Blog Posts by LIVESTRONG.COM

10 Stretches to Get Rid of a Stiff Back

Back pain and stiffness can occur for many reasons. Maybe you lifted something too heavy or were hunched over a garden all morning. Usually the pain is not severe enough to require a doctor's care. According to the website SpineUniverse, most back pain will eventually disappear on its own. However, there are several stretches that can quicken the process, helping to relieve back stiffness and pain sooner.

Arm side stretch
The AARP suggests doing arm stretches if you have a stiff back. To do them, stand with legs about shoulder-length apart. Face forward with the knees straight and loose. Keep the arms at your sides with the palms facing inward. Slowly raise your right arm as you bend to the left, keeping the palm pointed at the floor. As you bend, slide your left palm down the side of your leg. Face forward, keeping the head aligned with the spine. Hold this stretch for approximately five to 30 seconds. Repeat stretch on the other side.

Knee to chest
According to the

The acai berry, found only in the Amazon rain forest, has been scientifically proven to have numerous health benefits. Researchers at Stanford University's Wellsphere website call it the "healthiest (berry) on the planet". Drinking the juice from the small, purple berry is the most effective way to enjoy the health benefits of the acai.

Cardiovascular Health
Acai juice contains very high concentrations of compounds called anthocyanins, which are also found in red wine and are thought to be beneficial for the heart. Health Report notes that these anthocyanins are consumed in large quantities by the French, and although the French diet is high in saturated fats there is a very low rate of heart disease compared to countries with similar diets. The researchers suggest that drinking acai juice may be a way to get the benefits of drinking red wine without the calories and other adverse effects of drinking alcohol.

Cholesterol Levels
Juice from the acai berry contains

Some of you may know me from Food, Inc. where I talk about how my family learned first-hand that contaminated food can make a person very ill and, in some cases, can cause death. I tell Kevin's story so that people will understand that foodborne illness is a serious public health issue, affecting one in four Americans each year. Of those sickened, an estimated 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 die.

Foodborne illness is caused by consuming food that contains bacteria, viruses, parasites, molds, myotoxins or prions. The outcomes of foodborne illness can be quite severe even beyond the initial illness--ranging from irritable bowel syndrome to reactive arthritis to kidney failure. Children, seniors, pregnant women and anyone who has a compromised immune system are at highest risk of developing serious complications.

In the United States, we are constantly being told that we have the safest food supply in the world - and while that statement may be true, it doesn't mean that our food is

The advice to "just breathe" is more than metaphorical. Breathing exercises can decrease stress, improve mental alertness and raise energy levels. They can also improve health conditions such as respiratory disease, depression, chronic fatigue, heart disease and high blood pressure. Exercise techniques for breathing help to strengthen the diaphragm, rib cage and abdominal muscles for more efficient breathing. Breathing exercises are also easy to do and can instantly improve a stress-filled week.

Shallow Breath Exercise
Also called the Chinese breath exercise, this technique helps to relax the body and calm anxiety and stress. While sitting in a chair, hold your arms straight in front of your body at shoulder height. Inhale three short breaths through the nose only, lifting your arms out to the sides and then up over your head on the second and third breaths. Drop your arms down to your sides and exhale through your mouth in one large breath. Repeat 10 to 12 times.

Concept
The media has exhaustively publicized the numerous ways drinking tea is good for you: from fighting certain cancers, to decreasing the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, to controlling cholesterol and even reducing tooth decay! Although most people are aware of tea's health benefits, they are not aware of which teas are the most beneficial. So, from a health perspective, are all teas created equal?

Nutritional Facts and Figures
What are the purported health benefits of consuming tea?

Before we begin, note that here we are talking about tea from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, and not herbal teas, which are really derived from the flowers, leaves, seeds, bark, or roots of certain plants but contain no actual "real" tea (herbal teas do have purported health benefits, but they are beyond the scope of this bite).
Studies have shown that tea may promote good health in the following ways:

*Heart Health: The polyphenols (antioxidants) found in tea are very effective

Weight loss can be a difficult task, especially if you don't really believe you can accomplish it. Although much of the weight-loss battle is physical, mental choices play a big role. In fact, a study by researchers at the Queensland University of Technology, in Australia, reported that your self-belief level can influence exercise and healthy eating choices. Several mental tips can be used every day to help your weight-loss process run more smoothly.

Don't Be Afraid to Say No
Remind yourself it is OK to say no when offered food. No matter who is offering--your mother, your best friend or even your boss--it is fine to decline. Because the offering of food, such as baked goods, sometimes is given as a token of love or affection, saying no can be difficult. If you are afraid of offending, the Fitness magazine website recommends accepting the food but disposing of it at home. Or, if offered a second helping, accept it, but chose seconds of vegetables or fruit instead of the main

By Carly Schuna

Working out your core muscles may give you killer abs and a flatter stomach, but you'll enjoy more benefits than just a swimsuit look. Building a stronger core and eliminating extra belly fat can improve your balance and posture as well as cut the risk of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, stroke, and other health problems, according to Michael Jensen, M.D., a specialty endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic.

Plank
Speed up the results of your workout program by targeting multiple core muscles at once. To do this, the Mayo Clinic recommends exercises such as the plank, which builds overall core strength.

To do the plank, lie on your stomach on top of a towel or mat. Place your elbows directly under your shoulders, and lock your hands together to form a triangle with your elbows. Using the strength in your core, pull up your torso and legs and hold your body up between your forearms and toes. Try to stay in a straight line, with your butt down and your

Overview
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines a scar as a type of tissue that develops over a wound during the process of healing. A variety of treatments can help diminish scars, but these treatments rarely remove scars from the skin entirely. When scars form on dark skin, treatment typically relies on the same products and procedures as any other skin type.

Step 1
Apply a medicated cream directly onto the scar. Although the Mayo Clinic maintains that scar creams will not necessarily provide significant results, the American Academy of Dermatology claims that creams containing cortisone or silicone can reduce the size of scar tissue. Daily use is often necessary to improve the appearance of the scar.

Step 2
Use pressure bandages. The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends the use of pressure bandages. This type of dressing can help to flatten raised scars on dark skin. However, it may take months to provide results.

Step 3
Try a