Magnetic Therapy

Magnetic Therapy is currently considered to be an alternative medicine. Those who practice it believe that certain ailments can be treated if the patient is exposed to magnetic fields. Permanent magnets will generally be placed near the body, and it is believed that this procedure can reduce pain, allow the body to heal faster, and treat a number of other medical problems. Magnetic Therapy will typically be used for people who have problems with their backs or joints. The effectiveness of this therapy is currently not known, and most in the medical establishment currently view it as being a form of pseudoscience.

The practice of magnetic therapy has led to the growth of an entire industry. A number of products are sold for the purpose of healing those who use them. These products could range from bracelets to mattresses or blankets. While there is no concrete evidence that magnetic therapy has been used to effectively treat people, some in the medical establishment believe that it may work as a placebo in some who use it. Critics of magnetic therapy claim that most magnets don't have the strength to effect the various organs and tissues within the body.

In addition to this, few manufacturers have been able to effectively demonstrate the usefulness of their products. However, it should be noted that the field of magnetism is not well understood, and discoveries are constantly being made on a regular basis. Scientific studies have showed that magnetic fields do play a role in the migratory patterns of some birds, and being exposed to a magnetic field which is too strong can even be toxic. Given this research, there is a possibility that strong magnetic fields may play a role in the health of those who are exposed to them, but this remains to be seen.

Proponents of Magnetic Therapy often point out that magnetic fields which are exposed to the body can increase the circulation of blood due to the presence of iron within the hemoglobin. However, iron will lose its ferromagnetic properties once it becomes ionised. There are a number of websites online which sale magnetic health products, and it has grown into a large industry. Whether or not the use of magnets for healing is caused by the placebo effect, it has become an alternative medicine that many people use for healing purposes.

The use of Magnetic Therapy is not new. Paracelsus was a doctor and alchemist who lived during the 15th century, and he reasoned that if magnets could attract iron, they may also be able to have an effect on the various diseases that were present in the body. The current debate about Magnetic Therapy will continue until concrete evidence has been found to support it. With all the achievements that have been made by the medical community, they are limited in their knowledge and understanding. Magnetism is a subject that is not well understood, and the function of the human body and mind is extremely complex as well. It is possible that some link between magnetic fields and diseases may found in the future if sophisticated tools are developed.

Michael Colucci is a writer for Magnetic Therapy which is part of the Knowledge Search network.

Lasik Eye Correction: How To Find A Doctor

Considering lasik eye correction? If so, you should know that the procedure will be preformed by a trained and licensed doctor in a sterile environment. But, those doctors that have more experience actually can give you an improved shot at complete eye sight correction. Because those that are experienced have more of an ability to perform the surgery, we thought we should give you some help in finding the lasik eye correction doctor for your procedure. Here are some tips to help you find the right doctor to handle your lasik eye correction:

? First of all, have a few names to consider. You will want to know about several doctors that perform the surgery. In order to help you, use the web to find those doctors in your area or wherever you are willing to travel to.

? Now, compare these doctors for experience. How much experience do they have in this particular procedure? Have they done it enough as to allow them to be qualified for your procedure?

? But, that is not nearly all that you will want to look at when considering a doctor for lasik eye correction.

? You also need to take into consideration the success rates of patients. Ask this.

? You need to know if you can trust the doctor as well. Schedule a time to meet with him and discuss your options. Can you have this surgery? Will it improve your eye sight? What will happen during the surgery? These things will not only provide you with this information, but it will provide you with a level of trust with your doctor.

? You should also know the risks as well as the costs of the procedures. While you should never go with a lesser qualified doctor because it is cheaper, you may find some differences in price across the board.

When you take the time to find the right lasik eye correction doctor, you can feel better about your experience altogether.

For more information please see http://www.lasik-eye-correction.co.uk

Fitness Clubs How Do You Choose?

If you are looking to lose some weight or get in shape, a fitness club is a great idea. There are many benefits to working in a health or fitness club but with so many options these days, how do you choose the one that is best for you?

Well, one good idea is to find out about all the ones in your area and then compare them. But how do you know what to compare? Below are some of the most important things you should look for in your fitness club and you can compare to find the best fitness club in your location.

Location

The location of your fitness club is going to be very important. Not only do you want one that is close to your home and/or work place but you also want one that is easy to get to. Convenience is going to be extra important on those days when you are not really feeling up to a work out and you are looking for any excuse to skip out on your routine.

Staff

You may want to interview some of the staff at the facility that you are thinking of signing up for. Staff can be very helpful to you, especially if you have never used some of the equipment before. Helpful staff will guide you through so that everything makes sense and you know you are using the equipment properly.

Fitness Equipment

Do they have the equipment that you need for the workout you plan on getting? Do they have updated and safe equipment? Do they have enough equipment to accommodate the number of members of the facility? You lose benefit of your workout if you spend most of your gym time waiting on a machine.

Social Factors

If you have friends or family that uses a certain facility, it may take precedence over one where you do not know anyone. Some people like to have someone to work out with. Does your fitness club encourage social interaction with a common gathering area? Do they have a location you can sit around and have a cup of coffee or tea and say hello to one another? Little details like this can help sway your option toward a particular club.

Programs

What programs and classes does the facility offer? If you are looking for yoga, kickboxing, etc then you will want a fitness club that offers these programs to you.

Maintenance

The next thing you are going to want to look at is the maintenance of the property. How well do they keep the facilities clean? Are the restrooms clean and properly stocked? Are the equipment and floors cleaned regularly after people have been using them? Is the trash regularly removed from the building? These are all important factors that can make your visit to the fitness club more pleasurable. Plus, if they show they have proper cleanliness then they likely perform proper safety maintenance on the equipment as well.

Copyright 2006, Brad Howard

Are you afraid of choosing the wrong fitness club? You should be. Do yourself a favor and get the free resource, Health Club Secrets: How to Command the Lowest Rate at Any Health Club.

Brad Howard is a renowned industry consultant and will show you the biggest pitfalls and money sucking scams known to man. http://www.healthclubsecrets.com

Bridge Out! ConsumerDriven Health Plans will Change How We Get Care

Bridge Out: A road sign you really never want to see. Its appearance in your path means that there has been a failure and that you have to find a new way of getting where you want to go. The rise of consumer-driven health plans indicates that the era of managed care failed to control the increased cost and demand for care and that many things about the way we receive healthcare in the US.

In late August 2006, Wellpoint, one of the nation's biggest healthcare insurance providers, has gone on record stating that in 2007 they will the first insurer to have consumer-driven health plans in all states and for all types of people (from major employers to small groups to individual plans).

Our customers who choose these consumer-driven products will have new opportunities to lead healthier lives because of this first-of-its-kind national offering, Wellpoint CEO, Larry Glassock

The press release also goes on to share: we're empowering consumers through unique and robust online tools and incentives that encourage and reward them for choosing to live healthier lifestyles... Consumers who choose Lumenos will be eligible for extensive preventive care and personal health coaching, as well as smoking cessation and weight management programs. In addition, most consumers will receive financial rewards for completing various wellness programs.

WOW! That sounds great, right?!?!?! Well, I always read these things and think about what my parents and my in-laws know about healthcare/ health policy and what they would think.

So for those of you who are not familiar with this new type of health plan, their implementation will produce significant changes in how care is reimbursed. Consumer-driven health plans are designed to shift some of the financial decision-making and responsibility to the individuals who consume healthcare services. Health savings accounts and high deductibles are key components to this new type of health plan. The thought behind all of this is to allow patients to determine how best to spend their healthcare dollars.

If you buy into traditional economic theory as applicable to the healthcare industry, this is not a bad way of trying to control skyrocketing costs. Since the price of services has a direct impact on demand for services, in theory , this type of plan has the potential to reduce duplication of services and unnecessary utilization of higher levels (more expensive) of care. In very simple terms, if patients are required to share some of the financial responsiblity of their care, then they are more likely to choose the cheapest, most effective care.

There are at least two very big 'rubs' to this plan. First, in order to to be able to make appropriate choices, consumers will need to know the cost of the care. While it seems easy enough, a physician or facilities' billing rate for a service is significantly different than a contracted rate. And a contracted rate or allowable charge is significantly differerent than the acutal amount paid for services by an insurer or other third party payer. So healthcare consumers will need to understand all of these to be able to make the appropriate choices. Also healthcare providers will need to set up a system to be able to accurately inform the consumer the costs for a service. While this seems easy enough, it becomes increasingly complex when one understands that every, single, solitary insurance plan is different in regards to deductible, copay, contracted rate and reimbursement rate.

Second, in order to be able to chose the cheapest, effective treatment, healthcare consumers will have to know and understand their treatment options. This means that they will need to better understand the science behind their illnesses as well as the science behind the possible treatments. This would be a whole lot easier if we went back to the old world model of having healthcare providers that were able to develop rapport and a trusting patient-provider relationship. In the past, providers were given the time and opportunity to really partner with individuals, understand the complexities of care and develop a truly individualzed treatment that best fit the patient/consumer's need. However, in the days of the 15 minute visit, this becomes increasingly difficult to do.

President Bush's recent executive order pushing for many things including transparency of pricing information is an attempt to address the issue of understanding the financial aspects.

However, how do we make sure individuals have the information they need to be able to get the best treatment value? In reality, physicians and healthcare providers, because of their ability to understand and evaluate individual cases and circumstances, are the best resources for helping individuals make these decisions. However, they will likely need to develop new ways of doing this that are cost and time efficient. If healthcare providers do not develop these new ways, consumers/patients will be left to fend for themselves.

If consumers do not adequately educate themselves or access resources/advocates that will assist them, then this plan too is doomed. Costs will not be contained, health will not be preserved and access to appropriate, effective care will continue to be compromised.

Carol is the Vice President of The Promedica Research Center. She has a masters degree from Mercer University in Health Policy and Administration and currently teaches a master's level course on Health Care Organizations for the University of Phoenix (Online), College of Health Sciences. Longer bio found at drivingintraffic.com.

Eating Before and After Exercise

When you exercise, you do it in order to try to maintain good health. You know that you have to eat so that your body has the energy to perform the workouts that you do as well as for everyday tasks. But, just what you should eat before and after you workouts is important for making the best of your workouts. Also, how long you eat before and after each workout is equally important.

Whether you are going to be doing a cardio workout or a resistance workout, you should try to make it a point to eat a mix of carbohydrates and protein. What determines the percentage of carbohydrates and protein you should consume is whether you are doing cardio or resistance and the intensity level you will be working at.

The ideal time to eat your pre workout meal is 1 hour before you start. If you are working at a lower intensity level, keep this meal down to around 200 calories or so. If you are working at a higher intensity level, you may need this meal to be as high as 400 to 500 calories.

If you are doing a cardio session, you will need to eat a mix of around 2/3 carbohydrates and 1/3 protein. This will give you longer sustained energy from the extra carbs with enough protein to keep muscle from breaking down during your workout.

If you are doing a resistance session, you should eat a mix of around 1/3 carbohydrates and 2/3 protein. This will give you enough energy from the carbs to perform each set you do and the extra protein will help keep muscle breakdown to a minimum during your workout. It has been shown that your body most effectively uses protein during exertion meaning that taking in more protein before resistance workouts aids in faster recovery as well.

Now, eating after a workout is just as important as the pre workout meal. Remember that when you exercise whether it is a cardio or a resistance session, you deplete energy in the form of glycogen. Our brain and central nervous system relies on glycogen as their main source of fuel so if we don't replace it after exercise, our bodies will begin to break down muscle tissue into amino acids, then convert them into usable fuel for the brain and central nervous system.

Also, mostly during resistance workouts, you break down muscle tissue by creating micro tears. This means that right after a workout; your muscles go into a repair mode. Proteins are the key macronutrient for muscle repair and so you don't want muscle breaking down further to create fuel in place of lost glycogen.

If you have just finished a cardio session, you will need to consume mostly carbohydrates, preferably ones with high fiber. Oatmeal, rice, whole wheat pasta, and most northern fruits are good sources. Try to consume around 30 to 50 grams of these carbohydrates after a cardio session. After cardio, it is ok to eat within 5 to 10 minutes of completion.

If you have just finished a resistance session, you will need a combination of carbohydrates and protein. Because unlike cardio workouts, with resistance workouts you are breaking down muscle tissue by creating micro tears. The protein is needed to build up and repair these tears so the muscle can increase in size and strength. The carbs not only replace the lost muscle glycogen, but also help the protein get into our muscle cells so it can synthesize into structural protein, or muscle itself.

Chicken or fish with a potato, egg whites with a piece of fruit, or a protein shake with fruit mixed in are good meals after resistance workouts but remember to keep the fiber low here. High fiber slows down digestion, meaning the protein will take longer to reach the muscle cells.

After resistance, it is recommended to wait 30 minutes before eating so as not to take blood away from your muscles too soon. The blood in your muscles helps with the repair process by removing metabolic waste products from them.

Any fats should be consumed well before and well after exercise.

Jim O'Neill gives you tons of valuable information on the subjects of weight loss, fitness, and nutrition to make it easy for you to live a healthy lifestyle. Sign up now for his free 7 part mini e-course at: http://www.mrgymfitness.com/minicourse.php

Natural Pain Relief Spray Is A Traveler's Best Friend

Remember your last vacation? Remember those cramped seats; recirculated air in already arid cabins; little if any lumbar or neck support; chilly cabin temperatures? These conditions can be compounded if one already suffers from some other painful malady, like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or any number of other chronic discomforts.

All can make for an uncomfortable in-flight or car travel experience if not prepared with a natural pain relief option. Take heart; using a natural pain relief spray and employing the following useful tips can improve the experience:

*Pack light and choose lightweight rolling suitcases. Most injuries occur from carrying heavy luggage.

*Use caution when toting luggage around. No running. Lift heavy luggage by bending at the knee rather than the waist, and get help or use caution when lifting heavy cases into the overhead airline compartment or trunk of a car.

*Dress warmly and comfortably. Restrictive clothing can create tension or cause you to move in unnatural ways, or if temperatures are cooler, muscles may contract all of which can increase risks for injury.

*Turn air blowers away from you. Cold air blowing directly on the head or neck can create tension headaches or stiffness.

*Avoid getting dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, and avoid caffeine or alcohol as they can increase dehydration. A dehydrated body suffers more joint stiffness and pain.

*If traveling in a confined plane cabin or train car, stand up and stretch as often as possible. If driving, make frequent stops and do the same.

*When sleeping, bring your own pillows - one that supports your lower back, and one that wraps around your neck preventing your head from flopping around and causing neck pain (inflatable pillows make for easier portability).

*Consider using a portable foot rest on trains or planes to relieve stress on lower back if you are too tall for the seat or backs of legs if you are too short and your feet don't touch the floor.

*On long trips or flights, get good rest. To improve your sleep, use a sleep mask that blocks out most of the light. Earplugs or noise canceling headphones will block out most of the noise. A well rested body responds better to pain, and the body can heal itself much better.

*Keep a bottle of a natural pain relief spray handy and spritz the afflicted areas as often as needed. A Natural pain remedy will alleviate the pain, making the trip more comfortable, and won't have harmful side-effects that can leave you feeling groggy and too disoriented to enjoy your vacation.

Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, the discomfort and pain associated with a long voyage can be excruciating even for the seasoned traveler. A natural pain remedy will aid your pain, alleviate the stress and help make your trip a comfortable and worthwhile journey.

Author, Judy Cutler, a well-known nutritionist in Southern California and developer of 'Naturally Painless' natural spray-on pain remedy, writes articles on natural pain relief for Real Solution Remedies, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.realsolutionremedies.com

Bodybuilding with Olympic Lifts

Most of the bodybuilders reading this might be confused by the title of this article alone! Bodybuilding for the most part is as different from Olympic power lifting as a republican is from a democrat. The point that most bodybuilders miss is that there is actually quite a bit of commonality between the two sports. Let me ask you a question? When was the last time you saw an Olympic lifter on your television screen who wasn't packed with dense, quality muscle mass? The fact of the matter is most Olympic lifters are built quite solidly and have the body awareness to take full advantage of any lift in order to gain muscle mass. I'm not going to sit here and debate whether an Olympic lifter could enter a body building competition (because most of them can't) but that doesn't mean that I don't think Olympic lifts can play a vital role in any bodybuilder's routine.

The first question many of you may ask is why there aren't as many monstrous Olympic lifters as there are bodybuilders. The one thing that separates the two sports more so then anything are their weight categories and how these categories effect the way in which the athletes approach dieting. Body building on the one hand encourages you and rewards you for packing on as much muscle as you possibly can in order to wow the judges with your gorilla like muscles and low body fat percentages. Olympic weight lifting encourages you to be able to lift as much weight as possible while maintaining the smallest size you can in order for your lifts to be impressive. In other words bodybuilders diet simply to cut down their body fat levels in order to look better for their competitions, while Olympic lifters use dieting as a tool to remain smaller while still increasing the weight they can lift in order to be in the proper weight category for their relative strength. What is the relevance of all this in the scope of bodybuilding? Simply put, if Olympic power lifters were to ignore their caloric intake and focus their diet around gaining size they would be more then capable of putting on as much muscle mass as their bodybuilding counterparts.

So how do you incorporate Olympic lifts into your body building routine? It's a lot simpler then it seems. First of all there's really only two lifts you should focus on incorporating. These 2 exercises are the clean and jerk and the snatch. Both of these techniques are proven to add mass to your thighs, back, traps and arms! The best part of it all is you only need to add one of them to your upper body workout and the other to your lower body routine to take full advantage of them. Am I saying that there will eventually be an Olympic lifter who will become a champion bodybuilder or that the next great Olympic lifter is currently a bodybuilder? NO! All I'm saying is that there are great benefits to incorporating Olympic lifts into your routine as they will do nothing but help with your progress!

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Body Building