Showing posts with label Health Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health Care. Show all posts

Cold Sores.. What Is it..??

Saturday, August 1, 2009 | Published in |

What Are Cold Sores? A cold sore is actually an outbreak that is caused by the herpes virus.

The herpes virus has two different types; cold sores are
known as HSV1 or Herpes Simplex 1. This herpes simplex or type, affects the oral region of males and females of all ages. The outbreak usually occurs around the lips and mouth, and occasionally inside the mouth.

I have never had one, but I am told that they are very painful.

What are Cold Sores called? The outbreak is most commonly referred to as a cold sore, or fever blister.

Cold Sores and fever blisters are very common and very contagious.

It is highly recommended not to come into contact with any other person while you experience a cold sore, or you with them. The virus can be easily transmitted. Once the virus infects a person, the infection is permanent.

Cold Sores occur as small blisters around the lips and mouth, a small bumpy rash can also occur.

Outbreaks are most commonly brought on by large amounts of stress.
An outbreak is very irritating, and can also lead to intense itching. A cold sore or fever blister usually lasts several days.
Once the Cold Sore blister bursts or ruptures, this signifies the end of the outbreak.

What are Cold Sores? They are very contagious and painful and once the virus gets into your system, it does not go away.

source: zimbio

Avoiding Food Poisoning

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If you have ever had food poisoning, then you know how awful it is to have it. Many people describe it as feeling like they are "dying". Food poisoning comes in all different varieties just like a jar of salsa: it can be mild all the way up to pretty serious where the ambulance may have to be called. Yes, you can actually die from food poisoning.

It typically occurs when your body doesn't "agree" with something that you have eaten. In all actuality, food poisoning is usually a good thing (if you think about it) because your body is rejecting some foreign entity that could potentially lead you to have worse problems. Therefore, each of us has a built in mechanism whereby our bodies expel the things that we feel won't contribute to our health. The perfect example to use here is undercooked meat or fish. Why people will continue to eat raw fish, aka: sushi, I will never know. Additionally, I was watching a program the other day in which a female chef actually ordered a stake rare...rare! The cameras showed a close up of her cutting into her steak, and I almost thought that I could hear the final "moo" come from the dying cow on her plate. It was disgusting.

If you do happen to get this, no matter what, it is extremely important that you drink plenty of fluids. This is even more pressing if you get it during the summer where the heat alone can dehydrate you. The reason why you need to consume as many fluids as possible during and after you have had this is to replace the fluids that are being expelled at a large rate by your body. If you find out after a few days that you can no longer stomach (no pun intended) having food poisoning, then it's time to see a doctor. While drinking water can work many wonders, it cannot replace all of the nutrients that your body loses.

There have been some cases in which the person was hospitalized and fed food intravenously so that their body wouldn't go into shock. This is why you'll often hear people recommend that you should try to eat something bland in between bouts of this poisoning. Usually, the type of food that they are referring to is along the lines of some unsalted Saltine crackers or perhaps a piece of bread, some weak chicken broth, etc. You don't want to eat things that are going to upset your stomach further. Also, it is best to refrain from the urge to take some sort of medication (unless the doctor gives you the 'ok') because chances are that any medicine you take is going to be coming out of you one way or the other.

Last, you should make sure that you get plenty of rest. While it is not necessarily contagious, germs always are. The last thing you (or your coworkers) need is to go into work with an emergency bag "just in case" or disturbing others with frequent trips to the bathroom.

The Different Reasons to Stop Smoking

Friday, July 3, 2009 | Published in |

One of the major benefits of quitting smoking is that you begin to look younger after you quit. Smoking dehydrates and deoxygenates the skin. Therefore, when you quit smoking, you start to look brighter. With smoking, lines and wrinkles might start to appear around the lips and skin. Quitting helps reduce these lines wrinkles and the eyes look brighter.

Your sense of smell and taste also improves a lot after smoking termination. Therefore you've got a better eating experience. It helps you cut back on the intake of salt because smokers generally start taking more of these to increase their taste of food. This reduces the probabilities of heart problems and high blood pressure.

Due to the tar and nicotine present in cigarettes, the teeth get stained. After you quit smoking, your teeth won't be discolored and your breath will start to smell good. Another benefit is that you are going to not be touched gum diseases.

Once you give up smoking, you will be ready to save the amount that you spend on your cigarettes. You could use an identical quantity for other purposes like shopping, holidays or other necessities.

If you cease to smoke, you may also save a substantial amount of cash on your insurance costs. Insurance firms typically charge 65% further amount for the life insurance premiums of smokers. Likewise , many insurance companies charge smokers with extra premium amounts for their home insurance as their homes are likely to catch fires than those of nonsmokers.

Fertility issues are a common ill effect of smoking in both the genders. In reality, it can even cause men to be impotent. Ladies who smoke need a little longer to conceive than the usual. Females who smoke are at a chance of premature delivery. They might also give birth to youngsters who are physically deformed. Mothers of newly born should quit smoking else it may lead to the death of the child.

Quitting smoking has many health advantages too. It lessens your odds of contracting many illnesses, like marginal vascular illness, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking also lessens your likelihood of many unwanted conditions, such as optic neuropathy, macular degeneration, osteoporosis, psoriasis, cataract and tooth loss.

The entire body shape improves for better by quitting smoking. Smoking changes the hormone secreting glands, and therefore smokers accumulate more fat around their waist and upper body than their hips. This increases the waist-to-hip ratio and thereby heightens the risk of conditions such as breast cancers, diabetes, gall bladder problems and heart attacks.

Smoking is an unhealthy mental support system. Stopping smoking is a particularly giant feat and apart from the other benefits, it increases the self-esteem and confidence of the individual.

To know more about Quitting Smoking and Nicotine withdrawal, visit http://www.stop-smoking-updates.com/quitsmoking/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Morse

[Health Care] How Many Types of Yoga Are There?

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Which Type of Yoga Works Best?

If you have not tried it before then you might be confused by the many differing varieties of Yoga practices that are available. Before deciding which sort of exercise is right for you it is an excellent idea to attend a class of each style that interests you so you can try out each style to find out which you like. Here is a quick overview of the most well liked of Yoga to help you get started:

Hatha Yoga - This is by a large margin the most typical kind of exercise practiced in the West. Hatha is a slow paced practice that is focused on both mind and body. If you're just starting you will possibly find Hatha Yoga to be the most fitting.

Vinyasa - Vinyasa is a sort of Yoga practice that focuses on the breath and how respiring is affecting your body and mind. The physical practice of Vinyasa is more active than the physical practice of Hatha Yoga

If you're looking for a yoga practice which may supply a good aerobic session then Asthenga Yoga is the best choice for you.

Iyengar - Iyengar Yoga is the best exercise practice for folks who have old injuries or prolonged sicknesses and wish to start a Yoga practice which will help them become more flexible and agile and will help them heal.

Kundalini - Kundalini Yoga is targeted essentially on the breath and its effect on energy. This focuses often on fast, repeated movements rather than on drawn out poses. There's also plenty of reflection practiced in Kundalini Yoga.

There are many different types of yoga and more information is available on my blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gale_S_Wilder

Why Nutrition Matters With Incontinence

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If you find yourself trying to cope with incontinence, you are undoubtedly always looking for new strategies and ways to make it easier. You are definitely not alone; many Australians have to contend with this problem, and many learn to manage it quite effectively. One thing that many people do not realise is that incontinence and nutrition are very closely linked. In addition to using well designed incontinence products, being conscientious about your diet and nutrition can have a dramatic - and positive - impact on your incontinence. Below, we highlight a few key facts.

How Weight Effects Incontinence -

Any doctor will tell you that carrying around extra pounds can have a very negative impact on managing incontinence. In fact, obesity has been determined to be a major factor for people suffering from SUI (Stress Urinary Incontinence). All that extra weight increases pressure on the abdominal area - and also increases the likelihood and occurrence of incontinence. By shedding even just a small percentage of the pounds, people can drastically reduce the impact that this condition has on their life - in addition to enjoying many other great health benefits associated with losing weight.

Watch What You Eat... And Drink -

Certain foods and beverages just don't mix well with incontinence. Caffeine is one of the biggest culprits; doctors recommend consuming 500 mg per day - the same as about five cups of regular strength coffee. Even at that level, if you find that your incontinence continues unaffected, you should reduce intake. Some people end up eschewing caffeine altogether and have amazing results.

Citrus foods and tomato-based foods can also exacerbate incontinence. Even if you take care to use the best mobility equipment and incontinence products, consuming a diet high in these foods can negate any good you are doing. Chocolate and spicy foods have also been shown to contribute to the problem. By eliminating or cutting back on these and other problem foods, you can reduce the symptoms and occurrence of your incontinence.

Fibre And Incontinence -

Constipation can wreak havoc on incontinence, increasing its occurrence and making it even worse. Making sure you consume enough fibre in your daily diet can do wonders for the condition and help keep constipation at bay. At the same time, making sure that you are adequately hydrated throughout the day can also improve your incontinence symptoms. By keeping nutrition in mind, you can live your life freely and manage the condition.

BM Healthcare is an online business that believes by making minor adjustments to your diet, incontinence can be handled gracefully and effectively. Thanks to amazing advances in incontinence products and mobility equipment, one can make these nutritional adjustments and have a far simpler time of handling this bothersome condition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_S_Judge

Raw Food Secrets - Avocados - How to Make Hair Conditioner With an Avocado

Thursday, June 18, 2009 | Published in |

If you're wondering how you can use an avocado to condition your hair, the following information will help you do it. One of the nice things about using avocados as a hair conditioner is that if you open an avocado and realize it's dark or has a change in flavor or has too many black spots and you're uncomfortable eating it, you can cut them out and use it as a conditioner so it's not wasted. Use an organic avocado if you want an organic hair conditioner.

If you've never used an avocado as a hair conditioner treatment, my suggestion is that you try some on a few strands of hair first - just before you wash or shampoo your hair. That way you'll know if it'll wash out easily It should wash out easily but if you have bleached hair it's more porous and it may be a little harder to wash out. But usually there is no problem washing it out. But it's always good to test first if you have any reservations.

Okay - you have your avocado. I'm assuming you know how to open them or eat them regularly or daily like I do. I have eaten an avocado every day and sometimes more for more than nine years. And I have great clear skin and shiny hair.

I like to cut it down the middle lengthwise and pull the two halves apart and then scoop out the avocado pit. Wash your hands thoroughly first.

Mash the avocado up thoroughly in a small glass bowl using a fork. You want it to be complete mashed, with no pieces showing. Now scoop up your mashed avocado mixture and work it into your hair using just warm water, never hot. Also apply it to your scalp. If you have time and feel so inclined, apply it to your face also. It will dry fast and feel like a mask. Just think - no preservatives, additives or other harsh chemicals! Only lots of phytonutrients.

Avocados are one of the world's most perfect foods. They contain a high amount of oil. They have a perfectly balanced pH so are neither acid nor alkaline. They are rich in minerals that regulate body functions. Eating avocados are best for your hair, skin and digestion. Avocados are good source of fat AND protein. Yes a lot of people don't realize there is protein in every fruit and vegetable. They also have good amounts of iron and copper.

Remember that hair is dead and the best benefits will come from eating avocados. If you're one of the few people who don't like avocados you can try eating them with a little sun-dried sea salt and see if that makes a difference. Or eat guacamole.

Note--It takes about ten avocados to make one teaspoon of avocado oil which can actually hurt the liver, but if you eat ten avocados they will not harm you. Avocado oil products are expensive and usually contain preservatives and other chemicals. You don't need them. You can do an avocado hair conditioning treatment once a month or whenever you find an avocado you can't use. Make sure to eat an avocado every day for the most glorious skin and hair. It works from the inside even better where it can work on hair follicles, skin and many other body processes. You'll find your hair and skin glowing and be forever hooked on avocados.

For my raw food diet cure and secrets - how I used it to help cure my breast cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, acid reflux-digestive, sleep issues, headaches, pain, weight loss - see my nurse's http://www.RawFoodDietCure.com and for my best skin/hair care secrets http://www.Best-Skin-Care-Tips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Hecker

How to Grow Taller Naturally and Safely

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | Published in |

Everyone of us wants to be tall and appealing. However, not all of us are born that way. In this article you will learn some tips and tricks on how to grow taller even after puberty and at any age. You will see that it is possible to increase height naturally without dangerous methods like surgery.

Exercises for height increase.

It has been proven scientifically that an exercises lasting for at minimum 10 minutes will increase nitric oxide, lactate, adrenalin and nerve acidity as well. These processes are directly responsible for production of hgh (human growth hormone). Human growth hormone is produced not only during the exercises but also while a person is resting. It is essential to consume lots of water during these exercises since lack of water will reduce the production of growth hormone.

There are some certain tools that will help you achieve your goal to grow taller while performing specific exercises. Such tools are weights for ankles, wrist straps, inversion table and a bike - a stationary or a regular one. Stretching exercises and hanging are essential for growing taller when one has passed teen years. Swimming is very effective as well.

Height Increase Diet

In order to grow taller your body must have enough vitamins to consume and produce hgh. You should avoid carbohydrates and fatty foods since they slow down growth hormone production. Stay away from chips, burgers and other fast foods. If you are obese, it will only make you look shorter Also stay away from drinks that contain sugar and caffeine.

Proper Sleep

Most of growth hormone is produced while we sleep. This is why it is essential to have a good night of sleep every day. Be sure to have 8-9 hours of full sleep daily with minimum disturbance. If you have trouble falling asleep, a teaspoon of honey before bed should help. I advise using earplugs, so you can not be disturbed at night.

Healthy habits

Stress, drinking, smoking and drugs will reduce your chances to grow taller. This is why you should lead as healthy lifestyle as possible. Be sure to have a positive outlook on life and lead a healthy lifestyle. This will not only improve your chances to grow but also make you feel better about yourself and more confident.

If you want to find out some bulletproof ways of growing taller, check out The Grow Taller Lens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yan_Lii

Stop Sweaty Hands - 3 Simple Techniques to Perfectly Dry Palms

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If you are looking for simple methods you can take to stop sweaty hands then you will want to read this article. Relaxation is one of the main keys to stop sweaty palms. The more you stress the more you sweat. I will explain a simple technique to produce calmness. I will also explain why water is great at stopping those sweaty hands and a technique with tea that will stop sweaty hand for days.
After reading this article you will be able to meet and greet people with confidence and self-assurance.

Relax
Stress is one of the main causes for sweating and if you suffer from overly sweaty palms then it becomes a vicious cycle. The more you sweat the more you stress about it the worse the sweating becomes A simple relaxation technique that will help is to use breathing exercises.

What to do....Find somewhere quite sit or lay down comfortably and slowly inhale filling your lungs, then hold for 4 seconds and slowly exhale wait 2 seconds then repeat. Try this for 3 to 4 minutes.
Deep breathing helps to oxygenate your blood which in turn has a calming effect

Water
Many people believe that the more water you drink the more there will be to sweat-out, this is actually completely false. Drinking water has a positive effect on stopping sweaty hands as the water cools your core temperature so alleviate the need to sweat so much.
The only downside to drinking more water is the need for more toilet-breaks.

Tea
Using tea is also a great way to help stop sweaty hands. Tea is heavy in tannic acid which has a positive effect on sweat and body odour.

What to do ....You can drink it, but a better method is to boil 5 tea bags in a quart of water allow to cool then soak your hands in it for 25 minutes. This will help you temporary stop sweaty hands.

Recently Scientists working on a permanent cure for sweaty hands have made a substantial breakthrough It goes under the rather grand name of iontophoresis therapy and is proving very effective as a quick, simple cure for sweaty palms, and according to the American Academy of Dermatology has been effective in just about all cases studied

What is Iontophoresis Therapy?
Iontophoresis uses water to conduct a mild electrical current through the skin's surface. It's not entirely understood how it works, but it's believed that the electric current and mineral particles in the water work together to microscopically thicken the outer layer of the skin, which blocks the flow of sweat to the skin's surface. Once this sweat output is blocked or interrupted, sweat production on the palms, is often suddenly and dramatically, "turned off".

Who should use Ionophoresis?
Ionophoresis works regardless of if you suffer from a mild form of sweaty palms or it has developed to the advance stages where your hands literally drip with sweat making social contact a nightmare.
Iontophoresis is a very effective alternative for those that have tried all the usual drugs. Creams, sprays, herbal remedies, or, are thinking of take the drastic steps of Botox or surgery

Disadvantages
The cost of buying a readymade iontophoresis machine is often to expensive for the average person's budget, but a highly effective, incredibly simple alternative can be made for peanuts and often just from what is already around your house.

For more information on how ionophoresis can cure your sweaty palms in just 5 days visit EndSweatyPalms.com

For more general information on sweaty palms visit stop sweaty palms

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Davey

11 Common Causes of Varicose and Spider Veins

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Once you know what is causing your varicose veins and spider veins, it is much easier to successfully treat the condition. Save yourself a lot of time and energy needlessly trying methods that don't work and restore your legs to their former beauty. You have a better chance of fixing leg vein problems when you understand what causes them.

11 common causes of varicose and spider veins are:

1. Aging - Aging is the most important cause of unhealthy legs. Frequent hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and menopause cause many older women to lose elasticity and tone in leg veins.
2. Diet - Poor diet is a another major factor causing loss of skin elasticity. The result of nutritional deficiencies is decreased leg circulation causing legs and ankles to swell possibly resulting in leg vein problems.
3. Genetics - If your mother, father, brother or sister have varicose veins, spider veins or tired legs, you may be more likely than those with no family history of these symptoms to develop the condition.
4. Poorly functioning valves - One-way valves in the deep veins of the legs prevent backward flow of blood within the vein. If they are functioning poorly, blood flows the wrong way from the deep to the superficial veins which become enlarged, twisted and bulging.
5. Pregnancy - In order to support the growing fetus during pregnancy, blood flow is increased in your body, however the flow is decreased from your legs to your pelvis. This increases pressure on leg veins and may weaken them. Added weight gain during pregnancy may put a strain on leg veins.
6. Heavy lifting - Repeated heavy lifting interferes with good leg circulation and increases the likelihood of vein problems developing in the future.
7. Sitting or standing - Standing and walking upright for long periods of time can increase pressure in your leg veins and in your lower body. That is the reason the veins most commonly affected are those in your lower legs and feet.
8. Obesity - Excessive weight gain puts pressure on the legs, increasing the likelihood of developing varicose veins. Tall, obese women are more likely to develop venous problems or experience tired, painful legs.
9. Lack of Exercise - Lack of exercise such as walking, swimming or bicycling for instance, can result in added pressure on veins and poor blood circulation in the legs.
10. Tight Clothing - High heels and garments that are tight, especially around the waist can restrict your venous blood flow causing pooling of blood and poor circulation in lower legs and ankles.
11. Smoking - If you smoke be aware that it contributes to elevated blood pressure, which can aggravate existing vein and leg problems.

Any or all of these common causes could be affecting you adversely. If you want to know exactly what is causing your leg vein condition, a simple ultrasound can tell you. Unfortunately, no medical treatment can prevent new veins from becoming swollen or painful. Before undergoing any procedure, ask your doctor about any health risks and possible side effects.

In many cases, varicose and spider veins are simply a cosmetic concern and can be reduced and flattened using natural treatments so that they are not noticeable. Even ulcerated veins respond extremely well to natural treatments that contain natural healing herbal infusions. Nature can heal us and return our legs to their original beauty and attractiveness.

Alternative therapies continue to be the method of choice for most people. Surgical procedures tend to be quite invasive and costly. In a recent issue of Canadian Living Magazine, natural creams such as the one made by Venus Naturals was highlighted as one way to get rid of varicose veins.

Francine, co-owner of Venus Naturals, has been working with a master herbalist and an aromatherapist since 1996 to develop natural, effective solutions to reduce and eliminate varicose and spider veins. For more information on varicose vein treatment visit the Venus Naturals website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francine_Davidovich

Stop the Acid Burn That's Destroying Your Health

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 | Published in |

In my years of practice as a doctor, I've learned that many major health problems are often caused from something very simple. This is good news because it means you can make small changes to improve your health. Unfortunately, most people overlook the easy fixes because they don't trust in their ability to work. So today I'd like to address one simple solution that can bring real, lasting health benefits to your life.

Many of the problems you experience as you grow older aren't really due to aging at all; disease, fatigue, digestive problems. Often you can fix all of these by making a small change in the way you eat and the supplements you take.

The root source of many health-related problems is actually an imbalance in your pH levels. We live in a very acidic world. This includes the food we eat, the pollutants in the air and even some of the skin and hair care products that we use.

By acidic, I mean your internal system becomes sour. This imbalance leads to sluggish digestion and circulation, disease, and fatigue. It can even contribute to the signs of aging. If you bring your system back into proper pH balance, you'll notice you look and feel better. Your digestion will improve, you'll have more energy and you'll be less prone to getting sick.

What is pH and how does it affect your body?

I'll bet you remember something about pH from taking a science class when you were a kid. PH is the measure of how acidic or alkali something is. If you're a gardener, you know some plants prefer different pH levels than others. A low pH in the soil can make growing some plants very difficult.

Your organs are a little bit like those plants. They have a preferred pH level. If your pH is too high or too low, your whole body starts to suffer. The human body functions best when it's at a neutral or slightly alkali pH.

The typical American diet is high in grains and meats which makes your body acidic. Research from the University of California in San Francisco found the following:

When people eat a diet that is higher in grains and meats without adequate vegetables it causes the regulation of the body's acid-base to be out of balance.

When this happens, your kidneys combat the problem by signaling your body to release calcium and magnesium from your bones and ammonia from your muscles. This process restores the pH balance in your system, but weakens your bones and muscles.

It can also result in calcium and magnesium deficiencies. You then become more prone to heart and kidney disease, muscle weakness, diabetes, and an overall general decline.

How to Restore Balance to Your pH Levels

Balancing your pH levels isn't difficult. The first step is to actually measure your pH levels with test strips that are easily available online. These strips use saliva to give a reading on your pH level. I recommend you take at least six measurements over several days. Be sure to measure first thing in the morning and average all the readings to get an accurate measurement.

If your pH is between 6.8 and 7.4 and you don't have any major health problems, then you're doing well. If it is less than 6.8, you will benefit from balancing your pH levels.

To balance your pH levels, you will need to eat more alkali-producing foods. It seems counter-intuitive, but many of the foods we consider acidic, like lemons and tomatoes, actually have an alkalizing affect on the body. Others like grains that are alkali when eaten actually increase acid in your system.

It's confusing, I know. As a general guideline, you can increase your body's pH by eating more fruits and vegetables. Here is a handy chart I've provided to give you some general guidelines:

Alkalizing Foods
Raw Honey
Maple Syrup
Most fruits
Most vegetables
Almonds
Olive oil
Goat milk
Green tea, herbal tea

Acidizing Foods
White sugar
Chemical sweeteners
Blackberries, cranberries
Most beans
Walnuts
Corn oil
Homogenized milk, all meats
Coffee, soft drinks

As you can see, just because a food is acid-producing doesn't mean it's unhealthy-it is a matter of balancing the two types of food. It's not necessary to completely eliminate acid-producing foods from your diet. Just remember to maintain a healthy balance between both.

You can also help restore balance to your pH with a mineral supplement that contains calcium citrate, magnesium, and potassium. These three minerals help to alkalize your system.

In addition to eating more vegetables and fruits, you should reduce or eliminate the processed foods that you eat. Of all the foods on the market, processed foods are the most acid-producing. They also contain high levels of phosphates, which exacerbate the imbalance.

PH balance is one of the most overlooked root causes of health issues. It's a widespread problem that leads or contributes to many of the devastating diseases that are prevalent in our society.

Fortunately, it's a problem with an easy fix. If you test your pH levels and determine that they are out of balance, the simple step of increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day will help to correct the problem. Add in the supplements that I recommend here and you'll be on your way to a balanced system and better health.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging

http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com
http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com/blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Rosenberg,_M.D.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D. - EzineArticles Expert Author

Exercise With Your Kids! Fun Ideas to Get You Moving

Sunday, June 7, 2009 | Published in |

The good weather is upon us, and with it comes the chance to stop this yearly hibernation and actually get some exercise and some vitamin D!

But there's a problem. How do you get exercise with toddlers in tow? They have really short legs! Anything you do together is bound to slow you down, or to be so easy that you don't get in shape.

Even walking is difficult with small children, because you have to walk so slowly for them to keep up. Biking may work, but they're so slow on their tricycles or with training wheels that it's not much fun for you. So what do you do?

When kids are little is a bit of a struggle. But with some creativity, you can find ways to get outside and be active!

Use Bicycle Accessories

Biking is one of the best forms of exercise you can get, and you can bring kids along! You can buy those unique bicycle trailers that you attach to your bike and pull your children behind you. I fit two children in there--5 and 3--and though it was crowded, they enjoyed it. Younger children will often sleep with all the movement. And best of all, these are relatively safe because if you fall off the bike, they don't go anywhere.

When my girls were little, I would load them both up in the bike trailer and we would go places. I was in the best shape of my life in those days. Often I would bike to a park where they could then get out and play and I could rest before having to take them home again!

Unfortunately, the trailers can get pricey. Search out second hand stores for them, or put an ad in your local shopping paper. Check online sites, too.

Remember, too, that the trailer's use goes beyond toddlerhood! We still have ours today, though my children are now on adult bikes. I just use it for groceries! Now that's exercise!

When children get to be about five, add the wheel extension onto your bike. It's a separate wheel and a separate set of pedals and handlebars, so they have their own mini-bike hooked up to yours. This way they don't slow you down, but they get the practice of pedalling. It takes a while to get the balance, but it works!

Combine Activities

When children are still in the 3-5 range, another idea is to let them bike while you walk. To bike at the same time as them is often frustrating because you're going so slowly. But they can bike to a park, and you get some exercise walking with them!

Smaller children can also practice roller blading while you jog beside them. That way you both go at about the same speed, but you still get some exercise!

Encourage Hiking

We've always been the type that takes walks as a family, so that's been our exercise. And we've done big hikes since the time the girls were 6 and 7. If you stop frequently and have snacks, they tend to go right along without getting too tired. Kids really do have abundant energy.

Get Creative with Sports

Soccer is another great way to start some exercise. It gets all of you running, and it's fun. To make it more interesting for the adults, try it with two balls. Kids have a harder time getting to the ball and kicking it, so you and your spouse can keep one ball going between the two of you while you also try to get the ball going with the kids. That makes it more of a workout for you, while the kids still have fun!

Frisbee and throwing the ball is also a great workout. Children aren't necessarily that accurate when they throw, so you'll get your heart beating as you chase after all the balls they send in the wrong direction!

In the end, the important thing is that you're getting outdoors, getting your heartrate up, but most of all spending time as a family. When you put in time with the kids, they know you care. And when you put in exercise, you prove that their health is important. So get moving together! You'll all have a lot more fun!

Finding time to exercise is so much easier when you schedule it in! Get your FREE household organization planners, including personal planners, kids' chore charts, organization checklists, and more so that you won't miss out on anything fun!

Sheila Wray Gregoire is the author of four books, including To Love, Honor and Vacuum: When you feel more like a maid than a wife and a mother. She blogs at http://tolovehonorandvacuum.blogspot.com