SoundsofNeworleans – Health Tips

Most people say their amazing product will reduce wrinkles up to 50 even 75 percent, and that may even be somewhat true…However, Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold Skin Firming Serum is not somewhat true, it is the Honest To Goodness Truth. After just one application your skin will feel smooth, firm, supple and hydrated, revitalized with collagen, Hyaluronic Acid (featured on ABC News show 20/20 in a segment titled, “Could Hyaluronic Acid be an Anti-Aging Remedy…the Fountain of Youth?) and omega’s. Everything that which was lost will be restored. Even your neck, which tells the truth (your age), the loose and saggy skin will be firm and taut.

So what makes this anti aging product outweigh all the others?

The main ingredient in Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold Serum is made from a revolutionary cosmetic technology called “Argireline®” (R-Jer-a-Lien). Yes, many other products on the market also contain this same ingredient, but there is also a secret ingredient… It’s GOLD! Genuine, 14k Pure Gold Flakes!

Throughout ancient times, gold has been recognized for its luxurious and beautifying properties for the skin. Gold has been a daily part of Egyptian skin care and anti-aging on a daily basis. Cleopatra used pure gold to maintain her beautiful, youthful skin and it has been said that she slept in a gold mask almost every night. In ancient Rome, gold products were applied for treatment for a wide variety of skin problems on a daily basis. In ancient Chinese medicine, gold products were a key to youthfulness and smooth skin tone, the queen of the Chiang dynasty used a gold massager everyday.

This super moisture and collagen enhancing serum’s 14K gold flakes disappear into the skin, pulling toxins out and gently opening pores to accept the serum. 100% 14k gold flakes disappear into the skin to remove old skin build up and infuses every cell with omega 3’s that skin must have to be healthy.

The softest of all metals, 14k gold serum made from real gold is a natural product, so that you can ensure a pure quality of gold that will not cause an allergy to your sensitive skin. When applied to the skin, it separates into ultra-fine, invisible particles and is absorbed easily. Gold influences the skin at a cellular level giving new energy, clarity and anti-aging control. The skin feels fresh, glowing and revived.

Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold naturally combats, relieves, and helps protect against environmentally induced aging. It directly targets the skins age factors to soften, smooth, and soothe the skin, thereby diminishing wrinkles while restoring a youthful radiant tone and feel to the skin.

Packed full of anti-aging ingredients including Argirilene and Pure 14 karat gold flakes, this product will eliminate the need for expensive and painful injections.

Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold has a revolutionary blend of all natural herbs that are scientifically proven to reduce the signs of aging almost immediately. Using Gold, Anti Wrinkle 55 produces amazing age-defying results that are beneficial for preventative and repairing purposes of the skin in a very short period of time. Instantly, you will see how the 14k GOLD Skin Serum will nourish, hydrate, and rejuvenate your skin by creating the youthful glow women and men desire throughout their aging process.

This wrinkle serum has been called better than Botox® in a Bottle because its ingredientsts relax facial muscles, yet it also provides super hydration that toxic injections do not. It is not a short term fix. The results are long lasting and with repeated use it will keep skin aging at bay.

Your skin will receive vital nutrients at the same time Hyaluronic Acid firms and moisturizes your skin… like it has never been moisturized before! All this means your wrinkles will get smaller and smaller everyday… while your skin becomes softer, smoother, more radiant and younger looking. In only days, you’ll look years younger… prettier… even envied by friends!

Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold works on all skin types. It safe and the most complete and effective Anti Wrinkle treatment on the market today!

This serum is so Powerful there is no need to bill you electronically every month. It will automatically be the first thing on your anti aging beauty agenda. You will have the option to re-order on your own…your skin and better instincts will let you know.

This Amazing, Incredible wrinkle Serum comes in a 1 oz. pump size bottle and lasts anywhere from 6 – 8 weeks at the low, low cost of only $28.95. It simply doesn’t get any better than this, except perhaps a surgical face lift (and that costly and can be dangerous). It is truly favored by the celebrities and is recommended by plastic surgeons before resorting to surgery.

Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold is like a liquid face lift… penetrating cells, cleansing detoxifying, protecting, rejuvenating, rapidly delivering Argireline… your  wrinkles will virtually disappear!

Quit throwing your money away on products that don’t work or work only for the moment. This serum is long term, which means the longer you use it, the younger and more beautiful your skin will become.

Oh yes, a couple more things. I am so certain of the amazing benefits of Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold Serum, I offer a 45 day Money Back Guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied, simply return the product for an immediate refund (less shipping & handling); even if the bottle is empty.

When you order Anti Wrinkle 55 Gold Serum you will also receive 2 Free ebooks. “Homemade Beauty Treatments” and “Face Lift Exercises”.

And that’s not all. If you are even a bit skeptical, try it for free first, and when you do you will also receive a 15% off electronic coupon toward your next purchase.

So get off the bandwagon and into the Fountain of Youth. Hope to see you there.

Simply go here for more information:

http://antiwrinkle55.agedefying-secrets.com

Sarah Lindquist

http://agedefying-secrtets.com

Why do a lot of people say that herbal skin care is the best way to take care of your skin? What is so special about it? What is it that makes herbal products better than artificial skin care products? These are some of the questions that you can find a lot of people asking regarding skin care. However, there are so many skin care articles out there in magazines and the Internet that it is difficult to find authentic, valid information. So, let us take a look at some of the facts now.

Why do a lot of people say that herbal skin care is the best way to take care of your skin?

It is indeed the best way to take care of your skin. There are no ifs or buts here. Herbal skin products are way better than artificial skin care products and it is not just a claim, but a fact. This is why a lot of people, including skin care experts from around the globe, suggest using herbal skin products to get better results.

What is so special about herbal treatment for the skin?

First of all, it is more effective. Second of all, it is a lot safer. The reason why herbal skin treatment is far more effective is simple. Organic products are always good for your body. In other words, as they say, anything natural is only good for your health. So, treating your skin with natural skin care products will benefit you immensely and will give you the best results.

Moreover, herbal skin care products have some of the most powerful ingredients known to skin care experts to date. Ingredients like manuka honey, phytessence wakame, functional keratin, and herbal extracts like nutgrass root extracts are considered the most powerful skincare ingredients known to skin care experts to date.

These ingredients have miraculous skin care properties and can get rid of wrinkles, dark spots, saggy skin, dry skin, and many other skin problems. The best part is – they are absolutely safe to use and they can deliver the results in the shortest possible time if you use them properly and regularly. So, a product with these ingredients is certain to give the best results irrespective of your skin type.

What is it that makes herbal products better than artificial skin care products?

Herbal skin care products are a lot more effective and a lot safer than artificial skin care products. It is as simple as that. Since I’ve covered the effectiveness aspect in the answer for the last question, let me talk about the safety factor in this answer.

There are a number of highly dangerous chemicals found in artificial skin care products which can cause severe external and internal damage to your body. Even the products from some of the most famous big brands have these chemicals in their ingredients. So, the only way to stay safe is to stay away from artificial skin care products.

Alcohols, phenol carbolic acid, toluene, triclosans, parabens, and artificial fragrance are some of most commonly used dangerous chemicals in artificial cosmetic items. These chemicals are capable of causing very serious health problems like severe rashes, allergic reactions, depression, anemia, paralysis, and even cancer. This is the most important reason why you should choose herbal skin care products over artificial skin care products. Natural skin care products do not contain any of these dangerous chemicals as they only have organic ingredients which are absolutely safe to be used by people with any skin type.

So, did you find the answers satisfactory? Were your questions answered? Now that you have a good idea of herbal treatment for the skin and its benefits, you should make sure you always buy the best organic skin care products and treat your skin with natural goodness.

In order to understand exactly what fitness is, or what it means to be “fit”, we have to define it so that we can have a precise understanding of what, how and why. Right? It almost drove me mad trying to find a definition for fitness and being fit! I searched the internet and writings of leading industry organizations and found very odd, misleading and confusing definitions. It’s no wonder everyone struggles to achieve a state that has no clear definition!

If you took the time to search yourself, you might find definitions for fitness such as:

in good physical condition; in good health or sound physically and mentally; healthy; to conform correctly to the shape or size of (1): to insert or adjust until correctly in place (2): to make or adjust to the right shape and size; Capability of the body of distributing inhaled oxygen to muscle tissue during increased physical effort; the genetic contribution of an individual to the next generation’s gene pool relative to the average for the population, usually measured by the number of offspring or close kin that survive to reproductive age. (Huh!!)

Wow! Even the NSCA, the National Strength and Conditioning Association who is one of the most respected authorities on exercise physiology doesn’t even attempt to give a definition of fitness.

How’s that for maddening? Well let me share with you what my definition of fitness is. You see, creating a fitness program without clearly defining what it is that the program must deliver would be ambiguous and leave you unclear about what you had to do to achieve the outcome you want. I believe that defining fitness plays a crucial role in your success. The keys to understanding the methods and achievements of the perfect fitness program are embedded in our view of fitness and in some basic exercise science.

At Ultimate Potential we use five different principles or systems for evaluating and guiding you in achieving your Ultimate level of fitness. These five systems define our view of fitness perfectly. All of these systems combined creates a holistic body (or being) and lifestyle.

Each system is a vital component and each has a distinct importance in understanding your overall fitness level or that of a program’s effectiveness in serving you to achieve a higher level of fitness. Mastering each of these 5 systems combined create what we define as world-class or elite level fitness.



1st System – Train All 10 of Your Basic Physical Skills



The first system identifies and outlines the 10 generally recognized basic physical skills you must train your body for. They are defined as:



Cardiovascular



Stamina



Strength



Flexibility



Power



Speed



Coordination



Agility



Balance



Accuracy

- the ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity. – the ability to control the placement of your body’s center of gravity in relation to its base of support. Balance gets harder as you get older unless you train to keep this skill sharp. – the ability to minimize transition time from one movement pattern to another. – the ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement. – the ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement – the ability of your muscles to apply maximum force in minimum time. – the ability to maximize your range of motion at a given joint and not feel 90 when you’re only 40! – the ability of your muscles, or combinations of muscles, to apply force. – the ability of your body systems to process, deliver, store and utilize energy.- the ability of body systems to gather, process and deliver oxygen to your entire body.

The truth is, you’re only as fit as you are developed in each of these 10 basic skills. And like a chain, you are only as strong as your weakest link. Improvements are always made with training and practice. Keep in mind that all of these skills have one common theme: if you don’t use them, you will lose them. All of these skills make a contribution to your quality of life. Identifying where you are weakest in these 10 categories and then choosing the right fitness training program that allows you to develop and achieve balance in all of these skills is YOUR goal in the first system.



2nd System – Functional Training means you train for life



The second system is based upon the fact that your human body is meant to perform in functional, multidirectional movement patterns using multiple joints and muscles at any given time. This is why we train your body with primarily Functional Training using the right intensity and methods in our Fitness Training programs. If you think about your functional movement patterns in a day, they might include: squatting, overhead reaching, twisting, bending, pushing, pulling, lunging, quick multi-directional movements, stepping, climbing, etc. Imagine not being able to do any of those when you needed to the most? Imagine having a better body and quality of life because you’re stronger and capable of handling anything that comes your way!



Life is a consistently unpredictable event!

You never know what will be thrown your way or how you will have to respond at any given moment. Having a higher level of fitness means you must be able to execute physical tasks, especially those that are unusual movements and combined in infinitely varying combinations.

Here’s a big myth that I want to dispel. The myth is that in order to achieve the perfect body you have to work out doing the same consistent exercises, with a specific number of reps and sets on the same days of the week. Let me tell you how wrong that is! It’s extremely important to know that following a routine with a set number of reps, sets, exercises, order of exercises or routines is not an effective way to train your body! Back and shoulders one day…arms and legs another. That’s right! The best way to train your amazing, beautiful human body is to constantly mix up training techniques, use combination movements, keep your workouts varied and challenging and always push yourself to the next level. Routine is the enemy!

You will make progress toward achieving a fitness goal when you are consistent and engaging yourself with fun, challenging and diverse exercises that you enjoy. Mix it up at least five or ideally six days a week for at least an hour at a time at varied intensity levels.

In our Outdoor Fitness Training programs, we never have you do the same workout twice and you never know what you’ll be doing until you get there! You see, no predictability means you keep your body guessing, keep it on the edge and keep making progress toward your goals. This is what you must do as well if you are planning to embark on your own fitness program.



3rd System – Understand how to use your energy systems to your max fat and calorie burning advantage!



The third system is the secret to burning the maximum amount of fat and calories you can while increasing your level of fitness faster.

What the secret, you want to know? The secret lies in the right prescription for magic “metabolic conditioning.”

I have to get a little scientific on you here for a minute but don’t worry this will all make perfect sense to you in a moment. I’ll bet no one has ever taken the time to explain to you how your body’s energy systems work and why it’s important to know and understand how this information is going to benefit you.

There are three distinct metabolic pathways that provide the energy for all of your actions. These metabolic engines are known as the:

The Phosphagen pathway

The Glycolytic pathway

The oxidative pathway

If this all sounds too technical to you, relax, because I’m going to break it down for you…

Your phosphagen and glycolytic pathway supply the majority of energy used in moderate to high-powered activities that last less than several minutes. So, think weightlifting, sprinting, circuit and interval training here. These activities are primarily called anaerobic. Anaerobic activity causes the biggest increase to your cardiovascular fitness level, allows you to develop muscle tone faster and gives you the biggest decreases in body fat, surprisingly more than aerobic activity. Anaerobic conditioning gives you the biggest bang for your buck by creating the body you want faster and more efficiently. Anaerobic activity will also develop your level of aerobic fitness without losing valuable muscle tone that often occurs with long endurance aerobic exercise where your heart rate is kept at a steady, easier rate. Decreased muscle tone means increased body fat. No one wants that!

The third pathway, the oxidative pathway supplies energy for low-powered activities, those that last in excess of several minutes. Think fast walking, jogging, running (whether it’s around the block, long-distance or ultra endurance), biking, swimming etc. there is no argument that aerobic training builds your cardiovascular engine and decreases body fat. But what’s important to know is that if you only train your body aerobically you will never develop a higher level of fitness without training anaerobically. Aerobic exercise is important for reducing body fat and developing your cardiovascular baseline of fitness but without developing muscle you will struggle to increase your metabolism. Without balancing aerobic and anaerobic exercise you simply will not create the results you want to see.

You must tap into all of your body’s energy pathways while doing the most effective combinations of fitness training that gives you the greatest results in the minimum amount of time. The secret to your success lies in higher intensity circuit and interval training techniques and in always mixing things up! Remember, keep your body guessing, and always keep upping the ante!

 



4th System – The Magic of the Right Nutrition



This system is one of the most critical and often neglected. And it’s the one system that people seem to struggle with the most. But I’m going to make it easy for you.

Your nutrition plays one of the most critical functions in achieving your health and fitness success

. Let’s be honest and straight up here…simply choosing exercise alone in an effort to lose weight or become fit or healthy without eating right will not get you where you want to be. Period! Exercise and nutrition are not mutually exclusive of each other. Also, having the mindset that because you’re working out means you can eat whatever you want will only leave you frustrated and with a lack of results. That doesn’t work either. What does work?

The only thing that works is adopting a complete fitness and eating lifestyle that embraces the right exercise, a winning nutrition plan and consistent action and effort to engage in both every day.

Only this combined effort will bring you to the highest level of fitness success and create the body you dream of having.

What does a winning nutrition plan consist of? One that actually increases your metabolism and helps you burn body fat? Only real whole foods that create a balanced nutrition profile (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, mineral), help you burn fat and increase your metabolism. The bottom line is if it comes in a box, wrapper, can and isn’t living, whole food it doesn’t belong in your body. You want to think live food vs. dead food, more raw foods vs. cooked. Organic versus conventionally grown…you definitely don’t need to ingest more pesticides or be exposed to more toxic substances than you already are. Your body spends a lot of time trying to detox itself as it is. Eating more raw vegetables and fruits will also create the right pH balance in your body.

What should your nutrition plan look like? All vegetables, small portions of fruit, berries, nuts and seeds along with beans and peas, certain whole grains, flax and chia seeds, wild fish, eggs, high quality whey protein powder and the right nutritional supplements.

If you want to see progress and permanent changes to your body, you have to give up dairy, sugar, very little alcohol (even wine!), any and all processed foods, refined grains and starches and eat in a way that supports high energy and even levels of blood sugar stabilization throughout your day. This means eating six small meals spread out throughout the course of your day and not eating after 7pm. The most important focus has to be on eating only enough calories to support your level of physical fitness and not increase body fat by eating in excess of what your body burns in a day.

Know that eating the wrong foods, especially in the wrong proportions, will squash every attempt you will undertake in trying to make progress.



5th System – Fitness Success isn’t necessarily what you do to your body…it’s what you do to your mind!



The fifth and final system is the single most important one of all! It’s all about creating a powerful mind.

Every morning as you begin your day, practice visualizing yourself exactly as you want to be as if you have already achieved your goals.

Start each day by focusing on exactly what you want to create for that day and exactly how you want to be and what you want to achieve. See it happening exactly the way you want it. With practice it becomes reality.

Your mind is the most powerful tool you have. Always know that you are the one who’s in control of all of your thoughts, feelings, emotions and their resulting actions. If you are always telling yourself that you are fat, ugly, unlovable, unsuccessful, unwanted etc… then this is exactly what you will create as your reality. On the other hand, if you start your day telling yourself how much you love yourself, how you admire the way your body is taking on a new shape, noticing all the new small little changes and appreciating your body as it’s developing and loving yourself for who you are, not only will you be magnetizing yourself toward your goals, you will experience a profound level of inner peace and satisfaction. It’s all about changing your vibration and focusing on creating positive results for yourself and your life. Bottom line is…you have to LOVE living in your own skin!

All of these systems combined will lead you successfully toward achieving an elite level of fitness success. Having a coach and a mentor to help you set goals and navigate successfully toward them is invaluable. Studies have proven that Coaching is a powerful and effective tool that has helped more people reach a higher level of success than they could possibly achieve on their own.

If you are still doing the same thing in the gym you will always get the same results, plateau, struggle endlessly to reach goals or eventually burn out or get bored!

Each yoga class will also include information about the Yoga of Wisdom (Jnana Yoga pronounced “gee-anna”), and the Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga). It is most effective if yoga students and practitioners take at least a few yoga classes per week or have a daily practice at home.

There are many more forms of yoga than mentioned here and there will always be a type suitable for each individuals needs. They say that all forms of yoga help with your natural spirit and combining different forms of yoga for your personal needs is the best way to practice.

Blood pressure will also be affected by practicing Yoga. Yoga will make your blood pressure more stable, it could decrease your blood pressure if it is high. Cleansing your internal organs: Yoga could help you cleaning various vermin that reside in your organs. For example, it will help your body to process the food you eat more effectively.

There are multiple branches of yoga. In Raja yoga the focus is on meditation. Karma yoga states that what we experience today is a result of past actions. Bhakti yoga is focused on channeling emotions in a positive manner. The various branches of yoga offer something for every taste and style.

The balance between mind, body and soul is established by yoga. Yoga was developed thousands of years ago by yogis. There are thousands of yoga asanas (exercises) and each has its own significance. Yoga can be done in the morning or in the evening. A trained instructor is required to teach the person. There are various breathing exercises, which help in relaxing the whole body. There are many standing exercises, deep breathing exercises and exercises, which are done sitting and lying flat.

The physiological benefits of yoga include the enhancement of all major functional systems of the body such as nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system and excretory system. It will help to improve the co-ordination and balance the body. The biochemical benefits of yoga such as decrease of LDL cholesterol, glucose and catecholamine will help to prevent all the major fatal diseases and triggers the resilience of the body. Moreover yoga balances the weight of the person without losing its strength through the different stretching asanas.

Regular practice of yoga makes your immune system strong. If your immune system is strong, you will have more resistance against diseases. Yoga increases flexibility and range of motion. It makes you more active than before. Yoga reduces pain in joints and muscles. There are many ‘asanas’ for this purpose. . Yoga causes stronger lung capacity and therefore promotes higher quality respiration. This improves your overall health.

Such benefits include but are not limited to the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga helps tone and strengthen the body and build muscle over time. Cardio and circulatory benefits are noted too. The mental benefits include relaxation and ease of emotional stressed and strains. Spiritually yoga can help with positive thought and increase in sense of self-esteem. Depending on which path you use, it may also develop your spiritual ability to forgive and see more beauty in the world in which we live. Weight loss is only one great aspect to the overall benefit of yoga.

The Fourfold Yoga – Part VI

Yoga Therapy

“Excellence in action is Yoga ” declares the Song Celestial ( Geetha ), an authentic treatise on Yoga & the quintessence of the Upanishads. Yoga, as the science of Holistic living, is a way of life. Yoga does not mean physical exercises even though such exercises have been prescribed for improving the skill of our body. Yoga comprises techniques that transform our intellect, mind and emotions & provides a comprehensive philosophy for Integral Life.

In order to live an integral life, we must develop skill in life. Aurobindo defined Yoga as the Art of Conscious Self Finding. The first & fundamental thing we should do if we are to expand the limits of our Consciousness, is to gain mastery of the mind. This is not easy.

The incidence of most of the physical diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries have been reduced by glorious advances in medical sciences. The eradication of most infectious diseases and the control of many metabolic disorders have been effectuated by better drugs and surgical techniques. Soon, even routine genetic minterventions may be possible. But new and ever more common causes of illhealth haunt us today. They are psychosomatic ailments & chronic stress. Allopathy is less than effective when dealing with these complaints.

The cause of these are found to be attitudes & lifestyle and not physiological anomalies. Allopathy by concentrating on a physical and mechanistic approach to healing, can do little to relieve conditions such as these. The frenetic pace of modern life exposes many people to continous high mental tension & unrelieved stress. And if we are largely sedentary in our habits & overindulge in health damaging substances & foods, as we are fond of doing, our well- being & fitness will be furthur compromised. Eventually stress may manifest itself in the form of physical disease or mental breakdown. Allopathy is symptomatic, and has countered with symptom- suppressing treatments, instead of tackling the root cause of the problem. Lack of disease has been regarded as health, rather

than as a dynamic growth process in which we feel truly well on physical, mental level and spiritual levels.

The Evolution of Medicine & the Three Eras of Medicine

Allopathic Medicine or ” Physical Medicine” belongs to the first era. It is Cartesian and creates a dichotomy between mind & body. Treating a disease is like fixing a part of the machine.

The second era of medicine refers to ‘Mind-Body medicine.” It became popular in the 1960s with the advent of Meditation, imagery, hypnosis & bio-feedback. Mind and body are interconnected by messenger molecules and these molecules are invoked to accomplish the healing process.

The third era of Medicine refers to ” Transpersonal Medicine “. It became popular in 1990s with the advent of group support and spirituality to heal.

Yoga therapy supplements the second and the third eras of medicine.

Yoga therapy complements medical technology with a holistic system of health care that addresses the triune problems – physical, mental & spiritual. The author of Yoga Sutras, Patanjal, defined it as the Science of the Mind. Mind is the root cause of bondage and in order to redeem us from the thraldom of the mind, we have to annilhilate the mind. Extirpation of thought waves is Yoga. And it is through teaching us to control our mind, our desires, and our reactions to stress, that yoga can fundamentally help us. It is based on the tripod of Life – Body, Mind & Self & the three levels of Being- Doing, Thinking & pure Being.

Mastery of the mind involves 2 aspects;

1) Concentration – The ability to concentrate our attention on any given subject or object

2) Meditation – The ability to quieten our mind at will.

Though the first has been mastered partially by most people, the second is very difficult. It is difficult indeed to lapse into a state of inner peace, let alone at will. As an intellectual, skillful means for quietening the mind, Yoga is unparalleled. A still mind is pure Spirit.

All aspects of the Fourfold Yoga work toward this in some way and if we practice this master Science, we reach closer to our goal. Yoga generates that inner mental peace perpetually, in all our actions, and thereby we achieve physical and mental health. This calmness in action is the secret to attaining the skill , according to Yoga Philosophy. This is known as the strength of Superconscient stillness !

Stillness itself is inertia

Action itself is discord

When stillness and action equalise

Then is the Highest Cosmic Union ( Yoga )

Lo! steadfast a lamp burns sheltered from the wind

Such is the likeness of the Yogi’s mind

Freed from sense storms and burning bright to Heaven

When mind broods placid, soothed with holy wont

When Self contemplates Self and in itself

Hath comfort ! ( The Song Celestial )

Health & Yoga Therapy

The World Health Organisation defines health as a state of complete physical, mental & social well-being & not merely an absence of

disease and infirmity. WHO also suggests a fourth dimension – spiritual well-being. It is clear from this definition that health should

be conceived as a continous function indicating the state of well-being and not a lack of ill health.

The approach of Yoga Therapy is based on the holistic concept of human being; the five ” sheaths ” of existence of which the physical sheath ( Annamaya Kosha ) is only the first. The second is the Vital Sheath ( Pranamaya Kosha ), that is made up of the Vital Energy called Prana which flows through invisible channels called Nadis. The third is the Mental Sheath ( Manomaya Kosha ) The fourth is the Intellectual Sheath ( Vijnanamaya Kosha ) and the final sheath is the Bliss Sheath ( Ananda Maya Kosha ). The Bliss Sheath is found to consist of the positive energy associated with the Divine Self. It is from this sheath that the inner peace

characteristic of true Bliss emanates.

More information about Transcendental Philosophy & Yoga can be had from http://www.astrologiavedica.com/html/yogamain.htm

Disease is defined as any imbalance in any of the three lower sheaths of existence. Ego Consciousness, which is centered around the Self, predominates in the physical, vital & mind sheaths. Harmony in these sheaths can be easily disturbed as the ego is up in arms against the world most of the time. The fourth & the fifth sheaths are permeated by a larger, Cosmic Consciousness and cannot be disturbed as they are closer to the Self. When we are truly healthy, the positive energy in the higher sheath percolates freely through the lower ones and brings total harmony & balance to all our faculties. But the imbalances in the lower sheaths block the free movement of Bliss despite the harmony of the higher sheaths being constant.

A great treatise on Yoga, the Yoga Vasishta, declares that there are two types of physical illness, & each requires a different approach. The first are the illnesses with a strong physical element, such as contagious diseases & accidental injuries. These are most effectively dealt with by conventional medicine, though Yoga can play a substantial supportive role. Yoga is prophylactic & also helps prevent the occurrence of such ailments by improving our general health & making us less accident-prone.

The other types of illness arises through disturbances in the mind sheath and includes all the psychosomatic & degenerative ailments. In these disorders, psychological factors play a much greater role, & conventional treatment alone cannot effectuate healing. According to Yogic Psychology, such ailments are thought to be caused by mental diseases called Adhis. ( Adhi creates Vyadhi , disease ). These arise when excessively strong feelings of like or dislike ( Raga & Dvesha ) becomes amplified & established acting to distort personality & to obstruct the flow of positive energy to the lower sheaths. This causes imbalances that result in physical ailments and also makes us feel restless &discontented.

The positive energy from the bliss sheath is responsible for our natural state which is Peace . While the flow of this energy is interrupted by Adhis ( mental blocks), our sense of well-being is diminished, & in our attempt to regain it, we may be furthur aggravating the problem by behaving inappropriately.

We may eat the wrong type of foods, lapse into negative states of mind, drive ourselves too hard, overwork ourselves, live in unhealthy surroundings and add more tension and stress. These methods, however will give only momentary relief & may be actually damaging to our health.

Y T provides that all-important element that conventional therapies lack while dealing with psychosomatic illnesses, as it acts directly on the mental imbalances that underlie them. While Meditation & emotion- culturing makes us conscious of the fact that thoughts and emotions are tyrants, Happiness-analysis teaches how to look within ourselves to find beatific peace and contentment. This effectively complements allopathic techniques which improve the situation physically but are unable to eliminate the root cause of the problem.

The root Cause of all Disease – Bhoga or Sensory enjoyments

Bhoga ( enjoyments of the senses ) is Roga ( Disease). It can only be cured by Yoga ( Divine Alchemy ).

All food that is tasty is detrimental to the body, declares Prakriti Therapy The food which cometh from Nature, fruits and vegetables,

are alkaline by nature. Maximum health is in an alkaline body. We can only be healthy if we keep a 80%- 20% ratio. ( 80% alkalinity & 20% acidity). This means we have to eat more natural foods & less processed foods ( which are more or less acidic ). Truly speaking, processed foods,even though they taste well, are robbers as they rob us of our natural, vibrant health.

Happiness Analysis for Lifestyle Change

Happiness Analysis is a technique for analysing the cause of happiness, what constitutes Bliss, the inner beatific peace that

characterises the fifth level of Being. It basically embodies the realization that happiness comes from within and is not

dependent on material possessions or physical enjoyment.

When we achieve desires, we are happy temporarily because of the satisfaction involved and happiness is often associated with

jubilation and excitement. But such feelings of euphoria are often followed by negative feelings such as tiredness & disillusionment.

The Beatific Peace, which is the aim of Yoga, involves no great effort and engenders no fatigue. The authoritatie texts of Yoga

postulate that the Ultimate State of Bliss is a state of eternal silence, wherein we are not troubled by tormenting thoughts &

fears and where we are freed from all sorrows.

Though Yoga practices lay the foundation needed for us to achieve this, we must also make determined efforts to sustain a state of

perfect happiness by analysing our feelings of pleasure. The basic hypothesis of Yoga is that actions bring pleasure when they briefly evoke the inner silence that defines true happiness. When our desire is fulfilled or when a goal is won, at the very instance of

success our thoughts vanish & our mind dips momentarily into the Bliss sheath. Actually what we do is to open up temporary channels to the higher sheath, hence evoking positive sensations. This is merely a temporary feeling and cannot be perpetuated.

Can we generate that moment from within and free ourselves from dependency on external aids? Yes, we can, if we try enough. Practice makes one perfect and at first we may not be able to maintain inner peace for long, but gradually we will become less vulnerable to negative influences. The likes & dislikes ( Raga & Dvesha ) that can lead to mental diseases ( Adhis ) will become less important and our growing awareness of Cosmic Consciousness will give meaning & coherence to every aspect of our life.

The Basis Of Yoga Therapy

Yoga therapy is fundamentally different from allopathic practice in its approach to health care. Instead of trying to reduce the cause

of disease to a single factor and to correct it using a specific cure, Yoga aims to treat illness by improving health on all the five levels of Being – physical, vital, mental, intellectual & spiritual – simultaneously & restoring inner harmony.

Ill-health occurs when the total balance of perfect health is disturbed. And although the original disrupting influence may only affect one level at first, viz the physical level, the disturbance soon spreads to the other four levels. All the five sheaths of existence interact, thus something that primarily affects the mind can soon spread to the body & the subtler sheaths. A bad day at work may make us irritable & it also increases stress reaction, makes our muscles tense and often depletes our energy level leading to chronic fatigue.

While emotion culturing generates equanimity, Relaxation & Meditation can calm our mind. Positive action produces harmony, just as as negative influences spread disruption. The different types of yoga practice augment each other & are more effective when done together. All wisdom is given in the one word ” Relax”.

Physical relaxation can be effectuated when we do the prescribed Asanas & stretch our muscles as muscular tension is released.

Mental relaxation is effected when we relax our mind during Meditation and release suppressed emotions.

This is the essence of Yoga Therapy, both prophylactic & therapeutic. Daily practice of a complete Yoga session can restore our natural balance and harmony, bringing positive good health to the three levels of Being – physical, mental and spiritual.

The Therapeutic Potential of Yoga

Yoga, holistic science and integral life, has become popular because it promotes positive health and is also useful in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Its therapeutic potential has largely been investigated for stress-related pyshco-somatic ailments. But with

the recent interest in ” Psycho-neuro- immunology” ( the effect of psyche on the immune system ), there is also a possibility that Yoga therapy can modify the course of infectious diseases.

One of the stress conditions which can definitely be controlled through yoga therapy is bronchial asthma. Beneficial effects of specific yoga practices, such as pranayamas, or kriyas can alleviate asthma. Patients with type II daibetes mellitus were also shown to improve significantly following yoga practice. Systematic studies on the effects of Yoga therapy for essential hypertension has shown that Y T compares favourably with bio-feedback. A study conducted in the UK on patients with rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated that Y T reduced symptoms and need for medicine.

Scientific studies also show that if pathological Angst ( anxiety ) patients practice Yogic techniques such as Pranayamas ( which

means the control of the Vital Force, Prana ), they show significant improvement.

Yoga therapy has also been used in the rehabilitation of the mentally handicapped. Ten months of yoga practice significantly improved the IQ, eye-hand coordination and social adaptation of 45 children with varying degress of mental retardation.

Psycho-neuro-immunology has given rise to interest in the idea that Y T can be used for the management of infectious diseases such

as pulmonary tuberculosis.Studies indicate two months of Y T along with short term chemotherapy caused tremendous change for the better. This beneficial effect of Yoga on the immune system has delighted the alternate medical community. Holistic health practitioners how talk about the the effect of Y T in cancer and even in AIDS patients. It has been shown that the practice of Yoga reduces the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix. It is also interesting to study

scientifically investigated reports on cancer regression following meditation. It is encouraging to note that there has been a scientific

study which showed that AIDS patients benefited ( clinically, psychologically, immunologically ) from Y T.

Ayurveda, Tai Chi, Y T, Kai-Igaku, Pranic Healing, Reflexology, Reiki, Acupuncture are all included amongst the 70 systems of Alternative Medicine which are prevalent today. All these come under Holistic Medicine which highlights the greatness of the Whole more than the parts. ( ” The Whole is greater than the sum of its parts ” )

A good site where you can get quality information about Holistic Medicine is www.holistic-alt.com

Yogic Diet & Prevention of Cancer

Modern reasearch shows that diets such as smoked fish/ meat or other foods known to contain carcinogenic chemicals should be

avoided at all costs. Because of the Western fast food type diet, colon cancer in men, promoted by high meat ( beef ) and fat

consumption is on the increase in the West. There is no doubt that a high fibre, low-fat diet reduces the risk of colon cancer.

Many compounds which are potent carcinogens are contained in cigarette smoking as well as smoked or barbecued meat or fish

products. They include benzenes ( in the tar component of cigarette smoke), heterocyclic amines & polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( in smoked / barbecued meat or fish ). That explains why lung cancer is on the rise in the Western male population during the last century. Colon cancer has reached endemic proportions in the West ( because of higher consumption of barbequed meat and beef fat ) & stomach cancer occurs at an alarming rate in Japan because of the Japanese habit of consuming fish.

Claims which need furthur research

While spices such as ( black or green) or spices such as fresh ginger, garlic & turmeric have been reported to reduce the risk of colon

cancer, onion is claimed to lower the risk of stomach cancer. Soyabean products reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Skin

cancer is reduced, it is claimed, by topical application of some constituents of ginger oil and ginger extract. It is true that more

research is needed on natural compounds. One breakthrough is the discovery of taxol, a plant product which is of tremendous

benefit in certain cancers. There are many such waiting for their discovery, particularly from indigenous plants in India, with proper

scientific research tools & testing.

Hygiea’s Commandment that “Thou shalt eat unprocessed, living natural food ” merits consideration here. Naturopathy

asks us to consume 100 grams fruits & 300 grams vegetables ( organically grown ) daily. Yoga with its emphasis on a naturopathic

diet of fruits & vegetables can show us the path to perfect health & Wisdom. Naturopathy is a branch of Ayurveda, the Science of Life, which is allied to Yoga.

More info about Ayurveda can be had from http://www.chakrapaniayurveda.com

The Healing Centre in us

Yogic philosophy averrs that true healing comes from within, the Self, the divine component in man.

His great transparent mirror, Self !

Within each of us is the source of Life and health, the Divine Centre. We have to learn to turn to that source and return to it again and again. When we breathe it in, the freshness engages us. Yoga frees us from the thraldom of both mind and matter & we become

more whole.

Article by G Kumar, astrologer, writer and programmer of http://www.eastrovedica.com. . Highly experienced with many correct predictions to his credit, he does professional natal charts http://www.astrologiavedica.com/html/vedichoroscope.htm To subscribe to his Free highly informative ezine, Z Files,click here.mailto:info@eastrovedica.com?subject=subscribeZF An integrator of East & West, his Astro blog is up at http://zodiacastrology.blogspot.com & his Philosophy blog at http://transcendentalphilosophy.blogspot.com

It never fails but as soon as I wrote all my Weight Loss, Weight Gain, Fitness and Nutrition type of tips I had a few left over that couldn’t really be placed into these categories.

But as you will see they are right on the money for your general health and fitness and can be used in your everyday activities.

Lets take a peek:

What Is A Healthy Diet – A healthy diet satisfies two criteria: It contains enough fibre and a number of micronutrients including vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy body. It is balanced in forms of fat, protein, and carbohydrates and micronutrients.

Don’t Train With The Flu – This is one of the biggest exercise blunders you can make A number of temperature raising viruses, including the flu can affect the muscles.

People often forget that the heart is also a muscle and can be weakened by the flu virus. Normally our hearts can cope with the strain of this, but exercising on top of an already weakened heart is potentially fatal. After a bout of the flu, you should wait at least 48 hours before exercising again.

Cool Down – When you do a strenuous workout the blood vessels in your muscles dilate to deliver more blood for the muscles to operate. The skin vessels also dilate to increase the heat loss from your body, which is why you get flushed after exercise.

If you don’t give your blood and skin vessels enough time to recover, and jump straight under hot water your skin vessels will dilate even further. Then your heart goes into overdrive trying to pump blood throughout the body.

Ultimately you might notice symptoms like faintness, dizziness or at worst, you could even collapse.

Don’t Eat Before Exercising – Always try to eat two or three hours before your exercise and not after that. If you do eat before exercise you can develop what is known as “dumping syndrome’ where the blood supply that normally goes to your muscles during exercise is diverted to your gut.

This means that you’re not getting enough blood to your muscles, which can cause you to become lethargic and faint.

Try to Give Up Smoking – the best and easiest way to give up smoking is to replace it with another habit. Unfortunately, quitting has been associated with weight gain if you replace your cigarette habit with a candy or snack food habit.

So replace the smoking with the habit of exercise!! Nothing tough or painful at first and build up to it. A five minute walk instead of a cigarette and aim to build it up slowly and easily.

Before, you will be fitter, you will be healthier and your body will be more you realize tight and toned.

You will feel better in the morning, your breath will be worth being near again and fingernails, hair and skin will take on a much younger fresher look!! Of the people who die from lung cancer, 95% of them smoke.

Protein Power – Carbohydrates supply the sort of calories easily burned during cardiovascular exercise, but protein plays an important part in building muscle mass – or rather in not storing food as fat. “This is largely because the bulk of protein that is eaten will be used to build muscle”.

Further the average male will lose 500gms of muscle – not fat – every year once he stops regular exercise. While older men and women are usually touted as the beneficiaries of strength training so to are the young.

Planned Exercise – I suggest you start with 100 minutes per week of mildly puffing exercise be it 2×50 mins, 3×35 mins, 4×25 mins, 5×20 mins all of which produce the same results.

Mix up your aerobic activities in the gym; use the treadmill, bike, climber or any other training gear available to you.

Keep A Training Log – Keep a training log for all your fitness requirements, keeping account of the reps you are using, how many sets, what weights you are using and also the date, time and where the workout took place is imperative for gauging your day to day progress.

Also recording all cardio- vascular activities is just as important.

In conclusion, these general health and fitness might have been left to last but the are still right up there as far as your health and fitness is concerned.

Boys Night Out

Worried about having heart attacks as you get on in years? Then keep having (no-stakes) poker night with the guys, even if you can’t play as you used to. A Harvard school of public health study found that men in their seventies who had full social calendars also had less than half the blood levels of heart-damage markers compared to less socially integrated peers.

A Deep Breath

A study in Health Psychology found that healthy young adults with higher levels of hostility had lower lung function. The researchers think that the impairment accumulates gradually over the years to take its, toll on health. Take a deep breath and count to 10 the next time the copier jams, and you’ll breathe easier – and a lot longer.

Sunshine

A recent study led by researchers from the Harvard school of public health found that men who had low levels of vitamin D were twice as likely to have heart attacks as those who received higher levels of the ‘sunshine vitamin’.

Masturbation

A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that men who ejaculated 21 or more times a month were 33% less likely to develop prostate cancer. It appears that regularly evacuating your system may keep cancer causing chemicals from building up in your prostate.

Sex

You don’t have to take matters into your own hands to reap the benefits of ejaculation. Researches from Wilkes University links having sex once or twice a week with higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that protects against colds and other infections.

Sleep

Stanford researchers found that, in people who sleep less than eight hours a day, body mass index was inversely proportional to sleep duration. In other words, short sleepers were more likely to be fat guys. Short sleep was also associated with lower levels of leptin (a hormone that suppresses appetite) and higher levels of ghrelin (a chemical that stimulates it). It’s not like being a werewolf, but stinting on your sleep could turn you into a ravenous beast.

Jumping Jacks

If you’re now worried about raiding the fridge during your sleepless nights, here’s a free solution. A session of aerobic exercise increases total sleep by 21% over people who do heavy aerobics and moderate strength exercises.

Love Handles

Visceral fat wrapped around your organs poses health risks, but subcutaneous fat may have more use than, just a little something to grab on to. In a Harvard study, subcutaneous fat transplanted into the abdominal cavities of mice decreased their body weight, fat mass and insulin and blood sugar levels. The researchers suggest that, certain hormones produced by subcutaneous fat may improve metabolism.

This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Renegade Roundtable. In this excerpt, Dr. Doug Graham shares some surprising information on diet, dental health and disease.

Dr. Doug Graham is a lifetime athlete and 27-year raw fooder. He’s been an advisor to top performers including tennis legend Martina Navratilova. He’s also the author of the lifestyle book 80/10/10.

Kevin Great. I wanted to talk to you about tooth care because a lot of people who get into the raw food diet have specific teeth issues that may arise. What are some of the challenges that people face? What are some of the things that you’ve done to kind of help reverse some of that?

Dr. Graham: Tooth care, it’s an interesting thing. Long ago people asked me to write about diseases. I said, “You know, I don’t really write about diseases because diseases are all pretty much the same. If you stop participating in the cause, the body won’t generate the symptoms.” Every individual disease, there’s thousands and thousands of human health conditions. I think it comes up the same with teeth. Oral hygiene and oral health is once again just one tiny aspect. It would be a shame if we were out there in the world telling people, “Look, we’ve got this diet. It’s the best diet in the world for everybody but it’s really terrible for your teeth.” Well that wouldn’t work. It turns out that the diet that we espouse is really wonderful for our teeth.

And obviously, but it still has to be said, because anybody that’s ever been to a dentist’s office has noticed that the dentist offices around the world are filled with people eating cooked food. So we can’t just look at raw food and say, “Raw food is really bad for your teeth because look what happens,” because we’re seeing the same thing happen on cooked food. At the same time we’re also seeing two other issues going on with our teeth that have to be at least allowed for. One is the fact, as disclosed in Pottinger’s Cat’s, that with every generation of cats eating a diet that was not species specific there was degeneration, both physical and physiological. In other words in the form and function and the design of the cat we saw decay.

We notice in human anatomy that changes have happened. One of the big ones that happens with malnutrition over generations is a loss of what is called the broadness, a narrowing of the dental arch. So for instance, if I smile at you, you might see 8 or 10 teeth whereas someone with a broader dental arch would smile at you and you would see 12 teeth or 14 teeth. The broader the front of that arch is, the wider the horseshoe, effectively, that the teeth make, the more room there is for teeth. So we’re seeing an increase with each generation. We’re seeing an increase in the number of children who need orthodontic work because there simply isn’t enough room for the number of teeth that are coming in, so they start crossing over each other instead of sitting alongside of each other.

We have inherited not only this problem but several others, with the health of our teeth, before we ever went raw. Then we have these issues with going raw. One of them is that a lot of people go raw and have a really hard time staying raw, so they’re switching back and forth between cooked and raw, which doesn’t do our teeth a lot of good, especially the kinds of foods that tend to get cooked, because as you become aware on some level, cooked food is really sticky. It sticks to our teeth like crazy. If we’re going to eat food that sticks to our teeth and a bunch of sweet foods as well, we’re going to have problems. In fact, anything that sticks to your teeth is a problem. All cooked food is sticky, all dehydrated food is sticky to some degree, stickier than its fresh counterpart. Nuts and seeds are sticky, they’ve been dehydrated.

The other problem that comes in is almost invariably some aspect of nature attack us when we go raw. We become ‘nature boys’ and ‘nature girls’ to a greater degree than we ever were before. A lot of people have come to me and said, “I went raw four years ago. I stopped using shampoo. I stopped using deodorant. I stopped using a toothpaste. No animal brushes their teeth. I stopped brushing my teeth.” The number of people who’ve told me that is just astonishing. And I’m going, “Yeah, you know, you didn’t really earn that right the first day you went raw to expect that your body could function as if you had been raw your entire life and your parents had been raw their entire life and it had gone back for generations.” I’m not really sure that no teeth care is the plan.

In fact, it’s not the plan that I recommend. I recommend a tooth care plan. I recommend that you do clean your teeth after you eat and that you do not only a careful brushing under the gum line, or right at the gum line – this is where our teeth are most vulnerable – but that you also get out the particulate matter that’s in between your teeth. Whether you’re doing that with a bristly kind of round brush or whether you’re doing that with floss or whether you’re doing that with pick or a brush pick, there’s a wide variety of ways to do it.

We eat raw food and our teeth feel so clean but in fact there’s still stuff, there’s still material. And organic material stuck between your teeth is going to be broken down by bacteria. The bacteria will produce acid that will harm your teeth. In almost every case, I would say in every case of dental issues that I’ve seen with raw fooders, it’s a matter of them having decay at the gum line. It’s always at the gum line. It’s not the enamel portion that they’re having such problems with, it’s at the gum line where there isn’t enamel. And this is because on a standard cooked food diet we actually cause a loss of gums but also an inflammation of the gums. When the gums are inflamed, even though we’ve lost some gum matter, the inflammation makes them bigger and it covers up that area of tooth that has no enamel. When the source of the irritation goes away, we start eating raw foods that are not irritating to the gums instead of the cooked foods that have irritants built right into them, the food additives all function as irritants to the gums and so they become inflamed.

When we go to raw foods and we get rid of that irritation, the inflammation also goes down at which point we start to expose the teeth at the gum line, areas of teeth that don’t have enamel, and without cleaning them on a regular basis you’re definitely going to have tartar build up. What happens is kind of like a pearl in an oyster; the pearl functions as an irritant. If you get a little tiny bit of tartar under the gum line. If you get a little piece of food under the gum line it’s like picking up the blankets on the bed, it pulls the gum off of the teeth and then anything else can get in under there. At every meal stuff starts getting under there and the gums just get worse and worse, they recede quickly.

The gums are supposed to be dull in color, they should not be shiny. They’re supposed to be sort of stippled looking. They should not be puffy looking in any way, shape or form. If your gums are puffy or shiny, if the color isn’t that of healthy gums, you need to take care of them. This idea that we can live without washing is just not founded. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, as the old saying goes. Certainly cleanliness is a huge part of health and hygiene for human beings. We have to take care of ourselves.

While taking anti aging drugs won’t make you stay young forever, it could delay your body’s vulnerability to diseases, because of aging, a little longer. The factors that make anti aging drugs effective have to do with how much the human body should and could absorb certain nutrients. The use of Anti aging drugs have been recommended by medical experts through the years because of the alleged good effects which they have on the human body. However, it will still help to conduct thorough research about these anti aging drugs before deciding to include any combination to your daily dietary intake. Below are the common types of anti aging drugs and their known effects to the human body.

Anti oxidants

Among the many kinds of anti aging drugs in the market, anti oxidants are the most potent. These dietary supplements are marketed to target specific toxins which the human body needs to flush out. These toxins could be UV rays-related or caused by stress and lack of exercise. The primary ingredient of anti oxidants is fruit extracts. Taken by its self, anti oxidants are generally safe and effective. It’s similar to taking multivitamins. People undergoing medication should, however, research on the adverse effects of each anti oxidant with their prescription medicine. Should it prove to counter the effects of the prescribed medicine, an individual should discontinue use as soon as possible. A long and informed talk with your physician about anti aging drugs should be more than helpful. The most popularly known antioxidant are vitamin C, E, and A

Photochemicals

Photochemicals are chemicals which are derived from plants. These ingredients are believed to be cancer-preventive. Among the most common are Flavonoids, which may be found in tea or coffee. Taken in moderation, these are proven to have antioxidant qualities similar to vitamin C. People should be careful about taking in too much caffeine though, which are also present in most plants containing Flavonoids.

Food containing some PhotoEstrogen ingredients are said to prevent estrogen-related cancer like prostate, breast, and colon cancers. Food types containing these include soy products, flax seed, garlic, onion, leeks, and chives. People who are taking in this type of photochemicals need to stay updated about developments, though, as the use of these supplements is still being studies. Recently, eating tofu, which is a soy product, was reported to trigger the growth of breast cancer cells in women. The effects of these photochemicals are harmless when they are taken in moderation. Any sort of intake abuse, however, can lead to unnecessary dietary imbalance.

Folic acid

Among the oldest known anti aging ingredient in dietary supplements is folic acid. Up to this day, folic acid is still known for reducing the risk of heart diseases. Similar anti aging ingredients include Vitamin B5, which improves the body’s ability to handle stress. Most heart diseases are triggered by excess stress, and a combination of folic acid and Vitamin B5 supplements in one’s diet should lower the risk or cardiac problems dramatically.

A professional skin care regime is one of the most important parts of maintaining your skin’s health. Your skin is not a smooth surface like a sheet of glass. On the contrary, your skin is more like a riverbed, full of little lumps, bumps, crevasses and holes. You can give these dermatological names such as fine lines, pores, sebaceous glands, etc., but at the end of the day the fact remains your skin is far from a flat, smooth surface.

Because of this and because your skin is a living, breathing part of your body and fulfils several major functions including temperature regulation, immune defence, protection from the external environment, etc., you will need to look after it if you wish to have it work at its optimal level and hope to have good, healthy skin into your late 70’s and beyond.

What about the type of products I should use for my skin care regime?

You should always choose natural skin care products as many commercially mass-produced skin care products utilise potentially toxic chemicals and highly modified ‘natural’ ingredients.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products hand makes a range of holistically-natural skin care products suitable for your particular skin type. These products are based on traditional naturopathic principles and utilize herbal extracts and essential oils to produce lasting effects.

Their products are designed to benefit your skin’s health for the long term and include only the best ingredients suitable for your specific skin type.

Daily Skin Care Regime

Cleansing your skin

Cleansing your skin is one of the most important steps if you want to maintain a healthy, vibrant and youthful looking skin.

As well as providing the basis for an advanced skin care regime, effective cleansing can actually improve the quality of our skin, enhancing its radiance and keeping it looking younger for longer.

Thorough cleansing is one of the most important steps of a complete skin care regime. Cleansing of your skin should be done morning and night to ensure the removal of surface impurities, make-up, and stale skin oils. When regularly performed cleansing will enhance the skin’s ability to breathe and maintain its other important functions.

One of the best ways to do this is to make cleansing your skin part of your daily skin care regime.

This is how you do it:

First, moisten your face with lukewarm water. Then apply a small amount of facial cleanser. Gently spread the product over your skin, using light, circular movements. At this stage, spend an extra minute massaging the product into your face to boost your skin’s circulation and help decongestion.

Secondly, be sure to be gentle, your skin is a delicate organ and needs to be treated with care and respect.

Lastly, rinse off the cleanser, using lukewarm water and pat your face dry.

If you are still using ordinary soap, STOP. You are seriously compromising the health of your skin. Throw it away and start using a quality cleanser.

Toning your skin

Toning is the second step in your daily skin care regime. These days, women often leave this step out and yet it is just as important as the cleansing of your skin or the moisturizing. It is a must include step. The one or two minutes it takes are worth every second if you desire to have healthy, vibrant skin with a minimum of lines and wrinkles. Don’t leave this step out.

You have just spent time cleaning your skin, ridding it of stale oils, makeup, dead skin cells and other impurities, now you have to tone your skin.

A quality cleanser may contain such ingredients as clay. This helps to remove dead skin cells and other impurities, but may not rinse off totally. This is why you need to use a quality toner.

Firstly, it removes every last bit of the cleanser such as the fine clay particles and other residues from the cleansing process.

Secondly it will close the skin’s pores to protect it from further loss of moisture, which invariably happens when cleansing your face.

Thirdly it provides nutrients and restores the pH balance of your skin.

Now that is worth spending a minute or two, isn’t it?

Moisturising your skin

This is the third part of your daily skin care regime and should also be done morning and night using a day crème in the morning and a night crème before retiring.

A quality moisturiser protects your facial skin from environmental damage, provides nutrients for the skin and prevents loss of moisture, thereby slowing down the aging process.

In addition, a moisturiser should help to maintain the acid mantle of your skin, which is part of your immune system and if the pH of your skin becomes too acidic or alkaline, the acid mantel is compromised.

Weekly Regime

To complete your skin care regime, you should set aside a few minutes once a week, preferably at the weekend to deeply cleanse and nourish your skin. Your weekly treats should include, the use of a Facial Mask and Exfoliation.

These treatments encourage cellular repair, step up collagen production and help strengthen, tone and firm up your skin.

Facial Clay Mask:

Using a clay mask will help to draw toxins from your skin, whilst moisturising and nourishing the skin at the same time. There are different clays that will work for specific skin types and choosing the right products containing the clay that is most suitable to your skin type is important. There are 3 basic clays: Green, Yellow and Red.

Exfoliation

Think of Exfoliation from this perspective. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, soothes the skin and improves its tone. Dead skin cells are the very top layer of your skin. Applying moisturiser to dead skin cells does not make sense, does it? So exfoliation, removes the dead skin cells, promotes blood circulation and helps to invigorate and prepare the skin to more easily absorb any moisturising product you apply.

Exfoliation also helps speed up the rate of cell turn over. Another word for exfoliation is scrubbing. Using a facial scrub at least once a week, makes your skin more receptive to creams and treatments. However care must be taken not to over exfoliate.

The aim is to remove any dead cells from the skins surface without disturbing the healthy cells beneath.

In conclusion, to follow a skin care regime is like taking out an insurance policy on the health and vitality of your skin. Can you afford not to follow a complete, daily skin care regime?