All Round Health

Water : the most natural way to all round health

2008-12-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

Water is probably the single most important thing for a healthy body. Your body is made up of 60 to 70 percent water! It is necessary to regulate body temperature, to lubricate all the internal bodily functions, to transport oxygen to all the cells in your body, to remove waste and to effectively carry nutrients to where they are needed. Drinking plenty of water is the most natural way to maintain clear supple skin, have a healthy digestive system and to avoid the aches and pains that can result from dehydration.

Water also plays an important role in weight loss as it suppresses the appetite and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that too little water intake will cause fat deposits as the liver cannot function properly.

Adequate water intake is also essential for a healthy digestive system as when the body gets too little water it begins to siphon what it needs from internal sources and the colon is often the primary source. This can result in constipation and toxic matter remaining in your intestines causing illnesses.

We lose water through our pores (sweating), through excretory functions (urinating) and we can also be dehydrated by caffeine, medication and alcohol so we need to constantly replenish our bodies in order to stay healthy. About 20 percent of the water we need comes from our food but the rest you need to drink in liquid form. A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day.

When we allow our bodies to become dehydrated our blood thickens making it harder to circulate, our bodies retain water making us heavier and everything has to work harder just to keep us going. As a result the brain becomes tired and suffer fatigue.

Water really is the most natural "wonder drug" there is, and its FREE! With a few glasses a day you can improve your energy levels, increase mental and physical performance, remove toxins from your body, keep your skin looking healthy and glowing, improve organ function, reduces headaches and stiffness and even lose weight! Try it today and feel the difference!

Omega-3 Fish Oils : A Miracle Food

2008-12-27T05:08:00.000-08:00

Fish oils, especially in their omega-3 fatty acid form, have been hailed as “the miracle food of the 21st century”! In fact the list of its incredible functions and benefits appears to grow everyday!

Omega-3 can help play a very important role in the prevention and treatment of heart disease by helping to control cholesterol levels and therefore maintain optimum blood pressure in the arteries

It has a positive affect in the treatment of many respiratory ailments, arrhythmia, chronic obstructive pulmunary disease, emphysema and if taken during pregnancy they can help to prevent allergies, asthma and eczema

Recent studies have suggested that fish oil may reduce the risk of depression, and suicide risk

Omega-3 oils offer almost powerful and sometimes immediate relief from stiffness, joint pain and migraines

It has been shown to increases good cholesterol in diabetes patients and can even help to prevent type 1 diabetes in children

By improving brain development and memory functioning Omega-3 offes a neuroprotective action in the prevention of the onset of Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers, and even Schizophrenia.

The anti-inflammatory properties and positive effects on body composition can improve ailments of autoimmune disease and ulcerative colitis

A study has shown has shown Omega-3 can assist with weight loss and the prevention of weight gain as it aids in the production of enzymes that metabolize fat

Omega-3 can assist those with lupus as it improves blood vessel function,

These oils have even been proven to be more effective than Ritalin for calming those with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

The benefits of massage therapy

2008-12-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

Those who think massage is just for beauty or relaxation purposes are in for a surprise! Massage (of which there are many varieties to choose from) is fantastic for allieviating back and muscle pain, easing stress, relieving depression, improving circultation, reducing migraine pain...and best of all reducing or even removing the need and dependence upon medication for all such ailments!

Doctors have estimated that most illnesses are due to or related to stress, so what better way to treat the whole body in a natural way than with a hands-on treatment of the largest organ of the body- your skin!

These days are a wide variety of massage styles and strengths to choose from:

Shaitsu is an eastern style massage that applies pressure using the thumbs to specific pressure points in the body known to relieve pain stress and rebalance the energy field of the body

Ayuvedic massage hails from India and is one element of an entire alternative health system that involves yoga, meditation and alternative remedies. Specific oils are chosen according to your body type and often applied by 2 therapists simultaneously

Reflexology works on the basis that there are points in your hands and feet that correspond to the every organ and system in your body. Therefore this massage treats the entire body through the massage of only the feet and/or hands

Swedish massage uses a mixture of 5 different hand movements including kneading, rhythmic tapping, light touch, compression and vibration. This well-known technique has been shown to have significant effects on patients suffering from joint pain or osteoarthritis.

Smoothies: Making your 5-a-day easier!

2008-12-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

Most of us struggle to squeeze in our 5 recommended portions of fruit and vegetables each day when in fact we really should be eating closer to 8 or 9 servings! Why is this such a chore? These days most people have a colourful and mouth watering array of fresh and exotic fruits in their local stores and farmers markets, its time to make life a little easier!

Smoothies are an easy, tasty and fun way to get much needed vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants in to our daily diet, and they take less that 5 minutes to make! The basic ingrediants I use everyday are 1 sliced banana, the juice of one squeezed orange and a splash of milk...everything else you can pick and choose according to your tastes and whatever is available in your local storeor market!

Try one at home today, you'll be amazed how tasty healthy food can be!

The basics - 1 banana (peeled and chopped), the juice of one squeezed orange, 40-80ml of fresh milk (you can use full fat, semi-skimmed or fat free and you can use as little or as much as you want depending on the texture you like)

then add whatever fruits you like best:
-strawberries
-blueberries
-blackberries
-pineapple
-seedless grapes
-peaches/nectarines
-mango
-passionfruit
-coconut
-kiwi

*remember to remove the skin from any fuzzy fruits like peaches or kiwis and always remove the stones from fruit such as mango or peaches before blending)

Making your own smoothies is much cheaper than buying from a store and you know that the only ingredients used are the healthy ones you choose yourself, what more could you want? Start afresh today with a breakfast smoothie and see for yourself how easy it is to reach your recommended 5-a-day!