Well-being Top Tips

Everyone hates the common cold and during these cold winter months it’s important that we give our bodies a fighting chance to prevent it. Sniffling, sneezing, sore throat – none of it very pretty and that’s why we thought we’d share our top tips for keeping it at bay along with improving your well-being and boosting your immune system.

Get a massage

Perhaps it comes as a surprise but regular massage has been found to improve circulation whilst also helping to relax muscle tension. As well as enhancing the immune system Massage is well known for its stress relieving effects. A study published by Carnegie Mellon University found that the risk of catching a cold was connected to degrees of stress and found that stress lasting a minimum of one month (especially in those with chronic stress) were more prone to catching a cold then those of acute stress.

Don’t smoke, reduce alcohol consumption

Yes, I’m afraid so. This will no doubt be very unpopular with many but cigarettes and alcohol consumption can make you more prone to catching a cold, they also tend to last longer and are more intense. Exposure to smoke can also break down the immune system, drying your nasal passage.

Eat lots of fruit, veg and drink lots of water

You should be eating lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet anyway, oranges are especially important to fight off colds due to the amount of vitamin C. It might sound obvious but we often forget how good water is for us. It should prevent dryness from your nose and throat and generally help to flush out your system. Drink 8 cups of water throughout the day.

Get plenty of sleep!

Did you know that lack of sleep and sickness are connected? It’s been found that fewer than 7 hours sleep will make you three times more likely than those with 8 or more hours.

Are you ready to sweat?

In 1989 a German study discovered people who exposed themselves to steam in a sauna twice a week had fewer colds then those that didn’t. An alternative is to perform intensive exercise that makes you break a sweat for 20 minutes, 5 times a week or more. This will also reduce your chances of getting a cold but will also improve you fitness and well-being.

http://puremassage.com/treatments/well-being-top-tips/

How much weight do you really need to lose?

Maybe you've been working on getting back to the weight you were at in high school or on your wedding day. But do you really need to go that low? Or can you weigh more than your ideal weight and still be healthy?

If you're overweight, losing just 10% of your body weight is linked to many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar, and reducing your risk for heart disease. This kind of weight loss is also easier to reach and keep for the long run.

Your Weight "Set Point"

Just as your body temperature is programmed to stay around 98.6 degrees, your body weight is naturally regulated to stay within a range of 10%-20%, says Thomas Wadden, PhD, director of the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at University of Pennsylvania Medical School. This weight range is known as the "set point."

A complex set of hormones, chemicals, and hunger signals help your body keep your weight within this range, says dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD.

It is not just about your genes. Your eating and exercise habits can also help to determine your set point.

"Overeating swamps the internal regulatory system, and, as a result, the set point increases -- which is much easier to do than it is to lower it," Wadden says. The body adjusts to the higher weight and "resets" the set point to defend the new weight. 

It's still possible to set your range lower. "With changes in healthy eating and exercise behavior, you can lower your set point," says Blatner.

The 10% Solution to Weight Loss

Losing 10% of your body weight, and keeping it off for six months to a year, helps your body reset your set point, notes George Blackburn, MD, in his book, Break Through Your Set Point: How to Finally Lose the Weight You Want and Keep It Off.

When you lose large amounts of weight at once, you set up an internal struggle and hormones spike to make you hungrier as your body tries to defend its comfortable range, Wadden explains.

That's why experts recommend losing 10% by changing your eating and exercise habits, and then maintaining your new weight for a few months before trying to lose more. Your body will get the signal to lower its "set point," and you'll get used to new food choices, smaller portions, and regular exercise. 

Blatner says she has seen people who lose 10% of their weight "start to realize how a little weight loss impacts their health in very positive ways... They feel better, sleep better, have more energy or less joint pain, and some people are able to reduce medications."

How Much Should I Weigh?

Most people overestimate how much weight they can lose, which leads to frustration, says Blatner. To find your happy or healthy weight, Blatner suggests looking back on your weight history as an adult and identifying a weight you were able to maintain fairly easily.

Instead of focusing on the numbers on the scale, Blatner suggests setting goals for behavior. "Eat breakfast every day, go for daily walks, eat more fruits and vegetables," she says.  "When you set behavior goals, they are easier to accomplish and they make you feel good."  Stick with these behaviors for 3-6 months and they will become part of your life.

Based on your current weight, eat about 10 calories per pound of nutritious food (low in fat, rich in lean protein, high in fiber), get regular exercise, and assess your weight after a month or so.

"Your weight will settle out and typically you will lose 10%, then hit a plateau, which is a good time to maintain the weight loss," Wadden says.

As you get to a healthy weight, you can go up to 12 calories per pound.

Tips for Weight Loss Success

Here are some tips from Blatner for weight loss success:

Eat regular meals.  People who eat regular meals eat fewer calories than those who eat at random times.

Use a plate, sit down, and enjoy your meals. People who do this eat smaller portions than those who eat out of containers or on the run, according to Blatner.

Get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity each day.

How much and what you eat makes a big difference.  Enjoy normal portions of foods that are high in fiber (fruits, veggies, whole grains) and rich in lean or low fat protein is the secret to feeling full.

Think beyond the scale. Focus on the benefits of a healthier lifestyle rather than any particular number.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/ideal-weight-or-happy-weight

How Touching Your Ear Can Reduce Your Appetite, Stress, and Insomnia, Creating Total Body Health

Auriculotherapy — also known as “ear acupuncture” or “auricular acupuncture” — has been gaining popularity over the past 50 years as a non-invasive but effective natural treatment for physical and mental conditions.

The concept is that the outer portion of the human ear holds a map that links to the rest of the body.  Pressure is used on these various map points to alleviate chronic pain, cure insomnia, help you lose weight, increase your libido, and offer relief from emotional stress.

Can you truly relieve pain just by touching your ear? 

The answer was discovered in 1980, when a research study was done at UCLA Pain Management Center Department of Anesthesiology UCLA School of Medicine to determine if Auriculotherapy should be considered “real medicine”. 

Over 40 patients with chronic muscle pain were diagnosed by doctors who specialized in pain management using traditional treatment and standard medical procedure.  The participants of the study were then given a second diagnoses by an Auriculotherapy physician who was not informed of their medical history. 

His diagnoses matched those made with traditional medicine with more than 75% accuracy.  This convinced researchers that Auriculotherapy was valid medicine.  There truly is a “map” of the human body on the outer ear.

When pressure is applied to certain points on your outer ear that correspond with the pain you feel in your body, messages are sent to your brain and it floods your body with biochemical pain-killers you produce naturally. 

Auriculotherapy stops the pain.  Instantly.  Naturally.

So how does it work? 

Using Auriculotherapy to Reduce Your Appetite

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States, with approximately 65% of citizens considered overweight according to the Surgeon General.  It is believed to be the root cause of many illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, costing our healthcare system trillions of dollars every year. 

Applying pressure to a corresponding portion of your ear – called the Hunger Point – for 30-60 seconds can reduce your appetite and stimulate weight loss. This area of your ear controls appetite, accelerates the brain’s “full” response, and releases endorphins or “feel good” hormones into your system. 

Since the Hunger Point is on the outer perimeter of your ear, you can press it with one finger, or pinch it from either side with both fingers.

Since overeating is often linked to depression and mood swings, increasing positive hormones controls your appetite mentally as well as physically. 

Nutrition and exercise are still important but appetite and mood will make your efforts more productive, improving your chances for successful weight loss.

How to Use Auriculotherapy for Stress Relief

Stress has become “common” in the hectic modern world; occurring so regularly that it becomes a habit.  You begin to accept it, even expect it. 

You cannot afford to become complacent about stress in your day-to-day life.  Stress is a killer.  Research has proven it is one of the core causes of inflammation, heart disease, ineffective immune system, sleep disorders, and even cancer. 

Applying pressure for 30-60 seconds to the Shen Men or Wonder Point regulates stress hormones, relieves tension and pain, and allows for deeper, quality sleep.

It sounds like “woo woo” science, but your body is one of the most incredibly complex organisms on the planet and you already have the ability to heal yourself. 

Your body does it all the time.  When chronic illness and pain affect your immune system and hormone levels, this natural healing process is interrupted. 

What should happen naturally, again and again, needs help.  Auriculotherapy can function as the “reset” button your body needs to stimulate healing. 

Auriculotherapy is recognized and approved by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).  It has proven to be a valid and effective at-home treatment for many illnesses.

With Auriculotherapy You Can Overcome:

=> Chronic pain in muscles and joints

=> Back and sciatica pain – including headaches, neck pain, and radiating pain to arms or legs

=> Allergy causes and symptoms

=> Weight loss – studies showed an average of 1-2 pounds lost per week just by applying acupressure on the Hunger Point of the outer ear.

=> Gastro-intestinal conditions and nausea

=> Relieve stress and anxiety

=> Insomnia – a study involving 46 cases of insomnia were treated with Auriculotherapy.  Of the 46 cases over 32 cases were cured and able to sleep more than 7 hours.

=> Boost your immune response against infection

=> And many, many more illnesses and health problems…

You can easily learn to treat yourself at home using your fingers or a narrow tipped object such as a matchstick.  Yes, this natural health remedy is that simple.

Don’t wait.  Every day you spend in pain or suffering from a condition that could be relieved with safe, natural Auriculotherapy is another day wasted.  There are no side effects.  There is no risk.  What do you have to lose? 

Want to know more?  Once you learn how to identify the reflex points on the outer ear and the simple technique for stimulating those points, you’ll be able to easily do-it-yourself. 

http://www.veganrecipes.com/blog/vegan/how-touching-your-ear-can-relieve-pain-release-stress-and-create-total-body-health/

Benefits of Healthy Living on Your Longevity

We all want to live longer, well most of us. While there is no guaranteed way to live to 100 there are habits you can choose to do to make your chances higher! Choose the path of a centenarian and adopt these healthy lifestyle changes. Learn the benefits of healthy living on your longevity.

Healthy living benefits are not just limited to a sizzling bikini body. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle include helping you live longer. Learn more on how simple healthy lifestyle changes can benefit your life span.

What Smoking Does To Your Life Span

Ditch the smoke to live longer. People who smoke take at least 10 years off their life expectancy, a new study has found. On the other hand, those who kick the habit before age 40 reduce the excess risk of death associated with continued smoking by about 90%, according to the study in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine. “Smoking is the No. 1 preventable cause of death in the U.S.,” says Tim McAfee, a co-author of the study. “We need to do more to educate the American people about these findings,” adds McAfee, director of the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Every Hour of Exercise Is More Hours To Your Life Span

Regular, moderate physical activity such as brisk walking can increase life expectancy by several years, even for people who are overweight, a new large study shows. While higher levels of activity were linked to even longer life expectancy's, moderate activity was beneficial, according to the study of people ages 40 and older. The benefit of exercise was seen regardless of people’s weight, age, sex and health conditions such as heart disease and cancer. 

Weight and Life Span

Benefits of healthy living include a lower weight and therefore a longer potential life span. ”Excess weight shortens human life span,” study researcher Gary Whitlock of the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University of Oxford says in a written statement for WebMD’s weight loss and diet plans. “In countries like Britain and America, weighing a third more than the optimum shortens life span by about three years. For most people, a third more than the optimum means carrying 20 to 30 kilograms (or 50 to 60 pounds) of excess weight. If you are becoming overweight or obese, avoiding further weight gain could well add years to your life.”

Healthy Diet and Longevity

The benefits of healthy living when paired with a healthy diet can promote longevity. In order for you to increase your longevity, you first have to accept the challenge of healthy eating. You need to realize the importance of putting the right things in your body. Healthy eating is your all-in-one-pharmacy, on a plate. This is because you can effectively fight, and prevent, diseases if you eat healthy foods. It is a known fact that most diseases today are caused by an unhealthy diet. Also, I’m sure that you know that healthy eating habits are the key to losing weight. Another major benefit of healthy eating habits is increased energy levels. You can become more productive, and socially active, if you will only stick to healthy foods. You can also invest in an antioxidant rich supplement to fill in any nutrition gaps.

http://healthylivinglifestyles.org/2013/09/03/benefits-of-healthy-living-on-your-longevity/

A Slimming Programme that Works for You

Getting Started

To start, keep a food diary based on what you usually eat and simply record every single mouthful that passes your lips for a week. It might sound tedious, but it will make you realise just how much you’re eating and help to identify any areas where you can make little changes to shift those pounds.

You may also find it helpful to keep a note of how you felt before eating. Was it because you were hungry? Was it to satisfy boredom, tiredness, unhappiness or another emotion? Or did you simply eat out of habit?

Identifying those times when you eat when you’re not really hungry will give you the opportunity to find other ways to deal with these situations rather than reaching for food. For example, if your food diary helps you realise that you eat when you’re bored, you can work towards beating boredom without using food, such as having a bath, going for a walk or phoning a friend for a gossip. Similarly, if your food diary reveals that you often eat out of habit, for example, by going straight to the fridge when you get home from work, you can look at ways to break or change those habits, for example, by heading straight for the fruit bowl!

Keeping on track

The key to continuing to lose weight is to keep your slimming and exercise programme fresh. If you eat the same foods day in and day out and only ever do the same activities, boredom will quickly set in with the result that you’ll be tempted to give up. When it comes to food, this might mean investing in a recipe book to try some new dishes or experimenting with different foods. For example, you could make it your weekly mission to buy a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried before, or cook vegetables in different ways, such as roasting carrots with a little spray oil rather than steaming them, or adding fresh coriander, chopped peppers and spring onions to your usual salad of lettuce, tomato and cucumber! There are lots of different ways to keep meals interesting – it’s simply a case of experimenting.

The same goes for exercise. It’s natural that you’ll get bored if you only ever do the same activities – and on top of this, you’re unlikely to get the most out of your workout. Your body needs to be continuously pushed in order to burn fat and tone muscle so it’s important that you keep pushing yourself. This might mean trying some different cardiovascular machines if you go to the gym, or increasing the intensity of your workout, such as walking for a longer distance in the same amount of time. Keep an eye out for new activities too, such as dance classes at your local community centre or a new aqua aerobics class at the swimming pool.

It’s also essential to keep yourself motivated. In the early stages of your plan, friends and family will probably keep telling you how well you’re doing and how great you look, but compliments may gradually start to slow down, especially as people get used to seeing a slimmer you. That’s why it’s essential for you to keep reminding yourself of your slimming successes to date – that might mean trying on an old item of clothing that’s now too big for you, comparing pictures of yourself when you were bigger with ones of yourself now or simply totting up how many pounds and inches you’ve lost in total. You may also find it helpful to give yourself non-food treats such as a new haircut, a nail varnish or a massage, every time you reach a new goal.

Reaching a plateau

It’s also important to avoid getting disheartened if you reach a plateau where your weight seems to stick for a couple of weeks at a time, despite all your best efforts. This is common, but the good news is it’s usually only a temporary problem. In the meantime, there are several things you can do to help get those pounds shifting again. Start by checking your portion sizes. After weeks of following a slimming programme, many of us feel confident enough to ditch the kitchen scales and start putting cereal into a bowl rather than weighing it, or pouring dressing onto salad straight from the bottle rather than measuring out 1tbsp. Simply going back to weighing out servings of foods like cereals, rice, pasta, meat, poultry and fish may be all that it takes to get those pounds shifting again.

You may also find it helpful to keep a notebook with you for a week detailing every single mouthful you eat each day. In the same way that portions can increase over time, you might find you’ve allowed more treats to creep into your programme which you’ve been forgetting to add to your food diary, such as having the odd cake in the office, treating yourself to a bar of chocolate once a week, nibbling on sweets while you’re driving or pouring yourself a larger drink than normal.

So now you’re armed with all the information you need, what are you waiting for? All you have to lose is those extra pounds – for the very last time!

https://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/slimming/programme.htm

The 9 Most Nutritious (And Filling) Breakfast Foods

I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before, but breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true for dieters who will find it easier to manage their weight and stay on track with a start to the morning that’s high in nutrition. The trick, however, is making smart choices.

A healthy breakfast should be a variety of foods like whole grains, low-fat protein or dairy sources, and fruit.  All these food groups provide complex carbohydrates, protein, and a small amount of fat. This combination of nutrients can delay hunger symptoms and keep you feeling full throughout the day. Here are some ideas to get your day started right:

1. Build on a healthy cereal. Top a high-fiber cereal with a sprinkle of granola, bananas, and low-fat milk or plain yogurt. This combination provides good fiber and protein intake, plus calcium and potassium.

2. Get off to a berry good start. Another possibility for breakfast is berries and low-fat Greek-style yogurt with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of toasted sliced almonds. These foods are high in protein and volume, which can help you feel full longer.

3. Take your nutrition to go. Smoothies are another smart choice when made with Greek-style low-fat yogurt, berries, and a touch of sugar. It’s a meal that’s high in protein, dairy, and volume, and it’s very portable if you’re in a hurry.

4. Get a good “warm-up.” Start with hot cereal: Microwave 1/4 cup each of instant oatmeal and coarse wheat bran with a cup of 1 percent milk. Served with berries and a little maple syrup, it’s the perfect start to the day with plenty of fiber and volume.

5. Don’t skip the eggs. Hot breakfasts extend the range of possibilities. Scrambled eggs — one whole egg and one egg white — along with a piece of whole-wheat toast, lightly buttered, and some fruit on the side are high in protein and volume and make a great combination.

6. Wrap up some burritos. Breakfast burritos can spice up your morning meal. Use the same scrambled egg recipe as in No. 5 as the filling for a low-carb, whole- wheat (for extra fiber) wrap along with some salsa, low-fat sour cream, and a sprinkle of cheese.

7. Ham it up. Even ham and eggs can be healthy when using one whole egg and one egg white in the scramble and two slices of lean Canadian bacon. Add half a grapefruit on the side and it’s a meal full of protein, fiber, and vitamin C.

8. Don’t rule out a.m. vegetables. You can enjoy veggies with breakfast if you add them to some eggs. Cook one and a half cups of sliced button mushrooms or one cup of lightly steamed vegetables (like broccoli or spinach), two beaten eggs, salt, and freshly ground pepper in a non-stick pan with one-half teaspoon of tub margarine. Add a dollop of ketchup, if desired.

9. Think whole grain. Whole-grain English muffins with peanut butter or another nut butter and sliced fruit like apples or pears, along with a glass of milk, can be filling while providing protein and calcium.

http://blackdoctor.org/2382/the-9-most-nutritious-and-filling-breakfast-foods/

Health Benefits of Spinach

The health benefits of spinach are numerous and its ability to help prevent disease is well known. Spinach is at the top of many super food lists.

 

Spinach Nutrition

Spinach and other dark leafy greens like kale, collards, Swiss chard, turnip greens and bok choy are loaded with calcium, folic acid, vitamin K and iron.

Spinach is also rich in vitamin C, fiber and carotenoids. Add its lutein and bioflavanoids and spinach is a nutritional powerhouse.
 

Why Eat Spinach?

Spinach nutrition is amazing. The calcium content in spinach and the other dark leafy greens mentioned above strengthens bones.

The A and C vitamins in spinach plus the fiber, folic acid, magnesium and other nutrients help control cancer, especially colon, lung and breast cancers. Folate also lowers the blood levels of something called homocysteine, a protein that damages arteries. So spinach also helps protect against heart disease.

The flavonoids in spinach help protect against age related memory loss.

Spinach’s secret weapon, lutein, makes it one of the best foods in the world to prevent cataracts, as well as age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the elderly. Foods rich in lutein are also thought to help prevent cancer.

As you can see, the health benefits of spinach are numerous. The vitamins and calcium in spinach, combined with the overall nutritional value of spinach, make this vegetable and its dark leafy green cousins top picks for healthy food choices.

Fresh or frozen, add these greens to your food menu as often as you can.
 

How to Get More Spinach in your Diet:

Add chopped fresh or frozen spinach to lasagna to up the nutrient content of this tasty comfort food.

Add chopped or frozen spinach to your favorite vegetable soup recipe.

Sauté spinach with a bit of garlic for a tasty super food combination. Try it on top of a baked potato.

Make quick and easy spinach dips to eat with crunchy raw vegetables and whole grain breads like pumpernickel, and enjoy the health benefits of spinach while you nibble on your favorite veggies.

Use fresh spinach instead of lettuce to add a twist to your favorite sandwiches.

Add chopped fresh or frozen spinach to omelets and frittatas. Make sure frozen spinach is thawed and well drained.

http://www.cookingnook.com/10-healthiest-foods/health-benefits-of-spinach/

10 Reasons Why You Should Drink More Water

At the airport gate, on my way back to the U.S. (from Africa), the second security check confiscated the 3 liters of water I had just purchased in the main terminal. I cried. Literally, I cried. Clearly, the security agent didn’t understand exactly how much water I consume on a 17 hour flight (about 6 liters actually!). Water has always been my drink of choice. It just makes me feel good. I tell my clients to drink water if they have a craving, a headache, are constipated, hungry, etc. Water is so beneficial, so easy, so free yet so easily overlooked.  It’s really a no brainer (actually your brain is 90% water!!!). Your body is about 70% water, the majority of your blood and every cell in your body is composed of water. Therefore, you need water to function properly.

I don’t get headaches and don’t own Tylenol, Advil, etc. I believe it’s because I drink enough water. I’ve often been complimented on my clear, youthful skin. Again, I thank my water intake!

As with most things, the amount of water for each person is very individual, but if your pee isn’t mostly clear or you have any of the symptoms I mentioned above, you most likely aren’t getting enough H2O. Some suggest 8 (8 oz) glasses a day while others suggest take your body weight (in pounds), divide it in half and drink that many ounces. Listen to what your body needs.

If you don’t care much for the taste of... nothing, then you can add a squirt of lemon, a squeeze of lime, a few sprigs of fresh mint or a cucumber or orange slice. You can even be so bold as to add a few berries or watermelon. What ever gets you to drink it up. Cheers to your good health!

Top 10 Benefits of Drinking Water: Don't Medicate, Hydrate!

1. Increases Energy & Relieves Fatigue – Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert. As an added bonus, your energy levels are also boosted!

2. Promotes Weight Loss – Removes by-products of fat, reduces eating intake (by filling up your tummy if consumed prior to meals), reduces hunger (hello natural appetite suppressant!), raises your metabolism and has zero calories!

3. Flushes Out Toxins – Gets rid of waste through sweat and urination which reduces the risk of kidney stones and UTI’s (urinary tract infections).

4. Improves Skin Complexion – Moisturizes your skin, keeps it fresh, soft, glowing and smooth. Gets rid of wrinkles. It’s the best anti-aging treatment around!

5. Maintains Regularity – Aids in digestion as water is essential to digest your food and prevents constipation.

6. Boosts Immune System – A water guzzler is less likely to get sick. And who wouldn’t rather feel healthy the majority of the time? Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu, cancer and other ailments like heart attacks.

7. Natural Headache Remedy – Helps relieve and prevent headaches (migraines & back pains too!) which are commonly caused by dehydration.

8. Prevents Cramps & Sprains - Proper hydration helps keep joints lubricated and muscles more elastic so joint pain is less likely.

9. Puts You in a Good Mood – When the body is functioning at its best, you will feel great and be happy!

10. Save Money! - Water is FREE! Even if you choose bottled/filtered water, it’s STILL cheaper than that high sugar and fat-filled latte!

 

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4287/10-Reasons-Why-You-Should-Drink-More-Water.html

3 Healthy Snack/Lunch Ideas!

Here are a few great but very simple ideas for snacks or lunches that are so good for you. Well worth a look! ...

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits

Just like apples, apple cider vinegar is full of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and minerals such as potassium, chlorine, copper, sodium and iron. It is a great source of potassium which is vital for our body to repair and replace dead cells and tissues. Pure organic apple cider vinegar is very rich in potassium. There is no other better source of potassium.

Most of us have heard about its benefits but dont know how to use it properly. It has many health benefits and cure for allergies, sinus, high cholestrol, flu, sore throat, arthritis, indigestion, asthma, osteoporosis, kidney stones and acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar is also known for curing chronic skin conditions such as acne, rosacea when taken internally or applied externally.

1) Dilute 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink it everyday. However, it has been known to break tooth enamel over time therefore brush your teeth right after you drink the water.

2) Apple cider vinegar is anti inflammatory and anti bacterial. It is used for treating mild acne. Dilute it with water and use it as a toner on your skin. Dab a cotton pad and apply on your skin

3) If you have stayed under the sun for too long without protection then apple cider vinegar is great for curing sun burns. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to the affected area. It will relieve pain and prevent peeling. You can also use this method for relieving itchy skin.

4) For treating dandruff and itchy scalp use it after shampooing your hair. Mix 1 part of apple cider vinegar with 2 parts of water and use it as final rinse. Do not wash it and let it dry.

5) Note: If you have sensitive skin or any health issue, make sure to consult a doctor before using apple cider vinegar.

http://7beautytips.com/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits

Should Probiotics Be Taken Before, During, or After Meals?

Proper timing of probiotic supplements may improve their survival. What dose should we take and under what circumstances?

6 Things You Don't Know About Kale

Our love of kale is no secret. But even though it's the hottest vegetable on the scene, many of its more healthful attributes remain a mystery to the general public.
Here are five reasons why your main green squeeze could (and should) be here to stay—and one important fact to remember:

1. It has more vitamin C than an orange. One cup of chopped kale has 134 percent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C, while a medium orange fruit has 113 percent of the daily C requirement. That's particularly noteworthy because a cup of kale weighs just 67 grams, while a medium orange weighs 131 grams. In other words? Gram for gram, kale has more than twice the vitamin C as an orange.

2. It's...kind of fatty (in a good way!). We don't typically think of our greens as sources of even healthful fats. But kale is actually a great source of alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), which is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that's essential for brain health, reduces Type 2 diabetes risk, and benefits heart health. Each cup has 121mg of ALA, according to Drew Ramsey's book 50 Shades of Kale.

3. It might be the queen of vitamin A. Kale has 133 percent of a person's daily vitamin A requirement—more than any other leafy green.

4. Kale even beats milk in the calcium department. It's worth noting that kale has 150mg of calcium per 100 grams, while milk has 125mg.

5. It's better with a friend. Kale has plenty of phytonutrients, such as quercetin, which helps combat inflammation and prevent arterial plaque formation, and sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting compound. But many of its top health-promoting compounds are rendered more effective when you eat the stuff in combination with another food. Pair kale with fats like avocado, olive oil, or even parmesan to make fat-soluble carotenoids more available to the body. And acid from lemon juice helps make kale's iron more bioavailable as well.

6. The leafy green is more likely to be 'dirty.' According to the Environmental Working Group, kale is one of the most likely crops to have residual pesticides. The organization recommends choosing organic kale (or growing it yourself!).

Magnesium could help you melt body fat and improve training in no time. That's right ladies, being deficient in this mineral could be causing you all kinds of problems that are preventing you from shifting that unwanted body fat.


http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/food-weight-loss/6-things-you-dont-know-about-kale