Grip Strength

Grip strength, a part of 'hand strength' is the application of force to pull or suspend an object. It is best observed as a person runs down a flight of stairs and holds on to or grips the rails to prevent a fall.Grip strength is studied as the strength applied by the forearm to hold on to or suspend an object, including the human body in question itself. The show of grip strength is most visible in the use of a hammer and other tools operated by hand. In order to determine the exact strength of your grip, it is important that the wrist should be in a neutral position. Lack of awareness towards the correct positioning of the wrist can lead to the onset of CTD or Cumulative Trauma Disorder. Grip strength is common term used athletes and in the case of strength athletes, the term refers to the muscular power and force that can be generated by the hand. Grip strength is vital for rock climbers and the martial arts. Other than sport, it is a major feature in various professions where people have to work out of this power.

Types of Grips
The hand is an amazing part of the human anatomy. It empowers the body to be able to grip and lift objects in a number of ways. The different ways are categorized according to the manner in which the grip strength via the hand is being used. In the crush grip, a typical hand shake like grip is involved. In this type, the object being gripped rests against the palm and the fingers, firmly. The conformity leads to a strong crush grip that is most flaunted in veru firm, bone-crushing handshakes and while applying the palm-finger pressure to break objects.

In the case of a pinch grip, the thumb balances one side to the object in question against the pressure of all the fingers on the opposite side. Usually, in this type of grip strength, the object is lifted without it touching the palm. This grip strength is not as strong as the crush grip. The weaker grip position is usually adopted to grab something like say a weight plate or book by the top edge. In the support grip, a lot of muscular strength and endurance is required. This grip is most observed while holding the handle of a bucket, for an extended period of time.

Calculating Grip Strength
Research and dedicated study has led to extensive medical and ergonomic discovery to calculate grip strength. Clinically, the calculation is done on the basis of the generated normative data. This includes the assessment of the average values determined and exhibited by men and women. The average differs in the case of the different types of grip and in different positions. However, when dealing with grip strength, it is not the calculation that is of importance, it is the application of the techniques.

Grip Strength in Medicine

Grip strength is often tested and applied within the paradigms of medicine, to diagnose diseases and to effectively evaluate and compare various treatment options. Grip strength also helps to document progression of muscle strength during the rehabilitation process to establish the level of hand function accomplished. Post surgery, during physiotherapy, it helps to assess fatigue, by creating an exercise where the subject is required to maintain a maximum contraction for a set period of time. The different types of grips involve the coordination of different joints and muscle groups. A dynamometer provides specific information on individual muscles in the hand. One such classic clinical application is the RIHM or Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer.

In the sports world, the hand grip is very important. This component of strength in sports is not a secondary or auxiliary function always, like in its application in the sports of weightlifting or judo. Its importance is most effectively on show in tennis and cricket. The ability is also put on show at odd performances at fairs, where the competitions are held regularly. The events include nail bending, one-arm dead-lifting, vertical bar lifting and the operation of standardized pinch apparatus.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/grip-strength.html

Health Tips for College Students

This article speaks about some health tips for college students. As concerns such as weight gain, unhealthy eating habits and other problems have increased a lot in recent times.

Young age or to be precise, 'teenage', is the most sensitive age of our entire life span! It is this age, where we form good and bad habits and which walk along with us throughout our life. Therefore, it is very much important for each and everyone in this age, to think ten times before doing any new activity. Initially it is just a fascination, however, later it turns into a habit! Not all, but unfortunately, many youngsters have got into unhealthy eating habits, sleeping insufficiently and ignoring regular exercises. Agreed that, tough academic syllabus, frequent submissions, late night studies have all contributed to skeptic schedule! However, how can we forget health and fitness in the pursuit of surviving into this competitive world?

Healthy Tips for College Students

Health is one of the most important aspects in our life. College days are busy and exciting, as we tend to have a lot of activities and studies too. Maintaining a good health, therefore becomes necessary. The following are some college student health tips, that cover diet, exercises as well as sleeping habits.

Start the Day with Cycling!
Apart from regular exercises in the morning, you can head off to your college on your bicycle. Of course, if it is situated at a short distance! Cycling is amongst the best forms of exercise. Or, an even better option is to walk up to your college. These activities will help you burn a lot of extra calories, thereby contributing to a healthy lifestyle.

Hit the College Gymnasium!
Why not? When your college provides such facilities, why not utilize it for our benefits? Going to college gymnasiums and performing well designed workouts with our friends is indeed great fun! An hour of a good and intense exercises or workouts is sufficient to stay healthy. You can also indulge yourself into some sport activities, to keep yourself healthy and fit.

Eat Wisely and Well!
Many students are attracted towards fast food in college. Unhealthy eating and fitness, share a deep relationship between each other. Some students develop habits of eating fast and junk food everyday! However, let me tell you, this is not a wise practice! Eating it once in a blue moon, just for fun or to satisfy hunger immediately, is understood. But following unhealthy habits everyday is not at all justified from the health point of view! Unhealthy eating habits might increase your cholesterol levels and invite health problems that are not generally expected in teenage. Speaking of nutrition tips for college students, the most common advise is to eat healthy snacks and eat a lot of fresh fruits and green vegetables. Eat a healthy breakfast. Do not skip on to any of your meals. Drink more water. On account of our busy schedule, we often tend to drink less water and remember it only when we are thirsty! Water would keep you away from dehydration. So keep sipping small amounts of water throughout the day.

Sleep Well Everyday!
Yes, one of the most important factor that leads too many disorders in college students is insufficient sleep! Most of the college students ignore sleeping and enjoy late night parties, late night studies, working over submissions for the entire night, etc. These are not going to do any good to you! You will lose a lot on your health part. No matter, however good your diet and no matter how regular you exercise. Insufficient sleep would cost your health up to a large extent! Sleep well for around 7 - 8 hours.

Attend Regular Health Check Ups!
College is a place wherein you come in contact with many people. It is quite possible that you might get an infection or not only this, you might also feel over exerted due to busy schedule and excessive stress to your brain. In such cases, it is always better to go for regular check ups. Get vaccinations as per required. Sometimes, the college itself arranges for free health check ups. See that you do not miss on any of those!

Be Happy!
Now we come to the most important of all the health tips for college students! College life can turn quite stressful, if you are into academics, sports, extra curricular and handling many other responsibilities. Running away from them and at the end, making a mess of everything is certainly not the way! To avoid stress, you need to plan things properly. Prepare a time-table, wherein you would devote sufficient time to everything. This would keep stress at bay and in turn, keep you happy!

I suppose college life is the best part of our life! It's this time, when we learn new things, learn to be responsible, have a good time with friends and also study well! All these things should be done will a great zeal and enthusiasm. However, our health and fitness should not be forgotten in this course.
By Ujwal Deshmukh
Last Updated: 10/6/2011
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/health-tips-for-college-students.html

Online Government Initiative Offers Help for Living Healthy

Many government websites offer useful information, and The HealthierUS initiative is no exception.
Deciding to live a healthier life is one of the most important decisions anyone can make. The U.S. government has a wealth of useful information for people who have made this decision, and a great deal of this information has been amassed and organized on for a national initiative called The HealthierUS. The program's website provides tools and information that is designed to improve lives, prevent diseases, reduce the costs of health care, and promote community programs that encourage wellness initiatives.

HealthierUS.gov helps site visitors learn how to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their day, eat foods that are healthier for them, avoid health risks, and protect themselves from illness. The site is just one part of a broader presidential agenda for helping Americans live longer, healthier, better lives, especially children. The information provided is credible and accurate, and is designed to help Americans choose habits that are healthier, to replace unhealthy habits that have been ingrained into their lives.

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States that seems to be steadily increasing, despite the increased public and media attention to the problem. In the past few years, the diabetes rates among Americans age 30-39 has risen by nearly 70%. More than 46 million American adults still smoke cigarettes, even though it is a proven fact that smoking will result in health disabilities and premature death for at least half of them. More than half of all American adults don't get enough exercise during the day, and more than 25% of all Americans are completely sedentary. HealthierUS.gov is the government's offering to help Americans change these statistics by overcoming bad behavior and revamping their lifestyles.

One section of the site provides a great deal of information about the initiative itself - speeches, news releases, community-based programs created by the initiative, a link to the website of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and sports, and information about the President's Challenge, where you can track your weekly fitness goals and accomplishments. Being active for at least 30 minutes a day can not only help you build fitness and strength, it can also help you reduce stress, increase your energy, and improve your sleep - benefits that decrease your risk of heart disease and conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and cancer. An Adult Fitness Test provided by the President's Council features activities you can use to estimate your level of flexibility, aerobic fitness, body composition, and muscular strength and endurance. The test results give you a measure to use for tracking your progress in each area throughout the process of becoming more physically active and getting fit.

Other areas of the site provide information about the importance of making good nutritional choices, preventive screenings, and making healthy choices about your lifestyle that can help you to live a happy, healthy life. Making the decision to live a healthier lifestyle is the easy part - the follow-through is the hard part. Visiting HealthierUS.gov is a good starting point for heading down the road to healthy living.
By Buzzle Staff
Published: 1/12/2010
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/online-government-initiative-offers-help-for-living-healthy.html

How to Stay Healthy

How to stay healthy.., not just physically but mentally too? What should one go for? Is it healthy food, exercise, yoga, jogging, running? Read on to know about how to choose appropriate measures to remain in good physical and mental health.
Health definition by WHO (World Health Organization): 'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ' So, rather than aiming at a balanced diet or a balanced workout or techniques to balance your mind; one needs to find a balance between all these three factors for healthy living. Here, are some tips on staying healthy physically and mentally, which I have personally tried and tested.

How to Stay Fit Physically?

Diet: Try to eat as much as fruits and vegetables (salad). Make sure you eat fruits, then salad and then your meal. Fruits and vegetables provide enzymes to the body, which help to absorb the nutrients from your meal which is your main course. Drink as much water as possible throughout the day. The requirement of water is, per 45 pounds weight 1 liter of water. Try to eat as many types of cereals you can. Keep enhancing your diet plan, by learning about different healthy foods.

Exercising: There are very few people who will go for exercising to maintain their health. Mostly people will initiate in some exercise due to weight loss or some other health problem. No matter which type of exercise you take up, whether it is just walking or jogging, try to follow it regularly. The best exercise in my opinion, is swimming which is almost injury-free, boosts metabolism, helps to build lean muscles and improves body flexibility.

Advanced Tips: If you are suffering from some health condition, which is as minor as common cold or something serious like a sport injury, then try to understand the causes behind the health condition, and try to avoid the causes, rather than popping pills to treat the health condition. For example, to avoid common cold, load yourself with vitamin C rich food (Indian gooseberries, amla is one of the best source of vitamin C). To prevent any muscle soreness or injuries, make sure you do a good warm-up before any exercise, and perform the stretching exercises after the workout.

How to Keep Yourself Healthy Mentally?

Breathing: Deep breathing is not only good for your lungs, but also can be used to calm your mind. Vipassana meditation, uses breathing as a technique. So learning vipassana meditation, can greatly help you. But, in case you don't feel like going for vipassana, then just breathe your way out through stressful situations. By which I mean, take a deep breath whenever you get stressed, and breath out, repeat it around 10 times.

Meditation: There are various techniques of meditation. Instead of following a spiritual or religious person, try to experiment with different techniques of meditation, and then whichever you feel suits you, try to practice that for an hour a day. The various techniques for meditation are tantra, yoga, Zen, vipassana, Tibetan techniques, Buddhist techniques, etc.

Take a Break: This is something, which everybody needs and should use for stress relief. Whenever, you think something like studies or your work becomes very repetitive or you become overloaded with your work, studies or responsibilities, take a break. Plan a small vacation alone or with a friend, or go to a garden, and switch off your cell phone. Just forget everything and enjoy watching the trees, birds and kids playing.

It will not be always possible to follow these tips on a daily basis or regularly. So, try to eat as much healthy food as possible, get around 20 minutes of exercise minimum, whether it is just plain walking or climbing stairs and try to learn some meditation and practice it for minimum half an hour a day.
By Pragya T
Published: 2/9/2010
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-stay-healthy.html

Sedentary Lifestyle Effects

Inactive lifestyle can lead to hosts of medical ailments in the life of a person. Most importantly, physical and mental stress that don't find a proper channel to be vented out, can cause further damage to an individual's health.

Sedentary lifestyle is a reality of the current world. This term generally indicates irregular or minimum physical activity and is a commonly found habit in majority of the people. There is no dearth of people amongst us who neglect physical activity and are involved in several desk related jobs that rarely require any amount of physical stress. Even activities like reading, sitting, watching television, use of computers and any activity where you don't use your body very much can be categorized as inactive lifestyle. Now, this doesn't mean we should give up our daily work or stop reading. In essence, a lifestyle that lacks physical exercises, in the broader sense means that the body and its muscles are not utilized effectively and hence it leads to poor blood circulation thereby leading to the possibility of a host of other diseases. The human body has been inherently designed to be used properly. The better you use tricks of healthy living, the healthier you'll get. That's why sports and recreational activities must be given priority in schools and colleges.

Effects of an Unhealthy Lifestyle
While medical experts don't get tired by claiming that with aging, we tend to lose our vitality, there is no less truth in the statement that poor physical activity in the age group 20 - 35 years, leads to improper health in the later years of life. Physical activity is like an accelerator that moves everything in the body. Proper oxygen passage, blood flow, nutrients and the cellular processes are carried out efficiently with lots of physical activity. When you workout, you sweat a lot and hence, body toxins are released from the body. Physical exercises in sunlight and natural environment gives a natural healing to the body and it leads to holistic health.

Causes and Effects
Laziness is generally regarded as the most important cause of a sedentary lifestyle. There can be innumerable excuses for not getting involved in physical exercises. However, an individual has to understand that poor exercising habits can lead to poor health. Some of the most common risks associated with physical inactivity are obesity/overweight, heart diseases and muscle atrophy etc.

Obesity
Obesity is generally defined as the excess body fat that has resulted due to poor eating habits and an unhealthy lifestyle. It generally occurs when calorie intake of a person is more than it is required by the body. One of the most evident side effects is obesity. Although genetic make up and some medical conditions can result in obesity, generally, poor lifestyle is one of the greatest contributors to obesity.

Risk of Heart Diseases
For the body to function efficiently, the heart must get a proper supply of blood. Complete lack of physical activity leads to poor blood circulation. It becomes slow and blood vessels can get stiff and blocked. Therefore, it is indeed logical to connect heart diseases in most of the cases to a lifestyle of decades where health was neglected and there was minimum physical activity. Indeed, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that ignoring health in the younger ages is bound to create problems in older ages.

Osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease are some other threats of a poor lifestyle lacking in exercises. Adopting a healthy exercise routine (even simple exercises like walking, running and jogging) can go a long way in avoiding dangers of overexercising.)
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sedentary-lifestyle-effects.html

Many herbs contain rare and important nutrients that can help you lose weight. Here are top 10 natural herbs to lose weight that can help you in better weight management.

Herbal remedies have been used for centuries, for weight management. Certain herbs have beneficial and unique properties that can help in losing weight. Many herbs help to detox, while some help to boost metabolism. Certain herbs help to improve thyroid function, while some reduce the hunger pangs. All these properties can help a person on a weight loss plan. However, herbs alone should not be used to lose weight. Some form of exercise is required to lose weight effectively. There are many easy at home exercises to choose from. So, balance your weight loss program with exercising, a healthy diet and natural herbal supplements/teas. Here is a list of 10 herbs which will help you lose weight faster.

#01 - Green Tea
Green tea has been used by the Chinese for over 4000 years for better digestion and stimulating metabolism. Green tea is one of the best food source of antioxidants, which adds up to its beneficial properties. It burns fats and inhibits fat absorption and its accumulation. Green tea contains a high amount of polyphenols that activate an enzyme, which dissolves triglycerides. Through, a process called thermogenesis, the body gets extra energy and thus burns more body fat.

#02 - Triphala
Triphala is one of the top ayurvedic herbs when it comes to losing weight. Triphala is actually a powder which is made with three fruits. Tri meaning three and phala meaning fruits. Triphala helps in weight loss, improvement in digestion, detoxification, clear skin and improved eye health. Triphala helps to lower the water content to the body and also suppresses the hunger pangs.

#03 - Ginseng
Ginseng boosts metabolism and thus helps to burn more calories. Many people who are overweight tend to have a slow metabolism. Ginseng can help overweight people burn off fat fast. Ginseng is available in form of pills or you can take it in form of tea.

#04 - Cayenne
This natural weight loss herb contains a substance called capsaicin, that tends to stimulate digestion and boosts metabolism. This is actually a popular spice which you can use if you can tolerate a bit of pungency.

#05 - Hoodia Gordonii
Hoodia is found in the Kalhari Desert of Africa. It is a cactus which is used as an appetite-suppressant. It contains a certain substance which tricks in the brain thinking that the stomach is full. Hoodia thus can be used by people who overeat to control their diet intake. It is available in form of tea and pills.

#06 - Bladder Wrack Kelp
This is a type of seaweed. It is rich in iodine, and so is helpful in strengthening the thyroid, which can be beneficial in improving metabolism and weight loss. It also suppresses cravings for food, and thus one has more control over consumption of food. So, it can be a very helpful herb to lose weight.

#07 - Glucomannan
This weight loss herb is made from the root of Amorphophallus Konjac. It helps to lose weight by delaying the absorption of glucose in the intestines. One also gets the feeling of fullness after having this herb. This feeling occurs because, glucomannan swells up once it is exposed to liquids. But, one should be careful while using this herb for weight loss. As some people complained of esophageal obstruction, after having this supplement.

#08 - Guggul
This is one of the ancient Indian herbs. It helps to reduce cholesterol and helps in controlling weight. It improves the levels of thyroid hormones and thus one has improved thyroid function. It also improves metabolism, thus helping in faster weight loss.

#09 - Gymnema Sylvestre
This herb when consumed liberally helps to lose weight. It acts on the taste bud receptors, and tricks them into thinking that the body had its share of sweets. This prevents a person from eating too many sugary foods. Due to reduced cravings for sweets, it can help in less consumption of calories and thus aid in weight loss.

#10 - Coleus
Coleus helps to decompose the fat stored in the body and thus helps to get rid of the excess fat. It also improves metabolism and the thyroid function. It contains an active ingredient called forskolin, which stimulates an enzyme called adenylate cyclase. Adenylate cyclase helps to improve metabolism and thus leads to weight loss.

These were the different herbs that aid in weight loss. Many herbs have no side effects when used in small amounts. However, if you have a health problem, then consult your doctor before you start using these herbs.
By Pragya T
Last Updated: 9/27/2011
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/herbs-to-lose-weight.html

Is it Possible to Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Months?

How can one lose 20 pounds in 2 months? It may sound a tad too extreme, but people are willing to do anything to lose weight in easy, quick ways..

 

If you tell people you lost 20 pounds in two months, they'd probably ask you what kind of pills you were on or which magic juice have you been drinking to burn fat. Not all miracle weight losses are because of some quick fix method that has to do with popping pills or downing shakes, it can also be healthy dieting that isn't a fad one by nature. So is it possible to lose 20 pounds in 2 months? Surprisingly, it is. The clincher here is that not all people's bodies are designed to function the same way, therefore stopping them from losing 20 pounds all together. Some people achieve this, while others lose a little lesser than 20 pounds by the time two months are up. Your height, and your body's metabolism is what will determine how much weight you can lose.

The body tends to lose weight really fast when one suddenly subjects their systems to lesser portioned foods, controlling calorie intake that leads to massive weight loss initially. The body sheds all those kilos without any problems the minute you alter your eating habits and get into physical activity.

Diet to Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Months

Some of you may think that to win this weight battle, you'd have to starve yourself silly, but no you don't have to. Wanting to lose 20 pounds in a span of two months isn't wishful thinking, but is something that is very much possible if done the smart way.

Breakfast
I cannot stress enough on how important this meal of the day is. If you want to lose weight the right way, prioritize this as your number one meal. Get your essential nutrients during this time of the day when your metabolism is running on high mode. You tend to burn more during sun up than sundown. So stack on these eats and alternate it with other items in this list as the week progresses.

• 2 eggs (twice a week only and use only olive/vegetable oil while cooking)
• Brown bread (two slices)
• Non-fat milk/cream
• All natural fruit juices/shakes (either freshly squeezed or made with organic ingredients)
• Fruit salad bowl
• Oats
• Bran flakes with milk (non-fat)
• Bagels with unsalted butter non fat/low far cream cheese
• Turkey sandwich with tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce

Munchies
It is important to keep your metabolism running, so snack on a handful of nuts or seeds, and drink at least one mug of black coffee or green tea, with the latter being more healthy than the former. Drop in one slice of lemon in it with mint leaves, with one cube of brown sugar if you can't take the bitterness of the green tea. It not only rids the body of toxins, but promotes weight loss. Here are the list of munchies that you can choose from to munch on everyday. Only one of the following coupled with liquids is allowed.

• 1 mug of green tea with a slice of lemon/mint leaves
• Freshly made fruit juice (not canned/packaged)
• Almonds/peanuts/cashews/pistachios (unsalted, hand full)
• Seeds like sunflower/pine
• Unsalted crackers
• Single bagel with unsalted butter

Lunch
After you're done with munchies, eat lunch an hour after this to give your stomach enough time to clear up some space. Alternate between the different lunch food options here to keep it different and flavorful every time. Drink plenty of water during the course of the day, or even during munchies time to kill hunger pangs. Portion sizes have to fill up only a quarter plate and drink a glass of water 10 minutes before you start eating. If you cannot finish what you are eating, don't push yourself. Instead make smaller portions the next day, and do not stop on drinking a glass of water 10 minutes before you eat.

• Salad (your choice of vegetable) with poached/grilled chicken/beef/seafood, coupled with non fat salad dressing
• Grilled/poached chicken steak with a side of mashed potatoes
• Stir fried vegetables with shrimp and fried brown rice
• Pita bread with hummus
• Tofu salad
• Sushi with wasabi sauce (or you can experiment with other sauces)
• Cottage cheese wrap with vegetables

Evening Snack Time
Don't eat anything at all except for lots of water, or if you'd like you can have another mug of green tea. Skip dinner completely, and only munch on an apple/orange or a bowl of cherries/grapes before 7:30 pm. Get used to not eating at all after this time, and ignore food cravings post 7:30 pm. Not even water should be ingested during this time. You can eat dark chocolate and non fat desserts once in a week on Sundays only, so that you get accustomed to indulging in your favorite sweet dishes on one dedicated day. Opt for baked foods instead of fried/deep-fried to eat healthy alternatives where you even consume much fewer calories.

Get Off That Behind
And now for the most important part of the diet program - you need to get physically active. I'm not asking you to join a gym and get busting on some hectic workout routines, all I'm saying is that you need some form of movement that gets your metabolic rate rising. The higher it is, the more you'll lose. So take the stairs instead of going on that tempting elevator ride, walk for 45 minutes either in a park, at the beach, in your neighborhood or on a treadmill. You pick the place, and do it five times a week.

So, I hope that this low-calorie diet plan is the answer to your question, is it possible to lose 20 pounds in two months, because as you can see the calorie intake is far lesser and more controlled here. Do not over indulge in any of these food items and do not eat anything between the said times. If you practice this religiously you are bound to see results.

 

WANNA TRY SOME PRODUCT??

By Naomi Sarah
Last Updated: 10/7/2011
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/is-it-possible-to-lose-20pounds-in-2months.html