Are You Suffering from Stress?

There it was again that tightness in my chest. I couldn’t ignore it any longer so I made one of my rare visits to the doctor. He examined me but could find nothing physically wrong to account for my chest pains. He wrote me a prescription and told me to come back in 3 weeks if the pain persisted.

A pharmacist was strategically placed next door to the doctor’s surgery. However, I by-passed the pharmacist and stopped instead by a bin, balled up the prescription and tossed it inside.

I don’t recommend that anyone follow my example but here’s the rationale behind what I did. The doctor did not ask me anything about my lifestyle during the consultation. As it so happens, I was going through a stressful period both at work and personally. I wanted to stop the pain, not mask it plus I’m not a fan of prescription drugs. I deduced that my chest pains were a sign I was suffering from stress and that the best cure for me was exercise.

I re-joined Holmes Place (my previous membership was a perk of one of the part-time jobs I had held). Great perk! Fortunately I renewed my membership just in time. I had let my membership lapse any longer I would have had to pay a joining fee.

In the short term it was financially more costly than the prescription but in a very short time I felt better. That was nearly 15 years ago and I’m very grateful for that episode in my life.

In fact, it was going back to the gym that led to my becoming a Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. This in turn has opened so many other opportunities for me and it has contributed significantly to my health and fitness.

In the movie, "The Secret", Dr Ben Johnson says:

“We’ve got a thousand different diagnoses and diseases out there. They’re just the weak link. They’re all the result of one thing – STRESS. When you put enough stress on the chain, when you put enough stress on the system, one of the links breaks.”

We need stress to live but when your stress levels rise above a certain threshold and remain that way for a prolonged period of time then the toll on your health and fitness can be very costly indeed. I was speaking to an archaeology student just the other day. One of the things she does is examine the remains of humans to determine how they might have died and also how they might have lived.

She remarked that people of bygone years had it tough compared to how we live today. Medical facilities were poor and many were manual labourers doing lots of heavy work. That may be the case. We live in a great era but our rapid technological advances are not without their costs – one of them being is that generally we haven’t found ways to balance our lives so that stress does not overwhelm us and impair our health and well-being.

Nearly everyone I talk to complains that they feel stressed. If you fit into that category then take steps to change your lifestyle or pay the consequences to your health. I was helping out at a seminar recently when one of the participants came out of the live event.

I sensed he was uncomfortable and asked if he was alright. He explained that he felt tired and stressed and was going to get a cup of coffee to help keep him alert. I talked him out of that! I showed him a deep breathing exercise and recommended that he drink plenty of water instead. Within minutes he was feeling better without the use of stimulants which, in the long term, would have only exacerbated his condition.

Have I totally escaped feeling stressed? No, of course not, but I do pay attention to the whispers my body tells me. Teaching Pilates is also a great help.

Don’t wait until those whispers become shouts and then screams. By then it may be too late.

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High Blood Pressure’s Destructive Diseases of the Arteries

Here’s the final article in our current high blood pressure series from “The Silent Killer Exposed”. I will introduce more information at a later stage. This article plainly spells out the consequences of not keeping your blood pressure in check. If you want to avoid pulmonary artery hypertension, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease then take positive action and start adopting the simple yet effective measure that have been outlined for you in our the other articles in this series.

You will also find more tips in the in the report of Frank Mangano’s interview by natural fitness and weight loss expert, Tom Venuto. In this report you can learn some amazing things about improving your health, reducing your blood pressure and getting your body into great shape. In this revealing and exclusive interview, which has been painstakingly transcribed and complied into a 38 page PDF e-book, you will learn:

§ How to separate legitimate natural alternatives for reducing your blood pressure from bogus "quack" products, the facts about highly advertised blood pressure remedies.

§ The link between hypertension and obesity (what high blood pressure and bulging bellies have in common.)

§ The truth about the "natural cures" 'THEY' don't want you to know about.

This 3-part interview has so much incredible and shocking information that can help you become healthier and get a slimmer waistline, that it could easily be the most important report you read all year!

Best of all, this report valued at $19.95 is FREE to readers of this blog. Just send an email to info@positivebodyimage.org with "HBP Interview" in the subject line. How’s that for an easy step to improve your health?

Nickolove

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You may know that high blood pressure can cause the heart to become enlarged through years of overwork. But did you know that the disease called hypertension – the technical name for high blood pressure – can also do some serious damage to the arteries?

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

One type of hypertension is called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) because it is a condition where the pressure on the pulmonary artery is too great. This becomes an area of concern when pressure is above 25 mmHg. Normal pressure on the pulmonary artery is 14 mmHg. In PAH the inside of the arteries becomes narrower because the muscles along the wall tighten up. The arteries can also become thick from the increased muscle mass in the arteries due to their “workout.” When this happens the thicker walls create a narrower passage way for the blood flow and blood pressure increases.

The pulmonary arteries can also form scar tissue. This narrows the artery even more. Blood clots can cause further blockage and make blood flow difficult. All of the factors that narrow the arteries can also cause them to harden.

As time goes on without treating PAH, the right side of the heart is forced to work harder. Eventually it becomes so weak that it completely fails. The number one cause of death for people with PAH is heart failure. PAH is either inherited or comes about as the result of other conditions such as chronic lung disease, blood clots in the lungs or heart disease which can be caused by other types of conditions such as hypertension or high cholesterol.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is another condition of the arteries brought about by high blood pressure among other diseases and conditions. The risk of developing this hardening and narrowing of the arteries is increased with age. If you have a close relative with the condition you are also at greater risk.

Basically, atherosclerosis starts because of a build-up of plaque in the arteries by damage to the artery’s lining. High blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol all contribute to damaging the artery walls. When plaque builds up it can lead to blood clots that narrow the arteries even more. With increased blood pressure on the arteries and the clots, there is a greater chance of heart attack or stroke.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is when the arteries leading to the heart become hardened and narrower. There can be different types of CAD, the most common being angina and heart attack. Angina is a condition of chronic chest pain because the heart is not getting enough blood. A heart attack is the result also of the blood not making its way to a portion of the heart. Complete heart failure which can result in death happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body.

To treat CAD, it is recommended that blood pressure is kept in check. High blood pressure adds to the strain on the arteries and the heart. A healthy diet and lifestyle will reduce the chances of developing CAD and other diseases or conditions of the arteries. Click here to learn how to reduce your blood pressure to a healthy level by reading this special report:

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Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote well being. Click here to find out how you can maintain healthy blood pressure.

5 Steps You Can Take Today To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

Even more tips to lower your blood pressure. When you read this article you probably will say to yourself “I know that” but knowing and doing are two different things. If you have high blood pressure, start doing these simple steps today and see the improvement in your health. Get your FREE copy of the report entitled "The Best Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure, Reduce Your Waistline and Take Back Your Health" simply by emailing me at:

info@positivebodyimage.org

Nickolove

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is not something to be taken lightly. It is a serious disease, the cause of which is unknown. One fact health care professionals do know is that left untreated, high blood pressure over time can lead to serious heart disease and other vascular troubles, even death.

Blood pressure medications come in a wide range of formulas and dosages; each aimed at reducing the pressure going through the blood vessels either as the heart pumps blood or relaxes. Some medications strengthen the blood vessels while others thin the blood in an effort to reduce the strain. Trial and error is usually a doctor's only course of action when determining which combination of drugs and treatments will benefit a specific patient. The problem with this approach is the dangerous side effects, which often accompany these medications.

There is however some good news about hypertension! There are steps you can take today that will begin to lower your blood pressure almost immediately. Overtime, the result is a sustained healthy blood pressure reading that supports your blood vessels and heart for years to come.

Start with these 5 easy lifestyle changes. Always consult with your doctor before trying anything new with your health regime, and never go off of any medication without the advice of your doctor. Here is a list that any doctor can approve of:

1. Drink Water. Yes, water is a way to cleanse and refresh every part of the body, even your blood vessels. Drink 8-10 glasses each day to flush out excess salt and toxins that make their way into the blood stream. You can use water to replace some drinks containing caffeine that temporarily raise blood pressure.

2. Stop Smoking. If you are a long time smoker, you know how it affects your breathing. What you may not realize is its impact on your blood pressure. If you can't quit completely, then cut down. Even a 50% reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked each week can help.

3. Exercise. A cardiovascular workout strengthens the heart. This is important because high blood pressure over time puts added strain on the heart. Just 20 minutes, 3 times per week of a sustained increase in heart rate will aid in lowering blood pressure.

4. Eat Right. If you are eating better and exercising, a nice by-product will be weight loss. By reducing your weight by 10%, you can significantly lower blood pressure. A diet that includes the freshest fruits and vegetables will support healthy blood pressure. Reduce or eliminate salt intake, and especially beware of "hidden" sodium found abundantly in pre-packaged convenience foods.

5. Relax. Many people have a temporary raise in blood pressure when they are under stress. If you have high blood pressure because you are over weight or have a family history of hypertension, then stress raises it that much more. Try taking a walk, meditating or listening to relaxing music to take the edge off a stressful day. Make time for decompressing each and every day.

Click here to discover many more safe and effective methods that will make a positive impact on your blood pressure level.

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Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote well being. Click here to find out how you can maintain healthy blood pressure.

The Obesity-Hypertension Connection: Is Your Weight Putting You at Risk?

Here’s the third in our series of articles on high blood pressure. I hope this gives you added incentive to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity not only puts you at risk of high blood pressure but also diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease,

Remember you can get a FREE copy of the report entitled "The Best Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure, Reduce Your Waistline and Take Back Your Health" simply by emailing me at:

info@positivebodyimage.org

Also please contact me if you have any questions. I know from my work as a Personal Trainer that obesity is a major concern and some people unwittingly sabotage their efforts to maintain a healthy body weight.

Nickolove

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Did your daily weigh-in cause your blood pressure to spike? If you are as little as ten percent over your ideal weight, and especially if you're carrying excess body fat in your abdominal region, then what you learn in the next three minutes as you read this article could not only help you lose those excess inches, it could save your health and even your life!

More than 50 percent of Americans are overweight or obese and the numbers just keep on rising. These shocking statistics have doctors from the World Health Organization, Center for Disease Control, and American Heart Institute wondering how to stop the epidemic. That sudden shock of seeing the numbers on the scale inch up is not what’s giving rise to your blood pressure. It is the ongoing, day-to-day strain that obesity puts on the entire cardiovascular system that causes blood pressure to reach dangerous heights.

Being extremely overweight and having high blood pressure is so closely related that it has even been given its own name: obesity hypertension. Of all the cases of hypertension in the U.S., 75% can be directly attributed to obesity. Deaths directly from hypertension or that had high blood pressure as a primary contributor totalled 310,707 deaths in the U.S. in 2002. It’s a chain reaction (obesity=hypertension=heart disease=death) that all begins with how fat a person is.

Obesity is also a condition that is an equal opportunity disease. It doesn’t matter if you are male, female, old, young, or the origins of your ancestry. If you are overweight, you increase your chances for hypertension and if you lose weight, your risk goes down. But stay overweight and your risk of developing hypertension is 5 to 6 times greater than someone who is at his or her ideal weight.

How Heavy is Obese?

The first question to ask in removing the obesity risk factor for hypertension is “Am I overweight?” Obesity is determined by Body Mass Index (BMI), which takes into account the relationship between height and weight. A BMI above 30.0 is considered obese. A score between 25.0 and 29.9 is considered “overweight.” Ideally, BMI should be between 18.5 and 24.9.

To measure your own BMI you take your current weight and divide it by the number you get when you multiply your height in inches by your height in inches again. Then multiply that number by 703 for your BMI. For example, if you are 5’6” and weight 165 pounds, you would multiply 66” times 66” for a total of 4356. Then divide 165 by 4356 for a total of 0.0378. Next multiply that by 703 for a BMI equal to 26.6, which is considered overweight.

How Does Being Overweight Impact Blood Pressure?

When you are obese, your body needs more blood in order to supply oxygen to and nourish the extra tissue. When you put more blood into the same passageway of veins and arteries, there will be extra pressure on those blood vessels.

Weight gain is also usually in the form of fat. According to Mayo Clinic research, fat cells even produce more chemicals, which in turn add to the strain on the heart and pressure on the blood vessels. In addition, there is an increase in insulin from weight gain. This makes the body retain sodium and water, which also increases heart rate and decreases the ability of the blood vessels to move blood throughout the body, thereby increasing blood pressure.

It’s not just how much you are overweight, but also where you carry your extra weight that can have a great impact on blood pressure. Risk factors are increased when added weight is in the abdominal area. This is because people with a so-called spare tire also have increases in blood sugar, which causes the fat to be deposited there, and then starts the sodium and water retention cycle.

Reducing Weight to Lower Blood Pressure

Because there is a direct correlation between obesity and hypertension, it makes perfect sense that by losing weight you can lower blood pressure. The proof is in the numbers. Blood pressure is measured in mm/hg. A reading of blood pressure both as the heart beats and as it relaxes, creates the dual number of X over Y giving you your final blood pressure reading. For every 2.2 pounds of weight lost, blood pressure falls 1 mm/hg. Realistically, an overweight person like in our example above could lose just 10 percent of their body weight – in this case 16.5 pounds and lower their blood pressure by 7 or 8 points.

Small Steps for Big Results

If you can conquer obesity, then you can take dramatic steps in lowering blood pressure. One of the best ways to combat weight is with walking. Walking increases metabolism and is more effective in the long run than more strenuous cardiovascular workouts. Those who are overweight should talk to their doctor before starting an exercise program of any kind, but all physicians will agree that walking is one of the safest, most effective forms of exercise. Good shoes that provide support to the arches will protect feet and knees from stress injuries. Also, walking on softer surfaces such as a grassy field or dirt road will give a better workout because more balance and coordination is needed.

Some other ways to lose weight safely and lower blood pressure include:

1. Reduce sodium intake
2. Don’t eat within 3 hours of going to bed at night
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day
4. Replace saturated animal fats with non-saturated, healthy fats from vegetable sources
5. Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages that are packed with calories

There are some risk factors associated with hypertension that you cannot control, such as genetics, race, and age. How much you weigh and what you do to make sure you are a good weight is within your control. Take action to keep obesity in check and reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.

Click here to discover more powerful methods that will lower your weight while reducing your blood pressure at the same time.

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Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote well being. Click here to find out how you can maintain healthy blood pressure.

5 Easy Ways to Lower Blood Pressure using 1 Great Fruit

Here’s the second in our series of articles on high blood pressure by Frank Mangano. Lowering your blood pressure can be easy and tasty at the same time.

Remember you can get a FREE copy of the report entitled "The Best Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure, Reduce Your Waistline and Take Back Your Health" simply by emailing me at:

info@positivebodyimage.org

Nickolove

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Do you know which common food that you can get right at your local grocery store or farmers market that will reduce your blood pressure significantly while boosting your immune system and protecting you from cancer at the same time?

If you ate a green salad with fresh chopped tomatoes, then you not only got a healthy dose of this powerful antioxidant, but you have also taken significant action toward lowering your blood pressure. A recent double-blind study conducted in Israel has confirmed what hearth-healthy Italians have enjoyed for centuries – tomatoes (and tomato sauce) lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.

The Israeli study was led up by Dr. Esther Paran, head of the hypertension division of Soroka Medical Center. It involved patients who were already being treated for hypertension, but were not responding well to the medications. Dr. Paran had patients take a supplement of tomato extract. The results were a significant drop in blood pressure after just four weeks.

Tomatoes are so effective at lowering blood pressure because they contain lycopene. This potent antioxidant is even the focus of some hybrid tomatoes grown by the Israeli company, Lycomato, in order to have higher concentrations of lycopene in each piece of fruit. Other antioxidants found in tomatoes make this one super-food in the prevention of heart disease. It can even help keep LDL cholesterol from oxidizing which makes it stick to the arteries and narrow the passage way causing blood pressure to increase.

Even during the peak growing season it can be difficult to consume four whole tomatoes each day, which is the recommended amount for having a positive impact on blood pressure. Here are some ways to get the benefits of tomatoes without having to eat them straight off the vine.

1. Make Chili. Using tomato puree, which is a concentrated form of tomatoes, as the base for your chili utilizes the antioxidants without the bulk of a whole tomato. Add some ultra-lean and high protein ground bison and kidney beans with minced garlic and onions, and cayenne pepper and you have a heart-healthy main course and a full day’s allowance of tomato.

2. Since using olive oil with the tomatoes enhances the curative quality, make your pasta sauce red with tomatoes, tomato paste and olive oil to sauté the garlic and onion. Tomato paste used in making sauce contains more than 10 times the nutrients of a single tomato.

3. Have a fresh salad as a side dish to either of these entrees and cut one whole tomato on top. You’ll get one-quarter of you tomato intake right there.

4. Drink tomato juice. It is better to make your own fresh juice so that you can control the sodium. Store bought juices can be high in sugar and sodium-based preservatives. If you have a juicer, you can make some incredible veggie juices to suit your own tastes by adding carrots, celery and some low-sodium seasonings.

5. Take a tomato supplement. If you just can’t stomach tomatoes, then a 200 mg supplement provides the equivalent of more than the recommended four tomatoes.

Adding tomatoes to your diet can reduce systolic blood pressure by 10 points and diastolic pressure by 4 points as was evident in the Israel study. Whatever way you slice it, tomatoes will keep strengthen your immune system and lower blood pressure.

Click here to learn about more fruits that can play a major role in reducing your blood pressure.

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Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote well being. Click here to find out how you can maintain healthy blood pressure.

Are You At Risk for High Blood Pressure?

Below is the first of five very informative articles about High Blood Pressure and ways to control it naturally by natural health and hypertensive expert, Frank Mangano. Remember you can get a FREE copy of the in-depth interview - "The Best Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure,Reduce Your Waistline and Take Back Your Health" where natural fitness and weight loss expert, Tony Venuto, interviews Frank Mangano, by simply sending an email with "HBP Interview" in the subject line to:

info@positivebodyimage.org

Please also contact me should you have any questions or would like to see specific health issues addressed.

Nickolove

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Knowing the risk factors for high blood pressure, or hypertension, is the first step toward making sure your blood pressure is at a healthy level. There are several risk factors for hypertension. Some are within your control and others are simply a matter of genetics.

It does not matter what is causing or may cause you to have high blood pressure. The important point is that if you know you are at risk you can take steps to reduce the risk and keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

We have no control over our genes, our race or our age. These are three risk factors for some people in developing high blood pressure. African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure than whites. They also seem to develop it at a younger age and have higher levels.

Age is a factor in blood pressure as well. The older you get, the more likely you are to have higher blood pressure. Women usually don't have trouble with hypertension until after menopause, unless they have a parent or other close relative with it. Men will develop hypertension as they age, with the greatest increases beginning between the ages of 35 and 55.

While race, age and genes are not something you can control there are several risk factors for hypertension which you can control. The most important is weight. Obesity leads to higher blood pressure especially in people with a body mass index over 30.0. Contributing to obesity and high blood pressure is also a lack of exercise. If you are inactive, you are more likely to be overweight and therefore develop hypertension.

Our eating and drinking habits greatly impact blood pressure. Consuming too much alcohol or salt on a regular basis also increases blood pressure. Not only overeating, but what you eat will affect blood pressure in a good or bad way.

How much stress you have and how you deal with it can influence blood pressure negatively. It is difficult to know how much stress a person is under, since many people hold it in and may not even feel overly stressed when in reality they are. When there is too much stress, other good habits are often sacrificed to deal with
the current situation. For example, during a stressful period you may not get enough sleep or exercise or may substitute good home cooked meals for high sodium fast foods.

Any one of these risk factors alone can put blood pressure levels within a dangerous range. When you couple the risk factors with one another, your problem grows exponentially. This means that if you are overweight, inactive and have a family history of hypertension, you are at a much higher risk than someone with only heredity working against them. It would be wise for anyone with the non-controllable risk factors of race, heredity, or age to keep stay physically active, maintain a healthy weight and reduce the amount of alcohol and sodium they consume. It is also important to eat a proper diet that will support a healthy blood pressure. Specific nutrients help reduce blood pressure even in those who are genetically predisposed to hypertension.

Click here to learn how to reduce the risk factors for developing high blood pressure and keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

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Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote well being. To find out how you can maintain healthy blood pressure click here.

High Blood Pressure: Silence Can Be Deafening

I’ll always remember learning how to measure blood pressure. I learnt the technique as part of my Personal Trainer Award programme. After the correct use of the sphygmomanometer had been demonstrated it was our turn to practice. I measured my partner’s blood pressure and then looked for other members of the group to practice on. Joe and Steve were eager to oblige.

I wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Joe’s arm, inflated it and settled back to listen for the first Korotkoff sound – the systolic pressure. (The point at which the Korotkoff sounds disappear is called the diastolic pressure.) However, no sooner had I done this did I hear a loud boom in my ears. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Joe and Steve fell about laughing. I smiled too, eventually, but it was no laughing matter.

You see, Joe had high blood pressure and it was only through being on this course – Fitness Assessments and Exercise Counselling – that he discovered that he had high blood pressure. Joe had no symptoms of the disease yet his blood pressure was through the roof! This is why high blood pressure is known as "The Silent Killer", although for me it was almost deafening. They knew I was expecting Joe’s blood pressure to be in the normal range and wanted to see my reaction. I was completely unprepared and fell unwittingly into their trap.

Nearly one billion people throughout the world have high blood pressure. Is it any wonder then that whenever I run Positive Body Image’s programmes that there is at least one person with high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is linked to cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes and obesity. It can be prevented and if you have high blood pressure it can be managed using alternative health remedies. However, rather than go in a long treatise on this myself, I will be publishing a series of articles by my colleague Frank Mangano, a natural health and hypertension expert, on high blood pressure. Frank has even written a book on the subject called “The Silent Killer”. Click here for details.

I’ll publish the first article tomorrow. Meanwhile, if you would like to receive a FREE copy of the interview “Best Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure, Reduce Your Waistline and Take Back Your Health” where natural fitness and weight loss expert, Tom Venuto, interviews Frank Mangano then simply send an email with "HBP Interview" in the subject line. This report is valued at $19.95.

To your health!

Nickolove

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Are You At Risk of Cancer?

Returning from a Personal Training session with one of my clients recently I bumped into a long-time acquaintance – you know one of those folks you see from time to time and exchange a few pleasantries. He was accompanied by his son.

He had lost a lot of weight and to be honest he had been a slim man to start with. This dramatic weight loss made him look gaunt. The way he carried himself and the way he walked showed a lack of energy and vitality. There was also a sense of resignation about him.

We chatted briefly, well in truth my friend and client, did most of the chatting. He said that he hadn’t been feeling well recently and after a barrage of tests the diagnosis was that he was suffering from malnutrition so he was aiming to eat better.

However, to compound matters he was having difficulty in keeping his food down. He mentioned that a relative of his had died recently and that the funeral was that day. He said he felt too weak to endure the ceremony and had sent his condolences.

We parted company. I briefly watched his frail figure walk away, his son by his side and wondered what might be going through his son’s mind seeing his father in such a poor state. However, I thought nothing more of this chance meeting until yesterday when I was speaking to my friend. During our conversation she gasped – the way people do when they suddenly remember something of importance. Then she said those dreaded words:

“Benji has cancer.”

Her words knocked the wind out of me but, upon reflection, I wasn’t surprised at her news. I was just surprised that the doctors took so long to discover the true cause of Benji’s illness.

My intuition is strong but I suddenly wished I was more of an intuitive like Carolyn Myss who can identify what disease you may be suffering by simply looking at you and gathering a few basic details. I may have been able to buy Benji a little more time.

“…a little more time?” Have I already written Benji off? No, not entirely, but my intuition is telling me, as harsh as it may sound, that conventional treatment and medicine alone will not cure him. I told my friend to remind Benji’s friends of the power of laughter – you may jest but it has been known to work before. I also asked her to tell them of the power of visualisation. By visualising a healthy body you can also help the body to heal itself. Again, I know some of you may be sceptical but it does work and can work for you.

Still the most powerful message that I can send you is that of PREVENTION. It is believed that 85% of all cancers are preventable and lifestyle and diet hold the key.

As I write this I feel frustration building up inside me. I have not been doing enough to get this message across. That ends today.

If you know there are things you ought to be doing to improve your health and well being take ACTION NOW. Improve your weight, develop better stress coping strategies, eat healthily and exercise regularly. It’s not much to ask.

This is your life we are talking about. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to stay healthy.

To receive a FREE ebook entitled “Your Diet and Cancer” please email me at info@positivebodyimage.org with “Your Diet and Cancer” in the subject line.


In memory of Victor Norville.

Do You Take Your Health for Granted?

I was recently measuring the weight and blood pressure of a group of individuals aged 59-81. It was a big eye-opener to me.

Nearly every one of them suffered from some form of chronic illness – diabetes, cancer, arthritis, high blood pressure…the list goes on. Sometimes they had ailments that they could not even pronounce. They were walking pharmaceuticals.

One woman even admitted to me that she felt like a drug addict because of all the pills she had to take. I thought to myself that if the health of the nation was represented by the individuals in the venue we were in, then it’s no wonder that the NHS (National Health Service) cannot cope.

The majority of the members of the group were overweight despite the fact that they exercised regularly. This I can understand but I’ll leave explanations for another article. This does not mean that they were not getting benefit from the exercise they were doing.

Now the thing is, I am aware of the dire health statistics regarding these illnesses but I guess it is one thing to read a bunch of statistics and it is quite another to see those statistics in the flesh so to speak. Also, with my work with my own organisation Positive Body Image I tend to work with women up to about age 55. Whenever, I run a programme there is always at least one person who has diabetes and or high blood pressure. Heart disease also shows up and practically everyone in the group knows of someone has lost the battle to cancer. In many instances, that person would have been a relative and in many cases they would have died young – in their 30s or early 40s.

What is so sad about this situation is that scientists and nutritionists believe that 85% of these illnesses can be prevented through proper lifestyle and nutrition.

Generally, we are living longer. Unfortunately, the quality of life for many in their twilight years is often poor. People are spending their last years – their retirement years that many of them would have slaved towards – controlling their illnesses and managing their pain. It doesn’t have to be this way.

I bet you would like to live life to the max until the end. While there are no absolute guarantees that you will remain 100% healthy for the rest of your life, if you are not taking steps to safeguard you health then one thing is guaranteed your well being chain will break at its weakest link.

You owe it to yourself to maintain your health. Imagine being full of energy and vitality, and free from pain. Feels good, doesn’t it? So take steps now to safeguard your health –simple things such as eating healthily, exercising, taking time out for relaxation, getting adequate rest, etc. The results will be well worth it.

One woman in the group I was surveying, who was diabetic, could not understand why her blood sugar level skyrocketed because she had a plain bread roll for breakfast. I tried explaining to her that bread is a simple carbohydrate and is quickly digested by the body to produce glucose. The digestion of carbohydrates starts in the mouth. If you chew a piece of bread long enough it will start to taste sweet. I explained that if she had combined it with some protein such as poached or lightly scrambled eggs or fish this would have had a much more stable effect on her blood sugar levels.

This woman’s diabetes has become progressively worse and you can see why despite the advice she has been given she does not understand the disease and how to control it. She is now insulin dependent and has to regularly monitor her blood sugar throughout the day. If you are diabetic or know someone who is then you owe it to yourself to understand the facts.

Through careful management of diabetes you can still lead a full and productive life. Just look at Sir Steve Redgrave – 5 time Olympic Champion in the coxless fours.

For a FREE ebook on “The Truth About Diabetes” just send me a blank email to me at info@positivebodyimage.org with the words the book title, i.e. “The Truth About Diabetes” in the subject line.

To your health!

Nickolove

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