Posts Tagged ‘Alternative Medicine’

Smoking and Cellulite

Monday, April 27th, 2009
by El Bilson

You may have wondered if smoking and cellulite go hand in hand. Smoking is one of the most widely practiced bad habits in the United States. The habit slowly destroys your lungs and leaves you at greater risk for many types of cancers. And while smoking can cause issues with all organs of the body, it also deteriorates the quality of your skin.

Cigarette smoke contains various toxic chemicals – among them, cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, acetylene (the fuel used in welding torches), and ammonia. Each of the chemicals are harmful to the body. Some of them are lethal if consumed in any other form, so its no surprise that these toxins can lead to skin problems including cellulite.

Smoking can be very harmful to the skin. One of the ways smoking damages your skin is by affecting collagen. Collagen is the main structural protein of the skin. It provides the necessary structure to keep skin firm and taut. Collagen is also a component of everything from blood vessels to organs. Naturally as a person ages, the cells of the body gradually produces less collagen. Smoking accelerates the breakdown of collagen in the skin and in the body. Collagen breakdown starts at a younger age and a faster rate for regular smokers.

Smoking also affects the bodys production of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a compound produced in the body that adds fullness and tautness to the skin. It helps prevent the hollow look that is often seen in older skin. It works by helping the cells retain moisture. As with collagen, the body naturally produces less hyaluronic acid as it ages. But the free radicals that are either present in cigarette smoke breaks down the chains of hyaluronic acid, leading to skin that is more dry and haggard-looking.

The problems of collagen and hyaluronic acid loss have great effects on cellulite. Firm skin is able to retain moisture and will be able to better hide the fat that cellulite exists on the body. Think of skin like fabric. Healthy skin is like denim, and can better hide cellulite infected thighs. But skin that has been ravaged by years of smoking is more like spandex – stretchy, weak, and shows everything!

Smoking also affects the quality of the blood and lymphatic vessels. This is due to the fact that both compounds are major components in the pipes that support our blood and lymphatic fluids. Smoking damages the vessels in our body, making them less able to transport nutrients to the organs that need them, including the skin. Smoking also affects blood flow by constricting the vessels. Both of these side effects contribute to poor nutrient transport and fluid retention which can lead to an increase in cellulite.

The only upside to the effects of smoking and cellulite is that the effects of smoking are not seen for awhile. In fact, if you are a younger adult, many of the physical problems that come with smoking may actually be reversed by living a healthy lifestyle. However, the longer you wait, the more irreversible damage that will be done to your body.

About the Author:

Why a diet fails: 10 reasons

Monday, April 27th, 2009
by Joshua Seth

How many times have you tried a new diet program hoping to lose weight fast only to end up in frustration and failure? Did you know that over 90% of people actually gain weight within 6 months of dieting! Here are the top 10 reasons why:

1. Diets focus all your attention on food and eating, which is what you actually want to minimize in your mind. What you focus on expands so focusing on food is counterproductive when you want to lose weight.

2. Diets create stress and stress creates a compulsion to eat.

3. Diets fail to address the real problems: your self-esteem and your reliance on food to control your emotions.

4. Dieting can result in mood swings and depression which make it harder to lose weight. Depression actually leads to weight gain.

5. Diets put you in starvation mode. When you severely restrict your food intake it signals your body that food is scarce. So Your body protects itself against the possibility starvation by storing fat when whenever food becomes unavailable.

6. Diets lower your metabolism. When you suddenly limit your caloric intake, your metabolism slows down and burns less calories. Dieting actually makes your body efficient at conserving calories and storing them up as fat .

7. Diets judge their success by the number of pounds lost instead by the true objectives: increased energy, feeling good about yourself, and looking good in your clothes again.

8. Diets are temporary. When you reach your goal on a diet you stop and then return your your normal eating habits so the weight eventually comes back.

9. Diet sodas increase your appetite. They contain phosphoric acid which increase your appetite and leaches calcium from your bones. They may also contain aspartame which drains your energy, your strength, and your stamina.

10. Diets change your short term eating habits without changing your long term mindset about food. Your thoughts create your actions, so if you still have the same thoughts and feelings about food eventually you will return to the same eating behaviors. To create long term, permanent changes in your body you must first start with changes in your thinking.

About the Author:

Cellulite Vitamin Supplements

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
by El Bilson

Taking vitamin supplements is one way to combat the appearance of cellulite. However, if a product claims to cure cellulite, beware. Vitamin supplements are an important element in fighting off cellulite but are not a cure. A low fat/high fiber diet, exercise, drinking plenty of water, and taking vitamin supplements are the most effective ways to reduce cellulite.

Several vitamins and minerals aid in the reduction of cellulite. Moreover, there are specific reasons why these vitamins and minerals work against the appearance of cellulite. Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins you can take for cellulite. Vitamin C helps strengthen the skin and is a powerful detoxifier. Good food sources of Vitamin C include asparagus, berries, tomatoes and onions, however one of the best sources of Vitamin C is citrus fruit. The recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C is 75 mg. for women and 90 mg. for men. Smokers should add an additional 35 mg. per day because their metabolic turnover of Vitamin C is more rapid.

Another vitamin supplement that can be used to combat cellulite is Vitamin E. Found at your local vitamin store in oil capsules, Vitamin E improves circulation in the body and helps improve the appearance of this skin. A good source of vitamin E is nuts which are high in protein as well. However, nuts also have a high fat content. If you are on a low fat diet, limit the intake of nuts and add a vitamin supplement of Vitamin E instead. Green leafy vegetables are another good source of Vitamin E.

Selenium can also help get rid of your cellulite. This supplement works by improving the action of vitamins C and E. Broccoli is one vegetable that is an excellent food source of selenium. Broccoli contains lipoic acid, which helps prevent the hardening of collagen in the skin cells.

In addition to selenium, calcium is another vitamin supplement that will assist in reducing cellulite. Calcium is important for fighting body fat and providing strong bones. Some good food sources of calcium to add to your diet are plain, low fat yogurt, skim milk, spinach, cottage cheese, and baked beans.

It is recommended that adults between the ages of 19-50 should have approximately 1000 mg of calcium per day. For adults over 50 years of age, the RDA is 1200 mg. per day. It is often difficult to get the RDA of vitamins and minerals in the diet alone. Vitamin supplements can help assure your body has all the vitamins and minerals it needs to fight cellulite.

Scientists feel that there is no one method that cures cellulite. However, vitamins and minerals are crucial in increasing the bodys ability to maintain healthy skin elasticity. When the collagen, septa and other components of healthy skin are properly nourished, then the appearance of cellulite can decrease eventually. A long-term change in lifestyle and diet is necessary to maintain healthy, cellulite free skin.

Proper diet, exercise, drinking an adequate supple of water and adding vitamin supplements are the lifestyle changes that need to be made. Lifestyle changes such as reducing intake of alcohol, quitting smoking will help reduce cellulite. Also exercises such as yoga that increase blood circulation will help reduce cellulite. In addition, there is the extra-added benefit of having a healthier body over-all with these lifestyle changes.

About the Author:

Does Milk Cause Cellulite?

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
by El Bilson

I definitely enjoy my diary products, but I have often wondered ” does milk cause cellulite? Is it possible to improve the appearance of your skin simply by making a dietary change?

Have you ever thought about the connection between the foods we eat and the appearance of our skin? More specifically have you wondered ” does milk cause cellulite? Some people feel that milk does indeed lead to this skin disorder. While some of us would not enjoy giving up our daily dairy products, others might find this to be worth a shot if it means no more cellulite!

One of the biggest controversies surrounding milk is the amount of hormones contained in milk. These hormones are mainly from the hormones given to the cows to enable them to produce more milk. Many feel that these extra hormones can do damage to our bodies when we regularly ingest them.

Since cellulite responds to hormonal changes with in the body, it would make sense that more hormones in the body would trigger an increase in the amount of cellulite. Some studies have shown that a reduction of cellulite was found in women who stopped using diary products. It took about 6 to 12 months for these women to notice a difference in their skin.

For many women who are desperate to get rid of their cellulite and have tried many different products in the past with no success, a simple diet change may be the solution they are looking for. This can be hard however. Diary products are found in many foods we eat ” just try eating something that doesnt contain cheese!

A an easy solution to regular cows milk is to use goats milk. Goats milk doesnt usually have the hormones found in regular cows milk. Be careful with yogurt too as yogurt is made from cow’s milk and can contain hormones.

Other people may feel that there is no true answer to the question does milk cause cellulite. They feel that this topic has not been studied much and therefore no scientific conclusion can be drawn. While this point is valid, it should not be used to dissuade those who are interested in eliminating diary from their diets in order to get smooth skin.

Not only are women asking does milk cause cellulite, but many are wondering if milk products are the source of some of their other problems as well. These can include things such as digestive issues, weight gain and acne. Going off diary products may be helpful for many reasons, not just cellulite.

In conclusion, only you can decide if milk really does impact your cellulite. If you decide to stay away from diary products, make sure you give yourself enough time to notice results. A week or so probably will not cut it as our bodies are often slow to change. You will most likely need to dedicate 6 months to a year towards this project. While after this amount of time you may not find any results with your cellulite, you may notice that you do not crave or tolerate milk products any longer.

About the Author:

Fitness Infos – Your Weight Loss Surgery Options

Sunday, April 12th, 2009
by Marius Hagen

Are you looking to lose weight? If you are, you likely already know that you have a number of different options. For instance, you can go about losing weight naturally, with the use of exercise and healthy eating. You can also lose weight with the assistance of weight loss products, like diet pills. Another option that you have is weight loss surgery. Although all of the previous weight loss methods are popular, weight loss surgery is rapidly increasing in popularity.

If you are interested in undergoing weight loss surgery, you are not alone. As previously mentioned, weight loss surgery is increasing in popularity. If you have never considered weight loss surgery before, you may be wondering what all of your options are. While there are a number of different weight loss surgical procedures that you can undergo, you will find that there are two main procedures. These procedures, which include gastric bypass surgery and lap-band surgery, are outlined below.

Gastric bypass surgery is a weight loss surgery that involves the stapling of the stomach. That is why this procedure is also commonly referred to as stomach stapling. When undergoing gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon will portion off some of your stomach, making a smaller pouch. Your intestine will then be rerouted, making it so that your food consumption only impacts a portion of your stomach. This is what makes it doable for you lose weight with gastric bypass surgery.

Although gastric bypass surgery is a great weight loss surgery to undergo, it isn?t right for everyone. Most physicians require their patients to be around eighty pounds or more overweight. In some rare instances, those who are less than eighty pounds overweight are able to undergo gastric bypass surgery if their health is at risk or if they have other medical problems, such as diabetes. As previously stated, lap-band surgery is another weight loss surgery that is increasing in popularity. Lap-band surgery is similar to gastric bypass surgery. When undergoing lap-band surgery, your stomach pouch is made smaller. One of the few differences is that your stomach is not stapled, but an adjustable band is used. That is one of the reasons why lap-band surgery is so popular, as the band used can be completely removed or easily adjusted.

Thousands of Americans have undergone these two weight loss surgeries. For many individuals, weight loss surgery is a last resort. Many who undergo weight loss surgery have not had success with losing weight any other way. If you are interested in undergoing a weight loss surgical procedure, you will want to speak with your physician.

One of the many reasons why it is important to speak with your doctor or another healthcare professional is because weight loss surgery isn?t right for everyone. In addition to being at the ?right,? weight, you also need to have the willpower to reduce your food consumption. If you take too much food, videlicet too much food for your stomach to hold, you can not only harm your weight loss progress, but you can also place your health at risk. That is why your weight loss surgery decision is not one that you can make alone; it is one that must be prefabricated in conjunction with a healthcare professional.

About the Author:

Fitness – Weight Loss Products: How to Spot a Scam

Saturday, April 11th, 2009
by Marius Hagen

Are you looking to lose weight? If you are, there is a good chance that you will start your own weight loss program. When many individuals start their own weight loss programs, they do so with the help of a number of weight loss products, like diet pills or exercise equipment. If you are interested in buying these types of weight loss products, you need to always be on the lookout of scams, as they do exist.

When it comes to weight loss products, like exercise equipment and diet pills, many people automatically wonder how they can tell if they are being scammed. Unfortunately, you often cannot tell by reading an advertisement in a magazine or online or by watching a television infomercial or even by looking at the weight loss product in question. The best way to determine if the weight loss product you are interested in buying is really worth your money is to do research first.

When it comes to researching weight loss products, there are a number of different ways that you can go about determining if the product or products you want to buy are worth the cost. One of the easiest ways to go about doing so is by visiting the online websites of retailers that allow their customers or the general public to rate or review their products. Many consumers like to alert others to a product that is a waste of money or even alert others to a product that is well worth the cost.

When reading weight loss product reviews, like product reviews for diet pills or exercise equipment, it is important to remember that no product is perfect. Even the best products, like the ones that come highly rated and recommended, will have a few bad reviews. What you need to be cautious of is any weight loss product that has more bad reviews than it does good reviews. This is a surefire sign that the weight loss product in question may not be worth your money.

You can also find product reviews or just specific weight loss products being discussed by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you will want your search phrase to be the name of the weight loss product in question. Your standard internet search may lead you to online message boards where weight loss and other health issues are being discussed. These types of websites and message boards are a great way to also learn about weight loss products that you may not have otherwise came across.

Another way that you can determine if you are being ?scammed,? by a weight loss product, is by examining the online website of the product distributor or manufacturer. When you buy a diet pill or another weight loss supplement, you should be provided with as much information as possible. Be cautious of any product whose website only claims to help you lose weight, but doesn?t explain how it is done. The same can be said for exercise equipment.

Another great way that you can determine if the weight loss products you are interested in buying are worth the money is by speaking with your doctor. Often times, you don?t even have to schedule a visit; a telephone call should get you the answers that you were looking for. Most doctors can let you know if a weight loss pill or supplement that you are interested in buying is worth the money. If they can?t tell you about the specific product in question, there is a good chance that they can at least review the ingredients with you. For exercise equipment, your physician may also be healthy to wage you with advice.

Of course, if you have the money to spend on weight loss products, you may be interested in going ahead and buying the product or products in question anyways. That is fine to do, but you also need to remember that many weight loss products, especially the ones featured on television infomercials are priced relatively high.

About the Author:

Fitness Infos – Weight Loss Pills: Should You Use Them

Thursday, April 9th, 2009
by Gregor Mahrer

Have you been trying to lose weight with the use of exercise and healthy eating? If you have, have you still been coming up short on your weight loss goal? If you have, you may be interested in seeking help through the use of weight loss products, namely weight loss pills. Although you may be thinking about giving weight loss pills a chance, you may be wondering if you should.

When it comes to determining whether or not weight loss pills are right for you, there are a number of different questions that you will want to ask yourself. These questions can help you truly determine if weight loss pills are right for you. A few of the many questions that you may want to ask yourself, concerning weight loss pills, are outlined below.

Losing weight ?naturally,? often involves exercise and healthy eating. Have you been exercising? Exercising can involve visiting your local fitness center, putting an exercise video in your DVD player, or something as simple as taking a nightly walk. Eating healthy involves cutting all sweets from your diet or at least significantly reducing them. If you haven?t taken these steps yet, you may want to first try losing weight naturally. If that doesn?t work, weight loss diet pills may be something for you to consider.

If you regularly find yourself eating more food than you should or more food than you need to, why do you think that you do so? Are you just eating because you are bored or does your body sense that you are hungry? This is important question that you need to answer, as many weight loss pills are designed to suppress your hunger. While this can help many individuals reduce the amount of food that they eat and the number of calories they take in, it will only help you if you think that your body is telling you that you are still hungry. If you are what is commonly referred to as a ?bored eater,? there is a good chance that you will still continue to eat.

Another question that you need to ask yourself is if you can afford the costs of weight loss pills. When examining the cost of weight loss pills, you will find that they are sold for a wide range of prices. Although it is important to make sure that you can afford the cost of weight loss pills, it is important that you do not comprise quality for costs. If you cannot afford the weight loss pills that come highly rated and recommend, you may just end up wasting your money on weight loss pills that may not necessarily work. That is why it is advised that you consult with your doctor or search for weight loss diet pill reviews online, before making any purchases.

The above mentioned questions are just a few of the many that you may want to ask yourself, before you automatically go out and buy weight loss pills for yourself. As a reminder, it is important that you do the proper amount of research before you buy weight loss pills, should you decide to do so. Weight loss diet pills are not all created equally; therefore, they have varying results.

About the Author:

Fitness Infos – Weight Loss Center

Thursday, April 9th, 2009
by Dani Maurer

Weight loss centers are often used to describe weight loss programs that are locally operated. If this is your first time looking to join a weight loss center, you may be unsure as to what you should look for in one. An important part of joining a weight loss center is finding the weight loss center that is perfect for you and your own personal needs. For that reason, there are a number of factors, which are outlined below, that you will want to take into consideration.

One of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, when looking for a weight loss center to join, is the location. With gas prices high, many individuals find it difficult to travel long distances. You will have to pay money to become a member at a weight loss center; therefore, you should be careful about adding on extra costs, like the cost of gasoline, to your membership. If, at all possible, you should look for weight loss centers that are conveniently located either close to your home or your place of business.

Speaking of costs, as previously mentioned, you will have to pay to become a member of a weight loss center. This cost will vary depending on the weight loss center in question. On average, most weight loss center memberships are around twenty or thirty dollars a month. With that in mind, it is possible to find weight loss centers that cost more money. If you are on a budget, a weight loss center membership fee may have an impact on the weight loss center that you chose to become a member at.

Although it is important to find a weight loss center that you can afford, you don?t want to have your decision be based solely on costs. You will want to take the time to examine apiece weight loss center that you come across. For instance, you should be healthy to find some weight loss centers that only have weekly or monthly meetings or weigh-ins for members to attend. On the other hand, there are weight loss centers that may have exercise classes or a fitness gym, which you should acquire access to as a member. If you are healthy to find a calibre weight loss center or one that comes highly rated and recommend, higher membership fees may be worth it.

With the internet, it is easy to review a company or a program, like a weight loss program. With a standard internet search, preferably with the name of the weight loss center in question, you should be able to come across program reviews or online discussions. Research is not only a great way to find weight loss centers that have great reviews, but it is also a great way to learn of any weight loss centers that you should avoid or ones that are known for not being worth the costs.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to find a weight loss center to join. Although many weight loss centers come highly rated and recommended, it is important to find the weight loss center that can best fit you and your needs.

About the Author:

Cellulite Diet Tips

Thursday, April 9th, 2009
by El Bilson

Ladies here’s what you’ve been waiting for – some cellulite diet tips and the best foods to incorporate into your diet to get rid of cellulite! To follow a diet that is specifically designed to reduce cellulite does not necessarily revolve around weight loss. It does involve minimizing the foods full of toxins which can lead to cellulite.

With a diet for cellulite, a person needs to include as many iodine rich foods as possible. Among other things, iodine is required for normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Iodine is needed by this gland so that it may produce T3 and T4 which are required for normal body functions.

It is important to remember that yo-yo dieting is believed to make cellulite worse. When planning a diet for cellulite be prepared to make permanent changes in the foods you eat. Some of these changes will be easy because they are foods that you already enjoy. The challenge is in avoiding the foods that are not a part of the cellulite reducing diet. Change the foods you eat permanently for long term results in reducing the appearance of your skin.

If you are serious about a cellulite reducing diet, you may want to consider investing in a juice extractor. These juicers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is important to find one that fits your needs and is within your budget. Vegetable and fruit juices extracted from fresh produce are one of the best ways to get the nutrients the body needs. This can lead to healthy skin and detoxification of the body.

Many of us know we should be regularly consuming water. Water is needed in order to flush out toxins from the body. It is important to be well hydrated for healthy a body to function correctly. The rule of 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is a good rule of thumb. However if you would like a more personalized requirement amount, you can divide your body weight in pounds by 18. This will give you a daily water consumption requirement.

Eggs, cheese and milk”eggs are high in protein and easy to prepare but have them boiled or poached. Stay away from frying them in oil, butter or margarine. Cheese is okay but choose the low fat kinds. For example, cottage cheese contains about 4 grams of fat per 100 grams. And regular cheddar cheese contains about 32 grams of fat per 100 grams serving. Milk is high in calcium but a good rule to follow is to always choose skim or 2%. Some people feel diary may cause cellulite – you may want to avoid it all together.

Vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals. Try raw veggies thinly sliced in a salad to add crunch. Since they arent cooked they retain all their nutrients. Vegetables to include are radishes, asparagus, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, leeks, artichokes, turnips, onions, watercress, string beans, mushrooms and lettuce. Fresh fruits that are water rich such as melon or cantaloupe are great snacks. Due to their high water content, they will aid in the detoxification process. Other fruits to include are bananas, strawberries, grapes and pears. You can even grow your own veggies and fruits in a garden! Look to buy organic fruits and veggies as much as possible. Pesticides can remain in the body and lead to toxin build up.

Protein is needed by the body for proper functioning. Always choose lean cuts of meat and remove any excess fat or skin from poultry or meat. Fish and seafood are iodine rich and contain the omega fatty acids. Omega fatty acids are very beneficial to the skin. Seafood is also high in iodine to boost thyroid functioning. Be sure you try a vegetable source of protein such as soy or tofu. You might enjoy them and they can be used in many different recipes.

There are many foods to avoid when on a cellulite diet. These include pickles, chips, cold cuts or similar processed foods. Also anything with a high salt or sugar content, and large amounts of caffeine should be avoided. I know this is a wide range of the foods available to us – it can be hard to eat healthy! When eating out, ordering a salad is a good choice just be aware that most salad dressings at restaurants contain MSG, a high sodium preservative.

If you are taking vitamin supplements to help aid cellulite reduction, always take them with meals for maximum vitamin and mineral absorption. Be sure to consult your physician before starting a special diet, especially if you are on any medications or have health concerns.

About the Author:

Fitness Tips – Weight Loss Pills: Should You Use Them

Sunday, March 29th, 2009
by Gregor Mahrer

If you have, have you still been coming up short on your weight loss goal? If you have, you may be interested in seeking help through the use of weight loss products, namely weight loss pills. Although you may be thinking about giving weight loss pills a chance, you may be wondering if you should.

When it comes to determining whether or not weight loss pills are right for you, there are a number of different questions that you will want to ask yourself. These questions can help you truly determine if weight loss pills are right for you. A few of the many questions that you may want to ask yourself, concerning weight loss pills, are outlined below.

One of the many questions that you will want to ask yourself is if you have really tired losing weight. Losing weight ?naturally,? often involves exercise and healthy eating. Have you been exercising? Exercising can involve visiting your local fitness center, putting an exercise video in your DVD player, or something as simple as taking a nightly walk. Eating healthy involves cutting all sweets from your diet or at least significantly reducing them. If you haven?t taken these steps yet, you may want to first try losing weight naturally. If that doesn?t work, weight loss diet pills may be something for you to consider.

Although there are a number of reasons for weight gain, one of the most common reasons involves eating too much food. If you regularly find yourself eating more food than you should or more food than you need to, why do you think that you do so? Are you just eating because you are bored or does your body sense that you are hungry? This is important question that you need to answer, as many weight loss pills are designed to suppress your hunger. While this can help many individuals reduce the amount of food that they eat and the number of calories they take in, it will only help you if you think that your body is telling you that you are still hungry. If you are what is commonly referred to as a ?bored eater,? there is a good chance that you will still continue to eat.

Another question that you need to ask yourself is if you can afford the costs of weight loss pills. When examining the cost of weight loss pills, you will find that they are sold for a wide range of prices. Although it is important to make sure that you can afford the cost of weight loss pills, it is important that you do not comprise calibre for costs. If you cannot afford the weight loss pills that come highly rated and recommend, you may just end up wasting your money on weight loss pills that may not necessarily work. That is why it is advised that you consult with your doctor or search for weight loss diet pill reviews online, before making any purchases.

The above mentioned questions are just a few of the many that you may want to ask yourself, before you automatically go out and buy weight loss pills for yourself. As a reminder, it is important that you do the proper amount of research before you buy weight loss pills, should you decide to do so. Weight loss diet pills are not all created equally; therefore, they have varying results.

About the Author: