Friday, May 29, 2009

Is Your Impatience Making Your TMJ Disorder Worse?


Is your impatience making your case of TMJ Disorder worse? All too often this is indeed the case. Statistically, 95% of all cases of TMJ Disorder will resolve given TIME and a SOFTER DIET. But how many people are willing to make these two sacrifices?


TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS


Some one once made this silly statement, but it actually is true when it comes to most bodily ailments. As a rule, however, most people do not want to take the time to let their bodies heal naturally, and there is no question that nature's way can seem painstakingly SLOW compared to the promise of pharmaceutical painkillers, oral surgery, plastic mouth devices, etc.


Most people will run to a doctor, dentist, chiropractor, surgeon...whatever it takes to end pain of any kind as quickly as possible. And this is completely understandable. Pain is one thing that gets every person's attention! However, all too often medical intervention in dealing with TMJ Disorder can be more devastating, or prolong the healing time, than letting nature and a softer diet do their job - however slowly.


TMJ Disorder is a mysterious ailment, most frequently affecting females. How long this disorder has been around is not really certain. Some believe this disorder is a modern ailment that occurs because of many people having deformed dental arches due to poor dietary nourishment, specifically refined white flour and sugar.


There are many speculations, however, about its cause. There are equally as many guesses at its cures. For most people, however, the cure is simple - yet long.


SOFT DIET AND TIME


Over time, a softer diet will greatly alleviate the stress on the jaw joint and allow the jaw joint to return to normal. When we speak of time, we are talking six months to a year, sometimes more. To try to circumvent this diet/time necessity with painkillers, devices, irreversible dental procedures, etc, is mostly unproductive at best, and often more debilitating or even disastrous.


A softer diet does not mean oatmeal and soup. There are many nutritional meals one can eat that are easy to prepare and also meals that family/friends will enjoy. You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes has an excellent selection of tasty, nutritious, easy-to-prepare, easy-to-chew meals that will please just about everyone's palate.


Sunday, May 10, 2009

Stop Dieting and Just Eat Sensibly for Best Results


If you’re a typical American, you’re overweight or obese. You’ve tried every diet in the book; you’ve bought herbal supplements; you’ve taken Hydroxy Cut and compromised your liver’s health; you’ve taken ephedra and compromised your heart’s health; maybe you’ve even tried out for the reality show, World’s Biggest Loser.


You’re frustrated and unhappy. Sometimes you just throw in the towel and give up altogether and then pack on another ten pounds. Does this sound familiar?

Here are some recommendations that may be of help. There is no magic bullet for everyone, but MOST people will benefit from these straight forward practices.


First, see an endocrinologist and make sure your metabolism is actually working correctly. You could get a leg up on this by reading Dr. Diana Schwarzbein’s excellent book, The Schwarzbein Principle. It’s interesting, easy to read and makes perfect sense. The woman is a leading specialist in her field, so she knows what she's talking about!

If you’re up for a truly intensive analysis of food and its effects on a person, read Weston A. Price’s Nutrition and Physical Degeneration and/or Gary Taubes’ Good Calories, Bad Calories. These three books alone should be required reading for everyone concerned about their weight.


What you will discover in all of this is pretty simple: what makes a person fat is EXCESS CALORIES. Carbohydrates seem to be the biggest culprit in this battle of the bulge, however. Study after study has shown that FAT DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON FAT. Cutting carbohydrate intake is the first and most important step a person needs to take to lose excess weight. So, cut carbohydrate intake down.


Exercise is key to burning calories. This is simple: find an activity that you can do that you enjoy, and then JUST DO IT. Make a commitment to yourself.


Finally, a good cookbook may be helpful. Schwarzbein offers some excellent recipes in her book. You’ll also find healthful, balanced meals in One Pot Galley Gourmet, a cookbook filled with easy-to-prepare, mostly one pot, healthy recipes. You won’t get fat eating any of these meals, unless of course you continue to overeat!


Remember, Rome was not built in a day, and neither was your waistline. Be kind to yourself and don’t starve yourself to death. Stop dieting and just eat sensibly. Exercise. For most people it’s that simple.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

EASY Tips to Maintaining or Achieving Health


It sounds simple, and it is. The keys to a healthy life are available for everyone, and at no cost. Many people who are slaves to medical care can cast off that mantle of expense and despair by just adopting these four simple principles.

Eat Healthfully



Eating healthfully sounds easy enough, yet statistically 2/3 of all Americans are overweight or obese. Where does one start? The four most deadly foods:



  • Soda pop

  • Processed foods containing numerous chemicals including high fructose corn syrup

  • Sugar

  • Highly refined white flour products


There are a plethora of nutritionists and scientists who agree that eliminating these items alone will drastically improve one’s health. From the original 1930’s harbinger of nutritional warning, Weston A. Price in Nutrition and Degenerative Disease, to science writer Gary Taubes and Good Calories, Bad Calories in 2006, increasing numbers of health professionals are strongly advising people to avoid sugar (including high fructose corn syrup) and refined white flour.



Exercise Regularly



Exercising regularly does not require gym membership. The simple act of walking can suffice for most individuals. A very worthy goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day, which equates to about 5 miles. Most people, shockingly, only average 400 steps per day.



Obviously some people are not able to walk because of disabilities, but most people are able to do some form of exercise that does not require expensive gym membership. There are channels on the television that are dedicated to exercise, and don’t discount housework, yard work and gardening as beneficial forms of exercise. Dumb bells are effective and cheap and will easily suffice for weight bearing exercise, as will the rubber tubing devices.



Get Enough Sleep



Surprisingly, lack of adequate sleep is a prime culprit contributing to weight gain and illness. Despite hectic schedules, all people should get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep, at a minimum. Sleep provides the body time to repair and to restore itself to maximum function.


Turn off lights while sleeping. Studies indicate that any source of artificial light in a room, no matter how tiny, keeps a person from producing melatonin.



Reduce Stress



This last recommendation is, for some, easier said than done. All too often, however, people carry stress that is unnecessary and unproductive. Recognize things that are beyond your control and learn to let these items go. This may mean limiting one’s exposure to continuous bad press. Sitting and watching the news and negative talk shows or crime dramas all evening may ultimately be contributing greatly to one’s stressful state of mind.

Being continuously stressed can contribute greatly to poor health:



  • Stressed people often over eat or crave fats and sweets.

  • Stress and depression can cause sleep difficulties.

  • Depressed/stressed people tend to exercise far less than their more positive counterparts.

  • Ironically, lack of exercise can in turn contribute to depression and stress.

The Power of Positive Thinking



Never underestimate the power of thinking positive thoughts! As Joseph Murphy, the author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind said, " You are what you think, all day long." And, "Change your thoughts and you change your destiny."


Yes, it really is this easy to improve your health. Take it one step at a time, and remember, be kind to yourself. Times are tough enough.


An excellent cookbook for those wanting to eat healthy, nutritious, easy-to-prepare, DELICIOUS food is One Pot Galley Gourmet, a cookbook that specializes in tasty, healthful, easy, one pot meals. It's available at amazon.com and http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/ and www.rlcoffield.com