6 Healthy things that Aren't so Healthy

If you're an avid blog reader, then you may be getting tired of blogs telling you what you should and shouldn't do (eat this not that, whatever you do don't do this) - and sometimes these facts seem to contradict other facts you've heard. There are some things that seem healthy enough but may actually do you more harm than good. Be sure to take note of these "healthy habit faux-pas" to protect your body from ailments and keep you in optimal health!

1. Staying in the Sun - you have probably heard that it is healthy to spend 30 minutes in the sun everyday.. well this is only half true. Yes, our bodies need vitamin D to stay strong and fight off illness by improving our immune systems, but too much time in the sun is damaging to your skin. The general rule is if you are going to spend more than 20 minutes in the sun, use SPF 30 all over your body, especially your face where the skin is more susceptible to burns.

2. Religiously using Hand Sanitizer - Ever since the Swine Flu scare, hand sanitizer sales have sky rocketed. Thanks to my former science teacher, I conducted an experiment that proved that hand sanitizer is more likely to get you sick in the long run. The "sanitizing" doesn't just kill viruses and bad bacteria (there is actually way more good bacteria than bad bacteria on earth to begin with), but they also kill the good bacteria on your hands that do all of the fighting against viruses. So even if you feel content and clean after sanitizing your hands, they won't stay that way for long - in fact, they'll become worse and your good bacteria count will be compromised. Plain old soap and water should do it.

3. Exercising... a lot - Even though they say that you should get some form of moderate exercise every day, your body and mind do not need more than three or four days of cardiovascular activity (30-45 minutes per session) a week. These exercises should be done every other day alternating with more mild forms of exercise like Yoga, Pilates, walking, and weight training. The best way to stay toned and energized is to vary your exercise regime and take it easy on your body.

4. Over/Under Sleeping - If you are regularly sleeping for more than 9 hours a night, its not good. It's also not good if you are sleeping less than 7 hours a night. We need 8 full hours of sleep per night in order to function at our best. We aren't built to think or process at an optimal level on more than 9 or less than 7 hours of sleep. Too much or too little sleep is bad for your skin, it causes bloating, overeating, confusion, and sometimes depression.

5. Air Conditioning - AC is great, but if you rely on it day and night it is doing you harm. The recycled air can contain bad bacteria, air-born viruses and germs that will in turn give you a cold or flu. If you suffer from allergies the air conditioning can emit particles of dust that can irritate your allergies. Every couple hours, try to turn off the air conditioning and open the windows or go for a walk. Wash your air conditioning filter with warm soapy water and let them air dry once a month. If you work at an office go for a lunch or afternoon break outside in the sun.

6. Buying Organic Food - Organic foods have earned the reputation that they are not processed and more healthy than regular foods. The fact is is that they are more expensive, and may still be heavily processed. Read the labels carefully when you are buying from a health foods store. Organic doesn't mean healthy. Choose simple items with few ingredients and a low amount of natural sugars, salts, and processed carbohydrates.

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7 Ways to Prevent Cancer

There are many simple lifestyle changes you can make in order to prevent cancer. Following these tips will put you on the path towards better health and hopefully a cancer-free future.

1. Don't smoke - You've probably been warned of this many times before, but whoever was warning you had a valid reason to. Smoking is the highest cancer risk factor that we can control. Smoking is responsible for lung cancer, and many other types of cancer. The best way to prevent cancer is to never start - or quit if you already smoke. Secondhand smoke is also a significant cancer risk factor. The smoke contains more than 60 carcinogens which disturb natural cell development and can trigger the development of cancer cells.

2. Be sun safe - It is important to try to get 15 minutes of sunlight on your skin each day. Researchers have found that getting too little sunlight can be a cause of numerous cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and stomach cancer. In addition, a lack of vitamin D can cause osteoporosis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and high blood pressure.

Be careful not to get too much sun though. Over one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. In order to prevent skin cancer, avoid UV ray over-exposure by wearing sunscreen when outside, avoiding the hot mid day sun, and staying away from tanning beds. If you want to be safe, yet still get the vitamin D you need, get vitamin D supplements.

3. Drink more water! - Stop for a glass of water whenever you can. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996 found that men who drank 6 full glasses of water every day reduced their risk of contracting bladder cancer by half. Another study found that women who drank a lot of water reduced their risk of developing colon cancer by up to 45%.

4. Drink Green tea - Ancient cultures have always believed that the benefits of green tea are superfluous - it's no wonder that new research shows that green tea protects against numerous cancers, as well as heart disease. Some scientists believe that a certain chemical in green tea is one of the most powerful anticancer agents ever discovered!

5. Eat more fish - Researchers found that people who ate four or more servings of fish each week were 1/3rd less likely to develop blood cancers such as leukemia, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The omega 3 acids in fish are said to reduce a woman's risk of developing endometrial cancer.

6. Eat your veggies - a proper diet (and regular exercise) will ensure that you get your essential vitamins and nutrients and keep you healthy. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants which help damaged cells, and many important vitamins which make you healthy. Many studies suggest that reaching ideal levels of vitamins and minerals in the body can improve the immune system and prevent a variety of cancers and illnesses. If you're a picky eater, take a multivitamin every morning.

7. Wet your Whistle... in moderation - Beer protects the body against a bacteria which is known to cause ulcers and can be linked to stomach cancer. Easy on the drinks though, more than one or two alcohol beverages a day can actually increase your risk of developing mouth, throat, esophageal, liver, and breast cancer.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online Canadian pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com.

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ - a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

Do you have Vitamin D Deficiency?

All vitamins are essential in order to maintain our bodies balance. Vitamin D in particular is important because it helps maintain bone density which allows healthy bone growth. Calcium is useless without vitamin D. Vitamin D allows calcium to be absorbed into the body. Studies have found that a lack of vitamin D in the body can lead to osteoporosis. Moreover if you have a high vitamin D intake, you can lower your risk of developing breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

If you are vitamin D deficient you may experience some of the following symptoms:

Muscle pain and weakness, Muscle cramps, joint pain, fatigue, chronic pain, weight gain, high blood pressure, sleeplessness, trouble concentrating, headaches, bladder problems, constipation or diarrhea.

Not everyone who is vitamin D deficient suffers from the same symptoms. Sometimes their deficiency can even go unnoticed.

How to incorporate more Vitamin D in your life

1. Spend time outdoors - the sun is the best source for vitamin D.

2. Eat more fatty fish (salmon and herring), shrimp and oysters, shitake mushrooms, beef, and liver. These foods are rich in vitamin D

3. Use supplements. Take vitamin D supplements or multivitamins to ensure that you are getting all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

If you think you may have a vitamin D deficiency, visit your doctor and ask for a 25-hydroxyl-Vitamin D test. This is the only test that will test for a vitamin D deficiency.


DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online Canadian pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com.

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The Physical Benefits of Vitamins

Vitamins are the essential building blocks of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Many of us take multivitamins and vitamins to satisfy our body's nutritional needs, yet unaware of what each vitamin is doing for us. There are many other aesthetic benefits of using vitamins that will make you feel and look healthier.

Vitamin A

• Found in orange vegetables like raw carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and cantaloupe


• Vitamin A improves the eyes ability to adjust to changes in light
  
• It also acts as a natural moisturizer to the skin making it soft and smooth

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

• Found in green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and asparagus, mushrooms, liver, and dried beans and peas


• Vitamin B9 is important to take during pregnancy because it allows the rapid reproduction of cells and benefit your developing child. This will also prevent birth defects


• It may act as protection against some forms of cancer and heart disease

Vitamin B12

• Found in fresh fish, dairy products, beef, pork, and eggs
  
• Vitamin B12 increases energy, reduces stress, improves the memory, helps the digestive system, and makes the immune system stronger.


• It can also act as a natural anti-depressant because of it's ability to help your body create serotonin (a feel-good chemical)

Vitamin C

• Found in strawberries, melon, citrus fruits, papaya, raw or steamed broccoli, and brussel sprouts.


• Vitamin C helps boost the immune system, fighting colds, protecting against cancer, and the prevention of heart disease.


• It also improves the strength of teeth and makes the gums healthier, and fights against sun damage making the skin appear and feel healthier.

Vitamin D

• Found in egg yolks, fatty fish, and fortified milk. The sun is the best source for vitamin D
  
• Vitamin D is the best immune system booster. It is said that vitamin D helps fight against cancer and tuberculosis.


• Vitamin D will give you strong bones and teeth because it helps the body absorb calcium

Vitamin E

• Found in vegetable oil, mayonnaise, peanuts, whole grains, sunflower seeds, yams, and sweet potatoes.


• Vitamin E is the best protection against free radicals, helps prevent cancer, improves the immune system and protects against heart disease.


• It also improves the look and feel of the skin reducing pores and balancing the production of oils. Vitamin E is the best vitamin for healthy hair.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online Canadian pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com.

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ - a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

Vitamin D extends and improves life

A few minutes of sunshine a day goes a long way - literally.


Experts have recently revealed that a regular intake of vitamin D has the capability of extending your life expectancy by up to 7%. A lead researcher Dr. Philippe Autier said it is not clear how vitamin D lowers risks of mortality, but he suggested that it may block cancer cell proliferation or improve blood vessel and immune system functions. In past studies, vitamin D has also been proven to prevent other life -threatening illnesses such as breast cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, vitamin D maintains the calcium and phosphorous concentrations in the body, therefore makes stronger healthier bones.


On top of the physical health benefits that vitamin D provides, sunshine has also been proven to increase levels of serotonin (a chemical in the body that acts as a messenger to the brain) therefore instantly increasing and enlightening the mood. Next time you find yourself overcome with negative emotions, try taking a breather outdoors in the sunlight.


When the weather doesn't permit, or if it's during winter months, try taking vitamin D supplements. Research has found that the benefits of these supplements can be even greater than that of direct sunlight, as sunlight imposes harmful rays to the skin upon too much exposure - especially to infants. The recommended dose of vitamin D per day for an adult is 1000 international units (IU). Talk to your doctor about taking vitamin D supplements during fall and winter. Vitamin D will improve your immune system and put you in better mood.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online Canadian pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com.For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ - a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

The sunshine vitamin reduces cancer risk.

Most Americans are not getting enough vitamin D, a fact that may put them at risk for developing cancer, according to a landmark study conducted at Creighton University School of Medicine.

The study followed older women for 4 years. During that time, the women who were taking vitamin D supplements had a dramatic reduction in risk for cancer when compared with women who did not get the vitamin.

Vitamin D enhances the body's immune response to potential cancer cells, said Joan Lappe, PhD, RN, professor of medicine and the study's director.

Study participants took 1,100 IU of vitamin D3 (an animal form of the vitamin that is more active and effective in humans than D2, made from plant sources). The dosage is also 2 to 3 times more than the current recommended daily requirement, which the researchers think should be increased for all. Supplements can be taken with or without meals and do not have to be spaced throughout the day. No side effects were noted.

There is a growing body of evidence that a higher intake of vitamin D for both men and women may be helpful in the prevention and treatment not only of cancer, but also high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases, the researchers said.

Humans make their own vitamin D3 when they are exposed to sunlight. In fact, only 10-15 minutes a day in a bright summer sun creates large amounts of the vitamin. But exercise caution because the sun's ultraviolet B rays also can cause skin cancer. Sunscreen blocks most vitamin D production.

Also, the latitude at which you live and your ancestry also influence your body's ability to convert sunlight into vitamin D. People with dark skin have more difficulty making the vitamin. People living at latitudes north of the 37th parallel – Omaha is near the 41st parallel – cannot get their vitamin D naturally during the winter months because of the sun's angle.

The results of the study were reported in the online edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best Canadian pharmacies online by PharmacyChecker.com. DoctorSolve has filled more than 200,000 U.S. prescriptions.

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ - a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy for over 6 years.