Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Want To Reduce Your Stress? Try A Massage!

September 2nd, 2010

A new study found that Swedish Massage may be beneficial for high stress levels and inflammatory/autoimmune conditions.

Researcher Mark Hyman, MD found that Massage Therapy increased levels of vasopressin and cortisol, leading to decreased brain activation of stress hormones; via decreased activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) activity) and enhanced immune system function.

Study Conclusion

Preliminary data suggest that a single session of Swedish Massage Therapy produces measurable biologic effects. If replicated, these findings may have implications for managing inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.


Study Source: Hyman, M. A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Ahead of Print 2010.

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Health Care Breakthroughs – Hope or Hype?

September 20th, 2009

Health care breakthroughs are big business. We know this because such news is reported in the Business Section of newspapers and magazines. Discussions relate primarily to the potential impact on the company’s share price and revenues. Possible benefits to patients are a secondary concern compared to the amount of money involved.

Business coverage of these issues is yet another reminder of how far health care has moved away from its original and sole focus on treatment. Sadly, the bottom line has become the bottom line. And yet, there may be real breakthroughs on the horizon. Advances in DNA analysis and nanotechnology may bring us closer to a world of personalized treatment for cancer and other disorders. (more…)

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Living With Pain

September 20th, 2009

Chronic disease is a major problem in U.S. health care. More than one-third of Americans have one or more chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The personal costs to patients and families are often severe, daily, and ongoing. The economic costs to society are almost $1 trillion annually.1

Heart disease includes high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, coronary artery obstruction, angina, and heart attacks. Most of these conditions represent a chain of events. Left untreated, of course, high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke. (more…)

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Lowering the Risk Factors of Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease

September 20th, 2009

We’re in the middle of several deadly epidemics in the United States. Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are affecting more and more people every year. Recent statistics show that two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Thirty percent of American children are obese. Approximately 21 million Americans have diabetes. One child out of every 500 has type I diabetes. In America, 72 million adults have high blood pressure. These are shocking statistics, considering that U.S. health care expenditures totaled $2 trillion in 2006. That’s 2 TRILLION dollars. (more…)

Posted in Eating Right, Health | No Comments »

Eat Your Veggies!

September 20th, 2009

Kids don’t have that strong a relationship to vegetables. Kids will go through the motions, pushing broccoli spears and lima beans around their plate a few times, but few veggies actually reach the inside of a kid’s mouth.

And yet, we want our kids to eat vegetables on a regular basis. The best way to do this is to serve fresh veggies daily, and make sure WE eat all the vegetables on our plates!

Why bother? It turns out that vegetables – all kinds of vegetables – contain super-powerful ingredients that help keep us healthy and help us ward off a wide range of serious illnesses.1,2 These magical substances – phytochemicals – give fruits and vegetables their big nutritional kick! (more…)

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