Health Information for a Long Healthy Life

Fibromyalgia And The Weather Forecast

This is a guest post by author Kathryn Merrow.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a collection of symptoms.  If your doctor has diagnosed you with "fibro" or FMS, that means you aren't going to die.  That's a good thing.  Your diagnosis means your doctor acknowledges that you hurt, but he or she doesn't know why.  Perhaps it's a "fringe benefit" that you are able to predict the weather based on how you feel.

"I don't care what the weatherman said.  It's going to rain today.  Take your umbrella!"  Judy was one of my favorite weathercasters.  With her Fibromyalgia, she was much more accurate than the best television or radio weathercaster ever was!

People with other conditions can be affected by changes in the weather, but in my experience, they don't seem to put their finger exactly on what weather is coming as well as my clients with Fibromyalgia can.

What is barometric pressure?  It's a measurement of the weight of the air that surrounds us.  Normally, on sunny days, the barometric pressure reading is high.  But, when a storm or cold front is moving in, the barometric pressure drops.  Sometimes the drop is very rapid.  This sudden change in barometric pressure often leads to Fibromyalgia flare-ups (an increase in symptoms.)

Symptoms seem to be worse during

Are Sulfate-Free Shampoos Really Better For Your Hair?

This is a guest post by author Kim Snyder.

If you are like anyone else, you love to wash your hair at least every other day of not daily. As you lather up you can help but love the feeling of all those bubbles but did you know that the very ingredients that give you that amazing lather may also be the most damaging to your hair?

Most mainstream shampoos contain sulfates which is great for making lots of lather but not so great for your personal health, your hairs health and even the environments health. So why are the mainstream companies still using sulfates in their brands of shampoos? For the most part it is because sulfates are cheap to make and create lots of lather. Being that we are all have become accustom to the idea that lots of bubbles means really clean hair they keep making cheap shampoos.

Just what are sulfates and why are they an issue? You will find the in the shampoo ingredients listed as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which are in fact really a harsh chemical surfactants that are found in lots of other products including toothpaste. They are known to cause eye and skin irritation plus when you use shampoo that contains these ingredients they can be absorbed through the skin.

Did you know that sulfates are really

Heart Health - How To Give Yourself an All Natural Heart Bypass

Open up new, life giving blood pathways without expensive drugs or painful surgery.When heart arteries get clogged, one solution is to reroute circulation. Normally, that means an expensive, painful, risksy operation known as a heart bypass. To get to your heart, a surgeon will have to crack some ribs. But, to avoid a costly, painful,risky operation, and get new blood flow to your heart naturally, you barely need to break a sweat.

Thats right, Im talking about exercise. But much less than you might think.Exercise triggers the growth of new life giving circualtion pathways to your heart, just like a heart bypass does.Whats more, it also opens up existing arteries in your heart and in your brain. More oxygen in your brain improves your thinking, your memory, and your mood.

No wonder many doctors say that for people with coronary artery disease ( and that makes most of the older folks these days), regular exercise is just as important as any heart medication. I wish I could tell you that you could cut your risk of a heart attack

Losing Weight And Dieting When You Do Not Feel Well

If you are sick, you should not try to stay on a diet and exercise schedule. When your body needs to rest just give yourself a break. It may be the best thing to get you started on your healthy lifestyle program again once you are feeling better. Here are some ways to take care of yourself when you are sick so that your diet and weight loss program will not suffer during this time.

• Drink lots of water. You should do this anyway, but when you are not feeling well it will clean out your system and fill you up so you are not quite as hungry.
• Don’t eat too many fruits and vegetables. Eat just a small percentage of what you would eat when you feel well. This will keep you from having diarrhea and becoming dehydrated.
• Avoid sweets of any kind. You may have a craving for sugar to give you some quick energy while you are recuperating. Resist this urge and you will find that you get better much sooner than you would if you gave in and ate these types of foods.
• Suspend your exercise program until you are completely well again. Even light to moderate exercise can make you have a relapse and put you back where you were previously.
• Don’t try to make up for lost time once you are well. Take your time getting back to your routine and you will be able to start losing weight and feeling great very soon.

Cleansing the body to lose weight quickly is also a way to get started after you have been ill.

Healthy Eating Means More Energy

It has now been almost a month since going back to my healthy way of eating. I have eliminated all sugar, dairy and animal products from my diet. I also exercise, using both cardio and weights, every day. The results so far - I have lost twenty pounds and have more energy than ever. I no longer take a short nap in the afternoon just to get through the rest of the day. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Eating Well To Feel Great

After about 10 days of eating a healthful diet and exercising daily, I feel like a million dollars. My energy is back and my mind is clear. I am eating only fruits, vegetables, whole grains, raw nuts and seeds, and legumes. I exercise for about 30 to 45 minutes each day, alternating between cardio (walking briskly and riding a stationary bike) and working with free weights at my house.

I am utilizing information from Bob Phillips' book Body For Life and a new book I am listening to called The China Study, written by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. Although these are two different approaches to good health, I am taking the pieces from each that work for me and fit into my lifestyle. I can only say that I feel better than I have in about two years and have no intention of going back to my counterproductive ways.

Can Being A Better Listener Improve Your Health?

According to Greg Nutter, a farmer's Insurance agent in Santa Clarita, California, being a better listener is key to maintaining a good relationship with your clients. But how can that have an effect on your heath?

Studies show that observing quiet time or meditation is crucial to good health. Being a good listener means that you will talk less while you are listening more. Then it stands to reason that there is a logical connection between the two things.

Listen to the sounds around you. When you are silent you hear things that you never noticed before. When you are talking to someone, let them completely finish their words and thoughts before you even begin to formulate a response. Talk less and listen more. It will be good for your overall health and your relationships.

Good and Bad Inflammation

Inflammation can be both good and bad for the body. Good inflammation is the body's natural defense system that is activated when you are injured. It includes pain, sweling, and redness. This is the way our bodies protect and heal us.

The other kind of inflammation is bad. Very bad. It occurs when our immune system becomes out of balance from eating the wrong kind of foods stress, and lack of exercise. This bad inflammation makes us gain weight and can lead to many types of diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other life threatening illnesses. This inflammation is deep within our cells.

By eliminating certain foods, especially sugar, along with other foods that we may be sensitive to or have allergic reactions from, we can also eliminate inflammation. We can also lose weight when we change our eating habits and eliminate sugar, salt, red meat, and dairy foods from our diet.

Most doctors will not discuss inflammation with us, but they see it everyday when we complain of headaches, nausea, diarrhea, weight gain, nasal congestion, joint pain, and fatigue.

Spend one week eating only fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and chicken. See how you feel. I will bet that you will feel less bloated, have a happier mood, and be more clear-headed. Give it a try and let me know.

Glutamine - Healthy recipe for a good life

Glutamine is one of the essential amino acids that is found predominantly is muscles. I take glutamine twice daily. In the morning I mix powdered glutamine into hot water with lemon and aloe vera and in the afternoon I take two capsules of glutamine. It is now more widely known that this is a beneficial supplement to good health. Glutamine is a white powdered substance that is sold either loose or in capsules.

Legumes for your Health

     When did you last eat some legumes? If you are not including these protein rich, plant-based, no cholesterol foods in your diet you are really missing out on a great way to improve your health. Legumes, which include dried beans, peas, lentils, soybeans, and peanuts, are loaded with phytochemicals that have been proven to help prevent heart disease and cancer. They are also high in fiber and a good source of potassium, iron, and magnesium.

     I like green split pea soup the best. I let the peas soak in distilled water overnight, and then discard the ones that are floating at the top the next morning. Then I add some sea salt and a bay leaf, and sometimes some sliced raw carrots, and let the soup simmer for about five or six hours. It is so delicious and healthy at the same time. When the weather gets cold there is nothing like a nice bowl of hot soup. I also love lentil soup, and prepare it almost the same exact way as the pea soup. Bon appetit!