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Good health shouldn’t be taken for granted. One will never realize how important it is until it’s gone. Hence, it’s critical for us to take care of our health. We should make sure that we keep our bodies as healthy as possible for us not to develop any unwanted diseases in the future. Take a look into these good health tips to get you on the road to a healthy lifestyle.

Good health tip #1: Stop complaining and start moving.
Computers, televisions and video games keep us glued to our seats. It often results for us to become less physical than ever before. We tend to forget that we must move most of the time and start exercising regularly. Even ten minutes of walking can help our body get in shape.

Good health tip #2: Water’s good for you.
Water is one of the basic things of life. To keep our body well-hydrated, be sure to drink lots of water. If you don’t, you’ll be dehydrated. It could lead to fatigue and what’s worse, you could have malfunction of kidneys. And just one more thing, alcohol isn’t water. Just drink it occasionally otherwise you could develop a liver disease.

Good health tip #3: Cessation of smoking is a must.
Smoking has been one of the main factors of lung cancer. I just can’t imagine how millions of people are still drawn to smoking. If you care about your health, then you must definitely stop. You may find it hard to quit but you could start gradually. If you’re used to smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day; reduce it to 2 packs and so on.

Good health tip #4: Have a medical check-up yearly.
Some don’t like to have their bodies checked because they’re afraid of what the doctors will tell them. That’s the point. Medical examinations are necessary to help diagnose any potential diseases such as an impending cancer or diabetes. Do what’s good for you before it’s too late.

Everyone loves to go flying away on tropical holidays. But do you know how to keep you and your family healthy and safe whilst up in the air? Below is a health guide to flying, some health tips and some important information.

Air Quality

When you fly, the air is recirculated for use for the whole flight. This results in poorly oxygenated air that can be high in carbon dioxide and germs. The symptoms that you can experience from breathing in the aircrafts stale air include headaches, colds, flu’s, dry skin and sore eyes. Those with respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease are at an increased risk of developing some of the above problems. Drinking water helps your body minimize some of the above threats. Make sure to never drink alcohol on a flight. Skin moisturizes and saline sprays can also help your body from becoming dry and dehydrated.

Pressurized Cabin

Planes are also pressurized but as a plane increases in altitude, the pressure in the cabin does decrease slightly. This change in pressure can cause health problems such as earaches and hemorrhaging, chest pains, severe intestinal gas and even toothache. To try to limit these problems, wear loose fitting clothes, do not fly immediately after having surgery and try to avoid flying if you have a cold or the flu. Also try to have food and drink that is bland and does not contain any carbonation (no fizzy drinks).

Pregnancy & Flying

Pregnant women should also be wary of when they fly. Flying exposes individuals to levels of radiation higher than that experienced on land. Flying can also place other stresses on a developing babies. Mothers planning to fly should always seek advice on whether flying will be safe for the week of pregnancy they are in.

Fear Of Flying

Some people also hold great fears of flying. Although the statistics show flying is extremely safe, people still often have a morbid fear of getting up in the air. People who experience these symptoms should always see their doctor before flying. Your doctor will be able to prescribe you with sedatives that will relax you during the flight.

Blood Clots – Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis and blood clots are another danger of flying. Deep vein thrombosis is also known as ‘economy-class syndrome’ because of the close and cramped seating experienced by these passengers. Deep vein thrombosis however can effect all people within a plane including those in first class. There has been many suggestions on how to combat dvt, but many of these have proven unreliable. Asprin can help minimizing the chances of having a stroke or heart attack but does little use to prevent blood clots. Likewise, compression stockings are of little use unless they are custom designed and fitted. The best way to minimize the chances of dvt is to walk around the plane at least once every 2 hours. You should never sleep on a plane as this increases your chances of developing a blood clot.

Jet Lag

Jet lag is the change of your ‘body clock’ that occurs when you fly across different time zones. Jet lag occurs when your body gets out of sync with the date and time. The symptoms of jet lag include fatigue, exhaustion, irritability, disorientation, head aches and general tiredness. Preventing or minimizing jet lag involves some of the points above. Don’t drink alcohol and be sure to drink plenty of water during the flight. You can also try to adjust your body clock before you leave. If you work out what the time difference will be when you arrive, you can start adjusting your body clock before you leave for your trip. Maybe start waking up earlier by an hour each day, and going to bed an hour earlier before you leave. Obviously this will depend on which way the time will alter depending on if you travel east or west. You can also plan your travel times so you arrive in the daytime, as this will give you time to adjust. Arriving at night time often makes it hard for you to go straight to sleep on arrival.

In summary, below are some healthy flying tips:

- Drink plenty of water during your flight
- Never drink alcohol when on a plane
- Wear loose fitting clothes
- Walk around regularly on the flight. This can help stop life threatening clots from forming. Speak with your doctor before you fly about other ways to combat clots.
- See your doctor if you have a fear of flying. Your doctor will be able to prescribe some sedatives.
- Pregnant women should seek advice of their doctor before flying
- Try adjusting your body clock before traveling to minimize the experience of jetlag

The skin is the largest body organ and is comprised of three layers. The outermost protective layer is known as the Epidermis, the elastic resilient middle layer is the Dermis while the subcutaneous layer of fat beneath the dermis is the Subcutis. The skin serves several functions including protection, secretion, excretion, heat regulation, sensation and absorption.

Skin reflects well-being and care starts from within. Nutrition and water consumption are important factors. A well balanced diet with the right vitamin and mineral supplementation goes a long way in determining how healthy the skin looks. Adequate water intake in addition to hydrating the skin, aids in flushing out toxic waste. Eliminating what we put into our bodies is essential for overall health as well as healthy skin. If your colon is sluggish, toxic waste can be reabsorbed into your bloodstream and eliminated through your skin showing up as a breakout. Constipation can be tackled by increasing water consumption, fibre in your diet and eating high quality foods that contain a lot of water, vitamins and minerals like fruits and vegetables.

Poor nutrition may show up as dry and dull skin which could indicate Vitamin B deficiency. Protein is needed for cell growth and anti-oxidant vitamins A, C & E are needed to fight pollution. Linoleic acid found in Evening Primrose Oil helps the skin form its protective barrier that prevents it becoming itchy, dry and rough. It is now known that Zinc deficiency greatly contributes to the development of stretch marks. You can boost vitamin intake by eating five servings of fresh vegetables and fruits a day. Add good oils like extra virgin olive oil, nut and avocado oils to your diet. Zinc is found in shellfish, lean meat, lentils and spinach. Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish, help reduce inflammation and improve the skins texture and appearance.

Exercise improves circulation, which increases oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin as well as expels toxins. Smoking is bad for the skin as free radicals reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and Nicotine inhibits the absorption of Vitamin C essential for collagen production. Smokers usually have lines around their lips from repeated puckering when inhaling and in addition, the rate at which the skin sags and wrinkles by breaking down collagen and elastin is accelerated by this habit.

Alcohol and sodium should be consumed in moderation as alcohol dilates capillaries increasing their fragility thus causing your face to look bruised or splotchy. Salt on the other hand promotes water retention leading to a bloated, puffy appearance.

Your twice-daily basic routine should consist of three steps:

1. Cleansing
2. Toning
3. Moisturizing

Consistency provides the best results and any product used on the face should also be applied to the neck. The skin on the neck is thinner and has fewer oil glands but responds to therapy and is quick to show signs of neglect.

Step 1: Cleansing
A cleanser helps remove oil and debris from the surface of the skin and may come as soap (liquid or bar), cleansing milk or cleansing cream. It is best to use tepid water and avoid extremes of temperature as hot and cold water can easily damage the fragile facial capillaries leading to couperose, redness and sensitivity. Cleansing is the most important step in basic skincare providing a clean surface for products to be effectively absorbed. Skin is naturally acidic with a pH of 5 – 6. The cleansing process usually disrupts this state as most cleansers tend to be alkaline in nature. The skins acidity helps protect against bacterial invasion so it is very important to restore this acid mantle after cleansing by using a toner. If you use a washcloth, be gentle to avoid dragging on the skin and if you use make-up, cleanse twice; the first time to remove the make-up and the second to clean the skin.

Step 2: Toning
A toner also known as an astringent, freshener or clarifying lotion is used to re-acidify your skin preparing it for your moisturizer. You may apply it with a cotton pad, splash it on like after-shave or spray it on. If it contains alcohol you may feel tightening or dryness, which is caused by the toner dehydrating the skin. When the skin is stripped of moisture and oil, it overcompensates by producing more oil.

Step 3: Moisturizing
A moisturizer is an emollient oil-in-water mixture that usually comes as a cream, lotion or gel depending on skin type. Gel is thinner and less moisturizing than cream and lotion is in between. Skin types vary from Dry, Normal and Combination, Oily and Sensitive. It is very important to use a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type. Generally, dry skins should use cream while oily skins should use gel. Moisturizers generally hydrate and nourish the skin and eye area. Eye creams are formulated specifically for the eye area, which has delicate, thin skin devoid of oil glands. There are day and night creams, which usually differ in ingredient content.

At night the body works hard to repair damage brought upon by environmental stress such as pollution and exposure to wind and harmful UVA and UVB rays. This is the time when it regenerates itself so treatments tend to work best at night when an optimum environment is created. It stands to reason that getting enough sleep, at least 7 hours, is beneficial for healthy skin. A sleep deprived person looks older and more haggard and this is worse around the eyes. Sleep deprivation also causes the facial skin to sag with shadows appearing under the eyes. Some day moisturizers have added sunscreen. I recommend however, that a sunscreen be applied after moisturizing as this is the FIRST LINE of defense against premature aging. Exposure to the sun leads to the breakdown of the supportive elastin and collagen. A sunscreeen with a minimum of SPF 30 should be used.

Extras

Extra treatments to add once or twice a week are Exfoliating and using a clay-based mask. Exfoliation removes dead cell buildup, stimulates circulation and de-clogs pores giving a healthy glow. Exfoliants include scrubs, peels and gommage. A gommage is a non-abrasive gel type peel gentle enough for the eye area that is massaged onto the skin it adheres to dead cells and flakes off when dry.

Clay deep cleanses, stimulates and soothes the skin and acts by lifting debris and impurities from pores.

The use of steam softens dead cells, opens pores, softens grease and debris thus making it easier to exfoliate and deep cleanse. It also improves circulation and boosts cell metabolism.
It is a good idea to have a professional facial once a month or weekly if you can afford it or find the time.

Alleviating stress goes a long way at keeping the skin healthy. Stress compromises the immune system, weakening your ability to fight off illness. This adversely affects skin as the body goes into the fight-or-flight mode mechanism of defense. In this situation, blood flow is redirected to internal organs to defend itself thus reducing blood flow to the skin. Chronic stress increases tension lines on the face and associated insomnia speeds up the aging process as skin regeneration that goes on during sleep is disrupted.

A lot of people tend to neglect their bodies and focus mainly on facial skin care. I believe body care is equally important. You can get tips about body care in my article.

Dental accidents happen and happen unexpectedly. It might be out at a friend’s house having dinner or you might chip a tooth playing football. Do you know what number to call when you have a dental emergency? Do you know what you should be doing? What if it happens to you or one of your friends or family?

What You Should Do If a Tooth is Knocked Out
1. Find the tooth but do not force it back into the socket
2. Rinse in warm water and place between the cheek and the gum – do not rub
3. OR wrap in a clean, moist cloth or place in a cup of milk or water
4. If you gum is bleeding, use a clean cloth on it
5. Contact and see a dentist – preferably within 30 minutes

Tooth Pushed Out of Position?
• Gently push the tooth back to the normal position
• Do not force it
• Put something clean and cold against the tooth
• Call your dentist as soon as possible

Broken a Tooth?
• Gently push the tooth back to the normal position
• Do not force it
• If the tooth is loose, carefully hold with a moist cloth
• Put something clean and cold against the tooth
• Call your dentist as soon as possible

Your dental health and general well-being is of the utmost importance.

Your body and mind are directly effected by the state of your teeth. Keeping your teeth in an emergency or any other time healthy is paramount in your good health.

Being diagnosed with diabetes requires a mandatory change in dietary habits. The type of diabetic diet plan will ultimately depend on the type of diabetes one is diagnosed with along with recommendations from ones health care providers.

A Type I diabetes diagnosis will require not only daily insulin injections but also a need to closely monitor ones eating habits. The goal of this type of diet is to keep blood sugars under control to prevent both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and maintain a healthy body weight.

The goals for a type 2 diabetic are a little different because the reason for this diagnosis usually includes obesity. Therefore not only is diet important for controlling the effects of the diabetes but also need to address the weight issue. Many type 2 diabetics find that once they get there weight under control the signs and symptoms of the disease ease up or go away completely.

The following five tips will be useful to anyone diagnosed with either type of diabetes. The idea behind them is to keep the idea of eating healthy in ones mind at all times because this disease needs to be closely managed.

1. Snacks – This is probably the hardest adjustment for anyone to make. It goes without saying that cutting back on unhealthy snacks is very important. This doesn’t mean that one cannot have a snack but they need to be of the healthy variety. Mixed nuts, dried fruit that’s unsweetened, along with fresh fruits and vegetables are all good snack choices. It can also help to develop a routine when it comes to snacking; keeping to a daily schedule instead of just randomly snacking throughout the day is a great way to keep diabetes under control.

2. Carbohydrates – The thinking here is simple; cut back on the processed and refined carbs found in most foods made with refined sugars and white flour. Whole grain and whole meal foods are the way to go. Breads made of whole grains with few preservatives actually have more flavor then plain old white bread. Supermarket shelves are also stocked with whole grain pastas and choose brown or basmati rice instead of white. Controlling the amount and type of carbohydrates is an essential part of any diabetic diet plan.

3. Fruits and vegetables – These foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and natural sugars that the body is better able to deal with. Steaming or eating them raw is the best way to take advantage of their natural goodness, but no matter how they are prepared they are an important part of managing the affects of diabetes.

4. Alcoholic drinks – Beer, wine, and cocktails are generally considered off limits to the diabetic. This doesn’t mean a drink cannot be enjoyed from time to time, but in strict moderation. Avoid mixed drinks and instead opt for a low calorie beer or red wine.

5. Water – There is nothing bad about drinking to much water. It is the lubricant that keeps the human body running smoothly. This is no different for the diabetic. Keep a water bottle at hand throughout the day to make sure you get those 8 glasses a day.

Living with diabetes presents many challenges but these five tips can help make following a diabetic diet plan easier and more effective.