Research is firm on the health benefits that people receive when they exercise. Blood pressure and cholesterol decrease, energy levels increase, weight is lost, and people experience an over all sense of well-being. One exercise not often considered in a fitness program is jump rope exercise.

Jump rope exercises are an excellent cardiovascular program according to the US Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Council. It is also among the exercises recommended for conditioning by the American College of Sports Medicine. There is less damage done to clients joints and it isnt as hard on the muscles as jogging and running.

During running and jogging the foot absorbs up to five times body weight from the force of impact against the ground. During jump rope exercises the shock of hitting the ground is absorbed by both feet, allowing the calf muscles to control and absorb the impact.

Did you know that 10 minutes of jump rope exercising is equivalent to 1 mile of running?  Read more...

Home fitness gyms are becoming more and more popular as they become more affordable. People recognize the need for fitness programs to improve their health and wellness. Research shows the benefits of exercise to improve your health includes decreased cholesterol and blood pressure, improved energy levels, improved sense of well-being and a decreased risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Home fitness gyms fit into that equation because they are convenient, time efficient and they are private. Many people who are starting a new program feel self-conscious at the gym where everyone is watching everyone else. There is the added benefit of the personal trainers that are usually at a gym but for many the cost of lost privacy and decreased convenience outweighs the benefit of a trainer. Personal trainers can also be consulted for a short term to develop a program that you execute at home.

Home fitness gyms are also convenient because you are not dependent upon the hours of a gym. You can get up early and work out before going to work while still showering at home.  Read more...

Weight loss is a common topic of conversation. The standard Western diet has introduced high amounts of fat, oils, sugar and processed foods that have led to a weight problem that affects most countries. Weight loss through fitness and a balanced diet is an option that is more palatable than only decreasing calorie intake.

Fitness weight loss can take many forms. The objective is to keep moving for at least 10 minutes working up to 60 minutes as your schedule allows. These programs can include, but are not limited to, walking, running, swimming, rowing, tennis, aerobic and golf (without the golf cart!).

Continued movement will give you health benefits that include fitness, weight loss, increased energy, decreased cholesterol and blood pressure as well as improving your core muscle strength. Each of these factors are important to feeling good every day and decreasing your risk for illness.  Read more...

Have you been a couch potato but want to start back to an exercise program? Fitness walking may very well be the program for you! Fitness walking may be the best way to start a program for people whose level of conditioning is low.

Research has shown that exercise improves your circulation and energy levels while decreasing your cholesterol and risk for cancer, stroke and heart disease. As with any program you should always check with your doctor to be sure that your planned program wont interfere with your current medical conditions or medications and that your goals will work with your current level of conditioning.

Fitness walking is a great way to get your body moving, lose weight and improving your energy level. This is definitely not as hard on your body as running or other intensive exercise programs. It is also one of the safest forms of exercise. Fitness walking strengthens your heart, lowers your blood pressure, and can increase your metabolic rate for the day while preventing weight gain.  Read more...

Todays world is fast paced and full of immediate gratification. We want and demand fast food, immediate results, cable Internet connections and instant results from our workouts. And, while fitness training isn’t an immediate benefit using fitness training will get us on the right track and keep us moving in the right direction.

There are plenty of benefits to using fitness training. You have an increased level of energy, you increase your metabolism, improve your circulation, and decrease your risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease. Fitness training will improve your flexibility and your concentration. The benefits go beyond increased fitness and a trim body and spill over into your work life, your family life and improved sense of well-being.

Before starting a fitness training program you should always consult with your doctor. Be sure to mention the type of program you are planning so the doctor can determine if there are contraindications because of any medical conditions or medications you might be taking.  Read more...

Risk assessments are tools used to determine the value of a risk versus the benefit that may be achieved. A risk assessment is often done related to a concrete situation and are sometimes called threat assessments. A risk assessment can be done on a quantitative basis or a qualitative value, both of which will give the assessor information which they require to base a decision.

A risk is usually defined as the chance of a harmful effect that will result from exposure to a specific stressor. This stressor can be physical, chemical, biological, or emotional. This stressor can induce an adverse response in an animal, ecosystem or environment in which it interacts.

Risk assessments are done in a variety of circumstances. Businesses may undergo a risk assessment when deciding to expand or even open a new store. Medical personnel will go through a risk assessment algorithm when deciding whether or not to administer chemotherapy based on specific blood work criteria. Methods of risk assessment are also used to determine financial decisions, public health risk or environmental risk.  Read more...

Color. We delight in a rainbow, sigh at a sunset, and luxuriate in the rich colors of our homes, clothes, and special spaces. Our eyes gravitate towards saturated color like moths to the light. No coincidence, considering the entire spectrum of colors is derived from light. And no surprise, really, that seeing, wearing or being exposed to color- whether in the form of light, pigment, or cloth- can affect us at levels we are only just beginning to understand.

Color Therapy is the use of color in a variety of ways to promote health and healing. The different colors we see in the world around us are the result of the eye perceiving light vibrating at different frequencies. Sunlight, or full-spectrum light, holds all the wavelengths of color in the visible spectrum (red, Orange, yellow, green, Blue, indigo, Violet, and magenta) as well as infrared and ultraviolet light, which cannot be seen. Used to treat both physical and emotional problems, Color Therapy may involve exposure to colored lights; Massages using color-saturated oils, contemplating and visualizing colors, even wearing colored clothing and eating colored foods.  Read more...

Heavy-metal refers to a metallic chemical element that has a high density and relatively high atomic mass that is toxic or poisonous. Some examples are mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, selenium and lead. These elements can damage living things at low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain.

In nature the lowest elements on the food chain is plant life. Specific types of animals are herbivores and eat only plants. These animals can have a build up of heavy-metal in their system, deposited in their muscle mass, from absorption from plants. When these animals are slaughtered and used for food the heavy metal in their system is absorbed by the end user, us.

Researchers have discovered that the human body often contains microscopic heavy-metal from environmental toxins and our food sources. Another source of heavy-metal toxification is from the amalgam fillings made for dental appliances. In 1989 the Environmental Protection Agency stated that the use metal fillings were hazardous substances under the Superfund law. When outside of the mouse they must be stored in unbreakable, tightly sealed containers, they are not to be touched and have specific storage requirements. Outside of the mouth they are toxic but when placed in the teeth they are labeled “non-toxic”.  Read more...

Chelation therapy is a treatment used by traditional medicine physicians to treat heavy metal poisoning. The scientific medical name is ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or EDTA. However, it is also a term used in alternative medicine that is reportedly helpful in treating heart disease, cancer and other conditions.

The term “chelation” comes from the Greek word chele, which means “claw”. This actually refers to the way in which the chemicals in the EDTA grab onto the medals in the body and help the body to excrete them so they are no longer toxic. Chelation therapy is an effective treatment for lead poisoning because the EDTA binds to the lead in the body and flushes it out through the kidneys.

The use of EDTA has been approved by the US food and drug administration as a treatment for lead poisoning. The human body cannot break down heavy metal, all of which lead poisoning is one, and they can build up to toxic levels in the body which interfere with normal functioning of the neurological system as well as other organ systems. It is also used in the treatment of mercury, cadmium and zinc overdoses.  Read more...

Did you know there are 92 elements found in nature and an additional 22 which are observed elements or scientists believe exists but have not been able to prove.

In addition to all of those there are also hundreds of isotopes of those elements, any one of which can play an important role in human health which has yet to of been discovered.

In these numerous elements are trace minerals which are called this because they are required in such a very small amounts.

And, while scientists and doctors believe they have identified many of the trace minerals required by the body for optimal health, they are required in such minute amounts and there are so many different trace elements that may be necessary, it is highly unlikely that physicians and scientists have identified all of them.  Read more...

Magnesium is a magnificent mineral. It is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and essential to good health for each and every one of us. Interestingly, approximately 50% of the magnesium stored in our body can be found in the bone. The other half is found inside of the cells of our body tissue and organs and only 1% is found in the blood. But, although the amount found in the blood is so small, the body works very hard to keep this number constant.

Magnesium is a mineral found in all unprocessed foods. There is a high concentration in unmilled grain, dark leafy vegetables, fruit, nuts and legumes. Although there is an abundance in whole foods, because of the standard Western diet and potential malabsorption issues many people can create a situation where they don’t receive enough magnesium to support optimal health.  Read more...

It’s no secret that many women started menopause in their mid-40s into their early 50s. It’s a time of life where many changes happen in a woman’s body that are hormonally based and wreak havoc on everything from sleep patterns to weight gain and emotional stability. For decades, if not centuries, women have been searching for a way to decrease their symptoms and get through this time in life more easily.

Physicians and researchers as well as pharmaceutical companies have also jumped on the bandwagon to address the needs of this evergreen market. Women are continuing to enter and leave menopause each and every year and will continue to do so until the human race is no more. Pharmaceutical companies and researchers hold a great stake in finding a solution for which they can charge a significant amount of money.  Read more...

Green tea has been used by the Chinese and traditional Chinese medicine to treat anything from aches and pains, headaches, poor digestion and to help an individual improve their overall well-being and life expectancy. Green tea extract is rich and bioflavonoids which are antioxidants. These anti-oxidants have a role of fighting free radicals within the body which cause DNA and cell damage. Some sources say that it is over 200 times more potent than vitamin E. in fighting these free radicals.

Green tea is made from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis, a perennial evergreen shrub. There are several varieties of tea which grow in different regions and districts of China and India. Historically this tea has also been served as part of a variety ceremonies and has been used to stay alert during long meditations.  Read more...

Weight gain during perimenopause is a universal complaint among women. It is not uncommon for a woman to gain between 10 and 15 pounds, especially around her abdomen and hips. In some instances women see this as a rite of passage to becoming and older wiser you. But most often, this almost instantaneous weight gain is a signal of hormonal imbalance and is heralded by emotional upheaval and distress over this sudden increase in the late. In medical circles, some described as weight gain as an unavoidable “middle-aged spread”.

And, while women in the past had to accept these changes to their body, current technology and medical knowledge has enabled physicians and holistic practitioners to more clearly establish the imbalances in the body and help the woman to determine specific methodologies she can use in order to reverse the process.

Prior to perimenopause and menopause levels of estrogen in the body can often mask symptoms of other systems having difficulty. A woman has been exposed to many years of toxins, environmental changes and hormonal imbalances, the results of which are now being felt by the rest of the body.  Read more...

Here is some info on a few herbal essential oils that are a very helpful addition to your familys First Aid kit

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

* Clary Sage is used in aromatherapy in preference to Sage (Salvia Officinalis) because Sage can be quite toxic. Clary possesses the positive effects of Sage without the danger. One should avoid the use of alcohol while using Clary Sage because the combination can bring on severe Nightmares. Clary produces a heightened state akin to euphoria and relaxation. It is used in treating Asthma, and during convalescence of the flu. It is used in abdominal massage for digestive problems. (Source: A-Z Aromatherapy by Patricia Davis)
* Most valuable uses: Muscular fatigue, menstrual problems, PMS, Fertility, exhaustion, Insomnia, Menopausal problems, calming, stress, depression, cramps, excessive Perspiration.
* Therapeutic properties: Antiseptic, calmative, tonic, emmenagogue, anti-infectious, anti-spasmodic, anti-sudorific, Aphrodisiac, Nerve Tonic, nervine, estrogen-like
* Main chemical components: Linalol, Linalyl Acetate, Germacrene, Ceranyl acetate
* Contraindication: Avoid during Pregnancy.

(Source: Essential Aromatherapy: A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Susan Worwood Valerie Worwood)  Read more...

Pregnancy: Oils to avoid

Due to the effects of these oils on the reproductive organs, and the sensitivity of the foetus, they should not be used at all during Pregnancy.

* Ajowan
* Angelica
* Anise star
* Aniseed
* Basil
* Bay Laurel
* Calamintha
* Cedarwood (all types)
* Celery seed
* Cinnamon (leaf)
* Citronella
* Clary Sage
* Clove
* Cumin
* Cypress
* Fennel (sweet)
* Hyssop
* Jasmine
* Juniper
* Labdanum
* Lovage
* Marjoram
* Myrrh
* Nutmeg
* Parsley
* Penyroyal
* Peppermint
* Rose
* Rosemary
* Snakeroot
* Sage
* Tarragon
* Thyme (red)

High blood pressure: Oils to avoid

* Black Pepper
* Hyssop
* Lemon
* Lemongrass
* Nutmeg
* Rosemary
* Sage
* Thyme

Low blood pressure: Oils to avoid

* Chamomile
* Lemon
* Lavender
* Marjoram
* Ylang Ylang

Diabetes: Oils to avoid

* Angelica

Kidney problems: Oils that should be avoided

* Juniper

Homeopathic treatments: Oils to avoid  Read more...

Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction which happens when the body is exposed to a protein molecule that the immune system perceives as threatening. And the anaphylactic reaction can happen instantaneously or within minutes of exposure to a protein molecule which your body is hyper allergic to.

Some of the more common allergies which results in an anaphylactic reaction can be peanuts, these sayings, egg allergies and latex. The allergen, protein molecule which the body perceives as threatening, releases a severe attack mediated by the immune system. A flood of chemicals is released, the blood pressure drops, airways narrow, pulse quickens and many become nauseated and vomit.

Any evidence of an anaphylactic shock reaction necessitates an immediate trip to the emergency room. Individuals who have a previous history of a severe allergic response often carry epinephrine shots with them in case of an emergency. These shots will only support the body for a short period of time and give the individual enough time to get to the hospital. These are not a cure and will not the the only treatment necessary during a severe allergic response.  Read more...

Allergy symptoms can vary from very mild to life-threatening. The symptoms that you experience will help to give your physician clues about what is causing the allergy as well as potential treatment protocols and medications which can be used to successfully alleviate your symptoms.

Mild symptoms include rash, itchy watery eyes and nasal congestion. These allergic reactions do not spread to other parts of the body and are very commonly found in individuals who suffer from pollen allergies or seasonal allergies. In these individuals the symptoms occur at the same time of the year every year which gives a good indication to the physician of the exact triggers.

Moderate symptoms will spread to other parts of the body and will include the skin. Some individuals suffer from dry, scaly, red skin, or itchy raised hives. In other circumstances allergies will cause an outbreak of eczema. Moderate allergy symptoms will also include the gastrointestinal tract where individuals may experience nausea, abdominal cramping or diarrhea. The respiratory system can also become involved in the individual may experience difficulty breathing or a flareup of their asthma.  Read more...

It’s not called “common” for nothing. Before long, millions of people will be affected by the common cold or the flu. Some people use traditional methods to stay healthy. You may want to try some of these super foods to keep colds at bay this winter.

Colds and flu are similar in that they’re both respiratory illnesses. They also have some of the same symptoms. While there are similarities, such as both being viral infections, there are also differences. Symptoms from colds generally begin slowly and consist of runny or stuffy noses, wet or productive coughs, mild fatigue, and slight body aches. Flu, on the other hand, makes itself know quickly (often within three to six hours); symptoms include fever, more severe body aches, chills, moderate fatigue, dry or burning cough, severe chest congestion, and headache.

Obviously, preventing a cold is preferable to treating one and you can do much to reduce your chances of catching a cold: washing your hands with hot soapy water, avoiding touching your eyes or nose, getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy diet. In fact, adding vitamin and mineral-rich super foods to your daily diet can be your front line to avoiding a cold this season.  Read more...

Naturopathic physicians and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agree that all humans are depositories for hundreds of different chemicals and toxins that have become a part of our homes and offices. In fact, the EPA states that the air in our homes is more toxic than the outside air, even in the inner city. This is because homes have become more air tight to increase the efficiency of heating and air conditioning and we are bringing more cleaning chemicals into the home.

Detoxification can take several shapes and forms from a colon cleanse to fasting and changing lifestyle choices. The body has the ability to heal itself when given the tools and nutrients it needs. Unfortunately, the Standard Western Diet doesnt provide those nutrients and manufactured vitamins arent as bioavailable as wed like them to be. This means that the vitamins are available to the body to use in the same way that the nutrients from food are.  Read more...