Seven classic teas for body detoxification and slimming in summer

Mangosteen tea - sweet alternative
You have to say bye bye to sweets in order to maintain a graceful body. But sometimes your eyes are bigger than your bellies. If there is a cup of genuine sweet tea with low calorie content, can you wrestle with this temptation? Mangosteen tea is such a good drink! Although it’s as sweet as sugar, there is almost zero calorie in Mangosteen tea.

Chrysanthemum tea - a guard against radiation
Made from white chrysanthemums and fine oolong tea, baked chrysanthemum tea is a necessity for those white collar workers and people who work in offices that are surrounded with electronic pollution. It is because an ingredient in chrysanthemum has detoxifying effects. It helps resist and cleanse harmful chemical or radioactive material in the body.

Pu’er tea - eradication of lower abdomen fat
Majority of Chinese teas have the effect of promoting fat metabolism, Pu’er tea is the master in eliminating excess fat. Ingredients of this tea contain elements that enhance the effectiveness of abdominal fat decomposition. Pu’er tea has a special flavor, but is not bitter.

Artemisia argyi tea - cleaning body fluid and relieving swelling
Edema, in particular a swollen face will affect the moods during your work. Swelling treatment is mainly performed through cleaning extra body fluid to relieve swelling. Consistent drinking of Artemisia argyi tea during days with edema has the effect of detoxification and diuretic. For those with no luck in long-term weight loss, having Artemisia argyi tea might be a good try.

Oolong tea - sobering you up with equivalent drink
In a banquet or a gathering, the warmer atmosphere, the more people drink. Drink an equivalent volume of oolong tea if you want to sober up early. Oolong tea can prevent the body from cold caused by energy deficiency, absorb the alcohol intake and the accumulated cholesterol in the body. It’s better to have the hot oolong tea for diuretic detoxification.

Aloe Vera tea - your assistant to quit smoking
It’s a nice enjoyment during smoking. But once there’re pathological changes caused by cigarette smoking, you’ll feel regretted. For your health quit it as soon as possible. Make a cup of Aloe tea whenever you have a craving for tobacco. The similar unique bitterness is the best substitute when you’re longing for that. In addition to helping you stop smoking, Aloe tea may promote body defecation and metabolism.

Chinese wolfberry tea
Chinese wolfberry tea is a traditional Chinese medicine. If there’s no defecation in three consecutive days, make yourself a wolfberry tea with no bitter taste. Drinking enough tea in the night will make you refreshed in the next morning.

SlimQuick female fat burner

Slim Quick diet supplement claims that it has one of the most advanced combinations of vitamins and herbals that are designed to help overweight women to lose weight and burn fat in a very efficient manner. They claim that they have done extensive research in fat loss and that their formula is very different from others on the market today.

Slim Quick claims that they promote weight loss with their product while enhancing existing energy levels. Most people who diet have problems with their energy levels dropping or causing them to feel bad. This leads to dieters being less enthusiastic about getting the required amount of activity needed to promote the level of weight loss that they want to achieve.

This supplement contains a combination of vitamins and minerals that are targeted to improve a woman’s metabolism and improve their health in general. These vitamins include Vitamin B-6, B-12, Vitamin D, Calcium, and Folic Acid. These are all required in a daily diet for female health and this is a good start for anyone.

The herbal formulas that are included in this product include green tea extract which increases metabolism naturally and is a powerful antioxidant. Caffeine which has been shown to increase the heart rate and metabolism of the body. Yerba mate and clary sage round out the rest of the Nutratherm Complex of this supplement. Yerba mate is an ingredient that is gleaned from South America and has been used for its ability to increase the metabolism and the ability to burn more fats.

The Cortifem Complex contains herbs that are designed to relieve stress and strain on the mind and body. This helps the dieter to lose weight without the added stressors. It also inhibits the adrenal responses that are responsible for storing additional fats in the body. These herbs include beta-sisosterol, phophatidylserine, rhodiola rosea root extract, and thesanine.

The Aquaplex Water Removing Complex is designed to eliminate water stores in the body. It also decreases water storage in the tissues and eliminates bloating. The herbs included in this complex are dandelion root and leaf, horse tail, uva ursi extract, and French maritime pine extract.

The Estrotrim Hormone Balancing Complex includes soy Isoflavins, and vitex agnes castus. This complex is designed to balance a woman’s hormones and keep it balanced to promote weight loss. It is also designed to prevent PMS and to help to control hunger.

The extend absorption and time released formula is designed to keep a level of the formula in the dieter’s system constantly to keep the bodies metabolic rate elevated all through the day without having peaks and valleys. It is also designed to help control hunger through the day as well.

This formula does contain a moderate amount of methylxanthines which include caffeine. These increase the heart rate and metabolism. They can cause headaches and dizziness in some people. They can also raise blood pressure so it is not recommended for anyone who has cardiovascular problems pre-existing.

Other people can be quite sensitive to these types of herbs. It is recommended that anyone who is sensitive or suspects they may be sensitive to these herbs, or has not tried this type of supplement to start out slowly and carefully in the beginning. It might be prudent to start with half the recommended dosage until it is seen how this formula will affect the individual.

It is also recommended that anyone who has an existing medical condition to consult with a physician prior to taking this supplement or any other to make sure it is safe for them to use.

Eat healthy to stay healthy

Permanent healthful eating pattern changes that still allow enjoyment and give you enough to eat is what is crucial. Here are tips on what’s thought to be healthful; ways to find healthful foods you enjoy and eat them more often; and how to begin to reduce the clearly unhealthful foods and to not miss them.

Eat at almost every meal; make a focused effort to always eat breakfast - even if it’s just a wake-up beverage, a piece of fruit or nonfat cheese, and your vitamin supplements; eat healthful snacks if you are hungry between meals or after your evening meal; avoid skipping lunch; and, once you switch to healthful foods, eat all you want - except of the healthful fats and oils you do include - eat those sparingly. Eating enough is extremely important: Doing so avoids getting extra hungry, running short on energy, or reducing your metabolism by triggering your body’s famine response. The following general principles seem to have widespread acceptance and to produce good results for good health.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables - particularly those that are nutrient dense or are high in soluble fiber

It’s probably also important to be moderate in eating those with a high glycemic index; and to eat whole fruit rather than drinking fruit juice. It’s usually far easier to add more fruit you already like and to learn recipes for vegetable dishes that you enjoy and to add more of those to your meals than it is to just try to eat less of the undesirable foods.

This may well be the most important of the three areas - because of the astonishing array of nutrients and micronutrients in fruits and vegetables that protect your heart and health - and the fact that it can be fun to add more of them you already like; to explore and develop new ways to add dishes and recipes that use them and that you enjoy; and to try fruits that you haven’t eaten or haven’t eaten in a long time.

Avoid or massively reduce animal fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol in your protein foods

In populations with a mostly vegetarian or vegetarian diet that average a daily cholesterol intake of 100 or less and are five percent or less saturated fat by calories there is virtually no heart disease or heart attacks. Only animal foods have cholesterol; and animal foods tend to be both higher in fat and to have fats that are much higher in saturated fat.

Eat beans, whole grains, or nonfat dairy products - or combinations for protein instead of meat, poultry, and fish at least two of your meals each day. Eat fish rather than poultry or chicken. When you do eat meat or chicken - eat smaller amounts, ideally in combination with vegetables; use leaner versions; use nonfat cooking techniques; trim all visible fat; trim skin from poultry; and, try to always eat onions with your meal - studies show they have a very strong de-clogging effect, whether cooked or raw, which will tend to protect you from the saturated fat and cholesterol in your meal. Avoid egg yolks; or use at most one or two a week. Use two egg whites or egg substitutes in cooking. And, try to eat onions with your meal if you do eat egg yolks.

New studies and sources strongly suggest you may find it safest and most effective:

* To use for protein mostly low-glycemic index beans like lentils or black-eyed peas; nonfat dairy foods; and perhaps fish;
* To use grains and starchy foods like pasta, potatoes and brown rice less much frequently and in smaller servings; and
* To use grains like barley, oats, and buckwheat that are either higher in soluble fiber or have lower glycemic indexes or both - and only in moderation; and to eat mostly whole grain foods in moderation or infrequently rather than flour-based foods in quantity.

Reduce your overall fat intake to a maximum of fifteen to twenty-five percent by calories - and saturated fat to five to seven percent

At least in the early stages - it may well be more effective to approach ten percent fat by calories. This means virtually no added fats or oils and avoiding any animal food that is other than its nonfat or lowest fat version.

Avoid or cut down sharply dairy fats like cream, butter, full fat cheese, whole milk; and two percent lowfat milk - butterfat is 65 to 70 percent saturated and these foods range from thirty five to one hundred percent fat! And, avoid margarine and processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils - there is evidence that the transfats these contain are at least as bad for you as saturated fat - and they should be counted as saturated fats for health purposes!

Since oils high in polyunsaturates may reduce your protective HDL levels and produce damaging free radicals when heated, we recommend you avoid them. The most commonly used of these in the United States are corn oil, safflower oil, and soy oil.

We recommend that you be very sparing in your use of the next technique when you are just beginning, if you are trying to break through a sticking point, or if you haven’t yet added exercise and supplements to your fat loss program. However, they can add a lot of flexibility and enjoyment and make your healthful eating style easier to stay on permanently if you are exercising regularly and once you have lost your excess fat - or most of it.

Fortunately, there is evidence that monosaturated oils as found in olive oil, canola oil, and avocados; nuts and seeds such as walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds; and oils with moderate amounts of omega three polyunsaturates such as are in fish are healthful when eaten in moderation. There is even some evidence they have heart and health protective effects!

And, eating these safer oils and fat-containing foods can help add enough flavor and satisfaction - and prevent the between meal hunger you may get with a nonfat diet - to enable you to enjoy your food; eat a wide variety of foods; and stay easily and permanently on a healthful eating plan.

Health Nut Wannabee Mom Soul Bared-Kind of Scary But Sometimes The Truth Hurts

If you are a loyal reader of this blog or entrecard dropper you will probably notice that my posts have been a bit scattered and my drops not quite so consistent. I am sorry and hope to be back on track soon. Things have been a little tough lately and I am going through some confusing times. I am like a cat and will land on my feet but the interim is hard and I am trying to figure out day by day how to move forward in a positive way. Don't worry as I always somehow come out on top and will this time too but have had some bumps and potholes on the road of life lately

Fortunately I am an independent and strong person and really believe that the things that hurt us the most are the things that we learn the most from. I really just thought that by forty I would have been ever so slightly more clever and smart enough to not get myself into these things in life . Oh well, it is what it is and now here I am learning some hard lessons again but very inspired that this will all make me a stronger and better person.

I am trying to catch up and get back up to par and hopefully soon will be right back where I was if not better.

A little inspiration-(it is one of those quote book times in my life)

Fall seven times, stand up eight-Japanese proverb

"I will love the light for it shows me the way. Yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars." Og Mandino

"We are still masters of our fate.We are still captains of our souls." Winston Churchill

"We are the choices we make." Meryl Streep

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling." Margaret Lee Runbeck

Another great thing in my corner is my mother (thank you mom) always told me that regardless of what happens you have no choice but to keep going, to not only survive but to thrive. I have always embraced that and know that whatever happens you cannot give in to that feeling of throwing the covers over your head and not getting out of bed. You have to get out of bed no matter how much you don't want to, you have to face whatever you are dealing with-there is no other way if you want to conquer whatever is hurting you. So, I will get up each day and keep going, figuring it all out and somehow I know inside that everything will be okay. If you are having hard times in your life just know that it will be okay and just keep going. All will be well.....

Hand Washing Tips to Fight Germs

Hand washing is very important to fight germs and help prevent the spread of infections. You should teach your kids at a young age the proper way to wash their hands. Here are some hand washing tips from Mommydocs.com.Please keep in mind that hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the
spread of germs and illnesses. Believe it or not, there is actually a correct
way to wash hands. Follow these steps to help you and your family stay
healthy.

• Wet hands with clean, warm water
• Apply soap (it does not matter whether you choose to use anti-bacterial soap or regular soap, both are proven to be effective when used correctly)
• Lather the soap over the hands and vigorously scrub all aspects of the hands including the fronts and backs of the hands, the wrists, between the fingers, and under the fingernails
• Continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds (it takes this long to loosen up the germs)Many recommend using a timer or having a young child sing a 20 second song in order to ensure proper length of scrubbing
• Rinse hands with warm, running water to remove all soap
• Dry hands with a clean towel or a paper towel
• If possible, use the towel to turn off the water from the sink, and to open the door (this will help prevent germ contamination to your just washed hands. If the paper towel dispenser is not automatic, be sure to push the lever and get some paper towel out before washing hands. After washing, you will just have to tear off the paper towel and contamination of your clean hands can be avoided.
• Alcohol based hand sanitizers are a great option when soap and running water are not available. Just be sure to use a product which contains at least 60% alcohol. If the hands are soiled (meaning they have dirt or residue on them) then washing with soap and water is the preferred method.
  

Directions for alcohol based hand sanitizers are as follows:
o Apply an appropriate amount of the product to the palm of the hand
o Rub into both hands, being sure to cover all aspects of the hands and
fingers
o Be sure to continue rubbing in the sanitizer until it has completely
disappeared and hands are dry (this is especially true when using on
children). Also, please keep the alcohol based hand sanitizers out of
the reach of children!!

Hands should be washed:

• Before eating meals
• Before, during, and after preparing foods (in particular uncooked meat/chicken/etc.)
• After using the bathroom (both at home and in public restrooms)
• After changing a diaper
• Before serving food
• After going to the store
• As soon as a child arrives home from school or daycare
• After touching pets or any type of animal
• After wiping your nose, coughing/sneezing, or touching the face
• After touching the trash
• After coming in contact with someone who is sick or touching any open areas of skin

Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice

An eight ounce glass of 100% pomegranate juice from PomWonderful contains twice as many antioxidants as the same amount of concord grape juice. Several clinical studies have been conducted with PomWonderful pomegranate juice. Researchers examined how pomegranate juice improves heart health, prostate health, diabetes, and many more age-related conditions.

Here are a few of the results from these studies. (source pomwonderful.com)

• After only three months, blood flow to the heart improved approximately 17% in a group that drank POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice, but worsened approximately 18% in the placebo group. The study included 45 patients with coronary heart disease.

• Drinking 8 oz of 100% pomegranate juice per day for two weeks lowered the incidence of LDL oxidation, believed to be a key factor in arterial plaque formation. This pilot study included 13 patients.
  

Pom Wonderful is the only brand that contains 100% pure pomegranate juice. Their juice is made from the "Wonderful" variety of pomegranates which is known for their unique combination of superior antioxidants, delicious taste and crimson color. The best part is Pom Wonderful pure pomegranate juice tastes so sweet. Have you had your pomegranate juice today? Visit Pom Wonderful for more information on the health benefits of pomegranate juice.

10 Essential Health Tips (The Basics to Practice Every Day)

"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." -Arabian Proverb

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

How to Get Bigger Arms

Okay this is something I can talk a lot about. I have been a “pune” for most of my life and I have always wanted to get bigger arms. Working out how to get bigger arms for a guy like me has been really tough at times. My metabolism is crazy and isn’t suited to building muscle. You also need the right diet and training for this kind of thing. Heres a quick article on how to make a good start on building muscle on your arms.

I won’t go too much into diet. The principles are relatively straight forward. You want to cut out the bad fats and eat as little fat as possible. You want to have 2-3 carbs to one part of protein. You want slow burning carbs which will slowly burn throughout the day and you want to be having five or six small, well-balanced meals a day, remembering not to eat after 8 o’clock if it can be helped.

For each muscle group when building muscle, keep the reps, low slow and methodical, focussing on your “form” (this is how you perform the movement). Ideally do 3-5 sets of 8-12 reps. Try not to do anymore than this and when doing the reps you should be struggling on the last few. Always remember do three exercises for each muscle group. So when I am doing chest I do 3 exercises with around 5 sets of 8-12 reps. The same applies to arms.

The muscles on the back of your arms are your triceps and the muscles on the front of the arm (the ones everyone shows off) are called your biceps. I usually work these two muscles on different days, although you can do them on the same day. Remember try to do three exercises on each muscle (thats 6 in total).

One exercise I love to do really works my biceps. Its called “21’s”. I often do three sets of this and then finish work on my biceps, its that effective some times. You take the dumbbells and use an under hand grip with your palms facing away from you. Keep your elbows close to your body with the weights down by your side. Then, for seven reps raise the weights from the elbow halfway up your body and then back down to your side. Then for the next seven reps take the weights halfway (middle of the body) and then move the weights to the top (near your shoulders). Then for the next seven, do the whole movement, from the bottom starting position all the way to the top.

This is an awesome workout and really works your muscles. Effectively you are doing two halves of the same exercises in the first 2 sets of seven, and then when you do the complete movement for the last seven reps, it REALLY works the muscles and finishes you off. Its without question my fave exercise.

As another tip, don’t over work your arms. Work on them once or twice a week and give them enough time to recover. Recovery, rest and diet are just as important as the exercises themselves.

If you want to share your fave arm exercises leave a comment or keep an eye on the blog for more tips, exercises and videos etc.

Take care.

Dry hair no more. Secrets revealed

Short hair or long hair. A healthy and glowing skin would be complete with a healthy and shiny hair.In order to have a satisfying and well conditioned hair. one secret revealed for us to prevent dry and damaged hair. Through this process it will help the hair to be well hydrated.


This is with the help of olive oil. Yes, olive oil. Staying too long under the sun can leave hair very dry and brittle with a lot of split ends.This were olive oil can help replenish lost moisture. Olive oil has essential fatty acids. These fatty acids comes from every coat of olive. It leaves hair soft, manageable and glossy.


One simple way of achieving this goal is to have an olive-oil hair mask. Here's a simple recipe for a homemade olive-oil hair mask. Mix 1 egg yolk, one cup coconut milk. One crushed avocado( you can also use avocado puree for a much smoother mixture) and 2 tables spoon of olive oil. Mix egg yolk and the coconut milk wait until rich and foamy. followed by the avocado fruit. mix them together until creamy. Finally, add the olive oil. You are now ready to use your olive-oil hair mask.


First, apply the mixture to your hair from root to tip. Leave it up to 15 minutes.You can cover your head if you want, this will quickly absorb the mixture.After 15 minutes, rinse well with warm water.. Then you can rinse it again with tap water. You will immediately see the big difference you can do this twice a week to maintain the softness of your hair.

how to lose weight immediately

ever felt that you want to lose weight, but don't know where to begin? Drop 5 lbs immediately with this steps. here's a a good start.
Begin with your daily habits. whats next? change it! here are 5 tips and tricks to try. and who knows, after a week or two you'll find yourself lighter.


1. Isn't popcorn always healthy? the answer is nope!. Even with the same brand, there can be a big calorie difference in microwave popcorns:

2 cups of flavorite theater style extra butter = 5 cups flavorite lite butter style popcorn


2. Chew on this s-l-o-w-l-y. If you always rush through meals. watch out. A study from University of Rhode Island showed that women who raced through a pasta lunch in nine minutes ate 646 calories. Those who took their time( about half an hour) consumed almost 70 fewer calories. And not only did they eat less- they felt fuller.


3. 24 calorie treat. If you're craving sugar, don't grab a candy. Avoid storing chocolates or ice cream in your fridge. try an almond stacked on top of a dried apricot- I taste like a cookie. but less the calories.


4. Drink water, lose weight. you've heard it again and again - h20 at zero calories, is the best diet drink in the planet. But if you're hooked on high-calorie beverages, you may want to check out this numbers: Researchers who tracked 240 over weight women found out that those who replaced sweetened drinks with water lost five more pounds on average, than those who didn't. Why these sips add up: A can of coke is 146 calories; A cup of grape juice 154 calories

Ways to lose weight fast , 4 easy tips

So many tips to loose your weight if you will just follow some of the articles in the archives before you'll probably on your way to loosing 5 lbs more. Now here's another tricks to help you lose more.

1. Refresh your routine - No longer feeling the burn from your daily walk? when you do your exercise your muscle memory kicks in. how? When your doing your routine, and your doing it over and over again. You yourself feels that it's like nothing is burning anymore, actually there still is but the problem is your body is giving you signals that you are bored. Challenge your body and use up more fuel by giving different muscle groups a jolt. Mix it up: Do some laps in the pool or try some high intensity power yoga. Balance your exercise, not only you lose weight but you feel the difference.

2. Best Diet breakfast - say goodbye to bagels. Researchers from Louisiana State University System tracked people on a low-cal diet and found that those who ate two eggs in the morning lost 65 percent more weight than those who had bagel breakfast with the same number of calories. Plus the egg eaters' cholesterol levels didn't go up. How did they shed the extra pounds? Compared to the bagel group, they felt fuller after breakfast and ate fewer calories during the day.

3. Listen to lose- Exercising to the right song can help you get fitter, report researchers from Brunel University in England. They found that music helped participants work out longer. They key is to find tunes that get you going (think James Brown's I feel good) . Once you sit down to eat, however silence is best. A study form Georgia state University showed that people munched more when music was playing.

4. Gobble before you gulp- Grab a snack before you sip. "Drinking caffeine or alcohol especially on an empty stomach, encourages insulin to floodgate into the bloodstream explains nutritionist Deborah Arneson. Rsult? The activation of cortisol, a fat storing hormone. If you can't live without your morning latte, drink only after a nibble of healthy fats- it stabilizes your blood sugar levels.

Lose weight and detoxify through fiber

There are so many ways to lose weight but you can start by proper diet and a daily dose of fiber.
Fiber is best known for it's ability to prevent or relieve constipation and promote bowel regularity. This is important because should our digestive processes go wrong. we may retain unwanted calories, fats and toxins after heavy meals. This may lead to variety of conditions-from obesity, diabetes, abnormal blood conditions to fatal coronary heart diseases or even colon cancer.

Fiber helps the digestive process by keeping food moving through the intestines- all the way to the colon or large intestine. A normal digestion lowers the risks of disorders like hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and the formation of small pouches in the colon called diverticulosis.
Weight loss is another main benefit. fiber has a filling effect, so you don't feel hungry all the time. If you don't eat too much, you don't gain as much.

Making fiber as part of your diet is a challenge in this day and age where the demands at work at home can put a strain on everything - including proper nutrition. Adults need from 20-35 grams of fiber daily. An amount you can get from fresh fruits nuts and vegetables. Fiber sources include:

• Dried beans and other legumes
• Bran cereals
• Sweet corn
• Whole wheat or whole grain
• Cereal products
• Broccoli
  
• Plums, pears and apples
• Raisins and prunes
• Green and leafy vegetables
• Nuts
  
• Bananas
• Carrots

Taking fiber not only helps you to lose weight but it actually helps you add more years to your life. There is really no-one shot solution to being healthy. But with proper diet and fiber intake can help you achieve your goal.

3 weight-loss tips to shed off lbs. easily.

Here are some tips that are very easy to follow. It may help you lose weight without too much pain.

1. Fresh air may lead you to work out more.
People who walked, hiked or biked on trails at least once a week were twice as likely to get 30 minutes of exercise almost every day as those who didn't head outdoors, say researchers from the University of Utah. So try to skip the gym every once in a while and get outside

2. Eating more calcium-rich food may help in the battle of the bulge.
Recent studies have suggested. A study of overweight people by Danish scientists hints at why dairy might help dieters: It seems to reduce fat absorption. After study participants ate meals that contained either a high or medium amount of low- fat yogurt and milk, their blood-fat levels were 15 to 19 percent lower than those of a group that ate only a small amount of dairy. Interestingly, this was true even when participants who were given the low dairy meals also took a calcium supplement. Good thing i love cheese.

3. Look for a quiet spot - People who sit in the more distracting parts of restaurants ( by a window or in front of a TV) eat considerably more, says Brian Wansick, Ph.d. Author of Mindless eating: why we eat more than we think. Commotion makes it eay to lose track of how much you're putting in your mouth. If you're making a reservation, request a quiet table. If you walk in and offered a table in a busier spot, ask for one away from the action -Jessica costole
So the next time you thought of eating in front of a TV, think again. You might have eaten more than what you think. It does affect your waistline.

Working out and paying attention to your diet can lead you to lose weight, but these tips may help you too lose some more even if your out of the gym and just taking your break. Have a nice weekend!

Milk, made in China.

Tainted milk from China is a serious matter.I bet most of you already got the news. We learned that several thousand babies in China are now seriously ill, Most of them have suffered acute kidney failure, with several fatalities, among those babies that are given the formula milk contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine. The number is far higher than was previously admitted by the Chinese authorities, according to the BBC.

The manufacturer, Sanlu, which is part-owned by New Zealand’s Fonterra Cooperative, had recalled all of its powdered milk products in Gansu, China. North-west province of China.

However, twenty-two more brands, including China Mengniu Diary Co and Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, of milk powder have so far been identified to contain the industrial chemical melamine.

“The majority of afflicted infants ingested Sanlu-brand milk powder over a long period of time, their clinical symptoms showed up three to six months after ingesting the problematic products,” Health Minister Chen Zhu told Bloomberg Asia.

While, this news scares a lot of mothers in China., What exactly is melamine?

Melamine is an organic compounds, a base with chemical formula C₃H₆N₆. Officially it is 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine in the IUPAC nomenclature system (CAS #108-78-1). It is has a molecular mass of just over 126, forms a white, crystalline powder, and is only slightly soluble in water.

It is used as a fire retardants, Melamine is used combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a very durable thermosetting plastic, and melamine foam, a polymeric cleaning product. The end products include countertops, dry erase boards, fabrics, glues, housewares and flame retardants.

Just imagine.. the chemical that is used to make our paper, tables, furniture and other stuffs, was found in milk?Milk for babies. This wasn't the first time melamine was reported. Remember when this chemical was found in dog food?



Sources: wikipedia, BBC, bloomberg asia
Chinadaily

Healthy food: Frozen berries?

Talking about Healthy foods. My daughter loves cherries and i knew it's healthy, but there's more nutrients behind those sweet berries. All the "berry" fruits such as cherry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry all have anti-inflammatory compounds that reduces cell damage. we know that cell damage may lead to cancer.

Raspberries. Raspberries are high in fiber. The production of fiber is actually higher compare to other berries. It is rich in Ellagic acid and Selenium. Both helps our body to prevent and protects it from cancer. Based on research studies, Raspberry or raspberry extract may actually reduce the risk of oral and liver cancer cells. Of course it still depends on your daily consumption.

A cup of raspberries, 2 to 3 times a week will be good enough for your body.Even cherries and cherry juice are healthy too they also contain ellagic acid like those in raspberries.

Strawberries are rich in Vitamin C, Folate, Fiber and anti-oxidants which are all good for the immune system.

Blueberries are very known for so many health benefits such as reducing the bad cholesterol in our body,thus preventing strokes and other heart problems. Very high in Anti-oxidants which is very much known to neutralize free radicals that leads to cancer and other diseases.

Now i know why my mother-in-law always tell me not display my fruits on the table. Especially, if it's not going to be eaten yet, She used to tell me to leave my fruits in the fridge, Frozen berries or other fruits has small amount of water that makes the fruit high in concentration of protective compounds compared to those fresh fruits.


image courtesy of www.trengovestudios.com

Healthy food, dried fruits?

Healthy food:Dried fruits or frozen fruit, which one is better? I love fruits no matter how it's done dried, frozen and of course fresh.

The nutrients of dried fruits depends on how long the fruit was around before it was dried. Some commercial dried fruits may contain an additional sulfur dioxide which can lead to asthma for some people, Now, you might be asking why sulfur? The sulfur is used to "fix" the color of the fruit.

But there are also no-sulfur dried fruits available in stores that you can try. So, what nutrients do you get from dried fruits?Here are some vitamins that you can get from dried fruits

Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6,

pantothenic acid

and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium,

phosphorus, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese)(courtesy of Wikipedia).

And because of water loss, that was experienced while it was dried. Dried fruits has a stronger taste or flavor. But these process also destroys most of the Vitamin C in the food, The levels of Vitamin C has been greatly reduced compared when it was fresh.

But i just want to share my favorite dried fruit... mangoes. i love 7D dried mangoes, This is just the best dried mangoes on the planet.

Eating healthy part 2: Durian. The hate me or love me fruit

Is this a healthy food to try or a fruit to avoid?

Durian. The first time i tried this was when i was 11 years old, The smell is really bad, and i just don't like it.. But that was then,(when i was young i tend to hate odd looking fruits) Well, I like it now more than before. My sister often tells me that people has only two views for this fruit " Hate it or Love it" All i can say is that I'm in between. It is known in South and East Asian Countries as the "King of all fruits".

Tracy asked me last time about the fruit with porcupine type skin. Well, there were 3 fruits on my mind that day. But for now I'll post Durian first. The smell may repel you but it really tastes good. So, What are the health benefits that you could get from Durian?

Durian is packed with proteins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytonutrients.

I can still remember my granny used to tell me that you can't just pick this fruit from a tree and eat. You have to wait for this fruit to fall from the tree. And wait for few more days until it ripened before you can actually eat it. This fruit is known to be high in Tryptophan,

Tryptophan increases brain levels of serotonin and melatonin, both are known as sleep-inducing hormones. So it helps to relaxes your brain and get sleepy. This fruit maybe consider as a good sleeping aid. If your travelling to South East Asian Countries, you may want to give this fruit a try. Expect that the smell would be unpleasant but it's worth the try.

image courtesy of www.nurulrahman.com

Brain Exercise. Squeeze your head.

Brain exercise or mind exercise, what do we get from it? Last time, i gave you the foods that will help you increase your memory. Now, I'm here to share to you on how you can help your brain. Don't forget that not only our body needs exercise, our mind as well.

When i was in high school(third year to be exact) My math teacher never forgets to give us some mind exercise before we start our class. I hate it at first, but as weeks passed by. Me and my classmates began to enjoy it. Mind exercise not only helps you in your memory but it also helps in retaining mental capacity. It helps us to stay sharp as we age. And you never know it might also help to prevent age-related mental or memory problem such as dementia.

Here are some mind exercises that you can do anywhere.

• Try to switch your wrist watch to your other arm, for example your watch is always on your right arm. Wear it on your left arm for a change. The next time you check the time. You might still be looking on your right arm.
• Recite the alphabet backwards.
• Try to remember the lyrics of an old song
• play sudoku
• Look at your enemies point of view. Ask yourself and answer.
• Name all the movies you hate/like/
• If your driving try to explore new ways.
• Memorize your credit card number.

There are still so many ways to exercise our mind. So the next time you found yourself in a traffic. Stay cool and exercise your mind.

How to lose the holiday weight gain.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New year. So many holidays and of course........ feast! who doesn't love to eat right? especially when everybody is enjoying eating and having fun. But of course sometimes we tend to forget our diet, counting calories, food portions. etc. I'm sometimes guilty of this too.

Here are some tips that hope to help you lose some holiday weight gain.

1. Eat fruits and vegetables. They'll give you more food and less calories. You just came out of holiday feast so better start eating healthy foods and gain power not fat.

2. Spice things up. A little salsa can add a lot of flavor to a baked potato-and for few calories. I know, many people may not like to eat boring or bland healthy foods. So spice up your food a little.

3. For sweets. just grab low-fat yogurt instead of ice cream. There are many low fat yogurts around nowadays. You might thought of grabbing a low fat ice cream, but better not.

4. Besides cutting calories, a high fiber diet help prevent cancer, heart disease and digestive illness. So wake up with an oatmeal breakfast or just get a high fiber lunch and your off to lose weight.

5. Exercise everyday. Oh yes! You ate a lot last holiday, so lose that fat!

Everything may seem to be very hard, but i still think that if you put your heart to it. I mean discipline is one major key to lose weight! We still have few more holiday feasts to come so if you think you are having a hard time to lose weight. Then control yourself.

Why fruit juice? And not soda.

Many people nowadays love different types of drinks, soda's, soft and hard drinks and a lot more, But ill give you reasons why you should stick to your fruit juice.!

Orange fruit. Orange trees are evergreen trees that grow to the heights of between 8 and 15 meters when fully mature. They are supposed to have originated from south and Indo-China and are acknowledged to have been in cultivation for thousands of years. The fruit is round, thick-skinned with a reddish-yellow color when ripe. One orange contains about 50 milligrams of Vitamin C, or about two thirds of an average person's daily need. It is deliciously edible and juicy fruit when squeezed-whether to be drank immediately or packed, canned bottled at the factory for later consumption.

Lemon, which alleged originated form Burma or Northern India, The fruit itself is yellow and oval with an acidic, detoxifying juice that is often made into lemonade mixed with water and dome sugar. Lime, on the other hand, is one of the most cultivated citrus fruits in the tropics and is much like a lemon but is much smaller and more acidic.

Not all fruit juices are created equal. Products labeled "fruit or juice cocktails" are in all probability primarily a water-sugar mix and only five to ten percent juice. Also an important distinction: orange, grape and other fruit-flavored soft drinks contains no juice. In cases where you have 100 percent juice, a 3/4 cup unfortified serving of grape juice give you 0 percent Vitamin C of the recommended daily allowance (RDA_. Pineapple 33 percent, grapefruit 90 percent and orange juice a full 100%.

Many juices and the fruits they're from have vaunted healing and medical powers, and welcome role as preventers of uncalled-for visits to the doctor. Relief of skin ailments, stomach aches, headaches, indigestion and fevers plus counteractions of colds, cough and bronchial disease are just few of the positive effects known to be elicited from regular consumption of a wide variety of them.