Chiropractic works

Why do most people go to see a chiropractor instead of a doctor when they have problem with their back or anything that's related to the spine? Simple. Because chiropractic works.But for my Buddy Albert he turns to chiropractic to have a normal blood pressure.

Nowadays, it seems as if everybody have this problem. If you are worried about your high blood pressure, a chiropractor could help. In one study, 21 patients with blood pressure problem were randomly assigned to one of three groups: one group received chiropractic treatment, another given "fake" treatment, and the last group receives no treatment at all.

Results showed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the active treatment condition, whereas no significant changes occurred in the placebo and control conditions.

Vinegar can cure

Vinegar contains agents proven to help kill bacteria and fungus, one of the medical benefits of vinegar is it can help cure athlete's foot and other foot fungus. Soaking your feet in vinegar, just once a day, will help change the PH levels in your skin so that fungus cannot grow. Bacterial killing agents found in vinegar, will help kill the existing bacteria and fungus.

Another one of the many medical benefits of vinegar is it can help relieve cramps- such as a calf or leg cramp. Muscle cramps can be excruciating, and pain medications can take a while to take effect. Very often muscle cramps are caused by low potassium levels in the body. Taking one teaspoon of vinegar orally when you are suffering from any type of muscle cramps will quickly cause your potassium level to rise and help relieve the cramps.

The goodness of water

How many times have you heard the saying drink eight glasses of water a day and you will look and feel great. Then you are thinking, you hope you are near a restroom all day. But the fact of the matter is that water, which really has no nutritional value, is really very good for you.

Drinks like soda and ice teas have a lot of caffeine but they are also very fattening. There are several ways that water can be beneficial to you.

Water helps you lose weight, you can't just drink water and expect to lose a ton of weight but drinking 8 glasses of water a day, will flush out your system and keep the bad stuff out of the blood stream. The fact that your body is 75% water should help. Water also keeps your kidneys hydrated and that will lessen the chance for kidney stones. Water also keeps your skin hydrated so you won't have dry itchy skin.

Water can after a while be boring to drink and when that happens most people stop drinking it, to keep your water fun try adding a fresh lemon to it or try those fat free, sugar free mixes like Crystal Light. Even though water is pretty much tasteless it can be boring and then you get bored. Continue to drink water on a daily basis and you will see a difference in your skin and on your scale.

Dark Chocolates

Dark chocolate is also said to be a good choice of copper and magnesium which is essential in maintaining a regular heartbeat and maintain levels of a person's blood pressure. Eating a large amount of dark chocolate is not good for anyway in terms of fat and calories even though there is a great potential for it to be a health benefit anyway. Eating too much of anything is not a good thing.

Too much chocolate can also give you a soft of jolt because dark chocolate has caffeine in it. So they more you eat you may get that sugar chocolate rush a bit too much. But if taken in moderation, you will see the health benefits sooner rather than later. Too much of it will give you a belly ache and just the right amount may prevent you form having a heart attack

Balance is the key

Some people think that they can eat anything if they have a regular exercise program. The famous runner Jim Fix who wrote The Complete Book Of Running thought he could. In an interview with a newspaper he said that it he was not concerned about his diet because a running program of 10 miles a day would sufficiently burn up whatever he ate. He said for breakfast he had fried egg, sausage, fried potatoes, butter and cream-talk about cardiac disaster! As you may recall, Jim Fix died suddenly while on a daily run.

On the other hand, some folks watch their diet religiously but are rarely physically active. They eat grains, fruits and vegetables and know the latest nutrition facts, but they don't move their bodies. They approach doesn't work either. What does work is the balance of a healthy living style that includes a low fat way of eating and regular exercise. Balance is the key.

Building stronger leg and stronger hips through training

Falls are very dangerous as you get older. Can you prevent them? Yes, strength training helps you regain your balance after having been slightly knocked off center. Building stronger leg and stronger hips through strength training can postpone and possibly even preven these highly destructive falls. Strength training gives you more confidence, more control over your own body. With that, you have a less chance for injury and less chance for falls.


In one experiment that was done they took 10 people (average age 90) and had them do simple leg exercises three times a week over eight weeks. They not only built up their strength but saw improvement in their lives from moderate muscle pumping. They became more mobile, more flexible, and their walking speed noticeably improved. They had a doubling, even tripling of the muscle strength in their legs. Two of them threw away their canes!

If 90 years old were able to do strength training and benefit from it. Surely it will help you.

Few tips that may help keep your weight down

At buffet or dinner, fill your plate with fruits and vegetables. Then add very small portions of other foods. Be the last one in line to get your food, and then eat slowly. This way you won't finish eating before others and be tempted to go back for seconds.

First, put your food on your own plate and eat from that only. Don't hang around the food plate. Get involved in conversation and activities. Sip on a low calorie drink with lot's of ice all evening. Nibble on vegetables and not chips. Don't drink. Alcohol is high on calories.

Strength training

People often ask me " What kind of exercise do you do? " I walk briskly for thirty minutes a day on my sationary bike and do at least one-half hour of floor exercises using wrist and ankle weights, Walking hours burns calories and provides aerobic conditioning. The floor exercises increase flexibility, and weights firm muscles.

I began doing strength training when I learned it provides a definite increase in bone. How? Our bones respond to pressure, and strength training provides the pressure- more so than aerobic training.

Food headaches

Researchers believe that what you eat and drink may contribute to certain kinds of headaches-especially migraines. But proving a definite link between diet and headaches is often difficult, and no single food affects all sensitive people. The following have been most commonly involved: aged cheeses, alcoholic, alcoholic beverages, nuts and peanut butter, yogurt, sour cream, cured or processed meats, caffeine rich drinks, freshly baked yeast products, chocolate, MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and aspartame(artificial sweetener).

Most of the suspect foods and beverages contain substances that may constrict or dilate blood vessels of the brain. One major culprit is tyramine, a chemical that occurs naturally in may foods. Nitrites, used in cold cuts and frank-furters, can also dilate blood vessels. For some people, not eating for many hours, or suddenly, abstraing from certain foods-such as coffee- may bring on headaches.

Banking calories

What's right way to "cut back" on your food so you can enjoy a guilt free holiday dinner or a special restaurant meal? The experts tell us to that moderate restraint is okay, even encouraged-if it's done wisely.

On the day of a dinner party, don't skip meals or eat so little that you are starved. Instead, make low-fat, high-fiber, carbohydrate-rich choices at breakfast and lunch and have a small snack an hour before the meal if you are hungry.

The week before this special event, cut back substituting jam for butter on your morning toast, using a lemon on your salad instead of an oil-based dressing, or skipping dessert. This way you won't feel deprived or starved.

Say Thanks to Dad on Father's Day

Children blessed with a loving father should consider themselves fortunate. For, they have someone to take care of their needs and interests. Someone to stop them when they are diverting to a wrong path and guide them on a road to success and virtue. For many of us fathers have always been there to solve our innumerous mathematics and science problems and explain the same formula hundredth time or better still until it is understood by us.

Fathers would never ever give a smallest of hint to let us know how hard they work to take care of our needs and fulfill even the most whimsical of demands... For all their adorable scolding and affectionate punishments we all owe a big thanks to our Dads.

Stress doesn’t always look stressful

Internally, we all respond to stress the same: our blood pressure rises, our heart pumps faster, and our muscles constrict. When stressed, our bodies work hard and drain our immune system. Externally, however, people tend to respond to stress in three different ways: some become angry and agitated, others space out or withdraw, and still others freeze up.

The best way to quickly relieve stress may relate to your specific stress response

The three most common ways people respond when they’re overwhelmed by stress:

Foot on the gas. An angry or agitated stress response. You’re heated, keyed up, overly emotional, and unable to sit still.
Foot on the brake. A withdrawn or depressed stress response. You shut down, space out, and show very little energy or emotion.
Foot on both gas and brake. A tense and frozen stress response. You “freeze” under pressure and can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you’re extremely agitated.

Stress superhero

Ever wish a stress superhero could save you from traffic jams, chaotic meetings, or a toddler’s tantrums?

Guess what? You can be your own stress-busting superhero. Everybody has the power to reduce the impact of stress as it’s happening. With practice, you can learn to spot stressors and stay in control when the pressure builds.

Learning quick stress relief won't happen overnight. Like any skill, it takes time, self-exploration and above all, practice. But think of it as an education with a huge payoff.

Simple ways to connect as a couple and rekindle love

Commit to spending quality time together on a regular basis. Even during very busy and stressful times, a few minutes of really sharing and connecting can help keep bonds strong.

Find something that you enjoy doing together, whether it is a shared hobby, dance class, daily walk, or sitting over a cup of coffee in the morning. Further, try something new together. Doing new things together can be a fun way to connect and keep things interesting. It can be as simple as trying a new restaurant or going on a day trip to a place you’ve never been before.

Spend quality time together

You probably have fond memories of when you were first dating your loved one. Everything may have seemed new and exciting, and you may have spent hours just chatting together or coming up with a new, exciting thing to try. However, as time goes by, children, demanding jobs, long commutes, different hobbies and other obligations can make it hard to find time together. It’s critical for your relationship, though, to make time for yourselves. If you don’t have quality time, communication and understanding start to erode.

Couples are often more fun and playful in the early stages of a relationship. However, this playful attitude can sometimes be forgotten as life challenges or old resentments start getting in the way. Keeping a sense of humor can actually help you get through tough times, reduce stress and work through issues more easily.

What counts as a family meal

Whether you have a toddler or a teen, here are the best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits. Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids.

In addition, family meals offer the chance to introduce kids to new foods and to act as a role model for healthy eating.

Teens may turn up their noses at the prospect of a family meal — not surprising because they're busy and want to be more independent. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents' advice and counsel, so use mealtime as a chance to reconnect.

What counts as a family meal? Any time you and your family eat together — whether it's takeout food or a home-cooked meal with all the trimmings. Strive for nutritious food and a time when everyone can be there. This may mean eating dinner a little later to accommodate a child who's at sports practice. It can also mean setting aside time on the weekends, such as Sunday brunch, when it may be more convenient to gather as a group

Wash you hands

Your hands can easily spread bacteria around the kitchen and onto food. This is why it's important to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water at each of these times:

*before starting to prepare food
*after touching raw meat, including poultry
*after going to the toilet
*after touching the bin
*after touching pets

Don't forget to dry your hands thoroughly as well, because if they are wet they will spread bacteria more easily

Tribute To Mother

On Mothers Day, pay your most humble tribute to Mother!
Mothers are everything for us when we are small...our lives revolve around her. For everything that we need we call mother. To protect us from all perceivable dangers we want her around us. To take us out we hold her arms. To kiss away our wounds we run to her. And for a warm hug and love we look for her. She is the focal point of our lives, the greatest human being in the world or should we say divinity on earth. On the special occasion of Mothers Day pay tribute to your mother - the greatest blessing of God on you.

On Mothers Day Thank your Mother
There is simply no way we can ever really thank mother for all she has done for us. She is the one who will be awake all night when we are sick. Praying to God to make us well and be ever ready to bear the pain that we may be experiencing. She is the one to wake up early in the morning to make the nicest tiffin and endure all our tantrums. Mothers are the ones who would forever complain that we are not eating enough or not eating right. They would cook all sorts of things so that we be strong and healthy. Mothers infact, worry more for our examinations than we must. They would take pains to complete our school projects leaving all other works behind while we play around with friends or just while away time watching movies.

On Mothers Day Apologise to your Mother
Mothers are the one on whom we put all the blame for our failures. We would not hesitate once to point her single faux pas though she would not miss even a slightest opportunity to praise us. Isn't it tough to imagine how she must have borne our temper tantrums when we were teenagers. And how hard we must have made her life by behaving so rude and difficult. And yet she was so astonishingly cool. It it easy for the kids to be so demanding from parents, specially mothers as we take her affection and care so much for granted. Most often to the extent of selfishness. Mothers Day is the right time to apologise for all the troubles that we gave to our moms, without even realising at most times how troublesome we must have been to her.

Celebrate Mothers Day with your Dear Mother
Mothers Day is the perfect day to celebrate the joys of having a mother. It is the time to make amends for not being able to spend quality time with her. So turn your wrongs right by making all efforts to give a perfect Mothers Day to your mother. Think about her likes and dislikes about gifts and idea on celebration and act accordingly. Strive to make Mothers Day absolutely hassle free for your mother and take the responsibilities on yourself for a day. Pamper her a little on this special day of hers just as she pampers you all the year round.

Give her a warm hug and a big kiss as you wish her a Happy Mothers Day!

To discipline a child

It's natural for children to give their parents headaches before they are shown proper guidance or discipline. Some children are hyperactive and pose greater challenges than others. But all should be accepted and loved, and parents should remember that the objective of discipline is to teach.

Disciplining a child does not always mean punishment, because the long-range goal is to teach children to discipline themselves and exercise self-control rather than blind obedience. Good behavior is relative, of course, and standards vary from one family to the next. Obviously, early safety lessons are the most important. Small children need guidance more than punishment, and the purpose in punishing a child is not to get even but to teach. A time-out is an effective punishment for children of almost any age, as is rewarding good behavior. Remember to keep your rules succinct and simple and, whether or not you agree in spanking a child, never to shake a child or hit them in the head.

There are some children who would pose challenges to any parent. They are strong-willed and intensely curious, prone to troubled sleep and feeding problems, and have been so since birth. Some may be hyperactive, though that means they are also exhibiting unusual intelligence. It's important to love and accept even a difficult child, save your energy for major problems by letting him win a battle now and then, and avoid making a full diagnosis until the child is of school age.

One More Gift

Life that lead to happiness

Are you truly happy? Do you even know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness? These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves. I live my life to maintain my own happiness while trying my best to not cause unhappiness to anyone else.

If you want to be happy you need to understand that you can be happy and that you should be happy. Many people make the mistake of believing that they don’t deserve happiness and accept their unhappy state as their destiny. The truth of the matter is that happiness, like anything else in life, needs to be nurtured.

Understand what it is that will make you happy. Everyone has unique requirements for attaining happiness and what makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy. Revel in your individuality and do not worry about whether or not your desires are comparable to those of your peers

Maintaining your health is another way to achieve happiness. Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods can have a negative effect on your mood. Additionally, exercise has been known to release endorphins that give you a feeling of happiness.

Finally, it is important to understand that you deserve happiness. Those who believe that they are not worthy of happiness may subconsciously sabotage their efforts to achieve happiness. If necessary, tell yourself each day that you deserve to be happy and remind yourself what steps you will take to achieve the happiness you desire

Make up and pimples

Most women attempt to conceal their blemishes or skin disorders by opting for various cosmetic products. Covering up pimples and zits may sound as a brilliant technique to achieve the perfect smooth skin look but the truth is that your beauty products, particularly certain specific cosmetic items might actually result in an enhanced Pimple condition. While this alarming fact may strike as an unpleasant surprise but it calls for a state of awareness and preparedness while choosing your makeup items and when dealing with skin problems.

Even though the connection between makeup and Pimple is not entirely known or proven, studies reveal that worsened skin conditions may be caused due to several factors such as inadequate use of makeup products resulting in clogging of pores, using unhygienic items on sensitive skin such as applicators and brushes that may carry Pimple-causing bacteria and usage of incorrect and incompatible makeup products such as usage of oily based products on an already sensitive skin. Excessive oil accumulation is a leading Pimple aggravating factor and while choosing makeup products it is highly recommended that you are alive to the ingredients and constituents of whatever you apply on your skin.

Therefore, before going to bed, make it a habit to thoroughly clean all the makeup from your face and neck and every once in a while make use of gentle cleansers and toners to give your pores a break!

Happy Birthday Anak!

happy birthday RJ!

Sleep disorder and aging

Are you one of millions of seniors who think life would be pretty good….if you could just get some sleep?

Sleep disturbances are very common in older people. Changes in sleep patterns may be a normal part of aging, but many other factors common in older people contribute to sleep problems. These include physical illness or symptoms, medication side effects, changes in activity or social life, and death of a spouse or loved one. Sleep disorders decrease quality of life in older people by causing daytime sleepiness, tiredness, and lack of energy. Poor quality of sleep also can lead to confusion, difficulty concentrating, and poor performance on tasks. Sleep disorders also are linked with premature death

Feeling good about yourself

Everyone wants to look and feel good about him or herself. So if you are not too happy about yourself, think about your image and how you can improve it. You can always improve without going to the lengths (and expenses) of plastic surgery!

*Are you an active person? Do you exercise every day? Do you take care with personal hygiene?
*Do your clothes fit you or do you look like you are drowning in them or trying to escape from them?!
*Do you eat the right kind of foods?
*Do you smile at people and make positive comments?
*Are you resilient? Can you bounce back when things go wrong?
*Do you work at having and keeping friends?

Feeling good about yourself is something you can do something about.

If you do all of these things, you will have a healthy active life and look great at the same time, even if you don't have huge muscles or great pecs or bigger boobs or longer legs or … whatever your current 'if only' is!

Flame your social life

Man is a social animal and thus, if we are labeled with this tag, we should make efforts to keep its essence alive. Thus, we socialistic in your approach and stretch the diameter of your social lifestyle:

•Be faithful towards all relationships in your life. These relationships are treasured possessions of a person and thus, must be cherished by each one of us.
•It is important to participate in social gatherings to make maximum use of your being a human. It provides you with the opportunity to meet people with different shades and thought processes and you definitely learn one thing or another from them.
•How about actively taking interest in social responsibilities? You must keep some part of your life reserved for duties towards society. By doing so, you can feel a sense of satisfaction and completeness.
•You must possess memberships to various social clubs online as well as offline. This will help you to explore the world and learn about society in a big way.

Above all, you must understand the purpose of your existence on this planet. An aimless spirit inside you must be tamed to perform appreciable tasks, while leading a life. If you are confused about the aims and objectives of your life, never hesitate in asking from experts

Thus, we must have the desire to extract maximum out of every moment presented by our life. And once you achieve this, you will find that there is no better place than planet Earth to live in this Universe.

Osteoporosis and yoga

I just spotted this interesting piece about the possible benefits of yoga in fighting bone loss: http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=48392&sc=274

I have to admit I'm skeptical of the anecdote suggesting that a woman with decreased bone density was able to improve it simply by dropping coffee and adding more time on the mat (what about calcium intake, Vitamin D, and other lifestyle changes?) but the point is well taken.

Yoga can be a beneficial weight bearing exercise to help build bones and I just might try some of the recommended poses. It may not be the right choice, however, for those who have compression fractures in their spine or are otherwise frail, so do check with your doctor if you are considering starting a program.

Sweating and body odor

There are lots of different activities that cause us to sweat more than usual. Hot weather, exercise and doing something that makes us feel anxious all cause the sweat to flow. Sweating is one of the body's ways of cooling down and it is important that we do sweat. There is a very rare condition where people do not sweat, and they are at a very high risk of overheating.

Sweat by itself does not have much of an odour. Most of the smell is caused by bacteria which live on the skin and in clothing. Strange as it may seem, people with unpleasant body odour are unable to smell their body odour. Because they live with it all the time, they are no longer sensitive to the smell.

Underarm deodorants make the sweat acidic which stops bacteria from growing. We still make the same amount of sweat, but there are fewer bacteria to make the smell. Antiperspirants block the sweat ducts with aluminium salts, so that less sweat is produced. Less sweat equals fewer bacteria and less smell. They should only be used on underarms - you need to be able to sweat over the rest of your body to keep yourself healthy.

Anger can take over your life!

If you feel low or have little control in your life, you can sometimes use anger to manipulate or make others afraid of you. This can give you a sense of strength, power and control over the people around you. Using anger this way can hurt other people and yourself.

It makes it difficult to keep friends or other relationships and can lead to feelings of guilt or shame. These feelings can lead to low self-esteem, and increased anger and loneliness. It becomes a vicious cycle! It is never OK to use anger to hurt people in any way!

Attire makes a big impact

The way you dress can make a big difference in the way you look. Not only can you appear more professional or more relaxed depending on what you wear, but you can also look thinner depending on your choice of wardrobe. If doesn't matter what your dress size is, or whether you are bottom-heavy or simply out of proportion, by adjusting your attire you can make a big impact on your looks.

Probably the number one mistake people make is to wear clothes that don't fit. Wearing larger sizes does not make you look thinner. In fact, it will make you look even larger. On the same basis, wearing a size 12 if you are a 14 will not make look like a 12. All it will do is to accentuate every single area in which your body is hiding extra fat. Wearing clothes that fit may seem like an obvious answer, but if you want to look thinner, this should be the first thing you do. The same holds true for fabric. Avoid clingy outfits (Lycra and silk are difficult to wear properly) and instead choose pre-shaped outfits that will give you a general outline and make you look thinner.

If you need to look thinner on the bottom, avoid pleated skirts (they make your stomach look bigger) and instead choose A-lineskirts. If you need to hide bulges, choose loose-fit and low-ride jeans. With low-ride jeans, however, make sure to wear a top that is long enough. Boot-cut pants will balance large hips, and simple designs without a lot of extra pockets will also make you look thinner. Avoid slim-fit jeans if you have large thighs, and opt for darker shades to minimize trouble spots.

If you are trying to make your upper body look thinner, avoid tank tops in summer, as they emphasize your arms. On the other hand, if your arms are toned, showcasing them will take the focus away from your problem areas. Boatneck tops are great for balancing your body, and something you should definitively use if you have good-defined shoulders.

secret to flat tummy

Our tummies are always the hardest to trim whenever we decide to shape up. We do crunches and sit-ups to get rid of the bulge and unwanted "love handles," exerting so much effort into toning and firming them up, yet with little or no results--until after at least a month of doing them daily. But did you know that there’s a simple way to achieve a flat belly?

The secret, if you haven't discovered it yet, is simply practicing good posture. Abdominal muscles are partly responsible for holding our bodies upright.Imagine if your belly always looked as good as it does when you turn sideways in the mirror and suck it in. Ab exercises can help, but 5—or even 50—minutes of crunches won't do any good if you're letting it all hang out for the remaining 23 hours of the day.

No need to worry since posture can easily be corrected, and it even has a bonus: "Correcting poor posture can make you look five pounds slimmer instantly.

Camera critters

Why do Happy and Optimist live longer

Studies across the world have proved that people who are happy and have a positive outlook of life live healthier and longer lives. Now lets figure out why. Those who are happy and optimistic have lesser cardio logical problems; these also refer to coronary diseases and angina. People who are more optimistic also heal faster and have a faster recovery rate than those who are bleak and pessimistic about their health. The rate of re hospitalization after heart surgery also drops with the more optimistic lot.

According to research and studies conducted, those who are optimistic are less likely to suffer from strokes. Depression can lead to strokes, which can be fatal. Those who are less depressed, and less likely to have a stroke as compared to those suffering from clinical depression. Remember a stroke can lead to partial or full disability when not fatal. So avoid the occurrence of a stroke with a more optimistic outlook to life.

What is your outlook on aging? Don’t think this question is important? Think again! Research proves that those who are happy and optimistic about aging live longer, seven and a half years longer. So instead of working so hard on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels (and I am not saying don’t) why not just think happy and live longer!

Today's Flower #13

Camera Critters #7

Juice fasting for weight loss

Juice fasting for weight loss is a way of fasting for weight loss, by substituting the regular food with water, vegetable juices and fruit juices. It is also a wonderful way of getting rid of body toxins, as the juices do a thorough cleansing of the body. Among the weight loss processes, juice fasting for weight loss is considered as one of the most effective.

Juice fasting for weight loss is not only considered a weight loss plan, but also as a detoxification diet. An intake of raw vegetable and fruit juice and water is used instead of the normal solid diet. Juice fasting is advocated because of the juices being a good source of vitamins and antioxidants are helpful to the body. It is also considered as a detoxification diet, because the body is cleaned of toxins in juice fasting for weight loss.