Calories are a very misunderstood term when it comes to weight gain and weight loss. The widespread concept of calories is that they are bad for the body. Calories are the primary building blocks of the energy which our body requires to perform physical tasks that we carry out over the course of the day. The complications arise when the amount of calories that one consumes greatly outweighs the number of calories the body requires to produce the energy the body requires. Any additional calories are then converted into fat and stored in the fatty tissue of the body. Some foods, such as hot dogs, burgers and other fast foods, however, contain empty calories. These differ from the regular calories because of the fact that they do not aid in the production of energy within the body at all and are simply converted into fat cells and stored in the fatty tissue as soon as they are digested. It is these empty cells that are the major contributors to the development of obesity, combined with the lack of any physical exercise required to burn off the extra calories.

Although the best ways to reduce weight without exercises is to make sure that you count the number of calories you consume and measure that up against the number of calories that your body utilizes on a daily basis. Weight loss is seen when there is a combination of a healthy diet as well as an adequate amount of exercise involved.

Methods of losing weight

Because of the fact that obesity is such a common concern, there are a lot of ways to lose weight right at home. However, there are certain aspects of weight loss that one should keep in mind. For instance, a lot of people expect to see the additional pounds start to peel off as soon as they start working out or dieting. However the body will usually take some time to adjust itself to the new weight loss regime before one can actually start to feel the weight being shed. Avoid obsessing over the weighing scale in the first few weeks as chances are that it will only serve to demoralize you – leading you to give up on the weight loss program.

• The easiest ways to reduce weight is to make sure that you eat fresh vegetables and fruits to make sure that your body remains nourished with all the essential nutrients that it requires to perform optimally. Although there are a number of ways to reduce weight in a short time, one aspect to remember is the fact that crash diet programs that are usually followed in these methods should only be performed once in a way as they tend to put the body through a significant amount of stress over a short period of time – something that could prove to be rather dangerous when performed on a regular basis.
• Another aspect of losing weight without exercise is to make sure that instead of eating three large meals in a day, you break down your dietary intake into six smaller meals as this will help boost the metabolic rate of the body.
• Drinking a lot of water also helps keep any hunger pangs in check and controlling these hunger pangs will go a long way into ensuring that you are not tempted to satisfying them with the help of a quick snack containing substantial quantities of empty calories.
• Some of the more natural ways to reduce weight quickly involve making sure that you get a serious amount of physical training to help shed the extra pounds. Exercises like swimming will go a long way into making sure that your body burns a lot of calories and also plays a big part in converting the fatty tissues to muscle. Converting the fatty tissue to muscle will help give the body shape and a boost in its aesthetic levels, which is always welcome.
• Because of the fact that obesity is such a common problem all over the world, a number of employers have also taken up the task of making sure that their employees are healthy and remain fit. The GM diet is one such example where the employers have spent a lot of time, money and effort into developing a diet plan that will help their employees lose weight as well as keep them energized and focused right through the day.

In our daily lives, we regularly encounter objects that are optimized to allow the hand grip to aid us in being able to accomplish certain physical tasks. For instance, the stair case railings in most stairwells will usually have a specifically engineered diameter that will help a person achieve a strong and stable grip on the railing to avoid a fall in the event that the individual were to lose his or her footing.

Tools are also objects that are specifically designed to allow the operator to have as much control as possible on the tool. Having a loose grip will mean that the individual will not have the correct amount of control over the object in order to wield it properly. For instance, when a person does not have complete hand grip on a hammer, there is always a good chance that the hammer can slip out of his or her hand – potentially causing damage. “Grip strength” is also a very important aspect of various sports such as the javelin, rock climbing, football as well as many others. Grip strength exercises are a very important part of the training for all these sports
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that is known to significantly affect a person’s hand grip. As a result, hand grip exercises during carpal tunnel syndrome recovery are something that is taken very seriously in the rehabilitation process.

Types of grips

Before getting into the benefits of hand grip exercises, it helps to understand that a person’s grip can be broken down into three main categories: the crush grip, the pinch grip and the support grip.

All these types of grips make use of different combinations of muscles in the palm and require different amounts of strength used to carry them out.

The crush grip is the variety that is most closely associated with the term “grip strength”. It is this grip that is used when a strong handshake is performed.

The pinch grip is performed with the fingers placed on one side of the object and the thumb on the other allowing the individual to lift an object without letting it touch the palm. The support grip is usually employed when trying to grasp objects that are much larger and would require the use of more than one hand. This grip will usually require more muscle endurance than any of the other types of grip.

Because of the fact that the “hand grip” is such an important aspect of being able to achieve certain physical accomplishments, there are a number of commercially produced hand grip exercise devices that can be used to measure the grip strength of an individual. The hand grip dynamo-meter is one such device. It requires you to hold the instrument in your arm at a right angle with the elbow at the side of the body.

The base of the instrument will rest on what is known as the metacarpal and the individual will be required to squeeze the handle of the instrument with four fingers and maintain the grip for a period of about 5 seconds. A dial gauge at the top of the instrument will record the amount of strength that the individuals grip has.

>h3>Exercises

• A hand grip exercises ball is one of the most effective objects used in the recovery and not only helps strengthen the grip of the individual, but also helps in alleviating stress that is likely to collect around these tissues. Incorporating a hand grip exercise routine into your daily schedule will go a long way into making sure that you are able to grasp objects properly and confidently. Unknown to many, hand grip exercises and high blood pressure are also closely linked. Medical research shows that regularly practicing hand grip exercises will help lower your blood pressure count.
• Hand grip strengthening devices are available at any sports equipment store. Squeeze and hold the contraption for a period of about 2 minutes. Rest for the same period of time. Perform 4 sets of this about 2 to 3 times a week to significantly increase your grip strength as well as lowering your blood pressure count. Since tension is a very common part of our rather hectic lives, it helps to know that hand grip exercises and hypertension also has a link. Hand grip exercises can also be carried out to lower levels of hypertension.
• Fingertip pushups are another very effective form of hand grip exercises that will help optimize the opening and closing ability of the muscles involved in grip and strengthen the finger as well. It also improves the bone density in the arm, but it is important to remember that you approach these forms of exercise rather carefully as they can prove to be dangerous when not performed adequately.

Steps of Warrior III Pose

Step 1: Stand straight in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and take in a deep breath. Exhale and bend forward to come into the Ustrasana (Camel Pose). Take in a deep breath and then exhale while bending your right knee and taking your left foot one step backwards.

Step 2: Align yourself in such a way that the middle of your torso is aligned with the middle of your right thigh. At this point, your right knee should be at a right angle. Now slowly bring both your hands to the right knee, placing your right hand on the outer knee and the left hand on its inner side. Slightly lift your torso, squeezing your knee. Exhale and turn slightly to the right.

Step 3: Stretch your arms forward, while still retaining the lunge. Inhale while keeping your arms parallel to the floor and to each other. Shift your weight to the right heel and press it into the floor. Lift the left leg while straightening the front leg.

Step 4: Stabilize the position by pressing the tailbone into the pelvis and offering resistance to the raised leg. Try not to swing your torso forward when you are trying to balance yourself. Focus on straightening your knee as this will help you keep to your position. Try not to tilt your pelvis as that will spoil your posture.

Step 5: Take in a deep breath and slightly raise your head, looking forward. Hold the position for at least 30 seconds. As you gain more experience in the pose, increase the length to about 30 seconds.

Precautions While Performing the Pose

This pose is extremely beneficial to the body. However, it is contraindicated for those who have high blood pressure. People with cardiac complaints should not perform this pose without consulting their doctor at first.

Beginner’s Tip

It is usually very difficult for beginners to bend forward and attain the balance required to maintain the position. To help with this and stabilize the position, beginners may tilt slight forward. Also, resist the straightening of the front of the leg by contracting the muscles of the leg calf. When the movements are opposed in this manner, the muscles hyperextend and stabilize the position.

As a beginner in yoga, you may also take support of a wall or a yoga block. As you gain more confidence, you may perform the extension without any support.

Benefits of the Pose

• The pose helps strengthen the legs and the ankles by its extensions. All the muscles of the core and the lower extremities are worked out with the help of this pose.
• When you bend in this pose and extend the lower extremities, it also stretches, tones, and strengthens the muscles of shoulders and the back.
• As you stretch your upper body, both your back and your abdomen are toned. It is important for you to stretch your abdomen well as it can help you lose fat from there and improve circulation to the organs in the abdominal region as well.
• This pose is most well known for improving your posture and your balance. When you hold the pose, you align your backbone with the knees, improving your center of gravity and your overall balance.

Therapeutic Applications of the Pose

There are no specific therapeutic applications of this pose. However, this pose can be very beneficial for those who want to lose some fat from their stomach and their abdominal region.

Variations of the Pose

Warrior III pose is a variation in itself but there are further variations of this pose too. The best variation for this pose is by varying the position of your arms. This can add an element of difficulty to the pose. Stretch the arms to both your sides and increase the level to which you have to balance your body in this pose. This will also increase the stretch in your stomach and improve the tone of the abdominal muscles.

Preparatory Poses

Here are some poses that help you prepare for the level of difficulty and challenge that the Virbhadrasana III poses. Most of the standing and seated poses in yoga work as great preparatory poses. Other poses which require balancing can also work.

• Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend)
• Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)
• Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero Pose)
• Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Big Toe Pose)
• Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
• Virasana (Hero Pose)
• Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold)
• Virabhadrasana I (Warrior Pose I)
• Virabhadrasana II (Warrior Pose II)
• Utkatasana (Chair Pose)
• Urdhva Prasarita Padasana (Upward Stretched Legs)

Follow Up Poses

Here are some poses which become easier to perform after you have mastered the Virbhadrasana III. Usually, you would be able to attempt most of the standing poses after this pose.

• Navasana (Boat Pose)
• Hanumanasana (Monkey Pose)
• Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One-Legged King Pigeon Pose)
• Halasana (Plough Pose)
• Utkatasana (Chair Pose)
• Natarjasana (Dancer’s Pose)
• Salamba Sirsasana (Supported Headstand)

References

• http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-poses/warrior-pose3.asp
• http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/941

Downward Facing Dog

This pose is one of the simpler yoga poses. It is in the form of an inverted V, and when done correctly, you push your upper back and shoulders as far inside as you can. When done regularly, this pose strengthens your upper arms and tightens muscles that are generally not used in day-to-day activities.

Quarter Dog

This pose is just a variation of the Downward Facing Dog. The difference is that instead of having your arms outstretched, you have your weight on your elbows. This pose is probably better to reduce arm size than the Downward Facing Dog because you are only using the muscles of your upper arms in this pose. The pose as such is, however, not very difficult because most people have relatively strong shoulders and upper arms than lower arms, and this pose is easier to hold than the Downward Facing Dog.

Plank Pose

The Plank Pose The benefits of this pose are roughly the same as the crow pose except that it works the muscles of your legs too.

References

• http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Yoga
• http://nccam.nih.gov/health/yoga/introduction.htm

What is a migraine?

Migraines are characterized by a throbbing headache that lasts anywhere from two hours to several days. It can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and photo phobia or sensitivity to light. Migraines differ from a headache in that they are more severe and are a disorder of the central nervous system, unlike headaches that are simply a pain caused due to a number of reasons from illness to high blood pressure.

Migraines can be both short-term as well as chronic. Chronic migraines are migraines that occur for at least 15 days in a month (for at least 3 months). These are usually more complicated, and impact the quality of life dramatically. In adults, migraines are more common in women than in men; however, in children in the preadolescence stage, migraines tend to be more common in boys than in girls.

What causes migraines?

While there are a number of theories as to why migraines are caused, starting from the food we eat to genetics, the real reason for migraines is not known. However, keeping a track of our habits such as the food we eat and our other routines on the day that we have a migraine attack can possibly explain what triggers it in the first place.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a migraine is caused due to excess flow of Qi or the life force that flows in the body, resulting in a pounding headache. Acupuncture uses this theory to restore the balance and reduce migraines through needles inserted at points in the body, through which the qi flows, called meridians.

Managing migraines

A person suffering from a migraine will want to retreat into a dark and quiet room without noise and light. Most often, sleep is the only relief from migraines. There are many drugs available and prescribed for managing migraines. Preventive medication such as topiramate and timolol and analgesics such as triptans and ergotamines are also commonly used in the prevention and management of migraines.

However, all of these medications manage only the symptoms of migraines and not the root cause of migraines, making taking them in the long run more harmful than beneficial. Thus, alternative therapies such as acupuncture for migraines are believed to be more beneficial as this natural treatment has no side effects.

Acupuncture for migraines

Although acupuncture according to medical research is only as effective as other forms of treatment, many people who have tried this type of therapy have found that their incidences and severity of migraines have come down considerably. For most acupuncture for migraines not only works, it is a cost-effective treatment as well. Usually, a few sessions are needed to see a difference. Most sessions are conducted either between migraines or during migraines. The number of sessions depends on each individual case, with the time duration between the sessions, gradually lengthening as per response to the therapy.

While most people experience almost instant relief, energy levels after acupuncture can vary from person to person, with some people feeling extremely sleepy to others feeling extremely energetic after a session. Some acupuncture points are not safe while pregnant, so if you are pregnant tell your acupuncture specialist as he/she may want to avoid certain treatment options during that time.

References

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16545747
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19160193

A lot of energy and tension is carried in the face. As the main mode of expression, there are hundreds of poses formed by the face that reflect sorrow, happiness, anger, and a range of other different emotions. Most people have at least a few facial muscles that are tense, which could be helped with facial exercises that have been designed to free and loosen the muscles. By performing the exercises of facial yoga, the expressions that come about from different emotions and which can bring about wrinkles and lines can be reduced in appearance.

Like most other practices that are of these postures along with physical manipulations like a gentle yoga facial massage. When you visit a spa, a specialist will guide you through the physical postures and massage the muscles and skin of your face gently. There are some spas that also include a tradition facial like a clay facial as part of the treatment. Along with a massage, performing facial exercises will help tone and improve your skin’s condition. By combining them with a regular yoga routine, you can bring focus and balance to your life.

The main point of facial yoga is that it is not expensive and can bring back your youthful appearance without the requirement for any injections or plastic surgery. If you perform a yoga facial patiently and regularly, you will soon notice your facial skin looking younger and brighter and the wrinkles will slowly begin to disappear. All you need to do is perform the facial exercises for around 15 minutes a day. These exercises will help tighten the skin that is sagging and aging. Performing facial yoga for the eyes helps relieve tension in them, especially if you spend long hours in front of the computer, and it can also get rid of eye puffiness. There are many yoga eye exercises you can find on the Internet that can be helpful. Just like other muscles of the body, the muscles of the eye need to be regularly exercised. Eye muscles that are weak can mean that your eyes will get tired quite easily by performing activities like reading. By making your eye muscles strong, you will improve the health of them and also your vision.

The question on many minds is ‘do yoga facial exercises work?’ There are two varying theories that have come about regarding facial exercises. There is one group that states that performing face exercises reduces wrinkles, while there is another group which holds the opinion that the facial exercises make the wrinkles and lines worse. However, it is mostly believer that if you perform the exercises in the right way, they will help reduce the wrinkles and lines.

Most obese individuals will have a double chin. Performing some yoga for double chin exercises can effectively address this problem. One exercise you could perform is to start by standing up and pulling your head a little back so that your face comes toward the ceiling. You should then try and kiss the ceiling by letting your lips stretch and pucker up. Remain in this position for five seconds and repeat it five more times. You should make sure to leave the other muscles of the face that are not made use of in this exercise relaxed. Another exercise you could perform is to start by bringing yourself to the standing or seated position. Then let your spine be pulled straight up, and with the chin, rotate your head gently from shoulder to shoulder. Take your time while doing this exercise and use only precise and slight movements. Gradually start performing full head rolls. You can perform only semi-circular motions if your find the full rotations troublesome. A full roll should be done 3 to 5 times.

Happy face yoga is a kind of exercise made by Gary Sikorski that concentrates on yoga facial exercises. While working out, most people forget to perform exercises for face. By toning the facial muscles with exercise, you will get the skin to become tighter, giving you a younger appearance. Performing yoga cheek exercises and other exercises for the mouth and eyes will reduce double chins, sagging jowls and reduce wrinkles. A common exercise in happy face yoga is known as cheek lifter. Performing this exercise helps work on the muscles present around the cheeks and mouth.

Along with facial yoga, a facial flex can help bring a dramatic lift that is natural, without the use of surgery or injections. If you have any doubts regarding the effectiveness of facial yoga and continue to ask yourself ’does facial yoga really work’, it is best that you consult a yoga professional or fitness expert and then perhaps try it out for yourself as it is cheap and there is no harm in it.

There are also a number of exercise tips by which you can lose more weight in a month’s time. The best way to lose 20 pounds in a month is by following certain exercise tactics such as;

• Exercise twice a day for at least 20 minutes at a time.
• Do weight training on alternate days which will help you burn more fat faster.
• Do a combination of high and low intensity cardio workouts.
• These cardio exercises should be done for at least 20 minutes continuously.
• Casual exercises like walking should be done for at least an hour.
• Exercises like squats, lunges and bench presses are very effective in burning body fat.
• In addition to working out regularly, you must also get adequate rest which is equally important to lose weight.

The most effective way to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks is to boost your body’s metabolic rate. This can be done with the help of certain foods such as green tea, grapefruit, oatmeal, broccoli, yogurt, jalapenos, spinach, apples, almonds and soy milk. In addition, exercising for at least an hour everyday without breaks is a very effective way to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks.

The child health strategy with regards to their diet will change as the child grows because the nutritional requirements and energy needs of the child will differ at different age groups. This would also depend on the amount of physical activity the child is involved in. Another one of the handy child health hints is to ensure that the child’s intake of foods that are high in sugar, processed foods or fried and fatty foods is minimal as they only provide the body with empty calories and may also result in medical issues. Many of the child health techniques will also emphasize on the importance of the child consuming iron rich foods so as to reduce the chances of anemia which is caused by iron deficiency. Anemia is also known to adversely affect the child’s ability to learn and his overall growth. In addition to a balanced and nutritious diet for children right from an early age , one of the important child health tips is to also try and get the child engaged in physical activities and some form of exercise. These things will help the child remain fit and also strengthen their immune system. Child health instructions with regards to the diet of the child will also require the parent to try and add some variety to the foods given to the child so that meal times do not get monotonous. Having the same food could result in the child becoming fussy or growing to dislike certain foods that may actually be beneficial for their health.

Children should also be encouraged to have sufficient amounts of milk and other dairy products that are rich in calcium as calcium is required for the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth. Another one of the important child health tips is to teach the child to brush their teeth at least twice a day as some of the foods that children are known to consume such as sticky and sweet foods cause tooth decay and dental problems.

Causes and Home Remedies

A black spot on the tooth or several black spots on the front teeth can be upsetting.  Black staining of teeth causes black spots on teeth. Black spots can occur anywhere on teeth. They may be visible on the front teeth,  present on the molars, and can be hidden in between the teeth. The visible discoloration, leading to an unsightly smile and can be noticed easily. However, if the discoloration is due to external factors, it can be resolved easily. The discoloration or black spot occurs due to the damage of enamel by bacteria that causes tooth decay. Bacteria utilize food bits and release acids that cause damage to the enamel.

Causes

Discoloration or even a black spot on teeth is not caused by any specific medical condition. Tooth decay is the prime and supposedly only cause. The black spot is a cavity and bacteria that reside in the mouth release acids, causing the decay of teeth. All black spots may not be a sign of decay. It may be due to discoloration of inner or outer enamel of the tooth. Excessive exposure to fluorides, harsh minerals, and chemicals and use of antibiotics can cause discoloration of the inner layer of the tooth, the dentin. This is highly probable in the case of pregnant women. The outer layer can be discolored due to several common causes including:

• Poor dental hygiene
• Bad diet
• Smoking
• Dental caries
• Sugar-based foods
• Greasy, sticky foods
• Acidic foods
• Excessive fluoride
• Tobacco
• Carbonated drinks
• Caffeine
• Drugs like tetracycline
• Calculus
• Leaking amalgam restorations

How to get rid of black spots on teeth?

Treatment for black spots on teeth depends on the cause. If black spots are extrinsic in nature, cleaning by a dentist can help to remove the stain. Stubborn stains can be removed using cosmetic dentistry procedures. Whitening methods and bleaching are also used to treat black spots on teeth. If the cause of black spots on teeth is not an internal factor, it can be treated easily. It can be prevented by giving dental care a top priority. There are several home remedies that help to get rid of black spots on teeth.

• Bay leaf is particularly useful to treat black spots. The chemical, cineole, which is present in bay leaves helps to kill dental bacteria.
• Using a homemade powder in order to clean the teeth can effectively keep black spots away. Mix sea salt with baking soda, and use the mixture to clean your teeth. Sea salt and tartar mixture helps to remove black spots on teeth as well as tartar.
• Fresh strawberries are efficient teeth cleaner. Cut strawberries into two halves and the inner portion could be useful for cleaning teeth.
• Licorice powder contains indole and glycyrrhizin that can kill bacteria.
• Lime juice is helpful to clean teeth and make them shine.
• You can use a soft bristled toothbrush to rub your teeth with sodium bicarbonate. Toothpaste that contains sodium bicarbonate can also help whiten your teeth and reduce any kind of staining.
• There are some foods that require a lot of chewing. Such foods are known to help whiten teeth. Foods like apple, celery, cabbage, and carrots are known to cleanse teeth naturally through their soft abrasive action on the teeth.
• There are several treatment methods that dentists use. These methods like brightening and scaling of teeth can help you get rid of black marks on the teeth.
• There are many self cleaning and teeth brightening kits that can be used to clean and brighten black specks on the teeth.

Prevention of Dental Problems

• Proper dental hygiene practices such as brushing, rinsing, flossing can prevent bacterial attack and keep oral diseases at bay.
• Diet also plays a vital role in preventing tooth decay. Ensure to include plenty of raw vegetables and fruits. Eating whole grain, nuts, and legumes helps. Avoid carbonated and aerated drinks, greasy foods and products made from white sugar. Include plenty of fluids in your diet.
• Regular dental checkups can go a long way in preventing oral problems and diseases.

Studies indicate that men are a lot more prone to health problems, as compared to women. One of the main reasons for this could be that men are not as careful about their diets as women are. However, there are several men’s health tips, suggested by doctors and other experts, which can help men lead a better life. These mainly include fitness suggestions and effective health eating tips.

Given below are some of the most common health food tips recommended for men:

• Cut down or preferably eliminate 2 types of “white food” from the diet, which includes white flour and sugar. Foods that are made out of refined flour or sugar are not only high in calories, but are usually devoid of vitamins, minerals and nutrients too. Hence, they lead to rapid weight gain and other similar health related problems.
• Avoid eating foods that are high in Trans-fats. This means that fried foods or any food that is cooked in hydrogenated oils should be eliminated from a diet. Instead fats that are present in olive oil, nuts and cold water fish are much healthier.
• Add weight training to an exercise routine, since it is the most effective, when it comes to cutting down the flab.
• Alcohol should be consumed only in moderation and that too, beverages like wine should be chosen over the others.

Health Food Tips For Women

Although studies indicate that women are more careful about what they eat, there are several women who tend to follow an unhealthy diet, because they juggle a demanding career, family and household chores. Fortunately, there are several healthy food tips that can be followed quite easily by women.

Given below are some of the most common health food tips for women:

• Begin each meal with a bowl of salad, preferably fresh green salad that has been made from raw vegetables and contains no or minimal dressing. This is not just excellent for weight loss purposes, but also increases the nutrient intake.
• Include at least two snacks in addition to 3 meals. Snacks do not need to contain heavy food, but can include some yogurt, fruit, nuts, seeds and so on. Skipping meals is a strict no-no and at least 5 small meals should be consumed in a day.
• Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should contain at least one fruit, some cereal, dairy and eggs.

While most of the health food tips mentioned above are fairly safe for all people, it may be best to consult a doctor before using any of them. In fact, people who are suffering from any preexisting medical condition should consult a doctor, before making any dietary changes or incorporating any diet food tips, regardless of how healthy they are.