6 Yoga Poses to Attract Love

Yoga Poses For Love

Can yoga help to attract love? Yes, says some yogis.

Get in touch with your inner animalistic yogic self. It’s no coincidence that many yoga poses are named after animals. Our nature runs deep, as we are all kin. Here are some postures that are aping some well known animals that might just draw you someone to hibernate with.

 

Disclaimer:

The information contained on this Web site has not been evaluated by the FDA.
This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.
All material provided on the Stay Young And Vital Web site is provided for educational
purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care
provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before
undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program.

Oprah on Aging

Aging is something to celebrate, Oprah says. She thinks that growing older is a blessing and that  owning your age can help you step into the fullness of your life. Oprah says we live in a youth-obsessed culture that is constantly trying to tell us that if we’re not young and we’re not glowing and we’re not hot, we don’t matter.

Really we all need to realize how fortunate we are to be able to learn and grow as we age.

Watch this video here.

 

This Week’s Top 5 Posts On How To Stay Young And Healthy

 

Why I Choose Local (Even Before Organic)- integrativenutrition.com

Fall is the best time to buy local veggies and fruits. Local foods are more nutritious than those shipped over long distances.

 

 Cranberry Juice And Urinary Tract Infections – drweilblog.com

The blog post by Dr. Andrew Weil. Find out about the latest scientific research on drinking cranberry juice to prevent urinary tract infections.

 

Vinotherapy: Could Wine Be the Secret to Anti-Aging? – health.com

Vinotherapy is the latest spa trend. Vinotherapy is the use of wine by-products (grape seeds, skins and stems) to heal and rejuvenate the body.

 

The Best Anti-Aging Skin Care  Tips – dailyglow.com

The anti-aging skin care tips by dailyglow.com. My favorite is Vitamin C inside and out.

 

Mounting Evidence Suggests Coffee May Actually Have Therapeutic Health Benefits – Mercola.com

One more article on the benefits of drinking coffee – this time by the titanic of alternative health Dr Mercola. Could coffee really be good for you? What about caffeine? The list of health benefits of coffee. When to drink coffee for maximum benefit? Dark roast coffee may be superior to light roast. Four tips to remember about coffee quality. And roast your own coffee beans.

 

FDA warns L’Oreal  about claims for anti-aging creams - bworldonline.com

L’Oreal, the world’s biggest cosmetics group, was warned by the US Food and Drug Administration to stop to describe its anti-aging skincare products using language that makes them sound like drugs.

 

 

Test Your Biological Age

Your skin elasticity can tell a lot about your body real condition.

Today I want to show you a test that helps to reveal your real biological age. This test was introduced by Dr. Stephen Cherniske. It is very simple and anyone can do it.

It examines your skin elasticity. How do we do the test?

Put your hand down on a table, your palm down. Pinch the skin at the back of your hand for five seconds. Release the skin and take time how long it takes your skin to return to its initial condition.

If you are very young, it will go back immediately.  If you are around 45 – it will take 3–5 seconds for your skin to go back to its smooth appearance. At 60 it usually takes 10–15 seconds. And at age 70 your skin returns back in about 35–60 seconds. So if you are 60 years old and the test shows that your skin returns to the smooth appearance in 5 seconds – congratulations! Your biological age is 45.

The skin elasticity determines how many wrinkles a person has. And it is good to know that we can increase our skin elasticity by taking good care of our body and eating healthy food.

What is your biological age?

 

Increase Your Vitamin D Levels

Sure you know about the current excitement about vitamin D. Why is this vitamin so important for us?

Lack of vitamin D is the most common health challenge across the globe, according to the experts.

Three out of every four Americans have low vitamin D levels (Compare to one out of two twenty years ago).

Vitamin D is not only responsible for our bone health. Studies suggest it can combat a great variety of health problems, such as cancer, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, back pain, overweight, fibromyalgia and more. It helps with both chronic and infectious diseases.

Lately a lot of books about the importance of vitamin D have appeared on the market. “The Vitamin D Solution” by  Michael F. Holick Ph.D. M.D stands out among of them.

Dr. Holick was a pioneer in investigating the vitamin D defficiency. Dr. Holick has researched the role of vitamin D in our health for more than three decades. He has published more than 300 researh papers in medical journals and continues to perform studies.

In his book “The Vitamin D Solution” Dr. Holick gives convincing case studies from his vast experience that illustrates his research. The author presents a lot of convincing evidence that sunbathing is not always bad. He shows how valuable and necessary for our well-being and health the sun is.

Human beings can’t survive without sunlight. Dr. Holick points out that the danger of sunshine to our skin health is often exaggerated.  The author gives practical and safe recommendations how to take sun baths safely. And what huge benefits this can bring to our well-being.

Like almost everything in life, sun exposure is healthy in moderation. One more observation: high levels of vitamin D we get in the summer can take us through the winter.

I have been impressed by this book. Of course, I have heard about the importance of vitamin D for our health earlier, but “The Vitamin D Solution”has convinced me to look at vitamin D deficience seriously.

Vitamin D can do wonders for your health. Dr. Holick writes: “If I had to give you a single secret ingredient that could apply to the prevention – and treatment, in many cases – of heart disease, common cancers, stroke, infectious diseases from influenza to tuberculosis, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression, insomnia, muscle weakness, joint pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and hypertension, it would be this: vitamin D.”

The author convinces his readers that vitamin D may be the most underappreciated and misunderstood anti-aging secret. And unlike so many other anti-aging secrets, this one is absolutely free.

 

Do you suffer from vitamin D deficiency?

The good news is it doesn’t take a long time to fix this common health problem. In just two months you could reach healthy vitamin D levels.

In the book Dr. Holick presents his practical three step plan to increase and maintain the vitamin D levels. This plan consists of three simple steps: 1) get a reasonable amount of direct sunlight from outdoors, 2) take calcium supplements alongside with food that is rich in vitamin D, and 3) take vitamin D supplements.

So how much vitamin D do we need?

Dr. Holick recommends to all of his patients to take 2000-3000 IU of vitamin D a day from dietary sources, sensible sun exposure and supplements. According to the author of the book there is no downside to increasing the vitamin D intake to levels he recommends.

“The Vitamin D Solution” is a very practical guide for maintaining good health. Do not forget to take a daily vitamin D supplement and regular sensible sun exposure.

 

Disclaimer:

The information contained on this Web site has not been evaluated by the FDA.
This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.
All material provided on the Stay Young And Vital Web site is provided for educational
purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care
provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before
undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program.

Note:

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites
to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

 

How To Choose A Safe Sunscreen

We all know that in order to avoid skin damage from the sun we need to use a sunscreen. But are all sunscreens safe? How to choose a safe sunscreen?

 

Why should you use a sunscreen?

We need to protect our skin from UVA and UVB sun rays.

The UVB (Ultraviolet B) rays are the most potent rays that reach the earth. Scientists say that UVB rays are the main cause of skin cancer. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) ratings measure a sunscreen’s ability to block UVB rays.

The UVA (Ultraviolet A) rays reach the deepest layers of the skin. These rays accelerate the aging process. In high dosages they also can cause cancer, allergic reactions, darkening and pigmentation of the skin.

That’s why you should wear sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

According to the American Cancer Society regular use of sunscreen can low the risk of the skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends choosing sunscreens with SPF at least 15. They block 93% of UVB rays. Sunscreens with the SPF rating higher than 30, block only 4% more UVB.

No matter what the SPF value is, it only works when you use it. And remember to re-apply it often if you are swimming or staying outside for a prolonged period of time.

Don’t forget to protect your kids too.

Always use sunscreen on your face, neck, chest area and ears. It is advisable to use sunscreen even if you’re not going outdoors, the rays come through the windows.

 

What sunscreen is safe?

Unfortunatelly, most sunscreens are potentially hazardous. Always check the label of the sunscreen.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an American environmental a non-profit organization whose mission is “to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.” This year EWG investigated the safety and effectiveness of 1,800 SPF products.

First of all, EWG says that the best defenses against getting too much harmful UV radiation are protective clothes, shade and timing. Clothes are perfect protectors from the sun rays. Wear a hat when you are in the sun.

Choose shade whenever possible. I remember Louise Hay telling about how she enjoys walking with her parasol to keep the sun off her face. Always keep children wearing hats and in the shade.

Go outdoors in early morning or late afternoon. At noon the sun rays are the strongest. Experts recommend avoiding long sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm, when the UV radiation is the highest.

It is important to protect your eyes with sun glasses. Make sure they keep out both UVA and UVB rays. UV radiation can cause cataracts and other eye problems. Sun glasses also help to protect the skin around your eyes from wrinkle formation.

Use EWG’s top-rated sunscreens to provide broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection with fewer hazardous chemicals that penetrate the skin. All EWG top-rated products contain either zinc or titanium minerals to protect from the sun rays. None of the products contain oxybenzone or vitamin A.

Choose creams instead of powders and sprays. The latter cloud the air you are breathing with chemicals. Re-apply creams often, because sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun.

Ingredients to avoid: the sunscreen chemical oxybenzone, a synthetic estrogen that penetrates the skin and pollutes the body. EWG also recommends to avoid sunscreens with vitamin A. New data show that tumors and lesions develop sooner on skin coated with vitamin A-laced creams. Vitamin A, listed as “retinyl palmitate” on the ingredient label, is present in 33 percent of sunscreens.

Choose sunscreens with zinc, titanium, avobenzone or Mexoryl SX. These substances protect skin from harmful UVA radiation and remain on the skin, with little or no penetrating into the body.

 

Here is the 2012 EWG approved list of top-rated sunscreen moisturizers for broad spectrum protection with fewer poisonous ingredients:

Low hazard products sorted by score (low to high) and then alphabetically

100% Pure Hydration Organic Pomegranate Antioxidant, SPF 20

Coola Suncare Face Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 30

Keys Solar Rx Moisturizer with Sunscreen – Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Neal’s Yard Remedies Moisturising Sunscreen, SPF 30

Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Daily Moisture Sunscreen, SPF 30

Sunology Creme for Face, SPF 50

Suntegrity Skincare All Natural Moisturizing Face Protection, SPF 30

Suntegrity Skincare Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer, SPF 30

Badger Damascus Rose Face Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 16

Desert Essence Gentle Nourishing Day Cream, SPF 15

EltaMD UV Shield Broad-Spectrum, SPF 45

EltaMD UV Shield Oil-Free Sunscreen, SPF 45

Johnson & Johnson Johnson‘s Baby Daily Face & Body Lotion, SPF 40

Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer, Ivory, SPF 30

Karen’s Botanicals Lavender Facial Cream, SPF 15

Karen’s Botanicals Lovely Lavender Facial Cream, SPF 15

La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen with Mexoryl, SPF 15

Marie Veronique Organics Moisturizing Face Screen, Extra Light Tint, SPF 30

Marie Veronique Organics Moisturizing Face Screen, Light Tint, SPF 30

Marie Veronique Organics Moisturizing Face Screen, Light Tint, SPF 30

SanRe Organic Skinfood Shaded Rose Organic Rose and Coconut Day Cream, SPF 30

SanRe Organic Skinfood Sparkling Aloe Organic Aloe Vera Day Cream, SPF 30

SanRe Organic Skinfood Supple Sunshine Organic Rosemary and Lavender Day Creme, Dry to Normal, SPF 30

SanRe Organic Skinfood Vanilla Sensation Organic Nourishing Body Moisturizer, SPF 30

True Natural All Natural Daily Moisturizer, SPF 20

True Natural Cosmetics All Natural Daily Moisturizer, SPF 20

 

 

Note:

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites
to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

 

Cucumber Can Help You Stay Young

Cucumber is an often overlooked vegetable. But it is unique plant with a number of valuable properties. Cucumber can be a good anti-wrinkle solution. It is widely used in India and other countries to fight the aging of the skin. Cucumber has been named among the top 5 age-defying fruits and vegetables at Dr. Oz’s Show.

Skin is the most important part of the cucumber for anti-aging. The skin is loaded with silica. Silica is the essential component of the connective tissue. Silica helps to plump wrinkles and boost collagen production. So do not peel your cucumbers. Look for unwaxed cucumbers if you can so that you really can eat the skin.

Cucumber is widely used externally. This green plant is a natural astrigent, it reduces oiliness, tightens the pores and it is also great for reducing puffiness under eyes.

You can simply massage your skin gently with a slice of fresh cucumber.

It is very easy to make a cucumber facial mask. This mask will tighten the skin and reduce the size of pores.

Grate half of a cucumber, put this pulp on your face, lie down, and allow it to stay on the skin for 10 to 15 minutes. You will really feel the effect when you clean your face: the skin will feel tight and clean.

Don‘t forget to put 2 cucumber slices on your eyes to really increase the circulation around eyes. Your eyes will be bright and the skin around them will be relaxed.

 

And here is the recipe of delicious, refreshing, anti-aging cucumber smoothie. It will help you to detox and nourish every cell of your body:

Take a cucumber, two handfuls of spinach, a few mint leaves, an avocado, a banana, 1/2 cup chilled green tea, a few ice cubes (optional). Chop the veggies and then blender all the ingredients. Drink it and stay young!

 

 

Thank you!

 

“You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself.”—Harvey S. Firestone

Happy New Year! It‘s January, and that means it is the time for the new year resolutions that could change our lives for the better.

I have just read the book A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life by John Kralik. It is a real story about the lawyer in his mid-50s who one December found himself at just about the lowest point in his life. His small law firm was “losing money, losing cases and losing its lease.”; he was going through a painful divorce, he was living in a tiny grungy appartment where he was sleeping on a plastic mattress on the floor; he was overweight and asthmatic. So Mr. Kralik really was lost and falling.

“It was New Year’s Day. There was new growth all around. It was time to make new resolutions. It was time for change. I had felt this way before, of course; at fifty-two, I had a lot of unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions. But this year not only was I a loser at what I was doing, I also didn’t want to do it anymore. I wanted to do something more meaningful with my life. I wanted to be more than just another lawyer slinging hatred for a living.”

He decides to write thank-you notes. John pens personal messages of gratitude to almost anyone he could think of: his sons, colleagues, old friends, his ex-wife, the building superintendent and the guy who serves him at Starbucks. “I would try to find one person to thank each day. One person to whom I would write a thank-you note.“

And as John Kralik was thankful to them one by one, writing these thank-you notes, he began to realize that his life was not nearly so bad as he thought it was.

Shortly after the author started sending his notes, good things started to happen in his life. The act of expressing thanks changes not only him, but his life and work circumstances as well: from financial gain to true friendship, from weight loss to inner peace.

In the end of the book John Kralik writes: “With the help of my three hundred thank-you notes, I had examined the life I had viewed as perfectly awful and found that it was a lot better than I had been willing to acknowledge.” What a great lesson!

He goes on to say that “writing thank you notes is a good thing to do and makes the world a better place. It also made me a better man. More than success or material achievement.” Really all you can change is yourself, but sometimes that changes everything!

I have loved the book. It has inspired me to set myself a goal for the year 2012: every day I will send someone an e-mail expressing my gratitude to them.

Here is one of them: I thank you for reading this post. You are very important to me. I am so blessed for having this opportunity to reach the like-minded people. Thank you!

Alkaline Diet

For some time doctors are warning us that the aging process is accelerated not only by free radicals but also by the disbalance of the body acids and alkalis. This is caused in general by the present so-called Western life style and diet.

Do you feel like you are lacking energy most of the time? Most people don’t feel as good as they would like to. Many believe that bad health and permanent lack of energy are the part of aging process. People start to use various medications which bring no real improvement.

 

The secret to great energy and vibrant health

What we eat have a major impact on our good health or diseases.

Though the importance of maintaining right acid-alkaline balance is not a new idea, only during the last decade it has been introduced to the wide public. Such scientists as Dr. Lynda Frasseto from the University of California and Dr. Russell Jaffe from ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies, Inc., have made a big contribution to the research of the acidic-alkaline effects in the body.

An increasing number of patients and doctors realize the importante of the body‘s acid-alkaline balance to being healthy. Some authors say that regardless of how much you work out and try to eat right, if you can’t get the pH of your body balanced, you could never feel as good as you would like to be.

 

A slightly alkaline body means good health

How many people you know have chronic health conditions? If you often feel tired, there is nearly no doubt that you are overly acidic. The diet that acidify the body may lead to chronic fatigue, depression, skin problems, arthritis, back pain, osteoporosis, ulcers, cancer.

We should know that the pH value of a food or drink isn‘t always the same as its acid or alkaline forming tendency in the body. Some foods, when digested, create an acidic effect in the body, while other foods act as alkalizers and help to neutralize acids. E.g. contrary, to what many people would expect, sour lemons actually produce an alkaline effect in our bodies.

All foods can be categorized as acid-forming, alkaline-forming or neutral. E. g. Water is neutral. To have good health, our bodies need to maintain the right balance between acids and alkalis.

The scale of 0 to 14 is used to measure pH. A measurement of 7 is neutral: neither acidic nor alkaline. The measurements lower than 7 are acidic, and the measurements higher than 7 are alkaline. The scientists have found that for a healthy body a slightly alkaline arterial blood pH of 7.365 – 7.45 is needed.

Now many health authorities agree that slightly alkaline diet can help us to heal from many diseases. If we want to be healthy the bodies‘ pH must regulated. The good news is, it is not difficult to correct the overacidity of the body, and it can be done fast.

I am 50. I am healthy, I practice yoga, walk a lot, eat healthy foods,  but still often I have used not to have as much energy as I would love to. After starting to introduce more alkaline foods into my diet, I have noticed a positive increase into my energy levels almost immediately.

Many celebrities follow the alkaline food diet. Famous motivational speaker Anthony Robbins, a great proponent of alkaline eating, said: “Alkalize your body and live a healthier, more energized, and ultimately more fulfilling life.“

 

So how the alkaline diet works

The concept of the diet is very simple – the diet focuses on regaining the right pH balance. Researchers say we should seek to eat approximately 75-80% alkaline foods and only about 20-25% acidifying foods. If this level is maintained in the diet, the end result is a slightly alkaline pH in the body, which leads to good health.

We should realize that acid or alkaline diet can bring you health or illness.

 

Foods for the alkaline diet

We need to cut back on the acid-forming liquids and foods in our diet. The main no-no are milk, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sodas, sugar, processed food,  white flour.

It is not difficult to eat a diet rich in alkaline-producing foods. Most fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent choices. Use good fats such as olive or flax seed oil. Coffee should be avoided, but you can drink herbal, green tea or lemon water. Replace pasta with healthy whole grains such as wild rice, millet and quinoa. Choose wholesome protein foods. There are many nutritious choices that are both delicious and high in alkalizing properties.

Some alkaline-forming foods to choose are:

Water melon

Lemon

Pear

Apple

Mango

Apricot

Peach

Grapefruits

Bananas

Cellery

Brocolli

Cauliflower

Seaweeds

Ginger

 

A Quick Tip:

Green smoothies and lemon water are great examples of healthy alkalizing health boosters.

 

References

Susan E. Brown and Larry Trivieri Jr.,  The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide: A Quick Reference to Foods & Their Effect on pH Levels. 2006

Christopher Vasey and Jon Graham, The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health: Restore Your Health by Creating pH Balance in Your Diet. 2006

Bharti Vyas and Suzanne Le Quesne, The pH Balance Diet: Restore Your Acid-Alkaline Levels to Eliminate Toxins and Loose Weight. 2007

 

Disclaimer!

Note: The information contained on this Web site has not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material provided on the Stay Young And Vital Web site is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program.

Anti Aging Effects of Resveratrol

Credit: Free photos from acobox.com

Most likely you have heard about the anti aging effects of resveratrol a lot lately. Constant news about resveratrol as a medicine for various diseases and a preventative substance against aging have appeared widely. Are these encouraging statements based on scientific data?

History

Resveratrol was first mentioned in 1939 by Japanese M. Takaoka. However, the substance received wider attention only in 1992, when its presence in wine was suggested to be the reason for heart health boosting qualities of this drink.

The Sources of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is produced in certain plants: red grapes, the fruit of the mulberry. Cocao powder and dark chocolate also have low levels of resveratrol.

In spite of the fact the French people consume a lot of saturated fats and oils, the nation have low levels of cardiovascular disease. Some researchers think the reason for this paradox lies in France’s national drink — red wine, a dietary source of resveratrol. Red wine contains between 0.2 and 5.8 mg/L, depending on the grape variety, while white wine has much less, because red wine is fermented with the skins, allowing the wine to extract the resveratrol, whereas white wine is fermented after the skin has been removed.

Resveratrol has also been produced by chemical synthesis or by biotechnological synthesis and is sold as a nutritional supplement.

How Does Resveratrol Work?

It is not yet fully understood how exactly resveratrol works.

At present the effects of resveratrol are a subject of numerous animal and human studies. In mouse and rat experiments, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, blood sugar-lowering and other beneficial effects of resveratrol have been reported. These results, however, have yet to be proved in humans.

A new meta analysis on resveratrol was recently carried out at the University of Florida. The results were published this summer. This analysis has demonstrated anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogeric effects of resveratol.

The study examined results gathered from thousands of laboratory studies with enzymes, cultured cells and laboratory animals. The goal of this review was to examine the current state of knowledge of the effects of resveratrol on humans and to use this information to guide much needed future human clinical trials.

The research of the University of Florida shows resveratrol has considerable potential to positively effect human organisms.

”We’re all looking for an anti-aging cure in a pill, but it doesn’t exist. But what does exist shows promise of lessening many of the scourges and infirmities of old age,” said Heather Hausenblas, one of the researchers involved in the study.

The good news is — resveratrol may not prevent old age, but it might make it more tolerable.

For years many scientists have thought that a link between resveratrol and human health exists. The University of Florida review shows that the resveratrol has considerable potential to improve health and prevent chronic disease in humans. However, further research on the long-term health effects of resveratrol is needed.

 

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