you'll need good quality walking or running shoes and yes there is a difference! You certainly don't have to buy the most expensive pair in the store, it's much more important that the shoes you buy are well fitted to your feet and will provide the necessary support.
The writer is an expert online reviewer. Be sure to visit his website for great product reviews on vintage Christmas decorations. Plus check out his latest blog for more expert product reviews.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Payo_W_Perry
Sunday, November 22, 2009
What the heck is Osteopenia!!??
So, I just found out last week, after having a DEXA bone density scan, that I have Osteopenia in my spine. What the heck!!!! I was also told that my hip bones are not as dense as they should be, but I'm still in the "normal zone" in that area; however my leg bones are close to the Osteopenia border.
The definition of Osteopenia is decreased bone density caused by greater bone resorption than bone creation. Yikes! It sounds like my body has been eating up my bones! Okay, never in a million years did I expect that I might be in danger of or even close to being diagnosed with Osteopenia! I'm not yet positive that I know what it means since I haven't met with my doctor following the scan. But, I have been doing a little research on the web about it, and it seems that it's not an end-of-the-world diagnosis, thank God, and there are things that we can do to improve and even reverse it. Whew!! That's a big relief to me! But having Osteopenia does put a person at a higher risk of developing Osteoporosis, and that is not a good thing.
So my first step is to bone up (no pun intended) on the weight resistance training, add more calcium and vitamin D to my diet, and eat lots and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. From what I've read, it is also helpful to maintain an alkaline PH in the body. I'm doing some more investigating on that subject and would love to hear comments and suggestions. Thanks!
The definition of Osteopenia is decreased bone density caused by greater bone resorption than bone creation. Yikes! It sounds like my body has been eating up my bones! Okay, never in a million years did I expect that I might be in danger of or even close to being diagnosed with Osteopenia! I'm not yet positive that I know what it means since I haven't met with my doctor following the scan. But, I have been doing a little research on the web about it, and it seems that it's not an end-of-the-world diagnosis, thank God, and there are things that we can do to improve and even reverse it. Whew!! That's a big relief to me! But having Osteopenia does put a person at a higher risk of developing Osteoporosis, and that is not a good thing.
So my first step is to bone up (no pun intended) on the weight resistance training, add more calcium and vitamin D to my diet, and eat lots and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. From what I've read, it is also helpful to maintain an alkaline PH in the body. I'm doing some more investigating on that subject and would love to hear comments and suggestions. Thanks!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Delicious Protein Smoothie Recipe!
Drinking smoothies is healthy and nutritious but you can add different protein powders to boost your energy and build your muscles. Protein smoothies are a good source of protein without the fats and carbohydrates usually associated with eating protein rich foods. If you do not have time to cook, a protein smoothie recipe for building muscles will do just as well and will be of great help to you.
Here is one recipe you will surely enjoy aside from the rich protein source it will provide for your muscles:
Ingredients:
1 banana (chilled)
1 cup of non-fat milk
1/2 cup of yogurt
1 tablespoon of protein powder (check on recommended dose based on age, weight and activity level)
Procedure:
1. Blend the chilled banana and non-fat milk on high speed for at least 30 seconds.
2. Add in the yogurt and blend for another 30 seconds.
3. Add in the protein powder and blend for another 30 seconds on high speed.
4. Chill if desired before drinking.
There are other rich sources of protein you can add to make your protein smoothie such as:
· Soy milk can add more protein to your smoothie.
· Nut milks such as almonds and peanuts will give a rich flavor and aroma to your smoothies.
· Silken tofu will not only pack your smoothie with protein but will also make your smoothie smooth and creamy. To add silken tofu to your smoothie use the same amount of tofu and fruit for best results. You can also substitute tofu for recipes which calls for yogurt.
· Nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter contain the requisite protein and fatty acids that are essentially for building muscles and boosting your energy. Adding any nut butter to a frozen banana will make a delicious and protein rich smoothie.
· Rice milk and hemp are also good protein enhancers to your smoothie.
· Cocoa powder will also make a sweet chocolaty protein rich drink.
· Tahini paste will definitely increase the protein content of your smoothie. Just add a spoonful to your mix for a tasty drink.
· Quinoa is a kind of spinach plant that is full of protein and when added to your smoothie especially if your recipe contains soy in it will make a complete drink.
Using other rich sources of proteins for your smoothie will be beneficial if you are a vegetarian or non-meat eater because you will be able to get the protein requirements your body needs with the use of natural and fresh ingredients.
Make your own protein smoothie recipe to build your muscles. Find a protein smoothie recipe that is best for you by clicking on this link.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jumneez_Swensen
Here is one recipe you will surely enjoy aside from the rich protein source it will provide for your muscles:
Ingredients:
1 banana (chilled)
1 cup of non-fat milk
1/2 cup of yogurt
1 tablespoon of protein powder (check on recommended dose based on age, weight and activity level)
Procedure:
1. Blend the chilled banana and non-fat milk on high speed for at least 30 seconds.
2. Add in the yogurt and blend for another 30 seconds.
3. Add in the protein powder and blend for another 30 seconds on high speed.
4. Chill if desired before drinking.
There are other rich sources of protein you can add to make your protein smoothie such as:
· Soy milk can add more protein to your smoothie.
· Nut milks such as almonds and peanuts will give a rich flavor and aroma to your smoothies.
· Silken tofu will not only pack your smoothie with protein but will also make your smoothie smooth and creamy. To add silken tofu to your smoothie use the same amount of tofu and fruit for best results. You can also substitute tofu for recipes which calls for yogurt.
· Nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter contain the requisite protein and fatty acids that are essentially for building muscles and boosting your energy. Adding any nut butter to a frozen banana will make a delicious and protein rich smoothie.
· Rice milk and hemp are also good protein enhancers to your smoothie.
· Cocoa powder will also make a sweet chocolaty protein rich drink.
· Tahini paste will definitely increase the protein content of your smoothie. Just add a spoonful to your mix for a tasty drink.
· Quinoa is a kind of spinach plant that is full of protein and when added to your smoothie especially if your recipe contains soy in it will make a complete drink.
Using other rich sources of proteins for your smoothie will be beneficial if you are a vegetarian or non-meat eater because you will be able to get the protein requirements your body needs with the use of natural and fresh ingredients.
Make your own protein smoothie recipe to build your muscles. Find a protein smoothie recipe that is best for you by clicking on this link.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jumneez_Swensen
Decide Now
Most people have little trouble deciding from a menu when they go to a restaurant. Within a few minutes they make a decision as to what to order to eat. Sometimes the type of restaurant one is in narrows the choices. Other times the price of a meal may make a difference in what is ordered. But life itself is not usually as simple as picking from a menu.
At meal time one eats, of course. But soon there will be another meal. So the choice you make at the first meal may not have been as good as you had thought. But, never mind, the next meal can make up for it. One's choices in life may not be so easily canceled out or reversed.
As a consequence, some folks have great trouble making decision for their lives. Some of this is understandable. One decisions can make or break a lifetime. This is not usually the case. But sometimes decision can have monumental consequences. You have every reason to be cautious when making important decisions. Such decisions may include but not be limited to marriage, career, health, crime.
But don't be caught in the trap of making no decision about your life. If you say to yourself, "I'll make that decision soon," yet never get around to it, you have decided. You have decided not to decide. And that is a decision. It is a determination by default. In other words, you let what happens to you be determined by forces outside of yourself.
Of course, if you decide not to decide, then you can make an excuse for yourself. You can excuse the mess you're in by saying, "I didn't know that would happen." It's an easy way to get off the hook for your own life.
In order to take charge of your life, stop making excuses about what is happening, you must decide. Yes, I said "must." It is your personal responsibility to say, for example, "I will change... (fill in the blank) beginning now." "Must" is a verb of responsibility. When you make decisions, you are taking charge of your life. When you decide "now," you are not procrastinating and thereby letting fate rule your life.
"Now" is a relative term. The bigger the decision you need to make, the more time you might need to decide. Take your time, as long as that time is not shillyshallying.
Yes, anyone can make a mistake in life over a serious and significant decision. It may turn out to be mistaken and even sadly or disastrously so. But that does not pardon you from making a decision. It only exacerbates the need for you to decide - - to try to avoid sadness or disaster.
Decide now. It is a life phrase that will serve you well. It is a positive way to proceed through your life.
And when you want to find additional ways to take charge of your life, claim your Free Instant Access to a Force-Source Resource. Just Click Here You'll get the Force-Source Resource titled "All the Best - You Deserve It." Remember, one bit of information can give you a lifetime of satisfaction.
From Dr Robert Henry Schwenk - The "I Know the Meaning of Life" Guy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Robert_Henry_Schwenk
At meal time one eats, of course. But soon there will be another meal. So the choice you make at the first meal may not have been as good as you had thought. But, never mind, the next meal can make up for it. One's choices in life may not be so easily canceled out or reversed.
As a consequence, some folks have great trouble making decision for their lives. Some of this is understandable. One decisions can make or break a lifetime. This is not usually the case. But sometimes decision can have monumental consequences. You have every reason to be cautious when making important decisions. Such decisions may include but not be limited to marriage, career, health, crime.
But don't be caught in the trap of making no decision about your life. If you say to yourself, "I'll make that decision soon," yet never get around to it, you have decided. You have decided not to decide. And that is a decision. It is a determination by default. In other words, you let what happens to you be determined by forces outside of yourself.
Of course, if you decide not to decide, then you can make an excuse for yourself. You can excuse the mess you're in by saying, "I didn't know that would happen." It's an easy way to get off the hook for your own life.
In order to take charge of your life, stop making excuses about what is happening, you must decide. Yes, I said "must." It is your personal responsibility to say, for example, "I will change... (fill in the blank) beginning now." "Must" is a verb of responsibility. When you make decisions, you are taking charge of your life. When you decide "now," you are not procrastinating and thereby letting fate rule your life.
"Now" is a relative term. The bigger the decision you need to make, the more time you might need to decide. Take your time, as long as that time is not shillyshallying.
Yes, anyone can make a mistake in life over a serious and significant decision. It may turn out to be mistaken and even sadly or disastrously so. But that does not pardon you from making a decision. It only exacerbates the need for you to decide - - to try to avoid sadness or disaster.
Decide now. It is a life phrase that will serve you well. It is a positive way to proceed through your life.
And when you want to find additional ways to take charge of your life, claim your Free Instant Access to a Force-Source Resource. Just Click Here You'll get the Force-Source Resource titled "All the Best - You Deserve It." Remember, one bit of information can give you a lifetime of satisfaction.
From Dr Robert Henry Schwenk - The "I Know the Meaning of Life" Guy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Robert_Henry_Schwenk
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Body, Mind, and Spiritual Well Being
Here are some ways we can create our mind body spirit health and keep all three healthy. Making sure our three bodies are working at their top performance is essential for good health.
Our first part of mind body spirit health is our mind, subconscious or emotional body, this body works invisibly to help us achieve our goals in life. We have control over it to some degree and are able to reprogram it to help us achieve what we desire most.
Our emotional body
We need to keep our subconscious body healthy by keeping good relationships and fixing broken ones. If we keep hold of old broken relationships and don't try to fix them, either by healing the relationship or by forgiving and then forgetting the relationship then our emotional body still feels hurt, and the hurt can cause other problems.
Another thing about our subconscious body is that it keeps thousands upon thousands of situations and thoughts inside itself. If any of these thoughts or situations are not fulfilled or completed then we are renting rent-free space in our brain for those hurtful or unfulfilled things. If we can complete those things or forgive and forget, we can open our emotional body to better and greater things to come.
One way to help our emotional body is by talking to ourselves in a mirror. This may sound funny at first but it is a very good way of helping our emotional body in its health. We can start out by asking ourselves
"How are you today?" and "It is good to see you again." Then we can start by saying "I would like to complement you today on..." We then start to list all the things that we have accomplished today. They can be very little things like going for a walk, or chewing our food properly so that our digestion will work better, or that we made a step towards a better relationship with someone, or that we are doing more exercise, or we are completing one of our goals.
Our emotional body loves hearing all these praises and it will thank us afterwards by giving us a happy and satisfied feeling. After we are finished talking to our emotional body, we can tell ourselves in the mirror that we love ourselves.
Having a healthy respect for our self is a very important part of mind body spirit health. Telling our emotional body we love ourselves, helps a great deal in balancing our bodies, because many times we may feel that our life is missing love, or friendship, or we may be unsatisfied with our physical body and because of that unsatisfied feeling, our emotional body is affected.
However, when we tell ourselves that we care and we do love ourselves our emotional body becomes happier and is then more willing to listen to our needs.
Next on our list of mind body spirit health is our physical body. This is a very important part because our physical body has a big affect on our emotional body as well.
Our physical body.
We need to keep our physical body fit, strong, and healthy by doing daily exercises, by eating right and by doing our best to live a stress free lifestyle. If we can achieve these things, our physical body will be in top shape. We will feel full of life, energy, vigor, strength and confidence.
Our emotional body will thank us for our efforts because from having, a well toned and healthy body, we create good remarks and admiration from others. We also have good sex appeal. Our emotional body loves these things, so by keeping our physical body healthy we start to help our emotional body as well.
The last part of our mind body spirit health exercise is to help our spiritual body. Doing this will greatly help the other two bodies work together nicely.
Our spiritual body
We can keep our spiritual body happy by giving in charity to others in need, by being kind and humble to others, by praising God or the universe, by setting an example for others to follow.
Anything that we can do that will help others in living better, in feeling better and in learning more about God or the universe makes the soul happier. Our souls are happiest when they are in tune with God or the universe. So, by doing acts of kindness and charity to the less fortunate ones, we can further our progress towards the greater good.
If we can practice on a daily basis, be kind to everyone, be humble to others, and learn to forgive and forget, our souls will develop a great happiness, which will help us to become balanced in all three of our bodies.
Acharya D Hargreaves, is a published author of two health books, Digest Alive Lose Weight and build a great body Naturally, Digest Alive The Natural Cure to Heartburn and the owner of http://www.natural-way-to-lose-weight-fast.com a website dedicated to helping overweight and obese people with their weight problems.
"Obesity and Overweight issues are signs that our bodies are unbalanced, to naturally Lose weight quickly and keep it off, we need to make our bodies feel the need to balance themselves out, when this happens we will lose weight fast and keep it off." He says.
In his spare time he likes to do 3D modeling and work with Art and writing, Acharya D Hargreaves lives on an Organic fruit orchard with his wonderful family.
Personal email: sight800@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Acharya_Hargreaves
Our first part of mind body spirit health is our mind, subconscious or emotional body, this body works invisibly to help us achieve our goals in life. We have control over it to some degree and are able to reprogram it to help us achieve what we desire most.
Our emotional body
We need to keep our subconscious body healthy by keeping good relationships and fixing broken ones. If we keep hold of old broken relationships and don't try to fix them, either by healing the relationship or by forgiving and then forgetting the relationship then our emotional body still feels hurt, and the hurt can cause other problems.
Another thing about our subconscious body is that it keeps thousands upon thousands of situations and thoughts inside itself. If any of these thoughts or situations are not fulfilled or completed then we are renting rent-free space in our brain for those hurtful or unfulfilled things. If we can complete those things or forgive and forget, we can open our emotional body to better and greater things to come.
One way to help our emotional body is by talking to ourselves in a mirror. This may sound funny at first but it is a very good way of helping our emotional body in its health. We can start out by asking ourselves
"How are you today?" and "It is good to see you again." Then we can start by saying "I would like to complement you today on..." We then start to list all the things that we have accomplished today. They can be very little things like going for a walk, or chewing our food properly so that our digestion will work better, or that we made a step towards a better relationship with someone, or that we are doing more exercise, or we are completing one of our goals.
Our emotional body loves hearing all these praises and it will thank us afterwards by giving us a happy and satisfied feeling. After we are finished talking to our emotional body, we can tell ourselves in the mirror that we love ourselves.
Having a healthy respect for our self is a very important part of mind body spirit health. Telling our emotional body we love ourselves, helps a great deal in balancing our bodies, because many times we may feel that our life is missing love, or friendship, or we may be unsatisfied with our physical body and because of that unsatisfied feeling, our emotional body is affected.
However, when we tell ourselves that we care and we do love ourselves our emotional body becomes happier and is then more willing to listen to our needs.
Next on our list of mind body spirit health is our physical body. This is a very important part because our physical body has a big affect on our emotional body as well.
Our physical body.
We need to keep our physical body fit, strong, and healthy by doing daily exercises, by eating right and by doing our best to live a stress free lifestyle. If we can achieve these things, our physical body will be in top shape. We will feel full of life, energy, vigor, strength and confidence.
Our emotional body will thank us for our efforts because from having, a well toned and healthy body, we create good remarks and admiration from others. We also have good sex appeal. Our emotional body loves these things, so by keeping our physical body healthy we start to help our emotional body as well.
The last part of our mind body spirit health exercise is to help our spiritual body. Doing this will greatly help the other two bodies work together nicely.
Our spiritual body
We can keep our spiritual body happy by giving in charity to others in need, by being kind and humble to others, by praising God or the universe, by setting an example for others to follow.
Anything that we can do that will help others in living better, in feeling better and in learning more about God or the universe makes the soul happier. Our souls are happiest when they are in tune with God or the universe. So, by doing acts of kindness and charity to the less fortunate ones, we can further our progress towards the greater good.
If we can practice on a daily basis, be kind to everyone, be humble to others, and learn to forgive and forget, our souls will develop a great happiness, which will help us to become balanced in all three of our bodies.
Acharya D Hargreaves, is a published author of two health books, Digest Alive Lose Weight and build a great body Naturally, Digest Alive The Natural Cure to Heartburn and the owner of http://www.natural-way-to-lose-weight-fast.com a website dedicated to helping overweight and obese people with their weight problems.
"Obesity and Overweight issues are signs that our bodies are unbalanced, to naturally Lose weight quickly and keep it off, we need to make our bodies feel the need to balance themselves out, when this happens we will lose weight fast and keep it off." He says.
In his spare time he likes to do 3D modeling and work with Art and writing, Acharya D Hargreaves lives on an Organic fruit orchard with his wonderful family.
Personal email: sight800@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Acharya_Hargreaves
Sunday, October 18, 2009
8 Keys to Proper Diet and Nutrition
There are a few misconceptions about diet and nutrition. I don't typically like the word diet since many associate it with specific eating habits that are followed for a period of time and then you get off the diet. Nutrition on the other hand is something that we all know is important, but it just seems a fancy word that takes itself too seriously. In the end nutrition seemed to be a better description of what I wanted to explore, so here are some basic guidelines for any general diet and nutrition plan.
A healthy body is similar to a finely-tuned car. And there is nothing better than keeping the body tuned than following a balanced diet and nutrition program. This does not have to be restrictive; it should just follow some basic guidelines. The body needs food as its fuel and lifestyle, exercise and mental attitude as its regular maintenance for it to achieve its health potential. This explains the relation between health, diet and nutrition. Putting in the wrong fuel or forsaking the right fuel will prevent your body from delivering its power and best performance. Nothing is more important than proper diet and nutrition because without it, the body engine will splutter, cough and eventually stall. However, when following a balanced diet and nutrition, you can benefit from:
Added vitality and energy
Obtaining the weight that's ideal for you
Stronger and more powerful immune system
Improved overall body performance
Delayed effects of aging
Being fit and active
Lessened fatigue and tiredness
Healthy teeth and gums
Enhanced ability for concentration
Total health which means less risks for diseases
How can you achieve proper diet and nutrition?
Basically, proper diet and nutrition can be achieved from following the simple guidelines outlined below. A well-balanced diet and nutrition program includes:
1. Low fat
Almost all nutritionists and health experts agree that cutting down on fats from butter, cream, fried foods, oils and margarine is the best way to reduce weight and make your modern diet and nutrition healthier. This is also particularly important for a healthy heart.
2. Moderate Carbohydrates
Because many people have gone weight-conscious, they have forgotten the importance of rice, potatoes, pasta, cereals and bread to their health. Carbohydrates are important for vitality and energy so if you want to energize your body, take in foods that are rich in good quality carbohydrates.
3. High Fiber
Fiber is the large indigestible part of the food that you take in everyday. It doesn't only get you chewing, it also keeps the inner part of your body moving smoothly, helps prevent bowel cancer and gallstones, helps lower cholesterol, and keeps your weight in check. Grain breads and whole wheat are good sources of fiber.
4. Vitamins and Minerals
Fruits, vegetables and grains are abundant with vitamins and minerals as well as with other natural substances that functions as antioxidants. These foods help the body fight the free radicals that you get from bad foods and pollutants that could damage membranes, and cells.
5. Eat Variety of Foods
Eating a variety of foods will help you get all the nutrients your body needs. Try having a meal with foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and you get all the good nutrients your body deserves. Each meal should contain food from all 3 macro nutrient groups.
6. Limit Consumption of Sugar and Sweets
Sugar can help you stay active and on the go however, when taken excessively, adds unwanted kilojoules in your body and can displace and dispose other important foods especially in kids. Excessive intake of sugar and sweets may also cause tooth decay and other dental problems.
7. Limit Consumption of Salt
The usual diet and nutrition program is laden with salt. While most people think that salt is a good flavoring for all foods, it actually masks the real flavor of the food you are eating. Not only that! Many packaged and prepared meals have high levels of sodium that is bad for your health so it is very important that you buy fresh produce. When buying packaged food, look for labels with no-added-salts or foods with reduced amount of sodium. One other alternative is to switch to sea salt for food preparation.
8. Increase Intake of Fluid
Two liters or eight glasses of water is needed to keep your body hydrated as well as to keep your kidneys and other organs working efficiently. Don't be fooled by fruit juices, energy drinks, or alcohol! Many of these drinks add calories that people ignore in their daily consumption and drinks like coffee and alcohol actually dehydrate the body. They are not considered helpful fluid because they act as diuretics that force your kidneys to excrete more fluid. Water is your best choice, so stick to it.
Summary
Proper diet and nutrition is rather easy to achieve. Just incorporate the above mentioned foods in your daily diet and nutrition program. Enjoy the food you eat and take your time to appreciate them and for sure, you'll be healthier than ever!
You can read more articles like this Diet and Nutrition article on my Fitness and Health website.
Your friend in fitness and health,
Kobus
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kobus_DeVilliers
A healthy body is similar to a finely-tuned car. And there is nothing better than keeping the body tuned than following a balanced diet and nutrition program. This does not have to be restrictive; it should just follow some basic guidelines. The body needs food as its fuel and lifestyle, exercise and mental attitude as its regular maintenance for it to achieve its health potential. This explains the relation between health, diet and nutrition. Putting in the wrong fuel or forsaking the right fuel will prevent your body from delivering its power and best performance. Nothing is more important than proper diet and nutrition because without it, the body engine will splutter, cough and eventually stall. However, when following a balanced diet and nutrition, you can benefit from:
Added vitality and energy
Obtaining the weight that's ideal for you
Stronger and more powerful immune system
Improved overall body performance
Delayed effects of aging
Being fit and active
Lessened fatigue and tiredness
Healthy teeth and gums
Enhanced ability for concentration
Total health which means less risks for diseases
How can you achieve proper diet and nutrition?
Basically, proper diet and nutrition can be achieved from following the simple guidelines outlined below. A well-balanced diet and nutrition program includes:
1. Low fat
Almost all nutritionists and health experts agree that cutting down on fats from butter, cream, fried foods, oils and margarine is the best way to reduce weight and make your modern diet and nutrition healthier. This is also particularly important for a healthy heart.
2. Moderate Carbohydrates
Because many people have gone weight-conscious, they have forgotten the importance of rice, potatoes, pasta, cereals and bread to their health. Carbohydrates are important for vitality and energy so if you want to energize your body, take in foods that are rich in good quality carbohydrates.
3. High Fiber
Fiber is the large indigestible part of the food that you take in everyday. It doesn't only get you chewing, it also keeps the inner part of your body moving smoothly, helps prevent bowel cancer and gallstones, helps lower cholesterol, and keeps your weight in check. Grain breads and whole wheat are good sources of fiber.
4. Vitamins and Minerals
Fruits, vegetables and grains are abundant with vitamins and minerals as well as with other natural substances that functions as antioxidants. These foods help the body fight the free radicals that you get from bad foods and pollutants that could damage membranes, and cells.
5. Eat Variety of Foods
Eating a variety of foods will help you get all the nutrients your body needs. Try having a meal with foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and you get all the good nutrients your body deserves. Each meal should contain food from all 3 macro nutrient groups.
6. Limit Consumption of Sugar and Sweets
Sugar can help you stay active and on the go however, when taken excessively, adds unwanted kilojoules in your body and can displace and dispose other important foods especially in kids. Excessive intake of sugar and sweets may also cause tooth decay and other dental problems.
7. Limit Consumption of Salt
The usual diet and nutrition program is laden with salt. While most people think that salt is a good flavoring for all foods, it actually masks the real flavor of the food you are eating. Not only that! Many packaged and prepared meals have high levels of sodium that is bad for your health so it is very important that you buy fresh produce. When buying packaged food, look for labels with no-added-salts or foods with reduced amount of sodium. One other alternative is to switch to sea salt for food preparation.
8. Increase Intake of Fluid
Two liters or eight glasses of water is needed to keep your body hydrated as well as to keep your kidneys and other organs working efficiently. Don't be fooled by fruit juices, energy drinks, or alcohol! Many of these drinks add calories that people ignore in their daily consumption and drinks like coffee and alcohol actually dehydrate the body. They are not considered helpful fluid because they act as diuretics that force your kidneys to excrete more fluid. Water is your best choice, so stick to it.
Summary
Proper diet and nutrition is rather easy to achieve. Just incorporate the above mentioned foods in your daily diet and nutrition program. Enjoy the food you eat and take your time to appreciate them and for sure, you'll be healthier than ever!
You can read more articles like this Diet and Nutrition article on my Fitness and Health website.
Your friend in fitness and health,
Kobus
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kobus_DeVilliers
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