health benefits

Benefits of Exercise for the 60-Plus Men

June 20, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Tai chi — Outdoor tai chi practice in Beijing's Temple of Heaven

Exercise has long been touted for its numerous health benefits. Exercise can help one enjoy a strong immune system, large reserves of energy, and the advantage of feeling and looking good. Exercise has been said to prevent aging and delay the damage it does to our body. But would exercise still have the same beneficial effects for those who are already aged? What could be the benefits of exercise for the 60-plus man?

There are many misconceptions that prevent the elderly from enjoying the benefits of exercise in their twilight years. They may avoid exercise because they perceive that it is futile, that exercise would be meaningless for them who are already old. They may perceive that engaging in exercise activities would only put them into greater risk of injury. That they are too old and tired to try exercising, and that they would just get worn down more and accelerate their demise. They may have physical disabilities that prevent them from experiencing a wide range of motion, thus they see no benefit in even attempting to exercise.

Those who believe these misconceptions should see the truth; that exercise at whatever age can accrue numerous health benefits. Exercise, whether for the young, the middle aged or the elderly is sure to improve one’s life. Let us take a look at some of the many health benefits of exercise for the 60-plus man.

As a person ages, his metabolism gradually slows down. This leads to accumulation of fat, leading to obesity and other health disorders. A feeling of bloating, constant fatigue and lack of vigor characterize obese elderly men. Exercise helps burn those excess calories off that would eventually lead to weight loss which can help prevent the occurrence of many health concerns.

Aside from burning fat, exercise can also fine-tune the machinery of the body, making it more capable of performing daily tasks. Exercise in 60-plus men can lower incidences of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure and reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise can help strengthen their muscles and bones, preventing osteoporosis and muscle atrophy. Muscle and bone strength will also be beneficial in improving their mobility, flexibility and coordination to reduce their risk of incurring grave injury.

Aside from these great physical benefits, exercising can benefit the mental welfare of seniors. Exercise helps in prolonging their sleep as well as improving sleep quality. Engaging in exercise can also improve an elderly person’s mental well-being. It promotes a positive outlook in life, enhancing one’s self confidence, self-esteem and thinking. It also makes the brain active, increasing oxygen blood flow and enabling the elderly to avoid debilitating mental disorders.

Cardio exercises for seniors are sure to improve daily energy; rejuvenating them and making them feel young again. Strength training would enhance their ability to withstand and prevent injuries, making them more nimble, less clumsy, and more balanced and coordinated.

Exercises need not be tiring activities for seniors. Daily activities like walking, gardening and doing chores are already forms of exercise. Swimming, dancing and yoga are just some of the more low impact exercises the elderly may want to try to improve their health.

Exercise for the elderly induces many benefits. All that is needed is the willpower to start and try exercises that allow them to gradually improve their health. Growing old need not be and unhealthy prospect, and with the many benefits of exercise for the 60-plus man, it may lead not to a feeling of life slipping away, but of new life starting.

Reference

Sarah Kovatch, M.F.A, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., (2010) Senior Exercise and Fitness Tips How to gain energy and feel stronger retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/life/senior_fitness_sports.htm

Benefits and Side Effects of Castor Seed Oil

June 20, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Castor seed oil is derived from the seed of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis). Many people all over the world use castor oil for its many health benefits. Castor oil however, also has several side effects that many users should be aware of.

Ricinus communis can naturally be found all over the tropics, but it originated from India, Eastern Africa and the South Eastern Mediterranean. It is easily cultivated and can grow to tree-like size. The seed contains a large percentage of oil (40-60%) that contains numerous triglycerides, particularly the compound ricinolein. It is this compound that is responsible for castor oil’s potency as a laxative.

Health Benefits

Castor oil has many health benefits. Cold pressed castor oil has traditionally been used as a skin application to treat rashes, eczema, wounds, and burns. When used on the skin, it can also improve texture and conditioning. It can also reduce outbreaks of acne and pimples. To apply for this use, simply dab a piece of cotton or cloth containing a few drops of castor oil into the area to be treated.

Castor seed oils can also be used to massage swollen joints and tendons, reducing swelling and easing pain. A castor oil wrap can be made by treating a piece of cloth with castor oil, and placing a plastic wrap over it. It can be placed over a tender region, especially sore muscles and arthritic joints. A heat source (warm bottle of water or a heating pad is then placed over the wrap to maximize the effect.

Castor oil has been used in Italy during Mussolini’s fascist regime to induce diarrhea as a form of torture. It can, in moderate amounts, be a very effective laxative. A teaspoon of castor oil taken with lukewarm milk, ginger juice or orange juice can purge the body of toxins and intestinal parasites. The effect starts an hour after taking the concoction. The effect may be unpredictable and can sometimes cause abdominal pain.

Abdominal cramps and headaches can be alleviated by rubbing the oil on the affected area.

Castor oil can be rubbed on the sides of the nose, under the eyes and behind the ears to relieve sinusitis.

A small portion rubbed into the breasts of a lactating woman is traditionally believed to improve the quantity of milk produced.

Applied to hair and scalp, castor oil effectively reduces dandruff and improves hair growth and luster. It can also reduce hair loss.

Applied to fungal infections like athlete’s foot, castor oil is an effective remedy.

Side Effects

The health benefits of castor oil are numerous; however, ingesting castor oil can also lead to several side effects. Castor oil contains the toxic compound ricin which can cause death when ingested in high amounts. Moderately high doses of ingested castor oil exaggerate its laxative effects, causing extreme diarrhea and vomiting. Use of castor oil in persons with intestinal infections or inflammations would further complicate the illness. Pregnant women should take very special care when using castor oil, since it can lead to abortions or premature births. Children should also never take castor oil since it is easy for them to overdose, leading to death. People with kidney disorders should also avoid using castor oil.

Castor oil is highly effective for a number of illnesses. The myriad uses of castor oil makes having a bottle handy in every household a good idea. However, bottles of castor oil should always be kept out of reach of children. Correct castor oil dosage should be followed since it also contains a very potent toxic substance. Proper care should always be used when ingesting castor oil, preferably under a physician’s or herbalist’s guidance.

References

Wedin, G.P., Neal, J.S., Everson, G.W., and Krenzelok, E.P. (1986). Castor bean poisoning. Am J Emerg Med.
Fae, Rita (2007) The benefits of Castor Oil retrieved from http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Alternative-Therapies/Supplements/The_Benefits_Of_Castor_Oil.aspx

Health Benefits of Yohimbe

June 15, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Aphrodisiac, sexual performance booster, libido enhancer, these are just some of the touted health benefits of yohimbe. Yohimbe is the name of an evergreen perennial tree under the genus Rubiaceae. Formerly called Corynanthe yohimbe, Pausynistalia yohimbe is a tree whose bark is utilized by natives as a sexual performance booster. There are thirty two yohimbane alkaloids found in yohimbe, with one in particular, yohimbine which has many medicinal uses.

The tree can be found in Western Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and Congo. Its bark is usually obtained on the onset of the rainy season, when the alkaloids present in it are at their maximum level. Obtaining the bark to get yohimbine would generally kill the tree, and with the high demand for sexual performance drugs, yohimbe tree numbers are experiencing a sharp decline.

Yohimbe has many health benefits. It has been touted as an aphrodisiac due to the potency of yohimbine and other alkaloids found on it. There are some clinical studies that verify yohimbine’s role in sexual performance. In fact, yohimbine hydrochloride is used to treat erectile dysfunction in the United States. It is effective in some but not to all who take it. However, if the person’s problem is non-physical, the effectiveness of yohimbine increases dramatically. It is also taken to enhance, increase and extend libido. Since it is such a promising drug and improvement of sexual performance is such a lucrative business, various studies have been performed with varying results. In animals, it has been shown to reduce after sex recovery time, improve the ability to perform again, and increase the semen load ejected. It has also been tested for its ability to cure orgasmic dysfunction.

The health benefits of yohimbe are said to include fat loss and displacement. It increases lipolysis rates, and it is sometimes applied topically to fat prone areas. However, there is lack of scientific studies to back this claim.

In Africa, yohimbe has been used as a treatment for depression as well as a hallucinogen. This uses have translated into modern times, with yohimbe being used to treat post traumatic stress disorder by aiding in recall of difficult memories. Yohimbe has a synergistic effect with the antidepressants fluoxetine and venlafaxine, improving their potency. However, taking yohimbe if you have depression and mental disorders may further aggravate your condition.

To achieve the health benefits of yohimbe, doses of 10 mg to 30 mg per day is recommended. The aphrodisiac properties of yohimbe are due to its role as a vasodilator. However, it can have many side effects. Palpitations, seizures and kidney damage can be caused by large doses of yohimbe. Other associated side effects of taking yohimbe include dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, and increase in heartbeat rate and blood pressure. Due to the potency of its compounds, yohimbe should never be taken by children, pregnant women and the elderly. Additionally, those with heart, kidney and stomach problems should not take this drug too. Yohimbe can aggravate cases of mental instability. Taking yohimbine or yohimbe should be done under a doctor’s supervision or guidance since there is a narrow avenue between correct and over dosage.

Although it has a multitude of health benefits, the use of yohimbe should be dealt with carefully. Its potency as an aphrodisiac may also lead to several complications that would, needless to say, prematurely terminate any sexual situation. More studies should be performed on the components of yohimbe that bestow upon it such benefits. Proper extraction and purification methods should be researched to improve quality and dosage, so that someday, the health benefits of yohimbe would be enjoyable to all.___

How Many Calories Does Bikram Yoga Burn?

June 14, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

The specific yoga postures done in a hot and humid room can bring you benefits of an aerobic workout.

One look at a yoga practitioner and you wish your body could also manage those difficult poses to attain flexibility and control. The age-old tradition from India has been so appealing that millions of practitioners across the globe dutifully get on to their yoga mats every day to seek wellness of both body and mind.

As several yoga masters moved from India to the West, the healing exercise also went along and the support it enjoyed from celebrities like Madonna, Meg Ryan and Ricky Martin turned yoga into a cult.

From Hatha Yoga to Iyengar Yoga, Viniyoga, and now famous Bikram Yoga and Hot Yoga, the original form has undergone several variations thus attracting so many followers. While some learn the poses for overall wellbeing, others see it as a means to lose weight.

Rigid form of yoga

Bikram yoga, developed by yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, originated from Hatha yoga which consists of different poses. It was developed by Bikram with the help of his master to recover from a debilitating knee injury. The successful recovery led to Choudhury opening schools of Bikram yoga all over India and in other countries.

Bikram yoga is much more rigid than any other form. It consists of a set of 26 particular poses to be done within 90 minutes in a room set at a temperature of 105 degrees and 40 per cent humidity level. In fact, even the classes are held in rooms which need to have specific interiors to the liking of Bikram Choudhury.

Warming up with a breathing exercise, the participants move on to 12 standing postures believed to be good for strengthening focus and concentration. Another 12 postures, this time done on the floor, are performed next before ending the session with another breathing exercise.

The postures have to be done only in this particular sequence within the time period of 90 minutes to reap maximum benefits of the stretching muscles and ligaments.

Students are supposed to avoid changing the sequence and use the mirror in front of them to maintain the correct posture. Despite being different in style, several of the poses being done in Bikram Yoga are common to other forms of yoga. Pranayam, eagle pose, cobra pose, triangle and tree poses are just some of these postures.

How the heat helps

The heat and humid atmosphere of the room allows the body to warm up quickly thus helping perform wide stretches and reducing the risk of injury. The profuse sweating also helps in aiding cleansing of harmful toxins from the body.

It is believed that combination of high temperature and yoga poses recreates the cardiovascular intensity as with any aerobic workout.

Participants of Bikram yoga are suggested 10 sessions within a month to get maximum benefits.

However, the calories burned by Bikram yoga would depend on the practitioner’s weight, fat to muscle ratio and the intensity of exercise. It can range from anywhere between 500 to 1,200 calories. In comparison, an hour and 15 minutes of running can burn 600 calories. This is the reason why Bikram yoga has turned out to be a good weight loss programme which, unlike running, does not impact the joints.

Besides helping you shed the pounds, Bikram yoga is also believed to be helpful in relieving joint pain and promoting flexibility, stamina, and strength besides offering the benefits of meditation. In fact, many of the participants rely on Bikram yoga more as a healing exercise to keep ailments of the body and mind away with regular practice. That calories burned by Bikram yoga add up to a big number is a bonus for them.

The Health Benefits of Seaweed

June 14, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Seaweed is a generic term for a variety of marine plants that have played a vital role in human diet, civilization, and health throughout history. Seaweeds encompass members from many taxa of algae including brown algae (Phaeophyta), green algae (Chlorophyta), and red algae (Rhodophyta). Most seaweed can be obtained along the coast, near estuaries or in shallow to deep water near coastlines and islands. Edible seaweed is either eaten raw, dried, or cooked usually by boiling and frying.

Seaweeds are rich in minerals derived from the sea. Iodine is a particularly abundant element in seaweeds. It prevents the occurrence of goiter in humans. It is responsible for thyroid maintenance, ensuring that hormone production remains unhampered. Calcium content of seaweeds is also very high. This mineral is responsible for maintaining bone health and other body functions. Iron and magnesium, two important minerals, are also found in seaweeds at significant amounts. These minerals increase red blood cell production.

Seaweeds have been known to protect against infection by viruses and bacteria. Sufficient intake of seaweed can lower inflammation in certain body regions. Seaweed has sufficient amount of potassium chloride that can alleviate the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies.

Kelps (Laminaria digitalis and others)

These cold water plants are excellent sources of iodine. They are used as food and medicine in various countries. They are good dietary sources of B vitamins, particularly folate. They contain essential minerals like iron and magnesium. They also contain compounds that ease digestion while reducing fat absorption. Their high growth rate and large size make them easily harvestable, allowing many people to enjoy their health benefits. People in Scotland, Japan, China and Korea all have kelp in their respective cuisines.

Carrageenan or Irish moss (Chondrus crispus)

This plant has been heavily utilized by the food industry due to its capability to form gels. It is a prime component of gelatinous desserts. It is a favorite in western European cuisines, being made into blancmanges. It is a primary source of retinol, as well as iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron and other ions. It is utilized throughout the history of Western Europe as a treatment for tuberculosis, common cold, and urinary disorders. It has also been used to alleviate diarrhea and treat infections.

Dulse/ Dilisk/ Sol (Palmaria palmate)

Palmaria (Rhodomyna) palmata is known as dulse in Scotland, referred to as dilisk in Ireland, and named sol in Iceland. It is widely used as edible seaweed both for human and animal consumption. It contains a significant amount of protein as well as other vitamins and minerals. Of particular note is its beta-carotene content, the precursor of vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that keeps the skin and eyes healthy. The seaweed is also a component of several facial products that invigorate the skin and limit wrinkles.

Nori (Porphyra)

Nori is an integral part of Eastern Asian cuisine. It is usually rolled into mats and served with rice and other ingredients to make sushi. Nori is particularly rich in potassium and vitamin A. It also contains vitamin C, magnesium, and riboflavin.

Conclusion

Throughout history, western and eastern cultures have recognized and enjoyed the health benefits of seaweed. Being the primary source of goiter treatments, seaweed has proven invaluable to civilization. The various health properties of seaweed are significant: it gives essential vitamins and minerals, reduces fat absorption, provides low fat, and treats human illnesses. Humans from the past until the present have availed themselves of the health benefits of seaweed. Why not join them and experience the impact of seaweed on your health.

References

Chapman V.J. (1950) Seaweeds and their uses. London Methuen.

Smith, G.M. (1944). Marine Algae of the Monterey Peninsula, California. Stanford University., 2nd Edition.

Kiwi Health Benefits

June 13, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

The fruit named after a little bird holds many surprises as a compact combination of beneficial nutrients.

Moving from China to New Zealand before landing in United States to be crowned as the most beneficial fruit around, the humble kiwi has travelled a long distance over period of a century. The ovate fruit with a brown fur coat appeals to everyone with its designer emerald green and juicy insides. Its taste evoking a mix of strawberry and banana has been turning addictive for the health conscious populace.

Latest research studies have given kiwi fruit its well-deserved place in the annals of great fruits of the world. And it’s not surprising. When compared with equal amount of other fruits, kiwi scores over apple in dietary fiber, gets better of orange in vitamin C and gives equal fight to banana in amounts of protein, potassium and iron. Besides this all round performance, it also contains copper, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.

High in fiber

The high dietary fiber content helps deal with several diseases including high cholesterol levels, diabetes, colon cancer besides protection against heart disease. According to a research done in Norway, having a kiwi fruit daily can reduce the amount of fat which blocks arteries and causes heart attack. Another research study found that those who eat 2 to 3 kiwifruit per day for 28 days reduce their risk of blood clot formation by 18 per cent as compared to those not having any kiwi fruit at all.

Other health benefits of kiwi fruit include protection against cataract and macular degeneration, the major causes of vision loss in old age. According to a study published in the Archives of Opthamology, eating three or more servings of fruit per day lower your risk of macular degeneration by 36 per cent. Since kiwi provides a great combination of beneficial nutrients in a compact size, it can help meet the necessary nutritional requirement without the need to consume different and bigger fruits.

Most of kiwi fruit is made up of water and takes good care of your waist size with only 61 calories in 100 gram of fruit. The antioxidant benefit of the fruit extends protection to the DNA of human body against cancer-causing mutations.

Helps in chronic conditions

Eating kiwi fruit regularly also helps people with asthma deal with the condition in a much better way. Studies done in Italy on 6-7 year old children found that the fruit keeps respiratory tract in sound health. Children who were fed 5-7 portions a week of citrus and kiwi fruits experienced 44 per cent lower risk of wheezing as compared to those who ate the fruit less than once a week. There was a 32 per cent reduction in shortness of breath, 27 per cent decline in night time cough, 41 per cent fall in severe wheezing, 25 per cent decrease in chronic cough and 28 per cent reduction in incidents of runny nose.

The high amounts of vitamin C and E help protect the body against free radicals hence offering protection against several diseases. Eating 70 gram of kiwi fruit daily can meet your daily vitamin C requirement which is beneficial in reducing the pain in chronic conditions including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis besides ensuring prevention against colon cancer, atherosclerosis, and diabetic heart disease. Vitamin C is also known to strengthen the immune system thus preventing infectious diseases.

You can easily add kiwi to your diet by throwing in some slices with your breakfast cereal, yogurt and even salads. Not only the dishes look glamorous with this exotic addition, the health benefits of kiwi fruit also reach you without much ado.