Healthy Ramblings

Healthy Ramblings is coming back....

2008-08-01T01:26:00.005-05:00

Hello,

After an absence that was beyond my control, Healthy Ramblings is coming back.
The theme will still be basically the same, but on occassion, the topic may be on something entirely different. Your comments and questions will always be welcome.

Check back for new articles to be posted.

Thanks and see you soon,

Winford Taylor, editor
wtaylor@wwtenterprises.com
http://wwtenterprises.com

2007-04-19T13:45:00.000-05:00

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner.
This leaves little time to drop those unwanted pounds before
swimsuit season. This is also the time of season when gym
memberships increase because of the urgent need to get in
shape before the warm weather hits.

However, for those who sat around all winter, it may be hard
to jump into a rigorous diet and exercise routine. Fortunately,
there is The Family of HERBALIFE PRODUCTS that can help
you reach your goal with time, energy, and money to spare.

Many people who carry excess weight offer suffer from lack
of energy. Sometimes sleep is not enough to give you the energy
you need to make it through the day. The market understands
this and that is why the energy supplements are booming.

Most energy drinks are full of sugar and calories and provide you
with energy for only a short period of time. In addition most energy
tablets contain high doses of caffeine and taken for long periods of
time, can cause harmful mental side effects.

There are forms of ENERY DRINKS MADE FROM NATURAL
INGREDIENTS such as ginko biloba, ginseng, and guarine, that work
just as well, if not better, than the leading energy supplement and
provides a more natural energy boost.

Products: LiftOff, Herbal Concentrate, and N-R-G tablets

High Blood Pressure and YOU

2007-03-08T10:01:00.000-05:00

Obesity is a common indicator of problems with
high blood pressure. To fight against high blood
pressure, certain lifestyle changes need to take
place. Alcohol, smoking, and salt and coffee intake
all need to be done in moderation. It is also best to
exercise regularly.

In addition to the lifestyle changes, there are several
herbal remedies that have blood pressuring lowering
capabilities. Most herbal remedies are available as food
supplements to aid in a healthy diet and lifestyle.There
are doctor prescribed medications that help regulate blood
pressure, as well.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics
2006 studies on high blood pressure (hypertension),
nearly one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure.
The real danger lies in the fact that there are no symptoms.
The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is by
getting it checked at regular doctor visits.

Because many people often neglect their health and do not
visit the doctor, almost 33% of the people that have high blood
pressure do not know they have it. Many people have been
found to have had it for years without knowing, and of course
not being able to take care of themselves properly.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure, which is why it is often referred
to as the "silent killer", can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart
failure or kidney failure. Take control of your health. Visit your
doctor regularly, and check your blood pressure to make sure you
are not a victim of this deadly health disorder.

Health Fitness Tips

2007-03-01T20:51:00.000-05:00

10 Health Fitness Tips

The other day I went to the doctor and he said
I had gained a few pounds. Well I did not want
to hear that. I live in Michigan, so with the cold
weather and all, I have not had a chance to get
outand walk. But I know the important of exercise.

I ran across this article and I would like to share it
with you. After reading the article, visit this site:
I am concerned about my health.

by: Michael Fortomas

More than any other time in history, people are all trying to have
the best, healthiest body possible. The health and fitness industries
are making billions of dollars every year on herbal supplements,
fitness equipment, gyms, and special diets. If you watch TV or read
magazines, there is always some intriguing commercial asking for
money to help you get into shape.

Now that you have made a commitment to take care of your body,
both internal and external, it is critical to your overall health that
you do it the right way. Here are some tips for both health and fitness
that will help you lose weight, discover ways to maintain a better
healthy lifestyle, and be in the best shape of your life –
all the smart way!

1. Bicycling

When you ask many adults when the last time they rode a bike is,
they cannot answer. Although bicycling is a favorite pastime, many
adults do not take advantage of this great option for exercise. Not
only does bike riding exercise the body and build a stronger
cardiovascular system, it allows you to get out and enjoy nature,
fresh air, and see new sites.

2. Jogging or Walking
Both jogging and walking are GREAT ways to get fit. Not only do
they tone the muscles, relieve stress, create a healthier heart, and
improve lung capability, they make you look wonderful, which in
turns helps you get excited about doing other exercise for fitness.

3. Swimming
Swimming is an excellent way to get into and stay in shape. If you
do not own a pool, many high schools have aquatic centers, or there
is always the YWCA or YMCA, or your local gym. Many offer water
aerobic classes that will help you tighten your body, lose weight, and
get a good overall workout.

4. Tennis Anyone
Tennis is not only a fun sport, but also a great way to exercise. You do not
have to be a Venice Williams to play; in fact, you do not even have to be good. Just running after the ball alone will help get you into shape. This is a great way to strengthen your cardiovascular system and lose weight. You can find tennis courts in just about every city and if you would like to play but have no idea how, lessons are reasonable.

5. Dancing
Dancing is so much fun and whether you enjoy a slow, Ballroom dance or a nightclub packed with people all moving to heart-pumping techno, as long as you are moving, it really does not matter what type of dance or music. The whole idea is to move your body. Dancing has long been recommended as an avenue to fitness.

6. VCR
If you have a VCR or DVD, rather than just using it for your favorite comedy or action-packed movie, try sticking in some good workout tapes. Even taking 15 minutes every day to workout will get you started. Try that for two weeks and you will be surprised at the results. Once you see that 15 minutes a day makes a difference, you will be encouraged to increase the time spent.

7. Abdominal Crunches
While you may not end up with a washboard stomach, you can do some things to get your abdomen in better shape. Crunches have long been a favorite for many athletes for the very reason that they work. Lying on your back with knees bent, keeping feet flat on the floor, cross your hands across your chest and then curl your torso, rolling from your sternum toward your hips. Do this slowly and start out with a set of ten crunches in three reps. In other words, do ten crunches, wait a minute, do ten more, wait a minute, and then do the final ten. As you get accustomed to these, you can increase both the number of sets and reps.

8. Squats
Squats are excellent for glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves. With your feet standing firm and spread apart about two feet, bend your knees slightly. Then, very smoothly, you will squat toward the floor without going all the way down. This usually takes some practice but within a short period, you will enjoy the benefits.

9. Tricep Press
Having firm arms is something that many people focus on when exercising. For an Overhead Tricep Press, standing on the floor with your feet about two feet apart, knees slightly bent, you will extend your arms over your head. Keep your elbows locked and then very slowly lower your hands behind your head. You want to do this with some type of weight, but small weights like one to five pounds. If you do not have weights of your own, you can hold a one-pound of vegetables, which will work perfectly.

10. Get to the Gym
Working out at home is a good option and for some people, they are committed enough to actually make it work. However, for the majority of people wanting to get into shape, the inspiration, competitiveness, and encouragement received from working out in a gym is the way to go. Although it will require a small investment, make the decision to find a gym that offers state-of-the-art equipment, qualified staff, and fun classes where you can enjoy working out.

By taking care of your body through good health habits and fitness, you will live a happier, better, and longer life! Don't forget the nutrition

About the author:
Michael Fortomas is a teacher of Biology and a freelance journalist - writing about health, the environment and development - issues he cares deeply about."101 Ways to Get in Better Shape and Stay That Way!"! is a thoroughly researched free ecourse on tips for both health and fitness that will help you lose weight, discover ways to maintain a better healthy lifestyle, and be in the best shape of your life – all the smart way!

Healthy Ramblings: Your Waist measurement and what it could mean to you.

2007-02-21T10:36:00.000-05:00

Healthy Ramblings: Your Waist measurement and what it could mean to you.

February is Heart Month and Time for Core Complex

2007-02-16T03:43:00.000-05:00

My post is a little late this time, I apologize for that. I had a slight
back injurywhich had me on my back for a few days. Now on to
the good stuff.

February is Heart Health month. Heart disease , also known as
coronary artery disease, is one of the major health problems
experienced by women. Many people don't know that coronary
artery disease is of the preventable forms of heart disease. It is
now clear that most people who develop coronary artery disease
have at least one major risk factor.

Taking Nutrition to Heart

Core Complex , developed with Nobel Laureate in Medicine
Dr. Lou Ignarro, targets four key indicators of heart health:

cholesterol

triglycerides

homocysteine
oxidative stress

Each Core Complex packette includes:

■ 2 brown softgels of plant sterols and
B vitamins

■ 1 green softgel of mixed tocopherols,
quercetin and alpha lipoic acid

■ 1 burgundy softgel of Tri-Shield™ with
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO®)†

■ 2 gold softgels of Herbalifeline® fish oils with
Omega-3 fatty acids

Taken together, the six softgels in Core Complex provide
a convenient and comprehensive solution to support your
heart health.

Heart attack may strike suddenly, but the problem takes
years to develop and usually could have been prevented.
Confirmed by several major studies, most people who have
heart attacks had at least one major avoidable risk factor
beforehand. So know the risk, and try to avoid them when
you can.

Childhood Obesity- We love our children

2007-02-06T23:39:00.000-05:00

(right click mouse on hyperlinks to open in new window, please)

Today we are going to look at Childhood Obesity. I am sure we all
know someone that was heavy as a child and their weight was out
of control by the time they reached adolescence. In the United
States, somewhere in the range of 5-25 percent of children and
teens are obese.

Fast foods, sugar laden snacks, and lack of exercise are the main
culprits in childhood obesity. A proper diet and healthy snacks can
aid in keeping these numbers from growing. To many families don't
have the time to fix healthy meals on a daily basis. Snacks, such as
ShapeWorks protein bars help moderate caloric intake and
especially reduce dietary fat. Just by switching the candy bars and
other fat or sugary snacks to the ShapeWorks Variety Pack have
been useful to successfully help with a child's besity.

It is the role of the parents to prevent childhood obesity. You can't
expect the children to take charge and change their habits of eating
and exercise on their own. If you are a parent, one of your
responsibilities is to take charge of your children's health. Childhood
obesity can lead to high blood pressure which can lead to kidney
diease, stroke, and heart failure.

Even if your child doesn't have high blood pressure, the risk of
diabetes and cardiovascular problems increase by being overweight.
Make healthy eating a family affair. Keeping the family's diet healthy
and keeping the kids off the couch, will help protect your children
from the effects of childhood obesity. Find out more about the family
of Herbalife products and how they can fix into your new healthy lifestyle.

See you next time for Healthy Ramblings

Let's look at Obesity

2007-01-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

What is obesity?
A person is classed as obese when their weight has increased to a point where it seriously endangers their health. Obesity is diagnosed when a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 30. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in lbs or kilogrammes by height in feet and inches or metres squared. Use our health calculator to work out yours

What are the causes?

Obesity is normally caused by a combination of eating too much of the wrong types of food and not doing enough exercise. We take a look at the contributing factors:

Eat less and exercise more - it has long been the mantra for shedding those extra pounds. But now it seems that all the hard work may have been in vain. Traditionally, health practitioners have focused on diet and exercise - and a large dose of willpower - to treat the problem.

Lack of sleep could be partly to blame, they say in the International Journal of Obesity. In recent years, the average night's sleep has dropped from nine hours to just seven. Sleep deprivation alters levels of the hormones that regulate food intake and body fat and increase hunger and appetite.

Those who take beta-blockers to control their blood pressure can often put on 3lb. Similarly, studies have shown that going on the Pill can add 11lb to a woman's weight.

Mother Nature may also be to blame, with our body shape being partly inherited. The overweight are also more likely to settle with partners of a similar size, and their children are more likely to be obese.

Obesity related illnesses

Research has shown that being overweight or obese increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Read more about the side-effects:

Obesity is linked to an increased risk of bowel, kidney, oesophageal and stomach cancers, and also cancers of the womb and breast in post-menopausal women

Diabetes is a serious condition, which can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and nerve damage that can cause amputation. Diabetes occurs when the body loses the ability to process blood sugar, leading to high levels which can damage organ

Type 1 develops at a young age, while Type 2 typically occurs in later life. However, high obesity levels mean Type 2 is increasingly developing at younger ages and now makes up an estimated 75 per cent of cases.

In the next Healthy Ramblings I will explore Childhood Obesity, which is rising at an alarming rate in this country. Look at some of the numbers.

Heart Health leads to a Healthy Heart

2007-01-23T23:08:00.000-05:00

Today’s Healthy Ramblings will be on Heart health. So let’s get to it.

There are millions of people diagnosed with hearth and cardiovascular diseases can which can benefit from making healthful choices in their daily lives.

There are supplements which are designed to target four key indicators of heart health: cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine and oxidative stress.According to Dr. Richard Stein, M.D., who is a spokesman for the americanheart.org, “While it’s certainly a neccessitiy to take medications to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol, it’s equally important to practice a healthy lifestyle. People who are informed and take a proactive approach when it comes to lowering their health risks are very likely to avoid heart disease and heart attacks.”

Heart disease isn't just a man's disease. Heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are devastating to women, too. In fact, coronary heart disease, which causes heart attack, is the leading cause of death for American women. Many women believe that cancer is more of a threat, but they're wrong. Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease and stroke as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

Both women and men are more likely to develop heart disease or stroke if their close blood relatives have had them. Race is also a factor. Black women have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke than white women. Compared with whites, African-American men and women are more likely to die of stroke.

I use a supplement daily called Core Complex. It provides me with plant sterols, found in soybeans, which have been shown to reduce LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and total cholesterol, antioxidant protection to support circulation and healthy blood vessels and B vitamins to help maintain healthy homocysteine levels, which are already within the normal range.

YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH ROAD MAP

3 steps to foods for life:

1. IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL DIETARY PATTERN.

Don't look for miracle foods or quick fixes. Make healthy eating your lifelong plan. Begin by replacing unhealthy foods with heart-healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and nonfat dairy foods, fish and legumes.

2. CHECK FOOD LABELS.

Read nutrition labels on packaged products, and choose foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium (salt).

3. EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

Don't be daunted by new guidelines that recommend seven to 10 servings each day. Getting that many is not as hard as it sounds. The official serving sizes are much smaller than restaurant portions -- a serving of vegetables usually is 1/2 cup.

To learn more about heart-healthy diets and nutrition, visit the American Heart Association's website at americanheart.org.

Your Waist measurement and what it could mean to you.

2007-01-19T20:03:00.000-05:00

In my last ramblings, I spoke about BMI or Body Mass Index. In that post, it was explained how it is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. Today I would like to expand on that a little more.

According to the Health Day News, research has shown that excess abdominal fat is a good indicator that you're at higher risk for conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, the National Dairy Council says.

A waist circumference of greater than 40 inches for men and 35 for women is cause for concern, the council suggests.

The organization offers these suggestions on how to measure your waist circumference:

Find the upper hip bone and the top of the right iliac crest, the portion of the pelvic bone at the belt line.
Wrap a measuring tape around your middle at the level of the belt area at the top of your pelvic bone.
Breathe out -- don't hold your breath or suck in your stomach.
Make sure the measuring tape is not too loose or too tight around your middle, and make sure you aren't holding the tape at an angle.

The path to good health is surprisingly shortened with knowledge, exercise, and the proper diet. I’m in my early 50’s, so I am really concerned about my health. Needless to say I read a lot and watch what I eat and how much. Looking good and feeling better is my goal and I’m sure it is yours too.

While reading my AARP magazine the other day, I ran across and article that offered ways to boost your wellness in 15 minutes or less. I’d like to share a few of them with you.

Catch some sun—I know we’ve been advised to stay out of the sun, but, the sun is our primary source of vitamin D. By spending a small amount of time in the sun, without sunscreen, could help ward off illnesses such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. Why, because each one of these can be triggered by a vitamin D deficiency.
Drink more coffee—No I’m not kidding coffee’s main benefit is it’s wealth of antioxidants The beverage can lower your risk of type II diabetes and can protect your liver from damage too. If you have osteoporosis, be sure and follow your physician’s advice for calcium supplementation.
Take a breather—New age practices like Yoga, Tai Chi, and Meditation are know to boost your health, improve your blood circulation and reduce tension.

May I recommended that you check these titles

Yoga for Athletes®

Meditation and Relaxation with Erich Schiffmann

Well that’s it for today, I hope you find this information useful.

Be sure and join me for my next Healthy Ramblings.
Learn more about products to improve your health.

Your Waist measurement and what it could mean to you.

2007-01-19T18:40:00.000-05:00

A waist circumference of greater than 40 inches for men and 35 for women is cause for concern, the council suggests.

The organization offers these suggestions on how to measure your waist circumference:

Find the upper hip bone and the top of the right iliac crest, the portion of the pelvic bone at the belt line.
Wrap a measuring tape around your middle at the level of the belt area at the top of your pelvic bone.
Breathe out -- don't hold your breath or suck in your stomach.
Make sure the measuring tape is not too loose or too tight around your middle, and make sure you aren't holding the tape at an angle.

While reading my AARP magazine the other day, I ran across and article that offered ways to boost your wellness in 15 minutes or less. I’d like to share a few of them with you.

Catch some sun—I know we’ve been advised to stay out of the sun, but, the sun is our primary source of vitamin D. By spending a small amount of time in the sun, without sunscreen, could help ward off illnesses such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. Why, because each one of these can be triggered by a vitamin D deficiency.
Drink more coffee—No I’m not kidding coffee’s main benefit is it’s wealth of antioxidants. The beverage can lower your risk of type II diabetes and can protect your liver from damage too. If you have osteoporosis, be sure and follow your physician’s advice for calcium supplementation.
Take a breather—New age practices like Yoga, Tai Chi, and Meditation are know to boost your health, improve your blood circulation and reduce tension.

Well that’s it for today, I hope you find this information useful. Be sure and join me for my next post.

BMI- Bad Monthly Income ( Not Hardly)

2007-01-16T22:11:00.000-05:00

I am sure many of us would agree that we have a Bad Monthly income, right? We all could use a boost in pay. Well there is another meaning to the letters BMI.

Body mass index or BMI is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. It is meant to be used as a simple means of classifying physically inactive individuals with an average body composition. The BMI is meant to broadly categorize populations for purely statistical purposes.

People short in stature tend to have lower BMI. Therefore they should use a
lower cut-off value for obesity diagnosis. The same applies to older people, whose reduced muscle mass can hide additional body fat without increasing BMI. A frequent use of the BMI is to assess how much an individual's body weight departs from what is normal or desirable for a person of his or her height. Have you checked your BMI ?

Many of us understand that being overweight can affect our health in a great number of ways. The biggest health risks are heart disease and type II diabetes, and it seems most of us are pretty well aware of the links when it comes to these.

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for protection against obesity related illness and disability. If your weight is currently over the healthy range for your height, losing weight will be beneficial to your health, your looks, and how you feel. Find info about what I used to lower my BMI to a healthy level.

I know that I feel a lot better than I did a couple of years ago. Why even the aches and pains have gone away. We only have one life to live, why not make it a long and enjoyable one. Take control of your health, by starting with your Body Mass Index.