What is the leading killer in America? Heart disease; it’s the number one cause of death in the United States. The sad part is that you can prevent heart disease simply by watching your diet. With hectic work schedules and the popularity of fast food restaurants, it’s no surprise that the average American is overweight. So it’s time to say NO to those greasy fries and walk the path towards better health.

Eating Healthy

One can always lower their chance of getting heart disease by choosing their foods more wisely. For a healthier heart one should eat:

Less Sodium: Although we need some sodium in our diets, most of us consume too much of it. Eating less salt helps lower blood pressure, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease. So, avoid adding unnecessary salt to foods and steel clear of prepackaged salty snacks.

More Fiber: You may lower your chances of getting heart disease by eating fiber from grains, fruits and vegetables.

Fewer Calories: When we eat more calories than necessary, we gain weight – yes, even if the food is fat free. Being overweight can cause heart disease. Therefore, try to keep your weight down to normal levels, by keeping it proportional to your height.

Less Fat: Some fats are more likely to cause heart disease than others. Avoid fats found in animal meat, milk, cheese, butter, and foods with palm, vegetable and coconut oils. Instead, opt for unsaturated and heart-friendly omega3 fats, found in nuts, avocados, olive oil, and salmon

Tips for a Healthy Heart

Basically, maintain a diet that is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt, and try to consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean chicken, and heart-friendly fish, nuts, and olive oil.

Eating this way does not mean you must spend more time preparing special foods, nor should you have to spend more money. The only thing you must do is change your shopping habits and buy healthier products. Here is a list of substitutes that will definitely improve your diet:

# Instead of fatty cuts of meat (i.e. prime rib), eat lean cuts of meat, or cut off the fatty parts of the meat.

# Instead of smoked, cured, salted, and canned meat, poultry and fish,
try unsalted fresh or frozen meat, poultry and fish.
# Instead of fried foods, eat steamed, boiled, broiled, or baked foods.

# Instead of cooking with lard, butter, palm, coconut oils,
and shortenings, use olive oil.
# Instead of one whole egg in recipes, use two egg whites and discard the yolk.

# Instead of whole or 2% milk and cream, try 1% or skim milk.

# Instead of salted potato chips and other oily snacks, choose low-fat, unsalted corn chips or unsalted pretzels or low fat popcorn.

# Instead of crackers with salted tops, eat unsalted or low-sodium whole-wheat crackers.

# Instead of sauces, butter and salt, try seasoning vegetables with herbs and spices.

# Instead of white bread, white rice and cereals made with white flour, try whole-wheat bread, whole-grain cereals, and long-grain rice.

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Research studies show fish oil benefits are down right amazing.

And knowing this is the second most important thing you can do for your health. (We’ll get to #1 in importance soon.)

Studies are published almost daily as the scientific community discovers more and more of the many extraordinary omega 3 fish oil benefits.

If you haven’t already been swept up in the net yet, here are 7 proven omega 3 benefits you should know about.

1. Less Pain and Inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, have a very positive effect on your inflammatory response. Through several mechanisms, they regulate your body’s inflammation cycle, which prevents and relieves painful conditions like arthritis, prostatitis, cystitis and anything else ending in “itis.”

2. Cardiovascular Health. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been proven to work wonders for your heart and the miles and miles of arteries and veins that make up your cardiovascular system. They help to lower cholesterol, tryglicerides, LDLs and blood pressure, while at the same time increasing good HDL cholesterol. This adds years to your life expectancy.

3. Protection from Stroke and Heart Attack. When plaque builds up on arterial walls and then breaks loose, it causes what’s known as a thrombosis, which is a fancy way of saying clot. If a clot gets stuck in the brain, it causes a stroke and when it plugs an artery, it causes a heart attack. Research shows omega 3 fatty acids break up clots before they can cause any damage.

4. Better Brain Function and Higher Intelligence. Pregnant and nursing mothers can have a great impact on the intelligence and happiness of their babies by supplementing with fish oil. For adults, omega 3 improves memory, recall, reasoning and focus. You’ll swear you’re getting younger and smarter.

5. Less Depression and Psychosis. Making you smarter is not all omega 3 does for your brain. Psychiatry department researchers at the University of Sheffield, along with many other research studies, found that omega 3 fish oil supplements “alleviate” the symptoms of depression, bipolar and psychosis (Journal of Affective Disorder Vol. 48(2-3);149-55).

6. Lower Incidence of Childhood Disorders. Just to show how fish oil fatty acids leave nobody out, studies show that children (and adults) with ADD and ADHD experience a greatly improved quality of life. And those with dyslexia, dyspraxia and compulsive disorders have gotten a new lease on life thanks to omega 3 oils.

7. Reduction of Breast, Colon and Prostate Cancer. And finally, omega 3 fish oil has been shown to help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer – breast, colon and prostate. Science tells us that omega 3s accomplish this in three ways. They stop the alteration from a normal healthy cell to a cancerous mass, inhibiting unwanted cellular growth and causing apoptosis, or cellular death, of cancer cells.

So you can see why knowing these benefits is the second most important thing you can do for your health. Can you guess what number one is?

That’s right! Now it’s time to put your knowledge to work. Eat more cold water oily fish and start taking good quality pure omega 3 fish oil supplements regularly.

Copyright by Michael Byrd. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Byrd

The U.S. cosmetics industry raked in more than $32 billion in 2004, with sales of skin care products bringing in the largest share — more than $8 billion. Americans are shelling out big bucks for expensive cosmetics to treat skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and dryness, but most consumers are overlooking the cheapest, safest and most effective remedies: healing foods.

A host of healthy, natural foods offer potent healing and preventative powers to remedy a wide range of skin troubles. These foods can dramatically improve skin for a fraction of the price of costly cosmetics or dermatologist visits:

1. Green Tea

– Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols — compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals.Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea — EGCG — also acts as a “fountain of youth” of sorts for skin by reactivating dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

2. Salmon

– Salmon — along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed — is high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin.Increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods such as salmon will help keep the skin supple and youthful. A 1:1 ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s is ideal, but the ratio in the typical American diet is more like 20:1, so boosting consumption of salmon and other oily fish can help bring that ratio closer to 1:1. Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.

3. Blueberries

– Blueberries are considered by many experts to be the highest food source of antioxidants, which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant sources of nutrition) in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage. When skin cells are protected from damage and disintegration, the skin looks younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin.

4. Carrots

– Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a required nutrient for healthy skin. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, which prevent free radical damage of skin cells. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

5. Water

– Drinking plenty of water — at least your individual minimum intake — will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Water in caffeinated or sugary beverages does not count; water intake must be from pure, clean water, which rejuvenates skin cells. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. Nutrition expert Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, says when the body is properly hydrated, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear.

In addition to consuming therapeutic quantities of green tea, salmon, blueberries, carrots and water, consumers should avoid certain foods that trigger bad skin reactions. Such ingredients include sugar, white flour, saturated fats and fried foods, which are especially bad for the skin, since they can trap oil and bacteria beneath the skin, causing acne and other skin ailments.

The skin is considered the outside indicator of inside health, and putting expensive creams, lotions and treatments on the outside of the skin can’t alleviate problems that stem from inner nutritional deficiencies. Consuming the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can reveal beautiful, youthful-looking skin without the high price tag of expensive cosmetics.

Note from Mike Adams: An important “overlay” factor on all this concerns raw foods versus cooked foods. Raw food juicing is the surest way to healthy skin, and I recommend juicing fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a Vitamix to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows. On the other hand, those who eat mostly processed, refined or cooked foods have skin that ages rapidly. So be sure to include raw food smoothies in your diet on a daily basis if you want great looking skin!

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A good skin care product should contain immune supporting substance, Norwegian Beta 1,3/1,6 Glucan. This substance is extracted from from the cell wall of baker’s yeast. This main ingredient can be applied directly to the skin in order to fight the effects of aging on the epidermis and help your skin repair, regenerate and rejuvenate. By applying it daily, it offers your skin a chance to defend itself from the harmful effects of the environment and keep your skin looking vibrant, healthy and beautiful.

Skin Care is not just another cosmetic. Traditional cosmetics only do two things: moisturize skin and remove dead skin. A good skin care product actually enhances your skins ability to strengthen and build-up immunity to harsh effects and daily adversities that take their toll on ones skin.

Through amazing biotechnology, science has made the power of anti aging skin care supplements possible. As an active anti-wrinkle treatment, facial skin care should be applied twice daily to the face and neck AM and PM. Be sure to cleanse the skin before any application. For skin irritations and sun damaged skin apply to desired area twice per day.

Even with all the information and products available, caring for skin turns out to be complicated and time testing activity. One needs to have serious patience, timeliness and decipline to be able to consistantly take care of their own skin.

Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a vital, active, and healthy lifestyle. For information and products on alternative health supplements and other life-enhancing nutrients.

Source – By Steve A Johnson

As we get older however, we start to grow unsightly body hair that adds a few years to our age. I guess I’m lucky that I am one of those guys who don’t have to shave my chest. If you’re one of the guys who’s tired of shaving and maintaining, you should consider laser hair removal. They can remove hair from your legs, chest, and even full body hair removal. You can go for a trial and do a test patch to see how well your body responds to it and then decide. Living in the New York area just doubles your chances, simply go online and search for “laser hair removal NYC“. You will be presented a lot of options within your area.

The process is really simple using IPL also known as Intense Pulse Light. Simply imagine not having to shave body hair forever. Women have the same problems as men and most of them typically get this done more than men do. If you’re a woman and tired of removing unwanted body hair, live in the New York area… it’s time to get it done in one shot and forget about it. It’s a permanent hair removal. Click here to find places that offer Laser Hair Removal NYC.

• Thinning skin
  The skin under the eyes is thin and delicate to begin with. As we age, skin and the fat pad under the eyes becomes thinner, causing blood vessels to become noticeable. This gives the appearance of dark circles. Sun damage can make it worse because it weakens skin.
• Allergies and Hayfever
  Dark circles under the eyes can be the result of allergies to airborne substances, such as pollen, dust, and pet dander, because people rub their itchy eyes. People with hayfever may notice them at the height of the season. Food allergies or sensitivities can also contribute to dark circles.

• Genetics
  Dark circles under the eyes runs in families. They tend to be more noticeable in people with fair skin or deep-set eyes.
• Fluid Retention
  Blood vessels under the eyes can become dilated and engorged, which can contribute to dark circles. Excess dietary salt and smoking are common causes. Conditions that cause fluid retention (e.g. heart, thyroid, kidney, liver diseases) or medications that cause blood vessel dilation may be a factor. Your doctor should be aware of any symptoms you’re experiencing.
• Lack of sleep
  A lack of sleep can make skin appear more pale, which allows blood vessels to be more visible through the skin, giving the appearance of bluish or dark circles.
• Iron Deficiency Anemia
  Iron deficiency anemia may cause a bluish tinge below the eyes.
• Dehydration
  Dark circles under the eyes can be a sign of dehydration.

Remedies for Dark Circles Under the Eyes

There are some home remedies that may help to temporarily diminish the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, and prevent dark circles from worsening.

1. Be sure to drink enough water.

2. Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 under the eyes to prevent skin weakening caused by sun damage.

3. Get plenty of rest.

4. Apply plain cool teabags over closed eyes. Don’t use herbal teabags, because most aren’t as effective.

5. Apply cool cucumber slices over closed eyes for 15 minutes.

6. Be careful not to consume too much dietary salt. Start by learning about sources of sodium in the diet.

7. Apply vitamin K cream. Although studies haven’t looked at the use of topical vitamin K for dark circles under the eyes, preliminary studies have found that vitamin K may help with bruising.

8. Vitamin C helps to strengthen blood vessel walls.

9. The dietary supplements grape seed extract and pycnogenol contain antioxidant pigments that may help to strengthen blood vessels. They should be used under medical supervision by people on “blood-thinning” drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) and aspirin.

Certain foods, such as cranberries, blueberries, bilberries, tea (green and black), black currant, onions, legumes, and parsley also contain these antioxidant pigments.

10. Eat kidney-balancing foods. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a bluish cast under the eyes are due to an imbalance in kidney energy.

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Yoga Therapist

Yoga is an effective protocol for preventing and treating varicose veins. The posture that is known to be clinically most effective in both cases is sarvangasana, the shoulder stand (shown), where the legs are inverted and the pressure of gravity is reversed. In this pose, the blood and the lymph drain from the lower extremities back to the heart, thereby reducing the pressure of the pooled blood in the veins. Do this pose once daily. with a recommended holding time of about three to five minutes. When you stand up, movement of these fluids in the legs is greatly improved.

People with limited range of motion or high blood pressure should do the modified version of the shoulder stand: Lie on the floor and place your legs in an inverted position on the flat surface of a wall. If necessary, a small pillow or rolled towel can be placed under your neck for comfort and support.

–Nirmala Heriza, cardiac yoga therapist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, Calif., and author of Dr. Yoga

Naturopath

Varicose veins can only form if there’s weakness in blood-vessel walls, or if there’s significant pressure within the vein to overwhelm healthy vessels. By strengthening the vessel walls, which are made of smooth muscle and connective tissue, you decrease the likelihood they will dilate or distend. Build up connective tissue and shrink existing varicose veins by taking 2 to 3 grams of vitamin C and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E daily (if you have a clotting disorder or take blood thinners, check with a doctor about vitamin E dosage). Botanicals such as horse chestnut, bilberry, butcher’s broom, and grape-seed extract fortify connective tissue, while fruits like blueberries, elderberries, and cherries contain antioxidants that strengthen vein walls.

I remember my aunt. She would switch from one skin care product to another, depending on who told her last or who made the best impression on her. She cared less on knowing the causes of her sagging skin. Soon, she ended up spending lots of money on ineffective regimens.

Your skin begins to lose its original firmness and elasticity because the various dermal tissues have become weaker. They could no longer carry the extra weight of fatty tissues found beneath, considering that gravity continues to pull your skin downwards. Being unable to return to original shape, lines and skin folds begin to appear and they stay there more permanently unless you do something to treat them.

So, what makes your skin firm and elastic?

I suppose you know a little about collagen. Collagen is a specific body protein type produced by the body. It is commonly found in your skin, ligaments and bones. It combines with elastin, yet another protein type, to form collagen bundles.

These bundles provide cellular membranes their tensile strength. Without those bundles, the dermal layers found above become loose, eventually leading to skin sagging and formation of wrinkles.

Many factors cause this. Among them are natural aging process, smoking, malnutrition and free radicals. While we may not stop our body from growing old, we can stop, however, the appearance of aging. Of course, you also need to overhaul your lifestyle and food habits.

Having said these, I now share these helpful tips on how to tighten sagging skin. It is so simple that only need to find skin care products that should contain specific natural substances, such as Cynergy TK, Phytessence Wakame and Coenzyme Q10.

Cynergy TK is derived from the sheep wool raised in New Zealand. It contains Functional Keratin that is essential in providing strong cellular walls, among other functions. Cynergy TK is also widely known to help the body increase its collagen molecules.

Phytessence Wakame is exotic kelp grown naturally in Japan Sea. It has the highest concentration of Hyaluronic acid, which provides the necessary element in order for collagen and elastin bind together. It also contains anti-oxidants that help us fight free radicals inside the body.

Treating your skin condition means acting now. Nourish your skin with these natural substances. They provide lasting answers to your question on how to tighten sagging skin.

And to help you get clearer and younger looking skin, I will like to share with you one anti aging skin care range that I found contains more active ingredients than any other cream on the market. These ingredients are effective moisturizers, because they penetrate deeply and “nourish”. So, they never feel greasy.

I have never seen any other natural products that is as good and report no negative or adverse effects. They are hypo-allergenic, fragrance free and can be used on any skin-type. For more information, come visit http://www.goodhealthyskin.com now.

Fox News Couldn’t Agree More! The Fox News Morning Show spotlights the rejuvenating power of anti-aging skin care recipes in our new book Naturally Skinsational ~ Rejuvenating Skin Care Recipes:

Neutraceuticals use the natural healing, medicinal and rejuvenating attributes of all natural organic ingredients in facial and body treatments.

But ancient civilizations already knew that. . .

• It is said that one of Cleopatra’s favorite natural skin care recipes was a regular soak in a rose petal and milk bath to keep her skin soft. Ancient civilizations used a variety of natural resources as organic skin care treatments, honey among the most notable.
• As with many common pantry items, honey has a long history as a natural skin care moisturizer and has been used throughout the centuries, particularly by the Greeks.
  The classical beauties of that time used honey as an organic skin care treatment to keep the skin subtle and young looking.
• Dairy products were known to be a favorite of the English gentry and many other cultures.
• Olive oil was a secret Italian natural skin care recipe ingredient.

The skin care industry has capitalized on natural ingredients as a base for many rejuvenating natural skin products ranging from exfoliators and toners to moisturizers that treat a variety of conditions including aging skin. Although, preparing your own organic skin care treatments can be just as effective and represent quite a cost savings.

Unfortunately, there are certain things that aging doesn’t do gracefully.  I remember when I was younger – I did have less body hair than I used to.  For men, hair grows in all kinds of places in our bodies where they weren’t before.  Even as a teen, I used to brag about my smooth chest and to this day, it has remained that way.  For some men, body hair has been part of their lives and in order to be sanitary, they either have to shave a lot or trim unwanted body hair.

There is one procedure that has been out there that has helped thousands of people get rid of unwanted body hair. It is called laser hair removal. If you haven’t read up on it, you should. It’s the safest way to rid your body of unwanted hair – either you simply wanted to have a smooth body or you want to remove hair from unwanted places. I take it that if you’re a woman, you wouldn’t want hair on your face. If you’re a man, you may want you have hair on your back permanently removed.

It’s easy to find a place or clinic that perform these services. Simply go online and do a search. Let’s say for example, you live in New York City. Simply enter the keyword search like this, “laser hair removal new york” and you will be presented with a lot of locations who perform the procedure.

By entering the search criteria of “laser hair removal in new york“, it is easy to locate clinics within the specific locations you are looking for. In NYC for example, you may be presented with locations in uptown, midtown or downtown New York City. Just pick the place that is most convenient for you and schedule a patch test. The test is to find out how your body will react to laser treatment without having to go through the whole procedure immediately.

If you’re one of the people who’s trying to find a solution to remove unwanted hair, try laser hair removal. It may work well for you.