Deana's Health Corner

The brain was created by God more superior than the most advanced computer on the planet. With its multi-functions, the brain is far more advance and capable than man made technology, as advanced as that is. However, we still have to be good stewards of this brilliant organ.

Many people take the brian for granted, and therefore, participate in activities that are not helpful to the brain. In fact, some activities are very harmful to it. For example, marijuana use has an adverse impact on brain development, leading to poorer performance on thinking tasks, says a new study.

The research team led by clinical neuropsychology researcher Krista Lisdahl Medina from University of Cincinnati and Susan Tapert, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego found that chronic, marijuana use during adolescence – a critical period of ongoing brain development – causes many adverse affects. These affects include slower psychomotor speed, poorer complex attention and poorer verbal memory and planning .

In addition, the bible warns against altering our mental state through intoxication. We are, instead encouraged to be filled with the Spirit of God.(Eph. 5:18) This puts us in a place where are minds can be renewed and then we’re transformed. (Ro. 12:2) You can go from being a sad person to a happy person, not because you’ve smoked, but because you’ve soaked…in His presence.

Tags: adolescent, brain, health, memory, neuorology
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Most people in today’s society do not take the time to enjoy rest.   I believe that more people would enjoy rest if  they realized it as a health benefit.   A restful life is a healthy life.  Even still, most people are not always sure if one should rest at certain times during the day.  We all know that it’s acceptable and expected of one to go to bed at night, however daytime rest is still questionable in the  minds of many people.

First off, in order to begin to happily enjoy rest, one should probably settle within yourself that it’s okay to rest. Babies aren’t the only ones who need a nap during the day.  Keep in mind, though, rest does not always involve sleeping.  One of the number one reasons why people don’t take time out to rest is because they think it makes them appear to be lazy.  Also, rest seems to be non-productive when, in fact, resting is actually very productive.   One aspect of mental health and well-being is simply allowing the mind time to do nothing. It is in this process of not being busy that one is free to contemplate, meditate, recharge and generally appreciate.   Rest puts one in a state of faith where trust and belief is easily attained.  It is no coincidence that the western world is a more stressed and anxious place than it was fifty years ago.  With our cars, traffic jams, motorways and road rage, it’s not very hard to see.   Not to mention working several jobs at once, or overtime that could equal three jobs, some of which may be necessary, but cannot be maintained healthily without taking time to rest.

Rest is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  Hebrews 4:9-11 are words of encouraging warning that go something like this…“Let us enter into the place of rest and relaxation, as we wait patiently, in faith, for the promises of God to be fulfilled in our lives; Lest we doubt and stop short of the fulfillment of God’s promises to us, as others have in the past.”

Read more: The Holy Bible, Chapter 4.

Tags: bible, health, rest
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As a Nation, let’s show appreciation to and for our United States Veterans. The first Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, marked the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I, what many proclaimed, with an optimism that turned out to be wildly misplaced, “the war to end all wars.”

It became a U.S. national holiday in 1938 and in 1954 was renamed Veterans Day to honor all veterans. With the end of the draft and the passing of the World War II generation, military service is not the common denominator in American life it once was.

There are currently 23.2 million veterans, down from a peak of 28.6 million in 1980. There is no danger of those numbers dwindling to a point where the nation begins to overlook its veterans. We spend generously on them ― over $84 billion last year, mainly for pensions and medical benefits ― and will continue to do so.

But as the scandalous treatment of the wounded undergoing rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center showed, bureaucracies can move in fits and starts. That’s why it’s encouraging that the Obama administration ― specifically Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Defense Secretary Robert Gates ― have undertaken several worthwhile initiatives.

The two pledged to attack the cumbersome and maddeningly complex paperwork needed to process veterans’ disability claims that have created a huge backlog at the VA. And they have doubled the funding for treatment of the side effects of the nature of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan ― traumatic brain injuries and mental health issues.

Shinseki has also vowed to end veterans’ homelessness in five years. There are an estimated 130,000 homeless vets. That’s down substantially from 195,000 six years ago, but Shinseki doesn’t believe any should be out on the streets. He proposes to attack the problem by preventing veterans from becoming homeless in the first place.

Sunday, President Barack Obama signed an executive order intended to ramp up the federal government’s employment of veterans across its agencies. And Congress has passed a law to make the VA’s funding more secure and predictable.

Help me spread the word….Veterans, We Appreciate You!

Tags: health, President Obama, veterans, war
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Drinking water can prove to be highly beneficial and powerful in a variety of ways. It is known that a person can survive for 2-3 weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Most people don’t drink enough water and are in fact dehydrated without knowing it. Canned drinks, sweet liquids, coffee, tea, alcohol and similar drinks do not count, as they’re believed to make your body lose even more water.  Mother may have told you to drink more water when you were young.   Now your doctor does, but you still find yourself ignoring the good advice.   Most likely, Mother didn’t always say why water is so important, so here are some good reasons to increase your water intake.

Get Healthy Skin

Flush Toxins

Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Attack

Cushion And Lube Your Joints And Muscles

Get Energized And Be Alert

Regulate Bowel Movements

Reduce Your Risk Of Disease And Infection

Regulate Your Body Temperature

Burn More Fat And Build More Muscle

Tags: drink, flush toxins, health, water
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Unless you’re like my friend Denice, drinking a gallon of water daily is not your norm. In fact, not many people wake up in the morning and say to themselves, “I think I’ll tackle a jug”. You may not drink a gallon a day, but let’s make it priority to drink at least the daily recommended requirement of 8 glasses daily.

Some people drink plenty of water, as they should, then go through dry spells where they drink little to no water at all. If you’ve found yourself in a “dry” place”, here are four suggestions on ways to improve your water drinking performance:

Carry a bottle of water with you everywhere you go.

Keep a glass or cup of water next to you whenever you’ll be sitting down for a long time, such as when you’re at your desk at work or watching television. Drink from it regularly as you’re working.

When you’re not really thirsty make it a habit to take small frequent sips from your bottled water. This way you’re still consuming water, but not enough to make you feel bloated which leads to water rejection.

Finally, add lemons or limes to your water. This makes it taste better and makes you want to drink more of it. Be careful not to make it too sour; just a splash of sourness should do the trick. Cucumber slices can also be added to a glass of water. Some mint leaves can be added to a pitcher of water which should be allowed to sit overnight.

Drink up!

Tags: health, recommended daily allowance, water
Posted in Healthy Eating | | 2 Comments »

Today most health conscious individuals attempt to steer away from fast foods. The main reason is because fast foods have been proven to contain mostly high levels of fat, sodium, as well as sugar. Besides that, most of the nutritional value is little to none, while loading you up with mega calories.

I have found a place to eat during the times when I am out and about taking care of business that takes me too far from home to cook and too far from my goals that need to be accomplished for that day to quit. There is an alternative to traditional fast foods. Fortunately, I found a place that I can stop at to enjoy good tasting, nutritional foods. This is a place where one can find the nutrition information for all menu items. The place is ‘Panera Bread’. It’s convenient because they offer, soup, salad, sandwiches and more. Another benefit is that you can connect your lap top to their Wi-Fi and never skip a beat.

Furthermore, Panera Bread was voted #1 Healthiest for eating on the go, from America’s Healthiest (Health Magazine) Award for 2009.

This was just another suggestion for health conscious adults on the go from Deana’s Health Corner.

Tags: fast, food, health
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10 Reasons to Smile

#1.   Smiling Makes Us Attractive.  We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away — but a smile draws them in.

#2.   Smiling Changes Our Mood.  Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

#3.  Smiling Is Contagious. When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

#4.  Smiling Relieves Stress. Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action.

#5.  Smiling Boosts Your Immune System. Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

#6.  Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure.  When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

#7.  Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin. Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

#8.   Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day — you’ll look younger and feel better.

#9.  Smiling Makes You Seem Successful.  Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

#10.  Smiling Helps You Stay Positive.  Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It’s hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is Good!” Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

Resources:
http://www.terrawellington.com/Column2005/041405.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1424940
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/416134/health_benefits_of_smiling_.html?cat=25
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/416134/health_benefits_of_smiling_.html?cat=25

Life,

Tags: Benefits, health, life, Smile
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We’ve already discovered the healing properties contained within laughter. Now we’ll take a look at the worth of a smile. A smile is more than just a frown turned upside down. It does more for an individual than many people realize and know.

Did anyone ever tell you that happy people have stronger immune systems and can fight off illness better than a melancholy personality?  That’s a fact, according to Christopher Peterson, PhD, a University of Michigan Professor.  People who wear a smile are usually optimistic and are therefore happy and healthy. There is a clear link between optimistic attitudes and good health. It has been measured in a variety of ways. The bible clearly states in Neh. 8:10 “…neither be ye sorry, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Everyone needs a strengthened immune system to fight disease.  Why not change your mood by smiling more,  even when you don’t feel up to it.   Remember…Smile for life.

Deana

Tags: healing, health, Laughter, life, Smile
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