Fit and Youthful Life

Guest Author: Alien


Yoga Sutras

Yoga is an art of discipline that was developed by an Indian Hindu named Patanjali. He wrote a book on yoga in Sanskrit over two thousand years ago. Yoga sutras comes in many forms specially designed to suit different types of people. Therefore, some forms of yoga have gained popularity significantly.

The word “yoga” derived from the Sanskrit word “Yuj”, which means to yoke, and is typically translated as union, integration, attach, join, or unite. Thus, it is the union and integration of every part of a human being, from the innermost to the external.

The yoga sutras are considered to be a collection of yogic thoughts that is largely raja yogic in nature. In yoga sutras, Patanjali suggests eight steps that are the basic principles of yoga practice to calm one’s mind and unite with the infinite.

The yoga sutras are the physical activities that focus on the body, meditation and the mind. Yoga sutras combine the yoga practices to provide an overall sense of physical and mental health.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – Ashtanga Yoga

Here are the eight yoga sutras to look at and learn a little about each one.

* Yama – abstentions

* Niyama – self-purification and study

* Asana – posture or pose

* Pranayama – breathe control

* Pratyahara – sense control

* Dharana – concentration

* Dhyana – contemplation

* Samadhi – veridical meditation

Yama and Niyama

The first two yoga sutras, yama and niyama, are ten good logical guidelines for bringing spiritual consciousness into a social perspective to lead a healthier, happier life. They both cope with moral and ethical issues.

They are the fundamental laws to direct the actions of humanity. These yoga sutras help us in respecting the principles of this life, in balancing our inner intensification with outer restraint. Following these principles of yoga sutras means leading a life in a better way, about making it possible to understand and connect with the divine. Thus they lead us to a conscious life.

Asana

Asana refers to the different postures that can be practiced to reinforce the body physically. It is treated as yoga postures in accord with one’s inner consciousness. A Regular practice of this yoga sutra helps to keep our body fit, controls levels of cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure, reduces weight, and recovers heart performance.

Pranayama

Pranayama is a multiple term ‘prana’ and ‘yama’, which means the maintenance of prana in a healthy way throughout one’s life. It is the control of our breathing through yoga exercises. Regular practice of pranayama helps to control the prana in and around us. Thus it leads to a state of inner peace.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara is achieved when all of your senses are withdrawn from the outside world. It is necessary to practice pratyahara for reaching the three meditative stages: dharana, dhyana and samadhi. It is a yoga technique through which you are focusing, on what is going on within your body.

Dharana

Dharana, this one of the yoga sutras centers on your concentration. It’s to help you in developing a one-mindedness that, special concentration techniques to enable you to focus only on your inner world.

Dhyana

Dhyana is translated as meditation, when the mind gains the ability to maintain its concentration without getting diverted. You unite with your inner self and image of concentration. You use the time to reflect on your special qualities.

Samadhi

The last one of the yoga sutras is Samadhi or total absorption, is the capability of becoming one with the true self and unites into the object of concentration. Reaching Samadhi is the ultimate aim of all yoga practitioners of classical yoga. It means “union with the supreme.” For yoga devotees, this is the supreme goal.

It is the identification with static reality. It requires a dedicated practice to achieve the perfect yoga sutra. It takes ample of dedicated practices on concentration, contemplation, and meditation to let you on the way to the final sutra of Samadhi. With this one of the yoga sutras, you develop a great amount of determination and will power.

Most people turn to yoga for asanas, the postures. They are seeking the ways of relaxing, increasing their flexibility and practicing yoga exercises that isn’t tiresome. In Asana, the yoga postures are needed to be firm and pleasant.

It may also take some time for them to feel that way, as there are some postures that are not easy or comfortable to perform at initial stages. So, at this stage, you can make use of supports in order to feel steady and pleasant. Make use of props, such as a pillow to allow more comfort.

You should make challenge of yourself until you feel comfortable with the first postures you learn. It is necessary for you to find a stable and comfortable place within you in order to discover your true potential. The inner center is where all action should originate.

Ultimately, you are able to relax and meditate. While practicing yoga sutras and it’s going smoothly, you’re already half way there. The feeling of success makes you recognize that all things are possible. So, better challenge yourself at the moment in order to discover your quiet, peaceful inner peace.

Guest Author: Jude Wright


Are you looking for a cardio workout that you can enjoy? Finding a workout that will keep you entertained is just a matter of knowing yourself. What do you like to do? Dance, swim or kick boxing? If you want a challenging workout that will get your heart pumping here are a few activities to get you started in the right direction:

Swimming: Swimming is just about the best all-around exercise that you can do. Swim about 45 minutes, three times a week and you will see your body becoming toned and fit – and after only a few weeks. Swimming at a fast pace will work your muscles twice as much as running. As with any new exercise, start slow and for shorter periods of time. Then, work your way up to swimming faster and for longer periods.

You might also try water aerobics. Do the same exercises that you do in the gym: leg lifts, squats, lunges. When these exercises are done under water, the water provides a resistance so that your muscles are required to work harder than if you were doing them out of the water. Exercising in water is also better for your joints, especially if you are older. People with arthritis or other joint disorders seem to tolerate water exercises better than gym exercises.

Belly Dancing: Belly dancing is especially good for the waistline, hips and thighs. Once you get going, the cardio benefits are enormous. Belly dancing has become so popular in the United States that most gyms have at least one class.

Yoga: Ashtanga yoga is a form of yoga that takes the most effort. It uses the regular yoga poses but it is also good for aerobic workouts. You should use a certified yoga instructor since he or she is trained to show you the correct poses that will boost your heart rate and burn calories. You can also buy videos online that will show you the poses and how to do them.

Walking. Not just walking, but “power” walking. Power walking requires more effort than plain walking. You swing your arms while walking very quickly. You can power walk outside around your neighborhood or go to the gym and walk on a treadmill. If you are just starting and you are out of shape, start with a plain walking routine until your body adjusts to the exercise. Then, start swinging your arms while walking slowly. When that feels comfortable, go on to a fast walk and match your arm swings to your walking stride.

If you power walk at the gym, have a trained instructor give you the best workout for your strength and stamina. When you are power walking at a fast pace easily on a flat treadmill, start increasing the incline level. That will really give you a workout!

Doing an exercise activity that you enjoy will encourage you to keep with it. And that is what you need to get yourself fit and to lose weight.



Secret of Youth

Guest Author: Shawn Saunders


If you’re a wrinkle sufferer, there is a good chance that you’ve tried wrinkle remover cream before and have been let down. You may have even given up on the idea of using wrinkle cream altogether because of that bad experience or two. If that is indeed the case, it may be time for you to reconsider the use of wrinkle removing cream. Why? Simply because there is a wrinkle cream you didn’t give a try, which is iced anti wrinkle cream.

Believe it or not, iced anti-wrinkle cream is considered, by many, to be the best anti wrinkle cream on the market. Is it the best for you? Maybe, maybe not — but either way, the possibility of it working is not something you should easily ignore.

Why is this type of wrinkle-free cream any different than other types of anti-wrinkle cream? Basically, because of the way it works. Most other wrinkle creams work by increasing collagen in the body, a natural chemical that keeps the skin elastic and resilient. However, iced anti wrinkle cream takes an entirely different approach. Rather than increasing collagen, this cream freezes the skin and cuts off the areas nerve signals. This may sound somewhat strange, but you’d be surprised at how effective the results can be.

This brief cut-off of nerve signals — which is only possible because of the cream’s most potent ingredient, gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) — makes it so that it is impossible for wrinkles to maintain their form. As a matter of fact, the wrinkles will become completely relaxed and your skin will begin to quickly smooth out. How quickly? Well, it only takes about 10-20 minutes after the cream has been applied for you to noticing results! You heard correctly — just a mere 10 to 20 minutes before the wrinkles on your face start to fade away.

Unfortunately, and as you likely guessed, there is a small catch with this type of wrinkle relaxing cream; which is the fact that iced anti wrinkle cream is not typically designed for long term results. That’s not to say you’ll have to stop using it at a certain point — it’s just that you won’t achieve long lasting wrinkle removal with this cream alone. In actuality, the cream will only last a little over 24 hours per application, at which time the wrinkles will start to gradually reappear. Does this lessen the cream’s appeal? To some, possibly; but not enough for them to turn their backs on it completely. After all, turning your back on something so powerful because of one minuscule downside is, in a word, foolish.

How will you know if this particular type of cream is the best anti wrinkle cream for you? Simple, by determining whether or not it provides results for your ever-growing wrinkle problem. If it works better than other wrinkle creams you’ve used in the past, then it certainly is in the runnings for the title of “best”, wouldn’t you agree? If it doesn’t work for you, well, you’ll merely have to keep your eyes out for new wrinkle cream developments.

Guest Author: Scott White


The benefits of lifting weights, also known as weight training, strength training or resistance training, include stronger muscles, a stronger heart, a leaner physique, and a body better able to support your everyday needs and activities. However despite its many benefits women, still tend to shy away from this beneficial form of exercise because of a misplaced fear that they will “bulk” up and become like an overly muscular body builder.

It seems to be many a man’s dream to have big, bulky muscles. So why is it that men, whose bodies naturally contain much greater amounts of testosterone and growth hormones, can lift weights, yet never achieve those “Terminator” like muscles? Well, unless they are supplementing with dangerous and unhealthful steroids or similar substances, most men do not naturally bulk up by lifting weights, and neither will most women. The idea that women get big, ugly muscles from weight training is a misconception.

The fact of the matter is that women must lift weights in order to achieve the lean, sculpted bodies they desire. If a woman does happen to have the genetic disposition to bulk up quickly, there are easy ways to alter a workout to prevent too much muscle gain, while still increasing strength and rapidly burning fat.

The idea that weightlifting causes insanely huge muscle buildup is largely a creation of the media. It’s true that some female weightlifters take steroids, and these hormones do make them look very masculine, and women who take performance-enhancing drugs should expect to develop deeper voices and more masculine bodies, because these are the known side-effects, after all anabolic steroids contain elevated amounts of testosterone, the male hormone.

The average woman who weight trains, however, will simply achieve a slim, healthy body without adding unwanted muscle mass. In fact, this is how boxers, wrestlers, and other athletes who need a lot of strength without a lot of extra weight (muscle mass) train to stay in shape.

The process of weight training involves controlled lifting and working out with weights. Two basic terms related to weightlifting are “reps” and “sets”. A rep describes the complete act of raising and lowering a weight during a single act of exercise. A set describes the number of times a particular rep is performed. For example, when a person does five reps of a squat, they squat down and stand up five times, continuously, before stopping and either moving on to another exercise or finishing their workout. Those five squats would equal one set. A balanced weight-training session will include several sets of different exercises.

A more advanced weight-training method would be to perform exercises of only 6 or fewer reps, per exercise. This would make the time under tension very short and primarily train your nervous system, which would allow you to gain strength without building much muscle. This technique should be done using the maximal weight you can lift without losing perfect form for no more than 6 repetitions. Doing more than 6 reps allows for greater muscle development, presumably something women generally do not want to achieve.

Another method that has been around for a long time is performing as many repetitions as possible, with the idea of toning your muscles. Well, like a lot of uninformed ideas, this concept is false. You will build stamina and endurance within a muscle through multiple repetitions, but it will not shape or tone your muscles. If your goal is to build stamina without gaining muscle mass, perform anywhere from 15 to 30-plus repetitions of a single exercise.

These two solid principles will help you benefit from weight training without bulking up. Although, as stated in the beginning, chances are that no matter how much weight you lift, you will never have the problem of building too much muscle mass. It is always possible for you to gain fat, and with it a little additional muscle, so you will feel bigger, but remember, that is mostly the result of the fat, and I guarantee that once you lose the fat, you also will lose the feeling of bulkiness.

Ladies, I encourage you: Let go of your preconceived ideas about weight training. Do not fear it. Embrace your weightlifting potential! Your body and overall health will benefit so much more from it than from spending hours on the treadmill.

Guest Author: Robin Darch


In this article I will help you understand what Yoga is and how it can help you. Achieve a balanced happy and useful life. Yoga is more than exercise. Yoga is spiritual and gives you much more than just a healthy body. It helps your mind and your spirituality as well.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” meaning to yoke, join or unite. Yoga is meant to combine your physical, mental, and spiritual being to attain more out of life.

Yoga originated in India where they consider it part of classical philosophy that combines your soul with the universe. But according to the website iyengar-yoga, “The origins of yoga are believed to be much older than that, stemming from the oral traditions of Yogis, where knowledge of Yoga was handed down from Guru (spiritual teacher) to Sisya (spiritual student) all the way back to the originators of Yoga, “the Rishis,” who first began investigation into the nature of reality and man’s inner world.”

Legend has it that knowledge of Yoga was first passed by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati and from there into the lives of men.

There are many parts of the Yoga family or many different forms. Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga are all well known forms of Yoga, but there are many more.

According to Wikipedia, “Karma yoga, or the “discipline of action” is one of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner.”

Raja Yoga is different and involves psychophysical meditation techniques to attain experiences of the truth and finally achieve liberation.

Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha.

Jnana in Sanskrit means “knowledge”, and is often interpreted to mean “knowledge of the true self”. To say, “I am Brahman, the pure, all-pervading Consciousness, the non-enjoyer, non-doer and silent witness,” is jnana. To behold the one Self everywhere is jnana.

Okay, so those are the definitions of some of the forms of Yoga, but how does it help me? How do I decide which form of Yoga is the one for me?

A lot depends on what you are trying to achieve. There are more forms of Yoga than just those I mentioned and it is a good idea for you to search for the definitions of all forms of Yoga before deciding which one is right for you.

I am using these four types of Yoga as examples to give you an idea of the things you need to consider when choosing a form of Yoga to study and participate in.

Using the examples above and just the short definitions given to us there, you can see they are distinct and each has a different purpose or goal.

Karma is meant to help you attain salvation through your actions. To humbly serve in this life so you can be served in the next. Everyone has heard of good and bad Karma. The saying comes from this style of Yoga. If you do good things, good things will happen to you if not in this life, in the next.

Raja Yoga is the control of your own mind. Not allowing it to be modified by events that have happened to you in your past. The belief here is that every event that happens in your life modifies your mind and how you perceive things. By practicing Raja Yoga, you can keep your mind from being modified by these events and get to know your true self.

Bhakti Yoga is selfless devotion to GOD. The belief that GOD is the supreme being that created the universe. The 9 principles of Bhakti Yoga are;

1) Hearing about the Lord – singing & chanting God’s names (japa), hearing stories from scripture. 2) Glorifying the Lord – describing God’s all-attractive features. 3) Remembering the Lord – internal meditation on the Lord’s form, activities, names or personality. 4) Serving the lotus feet of the Lord – providing a form of physical service. 5) Worshiping the Lord – deity worship (arcana) is a popular form of this within India. 6) Offering prayers to the Lord – any form of prayer offered to please God. 7) Serving the Lord – offering a service for Lord’s pleasure, such as preaching activity. Building a friendship with the Lord – having an internal, loving relationship with God. 9) Surrendering everything unto the Lord – surrendering one’s thoughts, actions and deeds to God.

Jnana Yoga incorporates the fundamental belief that there is no dualism, that the universe is all one entity. A good way you may have heard this explained is to become “one with the universe”.

Using these explanations, you can see what the general goals are for each Yoga form. These definitions are far from complete and there is much more to be learned about each of the forms I mentioned here. As I said before there are also other forms of Yoga you should research. There is even sub-forms of Yoga within each of these I mentioned and others.

I suggest you choose the path to enlightenment that suits you if you are considering starting Yoga. Find one that has goals that are appealing to you and stick to that discipline so you can achieve your goals.



Fountain Of Youth

Guest Author: Fittness-and-health-guru


What I want to talk about is anti-aging. There is a reason anti-aging and weight loss are billion dollar industries. I know I want to stay young inside and out. I am terrified of aging to tell you the truth. Because of this I stay on top of the latest research available. I also stay on top of the best products available on the market that address anti-aging and weightloss issues. I have found some substantial research on the following product and am currently using it myself. I am very pleased.

It is clearly out that resveratrol is the new miracle ingredient for anti-aging, anti-cancer, and prevention of Obesity. Why? Well Resveratrol comes from the skin of grapes. It is found in red wine but in red wine very little is prevelent. Not near enough to produce major results. But in large quantities resveratrol has been linked to weight loss, health, and anti-aging. This according to Harvard research. Follow this link to read the research results for yourself. Official Harvard Study Results on Resveratrol and Anti-aging.

In fact, Dr.Sinclair has found resveratrol to be the only known natural ingredient to effect the gene related to aging. No other ingredient before has been able to show changes in the aging gene.

Now, Barbara Walters, Oprah, Dr.Oz and more are talking about this wonder ingredient found in the skin of grapes. But there is more, anti-oxidents from all super foods are crucial to health and wellness, anti-aging, and the fighting of disease. NFI consumer products has been ahead of its time on the research of resveratrol and other anti-oxidents. They have just released a product called Vital Fruits which contains the miracle ingredient in a liquid form. Along with 20 other anti-oxidents found in the worlds greatest super fruits.

What I like about this product is its tested ORAC value in 4000. There is no product on the market that even comes close to matching that. ORAC is an actual measurment used to determine how much of the ingredient is actually contained in the product.

One bottle of this stuff lasts a month. I take a one ounce shot in the morning and at night. You have to keep replentishing your bodies supply of anti-oxidents because the body can not produce them itself. You can not buy Vital Fruits in stores. This product is starting to emerge as a weight loss leader as well. So how can you live without an anti-aging, weight loss, oxident fighting supplament? You can, but not near as well as someone on this daily regiment. Those that are on it are experiencing more energy and more stabilized moods. This is what it does for me so I am sure it can do the same for you. I am young now but would like to stay that way as long as possible. Anything I can do to stall my bodies aging process I will try!

One 1 Ounce Shot of Vital Fruits™ Offers, Multiple sources of antioxidants that remove free radicals in your body. The most powerful ORAC blend available. Cardiovascular support. Immune system boosting Anti-aging properties.

What exactly is “Resveratrol”. According the the defenition on Wikepedia “Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi. Resveratrol has also been produced by chemical synthesis[1] and is sold as a nutritional supplement derived primarily from Japanese knotweed. Resveratrol has been shown at times to extend the life span of yeast and mice.[2] In mouse and rat experiments, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering, chelating and other beneficial cardiovascular effects of resveratrol have been reported. Most of these results have yet to be replicated in humans. In the only positive human trial, extremely high doses (3–5 g) of resveratrol in a special proprietary formulation have been necessary to significantly lower blood sugar.[3] Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine, but apparently not in sufficient amounts to explain the “French paradox” that the incidence of coronary heart disease is relatively low in southern France despite high dietary intake of saturated fats.”



Vital Fruits™ is the first super antioxidant blend of its kind ,Vital Fruits™ is the first liquid available that will combine the extracts of over 20 antioxidant rich extracts from berries and fruit from around the world,Vital Fruits™ launches 1 November 2008 ,Vital Fruits™ is to be available through the Emugenix© network. Vital Fruits™ main benefit to consumers is the antioxidant capacity to neutralize free radicals. Resveratrol found in grapes and peanuts is thought to be the explanation of the French Paradox which is French people have lower incidences of heart disease despite consuming a diet rich in saturated fats. Vital Fruits™ is formulated with 100 mg of resveratrol in every one ounce shot. Vitamin C from Indian Gooseberry, bilberry, Acai, Mangosteen, Goji Berry, Barbados Cherry, Tart Cherry, chokeberry, and strawberry extract. Quercetin from red grapes. Proanthocyanidins from Chokeberry and Acai. Ellagic acid from red raspberries. Zeaxanthin from Wolfberries (Goji) which is absorbed by the retina. Epicatechin from tart cherry, Barbados cherry, bilberry, and blueberry extracts.



Vital Fruits™ is the antioxidant booster to help reach optimal daily ORAC values. Oxygen Radical Absorbing Capacity or ORAC is a scientific measure of the antioxidant capacity of foods.

 

 

Guest Author: Anmol Mehta


It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.

Top 5 Myths About Yoga:

1. Yoga is a Form of Physical Exercise:

This is perhaps the most common view of yoga. That it is a form of physical exercise. This certainly needs to be clarified and I am going to provide some details about true yoga practice in order to do this.

Yoga is actually has 8 parts to it, with the physical aspect being just 1. These 8 parts, include yoga dos, yoga don’ts, physical exercises (asana), breathing exercises, sense control, concentration, meditation and divine union.

So you can see from above that although the physical aspect of yoga, which is called asana, is an important part of yoga, yoga as a whole is certainly more that just a series of postures and movements. Yoga is essentially a spiritual science whose objective is to still the mind of thoughts, so that the truth of Oneness hidden behind the waves of the mind can be clearly seen and embraced.

2. Yoga is a Religion:

The other extreme and incorrect view on yoga is that is it a religion. Commonly yoga is considered part of Hindu religion, but yoga is not a religion. It is a time tested spiritual science with the goal of revealing the true nature of reality. As indicated above, yoga practice is a step by step process with the end goal of calming down the thought waves in our mind and thus prevent them from distorting the truth.

3. To Practice Yoga You Must be Vegetarian:

There is a notion floating around that in order to practice yoga you must not eat meat and be a vegetarian. This is not true. Although there are tremendous benefits to being vegetarian and this is being more and more validated by the mainstream medical community, there is no requirement of vegetarianism in order to practice yoga.

One point I would like to add here is that, vegetarianism is consistent with the non-violence which yoga advocates and it certainly would be to your benefit to reduce meat intake, nevertheless, you don’t have to be vegetarian in order to be a great yogi.

4. You Need to be Initiated by a Guru:

I have also come across this notion that many believe you need to be initiated and have a guru in order to learn and practice yoga. This is not true. According to yoga, the true guru is within and although it would be to your benefit to learn yoga from an accomplished teacher, this is not a requirement.

5. You Have to be Flexible to do Yoga:

Not so. No doubt yoga will improve your flexibility, along with your strength, balance and overall health, but in order to practice yoga you do not have to be flexible. Yoga is designed to be practiced by all.

Different bodies have different degrees of flexibility and in this case one size does not fit all. For most of the complex yoga posture which require great flexibility to do, there are plenty of modifications which allow you to get the same benefits for those who are less flexible. In fact one of the original reasons I took up yoga because I was not flexible and wanted to improve this aspect of my physical dimension.

Summary:

So there you have the top 5 myths about yoga. Essentially, what these myths do is prevent people from taking up this wonderful science. So if you feel you will have to change faiths, find gurus, stop eating meat or are too inflexible to take up yoga practice, you are wrong. Don’t pass up the wonderful opportunity to learn and practice this amazing science, which helps you discover your true divine and eternal nature.

Guest Author: Nick Hallale


ou ever tried doing cardio (aerobic) training to lose fat? Did you try the popular method of spending long durations (like 45 minutes to an hour) at a gentle pace so you could be in the so-called “Fat-Burning Zone?”

Me too.

And did you get the body you were after?

Me neither!

Guest Author: Larry L. Taylor


             

You have probably heard some of the news reports about resveratrol.  So, you might be wondering what exactly it is.  You may have heard of grape seed extract, red grapes, ginkgo biloba, green tea and other plants that are good for your health, as well.  But, you might be wondering “why?”. What’s so good about them?  Here are the basics.

Resveratrol- What is it?

Without getting too technical, resveratrol is a chemical produced by plants when they are being attacked by bacteria, fungus, UV radiation, insects or other pathogens.  All of the plants mentioned above, as well as others contain these chemicals. As a group they are referred to as “phytochemicals”.  In the human body, they act as antioxidants, protecting our cells in the same way that they would protect the plant.

Red Grapes Source

Resveratrol is found in the skins of red grapes and sometimes in the seeds, which has been shown to protect against cancer, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce blood sugar in patients with diabetes.  It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, among other things. 

Grape Seed Extract and Red Wine Sources

The resveratrol-concentration becomes higher in red wines that are allowed to ferment with the skin intact.  Grape seed extract may contain some resveratrol, but its primary components are called proanthocyanidins, a different type of antioxidant, that helps to protect the cells from free radical damage. 

Ginkgo biloba contains flavonoids and terpenes, which are unique phytochemicals that promote circulation and improve brain function.  Green tea contains polyphenols, specifically catechins, which are phytochemicals that have been shown to protect against heart disease and various types of cancer. 

Fruits and Veggie Sources

Fruits, vegetables and botanicals of different colors contain different unique vitamins and antioxidants, which is why you see recommendations suggesting that you “eat a rainbow” every day.  Although most of us try to eat right, it is practically impossible to get all of these different nutrients, without supplementation.

Supplements – A Good Source – Choose Carefully

You could buy a number of different supplements, including resveratrol, grape seed extract, ginkgo biloba, green tea and your basic vitamins, such as A, C and E.  But, you would spend a lot of money and you probably would not get the greatest benefit.  To get the best value for your money, I choose to take a multi-nutritional supplement that contains the basic vitamins and minerals, along with amino acids, phytochemicals, herbal extracts, dietary enzymes and specialty supplements like SAM-e.

Enteric Coating

Manufacturers that provide these supplements should use an enteric coating, to prevent them from being broken down by stomach acid.  The coating protects them until they enter the lower intestine where they can pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.  SAM-e and resveratrol are particularly sensitive to stomach acid.  Buying supplements that do not have an enteric coating is a waste of money, because they never get into the bloodstream. 

Some of them are too expensive and important to waste.  For example, SAM-e is needed for methylation, a cellular activity that allows your body to produce chemicals in the brain and throughout the body.  SAM-e levels naturally decrease with age.  So, the older you are, the more important that supplement is. 

Hopefully, you’ve learned a little here in this article, but there’s always more to learn about resveratrol and other nutrients that protect our body’s cells from the detrimental affects of time. I expand on this in other articles. -Margaret Bell

Guest Author: Sandra Prior


Weight training will one day become the greatest force in existence and it may be hailed as the activity that actually saved civilization from itself.

Technology tries to seduce us into inactivity and complacency. The personal computer is now as ubiquitous as the most mundane household appliance, and many individuals now supplement their television viewing with hours spent surfing the internet, performing an endless series of reps using only their index finger on a keyboard or mouse.

Such activities may exercise the mind, but they ignore the body, and the long term implications of such neglect could be catastrophic. Heart disease, arthritis, back pain, bone deterioration – all these thrive in the absence of exercise. And if the individual costs are alarming, the potential costs to societies and governments are mind boggling. Health care systems around the world stagger under the weight of increased demand and shrinking resources, and the persistence of present trends could lead to collapse.

Most ominous of all, children, teens and young adults are increasingly at risk. Many American children are already developing risk factors for heart disease later in life. Other groups are forming unhealthy habits at an alarming rate as well. For example, white teenage girls have a high smoking rate. Parents and educators need to encourage youngsters to exercise more, eat less junk food and stop smoking.

For our children to realize their potential, they must keep their bodies as finely tuned as their minds. One feeds off the other. A good weight training regimen, consistently followed, may build mental acuity as effectively as it builds muscle, strength and endurance. Its benefits are universal, cutting across all cultural, racial, and socio-economic barriers.

It seems like we’re all in a rush to keep deadlines and achieve goals. We’re even in a hurry to relax: Hence the struggle to balance living life to the maximum and stopping to smell the roses. Too many people are merely doing time. Regular weight training athletes are the living, breathing, inspirational examples of the benefits of the super fitness lifestyle. Weight training is the key to a great physique, a strong mind, fitness and longevity

For young and old alike, the prescription for a healthy, fit lifestyle has the same ingredients it had 100 years ago. Consistent exercise, including weight training, proper nutrition, active rest and recovery, and participation in sport, all work together to maintain a healthy body and mind. Aerobic exercise, while essential can’t do it alone. Nor can playing an individual sport provide balanced development. Only regular weight training, performed with progressively greater intensity and combined with regular aerobics, can unlock the door to a better, stronger, healthier body for all.



Turn Back The Clock