Health Blog

A healthy body and a sound mind

5 Helpful Apps that Teach Kids About Health and Nutrition

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Kids need to be constantly reminded about eating the right foods to maintain good health as they’re growing up. Parents have to be on top of their children’s diet to ensure their proper development and avoid problems later on. Health problems linked to how children eat include obesity, asthma, diabetes, hypertension and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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A great way of teaching kids the value of eating natural and healthy foods is by making it fun for them. Fortunately, parents of today can use the apps as their partners in this endeavor as an after school care activity.

Fooducate

This is a mobile app that can be downloaded for free from iTunes. It allows the user to scan foods with a bar code to get details (ingredients), both positive and negative, on how healthy it is. It makes for a fun point and shoot video game that, for sure, your kids will enjoy. [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 27, 2013 @ 6:09 am

Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome May Benefit From Acupuncture

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acupuncturePolycystic ovary syndrome is a relatively common condition in women, although it is not often diagnosed. With advancement in technology and more awareness, more women are able to determine if they are suffering from this syndrome, also known as PCOS. The condition is characterized by numerous small cysts in the ovaries, which interfere with the production of hormones. As a result, the male hormone testosterone is produced in higher quantities. The effects are manifested in various ways, some of which include fertility problems, irregular menstruation, obesity, and even increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart problems.

The exact cause of PCOS remains a mystery to doctors and researchers. However, the symptoms are clear and some researchers believe that it is closely linked to an over active sympathetic nervous system. This system is what controls involuntary bodily functions such as the dilation of pupils.

A group of Swedish researchers conducted a study recently, wherein women with PCOS were divided into three groups. The first group underwent electro-acupuncture (a weak electric current is passed through the needles). The second group underwent a guided exercise routine (at least three times a week). The third group had no additional treatment or instructions. The findings? The activity of the sympathetic nervous system of the first two groups was considerably lower and the women who had acupuncture had a plus: more regulated menstruation. More than this, they also had lower levels of testosterone.

If you have PCOS or know anyone with PCOS, you might want to consider acupuncture.

Originally posted on August 24, 2011 @ 1:27 pm

Nuts……. Lots of Healthy Nuts

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People are now more health conscious than ever before and who wouldn’t with the dozens of infectious diseases and health risks that we face each and everyday. Life has gotten a lot healthier with respect to how commerce has changed and adjusted preferences to make them healthier. More and more people are opting for the healthy lifestyle as they begin to realize the advantages of good health that can take them well after their prime.
From proper exercise, diet and living, seems we all been bit by the health bug. Mother nature has produced for us some of the healthiest and most powerful healing plants that are enough to rival a pharmacy. Herbal cures for aches and pains have long been known to our ancestors and are again today being called upon by modern medicine as the primary source of our best drugs. From the common cough and cold, to immunity boosting food we are beginning to realize they have much to offer.
Anti-oxidants that eliminate free-radicals, particles that causes cells in the human body to die off prematurely hastening aging process. Rediscovered food crops known to ancient man are once again called upon and are only now being recognized for the huge amounts of vital minerals and vitamins they have always contained within them. Sadly, most of the world’s virgin forests are declining at an amazing rate that many of mother nature’s hidden gems may never be found. Let us all take up the cause of preventing the destruction of such vaults, of knowledge and life by supporting environmental movements. Check out One Big Health Nut where some of the best and healthiest nuts on the net can be found. For life and for health.

Originally posted on December 30, 2010 @ 5:52 pm

Calorie Counting the Way to Go

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Calories
Want to lose weight? Stuck on deciding which diet to go with?

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine it doesn’t really matter which diet you choose to go with as long as you choose one and stick to it. The study, Comparison of Weight-Loss Diets with Different Compositions of Fat, Protein, and Carbohydrates (whew that is a long title!), all participants of the different diets tried lost and average of 6kgs in 6 months though and by the end of the study (2 years) those that stayed on lost more than 10% of their original body weight. Though that might not seem much the point is not how much weight was lost but that the important thing is to reduce the calorie intake. In short, you can go low fat, low carb, high protein or whatever you choose to do to lose weight and it will work as long as you COUNT YOUR CALORIES.

The bigger question now is not which diet you should go with but to stick to it. Losing weight is easy…at least compared to keeping off that lost weight.

Photo via ShellyS

Originally posted on June 2, 2011 @ 11:52 am