Keeping Warm And Healthy This Winter

As the temperature really begins to drop, the air outside is easily below 0C very single night. As such, you may well find yourself feeling ill. Hypothermia and pneumonia are common ailments at this time of year but only afflict those individuals that do not keep warm 24 hours a day. Of course, the elderly and vulnerable are more likely to feel the cold and become ill but it is important that everyone takes care of themselves.

There are a number of things you can do to stay happy and healthy in the winter just by keeping warm and you do not have to spend any extra money to do so! As electricity and gas are so expensive, you can save a little money in fact by turning down the thermostat by a few degrees and doing the following:

* When you go to bed, wear thick socks, full length pyjamas and a woolly hat! As silly as you may think you look, nobody will see you aside from your partner and you will keep warm. Heat is lost from the body via the head at night so the hat will help you to retain it and the socks will keep your extremities warm as well.
* Eat a warm breakfast and a warm dinner. Eating porrige for breakfast and a warm, homemade dinner will heat your body up and encourage warmth from within to prevent sudden body temperature drops.
* Keep a flask of tea by the side of your bed. Tea is good for the body in a number of ways and can help to keep it warm through the winter. Keeping a flask by your bed overnight will allow you to up your body temperature if you feel a little chilly. Be careful not to spill it though as you will find yourself in pain!
* If you have a spare quilt in the home then put it on the bottom of the bed so you are literally between two duvets at night! Lovely and cosy and warm!
* Use a hot water bottle to warm up the bed before you get in it every night. Leaving it there for 20 to 30 minutes will warm your bed for you at very little expense.
* Use any old towels and material you have to make a draught excluder to lay at the bottom of the door. This will prevent draughts coming through and also prevent heat leaving.

I hope that is of some help! If you have any more tips then please let me know because I'd be happy to publish them right here!

Conjoined Twins Hope & Faith Williams: My Reaction

Anyone that reads about the news in the Uk at the moment will be aware that conjoined twins, or Siamese twins, Hope and Faith Williams were born last week. Their mother, Laura Williams, is just 18 years old and the youngest mother ever to give birth to conjoined twins.

They were attached at the chest and had surgery to detach them yesterday. Unfortunately, Hope died shortly afterwards. I felt the need to write a reaction to her sad passing, which can be found at my personal blog. I just thought it's an issue that is very real, especially in light of the fact pressure was exerted on Laura Williams to abort them. Please take a few moments to check out my reaction and comment or express your own feelings on the matter here:

British Conjoined Twin, Hope, Dies

Drug Rehab Program Projects For 2009

Addiction help is unfortunately a big part of our society at the moment. With various treatment plans and methodone projects available, there is help for any addict that wants it. I have blogged about drug abuse and rehab before but watched a TV show today that highlighted the need to speak out about it a little more, especially with the New Year drawing closer at a rapid speed.

The show highlighted one mother's plight. Her daughter had been murdered whilst selling her body to pay for her heroin addict and her younger daughter was also an addict. She feared for her safety and constantly brought up the need for help. As a result, I decided to see what sort of Drug Rehab program options were available for 2009, both new and old alike. There were far more than I expected. I acknowledge what treatment plan works for some will not work for others and believe that it is important to find one that will work for you but some were boasting amazing recovery figures. Although I'd like to know how the figures were reached, they do give addicts hope. After all, you cannot put a price on your health but drugs can ultimately bring an end to your life.

I can across one Drug treatment program plan called the NARCONON plan (hope I've spelled that right!). Apparently the program has a 76% success rate and admits those recovering addicts that lapse within 6 months for free. Although some clinics do offer programs for free, I found the information about this program to be comprehensive, flexible and easy to follow. There are many more like that but the success rate amazed me.

If you do take any drugs at all, from cannabis to heroin, then now is the time to make a change. 2009 has to be the year you get clean for your own sake as well as that of your family. I am very anti-drugs and always have been but for those that have made a wrong life choice, now is the time to make the right one.

Speaking of which, I'll be doing a post about hints and tips to quit smoking in a few days time because that may be on many peoples' New Year's resolution list. Stay tuned folks!

Blog About Your Passions For Your Health!

Hi all... hope everyone is well. Sorry I haven't been around for a while, or at least not as often as I used to be. I've been suffering with a fair few health issues of my own in recent weeks and have found it difficult to cope. More on that at a later date, but for now I'd like to tell you about an opportunity I've found and one that may help your health!

I always find that getting my worries off my chest makes me feel so much better than I did before. I have a horrible habit of bottling things up until they begin to consume me. That is why I began blogging. Although I am a writer by profession, I felt a blog or two wuld help me to positively focus my energies elsewhere... but that only worked for a while because I did not have a personal blog and so had to remain focused on certain topics and niches. I do have a personal blog now though and I feel better already.

I have recently been diagnosed with Depression and have been struggling to cope. My counssellor recommended that I try t vent some of my frustrations through my writing so I decided to set up a personal blog to do just that. The next day, a friend told me about Today.com, which is a blogging host but one that pays $1 for every 100 word plus blog post, plus a few cents for visitors. The money isn't much but it does provide me with an incentive to blog every day and get all of my opinions out there. It really feels satisfying to vent sometimes!

Anyway, I set up English Opinion so please check in if you get a moment.

Also, if you want to start blogging or would like to earn a few dollars from blogging about anything you like then you can do so via this link: Today.com. You can earn a little money by setting up your own personal blog there or even one in the many health niches it provides.

I didn't realise how beneficial a blog could be to my mental health but it has certainly turned out that way! Take a look for yourself!

BLOG at Today.com

Enjoy Good Food: Happy Hanukkah For Vegetarians!

In recent weeks I have really got into my cooking and baking again, as I always seem to do at this time of year! I've had the old recipe books out and have been improvising as always. I love doing that just before Christmas so I can impress the family and enjoy good food of my own semi-creation. As such, I discovered an old vegetarian Hanukkah recipe that I thought I'd share with the world.

I came up with this vegetarian Hanukkah recipe some time ago after trying cheese dumplings at a restaurant in New York when I visited a few years ago. the basis of it is the same as many chees dumpling recipes but with a twist. Check it out!

The Best Vegetarian Hanukkah Recipes: Delicious Cheese Dumplings
For one of the best vegetarian Hanukkah recipes, look no further. Euro Cheese Dumplings are quick and easy to make and will delight you guests over the holidays!
View more »

Perfect Pumpkin Soup For Your Thanksgiving Meal!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year for all Americans, but it can also be a stressful time if you are in charge of the cooking. After all, cooking for the whole family in just a few hours can be an absolute nightmare. This is why you should choose from the many quick and easy Thanksgiving recipes on offer. They will make your life much easier and deliver fantastic results that suggest you spent hours slaving over a hot stove!

For therest of the article, please see Deliciously Creamy Pumpkin Soup: Your Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Recipe! I recently had it published on AC and I can absolutely vouch for it!

Even if you do not live in the United States and so don't celebrate Thanksgiving, this recipe is perfect for a cold day when you just want to warm up... and you can freeze your leftovers, thus saving money and making the recipe even quicker to prepare!

Taking Care Of Your Financial And Emotional Health During The Credit Crunch

We all know that healthy eating and regular exercise is good for the mind, body and soul but we so often forgt that it is our state of mind that affects our overall health these days. So many people become stressed every single day throughwork or family issues. However, our emotional wellbeing is more at risk than ever today as a result of something that is threatening us all the world over. The European Zone will soon be heading into an official recession, as will the UK and the US in due course. Millions are losing their jobs every day and it will get worse before it gets better, so what can we do to secure our piece of mind?

Well, you can take a proactive stance. Instead of waiting for the worst to happen and stressing about it, why not take positive counter-measures to build up a little bit of an emergency fund just in case? This will give you peace of mind and help you to lower your stress levels without packing more into your days. Forexample, if you have any old cell or mobile handsets, video games, CDs or DVDs lying around then you can earn a little extra. Similarly, you can also complete online surveys or purchase your Christmas gifts online through a cashback site to get the most for your money.

There are many more things you can do, but the above just represents some ideas that you can tap into.

The main point behind this comes from the fact that I know myself how stressful worrying about a lack of funds is. It has damaged my health in the past because it has a knock on effect so I am determined not to let it affect me in the same way again. Use all measures at our disposal to ensure that you have a little in reserve and thus can avoid the hassle and tension that comes with struggling in such a way.

I wrote a couple of articles for AC discussing the best survey and cashback sites, which are described and linked below:

Paid Surveys and Cashback Sites: Make a Little Extra Money During the Credit Crunch
With the credit crunch hitting hard, try these paid survey and cashback sites. You can earn a little extra money and have fun from the comfort of your own home.
View more »

Make Money Online During the Credit Crunch
Earn extra cash and make money online to get you through the credit crunch with paid surveys and cashback sites.
View more »

You can also find ways to make extra money, as mentioned above, by visiting Finance Central. The blog has plenty of ideas and tips available, as well as reviews of sites that can help you to sell your old stuff and get the best cash figure for it.

Essential Ingredients For Your Credit Crunch Cupboard!

Every health magazine I look in and website I look at these days dseems to stress that it is important to eat healthily, which is an obvious fact given that over 50% of people in both the UK and US are considered obese. This is obviously in line with height and weight and so is clinically defined rather than by common sense! As you can tell, I do not agree with the way that someone is defined as obese but at the same time we need to maintain our health, especially in these testing times, and there are some essential ingredients that can help you to do that.

There is a danger that more and more people will start choosing convenience foods in the near future because they are cheaper and undoubtedly easier to prepare given that many people will be working as many hours as possible to make ends meet. However, with just a few essential ingredients, you can transform quick and easy foods into tasty meals without resorting to convenience foods and avoid breaking the bank as well.

Black Pepper - Black pepper is an excellent ingredient because it is a thermogenic and will speed up your metabolism, thus burning more fat, but add a lot of flavour to any dish. I love the coarse ground black pepper... delicious in everything from pasta to meat dishes!

Garlic - Garlic has so many benefits that I could not name them all here... the post would be too long! It is extremely healthy and again can add a lot of flavour. Whole cloves are inexpensive so it is a cheap ingreidient but you do not need to use a lot to flavour dishes so it will last a while.

Fresh Fruit And Vegetables - In some shops, fruit and vegetables are expensive but if you try the supermarkets or even grow your own then you will find them incredibly cheap. We grow our own potatoes and onions, and carrots and cabbage are being added to that this year. Dirt cheap, literally! And extremely heathy as well. You will certain get the vitamins and minerals you need. Try Dobies and Suttons for affordable seed and starter kits if you want to save money into the future by growing yor own.

Pasta & Rice - Absolute essentials. You can use both to make standalone meals such as risotto and pasta bakes as well as adding them to full meals. If you have nothing else just make sure that you have these two because they will sustain you and are incredibly cheap. In tough times, it matters not that they are carbs but that they will feed you and your family for next to nothing.

The Benefits Of The Acai Berry

Have you ever heard of the Acai Berry? If you have not then it would not be a major surprise but it is one of those berries that everyone, women especially, should get to know extremely well in order to enhance your health. Smaller than a blueberry, it is one of the most potent superfoods around at the moment. As it is a superfood, it is widely used in energy drinks, health foods and even ice cream! This is, in effect, a quick introduction to the acai berry to show you just how good it actually is!

In terms of its status as a superfood, the acai berry has been used by Amazonian natives in Brazil for some years. It has ten times the number of antioxidants that the blueberry has, and the blueberry has highly been regarded as the top superfood around for some time. As such, the acai berry has a whole host of health benefits such as the following:

* It gives you an energy boost
* It aids the digestive process
* It boosts your immune system
* It fights free radicals and thus halts aging
* It detoxifies the body
* It fights cacerous cells
* It improves the circulatory system
* It can help you fight depression
* It supports weight loss

The small acai berry actually has everything you need within it for all of the above. It contains Omega fats, amino acids, antioxidants, electrolytes and vitamins E, B1 and A.

Although research is ongoing, the acai berry is most definitely safe to eat. There are no side effects and it can be added to almost any food to promote health. As such, you might want to get down to your local health store and investigate the benefits for yourself!

Used Medical Equipment: Save Money And Look After Your Health

We have all read articles about people suffering medical problems in the past and many of us feel for them. There are children with renal failure, women with heart conditions and men with life threatening conditions that suffer every single day, waiting at home for a transplant or living out their days as best they can. I felt the need to post this article when I recently saw a newspiece on TV about a lady with small children. She is waiting for a heart transplant at home but is unable to afford the machinery she needs to make her life a little less painful. As a result of the appeal, a kind businessman and his family donated the equipment she needed but I got to thinking just how many people may have the same problem and cannot afford brand new equipment. I also began to look at whether there were companies offering used medical equipment for individuals and medical centres alike so that they became affordable. I did not know it previously but there are such companies out there.

Buying used EKG machines, used patient monitors, used blood analyzers and used defribrillators (just to mention a few) can be extremely beneficial because they offer the same service as new machines but at a drastically reduced price that does make them affordable. This life saving equipment is of course tested to ensure that it works and has no damage or wear and tear, which is probably a worry that prevents people purchasing it. The point is that they can save lives without putting a family in jeopardy financially.

Many of the companies that offer used medical equipment also offers refurbished medical equipment as well. Medical Machines Online is just one of them that does so. This is recycled equipment that has been updated and works as good as if it were new. As such, you also have another option. The new parts in the refurbished medical equipment can give individuals peace of mind. Whether you want medical equipment for your home and personal use or you ae looking for equipment for a health practice, this is definitely the way to go.

Oh, and I finally just wanted to express my admiration for those individuals that can afford to make a difference in the lives of others and do so by donating equipment that is vital their health. There are so many people in the world that have money and do absolutely nothing with it besides feed their own greed so a huge pat on the back that also use it to do some good.

Go Organic: Growing Your Own Fruit And Vegetables

A quick trip around the vegetable section of your local supermarket will today provide you with more choice than ever before, and not only in terms of the types of vegetables and fruits available but also in terms of the different origins and methods of growing. Organic fruit and vegetables are big business today and actually sell far better than they used to because people are becoming more environmentally friendly and more conscious of what they are eating in terms of chemicals.

However, organic fruit and vegetables do tend to be more expensive than regular fruit and vegetables that we havebought for years. As such, the organic version may be out of the price range of many individuals with the credit crunch hitting hard. This is why you should look at growing your own! If you have a back garden or yard and the ability to put a little time into growing your own fruit and vegetables from seeds then you could ultimately save a lot of money.

We started growing our own potatoes this year and with only a few seeds we got quite a good yield. One packet of potato seed gave us enough potatoes for six dinners... and that was from an area in our garden of just one metre squared. My husband used the top soil and supplemented it by using a layer of compost. They were watered regularly and we dug them up when the stems died. The result was a load of gorgeous potatoes that cost us about £1.50 in total when the seeds and compost is taken into account.

If you want to save some money and eat organic fruit and vegetabes then growing them at home is the perfect answer. We're now growing onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces and apples in a larger area of our garden next year... I can't wait!

There are some great seed shops online that can deliver fruit and vegetable seeds to your door for very reasonable price. We used Dobies because they're close to us, but Sutton Seeds is also good. Both stock seeds for all sorts of fruit and vegetables! The links are below if you want to take a look, although I think they only deliver to the UK. Both come highly recommended:

Dobie's link for vegetable seeds
Sutton Seed's link for vegetable seeds

If you want to purchase other stuff for your garden then I think both do that too. I know for a fact that Dobies does but Sutton's is worth a look too. The links are also to the side under "Useful Links" for ease of access.

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Breast cancer is an issue that affects many women and men alike today. It is also an issue that is extremely close to my heart because my Mum has had breast cancer twice. At the time she was initially diagnosed with it she was only 32 years old. She has had the all clear for some time now and is not only my best friend but my hero as well. She put up an absolutely amazing fight and I consider myself extremely lucky to have her in my life today because I know many others do not have mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and friends as a result of this disease.

As such, I was pleased when I found out it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, and also that Cancer Research UK has launched a marketing campaign to coincide with that. They have released a video to encourage women to complete breast checks regularly and show them how to do it. Girls, you are in for a treat because the model having the breast check happens to be an absolute male babe!

The video is certainly memorable so if you do have any questions as to how you can check your breasts effectively then watch it because it will tell you everything you need to know. Early detection is the key to survival so it is incredibly important that you perform the check at least once a month.

However, if you do want a little more information then you can visit the following two sites:

It's A Girl Thing
Breast Awareness Guy

I received the press release about this, including the following paragraph, which I think is really important:

As breast cancer is still the most common cancer in the UK, the work done by Cancer Research UK is vital. The charity is the largest single funder of breast cancer research in the UK, spending around £45 million on groundbreaking work into the disease last year. Teams of researchers across the UK are dedicated to improving our understanding of the causes of breast cancer and investigating new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. They are also helping to improve the quality of life for women living with breast cancer.

You can support Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work by making a donation at www.breastawarenessguy.org, where you can also download a digital calendar featuring Tommy.

And now for the piece de resistance of this post... the video! Ladies, watch it and drool!!!

Your Dental Health And Happiness

Not too long ago, I wrote a post about how telling jokes and smiling can give your health a boost. I hold to the maxim that a smile can brighten up anyone's day, no matter what else is going on around them, but I am absolutely amazed about how many people will not smile because they hate their teeth. I was reading an article on another blog today about Nadia O'Neal, the Tampa Cosmetic Dentist. It pointed out that she was an inspiration to women everywhere as a result of her skills in the field of dentistry and also the fact that she is undoubtedly one of the best in the field. The article pointed out just how well her business is doing as a result of her place as the top Tampa dentist. However, it also pointed out that she helps people to get their lives back on track again.

Coming from the UK where NHS treatment leaves a lot to be desired, I was amazed to find that the services offered were so comprehensive and so well organised on the website. Maybe that's just me but I could believe, after viewing the website, that she helps numerous families and individuals get their confidence back and achieve dental health for life.

I am extremely lucky in that I have very few hang ups about myself. I used to have enough to fill the pages of Tolstoy's War and Peace before I became older and wiser, but then I have never had any issues with my teeth. My dentist is simply amazing but I have to say that, viewing her Tampa dentistry site, I would be tempted to go to Nadia O'Neal if I was close enough!

It is important though to ensure that you do have a good dentist because the value of dental health cannot be underestimated. Smiling may improve your health and make you happier but then so will a pain free mouth!

When it Starts to Get Chilly, Make Some Heart-Healthy Chili!

With the official start of fall just behind us, it’s time to start looking for some healthy winter foods that offer the comfort of the season, without adding tons of extra calories to your diet. Chili is a great, easy-to-make and affordable meal that takes about an hour to prepare. Depending on how many mouths you have to feed, this recipe can last for several days, when stored properly. So snuggle up with a hot cup of chili and enjoy this heart-healthy version of a traditional favorite.

Ingredients:

· 3 lbs ground turkey
· 1 medium onion, chopped
· 3 tablespoons minced garlic
· 3 tablespoons cumin
· 2 tablespoons chili powder
· 1 large can of petite diced tomatoes
· 3 14 oz cans of kidney beans
· 3 14 oz cans of black beans
· 2 large cans of V8 low sodium vegetable juice
· Salt, to taste
· 16 oz low-fat Colby jack cheese, shredded*
· 1 container fat-free sour cream*

* Depending on taste

Directions:

Brown ground turkey with onions and minced garlic, stirring frequently. As the meat begins to brown, add the cumin and chili powder. After the turkey is fully cooked, stir in large can of diced petite tomatoes.

Drain all six cans of beans and add to mix. Add 1 ½ - 2 cans of V8, depending on consistency you prefer. Simmer on medium-low heat for 30-45 min.

When serving, top with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with cheese, if preferred. Turkey chili can be saved for up to five days, if stored correctly.

This recipe is an alternative to traditional chili and serves 4-6 people.

By-line:
This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of nursing schools online. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

Look After Your Heart, Enjoy Your Life!

If there is any part of your body you should want to improve these days it is your heart. We all focus on losing weight and looking younger but many of us forget exactly what makes us get up every morning, what allows us to g about our daily business. In actual fact, many people tend to look at the aesthetics of the body and little else. I am not a huge fan of cosmetic surgery. Whilst I do not judge those that do, I would never choose to go under the knife for the sake of my looks. If I was burned and had to have skin grafts that would be different but I do not see the point in looking after the outside and leaving the inside to its own devices. After all, what use is a good looking corpse?

Sorry o be so blunt but that is what it all boils down to. We should all aim to live long and healthy lives and look young in the process if that is at all possible.

In fact, we are living longer and healthier lives than our ancestors did just two or three generations ago, but yet we often compromise the health of our hearts. As such, I am going to recommend a website I found doing a little research for one of my writing projects. A quick read of some of the articles on it proved to be very sobering today and I want to do a little to encourage everyone to implement a healthy diet and way of life in order to promote heart health in the future. The following sections of the website will hopefully give you enough inspiration (the links to the site are included so you can look for yourself):

Cardiology News - This section covers all sorts of things, from the latest research to healthy lifestyle tip. There is enough information on there to fry your brain but just reading one of the studies should encourage you to take action now. I found the out of hospital heart attack study fascinating and yet scary at the same time!

Arrythmia - I had heard about arrythmia before today but did not have much of a clue as to what it was but if this section does not inspire you to do something about your lifestyle nothing will!

CME Programs - If you do want to learn a little more or have a more profound effect on the world's heart health then this is the section for you. There are all sorts of education programs available and quite a few of them are highlighted here. Even if you do not want to enrol, they are worth a look just to show you what the medical community is doing for us. Thank you all guys!

It is never too late to do something about your heart health so make the change today - you never know when it may save your life!

Stress Management Tip: Laugh Yourself Happy With A Few Good Jokes!

I am sure that you are well aware that stress seems to rule the world at the moment. In fact, it seems to control millions of lives, which is obviously no good for your health. In recent months, I have had several health problems that have all been related to stress. Although they are under control right now, I have certainly learned the importance of taking the time to chill out. I take a long walk if I feel myself getting stressed or choose a very good alternative - laughter via jokes.

As the old saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. No matter how down you feel or how ill you are a good joke will always perk you right up. The same goes for stress. Laughing will actually relieve that if only temporarily. With the credit crunch in full swing, we may all need some good jokes to relieve our stress soon so here are my pick of the websites you can access for a good laugh.

Lots Of Jokes - This website is an older one that has been well established and contains hundreds of jokes for you to laugh at on a massive range of topics. You can find those jokes here.

101 Fun Jokes - The jokes on here are just as funny, and this is actually my favourite site. I can always rely upon it for a good laugh. Check the jokes here.

Jackass Jokes - This jokes site is newer but contains just as many funnies as the other two. However, the reason I put this one on here is the dirty jokes and crude jokes sections. If that's your sense of humour then you will absolutely love this jokes site.

Trust me, laughter is always a good tonic so try a little today. I should warn you though, you may just like it!

Add The Finishing Touch To Your Dinner Party

Now summer is over and fall is well on the way, it is the right time of year for dinner parties. You have probably already taken your vacation and are looking forward to enjoying nights in with good friends, good food and good wine. However, there is nothing worse than finishing your meal only to look at any old plate underneath it. No, every good dinner party will feature pretty and attractive dinnerwear.

We always use the dinner set that we were bought for our wedding day lst year when inviting friends around because it simply gives the whole table a touch of class. However, there are plenty of dinner service options that you can purchase. The casual dinnerwear that is vailable now is affordable, which is perfect for the credit crunch, without being too plain. In fact, you can often choose from a wide range of pattens and still achieve the effect you are looking for without actually spending a fortune.

Another option you hve is contemporary dinnerwear. This is great foor all manner of occasions, including house warming parties, birthdays, holidays, family occassions like birthdays and almost any other special occassion that you can think of!

Entertaining is all about having the best ideas and making the most of what you have. This especially applies today because staying at home and inviting friends round is much cheaper and thus better for everyone. However, investing in a dinner service, whether for your own home or for a special occasion or present, will undoubtedly make you more confident in your skills as a host or hostess without breaking the bank!

Health-pedia.com: The Online Beauty Bible For Women!

It is not very often that I find health products sites on the Internet that I like. This is because the majority of them overtly sell things and seem to like to scare people into spending money on health products that they neither need nor want. However, one of my blogging friends told me about one I feel inclined to spread the word about yesterday - health-pedia.com. I took a look at health-pedia.com earlier today and the site has all of the makings of a must-visit site. It is a relatively new site on the block in terms of the actual development but I have absolutely no doubt that it will become every woman's beauty and health bible in the future.

Health-pedia.com has been designed with the consumer in mind because it is designed to offer unbiased product reviews of the best health poducts out there... and the worst. In fact, the plan is to allow you and all of your friends, as well as millions of other people out there, to add products and review them so you and others can let the world know about your health products experiences and read about those of other individuals as well.

All of the categories are comprehensive. Although they feature few products at the moment, judging by the subheadings present they will. Take women's health products for example. There are health products categories for hair loss, trying to conceive, vitamins, yeast control, pregnancy and child birth, after birth, menopause and breast enhancement. In short, there is absolutely everything there and as the site grows more products reviews will be there to help you choose a product that you really do want and need.

Another good section is the weight loss products section. On many other sites all you would find is diet pill after diet pill. Not so here. Instead this site features health products like supplements in addition to those. As such, it offers a solution for the people that are looking for a viable additional source of help in addition to a healthy diet and exercise instead of the miracle cure that just is not out there.

As I said before, health-pedia.com does not appear to adopt the hard sell tactic that most others do but will actually help you to choose health products that are right for you. You can help others like you and get help off those very same people with no effort at all. In fact, it looks to me like a cross between Wikipedia and Ciao - an encyclopedia of sorts crossed with a product reviews site. Trust me, it's going tobe huge... and you heard it here first!

Food Service And Recipes To Die For

If you read any food magazine today, you will see that many of the various articles discuss fresh foods and the need to eat them as often as possible for our own general health. Unfortunately, they are not as widely available as you may think or hope. This is one reason why it is really important to tap into food service as often as you can. Food service companies will provide you with fresh foods from the one place so you know exactly how they are grown, cooked and treated. One example of a Food Service Phoenix company will highlight this for you nicely.

Shamrock foods is a website I found on the Internet by searching for one in my local area. Although they are a little out of the way for me, the website is excellent and provides a great example of the type of thing you should be looking for if you are interested in eating better and maintaining your health as long as possible. They also provide Food Service Denver and
Food Service Albuquerque. In fact, they provide Food Service throughout the Rocky Mountain area, which is great for you if you live there.

If you do take a look at the website itself, I recommend that you take a look at the recipes section. The dishes are truly mouthwatering.I highly recommend the blackened ribeye one that is on there at the moment. My husband loves it! I have no doubt any steak fans out there will too. It is the most unusual place I have found recipes but I will definitely be checking in regularly!

Can Alternative Cancer Treatments Work?

It is a well-known fact that the incidence of cancer is up these days. The reported cases in countries around the world seem to increase every year, and that especially applies to first world countries. There are all kinds of arguments as to why this is the case; from the better medical knowledge we have now to the ability to detect cancer via technology. However, I believe that the world we live in contributes to it. The poor diets, the genetics, the general lifestyle and the stress we are all under undoubtedly have an effect.

My mother had breast cancer twice in her early thirties, just like my great grandmother before her. My mom survived via a mixture of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, determination and surgery to remove her ovaries. My great grandmother wasn’t so lucky but then little was known about cancer back then. However, my mom really suffered and was so sick that when I read about these alternative cancer treatments I do wonder whether they actually work.

Alternative cancer treatment comes in a huge variety of guises. They often include detoxification of the body, nutritional monitoring, lymph drainage and stress management amongst other things. A good alternative cancer center provides a whole range of treatments in general. However, an even better one will also have oncologists on board too. I am a little sceptical as to whether alternative cancer treatment will work or not but for the amount of women especially surviving cancer as a result of them these days, it seems like anything is possible! They certain emerge with healthier bodies and less in terms of mental strain.

I admire anyone fighting cancer with the will and determination to make it through. I also wish anyone suffering from cancer all the best because the struggle they have on their hands is not easy, but one thing I would say is take the advantage wherever you can. My mom did and I have no idea as to what I would do without her now.

5 Things That Make Me Smile When I'm Down

Lately I've been feeling extemely down. Everyone gets like that once in a while and it can seem like a lifetime before you finally manage to drag yourself out of it. The credit crunch is taking it toll on our household and I, like many others, am absolutely fed up of struggling all the time. I wouldn't go as far as to say my mental health is suffering but I haven't been doing all I can to feel better. As such, I decided to make a list of the 5 things that tend to make me feel better when life isn't going as I planned:

1 - Chocolate - Every woman's favourite. Lazing on the sofa in my pyjamas with a bar of chocolate and a cup of coffee tends to work a treat, at least temporarily!

2 - A Hot Bath - Now I know it's not good for you but I love my baths hotter than the sun when you get into them, the type that you have to ease into inch by inch. Some lavender bubble bath and a good book = an hour or two well spent.

3 - Playing With My Dogs - I have 2 dogs and the pup is a clown. I love playing with them and spending time with them and they both have the ability to cheer me up no end.

4 - A Cuddle - My husband gives the best cuddles! A cuddle makes me feel loved and helps to block out the world for a little while.

5 - A Good Movie - I love relaxing in front of a good DVD. I like romantic comedies because they provide great escapism but then any film will do at times!

Of course, not all of the above will apply to everyone but my best tip at the moment is just to take a little time out and do something you enjoy. At the end of the day, nothing is ever as bad as it seems so enjoying yourself for a while will give you a different perspective. Cliched maybe, but very true!

A Quick Fix For Spots

In my last post, I wrote about acne and how many effective natural remedies there were for it out there. They were all cheap and easy to make at home and worked in harmony with your body. Well this tip I intend to give you a quick tip that has worked for me for years - toothpaste!

Toothpaste is extremely useful when it comes to clearing up that one annoying and often painful spot that appears on your cheek or nose from time to time, typically before a major party or event that you want to look your best at! Obviously it is not good for acne necessarily but it is fantastic for isolated breakouts from time to time.

All you have to do is dab a litle toothpaste on the spot and the nature of the toothpaste will draw the impurities to the surface, thus enabling your skin to clear up quickly and easily without leaving scarring. You will obviousy already have it in your home so it is a quick and easy fix. However, avoid using whitening toothpaste for bringing out the spot because it can be extremely harsh on skin. Regular toothpaste is best.

You could also use a little drawing ointment on it along with a band aid or a used teabag. They do exactly the same thing and work wonders, especially if you need the spot to be gone quicly and effectively!

The Top 10 Natural Remedies For Acne

There are natural acne remedies everywhere, but so many of the articles on them are the same. If you've read one then you've read them all... and according to manufacturers of acne products none of them work. That's because you have to use this cream, that lotion or the other treatment to get rid of acne in the next few months... and all of those products contain chemicals. If your skin is sensitive then you can forget it!

Did you know that everything the manufacturers say is complete rubbish and that natural remedies for acne work far better?

Chemical treatments and creams may take several weeks to get rid of your acne and will do your skin more harm than good. However, natural acne remedies work with your body, encouraging it to help get rid of acne itself, and so are much more efficient and get rid of your acne much more quickly. There are plenty home natural remedies for acne that you can make yourself, no to mention foods that you can eat to clear your acne. All of them will work in just two weeks. All of the ingredients can be obtained from your local store and cost very little.

For the 10 natural remedies, take a look at the full article I published on AC: Enjoy Clear Skin With The Top 10 Natural Remedies For Acne

By Popular Demand: A Little More About Drug Rehab & Treatment

You may remember that I posted about substance abuse a couple of weeks ago as a result of a story I saw about Amy Winehouse and her latest mental and physical breakdown as a result of her ongoing problems. I had an amazing reaction to that post with several people emailing me asking a few questions about what I'd written. Now, I don't profess to be an expert on the subject because I'm not. I only know what one of my friends has told me and a little from my intial research but I'm going to post a little more about it because it seemed to help people. I firmly believe that information about drug rehab can help people. Even if it only inspires one person to get help then it's better than staying silent.

For starters, it is not well known that any good drug rehab center actually offers a whole host of solutions to a variety of problems. For example, the Cliffside Malibu drug rehab centre actually treats drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, self harm, eating disorders and various other problems that run along the same lines. Many do not seem to realise that drugs and alcohol are not the only conditions that need treating if an individual is to lead a healthy and happy life. It goes way beyond drug treatment. It is in fact effectively life treatment because people can begin to live their lives to the full afterwards, and drugs are not the only things that can prevent people doing that in the first place.

To get the full benefit of rehab you do have to live in for the duration of your treatment because counsellors can only do so much if you are not completely removed from an environment that contributed to your addiction or mental state in the first place. For eample, if you are addicted to cocaine then you may do well in the day but lapse during the evening when you are with your cocaine addicted friends.

Many good drug rehab centres do offer tailored treatment to suit all of your wants and needs so there is effectivel nothing to be scared of. Of course you have to want the help for it to be of benefit to you, but you can find the best possible combination fo you by speaking to qualifed individuals. For example, detoxing is a must if you have a drug problem but then you may find that group therapy works better than individual therapy because you can relate to several people and draw on their support. You may find that alternative medicines improve your state of mind and work better than traditional medications that make your head fuzzy. Everyone is different, but before you can get help you need to recognise the fact that you need it and also want it.

Weight Loss Treatment: Buyer Beware?

I don't know about you but I could do with losing a little weight. I've actually had a lot of weight problems this year as a result of health problems. What started out as unbelievable stress ended up as PCOS and a whole lot of extra pounds. Now, my husband and myself actually want to start a family in the near future and I'm obviously trying to get my system sorted out as a result of that. I've been dieting and exercising for some months now and the pounds are slowly starting to fall off. However, one of my friends recommended that I tried diet pills. At the time I laughed at her and refused point blank to entertain the idea.

I must say that I've been having second thoughts though.

I know that it takes a long time to lose weight and I wouldn't have minded putting it all on had I exercised less and ate more but my routine did not change one little bit. Although I'm not entirely desperate to lose weight to the point of being silly and starving myself, I started looking into getting a helping hand. In fact, I started reading up on various research and found The Online Clinic. I was amazed to find that they actually require you to have a consultation with one of the doctors first. I have to say that I always assumed that those sites would just sell you any old pills without it so this was a little reassuring. They're also regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency. If that isn't enough, they've also got a panel at the bottom of the homepage telling you how to go about avoiding scams!

Apparently, the also only sell weight solutions that are completely safe and have been rigorously tested as well, such as Acomplia and Reductil. I'm still not sure whether or not to go down this route but the figures related to the former were very interesting. Apparently, during the trials, 50.8% of all people on that medication lost 5% of their body weight over a 12-month period. That is pretty impressive!

If you've ever had good experiences with this sort of thing then let me know because I'd love to know how they helped.

Ladies, Make Some Time For Yourself!

I have to say that one thing I absolutely love to do is have a pamper day. I rarely get the time to even have a bath let alone give myself a facial and a quick foot massage. I like feeling clean after a shower but I much prefer taking a book into the bath! Anyway, I'm sure all of you ladies out there are the same - too busy to take a time out for yourself. Well it's about time you did!

The thing is that it is expensive to have a pamper day at a salon but you can do it at home at a more affordable price... and I'm not talking about Avon. The alternative that I have been using for years is cheaper and has a greater range of products, from female vibrators to electronic massagers to exercise gear to foot creams to relaxation products... the list is endless! It's called Timeforme and it's apparently run by women, which explains why they seem to cater for my every whim (and yours too no doubt!).

I love the skin care products. They seem to work really well with my skin so I just use it when I have a pamper day as a treat. I think that if you use the same stuff day in and day out then your skin does not respond to it as well.

And if you want a little me time to get the blood flowing then their personal massagers will most definitely give you a boost! A little cheeky maybe but it's most definitely true... just take a look at their product range! Cheaper than Ann Summers but just as good!

Good News For Chocolate Lovers Everywhere

Before I go about spreading the good news, I would love to whole heartedly thank Rachael Ray for this golden nugget of information. I have to say that I got a little excited - CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOU!

As a self-confessed chocoholic, I was really pleased to hear that alittle chocolate a day can boost your imune system and help to prevent aging. Bittersweet or dark chocolate is packed full of antioxidants, meaning that it helps to combat the free radicals that course around the body attacking and degrading cells. Free radicals are produced naturally in the body in increasing numbers as we get older. As they break the cells down, they can cause wrinkles and a loss of elasticity as well as a poor immune system and an increased likelihood of a variety of health problems. Antioxidants prevent that and thus chocolate is good for you!

In addition to chocolate, a glass of red wine can also help to keep aging at bay. It is also full of antioxidants so a glass of red wine and a little chocolate will go a long way!

Cheap And Effective Home Remedies For Sunburn

So summer, and August, is finally here. The sun is shining outside and everyone is having sleepless nights because it's too hot and humid... but then if you managed to get sunburnt today you probably won't sleep that easily anyway!

Sunburn is horrible to deal with. Many people don't even know when their skin begins to burn and this can lead to extremely red body parts, tight skin and restricted movement. As a result, it is essential to put on sunscreen. We all know that, but what happens if you find that you have sunburn anyway? You go out and buy aftersun rather than making home remedies for sunburn to slather on your arms, legs and other areas that are affected.

Aftersun is expensive and you have to take the trip out to get some if you do not already have some at home. However, there are plenty of home remedies for sunburn out there that you can amke with ingredients you can buy at your local store or may even have at home. These home remedies for sunburn are much cheaper and easier to use.

I wrote an article on home remedies for sunburn and that can be found at this link: Effective And Cheap Home Remedies For Sunburn. All of the recipes are easy to make and extremely hand to have on hand so take a look for yourself.

Look Good, Feel Great: The Benefits Of HGH

Did you know that there is one substance that is produced within the body that can help you to lose weight and prevent aging all at the same time? Well there is - HGH, otherwise known as Human Growth Hormone.

Now, before I go into what exactly hgh does, I would just like to point out that if you have heard of it then it probably has something to do with bodybuilders bulking up and packing on the muscle. This is NOT what HGH is designed for. In fact, it is not designed at all - it is a natural hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland of every single person in order to keep him or her healthy, vital and full of energy. It governs so many elements of the body and funcions it performs that you would hardly be able to move if your ability to produce HGH was taken away. In fact, it has been FDA approved for various treatments of illnesses like AIDS and MS that do prevent the body working properly.

A little HGH is of benefit to everyone but not everyone produces enough to enable the body to function correctly. This is why there are so many natural treatments, diets and supplements out there.

In terms of the benefits of HGH, it can do the following:

* Skin - It can promote the production of collagen, thus giving your skin an elasticity that defies age. As such, it can halt the aging process for you so you don't get as many wrinkles. In fact, it can reduce your wrinkles by up to 61% if various research studies are accurate.
* Energy - It promotes the body's ability to release energy so you feel full of beans every morning and all day long. No fatigue for you!
* Bones - Osteoperosis is less common in women that have good production levels of HGH because it can help to strengthen the bones and prevent weakness.
* Libido - Yes, it boosts your sexual libido - no more needs to be said about that!
* Muscle - HGH does help your body to boost it's muscle mass, so you become stronger and less prone to wastage as you get older. This is fantastic when yo remember that the heart is a muscle so HGH can keep it strong and vital as well.
* Fat - It can help you to lose weight because it helps to break down fats and convert them into energy. It can also speed up your ability to lose weight over a shorter period of time.
* Immune System - HGH boosts your immune system as well so you are less likely to pick up bugs and colds. When you do catch them then your body can expel them quicker so you're back to feeling good in no time!

Bet you didn't know that it did all of that! This is why you should make sure that you are doing all you can to produce it. Eat lean red meats, get exercise and even look into the possibility of hgh treatment or supplements if you have to. If you do want to a live a long life though, HGH can certainly help you.

Go Bananas For Headache Home Remedies

Today has been a non-entity from start to finish. I have had a major headache all day long thanks to being tired, this horribly humid heat we're having here at the moment and a little stress on my part. Working for myself is a nightmare when it's coming up to holiday time. We're off to Sorrento, Italy in a few weeks and I have to work overtime beforehand to take the time off because I work for myself. As such, I've just spent the last three hours trying headache home remedies.

Let me tell you that most of the headache home remedies out there do not work. All of those potions and teas only go so far. They took the edge off my headache but it soon returned with a vengence. One of the headache home remedies I do recommend staying away from is the one that requires you to place your hands in hot water for a few minutes. All it does is make you desperate to use the bathroom!

The most effective of the headache home remedies is one that I did not expect - eating a banana. Apparently, if you eat a banana then the potassium helps to relieve the pressure somehow and that will get rid of your headache within 30 minutes. I was very skeptical but it actually worked! Try it next time you have a headache because I guarantee that it will at least ease it if not take it away completely.

Look After Your Mental Health With A Well Deserved Holiday

It is a fact that we all need a break from time to time. We all need to get away from our daily lives to look after our mental health. After all, you can stay in bed for 24 hours and just watch TV, which will give you a complete physical rest. However, to look after your mental health you need to get away from everything that is damaging it at any given time. That means going away on vacation for a little me time, and what better place to enjoy a rest than a Paris bed and breakfast.

Paris is the city of romance and also a great place for a holiday because there is plenty to see and plenty to do. You can see the Louvre, the Bastille, the Sacre Cour, the Eiffel Tower and any other number of attractions. You can sit in a sidewalk café and watch the world go by, or your could lounge around in one of the many established bed and breakfast Paris has to offer. There are plenty around but before you book, be sure to check out exactly what kind of place an individual B&B is. To help heal your mental health, you must find a nice place, be it a small bed and breakfast or the Hotel Paris that you can relax in and have a good time in. Your mental health depends on it!

No matter where you end up staying, you should always make sure that it is a good place for you with all of the facilities you want and need. What good is a holiday if it heaps more stress onto your mental health after all? Take care of your mental health for a week and it will then take care of your for the rest of the year. It is most definitely a good excuse to take a trip to Paris though!

Substance Abuse: Breaking The Cycle And The Road To Recovery

Not a day goes by when you cannot find an article on news websites and in newspapers that reveals a celebrity has had to go into rehab. Whether it is heroin, crack, alcohol or some other form of substance abuse. It’s sad really because it’s a major reflection on society and not the entertainment that it is perceived to be. I thought I’d write a post on it as a result of the continuing coverage about Amy Winehouse. Comparing the mess she is today to the woman she was a couple of years ago highlights the threat any form of addiction poses to your life. The more people that realise it is a disease and threatens more and more individuals every year the better. Then we can start to do something about it.

Celebrity stories do serve to highlight drug abuse but tend to glamorise it. It is a serious issue and the many good rehab centres out there for substance abuse do a fantastic job in helping individuals to cope with their addictions so they are able to live their lives minus the demons in future years. Of course, no addiction is ever completely “cured”. There is no such thing. Instead, the metal, spiritual and physical healing that substance abuse centres promote will equip all addicts to cope with their own worlds much better than before.

This means that the substance abuse centres have to cater for the individual. No matter what you might read or see on the TV, there is no one size fits all treatment. Everyone is completely different. Just as one individual’s reason for turning to cocaine or alcohol will be different from the next individual, their treatment programs will be completely different as well. For example, some may prefer therapy whereas others may respond better to holistic treatments. Either way, the recovery process is extremely difficult and that is why the best centres operate around the clock. An addiction exists 24 hours a day and therefore so should the drug rehab centre as well.

Believe it or not, drug rehab should not be a one time process either. To fully help an addict with his or her problems, it should come up with a program that lasts beyond the discharge of a healthier person. It should offer an after care program as well because it is an ongoing process. This is one thing many people do not understand. When someone has been to rehab they have to want to be there and then have to show an ongoing commitment to getting clean ad staying that way. This is why family counselling is a must to help the support network and also why it is important to equip the addict to cope in the modern world without the drug support system that is so easy to slip back into.

If you know an addict or are an addict then it is important to ask for help. After all, we only get one shot at life so it is important to make the most of. Drugs and substance abuse breaks too many lives so it’s time that we said no and offered the right support and recovery program to anyone that needs it.

Cellulite Problem: The Bane Of Every Woman's Life!

The dreaded orange peel cellulite problem is, to repeat, the bane of every woman's life. Although almost 90% of us have it (so if you do then you are definitely not on your own), having just one tiny little bit on a thigh or a buttock has the ability to freak us out big time. Never has there been such a confidence sapping ailment out there that is not even classified as an illness!

I have to admit that, althogh I am not one of those women that goes out and tries every single cellulite "cure" and cellulite cream out there, I have tried a few creams over the years and none of them have worked... AT ALL! They have hardly even touched it. However, I have noticed a difference since I started drinking green tea a few weeks ago. I don't usually drink anything like that but my doctor thinks I have PCOS and advised that I lose weight. I tried to cut down on the coffee (sniff sniff) and replaced it with green tea... some of the time anyway! I've noticed that I feel better and have less orange peel on my thighs than I used to in just four weeks.

I knew green tea was rich in antioxidants but didn't think of it as a cellulite cure at all. Instead, it was just a hot drink that I didn't mind to replace coffee. Well, when it worked, it got me thinking about cellulite cures and other natural remedies that could be found out there. Anyone that has read my finance blog, Finance Central, in the last few months will know that I'm on a major budget drive and can't afford much at the minute, but all of those supplements that you read about are really expensive. So I did a little research and found some awesome natural cellulite cures that really work... apparently. I've read such good things about some of them that I wrote an article on them , which can be found here: Natural Cellulite Remedies.

If you try some of them out or have used them then let me know what you think. I'm on a mission to find which ones are the best now!

Eggs Is Eggs, But Is It Fresh?

Here's a little tip for you for today...

At the moment, I'm boiling a couple of eggs for lunch and a welcome break from my writing projects of the day (I have so much to do it's unreal!). I took two out of a new packet and put them into water. One floated and one did not. Many people would have not know which one to throw out, so I thought I'd write a post about it!

If an egg FLOATS then you should throw it out immediately because it is off and will likely give you food poisoning if you eat it. This is becuse the egg has began to produce gases that enable it to float. The gases are produced by bacteria within the egg itself and it is this bacteria that contaminates it and makes it unsafe to eat.

If an egg SINKS then it is completely fresh and wholly safe to eat.

However, some eggs do tend to sink for the most part but point upwards, meaning that the majority of the egg is submerged but a little of the top of the egg is visible above the water. These eggs are also safe to eat because it just means that a little air is within the shell. That is normal and is common of eggs that ar not produced organically or by free range methods. As long as the whole eggs does not float, it is safe.

The best way to check is by placing the egg in cool water because that will not counteract the effect of the gases. However, before you do so, you may check the bst before date on the packaging of the egg. I don't do that. I believe that a best before date for eggs is there to cover the manufacturer and is not really applicable to me purely and simply because it does not guarantee that the egg is off afterwards. As long as the eggs have been refrigerated and do not float then I will eat them. I think it's a waste to throw them out if they are still good.

Of course, that's personal choice. My husband won't touch them if they're out of date, but I will as long as it is within a reasonable timeframe. I wouldn't eat them after a year obviously, but I do believe that this is one of the areas to which common sense can be applied. You can save money and prevent food wastage at the same time.

Think 4th Of July Quick And Easy Recipes!

Independence Day is on the horizon yet again people! It's amazing how time simply flies by becauseit doesn't seem a moment since the very same day last year. The memories are probably still fresh in your mind, but now you have another one to prepare for!

With the 4th of July celebrations a little over a week away, everyone's planning parties and family dinners. These plans may have been in the works for months or you may haveonly just started thinking about it, but either way you will need food. Lots and lots of delicious food! Traditional American recipes are always a firm favorite, as are quick and easy recipes that take no time to prepare. And then there's the cocktails to think about! So much food, too little time...

Well, let me save you some time here because I have some great recipes for you to tantalize the tastebuds and get your party plans started with a bang:

Quick And Easy Fourth Of July Recipes For Finger Foods

Quick And Easy Iced Tea Recipes For Summer

The Ultimate In Red, White And Blue Fourth Of July Desserts

Three Perfect 4th Of July Cocktails

Tried and tested, all four articles have some awesome recipes on there and most of them only take five minutes to prepare so you can relax and enjoy your 4th of July without worrying about whether there's enough food for everyone!

Effective Home Remedies For Hay Fever

I woke up this morning with eyes so puffed up I could barely see. I just love this time of year! All sarcasm aside though, I had just about had enough of sneezing, wheezing and swollen eyes so I looked up home remedies for hay fever on the Internet and found the following article, which may be useful if you are like me during he pollen season: Effective Hay Fever Home Remedies.

One of those I found that isn't on there was rather strange but works - put vaseline at the base of your nose and around your nostrils. It prevents pollen going up your nose because it sticks to the vaseline and therefore won't cause a reaction. Strange but true!

Following On In The Recipe Vein: Fat Free Recipes

Last week I wrote about a wheat free recipe for a gorgeous chocoate cake that I'd found. I made it again in the week and I'm going to have to lose the recipe I think because I can't seem to get enough of the stuff! I have a sweet tooth anyway but too much cake is not that good for you... especially i it is wheat free but not fat free... which got me thinking!

I then went on a hunt for good fat free recipes;. I'd heard plenty about them but I'd never actually found one that was completely fat free. in fact, I didn't think it was possible to find any kind of substantial food that had no fat at all in it. Well, I was wrong! I actually found a great recipe for cakes again but this time a fat free rather than wheat free one.

The recipe I found was for fat free muffins. I laughed when I found it because I was sure that they would have no taste at all, or alternatively taste like cardboard. out of curiosity, I made them anyway and was surprised to find that they were actually really good. I made a few blueberry ones at first and then tried chocolate chip muffins. Both were delicious and some of them are now in my freezer because the recipe actually caters for that.

If you'd like to try making them for yourself then you can find the Fat Free Muffins recipe at the link. They're really simple to make and take around 30 minutes, including baking time. Enjoy!

The Best Wheat Free Chocolate Cake In The Whole Wide World!

Yes, you read the title right... the best chocoate cake in the whole wide world... minus the wheat of other chocolate cakes that could cause an allergic reaction!

More and more people are being diagnosed with wheat allergies every day. There is a great debate as to why this is. Some experts believe that it is the degradation of the environment that leaves us all more open to allergies, others believe that we have always had a wheat intolerance but chemicals and hormones that can be found in food have made it worse. Whatever the reason for it, more people are undubtedly suffering from wheat allergies and need to be more careful about what they eat.

A wheat allergy is difficult to avoid because the majority of whole grain products and those containing flour can cause severe reactions. This cuts out cakes, breads, biscuits and any number of other things. The problem is that it takes a concerted effort to avoid wheat, and that includes cooking your own foods as often as possible.

If you do want to try out wheat free foods to improve your health or have an intolerance to wheat then one of the recipes that you simply have to try is the flourless chocolate cake. It really is the most delicious recipe that you will ever make as far as chocolate cakes are concerned!

The recipe can be found at the following page: Flourless Chocolate Cake. You have to taste it to believe it!

Cocktail, Anyone? Delicious Recipes For Summer!

Summer is well on it's way now, with a little bit of luck, and it's time to start thinking about the party season. BBQs and parties with your friends are not the same without good food and good drink! The sun will no doubt put you in a good mood, so why not tantalize your tastebuds with some of the best summer cocktails around? Easy to prepare at a moment's notice, the Pimms Paradise, American Cobbler and the Peach Bellini are the perfect summer cocktails... Delicious too!

For the recipes and a little more informtion take a look at this article: Three Perfect 4th Of July Cocktails. Your tastebuds will be glad you did!

The ARD Factfile

A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog on the subject of adhesions (ARD - Adhesion Related Disorder) because I felt that it was something everyone should be aware of, especially women given the possibility of health complications. Ever since I have been reading up on ARD and have put together a few facts that may be of interest.

It is important to remember that these facts are based on extensive research that has been performed by medical professionals over a number of years. None of the figures have been pulled out of thin air, regardless of what you may otherwise hear (please see the note at the end of the post). Some of them are startling and some extremely frightening, but the more we know the more we can combat ARD and prevent the suffering of others:

* Adhesions are actually described as abnormal bands of scar tissue. They work to adhere your internal organs to each other, whichis why they cause excrutiating pain.
* Adhesions are common in those women who suffer with endometriosis, STDs and/or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
* 93% of patients that have had pelvic surgery or abdominal surgery will be afflicted with adhesions.
* 74% of all bowel obstructions that occur are the result of ARD.
* Between 15% and 20% of all cases of female infertility arise from adhesions caused by pelvic/abdominal surgery.
* Adhesions can cause pelvic pain, pain during sexual intercourse, infertility, intestinal obstruction and bowel obstruction in women.
* Over 300,000 people were admitted to hospital for surgery to remove adhesions in the US in 1998 alone. There are no figures regarding how many operations were successful but unfortunately many are not. This cost over $2.2billion.

All of the figures above were taken from Women's Health Solutions, which features all of the available research sources so you can read a little more for yourself if you want to.

There is also an article called Women's Health: Vital Facts About Adhesions that you can read. It is a very recent article so it has all of the latest info.

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Before I draw this post to a close I would just like to say something about my blog. This is my personal health blog. I enjoy writing about a variety of topics connected to general health, healthy eating and also illnesses like this one. As I said in my previous post, everyone has heard of breast cancer but it is illnesses like this that go unnoticed. Sufferers should not have to put up with a wall of silence. My mother had breast cancer twice and I am an ardent supporter of cancer charities as a result, but I dedicate my time and energy to illnesses like this as well because women deserve to know what is out there. There are so many things we don't know because nothing is ever said and it is just not good enough.

I encourage everyone to post a comment, whether they agree/disagree with my posts, want to add their 2 cents or just simply like what I write. I love a good debate because that is the basis of how we learn and progress in society.

However, that being said, I WILL NOT accept comments that deliberately include defamatory statements. Also, I WILL NOT be bullied out of publishing my opinion. This obviously doesn't apply to 99.9% of you reading this (so apologies for the rant), but the one person it does apply to knows who she is. I had to delete a comment that was made on the last ARD post I wrote because it was aimed solely at destroying the career of an esteemed doctor and branding a friend of mine a liar. I don't want to have to do that again.

ARD can be a horrendous illness, which is made worse by people hiding the truth. I am not one of those people. Please educate yourself by looking at official research and reading about the personal experiences of sufferers. Please then make up your own mind. After all, everyone has a right to that so make the most of it!

Allergy Season Is Upon Us!

Allergy season is most definitely upon us. After waking up with extremely dry eyes, a headache and a blocked nose, I decided it was time to turn to the hayfever medication that I usually take at this time of year. I'm only usually affected by hayfever for a couple of weeks before feeling OK for the rest of Spring, but I decided to look into allergies this year instead of popping pills for the duration of the fortnight and found soe great natural remedies.

Hayfever and other allergies are signs of an over-active immune system, believe it or not. I always thought that it was an immune deficiency but apparently not. Hayfever and allergies are your body's reaction to elements that it perceives to be dangerous, hence the streaming nose and eyes. However, you don't need to spend a fortune on medication and supplements to fight it off when you can make home remedies to help you.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR is very useful in helping fight off allergies. Take a tablespoon full in a cup of boiling water with a spoonful of honey and a dash of lemon juice. The apple cider vinegar will clear your symptoms and your sinuses, whilst the honey and lemon will soothe your throat and ease your blocked nose. This mixture is packed full of nutrients and tastes good but don't take the vinegar on its own because it is really bitter.

There are also other things you can eat to help ease your allergies. TUMERIC and GARLIC are both useful in the battle against allergies. Tumeric is safe to use all the time but beware of eating or taking too much garlic as it can thin the blood and cause untold problems. You can consume both in your food but can also get supplements to make it a little easier. They're definitely better for your body than medication but may help yu fight your allergies given half a chance!

ARD - Adhesion Related Disorder

As a woman, women's health is obvious important to me, but I do not feel that some topics are covered as much in the media as they should be. We all know about breat cancer, myself from personal experience as my mum has the illness twice whilst still in her 30s. We all know a little about PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)as a result of some high profile celebrities being diagnosed with the condition, Victoria Beckham being one of them. And yet we know little about ARD, or Adhesion Related Disorder.

Doctors are well acquainted with ARD today and yet nobody talks about it. It can actually be very debilitating, and yet I had never heard of it before until a friend on Facebook formed a cause to proote awareness because her daughter suffered from it. Now I know this is a little off topic because this blog usually concerns healthy eating and other similar topics. However, I believe that it is worth mentioning because we do need to raise awareness of this women's health issue sooner rather than later.

ADR actually occurs in both women and men but is more common in women as a result of our reproductive organs being internal. In fact, over 93% of people that have had major pelvic or abdominal surgery suffer with ARD today and the number is rising. It is not the surgery that causes ARD but rather infections and inflammation that seems to come hand in hand with surgery these days. The adhesions that result from infection and inflammation can cause serious abdominal illness and excrutiating pain.

Furthermore, although doctors know about ARD, very few diagnose it correctly first time. Instead, the majority of that 93% are diagnosed incorrectly and thus receive the wrong treatment as a result. This can make the illness worse instead of better and some people often have lifelong pain as a result.

If you do want to find out more about ARD then you can go to the UK Adhesion Society website or read an amazing book by a lady that has experienced it first hand. Karen Steward had to stand by and watch her daughter battle against ARD for 14 years and her book is an account of their story. You can find a description and order the book here.

Karen has actually set up a cause on Facebook to help raise awareness of ARD. If you have a Facebook account then you can sign up and show your support here. It is important to get the message out so spread the word today!

A Quick Guide To Vegetarian Diet Nutrition

Many people follow a vegetarian diet these days and it can be extremely healthy, but then again it can be extremely damaging as well if a correct nutritional and balanced diet is not followed. I found this great article on Digg and it is well worth a read!

read more | digg story

The Benefits Of Coffee - Yay!

It's been a while so I apologise for not being here. I've had a few health issues of my own to deal with, so much so that I was not sure what to write. Now I'm back and have a wealth of research to share with you all, so we'll start with one of my favourite topics - coffee!

I love coffee and drink way too much of the stuff every single day. It was my guilty pleasure because I used to think that coffee, and more specifically caffeine, was bad for you. As it turns out, it probably is in the quantities I drink every day, but not if you control your intake. In fact, it is apparently very good for you if you limit your intake to a couple of cups a day.

Coffee actually works to improve your general health in a variety of ways. It can improve the health of your heart, help to prevent diabetes, relieve stress and stave off ailments like Parkinson's Disease. In fact, it can even reduce the instances of some forms of cancers. To get the full story on why it can do this, you would need to go through thousands fo scientific studies, but the basic reason is the chlorogenic acid that is to be found within the coffee. It is an antioxident, meaning that it actively works to break down free radicals that are created by and move through the body. Antioxidents prevent it from damaging cells and thus causing these illnesses.

So, in short, I can now enjoy a cup of coffee with peace of mind!

Healthy Foods Part 13: Foods To Help Detox Your Body

Feel Better And Lose Weight With Foods That Detoxify The Body

Foods that detoxify the body can be found mentioned between the covers of the majority of dieting, health and women’s magazines these days and many people may have got bored of seeing detox diets that can make them lose weight fast. These diets are often written off as just another fad that doesn’t work, but the people that do look upon foods that detoxify the body in that way have obviously never tried it. Many foods that detoxify the body have properties that help to flush out toxins and other non-essential elements, which is their primary function and help you feel better. This function actually enables your organs to work more efficiently so that they do not hamper your metabolism, which can lead to losing weight.

Foods that detoxify the body are actually classified as such now, as well as in their regular food groups, because they do not tend to fit perfectly under one heading. Foods that detoxify the body tend to be natural flora and fauna rather than animal and, as such, have different properties that vary from food to food. However, the one thing they have in common is that they make the different elements of your body work in harmony. Everything works at its best level, and that is why you lose weight! To fully understand what they can do for you, we’ll take the foods one by one and explain!

Grapes are great for detoxifying the body because they contain flavinols, which are widely known for boosting the circulation of blood around your body. This might not sound like it can help you lose weight but it can because your blood takes oxygen to every part of your body and the more oxygen the cells get, the more efficiently they can work and the more calories they burn doing so. If your metabolism speeds up then you lose weight. It’s as simple as that!

Prunes are a great source of fiber and can actually help you to go to the toilet a lot better The fiber goes through your system and passes out with any waste products that are in there. If the waste, or what your body doesn’t need, remains in there then anything that can be stored will be and you’ll put on weight. All fruits and vegetables have fiber in them and, as a result, are foods that detoxify the body and make sure that you lose weight.

Ice-cold water can help to increase your metabolism too. Thought not strictly one of the foods that detoxify the body, it is an important part of any detox diet because your body has to heat the water up and uses calories to do so!

Green tea is one of the foods that detoxify the body because it flushes out all of the toxins and boosts the metabolism, thus enabling your blood to circulate efficiently and reach all of the major organs to make them more efficient in turn. It also has properties that encourage fat burning and thus is great for losing weight.

Eating these foods that detoxify the body can really boost your metabolism and make your body much more efficient. If paired with exercise, the pounds will just fall off you! If you eat these foods in a balanced diet then you’ll feel healthier and will enjoy life much more so they’re definitely worth trying.

Healthy Foods Part 12: Carbs!

Weight Loss And Carbohydrates

Managing foods and the groups is very important when it comes to trying to lose weight. It’s impossible to lose weight without being able to balance them all so that you get the right blend of energy and nutrients, which is maybe why carbohydrates play a big part in any diet. Carbohydrates are one of the three main sources of energy, being completely made up of sugar or starch. Carbohydrates are pure energy because they don’t have another function, unlike fats and protein so if you want to lose weight it’s essential that you get the balance right!

Foods that contain carbohydrates include potatoes, pasta, rice, bread, biscuits, cakes and chocolate, to name a few. Fruits also contain carbohydrates because they are largely made up of fructose, a simple but really sweet sugar. In fact, carbohydrates can be found in most foods in some way, shape or form, but it is the foods that are high in carbohydrates that you should manage if you want to lose weight.

There are two main types of carbohydrates and the one you eat tends to determine how much weight you lose, or even if you can lose weight at all. The body uses up carbohydrates as an energy source before using protein and fats because of the fact that it can’t do anything else. If you want to lose weight then, you have to make sure that you don’t eat too many carbohydrates because the excess that you don’t burn off is converted into fat and then stored. But how can they really help you to lose weight?

You can lose weight by eating complex carbohydrates instead of simple ones. Complex carbohydrates are starchy foods like pasta and rice. They are actually digested slowly because its takes quite a while to break them down, which uses calories, believe it or not! As a result of the time it does take to break them down, they actually release energy slowly. One bowl of pasta would be enough to set you up for the day in terms of energy, and the fact that it does release over the day means that very little of it is stored as fat, so you don’t put on weight!

Complex carbohydrates speed up your metabolism because it has to work overtime to break them down. As a result, when all of the carbohydrates are gone, your metabolism will start in on your stored fat and this ensures that you lose weight throughout the course of the day!

It is simple carbohydrates that lead you to put on weight instead. Simple carbohydrates, like those in biscuits and cakes, are released very quickly because they take next to no time to break down. This gives your body a high amount of energy in very little time. Your body can’t use it all at once and so it’s converted into fat and stored. Avoid them like the plague!

Remember the old proverb when it comes to simple carbohydrates – a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips! It is absolutely true! Tucking in to a big bowl of pasta instead will help you to lose that fat and get rid of past indiscretions that involved the biscuit tin!

Healthy Foods Part 11: Supplements!

Can Supplements Really Help You To Lose Weight?

Everybody knows about the benefits that a balance diet can give you in terms of your health and losing weight. However, what about extras that you can take to help boost your ability to lose weight? Do they really work or are they just cashing in on dieting fads and the need people feel to be fashionably thin? Supplements are actually a food in their own right where your diet is concerned. Weight loss supplements are taken with meals or before meals and are made up of various ingredients that are supposed to help you to lose weight in a variety of ways.

However, there are very few manufactured weight loss supplements that have been laboratory proven to actually work. The majority of them have only produced a little if any evidence that they encourage your body to lose weight, and no qualified dieticians would recommend them. However, natural weight loss supplements are different. They don’t have the same side effects and are not manufactured using various chemicals that can do more overall harm than good! They all vary in terms of what they do within your body to make sure that you lose weight, depending on the ingredients. The ones that actually work are listed below along with how they can help you to lose weight quickly and effectively!

Hoodia is one of the most popular weight loss supplements out there, but also one of the rarest an most expensive. It is natural and grown in the wilds of South Africa. As a result, it is incredibly hard to come by, but it is one of the most effective around. Hoodia actually works to suppress the appetite and helps to keep you feeling full for longer. As a result, you don’t want to snack and wind up consuming fewer calories as a result. There are no known side effects of Hoodia, but there are a lot of fakes out there that don’t work, so you do have to be careful and seek out reputable sources before investing.

There are other natural weight loss supplements that are cheaper and more widely available. Green tea, for example, is available in most health stores and detoxifies the body. By getting rid of all of the toxins, it encourages waste to pass out of the body, which can then work more efficiently to burn calories. It also lowers cholesterol, which is an added benefit.

Guarana is another weight loss supplement that would help you to lose weight. The effect it has is similar to caffeine in terms of what it does within your body. The caffeine-like effect speeds up your metabolism, which burns more calories as well as suppressing your appetite. Burning more calories and eating fewer is great for weight loss!

Natural supplements can really help you to kick-start your diet and lose weight, just as long as you stick to the recommended doses and eat a balanced diet at the same time. Always make sure that you consult a doctor or dietician in advance though!

Healthy Foods Part 10: Fats!

The Truth About Fats

One particular food group is surrounded by myth far more than the others. That group is fats. All too often, people try and avoid eating fat as part of their daily diets, presuming that they’re bad for you. Some fats are bad for you and can make you put on weight, but others are considered good fats and can actually help you to lose weight! Fats actually provide a third source of energy in your diet, along with proteins and carbohydrates, as well as giving your body the means to repair tissue and keep cells healthy. Burning fat always means that you are losing weight!

There are three types of fat that are well known and can determine whether you lose weight or put it on – saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. The latter two are known as “good fats” whereas the former is actually the one that regular dieters check for on the back of food packets! Saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are all fatty acids but are different because of the way the molecules are joined to each other in each type. The way they are bonded actually alters the way in which the body can deal with them. In other words, the bonds can help us to lose or put on weight.

Saturated fats are generally found in processed foods and animal products like butter, meat, dairy foods and microwavable meals, which do tend to contain a lot! Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are found in plant products like sunflower and olive oils, nuts and seeds. In more simple terms, saturated fats are harder to break down than monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats so if you eat too many saturate fats then your body has no choice but to store it. The other two types are broken down easily and can keep your metabolism high if you exercise, which also burns off the calories. However, it is the essential fatty acids, or omega 3, 6 and 9, that helps us to lose weight.

Essential fatty acids can be found in foods like soybeans, walnuts, shrimp, salmon, halibut, walnuts and flaxseed. Fish is commonly known for its omega properties, but you may find that omega 3 has been added to a number of foods that populate supermarket shelves as a result of its popularity.

The omega fatty acids work to increase your body’s ability to burn fat during periods of exercise in two ways. The first is that it increases the metabolic rate of carbohydrates and fates within the body. Omega 3, in particular, can make cell walls far more flexible and this makes more susceptible to insulin. In turn, this ensures that every cell is more efficient and burns more carbohydrates. In terms of fat burning, fatty acids can ensure that the blood circulation is effective and efficient during exercise, and this gives the muscles a boost during energy, thus making them work harder and burn more calories.

Make sure that you look out for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Also be aware that you should be getting your daily recommended dose of omega 3,6 and 9. In total, you should be eating about 70g of fat a day to stay healthy, and that amount of those fats will help your metabolism. Home cooked meals tend to be healthier but counting the grams of fat is a great idea where necessary. It only takes a few weeks more to feel noticeably healthier than ever before!

Healthy Foods Part 9: Balancing Your Blood Sugar

Getting And Keeping The Weight Off With Foods That Balance The Blood Sugar

Although there are staple food groups that we have all come to know and love, new foods have been added to the list recently that can help us all to lose weight. Foods that balance the blood sugar happen to be one of them. They play an integral part in helping individuals to lose weight, as well as maintaining health. All foods containing carbohydrates have a glycemic index, or GI, and foods that balance the blood sugar are judged solely on their GI. They have the ability to keep your blood sugar steady and thus optimise your energy stores and your ability to lose weight!

The glycemic index of foods refers to how slowly or quickly they release energy. The higher the GI number, the worse the food is for your energy levels because a high GI number indicates that the food actually gives you a quick energy boost. The faster the energy release from a food, the less likely you are to use that energy and thus the more likely it is that your body will end up storing most of it as fat. Low GI foods, like pasta and wholegrain rice, are much better for you because they provide a constant slow release of energy throughout the day. This cuts down the possibility of storing energy of fat and thus you can actually lose weight as a result. Also, the slow release gives your metabolism a boost so you stand more chance of burning off excess fat left behind from a high GI food on a previous occasion!

Blood sugar is also extremely important in another way if you want to lose weight. If you have ever been on a diet then you will probably dread the nasty side-effects you get. Not only do you crave the foods that you can’t have, you also feel irritable! This indicates poor management of blood sugar rather than a lack of will power! You may also experience energy slumps throughout the day, usually an hour or so after eating, and it may be accompanied by dizziness. This often indicates that your blood sugar is too low. The cravings are your body telling you that you need energy and if you give into them, that’s when you will put on weight.

If your blood sugar is going up and down like a rollercoaster then your body will find it impossible to manage and automatically think that something is wrong. If your blood sugar is not balanced then your body will stop using up energy and will convert it into fat and store it instead because it’ll think that it’s being starved. If it does this, you won’t lose weight. There are foods that can help though.

Foods that contain chromium are great for stabilising blood sugar because, without it, the insulin that controls the blood sugar level within the body would not function. Foods containing chromium, like onions, have this property, as does licorice and cinnamon. If you want to lose weight then you should include these foods in your diet to keep the cravings at bay and feel full of energy because they also encourage your metabolism.

Foods that balance the blood sugar have been proven to have a great effect on a person’s ability to lose weight in both the short and long terms. Controlling your blood sugar levels can keep you healthy and give you enough energy to be able to lose weight steadily. Healthy blood sugar levels equal a healthy and lean body, so give it a try! You have nothing to lose!