Introduction

Anyone who has ever suffered the misery of back pain knows how urgent it is to get relief. Once you are free from the pain, most people will learn as much as they can about their sore back to try to prevent back problems from arising again.
Back pain can vary from person to person, type to type, and region to region, such as the upper, middle and lower back. It can be a dull, constant ache or sudden sharp pain like a dagger that makes it almost too painful to move. It can start quickly if you fall, get a sports injury, or lift something too heavy. Or it might worsen over time, getting progressively worse. One thing is for sure, the pain in a memorable one, and the majority of people will experience it at some point in their lives. Let’s get started with what back pain is and how common it can be.

What is back pain and how common is it?
Back pain can occur for a range of reasons that are either structural, musculoskeletal, nerve based,
or a sign of an underlying disorder. Most back pain is structural or musculoskeletal and
the nerves can be affected by changes in the structure of the spine.
The spine is a complex system of interlocking bones and joints called vertebrae. The spinal
column extends from the base of our skull all the way down to the tailbone at our pelvis, the coccyx. The many vertebrae that make up the spine are labeled in terms of area, and each is given a number so that all doctors know which they are referring to if there are any issues with the back that need to be dealt with.
Starting from the neck, the 4 areas are the:
· Cervical
· Thoracic
· Lumbar and
· Sacral regions.

The cervical region has 7 vertebrae, the thoracic 12, the lumbar 5 and the sacrum 5 bones, all fused together. The coccyx is actually made up of 4 small fused bones.
Most people experience lower back pain. Up to 80% of the population will have it at least once in their lives.
It tends to occur in older people and can increase with age, but of course anyone can get back pain due to injury. The prevalence varies with gender. Women are more likely to have lower back pain, a prolapsed or slipped disc, and sciatica, that is, pain in the sciatic nerves that run from the back down to the lower leg.
The prevalence also varies with race. Black women are two to three times more likely than white women to have part of the lower spine slip out of place.
What are the main causes of back pain? Let’s look at this topic in the next chapter.

What are the main causes of back pain?
Injury is the most common cause of back pain. It is often related to picking up things in such a way as to harm the spine, its nerves, or the muscles around it. For example, many people trying to lift a heavy object with bend over it with their arms straight and try to pull it towards their chest. This strains the muscles, especially in the lower back. Learning how to lift a heavy object properly, as we will discuss later in this guide, can help prevent back injury and a sore back.
Anyone can have back pain, but some things that can increase your risk include:
Poor physical fitness Back pain is more common in people who are not fit. A solid core will strengthen the back as well.

Being overweight
Carrying extra pounds, especially around the middle, can stress the back and cause pain. It is also usually a sign of a flabby core, and flabby muscles are weak and more prone to injury.
Heredity
Some causes of back pain can have a genetic component and run in families.
Various health issues Some types of arthritis and cancer can cause back pain. Osteoporosis, a thinning of the bones, can also result in hairline fractures, bone spurs and other structural changes that can cause back pain.

Smoking tobacco
Smokers with bone injuries heal around twice as slowly as non-smokers. One of the reasons may be that they do not circulate enough nutrients in the body to be able to heal bones and support good back health. As they age, their bones can become so brittle that smoker’s cough can trigger back pain and even injury.

Your job
If you have to lift, push, or pull often in your job, you are more at risk for injury. Many companies offer their workers braces to support the spine, but they need to be worn correctly in order to do any good.
If you sit at a desk all day and do not sit up straight, you may also get back pain. This will most commonly be in the lower part of the back, since this takes so much pressure and weight when you are sitting, but it can also occur in the neck, shoulders and middle of the back as well.
Lower back pain is one of the most common causes of pain, poor quality of life and lost
productivity in the workplace. Chronic back pain can affect every area of your life, including work, sleep, sex, caring for your children, and more.

Fortunately, there are a range of ways to prevent back issues, and to treat them if they do arise. These include natural remedies, medications, and in extreme cases, surgery. The treatments will depend on the cause of the pain.
Sometimes the cause is very obvious, such as an injury. In other cases, the pain is real, but
might require a process of elimination to determine where it is coming from and why.
Doctors try to classify the pain in terms of type and location in order to try to track down the cause and give effective treatment. Let’s look at different kinds of back pain in the next chapter.

Different types of back pain
Back pain will be classified as upper, middle and lower. They will also indicate whether or not the pain is on the left or the right. This can give a clue as to which of the many causes of back pain might be contributing to a patient’s issue.
The causes of back pain can be broadly classified as relating to:
Structure
Muscle pain
Nerve pain
Inflammation, such as is caused by arthritis

Three common classifications of back pain include:
Axial pain
This is also referred to as mechanical pain, and is usually the result of a muscle sprain or strain. It can be dull or sharp.
Referred pain
Referred pain moves around from location to location. It is associated with age-related changes to the spine and can be described as dull and achy.
Radicular pain
This is nerve pain that will often radiate outwards along the path of the affected nerve and can cause the arm or leg to become numb or weak. The pain is described as searing. This pain can result from a number of different causes, including:
· Compression of the nerve
· inflammation
· Injury to a spinal nerve root.
Sciatica (SIGH-attic-ah) is the most common form of radicular pain. The main causes of sciatica are:
· a herniated disc-a disc that has rupture and might be pressing on the nerve
· degenerative disc disease, that is, the results of an aging spine
· spinal stenosis-that is, narrowing of the spine
· spondylolisthesis-one of the vertebrae slips forward onto the bone below it, causing the
nerve to become compressed or pinched
Sciatic pain can generate from the back down to the hip and thigh. In some cases, it might even go as far down as the big toe. This will depend on which vertebrae is affecting it. For example, if the Lumbar 3 (L3) disc is affecting it, the pain will generate down to the buttocks and perhaps the thigh. If the L% is affected, the pain could go all the way down the leg to the big toe.
Therefore, diagnostic imaging will be important to determine the condition of the spine and the placement of the discs.

Certain sciatica symptoms can indicate an emergency and require immediate medical care.
These include, but are not limited to:
· progressive neurological symptoms such as leg weakness or numbness · bladder or bowel dysfunction, that is, the inability to control ones urination or efecation.
These could be signs of cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition marked by extreme pressure and swelling of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord.
Infection or spinal tumors can also cause sciatic pain, so it is important not to suffer in silence thinking it’s a natural part of the aging process.

Lordosis
Another cause of lower back pain is lordosis, an abnormal inward curvature of the spine. It is commonly referred to as a sway back. It can be caused by age, or by poor posture. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, although in severe cases surgery, casting, and/or bracing may be required to restore the proper curve of the spine and ease any pain caused by it.
While it is true that the lower back is the most common area to experience pain, the upper back can be painful for musculoskeletal reasons, often connected with shoulder pain. This part of the spine is not as mobile and flexible as the lower part of the spine, but it can be injured in accidents.

Dowager’s hump
Dowager’s hump, or kyphosis, is an abnormal outward curvature of the thoracic vertebrae of the upper back. Think of it as the opposite of lordosis. It is often the result of osteoporosis, or thinning of the bone. The spine bends and leads to a hump-like appearance. It is often seen in older women, who are much more prone to osteoporosis, hence the name. Osteoporosis is preventable, so the hump can be corrected in many cases.

Scoliosis (SKOL-ee-OH-siss) can affect any part of the back. It causes an abnormal curve of the spine from side to side. People with scoliosis have a spine that can curve from one side or the other, to the point where their spine starts to resemble a letter C or a letter S.
Scoliosis is about two times more common in women than in men. It can start at any age,
though it is usually most common in those over 10. It is hereditary, with it running in families.
The severity of the curve/s and their locations can produce a range of symptoms. Treatment can vary from spinal manipulation and bracing to surgery.

Upper and middle back pain
The 12 thoracic vertebrae that make up the upper and middle back are all very closely
connected with one another, and with your ribs. That being the case, middle and upper back pain can be caused by a number of reasons, including:
Upper and middle back pain may be caused by:
Overuse of muscles
Muscle strain
Injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support the spine
Poor posture
Pressure on the spinal nerves, such as due to a herniated disc.
A fracture of one of the vertebrae.
Osteoarthritis, that is, wear and tear on the spine
The spine shrinks and compresses with age, in part because the discs that cushion cushions the small facet joints in the spine start to break down. Taking care of your cartilage is key to maintaining your discs. Vitamins A, B6, C and E are all important. So too are the minerals copper and zinc. High-quality protein is also essential, as is proper hydration of the body.
Bone broth and leafy greens like spinach and kale can help you keep your spine healthy. Bone broth is easy to make once you know how, and a tasty way to get the most nutrition out of any animal bones in your home, such as the carcass from your rotisserie chicken, or a leg of lamb.
Myofascial pain affects the connective tissue of a muscle or group of muscles and can also
cause back pain in these areas.

When should you consult a doctor, and which doctors treat back pain?
If you experience:
· Shooting or stabbing pains in your back
· Muscle spasms in your back
· Pain that radiates down one or both of your legs
· Limited flexibility or range of motion of the back
· Loss of control of your bladder and bodily functions
It’s time to see a doctor.
If the pain lasts more than 2 weeks, also seek medical attention.
If it is caused by a fall or injury, head to the emergency room for a full check-up. The best
outcomes for any medical condition will usually be when they are caught early.

Doctors who deal with back pain
There are many types of health practitioners that care for patients with spinal conditions. Each has a slightly different focus or specialization. The doctor/s you see will depend on the symptoms and causes of the pain.
Your first step will usually be to see your primary care physician (PCP) or a doctor at your local Emergency Room or Emergency Department (ER or ED). Once they have assessed your condition, they will make recommendations about treatment and might also refer you to one or more other back doctors. These might include:
Chiropractor-they manipulate the spine and soft tissue
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)-they focus on the health of the body through the
musculoskeletal system
A spinal specialist, including a surgeon
A physical or occupational therapist to help recovery after an injury
A pain management specialist
Other professionals who can help with back pain relief include:
Neurologists-deal with nerve issues
Rheumatologists-deal with arthritis and other arthritic conditions
Clinical psychologists
CAM practitioners

The goal will be to help you become as pain-free as possible. This might mean medication or surgery in extreme cases, but it might often mean lifestyle changes and education about how to care for your spine better, commonly referred to as spine school. It might also include mind body medicine, in particular for the perception of and natural relief for pain.

A range of CAM practitioners can also contribute to your road to a pain-free back and healthy spine and body. CAM, or Complementary and Alternative Medicine, can be beneficial in a range of ways. As the name suggests, they can be used to complement, that is, be used in addition, to other treatments, with few to no risks of side effects. CAM is becoming increasingly accepted as a means of seeking help for many medical conditions, and most insurance companies have CAM provisions in their policies. We will discuss CAM for a sore back later in this guide.

Then of course, there is you. You know your own back and body best, so you are in the best
position to do what needs to be done to maintain a healthy back and prevent injuries from
happening in the first place if at all possible.
If you do have a sore back, being proactive and following the treatment guidelines given by each practitioner, such as exercises, can help you recover more quickly and hopefully with no lasting damage to your back.
Let’s look in the next chapter at the kind of CAM and other natural treatments that can help a sore back.

Natural treatments to help reduce back pain
There are a number of natural remedies for back pain. The good news is that many of them are free or inexpensive. Their effectiveness will depend on the location and cause of the pain, but these should in general work for the upper, middle and lower back.

Self-care
· resting when your back is sore (but do not rest all the time or you will get stiff and could
do more damage)
· not sitting for too many hours, which puts a lot of pressure on the spine
· gentle, easy stretching
· gently exercising your core muscles-work out your abs
· yoga for stretching, increasing flexibility, and improving core strength-try plank pose
· cold therapy – ice packs or an Icy-hot patch can help
· heat therapy – a warm bath or shower, heating pad or hot water bottle
· hydrotherapy-a warm bath, shower, hot tub or swim in a warm pool
· getting enough sleep-aim for 8 hours each night of high-quality sleep
· sleeping on a bed that gives your back enough support-the mattress should not be too
soft. Look for orthopedic mattresses
· using the right pillows-this will help avoid neck pain
· Medical pillows-some will support the neck. A wedge pillow under your backside when
you are sitting will support the spine and hips. You can also get a specially-shaped
wedge pillow to put between your thighs to help with sciatic pain when you sleep at night
· Making sure you are walking properly in good shoes, avoiding high heels, and taking
care of your feet. Corns, calluses and so on can all lead to sore feet and strange walking
habits
· Having a supportive desk chair-if you’re like most people, spending hours at a desk
every day can take its toll on your back if you are not careful
· Exercising regularly, choosing low impact work outs such as walking, swimming, cycling,
yoga, tai chi, light weights and resistance bands
· Lifting heavy objects, including children and pets, the correct way. (More about this
shortly)
CAM
There are many CAM that have been proven effective for pain relief. Here are a few
suggestions:
Meditation
Meditation allows you to focus your mind, for pain relief and stress relief
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or ‘talk therapy’
CBT can help with stress and pain relief. It can ease muscle tension as well.
Guided relaxation
You will learn to tense and then relax your muscles, for less tension. Tension and stiffness are major contributors to back pain.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
TCM for back pain includes acupuncture-and acupressure. Both stimulate ‘meridians,’ or energy centers in the body, to promote health and healing. Acupuncture uses small thin needles.
Acupressure uses fingers.

Massage
Therapeutic massage therapy, either from your loved one, or a professional massage therapist, can ease pain and stress, and release muscle tension

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses plant extracts known as essential oils for health and healing. Essential oils can be inhaled, added to bath water, or used as part of a therapeutic massage. Choosing oils that promote calm and relaxation, such as lavender, rose and pine, can relieve back pain.

Physical therapy
A sports clinic or physiotherapist can give you gentle manipulation and an exercise program that can help ease your back pain and prevent future injury
Traction/decompression of the spine
There are a number of ways to stretch the spine to take the pressure off compressed discs and nerves
Spine school
Learn more about your posture and body dynamics.

Pain management specialist
A pain management can offer a range of solutions, from natural remedies to medications, to help your back feel better.
If you try all of these self-care and CAM methods and you are still experiencing back pain, it will be time to look at the medications available for lower back pain relief.

Medications for back pain relief
There are a number of effective pain relieving medications, from over the counter to
prescription. They vary in strength, results and potential side effects. Your choice will depend in part on how painful your back is. Most doctors will ask you to rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being extreme pain. Depending on your pain rating and the suspected causes of your back pain, s/he will make a range of suggestions as to which treatment/s will be most effective.
They might recommend:

pain relievers
muscle relaxants
medicines which affect the pain centers of the brain.
The pain relievers can also come in a range of forms, from pills and injections to pain relief
patches.
Whenever taking any pain relief medication, be sure you discuss all potential side effect with the doctor. Take it exactly as prescribed, on the correct schedule, in order to avoid accidental overdose.

The most common medicines for back pain are:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Tylenol is effective, however, it can be dangerous due to the risk of overdose, which can cause severe liver damage. Take exactly as stated and check any other medicines you take, such as cold and flu remedies, because they may have Tylenol in them and cause accidental overdose.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
These over the counter medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, help stop inflammation, which is one cause of pain. If you’ve ever hit your thumb with a hammer, you will understand what inflammation can do to your back and to your whole body.

Over the counter creams
Topical treatments such as creams can be rubbed into the afflicted area to offer pain relief.
Some contain aspirin, so read the labels carefully if you are allergic. Others contain capsaicin, which comes from peppers, and can cause burns on sensitive skin. Arnica is a natural pain relieving medicine with no strong smell that is useful for pain and bruising.

Over the counter pain relief patches
There is an increasingly wide range of pain relief patches available in the drug store. Popular brands include Icy Hot and Salonpas. They have different active ingredients, including aspirin and capsaicin, so beware of allergies, irritation and itchiness at the site of the patch.

Muscle relaxers
This class of medications can relieve the muscle spasms and soreness that often accompanies back pain. Commonly prescribed drugs include Soma (carisoprodol) and Valium (diazepam).
Both of these can be habit-forming, however, so should be taken on a short-term basis only.

Opioid-based pain relievers
Opiates are potent pain relievers that can be used to treat quickly acute back pain that has not been eased by other treatments or medicines. Drugs in this class include:
· Codeine
· Hydrocodone
· Oxycodone
· Fentanyl.
They can be highly addictive and so should be taken for only a short period of time in as low a dose as possible.

Antidepressants
Antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline) and Cymbalta (duloxetine) can lift depression and in some cases also ease chronic pain. They elevate mood and affect the pain receptor centers of the brain.

Other medicines sometimes used for low back pain are:
Anesthetic injections
There are a number of different injections used to relieve lower back pain through the use of anesthetics. Trigger point injections try to pinpoint the exact spot where the pain is located. Facet joint injections apply anesthetic to the places where one vertebra of the spine connects to another.

Steroid injections
Steroids can relieve inflammation. Epidural injections are injected into the spinal canal to dull the pain in and around the spinal column. As with all medications, steroids can cause side effects, some of which can be serious, including high blood pressure and glaucoma.

Anticonvulsants
These are sometimes used to treat low back pain. Tegretol (carbamazepine), Neurontin
(gabapentin), Dilantin (phenytoin) and Lyrica (pregabalin) are the most commonly used. About 3 out of 10 people gain some relief from gabapentin.

Botox
Botox is commonly used for cosmetic reasons, to smooth and relax muscles and lines in the face. It is now being used for a range of other health purposes, including chronic low back pain.
It can relax the muscles and reduce spasms.
Discuss all possible side effects with your doctor before proceeding with treatment. Let them know what prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements you are taking in order to try to minimize the risk of side effects.
If you have tried a range of medications but are still experiencing chronic pain, it may be time to consider surgery. Let’s look at your options next.

Surgical treatments for back pain
If self-care, natural treatments, over the counter and prescription medications are still not
enough to offer you pain relief, or your back pain has persisted for more than three months, or has a clear structural reason, it might be time to consider your surgical options.
Each type of surgery offers a number of benefits, but also poses certain risks in addition to the usual ones of surgical site infection and complications from anesthesia. Learn as much as you can about the surgery, reasons for it, alternatives, and expected outcomes so you will be fully informed before agreeing to the surgery.

Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is the most common surgery for back pain. A surgeon joins one or more vertebrae together in order to restrict the motion between the bones of the spine to prevent wear and tear on the nerves and discs. Depending on which vertebrae are fused, you may experience limited
flexibility and range of motion in that area. Sometimes the discs do not fuse fully. Infection is a definite risk, and those who smoke tobacco are at greater risk of infection and will be slower to heal.

Laminectomy
As the spine ages, it can form lumps, bumps and protrusions called spurs. These can cause
pressure on the nerves, ligaments or discs. During a laminectomy, your surgeon will shave off parts of the bone and/or bony spurs to relieve any pressure that might be causing back pain or leg weakness. The main danger of a laminectomy is that it can weaken the spine further. If this happens, you may need spinal fusion surgery. In some cases, both procedures will be performed at the same time depending on what the surgeon sees when he gets inside.

Foraminotomy
During this surgery, your doctor will cut away some of the bone on the sides of vertebrae in order to widen the space where the nerve roots exit the spine. This can relieve the pressure and pain from spinal stenosis. This can also weaken the spine, in which case spinal fusion surgery would also need to be performed.

Discectomy
The discs of your back are like little cushions separating your vertebrae so they don’t grind
together. Discs serve as shock-absorbers to keep your vertebrae from cracking. They change with age and become thinner, and they can also bulge or slip out of place. This can cause pressure on a spinal nerve. During a discectomy, part or all of the disc will be removed. This procedure might also be done in conjunction with spinal fusion, laminectomy, or foraminotomy depending on your symptoms. Sometimes a prosthetic disc will be inserted to offer cushioning and open up the space between the vertebrae.

Disc Replacement Surgery
Disc replacement surgery involves removing a damaged disc and inserting an artificial one. It is starting to become more popular as an alternative to spinal fusion because it will still allow a good degree of motion and flexibility. The recovery time is also generally shorter. The main risk is infection, rejection of the new disc, or the disc slipping out of place again.

Interlaminar Implant
Another option similar to spinal fusion is implanting a device at the same time as a laminectomy.
The device, which is shaped like the letter U, is inserted between two vertebrae in order to relieve pressure on any nerves that might be pinched. It can help ease the symptoms of spinal stenosis, that is, a narrowing of the spine which might pinch nerves. Compared with fusion, it will help retain mobility and stability in the spine, though a person with an implant may not be able to bend backwards in that area.

Risks of Back Surgery
In addition to the risk of not getting the pain relief hoped for, there are several risks related back surgery. They include:
· Reaction to anesthesia or other drugs
· Bleeding
· Infection
· Blood clots, for instance in the legs or lungs, especially if you are bed-ridden for a long time
· Heart attack
· Stroke
· Disc rupture despite the surgery

Another risk is nerve damage to the spine, which can result in a range of symptoms, including:
· Weakness
· Paralysis
· Chronic pain
· Sexual dysfunction
· Loss of bowel or bladder control (incontinence)
Stay in close contact with your doctor in order to achieve the best outcome possible. Use CAM and medications as needed to gain and maintain a healthy back. One of the best ways to maintain a healthy back is to learn how to lift heavy objects correctly. Let’s look at this topic in the next chapter.

How to lift heavy objects correctly
Lifting heavy objects correctly is the best way to avoid injuring the muscles in your back and/or doing any structural damage.
1-Stand
Stand near the object with your feet shoulder with apart, your dominant foot (such as your right) slightly ahead of the other.
2-Squat
Squat down next to the object, bending at the hips and knees only, keeping the spine straight.
One knee can touch the floor and the other should remain at a ninety-degree angle.
3-Stay Straight
The back should be straight, chest out, shoulders back, not hunched. The head should be up, looking straight ahead.
4-Straighten your legs
Straighten your hips and knees so you are propelling the weight off the floor via their muscles and movement, not the muscles of your back.
5-No side to side
As you raise up off the ground using your legs, keep your back straight. Don’t twist from side to side, as this can injure the muscles in your lower back or compress a nerve.
6-Keep it snug and secure
Hold the load as close to your body as possible. Don’t hunch over it. Lift it up until it is about the level of your waist and hips. NEVER try to lift it higher than the shoulders.
7-Take small steps
Take small steps forward with your load. Don’t try to walk normally, as it can jostle the hips and back and perhaps even make you lose your grip and drop the item.
8-Switch directions carefully
Lead with your hips as you change direction when you are walking with a heavy load, not the feet or the knees.
9-Stay aligned
Keep your shoulders in line with your hips as you move.
10-Set down smoothly

If you have to set down your load on a table or shelf, don’t stretch out your arms. Walk as
closely as possible to the resting place and slide the load on top of it. If you are going to set it down on the floor once more, reverse the lifting process. Squatting with the knees and hips only, keeping the back straight and not twisted, until the item is safely on the ground once more.
Practice this sequence of moves with a small, light-weight box until it feels comfortable and natural, so you will be much less likely to pick up heavy boxes the wrong way because you are not thinking when the time comes.

Anyone who has ever experienced back pain will know how miserable it can be, and to what extent it can ruin your quality of life and prevent you from carrying out your most essential daily activities. Back pain cost estimates put it at $240 BILLION dollars per year in the US, plus lost productivity on the job and at home.

Acute and chronic back pain can impact all aspects of your life negatively, from your
relationships with your children, and your partner, to personal finances, to your job and career prospects. Back pain can affect your sleep patterns, mood and enjoyment of life. Fortunately, a good deal of this can be prevented if you take care of your back so it takes care of you.

Back pain is a fact of life for many, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Practice good self-care, use natural remedies over time, and work with your doctor to find a range of effective solutions to help heal your back, and strengthen it for better back health.
To your best back!

Before starting any exercise program it is necessary to get an approval from your doctor.Start easy,don’t take strenuous weight programs in health clubs,which takes time out of your working day. It takes too much of your time and becomes a burden.

Your exercise program has three goals:
First and most important: to maintain and increase your muscle mass.
Secondly: To maintain your cardiovascular system.
Thirdly: To maintain your flexibility.

The average person stiffens as he ages, increasing the risks of strains and tendon, ligament and skeletal disorders.

When you have your doctor’s approval, you can do a little aerobics to warm up the system and get your blood pumping. Twenty minutes at even mild intensity will have cardiovascular benefits.
I recommends aerobics to begin with for everyone, before you pick up weights.
Then 5-10 minutes stretching after your muscles are warm is all you need to maintain flexibility lifelong.

Now you are prepared to exercise your muscles. Your program should include resistance exercise for shoulders, arms, chest, back, legs and abdominal. If you exercise three days per week, which is the starting level for consistent benefit, then do:
Day 1 – Shoulders and arms
Day 2 – Chest and back
Day 3 – Legs and abdominal For 5 days per week, do one body part per day.

1) Never do more per exercise than one warm-up set of 12 – 15 easy repetitions, followed by one medium heavy set of 6 – 10 repetitions to exhaustion.

2) Work a body part only once per week. It takes about 48 hours for exercised muscles to breakdown worn cells, then 48 – 72 hours to build new, stronger replacements. The muscle remains at maximum strength for 5 – 8 days and then slowly declines. Exercising a muscle every 5 – 8 days is the optimum program for progress.

3) Don’t train with weights for more than one hour per workout. Your ability to gain lean mass,is limited by your hormone levels. After 45 minutes to one hour,hormone levels decline.You can force yourself to continue,but it doesn’t do your body any good.

4) Use a wide variety of exercises. Restricted resistance exercises, especially on machines, stress only certain fibers of a muscle in certain positions. You need to get all the fibers in all positions.

5) In one hour at two sets per exercise you can do 12 exercises easily. Don’t force yourself to do more. For weight exercises, see Bill Pearl’s book: The Encyclopedia on Weight Training.

6) Accentuate the return phase of the repetition, when the muscle in question is lengthening under load. In a barbell bicep curl for example, the eccentric contraction occurs when you are lowering the bar to the start position.
Restrain yourself all the way down, because it is the stress of lengthening under load that causes most of the strength and lean mass gains that you are seeking.

7)Take a protein drink daily within one hour after workout. Research shows that weight training puts subjects into protein deficit, despite the high protein level of the American diet.

8) Take daily antioxidant supplements. All exercise increases oxidation in the body.

9) Eat an alkaline diet. All exercise increases body acidity. See www.nutrobalance2.com/ the alkaline/acid food theory.

10) Sip a cold light carbohydrate drink (7-10%) throughout workouts. Drinks containing a little glucose, a little zylitol plus mostly glucose polymers are best. It will trickle carbohydrate continuously into your blood and spare your muscle glycogen, thereby maintaining your energy level.
It will also prevent dehydration. Even 3% dehydration can reduce strength by 10%. And it will help to keep your body temperature down, at the same time reducing the amount of blood diverted to the skin for cooling, thus leaving more to supply your muscles with oxygen and nutrients.

A final note about weight-bearing exercise: without the stimulus to your body to grow, nutritional supplements can’t work properly. Important new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows, that multi-vitamin and mineral supplementation had little effect in improving the health of old people, unless a resistance exercise was added, the health benefits were astonishing, ranging from over 100% improvement in strength and muscle size to big improvements in mobility and recreational activity.

It takes a bit of puff and stick ability to grow a high-performance body. But once you’ve done it, a little bit of exercise necessary to maintain it is one of life’s greatest bargains.

Buy Frozen Food
A great way to buy meals on a budget is to choose frozen vegetables and fruits.
The nutritional value is almost identical to fresh products and it also made easier.
An important factor is the time saving convenience of frozen vegetables and fruits,
because all trimming, washing, and chopping is already done for you.
Also there is practically no waste.

• Stock your freezer up with unsweetened berries and other fruits, to use in
  breakfast oatmeal and to bake into beautiful muffins.
• Packages of frozen single or mixed vegetable combinations, like broccoli,
  corn, peas, and carrots are often around $2 each.
  Keep a nice assortment handy to quickly transform some brown rice or
  an oven-baked potato into an easy meal.
• Keep a good supply of greens in the freezer, such as spinach, kale, collards, or chard. They can very well be used in soups, curries and stews.

Prepare Meals at Home
Prepare your meals at home as much as possible.
Take your lunches to work with leftovers from the night before and take plenty of snacks with you so that you can control what you eat during the day. If you gather at restaurants with friends, this may be a big change, but it’s an important one. Restaurants are a big load on your budget and the worst to control the quality of the food on your plate.

An other option is to invite your friends to your kitchen, instead of meeting at restaurants. Try to impress them by making something scrumptious to share, while exposing your friends to the virtues of healthy eating.

However, when you must patronize a restaurant, ask your waiter plenty of appropriate questions and order judiciously. Be certain that what you order is something that satisfy your whole food, plant-based requirements.
Don’t allow anyone (including your family and friends) to derail your resolve, sacrifice your waistline, your budget or compromise your health.

YOUR PLANT-BASED KITCHEN EQUIPMENT

MUST HAVES GREAT ADDITIONS FABULOUS LUXURIES

Cutting board(s) Slow cooker(s) High-speed blender

Chef’s knife Rice cooker Electric pressure cooker

Paring knife Blender/food processor Ice cream maker

Baking sheet(s) Immersion blender

Large heavy skillet Muffin pans

Soup pot (dutch oven)

Cook in Batches
Even if you’re not an expert in meal planning, it can be very helpful to prepare a few ingredients ahead. This is one of the secrets of a happy plant-based eater, when you can
control the quality of each meal and accomplishing both affordably The difference between struggle and success is having the right food on hand. For most people it’s a matter of setting aside some time to spend in the kitchen when possible (for many this will be on the weekend), to make sure that you will be ready for the coming week.

Allow a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday. You can cook many meals simultaneously and without much being present. Try to cook enough for an extra meal or two, whenever possible. When you have prepared a few ingredients or recipes, you’ll be ready to mix and match for quick, healthy meals for the whole week.

Warm-up properly
Any athlete knows that the body doesn’t spring suddenly into high gear from a state of rest.
It needs a period of gradual warm-up before any strenuous effort, in order to minimize
muscle and joint problems. This is particularly important for people over the age of forty.
Have a proper warmup, don’t rush your conditioning program.
Work up to your goal gradually
Start with walking if you never been running, at least one week before any running.
Working up slowly to more strenuous effort is important.
Not only to accustom the heart to the new demands, but also to let tendons and muscles
adjust themselves to the new activity.

The following five minute routine is recommended:

1. Do stretching exercises for arms, legs and back during the 1st minute.
2. Do sit-ups (with your knees bend) during the second minute.
3. Walk in a circle at a fairly rapid pace for the 3rd minute.
4. During the 4th minute, alternate 15 secs of walking with 15 secs of jogging.
5. During the 5th minute, jog continiously at a very slow speed,
   approx at the rate of 12 – 13 min.mile.

Stay flat-footed as much as possible during your warm-up run.
That will give the tendons in your feet and ankles a change to stretch gradually,
helping to avoid irritation from sudden stress.

After this five-minute routine, start your regular aerobic workout. If you are going to
participate in some kind of endurance activity. e.g a three-mile run, the running part of
the warm-up may be incorporated into the first few minutes of the activity itself.

Exercise within your tolerance
One basic rule to be aware of in entering an exercise program is this:
Avoid straining and pushing yourself to the extent that you become overly fatigued.
Such intens effort at the outset of an exercise program is not only dangerous,
it also defeats your basic purpose. Instead of feeling more fit and more vigorous,
you just feel chronically tired.

Cool down slowly
While a warm-up is a generally excepted practice, few people realize that the body
also needs a cooling-down period after exercise. They slump into complete relaxation
immediately after exercise. This can cause dizzy spells, fainting and even more serious
consequences. Strange as it sounds, you must get ready for rest.
Five minute of walking or very slow jogging eases the transition between running and
resting.

Foot and ankle troubles
Foot and ankle problems are the most frequently encountered exercise problems.
The human foot is a marvel of engineering, but it is not well adapted for pounding
hard pavements or hard floors.

Because of this, some runners develop back pains, leg muscle pains, and swollen ankles.
Others develop achilles tendonitis – soreness and inflammation of the big tendon connecting the heel with the calf. Tendonitis even strikes well-trained athletes, usually without warning, and it may take several weeks to clear up. Occasionally tendonitis occurs when a runner resumes regular workouts, after a period of long layoff.

Picking the right kind of running shoes is probably the biggest factor in avoiding ankle,
foot and leg problems.
Light, cross country shoes are best for running on hard surfaces, but I prefer special long-
distance , ripple-sole shoes. The best of these has cushioned inner soles made of some spongy material that gives springy resillience to your step.
Avoid standard basketball or tennis shoes, which have an unusually hard sole.
As for socks, it’s entirely up to you whether you prefer cotton or nylon. One disadvantage of nylon socks is that they don’t absorb perspiration. Cotton absorbs perspiration, but doesn’t insulate as well against friction.

Knee and leg problems
The most common leg problem with runners is “shin splints”. The symptoms are pain and
tightness in the muscles in the front of the leg below the knee. Shin splints usually result
from running on hard surfaces with hard shoes and are successfully treated by running on
soft surfaces with cushioned-sole shoes.

Muscle cramps or spasms in the legs are not uncommon during the early stages of an
exercise program. A muscle only partially conditioned is especially likely to develop
cramps. However, this is a transient problem, usually disappearing when a good state of
fitness is reached.

Back trouble
Some people develop pain in the lower back, due to exclusively jogging on hard surfaces.
This is not a serious matter, but the discomfort can usually be avoided by supplementing
jogging with some calisthenic exercise, for example 15 – 20 repetitions of both sit-ups
with the knees bent and push-ups. These exercises strengthen the back and help to relieve back pain. Cyclists also complain of back aches and they should try also the same
calisthenic routines.

Cycling is healthy, convenient, cheap and also good for the environment.
According to a research on December 18, 2019 by the University of Leeds : Walking and cycling to work were associated with fewer heart attacks across 43 million adults in England, according to a new national study.

I cycle often: to the train, the shops and the library, and this way I get my recommended
30 minutes of daily exercise.

Thirty minutes exercise a day is sufficient to stay healthy. It seems little, but yet a lot of
people don’t get to it. They are often tempted to take the lift instead of the stairs,
the car instead of the bicycle, the TV instead of the ball.

Movement takes care that less fat accumulate in the blood and prevent that HDL start to dominate.
Also the supply of oxygen takes care of better combustion of fat.With bodily exertion our blood starts to run better and waste products are quicker exposed.

Moving also helps in most cases to lower blood pressure, as a result that there will be less
pressure on the artery walls. In other words: moving keeps your blood clean and your heart and veins in condition.

Another mechanism that plays a roll in the development of cardiovascular disease is stress.
The body produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones take care of uppermost readiness.That is okay for a short period of time, but ongoing stress cause problems.

Chronic stress lead to the same kind of inflammation in the arteries as too much fat.
Activity takes care that we relax physically and spiritually.
The less stress, the better for your heart and veins.

If you think that it is useless to start moving when the process already fully started,
or if the blocking of arteries allready caused a heart attack, got it wrong.
Cycling helps instantly, but if the artery walls are already attacked, half an hour cycling
a day is not enough. It is better to cycle five to six hours a week vigorously, spread over
the week.

People often say that they don’t have time to sport one hour a day.But what is one hour?
If you build-in cycling in your daily schedule, is it a no brainer.

Make a record of all your activities during the week. Do you have to go by car to work,to the
shop, or the cinema or can you take the bike as well? Could you bring the children to school on the bike? Could you take the stairs instead of the lift? People often think that cycling cost time, but is that really so? When you cycle, you get fitter physically and mentally.
When you are fitter, can you do more in your day and you can do more things.
Just start and see where your ship strand. There are plenty of changes to unhook.
To persevere is a much greater adventure!

Through the years we have arranged our environment very unhealthy. How can we bend the trend and tempt people to start moving?

I recommend cycling whole-hearted as a dope for life: to promote performance, a habit-forming drug delicious! And you can get it everywhere without a recipe. Free of charge!

Do you like beets? Most people do and find many benefits from eating them.
In Eastern Europe and especially in Ukraine, they make soup from them and
call it “Borscht”.

A substance called betanin in beets has proved to be a strong antioxidant,
which protect against cancer. It inhibit the growth of breast, stomach, colon,
lung and nervous-system tumor cells.

Beets are a helpful weapon against your daily confrontation with free radicals
and the associated problems they cause. Make sure you load some of these
bright red coloured vegetables in your shopping trolley.

Beets are also a good source of folate, a B vitamin that is essential for normal
tissue growth. It may also lower your risk of heart disease , and according to
the national Institutes of Health, it helps protect your DNA from damaging
changes that can lead to cancer.

Also, doctors have found that folate is a pregnant woman’s best friend,
because it helps protect against birth defects.
The Daily Volume of folate is 400 microgram, but pregnant women need
600 microgram daily.
A half cup boiled, sliced beets contains 68 micrograms of folate, which is
17 percent of the DV.

If you are among the people who like to cut back on meat, which provide
you with iron, you will find that beets are a good substitute.
A half-cup of sliced beets contains 0.7 milligrams of iron, or about 4%
of the Daily Value for this mineral.

You can get the most of them by eating them raw or cook them lightly.
Studies have shown that the antioxidant power of beets will be lost strongly
by heat. So grate beats and toss them into salads or cook them lightly
to get the most nutrients.

One of the nice things about beets is that they are almost as nutritious out
of a can as they are fresh from the ground. So you can take advantage of their
health benefits all year round!

Researchers around the world are analyzing a wide variety of substances in berries that
show promise when it comes to preventing serious problems like cataracts and cancer.

More than 9,000 phytochemicals have been identified in plant foods, with many more
to be named, scientists say. These are chemicals in the plants that have a variety of
beneficial health effects , and berries can be powerful sources of phytochemicals.

One of these phyto chemicals is a compound called ellagic acid, which is believed to
help prevent free radical damage of the cells, that can lead to cancer.
All berries contain some ellagic acid, with raspberries and strawberries ranking among
the top providers.

In fact berries, and the ellagic acid they contain, may help fight cancer on several fronts,
according to Gary Stoner, PhD, professor and cancer researcher at Ohio State University
in Columbus, who has worked on a number of studies involving blackberries.
Ellagic acid is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce damage caused by free radicals,
harmful oxygen molecules that can literally punch holes in healthy cells and kick off
the cancerous process. “It also detoxifies carcinogens,” says Dr. Stoner.

But ellagic acid is just one of a host of cancer fighters in berries. They also contain
lp flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acid, and lignans, which may help to keep you cancer free
through a variety of mechanisms, including their antioxidant power.

Cornell University study found that extracts from eight different types of strawberries
significantly inhibited liver-cancer-cell growth in a lab study.
And a lab study at the University of Georgia found that phenolic compounds extracted
from blueberries could inhibit colon cancer cells to multiply and also trigger these
renegade cells to die. Cancer cells can develop into tumors when they multiply too fast
and stubbornly refuse to die.- and even a little pressure to keep theses cells in line can
reduce the change that a cancer will progress. Thus, their findings “suggest that blueberry
intake may reduce colon cancer risk.”

Berries are also high in vitamin C content, which is also a powerful antioxidant.
When you get a lot of vitamin C in your diet, it may help to reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and infections. Vitamin C seems to be in particular important to prevent cataracts, which are thought to be caused by oxidation of the protein that forms the lenses of the eyes.

All berries contain large amounts of vitamin C. A half-cup of strawberries, for example,
contains 42 milligrams, which is 70 percent of the Daily Value for this vitamin.
A half-cup of blackberries has 15 milligrams, or 25 percent of the Daily Value.

One nice thing about berries is that they’re a sweet solution to the unpleasant problem of
constipation, as berries contain large amounts of insoluble fiber, which is incredible
absorbent. It draws a lot of water into the intestine, which makes stools heavier, as a result, they travel through the intestine faster. This means that you’re less likely to become constipated.

The fiber in berries is also helpful in preventing bile acid ( a chemical that your body use for digestion), from being transformed into a more dangerous, potentially cancer causing form.
A half-cup of blackberries has more than three grams of fiber, while a half-cup of raspberries has 4 grams.

Cranberries play a significant role in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs), which may
effects as many as half of women in the United States before they get to 30.
One study following 150 women found that drinking a combination of cranberry-lingonberry juice daily reduced the risk of infections by 20 percent.

Experts aren’t sure how cranberry juice works to prevent UTIs, but it appears to keep bacteria from gaining a foothold on the surface off the urinary tract . Drinking at least two 8-ounce glasses of pure, unsweetened cranberry juice daily should help protect you from infections.

A warning for people who are taking warfarin – an anti clotting drug, also known as Coumadin – which can interact with granberry juice and could lead to bleeding or excessively thin blood.
The medical literature contains several reports about possible interactions between warfarin and granberry.

Your brain is particularly vulnerable to free-radical damage as you get older, according to research. It’s natural antioxidant system is not sufficient to protect your brain from free-radical damage. Oxidative stress probably plays a role in some of the cognitive (a fancy word for thinking) declines that occur with aging, researchers say.
However, antioxidant polyphenols,like the ones found in blueberries, cranberries and straw- berries, may help preserve brain function. .

Fresh berries are highly perishable and need special handling to maintain peak freshness.
When storing berries at home, don’t crowd them together, which will cause them to deteriorate rapidly. It’s best to store them, unwashed and uncovered, in a large bowl in the refrigerator.

K

Toxemia comes in different levels of intensity, ranging from minor to major. The first thing people like to know is how toxic they are. Unfortunately that is not easy to determine. It is quite possible to be in a ‘polluted’ state without being aware that there is anything wrong. Iridology will probably give us the most reliable indication (analysis of the iris of the eye),when conducted by a skilled practitioner. However, there are certain signs that a person can look for to get an idea. Some of the most obvious ones that could be present are: Constantly feeling unwell, of color, a bit ‘crook’ Always tired, as though your batteries were flat. The extreme case is chronic fatigue syndrome. Repeated minor ailments, like colds and headaches. You appear to ‘pick up’ infections easily. It’s an effort to drag yourself out of bed in the morning and you need coffee to get going. The breath is off and it’s not due to problems with teeth. There is body odor that returns soon after showering. The tongue is coated, especially first thing in the morning. Wound healing is poor; the smallest cuts become inflamed and remain so for days. There are persistent aches and pains that are not due to physical injury or muscle or joint strain. There is degenerative disease. Colds and flu are our safety valve. If the toxins in our system would continue to build up, it would be life threatening at the end. But our well designed and incredibly complex human body will be able to cope with adversity and does not allow this to happen. Instead, when its tolerance limit is reached, our body opens up an emergency channel of elimination to siphon off some of the toxemia. Usually, toxins are sent to mucous membranes in the nose, which are conveniently located close to the exterior. The mucous membranes become highly irritated, inflamed, swollen and painful,and mucus is secreted abundantly to literally wash wastes out of the body. This process is normally called the common cold, or influenza, when more severe. The same process can take place in other parts of the body under different names. If it occurs in the voice box, it is called laryngitis; in the bronchial tubes, bronchitis; in the lungs,pneumonia ;in the stomach, gastritis; in the small intestine, enteritis; and in the bowel, colitis. These are all different names for the same basic process: an emergency elimination via mucous membranes. If the elimination is via the skin, where mucous membranes are not involved, the condition will be called dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and so on. After the elimination has finished, the body is able to function at a higher level with more energy, that means; more normally. The person feels better than before, as if they have had an inner spring clean – and that’s what happened indeed. The symptoms of acute disease are simply the external visible signs of tissue cleansing and self-healing at work restoring the status quo.

Although this may not be every bodies favorite vegetable, it’s cancer fighting abilities are very impressive.
Scientists around the world are using high-tech methods to learn which compounds contained within this vegetable might be helpful in fighting cancer. And they’re finding plenty of them.

Broccoli’s impressive power as a cancer fighter is due in part to its multiple attack. It contains at least two different compounds: Indole-3-carbinol ( or I3C for short) and sulphoraphane – that help sweep up cancer-causing substances before they have a change to do harm.

The compound I3C which is also found in cabbage and Brussels sprouts, seems to be able to prevent or interrupt cancer in several ways. The hormone estrogen causes cells in the breasts to multiply and grow. This is a natural and normal process in women. However, if mutated cells that could become cancerous develop in the breasts, estrogen causes these to multiply too. That’s bad.
To cause breast cells to perform certain activities, estrogen must first attach to “receptors” on the cells.
Kind of like a key fitting into a lock. The I3C appears to act on these receptors, perhaps by keeping estrogen from attaching to them, or changing the way they work. Thus, it bans estrogen to have its tumor-encouraging role on the cells.

Another role I3C plays is: it may shift the balance of different types of estrogen in the body, so that you have less of a type that does promote breast cancer growth, and more of a type that doesn’t.
I3C may also trigger cancerous cells to die, a process called apoptosis, and may raise your levels of enzymes that protect you from cancer-causing substances.

Beyond its powerful effects on breast cancer, I3C has proved to inhibit the growth of prostate and cervical cancer cells. In addition, numerous studies have shown that a diet high in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, may reduce the risk of colon cancer.

While I3C is doing his job as a cancer fighter, another compound in broccoli called sulforaphane, offers protection in another way, by boosting the production of cancer-blocking enzymes.
In a pioneering study, led by professor Thomas Kensler, head of the department of environmental health sciences at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, exposed 145 laboratory animals to a powerful cancer-causing agent. Twenty-five of the animals had not received any special treatment, while the rest were fed high dose of sulforaphane. After 50 days, 68% of the unprotected animals had breast tumors, compared with only 26% of those given the sulforaphane.

Other studies have found that sulforaphane may help protect against cancer of the prostate, colon and pancreas. More recent research has also found clues that sulforaphane may have other cancer fighting properties in addition to boosting your anti-cancer enzymes.
It may help inhibit germs that contribute to cancer, such as the H.pylori bacteria that raise the risk of stomach cancer. It may also interfere with cancer cells’ growth cycle and nay help encourage the cells to die.

It is no wonder that scientists put broccoli on their list of nutritional superstars.
“We know that those people who eat lots of crusiferous vegetables, including broccoli,
are protected from many forms of cancer,” says Jon Michnovicz, MD, PhD, president of the
Foundation for Preventive Oncology in New York City.

Beta-Carotene
As much recent studies have concentrated on less known compounds like sulforaphane,
broccoli is also loaded with more commonly known, but still powerful compounds like
beta-carotene. This nutrient, which the body converts to vitamin A, is an antioxidant.
That means, it helps prevent disease by sweeping up harmful, cell-damaging oxygen molecules who naturally accumulate in the body. High levels of beta-carotene have been linked to lower rates of heart attack, certain cancers and cataracts.

Broccoli is an excellent source of beta-carotene, by providing about 0.7 milligram in a half-cup cooked serving. This provides 7 to 12% of the recommended daily amount.

King of the Crucifers
Broccoli isn’t called the king of the crucifers for nothing. Besides beta-carotene, sulforaphane, and I3C, broccoli also contains a variety of other nutrients, each of which can help fight off a host of conditions, from heart disease to osteoporosis.

For example, only a half-cup of chopped, cooked broccoli contains 85% of the Daily Value
for vitamin C. This antioxidant vitamin has been proven in research to help boost immunity and fight diseases like cancer and heart disease.

Broccoli also ranks highly for women’s health, particularly for women who don’t get enough dairy food. It’s one of the best vegetable sources of calcium, contained in 72 milligrams per cooked cup. About a quarter of the amount in an 8-ounce glass of fat-free milk. Calcium is well-documented as the most important nutrient women need to keep
osteoporosis at bay.

Broccoli is also rich in folate, a nutrient which is essential for normal tissue growth and that
studies show may protect against cancer, heart disease and birth defects.
Women, especially those who take birth control pills, are often low in this vital nutrient.
A cup of chopped, cooked broccoli contains 84 micrograms, or almost one-quarter of the DV for folate.

Finally,here is some expert advice: if you like to keep your digestive system running smoothly, make broccoli your food of choice. A half-cup provides 2 grams of fiber, which is a proven protector against constipation, hemorrhoids, colon cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart- disease, and obesity.

Experts aren’t yet sure how much broccoli you need to maximize its healing potential.
Dr. Kensler advises eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, while
reaching for this crunchy crucifer whenever you can.

Some helpful advice for preparing broccoli.
Gentle cooking will release some of its protective compounds, but over-heating will destroy others. Carotenoids, like beta-carotene are preserved by heat, but the indoles, like I3C, don’t withstand a lot of heat. Light steaming is a great way to cook broccoli and microwaving is okay too.

To help ensure even cooking, it’s best to cut broccoli into little spears.
First, cut off and discard the thick, woody part of the stalk, generally from the bottom up to where the broccoli florets begin to branch. Then cut any large florets and stems in half lengthwise. If you find that the stems are still too tough for eating, either trim them farther up from the bottom or peel them with a vegetable peeler before cooking.

Buy it purple.
You sometimes see broccoli in the supermarket having a dark green, almost purple color.
Then it contains most beta-carotene. If it looks yellow, on the other hand, don’t buy it .
That means that it’s old and it’s nutritional value is gone down the drain.

Prefer the sprouts.
Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found that 3-day-old broccoli sprouts can contain up to 100 times the protective compounds than in the mature vegetable.
These can provide a great alternative if you don’t care for the taste of mature broccoli.
And you can get the same cancer-fighting benefits by eating a smaller amount of sprouts than regular broccoli. Broccoli sprouts look like white strings with little green heads.
They’re perfect for salads and sandwiches, but they are quickly spoiled in the refrigerator.
So only buy so much as you can eat in the next couple of days.
You’ll likely find them in plastic containers in the produce section of your supermarket.

The money spent by the Americans to stay healthier, for the prevention and treatment of diseases came to nearly $2 trillion in 2004.

But they could have saved a lot of that money if they took a (slow) boat to China and copied the diet people in China and Japan are following.

The result should be a much lower  heart disease and cancer than the Americans are experiencing  these days.

The diet also includes beans, seeds,nuts, fish, eggs and poultry. A few sweets and occasionally some meat.

It is easy to include foods found  Asian diet into our own meal plans, without having to explore  unfamiliar dishes.
There is not a lot of meat in the  Asian diet, which is the most important ingredient in the American diet In China, for example, people eat an average of 4 pounds of  meat per year. In Japan a bit more: 23 pounds of beef and  year.

The average American, in contrast,  than 60 pounds of beef plus chicken, pork and other kind   of meats.

Benefits of Soy
Apart from  of meat there is another ingredient that makes the Asian diet so healthy.
It’s the use of soy products. They eat about 3 to 4ounces a day of tempeh, tofu, defatted soy flour, and more.

There are several reasons why soy foods are so healthful. They are rich in a group of natural compounds,called phyto estrogens, which the body converts into hormone like substances that act

like a weak form of estrogen.  These Faux estrogens block the body’s estrogen receptors, lowering the amount of estrogen in the body. This may help lowering the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women, particularly if they have been eating soy foods since an
early age, but studies are inconclusive.

Later in life, the phytoestrogens in soy may ease menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, but not 

 vaginal dryness by replacing the estrogen lost during this time. In fact, Asian women seldom experience hot flashes. Asian women are also less likely than American women to have heart disease, which may be due to the low-fat,high-fiber nature of soy, not the phytoestrogens.

Natural Goodness

The National Cancer Institute tells us to eat five or more fruits and vegetables each day.
And nutritionists suggest to get the Daily Value of 25 grams of fiber instead of the 11 to 12 grams  most of us get each day.

The Asian diet, which is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and other fiber rich foods, is on the cutting edge and sets an enviable standard. In China, for example, people get 33 grams of fiber every day.

That’s serious heart protection, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.

In a 6 year study of almost 41,000 men, they found that those who increased their daily fiber intake by just 10 grams, were able to decrease their risk of heart disease by almost 30%.

Each day, the average Okinawan eats seven servings of vegetables, two to four servings of fruits,  and seven servings of grains.

These fruits and vegetables are also rich sources of vitamin C, carotenoids (including beta-carotene), and other antioxidant compounds that help protect the body from disease.

People who eat a lot of plant-based foods tend to have lower rates of chronic diseases, like heart disease and cancer.

A Cup of Healthy Tea
After you had a meal in a Chinese restaurant, order a pot of tea. At home, make some tea after you had your meal. Asians drink a lot of tea, which explains their robust good health.

Tea contains potent antioxidants called phenols, which protect the body from disease.
In a study involving 552 men, researchers in the Netherlands found that those who drank about 5 cups

of black tea a day had about one-third the risk of stroke of those drinking fewer than 2 ½ cup.
Green tea, the kind that is favorite in Eastern countries, has even more antioxidants than black tea.

A study on green tea conducted at the University of Minesota found that those who drank the most green tea had a 22% lower risk of breast cancer. Several studies from Japan and China have shown

an association between greater green tea consumption and lower risk of stomach cancer.
And laboratory studies have found evidence that suggests that green tea can help lower the risk of prostate cancer.

In the world of antioxidants, the phenols in tea are “absolute equisite,” says Gary Stoner, PhD, Professor and cancer researcher at Ohio State University in Columbus.

Fishy Business
On the islands of Japan and Okinawa, people eat a lot of fish. Numerous studies show that eating
even small amounts of fish as little as 3 ounces per  week, provide powerful protection.
“Fish contains fats that thin the blood and help prevent heart disease”, says Dr. McDougall.

According to the Journal of  American Medical Association, the omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish,

you from cognitive decline in your later years. Another way fish can help protect your heart  a good source of protein without the saturated fat tha tyou’d get from red meat.

Don’t Overeat
The Okinawans use  the phrase: “hara hachi bu”, which means only eating until you are80% full.
Using this principle helps you avoid overeating and taking in unnecessary calories at a meal.

Omega-3s also reduce your risk of heart disease, may lower your risk of stroke, and may help protect 

like salmon, mackerel and sardines, can help lower your blood pressure and heart rate.

It’s also a useful tool for keeping yourself at a normal weight and avoiding the added risk for cancer  and heart disease that obesity can cause.