Beat the Fall and Winter Blues with Exercise!

Introduction

It’s that time of year again. The temperature is dropping. The nights are getting longer and the days are getting shorter. People during this time of year tend to sleep more, lose interest in physical activity, gain weight, experience more frequent bouts of anxiety and depression, and socially isolate themselves. Don’t let that be you this year! In the following article, I am going to discuss some ways you can beat the blues with exercise and the benefits you will experience.

First Things First

The first thing you need to do is obtain a medical clearance from you doctor to make sure it is safe for you to exercise. Exercise is meant to be a benefit to you, but if you use it incorrectly, you will end up worse off than before you started.

Set Goals Using the Smart Principle

SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and tangible.

A. Specific: Answer who, what, when, where, and why. Who is involved, what do you want to accomplish, when do you want to accomplish it by, where is the location, why are you doing this, the purpose or benefits of the set goal.

B. Measurable: You must measure your progress. For instance, how many pounds have you lost, how many inches have you lost, how much body fat have you lost.

C. Attainable: You must be able and willing to attain your goal. When you do this, you develop the attitude, skills, and abilities to attain your goal!

D. Realistic: A high goal is much easier to reach then a low one because a low goal exerts low motivational force.

E. Tangible: Something tangible is experienced through the five senses; seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or touching. Can you feel your clothes fitting loosely, can you see the physical changes in your body when you look in the mirror, can you feel how wonderful it is knowing you look so good in front of your friends and family?!

Accomplishing your goals will help you master yourself and give you a higher sense of self worth.

Stay Consistent

You can only benefit by exercise by staying consistent. Allow yourself time each day to do some kind of physical activity. If your time schedule is tight, break it up into segments of ten minutes for example. Consistency makes you more productive. The more productive you are, the more you will

Aromatherapy To Promote Skin Rejuvenation

The skin is the body’s largest organ. It keeps all of the other important body parts contained, and is our barrier against the world. The skin is an fascinating organism. When it gets cut, it heals itself, and constantly renews itself with daily cell regeneration. As we age, however, these miraculous properties begin to slow down, and our skin begins to exhibit evidence of wear and tear. For women, one of the most frustrating skin conditions are stretch marks. These are tiny scars in the underlying skin tissues, caused by sudden rapid weight gain or weight loss. It is not only pregnant women who are afflicted by these unsightly tears. Dieters, weight-lifters, as well as anyone who has experienced sudden weight gain or loss may bear the record of their transformation in their skin.

As the body ages, skin begins to lose its former elasticity and resiliancy. This results in wrinkling of various parts of the skin that are used continuously. Laugh lines or the smile lines, crows feet, and the forehead area are prime examples of this. In addition to wrinkling and scarring, some people are prone to having excessively oily, dry, or sensitive skin. Sufferers from dry skin may find themselves continually itchy, flaky, or chapped. Oily skin may cause frequent breakouts on the face, as well as a constant feeling of uncleanliness. Sensitive skin may be prone to irritation, redness, and frequent allergic-type reactions. There are many other skin ailments that can make life uncomfortable for the sufferer. Examples of these include eczema,psoriasis, or recurrent painful boils which may be the result of an underlying subcutaneous Staph infection.

There are certain steps that people to follow to promote the health, vitality, and beauty of their skin. Exercise and diet are the first areas one needs to examine when considering skin health. An optimal diet for the skin is one that includes rich organic foods, refraining from refined flours and sugar, and drinking plenty of mineral-rich water daily. Exercise need not exceed a daily brisk walk for 20 minutes, but at a minimum, this is enough exercise to maintain proper body function.

Aromatherapy is also beneficial to those who are actively seeking skin remedies and looking for methods for skin repair or rejuvenation. Because the skin is made up of many absorbant pores, aromatherapy is one of the most direct ways to treat skin conditions. Aromatherapy as

Ten Skin Problems Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings with it many changes, emotionally, physically, and mentally. From a mental and emotional standpoint, you’re preparing to adopt a new role of parent, with all its accompanying responsibilities. Physically, of course, you’re dealing with changes in the shape, function, and movement of your body. While we have a society-wide belief that pregnant women are always glowing, that, unfortunately, is not always the case. No where is this more evident than in the skin problems of pregnancy.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “the eyes are the window to the soul”. If this is true, your skin is the window to your current state of health and the changes taking place on the inside. During pregnancy, aside from all the other issues, you may also have to deal with a variety of skin changes, including rashes, acne, stretch marks, breaking nails, hair growth or loss, and dark blotches on the skin.

Most of these changes are directly linked to the enormous amount of hormonal fluctuations women experience during pregnancy. During pregnancy, there are all kinds of changes which can have impact on your skin, leading to new skin problems or worsening of existing ones. In some cases, pregnancy may actually help improve existing skin conditions. Let’s look at various skin conditions in more detail, defining the main ten skin problems of pregnancy.

1) Rashes. Rashes appear due to irritation of the skin. One common pregnancy rash is called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP). This is the most frequently seen condition specific to pregnancy. Women with PUPPP demonstrate a rash which starts on the abdomen and can spread to the breasts, arms, thighs, and buttocks.

2) Acne. Acne is another skin condition that may get better or worse during pregnancy. Acne is, at least in part, driven by hormones, so the hormones of pregnancy can lead to more breakouts for some women, and clearer skin for others.

3) Oily skin. Oily skin is third skin condition which may arise during pregnancy. This is related to increased levels of androgen, the male sex hormone, which causes an increase in sebum production. The more sebum produced, the oilier the skin. Many women report that their skin and hair becomes oilier during pregnancy. Most of the time, these issues can be addressed with over the counter oil controlling cleansers and products.

4) Stretch marks. The fourth skin problem of pregnancy, stretch marks arise

Adult Acne - How To Deal With It

We are all rather familiar with acne, we either had it, know someone who had it or are currently suffering with it. Acne affects nearly 40 million people in the United States alone. It can start anytime between the ages of 12 and 25 and when it hits, well it hits with a vengeance. A growing number of adult women in their twenties and thirties are getting adult acne, even if they never suffered with acne before. The problem with acne is that there is no known cure.

Yes we are bombarded all over the place to buy this “miracle cure” and try this “amazing product” and so often a person who is afflicted with this skin problem will hope and pray that this will be the answer that they are looking for. Just this one time this is going to be the one thing that actually does work. Then because it proves not to be the “miracle cure” they were promised they end up frustrated and disappointed.

So how does one deal with acne? More particularly how does one deal with adult acne? Well, to just give up and resign oneself to the supposed inevitable is not the answer either. You see adult acne is much like being over weight in that you don’t feel good about yourself; your self esteem takes a major knock and you are convinced that when people look at you they do not see YOU but are rather focused on just the area that is riddled with acne. You hate going out in public, you do not want people to look at you because you hate looking at yourself. I know this because I have been there.

Adult acne is embarrassing. It is one thing if you were a teenager because society seems to be more accepting; it is what almost the “norm” is for teenagers. People sympathize and “tut tut” it away as just a natural process of life. I’m not taking away for one moment what teenagers go through (they have “strange” hormones to deal with on top of it all) but there seems to be a stigma attached to adult acne. People just look at you differently.

There seems to be this misconception that if you suffer from adult acne you don’t wash your face and you must be dirty. Just like in the case of someone

A-C Of Essential Oils

Angelica (Angelica Archangelica)

Properties - Invigorates the lymphatic system, increases perspiration, cleansing system of toxins. Aids indigestion, flatulence, dyspepsia, colic. Stimulates appetite.

Good For - Provides use as expectorant in colds, bronchitis, pleurisy. Useful for headaches, migraines, and toothache. Used as a skin tonic, soothing inflammation.

Aniseed (Pimpinella Anisum)

Properties - An antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, invigorating, reviving and uplifting.
Good For - Indigestion, flatulence and muscle spasm.
Blends well with - Bay, cardamom, Cedarwood, coriander, fennel, mandarin, Petitgrain and rosewood.
Mood - Relaxing
How To Use - Massage
Cautions - May irritate sensitive skin. Do not use if pregnant.

Basil (Osimum basilicum)

Properties - Antiseptic, decongestant, warming.
Good For - Effective with headaches and migraines. Antiseptic to the respiratory tract and used for sinus congestion, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and influenza. Restores sense of smell due to catarrh. Also antiseptic to digestive and urinary tracts, and therefore finds application with digestive disorders, vomiting, gastric spasm, nausea, and dyspepsia. Useful with deep massage to ease muscular pain and spasm and to stimulate blood flow.
Skin: Tonic to congested skin.
Blends Well With - Bergamot, chamomile, citronella, clary sage, geranium and lemongrass.
Mood - Refreshing and invigorating.
How To Use - Inhalation, bath and massage
Cautions - Can cause skin irritation therefore use in low concentrations. Do not use if pregnant.

Bay (Laurus Nobilis)

Properties - Analgesic, antiseptic, astringent, promotes menstruation, stimulant, and settles upset stomach.
Good For - Respiratory problems, indigestion, rheumatism.
Blends Well With - Coriander, eucalyptus, geranium, juniper, lavender, rose, rosemary and thyme.
Mood - Warming
How To Use - Inhalation, bath and massage
Cautions - Do not use in facial steams. Do not use if you are pregnant.

Benzoin (Styrax Benzoin)

Properties - Soothing sedative, antiseptic.
Good For - Inflamed/ irritated skin and throat infections.
Blends Well With - Citrus oils, cypress, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, myrrh, petitgrain and rose.
Mood - Uplifting and warming
How To Use - Massage and inhalation
Cautions - Skin irritant.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

Properties - Cooling, refreshing, uplifting, antiseptic, deodorising, pain relieving and sedative.
Good For - Can be used as an aid to digestion and as an appetite stimulant. It soothes muscles and can be used in the bath, in a diffuser, as skincare and with massage.
Blends Well With - Other citrus oils, chamomile, coriander, pine, lavender, Neroli and rosemary.
Mood - Uplifting
How To Use - Inhalation and bath
Cautions - Avoid using before sunlight.

Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

Properties - Dilates and increases circulation of local blood vessels providing use for muscular aches and stiffness. It is an acrid digestive, increasing flow

How Can Aromatherapy Help You?

Fundamentally, Aromatherapy has been used throughout the ages. The Egyptian priests known as the Kemites had made the connection between plant oils and human healing. Scents also opened the nasal and bronchial cavity of excess mucus and other bacterial rich environment so that the patient could recover faster. Anticeptics were used to heal deep puncture wounds, blisters. Certain emolients were also used on the skin to prevent scarring. I think we have to look to the ancients that had learned the healing properties of their world to aid us in finding our balance in today’s world.

The term Aromatherapy came into being in the modern world by a French chemist, Ren? Maurice Gattefoss? who accidentially discovered the outstanding healing property of lavendar oil for severe burns.

Here is a brief overiew of plants and their normal use:

Basil - relieves severe headaches, do not use during pregnancy.

Bergamot - aids the urinary tract and digestion, when taken topically can aid in relieving cold sores and chicken pox, also a natural insect repellant.

Black Pepper - stimulates the circulation.

Lemongrass - perfume and insect repellant

Eucalyptus - natural and very strong anticeptic, use with care can be toxic.

Sage - helps digest fats in diet, removes waste from intestines, and when used topically darkens white hair.

Clove - used as an analgesic for pain relief.

Lavendar oil - topical antiseptic use, aids in severe burns, has a calming effect on the nerves when inhaled

Yarrow root - reduces joint pain, and other inflammations including the common cold.

Jasmine - known as an aphrodisiac

Remember, much of our modern medicine comes concentrating the already potent nature of plants, roots, herbs and many things found in nature, which can cause deadly side effects very often if directions are not followed carefully.

There are of course precaustions to follow in Aromatherapy, however, there are factors that make it very enjoyable, easy to obtain, and the satisfaction of quick and natural relief available. You may already know of some home remedies that worked and are passed down from family history. If it worked then, it should still work now.

Modern medicine does have it place for severe complications and illness, however, you can do something to aid healing from diseases and discomforts. Unfortunately, modern medicine does not see eye-to-eye with Aromatherapy, yet our forefathers did leave a record of plants and their uses to help with rashes. soothing nerves as well as aiding our

Are You Living A Healthy Life?

Here’s something you need to understand: even though you may be feeling healthy, it may not be an accurate measure of your actual health. Why? Because there are a number of conditions which remain silent until the disease is finally diagnosed. This is why it’s essential for every individual to receive regular health screenings. Early detection can help minimize many illnesses.

Health screening guidelines differ according to age, gender, race and environment. In this article, we’re going to offer a brief overview of the various health screening processes that should be considered throughout a person’s life.

Screening Starts Even Before Birth

Anatomical and physiological problems can be detected during prenatal check-ups such as regular ultra sounds. Not only is your baby’s growth monitored, doctors can also uncover serious conditions such as hydrocephaly, spina bifida and other congenital anomalies. If there are any indicators that your baby’s health is danger, more invasive tests can assess the degree of the danger.

After Birth

After birth, every newborn undergoes a variety of health screening exams. Usually these tests are performed between day two to day seven of life and involve the drawing of a few drops of blood from each newborn. The focus is primarily on genetic diseases such as phenylketonuria or sickle cell anemia which can become life threatening if left undetected. Children with such conditions are often required to adhere to strict diet and immunization guidelines. Therefore, parents need to be educated about the illness right from the beginning.

Through Childhood

The importance of health screening continues through childhood. If corrected in childhood, some problems can be nipped in the bud, allowing your child to live a safe and healthy life. Vision and hearing tests are prime examples of such conditions. If your child has a slow response to noise or you notice a squint, a specialist opinion is essential to learn more about the condition.

Lead poisoning has become so rampant in society, that children with any exposure should be evaluated as soon as possible to prevent the irreversible consequences of a heavy lead load in blood. Exposure usually comes from being in or around any old house where lead paint was used and is now chipping or peeling.

As the child grows, the dangers he or she faces change over time. Overall health includes mental as well as physical health, so screening is also recommended for children showing initial signs of mental

The Problematic Condition Of Infant Asthma

Infant asthma can be any parent’s nightmare, especially due to the fact that a kinship is felt with a child that can create a powerful connection in which the pain felt by the child is felt by the parent. Nobody likes to see their child suffer and it can be as painful as anything on earth, especially with the wheezing and coughing of infant asthma that can be detrimental to any health or development of the child’s breathing and respiratory issues. Infant asthma is, however, not without hope and can be combated to a certain degree of success that can allow a child to lead an ordinary existence.

It is important to remember that the lungs of an infant do not serve to be as functional as the lungs of an older child. This is because of the development. Infant asthma does, in fact, impede the development overall of the child’s lungs which in turn cause the symptoms to be significantly more severe due to the infancy. The problem arises, therefore, that any serious episode of asthma in an infant can result in very difficult situations including complete and total lung failure and other damaging effects that could alter the way the respiratory system works for the remainder of the child’s life.

Recognizing The Signs

Realizing the changes in your infant is a key component for recognizing what is happening during an infant asthma attack. The next move you make with this recognition can mean the difference between survival and problematic symptoms or successful treatment of an episode. One factor that is vitally important is to keep up with doctor visitations so that your child may be as closely monitored as possible so as to maintain a vigilant eye over the symptoms. A doctor can monitor key factors in your child’s health properly so as to help with any proper medication or other componential assistance.

There are certain emergency signs for infant asthma that should be monitored. An emergency room visit should be at the forefront should any of the following symptoms be observed: significant breathing rate increase, halting in suckling or feeding for no apparent other reason, skin between child’s ribs becomes pulled tight, chest enlargement, general colouring changes, cry changes to become more frequent but softer and shorter, nasal flaring, or grunting. If any symptoms are observed, contact a medical professional immediately and take the child to

Eat to Live Instead of Living to Eat

If you eat sustaining food you have a glowing skin, shining hair and you look physically progressive . The type of diet you have and the amount of calories you intake affects your mood. If you feel stressed out or are in a light mood both have a connection to the type of food you take. You feel drowsy or active it too depends on the food you have. You should eat to live instead of living to eat.

Diet plays a primary role in influencing your mood. If you take in too much of calories during lunch time you feel lazy and drowsy. Multitudinous people eat tons of fast food for lunch due to hectic work schedules. Excessive calories taken during the day lowers the efficiency of a person and thus slows down the performance of the person. The size of a meal hampers the activity because fat slows down absorption and as blood flow to the stomach is increased for a longer period of time it results in subordinate blood flow to the brain. The result is that you feel sleepy and lazy to work. Carbohydrates such as pasta, potatoes, candy and cereal have an anxiety reducing consequence. This is the reason why people feel drowsy and sluggish after having such meals.

The two other relevant brain chemicals that appear to be influenced by foods, dopamine and norepinephrine, produce a feeling of alertness, an increased resourcefulness to ruminate, and faster reaction times. There are two possible mechanisms for how this happens: (1) serotonin production is blocked by the consumption of protein-rich foods, resulting in increased alertness or concentration, or (2) levels of dopamine and norepinephrine are increased by the consumption of protein-rich foods.

The effect of food is both stressful and healing. It has its absolute as well as negative effects. There are food like chocolate and caffeine that provide excitement initially. Caffeine improves focus and is stimulating. The type of breakfast lunch or dinner you have makes all the distinction in your mood. If you have a nourishing breakfast that includes yogurt and fresh juices make you fell fresh and progressive. While a heavy lunch with extra calories and carbohydrates makes you feel lazy and sleepy. There are foods that make us feel calm and boost the energy levels. They also improve are concentration power and mental alertness. Then there are foods that

THE ULTIMATE WEIGHT LOSS SOLUTION - FAR INFRARED SAUNAS

Far Infrared Saunas are a healthy weight loss solution without exercising. Infrared saunas can burn 400-600 calories in just one 30 minute session. In the chart below is a summary of how many calories a 150 pound person normally burns in 30 minutes of exercise:

Sport Calories
Marathon Running 590
Vigorous Racquet Ball 510
Rowing (peak effort) 600
Swimming (crawl stroke) 300
Jogging 300
Tennis (fast game) 265
Chopping Wood 265
Cycling (10 mph) 225
Golfing (without a cart) 150
Walking (3.5mph) 150
Bowling 120

In a far infrared sauna, a moderately fit person can sweat one pound of sweat in 30 minute session, which is the equivalent of running 2-3 miles. While it is true that the weight of the water expelled in the sauna may be regained by re-hydrating with water - the calories lost with not, resulting in weight loss.

Weight loss is just one of the many benefits of regular use of Far Infrared Saunas.

How do Far Infrared Saunas Work?

Far Infrared Saunas have been around for years, but only recently have become popular in North America. Japanese have been utilizing the Infrared Saunas for the past century and have enjoyed tremendous health benefits from them.

Infrared Saunas are unlike conventional saunas which pull sweat out of the body. Far Infrared energy penetrates up to 3 inches into the body and PUSHES sweat out of the body. As the body is heated from the inside out, it forces toxins under the skin out.

The temperature of a far infrared sauna is typically between 90۫ - 120۫ F versus a traditional sauna which operates between 180۫ -220۫ F. However, despite operating at a lower temperature, you will typically perspire far more in infrared saunas because the infrared energy penetrates your body at a much deeper level. Fat becomes water soluble at 100۫ F when it begins to dissolve, move through the blood and finally is removed from the body, resulting in weight loss. Toxins are also eliminated through your skin using lower, comfortable temperatures, for rapid detoxification.

Radiant heat is more effective than other heat because it warms you - not the surrounding air. A great example of infrared heat is the sun. The warmth of the heat on your skin you feel on a cold sunny day is far infrared energy. Far infrared waves vibrate at the same frequency as we do, which is why they are able to penetrate into the flesh