Health Specialist » Nutrition

Yoga for Beginners How to take those first steps into Yoga

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:59:45 +0000

Yoga is all around us these days. From Sting to Madonna, to maybe even your next door neighbor, everyone is hooked upon this fitness craze and with good cause. As a form of physical exercise, Yoga indeed is a force to be reckoned with. But just how can one go about using yoga for beginners? It is my hope that as a Yoga practitioner and enthusiast, this article will be of assistance in this regard.

If you have been considering learning yoga or have recently begun a yoga practice, I hope to provide you with some useful and helpful tips in which may be helpful to you in using yoga for beginners.

I have been doing Yoga for quite some time now, 6 years to be exact and since the first day I swore of free-weights and exercise machines, my use of Yoga and other body weight exercises like Hindu-Push ups in my honest opinion a Yoga derivative has been the main method for keeping fit. in addition-of course- to my diet which co-incidentally changed when I started Yoga as a beginner those 6 years back.

I will now enumerate the yoga poses to be learned as a starter which can aid or supplement your knowledge from your yoga classes, books and or DVDs.

Yoga for Beginners Yoga Poses to Learn first.

The Sun Salutations Okay, this is the core of Yoga itself. This exercise is a combination of Yoga Poses, Breathing exercise, Sun Bathing and Prayer. It is the warm-up of a yoga class or personal yoga session and is a combination of poses, 12 to be exact, that are performed in a synchronized motion with emphasis on rhythmic breathing. They mildly exercise the arms and legs and are often recommended for obesity, depression and fitness. Friends, several Martial Artists, Indian and African Wrestlers perform tons of rounds of these exercises alone, so in learning yoga, for beginners, this will be a guaranteed must-know.

The Shoulder Stand Dont be intimidated by the name at all. Even for a beginner, this yoga pose is a piece of cake, really. It is actually a very important pose though, arguably the most important as its Sanskrit name Savangasana actually means the all members or all limbs pose, meaning it affects all parts of the body. As a beginner, be aware that some poses such as this one do have specific counter poses, so if youre taking a Yoga for beginner class or learning from a DVD, make sure you are taught these poses to counter-act and balance the effects of the Shoulder-stand pose on the body, these are the Bridge and fish poses. Heres a hint or ratio to adhere to in their combined execution 612 , meaning the bridge and fish poses should be held for a sixth and third of the time you spend in the Shoulder-stand Pose respectively.

The Corpse Pose Youve got to learn this Yoga Pose as a beginner. It is the relaxation pose that is usually executed during and after your session as a means of relaxing the muscles used for your yoga exercise. At the end of a session, it is usually done for about 15 minutes and one always comes out feeling refreshed after its execution.

Arguably, these are the 3 main poses you have to lay emphasis on in learning yoga for a beginner, but there are other poses that should be included as you go further. They are

1. The forward Bending exercises Head to Knee pose, Plough Pose and Wind reliving pose

2. The Back Bending Exercises The Bow, Inclined Plane and Wheel Poses.

3. The Spinal Twists

4. The Balancing Exercises The Peacock, Crow, Side Plank and 4-limbed staff Poses

5. The Exercises in Sitting and Standing Positions

6. The Abdominal and Breathing Exercises.

Each of these groups has several variations on the root poses; however, let me tell you a secret that would go a long way in aiding you as a beginner learning Yoga. Do at least 24 round of the previously mentioned Sun Salutations and the ease in executing these poses will come almost naturally. Trust me.

There are several styles of Yoga to pick from and in seeking the right style of Yoga for a beginner; it might be quite difficult to pick the best. However, since Iyengar Yoga seems to involve a lot of props that can aid till flexibility is re-gained or enhanced, it may be one of the easier choices to pick. Kripalu and Bikram Yoga may also be quite easy to pick up as well as a beginner.

To find the best yoga for beginner class around you, you can always check your local YMCA or YWCA branches as they almost always carry information on Yoga classes for all stages from beginner to intermediate.

One other factor that I must stress is the need to also pick up a Yoga diet for health and aiding these poses to both strengthen and detoxify you. This will-as a result of the symbiotic relationship that exists between Yoga and a proper diet-speed up an increase in fitness, weight loss, focus and the ability to execute these poses easily.

Though Yoga for beginners may best be learned from a certified instructor, your own practice will remain paramount for your mastery of this form of physical culture and there are tons of books and DVDs to help in regards to this. Moreover, keep in mind that as a beginner doing yoga, not unless you intend to do lots of Sun Salutations as mentioned above, you may still want to incorporate some body-weight resistance poses that co-incidentally are still Yogic in origin such as the Hindu-Push-ups and Squats and the Bridge now this is and the first one are basically Yoga poses in motion friends….

This combination will see that till you have mastered the use of Yoga poses to make a complete session, you are still burning up enough calories and exercising the muscles for both weight loss and fitness.

Doing Yoga is fun, exhilarating and extremely rewarding for lots of reasons that may have already got you researching about it, so needless to say, choosing this exercise, even as a beginner, will go a long way into making for a fitter and healthier you.

Is There Such a Thing as an Immune System Supplement, And How can It Be Of Benefit To Your Fitness Goals?

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:37:36 +0000

Many people wonder about the existence of an immune system supplement. Is there really such a supplement? Well, if you go to your health food store and start searching for an immune system supplement, you may be hard pressed to find one. Instead, you need to look towards research, and discover which products or substances have been proven to boost the immune system, which, in effect, could be considered as an immune system supplement.

A great deal of research has been conducted on the various supplements that are used in bodybuilding. Some of that research has yet to be conclusive, while other portions of that research have already given us conclusive proof regarding different factors of how supplements affect the human body, and bodybuilding in particular.

You would be amazed at the number of people who don’t realize that the immune system plays a vital role in the process of bodybuilding. While light exercise actually strengthens the immune system, the harsh exercise that bodybuilders do can actually weaken it. Bodybuilders put a great deal of stress on their bodies, and in response, this stress weakens the immune system. So, naturally, as a bodybuilder, it is important to consider an immune system supplement to prevent this from happening.

In this research we have also learned that whey is important to bodybuilding, for numerous reasons. One of those reasons is that whey protein isolate has been proven to have a positive effect on the immune system. In fact, when choosing between a whey protein isolate and a soy protein isolate, they whey often wins because of its increased positive effect on the immune system.

This research was conducted on two groups, consisting of 30 people, with 15 in each group. One group was given 30 grams of whey protein isolate twice each day, and the other was given 30 grams of soy protein isolate twice a day. The test continued for twelve weeks.

What was learned in this study is that the group that was given the whey protein supplement had increased levels of glutathione stores. This is an indication that the immune system is strong, or stronger. On the other hand the group who had the soy protein isolate had lower levels of glutathione stores, indicating that their immune systems were actually weakened, or weaker. The study also concluded that the soy protein isolate group had a decrease in the T4 thyroid hormone. At the same time, however, the amount of body fat, cholesterol, and triglycerides remained about the same between the two groups.

What this tells us is that in some areas of our health and body function, there is no difference between using whey protein isolate and soy protein isolate, but when it comes to the immune system, and immune system supplements, whey protein isolate is definitely the way to go. So, instead of looking for an immune system supplement in your health food store, look for a good whey protein isolate.

Anxiety Medications for the Weary Soul

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:15:27 +0000

In a world of busy streets and busy lives, it is very easy to ignore any situation that is unpleasant or even uncomfortable. In this case, what should one do if suddenly one becomes anxious without any known reason? There are people who become housebound due to their fear of being in crowded places or even in open places wherein they might feel vulnerable and more prone to panic attacks. People who have these feelings of worry and emotional instability may be given anti-anxiety medications by a physician.

Today, there is a large amount of anti-anxiety medications available that one might think that any one of these will be a suitable and effective treatment option. One proven effective medication is called Benzodiazepine, an anti- anxiety medication that has an almost instant reaction in the body. You can take this prescription medication 30 to 60 minutes before going engaging in any activity that might become stressful, or simply after one feels worried.

For people who have acute but infrequent anxiety attacks, Benzodiazepine would be the best anti- anxiety medication to take. However, due to its addictive nature it would be best not to use Benzodiazepines for a long period of time. The risk of seizure is raised in cases where the said drug is used for extended periods of time.

Other anti-anxiety medications that are now in common use include SSRIs or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors. These antidepressant drugs are very popular due to their low addiction levels; mild side effects; and the fact that they can bring down the feelings of acute anxiety. SSRIs work by maximizing the natural levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that can affect a person’s moods. By taking an anti-anxiety medication like Paxil, serotonin is inhibited from being reabsorbed by the body. Therefore, more serotonin is produced by the body when necessary. The side effects of this medication are mild, and can range from dry mouth to sleepiness. If one desires fast results, then one should not take any SSRIs as they would need 2 to 6 weeks to infiltrate the system before one would notice any significant improvements.

Another popular anti anxiety medication called dopamine agonists work by increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain. Like SSRIs, dopamine agonists take a few weeks before showing any effects in relieving a person from his or her anxiety symptoms. The side effects of this class of drugs includes insomnia and sometimes extreme excitedness. The last type of anti-anxiety medication that is currently being used would be Buspar. This drug is a mild anti-anxiety medication is non-habit forming. Like SSRIs and dopamine agonists, Buspar takes a while for its medical properties to take effect.

These medications can help one in restoring a sense of normalcy to one’s life, but as with all drugs and treatments, one should first talk with a trained medical practitioner who can help in choosing the best anti-anxiety medication for you.

Big Guy, Big Girl, does it Indirectly mean Fatty

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:53:18 +0000

If you are like me, and friends and family call big guy it usually means your are a bit overweight and indirectly means fatty. If you are sick and tired of it, it time to do something about it and prove some people you are not just a big guy but and intelligent one. Over the years being big guy has become a huge trend in sports. Multi billions of dollars spent in advertising featuring, you guessed it, big guys pitching you a new protein bar or super supplement. With all the supplementation products, and TV this for sure proves my point. If you look at an average person who is a bit overweight, he is considered the big guy of the group. Some will actually enjoy that title and some will not. Speaking from experience it is not too hot being called fatty indirectly.

Whenever you decide to take matters into actions and prove people that you can handle this whole big guy thing, you will start noticing peoples reactions immediately. Being big can mean problems though. Health problems that is. High cholesterol, Diabetes, Hypertension etc. Big guys usually encounter some of these or if not more diseases because of their size and shape. To avoid such problems, lets take are way of thinking and our outlook to life a bit differently. Start with eating better foods. Preferably greens and solid complex carbohydrates like; yams, sweet potatoes, grains etc. Greens will help you balance your PH acidic levels in your body, which will improve your health significantly and you will almost immediately notice your results.

Having a balanced Ph level means improving your health immediately. Ph of 7 or above means your blood is not as acidic therefore more healthy cells are produced and distributed to your organs. It has been known that controlling your body’s alkalinity will give longevity and healthy organs.

Don’t put the down the ever popular protein. Protein is the fuel to muscle gain and recovery. Although powders and pills are not necessary it may help speed the process. Increase your protein intake to about 1 gram per 1 pound of your weight. If you weight 185 lbs, then about 30 grams of protein in the spread of 6 meals for optimum metabolic boost. Protein may be underestimated now days because of its high impact from the media. But never abandon it. Best natural protein resources are from birds; chicken, turkey, fish; tuna, yellow fin, catfish etc. Stay away from red meat if possible, but if you still want red meat leaner cuts are very effective also.

If you stay consistent with these tips, you will gain muscle and eliminate extra weight you may be carrying. It is not easy to get started but once you start, like any habit you will create a life changing routines forever and disease will not face you. Do it for yourself, improve your well being and instead of being called a big guy you can be call a dude or girl with solid ripped abs.

Decking Your Swimming Pools

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:31:09 +0000

The professional pool constructors are not only specialists in setting up in-ground swimming pool but in designing and fabricating aesthetically gratifying and pleasing decks. Your pool designers help designing your pool in the best & favorable ways. They assist you determining the sizes of your pool.

Your pool builder may rightly advise you that larger is better, when it comes to planning your pool deck and lounging area. Specialized pool designers will automatically adjust your pool in regards to the sun and your own penchants. After agreeing upon your pool placement and materials, your pool constructor will help you decide what kind of decking and landscaping would best fulfill the dream that you have for your private paradise.

The popular materials used by constructors for practical and aesthetic reasons are teakwood, treated lumber, decorative building material, composite material, gunite, acrylic fiber, exposed aggregate, tile, natural stone, brick etc.

Maintenance is a crucial part of choosing your pool deck material. Your pool constructor can tell you the types of care essential for various material types. For example complex materials are synthetic and are generally build to mimic the appearance of wood. They are made from different materials including recycled plastics, wood and polymer resins. They are pricey, and demands less long-term maintenance. For great stability, your constructor may suggest granite decking. It can be costly but it will last forever.

The other well-liked alternative with pool builders is concrete and gunite. There are lots of expert swimming pool makers specializing in concrete and gunite. If you are with a pool planner about coatingfurnishing your deck or pool interiors, concrete and gunite are also great alternatives.

Specialized pool constructors in gunite and concrete tend to be placed in warmer states. Because of the possibility of racking in extreme temperature shifts, gunite and concrete may not be the best options for colder climates. The next option for pool builders is acrylic. It is durable, long lasting and can be built to look like natural stone, brick or tile. It is available in different colors, patterns and textures.

While you are planning your pool deck with your pool builder, be sure that your pool constructor understands your idea. Make sure that your builder permits sufficient congregating space in the specialty areas like the barbeque and hot-tubs etc.

The best idea is consulting with quite a few pool builders before choosing the one to build your oasis. Talk to preceding clients of the pool builder and be sure you pick the pool builder with the best long-term satisfaction.

Awakening Facts About Insomnia

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:09:00 +0000

Not getting enough sleep is fast becoming a common problem among people who lead fast, busy lives. Sleeplessness is also a typical condition among the elderly. However, being young is no guarantee that one would be free from the suffering brought about by sleeping disorders.

Almost all people have experience occasional sleepless nights. But not too many people realize the seriousness of not getting enough quality sleep. Based on research, as many as 25 of Americans report occasional sleeping problems.

The latest surveys indicate that insomnia is already a chronic problem for at 10 of the entire U.S. population. The cumulative impact of sleeplessness on a population has a bearing on personal health as well as productivity in the workplace. Lack of restful sleep impairs the person’s ability to carry out daily tasks and responsibilities. Aside from feeling tired, people who lack sleep have trouble concentrating and tend to get very irritable. Imagine having those feelings or low level of physical strength while driving on a busy highway or being in the middle of an important business meeting. The results could be outright disastrous for one’s career or even life-threatening. Conversely, people who get enough continuous and quality sleep are more able to perform at work or in other activities the following day.

But how much sleep do we really need?

Sleep requirements vary over the life cycle. Newborns and infants need a lot of sleep and require several periods of sleep throughout a 24-hour time period. Naps are important to them as well as to toddlers who may have need for naps up to the age of 5. As children enter adolescence, their sleep patterns shift to a later sleep-wake cycle, but they still need around 9 hours of sleep. Throughout adulthood, even as a person gets older, they still need 7-9 hours of sleep. Sleep patterns may change, but the need for sleep remains the same. Most adults do best with about 8 hours of sleep each night until age 60, after which 6 hours may be adequate. Even though the elderly need less sleep, almost one half of people over 60 experience some degree of insomnia.

Insomnia is not a disorder, it is a symptom and not a stand-alone diagnosis. In simple terms, insomnia is difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep, or both. It is a term that is used to indicate any and all stages and types of sleep loss.
Although most of us know what insomnia is all about, very few people actually get to seek medical advice and treatment. Many people are actually unaware of the behavioral and medical options available for treating insomnia.

However, there are various medications that supposedly effective for dealing with insomnia. Over-the-counter sleeping pills and long-acting or high-dose sedatives can be purchased easily, but it may make the problem worse. Many of these sleeping aids contain antihistamines as the main ingredient. Antihistamines are known to cause sluggishness and, if used for long periods, could possibly cause memory impairment.

Strong, prescription sedatives do not produce a natural, restful sleep. If used for extensive periods, a patient may even develop tolerance or dependence on these drugs. However, suddenly stopping the use of the medication may cause rebound insomnia and withdrawal. If insomnia has been interfering with one’s daily routine or quality of life for a month or longer, it is already time to see a doctor to determine what might be the cause of the sleep problem and how it might be treated.

Run For Your Life

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:46:51 +0000

There are different reasons why people engage in running or jogging. Some run for health reasons, which means that they see running as a way to get physically fit. Others are more specific in their goals and motivations on hitting the road. There are runners who engage in the activity to lose that excess weight. Still, others see running as a means to release stress and tension.
There is another group of runners who enjoy this form of sport for the simple fact that they find it leisurely. Running can actually be a leisurely way of spending time with family and friends, or a way of meeting new acquaintances, and even starting new relationships. For the more serious, running is for sports and competition. To compete with other runners or joggers in a race gives them their natural high.

Whatever the reason may be, running and jogging are definitely beneficial to a person’s well-being. A person who is into regular jogging or engages in a running program is bound to be physically fit. Running burns fat and enables a person to lose more calories per minute as compared to other forms of cardiovascular exercise.
Running also helps prevent muscle and bone loss that naturally accompanies old age. The pressure that is created on the knees and legs during running actually help strenghten bones, muscles and ligaments —- provided that one runs in a proper manner. Regular daily tasks such as sitting in front of the computer the whole day weakens the bones unlike when one goes for a run. Regular, high-intensity exercises have been proven to encourage human growth hormone, keeping our internal anatomy from getting old fast while helping us to look young and vibrant.
The ability to resist illness is another benefit that can be attributed to running or jogging. Amazingly, it reduces the risk of heart stroke and breast cancer that doctors have made it a point to include regular running as a treatment option for those patients with early signs of osteoporosis, diabetes, and hypertension. The risk of heart attack is greatly reduced by running which lowers blood pressure and maintains the elasticity of arteries.
Running also aids in raising HDL or good cholesterol, reducing the risk of blood clotting, and promotes 50 of lung function that is usually not being used. Also, the immune system gets that needed boost from running by producing a higher concentration of lymphocytes or white blood cells that is crucial in fighting illnesses.
The list of the rewards you can get from running does not end with improved health but extends to psychological benefits as well.
As if the health benefits of having a regular jogging or running program is not enough, there are also mental or psychological advantages and rewards to be reaped from running such as building your self-esteem and self-confidence, gaining an effective tool for stress management, the attitude boost, and the runner’s high.

Running allows the person to have a sense of pride, empowerment and freedom due to the knowledge that hisher body is at its best and capable of climbing the uphill or clearing the obstacles on the way. The confidence-building and improved self-image goes hand-in-hand with losing weight. Running builds confidence like few other individual sports can. It allows the runner to defeat trial after trial, growing stronger and more sure of themselves with each stroke and stride. It allows a runner to literally climb hills, overcome mountains, and clear obstacles. It provides a feeling of empowerment and freedom that comes with knowing that your legs and body are strong and capable. Confidence is even more a product of running for those who lose weight and gain a better self-image through running. Indeed, a day’s jogging can greatly reduce stress levels and tension.

Inspite of the great benefits attributed to running and jogging, one must not overlook the fact that caution is needed in everything. Too much running may cause a person to lose a lot of fluids in the body more than what heshe takes in. This will result to dehydration. Dehydration will not only cause a runner to slow down but can also cause muscle spasms in the legs due to the depletion of essential electrolytes in the body. Muscle spasm is the involuntary contraction of a muscles in the legs that is which can last for a few seconds or may extend to several minutes, and is often very painful. Sometimes, it is called charley horse. The muscle does not simply relax by a mere wishful thinking. Deep breathing and relaxation exercises may help the muscle to relax a bit. More often than not, people actually contract other muscles in response to the pain of a charley horse, which can make the duration of the muscle spasm longer. To counter dehydration, one must restore the proper balance of water in the body. Stay away from caffeine in coffee, sodas, and tea. Caffeine is a diuretic. It makes you urinate more frequentlythan you usually need to.

Before you engage in a running or jogging program, be sure to consult your doctor to check on the condition of your health, especially your heart. Make sure your limbs are properly stretched to avoid any muscle injuries. Drink lots of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration.

The Back-breaking Truth About Osteoporosis

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:24:42 +0000

Osteoporosis is a disease that is common in women. Approximately ten million American, eight million women and two million men, are affected by this condition.

What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition that features loss of the bones normal density. It leads to abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disease weakens the bones and increases risks of having fractures. Even a minor fall or injury may cause the bone to get a fracture.

A lot of factors may contribute to having Osteoporosis. As we age, our body starts producing lesser calcium, causing natural degeneration of the bone. Certain medications may contribute to a loss of bone density. And also having a certain bone condition called Osteopenia, which is low bone mass, increases the risk of having Osteoporosis.

How would I know if I have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a silent disease, it has no specific symptom. Its only main consequence is an increased risk of getting bone fractures. Osteoporotic fractures happen in places a normal person would not normally break bones, they are called fragility fractures. These typically occur in the vertebral column, the hip and the wrist.

Some symptoms of fragility fractures in the vertebral column, also called vertebral collapse, are acute back pain and spinal cord compression. The pain is caused by compressed nerves. Multiple vertebral fractures may lead to a stooped posture, loss of height, and chronic pain which causes reduced mobility.

How is Osteoporosis treated?
There are several treatments available for people with Osteoporosis. However, medical health professionals emphasized the importance of a change of lifestyle in order to prevent the disease from developing.

Lifestyle change. This includes integrating exercise into your schedule and quitting cigarette smoking. Exercise does not do anything to increase bone density, it does, however, improve your sense of balance and strengthen muscles to help prevent you from falls. Cigarette smoking, on the other hand, decreases bone mass. For pre-menopausal women, cigarette smoking decreases estrogen level, thereby decreasing bone mass.
Medications. There are now medications available in the market that helps in stopping bone loss, some medications help increase bone strength, and some help increase bone formation.
Nutrition. Eating foods rich in calcium will help supplement the loss calcium in the bones. Vitamin D and protein, although good for muscle strength, have been proven to increase the risk of getting fractures. It is not advisable to eat foods with high protein or Vitamin D content.

How can I prevent getting Osteoporosis?
The best way to fight Osteoporosis is to not get it in the first place. This condition is easily preventable by means of living a healthy lifestyle, exercise and proper diet.

Performing exercise at an early age may help achieve higher peak bone mass and good muscle strength. Having enough exercise helps delay bone degeneration and decreases chances of acquiring Osteoporosis even at the later years of your life. A well-balanced diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D for the bones and muscles will also help decrease the risk of getting Osteoporosis.

Being health-conscious at an early age helps, so dont wait until youre old to start taking care of your bones. They are, after all, holding you up and supporting you.

Hemorrhoid Or Anal Fissure?

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:02:33 +0000

Hemorrhoid or anal fissure. Either one is a very painful condition. Some people who have anal fissures think their pain is caused by hemorrhoids and some who have hemorrhoids mistakenly think they suffer from an anal fissue. Here we’ll try to explain the difference.

An anal fissure is, simply stated, a small tear or cut in the lining of the anus. Anal fissures are generally caused by straining while on the toilet or by constipation. Sometime fissures are related to severe bouts of diarrhea. Fissures can be quite painful, especially during a bowel movement when the fissure is stretched. There will be red blood streaking the stool if you have a fissure.

Over 90 of fissures will heal without surgery. Recommendations to help prevent recurrence are increasing the fiber intake in your diet. This can be best achieved by taking an over the counter fiber supplement. Drink plenty of water to help keep your stools soft. Some take stool softeners, but do not take them for a longer period of time than is suggested by the manufacturer. Warm sitz baths can help ease the pain. Sit in a few inches of warm water for 15 minutes two to three times a day. When you wipe, use a cotton ball or pad soaked in witch hazel. You can buy pre moistened wipes in your drug store. Some who suffer with fissures are prescribed topical cortisone creams. Tylenol and Ibuprofen can help ease the pain.

Hemorrhoids are a very common medical ailment that affect both men and women. A hemorrhoid is an enlarged or swollen anal vein. As with anal fissures, hemorrhoids develop due to bad bathroom habits, such as sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods or straining. You will notice bright red blood with hemorrhoids. You may suffer from internal or external hemorrhoids. Generally internal hemorrhoids, which appear higher up in the anus are not painful, and only cause bleeding. It’s when an internal hemorrhoid prolapses, or drops outside of the anus and becomes what is know as an external hemorrhoid that it becomes painful and problematic.

Like anal fissures, hemorrhoid symptoms can be helped by sitz baths, wiping with cotton soaked with witch hazel, taking stool softeners, drinking more water, and increasing the fiber in your diet with a fiber supplement. There are numerous over the counter medications that can help relieve symptoms.

Please remember, not all rectal bleeding is due to hemorrhoids and fissures. If you experience any rectal bleeding it should be checked immediately by a physician.

The Health Benefits Of Taking Borage Oil

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:40:24 +0000

In recent years borage seed oil has gained much attention by alternative health practitioners and the medical establishment for its medicinal properties. Borage oils active component, gamma linoleic acid GLA, has had extensive research done. Studies dating as far back as 1940 have shown GLA to benefit your health. But back in the 1940s most of the research was done on primrose oil, now a days borage oil gives you more GLA for your buck making borage the oil of choice for most consumers. Other sources of GLA are black current seed oil and spirulina.

Why should one supplement GLA?

In a healthy body, GLA can be produced from linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is found in omega 6 family of oils, such as corn, safflower, and sunflower oil. Americans eat approximately ten times more omega 6 than omega 3 and most nutritionists agree that a 11 ratio is needed for optimal health. Some individuals dont have the ability to convert linoleic acid to GLA and this is why supplementation is needed.

The foods produced today use hydrolyzed oils, thats the conversion of polyunsaturated oils into semi-solid altered saturated fats like margarine used in commercial food production. Oils are hydrogenated and converted to a semi-solid oil by heating the oil to 250 degrees C and pumping hydrogen gas through the oil in the presence of the heavy metal nickel, this makes an irreversible change in the chemical structure of the oil from a healthy CIS oil to a harmful TRANS oil. With the over consumption of tans fatty acids in todays diet, in some cases has shown to block the enzymatic conversion of linoleic acid to GLA this could mean a large portion of the American population can not convert Linoleic acid to GLA.

Those who are afflicted with diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis and alcoholism should consider supplementing GLA. These individuals lack the ability to convert linoleic acid to GLA as well. GLA can help regulate hormones in the body and those who have the above afflictions might have a hormone deficiency, also excess consumption of animal fat can block GLAs action by competing with the same metabolic pathways that GLA inhabit and thus reduce the biological action of GLA so limit your intake of meats high in animal fat.

Just as the body can convert linoleic acid to GLA, GLA converts to prostaglandin E1 PGE1, a key hormonal regulator in the body. PGE1 has been shown to control arterial muscle tone, help the kidneys excrete sodium, help prevent blood platelet stickiness, and fight an inflammatory response in the body and boost immune function. The list will continue to grow as researchers continue to discover new benefits of GLA in the body. PGE1 can be beneficial in the treatment and relief of the following disease diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis by bringing about a balance in the faulty fatty acid metabolism in these individuals.

Research has shown GLA can help reverse diabetic neuropathy a condition where the nerves degenerate and symptoms of pain and numbness follow. Other conditions that may benefit from GLA supplementation is high blood pressure, high cholesterol, skin conditions, arthritis, allergies, weight loss, improved behavior like hyper activity in children, and improved hair and nail strength. Given the ability of PGE1 to regulate hormones, GLA may be effective in reducing menstrual pain in women with sever camps during their monthly cycle.

Now lets look at the best source of GLA thats available on the market. The three listed were borage oil, primrose oil, and black current seed oil. Borage oil has 24 GLA per 1000mg of oil thats 240mg of GLA per pill, primrose oil has 18 GLA per 1000mgs thats 180mg of GLA per pill, and Black current seed oil has 10 GLA per 1000mgs thats 100mg of GLA per pill. When looking for a good GLA oil, make sure you look on the label for 100 hexane free, make sure the bottle blocks sunlight because sunlight can damage the oils, do not buy any oil that does not disclose the method of extraction on the label.

References
1. Fats and Oils, Udo Erasmus alive vancouver 1986 2. Fat Nutrition and Health, R. Erdmann Thorsons, England 1990 3. Reversing Diabetes, J. Whitaker warner, USA, 1987 4. Healing Fats, Killing Fats, Udo Erasmus 1990 5. Beyond Pritkin, A.L. Gittleman bantam, USA 1988 6. 7. omega-3 Phenomenon, D. Ruden & C. Felix Avon, 1987 8. evening promrose oil, j. graham Healing arts, 1984 9. Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy with Gamma-Linoleic acid, H. Keen & J. PayenDiabetes care 16 18-15, 1993 10. Townsend letter for Doctors, Phytotherapy Review and Commentary, Evening Primrose Oil for Diabetic Neuropathy, D. Brown 1993.

The statements in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease please consult your health care physician before discontinuing medication or introducing supplements into your diet.