Carpet is one of the main causes of indoor air pollution. A common health problem in a home is allergies. Carpets are a great environment for molds, mildew, and dust mites. In addition, the modern carpet in houses today are made of synthetic fibers dyed and treated with chemicals such as soil repellants, pesticides, and fungicides and fused to synthetic backing with chemical glues. These materials release hundreds of volatile organic compounds as it age in a process known as outgassing. Volatile organic compounds can be irritants, mutagens, and carcinogens. This is not the thing to have in your house.

Carpet retains what you and your family or guest has tracked into the house. It can be outside dirt from off the ground, lead dust found in flaking house exterior paint, bacteria, insects, garden and lawn chemicals, and other unhealthy debris. Also carpet can attract and retain hair, food crumbs, and dead skin.
Cleaning a wall to wall carpet to 100% clean is almost impossible. Have you ever tried one of those steam cleaners to clean your carpet and tried to clean the same spot over and over, only to see more dirt come out. Trying to clean the carpet can come with problems. Vacuuming carpets can cause mold spores and dust to stir up. Shampooing carpets can leave the carpet damp which can cause more mold growth. The shampoo may even have toxic or irritating chemicals added.

On the other hand you can you use ceramic tile to put on your floors instead of carpet. Ceramic tile is made of clay materials fired in a kiln. You can get tile sealed with non-leaded glaze, which is impermeable to mold and bacteria and is tolerated by chemically sensitive people. Ceramic tile is fused to the floor base with low toxicity thin set mortar and can be grouted with home-made free grout. 2/3 parts dry and clean sand mixed with 1/3 part Portland cement can be prepared and added to water to form a damp slow curing grout.
Ceramic tiles can be expensive due to the installation. They last long if maintained properly and can be affordable in the long run.

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Wonderful things will begin to happen to your body and mind when you begin to consume high quality food and nutrition for your body. When the nutrients you consume have a better nutritional value than the nutrients already in your body, then the body begins to eliminate the lesser quality materials and begin to rebuild cells and tissue with higher quality nutrients that’s now being consumed by the body.
Your body will naturally start a detoxification process when you start eating higher quality food. You may notice symptoms when the detoxification process begins. For example if you stop drinking caffeinated drinks you may experience headaches, which is a symptom indicating the body is eliminating caffeine from the body tissues and sending it through the blood stream. Eliminating toxins and detoxifying the body is a wonderful process that helps the body rejuvenate.

In since our environment is full of toxins, detoxification is good for the body. There are different ways to detox the body and rid it of toxins. Simple detoxification starts with your diet. When you change your diet to a healthier one you will notice the body detoxifying itself. Your body knows what to do to rejuvenate itself. Your body depends on your organs to detoxify the body. Organs such as the colon, kidneys, lungs, and liver are the main detoxification organs. The kidneys clean out waste from the blood and into urine, the lungs remove unstable gases as we breathe, and the liver cleans out wastes and foreign substances from the blood.

How long the detoxification process symptoms takes depends on how much toxins are in your body. Symptoms can be diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, nausea, constipation, and fatigue and can last for up to 3 weeks before slowing down. This is a natural process and it takes a lot of energy to detox the body. Once your body gets rid of the toxins, your energy levels will increase.
You can rejuvenate your health with a detoxification routine. When your body eliminates toxins your health and energy will be revitalized.

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Swami Kuvalyanand mentioned that “Yoga is for the human body, mind and spirit.” This is a saying that a healthy body is the main requirement for a happy and successful life. More people now believe that not only does yoga cause good health, but it is one of the reasons for a happy and stress free life. It is not just an exercise routine.
We will talk about Anuloma-Viloma (alternate breathing) pranayama. Pranayama means the management of the vital force-prana. The principle remains the same, but however different types of pranayama have been created, with each having its own technique. Anuloma-Viloma or nadi shuddhi pranayama (nerve purifying pranayama) is one type and is considered one of the basic types.
Practicing Anuloma Viloma is just like the crew that regulates traffic on roads, looks after their cleanliness, and keeps traffic moving efficiently. The method consists of breathing in through one nostril and vice versa. This pranayama has the name anuloma viloma (alternate breathing). To perform this, you have to sit in a yogic sitting posture; to start, breathe normally while applying comfortable anal contraction. Breathe in and breathe out completely. Make sure the anal contraction is not loosened during the process. Pause for a moment between inhaling and exhaling. Inhale deeply through the left nostril and exhale through the right one; then breathe in through the right one and out through the left. Keep breathing this way for one to three minutes.

After reaching a comfort level, you can move on to the next stage. Put the right thumb over the right nostril to close it, while keeping the other four fingers away. Slowly inhale through the left nostril at an even speed. Repeat with other nostril. While inhaling lift the shoulders and expand the chest pushing the ribs up. The lower stomach area must be held in.
Benefits: a cleaned respiratory passage, which prepares you for other pranayamas. Breathing becomes more controlled and easy. The heartbeat is more rhythmic. It helps in enhancing memory, concentration, and other mental capabilities.
Contraindications: enlargement of liver, severe stomach pain, appendicitis, gentle intestines, lung disorders, growth in the nose, blockage of nasal passage due to cold, and severe throat infection, etc.
Caution: If you are reading this article follow all precautions before performing any of the asanas from this article. To avoid complications while performing the asanas, it is highly recommended that you consult with a yoga instructor and doctor. Responsibility lies only on the reader and not with the article, writer or this website.

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Great health is based on flexibility, strength, and fitness. All three are important. Any Aerobic exercise is good for a healthy heart. Usually it needs continued movement over a period of time that uses your arms and legs. This type of workout makes the heart work harder. Aerobics allows your body to burn fat for energy and use oxygen. Cycling is good aerobic activity.

Cycling is a great exercise for people with heart disease or high blood pressure. According to research cycling reduces blood pressure better than more intense activities such as jogging. Eventually cycling conditions and strengthens your heart. It is recommended by The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine that cycling should be used for low-risk cardiac people and healthy individuals.
The benefits of cycling are increased flexibility, reduce stiffness and ache, keeps you in shape, makes you feel good, increased confidence, increased endurance, reduce nervousness, stimulates sexual desire, strengthen the muscles that supports joints, improve sleep, reduce sleep disorders, improved memory and attentiveness, and increase the ability to perform daily tasks.

You can try biking when you are depressed. Go out biking and take a look at the beautiful world. Go into the fresh air and allow your body to experience happy hormones while cycling, which are natural pain killers. Remember the times when you were younger and you played a lot of sports and games and hang with other kids. Remember the times you ride your bike as a kid and fell off it a lot. Well don’t give up on it. Bicycling is a wonderful way to have fun while staying fit and healthy. There are no age restrictions on biking, you can still ride your bike just as much as you were younger, besides you might meet people along the way while riding your bike.
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Many of us out there in the world are dieting and trying to live a healthy life. Some of us exercise and try to eat only the healthiest foods. Many of us know that white sugar, white flour, and trans-fats are not healthy for the body, especially if you want to maintain your weight. There are foods out there that we think are healthy, when in fact it is actually unhealthy for our bodies and can make us sick. Below are some foods that we think are healthy, but is actually unhealthy.

Artificial sweeteners
People that are on a diet will often choose beverages with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Even though sugar is bad for you, artificial sweeteners are actually worse and can be dangerous to your body. All the artificial sweeteners are unhealthy. Some of them are nutrasweet (aspartame, Equal). There are over 90 different health related side effects associated with consuming aspartame, including birth defects, diabetes, brain tumors, epilepsy/seizures, and emotional disorders. There are more negative reports on nutrasweet to the FDA than all foods and additives combined. A better alternative to chemically imitative sweeteners is stevia. Stevia comes from a plant. It’s been used for hundreds of years with no side effects. You can buy it from health food stores and possibly other places.
Some energy and sports bar
Many sports bars are filled with ingredients that are not too good for the body, and are just a little better than candy bars. A lot of them contain artificial sweeteners or sugar, preservatives, chemicals, and synthetic nutrients. When buying an energy bar check the ingredients. Try buying ones that is made of whole foods such as fruits, flax seeds, natural sweeteners, and oats.

Sports drinks
Many people believe that sports drinks are good for the body when doing heavy exercising. Sports drinks are filled with sugar and salt, as well as artificial colorings and flavorings. If you add a little salt to cool aid you will pretty much have about the same thing. You’re better off drinking purified water or diluted juices when you exercise.
Soy products
I know you may be surprised to read this, but soy products are not good for you. Soy has been used for generations in Asia. The way we use soy now is not the same way the Asians traditionally used soy. The Asians knew how hard it was to digest soybean, so they had a fermenting process that broke down most of the indigestible contents, which made it healthier to eat. Examples of this process would be food products like tempeh, soy sauce, and miso. These food products were used as flavorings and condiments in small amounts, but not as a meat replacement. The way we use soy as an alternative to meat can be unhealthy, because soy contains a lot of toxins/anti-nutrients. The anti-nutrients in soy can cause health problems of the pancreas, thyroid complications, and cancer. Soybean can inhibit the body from absorbing essential minerals.
Granola and other unprepared grains
For three to four decades granola has been considered healthy. However eating unprepared grains that have not been soaked, fermented, and sprouted has surfaced for about five to ten decades. People that came before us know that unprepared grains can cause dietary problems. Just like in soybeans there are anti-nutrients in grains, such as phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors, that make it hard to digest. The anti-nutrients can cause problems like colitis, crohn’s disease, and mental disorders. Failure to prepare grains properly is one reason celactic disease is so prevalent.
Just stay away from the granola. Oatmeal is a wonderful food to have in our diets, however use whole rolled oats and not the instant kind. Soak them overnight before boiling them for breakfast. The good breads to eat are the ones that have properly prepared grains, including sprouted grain breads and whole grain sourdough. You can find these in health food stores. If you are trying to eat healthy and or lose weight, there is something you can keep in mind, all because a store markets something as healthy or if a health food store sells it doesn’t mean that it is healthy for you. Do your homework before you go out shopping for healthy food and make sure the food you are buying is really healthy. Your body will be happy you did.

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Air is important to life. You may live for a few days without food or maybe even water, but it is impossible to survive a minute or two without air. Oxygen is essential and is needed for the process of combustion taking place in the different cells of the body. We obtain oxygen from the air. When we inhale, oxygen from the air dissolves in the blood and flow through the fine capillaries in the lungs and is then carried to every cell in the body. The end product of combustion and other processes taking place in the cells are carbon dioxide and other toxic substances that are made in the cells. Carbon dioxide breaks down in the blood. When this unfiltered blood carrying carbon dioxide gets to the lungs, carbon dioxide is released into the air in the lungs and exhaled.

When we inhale, oxygen in the air enters the lungs and dissolves in the blood. When we exhale, carbon dioxide formed in the body is expelled. The blood gets filtered in the lungs. This basic information shows the importance of deep breathing. The main source of oxygen on earth is vegetation such as trees, green plants, and shrubs. For their nutrition and growth plants take carbon dioxide from the air, and release oxygen into the air. The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere is somewhat greater in areas with a lot of greenery. On the other hand, highly populated and industrial areas are more deficient in oxygen and polluted. The destruction of vegetation going on now contributes to this deficiency and pollution.

Now that we know some facts, it is beneficial to walk in areas with a lot of greenery or vegetation, such as fields and gardens, especially when you do it with deep breathing to ventilate your lungs. The fresh air being rich in oxygen, purifies the blood and the body and fills the mind with happy thoughts.
Recommendations:
(1) Try to always breathe through your nose. The hair in your nose filters out fine dust particles in the air. Also the air warms up when it passes through the nose, which has a beneficial effect in the lungs.
(2) Try to always take deep breaths; So carbon dioxide is eliminated properly and toxins don’t build up in the body.
(3) While sleeping do not cover the face.
(4) During the winter time cover yourself with warm coverings to protect yourself from the cold, but let windows open.

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If you or someone you know had cancer before, then it’s important to know the potential health concerns from cancer and its treatment. Often people diagnosed with cancer do not remember consultations during the days after they were diagnose about problems such as depression, pain, infertility, and other physical and emotional changes. Whether the problems are permanent or temporary, most of them can be managed.
According to Pamela J. Haylock, MA, RN, “the late effects of the treatment of cancer and cancer itself for survivors diagnosed as adults remain inadequately documented. Up to 75 percent of survivors have some health discrepancies related to cancers and therapies. Being knowledgeable about the risks and learning and utilizing risk reducing strategies are crucial steps in survivor’s recovery.”

Below is some advice recommended by nurses:
*participate in stress management, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and weight management to live a healthy lifestyle.
* Schedule regular doctor appointments
*Ask your oncology specialist for a written report on your cancer diagnosis, tests, treatments, and recommendations for follow ups once treatment is done. Create a file or folder to organize and manage laboratory and diagnostic reports. You can give this folder to your doctor so they can make a copy for their records.
*Talk with your doctor about possible long term effects of your cancer therapy and ways to minimize or prevent them. Effects may differ from person to person, therefore make sure you educate yourself and find out more about your body.

*Tell your doctor about your previous cancer history, treatment, current medications and long term affects you may experience, including early menopause, infertility, dry mouth, indigestion, taste changes, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, sleep issues, memory loss, dry skin, vision problems, hearing problems, depression, anxiety, sexuality/relationship issues, pain, confidence issues, or numbness or swelling in the fingers and toes.
*Search for information that will assist with emotional, physical, or financial issues that may come up.

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In text photo credit: Cancer Institute of Columbia. By PAHO/WHO
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Many of us skip breakfast every now and then. Some of us may think that breakfast is pointless, but those of us that think that are wrong. Eating breakfast speeds up the metabolism. With your metabolism working more efficiently, the body is able to burn more fat, which is beneficial to the people trying to lose weight. Some people may drink a cup of coffee for breakfast. It may be there breakfast, but it is not a healthy breakfast.

Below we list samples of healthy breakfast:

Brown Rice: Eat brown rice. It contains Vitamin B, the source of energy; and it contains a source of fiber. You can eat brown rice with low cholesterol foods such as vegetables, fat-free meat, and fish.

Strawberry: One cup of strawberries 3 times a week is good for you. It has vitamin C and antioxidants which is beneficial to your health. You can also eat the strawberries with other berries.

Chamomile Tea: Drink a cup of chamomile tea. This tea can help you reduce your stress and make you feel calm.

Fruit smoothie: Add a cup of strawberries and banana and a glass of ice to your juicer. This will make a healthy breakfast. If you add plain yogurt, you will be adding calcium to the healthy fruit smoothie.

Orange juice: You can get more vitamin c and lower your cholesterol level by drinking one to three glasses of orange juice. According to research three glasses of orange juice a day for about a month can enhance your good cholesterol (HDL) up to 21 percent.

As you can see from the ideas mentioned above there are a lot of great and healthy options out there when choosing something for a healthy breakfast. Choose whatever dishes you know you will love and that’s healthy at the same time.

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In text photo credit: Brown Rice by Rob Qld
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Some of the diseases that can be caused by obesity are liver ailments, joint pains, diabetes, high blood pressure, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, hyperlipidemia, palsy, heart ailments, female infertility, decrease libido, arteriosclerosis, cholelithiasis, mental stress, and menstrual abnormalities. The list can go on and on. A person that is considered obese is a person with a body mass index over 30. In theory the causes of obesity are consumption of fatty foods, genes, food habits, lack of exercise, endocrine problems, and laziness.

Below are some remedies people utilize for getting out of obesity.
• Liposuction: This is a surgical procedure in which fat is sucked out the body by utilizing a needle that is inserted into the body.
• Surgery: Usually this process involves surgery on the stomach and intestines to reduce food consumption.
• Diet pills: Most of the diet pills are for short term use. Diet pills are only effective if they are used in conjunction with a diet and exercise.
• Fat burning pills: These are short term pills. However the results don’t last long. Once you stop taking this medication you start gaining the fat back.
• Exercise: It is one of the best techniques for obesity reduction. There are no side effects because exercise is natural
• Dieting routine: This is natural just like exercise. A certain amount of food is consumed, which controls the development of fat in the body.
• Acupressure and acupuncture
Whatever method you chose to reduce obesity, just know that the best methods are the natural ones such as diet and exercise. Taking diet pills will have some effects, but will not last long.
Aside from the physical effects of obesity, you may also feel unhappy, rejected, and may keep away from social gatherings. If you are experiencing obesity you should start acting on it now. Before choosing your remedy for losing weight consult with your doctor first to get their views and recommendations.

Photo credit: Obesity #1. By Ingo Bernhardt
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Menstrual cycles, is one of the most irritating problems faced by women every month. They make you really irritated and you don’t really feel like doing anything. Added to that there are many more problems that you will have to face during your period. So, have a look at a few such problems that you face during periods and also learn how to get rid of them.

• Acne is one of the most common problems that you see during your period and for those who already have oily skin, this can be even more annoying as the progesterone glands increase the production of oil. You should make sure that you are using the right face cleanser and make sure it is mild. Do not go for harsh scrubs.
• Menstrual cramps is another common problem faced. This has got some simple solutions such as using heat pads or taking certain medications.

• Many women face another common problem – weight gain. Yes, just in those 5 days of flow, you will feel an increase in your weight and that is due to the retention of water in the body. You can even try Yoga classes and cycling is another good option.
• Migraines and headache are also seen more in women during their period. The reason for this is due to the drop in the levels of estrogen. If you are facing this severe migraine and headache every month, then you should definitely talk to your doctor and get the right medicine.

• Mood swings are also very common in women during periods and the reason for these mood swings is also because of the drop of estrogen levels. Make sure that you are maintaining a good blood sugar level, without fluctuations.
It is very important to take care of all these before they become really severe. You can talk to your doctor regarding the right medicine during periods and that can be of great help every month. There should not be any hesitancy while discussing the problem, as it is common to many woman and sharing the problem could help it to be resolved. Moreover, periods are not something to be ashamed of, but the problems that are generated by neglecting them is very serious. So, always be on your toes while monitoring the dates and if you find any abnormality meet with the doctor immediately.