Is Chinese Medicine the Answer for Your Weight Loss Goals?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Phil Faris

Chinese medicineChinese Medicine has been around for centuries and has helped people of all ages improve their health and lose weight. I regularly follow the information posted of the Whole Heallth Chicago web site. Dr. Edleberg and his staff always have information that is practical and doesn’t have a lot of hype. That’s why I think the excerpt below is worth a look.

If you’re looking for a fresh take on dropping the extra pounds, Dr. Larry Stoler at WholeHealth Chicago conducts a weight loss, stress management, and general wellness program called The Dragon’s Way that’s based on the healing principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). If you’ve experienced TCM, you know its core principles are  very holistic–addressing body, mind, emotions, and spirit, each of which have an impact on the others and on our overall sense of well-being.

In Chinese medicine, being unwell in any way–including being overweight–involves imbalances, stagnations, and depletions of qi, your body’s subtle energetic life force. Whether you’re performing qigong or t’ai chi exercises, undergoing acupuncture or Reiki, you’re increasing the flow of qi. A strong and balanced qi allows your body to self-heal and your weight to adjust to a healthy level.

The Dragon’s Way Program
The Dragon’s Way Program addresses the deeper internal and energetic causes for excess weight.  It’s offered in six weekly, hour-long classes. Unlike most weight-loss programs, the Dragon’s Way is not a diet and is not based on food restriction or excessive exercise.  Rather, it focuses on improving your body’s function from the inside out.  You are free to eat whatever you want.

In TCM, high-quality qigong practice is one of the tried and true ways to increase qi and activate internal healing.  The Dragon’s Way Program is based on qigong. In this class, Dr. Stoler will teach you Wu Ming Qigong, an ancient and unique self-healing energy system developed by Master Nan Lu that has its origin in Taoist masters Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.

It’s important to note that this from of qigong is easy to learn and produces rapid healing results. You’ll be encouraged to do the Wu Ming Qigong exercises at least once a day, though many of our participants practice more often to get maximum benefit from the program.

The Dragon’s Way program also helps you identify and reduce sources of stress in your life.  Regular readers know that I view stress as one of the major contributors to health problems.

If you’d like to learn more about the traditional Chinese medicine program check out the introductory session to learn more about The Dragon’s Way on Tuesday, May 8, at noon and 6 pm.

The six-week program begins on Tuesday, May 22, and runs through Tuesday, June 26, with classes at noon and 6 pm at our Lincoln Avenue center.

To register, please call their office at 773-296-6700. Please note that I am not an affiliate and do not get compensated if you sign up. If you do sign up I would appreciate it if you tell them Phil sent you. Also let me know how you enjoyed the program.

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Preparation for Muscle Building Routines

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Phil Faris

If you’re thinking about starting a training program that includes muscle building routines there are three things you must consider. Most people start training to muscle building routinesbuild muscle and improve their fitness. So keep in mind that one of the essentials in increasing your muscle mass is to perform a number of muscle building routines in a regular basis. Such routines usually involve different types of exercises, which will attack different muscle groups. By putting pressure onto these muscle groups, you will be prompting your body to build stronger muscles. This means you will be putting your body under additional physical stress and you must prepare yourself to handle it effectively. Before you start to build muscles, it is important that you are adequately prepared to following your muscle building workout program.

First and foremost, you should have yourself checked by a medical doctor and tell him about your plans. By doing that, he would be able to tell you whether you are fit enough to do strenuous routines to build more muscles. On top of that, he may also provide you tips on how to properly get started with the workout program, so that you would be able to prevent certain types of injuries. It is very important that you get consulted by a doctor prior to performing workout routines, especially if you have not been getting enough exercise for quite a period of time.

Secondly, you should also come up with a diet program designed for muscle building. Without proper nutrition, no matter how much your workout, you won’t be able to achieve your goals of building muscles. Your body will need to have adequate amounts of protein, carbohydrates, calories, vitamins, and minerals to build the muscles that you want because:

  • Protein will facilitate muscle building and repair
  • Carbohydrates and calories are needed to supply you with the energy that you need to perform the routines
  • Vitamins and minerals to ensure that you will have good bodily functions.

On top of that, these nutrients would also ensure that you would not be too stressed out after performing the routines.

The third thing to keep in mind is that since the routines may be a bit strenuous, you may need to supply your body with extra amounts of these nutrients. These will be needed to sustain the extra physical activities you’ll be performing. To avoid any nutritional deficits you may want to include the use of a muscle building supplements. There are a lot of supplements available in the market today. Therefore, you need to make sure that you choose the one that would suit you best.

These three important things that you need to do before you incorporate muscle building routines in your fitness program. Make sure to follow them, so that you will be preparing yourself properly to do the strenuous workout needed to build more muscle mass.

For additional tips on building muscle and improving your fitness level at any age go to: antiagingoptimalhealth.com

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Eat Muscle Building Foods to Shape Up Your Body

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Phil Faris

Eating muscle building foods is often the missing piece of the puzzle for shaping up your body. Muscle building is not all about the right types of exercise routines to perform. Although performing muscle building workouts is imperative in order to achieve your goals of shaping up your body, eating muscle building foods is just as importamuscle building foodsnt, since your body would not be able to provide you the muscles that you want, without being provided its building blocks. Therefore, it is best that you come up with your muscle building diet soon, so that you will be able to ensure that you are able to provide your body the necessary nutrients to deliver the results you want. To do that, you need to become more familiar with the foods that you should include in the diet first, so that you will be able to follow a diet program, which will really help you out.

Since you will be building muscles, you want to make sure that you include foods that have high protein content. One of which is red meat, which is not just filled with quality protein, but it is also a good source of essential vitamins to sustain your body through the rigorous activities you will subject it to. On top of that, it is also filled with the mineral iron, which will help in fighting off fatigue. Although red meat is usually associated with fats, you don’t need to worry about it, since you can easily burn them with the exercise routines that you do.

If you want a protein source that contains lesser amounts of fats, then you should go with fish. Salmon does not only contain quality protein, but it also has Omega3 fatty acids. Incorporate fish into your diet at least 2 or 3 times per week.

Eating eggs each day would definitely help you build more muscles. The rare protein in them called albumin, which makes up the egg white is very effective in repairing and building more muscles. Keep in mind though that the egg yolk is filled with calories and cholesterol; thus, if you want to control that, you can always eat only the boiled egg whites.

Aside from protein, your body also needs complex carbohydrates in order to have extra surge of energy to perform the exercise routines to build muscles. One of the sources you can include in your diet for that is oatmeal. Not only does oatmeal contain good amounts of complex carbohydrates, but it is also filled with dietary fiber, which is essential for your health.

Keep in mind that your body would also require adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to build more muscles. Therefore, make sure to include fruits and vegetables into your diet, so that you will be able to attain your goal soon.

Take note of these muscle building foods that you need to include in your diet. Start purchasing them from the grocery, so that they would be the main food items that you can see in your refrigerator.

For more tips on building muscle and staying fit no matter how old you are go to:antiagingoptimalhealth.com

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Muscle Building Workouts That Can Be Done At Home

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Phil Faris

muscle building workoutsAre you looking for muscle building workouts that you can be done at home? Here are three muscle building exercise you can do almost anywhere.

Many people are not able to achieve their goals of building more muscles due to the fact that they come up with a lot of excuses for it. One of the most common is they say that they don’t have time for it. However, when they get home, they actually have a lot of spare time to do muscle building workouts, but instead of doing them, they usually spend their time reading a magazine, watching TV, or listening to good music.

If you think that you can only build muscles when you visit the gym, which is why you spend most of the time at home watching television, you need to think again. This is because there are actually a number of exercise routines that you can do at home. Aside from the fact that these routines will help you build more muscles, they can be done without having to miss your favorite television programs, since you can literally do them in front of your TV.

Keep in mind that building muscles is not all about using muscle building machines that you can find in gyms. It can be achieved with simple types of workouts, as long as you put your mind into it. In relation to that, some examples of routines are found below, which you can conveniently do at home.

Push Ups – Push Ups are one of the best muscle building exercise routines that you can do at your place. This is because you will be supporting your own weight with it. In other words, you won’t be straining yourself when you do it, especially if you are not that heavy to start with. To build more muscles though, it is important that you follow proper execution of it. When you push yourself up, make sure that your body does not bend. Aside from that, you should also start with lesser number of repetitions first, and gradually increase it later on. Push Ups target your chest and arms; if you want to increase muscle build up on your chest, then set your arms farther apart but don’t overdo it.

Planks – This exercise is great for building your core muscles. It’s performed by lying face down on the floor and supporting your body on you elbows and toes. By keeping your back straight and your stomach pulled in tight you will get maximum benefit. Start by holding the position for 15 seconds and work up to a minute.

Squats – To make sure that you will also be building muscles in your legs, you should do some squats. Squats will do wonders for your buttocks and thighs, especially if you gradually increase the number of times you do it on a regular basis.

These are three muscle building workouts that you can perform at home. Make sure to get adequate amount of time to rest each week, so that your body will be able to rejuvenate.

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Chronic Back Pain Causes

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Phil Faris

chronic back painChronic back pain is something that many people experience. This condition can really have a negative effect on their lifestyle. Those who suffer back pain on a regular basis are unable to do many of the things that they like to do. Due to the seriousness of this condition, it is highly recommended that you learn how to avoid it. By knowing the common causes of back pain, you can take steps to prevent yourself from experiencing it. Here are some of the common causes of back pain.

Poor posture – this is one of the biggest and most common causes of back pain especially for young people. Poor back posture over a lengthy period of time can result to undue stress on your back. Poor back posture puts strain on the areas of your back that are not built to take it. Over time, this strain will take its toll and result in pain in many areas of your back.In order to avoid this, you must always assume the correct posture while sitting, standing or walking. Regardless of what you’re doing, you should always try to keep your back straight. Avoid slouching, crouching or leaning back too far. A straight back is a healthy back that is free of pain. So you should always keep it that way.

Age – as people grow older our muscles and bones grow weaker. One of the major parts of our bodies that noticeably deteriorate with age are our backs. Over time, it can be more and more difficult for us to keep our backs straight. This means that we tend to develop bad posture as we grow older. If you add bad posture with weaker bones and muscles, this can lead to severe chronic back pain. As you grow older, it is very important that you find ways to strengthen your bones and muscles (especially your core muscles). This can be done through exercise and taking supplements.

Medical conditions – sometimes, back pain does not originate from the muscles and bones of your back. There are also instances that some other medical issue is causing the back pain. Bladder problems and liver problems are known to cause discomfort and pain in the back. Certain viral infections, obesity and excessive smoking can also cause back pain. Pregnancy also includes back pain as one of the causes.

Injuries – various injuries can result to back pain even if the injury has already healed. There are many sports injuries that result to chronic back pain long after the actual injury has been treated and healed. Sometimes, the only treatment for this kind of back pain is a regular dose of pain medicine. Those who suffer severe back injuries need to go through extensive physical therapy.

Taking preventative measures to insure a strong and stable back goes a long way towards eliminating the debilitating effects chronic back pain can have on your lifestyle.

For more information on how to live a longer and healthier life go to:antiagingoptimalhealth.com

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Anti-Aging Diet Tips

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Phil Faris

One key to looking and feeling younger is an anti-aging diet. As we grow older, it makes sense that we start making sure that we remain as healthy and as youthful looking as possible.  We really don’t have to settle for seeing a lot of wrinkle lines developinganti-aging diet on your face, as well as other common ailments that come with old age.  Of course, you don’t have the liberty to pick out the problems that will plague your health when you get older, especially when you can’t turn back the clock and tell yourself to stop smoking or living a rather unhealthy lifestyle.  Yet, you can address them in the soonest time possible, thus giving you a good chance of avoiding them altogether.  Even old dogs are capable of learning new tricks, as opposed to how the saying normally goes, and you can surely develop a healthier lifestyle for yourself by taking part in an anti-aging diet. This basically means you’ll have to avoid eating or drinking anything which may contain harmful toxins, and including food and beverages that will provide your body some much needed nourishment.

This, of course, does not mean you’ll have to engage in consumption of bland tasting foods and completely doing away with the “grub you love”.  What this simply means is that you’ll have to be more knowledgeable of the food that you eat. This will allow you to slow down your aging process.  It’s all about doing some research of your own and becoming more aware of what you should be consuming without anyone nagging at you about what you should and shouldn’t be eating.

You may not be much of a vegetable lover, but you should know that they contain several anti-oxidants that help in battling elements which can contribute to a rapid aging process.  Even raw vegetables should be consumed, as they contain necessary nutrients that can keep you looking healthier and younger.  Fruits are also high in vitamin and mineral content, so you should definitely eat more of these if you wish to look like you did in your mid-30. Lean meats also good for you and should be a regular part of your diet. Whenever possible avoid or at least minimize eating anything which has high fat content.

These are just some tips to get you started on that anti-aging diet. Take these tips into careful consideration, and pretty soon you’ll start looking at yourself in the mirror with a new found appreciation.  You will discover more energy, better skin tone and you’ll be radiating such a glow that people will think that you’re much younger than you actually are.

For additional anti-aging tips go to:antiagingoptimalhealth.com

 

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Anti-Aging Skin Care

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Phil Faris

anti-aging skin careOne of the most interesting topics on skin care is anti-aging skin care. As one gets older, the natural defense of our skin (and in fact of the whole body) weakens. Anti-aging skin care is about protecting your skin from the negative effects of aging process. Anti-aging skin care helps in maintaining a young and fresh look for a longer period of time. However, anti-aging skin care doesn’t end just here. Besides maintaining your looks (good looks), anti-aging skin care is also about retaining the resistance to disease. Though the awareness about anti-aging has increased over a period of time, still a lot of people are unable to recognize the aging symptoms.

Here is a list of visible anti-aging symptoms that will help you in the planning and execution of your strategy for anti-aging skin care:

  • baldness, forgetfulness
  • greying hair
  • wrinkle formation
  • loss of eyesight or hearing loss and
  • menopause

The occurrence of one or more such symptoms is an indicator for upping the ante on anti- aging skin care. Note that we are talking about introduction of additional measures for anti- aging skin care, we are not talking about starting anti-aging skin care altogether. Anti-aging skin care actually starts much before the symptoms of anti aging appear.  Anti- aging skin care starts by building and following a proper skin care routine much earlier in life (say in your teens). Anti-aging skin care doesn’t mean adoption of any special skin care procedure but just following a normal procedure on an every day habit. This includes eating a lot of fruits, avoiding stress, drinking a lot of water and using natural therapies can delay the aging process.

Once the signs of aging start showing up, you should start using some additional measures in the form of anti-aging skin care products. The market is full of anti-aging skin care products. In fact there are so many anti-aging skin care products that they will probably find you even before you find them. Also, with age, the skin undergoes significant change. So you will need to analyze your current skin care procedure to make sure that it’s still suitable for your skin.

 

 

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How To Prevent Heart Disease: Tips You Should Know

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Phil Faris

As Baby Boomers age they must learn how to prevent heart disease. Heart disease is another term that is linked to several heart ailments and is considered one of the dreaded diseases that affects everyone. With so many people affected, most of these people are unaware of the symptoms that can lead to disastrous results if it is left untreated. Most of the time people think that these symptoms are just common ailments that can be treated right away. What if the symptoms persist? Will you just leave it alone? What if the medications or pills won’t stop it? All the more reason you should consult your doctor.

It is very important to know what these symptoms are, and what its causes are before it is too late. Such symptoms and causes have led many people to find solutions on how to prevent heart disease. Heart disease can lead to many heart related ailments. It is also important for people to know what these diseases are and what the symptoms are. Here are some of the diseases:

Coronary Artery Disease- One of the main causes leading to this condition is that the arteries that are the primary sources of oxygenated blood to the heart is blocked. The arteries are blocked by plaque buildup in the inner walls of the blood vessels. People who have this condition experience some of these symptoms: a heart attack, discomfort and numbness on the left part of the body which includes the shoulder and back, abnormal heart beat patterns, you also experience nausea and your sweat is cold, find it hard to breathe and digest food and unbearable pain in the chest.

Cardiovascular Disease- refers to the ailments that have adverse effects on a person’s blood vessels. This condition usually affects many women. Men who have acquired this disease originate from the heart muscle. People who have this disease experiences: chest pains, pain and numbness on both shoulders and arms, you tend to sweat more than usual, headaches that take a longer time to subside, heart palpitations etc.

How to prevent heart disease? There are many ways methods applied by many people with this condition. Some of the common causes of this condition are: having a high cholesterol rate and stress related situations, and high blood pressure. Another cause could be having an inactive, sluggish and idle lifestyle. Smoking cigarettes is also considered to be a main contributor that leads to this condition.

To be able to prevent heart disease is by watching what you eat and eating foods rich in fish oil and Omega 3 fatty acids. These foods have the ability to reduce and maintain cholesterol levels of your body. Another way is to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Sea foods are also a main source of Omega 3 fatty acids so you should integrate these foods as well. Refrain from eating processed foods and meat, and if you cannot refrain from them, all you have to do is to reduce your intake from these foods.

Another way on how to prevent heart disease is by participating in physical activities to reduce stress. Get a schedule for your physical exercises within the day to have regular activities besides work. Yoga and meditation can lessen the stress levels induced by work. Another physical activity includes brisk walking every day. Walk at least 10-15 min a day near your home to keep your body fit and to strengthen your stamina. It also reduces and balances blood pressure and lessens the stress and pain on the heart.

 

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Acid Reflux Causes – Know Them To Prevent Experiencing Acid Reflux

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Phil Faris

There are many possible acid reflux causes that you need to become more familiar with, so that you will be able to prevent it from affecting you. It is important that you know these causes, since that can help you follow certain actions that would either curacid refluxe or prevent it. Thus, it is best to discuss the major causes of it, so that you will be able to know what you need to do, in order not to experience the annoying and painful symptoms of acid reflux.

One of the major causes of acid reflux is a poor diet. Acid reflux actually happens during digestion; in other words, you can experience it after eating your meal. It happens when your stomach secretes too much acid, which can cause it to push its food content back to your esophagus and even to your mouth. Thus, it is easy to conclude the eating spicy types of foods can cause it.

Spicy foods are actually acidic in the first place; thus, when you eat them, their acidity can cause lots of pressure to your stomach when it combines with the stomach acid. This can cause heightened levels of acid in your stomach, which will eventually lead to acid reflux. Aside from spicy foods, chocolates, fried foods, fatty foods, and those loaded with peppers can also cause the said condition to happen.

Still in the same line as diet, if you eat too much food that could also lead to acid reflux. This is because eating too much in one sitting can put too much pressure on your stomach. Due to the fact that your stomach will try to process lots of foods, it will produce lots of gastric acid and that could be the start of experiencing acid reflux. When that happens, it could soon lead to your stomach pushing back all its content back to your esophagus, which will make you feel that burning sensation in your chest.

It is best to take note that having a poor eating habit can cause acid reflux, since being overweight has the same effect. When you have gained too much weight, it will actually put more pressure to your stomach and esophagus. This does not lead to the secretion of too much acid in your tummy, but the pressure can actually open up the lower esophageal sphincter, which is also called the esophagus valve that will pave the way for the gastric acids to flow back into the esophagus.

Other acid reflux causes that you need to take note of would include the use of alcohol, lying down after eating, drinking milk while being too full, smoking, and the lack of rest. Now that you know the factors that can increase the chances of experiencing acid reflux, you should be able to avoid it effectively from now on.

For more information on leading a longer healthier life go to:anti-aging optimal health

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Preventing Diabteses

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Phil Faris

Diabetes is a really hard disease to deal with. There so many ill effects that you can get whenever you have diabetes. Many people are currently suffering from dPreventing Diabetesiabetes, and most of them really want to know how they can get to prevent diabetes. While most people say that preventing diabetes is next to impossible, there are several ways that you can get to prevent it from happening to you and get the best health possible.

If you want to prevent diabetes, there are several things that you really need to know to keep yourself healthy. Some of the tips that you can get here can really help you avoid the disease and eliminate its effects. One of the best ways that you can get to prevent diabetes is to eat healthy.

As much as possible, if your family has a history of diabetes, you should stay away from unhealthy eating. You should find foods that are healthy and very nutritious. You might be wondering what kinds of food are unhealthy. Usually, these are fast foods and processed foods. If you want to have a healthier condition when you have diabetes, you should stay away from the processed and fast foods as much as possible. Instead of eating these, you should eat healthier foods as much as possible.

Another way of preventing diabetes is to check the food that you are taking. You should limit the consumption of foods that are marginally bad and potentially bad. Usually, you can get to determine which foods are bad for your health by looking at their labels. While marginally bad foods are allowable, the verified bad foods should be eliminated from your diet plan. You should avoid donuts, pastries, and cakes as much as possible in order to prevent diabetes from happening to you.

You should also have more vegetables and whole food in your meal plan. Green vegetables that are taken in raw are much healthier for people who are diabetic. You should also get to know what you need to eat and what to avoid. You should then stick to your plan and maintain your diet. You may deviate from the time from time to time, but it should not be done daily or weekly.

You can also get to prevent diabetes by maintaining a regular exercise program. This can help you get better blood circulation, and it can make the cells in your blood better cleansed. You should try maintaining a healthy body mass index, so that you would not get any unwanted fats.

With a healthy diet and exercise, you can really be well on your way to preventing diabetes. However, you should also complement your diet and exercise with nutritious foods and supplements. You should also get to drink plenty of water and other liquids, but you should avoid drinks that have lots of sugar. Having a cup of herbal or green tea is also recommended, as it can help increase the metabolism of the body. You should be aware of processed foods and soft drinks, as they can really get to worsen the symptoms of diabetes.

 

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