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Healthier

Post Natal Massage Therapy

Some pregnant mums have it easy. Yet others have to go through many hours of labour.

But one thing?s for sure. After the delivery process, many are just plain tired. In addition, having to breastfeed and nurse a newborn several times a night can be exhausting.

The new mum today does not have much time to rest and relax during her confinement period at home. She needs to get back to work pretty quickly and that means, facing added pressure to lose weight so that she can fit back to her office wear.

Post-natal massage may just be the solution to her needs. Here are 6 top benefits of Post-natal massage therapy:

1. Relaxation

2. Stress Relief

3. Relieves aches on shoulders or neck

4. Hasten the reduction of fluid retention.

5. Help uterus to shrink to original size

6. Reduce cellulite and help to tone up the body.

In many parts of Asia, many women before delivery would in fact, prebook sessions with an Indonesian massage therapist for post-natal massage. The treatment is a traditional one which has been handed down several generations and even practiced today. This treatment involves the use of a massage oil applied to the stomach and a tummy wrap (bengkung), essentially a cotton cloth of several metres. The bengkung is used to wrap the body so as to push up the uterus, clear water retention, wind, spasm, shrinks the tummy and helps to reduce weight. Post-natal massage is usually done in the privacy of one?s own home.

For a mother that has delivered her baby naturally, it is generally pretty safe to go for a post-natal massage. For those that delivered by caesarian, be sure to consult your professional massage therapist or your doctor first. Most in fact, would recommend that you wait a few more weeks before proceeding with a post-natal massage.

Post-natal massage provides a sense of continuing comfort for the new mother. The aim of this massage is to give nurturing and emotional support as well as alleviate the muscle strain of labor and childbirth. Some post natal massage therapies also come with a detoxification ritual that rids the midriff of post birth bagginess.

In some instances, post-natal massage can also bring about a much shapelier silhouette, compared to the one just before pregnancy!…

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Health Policy

Weight Loss Myths to Avoid Listening To

Some diet plans promise that you can lose ten pounds in two weeks but the truth is, this may only be possible if you diet hard and then end up crashing. The only thing this will really result is making you and your body feel sick and horrible. The best way to lose pounds is to limit your intake of calories and exercising more. Another myth is that if you exercise, you can eat as much as you like. Even if you are exercising like crazy, in order to truly lose weight you still need to watch how many calories you are eating. It is a good idea to watch what you are eating and also how much you are eating and have a good exercise plan that does not overdo it.
Finally, another myth about weight loss is to expect to be hungry while you are on a diet. This is only true if you decide to cut out calories on the spur of the moment. However, if you plan out how many calories you are eating and make sure to eat foods rich in nutrients you may actually end up feeling pretty satisfied and full and not always hungry. It is just important to watch which snacks and meals you are eating and what nutrients they contain.
Some of the dieting myths have some truth to them but only if you want to end up feeling hungry, terrible, and exhausted from too much exercise. The best way to lose weight may not be the faster or the prettiest but it will end up giving you real results and lead to weight loss success. The best way to lose weight is still to eat a balanced diet and exercise daily for the best results which will also help you to feel better.…

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Health Magazine

Lychee Diet: A Diamond in the Rough or a Dud in Plain Sight?

I woke up this morning thinking to myself, “If I put the terms ‘clinically tested,’ ‘enhanced thermogenisis,’ ‘natural,’ or ‘contains polypolyphenols,’ would I be able to sell tree bark from the tree outside my house as a dietary supplement? I mean, why not? It’s natural, high in fiber. I can get any lab to test it and I can say it may enhance thermogenisis (increase your metabolism). Then I chop it up, bottle it, and sell it for $39.99 plus shipping and handling. Well, the “new super-fruit” is touted to do just that. No, it’s not acai-that is so last season. It’s Lychee (or Lichi), the new, “new super-fruit.” It’s sweeping the nation for its alleged weight loss potential. Maybe they’re right, just maybe.
Is it the antioxidants that make your waistline disappear like butter melting on hot pancakes? Is it the 120% of vitamin C that dissolves the fat-right before your very eyes? Come on guys, it’s vitamin C, it’s got to work magic! Right? The answer to this my friends and fellow yo-yo dieters, is that it really does nothing more then make you feel better (probably the carbs working on your dopamine system, aka the “feel-good” hormone). It may help you lose some weight because it has some fiber in it. Most of all you have to replace a meal with these “super-fruits.” What a novel idea-eat less along with regular exercise and the weight comes off? Doing some online research, GNC sells the “Lichi Superfruit Diet” for a mere $29.99 for a 10-day supply.
I also looked into any studies that have been conducted – I’ve been known to be wrong before (as my wife will gladly tell you). I knew I would find an article with someone named “John Doe, MD.” Well, I found one such person, Dr. V. H. Potty, a food technologist from India. He had a cool website and everything but still no scientific evidence. Dr. Athira from another website (although not as fancy as the previous one) said that it’s “capable in preventing breast cancer.” This is according to a test-tube study. I can trump that-arsenic will cure breast cancer! On I trudge through the infinite internet to find some semblance of evidence, when eureka! I hit pay dirt. In the “Journal of Functional Food,” I found a very in depth study conducted out of Japan that showed a whopping 16 people lost an unidentified amount of belly-fat. Well that settled it for me. I mean you have an official name, a “study,” and polyphenols! You can’t beat that! Other fruits that are less ‘exotic” also contain polyphenols (which are touted to do all sorts of miraculous things, including weight loss) berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and boysenberries), cherries, apples, and plums. Not to mention a variety of vegetables.
Lychee costs about $8-$10 per pound and you must use the fresh variety. I personally love Lychee fruit. You can use them in almost any dish and the Lychee sorbet is to die for! But I digress. The polyphenols that are talked about is a very specific one found in green tea. That specific polyphenol is called “catechin-polyphenols” catechin-polyphenols have been said to help decrease body weight (I did not say fat) anywhere from 4% to 26%. This is thought to be done by a variety of ways including biochemical, caffeine and increasing athletic endurance. Try to drink enough of the green tea to make a difference.
There it is-irrefutable evidence that eating a diet richer in fiber and less fat with exercise thrown in will decrease your waist line!…

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Health Facts

Burn Belly Fat and Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Few people understand the health implications from a few extra pounds packed on the belly. Many consider weight gain a natural component to aging, yet nothing could be farther from the truth. Although metabolism decreases as we age, people continue to eat as they did when they were younger and the extra pounds suddenly appear.
Belly Fat Jumps Risk of Heart Disease
The most common area for fat to be deposited is in the abdomen, as this provided an evolutionary advantage to our early ancestors. Today, it’s much more than just an inconvenience as abdominal fat is metabolically active and causes the body to mount an immune attack leading to systemic inflammation and increased risk for heart disease.
Gaining 9 Pounds Initiates Heart Disease
The results of a study conducted at the Mayo Clinic and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, highlight the importance of gaining weight, especially in the belly. Researchers studied young adults, and compared the changes in their arteries when they put on as little as 9 pounds. They were able to detect significant decreases in arterial blood flow which signaled the beginning of the process known as atherosclerosis. Losing the weight returned blood flow to normal.
Unfortunately most people don’t lose the weight and after decades of layering abdominal fat, heart disease takes root. The human body has an amazing capacity to heal itself when we provide the necessary tools through proper diet, regular exercise and stress reduction principles. Fitness experts encourage people to recognize the dire health risks of excess abdominal fat, and provide tips to target stubborn belly fat.
Tip 1: Eat Smaller Meals More Frequently
Eating several large high carbohydrate meals each day causes blood sugar levels to rise significantly, remaining elevated for hours as the content of the meal are digested. This ultimately leads to insulin resistance, increased cortisol levels and fat stored in the belly. Break meals down to 5 or 6 smaller portions eaten throughout the day, and cut the refined carbs and sugar. This will help to stabilize your blood sugar level, avoiding dangerous surges which can lead to metabolic dysfunction and diabetes.
Tip 2: Don’t Skip Breakfast and Include Protein
It’s amazing how many people avoid breakfast because they believe they’ll lose weight by avoiding the extra calories. Your body will instinctively signal you to eat more to compensate, and those calories are much more likely to be high calorie snack foods. Set aside time each morning to start your day with a healthy breakfast which will jump start your metabolism and drive calories burned for energy. Include a protein source, as this further stimulates fat metabolism.
Tip 3: Stay Hydrated, Drink Water and Green Tea
Water and non-sweetened drinks are your best tool to combat hunger and enable the body to release fat. While you don’t have to count the cups of water, always have some fluids near and dink whenever you feel hungry. Fluids have been shown to assist liver function, a key player in determining whether fat is stored or used for energy. Most teas and especially green and white tea are packed with antioxidants which naturally boost metabolism and drive fat release.
Excess belly fat is a significant cause for concern as it’s been demonstrated to decrease arterial blood flow, leading to the development of heart disease. Small amounts of weight packed around the abdomen are enough to initiate atherosclerosis, as it continues to progress over the years. Fortunately we can target belly fat using common sense lifestyle changes which encourage weight loss and help reduce the risk of heart disease.…

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Health Store

Stop Sulking About Your Size: Check Out Fat Loss 4 Idiots

If until now you are still sulking over how big or fat you are, then you better decide about finding the most effective fat loss diet regimen that could help you shed some pounds off your weight. Be meticulous about looking for the right program to lose weight especially that there are numerous of scams in the Internet merely awaiting the willing victims.
Really, there is no doubt that it will do you a lot of good if you could take a look into the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet program. You will surely be pleased when you finally find out a lot of information about how the program has already helped millions and millions of people all over the world overcome their obesity problems. Do not wait anymore, make sure that you also get the help you need to lose those fats and delight about how your body will look different in just a short time.
Likewise, you may also investigate how such program can be helpful in achieving your weight goals. It will be good to see how other obese or overweight people who have previously used the same program have come out triumphant as far as losing some pounds off their weight is concerned. Check out their testimonials so that you will be able to deduce if the method can also be effective for you or not.
In case you do not know, Fat Loss 4 Idiots is actually an innovative diet regimen that vows to make you lose some pounds in just a few days. But then, it would never be good to right away believe what you will see or hear. That is why you should take it upon yourself to research for more resources and browse through the so many reviews available in the Web. In doing so, you will gain better understanding about the true features and benefits of reading through the e-Book.
If you will dig deeper for more information, you will discover that the Fat Loss 4 Idiots guide is actually founded around the theory of calorie shifting which at the same time, deals with metabolism. While the foods ingested will be converted into calories and fats or in other words, be transformed into useful energy, the capacity of the body to lose fats and burn flabs becomes greater.
Last of all; you will find out that what is actually important is to understand how the program should work for you and never against you. Don’t worry because the book will actually guide you on how to limit your calories without having to hurt your diet.…

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Nutrition

Prenatal Nutrition

Good nutrition is an essential during pregnancy as your baby’s health is dependent on it. Thus a healthy pregnancy diet is the key to a healthy pregnancy. The food consumed during pregnancy is directly related to the health and growth of baby. This is so because all the nutrients required for baby’s growth is derived from the food supplements taken by the mother. Research has proven that nutrition in early pregnancy has a direct impact on the susceptibility to chronic degenerative disease in later life. The Indian Council of Medical Research advises a prenatal nutrition that aids in contributing to the essential nutrients for you and fetal development.

There is tremendous change in the nutritional needs of the body during pregnancy as a result of change in body and fetus development. In the first three months the main nutrients of importance are folic acid, vitamin B12 and zinc. While during the second and third month the key nutrients are protein, iron, calcium, magnesium, B group vitamins and a fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

There is need for an extra 300kcals per day during pregnancy to meet the growing needs of the body and to provide sufficient nutrition for the growing baby. It is not advisable to control calories and carbohydrate. This could be detrimental to the growth of baby. Curbing your diet can also result in low birth weight and babies having health and growth problems. Protein is an important nutrient contributing to muscle strength, breasts, uterus and bay tissues. It also enhances blood supply. During pregnancy an average of 65 g of protein is needed. Both lower and higher protein levels are detrimental during pregnancy. Food having a good protein composition is egg, pulses, meat products fish and cereals.

Fat requirement in the daily diet during pregnancy is 40g which is equivalent to 5 teaspoonfuls of oil. One needs 300 mg/day of DHA during pregnancy. Omega-3 fatty acid is an important category of fat during pregnancy contributing to the brain development and vision of the growing baby.

Vitamins and minerals like folic acid is essential to build tissues and for overall development of red blood cells. Green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, bread, beans and nuts are significant sources of folic acid. Vitamin B12 helps in the healthy development of brain and nervous system of the baby. Iron is another essential nutrient which regulates blood flow between the baby and mother.

Calcium is needed for strengthening the bones of the baby. A daily intake of 1000 mg per day during pregnancy should suffice. Rich source of calcium are milk, cottage cheese, cheese, green leafy vegetables and fish.

Fiber and fluids are significant to stay away from common pregnancy problems like constipation and piles. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetable, whole meal bread and cereals and brown rice improves your fiber intake. There are situations when the body does not get sufficient nutrition due problems like nausea and vomiting, heart burn, constipation, food aversion and some others. Doctors recommend intake of nutrient supplements to cope up with the lack of them. Thus a balanced pregnancy diet comprising all the important nutrients is essential for a healthy mother and baby.…

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Health Gov

Quotes For Affordable Orthodontic Insurance – Dental Care

Today, we all need the dentist more than we actually want. Be it old, young, weak, strong, on the upper end or lower end, doctor or street sweeper, we all need the dentist. Dental care seems to play a minimal role within many families which is wrong as it is our health as well. So before you cross it off your checklist, get t know how important it really is. Now, if you’re on a tight budget, then don’t worry, get affordable orthodontic insurance.
When you’ve got insurance for dental care, you are more likely to visit the dentist than you would be without the coverage. This would most likely be because you don’t want to fork out the extra dollars. However, when you don’t have the coverage, you tend to treat aches and swells with over the counter medication. What you don’t know is that you aren’t curing the problem but you might be curing the symptoms to a problem which could only worsen the condition of your oral health.
Use the internet and get the lowest quotes available. If companies are big enough, they would use the internet to promote their services; don’t jump at the first good deal you see, but instead, take down all the information available and look up other companies as well. Once you get all that you need, think about the care that you need basing on your past medical and dental records as well as your current diet. Also take into consideration that anything can happen anytime, so leave some room for unexpected incidents as well.
As soon as you know what you need, draw up a budget plan and see how much you can spend on premiums and such. Then you would be able to determine which plan would suit you best. Also see where the clinics under the insurance are located as it’s always best to have something close to home. If you’re one who likes to travel, go for something with extended networks as well.…