Archive for: January 2008

Some restaurants and retailers around the country have started testing the fish they sell in response to concerns about the amount of mercury in seafood.

At a time when resource conservation is at the forefront, the days of eating 200 pounds of meat a year may also be on the way out.

A small but growing number of yoga practitioners are reaching out to the homeless, to prisons and to troubled youth.

The claim has the ring of a myth. But environmental scientists say it is real.

Valeo Foam Exercise Mat

List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $17.12

Features:
• 2 feet wide, 6 feet long
• Two mats in one - ribbed surface on one side, smooth surface on the other
• High-density, closed-cell foam for a comfortable workout
• Self-grip straps keep mat rolled for easy transport and storage
• Clean with a damp cloth

Tests on sushi bought in Manhattan revealed mercury levels that exceed accepted safety standards.

Rebels in a get-thin world are blogging away at the mainstream.

One of the fastest growing sports around is indoor rowing. Whether its for competitive reasons or fitness reasons or both, the advantages of indoor rowing are clear. You are indoors. You probably haven’t had to travel more than a few yards from one room of your house to another. Its convenient, location wise and you can make it fit your lifestyle. It is a simple thing to schedule an impromptu 30-minute session on your rowing machine. The alternatives to home indoor rowing are obviously outdoor rowing and a trip down to the local gym. The saving in time and effort owning your own machine is clear. If you are lucky enough to have the space in your dwelling for a rowing machine, then take the opportunity to exercise whenever you like.

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The ideal location for your rowing machine is a room with plenty of ventilation, so you can get the big lungfuls of oxygen for the final push at the end of your rowing session. Also, a room that doubles as a home gym will need plenty of airing, especially after you have had a vigorous workout. An ideal room to house a rowing machine is an attic room with velux windows. Its out of the way, so the machine doesn’t impact on everyday life. Most machines are self-assembly so you can take it up there and assemble on site as it where. The machine is then out of way and you can enjoy your indoor row without distraction or interference from others.

Once, you have your machine assembled and in place you can then add some rowing accessories. Most people like to listen to music or watch TV while exercising, so get a media system and your ready to go. This is something else that outdoor rowing cant offer. Its questionable whether listening to music or watching TV does help, but at least its possible with an indoor rower. There are many rowing accessories you could purchase, but wait until you have started in earnest before buying every little gadget and fashionable item.

Rowing is a great way to work out the stresses of the day and get the great cardiovascular workout for both the upper and lower body - rowing is one of the best forms of exercise for this. All the major muscle groups get a good workout. It is important to have a correct technique though and it may help to pay a visit to the local gym to get some good advice on the correct technique and useful programmes to follow.

It you find indoor rowing is missing something, then you good look to enter some competitive events, to give your training more of an edge. Competitive indoor rowing a fast growing sport, so do some research and you may find some venues near your home.

Ian Wide contributes to many sport and leisure sites such as home fitness equipment and rowing machines.

Nike Golf- Ignite Golf Balls **3-Dozen**

List Price: $89.97
Buy New: $29.97
You Save: $60.00 (67%)

Golf Ball Description
Ignite from Nike Golf offers longer distance, penetrating ball flight and amazing multi-layer feel and control to a wide range of players and swing types. Ideal for players that prefer low spin, long distance and a penetrating flight off the tee. Features:
# Hot and responsive core with exceptional energy return
# Ignite mantle lowers driver spin and responds to aggressive strikes
# Penetrating 408 dimple design provides longer roll and soft surlyn feel
# NOTE: YOU GET (18) 2-BALL PACKS = (3) DOZEN GOLF BALLS!!

Walking is still considered one of the most beneficial cardiovascular exercises for people of all ages, body types, and fitness levels. As a fundamental form of aerobic training, walking has numerous physical benefits for the heart, lungs, and circulatory system, while also increasing muscle tone and burning fat calories. Treadmills provide a convenient way to regularly exercise in all weather conditions in the comfort and safety of your own home.

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From beginners just starting an exercise regimen to advanced athletes looking to maintain their fitness level, anyone interested in getting and staying in shape can benefit greatly from regular use of a treadmill. Treadmills allow you to determine the pace, distance, and complexity of the workout based on your needs, all while watching television, talking on the telephone, or reading a magazine. Much easier on sensitive joints like the knees and hips, treadmill walking and running surfaces are typically long, padded platforms that allow ample room for a long stride and comfortable, low-impact walk or jog without the harsh contact of a concrete surface.

While many different types, styles, and price ranges of treadmills exist, many of them offer unique features like a fold-up design for easy storage, an electronic display monitor showing speed, distance, workout time, incline level, and burned calories, and EKG grip pulses to monitor the heart rate while exercising. Regardless of the simple to complex features you may choose, treadmills offer an array of aerobic exercise opportunities that will provide long-lasting beneficial cardiovascular results without a commute to the gym or a jog in the rain.

pH may be one of those things everyone learned in chemistry and thought, “When will I use this in life?” The reality is that it affects your life every day. We all were taught that pH is the measure of how acidic or basic a liquid is, but in practical application, what pH represents is way more than some litmus papers or the table of elements. It plays a valuable role in maintaining balance and creating optimal health. Here are just a few examples of how pH matters in your everyday life.

* Avoid the fizz
Sometimes the only thing that goes perfectly with a slice of late night pizza is an ice cold soda. But soda can do a lot more than contribute to an increase in your waistline; it can actually cause your teeth to decay at a quicker rate.

In fact, according to recent study from the American Dental Association, people who consumed sugared sodas three or more times daily had 17 to 62 percent more tooth decay than those who did not drink sugared sodas. The problem is that our teeth are protected by our saliva, which is alkaline (low in acid) with a pH of 7.2 and above. The acid found in soda (phosphoric and citric acids) is known to have a high acidic pH level anywhere from 2.5 to 3.3, which can be highly erosive to the enamel of your teeth. In addition, the sugar from the soda provides food to the bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay.

Don’t worry, there is some good news: you don’t have to give up your love for the carbonated beverage. If you ever have a craving for a fizzy drink, opt for the diet version. The non-nutritive sweeteners found in diet soft drinks have not been proven to directly affect dental decay. If you must have regular soda, try drinking through a straw that is positioned toward the back of the mouth; this method is the best way known to reduce the abrasive potential of the soft drink.

* What you need to know to stay healthy down below
Every woman knows that even a small change can cause big trouble in the vaginal area. Sometimes unpleasant odors, unusual discharge, itching or burning can occur, leaving you to wonder what’s going on and how it can be fixed. Don’t just assume it is a yeast infection — it could be something more! Pick up an over-the-counter pH test like the Vagisil Screening Kit for Vaginal Infections. You can test your pH level to help determine what could be going on and whether or not you may need to see a doctor for medical treatment.

Why pH? Well, a normal vaginal pH of 3.5 to 4.5 is optimal for maintaining balance of the necessary good bacteria in the vagina. Yeast infections do not change your vaginal pH, so if you have a reading between 3.5 and 4.5, accompanied by symptoms such as those previously mentioned, it may indicate yeast, which can be treated with an over-the-counter product. However, if this is your first yeast infection, see a doctor. But if the vaginal pH value is 5.0 or higher, contact a doctor right away. You may have an infection that requires a prescription.

* Beat Smelly Feet
If taking your shoes off often causes noses around you to wrinkle and tends to clear the room, you may have Bromhidrosis, commonly known as smelly feet. Smelly feet are often singled out as belonging to athletes, but strong foot odor is actually a condition that is universally experienced because feet tend to sweat a lot.

Perspiration is normal and healthy, but when it becomes excessive, it can leave a foul odor lingering on feet and in your shoes. As a result of being inside a closed shoe all day, perspiration on the feet cannot evaporate like on other parts of our body. A moist foot in an enclosed space helps the bacteria that make isovaleric acid grow. This acid is what causes smelly feet.

The best way to prevent smelly feet is to keep your feet clean and dry. After showering, be sure to dry your feet completely, especially between the toes, to eliminate any additional moisture. Sprinkle your feet or the inside of your shoes with a foot powder like Odor-Eaters foot powder. Since it is specifically designed for the foot, it works better than regular talcum powder to keep the odor neutralized all day. The baking soda it contains can help neutralize the acids that cause smelly feet. Don‘t forget to air out your shoes daily. Alternating shoes regularly will also help to reduce odor by starting the day with dry shoes. Feet definitely sweat profusely with exercise; so if you go to the gym, be sure to get a few sets of gym sneakers to alternate every other day.

Your mother was right about the hat. But bundling up is not advised.

A study found weight-loss surgery better than standard medical therapy in treating Type 2 diabetes in the obese.

The cholesterol drug Vytorin is now getting attention that is anything but funny.

Writer Michael Pollan answers questions about nutrition, health and real food.