Striving4Zen

This mineral is mighty but is often over looked, even though it participates in hundreds of bodily functions that foster good health. It contributes to bone strength; in fact 50 percent of your total body magnesium is found in the bones. It also helps promotes a robust immune system and normalizes muscle, nerve, and heart function.

Women ages 19 to 30 should get 310 milligrams daily of the mineral, and women over 31 need 10 milligrams more, with their daily recommended intake (RDI) being 320 milligrams. The good news is that whole grains are high in magnesium, especially quinoa. An ounce of dry roasted almonds contains 80 milligrams of magnesium while dry roasted cashews contain 75 milligrams. If you are looking for a food source a little lower in fat, then be sure to add beans to your diet. A cup of cooked black beans contains 75 milligrams of magnesium as well. Dairy products are also a good choice, just remember to choose low fat ones.

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Source

Labels: black beans, Dairy, healthy diet, magnesium, minerals, Nuts, quinoa, Whole grains

So nice...I'm posting twice!

Did you know that a 5-ounce serving of crimini mushrooms contains only 31 calories and is a great source of all of the B vitamins?

B vitamins are essential for reducing cholesterol levels, helping to prevent Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease, and for energy production. Crimini mushrooms are an excellent source of riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin, as well as a very good source of thiamin and vitamin B6, and a good source of folate, all of which are B vitamins necessary for carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) plays at least two important roles in the body's production of energy. It is part of a molecule that allows oxygen-based energy production to occur. It is also necessary for the recycling of glutathione, an internally produced antioxidant that protects our energy-producing mitochondria from oxidative damage. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) also plays an important role in the prevention of fatigue since it supports the function of the adrenal glands, particularly in times of stress. Niacin (vitamin B3) is necessary for the conversion of the body's proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into usable energy. Although most of us enjoy mushrooms as a tasty addition to many recipes, we seldom recognize them as a powerhouse of nutrients. So, enjoy crimini mushrooms as a part of your Healthiest Way of Eating, not only for their great flavor, but also for their energy-boosting nutrients!

Read More ...

Labels: adrenal glands, b-vitamins, crimini mushrooms, eating healthy, healthy diet, healthy food, mushrooms, stress

Find out which of the city's courts is your best match.

• Starting April 4th, Central Park Tennis Center is open for business. Beginners can get a crash course with a semi-private lesson that costs just $30 per person for two people. 94th St. near West Dr., (212) 280-0205, MAP

• Night owls can now play after hours at Hudson River Park. The free courts are open until 12:30AM and operate on a first come, first served basis. (Time limit is one hour of play when there's a wait.) Pier 40 near Canal St., (212) 627-2020, MAP

• Diehard tennis devotees can hit the courts on rainy days. Atop Grand Central is the Trump-owned indoor space. Courts come at a price: $170 for one hour, but you'll get to enjoy one of the city's hidden gems. 15 Vanderbilt Ave., (212) 687-3841, MAP

Thanks Vital Juice!

Labels: exercise, NYC, tennis

This is a very challenging pose since it requires both flexibility in your back and strength in your upper body and core. So take it at your own speed and raise your feet as high as you can. With practice and patience, you'll soon be able to lift your legs even higher.

• Begin lying on your belly. Roll over to one of your shoulders so you can bring both arms underneath you. There are two hand positions you can try, so see which one feels the most comfortable. Either interlace your fingers, clasp your palms together, and straighten your arms. Or keep your hands apart with either your palms facing up or pressed into the mat. Then roll your body so it's resting on your extended arms. Make sure your chin is on the mat as well.

• As you inhale, press into your arms with all your strength and lift both legs up as high as you can. If your upper body is strong and your back is flexible, lift your hips off the floor, so your spine is as upright as possible. Press your feet and thighs together.

• Stay like this for five deep breaths. Then slowly lower your body back to the floor. Release your lower back by coming into Child's Pose.

Thanks FitSugar!

Labels: Inverted Locust, locust pose, salabhasana, yoga, yoga pose

• Argan oil, derived from the fruit of a tree that grows in Morocco, has been dubbed “liquid gold.” The vitamin E-rich oil can be found in a Kiehl's body lotion. Leslie S. Baumann, MD says Argan oil may improve skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, and dry skin. She also recommends olive, safflower, walnut, avocado, and evening primrose oils for dry skin.
• Soy can help prevent pigmentation, Baumann says. Licorice, mulberry, and burberry extracts, along with Vitamin C from citrus fruits -- grapefruit, lime, lemon, and orange -- can also fade brown spots, Baumann says.
  
• Maitake mushrooms, found in Origins’ Plantidote, may help people with sensitive skin who suffer from rosacea and redness, she says. Chamomile, oatmeal, aloe vera, licorice, and cucumber extracts all have soothing properties; check out Jurlique products. Feverfew, a member of the sunflower family, also has calming properties.
  
• Rhodiola (or rhodeola), known as golden root, is native to the high Himalayas. In a recent study of people with sensitive skin, those treated with rhodiola extract reported improved skin sensation and less skin dryness. Origins' Youthtopia skin-firming lotion contains extracts.
• CoffeeBerry is harvested from the coffee cherry, the outer, fleshy casing of the coffee bean. It is said to possess antioxidant activity greater than pomegranates, berries, and green teas. In studies sponsored by Stiefel Laboratories, which owns the proprietory name, CoffeeBerry treatment improved the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation. Look for the Revaleskin brand.
• Resveratrol, a polyphenol from wine and grape skins, serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Animal studies suggest that resveratrol applied to the skin may help protect against harmful UV damage. The Caudalie line contains resveratrol.
• Green tea is rich in antioxidants, especially one that may curb UV skin damage, some studies have shown. Pomegranate products may also help protect against UV skin damage, according to other research.
• White tea is unfermented and uncured; only the young tips are used. Origins has a line called A Perfect World featuring white tea. In an industry-sponsored study, white tea extract was also shown to limit sunlight-incurred damage in human skin.

Source

Labels: argan oil, coffee, green tea, maitake mushrooms, natural products, resveratrol, rhodiola, skin care, soy, white tea

It’s primarily known as a German staple, but most other European countries use it in their traditional dishes. It’s pretty easy to understand why it was so popular: it keeps for a long time without refrigeration. Dutch, German, and English sailors found that the vitamin C-rich kraut prevented scurvy on the open seas, and the fact that it was salted and fermented made it ideal for long voyages without other preservation methods.

As the name would suggest, sauerkraut is quite literally sour cabbage. The sour flavor comes from the process of lacto-fermentation, similar to the pickling of cucumbers. But instead of soaking the cabbage in a vinegary brine solution, sauerkraut preparation requires only salt and the lactic acid bacteria already present on raw cabbage. More than just a delicious, tangy flavor, the beauty of sauerkraut also lies in its considerable health benefits. Besides the great vitamin C content, there’s also tons of lactobacilli, a healthy probiotic that aids in digestion and immunity. The fermentation also produces isothiocyanates, compounds shown to prevent cancer growth in animal tests. Even cabbage itself is a good source of manganese, vitamin B6 and folate.

But most of us get our kraut at the grocery store. Going that route means you’re probably losing all the good stuff through pasteurization, so why not make your own? It’s incredibly easy. All it takes is some cabbage, whatever other vegetables or fruits you’d like to include (carrots, different colored cabbage, garlic, onions, beets, even apples), a sealable storage vessel, a bit of sea salt, and patience.

Read more for the recipe!

Labels: cabbage, easy recipe, health food, healthy diet, Probiotics, sauerkraut, Vitamin C

One big myth is that fruit juice is a healthy part of our diet. Wrong. Drinking a glass of fruit juice a day — which is the equivalent of one soft drink of 110 to 180 calories — has been linked in the U.S., Australia and Spain to increased calorie intake and higher risks of diabetes and heart disease.

Eating a piece of fruit provides vitamins, fiber and, best of all, tends to reduce intake of other food. Most fruit juices are just sugary beverages, providing extra calories — all from refined carbohydrates — without sating appetite. And this is true whether you drink apple or orange juice or one of the fancy new juices like acai berry or pomegranate juice. The added calories can contribute to weight gain and increased risk of both diabetes and heart disease.

A second myth surrounds foods and waters, which are heavily marketed for their antioxidant properties. Consumption of fruits and vegetables is linked with decreased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke and some benefits for various cancers. Some foods, like dark chocolate, which has antioxidants, are also linked in careful scientific research to reduced risk of heart disease.

But none of the antioxidant waters, which are very popular, have shown any health benefits, despite their indirect marketing pitches. Essentially, what one is buying is expensive water with sweeteners and some flavorings and supplements added. However, just as almost all studies of antioxidants provided as supplements have found no benefits, we would not expect to find them added to water to produce any benefits, either.

Source

Barry M. Popkin, an economist and nutrition epidemiologist, directs the Interdisciplinary Center for Obesity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is author of the “The World Is Fat: The Fads, Trends, Policies and Products That Are Fattening the Human Race.”

Labels: apple juice, beverages, fruit, fruit juice, healthy diet, orange juice, Vitamin Water

Proteins are made up of amino acids. Twelve are manufactured by the human body, and 9, called essential amino acids, we must get from our diet.

Can we get them all from plant sources?

A complete protein is a food that contains all the essential amino acids. Animal protein like meat and dairy products are complete proteins, but it's also possible to get all your essential amino acids from plant sources. In order to get a vegetarian complete protein, you need to combine foods to make one. Beans and rice are a popular complete protein, but so is nut butter on whole grain bread, and hummus on pita. Recent research shows that you don't need to combine these foods all in one meal. You can combine them over a 2-day period.

So it doesn't really matter where you get these essential amino acids, as long as you get them. Your weight will determine just how much protein you need. A 120 lb woman needs to eat about 43g of protein a day. A 130 lb woman needs to eat about 47g of protein a day, and a 150 lb woman needs to eat about 50g of protein a day.

There are so many plant sources of protein and meat alternatives. As long as vegetarians eats a wide variety of foods they'll be able to get all the amino acids they need, and they don't need to eat extra plant protein to get them.

Thanks FitSugar!

Labels: amino acids, beans, complete protein, Dairy, meat, protein, vegetarian

Want to improve your health? Start by focusing on the things that bring you happiness. There is some scientific evidence that positive emotions can help make your life longer and healthier.

But to produce good health, positive emotions may need to be long term. In other words, thinking positive thoughts for a month when you already have heart disease won’t cure the disease. But lowering your stress levels over a period of years with a positive outlook and relaxation techniques could reduce your risk of heart problems.

Read more...

Labels: happiness, Health, Holistic Health, living holistically, positive outlook, relaxation, study

About To Go Brands

To Go Brands is committed to creating high quality, all-natural, great tasting, and easy to use products for those of us striving to remain healthy in today’s fast-paced society. “Healthy To Go”® line of naturally antioxidant rich drink mixes is a convenient, nutritional solution for all to easily enjoy when we can’t eat all of the fruits and vegetables that we all know we should daily!

All of the Healthy To Go^® line contains 100% natural, antioxidant rich drink mixes, made with organic ingredients, in convenient stick packs, designed to pour directly into a water bottle. Operating under the philosophy, healthy nutrition supports a healthy body, the Healthy To Go^® product line includes: Go Greens Super Fruits and Veggies™, Acai Natural Energy Boost™, Green Tea Energy Fusion™, and the newest release, Berrie Crush.

Labels: beverages, cool new product, healthy living, Healthy To Go, To Go Brands

Before you say anything, let me go first. As far as fitness gear goes, the Sacro Wedgy is not exactly elegant, it has a stupid name, and its Web site

is so low-rent it looks almost pornographic.

Nevertheless, those in the know (read: those who can afford to see a private trainer once or twice a week) love this hot-pink plastic tool. And at $29, you can’t afford not to check out. No matter how many yoga classes you take or massages you book, it's still hard to open tight hips and release the pressure on the muscles and joints in your lower back and booty.

Enter Sacro Wedgy: Place the triangular pink mechanism midway under the sacrum (located at the base of your spine) and just lie there for up to 20 minutes on a hard surface. By minute two, you’ll notice your hips relax, your back loosen, and any pain in your glutes melt away. Seriously. If there’s a way to describe Sacro Wedgy bliss, "pornographic" comes to mind.

Thanks for the Find!

Labels: hip opener, new product, Sacro Wedgy, yoga

• Turn over a new leaf with mustard greens. The pungent and peppery veggie--best served braised--is packed with Vitamins A, C and K.

• Although asparagus is available year-round, you'll find them locally starting this season, says Newhouse. "Go for smaller stalks--they tend to be more tender and flavorful," he adds.

• Have your heart set on the artichoke? Now is your chance to pick up the bud, according to Newhouse. Simply steam and snack. The fiber-rich treat comes in at only 25 calories--assuming you hold the mayo.

• If you're craving something more unusual, seek out fiddleheads, says Newhouse. "They have a nice earthy flavor, similar to zucchini but stronger," he explains of the plant that grows in the northeast. Fry them up with a little olive and lemon zest.

Thanks Vital Juice!

Labels: artichokes, asparagus, eating healthy, in season, mustard greens, Nu-Kitchen, produce, vegetables

By Rachel Meltzer

Want to make a simple, good-for-you snack even more healthful? (Of course you do!)

Try boiled peanuts. This Southern specialty (available widely in those states and at nutsonline.com) has up to four times the disease-fighting phyto-chemicals of its dry-roasted, oil-roasted, and raw peanuts counterparts, according to Alabama A&M University food scientists. Researchers say that when whole peanuts are boiled in water, the kernels may absorb antioxidants from the shell (it's removed early on in other processing methods); heat may also help release these powerful compounds.

Source

Labels: boiled peanuts, healthy snacks, nutrition, Nuts, peanuts

They say it best:

Heartfelt Statement of Purpose....

A lot of us spend quite a lot of time working out. We run and swim, dance and kickbox. We lift weights and meditate and stand on our heads. We soak and steam ourselves, and drink coconut water. And it's good, and we wish we could do more. Sometimes we cry in yoga class, or punch the air at the end of a run, or smile quietly in dance class and vow to come back.

Social Workout is dedicated to celebrating those moments, and to helping more people have more of them. We worry that the deskbound, sleep deprived, over-served American body has it kind of rough, and -- outside of certain parts of California and New Mexico -- remains under-appreciated and under-expressed.

Hello "social" workout. We can't actually wake you up at 6:30am (yet), but we can guide you to an emergency spinning class on Saturday afternoon, and pass along intel about life saving personal trainers and/or surf-yoga retreats in Costa Rica. We might even be able to find you a workout buddy, or bring you together with the cutie on the elliptical. We can definitely help you download a workout podcast to your iPhone (for use on while traveling), and we plan to experiment recreationally on your behalf at the Vitamin Shoppe.

Whatever we do, we aim to do it online and with feeling, and to be nothing like the deathly, formulaic national "fitness" media. How many ways are there really to six pack abs?

SOCIAL WORKOUT

Labels: blog, cool new site, exercise, fitness, Social Workout

Some issues are black and white with carbs being a case in point. There are good carbs and bad carbs. Carbs low on the glycemic index (GI) are good and conversely those high on the scale aren't. High GI foods have been linked to a variety of problems, from acne to Alzheimer's as well as increasing your risk of type 2 diabetes.

New research shows that foods low on the glycemic index release a hormone in your gut to make you feel satiated, helping you avoid overeating. A rating of 50 or under on the index indicates a low GI food and a rating above 70 puts a food in the bad column. For instance, three ounces of soy beans rate 18 on the GI, but one ounce of a French baguette is 95. So choose foods with a low GI rating, like whole grain bread, which has a rating of 40 instead of white bread, which is rated 70.

Thanks FitSugar!

Labels: carbohydrates, diet, food, glycemic index, glycemic load, healthy eating, low carb

A "new" product is being dubbed the latest "miracle liquid". It's a degreaser, it cleans windows, it's nontoxic, it combats food pathogens, and it's so safe you can drink it. It's electrolyzed salt water, and people around the world are swearing by it.

Housekeepers at hotels, like the Sheraton in Santa Monica, CA, say they were skeptical at first, since it doesn't foam, make suds or stink, but they say it is cleaning up their toughest messes while sparing their lungs from the usual toxic cleaners. In Japan, they are using it to fill their swimming pools, because it's safer than chlorine and it costs about a penny per gallon to make. The drawback is a very short shelf-life, but some are saying this could be the elixir of the future. Minnesota food scientist Joellen Feirtag said she was skeptical, but now encourages food processors to use the water, because it kills E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other food pathogens. Yet it's gentle enough to soothe sunburns and acne. "This sounds too good to be true, which is really the biggest problem," said Feirtag. "But it's only a matter of time before this becomes mainstream."

Source

Labels: bottled water, cleaners, cool new product, electrolyzed salt water, living holistically, non-toxic, toxic

The NaTrue-Label provides guidance and reassurance to consumers worldwide.

It is:

• Quality driven: Highest standards in naturalness and performance
• Comprehensive: Distinction between Natural & Organic Cosmetics
• Open to all: Membership in NaTrue is not a condition for certification
• Not for profit: NaTrue’s sole interest is to provide guidance to consumers
• Transparent: Criteria are clear & publicly accessible

Source

Labels: certification, cosmetics, NaTrue Label, natural products, news, organic beauty, organics, personal care

Olestra: a.k.a. Olean is a synthetic fat found in some potato chips and prevents fat from getting absorbed in your digestive system. It can also inhibit vitamins found in fruits and vegetables from being absorbed.

Sodium nitrate: used to preserve color and flavor in meat products like bacon, ham, smoked fish and luncheon meats. This preservative prevents the growth of healthy bacteria and has also been linked to various types of cancer.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT): used to preserve foods like cereals, chewing gum and potato chips. Both are antioxidants that may cause cancer.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): an amino acid used to flavor soups, salad dressings and restaurant food. It can cause headaches and nausea and other health problems.

Most of these additives are used to preserve and enhance the flavor of packaged foods. You don’t need to eat bland food, but rather by eating fewer packaged foods and opting for ingredients you can pronounce like vegetables, whole grains and fruit you will maintain or improve your health.

Source

Labels: BHA, BHT, MSG, Olean, preservatives, sodium nitrate, toxic, toxins, unhealthy

Another innovative idea tapping into the popularity of bottled water but making it sustainable!

Part sustainable water company, part art project, part philanthropic project, and completely curious. Boxed Water Is Better, is a boxed water company.

Started with the simple idea of creating a new bottled water brand that is kinder to the environment and gives back a bit - we found that it shouldn't be bottled at all, but instead, boxed. So we looked to the past for inspiration in the century old beverage container and decided to keep things simple, sustainable, and beautiful.

About 90% of the Boxed Water container is made from a renewable resource, trees, that when harvested in a responsible, managed, and ethical way serve as an amazing renewable resource that benefits the environment even as it's renewed. We're also giving 20% of our profits back to the resources our product is composed of - water and trees. Not only does it simply make sense, but we really enjoy supporting water and forestation organizations as it's part of our company's ethos and way of thinking to give back and participate.

Read more...

Labels: bottled water, boxed water, cool new product, eco-friendly, innovative, sustainable

The fleshy green spears of asparagus are both succulent and tender and were a delicacy in ancient times. It arrives with the coming of spring and in California the first crops are picked as early as February, however, their season is considered to run from April through May. The growing season in the Midwest and East extends through July.

Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin K, the B vitamin folate, vitamin C, vitamin A. Asparagus is a very good source of numerous B vitamins - including vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B6 - as well as dietary fiber, manganese, copper, phosphorus, potassium and protein.

Did you know that your body requires folic acid (or folate) in order to replace all the cells lining your digestive tract every few days and all of your oxygen-carrying red blood cells every few months?

Folate also helps repair all wounded, aging or damaged cells, helps to keep the cells of your heart and nervous system in top form, and maintains the normal metabolism of homocysteine into harmless compounds (high levels of homocysteine are a marker for increased risk of heart disease). Plus, folate is essential for reproductive health since it forms the protective cells covering the cervix and is necessary for the formation of sperm as well as every cell of a growing fetus inside a pregnant woman. Asparagus provides 66% of the daily value for folate, which is just one of many reasons to include asparagus as part of your "Healthiest Way of Eating."

Read More ...

Labels: asparagus, folate, folic acid, healthy food, vegetable, veggie of the day

Fans of the Greek skincare line Korres are already familiar with its bounty of eco-chic skincare products formulated with 80-100% natural ingredients. Born out of Athens’ first-ever homeopathic pharmacy, the brand is not content with just being natural, however: By 2010, it intends to go totally organic, and as a precursor to this grand ambition, it has developed Materia Herba, the first organic-certified line in the Korres portfolio. Available for purchase next month exclusively at Sephora, the new face collection is based in a long-standing backlog of over 3,000 herbal remedies and utilizes highly effective organic actives, oils, and extracts for all of your cleansing, moisturizing, and antiaging needs. Chalk it up to another advancement in beauty, from the the founders of aesthetics.

Source

Labels: Korres, Materia Herba, new product, organic beauty, organic skin care, skin care

Poor posture can lead to many overuse injuries and, on the vanity side of things, make you look shorter and 10 pounds heavier.

Since none of us can afford to have a Pilates instructor poke our spines into place 24/7, two physicians collaborated on the iPosture ($65). It is a small device that you clip to your bra, wear on a necklace, or stick on your upper chest with adhesive that vibrates when you slouch.

Surprisingly effective, the little electronic device, a bit over inch in diameter and practically weightless, contains a nanosensor. You set iPosture once you are in your desired posture, and when you deviate three degrees from that posture, the device vibrates, reminding you to correct.

As you can see, it's quite small. The iPosture is so unobtrusive, you don't feel it until you slump and the gizmo vibrates. The vibration is completely quiet, so nobody can hear it.

If you suffer from back, neck, wrist, or shoulder pain, iPosture can help by teaching you to stand and sit correctly. You can buy the device here. $65 seems like a lot for such a simple device, but not when you consider that the going rate in SF for a 55-minute session with an experienced rehab specialist Pilates instructor is $75 to $85.

Thanks Fitsugar!

Labels: cool new product, innovative, iPosture, Pilates, posture

"Eating a variety of fruit together provides more health benefits than eating one fruit alone," says Bowerman. "Studies have shown that the antioxidant effects of consuming a combination of fruits are more than additive but synergistic." In fact, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition by Rui Hai Liu, PhD, from Cornell University's department of food science, looked at the antioxidant capacity of various fruits individually (apples, oranges, blueberries, grapes) versus the same amount of a mixture of fruits, and found that the mix had a greater antioxidant response.

According to the study, this effect explains why "no single antioxidant can replace the combination of natural phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables." The author also recommends eating five to 10 servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables daily to reduce disease risks, as opposed to relying on expensive dietary supplements for these compounds. "There are a huge number of compounds yet to be identified," adds Jacobs.

Source

Labels: antioxidants, fruit salad, fruits, fruits and veggies, healthy diet, nutrition, phytochemicals

With Beauty In Toxins Out Natural Beauty Collection, his new body care collection, Manhattan-based physician Dennis Gross is making a move few other clinical dermatologists do: heading into natural products.

“We felt that pursuing natural ingredients as antidotes to environmental aggressors made sense,” said Gross, who along with wife Carrie Gross, the firm’s president and CEO, runs the brand. “Our reality is that skin is bombarded daily with environmental pollutants and impurities of all types. We’d like to help reverse the damage done by these pollutants without adding more unnecessary chemicals to the mix.”

The line, which is vegan-friendly and free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, petroleum, mineral oil and paraffin, replaces harsher ingredients with those found in nature, said Dennis Gross. “There are a number of natural alternatives to these chemicals,” he said. “For instance, we’ve used blueberry seed for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, papaya as a gentle exfoliator and tea tree oil for its healing properties.”

The line includes five products. Antioxidant Enzyme Buff with Berry Seeds and Dead Sea Salt, $57 for 14.1 oz., uses cranberry seed for its polyphenols, blueberry seed for its anti-inflammatory properties and kelp for its iodine and amino acid content. Creamy Cleansing Polish with Jojoba Beads, $38 for 6.7 oz., is intended to exfoliate and moisturize skin with a cocktail of pomegranate, papaya, kelp and sweet almond oil, with tetrasodium EDTA as a chelating agent to prevent minerals from bonding to any of the other ingredients. Hydrating Body Emulsion with Aloe, $36 for 6.7 oz., uses sweet almond, jojoba seed, evening primrose, ylang-ylang and lavender oils with grape-seed extract and aloe leaf juice to moisturize, soften and soothe the skin.

Full article

Labels: blueberries, Dr. Dennis Gross, MD Skincare, natural products, new product, paraben-free, polyphenols, skin care

STRAIN	TARGETS	HOW IT WORKS	PRODUCT PICK	HOW MUCH?
Acidophilus CL 1285	Overall digestion	Balances gut flora	Bio K+CL 1285 Original Fermented Milk	Contains 100 billion CFUs* per 3.5-oz. bottle. Drink 1/4-1 bottle/day.
L. acidophilus DDS-1	Stomach cramps and gas triggered by lactose intolerance	Produces enzyme lactase and hydrogen peroxide	Natren Mega Vegi-Dophilus	Contains 2 billion CFUs per teaspoon. Start with 1/8 tsp/day and increase to 1 tsp/day.
L. rhamnosus GG	Immune system	Balances gut flora; inhibits growth of harmful bacteria	Culturelle	Contains 10 billion CFUs per capsule. Take one daily.
L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14	Vaginal yeast infections	Inhibits bacteria growth and yeast	Jarrow Fem-Dophilus	Contains 5 billion CFUs per capsule. Take one daily; increase to 2/day as needed.
L. plantarum 299v	Pain and constipation associated with IBS	Balances gut flora	Good Belly Multi-Probiotic Fruit Drink	Contains 20 billion CFUs per 2.7-oz. container. Drink one daily.
Saccharomyces boulardii	Antibiotic-provoked diarrhea	Balances gut flora	Florastor	Contains 5 billion CFUs per capsule. Take 6/day.
*Colony forming units Source

Labels: bacteria, digestion, healthy living, Holistic Health, Probiotics

Tuina (Tui Na) is an Oriental Bodywork Therapy that has been used in China for 2,000 years. Tuina (Tui Na) uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of massage and manipulation techniques Tuina (Tui Na) seeks to establish a more harmonious flow of Qi through the system of channels and collaterals, allowing the body the naturally heal itself.

Tuina (Tui Na) methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to directly affect the flow of Qi , and manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships (bone-setting). External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.

In a typical session, the client, wearing loose clothing and no shoes, lies on a table or floor mat. The practitioner examines the specific problems of the client and begins to apply a specific treatment protocol. The major focus of application is upon specific pain sites, acupressure points, energy meridians, and muscles and joints. Advanced Tuina (Tui Na) practitioners may also use Chinese herbs to facilitate quicker healing. Sessions last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Depending on the specific problems of the client, they may return for additional treatments. The client usually feels relaxed but energized by the treatment.

Click here for more information.

Labels: acupressure, chi flow, Chinese Herbal Healing, herbs, holistic healing, massage, Qi, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tui Na, Tuina

No, the different types of oatmeal are not at all the same in terms of nutrition. The very outermost portion of the oat-called the hull-is always removed before the oat is eaten. However, once the hull has been removed, there are several further processing steps that can be taken. Because these additional processing steps almost always serve to lower the nutritional value of the oats, I recommend the least number of additional processing steps to give yourself the best nourishment possible from your oats. The least processed forms for oats are oat groats and steel-cut oats. Oat groats consist of the hulled but unflattened and unchopped oat kernels. Steel-cut oats are the same as oat groats, except for being chopped with steel blades. Because they are the least processed, these two forms of oats are also the most nutritious.

Old-fashioned oats are chopped, steamed, and rolled to give them their flatter shape. Because they are more processed, they are less nourishing than oat groats or steel-cut oats. However, they are still better sources of nourishment than most quick-cooking oats or instant oatmeals. Quick and instant oatmeal usually have their oat bran-the layer of the grain that's just beneath the hull-removed. Many vitamins and much of the oat's fiber are contained within the bran, and so its removal is particularly problematic when it comes to nutritional value. Oat groats, steel-cut oats, and, to a slightly lesser extent, old-fashioned or rolled oats would be your best choices here, with quick and instant oatmeal usually being less nourishing due to further processing and the removal of their bran.

Source

Labels: breakfast, cereal, healthy food, nutrition, oat groats, oatmeal, rolled oats, steel cut oats

Fill a saucepan with enough cold water to cover your egg. If the egg floats then it is too old and should be thrown away. Remove the egg, and turn on the heat, bringing the water to a strong rolling boil. If you put the lid on the pan it will boil more quickly, saving you time and money.

Take the lid off and reduce the heat to a simmer. Place your eggs in the water and let them simmer for... Well it depends on the size of the egg and how hard or runny you like them.

4 minutes is usually the minimum for a small soft boiled egg and a large hard boiled egg can take about 12 minutes. Somewhere in between is your perfect egg.

If you want a hard boiled egg but intend to eat it later on in the day, you should cool it rapidly under a tap. If a hard boiled egg cools slowly it sometimes gets a totally harmless but unappealing green colour around the yolk.

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Labels: eggs, hard boiled eggs, healthy food

Muscle tissue is more dense than fat tissue, so it takes up less space. When you lose fat and gain muscle your body measurements will change, like waist circumference, even though your weight doesn't.

Muscle also requires more energy and therefore burns more calories than fat. Meaning the more muscle mass you have the faster your metabolism, which is great. If you're looking to lose weight, I think you should alter your goal to change your body composition. Keep on exercising and counting calories, since that is how you effectively lose weight. Make sure to keep your caloric intake above 1200 calories, because if you go under your body goes into famine mode and holds onto fat. Measure your progress by how your clothes feel and remember, the slower you lose weight — two pounds maximum a week — the higher the chances you will keep it off.

Thanks Fit!

Labels: exercise, Fat, metabolism, muscle vs. fat, muscles

Labels: hair, hair-care, healthy hair, herbs, natural products, organic beauty

For thousands of years, ginseng root has been one of the most popular and revered medicinal herbs in Asia. True ginseng, which goes by the scientific name Panax ginseng, is believed to have a rejuvenating effect on the whole body. In fact, the botanical/genus name Panax means “all-heal” in Greek, sharing the same origin as the word “panacea.”

The Chinese word for ginseng literally means “man root” because of the root’s characteristic forked shape that resemble the legs of a human. In Chinese mythology, Ginseng represents the human form, and has both physical and spiritual attributes. To learn more about this fascinating herb, download this article “Demystifying Ginseng.”

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Labels: Chinese Herbal Healing, ginseng, herbs, holistic healing, Panax ginseng, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Although the evidence is strong that dairy-product consumption doesn't prevent osteoporosis, simply eliminating dairy products does not ensure strong bones.

It pays to put some thought into keeping your bones healthy. Studies have shown that the following factors are helpful in building and maintaining strong bones:

• Getting plenty of exercise. Studies have concluded that physical exercise is the key to building strong bones (it's more important than any other factor). For example, a study published in the British Medical Journal that followed 1,400 men and women over a 15-year period found that exercise may be the best protection against hip fractures and that "reduced intake of dietary calcium does not seem to be a risk factor." And Penn State University researchers found that bone density is significantly affected by how much exercise girls get during their teen years, when 40 to 50 percent of their skeletal mass is formed.

• Getting enough vitamin D. If you don't spend any time in the sun (about 15 minutes on the face and arms each day is enough), be sure to take a supplement or eat fortified foods.

• Eliminating animal protein. For a variety of reasons, animal protein causes severe bone deterioration.

• Limiting salt intake. Sodium leaches calcium out of the bones.

• Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. They contain vitamin C, which is essential for building collagen, the underlying bonematrix.

• Not smoking. Studies have shown that women who smoke one pack of cigarettes a day have 5 to 10 percent less bone density at menopause than nonsmokers.

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Labels: bones, Dairy, exercise, fruits and veggies, healthy diet, milk, osteoporosis, strong bones, Vitamin D

The cacao bean, from which chocolate is made, is devilishly complex, containing more than 400 chemicals. Many of them can affect human biology and health. Whether chocolate is good or bad for you depends largely on the type of chocolate and the amount you consume.

Fats. About a third of the fat in cocoa butter is oleic acid, the very same monounsaturated fat that gives olive oil its good name. Another third is stearic acid; it is a saturated fat, but unlike the three other saturated fats in the human diet, stearic acid does not raise cholesterol levels because the body can metabolize it to oleic acid. And while chocolate also contains some palmitic acid, a saturated fat that does boost cholesterol, careful studies show that eating chocolate does not raise blood cholesterol levels.

Flavonoids. The humble cacao bean contains a number of chemicals in the flavonoid family. Polyphenols protect chocolate from turning rancid, even without refrigeration. Even more important are the flavanols, a group of chemicals that are responsible for many of the protective actions of chocolate. Flavanols are present in many healthful foods—like apples, cherries, and black tea—but dark chocolate is the richest source.

Amino acids. Chocolate is high in tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. Like other amino acids, these nitrogen-rich compounds are the building blocks of all the body’s proteins. But two of these amino acids have a unique property: they are precursors of adrenaline, a “stress hormone,” and dopamine, a neurotransmitter that relays signals between nerve cells in the brain. Scientists postulate that dopamine induces feelings of pleasure. But these chemicals may also explain some of the adverse effects of chocolate, including its ability to trigger headaches in some migraine sufferers, its ability to raise blood pressure to dangerous levels in some patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression, and its ability to instigate diarrhea, wheezing, and flushing in patients with carcinoid tumors, which are rare.

Methylxanthine. Chocolate contains two members of this group of chemicals. One is obscure, the other notorious — but both theobromine and caffeine have similar effects on the body. They may explain why chocolate makes some hearts beat faster — and why it gives many people heartburn by relaxing the muscle between the stomach and the esophagus, thus allowing acid to reflux up from the stomach into the sensitive “food pipe.”

From lab to life

International experiments show that dark chocolate has an impressive array of activities: it is an antioxidant that may improve your cholesterol; it improves endothelial function and may lower your blood pressure; it is a sweet that may lower your blood sugar; and its antiplatelet activities could reduce your chances of developing an artery-blocking clot. Taken together, these properties could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. But all of these hopeful results are based on short-term experiments in a small number of volunteers. Do these bits and pieces of data apply to real life? Perhaps.

Research suggests that chocolate may indeed have a role in promoting vascular health, but the devil is in the details. The first consideration is the type of chocolate. Dark chocolate appears beneficial, but milk chocolate, white chocolate, and other varieties do not. The second issue is calories. Most trials have used 100 grams of dark chocolate, the equivalent of eating about one-and-a-half chocolate bars of typical size. If you ate that much every day, you’d pack in more than 500 extra calories, enough to gain a pound a week.

If you’re a chocolate lover, choose dark chocolate; the first listed ingredient should be cocoa or chocolate liquor, not sugar. Limit yourself to a few ounces a day, and cut calories elsewhere to keep your weight in line.

For more information about how food affects your health, order Special Health Report, Healthy Eating: A guide to the new nutrition, at www.health.harvard.edu/HE.

Source

Labels: chocolate, cocoa, dark chocolate, flavonols, healthy food, oleic acid, polyphenols

There are eight B Vitamins to be exact, and they help maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, enhance your immune and nervous system functions, and promote cell growth and division.

They are water-soluble vitamins which means that your body can't store them. They need to be replenished daily because whatever the body doesn't use, gets flushed out in your urine.

The eight B vitamins are B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12 - and they all have other names that you're probably more familiar with.

Most people get these vitamins in the food they eat. If you have food restrictions, whether you don't eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or whole grains for whatever reason, you may need to take supplements.

Vitamin	Benefits	Food Sources	RDA for women 19+
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)	Helps the body convert carbohydrates and fat into energy; essential for normal growth and development; helps to maintain proper functioning of the heart and the nervous and digestive systems	Green peas, spinach, liver, beef, pork, navy beans, pinto beans, soybeans, nuts, bananas, whole grain and enriched cereals, and breads	1.4 mg/day
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	Required by the body for the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins; helps with cellular processes	Asparagus, okra, chard, almonds, leafy greens, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, meat, eggs, and fish	1.2 mg/day

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	Necessary for energy metabolism in cells; DNA repair; produces several sex and stress-related hormones that are produced by the adrenal gland; helps remove toxins and chemicals from the body	Chicken, beef, tuna, salmon, milk, eggs, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, dates, sweet potatoes, asparagus, avocados, nuts, whole grains, beans, mushrooms, nutritional yeast	14 mg/day
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)	Required to sustain life; is critical in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins	Whole grain cereals, beans, eggs, meat, some energy drinks	5 mg/day
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine and Pyridoxamine)	Help enzymes do their job in the body; helps the nervous and immune systems function properly; necessary for overall good health	Nuts, liver, chicken, fish, green beans, salad greens, wheat germ, nutritional yeast, sea vegetables, and bananas	1.3 mg/day
Vitamin B7 (Biotin or Vitamin H)	Used in cell growth; the production of fatty acid; metabolism of fat; plays a role in the Krebs Cycle in which energy is released from food; helps with the transfer of carbon dioxide; helps maintain a steady blood sugar level; found in many cosmetic products to help with your skin and hair	Beans, nutritional yeast, cauliflower, chocolate, egg yolks, fish, liver, meat, molasses, dairy products, nuts, oatmeal, oysters, peanut butter, bananas, soy products, mushrooms, wheat germ, and whole grains	300 mcg/day
Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)	Helps the body make healthy new cells; taken before and during pregnancy can help prevent major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine	Leafy greens such as spinach, dried beans and peas, sunflower seeds, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, liver, enriched cereal	400 mcg/day
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)	Necessary for the synthesis of red blood cells, the maintenance of the nervous system, and the growth and development of children	Animal products such as meat, eggs, dairy products, nutritional yeast, and fortified cereals	6 mcg/day

Labels: b-vitamins, balanced diet, Dairy, eating healthy, eggs, FitSugar, supplements, Vitamins, Whole grains