Helping You Achieve Your Fitness and LifeStyle Goals


Archive for February, 2010

Resveratrol anti-aging secret

resveratrol
Guest Author: William Gonzalez


Red wine is really good for your health, and this fact is one of the most talked about pieces of dietary news to arise in recent years. Dr. Oz says part of the reason is the resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that comes from the skin of grapes. White wine has no resveratrol benefit because vintners don’t do the same process to make white wine than that of red wine.

Resveratrol also turns on a system in your body that prevents cells from aging. Dr. Oz also says that you can get some resveratrol from Concord grape juice or other dark grape juices, but you won’t get as much benefit as you would get from red wine. “80% of the benefit of the wine is alcohol, and 20% is resveratrol. It’s the combination that makes this red wine so valuable. But also remember, moderation is the key when drinking to your health. Dr. Oz recommends that people should drink about 1 glass of red wine a day.

Some men can drink slightly more because males metabolize alcohol more effectively compared to females. You can also get anti-aging nutrients from spices. Dr. Oz says that research have shown that cinnamon can decrease blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol, especially those with type-2 diabetes. Turmeric is also a relief from those who suffer from arthritis. This Turmeric is a spice found in curry that has also been reported to help prevent Alzheimer’s. Cayenne Pepper and Patrika can also help fight high blood pressure and improve circulation. Now you want to live longer, look younger, and be healthy, right?







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Novice Guide To Yoga

yoga
Guest Author: Koz Huseyin


For many people in the west, yoga can seem like a very strange practice. Doing yoga has many benefits and as you read this article, you will learn more about yoga and the benefits of beginning yoga.

Points I cover in this article:

* History of yoga

* Benefits of yoga

* Beginning yoga

History of Yoga

The history of yoga dates back to the Upanishads. The Upanishads a part of the Vedas and form part of the Hindu scriptures was written before the 7th century BCE, which makes it one of the oldest texts known to man!

For many people in the west, the meditation aspects of yoga is known, however, there is more to yoga. Doing yoga for many people practicing yoga, is also a way to spiritual growth, and spiritual enlightenment.

Benefits of Yoga

When you start to do yoga, you will find many benefits, not just spiritual or physiological, but also psychological, and biochemical, not to mention the many more benefits of you doing yoga.

Some of the benefits of yoga, you may be able to get are your mood improves and subjective well-being increases, your level of Anxiety and Depression decreases, sleep improves, pulse rate decreases, and your weight normalizes. This is only a very small handful of the benefits of doing yoga.

For people who may be looking for the health benefits which can help heal certain ailments, you may be glad to know glucose and sodium levels in the body go down because of doing yoga. So the steps you are taking now can greatly benefit your health in a positive way.

As always, remember to get these health benefits from yoga, you will need to remember to keep to practicing yoga regularly. If you have old health issues, then also make sure you speak to your doctor before embarking on any new healthy health exercise regimen, such as yoga.

Beginning Yoga

Beginning yoga is much easier today, thanks to the major interest in yoga over the last few years, more and more yoga classes are being started. The first step in beginning yoga, is to decide to start! At this point, most people may wonder if they have what it takes to start yoga, what will be involved etc. Relax, yoga classes can teach you from beginning, even if you do not know the first thing about yoga.

Whether you want the spiritual benefits of yoga or the physiological benefits of yoga, you can get them by doing yoga at a yoga class. It is best to go to a yoga class to learn how to correctly do yoga. There are many great books and videos about yoga, and they can be beneficial. However, a yoga class can help you get the right yoga postures, and get the full benefit of yoga.

Finding a yoga class can be as easy doing a search online to find local classes. Perhaps speak to someone who you know who has an interest in yoga, check local adult education institutions. As more and more yoga classes are available, you can find a local yoga class.



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Researchers Want to be Able to Recommend Resveratrol Use

resveratrol
Guest Author: Gordon Hall


Unlike other natural compounds, resveratrol use is relatively new.  One of the medicinal plants that it is found in has been used for thousands of years.  It’s called Japanese Knotweed.  The compound was isolated from the root of the plant in 1963.  However, the plant chemical did not get much attention until 1992, when it was found to be present in red wine.

Most health experts agree that drinking small amounts of red wine every day is good for your heart and your overall health.  It has been theorized that the beneficial effects of red wine may be due to its resveratrol content.  But, it may also be due to other flavonoids found in the wine or the combination of all of them.

As part of the scientific method of study, it is necessary to isolate a single compound to learn its effects.  If other compounds are present, the effect cannot be ascribed to one or both of the, with scientific surety.  It’s not just that researchers want to be able to recommend resveratrol use; they want to be able to provide clear science based evidence that it is beneficial for specific conditions.

Natural health experts have a slightly different understanding of the way the body works.  They accept scientific research, but they are also well aware that nutrients do not stand alone.  Some nutrients are only effective if other nutrients are present.  Some plant chemicals work with each other.  Some work against each other. 

The affect that the digestive system has on a compound must be considered.  The compound itself must be bio-active.  That is active within the human body.  It takes a lot of research to develop a totally balanced supplement that addresses all of these issues.

Most natural health experts do recommend resveratrol use, but they recommend that it be included in a totally balanced supplement for many reasons.  Here’s one of them.

The antioxidant activity that resveratrol has is “incomplete”.  It converts one free radical into another weaker one.  Vitamin C or another ascorbate must be present to neutralize that free radical.  In order to get the most benefit from vitamin C, enzymes and glutathione must be present.  In order for the body to produce glutathione, L-cysteine must be present. 

To insure that you had all of these compounds in your body in adequate amounts by designing a perfect daily diet would not be impossible, but it would be very difficult.  And, those are just the nutrients necessary for a single activity.  There are hundreds of things going on in the cells every day that are similar.

Supplementation is the best form of insurance that we have.  Including resveratrol use in the supplements that you take every day is a good choice.  It’s just not the only thing that the body needs.  It may be beneficial for many reasons, including the prevention of type II diabetes and easing weight loss.  But, it will only be effective if the manufacturer designs the supplement correctly.  Sometimes, resveratrol use is a waste of time.  Look for the best in order to save time and money. If you have two minutes to spare, please take a look at my website now.



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Cardio for Weight Loss

cardio
Guest Author: George Grigoryan


ve been struggling to get in shape you’ve probably considered cardio for weight loss including cardio classes.

But did you know that cardio for weight loss is the LEAST effective and to get in shape?

The idea behind doing cardio for weight loss is that it burns calories and therefore helps you get in shape. And yes, it works…very slowly.

There are other forms of exercise that burn MUCH more calories and give much faster results than cardio for weight loss.

Let me reveal to you the two most effective ones that I consider my ’secret weapons’ in my work of fitness coaching for women.

If you are going to do cardio for weight loss, then make sure you do something called interval training. It burns three times the calories in one third the time.

In other words it is NINE times more effective.

I’ve got a great beginner weight loss cardio workout for you that’s proven to work. I want you to try it.

Get on a treadmill and set the speed 2.5mph – 3mph and set a low incline. Walk for 5 minutes – this is warm-up.

Now keep the speed the same, but double the incline. Walk like this for 1 minute. This is you work interval.

Bring the incline back down and walk like this for 2 minutes. This is your rest interval.

1 work interval + 1 rest interval = 1 ROUND

Week 1: do 3 rounds 3 times per week .

Week 2: 4 rounds 3 times per week.

Week 3: 5 rounds 3 times per week.

Week 4: 6 rounds 3 times per week

Cool-down for 5 minutes after each session.

If this is too easy for you, pickup the speed in addition to the incline for your work intervals.

If you do this cardio routine in addition to your Metabolic Resistance Training (sign-up for my newsletter to get it), by week 4 you can lose up to 8 pounds of fat.

My other secret weapon is even more powerful. It is Metabolic Resistance Training.

It’s a form of resistance training I designed specifically for women. The reason it’s extremely effective is that it burns calories during the workout and for 48 hours AFTER the workout.

It elevates your metabolism permanently.

Sure, you can do traditional cardio for weight loss, but if you want results NOW, then I suggest you try interval training and metabolic resistance training.

It’s worked for dozens of women I trained and it will work for you too.



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Hatha Yoga – Idyllic Way To A Stronger Spirit

yoga
Guest Author: Abhishek Agarwal


As the five-thousand ancient system, Hatha yoga is celebrated utilizing to increase the whole body, awareness and spirit. Folks who perform Hatha Yoga fuse together the stretching workouts of asana in their exercise. It lets in the psychic immersion and breathing methods.

The Indian lotus pose from Asana touches on following poses utilized in Hatha Yoga.

The aim of doing Hatha Yoga is exactly the similar of practicing different forms of Yoga. It aspires to fuse the mortal spirit on the tranquil spirit of the cosmos. On this exercise, the individual executing the Yoga workout gains their spiritual, genial, corporal and affection wellness and aspect.

Executing Hatha Yoga consecrates you peace of mind while celebrating your surroundings, and the cosmos every bit in unison. Successfully performing yoga, letting in every last cases of concentration in yoga is the origins or primary component for a productive yoga session.

Every last remaining types of meditational Yoga bears a few similarities in same manner or otherwise. The principal focal point of Hatha Yoga constitutes the training of the physical structure to yield itself in order for the disembodied spirit shall be competent to assimilate and fulfill its charge. The spirit is accountable in elevating and enlightening. As the spirit is disenchanted, the psyche is unbent and it casts off out every tension and hurting. The physical element acts as well.

Excessively a lot of masses become confused since they do not realize that whenever your organic structure is not in good shape and crippled; your inner core cannot successfully fulfill the chore. Indeed, the main end product of Hatha Yoga is idealized to practice whenever your emotional state is feeble.

Hatha Yoga will facilitate boost your body as it affects and encourages it positively as a result the spiritual aspect shall be competent to function the right way. Your emotional state and human anatomy needs to react positively in order for the mind to be able to maintain on an adept concentration.

Once folks get word of the phrase Hatha Yoga, Yoga shall bear on their heads initially. Hatha Yoga is fashionable in that it is the best-selling aspect of Yoga. As a matter of fact, the some other methods of yoga specifically Power Yoga, Ashtanga, Kundalini and Bikram has started from none other than Hatha Yoga.

This ancient Yoga technique is recognized for being the deliverer for the mortal soul. It constitutes being accountable for getting the flesh and the soul into the cosmos. Merely, picture surging to the cosmos and experience zero gravity in the least bit. That is simply indeed unwinding and tantalizing.

Concentration matches something that is grueling to sustain and regain. Whenever you encounter yourself well disturbed from outside coerces, Hatha Yoga could function to oppose them.

The most effective thing in doing this type of Yoga is it aids you to discover for yourself that in that respect follows a ecclesiastic light which radiates in you. Not solely will it shed light on you but it could assist you to turn firmer, decompressed and limber.

The practice required in executing Hatha Yoga grants the spiritual vitality to stream by the exposed energy canals. This will be achievable whenever the psyche, physical and spirit is forging good and delivers harmony. Naturally upholding a fit body is the most valuable of all. Whenever your body is frail, your judgment and emotional state is moved as well

Once you do Hatha Yoga, you are able to easily manage ahead on tension and alleviate any annoyance and stress. Occasionally, employment leaves you haggard and depleted so you want to unwind now and again. Hatha Yoga is the most beneficial cure to let go of that pain in the neck and stress.



Secret of Youth
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Anti Aging Drugs – Are They Safe?

anti-wrinkle
Guest Author: Kelly Purden


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.



Look 10 Years Younger
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Deep Wrinkle Cream – 3 Clear as Day Reasons Why Getting a Face Lift is Just Plain Stupid

wrinkle cream
Guest Author: Sean Saunders


A quality deep wrinkle cream can do everything a face lift can 10 times over and then 10 times again. It’s affordable, painless, and so much less of a bother that you’d have to be crazy to consider getting a surgical face lift when you could use a wrinkle removing cream and get the same, if not better, results. But, just in case that isn’t enough to convince you, lets take a deeper dive into why deep wrinkle cream really is the better alternative.

Reason 1: No Complications

When have you ever read a headline titled “Women Disfigured After Using Deep Wrinkle Cream”? How about being killed due to an unforeseen complication of wrinkle cream use? No? Well, that’s because it has never happened!

Complications that arise from using a wrinkle cream are incredibly rare, if not non-existent. The only type of complication that will arise by using a wrinkle cream is a side effect or two; which will only occur when a person uses the wrong type of wrinkle cream, one that is not made with natural ingredients. However, a face lift, or any other cosmetic procedure, does come with it’s fair share of “possible” complications. Even if the cosmetic surgeon is world renowned for his craft, why should that mean he is infallible? What if he slips up and makes a BIG mistake? Instead of a wrinkle free face, you have a deformed right cheek. Rather than having a mouth with no lines or wrinkles around, you now have an unmissable scar.

Reason 2: Expenses

Getting a face lift is not a “wallet friendly” wrinkle-free treatment. It costs thousands of dollars to have the procedure done, yet even then, results are not “guaranteed” to be what you want them to. It’s true that they will show you lots of photographs, successful before and after photos of individuals who’ve had the procedure, and maybe even a bit of simulated imagery to give you an idea of what you “might” look like — But, none of it will give you a perfect depiction of what you’ll truly look like after the cosmetic surgery has been completed. So, you’re going to spend thousands of dollars for a procedure that “could” quite possible cause you to look worse than you did before? Seriously, does that make any sort of sense to you?

While a face lift costs thousands of dollars for just one treatment, a deep wrinkle cream will cost but a tiny fraction of that per year. And not only that, but a face lift is not everlasting, meaning it won’t be long until your face starts accumulating wrinkles and finelines once more!

Reason 3: 100% Pain Free

When have you ever applied a wrinkle cream to your face and winced at the pain? Well, unless that cream was made of acid, it’s safe to say the answer is NEVER! This is precisely the case with a deep wrinkle cream, as it is pain free 100% of the time. When you compare that painless treatment with the typical pain that comes from a face lift, be it after or during the procedure, it’s really a no-brainer.

Why have a procedure that requires pain killers afterward when you can just use a wrinkle remover cream and get rid of wrinkles naturally with time?

If the rewards are the same for both procedures, why take all the risks? Why not just choose the deep wrinkle cream instead? Ask yourself, would any sane person really give it a second thought?



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Anti-aging Tips: Exercise More, Age Less

anti-wrinkle
Guest Author: Rodrigo Fields


Many have tried different anti-aging tips that just might work. For those who want to look and feel younger, anti-aging products seems to be the first option. Little do they realize that the best anti-aging tip is so simple – exercise. This basic step is actually the secret of most people who stay fit and young for their age.

Anti aging is really about providing your body with the healthiest of choices. Exercise proves to be best for the body and thus, it is a better anti-aging means than any bottled product. In fact, lack of regular exercise goes hand in hand with aging. Inactivity leads to less muscle tone and strength. Posture and muscles may deteriorate due to lack of activity. It can also cause skin sagging resulting in aged look. Plus, insufficient exercise leads to back pain and health other problems over time.

To prove that exercise is the best among any other anti-aging tips, five healthy twenty-year old males spent three weeks resting in bed at South Western Medical School in Dallas, in 1966. At the end of the experiment, they had faster resting heart rates, higher systolic blood pressures, and a drop in their heart’s maximum pumping capacity.

In the January 2008 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, doctors in London found out that the cells of those who enjoyed leisure time exercise showed slower cell aging. Their cells appeared the same size as inactive people ten years younger. Sounds amazing right?

In line with this, it can be said that the most efficient anti-aging tips are exercise-oriented. Therefore try developing a healthy routine of exercises at least five days a week. Participate in activities that will raise your heart rate to that of jogging.

Taking the time have a regular exercise will prevent the effects of aging – it is proven in the studies. You don’t need to do all those anti-aging tips that promises effects equivalent to that of fountain of youth. Exercise and be in constant search for healthy life choices.



Mother Nature’s Magic Pill
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Cardio Weight Loss Blunders That You Absolutely Must Avoid

cardio
Guest Author: Rob Ruston


Some people absolutely love going to the gym, for others it’s a necessary evil, only a means to help in their efforts to shed a few pounds. It really doesn’t matter how much you do or don’t love the gym I think we can all agree that it would be ideal if we could make the absolute best of the time that we do spend there.

Here are two of the biggest cardio blunders that hurt your weight loss efforts. By eliminating these two mistakes, your ability to shred pounds will dramatically improve.

1. You absolutely must not perform slow, steady-state cardio.

This will torpedo you weight loss efforts for two reasons.

First, when you stop exercising, you stop burning fat at an accelerated rate. You don’t get an “after-burn” effect when doing slow steady-state cardio. To solve this, do high-intensity interval training instead.

What you do is vary the intensity from all out, unbelievably intense to relaxed and slow. By going up and down like that, you shock your body into speeding up your metabolism and creating an after-burn in which you burn calories at an accelerated rate for up to 18 hours after you’ve stopped exercising. Not bad, huh?

The second reason has to do with all of the time you need to devote to slow, steady-state cardio just to burn off a lot of calories. It’s just not efficient. Without the after-burn effect, you’d have to exercise for 30 or more extra minutes just to make up the calories lost to the after-burn. So to increase your fat loss efforts, you have to increase the time you do your cardio. That’s simply not a practical way going about weight loss. I’m sure you’re busy enough as it is, so it would be hard to squeeze in even more time to exercise.

2. You absolutely must not forget to drink enough water while, or after doing your cardio routine.

Forgetting to drink water is so bad for you. Your body is 70% water, your blood is 90% water, and your muscles are around 75% water. Water is absolutely vital to your weight loss efforts. Just sip water constantly through your workout… and throughout your day as well. It’s pretty much the simplest thing you can do help along your weight loss efforts. A good rule is to drink at least one ounce of water for every pound of body weight.



The Real Youth Potion
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Cardio Exercise Machines – Common Cardio Workout Mistakes

cardio
Guest Author: Chris Chew


Cardio exercise machine workouts are great for burning fat and building good cardiovascular health. These exercises not only help to cut your body fat it will also strengthen your heart and lungs thus reducing your chances of getting high blood pressure, stroke and heart diseases. Regular cardio exercises can also reduce bad cholesterol and raise the level of good cholesterol.

However, are you getting the best out of your cardio machine workouts? Are you using the cardio workout machines efficiently to gain maximum benefits of the exercises?

Well, you are probably not if you are an average gym user without any personal trainers to guide you because you will probably commit common cardio machine mistakes when exercising.

We shall now examine the more popular cardio workout machines and the common mistakes people commit when using these machines for their workouts.

Common mistakes when using cardio workout machines are :-

•Step up stair climber – This is perhaps the most common mistake for not getting the most out of the step up stair climber machine. Almost invariably, everyone when exercising with this machine will rest their arms on the railing. By doing so, the railing now becomes sort of like a crutch as it will now support some of your body weight making the exercise less intensive.

•Treadmill – The treadmill is perhaps the most popular cardio workout machine in the gym. A careful observation will show that many treadmill users run with too much up and downs. This mistake will wear out the person’s ankle and knee joints over time. The correct method is to take long, smooth and purposeful strides during the exercise.

•Stationery Bike – When exercising on the stationery bike, do adjust the height of the seat to a comfortable level. I really don’t understand why many stationery bike users adjust their seats to be either too high or too low. I mean, why be uncomfortable when exercising when you can be comfortable.

When the seat is too low, it adds strain to your knees and spine. When too high, your will butt will rock from side to side. So besides not getting the best from your cardio workout on the stationery bike because your body weight will be involved when you peddle, you will also look weird. It is such a silly workout mistake right?

Another common mistake is that I often see stationery bikers reading a book when exercising. That means that they exercise at a very low intensity level. Hey, how can low intensity cardio exercises work your heart and lung effectively?

•Elliptical Trainer – This is also another bewildering common cardio workout mistake. You use the elliptical trainer to tone your body and to exercise for your cardiovascular fitness right? Then why is it I often see people who use the elliptical trainer exercising at a high speed? So what is the mistake? The mistake is that they have set the resistant level too low.

You see, if you do not puff, pant and breakout in sweat, you are not getting the best out of your cardio exercises. Is it any wonder then that people are not losing weight and not improving on their cardiovascular health even when they are doing their cardio exercises regularly?

Now that you know how to avoid these common cardio machine exercise workout mistakes, you can now head for the gym and get the best out of these exercises. In no time, you will see your body toning up nicely, improvement on your cardio health being felt and losing unwanted body fat.



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