Health-and-Fitness online information.

What a great health quote!

I’d back it up with the following;

Eat simply

• 2 meals per day is sufficient for most people – those that expend tremendous amounts of energy, do hard physical work and are on the go a lot may need three – but that’s it..

• Eat with satisfaction from fruits and vegetables – adding small amounts of starch and proteins.

• Don’t eat in between meals – give the digestive system a chance to rest and recuperate.

Breathe through the nose

• Fresh air – get outside – down to the ocean – up in the mountains – away from the smog.

• Practise rhythmic and diaphragmatic breathing daily. Increase the lung capacity and oxygenate the blood that feeds all cells.

Live Life to the fullest

• Be content with your life knowing that you are doing the best that you can to ensure a state of health and happiness in all that you do.

Be Happy with your choices

• Life is a succession of choices – if you find that you aren’t happy with one choice – make another.

Have a Direction

• Wandering through life without a goal is like being lost without a compass – frustrating and fraught with danger. You never know where you may end up.

And don’t worry – Be happy!

Life is not meant to be hard - it only seems to be hard when we don't get what we want - maybe we don't really need what we want.

All the best with your choices and decisions.

# posted by Medical Information : 5:21 AM  0 Comments

Candida infections are the most common fungal infections that affect humans. Candida is the name for a group of yeasts (a type of fungus) that commonly infect the skin. The name ‘Candida’ refers to the white color of the organisms in culture. It is a normal inhabitant of the human digestive tract from early infancy, where it lives without causing any disease most of the time. It is normally controlled by beneficial bacteria in the intestines which act as host’s defense. However, if the bacteria-fungus balance is upset, by the use of antibiotics for example, or if the immune system is compromised, an overgrowth of Candida can occur, resulting in infection. The infection results in release of powerful chemicals into the bloodstream, causing such varying symptoms as lethargy, chronic diarrhea, yeast vaginitis, bladder infections, muscle and joint pain, menstrual problems, constipation and severe depression. Also, it can cause infection of the mucosa (the lining of the mouth, anus and genitals), the skin, and rarely, deep-seated infection. Although both men and women can have Candida infections, however it does occur more frequently in women (especially young women) with more severe effects.

Fungal infections are more common today than ever before. There are a number of reasons for this. People are living longer, and older people are more likely than younger people to have compromised immune systems, a major risk factor for fungal infection. Similarly, the widespread use of antibiotics has contributed to the growing infection rate (fungal infections are known to occur after antibiotic therapy, which has the effect of killing the beneficial bacteria that normally suppress fungi). The cases of Candida infections too are in rise. Candida species are true opportunistic pathogens that exploit recent technological advances to gain access to the circulation and deep tissues. Several other factors can lead to an overgrowth of Candida. Steroids such as Cortisone (Decadron or other cortisone-type drugs) suppress the immune system's ability to fight Candida growth. The immune system can also be weakened in the people infected with HIV. Prolong use of contraceptive pill or injection, or pregnancy is also conducive for candida growth. The candida infection may be due to general debility e.g. from cancer or malnutrition. Another cause of Candida overgrowth can be from a low Acidophilus and Bifidus culture in the colon. It is imperative that there is enough of these two friendly bacterias in the system in order to control Candida overgrowth. Once the level of these friendly bacteria is lowered, Candida fungus takes control. Iron deficiency too is considered one of the reasons for candida infection.

Management of serious and life-threatening invasive Candida infection remains severely hampered by delays in diagnosis and the lack of reliable diagnostic methods that allow detection of both fungemia and tissue invasion by Candida species. Diagnosis of candida infection can often be accomplished by the presence of symptoms alone. To confirm the diagnosis, however, samples of the fungus have to be identified under a microscope. During this test, scrapings or smears of the tissue are taken from skin, nails, oral mucosa, and vaginal mucosa and identified with a low-powered microscopic examination, a process that gives immediate results.

Once Candida infection is diagnosed, its treatment depends on where it is located. People with skin infections are usually instructed to keep the affected areas as dry as possible until the infection has cleared. Doing so may mean changing out of a wet bathing suit or out of damp workout clothes as soon as possible. Antifungal shampoos are available, as well as antifungal mouth rinses. Infection does not always respond quickly to these treatments and may recur when topical application is discontinued.

The main theme of Candida infection treatment is strengthening of the human immune system. Colloidal silver is the right choice in this regard as it is well known for its capability of fighting against fungus infections. Colloidal silver is nothing but very fine particles of pure silver, suspended in water. Colloidal silver has antimicrobial properties. A lot of research has been done recently on its functioning. Certain bacteria are essential to healthy body function, such as acidophilus. Several researchers claim colloidal silver only attacks the unfriendly pathogens and will not harm the friendly bacteria. But one must wonder how it can possibly differentiate. One explanation is that the friendly bacteria are aerobic, while unfriendly bacteria are anaerobic. Also, it is said that the silver does not attack bacteria directly, but rather decomposes certain enzymes the anaerobic bacteria, viruses, yeast, and molds require. The silver acts as a catalyst and is not consumed in the process. It is probable that the reason the bacteria cannot develop a resistance to silver, as they do to antibiotics, is because silver does not directly them directly, but rather destroys the enzymes they depend on. This is in quite contrast to normal antibiotics, which kills friendly bacteria as well.

The germ fighting properties of colloidal silver has been adopted in soap making and such soaps are in vogue. Regular use of such soap not only helps in keeping the skin clean and healthy but also enhances the body immune system, thus preventing further infections of Candida. Even dermatologists recommend soaps with colloidal silver for the patients with candida infection. However, one must be selective while purchasing such soaps. Soaps containing colloidal silver with 20 ppm are considered the best for daily usage and they have optimum effect on fight against Candida infection.

# posted by Medical Information : 5:20 AM  0 Comments

As an Excercise Scientist I get a bunch of emails on this topic so I thought I'd save myself some letter-writing time and discuss publicly how we can best maintain our focus and commitment to our exercise program, as it seems to be a challenge for many of us. We all talk about regular, consistent exercise (I'm not talking about incidental activity, I'm talking about actual structured, regular workouts). We all intend to do it, and while some of us do, most of us don't.

Research and simple observation tells us that the vast majority of us spend a great deal of our adult lives starting and stopping exercise or activity programs. Very few people start and maintain structured exercise programs for the long term. We perpetually talk about it, but we don't do it (for a range of reasons).

We join gyms, we don't go.
We start running programs, we last a week.
We buy a treadmill, we hang washing on it.
We get ourselves a mountain bike, we ride it twice.
We buy cross-trainers, we don't even know what cross-training is.
You know the drill; your story may be slightly different, but you know exactly what I'm talking about.

So after watching thousands of people struggle with their exercise goals over way too many years, I have a few ideas on the matter and a few suggestions for you if your goal is to create a better body forever. If you're someone who has a history of 'almost' getting in shape and you've started and stopped more programs than you care to remember, then you'll probably find the following interesting and helpful.

1. Start (and progress) realistically.
As obvious and simple as this sounds, many people don't do it. Some people, often blokes with massive egos (so I've heard) will attempt to go from lounge lizard to Olympic athlete in four days. Spare your hamstrings my silly, deluded brethren, save yourself some embarrassment and humiliation and spend at least four to eight weeks creating a reasonable strength and fitness base before you get too Olympian on us. Slow and steady Tiger... it's not about the next four weeks; it's about the next four decades.

2. Collect some base-line data and set some goals.
It's always great to take some 'before' measurements to give us some perspective on our progress over time (it's very hard for you to be objective when it comes to... you). Set yourself some physiological goals (girth measurements, weight, blood pressure), some fitness goals (aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility), some behavioural goals ("I will walk to work daily"), possibly a sporting goal or two ("I will run a half marathon this year"), maybe some competitive goals ("I will beat my brother at tennis by July") and possibly some personal achievement goals ("I will climb Mount Everest in the next three years"). You get the idea. Goals help us create momentum and keep doing what we need to do.

3. Take some photos every four weeks.
Don't we love semi-nude pictures of our pudgy, out-of-shape bodies? Not. The one sure-fire consequence of a few front, side and rear photos of yourself in the 'almost-buff'... is a reality check. Yes, we hate it, no we don't wanna see it, but sometimes it's enough to jolt us into action. Sometimes a little in-yer-face reality is what we need. The regular photo is a great way to get absolute perspective of your progress. Wear the same clothes at the same time of day in the same room for each photo (if possible).

4. Variety.
When it comes to your training, variety is crucial if you (1) want to keep your body adapting (remember; different creates different) and (2) don't want to die of boredom by week six. Your body needs it and your head needs it; so mix it up. Variety increases the enjoyment factor, program adherence, the speed and quality of results and decreases the likelihood of injury. Unless, of course, one of those training options is bull fighting.

5.Make it fun.
The more we enjoy the process, the more likely we are to stay on track and get the job done. Sometimes we just need to get a little hard-core and simply tough it out .. but whenever it's possible we should choose an exercise, activity or sport that will get us where we want to go (with our body) and also let us enjoy (most of) the process. If, for example, you find jogging mind-numbingly boring and unenjoyable but you love tennis... then go and find your racquet... running for a reason!

6. Get involved in social sport, become a member of a team.
Not for everyone this suggestion but for many, it's a winner. Hanging out and playing sport with some of your friends means the double benefit; improved fitness along with some fun and socialising.. which in turn means you're more likely to do it for longer. Unless of course it all gets a little serious on the volleyball court and you end up screaming at your buddies over a 'fun' game.

7. Work in four week blocks.
Sometimes the concept of 'forever' change (that is, changing exercise behaviours for the next fifty years) can be a little daunting. Understandably. So it's great to have short, medium and long term goals and thinking when it comes to changing your exercise habits. Four weeks is short enough to get your head around (and keep it there) but also long enough to create some genuine change. Incorporate some of your goal setting around these four week blocks ("I will drop 8 pounds in the next 28 days and I will walk for one hour every morning").

8. Have regular re-assessments.
Like the photos, the regular re-assessments are a great way to gauge your progress and the value of the program you're following... and also good for a reality check. If you're doing everything 'right', then you should see some significant change with each re-assessment. These testing sessions can be wrapped nicely around your four week blocks. A typical re-assessment may involve both fitness testing (strength, aerobic capacity, etc.) and / or physical measurements. This regular type of testing will also help you determine whether or not your exercise program needs to be modified or adapted in some way.

9. Have a practical plan and approach and de-emotionalise the process.
When it comes to our body and exercise in general, too many of us are irrational, emotional and inconsistent. Many of us exercise with no real strategy, plan or logic; we just go nuts for three weeks (with exercise), tear our calf muscle and then do nothing for six months.

The hit and miss training philosophy doesn't work... but many of us employ it.

We don't want to be obsessed, but we do want to be organised, structured and logical about our exercise if we are serious about creating forever results.

10. Keep an exercise diary.
Keeping a record of our exercise serves a few purposes:

1) It helps us stay disciplined and in touch with reality.
2) It increases our awareness and understanding of how our body responds to exercise.
3) It helps keep us motivated and interested in our training.
4) It gives us perspective on the whole process; being able to read over the last three months of work (for eg.) gives us a sense of achievement and a realistic (un-emotional) insight into our progress.
5) It helps us stay accountable... and doing what we need to do.

11. Get yourself a training partner.
Having a training partner is (for many) an effective staying-on-track strategy. Going through the process with someone who's in a similar place to you makes sense and generally means greater exercise adherence (what we want). The fun factor increases, you'll enjoy the process more and before you know it, exercise will be a habit.

12. Use a Personal Trainer . . . even for a while.
For some people this is a sensible and practical (but not necessarily cheap) option. A quality Trainer will motivate you, educate you, kick you in the pants and keep you honest. If you can do it without a Trainer, even better. Even though I own a Personal Training business, I don't always believe that using a Trainer is the best option... but for some people having an appointment with a fitness professional is what works.

13. Create some non-negotiable exercise rules.
While most of us start with a rush, the truth is that many of us lose motivation, focus and momentum within as little as a week, that's why we need non-negotiable, I-will-do-this-no-matter-what rules. We know that motivation comes and goes, so we need something which is set in stone: "I will exercise five days per week, no matter what."... "I will jog three mornings per week... even when I don't feel like it."

14. Stop moving the goal posts.
Once you get there (reach your goal) allow yourself to enjoy what you've achieved. So many people lose the weight, gain the muscle, drop the fat and then get themselves into this 'state' of never being fit enough, skinny enough or buffed enough. They create another problem. Sometimes it's okay to enjoy your body and simply 'maintain'.

# posted by Medical Information : 5:20 AM  0 Comments

Causes of Piles

1. Piles can be hereditary with innate weakness of the vein walls.
2. In men, as a result of erect posture high pressure is created in rectal veins.
3. Exerting pressure due to constipation and over purgation.
4. Dysentery could worsen latent hemorrhoids.
5. Piles is also common among pregnant women.

Symptoms of piles

Typical symptoms of piles include inflamed, painful lump or swelling in the region of the anus. Oftentimes this causes bleeding, leaving blood in the stools, in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper. Other symptoms might include mucous discharge, itching and a distressing dragging sensation during bowel movement. When going through these symptoms it is best to get a medical examination to rule out other more serious digestive conditions.

Some other symptoms of piles are pain and discomfort after opening the bowels1 and a feeling that the bowels have not completely emptied. Still, there are conditions besides piles that could cause anal bleeding. If this happens for more than six weeks it is best to seek medical advice.

Easing piles naturally

Keep the affected area clean, clean with water only (no perfumed soap) after every bowel motion and pat dry with a clean soft tissue, this should help with itching.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from Haemorrhoids (piles).

1. Extracts of horse chestnut
2. Flavonoids
3. Gotu kola
4. Psyllium
5. Vitamin C
6. Witch hazel

Diet for piles

Piles are closely connected to constipation and this is why diet can make a good impact in clearing up piles. Your diet should include lots of fiber. This is to be found in whole grains, vegetables and fruit. See that you have loads of mineral water and stop having spicy foods. Psyllium husks supplements are good since they are high in fiber and help get rid of constipation. Softer stools help empty the bowels easier and decreases the pressure on piles caused by straining. Also wheatgrass juice, it is found, abets better digestion. Besides, green juices provide easy assimilation of nutrients particularly in cases of poor digestion or immuno-suppression.

It is better to avoid highly refined foods such as white, rice, white bread, pastries, cakes, pies. Also steer clear of alcohol, since it is known to contribute to small, dry stools. Lastly keep away from acid forming foods like sugar, animal protein, dairy, and coffee.

# posted by Medical Information : 5:20 AM  0 Comments

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought of as a childhood disorder but is as common in adults too. It is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness', disobedience and loud or angry outbursts. For children, it is an issue in school as the child cannot be controlled and teaching is almost impossible for the individual or the whole class. This article will look at how the disorder is acquired, how it is treated and the correlation between stress and ADHD.

It is thought that 80% of people with ADHD have a genetic predisposition to the disorder. The other 20% are thought to acquire it through prenatal or postnatal exposure to toxins and in some cases traumatic episodes leading to injury may be responsible. High on the list of prenatal toxins are alcohol and nicotine.

Treatment for ADHD is often a combination of medication and counselling. The aim of medication is to stimulate the areas of the brain that are responsible for focusing, attention and impulse control. Counselling is aimed at helping the ADHD sufferer to organise their life. A recent method that has been known for a while but never acted on is diet modification. Although diet modification will not prevent ADHD it is thought that eating foods without artificial colouring and flavours and cutting down on fatty food and sugar improves the attention spans of children at school.

There is no correlation between acquiring the disorder and stress but it is obvious that someone suffering from ADHD is likely to have a stressful time. The more stress that the person faces the worse their ADHD is likely to become thus implementing stress management strategies is a good idea. The key technique is to be able to relax. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation are useful but may be difficult to implement, especially in children .

# posted by Medical Information : 5:19 AM  0 Comments