Archive for August, 2010

Stop Underarm Sweating

Underarm sweating can be a huge source of stress. If your one of the unlucky people who suffer from this problem a large part of your day can be taken up thinking of ways you can stop underarm sweating. Such excessive sweating is refereed to in medical circles as Hyperhidrosis.

If you suffer from this condition it becomes really difficult to explain the problem to others. My biggest concern was always that people were going to think I had bad personal hygiene. Truth was I used to shower 2/3 times a day so I was a dam sight cleaner than the people I was worrying about.

Good thing is that there are remedies available that can stop underarm sweating. Some that deal the root cause and others that target the symptoms.

Dealing with the root cause.

Diet is hugely significant in the battle to stop underarm sweating. If the majority of your food is junk food you really can’t expect your body to be happy about it or function properly. If you only make one change to stop underarm sweating, cleaning up your diet is the most important thing you can do.

Another cause for excessive underarm sweating is stress. Modern day living can be extremely stressful, If you can manage to reduce the amount of stress in your daily routine it can have a significant effect on the amount you sweat.

Strange as it may sound, water also helps. Water controls our internal body temperature, if you become dehydrated your internal temperature rises which induces the sweat glands to produce more sweat. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Dealing with the symptoms.

Dealing with the symptoms of sweating underarms really isn’t a longterm solution but can sometimes help in the short-term. The most obvious is probably antiperspirants. Down side to this is that most are really strong and contain all-sorts of chemicals. This often causes skin irritation.

Botox can be an option but again is a short-term thing that needs to be repeated often and is expensive.

Surgery is an option for some but is an aggressive way to deal with the problem and should only be considered as a final option if everything else has been tried and failed. All of these short-term fixes have possible side effects and for that reason would cause me to steer clear.

There is a way to stop underarm sweating that is completely natural. No antiperspirants or creams, no injections or painful surgery, no drugs or pills, no hypnosis or mind exercises.


Stop Snoring Remedies

Snoring is a disorder that many people around the globe suffer from. For this reason there are a plethora of individuals that are looking for snoring remedies to help with their problem. It is a problem that does tend to affect the individual, but more so their partner or other family members.
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The noise that they make during their time asleep tends to keep their family members and partners awake at night, meaning they do not get the amount of sleep they require to function on a daily basis. In serious cases this can actually affect people’s work, and even become a danger to their health. This means snoring remedies that are successful can be extremely valuable.

Although it is generally the people around you that are affected by the snoring, if you suffer from a severe case of the disorder, then it can actually effect your health too. Severe snoring problems can actually cause sleep apnea. This condition actually stops your breathing while sleeping for a few seconds and can obviously be dangerous.

If you do not treat the problem quickly it can actually lead to other conditions such as strokes, heart disease and high blood pressure. These are obviously far more dangerous than snoring. With the constant advances in medicine that are being made, there are now a number of natural cures that can help to stop the snoring without taking experimental, and sometimes dangerous, drugs.

The main cause of snoring is the narrowing of the airways that you breathe through while asleep. Other causes can be sleeping with the wrong posture, and some soft tissue abnormalities. The loud noises that are produced are caused by the tissue flaps hitting each other while you are breathing in and out. The fact that male air passages are much thinner than female’s, and that they have larger adenoids, means they are much more prone to snoring than females.

The first area to consider when looking to cure a snoring problem is to visit your local doctor. This is important as the cause of the snoring can differ quite substantially from person to person. This means that the cure can be different for each individual. For example, if snoring occurs when the mouth is closed, then the problem tends to be caused by your tongue. If the snoring happens when the mouth is open, then the cause is normally the throat tissue.

Most snoring occurs when the individual is lying on their back. This type of snoring can normally be remedied by changing your diet and sleeping patterns. If you find you snore while on your side then your problem is far more severe, and will therefore require one of the stronger snoring remedies supplied by your doctor.


Massage Therapy For Neck Injuries

Neck is one of the most flexible organs of the body that has a great deal of functionality. It is quite susceptible to injuries, because it is subjected to a lot of stress and weight and to a certain extent because of its flexibility. Neck pain is usually caused by the stress, misuse, overuse, poor posture, accident or a sport injury. Neck pain is one of the most common complaints that may become a constant problem if remain untreated and ignored. In holistic medicine, massage therapy is considered as the most significant natural treatment that helps provide effective pain management. In this article I will discuss the role of massage therapy in dealing with neck pain.

Massage Therapy – A Natural Way of Pain Management

Massage therapy is the natural way of treating neck pain. It is a profound and non-invasive holistic approach that is effective for people of all age group. It not only provides pain relief and management, but also decelerates the progression of neck problems. All neck problems including injuries require immediate assistance of a health care practitioner, because damaged muscles, ligaments and nerves may lead to a serious condition called osteoarthritis. Furthermore, neck injuries that occur due to accidents can lead to more severe neck problems including whiplash, herniated disc, fracture, pinched nerve and paralysis.

How Massages Help Relieve Pain?

Highly contracted muscles and poor blood flow to the neck are the main reasons of various neck problems. A professional massage therapist uses method of mind/body integration and various hands-on-techniques to generate feeling of frothiness that gently relieves pain. A massage therapist provides small body movements and a gentle touch that effectively relaxes muscles and connective tissues and improves blood circulation to the affected areas.

Types of Massages for Neck Pain Relief

In holistic medicine there are several types of massages available that can be performed by an experienced massage therapist to help relieve neck pain. Some of them are:

1. Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is especially intended to reduce severe tension in the muscles and connective tissues. A professional massage therapist applies an intense, focused and hard pressure to release the sustained deep pressure from the neck and upper back.

2. Shiatsu Massage

In this type of Japanese hands-on-therapy, a massage therapist applies pressure to the affected area of the body by using his fingers and palm in order to correct the imbalance of the body and promote sense of well-being.

3. Swedish Massage

Swedish massage includes a variety of manual therapies that help release muscle tension and provides relief from neck pain.

4. Trigger Point Therapy

In trigger point therapy, manual pressure, vibration or some other treatment is applied by the massage therapist to alleviate myofascial pain from the affected body area. This manual therapy effectively enhances blood flow to the damaged areas, releases neck muscle spasms and promotes the natural healing process.

There are various other types of massages that significantly release muscle tension and help provide neck pain relief. A certified and licensed massage therapist can better analyze the severity of the condition and recommend the particular type of massage therapy that will be suitable to fix the condition and promote health. Regular exercises and good posture i.e. aligned spine position are also recommended to decrease the neck pain.


Practicing Nail Care the Proper Way

Since nails are constantly growing, some people tend to neglect their nails. They think that it would eventually grow back so they do not mind if some damage is done to their nails. Unfortunately, most nail damages are very painful, especially if the nails become cracked. Infection of the nails is also a big problem that should be avoided.

There are many do’s and don’t in nail care and you might not know a lot of them. The most basic things are very easy such as keeping the nails trim, and cleaning under our nails so that microbes will not have a chance to proliferate.

One thing that a lot of people do but should not be done is the using of the nails as tools. Some use them for opening lids and letters, while others use them as a screwdriver. These actions will expose nails to mechanical damage and one wrong move may cause them to break. It is best to use the correct tools for these jobs and avoid using your nails at all costs.

Nails cannot be damaged through physical means alone. They can also be damaged when exposed to harsh chemicals or drying agents. It is best to avoid contact with these substances by using gloves. If it is really unavoidable, make sure to moisturize your nails afterward so that your nails are hydrated and will not break easily.

One area of your nails that you should be really careful is the cuticle area. This is because it is near the nail bed where your nail grows. This is the area that you should protect and clean frequently so that chances of infection and deformities forming in your nails are reduced.

Another practice that a lot of people do is the pulling of hangnails. This is a dangerous habit as the wrong pull might cause some serious damage to your nails. This will of course be very painful and may cause your entire nail to crack. Even though you are really irritated at seeing of feeling a hangnail, it is best to find a clipper and use it to cut it off rather than doing it yourself.

The use of nail polish is encouraged to help protect your nails from unnecessary scratches. But be careful as you should also let your nails rest from time to time so that they are not in constant contact with the chemicals used in the polish. Also, avoid polish that makes use of formaldehyde as one of their ingredients.

These are just some of the things that you should remember when it comes to taking care of your nails. There are still other practices that should be avoided to maintain strong and healthy nails. It is best to consult a dermatologist if you are not sure if your nail care practices are safe and beneficial for your nails.


Dietary Fibre Isn’t Just Taking Up Space

You’ve probably heard many times how important a high fibre diet is for your health; how traditional cultures which eat a diet high in unrefined foods have lower incidence of bowel problems and bowel cancer. But do you know what that fibre is actually doing for you? Its not just taking up space; when you understand how its helping, you might start deliberately searching out new sources of fibre.

There are many different types of fibre, but two main classifications – soluble and insoluble. Both are useful, in different ways.

The soluble type, as its name implies, tends to soak up materials and carry them out of your body. Your liver, which has dissolved toxins in bile, relies on the soluble fibre to soak up the bile and carry it out of your body. Otherwise, the bile is re-absorbed and your liver has to process it again. Without enough soluble fibre in your diet a nasty pattern of toxin recycling can develop, leaving you feeling like you’re carrying around your own personal rubbish dump.

Fortunately, soluble fibre will also soak up excessive fat in your diet, and reduce its absorption. The right amount of soluble fibre in your diet will help prevent high blood fat and cholesterol levels. That’s why the Mediterranean diet, which is higher in good fats but also higher in fibre from vegetables and legumes, is regarded as one of the healthiest.

The insoluble type of fibre can’t be broken down by our bodies – we don’t possess the enzymes to do it. But we all have bacteria living in our intestines that will happily digest and ferment a great deal of the insoluble fibre.

Your resident colon-dwelling bacteria break down the fibre into short chain fatty acids, which actively feed the cells lining your bowel well. Keeping these cells well fed is very important, as they have the job of transporting nutrients into your bloodstream. The presence of the right amount of short chain fatty acids also alters your bowel pH. That has some important flow-on effects as well. The right pH makes it easier to for your body to absorb important minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium. The right pH also makes life difficult for pathogenic (disease producing) bacteria to thrive.

The best sources of fibre come from unrefined foods. Legumes like chick peas, black eyed beans, kidney beans contain a mix of soluble and insoluble fibre, and they’re naturally gluten-free. Oats and fruit are excellent sources of soluble fibre. Wheat or rice bran is a great source of insoluble fibre – but is best eaten as part of a food (like bread or breakfast cereal) as some people find its too ‘scratchy’ for their digestion on its own. Vegetables are a fabulous source of fibre, and most of us don’t eat anywhere near enough of them.

Check your diet today for fibre content: Did you eat some legumes? Five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit? Its not just taking up space – its keeping you healthy.


Heart Healthy Tips For Cooking

Are you fond of cooking at home? Here are some heart healthy tips for cooking. It’s essential to use healthy and nutritious ingredients and most of all, follow a preparation routine that is both healthy and heart-friendly. Whenever you make, cook and prepare homemade meals, the advantage is you have more control over the overall healthfulness and nutritional content of the foods that you eat. Best of all it’s cost-effective, it will enable you to save money!

Follow these heart healthy tips for cooking so that you can turn your kitchen into a heart-healthy hub of your home:

1. Instead of using salt to flavor your foods, use healthy alternatives like vinegar, herbs, onions, low-fat or fat free salad dressings and sauces, as well as tomatoes for better health. This will benefit most especially those who have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

2. Preserve the colors and nutrients in the vegetables by cooking them quickly through stir-frying or steaming.

3. Use your freezer and your time wisely. You can make your foods last longer by preparing ample meals to last for several other meals. Once cooked, set aside a portion and freeze it so that you can have a ready-made nutritious treat for your family whenever you are simply too tired to bother cooking.

4. Avoid seasonings that have an increased salt content as this will boost your risk for high blood pressure. Come up with healthy substitutes like spices and herbs or you can buy one of those seasoning mixes that are salt-free. Use citrus zest, hot chilies or even lemon juice to add some flavor to your meals.

5. To cover a thousand nutritious needs, prepare a smoothie. Throw in a banana in your blender and add some frozen kiwi, berries or whatever fruit is available at home. You can also add some juice, orange or some low-fat yogurt, or fat-free protein powder. Just imagine, you can get your 5 servings of fruit in one glass of delicious shake! Try to make this a healthy family habit – it’s healthy, cool, easy and refreshing.

6 Processed, canned as well as preserved vegetables normally have very high levels of salt content. When shopping for groceries, opt for low-sodium vegetables or you can choose the frozen varieties. Choose products with less sodium content.

7. When baking, opt for low-fat yogurt or plain fat free ones. Choose low fat and fat free sour cream as well.

Use these heart healthy tips for a healthier family!


Yeast Free Diet Information Update

Being yeast intolerant can present some dietary restrictions that you need to follow in order to prevent the overgrowth of the Candida yeast fungi in the body. An abnormal increase in the growth of candida can cause symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, and irritable bowel syndrome. With a yeast free diet, your body can resume its balance and you will notice an improvement in your general health.

All foods that contain yeast such as baked products like cookies, cakes and breads should be avoided. Certain cheeses that have molds should be eliminated, and alcoholic and soda drinks should be avoided as well.

Vinegar has high yeast content, but it is often used in pickles, mayonnaise, steak sauce, and other salad dressings. It is best to avoid these foods, as well. A yeast free diet should not include mushroom and certain nuts such as peanuts and pistachios.

Living a yeast free life can help you retain a good balance of intestinal flora, which will result to a more efficient digestive process. You will be able to stay away from your usual cravings of sweets, like chocolates, maple syrup, as well as some fruits that have high sugar content such as grapes, prunes and dates.

It is recommended that you keep a yeast free diet for at least six weeks, which will make your body undergo a detoxing of yeast inside your system. You will most likely lose weight in the process, which is beneficial to your health, also. This kind of diet can also increase your energy levels, because the digestive tract functions better, and so, nutrients are better absorbed and distributed to your internal organs. Your immunity to certain diseases will also improve.

During the first few weeks of a yeast free diet, toxins are being flushed from your system and sometimes, some flu-like symptoms such as weakness and fatigue may occur. However, do not be alarmed as this is just a normal body reaction and you will soon regain normal functions after a few weeks.

After the initial six weeks, you can slowly reintroduce some of the foods that you had avoided. However, do this in small quantities and only one food at a time. This is a good way to tract how your body will react when certain foods are reintroduced, and will give you an idea which of these foods causes the unfavorable reactions in your body. You will then know better what foods to avoid in order to stay yeast free for the rest of your life.


Allergy to Alcohol

The short answer to “Can you develop an allergy to alcohol later in life?” is YES!!

I know this because this happened to me. I was a drinker in my early and mid thirties. I had no issues whatsoever with allergies to alcohol. I quit drinking. Started drinking again in my mid forties. My drinking was at the level of getting drunk about 3 nights a week. (yes I WAS an alcoholic which has something to do with allergy to alcohol which I will explain). After two years of drinking all of a sudden one night I thought I was having a stroke.

That is probably the best way to describe allergic reactions to alcohol for someone who never experienced it for themselves. The symptoms I was having made me think I was having a stroke because I had never even heard of alcohol allergy before.

My symptoms to drinking that night hit quick and hard and included:

  • Sensation of intense pressure in my head and congestion. This was the biggest and first symptom.
  • Feeling like someone was sticking pins in my face. A prickly sensation all over
  • Beet red face. It looked like I was blushing very bad
  • Red blotches. Red patches started showing up on my shoulders, chest, arms, and legs
  • Racing pulse. It could also feel my pulse throbbing in my veins almost like my pulse was too intense or hard

Those were my main symptoms. At the time I had absolutely no idea that this had anything to do with alcohol allergic reactions to alcohol at all simply because I had never heard of such a thing.

I had discounted my symptoms at the time and thought they were just some weird fluke but the one thing I do remember is that the whole experience definitely ruined enjoying my drinking.

These symptoms of allergy to alcohol continued to show up over the next two years but NOT on a regular basis which was also puzzling. I could drink several times over a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden the symptoms would hit again.

I actually ended up quitting drinking at 48 and these symptoms had a lot to do with that. Although I STILL have no idea what these symptoms were I DID have the common sense to realize that these symptoms I had when I drank booze were my bodies way of rebelling and telling me to stop.

The reason I developed an allergy to alcohol later in life was after two years of regular drinking my bodies ability to handle and break down alcohol was reduced. With some people (particularly Asians because of genetics) their ability to handle and break down alcohol is heredity. In other words 50% of the Asian population will get these symptoms when then drink alcohol even if they rarely drink or they have no addictions to alcohol whatsoever.

This allergy to alcohol and its symptoms is referred to as the Asian Flush, Asian Glow, or Asian Girl Glow. The cause of my symptoms when drinking booze was that I was abusing my body. People who only drink socially who get these symptoms have a true allergy to alcohol. In these people these symptoms are not your bodies way of telling you to quit drinking but instead it is caused by a “genetic defect” that greatly reduces your bodies ability to handle alcohol.

For people like me (people who drink to excess both in terms of frequency and volume) the answer is to QUIT DRINKING! For people who do not have a drinking problem and instead have the Asian Flush the symptoms ARE treatable.


Exploring The Different Types Of Massages

Massage as a treatment to promote well-being and relaxation by manipulating the muscles and tissues has been around for centuries. It was well known to the Romans, Greeks, Chinese, Indians and Egyptians to mention but a few. Being practiced by such a diverse collection of cultures, it is inevitable that many different types of massages are now in current use.

A massage normally involves manipulating areas of the body using pressure, motion, tension or vibration and this is often accomplished manually or by the use of mechanical implements. Areas targeted can include the skin, tendons, muscles, joints, ligaments or other types of tissue. A massage may be performed using the fingers, hands, forearms, elbows, knees or feet. Professional treatment normally involves the client reclining on a table, a floor mat, or sitting in a chair. The client will usually be fully or partially naked and will have a towel or a sheet covering parts of the body.

The treatment became popular in the mid 1800’s in the US after being introduced there by two New York doctors, who adopted the techniques from Sweden. It then rapidly spread throughout the Western world. Initially used as a supplement to medical procedures, it was used extensively by athletes and chronic pain sufferers as a pain relief remedy. However, due to the fact that the recipient is completely or partially unclothed and that the masseur or masseuse often manipulates areas in close proximity to the clients private parts, a more sensual ingredient was introduced to the practice.

Certain practitioners of massaging techniques recognised the potential financial rewards to be gained from the commercial exploitation of massaging, and a new form of the practice evolved. Because the advertising of sexual services over most of the US is illegal, many of these services are often advertised as massages. This has led to the introduction of the term, massage therapy, in order to distinguish the sexual from the non-sexual types of service.

One of the most popular forms of this type of treatment is the full body massage. Good for reducing stress and being extremely relaxing at the same time, this sensual caressing of the body can bring health benefits to the recipient as well as improving relationships through increased intimacy. When using oils, make sure there is a plentiful supply of washable towels or a blanket. Light candles to add to the atmosphere. Warm the hands before beginning. The recipient should undress and lie face down on the blanket or towels. Oil should be spread on the back and rubbed in, starting with the shoulders and working down the back. After completing the back, the person being massaged should turn over and the treatment should now be repeated starting at the chest and working towards the feet. Lingering at the body’s intimate parts could arouse the person sexually and may lead to sexual advances.

Depending upon the source of the information, a body rub can be anything from an ordinary Swedish massage, to the type of massage described in the previous paragraph, to a hands on experience from a young lady who may be partially or totally nude, or to the actual oils and lotions that are applied to the body during the process of administering the body rub.

A body slide is performed by a totally nude masseuse who has had scented oils applied to her front and who then slides her whole body all over her client’s body both front and back, using her breasts to gently caress the client.

There are a number of massages for men, depending upon the type of man and his preferences. Men can be divided roughly into 3 categories; timid, tough and the laid back, incense breathing hippie type. Each one can choose from a treatment ranging from the erotic, with a Happy Ending, to the bone crunching muscle tearing rubs of the sports treatment for the athlete.


Dieting For The Right Reason

When we think of dieting, far too often we take those first steps towards weight loss happiness for what we later find out are all the wrong reasons. Ultimately however, if your reason works for you there is no truly wrong reason to diet. The trick is in picking the right reason that will actually work for you. I’ve seen all kinds of excellent motivators when it comes to dieting and taking your dieting seriously. One of the more common reasons is to lose weight. This is as good of a reason as any.

Some want to get back into clothes that they wore in high school when they were younger, while others would simply like to be able to look in the mirror once again without feeling guilty. For some this is a simple matter of vanity and for others it is being able to deal with what has become a medical problem to be dealt with. If you find the reason you need to be successful with your dieting this time as opposed to others, then that is the perfectly plausible and acceptable reason for you to diet.

Other reasons for dieting include a desire to be more physically fit. Some of us have a deep and abiding desire to stay around as long as possible and truly believe that the best possible method for accomplishing this goal is to live the healthiest life possible. This is another fantastic reason for losing weight and getting into shape. If it works for you that is. The biggest thing to overcome is that every person is going to have to find their very own motivation deep within.The most unselfish reason is to have the energy you need to keep up with the younger members of your family. This is one of the most heartbreaking side effects for most when it comes to the need to lose weight. There is simply no energy remaining at the end of the day to enjoy spending important time your precious little ones who are young for such a very short amount of time. You desperately want to create and establish those precious memories with them but absolutely have no energy left to do so.

If that isn’t bad enough you probably (if you are considered really obese) have noticed that many of the normal activities with your kids often bring you unbearable pain that is the direct result of your weight. Having a loved one inadvertently say something insulting can be another excellent motivator for some when it comes to dieting and taking off those pesky pounds. Reducing a bunch of weight takes time in many cases so you must be capable to maintain your motivation even when things are going to be rough along the way.

The path to a new body is not an easy path. This is for those who have some serious emotional healing to do, and the best revenge for old slights and wounds is to come back more beautiful than ever before. If this motivation is what it takes to see you continue to take off the pounds then this is the motivation to which you should cling.Talking to friends in your church can be excellent weight loss motivation. Some people believe the body should be treated as a temple. There is nothing wrong with this philosophy at all, however, it can cause us a lot of time and takes some us longer to find our way to that line of thinking than others.

Religion and faith are powerful motivators, as they have been known to offer strength and bring healing to those in need by the power of their beliefs. If your faith can give you the will power and strength you need in order to reach your dieting and weight loss goals then by all means lean on your faith and hold it close. No matter what motivation you have for dieting and losing weight if you find it is no longer working for you, then you need to find another motivator quickly. Without proper motivation it is quite unlikely that you will ever meet your weight loss goals.

There are some incredible products on the market that will help you attain your acceptable and healthy weight. It can take a bit of time finding the right one for you, but in the long run, it is best to be selective instead of speculative. Make sure the one you chose is designed for the purpose that you will need for your dieting needs. Not all weight loss products are created equal. If you want to see the one that I used to successfully reduce my weight, have a look on my site,as I am proud to promote them. Come by for a visit.


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