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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Nine Surprising Diabetes Risks For Texans

Many individuals in Dallas, Houston and other places around Texas don't know that they may be slowly working toward a permanent, chronic disease -- diabetes. Untreated, diabetes can lead to heart and blood pressure problems, dependence on insulin shots, blindness, neuropathy and an early death. Here are nine risks for you to evaluate:

1. Watching two plus hours of TV daily.
Increases your risk: 14%
How: More hours in front of the tube equals less activity.
the fix: Limit TV time to 10 hours a week and get off the couch and move around. Take a walk. Go for a swim. Enjoy life outdoors.

2. Drinking one soda dailyif at all.
Increases your risk: 83%
How: Soda adds extra and empty calories, which can easily lead to weight gain. Most non-diet pops are full of sugar. More than you'll probably add to your coffee.
the fix: Switch to water, diet soda, or even better, unsweetened tea, which actually protects against disease. Green teas are gaining in popularity because of their health benefits.

3. Skipping breakfast.
Increases your risk: almost 50%
How: Not having that morning meal increases the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, making you hungrier and, as a result, you're actually more likely to eat more.
The fix: Eat high-fiber cereal with low-fat milk and one-half cup of fruit in the morning. One study of people with prediabetes found that eating high-fiber cereals made their cells respond better to insulin. Consuming dairy products may also cut the risk for insulin resistance by 72%.

4. Major depression
Increases your risk: 23%
How: Depression may alter body chemistry in a way that makes us more prone to developing diabetes.
The fix: Exercise. Even taking a walk, just 30 minutes, three times a week, has been shown to improve symptoms of depression.

5. A large waist line, even if you are of a normal weight.
Increases your risk: 330%
How: Fat in the abdomen produces compounds that make cells insulin-resistant. Women should keep their waist size below 35 inches and 40 inches for men.
The fix: A half-hour to one hour of cardio, three to five times a week.

6. Waking up in the middle of the night.
Increases your risk: 98%
How: Middle-of-the-night awakenings means you're not getting enough sleep, making you more prone to developing insulin resistance, leading to diabetes.
The fix: No caffeine in the late afternoon and evening. No TV and alcohol right before bed. Try yoga or meditation to relax.

7. Consuming fast food more than twice weekly.
Increases your risk: 100%
How: Individuals who eat burgers, fries and soda more than twice a week put on 10 extra pounds and were twice as likely to become resistant to insulin.
The fix: Stay away from fast food dining. And if you have to eat it, satisfy cravings with smaller portions.

8. High stress.
Increases your risk: 184%
How: Constant high stress can interfere with your ability to make insulin and process glucose.
The fix: Allow 10-15 minutes a day to relax. Try yoga or meditation.

9. Consuming lots of processed meats.
Increases your risk: 43%
How: These meats, like hotdogs, bacon and salami, are loaded with preservatives that may destroy insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
The fix: Cut back on these meats or eliminate them from your diet altogether. A recent Harvard University study found that women who ate these meats less than once a week had the lowest risk. If you need to satisfy a craving, try preservative-free brands.

It's important to take care of yourself; from what you eat to how active you are on a daily basis. And how you treat your body when youre young will certainly affect your health when you get older. Eventually, it will also affect your wallet as well. If you're a young individual who likes to maintain a healthy condition, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you.

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Yoga Shoes And Supplies

Yoga is a fun hobby and a way of life for many. Whether you are a life-long fan of yoga, or just starting to get into the rewarding sport, you will need good supplies. Some items are required in order to do yoga, other things are optional. Our review of yoga shoes and supplies with get you started. Let us help you decide what equipment you need.

Our first subject in yoga shoes and supplies are yoga shoes. the type of shoes you need depends on what kind of yoga you are doing. If you are participating in a simple or beginners style of yoga, you really don't need shoes at all. If you do a more advanced and physical type of yoga, such as Bikram Yoga, you should consider investing in a good pair of athletic shoes. On the other hand, if you do a type of yoga that is somewhere in the middle, you might consider using a soft dancing shoe or simple athletic shoe.

Our second subject in yoga shoes and supplies are the basic equipment needs. Anyone who does yoga should have a yoga mat, no matter what level or style of yoga they are doing. You can find these quite affordably at most department and sporting goods stores. It is also important to have good clothing. Comfortable, loose fitting, stretchy pants or shorts, and cotton T-shirts, tanks or sweaters are best. Socks are optional, as are shoes.

Our final subject in yoga shoes and supplies are advanced equipment needs. You may choose to use all or none of these items. One of these items is a yoga ball. These large inflatable balls are great for a number of yoga exercises. You might be able to purchase one of these in a kit with a yoga mat if you prefer. Other types of equipment include books and videos for instructional use and additional clothing items if desired.

Chinese slippers and Oriental sandals are a great accessory. Whether it's just for the bedroom, spa and around the house or a stylish addition to an outfit during the summer, Japanese and Chinese inspired shoes and slippers are a great idea. Buy authentic geta or zori sandals or cheaper replicas are available in the United States. For yoga shoes and equipment visit Universal Yoga.

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