Archive for March, 2009

The Importance of Family Exercise

Is exercise part of the weekly activities of your family?

Is exercise part of the weekly activities of your family?

Is exercise part of the weekly activities of your family? If not, now is the right time to start because Exercise Is Not An Option when it comes to family health. A study showed that there is an association between poor physical health with less physical activity because regular physical activity is a form of preventive health care.

Parents, whether you like it or not you are a role model of your kids. Kids grow according to the influence of those who surround them. Kids are great imitators. Train them while they are still young about the importance of choices in life, good nutrition, water intake, sunlight, rest,  exercise, optimism, temperance, integrity, trust in God and involve your whole family in physical activities. Yes, even on early stage of their lives they should learn the importance of physical fitness.

Regular physical activity during childhood days has great impact on the quality of life during adulthood. Be a good model to your kids; show them the importance of fitness to your family health. 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day for at least three times per week will not only produce cardiovascular fitness and improve mental health of your kids but will develop their communication and socialization skills as well. Make exercise a fun and enjoyable family activity.

You just need to plan activities that everybody can participate. Kids will much more likely to exercise if everybody is involve. Vigorous exercise must involve the large muscles of the legs and cause your heart to beat faster(aerobic exercise). A walk in the park, strolling in the neighborhood, sack race and other fun games, jumping rope, dance competition, taebo, hula-hoop, swimming, badminton, ball games or work out videos that your kids may enjoy to perform are just some of the physical fitness activities your whole family can do.

Let your children help you plan your physical fitness activities for them to look forward to your future activities. Be optimistic. Do not drop your family exercise schedule because some of your family members are not interested to join. Parents, always remember that you are doing this because you care for your kids’ health. Be enthusiastic, encourage them. Make exercise the bonding moment of your family, full of fun and enjoyment.

Filed under bonding, education and, or training, exercise and your health

Laughter – The Most Efficient Way to Manage Stress

Laughter–The Most Efficient Way to Manage Stress
Laughter–The Most Efficient Way to Manage Stress

Laughter is the most efficient way to manage the stresses brought on by life challenges. Study shows that those who have sense of humor and a cheerful outlook in life enjoy better physical and mental health. It was demonstrated that stress-related hormones are lessened during episodes of laughter, supporting the claim that humor can relieve stress.

Laughter enhances our ability to link up to other people. It spreads up so easily, that when you see people laughing you cannot help but join in to share in their playfulness. Encouraging others to laugh will help you keep your sense of humor and build it into a daily habit. Not only will you learn to value the lighter side of life, but you will also live longer, since laughter strengthens immune system by reducing the high levels of stress hormones associated to certain diseases and increasing the level of infection-fighting antibodies in our bodies.

The ecstasy you feel when you laugh is a great way of fighting the physical outcome of stress. Laughter is emotionally purging, it helps expel negative emotions such as sadness, anger or fear. It is a cure for depression. When we laugh, our body relaxes and endorphins are freed into the blood stream, leaving you feeling uplifted and exhausted. It lowers blood pressure, cardiovascular functions may get better, and oxygen levels in the blood may be boosted.

Research showed that by watching a 15-30 minute segment of a funny sit-com or movie, you can increase blood flow to the heart and reduce the strain and stress put on it. Even the eagerness to have a good laugh lowers stress hormones and increases your natural pain defenses.

According to one research, six-years-olds laughs an average of 300 times a day while adults only laugh 15-100 times a day. Take time to have a good laugh, laughter is an aerobic workout for the diaphragm and increases the body to use oxygen. And, why not plan a fun family activity even ones or twice a week as your family bonding?

Filed under mental health, relation of stress to health

Self Help Tips for Acne or Pimples

Self Help Tips for Acne or Pimples

Self Help Tips for Acne or Pimples

Good skin care can keep acne or pimples under control at a mild level. Here are simple self help tips or we may say a basic treatment for acne or pimples:

Keep the skin clean by washing the skin gently two or three times a day with a mild soap made for acne-prone skin and warm water. Scrubbing your face or washing too often can make acne worse.

Steam face for 10-15 minutes after washing, once a day.

Avoid picking or frequently touching pimples. Scratching, touching and picking your pimples with your nails may lead to permanent scars on your face.

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. Water helps eliminate toxins and other waste products in our body.

Foods play an important role in improving or aggravating acne. Avoid consumption of tea, coffee and alcohol. Avoid dairy products, foods containing saturated fats and excess intake of sugar. Add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and zinc-rich foods in your diet.

Avoid all nervous strain. Nervous tension plays a part in continuing acne problem.

Take regular exercise. It keeps the skin clean. Exercise also activates a happy hormone that relieves tensions and emotional upsets.

Obtain enough sleep. Try to sleep at least 8 hours every night.

Avoid sunbathing. Moderate exposure to sunlight is best but should not be overdone.

Use only oil-free cosmetics.

Try using activated charcoal as mask at night time. Make a charcoal mask by mixing activated charcoal powder with honey. Apply it overnight every night until inflammations subside. Rinse with lukewarm water.

HERBAL MEDICATIONS:

1. Ripe papaya with chinese orange juice

Mix three tablespoons of mashed ripe papaya, with 1 tablespoon of chinese orange juice. Apply mixture on the face every after washing. Leave it on for 30 minutes, then wash face with warm water.

2. Rosemary leaves

Crush 5 leaves and extract the juice. Apply juice on face after washing it with warm water. Leave it on overnight.

For severe cases of acne, ask your dermatologist about an oral prescription medication or a topical acne treatment. Faithfully follow the treatment the doctor prescribes.

Get out and meet people. Acne is not contagious. While you may feel self-conscious about your skin, others probably notice it a lot less than you think. So try to keep a positive, happy spirit while you are trying to do what you can do with your pimples.

Filed under alternative medicine, conditions and diseases

Laughter is the Best Medicine

laughter is the best medicine

laughter is the best medicine

Laughter is the best medicine. It keeps away negative emotions like anxiety and depression, which tend to weaken the immune system. It relieves stress, a common cause of heart and blood pressure problems. It improves lung capacity and oxygen levels in the blood and thus lessens complaints of asthma and bronchitis. It also releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, thus reducing the occurrence and intensity of arthritic pain and muscular spasms. It is helps alleviate insomnia, migraines, allergies, and ulcers.

Laughter is initiated by many sensations and thoughts, and that it activates many parts of the body. Laughter involves motor, emotional and cognitive components, each one located in a specific part of the brain. When we laugh, we change our facial expressions and make sounds. During high-spirited laughter, the muscles of the arms, legs and trunk are involved. Laughter also needs variation in our pattern of breathing. It activates the cardiovascular system, so heart rate and blood pressure increase. The arteries are dilated, causing blood pressure to fall again. Repeated short, strong contractions of the chest muscles, diaphragm and abdomen increase blood flow into our internal organs, and forced respiration.

Right diet, water intake, exercise, temperance and other elements of healthy lifestyle are important for us to stay healthy. Let us not forget the importance of laughter to our physical and mental health. Good laugh protects us from harmful effects of stress in our daily lives. Why not spend some of your time exchanging healthy humors with your family and friends or watch comedy shows and movies that may trigger laughter. Did you know that one minute of laughing is equivalent to ten minutes on a rowing machine? So what is spending some time going out with your friends to watch live Las Vegas Shows and have fun laughing, and having a great time. To  have a good laugh and be happy is priceless.

Effects of good laugh led to new and valuable therapies practiced by doctors, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals using humor and laughter to help patients manage, or treat a variety of physical, mental, and spiritual issues. Indeed, laughter is the best medicine.

Filed under alternative medicine, children's health, mental health

The Influence of Music on Our Minds and Bodies

The Influence of Music on Our Minds and Bodies

The Influence of Music on Our Minds and Bodies

Have you realized that music has large influence on our minds and bodies? Why and how music affects our mental, physical, and spiritual health? Why we react to music?

We are surrounded by music, yet most of us do not realize its influence on our everyday lives.  Why we react to music? Have you realized that you are rhythmic being, with rhythm in heartbeat, respiration, brain waves, speech and on manner of moving especially on walking? Researchers believed that the influence of music appears to be in the way musical sounds reach and affects the brain.

Through the thalamus, music enters the human body. Thalamus is part of the brain that is the main relay station for all emotions, sensations, and feelings. Thus, music affects moods, creates changes in metabolism, circulation, blood volume, pulse, blood pressure, and hormones related to stress. Music makes us to laugh, to cry, or to worship God. It can calm or make someone wild. Indeed, music has power.

Researchers found that smoothing music can sometimes have a calming effect on an overactive heart and that lively music can be effective in activating a slow pulse. Today programmed music is used to make jogging, walking, and other exercises easier and more fun. It was also noted that classical music soothes our physical and mental tiredness. And, even newborn babies slept significantly more deeply and had a reduced heart rate after hearing live music such as mothers singing lullabies.

A scientific study has found that patients who listen to music, especially to live music, need fewer drugs and recover more quickly than those who do not. Music increases endorphins which block pain receptors that carry pain messages to the brain and stimulates the immune system, resulting to quick recovery.

Scientifically planned background music has been found to increase production and cut down on boredom, fatigue, and tension in the everyday working world. And, the best thing about music for those who want to trim down is—it will help you lose weight. How? Research showed that playing slow music during dinner actually encourages you to eat less, feeling fuller and food taste better!

In many ways music helps us to stay in tune physically, mentally and spiritually. It changes the biochemistry of body by making specific frequencies. So in that case, why be too stingy to treat yourself and your love ones and spend a little on Las Vegas Show Tickets to have fun and listen to great classic music. Let music soothe your soul.

Filed under FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS, mental health