Weight loss is something almost every one of my friends talks about.  People are always trying to diet, or trying to lose weight.  Whether its 40 pounds or 4 pounds, people are always “watching” what they eat.

According to a study, 213 people were observed at an all you can eat Chinese buffet by trained researchers.  The research showed some fairly interesting results.  Diners who were visibly overweight ot obese were more likely than normal-weight diners to:

• Serve themselves immediately, rather then browse the buffet first
• Choose a large plate over a smaller one
• Sit facing the buffet
• Use a fork rather then chopsticks
• Sit without a napkin on their laps

What to do if you are at a buffet such as this and trying to watch your weight? Use a small plate, so you take smaller portions.  Use chopsticks so you slow down while you are eating.  You also pay more attention to the amount of food you are consuming.  Don’t sit facing the buffet, so the food isn’t always “in your face” having you thinking about what to eat next.  Take your time and look around the buffet and go for the food that most appeals to you, not just what’s at hand.  Use your napkin, this way its one more thing you have to do before getting back up to grab another serving, which may in fact act as a deterrent.

Studies have shown that taking fish oil everyday can help prevent heart disease and cancer in both men and women.  Some of the additional benefits of fish oil have are:

• Fighting Depression
• Improving Autoimmune response
• Protecting against Type 2 diabetes
• Preventing heart attack and stroke
• Improving memory
• Improving eye sight (primarily macula degeneration)
• Decrease blood clotting
• Lower triglycerides

There are a ton of products on the market that tout on their label that they contain fish oil, but buyer beware.  Some fish oil capsules do not hold enough fish oil in them to benefit your health and they cost more then they are worth.

You can find a quality fish oil capsule by following this guideline.

• Most fish oil is only 30% EPA and DHA.  be sure to read the fine print.  It may say 1000mg on the front, but when reading the back label it may say 300mg of EPA and DHA.  Be sure to check that the fish oil has between 700 to 1,000 IU a day.
• Double strength may just mean you take two pills instead of one.  Some brands are more concentrated then others.  Check the supplement facts to find out how many pills you’ll have to take to get the EPA and DHA you want.
• Ignore other omegas.  You don’t need other Omega-3s like ALA or Omega-6 fats.
• Major brands are all mercury-free.  Consumer Reports and ConsumerLab.com have found no mercury in any big brand names, whether or not the label says they’re mercury-free.
• You can buy DHA made from algae.  but so far, there is no vegetarian source of EPA.

Several years ago I sold products called Arbonne. I began using these products religiously after having been sold them by a friend of mine.

While I no longer “sell” Arbonne, I do refill friends orders and continue using the products myself. I have tried a slew of other products both before my experience with Arbonne as well as after. I must admit though, that nothing I have tried compares to the results I have gotten from Arbonne products.

I have been using their RE9 line for several years now and find I am lost if I run out of product. The eye cream is addicting. It goes on so smoothly and I certainly can see a difference with fine lines under my eyes.

The day cream is nice too, although I prefer something with more SPF in it then SPF 8 which the RE9 cream contains. So I began using another one of their products called Revelage. It has an SPF of 30 and touts that it has the capabilities of lightening sun spots on your face. Since I began using it this past summer, I don’t really notice a huge change in the appearance of the dark spots, but I do notice a slight color change. I suppose I was expecting a mini miracle.

Until I find another product that works better then Revelage on my sun spots, I’ll continue using the products.

If you happen to know of a better line, I’m all ears! Would live to try some new stuff.

Take caution when wearing lipstick or lip gloss during the day. Most lip products contain a reflective ingredient that gives your lips the shine after applying it to your lips. While that shine is what we are trying to achieve with it’s application it is also quite harmful for your lips.

You have heard that applying baby oil to your skin is not a healthy nor wise decision when out in the sun because it can promote sun damage or even skin cancer. Most lipsticks contain a form of baby oil, called mineral oil. It aides the sun in burning the thin, gentle skin on your lips increasing the cell breakdown and depletion of collagen. Collagen is what gives your lips their fullness. Without it we start to show signs of age with fine wrinkles around our lips. Most people don’t realize that wearing lipstick in the sun can cause premature aging. Next time you shop for lip products, be sure they contain an SPF of at least 30. There are some great products that are inexpensive out there. Maybelline and Cover Girl make one but the SPF is 15. Burts Bees has one with an SPF of 30. Color choices may be limited, but I’d rather be safe then sorry.

1. Drip-proof hanging plants

Even if you over-water a hanging plant indoors, you can prevent it from leaking on your floor by using a plastic shower cap on the bottom of your planter.  The elastic will hold the shower cap onto the bottom and collect any dripping mess.

2. Get rid of mosquitoes before they attack

Run back into your kitchen and grab some vanilla extract.  Add 1 tsp. mixed with water and put in a spray bottle.  Spritz the mixture onto pulse points.  The sweet smell blocks the receptors on mosquitoes’ antennae, which prevent the bugs from being able to “smell” the human prey.

3. Not sure what to do with styrofoam packing peanuts?

Place them in a bowl and spray them with your favorite scented air freshner.  The peanuts are porous and will absorb perfume molecules, releasing scent over the course of four-five days.  Once fragrance evaporates, just respray the peanuts.

Recently I took my 7 year old daughter to a nutritionist after my pediatrician gave her a scare telling her that she was “very very unhealthy”.  We had gone to the pediatrician for a physical, which we do every year before school starts and as usual they took her weight.  She weighed 84 lbs when she should (according to the chart) weigh about 70 lbs for her height and build.  My daughter looked at me when the doctor told her about her unhealthy weight gain and did not shed a tear.  I actually thought she was not really taking it seriously at all, until we got into the car.  The she cried and asked if what the doctor said meant she was going to die. .   I took issue with the way the doctor addressed the issue, but don’t want to get into that now.

While my daughter likes her food, her problem is portion control.  I tend to cook very healthy foods.  I rarely EVER fry anything, I always bake and with very little oil if any at all.  After undergoing blood testing to find if the inherited thyroid condition was causing her weight gain (which it was not), we went to see a nutritionist.  One piece of advice she gave me that made a HUGE difference is that you should never purchase any food where the sugars are 50% or more of the Carbohydrates.  People are always buying lowfat items, thats a big mistake.  When something is lowfat they overcompensate for flavor by adding sugar!  Sugar is metabolized in the body and stored in the body as fat.  One of the main reasons a lowfat processed food does not help with weight loss.

Next time you reach for that bag of school snacks, check out the sugar to carb ratio.  Go for the regular version, not the lowfat, and keep the portions under control.

I can hardly count the number of time I have taken a bite of that delicious slice of pizza and burned the roof of mouth, resulting in a blister.  For days I was unable to eat anything else that was hot without reliving the burn.  A trick for easing the problem is sprinkling your tongue with a pinch of sugar and holding it against the sore spot.  According to a study I read, it seems that as the sugar melts, it stimulates the brain to release endorphins that make you forget about the burn.  I tried it and it really worked, however, when the sugar was dissolved, the pain was still there but significantly less. Next time you burn your mouth, try it.  What do you have to lose?

A recent study in UCLA revealed that the healthiest juice of all is not grapefruit, nor cranberry, nor apple. It’s actually pomegranate juice. The study actually released a list of the top ten healthiest juices, and the “winners” are (from #2 to #10): Red wine, Concord grape juice, Blueberry juice, Black cherry juice, Açaí juice, Cranberry juice, Orange juice, Tea, and Apple juice. I’m a bit surprised that tomato juice is not on the list, but I’m glad apple and orange juice are as I often drink these two. If you do want to have the healthiest juice or shake though, you know now what to blend!

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I‘ve heard many people on TV and radio mention the health benefits of fish oil but I never really got around to researching more about it. Today I decided to Google and here’s what I found:

• Fish oil contains the healthy substances called omega 3 fatty acids. Surely you’ve heard of a lot of food stuff being marketed as healthy because they contain omega 3 fatty acids, stuff that is very good for the heart.
• Omega 3 fatty acids can normalize abnormal heart rhythms, lessen blood clots, and improve the condition of arteries. Thus, taking fish oil regularly can greatly reduce chances of heart attacks and other heart ailments.
• Omega 3 fatty acids can also be found in other sources like walnuts and canola oil but it’s highest concentration is in fish.
• Studies have found that fish oil protects the nervous system, lowering the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Studies have also linked lower risks of breast and prostate cancer to regular consumption of fish oil.
• You can get the benefits of fish oil by eating fish (of course) like sardines and salmon but you can also get it through capsules. There are lots for sale in the market.

Know more benefits of fish oil?

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We all know about the risks of sun exposure, especially in today’s times. Many people have started changing their habits, avoiding direct sunlight whenever possible, and wearing a lot of sunscreen. While the risks of sunlight are eminent, sunlight also provides something we all need: Vitamin D. In fact, experts say most people meet their vitamin D needs through exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet (UV) B radiation penetrates uncovered skin and converts cutaneous 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D₃, which in turn becomes vitamin D₃.

If you’ve totally reduced your sunlight exposure because of skin hazards, beware because the trade off may be Vitamin D deficiency which can result to a lot of ailments such as osteomalacia, bone diseases, and skeletal deformities. Studies show that homebound people, people often covered for religious reasons, etc are often lacking in Vitamin D. The good news is you can obtain Vitamin D from supplements and a few food sources like fish liver oil.

Care to share your thoughts on this?