When was the last time you actually spent some time with Mother Nature? Put down your cell phone, iPod or MP3 player, and step away from the computer. Go outside and get some fresh air! Kids today are spending about 44 and one half hours per week playing video games, surfing the Internet, listening to music and watching television. When you add up all of this time spent indoors, it's clear that kids these days aren't moving enough. 

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gathered for its "Weight of the Nation" conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss obesity prevention. As a way to support the CDC's efforts, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has developed the "Be Out There" initiative to encourage families to be active outside and reconnect them to the outdoors. The NWF hopes that parents and kids can spend an hour outdoors every day--"Green Hour"--and combat obesity in both older and younger generations.

So grab a Frisbee or a ball and mitt, and take it outside.  

Follow us on Twitter

Every time my head starts throbbing and I feel a headache coming on, I take my left hand and put pressure on the space between my pointer finger and thumb on my right hand. My mom taught me this little trick when I was younger. She was right!

Now new science is demonstrating just how accurate the ancient system of accupuncture/accupressure truly is. Turns out that the ancient accupuncture body maps align almost perfectly with modern medical neurological maps, at least for one common pain condition, myofascial pain. A recent study conducted by Peter T. Dorsher, M.D., at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, reported an overlap of myofascial trigger points and acupuncture points, especially in the treatment of pain disorders. According to Dr. Dorsher, "Myofascial pain causes pain and tender muscles that usually just involve one region of the body (neck, shoulder, low back) though it can be widespread throughout the body." The pain centers itself around sensitive points, known as trigger points, in the muscles, and worsens as time passes.

What Is Acupuncture?
Originating in China, acupuncture is one of the oldest methods of healing. Fine needles are inserted into precise locations on the body to restore normal functions and free up qi energy. Releasing qi helps relieve pain by fixing the imbalances of flow. The meridian theory explains how qi connects all of the body's organs and tissues. A person starts to experience pain and poor health when the course of energy flow is obstructed.
 
Acupuncture is popular among patients with chronic pain because it has many benefits and few side effects. Dr. Dorsher notes, "The needles only rarely cause bruising or other problems, and expensive toxic medications can be avoided." He continues, "Most people with pain can be helped with therapy, medications, injections, and/or surgeries. Even if the problem is not 'fixable,' it can often be improved with one or combinations of these interventions." If you haven't considered it yet, acupuncture might be a great treatment option if you're experiencing pain.
 
Some facts about acupuncture:

1. If you feel nauseous, an effectual pressure point is on the inside of the arm, about 2 inches above the wrist
2. Any one acupuncture point will have several diverse functions
3. According to acupuncturists, there is a point on the head you can press to control your appetite. It is located in the hollow just in front of the flap of the ear.
4. According to the National Women's Health Resource Center, about 2.1 million people in the United States undergo acupuncture each year

 Follow us on Twitter.

It's hard to kick a bad habit, and it is even more difficult for women to quit smoking cigarettes than men.  Although federal data show that women and men have about the same success rates when giving up smoking, researchers have found that women have a much harder time throughout the process.

From her research, Carolyn Mazure, a psychology professor at Yale School of Medicine, believes women resort to smoking to help increase positive moods, manage the pressures of every day life, and control weight gain. She notes that women are more "vulnerable to the negative effects of stress and are more likely to relapse back to smoking in the face of stressors" as compared to men.

Actually, smoking creates more stress than it alleviates and essentially makes people feel emotionally inferior, says a December 2008 study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. So instead of coping with your stress by lighting up a cigarette (or binge eating or drinking alcohol), consider these tips that can help reduce your stress:

                1.    Go for a walk
                2.    Eat a well-balanced diet
                3.    Cut out caffeine
                4.    Practice deep breathing exercises
                5.    Seek professional help

More reasons to quit smoking

Follow us on Twitter.

You may want to think twice before ordering a hot dog, hamburger, or even a glass of beer. These products all contain nitrites and nitrates, which are harmful to people and animals.

A group of researchers at Rhode Island Hospital observed parallels in mortality rates from diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and Parkinson's, with increased exposure to nitrates and nitrites through processed foods, fertilizers, cosmetics and pesticides. 

Nitrosamines, formed by a chemical reaction between nitrites or other proteins, are commonly found in foods like ground beef, bacon, and cured meats, and ultimately cause DNA damage. Researchers suggest the cellular changes that occur due to nitrosamine exposure are comparable to those that occur with aging and age-related diseases.  

If you want to reduce your exposure to nitrosamines:

• Avoid frying or flame broiling food as sodium nitrate forms at high temperatures
• Buy organic produce when possible
• Reduce intake of processed and fast food
  

Bookmark HealthBeat and follow us on Twitter.