If you are looking for the benefits of an 
exercise program that doesn’t involve running, weightlifting, or intense aerobics, look into tai-chi. The slow and controlled movements of this Chinese martial art have been shown to amazing health benefits and can burn as many calories as skiing. This article can help you learn more about this ancient form of exercise and discipline:
http://www.miamiintegrativemedicine.com/blog/achieving-supreme-ultimate-health/
Posted by: Axiom Healthcare Marketing
You likely have seen photos or video from China showing large groups in people exercising in public places. The exercise consists of very slow, controlled movements, almost resembling a ballet or dance choreographed in slow motion. You might be surprised to find that this exercise – practiced widely by all ages, even the quite elderly – is an ancient martial art. Known as t’ai chi ch’uan, but usually referred to in English simply as tai chi, it has become one of the most popular forms of exercise among the Chinese. In recent years, its popularity has spread worldwide and tai chi is now practiced around the world.
What is Tai Chi?
“T’ai chi ch’uan” can be expressed several ways in English, including “supreme ultimate fist” “supreme ultimate boxing” or “great extremes boxing”. Not only a fighting technique, tai chi also is practiced as a demonstration art form, for health reasons, and to increase longevity. There are several forms of tai chi training, depending upon the goal of the practitioner. Traditional tai chi training involves five elements:
The slow, controlled public exercises one sees in China are an example of qigong. Not all tai chi exercise is slow, however. The most widely practiced styles of tai chi all feature a faster set of exercises and movements in addition to their slowly paced movement routines.
Origins and History
The origins of tai chi are a subject of dispute, finding popular mythology at odds with the historical record. Tradition holds that the art was invented by an alchemist named Zhang San Feng sometime between 900 and 1300 A.D. However, this name does not appear in any written Chinese records until the late 1600s A.D. The earliest written source that claims Zhang San Feng originated tai chi is dated anther 200 years later. A later edition of this same source, however, asserts that the identity of the originator of tai chi is unknown. In fact, before the mid-1800s, the art form did not even have a name and was practiced by a relative handful of individuals.
Tai chi remained a rather obscure martial art until several Chinese martial arts masters began to tout its health benefits in the early 1900s. They and their students helped spread the art to a much wider circle of participants throughout China. During the 1920s the Chinese military adopted tai chi as part of its standard fitness training, although this involved the faster moving martial form of the art. Tai chi later spread into Chinese civilian life with the development of slow-movement forms of the art. Greater Chinese openness to the West beginning in the 1990s and early 2000s exposed a much wider audience to tai chi, and the practice is now more popular than ever.
Health Benefits of Tai Chi
Traditional Chinese medical practitioners have long claimed that tai chi is effective in promoting health and combating a number of chronic conditions. Modern western experimental studies have confirmed many of these claims. Not surprisingly, research has shown that tai chi helps promote greater balance and flexibility and reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals. However, many people are startled to learn that tai chi burns more calories than surfing and almost as much as downhill skiing. A program of tai chi paired with yoga has even been shown to reduce levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. Other studies have shown the potential for tai chi to boost immune function in response to certain viruses.
A number of studies also have linked tai chi to pain relief. A 2008 study from Tufts University found that tai chi provided better pain relief than regular stretching exercises for elderly patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee. A study published in the 2010 New England Journal of Medicine found that tai chi provided similar pain reliving benefits for a group of patients suffering from fibromyalgia.
Slow-Motion Stress Control
Proponents of tai chi cite stress-reduction as a principal benefit of the art, and recent medical studies support their beliefs. A 2010 U.S. government review of seven large-scale studies of tai chi concluded that it “significantly increased psychological well-being including reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression, and enhanced mood in community-dwelling healthy participants and in patients with chronic conditions.” Other studies have suggested that tai chi may help regulate production of hormones that affect mood and heart rate.
One of the most appealing aspects of tai chi is that any reasonably healthy individual can participate and share in its benefits. The extremely low impact nature of tai chi, along with its slow and controlled movements, allows people of any age and many different physical conditions to take part. As the studies cited early demonstrate, you don’t need to become a triathlete, marathoner, or “extreme” athlete to lose weight, get fit, and improve your physical and mental well-being. Practicing tai chi can help you achieve all of these goals in a way that fits your life situation.
Find Out More About Tai Chi
If you are interested in learning more about tai chi or taking it up actively, it’s best to start by talking with someone experienced in the art form. In South Florida, Dr. Jorge Bordenave includes tai chi as part of a multifaceted, integrated approach to health care and maintenance that deals with the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Contact Dr. Bordenave today to find out how this ancient fighting form can help YOU return to fighting form as well.
Posted by Axiom Health Care Marketing
If you are dealing with high blood pressure, a change in diet may be just what the doctor ordered. This article about discusses the DASH diet, specifically formulated to control hypertension:
http://www.miamiintegrativemedicine.com/blog/dash-to-lower-blood-pressure/
Posted by: Axiom Health Care Marketing
Good health starts with a good diet. Check out this article to learn about foods that are not only good for you, they’re actually super:
http://www.miamiintegrativemedicine.com/blog/the-bs-have-it-three-superfoods-for-overall-health-2/
Posted by: Axiom Health Care Marketing
Mind-body medicine combines modern knowledge and ancient practices to improve health and boost well-being. Check out the following article to learn about this powerful tool:
http://www.miamiintegrativemedicine.com/blog/what-is-mind-body-medicine/
Posted by: Axiom Health Care Marketing
Suffering from high blood pressure? Your diet may be a big part of the problem. This article reveals how the right diet can lower blood pressure significantly:
http://www.miamiintegrativemedicine.com/blog/dash-to-lower-blood-pressure/
If you suffer from hypertension but are concerned about taking medications, the DASH diet may be for you. This articles discusses the diet and how it can lead to significant improvement in blood pressure:
http://www.miamiintegrativemedicine.com/blog/dash-to-lower-blood-pressure/
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called “the silent killer.” Because it presents no obvious physical symptoms, many people who suffer from it are unaware of their condition or the risk it poses to their health. Many studies have drawn connections between hypertension and diet – excess consumption of sodium, for example, is linked to elevated blood pressure. Today that link is clearer than ever.
What is DASH?
In recent years, nutritionists and medical researchers have discovered a great deal of new information about the nutrients in food and how they can influence our health. One result of this work is the creation of a diet that has proven to lower blood pressure significantly without the use of medication. Known as the DASH diet – Dietary Approaches to Reducing Hypertension – it focuses on consuming foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol, processed sugar, and sodium. Examples of the kinds of foods included in the diet are whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, and low- or no-fat dairy products.
Proven Results with DASH
The proof of the effectiveness of the DASH plan comes from two studies sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The first study included 459 adults, evenly divided between men and women, of whom 27% had high blood pressure. The participants were divided into three groups: one group was fed a typical American diet; the second group ate the same diet, supplemented by additional fruits and vegetables; the final group ate a DASH diet. All participants consumed about 3,000 milligrams of sodium daily. While members of both the second and third groups showed reduced hypertension, the reductions under the DASH were significantly greater. Participants on the DASH plan showed results as quickly as two weeks after changing their diets.
The second study focused more specifically on the role of dietary sodium in conjunction with different diets. In this study, 412 individuals were divided into two groups: one on a typical American diet and one on the DASH plan. The researchers then varied the participants’ daily intake of sodium each month. One month, participants received 3,300 milligrams of sodium daily, about what the average American consumes. The amount was then reduced to 2,300 milligrams/day for a month, and to 1,500 for a month. Again, those on the DASH diet showed the greatest reductions in blood pressure, with the most dramatic results produced by the lowest-sodium (1,500 milligrams/day) DASH diet. Even participants who had only very slightly elevated blood pressure, or prehypertension, showed great improvement under the plan.
The DASH Diet
The DASH diet requires no special foods or supplements, nor does it require any additional preparation than a standard diet. It emphasizes the importance of eating foods that contain nutrients that researchers have linked to lower blood pressure, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, protein, and fiber. The DASH plan contains recommendations for daily servings from several different food groups. These include:
In addition, the diet prescribes weekly dietary intake of two other food groups:
Watch the Salt
As mentioned earlier, the DASH diet has its greatest benefits in lowering blood pressure when you limit sodium intake as well. Because the DASH plan includes lots of foods that are naturally low in sodium, such as fruits and vegetables, your sodium intake will likely decrease just by adopting the diet. However, a lot of foods and food additives contain sodium, so it is wise to monitor your food choices. A partial list of such products includes processed cereals, soy sauce, baked goods, baking soda, and monosodium glutamate, or MSG. Be sure to read the labels on processed or prepackaged foods carefully to make sure you are not getting “hidden” sodium from these products.
If you have been diagnosed with hypertension and are looking for a natural way to control your blood pressure, taking up the DASH diet is a good place to start. Of course, you should consult with a physician before you start any new dietary regimen. The DASH diet, however, has helped many people control their hypertension and lead healthier lives. It could do the same for you!
If you want super health, you need to know about super foods. Read this article to find out what foods can help kick start your healthy lifestyle
http://www.miamiintegrativemedicine.com/blog/the-bs-have-it-three-superfoods-for-overall-health-2/
Happy Mother’s Day
Proverb 17:6
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.”
From all of us at Dr. Jorge Bordenave’s office.
Posted by: AXIOM Health Care Marketing!