Monday, April 25, 2011

Aromatherapy - Heal Yourself Naturally

By Gabriel

Have you ever considered aromatherapy for your health and
well-being? Well before you go into it, lets take a look at
what it is and what it is not.

First off, aromatherapy is considered a science and art of
healing and maintaining the subtle energy balance of the
human body. This art has been in practice for many
centuries.

It dates as far back as the ancient Egyptians to the
classical Greeks. Though technically it is not recognized
by the medical establishment as a hard-core science, its
healing track-records are proven. They range from
alleviating headaches to curing certain diseases.

Of course as with all things, not all aromatherapies are
created equal. The effectiveness and efficacy of this
ancient art really depends on the skill of the user and the
quality of the oils used. It must be said that aromatherapy
is not a cure-all. What it does is that the aromatherapy
oils help the body to heal itself.

Let me explain. Unlike medical science, which administer drugs
that will cause certain effects in the body, aromatherapy oils
actually have an indirect effect on the human body.

It stimulates certain natural functions of your body which
knows how to heal and repair itself. The efficiency of the
aromatherapy oils depends a lot on how well the blood
circulates in the body. The faster and smoother it
circulates, the greater the effect it can have.

Certain oils like the lavender can be soothing and helps the
body to unwind while other types can aid in other bodily
problems like indigestion or insomnia. If you wish to fully
benefit from the many wonders of aromatherapy, than you
should seek out a quality store that stocks good essential
oils.

Aromatherapy oils are basically taken from the extracts of
trees and plants. Ancient tribes knew the benefits of these
plants as they experimented and cataloged its uses and
properties. These oils were then passed down orally or
written in texts to let the next generation know of it.

Alternatively, you can also visit an aromatherapy therapist.
What the therapist will do is a basic diagnosis of your
health issues. Than he or she will select certain essential
oils that will have the best effects for your custom needs.

Remember, certain oils may not be suitable for some people,
so take care to only approach qualified aromatherapy
therapists for advice. I hope the above article has given
you a clearer picture of what aromatherapy is and clear up
any common misconceptions of it.

The general rule of thumb is: Look for professionals who
know what they are doing. Stick with this advice and you
will be fine. Now go and bathe yourself in that nice
aromatherapy bath!

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Thursday, April 21, 2011

Want To Build Muscle While Burning Fat? Use Interval Training

By Jared Conley

You've been told a hundred times: it's impossible to build
muscle up and melt fat at the same time. You've been told that
building muscle involves an increase in calories, while fat
burning involves a decrease in calories. This conventional
wisdom is based in fact, but the beliefs are being tossed on
their ears with research into interval training. The truth
is, you can achieve muscle weight gain at the same time as
you burn fat if you add interval training to your sessions.

Interval training isn't new, but it's been more widely
understood, accepted, and implemented in recent years. While
standard cardiovascular training was looked at as the only
efficient way to shed fat, and the only effective workouts
for endurance athletes, high intensity interval training
(HIIT) has been shown to be advantageous to athletes in all
sports, and for people with wildly varying goals.

Standard aerobic activity is referred to as "steady state,"
which essentially means that you work up to a fixed
intensity level and continue working out at that level
throughout the workout. During the workout, your body gets
half of its fuel by burning fat, and gets the rest through
oxygen intake, and by tapping into your glycogen and muscle
stores.

Interval sessions, conversely, consist of short maximum
intensity intervals followed by lower intensity rest
periods. HIIT sessions are muscle sparing and are quick, but
pack a wallop. A fifteen-minute HIIT session can raise your
base metabolism for almost 24 hours, enabling you to
continue burning higher levels of fat for up to a day.

In addition to this, because your muscles consume calories
during every minute of the day, the more lean mass you have,
the more fat you burn, even while you're doing nothing.
Because HIIT not only spares your muscles, but also helps you
build muscles up, your future fat burning ability is
increased.

The bottom line is that regardless of your fitness goals,
HIIT sessions can help you increase your overall fitness
level with very short sessions. Better still, if your goals
include muscle building and fat burning, adding HIIT to your
workout schedule is a no-brainer.

Jared is a time-strapped professional who is always on the
lookout for techniques to get better results in less time.
Over the years, he has reviewed most of the popular
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products available on the market. His objective product
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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

4 Fad Diets To Avoid

By Ada Denis

The insanity regarding weight loss has affected every obese
person out there. And why not? A decision to lose weight is a
good one, but you need to do it healthily. Unfortunately,
most people take to the unhealthy weight loss method called
'fad dieting' and end up losing muscles rather than fat.

Keep in mind that a fad diet cannot offer you a permanent
weight loss solution; only a healthy food plan can. So don't
focus on how to lose weight fast; rather, focus on how to
become healthy through weight loss. In this article I will
tell you about top four fad diets you mustn't follow.

1. Liquid Diet

Under this diet plan, you are required to eat only liquids
and avoid all solid foods. Liquids such as milk, protein
shakes, and fruit juices are recommended. If you follow this
diet only for a few days, you will become weak and limp.
This is definitely not a practical diet to go with since you
won't be able to follow it for the rest of your life.

2. Grapefruit Diet

Have you ever heard of or followed this diet? If you have,
you will know that this diet plan restricts your food intake
to a ridiculously low level, probably to that of a baby.
Under this diet plan, you need to eat only grapefruit and
protein-rich foods at every single meal of the day. This
diet is based on the belief that when protein is combined
with grapefruit, it accelerates a person's fat burning
process by enhancing his metabolism, thereby helping him
lose weight.

Now this might be true, but ask yourself - could you eat
grapefruits all your life? I would surely get bored. Plus
the weight loss you achieve through this diet would be just
temporary. Obviously, this is not a diet plan for you.

3. Egg Diet

This is basically a stem of the Atkins diet. This diet is
based on the concept that if you eat a protein-rich diet and
avoid all carbs, your body would be forced to burn fat to
produce energy since it won't find any carbohydrates. For
this reason you are suggested to eat as many eggs as you
can, along with cheese and meat.

In reality though, the concept doesn't work. When your body
doesn't get an adequate supply of carbohydrates, it won't
burn your fat deposits; instead, it would start burning your
lean muscles. Gradually, you will turn into a smaller
version of your former self, albeit with the same huge
potbelly you had. But far from that, your metabolic rate
would be reduced to a very low level as well. Do you still
think it is a good idea to go with this diet?

4. Banana Diet

Yet another crazy diet, which asks you to eat only bananas
for your breakfast. Of course, you could eat anything for
the rest of the day. The rationale behind this is that
bananas help in quicker digestion, thereby preventing the
body from absorbing all calories and turning them into fat
deposits. There is no scientific study or proof to backup
this claim, so I am not sure if this diet works at all.

When choosing a diet plan, you need to choose one which is
not only healthy but also viable; plus it should help you
achieve permanent weight loss. None of the above fad diets
fit this criteria, so they are definitely not for you. If
you are just looking forward to losing a few pounds, then
definitely go with any of the diets above, but don't be
surprised if those pounds come back as soon as you quit
dieting.

Any other fad diet you know of that works or not? Leave
a comment and let us know.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening

By Gregory Chase

Afraid to smile? Afraid to show those not-so-white teeth?
Afraid that you'll be looked down upon because you don't
have pearly white teeth like the movie stars? Well, relax.
Not to worry. We've put together the top 10 teeth whitening
questions here, so you can find out what it takes to
brighten that smile. Check it out, and prepare to get
noticed!

1.Can anyone benefit from teeth whitening? Everyone wants a
bright, white smile. Unfortunately, not everyone can get
one, at least not without spending a lot of money. Those who
are fortunate enough to have healthy teeth can easily
benefit from teeth whitening.

However, the teeth whitening systems of today can't do too
much for those who've had re constructive dental work. Also,
those with really bad teeth stains aren't guaranteed of
totally white smiles, either, although they will see some
improvement.

2.What does a teeth whitening system consist of? There are
different types of teeth whitening systems, ranging from an
hour-long procedure done in the dentist's office, to teeth
whitening strips you can put on your teeth as you go about
your daily activities.

The most popular systems use bleaching trays and a whitening
gel. That's about all there is to it - simple and effective.
Of course, there are all kinds of
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whitening toothpaste available on the market, and they do
a good job, too, although they're a little more superficial.

3.How does a teeth whitening system work? Probably the most
common tooth whitening system today uses a bleaching tray,
which either you or a professional lab, mold to the shape of
your teeth. Then you fill the tray with whitening gel, and
wear it from one to four hours a day.

Most gels have hydrogen peroxide in them which chemically
breaks down the stains on your teeth. Some gels use
carbamide peroxide instead of hydrogen peroxide, but the
results are good, either way. Over a period of time, the gel
bleaches your teeth, getting rid of stains, and returning
your teeth to their original, natural shine.

4.How long will it take for the bleaching system to whiten my
teeth?
If you want your teeth whitened quickly, say perhaps
for an important date, then you can take advantage of a
system like the
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Zoom! Teeth Whitening System . This is done in a dental
office, and takes an hour. Your teeth will come out about
six shades lighter in that short period of time. Or, if you
have a bit more time, you might want to use the Zoom!
Take-Home System. That system uses the bleaching trays and
the whitening gel to brighten your teeth. There are many
other systems that use the same principal, so shop around to
find the one that suits you best.

5.How do my teeth get stained in the first place? There are a
number of things that'll stain your teeth. They're referred
to in the industry as chromogenic agents. The most common
chromogenic agents are tea, coffee, red wine, and smoking.

If you drink a lot of any of those liquids, or if you smoke
a lot, then you're probably going to have some discoloration
in your teeth. As you get older, the enamel on your teeth
breaks down and you're more susceptible to stains.

6.Do teeth whitening systems hurt? Since most teeth whitening
systems use some form of peroxide, then it's possible that
you could experience a small amount of pain. But it's
nothing like getting teeth pulled or anything like that.
It's more of just a discomfort, and it doesn't last very
long. The discomfort is usually felt in the gums, because
that's where the nerves are. If you have too much
discomfort, you should contact a professional and find out
what you can do to prevent it.

7.What are moldable bleaching trays? Moldable bleaching trays
are an integral part of the teeth whitening system. They're
the parts that hold the whitening gel against your teeth
which, ultimately, cleans and brightens your teeth.

It's important that you have a bleaching tray that's exactly
formed to your teeth, otherwise the gel may not get even
coverage of your teeth, and you may get what they call zebra
teeth. It may also take a lot longer for the system to work
if the gel isn't in constant contact with your teeth. And
that means you'll have to buy extra gel.

If you don't think you can get a proper fit by yourself,
then you can take the bleaching tray and make a mold of your
teeth. Then you send it to a professional lab who'll make
the tray for you and return it to you within a few days.
Then you're sure of the right fit.

8.How long will my teeth stay white after using a teeth
whitening system?
The actual time your teeth keep their
natural shine depends on what you eat and drink. If you come
into contact with a lot of chromogenic agents, then your
teeth won't stay white as long.

Most teeth whitening systems last for a couple of years, but
it's recommended that you do touch-ups every 6 months to a
year. That way, you'll keep your lovely smile all the time.

9.What's the difference between Boil-and-Bite trays and the
trays you send to a lab?
The general rule, when dealing with
a profession, is to use a professional. After all, that's
what they're there for. However, if you want to save a
little money, there's no reason you can't do a reasonable
job yourself.

So the choice is yours. If you're confident that you can
make your bleaching tray yourself, then by all means, use
the Boil-and-Bite trays. All you do is soften them by
dipping them in boiling water, then mold them to your teeth.
It's quite a simple process. However, as always, if you're
not able to do something yourself, then there are
professionals waiting to help you out. And you know the job
will be done right because that's what they're trained for.

10.Do I have to stop drinking coffee and red wine to keep my
teeth white?
It's not necessary to change your lifestyle
just to keep your smile bright and shiny. If you see your
teeth starting to discolor, then it's ok to do a little
touch-up for a few days, every four to six months.

In summary everybody wants to have a winning smile. It's the
first thing other people see, and first impressions are
important, whether you are in the business field or engaging
in social activity. A bright smile is an icebreaker in any
situation.

So that's why teeth whitening systems were developed.
Whitening teeth isn't rocket science. That's why you're
given the choice of doing it at home on your own if you
want. Or you can go to a dentist's office and get more
sophisticated treatment, like laser teeth whitening.

Whichever method you choose, you don't need to go to the
great expense and hassle of cosmetic dentistry. All you need
is a good teeth whitening system. And where do you get that?
Check out all the great online teeth whitening systems -
they'll have your smile back to its natural whiteness and
brightness before you know it. Then you can go around
flashing that lovely smile!

Greggory Chase writes for
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http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com where you can read
about the latest on crest white strips.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Why Steam Is So Beneficial For Treating Acne

By Alex Morgan

Acne is a common and distressing skin complaint. It
predictably starts during puberty, affecting approximately
three quarters of all 13-18 year olds, and can sometimes
continue to affect people well into their adult lives. While
research remains to be done on the exact cause of acne and
there is no one definitive cure yet available, there are a
number of treatments which can help to greatly reduce the
symptoms.

So, what exactly is acne? Basically acne is a disease which
causes spots and redness on the skin, most often on the
face, neck, chest and back. These spots can be either
whiteheads, blackheads, red or yellow spots or hard red
swellings just below the surface of the skin. It occurs when
the little glands below the surface of the skin produce too
much sebum. This is an oily substance, used to keep the skin
soft and supple. However if too much sebum is produced it tends
to clog up the tiny pores through which hairs grow out of
the skin and this causes blackheads and whiteheads. To make
matters worse, this build up of oil creates a perfect
environment for a bacterium (Propionibacterium acnes) to
grow. Your bodies immune system tries to fight this growth
in bacteria causing the redness and inflammation which often
comes with spots.

There are some factors which are known to contribute to
acne. Hormones, for example testosterone, known to be high
in both boys and girls during their teenage years seems to
aggravate acne. Stress is also a contributing factor, one
theory being that stressed people touch their face
frequently and so help to spread bacteria. Acne also seems
to have a genetic cause, since if your parents had acne, you
are more likely to suffer from it too. There are however a
lot of misconceptions about acne - that it is caused by poor
hygiene, or eating chocolate, for example, these are not
true.

There are many effective treatments for acne and your doctor
will be able to prescribe the most appropriate one for you.
There are also a number of self-help treatments which you
can try. Basic hygiene is important to get rid of bacteria
on the skin, so you should wash twice a day with a gentle
cleanser and try to wash your hands before you touch your
face, for example when applying make up.

Steaming the face or other affected parts can be a useful
addition to your acne treatment program. Although people
with very severe acne are advised not to use steam
treatment, for the vast majority of suffers, steaming can
really help clear the complexion since it opens up the pores
and at the same time increases sweating and so helps to
flush impurities out of the skin. Since sweat is salty, it
can also act as an antimicrobial agent, killing some of the
bacteria found on the skin. Steaming also increases blood
circulation, bringing greater amounts of oxygen and
nutrients to the skin.

Adding herbs and essential oils to your steamer just before
use, can bring many additional benefits for your complexion.
Lavender helps to aid relaxation and can be a very effective
way of reducing stress, which is a known contributor to acne
outbreaks. Mint too can be used to dissolve the grime
clogged in facial pores and make it easier for it to be
flushed away. Other herbs and oils provide more general
benefits, like rose hips which is great for skin
regeneration.

There are a variety of ways to steam your face. Perhaps the
most basic is to do it yourself at home over a very hot bowl
of water! However, there are a selection of fantastic facial
steamers available to buy, which can make the job a whole
lot simpler and safer too, no wandering about with kettles
of boiling water. Perhaps the cheapest model available is
the portable steamer. This is lightweight and very easy to
use, just fill up the reservoir with water and turn it on.
You can safely add essential oils to the water reservoirs of
commercial steamers and one great advantage is that you can
control the steam volume, having either a fine mist or a
strong steam spray delivered. Some facial steamers are
designed to be used with ozone which is antibacterial and
dries the skin, giving even greater benefits to users.

Once you have finished your steam treatment, you must always
wash your skin immediately afterwards to remove all the
impurities which have been drawn out by the steaming
process, otherwise you will make the condition worse. The
results of steaming your skin in this way will not be seen
for a few weeks, in common with all other acne treatments.
But if you continue to regularly cleanse your skin in this
way, you should be rewarded by a much improved complexion.


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