If you have back pain,  you’re certainly not alone. Most people experience some pain in their lower backs or the upper backs, at some point in their lives.

And while everyone’s situation is different, there are some common causes of back pain that are worth discussing.

If you’ve been in a serious accident or have had an injury to the back, this can take a long time to heal if it ever does at all. Those muscles and ligaments not only take a long time to heal as is, they’re always being used whether you’re actually moving or not.

But there are other common back pain causes,  that aren’t as complicated or traumatic.

Many people have injured their back without even knowing it; this can be from slamming the brakes on the car even when you don’t have a collision.

Those sudden movements of the body being thrown forward or the jerking motion made when a car suddenly stops are causes of back pain because they actually do injure the back, even if you don’t realize it at the time.

You can also suffer small injuries like this during everyday activities; suddenly jumping out of a chair or even jumping when you’re frightened all cause trauma and stress to the back.

Sometimes smaller muscles or ligaments get torn and a person doesn’t know it at the time, but these tears, even when that small, are typical causes of back pain.

Overuse and extension such as when lifting weights improperly are also causes of back pain.

Many people who work out with weights have no idea how to do so correctly and wind up using their backs to pull or push far too much weight when they should be working other muscles.

Overusing these muscles or keeping improper form are also causes of back pain for those who are probably just trying to make themselves stronger.

They may not think of the gym as being the problem but in reality those machines are doing more damage than good, if they’re being used improperly! Weights and machines and overexertion in aerobic classes are common causes of back pain.

And of course your place of employment can also provide lots of causes for poor back health. Bad office chairs, being hunched over whatever it is you’re working on, and moving around heavy items without proper back support can all cause severe and chronic pain, even though you may not connect these things to your problem.

Additionally, poor posture and excessive body weight are also common causes of back pain in many people. If you cannot correct your back pain on your own and have tried everything you can to get relief, it’s time to talk to your doctor about your other options.

Scientific research supports the absolutely amazing ways in which fish oil benefits your health.

If you have been paying attention to magazine articles, scientific studies and health journals, you will notice that more and more people are identifying Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil being indispensable to good health. You also may have noticed that, with increased levels of pollution in our lakes and oceans, finding clean sources of fish oil is not an easy task.

Here are 7 of the top benefits fish oil has to offer you, followed by a list of 3 fish oil supplements that are purified and safe for daily use. Here are the benefits of fish oil:

1. Reduce inflammation and diminish pain: Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish oils, greatly reduce inflammation in the body. In particular, EPA (a component of Omega-3 oils) has a positive effect on inflammation, and helps to reduce inflammatory conditions in your body, such as joint pain, arthritis, prostate problems and a host of other benefits.

2. Cardiovascular and Heart Health: Omega-3 fatty acids help sooth inflammation along the network of arteries, capillaries and vessels that make up your circulatory system. Recent studies have supported evidence that fish oils can promote lower blood pressure, by naturally relaxing vessels and slightly thinning your blood. For heart protection alone, taking fish oil each day is a must!

3.Protects against Depression: Medical researchers have found daily supplements of Omega-3 fish oils have helped minimize the effects of depression, bi-polar disorders and other forms of mental imbalance. There may be a link between your brain’s “feel-good” chemical production, and the availability of Omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Supports Brain Development and Intelligence: Developing babies, in the womb, require elements from Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy brain development. It is wise for pregnant women to consider a clean source of fish oil (see “Resources” below) during pregnancy–one that is free from contaminants and mercury. Also, for adults, Omega-3 fish oils support improved cognitive function, provide better focus abilities and memory support.

5. Decrease Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown, through medical research, to break-up clots in the blood that can otherwise clog an artery or vessel, leading to a heart attack or stroke. As mentioned before, fish oils lubricate and thin the blood, slightly, which also benefits the your circulatory system.
6. Reduces Risk of the Most Common Cancers: colon, breast, prostate.
Medical research shows that Omega-3 Fish Oils can reduce your risk of these types of cancer, by promoting healthy cell replication, slowing the reproduction of cancerous cells and by making sure abnormal cells are destroyed quickly and removed from the body, before they take root as a cancer.
7. ADHD, ADD and other Childhood Disorders: these respond well to fish oil, and it is now evident that giving Omega-3 supplements to children with these behavioral traits can help them find a greatly improved quality of life.

RESOURCES: if you are looking for a clean source of Omega-3 fatty acids, one that has any measurable levels of heavy metal, PCB’s, pesticides and other contaminants removed from it, then we recommend you look at these three supplement manufacturers:

1. Miley Labs Enteric coated fish oil. Used Clinically. Contaminant free. No fishy smell or taste. Available online at www.MileyLabs.com.
2. Nordic Naturals Omega Oils. Available in most health food stores.
3. Carlson Fish Oils. Also available through some specialty health food stores.

Fish oil benefits your health in so many ways–get started today.

I have been out raking leaves, putting away the garden and otherwise wrapping things up outside for our rapidly encroaching winter.

If you are like me, you “over-do” it a little here and there, lifting a little more than you should, maybe thinking that you are about ten years younger than you are at any given time?!

The result?

Sore muscles, muscle pain, back pain and aches in places you’d forgotten you owned.

Here’s what you can do about it.

Hot pepper extract is known to block pain signals in the body by interrupting a nerve’s ability to either fully conduct or fully receive the pain signals your nervous system is trying to relay to your brain.

This good news for you, because you perceive fewer pain signals and your brain interpret that to mean you feel better, have fewer aches and aren’t so uncomfortable.

I recommend NatuRelieve Natural Pain Relieving Gel for all your muscle aches, strains, sprains, and sore muscles. It has hot pepper extracts, camphor, menthol and all kinds of botanical ingredients to help you feel better, fast. In fact, if you don’t think NatuRelieve works wonders for you, just return the jar for a full refund. No questions asked. Find out more about how NatuRelieve can help your sore muscles feel better, fast.

>> Return to Miley Labs for more nutritional supplements and health reports…

According to a recent entry into the Mayo Clinic’s health blog, one of their rheumatologists, Dr. Chang-Miller, suggested that animal trials with Mangosteen juice have shown promising anti-inflammatory effects on those animal subjects with inflammatory joint conditions, such as arthritis.

Of course, Dr Chang-Miller points out that more studies are needed with humans to determine whether or not Mangosteen is really having any positive effect on joint inflammation and pain.

My Comments:
Mangosteen has been touted as a “cure all” from many different sources in recent years, claiming it can treat all kind of imbalances from cancer to high blood pressure.

For my money, I wouldn’t use Mangosteen as a magic bullet to cure disese, nor would I put my entire faith in having it work some miracle on a life-threatening illness.

However, because Mangosteen, as a fruit, contains high levels of xanthones, which appear to have potent anti-inflammatory effects in the body, I see its value as a nutritional supplement to reduce inflammation the body.

Mangosteen may very well have positive effects on cancer and other degenerative disease processes–I would just be careful not to expect too much from it, and would not use it as a replacement for taking care of my health using diet, exercise and whole foods.

Everything in moderation (including moderation).