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Wine Events in India

BANGALORE Orion Wine Festival 2015 in association with the Karnataka Wine Board with over 30 National & Indians brands is being held from 23rd to 25th January 2015 at the Lakeside, Brigade Gateway.

Best,

Shakti

This post shares about health and fitness benefits of elliptical cross-trainer exercise machines, brands available in India and how to buy them including what factors to consider. You'll see more and more relevant information added in this post.

If you manufacture elliptical workout machines then you can share your details with me by signing up and sending me a message about your products.

If you sell elliptical machines to gyms, fitness centers and homes then please ask about my marketing services.

1. Are elliptical machines better than treadmills for basic aerobic workouts?

Answer from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.

You can get an effective aerobic workout with both an elliptical machine and a treadmill. In general, you can let your fitness goals determine whether you choose an elliptical machine or a treadmill — or a different piece of exercise equipment.

However, elliptical machines might offer some advantages over treadmills. For example:

Read more on http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/elliptical-machines/AN01620

2. Dual Action Workout

What makes an elliptical trainer unique is the combined upper and lower body workout. In fact, there is no other fitness equipment that simultaneously works as many muscle groups. That is why many refer to an elliptical as a cross-trainer.

With an elliptical trainer, you get a workout that utilizes the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and biceps. The obvious benefit from exercising more muscles is that you tone more of your body. Furthermore, you also optimize your energy expenditure. You end up burning more calories and fat in less time. It is also suggested that there is a reduced perceived rate of exertion with an elliptical workout. You are actually exercising harder then you would normally perceive.

Of course, to get the full benefit of the dual action workout, it is important that you distribute the resistance between your upper and lower body. Many people who exercise on an elliptical trainer place most of the resistance on their lower body and only go through the motions with the upper handlebars.

Read more on http://walking.about.com/od/treadmilling/a/ellipticals.htm

3. How to find an exercise machine that suits you, and make the most out of any machine workout.

Elliptical Machines pack a little less punch on the joints, and either can be a good alternative to the treadmill, says Matthew Vukovich, exercise physiologist and associate professor at South Dakota State University.

Because you use them in a standing position, you're using lots of muscle mass, so the calorie burn rate is still pretty high.

Elliptical machines with arm components can further increase the numbers of calories you burn, says Stamford. But if you're a beginner, he doesn’t recommend using your arms at first.

Read more on http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/all-bout-exercise-machines?page=2

4. How to Buy an elliptical exercise machine?

The variety of elliptical trainers is a very important point. Because there are so many ways an elliptical can be made, there are a lot of competing choices and marketing claims. Many of these claims are complete fabrications just to get you to buy their machines so you need to be very careful.

Read http://walking.about.com/od/treadmilling/a/elliptical.htm for responses to the following questions:

A. How Much to Spend for an Elliptical Trainer

A. 1. What is Your Budget?

A. 2. Have You Used an Elliptical Trainer?

A. 3. How Experienced are You with an Elliptical Trainer?

A. 4. Determine Which Features You Want

B. Decide Who, Where, and How You Will Use the Elliptical Trainer

B. 1. Who will be using the elliptical trainer?

B. 2. Where will you use the elliptical trainer?

B. 3. How will you use the elliptical trainer?

C. DETERMINING QUALITY LEVELS

This is the most difficult part of buying an elliptical trainer. There are some great marketing people in the fitness business. Their goal is to make you think that their elliptical trainer is worth much more than someone else’s elliptical trainer, regardless of price.

Although it is difficult to absolutely determine quality from the price of the product, it is still the best way to separate the quality levels of ellipticals. It makes sense as well. A manufacturer has to spend more money on a better quality elliptical trainer. Therefore, they have to charge more for it as well.

D. Determining Elliptical User Variables

D. 1. User Weight

D. 2. Time Used

D. 3. Number of Users

The strength of any elliptical trainer or its Achilles' heel is its drive system. By drive system, we are speaking of the drive axle, axle bearings, drive belt, generator or alternator, and power PCB. If these are well-engineered it will hide a multitude of sins. Components are important but engineering is more important in this area. For instance, one manufacturer uses cheaper quality components but gets away with it (sometimes) because their engineering is so good. We have also seen others who have fantastic components but poor reliability due to poor engineering.

DIFFERENT ELLIPTICAL TYPES AND SMOOTHNESS

Frankly, the difference in elliptical trainer smoothness has three main considerations: Design type, quality of build, and weight of the flywheel. To decide which type of elliptical will feel smoother to you – you will have to try the different models. When doing this make sure that you try them in the same price range. Otherwise you will get a skewed view of the type. The smoothness will depend a lot on your physiology.

The quality of construction will make a difference in smoothness. You will easily be able to tell the difference in the same type of machines. Make sure that you decide on which type of elliptical design you want before you attempt to determine the quality of construction. Otherwise the differences in type smoothness will skew the results. The flywheel weight will determine to a great extent the smoothness of the machine. The heavier the flywheel the more inertia is available to keep the drive system turning. The only drawback to the heavy flywheel is that the drive axle bearings will wear more quickly.

DRIVE SYSTEM COMPONENTS

The different drive system components that make up the elliptical drive system are the drive axle, axle bearings, drive belt, generator or alternator, and power PCB. Unfortunately you will not be able to determine the quality level of these components by looking at the machine.

Some questions that you can ask the sales person will help you get some general notions of the machine.

Sealed bearings are generally better in these units than shielded bearings. This is because the sealed bearings are better at keeping dirt out of the ball track.

Alternator or generator powered units will typically have more expensive repairs than plug in machines.

NOISE

An overly noisy elliptical trainer points to poor engineering, poor components, or poor assembly.

PROGRAMS

These provide variation in your workout.

HEART RATE CONTROL (HRC)

The best option in this category is HR handgrips you can hold onto that determine your heart rate. The manufacturers have made this system much more accurate than it was in the past but they are still quite inaccurate on the low cost machines.

WARRANTY & MAINTENANCE

Warranties lately have become crazy so don’t get carried away with the Lifetime warranties on this or that elliptical trainer. Ultimately, you want to make sure you get an elliptical that you like, is easy for you to operate, and feels good for use. If you don’t like it, you won’t need the warranty anyway because you won’t use the machine enough to break it.

In regard to maintenance, keeping it clean is the golden rule. To help with this, put it on an elliptical mat and periodically clean the entire elliptical.

For health and fitness professionals and businesses

Get found easily on Health Fitness India WEBSITE

I was recently told by a very senior skin specialist to apply sunscreen when I go out in sun. I've applied sunscreen before but not regularly. So I thought of finding quality articles on sunscreen which I'm also sharing here for you in India and worldwide. Please note that I'll keep sharing related articles in the comments:

Please note that the following is an exact copy paste of the text from

http://www.aad.org/stories-and-news/news-releases/sunscreens-remain-safe-effective-form-of-sun-protection

I've highlighted points to try and make it easier for you to read the following text:
Sunscreens remain safe, effective form of sun protection

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (May 23, 2011) -

The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) today reiterated the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens to protect against the damaging effects from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. As one component of a daily sun-protection strategy, sunscreen is an important tool in the fight against skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Unprotected sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer. More than 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, affecting 2 million people. At current rates, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime. About 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma, and the incidence of melanoma has been rising for at least 30 years.

“Scientific evidence supports the benefits of sunscreen usage to minimize short and long-term damage to the skin from UV radiation and outweighs any unproven claims of toxicity or human health hazard,” said Ronald L. Moy, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy.“To reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging, dermatologists continue to recommend generously applying a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen ― that protects against both types of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) ― with an SPF 30 or higher, in conjunction with other sun-safe practices such as limiting sun exposure, seeking shade, and wearing sun-protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.”

Sunscreen products contain one or more active drug ingredients -- compounds that absorb, scatter or reflect UV light -- and are regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has several safety and effectiveness regulations in place that govern the manufacture and marketing of all sunscreen products, including safety data on its ingredients. However, recent media reports have questioned the health risks of some sunscreen ingredients, specifically oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate, as well as the use of nanotechnology in sunscreen.

Oxybenzone is one of the few FDA-approved ingredients that provides effective broad-spectrum protection from UV radiation, and has been approved for use since 1978. “Contrary to recent reports, available scientific literature and decades of public use does not support a link between oxybenzone in sunscreen and hormonal alterations, or other significant health issues in humans,” stated Dr. Moy. “The FDA has approved oxybenzone in sunscreen for use on children older than six months, and dermatologists continue to encourage protecting children by playing in the shade, wearing protective clothing and applying broad-spectrum sunscreen.”

Retinyl palmitate is a form of vitamin A (retinol), but is not an active drug ingredient in sunscreen. When used in sunscreen, retinyl palmitate serves cosmetic purposes as an antioxidant to improve product performance against the aging effects of UV exposure, or to enhance product aesthetic qualities. Despite recent concerns from in vitro (test tube) studies and one unpublished report using mice, “topical and oral retinoids are widely prescribed to treat a number of skin diseases, such as acne and psoriasis, and there is no published evidence to suggest either increase the risk of skin cancer in these patients,” said Dr. Moy. “In fact, oral retinoids are used to prevent skin cancers in high-risk patients such as those who have undergone organ transplantation.” Dr. Moy also added that “unlike more potent prescription forms of vitamin A, there is no evidence to suggest that use of sunscreen with retinyl palmitate poses comparable risks.”

The broad-spectrum sunscreen active ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide leave a white residue on the skin following application when used in a larger particle form. However, when these active ingredients are converted into nanoparticles – smaller, lighter molecules – they appear to vanish on the skin, do not leave a residue, and retain and enhance their ability to block UVA and UVB light.

“While widespread use of nanotechnology in medicine is currently under evaluation, one of the main benefits of nanoparticles in sunscreens is that the small molecules can provide more protection and more even coverage on the skin’s surface than larger particles,” said Dr. Moy. “Considerable research on the use of nanoparticles on healthy, undamaged skin has shown that the stratum corneum – the outermost layer of the skin – is an effective barrier to preventing the entry of nanoparticles into the deeper layers of the skin. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have a long history of safe use in sunscreens and offer good options for broad-spectrum UV protection.”

There has also been concern that sunscreen use prevents the synthesis of vitamin D by the skin. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is vital for strong bones and a healthy immune system. The Academy recommends that an adequate amount of vitamin D should be safely obtained from a healthy diet that includes foods naturally rich in vitamin D (e.g., dairy products and fish), foods/beverages fortified with vitamin D (e.g., fortified milk and fortified cereals), and/or vitamin D supplements -- and not from UV exposure. The Academy recently updated its position statement on vitamin D based on the published review of the increasing body of scientific literature on this vitamin conducted by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM).

“Unprotected UV exposure to the sun or indoor tanning devices is a known risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Since sun exposure is responsible for vitamin D production in the skin, wearing sunscreen can decrease the skin's production of vitamin D, but alternative and safer options are available to obtain your vitamin D,” states Dr. Moy. “Individuals who properly and consistently wear sunscreen or use other UV protective measures, and are concerned about their vitamin D, should discuss obtaining sufficient vitamin D from foods and/or vitamin supplements with their doctor.”

The FDA is continuing to work on addressing requirements for UVA coverage in sunscreens and considering sunscreen labeling changes to help the public make knowledgeable decisions about protecting themselves from the dangers of sun exposure. “Dermatologists recommend the use of broad-spectrum sunscreen products to protect against UVA and UVB rays and we rely on the FDA to confirm the safety of the products,” said Dr. Moy. The American Academy of Dermatology currently awaits the FDA’s final ruling to provide the most current information.

“Despite any concerns over the use of sunscreen, they are an important component of a daily protection plan, as dermatologists understand the limitations of clothing and minimizing sun exposure. There are many sunscreen products available that meet the Academy’s recommendations, and consumers need to be comfortable with their choice of product in order to use it routinely”, Dr. Moy added. “Since allergic and other reactions can occur, individuals should read the product’s labeling carefully, use as directed, and seek the advice of their dermatologist in using sunscreens and any product applied to the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology will continue to monitor scientific evidence related to sunscreen ingredients and their effectiveness to help guide patients and the public.”

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 17,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1 (888) 462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.

If you wonder how to jog or run then watch this video presented by Dr. Andre Albrecht from Germany 

From http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2035 

Which is better for you, jogging or walking?

Nearly all studies show that jogging provides slightly more benefits for your bones, muscles, heart, and lungs. But walking has gained a lot of ground in the last decade or so as a viable exercise. It strengthens bones, tones muscles, and helps your cardiovascular system.

Walking is easier on the body's joints. It causes far fewer injuries to heels, shins, knees, and hips than jogging or stair climbing, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

And virtually everybody can walk.

Moreover, walking is linked to better physical functioning, even among older people who already suffer from chronic disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. Both of these two groups call for getting at least 30 minutes of walking or a similar activity every day. This level of exercise burns at least 150 calories of energy.

For those of any age who can handle greater intensity and joint-pounding, however, jogging may be the way to go.

I like shoes, however, Christopher McDougall Talk from TED.com also has its values 

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/christopher_mcdougall_are_we_born_to_run.html

From http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/jogging-night-2225.html "Because of certain physiological factors—including body temperature and the release of key energy-metabolizing hormones—some joggers may find they function better at night, according to Shawn D. Youngstedt, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina."

I'll keep sharing in the comments below!