Mar
23
Shoulder Injury (The Prevention)
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I don’t care how strong you are or how many years you have been lifting weight. If you lift heavy and do not employ sound technique doing the movements you will eventually get a shoulder injury, its just the nature of the game.
The sad thing about working shoulders for
The two most common things that lifters do while exercising that can cause injury to their joints and muscles are; performing an un-natural stretch during and movement and the second is putting a joint in an un-natural position. Notice the word un-natural is the focus here. When a movement seems to hurt or feel weird while doing it, even if you are using no weight at all then that is an indicator that you should not be doing that movement. Our body for the most part knows what is right for us even better than we do.
Now I want to make sure you understand the different between a difficult movement and an un-natural movement. Heavy Squats are difficult behind the neck shoulder presses are un-natural! Let me expand on this for a moment. Sit in a chair with your palms facing down on your knees. Now while keeping your elbows at your side rotates your forearms up and rearward so that your palms are facing forward and the back of your hand backward. Now continue to rotate your palms rearward until the palms are facing slightly up and are position behind your shoulders. Think about how that feels, because that un-natural position is the correct position for doing behind the neck shoulder presses.
So now that understand what an unnatural position feels like lets address the main four culprits of shoulder injury. Ok here are the bad guys;
The first is the dumbbell fly
By keeping the elbows straight and over stretching at the bottom of the movement you are putting you shoulder in an un-natural position and possibly causing shoulder injury.
The correct way to do this moveme
nt is to bend at the elbow, like your hugging a fat girl ( what? Fat Girls need loving too) and remember to bring arms down only to the point where the elbow is level with the center of your rib cage.
The behind the neck shoulder press
This feels un-natural don’t it? That because in order to get enough range of motion to grow you have to put your shoulder in a compromising position for injury
The correct way is to drop this exercise all together, and replace it with front of neck shoulder presses. When doing shoulder presses to the front push all the way up just before lock out and come down only until the elbows are slightly below parallel with the floor. For most people that puts the bar just at eye level at the bottom of the movement. Any more can cause lower back problems.
The Lat pull down to the back of the neck
This is one that I only see women do for some reason. Once again it don’t even feel natural, does it?
The correct way to do this is to arch your lower back ever so slightly, and using a shoulder width or less grip pull the bar down until it touches the bottom of your chest (pec). I see guys in the gym come only down until it is eye level; I really believe that either way is correct. However the lats will get a better contraction when the bar touches the chest!
The last exercise is the pull up
This particular exercise has two different incorrect variations. The first is to pull to the back of the neck. I think I stressed the problem with any exercise going to the back of the neck already.
The second incorrect variation to the pull up is to select too wide a grip. For some reason many people believe that the wider the grip the wider the back muscles. I don’t have time to go into the function of the muscles, but understand, if you want to build a big wide back you are more likely to do so with narrow and medium grip pull ups then you will with wide.
The correct way to this is to either grip the bar with a shoulder width grip and pull you body up until the chest meet the bar, or use a “V-Bar” or chinning triangle over the pull-up bar and pull upward until your chest touches the chinning triangle.
If you have never had any shoulder problems this will help you avoid them altogether. If you’ve had them (shoulder injuries) in the past following these simple changes will avoid future injury, and help you to get the most out of your workouts.
Mar
23
Why Is This Natural Compound The World’s #1 Best-Selling Muscle Growth Supplement?
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If you’ve been working long and hard in the gym but find
that it’s weeks or months since you saw any appreciable
gains in strength or muscularity, you may well get used to
hearing that these sticking points are entirely normal and
that there’s no alternative to working ever harder until your
body somehow miraculously trains its way through the problem.
But unfortunately when it comes to activities such as lifting
weights, body-building, field athletics, sprinting or contact sports,
the idea that “more is better” simply doesn’t work. The problem
is that the stronger you get, the more intensively you need to train
to maintain your progress, placing huge demands on the energy
reserves in your muscles and your body’s powers of recovery.
So this can be an intensely frustrating time. Your progress has
inevitably slowed, yet if you try to force the pace beyond your
body’s recovery ability you risk ceasing to progress altogether,
and may even find yourself getting weaker.
Not surprisingly then, strength and power event athletes have
searched desperately for anything that might help them get past
this barrier – even turning in large numbers to the illegal and
highly dangerous, but often extremely effective anabolic steroids.
But those sensible enough on grounds of ethics or self-preservation
not to go down this route needed something else.
The isolation of creatine, a 100% natural substance that seemed to
mimic the effects of steroids therefore produced enormous
excitement. While even now the science behind creatine remains
to some extent in its infancy, the key to its importance seems to lie
in its relationship with another compound in your body called
adenosine-tri-phosphate (ATP), which is the vital source of energy
your muscles need when engaged in an intensive, quick burst activity
such as lifting weights or sprinting.
The problem is that in most people supplies of ATP are exhausted as
quickly as within 10-15 seconds, to be replaced by the useless by-product, adenosine-bi-phosphate (ADP). Amazingly enough, it seems that the creatine stored within your muscles can then convert the ADP produced by this process back into ATP, producing more energy for your muscles, rather in the way that a car turbocharger works.
More energy in your muscles means the ability to perform longer, harder workouts, which can’t help but dramatically accelerate your gains in strength and power – always provided of course that you allow adequate time for recovery. And although less well understood, there is evidence that creatine can enha
nce the process of protein synthesis by which your body repairs and strengthens muscle tissue, potentially reducing the necessary recovery time between workouts.
Creatine is produced in the liver by the synthesis of three essential amino acids – arginine, methionine and glycine and around 95-98% of your body’s supply is stored in the muscles – typically in a concentration of around 3.5-4 grams per kilogram of bodyweight.
So the crucial question was: would supplementing these natural levels enhance creatine’s effects? When research indicated that the answer to this question was yes, it was no surprise that creatine quickly became the biggest selling sports supplement of all time. In fact as long ago as 1988 more than $200 million worth of creatine products were sold.
But a couple of cautionary words are necessary. Some of the marketing behind this astonishing figure has been ethically dubious to put it politely. It has to be stated that creatine is definitely not some miracle formula for superhuman strength. You’re not going to be able to pop a pill and sit back on the couch with a pizza while your body quickly and painlessly transforms itself into that of an elite strength athlete.
Creatine may dramatically enhance the results of your workouts, but in no way can it be a substitute for them. If you want the results, you still have to put in the work, a point by the way, which is often forgotten, but equally true of anabolic steroids.
Secondly, creatine seems only to be really effective for certain kinds of physical activity; those which demand muscle strength, bulk and explosive power. The benefits have proved much harder to assess in the case of endurance events such as long distance running, swimming cycling or triathlon, although there is some evidence that creatine may help in slowing down or reducing the build up of lactic acid, the substance that causes that characteristic and painful burning sensation as your muscles fatigue during exercise.
Remember, too, that creatine occurs naturally within the body, and as with other such substances the amounts vary from individual to individual. So understand that if you’re one of those who naturally produce high levels, further supplementation may produce little or no benefit. Conversely, if your body produces only moderate to low amounts, a good quality supplement may well produce very rapid developments in your physique.
The only real way to tell which category your body falls into is to give it a test drive with this new muscle fuel supplement. A month of supplementation, combined of course with regular tough workouts, should be enough to find out whether creatine’s going to help you.
Steve Smith
Mar
23
Prescription HGH
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There are many users of prescription HGH formulas as the reasons for undergoing hormone therapy is wide and varied. The most common use of prescription HGH, especially when it was first launched, almost two decades ago, was for the treatment of conditions in children, such as stunted growth, to help reduce excess body fat and encourage weight loss (treatment of obesity, whatever the cause) and for reversing the signs of early aging due to the reduced production of naturally occurring HGH.
Scope of use of prescription HGH: beyond the realm of bodybuilding, delayed growth in children and a miracle cure for dismissing wrinkles
Prescription HGH has grown tremendously in the scope and use of the various aspects it helps treat today: combating premature aging, converting body fats to lean muscle, adding bulk where needed and inches to shorter statures are pertinent issues commonly associated within the realm of prescription HGH. With the beauty industry growing manifold and younger persons opting for skin care measures to prevent anti-aging even as 60+seniors push their way to higher endurance levels and enhanced physical appearance concerns with as much gusto as younger counterparts keen to make the most of energy boosters, there is more and more scientific support coming into the area of prescription HGH as well as non-prescription and lower potency options for HGH releasers.
While aesthetics of anti-aging benefits as proffered by regular and controlled use of prescription HGH are high in demand of beauty conscious persons, there are no less medical concerns being aired as to whether these demands are justifiable simply because people have the money to pay for the expensive prescription HGH as opposed to the medical fraternity that needs it more to treat extreme cases of obesity, stunted growth and beat unusually high stress levels, common eruptions of a compe
titive world today. The fact remains, as ugly as it sounds, the truth about prescription HGH being available in counterfeit form has brought the whole matter under a cloud and few are eager to try it out without initially consulting a medical expert, who will in turn, only recommend it for severe obesity or stunted growth problems, when coupled with surgery or another intervention to reduce side-effects.
Is prescription HGH only meant for children? Learning about who can benefit from prescription HGH
Yes, prescription HGH prescription was essentially meant for under-developed children who needed a growth boost, but over the years, the market for this synthetically manufactured growth enhancer has also grown to accommodate needs from other sectors. This is simply because growth hormone deficiencies do not just affect children; it can happen to adults too. The hormone, HGH, reduces in production level after adulthood and this reduced HGH level can significantly impact adults because it is critical to health issues like tissue repair, healing, muscle growth, bone strength, brain function, physical and mental health, energy and metabolism balancing; here is where prescription HGH plays a positive and almost life-changing role in helping to accelerate HGH production levels in the body. Thus, even the body’s ability to produce HGH declines, say beyond the age of 35 or 40, many doctors recommend prescription HGH for patients whose IGF-1 levels are below 200 since this low level is indicative of HGH deficiency and diagnosis most likely would reveal AGHD, or Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency. Post 1996, the FDA’s approval of recombinant human growth hormone for use in adult patients has come through and now prescription HGH prescription is extensively and safely used for treating deficient adults.
This Article is Originally Published here: Prescription HGH
Mar
23
Choosing a Treadmill
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Choosing a Treadmill
If you question me what to choose betweenrunning in the park or on a treadmill in fitness center, I would probablyanswer in no time that running in the park is much better because of the goodair and good view. However, there are many times that we are unable to go torun in the park. The second best choice is definitely running on atreadmill. It is always better than notrunning, isnt it?
In fact, being a member in a fitness centerhas many advantages, such as the variety of equipment. On the other hand, thereare also many complaints from the customers some fitness centers accept so manymembers that they need to queue up in order to use such equipment. Moreover,there might be some trainers talking to you during the exercising, but all theytalk about is nothing but convincing you to get themselves commissions. They donot care if the customers are feeling bored or not.
If you have faced this kind of situationfor a few times, it is more than boring, and that might lead you to not goingthere again, and that means it is a waste of money. Anyhow, I have a bettersolution, and that is adapting your house into your own small fitness. Firstly,I am going to talk about how to choose a treadmill. Because the price of it isnot that cheap, the money you are going to invest should be worthwhile.
What are the key factors to help you decidewhich to buy?
* Size and Weight – There are many sizes ofthe treadmills available almost everywhere. The price of the small one is notexpensive, probably around $250-$500 USD. On the other hand, some of the biggerones cost more than $2500 USD. You should choose the treadmill that the widthof its fits the size of your body well. Do not buy a small one just because ofits cheap price because it will probably get you bored from its size. You mightfall from it while you are running on it. You should test it to see if it isokay with you and see if you can run on it for a long time without anydistress.
* Horsepower – You should only buy atreadmill that has 1.5-2.0 horsepower. Treadmills which have less power thanthis will need your own energy to drive in the initial stage.
*
Top Speed – Actually, it is not a verysignificant factor because we are just joggers, not greatest runners who run atthe highest speed. Furthermore, running or jogging for health does not need youto go too fast. We mainly focus on going slowly and continuing for a longperiod of time, but if you are a professional runner, the treadmills top speedshould be considered as an important factor because if its highest speed is notenough, it will cause you difficulty in the interval training, which helps youstrengthen and fastening yourself.
* Adjustable Slope – some treadmills canadjust its slope for 10%-11%, and we should not make it less than this if wewould like to keep training on the mountain running. Some treadmills can makeit 25%, and I must say that it seems to much and more than enough.
* Smoothness – You should be able to keepon running smoothly even when we change the treadmills running speed. Somemight say that the best treadmill will be smooth as silk as the Thai Airwaysslogan. Anyway, you should slowly increase or decrease the speed at a timebecause you might get hurt if you do it too fast.
* Options – You should consider them beforeyou make a decision. Some treadmills contain so many programs for you, such asregular running, mountain running, interval running, and weight-controlrunning, and so on. Some can be programmed for both running type and time andalso your running record. However, do not forget that the more optionscontained, the more expensive the price. You should carefully consider if youreally need those options or not.
I have another advice. The calories counteron the treadmill will not show you the exact numbers because I have run on somany treadmills and found that the number shown in there were not the same. Usethe time as your module is always better. Heart-beating rate measurement isalso a good suggestion. Nowadays, almost all treadmills have it. Try to controlit not to exceed the Target Heart Rate. You might be interested in calculatingyour Target Heart Rate here.www.todayfit.com
Please remember that a treadmill is one ofthe most expensive equipment. Make it worth every penny you spend on it. You donot buy it to make it just a clotheshorse.
Mar
23
Blackheads are tiny, dark spots caused by a small plug in the opening of a follicle (pore) on the skin. Blackheads are also called open comedomes. A blackhead is a type of acne vulgaris. It is caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland ‘s duct. Blackheads are typically caused by excessive oil and makeup, which can facilitate the multiplication of the bacterium propionibacterium acnes, the predominant anaerobe of the normal skin flora. The substance found in these bumps mostly consists of keratin and modified sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland ), which darkens
(resembling dirt) as it oxidizes. Blackheads are the slightly different sibling of zits, and like zits, squeezing them can be addictive. Composed of the same
oil, or sebum, that contributes to the production of pimples, blackheads result from a building up of this oil in pores the difference in appearance is the
result of the blackhead’s exposure to the air, the reaction of which with the oil causes the trademark black color of these blemishes. And while blackheads
are more easily obscured by makeup, they can seem less offensive to the sufferer, and as a result, less damaging to squeeze. But squeezing is not good for blackhead. It leaves a permanent scar on skin and also infection will occur.
Blackheads and especially whiteheads are promoted by dark appearance is caused by the densely packed skin cells, which take on a dark colour excessive cellular exfoliation. The other name of Blackheads is open comedones, skin coloured are flat, darkened spots that form when pores become clogged with a mixture of sebum (or oil) and dead skin cells. Whiteheads and blackheads, both symptoms of the skin condition acne, commonly appear on the face and shoulders, but they may also develop on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks. They are most common in teenagers but can occur at any age, even in infants. Treatment for whiteheads and blackheads depends on the severity of the condition. Treatment may include lotions or gels placed on blemishes or sometimes entire areas of skin, such as the chest or back (topical medications). Oral medications, such as antibiotics, may be prescribed.
Causes of Blackheads
Blackheads is caused when excess skin oil, sebum and congesting toxins are expelled through your skin from the blood and lymph fluid that supplies your skin with nutrients. These congesting toxins combined with skin oil and sebum clogs your pores causing blackheads, whiteheads, and full blown acne. Dirt also plays a big role in developing skin blackheads. The dirt stored on the face or other parts of body make the bacteria to develop
. The dirt with oily skin makes things even worse. Although food id thought not to be the cause of blackhead but doctor believe that there may be some role of food in it too.
Symptoms of Blackheads
Blackheads and whiteheads are a combination of oils, sebum and cellular fragments that form firm to hard plugs within hair follicles. Blackheads are open to the skin’s surface and become darkened at the surface by exposure to oxygen (oxidation). They are called open comedones (or comedo, singular). Whiteheads are closed from the skin’s surface by cellular debris at the follicle opening. Because they are closed from oxygen they do not oxidize or turn brown. They form a light or yellow-white lump and are called milia (or milium, singular). When bacteria is added to these plugs, the condition can lead to acne.
Treatment of of Blackheads
Mild cases of acne can be self-treated with over-the-counter topical (applied to the skin) creams typically with benzoyl peroxide. There are also a variety
of different medications that your family physician might prescribe that come as creams, ointments, and pills. It is wise to start by applying the cream or
ointment at night to see how you react, and then if necessary you can go to twice a day. Some of the stronger medications for acne are not to be used if you are pregnant, so make sure you tell your doctor if this is a possibility. Most acne medications work by reducing the next “crop” of acne, so don’t get
discouraged if the treatment does not work right away.
Home Remedy for Blackheads
1. In 3-4 cup boiled water, add 2 tsp of soda bicarbonate. Steam a towel with this. Thereafter, place the towel gently on your face. Do it for about 5-6
times. Make a paste by mixing 1 tsp curd and 1 tsp rice flour. Apply the paste on the affected area. After some time, wash your face with cold water.
2. Take about 1 tsp of juice extracted from fresh coriander leaves and add ½ tsp of turmeric powder in it. Apply this mixture while going to bed. Wash your face the next morning with cold water.
3. Take a pinch of soft portion of glycerin soap and mix with a pinch of table salt. Apply this mixture on the blackheads. Do it for about a week and see the magical results.
4. Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzyl peroxide, etc. can be counter-productive to softening and dissolving blackheads and whiteheads as they can dehydrate dry, normal and combination skin
5. Make a paste by mixing 1 tsp limejuice and 1 tsp of finely powdered cinnamon. Apply it on the affected area before going to bed. Wash it off in the morning.
Mar
22
Why does it seem like Starbucks has a store on every corner where you live? Because the company knows most of us won’t go even one block out of our way to get a cup o’ cappuccino. Why then, are tens of thousands of people choosing to travel half-way around the world for surgical procedures? It’s called “medical tourism,” and you might find yourself considering it soon as well.
What is medical tourism?
Rapidly becoming a multi-billion dollar industry, medical tourism is the catch-all phrase describing travel to other countries primarily for medical or dental care. Along with elective plastic surgery procedures like face-lifts and implants, medical tourists also travel for highly specialized operations like heart surgery, cancer treatment and hip replacement. Some medical tours include pre-operation sightseeing, luxury accommodations and extensive post-op care.
Why would I consider it?
Your reasons for choosing to travel for medical care depend on where you live. In the
In countries with nationalized health such as
You may also become a medical tourist if you’d like to combine an exotic vacation with a tummy tuck or, on a more serious note, if you’re seeking alternative treatments for cancer or other diseases.
How much money can I save?
The short answer is, potentially lots. For example, a heart valve replacement that would normally cost $200,000 in the
According to a CBS News: 60 Minutes report, one patient who received coronary artery bypass surgery in Thailand said the operation cost him $12,000, as opposed to the $100,000 he estimated the operation would have cost him at home in the US.
How do I choose a country for my procedure?
It depends on what type of procedure you’re seeking. Some destinations specialize in medical procedures while others are best known for cosmetic surgery. If the procedure you’re seeking is elective and non-critical, you may be most interested in a country with beautiful antiquities or beaches.
Countries actively promoting medical tourism for medical procedures include
For plastic surgery, the hotspots are
The sub-continent is so committed to generating revenue from medical tourists, the country’s National Health Policy actually declares that treatment of foreign patients is legally an “export” and deemed “eligible for all fiscal incentives extended to export earnings.” It’s estimated that medical tourism to
As
With its beautiful terrain, intoxicating culture and stunning beaches,
ited States
What’s the downside?
If you do travel abroad for medical care, you may have to pay cash for it. Government and basic medical insurance, and sometimes extended medical insurance, often does not pay for the medical procedure. Of course if it’s an elective procedure (as most cosmetic procedures are), you’re on your own anyway.
Should complications arise, you may not be covered by insurance, or be able to seek adequate compensation through malpractice lawsuits. Most of the countries offering medical tourism have weak malpractice laws, so you’ll have little recourse to local courts or medical boards if something goes wrong. Of course, that’s part of the reason why the costs abroad are so low – physicians don’t have to pay exorbitant malpractice insurance premiums.
Little follow-up care may be provided, and travel or vacation activities soon after surgery can increase the risk of complications. For example, your post-op scars may darken or become more noticeable if you get a sunburn on the beach after your surgery. Long flights home can be uncomfortable at best, and downright dangerous for thrombosis or breathing-related problems. Treating side-effects and any post-operative care will become your responsibility once you get home.
Are there other health risks?
Exotic destinations are also home to exotic infectious diseases for which Westerners often have no immunity – particularly in a weakened, post-op state. Gastrointestinal diseases can slow the recovery process and more serious diseases such as malaria, influenza, or TB, can be life-threatening. Having said that, because these diseases are more common in other countries, doctors are more likely to recognize the symptoms early and get you appropriate treatment.
How do I check out a hospital’s credentials?
Although it may seem daunting to research surgical treatment thousands of miles away, it’s absolutely necessary for your peace of mind and quality assurance.
The Joint Commission is a US-based non-profit organization formed in 1951 with a mission to maintain and elevate the standards of healthcare delivery through evaluation and accreditation of healthcare organizations. These standards define the performance expectations, structures, or processes that must be in place and cover nearly every aspect of care from admissions and data collection, to daily patent assessments. Since 1999, JCI has also been accrediting hospitals internationally and to date has awarded 81 accreditations. JCI lists accredited hospitals by country.
How do I plan a trip?
So far the Roaming Gnome doesn’t offer suggestions for medical tourism, but there are plenty of websites that can assist you with your plans. Google “medical tourism” and you’ll find about 15 million entries. Some companies are foreign-based, with offices and representatives in the
In any case, once you find a company to help you plan your trip, the process could go something like this:
1. Fill out an application with your details and medical needs.
2. Talk with a US-based case manager to select the hospital, doctor(s) and get a cost estimate.
3. Pay a deposit – avoid companies that want to charge you 100% upfront.
4. Have a phone conference with your chosen doctor and on-site case manager.
5. Fly to your destination for your procedure, where you’ll be met by your on-site case manager.
6. Meet with your physician for a pre-op consultation.
7. Have your surgery and recover sufficiently for your post-op vacation or return journey (for some procedures, it may be more practical to have the “tourist” part of your trip first.
How does insurance figure in?
For the most part in the
In the future however, employers may offer overseas medical treatment as an option to their covered employees, according to Dr. Arnold Milstein, of Mercer Human Resource Consulting, who has been retained by five Fortune 500 companies to determine whether outsourcing healthcare can be a viable option.
It’s also possible to obtain medical insurance while traveling, but it will only cover you in the event of an emergency occurring on that trip. Whether or not you would be covered during an emergency that occurs as a consequence of other medical treatment you were receiving is another question. I would suspect the answer is no.
So should I do it?
If you’re seeking a relatively common elective cosmetic procedure, certainly shopping abroad should figure into your decision process. If you have no or limited medical coverage, and need some serious treatment, traveling abroad may be the only option you can afford. In any case, make certain you’ve spoken in depth with your home physician, fully understand the medical risk, and thoroughly research the physician and facility you intend to visit.
Mar
22
Stretching for Back Health
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Some of the most common back injuries occur when you pick up a relatively heavy object from the floor and move it to a higher level. Back injuries also can occur when you lift a lighter object or absorb a falling weight, where you twist your spine. Medical research has shown that a strong and supple back is more resistant to fatigue and to injury. These injuries are often caused by acute over-stress or by chronic overuse.
This article discusses the importance of spine flexibility and the Do’s and Don’ts of proper stretching for a healthy back.
Why is back health important?
Any time that you twist or bend at the waist, you are putting a physical load on your spine and the muscles that support it. If the flexibility of your back and hamstring area is not good when you bend forward, when you bend to the side, or when you twist at the waist, the strain that you put on your spine and its muscles is greater. If the movement you make at the waist is quick or beyond your normal range of motion, your chances of back injury are much greater. If you stretch correctly and regularly, every movement that you do that involves your back will become easier. This is the reason that good back flexibility is important in reducing the chances of back injury in your job, as well as away from the job.
Some Basic Rules for SAFE and EFFECTIVE Stretching There are five basic rules regarding stretching which you should keep in mind as you begin to focus on improving the flexibility of your spine.
1. Stretching exercises, if done correctly, should not be painful! If you are feeling pain during a stretch, you have gone too far beyond your normal range of motion for that exercise. Proper stretching will cause you to feel a good level of muscle tension and a little bit of a ‘burn’ but will keep you in the pain-free range of motion.
2. Stretching exercises must be performed gradually and progressively without jerking! You should NEVER bounce up and down during a stretch to try and extend your range of motion. Always do your stretch slowly and with complete control so that you do not risk an injury (muscle pull or spasm) during the exercise. This will ensure that your stretching routine is as effective as possible.
3. Each stretch should be “held” for 30 to 40 seconds to be most effective! If you only hold your stretched position for 5 to 10 seconds, you will not gain in flexibility. In order to see some real improvement in the suppleness of your spine and other joints, you must hold each stretch for 30 to 40 seconds while you consciously try to relax the muscles which normally tense up.
4. Do not hold your breath during the stretching exercise! Breath normally during your stretching exercises and avoid holding your breath. Try to be rhythmical (a steady pace) in your breathing as this will increase the feeling of relaxation which you will feel as you become more practiced in proper stretching techniques.
5. Stretching exercises should be done every day! There is no reason why you cannot set aside 15 minutes each day (perhaps while you are watching television or before you get out of bed in the morning) to complete your stretching routine.
An increase in flexibility of your spine will help to reduce the chances of suffering painful injuries to your back. As this is an area of importance within your physical conditioning regimen, we recommend that you invest in any number of excellent publications on this topic – such as the book titled “Stretching” by Bob and Jean Anderson (ISBN #0-936070-01-3) – to learn more about proper stretching technique and the various exercises you can use to build an effective stretching routine.
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Jacques Dallaire, Ph.D is the principal consultant of Performance Prime. Dr. Dallaire has extensive experience gained over the past 32 years working with more than 1000 high-performance athletes and business professionals. To access Dr. Dallaire’s entire vault of Performance Files, or to learn about Dallaire Consulting’s business performance programs, individual and sport programs and products, visit:
http://www.performanceprime.com
Mar
22
When we think about the importance of water, most of us think only about our drinking water. It’s true that quality drinking water is a very important component to our well being. However, what about those steamy hot showers some of us like to take? Are the effects of bacteria-killing chlorine in our water making our daily showers safer or are we endangering our health?
A look at Skin
Remember in school how we would jokingly tell our classmates that their epidermis was showing? We learned that the skin is the body’s largest organ. In fact, the skin is the largest eliminatory organ in our body, helping us to get rid of toxins through perspiration.
While most of us are familiar with this aspect of the skin, in recent years, we’ve gained more understanding of the skin’s role in overall health. Our skin is a two-way organ. Along with eliminating toxins, the skin absorbs and transports nutrients to various places in the body. Liquids are absorbed through our hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Every inch of your skin has about 65 hair follicles, more than 600 sweat glands and approximately 100 sebaceous glands.
In the shower, your epidermis isn’t only showing- it’s absorbing- every square inch of it. In fact, experts say that 60% of everything you use on your skin gets absorbed into your circulation, from water to lotions and other cosmetics.
Chlorinated Water and THMs
Since the early 1900′s chlorine has been added to our water to get rid of harmful bacteria. For over 25 years researchers have been looking into chlorine and the by-products that chlorinated water produces. While most studies have concentrated on drinking water, more and more studies are pointing to the dangers of showering with water that is highly chlorinated.
Why is absorbing chlorine through the skin thought
Scientists have recently concluded that Trihalomethanes (THMs) — by-products of chlorinated water — are absorbed through the skin and accumulate in the bladder. THMs have long been suspected of increasing the risk of bladder cancer. Now, it seems suspicions are being confirmed. What’s more, Dr. Christina Villenueva, a leading researcher in chlorine exposure, says that “Inhaling or absorbing THMs may lead to a higher concentration in target organs, such as the kidney, bladder and colon.”
Much of the problem comes from inhaling the steam from a hot shower — but most of us don’t enjoy taking a cold shower!
Not only does showering with chlorinated water appear to increase the risks of bladder and other cancers- it can make you look old. Most of us can attest to how it strips natural oils from our skin and hair. Just ask any avid swimmer how damaging chlorine can be to hair.
Shower Filters
A shower filter is becoming one of the best health investments you can make. Here’s why:
–The best shower filters –particularly those utilizing vitamin C — will remove 99% of the chlorine from the water before it touches your skin.
–They are easy to install and are effective at high temperatures.
–Without chlorine in the water, soaps and shampoos lather up much better.
Many who’ve suffered from dry, flaking and itchy skin, notice immediate relief after showering with a filter. And many more find that color-treated hair fades more slowly.
Luckily, you don’t have to give up those hot steamy showers, after all. (That goes for singing in the shower, too!)
to be so dangerous? When you swallow water, you can count on the liver to filter out many toxins- but when something gets absorbed through your skin, it goes straight into the circulatory system.
Mar
22
Oral Chelation
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Today is the age of metal indeed – beyond machines making the world go round on its cogs and gears, metals are also invading the human body. No, we’re not turning into androids like in your favorite sci-fi film. These metals aren’t going to make the human body more efficient and effective – quite the opposite.
From the most innocuous household objects – the aluminum frying pan, Mom’s cosmetics, the fish for dinner – to the air and water we count on to live, metallic elements like lead and mercury find their way into our bodies. They gradually accumulate in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of incurring diseases commonly associated with or affecting the circulatory system. For instance, atherosclerosis – the hardening of arteries – can be caused by prolonged exposure to and intake of metals. And that may only be the beginning. If your arteries were stiff with the plaque buildup, high blood pressure could be the next stop down the road. Chronic heart disease not much farther on.
Alternative medical practices these days (and since decades ago) offer chelation therapy to rid the body of these metals and improve circulation. Chelation involves administering substances, “chelators,” that bind with metals and flush them out of the body: essentially like laxatives in function, only chelators go the extra mile. They go beyond the digestive system and into the bloodstream, tracking down these metals and taking them out with them. Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), an amino acid, is the chelating agent used in most cases and does particularly well against lead. EDTA also relieves constricted blood vessels of the calcium deposits that cause the hardening of artery walls and prevents any harmful free radicals.
Chelation therapy is done intravenously or orally. IV chelation injects a measured combination of the chelators and other necessary vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream. Doctors and other medicinal professionals are entailed to prescribe and perform the treatment. Each session takes a couple of hours, and depending on the patient’s condition, chelation therapy may have to persist for several months.
There’s an advantage and a sense of comfort in being in the hands of professionals. But because of the costs, the time consumption, and the chance of acquiring a disease from the intravenous needle, most afflicted individuals and consumers in general refer to oral chelation.
By the term itself, oral chelation involves taking in a solution or capsules like a dose of medicine or vitamins. EDTA is again the common chelator, like in IV chelation, and in this case it is usually accompanied by vitamins and natural substances that enable EDTA to be assimilated in the circulatory system.
The first successful formula for oral chelation was developed by Harry W. Hersey in 1984. Now called The Original Oral Chelation (OOC), the formula includes unprocessed honey, which allows for a faster and more efficient absorption of EDTA. Oral chelation products like OOC are widely used to prevent and reverse atherosclerosis, heart disease, and other deficiencies of the circulatory system. They’re also taken to generally enhance circulation and detoxify the body of unwanted substances.
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Mar
22
Acne Treatment Products : Great Improvement For Your Skin Care
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There are many acne treatment products on the market. They usually have two ingredients which help to attack the bacteria that causes acne; the antibiotic clindamycin and the antibacterial agent benzoyl peroxide. This is why this medications can quickly help you erase your acne skin care problem. Skin care products are only applied to the skin to help treat acne inflammation that is mild to moderate. It is possible that the medication can be absorbed into the bloodstream and once this happens it usually causes severe colitis.
How To Take Benzaclin And What You Need To Know About It
One of the latest acne treatment products is Benzaclin. It is very easy to use i since you simply need to clean the affected area before application. To do this you should gently wash the affected area with warm water and cleanse then pat the skin dry. Then apply the medication to the entire affected area and not just the pimples. You should only do Benzaclin under the recommendation of a doctor and never attempt to use it on your own without professional direction.
You should only use this medication according to the recommended dose provided by your doctor. If you use too much of the medication you can cause your skin to become dry or irritated. A missed dose can be applied when you remember, but if it is close to a second dose then you should just skip the does you missed and get back to your regular schedule.
Benzaclin is typically stored in a refrigerator in a container that is well sealed. You should not place the medicine in a freezer. After two months you should discard unused medication if you want to be the best results from it. After this time the effects of drug cannot be accurately determined. Inform your doctor of any side effects right away such as dry or irritated skin. A doctor will be able to tell you if it is safe for your to continue using it or if you must try another treatment option.
If you have a skin allergy or a history of colitis then you should ask your doctor before you start a treatment of Benzaclin since the ingredients or the antibiotic clindamycin can cause effects on your skin. If you use it with other skin treatments that cause peeling then you can have serious skin irritation. You shouldn’t use this product on sensitive areas such as your nose, eyes and ears.
Benzaclin has become a popular drug for the treatment of acne conditions or other irritations that can be caused by a change in the skin structure. Skin care can be an easy task as long as you follow the directions of your doctor. The two main ingredients in this medicine will help give you excellent results for better skin.
For more information from Brian Welsch about Benzaclin check http://www.skincarepharma.com