Healthy life with Health plan » edge

Exercising with tools

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:54:06 +0000

Exercise (essentially any form of physical exertion which results in the contraction of a muscle) has become a widespread interest over the past several years, especially in areas of weight training. While exercise is generally intended to promote good physical health, bodybuilding more specifically concentrates on building muscle mass and many individuals in society today begin bodybuilding to present a good image of themselves. Many different companies have grasped on to this concept of muscle mass growth and have formulated products which can enhance the process of muscle enlargement. For example, creatine monohydrate, a product advertised to “boost muscle

size and strength” and “improve athletic performance”, is available over the counter and has become a popular consumer good over the past couple years despite a lack of extensive research in to its effect (especially long-term) on the human body.

Because individuals with hardly any knowledge of how to properly weight train begin physical fitness, not only will the process of bodybuilding be rendered useless, it can also be harmful to various other parts of the body. Weed need proper tools to exercise and one of good option is

P90X. P90X is one of the best exercise tool. P90X or Power 90 Master Series has best exercise system for your body.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:51:10 +0000

The body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a statistical measure which compares a person's weight and height. Though it does not actually measure the percentage of body fat, it is used to estimate a healthy body weight based on a person's height. Due to its ease of measurement and calculation, it is the most widely used diagnostic tool to identify weight problems within a population, usually whether individuals are underweight, overweight or obese. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics". Body mass index is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of his or her height. The formula universally used in medicine produce a unit of measure of kg/m2. BMI can also be determined using a BMI chart, which displays BMI as a function of weight (horizontal axis) and height (vertical axis) using contour lines for different values of BMI or colours for different BMI categories.

Some argue that the error in the BMI is significant and so pervasive that it is not generally useful in evaluation of health. Based on body mass index calculator research, University of Chicago political science professor Eric Oliver says BMI is a convenient but inaccurate measure of weight, forced onto the populace, and should be revised, so should the BMI calculator.

The medical establishment has generally acknowledged some shortcomings of BMI. Because the BMI is dependent only upon weight and height, it makes simplistic assumptions about distribution of muscle and bone mass, and thus may overestimate adiposity on those with more lean body mass (e.g. athletes) while underestimating adiposity on those with less lean body mass (e.g. the elderly).

A 2005 study in America showed that overweight people had a similar relative risk of mortality to normal weight people as defined by BMI. In an analysis of 40 studies involving 250,000 people, patients with coronary artery disease with normal BMIs were at higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease than people whose BMIs put them in the "overweight" range (BMI 25–29.9). In the intermediate range of BMI (25–29.9), BMI failed to discriminate between bodyfat percentage and lean mass. The study concluded that "the accuracy of BMI in diagnosing obesity is limited, particularly for individuals in the intermediate BMI ranges, in men and in the elderly... These results may help to explain the unexpected better survival in overweight/mild obese patients.

Body composition for athletes is often better calculated using measures of body fat ( body fat calculator ), as determined by such techniques as skinfold measurements or underwater weighing and the limitations of manual measurement have also led to new, alternative methods to measure obesity, such as the body volume index. However, recent studies of American football linemen who undergo intensive weight training to increase their muscle mass show that they frequently suffer many of the same problems as people ordinarily considered obese, notably sleep apnea, some say that's not the best workout. A further limitation relates to loss of height through aging. In this situation, BMI will increase without any corresponding increase in weight.

Health at Work

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:16:39 +0000

Isn't always easy to staying healthy at work , With all your coworkers sneezing and sniffing around you, it may seem impossible. Find how to stay healthy at work with these health tips:

1. Wash Your Hands. Often.
This means every time you use the restroom, before you eat, after you sneeze or cough and any other time your hands feel dirty. Also, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at your desk, for when you can't get to a sink.

2. Keep your workspace clean.
Clean your phone, computer keyboard and anything else that you use frequently. Even if you are the only user, germs can live on these objects and you can reinfect yourself.
3. Eat balanced meals every day – including breakfast!
Many people are tempted to skip breakfast because it takes too long to eat in the morning or in an (misguided) effort to lose weight. It has been proven that people who eat breakfast are healthier and more likely to remain at a healthy weight.
4. Avoid coworkers who are sick.
You would hope that coworkers who are contagious would stay home from work. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case. If they do show up, try to avoid direct contact with them (without being rude, of course).
5. Drink AT LEAST 8 glasses of water a day.
Sodas and coffee may help you stay awake, but they will also contribute to dehydration. So you need to be sure to drink water also. Just keep a water bottle with you all the time, drink throughout the day and you will probably get what you need.
6. Take frequent breaks throughout the day.
When you are feeling tired or sore, get up and walk around for a few minutes. Or try some of these tips for stretching at your desk. Taking breaks and keeping your body in shape will help you feel better and make you more productive.
7. Use your vacation days.
It may feel like there is never a good time to be away from the office, but people who do not take vacations are more likely to be sick. Vacations are a good way to relieve stress, which has been proven to contribute to illness. So even if it is just a few long weekends, use your vacation days and don’t take your work with you.
8. Quit smoking.
It is pretty common knowledge these days that smoking is bad for your health. Smokers get sick much more frequently than non-smokers. You are also getting less work done if you have to take frequent smoke breaks throughout the day. And no, smoke breaks do not promote productivity like exercise breaks do. Nicotine is a stimulant and actually increases your body’s stress level.
Share Your Thoughts
If you take these tips into consideration and implement them into your daily work routine, you should notice that you feel better and will remain healthier. With so many illnesses going around this time of year, you should do everything you can do avoid getting sick. If you have any more tips on staying healthy in the workplace, don’t keep them to yourself, share them in the Prevention Forum!

Stretches at Your Desk

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:45:10 +0000

Sit at a desk for long periods of time can cause muscular tension. You can prevent the buildup of stress in your muscles by taking a few minutes to stretch. Try these easy exercises when you need to re-energize, or throughout the day to keep your muscles relaxed:

Head Tilt. Put your right hand on your left shoulder. Tilt your ear right toward your right shoulder, but don't turn your head. Hold five seconds. Switch sides.

Neck Roll. Roll your head to the right, down to the front, then left. Do this slowly and smoothly, both directions.

Shoulder Circles. Make circles with your shouldersup, back, and down. Switch directions. Do at least five.

Side Stretch. Stretch your arms to the side, then clasp your hands overhead. Keep your head straight forward, but lean your upper body to the right side. You should feel this down your left side. Hold five seconds. Switch sides.
Back Release. Sit at the edge of your chair as tall as you can (be careful if it has wheels). Open your legs apart so your arms drop between them. Straighten your legs, so your heels are on the floor, but not your toes. Knees are relaxed and never locked. Bring chin to chest, and then roll down toward your feet, one vertebra at a time. You should feel this first in your neck, then upper back, middle back, and lower back. This should be done slowly, relaxing into each part of the back. Roll up just as slowly. This