Medical Information

Without good health it will be difficult to make your dreams come true. Vitality and energy are by products of good health and are needed to achieve career success, excellent relationships, and many other goals.




There are no guarantees, but here are some ideas for increasing your odds of having a long and healthy life.



1. Drink plenty of water.



Much of our body and brain are made up of water. You need water to stay hydrated, to flush out toxins, to assimilate nutrients from food, and for your brain to function properly. Drinking plenty of water also keeps your skin from becoming dry and prematurely wrinkled from dehydration.



How much water do you need a day? Rule of thumb is to drink one half of your weight in ounces each day. For example, if you weighed 130 pounds, you would need 65 ounces or approximately two quarts of water a day. If you do strenuous exercise or work, you will need even more water.



Coffee, tea, and soda are not substitutes for water. They actually are dehydrating and if you drink them you will need more water. Even fruit juice is not a substitute for water because it comes from a food source and is not a true solvent.



Drinking tap water is better than not getting enough but it is best to drink water which has been purified naturally or through reverse osmosis or distillation. Only some of the bottled water meets these criteria.



I have a habit of carrying a bottle of water wherever I go and I drink at least one half of my weight in ounces every day.



2. You need a little sunshine.



It is true that you can get too much sun but we need some sunshine. Ten to twenty minutes of daily early morning or late evening sun is beneficial.



Sunshine gives you vitamin D which you need so your bones can absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D our bones can become brittle and break. It is unnatural to spend all of our time indoors. We need fresh air and a little sunshine to maintain excellent health.



Several years ago I worked in a high rise and I was getting very little sunshine. I had a blood test and learned that I was low in Vitamin D and I was starting to experience some bone loss. Since that time I have been taking a vitamin D supplement and I try to get a minimum of 10-15 minutes of early morning or late evening sunshine several days a week. I have checked my level of vitamin D periodically and it has been normal.



3. Exercise is important.



Our bodies need movement and physical activity. Proper exercise slows down our physical deterioration.



We need three types of exercise: Flexibility, aerobic, and strength training.



A. Flexibility exercise.



As we age our bodies become stiffer. Yoga, swimming, tai chi, or just doing stretching helps us to maintain flexibility.



B. Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise.



Walking, biking, jogging, dancing, and sports which help you to stay in your working heart rate for 20-30 minutes are beneficial to your heart. Charts are available to determine the working heart rate for your age bracket.



C. Strength training exercise.



This exercise keeps your muscles firm and strong. It also keeps your bones strong when combined with proper nutrition. This type of exercise includes weight lifting (it can be light weights), calisthenics, and machines which provide resistance.



Unless we are an athlete or compete in sports we do not need to spend a large amount of exercising. Like anything else it can be overdone and then the returns diminish. Moderation has its benefit.



My personal exercise program does not require a lot of time. I spend twenty minutes a day taking a fast walk for aerobic benefit plus five minutes jumping on a small trampoline (rebounder). I do five minutes of yoga a day plus five to ten minutes on an inverter table for stretching & flexibility. I exercise for ten to fifteen minutes twice a week with light weights for strength training.



If your diet is good, a mild to moderate exercise program is sufficient to stay fit.



4. Eat well.



Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the most important foods you can eat. The greater the variety of colors, the better because they contain different types of antioxidants. Antioxidants strengthen your immune system and slow the aging process. Fresh produce is best, frozen is second best, and the least nutritious are canned fruits and vegetables.



It is beneficial to eat some raw foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. They contain enzymes which are frequently destroyed when the food is cooked. Enzymes help with digestion and increase our energy. Eating a salad with one or two meals a day is a great habit.



When you eat raw food, know your sources to avoid bacteria contamination. Whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts are beneficial. Raw nuts, seeds, fruit, and vegetables contain energy in addition to vitamins and minerals.

Fast foods, food high in sodium, saturated fat, transfats and sugar are best avoided or reduced.



I have been a lacto-vegetarian (includes diary but no eggs, fish, chicken, or meat) since I was in my thirties (over 30 years). For the past two years I have been vegan (includes seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes but no meat or diary).



Following some of these simple and common sense health tips can increase your chances of living a healthy and enjoyable life.



Copyright 2007. Raymond Gerson



Raymond Gerson has a masters in psychology and over forty years experience teaching career and personal development. Career coach, job placement specialist, and former executive recruiter, he also teaches college success strategy courses. He is the author of five books, including Create the Life You Want. Two of his ebooks, How to Create the Life You Want and Effective Job Search Strategies are available for free at http://www.raymondgerson.com along with numerous success strategies and study skills articles.



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I got rid of my arthritis and arthritis pain naturally by drastically changing my diet. I stopped eating the standard American diet (SAD.)




Arthritis sufferers today are continually seeking relief from their arthritis pain.



Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone, often thought to result from "wear and tear" on a joint, although there are other causes of arthritis such as congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders. Unlike some other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not systemic - it does not spread through the entire body. The pain in arthritis can be moderate to severe.



Damaged joints cause pain and sufferers are constantly looking for ways to relieve the pain. Cartilage contains chondrocytes, water, proteoglycans and collagen; chondrocytes are the basic cartilage cells and are necessary for balance and function. The ability to make repairs to cartilage becomes limited as cartilage cells age.



One possible cause of arthritis is the inflammatory response due to the over-reaction of the immune system to an injury or other assault in the body, like an infection. Although osteoarthritis generally accompanies aging, osteoarthritic cartilage is chemically different from normal aged cartilage. As chondrocytes (the cells that make up cartilage) age, they lose their ability to make repairs and produce more cartilage; this process may play an important role in the development and progression of osteoarthritis.



Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, that no one supplement can relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc. One natural approach is to consume foods that are known to help relieve arthritis pain or prevent arthritis. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods.



If you're not already doing so, make a big effort to watch your diet. Try avoiding the eight most allergic foods, wheat being the most allergenic; they are wheat, corn, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish and some nuts, not all. Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it's non-invasive to the body.



Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, refined, packaged and processed food. Gluten may be a culprit in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia; avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although not a gluten grain it gets contaminated at the wheat mills).



The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions.



Whatever you do, keep moving; don't sit when you can stand, don't stand when you can walk. Exercise is good for joints affected by osteoarthritis. Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (Thera-putty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and arthritis pain.



Use Taiji health balls, with the chimes, to strengthen the finger joints: hold two balls, move in a clockwise circle with your fingers to rotate them, then try counterclockwise and do throughout the day. To be on the safe side always seek your doctor's advice before starting or changing your exercise program. Fight arthritis through proper exercise!



If you're going to go the conventional treatment route and take medications, ask your pharmacist for drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions, before taking them. At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take. If you're planning to take any of the non-prescription NSAIDS for arthritis, make sure you understand what bad effects they can have on the stomach, liver and/or kidneys and discuss this with your doctor.



Changing your diet to predominately fruits, raw veggies, nuts, and seeds like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don't object to patients trying them. One should not only search for relief of arthritis pain but work on preventing it.



For more information on arthritis pain relief and arthritis treatments go to http://www.FastArthritisPainRelief.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s website specializing in arthritis pain relief with tips, advice and resources, including information on arthritis diets and natural arthritis treatments



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Do you have arthritis? Do you hate the pain of arthritis? Great news, here are some effective and easy relief tips that you can do to ease the pain of your arthritis. These came from the experts and were specially written for those who have arthritis and would like to have an easier life.



Number one, learn to protect you joints - Don't keep your body in one position the whole day. For example, don't stay in bed or sit on the couch the whole day. Learn to move and then try using your strongest joints for the things you are going to do.



Number two, stretching is relaxing - People with arthritis must always stretch. Good stretching may help prevent injuries in those tendons and muscles which are more likely to tear apart. Spend at least twenty minutes per day in stretching.



Number three, stop the activity and cool down - Learn to have a rest from what you're doing, go out in your backyard and choose a nice shady spot. Read a good book while spending the time. Do not forget to put cold compress in the part that is experiencing arthritis pain.



Number four, move and exercise - Like any other illness, it's always effective to exercise. This may reduce joint pain and stiffness. This also improves the flexibility and our muscle strength. This also helps control weight and helps ease stress. It is bound to help too with our overall health.



Number five, hire a masseuse - Getting a massage can and will relieve the pain, it may soothe stiff muscles and reduce swelling also.



Number six, balancing your weight - If you are overweight or even obese, these are a bad thing for the joints because the joints have heavier loads. Losing weight will slowly help the progression of arthritis.



Number seven, have a diagnosis - If you experience pain, stiffness and swelling from time to time, learn to get a diagnosis. See a doctor and ask about this. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, some might be dangerous and some might be curable.



Number eight, drink you medicine right away - When you doctor gives you medicine always drink it on the scheduled time. Even though you feel it's not working. Consult your doctor about that too. It may take days, weeks or even months before the medication becomes effective.



Number nine, find new options - If you really think your prescription for medicine doesn't work try finding the new FDA approved drugs that help with arthritis diseases. Ask your doctor first before drinking any new medicines.



Number ten, keep researching and education yourself - It is always essential to learn new information about your illness. They may find other herbal remedies or what and it may help you. Check some good medical websites and check if they have RSS of newsletters subscribe to them. You may also want to try those forums which discuss medical conditions like yours. This is usually moderated by a doctor. Always never hesitate to seek your doctor for answers.



Home Cures is a website dedicated to providing information about natural home remedies. Here are more Arthritis Pain Reliefs which you may find useful.



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