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You are what you eat

Adequate nutrition is the key to health, well-being and exercise or sports performance.

Nutrition experts also agree that diet is directly related to health and the prevention of degenerative diseases.

The basic principle of healthy nutrition is balance. A well-chosen selection of various foods will provide the nutrients needed for health and physical activity. It is also interesting to note that water is the most important, but most easily forgotten nutrient the body requires.

The other nutrients that we require to sustain life include vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Nutrition is a relatively new science, which evolved from the discovery of vitamins in the previous century. Much research has been done since then and more and more information becomes available on a daily basis.

Unfortunately this abundance of information has also created the problem of misinformation and even dietary myths.

Exercisers and athletes sometimes follow dietary principles and practices that do not contribute to improved health and fitness. In some cases this leads to eating habits that may be harmful.

 

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8 Fashion mistakes we make and don’t realise we make them

They include:

1. Wearing the wrong colors

All skin tones are not created equal. The lime green or hot pink that you saw on the runways may look fabulous on the models, but horrible on you. Experiment with different colors and stick with the palettes that look best on you, regardless of what's "au currant". Don't waste your money on clothes that make you look pale, shallow or washed out.

2. Wearing too small a size

If it doesn't fit, don't wear it. Squeezing into a size 8 may feed your vanity, but it will make you appear overfed to everyone else. Shop by FIT, not by size. If you can't sit down or feel as trussed up as a turkey, you're not going to feel your best. Why put yourself through that kind of torture? Find clothes that fit or have them tailored to fit and stack the cards in your favour.

3. Inappropriate Makeup

Light for day, heavier for evening, sheer for sports or other strenuous pursuits. You wear different clothes for different activities in your life; your makeup should change as well. And if you're still doing Cleopatra eyes, it's time to turn the page and see what's happening THIS century in makeup styles.

4. Rundown Shoes

You look great...from the ankles up. If your shoes have seen better days, find a good shoe repair shop and put them in for some TLC. Polish them regularly. Use a felt tip marker on scuffs, and put a piece of soft carpet under your feet when you drive to avoid scratching the backside of your shoes. And most importantly, invest in a good lasting pair if you're going to wear them every day.

5. Broken nails, chipped polish.

Keep your nails clean and evenly trimmed. To make repairs quickly, have clippers and a nail file in your purse and desk at work. Paint over chips or remove all polish. If you're in a business environment, stick with conservative nail polish colours at work and save the sparkly/neon/funky looks for weekends and vacations. Dragon-lady lengths are never appropriate for business.

6. Underarm Stains

First, buy deodorant that works with your body. You may have to try a few to find the best one for you, and you may need to change every now and again if your chemistry changes, like after having a baby, starting new medication, going through menopause. If you perspire heavily or need a safe method to prevent stains, consider using dress shields.

7. Visible bra lines

Make sure your bra fits properly. If it rides up in back, slips of the shoulders, or lets your breasts sag instead of offering support, then it's time to seek professional help.

8. Hair colour

Hair colour can do wonderful things for you, but it can also be hard on the budget. If you can't afford the regular maintenance required by all over colour, consider getting highlights instead. And whatever you do, make sure your hair colour matches your skin tone.

Take a few minutes to attend to the details. Why spoil your look when looking great is nearly as easy?

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Wealth & Wellness

There are many ideas and opinions, on what constitutes good health, or what a meaningful healthy lifestyle feels like or looks like.

It could be said that health should be a natural condition, or at least a consistent state of well being. But what is this natural condition?

There are some people who accept pain and discomfort in the body as a necessary part of living. This pain is considered to be a motivator, something for the body to fight against.

They accept this condition because they observe that there are so many people with health complaints and so few people free of problems. It is even taken for granted today that dying of a degenerative disease is acceptable if the person had led a 'good life'.

Regular exercise, a healthy diet, living without substance abuse, and coping with stresses can influence many of the primary and secondary risks to health. In addition to helping prevent health problems, these behaviours provide the basis for a higher level of fitness.

The knowledge that health status and risk of major health problems can be modified is an exciting yet frustrating aspect of fitness programs. It is exciting because individuals can actually gain control of their health. It is frustrating in that it may be difficult for some people to change unhealthy lifestyles.

Participating in a fitness program puts a person at the cutting edge of health. Fitness professionals can help fitness participants gain control of their lives, beginning with an evaluation of risk factors and behaviours related to health.

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What to look for when buying new sunglasses

Here's what to look for when shopping for your next pair of shades…

UV Protection

For optimum protection, lenses should block 99 to 100% of UV rays. UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are stronger at high altitudes and closer to the equator. Going to the beach?

The reflective qualities of sand and water amplify the effects of UV radiation, potentially harming unprotected eyes even over a brief period of time. Clouds may block brightness, but still allow 80 percent of UV light to reach eyes and skin.

Photokeratitis, a painful sunburn of the cornea, can result from too much time in the sun without adequate protection. Symptoms include discomfort, blurred vision and light sensitivity. Cataracts, a common vision problem, are also thought to be a result of unprotected, long-term sun exposure.

Children's eyes can be particularly sensitive to the sun, so make sure that your kids are wearing their sunglasses when they are outdoors. A wide-brimmed hat for babies and toddlers is also a wise idea.

Polarized Lenses

Sun glare, a problem that can cause eyestrain and impaired vision, can be addressed by using polarized lenses. Ideal for outdoor activities and driving, these lenses use polarized filtering to deflect and diffuse concentrated light waves, eliminating 99 percent of reflected glare.

Sun glare can be a real danger when driving, as bright sunlight or reflected light off a vehicle or roadway can be temporarily blinding. In addition, polarized lenses can increase visual clarity and enhance depth and colour perception.

Hip to be Cool. It's a smart move to protect your eyes from the sun's damaging rays year-round. And of course, who doesn't crave the latest look when it comes to sunglasses? Optical retailers carry a wide selection of prescription and non-prescription sunglasses including trendy designer lines such as Maui Jim, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Ray Ban and others.

You can even turn any eyeglass frame into a custom pair of prescription or non-prescription sunglasses with UV protection and your choice of tinted, polarized or mirror-coated lenses. Ask your Optometrist for advice about sunglasses or prescription sunglasses that best suit your needs.

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Natural methods used to alleviate hypertension

Should tests indicate that you suffer from hypertension it is important to take immediate action to bring it down before it contributes to other conditions such as Angina, Heart Attacks, Strokes, Kidney complaints, Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism and others. Listed below are several different methods used to help alleviate the symptoms of Hypertension.

Stress is an important factor to be considered in Hypertension. It is essential to direct the patient when using the therapies below, that it is a lifestyle change that will occur. A change in attitude towards lifestyle and his or her goals. There is no short-term fix for this condition. All the therapies below should be used in conjunction with allopathic medicine for a holistic approach to resolving the condition.

Listed below are several ways to reduce high blood pressure.

Diet and Supplementation:

Diet is a very important factor when treating Hypertension and should be the first option to consider when treating it.

  • One of the most important criteria is to reduce the intake of animal fats and saturated fat. A severe cut back in meats that are high in fat should occur. In particular, red meat has a high level of fat, and should be avoided or substituted with fish, legumes, beans etc.
     

  • A reduction in margarines, butter, cooking oil and dairy products is also important. A vegetarian diet would be the most beneficial.
     

  • Salt is a primary contributor to Hypertension, it causes fluid retention adding additional stress to the heart and circulatory system. Overall the evidence with a restricted salt diet leads to a lowering of blood pressure.
     

  • There is an indication of the importance of potassium in relation to sodium. Due to fast foods, and our modern diet, the intake of potassium has decreased substantially, while an increase in salt has occurred. Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium help regulate fluid retention, reducing the pressure on the circulatory system.
     

  • Increasing the above intake will cause the body to excrete more sodium. To increase your intake of potassium foods, eat foods such as fish, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, peaches and avocado pears. Foods high in calcium are low fat milk, spinach and broccoli and those high in magnesium are beans, dark leafy vegetables, nuts, soybeans and seafoods.
     

  • There are links between excess alcohol intake and hypertension. People who have a tendency towards hypertension should reduce their intake of alcohol to one drink a day. Stimulants such as tea and coffee should be substituted with herbal teas and caffeine free beverages.
     

  • Supplementation has had a beneficial effect in the treatment of Hypertension. Several options for Supplementation are available.

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