Healthy Life

How to take care of your eyes

2011-07-19T04:16:00.000-07:00

Men can lie but the eyes never! It shows the real hidden feelings deep inside the heart. Look straight into the person eye and you can get to know them. To look straight into a person’s eye and to have a conversation we need extra courage without which it is not possible to look into a person’s eye . As eyes are powerful,
it conveys the message even without a word. Silence speaks the feeling love, anger, wittiness, sadness etc of our loved ones. Hey is this what “ Silence speaks more than words”. Eyes are the best friends who can let out your feeling and roll down in silence and makes us feel better. It doesn’t end with us, by donating it we can lighten up a person’s life and see through them. So it is a must for all of us to take care of our precious eyes.

Do your eyes feel tired at the end of the day? Yeah in this competitive world we need to stretch oneself to excel in our career and so at times we skip even our sleep, this strains our eyes and make us feel tired. So learn simple ways keep your eyes healthy .Now it is time to take care of your eyes to make it feel better.

Eat what is good for your eyes
There are lot varieties of fruits and vegetable which is good for the eyes. And vitamins of C,A and E are the ones the eyes look out for! We can whatever is good for the body is also good for eye. Especially the carrots and greens are very good for the eyes so include them into your daily diet.

Take breaks during your work
Now a days we use the computers more in our daily life which creates a strain to the eyes as we tend to blink 25% less than usual when working at the computer this causes the dryness to the eye and thus creates the strain.
So take breaks when you need to continuously stare at the computer for a longer time. Breaks can be for just 5 minutes and it can give you a quick relaxation to the eye. Look something far away which is greenery and it cools your eye at minutes and remember to blink your eyes to avoid the dryness.

Checkout the lighting
It is most important to checkout the lighting when your are reading or working in your laptop. With poor lighting your eyes is going to strain a lot and you would feel tired soon. Make sure you read in proper lighting.

If you wear contact lenses take extra care
Cleanliness is most important when you handle a contact lens, every time when you put your lenses wash your hands properly with soaps , wipe off and then pick up your lens this has to be followed when you put and take out your lenses. And wear the lenses only for the recommended hours it helps to avoid getting infected.

School lunches your kids will love

2011-07-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

School lunches your kids will love

What is a healthy lunch? Cut fruits and/or veggies, lean meat or peanut-butter sandwiches on whole-grain bread, low or nonfat dairy products.
Portion size is important when planning lunches and recipes for your children. Here's a general guide for grade school lunch portion sizes:

Two to three ounces of lean meat and cheese
One or two slices of bread OR 1/2 cup grain or rice
One to two different fruits or vegetables
1 cup milk or 6-8 oz yogurt (make sure dairy is low-fat)

Some ideas

Sandwiches: lean cold cuts such as turkey or ham, with a slice of cheese on whole grain bread, topped with spinach, lettuce, tomato, or other veggies
Peanut butter and jelly on whole grain bread
Tuna fish sandwich on whole grain bread
Wraps made with whole wheat tortillas, containing either lean cold cuts or cheese slices topped with veggie slices
Quesadilla slices made with cheese and chicken or vegetables
Cold strips of grilled chicken with honey mustard dip
Trail mix made with cereals, nuts, pretzels, dried fruit or raisins, and a few chocolate morsels
Low-fat yogurt with berries or try soy yogurt if lactose intolerant
Low fat cheese spread on whole wheat crackers
Low fat cheese cubes or low-fat cottage cheese
Individual serving-sized packages of low fat yogurt, cottage cheese, or yogurt smoothies
For the vegetarian: mini-burritos made with rice and black beans or low-fat refried beans in a tortilla with tomato salsa (heated or eaten cold)
Whole wheat pitas stuffed with fresh vegetables and hummus or cheese
Baked chips, soy crisps, or pretzels are a better choice than regular potato chips or cheese puffs
Water or drinks made with water and a splash of cranberry, peach, grape, or other 100% fruit juice are healthier than sodas
Low-fat milk
Homemade air-popped popcorn flavored with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese is healthier than most pre-packaged or microwave popcorn.

The fastest diet for a week

2011-07-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

Thus, the main thrust of this dietary program – fast and effective weight loss for the shortest possible time. Attention! Through it you will not only can not be harmful to health, but you will strengthen it. This diet is therapeutic.

The period during which you may will follow the diet – 7 days. Ration thought in details, in accordance with a separate feed. Please do not deviate from the course – eat precisely those foods that will be listed in the menu diet.

Healthy eating this is success of any diet!

If you change proposed in the diet foods for meals with similar caloric content, then surely the energy value of foods you can not add, but the balance of vitamins and minerals break. Once again, this diet is so fast “burns fat” solely through compliance with proper nutrition, selected European professional nutritionists. Own bike does not invent, please! Well, are you ready? Then the battle!

FAST Diet “WEEK”

Monday.
BREAKFAST: 50 g of boiled fish, unlimited lettuce leaves, sprinkle a little olive oil, a glass of low fat yogurt.

LUNCH: 1 boiled egg, 2 slices of bread (preferably wholemeal). 90 grams of lean turkey (or chicken).

Tuesday.
BREAKFAST: Unlimited celery, 80 g of cooked beef meat, 1 small boiled potato, 1 large boiled carrots, a cup of green tea.

LUNCH: glass of yogurt, 50 g of low-fat cottage cheese with no sugar. Or 1 cup of bran bowl of oatmeal. 5 figs.

Wednesday.
BREAKFAST: 200-250 ml unsalted chicken broth. 3 small loaves of bread or 1 slice of white bread, 50 g of boiled chicken.

LUNCH: 2 slices of rye bread, 50 grams of veal, spinach in unlimited quantities, 1 apple and 1 orange.

Thursday.
BREAKFAST: 1dish of buckwheat (2 / 3 of plates), steamed in water, a cup of nonfat yogurt. Salad of fresh tomatoes without salt supplemented with 1 tablespoons of vegetable oil (preferably olive first cold pressed).

LUNCH: a plate of rice, fruit juice, 30 g of low-fat cottage cheese without cream and sugar. 60 g of dried prunes, 1 grapefruit, 1 kiwi fruit.

Friday.
BREAKFAST: 60 g of cooked meat, preferably beef, 1 egg, a cucumber salad and 2 bell peppers (can be eaten separately).

LUNCH: 50 g cooked chicken (breast), a plate of boiled green beans or 1 boiled potato in skins. 1 apple, 1 orange, 2 walnuts and 3 pieces of dried apricots.

Saturday.
BREAKFAST: 100 ml of fish broth, 50 g of boiled fish (low fat, preferably red), 3 tbsp. tablespoons of peas (can be canned, but better – cooked), 1 piece of rye bread. A cup of green tea with honey.

LUNCH: a dish of brown rice or half a dish of white. 5 leaves of green salad + 1 tomato with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of sesame seeds, a glass of skim milk, 1 kiwi, 1 banana.

Sunday.
BREAKFAST: 60 g of ham, turkey, a dish of buckwheat, 2 bell peppers. 2 teaspoons cheese, a cup of black tea with 1 teaspoon of honey, a small handful of raisins.

LUNCH: steamed lentils – half plates, 70 g of boiled beef, 1 cup of nonfat yogurt, a sprig of blue grapes. A handful of almonds or pine nuts.

At the time of passage you diet advice to forget about the overly intense exercise, it is better to replace a light exercise, such as race walking. It is necessary to eliminate the salt, sugar and alcohol. Vegetables and fruit can be eaten more than indicated in the diet, until you feel saturated. But the fruit, again, to get involved do not recommend – do not stretch the stomach wall itself of excess food, even if it is the most-most valuable fruits or vegetables. Remember that your stomach – it’s pouch, consisting of muscle, and excess food can increase it in size. A man with a large volume of the stomach needs to eat more frequently than any other. And another important point – the fruits and vegetables listed in the menu, try, if possible, use either one hour before meals or one hour after eating. This is important! Used the fruits or vegetables directly after a meal you only hurt yourself. In this case, the fruits are not digested, and hitting a full stomach will stay there for a long time, having time to turn sour (rot) and lose most of the vitamins and minerals, but not digested. These same rotten fruit will fall further in your intestines, where it is likely to cause fermentation. But these processes is fraught with you unpleasant intestinal disorders.

Diet without sugar, flour and alcohol!

With exact following a diet for a week you should get rid of 10-20 kg.

Another advantage of the fact that you do not want to eat. In this case, there is no depression or depressed mood. And with all this is a super-fast diet! Every time I lose weight by at least 5 kg after a week’s course. A friend, still at school, enjoyed it once in a month and she looks as if from birth sitting on a separate feed. In general, I recommend the most effective diet. At least at the level of “good diet” it takes one of the first places.

LOSE JUST ONE WEEK!

5 bonuses this diet:

Raising the tone of the whole organism (cleansing of vessels, improvement of digestive system, proper metabolism).

Effective result in getting rid of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (fat) along the lines of the abdomen, thighs.

Active vitamin saturation (will be especially useful to those who have brittle nails, problems with acne, dull hair – all this is 90% dependent on the supply of vitamins the body).

Proper nutrition. After sitting for literally a week on this diet, you train yourself to a healthy and beneficial food.

Tips to eat and live healthy

2011-07-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

The current generation is facing a food crisis. Our everyday food is becoming unhealthier with the introduction of fast food. With bad diet planning, our body will lack the nutrients it needs while accumulating bad stuff like cholesterol, fats and free radicals. These in turn contribute to the rise of major illnesses such as cancer, heart attacks and diabetes just to name a few. While totally preventing these from happening is not really possible, there are various habits that we can apply to our daily lifestyle to drastically cut down the risks.

Here are a few simple yet effective tips that you can exercise to attain a healthier life.

Eat enough calories but not too many. Maintain a balance between your calorie intake and calorie expenditure. That is, don’t eat more food than your body uses. The average recommended daily allowance is 2,000 calories, but this also depends on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity.

Eat a wide variety of foods. Healthy eating is an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits that you don’t normally eat.

Keep portions moderate, especially high calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. Foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol. Try to get fresh, local produce.

Drink more water. Our bodies are about 75% water. It is a vital part of a healthy diet. Water helps flush our systems, especially the kidneys and bladder, of waste products and toxins. A majority of people go through life dehydrated.

Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined-grain products. Sugar is added to a vast array of foods. In a year, just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can increase your weight by 16 pounds. See suggestions below for limiting salt and substituting whole grains for refined grains.

Don’t be the food police. You can enjoy your favorite sweets and fried foods in moderation, as long as they are an occasional part of your overall healthy diet. Food is a great source of pleasure, and pleasure is good for the heart, even if those French fries aren’t!

Get moving. A healthy diet improves your energy and feelings of well-being while reducing your risk of many diseases. Adding regular physical activity and exercise will make any healthy eating plan work even better.

One step at a time. Establishing new food habits is much easier if you focus on and take action on one food group or food fact at a time.

better life style.

2011-07-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

I would like to share something I practice and has really helped me in developing a better life style. I am sure it will help you improve your physical and mental health.

Health:

Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
Play more games.
Read more books than you did in 2008.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
Dream more while you are awake.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Smile and laugh more.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

Spend time with your family often.
Each day give something good to others.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

Do the right thing!
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
GOD heals everything.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
The best is yet to come.
When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

How to change your life and become healthier

2011-07-17T14:47:00.000-07:00

Continuing to feel the sensation of flight and remain in a high tone? Stress-free throw extra “pounds and inches?” The recipe is! You just need to make ten changes in the daily diet. The fact is that your body is very sensitive to any major changes of this nature, and will answer thanks to careful attention to it.

So, a list of recommendations:

Reduce to zero the use of energy drinks! It contains a lot of sugar and various synthetic additives.

It’s great to drink juices made at home (only without the sugar), it is best to do it in the evening. In the morning a good choice is the lemon juice with two small spoons of honey.

If you want to lose weight, get in the habit of drinking much more water and green tea, your body should get about two liters of carefully purified water per day. Choose a tea that will be enjoyed.

Discard the white sugar, it is absolutely necessary. It is better to replace it with high-quality honey or unrefined sugar (brown – can be found in dietary food stores).

Reduce intake of coffee, which will bring you in the long run only negative consequences. If you are very fond of coffee and not ready to immediately stop drinking it, it’s better to try to alternate with herbal tea or as an alternative to the natural “energy” drinks.

Reduce to a minimum, and even better in principle remove the menu from foods with labels of dietary supplements E: among them, margarine, sausages, candy and some juices.

Reduce the ingestion of red meat and sausage (pork, beef). It is better to buy more fish and seafood. Prefer white meat varieties, especially chicken and turkey.

Include in the diet wild mushrooms, soy, eggs – all suppliers of high quality protein.

These tips will help you to lose weight, greatly increase overall health, improve the tone.

Training and Weight Loss

2011-07-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

The task of losing weight – to reduce the weight of fat, not muscle. Accordingly, the task of training in this case will have to enter the body in the mode of fat intake. Because the fat – a reserve of the organism, and the bulk of our energy supply accounts for carbohydrates, the process of training the average intensity of the first 35-45 minutes your body will use mainly carbohydrates, and only then, when the supply will be depleted of carbohydrates, fats become the main energy supplier of working muscles.

Of course, it is impossible to make clear distinctions that at one time used only carbohydrates and fats in the other only. Actually begin to break down fats and from the very beginning of training, but this time their contribution to energy production is so small that it can be safely ignored.

Not many people know that the only long-term moderate-intensity exercise (aerobic exercise), yielding positive results in the fight against excess weight. In order to give the result of aerobic exercise, you must consider and comply with certain rules. The most important thing – is that the body begins to break down fats only after 35-45 minutes of aerobic exercise with an intensity of 65-75% of maximum heart rate.

By the time of inclusion in the process of energy production is reduced fat concentration of glucose in the blood, and at the same time – and insulin, which inhibits the activity of lipases (enzymes that accelerate the breakdown of fats). After that, a lipase begin active work in process and increased the process of fat digestion. If the intensity of the workout will be too high (heart rate too high), then the blood will increase the concentration of lactic acid (anaerobic breakdown of carbohydrates results), which also inhibits the activity of lipase and process of fat digestion respectively.

In summary, as factors that increase fat burning effect of aerobic exercise, you can specify the following:

Training should be conducted on a part-stomach (less available carbohydrate).

Exclusion of carbohydrate intake during exercises.

Longer duration of training (at least 40-50 minutes).

Training intensity at 65-75% of maximum heart rate.

Regularity of exercise (at least three times a week).

A good addition to physical exercise is the use of slimming clothes (shorts, pants, trousers). Wearing pants to lose weight during exercise can improve efficiency by more than 50%. Modern materials from which clothing is made for weight loss help to lose weight in record time without causing injury. The action is based on thermo. When heating the fat cells burn much faster. Also, is making micro massage, which resulting the skin in tone and prevents the formation of stretch marks.

Carrot Diet

2011-07-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

This diet is extremely hard. The reason – you can not eat, except carrots, almost nothing. Although, in a good happy thought that the “rabbit food” normalizes metabolic processes in the body and cleans. We all know that those properties, which has carrots, and are the first step to losing weight, so it makes sense to wait 4 days, sitting on a carrot diet.

Carrots contain fats (in small quantities), carbohydrates (10%), nitrogenous substances, B vitamins, as well as vitamins A, D, E, K, PP, ascorbic acid, sterols and lecithin. In terms of carotene carrot is second only to pepper. Because of this saturation of beta-carotene, carrot is an excellent immunomodulator. With the help of liver enzymes, carotene is converted in our body into vitamin A – excellent antioxidant. Thanks to this vitamin, the body stops the formation of free radicals, and therefore, carrot protects us from diseases of the cardiovascular system, cancer, atherosclerosis, cataracts. Carrot promotes physical and mental growth, improves vision. Due to the fact that carrots contain a large amount of iodine and fiber, it helps combat the extra pounds.

If you decide to experience the carrot diet, then at lunch, and dinner you will have the carrot. This may insanely annoying for those 4 days, which should be observed in the carrot diet, but the reward for you will lose 3-4 kilos.

Carrot diet itself lasts for 3 days, and on Day 4 – way out of the diet.

Before use, carrots should be thoroughly cleaned and cleaned, with a knife to cut the top “glossy” layer. The most valuable substance in carrots contained directly under the “gloss” layer, therefore, the thinner will peel, the more vitamins you save in carrots. With baby carrots skin is not removed completely, and only carefully washed root vegetable with a brush.

Many nutritionists say that the carrot is better to use, without subjecting it to thermal treatment, as it loses not only the taste, but most of the vitamins.

So, the carrot diet. We repeat that the duration of this diet – 3 days and 4 day – way out.

During the diet we eat 3-4 times a day salad of carrots, which are preparing the following recipe:

1-2 carrots three on a coarse grater, add lemon juice, a little vegetable oil, a little honey (total daily rate of honey should not exceed 1 tablespoon), a choice of 1 fruit (kiwi, apple, grapefruit, pomegranate or orange).

This amount of food eat in a salad for 1 time (except for honey). Number of carrots – without any restrictions. In the morning you can drink half a glass of kefir or milk, or eat a spoonful of sour cream. This is due to the fact that without the fat carrots are very poorly absorbed. If you’re tired of salad, then instead of it in the evening you can drink carrot or fruit juice.

During the day to drink water or green tea (total amount of fluid – at least 2 liters).

Leaving the carrot diet lasts 1 day. On that day, you eat the same thing as during the diet, adding the potatoes to the diet of 1-2 and a little meat.

Then, a couple of days to limit yourself in fatty and sweet foods.

Enjoy your weight loss!

Steps to Healthy Hair

2011-07-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

Know your hair type. If your hair is oily you will need to use different products than if your hair is dry. Many of us have damaged hair. This can be caused by chemical treatments and ingredients in hair products. Heated styling tools also cause damage when they are used too often.
Use natural products that provide moisture and gentle cleansing. Some of the best natural ingredients are zinc pca and jojoba oil. These work well on all types of hair. Zinc pca is a gentle cleanser and moisturizer. Jojoba oil is very similar to the natural oil on hair and scalp. It is a great regulator of oil. It is also excellent for treating dry damaged hair.
Don’t neglect the scalp. Beautiful healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. If you are suffering from a flaky or itchy scalp, your hair won’t look its best. The right products will help create an oil balance on the scalp. This will help you avoid troublesome scalp condition.
Get regular hair cuts. All types of hair need to be trimmed regularly. Trimming takes of the split ends and keeps hair looking healthy. If you take care of your hair properly it will be healthy and look great.

Establishing Your Skin Care Routine

2011-07-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

As we all know, skin care products don’t work overnight. You have to use them over a period of time with other products that work well in order for your skin to show significant improvement. However, using the wrong product over a period of time could prove disastrous! So establishing a good skin care routine is very important and something that has to be done with much care.

Step 1: Makeup Remover

Many seem to believe that cleansing is the first step in a skin care routine. Wrong! No matter how fancy or expensive your cleanser is, it is not enough to do both makeup removing AND cleansing. So make sure to find a good makeup remover to remove all your foundation and makeup, preventing clogged pores. Oil based removers are best for eye makeup while creamy/milky removers are softer and more gentle for the face.

Step 2: Cleanser

There are so many different types of cleansers in the market. The best way to help narrow down the search is to identify your skin problem. That’s simple enough, we’re all pretty aware of our flaws. There are cleansers in the market for dry skin, oily skin, acne prone skin, hyper pigmentation, matured skin, sensitive skin, etc. Identifying your problem would not only help you pick a cleanser but also the rest of your routine.

Step 3: Toner

Toners are meant to further clean out your pores while balancing the pH level of your skin. It’s a good idea to use a toner from the same line as your cleanser, that way it would have the same ingredients to further treat your skin condition. Those with oily skin should opt for clear toners while those with dry skin should for something just a tad bit thicker.

Step 4: Serum

Now this isn’t a must have component, but they’re extremely useful in treating skin conditions. This is because serums are very concentrated and are instantly absorbed deep into the skin to perform the function needed. There are serums for whitening, hydration, radiance, etc. If you have a problem then choose a serum that addresses that problem. If you’ve got normal, healthy skin but still want to use a serum for added benefits, choose a hydrating one to give your skin a radiant glow.

Step 5: Moisturizer

Finally, seal it all in with a good moisturizer. No matter how oily your skin is, it will still need hydration to prevent the skin from producing its own sebum which will clog pores. I’d suggest getting a good cream one for those with dry skin. As for those with oily skin, opt for a mattifying moisturizer during the day to stay shine free but go for a good hydrating gel or gel cream for night.

It’s a great idea to use products from the same line as they all work together to treat your skin conditions. However, it’s definitely not a must. After all, your skin may have other needs as well! Either that or certain products don’t work as well. I’d suggest picking a particular range to target your main skin problem then add or substitute other products to complete your routine. Once you’ve found one that you believe works for you, stick to it! It won’t be long before you see results!

Why Use Argan Oil? for dry hair

2011-07-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

Argan Oil is a top seller for a good reason. Women all over the world are begining to discover how incredibly good this natural oil is for the hair and scalp. Argan oil comes from Morocco. It is often called Moroccan Oil.

This oil is extemely effective at taming frizzy or curly hair. It penetrates deep into hair and leaves hair soft and frizz free. Unlike many other oil products for the hair, argan oil is not greasy. It soaks into the hair qucikly. It is absorbed leaving hair soft with less frizz than before. It si good for curly or straight hair.

If you want more managable beautiful hair, then Argan Oil products are a great choice. It works on African American hair as well. This versatile oil can be used on wet or dry hair. On dry hair it is a helpful styling tool.

World of hair carries a full line of Argan Oil products including Shampoo, Conditioner and Pure Argan Oil. The combination of all three products will leave hair looking and feeling healthy again. We hear from customers all the time who have tried everything to tame unrully hair and are thrilled with how well Argan Oil works.

Skin Cream is Important for Healthy Skin

2011-07-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

Our skin can be categorized into one of five complexion types: oily, dry, normal, sensitive or combination. It is important to know what type of skin you have so that you can choose the correct skin care products. But whatever type of skin you have one thing is for sure you need to use a good moisturizing skin cream to keep skin looking and feeling youthful.

Many skin creams are full of chemicals that do more damage than good. It is best to look for proven ingredients. Good companies will be able to provide you with proper research and a guaranteed product. Be sure to read label and do your research.

The primary job of a skin cream is to moisturize and protect the skin. Moisture is lost every day. So all skin, even oily skin, needs to have that moisture replaced. This is important for both men and women.

Dry skin needs extra moisture of course. But even people with oily skin should moisturize. Oil skin cream should be oil free. Moisturizing will help with your anti-aging efforts. Skin cream that is worn during the day should also contain sufficient sunscreen. Damage from the sun is the number one cause of skin damage and aging. Sun damage leads to loss of collagen, wrinkles and sun spots. All of these can be helped with the proper skin creams and lotions.

Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin

2011-07-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Don't have time for intensive skin care? Pamper yourself with the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.

1. Protect yourself from the sun

The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots and rough, dry skin. Sun exposure can also cause more-serious problems, such as skin cancer. For the most complete sun protection:

Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun's rays are the strongest.
Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. You might also opt for special sun-protective clothing, which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays while keeping you cool and comfortable.
Use sunscreen when you're in the sun. Apply generous amounts of broad-spectrum sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after heavy sweating or after being in water.

2. Don't smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin, so keep it gentle:

Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
Moisturize dry skin. Find a moisturizer that fits your skin type and makes your skin look and feel soft.

4. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear — but research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in fats and carbohydrates may promote younger looking skin.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — takes steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results may be more dramatic than you expect.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

The Grapefruit Diet

2011-06-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

A 21-day so-called 'diet' of grapefruits, a little protein and not much else.

Despite many ludicrous claims, grapefruit (like cabbage) does not possess any 'fat-burning' properties.

What you eat

Typical breakfastHalf a grapefruit & black coffee.Typical lunchHalf a grapefruit, 1 egg, some salad, a piece of toast & tea or coffee w/o milkTypical dinner

Half a grapefruit, 2 eggs, half a head of lettuce with tomato, & tea or coffee (no milk).

Advantages

Grapefruit is fat free, low in calories and full of vitamin C. Pink grapefruits also contain some beta-carotene. However, eating a few grapefruits hardly justifies calling it a 'diet'.

Drawbacks

Lacking sufficient iron, calcium, and many vitamins, this 'diet' is unhealthy as well as monotonous. Also, it contains far too few calories. Needless to say, it doesn't help you to change your eating habits which is the No 1 secret of permanent weight loss

Potato Diet

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1
Choose potatoes that are organically grown, small in size, but heavy for their size. Avoid potatoes with skin discolorations such as dark brown or green spots.
2
Eat only potatoes, morning, noon and night, for two to four days. Eat them baked, mashed, steamed, roasted, and juiced, but never fried.
3
Season your potatoes with chives, mint, cumin, turmeric, fennel, caraway, paprika, dill, nutmeg, rosemary and fresh garlic. Use potato juice or herbal teas to aid in making mashed potatoes, but never add milk.
4
Leave the skins on the potatoes. The skins account for over 75% of the potato's mineral value.
5
Drink plenty of water and herbal teas. Use potato peels to make tea. Or make herbal teas to target specific ailments you may be dealing with. While your body is fasting it is particularily available to other treatments you may induce. Corn silk tea, burdock, nettle, yarrow, and dandelion root tea are all excellent teas to make during a potato fast.
6
Utilize an internal bath or enema at the end of your fast to help clear your colon of toxins.
7
Break your fast by adding fruits and vegetables to your diet of potatoes for a full day before introducing other foods.

Tomato Soup Diet

2011-06-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

When it comes to weight loss, diet recommendations come from everywhere. Weeding through them takes considerable work. You must search out the truth, debunk the myths and choose a plan that works for you. The tomato soup diet is one alternative. Before you try it, though, you need to know what it is and what sort of results you can expect.

The Diet

The Tomato Soup Diet is a short-term diet plan based on the Souper Soup Diet, a diet plan introduced by author Lillie Ross. The diet is closely related to the cabbage soup diet and other soup-based diets.

The diet features unlimited quantities of tomato soup for most meals. The basic recipe calls for mixing equal parts canned tomato soup concentrate and water. Two cans of soup mixed with water produces six cups of soup. Homemade versions vary from one dieter to the next. Most of the homemade soups are based on combining ripe tomatoes with water and seasonings.

You are allowed to supplement the diet with other foods, like fruit, vegetables, chicken and beef, but the soup is the main component of most meals. A sample menu for the Souper Soup Diet--http://www.lillieross.com/soup/soupmenu.html--provides information on foods you can use to supplement your tomato soup diet.

The Results

The Tomato Soup Diet brings results. After all, tomato soup is low in calories and has nearly no fat content. Also, soup fills the stomach. The Mayo Clinic says foods that are dense make you feel full faster than less dense foods, even if the dense foods pack fewer calories.

In just one week, many dieters lose 10 to 15 pounds on the Tomato Soup Diet. The weight loss, though, is not tied to any unique properties of the soup. Instead, weight loss is a result of limited calorie consumption. Some dieters report regaining lost weight after stopping the diet. This sometimes results from binge eating following this highly restrictive diet.

While only a short-term option, the Tomato Soup Diet might be a viable option for someone seeking quick weight loss. For example, a boxer might try it as a means of making weight for a fight. You also might use it to help tame eating habits before beginning a long-term healthy diet.

Considerations

Based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommendations for daily eating, the Tomato Soup Diet lacks sufficient nutrients, such as protein and calcium, which are necessary for a healthy lifestyle. While it might work as a short-term solution, it does not represent a smart choice for prolonged dieting. Restricting nutrients can lead to the loss of muscle mass and bone density. The Tomato Soup Diet also can result in fatigue and has the potential to bring about health problems if dieters stay on the plan for more than a week or two.

The American Dietetic Association calls soup diets a fad. It says no diet based on a single food can reverse weight gain from inactivity or overeating. The association recommends consulting a dietitian for help with weight loss.

HEALTHY JUICES FOR TOTAL WELLNESS

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Carrot + Ginger + Apple

Boost and cleanse our system.

Apple + Cucumber + Celery

Prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol, and improve stomach upset and headache.

Tomato + Carrot + Apple

Improve skin complexion and bad breath.

Bitter gourd + Apple + Milk

Avoid bad breath and reduce internal body heat.

Orange + Ginger + Cucumber

Improve skin texture and moisture and reduce body heat.

Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon

To dispel excess salts, nourishes the bladder and kidney

Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi

To improves skin complexion.

Lose weight fast

2011-06-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

The 3 Day Diet is a very specific food plan that must be followed

precisely. Portions must be eaten exactly as specified

and dieters are warned not to overeat -- otherwise the promised 10 pound weight loss may not be achieved. Likewise, dieters should not under-eat, even if they are not hungry. The detailed plan does not mention or recommend any exercise.

The 3 Day Diet meal plan:

Day 1

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1/2 grapefruit or juice

1 piece toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

Lunch

1/2 cup tuna

1 piece toast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

Dinner

3 ounces any lean meat or chicken

1 cup green beans

1 cup carrots

1 apple

1 cup regular vanilla ice cream

Day 2

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1 egg

1/2 banana

1 piece toast

Lunch

1 cup cottage cheese or tuna

8 regular saltine crackers

Dinner

2 beef franks

1 cup broccoli or cabbage

1/2 cup carrots

1/2 banana

1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream

Day 3

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

5 regular saltine crackers

1 ounce cheddar cheese

1 apple

Lunch

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1 boiled egg

1 piece toast

Dinner

1 cup tuna

1 cup carrots

1 cup cauliflower

1 cup melon

1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream

In addition to its strict daily food prescription, dieters drink 4 cups of water or noncaloric drinks daily.

Basic Healthy Hair Tips

2011-06-25T11:43:00.001-07:00

Achieving healthy hair is much easier with a few essential guidelines. The following are five of the most basic healthy hair tips that can help you get softer, more manageable hair:

1) Be gentle when using heat on your hair. Heat-styling is shine-killer, so whenever possible, allow hair to air dry naturally. If air drying is not an option, set your styling tools on a low setting. If you can let your hair partially air dry, you can at least eliminate a large portion of the heat styling, which will be that much better for your hair.

2) Limit the use of hair sprays and gels containing alcohol. These products will ultimately leave your hair dry and brittle. Anti-frizz serum is a great alternative to gel. The serum will smooth your hair and leave it shiny and manageable.

3) Avoid shampooing your hair every day. Shampoo strips away natural oils from the scalp, robbing your hair of shine. Ideally, hair should be washed every 3 days or so, depending on how dry or oily your hair tends to be. Brush hair every day to distribute the natural oils to the ends of you hair.

4) Utilize natural hair remedies. For example, extra virgin olive oil can work miracles on dry, unruly hair. Adding a few drops to your normal conditioner will leave your hair silky smooth. Olive oil can also be used on clean, damp hair as a serum. Simply rub a few drops between your palms, and apply to you hair before styling.

5) Deep conditioning is one of the most effective hair care tips to keep hair healthy. To dramatically improve the look and feel of your hair, use a deep conditioner once a week. Avoid rinsing with hot water if possible. Instead, rinse with cool water to seal the hair cuticle and improve shine. A deep conditioner helps to protect your hair, keep it flexible and strong so that you have less breakage in between treatments.

These tips for healthy hair can be adjusted depending on your hair’s unique type, texture, and style. Nurture your hair, and the payoff will be healthy, shiny locks that you can be proud of.

Natural Ways for Hair Lengthening

2011-06-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hair Lengthening

Having healthy and long hair is the dream of everyone. However, lengthening hair is a difficult process. No matter how careful you are, your hair does not grow fast and problems may occur during this period. You want long and strong hair, but you do not know what to do. Here some tips and ways for hair lengthening:

Natural Ways for Hair Lengthening

It is a well known truth that trimming contributes the fast growing of your hair. With this way, split ends of hair go away and the case does not grow. If you do not pay attention to split ending hair, each hair split further. Your hair keeps on growing. But, it is weak and unhealthy. So you think that your hair does not grow at all. Briefly, trim your hair regularly.

There are some home made recipes for healthy hair lengthening. They are easy and useful. Washing your hair with tea is a common way for hair. Just add some boiled tea to your bathing water, brush your hair and clean. It gives brightness and strength to hair.

Another home made solution for hair lengthening is a mixture of black seed, sesame and egg yolk. Mix all these and apply to your hair. Then clean hair with warm water. This is a way that can be applied once in a week. Mixture of black mulberry, egg and sesame oil is a natural way helping to hair growing. Apply this mixture to your hair every other day. Besides all these, it is a well known fact that almond oil is very effective on hair. If preparing all these mixture is difficult for you, just use almond oil. Brush your hair with oil and then clean.

There are indirect ways that contributes to the growing of hair. These are healthy diet, consumption of fresh fruit and vegetable, water, regular and adequate sleeping. Leading a life without stress is also essential. If you are stressful, the hormones affect hair content and growing. In addition to that, smoking affects hair lengthening negatively. Do not smoke.
The things made by hairdresser can make your hair look beautiful. But, these things can also give damage to your hair. The more you use such ways, the more your hair is damaged. So do not use such ways very frequently.

Other Ways for Hair Lengthening

There are many cosmetic productions for hair lengthening. Whether they are useful or not is still debatable. However, people use them. There are shampoos and conditioners used for this purpose. You can find a production suitable for you. Brushing is a way for healthy hair lengthening. You may wonder what the relationship is between brushing and hair growing. However, there is a close relationship. If the brush you use is not suitable for your hair, it is in vain to try lengthening your hair. Be careful about your brush choice. Choose a soft and well designed brush. Otherwise, it gives damage to your hair.

There are some other artificial ways to make your hair long. If you do not want to wait for your hair growing, if there is a special event and you want to have long hair in this event, you can use hair apparatus. They are available in every hair store. Just choose a similar one to your normal hair and use it. Transplant techniques, such as punch grafts, mini-grafts, micro-grafts, slit grafts, and strip grafts are generally performed on patients who desire a more modest change in hair fullness. Flaps, tissue-expansion and scalp-reduction are procedures that are usually more appropriate for patients who desire a more dramatic change.

Remember, there are limits to what can be accomplished. An individual with very little hair might not be advised to undergo hair replacement surgery.

your guide to healthy heir

2011-06-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Make every day a good hair day with these tips for maintaining, styling, and genuinely appreciating the hair you have.

Caring for normal hair

If your hair isn't dry or oily or damaged by chemical treatments, consider yourself lucky. "Normal hair usually means a healthier scalp," says New York City hairstylist Julie Lin.

Maintenance: You can wash your hair up to five times a week if needed. "A basic shampoo and conditioner, even a two-in-one, is fine," says Marianne O'Donoghue, an associate professor of dermatology at Rush Medical Center, in Chicago. You don't want to disrupt the hair's natural balance by using products for dryness or an oily scalp.

Styling: It's OK to blow-dry every time you wash, but use a heat-protection product and keep the dryer moving along the hair to avoid burning, says Johnny Lavoy, owner of the Moda Rey Salon & Spa, in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Common misconception: If you have normal hair, it can't be damaged. In reality, normal hair should be treated as a fine washable, like lingerie or a cashmere sweater.

What's to love: You can experiment with styling products -- which means you can pick something just because it smells good. Real Simple: How to wash your hair

RS picks for normal hair

• Joico Daily Care Balancing Shampoo delivers basic, gentle cleansing.

• Warren Tricomi Protect Pre-Dry Calming Serum shields hair from the damaging effects of a blow-dryer or a flat or curling iron.

• Infinium by L'Oréal Professionnel Hair Spray holds a style but keeps hair soft and touchable.

Caring for dry hair

Sun, a dry climate, abuse from hot dryers and irons, and heredity can all contribute to dry hair. "But as with your nails, which are also made of keratin, you can restore moisture to hair," says dermatologist Marianne O'Donoghue.

Maintenance: Shampoo twice a week, using products containing moisturizing ingredients, like panthenol and ceramides. Condition after every shampoo. "Hair can absorb only so much conditioner, so don't feel the need to slather it on," says Amanda B. Once a month, use a deep-conditioning mask.

Styling: Try to minimize the use of hot styling tools. When you do blow- dry, straighten, or curl, apply a silicone-based cream or serum to tame frizz, promote shine, and shield the hair from heat.

Diet secrets

2011-06-25T03:17:00.000-07:00

What’s the secret? Is there something in the waters of the River Seine? Do the French have a genetic advantage over the rest of us when it comes to staying slim? Seemingly the French are able to regularly dine on fine wines, cheese, and chocolate without gaining weight or suffering from the health maladies commonly associated with being overweight. In his recent book The French Diet, diet expert Michel Montignac explains the secret of why the French don’t get fat and offers a plausible, enjoyable—and permanent—weight loss solution to those of us battling our own ever-expanding waist-lines. Thanks to Michel for chatting with us.

Much of your diet theory involves the glycemic index. How is the glycemic index key to the French Diet? Calorie intake is not responsible for fat storage. If we put on weight it is not because we eat too much but because we eat wrongly. The nature of the food we eat stimulates metabolic reactions leading to fat storage instead of fat burning. Although this applies to all food categories, the choice of carbohydrates is particularly decisive. This is why the glycemic index is the key of the French Diet since it is the best way to choose the appropriate food.

How can adhering to the French Diet reduce a person’s cholesterol and/or lower their risk for heart disease? Professor Jean Dumesnil from Québec University did an experiment showing that the Montignac method was not only an efficient weight loss method, but was also the best way to prevent cardiovascular disease. He even showed that triglycerides dropped by 35% after six days on the diet. Dumesnil’s study was published in November 2001 in the British Journal of Nutrition.

What link do you see between the French Diet and type 2 diabetes? Obesity and type 2 diabetes are both caused by hyperinsulinism, which is a chronic and excessive secretion of insulin. Consequently, the French Diet not only leads to weight loss but also to a decreased risk of diabetes.

The French Diet does not emphasize reducing caloric intake. Why? During the last 50 years, Western countries have reduced their daily calorie intake by 35%. Paradoxically, obesity rates have increased by 400% during this same period.

These statistics prove that low-calorie diets are a total failure. Low-calorie-diets actually slow down the metabolism. This reduced basal metabolic rate leaves the body vulnerable to rapid and excess weight gain once the person comes off the low-calorie diet.

You spend a lot of time discussing the merits of “good” versus “bad” carbs. How do you differentiate between them? Bad carbs are those whose metabolization stimulates insulin secretion, which in turn leads to fat storage rather than fat burning. Bad carbs are high glycemic index foods, such as potatoes, sugar or white flour.

Conversely, good carbs are those whose metabolization lowers insulin production, which in turn prevents fat storage and activates fat burning. Good carbs are fruit, vegetables, al dente pasta, dry legumes and integral cereals.

Tell us briefly about the American Paradox. Americans are the only population in the world that:

Fixates on dieting.
Follows the most low-calorie/low-fat diets.
Exercises the most (2 to 3 times the rate of French people).
Consumes the most sugar substitutes.

Paradoxically, they also have the highest rate of obesity in the world—3 to 4 times higher than French people, who eat more and exercise less. All these details are proof that their dieting habits are totally misguided.

What ancillary benefits have people reported after trying the French Diet? By following the French Diet, people lose weight easily without deprivation; they decrease their risk of cardiovascular problems (e.g. high cholesterol, hypertension, triglycerides, etc.); and they lower their risk of contracting diabetes. In addition, they feel more physically fit.

You break the diet into two phases. What happens in Phase 1? Phase 2? Phase 1 is the rapid weight loss phase. In this phase, people eat normal quantities of food in balanced meals. However, their choice of foods is restricted low glycemic index ones (which have the smallest impact on insulin secretion). Once they have succeeded in losing weight, they can switch to the Phase 2, which is the weight control phase.

Phase 2 also limits food choices. However, the range of permitted foods is much wider. High glycemic index foods are permitable in Phase 2, provided that low glycemic index foods are also eaten during the same meal as compensation.

The book has nearly 100 pages of delicious French recipes. As the author, do you have any personal recommendations? These French recipes are very easy to follow. They are designed to teach people that it’s possible to lose weight while still enjoying good food.

What role does exercise have in the French Diet? The French Diet demonstrates to people that it is illusory to expect to lose weight by exercising more. For example, it would take 18 hours of non-stop jogging for a woman to loose 2 pounds.

However, this does not mean that the French Diet advocates forgetting about exercising. In general, exercise is good for health. It keeps lungs, heart and muscles in good shape. On top of that, it helps to regulate t insulin secretion. Consequently, fast walking is good enough. People do not need to jog for hours (as many of them do).

What differentiates the French Diet from the throng of diet plans currently on the bookshelf? Because there is no deprivation, the French Diet is not really a diet. It is more a lifestyle. It is designed not only to aid weight loss in the short term, but also to help people maintain their weight loss long term by advocating healthy eating habits, which can also prevent illness and disease.

What is the single dumbest thing you see people eat in the modern diet? The dumbest thing people do is eat fast-food, processed food, and drink soda. The fact is that it has been scientifically proven—and broadcasted everywhere—that these are the true causes of major diseases in more than one third of the American population, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Let’s play a little word association. I’ll give you a word and you tell us what you think about it as it relates to a healthy diet.

Wine: Red wine is healthy because of its high polyphenols.

Organic food: It is healthy because there are no pesticides or preservatives. But we must be aware that this is not enough. If a high glycemic index food is organic, it remains dangerous (as far as metabolic diseases are concerned).

Pasta: It is healthy, but only if it is made out of durum (hard) wheat and cooked al dente.

Cheese: Cheese is okay—in reasonable quantities. However, be careful with fresh dairy products (especially milk) because they contain whey/lactoserum, which triggers a critical insulin secretion.

Oils: Olive oil remains the best oil to consume. Avoid refined oils.

Dessert: T he best desserts are those made with high cocoa-content chocolate (at least 70%), without sugar, flour or butter.

What are your thoughts on the “obesity epidemic” which seems to be spreading across the Western world? The “obesity epidemic” is caused by the globalization of American food eating habits.

Not only does it impact the Western countries but the whole world. Countries which are especially impacted are those that have developed their own eating models for millennia, such as Japan, China and India.

Best part of being the author of the latest best selling diet book: It may be the latest best selling diet book in the United States only because the Montignac method has been a best seller in more than 40 countries for over 20 years. However, being successful in the U.S. is always rewarding for a French author.

source: http://www.thedietchannel.com/The-French-Diet-Michel-Montignac-Explains-Why-The-French-Dont-Get-Fat.htm

Reclaim your brain

2011-06-25T02:49:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the human brain starts slowing down as early as age 30? The good news is that you can speed it up, and improve even your most basic cognitive abilities at any age.

Keep your brain performing at its best with Lumosity, a brain training program consisting of engaging brain games and exercises developed by some of the leading neuroscientists in the country.

What are the benefits of brain training?
The ACTIVE study, funded by NIH, demonstrated that adults can improve cognitive abilities such as memory, processing speed, and reasoning with proper training. The brain is healthiest when it is active and regularly challenged. With frequent cognitive training, the brain performs optimally and maintains its abilities through the years.

In addition to improvements in working memory and attention, Lumosity users have also reported increased alertness and energy, improved ability to remember names and numbers, better concentration, and elevated mood.

Who can benefit from Lumosity?
Adults of any age who want to improve brain performance or maximize brain health can benefit from Lumosity brain games. Our proprietary adaptive difficulty algorithms tailor and adjust the training to the user’s skill level.

University researchers are currently testing the efficacy of Lumosity exercises in children and various specific patient populations.

What is the science behind the program?
The Lumosity brain training program was designed and developed on the basis of existing cognitive training research that emerges from the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to physically reorganize itself in response to the demands placed upon it. The exercises in Lumosity are designed to stimulate the brain plasticity that leads to improved cognitive ability and a healthier brain.

Improve Memory, Speed and Attention:
It can be a challenge to store and retrieve all the information we need to remember, even if it is just for a short period of time. One of the most important types of memory is known as working memory, which is used for temporarily storing and manipulating information. Working memory is critical in many cognitive processes including reasoning, problem solving and language.

Processing speed determines how quickly one can perceive and interpret information, and then begin to act appropriately. Processing speed is considered by some to be a bottleneck to other cognitive processes, and it is therefore a focus of Lumosity training.

The ability to selectively concentrate on the most important information allows us to follow a conversation, drive safely, and efficiently attend to the task at hand.

Cognitive control, also known as executive processing, refers to a set of high-level processes such as decision-making, planning, and suppressing inappropriate behavior. Cognitive control helps align thought and behavior with intentions.

What does the program consist of?
Lumosity consists of a series of engaging online games and exercises. Each exercise is designed to improve a particular area of cognition. You can follow a guided 30 session complete brain fitness course, or you can take charge of your training and directly train the areas that need the most work. You’ll receive detailed information and feedback on your training and improvement.

You can get a 14 days free trial on their website to try the program for yourself.

The secret to a healthy body

2011-06-25T02:25:00.000-07:00

The secret to a healthy body is simple and actually not too difficult, but all the same it does take daily discipline. In addition, it doesn’t need to cost you a lot of money. There are five areas of focus that will keep your body in shape, healthy, flexible, and strong. This article will outline the 5 areas to work on and will include a sample weekly workout regimen that you can start using today.

1. Aerobic Exercise. The simplest way to meet this need is walking. Walking is the one of the best exercises for your body. The wear and tear on your joints is lower than jogging. Be sure to start off slower to warm up and increase speed slowly after about 3-5 minutes. To increase the intensity, simply lengthen your stride a bit and speed up your pace. The other strategy for increasing intensity is to increase your speed for short bursts of time. (see workout below) If you prefer, jogging is also good if it doesn’t bother your knees. Just know that walking is just as good if you go fast enough. No big investment needed. All you need is your sneakers, and maybe not even that if you walk on the beach. 30 minutes per day every day has been shown to be the optimal amount of exercise. If you don’t have time all at once, the same benefits are derived even if you break it up into 3 X 10 minute or 2 X 15 minute sessions.

2. Stretching. An important age marker is your level of flexibility. Yoga is a terrific way to keep your body flexible. If you don’t have time for a full yoga session, try to make sure you do 5 minutes of stretching each day after your aerobic exercise. To ensure you get most areas of your body, try a sun salutation, some seated twists, and a hip opener.

3. Balancing. Balance, along with flexibility, is something that we lose with age. Practice this a little bit every day and you’ll be less likely to lose it. Yoga, again, is another great way to build and maintain balance. There are several yoga poses you could use to increase balance. Try one each day. A simple one you can do is to stand on one leg and grab the foot of the other leg to stretch the hamstring in the front of the thigh. As you build your balance over time try to touch your toes with your other hand while maintaining balance. It is helpful to keep your eyes focused on one point. Do this for 15-60 seconds on each leg.

4. Strength Building. You can certainly join a gym and lift weights. But another less expensive option, which is just as good, is simply using the weight of your own body for resistance. The easiest way to do this is to do an hour of yoga a few times per week. A yoga class is great, but to save money, I recommend buying a few different yoga tapes and rotate them. Check out tapes from your local library first to see if you like them before buying, or go to Amazon and check out the reviews to find ones that are highly rated. If you don’t want to do yoga, you can do pilates or try the free online workout regimen prescribed by Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz of “YOU: The Owner’s Manual.”

5. Deep Breathing. This is very important and here’s why. Your lymph system relies on the contraction of muscles and breathing to move the fluids of the lymph system around the body. Why is this so important? The lymph system “has three interrelated functions: (1) removal of excess fluids from body tissues, (2) absorption of fatty acids and subsequent transport of fat, as chyle, to the circulatory system and, (3) production of immune cells.” So, how do you get your daily dose? Aerobic exercise, yoga, and/or try The Deep Breathing Exercise 2-3 times per day. Here’s how:

Healthy Quotes

2011-06-25T02:19:00.000-07:00

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990