How Diet And Fitness Can Help You To Live A Health Lifestyle

When you think about living a healthy lifestyle, what does that really mean? Basically it means utilizing a balanced diet and fitness program, and quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and maintaining a normal weight. To the average person who is strapped for time and busy with job and family commitments, maintaining your health may seem overwhelming. It does not need to be. As we will see, small changes in your daily living can mean big changes in your health.

Eating right does not have to be a chore. Basic changes you can do when your on your next visit to the grocery store will get you on the right way to eating better. Little substitution such as consuming more vegatables as well as fruits and consuming less foods that are processed and refined which lowers calories as well as increases the nutrient content. You shouldn't make yourself get rid of your total way of eating and begin with something that is restrictive. Feeling deprived leads to failure. Take it slow and savor each new item that you add to the menu.

Exercise does not have to be a dirty word. If your the type of person who has a sedentary lifestyle, being in a gradual mannery and increase your level of activity as you obtain your small goals you have set up for yourself. It may be just using the stairs at work instead of using the elevator. Over time, you might decide to walk for part of your lunch break. Finally you might wish to sign up at a fitness center to add to your progress. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and enjoy.

If you are a person that smokes, think about doing a smoking cessation program. There are medications in pill, patch and gum form that can assist you in stopping. Talking to a counselor or adopting a quit-smoking buddy has been shown to help smokers quit smoking at higher rate than trying to go it alone. Side effects of smoking include rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath and more serious problems like cancer, emphysema and heart disease can eventually develop.

Drinking alcohol in moderation has actually been shown to benefit the cardiovascular system. Nevertheless, drinking in excess of a glass or two each day may result in liver damage. The liver acts as a giant filter system of the body. When you end up clogging the filter, your inner body will not work right. Jaundice, gallstones, blood clotting difficulties, organ failure and death can result when the liver is compromised.

Knowing your body mass index (BMI) can help you calculate what a healthy weight is for your body type. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight by the square of your height or go online and use a BMI calculating tool. Regulating your diet and fitness on a daily basis can help stabilize your weight.

You've stopped thinking about your body and what you put into it. You're listless and you lack energy. Serious health issues may run in your family. Overwhelmed by what lies ahead? You can adopt a health and fitness lifestyle by adding healthier food to your menu, integrating daily exercise into your routine, stopping smoking and drink a glass of red wine with a meal. To maintain a normal weight, you must increase your level of activity and eat a balanced diet. Set your goals and remind yourself that small changes add up to big results over time.

If you like to walk as exercise then you know how important a role weather plays in your walking schedule. Most people will not bother to go walking if it is too hot outside, too cold or if it is raining. Treadmills are the best solution to this problem. You never have to worry about bad weather and you can exercise in the comfort of your own home. If you have never tried out a treadmill then the time has come to give this exercise machine a try! Click here to get more information: 5 Components Of Physical Fitness also Aerobic  Fitness and at Women  Fitness  Models

Different Kinds of Ance

The word acne usually means the same thing to every one. Acne on the other hand has a lot of forms. While all acne has almost the same type of effect in every body, all acne is not the same. Where are many types of acne and it is important to understand the difference between the various types. This is because there is different treatment for different kinds of acne. This means that instead of buying and trying all the acne treatment products, it is better that one should know the type of acne one is suffering from and treat it with the specific treatment.

Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne troubles. Acne vulgaris is actually a mix of various types of acne or what is commonly known as pimples. It includes, popular, modules, cysts, black heads, white head and pustules. These are the comparatively nicer varieties of acne. The blocked pores cause white heads and the white thing that comes out when they are squeezed is the dead skin cells and oil. On the other hand blackheads are just the opposite, though they are also caused by blockage in the pores, they occur because the pores are partly blocked.

Severe acne.

Sufferers of severe acne or bad acne do not only have physical problems such as pain and tenderness, they also suffer psychological stress. Acne should not be taken lightly; it can cause long-term effects both physical and emotional. The most severe form of all kinds of acne is Acne conglobata. It is more common in males. This type of acne looks like large lesions. There are many such lesions on the face this acne infection continues to increase and may take years to clear up. These are present all aver the body such as chest, back, upper arms, thighs, buttocks and face. Acne conglobata is mostly effects males in the age group of eighteen to thirty.

The women are affected by a variety of acne, which is different from the variety affecting the men. This type of acne is called Pyoderma faciale. It affects females in the age group of twenty to forty i.e. after they have completed their teens. It has also affected women who had luckily survived any acne eruption during their teens. This kind of acne leaves large nodules, sores and pustules on the face. The best thing about Pyoderma faciale is that it clears up in about a year as opposed to acne conglobata, which takes years to clear. But the damage to the skin done within this year is long lasting.

Are Laser Hair Removal Treatments Really Expensive?

The cost of permanent hair removal options holding you back from feeling and looking your best? Think again!  The reality is that hair removal laser treatments are far more reasonable than most individuals believe. Because of the high tech nature of the treatments, many people just assume that the cost of these permanent hair removal treatments is beyond reach.  This is definitely not the case as more and more people visit their local laser hair removal clinic to rid themselves of their unwanted hair.

The Cost of Laser Hair Removal

It's true that laser hair removal costs vary a bit depending on your geographical region and the actual individual administering the treatments. Permanent hair removal may also require several laser sessions. Results reported by individuals who have undergone treatments have been very positive, with some people achieving between 60%-80% hair removal after a maximum of only three treatments. 

Laser Hair Removal Clinics

Based on national averages, you can expect to pay at least one thousand dollars for treatments of smaller areas, but cost will also be dependent on your personal hair growth characteristics. Prices at laser hair removal clinics are often based on the type of laser, the area being treated, and the number of treatments. Larger areas, such as the back, are on average more expensive to treat than smaller areas like the bikini region. Prices can vary widely, so it's a good idea to shop around.

Although laser treatments are not inexpensive, the benefits far outweigh the price in that lasers are quick, mostly painless, and have fewer side effects (redness or in grown hairs) than other hair removal techniques, such as waxing or creams. However, a benefit that you cannot put a price tag on is the increased confidence and self esteem that you will experience from a permanent hair removal treatment.  It's quite possible that your unwanted hair may be the one thing holding you back from true self-confidence and happiness.

Funding Laser Hair Removal Treatments

A prudent way to save big dollars on your hair removal laser treatments is to find a clinic offering package deals.  They will often charge a discounted fee for a set amount of treatments, pulses, or time.  These laser hair removal clinics will generally require you to pay in advance for the treatments though, but the savings can add up fast.  

But if funding your laser treatments is an issue for you, you might consider a clinic that has a financing program to help with your laser treatment payments.  Though the interest may be higher than your bank, the convenience may be worth the added cost.  Another alternative is to get a small loan from your local bank or credit union.  The interest rate will generally be lower and the payment terms may be more flexible.   

Of all your permanent hair removal choices, treatments by laser will ultimately save you time and money - consider the ongoing costs and hassle of waxing, shaving or using creams.  How quickly the time and costs can add up!

Indian Massage Can Make a World of Difference in Your Life

Indian massage can be your solution for looking gorgeous, smelling splendid and feeling on top of the world! Read on the article to know how this ancient art of touch can help you in your complete rejuvenation.

Touch is the most basic mode of communication between two human beings. Massage involves this magic of touch; thus massage promotes health---both psychological and emotional.

How?

Massage improves circulation, supports neurological functions, helps in digestion providing relief from gas and strengthens overall immunity.

Massage act as stimulant for the skin receptors and the nerves and triggers off the ‘feel-good’ hormones, especially the endorphins. This helps the nerves and muscles relax. Massage also helps alleviating pain simply by refusing to receive pain signals from brain.

The end result is: you get a feeling of complete relaxation---both in your body and mind. With tensions and stresses gone, you gain back the keenness of your senses.

How Indian Massage Therapy is different from any other massage therapies of the world

Massage takes different approaches in different parts of the world. Indian massage therapy or the Ayurvedic massage has been practiced since antiquity. Massage has always received a scientific perception in the writing of the Scholars of ancient India. This traditional Indian technique was based on Ayurvedic Doshas and Marmas---the pressure points in the Western reflexology.

• So the focal point in Ayurvedic massage technique is: different pressure points of the body. As a healing agent, Indian massage involves the use of:
1. Different types of touch
2. Pressure or flowing movements

• As such Ayurvedic massage is applied to the skin in a way so that the tissues underlying it are relieved of muscular tension and pains.
• The massage may involve either particular parts of body---as for example, Indian head massage---or full body massage.
• The Indian massage often involves the use of different types of aromatherapy oils---hot or cold.
• All these result into relaxation of the body and promote a sense of overall wellbeing.

Indian Massage - an experience of lifetime
In the interior of India, you will get to see people receiving massage in the corners of the streets for a few rupees; although they often lack formal training, they have acquired the art as a part of community tradition.

But for a life changing experience, you should visit a luxury Indian spa where trained and experienced masseurs will offer you traditional Ayurvedic massage for a holistic rejuvenation. Here are some of the varieties of Ayurvedic massage you can experience in the different parts of India, especially in the Spa Resorts in Kerala, in southern fringes of the peninsula.

Panchakarma treatment  
The gentle process that promotes deep cleansing without discomfort
This is a massage technique that helps eliminate toxins from the body accumulated in parts like the lymph, circulatory, and immune systems. 

Abhyanga Massage
The fastest toxin expelling technique
This is a luxurious full body indulgence with medicated oils containing herbs and ingredients that pacify the unbalanced Vata, Pitta, and Kapha energies.

Ayurvedic Head Massage
The technique that ends mental fatigue
This massage is done with oils containing herbs that pacify the nerves and stimulate the brain for better functioning. This massage can be your ultimate solution for getting rid of emotional fatigue, confusions and for enhanced clarity of mind.

Full Body Steam
Expelling toxins with the help of steam
This is a full body massage technique, much different from ordinary sauna; here the steam contains vapors of detoxifying and balancing herbs. However, the head and neck areas are excluded in this massage.  In addition of relieving body from toxins, it also moisturizes and dehydrates the skin giving it a baby soft glow.

Shirodhara
The ultimate stress reliever
This amazing technique involves trickling of a warm stream of mixture of cooling and balancing herbal oils and medicated ghee over the forehead in a continuous flow. To enhance the effect, the treatment is carried on in a quiet, soothing atmosphere. If you happen to suffer from any one of these: chronic neuro-muscular disorders, hypertension, insomnia, depression, anxiety,  headaches or restlessness - Shirodhara is the technique you must give a try to get rid of these menaces for once and for all.

For generations, Indian massage has been trusted for having a powerful effect on the mental and emotional well being of the individuals.

Come and experience the difference yourself!

Menopause Remedies

Menopause and Menopause Treatments

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It is a normal change in a woman's body. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row (and there are no other causes, such as pregnancy or illness, for this change). Menopause is sometimes called, "the change of life." Leading up to menopause, a woman’s body slowly makes less and less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This change often happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. As you near menopause, you may have symptoms from the changes your body is making. Many women wonder if these changes are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms. You will feel better by learning all you can about menopause and talking with your doctor about your health and your symptoms. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or concern, your doctor can teach you about treatment options and help you to make wise treatment choices.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopause affects every woman differently. Your only symptom may be your period stopping. You may have other symptoms, too. Many symptoms at this time of life are because of you getting older. But some are due to menopause. Common symptoms of menopause include:

• Change in pattern of periods (can be shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, more or less time between periods)
• Hot flashes (sometimes called hot flushes), night sweats (sometimes followed by a chill)
• Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings, feeling crabby, crying spells (probably because of lack of sleep)
• Trouble focusing, feeling mixed-up or confused
• Hair loss or thinning on your head, more hair growth on your face

Does menopause cause bone loss?

When a woman is young, estrogen helps to keep bone strong. When estrogen levels fall at menopause, bones weaken. When bones weaken a lot, the condition is called osteoporosis. Weak bones can break more easily.

How do I manage menopause? What are my options?

Eating a healthy diet and exercising at menopause and beyond are important to feeling your best. Most women do not need any special treatment for menopause. But some women may have menopause symptoms that need treatment. Several treatments are available. It's a good idea to talk about the treatments with your doctor so you can choose what’s best for you. There is no one treatment that is good for all women. Sometimes menopause symptoms go away over time without treatment, but there’s no way to know when. A great natural relief for Menopause symptoms is Menozac. Hormone therapy (HT) -- If used properly, hormone therapy (once called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) is one way to deal with the more difficult symptoms of menopause. It's the only therapy that is approved by the government for treating more difficult hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Hormone therapy should NOT be used solely to prevent heart or bone disease, stroke, memory loss, or Alzheimer's disease. There are many kinds of hormone therapies so your doctor can suggest what's best for you. As with all treatments, HT has both possible benefits and possible risks; it is important to talk about these issues with your doctor. If you decide to use HT, use the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time needed. Check with your doctor every 6 months to see if you still need HT. For more information on the benefits and risks of HT speak to your doctor. HT can help with menopause by:

• Reducing hot flashes
• Treating vaginal dryness
• Slowing bone loss
• Improving sleep (and thus decrease mood swings)

For some women, HT may increase their chance of:

• Blood clots
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Breast cancer
• Gall bladder disease

Who should NOT take HT for menopause?

Women who . . .

• Think they are pregnant
• Have problems with vaginal bleeding
• Have had certain kinds of cancers (such as breast and uterine cancer)
• Have had a stroke or heart attack
• Have had blood clots
• Have liver disease
• Have heart disease

HT can also cause these side effects:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Bloating
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Nausea

Be sure to see your doctor if you have any of these side effects while using HT.

What about so-called "natural" treatments for menopause?

Some women decide to take herbal or other plant-based products to help relieve hot flashes. Some of the most common ones are:

• Soy. Soy contains phytoestrogens (chemicals that are like estrogen). But, there is no proof that soy--or other sources of phytoestrogens--really do make hot flashes better. And the risks of taking soy--mainly soy pills and powders--are not known. The best sources of soy are foods such as tofu, tempeh, soymilk, and soy nuts. These soy products are more likely to work on mild hot flashes.
• Other sources of phytoestrogens. These include herbs such as black cohosh, wild yam, dong quai, and valerian root. Again, there is no proof that these herbs (or pills or creams containing these herbs) help with hot flashes.

Products that come from plants may sound like they are safe, but there is no proof they really are. There also is no proof that they are better at helping symptoms of menopause. Make sure to discuss these types of products with your doctor before taking them. You also should tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking, since some plant products can be harmful when combined with other drugs. A great natural relief for Menopause symptoms is Menozac.

What about "bioidentical" hormone therapy?

This term means different things to different people. It’s really hormones that are just the same as the hormones the body makes. There are several products with hormone like this that are on the market and are well-tested. But some people use this term to mean drugs that are custom-made from a doctor’s order. There is no proof that these custom-made products are better or safer than hormone therapy that’s on the market.

How much physical activity should I do?

A woman should first talk to her doctor to see what's best for her. The goal is to exercise regularly so you can lower the risk of serious disease (such as heart disease or diabetes), and maintain a healthy weight. This usually takes at least 30 minutes of exercise (such as brisk walking) on most days of the week.

How else can I help my symptoms?

• Hot Flashes. Some women report that eating or drinking hot or spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeine, feeling stressed, or being in a hot place can bring on hot flashes. Try to avoid any triggers that bring on your hot flashes. Dress in layers, and keep a fan in your home or workplace. Regular exercise might also ease hot flashes, but sometimes exercise can cause a hot flash. If hot flashes continue and HT is not an option, ask your doctor about taking an antidepressant or epilepsy medicine. There is proof that these can relieve hot flashes for some women.
• Vaginal Dryness. A water-based, over-the-counter vaginal lubricant (like KY® Jelly) can be helpful if sex is painful. A vaginal moisturizer (also over-the-counter) can provide lubrication and help keep needed moisture in vaginal tissues. Really bad vaginal dryness may need HT. If vaginal dryness is the only reason for considering HT, an estrogen product for the vagina is the best choice. Vaginal estrogen products (creams, tablet, ring) treat only the vagina.
• Problems Sleeping. One of the best ways to get a good night's sleep is to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. But, don’t exercise close to bedtime. Also avoid large meals, smoking, and working right before bedtime. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided after noon. Drinking something warm before bedtime, such as herbal tea (no caffeine) or warm milk, might help you to feel sleepy. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool, and use your bedroom only for sleeping and sex. Avoid napping during the day, and try to go to bed and get up at the same times every day. If you wake during the night and can't get back to sleep, get up and read until you’re sleepy. Don't just lie there. If hot flashes are the cause of sleep problems, treating the hot flashes will usually improve sleep.
• Mood swings. Some women report mood swings or "feeling blue" as they reach menopause. Women who had mood swings (PMS) before their periods or post-partum depression after giving birth may have more mood swings around menopause. These are women who are sensitive to hormone changes. Often the mood swings will go away with time. If a woman is using HT for hot flashes or another menopause symptom, sometimes her mood swings will get better, too. Also, getting enough sleep and staying physically active will help you to feel your best. Mood swings are not the same as depression.
• Memory problems. As people age, their memory is not as good as it once was. Some women say they have "fuzzy thinking" as they reach menopause. This may be caused by changing hormones and can improve over time. Getting enough sleep and keeping physically active can help. If memory problems are really bad, talk to your doctor right away. This is not caused by menopause.

Sometimes, younger women need a hysterectomy to treat health problems such as endometriosis or cancer. A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman's uterus (womb). Often one or both ovaries (the female organs that produce eggs and hormones) are removed at the same time the hysterectomy is done. If you haven’t reached menopause, a hysterectomy will stop your period. But, you will reach menopause only if both ovaries are removed, called surgical menopause. Because surgical menopause is instant menopause, it can cause more severe symptoms than natural menopause (menopause that occurs as part of the natural aging process). You should talk with your doctor about how to best manage these symptoms. Women who have a hysterectomy but have their ovaries left in place will not reach menopause at the time of surgery because their ovaries will continue to make hormones. But, because the uterus is removed, they will no longer have their periods and they cannot become pregnant. Later on, they might reach natural menopause a year or two earlier than expected.

I'm having a hysterectomy soon. Will this cause me to reach menopause?

Sometimes, younger women need a hysterectomy to treat health problems such as endometriosis or cancer. A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus (womb). Often one or both ovaries (the female organs that produce eggs and hormones) are removed at the same time the hysterectomy is done. If you haven’t reached menopause, a hysterectomy will stop your period. But, you will reach menopause only if both ovaries are removed, called surgical menopause. Because surgical menopause is instant menopause, it can cause more severe symptoms than natural menopause (menopause that occurs as part of the natural aging process). You should talk with your doctor about how to best manage these symptoms. Women who have a hysterectomy but have their ovaries left in place will not reach menopause at the time of surgery because their ovaries will continue to make hormones. But, because the uterus is removed, they will no longer have their periods and they cannot become pregnant. Later on, they might reach natural menopause a year or two earlier than expected.

What is premature menopause?

Menopause is called "premature" if it happens at or before the age of 40--whether it is natural or brought on by medical means (induced). Some women have premature menopause because of:

• Family history (genes)
• Medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries
• Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation to the pelvic area that damage the ovaries-- although menopause does not always occur

Having premature menopause puts a woman at more risk for osteoporosis later in her life. For women who want to have children, premature menopause can be a source of great distress. Women who still want to become pregnant can talk with their doctors about other ways of having children, such as donor egg programs or adoption.

What is postmenopause?

Postmenopause is the term for all the years beyond menopause. It begins after you have not had a period for 12 months in a row--whether your menopause was natural or medically induced.

Benefits of Coral Calcium

Coral calcium benefits the body in many different ways.  Coral calcium is a mineral supplement that is harvested in a couple of very different ways which makes a big difference in its effectiveness.

There are two basic forms: “Marine” coral and “Land” or fossilized coral calcium.  Although Bob Barefoot believes that all coral is good, there is a difference, good coral and the Best Coral.

True Marine Coral Calcium (the best) is harvested with ecological safety and conservation from under the pristine waters around the islands of Okinawa Japan.  This highly beneficial supplement is called SMP 44 or Sango Mineral Powder 44 and is considered to be a unique marine miracle for health and in the opinion of Bob Barefoot, the best calcium supplement available.

The mineral nutrients contained in coral calcium combine to support all body chemistry.  The benefit of mineral supplementation has been well supported in scientific literature and the benefit of coral calcium has 600 years of history with millions of people word wide.

The main mineral component of coral calcium is calcium but contains several other essential mineral nutrients including substantial amounts of magnesium, zinc, strontium, boron and many more.

Coral calcium health benefits include:

Supplies essential Calcium which is the most abundant mineral in the human body that:

Signals biochemical processes in the cells.

Controls muscle contractions.

Initiates DNA synthesis.

Helps to build stong bones.

Critical control of the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of the body fluids.

Acidity results in the expulsion of oxygen from the body which can lead to numerous diseases, such as cancer, according to two time Nobel Prize winner Dr. Otto Warburg.

The level of calcium intake in the Western diet is much lower in many people than is required for optimal health.  Supplementation with additional calcium and minerals has many health benefits that could support your healthy body for years to come.

The Connection Between Heartburn and Stress

Managing your stress is vital to your health if you want to lessen the heartburn symptoms you endure on a daily basis. Although there isn't a scientific connection between heartburn and stress, there's lots of evidence for an indirect link.

Stress makes us overeat, particularly foods that aren't very nutritious, sleep poorly and give in to unhealthy habits such as drinking and smoking. All of these behaviors add to your misery when they result in heartburn.

If you experience chronic heartburn, then you might want to hone in on what stress factors are currently in your life so that you can eliminate them. Are some of your relationships the problem? The workplace? Is it financial problems or an overly hectic schedule? All of this can increase your stress levels and lead to heartburn if it makes you choose unwise lifestyle choices.

As you start to realize the situations that are causing your discomfort, you are in a better position to prevent chronic heartburn by easing your stress levels. Can you enroll in counseling or carve some time out for you to relax and enjoy life a bit more?

Often you can reduce your stress, and thereby achieve heartburn relief, just by changing certain aspects of your life. Make time for exercise every day if you aren't already. You might also lose some weight, which is another major contributor to heartburn.

If relaxation is the solution, meditation and massage are both good choices to help you unwind. Even though they might not directly ease your heartburn, they can slow the pace of your life and let you unwind and enjoy a lifestyle that will reduce the frequency of heartburn attacks.

Perhaps setting aside time each day to listen to your favorite music will help to relax you and still your mind. This sort of relaxation can prevent you from overeating, drinking alcohol, or smoking. These habits can all lead to a bad case of heartburn.

You might like to exchange your bad habits with a more positive activity, such as laughter. Humor is everywhere - look for it and watch your mood improve, your stress decrease, and your outlook on life perk up.

Seek out methods of reducing stress and preventing heartburn symptoms that won't put you in financial jeopardy. You don’t want to add financial woes to the mix, and there are plenty of free methods you can use to control your heartburn and get the most out of life.

Choose Natural Skin Care Products

Now a days, due to the heavy doses of tablets and liquids to cure skin problems, more and more people are facing

problems with allergies or rashes. Many different companies are forcing the cosmetic departments to find various

options to give better satisfaction to those who cannot use chemical products. Due to these circumstances, many

companies are turning to natural skin care products.

 

Natural ingredients are the latest as well as the fastest upcoming products in the world. All over the world,

companies are transitioning from man-made and synthetic products to natural skin care, natural dental, natural

cosmetic, and natural hair care products.

 

A natural cosmetic has the ability to stimulate as well as support the normal functions of the human body. The

natural ingredients basically serve as an aid to the everyday functions of your skin. There are natural cosmetics

available in the market that improve the body texture as well as the soul and spirit of the user; thus serving two

purposes. Increasingly, women are turning to natural skin care products for this very reason.

 

Fruit oils, homeopathic ingredients, plants, certain vegetables and some animal extracts can be found in almost any

skin care product today. Check the label on products you already own and you will likely find more than one natural

ingredient. Herb extracts like tea tree oil as an antiseptic, Aloe Vera as a natural moisturizer, rose water as

natural toner are the most common natural ingredients.

 

Natural ingredients from your own home can even be used to make many moisturizers and anti-aging products.

Certainly, it is worth trying your own natural skin care product before spending hundreds of dollars on chemicals

that may harm you or react poorly with your skin type. Natural ingredients can work on any skin type, thus promoting

healthier, younger looking skin.

 

Remember that your skin is the first line of protection for your body and it is important to take care of it. Don't

increase the problem areas by applying chemicals and synthetic products to your skin. Let nature provide the

ingredients to reduce damage spots, keep your skin healthy, and maintain your skin's natural glow.

Simple Plans for Back Pain Relief Exercise

While many individuals consider medication to be the only option for back pain alleviation the solution may actually be in exercise. Many individuals who endure back pain exercise to help relieve their suffering. Back pain relief exercise is a very effective, natural alternative, compared to overwhelming your body with synthetic chemicals.

Unfortunately, medications associate with some very uncomfortable and negative side effects, that generally contribute to a general unwell feeling in many people. Often the individual will feel sicker than when they were only having to endure their back pain suffering.

Back pain relief exercises should be an needed part of your overall solution, when you are trying to find relief for your pain, immediately as well as long term.

Back Pain Relief Exercises

You should be aware that when it comes to back pain relief exercise, not just any type of exercise will work properly. There are, though, exercises that can help alleviate your back pain.

Stretching is the most effective, while everyone benefits from the stretching of soft tissues. Although, some people with ongoing back pain may find that it will take a few weeks or more to notice any improvement, all of the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the back, spine, buttocks and legs will benefit and improve by exercise.

Even if you do not feel better immediately, you will need to keep up with your back pain relief exercise regimen. All good things take time, thus, you will have to keep up with your exercising, in time you will notice it's positive effects.

Stretching should not be painful, therefore if at any time you begin feeling pain, you should not try to force it, rather you should stop altogether to avoid injuring yourself seriously. When stretching or exercising remember to wear clothes that are comfortable and are not binding.

It is a good idea to begin working with a professional trainer, especially when starting out. Professional trainers are heavily trained to help with back pain relief and [proper. They are also able to spot you and assure that you complete the exercises properly.

Researching Acne Herbal Remedies

Despite a person’s age, one of the most frustrating conditions to deal with is acne. Although we often label this as a teenager’s problem, it’s something that can last well into adulthood. In fact, some people struggle with acne their entire lives. Finding products that work in relieving and treating the symptoms can be a challenge. Many of the well-known treatments are filled with abrasive chemicals that can irritate the sensitive skin of the face. A better alternative that seems to work well for many are the range of acne herbal remedies.

There are many misconceptions regarding why some people are more prone to blemishes than others. We’ve all heard that not washing your face often enough, or eating chocolate can both lead to breakouts. Although the cause of each individual case may vary, treatments usually work well regardless of what’s at the root of the acne. Both acne herbal remedies and traditional treatments are designed to combat the blemishes and make them disappear.

Researching the available treatments is fairly simple with the convenience of the Internet. Some natural products can be difficult to find so it’s a good idea to stick to acne herbal remedies that are readily available. There are actually many techniques that can be used to combat this skin condition that involve products or items that you may already have in your own home.

Toothpaste is actually a product that can do much more than just keep your teeth clean and white. Although many people don’t view it as falling into the acne herbal remedies category, it does. A small amount of toothpaste placed on a blemish before going to bed can help dry it out more quickly. The best toothpaste to use is one that is mint flavored. Stay away from the colored pastes or those that have mouthwash in them.

Strawberry leaves offer some extra benefits for women when it comes to treating this annoying skin problem. Acne herbal remedies that use strawberry leaves just require the woman to wash her face as she normally would and then lay the leaves on the areas where the blemishes are. The leaves have a soothing quality to them which can remove some of the swelling that often occurs with a break-out.

Lemon juice is something that can be found anywhere and has been shown to be effective for some in battling acne. When using lemon juice as one of the acne herbal remedies opt for fresh lemons and squeeze them yourself. Apply the fresh juice to any blemishes. The acid in the juice will help dry the pimple more quickly and you’ll have a clearer complexion in no time at all.

Health Benefits of Soy Candles

            Soy is everywhere these days, including in your milk, chips, nuts, and even burgers adding health benefits through and through, now it seems soy is also in your candles. Soy candles are a new and emerging type of candle the offers great benefits to those candle heads in the world that can’t live without fresh aroma burning each and every day in their homes.

 

            “If it lasts longer it’s okay with me” said a friend of mine once during a casual dinner. Take that comment for what you will, my friend could’ve meant a variety of things by it, but in general consumers prefer long lasting items to those that are short in life span. Soy candles last 30 to 50 percent longer then traditional candles. Your average 14 oz candle, similar to a Yankee candle large size, will last about 75 hours. If you were to have that candle be a soy candle, it would last over 100 hours and smell just as sweet as the traditional candles do.

 

            Traditional candles are known to cause soot in and around the general area they are burning. For those that aren’t familiar with our friend soot, think grayish black smoky smelling fog that clouds the top of your candle jar, on your walls, and even on ones ceiling. Soot is caused by the toxic elements in the traditional candles that are released when ignited. Soy candles are all natural and do not contain any toxins, thus no soot will come of them.

 

            Carcinogens are released into the air when a traditional candle is burning. Carcinogens can cause cancer, and other health related problems. New research is showing links between candles, charcoal, and other burning devices we use in our home lives as cancer causing. Research is just beginning on this issue; however it is a fact that soy candles do not produce carcinogens. When thinking about buying soy candles think of the old cliché, better safe than sorry.

 

Diabetes Control Diet Will Helping Your Body Burn Fat; Not Insulin

When a person’s body begins to resist insulin that person will then be diagnosed as suffering from Type II diabetes, which in turn will lead to the presence of high levels of insulin in the body and that will then lead to the cells in the body being unable or even resist being able to absorb glucose. When this happens the blood sugar starts to reach heights that are not good for a person’s health, and that is when it becomes necessary to start thinking about diabetes control diet.

Starving Cells

When your body has begun to resist insulin your cells will then begin to starve, even if you have just eaten a meal. The starving cells causes the brain to interpret the starvations signals that it receives as being signs of real starvation and the brain will, in turn begin to release signals that cause a diabetic patient to feel hungry; especially for carbohydrates. The result? Stimulation of the production of insulin begins which then results in the cells beginning to absorb glucose.

The body must be controlled and prevented from burning glucose and this is where diabetes control diet comes in handy because it will teach you how to stop eating carbohydrates. What a proper diabetes control diet will do is help you channel the body’s intake in such a manner that it will start to burn fat instead of glucose. Use of a hormone known as glucagon (which is a hormone, like some others, that helps to make the body burn up fat) helps set off a process in which fat gets burnt up. In addition, glucagon also makes the body transform its existing reserves of fat into much needed glucose.

When the blood in your body contains insulin there is a cessation in the production of glucagon and when a diabetic has to inject insulin into the body he or she will inadvertently be injecting the very thing that is preventing their body from burning fat. A good diabetes control diet is the way out!

When you become aware of a diabetes control diet, you will immediately understand that it is necessary to lower the consumption of carbohydrates, sugar as well as flour, and instead, you must begin eating foods that contain more proteins. You would also do well to check out various kinds of diabetes diets and carefully evaluate each in order to conclude which of them the best diabetes diet is; and then follow the best one.

The main benefit to following a diabetes control diet is that you can get off taking in insulin and instead begin to eat low-carb foods which will help the cells in your body overcome their resistance to insulin and in turn, keep diabetes under control.

click here for more about diabetes

Quit Smoking

You CAN quit smoking now. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits for you and your loved ones. Do you still smoke? The list below shows you what danger you put yourself in if you do not quit smoking.

Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body; causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general.1 The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 438,000 deaths, or nearly 1 of every 5 deaths, each year in the United States.2,3 More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.

Cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death and was among the first diseases causually linked to smoking. Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women. The risk of dying from lung cancer is more than 23 times higher among men who smoke cigarettes, and about 13 times higher among women who smoke cigarettes compared with never smokers. Smoking causes cancers of the bladder, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx (voice box), esophagus, cervix, kidney, lung, pancreas, and stomach, and causes acute myeloid leukemia. Rates of cancers related to cigarette smoking vary widely among members of racial/ethnic groups, but are generally highest in African-American men. Cardiovascular Disease (Heart and Circulatory System) Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.1 Cigarette smokers are 2–4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person's risk for stroke.7,8 Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries). Smokers are more than 10 times as likely as nonsmokers to develop peripheral vascular disease. Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Respiratory Disease and Other Effects

Cigarette smoking is associated with a tenfold increase in the risk of dying from chronic obstructive lung disease.7 About 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung diseases are attributable to cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking has many adverse reproductive and early childhood effects, including an increased risk for infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who never smoked. Women who smoke have an increased risk for hip fracture than never smokers.

Quit smoking today and live a more healthier live !!!!!

The 4 Top Menopause Remedies for You to Consider

Menopause is an unfortunate reality for all women as they get older and with it comes many painful and irritating symptoms. The purpose of this article is to give you some information on a variety of herbal and non-herbal treatments available that may be of help to you dealing with any symptoms you may feel. These include:

•    Phytoestrogens- Phytoestrogens are compounds that come from plants. These compounds are often used as a treatment for menopause because they have a similar genetic make up to the naturally occurring female hormone estrogen.
•    Wild Yam Creams- Whilst there is little medicinal evidence supporting the use of wild yam creams as a treatment for menopause is inconclusive, wild yam creams are still a highly popular over the counter remedy. Diosgenin is a compound in wild yams that can be synthesized in to progesterone, however the human body does not have the enzyme capable of this synthesis.
•    Herbal Medicines- Herbal remedies are also wildly popular in treating menopausal women. They may not be useful in treating menopause per se, but a naturopath or herbalist can prescribe herbal treatments to help alleviate symptoms associated with menopause.
•    Progesterone Treatments- Progesterone is a naturally occurring female sex hormone. It declines during menopause and some studies suggest that many menopausal symptoms are a direct result of an incorrect ratio between progesterone and estrogen levels. Progesterone remedies are normally taken in the form of a cream. Progesterone treatments can often be taken with other hormone treatments.


Menopause can be a painful and irritating time for women but there are a variety of treatments you can consider that may help alleviate your suffering. I have listed four popular treatments above and you may want to consider trying one or all of them to see which of these treatments work best for you.

Find The Reason For Your Hair Loss Before Looking For Treatments

Hair Loss can be caused under different situations. There is not just one single cause for hair loss but many that may be causing you to lose your hair. Some hair loss is genetic, but other hair loss can be caused by things such as stress, medication, illness, hormonal issues, or even environmental causes. Hair loss is also not confined to the male gender. Men and women can both experience hair loss. Just as there are many types of hair loss patterns and many reasons for hair loss, there are also many hair loss treatments. It is important to understand why you are losing your hair so that you can better investigate your hair loss treatment options.

Looking For A Personalized Hair Loss Treatment

As each of us are unique individuals, the reason for you losing your hair is unique to you. That is why some hair loss treatments work better for some individuals than they do for others. Before experimenting with every hair loss treatment on the market, take the time to investigate the reasons why you are losing your hair. The first thing you should do when considering hair loss treatments, is see your doctor and let him determine if you are losing your hair due to a health reason such as a vitamin deficiency. He can also determine if any of the medications you are taking have been known to contribute to hair loss.

When your doctor has ruled out health problems, then you should take a look at your family history and learn what patterns of baldness may have occurred. The type of balding pattern your hair follows can make a difference in the hair loss treatments that you choose.

Inexpensive Hair Loss Treatments

FLuckily, there are many great hair loss products on the market and most can be purchased without a prescription. If you are suffering from hair loss and you have ruled out health causes you might consider trying one of the following remedies.

- Rogaine can be purchased in local drug stores and shows promise in the increase of hair growth.

- -Propecia works to lower the production of DHT in your body. It has shown promise in helping men and women alike to slow the loss of hair as well as grow new hair. Please note that It is dangerous to take when pregnant, so if a woman is thinking about having a baby, she should avoid this drug.

- There are also several great hair loss shampoos on the market that help to thicken your existing hair. Most of these remedies are quite inexpensive and as a result much more affordable alternatives to expensive procedures such as plugs or implants.

Getting Relief from Natural Health Products

From herbal tea to supplements to creams, there seems to be no limit to natural sleep aids. There are various great, non-addictive, natural remedies for insomnia that are not only affordable but also easy to use to get the relief that you need. Natural health products for stress and insomnia are not only available in many local stores but they are all over the internet; you just have to be careful you purchase your needed natural remedies from a trusted site.

Whether you want to get relief from constipation or simply would want to have a periodic colon cleanse, there are numerous natural colon cleasers online and they are available as supplements or powder extracts. A regular colon cleanse can help clear the colon of any toxins, accumulated waste and improve digestion and absorption of vital nutrients.

Many topical progesterone creams are available over the counter in many drug stores now and many online natural health sites are also offering these transdermal creams that promise safe and natural menopause relief. Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, anxiety and fatigue are just several symptoms of menopause that most women find aggravating. Natural progesterone creams work by delivering its active ingredients straight into your blood stream to help relieve most symptoms of menopause. Choose bio-identical progesterone creams that are absorbed by your skin better and doesn’t have the side effects of synthetic types.

Whatever it is you want to get relief from, whether it is insomnia, constipation or hot flashes-it is always worth a try using all-natural health products because they are not only safe without the usual side effects but are fairly effective too.

The information and materials on this site are provided for general information purposes and may not be relied on as a substitute for actual professional medical advice, care or treatment. Please consult you physician before beginning any supplement regimen.

7 Low Carb Diet Foods For Six-Pack Abs

There is some debate among fitness professionals about the best diet food around for weight loss. If you are serious about losing that stubborn fat really desire about getting a flat stomach, getting nice toned legs, losing that back fat and getting an all round well defined body, you have to be serious about understanding and implementing the 3 key foundations on weight loss.

Key number one is you need to do weight training; key number two is that you have to include cardiovascular training and the third one, which a lot of people hate which is dieting.

After reading this article, you will be equipped with some tips on how you can lose load of stubborn body fat. This article demonstrates to you on some low carbohydrate diet foods that you can include into you meals plans conveniently and make your body into a fat burning machine with super high metabolism. You will be saying good-bye to your rebellious belly fat very soon.

Must Have Low Carb Diet Food 1

Remember when your mum says eating fish is good? Well, she is right again. Include fish into your diet will be a wise choice as they contains loads of protein, low in fat and rich in Omega-3. Try to include tuna and salmon into your meals as they contain loads of iron, which can prevent you from getting anemia as well.  Not only that, they are a variety was that you can cook fish and prepare them in a healthy way. My favorite is grilled salmon or eating tuna out of a can, which I find it phenomenolly handy.

Must Have Low Carb Diet Food 2

How about shellfish? Make sure you are not allergic to it or you will run into some deep trouble. Include some shrimp, oysters and clams into your diet. Eat them about 3 times a week and go slow, eat them moderately. They are delicious and easy to prepare. Many restaurants out there serve shrimps that you can dip with some sauce. They are tasty and makes your dieting a breeze.

Must Have Low Carb Diet Food 3

This one is just super easy to prepare and also can be ready to be consume in a jiff. A protein shake can be prepared in just a minutes and provides you with loads of protein and also various vitamins and minerals. A shake will usually contain 20 grams of high BV protein. High BV means the absorption rate of the protein in the body is higher. Make sure you choose high quality brands like Muscle Tech, and Optimum Nutrition. Take it once a day and the best time to consume it is after your workout or first thing in the morning.

Must Have Low Carb Diet Food 4
The next on the list is the good old fashion eggs. Do not look down on them. They provide high quality protein and the egg whites contain no cholesterol and fats, just pure high protein. Eggs contain a complete amino acid profile and they can be prepared in many ways. I love to eat it scrambled or stir-fry them with tomatoes and onions. I usually eat about 5 egg whites and it makes me feel like a champ!

Must Have Low Carb Diet Food 5

The powerful lean ground beef is next on the menu. It is low in fat, high in protein, contains lots of iron and vitamin B12. It also contains creatine, which is extremely valuable to the body if you are doing weight training or any sort of high intensity training. Just make sure you choose the 93 percent lean ground beef and prepare them over the grill for a super healthy meal not just for you but for the whole family. Save it with loads of vegetables and make sure you put aside the sauce and not smoother it.

Must Have Low Carb Diet Food 6

Cottage cheese is a wonderful low carb snack. It provides loads of protein and it is a food for champions! In 4 oz of cottage cheese, you get 14 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat and only 3 grams of carbohydrate. You can eat it just like that, easy and convenient.

Must Have Low Carb Diet Food 7

The last but not least, get some salad into your diet. You need to have vegetables and you need lots of it. To make the salad much healthier, the vegetables must be dark green and colorful. Just make sure you go easy on the dressing and you can have large bowls of salad and still lose weight. Make your salad lively by adding in lettuce, endives, cucumbers, tomatoes, baby carrots and radishes. You can also add in a hard-boiled egg and shreds of chicken breast.

So you see, I have provided you with one full day menu of low carb diet food. Combine all of them and 7 small meals spread throughout the day and you will have a metabolism so high that you can melt fat off! I am not joking! Make sure you add in weight training, cardiovascular training and some stretching to gain optimum fat loss!

Download your free copy of Tony Leong weight loss system where he reveals the 5 secrets to weight loss. Go to http://www.tonyleongweightloss.com/topweightlosssecrets to download it. Click here to grab your copy.

How To Prepare For A Cholesterol Blood Test

Cholesterol is an essential substance to maintain your body working. This might come as a surprise, as all the literature out there seems to indicate that cholesterol is bad. There are two types of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol or good cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, which are better known as bad cholesterol. To ensure that you do not have bad cholesterol you need to have a test and to have the test you need to know how to prepare for a cholesterol blood test. 

Cholesterol testing can help conclude whether you have an sufficient level of good cholesterol, too much bad cholesterol, the total amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream, and the presence of triglyceride levels that can cause blockages in the arteries. Cholesterol testing is a simple blood test and will help you get a better picture of your state of health, and what you can do to be healthier.  

Who Should Have A Cholesterol Test? 

Cholesterol testing should be carried out every five years. You don’t have to be middle aged to take a cholesterol test. In fact it’s advisable to take one as soon as you reach the age of twenty. Waiting until your forties may be too late. The sooner you have a clear idea about your risks for heart disease the better. 

How To Prepare For A Cholesterol Blood Test  

To prepare for cholesterol blood test you should fast for fourteen hours before the test. This means no food or drink, with the exception of water, before you take the test. You should not drink alcohol for forty-eight hours before the test as well. Although the test can be carried out without a fast you can only use the results for total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels. It’s advisable that you do abstain from food so that you get a more accurate picture. 

The Procedure 

The next step on preparing for a cholesterol blood test is going to a hospital or to your doctors surgery where the  required  blood sample will be drawn the same way any other blood test is carried out. The actual procedure only takes a few minutes and doesn’t hurt much. You may feel minor discomfort when the needle used to draw blood is inserted into your vein.  

After the blood test you can start eating again as you would normally do. If you were asked to stop taking any medications then your doctor will advice you when you can resume taking said medication. After the test your doctor will send the blood sample for analysis and determine the likelihood that you might develop heart disease.  

Other factors such as family history, age, lifestyle and prior heart attacks will be taken into account when determining your risk of developing heart disease. If you do have less than desirable cholesterol levels then your doctor can advise you on the next step.

 

Arthritis Back Pain Relief is a Step Away

Arthritis does not refer to a single condition, rather it actually refers to hundreds of various conditions. Swelling of the joints and inflammation of those joints is caused by Arthritis and effects a large number of people, and it can happen to old and young alike.

Each person and their cause of arthritis will differ in form, depending upon their distinct situation, these may include many things from heredity, atypical metabolism, infections and injury. Many times the reasons are vague, such as when dealing with system lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Evaluating Arthritis Back Pain

Back pain can be caused by arthritis, that can range in levels of pain from mostly tolerant to severely painful. Therefore, it is key that if you develop arthritis without back pain or have been suffering from arthritis back pain caused by arthritis, you should visit your medical practitioner as soon as you can. This way you will be able to find the back pain relief that is best for your problem.

Arthritis Back Pain Alleviation

Whether you hurt from upper or lower back pain, finding the best arthritis back pain alleviation can be a snap when you understand the various options for relieving such back pain. Actually, there are several different arthritis back pain and upper back pain relief selections that you will find useful.

Be mindful pain medications do not relieve the cause of the pain, it merely masks the symptoms you feel. To appropriately deal with and treat your arthritis back pain you will want to find the longest lasting back pain relief, you will need to locate its root cause, which means taking care of your arthritis.

You can do different activities to help relieve your arthritis, such as exercising, while alternating your periods of activity and rest. You can also use cold or hot compresses for short term pain relief of the joints and getting into see your physician for a complete yearly physical exam.

Pay close attention to your diet, while eating a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, cereals, whole grain breads. Remember to drink plenty of water, which is somewhere around 6 - 8 glasses daily.

If you want the best results for treating your arthritis, be sure to work together with your physician as well as investing some time researching and teaching yourself on your condition as well as your options.

Skin Care During Menopause

You may have thought that once you managed get through your teen years skin care would be a piece of cake, however aging brings it own set of issues. Seeing the changes taking place with our skin is enough of a shock for most women and then you are hit with the frustrations that menopause brings with it. Perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms for many women includes extreme skin dryness, acne and/or Rosacea.

Acne is acne no matter what age you happen to be however as the age you have a few other skin concerns that must be recognized when choosing a skin care treatment plan. When choosing a acne treatment plan try to stay away products that contain Benzoyl Peroxide as then tend to cause irritation, dryness and may even acerbate your breakouts. This is especially true for those individuals who may be having an issue with Rosacea. You want to look for products that are gentle, soothing and effective and that will not add to the dryness that becomes more prevalent as we age. 

Along with the unwanted blemishes you will start to experience many changes in the appearance of your skin, some do to the hormonal changes of menopause and some that are changes do to aging. Cell turnover begins to slow and will continue to do so and your complexion becomes dull and dry. And if that is not enough you will begin to notice that your skin is beginning to sage and loosen as it loses its elasticity. Your facial pores will remind you of craters as they become much more visible and prominent especially on your upper cheeks and nose. This is also the age at which sun damage begins to show its self in the form of age spots, wrinkles, spider veins and possibly precancerous spots.

Cleansing both morning and night with a non soap cleanser is recommended. Soap cleansers will add to the dryness so instead use a foam or gel cleansing product and make that they have with moisturizing properties. You may also want to look for a product that is a gentle exfoliant, if you have sensitive skin then only exfoliate a couple of times a week to help keep your skin looking fresh and radiant. Try to choose products that list water as one of there main ingredients, which means listed in the first couple of positions.

Menopause or no menopause, once you reach middle age moisturizing is the key and will become increasingly more important to the appearance and health of your skin. For the best results use a moisturizer that contains Vitamin C, this powerful antioxidant will do wonders for the over all appearance of your skin. The trick to moisturizing is to apply it to your damp skin, moisturizers hold the moisture in, they do not add moisture. It is also important to look for moisturizers with SPF 20 or more and make sure that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Lanolin, water or petroleum based products are a good choice for whole body moisturizing, and again it is best to put on when your skin is still damp.

You may also find it useful to up your consumption of water and oils, as perimenopause and menopause deplete your body of both. This does not mean that you need to start eating fried chicken for every meal, but instead try an oil supplement or adding a tablespoon of olive oil to your salad at dinner.

For information about skin care, treatments or products visit: Skin Care Products|Treatments|Facts

Healthly Hair and Beauty Information

All women want beautiful, healthy hair. We would love to have shiny locks like we see on television. We long for the hair that men will admire. However, hair health and beauty is not as easy as they make it out to be on TV. Years of over styling our hair with blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons have caused so much damage to women’s hair.

The Basics of Healthy Hair and Beauty

Because the beauty of our hair is undeniably linked to the health of our hair, it is critical to keep our hair’s health in order to keep the hair looking as gorgeous as possible. It may surprise you that hair is actually dead once it leaves your scalp. However, hair can continue to draw nutrition from the living skin on our scalp to keep its shine and color. This is why keeping your scalp healthy is the answer to keeping your hair health and beauty at an optimum point. Hair has a life span of about three to seven years, so if you have gone more than that long without a haircut, you may find that your hair is brittle and dry and that nothing you can do will fix that. If this is the case, then you need to have the dry and brittle ends of your hair cut off. In addition, do not be afraid if you see hair on your hairbrush or in the shower—it is normal to lose around one hundred pieces of hair daily.

Beauty Tips for Healthy Hair

Now that you know the root of hair health and beauty, here are some tips on keeping your hair healthy and beautiful at all times. Using organic health and beauty products are not necessary to keep your hair looking and feeling great. Instead, just follow these tips. First, when you brush your hair use a comb instead of a brush. Using a brush damages you hair more. Be sure that you work from the bottom up and do not simply try to stick a comb in your hair and pull. Instead, be very gentle and work at a slow, steady pace. Also remember that if at all possible, try not to comb your hair when it is wet as this can increase hair loss. Also, when you get out of the shower simply wrap your hair and leave it. Do not rub your hair or scrub it with the towel as this can increase hair loss.

However, contrary to popular belief, washing your hair will not increase hair loss. Washing your hair cleans your hair, and it is essential to keep your hair beautiful and healthy. There are many hair health and beauty myths, so you don't get taken in by them.

Existing Upper Back Pain Relief Medications

Everywhere in the world there is someone, who suffer tremendously from upper back pain as many others do. Upper back pain in particular is intensely painful and can be one of the most difficult conditions to treat. Fortunately, for many people there are many fantastic options available. This is good news if you are searching for an useful, long lasting treatment for upper back pain alleviation.

Appropriate Eating Habits

Did you know that your diet effects not only your proper health and well being, but your upper back pain as well? Eating the inappropriate kinds of foods, puts your body at a serious disadvantage completely. You must modify your diet while making sure that it includes a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grain cereals and breads and drink plenty of water. This helps by improving your overall health and helping to relieve your back pain.

Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is a wonderful solution for upper back pain alleviation. Appropriate, regular exercise enables you to keep your limbs and muscles stretched and relaxed, while offering you long lasting upper back pain alleviation. However, keep in mind that not all types of exercise will be helpful, as there are specific types of useful back pain alleviation exercise.

Figuring out the Medication

Those who suffer from extremely bad back pain, may have to take medication to find the upper back pain alleviation, they seek. Your doctor may suggest various types of medications, however no matter the choices given, it is crucial that you research and find out more about any type of medicine before agreeing to using it.

There are several causes for this, but the most important of them all is that medications generally associate with bad uncomfortable side effects. Because of this, before beginning any treatment, you should be well aware of the situation you get into and understand what to expect.

Remember that medication, while effective, is only a short term solution to back pain. To feel good once again you will have to work to caring for the root cause of your back pain problem, in order to get off the medication.

Finding the Best Stretching Routine for Your Needs

Many people have discovered that performing a stretching routine a few times each week is a great way to improve their fitness and flexibility. Stretching is an ideal low impact exercise which you can do at any pace that you find comfortable. This makes it a great low impact exercise routine for the elderly, those with reduced mobility, and even children.

Finding a stretching routine that meets your needs can be a challenge, but if you do your research, there's a wealth of information out there that will help you discover what works best for you. For example, The Stretching Institute offers a free six part e-course that will take your stretching routine to a new level.

There are other sources of information where you can learn about different stretching routines. Check out your local library for books and DVDs. If you belong to a fitness club, they're sure to have a professional on staff who can help you get started. And of course there's always the internet. Do a search for stretching routines and you'll come up with well over 300,000 results.

The program you choose will ultimately depend on your personal preferences and your available funds. You might find that high quality information on stretching routines can cost more than any free advice out there. Just remember that you get what you pay for.

One of the more costly means of creating a great stretching routine is to hire a personal trainer. These professionals can help you come up with a customized stretching routine that will suit you perfectly. They'll teach you how to do each move correctly so that your workout is as effective as possible.

The services of a personal trainer are often available at fitness clubs and gyms. A number of these exercise facilities also offer stretching classes to teach proper form and the various movements that you can integrate into your personal stretching routine.

If you would rather do your stretching routine in the comfort of your own home, you might want to take a look at the numerous fitness DVDs that offer stretching instruction. They're easy to find wherever DVDs are sold, or you can buy them on the internet. The best online selection can be found at sites that focus on exercise and health.

If you experience difficulty with any of the movements, you can always modify the techniques so that they're more comfortable to perform. Your best bet is to find a DVD that offers alternative stretches for those with less flexibility.

Yeast Infection Cure

For a yeast infection cure you have no further to look than your physician, your pharmacy, or your fridge. These sources may have just the thing you require to provide a cure for yeast infection.

If we take our sources one by one, your physician has the ability to give you prescription medications which can potentially a yeast infection cure for you. For instance, the prescription drug Diflucan uses only one dosage and is supposed to be a particularly effective yeast infection cure.

Gynazole and Terazol are two other prescription yeast infection cures, each being vaginal creams, and then there is als Mycostatin which comes in vaginal tablet form or as suppositories.

You should be aware of the side effects that all these have when you take them, as do over-the-counter yeast infection cures.

Up until the very early part of the twenty first century it is shameful to admit but there were no over the counter remedies available as a yeast infection cure. On the contrary, if a woman had a yeast infection she had to visit her doctor to get proper medical attention and to receive yeast infection cures.

Woefull as they may be the offerings in this department, they still exist for those who don't want to let the world know that they have acquired yeast infection.

Although it is best if you get a proper checkup for your yeast infection it can’t be denied that with the availability of these creams a new world has opened up, and women can now treat such a simple problem without any attendant fuss or hoopla.

All the available over-the-counter yeast infection cures work along the same principles as the prescription yeast infection cure, and most of them come in cream form, or suppository form. The well known brands include Monistat, Femstat, and Vagistat.

Moving on next to the natural cures and remedies section, you will find that the number of alternative yeast infection cure methods are too numerous to do more than give an honorable mention here.

To that end only a few of the well known natural yeast infection cure methods have been mentioned. Let's start with the all time favorite, the yogurt yeast infection cure. Applying yogurt to the vagina can be extremely messy but it is well worth the effort.

Another natural yeast infection cure that is well known and used is that of the garlic cure. Being one of the wonder herbs of the world, garlic is good for many an ailment and is a particularly effective yeast infection cure, especially when used as a suppository.

Next up you have apple cider vinegar, cranberries, oregano, cinnamon, curd, Tea Tree oil, lemon, lime, and Vitamin C. All of these can be used as an effective yeast infection cure and all of them work.

How You Can Lose Weight with Nutrition Supplements

Dietitians, nutritionists and most diet books will advise that you should divide your daily intake of food so that you are eating five or six small meals a day. If you go to see, it seems to be a lot of food that you are actually eating, even if you are eating smaller portions. Do you know that you can get the same results if you include nutrition supplements along with your actual meals? In any case you ought to be including vitamins and nutrition supplements whether you want to lose weight or just stay healthy. The best thing is that you don’t have to fork out a great deal of money on nutrition supplements. You can achieve your health and dietary goals with minimal expense with advice from your local nutrition center.

The Importance of Nutritional Balance

It is of utmost importance that your food intake is nutritionally balanced so that you get optimum value from the food you eat. This is regardless of whether you want to lose weight or maintain your current weight and stay healthy at the same time. You should know how many calories you are supposed to take in everyday. If you want to maintain your weight and have a more or less sedentary lifestyle, you should take your weight and multiply it by 13 to get your ideal calorie intake. If you are moderately active, you should multiply it by 14 and if you are extremely active multiply it by 15. This sum will give you the number of calories you can take in to stay the same weight you are now. If you want to lose weight, however, you should reduce your calorie intake by 500, so that on a reduced calorie diet you will be able to achieve weight loss. In case you want to gain weight, you can increase your calorie intake by 500. However, it is even more important that you eat the right foods whether you want to lose, gain or maintain weight, because all calories do not come from the same kind of foods.

Cutting Out Junk Foods

There are lots of foods which have empty calories, that is the calories from the foods do not have any nutritional value whatsoever. Even if you take in nutrition supplements and think you are doing yourself a world of good by doing so, but are always eating junk foods like chocolate cakes, cookies, soda, desserts, high fat foods and the like, you are not doing the healthy thing. Your diet must have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish and more natural and high fiber foods which should make up at least ninety percent of your total food intake. Nutrition supplements like vitamins, protein shakes, protein bars and similar nutrition supplements can augment your meal intake and even, at times, substitute for some meals.

A Balanced Diet

It is vital to eat breakfast with carbohydrates and proteins so that you achieve some nutritional balance to start your day and help you go through it. A healthy breakfast would comprise of a high fiber cereal with skim milk and some fruit. Later, as a snack you can have a protein shake or a nutrition supplement and some fruit. Lunch can comprise a lean meat or fish dish along with a large helping of vegetables and some brown rice or whole wheat bread. Another nutrition supplement can be had as a snack when hunger pangs strike and dinner can be similar to lunch. If, at bed-time, you are hungry again, you can have another nutrition supplement, but make sure that you do not exceed your daily calorie intake, because it is easy for excess calories to turn to fat when you are asleep and you don’t want that to happen.

Find more info about nutrition.

Cholesterol Prevention

Cholesterol, what is it and why is this a problem?

High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. About 17% of adult Americans have high blood cholesterol (240 mg/dL or more total cholesterol).

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body. In fact, it is needed for the body to function normally. Your body makes enough cholesterol for its needs. When there is too much cholesterol in your body, it is deposited in arteries, including those of the heart, which can lead to narrowing of the arteries and to heart disease.

High blood cholesterol does not produce symptoms, so many people may not know that their blood cholesterol is too high. However, blood cholesterol can be easily checked and can be controlled. Also, there are things that you can do to help keep your blood cholesterol levels in the normal range.

About High Blood Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body. It is needed for the body to function normally and is found in all cells of the body. Your body makes enough cholesterol for its needs.

Cholesterol is carried in the blood in particles called lipoproteins. These particles are made up of cholesterol on the inside and protein on the outside. There are two kinds of lipoproteins:

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL): These are the major type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol in the bloodstream to the body. These are the type that can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries and lead to heart disease.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL): These particles carry cholesterol back to the liver to remove it from the body. Higher levels of HDL are considered good.

An excess of either total or LDL cholesterol in the blood is a risk for heart disease and atherosclerosis. People can have an excess of cholesterol because of diet and because of the rate at which cholesterol is processed in the body. Most of the excess cholesterol comes from diet. Cholesterol can build up on the artery walls of your body. This buildup is called plaque. Over time, plaque can cause the arteries to become narrow, which is called atherosclerosis. As a result, less oxygen–rich blood can pass through. When the arteries that carry blood to the heart are affected, coronary artery disease can result. A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked. A coronary artery can become blocked either by plaque buildup or by a plaque that ruptures or bursts which causes a clot. Angina can also develop because of plaque buildup. Angina happens when the heart does not receive enough oxygen–rich blood.

High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people may not know that their cholesterol level is too high. Simple blood tests can be done to check your total, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels and other types of fats in the blood (such as triglycerides). If it is found that your cholesterol is high, your doctor may prescribe various treatments depending on your risk for developing heart disease. These include lifestyle changes such as diet, weight control, and physical activity. Certain drugs can also be prescribed to manage your cholesterol. Lifestyle changes are usually still recommended with medications. All people can do things to help keep cholesterol within the normal range.

To maintain healthy Cholesterol levels get some help Hypercet

Facts and Statistics about Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease.

About 17% of adult Americans aged 20 years and older have high total cholesterol (240 mg/dL or above).

The average blood cholesterol level in adult Americans is about 203 mg/dL.

In 2004, there were 6.5 million visits to doctors’ offices that included a cholesterol test being done or ordered.2

Among African Americans, about 16.6% of women and 12.5% of men have high total cholesterol.

Among Mexican Americans, about 12.7% of women and 17.6% of men have high total cholesterol.

Among whites, 17.4% of women and 17.0% of men have high cholesterol.

The percentage of persons aged 20–74 years with high cholesterol dropped from 33% in 1960–1962 to 17% in 1999–2002. During that same time period, the average blood cholesterol levels in adults dropped from 222 mg/dL to 203 mg/dL.

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that all adults have their cholesterol checked once every 5 years.

In 2005, 73% of adults reported that that they had their cholesterol checked within the previous 5 years, according to data from CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Some 23% reported that they never had their cholesterol checked.

According to data from CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2005), 75.7% of whites, 73.7% of African Americans, and 52% of Hispanics reported having had their cholesterol checked within the previous 5 years.

To maintain healthy Cholesterol levels get some help Hypercet

High Blood Cholesterol Prevention

High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. There are a number of things that can be done to maintain normal cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of developing heart disease. All people at any age can take steps to keep normal cholesterol levels. People with high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, or low HDL cholesterol should talk with their doctor about the best way to control or improve their cholesterol.

What affects cholesterol levels?

A number of things can affect the cholesterol levels in your blood. These include the following:

Diet. Certain foods have types of fat that raise your cholesterol level. These types of fats include saturated fat, trans fatty acids or trans fats, and dietary cholesterol. Saturated fats come largely from animal fat in the diet, but also some vegetable oils such as palm oil. Trans fats are made when vegetable oil is hydrogenated to harden it. Research suggests that trans fatty acids can raise cholesterol levels. Dietary cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources such as egg yolks, meat, and dairy products.

Weight. Being overweight tends to increase LDL levels, lowers HDL levels, and increases total cholesterol level.

Physical Inactivity. Lack of regular physical activity can lead to weight gain, which could raise your LDL cholesterol level.

Heredity. High blood cholesterol can run in families. An inherited genetic condition results in very high LDL cholesterol levels. This condition is called familial hypercholesterolemia.

Age and Sex. As people get older, their LDL cholesterol levels tend to rise. Men tend to have lower HDL levels than women. Younger women tend to have lower LDL levels than men, but higher levels at older ages (after age 55 years).

What can you do?

Have your cholesterol checked. There are usually no signs or symptoms of high blood cholesterol, so it is important to have your blood cholesterol checked. A simple blood test can be done by your doctor to check your blood cholesterol level. A lipoprotein profile can be done to measure several different kinds of cholesterol as well as triglycerides (another kind of fat found in the blood).

Desirable or optimal levels for adults with or without existing heart disease are

Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL.

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (”bad” cholesterol): Less than 100 mg/dL.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (”good” cholesterol): 40 mg/dL or higher.

Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL.

If a full lipoprotein panel is not done, you doctor may check your total and HDL cholesterol with a simpler blood test. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that healthy adults have their cholesterol levels checked once every 5 years.

Maintain a Healthy Diet. An overall healthy diet can help to maintain normal blood cholesterol levels. Saturated fat, trans fats, and dietary cholesterol tend to raise blood cholesterol levels. Other types of fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help to lower blood cholesterol levels. Getting enough soluble fiber in the diet can also help to lower cholesterol. For some people, a diet that has too many carbohydrates can lower HDL (the good cholesterol) and raise triglycerides. Alcohol can also raise triglycerides, and excessive alcohol use can lead to high blood pressure, another risk factor for heart disease and stroke. For more information on healthy diet and nutrition, see CDC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Web site.

Maintain a Healthy Weight. Being overweight or obese can raise your bad cholesterol levels. Losing weight can help you lower your blood cholesterol levels. Healthy weight status in adults is usually assessed by using weight and height to compute a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because it relates to the amount of body fat for most people. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered to be obese. Overweight is a BMI between 25 and 29.9. Normal weight is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. Proper diet and regular physical activity can help to maintain a healthy weight. Other measures of excess body fat may include waist measurements or waist and hip measurements. If you know your weight and height, you can compute your BMI at the CDC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Web site.

Be Active. Physical activity can help to maintain a healthy weight and lower blood cholesterol levels. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate–level physical activities for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. For more information, see the CDC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Web site.

No Tobacco. Smoking injures blood vessels and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. Further, smoking is a major risk for heart disease and stroke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Quitting smoking lowers one’s risk of heart attack and stroke. Your doctor can suggest programs to help you quit smoking. For more information about tobacco use and quitting, see CDC’s Tobacco Intervention and Prevention Source Web site.

Medications. If you are found to have high blood cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medications, in addition to lifestyle changes, to help bring it under control. The primary focus of treatment is to get LDL cholesterol under control. Your treatment plan and goal will depend on your LDL level and your level of risk for heart disease and stroke. Your risk for heart disease and stroke will be based on whether you also have other risk factors and may include your blood pressure level or high blood pressure treatment, smoking status, age, HDL level, family history of early heart disease, and existing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. People with existing cardiovascular disease or diabetes are considered high risk. You can compute your 10-year risk for heart disease by using the 10-year risk calculator of the National Cholesterol Education Program at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Web site.*

Several types of medicines help to lower cholesterol:

Statin drugs lower LDL cholesterol by slowing down the production of cholesterol and by increasing the liver’s ability to remove the LDL–cholesterol already in the blood.

Bile acid sequestrants help to lower LDL cholesterol by binding with cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestines, and are then eliminated in the stool.

Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is a B vitamin that can improve all lipoproteins. Nicotinic acid lowers total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while raising HDL-cholesterol levels. Because the levels needed are well above recommended dietary intake levels, niacin treatment for cholesterol should only be done only under medical supervision because of possible adverse side effects.

Fibrates are used mainly to lower triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, to increase HDL levels.

All drugs may have adverse side effects, so their use needs to be checked by your doctor on a usual basis. Once your blood cholesterol level is controlled, your doctor will want to monitor it. The lifestyle changes that your doctor recommends are just as important as taking your medicines as prescribed.

Genetic Factors. Genes can play a role in high blood cholesterol. Very high blood cholesterol levels can be related to a condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia. It is also possible that high blood cholesterol levels within a family are due to factors such as common diet.

To maintain healthy Cholesterol levels get some help Hypercet

Stretching Tips To Avoid Injury

fitness strength training

Before fitness strength training, one must give importance to doing warm-up or stretching exercises to prevent accidents or to enhance the output during the training.  There are also a number of precautionary measures and tips to serve as guidelines when doing fitness exercises.Here are some of them.

1.  To increase your flexibility and to avoid injuries, stretch before and after a private workout.Almost everyone knows that stretching before workout prevents injuries during the exercises, but only few people know that stretching after workout, when muscles are still warm, can increase flexibility.

2.  Hold your stretching position for more than 60 seconds to increase flexibility.  While holding your position for 20 seconds is enough for warm ups, holding each position for at least 60 seconds will develop the body's flexibility.

3.  Do not go into a stretching position then immediately return to the relaxed position, and do it repeatedly.  This is more appropriately termed as bouncing while in a position.While stretching, it's best to stay in that position for 30 seconds, then slowly retract.  You may do this exercise repeatedly this way.  Bouncing or forcing yourself into a position during stretching can strain or damage some joints or muscles.

4.  Work slowly in increments instead of immediately proceeding to doing the hardest exercise or position.

5.  Make sure that you have stretched or warmed up all muscle groups.For some people, even if they have strong bodies, they tend to neglect the neck when working out.  Stretching the neck muscles can be as simple as placing the palm of one's hand against the front of the head and pushing it.Then, do the same to the sides and the back of the head.

6.  Stretch regularly to continually increase your range of movements and your level of flexibility and strength.

7.  Exercise while only considering what you're capable of, and not of what others can achieve.Do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it.  Increase your limits slowly.Don't ignore your body.You should consider reducing the range of motion for those days where you're just too tired.

8.  Learn to rest.  Rest in between sets and stations to make sure that the body has enough time to recover its energy.It's best to not work the same bodypart for two straight days.The muscles grow during the period when you rest and not when you are working out.

9.  Do aerobic exercises to strengthen your heart.Aerobic exercises are those physical activities that much oxygen for fuel.This will include exercises such as running, rope jumping, or swimming.

10.  To increase intensity for longer periods of time, it could help listening to music.You can use mp3 players, CD players or lightweight am radio receivers for this.Just make sure that you brought your headset with you so you wouldn't disturb people who don't prefer music while exercising.

Apart from preventing injuries and increasing one's limit, it is also said that stretching is good for a tired body and also for a stressed mind and spirit.