Fig Leaves Used to Treat Diabetes and More

Fig leaves are best known for treating diabetes, but there are many other uses for the fig leaves. 

There are many homemade remedies from treating diabetes to treating bronchitis, genital warts, liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, skin problems and ulcers. 

Fig leaves are not used as much as they should be. Most of the remedies for the fig leaves use the sap or the milk of the sacred tree. Fig tinctures or poultices should be used immediately and fresh batches made daily.

The big news with the use of fig leaves is that they have anti-diabetic properties. The diabetic needs less insulin when on a treatment of using the fig leaf extract. The diabetic should take the extract with breakfast, first thing in the morning. An additional remedy is to boil the leaves of the fig in some freshly filtered waster and drink this as a tea.

Figs and Health:

According to the USDA, figs are one of the highest sources of fiber and calcium. Figs have antioxidants and a laxative effect on the body. Figs contain fiber, magnesium, copper, manganese, calcium and vitamins A,B,C and K. Besides these vitamins, the figs also contain folic acid, sodium and zinc.

Benefits of the figs:

- Figs are rich in potassium and fiber, helping to stabilize the blood pressure of the body. The figs contain anti-diabetic and anti-tumor properties. They have calcium, potassium, and soluble fiber, which aids in the reduction of cholesterol.

- Figs promote good sleeping habits and protect the person against insomnia. They increase your energy, promote stronger bones, and are helpful in treating constipation, due to their laxative effect. If the leaves are mashed, they can be used as a skin cleanser for acne and pimples.

- Figs lessen the acids in the stomach and therefore are great for pregnant women. Figs also increase sexual desire and promote overall longevity and good health.

There are many varieties of figs and here are a few available in the market:

The Calimyrna Fig has a nut like flavor and a golden skin. The Mission fig is dark purple and eventually will turn black when sun dried. The Kadota fig is the American type fig, which is nearly seedless and most often dried and canned. The Brown Turkey fig is seen most of the time in the fresh markets. This fig is copper colored in color with small streaks of purple and a white flesh.


Home Remedies using fig leaves:

- Bronchitis - Place two to three fig leaves in a half liter of water with some piloncillo and bring to boil. Let the water boil for 15 minutes and then remove the leaves and drink the tea.

What is Piloncillo?

http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/mexicanfoodglossary/g/piloncillo.htm


Where Can You Buy Fig Leaf Tea?

Shop at My Fig Leaf Store

- Cardiovascular and Cancer patients: Try drinking some freshly made fig leaf tea. Also, eat some fresh figs daily.

- Genital warts - Take one of the fig leaves and apply the milk or sap from the leaf to the affected areas.

- Hemorrhoid - Place two or three of the leaves in one liter of water and bring to boil. Boil for at least 15 minutes. Remove from the fire and let the pot cool. Remove the leaves from the tea and use as a sitz bath or apply to the affected areas.

- Liver cirrhosis - Take 4 leaves, wash them thoroughly and pound them with any type of sugar candy. Fill a medium glass with water and drink this twice a day.

- Lower blood pressure - Place 3 fig leaves in half liter of water. Boil for 15 minutes and drink daily.

- Ringworm - Cut open a leaf and take the milk or sap. Rub on the ringworm. This procedure works immediately.

- Scalp fungal infections, warts and boils - Follow the above directions.

- Shingles: Place three to four fig leaves in 2 cups of water. Boil for a few minutes, let cool and remove the leaves. Take a wash cloth and dip in the water and apply to the affected area.

- Ulcers - Every day chew two fig leaves and swallow the whole leaf. People with advanced ulcers should do this in the morning on an empty stomach.

Http://www.earthclinic.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fig_leaf

http://paroslife.parosweb.com/story.html?story=1962

Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure also known as hypertension and it is a silent killer. 1 in 3 people have high blood pressure and a portion of those people do not even know they have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a preventable death too. There are many natural remedies you can do to stop this killer of the innocent.

Lifestyle changes to improve high blood pressure

The number one natural remedy to treat high blood pressure with is to follow a healthy lifestyle. Diet alone will help you to beat the numbers. To be healthy, you must have a blood pressure reading of 120/80 or less. Pre-hypertension range is over 120 and below 139. Anything above 140/90 is considered to be high blood pressure.

Blood pressure will rise without any warning signs, so the first things you must do is to monitor your blood pressure daily. Buy a simple wrist monitor and keep track of your daily readings.

The other things that you must do are:

Don't smoke

• Lose weight
• Exercise
• Don't drink or take caffeine
• Cut the salt

Learn how to reduce high blood pressure the natural way. Learn what foods lower blood pressure naturally. Eat lots of fruits and veggies and avoid fatty meats. 

Herbs to lower blood pressure

There are herbs that help to lower blood pressure naturally. Herbs are easily taken, but use caution if you are taking any kind of prescribed medicines. Herbs are not spices but they act as medicine. Always check for the side effects if you are taking conventional medicine of any type. Here are a few to consider:

• Cayenne - one of the best things you can do to reduce blood pressure
• Hawthorne berries
• Primrose oil
• Cinnamon
• Fish oil

Natural home remedies to reduce high blood pressure

Everyone has a favorite home remedy to use in the reduction of high blood pressure. Some home remedies will work better than others. It is best to try one and then see if you get the results you desire. If you do not see any results in a few weeks, try another one.

1. Take lots of garlic. Mince the garlic first and then eat as much as you can. There are many studies showing how garlic reduces high blood pressure naturally.

2. Make a mixture of honey and onion juice. Use half and half of each and take  two tablespoons daily. Try this remedy for two weeks.

3. Eat one whole papaya daily. Do not eat for two hours after eating the papaya.

High blood pressure must be taken seriously. Some have lowered their numbers just by losing weight. No matter which natural remedy you choose, choose one that will help you live a long and happy life.

Sources:

• TBYIL.com
• Familydoctor.org 

Bone Problems: Learn About David Wolfe's Solution

The well-known author and supporter of the raw-vegan lifestyle, David Wolfe (www.davidwolfe.com) states that, "Calcium does not build bones. This is one of the biggest misconceptions ever." He states that silicon and magnesium are the keys to increasing bone density. So, stop taking calcium and start taking silicon and magnesium to increase your bone density.

Foods that contain silicon include bell peppers, soybeans, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, alfalfa, beets, brown rice, rice bran, rice hulls, rolled oats, nettles, hemp leaf and horsetail.

Magnesium is found in nuts such as cashews, almonds, macadamia and cacao. Foods like halibut, avocados, oatmeal, baked potatoes and spinach also contain magnesium. Make sure you are adding plenty of green leafy vegetables to your diet, as they are foods rich in magnesium. They are also a good source for calcium and silicon.

Raw chocolate and cacao are not only a great source of magnesium; they are also beneficial for the teeth, as chocolate destroys Streptococcus, the organism that causes cavities. According to David, the tooth's worst enemy is sugar; chocolate is beneficial.

David Wolfe's Super Foods:

David recommends including super foods and herbs in your diet by adding them (in powder form) to meals or by brewing teas with these beneficial herbs and foods. He recommends 1-3 capsules of silica from horsetail extract daily. The herbs and super foods contain all the vitamin, mineral and protein requirements, glyconutrient requirements, essential fatty acid requirements, immune system requirements and more.

David's top super herbs include: vanilla bean, pau d'arco, cat's claw, chanca piedra, camu camu berry and horsetail.

The top super foods include: goji berries, cacao beans (cacao nibs, cacao powder, cacao butter), maca (regular maca, red maca), acai, bee pollen, honey, blue-green algae, aloe vera, noni, yacon root (powder and syrup), hemp seed, Incan berries and kelp.

David Wolfe's Favorite Teas:

1. Horsetail, alfalfa, nettles and cat's claw.

2. Gogi berry, vanilla, pau d'arco, cat's claw, nettles and horsetail. According to Wolfe, "They are amazing."

3. Goji berry, vanilla bean and pau d'arco.

4. Mushroom tea consisting of reishi and maitaki. Mushroom tea is made using the same method as is used for herbal teas; the herbs or the mushrooms are not boiled.

Best Cardio Exercises to Burn Fat

There are a number of cardio exercises that one can practice at home or even in the gym. One of the causes of excess weight and other health complications is accumulation of fat in the body. 

This is caused by consumption of foods that contain unhealthy fats, white flours and sugar. Cardio exercises help the body to utilize the fat in the body, this reduction of fat helps to keep the body healthy and immune to diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Why Not Schedule a Regular Running Routine?

Most people prefer this exercise because it involves all the body muscles. A person can run a certain distances in parks or any other place that has ample space for this cardio exercise. 

This method has been proven to be very essential in maintaining a good health because it helps to release toxic substances through sweat from the body. However, the runner should purchase the right attire designed for running in order to avoid accidents and to do the exercises more efficiently. When beginning any exercise program, start out with shorter distances and increase as your body adjusts..

Jumping Rope Burns Fat

This is one of the easiest cardio exercises that one can practice in order to burn all excess fat in the body. Research has shown that jumping rope for about 10 minutes helps to burn up to 130 calories, hence making it a very effective way of losing fat within a short period of time. 

Some of the major requirements of this exercise is a rope and a pair of comfortable shoes. Then one has to jump at most 2 inches as the rope approaches the feet. Jumping rope should be done for at least 10 minutes to recipe optimum results. 

KICKBOXING is One of the Best Exercises for Cardio

This exercise combines aerobics and martial arts making it one of the best ways to burn out all the excess fat from the body. The exercise is referred to by some people as boxing aerobics or cardio kickboxing. 

You can lose up to 350 to 450 calories if you practice kickboxing for at least 50 minutes. Practice helps a person to learn all the techniques of doing it perfectly in order to achieve the right amounts of fat in the body. 

Patience is vital in the success of this exercise and in every other type of cardio exercise also.

Why Exercise Programs are Important in Preventing Cancer

Though exercise programs have always been useful in keeping your body healthy and can greatly aid in weight loss efforts, the importance of exercise in preventing cancer are just now becoming widely known. 

Not only do exercise programs boost your immunity, but they help the various systems of your body function more efficiently. In fact, the American Cancer Society recommends that you participate in some form of exercise 5 days a week, for 30 minutes each day. 

Given that approximately 1.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, it's imperative that we all do our part to prevent it from effecting our lives and those of our families by keeping physically active.

 How exercise can prevent cancer.  

There are a number of theories put forth by researchers that suggest that exercise strengthens the immune system and allows for it to be better equipped to battle cancer cells. 

Dr. Inge Haunstrup Clemmensen, from the Danish Cancer Society, states that exercise programs enable excrete materials faster, thereby, making it more difficult for cancer to remain in the body via harmful substances or chemicals. 

Exercise also increases the activity of your cardiovascular system, regulates hormones, repairs DNA, and increases your energy to help fight fatigue. Each of these benefits can help to prevent your body from succumbing to cancer cells, and can help you to fend them off more sufficiently should they enter your body.

What are some exercises that I can do which may help to prevent cancer?  

The American Cancer Society now recommends that, in order to truly reduce your risk of cancer, you should partake in activities other than those that are involved in your daily routine. 

For instance, yoga and dancing are a great way to have fun and achieve mind-body harmony while helping to prevent cancer. Also, brisk walking, competitive sports, and swimming are all examples of activities which will enable your body to function at a level which will increase your chances of fending off a cancer diagnosis. 

Essentially, any exercise that you enjoy will assist you in the endeavor to prevent cancer, as long as you do it for at least thirty minutes a day, 5 days a week, and it is intense enough to boost your heart rate.

Some other things you can do, along with exercise, to help prevent cancer.  

There are a variety of things which we can alter about our lifestyles which will help to prevent cancer, aside from physical activity. Firstly, by maintaining a healthy weight, you are lowering your chances of being diagnosed with a form of cancer. 

You can achieve this by eating the right foods and keeping active. Secondly, change your diet to reduce the number of processed foods you consume and increase the number of fruits and vegetables. Limiting or completely eliminating red meats out of your diet is also a good idea. 

Also, limit the amount of alcohol you drink, and avoid smoking altogether. Even cigarettes or cigars which claim to be better for you than their more traditional counterparts can increase your risk of developing cancer.

The importance of exercise programs in preventing cancer cannot be stressed enough. Researchers are now stating that it is one of the most crucial things you can do to lower your risk of cancer. 

Along with a nutritious diet and eliminating poor habits from your daily routine, you can potentially avoid the dreaded cancer diagnosis and live a happier, healthier life. So, get out of that computer chair and get going, in order to fit in your daily 30 minute workout. 
 

Resources:

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5121518_exercise-prevent-cancer.html

http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/tp/exercise.htm

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20060928/do-real-exercise-to-prevent-cancer

Is TRX Suspension Training Right for You?

Suspension training is a fitness program that applies systems of straps and webbing to enable a person workout the body weight to achieve total body transformation. 

This training uses different multi-planar movements. TRX suspension training creates strength, flexibility, balance and achieves joint stability simultaneously. One peculiar thing with this training is that it allows people to work out against their body weight.  

Who Can Take Suspension Training?

Because of its ability to enhance body strength, stability and balance, TRX suspension training can be applied by different people with different training goals. 

It is an all-fitness level trainer tool. Suspension training with the TRX trainer tool can be used by sports people such as athletes to build their stability and strength. This can help them develop sprinting power and muscle endurance.

A TRX user can control the amount of bodyweight resistance, and the angle to place the body. Similarly, a person can maintain body stability while training. 

These aspects imply that a person with no prior professional fitness training skills can take suspension training. With simple workout guidelines and training steps, you can carry out self-TRX suspension training whether you are a professional in physical training or a neophyte in using TRX trainer tool. 

You can also use the TRX trainer tool even if you are out of shape or you are just beginning your body workout program. This substantiates the reason why this trainer tool can be used for gentle rehabilitation.

 For example, patients recovering from body injuries such as joint fractures and dislocations can use TRX. However, an advice from a physiotherapy trainer may be required since the TRX suspension training can produce extreme body workouts , which may require some level of body shape and wellness.

Benefits of Suspension Training

When you take part in TRX suspension training, you transformed you body by building muscle strength. You also improve the body flexibility. In addition, you create muscle balance and core stability. There are a many benefits, you get when you use this trainer tool and the three main ones are;

1. It allows for total body workout. You can burn out your abdominal fat deposits with different exercises using this TRX trainer. The trainer tool can offer you over 300 different types of body workouts.  
2. You can carry out pulling exercise with the TRX trainer tool and this involves pulling the back, hamstrings, forearms, traps, and biceps. This will strengthen your muscles and create balance.  
3. The suspension training offers unilateral training and repairs muscular imbalances. Studies show that in athletics and lifestyle activities, about 65% of injuries are associated with muscle weaknesses and imbalances. These can be minimized with TRX training. This is why aspiring sportsmen and women need to have this trainer tool for body workouts.

Besides these core benefits of TRX suspension training, there are also other health related aspects, which are gained from TRX training and these are such as;

• It increases energy levels and this is achieved through enhanced body metabolic activity.
• Suspension training breaks down calories and improves body wellness.
• It creates muscular endurance and this basically means that your muscles can withstand contraction and expansion through rigorous activities. It enhances flexibility of the muscles.
• TRX training enhances body coordination and muscle balance.

The TRX training tool provides an excellent weight loss as well as muscle toning exercise. This helps develop your muscles proportionately. This means that you acquire a good body posture and muscular appearance.  

If you are seeking for TRX suspension, you need to source from the recognized brand names in order to ensure that you get a product that can withstand extreme training.

Learn How to Recover From a Bad Car Accident

I was driving down the road in Norwalk, California and a angel came to me and told me to put my seat belt on.  

I complied with the angel's wishes and 4 blocks later I was in a major car accident.  Never did I even think about the Angel warning me at the time, that impending danger was near.  To this day some 15 years later, I still have neck injury problems.  Learning how to recover from a major car accident is discussed in this article.

Every 30 seconds in America, there is a car accident somewhere and there are approximately 6 million accidents a year. So there is a high chance that you will be in some sort of bad accident once in your life. According to statistics, 25% of all drivers will be in an accident. Knowing what to do after a bad car accident is essential.

Victims of bad car accidents

Bad accidents happen every day and you may wish that day never comes. It is actually safer to fly in an airplane. Flying in an airplane and being involved in a crash means certain death for most. However, being in bad crashes does not mean you will die, but it means you must know what to do and how to react.

How to react after the crash

If you are a driver, you may be in the best position in a bad car wreck. Newer cars all have air bags and they will be deployed and protect your upper body. In most cases this will save your life, if you were wearing a seat belt.

After the car has stopped and the air bag is deployed, it is imperative to get out of the car. If it is at all possible, crawl out of the car immediately. Some smoking cars will explode.

Once you are on the ground, lay still. Do not attempt to get up and walk. Any car crash will alert people and people will run to your aid. Courtesy drivers will call the police and an ambulance. Try to remember how, when and where the accident happened and make a visual description in your mind.

Recovering after an accident

When the ambulance and police arrive, they may put you on a back board and brace your neck in case of major injuries. Do not move and try to get up. Once they place you in the ambulance, lie very still and do not move.

At the hospital you will be seen by a doctor who will run x-rays, tests and maybe surgery. After you leave the hospital you will need to go for physical therapy. One of the first things you will be asked to do is contact your insurance agency to fill out a report.

You must go if you can to view your car and remove your personal belongings. Usually after a bad car accident, the car is totaled and all you can do is wait for the check.

The months after a bad car accident will be difficult and painful. It is important to handle the stress. You may need to be placed on anti-depressants for awhile. It is normal to need help, so surround yourself with friends and love ones.

Best Kettlebell Workouts

Kettlebell workouts offer relatively inexpensive training for strength and endurance, and are a fast and fun cardiovascular and fat-burning activity. 

Since the kettlebells' center of gravity is outside your hand, they are easy and fun to swing. Kettlebell workouts are an ideal way to build  the legs, lower back and shoulders. 

But basic movements like the swing, snatch and clean and jerk can work your entire body and engage many muscle groups at once.

The focus of kettlebell workouts is muscle resistance, so proper posture and execution matter more than the time you spend working out or the number of repetitions. This also means that as your endurance grows, kettlebell workouts can give you a great aerobic workout in a very short time. 

When you begin learning these routines, focus at first on mastering the beginning forms. You can then build on these as you move into more complex exercises.

Building Blocks for Kettlebell Workouts

The dead lift begins with the kettlebell on the floor in front of you. Squat with your feet apart at about the width of your shoulders. Keep your back and hips straight. Your knees should not extend beyond your toes. Grasp the kettlebell and stand up, using your leg muscles to do the work.

Most kettlebell routines begin from what's called the rack position, in which the kettlebell is held at chest level with the elbow bent. Your fist should be below your chin, the kettlebell on the outer side of your arm, and your elbow in contact with your chest.

The clean moves you into the rack position. It begins with the kettlebell in you hand, your arm extended between your  legs. Stand feet flat, and do the movement fast but smoothly. Swing the kettlebell a little to get it started, but control the kettlebell as it goes up. 

When you twist to get the kettlebell to the outside of your arm, you don't want its momentum on your arm. The kettlebell's movement is closer to the shape of a hockey stick than a simple arc.

The clean is so fundamental that many other routines are described as "clean to shoulder and then..." For instance, the clean and jerk begins with a clean, then a squat, from which you burst upwards, ending upright with your am extended above your head.

Kettlebell Routines -- Intermediate Cardio and Strength Exercises

To build core and shoulder strength, try the kettlebell press. Start from the rack position. Keep your eyes forward and your knees locked. Use your quadriceps, abdominals and glutes to lift the kettlebell smoothly upwards until your arm is stretched out above your head with your elbow locked.

The kettlebell swing is a fun fast way to burn calories. Stand with your feet apart, toes pointed outward. Squat down with your back straight and your hips back, and hold the kettlebell between your legs. 

Then straighten up and thrust your pelvis forward. This motion sends the kettlebell arcing forward, to reach the top of its arc at about shoulder level. Done properly, this routine will work all the same muscles as jumping.

The kettlebell snatch extends the swing higher, then,just as the kettlebell is a little above your head you punch upwards to end with your arm extended and your elbow locked.

Natural Cures for Migraines and Neck Aches and Pains

As an athlete,  you may develop sore muscles, aching bones and yes throbbing headaches.  

It will help you to learn how to deal with neck pain and headaches and have relief from the agonizing pain. I know what I speak of oh so well.  

I suffered with migraines for over 15 years, but not any more.  I was in a major car wreck and injured the discs in my neck also.  All the therapy in the world, didn't help. What did help me was natural medicines.  Relief can be found from Mother Nature or shall we say gifts from God.

What are the Causes of migraines and headaches

There are several types of headaches to include migraines and cluster headaches, which may last for up to five days. Headaches are a dull throbbing pain, but nothing so debilitating as a migraine which, may need a doctor's help to relieve the pressure often felt.  

Migraines will send warning signs and if you listen to those warning signs you can prevent them by early dosing of natural medicines.  Migraines and headaches treated after a full blown attack are more difficult to treat and/or cure.

Causes of headaches:

• Sudden withdrawal of caffeine.
• Eating very salty foods.
• Poor eating habits.
• Sun glare.
• Stress, anxiety or depression.
• Smoking, alcohol and breathing second-hand smoke.
• Dehydration (not getting enough fluids).

A migraine may be caused by several things, such as a change in hormones for women to a chemical imbalance in the brain and a decrease in serotonin. Migraines have several triggers which include the same ones for headaches as well as a few more. Migraines may be triggered by foods, such as chocolate, citrus fruits and cheese.

Diet and lifestyle seems to be the common thread here. Duke University did a study on 17 million pregnant women and found that migraine sufferers were 19 times more likely to have a stroke before leaving the hospital. They discovered that migraine sufferers may have a higher incidence of heart disease.

My headaches were mainly caused by stress.  I had a high stress job and sure as there is a sun in the sky, two or three days after a problem or high stress, a migraine would appear.  

Mine were so bad I wished for death.  I so wanted to take a knife and open up my brain to let the pressure out.  I dreamed of the day when I no longer had to work when I was sick and all along there was a cure that had been around for more than 2000 years.

Cures for migraines and headaches

Some migraine sufferers will need to seek the help of a professional when dealing with pain, but there are a few natural remedies that may help to cure your migraine. The best cures for migraines are natural as sometimes pharmaceutical medicine becomes addictive.

For me, I used Nigella sativa or better known as black cumin oil.  I mixed the seeds with honey and ate this daily like candy. It was so delicious and after a few months I noticed I did not get headaches any more. They disappeared like the rain does after a rainbow appears.

Another cure that many swear by is pure vanilla extract. Just by putting one teaspoon of extract in a glass of water and drinking the water will make the headache go away. Repeat the dosage in the morning, if your headache is still present.

Other natural remedies besides Nigella sativa and vanilla are ginger root, hot and cold showers and drinking the juice of ground up grapes.

To learn more about  Nigella Sativa

Neck pain

Cervical pain may be caused by an accident, such as a car crash and will need physical therapy, a neck brace and pain medicine. Cervical neck pain unlike migraines may need surgical treatment and or physical therapy.

Natural remedies that can be used at home are analgesic creams, Nigella sativa oil and sleeping on a flat pillow. Sleeping with the wrong pillow will cause severe problems and pain.  

You can massage Nigella sativa all over the sore area prior to putting on a soft neckbrace or now there are some marvelous black seed creams.  Finding the best oil is imperative. Never buy a cheap oil and regret your decisions.

To purchase Nigella sativa oil: Go Here

Sources:

• WebMD
• NHS.UK
• TBYIL

Rebounding on a Mini Trampoline for Fitness Training

Rebounding is an aerobic exercise that achieves a zero impact and improves the blood circulation through therapeutic movements. Mini-trampoline produces what is referred to as cellular exercise because the all the parts of the body move at once. 

Rebounding on a mini-trampoline for fitness training helps the body improve its metabolism while enhancing the oxygen absorption in the blood.

The Benefits of Rebounding

The aspect of Rebounding on a mini-trampoline for fitness training has many benefits. The most praised beneficial aspect is the ability to enhance the lymph system. 

The movement of lymph fluid depends on physical exercise unlike the cardiac-system, which depends on the heart. If the body does not get enough exercise, this impairs the flow of the lymph fluids and the cells are not cleansed of their wastes and don’t get sufficient nutrients. 

Rebounding on a mini-trampoline for fitness training increases the flow of lymph fluid by about 15-30 times. Other benefits of rebounding are;

• It strengthens the glandular system enhancing the functioning of the pituitary and thyroid glands.
• It improves the health of the heart by allowing it rest with less beats and this enables blood to flow through veins effectively.
• It lowers elevated levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol or High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) in the body.
• Rebounding on a mini-trampoline for fitness training enables the body burn more calories and increases body metabolism.
• Similarly, rebounding enhances digestion, and reduces aging. This is attained through efficient blood circulation and improved lymph fluid flow.

Types of Rebounding Exercises

There are different rebound exercises, which can be done and it depends on the purpose of the exercise. If you are Rebounding on a mini-trampoline for fitness training for the purpose of gaining strength, then you do a strength bounce. 

This bounce entails spreading the legs shoulder-wide and then moving up and down. The higher you jump, the more G force you create on your body and this enhances oxygen absorption. The reflex points of the feet are stimulated by this bounce and this in turn stimulates the internal organs. Other rebound exercises are;

• Aerobic bounce- which entails jogging, sprinting and shuffling on the mini-trampoline.
• Sitting ounce- it also termed ads V-bounce and involves sitting on the rebounder and bouncing. It strengths abdomen muscles and also the legs muscles.
• Buddy bounce – is suited for those who cannot jump. They sit on the mini-trampoline and bounce their legs.

 Safety Precautions for Rebounding 

There are safety precautions that need to be observed when Rebounding on a mini-trampoline for fitness training to avoid accidents. Whereas you need to educate the children on the rules they should follow, you also need to ensure that you buy your mini-trampoline from a recognized brand. This is specifically for strength assurance and safety for your use. The following are some of the safety precautions you need to take;

• You should set the rebounder where there are not obstacles, sharp objects. Perhaps a backyard surrounded by grass would be ideal place.
• It should only be used by one person at a time to avoid collision and possibilities of pushing another person off the rebounder.
• Children should be supervised and also made aware of the injuries associated with the rebounder.
• Should try to jump in the center of the rebounder to avoid getting your leg trapped on the edges.
• When Rebounding on a mini-trampoline for fitness training, you should not jump with jewelry, watches, necklaces and other objects.
• Others should stay away when one is jumping on the rebounder.
• You should not jump too high and should ensure that there are no obstacles above such as ceiling and light bulbs if you are doing it in the house.

Workouts for People with Bad Knees

Everyone should exercise sensibly on a regular basis. However, people with bad knees can be reluctant to exercise due to pain and discomfort in their knee joints.

While the wrong exercises that put too much stress on the knees can cause problems, there are many safe workouts for people with problem knees.


Some medical experts encourage moderate exercise for those who suffer from chronic knee pain. Prevention.com interviewed Willibald Nagler, MD, chair, Rehabilitation Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Campus, New York City, for suggestions on proper exercises for people struggling with knee pain (www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/exercises-knee-pain. 

Dr. Nagler emphasized the importance of “good form and technique” while doing exercises like the following. 

Legs should never be bent so that knees extend beyond the toes, as this places heavy stress below the kneecap. Be careful also during warm-up or cool-down stretches and during aerobic exercises. 

The following exercises are recommended by Prevention.com as safe for people with chronic knee pain. Begin gradually and build to 10 or 12 repetitions two or three days weekly. 

1. Partial squats. Stand approximately one foot (12 inches) in front of a chair, with both feet a hip-width apart; face your toes forward. Bend at your hips and slowly lower your body halfway to the chair seat. Keep abdominal muscles tight. Make sure bad knees remain behind the toes.
2. Step-ups. Step onto an aerobic step bench or staircase with the right foot. Tap left foot on top of step and lower it. While stepping up, the knee should be directly over the ankle. Repeat this movement with the left foot.
3. Straight-leg raises. Sit with back against wall. Extend left leg straight out, with right leg bent, foot flat. Slowly raise left leg upward approximately one foot from floor. Hold momentarily and slowly lower. Repeat with other leg.
4. Side leg lifts. Wear ankle weights above your knee. Lie down on your left side with your legs together and straight, left arm under your head. Keep right foot flexed and body straight, and then slowly lift right leg to shoulder height. Slowly lower it. Repeat with left leg.
5. Hamstring stretch. Lie on your back with left leg flat on floor. Wrap a rope or towel around right foot and pull the leg toward your chest as far as you feel comfortable, keeping knee slightly bent. Keep back pressed to floor during the stretch. Hold this position for ten to thirty seconds, and release it. Do three or four repetitions for each leg, aiming for five or six times weekly.

A Livestrong article (http://www.livestrong.com/article/484493-workout-routine-for-bad-knees/#ixzz1la1MNv5F) suggests adjusting your cardiovascular workout for bad knees from high-impact to low-impact activities, for example, substituting walking for jogging, or swimming for biking. Completing a 30- to 45-minute workout several days each week can help to sustain cardiovascular health.

Strength training is another way to support the knees. Practice exercises that benefit the front of the legs, for example, wall squats, during which you stand with your back against the wall and bend the knees to lower the hips until thighs are almost parallel with the ground. 

Hold the squat for five to ten seconds before releasing.

Stretches are an important way to relax the body after exercise. Stretch the front and back of each leg to enhance flexibility in the knees. Proper stretching can decrease the risk of injury or pain.

Bad knees can be managed during exercise by following workout techniques like these.