0 Earthing Why Reconnecting With Nature May Be All You Need

Today I want to talk about something a little different. At first glance, it may seem incredibly hokey. Okay, it WILL seem incredibly hokey. But just stick with me here for a moment... I think theres really something to it.

Im talking about earthing... the process of grounding your body to the earth. Direct contact, no socks or shoes. Skin on earth. (Or with the assistance of a grounding system, as youll see later.) Believe it or not, theres good science to back it up... and not just through subjective measurements either... there are real, objective, measurable changes that take place in the human body when we connect with our earth. Reconnecting with nature in this way has been shown to reduce cortisol (a stress hormone), improve blood flow, and regulate our sleep cycles, among other things. Allow me to explain a little more...

The surface of the planet is electrically conductive, with the exception of extreme environments like deserts (1, 2). Essentially, the earth is teeming with electrons which, through direct contact with the ground, can have an impact on our internal bioelectrical environment.

Okay, complicated... I know. Lots of big words you tried to forget as soon as you finished your last chemistry final. Just know this... our bodies are electrical circuits. Our lives and our wellness depend on these circuits running properly. The beat of our heart, the function of our organs, the free-flowing nature of our blood, the ability to think and move... all of this is dependent on electrical impulses.

Now, if making direct contact between our bodies and the earth provides a transfer of electrons, or electrical potential, do you think this might have an effect on how our bodies operate? It just might... when you think about it, the notion isnt so crazy.

Luckily, some really smart people out there are putting earthing to the test. Heres what we know.

Earthing may improve cardiovascular health.
A recent study looked at the effect of earthing on blood viscosity (3). In a healthy body, our red blood cells maintain a negative charge on their surface, repelling other red blood cells away like a magnet. This is what allows our blood to flow freely through our body. Without this negative electrical charge, our blood would clot and life as we know it would end. Viscous blood, like that which would occur if this electrical charge were diminished, is associated with several problems, including hypertension and diabetes. We dont want that.

After 2 hours of earthing treatment via an earthing system (electrically connects you to the earth, without you actually making direct contact with the earth), subjects showed an increased surface charge on the their red blood cells, indicating improved cardiovascular health. To quote the study itself, "Grounding appears to be one of the simplest and yet most profound interventions for helping reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events." Talk about bang for your buck.

Sleeping grounded may reduce chronic pain.
Subjects who suffered from sleep disturbances and chronic muscle/joint pain were given either a night-time earthing treatment or placebo. Most of those who were given the grounding treatment reported reduced pain, while most of those in the control group did not (4).

Earthing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, thereby reducing stress.
In a double-blind study, those who were treated with a 2-hour grounding session showed markers of reduced stress and increased rest and relaxation. The results were immediate upon beginning the treatment, and they faded slowly after the treatment ended (5).

Sleeping grounded reduces cortisol and regulates your sleep cycle, and may improve sleep, pain, and perceived stress.
In this study, 12 subjects who complained of sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress were asked to sleep on a grounded, conductive mattress (6). After 8 weeks, the subjects showed reduced overnight cortisol levels, and a normalization of the 24-hour cortisol profile (cortisol ebbs and flows throughout the day).

In addition to these objective measures... subjectively reported symptoms, including sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress were reduced or eliminated in nearly all subjects.

Earthing may reduce risk for osteoporosis.

One study found that just one night of grounded sleeping significantly reduced renal excretion of calcium and phosphorous, two important minerals in the degenerative disorder osteoporosis. In addition, this one night of sleep also had a significant effect on blood levels of iron, sodium, potassium, and magnesium (7). 

Earthing may promote antioxidant activity.

Theres even a theory out there that earthing can help protect our cells from oxidative damage. The electrons picked up from the earths surface may act as antioxidants, preventing the damage caused by free radicals (8). More antioxidant capacity means healthier cells, less disease, and healthier aging.

Okay so thats sort of a random hodge-podge of information. Lets bring it all together, shall we? Here are the benefits of earthing, as we currently understand it...

• Improved blood flow and cardiovascular health
• Possible reduced chronic pain
• Reduced stress
• Enhanced relaxation and recovery
• Reduction in markers of osteoporosis
• Possible increase in antioxidant capacity

Pretty cool huh? Plus, its easy to do, and theres really no risk of harm... just walk around baoot. You have no reason not to try it. Take off those shoes, get your feet dirty, go for a walk, swim in the ocean... if you wanna get a little crazy, lay out in the grass naked for a while. I cant think of a better way to get those electrons! Or if you want to get really serious, get yourself one of these earthing kits and give it a go!

But even if youre skeptical, think of it this way...

Being outside makes us happy.
In addition to all that, doesnt nature just bring a smile to your face? I mean, whens the last time you lounged around outdoors on a beautiful day and had a horrible time?? Id bet thats never happened. At the very least, spending time outdoors is therapeutic because of the happiness factor. Whether its the sun, the ocean, or walking baoot in the grass, theres something about being outside that makes us feel good. I think we should take that as a sign that were doing something good for our bodies, dont you?

0 Why People With Diabetes Need To Be Vigilant About Food Safety

As of Friday, the number of eggs recalled in the latest salmonella-in-eggs debacle reached half a billion. The FDA considers this "one of the largest shell egg recalls in recent history."

Thoroughly cooking eggs kills salmonella, but it doesnt prevent infection via cross-contamination (or undercooking).

People with diabetes are more susceptible to infection from contaminated food. The USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) explains:

• The diabetics immune system may not readily recognize harmful bacteria. This delay in fighting off foreign invasion places a person with diabetes at increased risk for infection.
  
  
• Diabetes can damage cells that create stomach acid and nerves that help move the food through the intestinal tract. Stomach and intestines may hold on to food for a longer time, allowing harmful bacteria to grow.
  
  
• The diabetics kidneys may not be functioning properly and may hold on to harmful bacteria, toxins, and other pathogens.

Not only are people with diabetes more susceptible to infection, but if they do get sick it may last longer, it may require hospitalization, and there is a higher risk of death.

FSIS brochure, Food Safety for People with Diabetes (pdf), goes into more depth about:

• Specific pathogens.
  
• Which foods are more likely to be contaminated (namely uncooked produce and animal products). Eggs are notorious carriers of Salmonella.
  
• How to handle food safetly.
  
• Cooking and storage guidelines.
  
• Wise choices when eating out.

The FDA is maintaining a page to update which brands have been recalled and how to determine if your eggs are part of the recall. (Check Plant Number and Julian Date.):
FDA: Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Eggs
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0 Root Canal When Your Tooth May Need It

Chronic tooth pain is among the most difficult body aches and pains for anyone to deal with. But how do you know if the pain can be dealt with utilizing a root canal? After all, the process costs a lot of money, so you need to know which situations actually require root canal treatment.

The basic symptoms that usually suggest a need for root canal therapy is a chronically painful tooth coupled with gum tenderness or swelling in the area right next to the tooth, or both tenderness and swelling occurring at the same time. Then again, not every tooth that calls for root canal can have the same visible symptoms. This is why it requires a dental expert to identify which teeth need to be treated.

The first way that dentists can discover the need for root canal in the absence of pain is by routine X-rays. Sometimes, the death of a nerve of a tooth may not be a painful occurrence, with the nerve tissue inside the tooth degenerating without resulting in any outward symptom. This means the need for root canal treatment can stay unknown, sometimes even for years.

In this case, the infection inside the tooth is not that dramatic and perhaps your body’s defense mechanisms are able to keep it under control, even without totally clearing up the infection. In the X-ray, this infection shows up as a dark spot at the tip of the root of the tooth, which shows a reduction in bone density surrounding that area. This comes about because of the infection kept inside the tooth which might have leaked out, and your body responded to the infection.

The second way that dentists require root canal is if a current dental work results in an exposure of a nerve tissue from your tooth. When this happens, you may feel a prick of pain, but other times, the patient has no idea that a nerve has been exposed. This exposure can cause a degeneration of the nerve tissue. In this case, the dentist may decide to go on with a root canal at this point instead of risking future complications, which may include painful tooth abscess.

The third symptom that dentists watch for is a recurring or persistent pimple developing on the gums. A lesion or pimple can sometimes form on the gums of a person whose tooth nerve has died. These pimples, called fistulous tracts, can appear and disappear, but they are technically drains for pus. This is why they normally produce a bad taste. Sometimes dentists may discover this kind of pimple during a routine checkup.

Lastly, teeth that have suffered trauma in any accident may sometimes be candidates for root canal. The nerve tissue of these teeth can deteriorate. Of course, not all teeth that have been bumped in a traumatic event can deteriorate, because sometimes they may do fairly well for many years. The usual hint that the nerve tissue in a tooth is degenerating is that it appears darkened compared to its neighbors.

In any case, a routine checkup should set your fears at rest, as your dental practitioner can help you pinpoint a need for root canal as soon as possible.

0 Cancer Patients Need Sports

Cancer patients usually undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments. Fatigue often hit after they run health care. But according to Josie Gardiner, special physical trainer of U.S. cancer patients, physical exercise is also needed for cancer patients.

Here are some health tips on a variety of sports that you think Gardiner is suitable for people with cancer, as quoted by Fox News.

1. aerobic

Cardio exercise definitely be one part of aerobic exercise, which allows a person to burn calories as much as possible. Reducing calories is also one of the prevention of cancer spread. Besides cardio exercise also makes a person physically stronger and tougher.

2. weight training

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy results in brittle bones, especially for women. For the light weight training is very important. It can make your bones and muscles strong again.

3. balance exercises

Treatment and care of cancer patients typically affect his future as reduced bone mass. Therefore, cancer patients need to train the body to balance routine, for better health performance.

4. relaxing the body

Some cancer patients who have undergone surgery typically experience pain in the scar. For that they can not choose a sport that is too heavy. For those who are in this condition, Gardiner suggested that exercise can train the body flexibility like yoga.

0 3 Types of Headaches Need Emergency Management

Health for human | Headaches are usually not life-threatening. However, a very severe headache could be a sign of something much more serious and requires emergency treatment. There are at least three types of headache requiring emergency treatment. Heres the full review

Symptoms of diseases such as stroke, aneurysm (bleeding from blood vessels) and meningitis is usually a headache. So its worth watching headache that feels very different from regular headaches. So you are required to be more aware of the pain in your head

Unusual dizziness symptoms mean blood vessel abnormalities in the brain that has begun to leak slightly. This condition can change, causing severe bleeding and can be life threatening

Here are three signs of headache that require a doctor immediately.

1. Headache accompanied by neck pain and fever

Headaches accompanied by pain or stiffness in the neck and fever may be a sign of meningitis. Meningitis or inflammation of the lining of the central nervous system can quickly turn into a critical.

Typical symptoms are fever, headache and muscle stiffness in the neck that lasts for hours or be felt up to 2 days.

2. Headaches accompanied by nausea

Nausea or vomiting accompanied by severe neurological disorders such as difficulty speaking or walking can be a sign of hemorrhagic stroke, ie stroke accompanied by bleeding on the brain.

Damage caused by stroke can occur very quickly, either because of bleeding or due to the increased pressure of fluid on the brain. Bleeding in the brain tissue can cause death.

3. The most severe headaches like never before

Regular headaches painful enough. But if you have a headache that feels the worst of which have never experienced before, it could be a sign of aneurysm.

Aneurysm is leaking or rupture of blood vessels in the brain. Seepage of blood that soaks the brain causes the patient only complained of dizziness. But over time, blood can seep into a flood of blood in the brain. This is what causes the sufferer to die suddenly.