Archive for December 2007
How A Visit To The Sauna Could Benefit You
As I was working out at the gym last night, I decided to to check out something that I’ve always looked past and thought was crazy. Since I ate a rather large dinner right before working out, I wanted to see how the sauna room might help me digest and allow me to relax. It took some time for the hot rocks to get the temperature up to 150 degrees, but once it did, that room was baking…
A Release Of Tension
Before doing any research, I came to my own conclusion that about 20 minutes in the sauna would do wonders on my very tensed, and tight back. As the acupuncturist told me the other day as she massaged my back, I needed to keep my body and back very warm to promote blood circulation. One thing she did not mention for me to visit was a sauna, BINGO! Luckily my assumption was correct. When I did research later on, saunas greatly increase the heart rate, about double. This definitely increases blood flow throughout the body, including to those areas of the body that are in pain and feel tensed. From the warmth of the sauna, the increased blood flow helps relieve contracted muscles and aching joints. This is exactly what the doctor ordered! After I spent 20 minutes in the sauna, and now that I sit here 10 hours later writing this article, my back feels much more relaxed and my aching neck is almost nonexistent.
A Great Way To Relax
Saunas have proven to be beneficial to our physical health, but it also works wonders on our psychological side. As I am right in the middle of finals week at my university, I figured the sauna would also be a wonderful way to relieve some stress and just find a quiet place to relax for a bit. I know there are some out there that are not appealed to a hot, possibly steamy room, but I love ‘em! Through the drips and drops of sweat off of my body, I felt a complete release of tension and an overall peace. The heart pulse rises, but the mental functions slow. I laid down and closed my eyes for about 15 of the 20 minutes and felt completely relaxed. As research shows, saunas also prepare the body for a great night’s sleep. Those that have problems sleeping or have a condition such as insomnia, saunas would definitely aid in finally getting that much needed complete rest.
A Possible Exercise Replacement
Replacing any type of exercise was not my intention of the sauna, but it was definitely a plus. As the sauna reaches very high temperatures, such as 160 degrees, the heart rate nearly doubles. I took my pulse after being in for over 10 minutes and I definitely noticed that my pulse felt very similar to as when I’m running. It was difficult for my head to wrap around how my pulse could be so high by just laying down in a sauna, but I guess it works. While sitting down in a sauna, you are actually burning calories and losing weight, believe it or not. Just as your heart rate increases with exercise, along with your metabolism, saunas allow the body to do the same. 15-20 minutes in the sauna is about equivalent to 1-2 hours of brisk walking or 1 hour of exercise. Now you can burn all of the unwanted fat by never lifting a finger!
Detoxify In The Sauna
As we all know that when you’re in a sauna, you sweat buckets (or maybe that was just me last night). Along with the other benefits, saunas trigger the body to release unwanted toxins through the act of sweating. Since sweating is the way that our body rids nearly a third of its toxins, saunas provide a very important relief. When our body temperature rises, we detox as the sweat releases through our pores. This is also a great, purifying way for people with skin conditions to cleanse their pores. Saunas have shown that those with acne and other skin conditions benefit from the rise in temperature and the increase of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
Guide to Home Saunas & Sauna Kits – Everything you ever wanted to know about home saunas and building your own. Finnish, steam, infrared and portable saunas, sauna kits and heater options.
Photo credit: ansik
Why Acupuncture Could Be For You
Many of us have a fear of needles, and why not, they look scary and cause pain. Others of us don’t like the idea of trusting someone else to perform treatments on our bodies. As we all have our own fears about things in life, many times we muscle up and get over them. Recently I faced these fears and experienced acupuncture for the first time. I did not go out of spite to validate that I was strong enough to undergo these activities, I did it to make my body much more healthy, naturally. Since I choose to lead a mainly natural lifestyle, I felt that acupuncture could be a great treatment for some aches and pains in my body. When I first began this blog I wrote about pains in my neck and how I chose to see a chiropractor for the first time. Just as in that situation, I was equally, if not more anxious to see how this new experience would be like. As those pains in my neck and life’s stress continue to play a part on my body, I chose acupuncture as a possible remedy.
Some Common Misconceptions
As many people in this world get uncomfortable around needles (myself included), it’s a very good reason why many people choose to never try getting acupuncture. The truth of the matter is that these needles seem less than the thickness of body hair. Acupuncture needles are ridiculously tiny, only 32-gauge, compared to a typical injection needle, which is 14-gauge. Many people also believe that acupuncturists violently try to push these needles into your body, but that is also false. When the needle is inserted (which is barely into your skin), the acupuncturist lightly flicks the top. The best thing is, as the needle enters, you barely feel a thing! The most pain you’ll feel from these is a possible light tickling sensation.
Acupuncture Is Proven To Treat…
- Stress
- Indigestion
- Depression
- The common cold
- Headaches
- Any sort of body aches and pains
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Reproductive problems
- Migraines
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Smoking and other addictions
- PMS
- Anxiety
- And many other conditions that I could list out all day long…
Acupuncture is said to be such a great treatment for almost any conditions because at one time it was used as an anesthesia. If you figure that acupuncture could help remedy pain during a medical procedure such as surgery, I’m pretty dang sure that it could help with any of our other problems.
What Are Some Common Acupuncture Procedures?
The great thing about acupuncture is that there are such a wide range of treatments that are involved. Coming in for my treatment, I thought that it was just going to be pins and needles in my back, and nothing more. Luckily, I was wrong…
- The acupuncture itself: Tiny, disposable, sterile needles placed very gently into specific acupuncture points.
- Acupressure/Tuina: Depending on the injury or condition, a great massage done with a cooling and warming cream. This is to stimulate the natural flow of your Qi and release other tension in your body.
- Tai Chi: Movement exercises that help develop a bodily balance, overall great feeling, and maximum health.
- Cupping: The use of a glass or bamboo cup to create a suction from the body to increase warmth and circulation.
- Moxibustion: A dried leaf called mugwart is burned and placed on the ends of the needles. This helps release tension and aid more circulation from the warmth.
- Herbs and Vitamins: Depending on your condition, a good acupuncturist will view your tongue and be able to tell you what foods, herbs, or vitamins you are insufficient of.
- Qi Gong: Specific breathing methods and movements used to improve health and vitality.
How Does It All Work?
Through the use of these various acupuncture treatment methods, it helps promote the energetic system within us all that maintains health and balance, which is called Qi (pronounced “Chee”). Qi is supposed to provide us with the power to accomplish everyday activities. Qi is vital through our growth, development, maintenance of balance, protection against illnesses, and an overall regulation of our bodies. Acupuncture focuses on certain points on our bodies that correspond with the areas we have pain. These points are called meridians, which is where the Qi flows to the various organs and areas of the body. With the help of acupuncture, Qi is better able to flow through the parts of the body where the Qi is lacking, which are the areas we have pain. With a blockage of Qi, we experience pain and overall discomfort.
I highly recommend seeing an acupuncturist if you experience any of the above conditions, or if you just want to relieve any kind of tension and experience a new thing. You can find acupuncturists all over the place, but I would also suggest to go to a health store and see who they recommend. Much can be remedied without the use of drugs and other artificial treatments, so try acupuncture and see what it could do for you.
Photo credit: lindseyspirit
All-Natural Energy Drinks: The New Boost
During my time as an undergrad, I saw the proper use and abuse of energy drinks. I watched friends down a can to make it through a tough workout and others buy energy drinks by the case to support their gaming addiction.
Being the conventional type, I have always stayed true to my coffee, but I wondered what exactly it was that my friends were drinking to get the extra boost and how it compared to my latte.
After doing a bit of research, I found that my intuition was right … for the most part.
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. The benefits of the antioxidants in coffee are becoming well known, studies have liked the reasonable coffee consumption (three 8oz serves per day) to reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease. With a minimal amount of calories (5 per 8oz. serving), plenty of caffeine for energy, and a variety of flavors, this old stand-by will always be one of my favorites.
When comparing coffee with the average energy drink (we’ll use Rockstar as an example), the coffee wins hands down. Rockstar weighs in at 140 calories and 31 grams of sugar; the mixture of high fructose corn syrup, several preservatives (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate), artificial flavoring and numerous chemicals is not likely to offer any true health benefits. There is plenty of caffeine (90mg) in the drink to keep a person awake, but I think that the jolt offered by the beverage is outweighed by the havoc it wrecks on one’s system; although, the milk thistle extract in this artificial concoction may balance out the damage done to one’s liver when drinking a bottle. 
Now, all you energy drink addicts out there, don’t worry, there is hope. Several all-natural energy drinks have been introduced to the market and they offer a much better option. Kaboom is one of my favorites, as it is not just all-natural, but also organic. With a base of organic orange juice and a bit of organic cane juice for sweetener, Kaboom has a flavor that matches any other energy drink on the market. The kick in Kaboom comes from guarana (90 mg) and green tea extracts, as well as C and B vitamins.
Guarana is a herbal supplement which produces guaranine, a naturally occurring caffeine; guarana provides a synergetic delivery of many nutritional compounds and trace elements to beneficially affect the total body system. The supplement has been traditionally used to assist in the relief of aliments such as stress, weight control, headaches, hangovers, and even menstrual cramps. Green tea extract offers many of the same benefits and is loaded with antioxidants. No artificial colors or flavors here, Kaboom is colored with annatto and turmeric, which have been used for centuries as colorants and are known to have beneficial medicinal properties.
I might have to leave my mug in the cupboard and grab an all-natural energy drink next time I need a boost; clearly, drinks like Kaboom are a great option, they offer a lot more than a cup of java, but with the same jolt you need to get through the day.
Photo credit: jeremyfoo
Simple Ways To Improve Sleep
What are your pre-bedtime rituals?
Are you finding yourself surfing the net or watching some late night TV?
As these activities seem to feel like they calm you down, they may actually stealing some of your much needed sleep from you. Studies have shown that when people spend nearly 2 hours of casually checking out online websites or sitting and watching television, over a third has had more problems with their sleep than those that avoided these. These activities definitely feel like they are calming to the body, but they actually stimulate various brain functions that prove detrimental to one’s sleep. Television and computers exposes us to a light that seems to completely mess up sleep cycles and rhythms. This light causes many of us to spend extra time trying to fall asleep because of the added stimulation to parts of the brain, such as the pineal gland.
Try a few of these ideas to help the quality of your sleep:
- Find a routine. Just as anything else, routines help to get you in the habit of doing something. Pick a time to hit the sack and stick with it. Getting your 6 to 8 hours per night is key.
- Relax to music. Pick out some music that is very easy to listen to, such as white noise or soothing natural sounds. There are even programs for your computer that provide these sounds specifically for sleep.
- Do some stretching. Each night before bed and when you wake in the morning, do some light stretching. Loosen up any parts of your body that may seem tight; when you hit the bed you’ll fall asleep like a baby.
- Keep the temperature low. Any room temperature over 70 degrees heats the body too much and makes it more difficult to fall asleep. Watch those heaters this winter!
- Avoid alcohol. It may seem like a good way to get to sleep really quick, but once the effect wears off on the body, many people wake up in the middle of the night with difficulty trying to fall back asleep.
- Watch your snacking. It’s never good to go to sleep feeling hungry, but watch how much you eat. Blood sugar levels are raised after eating but then drops during sleep, which causes many to wake up.
- Move the clock. If you are having trouble falling asleep and a clock is in view, move it! It will only cause more worry about trying to fall asleep.
- Don’t make up sleep. If you happen to lose some sleep during the week, don’t try and make it up by sleeping extra hours on the weekend. Doing this will throw off any kind of rhythm you have with sleeping.
- Keep the bed for sleeping. The bed needs to be thought of as a place to calm down and relax. If you are watching television or playing on a computer on, or even near the bed, it will always be on your mind when you try to go to sleep.
- Move the TV and computer. Along the lines as the previous tip, remove any television and computers from the bed room if they become a distraction. Having these in the room could feed the urge watch TV or use a computer in bed.
Photo credit: dickuhne
