Effective Way to Avoid Travel Insomnia

Now you are finally ensconced in your hotel room and as night wears on and darkness descends, you become aware of all the invading noises and cracks of light that play havoc with your time to rest.  Too boot, you are likely dealing with jet lag and the effects of crossing multiple time zones.  We all know this throws of four circadian rhythm.

Here is how to make the best of a trip and get the best sleep possible.  It is generally wise to plan ahead.  In terms of dealing with the time zone change and the effects on your circadian rhythm, it is always best to take two to three nights ahead of flying and start going to bed in the time zone you are headed to.  In other words, you are attempting to reset your biological clock, so that when you arrive at your destination you are already sleeping and waking in a new zone.  Few actually do this, but if you are alight, sensitive sleeper, it’s always best to adapt ahead of time.  It will save you much grief on the other end.

If you find that challenging to do, start your pre-sleep routine just that much earlier.  Begin your meditation and relaxation pre-bed routine one half hour earlier the first night and then an hour ahead the next night.  Remember to adjust your morning rising time to accommodate the challenges of arrival, particularly if traveling eastward.  The reverse is true for traveling westward – stay up later – get up later.  It’s always easier traveling west than east.

If space allow, pack your own pillow. Recognizing the comfort of your own things while in a hotel room helps to encourage your on-going restfulness. Sleep tight while traveling.

Soy can help you Lose Weight?

The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse has stayed under wraps for too long. Apart from being the only vegetable protein with all 22 amino acids essential for our health and well being, the humble soybean has many other virtues including an excellent foundation for fast, safe weight loss program.

According to Dr David Heber in “The LA Shape Diet” women who are on a weight loss program, need about 100 grams of protein per day to fight against hunger and to build their best personal lean muscle shape whilst still losing weight. Without the appropriate level of proteins in a low calorie diet, people and women in particular, risk losing 1 pound of muscle for every 4 pounds of weight lost!

Dr Heber recommends soy-protein shakes or soy-protein fruit smoothies as a safe and healthy way to achieve fast and permanent weight loss. Apart from the wonderful health advantages of soy, this a safe protein source without the unwanted cholesterol and saturated fats that accompany animal protein sources and sabotage low calorie weight loss programs.

Read on to discover some other wonderful benefits of this incredible this food source.

  1. Soy contains health enhancing isoflavones. Isoflavones are compounds found only in plants which have strong antioxidant properties. hese compounds repair, and help prevent damage to cells caused by pollution, sunlight, and normal body processes. Free radicals can easily cause harm to the immune system, whose cells divide often. They may also be responsible for some of the changes of aging.
  2. Reduce risk of heart disease. Soy’s protein and isoflavones lower LDL cholesterol and decrease blood clotting, which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. In one study, people who drank a “milk shake” containing 25g of soy protein for nine weeks experienced, on average, a 5% reduction in LDL cholesterol. And people with the highest LDL levels experienced a 11% drop. (For each 10% to 15% drop in the LDL level, the risk of a heart attack decreases 20% to 25%).
  3. Protection against cancer. Soy’s soluble fiber protects the body from many digestive related cancers, such as colon and rectal cancer. While its isoflavones may protect the body from many hormone related cancers, like breast, endometrial (uterine) and prostate cancer. Isoflavones act against cancer cells in a way similar to many common cancer-treating drugs.
  4. Counter the effects of endometriosis. The isoflavones in soy products may help to offset the action of the body’s natural estrogen, which is often responsible for instigating the monthly pain, heavy bleeding and other symptoms of endometriosis.
  5. Protect against prostate problems. Eating soy products may protect against enlargement of the male prostate gland. The size of the prostate gland tends to increase with age, causing various types of urinary difficulties, including frequent nighttime awakenings.
  6. Guard against osteoporosis. Soy’s protein enhances the body’s ability to retain and better absorb calcium in the bones, while its isoflavones slow bone loss and inhibit bone breakdown, which helps prevent osteoporosis. There is evidence to suggest that isoflavones may also assist in creating new bone.
  7. Control symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. Soy’s isoflavones help the body regulate estrogen when this hormone is declining or fluctuating, which helps alleviate many menopausal and PMS symptoms. Research has shown that soy isoflavones can reduce menopausal hot flushes in women.
  8. Help control diabetic conditions and kidney disease. Soy’s protein and soluble fiber help regulate glucose levels and kidney filtration, which helps control diabetic conditions and kidney disease.

What an incredible little bean!

Fruits Making you FAT?

It is pretty obvious to everyone that when you want to lose weight you watch your sugar intact, right? Well, there is a reason why fruits are called, “nature’s candy”. In fact, you need realize that a glass of orange juice is just about the same as a glass of soda.

Fruits are loaded with sugar, fructose to be exact. This why athletes use them during endurance for energy, and why people suffering from hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, use them to raise there blood sugar when needed.

That is where one of the problems is. Fruits are carbohydrates. Never eat a carbohydrate by itself. This is basically all sugar. When you eat a carbohydrate by itself there is a sudden increase in sugar in the body. This causes the body to release insulin. However, the body releases too much insulin because it thinks more sugar is coming. The insulin basically grabs the sugar/carbohydrate and stores it to fat for use at some other time. Since your body released too much insulin there is not enough sugar to support the brain function. That is why you feel tired or sluggish. So you’re fatter and dumber. So, if you are going to eat a carbohydrate, eat some protein with it, it will slow the release of the sugar.

That glass of orange juice in the morning, the banana and apple for snakes, and the fruit salad for lunch, might actually be what is stopping you from losing the weight.

how to safely enjoy the sun

We can’t deny the fact that sunbathing is an integral and much loved part of most people’s holiday but recent reports of over exposure to the sun causing skin cancer have made many people wary of spending too much time in the sun. However, paradoxically the over use of sun screens can actually have health problems in itself and under exposure to the sun can also be detrimental to our wellbeing.

Too much high factor sun block can delay sunburn, which is of course an important reminder that you have had too much sun, and in addition it can block the bodies manufacture of vitamin D which in itself helps to protect us from skin, breast and prostate cancer and is invaluable for boosting the immune system in general. Vitamin D also offers us protection against osteoporosis and sunlight can, believe it or not, play a part in lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

As mentioned sunlight is important for the production of vitamin D, it also plays a role in the production of melatonin which controls our sleep patterns amongst other things, so a lack of sunlight can lead to insomnia. Melatonin also plays an important part in building a healthy immune system and can help protect against cancer. Serotonin, the good mood hormone, is likewise produced in the body in the presence of sunlight. So in order to be able to enjoy the sun when on holiday follow these practical guidelines to safe sunbathing:

  • Avoid exposure during the midday hours and don’t stay in it for too long if it is very fierce.
  • Choose a sun cream with added vitamins and minerals, apply it 30-60 minutes before exposure and re-apply often. Added nutrients which have been found to be of particular benefit are vitamins C and E along with the minerals selenium and zinc.
  • Take supplements such as vitamins C,D,E and Beta-carotene and the minerals selenium, calcium and zinc. These will give your sunscreen a boost and help to prevent skin damage.
  • Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veg. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, flavenoids and carotenoids, all of which are essential for a healthy skin and are good healing agents too.
  • Drink green tea, this has recently been found to be of benefit to prevent burning if drunk whilst sunbathing, it can also be soothing if applied topically to sunburn.

If after all your efforts at safe sunbathing you still end up sun burn there are a few natural remedies that may help: [Read more...]

solving addiction problem

Alcohol abuse is one of the common problems in our society nowadays. It is a disease describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages, despite negative consequences on the individual’s work, medical, legal, educational, and/or social life. But, only few alcoholics realized that their alcohol consumption leads to serious problems. Some are even trying to convince themselves that their alcohol drinking habit is just part of their lifestyle; a way to be part of a group.

Basically, there is no exact cause of alcoholism; rather it is the result of a complex group of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. Additional risk factors include schizophrenia, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety disorders, as well as having parents with alcoholism. Poverty, social isolation, and shyness may also be risk factors.

However, regular consumption of alcohol can affect the risk of developing alcohol dependency. Those who need more alcohol to achieve a feel-good effect are more likely to become dependent. As time goes by the body tends to require increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effect. But, heavy consumption of alcohol, especially over a period of many years, can lead to serious health problems and even death.

Early detection can help the individual get rid of the problem. There are numerous individual treatments for alcoholism, including individual and group counseling, support groups, residential treatment, medications and inpatient rehab center. Most alcoholics face difficulty cutting back or stopping drinking. Going through the right treatment can help save the individual and start anew again.

shopping motivates me to get my body moving

The thought of going shopping I mentioned earlier, also motivates me to shake off my body. After finishing part of my task, I found myself putting on my dancing shoes and started playing zoomba fitness. It’s really a fun video game as it is paired with red-hot international dance steps with sexy Latin music to create an addictively fun, yet challenging exercise. It features nine different dance styles, such as salsa, hip-hop, and mambo.

Well, I bought the game with the goal of shaping up. But, my motivation is lost somewhere and just got it back after realizing I’m going to a wedding this July. I’m not sure if I can still achieve leaner body in three weeks, but at least I tried. Well, I’d better start sweating out and let’s see if it works wonder.

Remedy of Muscular Pain & Stiffness

Everybody experiences stiff, painful muscles from time to time. Aching muscles often involve more than just the affected muscle. It can also involve connective tissue such as fascia, tendons and ligaments. Although muscle pain often results from intense physical activity, you can also experience stiff muscles when you get out of bed in the morning. Instances of muscle pain tend to increase as you age.

There are various possible causes of muscle aches, pain and stiffness. A common reason you may experience pain and stiffness is from overuse of a specific group of muscles, such as during exercise or certain types of physical labor. Overexertion during exercise can also cause stiffness and pain, especially if you do not allow for proper recovery time after your workout. Tension and stress can cause you to unconsciously tighten your muscles, resulting in muscle pain and aches. If you experience muscle pain throughout your entire body, instead of just one localized area, you may be experiencing a reaction to certain types of medication or have an infection or an illness like fibromyalgia.

When you have pain, the last thing you might feel like doing is exercising. However, maintaining a physically active lifestyle and engaging in regular exercise can result in decreased muscle pain and fatigue stemming from your pain symptoms. Massage therapy is beneficial for reducing pain and increasing circulation. Massage can also help alleviate the stress and tension causing your symptoms. Your doctor may suggest prescription medication or refer you to a physical therapist for further evaluation and treatment if your symptoms do not respond to home care techniques.

Warning! Muscle stiffness and pain are usually not signs of a serious medical condition and can be resolved with self-care techniques. However, sometimes muscle pain and stiffness can be a sign of an underlying condition. If your pain persists for longer than three days or is accompanied by additional symptoms, contact your doctor.