Excerpt from Bragg’s Healthy Heart Book — Chapter 13
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Second after second, minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day our faithful, loyal heart is working to keep us alive. In both our waking hours and during our sleep, our heart takes only a sixth of a second to rest between beats. The hardest work the heart has to do is right after an individual has eaten. The bigger the meal, the more work it has to do in pumping vast quantities of blood into the digestive tract.
Overeating puts more strain on the heart than any other one thing! Many people load up on a ten-course dinner and soon afterward suffer a heart attack! Overeating is a dangerous, deadly habit that can lead to serious consequences. You should make it a habit to always get up from the table feeling that you could eat a little more. New studies done by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, found that one out of five Americans are obese and the rate is climbing yearly – it’s an epidemic! Obesity is defined as anyone over 30% of their ideal body weight. This leads to high triglyceride levels which can cause diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Remember, exercise is a major key factor in lowering weight and helping keep the heart healthy and fit. Fact: only 20% of Americans exercise one hour weekly, yet they spend over 15 hours with TV and the web weekly.
Current obesity studies show increases in all age groups. The biggest gain is in the 18 to 29 years old group at 12.1%, up from 7.1% back in 1991. American children (1 in 3) are more overweight than ever! The number of overweight children ages 6 to 17, has zoomed up since the 1960’s. Overweight children are at high risks for adult on-set heart disease and diabetes. Teach your children healthy eating habits by being a healthy, trim, fit example for them.
This Blog is moderated. It is created to be informative, inspiring and uplifting. Our positive philosophy at Bragg is to communicate with love and respect. As Paul and Patricia Bragg teach, in expressing your thoughts and opinions to others, ask yourself: "Is it good, is it kind, is it necessary?" All comments that do not fit this philosophy will not be posted.
Excerpt from Bragg’s Back Fitness Program Book — Chapter 4
Speaking of restful relaxation, your spine must be in proper alignment while you are lying down, whether for a rest, nap or good night’s sleep. After all, we spend about a third of our lives sleeping! Sleeping on the wrong kind of mattress can throw your spine out of alignment. A soft, sagging mattress fails to give proper support to the heaviest part of the body, the pelvic region and thus causes the spine to curve toward the side on which the person is sleeping. A completely rigid mattress causes curvature in the opposite direction because it does not give sufficiently to accommodate the wider hip and shoulder areas. Neither gives the back or spine the proper kind of support when lying on the back or stomach. Before buying a mattress, lie on it – see how you like it. You don’t need box springs; just put your mattress on a wood platform. An egg-crate foam mattress cover can also greatly increase comfort, I just got one. It’s great!
Look for a semi-rigid mattress, firm and flat (one with sufficient resilience to allow shoulder and pelvic bones to form their own natural hollows), that will help keep the spinal column in natural alignment. Placing a wide, smooth bed board between mattress and springs will convert most any mattress (except an innerspring mattress) into the semi-rigid type that your spine needs. Noting that one doctor called the innerspring mattress the devil’s own work and a misbegotten gift of civilization. The well-known orthopedist Dr. Philip Lewin, in his book The Back and Its Disorders, recommends a mattress of felted cotton, hair or sponge rubber. He also advises to stand tall, sit tall and adds, lie tall and on back is best to align spine. Sleep with slanted, cradle pillow that elevates the head (it’s healthier). Let all muscles be relaxed when you go to sleep. Go limp and let yourself feel heavy on the bed. Never let one part of the body press on the other as this will impede circulation; keep arms and legs apart. Neck tension is often due to tensed facial muscles, so think pleasant thoughts that make you feel like smiling.
This Blog is moderated. It is created to be informative, inspiring and uplifting. Our positive philosophy at Bragg is to communicate with love and respect. As Paul and Patricia Bragg teach, in expressing your thoughts and opinions to others, ask yourself: "Is it good, is it kind, is it necessary?" All comments that do not fit this philosophy will not be posted.
