Health Issues is a general health based blog concentrating on multiple health topics.

TESTING FOR RELAXATION: LOOSENING = LEGS

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Straighten out your legs in front of you, lock your knees and raise your feet off the floor. Hold them at about the level of your chair seat, toes pointing forward. Feel the tension in your calves, ankles, and in the front and outside of your thighs. Hold that position. Keep your toes pointed forward as you slowly count: one thousand … two thousand … three thousand … four thousand … five thousand … six thousand … seven thousand . .. eight thousand . .. nine thousand . . . ten thousand.

Slowly relax, lowering your feet to the floor.

Now take in a deep breath through your nose. Hold it for a moment. Let it out through your mouth, very slowly, taking at least five seconds to let it all out.

Take another breath … hold it … let it out slowly.

Again, lift your feet off the floor, knees locked, toes pointing forward. Hold tight and count: one thousand … two thousand … three thousand … four thousand … five thousand … six thousand . . . seven thousand .. . eight thousand … nine thousand .. . ten thousand. Slowly relax and exhale.

Take in a deep breath through your nose … a nice, deep breath.

Hold the breath for a moment. Now let it out through your mouth, very slowly, taking at least five seconds to empty your lungs.

Take another big breath, and fill up your lungs.

Hold it for a moment. Now let it out very slowly.

Your leg muscles feel relaxed. It feels good.

You’ve relaxed your whole body. Now go back to the neck and shoulders one more time. Push the neck down and slightly back. Raise your shoulders up into your neck. Hold them tight as you count: one thousand . .. two thousand . . . three thousand . .. four thousand .. . five thousand … six thousand … seven thousand .. . eight thousand . .. nine thousand … ten thousand.

Relax and take a deep breath. Hold it, then exhale slowly, taking at least five seconds to let it all out.

Another breath . .. hold it . .. let it out slowly.

Push your neck back down and your shoulders up one more time. Clench those muscles and count: one thousand … two thousand . . . three thousand . . . four thousand .. . five thousand … six thousand … seven thousand .. . eight thousand . .. nine thousand . .. ten thousand.

The muscles in your legs feel relaxed.

*118\80\8*

Tags: General health
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SUPER FOODS FOR IMMUNE: FISH

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

STEAMED FISH

Steaming is a very simple way to prepare fish. Simply put the low-fat fish into a closed sandwich bag and place in a steamer. Steam until tender, remove from sandwich bag and eat. This is one of my favorite ways to prepare fish. The fish cooks in its own natural juice; no oil or butter are added. And there’s no mess to clean up.

An easy way to prepare a tasty and healthy meal is to steam fish, cut into small pieces, and mix with brown rice and barley. Season as you desire. I like to flavor it with garlic and parsley.

TUNA SPROUTS

8 stalks celery 2 large onions 4 ozs. fresh mushrooms

1 cup homemade chicken broth

garlic powder 1 tsp. salt-free soy sauce

2 tbls. cornstarch 1 cup water

1 6-oz. can bamboo shoots 2 cups fresh bean sprouts (any kind) 7 ozs. tuna (water packed, drained, preferably no salt added)

2 cups brown rice or barley, cooked pepper

Wash vegetables, cut celery diagonally, thinly slice onions and slice mushrooms. Place chicken broth in a covered pot, and add garlic and soy sauce. Heat over medium heat until simmering. Stir in cornstarch until dissolved, cover pot and and set aside. Heat 1/3 cup water in wok over high heat. Stir-fry celery and onion in wok for 1 minute. Add bamboo shoots, mushrooms and sprouts, continue stir-frying for additional minute. Add broth mixture and cook until sauce is thickened, mixing frequently. Add tuna and stir. Serve immediately over brown rice or cooked barley.

Serves 2 to 3.

MAY’S SALMON (OR TUNA) PATTIES

2 large cans red or pink salmon (skin, bones removed)

OR

4 7-oz. cans tuna (packed in water) 6 egg whites, beaten with fork 1/2 cup matzo meal (without salt) or whole-wheat

bread crumbs 1/3 tsp. white pepper 1/3 tsp. garlic powder 4 scallions parsley sprigs

Crumble salmon (or tuna), mash with fork. Add egg whites, matzo meal, white pepper and garlic powder; mix well. Form mixture into 8 patties, and place on baking sheet sprayed with Pam. Bake for 1/2 hour in 350° oven. Wash and chop scallions, and sprinkle on top. Serve topped with Yogurt-Garlic Dressing (page 85); sprinkle with fresh-cut parsely.

Serves 4 to 6.

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Tags: General health
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SUPER FOODS FOR IMMUNE: ADDITIVES ARE BETTER LEFT OUT

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Additives are becoming a greater problem all the time, as the number of chemical compounds dumped into our foods increases. I ask my patients to remember this simple guideline: Did Nature make the food or did man? If man made it, it’s probably loaded with chemicals. Despite food-industry claims to the contrary, the overwhelming majority of these chemicals have not been properly tested. Many of them, in fact, have never been tested at all, but are allowed to remain in our food under a “grandfather” clause in the law.

Furthermore, no one has investigated to find out what happens when chemicals from different foods get together in your body. Individually, they may not be too troublesome. But when they find each other, they may combine into new, possibly harmful, forms.

I have seen many patients suffering from a variety of problems that cleared up when they stopped eating chemical-laden foods. A small number of additives may be useful for preserving freshness. The majority, however, may be not only totally unnecessary but dangerous to your health.

*31\80\8*

Tags: General health
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