Jog 15 minutes a Day – A great read from The Atlantic

Jog 15 Minutes a Day, Extend Your Life by 5 Years or More
MAY 3 2012, 12:00 PM ET 2

Talk about a good value. You don’t even need to push yourself that hard.

Springtime is here, and for many of us, that means dusting off those old running shoes that have languished in the closet all winter. Maybe you need some extra motivation to get out the door. Well, try this on for size: just 15 minutes of jogging a day — at a slow or average pace — can lengthen your lifetime by more than five years.

That’s the latest from a European study of Copenhagen residents, the results of which are being presented this week at a conference in Dublin. Researchers compared joggers and non-joggers from a preexisting database of over 20,000 men and women ranging from 20 years old to 93. They found that an hour to two-and-a-half hours of jogging per week was linked to an increase in life expectancy among men by 6.2 years, and among women by 5.6 years.

Over the course of 35 years, the risk of death fell by 44 percent among joggers of both sexes. And more strenuous activity didn’t necessarily result in greater benefits, either.

“The relationship appears much like alcohol intake,” said Peter Schnor, chief cardiologist of the Copenhagen City Heart Study. “Mortality is lower in people reporting moderate jogging, than in non-joggers or those undertaking extreme levels of exercise.”

According to the study, breaking your runs into two or three chunks over the course of the week appears to yield the best results. Don’t worry about going fast, or exhausting yourself, said the researchers. It’s enough to feel just a little short of breath.

Lemon Water: 10 Health Benefits

Many of us use lemon to decorate our glass or add a squeeze to freshen up our sparkling water; but, did you know that adding freshly squeezed lemon to your pure water has unbelievable health benefits:

Good for stomach
Lemon can help relieve many digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent. The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.

Excellent for Skin Care
Lemon, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can participate to cure problems related to skin. Lemon is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow on your face. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water if applied on the areas of burns can fade the scars. As lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin.

Aids in Dental Care
Lemon water is used in dental care also. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the areas of toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. The massages of lemon juice on gums can stop gum bleeding. It gives relief from bad smell and other problems related to gums.

Cures Throat Infections
Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. For sore throat, dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water and gargle frequently.

Good for Weight Loss
One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight as well.

Controls High Blood Pressure
Lemon water works wonders for people having heart problem, owing to its high potassium content. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea as well as provides relaxation to mind and body. It also reduces mental stress and depression.

Assist in curing Respiratory Disorders
Lemon water assists in curing respiratory problems, along with breathing problems and revives a person suffering from asthma.

Good for treating Rheumatism
Lemon is also a diuretic and hence lemon water can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush out bacteria and toxins out of the body.

Reduces Fever
Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration.

Acts as a blood purifier
The diseases like cholera or malaria can be treated with lemon water as it can act as a blood purifier.

Read more: http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/top-10-health-benefits-of-lemon-water-1422542#ixzz1tqc2RhnT

Battle of the Hormones

The human body functions best when it is balanced in every area. When one area is out of balance the entire body is effected. Women’s hormones are delicate and can be thrown off balance by almost anything, including stress, illness, vitamin deficiencies and overload of negative outside factors.

Estrogen and progesterone, the two primary female hormones, are closely interrelated and work in synergy. The key is knowing when estrogen becomes the dominant hormone and progesterone is deficient. There are very few women that are deficient in estrogen. Most are deficient in progesterone.

The following are helpful tip to work towards keeping a healthy balance between estrogen and progesterone levels.

-Avoid exposure to xenoestrogens. These foreign estrogens are in our food supply, personal care and household products, pharmaceuticals, plastics, pesticides, insecticides, HRT, birth control pills etc.
-Natural progesterone balances the side effects of unopposed estrogen. A properly formulated natural progesterone cream is the natural safe choice over synthetic progesterone (progestins).
-Avoid hormone-fed animal foods, high sugars and fats, highly refined, processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, food additives, preservatives and colours.
-Increase fibre, choose natural or organic whole foods, hormone-free animal products, foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3, liver supporting foods, plenty of water.
-Phytoestrogens are natural plant based foods/herbs that mimic estrogen. Generally weak estrogens with protective properties, however if experiencing estrogen dominance, phytoestrogens can only contribute and should be limited. Soy, flaxseed, red clover, black cohosh, chaste berry, dong quai.
-Supplements to support liver detoxification, immune support, omega-3, multi vitamin/mineral.
-Weight loss, stress control and quitting smoking are solutions to lower estrogen.
-Exercise reduces estrogen production and stress and also reduces stagnation.
-Get hormone levels checked and discuss proper estrogen metabolism with your healthcare practioner.

Read more at Suite101: Balancing Estrogen and Progesterone Levels: Understanding Progesterone and Estrogen Balance | Suite101.com http://linda-beadle.suite101.com/balancing-estrogen-and-progesterone-levels-a205535#ixzz1tkY8m13e

Read more at Suite101: Balancing Estrogen and Progesterone Levels: Understanding Progesterone and Estrogen Balance | Suite101.com http://linda-beadle.suite101.com/balancing-estrogen-and-progesterone-levels-a205535#ixzz1tkY8m13e

Back Stats: you are not alone in your back pain

Back Pain Statistics:
In 1991, Statistics Canada reported that back pain was the most common cause of workers’ compensation, or 28%!

Accidents causing days of incapacity to work:
5% to 15% work during leisure

Health problems related to working conditions most frequently cited:
30% due to back pain
28% due to stress

The back pain in Canada (1993) include :
Professions where back pain are the most common: handlers and nursing staff
Lesion the most frequent: 76% are sprains which 58% are located in the lumbar column
Cause on average 41 days absence from work and costs $ 2 012 for damages / injuries
4 to 5 people felt in their lifetime pain in lower back. (according to Genevieve Charest, the Department of Kinesiology, University of Sherbrooke)
Each day, we bow our backs 1 500 to 2 000 times.
35% of the postures are harmful
3 600 000 working days lost
1st cause of consultation centres in pain
50% of children have sore back and sometimes as young as 8 years
The back pain accounts for 13% of accidents each year
Between 12 and 34% of the population suffers from cervicalgie
It is the 1st cause of disability among children under 45 years

Non-Surgical treatment for Back Pain
prolotherapy (read more in services section of this site)
platelet rich plasma therapy
acupuncture
massage
physiotherapy
chiropractic care

Unusual Suspects: Hidden Skin Agers

Here are 3 things that most of us do that age our skin!

1. The Luffa: sloughs off dead skin but can also accelerate aging by increasing skin turnover and decreasing skin elasticity. Instead try a washcloth with a moisturizing skin wash to keep skin soft, supple and young looking
2. Your Pillow?! Did you know sleeping on your side with your face pressed against your pillow creates vertical face wrinkles? Instead sleep on your back with a neck pillow for support or, at the very least try a satin pillow case to reduce wrinkling while you sleep.
3. Antibacterial Soap: strips the skin of oil and increases aging of the skin on your hands. Since hands often show the first signs of aging this is one area we want to protect. Use moisturizing soap and wear gloves when washing dishes or using any household cleaning products.