Archive for May, 2011

One Legged Squat

One Legged Squat is an effective resistance training exercise that targets and tones your lower-body muscles such as quads, calves and hamstrings. This exercise is difficult to execute and should only be performed in the supervision of a qualified gym trainer to avoid the risk of an injury.

In order to begin this exercise, stand straight with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding two medium dumbbells in your hands. Make sure that you keep your hands by your sides. Next step is to lift your right leg behind you and bend the front knee by keeping your body weight on the heels. It is important that you bend your knees to a 90 degree angle. Pause at the bottom of squat and return to start. This would complete one rep. Make sure that perform 2 sets of 10 reps each. Do the other side with the same number of reps.

In order to enhance your physical performance, consume an energy drink half an hour before or after resistance training workouts. USN EnerG Spike Energy Drink combines effective ingredients to enhance physical and mental performance. This effect is accomplished by the combination of taurine, caffeine, ginseng and glucuronolactone. Research reveals that these ingredients may have positive effects on human mood and physical performance. Strenuous physical activities lower the body’s taurine reserves. EnerG Spike helps reduce fatigue and tiredness by replenishing the body’s taurine supply. Drink 30 minutes prior to a sporting event to give your mind as well as body an energy boost.


Health Benefits of Allicin

Allicin is an organosulfur compound that exhibits anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Organic compounds that contain sulfur are known as organosulfur compounds. Allicin is obtained from Allium sativum, also known as garlic.

Allicin offers numerous health benefits. It helps normalize the lipoprotein balance and maintains the health of cardiovascular system. It helps decrease blood pressure and reduces fat deposition along the arterial walls. Moreover, allicin reduces the risk of blood clot formation inside a blood vessel. A recent research has revealed that it exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The antibacterial activity of allicin makes it an excellent compound to use in aqueous extracts to treat the different strains of bacteria.

Although garlic offers countless health benefits, yet many people have problems consuming garlic due to its pungent smell and unpleasant taste. Allicin Max Max is a unique brand on the market that makes use of allicin in its formulation. A patented extraction process produces allicin and locks it into vegetarian, convenient capsules designed for rapid absorption into your body.

This supplement provides the body directly with real stabilised allicin that helps support your body’s natural defences. It helps maintain the health of your cardiovascular system and exhibits anti-thrombotic effects. Moreover, it promotes a healthy digestive system and boosts your immune system. Take one capsule daily with liquid at mealtimes. However, you can take more if needed and this can be repeated during the day to increase the benefits seen. Each Allicin Max capsule contains 180mg allisure allicin powder to maintain your overall health and well being.


Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infection of the lungs that is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When a person with tuberculosis speaks, coughs or sneezes, he or she expels small droplets into the air. Droplets dry out quick, but bacteria remain airborne for days. When they are inhaled by a healthy individual, bacteria reach the lungs and develop a small infection that rarely gives any symptoms. Bacteria can remain dormant for months or even years without doing any obvious harm. However, when they find a favourable environment, they become reactivated and invade the lungs. The infection can also spread via blood from the lungs to other parts of body such as urinary tract, intestines, bones, skin, lymph nodes and sexual organs.

Typical symptoms of tuberculosis include persistent cough, sputum production with blood, fever, night sweats, fatigue, tiredness, lack of appetite and weight loss. Treatment of tuberculosis includes a combination of 3 different kinds of antibiotics given over eight to nine months.

A weakened immune system increases the risk of getting tuberculosis. People with different health conditions especially HIV and AIDS are more likely to contract this infectious disease.

If you have a compromised immune system, then you should regularly take a dietary supplement that boosts your immune system. Natures Aid Immune Support + with Beta-Glucans is a popular brand on the market that contains Elderberry, Ester-C and Beta-Glucans in its formulation. This supplement promotes a healthy immune system and improves your body’s resistance against bacteria and viruses. You should take one tablet per day with food or cold drink.


Adductor Squeeze- An Excellent Exercise to Train Your Multiple Muscle Groups

Adductor Squeeze is a sensational resistance training exercise that makes use of an exercise ball to train your quads. Perform this exercise in combination with cardio exercises such as jogging, brisk walking and running to tone and strengthen your quadriceps, calves and hamstrings.

In order to begin this exercise, lie on your back on a flat surface and bend your knees at 90 degrees. Place an exercise ball between your knees and squeeze the knees together to put stress on quadriceps, inner thighs and hamstrings. Pause the squeeze for a couple of seconds and then release back to start to complete on rep. Make sure that you perform 3 sets of 8-10 reps each.

Resistance training needs strength, vigour and endurance on your part to perform workouts accurately and safely. BetterYou Menergy is a potent blend of nature’s finest energy givers such as Brazilian, Panax and Siberian Ginseng, Peruvian Maca and Ginkgo Biloba. This supplement provides your body with nature’s most absorbable ingredients to reduce the temporary feelings of tiredness, enhance the body’s metabolism, and enhance sexual alertness.

The combination of Ginkgo Biloba and Brazilian Ginseng helps enhance the body’s uptake of oxygen within the blood and feed the vital organs including the brain. BetterYou Menergy helps enhance the capacity of body to store and release energy and cope with daily stress. It also contains chromium that helps manage fat metabolism and serum sugar levels. Another great thing about this supplement is that it is sugar and caffeine-free. It is suitable for diabetic patients, vegans and vegetarians.


Hypoparathyroidism- Symptoms and Causes

Hypoparathyroidism is a medical condition that refers to the decreased function of the parathyroid glands. This disorder often leads to decreased levels of parathyroid hormone, stunted growth, slow mental development, malformed teeth, anaemia, Addison’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

The symptoms of hypoparathyroidism include frequent muscle cramps, abdominal pain, convulsions, cataracts, muscle spasms, hand or foot spasms, pain in the legs and face, dry skin and hair, brittle nails, tingling lips, decreased consciousness and painful menstruation.

Causes of hypoparathyroidism include haemochromatosis, DiGeorge syndrome, magnesium deficiency, malabsorption, kidney disease, vitamin D deficiency and trauma to the parathyroid glands.

Diagnosis is made by measurement of PTH (parathyroid hormone) in the blood, serum albumin, cAMP (cyclic AMP) in the urine, and calcium. Treatment includes a regular consumption of diets rich in calcium and vitamin D3, and PTH and calcium supplementation.

HealthAid Calcium Complete 800mg is a popular brand on the market that contains calcium and vitamin D in its formulation. Not only does it help metabolise the body’s minerals and maintain strong bones and healthy teeth, but it also plays an important role in the control of heart beat, muscle, nervous system and other vital organs. It helps relieve the symptoms associated with hypoparathyroidism and makes a perfect gift for women who are going through the menopause and for those on restricted diets or lactose intolerant. Moreover, people undergoing surgery can use this supplement to help ensure blood clots normally. HealthAid Calcium also contains inulin, which helps maintain optimum gut health. Take two tablets daily, preferably in the morning.


Oncholysis- Causes and Treatment

Oncholysis is loosening or detachment of the nail from the nail bed. It starts at the border of the nail and usually affects the ring finger. However, it can occur on any of the fingernails and takes 3-4 months to clear up. As the condition progresses, the affected nail turns yellowish or whitish in colour.

There are numerous causes that might be responsible for oncholysis. They include physical trauma, excessive manicuring, fungal or viral infection, dermatitis, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, arthritis, idiopathic epilepsy and impaired peripheral circulation.

If you have oncholysis, then make sure that you trim the nail short and do not clean under the nail. It also makes a good idea to consume diets that are rich in omega-3 nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids especially EPA and DHA help maintain the health of skin and nails. The rich dietary sources of omega-3 nutrients include salmon, mackerel, nuts, whole grains and vegetables. You can also consume a dietary supplement on a regular basis that makes use of omega-3 fatty acids in its formulation.

Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil High Strength Fish Oil is a popular brand on the market that provides omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins D and E. Not only does this supplement promote healthy nails, skin, and hair, but it also helps maintain the health of joints and makes them supple and flexible. This supplement sources cod liver oil from sustainable fish stocks of Arctic fisheries and does not make use of artificial preservatives. Take one capsule a day with cold water.


Train Your Abductor Muscle with the “Lying Side Leg Raise”

Lying Side Leg Raise is a wonderful resistance training exercise that works the outside of your thigh or abductor muscle. Make sure that you perform this exercise for a longer rep range than most exercises to train your lower-body muscles.

In order to begin this exercise, lie on left side, keeping your body as straight as possible with your left arm under your head and right arm on the ground near your chest. Next step is to lift your top leg into the air and pause at the top for 8-10 seconds to increase the intensity of exercise. Slowly lower your leg back to its starting position to complete one rep. Perform 4 sets of 12-15 reps each. Change your side and repeat the same process.

It makes a good idea to regularly consume a creatine supplement after resistance training exercises to allow your muscles to train for longer. Nutrisport Creatine Bomb is 1000 mg of creatine tableted with a dextrose delivery system. Creatine is the energy fuel for physical activities as it helps increase power, energy levels, endurance and lean muscle mass. The absorption of creatine is insulin driven which means that taking creatine with sugar or complex carbohydrates increases the production of insulin. This in turn increases the absorption of creatine. It is a wheat free, gluten free and dairy free supplement that is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Make sure that you take 3 tablets, 3 times per day for the first week. After that, take 2-4 tablets per day.


Difference between Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics, also known as “friendly bacteria” or “good bacteria”, are live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on their consumers. They are similar to beneficial bacteria found in the human gut. Probiotics help support general wellness, promote a healthy digestive system and treat certain illnesses. They are available mainly in the form of foods and dietary supplements.

Recent studies have showed that probiotics help treat diarrhoea especially from rotavirus. They help reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and treat infections of the urinary tract. Moreover, they help reduce the recurrence of stomach and bladder cancer and treat infections of the female genital tract.

Rich dietary sources of probiotics include yogurt, tempeh, soy beverages, fermented milk and miso. In probiotics supplemetents, the bacteria are added during preparation. There are two groups of bacteria that are used, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are nondigestible food ingredients that stimulate the activity and growth of beneficial bacteria already in one’s colon. A synbiotic supplement is one in which prebiotics and probiotics are mixed together to achieve the maximum health benefits. Prebiotics provide food for the probiotics to flourish and probiotics help maintain overall digestive health.

Optibac Daily Wellbeing Probiotics/Prebiotics Healthy Immune System is an expert formula of 6 different probiotic strains including acidophilus to help maintain the health of digestive tract, boost immunity and improve energy levels on a daily basis. This supplement promotes a healthy balance of bacteria throughout the intestinal tract and improves absorption of nutrients in the different parts of the small and large intestine. Take 2 capsules daily with food.


Jump Squat- An Effective Resistance Training Exercise to Develop Your Quadriceps

Jump Squat is an excellent resistance training exercise to develop and strengthen your quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. Perform this exercise with a perfect technique to maximize the results and reduce the risks of injuries.

In order to begin this exercise, you should stand straight with your feet hip-width apart. Keeping the body weight on your heels, begin to sit down and go as low as you can. However, make sure that your knees do not extend past your toes. Pause for 2-5 seconds at the bottom of your squat and then jump into the air to complete one rep. Make sure that you perform 3 sets of 8-10 reps each. If you are new to exercising, then perform this exercise in the supervision of a professional trainer as it makes a difficult exercise for beginners.

Consume protein-rich diets or supplements after resistance training exercises to gain the muscle mass fast. PhD Pharma Whey HT Protein Powder is a popular brand on the market that supplies a bio-engineered whey protein complex to its users. It makes use of top quality premium hydrolysed whey protein isolate to deliver faster-acting protein into your hungry muscles, helps you get bigger and stronger muscles and provides even quicker recovery from strenuous resistance training workouts.

Pharma Whey HT+ makes use of branched chain amino acids and probiotic culture in its formulation to provide enhanced defence against muscle soreness and to promote gut health and easier digestion. Moreover, it does not make sue of slow release protein sources such as milk protein or wheat. Use 2-4 servings of this supplement daily for optimum results.


Hypertensive Heart Diseases

Hypertensive heart diseases refer to heart conditions caused by high blood pressure. Conditions that can be caused by high blood pressure include coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertensive cardiomyopathy.

Congestive heart failure due to high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of death all around the globe. This condition occurs when the heart fails to supply sufficient blood to tissues and vital organs. Congestive heart failure is characterized by the swelling of legs, shortness of breath, and exercise intolerance. It is diagnosed with blood tests and echocardiography. Treatment includes medications and healthy lifestyle changes such as a combination of light cardio exercises and strength training, decreased fat and salt intake, and smoking and alcohol cessation.

It also makes a good idea to use a dietary supplement that helps maintain normal blood pressure. Vitabiotics Cardioace Healthy Heart & Circulation is a popular brand on the market that combines the benefits of omega-3 nutrients with antioxidants, garlic and important trace minerals.

It makes a comprehensive, researched based nutritional supplement for a healthy heart and circulation. Moreover, it also helps maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and healthy serum cholesterol levels. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in maintaining normal blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Garlic helps balance good cholesterol and maintains arterial health and normal blood pressure. Another benefit of Cardioace Healthy Heart is that it provides the nutritional building blocks for essential enzymes in heart health. Take one or two capsules per day with a full glass of water with your main meal.


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