Archive for July, 2010

When a person has a cold, the virus is most commonly spread from person to person by touch.  The sick person coughs or sneezes and the virus flies through the air and lands on a table, chair, doorknob, or other area of the room.  The virus also hitches a ride on the infected person’s hand when they touch their nose, mouth, or eyes.  They then touch something and spread the virus to that object.  As you come along and innocently touch the same object, the virus is picked up on your hand.  You then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes, and the virus is free to move inside your body and start infecting you.

The best prevention against the cold is frequent hand washing.  If a trip to the sink is not convenient for you several times a day, keep a small bottle of antibacterial wash on you just in case. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the National Institutes of Health, Restless Leg Syndrome, or RLS, is “a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrolled urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings.”  Most people get these sensations in the evening, especially when trying to fall asleep.  The symptoms usually disappear by the morning.

The B vitamins are necessary for proper nerve function.  Because of this, those with RLS should supplement their diet with adequate amounts of the B vitamins.  Even if you are taking a multiple vitamin, I would recommend an addition B vitamin tablet, like a B-100, just to be sure you are getting enough.  These vitamins are water soluble and any extra will be removed from your body.  If you are taking extra vitamin B and are not getting relief, you may need to have weekly injections of Vitamin B12.  This must be prescribed by your doctor and should be used at a dose of about 2,000 mcg per week. Read the rest of this entry »

Tip #1 - Going for a 30 minute walk every day and getting a total of about 10,000 steps per day, can make your body 2 years younger after just six months.  Many people use the excuse, “I walk a lot at work.”  If that is the case, buy yourself a pedometer and see how many steps you take during your work day.  You can find a pedometer at just about any department or sports related store.  Just mark down your step number every time you get home from work over the course of a week.  If you averaged 10,000 steps per day, congratulations, you get enough walking at your job.  Anything below 10,000 steps per day, get out and get those magic 10,000 steps per day.

Tip #2 – While you are walking, your body is absorbing sunlight and converting it into active vitamin D.  Thirty minutes of winter sunlight or fifteen minutes of summer sunlight in a short sleeved shirt is all most people need to keep their vitamin D levels adequate.  Darker skinned people may need more sunlight while fairer skinned individuals will require less.  If you do not have any underlying medical conditions, like osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, etc., you should keep your vitamin D level above 40.  If you do have a medical condition, depending on the severity, keeping your vitamin D levels over 60 can be very beneficial.  Taking vitamin D2 supplements can help in this area.  By keeping this level up, you will be one year younger. Read the rest of this entry »