Alkaline Foods

In the search for health, more and more people are turning their focus to dietary
modification to help themselves to achieve new and positive health milestones. While
the effectiveness of some diet changes can vary from person to person, it's very clear
that there are a wide variety of benefits that can be gained from adjusting your diet. One
of the easier dietary adjustment that can be made, is to simply incorporate more alkaline
foods into your diet. These amazing foods can improve health for a range of important
systems.

What Are Alkaline Foods?

Alkaline foods are those that have a pH above 7 or can lower acidity in the body. The
majority of these types of foods have an excellent impact on the body and tend to
contain many of the vitamins and minerals that we rely on to fight disease and promote
healing. Though the body has a somewhat narrow pH window in which it must remain to
stay alive, and many things about the relationship between acid and alkaline sources
are not completely understood, it is clear that many of these foods have health benefits
that everyone can enjoy. The following will be a list of foods that fall into the alkaline
category. 

Hummus

This wonderful snack food is made from ground chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice and
garlic. It has a number of awesome trace minerals, is high in protein, and is full of
healthy fats that promote heart health. It can be flavored in a variety of ways, and
comes with the added bonus that they can lower your cholesterol, and contain natural
chemicals that can help fight cancer causing damage. 

Papaya

Papaya Is a tropical fruit. This fruit is widely known for its ability to aid in calming the
stomach and reducing the production of stomach acids. This can help to massively
improve digestion.  Itís full of vitamins B, and C and is heavily antioxidant, which fights
free radicals that cause cancer. 

Hemp Oil

This oil is very rich in vitamin E and antioxidants. This makes it great at fighting the free
radicals that cause cancer.  It is often associated with slowing the effects of aging of the
skin, combats signs of oxidative stress, and is high in protein. It is also a high in both
omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids which are essential. 

Avocado

Avocado is among the most popular for use as a condiment, topping, or filling. One
thing few people know is that they are higher in potassium than the average banana. 
They are also high in fiber, and can help to lower your cholesterol. They contain
massive amounts of vitamins and minerals that help to nourish the body as well. 

Olive Oil

As a rich source of monosaturated fats, this wonderful oil can help prevent heart
disease, and greatly reduces the risk of stroke. Olive oil is famous for its anti-
inflammatory action, as well as its ability to combat free radicals and other oxidative
effects. It can be used as a vegetable oil substitute because it produces less harmful
chemicals when heated to higher temperatures.

Garlic

Garlic is an excellent alkaline vegetable with a multitude of useful properties. It has long
related to healing, and medicine because of its anti-bacterial and antifungal properties. 
It also contains excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals like calcium, copper, 
potassium, selenium, B6, and B1, but retains a very low calorie count, which makes it
an excellent food additive. 

Ginger

This famous root is known for its powerful odor, and antibacterial properties. It can help
manage stomach issues including nausea and morning sickness. It is also a powerful
anti-inflammatory and lowers blood sugar. If you have been doing strenuous work, it can
also help to reduce muscular pains. 

Lettuce

Along with its alkalinity, lettuce provides a lot of the important trace minerals. These
include phosphorous, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, zinc, magnesium, and the
vitamins vitamin B6, vitamin K, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. 
Studies have also fund that lettuce contains chemicals that help to improve mood, and
can help to regulate anxiety. 

Carrot

A high fiber vegetable, carrot is well known for its starchy fibrous body. It is high in
pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese, and has excellent
antioxidant properties. Carrots make an excellent addition to any meal, and can be
cooked in a variety of ways. They have long been associated with the improvement of
eyesight, and studies have shown that carrots can prevent some forms of muscular
degeneration that are common as humans age. 

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a leafy green vegetable that is packed with a wide array of vitamins, and
many of the very important trace minerals. Itís a great source of dietary fiber and is a
terrific addition to any salad mix. Rhubarb is also connected to weight loss because of
its extremely low calorie count. Another one of its awesome attributes is that it is known
for is its ability to help with constipation which can prevent other conditions of the colon
from developing and becoming dangerous. 

Herbal Tea

Tea has a long 2000-year-old history with medicine. Herbal teas have been known to
provide nourishment due to their high vitamin content and promote healing, emotional
wellbeing, as well as aid with calmness and sleeping. Teas are also very effective in
helping the body to prevent bone loss due to aging. Drinking at least 2 cups of tea a day
will help boost your immune system, and keep you feeling energized through the say. 

Cauliflower

This interesting vegetable is highly anti-inflammatory, and provides a good amount of
choline which is an important B vitamin for brain health. Studies have been known to
Show that it can help reduce the speed of brain deterioration due to old age. It is also an
excellent source of antioxidants and phytonutrients which give the body a better chance
at fighting free radicals. Cauliflower also helps cardiovascular health because of the
agent sulforaphane which promotes proper cell formation of the veins and arteries. 

Celery

Celery is a heavily fibrous plant that has its roots deep in history as an anti-high blood
pressure medicine. It is highly anti-inflammatory and powerful anti-oxidant properties. 
Celery also contains quite a few trace minerals and vitamins. Another amazing effect of
celery is its ability to stimulate liver functions. It does this by helping the liver to produce
liver cleansing enzymes. It can help you to both lower your cholesterol, and to fight
microbial infections in the body.

Coconut

This hard-shelled fruit is packed with a ton of benefits. Coconut has a history of
improving skin by aiding elasticity, and fighting oxidative stress. It is also great for your
immune system, because it has a large amount of anti-parasitic and antimicrobial
properties. Coconut can also help to improve digestion of food, and make it easier for
the body to absorb valuable nutrients, but one of the best attributes of coconut is that it
can even help regulate insulin, which can help to prevent diabetes. 

Grapefruit

This larger citrus fruit can help with cholesterol levels, and greatly impacts lipid levels. 
Grapefruit is associated with weight loss because of its effect on fats in the body and is
full of vitamins like Vitamin C. It can also help to erode build ups of calcium like the
calcium found in painful kidney stones. To help prevent stones, you can try consuming
at least a cup of grapefruit juice a day. It is also popular to use as a late-night snack
instead of eating carb filled junk foods. 

Lemon

Lemon juice is a great way to stimulate action in the liver because it contains uric acid, 
which breaks down a number of toxins in the body. Lemon is also effective at dissolving
kidney stones and can help to improve digestion. If you were to consume at least a
glass of lemon juice a day, the acids can stimulate your intestines to create a bowel
movement, and the juice can help to dissolve various substances that form plaque on
the intestinal walls.

Green beans

More than just a staple food for some cultures, green beans are another highly
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food with great health benefits. Green beans have
been found to be effective at reducing risks associated with heart disease. This is
believed to be due to the high number of flavonoids. Green beans are also a major
source of antioxidants. 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are heavily antioxidant makeup because they are very high in lycopene. 
Lycopene is very effective at preventing different type of dangerous oxidation that can
lead to various diseases and conditions. One such effect that has been studied, is
lycopeneís ability to prevent lipids from building up in the veins and arteries. These free-
floating fats are a primary cause of heart disease and arterial obstructions that can
cause stroke. Tomatoes also have a positive effect on bone development in post-
menopausal women. Fresh tomatoes can be cut up and placed directly on food. 

Cherries

Cherries are an amazing natural source of melatonin with is a hormone producing by
your pineal gland. Science has discovered that eating cherries or drinking cherry juice
can greatly help you to stay asleep for longer periods. Melatonin is also an antioxidant
that can help to combat free radicals. Cherries are also full of powerful naturally
occurring anti-inflammatory chemicals. 

Radishes

Radishes are known to have a cooling effect on the body, and was used by ancient
Chinese doctors to help people deal with heat during hot weather. There are also
diuretic and help the body to flush toxins by passing them into urine and out of the body. 
They are high in vitamin C and other trace minerals. 

Bananas

This yellow tree fruit is packed with great carbs and vitamins. Even though it contains a
healthy dose of nutrition, it still has less than 120 calories. Eating a banana won't spike
your blood sugar, and they are absorbed quickly. They are very high in fiber, can
help you to have proper elimination, and are very filling. This absorption and high fiber
will make you to feel more satisfied and full.  Bananas also have a positive effect on
moods and can help you to relax and be able to sleep better. 

Weight Loss Supplements and Diet Pill

More and more spend hundred and even thousands of dollars yearly on weight loss supplements in the hope of speeding up their metabolism.  The main desire is to be attractive and accepted but it is becoming a more difficult goal to achieve.  The fitness industry is booming but still a lot of people are unable to cut those fat in spite of all the exercise and diet efforts.  In America, more than sixty per cent of adults are overweight and thirty per cent are considered obese.  This is because: one, a lot of weight loss products promises unrealistic goals; two, dietary supplement manufacturers rely on the overweight persons failure to survive; and three, the information about the supplements in the market are just written by themselves just to make a sell.  

Although the Food and Drug Administration has successfully banned illegal marketers, some products are still available.  Consumers can be deceived of the labels which claims caffeine or ephedra fee not knowing that these supplements composes of other ingredients that may pose the same health risks.  These include heart and digestive problems, headaches, insomnia, and even psychological side effects.

Other supplement manufacturers say that their products contains EGCG which is a phytochemical ingredient found in green tea.  This so-called component claims to speed up metabolism but in reality poses to reduce the risk of cancer.  Some studies denote that it could slightly increase the potential to burn calories and now can be found in many weight loss supplements.  It has good points on the other hand since the body might conform to EGCG after a period of time.  Eve the weight loss benefit could sum up to 60 to 70 calories a day. This helps prevent excessive weight gain.  

A few other significant effects of weight loss supplements is that it may contain ingredients that makers claim will prevent the absorption of carbohydrates.  One good example is Chitosan, which appears most promising, which in fact shows no positive result in fat absorption.  It could even take up to seven months for men to lose just a pound of body fat and for women, there is no fat loss at all.  Thyroid supplements act as thyroid replacements help regulate and optimize the thyroid at a higher level.  This they say makes the body feel like a couch potato and wont perform the job it has to.

Diet Pills. According to manufacturers, diet pills use natural ingredients capable of prolonging life and containing alcohol used in medication or flavoring.  One thing is for sure, never take diet pills as substitute for cutting calories without the doctors recommendation.  There are simple but important steps to be followed when taking diet pills:

1. Never crush diet pills to mix in drinks or soups.  Take it whole with a full glass of water.
2. Diet pills causes a person to urinate more frequently due to its diuretic effect.  This could lead to dehydration, thus, causing complications.  As a precaution, it is best to drink eight glasses of water everyday while on diet pills.
3. Take only the recommended dosage.  Taking more than required will not help you lose weight but increase the risk of side effects.
4. Heartbeat should be less than 86 beats per minute.  Stop taking the pills if it reaches 90 or higher that is why regular checking of pulse is a must.
5. Always follow the instructions set by the dietician and/or doctor and not only rely on what’s enclosed in the box.  Also diet pills will only work as expected if diet plan is being followed.
6. After three months, stop taking the diet pills.  Common diet phenylpropanolamine is safe to use only up to sixteen weeks.  Other studies show that it can cause health problems if taken under one month.
 

Weight Loss Helps Prevent Diabetes

A few years ago, the American Diabetes Association announced the findings of the comprehensive Diabetes Prevention Program. The DPP was conducted at over 25 medical centers nationwide and involved thousands of participants who volunteered to have their habits monitored and to follow dietary and exercise recommendations. All participants had been diagnosed with 'pre-diabetes', a condition where the blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet in diabetic ranges. Untreated, more than half of those people diagnosed with pre-diabetes will develop full-blown type 2 diabetes within a decade. 

For the study, the participants were divided into two groups. One half were given dietary recommendations. The other half got the same dietary recommendations, plus the recommendation to exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five times a week. 

The results? Those who included daily exercise in their routines and followed the diet recommendations cut their risk of developing diabetes by 58%. The reason? Those who made the recommended changes in their lifestyle lost 'a moderate amount' of weight. Even more important, researchers found something that they didn't expect. Those in the treatment group had a substantial chance of reducing their blood sugar level to normal, something that had been assumed was impossible. 

Apparently, losing weight not only prevents a worsening of diabetes, it reverses the damage that obesity causes to the cells that produce insulin. 

How much weight loss does it take to have an effect on the progression of diabetes? The key is in the definition of 'a moderate weight loss' - 5-7% of your body weight. In other words, depending on your boy weight, a loss of as little as 7-10 pounds can make a difference! 

The recommendations suggested by the American Diabetes Society for a healthy diet to prevent diabetes is an ideal diet for steady, gradual weight loss - the kind of weight loss that stays lost. The diet includes the following suggested daily diet allowances: 

* Grain - 6-11 servings per day (Bread, Cereal, Rice, Pasta) 
* Vegetables - 3-5 servings per day
* Fruits - 2-4 servings per day
* Milk - 2-3 servings per day
* Meat - 4-6 ounces per day (Meat, eggs, fish, dried beans, nuts and peanut butter) 
* Fats, Sweets, Alcohol - Occasional treats 

(Recommendations for portions are based on gender and activity level. For instance, a sedentary 40 year old woman needs fewer portions than an active 25-year-old woman.) 

Look familiar? It's also the dietary recommendation for the Heart Healthy diet from the American Heart Association, and the recommendations from the USDA's new My Healthy Plate. The results just keep coming in, but the message is clear: losing weight, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet can help prevent most major health problems. Why wait till you're diagnosed? Start today - and it may never happen.

Weight Loss Issues - Can You Be Cellulite Free?

One thing I really must say at the outset of this article is, that if you were to ask the majority of men to define cellulite they would most probably be completely baffled. 

Then after you explained it to them in detail and told them that you suffered from it, more likely than not the reaction would be to look at you as if you were slightly mad, shrug their shoulders and say that they had actually never noticed it. 

So one consolation I suppose, is that most men apparently just do not see it and do not know what all the fuss is about! 

(They can be wonderful sometimes can't they!)

From a woman's point of view however, cellulite is at best something which restricts what she can or cannot wear, or at worst in extreme cases something which can be downright unsightly.

If we are being brutally honest, dimples on our cheeks can be really cute, but dimples on our thighs and our buttocks most certainly are not. 

It has been described as the dreaded "orange peel look" especially in relation to female thighs and buttocks.

Many women can literally spend absolute fortunes to try and find ways to eliminate it.

Having established that it is a big problem (for the majority of women at least), I find myself coming back to the question in my title - Is it possible to be totally free of cellulite!

In truth I think sadly that as things stand at the moment probably not, but there are many many steps that can be taken to minimize the unsightly look of cellulite, and my intention in this article is to outline just a few of them.

It does really help if we try and understand some of the main causes of cellulite, and what if anything we can effectively do to both reduce the unsightly appearance (in our eyes at least), and even to try and banish it completely.

We should remember that the primary cause of cellulite is weight gain, and if a woman does gain excess weight the layers of fat under the skin expand, but sadly not in a smooth uniform way. 
We have the female hormone estrogen which promotes fat on the thighs and buttocks to thank for this. 

When fat cells start to build up on the lower half of the female body, they are more likely to multiply and press against the skin. This process creates the bulged and dimpled look of the dreaded cellulite, and with very very few exceptions, it is completely a feminine problem.

Another important factor is that as we age our skin also tends to lose its tautness, particularly so if we do not take any forms of regular exercise. 

So having now determined the main causes of cellulite,let us look in some detail at some of the choices available to us to try and minimize the effects of it.

The first choice is that you can learn to live with it! 

Yes, I do actually mean that! 

At the end of the day it is not going to detract from you as a woman, and there is no reason whatsoever why you cannot still be very attractive. 

Do not let it become an obsession under any circumstances!

The second and for me personally, the most important choice available is to make a seriously determined and long term effort to lose those unnecessary extra pounds. I strongly recommend a low fat diet as the first and vital step to take if you are to succeed in fighting this battle. 

Make it a top priority to become much more active! 

Simple changes such as walking more frequently, taking up a sport that you really could enjoy (perhaps something you did in the past), or alternatively taking the time to join a few exercise classes, are just some examples.

Join those exercise classes which concentrate primarily on hips buttocks and thighs. This will greatly help in improving and toning up those areas affected by cellulite. 

Your third choice is to try out some of the many creams that you can purchase. Use these with a deep massaging technique which will help improve the overall appearance of the cellulite areas. 

The fourth and most drastic choice is liposuction which removes excess fat. Another such process is Endermologie, a mechanical massage that will smooth out the dimples.

These methods can be really expensive, so you will have to be prepared to dig deep for them.

Useful Quick Fix Tips To Disguise Cellulite.

Fake Tan - Apply the fake tan normally, but just before you are going to show your legs, rub a layer of hair serum (yes the stuff you use to stop frizz), along your shinbone. This makes the thinner area of your shinbone much more prominent, and will therefore help to disguise those parts which are less firm in appearance.

Wear The Right Shoes - Heels or wedges will make your legs appear much longer, but beware of ankle straps and flat shoes. They really do make your legs look considerably shorter and fatter. 

Take a tip from the celebrities. They wear heels with trousers and jeans, and have them made so that the trousers end about an inch below the ankle. The effect of this is to make their legs look really long and slim.

Draw The Eyes Upwards - If you are wearing your jeans on a night out for example, by either wearing a bulky necklace, a glittery scarf, or maybe even a Wonderbra and a V Necked top (if you are feeling slightly daring), you will distract attention away from your thighs. 

Wear dark colors as they make your bottom parts look much slimmer.

Try out a Fast Fix Treatment - Treat yourself by going to a beauty salon, and indulge in one of their cellulite instant fix procedures. These can be very expensive but they really do make your thighs look smoother and sleeker.

Unfortunately though, these procedures only last for a short length of time.

The majority of women would love to have thinner cellulite free thighs, but do please remember that it is your overall appearance which matters most. 

If you look and feel attractive in yourself that will be the way that others will also see you. 

Remember that the aim here is for improvement not perfection. Cellulite has been a feminine curse (as women see it), since the beginning of time. As yet no one has come up with either an instant or indeed permanent cure.

However until they do, and one day somebody just might, stay focused on your overall health, take serious and meaningful steps to lose weight, and maintain a good exercise program.

That way you can at the very least keep the whole thing in perspective, and in so doing, maintain your self confidence and self esteem at a much higher level than it would otherwise have been.

Stopping Panic Attacks

If you have ever felt a sudden rush of anxiety and worry, combining mental and physical symptoms of terror, then you likely were experiencing a panic attack. These attacks can be contributed to many things, from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to a highly stressful situation that brought on the panic attack. Some people experience them acutely, while others have chronic panic attacks, typically with no warning and no triggers. While you can't always prevent them, it is possible to learn techniques that help put a stop to them.

How You Know You Are Having a Panic Attack

It is important to first understand what the signs and symptoms are for a panic attack. Not only does this tell you if that is exactly what you are experiencing, but it helps you to recognize the signs early so you can start implementing some of these strategies quickly. This lets you put a stop to the panic attack before it progresses, since they do tend to worsen over time. Here are some different symptoms you might experience:

* Tunnel vision
* Dizziness or light-headedness
* Fight or flight
* Fear of losing control
* Racing heartbeat
* Flushes or chills
* Sweating
* Tingling in the extremities
* Twitching or trembling muscles
* Feeling like you aren't real
* Flushed face
* Fear of dying

Symptoms Are Similar to a Heart Attack

Many people mistaken the symptoms of a panic attack with a heart attack since they are very similar, right up to the chest pains and dizziness. The problem with this is that even if you know you are having a panic attack, you have an intense worry that your worrying could lead to a heart attack, which then worsens the symptoms of the panic attack, making you feel like it is leading to a heart attack. The circle can continue unless you are able to put a stop to it.

How to Stop a Panic Attack

Now let's go over some different methods for getting rid of a panic attack. You should first understand that not every method will work for every individual, and you might find other coping mechanisms that work better for you. These are simply suggestions based on a combination of tips from professionals and things others have done to help reduce their attacks.

Practice Breathing Exercises

Many people swear by doing breathing exercises in order to stop a panic attack. These panic attacks often make you feel like you are losing control and that you canít breathe in and out properly. You will need to inhale and exhale, focusing only on your breathing. Try deep, slow inhales of breath and keep your mouth closed. Then open your mouth and exhale. This simple breathing exercises allows your mind to focus on the oxygen and not the worried thoughts.

Just Say NO 

Coping words and statements are very helpful for someone with a panic attack, especially early on when you start experiencing the first symptoms. If you are someone with an anxiety disorder that leads to frequent panic attacks, it is really important to come up with a coping word or phrase that you use as soon as you feel it coming on. It is meant to get you back to reality and let you understand it is a panic attack your mind has created, not a stroke or a heart attack. Many people will shout the word NO or STOP, while others tell themselves it will be okay, that it is not real.

Count Backwards From 100

When you are mid-panic attack, saying the coping phrase might not work at this point. This is when you need to get your mind to a more relaxed state. One way to do that is to focus on something that distracts you, such as counting backwards from 100. This can be helpful when you are in a situation where having a full-blown panic attack could be dangerous, such as if you are currently driving a vehicle. Before you can pull over, you need to make yourself safe, so counting backward from 100 can be useful.

Distract Yourself

Find something that will distract you from the worried thoughts and feelings, whether that is listening to music, watching a movie or television show, or talking to someone on the phone. This can take a little more time finding what helps you the most.

Continue learning about panic attacks and anxiety so you can find a good treatment option that is best for you and prevent them from happening.