Archive for the ‘Advice’ Category
Mountain Biking – King Of Biking Sports
Posted on December 26, 2008
Any place where the terrain is rough and the sky is blue in Dallas, Houston or elsewhere in Texas is a place you’ll probably find mountain bikers. The sport of mountain biking usually refers to riding bicycles, which possess particular design characteristics, off-road, although sometimes the term simply refers to riding a mountain bike.
It’s a tough, demanding sport that requires endurance, good bike handling skills and a lot of self-reliance. It’s an individual sport that can be performed almost anywhere. There are certain aspects of mountain biking that are similar to trail running, more so than regular bicycling. And, because riders are often far from civilization, there is a strong ethic of self-reliance. Seasoned riders have learned to repair their broken bikes or flat tires to avoid being stranded in the middle of nowhere. This reliance on survival skills accounts for the group dynamics of the sport. Club rides and other forms of group rides are common, especially on longer treks.
Used Electric Wheel Chairs – Tips To Help Find The Right One
Posted on December 25, 2008
At no time in our nation’s history have health related expenses been so high. In fact, the medical costs of any type of injury or illness can often be more traumatic than the actual event. For many, another major out-of-pocket cost will be an electric wheel chair. Here is a look at how to find the right one without spending a fortune.
Electric wheel chairs can quickly become a major expense. New models can easily cost in the $5,000 – $10,000 range. This is where the need for good quality used electric wheel chairs comes in.
A used electric wheel chair saves you major dollars compared to buying one new. In some cases you can save 50% – 60% off the new price.
Live Longer, Look Younger & Feel Great With These Super Foods
Posted on December 23, 2008
Whatever your age, a healthy and nutritious diet will improve virtually every aspect of your life, including your health and beauty. Here are some of the top superfoods that really make a difference.
Apples
It’s the old cliché that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, but it’s 100% true. Apples contain pectin which lowers blood cholesterol, boron which reduces the loss of calcium preventing osteoporosis, and it contains the phytochemical quercetin which improves the firmness of collagen. Collagen is a component of skin that helps keep it firm and plump, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Pomegranates
Studies prove that pomegranate will help you slow the process of skin aging. Your skin is oxidising like a sliced apple every minute of the day. Pomegranates prevent oxidative stress that causes wrinkling, aging, thinning, and skin cancer.
The Smoking Ban – Good News For Eyes?
Posted on December 22, 2008
The smoking ban in public places in England starts on the 1st July and is part of a government initiative to reduce smoking related diseases. These include respiratory, vascular and malignant conditions.
As optometrists, will we see any clinical effect from the ban?
Smoking has clearly been linked to cataracts. Studies have shown that smokers have up to a three-fold increase of developing nuclear sclerosis. Although potentially devastating to patients in developing countries where medical treatment is not so readily available, due to the advances in cataract surgery, many people in the western world with nuclear sclerosis undergo surgery and any degradation to the vision is eliminated.
The Smell Of Natural Beauty (via Cobweb/3.1 Planetlab2.netlab.uky.edu)
Posted on December 20, 2008
The Smell of Natural Beauty
By James Penn
Many people wear colognes and perfumes to compliment their feelings and fashions. The nice thing about natural beauty is that, for the most part, these things aren’t necessary. Still, some people prefer to wear something that makes them feel extra sexy or just for fun. Like make-up, the trick to wearing a scent for natural beauty is not to hide a personal smell, but to enhance it.
A look through the drug store’s perfume display or a display at a department store is enough to get an idea of what most people find to be fashionable. While colognes such as Polo sport and Calvin Klein are made with essential oil, many of them also include synthetic materials that dampen their natural smells. If Polo Sport suits the look of an individual, then said person should go for it. However, there are less overwhelming smells that do much to compliment a person’s natural scent and personal preferences.
Step Aerobics – Is The 80s Fad Officially Dead?
Posted on December 20, 2008
Now, before you go crazy on me… hear me out.
I’ve been in the health and fitness industry (more specifically health clubs) for a while now and I really have to say that if I were to start a club from scratch… I wouldn’t include an aerobic program at all.
Why?
Because I’ve never REALLY seen these programs work.
Sure, I’ve seen people start to drop weight with step aerobics, but they tend to plateau extremely quickly and plateaus lead to frustration. Frustration leads to doubt and doubt leads to failure.
Studies have shown that aerobic activities can burn away valued muscle AND have shrinking effects on the heart and lungs. Now, of course I’m not taking about aggressive cardiovascular routines that truly challenge the body.
Best Way To Quit Smoking – No Pills Or Patches Required
Posted on December 19, 2008
Most of smokers will be quite shocked after reading this statement but apparently best way to quit smoking is not related with some miracle medicine in form of pills, patches, chewing gums or other so called alternatives for addictive component of cigarettes mostly known as nicotine.
In fact nicotine is not main reason why you are addicted to smoking habit. The tobacco companies and even health care industry want you to believe that this is true but there is another component in patent protected list of thousands of chemicals inside every cigarette that actually is responsible for addiction. And unless correct countermeasures are taken against this ingredient all attempts to quit smoking are ten times more difficult which results in higher rate of failure for those who are trying.
Controlled Carbohydrate Diets
Posted on December 16, 2008
We all have been on the low carbohydrate wagon at one point in our quest in the battle of the bulge but does a “controlled” carbohydrate diet work to shed excess body fat? The answer to this in many research studies is yes it does work and is an effective way to also control cravings. The real answer though is does it for you the individual? Some people do not do very well with a controlled carbohydrate diet and thus it is important for these individuals to do what works best for them.
We really do not know about all the factors that cause food cravings. More research is needed to help us understand more about our appetites and satiety. Many researchers state that a decrease in blood sugar stimulates hunger. This may explain cravings for high carbohydrate foods, which are a quick energy source.
One Tip That May Change Your Health And Your Life
Posted on December 14, 2008
This may sound crazy, but to truly change your body you have to change who you are. Your body is merely a reflection of the many aspects of who you are as a person. Most people fail in there efforts to achieve good physical health only because of there lack of a balanced mind, body and spirit. In most cases people try to deal with each one separately, but in reality they are all one and function together as one.
Here’s another thing. Have you ever heard people say that you need “will power”? Will power will not permanently change your physical body. Will power implies that you don’t even want to be doing whatever it is that you need the will power for.
Home Testing Of Urine And Saliva Ph Levels
Posted on December 8, 2008
Many health problems require close daily monitoring of the general condition, and the availability of home health test kits on the market has dramatically improved the lives of chronic patients who are now able to monitor their condition, while reducing the number of visits to the doctor. Home health kits available for urine and saliva pH testing include special pH paper to check alkalinity or the acidity in your system. These two are main factors in determining the stability of a health condition. It is not unusual for people to detect the risk of heart disease, diabetes or urinary tract infections by an analysis of their urine pH.
