Healthy joints allow you to maintain the active lifestyle that you’ve grown accustomed to and allow you to continue to be active as you age. While your joints may wear down from activity and the passing of the years, protecting them with joint supplements will allow you to stay on your feet and ready for anything that comes your way.
The best exercises for maintaining healthy joints are weight-bearing exercises, such as running. Recent studies have found that healthy joints (those that haven´t been previously injured) show no evidence of damage by long-distance running.
But, be sure to stretch first, because it is critical in the prevention of muscles tightening and causing tendon problems.
If running is difficult for you, the walking strides are also healthful for joints and a good place to start.
Try the following:
* Stretch frequently. Even during rest breaks, gently flex or stretch your joints occasionally or change your position slightly to prevent stiffness.
* Massage your joints. Massage can help soothe a painful area, and you'll be moving other joints as you do so.
* If you'll be travelling by airplane, bus, or train or if you'll be sitting at a sporting event, concert, or movie, try to get an aisle seat. This will give you more room to stretch your legs frequently while seated. It will also make it easier for you to get up and move around once in a while.
* During long car trips, take advantage of rest stops to stretch and move around. If you're the passenger, do range-of-motion exercises for your fingers, lower legs, and neck while on the road.
* Avoid clenching objects for extended periods. If holding a pen is painful, try a computer or typewriter. Instead of holding a newspaper or book in your hands while reading, try laying it flat on a table or using a book stand. Instead of carrying a purse or briefcase with a handle, choose one with a shoulder strap.
Source : http://health.howstuffworks.com/how-to-treat-arthritis-pain-with-exercise1.htm
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Liquid Diets - Healthy diet or Not ?
A liquid diet involves substituting a number of meals and snacks with a nutritionally balanced shake made from sugar, skimmed milk powder, fiber, vitamins, minerals and sweetener. Some plans offer candy-like bars as an alternative.
WHAT YOU EAT AND DRINK:
Typically, you replace two meals and one snack per day with one shake. Each shake contains about 200 calories. Your third meal is a nutrient-rich meal of about 600 calories. Thus your total daily intake adds up to about 1200 calories.
ADVANTAGES:
. The diet is nutritionally balanced and very convenient. All you have to do is open a can, grab a glass, and add milk. In addition to being very sweet, these shakes/bars are good news for anyone with a sweet tooth.
. The liquid diet benefits certain types of procedures, both pre- and post-op. In pre-operative cases, a clear liquid diet flushes the bowels while decreasing strain on the digestive system. Before beginning this type of liquid diet, a physician will provide a detailed fact sheet on how to proceed and for how long.
. Liquid diets are also used following bariatric surgeries.
DRAWBACKS:
. Due to the low calorie content, too little fiber, and lack of important nutrition found in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, these liquid diets are unsafe unless medically prescribed and supervised. They should also only be used for short periods of time.
. Studies have shown that weight loss achieved while following a low calorie liquid diet plan is rarely sustained. Dieters can expect to regain as much as 75% of weight lost, within 3 years.
. The biggest drawback concerns the issue of eating habits. Meal-replacement diets can help you to lose weight in the short term but they cannot help you to acquire the sort of sensible eating habits that are essential for long-term weight loss.
In addition, liquid diets that are not medically supervised may not supply the body with enough nutrients to function properly and are associated with problems including sensitivity to cold, brittle nails, diarrhea or constipation, and heart problems. Weight loss by means of liquid diets can also cause gallbladder problems.
VERDICT:
This is a reasonably good (and healthy) SHORT-TERM option for disciplined dieters who are under medical supervision. However, make sure your daily solid meal is healthy and your snacks include plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Any fad diet that uses short-term weight loss methods is not recommended for permanent weight control. Remember, permanent fat loss is achieved by following a sensible, nutritious eating plan that includes regular aerobic exercise and behavior modifications.
CHOOSE A HEALTHY WAY TO EAT:
Beware of Any Diet That...
*Provides fewer than 1000 calories per day.
*Boasts unusually fast weight loss.
*Uses the words "miracle" or "fat-burning" to describe itself!
*Has an unbalanced eating plan: i.e. which omits any of the major food groups.
*Has unrestricted amounts of high fat food, like red meat, full fat dairy products or oils.
*Requires you to take expensive supplements.
*Fails to recommend long term changes in your eating habits.
Americans spend billions of dollars a year on diet products. A large percentage of those who purchase them, purchase fraudulent or completely useless products. Do not be one of them!
By: Chris Chenoweth
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Source : http://diets-and-health.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
WHAT YOU EAT AND DRINK:
Typically, you replace two meals and one snack per day with one shake. Each shake contains about 200 calories. Your third meal is a nutrient-rich meal of about 600 calories. Thus your total daily intake adds up to about 1200 calories.
ADVANTAGES:
. The diet is nutritionally balanced and very convenient. All you have to do is open a can, grab a glass, and add milk. In addition to being very sweet, these shakes/bars are good news for anyone with a sweet tooth.
. The liquid diet benefits certain types of procedures, both pre- and post-op. In pre-operative cases, a clear liquid diet flushes the bowels while decreasing strain on the digestive system. Before beginning this type of liquid diet, a physician will provide a detailed fact sheet on how to proceed and for how long.
. Liquid diets are also used following bariatric surgeries.
DRAWBACKS:
. Due to the low calorie content, too little fiber, and lack of important nutrition found in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, these liquid diets are unsafe unless medically prescribed and supervised. They should also only be used for short periods of time.
. Studies have shown that weight loss achieved while following a low calorie liquid diet plan is rarely sustained. Dieters can expect to regain as much as 75% of weight lost, within 3 years.
. The biggest drawback concerns the issue of eating habits. Meal-replacement diets can help you to lose weight in the short term but they cannot help you to acquire the sort of sensible eating habits that are essential for long-term weight loss.
In addition, liquid diets that are not medically supervised may not supply the body with enough nutrients to function properly and are associated with problems including sensitivity to cold, brittle nails, diarrhea or constipation, and heart problems. Weight loss by means of liquid diets can also cause gallbladder problems.
VERDICT:
This is a reasonably good (and healthy) SHORT-TERM option for disciplined dieters who are under medical supervision. However, make sure your daily solid meal is healthy and your snacks include plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Any fad diet that uses short-term weight loss methods is not recommended for permanent weight control. Remember, permanent fat loss is achieved by following a sensible, nutritious eating plan that includes regular aerobic exercise and behavior modifications.
CHOOSE A HEALTHY WAY TO EAT:
Beware of Any Diet That...
*Provides fewer than 1000 calories per day.
*Boasts unusually fast weight loss.
*Uses the words "miracle" or "fat-burning" to describe itself!
*Has an unbalanced eating plan: i.e. which omits any of the major food groups.
*Has unrestricted amounts of high fat food, like red meat, full fat dairy products or oils.
*Requires you to take expensive supplements.
*Fails to recommend long term changes in your eating habits.
Americans spend billions of dollars a year on diet products. A large percentage of those who purchase them, purchase fraudulent or completely useless products. Do not be one of them!
By: Chris Chenoweth
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Source : http://diets-and-health.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
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