Health News

Children's Health and Omega 3

Numerous studies have found those supplementing children’s diets with Omega 3 Fatty acids, has the potential to improve learning abilities and reduce behavioral problems. According to a study published in the 5 May 2005 edition of Pediatrics, children's reading, spelling and general learning behavior improved over a six month period taking fish oil supplements, which are rich in Omega 3.

Other participants of the trials were put on a placebo for the same period and developed in a regular manner over the six months. Further tests carried out revealed that those who were on the placebo actually showed obvious signs of improvement, once they transferred over to the fish oil treatment over a three month period.

Researchers say that the brain needs these acids for healthy brain development but cannot store them for long. Due to today's western diets, our children are not eating enough oily fish, such as salmon, macrel or tuna and are therefore not being able to replace lost Omega 3s.

Problems caused by lack of Omega 3

The following problems have been attributed to lack of Omega 3:

• allergies (eg eczema, asthma, hay fever)
• poor concentration
• memory problems
• depression
• excessive mood swings
• undue anxiety
• difficulty sleeping
• problems with reading

Of course, these may also be attributed to other health problems not associated to Omega 3 deficiency.

Supplements

Omega 3 supplements are readily available in most drug stores. However, they can be expensive, so you'll need to shop around.

Natural Sources of Omega 3

Oily fish such as: salmon, mackerel, fresh tuna trout, sardines, pilchards, whitebait, herring and kippers are great. It's recommended that your children eat at least two 140g servings per week. Other sources of Omega 3 include nuts, seeds oils including Flax seed and rapeseed, leafy green vegetables and red meat.

With a regular diet of the above foods, not only will your children have sufficient Omega 3 intake, they'll also benefit from the other nutrients fish have to offer such as calcium, vitamins A and D and selenium, which helps protect cells from damage. Plus, all oily fish is delicious in taste and can be served in a whole host of different ways.

Go on mums, serve up the fish and boost your kids' brains!

Fartlek Training

If you are bored with your running routine and are looking for something to add balance to your schedule, Fartlek training could be for you.

What is Fartlek?

Redeveloped in the 1930s in Sweden, Fartlek means "Speed Play". Fartlek enables you to combine continuous and interval training and can last from between 15 minutes to one hour, running at whatever distance and speed the runner wishes. This allows the runner to vary the intensity of his or her running and add greater balance and variety to your training program.

Who is it for?

Another plus for Fartlek is that any level runner can utilize it. The advanced runner can use it to run at a significantly higher pace than usual and thus increase cardiovascular strength and racing options. The lower level or beginner can use Fartlek as a diagnostic activity to see how he or she copes with a higher pace. It is also a great way to improve stamina and cardio fitness.

How is it done?

Fartlek is close in technique to interval training. Alternating short, fast runs with slower recovery runs or recovery intervals. The runner uses his or her own pre-determined schedule, or can create one while running, depending on how he/she feels. A track isn't needed and Fartlek was designed to be used on the road or in parks etc. Here is a basic schedule:

1. 10 minute warm up or your normal warm up routine.

2. Run for 10 minutes at your normal running pace for a chosen distance.

3. Pick a point about 400 meters in front of you, such as a street lamp, and increase your speed steadily until you pass the marker. Then reduce your speed steadily to well below your normal running speed until you have recovered. Then follow this same procedure later into your run.

The intensity and speed of each interval is up to you. You can increase or decrease the distance and add more intervals into the run as you seem fit. On the slow down, you can decrease your speed all the way to a fast walk if it's comfortable for you. The key is to use Fartlek to suit your own speed and distance. You can juggle with the intervals and speed as you like as there is no real structure to the activity, unlike true interval training.

What are the benefits?

An increase in the stress of both the aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways makes you fitter and faster. Also great for varying your workout and pushing your endurance levels and developing your racing technique.

(ARA) - If you've been putting off shopping for life insurance because you're a smoker, or think you are paying exorbitant premiums because of your habit, it's time to start shopping around. Many people are overpaying for their life insurance because they don't realize that there are deals to be had out there.

Whether you smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, or have an occasional cigar or pipe, most insurance companies are going to offer you SMOKER rates - typically double, often, as much as triple, the price they offer non-tobacco users! So what's the secret to finding a company that will offer tobacco users more favorable rates - sometimes, even non-smoker rates?

"There's no secret. You just have to shop around," says Byron Udell, founder and CEO of AccuQuote, www.accuquote.com, a Web-based company that offers free online insurance quotes. "There is a lot of money to be saved by selecting the right company."

For example at AccuQuote, a 40-year-old male who is a smoker qualifying for preferred rates on a policy with a face value of $500,000 would be quoted $2,320 for a 30-year level term policy. If that same person qualified for non-smoker rates he would only pay $820 for the same policy. That's a savings of $1,500 per year and $45,000 over the length of the policy!

"Here at AccuQuote, we make it our business to know the different rules of multiple insurance companies. Only with this broad pulse on the insurance market is it possible to know which company might offer the most favorable rates to a given person, based on their individual profile," says Udell.

For instance, at some companies you must test negative for nicotine in order to qualify for non-smoker rates. While at others, testing positive for nicotine is acceptable. So if you're an occasional cigar smoker or tobacco chewer, you could end up paying a lot more than you have to. And if you're an ex-smoker don't think you'll automatically qualify for non-smoker rates. Life insurance companies usually require that you be smoke-free for at least one year; however some require longer periods.

Want to find out what kinds of rates you can qualify for? Log on to www.accuquote.com and fill out their simple online form. You'll get back quotes from several different companies in a matter of seconds. If you decide to purchase a policy, an AccuQuote agent will act as your liason with the company you select.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content

(ARA) - We all know someone with high blood pressure or may even have it ourselves. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects more than 65 million people -- that's one in three adults in the United States alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, an additional 59 million are now classified as pre-hypertensive, having blood pressure measurements slightly higher than the norm.

Hypertension usually has no symptoms and, in fact, almost a third of people with hypertension don't even know they have it, which is why it's often called the "silent killer." If left untreated, hypertension can lead to several life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

Hypertension has traditionally been treated with medications, such as beta blockers, ace inhibitors or water pills (diuretics). However, seven out of 10 patients can't reach their lower blood pressure goals with medication alone. And some antihypertensive drugs can cause troublesome or dangerous side effects, such as impotence, emotional distress, insomnia, tiredness and depression.

Lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthy lifestyle, proper diet and regular exercise, are often recommended for the treatment of high blood pressure. There has also been much attention focused on the reduction of salt intake as one step in the fight against hypertension. Ongoing changes to our diets and exercise routines have great health and fitness benefits overall, but can be difficult to incorporate into a busy schedule.

For the 70 percent of people with hypertension for whom medication alone is unable to adequately control the condition or those who experience intolerable side effects from the medication, finding a non-drug option that will work for you and your schedule is critical.

"When treating patients for high blood pressure, physicians need to explore all treatment options," said Joseph Marek, M.D., Clinical Cardiologist, Midwest Heart Specialists. "Since medications alone don't lower blood pressure in many hypertensive patients, lifestyle modifications and newer treatment options, such as device-guided paced breathing should be considered."

One such option available today is RESPeRATE, a safe, non-drug over-the-counter treatment for hypertension. This portable electronic device consists of a computerized unit, about the size of a paperback book, a breathing sensor that is fastened around the abdomen, and a set of headphones. It works by interactively guiding the user to slow their breathing rate and change their breathing pattern. The result: muscles around the body's small blood vessels relax, allowing blood to flow more easily, thus reducing high blood pressure.

Diana DeAngelis, a RESPeRATE user, says she loves the time of day when she gets to use the device. She says, "Besides lowering my blood pressure, I feel more relaxed. The device is very calming. My results have been amazing, and I recommend it to anyone struggling with their blood pressure since it really works!"

The RESPeRATE device works by using rhythmic tones to pace breathing intuitively. Some people actually refer to the device as "meditation on batteries," and some users report that it enhances their meditation technique. So, while unaided breathing techniques may have a relaxing effect, only http://www.resperate.com has been proven through more than seven clinical studies to deliver a greater and lasting effect. Find out more at www.Resperate.com.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content

What is the best way to overcome the addiction of smoking naturally, and fight the terrible withdrawal symptoms caused by nicotine?

There are many ways of fighting nicotine withdrawal symptoms including; pills, patches and gum. However, I want to take a look at the natural ways you can fight nicotine cravings and beat smoking for good. It is important to try and use natural methods to quit smoking rather than chemical methods, otherwise you are only transferring from one method of ingesting an extremely harmful chemical to another! I know that nicotine patches, pills and gum may be marginally are better than smoking cigarettes because the latter has tar and many other additonal chemicals, but it is best to stop smoking naturally to get the full benefit from quitting.

Now let’s look at a couple of things that you can do to help you keep your cravings to a minimum. First there's exercise. This is a great way to help you quit smoking as it will get rid of stress, and it will also help your body heal itself from the effects of cigarettes. There are many different types of exercise you can try. You can go to the gym or maybe even go running. Try playing football or basketball as these types of competitive sports are good for fitness and they're also fun! If you’re not up to vigorous exercise, you can simply try mild aerobics or brisk walking.

The exercise will lessen the feeling of the need to smoke, and also keep you in a good mood thus preventing you from smoking.

The second way to help cut the craving for a cigarette is to take up a hobby. This piece of advice might not sound like it can help, but taking up your time will help you overcome the need to smoke. Cravings for cigarettes always kick in worst when you're bored. A hobby can also give you other things to spend your money on rather than cigarettes i.e. rewards for quitting smoking.

Two other final pieces of advice. Try and stay away from other smokers, as they will -- even if they don't mean to -- tempt you to take up smoking again. Additionally, cut out excessive drinking of alcohol -- especially in bars and clubs -- as it’s a well known fact that people are more likely to smoke if they are drinking.