Dealing with Dry Skin
Written on August 18, 2009 at 3:44 am, by Mona Jones
Dry skin is very frequently sensitive as well, which only makes it more difficult to care for. Dry sensitive skin is tight because of the lack of natural oils and has a tendency to develop small expression lines that will eventually become wrinkles. Furthermore, this kind of skin makes one more liable to allergic reactions, rashes, capillaries breaking and sudden flushes. Therefore, taking care of dry sensitive skin can be a real challenge sometimes. It is worth mentioning that it afflicts people of all ages, colours and genders.
You have to follow stringent rules in your choice of cleansing, moisturising and make-up products when you have dry sensitive skin to take care of. Firstly, you need to minimize the amount of products you put on your face. The fact is, the more chemicals you use, the bigger the chance of developing rashes. The products have to be fragrance-free and hypo-allergenic so that you don’t get red, irritation blotches. Blusher and foundation can pose some difficulties for dry sensitive skin.
Try not to put on too much make-up in order to allow your skin to breathe adequately. When you are shopping for make up, other than looking for the hypo-allergenic label, you should also try to make sure that they are oil-free. Foundation and blusher should be water-based because they won’t clog your pores. Furthermore, oil-absorbing foundations are not recommended for dry sensitive skin, because they will make your epidermis even drier.
It is also not to be recommended that you use exfoliants or astringent products on dry sensitive skin because they can irritate the thin upper layers of skin. The same thing must be said in relation to cleansing – too frequent washing of the face means removing the natural oils that oil the skin, which will result in an increased dryness.
Furthermore, your day-time moisturiser should have a sun-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 built-in. However, however much you may enjoy sunbathing, dry sensitive skin does not really permit you to enjoy such outdoor, skin-parching pleasures.
Don’t expose dry sensitive skin to the sun only to tan it, because you will only achieve early ageing and maybe even fairly serious health problems. And last but not least, a warning must be given that you should change some of your cosmetic products for others.
If you decide that you want to change to another skincare brand, it is very important that you test the product on a small piece of skin in order to check whether it triggers any allergic reactions.
How Do Complementary Health Practitioners Work With Regular Doctors?
Written on August 10, 2009 at 2:32 am, by Peter Benalla
According to a recent study, the number of people visiting complementary health practitioners has risen by fifty percent in the last ten years. What is a complementary health practitioner? Do they work well with “regular” doctors? Why would someone choose to visit a complementary health practitioner”isn’t a “regular” doctor enough? This article will answer all of these questions.
Who are Complementary Health Practitioners?
A complementary health practitioner is someone who offers medical/health services that can be used to compliment the treatment a person is already receiving from a “regular” medical professional. These professionals practice things like chiropractic medicine, osteopathy, physiotherapy, alternative medicine, acupuncture”things of that nature. Usually these treatments are meant to help the treatments prescribed by a “regular” doctor.
Why do Patients Choose Complementary Health Practitioners?
Readers might not believe this but “regular” doctors do sometimes tell their patients to find a complementary health practitioner to help them keep their recovery progressing at a rapid pace. A physiotherapist can work in the same office or hospital as “regular” doctors and will often work alongside the medical team to make sure a patient recovers from his/her injury. Patients can also be sent to Chiropractors and Osteopaths for additional help.
Sometimes, however, a person will choose to visit a complementary health practitioner before visiting a “regular” doctor and this is why there are rumours of animosity between the two types of medical professionals. There are a number of reasons that a person would choose an osteopath or alternative medicine professional instead of a traditional western medicine doctor.
There are a lot of people out there who simply do not trust or are afraid of going to see “regular” doctors. Some people find it easier to trust alternative medicine. Still other patients will choose a complementary health practitioner because his services are more affordable than the services of a “regular” doctor.
How Could the Relationship Between Complementary Health Practitioners and Regular Doctors Be Described?
Most people think that “regular” doctors and complementary health practitioners are rivals and do not get along. This could not be more false! Complementary health practitioners and regular doctors have a wonderful working relationship! This article has already mentioned that regular doctors will often refer their patients to a complementary health practitioner for extra therapy or additional treatment.
The same can be said of the complementary health practitioners. Many osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists will refer their patients to “traditional” medical professionals when they find that their patients are in need of specific treatments that only a “regular” doctor is licensed to provide.
Practice Meditation for Peace of Mind
Written on August 5, 2009 at 10:30 am, by Keira Adams
You almost certainly are familiar with the practice of meditation, but do you know exactly what it involves? The term meditation is frequently used to describe an individual’s state of deep focus on an object or thought. Attention is turned inward to the spirit.
Meditation techniques are said to be of Vedic Hinduism origins and are customarily practiced in the eastern religions. But western society has now embraced this practice eagerly.
Most people have a specific goal when they decide to begin engaging in meditation. Some make use of it to help focus their awareness on God; others use it for personal development. Many people discover that it helps them attain a calm mind and improved health. There are even individuals who expect that when they start to meditate, they are going to be enlightened.
Or perhaps you believe that meditation is simply something you should do for your health, similar to a fitness program or diet. Everyone who tries a new activity will have some thought of what they would like to accomplish. But unless you know precisely what it is you hope to achieve, you’re not likely to stay with a meditation habit for any length of time.
If you don’t have clear goals, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. You might also become more easily disappointed if your results fall short of your expectations. The best thing to do is to start by identifying what you would like to attain from practicing meditation. Find out as much as you can about the best means by which to reach that goal. After that, just make a start.
As a concept, meditation is a simple practice. It’s actually only sitting comfortably and focusing on just one thought. In actual fact, this is much more difficult than it seems. However your mind is always jumping from one thought to another, even if you might not know it. This makes it hard to concentrate on only one thing at a time.
It’s more effective, therefore, to start out slowly. Begin by practicing your breathing. This is the secret to meditation. Settle yourself in a relaxed position, then breathe in and out deeply and steadily for several moments. Steady breathing helps you become more focused, a necessary skill for a successful meditation experience.
If you find your attention drifting to other matters while you’re meditating, just pull your thoughts back and focus on your breathing once more. Meditation is all about concentrating. If you become aware that you’ve gone off course, simply guide yourself gently back to the proper mental state. Don’t get discouraged; learning to meditate takes time, so keep on practicing.
Meditation can help you attain peace of mind. There are so many stresses we deal with every day at home, work and in society, that it’s vital for you to have a few peaceful minutes each day.
Can You Manage Workplace Stress?
Written on August 1, 2009 at 11:48 am, by Marita
by Charlie Frograrth
One of the most difficult forms of stress to avoid is workplace stress. You have to go to work and once there you run across many stressing situations. But stress is not totally necessary. As with other forms of stress, there are ways to manage the stress found in the workplace. And if you cannot avoid it, then try to manage it.
Workplace stress is often manifested by everything needing to be completed today. As an example, your boss has already given you dozens of things to do, each with equal importance. Of course, there isn’t enough time to do all of them justice. And in addition, your boss comes and asks about a report or project completed sometime ago and when you get that, here is more work to do. It appears never ending but it is manageable.
The best way to begin to manage the stress is by focusing on only one task at a time. Multi-tasking will lead to failure as it impacts your system. Changing focus between projects makes demands on your brain and it takes time to change your thoughts from one project to another. If you maintain your focus on a single project then your energy and thoughts remain concentrated instead of scattered by multiple projects.
Another of the biggest distractions is coworkers. One of them will often ask for your opinion or for your help with their project. This takes time and focus away from your tasks and if possible delay or avoid these time wasters. Saying “no” will help to avoid distractions. I know, it is difficult to just say no, so it may be better to tell them “As soon as I am done here” or “No, not right now”. This will give you time to finish the task at hand and by the time you finish, they may have forgotten they asked you for help or may have found a solution on their own. If not, then you can take the time to help them.
There are times when your concentration just disappears causing many difficulties. You end up staring at the computer screen without being able to figure out what it means or you read the same paragraph over and over without comprehending it. At times like this you aren’t being effective so it is necessary to break your focus before you miss the deadline. Get up and take a walk around the building, go to the restroom, get a drink and when you come back to your desk, you will be refreshed and ready to continue. You will have reduced the stress level and will be able to work effectively.
There are various exercises you can do while at your desk to help in reducing stress. Get a little stress ball and squeeze it regularly and do some stretching exercises while at your desk. When you work your muscles it helps maintain circulation and keeps you alert and aware. You won’t manage a full body workout sitting at your desk, but any amount of exercise will help to keep you focused.
If you take a look at your work space you may find that it is not comfortable for you. It may be noisy, or your desk may not be the proper height for you, or you may not be comfortable for other reasons. It may not be ergonomically correct. In order to work with as little distraction as possible you must be comfortable to avoid more stress. Having your office set up just right for you is the ticket. And addressing the little things in your office will assist you in working more consistently and confidently.
A part of working is stress in the workplace. Using proper stress management techniques can minimize the stress. Once the stress is minimized work becomes more pleasant leading to more productivity. If you take care of yourself and the work area around you first then the stress will not control you.
About the Author:
Charlie Frograrth has an interesting blog on Managing Stress. Visit it at Managing Stress
Top 10 Natural Foods to Lower Cholesterol Safely and Naturally
Written on July 24, 2009 at 12:20 pm, by Marita
The cholesterol in blood comes from two main sources: the foods we eat and what we manufacture. Cholesterol levels that are too high or too low in the blood can be a very dangerous factor, often leading to a heart attack or a stroke. There are many people who take statin drugs to reduce their cholesterol. However, there are many natural foods that you can eat to help lower cholesterol safely and naturally without the use of dangerous statin drugs. You may notice a substantial improvement in your cholesterol level once you begin consuming these whole foods on a daily basis.
Here is a list of the top 10 natural foods to help maintain a healthy cholesterol level in the body.
Oat bran and brown rice bran are the best foods for reducing cholesterol. They are rich in soluble fiber, thereby lowers cholesterol levels by binding fats and heavy metals.
Blueberries (organic) alone may help lower cholesterol as effectively as statin drugs! Berries, in general, help prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol and they are super abundant in antioxidants.
Fish is a good source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids, which has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. Omega 3 fatty acids also help to lower triglyceride levels.
Garlic contains allicin and can have a powerful antioxidant effect. Lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Apple’s two kinds of fiber are useful for reducing cholesterol levels and for decreasing your risk of hardening of the arteries, stroke, and heart attack. Apple’s insoluble fiber works to remove LDL from the body, while apple’s fiber pectin reduces the amount of LDL cholesterol made in the liver.
Nuts are abundant in fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium. Nuts also contain plant sterols and the healthy fats (mono-and polyunsaturated).
Beans are high in soluble fiber; lowers the bad cholesterol and raises the good cholesterol. Other foods high in soluble fiber include lentils, peas, and ground flaxseeds.
Foods with Plant Sterols (or stanols) are powerful phytosterols found in plant membranes that may block cholesterol absorption. Sterols are found naturally in several kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, and vegetable oils.
Olive oil has been known to reduce LDLs, raise HDLs, and is rich in antioxidants.
Soy protein -studies show that a total daily intake of 25 grams of soy protein significantly lowers LDL cholesterol levels. Soy has a high amount of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Soy products are also a great replacement for animal products.
Last but not least, it’s important to keep in mind that cholesterol is found only in animal products, not plant foods. Therefore, eating fewer animal foods and more plant foods will lower the blood cholesterol. If you already have high cholesterol, temporarily changing to a vegetarian diet with fish and non-fat dairy products, such as yogurt may help lower your levels quickly.
Robin Reichert is a natural health writer, AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, and is currently a graduate student of natural health at Clayton College. Lifelong learning and educating others about natural health is her passion.
For more natural health and wellness information, please go to Robin’s Wellness Resource Center at http://www.wellness-bee.com
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Health Benefits of Raw Garlic
Written on July 18, 2009 at 10:23 am, by Marita
By Matthew Scott
Chinese people have known of the health benefits of raw garlic for thousands of years. In China, apart from being used to flavor food, garlic is also traditionally used in teas and folk remedies. Why? Garlic is one of nature’s strongest immune system boosters, and a powerful antibiotic, digestive aid and libido enhancer. As you’ll see below, these are just some of the health benefits of raw garlic.
However, while the health and medicinal benefits of garlic are numerous, it can also overheat your system if you eat too much. According to Traditional Chinese Dietary Therapy, garlic is warm in nature and a strong stimulant. Therefore, people who have excess heat in their body should first balance their system. Excessive internal heat comes from eating too many heating foods and drinks, e.g. meat, fried foods, coffee and alcohol. This causes symptoms like red eyes, bad breath, constipation, yellow urine, a yellow tongue moss and acne. If you have these kinds of symptoms, eliminate or greatly reduce the above items from your diet for a few weeks before you start eating garlic regularly, or it will just make your body hotter and your symptoms worse.
Below are some main health and medicinal benefits of garlic. Note: To get the full health benefits of raw garlic, you have to do just that – take it raw! Commercial garlic pills, tablets, oils and capsules, especially the odorless ones, are often devoid of the active enzymes that provide the benefits. Crushed, raw garlic may be mixed into virtually any meal, or put in gelatin capsules for easy swallowing, or drunk as a tea by simply crushing 1 or 2 cloves and adding hot water. These methods may not be very appealing, but do you want the benefits or not?
Health & Medicinal Benefits of Garlic
Powerful immune system enhancer
Antibacterial, antiviral Antifungal – effective remedy for yeast infections & candida
Clears boils & infected sores
Improves appetite Digestive aid – especially good if eaten with meat
Increases libido – take several raw cloves a day
Expells intestinal parasites & worms
Reduces high cholesterol
Health Remedies Using Garlic Cloves
Below are some Chinese health remedies using garlic cloves as the main ingredient. These are common, traditional ways that Chinese people make use of the health benefits of raw garlic.
Garlic Tea: Put 1 or 2 cloves of crushed garlic and 1 or 2 grams of loose-leaf green tea in a teapot. Add a teaspoon or two of unrefined brown sugar if you wish. Pour in boiling water that has been left to cool slightly. Stir the mixture and let it steep for several minutes before drinking. Afterwards, leave the ingredients in the pot, as you can top it up with more water once or twice throughout the day. This is a common folk remedy for killing germs and resolving toxins in the body.
Garlic Nose Drops: This is a preventative for the common cold and sinus problems. Crush several cloves of garlic to obtain the juice. Mix with warm water at a ratio of two parts water to one part garlic juice. Lie down and use an eye-dropper to place a couple of drops into each nostril as soon as you feel any symptoms coming on. Continue for as long as necessary. If the drops overly irritate your nostrils, stop, or reduce the number of drops.
Garlic Paste: Crush 2 garlic cloves and mix with several drops of pure sesame oil to make a paste for external application to boils,carbuncles and infected sores. Cover then reapply when the paste becomes dry and falls off. If the skin becomes overly irritated discontinue use or wait for a day or two and try again.
Maximizing the Health Benefits of Raw Garlic
To get the full health benefits of raw garlic, whether in salads, as tea, or in capsules, it’s important you eat less refined, processed and canned foods, and more foods in as close to their natural state as possible. Afterall, what’s the point in taking fresh, raw garlic to improve your health while, for instance, continuing to eat nutritionally-dead, toxin-producing junk foods?
Matthew Scott is a professionally trained Chinese medicine practitioner from Australia, now living in China. Matthew offers [http://www.chinese-herbal-remedies.com/online-herbal-remedies-advice.html]online herbal remedies advice at his website, Chinese-herbal-remedies.com
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Meditation Postures: Take Your Pick
Written on July 8, 2009 at 9:30 am, by Barbara Marr
It’s not in any way necessary to take on an uncomfortable or difficult position when you’re meditating. There are one or two guidelines, though, that help you make the most of your meditation session. For instance, most forms of meditation call for the spine to be straight and the posture to be erect. The reason for this is that when you sit erect it promotes the circulation of your spiritual energy. This is believed to be your life energy or force.
Even though a straight back is almost universal in the different approaches to meditation, some forms of the practice such as spiritual meditation utilize a variety of postures. Here’s a look at a few of the different postures.
1. Seated position. The person sits erect while keeping the back straight. Spine and head are aligned and straight. The thighs are parallel to the floor. Hands are placed comfortably on the knees or chair arms.
2. Cross legged posture. This is one of the most popular positions, and includes the lotus position.
3. Kneeling posture. The person is positioned with both knees resting on the floor. The buttocks rest on the heels and toes, which are placed side by side. The hands are placed on the thighs.
4. Lying down posture. In yoga this is referred to as savasna; it’s also known as the corpse position. The individual lies flat on the floor with the legs straight and relaxed. This position isn’t used often because it copies the innate position of sleep. A person might doze off at times. This is more useful for stress reduction rather than as a meditation method.
As well as the postures, there are a number of actions or gestures that might form part of the meditation experience. Included in these are hand motions which are termed Mudras. A theological meaning is at the root of these gestures. Founded on the yogic school of thought, they might affect the consciousness. A typical example is the placement of hands in Buddhist meditation. With the thumbs touching, the right hand is positioned on top of the left hand.
Integrating assorted repetitive actions like chanting, deep breathing or humming also assists in bringing on a state of meditation. Some people practice walking meditation. Typically, the eyes are closed or partially closed during meditation. However, Soto Zen practitioners perform their meditation with their eyes wide open in front of a wall.
For thousands of years, meditation has been practiced by countless people for its many advantages. Incorporating meditation into your everyday life could make a huge difference in your mindset and attitude. To gain the benefits of meditation, follow the training of the type of meditation you have decided to practice. Remember that acceptance and persistence are necessary in order to have success. This could be of help at times when you find difficulty in meditating, and it will also improve your concentration in daily life.
Simple Ways To Meditate Include Focusing On Your Breath
Written on July 4, 2009 at 11:22 am, by Trevor Johnson
Focusing on your breath is one of the more simple ways to meditate. Meditation itself is the only real way to fully relax the active thoughts which take place in your mind every day. You don’t have to follow any complex rules to meditate, switch off and achieve a mind that is in a state of peace.
Focusing on your breath and breathing is a meditation technique which can be mastered by anyone. Breathing is an involuntary action, so it is always there, it is rhythmic and this falls nicely in line with the theories on meditation. If you have ever been to an exercise or yoga class, or listened to guided meditation recordings, the lesson always starts by asking you to take a deep, or a few deep breaths.
Deep breathing is useful for relaxation even if you are not about to start meditating. We have all heard the words “take a breather”, so taking a few deep breaths before any situation helps to calm you.
When the breath is the focal point it can be used to release the stresses and anxieties which trouble us. So start by inhaling through the nostrils or mouth and on the exhale, imaging that all your stress, worry and anxiety is being released with the breath and out through the soles of the feet, finger tips or top of the head. Imagine that all the tensions and toxins in your body are being flushed away in that exhale.
Training your breath to be the focus of your attention can be accomplished by shallow and controlled breathing, Imagine at the same time that there is a feather on your chin or nose and you are not supposed to disturb it. The more focus you have on your breath, the more easily you will be able to find a meditative state.
You need to take whatever time you can out of your day and practice these breathing exercises whenever you have to opportunity. There are no fixed rules, do it when you go to bed at night or when you wake in the morning or both. Whatever makes you feel better!
The Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic
Written on July 3, 2009 at 9:15 am, by Marita
Do you know what your Vitamin D level is? Chances are you don’t and chances are it’s low. Research seems to be coming out almost daily about the effects of Vitamin D deficiency and how many people are deficient. Estimates range from about 35% in young people to 100% in the elderly.
There is a growing awareness of how critical Vitamin D is to our health. There have been many studies on various diseases and conditions which point to Vitamin D deficiency as playing a relevant role. Recent research indicates that the following may be associated with Vitamin D deficiency:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- cognitive impairment and dementia.
- hypertension which may cause high blood pressure
- metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type II diabetes
- heart disease
As you can see most of the above are related to inflammation. People with higher levels of Vitamin D also have better lung capacity, something that could be important to asthma sufferers.In fact, in the May 1, 2009 issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston report a link between insufficient levels of vitamin D and increased severity of asthma in children.
There is now increasing evidence that Vitamin D deficiency plays an important role in the increase in autism. Vitamin D goes through two biochemical processes which ultimately produces calcitriol, which affects brain cell development. Some research indicates that a low Vitamin D level in a pregnant mother will affect brain development in the baby. The research while not conclusive, at this time, gives hope for a solution to the increasing incidence of autism.
Vitamin D is also essential for the absorption of calcium which children need to grow health bones and adults need to prevent osteoporosis.
Vitamin D is not something we get in large quantities from food but rather something we absorb from sunshine. As we have become a society who spends more and more time indoors or covered up when we’re outdoors, our Vitamin D levels have dropped. And many of us live in northern climes where, at least in the winter months, there may not be a lot of sunshine. Although surprisingly, there is a large number of people in states like Florida and Texas with below normal Vitamin D levels. Taking Vitamin D3 supplements is an inexpensive and simple solution which scientists believe will give us more protection against many diseases that are on the rise.
The daily recommended dosage of Vitamin D3 has changed drastically recently as more data becomes available. Cancer prevention specialists at the University of California are now recommending as much as 1000 IU/day. There are actual studies which show Vitamin D3 is effective in treating and preventing prostate and colon cancer and new studies are indicating the same may be true for many other types of cancer.
Remember the blood test for Vitamin D levels is inexpensive and can be easily added on to any blood test you may have. The recommended level of Vitamin D is 75-125 nmol/L. Check with your doctor before beginning any new supplementation.
Karen Davison helps people live a healthier, longer, more energetic life. Karen’s passion is helping others discover and realize their dreams, so they too can choose the lifestyle they desire. Learn more about health and nutrition at http://www.metabolicplan.wordpress.com
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Water- A vital secret to good health
Written on June 30, 2009 at 2:20 pm, by Marita
Water is one of the vital substances required for the proper functioning of the body, yet most of us don’t drink nearly enough of it. Our body cells are actually composed of around 70% water and every process in the body is dependent on adequate hydration.
Vital detoxifying organs such as the kidneys and liver are adversely affected by dehydration and do not clear toxins from the body efficiently. As a result, these toxins accumulate in the tissues and over time, can cause degeneration and disease.
Some conditions associated with inadequate hydration include:
- Headaches
- Poor digestion and constipation
- Reduced immune function
- Inflammation and joint pain
- Allergies, asthma, skin conditions
- Disturbed lipid/cholesterol metabolism
- Decreased energy levels
Adults should aim to drink around 2 to 3 litres of water per day, depending on their diet, size and level of physical activity. Drinking other liquids such as tea, coffee, soft drinks, alcohol etc DOES NOT count as water, since they actually put a metabolic load on the body and may even have a diuretic effect. Pure filtered water is the best option as it is free of most pollutants, additives and chemicals. Bottled water is a more expensive option. Tap water is acceptable and better than nothing.
The thirst response in humans is not very efficient and by the time we realise we are thirsty, the body is already quite dehydrated. Get into the habit of drinking water on a regular basis, preferably between meals, as excessive water intake with a meal can reduce digestive enzyme activity.
Simply becoming more aware of the importance of water and increasing your water intake is one of the cheapest and most beneficial things you can do for your health.
Good health !!
Marita Reynolds.
Marita Reynolds. © Copyright 2009