Latest Lifestyle Articles

How To Apply pH 8.0 - 10.0 Kangen Water Into Your Life Today

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:19:11 -0800

From the highly strong water used for cleaning purposes to the flavorful water perfect for drinking, you certainly do not want to overlook the impact this can have on life. Here are six ways to apply pH8.0 to 10.0 Kangen water into your life. Kangen water has quickly made a name for itself with the tremendous water quality it has to offer.

1. Food preparation

With many fruits and vegetables, you are going to want to properly clean with effective water. This type of water is perfect for removing the harsh tastes you would typically get from vegetables like onions and potatoes. You can even soak liver and any other kind of meat that has a bad odor in the water for 20 to 30 minutes to truly get the impact of the meat.

2. Drinking

By now you are probably well aware of the recommendation that you should be drinking eight glasses of water a day. However, you are not going to benefit whatsoever if you are drinking water filled with contaminants. Kangen water has no unpleasant odors as it delivers a pleasant and delightful flavor.

3. Coffee and tea

You will be amazed at the difference in taste, color and aroma of your coffee and tea once applying Kangen water. Instead of wasting an entire package of tea or a great deal of coffee, you can use more water while still getting the same impact of flavor. Who knew water could do such a thing?

4. Crafts

The final way you can enjoy this water is with enjoyable arts and crafts. This is perfect for dyeing purposes and many other crafts that you may want to give a go at. It is a great way to bring to life the many colors you use with your art.

5. Animals

While you want to take care of you and your family, you certainly want to make sure your animals are living a healthy and fulfilling life. You will find that your animal's health will drastically improve leaving you to wonder how you ever got away with just tap water. The unpleasant body odor and odor from feces and urine that you have grown accustomed to will quickly dissipate.

6. Health

In addition to taking advantage of your animal's health, you also need to pay attention to your own health. By drinking two to four liters of Kangen water a day, you may be able to change your acidic constitution to an alkaline constitution. If you are consistent with your drinking, you will even be able to replenish your calcium levels.

Losing Weight: Redefine "Full" in Four Steps

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:27:09 -0800

Overeating is about more than reckless epic binges or always ordering the double large portion from your favorite restaurant. In many cases it can actually be a very subtle occurrence, done one small step at a time rather than in a big and noticeable way. For example, do you frequently find yourself eating just a little too much, so you feel lethargic or uncomfortable after most meals? Do you look at your empty plate, decide to have just a bit more, and find yourself regretting it half an hour later?

These are classic signs of overeating, and they are entirely manageable with good habit building. Remember the basic truth about replacing bad habits with good ones: it only takes 30 to 60 days to get a good habit established.

Just the Right Amount Leaves You Feeling Just Right

We've discussed the difference between cravings and hunger before, and this article touches on a similar subject. Our perception of hunger and satisfaction can lead us astray if we're not used to reading that perception properly. We sometimes eat quickly and think we're still a bit hungry once our plate is cleaned, so we try to have a bit more. The problem is that our body often is a little slow to realize the stomach is full, and thus we outrun our senses and overeat until we feel too full.

There are some signs you can use to recognize if you're overeating. Frequently suffering from post-food coma and lethargy is a sure sign of overeating. You should never feel bloated after a meal. You should feel comfortable, without either aches from too much food or pangs from having too little. Instead, recognize the sense of equilibrium, feel that you've had just enough and feel good from it.

Four Keys to Feeling Properly Full

As with all good habits, developing a proper sense of satisfied fullness is not one big step that is accomplished overnight, but a series of distinct elements that can be tackled one at a time to make the task easier and more manageable.

1. Take control of every meal. Don't eat just because, or haphazardly put a meal together. Measure out your proper portions as per the diet plan you've chosen to follow, and build your meal around those portions. Part of irregular feelings of hunger or fullness can come from unexpected changes in portion size, so try to keep your meals regular and let your body adapt to this pattern.

2. Ditch second helpings. Put everything you intend to eat on your plate immediately. Don't build up a large pile of food so you can go back for seconds, but rather put your intended meal on the plate and in front of you. Similar to the trick of closing the kitchen for the evening, this helps you build a habit and personal willpower necessary for controlling your diet. You have your meal in front of you, so you don't need to go back to the kitchen for any other helpings.

3. Wait for the signs. Once you have finished eating, it is important to consider that it can take twenty minutes for the stomach to send signals to your brain that you're full. Set a timer for twenty minutes once your meal is done, and let your body have a chance to process these signals. Water is a valuable tool here. If you still want seconds, have a glass of water to provide a sense of fullness without adding unneeded calories.

4. Know the feeling. After these twenty minutes, consider how you feel hunger-wise. In most cases you will probably feel satisfied - no too hungry, and not too full. This is what it feels like to be politely full, and is the benchmark you want to reach for. If you still genuinely feel hungry, you may wish to reconsider the portions size you're having at dinner, in the future. You shouldn't have to go back to the kitchen for food after a meal.

Using these four tactics when you eat will build a healthy habit of knowing when you are full to cut down on unhealthy overeating.

A Thought on Low-Calorie Food

Lower-calorie food can be good for you. However, it is not carte blanche to eat large portions of food. If you train yourself to eat larger portions of low-calorie food, chances are you'll soon overeat on higher calorie food as well. The trick is to train your body to accept reasonable portions, so you can benchmark your degree of hunger and eat appropriately.

Again, this is an easy step that can help you build that 30-60 day healthy habit. Training yourself to feel full once your body has taken in all the food it needs makes dieting in general much easier, and makes you feel better to boot. Take your time, enjoy your meal, and then check yourself after twenty minutes to begin feeling properly full.

Losing Weight - S.T.O.P. and Shed Inches

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:53:56 -0800

One of the most interesting truths is that we are our own worst enemies. We can be full of confidence, exuberance, and encouragement for our friends and families. We'll exhort them to quit smoking, support them in taking the time to exercise, and compliment them on even the slightest loss in weight.

When it comes to ourselves, however, we're often full of discouragement, disbelief, and disheartening diatribes. We sabotage our own efforts through negative thinking and end up setting ourselves back when we don't have to. Then, over time, these negative thoughts become a habit, one that we repeat until it is almost instinctive and we never believe we can do anything because we're habitually used to thinking we cannot.

However, in the very thing that is robbing us of motivation lies the strength to overcome this negativity. Since it is our own thoughts and emotions slowing us down, our own thoughts and emotions can be redirected toward improving ourselves as well. There is a method for taking control of our thoughts and that little voice in our heads, a method called S.T.O.P.

S.T.O.P. it in its Tracks

As we've discussed before, there's no better time to fix a problem than right now. This method works for any negative thinking, but we'll start to get into the habit of using it for weight loss. The very next moment you feel yourself listening to that negative voice, step into the S.T.O.P. Mode immediately.

S - SAY 'STOP' aloud in a strong, calm voice. Tell yourself firmly that you are not going to over think your weight worries by dwelling on all the ways it could go wrong. You are in control.

T - TAKE a deep breath, and then TAKE a break. You've gone into a bad place when you start worrying and hearing that voice so get yourself into a good place to feel better. Take a quick walk to invigorate yourself, or put on some uplifting and encouraging music. By taking yourself out of the negative mental environment and putting yourself in a positive one, you improve your mood and STOP that voice from having control.

O - Remember to focus on the OUTCOME that you want. More comfortable clothing, healthier joints, easier breathing, the ability to go more places and have more fun - this isn't just about the goal of losing weight, it's about the wonderful benefits that will come with it. Focusing on the brass ring helps you forget about the trouble of the journey, and even makes it more enjoyable.

P - PRAISE yourself for what you've accomplished. Ignore any voice that says it doesn't matter - every step you take helps and makes a positive difference. Walking up an extra flight of stairs, replacing a bad snack with a healthier one, closing the kitchen to late night snacking, these are all steps you've taken that deserve a moment of recognition. You are doing a good job, and you should let yourself know it.

Why S.T.O.P. Works

People don't simply start having generalized negative thoughts; so simply 'thinking positively' isn't going to work as a means of combating them. Instead people begin thinking negatively on one thing at a time. Forgetting a healthy snack and spending a dollar on a candy bar for example - you've made a lapse and you start feeling bad for it. Then you start to go from that thought to others, creating a cycle that ends in you wanting to give up the whole thing.

This is where S.T.O.P. has its greatest strength. It is a specific, step-by-step process that you can work through, just as you had to work through a number of thoughts to let that negative voice start taking over. It interrupts the cycle of feeling badly immediately and starts a cycle of positive reinforcement that builds you up step by step, rather than trying to combat specific worries with vague feel-good thoughts.

Starting S.T.O.P. and Keeping it Going

Like any good habit, the S.T.O.P. method takes about sixty days to cultivate. This is why it is important to begin practicing it now. You likely have a very long, well-established habit of thinking negatively, so it is important to give your new, healthy habit time to take root as soon as you can. Start with the technique right away, even as you read this article. If you find yourself feeling silly for saying "STOP" out loud, say it again! Beginnings are always a challenge, but you can and will do it.

Also, it is important to note that this technique is built on real results. That positive reinforcement you're giving yourself gets even stronger when you tie it to a specific, measurable goal that you have set and achieved. Go back to your food journal and show yourself how many calories you've cut out of your diet, and PRAISE yourself for them. Compare where you are to your OUTCOME, and tell yourself just how far you've made it. Take every advantage you can, and integrate the S.T.O.P. habit into your other habits.

The important thing to remember is that this is one more small, but strong step you can take. Journeys and problems are broken down piece by piece, they never happen all at once. You don't have to focus on 'losing weight,' but on accomplishing this specific habit. When you manage to take on these habits a bit at a time, the weight loss will follow as naturally as waking follows sleep. Good luck. You can do it.

The Benefits of Showering

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:41:13 -0800

Showers can often be seen as a mandatory daily exercise to get you a fresh burst of water for the day ahead, whether it is working, going to school enjoying a leisurely day at the shops. Whilst a shower can be quite invigorating there are a number of benefits in addition to getting clean.

Improving Circulation

A sluggish circulation system can result in cold hands and feet during the winter months which can be quite uncomfortable. This problem can be alleviated to some extent in alternating the temperature of your shower between hot and cold and despite the extremities it is beneficial. To get started you need to turn your shower to cold so shut your eyes and brace yourself, splashing your face with water in order to get used to it. The temperature can be increased while you wash but when you are finished turn the temperature down again to finish off. Not only will this routine improve your circulation but it will also make your hair shiny, a fantastic 2 in 1.

Easing Aching Muscles

Whilst relaxing in a bath can sometimes be extremely tempting after spending time in the gym or after a long day at the office a shower can work just as well in revitalising you, providing you have the right shower. A power shower or a shower attached to a high pressure central heating system is perfect with the strong jet of water hitting your aching parts. The hot water is a perfect source of relaxation leaving you ready for another workout at the gym or another day in the office.

Continued use of this ritual can ensure that your aches and pains are easily and effortlessly washed away.

Helping to Lift Depression

When showers are used in conjunction with aromatherapy oils, showers can help lift your mood, or even ease depression. You can add a few drops of bergamot or orange essential oils to the shower tray, and let the steam lift it up to your face. Inhale deeply as you shower to reap the maximum benefits. There are a variety of scents available from those that wake you up in the morning to those that send you to sleep and even those that get you in the mood.

Increasing your Libido

Contrary to popular belief, a cold shower can actually boost a man's production of testosterone, making him more likely to want sex, not less. If you feel your love life needs a bit more sparkle, get your man into a cold shower every morning - even if you have to push him!

Strengthening your Immune System

Cold showers can actually stimulate your immune defences and protect you against colds and flu, surprisingly enough. The coldness helps release toxins from your body tissue, stimulates your circulation and cleanses the circulatory system, sending oxygen to your organs and blood.

Best Canadian Ice wine, Riesling Ice wine Producers, Niagara Ontario

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:28:36 -0800

Ever wonder why the winters are so cherished in Canada, if yes then you must have either heard about or must be privileged enough to taste the Canadian Ice wines known for their rich taste. But if you are not even aware of it then you must go through this writing to know about the most treasured item in Canadian winters.
Ice wines from Canada are the rare dessert wines made from frozen grapes. The entire process of preparing Ice wines is chilling and consumes considerable effort in terms of time and labour. The frozen grapes are handpicked from the vine fields at a freezing temperature of -10 to -13°Celcius. As the grapes freeze, they are dehydrated leaving a highly concentrated residual consisting of sugar, acids and extracts. The juice so obtained after crushing the grapes is allowed to ferment gradually for months to produce Ice Wine.
The balancing tension between the sweetness and acidity content gives Ice wine is signature taste. Though time consuming, the procedure is completely manual and no machines are involved. Also the resultant wine is very little in amount. This accounts for the expensive nature of naturally produced Canadian Ice wines.
Being the largest producer of Ice wine Canada offers an exclusive range of Ice wines namely Vidal, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Oak aged ice. These wines have acquired their name from the type of grapes they are produced and include Riesling Vidal Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Each offers a distinctive taste to satisfy your senses and add warmth to your winters.
Given the variety, Ice wine can be consumed in different ways and one can enjoy it with, before and after dinner with a variety of food items depending upon the interest and preferences.
Canadian Ice wines are a source of pleasure in winters and bound to give you the most excellent moments which you may want to last forever.
To give you the Canadian Ice wine experience, Peller Estates Icewine brings the original Vidal, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Oak aged and Ice Cuvee Ice wines to devour upon. It offers a complete guide to your Ice wine adventure with its Icewine Cuisines and Cocktails.
With partners in US & UK, Peller Estates Icewine is the leading manufacturer of Canadian Ice wine and the receiver of prestigious Awards at the world’s finest wine competitions. To gain more knowledge, visit www.pellericewine.com .

Losing Weight - Take Control of Late Night Snacking

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:46:07 -0800

First of all let's get something straight: We have all been there. It gets late at night, we've had a long day and we feel those hunger pangs hit us. We don't want to make a big meal, so we reach for that snack instead.

Of course when it's late at night it's all too easy for that snack to be something calorie-laden, like a big bowl of ice cream. Unfortunately this is a decision that sets many people back. It sneaks in extra calories that undo our hard work earlier in the day, messes with brain chemistry and can throw our sleep schedule for a loop as we try to go to bed with full stomachs. Yet like every other behavior we've discussed, we can control late night snacking through the formation of healthy, specific habits. It can be as easy as 1-2-3, as we've outlined below.

Habit One - Preemptive Snacking

The preemptive strike is an idea borrowed from the military; if you know trouble is coming, take control by moving first instead of waiting it out. One of the most common admissions among late night snackers is that we know it's a habit. We go for the same snacks night after night, in our little bedtime ritual, because we often get hungry at the same time every evening. Instead of just letting the problem keep coming up right when we're at our most tired and weakest, why don't we find a way to stop it while we're at our peak?

In other articles, we've discussed the power of controlled snacking throughout the day to manage pangs and cravings. Late night cravings aren't a special case, and can be managed much the same way. Earlier in the day we can choose a healthy snack for ourselves instead. A tasty peppers-and-avocado sandwich, a few slices of apple, a handful of nuts; the variety of healthy choices is endless, so find your taste and make it up in advance. Perhaps include making the snack while you're making lunch or breakfast, and set it aside to wait.

Once a healthy alternative is chosen and reserved specifically for our evening enjoyment, it is important to pick the time that we have our snack. Since going to sleep on a full belly can cause all sorts of trouble for our sleep patterns and brain chemistry, ideally our last meal should be three hours before bed. But be sure not to wait too long between snack and bed because new cravings can cause our resolve to weaken.

Shifting the habit: To ease into your new routine, start out by having your snack about 1.5 to 2 hours before your bedtime. This is a narrow enough window that your body can have a chance to settle its meal and let you rest properly without disrupting your rest cycle too much. After a day or two to get used to this schedule, begin moving the time back by five minutes each night. Each step gives you more time between meal and bed, and in 30-60 days you'll be regularly enjoying your nightly snack 3 hours before bedtime without fail.

Habit Two - Closing the Kitchen

Controlling our environment is an important step in controlling our diet. Smokers trying to quit often report that it's hardest to do when others around them are smoking, or when they put themselves in an environment where smoking is an option. The same holds true for snacking; when we see the option readily available, it gets harder to say no. So one important step once we've had our healthy pre-bed snack is to close the kitchen for the night.

Shifting the habit: The trick here is to use mnemonic devices and environmental clues to help take control. Don't go to the kitchen for your last snack absently, head there while saying, "This is my last trip to the kitchen tonight." Mark the time, have your snack, and then say "closing time" aloud. Make a sign in big letters saying 'CLOSED' and hang it on the door to the kitchen, or over the refrigerator handle. Put up clues to remind yourself that you've made the commitment and you are going to stick to it!

Habit Three—Setting the Scene

Once the kitchen is officially "closed," help redirect your mind from snacking mode to bedtime mode. With a few subtle changes, you can psychologically prepare yourself for rest, relaxation and, eventually, sleep—an equation that doesn't have room for snacking.

Shifting the habit: Floss and brush your teeth immediately after your snack instead of waiting until you go to bed, so you have a sense of being done for the day. Also, light a scented candle or incense to replace the scent of food aromas that may linger and distract you from your commitment.

Again, late night snacking is nothing to feel ashamed of. Our bodies get hungry, and sometimes we actually do need to eat a bit more food. The key is understanding that if we take in more calories than we burn, we're not going to lose the weight and maintain healthy eating habits. But it is also important to understand that it only takes small steps and habits that we can build with only 30 to 60 days of work to take back control of our snacking tendencies, and make them work for us instead of against us.

The Dress Code - Five Steps to a Greener Wardrobe

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:19:54 -0800

In the last few weeks, we've discussed a number of healthy ways to live, ranging from proper diet and skin care to the values of recycling and green living. The message of a green lifestyle is simple: We care about our planet, and want to leave it as good as we found it and even better, for our children and for everyone. The wonderful thing about this is that there are countless ways to live green.

For example, consider the budding green and organic clothing movement. While the idea of organic clothing might sound a bit unusual at first, it really is an extension of the idea of organic food. Clothes are often made from plant materials like cotton, and these can be grown under organic conditions just like food products. With that in mind, here are five ways you can start dressing green.

Dress Code #1 - Shop Organic

The most straightforward and quickest way to get into some green attire is to find green and organic clothing outlets. There are literally dozens of such stores online, for a start. A quick Google search for ‘Green Clothing' comes up with a number of promising hits, such as Fashion and Earth, and White Apricot, both of which have significant green-oriented fashion sections.

When it comes to local stores there are sometimes fewer choices. Clothing retail markets can be dominated by chain stores or specialized stores catering to specific body types or enthusiast niches. This doesn't mean there aren't any such places; just that they may take a bit more digging to find than the online options might call for. However, some chain stores are responding to consumer demands by offering Organic items.

Dress Code #2 - Make the Most of What You Have

An important theme in sustainable living is longevity. Buying a new set of organically made shirts for school is a wonderful step, but if it leads you to throw out perfectly usable shirts that you already have available, then how much good has actually been done? Clothes that you already own are a wonderful way to focus on sustainable fashion. They don't cost you anything extra to buy or require any new materials to make.

Of course if the clothes don't fit anyone in the house, there isn't a great deal of sense in keeping them around just in case. However, there are alternatives to simply scrapping them. If they're in good condition, consider donating them to a charitable organization. Or, if they're worn out past the point of decency, they make great scrap material for clothing patches, art projects, or even just washrags.

Dress Code #3 - Watch How You Wash

It takes a lot of resources to wash clothes. Apart from the water itself, there's the energy needed to power the washing machine and dryer, and if you're doing a hot-water wash that will take up still more electricity. These are resources generated in most cases by fossil fuels, and easing our dependence on these is an important part of living sustainably.

When shopping for clothes, pick out ones you can run through a cold water wash cycle. During warmer months, air-dry your clothes on clotheslines instead of relying on the dryer. As for the clothes you already have, consider replacing or repurposing the ones that require warm washes first, rather than the cold-wash friendly ones. Also, try to avoid or at least limit the number of outfits that need dry cleaning.

Dress Code #4 - Shop Smart, Save Money

We can save and reuse what outfits we already have, but we're eventually going to need to get new clothes. If we want to choose green fashions, it sometimes can cost a pretty penny. This is one of the toughest limiting factors on many green choices, and clothing is no exception.

Fortunately, there are always sales. Check with the online companies and watch for weekly discounts and special bargains. Do some research, bide your time, and buy when you can get the very best deals for your dollars.

Dress Code #5 - The Web is Your Friend

In addition to the many online shopping opportunities, the Web has an abundance of purely informative websites, with numerous articles available for just about any curiosity that strikes your mind. This includes information on sustainable living in all stripes, clothing choices included. One really great resource that some people just don't seem to be aware of is the Internet discussion group.

There are dozens of forums, blogs, and other kinds of communities where like-minded people gather together and find relevant things to talk about, green living included. See if there's a community that you're interested in and join up. You may find a great deal on clothing, or learn a cheap way to make patterns for home sewing attempts. The information is out there, ready for the taking.

Dressing green is about much more than making sure your clothing is made from all-natural, fair-trade materials - though these are very important, too. It's about a big picture mindset, and about taking many small steps to make the best of everything you have available to you. There is no one step that will make the world green, but rather many small, easy steps that we can all start taking right now.

How to know when a Family Member needs Addiction Treatment

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:30:52 -0800

The last thing you want to face is a family member who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. While this may not be a pleasant situation, it is not one that you should run from. Remember, now is the time that your family member needs you the most. If you run and hide you are only adding to the problem.

Here are a few ways to know when a family member needs professional treatment:

1. From the start. You don't want to wait too long to find professional help for your family member. The longer you wait the worse off things can get. It would be in your best interest to seek addiction treatment early on.

2. When you cannot help on your own. There is nothing wrong with trying your own intervention with other family members and friends. Often times this is something that is very effective. But again, do not wait too long to try this. You want to stop the problem dead in its tracks.

3. When they ask for it. If you are open to helping there is a chance that you will be asked. But if you are closed off and not showing any interest in the situation, you may be pushing the person into a worse problem. You are family; make sure you do what you can to help.

If you know a family member needs addiction treatment now is the time to stop to the place and do what you can. The above three details should give you further information on what to look for.

Your Healthy Life: Dietary Fiber

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:16:35 -0800

When people talk about dietary fiber, they immediately think of older people taking large fiber tablets. The truth is, proper fiber intake can benefit everyone at any age. Fiber intake can help ease digestion and it can also lower cholesterol, which is a leading cause of heart disease, making it a highly effective, multi-purpose treatment for healthy living.

What's interesting about fiber is that it isn't an essential nutrient in the sense that a body absolutely requires it for survival or adds something missing from the body. Instead, dietary fiber is a nutrient that helps act against harmful processes such as blood sugar variations, high cholesterol, and digestive discomfort.

Soluble vs. Insoluble

As far as dietary fiber is concerned, there are two types; soluble and insoluble. These have different effects that are all essential to a healthy body.

Both types of fiber provide bulk to any meal, lending to a feeling of fullness. This can reduce appetite and lead to eating smaller portions that can help weight control as well as provide the other digestive benefits expected of fibers.

Soluble Fiber prevents constipation by keeping the body's digestion process regular and steady. It also reduces the time digestive toxins remain in the system, which promotes a healthier digestive system as a whole. It helps regulate the pH of the intestines, helping prevent the development of colon cancer.

Soluble fiber also bonds with water to form a gel that limits the absorption of glucose, which keeps blood sugar stable and limits spikes or valleys in your glucose level. This helps reduce the possibility of metabolic syndrome (a combination of medical disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease) or the onset of diabetes.

It is soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol, both the total cholesterol and the low-density lipoprotein, (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) which leads to heart disease. Cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This results in a hardening of the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Blood flow is drastically reduced, blood pressure rises, and oxygen carried to the heart is reduced. This puts extra strain on the entire system, eventually leading to heart attacks or outright heart failure. In many ways, controlling the level of LDL cholesterol in the body is the most beneficial result of proper soluble fiber intake.

Green vegetables such as peas and various beans, oats, and rye are good sources of soluble fiber. Good fruits include the inside of apples and pears, as well as bananas, plums and prunes. Oats, barley, and rye are good grain sources, and the skins of root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots can also be beneficial. Stringy green vegetables like broccoli and artichokes shouldn't be neglected either.

Insoluble fiber also helps keep the digestive system's pH in balance, reducing gastric acid buildup and keeping the digestive system regular. Irregular bowel function is more than an inconvenience - it can also lead to dehydration and lower gastro-intestinal tract injury. Regular body function also helps reduce physical and emotional stress, further contributing to overall wellness.

Whole grain foods are an important source of insoluble fiber. It may be a good idea to switch out your artificially enriched sweet white bread for organic, whole grain breads made with 100% wheat and grains. Nuts and seeds are another good source of insoluble fiber that can be had as a tasty snack instead of a heavy meal. Just make sure they aren't heavy in salts.

How Much is Enough?

Dietary recommendations for a 2000-calorie daily diet include twenty to thirty five grams per day. Children have different needs, however, and it is recommended that they should have a number of grams equal to their age plus five (so an eight year old would require 13 grams per day).

The elderly and the ill have their own requirements. Certain medications such as painkillers can interact in unexpected ways with fiber, so a doctor should be consulted in these cases.

Making the Commitment

Dietary fiber is an important nutrient. However, as with many commitments to better health, it doesn't require a complete dietary change. Instead, the best method is to gradually include new sources of fiber into your existing diet. Consider trading white bread for a whole grain loaf and replacing chip or cracker snacks with high-fiber, low salt nuts. Vegetables and fruits that are high in fiber can also be blended into smoothies or shakes, making getting your daily fiber as easy as having a healthy beverage at the beginning and the end of each day.

Perhaps the best advice is to take a look at what you're already eating, talk to a dietician, and modify your diet to fit your personal needs. There are dozens of resources available for research on nutritional information, from government and independent sources alike. The results of these changes will definitely be helpful, leaving you nothing to lose but poor health.

Skin Tears and Treatment through Wound Be Gone

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:12:55 -0800

The skin is the largest organ of the body and often the most forgotten. Skin is exposed daily to numerous environmental risks of irritants and chemicals, as well as to physical and mechanical injury. One such injury is a skin tear, defined as a traumatic wound resulting from separation of the epidermis from the dermis. It is usually related to friction and/or shear force.

How are skin tears caused?

When skin tears are reported to healthcare professionals, the cause of the injury often is not known. When the cause is known, they are often linked to the following events: wheelchair injuries (25%), blunt trauma from accidentally bumping into objects (25%), transfers (18%), and falls (12.4%). It has also been concluded that the key times when skin tears occur are during peak activity hours, from 6:00 to 11:00 am and from 3:00 to 9:00 pm. Skin tears result from shearing, friction, or blunt trauma that causes separation of skin layers. The subsequent wounds are partial- or full-thickness, depending on the degree of tissue damage. Subtle skin changes associated with aging increase the risk of skin tear development and interfere with the healing of the skin tear. Aging skin undergoes a process in which it experiences dermal and subcutaneous tissue loss, epidermal thinning, and serum composition changes, which cause decreased skin surface moisture. The skin's elasticity and tensile strength decrease as these other changes occur. Dehydration, poor nutrition, cognitive impairment, altered mobility, and decreased sensation can also increase skin tear risk.

Skin tears are a painful, yet preventable problem. In the United States, reports show that 1.5 million skin tears occur each year in institutionalized adults. These types of wounds pose a potentially serious and painful problem for the older adult population, who are at a higher risk for skin tears. Such wounds can cause stress to both patients and their families. The result of the physical changes associated with aging and coexisting illnesses can be very difficult to manage. Thus, it is imperative that healthcare professionals identify those at risk for skin tears and establish plans of care that will address prevention, as well as evidence-based management of these wounds. Compared with more extensive and costly chronic ulcers, skin tears are often seen as minor, inconsequential wounds. But in reality, these wounds are painful and can lead to potential complications if not treated appropriately.

How can skin tears be prevented?

Following should be considered if patient is at risk of having a skin tear:

• Educate staff on the importance of carefully handling elderly patients with
frail skin. Any harsh movement or pulling can create a skin tear.
• Encourage proper positioning, turning, lifting, and transferring techniques
to prevent friction or shear. A lift sheet should be used to move and
turn patients. If the patient is being cared for at home, make sure the
home health care assistants and the patient's family caregivers understand
these techniques.
• Provide padding to bed rails, wheelchair arm and leg supports, and any
other equipment that may be utilized to protect the patient from
accidentally bumping into a hard surface.
• Use pillows and blankets to support arms and legs.
• Recommend that patients wear long sleeves and pants for added protection.
• Use paper tape or a non-adherent dressing on frail skin and gently remove it.
Or use stockinet, gauze wrap, or any other similar type of wrap instead of
tape to secure dressings and drains.
• Apply a moisturizing agent to dry skin to keep it adequately hydrated. Creams
and topical gels are better than lotions.
• Provide a well-lit environment to minimize the risk of patients bumping
into equipment or furniture.

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