If you’re anything like the rest of the population, how you look will be very important to you. We worry endlessly about the image we present to the world and a very important part of this is how our skin looks.

Tutti Frutti

You probably don’t need me to tell you that fruit and vegetables are the main ingredients to a healthy, youthful skin. The reason for this is that they contain lots of vitamins and minerals that perform an antioxidant function. Antioxidants mop up reactions caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules created by such things as stress, pollution and certain foods.

Free radicals sound like a new political party that we should all be voting for, but instead they’re electrochemically unbalanced chemicals which ultimately can be the cause of degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease, not to mention premature ageing (which is where your skin comes in). The main antioxidant vitamins are vitamins A, C and E together with the minerals selenium, manganese and zinc. Some B vitamins also have antioxidant properties together with some amino acids (building blocks for protein). Most of these important minerals can be found in a wholefood, fresh food diet.

Berries and fruits and vegetables with red, purple and blue colouring are particularly good because they’re stuffed with antioxidants and contain a group of flavonoids called anthocyanidins, thought to be much more powerful than vitamin E. Antioxidants sometimes work together. For example, vitamins C and E work together – vitamin C allows vitamin E to be recycled in the body so that it can carry on working longer.

Water Your Face Daily

Drinking pure, fresh water flushes toxins through your system and hydrates cells carrying essential nutrients to every part of your body. I probably didn’t need to tell you that either. Aim to drink about 2 litres (3.5 pints) daily. Don’t overdo it though or you could end up flushing minerals out of your system, especially if you’re gulping rather than sipping.

The other essential ingredient to healthy skin is fat. Not any old fat, but essential fatty acids (EFAs). One group of EFAs is especially important: omega-3. EFAs work as a kind of waterproofer because they stop fluids escaping from your body’s cells. In this way, your skin is kept plumped up and moisturised. Do an experiment – take a good quality fish oil supplement for three months (or flax seed if you’re vegetarian) and note the quality of skin on the back of your hands. You’ll notice that they’re better moisturised!

You should also decrease the amount of saturated and processed fats in your diet, as these compete with the good fats and make their job more difficult. In general, the fresher the food and the more unprocessed it is, the wider the vitamin and mineral range and the more good it will do your skin!

Do you have ideas about health, beauty and nutrition? Are you eager to be heard? If you’d like to get published, David Grant at Infideas can help!

By now it’s no secret that weight is an issue for many, many people in the world. And, while many still struggle to find a decent meal every day, those of us living in the developed world are inundated with food and invitations to overindulge on almost an hourly basis.

Fad diets have been around for decades now as a means to combat this problem, and many people have had varying success with everything from grapefruit juice to low fat to high protein diet strategies. However, all of these methods have one thing in common: eat less, weigh less.

It seems like such a simple solution. By taking in fewer calories, you can lose weight as your body taps into fat stores for fuel. In fact, a very popular study in the New England Journal of Medicine from 2009 even proved that variations in diet did not have a major impact on weight loss as much as simple calorie reduction.

Why is this, though? Think of it this way: calories are basically units of fuel that your body uses to function. These functions range from the blood your heart pumps to the energy and muscle use needed to walk across the room to the exertion of a tough workout on both the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems.

Food provides those calories and in its absence, the body will begin to break down fat in order to create the fuel it needs. On the flip side, any excess calories that you consume will be stored as fat for use in the event that you take in too little.

The more activity that you do, the more calories you will burn. However, the chances of having a significant impact on weight based on activity level alone are slim since many of us actually eat more on days when we are particularly active. Think about it, if you go for a long hike on a weekend, aren’t you more likely to have a big dinner after?

This is where caloric restriction (a fancy term for eating less) comes in handy. The USDA bases its daily recommendations on a 2,000 calorie diet which may or may not be accurate for your body type, age, and activity level. However, for argument’s sake, let’s assume that 2,000 is the magic number of calories that your body needs.

One pound of body fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories. Therefore, to lose one pound you need to consume 3,500 calories less than you burn during a period of time. This can be achieved through exercise, and if you have the time to dedicate to intense physical activity, you absolutely should do that. But let’s face it: most of us are fat because we don’t have that time.

What’s the other option? EAT LESS. If you need 2,000 calories a day and only eat 1,500, you will lose a pound a week. It’s that simple and you didn’t even need to buy a new pair of running shoes to do it.

What people often do is share their experiences on weight loss online. A good idea might be to use some people search engine listed here and search by ‘interest’ (improvement, weight loss etc.)

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The United States Department of Agriculture, in an effort to combat the epidemic of obesity putting a strain on the American health care system, has retracted its traditional Food Pyramid in favor of a new suggestion of healthy meals, called MyPlate.

With MyPlate the emphasis is clearly on fruits and vegetables, with low fat proteins getting just a tiny slice of the pie, so to speak. The new food recommendations have a new icon, a plate split into four equal parts. One half of the plate is devoted just to fruits and vegetables. The other half is split between whole grains and lean protein. The USDA also recommends you drink a glass of skim milk or have some low fat dairy to go along with your healthy meal.

These new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans puts the emphasis on fruits and vegetables, but it also makes suggestions about reducing caloric intake, reducing sodium and drinking more water instead if sugary soft drinks. More Americans are obese today than ever before and all previous efforts to counter this obesity epidemic have failed miserably. It is nearly impossible to fight obesity when sugary snacks, high calorie sweets and soft drinks are advertised on nearly every television channel, marketed directly to children. For Americans on restricted budgets, the cost of junk food compared to high value fruits and vegetables is much lower, making them a more likely choice for those who are trying to reduce costs. For many it is easier to buy the kids a bag of potato chips than a bag of carrots–and it is cheaper.

The USDA also launched a new web site to promote the new MyPlate food structure. The new web site, ChooseMyPlate.org, was created to help Americans make better choices when it comes to the foods they eat and feed their families.  The web site has recipes, tips and cooking tricks that are designed to help American families eat better and healthier meals. It also has suggestions for helping families stretch their budget when it comes to buying health foods.

The first food pyramid was released in 1992 and recommended Americans eat five to nine servings of vegetables every day, plus six to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta. It made no recommendations between refined and whole grains which meant it wound up promoting too many grain servings which actually promoted obesity. That pyramid was replaced by the MyPyramid in 2005 which did not offer much information at all. It just showed an image of a stick figure walking up the side of a pyramid.

It remains to be seen whether USDA recommendations make any difference in American eating habits. People seem to eat what they will and are prone to allow their health deteriorate as a result of their poor choices. Making recommendations about what they should or should not eat is great on paper, but in reality, ultimately, the only thing that is going to change the American eating habit, is the American doing the eating.

Emma Thomas is an avid food critic and a longtime advocate of healthy food living. With the help of a team of Virtual Assistants, Emma runs a healthy living website showing people how to cook food healthy. If you’re interested in Emma’s healthy initiatives or would like to find out more on how to use a Virtual Assistant, visit her website.

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There are many people on the planet that love wine. It’s not only something they do, but a lifestyle. It’s great to sit down with family and friends at your favorite restaurant or around the dinner table and sip on your favorite vintage.

However, did you ever think that you’re actually drinking something good for your body and helping you prolong your life in the process?

If you drink red wine, you just might be doing that. A healthy compound named revasterol is found in many red wines. It’s a naturally occurring substance found in the skin of the grape and is present in wine after processing. Researchers from all over the globe have been studying this remarkable compound for many years and have documented the benefits for the body.

Revasterol acts as an antioxidant in the body that reduces the amount of free radicals. Free radicals produced by our body can attack our cells. The damage can predispose us to many conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, aging and stroke. A study at the at the University of Buffalo in New York concluded that humans consuming revasterol have a better chance of reducing the effects and development of heart disease, aging, strokes and type two diabetes.

In the study, half of the participants were given revasterol while the other half had only a placebo. Both groups consumed one pill a day for a total of six weeks. After the trial period, their blood was taken after week 1 and well as 3 and 6. They found that the revasterol minimized the effects of molecules known to cause inflammation in our bodies. It also slowed down the production of insulin in the body, thus reducing diabetes risk. The placebos users had no change. It needs to be noted that this study, like all others, has limitations. Other variables could also be responsible for the results.

So what kind of wine should you drink to take advantage of this remarkable compounds healing and protection?

You’ll find it in red wine. This is because it’s found in the skin of the red grape. Again, in another study of red wines throughout the world, there are some regions and types of wine that have higher concentrations of revasterol than others. It’s been found that the highest levels of revasterol are in the pinot noir grapes found in cooler, rainy environments such as the Finger Lakes in the regions of Upstate New York as well as  Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

In France, the cool Burgundy region is also a hot spot for the pinot noir grape. These grapes have been tested and confirmed to have more than 40 times the revasterol compared to the merlots or cabernet sauvignon.

So besides the enjoyment of drinking, wine has some great health and longevity benefits that may help you live a longer healthier life.

The article is written by Blake Bolston for GraysOnline, where Blake is the head wine tester/buyer. GraysOnline are passionate about red wine. We’ve even created a special wine tasting panel made up of experts and everyday buyers. If they vouch for the quality of a red wine, we’re happy to offer it to the public.

The main reason people changed their eating habits during the past years was to get more energy. Often times, people would usually wake up, work for a few hours and then grab a breakfast between 8 or 9 am.

When lunch came, anywhere between 2 and 4, they would be already tired and exhausted. And of course, they would always opt for a big dinner. It’s no wonder they were always dragging.

Eat Five Times A Day

Your weight may be perfect but in order to keep your energy up you’ll need to eat more often. Five times a day is a great way to stay in shape, increase brainpower and boast with energy throughput the day.

Breakfast

Start with a big breakfast of eggs with a small piece of bread and tofu, baked salmon and a tomato. Instead of coffee, drink green tea with honey. Including fat is also important for the body to function properly. Your best choices include monounsaturated fats, such as nuts, peanuts, almonds, olive oil, avocados, pumpkin seeds etc.

Don’t forget about the oatmeal, another great choice for breakfast. It makes digestion easier and also balances the blood glucose level. The rich fiber content in the oatmeal gives you a steady stream of energy and the Vitamin B helps turn carbohydrates into usable energy.

Snacks

Have some dried cranberries, an apple and 12 almonds for midmorning energy boost. Make yourself a low-fat turkey bologna sandwich and cucumbers and tomatoes for lunch, or sushi rolls if you’re out.  Other snacks may include chocolate with cheese or nuts.

Dinner

Dinner should consist of fish, veal or chicken. Although it may seem like you’re always eating, you won’t gain weight. Also, try to eat your last meal before 8:30. You’ll stay productive all day, important for a busy person.

Meat Lowers The Energy

Most of us were raised eating meat and most of us have beef, pork or bacon couple of times a day and not knowing why our energy levels were always low. Meat takes a lot of energy to process and it needs 3 days to leave your body. Get your protein from fish, beans, tofu, veggie burgers and you’ll need less sleep and become more productive.

Stay Hydrated

Without water, your system cannot pump up the energy. Water helps your body to digest, intake and transport all the nutrients and also regulate the body heat. When you’re dehydrated, your cells receive less energy and your body can’t properly eliminate the heat through sweating, which leads to fatigue. Make it a habit to drink 8 -10 glasses of water a day and mix it up with flavored waters such as Propel, sports drinks like Gatorade, herbal teas and whole-fruit juices.

Go Green

A lot of people swear that organic is the only way to eat, so try out berries, nuts, tofu, whole wheat, brown rice, quinoa, fruits and veggies. Eat as often as you can, preferably every 2 hours and mix things up. It may sound geeky, but serving fresh fruits versus processed snacks and eating regularly will do wonders for your energy.

This article has been contributed by Aishwarya Vohra from Offshore Ally, a company offering the best virtual assistant and link builders online. She is nature lover and a fitness freak. Connect with her via Twitter.

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Where do you rate on the scale?  Take the quiz and find out!

Cigarettes cause lung cancer.  Too much sun causes skin cancer.  Obesity can cause a whole slew of problems, including heart disease and diabetes, two of the biggest killers.

The more modern medicine learns about our bodies, the more advice we get about how to be as healthy as possible.  It can be difficult to keep all these guidelines straight, though, and some of us are more successful than others!  How do you rate on the scale?

1) How often do you drink coffee?

1. Never
2. Occasionally
3. My blood is half coffee

2) How much attention do you pay to the nutrition panel when you shop for groceries?

1. I only buy whole fruits and veggies, and items with fewer than 5 ingredients.
2. I try to avoid artificial ingredients, but don’t stress about it too much.
3. Nutrition panel?  What’s that?

3) Which option best describes your attitude toward eating meat?

1. Animals are friends, not food.
2. Everything in moderation.
3. Veggies are for sissies.

4) How much water do you drink every day?

1. So much my friends think I’m part fish
2. A couple of glasses, more on hot days or when I’m more active
3. Does diet soda count?

5) How many times a week do you go for a run?

1. Every day, rain or shine
2. A few times a week, or when the mood hits me
3. Only when I’m being chased

6) How often do you wear sun block?

1. I wear UVA sun block every time I go outside.
2. Only if I know I’m going to be in the sun for a while.
3. Tanning is the skin’s natural sun block!

7) How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?

1. I would rather die first!
2. I’m more of a social smoker.
3. I can’t count that high!

When was the last time you saw your doctor?

1. Last week
2. Within the last year
3. You’ll have to ask my mom.

Tallying your points: Give yourself 3 points for every A, 2 points for every B, and 1 for every C.

21-24 points: Health Nut

You are healthy to the point of paranoia.  You religiously avoid processed foods, especially those with trans fats and artificial ingredients, and you drink the recommended 8 glasses of water — at least! — every day.  You are quick to lecture people on the merits of UVA sunblock versus UVB (only UVA protects against the radiation that causes skin cancer), and heaven forbid you are ever caught enjoying life’s risky pleasures, such as coffee or (gasp) meat!  Your other home is the gym, followed closely by the doctor’s office.  You may be the healthiest person around, but you are going to give those closest to you a stroke from the stress!

17-20 points: Reasonably Healthy

You have figured out the perfect balance: You take all the right precautions with your health, but you don’t fixate on it so much that you can’t still have fun.  You know that coffee, cigarettes, processed foods, and too much meat aren’t good for you, but you don’t let that stop you from enjoying them on special occasions or when you get a craving.  You try your best to drink enough water, exercise regularly, and see the doctor for routine visits, but you don’t stress about it too much if you don’t always succeed.  Your goal may be to live a healthy lifestyle, but not at the expense of your mental health!

13-16 points: Room for Improvement

You have some idea of what is good for you and what is not, but you could stand to put your health first a little more often.  Drink more water and eat fresh produce whenever possible.  When eating processed foods, look for alternatives that contain no trans fats or artificial ingredients; products with fewer than five ingredients are best.  Try to increase your activity levels as much as possible (you can never be too active), and be sure to see your doctor for a yearly physical, so that you can catch any problems before they get too serious.  Regarding sun exposure, only UVA sun block actually blocks the radiation that causes skin cancer, but don’t forget that you still need about 10 to 15 minutes a day of sun exposure (sans sun block) for proper vitamin D production.

8-12 points:

You break every health rule known to man, and don’t give a hoot, either.  You may be happier not having to worry about how healthy you are, but your body will pay the price!  You could benefit from some small changes to your lifestyle: Cut back on coffee and/or cigarettes, find healthier substitutes for your favorite foods (such as alternate brands that use fewer artificial ingredients), and find ways to sneak fresh produce into your diet.  Even if you aren’t the exercising type, find little ways to increase your activity level, such as going for a short walk once or twice a day and taking the stairs whenever possible.  And for heaven’s sake, see your doctor once in a while!

Shelly Towns manages online marketing strategy for Angie’s List, which collects ratings and reviews on local contractors and doctors. Whether you’re looking to find a local doctor or vendors that provide house cleaning Dallas services, Angie’s List provides you with the resources to find the best. Shelly is a published author and spends most of her time thinking about SEO and viral content.

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Here are the six significantly damaging dietary habits you may not realize you have got. See how each of these habits affects your body.

1. Eating too much: Restaurant portions and pre-packaged servings have increased considerably in size during the last decade or so, so it is very easy to be overeating without thinking you are consuming any more than you have always done.
2. Eating at strange times: Random eating habits or constant grazing are usually accompanied by a poor nutritional value of the food being consumed, simply because it is convenience rather than routine defining what you are eating. And too often that means processed snacks, junk food and cheese.
3. Confusing the issues of nutritional health and weight loss: Too many men who aren’t noticeably porky assume they are eating well simply because they are not putting on weight. This isn’t necessarily the case and an increase in nutrition levels will considerably boost their feeling of general well-being and raise the immunity capabilities of their bodies.
4. Substituting nutrition through food with supplements: Satisfying your nutritional needs through a balanced diet will always be much more beneficial than eating rubbish and popping vitamin pills. Good whole food affects you in all sorts of ways other than simply supplying, say, vitamin A or fiber, and it’s this holistic rather than targeted approach to nutrition the body needs to stay truly healthy.
5. Believing what it says on the tin: Too much food sloganeering is relative rather than subjective. Simply announcing something as “a healthier option” is meaningless – healthier than what? A tub of lard? “30% fat free!” can also be interpreted as “70% fat”. Always read the whole of the label.
6. Misunderstanding nutritional guidelines: There are so many conflicting eating plans and apparently scientific pieces of dietary advice out there, beyond basic guidelines such as can be found in this book, it will be impossible to find out what is precisely right for you without getting yourself checked out by a professional.

About Author:

I am nsmukundan. I own a health blog called healthmango.com that covers health, fitness, diseases and more. Healthmango.com offers 100% revenue sharing program, so anyone can write and earn.

One of the most important, yet unheeded aspects of healthy eating is the nutritional labels on the outer packaging of most retail foods sold in the United States. The “Nutrition Facts” list is a federally mandated requirement on the labeling of consumer food products.

The Food and Drug Administration began requiring nutritional fact labels on almost all foods, except for meat and poultry, in 1990 with the enactment of the Nutrition Labeling & Education Act. The labels do no good, however, for the majority of consumers, because they do not understand how to read them and use them effectively.

In his article in the May 13, 2009, issue of the Chicago Tribune online, entitled “Reading Food Labels Key to Good Diet“, Robert Channick, Special Contributor, relates advice from Isa Carani, a registered dietitian who explained the importance of understanding the nutritional labels in order to be aware of what you are eating, and maintain good health. In a presentation at a health clinic in Highland Park, Illinois, Carani resolved typical perplexities relating to the enigmatic information on the labels.

Carani explains that the foremost point to observe is serving size. Since many containers of food hold more than one serving, it is important to be able to glean the actual figures for the amount the person is eating. He also addresses a standard question about the meaning of “percent daily value”. In essence, it is the ratio of the nutrients in the food product to the total amount of nutrients needed in a typical day. Carani warns about the significant factors to stay away from, such as sodium, or salt intake, and the old standard, calories.

Channick explains in his article the importance of people with chronic illnesses like diabetes taking care of themselves through healthy eating habits. When asked if there were any specific components diabetics, in particular, should be wary of, Carani clears up a misconception that diabetics should be observing the amount of “sugar” they consume. He affirms it is actually carbohydrates diabetics should avoid. He points out caloric intake will decrease with a low-carb diet. Carani says the nutritional prescripts diabetics must adhere to are actually considered part of a fairly healthy diet, and it could be suitable for most otherwise healthy people.

Any program or plan that addresses the need for information for the American public is a good thing, but only if it works. If people don’t know how to read the Nutrition Facts lists, then they are essentially just wasted and ink, paper and time on behalf of food packaging companies. If the average consumer is either mystified by the labels or simply doesn’t care, then they are pointless. It would indeed be advantageous to consumers if doctors, dietitians and other health care personnel took the time to explain to their patients the realities of good dietary health.

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Go into the break room of any office or workplace, and you will surely find every manner of chips, cookies, cakes, coffee, and soft drinks. Westerners love food, and we love fatty, unhealthy junk foods more than any other, it seems. It appears that English-speaking peoples have developed some decidedly unhealthy eating habits, exchanging wholesome, fresh food for synthetic, over-processed pseudo-food. Some people tend to snack at work, when they are sitting at a desk performing a monotonous task, while others habitually “munch” while they are at home. People who are trying to quit smoking have a tendency to snack in order to cope with their desire for a cigarette.

JoEllen Marks, of CcurvyGirlFitness.blogspot.com, andCurvyGirlFitness.comdiscussed yesterday on her vlog about sticking to the inside perimeter of the grocery store, where the natural, unprocessed foods are. Today, she discusses using those fresh, nutrient-enriched foods as means of smart snacking, thereby maintaining a sensible diet regimen.

FitnessJo, as JoEllen calls herself on her vlog, advocates healthy snacking as a way to maintain good health and weight. Eating small, nutritious snacks throughout the day is proven to curb hunger, preventing filling up on “junk” foods. JoEllen points out everyone gets hungry throughout the day. Being hungry makes one more likely to make hasty, poor decisions about what to eat. She gives an example of someone sitting in an early-morning meeting hungry and with a plate of doughnuts right in front of them. Being hungry with no alternative snack foods around would make someone less likely to be able to resist the temptation to eat the fatty, greasy food.

JoEllen advises keeping healthy snacks everywhere to alleviate temptation. She suggests good snacks for snacking while in the car, such as almonds, cranberries and apples. Boiled eggs can be kept in a cooler in the car providing a filling, energizing snack. Keeping the refrigerator full of healthy fruits and vegetables allows for plenty of choices and variety, preventing boredom and munching out of habit. Traditional knowledge cautions care with fruit high in sugar, less than ideal snacks, but better than the over-processed synthetic snacks made with refined that can be bought from the inner isles at the grocery store.

The old standards like celery and carrots can be dipped in low-fat dips, along with broccoli and cauliflower. The key is to use low-fat instead of fat-free, because without fat there is no flavor. Sugar is usually used to replace the flavor but has more calories than fat, which entirely defeats the original purpose altogether. JoEllen suggests other alternatives to fatty snacks such as sugar snap peas and low-fat cheese. Grapes and carrots are good sweet and crunchy snacks, and are not high in natural sugar.

JoEllen promotes an active, healthy lifestyle combined with smart, careful eating habits. According to her five-meal-a-day plan, interspersing the five daily meals with light, nutritious snacks will keep the hunger beast at bay. Following her recommended advice for snacking and food choices will allow you to eat and be satisfied while still following your diet regimen.

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