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Healthy Nutrition

Healthy Eating On-The-Go

Healthy eating seems difficult to us because we believe that it takes time to prepare. We opt for fast food and junk because it’s convenient, cheap and everywhere we go. We couldn’t be more wrong. Here are 10 easy and affordable ways to eat healthy on the go this summer.
10. Carry it With You
Keep a variety of ready to eat fruits and vegetables at home to grab and go. Pack a mini cooler bag full of them along with low fat yogurt, granola bars, dried cereal, trail mix and cheese sticks to feed your hunger throughout the day.
9. Keep Yourself Hydrated
To quench your thirst you should be drinking 9 to 12 cups of water per day and even more on hot, humid days or when exercising. Keep a case of bottled water at home and take a few bottles wherever you go.
8. Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Skipping it would be like driving your car to work on an empty tank. Have a bowl of multi grain cereal, high in fibre and low in sugar, with skimmed milk and topped with fresh fruit.
7. What’s on the Barbecue?
All meats for the barbecue should be lean cuts, preferably chicken and fish. Limit your intake of steak and other red meats. Remember portion control. A single serving should be no bigger than the size of a deck of cards.
6. Preparation
Plan your snacks and meals the night before. Sandwiches, side salads and veggies store easily in zip lock baggies in your fridge. At work and in the car have a kit including cutlery and napkins along with plastic containers. Prepare a grocery list prior to shopping.
5. Vegetable “V8” Drinks
Vegetable juice drinks contain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in everyday vegetables. They store easily in the fridge and you can grab them on the run. Look for low sodium brands.
4. Use a Smaller Plate
Whether you are at home, a barbeque or a buffet, always reach for the smallest plate possible. Portion control is everything. We have a tendency to force ourselves to finish what’s on our plate. The smaller the plate, the less food we will eat.
3. Healthy Eating Out
Most fast food restaurants offer salads and fruit on their menus. Sub shops and fresh delis offer several low fat options. Order your sub on a whole wheat bun or wrap, skip the fatty dressings and load up on the veggies.
2. Veggie Delight
Vegetables are a great source of essential nutrients and dietary fibre, providing us with energy while being low in fat and calories. Canada’s food guide recommends 7 to 10 servings per day. Half of your lunch and dinner plates should be filled with fresh vegetables.
1. Moderation, Balance and Variety
The key to healthy eating can be summed up best like this. Control how much as well as how often you eat while getting a good variety and balance from all 4 major food groups.
Fast food doesn’t have to be bad food. Learn this and feel good about what you eat. Healthy eating has never been so quick or easy, and it’s always been right in front of you. Bon Appétit.…

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Health Food

The Essential Oil For Healthy Hair

The role of essential oils in Aromatherapy and massages are well established and gaining popularity by the day. All the essential oils have a different role in one or many of our physical and even emotional problems. Hence there is one for your hair too.
A lot of the oils like lavender, chamomile, basil, lemon, sage, peppermint, myrrh and are used to promote hair growth in different ways but let’s focus on the most popular that is rosemary which is used as herb in cooking various Mediterranean delicacies and is common in the kitchens of the region. It has several other benefits like boosting mental activity, giving relief in respiratory problems and also as a pain reducer.
A lot of the times some oils are combined to serve multiple purposes; like rosemary is combined with mint to take advantage of the characteristics of mint and help in circulation of the blood in the scalp. Rosemary oil helps hair in the following ways:
• It stimulates hair follicles as a result of which hair grows longer and stronger.
• It helps in clearing dandruff.
• It relieves itchy scalp.
• It soothes and helps in maintaining a healthy scalp that has faced years of harsh chemicals.
• It is quite often mixed with basil oil to treat other scalp conditions.
The rosemary plant has always held a high place in the world of medicinal herbs since ancient times; Romans used it in religious ceremonies and in weddings; even the Egyptians had a high regard for it. The oil is mostly derived from the plant’s leaves and is quite volatile in nature.
If taken orally some experience vomiting and spasms hence precaution should be taken while using it without prescription; pregnant and nursing women should not use it. However if applied externally it has no side effects, just benefits. Modern hair care products are now packing all the benefits of this ancient herb in a shampoo making it convenient and time saving to use.…

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Healthier

Some Essentials For Healthy Looking Colored Hair

Coloring your hair can add lots of pizazz to your look, but it needs to be done carefully to avoid too much damage to your hair – during and after dying. Here are some of the essential things you should think about when you’re dying your hair.

First, look into the chemicals you’re using to dye your hair, especially if you’re dying it at home. New hair dyes without peroxide and ammonia are starting to go on the market, which means you can dye your hair with gentler chemicals that won’tdo as much damage or cause as many split ends.

It’s not a good idea to chemically straighten or perm your hair when it’s colored, or to color it right after perming or straightening it. The interaction between the chemicals can not only damage your hair, but may also change the color you get, making some colors look brassy. Piling on all of the chemicals will almost certainly result in more fragile hair that breaks easily and is hard to style.

It’s important to trim your hair often to get rid of split ends and keep your hair looking healthy. This is especially true when your hair is treated with chemicals, as it will likely break more often.

Make sure that you use a gentle shampoo made for color-treated hair, and that you rinse it thoroughly to get rid of any film that will attract dirt and minimize shine.

You may consider using a micro-fiber towel, which will absorb more water so that you don’t have to put as much heat on the hair to dry it.

Use a wide-tooth comb to deal with tangles, which will minimize breakage from brushes.

Whenever you can, avoid curlers and curling irons. Instead try to style your hair with a round brush and a blow dryer. Curled hair is more sensitive to heat and will become more fragile if it is subjected to heat every day.

When you’re freshening up your color, don’t recolor all of your hair. Apply color to the roots and pull it out to the ends, but don’t subject all of your hair to the full strength of the chemicals every time you color it.

Colored hair can look great, but it will look better if you pay the price of taking special care of your colored hair to make sure it doesn’t self-destruct.…

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Men'S Health

Secrets to Vibrant, Healthy Hair

Did you know that your body absorbs up to 60% of what you put on your skin? Well, the human scalp is even more porous and easily absorbs whatever is applied to it. Most hair care products, including the shampoo and conditioners used on a daily basis, are laden with harmful, toxic chemicals that are not only damaging to your hair but they absorb through the scalp, enter the bloodstream and accumulate in your body. Since most of us wash our hair at least a few times a week, imagine how consistently applying harsh ingredients and toxic chemicals to your hair and scalp can affect your overall well-being over time.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), are generally at the top of the ingredient list in leading shampoo and conditioner brands. While they create a sudsy lather consumers enjoy, these harsh detergents have been shown to cause eye and skin irritation, scalp allergies, hair loss, and eczema. Some products containing SLES and SLS have even been found to contain low levels of the known carcinogen, 1,4-dioxane.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), sometimes called methylisothiazoline, is a powerful preservative found in many commonly used shampoos and conditioners. Scientists documenting MIT are concerned that exposure to this chemical by pregnant women could put their fetus at risk for abnormal brain development. In other people, exposure could also be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other nervous system disorders.
Parabens (Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and Benzylparaben) are widely used anti-microbial preservatives found in shampoos and conditioners (and many other personal care products). Research dating back to 2004 found parabens in 18 of 20 breast (cancer) tumors tested. Yet, due to the low cost and an extended shelf life, many manufacturers continue to use FDA approved parabens and other harmful chemicals in most of the personal care products that line the supermarket and drugstore shelves.
With an increased awareness of the harmful effects of parabens, some manufacturers have begun to eliminate them from their ingredient list. Despite the availability of harmless plant based natural preservatives like grape seed extract, even natural and organic manufacturers are surprisingly tolerant of phenoxyethanol which is touted as a safe alternative to parabens. Yet, the use of phenoxyethanol is restricted in Japan and Europe citing “chromosomal changes and genetic mutation effects in testing” and reports of damaging effects on the brain and central nervous system.
Other ingredients to avoid in your shampoo and conditioner include propylene glycol (antifreeze), olefin sulfonate (kerosene), and ammonium lauryl sulfate, each of which cause hair loss, irritate your scalp, clog oil glands, and corrode hair follicles. Synthetic fragrances and dyes used to color products (yellow #5, orange #4 and violet #2), damage hair and disrupt the endocrine system. Still, the low price of these and other chemical ingredients allow manufacturers to increase sales and gain higher profits by offering products with a consumer-friendly price tag. These mass produced name brand items may cost less at the store, but in the long run, their use can result in very costly health problems.
What are the secrets to vibrant, healthy hair? First and foremost, choose a chemical free shampoo and conditioner to help to revive your hair and scalp by infusing them with natural minerals, vital nutrients, herbal extracts, and moisture. If you use styling products or hair spray, be sure they are free of harsh, drying chemicals like alcohol.
Dry, brittle, dull and thinning hair is often the result of a hormonal imbalance. This is especially obvious for women following childbirth and during menopause. Men and women both benefit tremendously from the transdermal use of bio-identical progesterone cream. It safely and effectively restores healthy progesterone levels to create hormonal balance and nurture the entire endocrine system. You’ll not only feel better physically by using progesterone cream, if your unhealthy hair is a result of a hormone imbalance, you’ll notice a dramatic improvement in the way it looks and feels.
Using a chlorine filter shower head is another secret to full, shiny hair. Chlorine is a harsh, endocrine disrupting chemical that causes dry, brittle and split hair. It also absorbs into your skin. Studies have shown that more chlorine is absorbed into the body from a hot shower than from drinking chlorinated water, and can cause dry skin and skin irritations. Beautiful hair also depends on a healthy diet. In addition to using chemical free products, choose foods from the list below to maximize the health and vitality of your hair.
Water is essential for healthy hair and skin, yet most of us don’t drink nearly enough of it. Increase your intake of pure water daily for a positive difference in your hair and an improved sense of well being.
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which moisturize your hair and …

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Men'S Health

A Healthy Diet For A Healthy Hair

There have been numerous articles stating how important the food we eat is for our disposition and physical aspect. Following the same pattern, we may easily infer that the beauty of our crowning glory is definitely correlated with the products we normally eat. Here are a few pieces of advice that will help you restore the beauty of your hair through the help of several special ingredients.
The deficit of minerals in our body is the main cause leading to hair loss; therefore, you need to enrich your day to day diet with products that contain zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B-12, selenium and omega-3. You may choose to assimilate these minerals by taking special supplements from the drug store, but if you want to avoid getting too many proteins, you should procure minerals from food.
Fish and, particularly salmon, is very rich in omega-3, a key ingredient for a healthy luscious hair. The omega-3 protein stimulates the production of keratin, a natural protective barrier that will prevent hair from getting brittle and dull. For that matter, it is advisable that you eat fish at least once a week if you want your locks to grow longer and stronger.
Dark green vegetables are rich in vitamin A which impedes the aging of our cells, including the cells of the capillaries. Women lose most of their hair because, similar to our skin, the capillaries grow old and they get increasingly frailer until they break. You can prolong the life of your tresses by eating spinach, broccoli, beans, etc. This way your hair will produce more sebum and your capillaries will be naturally conditioned.
Most natural hair masks contain eggs and this is because this product is extremely good for your locks. If you combine eggs with dairy products and try to eat them as often as you can, your hair will grow thicker, healthier and shinier.
As efficient as these natural recipes and healthy diets may be, you still need to protect your tresses on the outside, that is, to apply treatments and masks. Hairdressers in London produce the best organic products, so you can still avoid additives or toxic substances, two of the most dangerous agents for our hair and skin.…

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Health Products

Tips For Healthy Eating That Anyone Can Use

A good habit to have is to consume more plant-based meals and eat less meat. Meat is fine for energy and protein, but make it a small amount, as if it were the side dish.
Eating a diet that is balanced with the required amounts of carbs, fats and proteins is the single most important nutrition tip everyone should be following. Your diet should, ideally, consist of 30% protein, 50% carbohydrates, and 20% fat. Keep a close eye on those carbs – they shouldn’t all be sugars!
Just because you are eating healthy foods does not mean that you can eat as much as you want. Watching your portion size is very important to losing weight. No matter what the food, the more you eat of it, the more calories you consume.
Make sure that you’re getting plenty of selenium in your diet. Selenium is a great way to prevent aging because it helps to remove toxins from the body, and also helps to maintain elasticity and keep the skin looking young. Selenium can decrease the bad effects of the free radicals in your body. It also prevents sun damage to your skin. Wheat germ, brown rice, garlic and a few other foods are very rich in selenium.
The success of your fitness and weight loss program will depend on your continued motivation and dedication of time. These are the two most important things you need to make sure it is working for you. Always stay motivated for your regimen, and you will enjoy your exercise more. You should keep a schedule and set aside a time every day to work out. After you have chosen a good time, find some activities you really enjoy.
Eat brightly colored foods! Different colored vegetables and fruits often offer different nutritional benefits. You should eat a bright veggie or fruit at every meal. If the fruit or veggie skin is edible, include that in your meal because many of the valuable nutrients and antioxidants are found in the skin.
Do you think you just don’t have enough time to eat healthily? Prepare your meals in advance at home. By spending some extra time when you have it, you can have a nutritious meal each night.
A food with more than five percent fat, cholesterol or sodium is advisable to avoid, so pay attention to nutrition labels, and try to make good choices. If you eat too much food with these ingredients, you will increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Having an ally can be helpful while dieting or making other major changes to your life. You can benefit from the support of a successful dieter who has experience losing weight. A peer who is at your level of fitness can also provide excellent support and companionship. Having someone you can turn to for support is essential.
Vegetables, either frozen or canned, are great low-calorie food choices. They fill you up and contain vitamins and minerals that you can’t go without. You should eat more servings of vegetables than you normally would.
When your motivation levels begin to wane, you need to take a step back and realize why you have your nutritional goals. Doing so should help jumpstart your motivation and make you want to get back on track.
Substitute dairy products with those that have low-fat ingredients. This can be as simple as swapping out high-fat dairy products for low-fat dairies to cut back on some crucial calories. You can replace sour cream in a recipe with plain yogurt. Recipes that call for thick cream can easily be made with evaporated milk instead. Dump the cream cheese and use ricotta cheese in its place. You will still be able to enjoy the taste while saving calories at the same time.
Just the way your prepare your food can affect your body. Cooking methods such as boiling and steaming help to keep fat consumption to a minimum. Healthy preparation methods can be the key to maintaining a healthy diet.
By reducing the amount of food in a meal, you will also reduce your daily calories. This makes it easier to reduce portions and shed excess weight.
Incorporate Greek yogurt into your diet as a source of protein. You can use it in recipes as a substitute for high-fat sour cream which is also low in nutrients. It can be a substitute for just about any cream-like ingredient. Greek yogurt has even higher protein than regular yogurt. You can try incorporating it into sauces where sour cream or regular yogurt is called for, as well as any other recipes you can come up with.
Meat is not the only source of protein, and it’s a good idea to get your protein from multiple sources. There are a great number of options available …

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Health Gov

Tips For Healthy Aging And Living Well!

Aging is inevitable; we all do it and we all do it all the time. Being prepared for it and doing it well is a trick to a long, successful and happy life. You only have to know a few things about aging to do it well, and this article has a few things for you to learn.

Ensure that your sleeping habits are in sync with the amount of sleep you need, based upon your age. A night’s sleep of 7 to 9 hours is crucial to maintaining your hormones, so that you can wake up feeling refreshed. If you are sleep deprived you will become agitated, easily irritated and feel just plain lousy.

You want to remain fit when you get older not only in your body, but also in your mind. One way to do that is to exercise your brain through puzzles and such. These mentally stimulating games will keep your brain focused and active, which could strengthen brain cells and possibly create new ones.

If you find that you are feeling lonely when you are at home, consider getting a pet. They are wonderful companions and will provide you with company when no one else is around. Be sure that you pick the pet that will work out the best for you. If you do not want to commit to just one pet, consider being a foster home for animals in shelters.

Health Store

In order to protect your skin from the effects of aging, be sure that you have plenty of Vitamin A and Vitamin C in your diet. If you eat plenty of fresh produce you should be getting enough. Both of these vitamins help to prevent wrinkles. If you think that you do not get enough of these vitamins from what you eat, you ask at your health store about quality vitamin supplements.

Health Tips

Quitting smoking is one of the most important health tips at any age but as you get older, you are going to hear it more and more from doctors and friends. Smoking does not only lead to cancer, but it will also accelerate the aging process of your face. You will develop more lines around the eyes and mouth.

Healthier

Drink eight or more glasses of water every single day. Water does a lot of things that help your body combat the signs of aging. It makes your skin look healthier, it removes toxins from your system and it brings important nutrients to the cells in your body. Make sure you have enough water in your diet, you will feel better for it.

Faze out the junk food. You are what you eat, and eating junk will lead to a very unhealthy aging process. In fact, not shockingly, many studies show that humans that eat more pure, healthy foods live longer and healthier lives. Cut out the junk food and concentrate on choosing healthy alternatives.

As was mentioned earlier, aging is something we have no choice or say in. However, with the right ideas put into place, aging can be slowed and even embraced as something wonderful. Keep the nuggets of wisdom from this piece in mind in your coming years, and you can embrace your future.…