Posts Tagged ‘holistic health’

The benefits of meditation for the elderly are bountiful

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Many elderly people are in need of practices that benefit the mind and body. This presents issues for some who do not have the ability to engage in rigorous exercise or want to avoid taking prescription medications.

Luckily, there are many benefits of meditation for the elderly, not least of which that the holistic practice has been shown to have positive mental and physical effects.

This kind of holistic health care has been used for centuries by individuals of all ages to strengthen the self through weeding negative thoughts from the mind. In doing so, people are able to achieve a more positive way of thinking, which has been shown to significantly reduce stress, a main trigger of health issues for many people.

Since senior citizens often experience mental anguish due to physical ills and the loss of family members and friends, this kind of holistic health care may be much needed in nursing homes and hospice care facilities.

Elderly individuals who are having a difficult time coping with old age, as well as those who want to ensure healthy aging, should consider using meditation to strengthen the body, mind and spirit.

 

Practicing holistic health during the holidays is possible

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Many people throw their healthy eating habits and exercise routines out the window when the holidays roll around, thinking that they will get back on the horse in January.

However, this doesn't always happen. Once the festivities have come to an end, the weather remains frigid in some regions or people's good habits have already been lost and forgotten. As a result, it's a good idea to practice holistic health even during times of celebration and indulgence.

So, what is holistic health? This way of living requires nourishing every aspect of one's being at its root. For instance, practicing holistic health for the liver begins with avoiding alcohol and drinking plenty of water. Holistic health for the brain requires education, as well as abstaining from drugs and potentially harmful activities.

Other components of holistic health include taking natural nutritional supplements, eating right, using complementary and alternative medicine and getting plenty of exercise.

The main idea behind holistic health is that one small action taken each day can accumulate to optimal health as a person ages. This makes practicing holistic health during the holidays important to overall wellness later in the year.

 

Best holistic health for obese people should involve nuts

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Obese individuals may be in need of the best holistic health in order to lose weight and improve their quality of life. A team of scientists at the University of Barcelona recently found that one solution may lie in nuts.

In a study, the researchers observed that individuals who ate an ounce of raw, unpeeled walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts each day experienced higher levels of serotonin – a neurotransmitter that induces feelings of satiety and happiness – when compared to their nut-free counterparts.

Results of this study suggest that eating these crunchy, protein-rich snacks may help individuals who struggle with their weight maintain a healthy body and mind.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in the power of holistic health care to heal people experiencing a number of conditions. Natural methods that promote wellness are most often superior to traditional techniques, which sometimes involve drugs or invasive procedures. Eating a balanced diet and engaging in exercises that strengthen the body and mind, such as yoga and tai chi, have been shown to help people reach a state of absolute well-being.

Practicing holistic health through a good diet may slow prostate cancer growth

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Prostate cancer is a major concern among men, especially those in the aging baby boomer generation and older. But researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, report that eating a low-fat diet supplemented with fish oil may be an effective way to prevent death from the carcinoma.

In order to reach their conclusions, the researchers asked volunteers to consume a special diet during the four to six weeks leading up to their prostate removal. After the operations, the scientists examined the gland tissue and found far fewer abnormal cells in volunteers who ate a low-fat, high-omega-3 diet, when compared to control subjects.

"The finding that the low-fat, fish oil diet reduced the number of rapidly dividing cells in the prostate cancer tissue is important because the rate at which the cells are dividing can be predictive of future cancer progression," said first author William Aronson.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in the power of holistic health care to help prevent and treat illnesses. Results of this study suggest that practicing holistic health by means of a balanced diet may be an effective way to reduce one's mortality risk from cancer.

Omega-3 fatty acids shown to be holistic healthcare for osteoarthritis

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Too often, people turn to pharmaceutical medicine in an effort to alleviate symptoms of a condition after it has already taken hold. Instead, individuals should focus on making positive lifestyle changes for holistic health in order to prevent hard-to-treat illnesses.

For example, researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK recently found that consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent and possibly slow the progression of osteoarthritis, an incurable condition of the joints.

They observed the benefits of the healthful fats in a study on guinea pigs, an animal that is predisposed to developing osteoarthritis. The researchers found that supplementing the rodents with omega-3s resulted in a 50 percent decrease in risk of the condition as well as alleviated symptoms of joint degradation.

“This current research in guinea pigs is exciting as it brings us closer to understanding how omega-3 might fundamentally interfere with the osteoarthritis process, and that it could potentially be taken as a treatment,” said Alan Silman, research director of Arthritis Research UK.

Practicing holistic health can provide people with improved overall wellness without the side effects of medications.

Exercise shown to be effective holistic health care for migraines

Monday, October 10th, 2011

Many individuals turn to prescription or over-the-counter drugs to alleviate their migraine pain. However, researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have found that exercise and relaxation techniques may be just as effective.

In a study, a team of scientists compared the outcomes of three groups of women over a three-month trial. One group exercised for three 40-minute sessions per week, another practiced relaxation methods and a third was prescribed a pharmaceutical to treat migraines.

At the end of the study period, all three groups of women experienced significant alleviations in their pain and improvements in their quality of life.

"Our conclusion is that exercise can act as an alternative to relaxation techniques and topiramate when it comes to preventing migraines, and is particularly appropriate for patients who are unwilling or unable to take preventative medicines," said lead author Emma Varkey.

Author and trailblazer Ilchi Lee believes that the best holistic health care involves exercise and a healthy diet, since these are key components to overall wellness. Additionally, he stresses the benefits of meditation and yoga, which are known to align the body and mind.

Doctors look into holistic health care for high blood pressure

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Considering the growing prevalence of chronic conditions related to excess body fat, researchers are more often examining ways in which people can alleviate the symptoms of these diseases without having to rely on a daily schedule of pharmaceuticals.

A team of doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center conducted a study looking into the efficacy of a number of best holistic health practices to lower blood pressure.

While many natural interventions were shown to provide some level of relief, the study authors noted that a tailored approach may work best.

"This is where the art of medicine comes in. Getting to know patients and what they will and will not embrace can help physicians identify different therapies that suit their patients' habits and that will hopefully make a difference for them," said Kevin Woolf, M.D.

First, individuals with high blood pressure should consider lowering their sodium intake. It's typical for Americans to consume a diet loaded with salt, so it's important to keep an eye on labels. Excess sodium is a key factor behind elevated blood pressure.

Coenzyme Q10 was also shown to help people with hypertension, as were potassium supplements.

Additionally, the researchers uncovered some scientific benefits of meditation. The mind-body practice is known to help individuals attain a clearer mind, which may reduce stress and, as a result, lower blood pressure. The study authors also noted that acupuncture may be effective for some people.

Philosopher and trailblazer Ilchi Lee believes that individuals who experience chronic health issues should turn toward more natural remedies to avoid a lifetime of consuming potentially damaging pharmaceuticals.

Benefits of meditation when stressed may extend to offspring

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

It's relatively well known that when pregnant women are stressed, their children are at risk of developing behavioral or anxiety problems. Now, researchers believe that mental issues in the father may also have an adverse effect on offspring.

In a mouse study, a team of scientists from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York found that the children of males with depression or anxiety tended to have the same problems as their fathers.

"This type of translational animal work is important to help scientists focus their work in humans," said lead author Eric Nestler, from the New York institution. "These findings in mice raise the possibility that part of an individual's risk for clinical depression or other stress-related disorders may be determined by his or her father's life exposure to stress, a provocative suggestion that now requires direct study in humans."

Results of this study suggest that the benefits of meditation when stressed can reach farther than the immediate alleviation of anxiety that the practitioner experiences. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of gaining a clear mind and eliminating negativity from the brain.

People looking to conceive should consider using holistic health care to treat their conditions, since many pharmaceutical solutions come with side effects, some which may affect a person's physical health.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that all people should seek out a more peaceful existence that is free of stress. It's been shown that chronic anxiety is a cause of a host of illnesses and conditions. As a result, healing the mind may also go a long way toward a healthier body.

Frankincense may be holistic health care for arthritis

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Many individuals are interested in practicing holistic health methods – such as taking natural nutritional supplements or engaging in meditation or yoga – in an effort to strengthen their bodies and minds without the use of pharmaceuticals, which often come with side effects.

Researchers at Cardiff University have discovered that frankincense extracts may be used as holistic health care to treat arthritis.

“The search for new ways of relieving the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis is a long and difficult one,” said lead researcher Emma Blain.

The team of scientists developed a treatment made from the extract of a Somalian type of frankincense that has been used by native people for a long time to treat inflammatory conditions.

“What our research has focused on is whether and how these extracts can help relieve the inflammation that causes the pain,” said Blain.

The researchers theorized that the herbal extract slows the production of imflammatory molecules, thereby preventing the breakdown of cartilage that is characteristic of arthritis.

The condition causes much pain in individuals who have it, spurring many to turn to invasive or pharmaceutical treatments. The problem is, much of Western medicine is wrought with side effects, like the risk of infection, addiction or other problems that may be more serious than the initial disease.

As a result, many individuals are turning to holistic methods of health, which aim at treating the root of a condition or illness using the plants and elements provided by the Earth. These treatments may not only come free of side effects, but could be more effective in alleviating pain, discomfort or depressive feelings than drugs or surgery.

The best holistic health may include avoiding the tanning salon

Friday, August 12th, 2011

Frequent or even moderate use of tanning beds has been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer like melanoma, which can be deadly. Now, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center report that the beds may also lead to brain changes similar to those seen in drug addicts.

A team of scientists conducted a study in which volunteers used tanning beds and reported on their feelings about the activity before getting in the bed. Additionally, researchers measured the participants' brain activity while they tanned.

Authors of the study concluded that tanning does have similar effects on the brain to those seen in drug addicts, and that some users display an addict-like behavior in regards to tanning.

"Using tanning beds has rewarding effects in the brain so people may feel compelled to persist in the behavior even though it's bad for them," said study author Bryon Adinoff. "The implication is, 'If it's rewarding, then could it also be addictive?' It's an important question in the field."

The researchers noted that about 120,000 individuals are diagnosed with melanoma each year. Moreover, people under the age of 30 who use tanning beds are 10 times more likely to develop the disease.

Author and trailblazer Ilchi Lee says that practicing holistic health includes protecting oneself from the sun, eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of exercise and using mind body spirit fitness.

Lee believes that getting the best holistic health is one thing that all individuals should strive toward in an effort to attain success and fulfillment, since a person's physical self is intricately tied to their mental and spiritual aspects.