Photo Courtesy of antaean by flickr

If this is the year you are committed to having the best health ever, then here are some tips that will help get you started:

• Have some vegetables with your meals, preferably at least 4 servings a day (1 serving is about half a cup of cooked vegetables). Vegetables are full of nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber which are all important in body functions, fighting cell damage, and in controlling appetite. So make sure that your plate has some colorful vegetables.
• Replace the white stuff (white rice, white bread, white flour) with whole grain such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, and whole wheat pasta or noodles. Whole grain has more nutrients and makes you feel full longer because of the higher fiber content.
• Eat a healthy breakfast within two hours of waking up. It has been shown that breakfast eater are at healthier weight than non-breakfast eater. Non-breakfast eater tend to be more hungry later during the day and could end up eating more calories.
• Choose water, tea, or other no sugar-containing beverages. Sweetened beverages, such as sodas, specialty coffees, bottled tea, herbal drinks, fruit drinks, blended juice, can have very high calories but with very little or no nutrients or what is called “empty calories” which can sabotage your weight and can lead to health problems.
• Pack a healthy snack such as milk, soy milk, fruits, small package of nuts or seeds, or a sandwich made with whole wheat bread so you are not tempted to buy whatever is insight when you are starving.

You don’t need to wait to be healthy. Start having your best health by incorporating these simple strategies for you and your family right away.

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It is common knowledge that exercise can cause fluid losses, but we may not be aware that constant dehydration can put your health into a critical condition. I know you have a strong commitment to stay healthy, but overlooking the fact will just make it worse. Medically speaking, inadequate fluid intake fastens rising body temperature and heart beat rate. If your body is overheating, or your total water level dropped more than roughly 10% of your weight, well!, you probably have to say BYE to this beautiful little world faster than you expect.

Wait, Wait! Don’t be panicked just yet. It is not that soon and fortunately we can protect that. For hot yoga or outdoor sports lovers, pay close attention PLEASE! You have a higher possibility to be over-dehydrated. The golden rule is to frequently pour yourself a glass of water even before you feel thirsty. Thirst may not show up to warn you sometimes. Now, I will train you to be a health-conscious person who cares for proper hydration. Let’s start with few tips:

1. Hydrate yourself before, during and after exercise: a glass 20 minutes before exercise, every 20 minutes during exercise, and double that after your exercise.

2. Choose your drink wisely. If you love long and sweaty exercise, you may consider sports drinks or juice. That could boost up your energy, in addition to ensuring your water level. If not, mineral water will be just fine.

3. Weigh yourself before and after exercise. It helps you to calculate how much water you should take to replace the loss. But Beware, if your weight goes up after exercise, that means you drink too much while working out!

End of the course. Certificates awarded. Pass the tips to your loved one and share with us what else can help us balance your body water level.

Photo Courtesy of malr by flickr

Eating out has become the norm in our society these days.  However, eating out can be a challenge for many of us who are trying to watch our weights or are keeping healthy. How can we possibly have control over the eating environment?

The good news is that we can control what we eat, no matter where we are! Here are some simple ideas to help you take charge of your next outing:

• First, try to stay away from buffet, all-you-can-eat places.  Choose a restaurant that has a varied menu that you can order a la carte.
• Don’t be shy about asking how a dish is prepared – if it’s fried, has cream sauce, cooked in coconut milk, comes with vegetables, etc. Many dishes may not look oily but they can be very high in fat and calories such as pasta with tomato cream sauce or “pink” sauce, many indian dishes, sweet and sour fish (usually the fish is deep fried), soft shell crab salad (crab is fried), tuna salad (smothered in mayonnaise).
• Make sure you have vegetables with your meal. If the dish doesn’t come with vegetables, ask for a side order. It can be soup, salad, or sautéed.
• If there’s heavy sauce or salad dressing, ask for it on the side. This way you have control over how much to put on. The dish may be just as delicious with less sauce or dressing.
• Ask for a smaller portion of rice, pasta or share a plate with someone if you see the portion is large.
• Order lean meats such as roasts, eye of round. A portion size of about 3-4 ounces is about right, or a size of a bar of soap.
• If you really want dessert, share it. Usually the first 2 bites taste the best!
• Alcohol is high in calories so choose wisely and drink responsibly. Wine and champagne are lowest in calories, and are better to drink with the meal. Drink slowly and have sips of water in between.

Also, make sure you don’t go to the restaurant feeling very hungry. If you know the meal will be late, have a little snack such as fruit 1-2 hours before you go. It’s important to enjoy and also stay on your health track.

Photo Courtesy of Smabs Sputzer by flickr

Yeah, what you have just read it not what a funny article at all from now on. Watch yourself on the mirror everyday and wonder how to get that pores away which have been really brothering you on your pretty face. Some researchers said that ice cubes could help minimizing large pores as you wish!

Here are the steps to shrink ‘em and this will have a tightening effect on your skin.

First, wash your face with clean water.
Then, Place the ice cubes gently along your pores for 15 to 30 seconds on your skin (for dry skin just take it for 5 – 7 seconds)
Follow by applying some moisturizer everyday to make your skin fresh.
Last, Eat lots of fresh fruits such as lemon and oranges, as they contain the necessary nutrients that produce stronger skin and rebuild your collagen.

Remember and Make sure that the ice cube is clean and you do it every morning!
Sounds good and easy to do it, right? Simply try these, give it some time and I bet you will get the better result.

This scrub-free face smoother contains a cocktail of biodynamic ingredients grown on the Jurlique farm in the Adelaide Hills. what it ment of biodynamic ‘Bio’ is the organic part, ‘dynamic’ is the energy part” It relies upon potentising.

Add to that Australian super fruits including quandong, dessert lime, wattle seeds and pumpkin enzymes, this gentle facial treatment dissolves dry skin for a more refreshed, even toned and firmer looking complexion.

Jurlique uses organic and biodynamic ingredients in it’s formulas. The company owns two farms spanning over 165 acres in South Australia, where they grow over 35 different varieties of plants and flowers. 95% of the herbal ingredients used in their formulations are from these biodynamic farms. The balance of herbs, such as Arnica and Witch Hazel, cannot be grown in South Australia, so they are imported from certified organic farms.

Methods

I thought effective, eco-friendly nail polish removers were like unicorns -- nonexistant, though I wanted to believe, until I found Karma Organics Nail Polish Remover. It works like magic.

I had the opportunity to try the Nail Polish remover in unscented and the first thing I noticed, obviously is there was no harsh, nostril burning smell! That to me was so wonderful because it's a huge reason I stray from doing my nails in the first place. I have a very sensitive nose so this product is an absolute blessing! Karma Nail Polish Remover comes in Tea Tree, Lavender, and Unscented.

The second thing I noticed is how it very effectively removes polish-all polishes, any brand, organic or non-organic. It worked as effectively as any other polish remover I've ever tried. Plus, it didn't seem to leave my nails or cuticles dry at all! Not to mention that I'm a big fan of the packaging. Hardly anything comes in glass bottles anymore and I think it adds a nice touch. Very pretty!

Nails Tips

Even if you can't make it to the the nails salon every week for a manicure, you can easily maintain neat nails and soft, touchable hands and feet. Have some basic, inexpensive tools on hand for at-home touch-ups, and set aside 20 minutes a week to pamper your fingers and toes. These steps will keep nails looking nice, even when you aren't wearing nail polish. While it protects nails from breakage, polish can be dehydrating, so go without it for a day or so. The trick to prevent nail polishes from thickening and becoming lumpy is to keep the solvents in them from evaporating. After each application, clean the neck of the bottle with nail polish remover, and twist the top tightly to ensure a good seal. Store polishes in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before using.