oe Nail Fungus - Natural Home remedy for Toe Nail Fungus

Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is a relatively common condition that disfigures and sometimes destroys the nail. Onychomycosis can be caused by several different types of fungi (microscopic organisms related to mold and mildew). These fungi thrive in the dark, moist and stuffy environment inside shoes. As they grow, they feed on keratin, the tough protein that makes up the hard surface of the toenails. In most cases, the fungus belongs to a group of fungi called dermatophytes, which include Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale . Other, less common causes of onychomycosis include yeasts and molds.

Fungal toenail infections are relatively common. Like other fungal foot infections (athlete's foot), it's thought that the fungus can be picked up while walking barefoot in locker rooms or public shower facilities. Fungi love warm, moist places, so imagine how happy the lil' critters are if you don't dry your feet well! Once you've got a fungus growing on one toenail, it can easily spread to other nails on that foot, to nails on your other foot, and even to your fingernails (although, granted, this last possibility is pretty rare).

Causes of toe nail fungus

Onychomycosis is caused by a fungus. Often a person has had athlete's foot for a long time prior to the development of onychomycosis. Sometimes trauma or damage to a nail predisposes to the development of onychomycosis.

Treatment of toe nail fungus and onychomycosis

Prevention of injuries to the nail is very important. Once the nail is injured, the door of susceptibility swings open, allowing entry of the fungus. There are some very simple preventative measures that can be taken on a regular basis. Keep the feet dry. Keeping the feet dry will inhibit the ability of the fungus to thrive. You can do this in several ways. Frequent changes of socks, the use of powder, such as baby powder and rotating shoes so that they are worn only every other day, can help tremendously.

Medications for onychomycosis fall into two categories; topical and oral. There are any number of effective topical medications available over the counter. Topical medications are most helpful in treating early, small infections and for maintaining clear nails. Topical medications do have a limited ability to penetrate the nail to reach all of the fungal elements. Topical medication inhibit the growth of the fungus allowing for faster growth of the nail. Remember, the fungus doesn't take a day off. Compliance is a big issue when using topical antifungals.

3 Random Fitness and Nutrition Tips

I just had some random workout and nutrition tips for you on my mind today, so here they are:

1. Onions = Amazing Superfood... Eat onions daily if possible.

Not only do I love onions, but I recently read a longevity study that surveyed a large amount of people who had lived over 100 years of age. One of the common threads they noticed from the survey of these amazing people that lived to ages exceeding 100 was that they ate a lot of onions.

Kind of weird huh... but not a surprise to me. In fact, onions are definitely an important super-food as they contain unique organosulphur compounds and potent antioxidants that are rare in other foods.

I've also read dozens of studies that correlated onions with pretty impressive reductions in cancer risk.

I like to add onions to almost any meals I can think of... slices on sandwiches, added to salads, in my morning eggs, in veggie mixtures with lunch or dinner, and more.

2. Mix up your workouts with "5-minute bodyweight exercise challenges"

This is a unique way to add some variety to your workouts and maybe even get a friend in a little competition with you.

You can throw one of these in at the end of a workout as a high intensity finish, or even just do at home on non-gym days.

Basically, all you do is choose 1 specific bodyweight exercise such as bodyweight squats, pushups, lunges, etc and try to do as many reps of that exercise as you can in exactly 5 minutes (timed). I've also used 1-arm dbell swings for these 5 min drills and they work great.

This works best by trying to do 20 or 30 reps at a time and then taking short breathers of about 10 seconds before continuing on your next round of reps.

We've even made this a little competition between a couple people at my gym in the past where we all line up and get timed for 5 minutes and see who can do the most squats or pushups or whatever it may be in that 5 minute time period.

From what I've seen, if you can do 100 or more pushups in 5 minutes, or 200 or more bodyweight squats in 5 minutes, those are pretty impressive numbers. I think my record was somewhere around 225 bw squats in 5 minutes.

3. Example of the Glycemic Index (GI) being useless

In several of my newsletters in the past, I've given examples of how choosing your foods based on the glycemic index can be misleading and useless in many cases.

Case in point...

Watermelon has one of the highest measured GI's of all foods (much higher than even cake and ice cream). However, a normal serving of cake and ice cream may give you a whopping 700 or 800 calories, whereas a typical serving of watermelon may give you 50 or 60 calories max!

Trust me... watermelon isn't making anyone fat!

The lesson... GI is almost useless when you're not considering "Glycemic Load", which also factors in the quantity of carbohydrates ingested in a typical serving.

Of course, if you haven't already read Isabel De Los Rios' Diet Solution Program, I highly recommend you check it out... it's everything you could ever want to know about nutrition, calories, macronutrients, foods that burn fat, foods that stimulate fat gain, and so forth...

surprising source of omega-3 healthy fats

Everybody already knows that salmon (wild salmon, not farm raised) is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids...so that's no surprise.

And we also know the issues that come with eating fish higher on the food chain such as tuna and swordfish -- the high mercury levels!

But there is a great alternative that is much higher in omega-3 fatty acids and doesn't have the issues with mercury that tuna, swordfish, and other larger fish do... and that alternative is:

Sardines!

Now before you give the usual response I see from people -- "Ewww, sardines are nasty"... you might want to give them an honest try first and maybe try the type of sardine sandwich melt that I make, which is delicious.

Sardines are a great choice for a quick healthy meal -- tons of muscle-building appetite-satisfying protein, super high in healthy omega-3 healthy fats, and much lower in mercury and other pollutants than most fish. And they're delicious too in my "grilled sardine melt" recipe below.

Here's the healthy grilled-sardine-melt that I make sometimes:

1 container of sardines
1 whole egg cooked over-easy (cage-free organic)
2 slices of sprouted-grain Ezekial raisin bread
a little mustard
1 slice of grass-fed organic cheddar cheese
a little virgin coconut oil to brush the bread with

I just stack the cheese, sardines, and the grilled egg on the bread (with outsides brushed with coconut oil) and then grill this sandwich up just like a grilled cheese. If you have some fresh basil leaves, that goes great inside this sandwich also. Mmm, gotta love basil!

I know this sandwich probably sounds a little weird, but I've yet to find somebody that didn't think this was absolutely delicious when they tried it.

The sprouted grain raisin bread makes a nice sweet contrast to the sardines, egg, and cheese... it's really good!

This is actually quite a filling sandwich with the egg, sardines, and the cheese on it... it'll satisfy your appetite for hours. I like to have this healthy sandwich with a side salad of fresh greens and 1/4 or 1/2 of an avocado... and of course, some my unsweetened iced green/white/oolong tea mixture.

One of the benefits of sardines is also the long chain omega-3 fats, such as EPA and DHA... this is different than eating plant-based omega-3 fats for example, from flaxseeds or walnuts, where your body still needs to try to convert the shorter chain omega-3s to longer chain omega-3s. This is an inefficient conversion, so one of the best ways to provide your body with the important EPA and DHA are through fatty fish sources, fish oil, or krill oil.

That's one of the reasons I'm such a fan of taking daily Krill Oil... especially considering that Krill Oil has been measured as having 47x the antioxidant power of fish oil, plus with the benefit of the phospholipids in Krill Oil.

In March 2009, Dr. Oz gave his Resveratrol ultra reviews on this anti ageing supplement and its demand has sky rocketed since then.

What Exactly Is It?

A substance derived from red grapes, it has been subjected to many tests and researches owing to the reservoir of health benefit it promises to deliver. It figured on Dr. Oz's list of top 10 super foods and has since left many people hooked to it.

It Has An Array Of Health Benefits

The health benefits of the substance range from protection against cardio vascular diseases, inhibition of the herpes virus and lowering of cholesterol levels to protection against cancers.

The Correct Way To Consume Resveratrol

While there seems nothing wrong in consuming a bunch of grapes everyday to enjoy resveratrol's benefits, finding the right variety is a tough task. Also, red wine contains only slight quantities of substance and considering other health implications of drinking alcohol, it seems to be an impractical way to enjoy the product's health benefits.

Supplements in the form of pills emerge out to be the best way to include this wonder potion in your diet. Choosing genuine enough supplements would however require some research.

With these benefits by its side, recommendations from health experts are obvious to come. Just practicing some caution while choosing a supplement and staying away from anything that seems to embark upon Dr. Oz's claims in a foul manner will more or less take care of all those worries and help you rediscover your youthful side.

Simple, Free Eye Exercises To
Improve Vision & Relieve Sore Eyes

These free eye exercises benefit your eyes by strengthening your eye muscles and enhancing local blood circulation.

This is achieved through acupressure and massage on pressure points around the eyes, and specific exercises to stretch and tone the muscles controlling the eyes.

If you have bright, lustrous eyes, according to traditional Chinese medical theory, it indicates you have an harmonious spirit, while dull eyes reflect the opposite.

While eye exercises alone may not harmonize your spirit, they will protect and improve your vision and relieve sore, tired eyes.

They are particularly useful for anyone who uses their eyes excessively, such as students, computer users, heavy readers, etc. Check with your health professional first though before trying these eye exercises, especially if you have a history of eye problems.

Eye Roll Exercise

1. Can be done standing, sitting or lying down

2. With your eyes open, roll them around in clockwise circles 15-20 times, then anticlockwise circles 15-20 times

Start slowly and gradually do it faster

Make sure you roll your eyes around in as wide a circle as possible

Do the Eye Roll 2-3 times a day

Benefits

• Stretches and tones your eye muscles, and
• Enhances local blood circulation, which
• Improves vision

Tips

• Do the eye roll in bed to help you wake up
• Combine it with the Eye Rub, below, for greater benefits

Eye Rub Exercise

1. Can be done standing, sitting or lying down

2. Keep your eyes closed throughout the exercise

3. Rub your hands together briskly to warm them up

4. Immediately place the base ofyour palms over your eyes. Feel the heat penetrating & warming your eyes. Hold your hands there till the heat subsides. Repeat steps 3 & 4 a couple of times.

5. Warm up your hands again, then use the tips of your fingers to rub across your eyelids from the inside corner to the sides 20-30 times or for 1-2 minutes.

6. Warm your hands once again, then use the tips of your middle fingers to rub around youreye sockets. Go with the grain of your eyebrows. Do 20-30 circles around each eye or simply rubthem for 1-2 minutes.

Do the Eye Rub exercise 2-3 times a day

Benefits

• Soothes and relaxes your eyes, and
• Enhances local blood circulation, which
• Improves your vision

Tips

• Do the Eye Rub in bed to help you wake up

For greater benefits combine it with the Eye Roll, above, and these other free eye exercises and face exercises:

Facial Acupressure Charts & Techniques

Here's a collection of free face exercises and massage techniques to firm and tone your face and neck, enhance local blood flow, relax you, and relieve common problems like headache, insomnia, nervous tension, sore eyes, sinus problems and nasal congestion.

The massage techniques include face acupressure and head massage.

A facial acupressure chart has also been included so you can locate and massage additional points yourself. The face exercises, which include eye exercises and double chin exercises, can be found via links at the bottom of this page.

Free Face Exercises: Acupressure & Face Massage

There are dozens of acupressure points on the face, and many massage techniques. However, all you need to get started is the five common acupressure points and two massage techniques illustrated below.

How to do face acupressure

1. Locate the points with your index fingers.

2. Gently press them until you feel no more than a comfortable pain.

3. Hold the pressure while you knead the points with very small circular movements.

4. Breathe slowly and deeply and focus your mind on the points as you massage them.

5. Massage each point for 1-2 minutes several times a day.

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Point 1. (known as Jingming in Chinese)

Located on the inside edge of the orbit of each eye.

Press and knead for sore, tired eyes and as a preventative against eye problems.

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Point 2. (Zanzhu)

Located on the medial end of each eyebrow.

Press and knead for frontal headache, sore, tired eyes, sinus pain, and as a preventative against eye problems.

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Point 3. (Taiyang)

Located on the temples behind each eye.

Use your index and middle fingers to press and knead for one or two sided headache, to calm the mind, and for eye problems. Also used preventatively.

---

Point 4. (Yingxiang)

Located next to each nostril.

Press and knead for nasal congestion, sinusitis, rhinitis, and to help prevent these problems.

For greater effectiveness use your index fingers to rub up and down the sides of your nose between Yingxiang and Jingming (Point 1) for 1-2 minutes, several times a day.

---

Point 5. (Renzhong)

Located under your nose, on the midline.

Use your knuckle or the tip of your middle or index finger. Pressing this point draws energy up to your head and helps your nasal passages adjust to weather changes. Also used as a revival point after fainting or shock.

---

Technique 1. (Forehead Rub)

Use your index and middle fingers to rub across your forehead, from the middle to your temples.

Massage and rub this area for frontal headache, sinus pain, insomnia, sore eyes, stress, and to help prevent these problems.

---

Technique 2. (Head Massage)

Use the tips (including the nails) of your fingers and thumbs to press and rub your scalp from the midline to the sides, and from the front to the back of your head.

Relieves and prevents headache, and is highly relaxing, especially when done by someone else.

Weight Loss

If you are overweight, you are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol or diabetes. You may also be more prone to osteoarthritis, varicose veins, hiatus hernia and gynaecological problems.

Dieting alone will not achieve significant or lasting weight loss. It is just as important to undertake regular strenuous exercise in order to speed up the metabolic rate, thereby burning up more calories. It is easier to stick to an exercise plan if you choose an activity that you enjoy, e.g. swimming, salsa dancing or keep fit classes. Exercise until you are a little breathless!

Don’t try to lose too much weight too quickly. Your body needs time to adjust, so aim to lose no more than two pounds per week. Eat sensibly, using a broad range of fresh, natural ingredients. Processed foods often contain too much salt, encouraging fluid retention. Cut down on sugary and fatty foods and concentrate on fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and fish. Have regular small meals and cut out snacks.

Faddy diets can cause malnutrition and may result in lasting health problems. You are unlikely to persevere with a boring diet. Starvation diets prompt the body to conserve fat by lowering the metabolic rate and burning up lean mass instead. You end up having to eat less and less in order to achieve minimal weight loss, and you feel dreadful. You may also damage your health irreparably. Organisations such as Weight Watchers and Slimming World offer sensible eating plans as well as lots of moral support. Once you have reached your ideal weight you should continue to follow a sensible diet and exercise regime.

Herbs have a supportive role in helping you to achieve weight loss. The only way to keep weight off permanently is to eat less, move more, and maintain a good metabolic rate. This, as we have seen, can be achieved by a sensible diet and regular strenuous exercise. Kelp can also help raise the metabolic rate by stimulating the thyroid gland; it may also improve a sluggish digestion, improving food utilisation.

Blue flag stimulates the gallbladder to release bile which in turn breaks down fats in the digestive system and helps cleanse the circulatory and lymphatic systems of toxins released into the body when fat is burned up. Boldo also helps stimulate the flow of bile, ensuring efficient fat processing; it has a diuretic action too. Where fluid retention is a problem, particularly at certain times of the month, Dandelion leaf may be of benefit. Co-enzyme Q10 is essential for cell energy production and is believed to metabolize food more quickly.

You are unlikely to suffer from constipation if your diet is high in fibre, but herbs such as Psyllium husk or Dandelion root will help ensure a regular bowel movement. You should try to drink at least two litres of water every day.

Make your own body scrub

Here's her easy recipe for a luxurious summer scrub you can make in minutes:

You'll need:
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. sweet almond oil
1/2 cup white cane sugar
1-3 drops lavender essential oil

Whisk together the olive oil, sweet almond oil (find it at health food stores), sugar and essential oil. Pour into a container with an airtight lid. It should last 2-3 weeks if kept away from water (it dissolves the sugar).

Use a tablespoon scoop to dish out a few dollops once or twice a week, scrub, and rinse.

The olive oil is full of vitamins and minerals that can help firm and moisturize (no worries—the smell rinses away). The lavender is great for healing damaged skin like cuts and burns, and regenerating skin cells.

Treat your feet: Swap the sugar for salt for a coarser callous-worthy foot scrub.

Wake-up call: For an invigorating blend, skip the lavender and replace the 1/2 cup sugar with 1/4 cup sugar and1/4 cup unused, finely-ground coffee grinds. Choose an organic coffee free from flavors and syrups to avoid aggravating you skin.

Psoriatic arthritis

Treatments and drugs

Date updated: December 13, 2008
Content provided by MayoClinic.com

No cure exists for psoriatic arthritis, so treatment focuses on controlling inflammation in your affected joints to prevent joint pain and disability. Often, a multidisciplinary approach is used to treat both skin and joint symptoms.

Medications
Medications commonly used to treat psoriatic arthritis include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may help control pain, swelling and morning stiffness, and they're usually the first treatment tried for psoriatic arthritis. Prescription NSAIDs provide higher potencies than do over-the-counter drugs. But all NSAIDs can irritate your stomach and intestine, and long-term use can lead to ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.

  Other potential side effects include damage to your kidneys, fluid retention and heart failure. In addition, NSAIDs may worsen skin problems. Still, these medications may be a good option for people with minor joint pain and stiffness.

• Corticosteroids. If you have mild psoriatic arthritis, your doctor might recommend corticosteroids to control infrequent joint pain flares. Corticosteroids can be taken orally, or they can be injected directly into aching joints. Corticosteroid injections provide almost immediate relief and improve range of motion - sometimes for months. But because injected steroids can cause damage, their use is usually limited.
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Rather than just reducing pain and inflammation, this class of drugs helps limit the amount of joint damage that occurs in psoriatic arthritis. But because DMARDs act slowly, you may not notice the effects for weeks or even months. For that reason, your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever, such as aspirin, in addition to a DMARD. Examples of DMARDs include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) and methotrexate. The latter, particularly, has potentially serious side effects, including lung disease and liver problems. Taking folic acid with methotrexate can relieve certain side effects such as a sore mouth and an upset stomach.

• Immunosuppressant medications. These medications act to suppress your immune system, which normally protects your body from harmful organisms, but which attacks healthy tissue in people with psoriatic arthritis. Commonly used immunosuppressants include azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and leflunomide (Arava).

  Immunosuppressants can have potentially dangerous side effects and usually are used in only the most severe cases of psoriatic arthritis. Because they suppress the immune system, all such drugs can lead to anemia and an increased risk of serious infection. And many of them can cause liver and kidney problems.

• TNF-alpha inhibitors. Your doctor may recommend tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors if you have severe psoriatic arthritis. These drugs block the protein that causes inflammation in some types of arthritis. Drugs in this category include etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira) and infliximab (Remicade). TNF-alpha inhibitors can improve signs and symptoms of psoriasis, as well. All carry a risk of serious side effects, however, including some that can be life-threatening. Be sure to discuss with your doctor whether the benefits you'll receive from these medications outweigh the risks. Keep in mind that these treatments, which must be injected, are very expensive, often costing thousands of dollars per treatment. If you and your doctor decide to use TNF inhibitors, check with your insurance company about coverage.

Surgery
Although surgery is rarely performed for psoriatic arthritis, your doctor may recommend some form of joint operation when other treatments fail to relieve your symptoms. Surgeons use various procedures to ease pain and restore mobility. Because these operations pose some risks, be sure you thoroughly discuss your options with your doctor.

Psoriatic arthritis

Complications

Date updated: December 13, 2008
Content provided by MayoClinic.com

Psoriatic arthritis can be painful and debilitating, and can damage your joints, even with treatment. Some types of psoriatic arthritis can cause additional difficulties, including:

• Swollen fingers and toes (dactylitis). Psoriatic arthritis can cause a painful, sausage-like swelling of your fingers and toes. Swollen toes are a particular problem because they can make it hard to find shoes that fit properly. A podiatrist - a doctor who specializes in the feet - may be able to provide help if you have psoriatic arthritis in your toes or ankles. You may also develop swelling in your hands and feet that isn't limited to your joints and that may develop before joint symptoms do.
• Foot pain. Another condition associated with psoriatic arthritis is enthesopathy, which causes pain at the point where tendons and ligaments attach to your bones - especially at the back of your heel (Achilles tendinitis) or in the sole of your foot (plantar fasciitis).
• Back and neck pain. Some people develop a condition called spondylitis as a result of psoriatic arthritis. Spondylitis mainly causes inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae of your spine and the joints between your spine and pelvis.

Psoriatic arthritis

Risk factors

Date updated: December 13, 2008
Content provided by MayoClinic.com

Several factors can increase your risk of psoriatic arthritis, including:

• Psoriasis. Having psoriasis is the single greatest risk factor for psoriatic arthritis. People who have psoriasis lesions on their nails are especially likely to develop psoriatic arthritis.
• Your family history. Many people with psoriatic arthritis have a close relative with the disease.
• Your age. Although anyone can develop psoriatic arthritis, it occurs most often in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.
• Your sex. In general, psoriatic arthritis affects men and women equally, but DIP arthritis and spondylitis are more likely to affect men, whereas symmetric arthritis occurs more often in women.

Psoriasis causes patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales.

In some cases, psoriasis can cause pitted and deformed nails that are thickened and discolored. Nails may also separate from the nail bed.

Diet and Psoriatic Arthritis: Eating to ease pain

Some foods can cause inflammation. Here's how your diet can help control psoriatic arthritis.

Date updated: January 02, 2009
By Beth W. Orenstein
Content provided by Revolution Health Group

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition in which an individual suffers from both psoriasis and arthritis. Like other kinds of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness and inflammation, which can eventually lead to permanent damage of the joints.

The bad news: Research has not shown that any one food or diet will prevent or cure psoriatic arthritis.

The good news: "You will find that eating a well-balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight will positively impact your condition," says Andrea Frank, RD, who works for Sodexo, a food- services company, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago.

Maintaining a healthy weight is important because being overweight puts additional stress on your joints, especially the lower half: knees, hips and ankles.

Psoriatic Arthritis Diet: Become a Food Detective

Some people find that certain foods worsen the joint pain from their psoriatic arthritis. It is thought that some foods may cause inflammation in the joints, but there is no scientific proof. If avoiding certain foods helps your symptoms, then by all means try it.

The only way to know which foods affect you is to go on an anti-inflammatory or elimination diet, says Heather Zwickey, PhD, director of the Helfgott Research Institute in Portland, Ore. With this diet, you eliminate all possible triggers from your meals for one to two weeks and reintroduce them one at a time so can determine which, if any, cause a reaction. "You look for symptoms to reappear, and it helps you identify which you are sensitive to and which you are not," Zwickey says.

The Psoriatic Arthritis Diet

You can learn to make nutritious, well-balanced choices in your diet that may help the joint pain, swelling and stiffness of the psoriatic arthritis. Here are some foods you may want to avoid.

• Red meat, citrus fruits and nightshade family foods. Among the foods that many people have found aggravate psoriatic arthritis are red meat, citrus fruits, and any food from the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. There is no proven link between these foods and the inflammation of psoriatic arthritis, but if it helps to remove them from your diet, then do so. Foods with gluten affect some people, too. "You may have to shop at health-food stores or the health-food section of the grocery story to find foods that are gluten-free," Frank says.
  
• Saturated fats and cholesterol. The easiest way to do this is opt for lean cuts of beef and poultry, fish and lower-fat dairy products. Avoid bacon and other processed meats. Always read food labels.
  

Among the foods you may want to add to your daily diet:

• Fish and seeds rich in omega-3s. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help decrease inflammation in the joints and thus help arthritis symptoms in psoriatic arthritis. Some people with psoriatic arthritis find they feel better with a diet rich in cold-water fish such as herring, mackerel, fresh tuna, trout, and salmon because they are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts, flaxseed and soy products are also rich in omega-3s.
  
• Fruits and vegetables. While you'll need to avoid some fruits and vegetables (citrus and nightshade fruits and vegetables), the rest, such as apples, broccoli, and carrots, will provide the nutrients and the fiber that you need. "Choose fruits and vegetables in a wide range of colors to ensure that you are getting the maximum nutrients," Frank says.
• Lots of water. Part of a healthy diet means staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of water. "This may be especially important in patients with psoriatic arthritis as water loss through the skin could be increased," Frank says.
  
• Spice it up. Two ingredients that have shown to be anti-inflammatory are turmeric and ginger. "If you are cooking, add these to your foods," Zwickey says. "What they're doing is suppressing the Cox2 pathways," which would be helpful as "Cox2 inhibitors are commonly used to treat the pain and swelling of arthritis inflammation."
  
• Olive oil and other plant-based oils. Olive oil is an excellent source of vitamin E. Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidants shown to protect the body from free radicals, the destructive molecules linked to many chronic conditions, such as arthritis and aging. Other plant-based oils such as canola are a good choice, too. Stay away from palm or coconut oils.
  

By becoming a food detective and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, you may be able to control flare-ups and decrease the pain of psoriatic arthritis.

Medically reviewed by: Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD,

Psoriatic Arthritis Relief through Exercise

A three-step fitness plan for strength and mobility.

Date updated: January 02, 2009
by Beth W. Orenstein
Content provided by Revolution Health Group

If you suffer from psoriatic arthritis, the thought of exercise may make you wince. However, physical activity maintains muscle strength and joint mobility, and both are needed to manage your disease.

You want to exercise regularly, but, says Stephen Lindsey, MD, head of rheumatology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation Hospital in Baton Rouge, La., "you just don't want to overdo."

A little sore is fine, he says, "but if you're completely sore the next day, you probably did too much. A big part of choosing your exercise program, if you have psoriatic arthritis, is common sense."

Psoriatic Arthritis: The Best Exercise

Those with psoriatic arthritis know that the condition can affect different joints, from just the hands to a debilitating, deforming degree called arthritis mutilans.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis may perform three kinds of exercises:

• Strength training. These exercises are designed to increase muscle strength. The stronger your muscles, the more stable your joints. Using free weights is an excellent form of strength-training exercise. "You should opt for light weights with lots of repetition, and avoid heavy weights," Dr. Lindsey says. Do strength training exercises two to three times a week, on alternating days. Strength training exercises include two types:
• In isometric exercises, you tighten muscles without moving your joints, like holding a 5-pound weight straight out in front of your body
• In isotonic exercises, you tighten your muscles by moving your joints, like in more traditional weight training exercises, like bicep curls
• Range of motion exercises. These involve gently stretching your joints as far as you can in each direction. Performing range-of-motion exercises will help you keep your joints flexible and keep you from feeling stiff. You should perform range-of-motion exercises daily.
• Weight-bearing or endurance exercises. These exercises will improve your cardiovascular fitness and your overall health as well as your symptoms of arthritis. The best endurance or recreational exercises for people with psoriatic arthritis are walking, swimming, and biking, Lindsey says. If you are able, running is fine, too; just be sure to run on softer surfaces. Exercising at least two or three times a week for 20 minutes minimum should become your routine.
  

Psoriatic Arthritis Relief: Everybody in the (Heated) Pool

Many people with psoriatic arthritis find that warm water exercises can make them feel better. "Exercising in a pool is great because it takes the stress off your joints," Lindsey says.

You don't have to be a good swimmer to participate in water exercises. Local Ys and aquatics clubs often have classes for people with arthritis and related conditions, taught by specially trained instructors. Keep in mind that if you're using topical treatments for your psoriasis, you may need to reapply after leaving the pool.

Psoriatic Arthritis Exercise: Listen to Your Body

Your body will tell you how much exercise you need and when you're doing too much. Lindsey says it's best to start out slowly and build up your program. For example, he says, if you start a walking program, try 15 minutes the first day or two, then 20 minutes the third time and so on. "Gradually increase your time and how fast you walk, he suggests."

If you're not feeling particularly well one day, it's okay to skip your exercise routine, Lindsey says. If you are sore from a workout, take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (such as Tylenol Arthritis) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen (such as Motrin or Advil). "Just be sure you're not taking too much medication that could cause side effects," Lindsey says.

Psoriatic Arthritis Exercise: Talk to Your Medical Team

Because there are different types of psoriatic arthritis, your doctor, physical therapist, or occupational therapist can help you plan an exercise program that fits the severity of your illness. Seek their input and get moving on feeling better.

Medically reviewed by: Pat F. Bass III, MD,

Flexibility is an important part of your exercise program, yet it's often neglected. How often have you gone through your routine and then decided to skip stretching because you're tired or ready to get home? I've done it...we all have from time to time. But, being flexible will help you function better throughout the day and make you feel good.

Keeping your muscles and ligaments flexible is important because tight muscles can cause chronic pain. For example, sitting all day can cause tight hip flexors and loose gluteal muscles. This muscular imbalance can make the joint weaker as parts of the bone bare more weight than they should. In many cases, back pain is caused by tight hamstrings which can cause the hips and pelvis to rotate back and causing back problems.

Janiss Garza, About's former Yoga guru says, "It is a cardinal fitness sin to skip stretching after a workout. If you want to promote stiffness, invite injury and lengthen your recovery time, you can do all that by not stretching the moment you finish your exercise routine and just head right back to your desk or the couch." Them's fightin' words!

The Benefits Stretching is an important part of a cool down, not only physically but mentally; ending your workout with something that makes you feel good can help you associate those good feelings with future workouts. Other benefits include:

• Improved performance
• Reduced soreness and lower back pain
• Increased blood flow to the body
• Improved coordination
• Keeps you active and mobile as you age
• It feels good!

The Basics

Your stretching program doesn't have to be complicated. Following these simple rules can make your routine safe and easy:

• Make sure you stretch warm muscles. Stretching cold muscles can cause injuries, so save the stretching for after your workout.
• Never bounce when you stretch. This forces the muscle to go beyond what is comfortable and can cause injury
• Stretch all the muscles you use during your workout, lingering on any areas that are tight or tender.
• Hold each stretch for about 15-30 30 seconds and try to do each stretch 2 or more times

Stretching and flexibility programs have become so popular, it's easy to learn how to do it safely and there are a number of tools out there to make your routine a little more effective.

How many times have you seen swimmers stretching before they get in the pool? I can't count that high! Should all this stretching be taking place?

We have been told that flexibility is important for increased performance ability and to decrease the occurrence of injury. Is it? It may be more important to stretch at the right time - or it might be a waste of time.

While you should never base all your decisions on one report, a series of recent studies, like the one in a recent "The Physician and Sportsmedicine" show that stretching before exercise does not decrease the risk of injury. A report in the August issue suggests that increased warm-up is probably more valuable.

Others say you should warm-up, stretch, then get back in and swim some more laps. Still others say wait until after your workout because stretching decreases the muscle's ability to generate force for some period of time after the stretch has been performed; you will be slower after you stretch, until your muscle recovers. Another line of reasoning is that stretching before a workout only returns a muscle to its normal level of exercise flexibility. To gain flexibility, stretches must be performed after the muscle has been fully warmed up and is already at its greatest current level of flexibility, most likely after a workout has been completed.

So what do you do? I recommend:

• a short, 10 to 15 minute swim session warm-up
• a brief, 5 to 10 minute stretching session
• back in the swimming pool for the rest of the warm-up

Follow-up with additional stretching after completing your workout as part of your cool-down routine.

During a meet, limit stretching before your event to a few seconds to help you relax after you complete an in-pool, pre-event warm-up. No warm-up pool? Then do some other gentle activity to increase blood circulation and raise the temperature of your muscles, do that slight, gentle stretching, then get up and swim fast!

Swim On!

Stretching out before exercising is an important, and often neglected, step in your workout. A good routine should be established, and following the suggestions below will help you on your way.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 20 minutes

Here's How:

1. Know your sport.
   Whether you're in the gym, on the track, or anywhere else, it's important to know what your workout will involve. Understanding which muscles will be worked is the only way to know how to best stretch out.
2. Focus on those muscles.
   While a good overall routine is helpful, your emphasis should be on the muscles that will be most heavily involved in your workout.
3. Warm up before stretching.
   Just some easy walking or a light jog will be sufficient to warm up your muscles, but it will make the stretching session much more valuable.
4. Begin slowly.
   You don't need to touch your toes right away: Begin slowly and push yourself as your muscles loosen up. Stretching too much, too soon can be painful and potentially harmful.
5. Hold the stretch.
   Once you feel your muscles reaching their limit, hold the position for a count of 10. Then push yourself a little further and hold again for a count of 10.
6. Don't rush your stretching routine.
   If you're going to have to cut your workout short, don't skip or shorten the stretching. This is more important than an extra set of reps or another half mile.
7. Do it again.
   Once you're finished working out, stretch again. Not only is it an excellent way to cool down from your workout, but this is the time that you will improve your flexibility the most.

Tips:

1. Don't bounce!
   You will get the best stretch, and prevent injuries if you avoid bouncing. Instead, hold the stretch, and feel a constant pull in the muscles.
2. Stretch both sides.
   Many people have a tendency to under-stretch the 'healthy' side after an injury. Use the same stretches, for the same amount of time, for both sides of your body.
3. Get professional help.
   Gym trainers, physical therapists, exercise instructors will all know great ways to stretch. When you're getting started, have someone knowledgeable watch your routine and offer their suggestions.

t's that time again. Time to dispel some of the prevailing fitness and nutrition myths -- oh and believe me, there are many.

So pull up a chair, put aside your "lose 50 pounds by eating only grapefruit" article and open your mind for just a little while. You may disagree with these facts, but that's what keeps the myths alive.

And, away we go…

MYTH: Women will get big if they weight train.
A woman has approximately one-third the testosterone compared to a man, so putting on a ton of muscle is not going to happen. The women you see in the magazines who look big and manly are on steroids, growth hormones, etc. You may look bulky if you're carrying excessive body fat and building muscle. However, if you're reducing body fat, you'll eventually be able to see those lean, defined muscles.

MYTH: You must work out five to six days per week to make progress.
I see a lot of people in the gym five to six days a week, and they'd be better off playing ping pong. Consistency and level of effort is the key. I'd rather see someone work out three days per week with enthusiasm and intensity, than five inconsistent days of lackadaisical effort. In fact, for those clients that have trouble with motivation, I recommend only two days of workouts per week, but they must do it every week.

MYTH: Spot reducing is possible.
The human body loses fat over the entire body at various rates of speed. It's impossible to spot reduce. If you're focusing on only losing fat that sits on your hips, it won't work. Generally, the first place you gain fat is the last place you lose it.

MYTH: Stretching prevents injuries.
After analyzing the results of six studies, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could not find any correlation between stretching and injury prevention. According to Dr. Julie Gilchrist, one of the researchers involved with the study, "Stretching increases flexibility, but most injuries occur within the normal range of motion." Dr. Gilchrist goes on to say, Stretching and warming up have just gone together for decades. It's simply what's done, and it hasn't been approached through rigorous science."

Make no mistake: A stretching program is not without benefits. Seven of nine studies suggest that a regular stretching program does help to strengthen muscles. However, it does not appear to actually prevent injuries. Warming up prior to exercise and increasing blood flow to the muscles is actually more conducive to injury prevention. I'm not suggesting that you eliminate stretching. It is valuable and flexibility is certainly important as we age. However, we may be off base assuming it's an injury-prevention technique.

MYTH: One should lose weight before they begin an exercise program.
There is no physiological reason to lose weight prior to beginning an exercise program. Exercise is the best thing for your health, and there is no time like the present to start. There are too many benefits of exercise to list here, but you're doing every system and cell in your body a world of good by exercising. Any amount -- starting with five minutes a day -- is beneficial.

Fat loss and muscle gain are only two of the many benefits that your body will experience from exercising. Each day will get a little easier as you become more fit. There is no justification for waiting to begin--unless you have orders from your doctor.

Whether you exercise with 20 percent body fat or 30 percent body fat, you'll still be providing your body with the same benefits. When you carry less weight, you can move a little more easily, and it may be less strenuous on your heart. You can be more fit at 30 percent body fat if you are exercising than if you try to achieve 20 percent body fat without exercising.

The goal is to gain or preserve muscle and lose fat -- not just lose weight (which implies both muscle and fat).

MYTH: Lifting weights very slowly is the best way to weight train.
Lifting super slowly produces super long workouts -- and that's it. University of Alabama researchers recently studied two groups of lifters doing a 29-minute workout. One group performed exercises using a 5-second up phase and a 10-second down phase, the other a more traditional approach of one second up and one second down. The faster group burned 71 percent more calories and lifted 250 percent more weight than the super slow lifters.

The real expert says: "The best increases in strength are achieved by doing the up phase as rapidly as possible," says Gary Hunter, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., the lead study author. "Lower the weight more slowly and under control." There's greater potential for growth during the lowering phase, and when you lower with control, there's less chance of injury.

MYTH: Eating a lot less or going on a crash diet will get the results you seek.
This was a dietary strategy popularized prior to the 1980s. People would go on crash diets like the grapefruit diet and lose weight -- meaning muscle and fat. They assumed just eating less would take care of everything.

Today, we know total calories are important, but so are the amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fats in the diet.

A slight caloric deficit (less than maintenance) must be adhered to, as well as eating small meals and snacks every two to three hours. This helps to control blood sugar; and it is a fact that blood-sugar control will help you to lose fat. It may look confusing, but eDiets.com takes all the planning and hassles away by doing it for you.

MYTH: Performing countless abdominal crunches thinking it will get rid of the "pooch" area on the lower tummy/abdominal area.
I get a question related to this issue approximately 20 times per week. It is not possible to spot reduce any area of the body. The real solution is to reduce overall body fat through a slight caloric deficit, add resistance exercise (weight training) to stimulate the metabolism, and cardiovascular exercise to burn additional calories. That's the way to fat loss.

Performing crunches will never reduce the abdominal area because it only serves to strengthen muscle, not flatten a specific area. Just as 200 bicep curls will not make the arm smaller, nor will 200 abdominal crunches make the waist smaller. You cannot spot reduce any part of the body. It's just not physiologically possible.

MYTH: Performing a lot of cardio is the best way to lose fat.
Some people go up to 90 minutes or longer on a cardio machine. The problem with this strategy is it's completely ineffective. It's a poor method to lose body fat and a real time waster. You can work out for long sessions with moderate intensity or use shorter sessions with higher intensity (based on your fitness level). You can't do both!

The shorter, more-intense session will burn more overall calories and preserve muscle, which will make you look tight and lean when you get to your scale weight goal. In addition, the shorter, intense sessions will have a more profound effect on the calories you continue to burn 24 hours after completing the session.

Want to lose fat efficiently through cardio? Pick up your pace a bit and try to get a more intense and efficient 30 to 45 minutes. You don't need to be huffing and puffing for dear life, just increase the intensity a bit and keep it sustained at a higher level within your target heart-rate range.

MYTH: Calories are the only thing that counts when trying to lose fat or gain muscle.
Ratios of proteins, carbohydrates and fats are also important. The key to losing fat and gaining muscle is controlling and manipulating insulin levels. In simple terms, when we consume excessive calories or excessive amounts of high glycemic carbohydrates at one meal, the body's blood sugar rises. When this happens, the pancreas secretes insulin to lower blood sugar levels.

One of the many drawbacks of this happening excessively is, along with putting you at risk for diabetes, the body also holds onto stored fat! A balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats works most efficiently in losing fat and gaining muscle.

Don't forget, the ultimate key to a lean and tight body is the combination of proper nutrition, exercise and consistency.

As always, check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Face wrinkles are probably the most telltale signs of aging hence that is the main reason why a lot of people out there, women and men alike are looking for wrinkle removal for face products. Considering that the face is arguably the most exposed and most easily recognizable part of our bodies it isn't hard to understand why people want to keep it as healthy and young looking as possible.

This is the reason why there are so many wrinkle removal for face products available on the market nowadays, but one needs to be careful when selecting one.

Skin care products are either synthetic or natural, with the first one having the largest chunk on the market. Now choosing which kind of product to use as your wrinkle removal for face isn't that hard, you'd always rather drink a freshly squeezed natural juice rather than a synthetic one, however finding them might be a bit tougher than expected. However, let's talk a bit about what you need to look for in a wrinkle removal for face care product.

You're going to want a product which is brimming with natural ingredients that have been thoroughly tested in clinical trials and shown to work, ingredients like Phytessence Wakame. This marvelous extract from a variety of Japanese kelp is rich in essential minerals and vitamins that the human skin needs to be healthy, works as an antioxidant, a moisturizer and helps to heal irritated and dry skin; it's a win on all fronts.

Another great natural ingredient that you should look for is Cynergy TK, which contains a special type of keratin which makes it ready to be used by our body's natural processes to regenerate our skin as well as increasing the same natural processes that have to do with our collagen and elastin production.

In essence, you need to start looking for the right ingredients if you want to be sure that your cream will work perfectly against wrinkles. Luckily, this won't be difficult and you will eventually get what you search for. However, you have to pay attention and be patient.

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Recently in the news was talk of how Beyoncé Knowles lost weight quickly for her role in the film Dreamgirls. Beyoncé went on what is more commonly known as the Maple Syrup Diet, which is in fact a form of fasting, rather than dieting.

Beyoncé’s Maple Syrup Diet simply involves eating no solid food at all. Instead, a mixture of lemon juice, Grade B/Medium Maple Syrup, water and Cayenne pepper is drunk. This mix can be taken cold, as a cordial, or hot, as a tea. The mix contains some essential vitamins and minerals.

As solid food is not eaten it is necessary to help the digestive system eliminate material and avoid constipation. This is achieved in two ways: laxative tea is taken every night, and in the morning, 32 ounces of lukewarm sea salt water serves as a top-down enema. This passes through the digestive system extremely quickly—30-60 minutes.

The diet is for a recommended minimum of ten days, although it is not uncommon for people to stay on the cleanse for longer periods of time. Fasting for such long periods requires careful breaking, as intestinal cultures need to re-develop and mucus linings re-build. This usually involves drinking “full strength” juices for a day or two, while slowly adding in soups, then fruit, vegetables and nuts before resuming a regular diet. This fast break is an ideal time to add probiotics to re-establish a healthy intestinal culture.

The Lemonade Diet / A Master Cleanse CD, By Peter Glickman>

Maple Syrup Diet Recipe:

• 2 tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice (approx. 1/2 lemon)
• 2 tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) organic Grade B maple syrup
• 1/10 Teaspoon or more cayenne pepper – as much as you can comfortable cope with
• 1 Cup (8 fluid ounces) purified or spring water

Beyoncé’s Maple Syrup Diet is said by Stanley Burroughs and later authors to eliminate toxins and congestion that have built up in the body. Because it is not a complete source of macro-nutrients, it should be considered as another form of fasting, rather than a diet.

Supporters of the Maple Syrup Diet have credited it with helping them lose weight and reduce stomach fat, increase energy, and even alleviate some chronic diseases.

Some in the entertainment industry have misunderstood fasting as a weight loss diet. Recently, the Maple Syrup Diet received media attention as a result of being embraced by some celebrities. The singer/actress Beyoncé did it for 14 days and lost 22 lb (9 kg) for her role in the 2006 movie Dreamgirls. Howard Stern’s cohost Robin Quivers claims to have lost 73 lb using the Master Cleanse. Similarly, Jared Leto says he lost the weight he gained to play ‘Mark David Chapman’ (he gained 62 lb) all from the Maple Syrup Diet

The Different Juice Fasting Stages of Detoxification

Stage 1 (Day 1 To Day 2) On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for half a day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.

Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period unless the enema is used which quickly assists the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.

Stage 2 (Day 3 To Day 7) Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the glyceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety centre in the hypothalamus. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice.

The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucous matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-coloured mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted faeces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.

Stage 3 (Day 8 to Day 15) On the latter part of an extended fast, you can experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better than you have felt since childhood. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body’s increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the break, the body’s ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food diet, the body’s natural healing ability was compromised.

During fasting, the body’s healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a re occurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers.

Stage 4 (Day 16 to Day 30) The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. While a short fast will reduce the symptoms, a longer fast can completely heal. Homoeostatic balance is at optimum levels. The lymphatic system is clean except for a rare discharge of mucus through the nose or throat. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are felt at this time. Memory and concentration improve.

Stage 5 (Breaking the Fast) The sticky, toxic, mucous coating on the intestinal wall is loose, and the first meal frees it from the intestinal wall. Toxins enter the blood through the colon. The gallbladder dumps its waste in a heavy discharge of bile. This can cause an instant bowel movement upon eating followed by intense diarrhoea. If the symptoms are too uncomfortable, an enema will help.

Some critics point to lack of essential nutrients in Beyoncé’s Maple Syrup Diet, citing a deficiency of protein, vitamins, and minerals. As a result of these deficiencies, individuals on the diet may experience dizziness, delirium, and fainting in the short term, with possible damage to the body occurring in longer-term applications. Many authors assert the benefits of fasting are related to its lack of nutrients, particularly macronutrients. People with intestinal conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome may experience added discomfort while on the cleanse.

There is a risk that the saltwater flush may remove both beneficial and harmful bacteria from the body. A no-food diet may cause the gut to stop passing food, resulting in constipation, or may make the consumption of food immediately after the fast painful. These are the important reasons to follow the fasts’ instructions correctly.

Beyoncé Knowles said of her decision to adopt the Maple Syrup diet: “My nutritionist suggested the only way to do that was the maple syrup fast. As soon as it was over, I gained the weight back.

“I’m very conscious of being a curvy woman and I’m very happy that I am a curvy woman.”

She added: “I would never recommend it to anyone unless you are doing a movie and it’s necessary, and you have proper help.”

Remember that people like Beyonce Knowles have a great incentive to lose weight fast, as this ensures that they win contracts to appear in films, commercials and television. These diets are not really that healthy, and it is recommended that a longer term approach to weight loss is taken. Crash diets can be a useful way to kick-start yourself into a healthy lifestyle, as quick results can give you the boost of confidence that is often needed. However, they should not be considered long term solutions to weight problems. We recommend a good balance of healthy diet and regular exercise. Also, remember to consult your family doctor before embarking on a period fasting or extreme dieting.

If you revert to your old ways after this fast, you will gain nothing, and maybe actually put on more weight. Yoyo dieting is not good for your health, and cannot be sustained long term. Eat healthy, exercise hard.

Cayenne pepper for improved blood flow

Cayenne pepper (also called Capsicum frutescens) is a stimulating herb made from the dried pods of chili peppers and is well known for its pungent taste and smell. Cayenne is a popular spice used in many different regional styles of cooking, but it has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Cayenne is often referred to as chili, which is the Aztec name for cayenne pepper.

The main medicinal properties of cayenne are derived from a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin is the ingredient which gives peppers their HEAT. A pepper's capsaicin content ranges from 0-1.5%. Peppers are measured according to heat units. The degree of heat determines the peppers' usage and value. Generally, the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. In addition to adding heat to the pepper, capsaicin acts to reduce platelet stickiness and relieve pain. Other constituents of cayenne are vitamins E, vitamin C and carotenoids.

Today cayenne is used worldwide to treat a variety of health conditions, including poor circulation, weak digestion, heart disease, chronic pain, sore throats, headaches and toothache.

Ayurveda also utilizes cayenne to treat poor digestion and gas. Chinese medicine uses cayenne for digestive ailments.

When taken internally, cayenne soothes the digestive tract and stimulates the flow of stomach secretions and saliva. These secretions contain substances which help digest food.

Cayenne is the greatest herbal aid to circulation and can be used on a regular basis. Dr. Richard Schulze, the medical herbalist, says that "If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other."

Cayenne moves blood

There is no other herb which increases your blood flow faster than cayenne. Cayenne moves blood. When people ask Dr. Schultze, "What are the 10 most important herbs to have in the home?" He tells them, "At the top of the list is cayenne pepper, because it will make the other 9 work better."

Cayenne is the greatest blood circulation stimulant known. You can take all the milk thistle you want, but if you have bad circulation to your liver, it's not going to do you any good. Cayenne increases your blood circulation immediately within seconds, more than any other herb.

When you have a sick area, there's often a restriction of blood flow to that area. Blood flow is what takes nutrition and the healing properties of herbs to those cells. Blood flow is also what carries out and removes waste material. Cayenne pepper is like TNT. It blasts through all that blockage to get to that area which is sick, taking with it all the minerals and vitamins from the foods you eat, and all the vital chemicals from the herbs you take - all the way to the sick area.

Cayenne pepper is usually labeled 40,000, 60,000, 90,000 or more heat units. Generally, the higher the number of heat units, the more beneficial. The lower-heat cayenne peppers are a lot less efficient, and they are the ones which are most highly contaminated. These are the ones you see labeled for 30,000 heat units. These are the ones to stay away from.

People who are not used to cayenne just need to work their way up. One problem people have is that they blow their mouths with cayenne, right off the bat. For those who have never used cayenne pepper before, a good initial dosage is 1/16th of a teaspoonful in some juice. Work your way up in dosage slowly. Put a small amount in some juice, stir and drink. Delicious.

Cayenne powder

It is recommended that the cayenne powder be used, as opposed to capsules. It is believed that you are only getting a small part of the potential effect of cayenne pepper by taking it in capsules. When you put cayenne in your mouth, your stomach secretes digestive juices before the cayenne ever gets there. So when the cayenne gets down there, your stomach is ready for it.

But if you swallow a capsule, your tongue tastes nothing. A capsule goes down in your stomach, and your stomach notices nothing, at first. Then, 5 minutes later the gelatin bursts, and you have a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in your stomach and your body is shocked. You surprised it.

What is going on is that some of cayenne's healing action occurs right in your mouth. As cayenne touches your tongue, the cayenne absorbs in seconds and nerve endings send signals throughout the body - sending waves of fresh blood throughout your body.

My favorite source for high quality, non-irradiated cayenne pepper by the pound is here. I also like Puritan Pride's special "Buy 1 Get 2 FREE" promotions on cayenne.

I highly recommend the book "The Health Benefits of Cayenne" by John Heinerman if you want to learn more about the power of cayenne. There is no other herb stronger or more effective than cayenne to make immediate physiological and metabolic changes in the body.

Sure, there are a few heating herbs like Ginger and horseradish, but what other herb can you put in somebody's mouth and all of a sudden it makes their faces look like cherries? I don't know another herb that will do that, and cayenne does that through your whole body. Use it to improve blood flow throughout your body.

Cayenne Pepper – The Amazing Healing Herb

Cayenne pepper, also known as red pepper, has been used for medicinal purposes from ancient times to combat fatigue and as an overall stimulant. Even though you may find that cayenne pepper is usually red, it can have different color such as orange and yellow.

History

Traditionally it was also used to help with the pain related to stomachaches and gas, to improve and treat diseases of the circulatory system diseases, as a treatment for arthritic and rheumatic pain. It is named after the city Cayenne in French Guyana. Of course, we all know of the pepper that is used in spicy meals, but time and again, it has been proven that Cayenne pepper has healing agents. It comes from the Capsicum Annuum Longum plant which can grow up to a height of 3 feet. And it is also used to make mace or pepper spray.

Health Benefits

The cayenne pepper has high concentration of capsaicin which can produce high intense of heat, and capsaicin is a very effective in relieving pain. It is also well known for its anti-ulcer relieve and digestive aid. In the tropical countries, people love the cayenne pepper because of its ability to reduce body temperature.

One of its main uses is to help improve blood circulation or vasodilation, as it is medically known, by opening up blood vessels, namely the large arteries, veins and arterioles. Another common use of cayenne pepper is thermogenics, where they increase the body’s metabolism. Studies show that it also helps with digestion helping the body develop hydrochloric acid. Therefore it plays a major role with dyspepsia, improving gas pains, bloating, and nausea. The importance of having a good the digestive system is second to none. When one cannot digest food properly it affects their overall health and organ functionality.

According to a recent New England Journal of Medicine study, the Italian doctors managed to reduce the indigestion symptoms significantly of 30 men and women by taking daily doses of red pepper. These 30 patients were randomly selected to have either 2.5 grams of red pepper powder each day or a placebo (The study took 5 weeks). In the group that receives the cayenne pepper, they have lesser symptom scores than the placebo group. The symptom scores for the red pepper group were 38% for nausea, 50% for stomach pain, 46% for stomach fullness, 48% for overall symptom scores lower than the placebo group.

Cardiovascular activity

It is also believed to end a heart attack in a few short seconds by administering Cayenne extract orally to the victim because not only does it enhance blood circulation, it also increases cardiovascular activity. At the same time, it lowers blood pressure. It can clear the blood of substances and gases as well.

Pain Relief

A cream made from the capsicum plant serves as the pain reliever for arthritis, diabetes and HIV, nerve pain associated with cancer-related surgery, and pain associated with shingles. Although the pain may increase after the first use, it will decrease afterward. The reason for this is that it releases compounds that are involved between the nervous system and the other parts of the body. This cream can release itching involved with psoriasis and other skin conditions. In liquid form, dripped into the nostrils, it can relieve cluster headaches and serves as a decongestive.

Cayenne pepper if made into a plaster and apply directly on the skin of the back can actually believe back pain. As it is an astringent, it stops bleeding and avoids any swelling. It can be used to stop bleeding gums as well. Due to its stimulating powers, it can avoid shock or depression related to trauma by applying a few grains on the lips.

Capsaicin is the main ingredient behind cayenne pepper effective treatment for cluster headaches and osteoarthritis pain. Capsaicin would cause the release of “Pain” from the nerve cells which may cause infection and pain for the start. After “Pain” is released, capsaicin would block the pain sensation

Nutrition Value

Nutritional values of cayenne are as follows: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, and is a great source of great source of calcium and potassium. In combination with other herbs, it is known to stimulate the others, almost as a catalyst. It channels the nutrients throughout the body like neural hormonal action, cellular respiration and metabolic data transmission.

Cayenne pepper is also a main ingredient in the popular Master Cleanse Diet. In conjunction with lemon juice, and Grade B maple syrup, these ingredients aid in cleansing the colon and the body of toxins that the body cannot rid itself of.

How to Choose And Store Your Cayenne Pepper

You can easily find Cayenne Pepper in various forms like fresh, dried, crushed dried, or ground. On the left, we have provided you with the organic cayenne pepper powder, ground, from Amazon (It comes with pack of 4). It is advisable to choose organically grown herbs to avoid consuming the irradiated cayenne pepper. And do keep them in tightly sealed glass jar, away from the direct sunlight so you can keep it for up to one year.

Raw, Organic Cashews:
One of Nature's Most Nutrient-Dense Nuts

If you want to stay as healthy as possible as you age, it's critical that you limit your consumption of pasteurized dairy products, which I believe can be a significant cause of heart disease, poor digestive tract health, a hypersensitive and weakened immune system, chronic skin challenges, chronic ear infections, and chronic sinus problems, just to name a few conditions that are strongly linked to regular consumption of pasteurized dairy.

When I design dairy-free dietary programs for clients, I often recommend eating about a handful of raw, organic cashews per day, as cashews are extremely dense in health-promoting nutrients, and their natural creaminess and sweetness make them an excellent substitute for many dairy-based foods and snacks. For example, the experience of eating apple slices dipped in freshly made cashew butter - easily made by blending up a handful of cashews in a blender or food processor - usually convinces even the most fervent lovers of dairy that life without cow's milk can still be grand.

Beyond nourishing your body with freshly made cashew butter, you can make a variety of creamy dips, sauces, and even dairy-free cheese with cashews. You can also enjoy raw, organic cashews mixed in with smoothies, cereals, and trail mixes. And of course, they're fantastic just on their own, fresh out of the bag.

When eaten on a regular basis, raw, organic cashews may have the following physiological effects:

1. Keep your heart and blood vessels healthy by providing your cardiovascular system with a steady stream of healthy, monounsaturated fatty acids.

2. Build and maintain strong bones and teeth by supplying your body with a rich supply of magnesium, which is just as important to the physical structure of your bones and teeth as calcium.

3. Promote healthy blood pressure - magnesium-rich cashews can help keep your blood vessels relaxed, combating the negative effects of poor dietary choices and stress than can cause high blood pressure.

4. Keep your nerves relaxed - this is also accomplished by magnesium, which promotes a healthy, relaxed tone in your nerves and muscles by acting as a natural calcium channel blocker.

5. Decrease muscle cramps and soreness - also due to the high magnesium content of high quality cashews.

6. Promote deep, restful sleep through the relaxation effect that magnesium has on your nervous system and muscles.

7. Keep your joints, bones, and blood vessels flexible by supplying your body with significant amounts of copper.

8. Prevent premature aging and disease by supporting the antioxidant activity of a powerful enzyme called superoxide dismutase.