A Cup Of Chamomile Reduces Anxiety: Tried, Tested and True

Feeling stressed, overwhelmed or anxiety ridden? Try drinking a cup of chamomile. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, reports that "chamomile extract therapy was found to be efficacious for mild-moderate GAD". (Medical News Today) Those who participated in the study and consumed chamomile, reported changes in GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) compared to those that had the placebo. Unlike many other claims to herbal remedies which have no supportive data, this was backed by scientific study. So the next time you're feeling anxiety ridden, try sipping on a hot cup of chamomile. To read the full article "The Calming Power of Chamomile" published by Medical News Today (Feb 11, 2010) click here.

Get Your Butt Kicked: Phenomenal Fitness Bodies Boot Camp

I recently attended this phenomenal fitness boot camp held by personal trainer Drew Miller. Boy did I get my butt kicked. The class consisted of 6 people and based on circuit training. For those that don't know what circuit training is, its a combination of high-intensity aerobics and resistance training designed to target fat loss, muscle building and heart-lung fitness. In this program, a "circuit" was the completion of 6 exercises (each performed at 1 minute intervals to your maximum potential) When one circuit is complete, you begin the first exercise again for another circuit. (6 exercises at 1 minute intervals. Repeated 4 times)

Now these weren't just any stations or exercises, they were hardcore leg, butt and hamstring exercises that worked every muscle in your lower body. Including the ones I didn't know I had. Man was it awesome! There were dead lifts, reversed lunges, kettle bell exercises and butt blasting moves that really had Drew listening to us exhale and inhale. (He wants to hear everyone breath or else you might be adding double time for everyone else in the class) For the first time, I actually left a class feeling like I had the best leg workout ever. The best part was that Drew took the time with each individual correcting form and pushing each person to their maximum. When you felt like you couldn't do anymore, he would be right there in front of you (with eyes at the back of is head) pushing you through the last 20 seconds. With his help, you end up pushing yourself beyond your limit and it's the best feeling. Well not exactly in the moment. Basically, it felt like a one on one session with a personal trainer.

The objective of the Phenomenal Fitness Bodies is to provide an intense, dynamic and challenging group of exercises in a boot camp format. Each program is designed to promote strength, flexibility, endurance & stamina, power, proper nutrition, as well as utilizing our abilities of agility, balance and speed. For anyone looking to build strength, tone, melt away excess body fat or improve physical performance, I would highly recommend Phenomenal Fitness Bodies to complement any nutrition/health regime you are following. After all, whats "healthy" without exercise.

Drews vision for creating Phenomenal Fitness Bodies is to share his knowledge and passion for health and fitness to anyone looking to improve their physical, mental, and spiritual conditions. Graduating with a sociology degree from York University, Drew has been able to utilize his strength in social skills as well as his continuing education in the health and fitness industry to spread the awareness and effectiveness of living an active and healthy lifestyle. He became a certified personal trainer through Canadian Fitness Professionals (Can Fit Pro) in 2003. Drew’s continuing education includes certifications in BOSU Integrated Trainer through TWIST Conditioning, Kettle bell Trainer Specialist level I & II through the Kettlebell Training Academy, and Sports Nutrition through The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). Drew turned his passion into a profession and created Phenomenal Fitness Bodies.

For more information about Phenomenal Fitness Bodies click here.

Melamine In Milk Products Sold In China Yet Again!

I wouldn't normally blog about the same entry twice in two days but I am. Yesterdays entry was about the contamination of milk in the EU as a result of reheating milk and the way in which it is stored. Today, I came across another interesting factoid in the news about milk which I thought was worth noting. This one is about melamine found in milk products which are sold in China yet again! The same outbreak and product scandal in 2008 that sickened 300,000 people and killed six is said to be back on the market. Three companies were discovered in China selling milk products with expiry dates dating back to early 2009.

So lets juts refresh our memories and understand exactly what is Melamine. According to a report published by Public Health Canada in 2008, it said, "melamine is a chemical used in a number of commercial and industrial applications, is unsafe for human consumption. Melamine is not approved or permitted in food in Canada. Consumption of melamine may lead to reproductive damage, bladder or kidney stones, bladder cancer, acute kidney failure and death. " (Public Health Canada, 2008)

Ling, a Guizhou provincial government spokeswoman said "health officials have continued to target distributors who sold melamine-tainted milk to stores, but some distributors — wrongly assuming the government scaled back its crackdown — continue to sell it." (CBC News) Obviously there are still greedy individuals and companies out there who have a complete disregard for public safety. China has recently launched a new investigation in attempt to clean up the mess that spilled in 2008. Indeed, China needs to tighten up product safety measures and food supply chain.

Study: Reheating Milk and Microbial Contamination

A research study from the University of Valencia (UV) was published by ScienceDaily on Jan. 29, 2010. Scientists examined 265 batches of milk and ready-to-use milk derivatives and checked whether their microbial quality fell into line with European Union regulations. It concluded that one-third of samples of milk and dairy products analysed in various restaurants and bars across Valencia (Spain) exceeded the microbe contamination limits set by the EU. Moreover, the samples were deemed unfit for human consumption.

Outcome of study

· 35% of the dairy products sampled exceeded the maximum contamination levels established by EU law for enterobacteriaceae

· 31% exceeded the limits set for mesophilic aerobic microorganisms

· 2% of the samples of hot milk (kept in jugs or stainless steel thermos ) tested positive for the bacteria Escherichia coli .

· Custards, mousses, puddings and crème caramels had the highest levels of contamination with microorganisms. This could possibly be due to the fact these are further processed after being heated.

· Greater contamination risk from milk kept in jugs.

· Reheating milk over and over again and pouring it back into a thermos, increases the risk of microbial contamination.

Tips

· When using milk it is important to clean jugs, thermos flasks and the steamers of coffee machines thoroughly and frequently. Use the right kind of hygienic sponges or cloths. Kitchen cloths are not suitable for disinfecting because of their microstructure, which means they transfer even greater levels of contamination.

· Containers with a lid are better, since tetrabricks opened with scissors are more exposed to microbial proliferation, and are especially vulnerable to enterobacteriaceae.

· Adding cinnamon to dairy products led to reduced microorganism

Click here to read the full article " One Third of Milk and Dairy Products Tested in Spanish Restaurants Exceed Accepted Microbe Contamination Limits" published by ScienceDaily (January 29 2010).

Source: Science Daily