Considering trying a new diet that cuts down on carbohydrates or cuts them out completely? First of all, you need to ask yourself why you want to do this, and make sure you have a good answer.

Secondly, you need a course of action if you’re going to modify your diet to this extreme. And finally, you need to set a goal for yourself so you know what you’re working toward and why you’re working toward it. Here are answers to all of your pre-carb-free diet questions.

Why Do It?

The best way to answer the carb-free “why?” question is to learn and understand why carbohydrates can be bad for your body. Carbs are one of your body’s main sources of energy, but in order to pull the energy from the food, your body needs to break them down and convert them to the simple sugar glucose. The production of glucose also stimulates the production of insulin, which is a hormone that lets your body take the glucose that it’s made and distribute it everywhere.

If you consume too many carbs, your body will create too much insulin, which can lead to many potentially serious health problems, namely the raising of your blood sugar levels. When levels of insulin are too high in the body, your cells “fill up” on the hormone and don’t take anymore in, which means nutrients from foods consumed beyond those carbs won’t be taken in completely by your body. All of the extra glucose, fatty acids and cholesterol then build up in your blood stream and can lead to more serious problems. And with higher levels of insulin in the body, your organs lose some of their ability to break down fats into energy.

Not all carbs are bad, though, and that’s something that you need to understand before you start restricting carbs. Simple carbs are the bad guys. They’re mostly single molecules of sugar that lack fiber and nutrients but are high in calories, and they pass through your bloodstream very quickly, providing no benefit to your body. Table sugar, sweetened juices and sodas and candy fall under the simple carb category.

Complex carbs are made of several sugar molecules all strung together that digest slowly, keeping your blood sugar levels more sustained than a simple carb. They’re usually higher in vitamins, minerals and nutrients like fiber and can sustain your energy levels longer and help you feel more full than if you eat a simple carb. Complex carbs include whole grains, green vegetables, starchy vegetables and legumes, among other foods.

What To Do

Based on this information about the different kinds of carbohydrates that are out there and how they all affect your body, it’s probably the wisest choice to opt for a diet that simply restricts carbs instead of eliminating them entirely.

Many fad diets out there tell you to eat a low protein, low carb, high fat diet if you want to lose weight. While it may (quite miraculously) work for weight loss in some people, this diet will likely spike your cholesterol and threaten your arteries, causing more serious problems than being overweight.

By eating a high protein, regulated fat, low carb diet, the carbs that you’re consuming (hopefully you’ll choose complex carbs!) will be broken down and used by your body to turn the fats and proteins you consume into energy, without creating too much excess insulin. On this diet, you’ll find that you’ll feel more energized, making this a good option for anyone wishing to incorporate an exercise routine with their dieting, as well.

Do some research on the kinds of foods that are the best to consume on diets such as these, but in general, lean meats, lots of fresh fruits and veggies (the sugars in fruits are natural sugars and should not be considered simple carbs, but should be consumed in moderation), some whole grains (whole-wheat or whole-grain bread or pasta products – white flour is a terrible excuse for a complex carb) and lots of water. Avoid foods and beverages high in sugar and fat, and keep in mind that alcoholic beverages are usually very high in simple carbs, so consume them in strict moderation.

The Goal

Having a goal in mind will not only help motivate you to stick to your diet, but it will also directly help to keep you right on track. Stock your house with only foods that you’ll be allowed to eat on your new diet, and dispose of any foods high in fat, sugar or other simple carbs.

Find a friend who will start your diet with you for extra motivation. Plan out your meals in advance of making them so that you never lose track.

If you’re starting any kind of new diet plan, you obviously have some sort of weight loss or better health goal in mind, so take it one step further by planning ahead and knowing what the benefits will be from your new diet.

Amy Richards is a freelance writer who often contributes to many health and wellness publications. She is a mother of 2 and owns her own bakery that sells everything from gluten free gift baskets to decadent gourmet treats.

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It’s the holiday season, which means that it’s that time of year when our waistlines tend to expand. But there are things that everyone can do that will reduce the chances of horrible weight gain.

Keep up (as best you can) your workouts. You may slack on your diet (if you are on one), but it’s imperative that you try and keep up a regular workout schedule – keep those sneakers where you will be able to find them – and feel guilty if you don’t use them! You’re throwing so many more calories at your body during the holiday season, not keeping a regular exercise will very well make it worse.

Watch your alcohol intake. Beer and wine equal empty calories – keep count not just for your alcohol consumption, but remember that those are calories, too.

Eat slowly and don’t stand by the food. This seems like something straightforward and easy, but it’s amazing how much a difference it makes when the holiday season comes – a switch turns on, and for some reason people decide that they need to take a man and a van and pile all that food onto a plate and then put it in their body in two seconds flat. Don’t do that. Eat slowly, maybe slower than your normal rate, and allow your body the chance to recognize it is full. Those 20 minutes can make a huge difference. This way you won’t feel like a towing company has to come in and roll you out of the party.

I’ve done it before, too – we all have – and it is definitely not a fun experience.

Sleep! This is another thing that people forget to take into account – but with the holiday season comes long days (and nights) of travel. Make sure that you keep as similar a sleep schedule as you can – as with your workouts and your caloric intake, our bodies do not always adjust well to the change from new stresses – so one of the best things to do is to keep your body as regulated as you can.

Move! Don’t stay on one place: go walking, playing or traveling!

Overall, the best thing that you can do for your body is try and keep all your other routines as best you can – and eating a healthy meal before a party isn’t a bad idea, either – that way you’ll be less tempted to eat all the deliciously bad food before you.

Ashley Dean looks forward to the holiday season every year, and actually enjoys swapping out her Carolina boots and her man’s Dunham work boots for snow boots. She’s been writing for as long as she can remember, but only recently started doing so professionally.

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Suffering hunger, starvation, war, pestilence, people in the developing world live amid problems of epic proportions. Now, for the lack of proper eyecare, tens of millions also suffer unnecessary vision problems including blindness.

The infographic below reveals shocking statistics concerning this vision plague that casts so many into the shadows, if not total darkness. Helping some of the many organizations trying to combat this problem can give the gift of sight to another human being – other than the gift of life, what great help is there?


Infographic courtesy of Mezzmer Eyeglasses

80 percent of all the visually impaired can never have to suffer. This is a pretty big incentive to find out more about how we can all help those less fortunate than ourselves. For more information visit the Eyeglasses sponsor of this infographic, Mezzmer.

Most people dread going to the doctor and undergoing a physical check up. Most times, people prolong their agonies and only visit the doctor’s clinic when the symptoms worsen. However, when it comes to our health, one must be their own advocate.

It is important to pay attention to small warning signs that may indicate a bigger underlying health problem. And in any kind of illness, early intervention is important to a full recovery. Here are a few warning signs that might indicate that you may need a thorough medical check up with your physician.

Symptoms That Can Be Red Flags for Underlying Disease:

• A warning sign of an underlying health problem is unintentional weight loss. More often than not, unintentional weight loss may be an indication of onset of cancer, thus it is very important to pay attention to it, especially if one has lost more than 10 pounds in the last six months. On the other hand, unexplained weight gain may also be a warning sign of a health problem.

• Another warning sign is experiencing frequent abdominal pain or the feeling of being bloated or becoming full very quickly. It is important to take note of the frequency, location of the pain as well as the severity of the pain.

• Some people may have sudden craving for ice cubes or only wish to drink fluids and water, and often loses appetite. Additionally, if a person experiences change in his sense of taste, this might be an indication of a serious illness and the person should seek immediate medical attention.

• Additionally, if the person has unexplained bruises all over his body, this might also be a warning sign of illness such as leukaemia.

• Another warning sign is the feeling of always being tired or feeling faint. He may also feel low in energy, loss of motivation and inability to focus. If a person experiences frequent headaches even after waking up in the morning, this might be a warning sign of a serious health condition.

• If a person misses bowel movement, this might indicate a problem with his digestive system. Regular bowel movements should be daily.

• There are also other factors that might increase the susceptibility of a person to illnesses. If a person is a smoker or living with a smoker, this may increase the chance for him to develop lung cancer. If a person lives a sedentary lifestyle and exercises less than ninety minutes a week, this also increases his risk to illnesses such as hypertension and heart problems.

These are just basic warning signs but can be a good gauge of a person’s health. One must pay attention to small warning signs so that further tests and diagnostics can be done in order to identify health conditions every before they worsen. Dismissing these small symptoms can prove to be very costly once the illness has become too severe which may later on cost one’s life. Furthermore, it is important to have regular check ups with your physician to prevent such illnesses.

Dean Nason, a contributing writer for Hive Health Media, is a nutrition expert and fitness enthusiast.  Dean enjoys writing about articles ranging from natural arthritis remedies to weight loss topics such as adipotide.

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We’ve come a long way from the time when people used to believe that eating chocolate cause acne. There are still a few myths and misconceptions that surround the topic, but the picture has cleared up a little. We know more about acne than ever and there are numerous treatments options for you to try. But no matter which direction you go, it’s important not to accidentally make the situation worse yourself.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to acne treatment. Whether it’s a lack of patience or general education, there are huge mistakes and bad habits that can increase the likelihood of breakouts. Here are some things you should be aware of so that you don’t limit your own possibilities for getting clear skin in the future.

Popping Zits – this is the most common solution that leads to temporary results and possible a long-term damage. It might seem like a good idea at the time, but you need to think carefully about what you’re doing. Breaking the surface of your skin and letting all of that pus out can potentially spread infection and aggravate your face at the same time. In short, don’t be surprised if this behavior leads to further breakouts and more complicated situations like acne scars.

Touching Your Face – it takes an incredible amount of self-restraint when dealing with anything related to acne. A lot of people touch their face anyways even if they don’t have blemishes on their skin. But touching your face can spread germs which is a number one contributor to acne formation, and even if you aren’t picking or popping your pimples, it’s best to leave them alone altogether. If you do have to set your face, make sure that your hands are clean.

Too Many Products – finding an answer for acne is not about going out and buying as many products as you can find. There are lots of people who make the mistake of loading up their face with different types of harsh treatments that can have potentially harmful side effects. There are no fast overnight answers which is why you need to be fully aware of the products you use, so make sure that you follow instructions and read the label. Too many products can do a lot more harm than good if you don’t use caution.

Washing too Much – another tactic that seemingly would benefit your skin can backfire if you go overboard. Careful washing is definitely a technique you should develop and a good cleanser is something you need to find. Don’t use overly medicated creams or things that are loaded with alcohol and perfume. There are gentle and natural cleansers on the market that will do the job just as well. Find a routine that works for you so that you can get rid of all the impurities that build up in the course of just one day.

Sun and Smoking – two of the most harmful habits for your face and body include excessive sun tanning and smoking. It’s best to avoid these activities altogether, and you’ll find great benefits for your skin if you do. Some people even believe that a nice tan will help to burn away acne, but all you’re doing is hiding it underneath. And when you’re tan fades, you’ll be left with dryer skin that is likely to be oilier and more prone to breakouts in the future.

Healthy Basics – figuring out how to get rid of acne isn’t just about products, you have to factor in healthy living and taking care of your body on the whole. Every element from your skin to your circular system is connected, and that means taking care of your body will benefit your face as well. Drink enough water to keep your body hydrated, stay active with a good amount of exercise, and try your best reduce stress levels. Get a good amount of sleep each night and take care of proper nutrition so that your body is well-versed and more prepared to deal with problems.

More advice on general skincare can be found at howtogetridofacnehelp.com, the place to go for tips on any problem ranging from blackheads to acne scars.

Image credit: 1.

The most inspired gifts take a lot of time and energy for shoppers to find. Between coordinating family schedules and visits, cooking and cleaning, and having kids home for the holidays, stress starts to mount. Give yourself inspired gifts for little or no cost with these five simple ways to relax during the holiday season.

Wash Away Stress

Soak your stresses away in the tub during the hectic holiday season. A relaxing bath or shower with scented candles and bath products soothes the soul. Treat yourself to bath inspired gifts such as fragrant shower gels or bath salts. Light scented candles while you unwind in the bathroom. Calming holiday scents include cinnamon, vanilla, ginger and lavender.

Meditation

Escape to a quiet room for a few minutes of meditation. Light holiday inspired gifts to yourself, such as incense or scented candles. Close your eyes; focus on a universal mantra such as “Ohm” and momentarily get away from the holiday hubbub. For a change of pace, try meditating outdoors on a warm day. Let the scent of pine trees and the sound of rustling leaves take you to a higher plane. Breathe in the natural fragrance of the world around you and feel the stress melt away.

Yoga

One of the most inspired gifts to yourself is a yoga mat. Check out a yoga class at your local library or community center. Visit a yoga center or buy a book showing the basic postures, formally referred to as asanas. 3After easing into the dog, cat, mountain and warrior, you’ll feel more relaxed when you return to the holiday duties at hand.

Flavor Savers

Have a comfort food or drink on hand to assuage those holiday blues. When the pace starts to exhaust you, sit down and feed your need. Herbal teas, flavored coffee and dark chocolate are examples of foods that put you in a positive mood. Include these inspired gifts in a basket just for you to tuck away and enjoy over the holiday season.

Go to the Spa

If you have the time and the dime, treat yourself to a spa excursion. Get a massage and feel the holiday stresses disappear. Have your nails and toes done to feel beautiful during the holiday season. Include inspired gifts such as reflexology or aromatherapy for completely relaxing experience.

Travel or Go Extreme

Changing something always helps to re-tune and relax. So go ahead! Go on a quick trip! Extreme sports like wakeboarding are awesome at helping you relax!

Most holiday inspired gifts to yourself do not have to be expensive or elaborate. Take time out for yourself so you can be at your best throughout the holiday season.

Maya Richards is a freelance writer working with The Life Divine who loves yoga and peaceful and inspired gifts (whatever form they may take). Her inspiration varies from day to day, but it’s usually the small kindnesses that strike her the most.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that any man or woman would much rather spend hours lounging in a hammock with a cool pina-colada in hand than slave away at the gym.

We all have our lazy side, and suffice it to say that it simply is more inviting to tap into that facet of our personas.

Even when it comes to weight loss, we can still manage to indulge our indolent side.  Believe it or not, there are effective ways to lose weight without breaking up a sweat.

Eat Fruit

This means you have to give up those quick drive thru trips just to satisfy your craving for a Burger King whopper.  Instead of popping a greasy burger into your pie hole, have a bite of a juicy apple.  Eating at least five pieces of fruit each day helps you reap the health benefits of any kind of fruit.

You lose weight when you consume huge amounts of fruit because fruit helps fill you up faster.  In effect, you tend to eat less high-calorie food because you feel your stomach can no longer take any more food.  Moreover, fruit has less sodium.  This means you won’t gain weight due to water retention.

Squeeze Your Abs

If you’re one who packs a little extra weight around the middle, you can still effectively trim your tummy even while lying down.  Lazy is the operative word here as you can do this simple abdominal exercise even with your eyes glued to the TV as you catch up on those missed Glee episodes.

Simply tighten your abs and squeeze them together with all your might. Hold it for as long as you can, then release.  Rest a few seconds, and then do it again.  Contracting your stomach muscles like this for 3-6 minutes a day does work wonders.

Drink Water

Thirty minutes before a meal, down one glass of water.  This should be enough to fill you up, so you won’t be able to finish that supersized plate of creamy pasta.

Share Your Food

More than losing weight, you strengthen friendship bonds.  Split a quarter pounder, or  share that huge plate of spaghetti with your BFF.

If you’re still fretting over ways to lose weight, you can stop worrying now.  Discipline has always been the key to solving weight loss problems.  If anything, that’s the most essential thing you’ll need to finally make your weight loss dreams real.

Annie is a fitness geek and stay-at-home blogger for Life Insurance Finder, the free tool for income protection insurance comparison.

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Movember here, are you ready? If you are not familiar with Movember, let me explain it now. Movember is a campaign that runs through November of each year to help raise awareness about men’s health issues.

Every year men decide for one month to allow their moustache to grow. Many will gather sponsorship during this time which is given to the Movember organizers who then distribute to the charities which they support. The main aim of the month is to raise awareness about prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.

Men are notorious for not talking about their health problems with others, the Movember campaign is a way to increase conversation and hopefully prompt people to seek medical advice before it is too late.

Be a Mo Bro

To be a Mo Bro all you have to do is sign up at Movember.com on the 1st November with a clean-shaven face and then start growing your moustache. The idea is that having a moustache will prompt conversations about men’s health, as people will often ask “why are you growing a moustache?”. It’s a simple but effective way to raise awareness.

How to Style Your Moustache

There is more to growing a moustache than simply not shaving. Unlike growing a beard, which does simply involve not shaving, a moustache needs care and grooming. Everyone is suited to a particular style. Some people go for a simple chevron style, which is the standard upper lip moustache.

More adventurous Mo Bro’s will opt for a walrus, a much thicker moustache that extends a little further, or the flamboyant handlebar moustache, which requires regular twirling at the ends to maintain to pointed look. The walrus is often called The Selleck after actor Tom Selleck from Magnum, P.I.

Another popular look is the Fu Manchu which sees the moustache extend downwards to the jaw line with a small beard beneath the lower lip.

The easiest to grow in one month is possibly the pencil moustache which is just a fine line of growth above the lip with the top half kept cleanly shaven.

For those with very fast growing facial hair then the Mexican can be grown, although really this takes more than a month. This is really a type of moustache that requires time and planning, as well as excellent grooming. The Mexican is a large, thick and broad moustache which extends out to the side in a similar way to the English, but much thicker. The Australian cricketer Merv Hughes is famous for his huge Mexican.

The end of Movember does not have to mark the end of your moustache though. Many people start growing moustache for Movember and then decide to keep them and cultivate them into masterpieces in the months to come. If you chose to grow a handlebar moustache you may be eligible to join the Handlebar Club. The only rules are that the ends of the moustaches must be large enough to be grasped by each hand and beards are strictly forbidden. Whatever style you chose remember that moustaches can be cool.

Anthony Collins is currently working on a fine handlebar moustache for Movember.  When not concentrating on growing facial hair he writes on mens health issues for sites such as Brummells of London and a number of independent blogs.

Once and for all, you’d want to be able to give a sendoff party for one of your worst enemies: flab! It would be sheer bliss if one day, you can finally say goodbye to those upper arms which look like flags when you wave them about.

There are some fitness tips which can help you achieve a toned body without looking as if you’re competing for a bodybuilding title. Here’s how to tone your body without the unwanted bulk.

Lift Those Weights

You wouldn’t have to strain yourself with weights, because you’ll only need light weights. The key is in doing many repetitions. Your goal should be to do four or five sets of 15-20 reps each.

You’ll only need a couple of light dumbbells, and you’re good to go.

Do exercises which use your own body weight as resistance. Without any extra equipment, you can tone your body by doing push-ups, lunges, squats, and pull-ups. If you don’t feel like heading off for the gym in tight spandex, you can do these exercises in the comfort of your living room. Just be sure to keep the blinds drawn, just to stave off those nosy neighbors.

Stick to a Regular Cardio Schedule

Stick to a regular cardio schedule, most especially if you’re a bit overweight. Your toned muscles will never see the light of day underneath all that fat, so you have to continue burning those through cardio exercises. Slash down calories from your daily diet and burn as much calories as you can through regular cardio.

Pick a cardio workout which suits your fancy. It could be running, biking or swimming. Any exercise which will get your heart pumping is a good form of cardio.

Get into Pilates or Yoga

These are known for the muscle-toning effect they give to your body. If you regularly do these, you will develop a long and lean look. Cardio kickboxing is another excellent form of exercise which tones muscles without adding bulk.  Punching, kicking, jabbing and jumping all do an effective job.

Stretch Yourself

After every workout, do not forget to do some stretching. More than protecting your body from injury, stretching helps elongate your muscles.

Quit Smoking!

I know, I know, that’s easier to say than to do. I used to be a smoker as well. Here’s a way to do that: e-cigarettes! And here are a few Green Smoke Coupon Codes for you to save as well!

A combination of cardio exercises and resistance training will help tone your body without bulking up. With a toned body, you can still slip into that sexy black dress without looking over-the-top muscular. You can save the Incredible Bulk look for Halloween, thank you!

cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo shared by Helga Weber

Energy drinks are, to many people, something of a mystery. Though some of the health issues surrounding these beverages have received a fair amount of attention in the media, to a large extent people are still unaware of exactly what it is they are drinking, and the effects this could potentially have on them.

Sadly, people who are oblivious to the health risks attached to such products often assume that, rather than being dangerous, they are in some way healthy. After all, as these drinks are supposedly designed to give consumers an extra boost of energy, it isn’t hard to see how a person might come to associate the product with exercise, and therefore see a link between the product and increased physical fitness. This logic is dangerously flawed.

After seeing some high profile cases of fatal accidents caused by people drinking alcohol and energy drinks simultaneously, most people are, thankfully, now aware that mixing booze with these beverages is a bad idea. Unfortunately, far fewer people are aware that mixing exercise and energy drinks is also a cocktail to be avoided. If anything, people still tend to associate the two.

Indeed, this seems, unsurprisingly, to be an association that drinks companies are more than willing to reinforce. Take, for instance one famous energy drink manufacturer, Red Bull. They spend a huge amount of money sponsoring professional athletes who are in great health, especially those who participate in activities that appeal to young, image conscious people. Mountain biking, wake boarding and skate boarding are a few examples, but more conventional sports are also covered.

However, despite the image often manufacturers seek to foster through such sponsorship deals, energy drinks and strenuous physical activity are not at all a good match. This is because of the extremely high levels caffeine they usually contain.

To say that these drinks are high in caffeine, is not just an understatement, it’s technically a falsehood. Why? Because these products are so high in caffeine they can’t in fact be legally classified as a ‘food stuff’, so in the eyes of the law they are not strictly ‘drinks’ at all.

The US Food and Drug administration limits drinks to containing 71mg of caffeine per 12 fluid ounces. However, as energy drinks are categorised as ‘nutritional supplements’, they are able to ignore this rule completely. As a result, some contain as much as 400mg of caffeine per a container.  This is without counting the additional caffeine that can come from other ingredients that are often included, such as the increasingly popular gurana. Even if caffeine is listed as an ingredient, and it isn’t always, the additional caffeine from these sources won’t be tallied in. It’s worth bearing in mind that gurana can contain up to 40mg of caffeine per a gram.

Caffeine is, of course, a diuretic. This means that, when consumed, it causes your kidneys to start removing fluid from your body. This, in of itself, can be enough to make you feel dehydrated. If you are also losing fluids through sweat due to exercising, there is a real risk that you will rapidly become dangerously dehydrated.

To fight dehydration when exercising you should drink either water, or sports drinks, which contain minerals and electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and chloride, all of which are lost through sweating.

It’s very important not to get confused between energy drinks and sports drinks. In an effort to associate their product with the world of fitness, energy drinks companies tailor their marketing to match those of sports drinks. For example, they will often use similar packaging, both types of drinks are often brightly coloured and they can even have a similar taste.

However, these products are very different. Whilst energy drinks will dehydrate you, sports drinks do the opposite. Whereas energy drinks contain huge amounts of simple sugars, which will give you a sudden energy peak, followed by a huge crash, sports drinks contain 6-8% carbohydrates, providing actual fuel for your muscles to burn.

Always make sure to check the list of ingredients before buying a drink to aid your workout, as it is easy for confusion to arise over the intended purpose of a beverage.

Simon Hanley writes on a number of fitness and nutrition issues, including the diet, exercise regime and mentality required to make the most of gym membership.