Importance of Treadmill Belt Lubricants
May 31, 2008
Importance of Treadmill Belt Lubricants
by: Aaron Co
Why Use Treadmill Belt Lubricants?
The belt and deck are both important parts of a treadmill. When one of them breaks, it is highly recommended that both be replaced as a pair to ensure that both will work perfectly with each other. Replacements like this can cost you up to $500 or more for a quality treadmill.
However, the belt and deck life of a treadmill can be doubled through regular maintenance. Not only that, treadmill belt lubricants also reduce wear on the machine’s other components thus, giving you less headaches in the future.
A Word of Caution
Not all treadmills need to be lubricated. Most decks now-a-days are made with materials that does not require lubrication or are pretreated. Lubricating these types of belt would actually do more harm than good. It could increase friction between the belt and the deck that can damage the motor. So be sure to read your owner’s manual for lubrication recommendations.
Also, not all treadmill models are the same. A brand might make one machine that requires lubrication and another that doesn’t. So do not make the mistake of assuming that a unit needs lubrication just because previous or other models from the brand needed one. To be certain, contact the manufacturer or a certified service representative.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions About Your Health.
May 30, 2008
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions About Your Health.
by: Terry McDermott
If we fail to ask questions when we have an appointment with a medical professional, we may not be getting the full value from the visit. Asking direct, relevant questions of a doctor is not an imposition. It is our right and is also in the best interests of the doctor to provide all of the information we need.
Forgetting to ask questions during an office visit is a common occurrence. This can be a stressful and hectic time and being distracted is normal, especially if we are not feeling well. It is helpful to write down any questions that you may have before your appointment so that you do not forget to ask. You may also want to discuss these questions with a friend or family member. Another person may be able to add insight by seeing things more clearly than we can at the time.
Don’t assume that you are causing a problem by asking questions. Most doctors appreciate patients who ask good questions. Feelings of fear, embarrassment or inadequacy are not good reasons for failing to ask the about things you really want to know. If you don’t ask, your doctor may assume that you understand, or that you do not care to know more. He or she cannot guess what your concerns are.
Low-Carb: The Role of Insulin
May 29, 2008
There are three basic units the body uses for energy:
1. Fats
2. Proteins
3. Carbohydrates
All three can be converted to blood glucose. However, while fats and proteins are converted slowly, carbohydrates are converted quickly causing quick spikes in the body’s blood sugar levels. These spikes in blood sugar levels cause the pancreas to create and release insulin until the blood sugar level returns to normal.
Meanwhile, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that lowers our blood’s glucose levels is released into the blood as soon as the body detects that blood sugar levels have risen above its optimal level.
Insulin is a very efficient hormone that runs the body’s fuel storage systems. If there is excess sugar or fat in the blood insulin will signal the body to store it in the body’s fat cells. Insulin also tells these cells not to release their stored fat, making that fat unavailable for use by the body as energy.
Is Chocolate A New Health Food?
May 29, 2008
Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually be good for us? This is the nutrition news we have all been waiting for. So here is the scoop on chocolate and its health benefits. Yes, you read right, health benefits!
Recent studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contain many heart-healthy antioxidants. They contain a compound called flavonoids which may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also some evidence that these flavonoids may prevent certain cancers.
It is important that we are all on the same page here, not all chocolate have these health benefits. The healthy flavonoids found in chocolate are found in the cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and sugar and contains little amounts of these substances, therefore providing fewer health benefits. So, for those of you who love dark chocolate this is your lucky day! The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants it contains. The quality of the chocolate you consume is also important. The cocoa butter is quite pricey so less expensive brands will replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils which are bad for our health. Look for high quality chocolates with their main ingredients being cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Unsweetened cocoa powder is one of the purest forms of chocolate you can eat and is lower in fat and calories than other chocolates.
Should I Get A Flu Shot Or Is It Just Another Poke In The Arm?
May 28, 2008
Should I Get A Flu Shot Or Is It Just Another Poke In The Arm?
by: D Ruplinger
Whether or not to get a flu shot is one of those questions that is debated every year around the same time that Halloween decorations start showing up on people’s front lawns. People will discuss the pros and cons of getting the flu shot on the bus, on the subway, on the street, at work, while having lunch, and anywhere else where two or more people congregate. The debate starts to become part of news stories too. Some people think a flu shot is necessary and will do their best to make sure they receive one. Other people think it is a waste of time and money along with being a poke in the arm that they don’t need.
Whether or not you get a flu shot is a personal decision but information from the Centers For Disease Control and Protection recommend that certain groups of high risk individuals receive a flu vaccination every year. Those people include:
- People who are 65 years old or older and anyone who lives in a nursing home
Diabetic Nerve Damage: the Height Connection
May 27, 2008
Diabetic Nerve Damage: the Height Connection
by: Bob Fleming
If you have diabetes, it may be better to be short than tall.
Why? Well, it has to do with those pseky foot and leg ulcers that can cause anthing from minor inconvenience to amputation. When ulcers become series, it’s becaue they have become infected, perhaps even leading to gangrene—which is the major reason for amputation.
In the general population, a simple cut or other open wound isn’t usually a problem, because it causes some degree of pain that alerts the person to its presence and allows him or her to seek treatment.
Diabetics, however, are prone to nerve damage, which can mean they have ulcers on feet or legs and aren’t even aware of them until they have become serious problems.
That’s where the height difference comes in. According to a study by the National Taiwan University Hospital, reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, taller diabetics are more likjely to need amputation than those who are shorter.
The reason? The nerves that lead to the legs and feet are the longest in the body, making them especially vulnerable to diabetic nerve damage. Naturally,the taller you are the longer those nerves are, and the more susceptible they are to deterioration and loss of function.
The Mediterranean Diet - What Is It?
May 26, 2008
The Mediterranean Diet - What Is It?
by: Eva Moffat
It has been found that people living in Mediterranean Countries such as Southern France, Spain and Italy live longer than people in other parts of the world. Why is this?
It’s what they eat and how the Mediterranean’s cook their food that makes all the difference.
From Mediterranean Country to Mediterranean Country, the way the food is cooked may differ so although the flavours are varied, the foods used are the same.
What is the Mediterranean Diet?
The diet is mainly foods that come from plants; grains, vegetables especially green leafy vegetables, fruits, beans legumes, nuts, and olive oil. So the foods that are common in the Mediterranean Countries are olives, grapes, wheat and what can be made from these foodstuffs. Added advantages of these foods are their nutritional value; they provide antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals.
The Mediterranean Diet can help people avoid what is called the ‘Diseases of Affluence.’ These diseases are common in Westernised, industrialised nations and include Heart Disease, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and some Cancers.
Isn’t Olive Oil A Fat And Fats Are Bad For Us?
Custom Wheelchairs: The Trend from Functionality to Individuality
May 25, 2008
Custom Wheelchairs: The Trend from Functionality to Individuality
by: Gene Emmer
Wheelchairs have been around for hundreds of years, but early wheelchairs were intended only to help a disabled individual move from point A to point B. As society progressed and disabled individuals became more integrated, the role of the wheelchair began to change as well. Wheelchairs are now considered not only a means of transportation but also as a way to allow users to express their individuality. Users can find custom-made high quality ultra-light high-performance wheelchairs as well as accessories that enable them to individualize their look and style. The move from functionality to individuality is discussed in this article.
(This article with photos: http://www.newdisability.com/functionalitytoindivid.htm)
There were many attempts to connect furniture to wheels dating back to the time of Christ. But perhaps the first wheelchair was invented for King Phillip II of Spain. A drawing of the King dated 1595 shows him in a chair with wheels, armrests and footrests. However, he needed assistance to propel it and the chair resembled more a modern baby’s highchair than a wheelchair of today. In 1665 one of the first self-propelled vehicles was invented by Stephan Farfler. But it looked more like a present day hand-bike than a wheelchair as it was propelled by hand cranks attached to the front wheel. The modern wheelchair began to take shape in the late 19th century to early 20th century with the advent of push rims for self-propulsion and slings for seat and backrests. The 20th century saw a rapid development in wheelchairs, from the first motorized wheelchair, to the first folding wheelchair, to lightweight and sports wheelchairs.
Signs and Symptoms of ADD
May 24, 2008
Signs and Symptoms of ADD
by: Sarah Jenkins
The signs of Attention Deficit Disorder may or may not be incredibly apparent. Because of the intricacies of this disorder and the variations from child to child, diagnosis may prove to be a difficult process.
The first step is understanding that hyperactivity is not synonymous with Attention Deficit Disorder. While a child may exhibit an increased level of activity with this disorder, it is not an inherent factor of ADD.
On the other hand, there are certain characteristics that are prevalent in a child with ADD, such as inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and being easily distracted.
Inattentiveness and distractibility go hand and hand. A child with ADD may have a difficult time staying on task, completing activities, and paying attention to details. While these may seem common traits among children, an ADD child will exhibit extreme behavior more so than children of the same age. They must also exhibit these behaviors for extended periods of time, more than six months, and the behavior must significantly hinder a child’s ability to function in day to day activities.
ACAI Berry Named Top 10 Superfoods For Anti-Aging by Dr. Nicholas Perricone
May 24, 2008
The benefits from eating healthy are endless. And, according to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, some foods can be eaten to help you look and age better! At the top of the list is the acai fruit from the Amazon forest. This little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world. It can often be found in juice form in health food and gourmet stores.
A previously little-known fruit harvested from the Brazilian rainforest is now gaining recognition for its high levels of the cholesterol-fighting fatty acids, Omega 6 and Omega 9, and its strong concentration — up to 33 times that found in red wine grapes — of anthocyanin, a powerful anti-oxidant.
The acai berry is especially noteworthy for the antioxidant properties afforded by its concentration of anthocyanin — which is also present in red wine — that prevents oxidants from harming connective tissue while repairing damaged proteins in blood vessel walls. This helps explain the "French Paradox." The French, who are noted wine drinkers, have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease of any westernized society despite a diet high in cholesterol and saturated fat.
