Eating Tips For Keeping Fit

When it comes to keeping fit, there are a host of responsibilities that you must taken on in order to ensure that the diet and exercise that you maintain has positive effects on the health of your body. In this article, we'll be talking about some simple ways to change your life in order to allow your lifestyle to be more beneficial to your level of fitness.

- Get your nutrition from a variety of sources. The wider the range of the foods you eat, the better your body can get the various nutrients and minerals that it requires to function properly. Sticking to a picky diet of the same foods over a long period of time can have negative consequences when it comes to your health.

- Whenever possible, include garlic as an ingredient in what you eat. Garlic is a veritable wonderfood, helping the body in a large number of ways. Garlic helps the immune system to function more properly, aids the thinning of the blood, and allows the body to produce hormones more readily.

- Keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum. In addition to increasing your risks of cancer and other health problems, alcohol has a lot of calories and little to no nutritional value. In addition, when you drink alcohol, your body's store of B-vitamins is decreased.

- Eat small meals throughout the day. Those who are totally in condition with their body tend to eat small meals roughly around 6 times per day. This allows the body to have a steady flow of nutrients throughout the day, and it also helps the body to regulate insulin, allowing better metabolism of fat and greater chance of building muscle.

- When you can, eat organic foods. While there aren't millions of options available when it comes to organic foods, they are the only known types of foods that are beneficial to health. Many of the ingredients found in common store-bought manufactured foods have not been thoroughly researched over long periods of time, and by eating organic, you ensure that your body is getting what it needs with no damaging additives.

- Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Getting a lot of water consumption helps the body to eliminate toxins more readily, which can help the body to operate in prime condition.

Of course, it takes more than a proper diet to find fitness in your life. However, following the above tips can be a great supplement to a regular exercise routine. Your body is your responsibility - take the reins today!

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Teeth Whitening - Is It Safe?

Teeth Whitening is an attractive option for people with low levels of self-esteem who want to boost their smile with healthy-looking white teeth. But still a majority of people are doubtful about the effectiveness of this procedure. They think the risks of teeth whitening outweigh its advantages. But this is not quite right. Lets find out some of the problems that might occur after teeth whitening and how you can overcome them or prevent them to occur altogether.

Teeth Whitening involves application of a solution of bleach on teeth to whiten them. It might not be suitable for people with gum diseases or extreme sensitivity. These people should have their gums treated first and when they think their gums are healthy enough, only then they should opt for teeth whitening. Most whitening products contain around 3% bleach which is not recommended by health experts. 0.1% bleach is acceptable in products which might involve human intake. Leaving bleach on the teeth for too long can cause irreparable damage to them. It is advisable to have teeth whitening performed under the supervision of a dentist.

Teeth Whitening is not safe for people who smoke or drink too much. High intake of hydrogen peroxide (bleach) can make these people more vulnerable to adverse after-effects of alcohol. Pregnant women should also avoid bleaching products.

If you have sensitive teeth then you might want to have a soft tooth-brush and a medicated tooth-paste after you have gone through teeth whitening to lessen the pain and irritation to its minimum. After a few days, however, the pain will go away itself. It is important to consult a dentist before going through any teeth whitening procedure. Other than the above mentioned problems, there are no adverse side-effects or risks involved with teeth whitening.

If you are considering teeth whitening at home, here are some points you must keep in mind before going about it. At-home teeth whitening is carried out by purchasing a custom-made plastic tray that can be fitted easily into the mouth, to apply the whitening chemical inside. Bleaching gel (or carbamide peroxide) is placed into this tray and then the wearer keeps it in mouth everyday for many weeks before the whitening action starts to show its effects.

Although this procedure is very easy to adopt and equally effective like a dentists way of performing teeth whitening, but you should keep in mind that everything is being done on your own without the supervision of an expert. For this you need to know the contents of the whitening material you are applying on your teeth. You particularly have to pay extra attention to the amount of bleach being consumed by your teeth. It is often recommended to use the tray for a continued period of at least two months to have effective results. For that matter, its very important to monitor the health of your gums and teeth. If you think using the tray causes irritation, swelling or even bleeding in gums, immediately consult a dentist.

People often consider alternatives to using tray-based teeth whitening system, like whitening toothpastes or strips. However, these methods are not as effective as the tray-based method. You just have to wear the tray for 30 minutes or a little more in a day and no other whitening action needs to be performed after that.

Home teeth-whitening method is an economical way to have your teeth whitened. For the same reason, the results of tray-based whitening are not as quick as the traditional teeth whitening performed at a dentists office. But if you are comfortable with the method and see improvement, you should definitely continue using it and recommend it to other people as well.

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Anti Aging and Water

It is true; you can stop the signs of aging with something as simple as watching how much water you are drinking on a daily basis. You see your body is designed to naturally repair and heal itself. Your body is made up of cells that are always replacing themselves and they can either produce stronger or

weaker cells to take over. As you age, your body needs more help in regenerating those cells. Water is the best way to help your body with cell reproduction.

How much water is enough?

It is recommended that your drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water everyday. However I like to make sure I drink at least that and add a
few extra ounces everyday to really stay as hydrated as possible. Remaining fully hydrated at all times helps your skin to remain soft and free of those
pesky wrinkles that come over time. Not only does pure water help to reduce signs of aging, it also improves your body in many other areas of health. You maybe asking right now, "how am I going to drink that much water everyday?" That is a completely understandable question that many feel like they either won't be able to drink that much, or don't enjoy drinking water enough for that. This is my recommendation that I found really helped me. I fill up water bottles that equal more than the amount I need to drink that day. After all, we want to help our anti aging battle anyway we can. So, we'll fill up our water bottles, and carry them with us through out the day. Some people also find it hard to drink plain water; you can add a squeeze of fresh lemon to add a little flavor to you water. Filtered water is recommended, and you should stay away from pre-flavored waters as many of them contain juices and sugars that will not help you with anti aging! The other suggestion I have for anti aging with water is that you drink at least two cups of room temperature water as this helps in detoxification of the body as well.

Other Benefits of Water

A secret I recently learned about drinking water is that you can use it as a "comfort food". Many people find that when they are stressed out they eat because a full stomach produces a feeling of comfort. However when eating, more times than not, we are tempted to grab foods that are loaded with sugar, high carbohydrates and white flour. Eating a lot of these foods is really hard on your body and can degenerate cell growth. Not to mention these foods are fattening and can also add on a few extra pounds which no one really wants. The best thing to do is when you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed is to drink down as much water was possible, it will help fill your stomach to give you that comfort and it will once again help you with the anti-aging process!

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Why Choose Organic Foods?

Are you concerned that the food you are eating may be harmful to you and your family? With news reports about GM (genetically modified) foods, health scares about eating beef, chemicals on food affecting people's health and the intelligence of children, it's no wonder that many are looking to organic foods as an option.

WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING?

Organic farming produces plant and animal foods without the excessive use of chemicals. It focuses on using fertile soil along with a variety of crops to maintain healthy growing conditions which produce a food with more nutrients and less chemicals than typical commercial foods. Organic farming prohibits the growing of GM foods, a controversial issue among commercial growers.

Animals reared on organic farms are treated properly with room to behave like animals and are fed healthy food sources not laden with drugs and other chemicals.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FOODS?

One of the common benefits proclaimed about organic foods is that they taste better - but there are many other benefits to incorporating organic foods into your diet. Besides the physical benefits to you there are environmental benefits and benefits to the animals and people who live and work on the farms.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Organic foods prevent people from ingesting regular amounts of pesticides and insecticides commonly found in commercial products. Animals are not routinely given antibiotics and other medication which enters the food supply to humans. Some research suggests that this excessive use of chemicals in food can be linked to increased health problems and interferes with the healthy development of children.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Organic food also protects the planet. Organic farming ensures that bio-diversity remains available in the foods we eat and the wildlife that live on the farms. Fruits and vegetables are naturally available in 100's of varieties. Commercial growing limits the variety of each food available by mass producing only a handful. Many species of birds, insects and other animals are affected by the chemicals and farming conditions used in growing commercial foods.

Organic farms grow a mix of crops and promote a balanced ecosystem including insects that protect crops from pests and worms and other micro-organisms which fertilize the soil.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL BENEFITS

Organic farming is considered 'sustainable' farming. The workers and the animals are not as exposed to dangerous toxins or working and living conditions. This enables people to continue growing healthy foods for the rest of society without reliance on huge machinery and chemicals.

The animals raised on organic farms are not subject to the terrible living conditions imposed on commercially reared animals who often live in exceedingly small spaces without the freedom to move or interact. These unhealthy conditions lead to a spreading of illness which is combated with regular doses of antibiotics.

On organic farms the animals' needs are given priority. Healthy food, clean living conditions and freedom to behave like animals means healthier animals. When animals are sick they are cared for individually according to their actual needs.

Organic, sustainable farming protects humans, animals and the environment. Increasing the demand for organic products will encourage this form of farming and ensure that the food supply available to our children is a healthy one.

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Great Health Benefits Of Seafood

Seafood contains essential oils that are an important part of your diet. Oils provide the source of energy we need and they are also great flavor enhancers. More importantly, they are a source of significant fatty acids.

Seafood oils are unique and have great nutritional benefits to our body. This oil contains the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Our body only produces small amounts of these important fatty acids; therefore we need to rely on other sources for this essential nourishment. Seafood is one of the best sources of these nutrients. In fact, oils are the second biggest components in most seafood.

Eating seafood just once or twice a week can provide good health benefits. Eating fresh seafood is a great way to obtain your required dose of these essential oils. Oils extracted from seafood are also available as nutritional supplements.

Oils derived from seafood help prevent some of the most deadly diseases today, including Alzheimer's disease, asthma, arteriosclerosis, bipolar disorder, bronchitis, cancer, heart diseases and more.

The omega-3 oils decrease the risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis. They are also beneficial to infants' brain and eye development. The oils in seafood can also prevent osteoporosis. This is because the oils improve calcium absorption in our bones and can prevent the bones from becoming brittle. According to recent findings, Omega-3 also helps improve people's immune functions, thereby reducing infections. Seafood oils are known to have properties that lower blood pressure, benefiting especially those suffering from hypertension.

Another kind of oil found in seafood is the omega-6 fatty acid. This is important for growth and plays an important role in people's health and well-being. Eating a seafood diet can also help you reduce weight. For years, seafood has been part of many weight loss programs. This is because, unlike diet pills, seafood is natural and has beneficial properties to people.

However, fish can rot quickly. Therefore, you should cook it the day you buy it. Here are some tips for preparing seafood:

• If you do not plan to cook the fresh seafood the day you buy it, you should store it for no longer than two days at very cold temperatures.
• If you are going to thaw the fish, keep it in the refrigerator or thaw it under cold water. Do not leave it to thaw on your kitchen counter. This is because the nutritional value of the seafood may diminish.
• You can prepare many delicious seafood dishes from great seafood recipes. You can fry or grill seafood. You can combine it with fruits and vegetables to make it even more delicious. You can marinate it and further enhance its flavor and get rid of its unique smell.
• Some people do not want to eat seafood for fear of choking on the tiny bones. In this case you can request the fish store to help you remove these fish bones.

Remember that seafood is not only delicious; it can also provide wonderful benefits to your health.

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Is Water The Real Fountain Of Youth

It is widely known now that water is a needed nutrient for our bodies, indeed over 70% of our bodies are made up of water. But many people do not realize that there are many common maladies such as headaches, high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, and fatigue that can be prevented or treated just by having proper hydration to maintain optimum fluid levels in the body. The best way to prevent? treat? and in many cases cure illness is to give our body the right tools and let it go to work. With the proper intake of healthy water? the right minerals and nutrients? our body can overcome almost anything.

Recent studies have confirmed that an increased intake of water and the proper immune enhancing nutrients? combined with a little patience and common sense are by far the best defense against most infections. Allowing our body to overcome minor infections with fever? fluids and rest increases our natural resistance and makes us less susceptible to these intruders in the future. Truly the best offense is a good "defense."

Pain medications and analgesic medicines also work in contrast to the way our body heals itself. In a very informative book called "Your Body's Many Cries For Water" (very highly recommended)? studies by medical experts explain how most of the pain sensations we experience are the result of moderate or acute dehydration.

One of the most common causes of headaches is lack of proper hydration. Because our brains are over 75% water, when a shortage of water is detected the brain releases histamines which cause pain and fatigue. Taking pain medications and antihistamines only masks the true problem. In most cases, simply drinking a couple of cups of water and relaxing for 20 minutes will stop the pain.

Sometimes even back pain can be caused by a lack of fluids. Our spinal discs which are filled with fluid act as shock absorbers in our spinal column and when they are not hydrated properly they deflate and provide less of a cushion and place the load on the shell of the disk instead of on the fluid like it should. Another thing that affects the fluid level in disks in the lack of movement, just by moving your head around and moving your upper body around while sitting at a desk can help alleviate this and allow the discs to remain hydrated.

Another area that is surprising to many is high blood pressure or hypertension which in many cases can be caused by a lower blood volume from dehydration. Our blood is well over 80% water and is therefore very susceptible to changes in hydration. When the body detects a loss of blood volume? it closes off less active capillary beds in order to maintain proper blood flow to the more active areas. These vessel closings cause a rise in tension inside the muscle mass which we've come to know as "hypertension." More water allows proper blood volumes and less tension.

If you have any of these conditions try drinking more water, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

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Diabetes - The Basics

In simple terms DIABETES is the inability of the body to process sugars properly. When we eat or drink our PANCREAS produces a hormone called INSULIN. Insulin is released into the blood and helps to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. Diabetes is a condition where this process does not function correctly. This is due to either:

• No insulin being produced, often called Type 1 diabetes, and requires the sufferer to use insulin injections, or...
• Insulin is produced but the body becomes RESISTANT to it. This renders the insulin ineffective. This is normally called Type 2 diabetes and is rapidly becoming more common.

Latest research shows that 2 in every 100 people have diabetes. Alarmingly half of these people do not even know they have it. Many people have diabetes without being aware of it because someone with diabetes looks no different from anyone else.

Someone can have diabetes for months or even years without realizing they have the condition. The danger is that while diabetes is not immediately life threatening the long term effects of high blood sugar can be damaging to one's health. Uncontrolled diabetes and prolonged high blood sugar levels can, in later life, cause problems to many organs including the kidneys, eyes, nerves and the heart. This may sound grim, however controlling blood sugar by a combination of medicine, diet and exercise will vastly reduce the long term complications.

The simplest way to check if you have diabetes is to arrange a blood sugar check with your doctor. A tiny sample of blood, obtained by pricking a finger is checked using a small electronic tester. A normal blood sugar level is generally between 72 - 126 mg/dl or 4 - 7 mmol/l (1 mmol/l = 18mg/dl). Diabetes is diagnosed when the body is unable to keep the blood sugar level within these limits. The unit of measurement used (mmol/l or mg/dl) will depend on which country you live in.

Diagnosis of diabetes can occur out of the blue during a routine check-up but more often it follows from the sufferer experiencing the "symptoms" of diabetes. These symptoms can be many or few, mild or severe depending on the individual.

The symptoms are:

NOTHING AT ALL (???)
No this is not a typo. It is true many people do indeed feel no different and are astonished to discover they have diabetes. However even if you feel fine you must take your diabetes seriously and act on the doctor's advice.

THIRST (polydipsia)
This is a very common symptom. Often it seems no matter how much you drink your mouth still feels as dry as Death Valley. The problem is compounded before diabetes is diagnosed by sufferers drinking copious amounts of...sugary drinks! Of course this only increases the blood sugar level and leads to increased thirst.

INCREASED URINATION (polyuria)
Another very common symptom. Sufferers need to urinate often and pass large volumes each time. In addition this symptom takes no account of time so sleep is constantly disturbed by having to visit the bathroom during the night. It is a mistake to think this is caused by the increased thirst and drinking more. The opposite is true. High sugar levels in the blood spill over into the urine making it syrupy. To counter-act this water is drawn from the body causing dehydration and therefore thirst.

WEIGHT LOSS
Glucose is the form of sugar which is the body's main fuel. Diabetics cannot process this properly so it passes into the urine and out of the body. Less fuel means the body's reserve tissues are broken down to produce energy with a resultant loss in weight.

Other symptoms include constipation, tiredness, lack of energy, tingling or pins and needles in the hands and feet, blurred vision and increased infections.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms it does not necessarily follow that you are diabetic however it might be advisable to visit your doctor to be sure.

If it does transpire that you have diabetes please do not panic. It can come as a shock and it will mean some changes in your life. While (currently) incurable it can be treated so the long term complications are reduced or even eliminated. As a result you may actually increase your health and life expectancy compared to previously when you were taking no care of your body whatsoever. It requires discipline and self-control however there is no reason why anyone with diabetes cannot live a full and perfectly normal life.

Getting Your Child To Eat Vegetables

Many parents strive to ensure that their children eat vegetables. Some meet with complete success, others with very little success. Veggies contain many vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients that a body needs to main good health and energy. They help protect against the effect of aging and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

If you want your child to eat vegetables, improve your own attitude towards eating them. Early in age, child tends to mimic either or both parents for almost everything. If you as a parent dislike any particular vegetable, your child will do the same.

How you eat and what you eat affects your child directly. If you want your child to eat something that you dislike, you have to make an attempt to eat it first and then encourage your child to try a spoonful or plateful of it. It is not easy to get children to like any new food the first time. Keep reintroducing them from time to time.

Some tricks of trade that you can try to get your child to eat vegetables.

• Blend vegetables in a blender and add them to spaghetti sauce or liven up any non-veg dish.
• Keep a plateful of green salad, either in raw or grated form. You can toss up a salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, onion, and radish and so on. You can have salads either at mealtime or in between meals, as a snack.
• While making sandwiches for lunch, add lettuce, tomato slice or carrots in between. Chicken, tuna or pasta salads taste great with dash of vegetables in it.
• If your child thrives on noodles, add boiled or lightly steamed vegetables to it.
• While making pizza, add chopped broccoli, spinach, etc in addition to other toppings.
• Vegetables with a dash of melted cheese added to soups changes the flavor altogether.

Important Steps to a Super Powerful Memory

Are you constantly forgetting things? If you're like most people then you probably said yes.

And as we all know, the older we get, the worse our memory seems to become. Can you do anything about it? Of course you can!

If you want to have a more powerful memory you'll find these tips to be absolutely indispensable.

Being able to focus and use your full attention is imperative if you want to give yourself the best chance of remembering something. If possible, make sure your surroundings are as quiet and distraction-free as possible when attempting to memorize something.

Being interested in what you're trying to memorize is definitely an asset. If you don't have any immediate interest in the subject matter, focus on the benefits you will gain by remembering it - you'll pass that exam which will give you the best shot at a good job, your girlfriend or boyfriend will think well of you etc. This will give you the motivation to put your full attention on what you want to memorize.

Use some creativity. Conjure up some vivid mind pictures linked to what it is you need to remember. This is a technique used by all the professionals who entertain us with their prodigious memory feats.

Here's a quick example. Suppose you are trying to memorize a shopping list. You need to buy a new hat and this is item ten on your list. Ten rhymes with hen. Imagine a hen wearing the most outrageous hat you can think of. Make the picture big, bright and bold. If you do this correctly you certainly won't forget to buy that hat!

Practice makes perfect in this as in other things. Set yourself memory challenges. It's vitally important that you exercise your memory on a regular basis if you want to see tangible results.

If you really work that memory regularly, you'll soon find that it's better than you think. Think of your memory as being like a muscle. Any muscle that isn't exercised frequently will atrophy due to lack of use. It's the same with your memory. Use will strengthen it, and you'll soon be dazzling your friends and family with your amazing memorizing ability!

Here's another useful tip. Whenever you're studying something really important that you want or need to remember, play some Mozart in the background. Studies have shown that the brain synchronizes itself to sound frequencies it's subjected to. If you need to concentrate, the frequencies found in the music of Mozart are amongst the best to harmonize the brain to.

7 Guaranteed ways to Supercharge your Health

1. Stop Smoking

If you are a smoker, you have heard this enough number of times. Just in the United States alone 400,000 people die from smoking every year. So, people probably don't hear this enough. There is no other way to say it - smoking is not only bad for your health, it adversely affects everybody around you. Get help - join a support group, use nicotine substitutes, cut back slowly, begin by just taking one step ...

2. Drink Green Tea

Results of several research studies clearly show that the addition of green tea to your daily diet provides a variety of health benefits. These range from regulating fat metabolism, reducing blood pressure (3) Fights cancer (4) Reduces blood pressure and many more. This is truly nature's wonder drug. Give it a try.

3. Workout 180 minutes a week

That's 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week. Take a walk, go for a run, lift weights or a combination of these. Exercise helps burn fat and builds muscle. Simply walking 30 minutes a day will help burn an extra 175-225 calories! Choose whatever fits your style and schedule. The best time to exercise is in the morning because your body will be burning fat for energy due to the limited availability of carbs in your system. Get up in the morning and get moving ...

4. Start Yoga

Yoga has been around in some form or other for thousands of years. This spiritual practice has many benefits and it has quickly become a popular choice to thousands of people strictly for health reasons. Not only does Yoga give your muscles and ligaments a good stretch, it also tones the body, and best of all it helps to relax. You could start by taking yoga classes at a local gym. Once you want to get really serious find a licensed yoga practitioner in your area and enroll in the more advanced classes ...

5. Graze don't binge

Eat smaller meals during the day (4 to 6). This will keep your blood-sugar levels stable throughout the day. Think quality not quantity. Eat more fruits, vegetables, lean meats. Great options include hard-boiled eggs, small broiled/baked chicken breast, and fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery sticks. If you have a craving for something sweet, many delicious options are available such as Yoplait yogurt or Weight Watchers. You don't have deprive yourself, simply consume these in moderation ...

6. Drink 8 glasses of water

It should be no mystery that adequate water consumption is indispensable for good health. Water helps flush out toxins and other wastes in our system. It replenishes keeps you hydrated, reduces hunger, which assists with weight loss, and keeps our skin healthy. Start by drinking 2 glasses of water first thing in the morning. After that, drink a glass at regular intervals including one with each meal. If you are not used to drinking water, it might be a little difficult at first, but very soon, you will get into the habit. Once you get used to general feeling of well-being you will never go back. So, remember - 8 glasses a day every day...

7. Take Supplements

What do we need supplements do? Multiple vitamin-mineral supplements contain a variable number of essential and non-essential nutrients. Their primary purpose is to provide a convenient way to take a variety of supplemental nutrients from a single product. Otherwise, to fulfill our daily requirements for vitamins and minerals we will have to eat massively large quantities of food. Most of these multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplements contain at least 100% of the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (USRDA) of all vitamins. So, talk to your doctor and figure out what's the best route for you.

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga through meditation works remarkably to achieve harmony and helps the mindwork in synchronization with the body. How often do we find that we are unable toperform our activities properly and in a satisfying manner because of the confusionsand conflicts in our mind weigh down heavily upon us?

Stress is the number one suspect affecting all parts of our physical, endocrinal and emotional system. And with the help of yoga this things can be corrected. At the physical level, yoga and its cleansing practices have proven to be extremely effective for various disorders.

Listed below are just some of the benefits of yoga that you can get.

Benefits of Yoga 1: Yoga is known to increase flexibility.
Yoga has postures that trigger the different joints of the body. Including those joints that are not acted upon with regular exercises routines.

Benefits of Yoga 2: Yoga also increases the lubrication of joints, ligament and tendons.
The well-researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body. It has also been found that the body which may have started doing yoga being a rigid one may experience a quite remarkable flexibility in the end on those parts of the body which have not been consciously worked upon.

Benefits of Yoga 3: yoga also massages all organs of the body.
Yoga is perhaps the only exercise that can work on through your internal organs in a thorough manner, including those that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime.

Benefits of Yoga 4: Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts.
This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder. One of the far-reaching benefits of yoga is the uncanny sense of awareness that it develops in the practitioner of an impending health disorder or infection. This in turn enables the person to take pre-emptive corrective action.

Benefits of Yoga 5: yoga offers a complete detoxification of the body.
It gently stretches the muscles and joints as we;; as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny of your body as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.

Benefits of Yoga 6: yoga is also an excellent way to tone your muscles.
Muscles which have been flaccid and weak are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess fats and flaccidity. But these enormous physical benefits are just a "side effect" of this powerful practice. What yoga does is harmonize the mind with the body and these results in real quantum benefits. It is now an open secret that the will of the mind has enabled people to achieve extraordinary physical feats, which proves beyond doubt the mind and body connection.

In fact yoga = meditation, because both work together in achieving the common goal of unity of mind, body and spirit which can lead to an experience of eternal bliss that you can only feel through yoga. The meditative practices through yoga help in achieving an emotional balance through detachment.

This in turn creates a remarkable calmness and a positive outlook, which also has tremendous benefits on the physical health of the body.

Why Pure Water Is So Important

Our bodies need water to survive and we use water to process several functions in our bodies which are designed primarily to run on water and minerals. All the natural healing and cleansing systems in our body can only work properly with water. It has only been recently that the medical community has weighed in on how important water is to normal body function.

We are comprised of mostly water; over 70% of our bodies are water. To break it down even further our brains are over 75% water, blood 80%, and the human liver which is our main filter is 96% water.

Our nervous system which is responsible for sending the electrical signals to every cell in our body is really a system of miniscule waterways. A lack of water can lead to dehydration of the fluid inside our nerves or even lead to the nervous system being damaged from excessive chemicals and heavy metals due to their not being flushed out of the system. Many scientists and medical doctors now are in agreement that this condition can be the cause of some degenerative diseases and neurological disorders such as ADHD, Chronic Fatigue, and even Alzeimers which means they may be preventable just by drinking more pure water.

Knowing how important water is to the proper function of our body we should also realize that the purity of the water is essential as well. Our digestive system requires adequate water intake in order to properly digest our food as well as get the optimal nutrient absorption we need to be able to utilize the nutritional value of the foods we eat.

Water intake can also either positively or negatively affect our energy levels depending on whether or not we are properly hydrated, in fact it has been proven in clinical studies that even a 5% reduction in body fluids can cause as much as a 30% loss of energy and a 15% drop in body fluids leads to death.

If you are trying to lose weight the lack of proper hydration will actually derail your weight loss efforts. Our liver uses water to metabolize fat and turn it into useable energy so it is obvious that a lack of water will hamper its ability to do this. It isn't going to hurt you. Increase your water intake to roughly 64 ounces a day and you will see the results for yourself plus you will have much higher energy levels.

Another huge issue for our bodies is detoxification. It may well be the most important factor in our long-term health. Water is the only way for our body to flush toxins from our system which is also a major key to preventing disease. We can't avoid exposure to toxins in our world today but by taking in enough water we can help our bodies get rid of them.

The quality and purity of the water we drink is just as important as the amount. If water already contains chlorine and other chemicals? it has less of an ability to carry toxins out of our body. If we consume water that contains traces of synthetic chemicals? then we force our liver and kidneys to be the filter... ultimately damaging or destroying two of our most vital organs.

The Secret to Successfully Quit Smoking

400,000 shiney, new caskets will be purchased this year for cigarette smokers dying 12 years before their time. If your'e wantng a healthier, longer lasting life, the steps to getting there include giving up your deadly nicotine habbit.

Ha! If it were so easy...

It is, insists this journalist. A newly discovered, ingenious way to stop smoking is revealed in this article. Read on to learn what the big tobacco companies, pharmaceutical companies and therapists around the world don't want you to know.

First you must think about quitting.

Did you know millions of parents still continue to smoke around their children knowing that cigarettes are filled with harmful poisons? Besides the fact that this sets a bad example, children who's parents smoke are more likely to smoke themselves when they get older, chemicals from ciggarette smoke linger in the air for hours after a ciggarette has been smoked. Even if you can't smell it, the chemicals stay in the air and poision anyone who breaths them in. Your children, your pets... cats - smoke sticks to their fur that they lick clean.

A few of the chemicals added to ciggarettes are:

Tar - The same tar used to pave highways. This is the main cause for yellow teeth and fingertips.

Hydrogen Cyanide - This is a chemical used to kill rats. It's also been used in World War 2 as a weapon of mass destruction. Puff puff!

Acetone - This is an ingredient in nail polish remover.

Formaldehyde - This is the stuff used to preserve dead bodies.

Carbon Monoxide - Car exhaust. Do you really want this in your lungs?

Nicotine - Ah yes, that's the stuff. Chemical addiction.

There's over 400 chemicals found in ciggarette smoke, with every puff, people are inhaling these poisonous chemicals and creating second-hand smoke for others.

Now make a list of reasons why you want to become a non smoker. Hang the list on your bathroom mirror as a daily reminder. The next thing you must do is visualize yourself never smoking again. Not one cigarette, ever. You must be absolutely serious as you are making a life changing decision.

Once you pick the day you choose to start, you must continue to visualize your new life as an ex smoker. It will be rough at first. Remove all reminders of cigarettes, ash tray, lighters... friends who smoke around you. Your new action will be researching the effects of cigarettes on the human body. Use the internet, read some books, look at lots of pictures of lungs and heavy smokers who are using holes in their throats. How bad do you need that nicotine?

It's a challenging habit to break, but not impossible. Lots of people do it every day. Remember, you're going to be changing the chemical in your body. It's an uncomfortable process, to say the least. Drink lots of bottled water and cranberry juice. Reconize what causes you to think about a cigarette. Another person lighting up, finishing a meal, waking up... Realize when your going through a withdrawl, your body is clensing itself of nicotine and you are becoming healthier.

These are the steps in a path to a smoke free life that many have taken before. When you make the serious commitment to yourself to stop smoking, don't let anything hold you back. This is your time, spend it in good health.

5 Tips To Help You Quit Smoking For Good

There is little dispute these days that smoking is harmful to your health. The statistics are alarming to say the least, accrediting smoking to a whole host of illnesses many resulting in death. If you don't want to become another statistic and no longer want to be disillusioned into thinking that it will never happen to you then it's time to start with a plan of action to quit smoking today.

If you have tried to quit smoking in the past then you no full well the withdrawal symptoms and the sheer psychological battle it is to kick the habit successfully. The only saving grace is knowing that if you can stay of lighting up a cigarette for 30 days then chances are good that you can kick the habit for good. It just begins one day at a time.

Here are some useful tips to help you quit smoking for good.

1. Find an accountability partner. Find someone who wants to kick the habit as much as you do or better yet find someone who has already kicked the habit who you can enlist as your accountability partner. That way you now have someone who is holding you to seeing you fulfill your goal of not smoking. The great thing with having an accountability partner is you have someone there when the going gets tough and when you lose your motivation you can have someone there that can pick your spirits back up. Setup a system to track each other whether it is calling each other or meeting with each other on a regular basis. Another great tip is when you get the urge to light up you must make a call to your accountability partner before lighting up. You will be surprised how often your accountability partner can console and talk you out of lighting up when given a chance.

2. Now that you have an accountability partner your next step is to quit smoking cold turkey. Forget about all the nonsense of quitting by reducing your smoking or nicotine intake over a period of time. Not only is it just giving you more reason to keep with the addiction it just doesn't work well. If you quit smoking cold turkey then the reality is that you know if you are cheating or not by whether or not you are lighting up. It's simple to keep track by your accountability partner because you either smoked or not. The alcoholic or addicted gambler now full well that if you do have a problem you don't keep doing it but to stop it today. The best time to quit smoking was yesterday the second best time to quit smoking is today so why not start today. It's not too late.

3. The key to helping you quit successfully cold turkey is to now replace your habit with something else. This is your chance to choose a habit that is beneficial for your life instead of one that has been detrimental. This is your chance to start a new life for you in a stance and hopefully you are making this decision before a serious health scare. If not than you know full well the urgency of making this quit smoking attempt work. Some great habits you can think about taking up is taking up a fitness class, not only will this be great in improving your health but you get a chance to meet up and be around health conscious people which can rub off onto you.

4. If you need help use nicotine replacement products. If you are struggling with the nicotine withdrawal instead of lighting up a cigarette and falling of the wagon look into nicotine replacement products instead. There are many great products on the market today ranging from gums to patches. The idea is not to create a new dependence on these nicotine substitutes. Instead of buying the gum or patches and using it to systematically reduce your nicotine addiction, use it on a need to use basis.

5. Take up breathing exercises to clear your lungs and reduce your withdrawal symptoms. You have possibly spent years destroying your lungs with the toxic smoke it's time to do your bit to help your lungs. Breathing exercises not only help you to utilize your maximum oxygen efficiency but buy pumping your body better with oxygen it also acts to reduce your nicotine addiction. Great breathing methods include yoga and tai chi. Why not take up a fun class and take your mind off your cigarette addiction.