Hello, and welcome to  the September 2011 newsletter!
Ready for Autumn? After another  scorching  summer, most everyone is ready for a break from the heat. Some cooler  weather  often leads to a boost in personal energy. If you increase your  activity
level—working in the yard or other outdoor activities—be sure to schedule a massage to help you with those sore muscles.


Improving the quality of your life ...
Life is always in a  state of change, and what you do  each day helps to determine the direction your  health will be taking in the coming years. One of the most challenging aspects  of creating a truly healthy lifestyle is identifying and incorporating those  beneficial actions that can improve your condition now and in the future.


What makes this  tricky is that we’re creatures of habit, and our busy lives can make it harder  to change our ways and replace unhealthy habits with things that can improve  the quality of our lives.


The rest of this  issue offers you some food for thought on ways to support better health.


Remember,  massage remains one of the best (and most pleasant) ways to support your health  in the long term, so be sure to schedule your next appointment. See you then!


 
Say “I really care about  you!” with the gift of health—a massage  gift certificate!


Call today to order ...
 
 
What science knows about muscle cramps
It comes  out of nowhere—while you’re playing tennis,
gardening, sitting on the couch or  even when you’re fast asleep. Suddenly a
muscle gets locked in spasm, it’s hard  as a rock, and the pain borders on
unbearable.


Muscle cramps usually  target your legs and can last
for a few seconds to 15 minutes or more. Yet as  common as cramps can be,
experts don’t know exactly what causes most cases. And  there’s no solid science
on how to best treat them. Here’s what we do know:


They’re common in  summer. That’s 
because when you exert yourself in hot weather, sweat drains your body’s 
fluids, which helps muscles contract and relax; heat also depletes salt and 
minerals, which may cause a muscle to spasm. Other possible causes: inadequate 
stretching, muscle fatigue or simply holding a position for a prolonged
period.


Try massaging it. Step 1 to ease a
cramped muscle: Stop whatever activity triggered it. Then try  to gently stretch
and massage the muscle, holding it until the cramp stops.  Though a review
published in the journal Neurology showed stretching—and  drinking
water, another common remedy—aren’t proven treatments, both methods  are safe if
done in moderation and may ease pain. The jury is still out on  other common
treatments, such as taking vitamin B complex or calcium channel  blockers, but
experts agree quinine—once the drug of choice for treating leg  cramps—should be
avoided; it hasn’t been proven effective and may cause severe  side effects. 
 
Walk this way for weight loss
When it  comes to exercise, running isn’t the only
way to see results. Michele Stanten,  fitness director at Prevention
magazine, outlines  the Walk Off Weight Program in a book of the same name. By
alternating  high-intensity activity with lower-intensity recovery periods, the
program  helps you burn fat and increase weight loss. Here are some other
reasons to  give walking a try:


Build up your  immunity. When you’re
staying active, disease-fighting cells circulate through your body.  Daily
walking can lead to a higher-functioning immune system, which can mean  fewer
colds and flus and help protect you against conditions like heart  disease,
cancer, stroke, and diabetes.


Keep bones and joints  strong.
Walking can help provide natural antioxidants and nutrients to your joints, 
muscles and bones. A walking regime can help reduce stiffness, aches and
pains.


Get a natural energy  boost. Walking
for just 30 minutes a day can give you that extra boost you need to add  another
component to your workout. So once you’ve been on a walking program for  a few
days, you might feel ready to add a bike ride on top of that.


Get a natural mood  boost. Every
time you walk, your body releases endorphins that make you feel good and 
relieve stress. Just think of it as a twofer: a way to improve fitness and your 
emotional state at the same time.


And get a good  night’s sleep.
Because walking regularly can help improve your mood, lower your stress levels 
and reduce pain, it’s no wonder it also can help you sleep more soundly. 2


— Cara Hedgepeth


1;2: What science knows about muscle cramps
& Walk this way for weight loss excerpted from USA
Weekend,  Aug. 2011




Fast-food  junkies --
If  it sometimes seems that Americans are addicted to
fast food, it might be that  we actually are. Studies have repeatedly found that
the consequences of  bingeing on high-calorie, high-fat foods mimic the effects
of drug addiction. A  recent study by the Scripps Research Institute found that
gorging on fast food  actually changes the brain’s chemical makeup, making it
more difficult to  trigger the release of dopamine (aka “the pleasure
chemical”). That means  fast-food addicts need to eat more and more to feel
happy—the same way users of  cocaine and other drugs, for example, need to keep
upping their dosages to get  high. An earlier study, by Princeton University,
found that rats who were fed  and then withdrawn from a high-fat, high-sugar
diet exhibited similar  symptoms—chattering teeth and the shakes—to junkies
going cold turkey. “Drugs  give a bigg er effect,” said study author Bart
Hoebel, “but it’s essentially the  same process.”


– The  Week Vol. 11 Iss. 528-529




Human beings, by changing the  inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of  their lives. — William James




The content of this letter is not intended to replace professional medical advice. If you’re ill, please consult a physician.
© 2011 Massage Marketing. Used with
permission; all rights reserved.