You can stretch anytime, anywhere. Just follow these tips to do it safely and effectively. By Mayo Clinic staff Stretching may take a back seat to your exercise routine. You may think that stretching your hamstrings and calves is just something to be done if you have a few extra minutes before or after pounding out some miles on the treadmill. The main concern is exercising, not stretching, right? Not so fast. Although studies about the benefits of stretching are mixed, stretching may help you improve your flexibility, which in turn may improve your athletic performance and decrease … [Read more...] about Stretching: Focus on Flexibility
Vitamin D deficiency = Problems
Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins that a person can worry about. Vitamin D is responsible for in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in food. A Vitamin D deficiency can be extremely detrimental to an individual by negatively affecting the development and growth of cells, bones, teeth and hormonal balance. The symptoms affect both the nervous system and the immune system. A deficiency can occur when there is an insufficient amount of sun exposure which can cause the body's inability to absorb Vitamin D or there is no presence of food sources containing the vitamin. Also, if … [Read more...] about Vitamin D deficiency = Problems
Smoking dramtically increases the risk for liver cancer
By Stacy Simon A new study reinforces the link between liver cancer and the risk factors of smoking, obesity, and heavy drinking. Researchers from the US and Europe studied 125 liver cancer patients to determine what risk factors were contributing to their disease. They compared them to 229 people without cancer who were matched by age, gender and other factors. The participants were all part of a European study group that was formed so researchers could investigate the role of biological, dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors in the development of cancer and other chronic … [Read more...] about Smoking dramtically increases the risk for liver cancer
What are you feeding your infant?
Do you know what you are feeding your infant?? This is an interesting article written by Selena Keegan. Top baby formula brands sold in stores contain alarmingly high levels of corn syrup and sugar. In light of rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes, parents need to read labels carefully to protect their children's health. Consumption of large quantities of sugar and high fructose corn syrup have been linked to behavioral disorders such as ADD as well as other issues such as anxiety, daytime drowsiness and nighttime insomnia. Feeding your baby sugar and corn syrup also increases … [Read more...] about What are you feeding your infant?
Weight room blunders that can really hurt
This is an interesting article that was posted in Women's Health. Women are hitting the weight room in record numbers, and a new study found that weight-training injuries among women have jumped a whopping 63 percent. Here are the most common slipups and how to fix them, so you leave the gym strutting — not limping. The mistake: skipping your warm-up You wouldn't launch into an all-out sprint the second you stepped onto a treadmill, so you shouldn't jump right into deadlifts the instant you hit the weight room. "Working cold, stiff muscles can lead to sprains and tears," says Morey Kolber, … [Read more...] about Weight room blunders that can really hurt
Exercise: 7 Benefits of regular physical activity
By The Mayo Clinic You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life. Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life. No. 1: Exercise controls … [Read more...] about Exercise: 7 Benefits of regular physical activity
Lowdown on Lung Cancer
By Mayo Clinic staff November is National Lung Cancer Screening Month and thepurpose of this article is to provide a knowledge base on Lung Cancer and its risk factors. Definition: Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs take in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. Lung cancer claims more lives each year than do colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined. People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer. The risk of … [Read more...] about Lowdown on Lung Cancer
Sodium: How to tame your salt habit now
Find out how much sodium you really need, what high-sodium foods to avoid, and ways to prepare and serve foods without adding salt or sodium. By Mayo Clinic staff You've been trying to eat less sodium — just a pinch of table salt on your baked potato and a dash on your scrambled eggs. But a pinch here and a dash there can quickly add up to unhealthy levels of sodium. Consider that just one teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 milligrams (mg) of sodium. And it's not just table salt you have to worry about. Many processed and prepared foods already contain lots of sodium — and it's these foods … [Read more...] about Sodium: How to tame your salt habit now