Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Receive Anti-Aging Benefits with Exercise

Vigorous exercise helps prevent aging at the cellular level.
According to a new study, funded by The German Research Association and the University of Saarland, and published in "Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association," intense exercise acts to help prevent the shortening of telomeres. The gradual shortening of telomeres through cell divisions leads to aging at the cellular level. The study findings were released online Nov. 30, 2009 in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of "Circulation". It follows up on the work done by Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider, and Jack W. Szostak, who won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine for their work in showing how during cell division, telomere length is shortened. Read more

Monday, December 28, 2009

Banish the Winter Blues Naturally

Tom Sykes used to think that the "winter blues" were a con, but now he's seen the light, and he explains how you can, too.
Seasonal affective disorder – SAD – was something I used to think people made up as an excuse to be grumpy.

Seriously, how could a lack of sunlight make you depressed?

And then I returned to the UK after living in America for four years.

One of the things I loved most about America – even more than free coffee refills – was the crisp, sunny winters. Even between December and February, you can average five hours of sunshine per day.

In London, we get one hour in December, and two in January and February.

My first winter in the UK for four years hit me with an almighty wallop. On the outside everything was going well – our first child was even sleeping through the night – so why did I want to crawl under the duvet and stay there until June?

A friend suggested I might suffer from SAD, but I pooh-poohed her suggestion. Read more

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Boost Your Immune System with Power Foods and Vitamin D

You already know most of the common sense techniques for avoiding the flu, be it the swine flu, a standard flu, or even a common cold. This article explores "power foods" that help build your defenses by enhancing your immune system. Combine these super foods with common sense and you will be prepared for any flu that comes your way.
With the threat of the H1N1 flu virus this year, you might want to trade the sugary treats for some “power foods” to boost your immune system.

Nutritionists agree that by adding “super foods” to your diet, you may keep the flu at bay. Christen Sherwood, owner of the Healing House Center for Natural Health in Clear Lake, said that one such power food — elderberries — are “proven to work as good as Tamiflu.” Read more

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Vitamin E Injections Shrinks Tumors in a Day

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient the human body needs to function normally. British researchers say injecting an extract of vitamin E shrank tumors within a day. Could taking a relatively inexpensive full spectrum vitamin E supplement serve as a preventative for cancer? You'll have to be an experiment of one if you want to try it because you can bet researchers won't be testing that.
A vitamin jab that shrinks tumours in a day is being hailed as a powerful new treatment for cancer.

British researchers who are testing the therapy say injecting an extract of vitamin E into the bloodstream has a rapid effect.

Within 24 hours, tumours begin to shrivel and after ten days they have almost completely disappeared. Read more

Monday, December 21, 2009

Do Cold Temperatures Improve Sleep?

If insomnia is a problem, maybe your bedroom is too hot or too cold. Both can affect sleep.
Studies have found that in general, the optimal temperature for sleep is quite cool, around 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures that fall too far below or above this range can lead to restlessness.

Temperatures in this range help facilitate the decrease in core body temperature that in turn initiates sleepiness. A growing number of studies are finding that temperature regulation plays a role in many cases of chronic insomnia. Read more

Friday, December 18, 2009

Brutal 500 Rep Workout

If you're looking for a burnout workout, Zuzana at BodyRock.tv demonstrates a brutal five hundred rep workout - ten exercises of fifty reps each.
Today’s workout was awesome! Very intense, but also quite long. It took me exactly 35 minutes and 55 seconds. It might sound strange, but I was actually enjoying the pain from the burn. Now I feel that I really deserve the active rest tomorrow. So what was this workout all about? I did 10 different exercises and 50 reps for each of them. It is a time challenge so try to be moving through the exercises without taking any long breaks. What slowed me down were the push ups and although I started with regular push ups – I had to switch to the easier variations. The turkish get ups are also quite brutal and took me the most amount of time. Read more

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Cannabis Mouth Spray Gives Pain Relief for Cancer Victims

Cannabis or medical marijuana can successfully treat a myriad of conditions and diseases without the typical side effects that prescription pharmaceuticals may have. One new use is a cannabis mouth spray that reduces pain in cancer patients who were not helped by morphine or other pain relievers.
Cancer patients who used a cannabis mouth spray had their pain levels reduced by a third, researchers said today.

The cannabis-based spray, like a mouth freshener, was used on 177 patients by researchers from Edinburgh University.

They found that it reduced pain levels by 30 per cent in a group of cancer patients, all in the Edinburgh area, who had not been helped by morphine or other medicines.

The spray was developed so that it did not affect the mental state of patients in the way that using cannabis would. Read more

Monday, December 14, 2009

Massage Your Testicles to Better Health

The testicles are two small oval-shaped organs that hang below the penis in a pouch of skin called the scrotum. From the age of puberty, the testicles produce sperm which can fertilize the female egg. The testicles are also responsible for producing the hormone testosterone.

Testicle massage improves the blood circulation to the testicles, which also boosts your production of testosterone. Massaging your testicles regularly will improve your erections, ejaculation volume, and sperm count. Testicle massage will even increase the size of your testicles so that they are lower hanging, fuller feeling, heavier, and more sensitive.

This exercise explains how to increase blood circulation to your testicles to promote all-round better function and health. Before doing anything, soak a wash cloth under a hot faucet and apply a "hot wrap" to your testicles for about five minutes. This will make them hot and the skin more pliable to stretch and massage. After the hot wrap is complete, apply some baby oil or another massage oil into your palms and really rub it into the skin of your scrotum, covering all visible areas with oil.

Next, begin to massage all the areas surrounding your testicles, but not the testicles directly. Massage in between your testicles with a pumping motion using your thumb and fingers. Massage at the base, pulling down as you massage. Do this for about three minutes.

Then, take your hands with your fingers spread apart and grip your testicles at the root and lightly pull them down, bring them back up, them pull them down again, over and over for about three minutes.

Next, lightly apply pressure to your testicles, massaging them while doing so. Massage all around them, working your way around both of your testicles. Do this for about three minutes.

Three times a week you should stretch out your testicle skin real well, feeling a good stretch as you pull the skin down. A good stretching method is to grasp around the base of your testicles with your thumb and forefinger and squeeze until your testicles are tight together on top of your thumb and forefinger. Take the other hand and apply a small amount of pressure on top of the testicles and massage them in a circular motion. While you are doing this, pull down lightly of the hand grabbing the base of your testicles connecting flesh. Do this for about three minutes.

After these massaging exercises, your testicles should be stretched out and appear to be hanging lower than normal, as well as appear to be larger. This massaging and stretching routine should be done at least every other day, but daily massage should be performed for optimal testicle health. The testicle massage will leave your entire genital area feeling vibrant and alive, but more importantly, lead to better health and fitness for your testicles.

If you are not happy with the size of your penis, I highly recommend you check out PenisAdvantage. PenisAdvantage provides unique natural penis enlargement exercises that you can try at home to enlarge your penis by 1 to 4 inches naturally without the need for any medication or drugs.
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Friday, December 11, 2009

Testosterone, the Hormone That Makes You Kind and Genial

Pop science and the media have been attributing aggressive behavior to the sex hormone testosterone for decades, but research suggests that testosterone may be the source of very different human acts such as kindness, friendliness and fair play..
It is often blamed as the catalyst for aggression and risk taking in humans.

But it seems testosterone may have had a bad press.

The sex hormone may even be the source of very different human acts such as kindness, friendliness and fair play, research suggests. Read more

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Beauty Sleep Is Real

Sleeping Beauty may have had the ultimate secret to looking great and maintaining the soft, dewy skin of youth. The best skin-care treatment may be a good night's sleep.
It's a universal truth: When you're in your 20s, you can stay out all night and look fresh the next morning. Unfortunately, as we age, lack of sleep affects us more deeply and shows more prominently on our faces -- lackluster complexions, dark circles, fine lines and, in more extreme cases, rashes and eczema.

Progressive loss of cellular water may be one reason sleepless nights affect our skin more visibly as we age, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad. Water retention is key to keeping skin moisturized and supple, which can translate to fewer lines and a smoother complexion. Read more

Monday, December 7, 2009

The Best Way to Prevent Colds and Flu: Vitamin D

As the weather becomes colder and we stay indoors more, people often catch colds or other viruses. Dr. Joseph Mercola says that taking vitamin D is the number one way to combat colds or flu.
... Many people believe that colds and flu are caused by bacteria, but this is simply incorrect. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and using antibiotics to treat a viral infection is inappropriate and completely ineffective.

Viruses are orders of magnitude smaller than bacteria and have entirely different structures that make antibiotics useless. (Occasionally antibiotics are required if there is a secondary bacterial sinus infection or bronchitis/pneumonia, but this is the rare exception.)

It is also important to recognize that, although a virus triggers your cold or flu symptoms, it is not the real cause of the illness.

So, what is the real cause of colds and flu?

My simple and short answer has always been that it’s due to an impaired immune system. That’s still true. However, research has confirmed that “catching” colds and flu may be a symptom of an underlying vitamin D deficiency! Less than optimal vitamin D levels will significantly impair your immune response and make you far more susceptible to contracting colds, influenza, and other respiratory infections.

Although there are many ways you might end up with a weakened immune system, the more common contributing factors are: Read more

Friday, December 4, 2009

Cures for the Common Hangover: Survival Tips for the Holidays

'Tis the season to celebrate, but beware! One too many glasses of eggnog at the office holiday party, or a bit more bubbly than you anticipated on New Year's Eve, and you're likely to find yourself feeling less than cheerful the day after. Is there a cure for the common hangover? The Times gives serious party goers some morning after tips.
It’s the time of year, as Christmas partying gets under way, when the shelves of pharmacies and healthfood shops groan under the weight of supplements that supposedly prevent hangovers. Whereas in the past we had only the “plink, plink, fizz” of Alka-Seltzer, now there is a proliferation of cures. But do any of them really protect you from the worst effects of alcohol?

All of them will target at least one of the damaging effects of alcohol. We feel dreadful after drinking because of dehydration, the build-up of destructive chemicals created when the liver tries to break down alcohol, shortages of minerals and vitamins, the loss of sugar stores and poisons in our blood from impurities in alcoholic drinks. The label of some products will state which side-effects they aim to prevent. So which products do what, and which ones are worth buying? Read more

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

20 Minute Tabata Interval Cardio Workout

Fitness experts have long acknowledged that intervals are one of the best ways to maintain and increase fitness performance. However, it wasn't until American fitness experts found the studies of a Japanese researcher by the name of Tabata that they realized the full potential of intervals. Dr. Tabata's now-famous research found that doing exercises in bursts of 20 seconds of full intensity with 10 second breaks provides a level of fitness conditioning that is significantly higher than that of other methods. Zuzana of Bodyrock.tv presents a 20 minute Tabata interval workout. Here's part one:



View the next four videos for this workout