This mix of Latin, salsa, samba, meringue, cumbia and hip hop dancing burst on the scene in the nineties. It began to gain popularity in the last several years as fitness clubs, dance clubs and videos are showing people how to get fit and have fun at the same time.

One benefit of exercise is an improved mood and focus. What if you could get that without feeling that you actually did some work? For those who have never danced before, the steps will come to you in time. Actually you burn more calories learning them.

In a typical Zumba workout, you can burn as many as 600 or more calories in an hour. And, that hour goes by fast when you are really into the session.

So how do you burn so much fat and get in shape? For one, combining different dance moves requires core control. That means squeezing your abs so you stand up straight and are able to move in so many different directions without injury.

There are elements of plyometric exercises like the ones athletes do in training. These short bursts increase your heart rate and also strengthen the muscles in the legs.

Zumba is a full body workout. To increase heart rate, you not only keep your legs moving but your arms raised above your head. The arms are an integral part of the moves so you are always working your cardiovascular system.

There is more than one level of dance with Zumba so it works to increase the heart health of all ages. If you can’t do the jumps at first, then move on the floor but keep your arms going and the energy high so you still burn fat and calories. To keep you motivated, many of today’s hottest tunes are set to routines. Instructors are taught how to break down the moves for you and demonstrate them slowly at first before moving up to tempo.

Zumba is not all fast, though. You may get a mix of belly dancing music and all that hip action to strengthen hip flexors and improve abdominal strength. By alternating between fast and slower sequences, you get to regulate your breathing so you can keep up without being overtired.

And, the more you participate, the better your heart rate and lung function. Now, you can show off your dance moves, get your groove on and burn calories at the same time. If Zumba is too high impact for you, there are also aquatic Zumba options, Zumba toning and Zumba for kids.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to move about the day as if you just drank liquid energy? No matter what you had on your agenda, there would be enough of you to go around and still not feel run down at the end of the day. It is not wishful thinking. You can start yourself on this road with a few changes to your diet.

When it comes right down to it, we can affect many changes in the body by changing our eating habits. We see it all the time with weight control. If we eat too much and don’t get rid of the excess calories, it becomes stored as fat. Over time that fat accumulates on the body to change our appearance.

The same goes for energy levels. The body uses nutrients from foods we eat to perform its daily functions. One of those functions is stoking the fires to give you energy.

Now, what if we said that you can still eat each day and steadily lose energy? That happens when you don’t use the right fuel to get the body going. If the body can’t use what you are giving it, then you will still feel run down.

Food alternatives

Here are some ways to eat and types of foods to eat to increase your energy each day.

* Eat small meals – The body can burn more fuel for energy if it is constantly provided with the right nutrients on a regular basis. Eating every three or so hours keeps the metabolism high so you burn more calories and thereby have more fuel at your disposal.

* Eat whole grains – Whole grains contain a lot of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. It takes more energy to digest those grains, so you maintain a steady energy level throughout the day. This also hinders cravings.

* Eat protein – Protein helps to keep the hunger away so you can do more between meals. Stick with lean protein to avoid getting too much fat. Try poultry, fish, seafood, beans, and nuts in moderation.

* Dairy – Don’t neglect the milk. The calcium helps build strong bones. Yogurt is full of good live cultures to aid in digestion. Choose low-fat dairy products to avoid too much fat in your diet.

* Fruits – Fruit is the natural way to get a sugar boost without the empty calories. Use the natural sweetness to satisfy sweet cravings. Try eating the whole fruit for greater satiety instead of drinking juice.

Feeling tired all the time? It could be your dietary choices.

Toxic shock syndrome is a bacterial infection in the body. It was once associated with tampon use and also use of the diaphragm and the contraceptive sponge. The tampons that sparked the controversy are no longer available, but the label remains as a warning inside packages of tampons.

There are actually two types of toxic shock syndrome. The first is the one that is most often associated with tampons. Using a tampon that has too high an absorbency for your menstrual flow can lead to a warm moist environment for bacteria. The bacteria in question are staphylococcus aureus, which is naturally found on the skin.

But, toxic shock syndrome can also be linked to streptococcus bacteria. It enters the body through cuts, abrasions or surgical infections and can lead to toxic shock in the body of the affected person.

Toxic shock syndrome symptoms

If your type of toxic shock results from tampons or birth control, it is the result of an infection by staphylococcus. The first symptom is usually a bout of vomiting. As vomiting can be associated with many other conditions it is important to look for the presence of other symptoms as well.

A fever is also present, along with diarrhea, aches, sore throat and headaches. These are also common symptoms but if there is no indication that you ate something bad or have a cold or flu, there may be another answer. There is also a drop in blood pressure that can result in fainting.

One telltale sign for toxic shock syndrome is a red rash that appears within a day of the other symptoms, resembling sunburn. There will also be redness on the face and in the vaginal areas. Broken blood vessels on the skin are another sign that it is not the flu. The affected person may become confused, tired, thirsty and weak, and may develop pale clammy skin. Their breathing may become rapid and shallow as well.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome symptoms

Most of the same symptoms are present but at different stages. Once the streptococcus enters the skin through a wound of some kind, blood pressure drops low. Fever and dizziness along with confusion and rapid shallow breathing are present. There is a rash present also.

Examining the area around the wound shows something else. The skin will be red and swollen, indicating an infection. The flesh may actually begin to necrose or die. Filtering organs, the liver and the kidneys may begin to shut down as a result.

Toxic shock is a very serious condition that needs to be taken care of at the first sign of symptoms. Proper treatment can prevent serious consequences.

What is tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsillar tissue at the back of the throat. They resemble two pads of tissue tucked in the back where your mouth narrows towards the throat.

Tonsils function in the immune system. They are tasked to produce white blood cells to fight viral and bacterial infections. This leaves them open to becoming overwhelmed and infected themselves.

Symptoms

So how do you know that you have tonsillitis? The throat can become sore. Usually the doctor will diagnose you with strep throat. This is a bacterial sore throat that is caused by streptococcus. Strep throat is contagious so you will be treated with antibiotics so you won’t pass it to others.

A bout of tonsillitis may also be accompanied by a scratchy throat, red tonsils upon examination, enlarged lymph glands in the neck, headache, stiff neck and bad breath. You may also notice a fever and difficulty swallowing because of the enlargement of the tonsils.

As a parent you may not know how to identify enlarged tonsils or even a coating over the tonsils. If your child is too young to talk, they may refuse to eat, drool endlessly and also become fussy more often than normal.

Now, a single sore throat does not signal tonsillitis, but in combination with other symptoms it can alert you that something more is going on in your mouth or that of your child.

Treatment

There is a tier of treatment for tonsillitis. Even though your child is in pain, surgery is not the first option. Before any treatment is done, your doctor will perform a few diagnostic tests. They will take a throat swab.

This can be processed through a rapid strep test to give a doctor a heads up on whether you are likely to have strep. Another swab is sent out to the lab for a full testing with results coming back in about two days. A positive test usually signals a bacterial infection.

A CBC (complete blood count) is done to detect the presence of elevated white blood cell levels. White blood cells are deployed to fight infections and usually occur in conjunction with a fever.

For a strep throat, your doctor will likely order antibiotics to clear up the infection. Remember to take the antibiotics for the full ten days to be sure that the infection is gone.

Surgery is considered after a certain number of strep throat infections have occurred. Here the tonsillar tissue is removed completely, thus removing the cause of the infection. The tonsils are removed sooner if they have swollen to obstruct the airway.

Tonsillitis is a painful condition that mostly affects children. While surgery is not prescribed right away, it is often the end result.

Hormones are raging and so are emotions when teens hit puberty. For them, body image is linked to self-esteem. How their friends see them colors the way that they see themselves, even if it is not a fair assessment.

As parents it is our responsibility to step in and help our teens to see themselves in a more realistic light before they face their friends and their opinions. What this does is lay a foundation to help them not only fight back against peer pressure but also increase their self-esteem.

This is a challenging job for parents, especially in this society. Magazines, television programs and even commercials all show us women with impossibly small waists, no blemishes on their face and guys with six-pack abs and perfect hair. Who can live up to that?

Start with a little bit of logic. Realistically, everyone goes through puberty and faces the same problems like pimples and oily skin. A fashion model, whose livelihood depends on their looks, will have a doctor on retainer or even a make-up artist who can cover up those spots. The average teenager doesn’t have access to that.

Also point out that different parts of the body develop at different rates. During puberty, women get fuller in the hips, for example. Body hair starts to grow. Teach them how to work within those parameters. Dads can teach their sons how to shave. Girls can wear clothing that sits well on their new hips.

One of the worst things you can do is mention diets to kids who are slightly overweight. Instead, teach them how to eat. Stock your home with lean meats, healthy snacks, fruit and veggies so that they learn how to eat and enjoy healthier foods. With an active lifestyle in school and going out with their friends, they will work off any excess weight with food changes.

Exercise as a family. We all can use more activity. It gives you a chance to talk to your teen about their body and other issues that they face. Set goals for the activities that you do so they can improve their endurance and strength.

Giving them goals to shoot for improves their self-esteem. This affects their body image positively as well. In addition to that, you can be a positive role model. Act in a way that reflects what you are teaching them. Don’t complain about how you look. Do something to change it, which shows them that they can too.

Positive self-image in teens is as much about what you say as what you do to demonstrate it.

The title is a bit misleading. If you could actually beat menopause, there would be a line around the corner for the pill. But, you can lessen the symptoms that often make this time in a woman’s life so annoying and apparent to everyone else. And, it doesn’t necessarily require a pill.

The phrase, “you are what you eat” is quite appropriate right here. In many areas of our lives, what we put in our mouth can make or break the rest of the body. For instance, eating too many processed foods can lead to increased risk of obesity, high cholesterol and stroke. But, changing our eating habits can also lead to other more positive changes on the inside as well as the outside.

Symptoms of menopause

So, what are these daunting symptoms that many women fear to face? When the body goes through pre-menopause and eventually menopause (begins when the menstrual cycle has not happened for 12 months), the hormone levels that were maintained during childbearing years begin to fall off. Estrogen and progesterone are lower than before, which changes the reproductive cycle and also how the body functions.

It is not uncommon for women going through menopause to encounter a variety of changes. These changes include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, osteoporosis and irritability to name a few. No one wants to feel like they are having a meltdown in the middle of the grocery store or have a fire in their belly when it’s 20 degrees outside.

Food choices for menopause management

Here are some changes that you can make to your diet to help alleviate the effects of falling hormone levels and the resulting consequences.

* Fish oil – There are supplements but the best source will always be food. Try eating oily fish at least twice a week. Go for salmon, sardines or mackerel. They are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids which work to improve cardiovascular function and reduce cholesterol and heart disease risk.

* Nuts – They are a good source of plant protein that contains good fats as well as other vitamins like vitamin E for healthy skin, hair and nails. Calcium is also a component of nuts and seeds, which strengthens your bones. Eating soy and flaxseed provide your body with plant estrogens that can help calm hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

* Dairy – Don’t forget milk. It helps to strengthen bones by providing calcium, vitamin D and other minerals that the body needs but rarely gets. Eat your eggs, yogurt and low-fat milk.

* Fruits and veggies – Eat them raw if possible or just cooked to doneness to receive the full nutrient advantage. Not only do you gain energy from raw foods, but also vitamins and minerals that improve intestinal function and fight free radical damage in the body.

Are you fighting the good fight of menopause? Change your diet to strike the winning blow.

Sure it’s green and it smells when you cook it, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t good to you or good for you. Like other veggies in its class (broccoli for one), there is a hint of the sulfur – but don’t mind that. All of the benefits you get are well worth the clothespin on the nose while cooking.

Cabbage is a product of the Asian continent. European travelers brought it out from there and it has been used ever since. As with other plants and vegetables, it was revered for its medicinal qualities, like drinking the juice to heal stomach ulcers.

You might not want to drink cabbage juice or cabbage water, but you can get health benefits by just eating it. Cabbage is usually eaten boiled, either whole or chopped up. In coleslaw, it is sliced and raw. Eating it boiled helps you to avoid added sugars and fat that can be found in coleslaw dressings.

If you are looking for vitamin C, you can count on cabbage. We eat fruits as the primary source of this vitamin but there is a lot found in this vegetable. Other nutrients include manganese, magnesium, calcium and protein.

Cabbage has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers when eaten regularly. This is also true of other cruciferous veggies like broccoli. Phytochemical compounds in cabbage can protect against prostate, bladder and gastrointestinal cancers. It can also lower the risk of breast cancer. For those with cancer, it is believed to slow the growth of metastatic tumors, especially in the case of breast cancer.

Some cancers are thought to be aided by the presence of free radicals in the body. Nutrients found in cabbage can increase the antioxidant defenses in the body to neutralize free radicals. They also help the body to remove the deadly toxins that can lead to aging and cellular breakdown.

Ever had an ulcer? They are not fun and can be life-threatening under certain circumstances. An amino acid found in cabbage, glutamine, has been shown to fight back against ulcers – even being used in their treatment. Patients are given cabbage juice as a remedy.

This same amino acid also shows immune system properties. It helps reduce inflammation in the body and also helps with secretion of human growth hormone.

Are you looking for a way to get your vegetables and health benefits too? Your mom was right. Eat your cabbage.

Tui na massage is a different technique that specializes in removing the obstructions to the flow of energy or qi in the body. This is not different from the basis of most massage. With tui na, the emphasis is on patients who have back pain, sports injuries, trauma to different areas of the body and scar tissue of some kind in their body. Problems with muscles, joints and internal organs are their specialty.

What types of issues are treated with tui na massage? Problems with sore muscles, constipation, low energy levels, headaches, neck pain, sciatica and shoulder problems are among the conditions that have found relief with this technique.

Tui na can be combined with acupuncture if the patient needs a more detailed therapy along the meridian lines. But it is most often used alone. Those who experience it find relief of their pain, more mobile joints and an overall wellbeing as their body is put back into alignment and areas of blocked or stagnant blood are released. Scar tissue between muscles and fascia or bone are manipulated and broken up so that blood flow can be restored.

Preparing for a session

Your massage therapist will ask you for a detailed history of your medical condition. This is needed to help them concentrate on the right areas of your body for maximum results. The actual massage can last anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour per session, depending on your circumstances.

You have the option of wearing loose clothing or removing clothing. The concentration is on the back and neck usually unless you specifically have a problem elsewhere. For bare skin, aromatherapy oils are used to relax your muscles and create a calming mood during the massage.

You shouldn’t feel any discomfort during the procedure. There may be pressure or even a feeling of restored flow as the areas that were once blocked are allowed to channel energy again. Because toxins are being released anew, people may need to spend more time in the bathroom.

Tui na is not like any other massage. It has given rise to more manipulative forms like shiatsu, but it takes a practiced hand to recognize areas of pain and scarring that need to be released.

Like other massage, the point is not to treat the illness but to help the body to heal itself by identifying the point of the problem and releasing energy. If you suffer from trauma in the body, tui na massage may be what you need for restored health.

The special state of the preemie

Babies that are born before 37 weeks are considered premature. Obviously, the earlier they are born, the more problems they will experience in the body. Every effort is made to keep the baby in utero until the last possible second, but sometimes that is not possible.

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the hospital is made up of dedicated nurses and doctors who want your baby to thrive. They are prepared for the many common illnesses that may befall a premature baby.

Also, doctors would not release your baby unless they thought that he was okay to live away from the monitored life in the ward. You may feel a bit shaky because you won’t have all of those doctors around 24/7, but they will make sure you have all that you need.

Ask questions

Take the time to write down and ask all the questions you may have about bringing your baby home. Even if it seems mundane, ask anyway. You want to be comfortable and confident in your ability to care for your preemie.

Learn how to perform special tasks. Even if baby needs extra oxygen or certain medications administered, the doctor may still believe that they are strong enough to go home. They will in turn teach you how to care for any special equipment and how to safely administer medication in a sterile manner.

Check your insurance

Insurance is important but not for the reason you think. Yes, you need it to pay for hospital bills, but in the case of a preemie, check to see if home health care is a part of your plan. You may need a professional nurse to help you with day-to-day care and managing equipment for your baby. They can also make sure that you are taking care of baby properly when they aren’t there.

Get complete discharge instructions

Before you take baby home, make sure that you understand all of the instructions that the doctors and nurses are giving you. If you need to, create a schedule board to know when certain activities have to be done so things are straight in your head. Remember, the doctors are only a phone call away if you have problems.

Last but not least, germ-proof your home as much as possible. Baby is still fragile and keeping the air clean is important. Anyone with a cold needs to stay away to protect baby’s immune system until it matures.

Are you the parent of a preemie? Bringing baby home can be scary, but being prepared can alleviate much of the stress.

Premature babies may have a variety of health problems to deal with. Life on the outside can be hard for them for a while until their bodies catch up to where their development should have been when they were born. Parents would like to avoid that scenario if they could.

Risk factors you can avoid

Wouldn’t you do whatever you could to ensure your baby’s future health? There are risk factors for delivering a premature baby that are within our control to avoid.

* Smoking – Smoking has been linked to a lot of conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and several respiratory issues. The smoke is filled with toxins that are harmful to not only your body but also that of a developing fetus.

* Alcohol use – Babies born to mothers who drink are at risk not only for premature birth and birth defects but also fetal alcohol syndrome. This affects the neural development of the fetus. What the mother drinks has the potential to cross the placenta and enter the baby’s system.

* High blood pressure – Doctors may advise that you get your blood pressure under control before trying to conceive. Certain medications are not compatible with pregnancy, besides the fact that you are at risk for conditions that can complicate pregnancy, resulting in premature birth.

* Poor nutrition – A baby may have a hard time developing correctly if they are not receiving the proper nutrition from their mother. Not eating can lead to weight loss, which is dangerous for your unborn child. Eat well and often to provide yourself and the baby with nutrients it needs for full-term growth.

* Lack of prenatal care – Some conditions that are not avoidable can be detected with proper care. If you don’t have insurance, health departments provide prenatal care for little to no cost and your baby will get the same good care.

Risks you may not be able to avoid

* Family history – Certain illnesses or conditions may predispose you to early delivery or complications that may result in an early delivery to save baby’s life.

* Multiple births – If you are having multiples, there is a higher chance of delivering early. The earlier these babies are delivered, the more risk they have for lasting health issues.

* Infections – If you discover that you have an infection (especially in the vaginal area) while you are pregnant, seek medical advice. Some infections can compromise baby’s health and need to be treated during pregnancy.

* Age – For the most part this can be controlled, but there is the occasional slip. Older mothers have increased risk for developmental problems and premature birth.

Know the risk factors for premature delivery to reduce them in the life of your unborn child.