Tag Archives: diet

Top 5 Benefits of Green Tea


cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Kanko*

After years of research, scientists and doctors have found that green tea is beneficial to our health. The top five benefits are related to the antioxidants in the tea. They work in the prevention of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and for those who have rheumatoid arthritis. One or two cups a day are recommended to lower cholesterol levels, to kill rapidly growing cells that cause cancer and even to help relieve pain in the joints.

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Simple and Effective Eczema Natural Treatment Methods

Since eczema has no definite cure, treating and controlling its symptoms is the least we can do. There are a wide range of treatment methods that may help relieve the soreness, itchiness and irritation brought on by eczema. An eczema sufferer may opt for over the counter medications and topical treatments.

Why Should You Consider Using Natural Eczema Treatment Methods?

 

Conventional treatment methods, including prescription medications as well as over the counter creams and ointments may not work well for everyone and can aggravate the condition in many cases. This is why alternative ways are highly recommended for sufferers who tend to be hypersensitive to commercially formulated eczema treatments. Not to mention the fact that alternative ways are significantly safer to use. Also, natural treatment methods may be used to help alleviate eczema symptoms and to prevent future breakouts.

Diet

 

A great way of alleviating eczema symptoms is through your diet. The kind of diet you have greatly affects you’re the condition of your skin. While most eczema cases are allergy related, it is very essential that you identify the foods that you are allergic to.  Avoid those foods in order not to exacerbate your eczema symptoms. Also try to identify the foods that trigger your eczema flare ups. Among the foods that trigger eczema are dairy products, wheat products, acidic fruits, eggs, nuts, food additives, dyes and preservatives. Eliminating these kinds of foods can help you treat and prevent eczema breakouts.

What to Include in Your Diet?

Foods that contain essential Omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats and zinc should be included in your diet as they are important natural remedies for eczema. Omega 3 fatty acids are excellent for greatly reducing inflammation and for healing skin infections. Healthy fats help moisturize the skin from within. They also help to reduce skin inflammations. A 30 milligrams or less daily intake of zinc can help prevent eczema flare ups.

Consume as much fruits and vegetables daily as you can. Keeping your body healthy can help you get rid of infections and skin inflammations like eczema. However, avoid acidic fruits and vegetables as they can aggravate your eczema breakouts. You may also drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Drinking freshly squeezed or extracted juices will detoxify your body. It can help your body to eliminate harmful toxins that may cause eczema flare ups.

Keep Your Body Well Moisturized

 

Keeping your body properly moisturized can also help treat and prevent eczema flare ups. One great way to keep your body moisturized is by consuming enough water every day. Drink as much as eight glasses of pure water daily to keep your body adequately hydrated.

Irritants

 

Keep away from skin irritants which may exacerbate your eczema. Avoid wearing synthetic clothes, harsh chemicals and pollutants. Avoid using strongly scented bath soap, moisturizers or lotions as well as perfumes. Also avoid using home cleansers and laundry detergent soaps that are formulated with strong chemicals as these may make skin irritation even worse.

This article was provided by the wonderful writers of HolisticHubs.com.

The Top Health Benefits Of A Plant Based Diet

Plant based diets are becoming more and more popular because people are more health conscious now than they used to be. Some people choose to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet so they can lose weight. Others do it for moral reasons when if they feel it is wrong to kill animals for food. Some choose to eliminate animal foods to improve their health. So what are the health benefits of a plant based diet?

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7 Top Super Foods For Your Diet

You’re not stupid; you know what’s healthy and what’s not. If someone plunks a pizza down in front of you and a salad it doesn’t take a genius to pick the healthy option. The confusion comes from picking the best of the healthy foods so here are 7 foods you need to have in your diet.

 

Salmon

Salmon isn’t exactly the cheapest fish on the market but it’s one of the most popular. It has a great flavour, it’s really easy to cook and it’s really good for you. It’s high in protein which means you can feel full without the need for carbs and starch. Spritz some lemon and orange juice, a few pine nuts and a sprig of parsley, wrap it in foil and bake in a medium over until it’s a light pink all the way through.

 

Blueberries

Most dark berries are very good for you because they’re full of antioxidants which many people believe can help slow down the signs of aging. They’re also full of vitamin C too which can help strengthen immune systems and keep you healthy. Blueberries can be naturally sweet so you can easily enjoy them as a snack by themselves or try mixing them with some natural honey and yogurt and having them over muesli in the morning.

 

Spinach

Spinach may not be everyone’s idea of a yummy snack but dark green vegetables are very rich iron and they’re advised for women who are trying to get pregnant as they’re also a great source of folic acid. Throw a couple of handfuls of spinach into a frying pan and tossing in some Worcestershire source and some sesame seeds and you’ll create an amazing flavour sure to satisfy anyone not keen on their greens.

 

Brown Rice

White rice and pasta can be very filling but they’re also full of starches and if you don’t move about very much your body might struggle to burn them off. Brown or wholemeal rice and pasta is a great alternative, they’re full of fibre and contain resistant starch which is much better for your digestion. Mix a tin of tuna and some sweet corn into your brown rice and you’ve got a delicious snack that’s healthy and full of flavour.

 

Red Wine

You’d have to be pretty dense to think that drinking too much is actually good for you but if you do enjoy the odd tipple once in a while then red wine is the best thing you could be drinking. Like the berries, it’s full of antioxidants and it contains resveratrol which has been proven to help the brain and memory.  A truly good glass of red wine should simply be enjoyed by itself in a proper red wine glass after it’s had time to breath.

 

Bananas

Bananas are often thought of as one of the more fattening fruits but if you think about it, that’s a pretty stupid notion. If you’ve got two choices for a snack and it’s between a chocolate bar and a banana, it’s not hard to pick the healthy one. Bananas are a great source of potassium and it’s going to leave you feeling fuller than an apple or orange. Try blending a couple of bananas with a cup of milk for a delicious milkshake.

 

Dark Chocolate

You’re never going to be able to chow down on a slab of white chocolate and call it healthy but real dark chocolate is actually pretty good for you. It’s only when we start adding milk and sugars that chocolate starts to be bad. Unfortunately, it’s all those sugars that make it so sweet and addictive, natural dark chocolate is actually quit bitter but a little now and then can help curb that craving.

 

Jess writes for fitness experts JTX Treadmills where you’ll find a competitive selection of great value cross trainers and treadmills

The Best Foods and Beverages for Good Skin

There has always been mixed information when it comes to how food affects your skin. You probably remember your mother telling you that eating chocolate can cause pimples. Or maybe you’ve always avoided oily foods for the same reason. Recent studies show there is no direct correlation between chocolate or oily foods and acne breakouts. And yet the same experts will tell you that food matters when it comes to the look and feel of your skin. It’s a confusing situation – and it’s different for everyone.

 

You might even be a person who swears that every time you eat chocolate, your skin breaks out the next morning. This might be more of an allergic reaction than anything related to acne. But if skin can react negatively, it can react positively as well. You can use this fact to your advantage by loading up on foods that will benefit your face.

Salmon – this is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and it’s also a tasty treat. Salmon is loaded in omega-3 fatty acids which helps to lower cholesterol and boost the strength of your skin cells. It makes your skin more resilient to damage and the walls themselves thicker. This helps to contain acne breakouts and potentially curb the formation of scars. And best of all, it really tastes great! There are lots of variations you can put together quite simply with creative flavoring thanks to herbs and natural ingredients.

 

Foods with Fiber – your doctor has probably already told you to get more fiber into your system. Now you have even one more reason because it can help with the look of your skin. Fiber is able to absorb excess oil in your system, and this helps to lower cholesterol as well. It keeps your body functioning at an even pace which can balance your internal chemistry. This is important if you happen to be going through hormonal changes that can impact oil production on your face.

 

 

Vegetables – you’re probably getting a general hint of how things work now. Basically, foods that are traditionally associated with being healthy are good for your skin as well. That’s because they don’t add extra elements like fat or sodium into your system. Vegetables are a prime example of something that helps to regulate your body rather than throwing it out of whack. Vegetables like tomatoes also are a great source of antioxidants which can reduce free radical build up in your skin cells.

 

Green Tea – this is a great beverage that can help your body on a variety of levels. From a stress perspective, green tea helps to calm yourself some at the end of a hard day. This plays a big role in helping to keep your skin healthy because stress anxiety can wreak havoc if you’re not careful. It also happens to be a great source of antioxidants which help to cleanse your system on a more regular basis.

 

 

Water – it doesn’t get much simpler than this, and nothing is quite as effective either. Water is the basic element your body needs to function at a normal pace. Without it, you can feel dehydrated and your energy levels can suffer. This is bad news for your face because having dry skin is just as bad in many cases as having oily skin. The solution is simple, and all you have to do is drink enough water to keep your body and skin hydrated on a daily basis.

 

 

Good skin is often something you have to fight for. Finding out the right information and becoming educated is one of the keys, and you can look here for more advice on how to get rid of acne.