10 Best Ways to Ease Back Pain

     Anyone on the planet is not exempted from experiencing back pain.  A study^[1] once revealed that 90% of Americans experience back pain at one point in their lives.  A recent report from CBS News^[2] declared a much improved statistics, stating that 8 out of 10 Americans suffer from back pain at one time or another.  The difference on the findings does not really indicate a huge development.  Thus, the struggle against back pain continues -- and on this post, I've put together a list of the known effective ways to fight off or prevent back pain.  Please deal with caution as this is just presented for educational purposes.

     Back pain is that debilitating pain felt in the back which usually comes from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or structures in the spine^[3].  It can have a sudden onset or may be a chronic pain; it can be constant or intermittent, might stay in one place or extend to other areas of the body; it can be a dull discomfort or a sharp, piercing, or a burning sensation.  Back pain can be a cause for sleepless nights or an uncomfortable day all throughout. 

     Whether you are presently waging a war against back pain or trying to prevent it, here are some effective and recent solutions:

10 Ways To Ease Back Pain

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1) Inversion Therapy

     Many causes of back pain is attributed to the natural force that gravity puts to the body.  Inversion therapy claims to reverse gravity's effects by allowing you to hang upside down or at a certain angle using an inversion table.  Inversion therapy allows the body to work with the downward pull of gravity, which will then increase the space between the vertebrae and relieve pressure on the areas of the back that are in pain, such as the discs, ligaments and nerve roots.  Inversion therapy claims to reduce back & neck pain, relieve stress, reduce sciatic discomfort, stretch and relax the entire body and other benefits such as improved posture and improved blood circulation.  Consult with your doctor first before doing the therapy and invest on a quality and trusted inversion table brand if you decide to do so.  

10 Ways To A Healthy Brain

     Getting healthy and fit is a recurring new year's resolution for many of us.  And as we work towards this  goal, let us not forget the one thing that holds everything together -- the BRAIN.  Read on and find out how you can fuel your brain with good stuff so you can keep it up and running all the time.  Be surprised that most of what's on the list are too trivial yet many people tend to overlook how important they are. 

10 Ways To A Healthy Brain

EXERCISE YOUR MIND  It is said that continuously educating yourself can lessen the risk of Alzheimer's.  So go read a new book, solve some puzzles, or engage in a new activity to stimulate the mind and make it rust free and well-lubricated. 

     Reader's Digest Asia said that learning new information and skills can help keep the brain strong even at a later age.  However, take note that doing stuff that you already know has less benefits as the brain is already comfortable with them.  Instead, try doing stuff that you find complicated and which you don't engage in frequently -- these activities will likely benefit the development of new connections in the brain and make those neurons busy and running.  Getting out of your comfort zone will certainly make your brain happy.

     Why don't you check this word power game from Reader's Digest Asia and try it on for size?  I'm sure some of you will find the game quite engaging. 

Top 10 Food to Boost Your Mood

     I've said this before on a previous post and I'm saying it again:  health and fitness probably tops the list of the toughest challenges many has to struggle with at one point or another.  So for people having difficulty sustaining a healthy diet, here's a list I made that's sure to make all of us not just healthier but also happier.  Add these to your menu, and let's all eat our way to a healthier and happier lifestyle!  

My Top 10 Mood Boosters

BANANAS - this fruit contains the amino acid tryptophan that's responsible for producing serotonin in the body.  Serotonin, also known as the 'happy hormone,' greatly influences a person's overall well-being as it helps regulate moods, temper anxiety and relieve depression.  Bananas are also rich in potassium.  The body's potassium level rapidly depletes during periods of high stress, thus, eating bananas is a healthy way to re-balance the body's potassium level without using drugs.  On top of that, as stress is closely linked with magnesium deficiency, bananas are a great way to pile up on magnesium and avoid stress.  So go eat some more bananas and feel good about yourself.  ☺

*Read more on the health benefits of bananas here.

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CHILLI - this little fruit contains capsaicin which stimulates the mouth's tiny nerve endings and brings that exciting burning sensation.  In response to this burning sensation, the brain releases endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.  Endorphins, among its many functions, controls feelings of stress and frustrations.  So with high endorphin levels, we feel less pain and experience fewer negative effects of stress.

10 Benefits of Drinking Tea

     I've become an avid tea drinker since I realized there's more to tea than its relaxing aroma and that mild flavor that I've gotten used to.  A cup of tea holds more health benefits than you can imagine.  And since some of us are looking for ways to lead a healthier life, here are few of the reasons why tea should become part of our habit.

TEA HAS ANTIOXIDANTS  Tea has antioxidants which help boost our circulatory system letting blood flow properly to all our organs so they can function at its best.  Antioxidants also slow down the aging process, and it help cells to repair and regenerate.  Many studies suggest antioxidants also assist our bodies in preventing cancer.