Well, another year is upon us, and what better way to ring in the second decade of the 21^st century than to make a firm commitment to live healthier, happier and wiser (once the confetti has settled and the bubbly champagne has fizzed out, that is).

Next on the agenda: take a bath.  A recent study by the Washington State University National Aquatics and Sports Medicine Institute lists five reasons why hydrotherapy is essential for mind, body and spirit.

Get Down…

Get your blood pressure down, that is.  The WSU study concluded that soaking in water of any temperature is helpful for reducing blood pressure, although test participants who soaked in hot water demonstrated the lowest blood pressure of all.

Get Pumped…

Heart disease patients and diabetics should consider hydrotherapy for cardiovascular health and circulation.  Water immersion gets your blood pumping and your heart thumping to a steady beat.

Now Twist…

Athletes, listen up: soaking your muscles after a workout is more than just a treat to reward work well done – your body needs it in order to repair and soothe torn muscles.

Loosen up…

Ever notice that wonderful light, anti-gravity feeling you get when you’re sitting in a body of water?  Well, your joints notice it, too.  Floating in a tub of water relieves the joints and increases flexibility.

And Just Chill

Studies have proven that taking a hot bath lowers stress by balancing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Benefits of Vitamin B12:

Although the body needs only trace amounts of vitamin B12, it plays a significant role in performing some vital functions. For example, deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause health problems such as; numbness of the hands and feet, depression, hallucinations, insomnia, memory loss, dizziness, and poor balance. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also sometimes responsible for loss of appetite, constipation, digestive disorders, eye disorders, enlargement of the liver, inflammation of the tongue, labored breathing, and neurological damage. Anemia is one of the major diseases that are caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12. Everyone needs to be aware that proper intake of vitamin B12 can help prevent many health disorders and serious diseases.

A General Overview of Vitamin B12:

Vitamins are essential for overall health and well-being. Vitamins are required by the body in certain specific amounts for the proper functioning of various organs and glands. Vitamin B12 is an important member of the B vitamin family. One of the most active ingredients in vitamin B12 is cobalt, and therefore this vitamin is also known as Cobalamin. Vitamin B12 is found naturally in meat, eggs, soy, and diary products. Vitamin B12 is very important for the body because it is required for the synthesis of red blood cells, maintenance of the nervous system, and also growth and development in children. Deficiency of vitamin B12 causes anemia.