Facts About Organic Green Tea
By health advocate | January 23, 2012
If you haven’t yet heard, green tea offers a wide variety of health benefits. One of the reasons that green tea is generally better than black tea is the way it’s processed. Both types come from the same plant, but black tea is fermented, while green tea is simply dried. This allows it to retain a lot more of its naturally occurring compounds. Then there is organic green tea, which doesn’t use chemical fertilizers or pesticides. In theory, that makes it even better for you, and people who drink it say it has a more fresh and aromatic quality than the regular kind.
While the use of strictly organic green tea goes back before written history (everything was organic then, right?), it may go back over one hundred thousand years. There is no doubt that the medicinal effects of the plant have been well-known by people in China long before scientists and medical researchers started looking into it. One of the earliest known uses of tea–apart from being a beverage–was to treat wounds and control bleeding.
These ancient cultures didn’t understand the chemistry of tea leaves, but they were still able to see the positive effects it had on their health. Today, scientists know a lot more about what makes tea tick. Among the main compounds found in green tea are catechin polyphenols, an antioxidant that packs a wallop. It has been shown to reduce the formation of blood clots, kill or inhibit some cancer cells and lower bad cholesterol. Drinking green tea is like opening up a medicine chest provide by Mother Nature herself.
But what is it about green tea that makes it so good for you? After all, there are many different varieties of tea, and all of them come from the same plant. That’s our first clue as to what makes green tea special. All tea may be derived from the same plant, but what makes each kind different is how it’s processed. Black tea, for example, is fermented before it reaches the consumer. This allows some of the beneficial nutrients to leech out during processing. Green tea, on the other hand is simply dried. Then you pour hot water over the tea leaves and that’s all there is to it. This minimal use of processing keeps many more of the healthy nutrients intact.
You have already read some of what organic green tea can do, but there are even more things it does: cavity prevention, boosts immunity, lowers blood pressure, helps bone density and aids indigestion. The other big thing it does is help with weight loss. It does this by reducing how much cholesterol and fat the body absorbs, helps you feel fuller and increases metabolism. Green tea contains some caffeine, so keep that in mind if you are sensitive to it. That being said, with all it has going for it, green tea is one thing just about everybody should add to their daily routine.
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Face Lift Tape – DIY To Look Younger
By health advocate | January 17, 2012
There are more alternatives to expensive and potentially dangerous face lift procedures all the time. There are creams, gels, lasers, mini face lifts and there is even something called face lift tape. Many celebrities have been using this method for years, though they’ve kept this their own little secret.
Using this tape can help firm up your jawline and remove the signs of wrinkles and sagging skin. Many people swear that this method will take years, or up to 10 years, off your face.
This method is very affordable and can easily be done at home. It only takes a few minutes which is another reason this method is so popular with many people. Even though this is a very inexpensive and easy alternative to a face lift, don’t underestimate the results you can get.
In order to keep the tape hidden from view, there is a specific way you should apply it. When you are applying the tape, you need to pull the ends back and fasten them behind the head.
If you don’t have just the right hairstyle you won’t be able to adequately camouflage the tape. This is one of the drawbacks of using this kind of tape: limited hair style options.
Applying the tape to your skin, especially for extended periods of time can be uncomfortable all the way up to painful. For the most part, this product is best used for only short periods of time.
You may also find that the adhesive on the tape can cause redness and sometimes even irritation. If you have any allergies to adhesives you will want to make sure and check out your reaction to using the tape (just use the tape on a small inconspicuous spot to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction).
To a point this tape may seem like a wonder “drug” but there are some drawbacks, such as the ones listed above. The point is, there are many options available. You need to try all the options you can to find the best option for you.
Most people are very hesitant to go completely for a full face lift, this is a very extreme surgery that can have a lot of potential dangers and side effects.
Using various methods such as creams, gels, and tape will allow you to explore various options so you can find which one is the best one for you.
Face tape may not be the neatest and newest way to make yourself appear younger, it’s probably been around longer than many of the people who are reading this article, but it can still be effective for some people for a short term fix.
As I stated above, the most important thing to remember when you are on a hunt to find the perfect product or procedure to help you freshen your look, whether it be with face lift tape or something else, it is that there are a lot of options available. Find the best one for you.
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Exercise To Lose Weight And Save Time
By health advocate | January 11, 2012
Many of us have very busy lives, even though we know we need to lose weight, and we are willing to do the work, we still only have limited time. For that reason you need to focus on the best exercise to lose weight so you can get the maximum results in the shortest amount of time.
Workout routines are usually broken up into two main components: cardiovascular (Cardio) and weight training. Both forms of exercise offer great benefits to your body and your overall health.
Cardio is a great way to get your heart rate up which can lead to a healthier heart and lung capacity. Weight training will help you build muscle tone and can lead to increased metabolism rates and a stronger body. Effectively combining the best elements of both forms of exercises is usually a good way to go.
But the downside to that approach is that it takes more time. If you go to a gym, any gym, you will see people who spend 20 -30 minutes on a treadmill, elliptical or exercise bike. Then they will go over to the weight machines or free weights and spend another 30 or so minutes lifting weights.
There is nothing wrong with that type of routine if: you have time to do it consistently, and you don’t find it boring. If either one of these issues is an issue for you than what you need to do is concentrate only on the weight training.
Why? Because you can get a cardio benefit out of the weight training too. This actually can happen in two ways, for one thing, if you do each repetition in a slow and controlled manner (which is what you should be doing anyway) than you will find that you are sweating and breathing heavy. In other words, you are getting a cardio workout.
But, unlike many forms of cardio exercises, you are also benefiting from the weight training too. You are building a lot of lean muscle tone. That will help you appear thinner since the muscles will “hold you in” kind of like a girdle, but more importantly, the more lean muscle mass you have the higher your metabolism will burn.
That increased metabolic rate isn’t going to just happen when you are at the gym working out, it will be happening all day everyday! Think of what that will do to you to your weight loss efforts if you are actually burning more calories every single day no matter what you are doing (yes, even while you sleep or sit on your rear on the couch).
So, if you want to know what the best exercise to lose weight is, it is a combination of cardio and weight training. If you need to shorten the time you exercise each week but don’t want to miss out on any of the benefits than your best bet is to do weight training. As I explained above, if you do it right you will get a cardio benefit too and that will last long after you leave the gym for the day.
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Diets And Weight Loss – 4 Top Tips
By health advocate | January 5, 2012
Being overweight is a growing epidemic. That’s why there are so many people looking for various ways of losing weight. It also explains why fad diets are so popular. After all, they promise to help people shed those extra pounds, and to do it in a way that’s supposed to be easy and effective. Unfortunately, the reality rarely holds up to the bold claims made by the sellers of such diets.
Of course it only makes sense that you would want to lose weight quickly, but you have to be careful. That’s because those who lose weight fast tend to be the ones who go off their diets and regain all of the pounds that they lost–sometimes more. However, those who are more methodical in their approach, and lose weight in a more reasonable manner not only reach their target weight, but are more likely to stay there. It can be done. Here are a few tips about diets and weight loss that will help you lose weight and keep it off.
Weight Loss Tip #1 – Set a goal for how much weight you want to lose and when you want to lose it by. The more weight you wish to get rid of, the longer it should take. The most important thing is to be specific, otherwise you won’t lose nearly as much weight. For example, it’s much better to have a goal to lose 20 pounds in the next 3 months than to simply say you want to lose some weight. Your goal could be a number of pounds to lose, a target weight to hit, or even a clothing size you would like to fit into.
Weight Loss Tip #2 – Get rid of the idea of instant results. It’s not just that it’s unhealthy to diet this way, it’s also that you are likely to stop trying if your expectations aren’t met. Losing 1 to 3 pounds a week is attainable for most people. Anything more than that will be harder to achieve. You can still have a big goal, you just need to be realistic about how long it will take.
Weight Loss Tip #3 – Be prepared. Whenever possible, you should geared up to on a diet. The more ready you are, emotionally and mentally, the better you’ll be able to handle any problems when you encounter them. Also, you should get rid of the junk food in your house and stock up on the foods that your diet calls for. This will get you started on the right foot and help you build momentum toward your diets and weight loss goals.
Weight Loss Tip #4 – Get support. Trying to lose weight is hard enough; trying to do it alone is next to impossible. You can get help from a counselor, your doctor, or family and friends. Each will be able to help in their own way. However, they can’t lose your weight for you, so any failures and successes along the way are your responsibility. But having help will greatly increase your chances of losing weight.
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Can You Really Lose Weight With The Wu Yi Diet
By health advocate | December 30, 2011
I have to be honest, I had never heard of Wu Yi tea, much less a Wu Yi diet. Perhaps you have already heard of it, but if you haven’t then all you need to know to get up to speed is that Wu Yi is a blend of black and green tea. This blend is quite tasty and gives you the positive effects of the green tea with the familiarity of black tea (there are also some people who favorably compare the taste to coffee). When you drink Wu Yi, you don’t have to worry about the added sugar and fat found in other beverages like frappuccino, double mocha or hot chocolate; all of which add extra calories.
Wu Yi tea has actually been quite popular for a number of years, with many people swearing by the way a Wu Yi diet has taken off their extra pounds. Of course, there are also those who say that tea is over-rated and that anybody who tries to sell it as a weight loss elixir must be scamming people. Now, everybody is entitled to their opinion, and I’m not here to convince the naysayers. However, it is unfortunate that all of this conflicting information has only served to confuse the very people who could benefit the most from a Wu Yi diet.
The best way to clear up any confusion is to start with some basic information. Wu Yi tea is loaded with polyphenols which are compounds that aid in losing weight. It works by speeding up metabolism and that means more calories are burned. This is one of the main reasons why Wu Yi is so effective for weight loss. Additionally, the diet doesn’t require you to pop pills or starve yourself.
As with any other diet, there are pros and cons. Here are some you should be aware of:
PROS
– It’s easy. Simply eat sensibly and drink a few cups of Wu Yi tea each day.
– You get all of the health benefits of both green and black tea.
– Low cost. There is no need to get a prescription for medication, no need for costly surgical procedures, and you don’t have to buy expensive nutritional supplements.
– Health benefits. Green tea has an astounding array of health benefits, including lowering the risk of cancer, cleansing the liver, and aiding digestion (to name only a few).
– Good alternative for coffee drinkers that want to reduce how much caffeine they take in, but still want a bit of a boost.
– Free of fat, carbohydrates and calories.
CONS
– It still contains some caffeine, so those who are overly sensitive to it may not be able to try the Wu Yi diet.
– Even though some evidence suggests it may help reduce blood pressure, anybody with hypertension or heart concerns should talk to their doctor to make sure they can drink Wu Yi tea. In fact, it’s always a good idea for anybody to check with their doctor before starting a new diet, even if it’s as safe and effective as the Wu Yi diet.
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Body Contouring For Weight Loss
By health advocate | December 24, 2011
Well, you did it. You lost the weight but now you find you have all this excess skin hanging all over the place. So what do you do? You talk to a reputable plastic surgeon about body contouring. Your doctor will tell you that if you are at your target weight and still have sagging skin that you probably can go no further without help from them. And they are right, no matter what you do from here on out will do nothing to help reduce the sagging skin.
Body contouring surgery is major surgery so do not enter into the decision lightly. Do your due diligence and research what you need to have done so you have the knowledge and can, with the help of your doctor, make an informed decision regarding how you wish your body to look.
There are several different techniques used to accomplish the specific looks you want. One of these techniques is ‘fat transfer’. What this technique consists of is removing fat from certain areas like your hips, thighs, and belly and injecting it into your buttocks. So basically you get the best of both worlds, nice slim hips, thighs or belly and lots of junk in your trunk to boot.
You could research using implants to improve how you look. Places can be implanted that you may not even think of. Did you know that you can get chin and cheek implants? Yup. Implants are not just for breasts anymore. Chin, cheeks, butt, calves, breasts for women or pecs for men. Yes I said men. Plastic surgery is not just for women either, guys, we know you want to look good, too.
So go ahead and call to make that appointment with a qualified, reputable plastic surgeon and with their help, figure out what you want to make yourself look and feel like you have never looked and felt before.
If cellulite is your biggest problem and you just can’t seem to find a solution to the problem, then maybe talking to a plastic surgeon is the next step you should take. When talking to your surgeon, they may recommend a procedure called Thermage. Done on an outpatient basis and completed in about an hour, Thermage heats the collagen in the skin and when the collagen contracts the skin tightens and reduces the appearance of cellulite.
You could opt for the old standby, liposuction. Liposuction quickly and easily removes unwanted fat from beneath the skin and the skin is then stretched over the area to make things look tight and toned. This is a more involved technique and does require a significant recovery period but when all is said and done you will look younger and more fit than you did before.
The younger and more fit you look then the younger and more fit you feel. The biggest part of being healthy is to look and feel healthy. Body contouring is one great way to look and feel your best.
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Best Way To Lose Weight – What It Isnt
By health advocate | December 18, 2011
Well, it’s not sexy, or easy, but if you really want to know what the best way to lose weight is, I’ll tell you. Maybe first I should tell you what it is not.
1. It’s not about taking a pill or two and calling it a day.
2. It’s not about buying that cool piece of exercise equipment that you saw on late night t.v.
3. It’s not about getting involved in a fad diet.
4. It’s not about doing a cleanse or fasting for a week.
The truth is, that on their own none of these things are bad. Many of them might actually help you in your weight loss efforts. The danger comes in when people think that one of these things is all they need to do.
For example, starting your weight loss efforts off by doing a cleanse is not a bad idea. It can flush a lot of excess water weight and toxins from your body. It can help you see an almost immediate weight loss which will, hopefully, spur you on and help you stay motivated.
But, it’s vitally important that you realize that this is just step one, not the do all end all of your diet plans.
You will ultimately need to find balance in your life if you want to see permanent weight loss. To do that you will need to incorporate not only a healthy, balanced eating plan but also a well thought out exercise plan.
That is where a lot of people lose their way. They get sold on the idea of a quick fix, a fast solution, and when it comes to weight loss there is no such thing. There are a few things that may jump start your weight loss, like the cleanse I talked about above, but real, permanent weight loss means you are ridding your body of excess fat, and not just water, and the cleanse I talked about above won’t do that.
So, you may be wondering, what is a healthy reasonable diet plan? Well, it’s about balance. It’s about having plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, small amounts of fats and carbs, and proper portion size.
It’s about eating enough, and often enough, so that your body stays fired up and burning hot all day long. It’s also about getting enough water so your body is hydrated and you keep it clear of toxin buildup.
It’s about finding the foods that will supply the nutrients your body needs as well as provide you with the taste and flavor you need. Otherwise you won’t want to stick with this eating plan for very long. Remember, this is all about achieving permanent weight loss through permanent lifestyle changes.
And, one more thing, it’s about keeping your body moving with physical activity. Find some sort of workout that you enjoy and do it. Make sure you lift weights as part of your workout because that one simple thing can do more than any other aspect of your exercise program to burn more fat and calories 24/7.
Hope this has helped, the best way to lose weight is to find a eating plan and a workout plan that are balanced and healthy and just stick with them. That’s it, not sexy I know, but effective.
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Addicted To Food – Yep You
By health advocate | December 12, 2011
Being addicted to alcohol, drugs or gambling is tough, but at least you don’t need those things to stay alive. But can you imagine being addicted to food? The very thing you are trying to stop being addicted to is the very thing you need to survive. Having such an addiction would have to be incredibly frustrating, not to mention hard to get over.
But is it really possible to have such an addiction? According to researchers it is. One they have tested this is by scanning the brains of people that were addicted to food. They then had them think about food. So, what did they find? They found that these thoughts activated the same parts of the brain as an alcoholic or drug addict when they thought about drinking and drugs.
Another finding was that people who were addicted to food share something else with other addicts. That was having fewer dopamine receptors (dopamine is familiarly known as the “feel good hormone”). Because they have fewer receptors, it is believed that addicts need to seek that good feeling from outside sources just to feel as good as “normal” people.
When people overeat, the brain makes food addicts experience a deeper pleasure from their eating by making them less aware of the other parts of their body. To make matters even worse, they can experience many of the same withdrawal symptoms as drug addicts. Symptoms like moodiness, irritability, depression and anger, to name a few.
But…again, we need food to stay alive, so can food addiction be controlled? It can, but it will take commitment. Here are a few things you can do if you’re addicted to food:
Think when you eat. Pay attention to the food as you eat it. This will keep you from eating mindlessly, and that will help you control the problem. Also, switching your focus from filling your stomach until you can’t eat anymore to focusing on the enjoyment of the food; savoring it. You will naturally slow down and be more aware of what you’re eating.
Write it down. Just keeping track of everything you eat will help to ease your addiction. You don’t have to share this journal with anybody, unless you choose to. That means you can feel safe writing everything down. You may be shocked at just what you’re eating and how much, but sometimes we need a jolt to get on the road to recovery.
Get help. You can get help from a counselor, your personal doctor, or a support group…or all three if you need to. Each one can help you in their own way. The main thing to remember is that you don’t have to struggle with being addicted to food alone.
Avoid your triggers. If there are certain foods that make you lose control, then avoiding them will help prevent the problem. In other words, it will be much easier to handle temptation if you are not tempted to begin with.
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Abdominoplasty Surgery For Your Weight Loss
By health advocate | December 6, 2011
You are tired of all the fad diets that do not work and the yo-yoing weight loss and weight gain. Lose some weight and gain it back, time and time again. You want to look and feel healthier so now you are seriously considering having abdominoplasty surgery to correct the problem.
First you have to ask yourself, did you really give weight loss the old college try? If you made the commitment to lose weight and change the way you think about and treat food then why did you not lose the weight and keep it off? Well, the best answer is that you did not make the commitment to lose the weight and change the way you think about and treat food.
I’m not saying you didn’t do some things right, but in the end, if the weight did not stay off then you mostly did the wrong things. I’m also not saying that abdominoplasty surgery is not the way to go here either. It may be the kick in the pants you need to keep yourself looking good after the surgery.
I think everybody wants to be thin and healthy. It is just that the way we eat these days is so wrong. Most of us don’t even know why. Think about the way things have changed over the years, though. When I was young, fast food was a rarity and we only ever had it as a treat once or twice a year. Maybe a little more often than that but not much.
Then, the world just seemed to get busier and people stopped cooking meals for their families because they did not have time. Women went back to work and “convenience foods” became the norm. Processed foods loaded with carbs and sodium make meals easier and also make our waistlines thicker.
Fatigue is rampant and so no one wants to get out there and even just go for a walk because they are too tired. So what happens when you do not burn off more calories than you take in? Weight gain. Then all of a sudden you are 50, 75, or even 100 pounds over weight and even though you want to lose it you just can’t seem to lose more than a few pounds at a time then it gets put right back on plus a few more. It is a cycle that only you can break and it takes dedication and self discipline.
You must make the change from processed food to fresh food. Some good advice for you to take to heart, when you shop, shop around the outer edges of the store. Everything on the shelves in the middle of the store is mostly canned and processed food. The outer edges has fresh vegetables even fresh breads from the bakery and even though some of the packaged meats are processed, like hot dogs, if you shop the outer edges of the store you generally get the healthier, fresh stuff.
Still, if you feel the need for abdominoplasty surgery to look and feel healthier and you can afford it, go for it.
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Abdominoplasty Recovery Good Bad And Ugly
By health advocate | November 30, 2011
You have this little pooch belly that just will not go away no matter what you do and you are wondering how long it takes for an abdominoplasty recovery if you choose to have one done. Recovery usually will take at least six weeks. So be prepared to have a few minutes of extra time on your hands.
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is major abdominal surgery. Do not let anyone tell you any different. Make sure you have a good understanding of the procedure and all the pros and cons that go with it. Do some research before you talk to your doctor and find out about the procedure and make a list of questions you have so you get all the answers you need. Talk about complications that are possible and what to do if you experience any of them.
Now, it would be a good idea to make arrangements with a family member or friend to help you with things that need to be done for several days after the surgery during the abdominoplasty recovery period. You will not be much for being up and moving around. In fact, you will not even be able to stand up straight so the things you normally would take for granted like getting dressed or cooking a meal will be out of the question for the time being. It would be a good idea to stock up on essentials before you even go in for the surgery but, if something gets overlooked then family or friends will be happy to get whatever it is for you, I’m sure.
Also be sure to ask family or friends if they mind being available to get your prescriptions filled. The doctor performing the procedure will no doubt prescribe a good narcotic pain reliever as well as an antibiotic to prevent infection. You should plan ahead for the possibility of constipation as well. This can happen with the surgery itself and also with taking a narcotic pain reliever, so take a stool softener for at least three days prior to the surgery because the doctor will advise you not to strain to go to the bathroom after surgery.
Abdominoplasty surgery is no laughing matter. You will be incapacitated for a while after the surgery. If you plan ahead then you can alleviate some of the potential boredom that will come with the sudden lack of activity you will experience during the recovery. During this time please be sure to follow any and all of your doctor’s orders. If you try to do too much then you risk injury and infection.
Doctor’s orders will include how soon you can bathe after surgery, how often you should change your bandages, care and cleaning of the drain tubing and pouch, any lifting restrictions and any activity restrictions and even instructions on how soon you can begin having sex again, too. As with all surgeries there are possible complications. The most prevalent of which may be bleeding. If you experience any excessive bleeding during your abdominoplasty recovery then call your doctor immediately.
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