12/25/09

The Truth Of Weight Loss Products

The sad fact is that our metabolisms slow down as we age but our cravings for chocolate cake do not. However, there are ways to attack this dilemma and overcome it. You wait doesn't have to be an issue that constantly tugs at your every thought and emotion.


In fact, it's time to take charge and shed those excess pounds once and for all. Let's discuss diets shall we? Let's kick around the idea of exercise programs, and let's have a dialogue on weightloss pills. After all, these are the things that need our full understanding before we rush off and to any sort of plan of action. Weight loss products has become a monstrous industry that, in the late eighties, centered its sights on the easily led and desperate solution seekers in the fitness world. Over the last 20 years there has been amazing advancements in nutrition science. Some good and some not so good. We live in a microwave minded society of "quick, instant, and easy". Our dietary lifestyles have seen the most dramatic changes with people being on the run with work and play like never before. One detriment is the long standing tradition of sitting down for several meals per day. We have transitioned to an eat on the run crowd and require convenience in everything in everything, including food. This led to poor food choices that has created a fat society. Now the weight loss products industry has come full circle. Eating healthy isn't always quick and easy. The mutli-billion dollar weight loss products industry would like you to think so but as you've been told before-you can't fool Mother Nature.


Have you ever resorted to weightloss pills in order to drop those extra pounds? No big deal if you have. Millions of Americans do it each and every day. Do you know why? Because they're sick and tired of being overweight. This is a normal feeling. Oh, and there is another reason, they are far too often viewed as a quick fix and we love our quick fixes. Unfortunately, not all weightloss pills are sound methods to becoming thin. The fact is that many of these weight loss pills can actually do more harm than good. This is where education comes into play. You need to be aware of what weightloss pills are helpful and which ones are harmful. Have you talked here it doctor about this? It is always the wisest course of action. What he/she will likely say is to avoid them and go for the old fashioned diet and exercise routine. This is not a bad idea. Far too many of us Americans are guilty of immediately grabbing the weight loss pills for instant results. The truth is that losing weight is not at all that easy. The Internet is a wonderful source when it comes to learning more about weightloss pills. I think we have all seen those late-night infomercials with those hard bodies pitching there too good to be true products. I would be a tad reluctant before snatching these babies up. Many of them are simply bad for your body. What they actually do is shacked water from your body and this can give the appearance of weight loss. This offers no solution to anything. It is a false positive. The unwanted fat the you're trying to get rid of its still there and the vital water that your body needs is that stripped away. But some weight loss pills actually act as hunger Suppressants. Many of those cravings you typically get can be set aside. You can even ask your local drugstore for weightloss pills like these. When all is said and done, consulting a doctor before taking any weightloss pills is the smart way to go. You need to make sure you're losing weight the healthy way. The typical result of the continuous hunger response if being compelled to eat junk food. When we eat junk food the toxins continue to build up around the cells walls and may lead to a lymphatic water build up around the cells. As we continue to crave more food we are in a never ending cycle that the weight loss product and junk food industries bank on. In fact, to speed up that cycle, there are addictive components in many of those products.

12/22/09

Natural Skin Tightening - Do These Natural Substances Really Work, Or Is It Just Marketing Hype?

It is unbelievable, how big the skin cream market has become. There are thousands of chemical and synthetic lotions available, plus a whole range of natural skin tightening anti-aging, anti-wrinkle creams.


The big issue is how effective are they at tightening your skin. Naturally they're all going to say they're the best -- otherwise no one will ever buy their products. However you don't want to waste your money buying something that doesn't work, so you need to understand what it takes to tighten facial tissues.


You first need to realize the #1 reason why your skin sags and wrinkles is because your body loses its capability to produce as many collagen, elastin and keratin protein cells as it did when you were younger.


The second contributing factor is oxidation damage, with the third being the reduction of hyaluronic acid in your facial tissues.


Therefore, the only realistic way to improve and tighten loose skin is to increase the amounts of these substances particularly in your dermis tissue layer.


There are a few natural skin tightening substances that I know of that can do this. Unless you've researched on the Internet it's more than likely you will not have heard about or seen these ingredients before.


No doubt you've heard of coenzyme Q10 before, it's very important for your body -- in fact every cell you have contains it, however in its normal form its molecules are too big to fit through your skin cell.


Therefore when it's topically applied it doesn't penetrate through and only sits on the surface of your outer tissue layer (epidermis).


A new version of coenzyme Q10 called Nano-Lipobelle HEQ10 in a special 'nano-emulsion' form became available in a topically applied anti-wrinkle cream only last year.


This important breakthrough reduction of molecular size enables it to penetrate deeply down through your cells into your dermis layer to help build more collagen and elastin proteins.


Its antioxidant properties also help to destroy harmful free radicals that cause oxidative stress in your skin.


An equally powerful substance was developed around the same time called functional keratin®. You've probably heard of keratin before because its dead cells help protect your scalp until they are shed.


Well functional keratin® works the same way as HEQ10 in stimulating re-growth of your vital protein tissue cells in your dermis. Boosting there levels is essential to reducing facial wrinkles, which contributes to making your complexion look smoother and more youthful.


The last substance I want to mention is Phytessence Wakame an extract from a specific type of Japanese sea kelp. It inhibits a harmful enzyme (hyaluronidase), which breaks down hyaluronic acid in your skin.


The Japanese have been using and eating it for centuries and look at their near flawless complexions.

12/19/09

All Natural Ways To Remove Wrinkles

Furrows are a normal repercussion of aging, whether on your face or body. You can just humbly accept the situation as it develops or take the initiative and decide to do something about it. Instead of buying pricey creams and moisturizers, perhaps you can try some house remedies that have proven to be efficient against wrinkles. You can utilize egg whites under the eyes so for those that want to prevent wrinkles, you may also use scent free castor oil and put this to the skin, under the eyes or the throat.


Those who want to make their own cleansers can do so by emptying the contents of 3 Vitamin E capsules into a small bowl and then combining this with two tablespoons of plain yogurt. After blending up the solution, rub it on your face with a cotton ball and let it sit for ten minutes before rinsing. Another concoction may come from a one-fourth cup of comfrey infusion, a quarter cup of witch hazel and ten drops of patchouli essential oil. The appealing thing about this, is that you are able to save the surplus in a clean container for a later use.


You can also mix one teaspoon of raspberry juice with one teaspoonful of orange juice, a teaspoon of olive oil, whipped egg yolk and 2 tablespoonfuls of grind oatmeal. After combining everything, you wait twenty minutes and smear this on the face. Once it dries out, you wash this off with tepid water. Before going to sleep you should utilize coconut oil to your skin pore regions. For those that have pineapple at home, you can open this and then rub the center of the fruit on your face for 10 to 15 minutes before washing off.


Green Thompson seedless grapes can also be employed and once you cut this in two, you have to gently press this on your face so that the juice gets sucked up by the skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse off with tepid water and let it dry naturally. A paste of turmeric made with sugarcane juice can also be used as it has proven to be effective in getting rid of lines and slow skin aging. Regardless of what you use, it is essential to go for frequent facials to effectively control lines. Facial massage (which is easily self-applied) can help tighten up muscles to reduce the fleshiness of the skin around your eyes and the increased blood flow restores your young look.


When you do this, make sure you always begin from the neck upwards and then end at the brow using all your fingers and massaging quickly in a circular motion. Prior to utilizing your choice house remedy to get rid of furrows on your face, you must first clean the region with wet cotton wool to erase out all cosmetics you wear on face and to make it easier to open the pores on the skin. If you need to go out-of-doors, the only thing you can do to protect yourself from the sun is to use a pair of shades and wear a hat which helps delay the onset of wrinkles on the sides of the eyes strangely referred to as crow's feet.

The Hidden Truth About Medicinal Herbs For Skin Care

Did you know that by simply mixing some milk with a few drops of lemon juice, you can use it for bleaching your skin? All you have to do is apply it directly and leave for about twenty minutes and then wash it off. This is just one of the many home remedies using medicinal herbs for skin care.


I bet you did not know that many types of seaweed are used in herbal skin care products too. Seaweed goes by various names. The most popular one from Ireland, where I come from, is called carrageen moss. There are others from Japan, known as kelp or sometimes called dulse as well.


Why is seaweed so important for treating the largest organ of our bodies? First, it is really a great agent for getting rid of toxins. Secondly, it is so rich in vitamins and minerals that it is can be a great source of nourishment.


The Japanese seaweed or kelp (Wakame) can counteract the negative effects of an enzyme called hyaluronidase which harms the hylauronic acid. That acid is actually essential to collagen and elastin doing their job of maintaining the suppleness and firmness of the epidermis.


Other medicinal herbs for skin range from rose petals which can be a great agent for rejuvenating, mositurizing and soothing sensitivity. Aloe vera can be great for helping hydration.


Medicinal herbs for skin care are now firmly established as the best way of restoring balance and hydration levels and encouraging re-growth of collagen. They are favored above the chemical substances which puts money into the cosmetic companies' bank accounts. The downside of all that is that they sometimes have harmful effects such as irritation and can cause rashes and allergic reactions. Some of them have been linked to cancer. Because they lengthen shelf life, the companies cannot be bothered with herbs or natural oils. That is the hidden truth!


However, if you are tempted to make your own home remedies, remember that there is a lot of research that has been done on both the chemical substances and the medicinal herbs for skin care. By now, we know that we should look carefully at any products we buy and steer clear of alcohol, fragrances and mineral oils.


There is a whole new brave world of research being done on medicinal herbs for skin and there are natural substances which can transform skin care. Why not learn what these herbal skin care products are and take the guesswork out of home concoctions? The company which is mentioned on my website is committed to extremely high standards in the purity and quality of its products.

Discover The Best Way to Lower Cholesterol Naturally With Proven Ingredients

Of all the ways to lower cholesterol currently available, a natural route is the best option, especially considering the side effects of statin drugs. With only 20% of cholesterol coming from your diet, it is essential to get the right nutrients proven to help as well.


Over 80 % of your cholesterol is produced by the liver and so lowering this production is key to a successful treatment. This is where statin drugs fall down as they not only lower cholesterol but also Coenzyme Q10 which is essential to the body.


If the amount of CoQ10 is reduced, you will actually have an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke as this enzyme is essential for producing energy in the cells, particularly the heart. Some statins have been removed like Baycol because of a number of deaths related to its use.


One of the most effective ways to lower cholesterol is by eating sensibly but also ensuring you have the right ingredients that are proven to be effective at lowering your bad or LDL levels and raising your good or HDL ones.


It is important to realize that some cholesterol is good as this waxy substances helps to manufacture vitamin D and regulate the hormones in your body. Too little, which can result from statin drug use, can result in brain impairment and mood disorders, even suicidal thoughts.


The best ingredient is Policosanol, an extract from sugar cane as this helps to balance your levels, lowering the bad while raising the good. It has been shown to remove plaque build up from the arteries and does not interfere with CoQ10 production.


Lecithin, a natural phospholipid, helps to dissolve excess cholesterol while plant sterols or Phytosterols have a similar structure and help to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract.


Rice Bran and Pumpkin seed oil also have very beneficial effects and combine well with the others.


It is always best to start with the natural route before considering powerful and potentially harmful drugs like statins, which in my opinion are prescribed far too easily and you are also meant to stay on them for the rest of your life, making substantial profits for the pharmaceutical companies.


I hope you can see the huge benefits of using natural ways to lower cholesterol and the long term benefits they provide to help you maintain good health.


If you would like to learn more about the effective and natural cholesterol balancing supplements I personally use, visit my website today.

Facial Muscles, Your Personal Identity

People remember faces a lot easier than they can remember names, and when you start to think about what really makes your face "you", there is little wonder why this is the case. It is this personal make up that everyone around you can easily identify as being you, and it only takes a quick glance for this recognition to take place.


Although we all feature this unique personal look, we all share the same basic facial build to display our emotions of happiness, sadness, surprise and unfortunately show the signs of aging too. Our face is made up of 21 different facial muscles which work together to display these emotions.


The facial muscles include:


Occipitofrontalis - These muscles cover the frontal part of the skull which pull the skalp back and raise the eyebrows. This also results in wrinkles forming in the forehead.


Procerus - Small pyramid muscle sitting deep to the superior orbital nerve which pulls down on the skin between the eyebrows.


Nasalis muscle - Compresses the nasal cartilage and comprises of the transverse and alar.


Depressor septi nasi - This muscle can be found between the mucous membrane and the lip


Orbicularis oculi - These muscles aid in the closing of the eyes


Corrugator supercilii - Another muscle which results in causing wrinkles in the forehead. The muscle pulls the eyebrow downwards to produce these wrinkles.


Depressor supercilii - Is an eye muscle however its actions are often disputed and are considered by dermatologists to be an assistance in the movement of the eyebrow.


Auricular muscles (anterior, superior, posterior) - 3 muscles which are found around the ears.


Orbicularis oris - The muscle surrounding the mouth consisting of a number of fibers to aid in movement.


Depressor anguli oris - A small muscle which aids in frowning.


Risorius - This muscle is the main cause of the smile, retracting the angle of the mouth.


Zygomaticus major - Drawing on the angle of the mouth at the corners further aiding in facial expression.


Zygomaticus minor - Inserts on the upper lip and again helps to raise the corners of the mouth leading to a smile.


Levator labii superioris - One of the broadest muscles in the face extending from the side of the nose.


Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi - This muscle dilates the nostril, elevating the upper lip enabling people to snarl.


Depressor labii inferioris - A small muscle at the lower part of the face helping to lower the bottom lip.


Levator anguli oris - Very small muscle rising from the mouth.


Like any muscle in the body when they are not used regularly they gradually deteriorate over time. As a result the skin loses elasticity which then causes wrinkles to form.