Beauty treats 2 : Kiwi

For : Cellulite

The "orange peel" effect on the skin effects around 95% of women. Eating kiwi fruit, which is extremely high in Vitamin C, not only help you to achieve five-a-day fruit and vegetable goal, but eating just one means you've achieved your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C.

This vitamin is required to help strengthen capillary walls, which, when ruptured, can caused skin bruising and tiny thread veins. Strong capillary walls also ensure a good supply of oxygen and nutrients can reach the skin, helping it appear plumper and smoother and more elastic.

Beauty treats 1 : Chamomile

We all know that we are what we eat, so what does your hair, skin and nails say about you? I will show you about 12 best beauty foods will have you glowing and gorgeous in no time.

Chamomile

For : Dark eye circles

Dark circles around the eyes can be caused by a sluggish liveror kidneys, so drinkng herbal tea like chamomile, can help kick start it. Chamomile is also a natural antiseptic and can help reduce redness of the eye and blocked tear ducts. If you suffering from a lack of sleep, try drinking chamomile tea before go to bed. The balereanic acid in the leaves can help you relax. A god night sleep is a beauty restorer, reducing the appearnce of dark circles and also reducing the appearence of tiredness and facial tension. These can add years, so try and get your minimum of eight ours at least once a weak.

Taste and aroma : Chamomile has a faint apple flavor, frequently use in tea.

Health Tips – Super Fruits

Kiwi : Tiny but mighty
This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fibre. It’s Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple : An apple a day keeps the doctor away?
Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry : Protective Fruit
Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals.

Orange : Sweetest medicine
Taking 2 –4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon : Coolest Thirst Quencher
Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium.

Guava & Papaya : Top awards for Vitamin C
They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich rich in fibre which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes.

Interesting Fact : Drink warm water after your meal

This is a very good tip about the warm water after your meal.

This makes sense.... the Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals...not cold water... maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Look Beautiful, the Natural Way

Our skin faces a constant barrage of chemicals everyday from pollution to harsh chemically formulated products that strip the skin of its natural balance. These simple Ayurvedic home remedies help you to attain a clear, healthy and glowing complexion. Ayurveda mentions many simple natural ways to maintain a healthy and glowing skin. Using these natural ways, one can stay beautiful for a longer period without having to suffer the side effects of the chemicals. Below are some simple 'secrets' to achieve a naturally beautiful skin.

TIPS 1 : Mix equal quantities of cucumber juice, rose water and lime juice. Wash the face and apply it overnight. Rinse off in the morning. This clears the complexion and keeps it healthy.

TIPS 2 : Take 50 ml. of raw (not boiled) milk and mix a pinch of salt and two teaspoonful of lime juice in it. Use it as a cleansing lotion. It helps to clean the deep pores of skin.

TIPS 3 : Mix equal quantities of lime juice, glycerin and rose water. This lotion if applied to the face regularly at bed time is very useful in removing pimples, blackheads and other stains of the skin. It makes the skin soft, and can also be applied to other parts of the body (hands, feet etc.)

TIPS 4 : Take 50 ml. of tomato juice and mix with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to the face. It helps to make the skin soft and glowing.

TIPS 5 : Take equal quantities of turmeric powder and wheat flour and make a paste with sesame oil. Apply it to the face to remove unwanted hair.

TIPS 6 : Apply orange juice to the face for smooth and soft skin.

TIPS 7 : Take 30 ml. of cabbage juice and mix one teaspoon of honey in it. This mixture, if applied regularly to the face, helps to keep the wrinkles away.

TIPS 8 : Make a paste of raw carrots and apply it to the face. Wash it after one hour. The skin will become glowing.

TIPS 9 : Regular application of mint juice to the face helps to remove stains.

Ok girls, let try it out. Let us know if the tips works on you.

FIBER - A sources for healty diet

•Why important?
- To prevent/ relieve constipation
- Reduce blood cholesterol
- May help in diabetes & overweight

•Good sources of fiber
–Vegetables
–Fruits
–Wholemeal products (eg, wholemeal and multi-grain bread)
–Oats
–Brown rice
–Legumes (eg, kidney beans, yellow lentils, chick peas)

Once your constipation cycle is normal, all the toxic out from your body. You will not faced problem such acne on your face or body.

The Benefits of Drink Water On Empty Stomach

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have provena its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases: Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningtitis, kidney and urine disea ses, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhoea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes

3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence bytaking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life. The following list gives the number of days oftreatment required to cure main diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days

2. Gastric - 10 days

3. Diabetes - 30 days

4. Constipation - 10 days

5. Cancer - 180 days

6. TB - 90 days

Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment for only 3 days. In the 1st week to be followed by daily treatment. This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

Do you have problem with WARTS?

Warts are tiny skin infections caused by viruses of the human papilloma virus (HPV) family. There's no way to prevent warts from occurring (other than avoiding contact with people who have warts already), but if you do get them, don't rub, pick, or scratch them because you can spread the virus and get new warts. Some over-the-counter medications containing special acids can help get rid of warts, but it's always a good idea to see your doctor before trying one. If you find warts in your genital area, you should see your doctor, who can recommend the best treatment method for that sensitive area.
Another type of wart-like viral infection is molluscum contagiosum. (It's not as scary as its name sounds!) Like warts, it can be transmitted through scratching and sexual contact.

How to lower cholestrol naturally (Part 2)

Second way how to lower cholesterol naturally. - Nutritional Supplements.

There are clinically proven supplements on how to lower cholesterol naturally by 10 to 20 percent. There is solid proof and science backing up the claims on how to lower cholesterol naturally through supplements.

1. Policosanol.

Policosanol has been subject to numerous clinical trials, which have proven its effectiveness on how to lower cholesterol naturally.
Policosanol works by helping the liver control its production and breakdown of cholesterol. Clinical studies show that policosanol is as effective as prescription drugs on how to loweri cholesterol naturally, without side effects.

2. Gugulipid or guggul-lipid.

Guggulipid is an ancient herb from India. Over recent years many clinical trials have proven its efficacy on how to lower cholesterol naturally and also it is one of the few substances that can effectively lower triglycerides.
In fact, these trials have shown this herb to be more effective in lowering cholesterol than the modern statin drugs, but with no side effects. Statin drugs do not lower triglycerides.

3. Garlic Cholesterol.

In a large study of 220 patients, the garlic group took 800 milligrams of powdered garlic for four months. This group experienced a 12 percent drop in cholesterol and a 17 percent drop in triglycerides. The placebo group had little change.


4. Flax Seed and Cholesterol.

Flax seed is a whole grain that can be found in health food stores and some supermarkets.
In one study by Bahram Arjmandi, Ph.D., of Oklahoma State University, supplements of ground flax seed were given to 38 women with extremely high cholesterol levels were given bread and muffins containing 38 g of either sunflower or flaxseed four times daily.
After six weeks, flaxseed result on how to lower cholesterol naturally was: total cholesterol was reduced by 6.9 percent and LDL (bad) cholesterol by 14.7 percent.

5. Red Yeast Rice.

Red yeast rice has profound effects to lower cholesterol naturally.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It demonstrates that "red yeast rice significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and total triacylglycerol concentrations compared with placebo and provides a new, novel, food-based approach to lowering cholesterol in the general population."
The company that scientifically proved how to lower cholesterol naturally with red yeast rice is Pharmanex.
It discovered that red yeast rice contains a number of active compounds, including lovastatin, the ingredient in the hugely successful prescription drug Mevacor.
This helped to explain Mevacor's success on how to lower cholesterol, but it was also the start of a tale of woe and intrigue for the company, which put red yeast rice in pill form and named it Cholestin.

How to lower cholestrol naturally (Part 1)

The 2 ways how to lower cholesterol naturally by 10 to 20 percent without side effects.

In people with high cholesterol levels, the dangers are real. Due to the cholesterol build up in the arteries there is the danger of heart attack and stroke.
However, in most cases, there are many ways on how to lower cholesterol naturally. For convenience sake, they can be grouped into 2 categories:

1. Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC).
2. Nutritional Supplements.

In the following paragraphs you will find a brief description of various Lifestyle changes you can do and nutritional supplements you can take, and at least, you'll find one or more than one way, on how to lower cholesterol naturally.

I shall discuss each one in seperate posts. Today we go to TLC (therapeutic lifestyle changes)

Lifestyle changes are sometimes difficult to make. It's hard breaking a habit after all. However, knowing what you need to change is the first step towards that change.
Fitting in the recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables (2 of one group and 3 of the other) helps take the place of some of the more processed snacks. Fruits and vegetables are mostly fat free. Maintain a diet that is made of 2/3 of vegetables and fruits and 1/3 of other foods.
Latest research suggest that cholesterol lowering foods such as avocados, almonds, olive oil, soy beans, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, chili peppers, oat bran, beans (kidney, pintos, black, navy, etc.), onions, fatty fish, and flax seed play a crucial role in lowering LDL and sometimes raising HDL levels.

1. STOP SMOKING!

Ingredients in cigarette smoke are extremely oxidizing. High cholesterol is particularly dangerous when it is oxidized. Smokers have much higher need for antioxidants. The B Complex vitamins, including 2 forms of vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide), can reduce nicotine cravings.

2. Exersice and loose weight

Everyone knows that the keys to good cardiovascular health are exercise and maintaining your ideal weight. Just a few minutes per day can increase your level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL or "good" cholesterol).
Just 10 minutes of exercise first thing in the morning can increase your metabolic rate for the rest of the day. Consumption of water so that you are fully hydrated can increase your metabolic rate 24 hours per day.

Next I will discuss on the second way to get lower cholesterol naturally

Stretch marks?? Euwww!

Fine white or purplish lines on the skin called stretch marks are pretty common in most teens. Stretch marks are formed when the tissue under your skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching, like during puberty. Stretch marks usually fade on their own over time. Talk to a dermatologist if you're concerned about them.
Because our skin is the most visible reflection of what's going on in our bodies, people equate healthy skin with beauty. But healthy skin is about more than just good looks; it's essential to our survival. So keep your skin glowing with the right skin care techniques and by eating well and getting lots of exercise

Women Need Papaya

Why the most woman need to eat is papaya?

This fruit packs about twice the vitamin C of an orange. Add it to your arsenal against gallbladder disease, which afflicts twice as many women as men. After analysing the blood of over 13,000 people, scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, found that women who had lower levels of vitamin C were more likely to have gallbladder illnesses. One medium papaya (about 280 grams), with 188 milligrams of C and a mere 500 kilo-joules, is a refreshing source of the vitamin. Best of all it’s probably growing in your garden.

Can make - up ruin your skin??

By Dr Parul Kolhe M B B S, DDV and DNB in dermatology

You might have felt a thrill when applying that forbidden lipstick at the age of 12 experimented with kiss-proof lipstick on a date. Or used a foundation to cover up those blemishes, crows feet and wrinkles. Make-up can be a woman's best friend. However, if used incorrectly it can also be your skin's worst enemy. Some women use up to 12 cosmetic products per day, exposing themselves to about 175 different chemicals! Here are some dos and don'ts on how to buy, use and maintain your make-up, so it does not spoil your skin.

DON'TS

1) Hold on to old cosmetics:

Throw out everything that's been on your shelf for more than two years. Cosmetics have a shelf life of one or two years and after that the chemicals start to degenerate, the oils become rancid and the emulsions start to separate making them potentially harmful. So it makes sense to buy one or two lipsticks every six months rather than buying a dozen in one go and hording them for years.

2) Share make-up that's directly applied onto skin :

These include lipsticks, eyeliners, mascara etc. You'd be sharing your skin's bacteria and spreading infections, too.

3) Add water to dilute caked or thickened mascara and eyeliner :

You're adding a potential source of infection -- water -- which contains micro-organisms. Increased water content in a product creates an optimum environment for bacterial multiplication. You can get styes, conjunctivitis or deadlier fungal eye infections.

4) Use make-up with these ingredients:

Watch out for two potential irritants in your make-up.
a). Parabens: A group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics. The solution is to use paraben free products.
b). Sodium lauryl sulphate: A chemical used in cosmetics for the basic purpose of increasing the spreadability of products like cream. This chemical is proven to be allergic to many skin types.

5) Sleep with make-up on:

No matter how tired you are -- always remove makeup before you go to bed. Your skin will thank you for it.

6) Scrub off long lasting make-up with tissues/ peel off waterproof liners or mascara with your nails :

These make-up products contain special chemicals to make them more adherent and you could end up damaging your skin. Use recommended cleansing pads or lotions to remove them gently.

7) Layer on evening make-up over your daytime make-up :

It's worth spending a little extra time removing your day make-up. Give your skin some time to breathe, rub an ice cube all over and then apply fresh make-up. Stale make-up trapped under a fresh coat can clog up your pores and have a deleterious/harmful effect.

DO'S

1)Buy makeup that suits your skin type :

For instance you must use oil free for oily skin, a moisturising foundation for dry skin, hypoallergenic cream for sensitive skin, non-comedogenic make-up for acne-prone skin (non-comedogenic products help to prevent blackheads) etc.

2) Invest in quality brands:

Buy one lipstick instead of four cheaper ones. It's worth the money.

3) A test patch of any product you're trying out on the inside of your arm:

If after 24 hours no redness or reaction develops, go ahead and buy it.

4) Clean your make-up tools :

This includes lip brushes, sponges, rouge brushes, powder puffs regularly, or replace them every few months. Leftover cosmetic residue is greasy and sticky, and breeds bacteria. You can use mild liquid detergents meant for wool and silks, to wash your tools.

5) Apply moisturiser on your skin a few minutes before your make-up :

It hydrates your skin and forms a protective barrier, which shields your skin from excess contact with chemicals.

Simple thoughts about losing weight

First we think it's best to focus on feeling good. Secondly to remind that in order to live a healthy and energetic life in a body that is fit to do that job, attempting to lose weight only will not be the key. There are some other changes you might want to bring into your life. In order to have the cells of your body function properly they have to receive the right nutritious elements and toxins must be kept away from them as much as possible and should be disposed of properly. In order to reach that goal we have the following recommendations for you:

1) Consume as much as you can of the 'right nutrition'

2) Avoid as much as you can of the 'wrong nutrition'

3) Exercise moderately

4) Be happy with every small change you've been able to make permanently

5) Don't make weight loss more complicated as it is.

What is your ideal weight?

Healthy weight loss Maybe it sounds too good to be true but all you have to do to reach your ideal weight is eat as much fruit as you can every day! If you don't believe it or just want to know more you definitely have to read further but you might want to calculate your ideal weight first.-ideal weight calculator-

Capsicum Or Cayenne Pepper As An Herbal Remedy

by: Mary Hanna

Alternative Medicine practitioners are realizing that healing herbs should be part of their arsenal against disease. The newest touted natural herb is Capsicum, found in cayenne pepper. It has many benefits whether taken internally or externally. When taken internally, capsicum is an antibacterial which will encourage healing and deflect infections while slowing the absorption of fat in the intestines to help fight obesity. Because this natural herbal remedy is a stimulant, it improves circulation. Capsicum will also stabilize blood pressure and lower cholesterol. Herbalists are finding capsicum is useful in fighting a variety of ailments. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the herb cayenne pepper had its start as an herbal remedy. There are no writings on Capsicum in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, or Persia.

The best guess that historians are willing to put forward is that cayenne went to India and China some time in the 14th or 15th century. It is believed that Europe started cultivation around the 16th century. Today cayenne is still a popular herb in the food industry. Now because of well designed and implemented clinical studies it is widely accepted as an effective alternative medicine. Pharmacopoeias of leading medical clinics from Austria, Egypt, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland support this finding. The natural healing herb Capsicum contained in cayenne pepper is loaded with Vitamin A which is necessary for smooth skin and vision. Vitamin A has been found to be the most powerful killer of free radicals, which bombard us on a daily basis. Vitamin C is the other proponent active in capsicum. The healing properties of Vitamin C are clearing blood clots, eliminating plaque from the arteries, healing wounds and fighting colds. By starving them of oxygen, capsicum causes tumor cells to die.

Capsicum can cause a burning sensation but in time you will get used to it. The active ingredients in the herbal remedy, Capsicum, stimulate the brain and salivary glands releasing endorphins into your body. Endorphins are nature's natural painkiller giving us the feeling of pleasure. Capsicum is also the main ingredient in pain killing rubs for Arthritis and Diabetes nerve damage. Many herbalists today recommend capsicum for such ailments as cold hands and feet, sluggish metabolisms, obesity and respiratory tract infections. Use it externally for arthritis, sore back muscles, rheumatism or sprains and bruises. One suggestion for cold feet is to wear a thin pair of socks, then get a thicker pair of socks, sprinkle the inside with cayenne pepper and put them on over the thin socks. The pepper will send a warm soothing sensation to the soles of your feet. An interesting study was done to see if capsicum would irritate or cause ulceration in the intestines. On the contrary it was found that the herb did not harm the tract but sped up the healing of ulcers by secreting more mucosa, the protective lining of the intestines. A very surprising result of many of the clinical tests is that capsicum raise the metabolic rate and is effective in burning the bodies fat. This has many implications for people with obesity problems. Early indications also show that capsicum slows the absorption of fat in the small intestine.

These studies are on going but there are some weight loss products with capsicum that are available in your health food store. As a tropical analgesic, capsicum, the natural herbal remedy has received wide attention by qualified health professionals. It has shown to relieve the pain of shingles as well as other skin ailments. The FDA has approved it to be used for these problems as well as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Studies are being done to see if the herb can be effective in treating psoriasis and fibromyalgia. When using it topically a redness or burning sensation may sometimes occur. This will disappear in two to three weeks time. Once you have received control of the pain capsicum must be used continuously for the relief to be sustained. If you are diabetic take 3 capsules a day to help bring down your blood sugar levels. Capsicum will affect the breakdown of carbohydrates which will control the fluctuation of sugar levels after eating meals. Of course, this is still being studied in clinics around the world. So now we have received another healing herb from Mother Nature's food pharmacy. Capsicum can be counted as a natural herbal remedy in alternative medicines available to help our ailments and relieve our pain. Disclaimer: Always consult your Doctor or Herbalist before attempting any form of alternative medicine.

This article is for informational purposes only. Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com, http://www.ContainerGardeningSecrets.com, and http://www.GardeningHerb.com.

Brain damaging habits

1. NO BREAKFAST.

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causingbrain degeneration.

2. OVEREATING

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. SMOKING

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. HIGH SUGAR CONSUMPTION

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. AIR POLLUTION

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted airdecreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep willaccelerate the death of brain cells.

7. HEAD COVERED WHILE SLEEPING

Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbondioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to braindamaging effects.

8. WORKING YOUR BRAIN DURING ILLNESS

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease ineffectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. LACKING OF STIMULATION THOUGHTS

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. TALKING RARELY

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

Type of acne and treatment

1. Whiteheads

Whiteheads happen when pore completely blocked, trapping sebum(oil), bacteria and dead cells that caused a white bump on the surface. We can see it clearly especialy the time it begging to pop out.

It can be treated by apply retin A, salicylic acid, cleocin-t,sulfur or normal benzoyl peroxide caused it kind of mild acne problem. Else, you can get it clear by oral antibiotics where you can get it from your dermatalogist.


2. Blackheads

Blackheads happen when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. It will take a long time to clear it.

Same as the whiteheads by using retin A, salicylic acid, cleocin-t, sulfur and benzoyl peroxide. Otherwise take oral antibiotics.

3. Papules

Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head.

Same as white and blackheads.

4. Pustules

A pustule is similar to a whitehead, but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow center. Pustules are your garden variety zits.

Same as white and blackheads.

5. Nodules

As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is common. This is so called severe acne problem.

For severe acne, the dermatalogist will high recommend to take isotretinoin or accutane which derived from Vitamin A. But before you take this medicine your derm will do some blood and pregnancy test to ensure that you are not pregnant and carry any high blood pressure problem. You can't get pregnant during treatment and need to do regular blood test in monthly basis or before subscribe the medicine.


6. Cysts

An acne cyst can appear similar to a nodule, but is pus-filled, and has been described as having a diameter of 5mm or more across. They can be painful. This is also under severe acne problem.

Same as nodular.

In other post I will go details to let you know the risk, pro and con for each treatments.

Acai Berry Found In The Amazon Rainforest

by: David Walters

Found in the Amazon Rainforest, the açaí berry is but one of the fruits located there and has recently been dubbed a “super berry”. The rainforest is a perfect location for it, since the açaí berry prospers in swampy or floodplain areas. It comes from a palm tree and is known as the “Tree of Life” to the Brazilians because of its ability to provide an abundance of healthy food. The açaí berry shares a lot of similarities with grapes.

It looks a lot like them and even tastes a bit like them. The berry is the size of a large blueberry, formed like a grape and tastes different to each person. Some would say that it tastes like a wild raspberry, with a hint of grape. Others believe that it tastes like blueberries, ice cream and chocolate. You will have to try it and decide for yourself what you believe it tastes like. It comes off the trees in bunches and offers a variety of benefits, including antioxidants, fiber, fatty acids and more. The antioxidants from the berry are much higher than those found in red wine (at least 20 times more) or blueberries (at least two times more). It is rumored to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth. Because the fruit does not last long after it is harvested, it is mostly available to anyone outside of the Amazon as a juice or frozen. It also cannot be eaten in raw form, but rather in pulp form.

That has not stopped its popularity. The dark, purple skin is what contains a majority of the healthy benefits. The natives of Brazil have been passing down recipes to create purees, which you can warm as a sauce over grains or entrees like meat and fish. The açaí berry can also be frozen for a sorbet-like dessert. The benefits of the açaí berry, as well as the media coverage it has received, have made research into this fruit a top priority. Researchers at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have discovered that açaí extract can be used to fight infection, like the parasitic infection schistosomosis which affects 10 million Brazilians each year and the common bacterial infection staphylococcus aureus. The University of Florida also did a study which investigated the effect of the berries on human cancer cells. The study showed that the berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested. There is still no proof that the berry will prevent cancer. More studies are going on all of the time to research the benefits of this amazing berry. In Brazil, a majority of the population lives on the açaí berry. In fact, they consume more açaí than milk. Açaí shops, that sell only açaí, can be found on almost every street corner is the more populated areas of Brazil. With the popularity of the açaí berry spreading to Europe and the United States, it will not be long before açaí shops are opening around the world. There are already several companies and websites that offer products using açaí solely or with other fruits or plants.

About The Author

David Walters is an avid reader and loves to learn more about tropical fruits. His complete research on the acai berry can be found at http://acaiberry.gracefulearth.com.

Steps to perfectly clean skin

Cleansing is arguably the most important part of your basic skincare routine. Proper cleansing gets rid of old surface skin cells, dirt and dust, grime, make-up and bacteria, and keeps skin pores free of clogs and able to breathe freely.

1. Cleanse twice a day, no more. Unless you have exposed your skin to excessive dust, grime or pollution, twice-a-day cleansing is more than adequate for any skin type. Cleansing too often strips your skin of precious natural oils. Not cleansing regularly, particularly before you retire for the night, may lead to build-up and eruptions.

2. Choose a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. Do not use soap on facial skin: it can be too harsh and drying and damage skin over time. A too-rich cleanser can clog pores, while a too-dry cleanser can irritate the skin. A cleanser for dry skin should contain nourishing herbs and oils. One for oily skin should include herbs that balance oil production and support clarity. Sensitive skin benefits from an ultra-gentle, fragrance-free, non-irritating cleanser.

3. Always cleanse with tepid water. Hot water dries and damages skin over time, and cold water won’t dissolve and take away embedded dirt and grime as well as lukewarm water.

4. If you use sponges or washcloths, make sure they are clean and soft.

5. Rinse with lots of tepid water. Don’t forget to rinse off cleanser from the neck and hairline. Cleanser residue can clog pores and attract dirt.

6. Gently blot off excess water with a soft towel. Do not scrub dry or drag towel along skin.

7. Follow immediately with a water-based toner and a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type to seal in surface moisture and offer nourishment when skin is receptive.

Pores for thought

The best way to manage your pores effectively is a regular, thorough cleansing routine to minimize the build-up of sebum and surface dirt.

Pores are essentially openings in the skin, and there are two types: sweat glands and follicles, which secrete oil. Pores become clogged when oil, grime, makeup or pollutants accumulate as hardened plugs and these plugs form blackheads.

Clogged pores occur most often around the nose, which has more oil glands per square inch than any other area on your face or body. When the duct is blocked, the waxy 'sebum' – that’s the oil – trapped inside becomes infected and produces whiteheads, also called pimples.
Conventional methods of clearing blackheads and whiteheads include squeezing, but this is painful, it often leaves permanent scars, and it may lead to infection when the skin is broken. That means you’re more likely to get acne.

Suction with a vacuum tube is often used in beauty salons, but that can cause broken capillaries and it isn't very effective. The treatment is superficial and may not remove deep-seated plugs completely.

Super Green Foods - Have Some Today!.

Super green foods are derived from young cereal grasses such as wheat, barley, rye, oats and alfalfa, as well as spirulina, chlorella, kelp, dulse and other sea vegetables. Perhaps the most nutrient-dense foods on earth, these grasses are richer in nutrients than spinach, broccoli, eggs and chicken in virtually all categories including protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, carotenoids and vitamin E.

Super green foods are the only foods in the vegetable kingdom that enable animals to continually maintain their weight, strength and optimal health even if consumed alone. They abound in unidentified growth factors, powerful antioxidants, immune boosters and many other health enhancing nutrients.

Super green foods are a category of phytonutrient-rich nutritional products derived from green plants, algae and cereal grasses. Green superfoods contain high concentrations of natural chlorophyll and are harvested seasonally to take advantage of high potencies of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Green superfoods are a natural source of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, plant sterols and other nutritional constituents. There is no better natural source of vitamins than green superfoods. They are safe, effective and the perfect adjunct to your daily diet.

Benefits

• naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes
• contains antioxidants and chlorophyll
• safe and effective


About the Author:
Chester is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of www.AstroNutrition.com - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements.

How Fish Oil Benefits The Heart

by Marcus Ryan

Omega 3 oils have made it into the medical news headlines many times over the past couple of decades.

Why has this occurred?

This is because omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to have some very impressive effects on prevention of heart disease, as well as being linked to lower incidences of depression and dementia in both population studies, and in the case of depression, randomised controlled trials as well.

And the product is natural as well.
So let\'s have a look at what these benefits of omega 3\'s are. In this article, we\'ll have a look at the health effects of omega 3s on the heart.

Benefits of omega 3 fatty acids in survivors of heart attacks (myocardial infarction)

The DART study (which stands for the Diet And Reinfarction Trial) showed that survivors of heart attacks who consumed oily fish, which is equal to about 500 to 800 mg of omega 3 fatty acids per day, had a reduction in total death rate of 29%. The particular survivors who chose to take fish oil capsules containing 450 mg of omega 3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) per day, had a reduction in cardiac related death of 62%, and a reduction in risk of death of 56%.

Then came the GISSI prevention trial, which was a large Italian study of 11,324 heart attack survivors.

This study showed that heart attack survivors who took a capsule of fish oil every day, which is equal to 1 gram of fish oil, which is equivalent to 850mg of omega 3s, had a 30% decrease in cardiac mortality, and 45% decrease in risk of sudden death. And these benefits were apparent within just four months of the trial.

Then the Lyon study came into the picture, looking at 600 heart attack patients.

It was found that those who took the advice of eating a Mediterranean diet, with an emphasis on fruit and vegetables, and in particular an adequate intake of non marine sources of omega 3 oils (alpha-linolenic acid), had a decrease in their risk of heart related death at 5 years by 70%, when compared to those patients who had no such dietary advice.

Now let\'s have a look at fish oil effects in prevention of heart disease in the first place...

Benefits of omega 3 in preventing heart disease and sudden death in healthy individuals

Firstly, there was a study looking at the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids in healthy male doctors. This study was known as the Physician\'s Health Study.

This study found that those with the highest levels of omega 3 fatty acids in their blood streams, had a risk of sudden death that was only 1/5 of the risk of sudden death found in the group with the lowest omega 3 fatty acid levels. That is, their relative risk was 19%. Those with the second highest levels of omega 3 fatty acids had a relative risk of less than 1/3, with a relative risk of 28%.

Secondly, there was the Chicago Physician\'s Health Study Western Electric Study which studied a group of 1822 men over a period of 30 years.

This study found that those who ate more than 35 g of fish per day had 38% less risk of dying from heart disease, and a 44% reduction in risk of heart attacks, when compared to those who had no fish intake.

These are just sample of the various studies on the health effects of omega 3 fatty acids on cardiac health.

It is very sobering to realise that about 50% of heart attacks have no warning.

The benefits as shown in the studies above, relate to preventing heart attacks in those who have already had one, as well as reducing the risk of myocardial infarction and sudden death in healthy individuals.

The these essential fatty acids have been linked to reductions in risk of dementia and depression, in the treatment of depressed patients, and improvement in IQ of children.

There are even studies on the effect of fish oils on reducing levels of aggression in young adults.

The health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids are certainly very interesting, and very promising.

They vary from heart health, to mental health.

If you have a medical condition, you should always seek the advice of your doctor before taking any new supplements or medications in case you are on medications or have medical conditions that contraindicate the use of natural supplements.

So watch out for more developments in the area of omega 3 fatty acids, including more medical studies on its various benefits.

Want to learn more about omega 3 fatty acids? Marcus Ryan helps you to discover the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids and fish oil, including a clear understand of the results of medical studies and research on fish oil benefits.


Marcus Ryan

Marcus Ryan helps you to discover the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids and fish oil, including a clear understand of the results of medical studies on omega 3 oils, which species of fish are high in omega 3 and low in mercury, how safe are fish oil capsules, and the latest news on omega 3 fatty acids. Visit his site at: http://www.omega3oils.info

Herbal Medicine Societies in the Boonies?

by Danna Schneider

So, you think that the interest in and utilization of herbal medicine and alternative therapies is only reserved for higher brow demographics, or only those areas where health and earth conscious "hippies" live?

Well, think again. It's not just the difference between Eastern Medicine, Indian Ayurveda and Western medicine any more. This surge in self healing through nature takes on forms in a larger variety of demographics than we think...

Some rural areas report a high usage of various natural therapies and herbal medicines, ditching the medical field and instead opting to "go natural", many times for much less money than traditional medical care would cost.

A 1993 survey of 251 people who live in rural central Mississippi revealed about 71% used a plant-derived remedy in the previous year, and that the older demographic was more likely to use such remedies than the younger demographic.

At least 20% of the respondents had used at least 3 natural or alternative remedies. Health care providers are typically cautioned to ask patients from this region about the use of home remedies when they seek treatment because of possible drug interactions.

You may notice now that part of the questionnaire you fill out as a first time patient in any doctors office now asks about any herbs, vitamins or natural supplements you may be taking in addition to the standard medications questions because of this very fact.

Herbal and other plant-derived remedies are hypothesized to be the most frequently used therapies worldwide as calculated by the WHO (World Health Organiztion).

Therapeutic properties in substances derived from plants found commonly in nature include pure chemicals that are also available as prescription drugs, standardized extracts, herbal teas, and food plants. In other words, plant-derived remedies can contain chemicals with potent pharmacologic and toxicologic properties.

This makes perfect sense. I mean, how do you think we came up with half of the pharmaceutical drugs we know of today? Many of them were either derived from nature and are now severely altered from their natural state, or the idea behind the drug was garnered from a plant or herb with similar therapeutic properties. This has been acknowledged and well documented, but perhaps not so widely discussed.

Although the exact level of usage of herbal remedies and products in this category of alternative therapies are currently unknown due to a lack of interest in the necessary surveying and actual scientific study funds involved, in 1991, herbal products managed to reach sales of approximately $1 billion.

You can bet your bottom dollar that number has at least tripled today, in an age of increasing skepticism regarding the medical industry and consumer awareness of herbal alternatives.

Right now, the herbal medicine and natural supplement field only shows signs of building momentum, not slowing down, so I have a feeling we have many more advances in natural medicines to come.




About the Author:
Danna Schneider is the founder of www.herbalnewsmagazine.com , a new online magazine about innovations and news in herbal medicine, and also contributes to www.herbal-therapeutics.com , where various supplements and alternative treatments can be found.

The Many Benefits Of Chinese Green Tea

by: Robert Williams


As you may know, green tea is one of the most popular types of Chinese tea. Many people, not only the Chinese, consider it as the most refreshing drink for sweltering summers. The primary reasons for this claim are the facts that green tea is cool to the tastebuds and defends against inflammation. Many people have also claimed that it relieves fever.

In fact, the health benefits of Chinese green tea have been known throughout the world. The Chinese have known about these medicinal benefits since ancient times, because they have used green tea to treat ailments ranging from headaches to depression. The writer Nadine Taylor in her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life suggested that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

These days, numerous scientific studies conducted both in Asia and the West are providing conclusive evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. Notably, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study in 1994 indicating that drinking Chinese green tea regularly lowered the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by close to 60 percent. Also, it was recently reported by researchers of the University of Purdue that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

There are other medical conditions to which drinking green tea is said to have medicinal benefits. To summarize, these conditions include cancer, impaired immune function, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, infection, and high cholesterol levels.

What Makes Green Tea Extraordinary?

The secret of Chinese green tea's benefits lies in the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG essentially harms healthy body tissues. Studies also revealed that this antioxidant has been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and blocking the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter benefit takes on added importance because the formation of abnormal blood clots, medically known as thrombosis, is the main cause of strokes and heart attacks.

In addition, the effects of Chinese green tea and the "French Paradox" have a strong correlation. Researches were initially puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet high in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. Red wine was found to be the answer, because it contains resveratrol. Resveratrol is a polyphenol that restricts the negative effects of smoking and a high-fat diet. However, in 1997 a study reported that EGCG is twice as beneficial as resveratrol. This discovery also explains the lower rate of heart disease among Chinese men even though approximately 70 percent are smokers.

Additional Benefits

New evidence that unveil further benefits of Chinese green tea are now emerging. One of those claims is that Chinese green tea can also help those people on diets. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more fat than those given only a placebo and caffeine.

Chinese green tea is also reputed to prevent tooth decay. Much like its bacteria-fighting abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also combat the bacteria that cause dental plaque.

Today, several skin products containing green tea, from deodorants to creams, are also available on the market. This is due to the fact that Chinese green tea is found to be powerful in fighting bacteria that cause skin imperfections.


About The Author

Robert Williams writes for several web sites, including http://productshelp.com and http://holeinthebucket.com

Add Some Honey And Stop Feeling Guilty.

By: Jonathon Hardcastle

According to Greek mythology, the ancient gods of Mount Olympus, like Zeus and Athena, used to eat nectar and ambrosia to maintain their healthy looks and perform their rather unusual human-like activities. Although scholars have not yet concluded on what exactly ambrosia was for ancient Greeks, nectar in botany is a sugar-rich liquid produced by the flowers of plants in order to attract pollinating insects, like honeybees, essential for honey production. Nectar is produced in glands called nectaries, which are located at the base of the perianth, so as to allow pollinators perform their role and accessing the flower's reproductive structures, the anthers and pistil, while collecting the nectar the flower produces.

The collected nectar is then transported by honeybees to combs where honey is produced. Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid, significantly sweeter than table sugar and has very attractive chemical properties for baking. With its distinct flavor, which leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners, honey is a type of food that has great benefits for the human body and its consumption promotes contemporary nutritional habits and healthy dietary demands. Categorized both as a type of food and a natural medicine, honey has been used by a variety of civilizations for different reasons. Ancient Egyptians used it to preserve their dead (mummies), Roman's as an important cosmetic ingredient and it is mentioned even in the Christian Bible.

Many types of honey exist today and the recent technological developments have created the best possible conditions for honey production and have contributed to its different uses in medicine, food and cosmetic industries. But unfortunately, chemical substances used to increase the honey production and meet the greater demand existing today, have resulted in deteriorating its natural ingredients and even making it dangerous, in rare and extreme cases, for human consumption.

Contemporary consumers have the ability to protect their health by buying honey that is produced by professionals and thus minimize the risk of consuming a product that will not benefit the human body. But even when the honey purchased is produced in accordance to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Guidelines, it is extremely important for us to maintain the appropriate storage conditions and prolong its duration by promoting its safe use. Specifically, honey has to be stored in cool places and we have to avoid storing it close to electric appliances or near sunny windows that raise the temperature in the storage shelve or room. Any kind of utensil used to retrieve honey out of its container has to be totally clean and without any kind of moisture on it. Honey-lovers should follow these simple instructions in order to keep their purchased honey longer and their minds at rest regarding its safe use.

About The Author

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://letstalkaboutfood.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://yournutritionsource.net/ and http://foodandourlives.com/

Herbal Guide to Natural Breast Enlargement...

Natural Breast Enlargement is a greatly safer and cheaper way to enlarge your breasts. In fact, breast enlargement surgery can expense $10,000 or more. There are many alternative, natural breast enlargement options on the promote today for you to wish from though. Let's look at some of the most popular herbs included in these and why...

Feneugreek Seed Extract contains some of the uppermost concentrations of the workshop elements recommended by herbalists for breast enlargement. Also hormone monitor that that has been worn to discuss menopausal symptoms and balances the female system.

Keep reading further to learn how this topic can benefit you, as the rest of this article will supply you will the needed information.

Fennel Seed is ornate in flavonoids that cause estrogenic effects. This boosting of emission is key to the formation of new breast cells and tissue, and the boosting of secretion is key to the refining of the estrogen receptor sites which get foggy with environmental toxins that mimic estrogen. By acting to subtract these and other toxins from the body, it acts as a drink and drink as well.

Dong Quai basis aids the body in the able use of hormones. Also worn as handling for some menopause symptoms and it's been worn successfully to alleviate PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and menopausal symptoms (Hardy 2000). Scientists think that one method of action of Dong Quai is to promote natural progesterone synthesis. Progesterone (to be discussed in more detail later) is another hormone whose production declines at menopause. The yard nutrients can help to bathe these out of the system, aiding in increasing the strength of the breast tissue.

Blessed Thistle basil is worn to delight a mixture of female concerns with painful menstruation and associated aches and pains. Also worn as a hormonal watchdog and aid in digestion and circulation. Because of it's moving estrogenic properties, it is mainly worn now for nurture mothers, the melt infusion scarcely ever fault to land a accurate supply of milk. It is considered one of the best medicines which can be worn for this purpose.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a theme are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the perfect picture.

Dandelion rifle is a recurrent workshop found almost everywhere. Dandelion root property all forms of emission and flow from the body. This boosting of emission is key to the formation of new breast cells and tissue, and the boosting of flow is key to the refining of the estrogen receptor sites which get misty with environmental toxins that mimic estrogen. By acting to detach these and other toxins from the body, it acts as a drink and drink as well.

Watercress Leaf. J.E. Meyers, Botanical Gardens of Hammond, Indiana informs us that Watercress is one of the best sources of vitamin E. This is the lushness vitamin, vital to breast enlargement, Vitamin E helps the body to use oxygen, which increases mean endurance and endurance and improves heart response.

L-Tyrosine is a close precursor to Thyroxine, a essential thyroid hormone, as well as Adrenaline and Nor-adrenaline. Thyroxine has been found to encourage metabolic esteem and command growth rate. L-Tyrosine is a required amino acid in the production of neurotransmitters with epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. L-Tyrosine also appears to have a mild stimulatory realize on the innermost panicky system.

Kelp is the normal name for seaweed. It absorbs fats and has been shown to have efficacy for obesity, cellulitis and rheumatism. It is unhealthy in nutrients, containing 30 minerals, so it is especially beneficial for someone who is stone deficient. It is reported to be beneficial for the head and anxious system and the spinal chord. Kelp contains iodine which stimulates the thyroid. Kelp has also been reported to develop skin, nails and hair, shelter against radiation, diminish stools and pleasure obesity and ulcers.

Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant, theater a function in the body's ability to develop oxygen. It also protects Vitamin A from destruction in the body and unsaturated fats from abnormal breakdown. Vitamin E prolongs the life of red blood cells and promotes cell respiration and is reported to be the anti-aging vitamin. In addition, Vitamin E helps minimize scarring and assists in the remedial of wounds, retards blood clotting, keeps youthful elasticity in tissues and alleviates hot flashes and menopausal distress.

That's how equipment stand right now. Keep in psyche that any theme can change over time, so be reliable you keep up with the newest news

What you have learned while reading this informative article, is knowledge that you can keep with you for a lifetime.

Cold Sore

Cold sores are caused by a type of herpes virus (HSV-1, which most often is not sexually transmitted) so they're contagious from person to person. Once you get this virus it stays in your body, meaning you'll probably get cold sores every now and then throughout your life.

Here are ways you can help prevent cold sores from making an appearance (or reappearance if you've had them in the past).

--> Avoid getting cold sores in the first place by not sharing stuff like lip balm, toothbrushes, or drinks with other people who might have cold sores. The virus that causes cold sores is transmitted through the nose (in mucus) and the mouth (in saliva).

--> People who have the virus know that cold sores can flare up from things like too much sun, stress, or being sick. Just one more reason to lather on that suntan lotion, eat well, exercise, and get plenty of sleep!


If you do have a cold sore, here are some tips for keeping yourself comfortable:
--> Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if the cold sores are painful.

--> Suck on ice pops or cubes to ease pain and keep cold sores cool.

--> Stay away from acidic foods (like oranges, tomatoes, and lemonade) and salty, spicy foods, which can cause irritation.

--> Don't pick at cold sores while you're waiting for them to go away. They may bleed or become infected with bacteria.


Usually, cold sores go away on their own after a week or 2. But if you get them frequently or they're a problem, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. He or she may be able to prescribe a medication to alleviate symptoms and shorten the amount of time cold sores last.

Sun and Skin

When we're outdoors, we all know we need to protect our skin from the sun's harmful rays. Of course, it's impossible to avoid the sun - who wants to hide indoors all summer when it feels so great to get outside and be active? And the sun's not all bad, anyway:

Sunlight helps our bodies create vitamin D. So follow these tips when you're outdoors to help manage sun exposure:

--> Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even if it's cloudy or you don't plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. If you go swimming or plan to stay outside, reapply sunscreen (even if the bottle says the sunscreen is waterproof) every 2 to 3 hours.

--> Choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the words "broad spectrum protection" or UVA protection in addition to the SPF of 15 or greater. Select a sunscreen that says "nonacnegenic" or "noncomedogenic" on the label to help keep pores clear.
--> The sun's rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, so make sure you reapply sunscreen frequently and take breaks indoors if you can. If your shadow is longer than you are tall, then it's a safer time to be in the sun (you should still wear sunscreen, though).

--> Apply more sunscreen (with higher SPF) when you're around reflective surfaces like water, snow, or ice.

--> We all know that the sun can damage skin, but did you know it can contribute to eye problems, too? Protect your face and eyes with a hat and sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.

--> Some medications, such as prescription acne medications or birth control pills, can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so if you're taking medication, increase your sun protection.

--> If you want the glow of a tan, try faking it with self-tanners or salon tanning treatments. Avoid tanning beds, though, because although manufacturers claim that tanning beds are free of UVB rays, they still use harmful UVA rays.

25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Now

1. Green Tea and Cancer

Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease

Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging

Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally. It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

5. Green Tea and Skin

Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging. Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green Tea and Arthritis

Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

7. Green Tea and Bones

The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea. It helps keep your bones strong. If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol

Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green Tea and Obesity

Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes

Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's

Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's

Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease

Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure

Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning

Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which cause food poisoning and kill the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green Tea and Immunity

Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu

Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma

Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection

Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning, soak a cutton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes

Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay

Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green Tea and Stress

L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.


24. Green Tea and Allergies

EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies. So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

25. Green Tea and HIV

Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells. What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

Starting from today, try to get a cup of green tea for total wellness.

Food as Medicine (Part Two)

MEMORY PROBLEMS?

EAT OYSTERS! Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS?

EAT GARLIC! Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)


COUGHING?

USE RED PEPPERS!! A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER?

EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage!! Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER?

EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!! A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS?

EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!! Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA?

EAT APPLES! Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES?

EAT AVOCADO! Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!! Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE?

EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!! The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.


Kiwi:

Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E &fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants &flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry:

Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits &protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field........they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange:

Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon:

Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C &Potassium. (watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn suv rays)

Guava &Papaya:

Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion)

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

Food as Medicine (Part One)

HEADACHE?

EAT FISH! Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches. So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain

HAY FEVER?

EAT YOGURT! Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!

Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea. (actually, tea suppresses my appetite and keeps the pounds from invading....Green tea is great for our immune system)!

INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP?)

HONEY! Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA?

EAT ONIONS!!!! Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes. (when I was young, my mother would make onion packs to place on our chest, helped the respiratory ailments and actually made us breathe better).

ARTHRITIS?

EAT FISH, TOO!! Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. (fish has omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH?

BANANAS - GINGER!!!!! Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION?

DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!! High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS?

EAT PINEAPPLE!!! Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME?

EAT CORNFLAKES!!!! Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.