Proper hydration is critical to avoid sports headaches. Drinking energy drinks is almost universal now, but they all contain caffeine or caffeine containing compound such as Guarana. The problem is that caffeine is a diuretic; diuretics make you urinate more frequently and cause you to become de-hydrated.

Many of these energy drinks are promoted as having extra energy ingredients such as Gingko Biloba, Siberian Ginseng or Taurine. These can help but the dose is usually not enough. In short these energy drinks are expensive and a dumb idea for sports.

Most sports drinks contain lots of sugar and artificial colourings. Of course everyone knows that a blue drink will make you run faster! But the sugar can increase your thirst. Remember the days when oranges were given to children at half time during a game. This provided natural energy and some liquid without causing bloating.

The best drink to avoid headaches is water plus a good multi vitamin which contains a good dose of all the B vitamins. Have your vitamin in the morning and again before you play. If you are playing sport in the evening and you know it will be hot, skip the afternoon coffee or energy drink and have water. Gradual hydration in the hours before sport is best; this prevents you from having to drink too much at once, which can cause nausea.

Mild dehydration causes headaches and reduces your metabolism by at least 5%, severe dehydration can be a significant medical problem.

How do you know if you are starting to get dehydrated? Thirst tells you that you are already becoming de-hydrated. Pre-plan. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing competitive sport, or a social round of golf, or an afternoons sailing or even gardening. Hydrate first if you don’t want a headache.

If you are competing in the hot sun then the effect are much worse and comes on much faster. Remember you are de-hydrated if you are drinking and not passing urine.

A great sporting tradition is to have a few beers after playing. Beer is fine but drink water first and in between beers. If the weather is very hot the beer will cause a rapid escalation of your already dehydrated state and your head will be pounding for sure.

Not everyone gets headaches easily but everyone suffers from dehydration, treat yourself carefully and you will recover much faster from any sports activity. Ignore it and you will suffer. Dehydration will cause you more muscle pain

Just remember, alcohol, caffeine, sports, hot sure and not drinking enough water will cause dehydration, which is a sure fire recipe for a headache.

And now I would like to offer you free access to my headache prevention tips. go to http://www.livingwellpublications.com/wellness/headache-prevention/
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Oatmeal cookie is one of the most popular kinds of cookies. It is not only popular among children but is also popular among adults. Due to its popularity, there have been several variants as to how to prepare oatmeal cookies to make eating more enjoyable. Let’s take a look at some of the best oatmeal cookie recipes available around the world.

One of the best oatmeal cookie recipes that are highly recommended is the one wherein raisins play a big role as far as the taste of the cookie is concerned. The ingredients for this recipe include 3/4 cup of chopped pecans, 2 cups of oatmeal, two teaspoons of baking soda, a teaspoon of cinnamon, a teaspoon of salt, 2 & 1/2 cups of flour, a cup of white sugar, a cup of brown sugar, a cup of butter, a teaspoon of vanilla, a cup of raisins, and three eggs that are well beaten.

The procedure of this best oatmeal cookie recipe starts by mixing the vanilla, raisins, and eggs well and leave the mixture for an hour. The brown sugar, white sugar, and butter should be combined and creamed in a separate bowl. The baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and flour should then be added to the sugar and butter mixture and stir well until the mixture turns smooth. In this mixture, the raisin-egg mixture should be added, together with the chopped nuts and oatmeal. On the cookie sheet which is ungreased, drop mini rolled balls which should then be pressed lightly in order to flatten. The temperature of the oven should be 350 degrees in order for the oatmeal cookie to be baked. Approximate baking time is ten to twelve minutes or wait until the color of the cookie turns brown.

Now, let’s take a look at the best recipe for soft oatmeal cookie. The ingredients are basically the same as the first recipe discussed. The only differences are the measurement and the way the cookies will be booked. The ingredients include three cups of quick cooking oats, 1 2/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of baking soda, two cups of all-purpose flour, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, two eggs, a cup of packed brown sugar, a cup of white sugar, and a cup of softened butter.

The procedure for this best soft oatmeal cookie recipe begins by creaming the white sugar, brown sugar, and butter together in a bowl. Eggs should then be beaten one at a time, the vanilla should then be added, and the mixture should be stirred well. The next ingredients to combine include cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour. When the mixture becomes smooth, it should then be added to the creamed mixture. The oatmeal should then be mixed to the mixture. The mixture should then be covered, and the produced dough should then be chilled for approximately an hour. The oven should be preheated at 375 degrees. On the cookie sheet that is greased, drop walnut-sized dough balls which should then be flattened using a large fork. It is suggested that the fork be dipped in sugar before using to flatten the cookie. Baking time for this best soft oatmeal cookie recipe is between eight and ten minutes. After baking, the cookies should be left for five minutes before placing them on a rack to completely cool.

There are different styles of baking oatmeal cookies and for sure, all these are the best oatmeal cookie recipes.

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These are five particularly healthy foods for men. Regularly eating them will make sure you’re on your way to a longer lasting, healthier life.

Tomatoes. These contain a powerful nutrient called lycopene, which has been shown to be beneficial in preventing prostate cancer in men. To see the complete health benefits of this healthy nutrient the tomatoes need to be broken down, so opt for either tomato juice or tomato sauce as opposed to whole tomatoes.

Oysters. This superfood is a high quality source of protein that is perfect for helping to build lean muscle. They also supply omega 3′s and zinc, of which lots of men are lacking, and assist in testosterone production.

Brazil Nuts. Nuts in general are a great nutrient snack full of fiber, healthy fats and protein. Brazil nuts in particular are recommended though because they are especially high in selenium, which is a mineral that is crucial in antioxidant production to fight off disease. Eating just a single Brazil nut will give you your recommended daily allowance of selenium.

Broccoli. There is considerable evidence showing the anti-cancer benefits of this superfood. It’s full of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that detoxify your blood arteries and keep cells strong and healthy.

Flaxseed. These are an ideal source of nutrients, healthy fats and fiber and they help you get rid of toxic compounds. To absorb the full benefits of them they need to be ground prior to consumption. After they have been ground you can add them to shakes, cereal and oatmeal.

You have no reason not to include these foods within your diet. None of them are overly expensive and they are all easy to find in your local supermarket or health store.

Saying that the tastes don’t appeal to you is no excuse either. None of them, except maybe oysters, have a strong taste and, if you really don’t like the taste of some of them, then you can mix them together with other healthy foods that you do like in the form of a milkshake or a stew.

There are plenty of other healthy foods to choose from but the ones listed here are a great place to start. Start this month by increasing your consumption of these, and then add additional healthy foods to your regular diet month by month.

Also, remember that these 5 foods alone, even though they are classed as health superfoods, won’t make you healthy outright. They need to be part of a fuller healthy diet and, ideally, a general healthy regime that also includes regular exercise.

Continue : http://1to101.com/Detoxing

By Mark Walters

One of the biggest lessons I continue to teach our kids (and continue to remind myself of) is, just because something is ‘there’, doesn’t necessarily affect us. It doesn’t necessarily mean a thing.

In our family, one of the most common areas this applies to is food. In this culture, we will always be exposed to toxic, less-than-healthy food choices. Always. Sometimes, it’s a friend that offers to share something less healthy; sometimes it’s a grown-up, a relative or an authority figure. There are tasty toxins (can’t call them “treats” if they move you away from health) at parties, restaurants, special events, play dates, clubs, soccer games and other sporting events… we’re surrounded by foods that quite clearly don’t support our health.

Just because a tasty toxin is available or offered to you doesn’t mean you need to consume it!

This is so challenging for little people who simply don’t always understand why it’s available if it’s not OK. Or, why someone they love, trust or admire would offer them something that is detrimental to their health.

It also takes a lot of will power for a child to say, “No, thank you” as they push away the french fries, cookies and candy… especially when they’re surrounded by others who ARE making less-than-healthy choices. In order to make that kind of choice with any consistency, you’ve really got to have a pretty good handle on the consequences of your choices. Just like with adults, some kids can master this without a second thought; others struggle with it.

I don’t agree that it’s OK to say “OK” all the time, and I certainly don’t believe that limiting kids’ consumption of toxins in depriving them in any way. These opportunities for sweets, “treats” and junk seem to present themselves far too often, like on a daily basis! Daily consumption of toxic food is the breeding ground for all chronic illness we suffer from. There is no such thing as consequence-free living. I DO think it’s “OK” to have tasty toxins from time to time, once you’ve given your body what it needs in order to create and maintain a state of health – I like to say, “Fill up with Health first”. That’s teaching kids to be responsible with their bodies and for their health.

In addition to food issues, the same lessons applies to our response to stress, or accepting anything from a stranger, or retaliating when a sibling or friend ticks you off… and countless more examples. It’s that whole, “If Johnny jumped off a bridge, does that mean YOU would, too?!” story! Just because a situation presents itself or something happens does NOT need to change our course. We can stick to our “master plan” and continue making great choices in spite of the situations, circumstances and temptations around us.

I tell our kids that things aren’t really happening “to” them (usually)… just “around” them. They get to accept responsibility, recognize their role in the situation, and choose how to respond. That being said, my daughter is still pretty convinced that when sweets are offered to her that it’s truly happening TO her… and it’s her job to accept! It’s always a work in progress!

When we have a master plan and a basic understanding of the consequences of our choices, even when we DO stray from our healthiest/best choices, we tend not to stray quite as far… and we’re able to get back on track more easily and more quickly.

BIG lessons for little people!

Dr. Colleen Trombley (“Dr Mom Online”) is a leading Health expert. See why so many turn to her for healthy living, nutrition, exercise, weight loss, parenting and life balance tips. Visit http:// HealthySchoolDaysMenu.com for great kids nutrition ideas. Visit http://DrMomOnline.com for more.

Most of us are wise enough to know that it is not good to be too thin or too heavy. We also know that all other things being equal, if someone smokes or if they have a chronic disease such as diabetes, their health is going to be compromised.

There was a study in 2006 and another more recent Canadian study that reported overweight people lived longer than people who are normal weight. The more recent study was published online June 18 in the journal, Obesity.The responses to this study are the same as for the one 3 years ago. Study co-author Mark Kaplan, a professor of community health at Portland State University, says it best:

It may be that a few extra pounds protected older people as their health declines, but that does not mean that people in the normal range should try to put on a few pounds.

In 2006 the researchers backed off after conceding that the results may have been skewed by including older people with chronic diseases who tend to weigh less but die early. On the other hand, the recent study did show that extreme obesity or weight loss did increase the risk of dying.Also, the study just spoke about mortality, not about the quality of life because there are so many negative health consequences associated with being overweight such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

What you need to know is that most of what you read about health issues is not black or white. There are usually extenuating circumstances that interfere with the study or there are exceptions to the rule. Read the research report and look for comments about the findings before you act on any of the findings. Then use your common sense.

There is also research that says you can actually lose weight by eating more food yet consume fewer calories while still getting plenty of key nutrients. Low energy density foods make all this possible. These foods, such as fruits, vegetables and high fiber grains, have greater volume so they tend to fill you up more. However, they contain fewer calories per ounce than sugary or fatty foods such as snacks or colas.

A second benefit of eating the low energy density foods is that you consume more fiber, and have higher than normal intake of important micronutrients including vitamins A, C and B6, folate, iron, calcium, and potassium.

Unfortunately our bodies are not like gas tanks. They do not tell us to stop eating once we reach 400 calories. Eating is often less determined by biology than by psychology. For instance, the size of the portions you eat and with whom you eat often determine how much you eat. Research shows, for example, that if you are served larger portions, you will likely finish them. Presentation of the food also impacts how much you eat. Just visit any buffet and you will see much larger portions put on a plate than if those same people were served by a waiter.

Here are tips for reducing the energy density of your diet:
Eat a large salad before the rest of your meal to fill up on greens but you must limit the fatty salad dressing.
Change the proportions on your plate, giving more space to vegetables and whole grains and less to meat.
Substitute low fat dairy foods, lean meat and fish for cheese and fatty cuts of meat.
Drink water and tea or coffee without sugar rather than colas and other sugary drinks.
Look for foods high in water or fiber content, but low in sugar and fat.
Check out those energy bars for sucrose and fats before you start snacking on them.

Ruthan Brodsky specializes in health and business topics for baby boomers.She is highly regarded for making complicated topics easily understood. Find out how you can be good to your pocket book and your planet.Claim your free report at http://www.GreenLivingforBoomers.com

There’s no need to fret about what to buy for family and friends at Christmas time when there are so many wonderful wine gifts on the market.

Everybody likes to receive wine gifts; and there are gifts available to suit every budget and taste. Not only will you be providing a delicious tipple, you may even be improving your friends’ health, too.

The health benefits of drinking wine really came into the public eye during the 1990s when researchers investigated what was known as the ‘French Paradox’; the situation in which the French, whose diets were typically very high in fat due to the amount of high-fat cheese and dishes such as Foie Gras they consume, had a low rate of coronary disease.

Very high fat diets are known to be a large cause of heart disease, and so it was puzzling why the French nation was appearing to buck this trend and enjoy good health. It was soon discovered that the tendency of the French to drink a steady, moderate amount of red wine was the reason.

Soon lots of medical studies were being conducted, and further health benefits were uncovered.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School described in 2004 that red grape skins had anti-aging effects on the body. The American Thoracic Society discovered that the antioxidants in white wine improved lung function, and the American Journal of Gastroenterology noted that wine consumption lowered ulcer-causing bacteria.

This was all wonderful news, but more was to come. It was discovered that a protein that exists in the skins of red grapes helped to kill cancer cells, and polyphenols in the skins also helped to keep arteries clean, which reduces the risk of strokes.

Particular benefits were noted for women’s health, including a decreased risk of ovarian cancer, and stronger bones. In men, wine lowers the risk of stroke by helping to lower high blood pressure.

All of this is of course excellent news for anyone who enjoys drinking wine, although the benefits are only really there if the wine is consumed in moderation, so this means sticking to within recommended daily alcohol allowances. Enjoying a glass of wine with a meal each night is best practise, and there are some delicious wine gifts available to complement foods; ordering online from an established company will mean that the hard work is already done for you if you are not confident about which wines to select.

So by surprising friends and family with wine gifts this Christmas will help them to enjoy good health as well as good food, and ease of ordering mean that you can have the gift delivered straight to their door in time for Christmas.

Dom Donaldson is a wine expert.
Find out more about wine gifts at http://www.virginwines.com/wine-zone/wine-gifts