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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
People spend more for beauty and for the goal of looking good. Since looking good and looking young in today's society may mean promotion, better work, more self confidence, better chances for relationship and even a jumpstart of positive outlook and raised self esteem, the cosmetic and beauty industries have banked on it and evolved into giant industries. Expensive surgeries and treatments has grown and expanded.
So here are those skin friendly superfoods you may choose from.
Flaxseed. Flaxseed contains omega-3 fatty acids which is a good kind of fat. These fatty acids strengthen cell membranes. It also helps prevent the absorbtion of harmful toxins in the body. Flaxseed helps cell membranes hold water which makes the skin look youthful and younger.
Tuna. Tuna when eaten in moderation may help in skin sagging. It has omega-3 fatty acids as well as selenium. These two helps prevent cellular damage while promoting elastin. Selenium can also be found in some beef, cod and turkey.
Other Fish oil. Coldwater fish can be a good source of protein, Carotenoids and omega-3 fatty cuds. These have anti-inflammatory effects and are very good for the skin. It also helps in fighting aging process.
Chia. Again, Chia can be very little seeds but it pack still some surprise for the skin. It helps in skin hydration and makes skin look healthy, young and well moisturized.
Green Tea. Not only can it help detoxify the body but it can also help prevent skin damage. Green tea has Polyphenols which is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. These components also help the body from absorbing the damages of the UV rays.
Low fat dairy. Low fat diary helps in preventing acne as well as in lessening wrinkles. Low fat dairy contains vitamin A, a known skin food. Plain yogurt is one with broccoli, liver, sweet potatoes and spinach among others.
Almonds. Almonds contain a hefty amount of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a natural sun blocker. Due to this, the sun's effects can be neutralized and can have little damage on the skin once it gets in contact with it.
Sweet potato. Sweet potatoes may not be your thing but they can eventually smoothen your skin. It has high levels of vitamin C and supports collagen production. Once collagen production gets better, a fuller appearance and a more youthful skin may be seen. In studies conducted, those who are ingesting more vitamin C may get to have smoother skin, with lesser wrinkles. Maybe it's time that you add more carrots, citrus and papayas in your diet.
Avocadoes. Avocadoes are one for skin's elasticity. It contains all the healthy fats and can protect the skin as well as prevent it from forming wrinkles and fine liens. MUPAs when ingested and gets to befriend the body can help make the cell walls stronger.
Berries. Just every berry out there contains all the anti-oxidant which can help slow down the aging process while making your skin glow. Since it has various helpful compounds, it has the ability to protect the skin's breakdown of collagen and elastin. Berries have compounds that are known to increase lifespan of the cells.
Tomatoes. Tomatoes contain lycopene. This anti-oxidant helps defend the body from sun damage and wrinkles. It is also under study as a possible cancer treatment. The lycopene helps the body neutralize the effect of free radicals as well as the UV rays from the sun exposure.
Beets. Beets contain phytochemicals and minerals. It helps the body fight infection, purifies the blood and helps cleanse the liver.
Kale. Kale is known to contain more nutrients than any other vegetables. It just is power packed with every nutrient that the skin will be thankful of.
Dark Chocolate. Dark chocolate contains a higher amount of cocoa. Or if available, raw cacao can even be better. It is packed with anti-oxidants for a smooth and glowing skin.
Water is Important
Superfoods this good can never be enough though. It may need you to do all things right since a single superfood meal can't combat a whole week of your consumption of processed foods. It has to be a lifestyle.
Now, for skin health, water hydration can be very important. You may have all the juices but water is still needed. Without water, skin may turn flaky, sallow and even dry. So make an effort in increasing your water intake to boost energy and of course to rehydrate your cells for glowing and healthy skin.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Your most recent visit with your physician confirmed you have diabetes. As an effort to fight off this illness, you educate yourself with useful information. But in your search for aid, you stumbled upon tons of materials that lead you to false promises. You must now turn to natural ways to fight off this unnatural condition.
Bad carbs
Start your battle by eliminating bad carbohydrates. Avoid foods that contain white flour and refined white sugar. They have been stripped of its essential nutrients. These foods are the culprits for the increase in numbers of obese people over the past few decades.
Another type of sugar that contributed to American obesity rates is High fructose corn syrup or HFCS. This carbohydrate ispresent in almost all frozen foods and baked goods. You may also find this in sugary drinks.
As a solution to this, read the labels in every item before you toss it to your grocery cart. Purchase items without HFCS. Pick foods that have been sweetened with natural products.
Good fats
Another item to add in your diabetes check list is food items that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This includes albacore tuna, halibut, herring, calamari and squid oil and your favorite fish salmon.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
How do you define a good meal? Is it a serving of fries followed by a quarter pounder burger? Is it that deliciously smelling bacon along with other “nutritiously” processed food that you are regularly having every morning? Well, even these types of foods spell comfort to you and definitely satisfy your appetite, you still have to be wary of your intake. Preservatives and too much calories are not friends especially if you aim for a healthy lifestyle.
Some food may be bland for our taste, but their health benefits are ultimately essential keep us going for the rest of the day. The human body needs a balanced eating plan to serve the best of its function, so if we are eating a diet that completes of our daily nutritional requirements, we are having enough nutrition in store to:
- Heal and repair.
- Boost immunity to fight against infections.
- Grow and build muscles and bones.
- Stay fit and healthy.
Eating various food groups can also reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart problems, cancers, stroke, join-related diseases, and diabetes. A good diet partnered with regular exercise can also slow down aging and keep the body's youthful glow for a better physical appearance.
When ensuring a healthy diet, we have to go back to our basic food groups our health teachers and nutritionists had been discussing since elementary years. Though many of us are fully aware of them, we tend to forget these basics since that there already are limitless selections for available in the food stores. Let's have a quick recap of the essential nutrients that we should never miss out in our diet.
Fruits: An apple a day keeps the doctor away is not a famous saying for nothing and it also applies in different types of fruits. Fruits are free of cholesterol, and are naturally low in fats and calories. It is packed with Vitamin C that is essential for our daily immunity boost.
Tip - Try adding a banana or mixed fruits in your daily oatmeal or cereal for breakfast. With all the types of foods
Vegetables: Vegetables like fruits are a fat-free source of nutrients. Having a good amount for veggie intake daily can give you potassium, dietary fiber, folic acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C and the important mineral Selenium.
Tip : Since veggies can be eaten raw or cooked, you can incorporate it in your diet as a healthy snack. Vegetable salads are great appetizer and can also be a filling for sandwiches. There are plenty of delectable recipes you can choose from soups to stir fries, to veggie patties and vegetable curries. Vegan recipes will never let you run out of creativity.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
The skin has several layers. The outside epidermis is the part that covers the inner dermis. The inner dermis contains the hair follicles, blood vessels, nerve receptors and connective tissues. Under the connective tissues are the subcutaneous fat that is the main culprit for cellulite.
Cellulite usually builds up and gets worse at the onset of old age. And usually, it happens in women as men tend to have different skin configuration. Their epidermis and dermal layers are thicker than women.
Modern medical science has made it possible for us to get of these cellulite deposits quickly. Of course there are liposuction treatments which make it quick and easy.
What is Cellulite?
Cellulite are those bumpy and dimply skins that appear in a woman's thighs, back and stomach. Due to the fats push on the connective tissue, the skin puckers causing the orange peel appearance.
Cellulite may appear in age as early as 15 years old and may even get worse as one gets older. But what are the possible causes of cellulite? Here are some.
- 1. Poor diet
- 2. Lack of physical activity
- 3. Hormonal changes
- 4. Dehydration
- 5. Obesity
- 6. Slow metabolism
And as said, cellulite may tend to get worse as women age. But why? Here are some more reasons.
- When aging sets in, the skin gets thinner thus the cellulite appears more pronounced and even more visible.
- Skin loosens during old age. Tone decreases and collagen is reduced. These allow adipose fat cells to press toward the surface of the skin.
- Due to the years seen by the body, it tends to become less efficient when dealing with waste removal. Circulation also decrease thus cellulite are added.
- Weight gain can also be another factor in the worsening of cellulite. When one age, tendency is one may pick and gain more weight. This increases the problem again.
So how do you fight cellulite build up as you age?
Fighting Cellulite
Cellulite treatments can promise you to get rid of these bumps and orange peel look. But some of these treatments may just be hypes but some can be effective. Let's take a look at them below:
- Cellulite creams. These have no scientific evidence. Sometimes, they can even be harmful as its treatment includes the narrowing of blood vessels and forcing of water from the skin. This is bad for the circulatory system and can cause allergic reactions.
- Change of diet. To cut down on toxins is one major advice to get rid or minimize cellulite. Refined and processed foods, artificial additives, dairy products, foods high in fats and sugar are several foods that should be avoided. Vegetables and fruits should be added in every meal.
- Change of lifestyle. Foregoing of smoking, alcohol and self induced worries can help a lot.
- Liposuction. Since liposuction is a procedure that can remove fat deposits, it can be a possible treatment for cellulite as well. But for caution, liposuction may not remove cellulite itself altogether but the deep fats.
- Vitamin and mineral supplementation. To be able to keep healthy, Vitamin, C, E, A and selenium should be included in your daily nutritional supplements.
- Massage. Massage and other spa treatments can help in minimizing cellulite; it can't remove it altogether but can temporarily lessen it for a short time.
- Laser treatments. Laser has already been approved to be used as a cellulite treatment. Laser can melt the fat under the skin, break the fibrous bands below the skin and can even stimulate the collagen production.
Mesotherapy was originally used as a treatment to relieve pain from skin conditions that are inflammatory. Substances will be injected into the body such as amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. It can help break down fat and can bring some improvement in the cellulite.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Almost all of us think that achieving a healthy and slimmer body requires burning and shunning away from fat. While this can be true for people who are tipping the scales on the extreme side, people who are within reasonable distance of their ideal weight should think about starving themselves of fat.
There are fats and there are fats. And when it comes to fat, not all fat is created equal. Fat is needed by the body as an energy source. It is also essential for absorbing vital A, D and E. In fact, some studies show that people ate a Mediterranean diet that is rich in monounsaturated fat were able to lower their risk for cardiovascular diseases.
The Good Fats
Monounsaturated fats increase the level of good HDL cholesterol and decrease bad LDL cholesterol. Major risk factors for cardio vascular diseases include clogged arteries which is a result of plaque buildup. Monounsaturated fats help clear plaque buildup improving blood flow. This type of fat could also prevent the buildup of fat in the belly area.
Monounsaturated fats could be found in almonds, peanut products, avocados, canola oil, sesame seeds and olive oil. It is recommended that people include two to three tablespoons of olive oil daily. This increases the levels of HDL to lower risks for cardiovascular disease.
Polyunsaturated fats also lower LDL or bad cholesterol. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid that is important for normal brain development, cell health and immune functioning. Omega 3 has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent blood clots and can help people suffering from arthritis. Omega 6 on the other hand is necessary for keeping the skin and eyes healthy.
Rich sources for Omega 3 fatty acids include salmon, herring, mackerel and cold water fish. It could also be found in squid or calamari oil. Plant based sources for Omega 3 includes walnuts, flaxseed, and canola oil. Omega 6 can be found in safflower oil, corn oil, farmed fish and beef. The benefits of calamarin oil and cold water fishes make them a perfect match for many healthy dishes.
Taking too much Omega 6 could have negative effects on your health. This can lead to inflammation and aggravate the condition of people suffering from arthritis. Your polyunsaturated fats should mostly come from Omega 3. These are essential for many normal brain growth and development. It also lowers your chances for stroke and heart disease.
The Bad Fats
Saturated fats increase cholesterol levels and risks for cardiovascular disease. It blocks arteries and decrease blood flow. These could be found in dairy products, coconut and palm oil, and meat. You should limit your daily intake of saturated fats at ten percent of total daily calories.
The Ugly
And you think it couldn't get worse. Unsaturated fats often undergo chemical processes and are found in processed and packaged foods. This is to increase shelf life. It lowers levels of HDL or good cholesterol and promotes the buildup of LDL or bad cholesterol.
