First word that came to my mind when I saw this “thing” for the first time was: bicycle. But it was quite different from any bicycle I’ve ever seen. Instead of the frame running underneath the body, this upside down u-shaped bar ran above the head of the rider, and the seat was tied to it on both sides (back and front) by some adjustable straps. The other big difference was that it had no pedals. The rider moved like kind of running, but his steps were more like leaps. And at times, when he got speed, he would just put his feet on the pegs up front and coast.

I found out that this device was called GlideCycle. And except for this fancy look that definitely gets the attention, what is that great about it? Well, since you are suspended and much of your weight is transferred to the frame, the impact on your joints is very much reduced. Another advantage is that there is no pressure between your legs like the one from a bicycle seat. And, being lifted into its smooth-arch suspension, allows you to walk or run with large strides that make you think of someone walking on the moon. I kept using the verb “run” here, but maybe “glide” would be more accurate. There is a reason why they call it a Glide Cycle.

Who can benefit from using the GlideCycle? The answer is: anyone. But it is most exciting to see what it offers to amputees and people with mobility limitations resulting from neurological impairments, severe balance, weakness, loss of motion, debilitating pain from arthritic joints and lower limb pain. People who have been bound to a wheelchair for years regain the much longed for ability to run. And this is not only about mobility, which is a great accomplishment, but it is also about the feeling of freedom and independence these people experience. The Glide Cycle is also of great help for injured athletes, allowing them to maintain cardio fitness levels while recovering from injuries.

To see some amazing videos and find out more information about the GlideCycle, you are welcome to visit GlideCycle.com

Ruth Taylor

A good memory and ability to learn are key elements of success not only for students, but for adults too, in order for them to be successful in life, no matter what they do. Whether you are a stay home mom or a CEO, a good memory and learning ability will help you be efficient and successful in your everyday tasks.

Contrary to what some may think, a good memory is not as much a matter of your “mental equipment” but rather the result of how you store the facts you want to remember, how you use your brains. Everyone has great potential, we are just not exploiting it to the fullest.

Here is a memory technique that anybody can use in order to boost their ability to recall things. It’s called the Link Method and it consists of associating the information you want to remember with a word or story that you can visualize in your mind. Take a minute to watch the video below and you will be amazed and at the same time equipped with a key strategy for your success.

A similar technique will help you improve your learning and teaching abilities tremendously. Successful learning is also about associations -associating something you are already familiar with, something you know, with a new concept. Sometimes you cannot figure things out just because the information is not given to you in terms that you can relate to your previous experience. So, ultimately, learning is not about figuring things out. It is about creating a RELATIONSHIP. Yes, a relationship between the known and the unknown.

Watch this video with Tony Robbins, best selling self help author and motivational speaker, and you will understand some of the strategies that are the secret to learning.

Wishing you success and looking forward to hearing from you.

Ruth Taylor

Brain games are not only a pleasant way to pass the time while traveling or take a break, but they are also beneficial for our memory, concentration and improvement of many other brain functions.

For example, Lost in Migration is a game that sharpens your concentration skills with exciting cognitive challenge. It is designed to train and improve your cognitive control and reaction time, to help you avoid distraction, increase productivity and concentration.

I have taken this game from WomansDay, a great site for women, but I am sure men will enjoy the game as well, and benefit from it too.

So, here is the link to the game: Lost in Migration

Let us know how if you enjoyed the game and how you did.

Did you know that…

• 75% of your cholesterol is produced by your liver. What’s interesting is that the more cholesterol you eat, the less your liver produces, and vice versa.
• people who have low blood cholesterol have the same rates of heart disease as people who have high blood cholesterol.
• cholesterol is not a deadly poison. Some amount of it is actually absolutely necessary for your health.
• cholesterol is essential for optimal brain health. It helps in the formation of your memories and is vital for neurological functions.
• low levels of cholesterol over the long term can cause depression, increased risk of stroke and hormonal imbalances.
• having low cholesterol can lead to vitamin D deficiency, since sunlight creates vitamin D in your body by acting on cholesterol found in your skin.
• cholesterol-lowering drugs not only reduce the liver production of cholesterol, but they also reduce the liver production of other substances that are beneficial for our health, like Coenzyme Q10. A decreased amount of Coenzyme Q10 leads to fatigue, muscle weakness, soreness and ultimately heart failure.
• your liver’s cholesterol production is influenced by your insulin levels, that is why optimizing your insulin levels will also regulate your cholesterol levels.

Reference:

Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD -The Cholesterol Myths : Exposing the Fallacy that Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease

Dr. Mercola -Tips to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

A newly released study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston found the link between diabetes and increased risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB). The researchers collected data on a sample population of 1.7 million people from 13 studies of people living in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Britain, Russia, Taiwan, South Korea and India. Their study revealed a three-fold increase in risk of having TB among the diabetic compared to the those who had none.

The researchers further noted that geographic differences did have no difference in the data collected. “With an estimated 171 million people afflicted with diabetes, a figure which is expected to double by year 2030, it is clear that (diabetes) constitutes a substantial contributor to the current and future burdens of TB globally,” epidemiologist Megan Murray, who conducted the research with Harvard colleague Christie Jeon, in an e-mail statement.

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the germ Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). The bacteria usually attack the lungs but can also do damage to other parts of the body like the bones. Tuberculosis is easily contracted by people with weakened immune systems and spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks.

This development further complicates the international drive to turn back the spread of TB. Tuberculosis is second only to HIV/ AIDS among the list of top infectious diseases worldwide with high mortality rates.

Source:

www.reuters.com

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, a professional journal, has recently published the results of a study done with laboratory rats which shows that alpha lipoic acid supplementation can significantly reduce triglyceride levels.

WHAT ARE TRIGLYCERIDES AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. They come from the calories that you eat and which are not used right away by your body. Between meals, hormones release triglycerides for energy. If you constantly eat more calories than you burn, your triglycerides level may be high.

Along with cholesterol levels and blood pressure, triglycerides are one of the key risk factors in cardiovascular disease.

WHAT THE STUDY CONSISTED OF

Laboratory rats were under supervision for four weeks. Various previous studies have shown alpha lipoic acid supplements to be an appetite suppressant. That is why control groups of lab animals were used in this research to ensure that the cause of lower triglyceride levels was not just less food intake. The animals used in the experiment were obese to begin with, and their triglyceride levels increased as the experiment proceeded and as they aged, but the difference between the animals given alpha lipoic acid and those that were not given supplements was huge. At the end of the four weeks, the blood triglyceride levels doubled in the animals given the alpha lipoic acid supplement, but went up more than 400 percent in the group that was not given lipoic acid.

Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements reduced the triglyceride levels by up to 60 percent in the animals under study.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STUDY RESULTS

Regis Moreau, an assistant professor with the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University and a member of the team that conducted this study, said that “The extent of triglyceride reduction was really dramatic, we didn’t expect it to be this profound. (…) The potential is good that this could become another way to lower blood triglycerides and help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. It’s pretty exciting.”

While medication used to treat hypertriglyceridemia has unwanted side effects which still remain a concern, alpha lipoic acid has been used by thousands of people for years as a dietary supplement and found to be safe.

“We believe that a novel means of controlling triglyceridemia in this animal model has been revealed,” researchers wrote in their report. “Given its strong safety record, lipoic acid may have therapeutic applications for the treatment or prevention of hypertriglyceridemia and diabetic dyslipidemia in humans.”

See below a good picture illustrating this article. On the left you can see the blood plasma of the rats that were fed a normal diet. It is murky and with higher levels of fat. In the vial on the right you can see the plasma from rats supplemented with lipoic acid. As you can see, it is much clearer and with lower levels of triglycerides.

Resources on alpha lipoic acid:

• one of my previous blog posts on alpha lipoic acid: ALA;
• great info on R vs S Alpha Lipoic Acid: R-ALA -very useful!;
• Alpha Lipoic Acid and it’s health benefits: R-ALA benefits

Ruth Taylor

Can you imagine the sensation of insects crawling inside your legs? Or your legs suddenly starting to jump or jerk when you are driving? No, these are not scenes taken from some science fiction horror movie. It’s what some people experience. And it’s not just something in their head, it is a real ailment.

WHAT IS RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensation in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging or like insects crawling inside the leg” and they range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. Sometimes these sensations occur in the feet, thighs or even arms.

Reading the testimonies of people suffering from RLS makes you realize how much it affects their lives. It’s not only about pain or discomfort; RLS can drastically affect the quality of your life. Richard Jefferson says: “I’ve had to plan my life around it.” Another person suffering from RLS say: “RLS is the bane of my life.” And it’s not hard to agree with them if you can only imagine what it would be like to have these sudden attacks in your right leg as you are driving, to jump up when somebody touches you, or to be unable to get some rest no matter how tired you are.

Most people who suffer from RLS experience the symptoms at night, and these sensations of creeping, jerky legs will obviously keep them from getting the rest they need. These episodes can go on for hours, for the whole night or for nights and nights in a row to what seems to take forever. As a result, they are exhausted, experience fatigue, find it hard to concentrate and accomplish their daily tasks.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF RLS?

The cause of RLS is unknown in most cases. In other cases, RLS appears to be related to some factors and conditions, such as obesity, smoking, iron deficiency, anemia, pregnancy, nerve disease, diabetes, kidney failure, hormone diseases. Caffeine and alcohol are also associated with RLS, along with H2-histamine blockers (like Zantac, Tagamet) and certain antidepressants (like Elavil). RLS appears to become more common with age, but people with a RLS family history tend to be younger when symptoms start.

TREATMENT

There is no cure for Restless Legs Syndrome, so the treatment is directed at relieving the symptoms and the discomfort and helping the patients to manage the condition.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) “for those with mild to moderate symptoms, prevention is key, and many physicians suggest certain lifestyle changes and activities to reduce or eliminate symptoms.” The reduction or, better, the elimination of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco can provide some relief. Maintaining a regular sleep pattern can also be helpful.

The treatment is also directed toward an underlying condition. For example a person suffering from anemia, magnesium or iron deficiency will be advised to take supplements.

Medication used to treat RLS consists of dopaminergics, opioids, benzodiazepines (central nervous system depressants) and anticonvulsants. In 2005, ropinirole became the only FDA approved drug for the treatment of RLS. This drug is also approved for Parkinson disease treatment.

“Unfortunately, no one drug is effective for everyone with RLS” says NINDS. “What may be helpful to one individual may actually worsen symptoms for another. In addition, medications taken regularly may lose their effect, making it necessary to change medications periodically.”

Alternative medicine treatments that can also be helpful include acupuncture, electric nerve stimulation and supplements, such as A to B Calm.

A to B Calm is a calcium magnesium natural supplement that can help people suffering from Restless Legs Syndrome. Calcium and magnesium are directly responsible for activating striated or skeletal muscle. If blood calcium concentrations fall, the nerves become hypersensitive, resulting in tetany, which is recognized clinically as severe muscle spasm. A to B Calm formula has been created over 20 years ago and has been used by more people than any other Calcium/Magnesium formula. This is the best way for the human body to assimilate the essential minerals Calcium and Magnesium and help avoid Restless Legs Syndrome.

Visit WellnessPartners.com to find more about our natural treatment for RLS.

Ruth Taylor

Monsanto Co, the world’s biggest seed company, has filed suit against the German government’s decision to ban genetically modified (GMO) maize.

MON 810 was approved for cultivation in Europe by the European Union in 1998 and so far it has been the only GM crop which could be grown in Germany. But there is also a clause in EU law which allows individual countries to impose such bans. The cultivation of MON 810 is actually already banned in five other EU member states -Austria, Hungary, Greece, France and Luxembourg.

Since this clause exists, and five other countries have already banned the GMO corn, what’s the big deal about this particular case? Well, the ban comes right before the sowing season. The ban affects Monsanto’s MON 810 maize, which may no longer be sown for this summer’s harvest. A Monsanto spokesman said Germany’s action to restrict MON 810 was an “arbitrary ban” that violates EU rules. He said EU memeber states can invoke a safeguard clause against an already approved plant but such a move required new specific evidence and non existed to support the ban.

Sources:

SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL

REUTERS

Hello, my friends. I am just writing a short notice to let you know that I have managed to get a coupon for you. It is on the right side of this page and gives you a $5.00 discount for the GreenTeaPure green tea extract. I am very excited that I can offer something more than just health tips to people who read my blog. So, if you want to take advantage of the great health GreenTeaPure benefits and of this offer, just click on the coupon on the right side of this page and it will take you to the WellnessPartners store. Click on the “add to cart” button and then write the coupon code in the coupon code section. Fill in the other required fields and hit the checkout button. It is as simple as that.

Hope you have a great weekend!

With stories about the swine flu all around us, it is not hard to become worried. But there is no use and no reason to panick. Falling in the other extreme -just ignoring the whole situation- is definitely not something wise either. Best thing you can do is to be prepared and do all you can to protect yourself against this virus.

Here are some simple and handy, but at the same useful and efficient things you can do to protect yourself from the swine flu virus. Most of them involve strenthening your immune system, so that you are far less likely to get infected.

• Optimize your vitamin levels. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Get sunshine. Rays from the sun activate chemical processes in the body that support the immune system and create vitamin D- which is essential for optimal health and which is a very good help in avoiding infections. To have a good amount of vitamin D, you should get at least 30 minutes of direct sunlight a day.

Supplements are a good way to make sure you get all the vitamins you need. Here are a few supplements that we recommend:

Cellfood MultiVitamin

Liquid Vitality Liquid Vitamins

PlentiFood: Powdered Superfood!

R-Alpha Lipoic Acid is also very important because it recycles vitamins C and E, along with bringing a whole bunch of other health benefits.

• Avoid sugar and processed foods. Sugar decreases the function of your immune system. Canned and packed foods are stripped of vitamins and often contain chemical additives that the body’s immune system has to work to remove.
• Relieve stress and get enough rest. Excessive stress depresses the immune system. And if your body is fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu.
• Exercise. Exercises improves circulation, which helps deliver white blood cells (the workforce of our immune system) to every part of our body, and this way they can find an illness fast, before it spreads. Exercise not only strengthens your muscles, but your immune system as well.
• Take a good source of animal based omega-3 fats like Krill Oil. Omega-3 is crucial for maintaining good health.
• Consume garlic. Garlic works like a great natural antibiotic. And if you don’t like the taste of it or if you want to avoid the smell, there are garlic extract supplements that you might want to consider taking. Allimax is a great garlic extract supplement!
• Wash your hands. This way you will decrease the possibility of spreading viruses to your mouth, nose, eyes or other people.

I hope you find this tips helpful. I wish you all the best! And stay healthy!

Ruth Taylor