Monday, July 6, 2009
Oprah's Green Drink
When Oprah wants to start her morning with a boost of vitamins, she blends this healthy breakfast beverage.
Ingredients:Makes 2 to 2 1/2 glasses
3 stalks celery
2 cucumbers
1 apple
1 chunk fresh ginger
1 cup fresh spinach
Combine all ingredients in a juicer and blend until smooth.
Bus Stop Bench Ad That Measures Your Weight


This ad is from Fitness First – a fitness health club – in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You just sit on it (the bench) at it will automatically measure your weight and show (in BIG numbers) everyone just how fat you are. Nice.
A very creative way of reminding you that you need to hit the gym or their gym for that matter. Only healthy and thin people will sit on this one. Trust me.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Olive oil health and beauty products and tips
Olive oil and its use has long history since the times when the Romans used it for the benefit of olive oils as a medicine product. In the Mediterranean countries olive oil is one of the widespread cooking products that is used for preparing almost all sort of dishes.It’s a fact that because of the daily use of olive oil the people from this countries suffer less from heart diseases than people of other countries in Europe.Olive oil has a positive effect on the cholesterol level in our blood helping the bad cholesterol levels go down without affecting the good cholesterol. It also stimulates bone growth and the absorption of calcium, helps preventing skin aging, cancer and diabetes so that it’s essential if you include olive oil in your daily menu and if possible to replace vegetable oil you use when cooking with olive oil.Olive oil is as well a great remedy for Arthritis. The high percentage of unsaturated fat and vitamins A and E helps in preventing/recovering sun damage, body burns and skin problems and inflammations.
The most popular olive oils on the market (in increasing order of quality) are:Olive Pomace Oil - acidity max 0.5º, Olive Oil - acidity max 1.5º,Virgin Olive Oil - acidity max 2º, Extra Virgin Olive Oil - acidity max 0.8º and Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil.

Olive oil can be also used in pure form as a home cosmetic product for brittle nails (with few drops of lemon juice), for dry and chapped lips, to soften your hands, for damaged, dry or fine hair as hair mask ( just add one egg to 1/2 teacup of warm olive oil/, the mask should be kept for 30min on your hair covered with a plastic cap.If you also have dry face or body skin you can use olive oil as a body lotion, same refers to dry feet.
Olive oil is actually a product with universal usage of course if you don’t like the smell you can always buy cosmetic products based on olive oil.There are plenty of different brands of olive oil cosmetic products on the market to choose from - face or body olive oil soaps, Body lotions, Olive Oil Hair shampoos and Conditioners, hair masks and sun lotions, etc.Whatever you try, you definitely will benefit from the well known healing effect of olive oil elixir.
Benefits of OLIVE OIL for HAIR !!!
Good - Bad Carbs ; Proteins
Good Carbohydrates:
Potatoes, yams, beans, peas, wheat bread, bananas, macaroni, spaghetti, cereal, raisins, apples, bagels, syrup, brown rice, corn, apples, carrots, root vegetables



Definition : Carbohydrates are one of the main dietary components. This category of foods includes sugars, starches, and fiber.
Alternative Names : Starches; Simple sugars; Sugars; Complex carbohydrates; Diet - carbohydrates; Simple carbohydrates
Function : The primary function of carbohydrates is to provide energy for the body, especially the brain and the nervous system. An enzyme called amylase helps break down carbohydrates into glucose
Good Protein: Low fat milk, beans, green peas, lean beef, chicken, fish, eggs, cheese, yogurt, nuts, peanut butter, cottage cheese, tofu and soy products 
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Hair mask's for all types of hair
nourish and condition the hair deeply
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask ($7) - This intensive moisture treatment rescues even the most dehydrated hair strands. Use this restorative mask each week for effective treatment of extra dry or over-processed hair. Three naturally derived extracts penetrate to help moisturize each layer of the hair strand.



Frederic Fekkai Hair Mask with Shea Butter ($22.50) - A rich, creamy hair treatment mask ideal for ultra-dry, thick or unruly hair. Hydrates and repairs the hair with shea butter and macadamia nut oils.
PROFESSIONAL HAIR MASKS FOR OILY HAIRThe hair masks for oily hair usually contain special ingredients that control and regulate the excess production of sebum, calm irritated scalp and cleanse the hair deeply. Most of them contain oil absorbing ingredients (clay, mineral mug, kaolin) that absorb the excess amount of oil and dirt. The vegetable extracts normalize the sebaceous glands and nourish the hair deeply.
Most of the masks for oily hair should be applied on dry hair, before washing in order to absorb the excess amount of oil and any impurities.Recommended Hair Masks For Oily Hair:
Jericho Dead Sea Mud Hair Mask for Oily and Irritated Scalp ($19) - The mask protects the health of the scalp and strengthens the hair roots while giving it shiny and natural look. Treats and restores essential elements damaged by hair coloring, permanents, bleaches and other chemical processes.

Rene Furterer Curbicia Purifying Clay Mask ($25) - purifies and treats oily scalps and absorbs excess sebum. Your hair will recapture volume and shine.
Kerastase Specifique Masquargil Cleansing Treatment, Oily Hair ($13) ??“ hair mask specially designed for oily scalp and hair. Absorb the excess oil effectively and nourish the hair deeply even after the first usage.
PROFESSIONAL HAIR MASKS FOR THIN AND DAMAGED HAIR



Phyto Phytocitrus Mask Essential Nutrition Hair Mask for Colored Hair ($32) - Phytocitrus mask is a soothing, nourishing treatment especially designed for colored and permed hair. It not only seals the hair cuticles, locking in color and maintaining tight curls, but it also penetrates deeply to restructure the hair keratin, thus restoring strength and shine.

Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care Mask ($32) - An intense and instant treatment designed to deeply nourish and protect color-treated hair. The luscious creamy formula helps extend the life of color treatments and maintain healthy, shiny hair. The triple-color protection complex helps protect hair from UV rays and color from fading, while it helps keep color looking radiant and lustrous.

PROFESSIONAL HAIR MASKS FOR EVERY HAIR TYPE
Clinique Hair Repair Mask ($27) - Intensive treatment works to rebuild hair??™s strength and resilience. Penetrates deeply to help repair damage and split ends, leaving hair smoother, stronger, shinier. Helps promote healthy scalp to encourage healthier-looking hair.

Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Replenishing Mask ($6.20) - Renews the natural beauty and shine of damaged hair.

WELLA Biotouch Nutri Care Curl Nutrition Intensive Mask ($18) - specially developed complex of nutrents, plus Vitamin A and Olive Fruit Extract, leave hair looking naturally beautiful and healthy. The formula of rich ingredients provides curly hair with renewed vitality and elasticity, while intesely conditioning.

Friday, May 15, 2009
HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC

Turmeric / Haldi/ Pasupu
Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful healers. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.
The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.
Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:
1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.
Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.
Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.
Friday, May 8, 2009
10 Steps to Manage Your Weight

You’ve just lost weight and you don’t want to see that number go back up on your scale. With these 10 tricks from dietitians and successful dieters, you’ll be able to maintain your weight with ease.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Ten tips to reduce body weight
Here are ten tips to reduce body weight:

3. If you want to know whether an increased waist size is putting you at health risk, carefully monitor your blood pressure.

5. Stress can affect your weight loss efforts. Extreme stress turns off your hunger while chronic stress makes you hunger after good carbohydrates. Chronic stress makes your body store more fat.

7. Condition called PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is responsible for weight gain in about 10% to 20% of women under age fifty.

9. Walk at least half an hour every day for best possible waist control. You can do it at once or in intervals.

Finding it impossible to lose extra pounds? Read this inspiring weight loss success story to discover how easy is to achieve a desired weight. If you want quick results, you may want to read how to lose inches fast.
FRUIT JUICES FOR GOOD HEALTH
It is also considered to be good for piles, as it makes the passing of stools easier without any friction with the anal wall; thereby avoiding any pain and bleeding piles. Grape juice is balvardhak, i.e. it grows strength by increasing the level of blood sugar and also increases the hemoglobin count. Because of its high sugar value, grapes are said to be very helpful while recovering from an acute illness.
Regular consumption of dry black grapes, also known as resins; or the juice of black grapes, both are said to be a well known cure for heat sensation in the body. Grapes are said to be able to do so, because of its ability to decrease the pitta (acid) content of body, which is responsible for the increasing heat in the body.
Guava(peru)-Qualities: Guavas are palatable, astringent and sweet. They are said to promote semen, and are also believed to be beneficial in constipation. Guava is cool and keeps a check on the excess flow of bile in the body. It is also stated that they work as an appetizer. It gives relief in burning sensation, and also cures delusion and hysteria.
They also have the ability to quench thirst. Other benefits of guava are that they are anti-helmenthic; they provide relief in insanity and also eliminate constipation. Use- Guava may be consumed directly by masticating it well; however, in order to obtain more nutrients, the juice of guava is recommended. Every 100 ml. of guava juice is believed to contain about 70 to 170 milligrams of vitamin C.
Benefits: As stated above, guava is believed to be beneficial in constipation, purifying the impurities of blood, leprosy and various other diseases. Jambul Qualities According to the Ayurveda, jambul is a stimulant to gastric fire, diuretic and constipating. It is also believed to keep a check on bile and soothe burning sensation.
Use- A word of caution has been dropped that milk should not to be taken, one hour before or after the consumption of any sort of sour and salty food including jambul. Jambul or jambul-juice is also said to be forbidden for people suffering from edema and vomiting.
Benefits- Jambul is believed to be very effective in spleen and liver disorders. They are also said to be capable of activating the liver and eliminating pain in the abdomen. Jambuls are believed to aid in toning up the heart, and also help in curing anemia. They are further even said to be capable of providing relief in burning sensation felt in the kidneys.
Jambul juice is said to be an excellent medicine in the treatment of gonorrhea and diabetes. Its other benefits include purifying the blood by removing its impurities, helpful in leprosy and kidney stones. They are also believed to be helpful in curing dysentery, diarrhea and indigestion.
Lemon (nimbu)- Qualities: Lemon has been stated to act as a good appetizer, expectorant, and flatulent. Its high acid content makes it a good anti-bacterial. However, the consumption of lemon in its concentrated form may destroy the tooth enamel.
Use- Consumption of lemon is recommended after diluting it with four parts of water. Benefits: Lemon juice is believed to act as a shield against catching cold, malaria or flu. Lemons are said to act as an anti-bacterial and thus people are recommended to take advantage of these antibacterial and resistant properties of lemon juice particularly during the rainy season.
Lemon juice, when applied on the face is believed to aid in decreasing the marks on the face.
However, it has also been stated that this juice should be diluted with water, and then gently massaged over the face. This application is recommended to be left on the face for a period of 20 minutes before taking a shower.
Following this pattern for a period of 10 days; boasts of getting rid of 90 percent marks, pimples, and acne on the face. Its other benefits include its ability to decrease heartbeats, which may prove to be helpful for cardiac patients having palpitations.
Lemon is said to be a rich source of vitamin C. It is also said to contain Vitamin P, which gives strength to the blood vessels and thus may be helpful in preventing internal hemorrhage. Because of its ability to protect the blood vessels, it is believed to be good for patients having a higher risk of blood vessel rupture.
Other than the above mentioned qualities, the second most valuable content of lemon is said to be citric acid. They are also believed to have higher potassium content as compared to apple or grapes. Lemon is also said to be useful in destroying intestinal worms.
Melon (kharbuza)- Qualities: Melon juice is cooling and a good diuretic. Benefits: As melon has both cooling and alkaline properties, it is said to be able to soothe gastric burning. Its high mineral content gives a feeling of freshness in people. Other than this, its high water content is believed to have certain properties which aid in relieving constipation.
In fact, the pulp of this fruit is believed to be a powerful diuretic which even allays kidney diseases. Since melon juice is believed to promote cough, people suffering from cold, asthma or catarrh are recommended to use it discreetly, or slightly warm it before use.
Onions (pyaaz-Qualities- They are cardio-protective, aphrodisiac, digestive and believed to promote good sleep. Benefits- Onion juice is stated to be of great help in reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, thereby preventing high blood pressure and also reducing atherosclerosis.
Onions are even said to have the ability to enhance semen and sperm production, which in turn makes onions good for virility. Its other benefits include its ability to dislodge mucus, which again in turn makes it beneficial in cough and cold. They are also stated to be useful in indigestion and biliousness. More so, onion juice mixed with sugar is believed to be an instant cure for bleeding piles.
Orange (santra)-Qualities: They are high in citric acid and therefore are a good antiseptic. Oranges are also said to be useful as a blood purifier. In fact, they are also believed to be a regimen in illnesses like fever.
Benefits- The high vitamin C content of oranges, gives them the property of a mild laxative, which makes it good for people suffering from constipation. Oranges are also said to be useful for people with asthma and other bronchial troubles.
It has been stated that a cup of orange juice provides as many calories as three-quarters of a cup of milk.
In conditions like chronic dyspepsia, it has been stated that food may not be properly digested, which in turn causes putrefaction in the digestive tract which further gives rise to gas. Here, orange juice steps in and helps in eliminating this putrefaction of food in the stomach. It is believed to have the ability to cleanse the tracts of the stomach and intestines, which increases the digestive power of both these digestive organs.
Papaya:
Qualities: The ripe papaya is sweet, diuretic, vayu nashak, and virya wardhak. This fruit is said to have high zinc content, and is beneficial to the heart and liver. More so, papaya is said to have certain properties which may be of help in cases like insanity. It is also said to be a good medicine for constipation and urinary disorders.
The white (milky) secretion of raw papaya is believed to contain the papain digestive enzyme in significant amount. In addition to papain, papaya is also said to contain certain enzymes like arginine (for male fertility), carpain (good for heart) and fibrin (necessary for blood-coagulation).
Benefits- Raw papaya juice is believed to be very helpful in expelling round worms from the digestive tract. Because of its high zinc content it is stated to be of great help in shrinking an enlarged prostate and is therefore believed to be good for benign prostate hypertrophy. Papaya is also believed to be useful for any infection pertaining to the mucous membrane. They are also said to have the ability to bring a spleen back to its normal size in the case of an enlarged spleen. Other than splenomegaly, papaya is also said to have proved its usefulness in conditions like anemia.
Besides these properties, papaya is also said to be of help in relieving a person from chronic constipation, other than relieving an individual from abdominal pain and hyper-acidity. They are also believed to be of help in securing a proper menstrual flow. More so, papaya seeds are said to be a good anti-helmenthic.
Papaya is also believed to be of great help in kidney disorders. In fact, ripe papaya is believed to be a sure remedy to treat constipation. The ability of papaya to give relief in cough and cold may be credited to its function of protecting the mucous membrane.
A paste made out of the skin of papaya is believed to aid in getting rid of pimples and comadones, which further gives luster to the face. It has further being stated that, a poultice made out of the leaves of papaya plant is believed to be beneficial in conditions like neuralgia (nerve-pain) and elephantiasis. Having said this, it is also been stated that papaya causes heat in the body and thus should be avoided during pregnancy or fever. This claim has been made by Ayurveda.
Pineapple-Use: Since pineapples have a very high content of citric acid, their consumption should be avoided on an empty stomach. Having them on an empty stomach is believed to lead to more acid secretion and hyper-acidity. It has further been stated that pineapples, being a good antiseptic, its juice may prove to be good for the throat.
Benefits- The antibacterial properties present in pineapple, make them very useful in throat infections like laryngitis and pharyngitis. This anti-viral property of pineapple juice is even said to have been confirmed by the Ayurveda experts.
As per their opinion, pineapple juice holds the ability to allay bile, destroy intestinal worms and prove to be beneficial to the heart. If you thought this is the end of the Juice Therapy article, then think again! As we intend on returning next week with the concluding article that spotlights the benefits of the various juices.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Diet for Healthy Skin
If you have dry skin, you know that lotions and moisturizers help. But can certain dietary choices combat dry, itchy, scaly skin?
"The most important part of the skin barrier is lipids, including phospholipids, free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides," says Amy Newburger, MD, an attending physician in the Dermatology Department at St. Luke's Roosevelt Medical Center. "Skin without enough fat in it has a protein predominance and is kind of like a mess made just of twigs with no glue between them." Water easily escapes through a barrier without lipids, allowing skin to become dehydrated.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are necessary for the production of intercellular lipids — the "glue" between the "twigs" in the stratum corneum, or surface of the skin. They also have an anti-inflammatory effect on irritated skin. Two types of fatty acids that are "essential" — that is, they must be obtained through the diet — are omega-3s, and omega-6s.
Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish like salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, and sardines, as well as flaxseed oil, some types of eggs, and grass-fed beef. Evening primrose oil and borage seed oil, which are high in omega-6s, help hydrate the skin and prevent water from evaporating, says Leslie Baumann, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute. "If you don't like fish or are pregnant and can't eat it, omega-3 supplements are a good option." Most Americans get enough omega-6s through their diet because they're contained in corn and safflower oils.
While anecdotal success of fatty acids for alleviating dry skin has not been conclusively bolstered by research, several studies have shown significant positive effects: In a 2006 study of 50 patients with atopic dermatitis, 96 percent of those given capsules of evening primrose oil for five months showed notable reduction in intensity, itching, and dryness of the skin. In another study, of 29 elderly patients, borage seed oil supplements taken in pill form helped reduce water loss from the skin by 10.8 percent. And in a study of 118 infants with high risk of developing atopic dermatitis, those who were given borage seed oil and went on to develop the condition experienced a lower severity of the disorder than those in a placebo group. On the other hand, a 2006 meta-analysis of 22 studies that tested the effects of essential fatty acid supplementation found that no significant benefit was conferred on people with atopic dematitis by plant and fish oil supplements. More studies must be conducted before conclusions can be reached.
Vitamins and Minerals for Dry Skin
"Vitamin C is necessary for the function of the enzyme that causes collagen to form," says Dr. Newburger, "and collagen acts as a sponge for moisture."

Newburger adds that copper and zinc are also necessary. Together, vitamin C, zinc, and copper keep collagen denser, which in turn allows for plump, hydrated skin. "Any good multivitamin with trace minerals in it contains zinc and copper," says Newburger. Zinc has also been found to have anti-inflammatory effects, which is vital for maintaining smooth skin.
Caffeine, Alcohol, and Dry Skin
While consuming caffeine is unlikely to dehydrate you, it does make the blood vessels constrict, which is why it's used in eye creams (to reduce puffiness). "Long term, this means a reduced amount of blood flow and nutrients though the tissues," warns Newburger. "And if you don't have healthy circulation, you won't have age-appropriate cell turnover."
In the case of alcohol, Michele Murphy, a registered dietitian at New
Presbyterian–Weill Cornell Medical Center, explains that although it's a diuretic, you'd need to be severely dehydrated to experience any noticeable changes. "The average person having a glass of wine with dinner every night and maintaining adequate fluid intake is unlikely to see any real difference," she says. Contrary to popular belief, drinking large amounts of water does not affect skin. "The water we drink that's processed internally isn't going to impact the external look or feel of the skin," Murphy says. Instead, it's the skin's outer layer that is essential for keeping moisture in. 
Don't Overdo It
If you're already eating a balanced diet with sufficient fats, adding more fats or taking supplements is not necessarily a quick fix for dry skin. "If you're deficient in fat or certain vitamins, it does have the potential to affect the look or feel of your skin," says Murphy. "But supplementing beyond what the body needs has not been shown to improve skin."
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
STRAWBERRY MILK SHAKE RECIPE
I had a box of fresh strawberries , couldn't keep them long so I decided to make the strawberry milk shake.
PREPARATION
In a blender add all the ingredients and blend well.
Here I added Strawberries and Ice



