Posts Tagged ‘health benefits’

Savory Salmon: The Secret to Improving Your Health and Avoiding Disease

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

Whether you’re a fish fan or not taking advantage of salmon is worth a try due to its many health benefits. Besides being an excellent source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, salmon is also full of high-quality proteins and low in saturated fat. In a nutshell, eating a regular diet of salmon can improve cardiovascular health, muscle and tissue development, and eye care. It can also help reduce the risk of many diseases, like type II diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

According to Organicfacts.net salmon is a species of fish that is found in fresh and salt water. Because salmon is chock full of protein, it contains sufficient amounts of every essential amino acid required by our bodies for growth and the upkeep of muscle tissue. These proteins also help our bodies to maintain a healthy metabolism, playing a key role in weight loss.

Salmon has nearly a third of the saturated fat of lean ground beef and 50 percent less saturated fat than chicken, making it one of the healthiest items that you could eat. It is also low in calories. One serving contains approximately 183 calories, making it one of the lowest in calories among other fish. Positivehealthsteps.com also says that salmon is a healthy choice compared to other meats. Compared to salmon’s 183 calories, beef steak contains about 275 calories, lamb chops contain about 360 calories and pork chops about 320.

Salmon can be prepared in a variety of quick and easy ways. Steaming preserves its flavor and keeps the flesh nice and moist. Pan frying or barbecuing with a light coating of olive oil is another great way to serve and you can also poach or bake Salmon.
Whatever method you choose, follow these guidelines to ensure your salmon is fully cooked, yet retains the delicate flavor and texture of the fish.

• Measure the Salmon at its thickest part
• For every inch or 2.5 cm of thickness, cook at high heat for 2 minutes
• Add 5 minutes to the total cooking time if the Salmon is being prepared in a heavy sauce or is wrapped in foil.

Overall, you would be hard pressed to find a healthier fish … and a tastier one, too!

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More Reason to Pamper Yourself: Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

massage therapyFor more than 120 years, experts have been researching the benefits of massage therapy. And besides the obvious stress-free feeling that people experience following a massage, there are plenty of other benefits to this ancient healing procedure.

Below are several different ways that massage therapy can make you feel better physically and mentally.

Physical Benefits- There are a number of physical benefits associated with massage. A benefit of massage therapy that researchers have found is a decrease in blood pressure. Massages also help to alleviate the pain of those who suffer from migraine headaches. It can also: reduce your heart rate, increase blood circulation and lymph flow, relax your muscles, improve your range of motion, and increase endorphins.

Research has also shown that while massage therapy does not increase your muscle strength, it can stimulate your weak and inactive muscles and can thereby aid muscles that you may not have worked out in quite some time. Massage therapy can also speed up your recovery process if you do have an injury.

Some other physical benefits of massage therapy include: relieving muscle tension and stiffness, alleviating discomfort during pregnancy, reducing muscle spasms, promoting deeper and easier breathing, enhancing the health and nourishment of your skin, and improving your posture.

According to MSNBC almost 30 percent of those who had a massage in the past five years said that they did so for medical or health reasons other than stress relief. Their reasons included recovery from an injury, pain reduction, headache control and overall health and wellness.

Mental Benefits- Massage therapy, while a physical act, is not all about physical benefits. There is also an array of mental benefits. Some mental benefits include: promoting mental alertness, relieving mental stress, reducing levels of anxiety, improving motor skills, creating body awareness, and fostering a feeling of well being.

Stress Management- Massage can also help with stress management. According to CBS News massage can relieve tension in your muscles. It can also boost your immune system and cause a release of endorphins, which is the body’s natural painkiller. In addition, it may also increase joint flexibility, improve circulation, reduce spasms and cramping, and help athletes prepare for or recover from a strenuous workout.

While this article only touches on a few benefits of massage therapy, both physical and mental, there are plenty more out there that researchers are learning about each and every day. So, whatever your reason may be, pamper yourself today and reap all of the benefits of a great massage.

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