July 15-21, 2009 - Original Health Articles

What's the best way to battle your top 10 exercise excuses? Create a better top 10. Read on for tips on how to go from flabby to fit and apathetic to enthusiastic by throwing your exercise excuses out the window. 1. It's boring - I'll find a way to make it fun.

If you have a family history of asthma and are thinking of having a baby soon, some experts suggest you do your best to plan the season in which your child will be born in order to reduce the risk of newborn asthma. While this may sound strange at first, the birth timing can actually impact your baby's health status, according to some new research findings.

Soybeans are legumes, such as peas, beans and lentils. They are one of the world's most important crops. Soybeans are consumed many different ways including edamame (young green soybeans), soy milk, soy nuts, soy yogurt, soy cheese, tempeh, miso, tofu and in a variety of meat substitutes such as veggie burgers.

If your baby suddenly comes down with a runny nose, dry cough and red eyes, you may wonder if he or she is sick or whether the symptoms could be caused by allergies. Sometimes it can be very difficult to tell the difference, but there are a few telltale signs that can help you determine the cause.

  Your child's difficulty to remain still or pay attention for an extended time could be just typical young child's behavior, or it could be a sign of attention deficit disorder. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. ADHD You've probably heard a lot about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, you know the importance of daily exercise to maintain your weight and control blood glucose levels. Walking is one of the easiest and most effective diabetes exercise. You can do it anywhere and it won't take a bite out of your purse.

While research shows that children with juvenile arthritis who go to summer camp improve significantly--and those benefits can last for up to six months--kids just want to have fun. The reality, however, is that juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), commonly called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA, cause your child chronic pain, stiffness, swelling and other symptoms.

Symptoms of kidney disease aren't noticeable until you have chronic kidney disease, which leads to kidney failure. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, which accounts for nearly 44 percent of new cases and affects over 100,00 Americans every year.

What is the Glycemic Index? Foods that contain carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels. The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 based on how much they increase blood sugar levels compared to a rise that would occur from pure glucose.

The thyroid, a small gland located in your neck, secretes thyroid hormones that control your energy level and other bodily functions. So it's no surprise that the symptoms of an out-of-whack thyroid glad can mimic those of mental illness. The most common form of thyroid disorder is hypothyroidism.

While many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) finger milk as one of their trigger foods, a fatty acid found in milk may be an effective treatment for the condition. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a fatty acid found in meat and the milk of grazing animals such as cows and sheep.

If you've been stocking up on herbal remedies such as glucosamine or MSM to treat your arthritis, it could be in vain. Researchers have discovered that proteins, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) - highly specific and sensitive markers for rheumatoid arthritis - may be able to predict how well someone responds to herbal medicines for arthritis.

There's more good news on the natural remedies front for people living with arthritis. Natural eggshell membrane (NEM®) is a new osteoarthritis treatment that can effectively reduce pain and stiffness, according to new research published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology.

Our feet are a part of our bodies that we don't often think about for most of the year, hidden away as they are in our shoes and boots. But come summer, our feet are much more exposed and require a little more attention. Below, some tips from the American Podiatric Medical Association on how to care for your feet now that they've come out to play: Use sunscreen.

When your ex finds love, gets engaged, married or moves in with someone else within months of your break up, your ex could be dealing with emotional issues that are--and were--beyond your influence.  It's a tough truth to accept, but an ex's new love does not have to conquer you.

When it comes to controlling your asthma, you probably take a multi-pronged approach that involves using medicine, avoiding triggers, and following an asthma management plan to stay on top of any changes. This strategy seems to help most patients to keep their symptoms under control.

If you're one of the 60 million Americans who experiences heartburn two or more times per week for at least three months, there is a chance you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If so, there are a number of ways to get treated. The first are lifestyle changes, which include: Losing weight Changing your diet Altering your sleep habits Reducing your stress level The second way is with drug therapy or over-the-counter medicines.

Once you decide to start running, don't let your good intentions get sidelined by the wrong shoe. Here, five key things to consider before making a purchase: Fit. A properly fitting shoe is one that you are unaware of. If it pinches, pokes, or doesn't hug in the proper places (like the heel) it is not a good fit.

What Ails You If you aren't sure how to differentiate between common allergy symptoms and signs that you could have the swine flu, you're in good company.  But while you may not be sure which it is, the experts say that there are some telltale signs that can help you determine if you really do have swine flu.

As parents, we want to do everything we can to keep our children healthy. You cannot change your child's predisposition to diseases, however there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood he or she will develop Crohn's disease. Encourage them NOT to smoke.

More than 500,000 women in the United States take tamoxifen. It is the oldest and most prescribed treatment for breast cancer and can reduce the risk of a woman developing breast cancer again by about 50 percent. However, tamoxifen causes side effects, especially hot flashes, which may become very uncomfortable.

It happens around the holidays. You're with your family, there's tons of food around, and you gorge on everything from turkey to stuffing to cake. It's fun at the time, but not long after, things start to change. You feel a burning sensation in your chest, and before you know it, you're tasting all that delicious food in the back of your throat.

What are stem cells? Stem cells are immature cells that develop into specific cells to form organs and tissues in our body. The National Cancer Institute likens them to starter dough in baking. Stem cells help the body repair itself. Stem cells are different from normal cells in several important ways.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing the safety of TNF blockers, drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's, to determine if they are associated with an increased risk of cancer in children and young adults. What are TNF blockers? TNF, or tumor necrosis factor, is a naturally occurring protein in the body and may play a role in inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Colonoscopy is the most thorough and reliable form of screening for cancers of the colon and rectum. The good news is that although colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer killer, it's also highly preventable and treatable when detected early.

Olives are fruits that grow on trees.  They contain a pit, and their flesh is filled with oil.  Fresh olives, taken right off of the tree, taste bitter and are therefore cured for eating or pressed to extract the olive oil.  Green and black olives come from the same tree and are actually the same olive at different stages of ripeness.

Every month it's the same old thing for millions of women worldwide: cramps, crankiness, bloating and backache.  Some studies suggest that 90 percent of women experience menstrual cramps, and 10 percent have it so bad that they're stuck in bed for days.

Could you be allergic to sesame? If so, you are part of a growing number of people who have a reaction to products made from sesame seeds and sesame seed oil. And since sesame is contained in many foods and other products, this ingredient can be very difficult to avoid.

When it comes to the digestive system, there are plenty of of myths and misconceptions. Here, we present five: 1. Heartburn is a disease. Heartburn, in fact, is not a disease. Rather, it is the main symptom for adults who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a disease.

Credit to the Food Standards Agency There's no question that healthier food choices are priority for many Americans, and they want to know how to make more nutritious choices. Next month consumers will get their first chance to take advantage of the new front-of-package Smart Choices food labeling program.

Many of us are bringing our workouts home.  Maybe we don't have the time or money for the gym, or we're looking for other exercise options. Whatever the reason, home fitness equipment doesn't have to be expensive or expansive. Begin by  jotting down what you really need, will really use, and can afford.

For some people, cold weather seems to be their biggest trigger. But for others, the heat and humidity of summer can cause their asthma to kick into gear.  While how the summer asthma relationship comes into play isn't completely clear, there is some concrete evidence in terms of how the two things go hand in hand.

Hunger is the feeling that prompts thoughts of food and initiates eating.  It is influenced by many factors, including the presence or absence of nutrients in the bloodstream, the size and composition of the preceding meal, customary eating habits, climate, exercise, hormone levels, and illness.

Nobody looks forward to a gynecological exam, but it is possible to make your time in the stirrups more comfortable and informative.  Whether you're visiting your gynecologist for a basic checkup or are concerned about something specific, read on for what you should know before you go.

Physicians have a plethora of drug therapies they can use, alone or in tandem, to control the symptoms of Crohn's disease. Unfortunately, some patients do not respond well to treatments, and all drugs have potential side effects. Therefore, researchers continue to seek additional, more effective, treatment options with fewer side effects.