Acne – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Acne is a common skin problem for most teens and many adults. Acne occurs when the skin’s follicles become blocked with sebum and dead skin cells. The overproduction of sebum in the skin provides an environment ready for the bacterial overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria. This overgrowth of bacteria causes inflammation, leading to inflamed lesions. Acne lesions range in severity from blackheads (open comedo) and whiteheads (closed comedo) to pustules, papules and cysts. Acne generally appears on the face, chest and shoulders, but may also occur on the back, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Why some people get acne and some don’t is not fully known. Factors that are known to be linked to the occurrence of acne are: hormonal activity (puberty, pregnancy), family history, hyperactive sebaceous glands, stress, low skin exfoliation leading to the accumulation of dead skin cells, anything that activates skin inflammation like scratching, bacteria on the skin and the body becoming allergic to this bacteria and use of anabolic steroids.

There are many myths about what causes acne. A common myth is that acne is a result of dirty skin. However, pimples and blackheads are not caused by dirt. Acne is caused by a combination of over-production of skin oil, excess dead skin cells and bacteria. A blackhead is dark in color because it is open to the air and oxidation causes the color change. Respectively, a whitehead is closed to the air and therefore has not noticeable color.

The myth of whether certain foods cause acne is still being debated. Science has not come up with any clear cut answers; however many people will find a connection between the foods they eat and breakouts. Trying to figure out what foods cause acne to become worse is tough, because the outcome of eating a certain food and resulting acne will vary greatly among people. What food causes acne to become worse in one person will not affect another. So what this comes down to is avoiding some of the generally bad foods for your body and putting in more healthy food. So avoid sugary and fatty foods, foods rich in iodine and dairy foods. Add more fruits, vegetables, green tea and meats that contain good essential fats to your diet.

So what can you use to treat your acne? While there is no real cure for acne, managing all the triggering factors is key to keeping acne under control. Those triggers include dead skin cells not exfoliating, excess sebum, P acnes bacteria, and inflammation. Also, the treatments used depend on the severity of the acne.

The first important trigger to control is the bacteria on your skin. Control the harmful bacteria and infections are less likely to start that result in pimples.

To control bacteria, use a topical bactericidal agent like Benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is very effective against P acnes bacteria for many people. Also most tests show that p. acnes do not become resistant to benzoyl peroxide, so if it works for you, it should continue working. Other topical anti-bacterials that can be tried include: tea tree oil for a natural solution, colloidal silver, triclosan, and chlorhexisine gluconate.

Topical antibiotics can be used to control skin bacteria in a more targeted way. Topical antibiotics also usually cause less damage and inflammation to the skin sometimes making them a better choice for people with more sensitive skin. Topical antibiotics are usually as effectual as antibiotics taken orally with fewer side effects. Topical antibiotics include: erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin.

Oral antibiotics are effective and good to use when acne is affecting a large part of the body. They can help to get the bacteria under control and then allow topical treatments to take over. Oral antibiotics are easy to use but can have side effects such as colitis, diarrhea, dysbacteriosis. Moreover, long term oral antibiotic treatment is not practical as a bacterial resistance may develop.Oral antibiotics include: erythromycin and tetracycline.

Next, you need to control the production of sebum. Products that control sebum production include topical retinoids such as tretinoin (Retin-A), tazarotene (Tazorac), and adapalen (Differin), and oral retinoinds such as Isotretinoin (Accutane). Both types of Retinoids improve acne by decreasing oil production and altering the lifecycle of epithelial skin cells. Topical retinoids can increase breakouts during the first weeks of treatment and also cause dryness, irritation and sensitivity to sunlight. Oral retinoids are usually used as a last resort because of their side effects.

To keep the follicles and pores from becoming blocked with the oil, dead skin cells and bacteria; exfoliation can help. Salicylic acid is commonly used in acne products and it works as a skin exfoliator. Other AHA’s and BHA can be used for exfoliating acne prone skin. Remember, you are trying to avoid skin irritation, so do not use microdermabrasion scrubs or anything to harsh on your skin. Besides removing dead skin cells, exfoliation can improve the penetration of other topical treatments.

Other options for treating acne can include combination birth control pills, phototherapy using red light or blue light and photodynamic therapy, and laser treatments which have all shown efficacy in the treatment of acne.

The grade and the severity of the acne help to determine what combination of treatments should be used. The objective with acne treatments is to avert skin scarring and psychological distress, and to shorten the time a person is living with acne. Mild acne can first be treated by gently washing the area twice daily with warm water and soap and over the counter products. If you have moderate acne, consult a dermatologist before the acne gets out of hand.

Although acne can be very depressing for those afflicted with it, doctors say that most acne is entirely treatable. Therefore, it is very important to try to resolve acne as soon as you can. With most acne treatments, the acne can become a little worse before improvement occurs, but it is important to stick with the treatment.

Your results can be greatly improved by following these tips:

Use oil-free, non-comedogenic skin care products and cosmetic

Avoid cream based cleansers when you have oily skin

Do not over wash or scrub your face excessively as you do not want to irritate your skin. Excessive washing will not cure acne.

Do not pop, poke, pick, scratch your pimples, whiteheads or black heads. Touching your face will only spread bacteria.

Use a mild cleanser with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Switching acne products often will not help. Stick with a product routine for at least one month to see if it works.

If you acne is progressively getting worse, don’t wait, see a doctor.

Eat a healthy diet. Tomatoes, garlic, vitamin C and A are all very good for the skin.

Some natural home remedies:

Apply raw papaya juice to affected skin

Apply cucumber juice to the affected skin.

Good basic skin care is the start to ridding yourself of acne. Then finding the right combination of products, whether over-the-counter or prescription, and sticking with a good routine are crucial to success. The key thing you need to understand before using any acne product though, is that the same products do not work the same for every person. Acne is very manageable and should not be suffered by anyone. Taking care of your skin can make all the difference in the fight to treat pimples and zits.

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Boost Health And Wellness With Vitamin Supplements

It is possible to boost health and wellness with vitamin supplements if you keep an eye on your recommended daily allowance (RDA). It is possible to overdose on some vitamins, especially vitamin A if you are pregnant, but generally a once daily vitamin supplement does you a lot of good.

Many people suffer from one type of vitamin deficiency or another and that deficiency is determined by many different circumstances. It could be because you are on a diet that restricts your food choice so that your intake of nutrients is not what it should be. The human digestive system has been designed for an omnivorous diet, so those that eat meat and neglect their fruit and vegetable intake will ten to be deficient in some of the fat soluble vitamins.

Vegans will be deficient in those vitamins that are unobtainable from vegetables. A prime example is vitamin B12. However, there is nothing wrong with opting for one dietary regime or another if you are aware of the potential deficiencies, and make up for them with supplements.

Vitamin D deficiencies are particularly common, especially amongst those that get little exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is formed in the skin by the action of sunlight, and people who live in the higher latitudes in particular tend to suffer from deficiencies: much more so than residents of Florida or California! However, it is not just in vitamin D that many people are deficient.

Vitamins are essential to your body for proper health and fitness. Vitamins are chemicals that have been identified as being essential to human life, and without them you cannot survive. You can live with certain deficiencies, although much depends on the vitamin. Many are antioxidants, without which you will age quicker and suffer from many unpleasant conditions. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that are generated by both the body’s metabolism and environmental agents. Pollution such as smoking, traffic fumes and pesticides can generate free radicals, as can sunlight which is generally associated with good health; and Vitamin D of course.

Free radicals are compounds that possess unpaired electrons. Electrons normally travel in pairs, but occasionally a compound can lose one of its electrons and is rendered unstable. It immediately begins to look for a new mate, and a favorite source is from the cells of our bodies. In stealing electrons from body cells, free radicals destroy the cells and accelerate aging. They also oxidize the low density lipoproteins that taxi cholesterol around the blood, and cause it to deposit its cholesterol in our arteries creating a condition known as atherosclerosis.

This is a narrowing of the arteries through the arterial walls being thickened by the cholesterol, and in severe cases they can even become completely blocked. This is a very serious condition that near the heart can cause cardiac failure, and in the brain can cause a stroke. The antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, therefore, are very important to us for this single property, let alone all the others that they possess that are also beneficial to our health.

It is important that your body is well supplied with all the vitamins it needs, especially the water soluble ones such as vitamin C that are not stored in the body. Vitamin supplements are a good way of maintaining a balanced daily vitamin intake. They affect every part of your body from healthy toenails to healthy hair on your head. They also affect your digestion, your blood and circulation system, the way your brain works, the development and maintenance of healthy bones, skin and muscle. In short, they are essential to just about every part and function of your body. Without them you would not exist.

People can generally boost their health with vitamin supplements, and even those that generally feel fit would likely benefit from a regular course of vitamins and minerals during the winter months. People are no longer subject to the forced seasonal depletion of certain vitamins and minerals due to the non-availability of certain fruits and vegetables in winter time, but a supplement will help them to survive the winter with fewer colds and other viral and bacterial infections.

There are some supplements, however, that should be taken with care under certain circumstances. Pregnant women in particular, while taking a good supply of folic acid, should avoid a vitamin A supplement that could harm the growing fetus. The same is true of liver that is very rich in vitamin A. Anybody suffering from a specific medical condition should seek their physician’s advice if taking or intending to take a supplement that involves them exceeding the RDA for any vitamin or mineral.

The body of evidence indicates that those eating a properly balanced diet with plenty fruit, vegetables and protein from both animal and vegetable sources, should not need any supplements. A balanced diet will provide you with all the vitamins you need, but most people do not eat a balanced diet, not only Americans but generally throughout the world.

The American diet tends to be rich in fats and low in fruit and vegetables, and it is certainly true that this type of diet is one that is usually used as an example when vitamin and mineral deficiencies are discussed. However, it is not only in America, since many other cultures are taking up the fast food solution to working parents that have little or no time to cook for their families. The result is a salt and sugar rich diet that is lacking in amino acids, antioxidants and the vitamins that are needed for general good health.

Apart from those diets made by choice, even if for understandable reasons, many people cannot eat a balanced diet, and others are on diets for weight loss that are restrictive in the range of foods that they eat. Women and children dressed from head to toe in black robes for religious reasons are prone to vitamin D deficiencies, their children being especially prone to rickets. All of these require vitamin supplements of one type or another. Supplementation can be taken as individual vitamins or as a mixture of various vitamins and minerals.

Whether you belong to one of these groups or not is immaterial: you can boost your health and wellness with vitamin supplements if you take them regularly, and combine your vitamin intake with the right amount of exercise for your age. All physicians are agreed that good health is a combination of nutrition and exercise.

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Is Your Exercise Program Keeping You Fat?

If you tend to hold excess weight in your lower belly - as what some people call a stomach "pooch", you may be perpetuating the problem with your exercise program! Although exercise is an important part of any weight loss program, too much and/or the wrong kind of exercise for certain people can actually prevent them from losing their belly fat.

The adrenals are small glands that sit on top of the kidneys ("adrenal" translates to "on top of the kidney"). Alhough they are small, the adrenal glands are powerful organs and produce hormones involved in many functions. The most familiar of the adrenal horomones is probably adrenaline (also called epinephrine). You may already be familar with the function of adrenaline, which mobilizes the body for action by increasing heart rate, elevating blood pressure and respiration, and by increasing circulation to the body's muscles. Adrenaline also promotes the burning of fat for energy, so adrenal function can promote weight loss during short periods of physical or even emotional stress.

The adrenal glands produce another hormone that can promote weight gain though. This hormone is called cortisol, and it tends to cause the storage of fat in the lower abdomen. Even when severely overworked by stress, the adrenal glands can continue to produce hgh amounts of cortisol over long periods of time, unlikewith adrenaline which gets used up rather quickly. This means that any fat-burning effects from adrenaline will be overcome in the long-run by the fat-storing effects of cortisol. From a survival standpoint, cortisol serves the purpose of providing emergency storage of fat for energy when the body is under stress for a long period of time. This storage of fat in the lower abdomen will provide energy and keep a person alive if he or she must endure long periods living under harsh and physically demanding conditions. The problem is, mental/emotional stress will elevate cortisol levels too, and for individuals who lead particularly stressful lives, the continued high cortisol levels will likely stimulate lower belly fat deposition.

So what does this have to do with exercise? For an individual who is under constant, long-term mental stress, the adrenal glands are always being overtaxed, so that person's cortisol levels are already elevated and their adrenaline has been long since used up for the most part. If you add a lot of strenuous exercise into the mix, the result is more cortisol production. As the cortisol levels increase, there is a greater and greater tendency to store fat in the lower abdomen.

Many people in this situation who are determined to lose weight will see their inability to lose weight as an indication that they need to exercise harder and more often. These people may be able to continue to lose weight in general, because if you are burning more calories than you take in, you will lose weight, but they never are able to eliminate that lower belly fat. Such people often struggle to exercise even more and with more intensity, but they can't ged rid of that lower abdominal bulge, and they get more and more tired and often start to lose muscle mass and strenght in the large muscles of the arms and legs.

Why would somone lose strength in the muscles in the arms and legs? Exercise is used to strenghten and develop muscle, isn't it? Well, cortisol not only stores fat in the lower abdomen, it also stimulates the breakdown of muscle and other tissue to use for immediate energy needs. As one struggles to work out harder and harder trying to get rid of the belly fat, more and more cortisol is released, and the body responds by breaking down it's own muscle and lean tissues for fuel - meaning you lose weight but not fat!

The result is a downward spiral of fatigue, loss of muscle mass and strength, and sometimes the development of joint problems as the body eats it's own tissues for energy - but there's no reduction in that lower abdomen fat deposit that the body holds in reserve.

If you do have this problem, what steps can you take to eliminate that lower belly fat? Well, first of all it is important to figure out if you actually fall into this category, because with the exception of someone who has high cortisol production and overworked adrenals, vigorous exercise is still one of the most effective weight loss measures one can take.

Someone with a high cortisol problem will have a certain collection of signs and symptoms. As has already been discussed, the first sign is that extra weight is being held almost completely in the lower belly area. The weight would create a sagging area just below the waistline. As we've discussed, muscle loss may occur in the arms and legs, which may be visibly obvious, or may be noticed as a dificulty in building strenght and endurance in the muscles. In addition, people with adrenal fatigue and high cortisol may have a collection of symptoms that could include chronic fatigue, cravings for salty foods, a need for caffeine or other stimulants just to stay awake during the day, swelling in the lower legs, dizziness when arising quickly from a seated position, numerous arthritic problems, cramps in the calves at night, and waking up frequently in the middle of the night.

If you do fall into this category of adrenal fatigue / high cortisol, exercise is still important, but you want the kind of exercise that helps you to handle stress, not exercise that creates additional stress. For someone with overworked adrenals, the best type of exercise is relatively low-intensity aerobic exercise for 30 to 60 minutes about 3 times per week. Aerobic exercise is activity you are able to do without becoming out of breath and without being totally exhausted afterwards. Among the options for this type of exercise are walking, bicycling, swimming, yoga, tai chi, and low-intensity aerobics. Exercising outdoors seems to be particularly beneficial for stress reduction, and subsequently cortisol reduction, at least when there are no extremes of temperature to deal with. Besides changing to a lighter form of exercise, nutritionally it is helpful to be careful to eat plenty of protein in order to spare muscle tissue. This is easily accomplished by most people, but if you've been drastically cutting calories to lose weight, you are probably actually working against yourself. To reduce muscle breakdown, 3 to 4 ounces of animal proteins from eggs, dairy, fish, meat, or poultry per meal (3 meals per day) is usually a good amount. If you are a vegan, just make sure to eat plenty of beans, nuts, seeds, and other high-protein foods. If you've been working out like crazy to try to get rid of that belly fat, but all you've managed to accomplish was feeling tired, weak, and sore, by reducing the intensity of your workouts and controlling stress better, you'll likely find that the belly fat gradually shrinks away and you'll look and feel great!

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And Good Times Were Had By All: Using Aromatherapy To Bring Good Cheer

Another beautiful holiday season is upon us, and this time we'd like to do a little something different. A different decor, a different meal, maybe a whole different attitude...What simple thing can one do to make the season special? Bring a little extra cheer to the family? Perhaps even sneak it in to the festivities so they don't even know it's happening, but they're a little happier and healthier? A naturopath's suggestion: consider aromatherapy. With the chaos of shopping, cooking, cleaning and visiting family, bringing an uplifting, warming atmosphere to your home with the touch of lovely aromas can really make a difference. And pure, real essential oils are a truly effective way to do this - natural aromatics can have a profoundly positive effect on our spirits and the spirits of those around us.

Folks have used essential oils and natural aromatics to brighten their surroundings and lift their moods for many, many years. And over the last decade, scientific studies have shown the simple inhalation of essential oils to have measurable positive effects on our health. Like you'd expect from the happy and calm feelings they can bring about, essential oils have been noted to lower blood pressure, decrease stress hormone levels and improve the quality of rest. The use of essential oils as anti-depressants is on the rise, as more people are using nature's pure perfumes to bring smiles to their faces. There may be no better time to use these wonderful natural tools in your own home.

Getting started with aromatherapy is a very simple process - you'll need just a bottle of essential oil (single or blended - we'll get to some suggestions in a moment) and a means to diffuse the aroma into your living space. There's often an incredible variety of aromas from which to chose, even at your local market, and even more so via mail-order. Essential oil diffusers are often found at the same stores, with a wide selection of prices and style to suit your needs.

Diffusing essential oils, which really means evaporating them from their oil state into the air around you, can be done in a number of ways. The least complex of all might be making your own potpourri, adding several drops of oils to the bowl or basket. Other folks add a few drops of oil to pinecones and place them about the house. Using this diffusion method, you may want to mix a small amount of a vegetable oil with the essential oil, as to slow the oil's evaporation rate, and lengthen the time you'll be enjoying the aromas. Basic electric units are available which perform a similar task. A little more complex and professional are the ultrasonic humidifying nebulizers - essentially a small humidifyer which makes a mist of both oil and water. Then there are the high-end units of nebulizing diffusers which make a mist of the essential oils to get higher concentrations into larger areas. ANY of these will work for making your home smell lovely for the holidays; if you think you may want to pursue aromatherapy in the future, you may consider investing in a nebulizer-style diffuser, as they generally have a more broad range of therapeutic possibilities.

And now for the fun part - the essential oils. There are SO many to choose from, and you may start by just browsing sites on the internet which will often have listings of over a hundred oils available. An excellent place to start is with the truly 'seasonal' evergreen aromas. Perhaps the most popular are the 'needle' oils, distilled from the needles and twigs of evergreen trees. One of the many species of Fir may be tbe most often used, as their aromas are at once warm, complex and inviting. Black Spruce is another favorite, much for the same reason - their sweetness is quite uplifting, and their complexity keeps us interested. Juniper berry, while not strictly a 'needle' oil is also wonderfully bright and uplifting. While some find it a bit strong on its own, it blends very well with other essential oils distilled from evergreens.

If you're wishing to bring a little more exotic scents into your home, the oils of Frankincense, Myrrh and Sandalwood are perfect choices - aromas that have been used extensively for both their psychological and physiological health benefits for ages. These tend to be more earthy and grounding than the evergreen oils, perhaps a little more calming - exactly what many homes are in need of right about now. Frankincense is both bright and earthy at the same time, with its citrus and woody notes. Myrrh is more hypnotic and mysterious, useful in small amounts. Sandalwood is a classic favorite with both sweet and woody notes, with lovely varieties coming from India, Australia and the South Pacific. These oils can be blended together, or added in small amounts to one or more of the evergreen oils for a pleasant combination.

If you really want to get creative, there are many brilliant aromatics from which to choose. Lavender is well-known for its calming scent; citrus oils like Bergamot, Orange and Grapefruit are lively can easily brighten your space. Spice oils can be added to blends or used on their own in small amounts (they can be potent, and should be used cautiously)...these include Cinnamon, Clove, Peppermint, Cardamom and the like. If you're not familiar with blending, try using these oils singly, or in combinations of two or three at most. Or get enough to make small batches to test your formula, then a just as your nose desires.

Just a little essential oil can bring a new kind of cheer to you and your family this season. One small bottle is often enough to scent your home for several days - more potent oils will last even longer. A little pure essential oil goes a long way; it's always better to get a little hint of aroma than to be overwhelmed by it, so start slowly if this is your first time. The effects of aromatherapy may surprise you; maybe enough to get you hooked and keep you smiling through the rest of the winter.

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The Secret To Slim Thighs

What's the secret to getting slim thighs? First, let me tell what it is not. You will never get the legs you want just by using those traditional leg machines at your gym or by doing day after day of boring cardio.

The reality is that you always see people at the gym doing this stuff and never seeing the results they want.

The real secret to getting your thighs slim involves 3 components: 1) proper nutrition, 2) strength training and 3) cardio (but not the typical kind of cardio everyone does).

1. Proper Nutrition: I am going to be honest with you. You will never ever get slimmer thighs if you don't put the right foods in your body. It doesn't matter how great your workout routine is or what you may have heard or read. If you eat the wrong foods your body will maintain or store more body fat around your midsection, your arms, your butt and your thighs.

And fat is what blurs the visibility of the underlying muscles. When you have excess body fat you cannot see any muscular definition.

So, if you want to get your thighs slimmer you have to eat enough of the right kinds of nutritious, fat burning foods that will help keep your legs sexy and lean.

A great rule of thumb I tell my clients is to make sure you eat at least 5 small meals each day. But, all 5 are not really "meals".

3 are meals and 2 are snacks. So, it looks like this:

Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Dinner

Getting into the habit of eating more frequently is how you start to boost your metabolism to burn fat so you can begin to get slim thighs much faster than if you eat fewer meals.

2. Strength Training: Usually when I tell women they need strength training to make their thighs slimmer they look at me like they've just seen a ghost.

"But, I don't want to get bulky muscles" is a typical response I get. I don't know where this myth came from but I want to clarify something here.

Getting "bulky" muscles just from strength training is 100% pure myth. Here's why. Building the kind of muscle mass that you see on a bodybuilder is absolutely unrealistic for the majority of people especially women.

Women naturally have lower levels of testosterone which makes it more difficult to build muscle mass versus men.

Here is something else to consider. If you want slim thighs with nice "tone" you have to possess a certain level of muscularity anyway.

You can burn all the body fat you want but if you don't have any real muscle on your legs your slim thighs will look more like toothpicks instead of sexy legs with curves.

That doesn't mean you will "bulk up". You simply fit the level of muscularity to match your goal. Adding some lean muscle to your thighs will give you that sexy curvacious appeal you are looking for.

And that comes from intense strength training and not from doing the leg machines at the gym with light weights and lots of repetitions.

You will never get slimmer thighs with nice definition that way. You have to lift heavier and smarter with just the right amount of rest in between to allow your body to recuperate which is when your thighs slim down.

Try these thigh slimming exercises to get you started:

squats
forward lunge walks
sideways lunge walks
box or bench jumps

Learn how to get slim thighs faster and lose 10 pounds in the process-
click here

3. Cardiovascular Training I never said no cardio. I said not the traditional cardio everyone else does. I am going to suggest a different twist on your typical cardio routine that will burn more calories and fat while stimulating your thighs to add some lean, sexy muscle tone.

Getting your thighs slim requires the combination of sufficient muscularity and low body fat.

Your muscles lie underneath a layer of fat cells. Fat cells store body fat. The more fat you carry the bigger your fat cells become and the less visible your muscles are.

So, to see those slim thighs underneath you also need to burn the fat from your fat cells.

Here's a tip to get you started:

Perform 90% Heart Rate Peaks- Instead of doing the typical marathon cardio workout in your "fat burning zone" you are going to perform a much higher intensity workout but for a shorter time period.

This will allow you to burn more calories and fat long after your workout is over. Here is what you do:

Use the formula 220 - your age to get a number. Now, multiply that number by .85 and write down the product. Next, multiply the number by .75 and write down that product. The 2 products are your low and high end heart rate ranges.

Example for a 35-year old: 220 - 35 = 185
185 X .85 = 157
185 X .75 = 138

Heart rate range would be 138 (low end) to 157 (high end).

You will perform your cardio workout on any piece of equipment of your choice. Warm up for 5 minutes by gradually building your heart rate up to your low end range (138 in the above example).

Then you will increase the intensity until your heart rate peaks at your high end range (157 beats per minute in the above example).

Once you reach your high end range you immediately drop the intensity and recover back down to yoru low end range. Once you reach your low end range peak back up again.

Repeat this process of peaking and recovering for 30 minutes. Then record the total number of times you peaked to your high end range.

The next time you perform this you will try to beat the total number of peaks.

Cool down for 5 minutes by gradually decreasing the intensity until your heart rate is at your low end range or lower.

Stretch for 5-10 minutes.

And there you have it. The real secret to getting slim thighs is by adding some lean fat burning, thigh slimming muscle and dropping your body fat levels low enough to see those sexy trim legs.

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Green Tea and its Antioxidising Benefits

Antioxidant Benefits From Drinking Green Tea

Oxygen is one of the essential elements that are needed by all the members who belong to the animal kingdom. Oxygen is an element that is present in the air and is responsible for triggering the burning of fat and glucose in order to provide the body with its necessary supply of energy and heat. However essential it may be, oxygen unfortunately also has some effects that are negative.

During the oxidation process, free radicals, which are highly reactive byproducts, are produced. When other molecules interact with these free radicals they themselves get turned into free radicals and their normal functioning gets disrupted. Eventually this could lead to massive tissue damage and cell destruction. It could even lead to the incidence of degenerative diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, artherosclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and heart disease.

Fortunately for us the human body is naturally equipped with defenses that work to prevent the harmful effects of these free radical compounds. Antioxidants are chemical substances that are naturally present in vegetables as well as fruit. These antioxidants hunt down free radicals and act on them. This causes the free radicals to get neutralized and stops their rampage and the damage they do to the body’s healthy cells, thus preventing or decreasing the incidence of disease.

Antioxidant Effects of Plants

Camellia sinensis is one of many plants that are known to contain a high level of disease-fighting antioxidants. This plant is sometimes also called the tea plant. Chinese households have been serving tea as a healthy beverage for hundreds of years in order to promote general well being and good health. Green tea in particular is very popular because of the many remarkable health benefits it provides.

Green tea is very popular in Japan, India. Thailand and China where people have been drinking it for years. Green tea has been used as one of the ingredients in many traditional Indian as well as Chinese medicines. Green tea is used in medicine as a:
* Stimulant
* Astringent- it helps wounds to heal and also controls bleeding
* Diuretic- promotes urine excretion
* Agent that improves health of the heart.

The benefits derived from green tea are believed to be largely due to the polycatechins that are present in it. These polycatechins have very powerful and highly effective antioxidant effects. Other than polycatechins there are many other ingredients present that contribute to the antioxidant properties of green tea.

The Antioxidant Properties of Green Tea

The antioxidant properties and effects of green tea are due to the presence of powerful polyphenolic antioxidants, also known as catechins. The other substances that give green tea its antioxidant properties include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A and tannin. Green tea also has powerful neuro-protective, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial and cardio-protective properties. Epigallocatechin gallate, which is an especially bioactive catechin, has been identified by many scientists as particularly important because its antioxidant effects have been linked to cancer prevention.

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Your First Servings of a Nutritional Supplement

This article provides some suggestions on taking your first serving of a nutritional supplement. It focuses on starting an Aloe-Vera and Sea Vegetable supplement but can be applied to starting a variety of liquid nutritional supplements. It shows you how to get the best and the most from every subsequent serving you take.

So, how much should you take as your first serving?

First, if you have not already done so, complete a Health Evaluation Questionnaire and determine your health index. Once you complete the questionnaire and have determined your health index, you will have an idea of the amount and frequency of a liquid nutritional supplement is best for you. If you simply taste the supplement to see if it is right for you, a serving of one to two ounces is adequate.

Some general guidelines about your first serving:

1. Gently shake the bottle of your nutritional supplement. This will mix the tiny bits of sea vegetable pulp with the aloe vera. You should shake the bottle before every serving.

2. For your first servings, use a measuring cup. We have a tendency to under or overestimate how much is one, two, four or eight ounces so using a measuring cup will allow us to reset our estimating process.

3. Use the same glass every time. Once you've measured out the specific amount that you want to consume, pour it into your favorite juice or wine glass. Note the amount from the measuring cup and how much that amount fills your favorite glass. Doing this for a few days will eliminate your need to use the measuring cup. Note that you do not need to worry about taking too much of a whole food product. It is like eating oranges or bananas. You're not at risk of overdosing with a whole food.

4. Take a small sip and hold the liquid nutritional supplement under your tongue. Wait about 10 seconds and repeat several times. Special cells under the tongue absorb nutrients directly into the bloodstream. You will almost be able to feel the supplement 'disappearing' under your tongue. It's actually being absorb by these special cells. The more quickly you body absorbs the supplement, the more likely your body needs it!

5. Store your open container of Aloe Vera and Sea Vegetable liquid nutritional supplement in the refrigerator. It's a whole food that has enzymes, amino acids, and other live nutrients. Keeping it refrigerated will ensure it maintains its potency. In addition to refrigerating a whole food, since it is a whole food the nutritional supplement can be taken on either an empty stomach or with meals. However, when first starting out, taking it on an empty stomach may cause some discomfort with those that have a stomach condition or any stomach toxicity. It could make your stomach feel queasy. If this occurs, you can reduce or eliminate the feeling by eating a little bit of food. The Aloe Vera in the supplement can also be used after a meal to aid digestion and ease any stomach upset or heartburn.

Before you drink your First Serving, take a moment to examine how you are feeling. Sense your energy levels, the degree of pain you may be experiencing, or how other symptoms may be bothering you at the moment. After taking your nutritional supplement (remember holding small sips under the tongue for maximum absorption), take another assessment of how you feel. Some people enjoy the benefits right away, others within a few days, and others over a period of a few weeks. The benefits depend on your body and the amount of toxins within it.

It is worth discussing toxicity for a moment. If you are concerned about heavy metals or toxicity (various elements within your body that have build up over time that your body should have eliminated but could not for a number of reasons) then you may be concerned that an Aloe Vera and Sea Vegetable combination may cause your body to detoxify too quickly, leaving you with an uncomfortable cleansing action. Aloe Vera by itself can have a laxative effect. Sea Vegetables on the other hand can cause constipation in some people. Combining the two into one liquid nutritional supplement may counterbalance these effects. However, you may still experience a bit of cleansing because of the heavy metals or toxins stored within your body. The remedy is simple. Cut your dose in half and add a little bit more each time you take your supplement until you reach your recommended dosage. The cleansing is a natural part of getting your body back to its most natural state. Not everyone experiences cleansing but for those that do, follow the guidelines and enjoy the benefits. It's important to continue taking the supplement so just cut back a bit, then add a little more each day.

Remember to take the Health Evaluation Questionnaire and determine your health index for the recommend amount of your nutritional supplement. Hold it under your tongue for maximum absorption and take it each day as recommended. The benefits to you of any nutritional supplement will come over time. Follow these guidelines and enjoy your Way to Wellness.

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How To Get A Man To Quit Smoking

It’s my job to hypnotize people to stop smoking. I also hypnotize people to create outrageous new possibilities in their lives. But helping people rid themselves of a life-threatening, debilitating habit is what makes me jump out of bed in the morning.

So if you’d like to know how to help a man make the decision and take the actions to stop smoking, you’re in the right place. But you need to understand some things first:

1. Men Vs. Women Smokers

Many of my smoking cessation clients are women. They awaken one day with this feeling inside and say: I’m going to stop smoking!

Sometimes it’s because they want to get pregnant. Or because they worry about the link between smoking and various cancers, heart conditions, or other diseases that affect women. Sometimes it’s because they know they smell like smoke, or they’re wasting money, or it’s getting harder to breathe when they exercise.

Sometimes it’s because a cute little girl said, “Mommy, I wanna smoke, just like you.”

So they make the decision, and then call me and ask how soon they can come in. If I said, “Five minutes from now,” they’d manage to arrive on time, no matter how far away they live. That’s how women smokers act when they quit for good. But men? Well…

2. Men Are Different And What That Means

I’m going to be doing some generalizing here, so buckle your seatbelt and know that I’m trying to make important points that apply to many male smokers, if not all. Mea culpa, but I believe it’s important.

To a man, smoking means something different than to a woman.

To a woman (alert: I’m generalizing again), it’s a way to hang out with her smoking friends; something to do with her hands; an ill-advised method for keeping her weight down (she believes) and a way to create some smoke curls that (she believes) make her look elegant, graceful, and interesting.

To a man, though he won’t admit it, it’s tied up with his manhood.

It doesn’t really matter how, when or why he began smoking, but here are the favorites:

he learned at his father’s knee
he tried his first cigarette with a crowd of other boys
he took it up because John Wayne smoked
he wanted to rebel
he wanted to feel okay as a loner
he’ll look like he’s doing something so the woman he loves will leave him alone
he smokes outside his office building so he can bond with his boss
he started (again) because George Clooney looked so cool smoking in Good Night and Good Luck (substitute any hot male star in any noteworthy film)

Regardless which scenario, it’s about masculinity and what that means to him.

3. Ways To Encourage A Man To Stop Smoking

There are four or five solid ways to get a guy to stop smoking. And a hundred ways to make him smoke more in your attempt to get him to stop. If you’re a woman who loves a man who smokes, you know many of the hundred. When I retire, I may compile them all. In the meantime, here are some of the ways that have been tried.

4. Worst Ways

nagging him
getting his mother to nag him
showing him articles that say smoking = death
showing him articles that say smoking leads to a long list of horrible diseases
asking his doctor to tell him, especially if he finds out you did
saying he stinks, literally
saying you won’t have sex with him if he continues to smoke
saying his cough sounds symptomatic of something horrible
reminding him he swore he would stop
naming friends, relatives and celebrities who are ill or dead due to smoking

These don’t work because for most men because every time you make the argument, it will trigger an answer that proves it’s not true for him. Remind him that so-and-so died of lung cancer, and he’ll remember that so-and-so smoked filterless cigarettes, smoked more often and longer.

Every time you nag, he’ll offer himself a counter-example. Every time you demonstrate why he shouldn’t smoke, he’ll see how his situation is different.

Soon he may tune out your voice entirely when he knows a stop-smoking argument is coming.

5. Best Ways

A. He discovers for himself—physical effects in his own body, or stories about a close friend who is very sick, or news stories, or a very smart doctor who knows how to talk to men directly without being an alarmist. He makes the decision.

B. A child tells him, innocently and disingenuously. Kids say the darnedest things. And spoken with such innocence, it could make a stone cry. Especially if the child is the man’s own blood. (Bribery is okay for this good cause; just make sure the kid stays quiet.)

C. He reads an article that hits so close to home, he can’t ignore it. He just “happened” to find this article in the house.

D. He hears from his wife or a beloved daughter these words: “I’m having a baby!” A first (grand)child or a late-in-life baby are especially compelling.

E. A combination of any of the above.

6. What To Say When A Man Tells You He Is Stopping Smoking

Be pleasantly surprised, even if you were prepping this for months. Be pleased, and don’t offer to help. Let him ask.

Avoid saying “It’s about time” or “I told you you’d better.” Instead try “That’s great.” Then stop. If he looks like he is trusting you not to nag, you might quietly add “Can I do anything?” but if you’ve been a nag, steer clear of even that.

Don’t ask about his progress, let him tell you. If he chooses to talk, be supportive and proud of him, as if the idea was all his. Because, truthfully, it was.

Enjoy knowing you got what you wanted. Keep this enjoyment private. © 2007 by Wendy Lapidus-Saltz. All rights reserved.

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How To Get Rid Of Flabby Arms And A Belly At Home

You've looked at yourself in the mirror and decided that no, you're not fat. There just seems to be a bit of a belly and some flabby arms that won't go away. You know that you need to do some resistance training for your belly and arms but how can you ever fit it in? You do it at home!

First, what I am about to tell you will only work on flabby arms and a pokey belly when used with a total approach to getting in shape. That means proper diet, cardio and resistance training as a system.

Lets talk about the flabby arms first. The easiest thing you can do to tighten up flabby arms and a droopy chest is the press up. I know you may have difficulty with them but that's because they are hard, but they also work VERY well. We will call the press up a pushup from now on just because that is the term that most people use. The pushup has many variations and I am sure that one of the ones I give you will be well within your ability to do until you get to the full military pushup variation and beyond.

You want to keep your core tight. What you do not want to happen is that when you push up, you look like you are peeling yourself off the floor. I call this worming. A lot of people do it when they get tired. First you will see them raise their heads, then their chest and finally their hips leave the floor. What should happen is that you contract your core so that everything from the base contact point (feet or knees) is lifted off at the same moment.

The first and easiest version of the pushup is the wall pushup. This is simply standing face into a wall and doing your pushups by pushing against the wall until you are standing straight. You lower and push over and over. If you can do 15 to 20 reps of these two to three times then it is time to go onto the second version.

The second version on the scale of difficulty in pushups is the box pushup. Instead of pushing against the wall, you will push against something that is 1-2 feet off the floor. You should probably do these with your base being your knees instead of your feet like in the full military pushup. The couch will work and so will the coffee table. Make sure you position yourself so that when you touch the couch (or whatever) in the bottom position your lower chest is the contact point. Aim for the nipples if you want an exact spot. After you can do 3 sets of 15 on this version, you are ready for the next step in your pushup evolution!

The third version on the scale of difficulty in pushups is when the pushup is done on the knees. Everything about this version is the same as the regular full pushup except that your knees do not leave the ground. This cuts out the extra weight from the knees to the toes making the pushup a little easier than the full version. Again, when you get 3 sets of 15 repetitions, you are ready to move on.

The fourth version in your journey to a full pushup is the knee pushup with a full pushup negative. Now we are getting somewhere! The trick with this version is to do your pushup as in the above version and lower yourself in the regular full pushup version. The reason you do this is because you are always stronger in the negative or lowering portion of the movement than in the positive or raising portion. So we do the heavy full pushup negative and the easier knee pushups to raise your self up. When you feel comfortable with the movement, try this to tighten up the flabby arms.

Three rounds of:

Pushups x max repetitions combined with

Dips off a chair x max repetitions

Now What About That Belly?

You'll hear a lot of experts jumping on the bandwagon saying the crunch isn't the most effective ab exercise. It's not if you are a gymnast or you have been training for years. If you can't do a couple of sets without your abs burning though, it's a great place to start without killing yourself!

Place your hands behind (support, but don't pull) your head. I like to support my head by using the fingertips to cup the ears. It's a light support but it keeps you from cranking your neck forward. From here, curl your upper torso forward. As you do this you want to keep your lower back in mind and push it into the floor. Three sets of crunches for 20 reps a set is a nice place for a beginner to start. You can rest anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute depending on how hard of an effort that was for you.

If that's not a problem then superset each set of crunches with the next exercise called planks. Superset is just a fancy personal trainer term for no rest. This means then that the first set of crunches is immediately followed by a brief 30 second rest to let the burn fizzle a bit.

NOW STAND ON ONE FOOT AND PAT YOUR HEAD. Just Joking!

If you watch your diet and do your cardio along with your full body workout, you will see that six pack come out. The last step is to add in the plank. This is basically a pushup position but you don't rest on your hands, you rest on your forearms and just hold it for 30-60 seconds. Don't let your lower back sag! Keep a slightly inverted c posture like your trying to pull your hips toward your chin.

Now to combine these two belly busters into an abdominal workout you can do at home and get a little sweat on.

3 Supersets With No Rest:

Crunches x20

Planks for a 30-60 second hold

So there you go. If used with proper diet, cardio and full body training this will tighten up flabby arms, a saggy chest and a pokey belly in the comforts of your own home.

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3 Surefire Ways To Lose Stomach Fat

It is a known fact that the country's population is seriously overweight and desperately need to learn...How To Lose That Stomach Fat!. But the critical factor many people may take for granted, or fail to realize, is that stomach fat contributes to other health problems like:

raised blood pressure
high cholesterol levels
heart disease
cancer
and diabetes

The first place to look is at the food that you eat and your eating habits with an emphasis on calories, because... your weight is determined by the amount of calories that you eat versus the amount of calories that you burn. One of the main causes of excess fat is due to your metabolism, which is the engine that burns the calories from the foods that you eat.

In humans...metabolism is related to the intake and use of food; persons with a high metabolism can eat more without gaining weight. When learning how to lose stomach fat it is valuable to understand how metabolism works. Being the main process by which your body converts food into energy, metabolism involves several biochemical actions where cells produce the substances... and energy... needed to sustain life. A part of metabolism consists of breaking down food to provide heat and energy in a process called catabolism. Another part of metabolism consists of building proteins and repairing tissue in a process called anabolism. The speed at which your body burns calories is called your metabolic rate.

The faster your metabolism, the more calories you burn and the less likely you'll be overweight. There are many different ways to increase your metabolism naturally. So how to lose stomach fat becomes much clearer now that you know you need to increase your metabolism.

Here are 3 real working options you can use to increase your metabolism:

1.) Exercise... You can increase your metabolic rate when exercising and as a result burn off those extra calories and help weight loss. Exercising to gain more muscle can help to burn more calories because of the fact that muscle burns calories more quickly than fat. One of the best ways to improve your metabolic rate, gain more muscle and help weight loss is to do more exercise like a full body workout... using a combination of aerobics and resistance training for best results. This can not only help to burn calories but also to add to the amount of muscle and allow the body to burn the calories more efficiently which can result in you losing that stomach fat. Make an effort to walk and move around a few more minutes each day. Activities such as gardening, washing your car, taking the stairs more often or even parking further away at the store are simple ways to burn more calories.

2.) Diet... Here you should not be thinking about starving yourself, but rather what type of foods are you consuming in your diet...with the emphasis on calories.Surprisingly and contrary to what appears to be basic logic, eating less can sometimes slow your diet down, or at least it can slow down the amount of weight loss. There is not a generic answer that will satisfy everyone as to how many calories is enough to help with your general weight loss or to get rid of stomach fat. Your metabolism can slow down when dieting consist of only eating less...which means you will burn less calories and keep that stomach fat. However, research shows that around 25 percent of calories in a protein-rich meal may be burnt off. But make sure you choose low-fat protein foods such as lean meat, skinless chicken and low-fat dairy products.

3.) Eat smaller portions and eat more often... This is probably one of the most effective steps you can take in learning how to lose stomach fat. The higher the metabolic rate the more calories you burn, the better the weight loss. You want to eat frequently, but the meals should be comprised of smaller portions. Natural food that can boost the metabolism are low-fat food. These types of foods have the tendency to stimulate your metabolism. Many nutritionists believe that when you eat very small amounts of calories, the body "thinks" there is not enough food available which means that the speed in which your body burns calories...(your metabolic rate)...will slow down to adjust.

Your food intake... what you eat and your eating habits are what causes you to become overweight...You became overweight because you are eating the wrong foods, with the improper amount of calories per meal, and you are not eating at the proper intervals to help increase your metabolic rate...resulting in your losing that stomach fat.

Remember, if you want something different you've got to do something different...You have to make the change. Do you want to get rid of that stomach fat for good, or do you want to keep that health risk, stay miserable and out of shape the rest of your life?What Choice Are You Going To Make?

To find out more about a natural weight loss system that can help you lose stomach fat fast without starving... click on... How To Lose That Stomach Fat!

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Belly Dancing And Erasing Cellulite: The Perfect Combination!

With all the noise about cellulite, many women wonder if these fatty lumps can ever be eliminated after they have developed on different areas of the body. And to add to the confusion, a number of fitness gurus and medical professionals proclaim that it is impossible for anyone to be free of cellulite. But there are those who took these proclamations more as a challenge than a barrier; and what these remarkable individuals did blew up many preconceived notions about cellulite.

So is it possible to eradicate cellulite? The answer is a big yes! You can definitely say goodbye to most, if not every inch, of the cellulite in your thighs, tummy, arms or any other area of your body. But just like in any other aspect of life, nothing comes for free when it comes to dealing with cellulite. You have to work hard and you need a lot of self-discipline in order for you to stamp out unwanted fatty dimples on your skin.

To begin, you have to realize that cellulite is nothing more than an accumulated fat that is huddled just under your skin tissues. So to deal with it, you need to build solid full-figured muscles in your body. Doing so, you allow your skin to become firmer and more consistent on the surface. And the most effective ways in which you can build more muscles and have smoother skin is through classic exercise and diet.

Adopting a balanced diet to combat your cellulite can be fairly easy. With the countless diet books and information around, you will be able to take on a balanced eating plan according to your needs in not time at all. But when it comes to the right kind and amount of exercise, you need to be a little more creative. You see, unlike diet or eating which is always a part of your day, exercise for most people requires extra time off your daily schedule; otherwise, if you have always been an exercise junkie, then you do not need help with cellulite after all.

Exercises come in many forms and intensities. But if you want to make it relatively easy for yourself, then you should take a look at belly dancing in your fight against cellulite. This dance is a good aerobic exercise that can be excellent in burning calories off your body.

The benefits that you can derive from belly dancing actually goes beyond eradicating cellulite. But no matter how you look at this dance, you will find that the core moves are always about building lean muscles on many parts of your body. Plus, the steps required in this kind of dance offers superior workout not only for your muscles but for your heart as well. And of course, all the twisting and shaking that are unique to belly dancing can increase the elasticity of your skin.

Belly dancing is a series of low impact movements which is why it is convenient and suitable for people across all ages. This means women who are well in their forties or fifties, age brackets where cellulite is prevalent, can safely include this dance in their daily regimen. All in all, this dance can bring about better blood circulation, which is needed to flush away toxins responsible for trapping all the fatty lumps under your skin.

Indeed, reducing or eliminating cellulite should never be cumbersome and boring. With proper diet and a lot of belly dancing, you can dance your way to a body that is cellulite-free. And if you really want more help against your fatty lumps, you can always use products like Celluthin. Visit www.Celluthin.com for more details about freeing yourself from cellulite.

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Protein and Weight Loss - Is there any Relation in these

Now it has become a trend that we all are trying to switch on to low carb diet. It occurs mainly due to the fact that high protein diet actually enhances weight loss. A recent British study confirmed that there is a strong correlation between diet high in protein and weight loss. The study also said that the diet high in protein triggers in releasing hormone that influences weight loss.

Protein consumption in diet ensures the release of PYY hormone that reduces the hunger. Researchers argued that high protein foods start out PYY secretion better than other foods. Scientific studies also suggest that PYY should be an integral part of weight reduction plan. Theoretically, as because a proportionate relation exists between protein and weight loss, therefore an obese individual must eat more calories to trigger PYY compared to a normal weight individual.

Typically, we avoid high calorie food to maintain healthy balance in life. But the truth is if we do not get enough protein in our diet, we may suffer from varieties of health complications. Lack of protein in our regular diet may cause harm to all the organs - from the heart to kidney. It also causes weaker immune system; hence our health may be affected by a variety of diseases.

The amount of protein in the diet depends essentially on three factors - sex, age and weight. However, for normal adult man and normal adult woman the daily protein intake would be 56 grams per day and 46 grams per day respectively.

About Weight Loss

In recent years, there are few high-protein diet programs available in the market claiming for weight loss. However, supports received from the diet gurus and health practitioners are generally inclined with the low calorie diet rather the high-protein ones.

However, the relation between protein and weigh loss is not appreciated by each and every research fellow. It is said that low carb diets are mainly linked up with reduced calorie intake and increased diet timing but not with decreased carbohydrate content.

The essential feature of low-carb high-protein diet is rapid weight loss. But it is viewed from a different perspective by the skeptics. They rejected the theory about the relation between the diet high in protein and weight loss and argued that it occurs mainly due to the fact of excessive urination. When the body makes up inadequate supply of dietary carbohydrates, it uses body's own carbohydrates stored in the liver and kidney. During this process, the water is mobilized. The mobilized water is then discharged from the body in the form of urine. Hence the rapid weight loss occurs at the initial stages high-protein diet.

Substituting few dietary carbohydrates with high-protein diet may lead to significant short term weight loss benefits. But the condition says that the diet must be low-fat one as well. Protein and weight loss may become a trendy topic in these days because of its known results contributing to rapid weight loss. But some scientific researches have shown some long term disadvantages as well. Therefore, a slow but certain weight loss can be ensured with a healthy high fiber, moderate protein and low fat plan. This is not a short term plan but a way of healthy living that we can maintain throughout of our lives.

Disadvantages of too much protein

Although, the relation between diet rich in protein and weight loss has become a up-to-the-minute topic in today's health discussion, but we should remember that high protein may imply high fat as well. So there is always a high risk for increasing LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels with high protein intake. Hence, there is high possibility for cardiac problems. High protein may imply low fiber as well. Low fiber diet is not at all healthy. If we use it on a regular basis, there is an increased possibility of getting constipated, increased risk of cancer, obesity, cardiac problem and type-2 diabetes.

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Acne Medication - Does Acne Skin Care Products Work?

Acne is a common inflammatory skin disease that involves pimples, primarily on face. Acne specifically occurs in teenagers and young adults sometimes causing them embarrassment, even psychological stress as well. Poor diet, stressful life, and hormonal changes are a few reasons for acne breakout. Also, incorrect use of beauty products or using poor quality acne skin care products can aggravate acne.

You can try using some natural or home remedies for mild acne, if it is initial stage and you see an occasional whitehead or a blackhead. However, if your acne is moderate, you should see a dermatologist and seek proper acne medication, before it gets severe. A doctor generally refers a few acne creams, and guides you on using acne skin care products. A variety of acne products are available at medical stores. Some of these are good to cure acne, and while others help you prevent acne.

There are many OTC medicines that people take for acne. This may be a good option for initial stage but if your acne is getting worse, seek proper acne medication. The dermatologist examines the symptoms and gives you prescribed medicine for effective treatment and cure. Apart from treatment, you should change your diet plan and avoid foods that can cause acne or that slow the recovery process.

Most often, the acne products contain benzoyl peroxide and some antibiotics. These help the affected area to dry out, and take care of acne scar as well. Many acne creams and lotions that you use for treatment contain vitamin A. However, you may feel some irritation or itching on your skin when you begin the treatment. Use a good quality skin moisturizer for in such cases. In case of severe acne, you may also require to take oral acne medication. Many prescribed medicines eliminate the reasons that can cause acne. Generally, these help you fighting against the bacterial infection that leads to acne.

Sometimes, a medicine has its side effects as well. Discuss with your doctor, if you notice any rashes on skin, or some stomach problem, and seek any alternative medicine, or some medicine to counter the side effects of acne medication. Research has shown that a few acne medicines may cause malformation of the teeth; and a few others can cause changes in the color of the skin. Your skin may get dark, or lighter than its normal color.

A few other common side effects are as below.

• Your hair may lose their natural color, and may turn white.

• You may notice skin allergy.

• There may be blisters or some swelling over affected areas on skin.

• In some cases, you may also see burning or redness of skin.

Some doctors recommend that you should not take calcium supplements, or any laxatives while you are taking acne medications. Select your acne skin care products carefully, and if possible, use only those products that are prescribed or recommended by your doctor.

Washing your face is the most important factor that contributes to early recovery. Wash your face to revoke any oils or dirt from your face and do not apply any make up or cream while going to bed. It enables your skin to breathe which is very important for a healthy and fresh skin. Do not touch, prick or pierce your pimples as it may leave permanent scars on the skin. Let them heal naturally or though acne medications, and the scars will automatically disappear over a period of time.

Sometimes, a few medicines are not recommended for special cases such as for a pregnant women and patients of Hansen's disease. Also, the patients of asthma, hay fever or those who have a weak liver are also advised against using some particular acne products. In such situations, discuss all the symptoms with your dermatologist, along with any medication that you are already taking. You may require some different acne creams or medication in such cases.

While purchasing acne products, read the instructions carefully. See the manufacturing and expiry dates of products, and read how to use those. There may be instructions that require that you should not expose your skin to sunlight after applying a specific acne cream. Following the instructions properly will help quick acne treatment and cure.

Apart from traditional acne medications, you can control acne using herbal products as well. The advantage with using herbal products is that these do not cause any side effects, though sometimes, the recovery process is slow. Even if you are taking traditional medicines, you can take herbal and natural treatment for acne, simultaneously. However, consult with your doctor before using a herbal product since it may hinder the effectiveness of prescribed medicines. Also, take required precautions in your diet and lead a positive and stress free life style.

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Detach Yourself From Your Weigh-loss Ambitions For Dieting Success

Here is a self-help technique that really helps you focus on and achieve your weight-loss goals. Gurus have espoused the art of detachment as a way of turning your dreams into reality. Usually they associate this technique with lofty goals such as perfecting human relationships or achieving spiritual harmony. I have news for you – it works for your weight-loss ambitions too. You should not make the mistake of believing that detachment is easy. In fact it is the hardest step to manifesting what you want. The harsh reality is that most people fail in their endeavors due to an inability to let go of their presumptions and believe utterly that what they want will come true. Call it faith if you like. But if you can detach from your fear of a negative outcome you will achieve fantastic results.

Have you noticed that sometimes you have an idle and relaxed thought about something or someone and the next thing that person or thing pops up in your life? Say for instance you wonder what happened to an old school friend. You aren’t worried about it, just inquisitive. You give it some thought and then carry on with your life. Often, very often, the friend pops up out of nowhere, saying they were thinking about you and decided to track you down so you can get together and reminisce about old times. Or maybe you wonder casually where you can find an oak tree to plant in your garden. And then you drive past a plant nursery and there is a big sign saying. Special on Garden Oaks, Hundreds in Stock. This happens to us daily and we think of it as coincidence. Actually this is the art of manifesting in action.

Essentially detachment means applying this kind of idle and unworried approach to everything we do, including losing weight. You simply have to lose the worry, the anxiety, and the fear. All you will be doing is cutting yourself off from the illusion of what tomorrow may bring. If you can do that you are on the way to manifesting your trim new body. Right now everything you are feeling is creating your reality. So how do you detach from your heart’s desire so that it can manifest? The key to it is to let go of the notion that what you want is absolutely necessary in your life. In fact nothing is necessary if you really want it. It sounds paradoxical and it is. It also happens to be the truth.

Let’s face it. You want to lose weight but there are thousands of other paths you could have taken. Your weight-loss ambition is a fairly arbitrary choice. The universe does not depend on it. Not even you or your family depends on it. So center yourself, find out where you are right now, find the beauty of the moment, and understand your weight-loss ambitions for what they are. They are subsidiary to the issue of being alive in the now. Here are a couple of steps to assist you in looking at your life, and your weight-loss ambitions, in a completely new light. Write down your thoughts in a notebook. It concentrates the mind wonderfully and brings previously suppressed thoughts to the surface of your consciousness.

1. Find the beauty in everything, even the unpleasant and difficult parts of your world.

2. Contemplate all the good things that have resulted from hard and unpleasant situations in your life.

3. Analyze your current experience to find qualities that will enhance what you intend to manifest. Visualize the positive outcome.

4. Once you have identified the beauty and abundance of your current situation, only then will you be able to change the situation and manifest. Concentrate on this.

5. Face up to your experiences. Do not suppress the things that have happened or are happening. This is what gets you stuck in a rut and this is poison to manifestation.

6. Every cloud has a silver lining. It is darkest before dawn. These clichés are based in a timeless truth. The greatest good comes out of the most trying of circumstances. That is why you should revel in hardship and difficulty.

7. Realize that you are rooted in your circumstances as they are today. They are molding you for tomorrow’s reality. So bless all parts of your life and you will be astonished to see what happens to the dreams you are trying to manifest.

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Burn Fat, Lift Heavy

You begin to lift heavy weights in the gym and avoid your favourite step and fit ball class. Then and only then are you on your way to that dream physique

Now from that last statement I've probably already lost half the female audience, no matter... it's just makes the rest of you look even better.

This is unfortunately, a very common mistake that women far too often mistake as being a way to become a muscular bound female bodybuilder.

NOT TRUE!

In fact, if you're looking to get the kind of body like your favourite superstar, then I suggest you continue to read on.

For what you are about to receive... The following article is split into 4 parts. Part 1 will explain why we should be avoiding long durations on cardio machines known as 'long slow distance' (LSD). Part 2 will look at the reasons why lifting weights works better than LSD training and finally part 3 will explain why we should be lifting heavier with those weights. Part 4 will put it all together in a evenly balance program for you to follow.

The reason for doing it this way is there's a lot of new understanding to take on board. Some of this is going to go completely against your usual way of thinking, meaning you may or may wish to read any further parts.

All I can say is from the experience of coaching many clients in my time, this works better than anything and the results WILL amaze you!

So why should we avoid lengthy sessions on the cardio machines?

There are a number of reasons why we should avoid long cardio sessions, the first is simple.

Our body was designed to survive from the days when we were hunter/gatherers and our vocabulary consisted of um, ugg and errr. Kind of like a teenager...

When we ran (chasing food or being chased as food) our body would produce the hormone Cortisol (a stress hormone) as chasing food or becoming food can become a pretty stressful thing for us.

When Cortisol is produced, the body begins to store body fat by slowing down its natural metabolism. The reason being, if you are chasing something and don't catch it, you have no idea when you are going to be eating next. Your body knows that it will have to survive on its own stored fats.

Although our bodies have indeed evolved over the many years there are lots of things about the human body that remain the same. The stress hormone cortisol being released through LSD (long slow distance) being one.

Don't be fooled that it won't happen to you just because you go on the cross trainer, stepper, rower or any other form of equipment. It will, the body can't identify what exercise it is doing or whether you're looking to burn fat or being chased.

If its LSD training you're doing and you're looking to tone and lose fat, you will soon find yourself at a sticking point very soon as your Cortisol levels begin to rise.

The Zone

Let's take another look at those long cardio sessions that "help burn fat".

The fat burning zone draws fat from the fat stores to be used as energy instead od using carbohydrates; this is known as 'SUB RQ1' where the body doesn't have to use carbohydrates for energy. Now although this is true, if it was so effective, we would be losing pounds as we watch TV or read a book, but as we all know by now, that's just not the case!

Yes, you will burn more calories when exercising at the gym or walking round the park but to get in the true fat burning zone or 'optimal zone' you'll have to exercise for 90minutes (non stop) at least...

After about 90 minutes the body becomes extremely efficient at burning bodyfat!

This true, but come on....90 minutes!

England could have been defeated by Luxembourg B team by then. (I'm referring to soccer of course)

So if the body is burning pure bodyfat after 90 minutes, what's being burnt as energy before then?

MUSCLE!

Remember, at this steady lower state of intensity carbohydrates have no need to work meanining something has to help with the energy coming from fats. Unfortunately, we use muscle slowing down our metabolism in the process.

Solution

Now I know that the cardio, fat burning, step obsessed, 'the longer the better' exercise junkies out there aren't going to suddenly hang up their lycra shorts and ankle weights only to share the weights room with the usual vest wearing grunters.

As a result what you should do is something we call Tabata.

Pick your favourite piece of cardio equipment

Warm up for 2 minutes

Go as fat as you can for 30 seconds

Take it easy for just 10 seconds

Repeat 8 times

It's as simple as that and believe me you will really feel like you've had a very intense yet very short workout!

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