Overdosed On Sugar - A Nation's Health In Decline

If you're like me then you've probably lived your whole live longing for that sugar fix on a daily basis whether you consciously seek it out or just find yourself munching on sugar laden junk food for no reason. That's because sugar is addictive just like any other drug. In fact, experiencing a "hit" from sugar, whether it be via a candy bar or your favorite sugary drink, has the same effect on the human brain as cocaine and other drugs of abuse do [1]. Both cause a surge in the brain chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for producing pleasure sensations deep within the brain.

Consuming sugar is not necessarily a bad thing when done so by seeking out natural foods such as fruit, baby carrots, or other products made by Mother Nature. The problem we face today is that sugar is literally added to everything we eat including bread, ketchup, sweetened beverages, and even baked beans. Yes, that's right - baked beans! Refined and added sugars have become a major problem over the last few decades in the western diet, and it's only adding to the ongoing healthcare crisis we're seeing today.

5 Ways To Improve Your Posture

by guest blogger John Moore

Having great posture is one of the best things you can do to look and feel young. Furthermore, not much else can do such a good job in maintaining strong, healthy bones. Good posture should begin at a very young age, because that is when most habits and skills can be engrained in your psyche the best. Some of the reasons people today have such poor posture is because no one instructed them as kids, and now old habits are so hard to break. So, change those habits now!

1. Stretching

It is important to keep your body moving throughout the day. If you work at a sedentary job and are sitting a lot, take time every 30 minutes or so and stretch. Take a short walk down the hallway, or just stand and stretch all your extremities. This will keep the body and bones limber AND keep you from wanting to slouch, since you won’t be as tired.

2. Support

If you’re sitting all day long in an office, it’s important that you are using a high-backed chair that is going to have a lot of lumbar support. The best position is with the back all the way back against the chair and your hips as far back as possible. Sometimes, you may find that there is not enough support between your back and the back of the chair, and if that is the case, you should use a towel or pillow to provide some support. Make your work or office space ergonomically fit for you, and no one else. Sitting in a chair or behind a computer for hours on end can cause a lot of back pain, and once it starts, it’s really hard to fix.

Plant-Based Diet For The Disabled

by guest blogger Holly VicHammond

If you’re disabled or are caring for someone with a disability, you must take careful consideration when completing daily tasks. Everything that you do must lean toward increasing the quality of life for you or the person in your life. Transportation for a disabled individual may include driving him or her to the grocery store in a handicap van so that he or she can select appropriate foods. Selecting healthy foods is high on the priority list of caring for a disabled person, and a plant-based diet can be the most beneficial choice for a person with a disability.

Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

A plant-based diet can benefit a disabled person in many ways. Consuming these foods can improve the health of a person with just about any illness or ailment. Plant-based foods contain plenty of antioxidants and phytonutrients. These substances can prevent the development of cancerous cells and may help to retard the growth of existing cells. This diet can also work as a cleanser, clearing the body of disturbances and illness.

New Study Highlights Effects Of Sleep Deprivation

by guest blogger Erica Moss

30 percent of adults in the U.S. are not getting enough sleep.

That’s according to data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, published in the April 27 issue of the Center for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. It’s a pretty sobering statistic, isn’t it?

This percentage constitutes about 40.6 million workers, all of whom are sleeping six or fewer hours each day. Of these workers, 44 percent work night shifts and 28.8 percent work during the day. The most common professions in which a worker is likely to be sleep deprived are law enforcement and fire officials, health care workers, security personnel, retail associates in 24-hour stores, and transportation workers. These are all jobs that often require employees to work nights, sometimes consecutively, and sometimes even after a full shift during the day. 

What You Need To Know About Frozen Shoulder

by guest blogger Veronica Hayes

Frozen shoulder is a condition that can happen to anyone. It happens when the joint capsule of the shoulder becomes very inflamed, which causes the shoulder to become very stiff, with a loss of range of motion. There is no specific cause for frozen shoulder, but the most obvious symptom is pain. Your doctor can perform x-rays and an MRI, but it probably won't show anything. It is mainly diagnosed symptoms.

Before diagnosing you with frozen shoulder, a doctor will first have to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis, degenerative arthritis, and injury to the tendons around the shoulder. Once diagnosed, it can be a lengthy process to heal, and regaining full range of motion can typically take 6-9 months.

Symptoms

- Severe pain in your shoulder
- Stiff shoulder
- Difficulty with daily tasks
- loss of range of motion

Exams and Tests

- X-rays
- MRI
- Blood work