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Showing posts from November, 2015

Ankle Sprains

The ankle is a complex joint which allows the foot to perform a number of movements. It is connected to the foot bones by a number of ligaments at the sides and back of the joint. While these ligaments are normally very strong, extreme stretching or awkward movements can lead to injury of the ligaments. Ankle Injuries – Some of the More Common Causes The ankle is a rather mobile, flexible joint, however there are certain factors that increase the likelihood of a ligament injury: walking on uneven surfaces sudden twisting movement playing sports – especially jumping and landing awkwardly weak ankle muscles – not strong enough to protect the ankle previous ankle sprains, particularly if the treatment or rehabilitation was inadequate When a ligament injury of the ankle does occur, it can generally be classified into one of three grades of severity, depending on the extent of ligament damage and associated symptoms. Grade 1 Ankle Ligament Injury – Minimal Damage This typ

Antibiotics and How They Work

Since their development, antibiotics are the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. Ironically, the term antibiotics means "against life," but that couldn't be further from the truth. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of diseases like diphtheria and tuberculosis, but they're most frequently prescribed to fight the generous multitudes of classified infections. And what's most amazing is that only about 70 years ago, these medical maladies were killing tens of thousands of people every year. Chronicle of the History of Antibiotics Historical documentation cites that during World War I many soldiers died due to infections from their wounds. At that time there was only one drug used in an attempt to address infections and other war-related diseases, like dysentery and syphilis. The drug was an arsenic-based medicine called Salvarsan, but its effectiveness was not very high. Antibiotics were discovered in 1929, decisively on accident, when the Briti

A Heart-Healthy Diet for Controlling Cholesterol

Eating a fiber-rich diet can improve heart health . Fiber-rich foods may prevent or improve diabetes and other conditions that are associated with heart and other cardiovascular diseases. Dietary fiber can be found in many types of food and can be a delicious staple in everyday meals and snacks. Combine foods high in fiber with polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and plant sterols and stanals for a heart-healthy diet that will lower the bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and raise the good high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol . Soluble Fiber Foods high in fiber lower LDL cholesterol. Fruits such as apples, bananas and pears have soluble fiber . Kidney beans are packed full of soluble fiber as are barley and oats. A heart-healthy serving of oatmeal can provide as much as six grams of fiber. Adding fruit can increase the amount of fiber to 10 grams, which is sufficient to lower LDL cholesterol and overall cholesterol. W

Balanced Diet

Health professionals recommend that to stay fit and healthy you should aim to eat at least five different portions of fruit and vegetables every day. For some people though this can seem like a lot to take in. Luckily, there are simple ways to make this easier and help you to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Breakfast It has long been known that eating a low fat breakfast can help to keep you slimmer but it is also a great opportunity to get one or two of your five a day. If you’re eating cereal then why not try adding a chopped banana or a cupful of berries? Not only will the fruit count towards your daily quota but it will also help to jazz up your old favourites. If you prefer eggs and bacon then add some grilled mushrooms or a grilled tomato on the side. Omelettes are easy to make healthier too by adding any variety of vegetables that you like to the mix before cooking (mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, sweet corn - whatever it is that you like). Juice There are h

A Snacking Revolution

The website Graze.com delivers healthy snacks and fruit to people's desks and homes weekly for a low price. The site enables the customer to choose and rate their favourite munchies so the buyer can snack with pleasure and no guilt. Benefits of Snacking Believe it or not, there are benefits of eating between meals, provided the snacks eaten are healthy and nutritious. It gives busy people energy throughout a tough working day, helps to prevent overeating at meal times, and provides people easy opportunities to achieve the tough goal of eating five fruit and vegetables a day. Graze.com was conceived by managing director Graham Bosher, also the man behind Lovefilm.com. The aim of his company is to improve the working person's eating habits, so to avoid that horrible post-lunch slump at the desk. Their are over 150 snack packs to choose from, and the firm is delivering over 80,000 boxes per month. Range of Snacks The range of snacks the website offers is extensive.

A Sweetener That Provides Missing Minerals

It's ironic that the byproduct of unhealthy refined sugar processing is full of beneficial and assimilable iron and magnesium, among other important nutrients. Why? Sugar cane has roots that go down as far as 15 feet below the ground. Thus the the mineral depleted topsoil is bypassed, enabling the plant to absorb minerals from richer, unspoiled bottom soil. After sugar cane is processed to obtain refined empty calorie glucose spiking insulin debilitating white table sugar, the black gooey mess known as molasses is left with all the nutrients. The very best grade of molasses is unsulfured blackstrap molasses. It's not the best for sweetening, but it is the highest in nutrients. Unhealthy sulfur is an added preservative that you can do without. A List of Nutrients From just one tablespoon of unsulfured blackstrap molasses, you get an abundance of the following nutrients: Magnesium : Many nutritional experts call this the master mineral because it is essential to more m

Adequate Fiber is Essential to a Healthy Diet

Dietary fiber , originating in plant tissue, is indigestible. Although it has no calories and no nutritional value, fiber in the diet plays a tremendous role in preventing disease and maintaining good health. How Fiber Works in the Body As fiber is consumed and passed through the body organs, it acts as a sponge, absorbing many times its own weight in liquid. This causes the feces to become soft and bulky and more easy to be expelled from the body. This quick passage through the intestines and out of the body is important, as constipation is a source of discomfort and the beginning of many illnesses. The fiber also acts as a buffer against colon of the cancer as if reduces the contact that the toxin-filled feces has with the walls of the colon. Likewise, it is believed by some scientists that the increases liquid-content of high-fiber stool will be effective in diluting carcinogen-causing agents. Types of Fiber and How They Function in the Body There are two types of fiber

Aloe Vera Heals Your Body

Typically aloe vera is thought of as a healing plant, the liquid being used most often for burns or abrasions to the skin . However, these are not the only benefits to the aloe vera plant. The pulp from the aloe vera plant is used in juices and in recipes to provide the same type of healing inside the human body. Benefits of Aloe Vera Aloe vera is loaded with vitamins and includes many essential vitamins that humans need on a daily basis, except for vitamin D . Aloe vera is also anti-inflammatory, which is one of the reasons it is used so often in beauty care products. It is often used externally to aid in healing; however, the juice and pulp of the aloe vera plant can be ingested internally to provide even more health benefits. The aloe vera plant grows 12 months of the year, which increases its appeal for farmers and gardeners. How Aloe Vera Helps the Inside of the Body Aloe vera juice aids in digestion and helps the circulatory system because it helps with cell growth a

Are Zero Trans Fat Cookies a Myth?

What is Trans Fat ? Trans fat is another name for unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fat is the worst type of dietary fat. The National Academy of Sciences has released notices that there are no safe amounts of trans fats for consumption. They have clearly indicated that trans fats are neither a recommended part of a healthy diet nor a safe part of a healthy diet. Most researchers have found that trans fats increase the risk of heart disease , increase bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Many nutritional organizations recommend limiting the consumption of trans fatty acids to only a trace amount. Girl Scout Cookies In 2005 The Girl Scouts launched a campaign to make their cookies “trans fat free”; however several of their cookies still have minimal amounts of trans fat which add up. In 2006 The Girl Scouts released an announcement that all of their cookies met the FDA requirements to be considered trans fat free. However, this requirement only states that the cookies have to