Posts Tagged ‘Better’

Fibromyalgia: Restore Balance To Your Body And Feel Better

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Most people with fibromyalgia realize that it seems like your whole system is unbalanced and it is. Studies have shown that most people with fibro have IBS, many have hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia or both, and most are generally deficient in one or more vitamins and minerals. Combine that with insomnia, not getting enough exercise, the inability to digest properly and failure to remove toxins and it is no wonder the imbalance seems impossible to correct. Any fibromyalgia treatment has to start with a program of helping the body overcome this imbalance and it must start with your diet. Changing lifestyle and diet habits seems to be the most difficult obstacle for fibro patients to overcome. It is easy to understand when it seems like your body is starving for energy and is screaming for you to feed it what it needs most for energy, carbs or sugar but that is exactly what is keeping this imbalance in place. Refined carbs and sugar are damaging your liver, pancreas, brain and adrenals. They are also acidic, forcing your body to regulate ph levels however it can, even if it means leaching calcium from your bones to combat acidity. They also contribute to and cause overgrowths of yeast and mold. How?Normally the liver controls blood sugar levels. It makes sugar from stores inside the liver and releases it as needed in a carefully regulated way. Eating excessive sugar or refined carbs can overwhelm this control system and then the liver must dump the excess into the systemic circulation. This results in high blood sugar which damages blood vessels. Then the pancreas comes in to play by releasing insulin to control these overwhelming blood sugar levels. It does this by shunting the sugar into fat, you will actually create more fat to store sugar which is your body’s way of protecting itself. Then a rebound effect can happen when your pancreas releases too much insulin to control excess sugar and your blood sugar drops too low. This is also damaging because then the energy supply to all tissues is impaired. This is hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia often leads to diabetes. Subconsciously you may eat to alleviate these symptoms of low blood sugar which is your body’s natural way of protecting itself but this just leads to a roller coaster effect of rising and falling blood sugars which soon spirals out of control. Another effective way the liver may react to low blood sugar is to convert short chain fatty acids into glucose. When the liver and pancreas can’t regulate blood sugar properly and sugar levels drop too low the brain begins to panic so to speak because the brain survives on blood sugar, this causes an adrenalin reaction to bring the sugar back up and if it happens at night it wakes you up preventing deep sleep which you need to heal. This can wreak havoc with the adrenals as your blood sugar dips throughout the day and night. Fibro patients often have low cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue. Simply put your adrenal glands become exhausted. Next the damaged or fatigued liver or pancreas can not create the needed enzymes for digestion. This leads to or worsens IBS and an inability to digest foods properly. The inability to digest can cause diarrhea, constipation, IBS. Also the inability to digest proteins leads to problems which create more of an inability to digest because you need protein and the proper digestion of protein to create enzymes needed for digestion. So this becomes yet another imbalance in fibromyalgia that creates another endless loop of malfunction. The important role played by amino acids is also reduced. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Proteins when digested properly break down into amino acids. These amino acids are involved in creating enzymes, the growth, repair and maintenance of body tissues, balancing blood sugar, digesting food, the proper functioning of the immune system and the production of hormones. Your body will actually begin to break down your intestines if it isn’t getting the amino acids it needs to function. Proteins are needed to heal and for a functioning immune system. With the breakdown of the immune system due to an inability to digest proteins you can not fight off yeast, molds, viruses and bacteria. Yeast and mold, bacteria and viruses often afflict fibromyalgia patients more than the general population and this burdens an already overworked immune system even more. With an inability to digest foods you are not going to properly absorb vitamins and minerals and this along with the diarrhea leads to malnutrition. You also need the proteins and amino acids to carry the vitamins and minerals to your cells. You need a healthy liver and blood vessels to clear your body of toxins and deliver oxygen to your cells. Fluid and electrolyte imbalances are also created due to diarrhea. In addition there may also be hormonal imbalances. The body will do whatever it takes to control blood sugar, fluid imbalances and ph levels, if it didn’t, you would die. This in the simplest terms describes the overwhelming job that is placed on your body due to the many imbalances involved in fibromyalgia. What can you do to stop this cascade of imbalances?• Lower carb higher protein dietMost doctors recommend this for fibro. There is a known endocrine disorder with fibro and while doctors don’t exactly know how this correlation works, they know it exists. Make it easy on yourself. Don’t even try complicated diet plans that seem like an extra job. Incorporate lower carb higher protein into YOUR lifestyle. Don’t bother counting carbs, just eliminate sugar and white flour and if you can’t do it seven days a week do it six days a week, if you can’t do it six days a week start with five days a week. If you still can’t eliminate them this way, then try this, divide your plate into fourths, one half is covered with non starchy vegetables, one fourth with meat or fish and one fourth with carbs. If you are making pasta for dinner start with a salad with lemon and olive oil. This will help activate digestive juices in your stomach. Have four meatballs instead of two and less pasta and no bread. If you must have bread look for the smallest rolls possible or just half a slice. Some doctors recommend whole grain instead of white but others say no to any grains for hypoglycemia and IBS. I believe if you take digestive enzymes whole grains shouldn’t be a problem for either but they are still carbs so limit them. If you still must have an occasional dessert then make it cheesecake (a sliver) or get a diabetic cookbook and learn how to make lower sugar/carb desserts and meals. Watch the rice and potatoes also. And some fruits also have too much sugar like bananas, limit fruit when you are starting, stick to low glycemic fruits. Eat whole fruits, the fiber is good for you. No fruit juice whatsoever, it is too high in sugar. No sugar but if you must, Stevia or Agave Nectar in your coffee or tea and limit this to one cup a day. There is also a new stevia out called Truvia. This might be worth checking into. Absolutely no aspartame or Splenda or any sugar substitutes other than stevia. Herbal teas are also good because they don’t need much sweetening to be flavorful. Learn the glycemic indexes of foods. Learn what complex carbs (the ones you should be eating) are. Little or no processed food. Refined food may very well be the culprit in many of your ills. By the time refined food is cooked and gets to your plate there are practically no enzymes left in it for digestion. Eat raw foods as much as possible. Drink plenty of water, add a little lemon to it. Lemon water with distilled or spring water is good for your liver. It will also help you create stomach acids needed for digestion. Eat only good oils. Cold pressed olive oil is best. Good fats slow the release of glucose. Eat breakfast (a must), it will help to stabilize your blood sugars throughout the whole day. Learn what your daily intake of protein should be based on your weight. Try adding whey protein to your daily meal plans. The kind that weightbuilders use is the best. It is easily digested and gives you extra protein that you may not be getting. Add to milk and drink one glass in the morning and it will give you stable protein for energy. It is also low in sugars. Drink another in the afternoon if you have a mid afternoon slump and drink one before bed, it will create tryptophan which will help you sleep and the proteins can also work to give extra healing while you are sleeping. If you don’t like the whey protein then eat an egg for breakfast and drink extra milk. If you can’t tolerate milk then use lactose digestion aids/enzymes. Eat smaller and more meals throughout the day. Three meals and two snacks daily. Make the snacks higher in protein. A good one is peanut butter on whole wheat crackers. In short you must do whatever it takes to stabilize your blood sugars. This will give you energy, help your depression, stop your insomnia and help you sleep better. It will also help greatly with your pain. I have heard people with fibro say that they have tried diet and it doesn’t work. Or they are reluctant to even try. It isn’t going to work overnight or even in a few days. It will take anywhere from two to six weeks just to get your blood sugar stabilized and then it will take months for the healing to occur. You didn’t reach this state overnight, you are not going to get over it in a couple of days but I can guarantee you will absolutely feel better and you will notice improvements in a short time that will make you want to stick to it. And if you fall off the wagon occasionally don’t use it as an excuse to give up, just get back on and try again. Also note that the diet is lower carb higher protein, don’t go overboard and severely restrict carb intake or signifcantly increase protein intake if you feel you are meeting the daily requirements for protein for your weight, gender and age. If you have access to a glucose meter and know how to use it, check your blood sugar levels yourself throughout the day. See an endocrinolgist to get a complete blood sugar work up. Get checked for hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, all of it. If your blood sugars are not normal they will probably recommend a dietitian to help create a diet plan for you, in addition to insulin or other medications if needed. See your doctor and ask to have your adrenal and liver function tested. • Use digestive and systemic enzymes. Look for a good formula with Betaine and Pepsin in the digestive, take before meals to help digest food, especially proteins which are the hardest to digest. Papaya Enzymes are also good for digesting proteins. • Use probiotics. A good formula with at least five beneficial bacteria. • Use EFA’s Essential Fatty Acids. They will help regulate glucose. Take before a meal. • If IBS does not improve with digestive enzymes try peppermint gels in addition. Drink peppermint tea. If this doesn’t help get tested for SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth). You may need antibiotics. • Try a blood sugar formula but be careful to read ingredients, you don’t want to lower insulin just help stabilize it. • Milk Thistle is good for the liver. • Licorice is good for the adrenals but check side effects and drug interactions. Some people should not take licorice. Look for other supplements that are good for adrenal fatigue. • A good multi-vitamin is a must. Look for high quality, higher concentrations at first since you are not absorbing well until your digestion improves. • Amino Acids supplements may also help you to heal. • Research all vitamins and supplements before taking. Some cause dangerous side effects and interactions if you are not meant to take them. • Keep a food diary. Learn what foods cause diarrhea or fatigue or any of the symptoms of hypoglycemia or blood sugar problems for you. Everyone is different. • Exercise. Go for a walk after meals. This will greatly help to stabilize and normalize blood sugars. It will also help stimulate normal bowel functions. Remember you must change your lifestyle and diet. You really have no choice if you want to heal. Supplements are needed and help a great deal to support your overwhelmed body on its way to healthful balance, they help with many functions that your body is just unable to do on it’s own for the time being but there aren’t enough supplements in the world to replace the millions of functions that a healthy body does naturally and brilliantly. Note: While not every fibromyalgia patient has all of the above symptoms there has been some research to suggest a link between IBS and varying degrees of hypoglycemia or reactive hypoglycemia. Studies indicate that up to 80% of fibromyalgia patients suffer from IBS. There have also been conclusive studies demonstrating abnormal adrenal function in fibromyalgia patients. Some studies indicate that fibromyalgia patients have higher degrees of blood sugar problems such as hypoglycemia, diabetes, insulin resistance and pre diabetes than the general population. Many fibromyalgia patients experience fibroglycemia, both high and low blood sugars. You are the best judge of your fibro symptoms and what treatments might be of benefit to you, as always discuss all of your treatments with your doctor and inform them of all alternative treatments and products that you use. Mary Ferrari is webmaster of www. fibrosmart. com an alternative health site featuring articles, newsletters, products and more related to successful alternative treatments for fibromyalgia. “I have been pain/symptom free from fibromyalgia since 2008 and have helped many people who wish to overcome their symptoms using non pharmaceutical supplements and treatments. ”

Using the Ipod in Bmw Car Stereo Systems Makes an Already Great Ride Even Better

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Everybody loves the iPod. From this tiny device smaller than a deck of cards comes a behemoth of storage and playback potential. iPods on the largest end of the data storage spectrum can hold up to 20,000 songs. With that kind of amassing of songs, you will never run out of your favorites. Even better, did you know that if you are a BMW owner that you can play your iPod through you car’s stereo system? An iPod for BMW use is completely possible with the application of an iPod kit that includes an adapter. With the BMW ipod adaptor kit, cables connect the iPod to the adapter, and another cable connects the adapter to your auto stereo system’s CD changer and thus to your radio. The integration of your ipod in BMW driving, takes an already great driving experience and moves it to the next level of fun.

One of the most distinctive features of the iPod is the white earphones, which are called earbuds. Features of the ipod for BMW use can include an iPod steering wheel with controls already built in, or you can choose to change songs, fast forward, rewind and the other common iPod functions from your radio buttons.

The latest iPods, the fifth generation, come with 80 gigabytes of storage. This is the model that has video capabilities, a bright display and the music search function. While the first to fifth generation iPods rely on built-in hard drives, the iPod Mini uses Microdrives, and the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle use Flash memory. The flash memory reduces the physical size of the unit, which makes it even more convenient to take with you, but it also reduces the storage capacity held therein.

No matter which iPod you own, you need a way to keep all of the vast store of data held on it organized. iTunes was created with just that function in mind. iTunes can also connect to iTunes Store, where you can purchase not only music, but music videos, TV shows, games, audiobooks, podcasts, and amazingly feature-length films.

iPods allow you to categorize your music into playlists. When in use with your iPod, your playlist can play the songs you select in sequence, or if you want some more variety and spontaneity, the songs can play in random order. The advantage of the playlists is that you can, in advance, pick out the songs you want to listen to during a particular time while in your vehicle, all without constant interaction from you as you are driving. If you are a commuter, it can get a little hectic sometimes, and on occasion tempers can flare out on the freeway. You can set yourself up, however, to arrive at work in a calm attitude when you select peaceful songs to listen to as you drive. An iPod makes it easy to set the atmosphere you want anytime you drive your BMW.

Xl Beds - the Better Bed Alternative for Young Adults

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

When you’re a child you’ll often start out in a twin or full size bed. These beds are great for small rooms as they take up less space than the larger queen/king size beds. Children grow and soon you’re a teenager or young adult discovering that you’re longer than your bed which presents some issues least of which is the fact that you don’t fit your bed anymore. Your room just isn’t large enough for the bigger queen and king size beds and you’re left scratching your head what to do. There are options available to you should you run into this issue and they’re called extra long beds.

Extra long beds come in a variety of sizes. The most popular size is called twin extra long beds or (xl twin). These mattresses will measure 39 inches by 80 inches which is 5 inches longer than a traditional twin size mattress. That added length can be the difference for some as it extends the bed to sleep someone up to 6 feet 8 inches. Which happens to the be the same length as a queen size bed. Extra long twin beds are going to be the easiest of the XL beds to find as it is a size that the bedding industry has come to recognize over the years. Typically the mattresses themselves will be easy to find but the frames will sometimes be a challenge to find.

Another size that is available is called full extra long or (xl full). These extra long mattresses will measure 54 inches by 80 inches making them 5 inches longer than a standard full size mattress. Again much like a twin extra long, full extra long mattresses will sleep someone up to 6 feet 8 inches. Full extra long beds are a little tougher to find as these are more specialized in sizing. However many manufacturers have made the effort to build these mattresses for consumers and you should be able to find them in innerspring and memory foam applications.

The two sizes we’ve talked about so far (twin xl & full xl) offer advantages to small rooms in that they take up the same amount of space width wise and are just a little longer. This is a great benefit since you don’t have to commit space to a mattress like a queen or king which will take up a large majority of width in the room that you may not be able to afford to lose depending on the size of the room. This is why extra long twin and full mattresses make so much sense in that they give you that extra length and at the same time keep most of the traditional dimensions of a twin or full width mattress the same.

One size of mattress we haven’t talked about yet is called the California king. Cal king mattresses as they are also referred to are a little different that extra long beds. They don’t take the existing dimensions of a king mattress but instead are their own dimension. King or eastern king mattresses as they are called measure 76 inches by 80 inches. This differs from California king mattresses which measure 72 inches by 85 inches. Less wide but longer than a king mattress. In fact so long that a Cal king mattress is just over 7 feet long. It’s definitely a mattress than accommodate almost anyone.

In this article we’ve looked at alternatives for teenagers, young adults or even adults looking for bedroom solutions for smaller rooms that can’t fit regular longer beds. We’ve explored twin extra long and full extra long mattresses as possible alternatives which keep the shorter width of the standard beds but provides more length for taller adults. We also took a look at California king mattresses which are the longest mattresses offered in the bedding industry at just over 7 feet long. If you know of or are a young adult who is ready for a larger bed but their room can’t support queen or king beds, consider xl or extra long beds to help provide that added comfort without sacrificing your limited room space.

Why Sheepskin is Better Than Alternatives for Comfortable Shoes and Boots

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Humans have discovered the enormous versatility and practicality, even fur tens of thousands of years and scientists have not yet arrived with a synthetic material that meet or equal the benefits they enjoy from animal skins. Most people are aware that natural products such as leather has all the qualities that fit our needs. A genuine leather product, be it a handbag, shoe or clothing has become almost inaccessible to the average person in the world. Synthetic alternatives have flooded the markets from East to West. They are readily available, fashionable and very affordable to all. The changing world of fashion has also been the preferred choice of the masses. Sheepskin Products is one of the products that have become increasingly popular and in demand worldwide. China, Australia and New Zealand are among the sheep in the world, and so wool producers in the world. Australia and New Zealand are known for their export quality meat and its products of high quality wool. An American company has benefited from this situation and started to manufacture and market leather boots and sheepskin boots from Australia - and that was the beginning of the rule of UGG boots. Sheepskin footwear was elevated to a status unprecedented in the fashion industry. These beautiful shoes and high quality has become a huge success, especially among Hollywood stars and other celebrities known. It seems that everyone is your problem! If you own a pair of Ugg most likely be considered "with" o "in". Designs on fashion and high technology, sustainability and added all the qualities of natural wool become a hot commodity. Due to the natural ability of wool to dye easily take these products are manufactured in a wide variety of colors. Also boosted sales of sheepskin in general. This has helped small and obscure factories that were well known by the locals, get a much wider interest and business. There are many of these small businesses are passed from generation to generation, producing unique quality, handmade. What are the benefits of sheepskin? Wool is known for the ability to breathe with your body, ie has the ability to isolate the heat in cold weather, but in a warmer climate, in practice, to absorb body moisture and keep cool. At the same time incredibly versatile fabric that keeps body odor to a minimum. These physical properties make it ideal for shoes. Wool heat insulation and natural light is largely due to the amount of elasticity and its current capacity of felt. Airbags are found naturally in the materials of wool, no matter how far the material has undergone. Precisely for these airbags that wool becomes nonconductive or, in general, not easily flammable. If wool is on fire, tends to rot and die soon. Due to this non-conductive property, which in turn gives the type of wool insulation which makes it the ideal choice for shoes or clothing. Besides wool resistant to all types of bacteria and mold, and its low flammability makes it a better choice of any wear for children and adults. Wool clothing was the traditional dress of people in colder northern regions of the world and Arab populations living in the desert. In Australia, it is not unusual or strange to see girls wearing shoes sheepskin with their miniskirts and bikinis. In fact, it would be the ideal choice if you are looking for comfort in sweltering heat. Natural sheepskin - Natural Provide foot care using natural sheepskin to wrap around the wounds and carry out the healing has been known to mankind for centuries. Today try natural sheepskin is used for all kinds of evils. The unique design of the wool fiber, gives you the ability to help blood circulation. Those who suffer from rheumatism or pain throughout the body can find help for sleeping on a sheepskin rug natural or blanket. Sheepskin eliminates uncomfortable sleep for people confined to bed for a long period of time. The potential for developing pressure ulcers are both minimized. If you have an elbow or ankle wrap beaten natural sheep puts less strain on the sensitive points and so much more comfortable to wear. Sheepskin is a great benefit to humanity, whether in a shoe or a blanket - designed by nature, and delivery of natural health and comfort advantages. Inspired by Australia, UGG boots shoes and use the best properties of natural wool and a product line as practical as it is popular