Anti-Aging, Health & Nutrition Facts

Asthma is a respiratory condition that, unfortunately, is becoming more common the world over. Today there are over 100 million sufferers world wide, and this figure is on the rise to the tune of 50% every decade.

Asthma can be defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, that is characterized by spasm of the bronchi (airway tubes)with inflammation and swelling of the mucous membranes leading to an over production of thick phlegm in the lung and airways.

This phlegm sets off a response within the body characterized by typical asthma symptoms such as chronic coughing (especially at night), wheezing, difficulty in breathing and the difficult expectoration of thick, sticky phlegm. If not treated immediately, breathing can be impeded to the point of respiratory failure.

There are certain factors that can predispose one to having asthma. A family history of asthma or some history of allergies, definitely increases your chances of having asthma.

If you were weaned and introduced to solid food at an early age (6 months or less)the chances of you having food allergies and possibly asthma as a consequence increases dramatically. This is due to an immature digestive system being asked to digest foods it is not capable of at that time.

This places a significant stress on the under developed immune system of the baby that can lead to allergies and asthma.

Another common food related factor are food additives such as food colorings and preservatives. These factors are especially problematic for an asthma sufferer as they are in virtually everything that we eat and drink. This places a cumulative daily stress on the already stressed immune system of the asthma sufferer.

Some other dietary factors worth considering are, excessive salt intake and its connection to asthma and asthma mortality rates and dairy products which are notorious for their ability to produce phlegm.

And then there are the obvious airborne environmental allergens that we are forced to contend with. Dust, dust mites, pollens, cockroach waste and pet hair as well as allergens like pesticides (to kill the cockroaches) cleaning chemicals, perfumes and fuels (gas, petrol) pollution (air, water). The list is endless.

And if that is not enough asthma can occur as a result of excessive exercise, cold temperature, sudden emotional upset and can also be a part of a viral infection, that can occur during the virus as well as post viral.

Treatment for asthma is based around a treatment program that attempts to lessen the symptoms medicinally, while simultaneously removing whatever allergy provoking substances are in the asthmatics environment.

Most people these days look to a combination of conventional medicine (puffers for example) and alternative/herbal medicine. The combination works especially well, with many traditional herbs such as Ephedra and Gingko Biloba having a long tradition of effectively treating asthma and respiratory disorders.

As far as removing asthma causing substances from the environment, this can be a difficult. The obvious methods revolve around adequate and appropriate cleaning. Appropriate cleaning would be cleaning that doesn’t complicate things by introducing another toxic substance into the picture.

Some mould cleaners are known to irritate allergy and asthma sufferers, yet we need to remove the mould from the asthmatics environment.

Fortunately these days there are many products that have been created that take this into account. Always use hypo-allergenic cleaning products.

Dust must be removed. Regular vacuuming is a must. Preferably with a vacuum fitted with an air filter that will stop “micro dust” being put back into the air as you vacuum.

An air filtration system or at least a portable air filter would also help considerably.

Pets should never be allowed in the bedroom, and ideally not in the house, although many asthma sufferers are more likely to put up with their symptoms rather than cast out their pets.

Dietary measures that can help are as much as possible removing foods high in salt, preservatives, coloring, waxes and pesticides. Wherever possible, choose organically grown and processed foods.

If this is not practical, make a habit of gently washing your food before you eat it. A bit of a nuisance for sure, but it really doesn’t take all that long and is easy enough to fit into your food preparation routine. And it can make a big difference to your over stressed immune system.

If you go to the bother of carrying out these changes you will be pleased to hear that you should experience a reduction in your asthma symptoms in as little as a month.

As far as what to eat or not eat when you have asthma, most research seems to be indicating that a “Vegan” diet (NO animal food products)is your best option as animal food products often have significant pesticide residues.

If this diet is too harsh and restrictive, and it will be for many, a general reduction of animal food products will help some. Your results will largely be determined by how bad your asthma is and how much of a vegan style diet you can live with. At the very least, you can reduce if not totally eliminate animal food products.

At this point in time there are more questions than answers when it comes to the causes of asthma. The biggest question is why are asthma rates doubling every 20 years?

It seems that as good as our current treatments for asthma are, we can increase their effectiveness dramatically if we practice some preventive care.

Perhaps we will never find a “cure” for asthma. As our world gets more and more complex in terms of the stress and strain we place on our bodies, the answer seems to move farther and farther away.

The most effective treatment for any disease is prevention. Knowing what we do about asthma and knowing the effect that environmental and emotional factors can have on our immune system, if we can begin to clean up our lives on all levels, this may be our best chance of finding the next best thing to a cure for asthma. Permanent prevention.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

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There are many fitness regimes that incorporate breathing techniques, yoga being one of them. However, while other exercise programs, especially those which involve high impact and strenuous workouts depend on the fitness level of the individual Tai Chi is generally suitable for persons of all fitness levels. Of course the speed and intensity of Tai Chi routines can be adjusted for fitness levels so as to maximize the benefit to each individual.

Tai Chi Chuan or Tai Chi for short is best known these days for its health benefits but its origin is as a form of martial art. This may be hard to reconcile with the gentle routines and dance like movements followed by its practitioners. Tai Chi is an “Internal Martial art” - one that concentrates on building inner strength as opposed to demonstration of external brute force.

Tai Chi operates on 4 levels - Physical, intellectual, spiritual and as a form of combat.

As a physical exercise Tai Chi movements or forms involve a surprisingly large range of joint rotations and therefore promote flexibility and help improve metabolism, circulation and cardiovascular health.

On an intellectual level Tai Chi involves relaxation and focus - awareness of your body, its posture, balance and co-ordination. Tai Chi works on principles of qi (pronounced as chee). Qi assumes the existence of channels of bio energy - it is a life force that governs our being. This is by no means a concept unique to Tai Chi and is equivalent to the Yoga concept of “Prana”.

Proponents of Tai Chi believe that this life energy is transported throughout the body through 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians. As long as qi continues to flow uninterrupted through these invisible channels (meridians) the body remains strong and healthy. However, when passage of the qi is blocked by bad posture, inactivity, injury or other factors that’s when problems set in.

Breathing techniques are an integral part of this process of distributing qi. Every Tai Chi movement involves collecting storing and distributing energy. Inhaling stores energy while exhaling delivers energy. Breathing is matched with appropriate movements. For instance when hands move apart in an opening movement or you step forward this is accompanied by inhalation and storing of energy while punching or when hands come together this coincides with exhalation and distribution of energy.

Tai Chi teaches its students to breathe abdominally - to let the breath or qi sink to the “Tan Tien” i.e. the area below the navel. This gives the body a sense of strength and stability.

The spiritual aspect of Tai Chi is also closely tied in with breathing techniques. A proficient practitioner of Tai Chi will no longer have to consciously control his breathing and match it with the movements of his body. Appropriate breathing will after some practice become second nature -a spiritual experience of communing with nature.

Hard as it may be to imagine, Tai Chi movements were intended as a means of combat and the movements or forms as they are called are geared to dislocate joints and cause internal bleeding in opponents. If Tai Chi were used as a dance routine then the benefits derived from it would be limited. To derive the maximum benefit from Tai Chi it should be approached as a martial art. Thereby deriving the attendant benefits of internal toughness and strength.

Although it is believed Tai Chi was first practiced in China in the 1820’s recent studies have shown that significant health benefits can still be derived from it. These include better balance and co-ordination (Of special importance to elderly people as this reduces falls and associated injuries), lowering of blood pressure and stress levels, strengthening of muscles and joints and improved cardiovascular health.

Given these benefits and its adaptability to suit many individual circumstances Tai Chi obviously has much to offer the health conscious individual in the 21st century.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Popularity: 9%

Prostate Cancer, it seems, is one of the most common forms of cancer in men. Some of the platitudes served up in hopes of calming your fears, are just plain dumb. Things like “More men die with prostate cancer than from it” or “It’s one of the best cancers to get-it’s so slow growing”. NONSENSE. Cancer is cancer and NONE of it is good. A positive diagnosis always hits hard, especially if cancer has never been a factor in your family medical history.

It is recommended that males reaching the age of fifty should have a ‘PSA’ (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test on an annual basis. The ‘PSA’ test can be affected by a number of internal factors and is NOT a definitive indication that prostate cancer is present. An increase in ‘PSA’ level should simply act as a red flag that further tests might be advantageous.

On the upside, further testing can show the presence of Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlargement of the prostate. Both can normally be treated with prescriptions.

On the downside, further tests may show the presence of cancer. A ‘PSA’ reading of 4 or less is usually acceptable to most doctors. Any significant jump in ‘PSA’ level should trigger additional tests.

One such test is known as a Trans Rectal Ultrasound. This test lasts approximately 25 minutes and consists of the insertion of a special camera into a part of the body designed for the expulsion of those portions of our food not required by the body. The camera is attached to a computer screen, allowing the doctor to visually examine the prostate and has an opening through which is inserted a spring-loaded rod. This enables him to take a tissue sample directly from the prostate (a biopsy), which is then analyzed in a lab for the presence of cancer. Be advised-it sounds a lot worse than it actually is-NOT at all painful, but yes, not comfortable and probably mostly embarrassing. However, it can be a lifesaver.

Results normally arrive within 10 days and can vary. Good news–no cancer. Really bad news–cancer that has erupted from the prostate and is spilling cancer cells into the blood stream.

However, there can be good news and bad news–cancer is present, but it is still contained within the prostate, and this is the main thrust of this article.

At this point, specialists become involved, usually a Radiologist and a Urologist. Do not assume that either one will lay out all possible treatment options available to you for your situation.

The Radiologist will present options involving radiation as a treatment for your cancer. There are several available and the intensity usually depends on the stage your cancer has reached at the time of diagnosis. Discuss these in detail, making sure you are made aware of the possible side effects of each. Some involve surgery some do not.

The Urologist will outline your situation and the procedures involved in the surgical removal of the prostate. Should you opt for this procedure, find a Urologist capable of performing “nerve sparing” surgery.

Nerve sparing surgery is very delicate and involves the stimulation of the nerves that control bladder and sexual functions so as to locate them where they surround the prostate. Once located, they can be shaved away from the prostate before it is removed. Even with the nerves only saved on one side, the prognosis for recovery of full bladder control and upwards of 75% of sexual function is excellent. This is not the case if the prostate is simply removed.

Some Recommendations:

1. When you reach 50, have an annual ‘PSA’ test
2. If there is a family history, start at 40 (or earlier)
3. Depending on where you live, there may be a fee. PAY IT. The investment is worth it if you value living
4. If not satisfied with initial recommendations, get another opinion (or a third)
5. Get complete information before making a decision. What treatments are available? What side effects are possible? What results can be expected?
6. Ask any and all questions you can think of
7. Share your diagnosis with family and close friends. This support group can ease your tensions considerably. If you are not comfortable with this, support groups consisting of survivors and others with the same diagnosis are available in many communities.

Prostate cancer, if undetected, ultimately spreads in many cases to the bones and bone cancer from all reports is extremely painful. It is normally treated with massive doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation with their attendant hair loss, bloating and nausea. The prognosis is never bright.

That bullet called cancer CAN be dodged.

The secret: EARLY DETECTION through annual testing

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

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Green tea has been around for thousands of years and is more popular than ever. For centuries green tea has been a staple in the diets of many families around the world. And the benefits of this beverage are not just limited to a pleasant drinking taste. Numerous scientific studies have shown that green tea has numerous health benefits and that drinking it can improve your health.

The idea of health benefits related to green tea consumption has been discussed for years. Eastern medicine recognized the benefits of green tea thousands of years ago with Asian families passing down these beliefs through many generations. There are few beverages with such impressive health benefits as green tea. And now it seems the rest of the world has discovered this secret.

As discussed previously, the benefits of green tea are many and far-reaching. The potential health benefits of drinking green tea vary from preventing bad breath to protecting the heart to protecting against some forms of cancer. Many of the benefits attributed to green tea are largely due to its high content of antioxidants. The health benefits of green tea are varied in large part due to its chemical makeup, which has a positive effect on so many different bodily systems. Of course the most publicized benefits revolve around anticancer activities, cardiovascular benefits and even the potential of lowering LDL cholesterol levels.

Besides substantial health claims, green tea has been said to aid in weight loss efforts. It appears that much of the fat loss benefits claimed regarding green tea lies in its thermogenic effects. Whether searching for health benefits, weight loss, or both, some studies have recommended as many as ten cups per day to see benefits. Because green tea contains caffeine, this may pose a problem for some people. Decaffeinated green tea is available but that could cancel some of the thermogenic properties if weight loss is the goal. Health food stores also offer capsules as an alternative to drinking the tea although the health benefits may differ.

As with other types of food and drink, organic teas are becoming recognized as a healthy choice with consumers. Many believe that the organic versions are healthier options while providing environmental benefits. In grocery stores everywhere, the tea aisle has become an absolute joy for organic food shoppers. In addition, it is easy to find a variety of sources on the Internet of quality organic green tea.

Of course, health decisions should not be based on this information alone. It is prudent to check with a medical practitioner on the potential benefits of including green tea in the diet. A medical professional, an herbalist, or local bookstore can provide complete information about the proven and perceived benefits of green tea. As another resource, the Internet is loaded with information and resources on green tea.

Green tea is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world. Adopting tea drinking as a new habit can be quite challenging but the potential health benefits could prove to be phenomenal.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

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Sometimes going to the gym is just not convenient. We have to work, take care of the kids and do the many chores that require us to live in a modern world. Unfortunately today’s busy lifestyle can really take a toll on your health. We all know that we need to take the time to exercise but where do we actually find that time? A solution is to purchase exercise equipment for your home.

There are a few things to consider when you think of purchasing exercise equipment. How often are you going to use it? Do you have space in your home? What kind of exercises do you like to do? Should you purchase used or new? Do you want to buy equipment with a specific body area in mind?

Are you Really Going to Use the Equipment?

The market for used exercise equipment is huge. The reason is not typically because people want to upgrade their equipment, but because they bought something that they had no intention of using in the first place. If you are not a runner, then perhaps you would not like a treadmill, despite it being the most popular piece of exercise equipment you can buy. Maybe you would be more comfortable with an elliptical machine instead.

How many times have you been seduced by those info commercials showing hot bodies working out with fancy machines? It takes a long time to look as good as the models. The equipment is not going to magically transform you into a bodybuilder. You have to use the exercise equipment consistently to create a healthy body. So make sure before you spend the money that you actually expect to use the equipment.

Decide what Type of Exercise You Like

Many people buy exercise equipment thinking that they would like to get involved in the activity without ever really participating in it. It seems as though the first piece of exercise equipment purchased is a treadmill. Now, if you do not like to go outside for a walk or running is not your thing, there should be serious doubts that you would enjoy it any better inside your home. However, if you always enjoyed lifting weights at the gym, then you know you would benefit from having a high quality bench and a few choice dumb bells in your home.

Make Sure You Have the Space

Before you run out and buy a couple of exercise machines you probably want to map out where you intend to put it in your home. Exercise equipment can look relatively small in huge gyms, but the same piece of equipment in your little upstairs bedroom can dominate the room. There are many pieces of equipment made nowadays that can fold up into smaller units perfect for closet storage or fit in unused corner areas.

Buying New or Used

There are so many pieces of quality exercise equipment for sale used and cheap that it is difficult to recommend that you buy them new. The only reason to buy new is if you could not find the exact piece that you really want. Convenience in purchasing a new one also comes into play, but with this convenience comes a high cost. There are numerous quality second hand stores that sell used equipment. Also it is a good idea to comb through the classifieds in the paper and see if anyone is selling good equipment.

What Part of the Body to Concentrate On?

You might consider what body parts you are most interested in working out with home exercise equipment. Maybe you only want something that can help tone your abdominal muscles. Or perhaps you are not getting enough legwork and want equipment to build those muscles. Of course, there is also exercise equipment that can work out the entire body. The idea is to consider your goals and what you want to accomplish with the exercise equipment and then make your purchase.

Exercise equipment can be a time saver for those people who want a workout but cannot make it to the gym. There are many types of equipment available so choosing the right one will ensure that it will actually be used. Exercise equipment can make you healthier but only if you use it and do not relegate it to the junk pile.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Popularity: 3%

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune system disease affecting people of all ages. It is most often diagnosed in middle age, but it can also affect children or the elderly. Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. RA causes chronic inflammation of the joints, specifically the layers between the joints, but also may cause inflammation in other organs of the body.

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis has not yet been discovered. Some people seem to be more likely to develop RA because of their genetic makeup. Something in the environment where they live may trigger the disease. Hormonal or bacterial factors could also be involved in causing RA.

People with rheumatoid arthritis usually experience periods of flares and remissions. It mostly affects symmetrical joints, especially in the fingers, hands, and wrists. The disease varies greatly in individuals, with some developing symptoms very quickly over a short period of time and other experiencing flares and remissions intermittently over several years.

There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but early detection and treatment can prevent or delay permanent damage to the joints. Combinations of treatments typically result in better control. Medications, plus proper exercise and sufficient rest, as well as joint protection and occasional surgery, produce an overall healthier result for sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed by an examination of tender or swollen joints, a blood test called the rheumatoid factor (RF), the presence of stiffness in the early morning or after a period of inactivity, bumps or nodules under the skin near joints, and sometimes an x-ray. Not all of these symptoms may be present, and the RF test is positive in only 80 percent of people with RA. Therefore, a combination of factors is needed to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Sufferers of RA may be mildly anemic and another test for inflammation called erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) may be elevated. Sometimes people with RA test positive on an antinuclear antibody (ANA) test.

Because rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disease, anything that affects the immune system (like allergic reactions) may trigger a flare. The medications used to treat RA affect the immune system as well. People suffering from RA need to be careful about exposure to contagious diseases, especially if the medications in their treatment lower the immune system defenses of their body.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a life-long disease. But with new medications, proper exercise and rest, and protection of the joints when needed, people with RA can live long and productive lives.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

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