The Secret to Good Hair Days

Caring for your scalp is essential to having healthy, attention-getting hair. Here, experts share their tips on how to keep your scalp healthy so your hair will grow faster, stronger, and more beautiful.

The Root of Great Hair

It’s easy to forget that under all your hair is skin that needs care and attention — just like the rest of your skin. Taking care of your scalp pays off in the form of healthy, beautiful hair. “The hair follicles are influenced by the health and blood supply of the surrounding tissue,” explains Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, a trichologist (someone who specializes in hair and scalp care) with Philip Kingsley. Find out how to keep your scalp healthy and happy with this expert advice.

Avoid Irritating Ingredients

“Any ingredient that dries out your skin will make an itchy scalp worse,” says Noelle Sherber, MD, a dermatologist in Baltimore. ”Fatty alcohols are moisturizing, and can be identified by terms like 'stearyl,’ ‘cetyl,’ and ‘myristyl,’” says Ni’Kita Wilson, a cosmetics chemist and vice president of research and innovation at Englewood Lab, in New Jersey. “The other alcohols are drying — for example, alcohol denat (denatured), ethanol, propanol, and isopropyl alcohol.” You should check ingredients lists and avoid hair products that contain the drying alcohols.
Also, be mindful of menthol, an alcohol that has the cooling properties of peppermint — while it may invigorate normal scalps, it can provoke itching in sensitive scalps, Dr. Sherber says.
Salicylic acid is often included in products to treat flaking scalps, but it should not be used more than once a week, says Cunnane Phillips, because it can cause irritation instead of gentle exfoliation.

Don't Skip Shampooing

The growing trend of skipping washes to keep hair naturally hydrated is not only misguided but can do more damage than good. “Thorough cleansing is critical for a healthy scalp; imagine how your face would look if you only washed it once a week,” Sherber says.” You should wash your scalp at least every two to three days for optimal health.”
As for the claim that regular washing strips the scalp of essential oils, Cunnane Phillips explains that proper cleansing removes dirt, grime, and pollutants from hair — not moisture. Shampoos that are sulfate-free offer a gentler cleansing than harsh, detergent-containing ones. Also, look for silk and wheat proteins in ingredients lists — they're among the best additives to help your hair retain moisture and stay manageable.

Make Massage a Habit

Scalp massage promotes blood circulation, which stimulates hair follicles to produce thicker, more lustrous hair growth. Make it part of your shampoo routine. After applying shampoo, gently massage your fingertips over your scalp in a gentle kneading motion for about 30 seconds, advises Cunnane Phillips.
If your scalp is dry, consider a prewash massage with nurturing oils, suggests Sherber. Choose antioxidant-rich argan oil, grapeseed oil, or naturally antibacterial and soothing lavender oil. Before shampooing, work a few drops of oil into your scalp by slowly massaging with the pads of your fingers for a few minutes.

Feed Your Scalp

 

Like any other part of the body, your hair and scalp thrive when fed rich nutrients. Olive oil, which is rich in fatty acids, beta-carotene, and antioxidants, is one of the most hydrating ingredients to look for in hair care products. “Olive oil softens scaling and moisturizes the scalp, creating conditions for optimum hair growth,” says Cunnane Phillips.
Vitamin E, which has been shown to improve scalp circulation, resulting in the stimulation of hair growth, is another effective ingredient.

Find the Best Brush

“A brush can do more damage than a hair dryer if used incorrectly and too vigorously,” warns Cunnane Phillips. Choose a brush made of soft, pliable plastic because plastic is far smoother and is kinder to hair than abrasive boar bristles and natural bristles. And look for a brush whose bristles are ball-tipped. “Natural bristles are typically barbed at the ends and tightly packed,” Cunnane Phillips explains, “which can cause unnecessary trauma to hair.”
Vented brushes allow for smoother brushing and more even heat dispersion during blow-drying, allowing hair to dry faster and without “hot spots” that can burn the scalp and hair. Brush your hair lightly, and if possible, use a wide-toothed comb — the gentlest option of all. You can also look for the new generation of plastic combs at the drugstore; infused with hydrators like macadamia nut oil, they're particularly useful if your hair and scalp are dry and you’re prone to static and flyaways, says Sherber.

Use Sun Shields

The sun's dangerous UV rays are no friend to your skin — and that includes your scalp. Prolonged sun exposure can burn your scalp and cause itching from dehydration, says Cunnane Phillips. Repeated exposure can dry out your hair and making it feel and look brittle, aging it the way sun exposure ages skin — giving it a coarser, dryer texture. Most importantly, you also need to guard against skin cancer — dangerous scalp moles often escape notice until it’s too late, warns Sherber. “If you part your hair while in the sun,” she says, “apply a waxy sunscreen stick or SPF lip balm to your part for protection.”
Ask your dermatologist to check your scalp during your annual skin examinations, and always ask your hairstylist to alert you to any unusual-looking spots on your scalp when you visit salon.

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How to Smile for the Camera

Want to make sure you look great in party pictures? Follow these simple tips and you'll be all smiles when you see the tagged photos on Facebook.

Here I am with the fabulous Kimora Lee Simmons at a book party she hosted to celebrate Feed Your Face. We took about a hundred photos, and this is one of the few in which I’m not squinting or making a funny face. Kimora, meanwhile, looked amazing in all of them. Of course, she’s had lots of practice being in front of a camera. For those of us who haven’t, here’s how to smile pretty for the camera at your next event:

• Practice! It might seem silly to smile at yourself in the mirror, but it's one way to figure out which expression you like the most. Or look at photos of yourself to see which ones are the most flattering; then pay attention to the way you’re smiling in them: Teeth or no teeth? Straight on, or turned to the side?
• Smile with your eyes. Nothing looks stiffer or more fake than smiling with your mouth but not your eyes, so let the eyes crinkle a little, but not so much that you’re squinting.
• If you have a big smile like Julia Roberts's and you show a lot of teeth, make sure your pearly whites are clean and suitable for public viewing. Tuck a small mirror in your bag so if spinach or celery is on the menu before the photo op, you can take a quick peek to make sure nothing's lodged between your front teeth.
• If you've been drinking red wine or coffee, discreetly swish plain water in your mouth before the photo so you don't look like a vampire.
• If your style is subtle and you smile with closed lips, like Victoria Beckham, make sure your lips are in good shape. It's easier to smile when your lips are soft and moisturized, so carry a tinted lip balm or gloss.

Beauty Bonus from Dr. Jessica Wu

Sexy & Stylish I just picked up a bottle of Essie nail polish in Sure Shot and can't wait to put it on my toes. It's a deep magenta-purple that will be perfect peeking out of spring sandals. And for those of you who try to avoid certain chemicals, it doesn't contain phthalates, toluene, or formaldehyde.

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The Best Haircut for Your Face Shape

Find a flattering haircut that works with your face shape! Here, get advice on choosing the best hairstyle for your face. 

You know how the same pair of pants can look super cute on your friend but not so flattering on your body? That goes for hairstyles as well: A style that looks great on someone else might not work for you. The trick to finding your own best style is to find a cut that flatters and balances your features. I asked my hairstylist, Danielle Lopreore, of the Fred Segal Salon in Santa Monica, Calif., for her advice on choosing the best hairstyle for particular face shapes:
If you have a square face and a strong jaw, like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Demi Moore, try to avoid severe, straight-across bangs that will make your face look even boxier. Short pixie cuts and chin-length bobs will also accentuate a square face. Instead, try wearing your hair shoulder length or longer (notice how these ladies all have long hair). Also, if you part it on the side, or wear an asymmetric, side-swept fringe, you'll soften the angles of your face.

If your face is round, like Jennifer Hudson’s and Drew Barrymore’s, wear your hair in layers around your face to create angles. Ask your stylist to cut the layers to accentuate your cheekbones. If you already have layers, try using a curling iron or blow-dryer to sweep the layers away from your face just above your cheekbones to make the cheekbones look sharper. Avoid a hair length above your shoulders, which will make your face look rounder. If you have bangs, wear them longer and wispier at the sides of your forehead to give the illusion of a narrower face. If you have a heart-shaped face, like Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Campbell, and Eva Longoria, create volume around your chin by using a blow dryer to make layers fuller or to add waves in the lower half of your hair. Avoid having too many curls or too much volume in the upper part of your hair. If your face is long, like Sarah Jessica Parker’s and Ashlee Simpson’s, avoid wearing your hair straight and past your shoulders, which can make your face look even longer. Keep your hair near or above your shoulders, and, to balance the length of your face, add soft waves for some body.

Beauty Bonus from Dr. Jessica Wu

 

Jessica's Tips & Tricks Don't throw out your bronzer! The other day I tried a new blush and realized that it was much too pink — I looked like I had a fever. Unfortunately, I was running late and didn't have enough time to wash my face and start over. The solution: I toned down the pink with some earth-toned bronzer that was left over from the summer.

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Coconut Oil Tips for Natural Skin Care

Going natural with your skin care is so easy with the versatile and super healthy coconut oil. This wonder oil was thrust into the spotlight when Victoria's Secret supermodel Miranda Kerr revealed it to be her beauty secret. Extracted from ripe coconut flesh, the oil is excellent when used in cooking, but you can also use this natural beauty oil externally on your skin to get glowing and healthy complexion and battle breakouts. Here are some of the best ways to use this oil on your skin!

Moisturizer
Coconut oil is a great everyday moisturizer all over your body. Many store-bought and high-end moisturizers use coconut oil as a basic ingredient, but pure oil is more potent and clean. The good fats will make your skin elastic, soft, and hydrated. The oil might absorb slowly, but it makes your complexion beautifully glowing. Use daily, especially after a shower when your skin is ready for moisture. Rub on rough spots such as elbows, feet, and knees to make your skin look silky.

Eye Makeup Remover
Dab a bit on a cotton pad and gently swipe off makeup and dirt. It's very gentle and soft on the skin and gives the delicate eye area skin wrinkle-fighting moisture.

Massage Oil
It's wonderful as a fragrant massage oil all over your body. Use it on your face and massage it into your skin with your fingers from the center of the face to the outside, using soft, round motions. It boosts your circulation while hydrating and helps remove toxins.

Prevent Breakouts
If you have acne-prone skin or get the occasional breakout, coconut oil can help. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties, so it will help to prevent spots. If you have a breakout, use a bit of oil on it as a spot treatment. In a study by University of California San Diegoreported by Science Daily, the lauric acid found in coconut oil was found to be effective against skin-dwelling bacteria.

More Tips for Healthy Skin are available here: http://guidelines-to-health-fitness.blogspot.in/2012/05/5-tips-for-natural-skin-care.html

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Celebrity Dermatologists Reveal Skin Care Secrets

Like the rest of us, the most gorgeous Hollywood stars can suffer from acne and wrinkles, so they make sure they have doctors on call who can treat their skin. We asked the best dermatologists in the business — who happen to have celebrity clients — to reveal their trusted secrets and most effective remedies for keeping skin youthful, glowing, and camera ready.

Celebrity Skin Secrets

Whether on screen or caught in the paparazzi’s lenses, a celebrity’s skin must always look flawless. But like us, Hollywood stars can wake up with breakouts, flaky skin, and fine lines. When celebrities urgently need skin care, they send an SOS to the best dermatologists in the country. Here, some of these renowned skin doctors reveal their secrets on how to give your skin the celebrity treatment and discuss which remedies keep the celebs' complexions calm. While they don’t always divulge the names of their A-list clients, these superstar skin doctors do share their most effective treatments.

Mask Breakouts

Making a seven-figure salary for a movie can't save you from breakouts. And throwing money at the problem won't necessarily provide a cure. “I tell my clients to steer clear of toners and avoid products with benzoyl peroxide or retinols, says Harold Lancer, MD, a dermatologist whose clients include JLo and Kim Kardashian. “Oil is not the enemy; bacteria are what cause breakouts,” he explains. “Drying agents create redness and irritation, and encourage increased sebum production, which is the opposite of what you want to achieve. Use a natural absorber like clay to prevent breakouts and mattify skin.” Dr. Lancer recommends his own Lancer Skin Care Oil Absorber ($35), or you might try Fresh's Umbrian Clay Face Treatment ($48).

Stick With a Program

With so much buzz surrounding new, “miracle” ingredients, it’s hard not to succumb to the temptation to try them all. But piling on products can ruin your good intentions. “Great, healthy skin requires a synergy of ingredients,” Lancer says. Keep it simple — it’s more important to be consistent with the products you do use. Also, layering on a number of products can be counterproductive — for example, if you apply a product with glycolic acid and then add a retinol or a vitamin C product, the two can cancel out each other's effects, ensuring you won’t get the results you're after.
For an anti-aging dream team, Lancer suggests a vitamin C day cream and a retinol for night to improve skin's tone. He also likes green tea extract's anti-inflammatory properties, and recommends stem cell formulas to promote the production of collagen, glycoproteins, and elastin.

Eat Your Water

We’ve all heard the mantra that we should drink eight glasses of water a day. But drowning your sorrows in water won’t save your skin, because you’re actually purging vital minerals from your body, according to Howard Murad, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Murad, whose patients are rumored to include Kristin Cavallari and Kim Cattrall, advocates getting hydration from raw fruits and vegetables.
The best water for your cells is found in foods like fruits and vegetables, Murad says. “Not only will you get a boost of important antioxidants, fiber, and nutrients, but it stays in your system long enough for your body to put it to good use," he explains. That means you should stock your refrigerator with cucumbers, pomegranates, avocados, apricots, mangoes, broccoli, and spinach.

Ditch Under-Eye Baggage

There are only so many miracles you can expect from your makeup if you don't pay attention to the eye area. To protect this delicate skin, you should apply eye cream twice a day and use sun protection. A few lifestyle tweaks can also make a dramatic improvement in how you look. Jessica Wu, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Southern California, advises sleeping with your head elevated on two pillows the night before a big event and avoiding salty foods for a few days. These steps will prevent fluid from collecting around the eyes and causing bags.

Wake Up Your Skin

To bring a glow to dull skin quickly, Ava Shamban, MD, a dermatologist in Santa Monica and the author of Heal Your Skin, tells patients to soak a facecloth in cold water and rub it all over the face for a few seconds; you can also do this with an ice cube. “This stimulates blood circulation and tightens pores, adding instant, though temporary, radiance,” she says. If that’s too chilling a prospect, Dr. Shamban advises rubbing an orange slice over the face for a similarly invigorating effect.

Give Your Skin Some Air

“Intraceuticals' oxygen-infusing facial is celebrities’ secret weapon because it immediately and dramatically plumps skin for an incredibly fresh appearance,” says Shamban. “It also revitalizes skin cells and encourages topical antioxidant absorption for smoother, softer skin, helping acne, as well as age-related changes such as fine wrinkling and brown spots.” Reap the benefits of oxygen in your home with Philosophy's Take a Deep Breath Oil-Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer ($34) or Bliss Triple Oxygen Mask ($54).

Cover Up

“One of the best ways to prevent sagging skin is to wear a UVA- and UVB-blocking sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 each and every day,” says dermatologist Fredric Brandt, MD, whose VIP client list includes Madonna and Kelly Ripa. “This habit should become part of your lifestyle.”
Any other efforts you’re expending on your skin will be wasted if you don't protect it with such a sunscreen. “There are new FDA labeling guidelines for what constitutes ‘broad spectrum,’ so be careful of trendy products that don’t adhere to these new and elevated standards for UVA and UVB protection,” says Lancer. These guidelines go into effect this summer for large companies, but smaller, niche sunscreen makers have more time to implement the changes. And although you can expect to see the new labeling on products that hit the shelves in June, retailers are still allowed to sell older products. If in doubt, look for the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation.

Get Your Fill

Injectable hyaluronic acid treatments such as Restylane, Juvéderm, Hylaform, and Perlane are great tools for adding volume to nasolabial folds (the parentheses that form between the nose and the outer corners of the lips), crow’s-feet, and lip lines. But why stop there? asks Pat Wexler, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, who’s been said to count Donna Karan, Christie Brinkley, Ellen Barkin, and Barbra Streisand among her clients. “Using these hyaluronic acid fillers along the jawline and cheeks, we can create a liquid lift to laterally tighten and fill the face,” she says. “The result can be very natural looking.”

Treat Yourself From Head to Toe

There are areas below your chin that can show the signs of aging too. “Taking care of your neck and décolleté is important, as this area often gives a more revealing indication of a woman’s age,” says Dr. Brandt. “The skin here is extremely delicate and contains fewer oil glands, so it’s more prone to damage and scarring than the face.” To ward off wrinkles, slather the area daily with an anti-aging moisturizer and a sunscreen.

Try DIY Treatments

There are many new devices that promise to bring the dermatologist's office into your home, and though pricey, they can offset the cost of repeated doctor visits — provided they deliver results. One device that's getting good buzz is the FDA-cleared PaloVia Skin Renewing Laser ($500); it delivers short pulses of micro-fine laser light to kick-start collagen production around the eyes. “The PaloVia laser is one of my best-kept skin secrets because it takes the same fractional-laser technology I use on my patients and adapts it for at-home use,” says Tina Alster, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical School, who’s worked with many dignitaries and celebs
 

Tighten Up

Saggy, drooping skin will definitely lower anyone’s Q score. But a full-on face-lift is an extreme measure few can commit to. “For immediate skin tightening around the eyes and mouth, the Pellevé wrinkle reduction system is my go-to,” says Shamban. This procedure, which uses radio-frequency waves to "melt" fat, visibly tightens and tones skin over the course of two to six visits, resulting in a smoother, more svelte appearance, without recovery time. A lower-tech alternative is Lancôme's Rénergie Lift Volumetry ($90) — its ingredients are designed to lift and contour sagging skin after four weeks of use.

More Skin Care Tips are Here: http://guidelines-to-health-fitness.blogspot.in/2012/05/5-tips-for-natural-skin-care.html

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5 Tips for Natural Skin Care

Tip 1: Give Yourself a Dry Brush Exfoliation

A dry brush exfoliation can be done in the morning before you shower. It eliminates dead skin cells and allows the skin to detox (skin is the largest organ of elimination). Dry brush exfoliation also improves lymph and blood circulation and decreases puffiness. An added benefit is that the gentle pressure is calming to the nervous system. To give yourself a dry brush exfoliation, you'll need a soft, natural bristle brush.

Tip 2: Rev Up Your Digestion

In alternative medicine, good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced "good" vs. "bad" bacteria, leaky gut, and other digestive conditions. The two most common sluggish digestion culprits are:

• Culprit #1: Not Enough Water Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation. 5 Ways to Boost Your Water Intake
  
  
• Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber Most people lack fiber in their diets - the average person eats only 12 g of fiber a day. In 2002, the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition Board established recommended fiber intakes. For men aged 19-50 years, 38 g fiber is recommended, and for men over 50, 31 g fiber is recommended. For women aged 19 to 50 years, 25 g fiber is recommended, and for women over 50, 21 g fiber is recommended.
  
  Some suggestions:
  1. Add Whole Grains - Choose whole grain products over refined. Have brown rice instead of white or make your own 50:50 combination.
     
  2. An Apple a Day - Have an apple, skin on, as a snack.
     
  3. Eat Cauliflower - Try this delicious Roasted Cauliflower recipe!
     
  4. High-fiber snacks - Snack on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, figs, and prunes.
  5. Eat Beans and Legumes - Open a can of your favorite beans or legumes. Rinse them well and add them to your meal.
     
  6. Ground Flaxseeds - For any easy fiber boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds (available at health food stores) on rice, salads, oatmeal, or any other meal. Store flaxseeds in the fridge.

Tip 3: Invigorate Sluggish Circulation

Do you sit at your desk for hours, only getting up to go to the bathroom? One of the best things you can do for your skin, stress level, and overall health is to get moving! Inactivity may affect skin and promote bloating and puffiness, acne, cellulite, and loss of muscle tone. You'll learn more about exercise in Step 9 of the Wellness Makeover. Here are some quick suggestions:

• Take a quick break to go outside and walk around the block.
  
• Book a massage therapy appointment.
  
• Close your door and stretch.
  
• Go to the gym.
  
• Start each morning by stretching.
  
• Get a skipping rope.

Tip #4: Avoid Excess Sugar

Most people do not realize this but excess sugar is considered one of the main causes of premature aging. The more sugar we eat, the more sugar we have entering our bloodstream. Over time, this can result in a process known as glycation, which is when a glucose (sugar) molecule damages a protein molecule by sticking to it. The new molecules formed are called advanced glycation end-products, or AGEs. AGEs damage collagen in skin, cartilage, and ligaments and promote a loss of elasticity. Wrinkles form and skin begins to sag.

• Try This - It may seem impossible to reduce your sugar intake, but it can be done! A gradual approach works best. In the next week, choose one thing you're going to do to decrease the amount of sugar you consume. For example, start by cutting the amount of sugar in your daily coffee or tea by half. Every week, find another way you can decrease your sugar intake. Pretty soon, you'll be surprised at how far you've come!

Tip #5: Eat Some Good Fats

Essential fatty acids are simply fats your body cannot live without. They are needed to make cell membranes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Essential fats are thought to keep your heart healthy, fight inflammation, and possibly prevent cancer. They are also particularly important to people with inflammatory conditions such as eczema and acne, and also for people with dry skin. People with essential fat deficiency sometimes notice bumps on the backs of their arms. Here are my suggestions on getting more essential fats:

• Flaxseed and walnut oil - Use flaxeed oil or walnut oil with balsamic vinegar as a salad dressing. Be sure to keep these oils refrigerated. They should not be heated or used for cooking.
  
• Cold water fish - Sardines are a good source of essential fats. Salmon is another good source, however these salmon accumulate toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (otherwise known as PCBs) in their body fat during the 95 percent of their lives they spend at sea.
  
• Supplements - Consider fish oil supplements.

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Solutions to Itchy Skin

Itchy skin is irritating, both physically and emotionally. I don't care whether you're a teenager or an adult, itchy skin causes embarrassment and anxiety. How many times have you heard yourself say.."I need to do something about my itchy skin!"

Itchy skin in localized areas is a common symptom. There are several known causes as well as non-specific causes of itchy skin. Among the known causes of itchy skin are drug or food allergies, insect bites, urticaria.

Itchy skin also occurs in many known skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic eczema, seborrhea dermatitis (especially of the scalp), and contact dermatitis.

Systematic causes of itchy skin are Gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, nephritis, leukemia, hodgkins disease, cancer, thyroid dysfunction and diseases of the hepatobilliary system.
The best approach to itchy skin is to provide relief on the outside, while working to promote positve/permanent changes on the inside through right diet and nutritional support.

My free reports will give you the tools to make the necessary changes on the inside, while Stevens Skin Softener Cream^© will give you much needed relief from your itchy skin now, on the outside.

Stevens Skin Softener Cream is especially helpful in itchy skin associated with dermatitis, itchy skin associated with stretch marks in late pregnancy, itchy skin associated with dry scalp (dandruff), and itchy skin associated with winter itch.

You can try Stevens Skin Softener Cream for your itchy skin absolutely free. Should you find that Stevens Skin Softener Cream relieves your itchy skin, You can buy Stevens Skin Softener Cream with my full 90 day money back guarantee.

Stevens Skin Softener Cream works on you itchy skin by restoring its normal pH balance, re-hydrating the skin, and nourishing it.

The following measures are also helpful in controlling itchy skin. Stop all medicines, avoid mechanical irritants such as rough surfaces or woolen clothing, and minimize environmental temperature changes as this may aggravate your itchy skin.

For the treatment of your itchy skin, Stevens Skin Softener Cream is safe. Unless you have an allergy to one of the 17 ingredients (which are mostly natural), Stevens Skin Softener Cream is probably safe for your itchy skin. It has been tested by Product Safety Labs, and found to be Hypoallergenic.

Stevens Skin Softener Cream consists of all natural ingredients that work synergistically to help lubricate, nourish, protect, soften and soothe your itchy skin. It works well, because it provides a healthy environment for the itchy skin - on the surface, and deep into the subcutaneous tissue. Natural Jojoba, Sweet Almond, and Avocado Oils are nicely compatible to the skin's natural lubricating oils (smaller, heavier molecular structure allows deeper penetration).

As long as Stevens Skin Softener Cream is used on a regular basis, it will provide relief from your itchy skin. It should not be regarded as cure.

More Skin Care Tips Available Here: http://guidelines-to-health-fitness.blogspot.in/2012/05/5-tips-for-natural-skin-care.html

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10 Steps to Psoriasis Secrets/Psoriasis Solutions

We are all different, and the key to your quest for psoriasis solutions is -  a willingness to try various treatments until you find what works best for you. Yes, You can be helped, but it depends on how much time and effort you are willing to put into it. I trust that you will find the following guidelines, helpful and informative.

Psoriasis is manifested by silvery, scaly patches that may appear anywhere on the body, but are most common on the scalp, ears, arms, legs, knees, elbows and back. It may or may not be itchy, and follows a pattern of periodic flare-ups followed by healing. Even toes and fingernails sometimes lose their luster, and develop ridges and pits. Psoriasis is sometimes associated with a form of arthritis that is difficult to treat, called psoriatic arthritis.

Normally your skin cells mature and shed every 28 to 30 days. In psoriasis, new skin develops seven to ten times faster than normal. Because your skin cells can't shed fast enough, they pile up, forming raised, scaly plaques. As the dead cells are pushed farther from the surface, they form silvery white scales over the plaques.

The exact cause of psoriasis is still not known, but certain things act as triggers, and set the stage for a flare-up. Among them are food allergies, nutritional deficiencies, climate changes, damage to the skin from dryness, local injury or sunburn, reaction to certain drugs, infections, build up of toxins in an unhealthy colon and emotional stress.

Psoriasis solutions require a comprehensive and consistent approach. Also remember that any program may take months to show improvement, so be patient. Continue treatment even during times of remission when no lesions are visible. You see, the problem is still there, just waiting for a trigger. The following steps will help you not only prevent psoriasis attacks, but minimize their severity. Here's what you do...    

1.  A diet that's low in saturated fat, and low in animal products, has an ameliorating effect on psoriasis. Eat a diet that is 50 percent raw foods, including plenty of fruits, vegetables sprouts and grains. Also eat seafood that's high in omega-3-fatty acids such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring. Citrus may aggravate psoriasis in some individuals. It is not only a good idea to check for food allergies, but follow a 4-day rotation diet. That is, don't eat any one food more often than once every four days. Avoid red meat or dairy products.

2.  Arachnidonic acid is a natural substance that aggravates the inflammatory response in psoriasis lesions, making them swollen and red. Taking Evening Primrose Oil interferes with the production and storage of arachnidonic acid.  Take 500mg daily. NOTE: Women suffering from breast cancer should limit their use of evening primrose oil. Other good sources of the essential fatty acids are flaxseed oil and salmon oil.

3.  Vitamin B complex is needed for healthy skin. Use a high-stress, yeast-free formula. Take 50mg three times daily with meals. You will want to take extras of the following B vitamins as well. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - important for proper circulation and healthy skin. Take 50mg three times daily. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - deficiency has been linked to skin disorders. Take 50mg three times daily. Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) - aids in proper adrenal function. Take 100mg three times daily. Vitamin B12 - is important in cell formation and in longevity of the cell. Take 2000mcg daily. Use a sublingual form.

4.  Other vitamins, minerals and supplements that are important are:- Vitamin A - important for healthy skin and nails. Take 75 IU daily for two weeks, then 50 IU daily for two months, then 25 IU daily. Do not take more than 10 IU daily if you are pregnant. Vitamin C with Bioflavenoids - important in boosting your immune system, and forming collagen and skin tissue. Take 2,000mg four times daily. Vitamin E - is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that damage the skin. Take 400 to 1,200 IU daily. Zinc - important in protein metabolism, and proteins are needed for healing. Take 50mg of zinc daily. Folic acid deficiency has been linked to psoriasis. Take 400mcg daily. Glutathione may inhibit the growth of psoriatic cells. Take 500mg twice daily on an empty stomach.

5.  Shark cartilage - stops the spread of psoriasis by inhibiting the growth of blood vessels. It may take three or more months to show results. The first to resolve is the itching and scaling, followed by gradual fading of the redness. Take 1gm per 15lb of body weight in three divided doses, daily.

6.  For mild cases of psoriasis, sunlight alone may be all that's necessary. Ultraviolet rays slow down cellular division in the skin.

Expose your skin regularly to moderate amounts of sunlight. To prevent sunburn, which can actually aggravate your condition, avoid exposure to the sun between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, especially during the summer months.

7.  You should be aware that certain drugs trigger flare-ups in some people and therefore should be avoided. Some of them are propranolol hydrochloride and other beta-blockers, quinidine gluconate, lithium, antimalarial medications, and even alcohol.

     Detoxification programs are helpful with psoriasis as they rid your body of potential triggering toxins. Include the following steps in your program...

8.  Milk thistle extract - increases the flow of bile, and cleanses your liver. This is important in keeping your blood clean. Take 300 mgs three times daily.

9.  Fiber is important in maintaining a healthy colon.  The fiber binds to colon toxins, and aids in their elimination. In addition to foods rich in fiber such as raw fruits and vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals,  take psyllium seeds daily. Mix with water or juice and drink immediately.

10.  Moisturize - as skin prone to psoriasis tends to be dry. Moisturizing is particularly important during the winter months, when psoriasis tends to flare up because of the dry, cold air.

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10 Steps to Eczema Secrets / Eczema Solutions

We are all different, and the key to your quest for eczema solutions is a willingness to try various treatments until you find what works best for you. I trust that you will find the following guidelines helpful and informative.

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin, usually associated with blisters, thickening, crusting, scaling and itching. There are different types of eczema depending on their causes, and where they occur on the body.

Common causes of eczema are allergies secondary to digestive disorders, immune deficiencies, genetic metabolic disorders such as the inability to produce GLA-gamma linoleic acid, a key component in the structure of cell membranes and nutritional deficiencies such as B vitamins (especially niacin and vitamin B6).

Eczema  solutions require a consistent approach. Also remember that any program may take months to show improvement, so be patient. Continue treatment even during times of remission when no lesions are visible. You see, the problem is still there, just waiting for a trigger. The following steps will help you not only prevent eczema attacks, but minimize their severity

          Here is what you do...

1.  Sensitivity to gluten is common, and many people suffering from skin disorders do better if they avoid foods containing gluten. Follow a gluten-free diet for 6 weeks. Then add gluten containing foods back to your diet one at a time, but do not eat gluten containing foods more often than once every four days.  You will find an excellent source of gluten-free diets and products at the Celiac Disease and Gluten Free Resource Center. 

2.  Other problem foods you'll want to avoid are dairy products, foods containing raw eggs, fried foods and processed foods. Eating a lot of fruit, especially citrus and sour fruit, may aggravate your symptoms.

3.  Vitamin B complex is needed for healthy skin. Use a high-stress, yeast-free formula. Take 100mg three times daily with meals. You will want to take extras of the following B vitamins as well. Vitamin B3 (niacin) - important for proper circulation and healthy skin. Take 100mg three times daily. Do not exceed this amount, and do not take Niacin if you have a liver disorder, gout or high blood pressure. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - deficiency has been linked to skin disorders. Take 50mg three times daily. Vitamin B12 - is important in cell formation and in longevity of the cell. Take 200mcg daily. Use a sublingual form.

4.  Other helpful vitamins are Vitamin A helps to prevent dryness, and promotes the development of smooth skin. Using an emulsion form is safer at high doses,and makes it easier to assimilate. Take 100,000 IU daily for one month, then 50,000 IU daily for two weeks, then 25,000 IU daily. CAUTION:  Don't take more than 10,000 IU daily if you are pregnant.

 Vitamin E - helps to relieve dryness and itching. Take 400 IU daily.

5  Zinc boosts your immune system, and is helpful in healing. Take 100mg daily

6  Biotin deficiency has been linked to eczema. Take 300mg daily.

7  Because you may be unable to produce GLA-gamma linoleic acid, taking Evening Primrose Oil may prove especially helpful.  Take 500mg daily. Evening primrose oil applied directly to cracks and sore areas of your skin may also give you soothing relief and promote healing. NOTE: Women suffering from breast cancer should limit their use of evening primrose oil. Black currant seed oil is a good substitute. Other good sources of the essential fatty acid gamma linoleic acid are flaxseed oil and salmon oil.

8.  Shark cartilage reduces inflammation in eczema. Take 1gm per 15 lbs of body weight daily, divided into three doses.

9.  Amino acids are essential in making proteins, the building block for growth and repair of all tissues. Use a formula containing both essential and nonessential amino acids. Take as directed on the label.

10.  Moisturize - as skin prone to eczema tends to be dry. Moisturizing is particularly important during the winter months, when eczema tends to flare up because of the dry, cold air. 

Many with eczema find Stevens Skin Softener Cream (17 moisturizers, antioxidants and nutrients) effective in relieving their dry skin, crusting, scaling, and itching, thus minimizing the continuing embarrassment these lesions cause.  For just a small cost for shipping and handling, you can try Stevens Skin Softener Cream Absolutely FREE, and see for yourself if it will do the same for you. To request your FREE sample, click here to go to our home page.

 

An excellent resource for information on eczema is the Healing Eczema e-Book, authored by Christina Sands, Holistic Eczema Researcher and Nutritionist, as seen by over 30,000 monthly visitors on http://www.eczema.net

Important Message - This report is intended as an educational tool to acquaint you with alternative methods for managing your problem. Many of the suggestions have not been approved by any government or regulatory agency. Therefore, this report should not be substituted for the advice and treatment of your physician or other licensed health care provider, but rather should be used in conjunction with professional care. If pregnant, you are especially urged to consult your physician before using any suggestions. You must take full responsibility for your health and how you use this information. The author expressly disclaims any responsibility for any adverse effects resulting from your use of the above information.

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Dry Skin Solutions

Avoid These Dry Skin Mistakes Today

Your Skin is the largest organ "on" your body. In fact, that is the first thing people notice about you. That is why, from time immemorial, the care of the skin has been the preoccupation of many.
Your skin is 70% water, and many skin problems are associated with dry skin. That is why many skin preparations are made, using the concept of preventing moisture from leaving the skin. They therefore use occlusive agents, that is ingredients that clog your pores, thus theoretically sealing moisture in.

There is a problem with this approach however, and I'll explain shortly, but first...
Let's Learn About Your Skin. How it is Made, and How it Actually Works.
 
Your skin consists of two distinct layers: The outer layer, the epidermis, consists of dry mature cells and forms the protective layer. The inner layer or dermis consists of collagen. This gives the skin strength and flexibility. The dermis also contains the sweat glands, nerves, blood capillaries hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

Your skin is an important, vital, living, dynamic organ without which you could not survive. Among its many functions, it regulates your body temperature, and through its more than 2,000,000 sweat pores, is an organ of excretion. Your skin should also be allowed to breathe.

With this background, it's easy to understand why the following ingredients do NOT belong on your skin:

Mineral Oil	A mixture of refined liquid hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. Mineral oil is the stabilizing ingredient of many skin care products. Mineral oil forms an occlusive film on your skin, blocking your pores, and interfering with normal skin respiration. It may, therefore, not only harm your skin but be a contributing cause of blemishes.
Petroleum (Petrolatum)	Petroleum products such as Vaseline, etc., do not penetrate your skin, but sit on the surface blocking natural respiration, excretion, and absorption of other nutrients. It is also an occlusive agent, and should be avoided.
Lanolin	Derived from sheep wool, Lanolin is a common lubricating ingredient in many cosmetics and creams. In addition t being occlusive, it has been proven to cause allergic reactions in skin of sensitive people.
Solvent	Solvent alcohols in the form of propyl of isopropyp are drying to your skin
Collagen	This animal product is added to cosmetics as a moisturizing agent. The molecules are too large to penetrate your skin. They therefore clog your pores, and in some cases cause allergic reactions.

Here's an interesting exercise. Check your skin care products now and see how many of them have one or more or the above offending products. You may be surprised.

    Other ingredients to avoid are:
 

Artificial Colors	Known to cause allergic reactions in some people.
ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCES	Known to create allergic skin reactions and photo-sensitivity in some people.

The jury is still out on such chemicals as Retin A, Retinol, and Alpha Hydroxy Acids. A prudent approach is to avoid their use, especially now that something better safer, and more in tune with your skin's normal physiology, is available.

Stevens Skin Softener Cream...a New Approach to Skin Care

Rather than using occlusive agents that clog your pores to prevent moisture from leaving your skin, Stevens Skin Softener Cream is designed to put moisture into your skin.

For this it uses Jojoba oil, Apricot kernel oil, Almond oil, Purcelin oil, Avocado oil and Squalene. Not only do these natural oils take moisture deep into your skin, but Jojoba, Avocado and Almond oils have the same consistency and molecular structure as sebum, your skin's own natural lubricating oil. They therefore also serve to lubricate your skin.

Why is this so important to you?

You see, your skin is 70% water. Sebum, your skin's own natural lubricating oil, functions to lubricate your skin and prevent it from drying out. This natural protection breaks down with many skin problems, and also as you get older. Women especially, experience an estimated 32% reduction per decade in sebum production, after age 20. Do you understand now why everything you have tried for your dry skin has not worked, and why Stevens Skin Softener Cream will? Try It!!!

More Skin Care Tips Available Here: http://guidelines-to-health-fitness.blogspot.in/2012/05/5-tips-for-natural-skin-care.html

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Metabolic Typing for Your Diet

Metabolic typing is a method of creating a diet specifically for your body type. There’s an old saying that you should eat what your ancestors ate for better health. The logic behind the phrase is that your body’s DNA carries with it the ability to properly process those foods because of thousands of years of evolution.

The country of origin had specific food types available and those that survived and thrived had the available enzymes to digest the foods. Conditions like lactose intolerance occur more predominantly in those with American Indian and African heritage. The cultures of these societies did not raise cows or have cows milk. Consequently, as the mother weaned the child from her milk, the lactase ceased was unimportant and other enzymes more important to survival dominated.

Today every person has a mixture of various ethnic groups and its difficult to tell which ancestor to follow when it comes to eating habits. In this case, you have to follow the body types to discover which diet makes you lose weight without feeling terrible.

There are three basic body types when it comes to metabolizing foods. The first type oxidizes the food rapidly and is to as a protein type. The second oxidizes slowly and is the carbohydrate type. The third metabolic type is somewhere in between the two. His metabolism utilizes both types of foods. This is the balanced metabolic type.

Because the protein metabolic type digests food rapidly, the heavy content of protein and fat takes longer to digest. These meals keep the metabolic type from getting depressed, faint or irritable due to low blood sugar, particularly if they happen to miss a meal. The personality type of the fast metabolic type is much like his digestive system. They tend to be type A personalities. These fast thinkers are often high achievers and stress out frequently.

Those that have a body that oxidizes the food slower shouldn’t weigh it down with heavy protein and fat. Their metabolism doesn’t digest as rapidly so they often miss meals and don’t even realize it. Diets that have limited amounts of meat are the best for this carbohydrate type. Just like the slowness of the digestion, the personality type tends to be less driven but far easier going. This personality is laid back but occasionally demonstrate lethargy or depression.

The metabolic type that is in between the two is the vast majority of the world. The ideal diet for them is a mix, depending on the direction they tend to lean. The metabolic typing for the balanced metabolic type isn’t just a balanced diet since most lean more heavily in one direction. It’s more of a science to find the right blend of heavier proteins and fats to carbohydrates.

When you find the type of metabolism you have, you can select a diet that not only makes you feel good, but also helps you lose weight because you adhere to it.

No matter how many books you read on “the miracle diet of the century”, you’ll find that not all of them are right for your body type. You can attempt several diets and see which one works best and makes you feel good. This hit and miss method sometimes works immediately when you happen on the right one the first time. Most of the time, its best to select a method of metabolic typing and use the diet recommended for your body’s metabolic style.

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Rye For Breakfast Eliminates Mid Morning Munchies

Rye for breakfast can eliminate mid morning munchies. It's a breakfast grain that helps fill you up not out. Several studies indicate that making a small change in your diet might have excellent results helping people lose weight without extra effort. Substituting cereal or toast with rye grain flour instead of wheat might be one answer to controlling your appetite easily. Considering that America has a growing population, not in numbers but in clothing size, anything that can help keep the population thinner needs investigation.

Many people find themselves hungry several hours after eating and fill themselves with high calorie mid morning snacks. Switching from toast made with wheat flour to toast made from rye provided more satiety according to a study done by Swedish researchers and documented in the Nutritional Journal. It proved to provide a feeling of fullness for up to three hours longer than the wheat even though the calorie count was the same.

Limited studies on the effects of rye show that foods made from this type of flour might be the key to solving the growing problem of obesity and subsequent health issues that come with it. Even though it seems like the food manufacturers might be creating foods specifically to make people desire more food, a Swedish bakery cooperative actually financed the study to find ways to help people eat less. This is refreshing news when other studies show manufacturers may intentionally offer food products which fill you up for a short time, leaving you hungry a few hours later, perfect way to increase the desire for more food and greater sales.

The study used sixteen volunteers with an average age of 35. The researchers offered bread of varying quantities of dietary rye fiber, some made from rye bran; others from rye sifted flour or combinations and studied the effect on appetite suppression compared to bread created from wheat flour. The bread made with rye increased the length of time that the volunteers felt full several hours longer than the wheat, regardless of the type of fiber used.

A second study used rye porridge instead of bread and compared the feeling of fullness on 22 subjects, 8 males and 14 females between the ages of 21 and 64. The study showed that the rye porridge gave the people in the study a feeling of fullness for up to 8 hours after they consumed it, far longer than a bread made from wheat flour or refined cereals. It significantly provided a feeling of fullness far longer than the wheat bread and reduced the desire to munch on mid morning snacks. One difference noted by scientists may be the vehicle used to serve the two different flours. Porridge has high water content and in order to achieve the same caloric intake, it takes a higher volume of food, thus filling up the subject more than the bread.

Even though the studies are only initial indicators, they show promising significant ideas on help on the dietary frontline fight against obesity. If rye for breakfast can eliminate mid morning munchies, we are one step closer to controlling Americas ever growing waistline.

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Vitamin D for swine flu protection

Vitamin D for swine flu protection is a new area that the sunshine vitamin can make you healthier. Since the American Cancer Society increased its campaign against sunshine, more and more people opt for heavy sun blocks or avoid the sun entirely. While too much exposure to the sun at one time can cause burning and lead to eventual changes in the skin, no exposure leads you to vitamin D deficiency. Simply being in the sun for a minimum of 15 minutes each day can give you the vitamin D your body requires.

Vitamin D is in limited amounts in foods. Unless you drink fortified organic milk, suck down cod liver oil like there's no tomorrow, take supplements or eat foods fortified with vitamin D you'll probably be short on the nutrient. Even people exposed to the sun daily often don't get an adequate supply if they live in the Northern areas where winters are long and there's insufficient sunshine for your skin to produce vitamin D. Scientists now discover that with the use of sun blocks, more Americans than ever have a shortage of vitamin D even in the summer months.

These facts are important in the light of the discovery that vitamin D not only helps build and maintain strong bones, it also protects you from complications of influenza. In a recent study of 19,000 people, those that had the lowest levels of vitamin D had a 40 percent chance of having a respiratory infection. A.A. Ginde, J.M. Mansbach, C.A. Camargo Jr., published the results of their study in the "Archives of Internal Medicine." The results also indicated the use of vitamin D as an immune booster people with lung problems such as asthma or COPD. From the early indications, it may prevent complications caused from swine flu or other respiratory viruses.

The concept of vitamin D to prevent complications or the flu itself isn't new. A study done on lab mice in the 1940's indicated that mice low in vitamin D had a better chance of developing influenza than those with adequate vitamin D levels. The Public Health Agency of Canada, collaborated last year with McMaster University and hospitals and universities across Canada to conduct a three-year study on blood serum levels of vitamin D and swine flu victims. They hope to discover the whether there is a true correlation in humans between the body's level of vitamin D and their resistance to the swine flu or complications.

If a positive correlation exists, then the Public Health Agency of Canada would recommend the addition of supplemental vitamin D, for not only the "at risk" population, but also anyone that wishes to avoid the flu. For those people who believe the influenza vaccination might be just as dangerous to them as the illness, the extra dose of vitamin D might be an acceptable alternative, in addition to the immune boosting vitamin C they may already be taking. A good book to read on the subject is "Vitamin D Prescription" by Eric Madrid MD. He goes into great detail about Preventing Swine Flu. Reduce Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Fibromyalgia & more by 50%

So when flu season approaches, take a sunbath, drink fortified organic milk, take a spoonful of cod liver oil and maybe throw in a few vitamin D supplements. Even though the research isn't final, there's enough evidence to support that vitamin D for swine flu protection might help you and the worst possible reaction you'll have is stronger bones.

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A Health Food AMP Vitamin Supercharges Your Body

In this hectic fast paced world we live in there are almost daily instances where you need a health food amp vitamin, but how often are you really prepared for the occasion.

Whether you work full-time at a meat packing plant or you are a lawyer with an overwhelming case load, life is always willing to give you as much as we can handle, whether it comes to professional challenges or personal issues, and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming.

How many times have you struggled to get what you need to do done and ended up feeling complete exhausted at the end?

Contrary to what you might believe, the answer isn't more caffeine or sugar; in fact, its nothing more than taking advantage of the health food vitamins on the market that are designed to help you live life to the fullest. Health food vitamins are a great way to get that extra boost that you need to get through stressful times, and they do it a way that is far superior to taking advantage of the artificial high that you'll find in caffene rich drinks like coffee or black tea.

The problem with caffeine is that your body will eventually become resistant to it, something that eventually requires you take more and more caffeine to get the same kick. Moreover, you'll find that it is quite easy to foster a dependence on caffeine, something that will make you feel dull and irritable if you cannot get it.

With health food vitamins, you'll be able to keep on moving during those times when you are tired but just can't quit.

Regular ingestions of health food vitamins can go a long way towards keeping you active during activities with a lot of physical outlay.

They keep your energy high and your ability to cope with the natural stress and exertion that such activities bring, and unlike sports drinks or energy drinks, which have a great deal of sugar in them, you'll find that you don't get a short term boot in energy that is followed by a severe drop.

When it comes to a health food vitamin, don't think that you have to carry around bulk fruits and vegetables to keep you going. Many health food vitamins can be bought in a powdered form, something that maximizes the effect it has due to the concentration of nutrients. Thats real live nutrition, the way nature actually intended

Not only is this format cheaper, but it is also convenient to keep around the house and extremely simple to store.

If you have been feeling constantly dull and restless, or you find yourself really dragging at the end of the day, it might be time to take advantage of everything that a health food amp vitamin offer you. Let it supercharge your system and take a look at what you'll be able to accomplish then!

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Todays Vegetables - Where are the Nutrients Going?

Today’s vegetables are nothing like those that Grandpa had as a child. There are a number of reasons. The produce going to market today comes from soil that is rich from chemical fertilizer but lacking many of the trace minerals that it used to contain.

Farmers want to produce the largest crop possible so they use the means that they have available. Often they overwork the soil, spray it with toxins, put just enough chemical fertilizer on it to grow the produce and use genetically altered breeds to appear that the vegetables and fruit are superior to those of earlier times.

While they might be disease resistant and often larger, studies show that the nutritional elements are dropping rapidly.

The Kushi Institute located in Becket, Massachusetts followed the nutritional components of vegetables and fruits for 22 years, from 1975 to 1997. They found that many of the trace element levels and vitamin levels dropped dramatically over that period. Iron levels dropped almost 40 per cent, vitamin A went down 21 percent, calcium dropped just 12 per cent but vitamin C had a whopping 30 percent drop in that time.

The reason sited was changes in farming practices. No longer is there crop rotation and allowances for the soil to remain fallow and build the nutrients. Organic matter no longer feeds the soil; instead, most farmers used liquid fertilizer that contains just the bare necessities to keep the plant growing well, but not pack it with nutrition for the consumer.

The chemicals may contain nitrogen but there’s no natural material replaced in the soil. Rich fertile loam that comes from years of organic material decomposing in the soil, no longer exists on many truck farms. Instead, there is compacted soil, void of the microbes and their organic food, which feed the soil the necessary material to transfer to the vegetables and fruit.

There are farmers that realize that if they care for the soil, the soil repays them with a high yield and nutritional food. These are the organic farmers. Organic farming works with the land instead of working the land. They don’t use the chemicals to create larger produce but find environmentally friendly methods to create bumper crops and control pests.

Besides crop rotation, there are other methods, such as composting, that bring the higher levels of nutrition into the soil. These also encourage friendly bacteria and microbes in the soil with the replacement of organic matter.

The most minute soil creatures play an important part in the food chain. These tiny creatures break down the organic material, just as earthworms do, and provide usable nutrients that are readily absorbed by the crops. Obviously, the more nutrients the crops absorb, the more they contain and the less people have to eat to maintain their nutritional levels necessary for a healthy life.

If you’re worried that your food doesn’t satisfy your nutritional requirements, you can do several things. The first is growing your own food. Growing your own food guarantees that you have a say in the manner that you work the soil to produce the food.

While it’s not always an option for many people, the second method is to choose food labeled “organically grown”. In order to wear the label organic, the farmers must use the earth friendly methods to raise them.

You may not know the exact content of nutrients in each fruit or vegetable, but you know it’s probably higher than those not grown organically.

Of course, you could eat more. However, from the numbers you already read, you know that you’d have to increase food intake dramatically.

Your last option is to increase your nutritional intake by adding food supplements to your daily routine. Herbal supplements and vitamin supplements replace the minerals and vitamins lost through years of depletion through farming practices.

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Recognizing the Benefits of Healthy Nutrition!

Is the Juice Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Many of us have fallen into the mindset that healthy nutrition is synonymous with boring drudgery and self-deprivation. Not so! Proper nutrition is actually the exact opposite! While sugars, saturated fats, and processed foods contribute to lethargic, sedentary lifestyles, a healthy diet lays the foundation for energy, clear thinking, and a positive attitude.

If your nutrition regimen has fallen into a rut, here are some easy steps that can get you and your family back on track. Realizing the benefits of healthy nutrition is sometimes just a matter of how you choose to look at your new eating habits!

Help your family form a positive approach to nutrition by focusing on the healthy foods you are adding to your weekly meal plans, instead of having a restrictive, negative approach. Don't focus on what you are missing out on or what has been taken away from your eating program rather focus on the exciting new foods you get to try out.

Did you know you have approximately 9,000 taste buds? Make sure you are making choices that are not only healthy, but filled with flavor as well. If you have a sweet tooth, it would be better to choose cantaloupe instead of spinach to get your daily iron boost.

When implementing lifelong eating habits, make gradual changes as opposed to shocking your family with the "cold turkey" approach. Gradually changing eating habits will give you time to adjust and help prevent cravings which lead to binges.

Instead of loading up on bottled vitamins and minerals, try to choose natural foods to provide daily nutritional needs. Especially when dieting, always try to replace those empty eating times with snacks such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Again, it's much better to replace, than to deprive.

Have an ethnic night! Ethnic dishes are very often more healthful than American fare. Trying a new and flavorful recipe is always a welcome addition to the dinner table.

When trying to introduce a new food to the family, especially if you fear it may not be a welcome addition, always make the most positive introduction possible. Your family may be more likely to trysprouts if it is an ingredient in a delicioustaco mealand spinach chopped up in a veggie dip has a much better chance than soggy leaves sitting on a plate.

Snack time can be the "make it or break it" time for you and your family. Provide lots of healthy choices for those between meal and nighttime kitchen raids. Foods such as grapes, raisins, carrot sticks, celery, and fresh fruit can ease the cravings without compromising healthful eating.


American meals have become "all you can eat" feasts. This causes sluggishness and causes your body to work harder to digest these oversized meals. Instead of consuming three large meals per day, it is much healthier to break it down to five or even six smaller meals. Think of mealtime as "refueling" and be sure to stop before feeling full.

Healthy eating is a way of life, and making the decision to choose wholesome, nutritious food is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. The commitment to change poor eating habits may seem difficult at first, but the lifelong benefits are well worth it. Following these simple, fun steps can change your attitude about healthy nutrition from tedious to tremendous!

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Understanding Nutrition Food

With all of the conflicting information available on diets and nutrition food, it can often be difficult to know which food is good for you and which isn't. Some sources tell you that drinking plenty of water is good for your health, while others tell you that it can potentially be harmful. Then some sources tell you that chocolate can be good for you in moderation while others tell you it isn't. How can you know which foods are good for you and which aren't?

Here you will find out more about nutrition food and how it helps the body.

What is Nutrition Food?

Nutrition food is basically food that contains vitamins and minerals that help to keep the body healthy. All food has a certain level of nutrition but some foods are much better than others for the body. Something else you need to be aware of is the fact that our nutrition needs change as we age.

If you are pregnant then your body will need different nutritionthan if you weren't pregnant. You will need different nutrition than your child and your elderly parents will need a different level of nutrition foods to you.

The main reason why different people need different nutrient levels is because of a number of reasons. These include age, weight and some people absorb nutrients differently to others. No matter who you are however, nutrition foods are essential if you want to stay healthy. So which food is considered to be nutritious and better for the body?

Typically, fruits and vegetables are the most nutritious foods. They contain plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fight off illness and disease, which in turn obviously keeps the body healthy. The vitamins and minerals such as calcium, Vitamin C and Magnesium, all help to keep the body working as it should.

While fruit and vegetables are the most nutritious foods available, our body needs a range of food to stay healthy. So a nutritious diet is not just one which is packed full of fruits and vegetables, but it is also one which has meat, fish, carbohydrates and a little fatty food too. Ideally, you will have a small amount of organic milk and dairy products in your diet, the main base of your meals will be rice, bread, potatoes, and cereals

.

It is important to note that the body does need a wide variety of foods to stay healthy. Many people are confused about what nutrition food actually is and in fact, it is just a variety of food that gives the body what it needs.

Overall, you do need to consume a lot of fruit and vegetables to keep the body healthy. However, the nutrition benefits of each individual are different and so the amount of food as well as the amount of nutrients that you need will be different to the next person. The main thing to keep in mind is that nutrition food is packed full of vitamins and minerals and it will help the body to protect itself from illness and disease.

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Obesity Cure: Citrus Fruit Flavonoid Controls Weight, Causes Fat Loss

New research gives validity to the grapefruit diet because of its citrus fruit flavonoid. A study on the flavanoid, naringenin contained in grapefruit showed that it did increase the not only the amount of fat burned rather than stored in the liver, it also reduced the elevated triglycerides and cholesterol in the body, normalized how the body metabolizes glucose and helped to prevent insulin resistance. Of course, scientists gleaned the data from a study on mice, so the effects aren't necessarily valid for humans.

In the study done at the University of Western Ontario and led by Murray Huff, there were four different groups of mice. The first group received normal mice chow. The other three groups received a normal western diet, which is relatively high fat. One of those groups received a 1 percent supplement of naringenin, the second had a 3 percent supplement. The last group just ate the high fat diet. Of course, you'd expect all three to begin looking for a gym and new mouse outfits that fit but only one group joined the ranks of the obese, the one that received no naringenin. The three groups ate the same amount of food but the fat didn't stick to the other two.

Besides weight loss, the study showed that naringenin might play a significant role in the reduction of diseases that plague the Western world. They hope it provides a way to prevent metabolic syndrome, MetS. The symptoms of this condition are hypertension, mid body obesity and faulty glucose metabolism. It often precedes cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes.

Naringenin is in grapefruit, oranges and tomato skins. However only 15 percent or less of the naringenin ingested ever absorbs in the gastrointestinal tract. The study used amounts of naringenin higher than eating just a few oranges a day could ever bring. In fact, according to the scientist consumption from simply dietary means would be close to impossible. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't eat that grapefruit, the best way to receive a daily dose of this flavonoid. You should, not only for the naringenin, but for also the many other benefits from this citrus fruit. Just don't eat it and then snarf down a huge burger and fries expecting your veins not to clot and the weight to drop. It's not going to happen even if the burger had a slice of tomato complete with skin.

There's even more good news about the flavonoid naringenin. Another study done by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Engineering in Medicine (MGH-CEM) found that it binds to the LDL cholesterol and blocks the viral secretions from hepatitis C viruses. These secretions are necessary for the virus to pass the infection from one cell to another. The group believes that by combining naringen with antiviral medication, they may be able to eradicate all signs of hepatitis C from patients. This too is still in the stages of animal studies.

Besides the heavy doses in grapefruit, oranges and tomato skins, you find this flavonoid in cooked tomatoes too. Adding these to your diet may not offset the entire extra fat intake, but every little bit helps. Reaching for an orange instead of a chocolate caramel crunch bar may be the real answer to weight and cholesterol problems. Selecting dietary supplements or daily vitamins that contain the citrus fruit flavonoid naringenin is another safe way to modify your intake.

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Obesity and Food Allergies

Obesity and food allergies may go hand in hand, but the question of which one is leading the two, remains. It’s the old dilemma, which came first the chicken or the egg, but instead, its whether the egg allergy caused the individual to plump up like a chicken or was it excess eating which caused the egg allergy.

One study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that there was an increase in food allergies in children as their weight passed from normal to overweight and obesity. The more the child weighed, the more they had food allergies. They found the association with an increased predisposition to allergies. Immunoglobulin E, the body’s antibody found in allergic response increased as the child’s body mass index grew.

Others looked at the same type of data and wondered whether the increased immunoglobulin E might be one reason the child was obese.

The study questioned whether a diet restricted to specific types of food might increase deficiencies and create a higher caloric intake. Regardless of which came first, the extra fried chicken or the egg allergy, it appears that there’s a link between the two. Childhood obesity and allergies, particularly food allergies, increased just as childhood obesity has in the past 20 years.

Another study showed that the increase in weight isn't from a sedentary lifestyle as once thought. Today, children get as much physical exercise as their parents did, if not more, yet there’s more fat children in the US and Europe. The problem lies in the food or the body’s reaction to the food.

Scanning the changes in food and lifestyle over the last 20 years and using the data on activity and obesity, you have to stop and wonder if both the obesity and food allergies are directly caused by the same factor, rather than causing each other. High fructose corn syrup, created in the 1960’s and thrust into the foods since the 1980’s, is a staple in the diets of all children in developed nations. Often called the crack of sweeteners, this additive is in almost everything from cereal to yogurt and is the second leading ingredient in processed food. Along with the increase of this additive, obesity increased, as did the allergy flag, an increase in immunoglobulin E.

Obesity, once uncommon in the classrooms is on a dramatic swing upward. In 1980, only 6 % of children in grades 1-6 were overweight. Today, the percentage skyrockets as it reaches almost 20 % of the early school age population. With the increase in weight also comes the increase in other diseases besides allergies. Some of these diseases take their toll and shorten the life of the child in later years. Others cause increased morbidity rather than mortality, increasing the pressures on the health care industry.

Obesity is now on a pandemic increase and yet little is done on a societal basis. Unlike smokers that are attacked by both media and society, it’s not polite to mention someone’s weight, particularly that of a child. The plague of obese individuals continues to rise and yet there still is no answer why. Regardless of which came first, the link between obesity and food allergies is obvious and needs to be investigated further.

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Heart Health Food

Finding heart health food that will keep your ticker ticking is actually a lot simpler than you think! The benefits of a diet that is good for your heart are innumerable and with a little bit of effort, quite easy to implement. With just a little bit of information to get you started, you'll find that preparing heart healthy food is a great way to eat and a very enjoyable lifestyle.

First, take a look at what foods are good for your heart; there are many of them, and they can be quite delicious.

Fish is a great heart healthy food. The omega-3 fats found in fish are terrific for your heart and with more fish in your diet, you can get away from eating red meat, which is a lot unhealthier for you. Wild Salmon is one of the best kinds of fish to eat in terms of good health.

You should always remember to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables; one great way to remember this is that the more colorful your diet is, the better it is for you. Tomatoes, leafy greens and beets are terrific for heart health.

Similarly, there are foods are bad for your heart and should be minimized if not avoided entirely. While sugars in excess can be problematic, make sure that you avoid things that are flavored with corn syrup especially high fructose corn syrup; this includes soda and many types of candy.

Foods that are high in oil are another group to avoid; donuts and French fries are quite high in trans fat as they have been fried in oil. Potato chips also fall into this category. When you are cooking, make sure to avoid using oil containing trans fat and margarine, both of which are poor health choices for number of different reasons.

Essentially, when it comes to eating healthy for your heart, you should remember the key is not to diet to reach a certain goal, but to create for yourself a new, healthier lifestyle. By eating hearth healthy foods, not only will you improve your health, you'll also improve things like muscle tone and reduce fat at the same time.

Eating well and creating good healthy eating habits will last a lifetime, something that the average fad diet does not take into consideration.

Remember, by eating foods like leafy green vegetables and fish, you can reduce your chances of heart disease and live more healthily, in addition to other benefits. People who eat while keeping their heart health in mind improve their appearance and their mood as well.

A healthy change in diet can reduce depression and give you more energy, so starting today make a change to heart health food, eat great tasting whole foods and enjoy the benefits for countless years down the road!

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