“Nutrition as Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD Alternative Treatment: Help is as Close as the Kitchen.”

 The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has a profound affect on Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD. For many people, nutrition alone can effectively work as an ADHD alternative treatment.

A growing body of research points to nutritional deficiencies - especially with essential fatty acids and amino acids - as a contributing factor of Attention Deficit Disorder and learning deficiencies.

Put down the Ritalin bottle for one minute to consider these Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition research findings;

A George Washington University School of Medicine study found that hyperactive children who ate a meal high in protein did equally well, and sometimes better, in school than non-hyperactive kids.

An Oxford University (England) study evaluated the effects of fatty acid supplementation in average intelligence children with significant reading and writing disabilities. The ADHD symptoms in children receiving Essential Fatty Acids significantly improved over the children in the control group receiving a placebo. 

Researchers first tied Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD with lower essential fatty acid in 1981. Studies examining essential fatty acid blood levels in children with behavioral problems in 1983 confirmed this Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition connection.

Researchers further documented the essential fatty acid deficiency tie to Attention Deficit Disorder in a 1987 study. Then, a 1995 study comparing essential fatty acid levels in ADHD boys against a control group of boys without ADHD found significantly lower levels of Omega-3 fatty acids.

In 1996 Purdue University researchers have found that boys with low blood levels of Omega-3 fatty acids have a greater frequency of Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD.

Attention Deficit Disorder is the most common behavioral disorder in children. Not all Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD children are nutritionally deficient in essential fatty acids, statistics and studies show that a significant number of ADHD children are. 

Physicians predominately use stimulant drugs such as Ritalin for Attention Deficit Disorder but studies show that Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD children whose treatment program includes only stimulant medication remain at a high risk for vandalism, petty crime, frequency of alcoholic intoxication, and possession of marijuana. Additionally, ADHD medications do not always work, have a host of harmful side effects and never treat the cause the Attention Deficit Disorder.

With Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD, nutrition and food is one the first aspect of treatment to consider, as an ADHD alternative treatment or used in conjunction with traditional ADHD stimulant drug treatment.

Fatty acids are used to make brain and nerve tissue in the body and are crucial for proper growth, mental function, the immune system and brain development. The body cannot produce the two fatty acids families, Omega-3 and Omega-6, on its own and therefore must receive these key Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition ingredients through diet and supplementation. 

Although the typical Western diet is high in the Omega-6 family of fatty acids (found in corn, sunflower, canola and safflower oil, margarine, vegetable oil and shortening), most Americans young and old are highly deficient in Omega-3. 

Learning specialists now believe many childhood behavior and learning problems are associated with Omega-3 deficiencies. This deficiency has a greater impact on males because their requirements for essential fatty acids are, in general, much higher. It is no surprise that boys are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at a much higher rate than girls.

ADHD adults and parents of ADHD children should include food high in Omega-3 fatty acids daily. That said, many children simply will not eat the Omega-3 rich salmon, mackerel and sardines. 

Enter flax seed and flax oil - “food of the gods” when it comes to Omega-3 fatty acids.

Flax seed and flax oil are the richest plant source of Omega-3 fatty acids and offers Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition vital to support healthy childhood behavioral and IQ development. One to two tablespoons of flax oil should be part of a every Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition food action plan.

In addition to the positive affects on brain functioning, flax oil also works to prevent heart disease and certain types of cancer. Flax oil helps soften skin, balance energy, burn fat, stimulate the metabolism, strengthen the immune system, manage diabetes, help prevent autoimmune disease and inflammatory disorders. Flax oil also helps alleviate PMS and some menopause symptoms. 

Here are some great ways to sneak flax oil into the daily diet;

Mix 1 tablespoon of flax oil in flavored yogurt.

1 tablespoon of flax oil in fruit smoothies is virtually undetectable.

Mix 1 tablespoon of flax oil with one tablespoon maple syrup or honey as a sweetener instead of granulated sugar.

Use 1-2 tablespoons of flax oil when making tuna salad or egg salad while proportionably decreasing the amount of Miracle Whip or mayonnaise used.

Flax Butter: Melt one stick organic butter and mix with 4 ounces flax oil when cooled to room temperature. Refrigerate until the flax butter solidifies and use in place of margarine.

Omega-3 “Ice Cream”: Mix 2 cups yogurt with 1 tablespoon flax oil and fresh or frozen fruit. Serve when frozen.

Most studies conducted on the affects of essential fatty acids found that at least 10 weeks of supplementation is needed to adequately raised fatty acid levels in brain cells. Follow a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids for at least 10 weeks, and preferably 12 weeks, before judging the effectiveness of nutrition on Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD symptoms.

Important points about flax oil:

Flax oil is highly perishable and should be kept refrigerated at all time.

Heat destroys the health-giving flax oil properties. Use flax oil only with cold foods, cold proteins are best.

When buying flax oil, use only high quality, cold-pressed flax oil. The date pressed and a freshness date of four months or less from the pressed date should be on the label. If not, don’t buy it!

Do not use flax seed oil beyond its expiration date since the oil will turn rancid.

Essential fatty acids are not the only element needed when addressing Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition. Amino acids, from which protein is made, are an integral element since amino acids and essential fatty acids are both needed to work in the body. Therefore, adding quality protein is a key in Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition. 

Attention Deficit and hyperactive people can greatly reduce the level of unfocused or misdirected energy simply by starting the day with a protein based breakfast. A solid protein breakfast can increase concentration, reduce restlessness and increase mental and physical calm. 

Instead of starting the day with sugared cereals, pancakes covered in syrup, sweet rolls, doughnuts or danishes, try these brain-boosting  breakfast ideas;

Scrambled eggs, toast and fruit.

Whole wheat toast with peanut butter.

Fruit and yogurt smoothie with flax oil.

Protein shake.

Bacon and eggs with toast and milk.

Egg and sausage patty on English muffin.

Yogurt mixed with a tablespoon of flax oil.

New Bodybuilding Study on the Benefits of 'Deadlifts

 Deadlifts are a very potential muscle-building exercise, that will rejuvenate your entire physical condition, to a whole new level -- if executed astutely.

Here are some facts, on how Deadlifts can dramatically improve your physical power, to singularly maximized levels: 

Deadlifts Will Quadruple your Natural Testosterone & Growth Hormone Levels each time your subject yourself into this exercise (performed once / or twice a month.)

Deadlifts Will Increase your Metabolism at Incredibly Fast Rates and Transform Fat into Pure Energy.

Deadlifts Will help your urination, detoxification, and "gas-liberation" (don't Cackle - it's a fact)...

Deadlifts Will Enhance your Sexual Performance & Desire, if performed Methodically.

Deadlifts Can Improve your Lung's Functionality and Heart's Efficiency, Dramatically.

Deadlifts Will Boost your Immune System to recovering fast from various Illnesses.

Deadlifts Will make you speedy, powerful, leaner, reactive, energetic...

I lust the feeling of small in duration, highly intensive Deadlifts which successfully force my body, to excrete a constant flow of testosterone, that awakens a voracious beast inside me... 

After a 'Deadlift Workout' I can feel my sexuality rise so sky-high... my muscles so engorged, that my poise is automatically triggered and empowered to the absolute maximum.

“Low Carb Diets” on the way out...Taste is Back!!!

 To see the “low carb” diets on the way out is a somewhat reflective process, not that I was an advocate of ketogenic diets at all unless you have Adolescent Epilepsy, but bringing the “low carb or ketogenic diet” into the forefront of our American Society meant that more people were being educated about obesity, food and eating.

This acknowledgment about food was astounding and became overwhelming , causing restaurant chains and some farmers to really suffer from these trendy diets, people have lost farms that have been in their families for years , businesses that lend job and economic stability to an area, have gone out of business or lost business, all on a dietary whim, with no research done on the side-effects of “not eating” what these diets restrict.

“What side effects?” you ask. Okay, so you've lost a bunch of weight by eating tons of meat and fat, maybe your cholesterol numbers aren't out of reach, but, have you had your bowels checked lately? You know, eating that much meat and fat can only do one thing to your intestines and colon, and that's putrefying products in the bowels. Pretty disgusting, huh?

As you grow older, you lose the ability to digest food like you use to when you were young and had lots of enzymes . Sometimes, that comes from just age, but sometimes it comes from disease and antibiotic use, the point being that, the low carb diet's started you out on food that you may not be able to absorb anyway so you haven't been absorbing the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to start, process or finish some important tasks.

“So what's the harm in that”, you may say, “I've lost weight and feel great, and I don't feel sick”. You probably wouldn't. There are illnesses that you never see coming until it's to late. One of the leading causes of Colon Cancer, is eating an over abundance of meat and fat, and not having the ability to digest that protein and fat in the system. When enough damage is done, you don't absorb minerals and vitamins like you are suppose to, and you start to develop other problems, more serious problems, like cancers.

I will have to admit, that the “Atkins” type diets do advocate not eating the processed and manufactured foods that break down so fast into sugars you can almost hear run into the veins! And that is still true, the human body was designed to do the work of breaking down complex carbohydrates into a more simple usable energy. The break down of a whole grain, fresh vegetable or fruit product also take a certain amount of energy, so not only does your body use energy to break this healthy food down, you also have the benefit of a lot of fiber, which will keep the intestines and colon clean and functioning well.

So, what's the next trend, I think the next trend is going to be the “old fashion” weight loss plan. This is a tried and true method of weight loss that anyone can do and it tastes great. This would involve healthy, low or slow absorbing carbohydrates, counting and burning calories, and exercise! A balanced diet, along with knowing how many calories you need to eat per day, to either maintain your weight, or lose weight, and an exercise program to give your bones and muscles a reason to stay strong, not a trendy type diet, but a healthy lifestyle that you can live with for the rest of your life, that still has room for an occasional treat now and then. “Low carb” is out, the new trend is “healthy and better tasting proportions”.

'Keyhole' Surgery: An Innovative Boon For Live Kidney Donors

 (NC)-Each year, a growing number of Canadians make the heartfelt decision to give one of their kidneys to a relative or friend in need.

While this life-saving gesture is a blessing for the recipient, it can pose challenges on a number of levels for the donor. The standard practice for removing a kidney is to make a 20- to 30- centimetre incision across the side of the body, go through two to three layers of muscle and remove 10 centimetres of rib. With incurred scarring and several months of subsequent inactivity, the decision to be a donor is understandably daunting for many.

Yet thanks to an innovative medical procedure called laparoscopic or "keyhole" surgery, painful incisions and long recovery periods may soon be a thing of the past.

"Compared to traditional means, keyhole surgery is major abdominal surgery without uncomfortable incisions and disfiguring," said Dr. Joseph Mamazza, lead surgeon and medical director of the Minimal Access Therapeutic Program at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. "It involves an 8 to10 centimetre cut in the groin area, so there is less chance of infection and other complications. "

During the procedure, doctors inflate the donor's abdomen to make small keyhole-size incisions. A laparoscope (tiny fibre optic camera) is then inserted, along with long instruments used to sever blood vessels and detach the kidney. 

Two years ago, Glenn Collins underwent the first laparoscopic kidney retrieval in Southern Alberta in order to help his older brother, Michael, a diabetic who was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1997. Glenn's gift gave Michael a new lease on life, particularly since his brother had been deemed an unlikely candidate for a transplant on account of his age and medical history. 

A strong advocate of organ donation, Glenn approached a clinic in Calgary about becoming a live kidney donor after he read about laparoscopic surgery on the Internet. 

"It was an easy decision to make because Michael was in need," said Glenn. "While any member of our large family would have probably come through, I stepped up for the call because I was the youngest and most fit, and passed all the tests to determine if I was a suitable donor." 

Asked about his recovery, Glenn recalls waking up the day after surgery and walking the long corridor to Michael's room.

"If it wasn't for the scar, I would never have believed that I had had surgery!" he said.

According to Dr. Mamazza, laparoscopic surgery is advantageous for a number of reasons. For starters, live donor kidneys usually last twice as long as kidneys taken from cadaveric donors - people who have died suddenly as a result of some kind of trauma. In addition, live donors who undergo laparoscopic surgery suffer from minimal post-operative discomfort and usually have a faster convalescence, with their hospital stay reduced from a few months to a few days.

"Keyhole surgery goes a long way in allaying both the donor and recipient's fear," said Dr. Mamazza.

Today, living donation is on the rise, accounting for almost 40% of all kidney transplants performed. 

The world's first live donor keyhole surgery procedure was performed in February 1995 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Since 2001, The Kidney Foundation of Canada has supported the work of Canadian researchers involved in the study of laparoscopic procedures.

The only national health charity serving the particular needs of people living with kidney disease, The Kidney Foundation of Canada funds research, provides educational and emotional support services, advocates for access to high quality healthcare, and actively promotes awareness of and commitment to organ donation.

"Just Say No" Ain't Enough To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

 The holiday season is coming up fast. For weeks magazines and newspapers have been printing recipes and alluring photographs of rich, mouth-watering goodies such as cookies, candies, dips, and calorie-laden drinks. 

Then, in the same issue, they offer guidance on how not to eat all this stuff.  Pace yourself, they advise.  Limit yourself to one tidbit every half-hour.  Eat a salad before going to a cocktail party, so that you wont be tempted by all the snacks.  Yeah, right - like my inner brat is going to forego the fondue because I pre-loaded with lettuce.  

Nutrition experts tell us that on average, people gain 5-7 lb. during the holiday season.  

It's hard to resist all the treats, especially when we're faced with them in ads and displays, as well as on counter tops at home, at work and when visiting.  Our inner brat nags at us, whining that we really do "need" that extra helping of pie.  Or it rationalizes that a couple of cookies don't add up to much, and that we can exercise a little more later.

Controlling your eating is difficult at this time of year. To "just say no" is a good strategy for occasional temptations, but it doesn't work when you're bombarded with images, aromas and offerings of one treat after another.

Self-control is mentally draining. When you repeatedly say "no" to treats, you gradually deplete your mental energy.  That's why most people fall off their diets later in the day, when their strength to resist is at a low point.

A better solution: not confronting the yes/no question in the first place.  The secret is to limit your exposure to temptation.  Here are some tips:

1.  Store treats in the back of a cupboard or fridge.  Wrap them in opaque paper or plastic, so that you don't easily notice them.

2.  If there are goodies out on counters or desks at work, reroute yourself so that you don't walk by.

3.  Avoid reading recipes for calorie-laden foods.  When you see photos of cakes and other desserts in magazines, turn the page quickly.  Less exposure is less temptation.

4.  If you go to business-related holiday cocktail parties, resolve to visit the buffet table only once.  If possible, stay no more than half an hour. 

5.  Spend some time outside every day.  Nature helps clear your head, so that your cravings are less noticeable.

6. Get more sleep.  Not only will you get the usual benefits of being more alert and less irritable, but research shows that people who sleep more have a better balance of the hormones that regulate hunger - and they weigh LESS than those who don't get enough sleep!

"How To Get Fit And Slash Your Health Insurance Costs"

 Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of this article. I want you to get so healthy, you'll never need to make a health insurance claim. You'll save money by increased fitness. You'll save money with a long no-claims insurance history. And you'll look and feel much better. 

There's three sides to your maximum health and fitness. Diet, and Exercise. But that's only two ! Let me split Exercise into Aerobic exercise and Aneorobic exercise. 

Get all three right. Get the right balance. And you'll get as fit and healthy as your body and genetics will allow. 

Whole forests of paper have been filled with advice on each of these fitness factors. Just go into your local bookstore, and see shelves of diet advice. Shelves of exercise advice. 

Funny how so much contradicts itself, especially for diet e.g right next to each other on the shelf, you'll find a book advocating low carbs & low fat; another saying high fat is okay if you keep the carbs low. Yet another focuses on high protein, and says carbs don't matter... 

* Diet 

Let me give you this simple diet advice. Stick to low fat, low carbs and high protein. Many medical and weight loss studies over the last 10-20 years prove this approach. Many other diet myths come from way back in time, and look just plain wrong when analyzed with modern methods. 

* Aerobic Exercise 

Couch potatoes don't realize how easily they can start feeling fit and healthy. Just walk somewhere 3-4 times per week, for around 20 minutes each time. 

Ideally, do some more demanding aerobic exercise. I do a lot of cycling, because it's great low-impact exercise. And I get to see beautiful scenery while I ride. 

Running provides even more intensive aerobic exercise, but careful of your joints. Maybe you prefer hiking, to see the local countryside ? Or take up a sport like rowing or tennis. You also get to meet new friends by taking up exercise as a sport. 

* Anaerobic Exercise 

Many people work on their diet. Many people take aerobic exercise. But many people ignore anaerobic exercise, or weight training. 

What makes weight training so important ? 

As you get older, muscle mass decreases. Muscle burns fat. So as you lose muscle, it gets harder to keep the fat off. Equally important, weight training can reshape your body. 

No matter how much aerobic exercise you do, you'll still be a pear shape (a smaller pear shape) if you started out a pear shape. 

Using weights you can flatten your stomach, tone your thighs, bulk up your chest and shoulders, and reshape your body any way you want. 

Weight training is incredibly beneficial to your general skeleton strength and conditioning. Older women can reduce the effects of osteoporosis, and older men can maintain their strength and agility. 

This short article can do nothing more than provide an introduction to the three keys to your health. Follow these and you shouldn't need to make a health insurance claim. 

Slash your health insurance costs with a long no-claims bonus. Slash your health insurance costs with any insurer who rates your fitness. 

Herbs as medicines.

 Herbs or medicinal plants have a long history in treating disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, the written history of herbal medicine goes back over 2000 years and herbalists in the West have used “weeds” equally long to treat that which ails us. We are all familiar with the virtues of Garlic, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lavender, and other common herbs.

Interest in medicinal herbs is on the rise again and the interest is primarily from the pharmaceutical industry, which is always looking for ‘new drugs’ and more effective substances to treat diseases, for which there may be no or very few drugs available.

Considering the very long traditional use of herbal medicines and the large body of evidence of their effectiveness, why is it that we are not generally encouraged to use traditional herbal medicine, instead of synthetic, incomplete copies of herbs, called drugs, considering the millions of dollars being spent looking for these seemingly elusive substances?

Herbs are considered treasures when it comes to ancient cultures and herbalists, and many so-called weeds are worth their weight in gold. Dandelion, Comfrey, Digitalis (Foxglove), the Poppy, Milk Thistle, Stinging nettle, and many others, have well-researched and established medicinal qualities that have few if any rivals in the pharmaceutical industry. Many of them in fact, form the bases of pharmaceutical drugs.

Research into the medicinal properties of such herbs as the humble Dandelion is currently being undertaken by scientists at the Royal Botanical Gardens, in Kew, west London, who believe it could be the source of a life-saving drug for cancer patients.

Early tests suggest that it could hold the key to warding off cancer, which kills tens of thousands of people every year.

Their work on the cancer-beating properties of the dandelion, which also has a history of being used to treat warts, is part of a much larger project to examine the natural medicinal properties of scores of British plants and flowers.

Professor Monique Simmonds, head of the Sustainable Uses of Plants Group at Kew, said: "We aren't randomly screening plants for their potential medicinal properties, we are looking at plants which we know have a long history of being used to treat certain medical problems.”

“We will be examining them to find out what active compounds they contain which can treat the illness.”

Unfortunately, as is so often the case, this group of scientists appears to be looking for active ingredients, which can later be synthesised and then made into pharmaceutical drugs. This is not the way herbs are used traditionally and their functions inevitably change when the active ingredients are used in isolation. That’s like saying that the only important part of a car is the engine – nothing else needs to be included…

So, why is there this need for isolating the ‘active ingredients’?

As a scientist, I can understand the need for the scientific process of establishing the fact that a particular herb works on a particular disease, pathogen or what ever, and the need to know why and how it does so. But, and this is a BIG but, as a doctor of Chinese medicine I also understand the process of choosing and prescribing COMBINATIONS of herbs, which have a synergistic effect to treat not just the disease, but any underlying condition as well as the person with the disease – That is a big difference and not one that is easily tested using standard scientific methodologies.

Using anecdotal evidence, which after all has a history of thousands of years, seems to escape my esteemed colleagues all together. Rather than trying to isolate the active ingredient(s), why not test these herbs, utilising the knowledge of professional herbalists, on patients in vivo, using the myriad of technology available to researchers and medical diagnosticians to see how and why these herbs work in living, breathing patients, rather than in a test tube or on laboratory rats and mice (which, by the way, are not humans and have a different, although some what similar, physiology to us…).

I suspect, that among the reasons for not following the above procedure is that the pharmaceutical companies are not really interested in the effects of the medicinal plants as a whole, but rather in whether they can isolate a therapeutic substance which can then be manufactured cheaply and marketed as a new drug - and of course that’s where the money is…

The problem with this approach is however, that medicinal plants like Comfrey, Dandelion and other herbs usually contain hundreds if not thousands of chemical compounds that interact, yet many of which are not yet understood and cannot be manufactured. This is why the manufactured drugs, based on so-called active ingredients, often do not work or produce side effects.

Aspirin is a classic case in point. Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in Aspirin tablets, and was first isolated from the bark of the White Willow tree. It is a relatively simple compound to make synthetically, however, Aspirin is known for its ability to cause stomach irritation and in some cases ulceration of the stomach wall.

The herbal extract from the bark of the White Willow tree generally does not cause stomach irritation due to other, so called ‘non-active ingredients’ contained in the bark, which function to protect the lining of the stomach thereby preventing ulceration of the stomach wall.

Ask yourself, which would I choose – Side effects, or no site effects? – It’s a very simple answer. Isn’t it?

So why then are herbal medicines not used more commonly and why do we have pharmaceutical impostors stuffed down our throats? The answer is, that there’s little or no money in herbs for the pharmaceutical companies. They, the herbs, have already been invented, they grow easily, they multiply readily and for the most part, they’re freely available.

Further more, correctly prescribed and formulated herbal compounds generally resolve the health problem of the patient over a period of time, leaving no requirement to keep taking the preparation – that means no repeat sales… no ongoing prescriptions… no ongoing problem.

Pharmaceuticals on the other hand primarily aim to relieve symptoms – that means: ongoing consultations, ongoing sales, ongoing health problems – which do you think is a more profitable proposition…?

Don’t get me wrong, this is not to say that all drugs are impostors or that none of the pharmaceutical drugs cure diseases or maladies – they do and some are life-preserving preparations and are without doubt invaluable. However, herbal extracts can be similarly effective, but are not promoted and are highly under-utilised.

The daily news is full of ‘discoveries’ of herbs found to be a possible cure of this or that, as in the example of Dandelion and its possible anti-cancer properties. The point is, that these herbs need to be investigated in the correct way. They are not just ‘an active ingredient’. They mostly have hundreds of ingredients and taking one or two in isolation is not what makes medicinal plants work. In addition, rarely are herbal extracts prescribed by herbalists as singles (a preparation which utilises only one herb). Usually herbalists mix a variety of medicinal plants to make a mixture, which addresses more than just the major symptoms.

In Chinese medicine for example there is a strict order of hierarchy in any herbal prescription, which requires considerable depth of knowledge and experience on the physicians part. The fact that the primary or principle herb has active ingredients, which has a specific physiological effect, does not mean the other herbs are not necessary in the preparation. This is a fact seemingly ignored by the pharmaceutical industry in its need to manufacture new drugs that can control disease.

Knowing that medicinal plants are so effective, that these plants potentially hold the key to many diseases, are inexpensive and have proven their worth time and time again over millennia, why is it that herbal medicine is still not in the forefront of medical treatments, and is considered by many orthodox medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies as hocus-pocus…. hmmm.

"Heat Up" New Year Weight Loss with an IR Bodywrap

 Did you know youu could lie down, breath deep & burn 900+ calories?  

Neither did I…

And it sounded too good to be true so I did some research on my own to find out about this seemingly wonderful bodywrap treatment.

First I had to try it.  Let’s face it if it doesn’t feel great and get results it isn’t worth doing all of the research on finding out how it works and all the rest.  So I dressed up in my cotton sweats and drove up to Ventura California to try it out.  Hydrating and drinking my water as I headed up highway 101. 

Before the bodywrap, I measured the circumference of my upper arms, ribcage, waist, hips and upper thighs before the first treatment and kept it as a reference.  I was really skeptical, but you never know unless you try it.  I didn’t expect to have any change. 

I laid down on a table and 6 large warm pads were wrapped around my upper arms, waist, hips and thighs.  Then I was covered with a blanket and padded with towels where it was appropriate and it was that easy.  I could hear relaxing music and actually it was wonderful to do a breathing meditation and actually take an hour for myself.

Now I’m sort of a lizard – I love the heat – so the pads got warmer and warmer and I broke put is a good sweat.  I continued to sweat, a lot.  I hadn’t sweat that much since the dance classes I had loved back at Broadway Dance center a few summers ago in New York City and I knew I would love this treatment.  I had been busy building a business and going back to school so I had not been keeping myself in shape like I did before.  I had a thought that this bodywrap thing might be a good way to start to get myself back on track.

After an hour, I was drenched – and very happy.  I re-measured myself and lost 3 inches total.  Not much, but the treatment felt so good it didn’t matter too much and I drove home drinking another huge bottle of water.  The gentleman who helped me with the treatment said that the process would continue overnight after the bodywrap had finished and the more fluids the better so I took his advice and planned to measure myself again in the morning.

To my surprise, after measuring myself the next morning I had lost 13 inches total!  Wow!  I called them up and they said that this was more than average – maybe because I have a good diet and stayed hydrated – but regardless I was psyched.  I had to learn more…

So how does this Infrared BodyWrap Work?

Infrared light, which we feel in our bodies as heat is an abundant form of energy we receive from sunlight.  We as humans radiate infrared heat every second of every day (The army uses infrared binoculars for night vision – to see humans in the darkness).  It is part of our human biology.  I would discover that FAR Infrared treatments are used worldwide by medical practitioners as they are one of the most resonant (closely matched) forms of heat for the human body.

Radiant Heat or Infrared energy is a form of energy that is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.  Everything can be described by electrical principles after all we are all electrons protons and neutrons arranged in different patterns.  The infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum happens just below red light waves and is not visible to human eyes but can be felt as heat. (This explains the night vision binoculars example above).  The sun produces most of its energy in the form of infrared energy, our atmosphere allows it in and the earth radiates it back – living out in nature we are daily surrounded by infrared waves.  But not so - in these days of indoor living, SPF sunblock and hiding away from the sun.

Our bodies, on average, radiate infrared energy at about 9.4 microns. The internal production of infrared energy that normally occurs within us is associated with a number of healing responses and may require a boost to assist the fullest healing response to assist homeostasis, metabolism and tissue under repair.

As related to Oriental / Chinese Medicine, when our circulation is impeded (described as Blocked Qi flow in Chinese Medicine) our body’s healing capacity, metabolism, and daily functioning are diminished.  By enhancing circulation, the infrared therapeutic treatment is helping to unblock the Qi and increase energy and improve body function.  Moxa, cupping, Infrared lamps and gua sha are related but different methods of achieving the same result in an Oriental Medicine Treatment.

Because of this special nature of the wavelength, when applied as a treatment, FAR Infrared heat therapy (i.e. bodywrap) activates a more thorough and extensive stimulation of local circulation which positively impacts enzymes, metabolism & immune function. The IR therapy helps the body get at toxins & cellulite trapped in the tissue through this increase in circulation and metabolism.   The bodywrap treatment I had received had “super charged” this process.

So how does all this calorie burning happen?  

The amount of sweat an infrared treatment can induce is 2-3 times that of a conventional sauna without creating that claustrophobic feeling, without drying out the sauna or causing undue stress on the cardiovascular system.  I know I can barely stay in a regular sauna for 10 minutes – I lasted easily 1 hour in this bodywrap treatment.

The best research on this type of infrared treatment has described “Its regular use may be as effective as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories as regular exercise.” in the Journal of the American Medical Association 8/7/81.  In fact, NASA in the early 1980’s concluded that infrared therapy would be an ideal way to stimulate cardiovascular function during long space missions.

Someone not used to saunas can easily sweat 500 grams and consume 300 kcalories which is the equivalent of jogging for 30 minutes.  The bodywrap is a great in between workouts way to ease the stiffness and once becoming acclimated to the sauna  - burning up to 900+ calories are achieved each session.  But remember – Hydration is very important you need to constantly replenish the fluids to see results.

The benefits of Infrared Therapy are impressive.  Research from Sweden, Japan, Finland, China and Germany cite an impressive list of conditions that can be treated, including:

Arthritis & Joint Stiffness

Acne

Soft Tissue Injuries             

Menstrual Pain

Eczema                 

Wound Healing

Neurodermatitis         

GI Problems

Cardiovascular Circulation

Pain & Stiffness

Weight Loss

Endocrine, Immune and Autonomic Function

The FDA has approved the use of FAR infrared treatment for pain relief and more is learned each day.  I have more research to do but this was good enough for me.  I decided that I wanted to try it again and learn more.  

"Getting Around The Weight Loss Plateau"

 The typical human form is capable of achieving a number of incredible feats that seem to suspend or defy the way science tells us things work. Athletes, through sheer willpower, can end up lifting something that their bodies should not be able to without suffering anything worse than muscle spasms. People can adapt to extreme physical trauma caused by a car accident and defy predictions that they'll never walk again. While, in general, these amazing feats are useful in a number of situations, there are physical reactions that some people look upon with quite a bit of disfavor. Among these “disfavored reactions” is something known as a “weight loss plateau.”

Essentially, the “plateau” is a term used to describe a situation where the body has become incapable of losing any further weight, usually due to developing a tolerance for the weight loss pills and methods being used. Essentially, the plateau is hit when the body develops tolerance for the regimen's limitations and practices, thus allowing the metabolic rate of the body to adjust to whatever weight loss pills or techniques were being used. Most diet books decidedly ignore the existence of the plateau, primarily because it can be seen as negating the purpose of the diet and is, therefore, bad for marketing. There are, however, ways to counteract the human body building a tolerance for training regimens and weight loss pills.

The human metabolism, when presented with a pattern, will eventually adapt to that pattern. It is this natural adaptability of the human body that can cause the weight loss plateau, particularly if the person's diet and eating habits have been altered for weight loss. As such, changing the pattern will, once a sufficient amount of time has passed, allow your diet plan or weight loss pills to become effective again. This trick essentially involves confusing the human metabolism, and is often taken as a rather drastic way to get the body back in “diet mode.” There are, of course, several ways to effectively alter that pattern without causing the body permanent harm.

Adding strength and weight training and modifying one's exercise program can also help someone get past the plateau, in most cases. The body will still burn through nutrients during physical activity, though the digestive system's metabolic rate can adapt such that more weight is retained rather than burned during exercise. Increasing the difficulty of the exercises, or changing the movements to target less-developed muscle areas, can effectively force the body to re-adapt. While the body is busy adapting to the changes, it can also start losing weight again. This method is best used with alterations to the person's diet, however, to maximize the effectiveness.

Another trick used to circumvent the problem of the plateau is to make changes to the time frame between meals. The internal clock that the human body's digestive system operates on can be altered to suit one's purposes, provided one executes the proper alterations to one's diet and eating habits. A simple action like altering the schedule of the meals, such as adding more meals but reducing the bulk of each, can have an appreciable effect on altering the metabolic rate. The key concept of this method is to fool the body into burning the food faster, thus getting one's weight loss program and diet back on track.

When considering the options, it is helpful to keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another person. Some slower metabolisms may require combination of diet program and exercise regimen modifications, while others can get by with merely shortening the break between meals. The critical point is to find a method that works and is effective for a specific metabolism, which can be a time-consuming process.

"Get on the Ball: Core Stability"

 Have you heard the term, focus on the core?  No, we’re not talking about the inside of a golf ball; we’re talking about the inner muscles that make up the abdominal region, hips and lower back.  Most people focus their attention on the muscles that are more visible and easy to train, such as biceps, pecs and back, however, the most important muscles that act as our foundation are often over looked.  So what is core training, or better yet core stability, and how does an individual increase their core stability?  

Core training is best done when the body is placed in an unstable environment.  One way to accomplish an unstable environment is with the use of those big colorful balls, depending who you talk to, are commonly known as Swiss balls, Resist-A-Ball or stability balls.  Once used as a tool for rehabilitation has now become a hot item for healthy individuals to use to core and stability training.    Swiss balls can be used in a variety of settings; use with bodyweight only, integrated with selectorized machines and free weights, or can be used with free weight or tubing exercises.  

We have all seen Swiss balls in fitness facilities, but the question many people ask is what makes Swiss ball training so great?  How can sitting, rolling, moving or performing an exercise on a ball be beneficial?  Believe it or not but there are numerous benefits to Swiss ball training, some of them are listed here.

Improved Posture.  It takes more energy to move the body when you have poor posture not to mention an increase of stress to the joints and stabilizer muscles.  An athlete is always searching for the edge over the competition and simply improving posture will help the body function more effectively and efficiently.  Swiss ball training is an excellent form of posture training.  Postural muscles have to work in the unstable environment, unlike supported exercises such as machine training.   

Improved Balance/Stability.  The human body moves in three planes or a combination of planes and for improved balance and stability, an individual needs to perform exercises that allow them to train in these multiple planes.  Traditional machine weight training takes the balance out of the picture and the machine actually becomes your stabilizer.  Swiss ball training places you in an unstable environment forcing you to utilize your neutralizer and stabilizer muscles to stay balanced in a given position or through a particular motion.   The result is improved sports performance since you are able to apply more power and strength to any situation, especially out on the golf course, when you need to balance and stabilize your body on a hill or unstable position.

Improved Nervous System Activation.  The benefit of improving your nervous system activation is that you are able to transform the strength you developed from your training program to real life situations, whether they are sport related or everyday activities.

Strengthen The Core & Extremities.  Swiss ball exercises require constant activation of the core muscles, which translates to a more functional core as well as sculpted abdominal and back muscles.  Using the Swiss ball with free weight exercises will help develop the extremities while training the core at the same time.

As you will quickly learn, you just don’t get on the Swiss ball and begin your exercises; there are several rules to follow in order to perform the exercises correctly and safely.  Seeking the help of a qualified personal trainer experienced in stability training will be beneficial.  For starters, using the Swiss balls is not just about getting on one and trying not to fall off – you must maintain proper positioning throughout the exercises.  Tucking in the pelvis and pressing the belly button into the spine are some cues that you will need to focus on through the exercises.   

In order to improve your athletic performance, have better balance/stability or improve your posture, you will need to train in an environment that places a demand on the core muscles.  You will notice that after training on a Swiss ball, you will become more confident in your ability to move effectively and efficiently from the golf course to everyday activities.  

Swiss ball training is only one aspect of training in an unstable environment, the use of core boards, wobble boards, foam roller and discs all play a vital role in improving your athletic performance and training in such a way that really translates to real life activities.

No matter what you are trying to accomplish, keeping a balance in your training program is important.  Components of fitness that should always be included are: muscle strength & endurance, cardiovascular, flexibility, stability/balance and coordination.  Athletes will need to incorporate speed and agility to the list.  Looking at the all the components that one needs to integrate, it seems as though there is not enough time in the day to complete it all in a training program.  This is where the professional assistance of a personal trainer comes into play.  A personal trainer will be able to set up your program that is customized to your needs, wants and lifestyle, so that you don’t spend hours in the gym.  After all, we workout so that our life is more enjoyable.  Once you start adding stability training into your program, you will quickly see how it will improve other activities in your life as well as your performance on the golf course.  No matter what your fitness level may be, anyone can utilize a Swiss ball due to the vast variety of exercises from beginner to advanced level.