Cellulite Natural Treatments

Dimples on the face are usually considered attractive, dimples on your thighs and buttocks, not so much. Cellulite is very common for women and has been for years. That’s why our grandmothers found ways to deal with it.

Cellulite shows up when a pocket of fat beneath the skin pushes on the connective tissue, creating a cottage cheese effect. Women are particularly prone to cellulite because their connective tissue is softer than that of men. Usually the troublesome bumps appear on the buttocks, hips and thighs. Try the following natural homemade treatments:
To make effective massage oil, pour a little more than ¾ cup of wheat germ oil over a handful of fresh ivy leaves and let steep for two weeks in a sealed container in a warm location. Strain and mix in 2 drops of rosemary oil. Rub into your trouble spots daily, using circular motions.

Other oils such as cinnamon, lavender, chamomile, clove, rosemary, and sandalwood, can be mixed with a base oil to create massage oil for cellulite patches.
Potatoes possess remarkable healing powers, including the ability to tighten your connective tissue. To take advantage of this, peel one raw potato and spread thin slices onto the skin affected by cellulite. Cover with cotton cloth and let work for 15 minutes.

Create your own mixture to tighten the subcutaneous tissue by boiling about 3 tablespoons ivy leaves in 1/2 liter of water for 2 minutes, then strain. Moisten cotton cloths with the cooled liquid and apply to the affected areas once a day for 20 minutes.
Massaging sea salt into your moist skin can also be effective. Do it after taking a shower, then rinse off with warm water.
Also remember, that diet and exercise are also key to preventing cellulite. First and foremost, people carrying excess pounds must slim down.

From: Natural Remedies for Healthy Living , The Readers Digest Association

http://positivemed.com/2013/05/27/cellulite-natural-treatments/

7 Powerful Foods To Naturally Calm Your Nervous System

Today’s crazy lifestyle can do a lot to our central nervous system, especially if we are not taking proactive steps to counteract this perpetual negative effect on our body. 

An overtaxed nervous system typically expends most of its resources just trying to defend the body against attack, whether it is in the form of anxiety, panic, or stress; all of which deplete your energy reserves and potentially even harm your endocrine system.

There is a simple way to counteract this damage, consume foods that minimize the amount of time and energy your nervous system spends in catabolic mode. There are many foods that nourish, heal, and regenerate the body.

Here are seven powerful foods that can help calm your nervous system naturally for maximum health:

1) Whey

Whey is naturally rich in L-tryptophan, which has been shown to assist in the production of serotonin, which regulates endocrine, digestive, nervous system, and blood health, and also a whole range of other healing amino acids and nutrients, which are excellent for calming your nervous system.

Whey is also rich in L-glutamine, a non-essential amino acid that is the precursor to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a substance that helps regulate the nervous system and promote calmness.

2) Sweet potatoes, yams

This starchy vegetable has bulk to keep you satisfied and an impressive nutrient roster, containing high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, and B vitamins, sweet potatoes are a nutritionally-dense food that can help calm your nerves, eliminate stress, and even lower your blood pressure.

Similarly, yams contain an array of nutrient compounds that feed the glandular system and promote respiratory, urinary, and nervous system health.

3) Bananas.

This handy, easy-open package fruit is packed with high doses of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and other nutrients that help boost production of digestion-enhancing mucous, as well as promoting feelings of happiness and calm inside the body. They aid in the production of serotonin and melatonin, which are crucial regulators of mood and sleeping patterns.

4) Green herbal tea

Green tea contains an amino acid known as L-theanine that enhances mood by stimulating the production of alpha waves in the brain and reduces stress and promote relaxation naturally.

5) Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate and cacao are packed with antioxidants, essential minerals and protective plant nutrients called flavanols, they also contain L-tryptophan, and magnesium, a mineral widely recognized for its ability to calm the nervous system.

Dark Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter known as anandamide that has the ability to alter dopamine levels in the brain, causing a sense of peace and relaxation.
6) Brazil nuts

Said to be nature’s richest source of selenium, Brazil nuts are virtually unmatched in the nut world when it comes to relaxing the nervous system
7) Spinach.

Spinach is the best way to obtain a high input of fat-soluble vitamins that contribute to the building up of the fatty layers that protect your nerves from damage, such as vitamin K, in order for your brain and nervous system to function as they should

SOURCE:

http://www.naturalnews.com/038747_nervous_system_calming_foods.html

101 Best Super Foods, Betsy A. Hornick, MS, RD, 2011 

Stretches for Lower Back Pain

Have lower back pain? You are not alone. Millions of others have the same issue. In this video you can see some very simple, yet effective exercises that can warm up your spine and relief the back pain.
If you have a lot of pain or acute pain, don’t force your muscles. Just make them relax in these positions, and if the problem persists you may want to see your doctor.

http://positivemed.com/2012/05/21/stretches-for-lower-back-pain/

Reflux Treatment

Do you suffer from acid reflux? This is when acids produced by your stomach can move up into your esophagus, and can end up in burning chest pain called heartburn, if you feel familiar with this or in fact you experience it more than twice a week, you have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Do not panic, there are certain foods that will help you reduce acid reflux and turn your body into a heartburn-free zone.

1. Oatmeal, it is not only the best warm and tasty fulfilling breakfast, it also absorbs the acidity.
2. Ginger, an anti-inflammatory and works as a reflux treatment for gastrointestinal conditions.
3. Aloe Vera, natural healing agent and also seems to treat acid reflux.

4. Salads, a primary meal for acid refluxers, avoid tomatoes and onions, as well as cheese and high-fat dressings.
5. Bananas, they’re usually great for people with acid reflux because of their pH level (5.6.)
6. Melons are good for acid reflux (pH 6.1)

7. Fennel, it helps the stomach function and is also a great food for acid reflux.
8. Chicken and turkey, they are staples of The Reflux Diet, but must be cooked without the fatty skin.
9. Fish and seafood, another staple of The Reflux Diet, just be careful on how you prepare it.
10. Roots and greens, almost all of the green vegetables are recommended for people following this diet (or any diet).

http://positivemed.com/2013/04/04/reflux-treatment/

17 Little Tips for Big Weight Loss

17 Little Tips for Big Weight Loss

Small Changes That Will Help You Lose Excess Fat

Making small changes in your daily life can help you take off big pounds. Beginning a fat-loss plan doesn’t have to mean drastic changes. As you incorporate these minor adjustments into your lifestyle, you’ll begin to see how they can add up to big calorie savings and fat loss.

Begin by evaluating your eating habits, if you are eating late at night, nibbling while cooking, etc.

Identify a few of these behaviors and stop them, this will add up to big calorie savings.

Make a meal plan, if you are going to be out for long, pack healthful snacks for the times of day that you know you are typically hungry.

Add one less teaspoon of sugar (15 calories) to your cup of morning and afternoon coffee each day and you’ll save about 10,000 calories—the equivalent of about 3 pounds per year.

Always shop with a full belly, eating right starts with stocking healthy food in your pantry and refrigerator, which can get a little complicated when you go into a grocery store starving.

Flavor your sandwiches with very low calorie condiments like mustard or vinegar instead of calorie-packed mayonnaise. Leave off 1 tablespoon (100 calories) every day and you’re looking at close to 10 1/2 pounds a year.

Have a meal schedule and stick to it, this helps to prevent bingeing.

Eat your food sitting down at a table, and from a plate. Eat consciously, food eaten out of packages and while standing is forgettable.

Bowls of food on the table beg to be eaten, serve food onto individual plates, and leave the extras back at the stove. Remember, it takes about 20 minutes for your mind to get the signal from your belly that you are full.

Turn off the TV, we eat around 40 % more when watching TV and we’re more likely to eat junk food while distracted.

Add fruits and veggies.

Go for a walk immediately after a meal

Eat mindfully, eat slowly, chew every bite, and savor the taste of the food.

Don’t take weekends “off” , just because is Sunday doesn’t mean it won’t affect you.

Don’t eat after dinner, this could add a lot of unnecessary calories. Brushing your teeth after dinner helps reduce the temptation to eat again.

Breakfast could be your best friend, in fact it’s the most important meal of the day. Swapping out your morning bagel for eggs could help you lose 65 % more.

Get some sunshine, it will boost your vitamin D3 levels, which has been linked to increasing your body’s type 2 fast twitch muscle cell fibers enhancing your athletic performance

http://positivemed.com/2013/06/18/17-little-tips-for-big-weight-loss/

WHY YOU MUST EAT ONE AVOCADO A DAY

10 minute AB Workout to get a flat stomach

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We all can squeeze our busy schedules and make room for this effective and fun 10-minute-flat-ab exercise. Match this workout with healthy diet, good amount of sleep and plenty of water for the optimal result. Enjoy!

http://positivemed.com/2013/03/23/10-minute-ab-workout-to-get-a-flat-stomach/

Bedtime Yoga

Practicing yoga before bed will benefit your sleep in many ways. The mind and body are working every minute of the day. As bedtime approaches, it is beneficial to release the stress and tension from the body, relax the mind and enjoy quiet yoga, because of the stimulatory effect yoga has on the nervous system, and in particular the brain.

Often, we have trouble falling asleep because the mind is still going, but the practice of breathing allows for more oxygen in the body providing clarity in the mind. A relaxed session of yoga helps to calm the body, mind and spirit. This helps to quiet the constant thought patterns that can rob you of sleep.

You will have a more restful sleep because of the relaxing aspect of yoga and the subsequent relieving of stress, tension and fatigue and you will wake up every morning ready to go instead of wishing you could stay in bed. Combine yoga with a short meditation practice to enhance this benefit.

http://positivemed.com/2013/03/23/bedtime-yoga/

Liver Detox Foods

Have you been hard on your liver lately? Maybe you just want to rid your body of built up toxins from years of living in a chemical-laden world. It’s easy to keep your liver at its optimal working level by incorporating a few easy changes into your diet, I bet you use some of these already! I put garlic in almost everything, love the taste, love the smell. Leafy greens are a great natural cleanser, as is turmeric, and don’t forget milk thistle! Milk thistle is like a gentle bath for your hard-working liver.

http://positivemed.com/2013/05/27/liver-detox-foods-2/