Using Essential Aromatherapy Oils to Boost Your Health

Essential aromatherapy oils have been in use for centuries by millions to improve health conditions.

Many of them will benefit you physically, emotionally and mentally. You can use them to treat problems like headaches, stress and skin diseases and improve the functioning of vital body systems.

How do you use these aromatherapy oils for maximum benefit?

There are many methods of using the oils depending on the condition you are dealing with.

You can inhale them directly either from the bottle or pour a few drops onto a piece of cloth. This way, you will get instant relief from nasal congestion, coughs, colds and flu.

For deep inhalation, you should put a few drops of oil into a basin of hot water and cover your head over the basin to inhale the steam. You can also use the oils as vaporizers or burners to keep the air in your room smelling fresh and clean.

A hot press would work fine, while a cold press will reduce swellings and ease headaches.

Massaging your body with essential aromatherapy oils will not only revitalize your skin but will also treat acne and other skin conditions.

Another beneficial way to use the oils is to add a few drops to your bath water and apply some to your hair.

Lavender oil can be used as a deodorant and decongestant. Inhaling its aroma will lift your moods, relieve you of tension, improve your circulatory system and memory, reduce symptoms of asthma and ease feelings of nausea. Also, it is a good remedy for burns, scratches cuts, muscle pain and joint pain.

Massage lavender oil onto your scalp to address hair loss. It will stimulate your scalp to encourage growth of new hair.

To fight depression, you should use jasmine oil. It has a strong sweet smell which will instantly uplift your spirits and reduce the stress levels in your body. In addition to that, it will improve your heart rate and boost your immune and respiratory systems. Women will experience the benefits of jasmine oil when dealing with menstrual and labor pain.

During labor, inhaling jasmine oil will strengthen your contractions, reduce your pain and increase your energy levels. This will make the delivery process easier and faster. Stretch marks and scars can be an eyesore, but you can reduce their appearance by applying the oil of jasmine to the affected area of your skin. It increases your skins elasticity and encourages the growth of new skin cells.

Make sure to dilute it with a carrier oil of your choice as it may irritate your skin in high concentrations.

Emu oil is another favorable aromatherapy oil.

You will find it pleasant to apply to your skin because of its non-greasy nature. It will penetrate your skin fast to deliver the benefits. Apply it onto your neck to reduce stiffness and pain and massage it onto your skin to refresh it and give it a youthful glow.

It is also effective in healing minor wounds and reducing the appearance of scars. You have many reasons to try Essential Aromatherapy Oils. They will improve the overall state of your health as you enjoy using them.

This article was brought to you by Michelle Reynolds who will provide you with a comprehensive, highly informative and useful resource for using essential aromatherapy oils to help improve health conditions. Find out more about Visit her site at www.essentialaromatherapyoils.net and see the benefits of the oils.

Healthy Foods For Diabetes Control

When you are diabetic you are oftentimes faced with the need to eat an appropriate diet that will help you control many of the symptoms associated with this disease. In fact by eating the right foods you may even be able to reduce your need for insulin. The normal process of eating involves consuming food that is then turned to sugar. This sugar is transported from the bloodstream to the body's cells by insulin. Unfortunately, diabetics do not produce sufficient quantities of insulin to do this effectively. Therefore a larger portion of the sugar remains in the bloodstream leading to the condition of "high blood sugar". There are several things that can be done to help you to control your blood sugar if you are diabetic. These include; diet, exercise and medication.

Diet for diabetes: Blood sugar levels are most affected by carbohydrates. Limiting your carbohydrate intake is a very good idea. Use carbs that are lowest in starches and highest in fiber. The higher fiber will help slow down your food digestion which will then slow down the release of sugar into your bloodstream. Good food choices here would include; brown rice and whole grain cereals and fruits such as strawberries, apples or bananas.

Dairy Products: You should limit dairies to foods such as yogurt and milk to no more than 2 servings per day. Good choices could include low fat milk and sugar free fruit flavored yogurts.

Meats: You need protein so choose lean healthy cuts of meats such as roasted turkey or chicken breast. Limit the fat intake and keep the protein level to 4-7 oz per day. You can also substitute meat with egg whites or low fat cottage cheese.

Vegetables: Try to consume non starchy vegetables because these are lowest in carbohydrate content. You should aim for 3-5 servings per day. A serving is equivalent to ½ cup of cooked or 1 cup raw vegetables. Good examples include carrots, broccoli and green beans.

Healthy Fats: Healthy fats are important for diabetics. You should strive for 3-4 daily servings. The best choices would include; olive oil, vegetable oil and margarine. The key is balanced, healthy meals that stabilize blood sugar. Balanced eating will also have the added benefits of controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as help to prevent low blood sugar reactions that often affect diabetics. Additionally a healthy diet will keep your weight under control which is also a problem for many diabetics. You may want to work with your medical doctor or a registered dietician to create a healthy and easy to incorporate diet. These medical professionals will take into account all of the various factors necessary such as your weight, height, activity level, medications you may be taking and current blood glucose levels.

Eat Smaller Meals: Make sure to keep portion sizes under control and don't skip meals. It is best to eat 4-5 "mini meals" each day with several hours between meals. By keeping a steadier flow of food digesting through your body you will help to keep your blood sugar levels stabilized.

Sugars and Salt in your diet: Yes, a moderate amount of sugar is acceptable in the diet. However it should be done sparingly and as a treat and not a regular part of the daily diet. You should also remember that fruit and fruit juices have high levels of sugar so you need to take this into account. Use artificial sweeteners sparingly if at all. A good sugar substitute is stevia. Salt should also be used in moderation. Many processed and canned foods are laden with added salt so look for labels that say sodium free. Incorporate a variety of spices into your foods as a replacement for the usual salt.

Following these guidelines will help you keep your diabetes under control. Remember when you have been diagnosed with any medical condition always follow the advice and guidance of a medical professional, particularly if you are taking prescription medications.

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Healthy Salaries in Health Care

If you think you need to be an MD to earn a prime salary in health care, think again. The doctors are not the only ones pulling down healthy salaries. Some of the highest health care salaries may well surprise you.

In fact, you may be surprised to discover that the top current salary among non-MD health professionals is earned by a pharmacist. Today the prime salary for a pharmacist is about $105,000 a year. Pharmacists are not mere medication dispensers, either. These professionals must know what goes into medications, what their primary effects are, and what their potential side effects may be. They are also teachers; they are responsible for teaching patients the right way to use medication, including what to avoid when using it.

Because many people develop chronic illnesses or conditions, a pharmacist may become someone's primary health care professional for a very long time. His knowledge of medication and his ability to convey intelligent use and alternatives to his customers is invaluable. Becoming a pharmacist is almost as involved as becoming a medical doctor: a typical pharmacist today finishes two years undergraduate science study, passes a pharmaceutical college entrance examination, and, if accepted, finishes a four-year course of study earning a doctorate in pharmacy.

Physician assistants are also highly salaried; today's physician assistant is likely to earn $85,000 a year. Today, a medical doctor is just as likely to delegate routine physical examinations, basic treatments, and basic patient counseling to a physician assistant while the doctor tends directly to the most specialised problems of his patients. More important, physician assistants find themselves part of a fast-growing career path, particularly in the inner city or the rural area, according to several health field surveys.

A physician assistant typically earns a college degree and obtains health-care work experience before or while finishing an accredited program and a national examination. But the PA's education does not stop there; typically, they are required to finish one hundred hours of continuing education in the newest medical techniques every two years, and they must re-certify every six years.

If you have the kind of personality that empathises with and reassures others, you may want to consider a career as a radiation therapist. Typically, this professional earns about $77,000 a year, and the job includes reviewing diagnoses and prescriptions from radiologists, preparing X-ray equipment, and keeping continuously updated and accurate records. According to numerous reports, moreover, radiation therapy is thought to be one of the steadiest-growing health career fields.

Typical radiation therapists earn bachelor's degrees heavily oriented toward the sciences and toward physics, since they work with the physics side of the body. Certification in radiation therapy is also a requirement.

These are the three highest-salaried, non-medical doctor careers in the health field today. Following them to complete the top five are physical therapists (around $76,000 per year), and occupational therapists ($71,000). Health care careers whose salary ranges are between $49,000-70,000 are, in ascending order, physical therapy assistants ($49,000), cardiovascular technicians (also $49,000), certified occupational therapy assistants ($51,000), dietitians ($53,000), radiologic technicians ($54,000), respiratory therapists ($54,000), medical and clinical laboratory technicians ($56,000), diagnostic sonographers ($64,000), occupational health and safety specialists ($64,000), registered nurses ($67,000), orthotists and prosthetists (artificial limb specialists/technicians, basically; $67,000), audiologists ($67,000), dental hygienists ($68,000), speech-language pathologists ($68,000), and nuclear medicine technologists ($68,000).

Are Vegetarian Diets Optimal For Children's Health?

When someone says I am a Vegan or Vegetarian, what comes to mind first? Let me guess, a person that doesn't eat meat right? Well, part of that is true but there are different types of Vegetarians, such as Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians, Vegans, and Macrobiotic diets. A Lacto-Ovo Vegan doesn't eat meat or fish but eats dairy and eggs. A Vegan excludes all meats, fish, dairy, eggs, and no animal products, this is the type of Vegetarian most of us refer to. Macrobiotic diets are not necessarily vegetarian, but are largely based on grains, legumes, and vegetables. Although I am not a huge fan of vegan diets, I am not one to say they can't work. A well-balanced vegetarian diet should pay particular attention to the following sources: adequate protein intake, essential fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamins B and D.

Supplementation may be required in cases of strict vegetarian diets with no intake of animal products. If done right, then there are positive outcomes from vegan diets and at the end of the day if you are a vegan and live a healthy lifestyle, than more power to you. Now, the real question is, are vegetarian diets optimal for children's health? Before we begin with this topic, coming from my biased opinion, I do not agree with parents raising their young children on vegan diets for several reasons. A very important reason is the fact that parents lack giving their children a nutritious diet as it is, let alone a vegan diet which is supposed to be stricter and could lead to more health and deficiency problems down the road if done wrong.

Are Essential Fatty Acids and Amino Acids important for children's growth? Absolutely they are, our body does not naturally produce them and a child is not going to go and buy their selves some fish oil and BCAA's at a vitamin store to supplement with. Since vegan diets exclude animal proteins and fish, where do the fatty acids and Amino Acids come from? That is the biggest problem. They do not come from anywhere because most parents are not aware of how critical these nutrients are for optimal growth and overall health. If parents aren't aware of the importance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 and Amino Acids, than how is a child supposed to know that? The human brain needs the major essential long chain fatty acids known as "DHA" and "EPA," which are found in omega-3 for proper development. There is a handful of research to support that theory.

Do children using vegan diets have Vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lead to lack of growth? Energy Expenditure, also known as the "Metabolic Rate" can be at risk with restrictive vegan diets, due to the lack of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients being provided. Many vegan dieters become Copper toxic and Zinc deficient, do to not getting the right amounts of animal proteins the body needs. These deficiencies can cause what is known as "Brain Fog," which is a fuzzy feeling you get in your brain from time to time. Eventually this can potentially lead to chemical imbalances in the human body and digestion problems. (1)In a study conducted by Roberts et al. and Campbell et al. states that severe malnutrition has been reported in infants and toddlers fed inappropriate vegetarian diets as well as deficiencies of iron, vitamin B-12, and vitamin D. So, the greater the variety of foods that make up the diet, the better the chances that all the nutrients will be provided. (2) In another study found in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Hebbelinck et al. concluded that a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian diet sustains adequate physical growth and maturation. Some of the vegetarian subjects, however, appear to have had difficulty meeting the energy requirements. Basically if the vegan diet is done the right way, then children can have optimal growth and not have any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, but they may lack energy.

What other deficiencies can potentially occur if a child is fed a vegan diet? Nutrition for kids is more vital than it is for adults, due to the fact they have to grow and mature into adults at some point in time. When children are growing up, they are in such a tender stage of development for their brain, muscles, and bones. Every bit of quality nutrition is critical for proper growth and parents need to understand that, bottom line! There has also been research that when mother's being pregnant and on a vegan diet, the baby can be born with undeveloped brains and their central nervous systems are starving due to not getting the proper vitamins, minerals, and nutrients through proper diet during the pregnancy term. An undeveloped brain can then lead to learning disabilities. Some symptoms to watch out for in the children, if fed a vegan diet are: Short term memory loss, cold hands and feet due to not getting the proper amounts of nutrients from animal fats to support the adrenalin and thyroid functions, and sleep disorders.

Can vegan diets lead to child obesity? Depending on what kind of vegan diet is being provided, sure a child can put on fat through a vegan diet. If the parent's are just feeding their children "High Glycemic Carbs" and no proteins or fats, than that can cause a huge insulin spike and most likely go to your fat cells rather than your muscle cells and then be stored and lead to fat gain. It all really depends on how educated the parents are, if they are keeping a good balance of macronutrients, especially rich proteins high in Leucine content and fibrous carbs than the child should be fine. Also I would hope the child is doing some sort of physical activity and not living a sedentary lifestyle sitting and playing video games all day. Sugar consumption, well we can't leave that out of the equation now can we. Most vegetarians don't even know they are pre-diabetic and continuously eat refined sugars and alternative sweeteners without even knowing it. Well, we should all know by now that sugar is the devil, and does lead to fat gain, and if you are pre-diabetic then you are only going to make matters worse. What do children love the most? Nine out of ten times it's good old sugar, and some more sugar. So, if parents are feeding their children adequate amounts of sugar daily, even through a vegan diet, then the children will gain fat and may lead to diabetes down the road.

With all this said, are vegetarian diets optimal for children's health? In my humble opinion I do not agree with them, but if done properly and the children are monitored for symptoms and are living a healthy active lifestyle, than it should be fine. Someone once told me that vegan diets will become more popular in the future, but I have to disagree respectively do to all the studies and research that show animal fats and animal proteins are the key to longevity and muscle growth. At the end of the day everyone is going to live their life the way they choose too, whether that's through a paleo diet, zone diet, vegan diet, or regular diets. Whatever makes that person happy is all that really matters, but for the sake of children not having control of what they eat is wrong. Parent's need to educate themselves regardless of the circumstances, it doesn't matter if you are a vegan or not, the bottom line is to feed your children the right nutrients their bodies need for proper brain development and overall growth.

Current Health Articles on Obesity

Obesity is a health problem which is growing very rapidly all over the world. Current health articles are emphasizing the importance of diet and exercise to keep your body weight and to avoid obesity at all costs. It is extremely important to make sure you are maintaining a good body weight in order to avoid other complications later on in life.

Current health articles also mention the need to have a very healthy diet which will keep your body weight in check at all times. Metabolism plays a very important role in making sure you remain healthy and with age, we tend to put on weight due to the fact that our metabolism is not capable of working in the same manner as it used to do before.

There are some obesity experts who have proven to be very accurate in defining your diet requirements and which have had tremendous results in getting rid of your obesity problems and in maintaining a balance without age discriminations. Current health articles help you keep in touch with the realities of the health findings and the real outcomes of some of these claims.

Our bodies are different and it is therefore very important to understand what is really good for us and for our metabolism. Current health articles also mention the importance of having a proper nutrition plan to make sure we are not having some kind of problems due to lack of vitamins and minerals intakes.

Some research done on sugar free components have also been found to have adverse effects on some people. As mentioned before, we are all different and our bodies react differently to different foods and fitness programs. What is good for you may not be so good for me, and your body is accustomed to certain kind of food and diet and you should listen to what it really tells you.

However, some current health articles have also mentioned that obese people lose their connection with their bodies to the point that they are not really sure whether they are fully satisfied with the amount of food they have taken or not. This in itself is a problem, because you have to then measure the intake of food and eat accordingly.

Current health articles help us understand the different aspects involved in diet, nutrition and body fat and the ability to overcome the obstacles that we may face in the process. Diets do not really work as starving yourself will only trigger hormonal imbalances which will take your body into an emergency mode where your body will only think of accumulating all that it gets for the upcoming emergency.

And those of you who have been able to lose some weight through diets, may have also found that putting that weight on again is very easy. So, you spend time starving yourself and then eating and becoming fat again. It becomes a vicious circle where you only find frustration. Current health articles on obesity and diet and nutrition may prove to be extremely enlightening to help us get the proper advice and to act accordingly and attain the desired results efficiently.

Avail Ginger Benefits For A Healthy Living

Ginger is consumed as a delicacy, a medicine and a spice. It was first cultivated in Asia and slowly spread to African and European lands as well. Its bionomical name is Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger. The name ginger is derived from the Tamil name inji ver viz ginger roots. Though, everyone is familiar with what ginger is, not many of us know the benefits of the root. It is used as a spice in most of the Indian recipes. It is not commonly known that ginger gets its flavours from pungent oils like gingerol and shagaol present within the root.

Apart from being a useful food preservative, it reduces pain, fever, aids the digestive system and has a possibility of being able to cure cancer in the near future. Ginger also benefits people suffering from nausea, morning sickness, motion, heartburn and gas. Another benefit of ginger is that it helps reduce inflammation and migraine and cures arthritis. Ginger benefits stimulation and circulation of blood. It is also helpful for the mom and the baby during pregnancy. It also helps people with sea sickness and those suffering from diabetes. Thus, it is obvious that a small supplement of ginger is beneficial to the overall health of a person.

Ginger warms the blood vessels, causing them to expand and thereby improving circulation. It is highly beneficial for people who suffer from side effects due to chemically inflated medicines and anti-biotic. Raw ginger can last up to 3 weeks and is also available in capsule format.

One of the main ginger benefits is that it keeps your heart healthy. It also reduces headache, cures knee osteoarthritis, is good for the stomach and blocks vomiting reflex. It also cures hangover and nausea after drinking. Ginger can be had in different ways; it is either mixed with tea, vegetables, juice etc. It is also mixed with bread. Ginger bread is a common food item in Western Countries. Some people also have it with meat and fish.

Ginger is full of minerals and nutrients. 100g of ginger contains 80 calories, 0.75% of fat, 17.77% of carbohydrates, 2% of fibers, 1.82% of protein and 0% cholesterol. It is used to treat diarrhea, blood clots, prevent holes in the stomach, is used to cure allergies. Ginger benefits secretion of mucus and relief from bloating and gas. One of the most commonly known ginger benefits is that it cures cough, cold and scratchiness of the throat.

Ginger is commonly found in countries like India, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines and Cameroon. Ginger is an ancient herb and has been widely used as natural medicine over the years by our ancestors. The only difference being, the benefits were not scientifically proven back then but they are now and science has been discovering more and more benefits of ginger with each passing day. There is no denying the fact that ginger is a treasure trove of natural medicine. Thus, consumption of ginger everyday is not a bad idea.

How Does Exercise Help in Keeping Your Digestive System Healthy?

For overall health and fitness you need a well balanced diet and exercise. Among the innumerable benefits, exercise helps to tone your muscles, protects you from dangerous diseases like cancer, heart attack, and blood pressure. Exercise plays an important role in keeping your digestive system healthy and strong.

In order to digest food efficiently, you need to have a strong digestive system as well. If the food is not digested properly, it can lead to:

- Gastro intestinal problems
- Acidity
- Acid reflux or Gerd
- Heartburn
- Heaviness
- Constipation
- Bad breath

To overcome such problems related to the digestive system, you need to adapt a lifestyle and eating habits that will make you fit and healthy. Food plays a very important role in your overall health. Right eating habits and proper exercise will definitely result in good health condition. Doctors often report that several digestive disorders arise because of lack of exercise. While exercising, your heart beat rate and breathing rate are increased and thereby the muscles that support the digestive tract also get toned and result in good bowel movements. Several exercise regimes like yoga, aerobics, boot camp workouts demand changes in your eating habits as well.

Your digestive system is made up of several organs like esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gall bladder, small intestine and large intestine. The normal time for digestion of the food is usually 24 hours to 72 hours. Exercising helps to improve the digestion process.

There are several forms of exercise that really help you to strengthen your digestive system.

Yoga

Yoga, one of the ancient systems that help you to achieve a balance of physical and mental health, works superbly for digestive problems as well. There are several asanas or yogic postures that concentrate mainly to improve the digestive system. Yogasanas or postures that comprise of twists and forward bends tone the digestive muscles and stomach, help to eliminate gas that causes stomach pain, acidity, heart burn and heaviness. Yogic postures that are exclusively meant for improving digestive system enhance blood circulation to the stomach thereby improving the digestive capacity of the stomach. Several digestive disorders can be treated and diabetes, which results with the malfunctioning of pancreas, can also be prevented by specific yogic postures. The important yogic postures that aim to assist in improving the digestive system are wind relieving pose, supported child's pose, revolved abdomen pose, bound angle pose.

Yogasanas or yogic postures result in calming your mind. Relaxation also helps in improving the digestive capability of your stomach.

Breathing

Several breathing exercises or pranayama also aim to strength your digestive system in a subtle manner. Deep breathing exercises help in eliminating toxins from your body.

Boot camp workout

In a boot camp workout, the stomach muscles are strengthened, your stamina levels are increased and the body metabolism rate also goes up. For performing boot camp workouts, you need extremely high levels of stamina and energy.

Whatever exercise regime you may follow, you need to remember certain basic rules:

Any form of exercise should be done on an empty stomach.
It is better if you consult your physician before starting any form of exercise.
Eat a well balanced diet that consists of all nutrients required for the body.
Eat only when you are hungry.

Health Benefits of Aerobics - Key Facts You Should Definitely Know

Aerobic exercises are workouts done with the utilization of oxygen to improve the conditions of the heart, lungs and blood vessels. It usually involves the large muscles of the legs, back and chest and is done at moderate intensity for a longer period of time so that carbohydrate is turned into energy. When the carbohydrate stores in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles have become depleted, the body will metabolize fat to fuel the activity. Since this is a slow process, the individual exercising will feel fatigue and energy loss unless the person gets a little rest or guzzles up energy drinks to maintain the energy levels.

Because this kind of workout improves the oxygen-carrying capacity of your heart and lungs, it is highly beneficial for health. However, for aerobic exercises to achieve their desired effects, they must be performed for at least twenty minutes a day for a minimum of three times a week. Examples of workouts that develop your cardiovascular system are swimming, bicycling, running, dancing, jogging, power walking and climbing the stairs.

One of the best health benefits that can be derived from adhering to an aerobic regimen is reducing your risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease. As air is taken in and expended out of the lungs, the muscles involved in respiration are strengthened and developed. Together with this, the heart muscle is also enlarged and fortified, improving its efficiency in pumping blood in and out of the system. When the heart and lungs are enhanced and circulation is improved, blood pressure gets reduced and more red blood cells in the body facilitate the transport of oxygen throughout the tissues.

Aerobic programs like the P90X workout do not only have beneficial effects to the lungs and heart. All the muscles in the body are made stronger as well with a regular aerobic regimen. High-impact aerobic activities like jogging also stimulate bone growth, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. With regular activity and a healthy diet, the risk of developing diabetes is also greatly lowered.

For athletes in training and even those who seek to amplify their workout sessions, aerobic exercises also augment the storage capacity of energy molecules, increasing stamina and endurance. Those seeking to lose weight will also find aerobic training beneficial since it improves the ability of muscles to utilize fats during exercise which results in the shedding of excess pounds. Because a greater portion of energy for vigorous intensities are generated aerobically, metabolism is also increased which also aids your weight loss efforts. When done regularly, aerobic workouts also enable the muscles to recover faster, allowing the body to do more exercises for more health benefits. Finally, aerobic exercises also encourage the body to release "feel good" hormones that reduce stress, lower incidence of depression and improve a person's overall mental health.

So if you want improved heart and lung function, hastened weight loss, increased stamina and endurance, reduced stress and overall better health, then make aerobic workouts a part of your daily fitness routine. Strive for moderate-intensity exercises on most days of the week to get the best results.

Healthy Skin Tips: How To Deal With Acne

Acne is one of the most embarrassing problems teenagers have to face. Unfortunately the claims of some acne products are wrong: there is not really one way to combat the condition. There are however some healthy skin tips to help reduce spots and even in some cases solve the problem.

In the teenage years of course the body is growing and developing and acne is a by-product of this stage. The problem is made worse in girls when they start to experiment with cosmetics. Understandably they usually begin with cheap makeup, which tends not to be sympathetic to the skin. Frequently these cosmetics will cover the surface of the skin and block the pores. This creates a build-up of oils and it is this that promotes the growth of more spots.

It is one of the most important healthy skin tips for teenagers therefore that they should be encouraged to use all natural makeup. Such cosmetics are created from natural minerals and these will compliment the skin and will provide much-needed nutrients.

Of course many women discover all natural makeup when they are older and have more experience of skin care and cosmetics but adopting the more healthy products earlier on will be most effective and indeed lay the foundations for healthier skin later in life.

Adolescents of course tend to have busy lives and so girls tend to wear their makeup for much longer; they may even sleep in it. This highlights another benefit of all natural makeup as it allows the skin to breathe and so can be safely worn for much longer.

The area of specialized acne treatment products is a minefield. Some can be acidic and this may harm the skin. If you are to use anything then again natural ingredients are best but usually no treatment is needed at all.

In health and beauty circles the adage 'you are what you eat' is frequently over used but in this case it is quite relevant. Diet and nutrition are very influential on the way teenagers look and feel. A good healthy diet will prevent many skin conditions including acne. Fatty foods will create a greasy skin and promote acne.

No matter what your age, the way you live and what you eat affects the health of your skin. Put simply, your food is the source of all the vitamins and minerals a healthy body, especially the skin, needs to function properly. Another of the healthy skin tips frequently lost on adolescents is the need to drink lots of water and get lots of sleep. This helps the teenage body function effectively as all the physical changes take place. Inevitably the teenage years also involve rebellion so such common sense is often ignored!

Sufferers of acne would be wise to take more care over hygiene. Washing the face regularly with moderately hot water is advisable, particularly as cold water simply moves the infection to other areas. Too hot water will damage the skin in any case. Another tip would be to resist the temptation to touch the affected areas and, if you do come in to contact with them, wash your hands immediately.

Skin conditions such as acne can be very embarrassing to young adults at an age when looks can be very important but following a few simply healthy skin tips can improve things considerably.

Hair Care Tips - 5 Great Foods For Healthy Hair

The science is relatively simple: in order to have healthy hair, skin and nails, you must eat a healthy well balanced diet. More specifically, for the healthiest hair you need a diet rich in protein, iron, vitamin A, B - 12, omega 3 fats, zinc, folic acid, selenium and biotin. This is a fairly short list, and there is such a wide variety of tasty foods that you should never have any issue with including each of these essential elements into your healthy hair diet. Once you know which vitamins and minerals you need, you can quickly compile a reasonable list of tasty foods with variety and map out a diet. Lets first identify what each of these dietary components does for your hair, then we can identify the foods that contain them.

Why Do these Nutrients Help the Hair?

B - 12 - Promotes a healthy scalp and prevents dandruff. B - 12 also helps the body to absorb iron.

Biotin - Promotes cell regeneration and thickens hair strands.

Protein - Promotes growth and hair strength

Vitamin A - Promotes cell growth by helping the body to process protein and absorb calcium.

Iron - Strengthens hair growth and helps to prevent hair from falling out.

Folic Acid - Promotes cell renewal and therefore promotes growth.

Selenium - Aids in the production of sebum, the natural oil produced by hair follicle.

Zinc - Prevents shedding, promotes hair growth, and helps keep hair shiny with its natural color (prevent graying).

5 Healthy Hair Foods

Eggs - Eggs provide a simple source of protein, biotin, selenium and iron. Starting each day off with one or two boiled eggs with the yolks can be an excellent way to add these essentials to your daily plan.

Salmon - Salmon is one of the best natural dietary sources of omega 3 fats. It is also an excellent source of protein, B - 12 and iron.

Kale - Green leafy vegetables provide iron, calcium and vitamin A. In particular, kale is an extraordinary source of all of these healthy nutrients and more. It is one of the darkest green vegetables, and therefore contains high concentrations of the nutrients that it contains.

Poultry - Eat chicken and turkey for protein, but also for zinc and iron.

Black Beans - Legumes and beans provide protein, iron, zinc and biotin. Black beans, in particular, are a high performing super bean with high concentrations of nutrients.

Supplements

Of course, it is not enough to simply eat these vitamins and minerals, you must eat enough of them. Given this, it is reasonable to incorporate a Hair and Nail supplemental pill or other multi - vitamin into your daily routine to ensure the you get enough of each of these vitamins and minerals. One down - side to these supplements is that they are often quite large and hard to swallow. A simple solution to this is to also pick up a pill cutter when you purchase the supplements. Specific hair and nail enhancing formulas also often have a very strong and unpleasant odor to them. There's not much you can do about this other than to hold your breath and swallow!

Get Healthy Summer Hair With These Easy Tips

Your hair care regimen should be altered through out the summer season to help tresses handle the heat and sun. Correct treatment of your hair is very vital throughout the summer. Throughout warm weather, hair can become particularly dry owing to issues like chlorinated or salty pool water. These items can lead to really damaging outcomes to your hair. Right here are 5 summer hair care tips.

1. Protection

If you are going into sea water often or swimming pool water, you should defend your hair from the damaging effects of chlorine. You should constantly evenly wet your hair prior to you go into the water, you can also lightly wet it with h2o or put a conditioner in your hair prior to swimming. Tomato juice will get rid of any green discoloration from chlorinated hair. Aubrey Organics Swimmers Shampoo and Ultra Swimmers Ultra Repair Conditioner are also formulated to eliminate the green in your hair.

2. Lighten Up Your Locks...

If you possess blonde hair, one of the issues you look forward to is the summer, to effortlessly lighten your hair. Basically stick olive oil and lemon into your hair and sit outside. Do this on a frequent basis and you should observe your hair is shinier and much more manageable. Many individuals don't like the thought of applying lemon juice to hair as it can be drying. You can use the lemon juice, however, and combine it with sunscreen for your hair. Then you can offer yourself a weekly deep conditioning treatment, to restore the moisture again into your hair. You may need to do a deep condition two times weekly to assure ample moisture is being put into your hair.

3. Block the Sun

Yes, use a sun screen on your hair. It is a excellent way to prevent damage, as well as prevent your scalp from burning. Quite a few product lines supply a sunscreen to defend your hair. A fantastic product you can try is Hempz Supre Hair Sunscreen.

4. Drink Lots of Water

It's cliche, but drink lots of water, it is a great way to make sure you are hydrated and a fantastic way to make your hair and skin glow.

5. Moisturizing Remedies For Your Hair

Use a home made rinse. When using vinegar, combine it with herbs such as lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, lemon verbena, or rose water to eliminate or mask the vinegar smell. Combine one-cup water and one cup of Apple Cider Vinegar, and 1 handful of mint leaves. Bring all of the elements to just a boil, strain and put into a jar. After that basically lather onto your scalp, and all through your hair and leave it in. If you would rather opt for a beauty parlor or store purchased product try Blow Restorative Hair Mask. That product is fantastic due to the fact it not only aids your hair fight the summer heat, but additionally the harmful heat of your blow dryer.

How Caffeine Can Affect Your Health

Top 10 Caffeine-Related Health Problems

Cardiovascular Problems
Caffeine increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure, and can contribute to the development of heart disease. Both decaf and regular coffee increase your cholesterol and homocysteine, the biochemical that science has linked to increased risk for heart attack. Caffeine is also linked to coronary vasospasms, the cause for 20% of all fatal heart attacks which kill otherwise perfectly healthy people.

Stress
Caffeine stimulates the excretion of stress hormones which can produce increased levels of anxiety, irritability, muscular tension and pain, indigestion, insomnia, and decreased immunity. Increased levels of stress from caffeine can keep you from being able to make healthy responses to the normal daily stress everyone is subjected to in their lives.

Emotional Disturbances
Anxiety and irritability are hallmark mood disturbances associated with caffeine consumption, but equally important is depression and attention disorders. Depression may occur as part of the let down after the stimulant effects of caffeine wears off. It may also appear during the recovery period after quitting caffeine while the brain's chemistry is readjusted. Caffeine rather than increasing mental activity actually decreases blood flow to the brain by as much as 30% and negatively effects memory and mental performance.

Blood Sugar Swings
Diabetics and hypoglycemics should avoid caffeine because it stimulates a temporary surge in blood sugar which is then followed by an overproduction of insulin that causes a blood sugar crash within hours. If you're trying to loose weight, this rollercoaster will actually cause weight gain since insulin's message to the body is to store excess sugar as fat.

Gastrointestinal Problems
Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach after drinking coffee because coffee increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid leading to an increased risk for ulcers. Coffee, including decaf, reduces the pressure on the valve between the esophagus and the stomach so that the highly acidic contents of the stomach pass up to the esophagus leading to heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. With America 's high consumption of coffee, its no wonder the best selling over-the-counter drugs are the so-called antacids.

Nutritional Deficiencies
Caffeine inhibits the absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all essential elements necessary for good health.
Male Health Problems

Male Health Issues
Coffee is an irritant to the urinary tract and bladder. It is also a diuretic that aggravates conditions associated with frequent urination. Eliminating coffee and caffeine often relieves symptoms associated with frequent urination due to enlarged prostate glands.

Female Health Problems
Fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, osteoporosis, infertility problems, miscarriage, low birth weight infants, and menopausal problems such as hot flashes are all exacerbated by caffeine consumption. Women on birth control pills are particularly at risk since they have a decreased ability to detoxify caffeine.

Adrenal Exhaustion
Caffeine consumption leads to eventual adrenal exhaustion which can leave you vulnerable to a variety of health disorders related to inflammation, autoimmunity, and fatigue.

Aging
Many people find in their forties that they can no longer tolerate the same level of caffeine consumption as they could in their twenties and thirties. The production of DHEA, melatonin, and other vital hormones start to decline and caffeine speeds up that downhill drop. Caffeine dehydrates the body and contributes to the aging of the skin and kidneys. It has been shown to inhibit DNA repair and slow the ability of the liver to detoxify foreign toxins.

Exhausted Adrenal Glands
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It causes the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline, the hormone your body depends on in emergencies to elevate your heart rate, increase your respiration and blood pressure for a rapid flight-or-fight response. When you overuse stimulants, the adrenals become exhausted. If your caffeine sensitivity has diminished or you're one of those who claims you can drink 3 shots of espresso and go right to sleep, guess what? Your adrenals have given up responding. This means you have less resistance to stress, which leaves you vulnerable to health hazards such as environmental pollutants and disease pathogens

Severe Blood Sugar Swings
Caffeine forces the liver to release glycogen into the blood stream. The pancreas responds to the sudden rise in blood sugar by releasing insulin, the hormone which causes excess carbohydrates to be stored as fat. Within the span of an hour or two, the result is a sharp blood sugar drop resulting in a state of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). That's when you think it's time for another cup of coffee and the whole cycle starts up again.

Acid Imbalance
Over 208 acids in coffee can contribute to indigestion and a wide variety of health problems resulting from over-acidity associated with arthritic, rheumatic and skin irritations. Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach after drinking coffee because coffee increases the secretion of acid in the stomach. Optimal health calls for an alkaline pH balance in the body.

Essential Mineral Depletion;/b>
Coffee inhibits the absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all essential elements necessary for good health. Women need to be concerned about osteoporosis as menopause sets in. Studies show that women who drink coffee have an increased incidence of osteoporosis compared to non-coffee drinkers. Men are not immune to osteoporosis either.

These are a number of health conditions for which doctors advise their patients to eliminate coffee and all caffeine from their diet.
Acid indigestion
Anxiety, irritability and nervousness
Candida or yeast problems
Colitis, diverticulitis, diarrhea and other irritable bowel symptoms
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other auto-immune disorders
Diabetes or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Dizziness, Meniere's syndrome or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Gout (Elevated Uric Acid levels)
Heart disease or heart palpitations
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Insomnia and interrupted or poor quality sleep
Liver disease and gallbladder problems such as gallstones
Kidney or bladder problems including kidney stones
Migraines or other vascular headaches
Osteoporosis
Skin irritations, rashes and dryness
Ulcers, heartburn, and stomach problems such as hiatal hernias
Urinary tract irritation