Saturday, February 02, 2008

Aromachology and Aromatherapy - Do You Know The Difference?

Aromachology and Aromatherapy both promote the positive effects of fragrance on mood and emotion but that may be where the similarity ends. References in commercial writing often blur their distinctions leaving many readers confused. Read on and learn the difference.

Aromachology is the scientific study of the effects of fragrance on human psychology and behavior. This term was coined in 1989 by what is now the Sense of Smell Institute, a division of The Fragrance Foundation, which in turn is the non-profit, educational arm of the international fragrance industry. Aromachology emphasizes controlled scientific study, deals only with the psychological effects of fragrance and considers both natural and synthetic odorants. Aromachology is driven by corporate sponsorship and ultimately endeavors to identify fragrance applications that have commercial opportunity.

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant essential oils to improve physical health as well as psychological health. The term was first used in 1928 by French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse to describe the healing action of aromatic plant essences but the use of herbs and plant oils dates back to antiquity. The practice of Aromatherapy remains an integral part of folk medicine. The pharmacology of essential oils is seldom studied scientifically as there is no commercial incentive to do so. Aromatherapy uses only pure, natural essential oils, each with specific attributes for healing, and how they smell is secondary to their therapeutic action.

The two disciplines appear to overlap where aromatherapy uses inhalation of diffused oils to treat conditions related to mood and emotion, such as anxiety, depression, lethargy, or irritability. But even in this circumstance, there is an important distinction.

Aromatherapy does not endorse the use of artificial fragrances which have no therapeutic value and can not affect mood beyond the psychological effects of "odor memory". On the other hand, researchers in Aromachology will point out that the special virtues of essential oils are not supported by a substantial body of clinical evidence. But is there really a conflict?

The fact that our emotions are affected by fragrance is widely accepted. Memory and emotion are often strongly associated with odor. We have all experienced it. A whiff of a particular odor and our minds are suddenly flooded with a memory and the emotions associated with that memory. There is an anatomical basis for this phenomenon. Within the human brain the primary olfactory cortex, which processes information about odors, is directly connected to the amygdala, which controls the expression and experience of emotion, and the hippocampus, which controls the consolidation of memories.

These are primitive functions that have been around since the time in early evolution when we needed to use our sense of smell for survival. Controlled studies would suggest that our appreciation of an odor and our emotional response to it, are determined by the emotional context in which the odor was first encountered, even if the association is subtle and we are not consciously aware of it. This is why our appreciation of odors is such a personal matter and why there are significant differences in odor preference from one culture to the next.

Both natural and synthetic odorants can trigger a psychological response which is at the heart of Aromachology but only the appropriate essential oil will cause a specific physiological response which is the healing goal of Aromatherapy.

Are the claims of Aromatherapy unproven? It is true that there is little scientific research into the pharmacology of essential oils. Lack of funding is the primary reason. Essential oils are not patentable and so with a few exceptions there is no commercial incentive for conducting research. On the other hand, thanks to Aromachology controlled studies have validated some of the historical claims for essential oils. For example, it has been proven that Rosemary enhances cognitive performance, Peppermint is invigorating and Lavender is relaxing. The practice of Aromatherapy has withstood the test of time. Within western cultures its popularity as a complementary medicine continues to grow.

In reality there is no conflict between Aromachology and Aromatherapy because they have different agendas and neither invalidates the other. In the end, Aromachology may prove to be of great benefit to Aromatherapy by adding the weight of modern research to the large body of common knowledge that has supported it for hundreds of years.

Lead In Herbal Medicines - Alarm or False Alarm?

It seems that every week there's a story about lead being found in one or another consumer product. The public is outraged, lawyers sue, and people grow worried. We are alarmed by the presence of lead, but there are scant details about the nature of the problem. How harmful is lead? What is the evidence of its harm, and how can we avoid it?

The public has a right to be warned of hazards, but are Chinese medicinal herbs, taken at correct doses, really a hazard, or are the levels generally found in these products really safe and incidental? Many questions remain. There is evidence that the compounds found in herbs are less likely than free lead to bind with elements in our body. Does this make them less toxic? Are levels in plants declining naturally over time? Does lead play a role in the effectiveness of herbal medicines?

Discourse on this subject is sorely needed. Unfortunately, information from both government and media sources, tend to provoke hysteria rather than educate. The most extreme examples of misuse are brought before the public, and everyone blames the medicine rather than misuse of the medicine, which may be the real story. As a result many people have become as mistrustful of herbs as they are of pharmaceuticals. Fanning the flames of mistrust are California Proposition 65 warnings appearing on many herbal medicines.

In California, many people have become accustomed to these ubiquitous signs, labels, and brochures warning of dangers lurking in their food and household products. Prop. 65 labels warn that products contain various substances that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. In the case of herbal medicines, trace amounts is almost always the reason.

But are these warnings really accurate? For example, labels warn that lead causes cancer, but what evidence supports such a conclusion. Apparently, the warning is based on evidence that high doses have been shown to cause kidney cancer in laboratory animals bred to be susceptible to cancer. However, where is the evidence that such exposure causes cancer in humans? The one study of workers, exposed to high concentrations, showed no increase in the incidence of kidney cancer. Is this really evidence enough to make people fearful of herbal medicines?

After surveying all the science available, Kyle Steenland, PhD and Paolo Boffetta, MD, in their article Lead and Cancer in Humans: Where Are We Now (The American Journal of Industrial Medicine, September 2000, vol. 38, issue 3, pages 295 - 299), conclude that the evidence that lead causes cancer in humans - is weak.

This doesn't mean that lead is safe for us. Far from it, lead is toxic to humans because it can replace other metals in our body such as calcium, zinc, and iron, creating abnormal molecules in our enzymes which then fail to carry out normal body functions. Lead poisoning, also known as painter's colic or plumbism, can result in damage to the kidneys, heart, and nervous system. This is not new information. In ancient Rome, many ills were attributed to lead, which was used in medicine, jewelry, wine, plumbing, and make-up. As early as 250 BC, Nicander of Coloform wrote about lead-induced anemia. The Roman remedy for poisoning was documented to be mallow or walnut juice with wine. Lead has been with us since the beginning of civilization.

Lead is an element found in all the earth's soils, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Lead is also found in the air as a component of dust. Lead levels vary from ½ per million (ppm) to about 10 ppm in soils sampled far from industrial pollution. Lead exists in anything eaten, including all food, beverages, drugs, and supplements.

There is no doubt that some environmental lead comes from industrial pollution. Over 300 million tons of lead, mined in the twentieth century, has returned to our environment via leaded paint, fuels, "tin" cans, and plumbing. However it's unfair to single out pollution alone for the presence of lead. Even without any human activity, it would still exist everywhere, as it does in the ancient igneous rocks formed from our planet's natural volcanic activity. Our bodies always contain some lead, normally about .05 ppm. Healthy human bones contain 20-40 ppm of this element.

The typical American diet is said to contain 15 - 25 micrograms or more of lead daily, mainly originating in fruits and vegetables. Other exposures to the air, water, and industry can result in up to 200 millionths of a gram consumed daily. Typical doses of herbal medicine can add 3 to 15 millionths of a gram per day.

Though these figures might sound high, they are actually quite low. The amount of lead in our bodies today is actually the lowest in recorded history. Thirty or more years ago, when lead was in gasoline and paint, we absorbed five to ten times as much as we do today, yet still there is no evidence, despite today's warnings, that our grandparents suffered any ailments whatsoever because of their exposure to lead. If lead really did cause cancer, might not the decline in lead exposure result in a similar decline in cancer rates? On the contrary, while exposure has declined precipitously, most cancer rates have risen. Is it possible that fears of lead may have been inflated, and that lead may not be the environmental bogey man we have presumed it to be.

No one doubts that lead is bad for you at toxic levers, but at what levels? Herbal practitioners know that lead can actually be good for you in certain instances. Lead has a long history of cautious use as medicine. The Chinese herbal formula "Lead Special Pill" harnesses the "weight" of lead to settle the lungs in certain cases of asthma. The formula is prescribed at precise doses for periods of no longer than two weeks, and is not given to children or pregnant women. It has been in use safely since the year 1040.

The fact in medicine is not an apology for lead in the environment. Eight thousand years of observation has shown us that lead is mostly not good for you, so there is absolutely no reason to introduce it into the environment, no excuse for putting lead paint on children's toys. Laws have solved this problem to a great degree, drastically reducing the lead in our surroundings.

Removing lead from our plants, animals, earth and water is much more difficult. Eons of volcanoes and chimney smoke have dusted our planet with trace amounts. The latest detection technology shows that both the ocean's foam and the organic greens you purchased at the health food store, probably contain lead. A chocolate bar may contain more than ten doses of herbal medicine.

If this is so, why are there no warning labels on a chocolate bar? The curious reason is, of course, money. The chocolate industry had the millions of dollars needed to go to court and prove that all the lead in chocolate occurs there naturally, so it cannot be considered a contaminant. Unfortunately, few of the small herb companies sued under proposition 65 had the resources to prove that the lead occurring in their products was also natural. That's the only reason why you'll find lead warnings on herbal medicines, but not on candy.

But is chocolate or herbs really a health problem deserving of warning? There's a lot of evidence that a lot of people have eaten a lot of chocolate and taken a lot of herbs without succumbing to mortal disease. Are California proposition 65 warning labels overly alarming? We know that reduced lead pollution has already reduced the amount lead in our bodies. The same process is already reducing the amount of lead in plants, and today's plant medicines probably have less lead in them than they might have a generation ago.

There is, and always has been, lead in every herbal medicine. This is why many governments throughout the world have created appropriate standards for lead in herbal medicines. For example, Japan allows 20 parts per million (ppm) for total metals in herbal medicines. The World Health Organization allows 10 ppm for lead. The Australian TGA allows 5 ppm for lead in a product. Germany allows 5 ppm as well. The US Pharmacopoeia has no standards for herbs, but allows 3 ppm in drugs.

Most Chinese herbal products test at an average of 1-3 ppm, which is considered safe and incidental by all international standards for medicine. However, California's Proposition 65 requires warning at only 1/2 ppm in food, and in California, herbal medicines are considered food rather than drugs. Prop 65 allows the sale of these products, however it requires a warning.

Though they might be technically correct, whether or not these warnings are actually educational or even informative is another matter. Certainly warnings create fear among consumers; fears that become associated not only with lead, but the product, the brand, and by association, all of herbal medicine. We believe that this fear of herbs, based on misinformation, is bad for everyone except the pharmaceutical industry, which by the way, is allowed six times as much lead in their products - without posting any lead warning.

Friday, February 01, 2008

10 Steps to Flawless Makeup

Applying flawless makeup can be quick and easy if you know the proper steps and techniques. These are ten steps to make to a flawless looking face. They are quick, and many steps take under one minute, so you can complete your total look in less than ten minutes. Let's get started!

Concealer helps hide imperfections (redness, under eye circles, acne) and make them nearly invisible. Pick a shade as close to your natural skin color as possible. Dab on lightly and blend outward, feathering the edges so that you do not have a straight line across your face.

Foundation does not have to be applied over your whole face - just where you want to even out the color. Pick a shade that matches your jaw line. That way your face will not be a different shade than your neck, which is very unnatural looking!

Loose powder applied all over your face helps to set your makeup so that it lasts longer and stays where you put it.

Blush gives you a healthy glow. It should be applied to the apples of your cheeks and drawn outward just a little (to find your cheek's "apples" just smile. The part of your cheek above your smile and below your eyes is the apple of your cheek).

Eye shadow is important to bring out your eyes. It can help disguise many features - close set eyes, wide set eyes, tired eyes, etc. Using the right colors can really bring attention to your eyes. Place a light base shade over your lids and a darker color along the crease line. An even lighter shade can go along the brow bone to highlight the area. If your eyes are close set, place the darker color on the outer two-thirds of your eye only to help draw them apart.

Eye liner helps to add definition to your eyes. Black or dark brown liner works well on practically everyone. Just lining the top lid will make your eyes look larger. Line the bottom along your lashes for a more dramatic look.

Mascara is next. Turn the mascara wand vertically and brush just the tips of your lashes before turning the wand and sweeping your lashes from the base to tips. This will make your lashes appear longer. Also, if you curl your lashes, do it three times - once at the base, once in the middle and once near the tips. This will give you a better and longer lasting curl.

Brow color: This is often overlooked. Although it is simple, and adds barely-there color, it makes a definite impact on your overall look. Just make sure to pick a color as close to your natural color as possible, and use light, short strokes to apply.

Lip liner adds definition to your lips and helps stop your lipstick from feathering. For a more natural look, match the lip liner to your lips - not your lipstick. If you line your lips and then fill in the lines with lip liner before your apply your lipstick, your lipstick will last longer.

Lipstick finishes the look. The color you choose here can influence your whole look. Go neutral or light for a natural or romantic look, or darker and brighter foe a more dramatic look.

These steps can be customized for different looks. You can go from a natural or professional look using matte shades to a romantic or dramatic look using darker or frosted shades. You only need to change the intensity of the colors to change the mood.

The Truth About Cellulite

Over the past 10 years or so of my career, I have noticed that most women are concerned with a lot of the same issues. Cellulite is one of the most repeated concerns women have voiced. The word "cellulite" was first recorded in a French medical journal about 150 years ago. Cellulite was then believed to be a disease. Although the medical community has since abandoned that idea, most women I know would refute that conclusion.

One of the biggest misconceptions about cellulite is that it occurs due to weight gain. The truth is, even very thin women can and do have cellulite. All my thin clients with cellulite will attest to that. In fact, cellulite is actually a skin problem. Did any of you know that? I'm not sure that even some so-called experts know that. I'll say it again: cellulite develops on a woman's body because of her skin, NOT fat!

Cellulite is obviously not a simple one dimensional problem. There are various contributing factors, however, the main issues are found in the skin: its structure, elasticity and thickness. In women, the connective tissue lies up and down, parallel to itself, with fat cells lying below it. It actually has large spaces in between, which makes it very easy for the fat cells below to push up toward the surface of the skin. Ironically, fat cells do not push toward the surface of the skin if you gain weight. In fact, it is only able to push up toward the surface when the thickness and elasticity of the skin are diminished. Then the fatty deposits are trapped within the connective tissue, causing the dimpled, puckered look we all despise. The cause of the loss of thickness and elasticity is collagen and elastin breaking down. Want to know why guys don't have cellulite as much as women? Men's connective tissue actually fits very close together in a criss-cross pattern, with no gaps, thus preventing the fat from pushing up towards the surface of the skin.

Elastin and collagen diminish with age in everyone. But external factors play a part as well. The environment, one's diet, sun exposure and lifestyle also play a big part. How can we prevent the skin from losing elasticity and thickness? The body must be assisted in producing collagen and elastin. Nutritionally, one can eat a diet rich in foods we know aid the body in its production of these essential proteins. Eggs are rich in amino acids, which help produce collagen. Cucumber and spinach strengthen the skin with silica and lecithin respectively. Pineapple is anti-inflammatory- it helps fight water retention and aids in the healing of damaged collagen fibers. Also its very high in vitamin C. Eat pears to detox from pollutants and to stimulate the lymphatic system. Oranges are excellent sources of vitamin C and contain bioflavonoids, which help circulation and strengthen capillaries. Broccoli contains alpha lipoic acid, which helps prevent the destruction of collagen from sugar. You get the idea.

Externally, one can do a few things at home for the skin on the body. Exfoliation is essential- the slight abrasion will trigger the skin's healing mechanism which helps the synthesis of collagen and elastin. I would recommend using an organic scrub in the shower twice a week all over the body. After every shower in the morning, it is essential that one use an organic hydrating cream. This provides the skin with the vital nutrients it needs to replenish the damage that occurs from our environment. It will also serve as a protective barrier between your skin and the pollution we walk around in daily.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Herbal Remedies to Beat Colds and the Flu

Our approach to colds and the flu is comprehensive and holistic. Just as in our most comprehensive and integral health and wellness programs, it works best to look at the whole person, taking into account many different aspects of wellness health care and then nourish and support the body's own natural means of keeping itself well.

If you've been interested in a more natural approach to colds and flu and in taking better care of your whole self you should know:

Over the counter drugs that are designed to eliminate the symptoms of the cold - ease congestion, stop the cough, soothe the sore throat - actually interfere with the body's protective immune responses. The condition may seem to get better because of the masking of the symptoms, but actually all that has happened is that the body's natural immune response has been curtailed. Over the counter cold remedies do nothing to fight cold viruses or boost the immune responses so they can have little effect on the duration of colds.

Of the five antihistamines commonly used to treat colds, research shows that only one of them may actually help dry a runny nose.

Researchers have found that over the counter drugs may have no benefit for preschoolers.

Decongestants can produce side effects like jitters and insomnia.

Mucus, tears, and saliva are saturated with IgA antibodies. Mucus is a genetically engineered antibiotic substance that contains specific antibodies to your current infection. Thus when you take an over the counter decongestant that dries mucus secretions during a cold or flu you may be reducing your immune responses and contributing to lengthening the duration of your infection. It's better to take substances that thin and liquefy the mucus and keep it flowing freely with plenty of liquids.

Herbs like licorice may deal with excess mucus through a moistening action, loosening mucus and making it flow more readily out of the body. Other herbs that may help to do this include marshmallow and slippery elm.

Echinacea and Goldenseal are probably the most frequently used herbs for colds and flu in the United States:

Clinically Echinacea is not generally considered to be a major herb for working with the flu although it is often used as an auxiliary herb. Research suggest that Echinacea may be particularly helpful at the onset of a cold or flu. If taken early enough in the appropriate dosages it may contribute to heading off a cold or flu.

Once the cold is well established, though, Echinacea by itself is not the most effective herbal approach. After the cold or flu has taken hold Echinacea continues to be useful in combination with other herbs and it helps shorten the duration and severity of the infection. By itself Echinacea is not usually sufficient to knock out a cold or flu.

Taking Goldenseal in the early stages of a cold or flu may actually make the condition worse by drying up the mucus membranes. This inhibits the mucus, saturated with antibodies to fight the bacteria, virus or other microbes, from working.

Clinically Goldenseal is used for subacute and chronic infections of the mucus membranes but it is not usually thought to be appropriate for use in the acute stage.

Goldenseal works as a cleanser and anti-inflammatory. It can be helpful at very specific times in very specific doses in a cold. But there is not a single study that shows that Goldenseal works as a cold fighter.

Even better cold & flu herbs:

Black elder is another traditional herbal remedy that has been shown that it may have good effects on the flu. A recent clinical trail showed that a preparation of black elder ended cases of the flu within three days and also boosted the immune system responses. Oregon grape can be used as a contemporary substitute for Goldenseal and may be much better than even Echinacea for use with the common cold.

Peppermint contains compounds that can relax the airways and open congested sinuses and nasal passages.

Ginger appears to fight inflammation and pain. It also appears to acts as an expectorant and have warming effects that can be helpful if you are chilled.

Yarrow fights inflammation and muscle spasm and promotes sweating. It has long been used against colds and flu.

Thyme is an expectorant and appears to fight microbes. Its flavonoids may help decrease smooth muscle spasm which may assists in opening tight airways.

Mullen is a demulcent which contains mucilagous substances that coat and soothe irritated respiratory linings. It may help to loosen a cough and fight viruses.

More natural herbal remedies:

St. John's Wort has been shown in test tubes studies to inhibit influenza A viruses and parainfluenza virus but not rhinovirus (a cold virus). Osha has traditionally been used in the Rocky Mountains as the most important plant for treating respiratory infections. Osha is used extensively to treat colds, flu, and bronchial infections. The tincture or tea is antibacterial.

Boneset is used as a traditional remedy for the flu. Traditionally, Boneset was used as a major remedy for the flu, fevers, and as a general tonic. It has been used to treat both acute and chronic conditions. In one study the immune stimulating polysaccharides in Boneset were found to be ten times more potent than Echinacea polysaccharides.

An herbal bath may be an effective remedy for easing cold symptoms and increasing immune responses. It may help to nip them in the bud. During the bath the essential oils of the herbs are released by the hot water. These oils are believed to be absorbed through the pores of the skin and through the nose and mouth mucus membranes. Absorption through the mucus membranes may bring the oils into contact with the upper respiratory tract where they are able to exert their antibacterial effects.

9 Tips for Preventing Nail Fungus

Prevention has always been the best remedy for any kind of ailment or infection. The same goes with nail fungus especially since it takes a long time for nail fungus to be removed. Curing it as soon as symptoms appear will prevent the infection of your other nails therefore saving you of unnecessary pain and trouble.

Nail fungus can infect anybody. Excessive sweating on your feet and hands, defects in the nails and people with reduced immune system are susceptible to nail fungus infections. However, it does not mean that you have an immune system problem if you develop a nail fungus infection. Moreover, it is contagious and should be treated as soon as it appears. But do not fret, nail fungal infections are treatable.

Here are some preventive measures you can do to avoid getting nail fungus:

1. Wear protective shoes or slippers when you use public facilities such as gym showers, locker rooms and swimming pools. A lot of people use these facilities and you never know if someone infected has just used the shower stall you are using. Remember nail fungus is contagious.

2. Keep your nails clean, short and dry. Trim your nails regularly and in a straight line. Dry your hands and feet thoroughly after bathing especially in between your fingers and toes. Fungi growth occurs mostly on damp areas.

3. Use anti-fungal sprays and powders in your shoes or on your feet to eliminate any fungus that might be present. Avoid using the same shoes everyday to give it time to air dry especially if you sweat a lot. Same goes with your socks. If you sweat excessively change your socks and alternate between open toed sandals and closed shoes.

4. Wash your feet regularly and dry them well. Ditch the nail polish to cover up an existing fungal infection. It may look nice but it can trap the moisture and fungus in your nails and make it worse.

5. Go to a reputable pedicure and manicure salon. Make sure that they sterilize their instruments after every customer. Or you can bring your own just make sure you sterilize them as well even if you are the only one using it. It will keep fungal growth at bay.

6. Wash your hands after touching or putting medication on an infected nail. It can infect the other nails on your hands.

7. Don't pick at the skin around your nails or pluck "hangnails" off of them. This might cause the skin to break and give access to germs and fungi.

8. See a doctor at the first symptoms of nail fungal infection. The earlier it is treated the better it is for you.

9. Eat a well balanced diet to keep your immune system healthy. It will help you fight bacteria, viruses and germs that can cause nail fungus.

As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth an ounce of cure." This holds true with nail fungus. It is always wise to stick to some precaution that will bring you relief from nail fungus infection.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Get a Healthy Body with a Healthy Diet

WHO (World Health Organization) defines health as a state of complete mental, physical, and social well-being; not only the absence of infirmity or disease.

It is well said and well proven that there is always a healthy mind in a healthy body. Better health is directly related to a person's well being -- mentally and socially too. By maintaining good health, you'll not only feel better about yourself, but you'll also live well too.

Following a healthy diet is crucial to a better health because a good diet helps to prevent critical diseases such as obesity, heart attacks, and strokes. A good diet will also be helpful to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and celiac disease. And if you need to prevent vitamin deficiency and loss of muscle strength, you have to eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly.

Heart attacks and obesity are two major health problems for people living in today's high stress working environment. Unfortunately, most of the working people eat high calorie food that their body usually does not burn. As a result of their high calorie intake, these people tend to have less physical exercise, which finally results into obesity. Obesity can then lead to other diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure just to name a few.

To prevent obesity and maintain a healthy weight you need to eat low calorie food. Fruits and vegetables are great energy food, which you can eat in a large amount without thinking of calories. Vegetables and fruits contains large amount of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats necessary for healthy bones, organs, muscles and nerves. Vitamins and minerals found in green leaves and juicy fruits are essential for normal body metabolism.

Clearly, eating a well-balanced diet which includes fruits and vegetables are an important part of a good diet. Everyone can benefit from eating more of them, and eating a variety of them is as important as the quantity you consumed. Most importantly, it's critical to also include regular exercise into your well-balanced diet if you want to maintain a health body.

Eat Your Heart Healthy - Avoiding Trans Fats

By now I trust most of you are aware of the dangers of trans fatty acids (TFAs). These oils are hydrogenated to increase their shelf life. During this process the oils break down and the TFAs created pose many dangers to your health including heart disease and cancer. They also lower "good" HDL cholesterol and raise "bad" LDL cholesterol.

"TFAs may also have adverse effects on cell membranes and the immune system, and may promote inflammation and aging" according to Dr. Andrew Weil. Increasing research proves that inflammation is a significant factor in an incredible number of diseases.

To better your health and extend your life, you'll want to reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids from your diet.

The first step is a thorough kitchen cleansing. Go through your cupboards, pantry, refrigerator and freezer and start reading labels. Look for the words "hydrogenated oils", "partially hydrogenated oils", "margarine" and "vegetable shortening". When you find any of these words, toss the offending item directly into the trash bin.

Do not hesitate. Yes, you spent money on these foods and it feels wasteful. But the money and suffering you will save later in hospital visits well outweighs the cost of that pack of cookies.

Next, become a grocery store detective. I never buy anything without reading the ingredients label first. This is even more important, in my opinion, then the Nutrition Label. I like to know exactly what I'm putting into my body. Knowledge is power.

As you get started in your detective work you may be surprised how hard it is to find foods without hydrogenated oils in certain parts of the supermarket.

It's not impossible though. As consumers are becoming more educated, food manufacturers are trying harder to meet this new demand. If you do take the time to read labels, you can find alternative versions of your favorite foods. Look for 0g next to Trans Fats on the Nutrition Label.

Of course the best way to avoid trans fatty acids and other toxins is to reduce or eliminate processed foods from your diet. Fast foods and baked goods are the best sources of these dangerous oils.

So leave the bright, shiny packages on their shelves. Do most of your shopping in the fresh food aisles of your grocery store and choose lots of organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and lean protein. You'll make a tremendous difference to your health.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Rating the Top Anti Cellulite Creams

Cellulite can be one of the biggest causes of embarrassment for women of all ages. However, today there are several anti cellulite creams available that are effective in getting rid of cellulite and keeping it at bay. However, ratings for various creams are hard to come by, and many companies sell cheap imitations of the best cellulite creams. These imitations don't do much more than moisturize your skin, and are unable to fix the problem.

Cellulite is caused by a number of factors. First, a diet high in fats and little exercise builds up fat cells and toxins in your body. When these fat cells and toxins are right under the skin, the skin becomes weighted down, forming dimples and marks that are known as cellulite. So, cellulite creams that earn high ratings from consumers will work to take care of the problem at the source.

The best cellulite creams are able to go through the skin to start breaking up fat cells and toxins that are right under the skin. The cream also serves to tighten your skin and limit water retention, giving your skin a healthier and younger appearance. Cellulite creams help solve even the most problematic areas, and can be used after you have reduced your cellulite to keep it from returning in the future.

However, there are also several other important factors to getting rid of cellulite forever. Using anti cellulite creams alone will not be enough. You must change your diet and start eating healthy foods that are low in fat, such as fruits and vegetables, or other natural food.

Exercise is another important key in the battle against cellulite. When using an anti cellulite cream, don't forget to help your body get rid of the worst toxins and fat cells that the cream has helped break down. Exercise helps you increase the flow of blood to the affected areas and keeps fat cells from forming and gathering just below the skin, causing cellulite.

Anti cellulite creams that have the best ratings generally get the job done in just a few months. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise, it becomes easier to fight against cellulite and keep it away forever. Enjoy that new bikini this summer without feeling embarrassed about your body. Use the best cellulite creams on the market to do away with cellulite in a fast and easy process.

Nourishing Our Bodies

Treating your body right is the key to great health and nutrition. Exercising right, eating right, and living stress free is not so easy. Life is full of stress and when we are stressed it can take a toll on our body and health. Stress can weaken the immune system and you will become vulnerable to viruses, colds, and diseases that can invade our bodies at their most weakest moments. Stress can also take a toll on the outside of the body wrinkles, weight loss, weight gain, bags under the eyes, not sleeping and fatigue.

Depending on the state of ones mind it can be just too much to on the body. So how do we get our immune system back strong and fighting off those nasty effects of stress? Vitamins, eating right, and try to stay stress free. Vitamins are known to give you the nutrition you need when you are not getting it from foods, let's face it eating the right foods is not enough to get all the nutrition your body needs. Trying to get all the nutrition your body needs is hard work you can't go all day eating vegetables and fruit there will be no room for a decent meal. Supplements in the form of pills, powder, and liquid are very popular, some like pills, some do not and that is where the liquid and powder come in. Vitamins are a very popular way to nourish your body, vitamins will boost your immune system, give you beautiful strong hair, nails, skin, give you energy, and improve your digestive tract.

You want the vitamin that will give you only what you need and no more, SFI has some of the best multivitamins Veriuni Super 25 is one the best vitamins to get the nutrition you need to be a healthier you. Love your body and it will love your back.

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