An Alternative Approach for Overcoming a Sleep Disorder

Having a sleep disorder can be very disruptive to everyday life. Sleep deprived people are usually excessively tired and sleepy. They tend to become irritable and very emotional. At times they become a danger, not only to themselves, but also to those around them.

Some people use alternative, natural ways to lessen the effects of their sleep disorder. Many people focus on diet and nutrition, while others use herbs and supplements. Still others believe in the positive effect of exercise, relaxation and sensory techniques, meditation or behavioral and cognitive strategies. Often people use a combination of these approaches to help alleviate the symptoms of their sleep disorder.

A healthy diet is essential for optimal energy and a restful sleep. Avoiding certain foods is as important as including others in your daily diet. Eating a wide variety of foods and drinking plenty of water will keep your body well- balanced and provide a more stable energy level. Avoiding food that is grown, treated or processed with chemicals, and limiting the amount of sugar and caffeine will also help your overall physical condition. Many foods promote a restful sleep and are helpful in relieving some of the symptoms of certain sleep disorders. Eating the proper snack before bedtime can increase natural serotonin levels. Serotonin acts as a natural sedative and is made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Foods that a re rich in tryptophan include chicken, turkey, cheese, cottage cheese, fish, milk, nuts, avocados and bananas.

Many people use herbs and natural supplements as an alternative approach to treating their sleep disorder. There are many nutritional supplements and herbal products on the market. It is important to know how a specific product acts on the body as well as on the specific sleep disorder.. For example many people with restless leg syndrome have an iron or folic acid deficiency. Taking an iron supplement may alleviate some of the symptoms of RLS. Many herbs are well known for promoting a natural sleep. A clamming tea of chamomile or lemon balm can be very relaxing to many people that suffer from a sleep disorder.

Exercise and relaxation techniques, whether used alone or together, can reduce stress and muscle tension. Many people that use these techniques to lessen the symptoms of a sleep disorder do these before going to bed. They not only ease physical tension but they calm the mind and prepare the body to sleep. These techniques include mindful exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises and yoga.

Meditation and visualization are also used by some sufferers of sleep disorders to calm the body before sleep. Two common forms of mediation are meditation on the breath and mantra meditation. Both of these types can have a positive effect on relieving stress and calming the body. Many people focus their energy on a healing visualization as a method of alternative therapy for their sleep disorder.

Sensory techniques that people use to lessen the symptoms of their sleep disorder are hydrotherapy, and aroma therapy. The two main techniques included in hydrotherapy, which means water therapy, are relaxing in an Epsom salt bath and a lymph stimulating footbath. Aroma therapy includes the use of therapeutic essential oils in baths, massage oils, room sprays, and simple inhalants.

Alternative practices and techniques can help many types of sleep disorders. Often they are used in conjunction with traditional medication and practices.

Dairy Products And Acne, What You Should Know

Did you know that your diet could cause acne, or even worsen it?

Well, check out this latest research done at the American Academy of Dermatology in Harvard.

The facts are that despite what was commonly thought of chocolate and greasy food would cause acne, this is long proven wrong. Now the basic stable data here is that what cause acne to manifest itself are during hormonal fluctuations and genetics. Therefore the times prone to experience this uncomfortable condition is during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

But the latest research point to one or two exceptions involving dairy products. The researches analyzed about 50,000 peoples habits and diets specially what they ate during high school. Those who habitually drank two-three cups of milk a day where 22% prone to have severe acne compared to those who only drank one cup a week or less.

Skim milk had the greatest effect.

Cream cheese and cottage cheese were also related to outbreaks, while chocolate and grease were not. Basically researchers were certain to prove the effect of hormones on milk, other studies had come out with similar findings and share this discovery.

You also have to know that food that contain iodides, like shellfish and soy sauce, might also exacerbate acne. Iodides are thought to play a role in the inflammation, this confirmed by Dr. Diane S. Berson, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

So, the bottom line is that certain foods particularly dairy products, has proven to generate acne and some times, severe condition of acne.

But finally, there’s something you can do to end the frustration and suffering brought on by acne. With just a few simple daily steps, you can heal the pimples you have today and help stop new ones from forming tomorrow. Whether you’re a man or a woman, 15 or 50…you can have the clear, blemish-free skin you’ve always wanted.

If you’re suffering with mild to moderate acne, I know how you feel – both of us have lived with it at different times in our lives. So I wanted to create a website to help you understand the causes of the condition, and learn what you can do to fight it. In this site, I have taken the time to refute some of the most common misunderstandings about acne and bring you the latest scientific information. I would also like to introduce you to a revolution in acne skin care – Proactiv Solution.

This unique, easy-to-use, 3-step daily maintenance system is designed to attack acne at its source – so you can get the clear, beautiful skin you’ve always wanted.

Like me, millions of people have discovered Proactiv Solution and changed their lives for the better. Many of these people say the same thing: Proactiv Solution really works. So why dont you take a look at this product for yourself. After all, if you are a dairy product lover and want to continue with it (and who doesnt?)
You must be prepared to deal with acne the right way. So there you go, now you know what are the diets that causes acne and what are the products that helps you handle it. Enjoy it!

Sample Diabetes Diet

If you are looking for a diet to follow because you have diabetes and do not really know where to begin, maybe a look at a sample diabetes diet would help you get started. Eating regularly, at the same times everyday is essential to controlling your diabetes effectively.

You should never skip meals and always have healthy snacks ready to go so all you have to do is go to the kitchen to get them without having to prepare something first. Choose a day or two during the week when you will do enough preparation to get you through to the next prep day.

some things will not last a week so if you split up the days then you can be sure that everything you eat is fresh and no more than three days old. Fresh food just tastes better.

The following is a few suggestions of a sample diabetes diet plan:

Breakfast: 1c healthy cold cereal or cooked oatmeal
1c fat-free milk
1/2 orange or grapefruit
tea or coffee

or

1c low-fat cottage cheese or low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 c fresh or canned fruit, chunked and mixed into cottage cheese or yogurt
tea or coffee

Lunch: 3 oz. lean turkey breast sandwich with lettuce on whole grain bread or pita
1 tsp mayo or salad dressing
1 small apple
water with lemon or iced green tea

or

small tossed salad with tomato, onion, radish, cucumber and 1 oz. feta cheese
3 oz. canned tuna
2 tablespoons Greek vinaigrette
water with lemon or iced green tea

Dinner: 3 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 medium potato
1c fresh green beans
tea or fat-free milk

or

3 oz. fish (salmon, tilapia, cod, perch, etc)
1 c rice pilaf
cooked sliced carrots
tea or fat-free milk

Snacks: 3 cups no butter popcorn
or
1/2 c low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt with cut up fruit
or
low-fat cheese and about 6 crackers

Get used to drinking water because you need to keep yourself hydrated. Staying hydrated will help you control your blood sugars easier by keeping the sugar from becoming too concentrated in your blood stream.

Keeping your carb intake evenly disbursed throughout your day will also help keep your blood sugar from spiking and help you stay at the same insulin dosage your doctor recommends for you.

By following this type of diet you may also lose some of the excess weight you have, especially belly fat. Not to mention the other risk factors you will be decreasing like those for heart disease and stroke that can put you at an increased risk when you have diabetes.

Eating right is just a smart thing to do whether you have diabetes or not and add in some regular exercise and you have the ideal plan for losing weight and controlling your diabetes.

Use this sample diabetes diet to jump start your efforts and be the best you can be and be as healthy as you can be while stabilizing your diabetes and losing the extra poundage around your middle.

Diet and Lifestyle Changes For Sinus Infections

Your diet plays a significant role in your everyday life. It can also serve as a basis for determining the health of an individual. If youre used to eating unhealthy choices of foods, then your body tends to be weak and cant resist viral and bacterial attacks. Sinus infections can be caused by bacteria, virus, and fungi. There are lots of treatments for this condition but prevention is still the best way to fight this infection. Having a healthy body and strong immune system will help you a lot in fighting infections, including that of the sinus.

Living a healthy life entails a lot of work. You need to be conscious about the foods youre eating and the mental activities that youre engaging. You must also ensure that youre getting enough exercise.

Making certian changes in your lifestyle may sound very difficult at first but if youre determined to prevent future health conditions, you will do everything in your power to incorporate these changes in your life.

For the prevention of sinus infections, here are some changes that you should do:

1.Drink enough water everyday; 8-10 glasses of water everyday can help you attain a healthier body

2.Fresh fruit juices are also good for your health; drink plenty of it as well

3.Eat your vegetables, just like your mother told you when youre still a kid; but you need to lessen your consumption of zucchini, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

4.Take lots of bitter tasting or pungent items; warm foods are also good for fighting sinus infections

5.Eat more of pear, apples, and other lighter fruits but reduce on sour fruits like oranges, pineapples, bananas, dates, figs, coconuts, avocados, and melons.

6.Eat cottage cheese and yogurt but eat less of dairy foods

7.Lessen your consumption of oily, heavy, and cold foods; as well as sour, salty, and sweet tasting foods

8.Consume less of millet and barley, rice or wheat

9.To relieve congestion, sinus pressure, and increase mucus flow, drink hot liquids

10.Take honey but avoid sugary products; you can also take boiled milk but only the low-fat ones

11.Include garlic in your diet

12.Avoid strongly scented perfumes, body and hair oils

13.Avoid taking frequent naps; if the weather is damp or cold, keep yourself warm all the time

14.Steam inhalation is very good for getting rid of the clogged mucus; add some eucalyptus oil to the water for better results

15.Early to bed and early to rise; and dont forget to do some yoga practices like fish, sun salutation, locust; you can also do some meditation and pranayama

16.Sesame oil massage is great but take a soothing warm shower first

17.Dont get too attached to emotional upsets; learn to let go

According to yoga and ayurveda specialists, sinus infections are caused by imbalanced doshas. In order to address your sinusitis, you have to be compassionate to yourself so that you can balance the doshas once more.

Yoga and other alternative treatments are quite effective but it will depend on your willingness to undertake some drastic changes in your life. True enough, you cant change overnight and so you need to introduce the changes gradually. If you start now, you will thank yourself in the near future. You will soon cure your sinus infections and other health conditions.