Tricks To Help Your Skin Survive The Winter

Winter is the worst time for the wellness of your skin. The cold air, coupled with the dehydration of the central heating, cause all kinds of problems with your skin’s wellbeing, and this can pay all kinds of havoc with your anti-aging routine.

 

Fortunately, there are ways that you can stay young and glowing even when the mercury drops. One of the best things that you can do is swap any products that you use that have petroleum in them for ones that are made from plant-based oils. These have all kinds of vitamins and antioxidants in them, to help maintain the skin and nourish it throughout the winter. Not only this, but plant-based oils penetrate the skin both quickly and deeply and provide a longer-lasting form of hydration. Whilst petroleum-based oils can help to protect the skin from extreme weather conditions and wind, it also prevents the skin from breathing properly and can leady to inflammation, breakouts and dehydration.

 

The skin on your scalp is particularly vulnerable during the winter time. The cold temperatures often lead to irritated, parched skin, dry scalp and brittle hair. If you want to fight thee, opt for natural body washes and soaps and make sure you choose a shampoo that is free of synthetic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulphate. These are responsible for the cleansing of your hair and the lathering action, but because they are synthetic they tend to be a lot more harsh than natural ones, and they can strip away the natural oils present in your skin and hair, leading to overly dry, static hair and skin.

 

You should also increase your night-time rituals to help your skin repair and protect itself overnight. Make sure that you include nourishing moisturisers and hydrating serums at night.

Categories: based oils, dry, hair, Natural, oils, plant based, skin, winter

Secret Weight Loss Tricks You May Not Be Aware Of

Weight loss can be difficult for some people, regardless of how much they try to amend their diet or workouts in the gym. Maintaining a healthy weight and an active lifestyle is important for good health, and we’re reminded all the time how obesity can lead to a number of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. But there are problems which can lead to weight gain itself, such as thyroid disorders and many more. The choices we make affect directly our weight and health, as we all know. But there could be aspects to your lifestyle that you hadn’t considered could affect your weight, such as your iron levels. Iron deficiency anaemia could be leading to your weight problems – it could be impacting why you can’t lose weight as easily as you’d like to.

Iron is essential for carrying oxygen to the bloodstream, and when you’re exercising it can make you feel weak and tired if your iron levels are low. Your battle with being tired and lacking energy could be affecting the intensity of your workouts, and as a result you could be impacting your weight loss without even realising it. If you feel like you’re always exercising but never getting anywhere, this could be why. The harder you can work out, the better results you’ll see and your body shape will be a testament to that. Iron, it seems, could be the hidden key to weight management success that you may be ignoring to your detriment. But why is it that this secret weight loss trick not promoted more, and how do you know if you’re a member of the iron-deficient club?

 

There are some important things to bear in mind if you think iron could be missing from your diet and affecting your weight management. One of the biggest causes of iron loss is due to bleeding, and this is often because of heavy and frequent menstrual periods in women. For people with coeliac disease, Crohn’s diseases and people who have had gastric bypass surgery could be impacted by iron absorption. Furthermore, your diet could be the problem – people following vegetarian diets could find that their iron intake isn’t what it should be – plant-based iron sources are non-heme which is why the RDA for iron is higher in vegetarians than meat eaters. Vegetarian men and post-menopausal women need 14mg daily or pre-menopausal vegetarian women should aim for 33mg daily. Often, people forget that forty per cent of iron found in meat, fish and poultry is heme, with the other sixty per cent falling into the category of non-heme.

 

All plant-based sources are non-heme. It’s also important to remember that non-heme iron isn’t absorbed as easily as heme iron. Sources such as rhubarb, spinach and beet greens contain an oxalate acid which binds with iron to make it unavailable for the body, which is why getting the right amount from plant-based sources is difficult. If you’re in doubt as to what your iron take is like and if it’s enough, you should speak to your GP. A sign that you could be iron-deficient are finding yourself low on energy, tired or winded, but you should be tested properly before taking supplements or upping your iron intake substantially.It could be the difference between years of weight loss struggle and a healthy management of weight loss, as well as better health overall.

Categories: Advice, based sources, heme iron, iron deficient, iron intake, iron levels, iron sources, plant based, secret weight, Weight Loss, Weight Management

Battle Balm® - The Best Natural Pain Reliever

In the world of topical pain relief, there are numerous choices.  The plethora of products can be dizzying, but armed with the right information, a consumer can be much more savvy about his or her purchase.  Sifting through product ingredient lists, one can find that many of these analgesics are fraught with chemicals, artificial ingredients, and potentially hazardous substances such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine (DEA), propylene glycol (PG), and phthalates.

 

The good news is that there are a growing number of manufacturers that have answered the call for healthier alternatives.  Battle Balm® is a company that has gone one step further and created a plant-based topical analgesic that is both friendly to the body as well as to the planet.

 

Battle Balm® is an adaptation of the ancient Chinese herbal formulas called dit da jow (or “hit fall wine”) historically used to help heal the wounds of Chinese martial artists.  Using a carefully selected balance of pain alleviating herbs, Battle Balm® has created a formula unlike any other before it.  20 plant ingredients are combined using both traditional and modern herbal techniques to create Battle Balm®.  Originally created by martial artists for martial artists, Battle Balm® has been literally battle tested and is now reaching out to treat more general pain sufferers.

 

The benefits of a plant-based herbal analgesic such as Battle Balm®, are many fold.  Clinical studies have shown that plants have numerous medicinal properties.  High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays have marked plant molecular compounds and allowed scientists to study each one individually.  Therefore, a wealth of data exists for plant use in medicine.  Battle Balm® has deeply researched the clinical and empirical data to refine its unique balm blend.

 

The synergistic combination of Battle Balm® herbs can be used to treat conditions such as arthritis, back pain (lumbago), neck pain, muscular strains, spasms, bruises, contusions, tendonitis, edema, circulatory problems, and more.  But Battle Balm® admits their formula is not just for treating pain.  There are benefits of using Battle Balm® that go beyond that of a typical analgesic.  As per their website, Battle Balm® can be used to naturally and safely nourish and moisten cracked skin, open congested nasal passages, reduce itching from bug bites, soothe burns, improve athlete’s foot, reduce keloid scar tissue, and repel insects.  If that wasn’t enough, Battle Balm® contains natural vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids to support skin healing and pliability.

 

Battle Balm® has been independent laboratory tested for anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties per USP 51 challenge against the most common strains.  Battle Balm® has been shown to be effective against staph (Staphylococcus aureus), E. coli (Escherichia coli), pseudomonas aeruginosa, candida albicans, and aspergillus niger.

 

Lastly, Battle Balm® is sustainable and eco-friendly.  All of the ingredients are plant-based and are grown with concern for the environment.  The Battle Balm® company’s desire for a superior eco-friendly product trickles down to even the product labels, which are made from corn, another renewable resource.

 

Currently, there are 3 versions of Battle Balm®:  Original Strength, Extra Strength, and Demon Strength.  Each version contains varying quantities of FDA approved ingredients for pain relief.  Product pricing start at $8.95 and can be purchased directly from http://BattleBalm.com.

Categories: balm, battle, battle balm, eco-friendly, martial artists, Natural, nbsp battle, Pain, Pain Relief, pain reliever, plant based

Could a Plant Diet Help Improve Your Heart Health?

New research has shown that when it comes to diet & nutrition, a plant based diet could be the way to improve your wellness and wellbeing. Although more research is needed in this area, the initial research has shown that eating mainly plants could have a number of health benefits.

 

If you eat a lot of fruits, nuts, vegetables, wholegrains and meat substitutes such as soy, you may be less likely to get certain types of heart problems such as heart disease.

 

A plant-based diet can help to reduce your risk of having high blood levels of cholesterol, high levels of bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, being overweight or suffering from obesity, having metabolic syndrome or developing a blood sugar conditions such as diabetes.

 

On the other hand, a normal Western diet, whichis rich in meat, can help to increase your risk of getting heart disease, when compared to diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables. In fact, one study showed that a Western diet actually increases your risk of getting heart disease by a shocking 46 percent.

 

There are various types of plant-based diets, such as vegan, lacto-vegetarian and lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Vegan diets mean that the user cannot eat any eggs, meat or dairy products. Lacto-vegetarian diets prohibit you from eating meat or eggs, but dairy products are absolutely fine. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians can eat dairy products and eggs but cannot eat meat.

 

Most of the studies into the effect of the diet have been small. So far it has been very difficult for researchers to work out whether the heart benefits of these diets are due to the diets themselves or other associated factors such as weight loss.

 

Many large scale studies in to the Mediterranean diet shows similar effects, although this diet does include some meat.

Categories: based diet, cholesterol high, dairy products, diet, heart, heart disease, high blood, lacto ovo, lacto vegetarian, plant, plant based, western diet

3 Diets to Drop Your Heart Trouble

So you have hit the big five-oh and everyone and their dog has a tale to tell about the ups and downs of middle age.

Mostly downs.

The upside is that for every horror story, there is a romance too. In this case, the relationship between your stomach and your heart may be one that has a cheerful plot. The problem of course, is choosing your partner in crime.

Introducing the Mediterranean Diet, The Anti-Inflammatory Diet and the Plant-Based Diet.

 

The Mediterranean Diet

 

With an exotic blend of nuts, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and olive oil, the Mediterranean locals reportedly enjoy a 30% less chance of cardiovascular disease. Fish and poultry are the main sources of protein, consumed with healthy fats and little dairy or sugary foods. A little wine however, does not go amiss.

What was noted was that the effects of a Mediterranean diet is that this food regime actually proved to be as effectual as drug-therapy, without any negative side-effects. Drugs are considered to lower risks by 25%, but then the side-effects force you to take more drugs, which may in fact negate any potential help.

A simple plan, a simple procedure, but many enduring qualities, the Mediterranean Diet is the one that many are commonly drawn towards.

 

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

 

Another theory of cardiovascular disease is that of inflammation – from chronic to low-levels, it increases the risk of heart problems and just bodily ones in general. Inflammation is suggested to be the melting pot of problems, rather than growing cholesterol.

True or not, it is suggested that you should avoid foods that have fatty acids, such as the ones found in vegetable oils, sugar and processed food, as well as foods such as soy, peanuts and wheat.

Furthermore, some gluten-based foods are restricted, such as wheat (gluten), dairy and nightshade vegetables (peppers, aubergines, tomatoes and potatoes). These particular restrictions however, may not be necessary.

Linked to diabetes, research at the American Diabetic Association suggests that, “If the anti-inflammatory diet reduces inflammatory cytokines (signals that tell your body to inflame),” they say, “it may be an important diet for people with various conditions, including inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and IDDM.”

Because this diet is something of a grey area, it may be wise to consult a dietician.

 

The Plant-Based Diet

 

Also considered something of a vegan diet, the regime cuts out all animal products, limits fat and cuts out heart-healthy foods such as olive oil, avocados and nuts.

So why mention it?

Strange though it may be, the plant-based diet is said to reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease. This is when the blood flow (and oxygen) is restricted or reduced in one part of the body. It results in a series of heart problems as the heart arteries become narrowed, which means that less blood travels around the body. When this happens, sufferers will have sudden heart attacks. Prior to them however, there are complaints about chest pains or discomfort.

With the plant-based diet, it has been reported that those that live by it have a significant drop in cholesterol (which is hardly a surprise) and a widening of the heart arteries.

A completely different animal when it comes to nutrition, especially with its loss of olive oil and lack of processed foods. If you love your fruits and veg, you’ll love this diet.

 

Whichever you choose, the benefits for your body will tell its tale, with long-term improvements and a positive tweak in your lifestyle. In preventing the risks of cardiovascular disease, you have the chance to experience more, live more and love more in the future.

Live long, live happy.

3 Diets to Drop Your Heart Trouble

Categories: anti-inflammatory, based diet, cardiovascular, cardiovascular disease, diet, diet nbsp, digestion, Food, heart, inflammatory diet, Mediterranean diet, olive oil, plant based, risk