Natural Cures for High Blood Pressure

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is due to several factors. Hardening of the arteries, the emotional tension is certainly the main factors of high blood pressure. It’s mostly the lifestyle that alters the pressure and then the lifestyle change relates the pressure at normal levels. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin C can lower the pressure and are knows as Natural Cures for High Blood Pressure. Celery is primarily a Chinese traditional remedy believed to be able to relax the smooth muscles of the walls of the arteries. Also garlic and onion favor relaxation of blood vessels. 30 minutes per day of moderate aerobic exercise not only maintain healthy cardiovascular system but helps to lower the levels of stress hormones which otherwise would turn up the pressure.

natural remedies for high blood pressure

natural remedies for high blood pressure

Hypertension afflicts at least 30% of the world’s population, while officially in our country would be among the hypertensive 15-20 million. In association with the necessary lifestyle changes, you are able to keep high blood pressure under control using numerous plants and other Natural remedies.

Natural Cures for High Blood Pressure, used in herbals, consists of herbs and medicinal plants whose beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system are widely proven by scientific research. These plants contain active ingredients that lower blood pressure; blood-thinning favoring the correct scroll; stimulate dieresis, facilitating the Elimination of metabolic waste and excess minerals; and strengthen vein walls, preventing the crystallization of the vessels.

High blood pressure: factors and consequences

Hypertension is defined as a constant and not occasional that the blood pressure is high compared to standard physiological considered normal. A person is ipertesa, or has high blood pressure, when: minimum blood pressure (diastolic hypertension) exceeds “constantly” the value of 90 mmHg and the maximum pressure (systolic hypertension) exceeds “constantly” the value of 140 mmHg.

The adjective continuous is essential, given that during the day, the pressure can be related to numerous transitional variations factors, among which include: the hour of the day (the pressure is slightly higher in the morning and late afternoon); physical activity (pulse pressure increases in relation to the type and intensity of the exercise); emotional state (intense emotions, stress and anxiety for the result of the medical examination can temporarily increase blood pressure); eventually the pressure is constantly influenced by other factors, including a special role is played by age.

High blood pressure is one of the most prevalent diseases in the industrialized countries, for this reason, the new European directives for the control of blood pressure to confirm the importance of keeping the population healthy values below 140/90 mm Hg. Indeed, one of the most powerful and devastating consequences of hypertension is undoubtedly the stroke, which is 10-12% of all deaths per year (represents the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and cancer) and is the main causes of invalidity; follow the heart and kidney disease.

The Main Natural Cures for High Blood Pressure

The main natural remedies for high blood pressure are plants whose phytocomplex exerts multiple actions, which promote the lowering of blood pressure. Let’s see how:

Hawthorn: hypotensive action, made from the leaves and flowers, is due to the lowering of peripheral vascular resistance, but also to the sedative effect, antiarrhythmic, cardiotonic. The active ingredients more interesting purposes of decrease in blood pressure are some flavonoids, such as iperoside and vitexin, and Procyanidins. For these reasons, this remedy is particularly recommended in hypertension of people with hypertonia, i.e. with high blood pressure and contractions of smooth muscles of the arteries due to hyperactivity of the nervous system. Even the gems in the form of Crataegus oxyacantha, Cioccolato, contributes to the control of blood pressure due to cardiovascular drainage.

natural cures for high blood pressure

natural cures for high blood pressure

Olive tree: the leaves have a hypotensive action for peripheral dilatation and diuretic while the Cioccolato made from gemstones, Olea europaea, in addition to the ability to significantly lower blood pressure has antisclerotica venous walls and has a cholesterol-lowering medication. You use therefore in case of high blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood and sclerotic syndromes caused by senility.

Garlic: one of the effects that the garlic is best known is to lower the blood pressure. This action is linked to the ability of garlic causing vasodilation, particularly in small blood vessels of the skin. The allicin and other substances, have been able to strongly reduce platelet aggregation, i.e. the ability of platelets to clump together and form clots. This action is important because the reduction of platelet aggregation lowers the risk of thrombotic events in blood vessels, which can have very serious consequences. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated its positive action in the prevention of cardiovascular risk. This plant regulates blood pressure, prevents thrombosis and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and it really recommended as part of natural cures for high blood pressure. There are supplements available that facilitate odourless, recruitment.

Mistletoe: is one of the most effective against hypertension, also used as a regulator of the cardiovascular system. The active ingredients contained in the plant, in fact, seem to be a stimulus to the parasympathetic system and decreasing peripheral resistance of vessels causing vasodilation. For these properties, the mistletoe was also used as an adjuvant in case of atherosclerosis, angina and cerebral to improve circulation. Furthermore is also important in case of arthritis, because it increases the diuresis and promotes the excretion of urea.

Posted in Blood Pressure | Tagged High blood pressure, hypertension | Leave a comment

Fitness Activity for Kids This Summer

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99
fitness activity for kids

physical fitness activities for kids

Fitness Activity for Kids. There’s an emphasis on kids getting fit these days, and during the summer months there are no school-based programs to keep kids active. If you’re looking for ideas for fitness activities for your kids this summer, here are some suggestions.

First, make sure your kids stretch and warm up before engaging in these fitness activities. And second, help your kids choose activities that are fun and active – not overly competitive. Here are some ideas for fitness activity for kids.

Physical Fitness Activity for Kids

  • Bike Riding

When you were a kid, it’s likely that you hopped on your bike and rode in the neighborhood in the summer. Although things are a little different now, bike riding is still a great way for kids to be active in the summer. Make sure they always wear a helmet, and that they are not riding in the road or street if they are under ten years old. Once you’ve found a safe place for them to ride, help them stay motivated by inviting other kids and family members to join. Make it a regular thing!

  • Yard Games

Send your kids outside when the weather is good, and invite friends over, too. Make a point of the day’s activities being oriented around movement, such as playing in a sprinkler, playing horseshoes, or enjoying a game of badminton. Like bike riding, try making this a regular event so that your kids will get regular exercise.

  • Walking

Whenever safety permits, encourage your kids to walk to their favorite places, such as a friend’s house or store. An adult can accompany them if need be – it’s good for adults to stay active in summer, too!

  • Swimming

Chances are, you did this as a kid, too. Maybe a couple of days a week could be “pool days.” Meet friends at the pool and spend the day being active in the water. Make sure your kids wear sunscreen, and that there is adult supervision. In fact, an adult can get in the pool, too, and teach the kids fun games like water polo.

  • Jumping Rope

Many kids used to spend a long time on the playground jumping rope. It can be done when school’s out, too! Why not have a friendly neighborhood competition with other kids to see who can jump the longest, or the most jumps? Kids can learn fun jump rope games like Double Dutch, and all those great jumping rhymes and songs.

  • Martial Arts

Consider enrolling your kids in a martial arts class. Not only will they get the physical activity during class, but they will get exercise at home practicing their forms.

With a little creative thought and preparation, your kids can be fit and healthy this summer. Read more: fitness activity for kids.

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Get Fit with Summer Games

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99

Summer Games: One of the great things about summer is that many activities are fun. While going to the gym and doing indoor workouts can be a great way to stay in shape over the winter, it can become drudgery. Many people “fall off the wagon” and are unable to continue their workout commitments when it’s the same thing over and over. But in the summer, fun games can help you keep fit and help you stay motivated.

Summer games for kids

Summer games for kids

Here are some ideas for fun summer games to help you stay or get in shape this summer.

Yard Games

Even if you don’t have a yard, these tried-and-true games can be played in pretty much any level, grassy area. For those who remember these kinds of games from childhood, it can be great fun to relive them and to get your own kids involved, too. Here are some of those yard games you may have forgotten about.

  • Badminton – The equipment for badminton is not complicated. All you need are a net, rackets, and birdies. These tend to be quite inexpensive. You might be able to interest friends and neighbors in a weekly tournament on your lawn or at a nearby park!
  • Croquet – Croquet has a reputation as a pastime for the wealthy, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. It’s actually a fun game that anyone can play. At antique stores, yard sales, or flea markets, you may find a used set of balls, mallets, and wickets. Even purchasing a set new is not necessarily expensive (around $30 to $50).
  • Volleyball – The equipment for volleyball is even more minimal than that for badminton – a net and a ball are all you need. Some parks and recreational areas have nets already set up, and you need only bring a ball.
  • Flashlight tag – Even those with a small or uneven yard can play this game outside at dusk. In fact, a hilly yard with trees and shrubs provides more hiding places to evade whoever is “it.”
  • Traditional sports – You can certainly play “yard versions” of traditional sports, from soccer to football to basketball. And if you have a park nearby with a hoop or field, you can play informal games with friends and family.

Other Summer Games and Fun Activities

Besides yard games, here are some other fun summer games to help you keep fit and enjoy the season.

  • Picnics – It may not seem like exercise to have a picnic, but think about it – packing food to eat outdoors at a park or forest invites activity. You can include any of the yard games above at your picnic, or bring your food to a park with a playground.
  • Cookouts – Once again, combining food and exercise makes for a fitness goal that doesn’t seem like work. Having friends and family over for a cookout means folks are outside, active, and in the fresh air. Make sure you don’t undermine your efforts with fatty hotdogs and burgers, though – try veggie and bean burgers and grilled vegetables. You can also get creative and cook whole grain flat breads on the grill.

As you play games and incorporate fun activities into your summer games, you may find that you stay fit without even knowing it!

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Get in Shape with Bike Riding

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99

Riding a bike is one of those forms of exercise that doesn’t always feel like exercise. As you are out enjoying the scenery and fresh air, it can seem more like a joy ride than a fitness venture! But the fact is, bicycling is a great form of exercise.

bike riding

Bike riding

If you want to get in shape with bike riding, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the basics down. Maybe you want to get your family involved, too. Here are some tips on how to get in shape with bike riding.

Gear

If you are serious about getting in shape with bike riding, it’s a good idea to get the right gear. Here is a list of the minimal gear and equipment needed for cycling (besides a bicycle, of course).

  • Helmet – This is probably the single most important piece of cycling gear you’ll own. Everyone in the family should wear a helmet when cycling, regardless of size and age. Make sure you have one that fits well and feels comfortable.
  • Tire pump and patch kit – It’s a very good idea to have a portable tire pump with you. If you get a flat tire or otherwise find that your tires need air, then having a pump can make all the difference. Carry a patch kit, too, in case the tire gets torn or punctured. You don’t want to be miles from home and have to walk your bike back!
  • Water – Being able to drink while cycling is very important. Get water bottles that can be worn at the waist using clips. This way, you can take at least two bottles along without having to wear a backpack.
  • Sunglasses – You may not think about protecting your eyes, but when you cycle for a while, your eyes can get dry and irritated from the constant wind. Sunglasses also protect your eyes if you wear contact lenses.

Family Involvement

It can be really fun to get the whole family going on a bike ride. To help get them motivated, here are some suggestions.

  • Plan a cycling trip to a favorite store or landmark. Having a pleasurable goal in mind can help a lot with motivation.
  • Make sure everyone in the family has the proper gear and equipment.
  • Use your bikes to explore places you can’t go on foot or in a vehicle. The prospect of seeing something new and different can help motivate everyone.
Posted in Outdoors | Tagged Bike Riding | Leave a comment

Health and Fitness Tips for Summer

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99

Health and Fitness Tips for Summer. It’s summer and the temperatures are rising! That means fun in the sun, extra light in the evenings, cookouts, and other seasonal activities. As you enjoy your summer, though, it’s a good idea to keep health and fitness in mind. Along with the seasonal fun, there are specific health concerns that belong to summer (such as sunburn). There are also fitness activities you can do in summer that you can’t do at other times of the year.

So to help you enjoy your summer and keep it healthy and safe, here are some health and fitness tips for summer.

Sunshine

health and fitness tips for summer

Health and fitness tips for summer

It’s certainly true that there are healthful benefits to getting some sunlight exposure. Your body needs the sun to make vitamin D, and to get adequate levels you need to be exposed for at least 15 minutes without sunscreen. However, sunscreen is very important to avoid burns and skin damage. So, a healthy compromise could be to put your sunscreen on after you’ve been outside for 15 minutes or so.

Produce

Summer is the time for fresh garden produce. These healthful foods are said to be most nutritious when they are in season, so stock up at your local farmer’s market. You also might consider freezing or preserving some of summer’s bounty. It’s a great boost to your health to load up on fresh produce. After all, fruits and vegetables are implicated in everything from cancer prevention to a healthy heart.

Get Active

Now is a wonderful time to get into physical activities like hiking, biking, swimming, and pretty much any outdoor game or sport. Keeping fit is more important these days than ever, with more and more opportunities arising to sit in front of a screen. Take advantage of summer’s warm temperatures and evening light to get out and get physically active.

Heat

Another health and safety tip that bears mentioning is heat. Depending on your location, summer can get dangerously hot. Be aware of the signs of heat stroke:

* Copious or increased sweating
* Paleness, loss of color in the face
* Headache
* Feelings of dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint
* Nausea or vomiting
* Muscle cramps

Always get to an air-conditioned room or car as soon as possible if any of these symptoms are present. When you are outside, have access to shade so that you don’t get overheated.

Hydration

In the summer, you’ll need to have a drink of water handy much more often than in the cooler months. In fact, it’s a good idea to take water along when you are doing anything in the summer, from running errands to hiking. Staying hydrated helps ward off heat exhaustion and keeps your body in balance.

More: health and fitness tips for summer

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Summer Fitness – Hiking and Walking

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99

One of the most enjoyable ways to get fit this summer is by hiking and walking. There are ways to make your walk or hike more beneficial and successful. Here are some of the benefits of walking and hiking, and some tips for success.

Benefits of Walking and hiking

new york hiking

new york hiking

Walking and hiking has all kinds of healthful benefits. Here are some of them.

  • Cardiovascular health – Experts say that brisk walking is one of the best forms of exercise for the heart. The key is to keep up a vigorous pace the whole time you are walking (if you are just beginning, it’s a good idea to slow down to catch your breath if you feel really winded). If you keep up the pace, your heart gets a continual workout.
  • Muscle toning and strength – Walking uses a lot of large muscle groups. If you like, carry weights or strap on wrist weights to help tone your arms. Also, adding weight is said to increase the amount of calories you burn while walking.

Success Tips for Walking and hiking

How can you make the most of your walk? What’s the best way to have a successful hike? Here are some tips.

  • Bring water – It’s a good idea to bring water with you on the trail or along the road where you’re walking. You may not get thirsty, but it’s far better to have water and not need it than need it and not have it! You can simply slip water bottles into a small backpack, or use clip-on water bottles for your belt.
  • The right shoes – You’re much more likely to have a good walk if you have the right shoes. For hiking, one of the best types of shoes is something that looks like a cross between sneakers and boots. For walking on level ground, walking shoes are less boot-like and more like sneakers. Having the right shoes means less stress on your joints and feet.
  • Location – Choose a location that you enjoy walking in. If the whole family is in on the hike, try exploring a local park or forest. If you are just going for a walk in a neighborhood, go on a “house tour” and talk about which houses you like and why. It can help boost motivation when you are looking forward to the scenery. Another possibility is for your family to meet with friends on a local walking/running track. It can be a fun social time as well as fitness time.
  • Challenge – As your family gets more in shape, challenge yourselves. Try a trail with steep hills or rocks to climb over. Try walking further in the neighborhoods or do another lap or two on the track.
Posted in Summer Fitness | Tagged hiking, walking | Leave a comment

Riding Your Way to Summer Fitness on Horseback

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99

Few activities are as rewarding as riding a horse. It’s an ancient practice that survives to this day, when we have all sorts of other modes of transportation. The horse still plays a significant role in people’s lives.

This summer, consider keeping fit by riding horseback. Did you know there are many benefits to horseback riding? Let’s take a look at those, and then discuss some tips for beginners.

Benefits of Horseback Riding

horseback riding

Horseback riding

The benefits of horseback riding are purported to extend beyond the physical advantages. Emotional, psychological, and physical benefits all combine to make this quite a well-rounded activity!

Here are some of the benefits of horseback riding.

1. Emotional/Psychological Benefits

* Therapy – Interestingly, horses have been used in emotional and mental therapy, especially for children and teens. There is just something about horses that helps children come out of their shells. For some troubled kids, taking care of a horse and experiencing devotion to it is the first “safe” relationship they’ve had.

* Taming the crowd – One of the reasons that mounted police are still used to control riots and other chaotic situations is that the presence of the horse seems to have a calming effect on the crowd.

* Too much fun to be exercise – For many people, horseback riding is so pleasurable that it just doesn’t seem like exercise. Unlike working out at a gym, many participants do not feel like they have to “drag” themselves to their workout if that workout is on a horse!

2. Physical Benefits

There are definite physical benefits to horseback riding. Here are some to consider.

* Core muscle strength – When you ride a horse, you do not “hang on” with your hands. You hold yourself steady and guide the horse primarily with your lower body. This requires a supple strength in your waste, hips, and upper legs. The more you ride, the stronger these muscles should become (if you’re doing it right!).

* Burns calories – There’s no dispute that riding a horse burns a decent amount of calories, whether you are trail riding or riding in a ring. Depending on your weight, 60 minutes of horseback riding burns at least as much as a half hour of jogging or bicycling, sources say.

* Easy on joints – Horseback riding is not a high-impact exercise, so your joints, muscles, and connective tissue all get a good workout but without the jarring impact of, say, jogging or some aerobics.

3. Horseback Riding Tips

Here are some tips to maximize the benefits of your summer fitness program on horseback.

* Always stretch before and after riding to minimize soreness.

* Remember that the reins are not a lifeline; hold on with your legs, not your hands.

* Keep your weight down in your heels. Only the balls of your feet should be on the stirrup, and your heels should be down and your toes up.

* Make sure you are calmly confident – horses are sensitive, and they will notice if you are making nervous gestures or body language. Happy horseback riding!

Posted in Outdoors | Tagged horseback riding, riding horseback | Leave a comment

Fun Family Fitness – Kayaking!

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99
kayaking

Kayaking

These days, families are looking for ways to keep fit. “Family fitness” has become a common term, and many people are looking for ways they can have fun and get in shape. Kayaking is a great way to exercise, because it’s so much fun you don’t realize it’s good for you!

Here are some of the benefits of kayaking, followed by some family tips to help you get started.

Benefits of Kayaking

  • It’s fun! – As noted above, kayaking is a lot of fun. Choosing a fun activity is a good way to keep your family motivated and interested. You’ll get fit while enjoying new scenery, nature, water, and fresh air.
  • Cardiovascular health – Kayaking involves paddling, and lots of it. Because it involves continual use of large muscle groups, it’s good aerobic exercise. All kinds of research has shown the importance of aerobic exercise in promoting cardiovascular health. Your heart rate is increased for well over a half an hour, benefitting your whole circulatory system and giving your heart a good workout.
  • Strength training – Your heart is not the only muscle being worked in kayaking. You use your arms, chest, and core muscles as well. The resistance of the water against the paddle makes for a good muscle-strengthening workout. Kayaking involves about 500 strokes per mile – talk about your toning exercise!
  • Fresh air and sunshine – Kayaking is inevitably done outdoors. Your respiratory system may benefit from the fresh air and deep breaths you’ll be taking, and some exposure to the sun helps your body make vitamin D. While sunscreen is a good idea, so is letting your skin be out in the sunlight a bit.

Family Tips for Kayaking

If you go kayaking as a family, there are some things you might want to consider.

  • Safety – Children and toddlers should be equipped with life jackets that fit them. Adults should wear life jackets that fit too, of course, but it’s sometimes harder to find child-sized life jackets and you may be tempted to “make do” with a far-too-big life jacket that isn’t safe.
  • Swimming – Children should know how to swim before kayaking. They will certainly be safer if they fall out, and they may be less afraid of the water than if they weren’t familiar with it.
  • Calm waters – Try to tame your adventurous spirit a bit if you have children with you. For the whole family to participate safely, it’s a good idea to stick with calm waters and clear weather.
  • Don’t forget older relatives – If you really want to get the whole family involved in kayaking, then don’t forget your senior relatives. Older people can enjoy kayaking just as much as kids and young adults. As long as you’re on calm waters and wearing life jackets, there’s no reason why Grandma, Grandpa, and Great Uncle Bill can’t come along!
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Rock Climbing Training for Fitness – What You Should Know

Posted on May 4, 2012 by healthindividual99

Have you thought about rock climbing training for fitness? If so, then you probably have questions. It’s a good idea to learn about the basics before undertaking this exciting sport. Also, you might not know some of the health benefits of rock climbing. Here are some tips on what you need to know about rock climbing for fitness.

Health Benefits of Rock Climbing Training

Rock Climbing training

Rock Climbing training

Rock climbing has all kinds of health benefits. Here are some of them:

  • Cardiovascular fitness – Rock climbing training is good for your heart and your circulation. Sources say that 30 minutes of rock climbing per session is the optimal goal, but if you have to work up to it (say by starting with only 5 minutes of rock climbing at a time), that’s fine. You will still get the benefits as you get your body used to the activity.
  • Muscle strength and tone – Rock climbing training is like a target-toning workout for your upper body. Your arms of course work hard, but your back and chest muscles are also engaged. Your legs aren’t left out, either – they have a role to play in rock climbing, too.

Tips and Suggestions for Rock Climbing Training

Before you head out to the rock face for the first time, here are some rock climbing training to consider.

  • Indoor rock climbing – If you are new to the sport of rock climbing, then an indoor rock climbing wall might be a good place to start. If you are a seasoned rock climber, an indoor wall can still be an important way to practice and stay in shape.
  • Feet and hands – Experts recommend that you envision a ladder when you rock climb. Try not to grasp too hard with your hands; you might cramp, and the tension doesn’t help with your balance. Think supple and flexible. Your feet should be used something like your hands – in a relaxed, balanced manner. In fact, experts note that your feet may be more reliable at first, since you’re used to balancing on them in everyday life.
  • The Letter X – It helps to envision yourself as a letter X, but consider your hips, not your waist, to be the center of the X. If your calf muscles tremble, experts suggest shifting your weight to your toes. This puts more of your weight onto your skeletal structure and less on your muscles.
  • Fear – As you get higher and higher, you might experience some fear of heights. The key to overcoming this, say experts, is to practice. The more you climb, the less you’ll fear. And don’t look down except to check the position of your feet!
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