With all the T.V. shows, computer programs, and video games available now, it’s hard to get kids up and moving anymore. That’s one big reason why childhood obesity is becoming more and more prevalent. Getting your child in shape doesn’t have to be a fight; you just have to find activities they enjoy that are good for them as well. Here are some great workouts that will entertain your kids at the same time.
Tennis. If your child isn’t into traditional team sport, then tennis is a great alternative. It gives a great cardio workout while also working various muscle groups and improving hand-eye and overall coordination. Plus, even though your child isn’t necessarily working on a team, tennis is a great way to meet and socialize with other kids.
Hacky sack. This is a simple cheap way to get your kids up and moving. It also teaches coordination, balance, and helps your kids socialize and work together in a group to accomplish something. Plus, unlike most group sports, there are no teams so children are trying to beat their old records instead of trying to win.
Dance. Sure, you can enroll your child in dance classes, or you could just turn on the radio a couple times a week and make up silly dances to go along with the songs. This not only encourages movement, balance, and coordination, it also work out kid’s brains by getting them to be imaginative.
Video games. These have gotten a bad rap in the past few years, physical video games have come a long way since the original Nintendo. Now there are tons of products available that get your child to stand up and move. One popular game series is Dance Dance Revolution. There are also games on the new Nintendo Wii system that encourage physical movement. These are a fun entertaining way for your kids to get a workout while they play video games. And trust me; these are just as addictive as other video games.
Soccer. There’s a reason there are so many soccer mom’s around; because these moms know that soccer is a great way for children to get their heart rate up, improve their footwork skills, learn teamwork, and have fun at the same time. Plus, if you’re worried about the problem of intense competition, there are many areas with leagues that don’t keep score. This has been and still is a great way for your kids to stay in shape.
Swimming. Doing laps is a great way to get an aerobic workout without causing a lot of wear and tear on your child’s growing bones and joints. It’s fantastic and increasing endurance and stamina. Plus, a pool is a great place for them to hang out, play, and meet new kids in the neighborhood during the summer.
Jumping rope. This is a great workout whether it’s done the traditional way, or the newer more faced paced version. This can help your child meet new people, and some areas even have it as a competitive sport.
So why not get your child involved in one of these great activities? You could even get a workout yourself by joining them or just helping them practice regularly.
Filed under Exercise by on Mar 10th, 2011. 
Most of us spend our lives running to and fro, having meetings, meeting deadlines, and doing tons of stuff that leaves us stressed and frazzled at the end of the day. Stress can be horrible for our health; it keeps us from sleeping, zaps our energy, makes us look and feel older, and can even lead to various diseases and disorders. That’s why it’s important to take time out of your hectic day to relax. One of the best ways to do this is with herbal remedies. Just drink a tea or take a natural supplement to help you feel calm and relaxed. There are a lot of remedies for stress out there; here are some of the most effective:
* Kava kava. This herb has not only been used for stress relief and relaxation, but also for easing anxiety and curing insomnia. The effects are considered to be similar to the prescription drug valium, but generally without the “mental fog” feeling. Since the effects are so potent, you should be careful what you do after taking it until you know how it affects you.
* Lavender. Many people rely on lavender and other essential oils to soothe crying, fussy babies. These oils have the same calming effect on adults as well. You can massage them into your skin, put them in a bath, or just rub a small amount on your temples for a soothing and relaxing effect.
* Valerian. This is one of the most widely used herbs for curing insomnia. It calms the nervous system, making you feel calm and relaxed instead of stressed. In addition, since it helps you get a great night’s sleep, you’ll feel more refreshed and ready to face the next day.
* Reishi. This is a great supplement to take if you find your stress is caused by a constantly racing mind. This herb produces a calm, clear mind and helps cure anxiety without making you feel sleepy or sedated. It can also help you sleep if you have trouble “turning off” your brain at night.
With many prescriptions and over the counter medications, you can see an effect almost immediately. However, most herbal supplements require longer periods of time to notice the full effect. If taken properly and with patience, these remedies can provide a natural and effective alternative to drugs with fewer side effects. You should also talk to your doctor before starting any herbal supplement because they may have drug interactions.
Hopefully one or more of these remedies will help you to calm down and lead a more relaxing and peaceful life.
Filed under Sleep, Stress by on Feb 11th, 2011.
In the past decade, the yoga craze has been sweeping the western world. What previously was seen as being odd or eastern superstition has now become a western staple. Yoga can strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and help you sleep better. But perhaps the most useful effect of yoga is its ability to decrease stress; something we seem to have more and more of every day. If it seems the world is piling up on you and you just need a break, why not finally give in to the craze and try some yoga and visualization exercises? They’ll not only reduce your stress level, they can also help you live a longer, healthier life.
While there are many different kinds of yoga, most revolve around the same principles. What we refer to as yoga now is a method of balancing the systems of your body using poses and deep breathing methods. These methods help stretch muscles, massage internal organs, and leave your mind in a peaceful state. The full concept of yoga also includes balancing diet and other aspects of your life.
You should choose a method of yoga based on what classes and books are available to you, your dedication to yoga, and your physical skill level. You should research all options available to you in order to find the best fit.
So why is yoga so good at relieving stress? First, in addition to the poses and breathing, it emphasizes a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Living this way will help you be healthier with properly functioning systems. If you’re not lacking in various nutrients, your will function better, feel more energized, and be less stressed. Yoga also helps build stamina and strength which can help you cope better with the physical aspects of stress. It also helps to calm you physically and mentally. This helps to relieve the stress you may have built up through the day. It also emphasizes proper breathing methods. Generally we take short shallow breaths. The long deep breaths used in yoga promote relaxation by changing the carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Lastly, yoga can help promote a full, restful night’s sleep. Getting enough sleep is very important in helping the body and mind heal. This leaves you ready to cope better with stressors the next day.
Adding visualization to your yoga exercises can make them even more relaxing and more effective at relieving stress. The concept is to visualize images that will guide your mood. If you think of sad things during your visualizations, you’ll become sadder. This also means that if your mind wanders to work and other stressors, you’ll become more stressed. By teaching yourself to concentrate on peaceful and relaxing images, you will help relive even more stress from your body.
While they may take time, practice, and patience to master; yoga and visualization techniques can be great tools to help you relax, unwind, sleep better, and stay healthy and happy.
Filed under Yoga by on Dec 2nd, 2010.
We’ve all heard of coconuts, but you may or may not have heard of coconut oil. Usually we get coconut dried, shaved, and thrown on a cream pie. But when we just eat the dried flesh of the coconut, we’re missing out on the best part. Coconut oil was once used regularly for cooking, but has now disappeared in favor of oils containing unsaturated fats. Here are six reasons you should consider switching to coconut oil to cook your meals.
* It lowers cholesterol. We’ve always been told to avoid saturated fats because they raise your cholesterol. This is the primary reason coconut oil, which is mostly saturated fats, has been used less and less recently. However, coconut oil has been shown to help metabolize cholesterol faster, reducing overall levels. A study was done in a culture where coconut oil was used on a regular basis. When these people were moved to a different area and their coconut oil intake dropped, their cholesterol levels got much higher.
* It can keep you young. Coconut oil lowers cholesterol because it stimulates the thyroid gland. When the thyroid works properly, it uses cholesterol to make chemicals that are vital for preventing disease and keeping you from aging.
* It can help you lose weight. As I already mentioned, coconut oil helps improve thyroid functioning. Improper functioning of the thyroid is a major cause of obesity. Cultures that use more coconut oil have less incidence of obesity.
* It can prevent cancer. Increased thyroid function has also been shown to reduce the incidence of cancer. Studies have shown the occurrence of cancer to be lower, and in some cases nonexistent in areas that rely on saturated oils. They have also shown that the number of cancer cases increases with the addition of unsaturated oils to the diet.
* It can prevent infections. Coconut oil has been found to contain 40% lauric acid. This is a fatty acid that is found in breast milk. The body converts it into a substance that fights bacterial, viral, and protozoal infection in infants. When your body has these chemicals, your immune system does less work and you stay healthy.
* It has been used for a long time. Coconut oil has been used in tropical areas and even modern cultures for many years. Only recently have people started switching to unsaturated oils for cooking. In areas that have made this switch, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, and other problems have increased. Cultures that still use coconut oil have fewer of these problems.
As you can see, switching to coconut oil for your cooking needs is a great decision. It can help you live longer, and look and feel better. So why not go buy some coconut oil today?
Filed under Healthy Eating by on Nov 23rd, 2010.
Lately there is more and more information out there dealing with sleep apnea. You’ve probably heard about it on the news, from a friend, or maybe from your doctor. You may be concerned, or maybe just curious; whatever the reason, here is some information about sleep apnea.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing in their sleep. While most people with apnea stop breathing for about 10 seconds, some can go a full minute without taking a breath. The person then wakes up, and starts breathing again; often they don’t even know this has happened. This can occur up to 100 times a night. Sleep apnea can be fatal for someone who doesn’t wake up, but can also be harmful due to severe sleep deprivation.
While one is much more prevalent, there are actually two types of sleep apnea. The first, and much more common type, is obstructive sleep apnea. In this case, breathing stops because the airway is obstructed, usually by the throat or the back of the mouth. This is what is normally discussed when you speak of sleep apnea. The other type of apnea is central sleep apnea. This is actually a nervous disorder when there is a problem with the signal from your brain to your body telling it to breathe. This type is much more serious and is generally caused by a brain stem or nervous system injury or disease.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
There are actually two types of symptoms that can occur from sleep apnea. The first are those from the actual condition. Those include:
* Waking up often in the middle of the night, usually gasping for air.
* Loud snoring
* Stopping breathing during the night. This is reported from a partner or by using a tape recorder.
* Waking up during the night in a sweat.
* Dry mouth, sore throat, or headaches after sleeping.
Other symptoms of sleep apnea are actually caused by sleep deprivation. Even if you are sleeping enough every night, you may still be deprived of certain types of sleep. These symptoms include:
* Feeling very tired after a full night’s sleep
* Falling asleep during the day
* Memory loss
* Short attention span
* Mood swings, including depression
* Poor judgment and problem solving skills
* Weight gain
If you think you may have sleep apnea, there are certain causes and risk factors that you should be aware of. While many risk factors can’t be controlled, like age, throat structure or being male, there are some that can be. Making lifestyle changes may reduce your apnea without medical treatment. These factors include:
* Being overweight, particularly in the neck region
* Irregular sleeping patterns, particularly regular changes like those caused by shift work.
* Smoking
* Alcohol and sleep aids. These relax the throat muscles making them more likely to obstruct your airway.
* Allergies or other problems that cause nasal blockage.
If your symptoms are severe, or are not improved by fixing the problems above; see a doctor. They can refer you to a sleep specialist who will give you specific treatment for your problem. With time, you should be able to fix your apnea and enjoy healthy, restful night’s sleep.
Filed under Sleep by on Nov 17th, 2010.