Reducing viral breeding grounds including FLU, Swine Flu, H1N1 and other viruses

From Mike at www.azaloe.com


Summary :

1. Frequent hand washing and sanitizing– this is well documented

2. Keep your hands away from your face

3. Keep your Throat clean - Gargle twice a day with warm salt water or Listerine. Drinking warm liquids has a similar effect as gargling, it washes germs into stomach where it cannot live.

4. Keep your Nose clean- Swab nostrils with warm salt water or do a sinus cleanse.

5. Boost natural immunity with Vitamin C and antioxidants.

Advice above was taken from and email forwarded to me, Source of information


DR. VINAY GOYAL IS AN MBBS,DRM,DNB (INTENSIVIST AND THYROID SPECIALIST) HAVING CLINICAL EXPERIENCE OF OVER 20 YEARS. HE HAS WORKED IN INSTITUTIONS LIKE HINDUJA HOSPITAL , BOMBAY HOSPITAL , SAIFEE HOSPITAL , TATA MEMORIAL ETC.. PRESENTLY, HE IS HEADING OUR NUCLEAR MEDICINE DEPARTMENT AND THYROID CLINIC AT RIDDHIVINAYAK CARDIAC AND CRITICAL CENTRE, MALAD (W).


Original Email, all uppercase, sorry that is how it was forwarded to me:

Besides handwashing and keeping hands off the face, there are a
> couple of suggestions made here that I didn't know about and I think
> would be worth the effort. Stay healthy! Pass this on to others in
> our school.
>
> Alana (Kaden's mom)
>
> _SWINE FLU - ADVICE_
>
> _ _
>
> _DR. VINAY GOYAL IS AN MBBS,DRM,DNB (INTENSIVIST AND THYROID
> SPECIALIST) HAVING CLINICAL EXPERIENCE OF OVER 20 YEARS. HE HAS
> WORKED IN INSTITUTIONS LIKE HINDUJA HOSPITAL , BOMBAY HOSPITAL ,
> SAIFEE HOSPITAL , TATA MEMORIAL ETC.. PRESENTLY, HE IS HEADING OUR
> NUCLEAR MEDICINE DEPARTMENT AND THYROID CLINIC AT RIDDHIVINAYAK
> CARDIAC AND CRITICAL CENTRE, MALAD (W). _
>
> _ _
>
> _THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE GIVEN BY HIM, I FEEL MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND
> IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL TO KNOW _
>
>
> THE ONLY PORTALS OF ENTRY ARE THE NOSTRILS AND MOUTH/THROAT. IN A
> GLOBAL EPIDEMIC OF THIS NATURE, IT\'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID
> COMING INTO CONTACT WITH H1N1 IN SPITE OF ALL PRECAUTIONS. CONTACT
> WITH H1N1 IS NOT SO MUCH OF A PROBLEM AS PROLIFERATION IS.
>
>
> WHILE YOU ARE STILL HEALTHY AND NOT SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS OF H1N1
> INFECTION, IN ORDER TO PREVENT PROLIFERATION, AGGRAVATION OF SYMPTOMS
> AND DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY INFECTIONS, SOME VERY SIMPLE STEPS, NOT
> FULLY HIGHLIGHTED IN MOST OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS, CAN BE PRACTICED
> (INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON HOW TO STOCK N95 OR TAMIFLU):
>
>
> 1. FREQUENT HAND-WASHING (WELL HIGHLIGHTED IN ALL OFFICIAL
> COMMUNICATIONS).
>
>
> 2. "HANDS-OFF-THE-FACE" APPROACH. RESIST ALL TEMPTATIONS TO TOUCH
> ANY PART OF FACE (UNLESS YOU WANT TO EAT, BATHE OR SLAP).
>
>
> 3. *GARGLE TWICE A DAY WITH WARM SALT WATER (USE LISTERINE IF YOU
> DON\'T TRUST SALT). *H1N1 TAKES 2-3 DAYS AFTER INITIAL INFECTION IN
> THE THROAT/ NASAL CAVITY TO PROLIFERATE AND SHOW CHARACTERISTIC
> SYMPTOMS. SIMPLE GARGLING PREVENTS PROLIFERATION. IN A WAY, GARGLING
> WITH SALT WATER HAS THE SAME EFFECT ON A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL THAT
> TAMIFLU HAS ON AN INFECTED ONE. DON\'T UNDERESTIMATE THIS SIMPLE,
> INEXPENSIVE AND POWERFUL PREVENTATIVE METHOD.
>
>
> 4. SIMILAR TO 3 ABOVE, *CLEAN YOUR NOSTRILS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY
> WITH WARM SALT WATER. *NOT EVERYBODY MAY BE GOOD AT JALA NETI OR
> SUTRA NETI (VERY GOOD YOGA ASANAS TO CLEAN NASAL CAVITIES), BUT
> *BLOWING THE NOSE HARD ONCE A DAY AND SWABBING BOTH NOSTRILS WITH
> COTTON BUDS DIPPED IN WARM SALT WATER IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN BRINGING
> DOWN VIRAL POPULATION.*
>
>
> 5. *BOOST YOUR NATURAL IMMUNITY WITH FOODS THAT ARE RICH IN VITAMIN C

> (AMLA AND OTHER CITRUS FRUITS). *IF YOU HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT WITH
> VITAMIN C TABLETS, MAKE SURE THAT IT ALSO HAS ZINC TO BOOST
> ABSORPTION.
>
>
> 6. *DRINK AS MUCH OF WARM LIQUIDS (TEA, COFFEE, ETC) AS YOU CAN.
> *DRINKING WARM LIQUIDS HAS THE SAME EFFECT AS GARGLING, BUT IN THE
> REVERSE DIRECTION. THEY WASH OFF PROLIFERATING VIRUSES FROM THE
> THROAT INTO THE STOMACH WHERE THEY CANNOT SURVIVE, PROLIFERATE OR DO
> ANY HARM.
>

Vitamin B and Folic Acid Supplements Prevent Migraines

I hope you enjoy the article below about vitamin B supplements and migraines. If you need a great vitamin b supplement you can visit www.azaloe.com to order and get more information. Here is the article

Vitamin B and Folic Acid Supplements Prevent Migraines

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer
Key concepts: Migraine, Folic acid and Vitamin B
View on NaturalPedia: Migraine, Folic acid and Vitamin B

Increased intake of folic acid and other B vitamins may reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Genomics Research Center at Australia's Griffith University.

Migraine attacks are characterized by severe headaches, often accompanied by sensitivity to lights, sounds or smells; nausea; vomiting; and pins and needles sensations. Eighty percent of migraine patients suffer from at least one attack per month. Attacks can last up to 72 hours, and may be so debilitating that patients become unable to function.

Currently, migraines are treated with potent painkillers or anti-nausea drugs, with mixed results. Other treatments include antidepressants and beta-blockers, both of which carry the potential for severe and even dangerous side effects.

In the current study, researchers gave 50 migraine patients supplements of folic acid and vitamin B. According to researcher Lyn Griffiths, they observed "a drastic improvement in headache frequency, pain severity and associated disability for those treated."

The researchers suspected that B vitamins would prove effective because they are known to help regulate levels of the amino homocysteine. Genetic research has shown that a mutation or malfunction of the gene MTHFR results both in elevated homocysteine levels and an increase risk of migraine. High levels of homocysteine have also been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

The Griffith University team is now preparing to carry out a larger study to find out what doses work best for individual migraine patients, also taking into account any genetic predisposition to migraine that they might have.

Migraine is the most common neurological condition in the world, with approximately 6 to 15 percent of adult men suffering at least one attack per year and 14 to 35 percent of adult women. Between 12 and 28 percent of people will suffer at least one attack in their lifetime.

Sources for this story include: www.telegraph.co.uk.

Have a great day

Mike
www.azaloe.com

The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating

I think Aloe from FLP www.azaloe.com should be on the list, pomegranate juice is on the list (Forever Pomesteen has that). Enjoy the list


The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating
By Tara Parker-Pope

Maybe you should be eating more beets, left, or chopped cabbage. (Credit: Evan Sung for The New York Times, left
(This post was originally published on June 30, 2008, and recently appeared on The New York Times’s list of most-viewed stories for 2008.)

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.

How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.

Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.

Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.

Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.

Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.

How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.

Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.

How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.

Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.

Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.

How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.

Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.

How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Fish Oil Supplements Boost Memory

Great article see www.azaloe.com for the best fish oil supplement on the market. Ask me for a free sample.

Fish Oil Supplements Boost Memory
DHA Supplements Help Stave Off 'Senior Moments'
By Charlene Laino
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJuly 13, 2009 (Vienna, Austria) -- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may boost memory in healthy aging adults.

In a new study, people 55 and older with age-related memory complaints who took the fatty acid supplements for six months had almost double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and memory skills, compared with those who took a placebo.

"The benefit is roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger," says researcher Karin Yurko-Mauro, PhD, associate director of clinical research at Martek Biosciences Corporation.

But the supplements do not appear to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in people who already have mild to moderate symptoms of the disorder, a second study shows.

Both studies were presented at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease.

DHA Boosts Memory
Previous studies have shown that people who eat a lot of fatty fish score better on memory tests and are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Animal research credited docosahexanoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid that's abundant in fatty fish and algae.

But most people don't eat enough fish to reap DHA's benefits, Yurko-Mauro says. So she and colleagues put DHA supplements derived from algae to the test, pitting them against a placebo in 485 healthy people with an average age of 70.

Participants had mild memory complaints that often occur with age, such as forgetting names or appointments. They were randomly assigned to take supplements containing either 900 milligrams of DHA or placebo, once a day for six months.

At the start and end of the study, participants were given a memory test in which they were asked to look at patterns on a computer screen and later recall where each pattern was on the screen.

It's almost like playing a video game, Yurko-Mauro says. Everyone improves over time, as they become more familiar with the technique. But people who took DHA improved more.

At the start of the study, people in both groups made an average of about 13 out of 30 possible errors on the test. Afterward, those given the placebo made an average of 2.4 fewer errors. In contrast, those given DHA supplements made an average of 4.5 fewer errors.

Blood levels of DHA doubled over the course of the study in people taking the supplements, and the higher a person's DHA level, the better the score on the test.

The supplements didn't cause any serious side effects.

William Thies, PhD, chief medical and scientific officer at the Alzheimer's Association, says that pending future research confirming the findings, the Alzheimer's Association isn't ready to recommend that people take supplements to fend off age-related memory loss.

"But DHA is available, and people will make their own decisions," he tells WebMD

Easy Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health and Live Longer

Here is a great article about things you can do to improve your health and live longer. Many of the suggestions we can help you with since our products are the best antioxidants and health products on the market. Visit us at www.azaloe.com

Easy Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health and Live Longer
By Dr. Melanie Beingessner
By Sep 24 2007 - 5:15am

"The next century will be dominated by the concerns of the elderly" affirms Ken Minaker, MD., Chief of Geriatric Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. By the year 2050, our average life expectancy is projected to be 82.6 years (up from today's average life expectancy of 72.1 years for men and 78.8 years for women.) The census bureau predicts that 3 million baby boomers will live to be 100 years old or more!

Statistically speaking, we are going to live longer than our grandparents did, but the key factor in is that those who are in good health will be able to enjoy those extra years. Here are a few suggestions on how to improve health and live longer.

1. EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN

Mental activity produces lasting changes in the brain – it creates more synapses or connections, which can help make the brain more resilient to stress. Activities such as crossword puzzles, bridge, chess and other card games can help to sharpen mental acuity.

2. EXERCISE YOUR BODY

Those who exercise more, live longer. A thorough exercise program includes the following:

Aerobic activity. A study of 19,000 participants showed that death rates fell in direct proportion to the number of calories that the participants burned each week. Aerobic physical fitness can be as easy as walking for 30 minutes, 4 times per week. Weight-bearing exercise such as walking, dancing, and gentle aerobics help to strengthen bones and to improve cardiovascular fitness.

Stretching. Stretching helps to maintain limber joints and muscles. One relatively easy way to improve balance, flexibility, and muscle strength is T'ai Chi. T'ai Chi helps to improve strength, muscle tone, range of motion, flexibility, balance and coordination. In clinical trials, it has been shown to help reduce blood pressure and heart rate. T'ai Chi is for people of all ages and introductory classes are usually offered at community and recreation centres.

Muscle Strength. Your local gym is not just a place for body builders. A study done by Dr. Maria Fiatarone asked 10 chronically ill nursing home residents to lift weights 3 times a week over a 2-month period. The results were surprising: the participants' average walking speed nearly tripled and their balance improved by half. A weight lifting regime does not have to be complicated. A qualified weight lifting instructor could design a fitness regime to suit people of any age or activity level.

3. VISIT YOUR LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR

Chiropractic adjustments help to keep the spine flexible and the nervous system functioning at its highest potential. When vertebrae become fixed, they can put pressure on the nerves as they exit from the spine. Chiropractic adjustments help to relieve that pressure, which improves the communication between the brain and the body. With a better functioning nervous system, and a movable spine, chiropractic patients enjoy more vitality and energy. Adjustments are safe, and they feel great!

4. MAKE YOUR CALORIES COUNT

As we get older, our appetites tend to decrease. A diet based on low fat and high quality foods can help to reverse the effects of aging and to reduce high blood pressure. Try to include many fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. Avoid processed and packaged foods as they contain more fat, more salt and less potassium than our bodies need.

One of the best ways to improve your energy level is to eat hemp hearts in the morning. Hemp hearts are shelled hemp seeds and they contain all of the essential protein and essential fats (the good kind!) that you need in a day. People who eat them with breakfast notice that they have much more energy and that they feel fabulous!

5. DRINK MORE WATER

It is important to drink eight glasses of water each day. This goal can be difficult for seniors to achieve because as we age, our thirst centres become slower to respond to the needs of the body. Seniors might not feel the urge to drink, even if their body is dehydrated. To remedy this, add an extra glass of water to your day, and SLOWLY (over a period of weeks) work up to at least three extra glasses of water per day.

If drinking water is difficult for you, try using a straw to reduce any gas or bloating that you might experience. You might try adding fresh lemon pieces to your water to improve the taste.

6. TAKE ANTIOXIDANTS

Jan Vijg is currently studying the affects of oxygen toxicity and aging. The oxygen that we breathe is a highly reactive element that can bond to almost anything. We can see the effects of oxidation in rusty metal parts, and just like with rusty metal, oxygen can have a detrimental effect inside our bodies. Oxygen toxicity can deactivate enzymes, change body proteins and compromise our DNA. Oxidative damage may be one of the major causes of the aging process, and it might cause cells to mutate, which can lead to cancer.

A study of Italian centenarians (people who are 100 years old or more) showed that they had elevated blood levels of antioxidants. An easy way to lower the risk of major diseases is to take a modest supplementation of antioxidants such as: vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium and grape seed extract. Be sure to consult a medical doctor or a chiropractor about what dosage is right for you.

7. DRINK GREEN TEA INSTEAD OF BLACK TEA

There are compounds in Japanese or Chinese Green Tea that help to fight cancer and to strengthen the immune system. It can be found in health food or grocery stores.

8. MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

The way that we adapt to the stresses in our lives can determine how long we live. People who manage their life stresses usually have a better functioning immune system, and are better able to cope in today's society. One way to help to relieve stress is to surround yourself with family and friends. A study of elderly heart attack patients found that people who had 2 or more close friends had twice the one-year survival rate of those who were alone.

Indeed, a person's collection of friends and family is as important as mental and physical fitness. A study by Lisa Berkman showed that people who have no close ties to family or friends are 3 times more likely to die over a nine-year period than people who have at least 1 source of social support. To increase your sense of well-being, call your friends and family, get out for a coffee and a chat, volunteer, or take a class at your local recreation centre.

9. GIVE BLOOD REGULARLY

By giving blood, we reduce the number of red blood cells in our bodies, and a reduction of the amount of iron in the body can reduce the amount of oxygen toxicity in the blood.4 Red blood cells contain iron, which carry oxygen to our cells and tissues. The problem is that we are not able to eliminate excess iron in our bodies. Pre-menopausal women do not have this problem because of their menstrual cycles. Men and post-menopausal women can retain too much iron in their bodies. By donating blood, the body is able to rid itself of excess iron and to make new and fresh red blood cells.

These nine suggestions are a way for anyone to maximize their health and longevity. By taking good care of our bodies, we all have a much greater chance of living a long and healthy life.

Author's Bio
Dr. Melanie Beingessner is a chiropractor, a breastfeeding counsellor, a certified infant massage instructor and the mother of three fabulous kids. She is the author of The Calm Baby Cookbook, written to help breastfeeding moms calm their fussy babies by changing their diets.

Dr. Melanie's website provides information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, ADD/ADHD, chiropractic, health and wellness at drmelaniebee.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source URL: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Easy_Things_You_Can_Do_To_Improve_Your_Health_and_Live_Longer.html

Hope you enjoyed the article

www.azaloe.com

Mike

For Good Health: Take a Hike!

www.azaloe.com

This article was forwarded to me by Harry, my father in law. His website is www.aloeaz.com.

I decided to add it to the healingtouchaloe.blogspot.com blog.

A summary of the benefits from hiking mentioned in the article include

- Reducing bad LDL cholesterol
- Uphill hiking reduced triglyceride levels.
- Improved mental/emotional health, moods and self esteem
- Reducing depression
- Removing blood sugars
- Improving glucose tolerance.

I'm planning on doing hikes on Wednesday mornings at 5 AM for those of you interested in Phoenix area hikes go ahead and send me an e-mail at mike@azaloe.com

Bring water and an apple or banana to enjoy at the top. Also some FLP products that you might find handy on your hike are Fast Break bars, Aloe2Go, Aloe Sunscreen and Aloe Lips Chapstick.

You can get these at:
http://distrib.foreverliving.com/retail/EntryServlet?langID=en&storeID=USA&distribID=001002331898&categoryName=Drinks+R

Wholesale pricing is also available for those interested just ask me about it.

Here is the full article

For Good Health: Take a Hike!
Written By:John McKinney
http://www.miller-mccune.com/health/for-good-health-take-a-hike-796

From William Wordsworth's poetry to the Boy Scout hiking merit badge pamphlet, tramping through the countryside has long been considered a tonic for good health.

"Walk out the door and find good health. There is no fever that a 10-mile hike can't cure," suggests Garrison Keillor, the wry host of National Public Radio's Prairie Home Companion.

Millions of Americans who like to hike believe that hiking contributes to good physical and mental health. And yet, until recently, nearly all evidence offered for the benefits of taking a hike was anecdotal, and very little hiking-specific scientific research supported that belief.

In 2004, Austrian researchers announced the results of an intriguing study demonstrating that different types of hiking have different influences on the fats and sugars in the blood. For the study, one group hiked up a ski resort mountain in the Alps and descended by cable car, while the other group rode the cable car up and hiked down. After two months of hiking, the groups switched hiking programs and repeated the experiment.

As expected, hiking uphill proved to be a great workout and provided measurable health benefits. Unexpectedly, researchers from the Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment discovered that hiking downhill also has unique benefits.

Both uphill and downhill hiking reduced LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Only hiking uphill reduced triglyceride levels. The study's surprise finding was that hiking downhill was nearly twice as effective as uphill hiking at removing blood sugars and improving glucose tolerance. A second study of uphill/downhill hiking was conducted this summer, but results have yet to be announced.

A study commissioned by Mind, a leading British mental health charity, suggests hiking contributes to improved mental and emotional health. Focusing on people affected by depression, researchers from the University of Essex compared the benefits of hiking a trail through the woods and around a lake in a nature park to walking in an indoor shopping center. The researchers found that the hikers realized far greater benefits than the mall walkers.

In fact, they found that taking a hike in the countryside reduces depression, whereas walking in a shopping center increases depression. Results from the 2007 study showed that 71 percent reported decreased levels of depression after hiking, while 22 percent of the participants felt their depression increased after walking through an indoor shopping center. Ninety percent reported their self-esteem increased after the nature hike, while 44 percent reported decreased self-esteem after walking around the shopping center. Eighty-eight percent of people reported improved mood after hiking, while 44.5 percent reported feeling in a worse mood after the shopping-center walk.

The American Hiking Society, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes hiking, produces a widely circulated fact sheet, "Health Benefits of Hiking," that relies on studies, mostly of walking, made by the American Diabetes, American Heart and American Lung associations to make the case. Hiking-specific research is likely to be of more value in linking hiking and good health than the general "Exercise is Good for You" studies long used by AHS and other advocacy groups.

"Hiking for health is what we're all about, so we're glad the benefits are getting quantified," declared Tracy Roseboom, senior national campaign manager for Hike For Discovery, a program of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that offers its supporters in chapters nationwide an opportunity to take a hike while raising money for cancer research.

Participants train and take practice hikes in their home locales for 14 to 16 weeks before embarking on a marquee hike in a natural wonderland, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite or Maui. Most hikers look at the training as a way to get fit for the once-in-a-lifetime hike, as well as for better overall health and fitness. Roseboom said the health benefits of hiking have been a key selling point for the program since it began in 2006.

Whether or not the latest research is influencing public opinion, hiking for health appears to be an idea whose time has come. The message is on cereal boxes and granola bar wrappers and a popular subject in Prevention, as well as women's and health magazines. Glamour.com and Self.com even feature a hiking-activities calculator. Enter your weight, duration of your hike, the kind of hiking you're doing (backpacking, climbing hills, etc.) and learn how many calories you blast on the trail. (There's also a good calculator here that also factors in weight, distance and elevation change for a better picture of the burn.)

And from the Devon Hiking Spa in Tucson, Ariz., to the New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vt., hiking spas are very popular these days with those who find combining hiking with all the usual health-resort activities makes for a stress-reducing, fitness-building holiday.

Roseboom said she's pleased by the new data that suggests hiking has health benefits beyond those of walking around the neighborhood, but the research doesn't surprise her. "I see hikers routinely make the connections between nature, themselves and good health," she said. "I'm glad the researchers are making the same connections."

Take Care

Mike
www.azaloe.com

Rattlesnake Encounter

IMG_2505
Originally uploaded by AZALOE

Recently while on a hike in Sedona. I came accross him while taking a short break to catch my breath. He wasn't very interested in me at all.

I have encountered snakes before, but this was the first true rattle snake. This was on the Bear Mountain trail, it was a 5 hour hike with stunning views of Sedona.

Take care
Mike
www.azaloe.com