Life-giving water

Once there was a Greek goddess Hercyna who was wandering around the land of olives and sunny grapes. Just in the middle of her trip she felt thirsty, but there was no water near by. Hercyna stamped with her foot and a spring burst forth out of the earth. Thus, according to this beautiful legend, thermal waters came out.

The therms, located on these waters, were first built in Rome. Nowadays the archeologists find the ruins of the therms, built by the Romans, in the world-known resorts – Karlovy Vary, Vichy, Baden-Baden. The modern hydro-therapy comes from the Western countries; its founder is an Austrian peasant Vincent Prisnitsa, who treated his wounds with hot compresses. After he had healed up his wounds, he became an active defender of hydro-therapy and thermal waters. At the same time a Russian physician A. Nikitin systematized the material on use of sea-water and mud, fresh and mineral water.

Europe

Nowadays thermal springs turned to be unique resorts, and people from all over the world come to have a treatment there. The resort, known as Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, was founded in the 14th century. It was named in honor of the king, who found this spring when hunting in the forest. Since that it brings health to thousand of tourists and takes care of their beauty.

Almost all Europe is “pierced” with magic springs. Baden-Baden is a small city, which is known with more than 20 springs. The average temperature of these subterranean springs id 58-68 grades, as they come forth out of the earth. In Hungary there are hot springs in Chavez, Duberstein, Khaidusoboslo and Balatogfured. The leader country is Bulgaria where there are about 530 mineral waters. Of course, to have such a treatment costs much. Three hour stay in a thermal aqua park in Andorra costs 20 dollars per a person, in Budapest – only 5 dollars.

That’s a fun to see in the middle of January a hot pond, around which there are trees with green leaves and in which there are ducks, swimming and diving into the water. So it is a pond with thermal water.

So what is it a therm or thermal water? This word comes from Greek “heat”, “warmth”. Subterranean springs, warmed up by the rocks, have a temperature 37-42 degrees, if it is higher, they’re considered to be hypothermal; and if it is 20-37 degrees, they are called warm or subthermal. Thermal waters are often located near volcanoes or geysers. Together with temperature rise there comes mineralization process, concentration of natrium, silicic acid, fluorine, chlorine and other elements. Thus, temperature is one of the main factors, which influences the chemical composition and balneal properties of the waters.

All the thermal waters have useful properties

Hot waters, coming out of the earth, have different chemical composition. They can be carbonic-sulfide, carbonic and methanic. Warm water has a strong effect on state of health, and it becomes stronger, if the water contains bromine, iodine, natrium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, krypton, tungsten and other active elements. Lying in a pool of boiling water, you relax; have rest and restore your metabolism. Hydrotherapy acts on release of pressure; as a result you have a better sleep and capacity for work. Moreover, there is often water massage in bathhouses. In well-equipped bathhouses you can find waterfalls, whirlpools, different kinds of shower.

North

Well, it’s quite surprising but there are lots of geysers and hot spring in the north of Russia, which are useful for health. Primorie is known for its unique nitric waters. Their temperature in the water outlet is +200-360 degrees. If you are not afraid to travel far from your home, go to Kamchatka. There are the largest thermal ponds there. There is mild climate in the island, rich flora and unforgettable landscapes.

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Congratulations!

Dear Ladies!

Let me congratulate you on the International Women's Day!
I wish you all the happiness and joy, let your men carry you on their hands.
It's not bad to be weak sometimes. Don't forget that we are a weaker sex!

Health-improving tea for zodiac signs

Together with diets recommended for each zodiacal sign, there are also 12 tea recipes, which help to improve state of health, to increase energy, to develop immunity.

Aries

If Aries is being upset, worried, nervous, this kind of tea can help him/her to relieve the stress and to decrease headache: angelica roots - 20 gr., valeriana roots - 10 gr., thyme - 10 gr. Mix up the herbage, pour 500 ml of hot water over the handful of it. Filter and drink a litlle at a time.
Taurus

Taurus likes nourishing food and stewed dishes. Sometimes it is harmful for health. After such food abuses, we recommend a tea, improving digestion: majorana - 10 gr., anise - 10 gr., rosemary - 15 gr., linden blossom - 10 gr., thyme - 20 gr. 1 tablespoon per 1/4 l. of hot water. Drink half a glass after each meal.
Gemini

Gemini needs sleep to keep fit. Here is a calming tea: white robin - 10 gr., balm blossom - 15 gr. A handful of herbage per 1 l. of hot water. Brew it up. Drink half a glass several times a day.
Cancer

To look good, Cancer needs to sleep long. This kind of tea, when being drunk after lunch, helps to keep energy: wild poppy petals - 30 gr., violet willow catkins - 30 gr., majorana - 60 gr. Brew like a tea, but a little bit longer, add some honey.
Leo

Heart is a weak point of this sign. Herbal tea helps to calm down and strengthen the vessels: anise - 15 gr., balm - 10 gr., linden blossom - 10 gr., Roman camomile - 15 gr. 1 tablespoon per 0,5 l. of hot water, brew up and drink three times a day.
Virgo

It often seems to Virgo, that she/he is ill, she/he experiments with new recipes and diets. This tea helps to relieve the stress and clear the bowels: majorana - 25 gr., mint - 25 gr., sage - 5 gr., lavender - 25 gr. 1 tablespoon of the herbage mix per a glass of hot water. Drink in the morning and in the evening.
Libra

Libra is a recognized gourmet. She/he doesn't like exquisite dishes, which spoil complexion. Herbal tea helps to make it better: mallow - 50 gr., graden violet - 50 gr. 1 tablespoon per a glass of hot water. Brew up about 15 minutes. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach sugar-free.
Scorpion

Scorpion doesn't like to take care of his/her health. But sometimes he should clear the bowels. Drink the following tea: buckthorn bark - 25 gr., restharrow root - 25 gr., caseweed - 25 gr., milfoil - 50 gr. 1 tablespoon per a glass of hot water. Brew up. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach.
Sagittarius

Sagittarius needs healthy food to make his/her liver healthy. If you have a sloght malady, try this: ash-tree root - 20 gr., trigonella - 10 gr., garden violet - 15 gr. 4 tablespoons of herbage per 1 l. of hot water. Drink 2-3 times a day.
Capricorn
Capricorn is more interested in work than in cooking. He/she can be often irretated, worried, and it affects digestion badly. Drink the following: balm leaves - 10 gr., bilberries - 10 gr. 1 tablespoon per 1/4 l. of hot water. Drink between meals.
Aquarius
Aquarius has bad blood circulation that's why he/she often feels cold. Herbal tea stimulates it: caseweed - 30 gr., nut-tree leaves - 30 gr., wormwood - 30 gr. 1 tablespoon per a glass of hot water. Drink 2 glasses on an empty stomach.
Pisces

Pisces need harmony and rest. This is the recipe of a tonic tea: Roman camomile blossom - 20 gr., gentian root - 5 gr. 1 tablespoon per 0,5 l. of hot water. Drink in the morning and in the evening.

Hidden causes of your NOT losing weight.

Almost all the women, trying to lose weight, know the following situation: you choose an appropriate diet, keep it and even lose some kilos – and that’s all! You are not losing weight in spite of your tries and sufferings. Every morning you, with bated breath, stand up on a balance, but a pointer seems to mock at you. You feel gloomy, and your hope to get a slender figure is dying away. There’s no need to despair! Change your weight loss stragedy. Let’s analyse the hidden causes, which can prevent you from losing weight.

Cause 1: Cold dusky days
Recent investigations say that in winter, early spring and late autumn (October, November, March and April) people tend to get extra 500-1500 kcal. every day.
It concerns people suffering from seasonal depression, which signs are bad mood, irritaion or tiredness, break down. Almost 20% people have seasonal depression. It is caused by shortening of a day, lowering of serotonin and dopamine in brain, which increases sugar starvation. That’s why we eat more sweets and other carbs in winter.
What to do? To go to the Canaries for the whole winter? There is a way out: try to get more sunlight. Stay outdoors at least 15-30 minutes at noon when solar activity is the highest possible. You must remember that you have a psychological starvation, not a physical one. Try to provide yourself with fresh vegetables and fruit, and also grains.

Cause 2: Happy marriage.
Of course, you are not going to sacrifice your figure to your marriage, but it happens. In 2 years of marriage women begin to put on 0.5-2 kg. a year. As the matter of the fact, gastronomic preferences within a couple become alike with time. As a rule, it is a woman who slaves to a man. When you live alone, you can easily eat a salad for supper or miss it. But when you are married and you have a big family, you cook cometing tasty willy-nilly.

Try to enlist the support of your husband and children. Cook low-cal food several times a week. Try to yield to their persuasion “to have a snack”. Go in for sport with your husband. Statistics says that in this case women seldom give up exercising.

Cause 3: Sofa and TV-set
According to the recent investigations, 93% of overweighted people spend more than 2 hours a day watching TV. The matter is that while watching TV they are motionless. Heartbeat, pressure and metabolism are slowing down. If you watch TV 5 hours a day, you put on almost a kilo per a month. Moreover, many people like to have a snack while watching TV.
The way out is simple: do something while seeing your favorite films or programmes. For example, knit! Or do some exercises.


Cause 4: Lack of sleep.
The lack of sleep influence badly our appearance and it slows down the metabolism. The level of leptine – a hormone of hunger – increases and it can bring to swift weight gaining. Of course, we speak about long chronical not getting enough sleep. It concerns the people who work at night.
Do not make your sleep a sacrifice. Most women need 7-8 hour sleep. Take a nap in thr afternoon.


Cause 5: Unsuitable diet.
Losing weight stops if you are keeping a monodiet – for example eating only rice or bananas during the long period time. As usually, such diets have an effect in first 2-3 days, but then they stop to work.
Separate nutrition diet seldom have an effect. It improves digestion and state of health, but it seldom helps to lose weight.

Salt-free diets always help to keep your weight on the same level. But it’s the best variant you may have. You’ll soon get tired, feel lazy. Just limit all kind of salted and smoked foods. But there is no sense in giving the salt up.You must balance what you eat. You’ll get better results only if you choose a very slow complex programm of losing weight.

Cause 6: Cyclical crisis of weight.
You can easily lose weight, when keeping diets and going in for sport during the last phase of menstrual cycle. The increased level of oestrogen and progesterone speeds up the metabolism, with their help women lose theit weight.
But sometimes premenstrual syndrome provokes edemas and liquid accumulation. It doesn’t matter what diet you keep, you can gain 2 kg.! Do not torture yourself, wait a little bit and try to drink diuretic tea for 2-3 days.

Calorie counting...... it's rubbish!

Myth: We MUST count the calories.

Reality: A tendency of calorie counting appeared in the West and reached Russia in 70th. People wishing to lose weight were afraid to get more calories than they needed. But soon this fashion came to naught, but even nowadays there are people who are still counting calories. This article is written for them. I think they will be surprised by the results of recent studies held in Denmark. They showed that calorie counting has no sense.

The group of volunteers were divided into two parts - one of them was put on a rigorous diet and counted calories and the other one kept unrestricted high-carbohydrate low-fat diet. The results were really astonishing: 65% volunteers from the second group lost an excess weight, while only 40% of the first group managed to do the same.

The modern nutrition theory was born from Germany at the close of last age. The German physiologist Voit decided to find out, how much food a man needs. He took an average monthly salary of a worker as an example and reckoned what can be bought on this money. He called it a physiological norm. Thus, he developed a theory of balanced nutrition.

According to this theory a man needs 3000-5000 kilocalories a day. But the experts in natural nutrition, particularly Galina Shatalova, insist, that 600 kilocalories a day are quite enough. Her opinion is objected: in Oswiecim people ate such a food, which didn't assimilate. But at the same time, it was rich in calories.

Shatalova proved that she was right by making a following experiment: she invited a group of incurable patients to walk 500 km along the desert together with her. They got 300-600 kilocalories a day and they were alive.But people didn't believe her. Then she offered 6 unbelieving Czech athletes to join them. They got 6000 kilocalories a day, as usually. Russian volunteers - 300-600. Three Czechs gave up the very first day. The rest managed to walk 134 km. They looked worn out, while the Russians felt OK. After they said good-bye to the Czech colleges, they walked 272 km more.

This example shows, that the importance of calories counting is exaggerated. The quality of food and ability to assimilate it are more important.

And do you know that calories can be "good" and "bad"? It is a division offered by Philip Lipets, a biotechnologist and a teacher at the Ohio Medical university.

The products, containing "good" calories are rye-bread, oatmeal porridge, beans, soy, sunflower seeds, nuts, caffeine-free drinks, white lean meat, perch, cod, ling, salmon, trout, halibut, shellfish, shrimps, crabs, not-fat milk, fresh juices (without sugar), fruit, vegetables (except potato and carrot).

"Bad" calories are contained in alcohol, sweets, honey, sugar, animal fat, fat milk, dark meat, smoked food (except lean meat), cakes, ripe bananas, dried fruits, cheeps, fast food, popcorn, corn, canned goods, overboiled products.

Secret of correct nutrition according to Lipets is very simple - eat more products containing "good" calories, and less products, containing "bad" calories.

Yoghurt and kefir are considered to be the most «ancient» fermented milk products. «If you want to live longer – drink sour milk». It is an ancient proverb of the Abkhazians, among who there are lots of long-living persons. There is everything in sour milk products that is necessary for life – vitamines, proteins, fats and carbs. Besides, many grown-ups can't use whole milk for food.

Breakfast, consisted of any sour milk product, can provide burst of energy, if you add some fruit or berries. It's important that sweet fruit and berries go well with fermented milk with sour taste, for example, kefir. And sourish berries may be added to sweetish products, such as yoghurt.

The new century has not only absolutely changed our way of life, but also the nutrition structure of a man. A constant lack of time, a pulse of life – all those things influence our state of health. We used to eating too much animals fats, there is a deficit of vitamines, microelements and mineral substances (especially, iron and calcium). But it's very important to build up our health, we must not forget about sour milk products and yoghurt, which refine our body.

The tips to drink sour milk and not to harm the health:

1. You must differentiate the sour milk products by quality and choose the most useful product for rational nutrition.

2. It's better to drink kefir or yoghurt in 2 hours after meal.

3. You must rinse your mouth after drinking sour milk.

4. You shouldn't heat up kefir or yoghurt.

5. It's better to abstain from drinking sour milk products together with medicine, containing caffeine. These drinks reduce the effect of aspirin and other drugs, containing acetylsalicylic acid.

6. Children, up to 8 month, should drink kefir and yoghurt.

If you want to live 100 years...

The international EER magazine published a list of 11 products which are the most useful for our health. This list makes us plan our meal in a new way. Thus, to provide our organism with vitamin C we don't need to overpower ourselves by eating sour lemons and swallowing a great amount of polyvitamins. Moreover, regular eating of these products helps to live a long and full life.

1. Fish. The ancient Japanese said: "Those who want to take care of their heart should eat more fish than meat". Three fish courses a week or 30 gr. fish a day reduce the possibility of heart-attack due to the fatty acids Omega-3 which the fish has. These acids work on cellular membranes. Statistics says that the Japanese and the Eskimos suffer from heart-attack much more seldom than the nations who can't eat fish products very often.

2. Apples. An apple a day keeps a doctor away. Actually, eating an apple a day you have less chances to be taken ill with Alzheimer disease. The substances contained in apples, particularly quercitine, have antiphlogistic function and reduce harmful effect of free radicals. In apples there are also vitamins and microelements, which help to develop immunity and to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

3. Garlic is indispensable when treating cold. Besides, it helps to prevent from the stomach and bowels cancer and improves digestion. One of the most important properties of garlic is protection from vascular diseases. The substances, contained in garlic, clean out the vessels and prevent from blood-vessel occlusion.

4. Strawberry. The point is that you don't need to eat lemons to get enough vitamin C - you may eat strawberries as it has lots of vitamin C. But it is not the only virtue of strawberries - high level of iron increases immunity. Some dye-stuffs and essential oils hold in formation of special enzymes, provoking to cancer.

5. Carrot. Beta-carotene neutralises free radicals, destroying genic structure and provoking cancer. Besides, it acts upon skin condition and eye-sight. But you must remember, that beta-carotene dissolves in fat, that is why a carrot salad should be seasoned with oil or sour cream.

6. Hot chili pepper improves metabolism, forwarding losing weight. Capsicinum, conditioning on the bitter taste of pepper, stimulates digestive juices and protects from harmful bacteria in the stomach and bowels.

7. Sweet pepper is also health-giving. It contains not only vitamin C, but also a staining agent luteolin. Even in small quantities luteolin keeps back cancer development, cardiovascular diseases and age-related changes.

8. Banana is the most nourishing and rich in carbohydrates fruit. Bananas have different ballast substances, preventing from diabetes. Magnesium contained in a banana is 1/6 of a daily need.

9. Green tea. Miraculous characteristics of green tea can be explained by catechine which is contained in it. This bioactive substance blocks the development of atherosclerosis and prostate cancer. If you wish to lose weight, green tea is quite all right, but to burn your fat you should drink at least 4 cups of tea a day. There is no catechine in black tea - it is destroyed while producing the tea.

10. Soy has lots of lecithin and vitamins of group B, which intensifies thinking and functioning of the nervous system. Soy is also known as irreplaceable source of protein and can take the place of animal protein. Though soy is an unusual product for the European, the recent investigations prove its usefulness. It concerns particularly soy germs.

11. Milk belongs to the basic foodstuffs not without good reason. There are valuable proteins, easily digested fats and lactose. The most useful ingredient is calcium. The scientists stated that calcium, accumulated in youth, helps to avoid osteoporosis in old age. It is also necessary for nervous and muscular systems.

People always try to determine the most useful products. The Daily Mirror published the list in which there are brown rice, eggs, milk, spinach, bananas, chicken, salmon, bilberries, herbage and garlic. Some natural food can be used as medicine. For example, cherry juice helps to cope with exercise stress, American scientists from the Vermont university say. The dose recommended is a glass of juice or 45 berries. Specialists suppose that such an effect can be explained by the anti-inflammatory action of the antioxidants and substances, contained in cherry.

A plate model to plan your meal

A plate model for meal planning is widely used all over the world. The food plate model illustrates the types of food we need for a healthy diet and the proportions we should eat every day.

It was first described in 1970 in the Swedish magazine "Var Naring" ("Our Nourishment"). In the early 1980's, Swedish nutritionists Margit Eliasson, Brita Karlstrom, and Birgitta Melin; and Bengt Vessby, MD, wrote "Mat Vid Diabetes och Hjartkarlssjukdom: Bra Mat for Alla". It means "Food for People with Diabetes and Heart Disease: Good Food for Everyone", which was a patient booklet to help clients more easily select healthful meals with acceptable food proportions, without measuring.

The plate model is a simple way for people who have diabetes to plan meals. With the plate model, a nine-inch plate serves as a guide for the amounts (serving sizes) and kinds of food that you should choose. Using this model can help you to eat the right amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates naturally raise your blood sugar after eating. However, eating too much carbohydrate at one time can raise your blood sugar to a very high level.

Using the plate model may help you keep your blood sugar levels under control. Keeping your blood sugar within a normal range without large increases and decreases lowers your risk for developing certain long-term health problems. These include heart, kidney, eye, or nerve problems. Having been invented first for people having diabetes, this theory gained trust of people, who'd like to control their weight and level of carbohydrates, taking in.

First of all, let's view the proportions of food types we need to have every day.

Thus, we see that the biggest part of our daily meal consists of 33% carbohydrates (bread, rice, noodles, oats, breakfast cereals, chapattis, pasta, sweet potatoes, yams, beans, lentils and dishes made from maize, millet and cornmeal) and fresh fruit and vegetables - 33% as well. Vegetables are included in any diet. They contains vitamins, mineral substances, organic acids, dietary fibers and other ingredients. There is much carotene in a carrot, a tomato, parsley. White cabbage is rich in vitamin U. The largest amount of vitamin C is contained in a red sweet pepper. But in winter and early spring it is better to eat spring onions and cabbage to get enough vitamin C.

Fruit and berries are a well of digestible acids, volatiles and dietary fibers. Apples are rich in potassium salt, lemon and other organic acids, citrus plants - in vitamins C, P, carotene, mountain cranberries are full of organic acids (oxalic, benzoic, citric), raspberries - of salicylic acid and etc.

15% of your daily meal is milk and dairy food. Milk is a weak agent for gastric secretion, that's why it is recommended for people who has gastric problems or an ulcer. Milk and dairy products bring full protein into our organism and it is not less valuable that protein contained in fish and meat. Cheese is widely used in dietotherapy, but you must decline some sorts of cheese if you have problems with your health. Thus, hot cheese is not recommended to people suffering from colitis, gastritis, high blood-pressure, heart and kidney diseases.

12% is meat, fish, eggs and alternatives. For most people a healthy diet means eating only moderate amounts of meat, fish and alternatives such as lentils, nuts, beans and eggs, and choosing lower fat versions when you can. Trim visible fat from meat, choose lean cuts wherever possible and remove skin from chicken before cooking. Meat such as bacon and salami, and meat products such as sausages, beefburgers and pate are all relatively high fat choices, so try to keep these to a minimum.

The last category is fatty and sugary foods. Minimise them to 7% of your daily meal. A healthy diet means eating and drinking less of these types of food. Eat foods containing fat sparingly and look out for the low fat alternatives. Foods and drinks containing sugar should not be eaten too often as they can contribute to tooth decay. This group includes margarine and butter, cooking oils and sugar, so it means fewer fried foods, crisps, biscuits, pastries, cakes and sugary drinks and less mayonnaise, cream, chocolate and other confectionery.

No let's get back to a plate model. Look at the picture below.

A 9-inch plate is divided into 4 equal sectors. Two of them are vegetables and/or fruit. 1/4 is protein which is contained in meat, eggs, fish, etc. 1/4 is carbs, which is cereals, flakes, bread, etc.

That's how your meal should be balanced. Only strict self-control guarantees you success, improvement of your state of health, the way you feel and live.

Note: Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

You want to lose weight. What to do?

Lots of people realize the need of losing weight, but find excuses to put it off till tomorrow. We choose time when we start exercising, we say "I'll start on Monday" ot "I'll start next year" but when it comes we understand that we are not ready to start yet. How many times are you going to postpond it? Just do it now.

Here are the list of overcome barriers:

• I'm too busy - don't have enough time

It's all a matter of priorities really... If something is important enough to you, you will make time for it. I personally used this excuse to justify my laziness.

• I am embarrassed about the way I look when exercising

Exercise at home. Find a place when you can feel comfortable and be alone. The most embarassing factor for me is the looks of my husband. To avoid them I let my family know beforehand that I am going to excercise and ask them not to come into the training room. Keep off such stresses.

• I'm afraid of injury

Many people start out and do too much in too little time. Find exercise that suits you - and begin with something gentle (i.e. walking).

• I don't have access to any fitness equipment

Walking is something that can be done anywhere, as is home exercise videos.

• I'm too overweight to exercise

Over time physical activity will become easier. Some exercises are more suited to larger bodies than others (such as swimming, walking, treadmills, and elliptical trainers).
If possible, make a plan of exercise goals, a basic timetable of when, where, and how, you will stick to it.

Good luck!

Self Test for Compulsive Overeating

This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive overeater.

1. Do you eat when you're not hungry?
   
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
   
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
   
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food?
   
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
   
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
   
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
   
8. Do you hide your food?
   
9. Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
   
10. Do you resent others telling you to "use a little willpower" to stop overeating?
    
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet "on your own" whenever you wish?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than meal time?
    
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
    
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
    
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?
    
16. Is your weight affecting your health?
    
17. Do you feel lethargic or daze like?
    
18. Do you crave specific types of food products, such as wheat, milk, flour, rice?
    
19. Do you have withdrawal symptoms from not eating certain foods?
    
20. Have you ever blacked out or passed out from overeating?
    
21. Have you experienced episodes of schizophrenia?

At least 5 "yeses" should suggest you an idea that something is wrong.