MONTREAL – A French-Canadian entrepreneur near Montreal is marketing specially designed rings that advertise the wearer is single and approachable. Jean Thibodeau, 43, told The Gazette newspaper in Montreal the ring makes sense in Quebec’s society, where marriage is becoming more scarce in favor of common-law relationships. Thibodeau’s rings, made in Hong Kong, are stainless-steel adorned with a metallic-blue paint stripe, the newspaper said. They sell for $39.95 in 12 stores in northern Montreal suburbs

Thibodeau said he plans on gradual expansion further into the province. A saleswoman at one of the stores selling the rings said about three rings are sold each day, mostly to women. Quebec’s statistical agency backs up Thibodeau’s observation on marriage. Only one quarter of men and a third of women can expect to marry in their lifetime in the province, down from near nine in 10 men and women in 1966. The report didn’t specify on which, if any particular finger the ring is worn.

Bizarre Holidays For November

November 21 is World Hello Day and False Confessions Day

November 22 is Start Your Own Country Day

November 23 is National Cashew Day

November 24 is Use Even If Seal Is Broken Day

November 25 is National Parfait Day

November 26 is Shopping Reminder Day

November 27 is Pins And Needles Day

November 28 is Make Your Own Head Day

November 29 is Square Dance Day

November 30 is Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day

Allergies are more than an inconvenience, they make most sufferers tired and irritable, unable to concentrate or learn effectively, and process information less efficiently. Until I got my allergies under control, I did not know how the whole experience had effected my life.

As a child I was fortunate not to know what an allergy was. But by the age of 25, I suddenly had an allergic reaction to something that ended in a sinus infection. From that moment on, and several sinus infections later, I continued to suffer the intermittent seasonal sneezing and congestion, sniffling, and coughing symptoms of allergies for an additional 20 years.

Was it reassuring that allergic rhinitis has had such an enormous and negative impact on the general population in the U.S.? No, and treating the symptoms of my allergies with chemical solutions to counter the release of histamine by messing around with my body’s natural water system regulator substance was no real solution either.

Drugs that block your body’s natural release of histamine by using drugs, called ‘histamine blockers’ or (anti-histamines), cause your body to become more dependent on these substances. It also messes with your body’s natural water regulating system, and it is not curing your allergies by merely masking the symptoms.

Roughly 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergies, thousands do not even realize they do. Many suspect they have allergies and ignore their symptoms or routinely self medicate. Self medicating can become a vicious cycle of decongestant pills, cough syrups, and nose sprays. Used regularly you may become dependent on these over the counter or prescription medications.

Some of you can pin point your allergies rather quickly when your eyes well up when you are around the offender such as cats, trees budding out in April, or ragweed in September. But many times the problem is not so obvious.

Before you turn to medications again, out of habit or lack of knowledge for a better way, here are some valuable pieces of information that may kick your allergies in the butt, naturally. Many of you, but not all, could get some real relief for good. Mineral deficiencies and dehydration problems are common among the masses in the U.S. population.

Perhaps, it is not an unlikely accident that there are other conditions that are also associated with mineral deficiencies as well such as asthma, fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines, attention deficit disorders, and mitral valve prolapse. These conditions often occur in clusters together within the same individual, and may be a red flag marker. Experimenting, by using a simple inexpensive mineral supplement like coral calcium may produce some surprising results.

Quite by accident I read a book called “The Calcium Factor” by Robert Barefoot and Carl Reich M.D. After reading this book I decided to experiment a little and began taking coral calcium to see what it would do for me, if anything. I noticed rather quickly, among a few other benefits, that this supplement unexpectedly cleared up my allergies.

I applied another piece of sound advice I gained from another book called, “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water” by F. Batmanghelidj M.D, by drinking my body’s daily requirement in pure water. I also added some unrefined salt, rich in natural minerals, to the water intake and ultimately cured my allergies for good! That has been four years ago.

One last added tip on this subject, get out into the sunshine and add some natural vitamin D to the mix. When it is not seasonally available try using a nutritional form of this vitamin, such as cod liver oil. Many coral calcium supplement companies do add it to their product as an added benefit.

What would you not miss about having yearly bouts with your allergy symptoms? Having your head clear up nicely and be back in the game of life again, or having a little more disposable income to spend on other things besides allergy medications and doctor visits? May be both, right? I am sure both of these ideas would not hurt your feelings to much.

Water, salt, minerals, and sunshine could very well be your allergies worst enemies and become your best friends.

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As May is National Arthritis month, promoting awareness about a study recently conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on arthritis shows a rather alarming increase this disease has taken. The average person may believe this to be a condition associated with an aging population, however, even arthritis among children (juvenile arthritis) is also a relatively common occurrence.

As the first of America’s baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) advance into late middle age, arthritis and other related rheumatic conditions such as fibromyalgia, gout, and scleroderma are taking up an increasing amount of health care spending. The recent study on arthritis conducted by the U.S. CDC spanned a six year time period from 1997 to 2003, and documented a 25 percent increase in the number of Americans succumbing to painful arthritis and other related rheumatic conditions.

Some 46 million (or 1 in 5) Americans suffer from arthritis, up from 36.8 million six years ago. The $81 billion price tag associated with treating these conditions represents about 3 percent of the gross domestic product. Baby boomers are leading the pack in this spending increase. Out of the newly 9 million people being diagnosed with arthritis and other related rheumatic conditions during this six-year study, 66 percent were between the ages of 44 to 64.

Interestingly, too, according to the researchers of this study, was that most of the increases in arthritis and other rheumatic related conditions occurred among people who also had other health worries such as diabetes, obesity, and heart conditions. This particular group seen an increase of 28 percent, up from 31.8 million to 40.8 million, compared to a 6 percent increase for those who were otherwise healthy, 5 million to 5.3 million.

Being overweight or obese are definite prime culprits for putting you at an increased risk for developing arthritis and its related conditions. A higher level of body mass index will put you at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, and results from the wear and tear of normal movement. Osteoarthritis in the joint this year will eventually become a joint replacement years down the road. The pressure of gravity causes physical damage to the joints and surrounding tissues. Symptoms are:

1.pain
2.swelling
3.tenderness
4.decreased function

Rheumatoid arthritis is a little different, it is an autoimmune problem that occurs when the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (cell lining inside the joint). If left untreated over the course of years, a gross disfigurement of the affected joints begin to appear in fingers, toes, knees, and elbows. This is a very chronic, and potentially disabling disease that causes symptoms such as:

1.joint pain
2.stiffness
3.swelling
4.loss of joint function

Arthritis is really not just a single disease. There are actually around 100 different variations of arthritis, or other related rheumatic conditions. Arthritis literally means ‘joint inflammation’, and the term ‘itis’ actually means inflammation. So, in essence, any part of your body can become inflamed and painful due to arthritis. Some rheumatic conditions can result in debilitating, even life-threatening complications, and affect other parts of the body including muscles, bones, and internal organs.

In conclusion, drug treatment options did rise sharply during this six year study period (24%). But, other costs such as hospital stays dropped, so that actual per-person spending evened out to remain unchanged. Researchers concluded that the main reason for increased spending on treatment was due to the newly increased number of people developing arthritis.

In comparing the rising cost of treating arthritis, how do you suppose these findings compare to the rising costs of other health care problems Americans are being diagnosed with in general?

Clearly, the only control that seems to make much sense at all is to help educate and motivate people to become healthier. There is no question that the incidence of arthritis does seem to increase with age, however, nearly three out of every five sufferers are under the age of 65. You can not control the aging process, no one can, of course. However, you can choose to make yourself healthier, that is an option that is realistically doable for anyone.

Getting enough exercise to help increase joint mobility in arthritis sufferers is one option that is consistently being preached. But, it alone will not be enough, it is very hard to freely move painful joints through exercise that are chronically dry and dehydrated. Diets need to be addressed and modified. Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids and other whole food nutrients will swing the odds in favor of a successful remission of symptoms.

F. Batmanghelidj’s book “How To Deal With Back Pain and Rheumatoid Joint Pain” is an inexpensive self-help manual anyone can read to learn more about water’s amazing role in relieving joint pain naturally. In this short paper back book, you will learn that joint pain is simply just a signal that your body is emitting to let you know that joints are thirsty and dehydrated.

Listen to that signal, give your joints what they need to be healthy and stay lubricated every day with nothing more than pure water!

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There are natural remedies for depression that are successfully used by health care professionals. Quite a number of people living with depression day to day don’t want to depend on synthetic prescription antidepressant drugs prescribed to them by doctors for help.

When looking at the possibility of being on medication for life, many people who suffer this condition are turning to natural remedies for depression. They would rather find natural treatments for depression that will help them cope with the depressive condition they experience every day.

St. John’s Wort is an option that has won favor. This is one of the natural treatments for depression that has been the subject of numerous clinical studies. Though not definitive, these studies do agree that some results have been positive. Many often claim that the results they get from it are as good as, if not better than the drug Prozac. They swear they don’t need anything else when St. John’s Wort is taken on a regular basis.

How do natural remedies for depression like St. John’s Wort work? It works by slowing the body’s absorption rate of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, the three neurotransmitters affecting depression. Because of this effect, the body has additional time to convey messages to the brain. There is one drawback to using this supplement, though. It can have an interaction with some other medications a person might take so it is always advisable to consult with a physician before beginning its use.

Other natural remedies for depression have also had good results. Omega-3 fatty acids have been seen to be useful themselves. Found primarily in fish oils, it can also be found in canola oil, hemp or walnuts as well. However, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils appear to be the only ones that work as an antidepressant. DHE fatty acids that are found in these particular fatty acids are used as nourishment by the brain. These substances typically are low in depressive persons so the brain gets replenished with what it needs by taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

Natural treatments for depression also recommended for people suffering from depression are a number of the B vitamins. Studies have shown that of the adult depression suffers, many are low in folic acid. Tests show that people who have long periods of depression and do not respond adequately to conventional antidepressants are especially low in this particular vitamin. There is proof that a person’s mood is improved when folic acid levels are increased. Mood is also shown to be affected by Vitamin B-1, which is another name for thiamine. Even people who do not suffer from depression have experienced improved moods when taking this vitamin.

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), another of the natural remedies for depression, is a derivative of the amino acid called tryptophan. The body converts tryptophan into 5-HTP which is then converted into serotonin. When 5-HTP supplements are used as natural treatments for depression, they seem to help balance serotonin levels and enhance the mood. It is also used for weight loss, insomnia, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia and stress as well as the symptoms of depression.

Vitamin B-12 levels can affect the mood, which is also affected by the natural process of menopause that women around the age of fifty can experience. A woman is likely to have only about half the amount of this vitamin in her system after she passes the age of fifty because it typically begins to diminish at this point in her life. Another important vitamin that has also been shown to alleviate PMS or premenstrual depression is vitamin B-6. The mood may be significantly enhanced when any or a combination of the B vitamins are used.

Improved mood has been seen to result from doing simple exercises. The belief is that the body is able to absorb supplements and medications better while exercising. It is also believed that brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine are produced during exercise. Exercise of any kind is good and has proven to be a mood enhancer. When choosing which forms of exercise to participate in, select exercises that are enjoyable and do not place too much physical stress on the body, especially in the beginning.

Light therapy is another of the natural remedies for depression. It has been proven that as the days shorten in the winter and there is less sunlight, some people develop depression symptoms. Try to simply get outside and enjoy the sun during the hours of daylight as much as possible during the shorter winter days. In the home, let the sun shine in through uncovered windows. It may also be beneficial to use light therapy in a clinical setting with the assistance of a qualified provider.

The patient should not give up as any one of these natural treatments for depression or a combination of them may well help. It may be worthwhile giving each of them a try when a person suffers from depression symptoms.

Copyright 2008 InfoSearch Publishing

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Fibromyalgia is a common condition that affects hundreds of people worldwide. Unfortunately, causes of fibromyalgia are still unknown, making it difficult to spot the condition with physical and obvious signs.

If a rheumatologist feels that all your symptoms are associated with fibromyalgia, he or she may recommend a few lifestyle changes, medication and dietary restrictions. Since there are no known cures for this condition, doctors will only recommend treatments to lessen the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

One change patients may require is his or her daily diet. Although most fibromyalgia patients report that their pains are alleviated by dietary measures, there is no specific and proven fibromyalgia diet program to treat this condition.

Several studies have been made to determine the effect of certain foods on fibromyalgia in order to formulate an effective fibromyalgia diet for patients. Unfortunately, there are no clear medical evidences that indicate certain foods and dietary supplements could improve this syndrome.

Therefore, if you are looking for the perfect fibromyalgia diet to reduce your symptoms, be aware that it can be misleading to say that there is one single diet, which could effectively reduce your symptoms. Doctors recommend dietary changes for this condition that are based on general principles of a healthy eating program that avoids certain foods known to cause headaches, allergies, hyperglycemia, fatigue and digestive disorders.

Fibromyalgia Diet: Foods To Avoid

Although there are no accepted fibromyalgia diets, many patients continue to report that specific foods effectively alleviate symptoms better than others do. Doctors explain this occurrence based on the important of proper nutrition in keeping the body free from biochemical problems. Since fatigue and inflammation are symptoms that are affected by food, there is no harm in following a fibromyalgia diet that you or your doctor believes can reduce symptoms.

Some patients experience food allergies or cravings. For this reasons, doctors try to alleviate the pain by changing the patient’s diet. While many patients report common foods to avoid, be aware that not everyone can benefit from fibromyalgia diet they recommend because symptoms of fibromyalgia vary from one patient to another.

Generally, patients follow a fibromyalgia diet program that contains food that are not linked to headaches, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammation and other symptoms associated with this complex syndrome. Patients are advised to identify and avoid foods that aggravate their individual condition. However, most doctors advise on avoiding foods with aspartame and monosodium glutamate.

If you feel that a fibromyalgia diet can benefit your condition, you can follow a low refined-carb diet, vegetarian diet and any kind of diets that reduce headaches. It is important to note that the diet you choose should specifically treat your individual symptoms and it is not practical to follow other patient’s diet because their “formulated fibromyalgia diet: may not work wonders for you.

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Most of us have heard about magnetic products before, and quite possibly the first time we heard about them we were a little disbelieving and a little curious all at once! But for those of us who haven’t heard of magnetic therapy you are probably wondering how in the world can a magnet reduce pain and inflammation from the body, and does it really work? Well that is a good question, it’s a long answer, but a very good question.

In short, all of the mental functions in our body are controlled by electromagnetic fields produced by the ions within the body. When an injury occurs and tissue is damaged, positive ions move to the affected area, triggering pain and causing inflammation. In order for the pain to be relieved and for healing to start taking place the electromagnetic field must be restored to their normal balance. By applying a magnetic field to an injured area, we are restoring the electromagnetic fields back to normal. The magnetic field relaxes the capillary walls, as well as surrounding muscle, connective tissue, and also allows for increased blood flow.

The Chinese were the first culture to use magnetic therapy almost 4,000 years ago. Other cultures including Greeks, Egyptians, and Europeans have also applied magnets to relieve pain and other symptoms, currently over 150 million people use this therapy worldwide. Several studies in the United States have shown that magnetic therapy is an effective method for reducing pain and discomfort. So this isn’t just another “quack” type aid. Magnetic therapy really does work and it has not only been published in many medical journals but it is also a scientifically proven method to reduce or take away pain completely.

There are several different magnetic therapy products that you can use such as braces for the lower back, ankle, and knees, as well as for tennis elbow. There’s also seat pads, dream pillows, headbands and much more. Several different manufacturers produce magnetic therapy products however HoMedics and Therion seem to be the most popular. If you would like more information on magnetic therapy products, or if you would like to buy a magnetic therapy product you can take a look at a few the sites below:

Health With Magnets
Pro Magnet
Therion Research
Magnets and Health

Magnet therapy has also been known to help with other things such as sleep disorders, arthritis and fibromyalgia. So this product isn’t just for people with sports injuries or people that have something temporary. This product can also be used for more permanent ailments.

 

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