Archive for May, 2009

A Brain Fitness Gym for the Development of a Mightier Mind

May 29th, 2009 admin

The brain fitness gym has been serving the St. Louis area since 2006. Currently, it is the only organization of its kind in the United States, but you can use the gym’s self-coaching techniques anywhere in the world.

As time goes by, we may see more and more similar organizations, simply because of the growing number of seniors. We have the baby boomers to thank for that.

Those of us who have spent time doing marketing or sales have been told for the last 20 years that we needed to make plans for the boomers to turn 60. Now, many of them have, but the boom will continue for almost two more decades.

The brain fitness gym is a great service for seniors. They hold events and offer free evaluations and memory screenings, if you live in the St. Louis area. If not, you can still take advantage of their information and their exercise packages.

The “self-coach” package includes software to help you improve your memory and response time, as well as awareness and eye-hand coordination. A complete manual for self-assessment and daily life applications is also included.

There program is one of the better ones on the market, as it includes many personalized options for a price that is competitive with other software programs, such as Posit Science’s “cognitive behavioral training”.

You see the brain fitness gym designs programs with the assumption that you have already lost some of your cognitive abilities. They assume that you are suffering from memory loss, early Alzheimer’s or another problem that may accompany aging. For those of us that are simply trying to prevent this from occurring, there are other, less expensive options.

Ask yourself these questions. Are you physically active? Do you get enough essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and antioxidants on a daily basis? How’s your diet? Do you eat enough raw fruits and vegetables? The recommended daily number of servings is five.

Do you make an effort to keep in touch with friends and/or family members? Maintaining social contact is important for cognizance, memory and to fight depression.

Are you learning something new? Researchers have shown that people who do not regularly play video games have improved memory and cognitive performance when they learn a new game.

At the brain fitness gym, they include similar activities, since many seniors were not a part of the video game “boom”. But, and this is important, the effects seen in clinical research may simply be due to the “newness” of the activity or the learning that is required.

In other words, if you don’t like video games or if you already play them, the answer may simply be learning something new. Take a class or read a book. Join a discussion group or do some volunteer work.

Practically anything that keeps your mind “active” will improve the function of your “gray matter”. The brain fitness gym is an option that you may want to consider. It’s just that there may be other options. The most important thing is to find something that you can enjoy, for life.

As a counselor, I have been blessed to walk with folks who are making incredible changes in their life. I am father of Shane, 9, and Hannah Marie, 4, and I am 60 so my last high school graduation will happen when I am 84. Then I can semi-retire until Hannah Marie finishes college. Co-creator with my wife Julie of Logan Family Counseling, Inc. in Rockford, Illinois 61103

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Insomnia: How Lack of Sleep Can Damage Your Health

May 25th, 2009 admin

What is Insomnia?

The average person spends approximately 1/3 of his or her life sleeping. Although we do not yet fully understand either the purpose or the mechanics of sleep, we do know that an insufficient amount can have far-reaching consequences: our work performance, our personal relationships, and our physical and mental health all depend on getting an appropriate amount of rest.

The inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep throughout the night is a condition known as insomnia, and it is among the most common of all medical complaints; approximately 1/3 of all people experience a period of insomnia at least once during their lifetime. Individuals with insomnia typically experience at least one of the following symptoms:

- Difficulties falling asleep;
- Inability to stay asleep, or waking up too early;
- Sleepiness during the day;
- Fatigue or lack of energy;
- Irritability;
- Headache;
- Decreased ability to concentrate;
- Increased errors or accidents;
- Depression and/or anxiety;
- Continual worry about sleep.

Health Risks of Insomnia

If you are not getting the sleep that you need, your insomnia may eventually lead to serious consequences for your health. In the short term, your alertness and focus are impaired, which can have a negative effect on your school or work performance. Relationship problems may result from irritability due to lack of sleep, while fatigue may prevent you from participating in your normal activities.

In the long-term, the complications of insomnia can be even more severe. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mood disorders are all associated with chronic insomnia; these conditions can be life-threatening, and they will certainly reduce the quality of your life.

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia is symptomatic of a large number of physiological disorders; if you are having difficulty sleeping, chances are that an underlying health problem is to blame. Illness, infection, mental health disorders, and medications can all keep you from getting the proper amount of rest. Hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances can affect your body’s ability to fall asleep, and dietary deficiencies can cause insomnia, as well. Exposure to toxic elements such as heavy metals, molds, and other environmental pollutants have also been shown to impair sleep.

Finding the Cause of Insomnia

By determining what is causing your insomnia, your health care provider will be better able to help you design a plan for managing your sleep problem. To find out what is keeping you up at night, your doctor may ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle, your sleeping environment, and even the sleep habits of your partner. A variety of lab tests can also be useful in pinpointing the cause of your insomnia in the event that a health problem is involved.

Managing Insomnia

The first step to getting back to sleep is to treat the underlying cause. Establishing good sleep habits may include nutritional support, exercise, detoxification, and incorporating a relaxation technique into your daily routine.

Good sleep hygiene is important for getting the rest you need. By following the guidelines listed here, you will find yourself drifting off easily, without the constant worry about getting enough sleep every night.

- Stick to a constant sleep schedule, with a consistent bed time and wake-up time;
- Avoid bright lights (including the television and computer) for at least two hours before bedtime;
- Do not exercise within three hours of bedtime;
- Make sure your bedroom is for sleeping – keep the TV, computer, and any other distractions in another room;
- Make sure your sleeping environment is cool, dark and quiet;
- Avoid caffeine, smoking, and alcohol, especially before bed;
- Don’t eat right before you go to bed;
- Try a relaxation exercise such as deep breathing before you turn in.

Over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications are best avoided; they may help you fall asleep, but they can be habit-forming, and they have a variety of negative side effects. By identifying the cause of your insomnia and making some adjustments to your lifestyle, you should be able to overcome your sleep difficulties naturally.

To order online lab test kits to identify the cause of your insomnia visit HealthRemedies.com. Receive 10% off your next sleep supplement purchase by entering discount code SLEEP upon checkout. Valerie Balandra NP is a nurse practitioner that takes a naturopathic and functional medicine approach in her patient care. Valerie is available for telephone consultations by calling 941 371-7997.

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Choosing Right Diet Plan for Weight Loss

May 21st, 2009 admin
In this modern time, people are very conscious for their health, looks and overall appearance. Everyone wants to get rid of fat, overweight and plump body. To achieve a perfect body or figure, people blindly follow fitness programs, diet plans and other fat-treatments. Unfortunately, most of the people end up into wrong paths and don’t find any improvement after spending loads of money and time. Hence, choosing a right diet plan is very necessary for overall personality development.Which Diet Plan suits to me?

Everyone is aware of this fact that better health can not be achieved without following a right diet. There are lots of diet plans like south beach diet, zone diet, Mediterranean diet and many more that are especially planned according to different dietary needs and objectives. But it is quite difficult to make out which one of these numerous plans is meant for you. Below are some points that will guide you in choosing the best diet for yourself:

  • Choose a plan that you can follow – Most of the people opt for the plans that are not feasible for them to continue or follow regularly. You should keep several factors in mind including diet scheduling, time availability, lifestyles, job timings and other things. Going for impossible plans is just waste of time and money.
  • Plan that fits to your aims and objectives – If you have already decided the duration of the course, targets and other things, then you must keenly choose your diet plans. There are several plans that are figured especially keeping time-durations and targets in mind.
  • Diet that suits you – Nutrition is one of the main factors that are to be considered while selecting a diet. Calories, carbohydrates and so on, get everything scaled and according to your requirements.
  • Long-Term Benefits - You want to loose weight permanently, hence go for the plan that makes your body healthier for longer times.
  • Don’t forget size of your pocket – Budget is one of the main aspects while choosing the diet plans. It is not necessary that high charging, boasting and glossy looking fitness centers can only provide you the best.

Hopefully above tips can assist you finding the best ones for your health!

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