Climbing sticks distribute the load on your knees and spine by one third if used correctly when you hike.      Many consider climbing sticks are only for the intensive mountain climbing, and put climbing sticks away for light tracking. This is a wrong idea. If you use the sticks in correct manner, they will greatly reduce the danger of spinal & knee injury.   Adjust the height of the sticks perpendicular to your arms when you hold them on a flat ground. Slide your hand upward into the strap (see photo 1&2), and then grab the strap and the handle together (see photo 3).   On the uphill, lean forward your upper body and slightly bend down toward the climbing sticks instead of pushing them forward. On the downhill, make sure your upper body is positioned behind the climbing sticks since your knees take the load otherwise. Keep your feet slightly apart, and walk with little steps while supporting with the sticks closed to your feet. Putting a lot of weight on the sticks when going downhill will burden the wrist joint.  

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is idiopathic median neuropathy at the carpal tunnel. It is a common disorder for office workers who spend a long period of time typing in front of a computer.   The compression of median nerve causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome There is a tunnel-shaped space surrounded by bones and ligaments inside the wrist where the median nerve passes through. Excessive use of wrists causes tendons to get swollen, and then compress the median nerve. The main symptom of CTS is intermittent numbness of the thumb, index, long and radial half of the ring finger, and the numbness often occurs at night since people tend to sleep with flexed wrists.   Many office workers and housewives suffer from CTS CTS is common among office workers and housewives since they tend to over-use their wrists. If they mis-judge the symptom of numbness due to poor circulation and take medicine to improve their circulation, it may cause various complications including gastrointestinal bleeding, thus, it is critical to get diagnosis from professionals if you experience any numbness or tingling sensation on your hands.   How to Self-Diagnose CTS 1. Place the back of your hands against each other, and bend the wrists 90 degrees. 2. Maintain the position for 1 minute to check if you feel any numbness. (The tunnel space decreases and the median nerve is compressed when your wrists are flexed, thus, numbness may get worse if you have CTS.)   Good Wrist Exercise for CTS It is recommended to massage with a warm pack in order to relax wrist muscles to prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.     [Wrist Rotation] 1. Relax your shoulders and wrists. 2. Interlock fingers both hands to 1 knuckle length. 3. Place a small ball between the palms or pretend there is a ball. 4. Rotate your wrists clockwise and counter-clockwise for 3 minutes each.   [Flex your wrists] 1. Put your arms forward without bending your elbows while your palms are facing up. 2. Take a deep breathe and hold it in for a few seconds and bend down fingers except thumb with other hand. 3. Maintain this position for 5 seconds and breathe out slowly. 4. Repeat 5 times for both hands.     Written by Chae-Young Cho Original Source in Korean http://www.brainmedia.co.kr/brainWorldMedia/ContentView.aspx?contIdx=7662&fromMenu=subMain&menuCd=BrainHealth Translated by Korea Medical Hub  

According to oriental medicine, enhancing colon motility helps relieving symptoms of exhaustion as well as constipation. To enhance the motility of the colon, you can either stimulate your stomach with your hands, or the meridians on legs and waist.   Healing Therapy                 1. You should lie down on your back while your partner is holding your waist with both hands. 2. The partner will lift your waist 5cm and put down for 5~10 times. 3. The partner will hold your ankles and gently shake them sideway.   Written by Hyojung Kim (in Korean) Source: Brainworld > BrainHealth/Diet > Brainfitness http://www.brainmedia.co.kr/brainWorldMedia/ContentView.aspx?contIdx=7411&fromMenu=subMain&menuCd=BrainHealth Translated by Korea Medical Hub  

Top 3 : Korean Healthy Diet Tips What is your new year's resolution? One of mine is cutting my weight. If you have the same goal for 2014 like me, why don't you ditch the processed bread and follow as the Koreans do? Follow the links below to get more details! 1.No, BTL sandwich Yes, BLT Bibimbop The main reason most people make BTL sandwich for lunch is that it is simple, easy, and even tasty! If you have been longing to make a special type of lunch like sandwich but Korean, BLT Bibimbop is your next extraordinary choice! Use the ingredients like Beef, Lettuce, Tuna. As the sandwich has more than hundreds recipes, the Bibimbop also varies the recipes with your personal taste. Follow the link below to check the multiple kinds of Bibimbop for your healthy meal! How to make Bibimbop 2.The best anti-toxin, Kimchi The number one rule to make a Korean table for meal is that you never forget to place a dish of Kimchi. Why? Not only its strong and powerful antitoxic effect but also its proven valuable nutrition is well-known. Also, the family traditional culture of making Kimchi every December was listed as the world intangible cultural heritage. Learn more about Kimchi and share the Kimchi culture with your family! All About Kimchi How to make Kimchi 3.Korean Cooking class Ok, now that we have you informed of famous Korean foods, do you still need a friendly guidance to Korean cook? With the web pages below, form the easiest daily recipe to the fantastic quinines, you can be ready to make a tasty Korean dish for your health. Cooking Class in Korea Cooking Class in Singapore Cooking Class in Los Angeles Cooking Class in Philippines KMH editor, Jane

  Home canning is an excellent way to preserve garden produce and share it with family and friends, but it can be risky or even deadly if not done correctly and safely. It's summer, and home gardeners are starting to harvest the delicious produce they've been growing this year. Did you know 1 in 5 U.S. households can their own food, and 65% of those households can vegetables? Home canning is a great way to preserve your garden goodies. But beware: if it's done the wrong way, the vegetables you worked so hard for could become contaminated by a germ that causes botulism, a serious illness that can affect your nerves, paralyze you, and even cause death. Read on to learn about the symptoms and the safe way to can so you can protect yourself, your family, and others when you share your home-canned goodies. Don’t let your canned veggies spoil Follow these two tips to keep your canned vegetables safe and keep them from spoiling. 1. Use proper canning techniques. Make sure your food preservation information is always current with up-to-date, scientifically tested guidelines. Don't use outdated publications or cookbooks, even if they were handed down to you from trusted family cooks. 2. Use the right equipment for the kind of foods that you are canning. Always use a pressure canner or cooker. Pressure canning is the only recommended method for canning vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood. Pressure canning kills the germ that causes botulism when foods are processed at the correct time and pressure in pressure canners or cookers. Do not use boiling water canners because they will not protect against botulism poisoning. What is botulism?   Botulism is a rare, but serious illness caused by a germ called Clostridium botulinum. The germ is found in soil and can survive, grow, and produce toxin in a sealed jar of food. This toxin can affect your nerves, paralyze you, and even cause death. Even taking a small taste of food containing this toxin can be deadly.   Botulism is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of foodborne botulism, seek medical care immediately. Symptoms may include the following: Double vision Blurred vision Drooping eyelids Slurred speech Difficulty swallowing Dry mouth Muscle weakness Protect yourself from botulism: When in doubt, throw it out! Home-canned food might be contaminated if: The container is leaking, bulging, or swollen The container looks damaged, cracked, or abnormal The container spurts liquid or foam when opened The food is discolored, moldy, or smells bad   If you suspect home-canned food might be contaminated with the germs that cause botulism, throw the food away. If any of the food spills, wipe up the spill using a dilute bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach for each 2 cups of water). Never taste home-canned food to determine if it is safe.  Do not taste or eat foods from containers that are leaking, have bulges or are swollen, or look damaged, cracked, or abnormal. When you open a jar of home-canned food, thoroughly inspect the food. Do not taste or eat foods that are discolored, moldy, or smell bad. Do not eat food from a can that spurted liquid or foamed when it was opened. Do not open or puncture any unopened cans, commercial or home-canned, if you suspect contamination.

To prevent obesity and cardiovascular diseases, it is better to reduce the consumption of trans fats and sugar. So get rid of sweet drinks, deep-fried food, cakes etc from your shelf and refrigerator. However, it is still difficult to shake off the temptation of those savory and sweet. Then what can we do? Dr. Lee, the leader of Korea Association of Health Promotion in western branch tells you how to solve this problem. Apples are renowned for its benefits. It helps the flow of blood which makes skin smoother, also prevents constipation, and helps digestion, too. Pectin and potassium in apple contribute to lose the muddy moisture and fats in our body. Also when it becomes vinegar, it increases energy efficiency in our body. Drinking a glass of water mixed with spoonful of apple vinegar after a meal leads sugar degradation. If it is before meals, it is better to eat apple as it is to feel a sense of fullness through the fiber. One sweet ring donut(80g) is 329 kcal. This temptation of sweets is a lump of sugar. If you cannot stop eating snacks, take a box of cereal instead of sweets. Cereal is made from processes grains that have health benefits like high fiber and many nutrients. But some cereals are made with high sugar content, so it is better to check before buying it. Many people drink fruit juice than the carbonated drink to prevent obesity. However, fruit juice can be also an enemy of diet. In terms of just calories, 200 ml of Cola is 80 kcal, and 200 ml of tomato is 26 kcal but from juicing, the sugars are concentrated and we can get more sugar and calories. In fact, a cup of fruit juice contains about 5 teaspoons of sugar and this is two thirds of the sugar that carbonated drink contains. So, it is better to eat fruits as they are than juicing them. In order to reduce trans fat consumption, it is recommended to avoid the use of oil as possible. Even though you cook with same ingredients, depending on the way of cooking calories vary. Steam them instead of frying, and grill them rather than stir frying. If it needs to be fried, try to use less frying powder.

1. Reduce the consumption of fat by 20 ~ 30 %. 2. Consume enough fruits and vegetables which contain phytochemicals. Phytochemical is a antioxidants and Tomato, asparagus, carrots, and mushrooms contain lots of phytochemicals. 3. Eat baked food than fried food or greasy food. 4. Get proteins from fish, tofu, and soy instead of chicken or meat. 5. Lower the risk of hypertension and diabetes by eating brown rice instead of white rice. 6. Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid gaining weight in a short period. Weight gain that is sudden and rapid can cause pain in ankles and knees and also adult diseases. 7. Exercise at least 30 minutes every day. 8. Eat nuts instead of ice cream or chips when you are hungry. 9. Avoid too much salt. Salt is not good for our blood pressure and weight loss too. 10. Stop smoking and drinking. If you cannot just quit it, try to do it less. 11. Drink plenty of water. It is good to have you drink 1~2 liter of water a day. If you love beverage, drink green tea rather than a beverage containing sugar a lot. It helps to remove the waste in our body system.

1. Go Fish If you suffer from dry eyes, up your seafood intake. Salmon, sardines, and mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids, which the body uses to produce tears, among other things. Research suggests that people who consume higher amounts of these fats are less likely to have dry eyes. 2. Eat Bananas People whose diets are rich in potassium may be less prone to high blood pressure. Besides reducing sodium and taking other heart-healthy steps, eat potassium-packed picks such as bananas, cantaloupe, and oranges. 3. Drink Cranberry Juice Cranberries contain a substance that appears to keep bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract and has been shown to help prevent UTIs. Because cranberry cocktail is high in sugar, drink unsweetened juice diluted with water or take capsules of powdered cranberry extract.  4. Go for Garlic Adding raw or lightly cooked garlic and onions to your meals may help keep you healthy this winter. Both foods appear to possess antiviral and antibacterial properties and are believed to boost immunity. 5. Eat Avocados For dry skin, incorporate more avocados into your diet. They're rich in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, both of which promote healthy skin. Try them on salads and sandwiches, and even in smoothies. 6. Have Some Honey Research suggests that honey may be more effective than over-the-counter cough syrup at quelling nighttime coughing. Use a medicinal-grade variety such as manuka honey and take up to 2 teaspoonfuls at bedtime. 7. Eat Broccoli For healthy gums, put this green vegetable on your grocery list. It's an excellent source of vitamin C and provides calcium as well, both of which have been linked to lower rates of periodontal disease. [50 Simple Health Tips - www.wholeliving.com]

  Keep your skin healthy with a warm cup of tea   It is a battle to fight against skin trouble when the temperature drops. If investing on expensive cosmetics didn’t bring you back the result you’ve wished, try drinking tea for the last resort. Healthy organic tea will not only keep your skin trouble-free but also help you stay warm in cold weather.   Chrysanthemum Tea Chrysanthemum tea is effective for soothing facial flushing. People suffering from facial flushing generally have fever on the upper body, which make one get tired easily and also causes eye irritation and headache. Chrysanthemum tea brings down the fever and boosts energy to tired body. It is also very effective for soothing the itchiness.    Green Tea Green tea, which we can easily purchase on the market, is excellent for diuretic effect. As it triggers body water discharge, it is recommended for people with excessive body water. Rich in Vitamin-C, green tea is also ideal for a facial mask. Brew green tea in lukewarm water and apply to the skin.   Adlay Tea Adlay tea is excellent for small skin inflammations and for people with oily skin type or T-zone. Instead of pre-made adlay tea that contains sugar or additives, organic adlay without any additives is the better option. Try making your own adlay tea at home: How to make Adlay Tea at Home 1. Wash adlay with cool water. (Don’t wash adlay until it gets sodden.) 2. Roast adlay on the frying pan without oil until it gives off nutty aroma. 3. Add 2~3 teaspoons of roasted adlay into the cup and pour hot water.  4. Let adlay brew before drinking.   Orange Peel Tea Orange peel is a great choice to get rid of cellulite accumulated on the skin. Cellulite is a chunk of waste collected under the skin, thus, removing cellulite can improve overall skin conditions such as smoothing uneven skin texture, and brightening dull complexion. Orange peel tea is also good for soothing emotional stress. Beware of pesticide residues on the orange peel when you buy them on the market. How to make Orange Peel Tea at Home 1. Thoroughly wash off possible pesticide residues on the oranges with salt or vinegar 2. Completely wipe off water on the oranges completely. 3. Peel oranges and slice orange peel into thin strips. 4. Dry sliced orange peel for 3~4 days. 5. Place dried orange peel into the cup and pour hot water. 6. Let orange peel brew before drinking.   Astragalus Tea Astragalus is very bitter yet extremely effective for boosting immune system. Astragalus tea relieves fatigue and helps discharging toxin, therefore improving overall skin condition. Please note that astragalus is compatible with people with light skin complexion, so if your skin is on the darker side, astragalus tea may not be the right choice.    

    As the risk of bacterial infection due to vibrio vulnificus sepsis is on the rise with the highest daytime temperature over 30℃, the National Fisheries Research & Development Institute (NFRDI) has announced a few factors to prevent vibrio parahaemolyticus food poisioning.   When preparing sashimi (raw fish), fresh fish must be used. The muscles of a living fish is sterile and do not carry pathogenic parahaemolyticus. However, bacteria on gills or scales penetrates into the muscles as they start to deteriorate, thus, it is imperative to wash fish thoroughly with running water after removing gills and scales in order to wash off parahaemolyticus. Cooking utensils must be washed and disinfected after use. You can further prevent secondary contamination if other utensils such as knife, cutting board, dishcloth and etc. are washed and disinfected as well.   Prepared sashimi must be consumed immediately or refreigerated as soon as possible. Since it only takes 10~20 minutes for vibrio parahaemolyticus to double up, leaving contaminated sashimi at room temperature for 3~4 hours during summer can cause food poisoning. Healthy individuals do not need to worry too much about viblio parahaemolyticus because most of bacteria is weak to acid, thus, die while food is digested. On the other hand, it is strongly recommended to have cooked food for those with weak immune system. Those who take antacids, stomach medicine or who have liver diseases (poor liver function, alcoholic liver disease and etc.) and diabetes must eat seafood that is boiled with the heat over 60℃.   “We will strengthen safety education targering fishermen and fisheries officials to prevent seafood food poisioning in summer time,“ said the representatives of NFRDI.   Original post written in Korean by Heejung Ko, a reporter of Medical Today Translated by Korea Medical Hub