Drive your car into a tree and it’s an act of stupidity. Put a patch of ice under your tires and suddenly it’s God’s fault. Though scientists hate the phrase “act of God,” everyday folks have been blaming not-so-everyday disasters like twisters, blizzards, and floods on random acts of the divine since Noah picked up [...]
Positive belief is an ancient concept. In the Scriptures we read: According to your belief is it done to you. I used to wonder about that. According to your belief in what? Now I understand it to mean according to your belief in yourself. Success, and failure, begin with your own beliefs. The Roman emperor [...]
In addition to brisk walking, exercises that strengthen the back and stomach muscles are important. Seventy to 80 percent of adults have some form of lower back pain. Strengthening the back and stomach muscles helps prevent or alleviate the problem. People with chronic back pain are less likely to be physically active and more likely [...]
For a quick, easy-to-prepare entree or side dish, simply wash your favorite vegetables, and place them in a steamer. Steam lightly, so vegetables are crisp and tasty. How long you steam each vegetable depends* on your taste. Lightly steamed food is generally more nutritious than foods cooked in other ways. With steaming, there aren’t the [...]
A patient once said to me, “I don’t know why I keep getting colds. I guess a bunch of germs have decided to keep mugging me.” I told this man that a painter cannot paint until the palette has been prepared: Neither can a builder build until the foundation has been laid nor an airplane [...]
This procedure costs less and is less invasive than open-heart surgery. Often, the patient can go home the same day. The surgeon inserts a catheter into a tiny incision in the leg and threads it into the coronary artery. A balloon on the tip is then inflated to flatten the plaque against the artery wall, [...]
I try to combine discounts from different sources. I’m able to get many products for free or close to it because I create “triple plays,” combining savings from store sales, newspaper coupons and Web sites. example i: A 12-pack of Pepsi was advertised at my local supermarket for $2. A rebate sticker on the cans [...]
In my 40 years of practicing medicine, I’ve seen every kind of diet aid you can imagine. But when it comes to producing lasting weight loss, I’ve never seen anything like chitosan (KITE-o-san). This natural food supplement—made from the shells of lobsters—forms a gel in the stomach. This gel bonds with any fats that are [...]
self-defense: Stop smoking. Cut down on caffeinated foods and beverages. Switch shoes at least once a day, wearing shoes of different heel heights. Shift your weight back and forth while standing. Each night, take a bath in lukewarm water. Once a day, do these three circulation-boosting exercises… exercise #1: Cross your legs at your ankles, [...]
Some alternative practitioners recommend a related substance called choline (or lecithin, which contains 10% to 20% choline). Neither choline nor lecithin looks anywhere near as good as phosphatidylserine, and they can cause unpleasant side effects. • L-acetyl carnitine. This form of the amino acid carnitine plays a key role in energy production in the body. [...]