People continue to look for alternate ways to save money. The recent economy crisis has changed the way people manage their finances.

Personal and family expenses have been directly affected by price increases, forcing people to change habits in order to pay bills.

Most people spend a significant part of their budgets on food. Of course, you can’t stop eating but there are many to save money on food on a daily basis.

You can save a lot of money just preparing lunch at home. Some people eat out everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try to have at least one or two meals at home, let’s say breakfast and lunch.

If you can’t go home for lunch, bring lunch with you. You may prepare meals the night before and have them ready for the next day. That’s when a lunchbox is needed.

Reusable food containers can save you money and protect the planet. Everyday thousands of pounds of plastic end up as litter in our landfills. An estimated 3.5 billion pounds of lunchbox garbage is collected every year.

Think about how much trash you normally dispose at the end of your lunch! Lunchboxes are perfect to take to school or work eliminating additional garbage, such as plastic food containers.

Most products are washable and reusable. Containers can be washed over and over in dishwashers and are generally microwave safe. Secure lids ensure that liquids can be placed in them without spilling.

Make sure to buy a lunchbox or food container that is recyclable and BPA free. It’s a great idea to protect the environment and some a lot of money as well.

 1 Comment, latest by Adeline

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The cold weather is normally responsible for health problems many people need to deal with every winter.

The constant changes of temperature can be brutal to your immune system, creating health issues such as colds and coughs.

It’s very difficult to stay away from these respiratory issues because we face various temperature changes on a daily basis. Think about it. You are at home in a warm place. Then, you go outdoors and face freezing temperatures. Then, you suddenly go back to warm conditions in your car or public transportation, back to cold weather and finally to a warm work place (hopefully).

Sore throat is often the result of quick changes of temperature and cough lozenges can be your best friend this winter. Most cough drops products provide temporary relief for minor irritation or sore throat.

It’s the quickest way to get rid of throat discomfort. It’s also a very convenient product as you can carry it with you anywhere you go.

Most cough drops use natural ingredients such as honey, menthol, eucalyptus, echinacea, mint, orange and elderberry. Zinc is also a powerful cough suppressant and oral pain reliever.

The majority of products may have an anti-inflammatory and anti-septic action, providing cooling relief for dry mouth and soothing on the throat.

Cough drops are a simple and affordable product that can treat minor bronchial irritations and minimize severe conditions associated with the common cold and allergies.

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One of the most common New Years resolutions is to quit a bad habit. Smoking, drinking, overeating and snoring are generally the most popular choices.

LuckyVitamin is helping you to make 2009 a healthy year.

It’s generally very difficult to quit a habit, especially if you have been doing it for many years. Smoking is definitely the number one on this list of unwanted things we wish we could just stop.

Smokers struggle to quit because it’s a unique addiction. People can’t just put the cigarettes away and find something similar to replace it.

It takes a lot of effort and maybe some help from friends and family. If you don’t smoke, an alternative resolution is to help someone quit smoking. The consequences of smoking are terrible and a few products may help to get rid of this horrible habit.

Some people are able to quit smoking but unfortunately begin a new bad habit: overeating.

It is quite common to substitute a cigarette for a sweet or candy. Yes, it’s a step forward but you do not want to start a new bad habit as soon as you just quit another one.

Overeating is normally caused because people do not have self control. It may be difficult to establish a healthy and balanced diet but once again, family and friends may be the boost you need to stay on top. An appetite suppressant may also help you stop overeating.

Many people would like to start the New Year fresh. A better life may begin with a healthy resolution: quit a bad habit is perhaps the greatest idea.

 4 Comments, latest by Mauricio Matusiak, Senior Editor

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Finally. A new study has showed that taking a nap may boost a sophisticated kind of memory that helps us see the big picture and get creative.

Napping has been part of several cultures around the world.

The traditional short sleep during the day has significant impact on how people are able to sleep better and longer at night.

Lack of sleep causes several health problems including diabetes, heart disease and other illness, as well as car accidents and work injuries. In addition, people generally have a difficult time learning or concentrating due to sleep deprivation.

Surveys suggest few adults attain the recommended seven to eight hours a night. Some people add a daily nap to obtain the minimum amount of hours necessary for their bodies.

People react differently to naps. Some people really enjoy taking a half hour nap and feel reenergize after it. Short naps seem to work better after lunch or at the end of the working day.

On the other hand, some people do not like taking naps because they feel sleepy, lazy and slow after napping. How can the difference be explained?

Well, people have different diets, work different schedules, and exercise in different levels. The secret could be the ability of quickly falling sleep and resting during a short period of time.

People having difficulties falling asleep have experienced better results after taking natural sleeping aids such as melatonin, valerian and kava kava.

A good nap may be the “break” you need, promoting body relaxation and generating more energy for you.

Photo credit: pro.corbis.com

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Technology has improved our lives in many different ways. Life is much easier today thanks to the development of products that can support our problems.

Health aids are responsible for making people live longer and better. Simple products, such as a blood pressure monitor, may save your life.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulation blood on the blood vessels. The term blood pressure normally refers to arterial pressure, which occurs in the larger arteries, taking blood away from the heart.

High arterial pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, chronic renal failure and arterial aneurysms. In addition, moderate hypertension is associated with shortened life expectancy.

On the other hand, hypotension is when arterial pressure is abnormally low in the body and can be life-threatening as well.

Blood pressure monitors are easy and affordable products and can help people suffering from high or low blood pressure. Models vary from simple cuffs to mini computers capable of storing information.

Monitors offer risk category indicator alerts, jumbo size digits, date and time information and memory averaging function. Models also vary in cuff sizes, from small, medium and large to an adjustable cuff, fitting all sizes. Prices are very reasonable for most models.

Keep in mind, a simple easy-to-use monitor can be an essential tool for many people, preventing serious health issues.

 2 Comments, latest by Mauricio Matusiak, Senior Editor

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A new study has finally showed some encouraging numbers against passive smoking. The main reason for the decline in second hand smoking is the increasing number of new laws, banning smoking in restaurants, bars and public places, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

It’s about time. There’s nothing more annoying than trying to eat your dinner with someone smoking next to you. Some people (including myself) can’t stand the smell anywhere and anytime, particularly when you are having a meal.

The new laws are tough on smokers, but it feels like heaven for non-smokers. You can finally go to a bar or nightclub and come home without smelling like an ashtray. Then, I’m thinking: should I really write about quitting smoking knowing most of our readers probably do not smoke? Well, why not? We sure know someone may be trying to quit, let’s do our “health homework”, sending blogs and news to our family and friends. We need to encourage them!

But how hard is to quit smoking?

It’s definitely not easy. However, it’s certainly not impossible, as many people have succeeded quitting smoking without any help. Some products may help you quit smoking but the most important move needs to come from you.

First, you have to make the decision yourself. It normally helps when you realize how bad smoking is for your system and for the ones around you. Second, you may add a product or even a healthy habit to replace your cigarette needs. Keep your mind busy, start a new activity, join a club, a team, or perhaps a sport you like and haven’t played in years.

Cigarette prices have reached all time record these days, so quitting smoking will also help with your monthly budget.

Quitting smoking is not easy but you can do it. Put your mind to it and enjoy a much healthier life.

 2 Comments, latest by Reynolds

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Everybody loves a beautiful sunny day. A lot of people also enjoy the hot weather and the summer atmosphere. But aside from the time we go on vacations, we all face a very similar problem this time of the year: the constant hot and cold temperature changes.

Hot muggy days will make you sweat once you are outdoors, on your way to work or simply in your backyard. Then, you go indoors or in your car, and climate controlled rooms will bring you a twenty, sometimes thirty, degree temperature decrease in a few seconds. Is your immune system ready for this climate change several times a day?

Every season should be a good time to build up your immune system. Although most people like to focus on that during the winter months, summer can be just as important as we all struggle with too hot days and too cold air conditioners at the same time. Hay fever or summer colds can be very annoying and, no matter how hard we try, we just cannot “get rid of it”. It’s normally caused by allergies, resulting in runny nose and coughing.

You may want to increase your daily intake of vitamin C, or perhaps start taking a multivitamin. Another option will be taking an immune support supplement. Most companies are making products offering a combination of vitamins along with an herbal blend of ingredients, such as echinacea, goldenseal, elderberry or mushrooms extracts.

Homeopathic products may also help you fighting the summer colds. Safe to use and with virtually no side effects, homeopathic can be a reliable alternative for conventional medicine.

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Sophomore year of college, my mother and I entered into a friendly competition. We donned pedometers every day of the spring semester, recording each night the number of steps we had taken. At the end of the term, whoever had out-walked the other received a free lunch. I viewed the contest’s parameters suspiciously. My mother, a teacher, seemed to have an advantage over her bookworm, English-major daughter. But, I was determined to win. My daily goals increased with every step. Suddenly the city surrounding my school was my constant stomping ground. If I had a choice between driving to the store and walking two miles, I walked two miles. I roamed through more of Scranton in three months than I had in the previous year and probably in the two years that followed. When I returned home in May, I had beaten my mother by more than 30,000 steps.

The pedometer is a powerful motivator. Worn at your waist, it counts every step you take. If you hoof it through the day, walking miles upon miles, you’ll know. If you sit idly and take no more than ten steps, you’ll know that, too. So it’s only logical to assume that clipping one to a pair of pants can improve the wearer’s fitness, weight and blood pressure, but researchers wanted to be sure. They reviewed 26 studies with 2,767 people. Those who had worn pedometers took more than 2,000 extra steps a day.  Their blood pressure was down, and their weight loss was accelerated. They were increasing their health with every stride.

It’s a simple step towards fitness that is easy to take. Pedometers are relatively inexpensive, portable and constant reminders of how close you are to your daily movement goal. But before you buy, make sure that your step-counter counts properly.  Some miss steps. Some note each stride twice, and some interpret bumps in the road as an additional step. Some are also affected by speed. If you are walking too slowly, your activity won’t be recorded. However, this should not be too much of a concern, since you want to increase your gait, anyway. 

Once you have your pedometer, get going. Shoot for ten thousand steps a day, and walk away ill health.

• Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org

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Shoe selection can be a taxing and time consuming morning ritual. You have to take into account your day’s activities, the weather, the rest of your outfit and environment-suitability. A beat-up running shoe, for example, does not correspond with your office, nor does it match your slacks.  These types of considerations can make getting dressed extremely difficult but for most, are ultimately mere nuisances. For some, however, footwear is far more complicated and important, as it affects not only their fashion but their health as well.

Individuals with knee osteoarthritis suffer from chronic pain, which is combated with medication, physical therapy and, occasionally, surgery, but those treatments don’t always alleviate the entire ache.  Therefore, it is important that their everyday choices work to lessen any additional discomfort. This includes footwear.  A shoe’s impact is not confined to the foot. It affects other joints, especially the knees. Certain shoes place more of a load on the knee during movement and are, thus, less beneficial to arthritis sufferers. But how do you know which ones those are?

Until recently, it was assumed that the best covers for your foot were the shock-absorbing, athletic shoes and clogs. They offer the wearer comfort, support and stability. Yet according to current findings, they also maximize the impact on the knees, when compared to more flexible walking shoes and bare feet.  So it could be better for a knee-osteoarthritis patient to opt out of them, but, if that’s you, don’t rush into a pair of floppy Keds. The study had flaws; more research needs to be done. In the meantime, you and your doctor can take away from the findings a heightened awareness of footwear and how it’s affecting your knees. If your shoe is providing you with a cushy rest but lots of aches, you’ll know that there is an everyday change you can make to alleviate the pain.�

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I spent the last ten minutes staring blankly at the computer screen, dreaming about massages rather than focusing on stringing together sentences. That is the effect the mere idea of massage has on me and quite likely you. A massage is a luxurious, knot-kneading indulgence that all of us fantasize about but few receive. It does, after all, require time and money, commodities that are increasingly scarcer in our lives, and a removal of guilt, since we view it as a rare treat. But perhaps that should change.

Massage is more than a path to relaxation. It has been used for thousands of years to heal, today treating ailments ranging from arthritis to diabetes to fatigue.  Doctors regularly recommend it as a way to relieve anxiety and lessen pain, claiming that the powers of massage stretch into nearly every aspect of health. And they do. Take, for example, post-op recovery. When patients received five months of massage therapy after heart surgery, their reported levels of pain all but disappeared. In fact, they went from an average rating of three (on a scale from one to 10) to less than one.  The patients were considerably more comfortable, making the recovery process a great deal easier. The same would hold true for most conditions, but, as with everything, you have to be careful.

Massage therapy should only be performed by a licensed professional.  This includes massage therapists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. An untrained masseuse can actually worsen your health, causing internal bleeding, nerve damage and temporary paralysis.  You should also only enlist it as a complementary treatment if your doctor approves it. Certain conditions make massage therapy more dangerous to the individual, something you want to avoid. Finally, you should ensure that you are at ease with the idea of a massage. You are going to disrobe, oils may be rubbed on you, a stranger will most certainly be manipulating every inch of your body with his/her hands and you could experience temporary discomfort. If any of these aspects render massage unappealing, you shouldn’t get one. Massage therapy only works when your mind and body are open to it, but when it does, it does.

• Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Massage_Frankfurt.jpg

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Are you sick?
No, just congested.

Do you smell that?
I can’t smell anything.

What do you want to get for dinner?
A pound of tissues and a box of Sudafed.

If any of that sounded familiar, you are probably one of the 36 million Americans suffering from chronic sinus problems or one of the millions more with a simple stuffy nose.  Your days, regardless of season, are filled with incessant sniffling, the search for one more Kleenex, dulled senses and every ache available. You are constantly miserable and undeniably reliant on medications, whether they are antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs or antihistamines. But perhaps your dependence should lie elsewhere . . . in salt water.

Saline irrigation is one of the easiest and best ways to relieve nasal symptoms.  A regular flush of salt water can lessen the severity and frequency of your condition better even than a saline spray. In a study of 121 adults, those who rinsed rather than sprayed reported more overall improvement after eight weeks. Their quality of life was significantly better and their quality of nose was significantly clearer. So how can you achieve this flood of relief? Continue Reading >>

 1 Comment, latest by Bayhonan

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You probably thought I’d forgotten or, at the very least, quit, ashamed by the magnitude of my previous failure. But I didn’t. I took the advice Rick offered after reading “Meditating on Meditation, Part 2: Concentrative Meditation” and continued with my practice.  I can’t honestly say that I was successful. I have gotten marginally better with each attempt, but I still have a long way to go. That being said, I have started looking for alternate meditation venues, as my bedroom and accompanying self-discipline seem to be lacking.

A few nights ago, I attended a group meditation hour in my hometown. It was hosted by the local Buddhist community but open to all. When I arrived, I was somewhat hesitant, having never attended a similar event and being completely on my own.  However, the other participants quickly eased my anxiety, providing me with information about what to expect and guiding me to the meeting room. The hour began with Buddhist readings and then immediately segued into 20 minutes of deep meditation.  Ten minutes of walking meditation, in which individuals walked as they felt moved to and created their own paths, followed.  The hour concluded much as it began, with another 20 minutes of meditation and some final readings.

I benefited greatly that evening. No, I didn’t achieve enlightenment or spend the entire time in a deep, meditative state. I wasted far too many minutes concerned that I wasn’t doing something properly and wondering what would come next. However, I did spend a great deal more time than usual attempting to center myself. Rather than scurrying away at my first stray thought, I did as I had been instructed to do. I acknowledged its presence and allowed it to leave. Thus, I was automatically more successful. I also realized that meditation comes in many forms. The people around me were not all sitting in the lotus position. Some knelt while others were cross-legged and still more were traditionally seated. We are not meant to meditate as everyone else. It is a personal, individual practice and should be approached as such.

If you are attempting to take up meditation, find the way that is best for you. Don’t become consumed by defined methods and seeming failures. The goal is to better your health not your stress.

• Image Source:  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:N2_Early_Morning_Meditation.jpg

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I have taken the first step in my meditation experiment, with the first method. The results so far are . . . well, we’ll get to those momentarily. Let’s start by talking about concentrative meditation. It is generally recommended that you begin with this type, as it is the most widely used and, apparently, the easier practice to adopt. In concentrative meditation, you sit, stand or lie in a quiet place for five- to 30-minute sessions.  During that time, you concentrate on one thing. It can be your breath, a mental image, a physical object, or a word or phrase. If you’re just starting, select your breath. This will ensure that you not only maximize the concentrative aspect but the basic meditative aspect (by deliberately practicing deep breathing) as well. Should you prefer one of the other three, choose something that has meaning for you, something spiritually significant.  As you sit, relax; breathe deeply but naturally. Pay attention only to your focal point. If a stray thought enters your mind, acknowledge and immediately dismiss it. Continue this for five minutes, eventually working up to 30 minutes, twice a day.

If you are successful at concentrative meditation, you will see numerous benefits. The most obvious is better concentration. You won’t be as easily distracted and will find that you can focus more adeptly on your daily tasks. You’ll also be calmer, more peaceful, more restful. Little problems will cause less anxiety. Your mind will be more open and tranquil yet more alert and centered. All around, you will approach life with a better outlook, but, of course, this is only if you succeed. I, sadly, have not.

Perhaps, I lack dedication, although I’ve tried every day for the last week, sometimes several times a day. I block out the noise, find a serene location, close my eyes and eliminate unnecessary thoughts from my mind . . .  theoretically. I can’t seem to get the thoughts out of my head. Every time I “acknowledge and dismiss ”, I wind up acknowledging and embracing. I’ve never come up with so many reasons to e-mail absolute strangers or already overly-harassed friends. I have outlined stories, posts, conversations – anything, really. I’ve thought of everything, except for nothing. I tried focusing on a phrase rather than my breath, but in my mind phrases lead to sentences, which lead to paragraphs, which lead to unlimited possibilities. I am truly disappointed in myself. I know that one week is not enough time to become “good” at a certain method of meditation, but shouldn’t I have succeeded in concentrating for at least five minutes? I am resolved to go home tonight and try one more time, before I move on, but I am doubtful. I can only hope that my next foray into meditation is a little less counterproductive.

 1 Comment, latest by Rick Cockrum

As if cold, dry skin, chapped lips and blue toes weren’t enough, this winter, many of us will spend our snow days fighting the flu. We’ll be beaten down by fever, headache, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, a runny nose and, if we’re really lucky, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  We’ll spend hours draped across our beds, bemoaning our fate – a fate that we could have avoided if, in October, we had thought ahead.

Flu season doesn’t peak until January, but it starts in October, which is why the flu vaccine is available now. There are two types of vaccinations: the shot and the nasal spray. The shot is a shot, an injection of dead flu viruses into your arm. The nasal spray is a blast of weakened, live viruses, right into your nose. Both methods are effective; however, neither is necessarily safe for everyone.  For example, children under six months should not receive either. And, only people between five and 49 years of age, who are not pregnant and who don’t have preexisting medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease), should consider the nasal spray. It’s been known to elicit flu-like symptoms in the excluded groups. But, those are generally the only times when flu will follow a flu shot, even if you think otherwise . . .  

My mother swears that the only time she got the flu followed the only time she got the flu shot. While that may be true, it’s not the vaccination’s fault. Scientists have to estimate which strain of flu will be the most dominant each season. Sometimes, they’re wrong, or you get an alternate strain. It’s going to happen, but having a flu vaccine will lessen the possibility, particularly if you are more susceptible than others, which raises the question: Who’s more susceptible? The answer is, actually, fairly cut and dry. People who are over 55 or under five , who live in nursing homes or long care assisted-living facilities, who have chronic conditions  or who have  daily contact with any of the previous individuals are far more likely to get the flu than anyone else. If you don’t fall into any of those categories, the flu shot is optional. You don’t have to get it, but think about how smug you’ll be if you get through flu season without the flu.

 1 Comment, latest by Leonidas

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I recently had the opportunity to speak with several yoga and meditation instructors on the phone. While each one had different techniques and thoughts on meditation, I found one common thread. When I hung up, I was calm, often much calmer than I had been prior to dialing. The frenzied finger tapping as I listened to another ring and the anxiety over my lengthy to-do list was silenced, for about five minutes. But, five minutes or not, I was shocked. These women had achieved a level of serenity that not only permanently affected their lives but temporarily affected mine as well. How had they done it? More importantly, how could I?

As a practice, meditation has gained mass popularity only recently, in the United States. It was thought, at first, to be a strange Eastern tradition employed by hippies amidst their beads. Then, it was thought to be a luxury used by people with a lot of free time to de-stress (although what stress they could have when they had time to meditate, was beyond understanding to the crazed, over-busy, “normal” people). Now it is seen as a means of alternative medicine. In conjunction with conventional methods, meditation is used to treat addictions, anxiety, stress, depression, menopausal symptoms and pain.  It has been proven to help combat blood pressure  and blood sugar complications, and improves mental and physical alertness as well as intellect. It is, when done correctly, a source of unlimited benefits.  So why aren’t more people meditating? Continue Reading >>

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