The Benefits of Flexibility Stretching

You should do flexibility stretching whether or not you are preparing for sports or other vigorous activities. Stretching exercises should be a daily regimen for anybody who wants to live a healthy life.

The benefits of flexibility stretching are overwhelming in terms of health and wellness:

1. Flexibility plays a critical role in physical movement and physical performance of an individual. Firstly, it improves neuromuscular coordination by shortening the time of transmission of brain-to-muscle messages. Secondly, with flexibility, there is less tissue resistance, and hence less energy to complete range of movement (ROM).

2. Flexibility stretching can avoid accidents, falls, and injuries. With less muscular and tissue resistance, and improved body balance, there is a reduced chance of falling or getting injuries during movements.

3. Flexibility exercises improve resting muscle tension to provide better awareness and postural balance - an essential component of correct breathing. How to breathe right is critical to healthy living.

4. Flexibility fitness enhances the quality of the protective lubricant for joint movement. Better range of movement (ROM) provides more blood supply and nutrients to the lubricant, the decline of which leads to degeneration of joint structures and hence arthritic conditions.

5. Flexibility stretching increases lumbar and pelvic movements through elongating the hamstrings, hip flexors, gluteals, and lumbar muscles. The elongation can alleviate lower back pain.

Flexibility stretching is a great asset to health and fitness. The amount of flexibility required depends on the activity level of an individual. However, excessive range of movement (ROM) without adequate muscle strength may be detrimental in that it increases the effect of degenerative disease and reduces the protective reflexes designed to avoid excessive movement.

Do flexibility stretching exercises appropriately and live long!

Stephen Lau

The Seven Pillars of Wisdom

How to Deal with Persistent Muscle Pain

If you experience persistent muscle pain, you are not alone. For many individuals, muscle pain may persist for a long period of time even after recovery from injury, strain, or postural misuse. The explanation is that the persistent muscle pain is caused by tender trigger points (TP), which are areas of muscle tension caused by pain from the spine and connected tissue.

Perpetual muscle pain is a sign of poor fitness and lack of well-being. Toxins may have accumulated in a certain area, where persistent muscle pain occurs. Due to poor circulation in that area, more muscle spasm occurs, leading to more pain, and more toxin accumulation, and hence a vicious cycle of unending pain and muscle spasm.

The factors that trigger muscle spasm can be attributed to the following:

1. Stress and muscle tension

2. Sleep disorder or insomnia

3. Lack of physical activity or exercise to promote good circulation

4. Deficiency of the brain chemical serotonin

5. Poor diet, leading to a buildup of toxins

6. Hormonal imbalances

7. Anxiety and depression

8. Low tolerance of pain

Painkillers offer only short-term relief. Drugs are dangerous and may have long-term side effects. The following may help you deal with persistent muscle pain:

1. Learn to use massage to stimulate blood circulation as well as to relax muscle stiffness.

2. Aromatherapy uses soothing essential oils to promote well-being and muscle relaxation.

3. Acupuncture prevents stagnation or blockage of "qi" (internal life energy circulating throughout the body). The disruption of the smooth flow of "qi" is the source of buildup of body toxins.

4. Eat a diet rich in calcium, magnesium, and zinc, which benefit natural sleep and help eliminating fatigue.

5. Detoxify your body on a regular basis to rid your body of accumulated toxins.

For more information on health and wellness, visit my web page: Health Longevity.

Stephen Lau

The Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Fasting Is Internal Cleansing, Not Deprivation

Many people have an aversion to fasting because they associate it with hunger or deprivation. Worse, some may even think that fasting is detrimental to their health. Quite the contrary, fasting is to recovery, as sleep is to recuperation. Fasting is one the simplest forms of internal cleansing, not just for the body, but also for the mind. Jesus fasted for 40 days, and many religious sages practice fasting as a means to purify the mind. The Red Indians used fasting to sharpen their senses, especially their vision.

Yes, fasting has many health benefits:

1. Fasting induces self-healing. Through fasting, the energy used for digesting food is now made available for healing and repairing of tissues and body organs.

2. Fasting benefits the whole cardiovascular system by softening the blood vessels. It not only decreases the blood pressure but also makes the heart younger.

3. Fasting improves the body's metabolism, which is important in controlling and managing body weight, which is a must for health longevity.

4. Fasting enhances the immune system, giving it ammunition to fight against unwelcome foreign invaders. It protects the body against diseases and disorders.

Don't be daunted by the prospect of fasting. On the first day, you may experience pangs of hunger, which are normal. Hunger will subside on the second day, and completely disappear on the third. After that, you will be in good spirit, and you feel rejuvenated.

Fasting is not deprivation; it is an excellent way to lose weight. Although you may gain back all your weight once you resume eating, fasting fine tunes you whole system; it is like oil change for your car.

Eat Stop Eat shows you the art of healthy eating for health longevity.

Also, visit my web page: Health Longevity.

Stephen Lau

All About Stephen Lau

Deal with Arthritis Pain Naturally

As you age, you can expect some joint pain. Wear and tear of your joints is normal. But arthritis pain is something else.

Good posture, more than exercise (let's be realistic - as we grow older, we exercise less), is a crucial factor in preventing muscle stress and joint pain as we advance in age. It is easier to maintain good posture than to engage in rigorous exercise. We have to be mindful of our posture at all times. Good posture also leads to optimal breathing. Yes, we should also be mindful of our breathing - something that most people take for granted. Optimal breathing contributes to longevity. The Chinese focus so much on "qi" (the internal life energy) and "tai-chi breathing" for overall wellness.

So, when you have arthritis pain, don't just reach out for your Advil or Tylenol, or worse, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). All drugs are dangerous, and cure only the symptoms, not the causes of arthritis. Heal arthritis naturally.

For more information on longevity, go to my web page: Health Longevity.

Stephen Lau

All About Stephen Lau

Remaining Sober Is Not Easy

Excessive drinking may lead to alcoholism, which has led to auto accidents, divorces, loss of employment, and health deterioration, among other disasters in life.

Alcohol dependence may start with being a social drinker, who drinks a little too much. Then comes the use of alcohol for “self-medication” to overcome loneliness and stress, among other emotional and psychological problems in life.

Development of alcohol dependence often comes in different phases: from a heavy social drinker, you begin to develop alcohol tolerance; you begin to have little or no control over your drinking, often accompanied by both mental and physical complications.

Are you an alcoholic, or just an avid social drinker?

Behavioral signs of alcohol dependence include personality changes, such as irritability, uncontrolled rage, and selfishness. You may not be aware of your own behavioral problems.

Physical symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tingling and trembling sensations, irregular pulse, confusion and memory loss.

All alcoholics undergo an episode of denial. This is the most difficult period. Only when you admit to your having a drinking problem then you may begin the journey to recovery. The road to sobriety is often bumpy, full of unexpected twists and turns that may derail you from achieving your goal to abstinence. Alcoholics require detoxification to overcome withdrawal symptoms (after quitting), such as medical treatments to deal with withdrawal symptoms and cravings, psychological treatments to deal with behavioral and emotional problems (often in a group setting) and social treatments to deal with problems at work and at home.

Remaining sober is difficult, but not impossible. With the right guidance, you can do it, and you must do it!

Stephen Lau

Use Hydration to De-Stress Yourself

Stress is an enemy of longevity. Chronic stress can cause your body to maintain physiological reactions for long periods of time, and these reactions can damage different parts of your organs and tissues. In particular, stress can lead to depletion of vital nutrients in your body, particularly DHEA (a hormone critical to aging and longevity), vitamin C, and the B-complex vitamins.

Hydration may be an effective anti-stressor for your body and mind. Build up your body’s stress-proof reserves by getting enough water.

When you feel stressed, have a drink of water, and maybe that is all you need. Severe dehydration may have dramatic symptoms, but mild dehydration may often go unnoticed. Without adequate water in your body system, you may feel incapable of handling any kind of stress.

According to studies, many people are chronically dehydrated for the following reasons:

They often drink caffeinated drinks, such as coffee.

They drink too many sodas.

They consume too much sugar in their diet.

Form the habit of drinking water, instead of sodas or other beverages.

Here are some tips to get you back into the habit of drinking pure water:

Add a wedge of lemon to your water to make it less bland.

Drink a glass of water before each meal (not during your meals). This habit not only satisfies your body’s need for water, but also curbs to eat more.

Remember, water has many health benefits: it not only detoxifies your body system but also provides nutrients to your skin and the rest of your body.

Stephen Lau

All about Stephen Lau

Herbs and Your Vision Health

As the aging population increases, millions of people suffer age-related disorders, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration - they could all lead to blindness.

Vision health is important. Protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays with sunglasses. Exercise your eyes regularly, just as you exercise your body. Most importantly, give your eyes the nutrients they need to maintain optimum health.

Nature’s remedies can help you prevent vision loss. For example, bilberry promotes blood flow to the eye nerves. It is a potent antioxidant against radical damage by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The Chinese herb, wolfberry, has potent medicinal properties to strengthen your eyesight. It has been used for centuries in China.

Chrysanthemum flowers help reduce pressure buildup in the eye. Steep chrysanthemum flowers in hot water, and drink the beverage daily.

Peppermint is another herb, which can clear vision due to its potency as an antioxidant.

In addition to herbs, a diet rich in carrots (loaded with vitamin A) and dark green vegetables (containing lutein, a substance to counteract cataract) may go a long way to enhance your vision health.

For more information on herbs, go to my website: Herbal Cures.

Stephen Lau

All about Stephen Lau