Mental Exercises

Could mental exercises be what you do in counseling? Or could it be what you do in the exercise gym? What you do when you learn something new? What about memory training, is that mental exercise?

What about stomping on all those ants, or automatic negative thoughts, practicing prayer, and meditation, or biofeedback skills, or creating art or writing your journal.

They are all mental exercises, and according to Sharon Begley, author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain, they change your brain, can make it bigger, like working out at the gym can do for your biceps.

In fact, regular physical exercise is an important aspect of mental exercise, it turns out.

The best kind of mental exercises, according to the brain fitness writers, are the kind that we do when we are learning a new language or learning to play a new instrument.

Language and music learning involve an increasing level of complexity and the opportunity to get about 80% of our challenges correct.

Mental exercises which do not meet those criterion are not the most effective mental exercises, so as a counselor, reading another counseling book will not be a mental exercise.

I know that we have been told for decades that cross word puzzles and vocabulary practice are the keys to mental sharpness across the life span, but new research is saying not so fast.

If we want to make sure that our mental exercise pays off over the entire course of our lives, perhaps it is important to take a look at what the brain fitness folks are saying about how to generate neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, tow capacities of the human brain which were unknown not too long ago.

I and all of us can grow new neurons on a daily basis, which enhance mental exercises, if I take care of the pillars of brain fitness, which are physical exercise, nutrition, (omega 3’s and dark chocolate?) sleep, stress management, and novel learning experiences, which can mean learning a new language, learning how to play a new instrument, or even using one of the emerging computerized brain fitness programs.

So maybe before I worry about memory exercises for example, I do the work necessary for neurogenesis, build the platform for mental exericses, so to speak.

So if you are interested in knowing more about the pillars of brain fitness, then please check out a very well written e-book called Brainfit for Life by Simon Evans,Ph.D. and Paul Burghardt,Ph.D,neuroscientists at the University of Michigan. Their work is written for the layperson, with a sly sense of humor, though, so do not be intimidated by the credentials. Evans and Burghardt go through the pillars of brain fitness in some detail, beginning with the most important pillar, physical exercise.

The good news about the pillars of mental exercises is that we achieve the necessary progress for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity without having to undertake an Olympic kind of training regimen.

After all, our body is doing this for us everyday. But if I do not make some effort to address the pillars, then those new neurons emerge into a brain not prepared to fully maximize their use, so do exercise, eat lots of antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acid, get good sleep, manage your stress, not just once a day, but perhaps heart beat by heart beat, and learn a new language, or a new instrument.

And if you do not have the time for an instrument, or a language, then check out some of the emerging computerized brain fitness tools designed to keep us developing neurons.

There are a couple which have some very interesting research associated with them.

If your are like to double check the marketing claims, then read the IMPACT study published in April of 2009, and look at the PNAS research in regards to the dual n back task, which is very exciting.

It appears that we are going to be able to do mental exercises of the appropriate kind right at our computer, between piano or French lessons, and increase our IQ while increasing visual acutity and cognitive reserve.

That all means that your 62 year old brain will still be sharp.

Edema And Its Treatment

Fluid accumulation in the body tissues and the area around the organs of the body is recognized as edema. Understanding the reason that leads to the condition is often the best method for edema treatment. Edema is commonly observed in the lower body or the hands, chest region or the abdomen. Heart failure may cause fluids to collect in the chest region, a condition known as pulmonary edema. This can sometimes be fatal in case it is not treated in time.

Swollen feet and ankles are quite common in people who are on their feet a lot, such as dentists, cashiers or barbers. The problem usually disappears with rest and an appropriate change in daily habits. If a job requires a good deal of standing, the employee should take hourly breaks to sit down and, if possible, raise the feet for a few minutes. This edema occurs when the veins in the lower extremities fail to keep pace with the arteries, the outward flow of blood lagging behind the inward flow. If the large veins of the lower extremities are actually diseased, the edema brought on by standing is likely to be very noticeable.

Diet: A good general diet that alleviates chronic inflammation is useful. The diet should especially contain enough sources of omega-3-fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, like: Fat fish, seafood, flax oil, olive oil, almonds, rape oil and canola oil. Also vegetables and fruit in a natural shape are useful.

Avoiding constipation: Constipation should be treated, since a stomach engorged by excessive content can cause impairment of fluid circulation.

Symptoms:

One symptom is when, initially, the feet and legs will appear swollen as the day progresses, but after a period of time, the swelling will set in first thing in the morning and continue to worsen throughout the day.

There’s probably a certain amount of edema that we can live with when it’s found to not be a problem.
But, it can become serious - particularly if the edema is advanced and has been around for a while - it might cause pitting (as mentioned above, when you press on the swollen area for a few seconds, you will notice an indentation in that area that continues long after the finger-pressure is removed). Continued swelling can cause skin ulcerations.

Treatment and Prevention

If you know that you are prone to suffer from edema during pregnancy, prevention should be your focus. Your diet is a big part of treating edema during pregnancy. You should be getting enough protein, as well as paying close attention to your sodium intake. Too little sodium in your diet can cause muscle cramping. However, too much can lead to an increase in all forms of edema, including preeclampsia. It is also important that you are drinking enough water on a daily basis.

Laser Treatment used to be the mainstay for treating macular edema, that is, swelling of the retina caused by leaky retinal blood vessels. The macular edema is the most common way diabetic patients can lose vision and it happens to almost every patient.

Muscle Gain Supplements for Proven Results

Those toned muscles that you keep watching on your TV set or at the nearby shopping complex are not just the result of hard work. Instead, they are the output of hard work and muscle gain supplement in a combination. Besides hitting the gym and train yourself to a hardcore level, you would also want dietary supplements which are available through several online as well as city based health supplement outlets. These supplements contain all necessary nutrients and very effective for muscle building. Whether you are in a goal to build lean or strong muscle or you just want to gain weight, you can consume these supplements which have the finest blend of proteins, aminos and associated BCAA (branded chain amino acids). If you have the basic structure for gaining weight and you do have that motivation in yourself to be committed to a muscle building program, then you are the fittest candidate for this challenge. Just be sure that those six meals you eat in a day are healthy and full of protein. Sufficient water intake is very crucial besides taking a muscle building supplement.

Vitamin supplements are also important as they give your body the power to propel. Remember, a rowing machine alone is not just adequate for building muscle mass; you will also need to weights and on top of all quality supplements.

The most important thing that you need to emphasize is that you need to gain weight through your diets. You need to eat in such a manner that you’ve never eaten before. If you are not eating sufficient calories, you will never gain weight, no matter whatever you will try. In order to build new and prominent muscles, you must eat enough calories than your body burns off. This is called a caloric surplus. The extra calories will be useful in repairing muscle tissues those get damaged during the heavy workouts.

While needing calories, avoid potato chips, processed junk food etc. They are of zero nutritional value and only add to the fat content of the body. Instead, insist on muscle gain supplement products. In addition to providing your body with its required nutrition, they also help it stay away from unnecessary fat accumulation.

A Weight Loss Support: Love Yourself Without Weight Loss

So you want to lose weight? The issue is not can you, for you can. The issue is how, and how effectively and easily.

I agree there are probably countless quick fix programmes around that may work for a few, but how many can you trust? Bear in mind that amongst these quick fixes there are genuine weight loss programmes that with the right attitude will keep you fit, trim and healthy.

My aim is a series of articles explaining reasons for weight gain and ways to lose it, and keep it lost, naturally.

You may try, lose some, then, it comes back with a rage. There are reasons why weight loss programmes fail. Knowing a bit about the nature of our body and mind can help understand these reasons.

Often people want to lose weight to just feel good, without too much thought to health. They look to improve their self esteem. It is important to realise that your self esteem comes from what you think about yourself, not what others think. The process can be reversed. Starting to feel good about yourself even though you have not lost weight can help you lose weight.

I am going to show a simple weight loss support technique that I have learned about that can make you feel much more attractive and confident. It is known as the mirror technique and has been used successfully by many to improve themselves in all aspects of life involving success. It does not take away the fact that being overweight is maybe unsightly and unhealthy but it can help you to feel more comfortable with your body. This technique is going to reprogram your mind to associate your reflection with good and positive feelings. Very soon you will be able to see your reflection and feel great rather than feeling bad about how you look.

Stand in front of the mirror. It doesn’t need to be full length, just enough to see waist up. Stand erect, heels together, stomach in, chest out and head held high. Stand to attention. Breathe deeply three or four times and feel a sense of strength, power and determination.

With this feeling think back to a time, any situation, when you felt really good about yourself. It doesn’t have to be about being slim. It might have been some good achievement, a job you did well, a compliment received. Anything that gave you a deep satisfied feeling.

Close your eyes and think of that moment. Remember how proud you felt. Remember that confidence. Feel it and move it eyes. Feel the glow behind your closed eyes and smile to yourself remembering that moment.

When you start to feel as strongly as possible open your eyes and look into the very depth of your eyes in the mirror. See yourself as other people would have seen you when you had done that great achievement. See yourself with respect and admiration. Keep smiling at yourself and notice the confidence in your eyes.

Squeeze together your thumb and forefinger. This will create an emotional connection between the way you feel at that moment and your reflection, that deep reflection in your eyes.

Practice twice a day, it takes a matter of minutes. Over a period of time you will start to notice a dramatic change in yourself, gaining a sense of confidence you never thought you could have. Your self esteem will grow and very quickly you’ll not worry about your weight as much as you have done before.

It is very important you understand that this technique is not to replace your diet program. It is a way for you to start to feel better about yourself. If you feel better about yourself you will have a greater chance for that weight loss for you will be encouraged to continue your weight loss and make your feelings a reality.

Irregular Bowel Movement and Herbal Remedies for Abdominal Pain and Constipation

(Constipation) Irregular bowel movements. The opposite of diarrhea, constipation is commonly caused by irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and medications. Colon cancer can narrow the colon and thereby cause constipation. The large bowel can be visualized by barium enema x-rays, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Barring a condition such as cancer, high-fiber diets can frequently relieve the constipation.

As food moves through your digestive system, your body soaks up water and nutrients it needs from the food. What’s left over comes out as stool. Normal stool is usually soft and easy to pass, and it generally shouldn’t be too difficult to have a bowel movement. But sometimes the bowels just don’t move like they should.

Some of the main causes of constipation include:

• Constriction, where part of the intestine or rectum is narrowed or blocked, not allowing feces to move past
• Paralysis, where peristaltic action is diminished or absent
• Insufficient intake of food or dietary fiber, so that a suitable bolus is not formed
• Psychosomatic constipation, based on anxiety or unfamiliarity with surroundings
• Excessive drying of feces, forming a hard bulk that cannot be eliminated
Some medical conditions that may cause constipation include:
• Pregnancy or having given birth
• Problems with the muscles and nerves in the intestine, rectum, or anus
• Irritable bowel syndrome, a condition in which the nerves that control the muscles in the intestine don’t function correctly; the intestine becomes sensitive to food, stool, gas, and stress
• Diabetes, a condition in which a person has high blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, because the body cannot use blood glucose, or blood sugar, for energy
• Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone to meet the body’s needs and many of the body’s functions slow down.

Tips to Avoid Constipation: -

• Eat a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains, fresh fruits, bran and vegetables.
• Drink plenty of clean pure water.
• Exercise, stretch and move.
• Don’t ignore the urge to go.
• Take the time to go.
• Take time to relax and reduce stress.

Tips to Constipation (Irregular Bowel Movement): -

• Regular Exercise: - Regular exercise helps your digestive system stay active and healthy. Exercising 20 to 30 minutes every day may help.
• Proper Diet: -Dietary measures such as increasing fiber intake from whole-wheat grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and bran may help add bulk to the stool, thus promoting normal bowel movements. Special efforts should be made toward increasing the daily intake of fluids.
• Check with your doctor about any medicines you take: -Some medicines can cause constipation. Be sure to ask your doctor if any medicines you are taking could cause constipation.

How to Cure White Patches on Skin

White patches affecting millions of population from any races and both sexes. Actually this post is a brief discussion about the skin conditions which causes the white patches on skin, what are the causes of these patches and how these skin conditions can be treated.

The other cause of this is called vitiligo. This is a condition of unknown cause, but is probably an autoimmune condition. The pigment cells in the skin are absent, and so even pale skin shows white patches, and this is much more noticeable in dark skin.

Some causes of white patches on the skin include:

• Vitiligo - causing white patches
• Hypo pigmentation
• Halo nevus - a pale mole with surrounding hypo pigmentation.
• Skin injury - causes a white or pale patch during skin recovery.
• Tania vesicular
• Lichen sclerosis
• Leprosy

Other causes of white patches include deficiency of vitamin B12 which in turn leads to anemia, hyper activity of the thyroid glands, stress either physical or emotional, hereditary reasons and increased exposure to sunrays.

Anti-Leucoderm is herbal oil for the treatment of vitiligo white patches or dysfunctional ties of melanocytes cells that cause depigmentation resulting in loss of skin colors with irregular white, milky white and pink patches. Irregular white patches skin disorder can occur any where on the whole body but following are the common body parts.

How to Remove White Patches: -

• Give your skin 30-minute daily doses of sunlight.
• Unlikely there are not a lot of treatments for Vitiligo, but there are a few things you can do that will help to reduce the clear see of the patches. Avoid using creams, powders and any other cosmetic applications.
• Make sure that your diet contains enough iron. Meat, liver, cereals, beans, lentils and green, leafy vegetables are some of the best sources of iron.
• As far as possible avoid consuming citrus fruits, tamarind, fish, lobsters, crabs and prawns.
• For white patches include consumption of ginger which increases blood circulation, buttermilk and a mixed juice of cucumber and alfalfa.
• Another method would be to soak psoralea and tamarind seeds in water for 3-4 days. Dry them well and grind to form a paste. Apply this paste on the affected area on a daily basis.
• Don’t stress yourself too much and learn to relax.
• Creams like Anti-Vitiligo, Corticosteroid, Protopic and Elidel may also help reduce the white paths.
• Keep a positive attitude and always regard yourself in highest esteem. Don’t allow people to let you down.
• Pigment transplantations have also been successful.
• Holy basil leaves prove to be beneficial in treating white patches. Consume raw basil leaves or make a decoction out of Holy basil’s leaves and stem, along with water.
• If you ever have to experience teasing or ridiculing, ignore it.

Natural Remedy For Ovarian Cysts: Finding Something That Works

If you have been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst you may be wondering what your treatment options are. If it is a functional cyst which is the most common type of ovarian cyst, your doctor may have suggested taking a wait and see approach. Most of the time functional cysts clear up on their own. But while you’re waiting, you can help the healing process and prevent future cysts from occurring by finding a natural remedy for ovarian cysts that you can begin immediately.

What Are Ovarian Cysts and How Do They Develop In Your Body?

Ovarian cysts are fluid filled sacs that develop on the ovaries. Most are harmless but they can be painful and if they do not dissolve over time may require surgery to remove. On rare occasions a cyst can be malignant but it is not common. Although scientists are not 100% sure of what causes ovarian cysts to occur there does seem to be an apparent connection to hormone levels in the body. This is precisely why a natural remedy for ovarian cysts can be very beneficial.

The ovaries produce the hormones needed for ovulation and pregnancy. They fluctuate throughout the month as a woman’s body goes through ovulation and menstruation. It is hormones that cause the ovaries to produce a follicle each month that contains the egg and hormones that cause the follicle to release the egg.

Occasionally, however, this process does not go as it should and the egg is not released. The follicle containing the egg seals off with the egg and fluid inside and becomes a cyst. This is known as a functional cyst. At times a functional cyst can form after the egg is released. In this case, the follicle does not dissolve as it should but instead fills with fluid and becomes a cyst.

Natural Remedies Can Help Speed The Healing Process Along And Prevent Future Cysts From Developing

Although functional ovarian cysts can go away in time without any medical treatment, a natural treatment for ovarian cysts can speed the process and prevent new cysts from developing. A natural remedy for ovarian cysts gets to the underlying cause of cyst development which is thought to be a hormone imbalance.

Some women have a genetic predisposition to hormone imbalance and ovarian cysts but more often than not a hormone imbalance is precipitated by external forces, such as diet and lifestyle. Your doctor may have recommended prescription hormones to help shrink the cyst because it treats the underlying cause of the cyst.

Traditional Methods Do Not Correct The Root Cause Of Ovarian Cysts

The problem is it may only provide a temporary fix as it does not correct the reason the hormone levels became out of balance in the first place. Hormone supplements also have drawbacks and are not an ideal solution, particularly for the long term.

You may want to discuss a natural treatment for ovarian cysts with your doctor instead or in addition to the treatment plan he describes. Choosing a natural remedy for ovarian cysts is not difficult. One of the first things to consider is your diet.

The foods you eat have a powerful influence on hormone levels. For example, high quantities of sugar and processed foods will quickly upset hormone production and if continued for a long period of time may lead to the development of ovarian cysts.

Research has shown a connection between obesity and ovarian cysts. Another natural remedy for ovarian cysts is herbal remedies. Herbs can be used to rid the body of toxins and boost the immune system. Both of these things can help your body resolve a cyst more efficiently and prevent new ones from forming.

Are you looking for a natural remedy for ovarian cysts to work along with the advice of your medical professional?

Get more information on a safe, effective and scientifically proven method that was developed by a former chronic ovarian cyst sufferer by visiting http://www.natural-ovarian-cyst-cures.com So you can eliminate your pain and discomfort and start shrinking your cyst within weeks.

Some Useful Tips To Obtain Relief From Asthma

Asthma is a disorder of the respiratory system in which the patient may face problem while breathing and may require the use of inhalers in order to obtain relief. This may put the patient into unnecessary trouble and frustration and disturb the daily work routine. There are some useful tips that can prove to be effective in obtaining relief from asthma and can come as a boon to asthma patients.

Exercise a proper way of breathing. Instead of breathing through the chest, practice breathing from the abdomen or diaphragm. Correct breathing technique in itself is a good way to obtain relief from asthma. Try to breathe slowly in a natural way.

Stay away from pollution and smoke. If you are a smoker give it up instantly. Fit appliances that may draw the smoke out of your kitchen which may be troublesome to inhale and if necessary make the use of air filters.

Make it a routine to exercise daily be it walking, swimming or bicycling. Exercise helps to relax the respiratory system and provide a good relief to the patients suffering from asthma. Exercises also help to improve the cardiovascular strength.

Keep your body dehydrated by drinking enough water or liquids. Drinking tea is also beneficial as it may relax the bronchial tubes which may come as a great relief to asthma patients.

How To Treat Toenail Fungus?

Toenail fungus is a common problem encountered by most of the people in their day to day life. There are various available treatments for toenail fungus most of which give effective results and clear the condition in a short span of time. Softening the nails with beer and creating an acidic environment with vinegar that is essential for good bacteria and kill the fungus growth are some of the natural alternatives for treating toenail fungus.

The procedure for treatment of this condition with natural methods is to pour 1 liter of beer in a medium sized tub and add 1/2 a sachet which is 60 billion acidophilus and other strains. Next 1 liter of white vinegar should be further added. After preparing the solution the feet should be cleaned properly with water and soaked in the solution for approximately 25 minutes before going to bed. On removing your feet or fingernails from the tub, file the nails down with a pumice stone or file.

After using the solution for 4 days it should be discarded and once again the solution should be prepared and feet should be soaked in it. To obtain effective results, it is necessary to soak the feet in the solution twice a day. This is the best natural treatment that can offer great relief from toenail fungus and prevent its recurrence.

How To Avoid Cavities And Prevent Tooth Decay?

Most of us take proper care of our health and beauty but often give a less time to our various tooth problems. Tooth decay and cavities are one of the most common problems that are encountered by people of all ages around the world. In fact our diet is more or less responsible for causing such problems. When we eat sticky foods such as chocolates and do not clean our teeth properly it may result in the formation of cavities and build up of plaque which can lead to several disorders of the gums.

Eating a diet that is good in calcium tries to maintain the natural levels of calcium in the teeth and prevents the teeth from decaying. It is better to avoid foods rich in sugar as it results in the formation of acids that may cause tooth decay. Green leafy vegetables are a good source of proteins, vitamins and calcium that are necessary for the proper development of teeth.

It is equally essential to clean the mouth properly and follow a proper brushing technique. First select a toothpaste that contains 1000ppm of available fluoride content that helps in preventing tooth decay. Take the required amount of toothpaste on the brush and clean your teeth properly in a round gentle motion which also provides the necessary massage to the gums. After brushing your teeth properly for at least two minutes rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean water.

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