Archive for the ‘Wellness, Fitness and Diet’ Category

Reduce the Signs of Aging With Antioxidants

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Antioxidants are the body’s main defense against free radicals as they work against the substances that create oxidants and the reactive substances that result from oxidation and reduction. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by supplying the missing electron so that the molecule may be stabilized. There are many different types of antioxidants ranging from dietary antioxidants to those that the body produces itself. The four major antioxidant nutrients are vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium.

Vitamin A, the first vitamin to ever be isolated, is essential for the proper function of the eyes and maintenance of the skin. It is found in the retina of all mammals as well as the liver. Vitamin A works to increase our resistance to infections by keeping all the linings in the body healthy. It is necessary for the health and moisture of the skin and the specialized cells lining the eyes, nose, mouth, throat, lungs, esophagus, stomach intestines, and urinary tract. When these cells don’t have sufficient vitamin A, they thicken and harden, which is extremely detrimental to health and makes us more susceptible to infection. Vitamin A also protects the body from cardiovascular disease and cancer, and is necessary for new cell growth, something that is extremely important in slowing the aging process.

Beta carotene is the best known of the two carotenoids that form vitamin A, being composed of two vitamin A molecules that are split apart by liver enzymes when the body is low in vitamin A. If body levels are sufficient, the enzymes remain inactive and beta carotene does not divide, making it a safe source of vitamin A, without producing the toxic effects that come with high levels of vitamin A itself. If excess beta carotene is consumed it is stored in fat tissue or circulated in the blood. Beta carotene is one of the most powerful antioxidant nutrients as it can prevent free radical formation and inactivate existing free radicals. Once free radicals have been formed, it traps them and breaks the chain reaction that occurs.

Vitamin C holds a crucial role in many body processes that are necessary for life, among these being its role in collagen formation. Collagen is important in the every structure of the body, as it works like glue to bind cells together to form tissues. The integrity of collagen depends on vitamin C. Vitamin C also functions as one of the most powerful free radicals to prevent the damage that contributes to aging and age-related diseases.

It also works against pollution and toxins that damage cells and cause mutations, possibly even reducing some food carcinogens and protecting lung lining fluids against damage by air pollution. Vitamin C is important in the immune system and it also increases immunity to infectious diseases, lowers total cholesterol, enhances the effect of vitamin E, promotes wound healing, growth, tissue repair, and helps with the utilization of iron.

Vitamin E prevents aging by prolonging the useful life of cells found in the body. It also works to protect vitamin C and vitamin A from free radical activity so that they may remain potent. Vitamin E has the ability to stop a free radical chain reaction as it is happening and plays an extremely important role in preventing the per-oxidation of lipids (cholesterol). It protects the cell membrane, which in turn causes it to help protect the body from disease.

Selenium, one of the ten essential trace minerals, can be found in all tissues of the body. It is best known for its antioxidant role and its function in fighting cancer. It protects the liver from damage and works to stop lipid per-oxidation. Selenium is vital in maintaining the elasticity of body tissues and preventing the oxidation of fatty tissue, in turn combating the effects of aging. Selenium causes the skin to be healthier, muscle mass and tone are more easily maintained, and the heart is strengthened. Selenium works along with vitamin E, enhancing the effects of each other. It is important to get our vitamins and minerals on a daily basis to maintain a health happier life.

More information on antioxidants and free radical damage is available at VitaNet ?, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

The Best Antioxidant Food: Why You Should be Eating It

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

What Dietary Supplements to Take

There are two ways you can go about using an antioxidant dietary supplement. One way is to take one antioxidant dietary supplement that specifies that you will receive a daily dose of antioxidants. Another way is to take a variety of supplements that will provide you with the right amount of antioxidant mineral to maintain good health.

When you take supplements that contain Vitamin A, C, and E you are helping your body to filter out the poisonous free radicals. However supplements are just that, supplements and should not be relied on totally for antioxidants for your health.

There is no substitute for eating plenty of foods that are rich in antioxidants. You can look for antioxidants in foods such as blueberries, grapes, apples, and strawberries. Vegetables such as corn, carrots, tomatoes, and peppers all have important antioxidant properties.

A combination of foods that are rich in antioxidants with an antioxidant dietary supplement is a good way to make sure you are getting enough antioxidants in your diet. Keep taking these antioxidant dietary supplement and antioxidant mineral and enriching your diet with antioxidant rich foods and note the difference in your skin and your overall being.

Learning about what the best antioxidant food is and what these best sources of antioxidants have to offer you is very important if you want to achieve optimum health. There are quite a few different types of food that are considered as being the best antioxidant food, and which will be discussed here in more detail.

Foods High in Antioxidants

One of the best antioxidant food choices is berries. All sorts of berries in fact, everything from strawberries and blackberries to blueberries and raspberries, are full of antioxidants. These antioxidants are able to help prevent and repair the stress that comes from oxidation, a natural process that occurs during normal cell function.

Another best antioxidant food is green tea. You may think of green tea as only being a drink but this is actually not true. You can get green tea extract for instance, which can be included in a variety of foods and you may even want to take green tea supplements which offers you the benefits of green tea extract but in pill form so it is as easy and convenient for you to take as possible.

There are many other options as well when it comes to finding the best antioxidant food, and that includes broccoli, tomatoes, red grapes, garlic, spinach, tea, carrots, and soy products. All of these are chalk full of antioxidants and will offer you the benefits that you are looking for here.

These foods, known as the super foods of choice, are foods that you should definitely be including in your diet on a regular basis if you want to achieve optimum health. A healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, with as much variety as possible, will offer you the most complete nutrition and leave you in the best overall health possible.

The best idea if you are just getting started here will be for you to make a list of the best antioxidant food, namely that discussed here, so that you can incorporate it into your meal planning and really get the best nutrition possible.

This will not only ensure that you are eating enough of the right foods but also help your grocery planning and make the process quicker and easier for you. Meal planning is an important process for anyone interested in improving their health, because it ensures that you know what you are eating and are getting enough of the right foods.

Ann Nelsen is the webmaster of best-antioxidant-food. This valuable detailed list of health benefitting variety of foods can improve the condition of the body and skin. Here You will find the best sources of antioxidants in foods and drinks for the body to respond in improving health.

The Truth About Natural Ingredients

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

These days, most skincare and bath and body lines boast of natural plant extracts in their beauty products.

Supermarket shelves are packed with beauty products that contain alove vera, chamomile, lavender and other common plant extracts.

Luxury beauty brands boast of plant extracts from less known sources like crowberry as well as expensive ingredients like caviar extracts and rose essential oil. Some go so far as to use only organic plant extracts and forgo synthetics altogether.

Then there are the mid-range beauty brands that use a wider range of plant extracts but avoid the prohibitively expensive items. They may be green companies that care for the environment and avoid animal testing altogether. They may even have organic ingredients at still affordable prices.

The common denominator is that the focus on natural ingredients.

In ancient times up to the invention of modern cosmetics, beauty was derived from nature. Flowers, herbs, clay, vegetable oils, honey and beeswax are common ingredients in home made beauty products. The problem with these home made concoctions is that they cannot keep. Bacteria and mould breed happily in these nourishing creams and face packs. You have to use them immediately and they do not have the shelf life necessary to make them commercially viable. Leave them out too long before you use them and you can get a nasty rash, outbreak of acne from the mould or bacteria that has proliferated in your beauty treat.

Along came petroleum by products. While in the past, vegetable oils which go rancid with time, were used to make creams and lotions, we now have cheap synthetic oils that do not go bad.These form the base of moisturizers and other beauty products for the mass market. On top of that, modern science has provided us with a myriad of cheap synthetic preservatives that inhibit bacterial growth and fungal growth. Now beauty products can be left on the shelf for years, hence the modern cosmetic industry was born.

Modern science has developed new molecules that can deliver active ingredients deeper into the skin, isolated chemicals that can help the skin regenerate itself and do so many modern miracles in the beauty arena.No doubt, the starting point is some discovery in nature, like a herb with some medical property. The labs would then isolate the chemical responsible for that effect and duplicate it synthetically, or just extract it straight from the source and patent that chemical for that sole use in that cosmetic house’s products.

Then why are natural ingredients so popular?

For one thing, some of the synthetics, especially the petroleum by-products clog up skin pores leading to acne outbreaks. Artificial colors and scents and many of these chemicals can irritate sensitive skin. Some people find that natural skincare which do not contain the particular offending synthetics give them less problems.

Also, even the beauty products that have lab extracted components of herbs, plants and natural ingredients give credit back to nature, telling you what plants, herbs and other sources the active ingredients came from, so in a sense, these too can be considered having natural ingredients

Not all natural skincare is equal. A jar of aloe vera cream from one brand may contain 1% aloe vera while a tube of aloe vera gel form another brand may contain 99.7% aloe vera. Both are labelled aloe vera products since they do contain aloe vera. Look at the list of the ingredients. The ones listed on top of the list are what this product is made mostly of. The ones at the end of the list make up the smallest percentage of the product.

Clarins skincare products typically contain as much as 30% plant extracts as compared to 10% in most good skincare lines. Clarins uses interesting plants in their beauty products.

Clarins super restorative skincare range contains pueraria lobata, an asian plant known as forever young. Dr. Hauschka Skincare goes a step further by excluding synthetic ingredients in their skincare line, making them ideal for anyone who has problems with synthetics. The author writes for http://www.cosmeticsonline.info

Age Associated Eye Problems

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

As we grow older, our eyes age with our bodies, therefore it is important to know about the risks we may encounter and how we can avoid them.

A common eye condition linked with age is macular degeneration. In fact, because of its link to age it is called AMD or age related macular degeneration.

AMD is caused by the deterioration of the tissues in the macula which is the part of the eye that controls central vision. There is no cure for AMD. It is chronic.

The deterioration results in blurred central vision. You may also notice a blind spot in the center of your vision field.

There are two kinds of AMD - dry and wet. The wet is the most severe but fortunately, the least prevalent. It is seen only in 15% of AMD patients. In wet AMD there is significant visual distortion in which straight lines appear as wavy or crooked. Sometimes objects appear to be smaller or farther away than they actually are. There is also a central vision loss characterized by a central blurry spot.

In dry macular degeneration, the patients notice that it becomes more difficult to adjust to low levels of illumination; blurriness of printed words increases; colors seem less bright or intense and they may encounter problems in recognizing faces. Everything seems more and more hazy and there is a blind spot in the center of your vision field. There is also a need for increasingly brighter light.

Both types can affect one eye and not the other. Often a person is not aware of having it as the non-affected eye compensates for the partner eye.

Cataracts, the clouding of the eyes natural lens, also become more common as we age. There are 3 types of cataracts and they are categorized according to where in the eye they occur. A nucleus cataract forms in the center of the lens. Sub-capsular cataracts start at the back of the lens and cortical cataracts begin in the cortex. They may also spread to the center.

Cataracts are easily removed with outpatient surgery and results are excellent. During the operation, the surgeon removes the clouded lens and inserts a clear plastic intra-ocular lens. Scientists work daily to develop new and better replacement lens for use in cataract surgery.

Another age-related eye problem is known as dry eye syndrome. This is due the reduction in the production of tears, as we get older. While it does not cause vision loss, it is still very painful.

Since it is so important to detect eye problems in their early stages, ophthalmologists recommend that people 65 and over have a dilated eye exam every one to two years.

Because the tissues of the aging eye are so vulnerable, it is important to wear UV protective lenses when outdoors in the daytime, even on a cloudy day. The sunglasses should be so designed that light does not leak in on the sides. It is also important to avoid cigarette smoke.

Some people with dry eye syndrome find relief by using preservative free eye drops. Physicians often recommend the use of these following a cataract operation.

Blindness is probably one of the most crippling disabilities so it is important to be aware of the risks and protect oneself against them.

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Protect Your Eyes With Proper Nutrition

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

As we age our eyes are vulnerable to three different medical problems. The most serious is age related macular degeneration or AMD. This disease is due to cell degeneration in the macula, that part of the eye which controls central vision. Another problem that accompanies aging is the development of cataracts. A cataract is due to free radical damage, which causes a cloud over the lens.

Older people are also prone to dry eye syndrome since, in the aging process, our eyes become less efficient in producing tears.

Dry eye syndrome does not interfere with vision but it is painful. Cataracts can be successfully removed in outpatient surgery and vision is restored. However, macular degeneration cannot be reversed; it is a chronic problem.

So as we age, it is important to make nutritional choices which will ward off these diseases and protect our vision. It is just as important that we avoid the foods, which may help impair our vision.

Two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin are present in large quantities in the retina and lens of the eye. Here, they act as antioxidants to shield our eyes from damaging free radicals. There has been several research studies performed on the value of these carotenoids in eye health.

On April 7, 2004, the North Chicago VA Medical Center stated in a press release that lutein had been proven to help prevent and even reverse the symptoms of AMD.

Both lutein and zeaxanthin are found in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, collard green and other leafy greens. However, doctors are also advising that people increase their intake of these substances through supplementation some research studies demonstrated that to be effective in reversing symptoms of macular degeneration, the doses had to be higher than one can obtain from food consumption alone.

Eggs are also good sources of these antioxidants. A study was reported in the Journal of Nutrition which stated that thirty-three adults who ate one egg every day for five weeks had an increase of the carotenoids without any adverse effect on blood fats or cholesterol.

Beta-carotene, found in yellow and orange vegetables such as carrots, cantaloupes, pumpkin and squash is also important for normal vision and retinal health.

A mineral, which you need in your diet for optimal eye health, is zinc. This is readily available in fortified cereals, whole grains, legumes and nuts.

It is also important to eat fish, which contains the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. Fish has been found to be helpful for people with dry eye syndrome. Omega-3 is found in cold water fish such as salmon and black cod. People who are concerned about the mercury levels in fish should consider a fish oil supplement.

Finally, the antioxidant glutathione is necessary for lens health. However, this can’t be obtained from food. Your body manufactures this in your liver but first you must eat sulfur-containing foods such as onions, garlic, shallots and capers. However, some doctors recommend acquiring this as a supplement (250 mg. twice daily of alpha-lipoic acid).

What you don’t eat can be as important as what you do eat. It is recommended that you avoid trans fats, saturated fats, and foods made with sugar and flour. These foods can stress your liver and that will negatively impact your eye function. In other words, try to stay away from processed and fast foods.

While some of these recommendations have been beneficial for those having symptoms of various eye problems, you will realize greater benefits if you start while your eyes are still young and healthy.

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How Stress Affects Your Body and What to Do About It

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Stress affects your body in various ways, most of which are debilitating. When you are stressed out, your sympathetic nervous system is being over stimulated. Your body’s production of key hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and neurotransmitters is out of balance.

When you are under stress your body responds by keeping blood sugar levels high for quick energy. Your body is providing you the energy to handle life threatening emergency situations such as a robbery. As a short-term solution to a perceived or real threat, this is not harmful. But when the stress becomes chronic due to job and family problems or your tendency to worry, the response is lasting too long. The consistently high blood sugar levels interfere with your body’s ability to regulate glucose which increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes or obesity.

Chronic stress also puts you at risk for heart problems and pre-mature aging. It can cause a myriad of other health problems because it suppresses your immune system and leaves you vulnerable to any number of illnesses.

In addition, chronic stress can lead to the development of unhealthy habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and overeating.

Your brain is especially vulnerable to stress which can cause short-term memory loss and over a period of time, actual brain atrophy. Stress also is responsible for mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. However, it is the mind which decides what is and is not stressful. Scientists have learned that it is the perception of stress rather than the duration or degree which ages cellular DNA.

This basically means that stress is a health problem that is under your control. Everyone has heard the phrase “mind over matter.” While it is true that what happens to you is often beyond your control, you can always control how you react to what happens.

Remember the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity

To accept the tings I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can

And the wisdom to know the difference.

For instance, you may not be able to stop your angry teenager from venting her frustrations at you, but you can decide not to buy into her anger.

Different people have different triggers. Everyone needs to figure out, when they are calm, and not under stress, just what their trigger points are and how they can deal with them. In other words, you know your seemingly ungrateful teenagers rouses your anger so how can you cope the next time it happens? What are some strategies you could use to solve your job problems?

Everyone has different methods to handle stress. What works for your neighbor, husband or co-worker may not help you. Some people use various yoga techniques. Others practice breathing and relaxation exercises. People have tried listening to music, aromatherapy, exercise, prayer, or engaging in a calming hobby such as gardening.

You also need to follow a healthy diet, get adequate sleep, and avoid toxic people - the ones who pull you down. While you want to avoid loneliness, you should spend your time with the friends who make you feel good.

Just the act of making a plan, which is called cognitive-behavioral therapy, will put you on the road to a calm, centered life which will keep you younger and most important, happier.

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A Healthy Schedule For Your Stressful Life

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Why are we always feeling this stress upon us of no time, so much to be done and never enough time? It is our lives and if we are going to live like this we need some things to come easy. Like eating healthy on-the-go!

Here are some tips that are so easy that you will be wondering why you didn’t do them in the first place. Never again will you be wondering if you have had enough fruits and vegetables, calcium or plenty of fiber as everything will come into your day with these ridiculously easy tips for healthy eating and weight loss. What will you accomplish by following these easy eating tips? Fighting off cancer, stroke and diabetes; have more energy; stay slimmer and much more. Follow these tips and have a healthy day.

Good Morning: 7 AM

Drink a Glass of Orange Juice with Calcium - Orange juices powerful minerals and vitamins helps fight off PMS, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Most calcium-fortified orange and grapefruit juices have as much and even more calcium than milk while guiding you towards weight loss.

Take a Multi-Vitamin - How could one pill have such a big difference? People that take a daily multi-vitamin lower their risk of colon cancer and heart disease while helping the body absorb vitamins through food. High Fiber Cereal Eating cereal with 7 grams and more of fiber is most likely the easiest way of consuming enough fiber in a small amount of food. Fiber aids in fighting cancer with having your body absorbing less calories because of the fiber that will guide you towards losing weight and getting slimmer. Try blueberries as a cereal topper. Blueberries are youth berries that are packed with antioxidants that has some experts saying it slow down the human aging clock. Get in the healthy habit of drinking a glass of water after you brush your teeth. Only one-third of Americans get enough water every day so if you have water and a glass drink up. Signs of mild dehydration include fatigue upon awakening, fatigue at midday, lack of concentration, and headaches.

To Work: 9 AM

Take an Apple to Work Store it close by so when the munchies hit you have the easiest and healthiest snack ever. Having an apple close by will help you avoid the vending and snack machine at work and the apple has even been proven to help against air pollution. Stash Nuts in Your Desk Nuts are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, magnesium, and phytochemicals, folks who snack on a small handful of them four or five times a week tend to live longer. Don’t over do it as all those calories add up faster than you think.

Lunch Break Grocery Shopping: 12 PM

Whole Wheat Bread - Whole wheat bread has fiber, important nutrients such as selenium and copper, and a treasury of other healthy ingredients. This could be the reason why whole-grain eaters seem to have less diabetes, breast cancer, and heart disease. Look for lean meats. While protein is good for your muscle and many other functions in your body, some meats are high in saturated fats which cause high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes and gaining weight. Choose leaner meats for healthy protein meals without the mass saturated fat. Splurge on fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is important but making sure your getting all the vitamins and minerals is the other half of the battle. Cooked vegetables only have half of the nutrients they started out with so it is good to eat them while they are fresh.

Back To Work: 1 PM - Crystal Light

The day is half over and you are doing so well, but hunger comes again and this is when crystal light comes in handy. All you need is a water bottle and a small package of crystal light and you have got a satisfying beverage that while keep you satisfied for awhile. Try Fat-Free Beef Jerky as a hold-over snack. It is getting towards the end of the day when eating carbohydrates is not recommended but pure low-fat protein is up for grabs. Carry around a small bag with you at work and watch the high protein snack go to work.

Home for Dinner: 5 PM - Take-Out Dinner

This might be many nights out of the week as working so hard has made making dinner a pain. Some great things to pick up are salads, grilled chicken, snack wraps, etc. Just make sure you keep them in small portions so you don’t eat too much before going to bed.

Late night craving? Try light popcorn. Even though this may not be the smartest choice, popcorn is one of those foods that can calm your cravings and get you ready for bed.

Christopher William M. is a professional personal trainer in Southern California. Chris owns fitness business Positively Fit Inc. which services personal training to So Cal residents. Chris helps locals in Orange County, CA with his OC Exercise Program. Learn more by visiting http://www.socalworkout.com/

A Little Bit About Organic Skincare

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Organic cosmetics - like natural - skincare products, are sourced naturally and should not contain any chemical additives or have chemicals used in their creation. Organic means the plants are grown without the help of pesticides and other chemicals, whereas natural can simply mean taken from nature; pesticides and the such may be involved. Organic skincare is much less likely to cause reactions as most people’s allergies are triggered by chemicals. Of course most cosmetics have a long list of chemical and synthetic ingredients however there are generally natural alternatives to these which you can look out for if you wish to avoid all synthetics altogether and go totally organic.

Emollients are common and mostly necessary ingredients which bind together oil and water, allowing for better moisturisation. There are a great deal of synthetic emollients out on the market, PEG- 45 Almond glyceride, synthetic alcohols (products that end with butyl, cetearyl, cetyl, glyceryl, isopropyl, myristyl), petroleum, paraffin, dimethicone, and cyclomethicone. Organic emollients are available that work just as well; oils from plants such as jojoba, avocado, and rosehip, and butters jojoba, shea, and cocoa.

Volumising products – predominantly shampoos, add volume by binding the hair with agents to make it thicker and fuller. Because this process adds more elements to the hair it seems important for these to be natural ones such as almond protein, herbal gums, and soy protein.

Detergents work like soap by separating out oils and removing dirt. Most are synthetic although there are some plant-based detergents.

Humecants lock moisture into the skin. Collagen, elastin, and keratin are well known examples – just check out any anti-aging ad – it is assumed that they are natural, but most are derived from animals; definitely a no go for vegans and vegetarians. A few of these synthetic materials can cause some allergies and dermatitis. Natural alternatives are lecithin, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), and glycerin.

Hydrators supply water to the skin and hair. There are quite a few organic hydrators in use as liquids derived from plants e.g. Aloe Vera, vegetable glycerin, and orange pith juice, actually make the best agents for hydration.

Organic Saponins or glycosides such as Yucca and Soapwort are found naturally; when mixed with water they foam up so are used for products such as shampoos and shaving foams to make them lather. They can also act as an emulsifying agent or cleanser.

Surfactants dissolve oil and dirt so that they can be easily cleansed away and they mostly occur in facial cleansers and shampoos. Instead of synthetics look out for Castile soap, yucca extract, soapwort, quillaja bark extract.

Citric acid and corn syrup are examples of organic sequestrants; these are unique ingredients, in that they bind to metal ions like iron, as well as non-metal ions like salt and can remove them from hard water. Hard water can leave skin dry, discolour hair and make soap residue stick to the skin, further drying it out. Once the extra ions are removed from hard water it can lather more easily and be rinsed off more efficiently.

Just as food eventually perishes, so do skin care products, dependent on temperature change, light, and other factors, the product will eventually dry up or simply not be effective any more. Although synthetic preservatives will probably make products last longer than natural alternatives, you can stick with natural ingredients such as tea tree essential oil, thyme essential oil, grapefruit seed extract, and D-alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), and then popping the product into the fridge will increase its shelf life.

It is important to be aware of alternative organic ingredients so that if you wish you can always ensure your skin care products are totally free from synthetics, Scin Boutique sells ranges which contain the highest possible percentage of organic ingredients and displays the ingredients list for each product – it’s good to always know what’s going on your skin!

Hannah Walker is a writer for Scinboutique

Fad Diets Are Bad

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Fad diets are no answer to sustained weight loss. You may lose some weight, but this is just water weight that will quickly be replaced once you begin to eat normally again. The real problem with these diets are that they are unhealthy, they do not contain enough calories that our bodies need for energy. Fad diets, why they are bad is because they do not contain the vital nutrients your body needs to function. A diet that is 900 calories or less is considered a starvation diet.

Fad diets why they are bad is because many of these diets are low carbohydrate diets. A high protein low carbohydrate diet does not build muscle. If the body consumes more protein that it can synthesize, the extra protein is converted to fat. When the body does not get enough carbohydrates it attacks the liver’s glycogen storage, your body’s normal storage place for carbohydrates. Glycogen is basically sugar, which is broken down and used by the muscles. This distracts hydration from muscle tissue and leaves the body at risk for dehydration and mineral deficiencies. Dehydration symptoms include: headache, decreased blood pressure, weakness, muscle cramping and dizziness. Dehydration also disturbs your body’s electrolyte balance.

Fad diets why they are bad is become some of them use diet pills. Some of these diet pills contain ephedrine, and some add caffeine to the mix. These pills are supposed to decrease your appetite. What the diet pills really do is speed up your heart rate and make you anxious and irritable. Some people can develop a psychological dependence on them.

Fad diets why they are bad is because some of them restrict your diet to just one or two foods. This does not provide adequate nutrition. They rob your diet of needed carbohydrates, which puts your body in a state of ketosis. Ketosis is an abnormal body reaction, which occurs during starvation. Ketosis disturbs the body’s carbohydrate utilization. Ketosis can cause you to be tired. It can also lead to nausea, vomiting and constipation. Long term effects of continued ketosis can lead to heart and kidney disease. Quick weight loss methods can lead to muscle injury, making you more susceptible to a serious injury.

Fad diets why they are bad is because teens and children may try them. This is a time when their appearance is important for their self esteem. Fad diets are dangerous to growing bodies. Dieting can affect their concentration along with the side effects already mentioned. Fad diets in children can stop or stall bone growth. These diets can affect their school performance, energy level and behavior.

Fad diet regimens can cause a lot of health problems. These can include: feeling tired, depressed, less interest in sex, hypothyroidism, weight gain, extreme food cravings, hormone imbalances, digestion problem, decrease the body’s immune system, cause mood swings, and can cause premature skin aging.

Fad diets why they are bad is because they do not deliver what they promise. People waste their money on there products. The diet may lead to more weight gain in the end. The biggest deterrent to fad dieting is the cost it may have on your health. Fad dieting can contribute to developing eating disorders. Fad diets why are bad is because they do not offer adequate nutrition and can lead to illness.

Was this information on fad dieting helpful. The truth is millions of people fall for fad diets each year. Fad diets, why are they bad?

Go Green … Go Organic

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Whilst most people seek out organic skin care for the sake of their bodies, there are benefits to organic products other than letting your skin go all natural. Organic is less allergenic and its feels good to know that chemicals and synthetic materials aren’t getting plastered over your body. The ultimate benefits of organic products to your skin are not finite and although it can’t be a bad idea using toxin-free products, other factors should influence the purchase of organic cosmetics.

The typical woman uses more than two hundred chemicals on her skin a day and recent research has reflected that over 60% of these chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream; why should we take risks with chemicals when nature provides us with the organic means to care for our skin. Our skin is exposed to harmful elements everyday in our homes and environments and the amount of people suffering from allergies, eczema, and skin complaints are on the increase. It is so easy to protect our skin and stop bombarding it with the chemicals and harmful toxins that are so prevalent in standard non organic skin care products.

Organic products are also environmentally friendly in several ways. Organically plants eliminate the need for chemicals to be used in the growing of ingredients. Industries are constantly tampering with genes and hormones, trying to make fruit and veg huge, shiny, and long lasting. The use of pesticides and weed killers douses top soil with poisonous chemicals which take a long time to break up – if at all.

There have been many publicised cases where pesticides have damaged whole groups of animals and ecosystems like in the case of DDT being responsible for the decline of the bald eagle, brown pelican and peregrine falcon. Although now the agricultural use of DDT is banned in most countries, many others are still in use.

Essentially, using organic products reduces the amount of harmful liquids that circulate in the environment. Strategic planting and the use of other methods to keep away weeds and harmful insects can allow organic plants to flourish and be just as effective as treated plants without the need for toxins.

Organic products too eradicate the possibility of animal testing. Although recently it has become less common, animal testing still occurs for cosmetics and can be incredibly painful and distressing for the animals. The tests are done to determine whether specific ingredients or combinations would be harmful to humans; there are tons of organic ingredients which are completely safe, thus eradicating the need for animal testing.

Organic products can also be used when the body is full of toxins and requires a detox, eczema, tiredness, mood swings, hormonal in balance, allergies, constipation, mouth ulcers, sallow skin, nausea and even depression can all be indicators that the body needs to detox, using organic products will ensure that at least in regards to your cosmetics you are toxin-free.

It’s a good idea to research products to find the ones which use a large proportion of organic ingredients - there are several companies which create mostly organic cosmetics on Scin Boutique. Not only will going organic give you beautiful, healthy skin, but you can relax and enjoy a clear conscience knowing they have at no point come into contact with toxins and have never been near a cute little rabbit!

Hannah Walker is a writer for Scinboutique