If your energy level is not what it once was then rest assured there are things you can do to boost it and get yourself back on the vitality train!

Perhaps you have been sick and are only now starting down the path to recovery and healing. Or perhaps you have recently suffered a death in your family and are suffering with emotional turmoil. Or maybe you have just suffered the loss of a job. Or maybe you have just started a new job after coping with the difficulties of being out of work for a number of months.

Whatever has been going on in your life, feeling drained of energy can happen very easily. It can also occur as a result of a number of combined factors. Even the regular stress of living life from one day to the next can adversely affect your energy levels.

Here we examine seven things you can do right now to encourage your energy to be as high as it can be and to get it working for you as opposed to against you!

# 1 – BREAK THE FAST:

Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day. Every day upon rising you need to break the fast that your body has been in all night while you were asleep. Help fuel your metabolism by starting your day with whole grains, fruits and protein.

# 2 – BE A HEALTHY EATER:

The better you eat, the more energy you will have! Make sure your meals and snacks are as healthy as possible. For an energy boost, eat foods that are alkaline-forming. These include leafy green vegetables, almonds, dates, figs, celery, cantaloupe, beets, molasses and parsley.

Make sure you get enough protein in your diet. Cut back on your consumption of sugar. It is also important that you avoid anything that is made with enriched white flour.

# 3 – PRACTICE BREATHING FROM THE DIAPHRAGM:

Breathing from the chest reduces your air flow. In order to help you to relax more and have a greater amount of energy you need to learn how to breathe as deeply as possible. This type of breathing comes from the diaphragm.

Breathe way down deep into your body! Learning (or relearning) how to breathe from your diaphragm will allow your lungs to work at full capacity and will go a long way in nourishing your cells. You should feel good all over as a result!

# 4 – MAKE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY A PART OF YOUR LIFE:

Becoming more physically fit can provide you with an energy level you never even knew you possessed! Regular exercise can give you more energy because it stimulates the heart and provides a steady stream of oxygen to the bloodstream.

The more oxygen your brain receives the better it is for your entire body, and in particular your thinking center – the brain!

# 5 – INCREASE YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION:

If you become dehydrated then your energy levels will take a nose dive. Water is Mother Nature’s cocktail. You may not need to drink six to eight glasses a day but you probably need to increase your H2O intake somewhat. Water is good for you so drink up by all means!

# 6 – TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF:

Be good to yourself. Set aside a few precious minutes a day to relax and do something that makes you feel good or helps you to become calmer or more centered. Read, drink tea, meditate or go for a walk.

# 7 – SLEEP THE NIGHT AWAY:

Trying to get by on too little sleep can drain you of energy very quickly. It can also affect your focus and productivity levels. Aim for seven to eight hours of soothing slumber per night.

Take these simple tips to heart and You’ll soon be experiencing a new you.

Becca Scott writes extensively about hypnosis and alternative health topics. Becca is currently investigating the alternative health industry and you can read how to stay healthy with her secrets at http://alternativehealthfortoday.wordpress.com.

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

According to Steven Laken, a researcher from Johns Hopkins University, of about 130,000 colon cancer cases diagnosed every year, 50 to 85 percent have no significant genetic component. Other researchers guess that 5 to 10 percent of all colon cancer cases are considered hereditary. This is rather interesting because breast cancer cases have the same percentage for genetic factors.

How to know the probability of colon cancer in your family? There are a few things you should do to know if your family has genetic predispositions to this disease. In the past several years, two genetic test types are made available to detect inherited colorectal cancer:

1. HNPCC (Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome) is the most common type of inherited colon cancer. It can be effectively diagnosed by the age forty-five or fifty. Families with this colon cancer type also usually have one or more family members with endometrial, ovarian, or other cancers types. 2. FAP (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) is a rare colon cancer type that usually strikes people under 40 years old. This test is currently commercially available.

Genetic screening for HNPCC or FAP should only be performed along with a dependable genetic counseling and these tests only inform you whether you has a higher than average risks of getting the colon cancer.

Stating the obvious, the earlier someone knows about his/her probability for colon cancer, the better. An expert panel determined that about eighteen thousands lives could be saved every year if they are thoroughly screened by the age of fifty. Routine screening can detect cancers and tumors in their earliest and most treatable stages. If a cancer case is found early, there is a ninety percent chance that it can be cured. However, only forty percent of colon cancers are known early. As mentioned by the Harvard Health Letter, if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the ‘five years’ survival rate drops to fifty percent. If the cancer has spread to the liver, the survival rate drops to less than three percent.

The bottom line is that everyone should to get early screening early and then maintain the schedule (every ten years for a colonoscopy). For people with genetic disposition to colon cancer they should still follow the diet and lifestyle suggestions that can help to prevent colon cancer. The preventive steps may delay the colon cancer development.

In the last article, I’ve revealed that the cause of bad vision is not TV, the lack of carrots, reading in the dark or even genetics. Instead, I proposed that the true cause of bad vision is simply strain. Chronic strain, to be precise.

At the end of that article, I also told you eye exercises is the answer to the relaxation of the eye muscles – and therefore perfect vision. Did you find yourself asking why? Doesn’t it sound strange? How could exercising causes relaxation? Wouldn’t that causes more strain?

I’ll be the first to admit: The term “eye exercises” is a little misleading. When most people hear me say “eye exercises”, they immediately equate it to “eye strengthening exercises”. It’s not. It’s more like “eye relaxing exercises”.

As in “breathing exercises”. Breathing exercises don’t “strengthen” your lungs… they merely allow you to learn how to breathe properly. And once you learned the principles promoted by those exercises, guess what happens to you breathing from then on?

You breath the right way without ever consciously thinking about it.

Well, the same goes for eye exercises. When you perform eye exercises religiously, you’ll inevitably subconsciously learn the principles behind those exercises. And when that happens, you no longer need to consciously do them.

It’s just like dancing. At first you have to learn the rules, watch your step and all that stuff but when you just dance enough times, you just get into the flow.

That’s why eye exercises work. When you learn the principles, you see in a way that relaxes your eye muscles. Easy.

Now, you might have heard some people say that glasses cause the eye muscles to become weak because it’s essentially doing its job – that’s why you need eye exercises to “strengthen” your eye muscles…

My question for them is of course: How did they get weak enough to require glasses in the first place?

So does that mean glasses are harmless? Well, I didn’t say that. In fact, if you ever want to regain perfect vision, the first thing I would advise you to do is to get rid of your glasses, or if you can’t see without your glasses, get a weaker one (about 2 degrees weaker).

Would you like to learn how to do eye exercises? Visit my website now to find out how you can naturally rebuild your vision.

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

Stress brings about many changes to your body and you will be all too aware of the signals you receive from it. What you may not realise is that there is a complex series of chemical messengers that come into play, and the chief of these is adrenaline. it has good intentions as it is preparing you to assuem the ‘fight or flight’ position, but it can over do it and this can have serious effects on your health.

This reflex is governed by our autonomic nervous system and is something we have no control over. WE never have to do anything to keep breathing and our heart beating because this involuntary system is doing it automatically. We don’t have to think about breathing – it is automatic. The autonomic nervous system has two parts; the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nerves and they have totally different and opposite actions. When we are alarmed our heart rate speeds up and that is the sympathetic nerves in action, and when you are calming down it is the parasympathetic nerves which slow the heart rate to it’s normal level.

It is the balance between these two nerves that indicates how you respond to a stressful situation esponse to danger is governed by these two nerves and.

The body’s response: When you face danger the sympathetic nervous system goes immediately into action and stimulates your adrenal glands to secret more of the hormones adrenalin and cortisol. This activity diverts all your other bodily activity away from everyday functions like digestion and directs all its efforts into your muscles so you are ready to run, or stand and fight. To give you more much-needed energy, the amounts of fat and glucose ciruculating in the blood are increased and your breath becomes more rapid in order to draw in more oxygen. You may well have noticed a clear physical sign of stress when you go pale. This is because the blood is literally drained away and sent to areas where it is more needed. You can also probably hear your heart thumping as both your blood pressure and heart rate skyrocket.

This rapid increase in hormonal and nervous system activity can also cause diarrhoea or nausea and the mouth to become dry as the saliva glands reduce their non-essential output. Other changes also occur in our sweat glands as they increase production, so you may experience a ‘cold sweat’ on your skin. When in danger the senses we need are sharpened, so our hearing becomes more acute and our pupils expand to take in as much light as possible so we can see the situation more clearly.

When in a dangerous situation there is always the possibility of injury and so the body prepares itself for the worst by releasing endorphins from the adrenal and pituitary glands as well as the brain to help us deal with any potential pain. Endorphins act like strong painkillers to reduce feeling in the inured area, and also help the blood clot faster so as to speed up the healing process.

All these are excellent defence mechanisms when faced with a serious threat, but unfortunately they arise just the same whether your life is under attack or someone has trodden on your foot in a lift. There is no regulator, and as we rarely encounter life threatening attacks, if we are frequently responding on this level then our body literally becomes exhausted. Plus our hormonal balance is upset by having to throw in all its reserves all of the time. When we are stressed this is what we are doing and why those under constant stress feel so tired and drained.

Of course there are other factors that come into play, and I will examine options and ways of dealing with it in other articles on stress.

Oh dear, don’t tell me you’ve got piles again. Maybe it’s the pain when you pass a bowel movement or possibly it is bleeding. Maybe it’s simply the itching all through the day that makes it hard to concentrate on your job or what you are doing. It must have crossed your mind more than a few times whether piles can be cured. So with this said, this article will discuss if you can cure piles naturally.

To begin with it has to be pointed out that there are symptoms and symptoms. Pain and bleeding are typical symptoms that you have piles. Having piles are a symptom of something else going on in the body. Solving that other thing that is going on in the body is the key to cure piles naturally.

Although we do not know everything about the condition, we do know that constipation is a leading cause of piles. By avoiding constipation, you can minimize the chances of getting hemorrhoids. Again, constipation can happen for any number of reasons. It could be stress related for instance. It could be diet related. It could be a lifestyle issue such as a sedentary existence. It could be all of the above. Only you know the answer to those questions for yourself.

If it is stress related then you have to identify the source of stress. Work out how to stop this stress or a coping strategy for it if it is impossible to completely eradicate. For instance, if work is stressful but you can’t give it up then a simple coping strategy might be a hobby or something that you could derive genuine satisfaction out of.

If it is diet related then you are probably eating the wrong foods or not getting enough of the right foods. Constipation can be cured by eating more fiber. Fiber foods such as vegetables and fruit are not so bad to eat but even if you don’t like these types of foods you still have choices. More products like cereals and even spreads and drinks have increased fiber alternatives. Check some of them out some time.

Do you Want to get rid of hemorrhoids for good, click here for more details of how you could be hemorrhoids free in 48 hours.

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

We have all suffered from constipation at one time or another. An occasional episode of constipation is normal when it is brief and easily resolved. If constipation happens frequently and continues until you have intervened with a remedy, it is time to take a look at your lifestyle choices. Prevention is the best cure for constipation.

Here are some tips for preventing constipation:

* Drink plenty of water: We hear this time and time again in reference to living a healthier life. Our cells need hydration to stay well. Drinking one half of your body weight in ounces of water is ideal. For example, if you weigh one hundred and fifty pounds, you should drink seventy five ounces of water a day. You will find that this will not only help with constipation, it will boost your metabolism and energy, making it easier to lose weight and exercise. Commit to it for one week and see what kind of difference it makes in your life.

* Make good food choices: With the busy lives we all live, convenience has become the word of the day. Packaged, processed food or fast food have become all too common as the core of our diets. Ditch the unhealthy foods for fresh foods high in vitamins like fruits and vegetables. Raw vegetables are the best for constipation and they will also give you fiber in your diet that you definitely need to prevent constipation. Whole wheat breads and cerals are another good choice to up your fiber intake.

* Get moving: Exercise does not have to hurt to be effective. Of course, the more exercise, the better for your health. But even a thirty minute walk several days a week will bring you serious benefit. If you can’t do thirty minutes, start out with ten and work your way up. Getting up and moving will definitely help to lessen your chances of becoming constipated.

Following these easy tips to prevent constipation will keep you from having to deal with the uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. When constipation is ongoing, or if you notice blood in your stool, you should consult your doctor to rule out a more serious condition.

Visit my site to learn about constipation and ways to prevent and treat it. Be sure and read my article about cures for the stomach bloating you may experience along with constipation.

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

A person uses their hands in almost everything they do, from turning off the morning alarm clock, preparing and eating their breakfast, placing a call on their phone, even scratching their leg. Hands are oh-so necessary! Here are five of some of the most common hand injuries.

1) Broken bones are a common hand injury. There are many delicate bones in a person’s hands and how they are aligned is of utmost important to the way they perform. If you feel you may have a fracture, it is important to see a physician who will perform an x-ray and exam to determine if and where the break is.

Some symptoms include pain, swelling, inability to move the fingers properly, and deformity. If you do have a break, your physician will most likely treat it by resetting it into correct position, then applying a cast or splint. At times this may need to be followed up by physical therapy.

2) Burns are another common hand injury because of the amount of time they are right in the thick of our work: in cooking, working with electricity, tending fireplaces, camping cookouts, etc. The first thing that should be done in the case of a burn is to submerge the skin in cold water.

Never put butter (which was an old wives’ tale of the past) on a burn, as that holds the heat in, allowing more damage to the skin. The cold water will stop the burning from progressing into other tissues. If the damage appears severe, seek medical attention right away.

3) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a painful condition brought on by diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism. It can also be brought on by obesity, pregnancy or repetitive movement. It is due to swelling in the hand and wrist area which affects the nerves in the area.

This can lead to pain, numbness, tingling and loss of strength. There are exercises which can help mild cases or even in the prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

4) Nail bed injuries occur in the fingernail portion. They are usually due to a blow with a heavy object such as a hammer during carpentry work or being inadvertently slammed in a door. Swelling occurs under the nail bed, causing pain and inflammation.

It is a good idea to see a physician in any other than mild cases, because deformity and infection can occur. Fluid and blood may need to be drained by the physician, which will reduce pressure and allow the area to heal.

5) Lacerations are cuts. Mild lacerations can be treated at home with a cleansing and topical antibacterial cream, but a deep cut, one that exposes bone and muscle will need to be stitched up in order to properly heal.

For hand injury patients in Houston, hand surgeon who is board certified and experienced can help you in treating all your hand related problems. To get personalized treatment and to schedule a consultation, visit http://www.cyfairhandandwrist.com

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

Here’s a really simple way to help lower your cholesterol: fish oil. I know you may have heard various claims about this on the news or in a magazine, but I’m here to tell you that it’s true. Let me explain.

As you probably already know, there are two major lipoproteins in cholesterol: HDL (high-density) and LDL (low-density). High-density is considered “good” while low-density is considered “bad”. Here’s why: low-density lipoproteins are taken up by receptors on various cells, which means that they stick around to various parts of the body, such as your arteries. Overtime, the accumulation of it can lead to clogged arteries and other deadly heart problems.

On the other hand, HDL works like Pacman, picking up cells such as LDL and transporting them either to other fat cells in the body or directly to the liver, thereby keeping the “bad” lipoproteins from clogging arteries and causing other problems. Therefore, high levels of HDL are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease while low levels are associated with a higher risk, and vice versa for LDL.

So where does fish oil come in?

First, the fatty acids found in oily fish are very effective at preventing clumpiness and stickiness in the blood, therefore increasing blood flow throughout the body, including the arteries.

Second, the DHA present in omega 3 fatty acids has been proven to lower the levels of small, dense particles of low-density lipoproteins, which are associated with heart disease.

Third, while total high-density levels remain unchanged by omega 3 supplements, larger, more buoyant particles are increased, which is beneficial to cardiovascular health.

There have been numerous studies done about the link between the fatty acids found in fish oil and lowered cholesterol, however that’s not the only health benefit of omega 3 fatty acids. It’s also linked to lowered triglycerides, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart irregularities such as arrhythmia, and decreased circulatory problems as well as numerous other benefits for overall health.