Category: General Articles
Causes Of Stress – Living A Stress Filled Life
Causes Of Stress – Living A Stress Filled Life
We all live in a fast paced life whether we choose it or not. It just seems the harder we try to escape the pressures of life the more life seems to hit us right between the eyes.
Remember when you were a kid and the most stress filled time was just before Christmas and you were worried that Santa might forget to stop by, or going to the dentist, or the doctor for a checkup seemed terrible?
If you are like me then you sometimes wish you were a kid again, no pressures, no deadlines to meet, no boss standing over your shoulder or money situations. Not even a bill to pay!
Seems today like these kinds of pressures are normal things in life. We do as adults have obligations to meet, and responsibilities that are growing every day.
It is a growing concern today with many health advisors that stress can cause many devastating diseases, and many stressors that we face on a day to day basis could be lessened if only we would stop and look at some of the things that cause them.
Here are a few things that can cause a stress filled life:
LACK OF EXERCISE – Too many people today do not get enough exercise, which can lead to many physical diseases, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, obesity and inflammation.
OVER EATING – Can lead to obesity, which is a leading cause of Diabetes.
NOT ENOUGH SLEEP – This disorder can lead to fatigue, anxiety and depression, and some causes of fibromyalgia.
STRESS IN THE WORK PLACE – This is probably the biggest of all, we are put to the test every day that we are at work. We get angry, frustrated, ridiculed, talked about, and pushed to the point that when we finally get off from work we are mentally drained.
ECONOMIC PRESSURES – Or maybe to some people this may be the biggest, loss of income, pay cuts, layoffs, downsizing, and pressures of making our monthly payments.
Look at these situations in your life, there are ways that you can overcome them, if you will just take a deep breath and take it one day at a time.…
Read MoreIt Is What It Is’ Syndrome
It Is What It Is’ Syndrome
You know what’s interesting? I used to think saying, it is what it is, made sense and that everyone believed as I did. Oddly enough, to some degree, it absolutely hits the mark! It is what it is. Think about it; allow it to sizzle and you’ll find there’s very little room for argument with this statement; life is life and circumstances are what they are.
So what possessed me to embrace this philosophy? Because it completely removes the contexts of right / wrong and good / bad from life. It smooths the waters and implies that all is as it should be. In fact, it makes it incredibly easy to identify what works and what doesn’t work when you’re able to look at things for what they are and eliminate all judgment and blame.
However, there was / is a gap. Even though things are as they should be, that doesn’t mean circumstances can’t be different or improved upon. It takes an ability to accept what’s so along with a strong desire and commitment to expand beyond our perceived limitations, remove all desperation and need and generate our actions from a place of pure inspiration. Unfortunately, this is not a common approach. Many people can wrap their heads around, it is what it is, and then stop there because instead of looking up, they look down… right down the rabbit hole where apathy resides and nothing can possibly make a difference, because… ‘I have no money, my family is fat, cancer runs in my family, both my parents lost their teeth, my dad was a factory worker, women aren’t supposed to… ; so why bother?’ Why bother indeed… here’s what I know about apathy… it’s a killer AND it’s reached epidemic proportions!
It destroys inspiration, motivation, creativity, desire, vision, and passion leading to breakdowns, train wrecks, disasters, dis-eases and dis-orders of body, mind, and spirit as well as the world around us.
Is it possible to break free of apathy’s grip? Of course; however, and that is a big however, it takes a commitment to being committed to doing life differently. It means retraining yourself to think, speak and act in ways you are unaccustomed too. It requires support structures and accountability to powerfully generate yourself in new ways of being. And like any new workout, it takes effort that gets easier with practice.
Are you done suffering from ‘it is what it is’ syndrome or are you committed to suffering? You see the choice is yours. Weight, medical conditions, dental conditions, sleep issues, aging, financial success (or lack there of) are results of living life a certain way AND with structured, intentional love and support, you can recover your energy, stamina, and passion; leading a life that consistently lights you up in ways you’ve always dreamed of!…
Read MoreA1 Versus A2 Milk – Here is What Big Dairy is Never Going to Tell You About Milk
A1 Versus A2 Milk – Here is What Big Dairy is Never Going to Tell You About Milk
Hello fellow milk drinkers. As many know who have read my articles or visited my sites, I am a big believer in raw milk. But there is some information you should know no matter what kind of milk you drink, whether it is raw or pasteurized milk. There is something Big Dairy is not telling you and probably never will. You’ll see why. So what is this something? It is A2 milk versus A1 milk.
You are most likely scratching your head right about now wondering what I am babbling about. But please, read on. This is important and you will not hear much (if anything–ever) about it if you don’t take it upon yourself to look for the information yourself.
Okay, I don’t want to bore you or start spouting off a bunch of scientific jargon, but there are different proteins found in milk. One of the proteins is called casein, and one of those is the beta casein. The major beta casein types are A1 and A2.
Still with me? All right, A2 is the good protein. You’ll find it in most of the old-fashioned cows like Guernsey, Brown Swiss, and Jersey. Guernseys are almost predominantly A2, followed by a high percentage of Brown Swiss, followed by Jersey, Ayrshire, and Milking Shorthorn. Then you have, lagging far far behind, the most popular cow in America, the Holstein, which is predominantly A1. This is the black and white dairy cow you see in all the ads.
You can pretty much assume Guernsey milk is A2, but the rest you would need to have a test run. Currently New Zealand is holding a patent on this and it makes it difficult to test in the United States (but not impossible, and I am having my cow tested right now).
The thing about this A2 and A1 is that the A1 is a mutated protein. It should all be A2 but people have “messed with” some breeds of cows too much and caused the A1 milk.
Now, here is why you will not hear about this from any of your local big commercial dairies. Most of these dairies have Holsteins. So most of the milk in the grocery stores is of the A1 variety.
So why is this bad, or is it? Well here’s the thing. Evidence has emerged showing an association between A1 beta casein in milk to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, and is also associated with neurologic disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. And that may only be the tip of the iceberg.
This is something everyone who drinks milk from the store needs to know. I realize not many will dig deeper and do their own research. Some will dismiss it all as a load of hooey, but I hope that at least a few people will read this and take action.
My own suggestion is to drink raw milk from a healthy A2 cow. But even if you are adamantly against raw milk, find a source of Guernsey milk or another old-fashioned dairy breed that has been tested A2, and pasteurize it yourself if you must. But avoid milk with the A1 beta casein protein.…
Read MoreCommon Illnesses Many Elderly People Experience
Common Illnesses Many Elderly People Experience
Those of us in the “in between” generation are watching our aging parents suffer from many medical conditions. Aside from the fear that we will face the same problems, it’s our job to make sure that they receive the care they need. Here are eight conditions that may affect an elder you care for:
1) Arthritis: It’s not a good idea to think of this as “just” arthritis. It can have some serious impact on an elder’s life. It makes movement difficult and can make falls more likely. If it comes along with thinning bones, it can cause them to break. This can be deadly in a senior citizen.
2) COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder can cause serious problems with breathing. Without treatment, the elder may become bedridden. Even with treatment, it’s possible that they will require supplemental oxygen.
3) Dementia: Many conditions can cause an elder to have cognitive decline. Age related atrophy of the brain, Alzheimer’s disease and even necessary medications can cause this problem. Catching it early may help prevent some serious problems, including financial elder abuse; something we’ve been trying to avoid.
4) Diabetes: This is caused by the body’s inability to use glucose or produce insulin. It can lead to many other diseases seen in the elderly. Kidney disease, heart disease and eye problems are only a few.
5) Gout: This condition is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the blood stream. If the kidneys cannot filter it out properly, these crystals may be deposited in various joints, usually starting with the right big toe.
6) Heart Disease: According to the CDC, heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. It is something that should be caught early, before the heart is damaged. Modern tests are available that can help in this area.
7) Kidney Disease: As we age, our kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter out toxins in the blood. If it’s caught early enough, steps can be taken to make dialysis easier on the patient.
8) TIA: According to PubMed, transient ischemic attacks are caused when blood flow to an area of the brain is stopped for a short period of time. When that happens, the elder will have stroke like symptoms for an hour or two. It may also indicate that a true stroke is on the way.
Knowing what to look for disease-wise is an important part of eldercare. Check with your elder’s doctor(s) to see what you should watch for. This will help catch serious problems before they do a lot of damage.…
Read MoreHow Your Family’s Medical History Affects Your Life Insurance Rates
How Your Family’s Medical History Affects Your Life Insurance Rates
There is a major trend for Life Insurance Companies to consider “family medical history” when deciding what rate class an applicant should be offered. Currently they look at the family history of immediate family members. Immediate family members mean parents and siblings. While this may make sense from a statistical standpoint, environmental factors play a major role in many diseases. In many cases a healthy person who has a family member with diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke or cancer will be charged more than double for life insurance.
The diseases that an insurance company may look for in family history are diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke and cancer. If you have a mother, father, sister or brother that has coronary artery disease, stroke and cancer you will need to carefully select the insurance company that you apply to for insurance. There are vast differences in underwriting rules from company to company. One company charges extra for family history of diabetes and coronary artery disease but not cancer or stroke. Another company charges extra for cancer and cardiovascular disease but not stroke or diabetes. To complicate things even further some companies will disregard family history that did not result in the death of the family member before age 60.
You will to need to find a company that will not charge extra for your family history before you apply. Insurance company underwriting rules are not advertised to the public but they are available to agents. A good agent will search for companies that would provide the best rates for a customer with no family history. Starting at the top of the list they eliminate companies that would charge the customer extra. That way they find the best available policy for that individual customer.
Bottom line is you are going to need the help of an agent who can shop the market. Avoid captive agents who have only one company to offer. Also, avoid the agencies that shop only a few companies in a “select group”. There are hundreds of safe insurance companies out there, some well known and some less. Choose an agent that can use them all to your advantage.…
Read MoreHow to Lower Your Cholesterol By Changing Your Diet
How to Lower Your Cholesterol By Changing Your Diet
If you have just been told that your cholesterol levels are high, you will almost certainly be weighing out the choices that your doctor gave you. One alternative would be to take medication and the other alternative would be to modify your diet and carry out more exercise. The changes in diet are not radical, yet they could have a big impact. Exercising may be more of a problem to most people who lead an inactive lifestyle.
Individuals talk about cholesterol levels because there are two kinds of cholesterol. The two levels are HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol). LDL comes from animal fats (saturated fats), which are predominant in red meat and full-fat dairy products like milk, butter, cream and cheese but it also is present in hydrogenated trans fats, which are common in margarines, pastry and crisps.
The first thing to do is attempt to cut out saturated fats by switching to chicken and drinking skimmed milk. You could also replace the margarine or butter with one of the cholesterol-decreasing margarines in the supermarkets. Just taking these two steps will make a huge difference to numerous people, however, others might have to go a little further.
Grains are very useful in the battle against cholesterol, because of the amount of fibre in them. Therefore, you could give up your traditional English breakfast of cereals with milk followed by sausage, bacon, eggs and fried bread and instead eat Scots porridge oats with water or skimmed milk followed by granary toast and cholesterol-reducing margarine. This step alone will also considerably alter your cholesterol levels.
If you like a steak for lunch sometimes, you may not have to give it up entirely, but if you normally order an eight ounce steak, get a four or six ounce one instead and if you have that four times a week, cut back to two instead. Replace the steak with meals of skinless chicken and fish. Omega 3 fish oil is considered to be a big ally in the battle against cholesterol.
If you consume a lot of junk food like greasy hamburgers and oily hot dogs, you will almost certainly have to give them up, but that is not a bad thing anyway. Strive to snack on citrus fruits as they are also your friends against LDL cholesterol.
It is not all doom and gloom on the dietary front for sufferers of cholesterol issues. The alterations that will be recommended to you to sort out your cholesterol problems have probably already been suggested to you to sort out being over weight or having high blood pressure or even suffering from diabetes.
They are fundamental, sensible minor lifestyle changes which will have a enormous effect on several aspects of your body. The same is true of exercise. Most people know that they ought to exercise more, it is just a pity that most of us have to have such a serious incentive before we do anything about it.…
Read MoreTreating Repetitive Strain Injuries
When people experience a Repetitive Strain Injury, it is typically the result of performing the same type of motion over and over again. The motion itself may not seem like something that would cause significant injury, but the act of doing it repeatedly can take a toll on one or more areas of the body. Here are a few important things to know about possible treatments for these injuries.
Immediate Rest Could Be Necessary
Once you have identified that something you are doing is causing an RSI, you will probably need to stop doing it or modify how you are doing it in order to give the injured area time to rest and heal. A more permanent type of modification may be necessary to avoid reaggravating your injury while it is still healing or reinjuring the same area long after it has healed.
Workers’ Compensation May Provide You With Benefits for Treatment
RSI often happens due to people’s job-related duties. Jobs over a variety of industries including administrative work make people vulnerable to injury because they have to perform the same tasks repeatedly throughout their workday. When this type of injury happens on the job, people can make a claim for workers’ compensation in order to address medical expenses. To get help with benefits for work-related injuries Oregon, reach out to someone who has experience providing counsel about eligibility, applications, and appeals.
Supportive Braces Can Alleviate Discomfort
Wearing a supportive brace can take a lot of the strain off of an area that is causing you pain due to an RSI. Mitigating strain and pain can expedite the healing process while also helping to assure that joints function stably. They may also be useful in preventing reinjury.
Some RSIs can be difficult to treat effectively. The earlier they are diagnosed, the easier they may be to treat.
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