Healthy Body

There are thousands of products and treatments available to help improve the quality of your skin, but only a small percentage of these are natural. Most beauty products contain harsh, damaging chemicals. Treatments, like chemical peels and botox, can be scary. On top of it all, we really have no idea what most of these treatments and chemicals will do to our skin 20 years down the road. If you want to have great looking skin without dangerous chemicals or procedures, there is a way.Â

Here are some great tips to keep your skin looking fabulous the natural way:

Drink more water. All cells need water to function properly. If your skin cells aren’t properly hydrated, waste products build up in your cells and keep them from working right and looking their best. Also, if you don’t drink enough water, your cells will retain as much as they can and you’ll end up looking puffy and bloated.Â

Change your diet. You’ve probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat” a lot. If you think about it, this old saying is 100 percent true. Your body is made up of what you put into it. If you want it to work properly and look its best, you need to feed yourself the nutrients it needs and avoid foods that may damage it. For beautiful skin, you should try to get more fiber and “good fats” in your diet and avoid foods with a lot of sugar.

Improve your circulation. To function properly, our cells need to get plenty of oxygen. If you spend your days sitting at a desk or remaining mostly immobile, your circulation probably isn’t as good as it could be. Increase your circulation by getting more exercise, stretching, or getting regular massages (they don’t need to be professional). You can also use a brush to exfoliate your skin which improves circulation while removing old, dead cells. Not only will this give your skin a better overall look, it can also reduce the appearance of unsightly cellulite.

Avoid the sun. A little sun is good for you. It provides vitamin D and can help give you a sunny disposition, but too much sun can do terrible damage. Try to use hats, clothes, or sun block to protect yourself from damaging UV rays.

Use certified natural skin products. Traditional beauty products contain all sorts of unnatural chemicals. Most are there as preservatives, or to give the product a certain scent, color or texture. These chemicals not only have no value to your skin, some may cause cancer and other dangerous problems. That’s why it’s beneficial to use natural products if you want to look your best and stay healthy. Just be sure to check labels, many products will claim they’re natural or organic and only contain one natural or organic ingredient. Be wary of ingredients you can’t pronounce and look for certification seals to be sure you’re getting what you pay for. Not only will these help normal skin, they’re also less likely to irritate sensitive skin.

With a little time, patience, and work, you can have fabulous looking skin in no time.

How many people do you know who don’t have some type of allergy?

Allergies are a big problem in today’s world. When you think about all the smog, pollution from factories, all the various pollens that get spewed out at different times of the year, dust, — and you have quite a potpourri of coughs, sneezes, runny eyes and wheezing!

Vitamin A, selenium, and zinc are among the nutrients that can help to keep your mucous membranes healthy. They also work to protect your outer skin. The mucous membrane is the layer of cells that contain infection-fighting biochemicals. Mucus also shields cell for substances that trigger allergies such as pollen and other allergens. If your mucous membranes are healthy, you have a much better chance of avoiding allergies.

Another plus for keeping those mucous membranes healthy is that they also will protect you from the dangers of air pollution. People who are exposed to air pollution are more likely to have severe allergies. Air pollution can come from factories, cars and trucks that are poorly maintained, and even the harvesting of a food crop.

Some of the most powerful allergic reactions are food related. People with serious food allergies should be tested to find out which foods they should avoid. Some foods can result in such a severe reaction it could be deadly. Peanuts are one example of a food that is known to cause severe allergic and life threatening reactions.

A specialist can help pinpoint the foods that are potential troublemakers. The most common food allergies are milk, peanuts, nuts, eggs, soy and some seafoods. Gluten, which is a protein found in some grains may also cause allergy related gastrointestinal problems in some people.

If you or someone you love has numerous colds or other sinus and congestion problems, you should contact your family doctor about having tests to determine if that person has any severe allergies.

Many health professionals will recommend taking vitamins and/or a mineral supplement to help control allergic reactions. It is wise to always check with your doctor before taking any of the over-the-counter medications.

Have a healthy day.

Shanti,

Ron
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Ron Rink (See my profile on the “Contributors” page — the link is in the upper right hand corner) writes regularly about personal development in his “Ron’s Esoteric Thoughts and Ideas” blog at: http://www.theleaderinside.com — Stop by, check it out, and leave a comment.
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If you go into a health food store, or even a normal grocery store, you’re likely to find at least on aisle full of various vitamins and supplements. While these products may be helpful, they’re expensive, they can be a hassle, and they’re just not the best way to get all the nutrients you need.

So, besides the hassle of taking a lot of pills every day, what’s so bad about supplements? While there’s nothing wrong with supplements, except that they were designed to supplement a good diet, not replace it. The best delivery system for vitamins and nutrients is the natural one. Supplements may not be digested or absorbed all the way, which means you don’t get all the benefits you’re supposed to. The only reason you should be taking supplements is if you can’t get the nutrients through your food, but you can. You can get most of what you need from fruit and vegetable juices.

The important part of getting appropriate amounts of nutrients from juice is that you choose the right variety of juices. Different juices contain different vitamins in varying concentrations. Here’s a list of the vitamins and minerals contained in popular fruit juices.

• Orange: Vitamin C, Most B vitamins, potassium, folate, and thiamin.Â
• Grape: Potassium, manganese, is rich in antioxidants.
• Pink Grapefruit:Â Vitamins C and A.

If you really want to stay healthy without supplements, you’re going to have to break down and start drinking vegetable juices. You may have avoided them in the past because you don’t like the taste, but these juices are great for you and don’t have the high sugar content that fruit juices do. If you just can’t take the taste of vegetable juices, try masking the flavor by adding some fruit. Here are some of the power veggies that contain the most vitamins and minerals:

• Spinach:Â Thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folate, vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc
• Beets: Calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, choline, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Be sure to mix this one with another juice.
• Broccoli: Thiamin, vitamin C, beta carotene, calcium, sulfur, and potassium. It’s also high in fiber and protein.Â

If you want the most potential from your juices, you have to make sure they’re 100% percent juice without preservatives and additives. You can do this by checking labels, or by simply making your own juice. If you make your own juice, throw whole fruits and veggies in the juicer. The juicer will take out the solids and you’ll get a juice with greater nutritional value.

A good quality juicer can be a great investment and you may not need to bother with supplements or vitamins again.

If you’re approaching menopause, you’ve probably experienced the heat, chills, flushing, sweating, and heart palpitations associated with hot flashes. These experiences can not only be terribly uncomfortable, with some lasting up to thirty minutes, they can severely distracting in your life. There are medical treatments that can help with hot flashes, but most are extreme and will not be used unless there is a problem. You can always turn the heater or air conditioner to “really cold”, but other people who live in your house may not be as willing to make this change. If you’re under the impression that you just have to live with hot flashes, then think again. Soy beans have been used for a long time to help relieve some or all of the symptoms associated with hot flashes.Â

Soy has chemicals in it called isoflavones, which are a type of phytoestrogen (plant estrogen). These compounds are similar to estrogen and act like human estrogen in your body. Not only have studies shown that women countries with higher soy content have fewer hot flashes than women in cultures that eat less soy, many women who begin getting more soy in their diet report fewer and less severe hot flashes. While soy does have the benefits of acting like human estrogen, its effects are fairly weak. Many women with mild to moderate hot flashes report decreases in their symptoms, but women with more severe symptoms will probably not experience much relief.

Soy can be found in many different forms. Not only can you get it in supplement or food, there are also various types of soy food products. As with any supplement, you should only take soy isoflavone supplements if it is impossible for you to get enough soy (or other isoflavone sources) in your diet. While taking a pill is probably easier, food is the natural way to absorb chemicals and it’s generally more effective.Â

As with any supplement or dietary changes, there are concerns associated with soy. One is that because it acts as an estrogen in the body, it could result in an increased chance of breast cancer. This is why it’s important to have regular mammograms and self exams, you may already be doing this. You should also monitor your soy intake. More than 50 grams per day may increase the associated problems. Consult your doctor before making major dietary changes; they can help you figure out if soy is right for you.Â

While you can’t avoid going through menopause, there are breakthroughs that can alleviate some of the symptoms. If you have problems with hot flashes and night sweats, eat right, get exercise, and add some soy to your diet.Â

For most people, the diagnosis of genital herpes (Herpes Simplex Virus 2 or HSV2) is a shock. For others, the diagnosis maybe a confirmation of suspicions they have had about their own health or their partner’s behavior. Seeking to answer the question of how the patient contracted the condition often leads to a search for blame and then self-recrimination. Living with herpes is something that initially may take some psychological adjustment for some patients. It need not mean the end of your sex life or that you will need to remain celibate for the rest of your life.

Firstly HSV2 and HSV1, better known as the cold sore virus, are just two of a related group of seven viruses that are known to infect humans. Others include the Varicella-Zoster virus, commonly known as chicken pox and shingles. Diagnosis of infection with either HSV1 or 2 can be established with a blood test known as the Western Blot test; the upside of this test is that a patient who does not have active lesions may be diagnosed through the presence of antibodies to either strain. Accuracy of this test is only 90-95% depending on the lab involved. Some instances have occurred where patients were diagnosed with either a false positive or a false negative. The most accurate diagnosis is with a physician taking the top off a fresh lesion, obtaining a swab from the base of the lesion and a lab growing a viral culture from it. Extracting a viable swab from the lesion can be quite painful for the patient.

HSV2 traditionally involved infections in genital areas, with the virus lying dormant in the sacral nerve at the base of the spine during periods when the patient is not experiencing lesions. HSV1 traditionally involves infections around the mouth and nose and lies dormant in the trigeminal nerve in the neck during non-active phases of the disease. Current epidemiology studies across the Western World indicate the incidence of HSV2 to be around one in eight people, or 12% of the population. Only one in five of those with antibodies have been diagnosed.

In real terms, in a room containing forty people, five have HSV2 but only one knows they have it. A further three of the five may have had an isolated symptom once or twice. This would have appeared so insignificant that they mistook it for a pimple, infected hair follicle or a boil. The final one in five is someone who has never had a symptom and may never do so. For this patient, and the other three undiagnosed patients, accusations of infection (generally followed by accusations of infidelity) from a partner are often met with counter accusations and disbelief. A conservative estimate of the world population with HSV1 antibodies and the ability to infect others is around 90%. Of these, roughly 45% are symptomatic. If you have been diagnosed with either infection, it is very possible you contracted it from someone who has no idea they have it themselves.

People have received the messages about safe sex and changed some of their practices, believing that only penetrative sex requires safe sex. Sexual health specialists now report that half the new HSV diagnoses in clinics have been microbiologically confirmed as HSV1 on the genitals, in the general community it is now estimated that 20% of all herpes infections in the genitals are in fact HSV1. On the plus side for the infected patient, when the HSV virus is not living in its ideal host environment (i.e. HSV1 infection of genitals, oral HSV2 infection) infections have been generally documented to be less severe and happen less frequently.

Another mistake many patients make, is assuming that they are not infectious during a dormant or asymptomatic phase of their disease. Studies have shown that even when a couple who are clinically discordant (i.e. one is positive and the other is negative) use what is recognized as gold standard treatment for reduction of risk to partners, the rate of transmission in a 12-month period is still 10%. This management of infection control involves the use of condoms during all sexual encounters and complete abstinence from sex during the positive partner’s symptomatic phases. Interestingly, sexual health experts report that if one partner has remained negative for 10 years in a clinically discordant partnership, it is very unlikely that they will contract the disease after this time. It is speculated that they have some immunity/protection either natural or acquired that science has not yet managed to identify.

A true primary infection of HSV2 can last for up to ten days, it involves a systemic response, where all the glands in the body are swollen, much as if the patient has influenza, as well as the obvious genital burning, itching, pain with urination or complete inability to urinate. Many patients think they are presenting with a primary infection, but, severity of symptoms indicates to the physician, this is in fact a recurrence. In these cases the patient’s primary infection would have been asymptomatic, but, for some reason, they have become run down and their immune system is not responding as it did when they were first infected. These and subsequent recurrences of HSV2 are usually around five days in duration, unless there is a serious immune system deficiency. In this case, the treating physician should refer the patient for further testing.

Because HSV transmission requires skin-to-skin contact and viral shedding to occur, typically an infection of HSV2 is specifically confined to the genitals. Affected areas include the vulva and labia in women and penis and scrotum in men, due to penetrative intercourse being quite localized. Where a patient has been infected with HSV1 on the genitals, the area is usually larger and vesicle distribution more extensive due to oral sex skin-to-skin contact covering a more extensive surface area of the genitals. Both viruses may be treated effectively with anti-viral drugs.

As stated earlier, each virus has its ideal host environment. For the patient infected with HSV1 on the genitals, this means subsequent infections are usually less virulent, and in some cases may only ever recur once or twice in their lifetime. For the patient infected with HSV2 on the genitals, the incidence of recurrence can vary greatly. Recurrences are related to the health of the immune system. Triggers may include stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, sunburn and in some women, their menstrual cycle. During the first year of infection, the number of recurrences may range from one to twelve, with an average being four to five. During subsequent years the immune system responds better, the patient learns what will trigger a recurrence and usually tries to avoid it. Eventually most patients can experience as few as one to two recurrences per year. Also, as the patient learns to better recognize the symptoms of an impending recurrence, they are able to administer anti-viral drugs earlier. This can minimize the length and duration of the attack, and possibly prevent lesions altogether. It is important for the patient to remember that despite avoiding a recurrence, they are still shedding the virus and they are still potentially infectious to their partner.

Maintenance doses of anti-virals may be taken daily to reduce the number of recurrences. Up to 50% of patients on these therapies report an absence of recurrences in a 12-month period. Where this therapy is discontinued, patients almost certainly will experience a recurrence within three weeks. This is generally followed by a reduction in the number of annual recurrences. There are a small number of female patients who have required this maintenance therapy with anti-viral drugs continuously since they first became available, over 15 years ago, in earlier forms. As recurrences reduce in frequency and severity, most patients eventually come to terms with their diagnosis. For some, this is never the case, sexual health physicians report that they need to refer between 10-20% of their patients for further psychological counseling. This is in spite the fact that they are very experienced with the disease counseling required for this diagnosis.

What is important, regardless of how well patients appear to cope with the initial diagnosis, is ensuring access to information. This can be obtained readily and anonymously from www.herpes.com, www.herpeshelp.com or www.genitalherpes.com these sites contain up to date facts and also links to other sites. These provide names and contact details of support groups, local clinics and sexual health specialists. Although HSV2 is a lifelong infection, with the right management and care it is not necessarily symptomatic, nor should it impede the patient from enjoying a loving and long-lasting, secure relationship.

Is there too much stress in your life? Is everything piling up and weighing you down? Perhaps you’ve tried pharmaceutical and herbal remedies, but nothing seems to work. You should try a proven natural therapy that has been used for generations to relive stress and make you feel better. So what is this miracle cure that makes us feel so great? It’s laughter. Laughter is nature’s way of easing tension and helping us relax. So take some time to laugh every day and you’ll be feeling better in no time.

So how does laughter work exactly? Well, laughter works on several levels to make us feel better and less stressed. First, laughter works to relieve stress physically. When we laugh, stress hormones in our blood, like cortisol, are actually reduced. Laughter also gives us a mini workout, which improves out health and releases hormones that make us feel happier. Lastly, when we laugh, it helps boost our immune system. The stronger our immune system is, the better we feel and the more prepared we are to combat stress.

Laughter helps us emotionally release stress as well. Our bodies are designed to release excess emotions physically through acts such as laughing and crying. When we laugh, it releases some of our negative emotions as well. It can also change the thoughts that promote our emotions. Laughter helps us think more positively, worry less, and be less stressed. Even if laughter doesn’t promote positive thinking, it can make us forget about our negative thoughts and feel better.

If you’re laughing with friends or loved ones, you are also promoting social bonding. When we are bonded with people, it promotes supportive relationships that can make us feel more supported and less burdened, so we feel less stressed out about our situation.

So what do you do if life just isn’t that funny? What if you just can’t find anything to laugh at? You fake it. That’s right, fake laughing. Consider one study done on forced laughter. Participants were asked to watch a movie and either not laugh at anything or laugh at the jokes whether they thought they were funny or not. After the movie, participants filled out a survey on how much they liked the movie. Believe it or not the people who laughed rated the movie as significantly better and funnier. Laughing, forced or not, improves the way you view the world and helps to fight stress from your everyday life.

In addition to stress relief, laughing has also been show to help you eat less, boost your immune system, increase your pain threshold, and even help you heal faster. So don’t delay. Whether it means going to a funny movie or laughing for no good reason at all, start laughing your way to a less stressful life today.

Let’s face it — too many Americans are overweight. There are basically three reasons why —

(1) Diet
(2) Lifestyle
(3) Genetic factors

Right along with quitting smoking, weight loss is a primary factor in determining the quality and duration of our lives. About the only people who are benefiting from the fact that we’re overweight are the owners of companies that develop weight loss products. If you look at those three items I listed above, you can see that spending a fortune on these products may not benefit you at all, unless you do some things on your own.

If you want to save some money, try these tips to help you lose weight naturally.

1. Write Down Your Weight Loss Goal

Start with the end in mind and write down the weight you would like to achieve at the end of a specified date. Make it specific — for example: If you now weigh 185, say, “I want to weigh 160 pounds by July 30, 2007″. Now, work backwards and break that final goal into shorter-term mini goals. For example, by March 15, 2007 I will weigh 180 or 175.

2. Affirmation

Write down your weight goals and say them out loud every morning and every evening before you go to bed. Paste them up on your bathroom mirror. Be sure that you also visualize yourself in your perfectly-sized cloths.

3. Measure Your Progress And Celebrate Your Success

Keep track of your progress at least once each week. When you meet your mini goals, celebrate your success and give yourself a reward. Don’t make the reward something fattening, though.

4. Get physically active — exercise every day.

For weight loss, it’s good to get at least 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise. Walking is the best. Mix in some strength exercises as well.

5. Eat right and drink plenty of water.

Stay away from fatty or fried foods. Stay away from the fast-food places. Learn to read labels and avoid as much sugar as possible. Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Don’t skip meals — starving yourself will never help you to lose weight. Drink eight ounces of fresh water every day.

6. Get Support

Find others who are motivated to do lose weight. Check out the internet forums on weight loss to find lots of like-minded buddies. Talk to your friends and family about your goals and successes.

7. Stay Motivated

Don’t let all the commercials on TV and in magazines distract you from your goals. The pressures put on you in our society to gain weight are enormous. Just remember that they are out to get your money — they’re not interested in helping you to stay healthy. This goal of losing weight is well worth the time and effort you’ll put into it. Stay focused and stay motivated. You will feel so much better for it.

The key to successful, natural weight loss is about 80% mental work — that is staying focused and having good talks with yourself — and the other 20% is knowing how to make it happen.

Have a healthy day.

Shanti,

Ron
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Ron Rink (See my profile on the “Contributors” page — the link is in the upper right hand corner) writes regularly in his “Nutrition and Weight Loss” blog at: http://www.wecould2.com. Be sure to stop by, check it out, and leave a comment.
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With everyone rushing around, between work, the kids and just life in general, quite often exercising is one of the things that is eliminated from our schedules. We convince ourselves that we just don’t have time. However, with squeezing in just a few minutes here and there, you’re stress level will go down, you’ll enjoy life more, and may find that you get tasks done quicker, because your concentration level is better, therefore giving you more free time in the long run.Â

Here are some tips for helping fit some physical activity into your schedule:Â Â

• Bring a sandwich to work. Instead of spending your time and money buying food at work, pack a healthy lunch and take it with you on a walk or run. This way you can get some exercise in and eat when you get tired. If you usually eat with coworkers, encourage them to pack a lunch and tag along.Â
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• Work out instead of vegging out. If you’re like me, there are one or two television programs you just can’t miss. Just because you’re watching TV doesn’t mean you have to sit on your couch. You can use this time to do stretches, sit ups, or even lift weights. If you’re really ambitious, you can try aerobics or jogging in place.
• Cut back on coffee breaks. Tomorrow, use a clock or stop watch and add up how much time you spend on coffee breaks. If you cut back on coffee, you could use the extra time to walk around the office or climb the steps of your building. Plus, the endorphins from exercise are considered more energizing than most stimulants.
• Use exercise as a social event. If you spend a lot of time during your week chatting with one of your friends, encourage them to become your workout buddy. Instead of sitting at a diner or a coffee shop to chat, socialize by jogging or going to the gym.Â
• Play with the kids. How many times have you said that you wished you had more time to spend with your kids? Just do it. Go outside and play a game of tag. Toss a ball back and forth (do a few toe touches when you have to bend over to get the ball when you miss). Not only will you get some exercise, your kids will too, starting good habits early and you’ll have fun together building memories and strong muscles at the same time.
• Do some housework. No, your husband/wife did not pay me to put this in here. Cleaning the kitchen, mowing the lawn, tending to the garden, and even dusting are all great ways to get a work out. Housework lets you stretch, works your muscles, and gets your heart pumping; all essential for staying in shape. Â
• Set up a schedule of when you can fit in your exercise, even if it’s only a few minutes here or there. If you make it a habit to do it on a regular basis, before you know it, you’ll be feeling healthier and have more energy to do so much more in your day and accomplish more than you imagined.

We all know that getting enough exercise is a vital part of staying healthy. What you may not know is that the older you get, the more important it is for you to work out regularly. As your body starts to change, you not only may experience hot flashes and mood swings, you’re also at a higher risk for dangerous diseases. The good news is that many menopausal symptoms can be helped or even stopped through regular physical activity.

One of the biggest concerns for women approaching menopause is the loss of bone mass. This can lead to osteoporosis and other serious consequences. Many doctors suggest getting plenty of calcium to help prevent bone deterioration, but this is just the first step. Getting regular, weight-bearing exercise is also essential for maintaining good bone health. If you’re not in very good shape, walking or other light exercise can be enough to get started. You should eventually work yourself up to resistance training. This is the best way to slow or even stop loss of bone mass. You should also consider adding flexibility training; being limber will keep you from getting injured sometime down the road.Â

Along with osteoporosis, women who have reached menopause are also at an increased risk of developing heart disease. Many women assume that only men are at risk, but heart disease is a top killer of women as well as men. Plus, women are less likely to know they’re having a heart attack, so they don’t get treatment as quickly. Regular aerobic exercise can do wonders for keeping your heart in good shape. Even if you aren’t going through menopause yet, getting regular exercise is a great way to keep your heart healthy for a long time.  Â

Another common symptom of menopause is mood swings. As estrogen levels fluctuate, so do your emotions. And unlike mood changes due to your menstrual cycle, menopausal mood fluctuations are much less predictable. Exercise can work to ease symptoms of depression, decrease mood fluctuations, and decrease irritability. Exercise helps you to be more emotionally stable so you can worry about more important things.

With the onset of menopause, many women gain weight. While it’s usually not a substantial amount, it can increase the risk of certain weight related diseases. Regular exercise can help you keep your weight in check, reducing the risk of serious health problems in the future.Â

If your biggest concern about menopause is the immediate physical symptoms, exercise is a great cure for you too. Many women notice a decrease in hot flashes and other physical symptoms when they go on a regular exercise program.Â

Sure, exercise takes some planning and work, but your health is worth is, so go out and get moving.

Chalk up another victory for Mom’s “apple a day” advice.

While medical researchers spend their lives making discoveries that will improve our health, sometimes they discover that good food can be great medicine.

When it comes to apples, the good news gets better all the time. Apples can preserve memory and help to prevent asthma, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell say the big news about apples right now is its possible ability to keep Alzheimer’s disease away. Apples can increase production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, resulting in improved memory. Neurotransmitters are also vital for good health throughout the body. The UMass study mostly used apple juice.

Apples are the best source of quercetin, an antioxidant that protects brain cells against oxidative stress. This is a tissue-damaging process associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Drinking two cups of apple juice or eating three apples a day boosts production of quercetin. C.Y. Lee, professor and chairman of the Department of Food Science & Technology at Cornell University, says apples are among the best choices for fighting Alzheimer’s.

Lee says people should eat more apples, especially fresh ones. Red Delicious has a very high antioxidant content. Be sure to eat the skin. It can have 6 times more antioxidants than the flesh.

Apples are well-known cancer fighters and heart protectors. They reduce risk of diabetes, asthma, and tooth loss.

Go for it: eat some apples today!