Most of us take our muscles for granted, not realizing how crucial they are to us. Muscles are the body’s engine, and energy is the fuel. It would be impossible for us to do anything without them, including expressing ourselves. We convey ideas through spoken words using the muscles of the mouth, tongue and larynx, through written words using the muscles of the fingers, or through body language using skeletal muscles.
The human body contains more than 630 muscles. Approximately 35-45% of body mass is muscle tissue. Muscles are long- lasting, self-healing and grow stronger with use. There are three unique kinds of muscle:
• Cardiac muscle, which is found only in your heart. It contracts involuntarily; it is automatically controlled by the nervous system.
• Smooth muscle is found in blood vessels, the digestive system, bladder, airways, and the uterus in a female. It also contracts involuntarily.
• Skeletal muscle is the kind we can see and feel. They attach to the skeleton and come in pairs; one muscle to move in one direction and another to move back the other way. Skeletal muscles contract voluntarily, you have to think about contracting them and the nervous system tells them to respond.
There are many problems which can affect muscles, causing pain and/or weakness. Some of the most common and least severe muscle disorders include:
• Sprain: A stretched or torn ligament. Wrist and ankle sprains are common and can be caused by falling or twisting.
• Strain: A stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Strains can happen suddenly or develop over time. Hamstring and back muscle strains are most common and are usually caused by twisting or pulling of the tissues. Many people suffer strains from playing sports.
• Muscle cramps: Sudden, involuntary contractions or spasms in the muscle, also called charley horse. Muscle cramps often occur after exercise or at night and can be caused by dehydration, strain or overuse of a muscle, lack of minerals in your diet, or insufficient blood supply to your muscles.
• Tendinitis: Inflammation of a tendon, usually occurring in the elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, heels or wrists. Certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis can cause tendinitis, but it is most commonly caused by injuries and overuse.
There are also many more serious muscle disorders such as cancers, diseases of the nerves that affect the muscles, and genetic diseases.
The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” comes to mind when considering muscles. Use your muscles and strengthen them, you will need them to carry out everyday tasks and prevent you from falling and breaking bones as you grow older.
The human body is a water machine‚ designed primarily to run on water and minerals. Every life giving and healing process that happens inside our body... happens with water. In just the last decade medical science has begun to focus more on the tremendous healing ability our body has and how much that ability depends on water. Our body instinctively knows how and strives to sustain youthful longevity‚ and in its every effort... water is the key.
The human body is made up of over 70% water. Our blood is more than 80%‚ our brain ... over 75%‚ and the human liver is an amazing 96% water!
The function of every cell in our body is controlled by electrical signals sent through our nervous system from the brain. Our nerves‚ in reality‚ are an elaborate system of tiny waterways. If the fluid inside our nerves thickens due to dehydration‚ or is contaminated with synthetic chemicals or toxic heavy metals like lead‚ the vital signals can get distorted. Many experts now believe that the distortion of these signals may be the root cause of many degenerative diseases and neurological illnesses like Attention Deficit Disorder‚ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome‚ anxiety‚ depression and even Alzheimer’s disease
Considering the major role that water plays in the function of our brain and nervous system‚ its purity is possibly the most basic and essential key to healthy longevity. Proper digestion and nutrient absorption depend on a healthy intake of water. In order for our body to get the nutritional value from our foods and supplements‚ we must consume plenty of good water. Since sugars and carbohydrates are absorbed more rapidly‚ even a slight degree of dehydration can cause us to get the caloric intake without the nutrition from the foods we eat.
Our energy level is greatly affected by the amount of water we drink. It has been medically proven that just a 5% drop in body fluids will cause a 25% to 30% loss of energy in the average person... a 15% drop in body fluids causes death! Water is what our liver uses to metabolize fat into useable energy. It is estimated that over 80% of our population suffers energy loss due to minor dehydration. An increased intake of healthy water will help metabolize and shed stored fat... resulting in more energy and less fat.
Detoxification is probably the single most important component to long-term health... and one that relies almost exclusively on an adequate intake of good water. Water is our body’s only means of flushing out toxins‚ the key to disease prevention. In our industrialized‚ chemical society‚ we are exposed to literally hundreds of harmful substances daily. Our air‚ our foods and everything we touch... contain traces of harmful chemicals. Unfortunately we can’t keep toxins from getting into our body‚ but we can help our body to get rid of them by drinking plenty of healthy water. The more water we drink... the more we allow our body to purify itself. Almost all-degenerative disease is the result of toxins building up in our body.
The quality of the water we drink is equally as important as the amount. If water already contains chlorine and other chemicals‚ it has less of an ability to carry toxins out of our body. If we consume water that contains traces of synthetic chemicals‚ then we force our liver and kidneys to be the filter... ultimately damaging or destroying two of our most vital organs. With an abundant intake of clean‚ healthy water we allow our body to perform all the healing processes that it is naturally capable of.
- Refuse stress! Miss the bus rather than run!
- Learn a relaxation technique and use it once a week at least.
- Go for a walk every day.
- Drink lots of water all the time.
- Eat and drink healthily every day. Take special treats only on weekends. If you easily gain weight: eat SMALL portions.
- Choose an exercise technique that suits you, and practice it once a week at least.
- Go to a professional masseur once a month at the very very least. Or exchange services with your partner or friend, read a book about massage and practice it.
- Stop smoking.
- Sleep enough and well. (The most common reason to sleeping problems is lack of exercise.)
- Get to know yourself, and realize you are worth a good life.
- Look around you - what can be changed in your life and your environment to make you feel better?
- Keep developing - learn new things, try different paths in life.
- Be good to yourself. Let ambition rest sometimes.
- Think positive thoughts about other people and wish them well!
- Do things that you love. Enjoy life!
