The production of food is driven, like most of the world by supply and demand.  Those people that lead busy lives tend to downplay the importance of quality food in exchange for enough time for everything.  The demand in food production is quick, easy and filling.  Getting enough calories is important but if the quality is not there then people still fight a losing battle.

In the high stress day to day world most people function in, food is sometimes the last thing that is made time for.  ”We can eat later.” Often times trying to squeeze in all the things people have scheduled into their busy 1/2 hour or hour lunch leaves very little time for the thing we should be making a priority.  When meals are skipped nutrient and mineral levels fall, used up by the process of living and the body goes without.  In addition, it is not just going without.  The body is a machine that requires certain nutrients and minerals to run and it will stop at nothing to get it. Up to and including eating itself.  If nutrients minerals and vitamins are not provided, the body will get it where it can.

What needs to happen is an analysis of where the body is nutritionally  and what it is deficient in.  Multi-vitamins and vitamin supplements all work in various ways.  Some get used up in interaction with other vitamins, minerals or nutrients.  Taking supplemental B vitamins will not help if they are being taken incorrectly or if they are mixed with other vitamins that break down the content before it is absorbed.

If a person is eating and exercising healthily yet  finding themselves excessively tired, lethargic or worn out, you may be neglecting core requirements your body needs.  Ask the doctor about Vitamin therapies.  B vitamins in particular aid in many areas of health maintenance as well as digestion and absorption of other vitamins nutrients and minerals.

Talk to a doctor about a vitamin plan built designed to suit your personal needs.  Proper vitamin intake will improve memory, improve focus and overall health.

The post Multi Vitamins – We Need Them! appeared first on Body RX.

If you are noticing your skin is dry and lifeless or more acne prone than your used to and you’re tired of over the counter products that can be overpriced, there are some natural remedies that can be made in your home from all natural safe organic ingredients. It is important to keep your skin clean, moisturized and balanced. This helps improve your overall sense of well being.

There are some interesting recipes out there. I’ve tried many of them and in addition to working well they don’t have that chemical or perfumed scent to them. Many people are finding that they are more scent sensitive than they were in their younger years. As a matter of fact scent sensitivities are becoming more frequent across the board.

If you’ve invested in Botox or Juvederm you are likely wanting to make sure you keep your skin in top condition on the outside as well as the inside.

Here are some simple home recipes to keep your skin healthy and minimize issues of harsh and intense chemical scents. Though this may seem geared to women it is just as important for men to take care of their skin.

If your skin is oily or acne prone here is a great recipe for a Mud Mask:

Mix a few tablespoons of 100% clay kitty litter (yes you read that right) with a few drops of olive oil and water to consistency. Smooth onto face and dry for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water and follow with a cold water rinse. If your scent sensitivities allow it you can substitute your favorite essential oil in place of olive oil. Lavender is a very calming essential oil.

For dry skin try an Avocado Mask:

This is an easy one! Mash ½ of an organic ripe avocado into a creamy paste. Stir in ¼ cup of honey. Apply to face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water and a washcloth. This is great for very dry skin that we get in our 50?s and 60?s and beyond.

If you’re finding that you have some angry acne spots:

Take 2-3 aspirin – wait don’t swallow them! Crush the aspirin between two spoons, or with a pill grinder. Add a drop or two of water to help the aspirin to dissolve into a paste. Then add a tablespoon of warmed honey. Mix this together and spot treat the areas of acne. Let the paste dry (about 10 minutes) and rinse off.

These are some great inexpensive ways to stay organic and to keep your skin looking healthy! If you like these tips please let us know!

The post Trying To Keep Your Skin Healthy? appeared first on Body RX.

Today people have access to all types of foods from all over the globe. In the natural world there are plants and plant extracts that naturally produce the same chemicals that the ovaries or testes produces. In other words they are biologically identical to the ones the body produces. These plant estrogens are called Phytoestrogens.

There are many edible plants and ingredients that people already include in their diet. Soy beans and products made from soybeans, flax seed, sesame seed, pomegranate, apples, carrots and ginseng to name a few.

Soybeans are one of the most popular of the Phytoestrogens. Soybean and products made from soy are the leading replacements for dairy products and meat protein in vegetarian diets. Today there are many options in utilizing soy into the diet. Soy milk, Tofu, yogurts and flour are all available. Soy is high in calcium and helps to maintain and build strong bone mass and density.

Flax seed is another plant containing Phytoestrogens. The benefits of Flax in the diet are high. Not only does Flax help maintain balanced hormone levels in the body it also aids in improving the immune system. Flax is high in lignans and alpha linolenic acid, these two compounds decrease inflammation and improve the auto immune system. What does this mean? It means that, in addition to hormone support it also can improve rheumatoid conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis and lupus. In addition, Flax seed oil also seems to have a positive affect on hair, skin and nail conditions. Bonus!

Diets rich in these types of foods are not dull and boring. Ground Flax can be mixed in with hot cereal or pancakes and has a nutty buttery taste. Tofu now comes marinated. Salads can be made with it, it can be fried or grilled. Tofu takes on the taste of the food it is cooked with or the sauce it is marinated in.

Pomegranate, apples and carrots are frequently used in whole food juices. Many of these juices can be found with ginseng added to them. They are a refreshing way to add this healthy component to any diet.

Balance is a very important factor. A doctor ensures that dietary requirements are adapted to the specific individual. A doctor can recommend a specific guideline addressing the specific needs of each person. As always, when considering any type of diet modification plan, consult a doctor to insure that all nutritional guidelines are met.

The post Hormone Replacement and Diet – What’s the deal? appeared first on Body RX.

Emotional Eating

Why do people eat? The answer is ostensibly obvious to most people. We eat to live, to feed our muscles so that we can do work, so that our body feels good and functions optimally. Many people do eat this way. However when stress rears it’s ugly head the first thing some people turn to is food. This is called emotional eating.

Emotional eating is in some instances a normal part of life. Students going off to college for the first year often find themselves reaching for the KD or a bowl of Cheerio’s in the first week. However Emotional eating is far more than that. Emotional eating is defined as: “consuming large quantities of food — usually “comfort” or junk foods — in response to feelings as opposed to hunger.” Most times this is emotional baggage that people have carried with them from childhood.

Children quickly learn that food brings comfort. A crying child in a grocery store or in the middle of a dinner party receives a treat if they quiet down or go off to bed. The parents heading out to work and the child doesn’t want to leave or be left and they are quieted with food. When it is emotions and feelings that need to be addressed, parents all too often use food or drink to pacify an emotional need instead of validating the emotion and being able to move past it. It is estimated that at least 75 % of overeating is due to people “handling” their emotions by self pacifying with food. It truly is time to change that. Parenting education classes are addressing issues such as these in hopes of reducing this trend.

There are ways of countering emotional eating, ranging from self help to therapy. As with most psychological issues in adults once recognized and accepted work can begin.If you are one of these people who find themselves eating at the first sign of stress or emotional upheaval, here are some tips you can try to reduce cravings and keep the cravings at bay until it passes.

1. Do something that requires using your hands. Using your hands for something else, whether that be cleaning, folding laundry or a hobby or craft.
2. Deep breathing exercises that utilize full respiration breathing to calm the physiological symptoms of stress.
3. Go for a walk or engage in some healthy exercise.
4. Pick up a pencil and write
5. Be sure to take a good multi-vitamin. Some food cravings are caused by inadequate mineral and vitamin consumption.

Another thing that helps and may be used by a therapist to identify eating triggers is a food journal. Similar steps are used when attempting to quit smoking. A food journal makes a person ask themselves why they are eating. What they are feeling as well what they are thinking when they are reaching for that bowl of cereal, PB&J sandwich or chips.

Emotional eating can be an issue on a VLCD such as an hCG diet. If Emotional eating is an issue that sounds familiar to you, be honest with your doctor or nutritionist before starting a diet like this. They can help an individual address this particular issue via counselling, EFT (Emotional Freedom Therapy or Tapping) or self guided work. There is freedom from emotional eating! It doesn’t have to stay this way. There are ways to overcome emotional eating!

The post Are You An Emotional Eater? appeared first on Body RX.

Stress is the number one cause of dis-ease in the body. It is the number one cause of not looking and feeling your best! Everyone succumbs to the effects of stress at one time or another. Some people on a daily basis. The point is that learning ways to minimize and rid the body of stress reduces the negative effects stress has on the body. Here are 7 surefire ways to reduce stress that will help you feel your best and be your best!

Put Yourself On A Time Out

Giving yourself a time out gives you a few moments to take a deep breath and bring your energy level to where you want it to be. Deep Breathing and Stretches will do wonders on a self imposed time out.

Create An Evening Routine

It is a known fact that routine is good for children. Giving them a time to wind down. This is not something that changes as we get older. It actually becomes more important when we weigh the benefits of de-stressing. Whether you are an avid reader, a lover of bath time, like sitting down with a cup of herbal tea, or enjoy some time of meditation before bed, make sure keep those relaxing quiet things you love a regular part of your routine.

Turn OFF The Electronics

Communication is a key part of day to day life both at work and in personal life. Constant streaming media and information can put the brain into overload! The majority of people would not sit in a crowded room of talkative people before they lay down to sleep. Eyes and ears need a break too. Turning off the electronics will often turn off the committee meetings that talk on in the mind when trying to get to sleep. HD is great but no one wants it playing in their head all night.

Go For A Walk

Getting out and going for a walk in the early evening when the sun is starting to go down helps people unwind tremendously. As the world slows down for the day and the quiet starts to creep in so will the mind.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to eliminate stress during the day. If you can squeeze in a power walk or a work out on your lunch break this is a phenomenal way to come back and take on the rest of your day. Often times you’ll find that something that is stressful resolves itself in your mind while exercising. Solutions often pop into the mind effortlessly.

Make time for Gratitude

Often stress occurs in life because desires and hopes don’t match reality. Making time for gratitude at the start of the day or midday can switch your thinking around. Those thoughts that were stressful dissipate because there is focus on something good. We all have something to be grateful for everyday. Breath!

Thoughts

Remember that thoughts are what drive stress levels and leave you “feeling” stressed. Most people don’t like the feeling of being stressed. Realize that the repetitive thoughts about a situation are dictating how you are feeling. What you repetitively think about you will eventually feel. If you don’t feel good about the thoughts and they are stressful change them.

The post 7 Ways to Take the Edge off of Stress appeared first on Body RX.

Losing weight whether on an hCG diet or moving on to the “spring summer and fall” healthy eating “program” takes determination. It means being aware of what you want to eat and having that little battle in your head. It means thinking about what you’re putting into your body and if what you want to eat or drink is going to help you with your goals.

Exercise is a key part to losing weight. It too takes dedication and time. How much time is determined by how dramatically you want to see the winter pounds come off. It may mean 3-4 times a week at the gym, it may mean walking every night for an hour. It means making time for YOU!

There is a mind shift that needs to happen when people make a decision to make positive changes. For some it is a yearly occurrence of pulling yourself out of the winter doldrums. For some it is only an increase in an already established routine. If you find that this is more difficult than it used to be you might want to look at  HRT information. It may be a biological, not a mental, challenge.  Either way state of mind needs to shift to where you want to be, not where you are now.

Part of looking great is weight and muscle tone. Another part of looking great is taking those extra opportunities to make yourself feel better about you. It may mean pulling out the brightly colored nail polish ladies and switching over your wardrobe! And guys you don’t get off that easy! Its wardrobe switch over time for you as well. Be sure that as your switching your wardrobe over, you get rid of the outworn styles that have lost their glimmer over the past couple of years. It makes it much easier to find what you want in the morning when your closet and drawers are organized. It also makes room for the new stuff you’ve already got in mind.

If you are a stay at home parent seasonal transitions are made easier when you make sure to get yourself up and out of bed and get dressed right away. This makes everyone feel a better about their day. Feeling great is an important part of looking great. So throw some color back into your wardrobe, start checking out the latest fashions! Get some work out clothes that you WANT to put on! So that when you’re working out, you’re feeling and looking great too!

While there is no secret to getting motivated except to will yourself to do it let the idea of the benefits help get you there! See yourself looking great and feeling even better!

The post Losing Winter Weight – What’s The Secret? appeared first on Body RX.

• Stress
• Change in hormone levels
• Environmental triggers
• Tooth or jaw pain
• Depression
• Lack of sleep
• Certain foods and caffeine

The signs of a migraine read like a badly scripted movie. The 1st precursor stage or Prodome can last for hours or days. Increased appetite, neck stiffness or pain, and irritable moods along with more frequent urination are some of the signs of this stage. Unfortunately there are many other ailments with these symptoms and often it goes unrecognized.

The second precursor to a migraine is an “aura” phase. This is the stage which ongoing migraine sufferers recognize almost immediately. It can include blurred or affected vision, auditory and optic hallucinations, a feeling of being disconnected from the present moment, difficulty speaking and hearing, vertigo and other very disconcerting signals. It is in these two phases that migraine sufferers need to get their medications and find some quiet if they are to avert a migraine.

There are some things people can do to help avoid migraines

• Regular Exercise
• Relaxation Techniques
• Limit Caffeine Intake

Some of the most widely used medications for migraines include Beta Blockers, Tricyclic Antidepressants and Calcium Chanel Blockers. These are medications that are taken everyday to prevent the onset of migraine headaches. There is another option for migraine suffers that is gaining some popularity and that is Botox.

The FDA approved Botox for migraine sufferers October 15, 2010. Botox is injected in multiple locations into muscles in the back of the neck every three months. This eliminates the everyday worry of daily medication and some of the side affects associated with those medications. Botox has proven effective for episodic migraines which affect a person 14 days or less per month.

The post Suffering From Migraine? appeared first on Body RX.

At the age of forty to fifty, even from as early as the age 30, men experience a change that becomes a realization for them that they are now a part of the same midlife crisis and are aging. Your body changes are escorted by changes in moods and attitudes. Meanwhile, men often start to question about their activities, values, and route of life. This set of changes has escorted to the concept of midlife crisis.

For some years, many have rejected the possibility of natural physical and psychological changes in middle-aged men, and only the fault of a midlife crisis. Andropause should not be taken carelessly. Both andropause and menopause are characterized by low levels of hormones – estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Even though, dissimilar to menopause, in andropause, men show no lucid symptoms or signs, but can have many physical changes affecting health for men and that that may include; change of mood, attitude changes, fatigue and loss of physical dexterity, energy and libido.

Although menopause usually occurs in the age of forty two to fifty eight, male andropause occurs gradually and can last for ten years. Several factors can cause the onset of andropause in men, factors such as tension, attitude, drugs, alcohol, surgery or injury, viruses and obesity.

Though levels of testosterone a man may decrease over time, it is very difficult to determine whether a person is experiencing severe symptoms of andropause. Also, it is difficult to guess the maturity of andropause as well as different kinds of symptoms for each may show.

Symptoms of Andropause

Andropause won extensive recognition for doctors and health experts. After years of study, experts were capable to identify the most general symptoms that could be found related to health for men. A few of the most general symptoms are dejection, erectile dysfunction and reduced libido, be anxious and hot flashes, weak attentiveness and memory, fatigue, loss of height, body gain fats, decreased muscle mass, aches and pains, sleep disturbance and  osteoporosis.

A lot of men are erroneously treated. If you are supposing to reach at that level of life you should know how to correctly treat with this condition and take care of their health.

How to deal with it

Studies have shown that to fight with the symptoms of andropause, men need to create a healthy lifestyle. In this way, they can alleviate some symptoms of male menopause. The choice of food is likely to prevent emotional exhaustion. Foods containing too much caffeine can increase nervousness and starting to be nervous is a symptom that men should be careful of. To gain a perfect health for men, regular exercise is also necessary because during andropause, weigh gain tendency may also be seen.

The post Health for Men & Andropause appeared first on Body RX.