Friday, 31 December 2010

Want To Lower Your Cholesterol? Try Oranges And Grapefruits

By Miranda Laranjo

In the United States, it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of all adults suffer from some degree of high cholesterol. With much public health focus upon the risks of cardiovascular disease, there is a drive in our society to find ways in which to promote a healthier outcome without significant prescription medication usage.

To prevent life threatening cardiovascular events, there are a variety of diet, exercise and lifestyle choices that must be made. The ultimate goal, however, should be to reduce blood cholesterol levels. With this information in mind, many adults are focusing upon natural methods in which to promote a healthy lifestyle, consuming more fruits and vegetables.

When choosing fruits and vegetables, it is important to understand that specific types of fruits may have a more advantageous impact on the lowering of blood cholesterol when compared to other types of fruits. In fact, the specific consumption of flavanoids and limonoids, found in citrus juice, may be the key component of food that naturally reduces cholesterol. In fact, the flavanoids found in oranges and grapefruits, known as hesperetin and naringenin, respectively, may be the two most profound natural components in the fight against high cholesterol. To be effective, however, it is necessary to consume three servings of these fruits per day, over a four week period.

If your physician has advised that your LDL cholesterol levels are too high, it is important to find ways in which to reduce those levels. With proper diet and exercise, you can manage your cholesterol levels more appropriately and reduce your risk for a cardiovascular health complication. For immediate results, consuming three servings of oranges or grapefruits may provide a powerful impact. However, for some cardiovascular patients, especially those with ulcer or prior gastrointestinal complications, the consumption of high levels of citrus fruits may lead to other health complications. For this reason, ask your health-care professional about the use of liminoids and flavanoids in your cholesterol-fighting diet.

With cardiovascular disease a leading health concern in the United States, many adults are turning to natural ways in which to promote health. Since cholesterol levels are significant in the gateway to cardiovascular disease, it is important to manage your cholesterol levels in a smart way by consuming healthier food choices. If your physician clears your use of citrus fruits, try consuming three servings of oranges or grapefruits, over a four week period, to lower your LDL cholesterol levels significantly.



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Monday, 27 December 2010

3 Super Foods To Get Rid Of Cellulite For Good

By Sean T Mcdade

So, you aspire to cure cellulite without going to the gym, without cream, and without expensive surgical treatments -- is that right? Well, then you've come to the right place! Right below here you'll discover three amazing foods which can not only cure cellulite into submission, they'll actually keep it from ever coming back too!

3 Foods That Protect Against & Cure Cellulite...

1. Fish: Fatty fish and fish oils consist of a plethora of essential amino acids that work on strengthening and fortifying skin cells. Stronger, more fortified skin cells will lead to improved tone & texture for your skin. In layman's terms, ingesting fatty fish and fish oils daily can minimize the appearance of cellulite (dimply skin).

2. Peas & Beans: Weakened connective tissue is a MAJOR reason why cellulite bumps and dimples start showing up. What beans, peas, & legumes do is they improve these tissues extensively. When they get strong enough, cellulite will no longer be able to push through and produce that dimply look, referred to as "orange peel". Add beans or peas to every one of your daily meals to give an extremely big boost to your connective tissues.

3. Nuts: Healthy fats, protein, and fiber are what makes nuts an incredible anti cellulite food. 1 or 2 handfuls every day -- Pecans, Walnuts, Peanuts, Almonds, etc. -- ought to be good enough. It's also necessary to keep in mind that most kinds of nuts can be VERY fattening if you do not control yourself. The last thing you'd want to do is to trade your cellulite deposits for REAL fat, right?

Are these the only three foods which can cure cellulite? No, of course not. There are at least a dozen other foods that can be eaten in order to protect against & get rid of cellulite deposits, but these are three of the best.



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Tuesday, 21 December 2010

4 Step Plan To Get Rid Of Acne Scars Easily

By Sean T Saunders

Acne Scars may most certainly put a damper on an individual's social life. In some instances, individuals suffer from very frustrating and embarrassing breakouts which make a total mess of their face and make them want to keep indoors and not socialize in any way, shape, or form. Should you be a victim of seriously bad breakouts, you must take control and find out how to remove acne scars so you may gain your confidence back.

Get Rid Of Your Acne Scars Easily...

Shed Your Dead Skin: It is vital to find ways to clear away your dead skin to ensure that new skin may grow. With that said, you really should begin using lemon juice as you clean your face. This will assist in shedding more layers of dead skin quickly and make scars less noticeable to the eye. Each layer that's removed is yet another step towards your acne scarring being totally wiped out.

Smooth the Skin Surface: Olive oil is known to be very efficient at smoothing the surface of the skin. This is of particular interest to individuals whose acne scars have caused an extremely rough skin surface. Dabbing olive oil over the areas a couple of times each day will help to smooth out those acne scars so you can reclaim an even skin tone and texture.

Healing Your Skin: Juice from cucumbers can be used to overcome acne breakouts. However, what many people fail to realize is that it's also a great method of healing the skin and getting rid of acne scars. Apply cucumber juice to your face daily and you should notice that acne scars are starting to slowly fade away.

Rejuvenate the Skin: One very powerful and all-natural way of rejuvenating the skin is by using tomato slices on the areas with acne scarring. Just put tomato slices on your face, and then leave them there for approximately 15 minutes. Tomatoes have wonderful healing properties since they're loaded with antioxidants; those of which help to repair the skin. Once you eradicate any & all dead skin (previous step), the tomato slices will help you attain a healthier looking skin surface soon after.

You now know exactly how to remove acne scars with 4 easy steps. Are these steps sure to eliminate acne scarring? Regrettably, no -- however, that doesn't mean they won't help. And besides, if these techniques don't work for you, there are still plenty of other, more effective ways of how to get rid of acne scars.



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Thursday, 16 December 2010

Shaolin Skype - Making Authentic Shaolin Accessible To All




I am passionate about Shaolin not only as a martial art but also as a powerful tool to help people live longer, be happier, fitter, healthier. I am always looking for ways to help people master the Shaolin Arts and get closer so they can experience the real Shaolin. My aim is to take away any obstacles that may get in the way. This is why I make  books and DVDs. I hope that wherever you are in the world, you feel as if you are training in the temple alongside me.  

When I first came to study at the Shaolin Temple I was confused by the different forms and training. I studied a myriad of different forms before I found the true jewels of the training. My training and experience means your time is not wasted. When you train with me you are being handed my twenty-five years of experience. I only teach what is relevant. Time is precious. I don't want to waste your time in learning something that isn't. This would be a waste of my time too.

In accordance with the Temple of Zen, I aim to teach as clearly and simply as possible but I recognize that as a student's training deepens there may be aspects of the training that can't be answered through my DVDs and books. This is why I am now offering Shaolin Skype sessions.

Who are the Shaolin Skype sessions for?

Do you have a niggling doubt that you may be doing the breathing or some of the movements incorrectly?
Are you struggling to stay motivated and committed to your health and fitness program?
Do you want a personalized program tailored to your health concerns?
Do you want more detailed specific advice?
Is there a martial application that you want to learn that I don't teach in my DVDs?
Suffering from injury and want help in recovering?

If you've answered yes to any of these questions then these sessions may be for you.

How does it work?

A Shaolin Skype class is the same as if you were coming to see me for a one2one. The Shaolin Skype Session last 45 minutes and is available exclusively to subscribers of my newsletter.

What do I need?

A Skype account. If you don't have one already then you can sign up for free.
A web cam.
A Wi-Fi connection.

What do I need to do?

Wear loose comfortable clothing
Be in a quiet private space with phones switched to silence
Log on a few minutes before the designated time

How do I book?

If you haven't already then subscribe to my mailing list
Follow the link to buy a voucher and receive a Shaolin Skype session for £60.00
Once you have made the payment you will receive a pdf gift voucher together with instructions as to how to book.
The vouchers are non refundable and valid for twelve months.

What happens after I've bought a voucher?

You can make an appointment to have a session with me at any time within the next twelve months.
Bookings are made up to three months in advance.
Simply email my team and let them know when you're available.
They will then book you in, and send you a series of questions via email.
Your answers will be strictly confidential and help me to tailor my session for you.

Only subscribers to my mailing list can receive a Shaolin Skype Session. Subscribe today and receive 20% off.


Wednesday, 15 December 2010

How To Choose The Correct Protein Powder Supplement For You

By Jim Duffy

The average diet has more than enough protein to meet daily needs, however, there are often times when the average diet becomes less than normal and may not be as adequate as it should be. Between the busy life that the average person leads and constant yo-yo or fad dieting, the fact is that what we should be eating quickly becomes what we do not eat and what we sorely miss.

For optimal health, every diet must contain the right amounts of the three macro-nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and fats. There have been many diets that have tried to severely limit or even eliminate one or the other of these vital building blocks of life, with little success. Yes, there are bad food choices among these three categories, but there are excellent food options among them too. While it is best that nutrition come from healthy, whole food choices whenever possible, it is not always feasible. We live on the run and on the road. Many of us spend most of the day with the steering wheel in one hand and a cell phone in the other. Eating healthy foods is hard enough, let alone trying to shop for and cook these options. We succumb to the lure of the drive-thru and then bemoan our chubby tummies. There is not enough time in the day to sit down for a meal that does not involve packets of ketchup or interruption by a cell phone call or the need to check our Facebook or our Twitter. When in our busy day are we going to fit in exercise?

While it should be next to impossible to have inadequate protein in the average diet, it is possible for those who are simply not eating at all because they think they can finally manage to get their weight under control if they do not eat solid food. What they succeed in doing is shutting down their metabolism all together. But, then what are they using for the energy to continue to live? Their body is burning energy stores, that is true, but only in limited amounts. What their body is actually burning might be their own lean muscle mass.

It is important that we not only become more educated about our health and nutrition needs and, but also about metabolism and weight loss. There are 34 million people in the United States who are medically obese. (Source: www.Stanford.edu ) At any one point in the year, there are over 20 million people who are starting, in the middle of or giving up on a diet. (Source: www.thriveonline.com)

Many of those people will try sensible diets that are nutritious and have the right amount of calories for optimal health. Unfortunately, many more of them will choose a fad diet that will sadly fail for them. There are countless reasons that these people will give for the diets that they choose, with some of them using the lack of time as one of the reasons that they do not eat well. For them, opting for protein supplements might be a better way to protect their health and to make sure they are getting enough of this important nutrient each day. Whether they are looking for a protein supplement that can serve as a protein booster or a meal replacement, they need to know what the different types are, the advantages and disadvantages of each and what makes them different from one another.

If you are interested in finding a good protein supplement, there are a few things that you should be looking at, including the ingredients and the nutritional value. Here are some suggestions for the best protein supplements, including choices for vegetarians and vegans as well as for those who have food allergies.

A final note: if you have any medical conditions, including serious food allergies, it is important to make sure that you are consulting a doctor, a dietitian or a nutritionist before adding protein supplements to your diet plan.

The Protein Supplement Options

Protein supplements come in many different forms, including powders, bars, liquid supplements, shakes and even pudding. There is a weight loss program that suggests eating a pudding "shot" before each meal so that you eat less while enjoying your favorite foods. The protein in the pudding shot fills you up and protects against muscle loss. The choice of which protein supplement is right for your will depend on a number of factors. Obviously, a powder would have to be mixed before you consume it, making it more suitable for use at home. There are portable, battery operated mixers that you could use for these powders, or you could mix and take along your supplement. Premade protein shakes and drinks might be handy to use, but can sometimes come in larger sizes that are not easy to carry around or might be too large for a quick boost. Profect, a liquid supplement shot from Protica, is fast and easy to drink, with only 100 calories and a full 25 grams of protein per serving.

No matter what type of protein supplement you are looking at, consider its cost and its ingredients before making a final selection.

The Protein Powders

There are four kinds of protein powders: whey, soy, egg and rice. Among these, there are some that are single ingredient and some that are combination. It is important to read the ingredients of these powders, especially if you are allergic to one or the other of these types of proteins. If you are not sure about an allergy, stick to single ingredient powders until you know that they are safe.

Whey Protein Powder -- Whey protein is derived from milk and is the most common type of protein powder. There are two types of whey protein powder, a concentrate and an isolate. The concentrate is the most common and the least expensive in most cases. The concentrate contains 30-85% protein while the isolate has around 90%. The isolate also has less fat and less lactose than the concentrate.

In addition, the whey protein isolate has 50% more leucine than soy protein, which has the advantage of building more lean muscle tissues and lowering body fat.

The benefits of whey protein powder are that it boosts immunity, is an optimal source of amino acids, including the essential amino acids, it enhances muscle recovery after workouts and prevents muscle loss after workouts. It increases glutathione, an antioxidant that is important for a healthy immune system. Whey protein releases hunger suppressing hormones as well.

Its sole disadvantage is that it is not meant for those who are lactose intolerant.

Soy Protein Powder -- Like whey, soy can be either a concentrate or an isolate, with the isolate providing more protein. Soy is the only plant based protein that is complete, meaning that it contains all eight of the essential amino acids. (The human body makes many of its own amino acids, but cannot make leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and lysine). Soy protein powder is derived from soy flour and is highly digestible.

The benefits of soy protein powder are that it improves the nutritional value of foods, lowers cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease. Soy protein powder is one of the few protein supplements that is appropriate for a vegetarian or vegan diet.

The disadvantage is that it is not meant for those who are allergic to soy or soy products.

Egg Protein Powder -- Eggs are the perfect protein source, and are the protein that all others are judged and evaluated against. Eggs are complete proteins, meaning that all eight essential amino acids are present. The protein powder is created from egg whites so that it is fat free. Egg protein powder is the highest source of the amino acids alanine, argine, glycine and methane.

Its disadvantages are that it is not meant for those who have egg allergies, and it is not for vegans.

Rice Protein Powder -- Rice protein powder is derived from brown rice and is a complete protein source. The biggest advantage of rice protein powder is that it is hypoallergenic and is perfect for those who have any kind of allergies. It is also perfect for vegetarians and vegans.

Its disadvantage is that it may not be easy to find.



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Monday, 13 December 2010

The Seven Laws Of Success - How Your Daily Workout Can Help You Achieve Your Dreams




Working Out The Mind & Body

Before I came to the West I only knew what was taught in the four walls of the Shaolin Temple. I knew there were other martial arts outside of Kung Fu and Qigong but I had never seen them before. When I came to the London I was curious and went to many classes to study. I wasn't so much interested in the different techniques. I was interested in how the mind worked. Would the mind of a Muay Thai fighter work differently to a Sanda fighter?

But the most important mind that we need to get to know is our own. It saddens me to think of the many people who workout without using their mind. At the temple, our training is always seen as a meditation. The mind and body work in a unique way and by using our workout as a meditation we infuse our self with a deep sense of spaciousness and peace. So next time you are running, swimming, weight lifting, practicing Qigong or doing a kung fu class either through a DVD or in a class, use my  seven laws to help you achieve success not just in your workout but in your life.

Now Is All We Have

Our mind is a muddy glass of water. It's only when we allow our mind to be still that the mud can settle to the bottom and we can have clarity. The present moment is changing fast and our mind is constantly darting between the past, present and future. To calm it down, we give our mind an object to settle on. The object is our breath and our movement. Once our mind is calm it can then gain the powerful focus of a laser.

Star In Your Own Movie

There are some places in this world that give us great peace. For some people, it may be a Buddhist Temple, others a church, others may find peace in nature. Before you begin your martial arts session, take a few moments to close your eyes. Approach your workout as if you are about to enter that place that gives you peace. Then, begin to imagine yourself at your best, in peak health, flexible, and relaxed. If you're doing bag training, picture your self kicking the bag with power and speed. If you're going through my Qigong DVD then you're staying completely focused on the movement. Runners imagine yourself running effortlessly, your body as light as a feather.

 Believe You Can

" Believing in something beyond the self can have a hugely psychological impact, even if the belief is fallacious." Bounce by Matthew Syed.

Faith is vitally important. Give me a fighter with faith and a fighter with good skill and the fighter with faith will win. We need to believe in our self and in a bigger wisdom than our self. Belief is the first step of our training. A belief that we can do this.

Shaolin Kung Fu Training is hard. It challenges us. This is why we gain in confidence. We are now doing something we never thought possible. We look back and see how far we've come. Our workout has taken us out of comfort zone. It didn't just challenge our body, it challenged our mind. We are taking part in a tradition that is thousands of years old. We are keeping it alive and applying it in our life so that we can become an urban warrior.

Let Go

Shaolin Training is an effective tool to deal with worries and problems. But how do we apply this? Using our workout as a meditation gives us a mini holiday from the circle of our thoughts. It allows us to let go of our worries and problems. This crucial mini holiday helps us to get a bigger perspective so we can deal with our problems more effectively because we no longer feel swamped by them.

Focus

It takes many hours to become a master of something. Once the sport is mastered, a different part of the brain is being used and this is when the workout begins to feel like an instinct. But this only happens with very purposeful practice. Doing the thing that you're bad at makes you into a champion. Failing over and over again makes you into a champion. If there's a certain kung fu kick you struggle with then keep practicing it. Spar against people who are better than you, this is the only way you will learn. Struggling with stamina? Do interval training and hill running.  

Challenge

When you can easily get through your workout, it means it's time to move on. Never stop believing in yourself and never stop challenging yourself. If you are lazy in your workout, are you being lazy in your life? If you're limiting yourself in your workout, in what ways are you limiting yourself in your life?

Blueprint

Your Shaolin Kung Fu Workout is a blueprint for your life. From success in your workout, you can go and achieve success in your life. And remember it's not about winning or losing. It's about doing everything with passion and mindfulness so it has meaning for you. You can't control the outcome but what you can control is having fun in the process.

If you like my blog posts then please sign up to my newsletters to receive more tips and exclusive offers.

Thursday, 9 December 2010

What Are The Health Risks Of A Vitamin D Overdose?

By Victor Properties

Vitamin D is essential to your good health, but like everything else, it should not be overdone! It is possible to experience a vitamin D overdose, especially since we actually need fairly low levels of vitamin D in our bodies to function.

What causes a vitamin D overdose? Exposure to sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D, and as little as fifteen minutes of sunlight "therapy" three times a week is all you really need for your body to produce the vitamin D you need. You cannot overdose on vitamin D by getting too much sun, though, as your body only produces what you need.

You will probably also not experience a vitamin D overdose from food sources. Too many supplements are often to blame for excessive vitamin D intake, as your body cannot shut down the absorption of vitamins from supplements. This can cause the build up of vitamin D to toxic levels. Ironically, toxic levels of vitamin D are often the result of therapeutic prescription of the supplement due to an original deficiency - high levels may have been prescribed for patients with rickets, for instance.

A vitamin D overdose is never the result of a single high dose, rather the levels of toxicity in the body builds up in the body's fat cells over time. Most nutrients that we consume too much of, the body simply gets rid of; however, with vitamin D it has no such mechanism, but stores the excess in the fat cells. It is the stored vitamin D that eventually leads to toxic amounts in your body.

The upper intake levels for babies are 25 micrograms, while for older children and adults, 50 micrograms per day are sufficient. Children will suffer from toxicity more quickly than adults.

What are the health risks of a vitamin D overdose?

1. Because vitamin D has primarily the function of encouraging calcium absorption, high levels of calcium in the blood is possible. This could lead to excessive calcium in the intestinal tract.

2. High levels of phosphate and calcium in the lungs, heart and kidneys, which can damage your organs permanently.

3. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and weight loss.

4. High levels in the kidneys can lead to kidney stones, renal failure and excessive production of urine.

5. If you are pregnant, a vitamin D overdose can cause deformities in your baby.

6. Other symptoms include bone pain, fatigue, excessive thirst and dehydration, itchy skin and deafness.

An overdose can be treated by simply stopping the intake of supplements, and lowering the amount of calcium you ingest until the symptoms stop.

Always consult your doctor before taking vitamin supplements, and in the case of vitamin D, when you get a lot of sun exposure, you will probably not need to take vitamin D supplements at all. Vitamin D in the correct amounts is essential to good health.



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Tuesday, 7 December 2010

The Zen Koan Workout






The world of Western traditional physical exercise is beginning to catch up with what  martial artists have known for thousands of years. Fitness is not just about burning calories and sweating. It’s about being healthy from the inside out and using breath and movement as a way to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.  Research is revealing that this mind-body fitness not only keeps us healthy but also greatly helps to banish stress and is aids longevity.

Planting the seed

As martial artists, we trust that our final goal of conquering ourselves will be reached effortlessly. The goal is the seed. Through being in the moment and turning up for our martial art’s training sessions we carefully nurture that seed. When we are ready this seed becomes the goal we planted all of those years ago without us having to tinker with it or turn our thoughts to it. It’s almost like something we put away in a drawer and forgot about. 


But training is not possible without some basic level of health. Most of us take health for granted and it’s only when we get a cold or an injury that we are reminded how lucky we are to have the good health to train.


Mind- Body Fitness

Sometimes a person can look strong but this doesn’t mean they’re healthy. Body builders may be inflexible and internally weak. Yoga practioners may be flexible but ask him or her to perform a martial art’s kick and they have no power or speed. This is one of the reasons why there are so many different Shaolin exercises and forms. We work with our whole body and our bodywork has an affect on our mind.


We mix different kinds of training together to make our mind and body connect and work together. We want our stamina and flexibility to work together and our power and speed to work together. At the Shaolin Temple we build up our fitness level from our health not the other way round. Fitness is much more than good stamina.


Peaceful Monks

Sometimes a person may not look strong but they look healthy because of their skin and eyes and when they talk their mind is calm. I have witnessed many Buddhist monks like that. There is something about them, which makes a person feel calm when they are in their presence. Health means that they have a peaceful mind and their internal organs work well. 

Fitness from the inside out

The world of Western traditional physical exercise emphasizes the need for cardiovascular and strength training but they are increasingly beginning to realise that for true fitness we also need to practise stretching and Qigong. Health and fitness usually mean two different things but for optimum fitness and true health we need to bring the two together and join them in a union.

Once you have a healthy body this means you have the foundation to be able to get fit. Fitness doesn’t mean you can run ten kilometers or you can lift very heavy weights, fitness means you have good stamina, you are flexible and your reaction time is very swift.

Suggested Training Plan – How To Start

It is not necessary to be a Shaolin martial artist to run through this training plan below but it is suitable for any martial artist.

1) Run for twenty minutes to make your body hot.
2) Raise each knee a hundred times to loosen your muscles.
3) Stretch your legs and hips.
4) Practise the five fundamental Shaolin kicks.
5) Do some push ups to train your upper body.
6) Traditional punches to stretch out the muscles.
Repeat 2) – 6) three times.

Once you have finished this training we can do some traditional forms or if you are a Thai boxer or kick boxer then you can shadow box and kick different combinations to make your mind and body work together. Do a workout from one of my workout or bootcamp DVDs. 

If you don’t like training outside and you train in the gym or in your home then at the beginning of your training session you can skip or ride a bicycle instead of going for a run. The important thing is to make your body hot.

Qigong

After we have gone through this training plan, we finish our training with Qigong. At the Shaolin Temple we never do fitness training alone but always balance it out with the practice Qigong to enhance the power of our external training and balance our Yin and Yang. Qigong helps us to feel peaceful, concentrated, positive and focused.

The Power Of Qi

Many athletes especially long distance runners and cyclists know that it is their mind as much as their body that gets them through the race. Once their mind has given up then they too will give up and they won’t be able to continue and complete or win the race.

But even though they understand the power of their mind, they don’t understand the power of Qi. This is why they end up retiring when they are in their thirties. They don’t look after their internal organs. Shaolin Monks do which is why their training deepens as they get older.           

Effortless effort

When I look at someone who is truly fit, everything they do looks easy. They are very flexible because when they run they tell their body to keep light and positive. When they punch or kick, they tell themselves to relax and use their body more. When they lift weights, they know exactly which muscle they need to use and which muscle they don’t need to use. When they practise Qigong they know when they need to inhale and when they need to exhale. They focus on what they need to focus on and this gives them confidence and power. They understand that if their mind is strong then their body is strong and if their body is strong then their mind is strong. It’s not possible to separate the two out.

A Zen Koan

Martial artists have always used both; they have always used the breath because it is the link between the mind and body. They have always focused on the present moment because it is the only moment when we can be truly alive. This is why – in the past –Masters sometimes used shock tactics or said Koans in an attempt to awaken their student to what life really is. 

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

If we try to understand with our intellect then we’ll never understand and if we try to do martial arts with our intellect we shall also never understand. 
Only when we have cultivated strong willpower and let go of our mind can we move to hard training to build up our stamina level and create from out of ourselves a warrior’s mind and body.




Some Natural Remedies For Ear Nose And Throat Ailments

By Anne Jansen

Ear nose throat illnesses are the most common ailments that
are reported each year. Most of the trips to the doctor's
office are about ear nose throat worries. The common
ailments ENT physicians treat are nosebleeds, ear
infections, sleep apnea, sinusitis, allergies, and
tonsillitis. Although there is no substitute for a visit to
the doctor's office, natural cures you can try at home
can give you fast relief.

Drinking a great deal of water and other fluids like fruit
juices can help loosen congestion. Warm herbal teas - such
as chamomile tea (for sore throat), thyme tea (natural
expectorant), peppermint tea (natural decongestant), and
aniseed and holy basil tea (for express cough relief) - also
give express relief from ear nose throat ailments.

Steer clear of alcohol and caffeinated beverages during ear
nose throat ailments. They only make your dehydration worse.

Chicken soup is not only for the soul, it is also for your
colds and cough. It is efficient in relieving cold and flu
symptoms. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and it accelerates
the movement of mucus to help lighten congestion.

If you have a sore throat, gargling warm water with a half
teaspoon of salt
can temporarily relieve the pain. Add
antibacterial action by adding essential oils such as lemon,
bergamot and tea tree to your warm salt water gargle.

Inhaling aromatherapy steam during sinusitis attack can help
unclog your airways. Adding essential oils such as anise,
peppermint, or eucalyptus to the steam inhalation offers
anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial properties
to your aromatherapy steam.

One of the best herbal medicines in the kitchen is garlic.
Its antimicrobial properties are truly efficient in curing
ear nose throat complaints, such as laryngitis and ear
infections.

Many can attest the effectiveness of herbal home remedies
for common ear nose throat health conditions. However, they
are best used as preventive measures only. Use home cures
during the first stages of the problems. Remember, don't
ignore symptoms when they persist. Make it a point to see an
ENT doctor if the complaints seem to continue on for several
days or more than usual and if you feel that they have aggravated.

For problems concerning (http://www.entsinus.com) snoring,
only trust qualified (http://www.entsinus.com) ENT
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Friday, 3 December 2010

Improve Your Energy And Endurance With Liquid Oxygen

By Tracy Woods

A liquid oxygen supplement can boost your endurance and
energy levels. Most of these supplements are made with
water, sodium bicarbonate, electrolytes, potassium chloride,
and various other compounds. They not only improve
endurance, but they help with headaches, jet-lag, hangovers,
altitude sickness, and fatigue.

Studies have revealed that a healthy person only gets half
the amount of oxygen needed to enjoy life to the maximum.
Living in an environment that is oxygen deficient starves
body cells of nutrients. This prevents the flushing out of
waste and toxins which causes the blood to become poisoned
and dirty.

The human body is an incredible piece of machinery. In
addition to its numerous functions, it can also eliminate
dangerous organisms. The white blood cells fight off disease
by feeding super-oxide to the damaged cells. Super-oxide works
the same as nascent oxygen. This boost enables new white
cells to form and they instantly join the battle against the
disease.

If used as a supplement, oxygen continually helps the growth
of these vital new white cells in order to keep the body
energetic, healthy, and strong. When the oxygen is bottled,
stabilized oxygen is used to prevent the oxygen from being
released until it is needed. This is accomplished by the use
of compounds made of oxygen atoms that work as buffers.

Stress can be reduced by taking an oxygen supplement. When
we are stressed, breathing becomes shallow and fast. This
only accentuates the problem because the body is deprived of
oxygen. Additional oxygen will normalize the heart rate and
have an overall calming effect.

You can also use liquid oxygen as a nasal spray, inhaler,
mouthwash, gargle, and as a colon cleanser. Boost your pets'
energy levels and immune systems by adding it to their
drinking water. You can prevent bacteria from tainting your
fruit and vegetables by spraying them. Apply on indoor
plants to keep them healthy and fresh.



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Monday, 29 November 2010

Stay Healthy "No Noodle" Eggplant Lasagna featured in the December issue of Natural Muscle Magazine

HI READERS!!!!

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and you are looking forward to a special holiday with Family and friends. The winter chill is in the air here and I have put together a Fabulous Healthy Great Tasting Meal for these cold nights. I guarantee this recipe WILL BE a HIT and you will want to make it many times and hopefully add it to your regular favorites.....IT IS THAT GOOD! In fact, head on over to page 40 of the December issue of Natural Muscle Magazine and try it tonight. I look forward to your feedback.
Have a Merry Christmas and Stay Healthy!!!
Darla Leal, LCPT, LCMT

Sunday, 28 November 2010

Melt The Fat Away With These Fat Burning Foods

By Tiffany Blanchard

It's extremely important to maintain a healthy body since
being overweight can cause a variety of health problems.
Many Americans have a very poor diet that is nutritionally
inept due to the fact that processed foods make up the bulk
of their diet. This can result in not only weight gain
through added fat, but poor health, as well.

Luckily, there is an easy way to help fix this problem.
There are certain foods that actually help you burn more fat
than others. So, let's jump in and see how these fat burning
foods can help you!

Now, you may think that just by eating foods you are going
to lose a ton of weight. In order to lose a large amount of
weight you must create a calorie deficit and it helps to
exercise. However, these fat burning foods will aid in the
process of shedding the fat on your body

The word you need to become familiar with is the word
thermogenic. This means that your body must use its own
energy to digest them so that you can use the nutrition from
them to live. All food that you consume is a thermogenic
food. However, there are some truly great thermogenic foods
that you can eat so you can burn fat efficiently.

Turkey and chicken are great fat burning foods. The breasts
of these foods are not fatty, but very lean. They are high
in quality protein so that you can grow muscle and burn fat.
They are very healthy foods.

Game meats are very good fat burning meats. The type we are
talking about are venison and elk meat. Elk meat is not
usually what people eat, but deer meat is more to people's
liking. If you are not a fan of bison you may be soon after
you eat it since it is very tasty and a great fat burner.

It has been known for some time that any fish is very good
for you. Tuna is a fish that is most consumed by the average
person, but any fish that you buy will have great fat
burning properties. Another example is salmon.

Egg whites are another great fat burner, and they are
relatively inexpensive. All of these are rich in protein and
lean.

These are great fat burning foods that will make a
difference in how you feel. They are easy to prepare and
they taste great, while giving you the protein you need to
build muscle and burn fat.



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Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Why Walking Is A Fantastic Form Of Exercise

By Hamish Hayward

Walking is a fantastic form of exercise that's suitable for
the vast majority of people. It's a low impact workout which
has, in comparison with other sports and exercise methods, a
very low risk of injury. It can be fitted into your schedule
whenever it suits you best - there's no need to find the
time to squeeze in a trip to the gym, and no monthly
membership fees to pay either.

There's no shortage of opportunities to introduce walking
into your daily routine. One very common suggestion is to
leave your car at home and walk to work or school. Even if
the distance involved means that that isn't a realistic
option for you then just take the car as normal but park it
in the faraway corner of the parking lot. If you travel on
the bus or the subway then maybe you could get off a couple
of stops early and walk the remainder of the way. During
your lunch hour, go for a short ten or fifteen minute walk
around the block.

These relatively small changes to your daily routine can, if
applied consistently, provide you with some very significant
benefits. Walking can reduce the risk of heart problems and
stroke as well as helping to reduce blood pressure levels.
It can help to combat anxiety and depression and it will
help you to sleep better. It can even lower the risk of
certain types of cancer - and recent studies suggest that it
may help to avoid Alzheimer's disease. Regular walking will
give you more energy and leave you feeling less tired during
the day. Walking on a regular basis will also help you to
lose weight - which for many people will be one of the most
attractive benefits.

That's an incredible list of benefits for an activity which
can be performed by the vast majority of people and which
requires no equipment apart from a pair of comfortable
shoes. If you want, you can get special exercise shoes which
will increase the effectiveness of your walking workout -
but a stout pair of shoes that don't give you blisters is
all that's really needed.

One piece of inexpensive equipment which you may find useful
- but which isn't strictly necessary - is a pedometer. These
can be worn on your belt or tucked away discreetly in your
pocket and will display your results in terms of the number
of steps taken, the distance covered or the number of
calories burned. You may find it easier to stay motivated
and keep walking consistently when you have some data to
work with.

If you don't already own one, then an mp3 player might be
something else to consider. It's not strictly necessary -
but the miles and the time will pass much faster when you're
listening to your favorite tunes.

It's almost incredible to think that such small changes in
your daily routine can produce such significant health
benefits for you. Make walking an integral part of your
daily routine. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll feel
the benefit.

Thursday, 18 November 2010

How To Fail At Weight Loss

By Galilee Barbarossa

Millions of people in America are trying to lose weight
without much success. There are many reasons for this
failure, although most would rather give up than fix their
mistakes. Weight loss is hard! Without a little patience and
knowledge about nutrition and exercise, your best weight
loss plan may crumble. Learning the top reasons why weight
loss plans fails is important so that you do not make these
mistakes in your own life.

First, many weight loss plans fail because the people trying
to lose weight follow too strict of a diet.
When you cut
back your calories, you will burn more than you eat, so
you'll lose weight, right? If you do this gradually, then
yes, it works like a charm. However, if you suddenly cut too
many, you won't lose any weight at all because you
metabolism will slow down. You also put yourself at danger
of not getting enough of the vitamins, minerals, proteins,
and other nutrients you need every single day in order to
stay healthy.

Another common mistake is trying to go at weight loss alone.
Everything you do regarding weight loss, from dieting to
exercising, will be a hundred times easier if you have a
partner because you will push each other not to quit.
Working with a support system on a large scale is also
important. Your friends and family should know that you are
attempting to lose weight so that they can help you in the
process, and not tempt you by doing things like baking you
cookies or taking up your gym time. Also, remember that
professionals, like doctors and trainers, should be part of
the weight loss plan to help you shed the pounds.

Setting unrealistic goals is another good way to fail at a
weight loss plan.
When you set goals that you can't easily
reach, you push yourself to move forward and will feel
successful even if you fall short. However, when you set
impossible goals, you will find that you are easily
frustrated. Don't weigh in every day, don't completely cut
out all of the foods you eat on a regular basis, and don't
exercise to much right away. Gradually build up to reaching
the goals you really want for your life, but smart out with
smaller ideas.

Lastly, simply know yourself. Weight loss plans fail when
you attempt to be something you are not. Maybe you have wide
hips-a weight lose plan won't completely change that, for
example. You have to be happy with yourself on the inside
before you change things on the outside in order to succeed
at losing weight.

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Thursday, 11 November 2010

Want A Healthy Heart? Exercise In The Correct Heart Rate Zone

By Javier Eis

Everyone understands that exercising is vital to staying
healthy; however a lot of people are unaware of the fact
that when they exercise they should stay within a
predetermined range. This range is called the Heart Rate
Zone(hrz). Working out within this given range is important
not only when trying to lose weight, but also for overall
heart health.

In order to find out your heart rate zone you first need to
figure out your maximum heart rate. This is done by taking
the number 220 and subtracting your age. For example if you
are 20 years old you would take 220 minus 20 and get an
answer of 200, therefore your maximum heart rate is 200
beats per minute.

When you have completed the process for finding your mhr you
can then move on to determining where your hrz is. Next take
your mhr and times it by sixty percent and again times
eighty percent. The two new numbers you now have make up the
book ends of your heart rate zone.

These bookends are what you want to keep your heart rate in
while you are exercising. By doing this you are making sure
that your heart is able to efficiently keep oxygenated blood
circulating around your body. If there comes a point where
your heart is working too hard or not hard enough your body
will not have the oxygen it needs to continue with the
workout or activity.

By staying in this provided range you are also effectively
burning calories. As we all know the more calories you burn
the less that are left to turn into fat. This heart rate
zone allows your body to do double duty in keeping your
heart working effectively while also helping you to burn
those extra calories.

This is also important for losing weight as well. If your
body is able to work effectively delivering nutrients and
oxygen to the muscles and organs that need it you will be
able to continue moving. This will allow you to burn more
calories and in the end lose more weight.

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Try Freezer Cooking For Tasty, Economical Meals

By Christine Szalay-Kudra

A lot of people enjoy cooking every night but it can become
boring. If you have a busy day, having to think about what
to make for dinner can be stressful, especially if you are
going to have very little time to cook that day.

The easy solution is to cook once a week or once a month,
divide the food into portions and freeze it. Another name
for this once a month (or week) cooking is freezer cooking.
Imagine spending one day making a month's worth of dinners
and then having twenty nine days where you do not have to
cook. Looking at it like that, it is easy to see the appeal
of once a month cooking.

The Best Recipes for Once a Month Cooking

There are all kind of meals, which freeze well, and they
will taste just as nice when they are thawed as when you
first made them. Cooking big batches of food is a real
time saver and if you have a busy weeknight coming up, you
can simply thaw your family's evening meal in the
refrigerator overnight and it will be ready to warm through
in the evening.

You can often get great discounts when you buy in bulk. A
big package of boneless chicken pieces, for example, works
out cheaper per pound than buying a pair of chicken thighs
or chicken breasts. Perhaps you spot some ground lamb on
special offer one week or turkey another week.

There are freezer recipes for all kinds of meats, poultry,
and fish. Meat and poultry in sauces and soups keep for up
to six months. You might want to make some tasty family
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chicken curry or beef stew. Beef bourguignon, chicken tacos,
and beef lasagna are other freezer cooking ideas.

Freezer Cooking Tips

Pick a day when you will not have many commitments or
interruptions. Make sure there is enough space in your
freezer and make sure you have all your necessary
ingredients ready. Remember too that you can save time
buying other frozen foods on special offer like precooked
meatballs or cooked shrimp. Simply add these to your thawed
meals to liven them up.

You can either cook one kind of meal at a time or have
several on the stove or in the oven, depending on your
cooking experience and what you feel comfortable with doing.
When you cooked meals are cool, divide them between freezer
bags or plastic food containers, seal them, and wipe the
edges clean. You will be able to fit a lot of meals in the
freezer if you store them flat in zippered food bags.

You will need a lot of plastic wrap and aluminum foil,
freezer bags or plastic containers. You will also need a
marker pen to write the name of the meal, the cooking date,
and any special cooking instructions.

Sometimes you can make a creamy dish but cream does not
freeze well so leave it out of the meal and add it when you
reheat it. Potatoes do not always thaw well either, so you
can either use slightly undercooked barley or pasta as a
replacement or add fresh potatoes when you reheat the dish.

Saturday, 6 November 2010

How To Prepare Your Skin For Winter

By Maria Cole

Christmas is the time when we celebrate, see relatives, go
to parties, and knock ourselves out shopping for the ideal
gift! Sadly, it's also the time when we overlook our skin.
This is bad because the climate change can greatly affect
our skin, leading to dryness, cracking and bleeding. To keep
your skin looking great in this cold season and prevent
winter dryness, here's what you should do:

Always carry a hydrating lip balm and hand moisturizer in
your bag or purse. Use them as often as possible even if you
think the weather isn't too cold. This will prevent skin
cracking and bleeding and prevent overall damage to your
skin. Baby oil is another alternative that can be used on
the hands and other problem areas; however, this can be
messy and isn't quickly absorbed by the skin. Avoid hand
sanitizers with alcohol as they can rob the skin of moisture
and make things worse for you in winter. If you can't wash
your hands, use an alcohol-free sanitizer instead.

The icy weather can likewise be rough on your hair and scalp
so take care of it during winter. The dry weather removes
the scalp's natural oils so get regular deep conditioning
treatments at the nearest hair salon. The extra conditioning
keeps your hair shiny and nourished even in harsh weather.

Avoid long hot baths at this time because hot water will
strip oil from your skin and cause dryness. A warm bath or
shower is recommended. When bathing, don't scrub your skin
with a loofah or scrub too often since this will lead to
bruises, especially during winter. Don't use exfoliating
bath scrubs either. Instead, use moisturizing bath gels and
scrubs to add extra moisture to your skin.

To nourish the skin from within, drink plenty of water in
winter to keep your skin well hydrated. Water increases skin
elasticity and prevents premature aging. Fruit juices are
good too since they nourish the skin and supply your body
with vitamins and minerals that are good for your skin. The
weather may be cold but that shouldn't prevent your skin
from looking great, and a lot of damage and discomfort can
be avoided by taking a few simple steps.

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Can Back Exercise Help Back Pain?

By Kevin Rudick

Performing back exercises can be a very important strategy
for relieving back pain. However, it is important to know
the right exercises to do so that you don't make things
worse. Thus, it is our suggestion that you seek the advice
of a physician or physical therapist prior to beginning any
new routine.

Great benefits can be had from yoga-based movements intended
to stretch the spine, as they help build back strength and
flexibility which increase physical endurance. Several types
of back complaints can be helped in this way, and more
severe conditions such as herniation of the discs can
possibly be prevented.

Other back exercises that are effective for pain relief
include forward and backward bends, side bends and spinal
twists. In most cases you can perform different versions of
these according to how flexible your back is. For example
you can do a spinal twist sitting on a chair, sitting on the
floor or lying on your back (the supine spinal twist).

You must take care to always keep your stretching balanced.
This means that if you curl or twist the spine in one
direction, you should balance this with a stretch in the
other direction. Most of us are more flexible on one side or
the other so you will probably find that you can take a
stretch further in one direction. Just go as far as you
comfortably can on both sides, no more.

Abdominal exercises can also help in strengthening the back
muscles, especially those of the lower back. The classic
abdominal crunch or the bicycle crunch can help prevent back
pain as well as giving you a firmer, stronger abdomen.

Back exercises are not like many workouts where you aim to
feel the burn. You should feel a stretch in the targeted
area, but not actual pain. Always stop if the exercise
becomes uncomfortable. Excessive stretches do not produce
worthwhile benefits.

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Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Stay Healthy Fitness Celebrates with Natural Muscle Magazine!!!!




Hi Readers!!!!

I am so proud to be a part of Natural Muscle Magazine who celebrates 15 years this month and also on the cover is my sister in fitness.... The Fabulous, Fit, 48 year old YOUNG, and Publisher, Debbie Baigrie!!!! Included in the issue is My Stay Healthy Grilled Tomatoes and Wedding Announcement on Page 40. Enjoy the read!!!!


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This is What over 40 and close to 50 Looks Like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla Leal, LCPT, LCMT
http://www.stayhealthyfitness.com/








Sunday, 17 October 2010

9 Reasons To Include Fiber In Your Diet

By Joey Bishop

If you've been looking for a way towards a high octane diet
plan, you are going to find soluble fiber to be precisely
what you need. Although studies have proven fiber to be
potent, lots of people aren't taking this nutrient
seriously.

To help you fuel your wellness with fiber, here are some
facts to help.

1. Dietary fiber fights illnesses. A diet full of fiber may
help to prevent colon cancer and heart problems. High
dietary fiber helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by
binding it in the digestive tract. For thousands of years,
soluble fiber has been utilized to stop constipation.

2. Soluble fiber can actually assist with overindulging. All
high fiber foods will take longer to chew and absorb, making
a person feel satisfied longer

3. Most popular foods don't have enough soluble fiber. If
you want the more well-liked foods, you most likely need to
increase your ingestion of soluble fiber.

4. Grains offer the most fiber. Soluble fiber is in fact
plant matter that individuals can't break down. The best
sources are whole grains and concentrated grain products.

5. Youngsters require fiber as well. Children that are older
than 2 years of age must eat a daily intake of dietary
fiber. Kids are most open to soluble fiber found in fruit,
vegetables, and also fortified breakfast cereals.

6. A lot more dietary fiber needs a lot more h2o. In order
to keep soluble fiber moving through your digestive tract,
you'll have to consume plenty of water. Together with your
diet of fiber, you may need eight or more glasses of water
every day.

7. Dietary fiber cannot be cooked away. Whenever you cook
your fruits and vegetables, don't be concerned about cooking
the fiber out, because it stays. The fiber found in fruits
and vegetables are certainly not just in the skin or
in the peel.

8. You can get enough dietary fiber. If you eat a lot more
than 50 grams of soluble fiber in a day, you can get
diarrhea and bloating, which can restrict your system's
absorption of additional key minerals.

9. Consuming the correct amount of fiber in your diet does
not have to be tough.
Even though you might think so,
getting the amount of fiber you'll need just isn't extremely
hard to do. Almost all you need to do is take in the proper
food items and you will be on the way to a fiber abundant
lifestyle.

Among the important ingredients to healthy eating, fiber
is one area you don't want to skip. Soluble fiber can assist
many different purposes, which were included above. In the
event you aren't getting enough dietary fiber in your diet,
you ought to do something about it now instead of holding
out right up until it's too late.

Friday, 15 October 2010

How Accurate Is The Body Mass Index For Healthy Weight?

Though one of the most popular tools used today to determine whether someone is at a healthy weight or not is the BMI, body fat and lean muscle tissue don't figure into the equation. This has led many experts to discount BMI as an archaic measurement that isn't accurate for many people. What is BMI, and why is it a good measure for some, maybe, and completely wrong for others?

BMI, or body mass index, was created in the early 1800s by Adolphe Quetelet. Because of that, it's sometimes called the Quetelet index. It's nothing more than a way of comparing a person's weight to his or her height, and determining if his or her weight falls into a healthy and normal range. The BMI is still used today pretty much as it was when Quetelet invented it.

The formula for figuring BMI (body fat, bone and frame size, muscle and body type aren't included in that) is this: Take your height in meters squared (your height times itself) and divide your weight in kilograms by that number. For example, if I'm 5 feet tall, that's about 1.5 meters. To square that number, take 1.5 times 1.5. The result of that is 2.5. So if I weigh 120 pounds, that's about 54.5 kilograms. Divide 54.5 by 2.5 and I get 21.8 as my BMI. The normal weight range is from 18.5 to 24.9, so 21.8 is classified as a normal weight. Underweight is considered 18.5 and below, while overweight people will calculate a BMI of 25 to 29.9. A BMI of 30 or greater indicates obesity.

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BMI, body fat and general health can all be used as signs of how fit a person is. But where general health is pretty self-explanatory and the percentage of body fat clearly shows whether a person gets enough exercise or not, BMI is a bit trickier.

People with a lot of muscle don't show accurate BMI readings. Because muscle weighs so much more than fat but takes up less space, a relatively small statured person can carry a lot of muscle weight without looking huge. BMI doesn't take that into account. Football players, professional wrestlers, bodybuilders, and virtually any athlete who has a lot of muscle is going to measure as overweight and even obese according to the BMI. So it's not accurate for them. Is it accurate for everyone else?

The answer to that is yes, and no. It depends on you. The BMI typically doesn't show an accurate result for children. And extremely tall or large-framed people will show overweight or obese classifications more easily because of the extra weight from their bones and muscles. So for very short, tall or muscular people, the BMI appears to not be a good tool.

There's also no distinguishing between men and women in the BMI. Body fat is more natural for women who are supposed to have more than men, so some sort of distinction in the measurement of the sexes would help the BMI's accuracy.

Sunday, 10 October 2010

5 Of The Best Natural Appetite Suppressants

By John Turner

One of the hardest thing when you are trying to lose weight
is controlling your appetite. You can control your hunger
without turning to pills or chemicals that may harm your
body. When it comes to suppressants, you have to decide what
works best for you, either taking supplements or just the
natural ways. But supplements can be expensive.

Mother nature has provided a number of natural appetite
suppressants namely water, broth, green leafy vegetables,
pickles, and apples. So with these, you do not have to take
any supplements or pills to control your hunger. You should
always keep these foods within reach because you never know
when hunger bug will strike.

Simple drinking water. Water is an amazing substance. Your
body is 55 to 60 percent water, so this is a substance that
you constantly need to renew. But, water has other effects
as well. If you get hungry and it is not meal time, you will
often find that drinking an 8 ounce glass of water takes
away hunger. Wait 10 minutes after drinking the water before
eating anything. Most of the time, you will find that you do
not need to eat.

It is unfortunate that some people do not like drinking
water because it does so many great things for your body. If
so, organic vegetable broth is a food that could fill you
up. The body treats water as a liquid, but it treats broth
as a food. This means that broth satisfies your body's need
for food. Try chicken broth and you will only take in 20
calories!

Green leafy vegetables. Green leafy vegetables are the third
of our natural appetite suppressants. They have so few
calories that you do not even have to count them! In fact,
many of these can even be considered negative calorie foods
because it takes more energy for the body to digest the
vegetables than it is calories. If you are going to use
salad dressing, find a very low calorie dressing and use it
sparingly. You should not use more than 100 calories of
dressing on a big bowl of salad greens.

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Pickles are not just for pregnant women anymore. It is
possible to eat an entire jar of these natural pickles and
consume only about 50 calories. You want to look for the
natural organic pickles found in health food stores or in
the health food section of your favorite grocer. And you can
eat an entire jar of pickles without feeling any guilt!

Apples. Apples are great natural appetite suppressants.
Apples may be the highest calorie food on this list, but
they are packed with fiber. An apple will fill you up for a
long time. They are also sweet, so when you crave for a
cookie, grab an apple instead.

Author: John writes articles on health related topics and
medication. And among his many written articles is on
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Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Shaolin Body Conditioning Tincture


At the Shaolin Temple, once a disciple begins to study one of the seventy-two styles, they are given a specific Qigong and a specific recipe to make a body conditioning tincture. In the past, the monks used to lie in baths of these tinctures but today we apply this tincture to our body. After making up this tincture, the disciples then adapt it slightly and each disciple has his own recipe.  Mine is made from twenty-five natural herbs, roots and barks. Some of the herbs help the blood to flow, some help to strengthen the bones, others help the muscles to relax.

This medicine can also be used for injuries, bruising, and some people say that it can be effective for repetitive strain injury though I have no experience of this so I don’t know if this is true. My own experience is in body conditioning. I used it when I was learning Shaolin Steel Jacket and I could never have endured this hard training without the aid of this special medicine.



The first thing we do when we do body conditioning is warm up our body then we rub the medicine into the part of our body that we want to condition. You need to rub the medicine in hard so it really gets inside the skin. The medicine works in three ways: protects the skin, reduces the risk of injury, and strengthens the bone.

I get asked many times about the difference between my Body Conditioning Tincture and the oil that some fighters use especially Muay Thai fighters. This is oil and not a tincture and the main ingredient is camphor, which has a warming effect on the muscles, but doesn’t penetrate the bones or help to prevent injury.

Another misconception is that Shaolin tincture is the same as  “Dit Da Jow”. Dit Da Jow uses alcohol as the base for their medicine where as we use a very high quality vinegar. Why do we use vinegar and not alcohol? Vinegar can take the varnish off a table; it strips the medicine of all of its good things and preserves it.

We also use a secret blend of herbs, roots and bark which is individual and unique to each master. Just as there are varying qualities of olive oil or wine, so it’s the same with this medicine. I take great care in finding the best quality herbs and then I brew my medicine for four years before filtering it. This makes it very potent.

If you don’t do body conditioning but you do martial arts or fighting then I would recommend you use this oil before you train to strengthen your bones and reduce injury. But remember to warm the body up first so that the tincture can penetrate through your skin and into your bone.