Anyway, cell phones might very well cause cancer. That’s not what this post is about.

Instead, there are technical advances that are putting cell phones at the forefront of self-monitoring your own health. How good does that sound? Being able to take your cell phone with you wherever you go and using it to get a picture of your health. Maybe one day we’ll be able to diagnose things like cancer and other life threatening health issues on our own before the symptoms show up.

Check out the article: 5 Innovative Ways Cell Phones Are Being Used To Save Lives

Most people assume that cancer is a single thing that would have a single cure. But really it is a type of thing that has many different causes. Because cancer takes many forms and even each instance of cancer has many factors that contribute to its being a cancer, it is unlikely for there to ever be a single cure. Rather, what’s more likely is that we will slowly make progress on common forms of cancer, each with their own unique solutions.

So if we are to find a cure for cancer it will really be the result of lots of cures for lots of different cancers.

I know from experience that the Freshman 15 is real. With all the new experiences and responsibilities of college, the first thing to go for most students is their health. If I had to do it all over again I would have been more disciplined about eating well and exercising in college. Not just so that I didn’t gain weight, but also because when you eat healthy and exercise, your brain functions better. And shouldn’t the number one priority in college be to keep your mind working at its best so that you can learn as much as possible?

So I was glad to see this article on 10 Tips For Eating Healthy in College where they provide some solid advice to college students looking to avoid the Freshman 15 and the steady dose of bad eating habits that most college students take on. Some of the best tips they provide are:

1. Avoid dehydration. This will keep your appetite down as well and help you avoid headaches.

2. Go for lean protein and combine it with a salad or some vegetables. Hopefully you have options in your dining hall. Just make sure to choose the foods that are not full of starches, carbs and processed junk. And avoid soda pop at all costs.

3. Limit your intake of fast food. It’s very tempting to order delivery or to go out for a late night fast food snack. Try to have some healthy food on hand to avoid this temptation.

So if you want to make the most out of your education while earning your college degree, make sure to pamper your mind by eating healthy, getting good rest, and exercising as much as possible. Sure you might have to sacrifice a few late night video games or TV shows, and you might have to decide to lay down rather than stimulate yourself with coffee, but in the end, if you pay attention to your body, feed it healthy food, rest when it needs rest, and keep it well exercised, you will thrive.

Wii fit is a pretty good motivator to exercise. It starts out by measuring your Body Mass Index and suggesting a weight loss goal, plus it sets a time frame for achieving the goal. It also motivates you through showing how much time you have spent exercising each session, and greeting you at the beginning of the workout. If you haven’t exercised for awhile then you can expect a small lecture, and if any of your friends haven’t logged in for awhile, then it asks you about them. For those who are a little overweight, the Mii that represents you will have a little pudge around the gut. It also assigns you points for how well you achieved different exercises and it is fun to compete with others in your system to get the highest scores.

I am pretty disciplined about regularly doing yoga and pilates DVDs, but don’t get enough cardiovascular exercise. What I have liked most about Wii Fit is that there are several categories of exercises (Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics, and Balance). The Yoga is pretty basic, but the Strength Training offers some good variety to my normal workout. The Aerobics activities really do get your heart rate raised, so I feel that Wii Fit improves my regular workouts by adding some cardio. The Basic Jog is most impressive because it has really fun scenery and a status bar that shows your progress toward the finish line. Once a jogger beside me actually fell over, which was pretty amusing.

What’s really annoying about Wii Fit is the amount of time it takes to navigate from each individual exercise to the next. For example, you might do one small yoga exercise that takes about one or two minutes, but then it takes that same amount of time to switch to a new exercise. It’s really frustrating that you can’t set up a program for yourself that just flows from one exercise to the next. Sometimes when you do one exercise, then Wii Fit recommends a second exercise that is a good pair, but it doesn’t take you directly to the recommended exercise and instead you have to go back through the menu to find it. I would also like to know the estimated number of calories burned each workout, along with the existing monitor of the total you have exercised that day. Just one more idea for improvement- what if you were actually training for the Olympics and after sufficient competency at different exercises you could compete online with other Wii Fit users? That would really be cool and an even better motivator.

The more active you are with your body, the more energy your body burns.   That means you can eat more food without packing on the fat.   It’s what some have called the simple math of losing weight.  Basically, if you burn more calories than you take in each day, you will lose weight.  It’s that simple.

However, we’d like to point out that the simple math of losing weight can be deceptive and lead to bad behavior.  The key to losing weight is to increase the calorie burn rate.  Do not simply go about losing weight by cutting calorie intake.  In our experience it doesn’t really make you healthier.

The best flow chart for losing weight is to kill two birds in one stone: First,  you get your body in shape by getting more active.  Second, if your body is more active, it naturally burns more calories.

So, in our opinion, the best way to lose weight is to keep your calorie intake the same (maybe eat a few more veggies and a little less junk) while increasing your daily activity.   Forget diets.  They are hard to maintain.  Instead, pursue full body health.

The holiday season has arrived again as it inevitably does each year. Once again we are all faced with the difficult prospect of managing our weight during this jolly season. Unless you have will power of steel, forget about losing weight for the next five weeks. You know the season will be filled with a plethora of delicious foods, tasty treats, and holiday cocktails. Trying to lose weight during this time will only frustrate you. Instead, concentrate your efforts on preventing weight gain and maintaining your current weight.

Since gaining weight is almost as difficult as losing weight, maintaining your weight and avoiding weight gain for the next five weeks is feasible. Remember you have to consumer 3500 extra calories to gain one pound of fat. So as long as you don’t overindulge, you should be able to come out of the holiday season a lot poorer but carrying the same weight as you were when the season began. Just keep in mind a few simple rules to help you.

1. Everything in moderation. Keep your serving sizes small. Dinners do not need to grow in size just because you have company or are company. It is not rude to eat normal size portions. It is okay to taste a dessert. Again just keep your serving size small.

2. Fill up on fiber. Fiber helps you feel full longer. It also helps you avoid cravings and overindulging. Before you go to an evening gathering that doesn’t include dinner, eat a dinner packed with foods rich in fiber. And if you are going to a dinner, eat a high fiber snack before going.

3. Decide before you arrive. Don’t wait until you are faced with the abundance of irresistible treats how much you should eat or drink. Once you see the available snacks, your eyes and not your brain will decide. Know before you arrive how much you can reasonable allow yourself without overindulging.

4. Stick to one high calorie drink or food. Do not pack your body with a substantial number of empty calories. Only accept one high calorie item. If the drinks being served are rich and creamy, chances are they have more calories than you can really afford. If you choose the drink as your high calorie item, stick to only one. All your other drinks should be low calorie. Think water or diet.

5. Stay far away from the food. Don’t plant yourself within easy reach of the food. Easy snacking will keep you adding food to your plate. It is easier to limit what you eat when you must make an effort to get it.

6. Don’t stay long. If you know you won’t be able to hold up against temptation, limit the time you spend at the celebration. The less time you have access to the extra treats, the better.

7. Stick to a regular exercise routine. The holidays are extremely busy and stressful. Even the most faithful exercisers tend to put exercise on the back burner. Burning calories regularly will help keep your weight down. And if you overindulge, you can burn the calories with a little extra time exercising.

Original article source:  7 ways to keep your weight down during the holidays

Few things can ruin a day like a headache can. Whether it’s a throbbing behind the eyes, or is broad enough that the whole brain feels bruised, or a dull ache that threatens future agony, it’s hard to go about your daily routine. Using over-the-counter pain medications may or may not help, but recent studies suggest that there can be health risks with prolonged use. Fortunately, there’s a broad range of other options for relieving the pain of a headache, as well as numerous ways to prevent headaches.

Diet Related Methods

Your diet can play a role in headaches, good and bad, both in terms of prevention or ridding yourself of them.

1. Limit alcohol. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, drawing fluids out of the body, which is the perfect set-up for the serious hangover headache and dehydration.
2. Drink plenty of water. Drinking 3-4 glasses of water before sleeping, after a bender, can prevent the dreaded morning after headache. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, drinking water regularly reduces the chances of getting headaches related to dehydration.
3. Limit red wine. Some women, and probably men, say they get headaches from red wine. This could be either psychosomatic or due to the increased blood pressure sometimes triggered by the amines present in red wine.
4. Limit coffee. An extra cup of coffee on a sluggish morning may not be the best choice. Coffee contains caffeine, which is a diuretic and can contribute to headaches associated with dehydration.
5. Limit chocolate. While rumored by some people to be better than sex, chocolate can contribute to headaches, due to the presence of caffeine.
6. Eat properly and regularly. A diet lacking in the proper nutrients can cause headaches. Lack of protein for breakfast, for example, can contribute to headaches later in the day. Also, try to eat regularly, with more whole foods and reduce the amount of processed/ convenience foods consumed, as these tend to lack valuable nutrients. Finally, eating regularly
7. Increase omega-three fatty acids. With some much nutritionally deficient foods in the typical diet of many people today, it’s easy to miss out on omega-three fatty acids. Research has shown that this nutrient can help reduce certain types of headaches.
8. Reduce fried foods. Fried foods can serve as a trigger for certain types of headaches. However, reducing fried foods is a good idea for improving over-all health, as well. Better nutrition and health in general can serve to decrease the number and severity of many types of headache.
9. Lemon juice. Used both internally and externally, lemon juice can be an effective means of dealing with a headache. Some remedies suggest drinking a bit of lemon juice and water, possibly with freshly grated ginger root. Externally, the clean citrus scent of lemon juice and lemon skins applied to the temples can clear the mind and ease a headache away.
10. Cinnamon water. Mix cinnamon and water to the consistency of a thin paste, then apply to temples and forehead. This is an eastern remedy, coming from healing traditions thousands of years old. A warm spice, cinnamon is especially useful for headaches that come from getting chilled.

Physical activity related methods

There are a number of physical solutions for preventing or dispelling headaches.

1. Get enough sleep. Failing to get enough sleep sets the stage for several types of headaches. Tiredness can lead to excess caffeine consumption, which often leads to poor eating habits, compound the problem further.
2. Get fresh air. Besides escaping a co-worker’s overwhelming perfume/ cologne, fresh air can help a headache fade. Just getting out of a stuffy room, thanks to the change in air pressure, can reduce headache pain.
3. Exercise. A brisk walk can clear the head and relieve a headache. Any regular work-out program improves health and decreases stress, which increase blood flow and oxygen distribution.
4. Take a hot shower. The warmth and steam of a hot shower relaxes muscle tension, thus easing headaches.
5. Massage the pain away. Muscle tension often causes headaches. A good massage can ease that tension and allow the body to relax.
6. Aromatherapy can sooth. Environment often contributes to stress, a major cause of headaches. Aromatherapy can sooth that stress by creating a relaxing environment. The scent of the essential oils and the massaging of oils into the base of the neck, temples, scalp, or forehead is also soothing. Try chamomile and geranium for stress headaches, lavender and rosemary for headaches associated with muscle tension, and rose for depression-related headaches.
7. Try meditation and relaxation techniques. Draining the tension from the body with meditation and relaxation techniques can help to avoid headaches altogether, as well as stop one in progress. The increased oxygenation that results from the deep breathing is also very helpful.
8. Practice yoga. India’s ancient knowledge about yoga is becoming mainstream in the modern world, and a valuable tool for dealing with headaches is gained. Samukhi Mudra, also called the Six-faced Gesture, from Hatha yoga, is one of many yoga techniques that can help with headaches.
9. Use acupuncture. Acupuncture is part of Chinese healing traditions and becoming more commonly used in the Western world for a wide range of ailments including headaches, as recent studies show.
10. Pinch a pressure point. This is a technique that stems from acupressure, which is similar to acupuncture, but uses pressure instead of needles. Pinching the fleshy part of the hand found between the thumb and index finger, or the “bowl” of the ear, and slowly releasing the pressure can stop a headache.
11. Try the application of hot or cold elements. Simple but effective, applying heat or cold, depending on the type of headache, can produce fast results. A cool cloth, for example, on the forehead can relieve a heat-related headache, whereas a hot towel at the base of the neck may be more effective for a tension headache.
12. Practice stress management. Practicing stress management skills will help prevent one of the most common types of non-migraine headaches. Learning to say no, to arrange your time to decrease schedule pressure, and to delegate tasks and responsibilities are just a few of the ways to better manage the stress in your life.
13. Have sex, make love. The physical release of sex helps reduce tension, relax the body, and increase blood flow, all of which can relieve a headache. Making love is even better, as it adds an emotional context that can lift the spirits and enhance feelings of well-being, easing headache pain.

Original article source:  23 Ways To Get Rid Of & Prevent Headaches

The extra treats and the reduction of exercise are factors that most people are already aware. But there is yet another factor that many people often forget to watch. The holiday season festivities often call for social drinking. The drinks prepared at many of the parties may be as calorie laden as the deserts. It is easy to forget the amount of calories these drinks will add to your daily diet. This is especially true if you are not paying attention to the number of drinks you consume. The number of distractions at these functions is generally the root of this problem.

In order to prevent this problem from occurring, you should determine in advance the number of cocktails you can afford to consume. If you have a designated driver and wish to indulge in a few extra drinks, than be sure to limit the number of calorie laden drinks you consume. Try to constrain yourself with the drinks in the same manner you would with the desserts. Choose only one ‘special’ drink. Then switch to lower calorie options for the rest of the evening. You will still be able to take part in the festivities and you won’t have to feel guilty when you look at your scale the next time.

Original article source: The most forgotten holiday weight gain factor and how to avoid it.

So what can you do? Either way, you end up unhappy. The answer is simpler than you might expect. The key to weight loss requires a healthy diet and exercise. Exercise is the main component. You must burn more calories than you consume. So if you want to enjoy a few holiday treats, go right ahead. Do not overindulge, but enjoy the treats in moderation. A few treats will not hurt you. Just make sure to make time for exercise.

Nothing in life is free, right? Well, the cost of indulgence is a little extra exercise. Increase the time you spend exercising each day by ten to fifteen minutes. Or add an extra day to your exercise program. If you don’t already exercise, now would be the perfect time to start. Time is limited during the season with so much to accomplish, but aren’t you worth spending time on? By exercising 4 to 5 days per week for as little as 30 minutes a day, you can enjoy those special holiday treats without regret.

Original article source: Indulge in holiday treats without worrying about gaining weight

The solution lies in the menu choices offered at holiday parties and events. If you are involved in planning the event, whether it is an office party or a friend’s open house, suggest presenting only one high calorie treat. Or, better yet, make all the treats low calorie and low fat. Instead of serving brownies and cake, prepare a low fat apple crisp. Set out fruit trays with low calorie dips. Make festively decorated rice crispy treats. There are numerous available recipes that can meet the low calorie requirement.

If you are the host of the party, you determine the menu. So surprise your guests with a platter of oven baked cinnamon apples. Vegetable trays are also very popular. Platters arranged with cheese and a variety of whole grain crackers are delicious and healthy. If you still want to offer one or two delicious desserts, prepare the lower calorie version offered for most recipes. If your recipe doesn’t provide the option, look it up online. And if you really have your heart set on making a sinful treat, cut the end product into tiny bite size pieces and stick toothpicks in them. That way everyone can sample the dessert without having to overindulge. Your guests will appreciate it.

Original article source: Low calorie/low fat holiday party menu