This year The American Heart Association presents "Go Red for Women" a movement providing information to women about cardiovascular disease.

Traditionally, we think about men being the primary victims of heart disease, but each year, it claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of women. The older you are, the more likely it is that you will get heart disease. But healthy living at any age is the foundation for disease-free later years. 

While some people are genetically predisposed to heart disease; high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, tobacco use and second hand smoke are associated risk factors for this condition which can be reduced or controlled. No matter what your age, there are ways that you can significantly reduce your risk for heart disease.

There's an epidemic that is circulating the globe and it is one that seems to be taking all of us by surprise. I'm talking about the epidemic of obesity!

Besides the added stress those extra pounds put on our joints, if you're a joint pain sufferer, a poor diet can indirectly have a negative effect on your joints. Fortunately, this is not a situation that is without hope.

If you're presently suffering with acute or chronic joint pain, you can ease your pain by first cleaning up your diet and adding healthy foods to your daily meal plan. Even if you only eat a small salad with every meal, it will make a positive impact on your overall health and can go a long way in improving the way you feel.

Did you know that changing dietary fat intake and/or eating plant foods containing anti-inflammatory agents can help ease pain by limiting joint inflammation?

In fact, excessive consumption of dairy products, meat, & refined starchy carbohydrates like white flour can actually make inflammation worse by increasing the production of prostaglandins!

Therefore, switching your diet to whole fruits, vegetables, and lots of cold water oily fish (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids) is a powerful way to naturally “close the gates of pain”.

Other Things You Can Do To Ease Your Pain:

• Hydrate your body properly - This is something that many individuals do not take the opportunity to do and they end up paying the consequences as a result.  Dehydration can cause a number of different difficulties for humans and chronic pain is one of those.  It is also often behind many of the diseases and other ailments that we may have to deal with regularly. Therefore, making sure you're hydrated properly should be paramount in your life.

• Watch your weight -  It is necessary to make sure that you are maintaining the proper weight, as obesity is often a precursor for the pain that we are experiencing.  Even if it is an external source which is causing the pain, it can often be aggravated by the fact that we are carrying around too much body fat.  Studies have shown that losing as little as 11 pounds can not only decrease pressure on weight bearing joints but also cuts the risk of developing knee arthritis by 50%. Begin with a clean and healthy diet, adding exercise whenever possible and you will not only see the weight come off naturally but you may also notice a reduction in the amount of pain that you feel.

• Supplement your diet - Keeping the body in balance can be a full time job and many individuals have a difficult time keeping on top of it.  The unfortunate thing is, when an imbalance occurs within the body it can cause a number of different problems that end up causing us some kind of pain.  Many times, all that is needed is to bring the body back into balance to help manage the pain successfully and in many cases, get rid of it all together.

One of the ways that you may be able to bring this balance back is by supplementing your diet with certain vitamins and minerals. Your doctor as your health coach can help you determine which ones can be of benefit to you in reducing your pain.  Glucosamine with Chondroitin and MSM are recognized as the leading supplements for the maintenance of healthy joints while Boswellia, Rutin, Whilte Willows Bark and Turmeric along with enzymes such as Pancreatin, Papain, Bromelain, Trypsin and Chromotrypsin are designed to support your body’s natural response to inflammation.

Stretch out your muscles each and everyday to get them ready for action and reduce back pain.

We've all been there. You go to lift something and feel a pain halfway between the starting point and the destination. Or you were running around hitting a tennis ball, shooting buckets, tossing around a football, or anything you might not do very often and your back goes out.

We have many muscles that make up our body, and some of those muscles support the spinal column in your back. Having strong muscles in your back as well as your abdomen will work wonders to help ward off back pain. But, having flexible muscles in your back is just as important as having strong muscles.

When muscles are cold or underused it is hard to get them as flexible as they need to be to work well without pain. If you've been sedentary and decide to participate in an activity that requires some form of exertion, you are asking your back to perform a task that it is not prepared for. The result? Back pain.

Stretch out your muscles to get them ready for action!

Stretching is important for your muscles. It works as a wakeup call. Stretching your muscles says "Get ready. We are about to move." Muscles that are stretched routinely are more flexible, not only for the immediate strenuous activity, but throughout the day, weeks, months, and beyond. If your job is physically demanding, stretching each day is a good idea. You'll notice even after the first time you stretch, you will feel more flexible and energized. That small amount of movement gets the blood moving and sends more oxygen into the muscle tissue.

How do you go about stretching? Are all stretches good for the back?

There is a technique to each stretch and you want to stretch the muscle in the right way. Incorrect stretching could cause you frustration and further pain to your back. Here are a few stretches to get you started: (use a mat to cushion your back and wear comfortable clothing).

1. Flexing your back – Lying flat with your back on the mat, pull your knees to your chest. At the same time, lift your head, aiming your chin for your chest. Hold for a few seconds and return to the beginning position. Consciously push your abdomen in toward the floor at the same time so there is no space between the small of your back and the floor.

2. Leg stretch – Lying flat with your back on the mat and knees bent, feet on mat, reach and lace your hands behind one knee and pull it towards your chest. This stretch works one hip flexor at a time. The hip flexors support your lower back. Return to start and stretch the opposite leg.

3. Cross leg stretch – Lie on your back with knees bent and feet on mat. Take one leg and cross it over the other just above that knee. Hold behind the bent knee of the lower leg and pull both legs towards your chest. Be careful with this stretch and move slowly. It stretches the hip flexor, the lower back and the muscles of the buttock that can contribute to back pain. Be sure to press your abdomen toward the floor to eliminate any space between the small of your back and the mat.

It doesn't take very long at all to complete these simple stretches. Make stretching a part of your regular meditation time each day. Relax your mind and strengthen your body at the same time. Then you'll be ready to jump up and tackle your day!

Make 2011 Your Healthiest Year Yet With These Exercise Tips!

The one great thing I love about the New Year is it's full of new opportunities, new enthusiasm and new commitments to change ones life for the better.

One common goal around the New Year is to get healthier through exercise. With just a few weeks left until the ball drops, if you're planning to start a new exercise routine as part of your self-improvement plan for next year, here are five tips to help make it easier.

Tip #1: Consult your doctor first. Before you begin any exercise program it is really important to make sure you're physically up for it. This is particularly important if you're not normally physically active. A doctor can advise you on how to approach a new exercise routine and tell you what signs to look for if you're overdoing it.

Tip #2: Set small goals. While it may be really exciting to set a large goal like running a marathon or going to the gym every day, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to actually achieve the goal. The goal may begin to feel overwhelming. The solution? Set smaller goals. For example, if your goal is to go to the gym every day, just go to the gym one day a week for three weeks. Once you've accomplish that goal, step it up. Decide to go to the gym twice a week for three weeks. Once you've accomplished that goal, step it up again. Soon you'll be going to the gym every day.

Tip #3: Reward yourself. Goal setting and achieving is supposed to be fun. When you reach a goal, reward yourself. For example, using the gym example from above - when you reach your goal of going to the gym once a week, you could buy yourself some workout music or get a new piece of workout clothing. When you reach the final goal of going every day, well it's probably time for some new clothes because you're looking awesome right?

Tip #4: Mix it up. It's easy to get into a rut when you're beginning a new workout routine. In order to keep things interesting and maintain your motivation, consider a few exercises or sports you enjoy. This can make it easier on your body too. For example, if you're running two or three times a week, consider walking or riding your bike on the other days. Maybe add yoga to keep your muscles flexible.

Tip #5: Exercise with friends. Friends motivate you to get to the gym, friends make it fun, and friends can challenge you to push yourself just a little bit farther than you might if you were working out alone.

Starting a new exercise routine is a fantastic way to feel great, look great and improve your health. Congratulations on making a resolution to improve your life! To learn more about our non-surgical body and face treatments that will have you looking good and feeling great at any age, visit our website. If you'd like to schedule a free, no obligation consultation, give our office a call today.

Once again...Happy (almost) New Year.