The typical person in a western culture consumes without a doubt more daily calories than he or she needs. Our Cupboards are filled with snack foods full of fats and sugars which provide us with hundreds of extra calories that slow our metabolism and are stored as fat. Today, technology allows us to find protein packed bars, drinks, soups, and nuts. These new snacks aren’t the cardboard tasting bars we knew in the beginning of the health craze, but give us the flavor we want without the empty calories of sugar or the quick high followed by the inevitable crash.
Protein snacks are much different from Grandma’s sugar cookies. Let’s take a look at how protein power can help us get slimmed down and looking our best. To begin, protein sends specific signals to the brain. These signals cause our body to feel full and satisfied. This in turn, means that we will be more likely to control our appetite, and snack less than if we continued to eat sugars and fats. The result is simple. We will cut our calories and have more control with our weight. According to Dr. David Heber, recent clinical research supports this physiologic phenomenon.
Secondly, a better thermogenic effect is a reason for choosing protein as a snack. The thermogenic effect is basically the metabolic effort that it takes our body to digest a food once we have ingested it. Our body must work much harder to digest protein than it does to digest sugar or fat. What does this mean for you? Basically, when you choose to eat protein over sugar or fat, your body will have to burn more calories in order to digest it. This is a great benefit because protein is usually low in calories, so our bodies are working harder, or burning more calories, on fewer calories.
Another important reason to choose protein snacks instead of sugars and fats is lean muscle. Our body’s constantly need to restore the building blocks of muscle tissue. Muscle is important for many reasons. Obviously, muscle is vital to movement and our daily tasks. But, muscle also determines our metabolism. The more lean healthy muscle mass we are able to maintain in our bodies, the higher our metabolism will be, and that high metabolism helps us to stay lean throughout our lives.
Now when you want to reach for a snack, think for a moment and choose a protein-rich bar, drink or soup. Get the high-calorie cookies, cakes, chips and sweets out of the house. They all generally have more calories without providing our bodies much nutritional value at all. Take in less calories, supercharge your metabolism, and forget about hunger all day long!
Jim is a personal wellness coach who helps people reach their weight loss goals and lead more healthy and active lives. He has a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Northern Colorado and has worked in the field of health for over ten years. To learn more about getting healthier and more active visit Jim’s website at:
http://www.visionquestnutrition.com
Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com
Last week I was feeling somewhat stressed and fatigued; my skin was showing it. I hadn’t been drinking water as much as I usually do, because I was literally glued to my laptop reading everything under the sun about health, fitness and how it affects your skin for several hours, that I lost track of time!
So this week, I made myself leave my home office, and went for a drive – first thing I did was hit a grocery store and went for was a large bottle of water, then I grabbed a few cartons of blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. After running a few errands, and walking for an hour, I went home and decided to eat my fruit! I rinsed the fruit, chopped up the strawberries and basically ate half the bowl! It was so refreshing!
The next morning, when I got out of bed and looked into the mirror, I couldn’t believe my eyes! My skin looked radiant & flawless and my eyes appeared bright, so they weren’t kidding when they said that blueberries and blackberries are full of anti-oxidants.
So friends, go shopping and include a few cartons of blueberries and blackberries. The key to ensuring a flavor able experience is to sniff the cartons – that’s right, sniff them. If you can smell the scent, then they will be tasty. As for strawberries, rich and red is good, as well as firm. Rinse thoroughly, clean and slice up the strawberries, mix the fruit. Grab low fat cottage cheese, 2-3 tablespoons in a dish, top with fresh fruit and voila – a tasty and healthy snack, not to mention your skin will say thank you!
Here are a few facts about Blueberries (and berries in general) courtesy of http://berryhealth.fst.oregonstate.edu/health_healing/fact_sheets/index.htm
Health Benefits of Blueberries
Source: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, Health Section
From research labs all across the country and the world, there is growing evidence that blueberries could be powerful little disease fighters. Here is what we have learned so far…
Antioxidants – Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) have found that blueberries rank #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help neutralize harmful by-products of metabolism called “free radicals” that can lead to cancer and other age related diseases.
Anthocyanin — the pigment that makes the blueberries blue — is thought to be responsible for this major health benefit.
Anti-Aging – In another USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) lab, neuroscientists discovered that feeding blueberries to laboratory rats slowed age-related loss in their mental capacity, a finding that has important implications for humans. Again, the high antioxidant activity of blueberries probably played a role.
Disease Prevention – Blueberries may reduce the build up of so called “bad” cholesterol that contributes to cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to scientists at the University of California at Davis. Antioxidants are believed to be the active component.
Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections – Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have identified a compound in blueberries that promotes urinary tract health and reduces the risk of infection. It appears to work by preventing bacteria from adhering to the cells that line the walls of the urinary tract.
Blueberries and Eyesight - A number of studies in Europe have documented the relationship between bilberries, the European cousin of blueberries and improved eyesight. This is thought to occur because of the anthocyanin in the blue pigment which is also available in the blueberry. One study in Japan documented that blueberries helped ease eye fatigue.
New Research
Cholesterol Reducing Blueberries – At the recent American Chemical Society meeting it was reported that a compound found in blueberries called pterostilbene has “the potential to be developed into a nutraceutical for lowering cholesterol, particularly for those who do not respond well to conventional drugs,” reports foodnavigator.com (8/24/04). Study authors from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) indicate that the compound found in Vaccinium berries could be a “potent weapon in the battle against obesity and heart disease through its cholesterol-reducing potential.” Head researcher, Agnes M. Rimando and her associates “earlier showed that this compound may help fight cancer.” An abstract of the study is found on the Agricultural Research Service website which also studied the presence of resveratrol and piceatannol . According to the technical abstract, “These naturally occurring stilbenes, known to be strong antioxidants and to have cancer chemopreventive activity, will add to purported health benefits derived from consumption of these small fruits.”
Ethnobotany and Blueberries: Blueberries have been associated with positive physiological and cosmetic benefits for centuries. Here we list non scientific information which although not endorsed by the USHBC, may be of interest to researchers as a direction for further research.
- Blueberry Health and Nutrition traditions in China. (under construction)
- Native American and First Nations of Canada blueberry health and medicinal traditions. (under construction)
- Blueberry health and nutrition in Russia and Central European Traditions. (under construction)
Nutrition Summary – The following summarizes some of the published research in the area of nutraceuticals and health.
The belief that food products have medicinal properties has been celebrated in folk medicine for centuries. Today food properties are being explored by the medical and scientific fields. Some cultures have long valued many naturally occurring substances believed to have preventative and therapeutic value. In the United States, nutraceuticals are part of a rapidly expanding area of biomedical research, generating considerable interest among consumers, manufacturers, and regulators alike. This is a progressive area; the field is continually conducting studies and discovering possible benefits.
Though blueberries themselves are not a cure-all, they contain a number of substances which are thought to have health benefits. These substances include, but are not limited to fructose, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Antioxidants thus far, seem to have the most conclusive role in the prevention/ delaying of such diseases as cancer, heart disease and the aging process however, a limited number of studies, especially long term and on human beings, are not available at this time.
Have a great Monday and I will write more this week about how fitness, walking and sleep affect your skin.
Why Should We Use Natural Skin Care Products ?
As the world is becoming more “green” and health conscience, many of us are beginning to understand the dangers of some of our habits. People are starting to realize that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put into it. Our skin is a living, breathing tissue that covers and protects the body, but it also absorbs substances that come into contact with it.
Just as prescription drugs can be delivered through our skin via a patch – lotions, soaps, shampoos, and other body care products are also absorbed by our skin. If you use products made with chemical preservatives, these chemicals may be absorbed into your body. On the other hand, your body will absorb all natural ingredients when you use organic and natural products. It is important to consider what products we are using, and what is really in those products, as we shop for our makeup, hair care, and skin care products.
Commercial skin care products are often produced with animal byproducts such as lanolin, and also include other chemical detergents and petrochemicals. In many cases these animal byproduct units and petrochemicals are too large to be absorbed by the skin, but they will attract dirt and clog the pores. This can cause problems such as skin irritation and allergies.
Commercially produced skin care products usually include chemical preservatives to extend the shelf life of the products. In contrast, organic and natural products rely on natural ingredients that have self-preservation qualities. Although the shelf life may not be as long, the natural products offer many benefits for the skin and do not contain the harmful preservatives. Some natural preservation ingredients commonly used in natural products are vitamin E, honey, grapefruit seed extract, and Sandalwood essential oil.
Natural skin care products use ingredients formed by nature, not from synthetic chemicals. Ingredients such as flowers, essential oils, herbs, and roots are combined with naturally occurring surfactants, humectants and emulsifiers in organic products. These natural products are carefully manufactured to preserve the quality of the ingredients.
Consumers often assume that organic and natural products are too expensive in comparison to other commercial brands. On the contrary, natural and organic products actually offer a better value than synthetic based skin products. These ingredients are highly penetrative to the skin, and smaller amounts of the natural ingredients are needed to produce the final product.
The following list highlights many of the potentially harmful ingredients often used in commercially produced skin and body care products. It is best to avoid products with these ingredients, as they have potential side effects that include skin irritation, allergic reactions, rashes, and may even be toxic or carcinogenic.
Artificial fragrances
Chemical preservatives – formaldehyde, methylisothiazolinones, and DMDM hydantonin
Ethoxylates – sodium laureth sulfates (SLES) and polysorbates
Irritant sulfates – sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate
Nitrosamines – formed from ingredient DEA (diethanoloamine)
Parabens
Petrochemicals – propylene glycol, SD alcohol, and benzene
Phthalates
Propylene glycol
Triclosan
Our skin is permeable, and it will absorb the ingredients of the products we apply to it. Using natural and organic skin products is important for our skin. It is a small thing that will have a big impact on your body. Treat your body to natural and organic skin care products today, and your body will thank you tomorrow.
Renaud Professional will help you look and feel fabulous using all natural, organic products. To learn more about natural skin and body care, visit http://www.RenaudProfessional.com .
Renaud Professional “Where Science and Nature Become One”
Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com
The skin is our largest organ, and yet it is one that so many of us forget to take care of as well as we should. We douse it with fragrances, lotions, and other beauty products that contain an amazing amount of chemicals, many of which have been proven to cause cancer (like parabans for example). The best way to nourish our skin is the same way we nourish the rest of our body–from the inside out, with fresh fruits and vegetables and plenty of good fats. There are also several ways to feed your skin from the outside too that are easy, cheap, and all natural:
Body Brushing: A wonderful way to detox your body, great for your lymph system, nervous and circulatory systems, dry body brushing is best done once a day to three times a week, preferably before taking a bath or shower. Using a loofah or natural bristle brush, and start at your feet. Brush toward the heart in circular movements for five minutes. After a few sessions you will notice a more natural glow to your skin, increased vitality, and a sense of invigoration, especially if done in the morning.
Masks: Our skin loves good food. Some wonderful masks that help nourish the face:
For dry/ sensitive skin: 1/2 an avocado mashed and mixed with ground oatmeal. The fat from the avocado nourishes the skin while the oatmeal soothes it.
For oily skin: a mixture of french green clay and pulverized strawberries or cranberries act to draw out impurities while giving your skin the astringent benefits it so needs.
For normal skin: A pina colada for the face! crushed pineapple and banana work wonders–the acid in the pineapple exfoliates the skin while the banana soothes and tightens.
Sea Salt Scrubs: These are yet another great exfolient for all skin types. Adding a bit of almond oil to the salt keeps it smooth and glowing. The salt helps relax muscles and detoxes the skin. Adding herbs to the scrub is great too–lavender to soothe, lemon or mint to invigorate, a pinch of cayenne on a cold day to warm you up, rosemary or calendula flowers to heal rashes or other skin problems.
Bug Spray: As the summer months approach, our thoughts turn to mosquitoes and how to prevent their nasty little bites. Most bug repellents are literally awful for you. Natural prevention is the best recourse–taking 3 or 4 capsules of garlic and 100mg of vitamin B1 create a smell that repels mosquitoes while avoiding sugar and fruit juice, to which mosquitoes are naturally attracted can cut down on your victimization. Using certain essential oils—such as eucalyptus, lemon balm, pennyroyal, citronella, tea tree, and geranium also makes effective bug sprays. Simply add a mixture of the above to a water/witch hazel (3 parts water to 1 part witch hazel) solution and transfer to a spray bottle. Several naturopaths say using these oils works as well as commercial mosquito repellent.
Baths: Warm baths are highly underrated. They soften the skin, relax the muscles and release stress from the body, mind, and emotions. Plus you can add all sorts of wonderful things to them– milk to soften skin, sea salt to soothe sore muscles, a tea of herbs such as lavender, mint, rose petals, chamomile, lemongrass, orange rinds to leave you smelling sweet and and all natural.
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Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com
I read an interesting article today that posted recipes on how to make home made face masks with delicious fruits. I love fruit, and would probably eat most of them before applying any of it onto my face!
Excellent Face Masks with Delicious Fruits describes how you can make a mask using Apples, Strawberries, Papaya, & Pineapples mixed with either honey, starch and other ingredients. I found the anti-aging recipe interesting:
2 medium-sized peaches, 2 tablespoons whipped cream
Preparation: Peel the outer layer of peaches and mash them well. Add whipped cream to mashed peaches. Apply it to your face and allow 20 minutes for the mask to settle and thereafter rinse your face with lukewarm water.
Mmmm, whip cream and peaches! Now that sounds like a refreshing summer snack! Wait, put it on your face! I plan to give it a try, but send me an email to share your experience with any of these masks.
If you don’t have time to put these ingredients together, True Radiance offers cleaners and toners that will maintain the health of your skin and offer you True Radiance!
Have a great Monday!
Hello and Welcome to my blog. I intend to keep you up to date on the latest tips on taking care of the health of your skin and well as suggestions.
Thank you for visiting me. You can also visit me at http://www.trueradiance.net
Warm regards,
Aleta
