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.

ow to Make All-Natural Almond Milk

By Dr. Ben Kim on June 22, 2009

• Healthy Beverages

Why learn how to make your own almond milk? It's one of a few easy-to-make alternatives to cow's milk, and is far healthier for you than most commercially available dairy. Though you can purchase almond milk in most grocery stores these days, as you'll see below, it's a snap to make your own at a fraction of the cost.

If you regularly suffer from nasal congestion, sinusitis, ear infections, joint pain, asthma, seasonal allergies, hyperhidrosis, indigestion, diarrhea, psoriasis, eczema, or any other autoimmune illness, you may experience significant improvement in your health just by avoiding dairy.

Over the years, I've actually observed hundreds of folks who have made complete recoveries from some of these and other chronic health conditions just by avoiding dairy.

So if you experience any chronic health challenges on a recurring basis and you regularly eat dairy products, I encourage you to go for one or two months without dairy. This is one simple experiment that will cost you very little and could potentially make a huge difference in the quality of your life.

Back to all-natural almond milk, here's how you can make it in just a few minutes...

First, measure out one cup of sweet, unroasted almonds.

Transfer almonds to a strong blender. My mom has been "borrowing" our vita-mix over the past few months, so we've been using our old cuisinart as of late - it's quite a sturdy blender and does a fine job with this and other recipes that call for heavy blending.

Add three to eight soaked dates. It's best to have the dates soak for at least an hour for easy blending. Three dates if you enjoy only the most subtle hint of sweetness to your milk, and closer to eight if the sweetness of most commercial brands of non-dairy milk is about right for you.

Add four cups of cold water. We keep a jug of cold tap water in our refrigerator at all times. There's nothing like a glass of cold water on a hot summer day, right?

A water softener that has a quality carbon filter ensures that all of the water that runs through our home is free of contaminants, including chlorine - highly recommended if you're ever in the market for a water softener or whole-house water filter.

Here's what our all-natural almond milk looks like just a millisecond after being blended.

Doesn't this look like a delicious milk that any dairy lover would want to try, knowing that it's about seven billion times healthier than cow's milk?

Strain freshly blended almond milk - we pour it into a strainer than sits over a large bowl.

We then use a spoon to gently coax every last bit of milky goodness out of the almond pulp.

Still straining - don't want to miss a drop.

And voila, you're left with about four glasses of cold and creamy almond milk. It's best to store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for about four to five days.

And what to do with the almond pulp that's left over?

You can add it to cereal or a smoothie to boost healthy protein and fiber content.

Or here's another idea...

If you don't mind a little chocolate in your life, add some truly healthy chocolate (cacao nibs) to the almond pulp. Just a teaspoon goes a long way in adding flavor, texture, and health-promoting effects on your cardiovascular system (tons of flavonoids in quality cacao).

Drizzle a tablespoon of raw, organic honey on top, and that's all there is to it. A simple way to enjoy every last bit of the almond milk-making process.

For just the recipe without pictures, please feel free to view:

All-Natural Almond Milk Recipe

Ah, one last note: if you're a vanilla person, add the vanilla specks from one vanilla bean to the mix before blending.

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Fascial workout to eliminate the look of wrinkle

Face lifting workouts can prevent and minimize the look of your wrinkles on your face. Improve your circulation by participating in simple facial exercises. Tone the look on your face! There are so many muscles in your face that you are able to tone. Tone most of your facial muscles by stretching them. This will also help you keep your muscles healthy and strong.

Properly working out your face can do much more than just diminish the amount of wrinkles. They can help reduce stiffness or your dull thoughts about your face. Your skin's elasticity will greatly improve with helpful exercise movements. Appropriate movements can keep your face fit. This will also keep your faced toned and in place. Make up may be a thing of the pass when you see the visual improvement.

Facial workouts can be done during any second of the day. Never worry about not having time if your schedule since face lifting exercises aren't time sensitive. Take a bath and exercise, even when you drive to your career, and even when watching TV with your family.

After you brush your teeth, or after you eat, simply do a facial exercise or two. Before you sleep and when you wake you can even fit in a few seconds for a workout. So many opportunities and no rules!

Do you want to know a few simple facial workouts you can do? Start toning your cheeks by filing your entire mouth with air, expanding your cheeks, then slowly release the air out. Shutting your mouth, move your lips to the left and right a few times. You should start feeling the stretch in your muscles.

You have to make sure that you breath correctly when doing all kinds or workouts. Every part of your body needs and crave the flow of oxygen. Increase the circulation to your face by simply tapping different areas on your face.

Face lifting exercises can definitely help decrease the look of wrinkles. Even help diminish the appearance of wrinkle around your forehead and lips. Start reducing the look of crow's feet around your eyes. These simple workouts can add a natural fullness to your lips. By reducing the puffiness around your eyes, facial exercises can make your cheeks look even more toned.

Very minimal and rare chance will there be any harm done from facial workouts. Simple remember never to exercise after a injury or surgery. Otherwise, workouts should never harm you. Face lifting exercises do not discriminate any age or sin type.