Archive for the ‘Health Food Supplement Articles’ Category

What Is The Philosophy Of Yoga?

by Adriana Noton

When people hear the word yoga, they think of somebody sitting in the louts position and possibly meditating while in that position. This discipline is more than just sitting with the feet on the thighs; it is a combination of physical and philosophical foundation for leading one’s life. The word comes from the ancient Sanskrit writings and translates in English to “royal union.” This basically means a union of the body and mind.

The ancient text that gives the basis for it is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This ancient text is made up of four books written over 2000 years ago. These books are the Sadhana Pada, Samadhi Pada, Kaivalya Pada and the Vibhuti Pada. The Sadhana Pada is where the physical pieces of yoga are to be found.

In this book, you will learn of the “eight limbs.” The limbs referred to here at in essence steps known as Ashtanga yoga. The first five limbs deal with the external and the remaining three are about the internal. Of the first five, the third is Asana and is all about the physical body. Its main idea is that the body needs to be kept disease-free and have a maintenance of energy. It is this book from which people in the west have learned of yoga and transformed it into its modernized, western form.

Asana is simply the plural from of the word asan which means posture or body position. The purpose of asana is to make improvements in vitality and flexibility and to promote meditation. Proponents of asana believe that doing the various positions opens the channels for physical and psychic energy in the human body. Any positions practiced should be held firmly and steadily while remaining comfortable.

This means that there should be no physical pain while in any of the positions. There are several poses that a person practicing the discipline may strike. These range from beginner poses to a more advanced level of positions.

No matter what your level of expertise is, there are a few fundamental concepts to always keep in mind. Any exercises should be done on an empty stomach. Your body should never quiver or shake because of too much pressure or force being exerted. It is important to always keep controlled breathing-no do hold your breath or gasp. Most of the time you want to do (http://www.extremefitness.ca/yoga) yoga on a mat and not the floor. At the end of each session, you will want to spend some time maintaining a state of deep relaxation.

Poses vary in their execution. Some are done seated while others are performed standing, lying on your back, balanced against another object or with the back bent. Poses are generally classified as beginner, intermediate and advanced. Beginners may start with the Downward Facing Dog, The Pyramid or the Standing Forward Bend. These are standing positions. Some seated poses for beginners are the Cobbler’s Pose, Seated Wide Legged Straddle and Half Lord of the Fishes.

Again, yoga is more than just getting into a certain position. It is an entire philosophy that centers around not only tangible needs but spiritual well being as well. In fact, the first limb of the Sutras teaches the virtues of nonviolence, truth in thought and word and celibacy for the unmarried and monogamy for the married.

Attending itness clubs is an excellent way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep your body in shape. They offer (http://www.extremefitness.ca/personal_training) personal training Toronto too. Alternatively, you may prefer (http://www.extremefitness.ca/yoga) yoga Toronto for a further enriching fitness experience.

Can Apples Improve Your Health?

by Elaine R. Ferguson, MD

Medical research indicates that a diet rich in vegetables and fruit help to reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases.

Apples are widely consumed and are a rich source of potent antioxidants.  They stopped cancer cell growth, lower cholesterol and reduce fat oxidation (damage). Studies have linked its consumption with a reduced risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and asthma. Chemical evaluation  have found apples possess significant antioxidant activity.

Apples contain a variety of powerful antioxidants including quercitin and catechin.

Several studies have specifically linked consuming apples with a reduced risk for cancer, particularly lung cancer.  A study conducted in the Netherlands of over 120,000 people found fruit and vegetable consumption was linked to a 21 per cent reduction of lung cancer a in women, but this association was not present in men.   Other studies have made similar observations in women and men, including a Finnish study of over 10,000 women and men followed for over two decades.  There was a strong relationship between low flavonoid intake and lung cancer development.

And eating apples is linked to a 35 per cent reduced risk of heart disease in a study of 40,000 women followed for almost 7 years.

Lower rates of asthma and general lung health are  also related to a higher intake of apples.  A recent study conducted in Australia involving 1600 adults found that pear and apple intake is associated with a decrease in lung airway hypersensitivity and asthma, but that overall fruit and vegetable consumption was not associated with asthma risk or the severity of the disease. Another study determined that selenium and apple intake were associated with reduced incidence of asthma in adults in England.  Apple and orange consumption are associated with fewer cases of asthma in a study conducted in Finland involving over 10,000 men and women.

Improved and objectively measure lung function were positively linked to apple, citrus fruit and squash consumption.  Apple consumption remained positively associated with lung function after considering other factors including smoking, exercise, body mass index, socioeconomic status.  Individuals consuming more than 5 apples a week had better lung function than those who did not eat apples.

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Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats (Paperback)

Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats

From Publishers Weekly

In this new addition to the fast-fix diet book shelf, Enig and Fallon attempt to correct what they see as Americans’ false belief that tropical fats and oils (such as coconut and palm) are unhealthy, asserting that those fats (and coconut, especially) are beneficial saturated fats that should be more heavily incorporated into our diets. Enig, a biochemist and nutritionist, along with Fallon, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation (a non-profit dedicate (more…)

Spring Valley – Vitamin B-1 250 mg, 100 Tablets (Thiamin)

Spring Valley - Vitamin B-1 250 mg, 100 Tablets (Thiamin)

Vitamin B-1 helps utilize energy from food by promoting proper metabolism of carbohydrates. It is necessary for the maintenance of normal digestion, muscle contraction and nerve tissues.

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Gu Energy Gel

Gu Energy Gel

GU Energy Gel is specifically formulated to energize your body during exercise. Using GU during your regular workouts will keep your mind alert and active, and your muscles going strong. GU gives the most concentrated form of immediate energy with no stomach bulk or distress, is quickly and efficiently absorbed, and will maintain your blood sugar at the optimal level for a great workout start to finish.* Picture may be of different size or flavor

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