Pets are the best companions that you can have. With their innocence and playful spirit; it hardly takes any time for us to consider them a part of our very own family. However, they cannot express their feelings as easily as we do.
Being the pet owner it is important that you stay a little alert to detect any health issues that your lovely companion might be going through.
As your pets grow and start aging, it is very natural for them to witness health complications. Arthritis, lack of memory power, poor digestive capacity are some of the major problems that elderly pets suffer from. With a little care and following a healthier lifestyle for the pets can really reduce the pain that they suffer.
For example, if you own an elderly dog make sure to give a good quality natural pain relief for dogs to help them deal with aging. Following are a few ways that can help you tell if your pet has health problems-
If your pet is not eating properly
Sickness or health complications lead to lack of hunger. If you notice that your pet is not eating enough, consider it a sign that you need to visit the vet. The earlier you approach the vet, the easier it is to cure the problem.
Lack of playful spirit
Pets like dogs, cats, rabbits etc. are known for their playful spirit. They love to jump, run, and play around. Hence, if you witness a reduction in the playful spirit of your pet; make sure to visit the vet without any delay. Lack of willingness to play or do physical movements may be because your pet is suffering from joint pain issues. Make sure to give your elderly pets joint pain relief supplement like pet bounce for dogs. This natural pain relief for dogs work great and you can easily give it by mixing in their food.
Dental Problems
Dental problems are also very common among pets; especially in the last years. Make sure to notice bad breath, bleeding gums, increased drooling, red or swollen gums, plaque etc. on your pet and seek professional help on time. Dental health problems may even result into eating difficulty, irregular eating habits and subsequent weight loss.
How to Tell If Your Pet Has Health Problems
If your pet is sleeping most of the time and shows no interest when you try to play with them; they might be suffering from health problems. Make sure you get them examined as early as possible.
Increase your knowledge
All pets are different and unique from one another. Hence, you need to know the signs and symptoms of the common health problems that your pet is exposed to. Whether you own a bird, a dog or a fish; try to expand your own knowledge so as to ensure that you don’t miss any chance to detect health problems at its early stage.
Sudden weight loss or gain
Your pets need to be healthy to look healthy. If you see the pet gaining or losing weight all of a sudden, discuss it with the vet and get your pet examined.
A little alertness on your part can make in big difference in your pet’s life. Make sure you never take the above-mentioned signs lightly. Make life comfortable and healthier for your pet. Approach the vet on time and enjoy a healthy and joyous togetherness with your pet.
The first fitness trackers produced were primarily step counters, but they’ve evolved into much more. They now use sensors to track your heart rate, calories consumed, sleep quality, and body fat percentage.
They’re available in a variety of colors, shapes, materials, and sizes, and whatever your fitness goals are, you’ll find a fitness tracker to help you meet them.
While it’s nice to have a variety of options when choosing a fitness tracker, the volume on the market today can make choosing one difficult. However, you can narrow down your choices.
Consider the following five key features when making your decision about which fitness tracker is right for you.
Design
Image via Flickr by pestoverde
The type of design you prefer boils down to where you plan to wear your fitness tracker. If you think you’ll wear it only when you exercise, you’ll probably want a different design than if you plan to wear it to work.
Many fitness trackers are worn around the wrist, but some fitness trackers are worn as necklace pendants, clips, and rings. Many of these designs look like jewelry.
Some fitness trackers resemble traditional watches, with a large watch face connected to a narrow band, while others look more like bracelets. In the past, fitness trackers all had a similar, athletic-looking quality, but their designs now vary considerably.
Battery Life
Battery life is an important consideration. Many fitness trackers need to be charged every few days. You plug them into a wall outlet or computer when their batteries run down.
While most require frequent charging, some trackers operate using cell batteries that last anywhere from a few months to a year.
Corresponding App
Research the corresponding app before purchasing a tracker to find out if it monitors all the data you need. Check and see whether the fitness tracker you want is available online or whether it’s available only for download. Make sure it has an intuitive user interface.
Waterproofing
Waterproofing is another feature to consider. Many fitness trackers are water resistant and can handle a little rain, but if you plan to do plenty of outdoor activities, you may want to opt for a waterproof option. Moisture can shorten the life of a fitness tracker.
Calorie Counter
Many fitness trackers monitor how many calories you consume and burn each day. Some tell you if those calories came from fat, carbohydrates, or protein.
By monitoring your activity level and energy expenditure rates, the calorie counter can also tell you how many calories you burn each day. It shows you how your caloric intake and burn varies over time and lets you compare your day-to-day results. This evidence may provide you with all the motivation you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Wearing a fitness tracker is a great way to meet your fitness goals. When you’re deciding which one to purchase, think about where you’re going to wear it, its battery life, corresponding apps, and whether the device counts calories burned and consumed. Once you’ve chosen the one that’s perfect for you, commit to wearing it every day. It can motivate you to move more, eat better, and live healthier.
My husband Salty and I were riding our bikes along a trail one fine day when we came across a worried huddle at the side of the trail. At the center of the huddle was a middle-aged man, sitting hunched and breathing in short gasps. He was sweating far more profusely than the day called for and was red in the face. The bike he’d rented lay discarded in the weeds (or to be more precise, the poison ivy) beside the trail. Someone was already on the phone to 911.
He figured it would be no big thing. He used to ride a bike (now and then) when he was just a few years younger. Sure, he hadn’t gotten much exercise lately, but it was just riding a bike a few miles along a trail.
Let’s rewrite the story just a bit. Once upon a time there was a prepper. He had a very carefully chosen and packed Get Home Bag, because if Something Bad happened and he couldn’t drive home, his plan was to grab this bag and hoof it to his home just seventeen miles away. Sure, he hadn’t gotten much exercise lately, but it was just walking some miles. He could do it if he had to.
But when this prepper gets to breathing in short gasps, covered in sweat, nauseous, and red in the face … there isn’t any calling 911, and help is not just a phone call away. Our prepper is in a very bad spot.
Be real in your planning:
It does you no good to make plans for the shape you’d *like* to be in, or for doing things you’ll *need* to be able to do in an emergency unless your body can cash that check. Needs are not mechanisms. Needing to do a thing does not make us physically able to do the thing. Ask anybody who’s ever needed to be able to breathe under water if you don’t believe me. O wait, you can’t.
This is why you need an honest evaluation of your health.
The only plans worth breath to describe are the ones you can actually carry out. Stop a moment and think very honestly and realistically about what you can physically do, Today. Compare that to your plans for dealing with emergencies. If you plan to bug out of your city by foot carrying your Bug Out Bag, how far have you hiked carrying that thing this year? Did that hike include the hills that will be in your way, the obstacles you will be likely to have to scramble over?
Sure, you might be able to gut it out; but you might also get stuck with an injury (much more common when you’re pushing boundaries) or a simple inability to follow through and be worse off than when you started.
When plans aren’t realistic:
If anything in your plans is not something your body can handle right now, you’ve got three choices:
Forget this conversation and move on. <– Not a great choice. That’s day-dreaming, not prepping.
Change your plans. For example, Salty (my man) has knees that are not interested in hiking with a pack. Therefore, our plans for getting to The Place (our rural retreat) involve our touring bicycles and saddlebags. We *know* we can bike that far in a day because we do so several times a summer. A less-than-optimal plan you can actually carry out is worth infinitely more than a plan that’s perfect except for that tiny glitch of ‘you can’t do it reliably’.
Change yourself. There are several great reasons to get in better shape. Not needing medical care you won’t be able to get in an emergency is right up there; and so is being able to plan to do things like cut wood for heat and carry water up the hill to the house without having a heart attack.
What about medical needs?
The majority of adults in the U.S. are now on prescription medications; most of those people are on more than one. The best answer is to improve your underlying health not to need the meds. If that’s not possible or you’re not willing to change your lifestyle that much, Plan B would be is to stock up if you can. If that’s not feasible, Plan C is to have researched alternatives and be stocked up on them.
If you struggle with depression, have some St John’s Wort planted where you can get to it, for example. It has nice flowers anyway. If you have diabetes, make sure your food stores are choices that don’t tend to raise blood sugar much (very unlike many standard ‘prepper’ foods). If you have hypertension, keep the salt in your prep foods low, etc.
The main point: The plan’s only good if it is actually likely to work, and asking too much of your body in a high stress situation is a recipe for disaster. This is no place for ego; be honest to yourself about your capabilities and keep your plans within them.
About the author: Spice is one of the founders/owners of the website Beans, Bullets, Bandages and You, and one of the blog’s main contributors. She’s not a doctor, but has worked in the field physiology and medicine and has been published in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals. You can read more of her work at https://beansbulletsbandagesandyou.com. The photo shows the author on one of her training hikes.
There’s a never ending stream of celebrity confessions about mental health issues (such as this recent one from “The Rock”) at the moment. If it isn’t that it’s a pressure group highlighting the lack of funding given to this growing problem.
Mental health is a modern issue and one that’s seemingly on the rise. Or has it always been this way?
Are mental health issues just a byproduct of our modern lives? What’s the cause?
Here are a few stats on psychological problems we found from nami.org.
1 in 5 adults in the US experiences mental health issues in a year.
1 in 25 adults experiences a serious mental health issue in a year that interferes with their daily life.
1 in 5 youth (aged 13-18) experiences severe mental disorder and for children 8-15 the estimate is approximately one in 8.
Mental Illness costs the us $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.
Mental health issues are the third most common reason for hospitalization in the US for both youth and adults (aged 18-44).
Each day approximately 18-22 veterans die by suicide.
If the hospitals are filling up and all anyone wants to do is give you prescription medications what can individuals do to help themselves?
How high concentration sports can help
When we exercise, the brain releases certain chemicals which can help with mood and alleviate issues such as anxiety and depression.
Sport in general is very much in vogue at the moment, not just for the evident physical health benefits but for the well documented effect that physical activity can have on the mind. Physical activity and sport has a huge part to play in promoting and sustaining good mental health.
Collective sport, where we engage with other people also promotes our mental health as it offers interaction with others, fundamental for a healthy mind and outlook.
High concentration sports are a great elixir for those struggling with mental health issues.
The demand for concentration varies with the sport and is divided into three types:-
Intense concentration – used in sports like sprinting, target archery, darts
Short burst concentration – evident in golf and cricket
Sustained concentration – relevant to sports such as long distance running
Success in high concentration sports requires learning techniques to concentrate intensely for short periods of time. These sports train the brain to concentrate on the here and now, to ignore negative self-talk and doubt by utilizing positive self-talk. removing unhelpful thoughts and emotions and putting them to one side for a defined period of time.
From this, it is easy to understand why these techniques used by successful athletes in high concentration sports, can have a positive effect on almost anyone.
Let’s take Archery as an example
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Archery as a target sport requires high levels of concentration.
The practice of good shooting is a mindful one.
Archery requires intense short-burst concentration through the shot cycle. From picking a target and nocking an arrow to raising, drawing, aiming and release, the participant needs to intently concentrate on all aspects to achieve good form. This is necessary to create a repeatable process that leads to consistent aim and good shot groupings.
That process of concentration throughout the shot is one where the mind is encouraged to blank out all negative thoughts and focus solely on itself. Correct placement of your fingers on the string. The touch of your hand to your face when you anchor the shot. The push and pull in your arms. Slow and steady breathing. Tension in your back throughout the release. All this is only possible when the mind is fully in the here and now.
Becoming more aware of immediate physical sensations and our environment allows us to understand and process our mental traffic; it’s not about changing it but more the ability to disassociate ourselves from it and see it for what it is which is something that does not need to govern and define our lives.
Mindfulness is a heightened state of self-awareness, a way of slowing down the moment and focusing only on that point in time, developing deep levels of consciousness, of how the body feels rather than by being solely driven by the constant jumble of thoughts and emotions in our heads.
How you benefit
High levels of focus and concentration give rise to these faculties and emotions:
Mindfulness – Focus and concentration
Patience
Motivation
Self-efficacy
This can lead onto the following, positive lifestyle developments:
Reduced levels of stress and depression
A lessened anxiety level
Improvements in sleep patterns
Sharpened mind and mental faculties including memory
There are other indirect benefits that can come from taking part in archery:
Healthy competition
Co-operation
Teamwork
Leadership skills
Relaxation
Improved social skills
Self-esteem improvements
Fun and enjoyment!
New experiences and friendships
More than just the mind
It is possible for the young, the old and the less physically able to participate at the archery range. But does target archery offer any physical benefit?
You may be surprised to learn that an average female can burn up to 144 calories an hour doing just that at an archery range.Target shooting at modest ranges with medium power compound bows isn’t as physical as a gym session would be, but it IS physical and you will see benefits like these:
Balance
Core strength
Hand-Eye Co-ordination
Flexibility
Upper body strength development
Archery isn’t the only sport that does these things. There are other less popular ranged sports like skeet, clay pigeon shooting, and in the US hunting! Hunting involves much more than just shooting as there’s usually a decent hike added on before the thrill of the hunt begins.
Don’t always look to the main sports pages when you’re seeking out a new passion.
There is loads of useful resources on this and other target sports at targetcrazy.com.
We all know that when a person suffers from bad health, he can’t enjoy the pleasure of everything. In order to achieve the optimum health, nutrition experts and health practitioners suggest loading up on superfoods.
Believe me, no single food can improve or upkeep someone’s health.
It is a combination of several foods definitely about fruits and vegetables. Superfoods are considered full-packed nutritious foods that will sweep your illnesses away. What are superfoods and why are they called as super-foods?
What are Superfoods?
Certain foods do provide greater health benefits than most. We refer to them as “superfoods.” Superfood does’t have its own food group yet consuming these kinds of foods that are packed with nutrients is definitely a good idea.
Superfoods don’t just make you ten times healthier or keeping diseases away, but they can also bring you other wonderful health benefits. These foods have extra-large doses of vitamins and minerals that can help us sweep off diseases and live a longer, healthier and life.
The nutrients that superfoods contain include antioxidants, use to ward off cancer; healthy fats, for preventing heart disease; fiber, believed to prevent diabetes and digestive problems; and phytochemicals, the chemicals in plants responsible for deep colors and smells, that have numerous health benefits.
Can’t wait to know about these superfoods? Well, here’s a list of the 30 Superfoods, that will make you Super Healthy. You might want to include these in your grocery list.
Chinese Cabbage
This belongs to the cabbage family which has low sodium content, which means it can help regulate your blood pressure. It can also fight anemia and fatigue because it has a high iron content, which is responsible for producing hemoglobin in your blood. Chinese cabbage is rich in antioxidants, which can boost eye health and provide you with healthy, glowing skin.
Carrots
Carrots help with good vision and can help prevent cancer. It can also help slow down the aging process of cells. Studies show that carrots can lower the risk of heart diseases, and can have a cleansing effect by providing Vitamin A in the liver.
Lentils
They’re easy to prepare and high in protein, iron, and other essential nutrients plus it’s pretty cheap. Lentils are low in calories and high in nutrition and the perfect legume to eat in the summer in salads, spreads, and crackers. Eat lentils and reap their health benefits such as it can lower cholesterol, promotes heart health digestive health and stabilized blood sugar.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a good source of water, and they help to rehydrate the body in a different way. Pick a firm, dark green cucumber and pop it into your shopping basket to see its impressive health benefits. Aside from they keep you hydrated, cucumbers also help fight heat both inside and out. It flushes out toxins when you eat this superfood regularly.
Spinach
Spinach is another popular superfood that can be easily found in markets today. They are high in niacin and zinc, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese.
Did you know that cooked spinach actually has more nutrients than raw ones? Because cooked spinach contains a bit more iron and vitamins A, K, B2, and B6.
Green Leaf Lettuce
Green Leaf lettuce contains high amounts of vitamins A, C, K, and B vitamins, along with a number of essential minerals and also has protein and calcium. It can significantly aid brain function as it is rich in dietary nitrate, which helps prevent deterioration of brain cells.
But take note that green leaf lettuce may have the tendency to spark food allergies, especially if you already have some known allergies.
Broccoli
They are a good source of folate (folic acid) and also provides potassium, fiber. Vitamin C – builds collagen, which forms body tissue and bone, and helps cuts and wounds heal. It’s got fiber to help with regularity and keeping blood sugar levels optimal, it helps the heart and eyes with lutein, and can help prevent cancer.
Garlic
Aside from a popular spice, garlic is also used to treat anything from high blood pressure and heart disease to certain types of cancer. Plus, studies suggest garlic extract can be used to treat yeast infections in women and prostate issues in men.
Turmeric
The spice refers as Turmeric is actually the dried and ground rhizome of a plant in the same family as ginger. Turmeric is a powerful spice with an impressive list of uses and benefits. It’s known for its antioxidant content and ability to work as an anti-inflammatory.
Tomatoes
They’re super because they contain lycopene, an antioxidant rarely found in other foods. Studies show that it could protect the skin against harmful UV rays, prevent certain cancers, and lower cholesterol. Plus, tomatoes contain high amounts of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C.
Beans
Beans are a good source of protein and fiber, that helps you stay full and satisfied. The protein and fiber in beans also temper the rise in blood sugar that occurs after a meal, which can help stabilize mood. Eating beans regularly may decrease the risk of diabetes, heart disease, colorectal cancer, and helps with weight management.
Apples
Apples are extremely rich in dietary fiber and important antioxidants. It helps digestive process and contains polyphenols that offer a variety of benefits. The most notable of which is they’re able to help regulate your blood sugar levels. Apples are so nutritious food that you can still eat them even if you have diabetes.
Bananas
Most of us know that bananas contain a good amount of potassium, but it’s also a good source of fiber. When combined, these two features make bananas one of those foods you should try to consume on a daily basis. Why is potassium so important? It helps to regulate your blood pressure, and this does a great service to your overall heart health and well-being.
Avocados
Avocados do contain a decent amount of fat that is known to have heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. They also contain more potassium than bananas! The potassium in it can help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels. For those who wish to get rid of extra pounds, eat more avocados often because it is loaded with fiber.
Lemons
Lemons are one of the best ingredients for detox water because they are rich in vitamin C. They are best for aiding one’s digestion, shedding off pounds, and even boosting one’s energy. It can also treat internal bleeding because of its antiseptic and coagulant properties.
Watermelon
Watermelons can surely help you hydrated because it is made up of about 92% water. This fruit has a good number of electrolytes, which can protect you from heat stroke. They also contain more lycopene than tomatoes. Lycopene is an antioxidant that promotes heart and eye health, keeps bones strong, boosts brain function, and prevents various cancers.
Berries
Many types of berries can offer you plenty of antioxidant support, as well as add a burst of flavor to a dish, a meal, or all by themselves. Blueberries have been shown to help the belly fat fight and help you avoid cardiovascular diseases. Cranberries can help with yeast infections, tooth health, and certain types of cancers. Goji Berries rank extra high in antioxidants. And raspberries contain a good amount of potassium which can help with blood pressure levels.
Mangosteen
Mangosteen is a healthy fruit that is rich in water, energy, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. It is among the fruits that are known to contain powerful antioxidants that are useful to the immune system and the entire body. Incorporating mangosteen in the diet may be effective in weight loss. The various nutrients found in mangosteen also ensure good health and well-being.
Mangoes
This tropical fruit helps strengthen your memory as well as your digestion. It may also fight cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Eggs
A powerful source of protein is found in eggs that helps you lose weight. It is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for normal body function and heart health. They are also rich in nutrients such as amino acids, choline, vitamin D, and a whole lot more.
Dark Chocolate
This is one of the superfoods that many people will not have a problem eating. A cacao bean confection that is rich in flavonoids that can help lower blood pressure and regulate blood circulation in the body. It also promotes heart health, boosts brain function, and reduces the risk of several types of cancer.
Pineapple
Never miss a chance to eat pineapple. Not only is it absolutely delicious, it may also strengthen your digestion, your bones, and can aid with weight loss. This tropical fruit is a great source of vitamin C known to help boost immune system.
Oatmeal
Oats got plenty of fiber without a lot of calories so you can feel fuller longer without dipping too far into your daily calorie budget. If you do start adding more oats to your diet, be sure to go organic so you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you’re not ingesting grains that were treated with pesticides and other chemicals.
Honey
Honey offers a lot of variety when it comes to foods. It can help you prevent things like cancer and heart disease, and if that’s not enough it can also help regular blood glucose levels. Try adding a teaspoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon to a cup of hot water in the morning. It can make a great replacement for a cup of coffee and can prepare your digestive system for the work ahead of it for the day.
Sweet Potatoes
Start to consider adding sweet potatoes as side dishes to your meals throughout the year. Sweet potatoes are high in many important nutrients which contain a good amount of fiber. They’re a good source of iron, as well as magnesium and Vitamin D, C and B6. They’re also great for reaching weight loss goals and are a good carb.
Here are its benefits:
Stabilizes Blood Sugar
High in Antioxidants
Boosts Brain Function
Enhances Immunity
Promotes Vision Health
Aids in Weight Loss
Salmon
Salmon is another superfood that can definitely give you a healthy heart. With its high dose of omega-3 fatty acids, salmon can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. When you are exposed under the heat of the sun, there’s no need to constantly apply sunscreen lotions. Why? Because salmon has anti-inflammatory properties and it can boost your skin’s natural protective shield against the damaging effects of UV rays.
Raw Milk
You may think that milk is a beverage it’s actually considered a food. Raw milk, especially kefir, provides the body with a rich source of vitamins A, D, C and B. It’s also loaded with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, essential fatty acids (medium-chain triglycerides, or MCT oil) and trace minerals.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a must have in your daily diet. This is a young grass of the common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum. It is loaded with the iron, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, vitamin A, C, and E. But what adds to wheatgrass’s value is the high amount of chlorophyll it contains. Chlorophyll is a much-needed nutrient that the Westerner’s body often goes without.
Raw Nuts
Raw almonds, walnuts, cashews, and other nuts provide a hearty dose of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. They’re also loaded with vitamins and minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and calcium. Nuts may help lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes, especially when you use them as a protein substitute for red meat.
Coconuts
Coconut and coconut oil are both high in medium-chain triglycerides, a type of beneficial fatty acid that can help support the health of your gut due to its bacteria-fighting, antioxidant properties. These fatty acids are also easy to digest, can be burned up as fuel rather than stored as fat and are able to provide immediate energy. Coconut oil has been credited with aiding in weight loss, keeping hair healthy and smooth, and even preventing bone loss.
You are what you eat!
Whether you’re searching for ways to boost your immune system, fighting fatigue, or recovering from an illness, doctors often recommend healthy lifestyle changes. The foods you eat can often help with the prevention and management of symptoms.
So if you want to achieve overall good health, go ahead and stock up on these amazing eatables today. A good goal would be to eat at least one superfood a day, but of course the more the healthier. One of life’s pleasures is sampling new tastes, and if you find that you haven’t tried some of these foods before, start with those so you can broaden your taste horizons.
The first fitness trackers produced were primarily step counters, but they’ve evolved into much more. They now use sensors to track your heart rate, calories consumed, sleep quality, and body fat percentage.
My husband Salty and I were riding our bikes along a trail one fine day when we came across a worried huddle at the side of the trail. At the center of the huddle was a middle-aged man, sitting hunched and breathing in short gasps. He was sweating far more profusely than the day called for and was red in the face. The bike he’d rented lay discarded in the weeds (or to be more precise, the poison ivy) beside the trail. Someone was already on the phone to 911.
There’s a never ending stream of celebrity confessions about mental health issues (such as this 
Archery as a target sport requires high levels of concentration.
We all know that when a person suffers from bad health, he can’t enjoy the pleasure of everything. In order to achieve the optimum health, nutrition experts and health practitioners suggest loading up on superfoods.
This belongs to the cabbage family which has low sodium content, which means it can help regulate your blood pressure. It can also fight anemia and fatigue because it has a high iron content, which is responsible for producing hemoglobin in your blood. Chinese cabbage is rich in antioxidants, which can boost eye health and provide you with healthy, glowing skin.