The Acai berry is loaded with antioxidants. Tests have shown that the Acai berry has ten times more antioxidants than your average red grape. The Acai berry also has significantly higher levels of antioxidants than apples, oranges or cranberries. Antioxidants serve a number of purposes in your body some of which are touched upon below. These Maladies and the ways in which the Acai berry diet can rectify them are discussed in more detail on the Acai berry blog.

Antioxidants are paramount to your general health and well-being. They strengthen your body’s most abundant white blood cell type meaning that regular consumption of Acai berry will equip your body to combat any health problems, the kind of problems that ail you from day to day.

If you are suffering from anything including: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, lethargy, loss of libido or joint pain then the quality Acai berry, like the kinds found at any related website could help you.

Antioxidants are also necessary for your long term health; they flush free radicals from your system meaning that you are less likely to succumb to serious disease namely Cancer. The Acai berry diet can also attack Cancer directly. Tests undertaken at the University of Florida have shown that the Acai berry reduces the proliferation of HL60 (manufactured Leukemia). For more Acai berry information subscribe to the Acai berry blog.

Dr Nicholas Schuss, The Senior Director of nutritional and medical research at AIMBN life sciences lead a research team that performed a rigorous series of tests on the Acai berry having heard many commentators applauding its potency. After a battery of tests were done on the Acai berry Dr Schuss deduced that the “Acai (berry) contains every single nutrient required for humans”.

Dana Hawkes lost over 45 pounds by following the Acai Berry Diet, and you can do it, too! Visit her site now for more information about Acai Berry supplements, the Acai Berry Diet, and even get a free trial!

The Acai Berry has been celebrated around the world, and lately the Western world, for the medicinal features it holds. The small fruit, a little smaller than the size of a grape at around ten millimetres, has a dark purple to black hue to it and is filled full of vitamins and minerals that have been proven for the benefits they have to health and weight loss.

I’ll talk about weight loss first. It’s been specified on chat shows like Oprah and talked about in best selling books and glossy magazines for the somehow magical affects on weight loss it has. It’s partly down to the Fibre and Glucose content of the Acai Berry; the Fibre cuts down appetite and reduces fat absorption.

Both of these have good affects on weight loss, reducing the source of the problem which is over-consumption of calories. Secondly, the glucose boost up the metabolism to improve the burning of fat already present as deposits around the body (in other words, those love handles you want to get rid of). Both of these mechanisms are important in the process of losing weight, and so the Acai Berry provides a great solution for doing so.

As I’ve already mentioned, the Acai Berry has benefits to general health as well. It contains a great amount of antioxidants, and these are important to combat free radicals, which are created when cells in the body use up oxygen. These free radicals move around the body and destroy the DNA of cells, causing the aging process and being one of the causes of cancer.

So the availability of antioxidants in the Acai Berry, the highest amount out of any naturally sourced fruit, can have great (preventative) benefits to an individual’s general health. For more information on the benefits of using the Acai Berry, as well as tips on where to get the best products, visit any related website.

Dana Hawkes lost over 45 pounds by following the Acai Berry Diet, and you can do it, too! Visit her site now for more information about Acai Berry supplements, the Acai Berry Diet, and even get a free trial!

Therapeutic essential oils are found in the highest quality beauty care products designed for mature skin. Natural oils have many beneficial properties including the stimulation of cellular metabolism, the regeneration of tissues, reduction of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory effects, as well as various hormone-like activities. These known benefits are the therapeutic fundamentals for topical support of the health and beauty of aging skin. Not only are true essential oils kinder to the planet than synthetic mixtures, their health-giving effects can be dramatic. Beyond the obvious benefits, the natural health enthusiast can make a skin care blend precisely suited to their skin’s personal needs, at a fraction of the cost of the high-end laboratory-made blends. Many of the ingredients are available locally at your health food store. The more esoteric items found either on the internet or through mail order from providers of therapeutic-grade aromatherapy and apothecary supplies.

The Chemistry of Therapeutic Skin Care

You may ask, “What makes essential oils and their complementary carrier oils so effective for natural skin care?” The answer is found in nature herself. It happens that the elemental structures of plant oils are beautifully and decidedly compatible with that of our skin. Essential oils are easily absorbed through the skin’s various layers, and even through the skin’s individual cell walls. And the essential oils offer a myriad of healthful effects: they supply important nutrients and, they detoxify the skin, and they even signal skin cells to heal themselves! This compatibility makes the process of creating and using your own formulas extremely simple. One only need blend together a few ingredients to create a state-of-the-art healing and nourishing formula for better looking and feeling skin.

The Base Oils: The Base of Every Recipe

Essential oils for topical application in nearly every instance will be blended with what are known as carrier oils or ‘base’ oils. These cold-pressed seed or nut oils make up the foundation of most natural skin care formulas. There are a many lovely carrier oils from which to choose - a few favorites for nourishing and healing mature skin include: Avocado is known to be both hydrating, and nutritive; it has a medium consistency and is generally included at about 20% of the total base oil mixture. Apricot Kernel is fantastic for dry skin and is used for healing damaged or irritated skin. Apricot oil can be used in combination or with other carriers or as 100% of the base oil. Borage oil is used as a small (perhaps 10%) portion of the carrier blend; it helps to calm inflammation and supplies important essential fatty acid nutrients. Borage and Evening Primrose oil may be interchanged though the Evening Primrose should be used in slightly larger concentrations of up to one-quarter of the base formula. Hazelnut oil is a very common carrier in skin care blends. It has a thinner consistency and is best used by those with oily skin conditions. With its astringent properties Hazelnut should not exacerbate oily-skin conditions. Lastly, and likely most importantly, we have Rosehip Seed. Rosehip seed oil combines a plethora of therapeutic properties including the ability to speed turnover of skin cells without drying or flaking (as can be a common side effect of synthetic preparations with the same purpose). An excellent base oil mix for mature skin might include 70% Apricot Kernel, 15% Rosehip and 15% Evening Primrose. For those with dry skin, add Avocado oil at 20% and reduce the Apricot Kernel to 50%. For oily skin, replace Apricot Kernel with Hazelnut.

Plant Magic: The Essential Oils

And now for the magic ingredients, the essential oils: Carrot Seed essential oil is distilled from the seeds of Wild Carrot, Daucus carota. It is considered one of the most potent revitalizing essential oils for the skin where one’s lifestyle and/or environment may have taken their toll on the skin’s vibrancy. Also for revitalizing the skin, Rosemary Verbenone can be highly effective - this is a type of rosemary essential oil containing a higher amount of regenerative ketones than common rosemary. The essential oil ‘displays its main activity in the dermis (the middle layer of the skin), where it stimulates the metabolic functions, circulation, and elimination of waste products’ according to Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, one of America’s leading medical aromatherapists, in his ‘Advanced Aromatherapy’. And perhaps the most revered essential oil of all for women’s skin is Rose Otto. This really belongs in every women’s skin care recipe — despite its high cost, its value cannot be underestimated. Only the tiniest amounts are needed; even 1/2% (4 drops per ounce) will have an excellent therapeutic result (and the aroma is absolutely heavenly!)

Especially for Women

Clary Sage is renowned as being particularly suited to natural skin and beauty care. A component of the essential oil mimics the effects of estrogen, which may enhance the vibrancy of aging skin. Clary Sage is also celebrated for its regulation of the skin’s secretions, naturally bringing balance to both over-oily as well as under-oily skin. It’s aroma is considered relaxing and mildly euphoric which may also contribute to its positive effects. Sweet Fennel is another oil with estrogen-like action, listed by herbalist and author Valerie Worwood in blends for wrinkle prevention at every stage in life.

The Nutritive Oils

Sea Buckthorn Berry CO2 (a cold-processed essential oil) is a gentle oil with a pleasingly sweet aroma. Sea Buckthorn contains significant amounts of essential fatty acids along with antioxidant vitamins A, C and E. This specialty skin care essential oil is rich in carotenes, which likely impart its rejuvenative effects. It is noted as a particularly effective anti-wrinkle and skin softening agent. Carrot Root (note this is different than the Seed) is another amazing nutritive essential oil. Carrot Root oil is also a CO2 extract, very high in beta-carotenes, and highly regenerative too. Carrot root has less of an aroma, and will not leave the skin red for minutes after application like Sea Buckthorn, so it may be the better choice for a daytime forumula.

Balancing and Regeneration

And what review of therapeutic skin oils could ignore the vast healing properties of Lavender? Well-known for its relaxing effects, true lavender can be included in aromatherapy blends for skin of any age. With regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and balancing effects, lavender is especially supportive of aging skin. Lavender’s support for stress reduction alone can result in improving the appearance of your skin. It may be added in whatever concentration one chooses in alignment with one’s personal taste. For those wanting even stronger anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects, try Helichrysum essential oil. Helichrysum is known widely as a profoundly healing essential oil for damaged skin, and is often called for in blends for healing wounds or reducing the appearance of scars. Note that if you are combining aromatherapy with other treatments such as chemical peels or microdermabasion, this essential oil would be a valuable ingredient in your personal formula.

Mixing Your Own Perfect Formula

The recipes for natural skin for mature skin are quite simple. A good starting place is the following ratio: ten drops of each essential oil to every one ounce of carrier oil. For example, if you have four total ounces of carrier oil, use forty drops of each essential oil. More essential oil is rarely better when blending a formula for the skin - many essential oils work best at low concentrations with some oils potentially irritating the skin at high doses. A good rule of thumb is to keep your overall concentration of essential oils below five percent of the total concentration. This ratio works out to about thirty drops per ounce of carrier. If you are designing your own recipe, you can start with equal amounts of essential oil in your blend. Some oils will have more powerful aromas than others; most of these very potent aromas will be oils that you will want to use in smaller quantities. You can also adjust according to your aromatic preferences as well, thus creating a formula that not only supports your skin’s health and metabolism, but smells lovely too.

Blending For Men

Many of the oils mentioned here are found in blends for women, but there is no rule that prevents men from using them as well. For an aroma that a man may appreciate, deeper, earthier essential oils can be used - Sandalwood, Frankincense and Myrrh are all essential oils noted for their benefits to mature skin. Also, for any gender, including essential oils for their fragrance and not just their therapeutic properties is certainly an option. With one’s emotional health often clearly reflected in the condition of their skin, there’s more than likely to be a benefit beyond simply smelling nice! Just be aware that there are a few oils that should not be applied to the face; these are some of the spicier oils - Cinnamon, Oregano, Clove and Thyme varieties; cold-pressed citrus oils like lime, lemon, orange and bergamot should also be avoided for facial care, as these oils can cause the skin to be extra-sensitive to UV light. If you have any uncertainty about a particular oil, there are many quality resources regarding essential oil safety available both on the internet and in print.

You Too Can Make Your Own High End Skin Care!

Blending a personal formula may seem overwhelming at first, but in fact it is quite a natural and pleasant experience. Once the formula is decided upon, one simply needs to mix each selected essential oil into the one or more base oils at the recommended concentrations and apply to clean skin on a regular basis. The creation of synergistic therapeutic blends for mature skin is enjoyable, easy-to-do, and a wise choice for the skin, the planet, and the pocket-book. By using therapeutic-grade oils and carriers, you’ll be creating an effective, beautiful smelling formula that is designed precisely for your own skin condition. Moreover, you can adjust the recipe over time as your needs change, or make different formulas with various aromas to double as natural perfumes. As always with aromatherapy, start slowly, pay attention to your body, enjoy the process!

More information on buying essential oils online and coconut and other aromatherapy carrier oils is available at the Ananda Apothecary.

Science is now firmly convinced of the health benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids, but should you be eating the new foods containing Omega 3 fatty acids that you are now seeing on the shelves of your supermarket?

There’s basically 2 forms of Omega 3 fats, plant based and marine based. It’s generally considered that the marine based Omega 3 fats DHA and EPA are better for you.

So food manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon and making foods high in Omega 3. And these are now available for you to buy. So should you eat Omega 3 rich foods or is it just marketing?

Firstly lets say that there’s nothing wrong with eating foods containing Omega fats. The manufacturers generally use fish oil for the fortification process and fish oil is good for getting those healthy polyunsaturated fats DHA and EPA.

So no, there’s no reason why you should avoid foods containing Omega 3. But that isn’t the end of the answer.

Demand for these foods has increased so food companies see an opportunity, and are charging a lot more for foods high in Omega 3.

So you have to consider how much Omega 3s you are getting and at what price to answer the question. And generally speaking you don’t get a lot of good fats in most of the fortified foods, and you pay for the privilege.

To give you an example a serving of Omega 3 enriched bread will give you somewhere around 120mg of Omega 3 fats. Nice but not a lot compared to the 3000 mg you get from eating a serving of fish. And that bread will probably cost a lot more than regular bread.

Eating fish isn’t cheap and you run the risk of getting a little dose of PCBs and mercury too.

The simplest and most cost effective way to increase the amount of Omega 3 polyunsaturated fats in your diet is to take fish oil supplements. They are clean and you can take them easily each day.

So whilst there’s no problem eating foods containing Omega 3 fatty acids, it’s expensive. Use your money on good supplements and buy the non fortified foods and you’re in front on how much good fats you’re getting for the money.

Note that not all fish oil capsules are the same. Visit my website to find out how to compare fish oil capsules.

Want to know more about the Benefits of Fish Oil? Or more about Foods Containing Omega 3 Fatty Acids? Visit Peter’s Website Healthy Omega 3 Fish Oil.

Out of the many protein sources out there, whey protein is the ultimate. It comes from milk. During the process of turning milk into cheese, whey protein is separated out. Protein can be found in a variety of foods -mainly meats, such as fish, beef, and chicken.

Dairy products as well as eggs, cottage cheese, soy and vegetable protein also contain good amounts of protein. Nevertheless, none of these sources compares in quality or ease of use like whey protein. Whey protein has the highest value in providing branched-chain amino acids, which result in building and retaining muscle tissue.

Research has shown that ingesting protein powder every day can boost immune system health, facilitate the healing of wounds after surgery or injury, and promote healthy skin - in addition to fostering muscle strength and development.

A human body needs daily protein because that is what muscles and tissues are built from, and there is no place where the body can store extra protein. The need for adequate protein in the human body is second only to the need for water.

Both hormonal and cellular responses seem to be greatly enhanced with supplementation of whey protein, too! Not to mention the benefits whey protein has on the body’s immune system according to documented scientific research.

Protein powders are made from four basic sources: whey (from milk), egg, soy and rice.

So using it strategically to boost the protein at certain times of the day you need is gonna help you then increase recovery, increase muscle mass, increase strength.

But just because you use a protein powder, if you’re using it in replacement of another meal, it’s not gonna be a miracle worker. It’s not automatically gonna make you stronger, faster, leaner.

Such as glutamine (a muscle enhancer, endurance builder, and muscle deterioration reducer), the content from high quality whey protein not only can, but will help one’s muscles recover and grow faster by bring up the levels of protein.

For over 2 decades Dr. Nathaniel Millsby PHD has researched all of the benefits of whey protein powder. He currently has an informative site that gives insightful information about everything that is whey protein powder

One of the benefits of living green is it can extend your lifespan. This may be surprising, but it is very true. There are many things that not only help the earth, but they help you, too! Eating fresh organic foods, cutting down on driving, and many other things will help you live greener, longer!

Most foods are grown using pesticides; there are natural ways to get rid of these pests without polluting the earth. Commercial meet producers use growth hormones and antibiotics to grow the animals bigger and faster to gain more profits. You can buy organically grown foods or grow your own if you live where this is possible. You will be able to eat fresh food and meat daily, full of nutrients, and free from chemicals and the bad effects they can cause. This will greatly improve your health and also help the environment.

There are many things you can do to cut down on driving. Try to do everything in one trip if possible. You will save money, cut down on traffic, and reduce emissions into the environment. Driving is stressful and stress is not good for you so less driving means less stress. Ride with someone or use public transportation if you can. You can ride a bike or walk in some cases and it will also give you some healthy exercise.

Composting your food scraps can save you money in garbage waste and provide you with great soil next season for your own garden. It also keeps a lot of good stuff out of the landfills. Just keep adding your fruit and vegetable wastes, egg shells, coffee grounds, and grains to the compost pile. You can add your raked leaves and lawn clippings as well. Don’t add meat or bones… they will attract insects like flies and will take longer to compost. Water the compost down once in awhile to get the enzymes activated. Come spring, you’ll have some nice compost soil to add to your own vegetable garden for more healthy eating.

There is a lot you can do in your home to get more green. Open up the curtains and let the light in. Natural light is the best light to see by and you can avoid using energy by leaving your lights off more. Start using the new compact fluorescent light bulbs and stop wasting money and energy on the standard bulbs. These bulbs will last much longer and use less energy. You will love not having to change light bulbs all the time.

Do some recycling, cans, bottles, plastic, and anything they will take will save you money and help the environment. You may even get a little money back if you have aluminum cans. Use your own bags when shopping instead of the plastic ones they have at the store. Some stores even offer discounts for doing this. Every little bit helps and perhaps will encourage others to do the same.

It’s not that hard to live a greener life. You will feel much better about yourself and you will also feel better because you are eating more healthy foods. A green life means a longer life, give it a try and see the difference for yourself.

Living green is getting a lot of press lately, but did you know that it can help extend your lifespan? Some people are surprised by this fact, but it’s still very true. There are lots of things that help the earth, and help improve our quality of life at the same time. From eating organically to cutting down on fuel usage, lots of things can help you live a greener and longer life. Here are a few.

Healthy organic food from sources you trust helps prevent contamination of the environment by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It also helps your body, offering it the high quality nutrients it deserves. Organically produced meats and other animal products are great for us, keeping antibiotics and growth hormones out of our systems, and out of the would around us. Eating well, from organic sources, also helps us avoid processed foods that have little nutrition, but are great at clogging our arteries and making us sick.

One great (and easy) way to live greener is to join your local Freecycle email list. Instead of throwing away unwanted items, you can post them on the list - it’s more than likely that someone will have a need for them. Of course, when you need something, you can look there first before going out and buying new things. Freecycle keeps a lot of trash out of landfills and is a great money saver.

Composting food scraps is a great way to save money on your garbage bills, while getting a free supply of high quality fertilizer for your gardening efforts or landscaping. It keeps lots of useful material out of landfills - just add veggie and fruit waste, coffee grounds, eggshells and most other food matter to the compost pile, along with yard waste. Watch out for meat and other animal products, though. They can attract pests and take longer to decay. Remember to moisten your compost pile periodically to keep it working, and you’ll have excellent fertilizer for your garden or lawn in the spring.

You can also get rid of your existing yard lights and replace them with solar powered lights. These do just as good of a job of illuminating your outdoor spaces, but use no electrical power. You can find solar powered yard lights in a variety of pleasing designs and you can install theme yourself without the assistance of an electrician. Solar powered holiday lights are also available, letting you save money on your electric bill while dressing up your home for the holidays.

Even the smallest things, like recycling your packaging, bottles, and cans can help keep your garbage bills low and cut down on your carbon footprint. Using cloth bags when shopping instead of using store provided paper and plastic will help you waste less, and you might even save a few cents on your purchase. You’ll reduce litter and pollution and live in a healthier world.

It’s actually pretty easy to live a greener lifestyle. You can benefit the environment and your pocketbook at the same time. You may soon find yourself looking for more ways to add a little more green to your life.