Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Are You Cheating Yourself When You Eat?

How many times have you eaten something while on the run and barely remembered it afterwards? Have you ever wolfed something down quickly in your car? Or nibbled while standing up in the kitchen staring at the interior of the refrigerator? How about while in the parking lot of the grocery store? You are cheating yourself out of one of life’s greatest pleasures! Not only is it easier to forget t. . .

Take the S off Your Chest

Did you know that negative stress - "distress" leads to disease and ultimately subtracts years from our life. Statistics show that a startling 75% - 90% of all doctor's visits are stress related. The Centers for Disease Control, in Atlanta, sights a significant link between stress and six of the leading causes of death; heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and. . .

What is Hypnosis?

Thought ProcessIn order to explain hypnosis it helps to understand how we process the endless stream of information we are bombarded with everyday. Our conscious mind acts as the gate keeper. It judges, critiques, accepts or denies information for storage in our long-term memory or subconscious mind. With repeated exposure or repetition to the same information or experiences, our thoughts can e. . .

Self-Defense Within Martial Arts Training Demands a Real-...

This story is being offered in response to a request made by my teacher, Soke (Grand Master) Masaaki Hatsumi, during a recent training visit to Japan. During one of the training sessions, Soke was suggesting that everyone, regardless of rank, should make it a point to talk to those with actual combat experience and to learn from these people. The point was, if you do not know what a real fight . . .

Surgical Hypnosis

When people set aside the usual myths and misconceptions associated with hypnosis good things usually happen. Recently, hypnosis has been getting some positive national exposure increasing the publics general awareness of its health related benefits and its role as an increasingly popular frontline holistic healer. Hypnosis is non-invasive, soothing and once the client understands the process t. . .

The Best Diet for your Body Type in 5 easy steps

Common sense (not to mention professional medical opinon!) suggests that a 'balanced' diet is best for almost everyone. By 'balanced', we mean that you strictly control your consumption of saturated fats and refined sugar, and be careful about how much protein you eat. Kind of makes the Atkins Diet look a little shaky, doesn't it? The Atkins Diet, and other 'crash' diets are a knee-jerk reactio. . .

Researching Glyconutritionals (a.k.a. Glyconutrients)?

The Greek word "Glyco" means, "Sugar". Most people think of sugar as being bad for you. However, there are actually TWO kinds of sugars. One is the refined or "extracellular" sugars which have been long associated with human disease. The other sugars are "intracellular" which can be found in fruits and vegetables and provide the body with nutrition it needs. These sugars, also known as complex . . .

What is Eustachian Ear?

Eustachian Ear is the name given to the medical problem that arises when the Eustachian tube in the middle ear is blocked. In the ear, the Eustachian tube normally allows the middle ear to drain into the throat. There is drainage because the middle ear has a fairly constant liquid which keeps the middle ear space moist and allows the liquid to drain down into the throat. This tube can be blocke. . .

Make Food Your Friend

The food you choose to eat, can be your answer to a healthy vibrant body or it can be the cause of your sick body. The fact is we need good nutrition for good health.Good nutrition can be broken into four categories: water, carbohydrates, protein and fat.WATER; water is an essential nutrient involved in every function of the body. It helps transport nutrients and waste products in and out of ce. . .

Massage For Hip Pain

Sometimes hip pain is just muscular and caused by trigger point in the muscles.And you can get relief to your hip pain just by massaging the muscles that are responsible of harboring the trigger points.This is how you do it.You search for tender spots from muscles near your hip joint, and massage them trough out the day in small sessions.If you find a spot that amplifies or reproduces the pain . . .

Being Nice Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

"Mom, what did the doctor say about your liver function tests?" Martha and her mother Leah spent plenty of time on the phone the days before the follow-up doctor visit talking about what this abnormal blood test could mean. With a heavy sigh Leah said, "Well, the doctor looked like he was having a hard day, and there were lots of people in the waiting room and they looked very sick, so I didn’t. . .

Menopause and Osteoporosis

We know that our bodies require calcium and vitamin D in order to build and maintain powerful bones. According to his recent book entitled, “Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis,” by Dr. Alan Gaby, it takes more vitamins than we think to prevent brittle bones including Vitamins K and B; as well as minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine, silica and boron. The idea is to provide enou. . .

The Truth About Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attacks & Phobias

For over a decade I have been helping tens of thousands of anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, PTSD and OCD sufferers to eliminate their conditions permanently. Yes, I did say permanently, because, contrary to popular belief, they can be eliminated 100%!So how do I cure mental illnesses like anxiety disorders? Well firstly, they are not mental illnesses, they are behavioural conditions which are s. . .

Herbal Supplements - Bedellium, Withania, Shilajit, Embli...

Ayurveda is perhaps the oldest system of health care in the world and originates from the Indian subcontinent. Ayurveda is based on scientific principles of diagnosis and treatment. It differs from conventional medicine in the basic principles of investigation and assigning causes to processes rather than specific areas of physiology. Ayurveda has been a vogue since 5000 years ago. Our Vedas ha. . .

How Body pH Can Affect Your Energy Levels

WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE; WE ARE BIO ELECTRICAL ENGINES In order to accomplish all the many millions of complex functions that occur over the course of the day, your body has to be able to communicate with itself… all the way down to the cellular level. And do you know how it does this? Through pulses of electricity. That's right, electricity.Your body operates on an electro magnetic c. . .

Recognizing the Symptoms of Stress

In order to figure out if you are stressed, it is necessary to know the symptoms of stress. Fortunately, these are usually fairly obvious, making stress easy to diagnose. However, it is never a bad idea to make sure that you know the symptoms of stress if you are not sure. In fact, some people are so stressed all the time that they never notice the difference. So, if you show some of the fo. . .

How I Did It - An Average Person's Account of Weight Loss

For most of my life, or at least as long as I can remember, I have been overweight. No let me rephrase. I have been fat. Yes, fat. Not just a little overweight, not big boned, not plus sized or comfortably large. Not weight challenged or in need of loosing a few pounds. I was fat. Fat, fat, fat. Fat to the point of being teased and of having problems finding cloths that fit. Fat to the point of. . .

Top Five FAQs About Nail Fungus

What is nail fungus? Nail fungus, also known as Onychomycosis, is an organism which digests the keratin found in your fingernails and toenails. The fingernail and toenail are naturally built to be strong barriers, and resistant to fungi and other infections. However, because of how strong this barrier is, once the infection is present, it is sometimes very difficult to eliminate. How can I prev. . .

Stress Management: A Self Help Guide

There have been many words written about stress management, though many people do not realize that it can be managed. In fact, stress is a scary thing but it is also a self-creating thing. The more stress you feel, the less able you are to deal with the things that are stressing you, causing the stress to increase. This is a vicious cycle and the key to stress management is to not get into i. . .

Coping With Stress and Anxiety

Among the hardest parts of living in the modern world is stress and anxiety. With worries about work, the environment, the economy, natural disasters, terrorism, and the general state of the world, it seems that there is no end to the number of things to worry about. Though we cannot control many of these things, they still weigh on our minds and cause us stress and anxiety. However, despite. . .

Different Types of Stress Test

Many people in this world need to take a stress test. These tests can take many forms and are designed to search for different things, but they all have one key goal: they want to see how you are doing. Merely taking a stress test can be a kind of stress all its own, but it does not have to be. And by understanding stress tests, you can understand more fully what they are designed to do.The . . .

Stress Relief in Minutes

For those who are suffering from stress, just about the hardest thing to find is stress relief. Stress can often continue itself on its own energy and, as it mounts up upon itself, it builds itself into an absolute mental frenzy. Unfortunately, this sort of mental frenzy is ultimately counter-productive and leaves the mind so frenzied that it cannot actually take care of whatever is causing t. . .

Do You Think You Have Depression?

Do you have days where nothing can make you happy? You are not alone. I ignored my depressive thoughts about life for years. Unfortunately I didn't do anything to fix my situation until they became so dehabilitating that I had no choice.Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. In a given year, an estimated 22.1% of Americans aged 18 and older (about 1 in 5 adults) s. . .

Fight Fatigue with this Natural Remedy

Most doctors agree that non-specific fatigue can be exacerbated by modern diets rich in fats and refined carbohydrates. For a graphic example of this, you only have to watch 'Supersize Me' - the Documentary about what happens if you eat nothing but fast food for a month. Additionally, drugs, coffee (caffeine products), smoking and alcohol can make the problem even worse, even though most of the. . .

MSM - The Best Natural Remedy For Pain Relief

With all of the dangerous side effects of pain medicine in the news these days it's great news that there is a safer alternative available to us. MSM (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane) is a natural and efficient source of organic sulfur, which is necessary for the formation of collagen, and is required by many of the body's structural molecules. It is a safe and natural, assimilable food derived from th. . .

Diabetes Is Beatable - Part 2

This is part 2 of a 4 part series entitled "Diabetes is Beatable". Our topic today is Chromium.Chromium is an essential trace mineral for the human body. The chromium found in natural foods is referred to as Chromium GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor.) According to the National Institute of medicine, chromium helps maintain proper blood glucose levels. In addition scientists believe Chromium GTF c. . .

Diabetes Is Beatable - Part 1

Many people, like yourself, are either victims of or know people who are victims of diabetes. I myself have been diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic, so I have a chance to reverse things if I modify my behavior. The Cost of Diabetes "In a recent speech the United States Centers For Disease Control reported that studies show a third of the people born in the USA in the year 2000 will develop diabetes. The. . .

Top Five Ways To Lose Weight Fast

Losing weight is not about achieving the hour glass figure or the perfectly sculpted and toned body. It is more about staying fit and remaining healthy to ensure a long, disease free life. Everybody knows that extra pounds increase the chances of a wide variety of illnesses, from heart disease to cancer to diabetes. This article shows you the top five ways you can lose weight, and fast.1. Eat L. . .

I Have a Headache!

Really. Not a great big skull-splitting headache. Just one of those little low-pressure guys. And I know why. It’s because I’ve been thinking too much. I really need to try to cut back on that.Actually, my headache is not the result of just thinking – it’s due more to what I’ve been thinking about. I can normally go for months and months and months without any perceptible twinge of intrac. . .

5 Steps to Start Your Weight Loss Program

Remember there’s more to you than meets the eye. You’ve got personality, brains, feelings… in short, all those things that make you, YOU. So why diet? After all, you’re more than just a body, and things that really matter can’t be measured on a scale.That said, there are some very good sound reasons for dieting. After all, dieting is not just for weight loss or weight gain. No, the true meaning. . .

Nail Fungus - What You Need To Know About

Signs and symptoms of a nail fungus infection.A nail fungus can be seen, smelled, or even felt once it takes hold. Here is a list of some of the most common signs and symptoms of nail fungus: The nail fungus may affect the appearance of the nails. They might look greenish, yellowish, or even darker colors. Some may have little white patches on them. Nails may get flaky, brittle and chipped. De. . .

Mistaking Hunger

You are not hungry most of the time. You are not always hungry when something smells good, looks good, or tastes good, whether or not you think you are. All food is prepared to tempt your taste buds, even though you’re not hungry.You are also not hungry because there is stress, a deadline, pressure, a personal or business problem, anxiety, tension, it’s morning afternoon evening when alone with. . .

Home Gyms, Worth the Money or Not?

Home fitness is a huge industry, and most people these days have purchased at least some sort of exercise equipment or fitness video for home use. A lot of it ends up in a closet, in the garage, under the bed, etc. and is never seen again. Reasons vary. Some people just don't have the discipline to work out regularly from home while others realize the miracle-wonder-ab-slimmer (or whatever) . . .

Your Dentist the Artist? You Better Believe It!

Washington, DC—Dentists designing “smile makeovers” (http://www.washdent.com) are in demand for more than their technical skill in placing crowns (http://www.washdent.com/proc_crowns.html), veneers (http://www.washdent.com/proc_veneers.html) and implants (http://www.washdent.com/dental_implants.html). Today’s sophisticated consumers are aiming for natural-looking teeth. They want a dentist wi. . .

Body Image

What do you look like? How big (or small) are you? How tall (or short)? How much do you weigh?When I ask participants how much they weighed when they were teenagers, I hear this lament: They thought they were very heavy, but when they look at those old photos now, they realize they weighed a weight they’d be thrilled to weigh today.To feel comfortable feeding the smaller person you’ve become, b. . .

Dieters Need More Calcium

Women on diets need more calcium than normal to avoid bone loss, say Rutgers University researchers. Studies showed a weight loss diet of 1.5 pounds a week for 6 weeks cuts absorption of calcium. In 57 postmenopausal dieters it was discovered that those women who took 1,800 mg of calcium a day absorbed 78 percent more calcium than those who took only 1,000 mg a day. To prevent bone loss, women . . .

Tips and Motivational Advice for Keeping Fit One Day at a...

Let’s face it….Losing weight and feeling great isn’t easy.BUT the journey is well worth it!Many people commit to their health and well being via a New Year’s resolution. Why not? The New Year is a great time to make a fresh start and commitment to your health.How do you remain motivated however for an entire year?The single most important piece of advice I can offer you is this:Don’t give up, a. . .

25 Uses for Essential Oils in Your Daily Life

Aromatherapy is a growing area of interest as North America continues its search for alternative and complimentary applications of natural medicines. The use of herbal supplements in our daily lives is one excellent example of this.Aromatherapy, however, is still in the realm of uncertainty. People are familiar with the term, most have heard of essential oils, but still few know how to use them. . .

Help Beat Winter Cold & Flu Bugs with Aromatherapy

'Tis the season alright. Flu bug, cold bug, sniffles, sneezes, stuffy heads, runny noses. Chances are you've already been hit by at least one of these symptoms. If you're like my family, you've been hit with them all.Here's a few essential oils that may help alleviate some of the symptoms and make everyone feel just a little bit better.Clear the AirAn easy way to make the air in your winter enc. . .

The South Beach Diet

Created by respected cardiologist Dr Arthur Agatston, the South Beach Diet is generally regarded as both effective and safe. Unlike most 'fad' diets, the South Beach Diet aims to modify your lifestyle slightly, in order to get you eating the right fats and carbohydrates, while actually enjoying it - this of course means you will be able to stick to it with less trouble than other diets! This is. . .

Can You Fight The Common Cold With A Natural Remedy?

Colds appear superficially similar to the 'flu, but are generally less severe. Common in the colder seasons, respiratory passage inflammation, irritation of the nose and throat, runny eyes, and of course fevers, chills and muscle aches are typical symptoms of the common cold. In extreme cases, a bad cold may even cause sinusitis or congestion of the chest, which can be particularly distressing . . .

What Is First Aid

First Aid as the words suggest is the care given to a casualty before professional help is required. This help can literally mean the difference between life and death.The aims of First Aid are: To preserve life To prevent the worsening of any injuries To promote recoveryWhy do we need First Aid and more importantly the correct products.Accidents do happen particularly in the home [approx 2.8mi. . .

Exercise for a Healthy Heart

Do you exercise every day? If you want to live a long, healthy life, maybe you should. A recent study by Timothy Wessel, a physician at the University of Florida, indicates one of the strongest risk factors for developing heart disease is inactivity – even more so than being overweight. During the four-year study of 906 women, Dr. Wessel documented those who were moderately active were less lik. . .

Is the FDA really looking out for you?

The FDA mission statement reads in part: “The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products …, our Nations food supply …” “The FDA is also responsible for … helping the public get the accurate, science based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.” With that m. . .

Paternity Testing - Are You Raising Someone Else's Child?

The dawn of the DNA testBack in the 1700s, the best way to determine paternity was by a good hard look and the child, followed by a good hard look at the father. Enough coincidences and maybe a relationship could be proposed. A hundred years later, eye color was discovered to be a paternity identifier. This theory has had its flaws exposed because of recent DNA advances. We now know that eye co. . .

How Do I Gain Weight?

Try asking people how to gain weight and you'll likely see some bewildered faces staring back at you. For the majority of people, hearing that question is akin to hearing the questions, "How do I stub my toe?" or "How do I run out of gas?" Those confused faces not withstanding, the question is a legitimate one and one that frustrates those who find themselves on the light end of the scale. W. . .

No Fuss Weight-Loss

To lose weight and keep it off you need an easy to follow no fuss plan. You need a plan that is simple and sensible. You need a plan that you can use everyday to get slim and healthy.You need a plan that builds on your success day-by-day. A plan that keeps you inspired and motivated by seeing results—fast! If you don’t see and feel results fast it’s far to easy to be tempted by the next fast. . .

How to Avoid Weight Gain While Working at Home

We have all heard the many benefits of working at home – set your own hours, spend more time with your family, avoid the commute, etc. And many people (including myself!) have actually reaped these benefits. But one thing we aren’t told is that for some of us, one unfortunate side effect of being at home all day is weight gain. Now I know that a lot of the work-at-home crowd is really only at h. . .

How to Get The Most From Your Home Workouts

A recent study found that home workouts may do even more good than workouts at a gym. This is good news for people who are time crunched and find it's too much trouble to make it to a health club.So how do you get the most from your home workouts? Follow these suggestions:1. Have A Plan. Know exactly what it is you want to accomplish and how you intend to get there. Plan out the exercises and t. . .

Are Ducts Making You Sick?

If you have a heating or cooling systems that uses air ducts, you could have a problem.There are many duct systems that are poorly designed and installed that have the ability to bring pollutants into your home.Some are ducts are located in wet or damp crawl spaces and basements.I've seen some of these areas and some look like an open sewer.Having ducts that are not properly sealed or insulated. . .