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What if…? | Physical BALC #76
… you could eat to release fat? Bring it on! The secret to snacking for weight loss, according to reams of science behind the Reader’s Digest Diet Plan: Pick filling snacks packed with fat releasing nutrients that help your body lose weight quickly. Instead of: cheesy crackers Try: Ricotta Boats. Cut a bell pepper into [...]
New and Improved Treatment? | Physical BALC #75
For some reason, this week there have been quite a few articles about depression and the treatment of depression in the news. One article involved a study being conducted in Hong Kong whereby boosting the effect of acupuncture needles with small electric currents may be effective in treating those suffering from depression. Being done at [...]
Over 55 exercises | Physical BALC #74
Apart from keeping you healthy, exercise slows down the effects of aging and helps us stay fit for a longer time. Do not start an exercise program without consulting your physician, however. If the program is too stressful, it will do more harm than good. Some simple activity to keep your body in check: AEROBICS [...]
Normal or Not Normal? | Physical BALC #73
Just like there is a spectrum for behavior, there are also degrees to which physical symptoms can be considered “normal” or “not normal”. For example: Symptom: Shortness of Breath Normal and likely due to: emotional upset, to which your body responds with a squirt of adrenaline, resulting in rapid breathing. Not Normal, and see a [...]
Chew on this: oral health should be a priority
I was driving home the other day, and quite literally passed four veterinarian offices. Every vet was advertising teeth cleaning discounts for dogs and cats. Maybe February is house pet oral health month? I don’t know, but it got me thinking about our own – human – oral health. Nearly one-third of all U.S. adults [...]
February is American Heart Association Month | Physical BALC #70
I think the heart is the only organ that has a month entirely to itself – it’s the only organ that even has a month. So, in honor of February and the heart I have some information from the American Heart Association website reminding us to live right. BTW, heart disease is the number one [...]
Bottom line – how fit are you? | Physical BALC #69
If we asked 10 experts for their definition of fitness, we would get 10 different answers. Presumably, that’s because the definition depends on the type of performance one expects. Some athletes need to develop a particular type of fitness – marathon runners, powerlifters, etc. – but most of us are at our best when we [...]
Who doesn’t have stress? | Physical BALC #68
Brought on by external stimuli, stress is a physical and emotional strain on the body; a nonspecific response of the body to a demand. During a stressful situation, the brain signals the release of chemical substances that trigger a series of responses that gives the body extra energy: blood-sugar levels rise, the heartbeat speeds up, [...]
Cold or Flu? | Physical BALC #67
Welcome to cough, cold and flu season. The common cold accounts for more doctors’ visits per year than any other illness. But how do you know if it’s a cold or something more serious, like the flu? Let’s make some comparisons. COLD: very uncommon to be accompanied by a fever rarely accompanied by headache, general [...]
The benefits are yours for the taking | Physical BALC #66
Starting a fitness program may be one of the best things you can do for your health, as it comes with a host of benefits. Physical activity can reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve your balance and coordination, help you lose weight, and boost your self-esteem. The Department of Health and Human Services and [...]
