live healthy

The recent listeria outbreak has many people wondering about the safety of cantaloupe. An eastern Colorado farm was infected with the listeria virus, which has affected numerous people in at least 18 states. This outbreak has been traced to a single source, which means the rest of America’s cantaloupe is unaffected and is safe to eat.

Any food that grows on the ground has the potential for a variety of hazards, as they are susceptible to bacteria. This bacterium comes from rainwater run-off that enters the soil. Fruits such as cantaloupes are more sensitive to this bacteria due to the fact their skin can hold water. Michele Morrone, from Ohio University says, “If bacteria settles in that skin, you cut through the cantaloupe and you bring the bacteria into the melon.”

How to Prep Cantaloupe so it’s Safe to Eat

The first thing you should always do with any fruit or vegetable is wash them. This is especially important when it comes to melons. If possible, gently scrub with a brush to remove all soil. Promptly clean all cutting boards or other surfaces and utensils used to cut the fruit. The most important element to keeping melons safe, especially cantaloupe, is to wash the rind of the fruit whole.

Consumers should also follow typical food-preparation procedures, which includes washing your hands before and after handling food. Fruit, once it’s cut, should be refrigerated at about 40 degrees F. If fruit has been left at room temperature for more than four hours, it should be discarded.

Photo courtesy of How Stuff Works

Dementia

What is dementia? Dementia is the breakdown of mental functioning. It affects memory, concentration, and judgement. It typically affects people who are 65 or older, or people who have had some sort of brain injury. Although dementia is seen in older people it is not a common occurrence. Dementia is caused by brain cells breaking down. Dementia tends to occur slowly and gradually.

Symptoms of dementia begin with simple memory loss. Eventually you will start forgetting more and more. Other symptoms are mood swings, behavioral problems, poor hygiene, insomnia, and incapability of decision making. Dementia also comes with the added strain of depression and delirium. It makes it hard for all parties involved to deal with it.

The first step to coping with dementia is knowledge; learn about it. Read up on it. There are also support and care groups for people dealing with dementia, or if you are a caregiver of someone with dementia, there are groups for you too. If you want to avoid the early onset of dementia, maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat right and get plenty of exercise. Try to maintain a healthy blood pressure and cholesterol count. Of course, avoid smoking, drug use and over-indulging in alcohol. If you take care of your body it will take care of you in the long run.

Source: Alzheimers Reading Room
Photo ℅: Medical News Today

Living in a diet obsessed culture leaves most people on the constant lookout for miracle drugs, instant weight loss plans, magic creams, lotions or potions; anything to make the fat go away.

Over the past decade the world has gone through several varieties of weight loss strategies that have turned out to be temporary fads. It’s unfortunate that many consumers have fallen victim to the urban legends and claims of ‘too good to be true’ theories.

One such fad claimed that apple cider vinegar promoted weight loss. Another was the cellulite cream that magically melted fat away once rubbed into the skin. Then there was the cabbage soup diet, which to the dismay of soup lovers everywhere, proved to have undesirable effects at the finish line. Man cannot live off cabbage soup alone.

Then began a dangerous era of miracle diet pills. One of these pills claimed people could eat all the carbs they wanted without consequence. After the pill popping consumers began to experience abdominal pain and vomiting, the FDA pulled these pills and for good reason. They were depositing undigested starch straight into the colon! Can you say colonoscopy?

Not long after this came Dexatrim, the miracle appetite suppressant. That product was also quickly pulled off shelves by the FDA when they discovered the pills contained the drug PPA (phenylpropanolamine) which is a decongestant known to cause hemorrhagic strokes or bleeding of the brain. This product has been re-released under the name of Dexatrim Natural Ephedrine-Free.

Along came author / M.D. Herman Tarnower who promised that his high protein, low-carb Scarsdale Diet would ensure a 20-pound-a-week weight loss. His plan was for those in need of shedding a few pounds to consume 1,000 or less calories a day. A food fact to keep in mind; a diet of less than 1,200 calories is considered starvation.

Unless you lived under a rock in the 90s you will no doubt have heard the term ‘Atkins diet’. Dr. Atkins was another trendsetter in the low-carbs field, encouraging people to back off on consuming too much of the main source of fuel for the body – the carb. While the theory around his advice was reasonable, especially for those who were overweight, it did not prove practical for most. Many people fell in love with his recipes and low-carb approach but simply regained the weight.

The truth is many of these diet fads are very unhealthy and can cause the body to gain weight, not lose it. The requirements for a slim, fit physique is a balanced diet and regular exercise. This will help shed the extra pounds and more importantly, it is the only real ‘diet fad’ that will keep the weight off permanently.

Photo by Hypertension Blood Pressure Center

What is ALS?

ALS is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It got the name Lou Gehrig’s Disease from a famous New York Yankee player in 1939. This disease affects motor skills and movement throughout the entire body. ALS works fast, breaking the body down, and can be fatal. The statistics show at least 5,600 Americans are diagnosed with ALS a year. It crosses boundaries – it is not based on race, age, or socioeconomic factors. It can hit anyone at any time. How would you know if you had ALS? Please read the list of symptoms below.

• twitching
• muscle cramps
• weakness of the muscles
• heavy speech
• in some cases, difficulty breathing or swallowing

Typically the hands and feet are the first to become affected. You will find it difficult to move around or pick things up. When the disease starts to spread, it will infect the rest of the body, making it difficult to function at all. Basically the body stops cooperating with the brain. The only thing ALS does not touch is sensory, sight, touch, hearing, and smell.

There is no known cure for ALS. There is a drug called Riluzole that is used to treat ALS. However it only treats the disease marginally. It does not cure it or make it go away. It will just slow the process. It does not do this in every case, especially if you waited too long for a diagnosis. If you think you or someone you may know has ALS, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Source: Wikipedia, ALS
Photo: Wikipedia

Yoga For Beginners!

So you wanted to be and feel healthier. Have you ever thought about yoga? I have, but I never get any further than just thinking about it. I always thought I might feel like an idiot if I went to a class. After during some extensive research, I think I may just sign up. I am going to share this information here. The information will be for beginners, those of us just starting out or just curious. There are tons of yoga classes and various styles of yoga.

However if you are a beginner, the Hatha yoga is slow paced and focuses on relaxation and stretching. This class is pretty basic and is excellent for learning basic breathing techniques, meditation, and poses. It is a great start.

If you decide this is something you are interested in, find a class and sign up. If you are still unsure about classes or you do not feel comfortable in a classroom setting, there are also DVDs and even Wii has a yoga class. You can do your yoga in the comforts of your own home, at your own pace. Yoga does not only help with your physical health. It’s known to be great for the mind and spirit.

Source: About.com
Photo: Wikipedia

Eyestrain

Do you sit in front of a computer for hours on end? I know I do. And I get lots of eye of strain. What exactly is eyestrain? It occurs when eyes grow tired from being overworked, whether it’s the computer, reading, or driving. Eyestrain is not a serious type of injury, just very annoying. If you are not sure if you suffer from eyestrain here are some of the symptoms that may occur:

• Burning eyes
• Itchiness
• Soreness in the eyes
• Dry eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sore neck or back

There are some things you can do to prevent eyestrain when working on a computer – or at least alleviate the irritation it causes.

• Adjust your computer monitor. Your monitor should be at least 20 inches from your eyes.
• Lighting is also something. Work in a well-lit area and try to reduce the glare on your monitor.
• Keep your computer monitor clean from spots and dust.
• Place your keyboard right in front of you. Do not sit at an angle.
• If you are working, put any references or paperwork on a document holder next to your monitor. It will keep your head in one position and your eyes won’t have to constantly readjust.

Source: Mayo Clinic
Photo: Medicinenet.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fV54bvkXWI[/youtube]

Summer is here! It’s bikini season and what is the latest diet? The newest diet is the Dukan Diet. The Dukan Diet is a high protein, low carb diet. If you like protein like meats, eggs, fish and other various high protein foods, this could be a diet for you. The Dukan Diet, unlike some diets, goes in phases. It is a diet that can be utilized long or short term depending on how much weight you are looking to get rid of. This post is going to outline the pros and cons of this particular diet.

Pros:

• You will get results if the diet is followed to the letter.
• There are noticeable results in most cases within 10 days.
• At some point within this diet you will be able indulge periodically in the foods you love.
• If you love meat this is a great diet for you.
• You can eat as much as you want as long as what you eat is part of the diet.

Cons:

• Health problems may arise due to the fact it is a high protein diet. You may find yourself with high cholesterol, gout, or constipation, or possibly  high blood pressure.
• Once again, this is a high protein diet. You may find your body lacking certain other nutrients. This can be remedied with vitamins.
• Induction flu plagues some people during the first few phases of this diet. As your body adapts to the diet you may notice headaches, nausea, and irritability. However these things pass once the body adjusts.
• This diet is not for vegans or vegetarians. It is also recommended that people who are pregnant or who have liver or kidney problems avoid this diet.

Above is a video that goes into more detail about the various phases of this diet, so you can know what to expect. These are a few things to take into mind when considering the Dukan Diet. With that being said, I also highly recommend seeing your doctor before starting any diet. He may be able to give you the go ahead or suggest something more suitable for you.

Source: Hub Pages

Bikram Yoga is Yoga which is done in a temperature controlled room with forty percent humidity and a temperature of at least 104 degrees Farenheit. Derived from Hatha Yoga, it has twenty-six exercises or postures that are said to work every part of the body. Internal organs, veins, all the ligaments and all the muscles are worked in these postures to give you optimum health and maximum function.

Each posture will focus on a different part of the body, yet still working synergistically and thereby giving maximum benefit to the whole body. These studios/hothouses are called “torture chambers” by most teachers as these are a full one hour or an hour and a half classes which can make you lose a lot of sweat at one time.

The truth of the matter is that you do not lose weight at all. The only weight you will lose is the weight of the water-loss from your sweat, which will come straight back to you as soon as you hydrate yourself after the class.

If you are doing Bikram Yoga for weight-loss you need to re-think your strategy because weight-loss can only happen if you decrease the calories you consume and increase the exercise you put out. Changing that habit is usually the fastest way to lose weight and there are no easy short-cuts.

Image: www.yogabarn.net

Diverticulitis is a digestive disease that is caused when divertiliti rupture in the colon area. Sacs form on the large intestine and explode, causing infection in the area. Symptoms are diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. In some instances no symptoms present themselves. It is well known disease in the Western part of the world. The chances of contracting it increase as you age.

If you are diagnosed by your doctor with this particular disease, they will do what is called a Barium X-ray. These X-rays look particularly at the colon and intestine. With these X-rays the doctor will be able to see the pouches or sacs visibly protruding off the colon walls.

The treatment for Diverticulitis is very simple: a change in diet. They will start you out on a high fiber diet in addition to a fiber supplement. They may also recommend eliminating certain foods from your diets such as nuts, corn, and seeds. They may also put you on antibiotic to help fight the infection. The main thing is the change in diet.

If you think you may suffer from this disease please seek out a doctor to determine the best method, or methods of treatment for you.

Source: Medicinet.com

Photo: Medicinet.com