Monash Liberals » Fitness

Aloe Vera: Anti-Aging Miracle!

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:05:00 +0000

For eons now, man has been in constant search for those objects or potions that can slow (if only stop!) the onslaught of advancing age. Well, it’s clear that we cannot really prevent the lines time draws on us; but if we take care of our body we can effectively postpone a few obvious signs (like wrinkles) for a few years. Interestingly enough, most if not all anti-aging potions have been created or found in nature. One such anti-aging product is prepared from the leaf extract of a plant called Aloe Vera.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera or Aloe barbadensis is a type of cactus whose anti-aging use has been known for thousands of years. The earliest references to Aloe Vera have been found on papyrus rolls from 1500 B.C! It appears to have been widely used in ancient Java, India, Egypt and Greece. It was well known that the gel in the thick Aloe Vera leaf had healing properties; we now know that it is chock-full of goodies like amino acids, enzymes, and polysaccharides.
The regenerative qualities of Aloe Vera make it a treatment in great demand for premature aging of skin, healing of wounds, burns, sunburns, eczema, hair loss, dandruff and more. Aloe Vera has some excellent moisturizing ingredients: consisting of 96% water and 4% amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, vitamins A, C, and E. Aloe Vera also contains anti-oxidants, has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, zinc and seven superoxide dismutases that are good for the skin. Quite a list for a humble cactus!
There are supposedly about 400 species of Aloe, ranging in color from grey to bright green. However, it is Aloe Vera that is revered for its medicinal properties. Interestingly, the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry has only recently discovered the business potential of this plant. You’ll find it is becoming increasingly common as a health food and beverage as well. Aloe Vera works best as an anti-aging treatment if coupled with a set of activities like exercise and a healthy diet. Some experts argue that if Aloe Vera is part of your anti-aging strategy from the mid-thirties, it can actually prevent the appearance of wrinkles. It follows that your need for Botox, Restylane, Juvederm and Thermage treatments will also be pushed back – a good thing, for sure.
Aloe Vera and Aging Skin
As the skin ages, it thins and wrinkles. Combined with the appearance of creases, age spots and furrows, you have all the classic problems that our favorite stars battle against for years. Anti-aging components of Aloe Vera have been found to reverse this degeneration of the skin by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. Studies show that internally consumed Aloe Vera improves the skin’s ability to hydrate itself; it is therefore an active skin conditioning agent. Externally applied, it is a natural skin exfoliant, with the ability to penetrate into the skin and transport healthy substances through it. Not surprisingly, Aloe Vera is currently a vital essential ingredient for the cosmetics industry, being utilized in over 95% of dermatologically valuable extracts manufactured worldwide.
Easy to Care For…
Aloe Vera is an easy plant to care for and can comfortably be grown in indoor pots. Here are some recipes you can use as homemade skin treatments:
Recipe #1: Facial Cleanser
To prepare a facial cleanser, peel one large Aloe Vera leaf (removing the thin light green covering); add one peeled slice of papaya, a teaspoon of honey and yogurt and blend in a food processor. The mixture is to be applied to the face in a gentle circular motion. Let it soak into the skin for 15-20 minutes; wash it off with lukewarm water.
Recipe #2: Healing and Soothing
For healing and soothing sensitive or dry skin, mix three tablespoons of Aloe Vera juice with a drop of Helycrisum oil and apply evenly on the face and neck. When the mask has soaked into the skin and dried, wash off with lukewarm water.
Watch What You Buy
Aloe Vera is available in gels, sprays, lotions, liquids, creams, health drinks and even in the form of capsules. Several Aloe Vera beauty products have recently flooded the market, these claim to contain anti-oxidants and collagen, and offer an anti-aging treatment, while these cannot be said to be harmful in any way, it would still be prudent to read through the ‘contents’ or better still, consult a physician before purchase.
Source:http://www.stayingyoungnow.com

What Are The Richest Sources Of Calcium And Minerals?

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:03:42 +0000

There are many beliefs on health and diets in the world today. Take a look at the TV or magazine ads and that will become apparent. Vegetarianism has been popularized by cultures in the past and is the choice for many people in this day and age. Environmental health and humanitarian concerns are some of the most common reasons for choosing a vegetarian way of life. A vegetarian diet excludes meat, including chicken and fish. Veganism is a purer form of vegetarianism. Eggs, dairy products and even animal products like honey and gelatin are excluded from a vegan diet.

People sometimes hesitate to choose a vegetarian way of life. This is because it is commonly perceived that vegetarians lack calcium and minerals in their diet and hence suffer from bone degeneration and other health issues. In fact, a vegetarian diet is rich in fiber and in the uncooked form contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. This is very beneficial. It prevents constipation and removes toxic matter from the body, thus preventing increased acidity of the blood. The minerals and vitamins present in vegetarian foods, especially greens play a very important role in the smooth functioning of the body. Studies show that the acidity of a non-vegetarian , high protein diet is harmful for the body. On the other hand, the vegetarian diet which contains mostly uncooked food has very few drawbacks. The most common problem vegetarians run into is overeating of starches and processed foods which is a problem for anyone.

A vegetarian diet which is high in fiber, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, high in folic acid, vitamins and minerals is the preferred diet for preventing a lot of health related problems.

A well-planned vegetarian diet is an optimum way to meet all your nutritional needs. There are a lots of vegetarian superfoods available in the market rich in calcium and minerals. You can fulfill all your body requirements without any intake of non-vegetarian food! In fact, some of the richest sources of calcium and minerals are vegetables, nuts and seeds!

Some low-oxalate calcium-rich vegetables such as Broccoli, Kale, Collards, Okra and Chinese greens actually deliver a more bioavailable form of calcium than milk can provide.

Wheatgrass has become famous over the years due to Ann Wigmore and should be a staple for everyone in the world. This grass contains high concentrations of chlorophyll, active enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients. Wheatgrass is one of the richest sources of vitamin A and vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, sulfur, zinc, cobalt, and protein. It contains over 90 different minerals and 19 amino acids. Studies have shown that wheatgrass helps to build blood, cleanses the body and protects the body against illnesses.

Another amazing newcomer into the Superfood Vegetarian World is Marine Phytoplankton. It is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, amino acids, chlorophyll and minerals. Raw Cacao Bean in its raw natural form has the highest Vitamin C content. It is also very rich in minerals, a natural source of magnesium, chromium, iron, copper and zinc. It can be used as a very good mineral supplement. Golden Inca Berries contain a broad array of B-vitamins and are one of the only known plant-based sources of B12, a crucial and powerful energy generator necessary for cellular metabolism. They are a good source of bioflavinoids. Also, sesame seeds are a great source of calcium.

The list of these great superfoods does not end here. Superfoods are easily available naturally from plants, nutritious and make us active, alert, energetic, innovative and alive. So being a vegetarian is a completely healthy and better option!

How to Increase Metabolism in 7 Easy Steps

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:30:04 +0000

by: Andrew Bicknell

If losing weight seems to have become a lost cause for you because you find yourself bouncing from fad diet to the newest fat burning pill then it’s time you learn how to increase your metabolism with these seven easy to do lifestyle changes. If you can simply speed up your metabolism your body will consume more calories and before you know it those extra pounds will begin to disappear. And once those pounds are gone they will stay off because an increased metabolic rate will keep burning any extra fat before your body can store it away.

There are no secrets to these seven steps. They are easy to accomplish if you are motivated to lose that extra weight and take back control of your body.

1. Get More Sleep ? There are two reasons for this. The first is that many studies have shown that people who get 8 hours or more of sleep per night have a higher metabolism then those who get less sleep. The second reason is that getting enough sleep has an affect on daily energy levels. If you do not get enough sleep you will probably snack more throughout the day trying to compensate for the lack of energy you feel.

2. Exercise in the Evening .Our metabolic rate slows down during the course of the day. During a normal day most of our calorie burning occurs during the morning. Taking a walk or some other form of exercise during the early evening speeds up our metabolism and helps burn away extra calories. You don’t have to do an all out workout, just something to get the blood pumping and your heart rate up.

3. Get Moving ? Our sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest metabolism busters we have to deal with. Look for way to incorporate more activity and movement into your day. Take a walk at lunch, use the stairs instead of riding the elevator, and don’t park in the space closest to the building where you work or at the mall. It’s the little things that will add up at the end of the day that count.

4. Protein ? Eating protein stabilizes your insulin levels which can have a big affect on how your metabolism runs.

5. Diet Choices ? The healthier your food choices the higher your metabolism will run. Your body needs nutritious high fiber foods to run at it highest level. The reason for this is simple; the body must spend more energy extracting all the nutrients from these foods which it needs to function properly.

6. Eat More Often ? This doesn’t mean stuff your self all day long. If you eat 5 or 6 smaller meals during the day you will not only find you eat less but you’ll have more energy as well, keeping you away from those sugary snacks. Skipping meals is a big no-no because this can actually cause your metabolism to slow down.

7. Lift Something Heavy ? Building lean muscle mass is one of the best things for increased metabolism that you can do. Not only will you burn calories while working out but lean muscle mass also consumes large amounts of caloric energy after the workout.

By learning how to increase your metabolism starting with these 7 easy steps you can rev up your body’s fat burning engine. The best part is these are all things you can do during the day and they require no special diets, pills, or even the latest exercise gizmo.