Relieve Headaches

How Much Sugar is Too Much?

admin — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 09:18:38 +0000

This is our second article focusing on the correlation between sugar and headaches. In our first post – Reduce the Sugar, Reduce the Headaches – we discussed ways to cut out the sugar from your diet and reduce the risk of migraine headaches. But how much sugar should you consuming as part of a balanced diet?

Determining how much sugar is safe in your daily diet is contingent upon understanding two things: what natural sugar is and what added sugar is. Also, if you’re diabetic, your daily sugar intake restriction is different than a non-diabetic. Either way, too much sugar is not is not a good thing, period, and you should make sure you are staying within the limits of a healthy daily sugar intake.

Daily Recommendation

Natural sugar occurs in almost everything we eat because our bodies use sugar to fuel our brains, muscles and maintain healthy cell function. People without sugar-related health issues normally need not worry about natural sugar. It’s when we go overboard and overdose on foods with added sugar that sugar intake becomes unhealthy.

So, how much daily-added sugar should you actually eat? According to the American Heart Association, women should only eat 6 tsp. of added sugar and men should only eat 9 tsp. In grams, women should only eat 24 grams of added sugar (96 total calories from sugar), and men should only eat 36 grams (144 total calories from sugar).

If you are diabetic, the American Diabetes Association recommends monitoring your daily sugar and carbohydrate intake together, as the two go hand in hand. Your safe daily sugar intake might be different and must be determined by your doctor, as blood glucose levels need to be monitored and kept under control.

How Much is Too Much?

You might be thinking, “Okay, no big deal. I only throw some sugar on top of my morning cereal and add a teaspoon to my coffee.” Depending on what else you eat and drink during the day, added sugar might be a very big deal, as the grams add up faster than you think. That can of coke you have with your lunch contains 39 grams of sugar. Think you’re being healthy by drinking a sports drink instead? The University of Washington reports that there are 14 grams of sugar in one cup of Gatorade. Most bottles sold are 12 oz. to 32 oz., and if you’re drinking the whole bottle, you may be consuming anywhere from 21 grams to 56 grams of sugar, respectively. Oh, and that Snickers bar in the afternoon has 30 grams of sugar – you’ve pretty much blown your daily intake right there.

What Can I Do?

Avoid eating unsafe levels of sugar in your daily diet by avoiding the foods that contain them. Think natural, raw, whole and organic. Drink water instead of the soda, don’t add sugar to your coffee and tea, and eat almonds instead of a candy bar for your afternoon snack. In the long run, you’ll have more sustained energy, which is what you’re looking for, correct?

Become a label reader. Know what you are putting into your body. Food labels contain both natural and added sugar in the total calculated grams, so keep this in mind as you are doing the math. If the ingredients listed on the food label include any type of sugar, corn sweetener or syrup, anything ending in “ose” (i.e., fructose, glucose, lactose), high-fructose corn syrup, or honey or molasses, sugar has been added to this food product. If the label does not mention any type of sugar in the ingredients, the grams of sugar listed under the nutritional information are natural sugars and, unless you have sugar-related health concerns, you do not need to count them.

Finally, keep track of your daily sugar intake, even if it’s just for a couple of days. You might be surprised at how much added sugar you are actually eating and drinking. On the other hand, you might also be pleasantly surprised at how healthy this portion of your diet is. Either way, women shouldn’t add more than 24 grams of sugar to their diet and men, no more than 36 grams.

Reduce the Sugar, Reduce the Headaches

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:54:22 +0000

Relieve Headaches

According to http://www.ninds.nih.gov/, food and ingredients in foods are responsible for over 50 percent of migraine headaches. While headaches can have numerous causes and identifying the exact triggers can be difficult, sugar consumption is often be one of the leading causes of food related migraines. Luckily, it is one of the headache triggers that is easiest to control.

In addition to reducing the frequency of migraines, cutting sugar from your diet can help you lose weight and improve the health of your body and teeth. While cutting sugar from your diet completely can be hard, there are many sugar-free foods and snacks that can help make the process easier. The healthy benefits of a sugar-free diet are worth the effort.

Here are 6 simple methods to reduce the sugar in your diet:

Remove sugar from your diet a little at a time. A gradual change will allow you time to find other foods to enjoy in place of the sugary ones. It will also give your body a change to adjust to the change.

Fight your sugar cravings by eating fruit or drinking 100% juice. These are full of natural sugars which are different from refined sugars and better for the body.

Cut out any processed foods from your diet. Processed foods can contain high amounts of refined sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup. Processed foods include TV dinners, canned foods and boxed meals.

Throw out any foods that contain sugar. Replace them with healthy sugar-free foods. Removing the sugary foods from your home will make it much easier to resist them. Replace the sugary food with whole grains, fruits, vegetable and proteins. These are all very filling and sugar-free.

Chew sugar-free gum or candy to help fight your sweet-tooth. These items offer a sweet taste that will help control your sugar craving.

If you wish to sweeten your food or drinks, you can use a sugar substitute. These are available in most stores and restaurants. Artificial sugar offers the same sweet taste as sugar, but are lower in fat and calories.

10 Steps To a Healthy Lifestyle

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:31:47 +0000

Relieve Headaches

There are ten things you can do everyday to lead a healthy lifestyle. It will not happen overnight for many people, especially if they have led a lifestyle filled with bad habits such as eating bad foods and not exercising. Following a guideline and learning fun ways to have a healthy lifestyle will help you achieve your goal.

10 Things Needed for a Healthy Lifestyle

Balanced diet: Eat a balanced diet everyday. Your diet should include choices from all of the food groups. The more colors you have in your diet, the healthier your diet will be.
Vitamin and Supplements: Your body must have the right minerals and vitamins. Your body goes through changes as you get older and require certain supplements for optimum health. You should also include a vitamin supplement along with your balanced diet to make sure you get the nutrients that are not provided by food.
Quit Drinking and Smoking: It may be hard to do but it has a big impact on your life. Your health can improve in positive ways when you cut out those bad habits.
Regular Exercise: Get regular exercise everyday. Start out walking and graduate to running. Add cardio or yoga to your exercise routine. You must get moving and continue moving to have a healthy lifestyle. It will get your heart pumping long and strong. Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise routine.
See Your Doctor: Seeing your doctor annually or more is a way for you to be proactive about your health. Getting regular checkups can keep you on the right track and is a good way to treat any health issues early.
Have Healthy Relationships: Having positive and loving family and friends around is important for maintaining good health. They nurture and fulfill our lives. Getting a pet is also an important connection that can nurture our spirits.
Reduce Stress: Stress can kill if it not controlled. You must balance your life to avoid excess stress. Stress can affect all areas of your lives but too much can cause illnesses such as heart disease and other illnesses. Do all that you can to get rid of stress in your life.
Accept Yourself: Love yourself the way you are. You are one of a kind. We all have shortcomings and faults. You can only be yourself and that is important in creating a healthy lifestyle.
Do Things You Love: If there is a passion in your life, do it on a regular basis. People are happy when they are doing things they love, which leaves them more satisfied and happy.
Laugh, Have Fun: They next time you laugh or have fun, notice how you feel. It has a powerful and positive effect on your health.

Types of Heart Rate Monitors

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:23:16 +0000

Relieve Headaches

Heart rate monitors are commonly used by medical professionals and athletes. The monitors are used to show the rate of the heart at work. Most people use these monitors when they are looking to increase their heart strength and endurance. The monitors come in many different type of styles and models. It is best to choose the monitor that best fits your active lifestyle.

Heart Rate Watches

A very popular monitor is the heart rate watch. This monitor is worn around the wrist, just like a wristwatch. Many athletes such as marathon runners and cyclists find the monitor very convenient. Most of the monitors have a stop watch mode, pedometers and even lap mode. The sensors located on the back of the watch, track the wearer’s pulse rate and give them a digital reading on the face. Most of these watches range anywhere from $50 to over $100; this of course also depends on the features.

GPA Heart Rate Monitors

These heart rate monitors are perfect for individuals looking for additional features. Some of these monitors offer GPS features that provide the user with calories burned, speed and distance traveled as well as rate of pace. These monitors tend to be a lot more expensive than your traditional heart rate monitor. Most of these monitors range from $100 to over $200.

Heart Rate Meters

Heart rate meters are very easy to use. Usually the best heart rate meters make direct contact with the skin in order for it to work well. This allows the meter to give higher accurate readings. These types of heart rate meters are best worn around the chest, secured with a strap. The meters usually rest just below the breast, and contains a sensor that can read the electrical activity of your heart. These heart rate meters come in many different colors and styles, but tend to be the most simple in features. These meters usually range from $25 to $75.

Botox Versus Natural Treatments for Headaches

locke — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:13:17 +0000

Relieve Headaches

You might have read in the past about people who suffer from migraines using Botox as a treatment. There are plenty of arguments both for and against this practice, and below I will discuss this in detail.

Botox is actually the botulin toxin, and it has been used for years now for various reasons, from removing lines and wrinkles on the face for vanity reasons, to treating excessive sweating for people with certain conditions. Basically, Botox is injected into the muscle and it paralyzes it by preventing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from being released. This is responsible for muscle contractions. When used, it causes wrinkles to disappear, and sweat to stop being excreted, resulting in either a fresher, younger look or less body odor due to sweat. Botox is quick to apply and fast acting, so one session is often enough to achieve the desired results.

Studies have been done that discovered that suggest that one side effect associated with the use of Botox can be the release of both migraine and tension headaches. Patients who underwent sessions reported that their headaches disappeared and lessened. Many physicians have been reluctant to accept these findings but the idea of Botox for headaches has been steadily growing among doctors in recent years. The reason Botox works seems to be due to the fact that it relaxes the neck and jaw muscles as well as the surrounding areas, which relieves tension.

This notion of using Botox has spread quickly, and for the past few years hundreds of people have been given Botox in order to treat their headaches. The initial intention might have been purely for cosmetic reasons, but it seems to have developed important medical uses as well.

There are of course both disadvantages and advantages to such treatment. Botox used in this manner can have some nasty side effects, especially when administered by doctor with little experience using this potent toxin. One of these effects is droopy eyelids; another is a frozen expression that may look unnatural. These effects can last for months before they wear off. Many people prefer the use of natural therapy to treat their head aches, as they have fewer adverse side effects.

On the other hand, unlike many other medicinal treatments that can cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and other unwanted effects, Botox doesn’t enter one’s blood stream, it is injected directly into muscle tissue.

Some helpful tips to keep in mind when considering the path of treatment;

Botox is FDA approved, but only a license physician can apply it. Also, if you are using it to treat headaches you must visit your general doctor before seeing a plastic surgeon for this drug.
If the cause of your headaches is something besides tension or migraine, then this method most likely won’t work.
Botox is very expensive, and not covered under most insurance. You must consider if this headache problem is bad enough to warrant the huge cost.
Botox has few side effects, and the ones previously mentioned are rare.

Finding Sinus Headache Relief Through Home Remedies

locke — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:55:48 +0000

Relieve Headaches

Experiencing a sinus headache can be an extremely unpleasant experience. It often leaves you feeling congested, irritable, and tired. The pain from a sinus headache is often unbearable and can affect your temples, forehead or even your entire face. Fever and sore throat are also common symptoms. Thankfully there are many tried and true home remedies available to relieve the discomfort and give relief, and most of them are quite effective.

Many people swear by the use of a cold compress to deliver relief. Simply placing the compress on your forehead for a few minutes will typically ease inflammation and lower your fever. The coolness can feel great on your skin as well. Remember to only keep a cold compress on your skin for twenty minutes or less every two or three hours,
and if you’re using an ice pack, place a wash cloth or paper towel between it and your skin to protect yourself.

To combat the fever and sore throat you may feel due to your sinus headache you could try a mild pain reliever such as Tylenol, or a throat spray such as Chloraseptic on top of any and all of these home remedies. If your fever persists, however, you should see a doctor immediately.

It is well known that there are certain spices that, if eaten, will work to clear the sinuses and ease sinus pressure headaches. Spices that work best are cayenne pepper, curry powder and many Cajun seasonings. Eucalyptus oil also works as an excellent expectorant, as are pineapples and any food where quercetin is found. Foods are avoid would be fried food, dairy products and any other food known to cause congestion and dampness in your body. Be careful if you are on any type of supplement or medication as they may adversely interfere with this, or any, home remedy.

A major cause of the sinus troubles that cause sinus headaches is excessive dryness in the air caused by air-conditioning or dry heat. Many physicians recommend buying a humidifier, which adds moisture to the air. It’s vital, however, to make certain that you keep your humidifier very clean. Read the manual and change the filter as recommended. The best time to run your humidifier is at night, which is when the majority of sinus irritation occurs. If you can’t afford a humidifier you can also sit in the bathroom with the hot water running for fifteen or twenty minutes.

A popular and effective home remedy for sinus relief is the neti-pot. Neti pots have been used in the east for centuries as a cheap and easy method of irrigating the sinus passages. There are many modern variations available today, but all of them work essentially the same way. Warm water is mixed with salt making a saline solution that is poured in one nostril and allowed to drain out the other. While this may not alleviate the pain of a sinus related headache in progress, it is highly recommended preventative measure. For more detailed information, check out our post on how to use a net-pot.

It’s important to keep in mind as you attempt these at home remedies that what works for one person may not work for another. Also, most home remedies have not undergone any scientific testing, so their value isn’t entirely proven. It is also important to note that if you experience a sinus headache for more than a few days, and nothing you do gives you relief, you should make an appointment with your doctor because it might be something more serious. As always, if you are pregnant or nursing you should talk to a doctor before performing any home remedy.

More Exercise Tips

admin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:57:49 +0000

Relieve Headaches

As we explored in our previous post, Exercise and Relieve Migraine Headaches, Establishing an exercise routine is critical to optimum health and well-being. When it comes to creating an exercise and fitness plan, you can easily take some steps to meet your weight loss goals. All it takes is some hard work, discipline and dedication. With the right plan, you can get the results that you want. Planning a fitness exercise program means finding what is going to work for you and what you are going to stick with. To outline your plan, focus on your goals.

1. Set your goals; this is the most important part of your fitness plan. One goal could be how much weight you want to lose each week, or every other week. Keep in mind that excess weight comes off easier in the beginning, so you may want to transition your goals from weight loss to body fat loss by week eight.

2. Decide how much cardiovascular activity to do during the week. Most people who are just starting can aim for three to four days of cardio. Those who are more experienced, can aim for four to five days. For the first four to six weeks, stick to strictly cardiovascular activity, so that you can get your body into the habit of training. This can be running outside, walking at a high speed, using a treadmill, a stationary bike or swimming, to name a few options.

3. Schedule a weight-training program to be included in your exercise plan around weeks four to six, after you feel that you are doing well with your cardiovascular training. After you have been able to shed some weight, you are going to be able to lift weights a lot easier, and you are going to get much more out of it. Try doing a couple of different muscle groups a few days a week, and never do the same muscles two days in a row.

4. Keep track of your exercise progress weekly or bi-weekly. This is going to keep you motivated, help you see where you are at and help you set more goals.

Losing weight and creating a fitness plan is a commitment that you are making to yourself to live a healthier lifestyle. Only working out isn’t going to get you to your weight loss goals; you also need to eat a healthy diet.

Exercise and Relieve Migraine Headaches

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:54:04 +0000

Relieve Headaches

Improving your level of physical fitness is one way to decrease the frequency and duration of migraine headaches. Exercise promotes circulation, improves metabolism, and reduces stress. All of which are factors that may contribute to headaches. Those who engage in a routine regiment of cardiovascular exercise are less likely to experience severe migraines.

Improving muscle strength - The key to improving muscle strength is to do exercises that incorporate more than one muscle group. These include exercises such as the squat, deadlift, clean and military press, which demand more from the body than a few sets of bicep curls. In addition, push-ups, sit-ups, and pull ups can be done anywhere and can be modified to fit any fitness level.

Improving cardiovascular fitness - Any exercise that makes the heart rate rise and remain elevated for at least 20 minutes is an excellent source of cardio. This includes exercises like walking, running, or swimming, not just exercises done on a treadmill, exercise bike, or stair climber. The best way to improve cardiovascular fitness is to find an activity that you enjoy, and do it as often as possible.
Improving flexibility - Flexibility consists of both static stretching, or stretching while staying still, and dynamic stretching, which is stretching that happens during the course of a workout. Static stretching before and after a workout allows for more dynamic flexibility, which decreases the likelihood of injury. The best way to increase flexibility is to stretch before and after every workout. Be sure to stretch to a point where you feel a pull on the muscle, but not pain. Stay in that position for 10-15 seconds without bouncing.
Frequency of workouts – It’s important to work out as often as possible to improve fitness. Start out with working out every other day, then gradually work up to 4-5 days a week. If you need motivation for sticking to your workouts, consider signing up for an event such as a 5k run, a bike race, or swim meet.
Take advantage of online workout plans – There are many different sites that provide online workout plans. Simply do a search for “online workout plans” to find different examples, then choose one you think would be suitable for you.

Types of Pilates

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:42:20 +0000

Relieve Headaches

Original Practice

The original practice focuses on controlled movement via a strong core. The idea is that if the core is weak, then movement of the rest of the body is not controlled and fluid. The original Pilates was developed using mat exercises, which very much resembled yoga, but Joseph Pilates also included various apparatus into the routine. Unlike yoga, Pilates is an exercise rather than a way of life.

Fletcher Pilates
Fletcher Pilates is a modified version of the original by focusing on breathing. This technique teaches that the exhalation of the breath is forced through in order to teach the student the correct way of breathing as well as being mindful of the current moment. This keeps the person in the present moment. Ron Fletcher was the creator of this version of Pilates.

Winsor Pilates

Mari Winsor created the very popular Winsor Pilates, which again is a modified version of the original. Mari emphasized on dynamic sequencing, which is basically a way to offer the body a workout that is calorie-burning but still a very low-intensity exercise. Therefore, the student has an ability to get the benefits of the original Pilates along with an actual workout that is easy on the joints and muscles of the body.

Scott Pilates

The Scott Pilates comes from Moira Merrithew, which like the Winsor techniques, takes the original Pilates and incorporates a physical fitness regimen to it. There are five principles to the Scotts Pilates, which include:

Ribcage placement
Breathing
Cervical spine and head placement
Scapular movement
Pelvic placement

These five placements and movement principles are designed to help the body restore the natural curves of the spine and to rebalance the muscle groups that surround the joints, which in turn makes the body stronger. The scapular or shoulder stabilization has a lot of emphasis in this type of Pilates.

Medicare Part D Explained

admin — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:57:14 +0000

Relieve Headaches

Anyone that currently has Medicare Part A or B is eligible for prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D. Medicare Part D is the prescription drug benefit plan enacted in 2006 as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act.

In order to qualify for Medicare Part D, a person with medicare must be enrolled in a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan. These plans are designed and executed by private insurance companies but are overseen by the Medicare program. Unlike Medicare Part A and B, Part D is not standardized. This means that the drugs covered can vary widely between providers and drugs covered by one provider may not be covered by another. Critics of the plan say that this leads to unnecessary confusion and may actually prevent many from obtaining prescription drug coverage that they need.

To enroll in Medicare Part D, you must select a plan during the annual election period which is November 15th through December 31st. This is also the only time that Medicare recipients can change from one plan to another. If medicare D participants are already enrolled in a plan and wish to remain in the same plan it is not necessary to enroll again. They will simply remain in the same plan the following year.

Relieve Headaches

How Much Sugar is Too Much?

Related Posts How Much Sugar is Too Much?

Reduce the Sugar, Reduce the Headaches

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10 Steps To a Healthy Lifestyle

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Types of Heart Rate Monitors

Heart Rate Watches

GPA Heart Rate Monitors

Heart Rate Meters

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Botox Versus Natural Treatments for Headaches

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Finding Sinus Headache Relief Through Home Remedies

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More Exercise Tips

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Types of Pilates

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