Body Care: Why You Should Take Care Of Your Body and Your Health
 | People who were following the plan regularly filled their plates with bacon, cheese, high fat meats, mayonnaise... Atkins is refining that strategy. Learn more. |
By: Shannon Clark
The popular "Atkins Diet" used to be known by many as the steak and eggs diet, where you basically ate as much protein and fat as your body could handle while disregarding carbohydrates from your diet and overlooking where your fat was coming from.
People who were following the plan regularly filled their plates with bacon, cheese, high fat meats, mayonnaise - basically anything that was protein and fat. The more the better.
The theory behind this was that because protein and fat are both more satiating, you wouldn't be as hungry and therefore wouldn't take in as many total calories and would see a weight loss. Furthermore, since you weren't supplying your body with any carbohydrates, you would have a higher chance of staying in fat burning mode (since carbohydrates cause an insulin spike and put a halt to fat burning).
The problem however that came about as a result of this diet, was that many people started worrying about their overall health, particularly with respect to heart disease and high blood pressure as it is well known that high saturated fat intakes can aggravate these conditions.
So now, Atkins has revitalized their approach. They are no longer just focusing on foods that are high in protein and fat, but are taking a more well rounded approach to their diet guidelines and touting the importance of healthy carbohydrates and fats combined with protein.
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How The Diet Is Laid Out
The Atkins Diet still is composed of four different phases, the first one being the most strict and intended to kick start weight loss while the last one guides you along the path of healthy weight maintenance.
Body Care: Why You Should Take Care Of Your Body and Your Health
By Elizabeth Scott, M.S., About.com
Updated: December 31, 2006
Relaxation Techniques Lower Stress Health People Stress Strain Ways to Reduce Stress
If your health fails, it can overshadow everything else that’s going on in your life. From relatively minor health issues such as aches and pains, lethargy, and indigestion to major health problems that can threaten your existence, health can really impact happiness and stress levels. Making a commitment to taking on healthier habits this year can have a far-reaching payoff: you’ll feel better in everything you do. Here are a few healthy habits that carry a big impact:
- Eat A Helthy Diet For The Right Reasons: Rather than eating right for the promise of looking better in your jeans, you should make a commitment to eating foods that will boost your energy level and keep your system running smoothly. This is because what you eat can not only impact your short-term and long-term health, it can affect your stress levels. If you're hungry ur malnourished, you may be more emotionally reactive to stressors, or may not have the reserves to handle what comes up as efficiently as you would if you were operating on a full stomach of healthy food. Watching what you eat can be a stress management tool as well as a health preserver.
- Make Sleep A Priority: Make a commitment to get enough sleep at night. If you haven't gotten adequate sleep, you may be less productive, less mentally sharp, and otherwise more prone to the effects of stress. Carve out a full eight hours, avoid caffeine after 2pm, and adopt a calming technique such as meditation, and let your body restore itself each night. You’ll feel better all day.
- Watch What You Put Into Your Body: Avoid putting unhealthy substances into your body; nicotine, excess alcohol, and even excessive caffeine can take a toll on your health in the long run, but also make you feel lousy overall in your day-to-day life. Find healthier ways to manage stress, and you'll enjoy double health and stress management benefits!
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Healing Your Baby Naturally
From skin irritations through to painful colic, nature offers an abundance of plants which have been used for centuries to heal these conditions and the trend toward natural and organic preparations of these plants is becoming evermore popular due to their efficacy, purity and concerns about harmful environmental toxins in non-organic products.
The most common complaints of newly borns in the post partum period are:
- skin-rash & cradle cap
- colic
- jaundice
- constipation
- thrush
Skin Rash & Cradle Cap
Skin irritation around the nappy area or Nappy Rash may be due to sweating from wearing materials that do not breathe well, allergies to laundry products, inadequate nappy washing or irritation from urine and stool exposure. Acting immediately is important as nappy rash can progress into raw blisters and ulcers and is extremely uncomfortable for baby. Keep the area as clean and dry as possible, and use a designated cream such as Weleda Rash Relief cream, a combination of plant extracts that soothe itching, reduce inflammation and prevent infection. This includes Calendula and Chamomile, St Johns Wort and Nettle which give relief from itching and pain. Avoid talcum powders and any creams with synthetic ingredients such as perfumes and preservatives as they will irritate.
At bathing time, you can add dried herbs such as relaxing chamomile, calming rose and soothing calendula petals to the bathwater, and let your baby slowly absorb the active ingredients of these warm aromatic herbs. To better conserve your babys natural skin oil levels, avoid over-bathing. Where a baby develops a rash condition over the body, it is useful to use anti-inflammatory herbs in an ointment or lotion form, to gently soothe the skin and prevent infection. Calendula and chamomile are both great choices.
Cradle cap is a crusty condition of the skin, and appears as thick yellow-brown adherent crusts around the scalp area. It is caused by excessive sebum production, occuring on the scalp as this is one of the more sebum rich areas of the body, and extending to the ears, face and neck. Scratching, over-cleansing and weather will affect cradle cap, so it best to adopt a gentle approach to healing it. To avoid infection and bleeding, never pick at the encrustations! To loosen them, gently rub into the scalp a small amount of Calendula oil and leave over night. The crusted areas that are ready to detach will do so when baby is next bathed. If you add other essential oils such as Lavender or Rosemary, use a maximum of 2% essential oils to base oils such as sesame or extra virgin olive oil, and always do a patch test on the arms first.
Colic
Signs of colic are impatience, irritability, periodical bouts of persistent crying, hardening of the belly, efforting to bend back while feeding at the breast, screaming, high levels of wind and disrupted sleep. To alleviate colic, look at your own diet and limit foods that have a tendency to produce gas or produce allergies such as beans, wheat, peanuts, excessive fruits, onions, garlic, sugar and nuts. Adding fennel, mint, caraway, cumin and ginger to your food will help. Find a dedicated Baby Colic Powder offering all these herbs and spiceds and more in a safe, easy to use preparation. Avoid cold foods such as iced drinks and ice-cream. Stroking in a clockwise direction on the abdomen, rocking and playing with your baby will also help. The wind-relieving pose of yoga (legs bent and thighs pressed up toward the chest) helps to clear gas from the body and should be done slowly and gently with a baby. In some cases food allergies and constipation may be overlooked with a diagnosis of colic. So check that the baby is having regular daily bowel movements, and that there are no food triggers to the symptoms to first rule these out.
Jaundice
Higher than normal levels of bilirubin (5 mg/dl or higher), a substance found in the bile, causes a yellowish discolouration in the skin and whites of the eyes known as Physiologic Jaundice. It first appears in the face and eyes and then progresses downwards to the trunk, arms and legs. This occurs in approximately 60% of newborns, and is more common in pre-term babies (around 80%). It is less common in babies who establish a breastfeeding routine quickly and successfully. Healthy bowel habits and regular stools will ensure that bilirubin is constantly being released from the body, so a baby that feeds well is less likely to experience jaundice. As a guideline new mothers can aim to feed their babies up to 12 times daily on the first few days of life to minimize the risk of jaundice. Drinking teas that nourish breast-milk will help.
Constipation in babies
Constipation is a lack of bowel movements that causes pain and intoxication. Nobody likes to feel constipated, sluggish and stuck. So it is relieving to note that there are many things you can do for your baby to relieve constipation. It occurs in babies for both anatomical and dietary reasons. Also, breastfed babies are less likely to experience constipation, and if it does occur then check for allergy to foods consumed in a mother’s diet such as the wheat and dairy. Check that your diet contains enough vitamin C and magnesium, which support healthy bowel function, and can be shared with baby through the breast milk. Formula fed babies are more likely to experience constipation. A great way to ease the discomfort of constipation is to drink a Nursing Tea which contains many carminatives to support healthy digestion as well as stimulating breast milk flow. Massage is helpful in baby constipation as it stimulates the intestinal movements and the bowels. Apply gentle massage in circular strokes around the abdomen, and to enhance the effect use a tablespoon of warm sesame oil. Baby probiotics may or may not be useful, ensure that there is no bloating or colic first before trying this. Natural yoghurt may be a better choice.
Thrush
The uncomfortable condition of Thrush is characterised by an overgrowth of candida albicans in the digestive system, creating more wind for a baby. Over 35% of newborns experience thrush in the second or third month of life. When baby thrush occurs in the first week of life, it is likely to have been contracted during delivery. The signs of baby thrush are a white coating on the mucosal surfaces of the mouth, which is tenacious and difficult to remove by wiping. The baby may not feed well, and with the abdominal symptoms (bloating and poor digestion), thrush may even seem to present as colic.
Treating thrush involves an anti-fungal program that uses nutrition, diet and herbs. Good nutrition will help, as the condition is more common in under-nourished babies. Ensure good nutrition by eating well yourself and taking herbal or nutritional supplements to stay relaxed and healthy. Breast milk itself contains prebiotics that are then passed to baby. Enhance your breast milk quality with a Nursing Tea. Thrush indicates that bowel flora and digestion are poor, and baby probiotics including lactobacilli and bifidobacteria have been shown to be useful. One way to improve bowel flora health in mother and infant is to consume natural yoghurt.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Body Care Tips: Which Help You a Lot?
Everyone hopes to have a perfect body but unfortunately no matter what we do, it just never seems perfect. You feel too fat, your nose is too small, your skin is too dry: the problems are never-ending. Perhaps it is not your body but your attitude that is not perfect. Realize that human beings are never satisfied - unconsciously, you keep wanting more and aiming higher. It is not completely unhealthy as long as you do not let it overpower you.
Despite the grave advice presented above, it is acceptable to correct real problems - like dry skin or the extra thirty pounds that don't belong on your body. But there is a healthy way of doing it without letting it adversely affect your daily life. On the contrary, it should make you look and feel better enabling you to feel more confident and positive.
Weight loss is an issue that most women consider, whether it is to lose five pounds or forty. But not all are successful and most give up after sometime. Start with developing the right attitude and taking baby steps to implement it. We offer you tips and let you in on little secrets that can help you achieve your goal weight. For instance buying a non-stick pan can prevent you from using too much oil, or just chewing sugar-free gum can be better than munching while you cook. It is always the little bites and the urge to finish the extras that get you into trouble.
Remember to keep it simple and work on that attitude. Shed the all or nothing stance; if you fall, dust yourself and move on instead of completely letting go of your diet and bingeing. The best way to make sure you do not fail is to get your weight loss strategy right in the beginning. Do not completely stay away from your favorite food items; the craving will make the situation worse when you stumble on your diet. Instead indulge your cravings in smaller portions and in moderation.
Weight loss apart, there is still the skin you have to take care of. Not just your face and hands but your whole body. Rarely do we find time to moisturize our whole bodies. It is then logical to assume that the only moisturizing your whole body receives is when you bathe. Make sure you use a soap, which is mild, and one that will not damage your skin.
While skipping bath a day sounds like a terrible sin, bathing too many times is also not recommended. It will only make your skin dry and irritable. Cleanliness is important but learn to enjoy your bath as a means for de-stressing. Pamper yourself with bath oils and moisturizers. The word pampering is most apt for pedicures! You do not have to spend all that time in the parlor as you can do it yourself in the comfort of your home. No matter which products you use and what methods you choose, remember to nourish your body with nutritious food, exercise, positive thoughts and some pampering!
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Winter Body Care
Dhav Naidu 06/05/08
Our skin loses an average of 230ml (or a cup) of water a day and that is before suckers like indoor heating, cold air, hot water and harsh products takes their toll. When skin is continually exposed to these elements, it can deplete the skin’s fat contain which can result in the skin drying out even faster. Legs and arms are most vulnerable; they generally have low concentration of oil glands compared to the face. And slopping extra moisturiser just won’t cut it. What you need to do in colder months is change your whole body care regime - which means quick showers, gentle exfoliation and heavy moisturisers.
1. Cleansing
Showers need to be short maximum 3-6 minutes; water needs to warm not hot. Since every time you shower water can strip oils from your skin and make it even drier. Use creamy cleansers
2. Exfoliation
Once or twice a week use a gentle exfoliator (non abrasive) to slough off dead cells on your skin’s surface. Concentrate on rough areas like knees, elbows and heels.
3. Moisturise
Always moisturise immediately after a shower, pat dry with a towel so skin is still damp but not dripping wet. Apply a rich cream to seal in the moisture.
Things to remember
· Limit showers to 3-6 minutes, save the environment, save your skin!
· Choose gentle creamy cleansers
· Exfoliate once or twice a week
· If you have very dry skin, coat skin with body oil before showering
· Choose a washcloth over loofahs and puffs (which can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi)
· For lazy cold mornings use a citrus scented cleanser to invigorate your senses while showering
· To effectively combat dry skin areas like knees, elbows and heels, gently apply exfoliating scrub dry instead of on wet skin
Products that work
Creamy cleansers
· Palmolive Pure Cashmere Shower Cream Intense Hydration
· Dove Triple Moisturising Body Wash
· Crabtree & Evelyn Sarawak Creamy Body Wash
· Ahava Dermud Sensitive Skin Relief For Dry Skin – excellent for very dry skin
Invigorating body washes
· Biguine Bio Mandarin Orange Shower Gel
· Origins Jump Start
· Palmolive Aroma Therapy Vitality
· Endota Spa Organic River Salt & Desert Lime Shower Gel
Body Oils
· Glo Spa Hydrating Bath & Bath and Body Oil
· Pevonia Botanica Dry Oil Moisturizer
· Biguine Bio Aromatic Oil
· Dr Hauschka Lemon Body Oil
Exfoliators
· Kiehls Liquid Body Scrub and Cleanser – excellent, go buy!
· Palmolive Pure Cashmere Exfoliating Shower Scrub – WOW, indulgence without the price tag!
· Premium Spa Frangipani & Coconut Sugar Body Scrub – you will mistake this for a million dollar priced product, smells divine!
· Pevonia Botanica – gentle yet very effective
Body Moisturisers
· Algoane Body Moisturiser – rich in vitamins and minerals derived from algae, this is a good moisturiser
· Ahava Dermud for Dry Skin – team this with the wash for an effective solution to dry skin
· Dr Hauschka Body Milk – this cream is a light and easily absorbed, and the lemon peel oil lends this lotion an incredible scent!
· Pevonia Botanica Preserve Body Moisturiser – light in texture but very hydrating on skin
· Dove Replenishing Body Moisturiser – a good budget buy
· Origins Precipitation Extra – a rich cream that nourishes the skin effortlessly
Extreme hydration (for knees, elbows and heels)
· SkinCeuticals Primacy Hydra Balm – Wow, a soothing balm that everyone need to have
· Vaseline Intensive Rescue Relief & Repair Balm – Good budget buy
· Biguine Bio Ylang Ylang Cream - a very intense and effective cream
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Losing Weight
Tips to lose weight during tempting times
There is not a hairstyle or lipstick in the world that will make you look and feel as beautiful as losing excess pounds. Sometimes what you lose brings a lot of things you gain. Losing weight brings freedom. Freedom to wear anything in your closet, freedom to walk around proudly nude, freedom to feel good about yourself. Most women feel sexier after weight loss too. Try finding all that in a facial scrub.
There are times of the year when losing weight is particularly difficult. Holidays or other celebrations can make it tough to stay on track because there are new temptations all around you and everyone seems to be helping you get fat. But it is possible to maintain or even lose during special occasions. The key is to have a plan. Here are a few tips to help you lose weight:
- The Half Rule - eat whatever you want, only half as much of it.
- Three Bites of Dessert - you can have the pumpkin pie, but three bites is enough.
- Water, Water, Water - the more you drink it, the less you retain it.
- Fruits & Veggies - finally, food you actually should eat a lot of.
- Exercise - find something out there you like enough to stick with.
- Support - going it alone is tough, so make it easier by finding buddies.
Even just some of these tips will help. Try setting a calorie limit, and count what you consume. You might be surprised. There’s a support group on the web that is amazingly helpful at keeping you on track. It helps you be accountable and it’s an easy spot to record your daily food intake. Try PeerTrainer.Com for some great free weight loss support. Also, visit our own Weight Loss site for much more in-depth help. Hang in there, the beautiful rewards are well worth it!
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