Getting The Right Balance

With exercise, as with most other things in life, getting the right balance is important. Typically when we go overboard or to the extremes on something we end up paying for it in some way or perhaps other areas of our life suffer because of it. Too many of us get so caught up in our work or home front responsibilities that we fair to get in the exercise that we so desperately need. Our intentions are good but there are just too many things that call our attention away from our plan to get our workout in.

It is important to remember that getting the proper amount of exercise will actually serve to alleviate some of our other pressures and concerns or at least to make us better able to deal with them. Studies have shown that those who include exercise into their daily routines are better able to handle stress and to deal with problems that arise than those who do not exercise.

Everyone is busy but there are still ways to fit in some form of physical activity. It is not necessary to put on a pair of boxing gloves and participate in a lengthy workout or to bike ten miles or run for two hours. Those activities are great for days when there is plenty of time to have a heavy duty workout but for the typical workday something less time consuming is probably preferable. Doing something that won eat up hours that you do not have to spare and that is easier to fit into your schedule will still reap the benefits that you desire and that you need. A brisk walk will often be just the thing that will relieve your mind of concerns and allow you to regroup and be better able to tackle the challenges of the day.

Taking a few minutes out of a hectic morning or afternoon to stretch or life hand weights or hit the stairs for a mini-workout will do wonders for your energy level. The important thing is to plan ahead. If you do not commit to taking time each day to fit in some physical activity the overwhelming evidence shows that it just won't happen. Maybe throw your tennis shoes in your gym bag and keep them in your car so that you are ready when those few free moments present themselves. Making exercise a part of your daily activities will have a profoundly positive effect on the rest of your day.

By Nancy Kelsey Smith

4 Of the Unhealthiest Foods Imaginable

Yes, we need to watch what we eat and drink as they can both have pretty negative effects on our overall health and general well-being. There are hundreds upon hundreds of examples of unhealthy foods, probably thousands upon thousands in fact, but here's a look at 4 of the absolute worst examples you could imagine.

Pizza - Though it tends to taste pretty great, pizza has a reputation for being extremely unhealthy indeed. The meal itself is high in carbohydrates, and saturated fat, which is a dangerous combination in itself. On top of that, there's the fact that the dough is often made from a combination of water, hydrogenated oils, and processed white flour, which is far, far unhealthier than whole meal flour. The dough is then topped with a tomato puree, before being finished off with a liberal helping of full-fat cheese and often a number of cooked meats as well. There are healthier alternatives, but for the most part, pizza is a greasy food with very little nutritional value.

Doughnuts - If you want an example of a food that is truly extremely harmful for your health, and your waistline as well, then doughnuts are what you'll find. They're made from a dough/batter that's made from processed white flour, sugar, and other artificial additives. It's then shaped into a ring or a ball, and is dropped into vegetable oil or fat and deep fried until crispy on the outside and doughy on the inside. It's then dusted with sugar and icing, and often filled full of sugary jam or cream. Doughnuts contain huge traces of sugar making them a big contributor towards diabetes.

French fries - French fries are another example of a food that's high in fat and carbohydrate, as well as salt too. Any food that is deep fried is unhealthy as it is cooked in pure fat or oil, but French fries are even worse as they're so small, so they have an increased surface area. The bigger the surface area, the more fat and oil they're able to absorb.

Fizzy drinks - OK, they're not exactly a food, but fizzy drinks are absolutely awful, which is why they made the list. These drinks contain no nutritional value in the slightest, and they're rich in sugar, making them prime examples of empty calories. One can of cola for example, contains almost 10 teaspoons full of sugar, and that's just one can. Drinking just two cans a day will yield around 20 teaspoons full of sugar, which is not good in the slightest.

By Andrew Jowett

Milk Thistle - How It Can Help With Various Health Conditions

Milk Thistle is a plant whose various parts, especially the seeds are used for making effective medicines for various liver problems such as jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, liver conditions caused by alcohol and chemicals and gallbladder problems.

It is also believed by many that milk thistle extracts result in a number of health benefits in people with type 2 diabetes. Let us discuss some of the ways it can help people with type 2 diabetes:

• It is often believed that milk thistle can help in improving insulin resistance, which is a significant symptom of type 2 diabetes.
• When combines with other traditional treatment methods, milk thistle can help in bringing down the levels of blood sugar.
• It is also considered effective in lowering the levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol in the blood, thereby improving the condition of the heart.

Whether milk thistle can result in the same health benefits even in non-diabetic people need to be known through further medical studies.

Silymarin, which is the most significant and active component in the product extracts is known to serve as an excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The health advantages of milk thistle are primarily due to the presence of silymarin on it. Let us discuss the various ways you can benefit from it:

Protection of Cells: It can successfully bind to the outside of the liver cells, thereby efficiently obstructing the entry of several toxins into the liver. In addition, silymarin has the power to neutralize the effects of the toxins that are already present in the liver. The neutralizing effects of silymarin also help the liver cells in fighting the harmful effects of dangerous chemicals like alcohol, acetaminophen, carbon tetrachloride and certain other prescribed medicines.

Cell Regeneration: Various factors like excessive consumption of alcohol, chronic hepatitis and some prescription drugs like antidepressants and medicines used for lowering the levels of cholesterol in the blood can considerably damage the liver cells. Silymarin has some amazing healing powers to help damaged liver cells get rejuvenated and renewed.

Treatment of Fibrosis: Factors like chronic viral hepatitis and alcohol abuse can cause inflammation in the liver cells leading to fibrosis. Silymarin helps the liver cells not only by blocking toxins from entering into the liver, but also by preventing liver damages from getting worse.

Boosts the Growth of Antioxidants: Silymarin helps in the production of powerful antioxidants in the body such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase.

You can take that in the form of supplements or in tea or in combination with other herbs. According to various medical studies, it can be taken on a regular basis for up to a period of 41 months without the chances of any major side effects. However, in some rare cases, there might be a few side effects that you should be aware of:

• Sometimes it can cause diarrhea.
• In extremely rare cases, it can cause nausea, gas, bloating and upset stomach.
• It should advisably be avoided by women who are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
• The effects of the product resembles greatly with that of estrogen. Hence it should be best avoided by women, especially those with fibroid tumors or endometriosis.

The best way to know the health benefits of the product and how it can help you is to consult a health care practitioner.

By Donald Finch

Unhealthiest Sources of Carbohydrates on the Planet

The problem is that there are two different types of carbohydrates. There are "complex" carbs, and there are "simple" carbs. Complex carbs are considered healthier than simple carbs, as they're often found in foods such as whole meal bread, pasta, rice, potatoes root vegetables etc. Simple carbohydrates are found in processed junk foods, fizzy drinks, desserts etc. They are far, far unhealthier and for that reason here's a look at four of the worst sources imaginable.

Bagels - Bagels are made from processed white flour and often contain other artificial ingredients, flavourings, and preservatives, making them stodgy and hard to digest. Not only that, but they're also very high in calories as well, with an average sized bagel containing around 300 calories and containing over 50 grams of carbohydrates. When you also consider the fact that bagels are often topped with other foods rich in calories such as creamed cheese etc, you have yourself a very calorific snack indeed.

Cheese crackers - Cheese crackers are another prime example of a food that's high in calories and low in nutrition. In fact, calling them low in nutrition is being pretty generous. In truth, these foods contain almost no nutritional value at all. They're processed with white flour, and they're absolutely packed full of artificial chemicals such as additives, flavourings, colours, and preservatives. They also contain high-fructose corn syrup, which is a sugar syrup solution that is obtained from corn, that has been found to be unbelievably unhealthy for the human body. These snacks are high in calories, high in fat, high in carbs, and low on nutrition, so stay clear.

Pastries - Pastries such as baked goods (cakes, buns, pies, pasties, baked slices etc) contain everything that is unhealthy about food. They're rich in processed white flour, the pastry contains butter or animal fat, and the fillings are often rich in sugar. Anything with a pastry crust or topping is not good for you as the nutritional value is minimum, and the fat and carb content is often very high indeed.

Milk chocolate - Milk chocolate is another example of a food that should only be consumed as a little treat now and then, because it does tend to taste pretty nice. Milk chocolate contains milk, cream, and dairy produce which is already high in sugar. Combine this with the fact that the chocolate also contains fats and sugars, and you have a very unhealthy snack indeed. You can of course treat yourself now and then with a piece or two, but a bar or two is asking for trouble.

By Andrew Jowett

Ballet Shoes - The Importance of Wearing the Right Ones

The major reason which determines the purchase of the ballet shoes is comfort. Being a ballerina you always expect your feet movements to match with the theme of the dance and shoes are the major fact which influences it. If these are comfortable then the ballerina simply forgets the idea of wearing a shoe and concentrates more on her dance.

There are wide varieties of ballet shoes present in the market and it is often quite confusing to choose the ones which match your feet. Ballet shoes basically for foot support of the ballerina. If you are a beginner then go for the soft ballet shoes made up of leather, satin and canvas material made up of full sole or half sole. Full sole offers full support to the feet extending from the foot to the toe. Beginners are to wear the full sole shoes until their foot muscles are eligible to do the pointe step.

Pointe step is one of the important aspects of a ballet dance and one requires complete control over their legs to do this step. Through vigorous dance sessions and hard work the muscles present in the arch of the ballerina's foot develops making it easy to do pointe steps. Now as the dancer advances to this stage they can wear split sole shoes. These set of shoes has a break between heel and ball of the foot and thereby brings in more flexible movements to the feet to bring in a stunning performance.

Performing pointe step indicates that there is good muscle and bone growth in the arch of the ballerina's foot. During the dance and workout sessions often the shoes undergo a good amount of endurance causing wear. Hence it is important to choose the right fabric which is both light weight and resistant to wear. Ballet pointe shoes are available in leather and satin materials. Of the both leather is best as it offers good comfort and great resistance to wear. Maintenance is easy for leather shoes and also is more breathable. Satin is more delicate than leather shoes with the same features and if you prefer these set then use them during important stage performances. If you prefer for a cheaper purchase then go for satin shoes. Once you have decided the type of shoe and fabric then try wearing them on and the best ballet shoes is available in many leading stores, preferably choose the brands.

By Benny Jose 

The Spirit Bear Story Part Three

The Spirit Bear Story Part Three
Since falling into a bears den on New Years Day 2009, a slew of events began to transpire. Two weeks later Steph went out to the den, with an old Sony video camera a local friend Anne from Poland leant us to help get some footage of the hibernating bear. It was only then did we realize that the hibernating bear was actually an elusive White Kermode Spirit Bear, we later named Apollo.
Unfortunately the camera only had a two hour battery that required regular changing. That would be OK under normal circumstances, except that when I went to change the batteries this time, I also had to confront a hungry five hundred pound Kermode Spirit Bear. I would always approach his den talking in a soft voice to him as to not surprise him in any way. I quickly started to look for alternative ways to get some photography of the bear without threatening my life at the same time.
We sought some techie help from Terrace, but found the advice was for naught and also costly. Then we asked our friend Jethro for some assistance. Jethro is a multimedia specialist and in no time had us set up with electricity to the den site along with a box of coaxial cable to stream Apollo's behaviors.
From the beginning, Steph and I saw Apollo as a gift to the world. I don't know that anyone ever will find another Spirit Bear den and film the hibernation like we could. We literally have thousands of hours of the best natural research ever on what really goes on in the den. More about this later.
The next thing that happened was spring. All the bears are out and we are busy filming everything that moved on four paws. Steph even made a film while in a neighbors dandelion field called "Parmenters Bears". You can see it on you tube. I was amazed at how comfortable I had become around the furry fellows. Not so comfortable as to ignore the "tells" when a bear with a little attitude would approach me.
What is a "tell" you ask? Well, when you hang around bears enough, and really watch them, you see they have a pattern about how they graze and protect. Head down and munching the grass, then they take three steps while eating. Then they'll look up to see if anyone is interested. Head down again, walk three steps while eating and check again.
Then one day I saw a young bear heading our way. Except after taking three steps while eating his head didn't come up. That's a "tell". He did something out of the ordinary. Out of pattern. He kept walking toward us head down like a little sneaker.
He was approaching us with some cunning, or trying to be sly. So I would call him on it. I'd say out loud: "Hey bear, what do think you're doing"? "Trying to get in close and personal are ya?" The more I talked directly at them, the faster they would find other grassy areas to eat their favorite dandelions in. As I said earlier in the story. Bears don't get out of bed looking for a fight. Only people do.
We worry about him. Because there are hunters in the area that would kill him, just to say they did. Nothing makes me more sick than to see some outdoor film with a guy hanging in a chair hoisted from high in a tree, out of the bears scent, and then murder them as they come along unsuspecting.
That spring Steph and I set up cameras on our 800 ft. driveway to catch the bears eating the multiple berries that grew wild along the road's edge. Not only did we see Apollo, we saw another Kermode that looked like it had a big pot belly. The locals called her Snowball. I would have called her Bigfoot by how large her back flipper like feet were.
Apollo and Snowball and many other black bears were caught berry red handed by our cameras that spring. But the berries don't last long and neither does spring, so we had a chance to catch our breath and catch up on how to better film the bears.
The more we thought about what had happened that summer, the more we saw an opportunity to let the whole world in on seeing our Kermode bear. Our neighbors were encouraging us to carry on, and carry on we did. The next thing we knew we were creating the web site bcspiritbear.
Later that year I found 800 feet of used number 10 electrical cable. An inch thick and heavy. The John Hancock Wildlife Foundation showed up with huge support by lending us cameras and streaming equipment. He's famous for streaming the baby eaglets on Hornby Island. If it wasn't for John, this story would not have happened. Finally, Steph got an old tablet laptop from Jethro that would be used later to stream the bear from his den.
Steph took a huge step up in her technical knowledge of computers and took John and Jethro's every lead and suggestion to make the streaming possible. I took on the job of laying out 600 feet of cable from our house and hooking it up to a solid base wood 2X4 camera stand while it was twenty below zero out. Jethro's outdoor camera housing did a great job of keeping our cameras from the cold and wet.
All of this was actually done in an immense amount of tension and last minute deadlines. Half way through setting up the stream we realized we were close to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. So the push was on to get the feed ready to help make Canada look awesome to the world. The stream was to act as filler. The CBC, Canada's main TV station, would play the stream from Apollo's den in between the winter sports events on the huge TV screens dotted all throughout the greater Vancouver area and across Canada.
I remember getting greeting cards from different students in the United States where the teachers had moved TVs into the classrooms to see the bear Apollo do his hibernation thing. There was a few embarrassing moments when Apollo introduced us to what the benevolent local Conservation Officers called Auto Genital Stimulation. AGS for short.
If you're every wondering how a bear finds the strength to leave a den after four months of no food, and go prowling for some skunk cabbage roots to clean his unused digestive system out with, he uses hormones. One of the most powerful substances known to man. (And bears.) Apparently a male bear will lick his private parts until properly stimulated. This will then activate the hormones that give him the physical strength to go and find food.
I'm sure there was a teacher or two making a mad dash for the TV mute button when they saw that one coming onto the screen. Sorry guys, nature is nature. And nature doesn't come with an instant delete button. Sorry kids, if that gave you an education that would have come later in life.
There were a few times we had some high winds that knocked the camera out of position. The other times Apollo would knock the camera out of kilter when he would just brush by the camera stand going into and out of his den. I would then have to go out and repair the pole the camera was on, directly in front of Apollo. Less than ten feet away from his face.
At the time it seemed awfully exciting. A test of my martial arts disciplines in centering myself. Especially in front of a live five hundred pound hungry bear. To this day I am still amazed that I am alive to tell this story. When I see some of the old footage, I have to implore anyone who thinks that that is OK to do that, not to. Listen to you local Conservation Officers. It's not safe to do that!
One of the really touching filmed moments with Apollo was watching him make a pillow. He would stretch out his great big claws and skreef or rake a bunch of forest material his way from just outside the den. Then he would use his claws to clamp on and remove the larger pieces of twigs and larger sticks, leaving the little branches and leaves behind. These he would rake into his den and make a nice soft pillow for his head.
Eventually the snow melted, the Olympic sports enthusiasts went their way, and Apollo left the den. That was when CBC came for their interviews of us, and see some up close and personal pictures of Apollo's den. Then we viewed some of our best archived moments we had saved of Apollo's antics. It's been almost three years now since that experience and I'm pleased to say that a local fellow of good repute named Morgen saw Apollo just a couple of weeks ago, as of May 2014.
Thanks for reading. Harreson Waymen

Harreson Waymen is a certified holistic Hellerwork health care practitioner, with over thirty years of physio-psycho therapeutic experience. Presently he works with his wife Stephanie developing web sites like natural hearing aids for hearing loss, nutritional articles, and the spirit bear, Apollo.
His background started with a degree in psychology from L'ecole Montreal, Quebec. Then finished with many different degrees and certificates in the health care field in Victoria, B.C. Canada. Such as N.L.P., Under The Code Therapy, Voice Dialogue Therapy, Thomas Hanna Somatics, Reiki Master, Hellerwork and Shamanic Healing.

By Harreson R Waymen

Healing With Hydrotherapy

Did you know the healing benefits of hydrotherapy dates back thousands of years? Known by many of the world's greatest cultures, water therapy was used by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans who all believed water therapy was the key to optimal health and well-being. In India, hydrotherapy treatment included the inhalation of steam to optimize the respiratory system, and the people of Japan and Germany have long used natural hot springs for medical, beauty and anti-aging treatments. So, what about the modern day benefits of hydrotherapy?'

Health Benefits of Hot Tubs and Spas

Hot water therapy is no longer a thing of the past. Today, hydrotherapy takes places in hot tubs and spas around the world, offering the human body a wide variety of benefits. But what actually takes place? Immersing yourself in hot water raises your body temperature and causes the blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation. The buoyancy of the water then reduces your body weight by 85-90 percent, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, while creating the relaxing sensation of floating in space. Here are just a few of the health benefits of hot tubs and spas.

Reduce Tension, Pain and Aches

Water temperature between 94º to 96º F, which is close to your body temperature, will do wonders for reducing tension and body aches. Some people even turn the heat up to 102º to 104º F to loosen their tight, tense muscles and reduce the pain of stress-related conditions and athletic injuries. The best time to enjoy your hydrotherapy treatment is in the evening when you can take advantage of your newly relaxed state.

Sleep Like a Baby

Did you know that insomnia is the second-leading reason that people visit their doctors? Our often busy, stressful lifestyles can cause lack of sleep, leading to memory problems, nerve conditions and depression. You can help your body prepare for a deep and restful sleep by taking advantage of hot water therapy. Soak in hot water approximately 90 minutes before you plan to sleep. When you lie down, your body temperature will start dropping, which has been shown to induce sleep more easily.

Alleviate Arthritis

Arthritis is essentially the inflammation of a joint or joints that causes pain and swelling. Considering that approximately one of every three families has someone who suffers from this disease, the fact that water therapy can improve the symptoms is very good news for many. According to the Arthritis Foundation, people whose arthritis symptoms respond well to heat have discovered the many benefits hydrotherapy. In a home spa or hot tub, the buoyancy of the hot water therapy makes it a comfortable environment for relieving arthritis symptoms while improving the range of motion.

Weight Loss and Cellulite Reduction

Not up for going to the gym for a workout? Believe it or not, the health benefits of hot tubs and spas include the improvement of your physical appearance. Hydrotherapy can aid in weight loss, and even help diminish the appearance of cellulite. When you soak in a spa, it simulates exercise by dilating blood vessels and promoting better circulation, while relaxing your muscles and skin. It can also increase your heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Keep in mind, while the benefits of hot tubs and spas are widely accepted, hydrotherapy is not for everyone. If you're pregnant, or have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or any other medical condition, consult your physician before starting hot water therapy. If you're healthy enough to try it, what are you waiting for? Contact your local pool and spa business to discuss your options.

  By Steve Metz