Archives for March 2016

Food Additives To Avoid for Healthy Eating

March 26, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

If you are concerned about your health and the health of your family then you need to be aware of certain dangerous food additives. Although food manufacturers contend that certain food additives are needed to prevent food poisoning from occurring or preserving the shelf life of food, there is growing evidence that food additives can lead to problems with health. It is therefore important for us to carefully scan food labels on our food shopping trips to determine what additives are contained in it.

food additives

checking food labels

Here is a list of food additives to avoid for healthy eating:

1. Colours

These are used by food manufactures to add colour or restore colour to foods. They have been linked to hyperactivity in children, causing allergic reactions and even cancer. The foods that mostly contain these are sweets, soft drinks, cordials and cake. The Colour code numbers that have been linked to health problems are Blue 2, Red 3 and 40, and Yellow 5 and 6. Most of these are coal tar based dyes but Yellow 5 also contains benzene, a known carcinogenic

2. Preservatives

Preservatives are contained in foods such as soft drinks, processed meats, bread, wine and dried fruit.

Preservatives that are negative to our health contain carcinogens. These carcinogens are linked with causing cancer. A recent analysis of 800 worldwide research studies by the International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC ) found “sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer”.The IARC has recommended that one should limit their intake of processed meats such as sausages, bacon, ham and frankfurts. The food preservatives sodium nitrite (250) and sodium nitrate (251) – typically found in processed cured meats like ham and bacon – are both listed as “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the IARC, because they can be converted into nitrosamines in the stomach and nitrosamines increase the risk of cancer.

3. Antioxidants

The antioxidant in question is BHA and is usually found in spreads, margarines, walnuts, instant mashed potato and salad dressings. Antioxidants are generally safe at low levels, but if you decide you want to leave them out check the labels for BHA “butylated hydroxyanisole (320)”. Research studies on this have been inconclusive to date but have discovered that high doses causes tumor cell growth in animals.

4. Artificial Sweeteners

These sweeteners can be many times sweeter than sugar itself. The most common artificial sweetener is High Fructose Corn Syrup mainly found in sodas and flavoured drinks and which has been linked to obesity. Artificial sweeteners are typically found in ‘low sugar” or “diet’ versions of products. There are many scientific studies linking artificial sweeteners with cancer. The ones to avoid are saccharin, aspartame and cyclamate.

5. Flavour Enhancers

These are referred to as glutamate and are usually found in soup packets, flavoured noodles, savoury snacks and sauces. The most infamous glutamate is MSG. Although for most people glutamates are harmless, for people who are allergic should carefully read the labels.

 

SUMMARY

As can be seen above most of of the food additives mentioned above are in foods and drinks which have undergone elements of processing. To adequately fuel our bodies through healthy eating we should select our foods mainly from the fresh food and vegetables and fresh meat sections of food supermarkets and greatly limit our purchases from the processed food sections. 

James Kelly

http://www.learnhandyhealthandwellnesstips.com

High Wycombe, Western Australia, 6057

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Filed Under: food, Health and Wellness · Tagged:

What causes a stroke and how to avoid getting one?

March 14, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Strokes are also known as cerebrovascular insult (CVI), brain attack or cerebrovascular accident (CVA). There are two main types of strokes; ischemic and hemorrhagic. Here are what causes a stroke.

what causes a stroke

What causes a stroke?

A stroke is caused mainly when there is poor blood flow to the brain which results in cell death. As told before the two types of strokes are caused due to lack of blood flow; ischemic and hemorrhagic is caused due to bleeding. They instantly result in that some part of the brain does not work properly and causes a stroke. Immediate help is recommended and a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible, because if the stroke prevails, it results in death.

 

Signs and symptoms of a stroke;

The most common signs and symptoms of a stroke include the following;

  1. Numbness
  2. Bad smell, hearing, taste and blurry vision
  3. Inability to turn your head on one side
  4. Inability to walk properly
  5. Memory deficits
  6. Confused thinking
  7. Problems in understanding
  8. Severe headache
  9. Loss of consciousness

Signs and symptoms of a stroke usually start suddenly and in some cases do not progress further. These signs and symptoms depend on the area that has been affected in the brain. If the area affected is bigger, then there are more functions to be lost. This can cause severe damage and complete paralysis in some cases.

Prevention;

Prevention of strokes has become a serious concern all over the world from previous some years. It is an important public health concern that is being taken and discussed seriously. Modern and advanced machinery and medications are being introduced to overcome this major issue. Awareness is being generalized among the public to avoid strokes. Like decreasing smoking, drinking, improving diet, walk regularly etc. These are daily routine activities which if taken care of can lessen the percentage of having strokes. Some main prevention measures are as follows;

  • Blood Pressure;

High blood pressure accounts  for 35-50% of stroke situations. If taken good care of through medication or lifestyle changes, strokes can be avoided easily to enable one to live a long and healthy life. Blood pressures can also be a major cause of heart strokes also.

  • Blood Lipids;

One of the major causes of ischemic strokes is blood lipids. Statin is lipid lowering drugs that has been introduced because other drugs did not show decrease in the risks of getting a stroke. Statins have been recorded to reduce the risks of a stroke by 15%.

  • Diet;

Nutrition plays a vital role in lowering the risks of strokes. According to research Mediterranean style diet has the ability and potential to decrease the risk of having a stroke by half.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

In March 2009 I had the unfortunate experience of having a stroke which temporarily affected my eyesight. After undergoing CT and MRI scans and numerous tests in the Cardiology, Ophthalmology and Neurology departments at a local hospital I was finally given a clean bill of health with the Neurologist commenting that I had been lucky in getting a stroke in a ‘good area’ of the brain where there were no vital functions. However to avoid getting subsequent strokes, anyone of which could have proved fatal, I was put on a stroke management medication regime which consisted of taking daily doses of tablets for blood thinning, cholesterol  and blood pressure as well as maintaining a sensible diet and exercise program. Following this course of action I have since managed to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion – What causes a stroke;

Take good care of your health and maintain your diet in order to have a good, healthy and stabled life. Make a proper diet chart and do follow it. It will help you daily by keeping you active and do have a regular morning walk. Have a blessed life and Good Luck!

James Kelly

http://www.learnhandyhealthandwellnesstips.com

High Wycombe, Western Australia, 6057

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Massaging health benefits in deep tissue therapy

March 9, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Stressed? Want to relief your muscles from tension? Massage is the best way to do it. Massage is the rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body with the help of the hands. It can be taken as a recreational activity; can promote relaxation and well-being. There are many ways to perform a massage. Professionals do it by laying the client on a massage table, in a massage chair and lying on a mat or on the floor. Amateurs lay their client on a surface like a simple bed or on floor. These amateurs have taken this as a business and don’t provide full services which a person can call massaging.

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How can massaging help in deep tissue therapy?

Massages can and are helping in many ways like relaxing the tissues of the body, relaxing the whole body and many more. Deep tissue massage is a very particular type of massage which helps in relieving the deep layers of muscles in the body. Working all day and performing home duties can become a major reason that our muscles become tensed. That is why a massage is being recommended by many doctors around the world. The use of deep finger pressure and slow and firm strokes, many physical weaknesses and disorders are being taken care of.

The University of Maryland Medical Centre has observed and declared that Deep Tissue Massaging is much effective and inexpensive for the relief of chronic pain as compared to other medical remedies and treatments. The reason is that while massaging the deep tissues it increases the flow of blood throughout the body which helps to reduce the inflammation that is causing the pain. It can also help in reducing muscle tension which is major side effect of chronic pain. Massaging causes the tight tissue cluster to loosen up and resulting in reducing the pain.

Deep Tissue Massage is very helpful in improving blood pressure. It is so because deep tissue massage reduces tension and stress. According to study and observation by the University of Maryland Medical Centre the deep tissue massage helps a lot in increasing the body’s production of serotonin. It is a hormone in the human body that stimulates good feelings and happiness.

Massages have been reported to treat injured muscles. It enables the movement of toxins from the muscles and let’s helps the twisted muscle mass easily. Deep tissue massage can help a lot in healing purposes also. It is another best treatment for those patients who suffer from chronic stress and from all of its various side effects. The possible side effects of chronic pain are headaches, tight muscles, tension and rigid shoulders. While being in a massaging session, let the tension go away by the help of will power and let the healing do its work.

Deep Tissue Massaging is very helpful and beneficial in improving a person’s health. So if you think that you are going through any of the side effects as mentioned and discussed above, go and have a deep tissue massage as soon as possible.

James Kelly

http://www.learnhandyhealthandwellnesstips.com

High Wycombe, Western Australia, 6057

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Ways To Relieve Stress

March 6, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

The most ideal approach to deal with your anxiety is to learn some important tips. You can begin practising these tips on ways to relieve stress immediately. Go for one or more tips with consistency and you will soon see that a couple of them will work for you. Practising these techniques will be helpful in a way that at the end, they will become your normal habits. You can likewise utilize these procedures to perceive how you react to stress. Stress-relieving techniques concentrate on relaxing your brain and your body (Fiona et al., 2004).

ways to relieve stress

Various Approaches to Relax your Brain and ways to relieve stress

 

  • Writing. It might assist you with things that are troubling you. Compose for 10 to 15 minutes a day about unpleasant occasions and how they affected you. On the other hand consider some methods to tackle your anxiety. This offers you some assistance with finding out what is bringing about your anxiety and the amount of anxiety you feel. After you know, you can discover better approaches to adapt (Spence et al., 1999).

 

  • Let your sentiments out. Talk, snicker, cry, and express outrage when you have to. Conversing with companions, family is some of the more solid ways to relieve stress.

 

  • Do something that makes you happy. You might feel that you’re excessively caught up with, making it impossible to do these things. Be that as it may, setting aside a few minutes to accomplish something you appreciate can offer you some assistance with relaxing. It may likewise offer you some assistance with getting more done in different aspects of your life. Pick one of the following as ways to relieve stress, whenever you are facing stressful conditions:
    • A pastime, for example, Gardening.
    • An innovative movement, for example, composing, artworks, or crafting.
    • Playing with pets.
    • Volunteer work.

 

  • Focus on the present. Meditation and imaginary guiding are two powerful approaches to center and relax your psyche.

 

  • Meditate. When you ponder, you center your consideration on things that are going on at this moment. Paying consideration on your breathing is one approach to center (Fiona et al., 2004).

 

Practising these abilities, you may likewise attempt some different procedures to lessen anxiety, for example, back rub or music treatment.

 

  • Reflect A couple of minutes of practice every day can ease nervousness. “Research recommends that every day reflection might change the mind’s neural pathways, making you stronger to stress,” says clinician Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago wellbeing and health mentor.

 

  • Procedure. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes. Center your consideration on recounting – so everyone can hear or quietly, for example, “I feel settled” or “I adore myself.” Place one hand on your gut to match up the rythyms with your breaths (Hardy & Sally, 1998).

 

  • Inhale Deeply Enjoy a 5-minute break and concentrate on your relaxing. Sit up straight, eyes shut, with a hand on your paunch. Gradually breathe in through your nose, feeling the breath begin in your guts and work its way to the highest point of your head. Reverse the procedure as you breathe out through your mouth.”Profound slowing so as to breathe counters the impacts of anxiety the heart rate and bringing down circulatory strain,” clinician Judith Tutin, PhD, says. She’s an affirmed life mentor in Rome, GA.

ways to relieve stress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Take 5 minutes and spotlight on one and only conduct with mindfulness,” Tutin says. See how, the air feels all over when you’re strolling and how your feet feel hitting the ground. When you invest energy in the minute and spotlight on your faculties, you ought to feel less strained. One of the more refreshing ways to relieve stress

 

 

  • Communication Your informal community is one of your best apparatuses for taking care of anxiety. Try conversing, with others, ideally eye to eye, or if, nothing else on the telephone. Share what’s going on. You can get a crisp point of view while keeping your association solid.

 

  • Tune In to Your Body

Check your body to get a feeling of how stress influences it every day. Lie on your back, or sit with your feet on the floor. Begin at your toes and work your way up to your scalp, seeing how your body feels. “Just know about spots you feel tight or free without attempting to change anything,” Tutin says. For 1 to 2 minutes, envision every full breath streaming to that body part. Rehash this procedure as you move your center up your body, giving careful consideration to sensations you feel in every body part (Susic, 2013).

 

  • Decompress

Place a warm warmth wrap around your neck and shoulders for 10 minutes. Close your eyes and relax your face, neck, upper mid-section, and back muscles. Evacuate the wrap, and utilize a tennis ball or froth roller to rub away pressure.Place the ball between your back and the divider. Incline toward the ball, and hold delicate weight for up to 15 seconds. At that point move the ball to another spot, and apply weight,” says Cathy Benninger, an attendant professional and right hand educator at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

 

  • Laugh out Loudly Laughing brings down cortisol, your body’s anxiety hormone, and supports cerebrum chemicals called endorphins, which help your mood. Help up by tuning into your most loved sitcom or video, perusing the funnies, or talking with somebody who makes you smile (Bower & Segerstrom, 2004).

ways to relieve stress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Exercise You don’t need to keep running with a specific end goal to get a runner’s high. All types of activity, including yoga and strolling, can ease discouragement and uneasiness by offering the mind some assistance with giving so as to release feel-great chemicals and your body an opportunity to work on managing stress.

 

  • Be Grateful Keep an appreciation diary to offer you some assistance with remembering every one of the things that are great in your life. “Being thankful for your gifts counterbalances negative considerations and stresses,” says Joni Emmerling, a wellbeing mentor in Greenville, NC. Utilize these diaries to relish great encounters like a kid’s smile, a daylight filled day, and great wellbeing. Bear in mind to commend achievements like mastering another undertaking at work or another leisure activity (Hardy & Sally, 1998).

 

 

 

FINALLY….

 

When you begin feeling stressed, spend a couple of minutes looking through your notes on ways to relieve stress to remind yourself  of what truly matters.

 

James Kelly

http://www.learnhandyhealthandwellnesstips.com

High Wycombe, Western Australia, 6057

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Chiropractic benefits for treating lower back pain

March 1, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Here in Australia almost 200,000 patients visit chiropractors each week to receive chiropractic benefits in the treatment of lower back and neck pains. These chiropractors, registered with the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia, are trained and qualified to locate and correct subluxations of the spine. Subluxations are when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves causing pain.

chiropractic benefits

Lower back pains are caused due to a common disorder that involves the muscles and the bones of the back. Lower back pains are also known as lumbago. Almost 40% of people get affected by this disorder in their lives. It is very painful if the doctor is not consulted at the starting of this disorder. The treatment can vary due to lack of negligence. The pain is classified into three types;

  1. Acute low back pain (pain lasting less than 6 weeks)
  2. Sub-chronic low back pain (pain lasting from 6-12 weeks)
  3. Chronic low back pain (pain lasting more than 12 weeks).

What is chiropractic treatment?

Hands are especially used in such type of treatment to align the body’s musculoskeletal structure, especially the spine. It is said that if the body’s musculoskeletal stricture is aligned properly, it will enable the body to heal itself without any kind of surgery or medication. It is a very beneficial way to treat lower back pains. The person whose job is to treat diseases by pressing a person’s joint is called a chiropractor. It is not an easy job!

There are some initial steps to be performed before moving to a chiropractor treatment. A medical history is obtained and a complete physical examination is done. After examining the results the patient is put on chiropractor treatment involving spinal manipulations with the hands, hand held instruments or pelvic blocks.

chiropractic benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the chiropractic benefits?

The foremost point that is important for everyone is that is considered safe for spinal manipulation. It has been regarded as an effective treatment for acute low back pain. As we have discussed earlier that acute lower back pain is that pain which has been lasting for less than 6 weeks. It is most probable that acute lower back pain will get better on its own and will not last more than 6 weeks. One of the other chiropractor benefits is that it very beneficial and helpful in treating headaches and neck pains. This treatment is driven by the patient’s disability issues and pain whereas on the other hand this treatment is a very big relief due to the use of the hands. Insurance companies have also kept this treatment as a second option of medical care. Many patients are visiting a chiropractor even if they don’t have any kind of pain but they do so in preventing purposes. They don’t want to face any kinds of back pains. A result has been obtained from researches that people think of a chiropractor as an essential part of their lives to maintain their health through a well functioning spinal nerve system. It is a low cost treatment also as compared to other treatments and surgeries. Many people are also turning towards this treatment after hearing the success stories from their friends, relatives, office members and other people nearby. Benefits include the following:-

  • Improved nerve functioning in the body
  • Improved joint movement and coordination
  • Improved posture
  • Relief from back and neck pain
  • Relief from some stress and tension problems

So, if you have any type of lower back pain, do visit a chiropractor to get these chiropractic benefits and avoid any more pain or disorder..

James Kelly

http://www.learnhandyhealthandwellnesstips.com

High Wycombe, Western Australia, 6057

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