The arrival of spring brings more hours of sunlight and a glow of the new season. Barbara Harrington, Independent Distributor with SeneGence International® SenseCosmetics, has some special skin care tips to get you out of winter's shadow and into healthy, radiant fresh skin for spring.
Spring is definitely the season of renewal and the time to revitalize your skin and refresh your skin care program," says Ms. Harrington. "Luminous, gorgeous and glamorous skin is the essence of a fresh look."
Here are some skin care tips for obtaining that desired healthy-look of the Spring Season:
Moisture in all for seasons: It is a must. Even though the gloomy, dull winter months have passed, it is still important to moisturize in all seasons. What you want to do is balance pH and promote cellular renewal. "Many people think that it is vital to hydrate your skin only in the winter months. This is simply not true. "It is important not only to moisturize, but nourish your skin to maintain its health all year long," says Ms. Harrington.
Lighten up with lighter colors in your cosmetic products: Think about moving up a shade in shadow and blush hues for a clean spring look. "Dark colors can really weigh your face down during spring months," says Ms. Harrington. "Right now warm, neutral colors such as gold, pink (particularly all shades of pink) and turquoise are in style for this season's freshest look." SeneGence® has an entire line of long-lasting, smudge-proof eye and blush products that provide a healthy spring glow, while nourishing your skin. "And the best part is that the SeneGence product line is a anti-aging skin care line of cosmetics. And these cosmetics last all day with just one application all the while, drawing moisture to the skin," says Ms. Harrington.
Remember, our skin doesn't stop at your neck: Keep in mind to exfoliate and moisturize consistently to leave your entire body smooth and ready for the elements. "With bathing suit season right around the corner, it's important to make sure that you exfoliate and moisturize to keep your skin radiant and smooth," says Ms. Harrington. SeneGence's® SeneDerm® Moisturizing Body Cream with SenePlex® and Shea Butter skin care products help make your skin healthy, radiant and hydrated."
You can have your glow with a year-round tan: Use either a bronzer or self-tanner for a sun-kissed glow without the harsh, damaging effects of the sun. According to Ms. Harrington, SeneGence's® Shea Butter Body Bronzer gives your skin a beautiful glow for the spring without having to battle the sun's damaging UV rays. It is long-lasting and anti-aging patented formula sets it a part from other self tanners on the market. "Plus, using a bronzer or self-tanner is a safe and healthy way to liven up your skin and create a natural-looking, luminescent glow," said Ms. Harrington.
By: Barbara Harrington
Barbara Harrington is one of the nation's leading skin care and cosmetics experts, please send an email to or call Barbara Harrington at 302-507-3927/877-771-5296 (Facesensation@comcast.net, www.facesensation.com, www.no-nonsensecosmetics.blogspot.com)
Friday, April 6, 2007
Is Your Skin Getting These Benefits From The Sun?
To sun or not to sun, that is the question. You hear people talking about skin cancer and the incredibly harmful rays that it extends to the earth. These rays encourage growth in trees, plants, animals, and humans. How do you know what is truth? Are the suns rays good for your skin or are they bad for it? Actually, these rays are both.
The rays which are emitted from the sun are called the broad spectrum of Ultraviolet (UV) rays. Many of them are very intense and can be harmful to your skin through over exposure. This harm to you skin can result in a number of things: slower healing, accelerated aging, hyper pigmentation, and skin cancer, to name a few.
To protect your skin from the full spectrum of UV rays, you need to use a good sunscreen. This does not have to be expensive; the protective factor listed on the packaging determines how well you will be protected. I recommend that you purchase an organic sunscreen because you will not be adding even further toxins to your skin.
Now that we have discussed the bad part of sun exposure, let us talk about the good, because there is a lot of good that comes from sunshine. Of course, this is not a constant sun exposure, nor is it sun exposure between 11:00am and 3:00pm. These times of the day are when the suns rays are the strongest, which means that you are more apt to suffer the damaging effects of the UV rays on your skin. What we are talking about is a moderate amount of sun exposure on a daily basis.
Sunlight helps remove toxins from your body. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of good effects of the sun is my son. When he was born, he was bruised all over, I jokingly say that he looked like a prize fighter that did not do so well in his last fight. The truth is that he had jaundice which is a condition where your liver is not properly removing toxins from your body.
The doctors sent us home on a Friday with instructions to keep him in sunlight with a lot of skin exposed as much as I could. It rained all weekend, which made it impossible to keep him in sunlight and he got worse instead of better. By Monday his skin was yellow in color, we returned to the doctor and he was immediately sent to the hospital and admitted.
To cure his jaundice, he was given lots of water and kept under a UV light with only a diaper on. By helping the liver to work better, toxins are more easily removed from your entire body, including your skin. With the removal of toxins, your skin can perform much better and will look younger.
Studies have shown that sunlight has a tremendous impact on many patients depression. This is very easily seen by looking into seasonal suicide rates. I have seen it in myself, friends, and family. When winter hits and the sunlight fades with it, spirits fall.
As spring comes and summer steps into the picture, moods lighten and everyone has more fun with each other. Emotional strain affects your skin in a number of ways, from triggering psoriasis to triggering skin breakouts.
The third major way that sun can help your skin is by giving your body much needed vitamin D. Among other things, vitamin D gives a serious boost to you immune system, encouraging the production of cells that fight toxins and disease in your body. When your skin has less toxins, it not only looks more youthful, but performs better.
The other thing that vitamin D will do that affects how your skin looks is help keep your muscles from breaking down. By keeping your muscles from wasting, your skin has a better foundation and does not sag as easily.
While you hear all kinds of things about sun damage and the horrors of what the sun can cause, but there are not enough people who are telling us the advantages.
These advantages can be gained with moderate sun exposure, not over exposure because too much sun does create the bad effects on the skin that you have heard so much about. Keep a bit of sunshine in your life (with sunscreen) and you will reap tremendous benefits.
By: Louise Forrest -
Keep yourself looking great with these skin care tips from www.NaturalElements.co.uk You can now get the very latest information on Natural Skin Care by subscribing with RSS
The rays which are emitted from the sun are called the broad spectrum of Ultraviolet (UV) rays. Many of them are very intense and can be harmful to your skin through over exposure. This harm to you skin can result in a number of things: slower healing, accelerated aging, hyper pigmentation, and skin cancer, to name a few.
To protect your skin from the full spectrum of UV rays, you need to use a good sunscreen. This does not have to be expensive; the protective factor listed on the packaging determines how well you will be protected. I recommend that you purchase an organic sunscreen because you will not be adding even further toxins to your skin.
Now that we have discussed the bad part of sun exposure, let us talk about the good, because there is a lot of good that comes from sunshine. Of course, this is not a constant sun exposure, nor is it sun exposure between 11:00am and 3:00pm. These times of the day are when the suns rays are the strongest, which means that you are more apt to suffer the damaging effects of the UV rays on your skin. What we are talking about is a moderate amount of sun exposure on a daily basis.
Sunlight helps remove toxins from your body. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of good effects of the sun is my son. When he was born, he was bruised all over, I jokingly say that he looked like a prize fighter that did not do so well in his last fight. The truth is that he had jaundice which is a condition where your liver is not properly removing toxins from your body.
The doctors sent us home on a Friday with instructions to keep him in sunlight with a lot of skin exposed as much as I could. It rained all weekend, which made it impossible to keep him in sunlight and he got worse instead of better. By Monday his skin was yellow in color, we returned to the doctor and he was immediately sent to the hospital and admitted.
To cure his jaundice, he was given lots of water and kept under a UV light with only a diaper on. By helping the liver to work better, toxins are more easily removed from your entire body, including your skin. With the removal of toxins, your skin can perform much better and will look younger.
Studies have shown that sunlight has a tremendous impact on many patients depression. This is very easily seen by looking into seasonal suicide rates. I have seen it in myself, friends, and family. When winter hits and the sunlight fades with it, spirits fall.
As spring comes and summer steps into the picture, moods lighten and everyone has more fun with each other. Emotional strain affects your skin in a number of ways, from triggering psoriasis to triggering skin breakouts.
The third major way that sun can help your skin is by giving your body much needed vitamin D. Among other things, vitamin D gives a serious boost to you immune system, encouraging the production of cells that fight toxins and disease in your body. When your skin has less toxins, it not only looks more youthful, but performs better.
The other thing that vitamin D will do that affects how your skin looks is help keep your muscles from breaking down. By keeping your muscles from wasting, your skin has a better foundation and does not sag as easily.
While you hear all kinds of things about sun damage and the horrors of what the sun can cause, but there are not enough people who are telling us the advantages.
These advantages can be gained with moderate sun exposure, not over exposure because too much sun does create the bad effects on the skin that you have heard so much about. Keep a bit of sunshine in your life (with sunscreen) and you will reap tremendous benefits.
By: Louise Forrest -
Keep yourself looking great with these skin care tips from www.NaturalElements.co.uk You can now get the very latest information on Natural Skin Care by subscribing with RSS
Importance Of Digestive Health
Many people focus on their heart health or nutrition needs and overlook the importance of digestive health. The digestive system begins in the mouth and finishes with the colon. Poor digestion can make you feel sluggish, gassy or lead to constipation or diarrhea. It can also inhibit the absorption of vital nutrients from the foods we eat.
One of the more common problems associated with the digestive tract is heartburn. Many people experience occasional heartburn. Some of the cases can be attributed to eating choices. Spicy foods are one cause as are rich foods. Some people can pinpoint the specific causes for their heartburn, while others are completely in the dark about the reasons for their symptoms. Social situations can be limited because the person doesn't feel well enough to stay. Work suffers due to a lack of concentration and time lost at work. This is just one thing that can be avoided when you are aware of the importance of good digestive health. Constipation and diarrhea can be another problem resulting from poor digestion. Many people have experienced elimination concerns. Some researchers estimate that as many as 32% of adults have found themselves in an embarrassing situation due to the occurrence of diarrhea.
Another issue that can come up with your digestive health is nausea. There isn't a person anywhere who hasn't combated the horrible feeling of nausea. When a person feels nausea often for no apparent reason, the signs may point to digestive health as the reason. The toll poor digestive health can take on your lifestyle can be extensive. Many people who suffer from occasional poor digestion will purposely avoid social engagements and miss time at work. Others live in fear of the possibility of an embarrassing occurrence.
An individual should always first discuss any health concern with his/her physician or health provider. This includes any digestive concerns. There are things you can start today to maintain excellent digestive health. It starts with eating well balanced meals, doing daily exercise and following a healthy lifestyle, including stress avoidance.
The importance of good digestive health can't be overstated. Your comfort and health depend so much on how well your stomach, abdomen and colon feel. There is no need to compromise the quality of your personal and work life. Good digestive health is another aspect of your health that deserves more daily attention.
By: Craig Smith
One of the more common problems associated with the digestive tract is heartburn. Many people experience occasional heartburn. Some of the cases can be attributed to eating choices. Spicy foods are one cause as are rich foods. Some people can pinpoint the specific causes for their heartburn, while others are completely in the dark about the reasons for their symptoms. Social situations can be limited because the person doesn't feel well enough to stay. Work suffers due to a lack of concentration and time lost at work. This is just one thing that can be avoided when you are aware of the importance of good digestive health. Constipation and diarrhea can be another problem resulting from poor digestion. Many people have experienced elimination concerns. Some researchers estimate that as many as 32% of adults have found themselves in an embarrassing situation due to the occurrence of diarrhea.
Another issue that can come up with your digestive health is nausea. There isn't a person anywhere who hasn't combated the horrible feeling of nausea. When a person feels nausea often for no apparent reason, the signs may point to digestive health as the reason. The toll poor digestive health can take on your lifestyle can be extensive. Many people who suffer from occasional poor digestion will purposely avoid social engagements and miss time at work. Others live in fear of the possibility of an embarrassing occurrence.
An individual should always first discuss any health concern with his/her physician or health provider. This includes any digestive concerns. There are things you can start today to maintain excellent digestive health. It starts with eating well balanced meals, doing daily exercise and following a healthy lifestyle, including stress avoidance.
The importance of good digestive health can't be overstated. Your comfort and health depend so much on how well your stomach, abdomen and colon feel. There is no need to compromise the quality of your personal and work life. Good digestive health is another aspect of your health that deserves more daily attention.
By: Craig Smith
Liquid Nutrition After Surgery
Against a background of widespread obesity among all US and UK age-groups, and the relative failure of conventional weight loss methods, doctors are increasingly resorting to gastrointestinal surgery in order to curb the rise of weight-related disease, and associated costs and strain being placed on the health service providers.
For people who are of a normal weight, there are claims that having the operation is the easy option – for people who have had or are having the operation, nothing about it is easy and in some cases, it is not even an option.
There are various types of gastric surgery but the most popular are banding and bypass. Different surgeons will use different techniques to perform variations of these two procedures but the principles and outcomes are the same.
Banding is where a silicon band is put around the top part of the stomach. It is usually stitched into place to stop slippage. Most bands fitted now are adjustable – there is a port connected to the band, which is placed under the skin just below the breast bone. The idea being, as you loose weight the band is tightened.
Bypass surgery is much more invasive and involves having a section of your stomach removed and some of your small intestines are re-routed. This operation should be viewed as non-reversible, even thought the bypass can be reverse once your stomach is removed it is gone forever.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these operations before, during and after the procedure. All of these need to be thought through very carefully before making any decisions as they can easily be regretted.
After having one of these procedures your diet will change dramatically, not just in the early post op days. After your operation you will probably see a dietician who will advise that you take nutritional vitamin and mineral supplements. This is very important after bypass surgery as different parts of your stomach absorb different nutrients and some of these areas will now be missing.
Until recently the problem with this is the lack of suitable supplements available to anyone who had undergone gastric surgery. There are shelves and shelves of supplements in tablet form – these are unsuitable for two reasons. In people who have not had this operation it has already been proved that vitamins in tablet form quite often pass through the digestive system untouched. Secondly after these operations the opening into the stomach is reduced in size – this is done so that food passes into the stomach slower and the person feels fuller after eating a smaller amount. Which means these tablets can get stuck.
Now, at last, there is a high quality liquid supplement available. Being a liquid there are no problems with getting it down. Not only does it contain a complete range of vitamins it also includes;
Mineral Matrix – an advanced blend of trace minerals often missing from today’s diets.
High Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) Fruit Extracts – a big boost of antioxidants to protect against free radical damage.
Amino Acids – your body can’t make these essential building blocks, so a daily supply is a must.
Phytochemicals – support your body’s key functions with micro-nutrients found in fruits and vegetables.
Prebiotic – encourage friendly bacteria for greater bio-activity, that means quicker and more effective absorption of minerals and nutrients by your body.
It gets even better – there are 3 versions of this liquid supplement. One for vegans and vegetarians, another for sensitive stomachs and the classic version which is sugar free and suitable for diabetics.
And the name of this amazing product is Maximol.
By: Mich Crawley
For people who are of a normal weight, there are claims that having the operation is the easy option – for people who have had or are having the operation, nothing about it is easy and in some cases, it is not even an option.
There are various types of gastric surgery but the most popular are banding and bypass. Different surgeons will use different techniques to perform variations of these two procedures but the principles and outcomes are the same.
Banding is where a silicon band is put around the top part of the stomach. It is usually stitched into place to stop slippage. Most bands fitted now are adjustable – there is a port connected to the band, which is placed under the skin just below the breast bone. The idea being, as you loose weight the band is tightened.
Bypass surgery is much more invasive and involves having a section of your stomach removed and some of your small intestines are re-routed. This operation should be viewed as non-reversible, even thought the bypass can be reverse once your stomach is removed it is gone forever.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these operations before, during and after the procedure. All of these need to be thought through very carefully before making any decisions as they can easily be regretted.
After having one of these procedures your diet will change dramatically, not just in the early post op days. After your operation you will probably see a dietician who will advise that you take nutritional vitamin and mineral supplements. This is very important after bypass surgery as different parts of your stomach absorb different nutrients and some of these areas will now be missing.
Until recently the problem with this is the lack of suitable supplements available to anyone who had undergone gastric surgery. There are shelves and shelves of supplements in tablet form – these are unsuitable for two reasons. In people who have not had this operation it has already been proved that vitamins in tablet form quite often pass through the digestive system untouched. Secondly after these operations the opening into the stomach is reduced in size – this is done so that food passes into the stomach slower and the person feels fuller after eating a smaller amount. Which means these tablets can get stuck.
Now, at last, there is a high quality liquid supplement available. Being a liquid there are no problems with getting it down. Not only does it contain a complete range of vitamins it also includes;
Mineral Matrix – an advanced blend of trace minerals often missing from today’s diets.
High Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) Fruit Extracts – a big boost of antioxidants to protect against free radical damage.
Amino Acids – your body can’t make these essential building blocks, so a daily supply is a must.
Phytochemicals – support your body’s key functions with micro-nutrients found in fruits and vegetables.
Prebiotic – encourage friendly bacteria for greater bio-activity, that means quicker and more effective absorption of minerals and nutrients by your body.
It gets even better – there are 3 versions of this liquid supplement. One for vegans and vegetarians, another for sensitive stomachs and the classic version which is sugar free and suitable for diabetics.
And the name of this amazing product is Maximol.
By: Mich Crawley
Most Popular Low-carb Diets
Low-carb diets limit the intake of certain carbohydrates. Researchers believe that carbohydrate intake increases the insulin level, which leads to weight gain. Two of the most popular low-carb diets are the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet.
The Atkins diet has four phases. The first three focus on weight loss, while the last one centers on maintaining the weight lost during the first three phases. During the first two weeks the carbohydrate intake is almost totally restricted. Following the first two weeks, the carbohydrate intake is increased step by step.
The first phase allows dieters to eat no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates daily. The second phase is similar to the first one, except that the amounts of carbohydrates are increased, and nuts, seeds, and some plants with berries are allowed.
When the dieter has about twelve pounds left to lose to reach his or her target weight , the third phase starts. New food along with up to ten grams of carbohydrates is allowed if the dieter`s weight is constant. The fourth phase establishes the amount of carbohydrates allowed per day that do not cause weight gain.
The Atkins diet includes eggs, meat, fish, olive oil, butter, cheese, olives, spinach, salad, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, and avocado. The foods that are not permitted include sugar and pastry products, vegetables that contain starch like corn and peace.
Bread, pasta, potatoes, and fruits are not allowed in the first phase but may be eaten starting with the second phase. The same with alcohol, nuts, and peanuts.
The South Beach diet
The South Beach diet has three phases and encourages “good” fat and carbohydrates intake. To read the rest of this article, go to ProjectWeightLoss, an online weight loss community featuring calorie counter, carbs counter, BMI calculator, diet planner, workout planner and other weight loss tools.
(c) ProjectWeightLoss 2007. All rights reserved.
By: Andrea-Pelin
The Atkins diet has four phases. The first three focus on weight loss, while the last one centers on maintaining the weight lost during the first three phases. During the first two weeks the carbohydrate intake is almost totally restricted. Following the first two weeks, the carbohydrate intake is increased step by step.
The first phase allows dieters to eat no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates daily. The second phase is similar to the first one, except that the amounts of carbohydrates are increased, and nuts, seeds, and some plants with berries are allowed.
When the dieter has about twelve pounds left to lose to reach his or her target weight , the third phase starts. New food along with up to ten grams of carbohydrates is allowed if the dieter`s weight is constant. The fourth phase establishes the amount of carbohydrates allowed per day that do not cause weight gain.
The Atkins diet includes eggs, meat, fish, olive oil, butter, cheese, olives, spinach, salad, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, and avocado. The foods that are not permitted include sugar and pastry products, vegetables that contain starch like corn and peace.
Bread, pasta, potatoes, and fruits are not allowed in the first phase but may be eaten starting with the second phase. The same with alcohol, nuts, and peanuts.
The South Beach diet
The South Beach diet has three phases and encourages “good” fat and carbohydrates intake. To read the rest of this article, go to ProjectWeightLoss, an online weight loss community featuring calorie counter, carbs counter, BMI calculator, diet planner, workout planner and other weight loss tools.
(c) ProjectWeightLoss 2007. All rights reserved.
By: Andrea-Pelin
Detoxification- How To Detox The Human Body
The body has a very sophisticated and complex detoxification system that is working on your behalf all the time so do you need to bother with programs and plans that tell you how to detox the human body?
Researchers are noting that in spite of advances in medical treatment people are getting diseases at younger ages for which there appears to be no answers at the moment. People are surviving longer but they are in the main not healthier. Diabetes, heart disease and cancer are all on the increase. Many scientists are questioning why this is happening. There is little research into what is the underlying cause of these and other degenerative diseases.
There is no doubt that we are all constantly bombarded with toxins that our detoxification systems were not designed for. Although our bodies seem to have an amazing capacity for developing pathways or routes to get rid of some of these chemicals researchers have discovered that we are all now contaminated with chemicals that can persist for years interfering with how our bodies work. The more pronounced the build up the greater the capacity to disrupt the intricate and delicate mechanisms that keep the body functions
running smoothly.
So how do you detox the human body and does it work? There is no doubt that it does work in spite of some very sceptical recent media reports based on some very poorly designed research on only 10 relatively young people without any particular health problems. The 9/11 New York Rescuers Detox Program has shown that a properly designed program can indeed detox the human body and improve symptoms.
Researchers have learned a lot about the how the detox system works.They have discovered specific foods, vitamins and minerals that rev up the different pathways in the liver that is main organ responsible for disarming the toxic chemicals so they can safely leave our bodies.
Naturopathic doctors and proponents of natural healing have long been advocates of cleansing or detoxifying by reducing the amounts of food eaten. They argue that resting the digestive system from the burden of dealing with three or more meals a day enables more energy to be directed towards the body's natural cleansing function. They recommend eating only fruit or vegetable meals or freshly pressed juices and never mixing the two. The vegetables can be eaten raw, lightly steamed or made into a soup. This can be done for 2 days every week or two or for 3-4 days every 3 - 4 weeks.
The foods that you eat to help detox your body should be organically produced to avoid pesticide residues.
Fruit and fresh fruit juices are generally considered to be more aggressive than vegetables for cleansing so go easy on these until you are have some experience with detoxing.
12 top tips for detoxing the human body
1) Include plenty of the following vegetables both raw and lightly steamed: broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, asparagus, kale, bok choy, cress, mustard, turnips, rutabagas (swede), kohlrabi, red beets and avocados.
2) Eat at least 4 pieces of fruit a day if tolerated but in particular watermelon, papaya, oranges, tangerines but not grapefruit which inhibits liver detoxification.
3) Protein foods are needed to supply amino acids to detox chemicals. Choose 300gms a day of organic lean beef, venison, chicken, turkey, eggs or grain and bean combinations.
4) Include at least 1 tbsp. a day of the following cold pressed and unheated vegetable oils on salads or vegetables: flax, walnut, pumpkin seed, olive oil or 1 tbsp. of a balanced blend of oils. Vary the oils you use rather than using one exclusively. Small amounts of nuts and seeds can be eaten instead but too many can hinder the detoxification effect.
5) Drink 8 glasses of pure filtered water a day.
6) Avoid alcohol, smoking, regular tea, coffee, sugar, dairy products, wheat, the hardest grain to digest, excessive starches, processed foods, hydrogenated oils, artificial colours and additives.
7) Use a water filter and consider a shower filter or whole house filtration system.
8) Avoid chemicals as much as possible by using natural cleaning products in the home and garden.
Use only natural non-chemical products on your skin. The skin absorbs a surprising amount of toxic substances from personal care products and make up.
9) Limit fish especialy oily fish such as tuna , swordfish and eel which are likely to contain mercury as well as other toxic pollutants from the sea.
10) Do not run or exercise near traffic.
11)Take a good multivitamin mineral supplement with approximately 25 mg of the main B vitamins.
A fibre supplement to ensure frequent bowel movements to eliminate toxins.
Take a neutral ph or non-acidic (buffered) Vitamin C, 1 - 3 grams a day.
Alternatively consider a supplement designed to support liver detoxification.
12) Do some skin brushing to help move the lymphatic circulation or consider massage to help mobilise the toxins.
Far infrared saunas can help sweat out the toxins.
Periodic bouts of detoxification that rests the digestive system, avoids toxins and supports the detoxification pathways will improve your health in the long run. It is important to eat a nutritious diet and avoid as many toxins as possible in between bouts of detox. Health is a matter of eliminating toxins and nutrient deficiencies. Make a start now.
By: Sandy Halliday
Researchers are noting that in spite of advances in medical treatment people are getting diseases at younger ages for which there appears to be no answers at the moment. People are surviving longer but they are in the main not healthier. Diabetes, heart disease and cancer are all on the increase. Many scientists are questioning why this is happening. There is little research into what is the underlying cause of these and other degenerative diseases.
There is no doubt that we are all constantly bombarded with toxins that our detoxification systems were not designed for. Although our bodies seem to have an amazing capacity for developing pathways or routes to get rid of some of these chemicals researchers have discovered that we are all now contaminated with chemicals that can persist for years interfering with how our bodies work. The more pronounced the build up the greater the capacity to disrupt the intricate and delicate mechanisms that keep the body functions
running smoothly.
So how do you detox the human body and does it work? There is no doubt that it does work in spite of some very sceptical recent media reports based on some very poorly designed research on only 10 relatively young people without any particular health problems. The 9/11 New York Rescuers Detox Program has shown that a properly designed program can indeed detox the human body and improve symptoms.
Researchers have learned a lot about the how the detox system works.They have discovered specific foods, vitamins and minerals that rev up the different pathways in the liver that is main organ responsible for disarming the toxic chemicals so they can safely leave our bodies.
Naturopathic doctors and proponents of natural healing have long been advocates of cleansing or detoxifying by reducing the amounts of food eaten. They argue that resting the digestive system from the burden of dealing with three or more meals a day enables more energy to be directed towards the body's natural cleansing function. They recommend eating only fruit or vegetable meals or freshly pressed juices and never mixing the two. The vegetables can be eaten raw, lightly steamed or made into a soup. This can be done for 2 days every week or two or for 3-4 days every 3 - 4 weeks.
The foods that you eat to help detox your body should be organically produced to avoid pesticide residues.
Fruit and fresh fruit juices are generally considered to be more aggressive than vegetables for cleansing so go easy on these until you are have some experience with detoxing.
12 top tips for detoxing the human body
1) Include plenty of the following vegetables both raw and lightly steamed: broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, asparagus, kale, bok choy, cress, mustard, turnips, rutabagas (swede), kohlrabi, red beets and avocados.
2) Eat at least 4 pieces of fruit a day if tolerated but in particular watermelon, papaya, oranges, tangerines but not grapefruit which inhibits liver detoxification.
3) Protein foods are needed to supply amino acids to detox chemicals. Choose 300gms a day of organic lean beef, venison, chicken, turkey, eggs or grain and bean combinations.
4) Include at least 1 tbsp. a day of the following cold pressed and unheated vegetable oils on salads or vegetables: flax, walnut, pumpkin seed, olive oil or 1 tbsp. of a balanced blend of oils. Vary the oils you use rather than using one exclusively. Small amounts of nuts and seeds can be eaten instead but too many can hinder the detoxification effect.
5) Drink 8 glasses of pure filtered water a day.
6) Avoid alcohol, smoking, regular tea, coffee, sugar, dairy products, wheat, the hardest grain to digest, excessive starches, processed foods, hydrogenated oils, artificial colours and additives.
7) Use a water filter and consider a shower filter or whole house filtration system.
8) Avoid chemicals as much as possible by using natural cleaning products in the home and garden.
Use only natural non-chemical products on your skin. The skin absorbs a surprising amount of toxic substances from personal care products and make up.
9) Limit fish especialy oily fish such as tuna , swordfish and eel which are likely to contain mercury as well as other toxic pollutants from the sea.
10) Do not run or exercise near traffic.
11)Take a good multivitamin mineral supplement with approximately 25 mg of the main B vitamins.
A fibre supplement to ensure frequent bowel movements to eliminate toxins.
Take a neutral ph or non-acidic (buffered) Vitamin C, 1 - 3 grams a day.
Alternatively consider a supplement designed to support liver detoxification.
12) Do some skin brushing to help move the lymphatic circulation or consider massage to help mobilise the toxins.
Far infrared saunas can help sweat out the toxins.
Periodic bouts of detoxification that rests the digestive system, avoids toxins and supports the detoxification pathways will improve your health in the long run. It is important to eat a nutritious diet and avoid as many toxins as possible in between bouts of detox. Health is a matter of eliminating toxins and nutrient deficiencies. Make a start now.
By: Sandy Halliday
Building Strong Bones With Dried Plums: What Men Need To Know
Conversations about osteoporosis and the measures that prevent and treat this bone-weakening disease typically focus on it as a women's issue. Although we often think of men having larger, stronger bones than women, that's not always the case-men are also at risk for developing osteoporosis. In fact, 2 million men have the disease and another 12 million are at risk for developing it.
Not only are men at a significant risk, but surprisingly, it is for many of the same reasons as women. Low and decreasing levels of hormones can cause an imbalance in the bone-remodeling process, with more old bone dissolving than new bone reforming. Although it is the decrease in estrogen production that occurs with menopause that increases women's vulnerability to the effects of osteoporosis, men experience a decrease in testosterone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) as they age. Heredity and lifestyle habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol use and inadequate exercise can also lead to poor bone health in both men and women.
"Men should take many of the same steps as women to protect their bones, including getting enough calcium and vitamin D in their diet, engaging in weight-bearing exercise and changing unhealthy lifestyle habits," says Brenda J. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Assistant Director of Research in the department of surgery at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. "Dairy products-rich in bone-building calcium-are the foods we associate most readily with bone health. But plant-based foods, like fruits and vegetables, may also play an important role in increasing bone mass."
Studies indicate that men and women who consume diets rich in fruits and vegetables have higher bone density and suggest that phytonutrients-health-protective compounds in plant-based foods-may be the reason for the positive effects of fruits and vegetables on bone metabolism.
California Dried Plums offer a convenient option for men looking to add more fruit to their diets. Dried plums are a rich source of several micronutrients involved in bone metabolism, including potassium, vitamin K and boron. In fact, a recently published animal study conducted by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center indicated that dried plums prevented hormone-related deterioration of the bones of male subjects, preserving bone mass.
Currently, a study is under way at Florida State University examining the bone health benefits of dried plums in women in a year-long clinical trial. "Dried Plums completely reverse loss of bone density and structural properties, observations unique to dried plums among the many foods we have examined in our laboratory," says Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi, principal investigator of the Florida State University study.
Dried plums can easily be incorporated daily into meals or snacks at any time of the day. "I like to add dried plums to hot or cold cereals, on turkey or chicken salad sandwiches or as an afternoon snack," says Leslie Bonci, M.P.H., R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and spokesperson for the California Dried Plum Board. "Not only do they add nutritional value, but they're an easy way to boost flavor."
Dried plums are not only great tasting and versatile, but are also great for protecting bone health without any adverse effects.
By: Stacey Moore
Not only are men at a significant risk, but surprisingly, it is for many of the same reasons as women. Low and decreasing levels of hormones can cause an imbalance in the bone-remodeling process, with more old bone dissolving than new bone reforming. Although it is the decrease in estrogen production that occurs with menopause that increases women's vulnerability to the effects of osteoporosis, men experience a decrease in testosterone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) as they age. Heredity and lifestyle habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol use and inadequate exercise can also lead to poor bone health in both men and women.
"Men should take many of the same steps as women to protect their bones, including getting enough calcium and vitamin D in their diet, engaging in weight-bearing exercise and changing unhealthy lifestyle habits," says Brenda J. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Assistant Director of Research in the department of surgery at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. "Dairy products-rich in bone-building calcium-are the foods we associate most readily with bone health. But plant-based foods, like fruits and vegetables, may also play an important role in increasing bone mass."
Studies indicate that men and women who consume diets rich in fruits and vegetables have higher bone density and suggest that phytonutrients-health-protective compounds in plant-based foods-may be the reason for the positive effects of fruits and vegetables on bone metabolism.
California Dried Plums offer a convenient option for men looking to add more fruit to their diets. Dried plums are a rich source of several micronutrients involved in bone metabolism, including potassium, vitamin K and boron. In fact, a recently published animal study conducted by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center indicated that dried plums prevented hormone-related deterioration of the bones of male subjects, preserving bone mass.
Currently, a study is under way at Florida State University examining the bone health benefits of dried plums in women in a year-long clinical trial. "Dried Plums completely reverse loss of bone density and structural properties, observations unique to dried plums among the many foods we have examined in our laboratory," says Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi, principal investigator of the Florida State University study.
Dried plums can easily be incorporated daily into meals or snacks at any time of the day. "I like to add dried plums to hot or cold cereals, on turkey or chicken salad sandwiches or as an afternoon snack," says Leslie Bonci, M.P.H., R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and spokesperson for the California Dried Plum Board. "Not only do they add nutritional value, but they're an easy way to boost flavor."
Dried plums are not only great tasting and versatile, but are also great for protecting bone health without any adverse effects.
By: Stacey Moore
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