Health and Fitness

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We all know we need to have a healthy diet, so why are more people not doing this? We know we need to balance our diet with all of the food groups yet we get up everyday and ignore some of them. You may find that just a little planning can help your diet be healthier on a daily basis.

First of all, you need to two lists. One is what you do eat and one is what you should eat. Do you know what the food pyramid is? You can not eat correctly if you are not sure what that means. You may find you are already doing a pretty good job and just need to make a few minor changes. Many of us may need a major overhaul in our healthy diet.

Once you have your 2 lists you need to break them down into the following categories:

- Grains

- Vegetables

- Fruits

- Milk and Calcium

- Meat, Beans, Fish, and Nuts

This article is not meant to give you a diet plan. In 2005 the USDA replaced the Food Guide Pyramid with MyPyramid. To get the correct recommended daily intake of these various food groups do a Google search for MyPyramid. You will come up with more information than you can read.

What this article is about is getting to be honest with yourself. You can not have a healthy diet if you do not plan what you are going to eat. Everyone has impulses when it comes to food. That’s al right! However over the course of the week you need to work into your meals as many things that you like to eat with things you need to eat to be healthy.

Knowing the food groups will help you do this.

Planning variety into your day will help. Work some fruits and vegetables into your snacks. Depending on how your day goes it may be worthwhile to eat several smaller meals a day rather than large ones.

The other thing is to cover yourself just in case you fall short on any given day with a daily multivitamin. To live a longer healthy diet your body needs vitamins and minerals. Taking a daily multivitamin is an insurance policy against shorting your body against these. It’s an easy thing to do.

In summary having a healthy diet everyday takes just a little planning on your part, but the rewards are better health and a longer life. Once you get in the habit of organizing your meals and snacks you will find it is easy to do and worth the time it takes to do it.

Tips To Having A Healthy Colon

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The Colon is the main part of the large intestine. It absorbs water and some mineral salts from food passing through the digestive tract and pushes waste towards the rectum and anus where it is expelled from the body as faeces. A healthy colon is essential to your health. Here are some tips for a healthy colon and a healthy colon diet.

A healthy colon diet is something you can control and it all starts with eating the proper amount of fiber. White bread is an example of food that contains no fiber and is consumed in large amounts by many of us. As the colon gets deposits built up on the lining it can not do its normal process. If your diet is high in fat and cholesterol you increase your chances of having colon problems. Try and think wheat over white. Wheat bread, wheat pasta, and brown rice are better for your health than the white version of these products.

Many people often wonder what are the signs of colon cancer. Getting your colon checked is the best answer because like other parts of the body a tumor can live for years before becoming cancerous. Other signals of potential colon cancer could be runny stools, blood in your stools, stomach cramps, weight loss, feeling tired, or feeling like you need to go to the bathroom when you really do not have to.
Constipation could be a sign as well. Any blockage due to inflammation or even a tumor could lead to constipation. Don’t panic. First take a step back and look at if you have had any changes in your diet. Have you ate less fiber and are there any changes in your lifestyle including less exercise. Constipation can be caused by many things other than colon problems.

A common question is how often should I get my colon checked. If you are over the age of 50 you should get a colonoscopy. It is interesting to know that more than 90% of all colon cancer occurs in people over 50. Family history is another factor in determining if you need to get checked. You should not wait until you are 50 if you have a family history. The frequency of your tests should be determined by your physician after that.

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The good news is the number of deaths from colon cancer is declining every year due to the number of people getting tested earlier.

It is often said that maintaining a normal growth pattern is nature’s lab test for good health. Measuring the growth of height and weight is a very inexpensive service that should be offered by all health care providers to children. Growth is influenced by many factors such as heredity, genetic or congenital illness and medications, nutrition, hormones and psychosocial environment

Causes of Growth disorders:

Children generally reflect their parent’s growth patterns and height. Parents who were late bloomers and experienced slow growth and late pubertal development may see the same pattern in their children. The final height these children achieve is usually normal. Parents who have a short stature usually have children whose adult height potential is in the shorter range.

Congenital (those present at birth) causes for growth failure include intrauterine growth retardation, skeletal abnormalities and chromosome changes. Intrauterine growth retardation may result from maternal infections, smoking, or alcohol or drug use while pregnant.

Skeletal causes, such as short limbed dwarfism, result from abnormal production of new bone and cartilage. These children usually have unusual trunk or limb proportions. Chromosome variations causing short stature can include Turner syndrome in girls and Down’s syndrome in boys.

Nutritional problems can influence growth in two ways. More commonly, the problem is a poor diet with inadequate nutrients, not enough calories, or the wrong food habits. Secondly, diseases that interfere with the absorption of food from the bowel will prevent the body from using those nutrients for growth.

Thyroxin hormone which is secreted by the thyroid gland located in the neck poses a major influence on the growth and development of brain and bones. It continues to regulate metabolism throughout adult life. Symptoms of inadequate thyroxin can include dry skin and hair, constipation, loss of energy, or feeling cold in normal temperatures. If there is an inadequate amount of thyroxin made, it can be replaced by tablets prescribed by the doctor.

Cortisol, which is made by the adrenal glands located on top of each kidney, has effects on fat storage, glucose production and bone strength as well as aiding the body to handle the stress of illness or injury. Unlike thyroxin deficiency, it is excessive cortisol production which stunts growth. There are also other signs that indicate excessive cortisol such as muscle wasting and weakness, weight gain, easy bruising and thinning of the skin. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem.

Treatment:

Growth Hormone is made by the pituitary gland located in the middle of the head at the base of the brain. Growth hormone affects glucose and fat metabolism, the production of protein to sustain new cell development and, most importantly, it stimulates bone growth at the growth plates located at the ends of the bones. Children with growth hormone deficiency usually have a dramatic slowing of growth and may be overweight for their height. They may have younger looking faces than their actual age, but have normal body proportions. Diagnosis is made with blood tests and treatment is the replacement of growth hormone by growth hormone injections. Treatment continues until the bone growth plates fuse indicating that growth is completed. This treatment should never be taken without being under an expert’s guidance.

The importance of eye care cannot be overemphasized. Many common eye disorders disappear without any treatment. There are many effective products on the market for eye disorders like eye drops, ointments for itching, and dryness or watering of the eye. There are, however, some restrictions in using these medications. If you use these products for more than 72 hours, or if you have a problem on the eye ball, you should immediately consult a doctor.

In some cases, a minor eye problem may lead to a severe blinding condition. Before using any of these products one should understand about the structure of the eye, cause of disorder etc. The most complex sensory organs are the eyes. The eyelids are the major protective mechanism for the eye. There are some common disorders of the eye that can be self treated such as Blepharitis, Lice, Contact dermatitis, Thermal damage and many more.

Blepharitis is a common condition that is caused by inflammation of the eyelid. Itching and burning are the most common complaints for Blepharitis and this can be self treated by applying a hot compress to the eye, followed by an eyelid scrub. Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that causes swelling, scaling, or redness of the eyelid. This can be treated by Antihistamines that are taken orally.

Some common eye conditions usually require treatment from a doctor. A disorder such as Blunt Trauma to the eye needs immediate solution by an optometrist. It can activate bleeding into the eye and it can seriously affect the vision. Abrasion is another disorder which needs immediate treatment. This usually occurs when a fingernail rubs across the cornea or conjunctiva. Many other disorders like corneal swelling, keratitis, angle-closure glaucoma and utveitis are all an inflammation of the eye structures in the iris. Symptoms and signs for all these are similar to each other. Common symptoms include an aching eyebrow or a head ache that leads to nausea and vomiting.

There are many types of eye products available which contain both active and inactive ingredients. Eye washes, commonly known as ocular irritants, when used cleanse the debris from the eye. This will include some boric acid with sodium borate or sodium hydroxide to maintain acidity, which will clear up the eyes. The eye products include Vehicles, known as ophthalmic vehicles, which enhance drug action by increasing the thickness of the product.

There are preservatives in the product to destroy or limit the growth of bacteria. These types of preservatives will prevent allergies. The most commonly used product, for self treatment, are eye drops. These eye drops will be a water based solution that will lubricate the eye and thicken the tears. This will clean up the eye and prevent itching and redness of the eye. Eye care is necessary for all, as without good vision it can be uncomfortable. So, using these products, we can be self treated. If the pain or itching continues, you must consult a doctor immediately.

When you have a runny nose, itchy eyes are sneezing or coughing, you are said to have caught a cold. Mostly, people catch a cold during the winter because of the low atmospheric humidity during the winter season which enables cold causing viruses to develop more easily.

The virus can enter your body either through your mouth or nose or sometimes through your hands. You are likely to catch a cold when you come into contact with an infected person.

For a common cold, you don’t really need to go to a doctor, but if the problem persists and you have a high fever, vomiting or severe headache then you must seek medical advice. The general medicines for a common cold are decongestants, nasal sprays or suppressants etc, but have you ever thought of the side effects that these medicines may have on you or your child’s body?

Pain killers like Aspirin can affect your lungs. Decongestants may cause heart palpitations and insomnia and some over the counter cough syrups can be responsible for drowsiness.

In fact, there’s no cure for the common cold. The Cold virus does not get affected by antibiotics but there are numerous home remedies which can provide relief from the pain and other symptoms of a cold.

These medicines, if nothing else, do not have any side effects. One way or the other, they do some good to your body. The common cold is not a serious problem, so why not try some alternative medicines, instead of exposing yourself to the controversial effects of over the counter general cold medicines?

Vitamin C is known for its remedial power against the common cold. Instead of taking vitamin C tablets, why not take lemon juice which may reduce the duration of the cold as well as the infection. Ginger is another wonder medicine for a cold. Ginger juice taken with honey reduces throat itching and soothes it. Chicken soup can also be given. Eating garlic enhances the body’s immune-stimulating properties, thus helps in fighting the common cold. Drink plenty of liquid foods like juices, lemon water etc. Last but not least; take proper rest to help make your immune system work faster.

Prevention:

Do not eat anything without washing your hands.

Avoid coming into contact with people who have a cold.

Eat a healthy balanced diet.

Maintain cleanliness in everything including surfaces, door knobs and utensils etc. You can clean them with disinfectant.

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What does the book contain?

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If you work outside of the home you are faced with choices everyday on what you are going to eat and eating on the run does not always allow for you to make healthy choices. If you are like many people, even if you work at home you are busy, and do not always get to eat 3 healthy meals everyday. To make up for that you need to eat healthy snacks.

Here are 5 healthy choices to help you get through your day easily and healthily.

As a general rule avoid sugar whenever possible during the day. Many processed snack foods contain high amounts of fructose which are not healthy. A better choice is to eat fruit as much as possible. Strawberries, blueberries, cherries, watermelon slices, or maybe an apple will help with any sugar cravings you may have.

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