Showing posts with label Health and Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health and Fitness. Show all posts

Sunday

Top 10 Lists to become Miss Universe

And as she waved to the crowd, her crown fell off! But no one minded for she was the most beautiful in the whole world. Miss Universe – Becoming one isn’t easy. Don’t you also wish that you should at least get close to becoming the most beautiful woman? Doesn’t a man want to look like that Mr. Universe he saw in the television screen just some time back?

Well, dreams are one thing and executing them is another. If only thoughts could achieve targets, then the world wouldnt have been short of success and competition wouldn’t have been a popular word at all. Top 10 lists to become Miss Universe after the break...
So all good things start with a simple logic – Habit. Everything that we do is habitual. Good food and diet too is a way of life, a habit. So the top ten lists of good food is only an attempt to make you aware of the mistakes that you make while planning a diet for yourself or for your family.

One of the first things that you have to do when you get up in the morning is have a full glass of water. If this water is warm and has a dash of lime juice then nothing like it. The theory is that lime is an anti toxin and ensures that your system is cleansed out first thing in the morning.

The second thing to do is to have a vegetable juice after some time. The vegetables have the inherent chemicals which alter the toxic level in the body. Early morning sees a lot of toxicity in the digestive tract due to the long night which has passed processing the foods you had for dinner. So the vegetable is one of the top ten lists of to do things in the morning. Extracts of beetroot, gourd and carrots are good to have first thing in the morning.
The third thing in the top ten lists of good food is to consume fruits at least four times a day beginning from breakfast. These fruits are best had fresh, so have it as soon as you cut them. Try to avoid that extra dash of salt in the fruits as too much salt is not good for health.
For breakfast stick to cereals, and carbohydrates. Cornflakes, muesli and bread are popular besides your local favorites. For example if you are in India you could have poha, upma, idlis and dosas for breakfast.
Ensure that you have your levels of calcium everyday by consuming milk or yoghurt. This is important.

Folic acid and iron are very important on an everyday level. So ensure your lunch has sufficient space for spinach which is a source of iron and corn which gives you folic acid.

Salads are a must in the top ten lists for lunch. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.


Try to have a full fruit instead of fruit juice.

Avoid biscuits, candies, cakes, fried food and sugar coated stuff.


Avoid biscuits, candies, cakes, fried food and sugar coated stuff.

Friday

10 flat-belly tricks


10 ways to beat the bloat
Most women have experienced the feeling of being bloated at some point in their lives. However, for some it can be a recurring problem, leading to frequent discomfort and embarrassment. To help beat bloating and get the flat stomach you’ve dreamed of, check out these 10 de-bloating tips.

Consult your GP
Bloating can be caused by numerous factors including water retention and poor digestion. However, if you frequently suffer from chronic bloating you should visit your GP to discuss your symptoms and try to pinpoint a cause. As bloating can be a symptom of manageable conditions such as IBS or coeliac disease, as well as a reaction to certain medications, it is important to get an expert opinion.

Keep a food diary

If you tend to get bloated following meals, it could be that you are suffering from a food intolerance. It may be worth getting tested for food intolerances; however, experts are unsure of the effectiveness of these tests. The best thing is to keep a food diary, noting everything you eat as well as any signs of bloating, to help identify a link.

Take a probiotic

A healthy gut is packed with good bacteria which help to break down food and prevent yeast overgrowth. However, due to factors such as stress and medication (particularly antibiotics) levels of good bacteria can get low. When this happens, digestion and levels of yeast in the gut are affected, both of which can lead to bloating. To rectify this, try taking a probiotic supplement. Probiotics can also be found in some yoghurts, although dairy can be a cause of bloating for some.

Stay hydrated

Ironic as it may sound, staying well hydrated is one of the best ways to reduce the water retention which can lead to bloating. Furthermore, getting enough fluids can help you to improve your digestion and avoid constipation. Try to drink regularly throughout the day, opting for uncarbonated drinks such as water, peppermint or fennel tea.

Avoid gas-inducing foods

The leading cause of bloating is excess gas, so try to limit your intake of gas-inducing foods such as cabbage, sprouts, beans and grains. Also, avoid the sweeteners sorbitol and maltitol, try not to overdo your intake of fibre, and avoid chewing gum, which can exacerbate bloating. Try to also cut down on refined sugars, fermented products such as alcohol and cheese, and foods containing yeast, as these can cause yeast in the gut to thrive, which can lead to excess gas and bloating.

Concentrate on your meals


Many of us eat our meals on the go or while chatting with family and friends; however, taking more time over your meals and not talking while you eat could help reduce post-meal bloating. Eating too quickly and talking while eating can cause you to swallow air, leading to excess gas. Also, as digestion begins in the mouth, not chewing your food enough times can affect how well it is digested. It is also beneficial to eat little and often, as large meals can overload the digestive system.


Tuesday

10 Most Useful Diet


10 of the most useful products that are worth incorporating into the diet as often as possible — Created by the very nature of a miracle foods contain whole biologically active complexes of nutrients needed to maintain and restore our health. Of course, the list of such products can be extended to include many kinds of grains, vegetables, fruits and berries. After the break...
1. Fish

If the time - at least three times a week - on the menu include fish instead of meat, you can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease and acute (atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and others), as well as blood cholesterol levels. At the same time in their food and culinary qualities of the fish is not inferior to the meat (it contains many beneficial substances for the human body - from 13 to 23% protein, and fats, extractives and mineral matter), but for ease of digestion of proteins even surpasses it.

2. Bread made from rye flour, wheat flour, corn
This is the bread was staple of our ancestors. Bread made from rye flour, wheat flour, whole grain contains not only vitamins and minerals, but also high in fiber. On its wonderful properties known to many things: fiber lowers blood cholesterol and blood pressure, stimulates digestion and accelerates metabolism, displays the body of toxins, promotes cell renewal and even helps preserve youth. But do not forget that all is good in moderation: too much fiber can cause bloating and other unpleasant consequences.

3. Apples

Of the 15 vitamins necessary to man, the apples have been found 12 - a vitamin B complex, C, E, P, carotene, folic acid and others. Many of them, and minerals (potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, iodine, iron) and sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose) as well as pectin and fiber. If every day eat apples, you can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Because these fruits cleanse the body of toxins and reduce cholesterol. And besides, they are rich in antioxidants, which protect cells from aging.

4. Carrots

In carrots rich in vitamins A (carotene), also called vitamin beauty, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, E, K, P, PP, minerals (potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, copper, iodine, , phosphorus, cobalt, etc.), it also contains enzymes, fructose, glucose, lecithin, amino acids, proteins and starch. It is recommended for diseases of the heart, liver, gallbladder, kidney, high stomach acidity, salt metabolism disorders, and various inflammatory processes. And carrot prevents the development of cancer, improves blood and is very useful for vision.

5. Pumpkin
Pumpkin without reservation is an ideal vegetable for diet food. No wonder it is recommended to include in the diet for many diseases: heart, blood vessels, stomach, intestine, liver, kidney, and colds. Pumpkin has no equal among the vegetables on the content of iron, so it is indicated for the treatment of anemia. Due to the large quantity of vitamins - C, group B, carotene, E, PP, K, T - it strengthens hair, nails, protects the skin from aging and prevents the appearance of extra pounds. And in a lot of pumpkin pectin and natural antioxidants that remove toxins from the body, lower cholesterol and strengthen the immune system.

6. Blackberry

This miracle berry has surpassed all others in the content of useful substances. It is full of vitamin C (to get his daily dose for an adult should only 30-60 g of berries) and vitamin P (100 g of berries - from 5 to 10 of his daily doses), minerals (iron, magnesium, manganese, and etc.), contains tannin, pectin and organic acids. Black currant strengthens the walls of blood vessels, improves the process of blood, lowers blood pressure and is an excellent tool for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. And it improves the metabolism, prevents the appearance of extra weight and is recommended for the treatment of obesity.

7. Briar

Rosehip knowingly consider means of forty diseases. He ranks first among the fruit and berry plants for the content of vitamin C. A lot of it and other B vitamins (P, K, B group, carotenoids) and minerals (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, cobalt, chromium), contains sugar, malic and citric acid, tannin and pectin. Infusions, decoctions, teas rosehip prevent the development of cardiovascular disease, increase body resistance to infections and have a restorative and tonic effect.

8. Dried fruits

Dried apricots, dried apricots, dried apricots, prunes, raisins, figs, dates, dried apples and pears can serve as the perfect replacement of sugar and sweets with all sorts of artificial additives. Dried fruits that contain vitamins, minerals (high in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron) and organic acids include suggestions on the menu at the diseases of the cardiovascular system, lungs, bronchial asthma, anemia, colds. In addition, fruits are an excellent means to strengthen the nervous system, stimulates the blood and cleanse the intestines well.

9. Green tea

Green tea, which contains many vitamins (A, K, PP, C, group B) and minerals (potassium, zinc, fluorine, iodine, etc.), much more useful than black. This drink improves heart, kidney, liver, pancreas and enhances immunity. And green tea normalizes blood pressure, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, improves digestion, neutralizes free radicals, cleanses the body of toxins, reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer and slows the aging process. Another property of this drink - antimicrobial effect, which increases after insisting it within 2-3 days.

10. Honey

Honey is extremely useful: it increases the body's resistance to many infections and has antibacterial properties. It is recommended to accept the treatment of diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory, etc. This wonderful natural product contains many vitamins (C, K, E, F, group B), enzymes, organic acids and proteins, and in the number of trace elements - whole periodic table: potassium, calcium, manganese, chromium, sodium, nickel, silicon, magnesium, iron, copper, silver and others.

Wednesday

Weight Loss Just By Drinking Water

Make A Successful Weight Loss Just By Drinking Water - Maybe The Easiest Weight Loss Method
Well, you may have heard it before - you can lose weight just by drinking pure plain water. Do you think it is like that? Yes, it is, you can lose weight just by drinking water. I will explain why it is so.
There are studies that show that just by drinking water your metabolism will increase with up to 30 percentages. That is quite impressive, isn't it? To make your weight loss possible you need to drink eight glasses of water every day, and if you have lots of overweight you need to drink a few glasses more. If you live in a warm climate or if you exercise very intensive you need to drink more than the eight glasses. You maybe think that eight glasses is much water to drink, but you shouldn't drink it at the same time; instead you need to spread it out throughout the day. Read more after the break...
Drinking water is not only great for your weight loss. Just by drinking lots of water you will look better because and your skin will become more glowing. Your muscles will work more effective when you exercise which will lead to a better shaped body.
A few tips about how you should act when you decide to lose weight just by drinking water:
  • Start every morning with a glass of water.
  • Drink a glass of water before every meal.
  • Drink lukewarm water, it may be easier to drink lots of water when it isn't cold.
  • Add a slice of lemon if you don't like the taste of the water.
  • Avoid drinking just before you go to bed.
Drinking water is a cheap and very effective way to lose weight, but often you need to add some diet and exercise to make your weight loss effective.

How to Drink More Water


Water is the most needed chemical compound of our body. Without the daily necessary amount of water our body functions would be forced to shut down. The human body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size. To function properly, the body requires between one and seven liters of water per day to avoid dehydration; the precise amount depends on the level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most of this is ingested through foods or beverages other than drinking straight water. It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy people, though most advocates agree that 6–7 glasses of water (approximately 2 litres) daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration. Medical literature favors a lower consumption, typically 1 liter of water for an average male, excluding extra requirements due to fluid loss from exercise or warm weather. For those who have healthy kidneys, it is rather difficult to drink too much water, but (especially in warm humid weather and while exercising) it is dangerous to drink too little. People can drink far more water than necessary while exercising, however, putting them at risk of water intoxication (hyperhydration), which can be fatal. The "fact" that a person should consume eight glasses of water per day cannot be traced back to a scientific source. There are other myths such as the effect of water on weight loss and constipation that have been dispelled. Read more after the break...
Determine how much water you need. You've probably heard the "8 by 8" rule - drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (2 quarts, 1.8 liters) - but the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight and activity level. Another way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., strive to drink 75 ounces of water daily. For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30 (ex. somebody weighing 70 kg is going to need 2.3 liters per day). Keep in mind that these recommended intake numbers are controversial and some experts believe they are a gross exaggeration. See "warnings" below for more information.
Signs of Dehydration. You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine pills and alcohol result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need. Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles,lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.
Dangers of Too Much Water. Don't start drinking an extra gallon of water a day - that can kill you, especially if you are fasting or eating very little. Water taken in must be in balance with body salt - electrolytes. The body needs to maintain salt balance or risk hyponatremia with heart attack and even death. Drinking too much water dilutes the salt in your blood and tissues - and can kill you. Healthy athletes have died from drinking too much plain water and not replacing salt. Dieters should not plunge into drinking gallons of water a day in hopes of burning a few more calories. Drink an extra few glasses, yes. But a gallon is too much.

My 15 Days to Fitness


I woke up this morning and decided..it was time. I have been neglected myself and my fitness goals for over a month now. I have been so wrapped up in all my businesses and my online product, I have really let myself go. But I made the decision, NO MORE! I need to come first, I DESERVE to come first and now is the time.

There are 15 days until Christmas and I am setting some goals and be very specific.

1. I will track all my meals on sparkspeople and will plan my meals the night before OR at least post my meals on my blog.
2. I will keep my calories above 1600 calories every day.
3. I will do 2 days of intervals on the treadmill, 2 days of boot camp and 2 days of my own strength training routine each week.
4. I will only allow myself a cheat meal after I have eaten 100% clean for 4 days!
5. I will not let my work get in the way of my meals or workouts.
6. I will achieve 18.5% body fat by Christmas!
Read more after the break...
When I reach this goal of 18.5% body fat, I will reward myself with an hour long massage! (This is the most important!!!)
Do you want to join me? What better way to stay motivated than setting some specific goals, and giving your self a reward! I hope that you will all join me! Feel free to join WDF Forums, where you can keep your own blog and get the support of others! Click HERE to join!

A Look on Diet Fitness


Many people nowadays are very much conscious about their own health and fitness. In addition to that, these people, and many others as well, are now having that desire to sculpt their bodies to ahieve that magazine-cover look. As a result, gyms, health spas and other fitness centers have proliferated all over to cater to the needs of the fitness buffs and afficionados.Even on television exercise machines, weight loss products, and other paraphernalia to improve fitness have more or less gained control over the airwaves and made their way into the households. But exerise is not the only way to build that body beautiful. It also entails certain amount of responsibility on the foods one chooses to eat. Being healthy and fit requires one to observe diet fitness.Diet fitness is as essential as exercise itself. Diet for fitness provides the essential nutrition one needs to restore worn-out muscles and for healthy growth. Diet fitness should never be taken for granted. With the popularity of keeping fit, many different views, methods, programs and dieting strategies have been formulated by many professionals. Among these are high carb diets and high fat diets. Whih one is more effective and which one should one choose to follow?First thing to know would be the fundamental differences between these two diet approaches. Read more after the break...
As the name implies, high carb diets concentrates on taking in carbohydrate-rich foods while high fat diets endorses fat-rich foods. High carb diets are utilized to glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Glycogen is a glucose complex that provides large amounts of energy ready for use in anaerobic exercises.Fats, on the other hand, is well-nown for being the richest source of calories. It actually contains 2.5 times more calories than carbohydrates and proteins alike. Studies also show that it takes the body 24 calories to metabolize carbohydrates while it only takes 3 to burn down fat. So which one to follow? A person can follow a high carb and low fat fitness diet or the other way around. It is absolutely not recommended to follow both at the same time; unless of course if you want to gain body fat.But then diet fitness is not all about losing fat, one must also consider his diet in order to keep fat away. Research shows that sustainable loss of weight can only be achieved on a diet which suits the individual food preferences, lifestyle, medical profile and satiety signals.Diet programs all over can help you shed off excess pounds, but only one diet can help you stay sexy, and it is the one that satisfies you most. Other important aspects of having a fit diet are moderation, balance and variation. One must be careful not to leave out important nutrients and other substances necessary for healthy body functioning. health organizations are clear about the amounts of nutrients an individual should have in the body.Low fat high carbs, high carbs low fat; the question is not which diet program will work out but which is it that will work for you. Striving for a sexy and healthy body does not have to burden an individual, diet fitness does not have to mean sticking to the same kind of food for life. One may even try to be adventurous and try out new foods out there. Who knows? one may even discover spinach interesting.

Friday

10 Things You Didn't Know About You

The human body is a great, sweaty, fluid-filled machine, moving and mixing chemicals with precision and coordination, making everything from memories to mucus. Here we explore some of the complex, beautiful or just plain gross mysteries of how you function.

10. Your Stomach Secretes Corrosive Acid

There's one dangerous liquid no airport security can confiscate from you: It's in your gut. Your stomach cells secrete hydrochloric acid, a corrosive compound used to treat metals in the industrial world. It can pickle steel, but mucous lining the stomach wall keeps this poisonous liquid safely in the digestive system, breaking down lunch.

09. Body Position Affects Your Memory

Can't remember your anniversary, hubby? Try getting down on one knee. Memories are highly embodied in our senses. A scent or sound may evoke a distant episode from one's childhood. The connections can be obvious (a bicycle bell makes you remember your old paper route) or inscrutable. A recent study helps decipher some of this embodiment. An article in the January 2007 issue of Cognition reports that episodes from your past are remembered faster and better while in a body position similar to the pose struck during the event.

08. Bones Break (Down) to Balance Minerals

In addition to supporting the bag of organs and muscles that is our body, bones help regulate our calcium levels. Bones contain both phosphorus and calcium, the latter of which is needed by muscles and nerves. If the element is in short supply, certain hormones will cause bones to break downeupping calcium levels in the bodyeuntil the appropriate extracellular concentration is reached.

07. Much of a Meal is Food For Thought

Though it makes up only 2 percent of our total body weight, the brain demands 20 percent of the body's oxygen and calories. To keep our noggin well-stocked with resources, three major cerebral arteries are constantly pumping in oxygen. A blockage or break in one of them starves brain cells of the energy they require to function, impairing the functions controlled by that region. This is a stroke.

06. Thousands of Eggs Unused by Ovaries

When a woman reaches her late 40s or early 50s, the monthly menstrual cycle that controls her hormone levels and readies ova for insemination ceases. Her ovaries have been producing less and less estrogen, inciting physical and emotional changes across her body. Her underdeveloped egg follicles begin to fail to release ova as regularly as before. The average adolescent girl has 34,000 underdeveloped egg follicles, although only 350 or so mature during her life (at the rate of about one per month). The unused egg follicles then deteriorate. With no potential pregnancy on the horizon, the brain can stop managing the release of ova.

05. Puberty Reshapes Brain Structure, Makes for Missed Curfews

We know that hormone-fueled changes in the body are necessary to encourage growth and ready the body for reproduction. But why is adolescence so emotionally unpleasant? Hormones like testosterone actually influence the development of neurons in the brain, and the changes made to brain structure have many behavioral consequences. Expect emotional awkwardness, apathy and poor decision-making skills as regions in the frontal cortex mature.

04. Cell Hairs Move Mucus

Most cells in our bodies sport hair-like organelles called cilia that help out with a variety of functions, from digestion to hearing. In the nose, cilia help to drain mucus from the nasal cavity down to the throat. Cold weather slows down the draining process, causing a mucus backup that can leave you with snotty sleeves. Swollen nasal membranes or condensation can also cause a stuffed schnozzle.

03. Big Brains Cause Cramped Mouths

Evolution isn't perfect. If it were, we might have wings instead of wisdom teeth. Sometimes useless features stick around in a species simply because they're not doing much harm. But wisdom teeth weren't always a cash crop for oral surgeons. Long ago, they served as a useful third set of meat-mashing molars. But as our brains grew our jawbone structure changed, leaving us with expensively overcrowded mouths.

02. The World Laughs with You
Just as watching someone yawn can induce the behavior in yourself, recent evidence suggests that laughter is a social cue for mimicry. Hearing a laugh actually stimulates the brain region associated with facial movements. Mimicry plays an important role in social interaction. Cues like sneezing, laughing, crying and yawning may be ways of creating strong social bonds within a group.

01. Your Skin Has Four Colors

All skin, without coloring, would appear creamy white. Near-surface blood vessels add a blush of red. A yellow pigment also tints the canvas. Lastly, sepia-toned melanin, created in response to ultraviolet rays, appears black in large amounts. These four hues mix in different proportions to create the skin colors of all the peoples of Earth.