General

You know that quilting makes you feel good, but now there’s scientific evidence to back up what you’ve always suspected-not only does quilting make you happy, it’s actually good for your health. Researchers at the University of Glasgow published their findings in the peer-reviewed Journal of Public Health after conducting qualitative research using a local quilting group as their source. The end result? “Quilting seemed to possess some distinct properties for enhancing well-being that would not be replicable through outdoor/physical activity.” In other words, that’s dry research speak for saying quilting gives you a workout you’re not going to find in your local step class. The biggest perk? When you’re happy and doing something you love, your brain gets saturated with dopamine and serotonin, otherwise known as happy chemicals-especially when you’re doing “meaningful work” using your hands. According to Kelly Lambert, PhD and a member of the neuroscience department at Randolph-Macon College, quilting complements these conditions perfectly. Get Healthy and a Stunning Quilt Next on the health benefits list is a decrease in stress levels. Dr. Lambert says quilters “feel a sense of accomplishment that increases your ‘reward chemicals’ and decreases the chemicals related to stress or anxiety.” Of course, lower stress levels are linked to a variety of good things from a lower risk of heart attack and stroke to lower body fat. In a time when stress levels are breaking through the roof for most people, who wouldn’t benefit from a little cultivation of mindfulness? If you’re more into quantitative proof, a clinical psychologist published research in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing evidence that quilting leads to decreased blood pressure, heart rate and respiration. Finally, according to Harvard neurologist Marie Pasinski, MD, quilting is a soother for the brain. The Glasgow research echoes these sentiments, with the participants saying that quilting was a (relatively) easy way to embrace creativity, and the use of different colors and textures gave them a “sense of wellbeing.” Straight from the Source The Glasgow participants specifically cited, time and again, bright colors and how they elevated their moods-particularly during those dreary British winters. Most of the group also said there was something captivating about quilting and that they got into a flow, much like a runner’s high. It’s relaxing and at least for a little while, their anxieties were put on the back burner. However, quilting also requires problem solving skills, like when new patterns and shapes are required. From newbies to quilt masters, everyone said that at some point they always find a new challenge. Finally, getting that tangible end result is a built-in reward that offers plenty of satisfaction and the feeling of achievement. During the social aspect of quilting as a group, the women said they felt inspired and all those compliments don’t hurt when it comes to getting a self-esteem boost. Quilting is “uniquely good for you” concluded researchers-a sentiment that’s obvious for quilters, but it’s quite the rush to get a nod from the world of academe (kind of like nailing that tumbling blocks pattern on your first try). Source by Jill Smith

If a penis came with an instruction manual, men would have no questions about the care and management of this very important tool. Unfortunately, the information men glean about the penis often comes through trial and error, and by the time men realize that they’ve been making mistakes, they have a significant amount of damage to overcome. It’s a tough penis care problem, but a penis health creme enhanced by acetyl L carnitine might help. Typical Damage The penis is lined with sensory cells that are designed to communicate directly with the brain. The slightest touch should set the skin humming with pleasure, and sustained contact might push a man right over the brink into intense bliss. This kind of buildup takes time, however, and young men tend to be impatient when it comes to pleasure. As a result, they might use a very tight grip during their masturbation sessions, and they might omit the use of lubricant altogether. Riding the line between pleasure and pain can be intense in the moment, but it can leave a significant amount of damage behind, including tiny tears at the surface. Skin damage like this is relatively easy to overcome, but beneath the skin, the nerves that supply the penis might also be abraded and damaged. Nerve Health The tissues that make up the nervous system are remarkably resistant to the healing process. People who have strokes, for example, might experience such a blow to the nervous system that their cells just never function in the same way in the future. Unless help is delivered in the right place at the right time, the damage could be permanent. Acetyl L carnitine can work directly on the tissues that make up the nervous system. This supplement works at the cellular level, boosting energy production and enhancing tissue repair. It’s a remarkable supplement, especially in terms of penis health, as it might help a man to reverse the damage he’s done through decades of improper wanking. Proper Dosing Health food stores and vitamin shops often sell acetyl L carnitine supplements in tablet form, which can allow people to pop pills in order to keep their tissues healthy and in line. While taking oral supplements like this might be a good idea for some people, this particular supplement can come with some nasty side effects that many might find distasteful. Oral acetyl L carnitine supplements are generally considered safe, but some people can experience: Nausea Vomiting Restlessness Fish-like odor to the breath and sweat These can be incredibly unpleasant effects, and they could keep some people from taking the medications that could help them. After just a few days of feeling queasy and smelling like fish, people might consider tossing out their supplements and leaving the idea of healing behind. A New Alternative A penis health creme might be revolutionary, in part, because it bypasses the digestive system altogether. If most of the negative side effects associated with this supplement are triggered by the passage of the pill through the stomach, a method of application that doesn’t use the stomach at all might keep all of the discomfort at bay. People could then continue to feel the benefit of this supplement without even thinking about leaving their treatments behind, all because they’re not requiring the digestive system to do the hard work of delivering the treatment where it’s needed. An effective penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) is designed to penetrate penile tissues in mere minutes, nourishing the cells with all of the vitamins and minerals they need in order to function properly. Quality products fortified with acetyl L carnitine could bring a man to a state of health he never dreamed of, as though he’d been following the owner’s manual to the letter, throughout his life. Source by John Dugan

Whether you are a professional ice skater, a toddler, a retiree, a student, or a housewife, you can get health benefits from ice skating. Being in itself an aerobic exercise just like walking, running, and swimming, it offers positive effects for your cardiovascular health. An advantage over running is that it is not as hard on your joints, as it is a low-impact exercise, unless you do jumps while ice skating. It makes heart muscles healthy, providing significant protection from coronary artery diseases and subsequent heart attacks. It also aids in weight loss, as one gets to burn 250 to 810 calories per hour with recreational ice skating, according to the U.S. Figure Skating Association webpage. Meanwhile, competitive skating uses up more calories, at 450 to 1,080 per hour of skating. Just to illustrate, a 68-kg man skating continuously for an hour burns as much calories as when he is running five miles in an hour. As with other sports activities, ice skating also improves ones endurance. Endurance builds when one maintains a constant, steady pace, over a longer period of time. It is important though that at the start, it is all right to settle for short distances, but over time, these have to be increased gradually so that endurance increases as well. Ice skating also improves muscle tone. When ice skating, the quadriceps and hamstrings are the leg muscles which do the most work, but many other muscles in the body work in concert with these leg muscles. The abdominal and back muscles also need to contract and relax in order to maintain an upright posture and balance. Mental fitness is also enhanced with ice skating, as it exercises ones mental control during the act. One needs to be very alert and aware during skating. It is a de-stressor and a form of relaxation for many individuals who use it as a means to break free from the stresses of life and work. The fresh air and sunshine in outdoor ice skating, as well as the company of family and friends, greatly help in unwinding from a long week of work and problems. Self confidence is definitely improved as well. The challenge of establishing full body control and balance brings pride when one is able to overcome these. It is very nice to see that adults are becoming more aware of their health, and that many have turned to ice skating to become physically fit. Gone are the days when only children were interested in moving and gliding on ice. Source by Drew Mers

One of the top favorite dishes in the Philippines is the Menudo. Found in almost every occasion, this dish is a great source of nutrients. But the use of meat and oil poses some health risks. Learn more about this favorite Menudo from the Philippines. Just like the boy band with the same name, this rich, Filipino dish is a feast for the senses. This top Philippine delicacy is a dish of diced meat and vegetable in thickened sauce. Flavored with tomatoes, finely chopped onions, and colorful bell pepper, Menudo is a relatively healthier dish than the rest of the Filipino foods. Menudo is mainly pork, which is rich in protein and phosphorus. The secret of Menudo is in the addition of liver. Liver is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B1 or thiamine, vitamin B2 or riboflavin, folic acid, and niacin. The dish is rich in sodium due to the use of tomato sauce. Like other Philippine dishes, it is also high in fat due to oil and meat. As a healthier solution, choose leaner cuts of pork and try to lessen the amount of oil used to sauté the ingredients. Below is my own healthier recipe: Ingredients: cooking oil, 50 g garlic, 750 g lean cuts of pork, 250 g liver, 200 g bell peppers (green and red for color), 100 g onions (red), 200 g potatoes, 200 g carrots, 2.5 cups tomato sauce, 4 cups soup stock, atsuete for color, black pepper and salt to taste To cook Menudo, sauté onions then garlic in oil. Add atsuete with pork and liver and simmer until meat is tender. Add tomato sauce and soup stock and simmer until sauce thickens. Add carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers and season with salt and pepper to taste. Source by Paul De Vizard

There are several types of magnetic stainless steel bracelets to appeal to people’s different preferences. The bracelets come in bangle or link bracelet forms. Stainless steel is hard-wearing, practical, affordable, resilient to scratches, and is extremely durable. Designs of bracelets, magnetic or otherwise, also vary. One such manufacturer of high-end bracelets is Charriol. However, Charriol products are very expensive for the average person. Thus, there are other affordable stainless steel alternatives that are more suited to the average person’s budget. Plus, these affordable bracelets with magnets also provide health benefits to the wearer. Magnetic bracelets are also made of various materials like titanium, tungsten, and hematite beads. Stainless steel is also great for sensitive skin as it does not contain nickel. Stainless steel bracelets are also perfect for men and women. Despite the varying designs, all magnetic bracelets have several things in common. The bracelets are made of #316 surgical steel links. The magnets attached to each link are made of a 3000 Gauss high-powered neodymium magnet. For best health results, the magnets all face the North Pole. Each magnet is also custom-sealed and the bracelets are water-resistant. Each bracelet has a fold-over safety clasp so that it does not easily fall off from the wearer’s wrist. Women and men would also be enamored with the wide array of magnetic bracelets out in the market. There are designs exclusively for men and women. However, there are also designs that are unisex. A classic stainless steel design for men resembles three bricks stacked on top of one another to form a link. These links are then connected to one another to form a chunky yet elegant bracelet for men. There is a bracelet design for men by Magnet Giant that is two-toned. The central part of each link is etched stainless steel. The edges of the link are plated in 24k gold. When the links are connected, the resulting bracelet is a smashing, elegant, and funky men’s steel bracelet. Women’s steel bracelets are more delicately designed than the men’s bracelets. Magnet Giant has a simple yet elegant design for women. The bracelet – plated in 24K gold – has curvilinear edges in the bracelet’s links. These links, once connected with one another, form a beautiful and elegant stainless steel bracelet that a woman can wear on formal evening functions. Women would also love the look of stainless steel bracelets with integrated gemstones. A flirty yet elegant design of bracelet has amethysts in it. This bracelet has two link designs – an oval shape link with amethyst cabochons and a link shaped into an X with embossed dots. The amethyst has important metaphysical properties. An amethyst helps one to be calm and gain clarity during times of confusion and anxiety. When worn, an amethyst can also aid in meditation. Aside from their numerous designs, magnetic steel bracelets are helpful to the wearer in terms of health. While there are no concrete studies to prove magnet’s worth as an alternative therapy, many users attest to the health benefits they reap from wearing magnetic jewelry. Source by Jazmine A Cunningham

The kata are vital in the development of anyone participating in the martial art of karate. The kata have many uses that enable the practitioner to develop throughout their karate training. It is essential that anyone entering into the art has the ability to focus, and that they are prepared to be patient, and realise that certain levels of fitness and stability are required. Movements in all martial arts should be smooth, and they should appear effortless. One of the most beneficial elements of kata is fitness itself. Both the upper and lower body will be worked on during the moves, so the fitness of an individual partaking in the art will increase. A full kata session will work most of the major muscle groups in the body. The muscles that are used when performing kata include the hamstrings, calves, quadriceps and the gluteus muscles. The arm muscles that are worked are the biceps, triceps and the shoulders. The back and the neck are also worked throughout kata, as the tensing of these areas, and the control needed, enable them to strengthen. Another area of fitness that will improve over time is the flexibility of the body. The body needs to bend and relax at specific points of the workout and this involves a lot of stretching, which increases the flexibility of the body. It is vital that people performing kata learn to breathe properly, as this will assist in the performance of anyone partaking in the art. The mental focus needed to breathe properly can also help in the element of discipline, as the body will need to be trained to breathe at the correct times, and this requires a great deal of concentration. Concentration levels naturally increase when kata is being performed, as the kicks, blocks and punches need to be performed in a certain sequence. For the more complex kata, this requires a great deal of focus and discipline, as there can be up to 70 different moves in a full sequence. The memory will need to be built up and this also requires great discipline. The moves and their sequence can be helped with the shouting that occurs in certain stages of the kata. The shout only occurs on the final blows throughout the sequences, and the movements can be picked up a little more easily if the person learning knows when the shout is to occur. The rhythm that the kata induces will help with the memory aspect, and as the body begins to move with more ease, so the moves will become more natural. The speed and the power created with each move should be effortless, and the more experienced kata practitioners will appear almost dance-like in their movements. This is simply down to fitness and discipline. When practising kata, it is advisable to take things a step at a time, as once each step is mastered, the sequence as a whole will be simpler to complete. Once the hand movements have been perfected, it will be easier to incorporate them into the whole sequence of moves. Bunkai is the application of the techniques that the kata teaches. This can help with both fitness and discipline, as it is performed in pairs and requires great concentration. Whereas with kata the opponent is imaginary, with bunkai the opponent is real, and this means that new elements to the moves may need to be introduced. The distance between opponents is important, and bunkai can assist with this. This also helps with the stability of the competitor, as they need to ensure that their starting and finishing positions are kept to. This assists with discipline and the memory aspect of the kata. By following the partners’ moves, learning the moves themselves can be easier. Bunkai is required by some martial arts schools to achieve a grading promotion, and it is essential that kata perfection is achieved before bunkai can be attempted. The kata can be helpful when it comes to the mind. It teaches the body to react to mental visualizations. The reaction that takes place is a physical one, and by repeating processes again and again, as people need to when practising kata, this increases the conditioning process of the mind. This can also assist with the rhythmic moves that are vital in performing kata correctly. Practice makes perfect, and the more practice that is put in, the more natural the moves will be to people. Following the rhythm of the kata regularly through practice, helps the mind recall the next move before it needs to occur; this will help with the smoothness of the sequence as a whole. Kata assists in the overall art of karate greatly, as the movements that are performed help to increase the knowledge of the art in a number of ways. The competitor will learn the importance of the distance needed to effectively block attacks, whilst also being able to predict the distance needed to attack effectively. Accuracy should be worked on before speed, as if moves are accurate, when the speed is increased, the accuracy will still be present. A karateka who performs the moves accurately will be more relaxed and the relaxation will then enable them to increase speed without even thinking about it. The techniques used for blocks, punches and kicks are also made more effective with the use of kata, and this will stand a karateka in good stead throughout their training. The use of power and speed are vital in kata and these improve fitness, and discipline. It is important for a student to understand the reason for each move, as this will make them easier to learn and perform. Kata can be mastered by concentrating on a number of elements. These elements are accuracy, breathing, focus, technique, speed and power. The knowledge of the kata, with all these element intact, will ensure that the kata can be performed naturally, smoothly and effectively. Source by Kevin L Wilson

Cocktails are a lot of fun no matter what the environment. There are some people who simply do not want to drink cocktails because they do not enjoy the negative health effects which they face by drinking too much alcohol. This causes people to avoid cocktails altogether, but there are many cocktails which can be made in a non alcoholic version which will have great health benefits for you. One of the best recipes you can have without alcohol is the virgin Bloody Mary drink. So, put away the punch and the wine. Put the beer back in the fridge and get ready to try a recipe for a healthier cocktail everyone can enjoy. Why the Bloody Mary is Healthy The main ingredient in a Bloody Mary is the main reason why the drink is so healthy to begin with. The tomato juice which is used for the cocktail includes many different vitamins in a concentrated dosage. One of the most abundant vitamins is Lycopene. This is a water soluble vitamin which is very good for your heart. It helps in removing clogs which are caused by plaque in your arteries as well as other heart maladies. You will also find a lot of vitamin C in tomato juice. Many people are unaware of how much vitamin C you can get from a tomato. Since Tomato juice contains all of the water from the tomato, you are getting every ounce of vitamin C the tomato has to offer. What better way to enjoy it than with the spicy concoction that is the Bloody Mary drink. You will even find you will consume less sugar and sodium than you will if you were to drink a soft drink of the same volume. How to Increase the Health Benefits While the standard Bloody Mary is already pretty healthy, you will enjoy even more benefits when you pair it with a stalk of celery or even add celery puree to your mixture. Adding garlic and onions is another great heart healthy way to drink yourself into a healthier future. Even the addition of the spice is a great way to increase metabolism and awaken the senses. You can find this in horseradish or in hot sauce. Both of these are common ingredients. Use fresh lime juice in the cocktail and the health benefits will go through the roof. Some may try to tell about how wines have been proven to help reduce fat and increase heart functions. While there might be some truth to this, drinking any alcohol is simply not for everyone. This does not mean you have to miss out on all of the health benefits which are available to you through a properly prepared beverage. You can enjoy a Bloody Mary drink and your body will thank you for it. The best part is, this is a cocktail you can share with the entire family even if they like to drink alcohol. No one will miss the vodka if you have a good recipe to share. Source by Elton Brack

Insurance is designed for sudden expensive exposure that most of us cannot afford. If you look at those words again: sudden and expensive. It does not spell out the predictable and affordable. For years though, we had someone with the bigger purse paying the bills. Most of us had very little to pay out-of-pocket for any of our own medical expenses. At least until now. It’s common knowledge that those who have more money tend to have more to spend without question. Insurance companies are not any different; they are the ones with the bigger purse. Medical providers know this as well. Over the last 50-60 years, the providers increased their prices to see what they can get away with, at the same time the insurance companies were negotiating for bigger discounts. This is how healthcare became big business. The insurance companies fronted this cost, and now we have to cover the expense of higher premiums today. The pricing transparency is null in the healthcare industry. Partly because we never needed to know because someone else was paying the bulk of the bill. The other reason is that no one shopped their healthcare expenses like they do other consumable items. The medical providers know this and took advantage of this. The price for something billed to the insurance company and what is the ‘cash price’ can be completely different. Which one are you going to pay? It’s highway robbery if you ask me. Take a typical generic medication at the local pharmacy. One could cost about twenty dollars to the insurance company, but your price if you pay the cash price could be ten dollars. Why? It is because they can. The opposite is also true. If you ask for the cash price, it could be double what the insurance companies negotiated price. Many providers will charge the patient the billed amount versus the discounted amount. It’s kind of like since you asked I’ll charge you more. Personal case study: My kid injured his hand. The specialist could not tell that it was fractured or not. They wanted to lean on the side of caution, but I wanted to know if it was just a deep bruise or a fracture. The doctor suggested that we do an MRI on his hand just to be sure. As any caring father would, I inquired how much would this cost me if I paid cash, I have a high deductible health plan. He said the insurance company’s approved amount is $350 (this was a small MRI machine). He continued and said I don’t make anything from them. So if you pay cash, I would charge you $450. With many policyholders having High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) or Health Savings Account Plans (HSAs), many providers realize the patient is responsible for the initial expenses. This can be good and bad depending on the view. First, there is the negative view. Many are expecting the first dollar coverage to be paid for by the insurance company. Every doctor visit, lab test or prescription drug is coming out of your pocket first and is applied towards your deductible. Some may not like this idea. The flip side to this is you have more control of your expenses while saving in premium costs. The net gain is worth it for many. They can ask more questions about their healthcare. Why? It is because it’s their money. More importantly, you should be asking more questions about your healthcare. At the end of the day, it is your healthcare and your money. Finding that happy middle ground between the cost of the coverage and what you get for it can be overwhelming and expensive. Figuring out what is important to you and asking enough questions so you can make better-educated decisions will save you thousands of dollars over the years. After all, it is your money. Source by Butch Zemar