Health and Beauty

The Benefits and Hazards of Outdoor Exercise

November 6, 2013 By Admin3 Leave a Comment

Internal blog 6 Exercising in polluted air can increase the risk of asthma, heart attack and stroke. But is avoiding a workout any better?

Rather than exercise outside on bad-air days, many people choose to go to a gym, use a treadmill or skip the workout altogether. Those options work most of the time, but what about when a person must choose between canceling a long awaited sporting event or a bicycle trip because of the air quality index? In situations such as these, is exercising in polluted air worse than not exercising at all?

That is a question that scientist are currently researching. There are early indications that the potent anti-inflammatory effects of frequent exercise actually neutralize the damage caused by air pollution. It sounds counterintuitive: Exercise means breathing deeper, which means more particles bypass the nasal filtering and lodge lower down in the airway. But recent studies suggest exercise may actually offset the negative effects of breathing polluted air.

Using epidemiological data, Netherlands’ researchers recently discovered the air-pollution effects of changing from a car to a bicycle for quick trips in air-polluted municipalities would subtract between 0.8 and forty days from a person’s average life span. However, the extra exercise would prolong that person’s average life span by three to fourteen months.

All activity is beneficial, but exercising outdoors has been proven to have the added benefit of affecting a person’s mental wellbeing. Exercise helps to reduce stress, relieve anxiety and depression. Exercising outside in the fresh air and sunshine can give an added boost to a person’s overall sense of wellbeing.

The health benefits of exercise appear to outweigh any added risk. Of course, not everyone suffers or benefits equally. Genetics play a major role in a person’s health, so individuals and their doctors should take that into account when determining the pros and cons of outdoor exercise, especially during days when the air quality index is high.

Filed Under: General, Health and Beauty

Lindsay Rosenwald on Improving Cancer Survival Rates

September 26, 2013 By Lindsay Rosenwald 3 Comments

According to Investment Partnership co-founder Lindsay Rosenwald, medical experts continue to make strides toward eradicating cancer. Lindsay Rosenwald believes that the increase in cancer diagnoses has resulted in more research and development projects related to the disease. Recently, Lindsay Rosenwald discussed how technological advancements have assisted in the improvement of cancer survival rates.

A Gathering of Experts: Is the population of cancer patients increasing?

Lindsay Rosenwald: More people are being diagnosed with cancer due in part to an aging, growing population and better diagnostic technology.

A Gathering of Experts: How is the medical community coping with this epidemic?

Lindsay Rosenwald: The survival rates are improving because of new therapies that have been primarily developed by American biotechnology companies.

A Gathering of Experts: What has been the key factor in the treatment of cancer patients?

Lindsay Rosenwald: Medical experts continue their efforts to increase access to the latest cancer control methods and raise awareness about them.

A Gathering of Experts: How can patients curb the symptoms of cancer?

Lindsay Rosenwald: Effective therapies are available that control cancer and cancer treatment; side effects including nausea, mouth sores and general pain.

A Gathering of Experts: How has technology played a role in cancer research?

Lindsay Rosenwald: The industry continues its efforts to optimize its usage of information technology in order to facilitate cancer research while accelerating all other efforts designed to control cancer.

A Gathering of Experts: How is the medical community reacting to the current state of cancer?

Lindsay Rosenwald: As time goes on, the medical community continues to invest in cancer research in an effort to improve global health.

A Gathering of Experts: How so?

Lindsay Rosenwald: Combination chemotherapy is now standard in treating many cancers and has contributed to increasing survival and cure rates.

A Gathering of Experts: What’s one major example?
Lindsay Rosenwald: Combination chemotherapy involving the drug Cisplatin led to cure rates for testicular cancer of nearly 95 percent.

A Gathering of Experts: How effective has treatment been?

Lindsay Rosenwald: Treatment has been so effective that approximately 80 percent of patients with metastatic testicular cancer can now be cured.

A Gathering of Experts: What’s the status of cancer vaccines?

Lindsay Rosenwald: Multiple cancer and cancer prevention vaccines have been approved so far by the FDA, and many more are in the development pipeline.

A Gathering of Experts: Could you describe them?

Lindsay Rosenwald: One of the cancer prevention vaccines, the hepatitis B virus vaccine, could potentially prevent several forms of liver cancer.

A Gathering of Experts: That’s remarkable.

Lindsay Rosenwald: It’s very encouraging. Two vaccines target human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18.

A Gathering of Experts: How will these vaccines help eradicate cancer?

Lindsay Rosenwald: These vaccines have an enormous potential to prevent an estimated 70 percent of all cervical cancers, as well as other HPV-associated cancers.

A Gathering of Experts: What other diseases might potentially be treated?

Lindsay Rosenwald: Several cancer treatment vaccines are being tested in clinical trials, including vaccines for ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma and melanoma.

A Gathering of Experts: Have medical professionals experimented with different types of therapy?

Lindsay Rosenwald: Medical experts have further refined their radiation therapy techniques as well.

A Gathering of Experts: What have these therapies achieved?

Lindsay Rosenwald: These recent advances have resulted in much better patient outcomes, including survival benefits.

Lindsay Rosenwald is an accomplished doctor and financial professional with more than three decades of experience in the medical field.

Filed Under: General, Health and Beauty, Technology Tagged With: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Cougar Biotechnology, Cypress Biosciences, Discover Labs, EnzyMed Corp, Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Javelin Pharmaceuticals, Kervyx Pharmaceuticals, Lindsay A. Rosenwald, Lindsay Rosenwald, Titan Pharmaceuticals, Trisinox

Dennis Wong of YOR Health Discusses Careers in Network Marketing

July 30, 2013 By Dennis Wong 20 Comments

YOR Health co-founder Dennis Wong is a big believer in network marketing. Dennis Wong has witnessed that numerous individuals achieve their goals by establishing mutually beneficial relationships in the business world. According to Dennis Wong, the field of network marketing fits perfectly for ambitious, hard-working individuals who are eager to take control of their own destinies.

Q: Why is network marketing such an attractive career path?

Dennis Wong: Network marketing can be a tremendously fulfilling career. It is challenging at time, but then again, so is everything else in life.

Q: What’s so distinctive about network marketing?

Dennis Wong: There’s no free ride in network marketing. However, the rewards of network marketing can be greater than just about any other career path.

Q: How so?

Dennis Wong: The great thing about network marketing is that it allows the average person an ability to create his or her own business.

Q: What’s the biggest perk of owning a business?

Dennis Wong: Entrepreneurs and business owners have the ability to lead a fairly autonomous lifestyle that other workers simply cannot have.

Q: It sounds like a great idea.

Dennis Wong: Mind you, this doesn’t mean ample free time and a magically growing bank account.

Q: What does network marketing mean then?

Dennis Wong: What it means is that people can be their own bosses, they can create their particular work environments and their co-workers, and they can have a level of flexibility that employees cannot.

Q: What must prospective network marketers keep in mind?

Dennis Wong: If they can learn to offer value to prospective customers and be of service to humanity, they will inevitably prosper.

Q: Are there any boundaries to success?

Dennis Wong: Their only limitation is the reality of the free market.

Q: What can be challenging about network marketing?

Dennis Wong: At its core, network marketing is about helping a company to grow its sales channel.

Q: That seems simple enough.

Dennis Wong: Not necessarily. As anyone knows, growing a sales organization is not a trivial task.

Q: How is this task achieved?

Dennis Wong: It requires leadership – and leadership in turn requires a high level of commitment to self-development.

Q: What makes a good leader then?

Dennis Wong: Leaders must have a complete understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Q: How do leaders improve their approach?

Dennis Wong: They must use their creativity, and create a path that genuinely taps into people’s common interests.

Q: What’s the most important piece of advice for business leaders?

Dennis Wong: Business leaders must believe deep down that people are their greatest asset. The reality of life at so many levels is that people are necessary to success and happiness.

Q: What’s the highlight of working in network marketing?

Dennis Wong: It’s all about bringing out the best in employees and their potential is the best of network marketing.

As co-founder of YOR Health, Dennis Wong gives people the tools necessary for living a healthy lifestyle. Dennis Wong encourages clients by addressing their financial, emotional and physical needs. Learn more about YOR Health at yorhealth.com.

Filed Under: Health and Beauty Tagged With: Dennis, Dennis Wong, Wong, YOR Health

Integrity Spas: Frequently Asked Questions About Keeping Hot Tub Spas Clean

June 12, 2013 By Integrity Spas Leave a Comment

Located in Leawood, Kansas, Integrity Spas is the nation’s premier online retailer of luxury, custom-built spas. Integrity Spas provides a full line of luxurious portable spas. Here, an Integrity Spas spokesperson answers frequently asked questions about the chemicals and systems required to keep a spa in good sanitary condition.

Q. First of all, is there a recommended frequency to change your hot tub’s water?

Integrity Spas: It depends somewhat on how often the spa is used and how many people use it, but generally Integrity Spas recommends changing the water every three to four months.

Q. Since chemicals are required to keep hot tubs safe, is there one best type to choose?

Integrity Spas: Not really, there are a number of good methods Integrity Spas recommends today.

Q. Can you give us a quick primer on the top ones?

Integrity Spas: Most people are familiar with chlorine as the primary sanitizer used in pools. There are chlorine tablets and granules specifically designed for hot tubs. However, Integrity Spas does not recommend the use of Chlorine in our spas.

Q. Are there other, less familiar options?

Integrity Spas: Bromine tablets are a combination of sodium bromide and chlorine. Many people prefer them because the chlorine smell is not quite as strong. They are available in tablet-form and are generally distributed via a floating feeder. Another option we really like at Integrity Spas is mineral purifiers that assist, but don’t entirely replace, other sanitizers in keeping a hot tub contamination-free. Mineral purifiers are typically placed inside a filter cartridge or contained in a floating dispenser, which slowly disperses them into the tub.

Q. Why else do you prefer mineral purifiers?

Integrity Spas: Well, they’re extremely easy to handle and use, they really work and they reduce the need for either bromine or chlorine. And they’re naturally occurring elements. At Integrity Spas, we prefer a brand called Nature 2.

Q. Are there special devices designed for spa sanitization?

Integrity Spas: You might be thinking of something called an “ozonator,” which is a device that generates ozone gas and injects it into the water to help keep water clean and clear. Ozone is pH neutral and kills bacteria safely and naturally. However, Integrity Spas considers it a myth to think an ozonater and minerals alone will keep a spa sufficiently sanitized. Owners still need chlorine or bromine to really do the job.

Q. UV lighting devices are often used in hot tubs. How do they work?

Integrity Spas: Ultraviolet light systems are an exciting new development for us at Integrity Spas. They generate high intensity UV-C or germicidal ultraviolet light that destroys 99.9 percent of the waterborne pathogens. UV systems are relatively inexpensive and are available as an additional option on all Integrity Spas.

Q. Is there anything else you’d recommend?

Integrity Spas: Salt systems take salt that is added into the hot tub water and turn it into pure bromine to sanitize the spa. Integrity Spas offers the ISIS Bromine Generator as an upgrade on our spas.

Filed Under: Health and Beauty Tagged With: Integrity, Integrity Spas, Spas

YORHealth Testimonials: Polo & Anelís Urdiales, Monterrey, NL Mexico

May 25, 2013 By YORHealth

YORHealth

YORHealth first introduced premium-quality health and wellness products in 2008. The California-based company formulates all products with their uniquely formulated Enzyme Delivery Systems, to maximize effectiveness and absorption of nutrients. After all, the company’s philosophy is “you are what you absorb.” With 30 years of research, YORHealth is equipped to deliver product safety and premium quality.

The YORHealth nutrition line consists of nutritional supplements and meal replacement shakes which are available in vanilla and chocolate. In addition to nutrition products, the company also promotes proper fitness and physical activity. Through YORHealth, customers from around the globe have achieved optimum health. The YORHealth difference is aimed to help customers “reach the next level” of well-being so they are better equipped to achieve all of their personal and life-time goals.

YORHealth made a huge difference in Polo and Anelis Urdiales’s life. Here, they share their story.

We come from very similar and very loving families with strong values. We never lacked anything or had anything to spare. We were taught, “Study hard, work hard, be a good person and you will do well in life”. We had many dreams, we wanted to be important professionals, have a house, cars, to travel, be a good couple and raise a family like the one we had with our parents. We studied at a very good university and we started our working life.

Me (Ane), I started as a trainee at a marketing agency and after working very hard, gradually I ascended the job ladder. However, after 6 years and in spite of having the commitment and the responsibilities of a director, I didn’t have the title or the salary of such position and I felt frustrated because I also had to sacrifice spending time with Polo and my son. I felt sad, trapped in a routine.

Me (Polo) on the other hand, in spite of having a Master’s Degree, having worked for good companies and having good positions, I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. I strived to make ends meet and I lived desperately. I started to neglect my family and putting Ane and Polito to third place because of my job and meeting social commitments that I thought that would bring me better positions. Instead, it actually kept me away from the good man I had always wanted to be. We went through very hard situations and all the dreams we had started to crumble. Our reality was very different from what we had planned and every time we were less hopeful.

One day a very good friend of mine, the manager of a company I had worked for, called me and told me he had left his job and that he was doing very good, bringing to Mexico a health and nutrition company named YORHealth, and that they were looking for very social people who wanted to make good money. In YORHealth I saw a simple and fast business with friends that were going to help me.

Me (Ane), I saw health, we tried the YORHealth products. Polo lost 35 lbs. and I lost 11 lbs. and my digestive problems went away. We felt very good after taking the YORHealth products. Shortly we discovered the great potential of the YORHealth project and we decided to take maximum advantage of the YORHealth opportunity. Our YORHealth business grew thanks to a wonderful team created by friends and family, and what was our Plan B, became our only source of income.

Today we are happy and thankful to YORHealth for having people in our lives who have helped us very much–like Jorge Gonzalez, David Duran and our friend Paco Hernandez; and for YORHealth, a different company, with values where we feel confident and that besides making

a positive impact in our finances and in our health, it has been a fundamental piece in our marriage. Since YORHealth, we are better as individuals, parents of Polito and Rebecca, we have time to be together, to travel, to grow and to love each other more and more every day. We invite you to experience YORHealth and a better way of living, having perfect balance, enjoying good health, and having a bigger income and more time to enjoy what God has given us, with the rest of the YORHealth team who are looking to serve and make a positive impact in other people.

Visit YORHealth online at yorhealth.com.

Filed Under: Health and Beauty, Lifestyle Tagged With: Dennis Wong, YOR Health, Yor Health Products, Yor Health Reviews

Types of Living Facilities for Seniors

April 9, 2013 By Admin3 Leave a Comment

Many retired and elderly people prefer to spend their final years in some type of a retirement home that allows them to live comfortably and with little trouble. Below are various types of facilities that cater to different needs and desires to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

1. Independent living facilities are recommended for people who need little to no help. The facility may offer meals, activities, transportation and recreation for seniors. Independent living facilities are also known as senior housing, retirement communities, or congregate living facilities.

2. Active-adult communities are housing developments that offer independent, fairly maintenance-free living to senior adults age 55 and older. Some communities are “age restricted,” which means 80 percent of homeowners must be 55 and over. Communities that are “age targeted” simply market to the 55+ seniors. Many residents in these types of communities continue to work part or full time. Active adult communities may offer golf, dance, yoga, crafts, cookouts and even academic classes.

3. Green and eco-friendly communities. Many elderly people prefer to live in communities that are environmentally friendly. Such communities use recycled building materials and therefore achieve a high standard of indoor air quality, while leaving a minimal footprint on the environment.

4. Advanced care facilities provide daily support and care. Advance care facilities usually provide meals, medication management, housekeeping and other services. These facilities are also known as assisted living facilities. Communities below fall in the advanced care facilities category:

Continuing care retirement communities provide independent living, assisted living, and nursing care. These communities cater to their residents’ particular needs; for example, if one spouse needs high-skilled nursing care, the other can keep on living in his or her own apartment. When the other spouse gets better, they are able to move back to the apartment.
Assisted living communities provide buildings with meals, medical services, housekeeping and transportation.

Retirement homes are increasingly for the very old. It is comparable to assisted living in several ways, but not as high skilled of care as a nursing home.
Nursing homes are usually the last stay for the elderly. These homes provide a high level of skilled care.

Filed Under: Health and Beauty, Home and Family

Report: Professor King Predicts YOR Health Future

April 4, 2013 By YOR Health Leave a Comment

YOR Health

YOR Health, a revolutionary relationship marketing company that specializes in premium quality dietary supplements, explains why their opportunity is the best for those seeking stability and momentum.

Independent Analysis

With a doctorate earned at Harvard University’s prestigious Business School and a current post as Professor of Marketing at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Dr. Charles King is indisputably network marketing’s leading educator. Dr. King is also an enthusiastic teacher of the history of the network marketing business model and direct sellers.

Dr. King’s historical research has helped establish the stability and credibility of the network marketing industry. Acting as an evangelist for the industry, he is also one of the most sought after network marketing and direct sales analysts.

Impressed by his outstanding resume and dedication to honest evaluations, YOR Health asked Dr. King to provide an analysis of the company’s market position in 2010. YOR Health has always sought to understand the market objectively in order to provide our Independent Representatives (IRs) with the most accurate and up-to-date information they need to succeed. When YOR Health received Dr. King’s report, they were astounded by the results. Here’s Dr. King’s projection of YOR Health’s future growth:

YOR HEALTH SALES GROWTH

2008-2009 Growth 49%

2009-2010 Growth 77%

2010-2011 Projected Growth 100%

2011-2015 Projected Growth 500%

How do these figures translate into dollars? Dr. King predicts that by 2015, YOR Health will reach a Targeted Sales volume of $500 million.

This astounding prediction is based on Dr. King’s analysis of key aspects of the company. According to Dr. King, YOR Health has the right elements to succeed, including a focus on the growing digestive health market and the capability to dominate it with superior technology and products.

In addition, the YOR Health corporate team scored big points, as did the close-knit corporate culture. The YOR Health dedication to a holistic approach to business and the belief that YOR Health is “Your Company” have fostered organic growth and allowed YOR Health to thrive.

The Right Targets

Although having the right elements in place is important, that is not enough to achieve the phenomenal growth Dr. King projected, points out the team at YOR Health. Action is necessary to get results from these elements. Fortunately, Dr. King’s assessment finds YOR Health has the right strategy by choosing to move into key international markets, especially in Asia and Latin America. This international push allows IRs to be in the right place at the right time to build these new markets. Dr. King believes the growing middle class market in Latin American and Asian countries has the potential to bring explosive growth to YOR Health.

The Big 4

In the early 80s, Dr. King pioneered a model called the 4 Phases of Growth, which can be used to benchmark the growth of successful network marketing companies. The key phase of growth is called “Momentum,” and it is where the network effect of the multi-level marketing business model comes into play. In his analysis, Dr. King placed YOR Health at a point just before the momentum phase, a place that many companies strive to reach. Based on the increase in monthly sales in 2012, with each month surpassing the last, YOR Health is building the acceleration now that will help the company breakthrough to the momentum phase.

Validation

Since its inception, YOR Health has striven to be transparent about the way it conducts business. Part of that effort is being absolutely truthful about who the company is, what YOR Health says the products can do, and what is claimed about the opportunity. YOR Health is thrilled to receive validation from an independent and credible source like Dr. Charles King about the YOR Health business model, growth prospects, culture, and the benefits of this opportunity. YOR Health is determined to be a company that can stand by what it says and can prove its worth. While other companies may be content to make grand claims without back-up substantiation, YOR Health goes the extra step of proving what it says, whether with clinical studies, third-party validation or other expert analysis.

This is why YOR Health can say the company offers the best opportunity of any network marketing company in the world.

Why Wait?

Now is the best time to become a YOR Health IR, as the company begins to enter the momentum phase. There is no doubt that fortunes will be made during this exciting time in the business. YOR Health encourages prospective IRs to start today, and take advantage of the multiplier effect that is intrinsic to network marketing. If you’re already an IR, now is the time to go all out. If you do not have a presence in the YOR Health international markets, consider doing whatever it takes to expand your team in the Asian and Latin American markets. The YOR Health business model is poised to skyrocket, and they want you to blast off with them!

YOR Health is a leader in the direct-sales nutrition market and offers its vast network of Independent Representatives the right tools to help their customers make positive decisions in regards to health and well-being. Through the company’s widely distributed magazine, YOR SUCCESS, the YOR Best Body 8-Week Challenge, and many other opportunities to engage IRs and customers alike, YOR Health has grown to a multi-million dollar company since its humble beginnings in 2008.

Filed Under: Health and Beauty Tagged With: Dennis Wong, Yor Health Products, Yor Health Reviews, YorHealth

Interview with Hormone expert, Marla Ahlgrimm: HRT Discontinuation

March 17, 2013 By Marla Ahlgrimm Leave a Comment

Marla Ahlgrimm

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the most commonly prescribed hormone treatments in the United States. Recently, concerns whether HRT creates other health risks have arisen. In this recent interview with A Gathering of Experts, pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm, advised women to gather as much information about HRT as they can, and consider the personal benefits and risks.

A Gathering of Experts: Thank you for joining us today, Marla Ahlgrimm.

Marla Ahlgrimm: It’s my pleasure. Thank you for inviting me.

A Gathering of Experts: Can you explain what HRT is and what is it for?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) describes hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone that are taken daily to reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but also to protect against health risks such as osteoporosis.

A Gathering of Experts: How is HRT taken?

Marla Ahlgrimm: HRT is available as oral tablets, capsules or transdermal skin patches and creams.

A Gathering of Experts: Can the way a woman takes HRT make a difference in whether she continues to take the medication?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Yes. Swallowing a pill every day can have a surprisingly negative impact on women. The same can be true of an estrogen patch. For some women this type of medication can be a “constant reminder of menopause.”

A Gathering of Experts: In your experience, Marla Ahlgrimm, how quickly does the body adjust to HRT?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Symptoms may ebb and flow for three to six months whenever any new HRT medication is initiated. Sometimes HRT will improve hot flashes initially, followed by a period where they increase during the second or third week of treatment. By the fourth week, the body will adjust and the women will feel much better.

A Gathering of Experts: Are any tests required before HRT is started?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Yes. A general medical checkup is recommended to determine any risk factors. A routine exam should include a check of blood pressure, pelvis, breasts, and abdomen.

A Gathering of Experts: Why do some women discontinue HRT?

Marla Ahlgrimm: In many cases it’s because they have not been given adequate information about what medication they are taking, why they are taking it, and what to expect. For example, HRT can cause breast tenderness and a woman may associate that tenderness with cancer and stop taking the medication. The treatment fails to meet the patients’ expectations and they may simply stop.

A Gathering of Experts: How can a woman achieve a successful HRT?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Women as well as providers need to realize that there is no “one-size-fits-all” HRT regimen. Arriving at the right medication, dosage, and delivery form sometimes takes some adjustment. It is important that women keep in close touch with their providers to discuss what they are experiencing with HRT.

A Gathering of Experts: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, today. You have been very informative.

Marla Ahlgrimm: The pleasure is all mine. Thank you.

According to pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm, the steps toward arriving at an HRT regimen that is well-tolerated, achieves the desired outcomes, and that a woman feels comfortable taking are not different from the steps taken to initiate any form of drug therapy. Concludes Marla Ahlgrimm, “What works best is an alliance between health care providers and patients, not a hierarchy where one tells the other what to do.”

Marla Ahlgrimm is the founder of Women’s Health America, Inc., an organization that provides individualized hormonal medications and helpful health information. As a published co-author and columnist, Marla Ahlgrimm directs her main focus on natural hormone therapy. Marla Ahlgrimm has received numerous awards and is recognized as Distinguished Alumni by her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin. To contact Marla Ahlgrimm, visit marlaahlgrimm.com.

Filed Under: Health and Beauty Tagged With: Ahlgrimm, Ahlgrimm Marla, Associates, Madison, Madison Pharmacy Associates, Marla, Marla Ahlgrimm, Marla Ahlgrimm R.Ph., pharmaceutical, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Women’s Health America

Report on Americans and Poor Health

March 13, 2013 By Admin3 Leave a Comment

It’s been in the news for some time now that Americans’ state of health has been declining in recent decades, to the point where it’s now referred to by many as a national health crisis. In fact, the United States now ranks 17^th in 32 developed nations, with a life expectancy of 75 (Japan tops the list at 79.1 years). What are the factors leading up to this disturbing news? How did we get into this predicament?

Obesity still remains a real problem. Take a trip to the mall or the store, and you’ll most likely see more really big people than you did ten years ago. Why is that? It ties in to lifestyle and lack of exercise, of course. When people drive to work, get out and walk into the office, get back in the car and get fast food for lunch, then drive home again and stay sedentary until time for bed, they’re going to put on weight. But there’s more to it than just a sedentary lifestyle.

Corn and flour are cheap, and foods that are heavy in refined flour or corn products tend to be cheap…and the carbohydrates in those foods aren’t easily processed, so the body tends to convert them to fat. There’s a direct correlation between cheap processed foods and the number of obese poor people in America – and the low cost of corn, high fructose corn syrup and flour all ties in to agricultural subsidies that help keep those prices depressed. Obesity, of course, is a major contributor to orthopedic problems, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and numerous other ailments.

Some trends have started to turn in the other direction. Fewer people smoke, more people are getting at least some exercise, fewer people drink heavily, and more people are starting to become engaged and conscious of their own health. More Americans are getting tested for HIV, and more are staying current on their vaccines (including seasonal flu shots). 48.4% report regular aerobic exercise, the highest number ever recorded. Still, many adults avoid seeking health care due to the cost and their lack of insurance, and trends still seem to point to poor dietary choices as one of the biggest obstacles to good health in Americans. Hopefully as behaviors improve, America can turn the corner soon.

Filed Under: Health and Beauty

Stay Strong: Better Health During Winter Months

February 20, 2013 By Admin3 Leave a Comment

It is common for humans to sort of hibernate during winter’s cold months. Our calorie intake increases, physical activity decreases. Result: lack of energy, weight gain, colds and flus.

Q: Is it okay to exercise in the cold?

A: Exercise is a good way to strengthen the immune system during the cold months and to gain more energy. One of the biggest misconceptions people have about exercising in cold weather is the need to dress too warmly. Exercise produces lots of heat — it tricks you into feeling like it’s much warmer than it really is. But once your sweat dries, you can get very cold. It’s important to wear layers. Remove them as soon as you start sweating and put then put them back on as needed. Slim people may need more padding than someone who is heavier. Wear a scarf or a face mask to warm the air before it hits your lungs. Protect your feet with extra thick socks. Don’t forget about your hands and ears which are vulnerable to frostbite too.

Q: What are some good comfort foods to serve kids during winter?

A: Soups. Hot soups are one of the best comfort foods during snowy winters. You can make soup at home from scratch or buy ready-to-heat cans from grocery store. Soups are healthy and delicious and fairly inexpensive. They help prevent winter cough and cold and are also great decongestants.

Hot Chocolate: What’s tastier than a cup of rich hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and marshmallows, when your hands are cold from the freezing temperature outside?

Q: How can I get more vitamin D in the winter?

A: Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D. But if you live in a place where most days are grey and gloomy, you need to find other ways to get enough sunshine for your daily dose of vitamin D. Spend as much time outside as you possibly can to take advantage of every sunray. Go for a walk or eat your lunch outside. Your hands and face will absorb some vitamin D. It may not be your required dose of vitamin D, but it’s better than nothing and the fresh air will be good for you on many levels too. Egg yolks and salmon are the foods with high amounts of vitamin D, so eat more of these foods in the winter. A last resort, take Vitamin D supplements.