How to get started in healthy living — part 3B

Improving your diet and increasing healthy activity

Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is perhaps the lynchpin of healthy living. Not only does it keep all your body systems working efficiently, it also provides energy, protects your heart, helps prevent and fight off disease, maintains a healthy body weight, contributes to healthy skin, hair and nails and even influences mood.

Exercise for a healthy life

Despite myriad campaigns and initiatives, we still aren’t getting out and about nearly often enough to benefit our health. The average person in the UK watches 26 hours of television per week! The latest statistics show that 56 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women aged 16 to 54 fail to reach the recommended levels of physical activity for health benefits. No wonder obesity is such a problem in this country ... But we remain sedentary at our peril: regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes — as well as the risk of premature death.

Take action

• Stop and think before you make a journey. Could you walk it or bike it instead of driving? If it will take under 15 minutes to get there, then the answer is yes!
• Be more aware of how you use your body. Bend your knees when you pick up heavy objects, sit at your desk properly and try to keep your stomach pulled in and shoulders back and down.
• Find a fitness goal that you can work towards. It could be something as simple as being able to walk up all seven flights of stairs at work, or entering a charity fun run.  
• Think of a sport or fitness activity you loved as a child — perhaps netball or judo, cross country running or ballet — and find somewhere that you can give it a go again. It may rekindle your enthusiasm …
• Avoid labor-saving devices in and outside the home — like the remote control, the food processor, the elevators and escalators, the shopping home delivery service — even the ‘no-scrub’ bathroom cleaning fluid!
• Invest in a pedometer (they are not expensive) and monitor your steps for a full day. The goal is to reach 10,000 steps per day, but if you are like most people, your total may be closer to half of that. Aim to build up by 200 steps per day. 

Drink more fluids

Many of us spend a lot of time in a state of ‘hypo’ hydration. We’re not officially dehydrated but just slightly under-hydrated. This can make you feel sluggish, impair mental function and increase the risk of constipation. It also doesn’t do wonders for your complexion. Experts recommend that we consume 1ml of fluid for every calorie we take in — which means that the average UK woman needs around 2l, the average man needs 2.5l of fluid per day. Happily, at least a third of this comes from the moisture in the foods we eat — but it is still important to ensure you drink fluids regularly throughout the day (it doesn’t have to be water — though water is a calorie-free, sugar-free, additive-free choice). If you exercise, then starting at a level of hypohydration practically guarantees that you won’t perform to the best of your ability — so be especially vigilant if you are active.

Take action

• Keep a bottle of water handy — on your desk, in your bag or in the car — you’ll be surprised how often you take a sip from it.
• Drink a cup of water for every cup of tea or coffee you drink.
• Swap sugary carbonated drinks for sparkling water. Don’t drink too many diet drinks — the acid in them is harmful to teeth and there is still controversy over the safety of the artificial sweeteners they contain.
• Swap at least some of your caffeinated beverages for decaffeinated ones. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes the body shed water. ‘Water-processed’ decaffeinated coffee is free from chemicals and much tastier.
• If you are exercising for more than 45 minutes, consider drinking an isotonic sports drink instead of water.
• Monitor the color of your urine. If you are adequately hydrated, it should be the color of pale straw. Dark urine, infrequently passed, is a sure sign of dehydration.

Alcohol consumption

Excess drinking has become so much part of our culture that many of us barely notice we are doing it — but health practitioners certainly are – with worrying increases in alcohol related diseases from cirrhosis of the liver to heart problems, stroke, obesity, some cancers and alcohol-related accidents. Stick to the recommended amounts and you can enjoy alcohol without harming your health (there’s some evidence that consuming modest amounts of alcohol is actually healthier than being teetotal) – but unfortunately, many of us are overdoing it. A survey by the Royal College of Physicians found that one in five women aged 25 to 44 had ‘binged’ (defined as consuming more than six units in one session) at least once in the previous week while in 2001, the Chief Medical Officer’s report stated that liver cirrhosis had increased seven-fold in the last 30 years in women aged 35 to 44 and eight-fold in men of the same age group.

Take action

Know your units. The maximum recommended amount is four units per day for men (but no more than 21 per week) and three units per day for women (but no more than 14 units per week), necessitating at least two alcohol-free days per week. Keep a ‘drink diary’ to find out how much you are really drinking on a weekly basis.

• Find a glass at home and mark on it with tippex or nail varnish the amount that constitutes a unit of your usual favourite tipple. For beer drinkers, that’s half a pint, for wine drinkers, 125ml and for spirit drinkers, 25ml constitutes a single unit.
• When you’ve finished an alcoholic drink, fill the glass with water and don’t drink another one until you’ve finished the water.
• Don’t get involved in ‘rounds’. You often end up drinking just because it’s been bought for you, even though you already feel you’ve had enough.
• Don’t drink alcohol when you are thirsty. Make your first drink a large soft one, otherwise you will gulp it down too quickly.
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach — either drink with food or eat before you go out.
• http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/how-to-get-started-in-healthy-living-part-3/

The best quick fix diet plan

10-point plan quick weight loss

Follow our 10-point diet plan and a five-meal-a-day menu, and you’ll be sliding rather than squeezing into your clothes for that big event. Here's our best quick fix diet plan...

Whether it’s a wedding, holiday or big event on the horizon shedding a few pounds is generally the top of most women’s ‘to-do’ list along with all the other pampering and prep. To get you toward the shape you want to we lift the lid on the best meal plan, tips, tricks and slimming strategies to help shed pounds.

The good news is, it’s not just case of scrimping and skipping meals, if you stick to the tips and follow the menu, you’ll definitely feel the benefit even if your big date is just days away. 

Quick fix diet tips

1. Always eat breakfast – Kick-start your body’s engine with a low fat, slow release, unrefined meal. And aim for a 300-350 calorie meal to fit in with the body’s natural metabolism which is primed in the morning and tails off during the day.
2. Hydrate – Drink plenty of fluids (water, herbal teas and sugar-free cordial); aim for two litres spread throughout the whole day and you’ll feel more energised, toxins will be flushed away and your complexion will definitely improve. 
3. Don’t skip meals; eat evenly throughout the day – Your body actually burns up calories in digesting food, so the fewer meals you eat, the less of a chance it has to do that. 
4. Kick the booze – If you drink your maximum recommended units (21 per week for women), then you are taking in more than 1,000 extra calories. Strengthen that willpower and try to cut alcohol as much possible in the lead up to the big day.
5. Don’t scrimp on protein – Eat a portion of protein at lunchtime – to help avoid an energy slump in the afternoon, which could have you heading for the vending machine.
6. Eat mindfully – You can’t afford to ‘waste’ calories by eating mindlessly at the fridge, or straight from the saucepan. Make sure that you sit down to savour all your meals and snacks.
7. Get a smaller plate – swap your normal plate for a slightly smaller one, it makes your meals seem larger and you'll find your 'full switch' will flip a little faster.
8. Say no to processed food – If it comes in a packet, leave it on the supermarket shelf, you’re automatically eliminating food manufacturers’ high fat and high sugar products.
9. Move more – remember as well as cutting calories you can burn them too – make sure you compliment the 10-point plan with physical activity.
10. Mix it up – make sure you don’t eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner day-in day-out.
11. http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/the-best-quick-fix-diet-plan/

Feel The Heat

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Fancy a hike in the sunshine? A few sensible precautions to prevent heat exhaustion and heatstroke will go a long way

With British summers so unreliable, it’s no wonder many of us are keen to make the most of the sunshine when it shows up, and a leisurely walk – or a strenuous hike – is a great way of getting outdoors into the fresh air.

But slapping on the SPF to protect your skin isn’t the only health concern to be aware of; it’s important to consider the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke too.

These conditions are directly linked with body temperature, so they can occur in any scenario where there’s sufficient heat – sitting in hot, stuffy cars is notoriously dangerous – but they should be a prime concern for anybody thinking about undertaking exercise, even if that’s just a gentle hike, on a hot day.

So what exactly are heat exhaustion and heatstroke?

Many of us will have experienced heat exhaustion at some point; chances are you felt unwell, utterly drained of energy, agitated and even a bit panicky.

It occurs when a loss of body fluids and salts, due to exposure to heat, causes a sufficient decrease in blood pressure and blood volume.

“Someone with heat exhaustion may feel hot, sick, faint and sweaty,” says Dr Annabel Bentley, medical director at Bupa UK. “Help move them to a cool area, loosen tight clothing and give them some water. They should start to feel better within half an hour or so.”

Heatstroke, on the other hand, is a medical emergency, and it’s vital that somebody with suspected heatstroke is given urgent treatment or organ damage, and even death, may occur.

It happens when a person’s temperature is so high that their body’s cooling system stops working, which basically means they can no longer sweat – this is a key indicator for heatstroke.

So look out for dry skin with no sweat; a person may also display signs of mental confusion, vertigo, rapid shallow breathing (hyperventilation), muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, loss of consciousness and even fits.

Spot these symptoms and you should dial 999 immediately. In the meantime, moving them to a cool, ventilated area, giving them some water to drink if they’re conscious (but don’t give any drugs or painkillers), and showering their skin in cool – but not freezing cold – water, or applying damp, cool towels, can help.

So while heat exhaustion is far more common and not as serious, it still needs to be addressed with attempts to cool down, or it could eventually develop into heatstroke.

Also, certain people may be more at risk of adverse reactions to heat.

“People who are more at risk include babies and young children, the elderly and those with existing medical conditions like heart problems or diabetes,” adds Bentley.

If you are thinking of heading off for a long walk or hike in the sunshine, preparing for the heat is vital – starting with hydration.

“Our bodies work a bit like a combustion engine and if they overheat, they can’t function,” says Nuffield Health physiologist Jessica Bonstein. “Sweating is the natural means by which the body cools itself. It’s important that when exercising in the heat, people stay well hydrated to facilitate the safe loss of bodily water through sweating.”

There’s no official guideline about how much additional water you may need for each extra degree on the thermometer, but little and often is a good place to start.

“The rate at which heat begins to have an adverse affect can happen very quickly,” notes Dr Emma Derbyshire, a leading nutritionist and advisor to the Natural Hydration Council. “People can lose about two to four litres of fluid within an hour. Some of that depends on other factors like age, temperature, body size and sex, but you can lose up to four litres an hour which is quite a lot, so it’s definitely important to make sure you take in enough fluid, and what’s best is to make sure you have small amounts and often, about 250ml every 20-30 minutes is a good guide.

“If you’re doing a race or hike and don’t drink for 45 minutes or an hour, and then guzzle down lots of fluid later on; you really want to avoid doing that. Pacing your intake is better for helping you avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion.”

It’s advisable to have water as your first-choice drink, and water alone is usually sufficient if your activity lasts for an hour or less. If you’re on a longer walk or hike, you may want to top up energy reserves with a sugary or fruity drink or isotonic sports drink to replace lost electrolytes.

Rehydrating after you’ve finished your activity is useful too. A good way to find out just how much water you’ve lost is to weigh yourself before and after, which shows how much fluid you’ve lost – then drink that amount; 1kg of weight equals 1L of fluid.

Also important is ensuring you wear appropriate clothing and a wide-brimmed sunhat (sunglasses alone won’t cut it), and be sensible – if you’re not in the best physical shape and know you don’t respond well to heat, heading out for a strenuous eight-hour walk on the hottest day of the year probably isn’t a good idea.

But remember, too, even the fittest of folk aren’t immune to the effects of heat.

“A person’s ability to cool themselves efficiently is relative to the climate they’re used to exercising in, so someone can be fit in a relatively temperate climate but suffer heatstroke when exercising in high temperatures,” says Bonstein.

Whether it’s a humid or dry climate will make a difference too. “The sweat rate in humid heat is greater than in dry heat, however dissipation of sweat, thus cooling, is more efficient in dry heat,” Bonstein adds.

If you’re going to be exercising in particularly challenging climates, acclimatise by building up resistance slowly – Bonstein advises a period of at least two weeks.

Cramps are a signal you’re very dehydrated, so don’t ignore them. “It’s fair to assume that most people experiencing cramp will stop exercising. However, some may stretch it out and carry on – bad idea!” notes Bonstein.

“Fainting due to the heat is common but has less to do with water loss and more to do with vasodilation and blood pooling, as the blood vessels near the skin dilate to allow for greater blood flow to the skin to cool off,” she adds. “Should you feel at all faint or light-headed, it’s advised to stop exercising and find some shade. If symptoms persist, call an ambulance as you may already be dehydrated and heatstroke may follow quickly.”

http://www.silversurfers.com/health/health-features/feel-heat/

Weight loss tips to lose 5, 10 and 20 pounds

161 calories: How much you can burn by watching a 90-minute horror film like Jaws.

Stop mindless eating: It’s easy to underestimate how much we eat — a handful of chips here, a latte there — so it’s no wonder we lose track.
The fix: ”You become much more aware when you write it down,” says personal trainer Ashley Dale Roy. Researchers say keeping a food journal could help you lose up to six extra pounds this year!

Keep moving all day long: Sneak workouts in wherever you can.
The fix: Stuck in the office? Try this move from trainer Kathleen Trotter: Stand in front of your desk chair with feet shoulder-width apart. Lower into a squat, hovering just above chair for one count. Pulse five times. Rise onto toes. Hold for five counts. Return to start. Do it every time you take a seat.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Water flushes toxins from the body and also speeds up weight loss. Even mild dehydration can slow down the fat-burning process and sap energy levels.
The fix: Refill your glass often (aim for 2 L every day) and flavour with sliced citrus. Get a homemade vitamin water recipe here.

Add these tips to lose 10 pounds

Make intervals part of your workout: High-intensity interval training can be the best way to switch up your routine to help you shed stubborn pounds. Research shows it leads to higher energy levels, improved cardiovascular fitness and extra fat burning. One Canadian study found that when women in their 20s cycled for 10 sets of four minutes at high intensity followed by two minutes of rest, they increased the amount of fat they burned by a whopping 36 percent.
The fix: On your next morning walk, plan to jog for one block every other block. Or the next time you’re cycling at the gym, kick it up a notch for five minutes in the middle. We promise you’ll see results!

Cut out empty calories: Subtracting 500 calories from your daily intake can help you lose an extra pound per week, says personal trainer Cat Smiley.
The fix: Planning your snacks in advance significantly contributes to losing weight. Keep high-fibre, high-protein fuel at the office. We love oatmeal or Greek yogurt sprinkled with chia seeds.

Fill up with protein: Getting plenty of this essential nutrient is key to keeping weight-loss goals on track. “Missing a macro nutrient like protein often leads to cravings for empty calories, like fries, doughnuts, bagels — whatever it takes to fill that void,” says Smiley.
The fix: Include protein powerhouses like fish, meat, lentils or tofu at every meal. Single-serving cups of cottage cheese are tasty, easy-to-pack snacks.

Add these tips to lose 20 pounds

Step away from the scale: Weighing in every day is not always the best indicator of success. If you’re working out more, you may be building muscle, which weighs more than fat.
The fix: Gauge your progress by your increased energy levels and how well your clothes fit.

Use the buddy system: Stay motivated by enlisting a pal as your workout buddy. Studies show your chances of weight loss increase significantly with a little help from your friends.
The fix: Sign up for a Zumba class with a co-worker or commit to jogging every morning with a neighbour.

Hit the snooze button: When people get even an hour and 20 minutes less sleep at night, they eat an average of 550 extra calories the next day.
The fix: “Get eight hours of sleep to rev up your metabolism and maximize fat-burning,” says Smiley.
http://www.irresistiblehealth.com/p=163.html?uk=454qba&c1=ad4

Excellent Benefits of Fruit And Vegetable Juices During Summer

Excellent Benefits of Fruit And Vegetable Juices During Summer

You can refresh yourself in summer with the help of fruit or vegetable juices. These delicious, healthy juices can refresh you and replenish your depleted energy levels. Even though juices can be enjoyed any time of the year, they become much more enjoyable during summers.

You can prepare tasty health drinks at home which can provide you with important nutrients like proteins and vitamins and also help in overcoming the effects of the scorching summer heat. As you might be aware, fruits are very important for our body as well as for a healthy skin.

Fruits and vegetables consist mainly of water and fiber, but they also provide a lot of other important nutrients like minerals, vitamins, phyto-nutrients. It is a very healthy habit to consume fresh fruits and vegetables on regular basis, specially in summer season.

The problem is most people do not like to consume whole fruits or vegetables. Such people can enjoy juices made from them. For example, no one would like to eat 10 carrots at once. But if you make a glass of carrot juice using those 10 carrots, you can easily gulp it down.

Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients which are essential for the growth and healthy functioning of the body. They provide us energy and help in regulating our metabolism. They contain minerals which are necessary for the nerves and muscles of our body. However, keep in mind that vegetable or fruit juices should not be used as substitutes for whole foods, but as supplements. They can be a perfect food supplement, specially for our eat-on-the-run lifestyles. You can make a glass of juice easily and quickly.

Vitamin C present in some juices can be good for the skin. If you regularly drink juices which are rich in Vitamin C, you can notice a significant improvement in the smoothness and beauty of your skin. Vitamin C also helps in joint flexibility and is good for the hair. Grapefruit juice is a good source of Vitamin C and can be helpful in preventing arthritis, cataracts. But people with type 2 diabetes should avoid it due to its high sugar concentration. Orange juice is another good source of Vitamin C.

Carrot juice contains a large amount of beta-carotene, potassium and vitamins. It helps in strengthening the immune system, improving the eyesight and preventing heart related diseases. It can also be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels, healing of wounds and preventing cancer.

Sugarcane juice is very popular during summer season because it quenches our thirst and re-hydrates our body, giving us instant burst of energy. It is also effective in fighting against prostate and breast cancer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8552468

The Health Benefits of Drinking Tea

A number of scientific researchers have been investigating the possible health benefits contained within the hot drink. And now it appears there’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that drinking tea could actually ward off some very serious conditions, including cancer, obesity and dehydration.
Studies have suggested that drinking three or more cups of tea a day could actually be better for you than drinking the same amount of water, with the antioxidants contained within tea boosting the body’s health, at the same time as rehydrating it.

The main health benefits of tea drinking ...

Here are some of the key health benefits that scientists reckon tea drinking can have on the body:

• Tea reduces the risk of heart disease — Tea can potentially improve the blood flow around the body, by widening key arteries and reducing the risk of clots. Tea also contains antioxidants called ‘flavonoids’, which may slow down the onset and risk of heart disease.

• Tea hydrates the body — Although water is the prime fluid for rehydrating the body after exercise or a long day in the office, some scientists believe that drinking tea could be equally useful. Although high in caffeine, tea is still great for hydration as it provides a rich and flavorsome source of water.

• Tea prevents tooth decay — Believe it or not, a regular supply of tea can really strengthen your teeth and lower the risk of tooth decay. Tea is a great source of fluoride, which can bolster tooth enamel. The antioxidants contained within a cuppa have also been known to fight against bacteria and gum disease. So get slurping!

• Slimming through tea drinking? — Some scientific studies have suggested that regular tea drinking can help to keep body fat down by speeding up the burning of calories. If nothing else, it’s less fattening than sipping on a soft drink ...

• Boosting memory power with tea — Many scientists believe that certain types of tea, such as green tea, can strengthen memory cells in the brain, and offer protection from the development of dementia and even Alzheimer’s Disease. No wonder old people drink so much tea ...

• Beating cancer through the power of tea — Some high-profile studies have recently suggested that tea drinking could seriously help your chances of avoiding cancer. Although research is still developing in this area, reports indicate that prostate, mouth and breast cancer cases are much lower amongst those who regularly drink five or more cups of tea a day.

Types of healthy tea

With so many potential health benefits, there’s never been a better time to put the kettle on. But which form of tea is the most beneficial to you? Is that large cup of creamy, sugary black tea really going to help your body feel better? Let’s find out ...

• Green tea — In addition to the numerous health benefits mentioned above, green tea has also been found to boost the performance of the liver, and prevent arthritis by strengthening bones. However, to get the most benefit from your green tea drinking, try and brew it from loose leaves rather than the tea bag. It’ll add flavor, and allow more antioxidants to be released into your cup!

• Black tea — Whilst green tea often grabs the headlines, black tea also possesses many of the health bonuses mentioned above. Offering a strong source of antioxidants, it is great for preventing viruses in the mouth and gums and has also been known to widen impaired arteries by as much as 50 per cent, preventing blood clots.

• Wu long (or oolong) tea — This Chinese tea is said to be the best for burning off calories, as well as boosting the body’s immune system. Unlike green tea, wu long tastes sweet instead of grassy. It therefore offers a much more welcoming taste, in addition to its myriad body benefits.

So don’t be ‘tea-total’ ... Brew up a healthy cuppa today and you’ll be feeling tea-rrific in no time!

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health-benefits-drinking-tea-133231527.html

How to Boost Metabolism – Lose Weight Fast Naturally with 3 Easy and Cheap Metabolism Boosting Diets

Metabolism is a very important reason why some people are fat or overweight. This is also the reason why some people stay skinny no matter how much they eat. If you are one of the unfortunate people who are stuck with a very slow metabolism, there are ways in which you can boost your metabolism and achieve a healthy weight loss.

Recommended Water Intake
You probably heard about the saying that drinking eight glasses of water a day provides numerous health benefits. Water keeps you hydrated, regulates the body temperature, aids in good digestion and detoxifies. While this saying is true, there is also another reason why you should be drinking plenty of water daily.

According to a recent research in Germany, drinking approximately 17 ounces of water immediately speeds up metabolism. The metabolic rate of a person can go up as high as 30% when he or she drinks 8 glasses of water daily. It also washes down the by-products of fat breakdown and suppresses hunger, helping you to lose weight.

Think about it, these are great reasons why you should drink as much as you can. Remember to drink a lot more when you are exercising or suffering from extremely hot weather.

Importance of Exercise

Exercise is the best way of how to speed up your metabolism. It is ideal to exercise in the morning right after waking up in order to boost your metabolism right away. The increase in metabolism will last throughout the day or more depending on the type of exercise.

 Weight training, according to experts, is the best type of exercise to speed up metabolism. The effect of a 25 minute proper weight training program on your metabolism can last two to three days after the workout.
This should be combined with cardiovascular work-out in order to achieve the highest amount of weight loss in the shortest time possible. Cardiovascular exercise also increases metabolism but only for short periods. Jillian Michaels, a famous fitness instructor describes in detail her methods to boost metabolism. Learn more here.

How to Boost Metabolism with Foods

It is important to learn how to boost metabolism naturally by eating the right kinds of food. High protein food that is low in fat is an ideal metabolism food. Protein is hard to breakdown so the body has to work harder and burn a lot of calories in order to digest high protein foods properly. The best high protein foods for increasing metabolism are chicken breast, lean beef and turkey.

Fiber rich foods are also great natural metabolism boosters. These foods also require the body to burn extra calories for proper breakdown aside from cleansing the digestive tract. Fiber also gives a person the feeling of fullness quicker thus less food and calories are consumed resulting to weight loss. Some of the best choices are spinach, broccoli and other green leafy vegetables.

Studies also suggest eating 5 smaller meals a day in order to increase metabolism. Add high protein sources and high fiber foods in each meal and the weight will come off faster.
http://irresistiblehealth.com/?p=89

Hydration: The Key to Unlocking Health and Human Performance

Is being hydrated important? You better believe it. Our bodies are made up of 65% water and we can only live a couple days without it. Every cell in our body contains water and when those cells become dehydrated it causes an entire host of problems for our human body.

Body Fatigue

Studies have shown that fatigue, headaches, and lack of concentration can all by symptoms of not being hydrated. Next time you are feeling sluggish or run down try drinking some water and re analyze how your feel. Dehyrdation symptons commonly show themselves during mid afternoon hours, this is the most common time for those feelings of being "run down" to occur.

Internal Body Temperature Regulation

When it is hot outside our body regulates it's temperature by sweating. In order to sweat you need to by hydrated. If you are not hydrated properly your body loses the ability to regulate temperature effectively. When your body loses the ability to regulate temperature, many horrible health consequences follow.

Beating Hunger Cravings and Weight Loss

A major aspect of dieting is the ability to control hunger. When your body is in need of water it many times will feel "hungry". Our bodies do not know how to distinguish between "needs" and many times a lack of hydration can lead to your body sending hunger signals. The same thing happens when our bodies are mineral or vitamin deficient. Hunger cravings can lead to over eating when it could have been solved by a glass of water. Next time you experience hunger cravings drink water and see how you feel.

Sports and Human Performance

Athletes are constantly looking for the edge when it comes to performance. A fantastic performance enhancer is a water cooler away. Staying hydrated allows your muscles to perform at their optimal level, allowing the athlete to perform at their true potential. Muscles that are hydrated at the cellular level have a better capacity to fire efficiently, maximizing an athletes ability to perform. Fancy supplements are great but staying hydrated is a way to maximize performance.

So What does all of this mean?

Drinking water should be the first thing we do to help our health. Is is the most abundant substance in our human biological makeup and without it we suffer. Many will spend dollar after dollar on fancy supplements when an extra daily glass of water will mean a lot.



http://ezinearticles.com/?Hydration:-The-Key-to-Unlocking-Health-and-Human-Performance&id=8022326

Lemon In The Morning And Its Health Benefits

The debate overwater weight and detox

I would like to say that many people argue about water weight gain. They also argue about toxins in the body and say that it's a joke because the body is designed to rid our body's of toxins. I believe that you can't talk about these two topics and not touch on the acidic vs alkaline or pH balance of the body. It is no surprise that people argue about that. I say, let the body performance do the speaking, so those who want to argue must try it before they deny it. I will say that putting the lemon in water is not the total answer, but it is a good start. I believe that once a person understands how foods effect the body, they are then more motivated to change their diet.

Lemon in the morning helps to hydrate the body

Lemon in the morning helps to wake the body up and starts up the digestive track. Because you drank the lemon water to break your nightly fast before you ate, your body is prepared for the rest of the food for the day, and also helping the body to readily absorb the food into your system. It starts your body off in hydration mode instead of dehydration mode, and that helps prevent the sluggish (adrenal fatigue) from being dehydrated. Because the body is in a hydrated state, it flushes toxins and allows the adrenals and the thyroid to produce energy. The body does this by a hormone secretion called aidostene, which regulates the amount of water and sodium in the body. As you can imagine, when the body feels good and running properly, you are happy and energetic and do not become depressed for what you might think is for no reason.

Lemon and lime both help with the pH balance of the body

The argument many people bring up is that lemon and lime are acidic foods. The problem with that argument is both lemon and lime are only acidic in their natural state and not in its digested state. The digested state of both lemon and lime is where it counts as to whether or not they are an acidic or alkaline food. Since we have a pH balance that must be maintained to be healthy, and lemon and lime are alkaline, they help with a boost to the immune system and also to healthy looking skin due to the vitamin C and the minerals that they contain which also helps with the energy boost naturally.

Lemon and lime are both a healthy and natural diuretic

Lemon is more of a diuretic if it is drank warm. Lemon also aids in the digestive process, which will aid in weight loss, but lemon is also a stimulant to the gastrointestinal tract. This helps with the gas bloat and the acid reflux so many of us suffer from. So how is this possible? Glad you asked. Lemon stimulates the muscle contraction in the intestine walls which helps it to keep things moving. so not only does it flush the liver, but also the colon. A sluggish colon will have lots of toxins in it that are being absorbed by the body into the blood stream. Lemons and limes are high in minerals and vitamins which help loosen toxins in the digestive tract, which allow them to contract the muscles and remove the tar build up that is flooding our blood with toxins. No wonder why we are getting sick. Its as simple as this, we are what we eat. We have heard that before. Our bodies are designed by God to only be able to handle so much garbage before it over doses like a drug or alcohol. The body naturally tries to compensate for the excess by depleting minerals from foods to eject it out of the body, but the body can only do so much with a lack of water and proper pH foods. That is the large part of what the liver does. What happens to you if you work 24 hrs a day 7 days a week for, lets say, 30 years? Do you thinks you will be tired with no rest, and as the years go, the work load becomes heavier? I think that is something to think about!

I can not speak for anyone else, but I feel like a different person after I cleanse. I drink lemon every day. I can sometimes add a little cayenne pepper (1/2 teaspoon ) into the lemon water to aid in detoxification process, about 2 times a week during a cleanse. I don't cleanse as often as I used to because I never defaulted back to eating only bad foods. I do eat some foods that are acidic. I do drink pop every now and again, but much much less then most. I maybe have a pop once a week or even less. I don't get sick very often. To me, being healthy allows me to be there for my family and to perform at work. While others are tired, I can keep going and rebound faster at an older age.

Exercise is also a key to success

We can do the things that I have mentioned, we can just drink lemon water or we can do nothing.but if we do something, we will really feel great when we put it with exercise. do it with family, friends and even play sports so it doesn't seem like work to stay motivated.

The only way for change to happen is to act on what you know!



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Excellent Benefits of Fruit And Vegetable Juices During Summer

Excellent Benefits of Fruit And Vegetable Juices During Summer

You can refresh yourself in summer with the help of fruit or vegetable juices. These delicious, healthy juices can refresh you and replenish your depleted energy levels. Even though juices can be enjoyed any time of the year, they become much more enjoyable during summers.

You can prepare tasty health drinks at home which can provide you with important nutrients like proteins and vitamins and also help in overcoming the effects of the scorching summer heat. As you might be aware, fruits are very important for our body as well as for a healthy skin.

Fruits and vegetables consist mainly of water and fiber, but they also provide a lot of other important nutrients like minerals, vitamins, phyto-nutrients. It is a very healthy habit to consume fresh fruits and vegetables on regular basis, specially in summer season.

The problem is most people do not like to consume whole fruits or vegetables. Such people can enjoy juices made from them. For example, no one would like to eat 10 carrots at once. But if you make a glass of carrot juice using those 10 carrots, you can easily gulp it down.

Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients which are essential for the growth and healthy functioning of the body. They provide us energy and help in regulating our metabolism. They contain minerals which are necessary for the nerves and muscles of our body. However, keep in mind that vegetable or fruit juices should not be used as substitutes for whole foods, but as supplements. They can be a perfect food supplement, specially for our eat-on-the-run lifestyles. You can make a glass of juice easily and quickly.

Vitamin C present in some juices can be good for the skin. If you regularly drink juices which are rich in Vitamin C, you can notice a significant improvement in the smoothness and beauty of your skin. Vitamin C also helps in joint flexibility and is good for the hair. Grapefruit juice is a good source of Vitamin C and can be helpful in preventing arthritis, cataracts. But people with type 2 diabetes should avoid it due to its high sugar concentration. Orange juice is another good source of Vitamin C.

Carrot juice contains a large amount of beta-carotene, potassium and vitamins. It helps in strengthening the immune system, improving the eyesight and preventing heart related diseases. It can also be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels, healing of wounds and preventing cancer.

Sugarcane juice is very popular during summer season because it quenches our thirst and re-hydrates our body, giving us instant burst of energy. It is also effective in fighting against prostate and breast cancer.

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The Health Benefits of Drinking Tea

A number of scientific researchers have been investigating the possible health benefits contained within the hot drink. And now it appears there’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that drinking tea could actually ward off some very serious conditions, including cancer, obesity and dehydration.
Studies have suggested that drinking three or more cups of tea a day could actually be better for you than drinking the same amount of water, with the antioxidants contained within tea boosting the body’s health, at the same time as rehydrating it.

The main health benefits of tea drinking ...

Here are some of the key health benefits that scientists reckon tea drinking can have on the body:

• Tea reduces the risk of heart disease — Tea can potentially improve the blood flow around the body, by widening key arteries and reducing the risk of clots. Tea also contains antioxidants called ‘flavonoids’, which may slow down the onset and risk of heart disease.

• Tea hydrates the body — Although water is the prime fluid for rehydrating the body after exercise or a long day in the office, some scientists believe that drinking tea could be equally useful. Although high in caffeine, tea is still great for hydration as it provides a rich and flavorsome source of water.

• Tea prevents tooth decay — Believe it or not, a regular supply of tea can really strengthen your teeth and lower the risk of tooth decay. Tea is a great source of fluoride, which can bolster tooth enamel. The antioxidants contained within a cuppa have also been known to fight against bacteria and gum disease. So get slurping!

• Slimming through tea drinking? — Some scientific studies have suggested that regular tea drinking can help to keep body fat down by speeding up the burning of calories. If nothing else, it’s less fattening than sipping on a soft drink ...

• Boosting memory power with tea — Many scientists believe that certain types of tea, such as green tea, can strengthen memory cells in the brain, and offer protection from the development of dementia and even Alzheimer’s Disease. No wonder old people drink so much tea ...

• Beating cancer through the power of tea — Some high-profile studies have recently suggested that tea drinking could seriously help your chances of avoiding cancer. Although research is still developing in this area, reports indicate that prostate, mouth and breast cancer cases are much lower amongst those who regularly drink five or more cups of tea a day.

Types of healthy tea

With so many potential health benefits, there’s never been a better time to put the kettle on. But which form of tea is the most beneficial to you? Is that large cup of creamy, sugary black tea really going to help your body feel better? Let’s find out ...

• Green tea — In addition to the numerous health benefits mentioned above, green tea has also been found to boost the performance of the liver, and prevent arthritis by strengthening bones. However, to get the most benefit from your green tea drinking, try and brew it from loose leaves rather than the tea bag. It’ll add flavor, and allow more antioxidants to be released into your cup!

• Black tea — Whilst green tea often grabs the headlines, black tea also possesses many of the health bonuses mentioned above. Offering a strong source of antioxidants, it is great for preventing viruses in the mouth and gums and has also been known to widen impaired arteries by as much as 50 per cent, preventing blood clots.

• Wu long (or oolong) tea — This Chinese tea is said to be the best for burning off calories, as well as boosting the body’s immune system. Unlike green tea, wu long tastes sweet instead of grassy. It therefore offers a much more welcoming taste, in addition to its myriad body benefits.

So don’t be ‘tea-total’ ... Brew up a healthy cuppa today and you’ll be feeling tea-rrific in no time!

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health-benefits-drinking-tea-133231527.html

Raw and Fresh - Why You Should Only Choose the Freshest Juices for Your Next Juice Detox

Juice detoxes are a common sight in the fitness world today. It is an opportunity to revitalize your body by replacing all of the toxins that you put into it with healthy vitamins and minerals. It is done by consuming only fresh fruit and vegetable juices for a period of 24 hours or more as a way of detoxing your body. Additionally, taking the fruit and vegetables in the form of a juice leaves your body with more energy to recharge and rejuvenate itself because it does not have to break down complex foods. Interestingly, fitness trainers who promote juice detoxes are quick to state that the most important element of a juice detox is getting fresh or raw ingredients, so that you only add the best vitamins and minerals to your body. We asked the ladies over at a detox company that why fresh and raw fruits and vegetables were so important.

The girls told us, "The first reason fresh and raw foods are better than older or frozen food is that they simply contain MORE nutrients." There is no set amount of nutrients in a vegetable or fruit. They are constantly changing and the longer away from the tree or bushel, the fewer nutrients a food will have. This is because all foods slowly lose nutrients as soon as they are plucked or cut down. Getting the freshest produce limits this loss. Making sure your food is raw can be even more important. This is because nutrients can also be lost when they are cooked too, meaning consuming raw food is the best way of getting as many vitamins and minerals as you can.

The next reason raw and fresh is important is that fresh fruits and vegetables had a higher water content. During a detox this is incredibly useful because water helps to flush out the toxins in your body and so the fresher the fruits and vegetables in your juice detox, the better affect it will have on your body. Fresh fruits mean better body hydration!

Lastly, in the same way that fresh fruits and vegetables have more nutrients than older or frozen foods, they also have more enzymes inside them that are useful to the human body. Enzymes help your body with its digestion process. Specifically, the ones in fruits and vegetables make it easier to break down and absorb food for the human body. These enzymes are removed from canned foods so that they can have a longer shelf life, but they are integral to your body for quick absorption of minerals and fruits. This quick absorption is integral to a good juice detox, which is why using only fresh fruits and vegetables is advised by fitness trainers and dieticians.

Using fresh or raw foods when you decide to juice detox is the most important element of the whole detox process. With fresh foods you get more nutrients, higher levels of hydration and more enzymes to help break down the minerals and vitamins that are so necessary to detox's success. That is why companies only use fresh fruits and vegetables in their juices, and why they advise you to do the same.

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