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One of the best gifts you can give your baby and yourself is a calm, clear mind and a relaxed body and nervous system. Why? Your unborn baby receives chemical messages through the bloodstream through that amazing organ we call the placenta. Its really a neglected little miracle, that placenta; it provides nourishment for your developing baby for months on end. Make sure that the hormones you send to your little one are mainly loving and peaceful ones. This is not meant to give anyone a guilt trip! Au contraire, this brief article will clue you in on a few small steps you can take to help manage stress while expecting.

1. Physical Exercise. Getting regular exercise is a major stress buster. I know, many of us hate to work out at gyms or jog on sidewalks. Perhaps theres even a dusty exercise contraption lurking in your garage or closet. One way to get around this is to enlist a friend to join you, to keep each other accountable. Find something you like to domaybe its swimming or rollerskating (check with your health care provider before beginning any new exercise regime, just to be sure). You dont have to take a prenatal yoga class to be fit; just be creative and have fun.

2. Dietary Supplements. Here in Southern california, we are blessed to have access to a wide variety of health food products. And thanks to the Internet, you can find quality dietary supplements wherever you happen to live. Make sure youre getting enough B-complex and C vitamins. (Both are water soluble which means that you need a fresh supply every day; that also means that its much harder to overdose on them since the excess gets secreted when you urinate.) Youve probably read about the importance of taking enough folic acid during acid (its one of the B vitamins). You may not have heard that we use up more B-complex vitamins when under stress (as well as while taking oral contraceptives).

3. Herbs. When correctly used, herbs can be of great benefit for pregnancy, birth and lactationand in any phase of life. first, a word of caution: it is important to check with a knowledgeable professional if you are unsure about which herbs to use and how much. Herbs like valerian, for instance, can be quite potent. Generally speaking, however, store-bought teas are carefully labeled and packaged in safe doses. Look for a nice, soothing tea with chamomile, lemon verbena and orange peel. If you find one with peppermint, thats a plus since the mint can calm an upset tummy. Be sure to avoid herbs that have a steroidal effect (like licorice and ginseng) and anything that causes uterine contractions, especially if you have had repeat miscarriages or cervical problems.

4. Roomy Scheduling. Does it ever seem like your day is jam-packed with activities and deadlines? Instead of rushing from one appointment to the next, try to allow for extra time in between. That way, if theres a traffic jam or some other unexpected foul-up, you still have moments to spare. Sure, we all want to feel productive, and yet, if you are carrying a baby, youre indeed re-productive. Your body is already working hard to bring new life into the world, so be easy on yourself. Give yourself big gaps in the day to just BE. Trust me when I say that you are doing a huge service to yourself and your baby.

Again, YOU are your babys greatest asset. Who else will be there when your child falls and scrapes her knee? Who else will understand him and feel as close to him as you? Pregnancy is a time to celebrate new life, to connect with the awesomeness of creation. This is also an opportunity to learn new ways to nurture your self. Reducing stress, using any of the tips above, is one way that you take care of your own needs, to the benefit of your familys future.

Christy Callahan, M.A. is a writer, educator and life coach with a passion for nurturing babies and parents from pre-conception to early childhood. If you're expecting or trying to conceive, visit the Prenatal Coaching website, http://www.prenatalcoaching.com, to request a free six-page report on Overcoming the Seven Roadblocks to a Satisfying Birth.

So your blood pressure is high, but you dont want to take prescription drugs? Can't say I blame you, with what we've learned about some very popular pharmaceuticals over the last year or so. Well, you're in luck. There are some simple modifications you can incorporate into your lifestyle that can make a big difference when it comes to hypertension, and here are the top 9:

1. Eliminate salt from your diet. This is probably the most important change you can make. The main reason why you will hear people say "I tried cutting back on salt and it didn't do anything for my high blood pressure" is because they forgot about prepared convenience foods. If you start reading labels, you'll find that just about all these items (not just salty foods like chips and crackers) have added sodium. Really, if you want to cut way back on salt, the best way is just to eliminate anything that comes in a box or bag from your diet. Eat natural foods, which will help your health in many ways in addition to lowering your blood pressure.

2. Cut out white sugar. While scientists arent yet sure exactly why, many studies have shown that eating processed sugars elevates blood pressure. Also eliminate high fructose corn syrup, an ubiquitous sweetener that has even more detrimental effects on health than white sugar. If you need a sweet taste, try adding some stevia, an herbal sweetener that comes in powder and liquid form, or xylitol, a low-carb sugar alcohol, to your foods.

3. Get regular aerobic exercise. Anything that gets you moving and your heart rate comfortably elevated has a beneficial effect on hypertension. Your physician may be able to give you an exercise plan that suits your condition and current fitness levels. It's important not to do too much too soon. There are some Eastern forms of exercise, such as yoga and Tai chi, that seem to have good effects on blood pressure. The emphasis on full, rhymthic breathing integral to these disciplines may be as important as the actual physical movement.

4. Increase the amount of fiber in your diet. This has been shown to have many benefits other than its effects on blood pressure. You can add fiber supplements to your diet, or eat more foods such as whole grains and vegetables, which brings me to the next tip....

5. Eat those veggies. There are myriad other benefits besides the increase in fiber associated with an increased intake of vegetables. These provide important vitamins and minerals, and other more recently discovered substances such as phytonutrients and antioxidants, which all help to keep your body functioning at an optimal level. One valuable nutrient contained in vegetables is potassium, and so our next tip is to....

6. Eat lots of bananas. Everyone knows that bananas are high in potassium, and it turns out that increasing the amount of potassium in our diet is almost as important as reducing one's salt intake with respect to normalizing blood pressure. As a matter of fact, some authorities think it's actually less about the amount of salt and more about increasing the ratio of potassium to sodium. We've mentioned bananas because they're the most popular fruit in the USA and are widely available, but if you want some high potassium alternatives, try dried apricots, figs, avocados, cantaloupe, raisins, carrot juice, prune juice, peanuts, and almonds.

7. Get that folic acid. This nutrient's been found to have a number of health benefits for women, and protecting against high blood pressure now seems to be another one. Harvard medical school did a study which indicated that women could lower their risk of hypertension anywhere from 18% to 46%, depending on their age, by taking 1 mg (milligram) of folic acid per day.

8. Eat chocolate, but not too much. Some recent studies have indicated that 100 grams per day of dark chocolate can have blood pressure lowering effects. The researchers postulate that a component of dark chocolate known as flavinols is responsible. But remember, only 100 grams (around three or four ounces), and it needs to be dark chocolate. You'll need to read labels, because most chocolate candy these days uses light chocolate. And of course, chocolate always contains sugar. So if you can't stop at 100 grams, or you need to lose weight (100 grams of chocolate is usually around 500 calories) you'd probably be better off not to take that first bite.

9. And finally, dump those diet pills. You know they're no good for you. While losing weight is usually beneficial for blood pressure levels, doing it by speeding up your heartrate is not. Do it by eating the healthy foods mentioned above and you'll have lower blood pressure and a nutritious diet you can continue with for life.

Of course, if you're already taking any medications, do NOT stop them without consulting with your doctor first. He should be willing to work with you as you try natural options. If not, you may need a new doctor. Give these tips a try one at a time. keep the ones that help, and when you're done, you'll have a healthier lifestyle for sure!

Joe Serpico is not a doctor, nor does he play one on TV, but he's been interested in health and fitness for over twenty-five years. Click on over to http://www.thehealthandfitnessguide.com for lots more great info.

Nordic track treadmills are renowned for their comprehensive range of features. Nordic track treadmills provide a comfortable running surface on which users can either jog, walk or run. Nordic track treadmills are produced by Icon health and Fitness, Inc..

Nordic track treadmills range from around $1000 to $4000. The various features of Nordic track treadmills help during weight loss programs and workouts. Nordic track treadmills are very comfortable treadmills to run on.

Nordic track treadmills offer generous sized running deck/belt, good cushioning and well designed console displays. All Nordic track treadmill models are iFit compatible which enables downloading of new workout programs from the internet directly to users treadmill via a computer. Nordic track treadmills consist of electronic consoles which offer lot of preset programs and readouts.

Nordic track treadmills feature a Reflex Deck Technology that flattens and absorbs the impact when users step down and springs back returning to its original shape.

All Nordic track treadmill models consist of heart rate monitors which are activated by gripping pulse sensors built into the hand rail. Nordic track treadmill models come with pulse driven programs that respond to and maintain users target heart rate.

Nordic track treadmills offer a 3 year warranty for the drive motor, 2 year warranty for other treadmill parts and 1 year warranty on the labor. The warranty duration of Nordic track treadmills is a good indication of the quality of the treadmill.

There are different models of Nordic track treadmill available in the market. The Nordic track C1900 treadmill offers a 1.5HP motor capable of speeds up to 10 mph, incline adjustment up to 10%, a running surface up to 55 x 20, cool air fans and a heart rate monitor. This treadmill model costs about $1000.

The Nordic track C2300 treadmill offers a 1.75HP motor capable of speeds up to 10 mph, a running surface up to 55 x 20, incline adjustment up to 10%, a heart rate monitor and cool air fans. This treadmill costs about $1300.

The Nordic track E2500 treadmill offers a 2HP motor capable of speeds up to 12 mph, a running surface up to 55 x 20, incline adjustment up to 10%, adjustable cushioning and a heart rate monitor. This treadmill costs about $1500.

The Nordic track 7600R treadmill offers a 3HP motor capable of speeds up to 12 mph, a running surface up to 60 x 20, incline adjustment up to 12% and a heart rate monitor.

The Nordic track E4400 treadmill offers a 3HP motor capable of speeds up to 12 mph, incline adjustment up to 12%, a running surface up to 60 x 20 and a heart rate monitor. This treadmill model costs about $2500.

Nordic track treadmills are known for their cushion technology, electronic consoles and warranty features. Nordic Track treadmills offer smooth running on the treadmill.

Nordic Track treadmills are popular for the comfortable running surface they provide.

Saurya Ghosal for http://www.treadmill-walking.com Read more about Treadmills http://www.treadmill-walking.com/treadmill-weight-loss.html Copyright 2005 http://www.treadmill-walking.com