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The skin is the body’s largest organ. It can also be a problem area.

The skin and its care is one of the biggest concerns of people as they age. Vitamin C is used in skin care to help prevent premature aging and damage from the suns rays.
The antioxidant properties of Vitamin C allows it to bond with and remove damaging radicals in the skin from pollution, cigarette smoke and other sources. Vitamin C is also a necessary part of the body’s production of collagen which is the fiber that makes tissues retain elasticity. So the use of Vitamin C in a daily skin care helps make skin look full and firm.

Vitamins are absorbed through the skin in creams and lotions, particularly Vitamins A and D. Vitamin C can be absorbed by the skin but the best form is L-ascorbic acid. This product breaks down very easily especially in sunlight giving it a short shelf life. Only buy small amounts in dark colored or brown bottles and keep it in a dark storage place.

This anti-aging treatment works by being absorbed into the skin and promoting the production of collagen. It also works as an antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals in the body. Because of its absorption properties of this form of Vitamin C, it will not wash away but remain in the skin.

Tagged with: antioxidant • skin care • vitamin C • Vitamins A and D

Most of us don’t think about the foods that will keep our liver strong. But, if you have been using a diet that is good for your overall health, then, most likely you are helping your liver.

Oils for a healthy liver are flax seed oil or fish oil ands should be used every day. Stay away from margarine or any other artificial butter since they contain chemicals the liver cannot recognize as food. Sunflower, safflower, and other seed oils should be kept in the refrigerator to keep them from becoming rancid.

Fat accumulates in the liver. The liver is responsible for breaking down the fat and using it for energy. Accumulated fat in the liver can become rancid producing free radicals that damage liver cells.

People only need about 2-3 ounces of protein, but if you do physical labor you need more. If there this undigested protein it is decomposed by bad bacteria creating toxic matter. These toxins can be absorbed into the blood and cause the liver extra work in detoxifying them.

You can support liver activity by eating foods such as brussel sprouts, broccoli cabbage, seeds and nuts and Lecithin (ask your doctor first).
Reduce or eliminate the use of processed sugar since it interferes with enzyme activity throughout your body. Use fruits, whole grains, barley malt, rice syrup, dates, dried fruit, and honey instead.

Ask your doctor about liver health.

Tagged with: Lecithin • liver health • Oils for a healthy liver • protein • Sunflower

Quinoa (keen-wa) is called a super grain that’s not really a grain. Quinoa comes from a plant that is like spinach; actually it’s the seed of the plant. It is full of protein and potassium and filled with iron and riboflavin.

You will find quinoa at health food and specialty food stores. Recently grocery stores are starting to offer quinoa. Quinoa is a terrific replacement for white rice as a side dish or as part of the main course. It is flavorful and really good for you.
Recipe for using Quinoa:
Quinoa with Flank Steak and Vegetables

1 cup quinoa
1- 1lb flank steak
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
sliced onion
1 8oz package of mushrooms
(All vegetables can be substituted with other vegetables)

Preparation: Cook the quinoa as directed. Once it’s cooked, add salt (or salt substitute and pepper to taste) and mix with a little bit of olive oil to make it moist.
Cut flank steak into bite size pieces and sauté in olive oil over low to medium heat. Cut up green pepper, red pepper and onion and sauté in a separate pan using olive oil. Once the meat is cooked, add the vegetables and sauté together. Add quinoa to the meat and vegetable mixture and mix it all together and serve.

Tagged with: Health Food • quinoa • replacement for white rice • specialty food • spinach

Recently researchers have successfully grown master heart cells in a test tube and used them to significantly improve heart function in lab mice. This is an amazing achievement a promising discovery in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

Scientists everywhere have been trying to find stem cells that can be used to repair or replace damaged heart tissue. There is evidence that suggests that embryonic stem cells may allow for the creation of functional heart tissue for transplants.

The human heart is made up of three distinct cell types: cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. Each of these cell types plays an important part in functioning heart tissues.

One research group created the heart cells by adding a mix of growth factors and other molecules to the petrie dishes containing the stem cells at important times during the experiment. By getting the correct timing, the scientists got the cells to grow into ancestors, or “progenitors,” of the three specific heart cell types.

When the heart cells where transplanted into lab mice with simulated heart disease, their heart function improved. Researchers say their success offers hope to those aiming to develop stem cell biology techniques for the treatment of damaged human hearts.

Researchers think that individual types of heart cells could be produced by isolating particular types of progenitors.

Growing heart cells is a tremendous advancement in heart disease.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • heart cells • Heart Disease • heart healthy • stem cell

There are a large number of natural weight loss products available now, but just because a product may be “natural”, it doesn’t always mean that it’s safe. Some of the natural weight loss products can be dangerous and although they may produce fast weight loss, they can actually cause weight gain and a hard time losing weight later.

The biggest problems are with the natural weight loss products that contain stimulants. Natural weight loss products that contain stimulants have the same risks as stimulant drugs.

It is strongly suggested that you not use any form of stimulant as a weight loss aid. This is for two reasons. First, stimulants, whether natural weight loss products or drugs, have the potential risks of stroke, high blood pressure, elevation of the heart rate, and sleep disorders. Secondly, in spite of the fact that stimulants can increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss at first, later they may cause you to gain weight.

Discontinuing the use of natural weight loss products that contain stimulants suddenly usually has the result of rapid weight gain. Whether or not stimulants are discontinued though, the eventual effect will be that a weight gain will result.

Even though the idea of fast weight loss through using natural weight loss products that contain stimulants may be appealing, these products can only make your weight loss more complicated and potentially cause serious damage to your overall health.

Tagged with: natural rapid weight loss • natural weight loss • natural weight loss pills • natural weight loss products • natural weight loss supplements

One of the most important things you can for longevity is maintaining a healthy diet. A heart healthy diet is very important to success in any diet. Remember that a diet alone doesn’t work. To have lasting results, you have to make real changes in your eating habits.

A heart healthy diet includes eating more dark green vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas and lentils.

For a heart healthy diet, don’t forget the fruit. For example, eat 1 small banana, 1 medium apple, 1 large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches. Drink fresh juices. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta every day.

If you are planning your heart healthy diet in order to lose weight, you also need to pay attention to calories. If you are under medical supervision or have special dietary requirements may have different needs and should check with their doctor.

A heart healthy diet is an eating plan that can help keep your blood cholesterol low and decrease your chance of developing heart disease. It is the major factor in reducing the risk of heart diseases.

Eat foods which are low in cholesterol. Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat or non-fat dairy products, and moderate amounts of lean meats, skinless poultry, and fish and avoid salt.

For more info on a heart healthy diet, talk to your doctor.

Tagged with: healthy balanced diet • healthy diet • healthy diets • healthy ways to lose weight • heart healthy diet

Coconut oil is a healthy oil substitute. Coconut oil is not oxidized easily. It is also resistant to free radical attacks and acts as an anti-oxidant, so a coconut oil diet is healthy.

A coconut oil diet absorbs fewer fats than foods fried in hydrogenated vegetable oils. Foods cooked in coconut oil stay fresh longer and promote nutrient absorption. So it is advisable to change to a coconut oil diet instead of vegetable oil.

As well, coconut oil is great for hair. It makes hair soft and silky and easy to brush. You can also use coconut oil for skin care. It prevents the formation of destructive free radicals.

A coconut oil diet can strengthen your immune system to fight the. A coconut oil diet speeds up recovery from illness, and protects from infectious diseases.

Using a coconut oil diet can help you lose weight by making wise food choices without feeling hungry, miserable and deprived.

A coconut oil diet increases your metabolic rate which makes the body burn more calories. This increased metabolism stays for 24 hours. Taking coconut oil increases your energy level and burn off calories at an accelerated rate.

Always check with your doctor before going on any diet plan.

Tagged with: coconut oil diet • diet food • diet foods • diets • free weight loss tips

The Portfolio Diet is a style of eating which combines a group of foods that have been shown to help to lower bad cholesterol in blood. Each food choice is healthy and has blood cholesterol lowering effects on its own, but when you combine the foods and eat them everyday, the effects are even greater.

Example recipe from the portfolio diet:

Broccoli Soup

Ingredients
2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 large leek, sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 bay leaf
450g broccoli, chopped
1 pint vegetable stock
300ml soy milk
1 tbsp lemon juice
Pepper
3 tbsp soy cream

1. Sauté the leek, garlic and bay leaf in the oil until the leek is soft. Add the broccoli and the stock. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Let the soup to cool for a short time. Remove the bay leaf and blend the soup until smooth.

2. Pour the soup back in to the pan and return to the heat. If you want a thinner soup add a little more stock, water or soy milk. Add the pepper, lemon juice, soy cream and serve.

Serve with whole meal bread.

Serves 4

Tagged with: cholesterol diet • cholesterol lowering diet • popular diets • portfolio diet • weight lose

When using a body wrap to lose weight and firm skin there are other benefits as well. A body wrap produces therapeutic and cosmetic benefits by cleansing the body of toxins and reducing inches.

As well when using a body wrap to lose weight one gets the added benefit of improving the tone and firmness and the look and texture of their skin. This helps who have loose skin from weight loss or pregnancy. Also those who experience joint pain and inflammation will benefit from the therapeutic effects of body wraps.

A simple body wrap to lose weight can be a mixture of clay and some natural sea salt. You can add more complex ingredients such as herbs and up to 2 tablespoons of an essential oil like lavender, sage, lemon, sandlewood, lemongrass, rosemary, grapefruit or olive oil. Herbs to use include Alfalfa leaf powder, ground basil, chamomile flower powder, rose petal powder or rosehip powder.

Body wrap to lose weight recipe:

1 cup bentonite or green clay
1/4 cup sea salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups water

Boil water and add sea salt until it is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Adjust the water if necessary to form a wet paste.

Rub the mixture over your entire body and cover yourself with thin towels or a clean white sheet. Using proper wrapping sheets helps to squeeze the tissues together for greater results.

Lay in the tub for a minimum of 45 min. to one hour.

Take a warm shower before applying the wrap to open the pores.

Drink lots of water both before and after your wrap to help flush out toxins.

You can cover yourself with an inexpensive foil thermal blanket to keep warm.

Avoid caffeine, sugar, fried fatty foods, soda drinks and alcohol for the next 48 hours.

Tagged with: body wrap to lose weight • free weight loss tips • how to lose weight quickly • lose water weight • lose weight

As with all diet plans, be careful to not to starve yourself or to eat too few calories. Losing weight by starving yourself does not work. Your body holds onto every calorie.

The 1500 calorie diet is the lowest calorie intake recommended for males, and 1200 calorie diet for women.

As well don’t forget to exercise for outstanding weight loss effects!

As a general rule, drink only non-calorie drinks, coffee with little low-fat milk and sweetener and lot’s of green tea during the 1500 calorie diet.

Also keep a weight loss journal.

Example 1500 Calorie Diet:

Breakfast:
Protein shake: 10 ounces of low fat milk with 1 of protein supplement powder.

Morning Snack:
1 large Apple, 1 low fat fruit yogurt mixed with 10 grams / 0.4 ounces of protein supplement powder

1500 Calorie Diet Lunch:
3.5 ounces of mixed lettuce salad with 4.4 ounces skinless chicken breast cooked with olive oil, 2 teaspoons 1-carb olive-oil vinegar dressing

Afternoon Snack:
1 low fat fruit yogurt mixed with 0.4 ounces of protein supplement powder
1 grapefruit

Dinner:
Chicken Fajitas: 7.1 ounces Chicken Breast, 5 medium fresh mushrooms, 1/2 small onion, 1 green pepper, cooked w. 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Of course before beginning any diet, talk to your doctor first.

Tagged with: 1500 calorie diet • best diet • best diets • diet • diet and exercise