Nail salons seem to be on every corner these days. Many nail salons aren’t really clean and hygienic these days. Even nail salons that look trendy or elegant on the outside may not be safe or practice good hygiene.

A nail tech at a poorly-run salon can inflict problems like inflammation and wounds to your nail or nail bed. But did you know they can also transmit viral problems–ranging from warts to fatal diseases like Hepatitis C–when the instruments are not sterilized?

How can you know your nail salon follows good health practices? Read on for helpful tips for choosing a good salon.

1. Start by choosing a nail salon where every technician has a current state license on display. These usually include the tech’s home address, not that of the salon.

2. Check and confirm that all instruments are sterilized properly before they begin your treatment. The tools should be soaked in disinfectant solution for about ten minutes. Ask about their sterilization procedures.

• Bring along your own tools, if possible.

• Some salons store each client’s tools in a separate container, for their use only.

3. Not just the tools, but the workstation and even the nail tech’s hands, should be cleaned prior to beginning any service.

• If they don’t ask you to wash YOUR hands as well, you might decide to leave the salon right away.

4. Manicure customers usually soak their hands for about 10 minutes in fresh, soapy water. If they are not using a disposable plastic bowl, ask or observe how the bowl is cleaned between customers.

5. Same thing applies with with a foot spa. Make sure that they use a plastic foot spa, as they’re less likely to retain minute hair and germs.

• Disposable plastic liners are preferable for this.

• Make sure that they don’t reuse these liners to cut costs.

6. Never allow your cuticles to be cut, with any tool. Cuticles maybe pushed back.

7. If you have doubts about a particular salon, or nail technician, just say “no”. You do have options, from requesting a different tech (awkward), going elsewhere, or even doing your nail care at home, maybe with a girlfriend.

The savings and convenience of stopping in for a quick mani/pedi at a McNails salon can be sadly offset by potential pain and damage to your nails. Be careful in all issues concerning your health, and you will be happier!

In your efforts to build muscle and to look good, you must have heard a lot about nutritional food, supplements and exercises but not much about the need for quality sleep. Sleep has a direct link to muscle gain as it promotes the release of human growth hormone (HGH) which is needed for protein synthesis.

Often, we do not realize that we may not be getting the minimum eight hours of sound sleep needed to get the maximum benefits from our muscle building efforts. Hand, phone and computer usage, food additives, stress and advancing age have a bearing on the duration and quality of sleep we get. This in turn make our quest to build muscle and look good more challenging.

Briefly, the sleep process consists of repeated cycles of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) of approximately 90 minutes per cycle. NREM consists of three stages including the slow wave sleep, which can be regarded as deep sleep when the body is least metabolically active. REM on the other hand is characterized by rapid eye movement, loss of muscle tone and vivid dreams. The release of HGH is highest in the early period of sleep reaching its peak at the slow wave sleep (SWS) stage.

A point of interest is that HGH release decreases with age. For instance, studies show that during 30-40 years of age, the quantity of HGH released over a 24 hours period decreases as much as two to three folds. In addition, SWS which is the deepest phase of sleep decreases significantly during this age range. This make it even more critical for those who are advancing in age and eager to retain their muscle mass and youthful looks to place importance to getting sufficient sleep.

Incidentally, not getting sufficient sleep is one of the causes for diabetes, heart diseases, deterioration of mental health and other related ailments as indicated by numerous research findings.

There are numerous helpful natural remedies to get a good night’s sleep. Among them include drinking a warm glass of milk before going to bed. Milk is rich in calcium which helps the body produce melatonin, the “sleepiness hormone” that is produced by the pineal gland while in the dark and which induces sleep. Magnesium, which is found in green leafy vegetables, almonds and pumpkin seeds is another mineral helpful in this regard as it helps the brain to settle down aiding sleep at night. The effectiveness of these natural remedies, though beneficial to the sleep process, vary between individuals.

An over the counter supplement that is widely used as a natural sleep aid is a herbal mix that includes valerian, melatonin and chamomile. It is said to be non-habit forming and without the side effects of harsher chemical alternatives.

Another natural approach to sleep that is well established and worth considering is listening to music that induces sleep. Using brain wave technology, this method stimulates the brain before slowing it down to a very relaxed state through theta and delta waves. This type of music helps most listeners to drift off to sleep in just a few minutes.

Hopefully, the tips on how to get enough sleep given in this post together with your knowledge on nutritional foods, supplements and an appropriate exercise program would help you to build muscles and a physique you have always dreamed of and also enjoy good health.

Is digestive health something that pet owners really need to address? The answer is an overwhelming yes. Let’s face it, when we think of digestive issues it usually summons up visions of grandmother after she’s had too many turnip greens. But digestion is more than “indigestion” and stomach issues. It encompasses an entire system that is crucial in producing good health, immune function and longevity for pets. Even excess breath, body and waste odor are linked to poor digestion. Two of the digestive functions that impact a vast array of health components are – 1) Better nutrient absorption and 2) Improved gut flora for disease resistance.

When nutrients are digested they provide the building blocks for every cell in the body. If one food element is out of proportion many complex body systems can be sent awry with both immediate and long-term ill effects. Short-term problems are as simple as diarrhea, heartburn and gas. Long-term consequences are more chilling – chronic disease, cancer, heart disease, etc. Pet owners have begun to demand better quality food with the right mix of ingredients as they become educated on the importance of nutrition. But it takes good digestive function to actually absorb and utilize all of the great ingredients that are purchased. It’s not uncommon for a lot of nutrients to go straight through the animal’s system and end up in the yard or litterbox.

Then there’s beautiful gut flora! This benign sounding digestive system element is a crucial health defense. A full 70% of an immune system lies within the digestive system. There are trillions of bacteria in the animal gut and good bacteria must be in proper balance with the bad bacteria for good health. Unfortunately this delicate balance is easily upset – even by something as simple as stress from travel. And as soon as the good bacteria are no longer in control, the door opens quickly for a lowered immune system that allows pathogens to take hold and cause life threatening conditions or disease.

Then there is the big O – Odor. Oh, we love our pets, but could stand fewer reminders of their bodily functions. Every pet has its special odor problem – breath, body, and waste. The best relief can be in the form of digestive support. One of the littlest known factors in pet odor control is that undigested protein greatly increases odor. High protein diets are recommended for pets but they don’t always absorb the protein adequately. Improving absorption of protein achieves dramatically reduced odor as well as providing better nutrition.

So how is a caring pet owner supposed to make sure their pet has sufficient digestive health to feel better, resist disease, live longer and smell their best? Adding a digestive aide to the feeding routine is the easiest method to keep all systems go. There are two ways to enhance gut flora and one is introducing beneficial bacteria in the form of probiotics. Adding beneficial bacteria and probiotics sounds simple but can have numerous application difficulties: The need for refrigeration, dosing schedules, taste and survivability issues plus cost factors create gaps in consistent effect.

Another method is to help the animals produce their own beneficial bacteria with a Prebiotic. Prebiotics have recently taken center stage in the scientific community as a digestive aide, health support and possible antibiotic alternative that can achieve results consistently, faster and more cost effectively. They have the ability to survive under extreme conditions reaching the gut every time and able to do their work of promoting good bacteria production. Prebiotic formulas can assist animals with diarrhea, constipation, allergies, skin and coat issues, immunity, overall improved health as well as odor.

For many pets, the digestive aide will act as a silent protector, increasing nutrient uptake and optimizing disease resistance. For other pets which are in a spiral of never ending illness, feedings problems and diarrhea that never seems to be corrected with medications, the digestive aide will be the health rescuer, aiding the animal’s own body back to a healthy balance.

Hello everybody

As you know good food is good health and Ginseng is a supplement that I have taken daily for several years now, for me it really does help with tiredness and I believe helps to suppress my stress levels.

My friends are always saying that I generally appear calm and never stressed, well all I can say is that it is a good job they are not with me 24 hours a day as it might paint a different picture.

But it is true, I have felt calmer since taking it and although some people think that the effect is physiological, I disagree, and I am really pleased that new studies carried out have shown benefits from taking regular ginseng supplements.

There are generally three types of ginseng, the ‘true’ ginseng- Panax found in Asia, Panax quinquefolius- America and Eleutherococcus senticosus in Siberia, used as supplements.

Ginseng has also been used for centuries as a Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is administered as a tonic for its beneficial effects on the body’s central nervous system, anti-fatigue properties, and protection from stress ulcers and increase of gastrointestinal mobility including metabolic acceleration. Also it is highly considered as an enhancement of sexual functions.

Ginseng is an adaptogenic herb from the Aralacae plant family.
Adaptogens are known and defined as being a therapeutic and restorative tonic, which are considered to produce a good feeling – balancing effect on the body.

For any substance to be defined as an adaptogen, it is required to be innocuous and cause minimal changes or disorders in the physiological functions of an organism. Therefore, an adaptogen is a substance that is thought to help the body deal with the pressure of stress levels, as the substance has to possess a normalising action that is irrespective of the direction of the pathological changes.

Ginseng contains ginsenosides, these are thought to combat fatigue and stress by aiding and supporting the adrenal glands and improve the use of oxygen by exercising muscles.

you can obtained it in either root or powder form. The root is often chewed by Eastern people for its aphrodisiac properties, and is also well known the world over for this.
Ginseng is generally safe and without side effects. But as with all supplements, it is recommended that individuals with a pre-existing medical condition, or taking any other forms of medication should seek advice from their health care professionals on guidance and advice.

In rare instances consuming caffeine with ginseng can increase the risk of over stimulation and gastrointestinal upset or insomnia. Also it is not recommended during pregnancy or for breastfeeding women.

As always the correct guidance should always be taken from the product labelling, as different products use different standards of extract, but generally a daily intake of 100 – 300mg capsules taken over a 3 – 6 week period is required to produce the adaptogenic and energetic benefits.

Daily requirements of 1-2gm a day of root American or Asian ginseng, and 2-3gm of Siberian is recommended for production of the adaptogenic and energy benefits, but again always check the products labelling for correct dosage.

Red and white ginseng are the other two primary classes of ginseng, the white root being dried naturally where as the red ginsengs colour comes from a drying process that is said to increase the potency.

White ginseng is for promotion of general well being and good health and the red variety is often used for aiding disease recovery.

Recent studies have been carried out on ginseng and cancer patients, as the illness causes a great deal of stress, anxiety and fatigue, any reduction of this would be greatly beneficial.

The study was carried out on patients who were expected to live for at least six months. They were divided into four groups, each group was to receive different dosages daily of either – a placebo, 750mg, 1,000mg or 2,000mg of ginseng in capsule form. All patients were given the same crop of Wisconsin ginseng to ensure a level potency.

The study took place over an eight – week period.
Patients who received the 750mg dose compared to the group who were given the placebo reported a slight or little improvement in general well-being and fatigue.

25 per cent of the group given the 1,000mg reported moderately better or much better fatigue symptoms and also vitality and well being was moderately improved.

The group with the 2,000mg had over 27 per cent reporting moderately better or much better fatigue symptoms and moderate improvements in vitality and well-being.

Doctors said that any improvement in well- being and vitality, goes a long way on helping a patient whatever the illness, and being an adaptogenic is useful for most patients.

Another study has been carried out again using cancer patients at the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, which focuses heavily on an’interdisciplinary approach’ to cancer treatment, care and prevention.

30 per cent of the patients were already regular users of ginseng before their breast cancer was diagnosed. The study team found that these subjects when compared to patients that had never taken it, had a significantly reduced risk of death.

Pleasingly, it was found that ginseng use after diagnosis attributed to a higher quality of life score, in association with areas of psychological, social well- being and fatigue. It was noted that as the amount of ginseng administered was increased, the quality of life improved.

Nowadays, we in the Western world are looking to the herbalists of the Eastern world for all types of natural remedies, that they have tried and tested for thousands of years. In every town you will now find Traditional Chinese Herbalists popping up as we also reap the benefits of their knowledge.

Just be sure to check with your practitioner as a precaution before taking ginseng or any other supplements for guidance and advice.

Remember good food is good health

Ted & Sandra

There are many types of appetite suppressants, ranging from fruits and vegetables, to pills and diet supplements. The best and most effective ones are those which contain natural ingredients. Using a natural appetite suppressant is the best way to achieve long-term results and good health. Natural foods that act as suppressants fall into different categories including fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean proteins, spices and liquids.

Fruits that are high in fiber, work effectively to suppress appetite. Apples are rated as some of the best fruits for suppressing appetite. They have plenty of soluble fiber and pectin, which help to produce a feeling of satisfaction. Apples also help to regulate glucose, while also boosting energy levels. The fruits are high in vitamins, nutrients, and minerals; and are also a good source of folic acid. Most green leafy vegetables are highly nutritious and help to satisfy hunger for a long time. Eating a green leafy salad containing a large amount of lettuce, celery, cabbage and cucumbers is a nutritious meal. It has all the essential minerals and vitamins necessary, while acting as a natural appetite suppressant.

Nuts are some of the most commonly overlooked products that have appetite suppressing qualities. They are readily available, and have a number of added benefits including healthy fats. Some of the best options are almonds. They are high in fiber, as well as a good source of antioxidants. Consuming the nuts between meals is very helpful. Spices like cayenne pepper help to boost metabolism and have been proven to be effective as appetite suppressants. Ginger cinnamon and caspsaicin are also very effective.

Eating lean protein like that found tuna, salmon and herring, which are high in Omega-3 fats helps to increase the blood levels of leptin. This is an appetite suppressant hormone. Apart from being highly effective in suppressing the appetite, salmon is very rich in protein. For those who do not like fish, lean chicken, when eaten in measured amounts, is also a good source of lean protein. A healthy wholesome meal is usually satisfying, and offers many benefits. It is also cost-effective and will replace the need for extra diet supplements. The healthy diet can be adopted as a life-long plan, producing results that are permanent.

Doctors and other health experts are constantly talking about the benefits of drinking plenty of liquids every day. The most effective of all liquids is water. Water, which is cheap and readily available, is by far the best appetite suppressant available. Drinking a glass of water before every meal will help to suppress hunger, while maintaining the ideal natural hydration for the body. Soda and other sugary drinks should be eliminated from the diet as they do the complete opposite.

Good Heath is fundamentally the well being of life itself, it masters all the process of ones mind and occupies a great deal of prevention and awareness in regard to the many treats the human body may incur. The main aim of this information is to promote good health and to regard it as an achievement.

CREATIVE AND PREVENTION

People do not always consider Good Health in a positive way, but they tend to think mainly about curing people who are either ill or suffering from a mental problem, but there are signs that more emphasis is being placed on preventive medicine – “prevention is better than curative medicine as practiced in hospitals is becoming more and more expensive. This alone is raising questions as to whether, we would produce better results for the community as a whole.

History confirms the important contribution which preventive medicine has made to Good Health. Thus as the president of New Zea land Medicak Association said, “the improvement of life expectancy in our country has been as a result of improvement in sanitation and housing, more due to plumbers and builders than doctors. to improvements in food, clothing and conditions of work and to treatment of episodic diseases”

what is really required is a well balanced integrates programmes of preventive and curative medicine, designed to meet the needs of an area at a given time, and for the programmmes to be flexible i.e for changes to be made in it as the needs change.

AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAMME.

Before an effective programme can be made, there must be an understanding of traditional background of the people to be served: their economic situation, family structure, religion, interest and problems must be known. it should be recognized that changes which are advocated may not make sense to them. they can not be expected suddenly to change their whole outlook to accord with the ideas of modern medicine. these ideas have to compete with traditional ideas and rural people, especially, are not sure that scientific medicine can diagnose and treat all kinds of illness.

In other words, good health services cannot be forced upon an unwilling community. so, health workers should use the cures which can be achieved by drugs and survey to increase the peoples confidence and thereby lead to requests for further curative services.

This in turn, will help to win the peoples acceptance of preventive services.

Not only do preventive and curative services form part of one whole, in practice there is no dividing line between them. thus, hospitals may be mainly engaged on curative work, but their associated health centers and clinics will be engaged in preventive work in the locality.

Indeed a hospital usually provides the base for preventive work in the locality and also provide facilities for training the staff. in short, the hospital will be organized to serve the community in all aspects of health care,socially as well as medically.

It is sometimes thought that if only sufficient preventive work were carried out, the need for creative medicine and therefore hospitals would be greatly reduced, even limited. unfortunately experience in developed countries shows that the demand for hospital treatment increases rather than diminishes with improvements in the standard of living, but this demand must not be allowed to upset the essential balance between the preventive and curative approaches to Good Health. The hospital must provide services and, at the same time, be the correspondence for community health services.

If you read the newspapers, you probably see a lot of stories about the health problems that the country is facing. You see headlines of people suffering from heart attacks, cancer, and other illnesses, but you may not have heard an easy (and delicious) solution to some of these headlines – beer.

Remember, that you should definitely consume all alcoholic beverages in moderation, and if you have any questions about whether this will benefit your health, you should talk to your doctor. Ok, we’ve told you the legal disclaimer, let’s get down to the facts and the research that show that beer, consumed in moderation, can actually help your health.

So how can beer help you to keep you healthy? Well, studies have found that it can actually be good for your heart, just like wine. If you are worried about your heart health, you should obviously exercise and eat right, but drinking two beers a day for men (and one for women), may give some people an extra boost. Remember, the advice is one to two beers a day, so drinking three or four beers a day won’t triple or quadruple these effects of the beer.

What exactly can beer do to help your heart? Well, according to a study done by Tufts University, the consumption of beer in moderate amounts can decrease your cholesterol level, reduce the amount of fibrinogen in your blood (which is a protein that is responsible for blood clotting), and increase the level of antioxidants in your body.

Are all beers created equally? Not really, because although you can get health benefits from all beers, dark beers are actually better for your health than lighter colored beers. Dark beer contains more flavonoids than light beer. Flavonoids come from plants, and are also found in chocolate and red wine. What are the benefits of flavonoids? Flavonoids have been proven to prevent cancer and promote a healthy heart. Sure, you can find flavonoids in other foods, such as fruits and vegetables, but they are also present in high numbers in dark beer.

If heart disease runs in your family, you may want to listen to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, which found in their research that drinking a moderate amount of beer daily can decrease your risk of coronary disease by about 30-40%. This is a great study to show your wife when she complains about you drinking a beer or two every evening. You can just reply with “Sorry honey. I’m doing it for us, not for me.”

No longer do beer drinkers have to switch to wine if they want to get the health benefits of alcohol, because now they can get them from their favorite beverage. Of course, if you want more information about the effects of beer on your health, you should definitely consult your physician. Beer drinking can be dangerous for people who have certain health conditions or who take some medications. If you are already a casual beer drinker, you don’t have to give it up to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

In 2002, The Journal of the American Medical Association released a recommendation that all adults should take a multivitamin each day in addition to eating a healthy diet. But there is evidence that suggests that merely adding a one-a-day tablet may not be the best way to ensure proper nutrition.

According to the Physician’s Desk Reference only 15 to 30% of vitamins and minerals, in any pill form, are absorbed by the body. There are several reasons for this.

Pills, tablets and caplets are made in molds. No matter what the active ingredient is, the manufacturer has to add fillers, binders and waxes in order to take up space and hold the pill together. Talcum powder, sugar, whey and yeast are among the most common fillers, and the companies that claim not to use any of these are probably using dehydrogenated animal fat.

So don’t simply equate vitamins with good health – you’d be better off evaluating what’s not in the vitamins than what’s in them.

Vitamin molds are sprayed with a releasing agent (i.e. grease) to allow the pill to fall easily out of the mold. This releasing agent normally consists of shellac — the very same shellac used on wood floors and boats! And it is a mixture of shellac and 200 proof alcohol that goes into the making of time release capsules!

US Standards require tablets to dissolve within 15-30 minutes once in your stomach. To identify what’s really in your vitamins, place white vinegar in a glass and drop in your pill. If it isn’t dissolved within 15-30 minutes, you are paying a high price for fillers.

What is a good multivitamin? It is best to avoid synthetic vitamin preparations totally and look for a liquid supplement to ensure absorption. Look for supplements that are extracted from a whole food source.

We are meant to eat food, not chemicals. You wouldn’t put the wrong gasoline grade in your car, so don’t put cheaply made supplements into your body to avoid spending the money. The risk to your overall health is just not worth it.

Not convinced? Here’s a disturbing fact cited by Chiropractors Economics in their March/April issue: in Tacoma Washington, 250,000 lbs. of undigested pills are pulled out of the sewers every six weeks. And in Salt Lake City, over 150 gallons of vitamin pills show up in their filters every month.

Fitness is not a destination it is a way of life. Exercising regularly is the most important thing that you can do for your health which will help you to control your appetite, boost mood, and improve sleep. Being healthy and fit allows you to stay active and further increases your confidence and concentration power. Staying healthy and fit is not difficult if taken as the foremost priority. Maintaining balance of thoughts, nutritional diet, rigorous exercise, Yoga, optimum level of sleep are actually the main contributory factors for our wellbeing and a healthy and fit lifestyle.

Shake off the lethargy with a visit to the state-of-the-art health club at Ramada Resort, Kochi. Work up a sweat and come out feeling all charged up. Keep up with your fitness routine whilst you’re away in our health club. Packed with cardio and resistance equipment and free weights, you can unwind after a busy day in the city. At Ramada Resort we offer a fully equipped health club and other recreational facilities to keep you in shape even on a holiday or a business trip. Open all day, well-equipped and perfectly suited to every health and fitness need.

Ayurveda Refreshment Program

This general healthcare package includes assessment of health and advice on lifestyle and diet by the doctor, traditional massages (Herbal Soothe, Tranquility, Body Revive) and time-tested Ayurveda lunch and herbal teas for total refreshment of body & mind.

Duration: 3 Days

Rejuvenation Program

This package includes detoxification and rejuvenation of body by herbal oils and medicines, and is an effective treatment for strain and stress.

Duration: 90 Minutes A Day For 5 Days, 7 Days, 14 Days Or 21 Days

Slimming Program

This package comprises of body massage by special herbal powders and internal herbal medicine. This treatment helps balance fat metabolism, which according to Ayurveda, is the best way to lose weight.

Duration: 90 Minutes A Day For 5 Days, 7 Days, 14 Days Or 21 Days

Panchakarma Program (Detox)

This is a five-fold treatment which includes different massages, internal herbal teas and special therapies. It tones the body, mind and nerves, purifies the blood and improves mental and physical well-being.

Duration: 90 Minutes A Day For 5 Days, 14 Days Or 21 Days

Spine Care Program

This program includes special treatments for neck pain and lower back pain in conditions such as Spondylosis, Spondylitis etc.

Duration: 90 Minutes A Day For 5 Days, 14 Days Or 21 Days

Skin Care Program

This treatment is for improving the complexion and toning up the body ad includes detoxification and beautification therapies. It is effective in conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, scabies, dermatitis, premature graying/ hair falling etc.

Duration: 90 Minutes A Day For 5 Days, 14 Days Or 21 Days

Good health is like a boon for people. People strive a lot just to maintain good health. Tops foods for good health assist in it as it is full of all the required mineral and vitamins. Health and fitness both are the essential part of healthy life. Healthy diet leads to healthy body and mind. There is variety of tops foods for good health which can help you in gaining good health.

Now people have to do less hunt for getting their living as everything is available at a phone call. It has restricted the life of people and lessens the physical activities done by them which are required to keep fit body. More so, people have become habitual of eating spicy and variety of junk foods which are all very harmful for good health. This change in life style is the major factor responsible for increased health problems. However, becoming healthy and fit is not a big deal, for this you just need to take care for your diet. Foods such as whole gains bread, salads, and nutritive food provide not only energy as well as keep your body fit. Healthy food helps every part of your body in functioning normally.

Top healthy food that should be part of your daily diet are:

o Walnuts, almonds and nuts

o Fruits

o Brown rice and whole grains

o Avocado

o Beans and soy

o Vegetables

o Berries

Nutrients keep your body functioning properly without any disease. If you are taking proper nutrients through tops food for good health then it will automatically keep your body, mind, hormonal changes and metabolic working well. Tops food for good health saves your body from getting damaged due to any disease. Fruits and vegetables are the source of obtaining good health. Fruits are full of nutrition and minerals which keeps your body vigorous. Instead of eating every time you should try to eat less but tops food for good health. Drink enough water especially during summer as it prevents health problems like dehydration.

There are countless benefits of eating healthy as it helps you remain free from any health danger and also assist you in leading a happy life.