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This level of chronic diseases puts a huge burden on the US economy with estimates of between 0 billion and 0 billion going on the annual U.S. health care.
The U.S. really does have to address this problem, but here in Europe we must not feel smug. We are heading that way if we are not careful. Pay attention, read up, eat well and enjoy your life without putting all your vital organs at risk because of fat overload. I know its easy to say, but a lot of us have conquered the smoking sickness, lets turn this around and head off in a different direction from our friends on the other side of the pond.
Napping could save your life March 4, 2007 In a study of 23,681 Greek men and women strong evidence was found in support of the siesta. People who took a nap at midday for 30 minutes or more at least three times a week were 37 per cent less likely to die from heart disease than those who stayed awake. Even the occasional siesta was associated with a 34 per cent lower risk of dying. Among working men, napping of any sort resulted in a 64 per cent reduced risk of heart disease death.
The study took into account history of heart disease, amount of exercise and dietary habits of the previous year.
The team, led by Dr Androniki Naska, from the University of Athens Medical School in Greece, felt that it was due to the stress releasing consequences. Countries where siestas are common also tend to be those with low rates of heart disease death. How to Lose Weight this Year ? ... January 11, 2007
1) Eat less (use small plates or bowls) 4x a day - Small portions of a balanced diet ( you know it by now!) Eat them at the same time each day – get a regime going.
2) Drink 2 litres of water a day.
3) Excercise more… Keep your metabolism burning fat.
Try it and if you don’t lose any weight one week you need to eat less the next.
Be stern and firm with yourself for as long as it takes. Be like a strict/intelligent teacher not a naughty child.
Don’t give up – Fat is heavy – not only will you look better but you’ll be walking on air! Pick up several bags of sugar (2.2lbs each) and walk around with them … Feel the relief when you put them down!
Look forward to walking lightly down the street in the warm spring sunshine…the wind in your hair… looking great!
So, your mother said "sit up straight, you lazy so and so, good for nothing slacker !", but we now realise that this advice could be a prescription for lower back pain.
Researchers have been looking at the spine with the new imaging technology they have available and this is revealing that sitting upright with a straight back and your thighs parallel to the floor puts extra strain on lumbar discs in your lower back.
It is in fact better to lean back a bit, maybe up to 135 degrees in a chair. Some would say it looks like slouching. Many computer programmers and office workers have known that even though they may look like they are not taking their work seriously, they are more comfrortable going against the "sitting upright brigade" and slouching - intuitively they have known what now is being confirmed by scientists.
Two squares of Dark Chocolate a day could keep the doctor away. November 7, 2006 Dark Chocolate – Most effective Medicine for coughs An ingredient of chocolate, theobromine, could potentially put a stop to persistent coughs and lead to new effective cough medicines. Researchers at the Imperial College, London, found that chocolate is nearly a third more effective in stopping persistent coughs than the leading medicine codeine. They say it has fewer side effects than the conventional treatments - and does not leave people drowsy. Theobromine works by suppressing vagus nerve activity, which is responsible for causing us to cough.
Dark chocolate may be healthier than milk chocolate Researchers in Italy and Scotland Italy have stated that dark chocolate has much better anti-oxidant properties than milk chocolate. Meaning that it can protect the heart and arteries from oxidative damage, akin to rusting that develops on metal over time. Writing in the Nature journal, they said adding milk to chocolate may cancel out these health benefits. Previous studies have suggested that chocolate may help to protect against heart disease and possibly cancer.
Dark Chocolate May Protect Smokers' Hearts According to a small Swiss study, eating small quantities of dark chocolate can improve smokers' artery function within hours. A few squares a day may also reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries. The researchers gave twenty male smokers about 1.4 ounces of either dark or white chocolate. In just two hours the dark chocolate significantly improved the function of endothelial cells, which line the artery walls, and reduced the activity of platelets, which help form blood clots. It is known that smoking disrupts the function of both types of cells, often leading to hardening of the arteries and heart disease.
The protective effects of dark chocolate lasted about eight hours. But there's always the risk of too much of a good thing. The researchers note that too much chocolate could increase the risk of heart disease by raising blood-sugar levels, body fat and body weight. But their findings suggest just a couple ounces of dark chocolate a day may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. The study's authors say that this positive effect is probably due to the fact that dark chocolate is so rich in antioxidants. The study did not examine the effects of chocolate in nonsmokers. And this of course shouldn't be considered a substitute for the safer treatment: quitting smoking altogether. Fight the flu October 9, 2006 We’ve all just heard that there are not enough flu vaccinations to go around this winter 2006/2007 and so, with flu season right round the corner, what can we do for ourselves and our families?
There are alternative ways to boost your immune system and help your body to combat the bacteria and viruses of colds and flu. I found this site helpful in it’s recommendations of natural medicines, also the “zapper” could be worth a try!: www.pamrotella.com/health/flu.html
Editors note: I had a headache all yesterday and have started to sneeze so I must heed my own advice. I’ve also just started a detox as adviced by the Beyond Pritikin diet book, see diets. It seems very sensible eating good oils and cutting out bad fats. I’ll let you know how it goes. Sneeze! Read how it changed David Aaronovitch’s life
Woops! I didn’t realize I mustn’t eat salt. Anyway I’m going to give it a go for the sake of my liver and kidneys if nothing else. Health and Fitness Rocks ! September 29, 2006 In just one site, www.health-and-fitness.mirandasbeach.com , you can find carefully selected online resources for all your health and fitness needs. These include an extensive listing directory of slimming clubs and revealing and up to date slimming advice and reviews. You may also want more information on nutrition or vitamins and minerals and there is a diverse selection of the respected sites in this important area. If you want to look more in depth at a particular health concern, or just want to learn more, then there is also a comprehensive directory of medical encyclopedias. Take a look around, add this site to your favourites, and get your heart thumping like Hell's Bells !. Keep fit and stay healthy September 10, 2006 The multitude of diet plans, low carb, low GI, coffee enemas and colinic irrigations can be overwhelming and worrying. Some of these slimming aids will not help you get fit, in fact they could make you more unhealthy.There is concern about the Atkins diet encouraging a high fat diet that in the end could put pressure on your heart. And all these crash diets can snd your body into crisis mode and cause it to start stashing as much as it can in th form of fat, because you are telling it that it doesnt know when its next full meal is going to arrive ! So, if you have a desired target in mind, like get slimmer, get fitter, get healthier, then you have to do it with intelligence. Do things in moderation, bit by bit, do not go for the big hit all at once - its a gradual process. And that way you have a much better chance to make your desired goal sustainable. What is the point of losing 20 pounds if over the next 2 months you put it all back on again and more ?. So read up on the plans and regimes around, make sensible decisions about your health and fitness and keep positive !
