Why You Should Use Paraben Free Products

From the research I do on skin care, I noticed there is a big demand for paraben free products. The question is, what is paraben and why should we avoid it?

To start with, these are a family of substances that are widely used today as preservatives in cosmetics such as shampoos, makeup, lotions. They may be known as propylparaben, ethylparaben and butylparaben and their function is to offer protection against infection under conditions of use and prevent the multiplication of germs in the products.

While other substances such as alcohols (e.g. ethyl and isopropyl), phenols and essential oils have traditionally been used for hundreds of years as preservatives, the parabens are now the most commonly used preservatives in the United States.

As of now, an estimated 75 to 90 percent of cosmetics contain these substances. Just consider that, after water, they are the most frequently used ingredient in skin care products.

For a long time, parabens had been considered harmless. However, a study that was published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology in 2004, reported them to be a cause for concern. British researchers found traces of it in twenty women who had breast tumors. According to other research as well, these notorious preservatives are believed to act like the female hormone estrogen. In high amounts, estrogen can cause some women to develop breast cancer.

The obvious question you might have at this point is the following: Provided it is clinically proven that parabens pose a threat to our health, why are they still used by skin care companies, not excluding the high profile brands?

Well, the answer is simple: Being cheap preservatives, these substances lengthen the shelf life of the products. Longer shelf life leads to higher possibility of the products being purchased, thus leading to higher sales for the company!

After I found out what is paraben and the potential health risk I would expose myself to, I made the conscious decision to use only paraben free products. From the various forums and blogs on the internet that deal with skin care issues, I was particularly happy to realize that a growing number of other consumers were equally concerned and reached the same decision as well.

The next question would be: How can you tell paraben free products?

Well, what you can do first is to look closely at the ingredients list and see whether it includes any of the paraben variations mentioned above.

If you don't see any, then find out which company makes the product you use. See if they have an ingredient list available on the product itself or on the company's web site.

Alternatively, you can try emailing or calling the company and ask them if their product contains parabens.

What else you should know is that, besides parabens, there are other harmful ingredients, which you should definitely avoid.

To learn more about these ingredients and find out which products I personally use and recommend, visit my website on skin care today.

Health Benefits of Green Tea Pills in Combination With Natural Anti-Aging Supplements

People have begun investing in green tea pills over the last few years because almost everyone realizes that there is much to be gained through the use of this powerful supplement. The health benefits of green tea supplementation are clearly recognized by the medical community. This powerful antioxidant addresses two of the five major causes of chronic illness, and aging.

Green tea pills alone however are not the answer to every physical problem that you may have. The truth is that you need more well rounded supplementation if you are going to be able to avoid nutritional deficiencies, and the health issues that come along with them. Poor nutrition leads to these deficiencies, and we can become deficient in some areas no matter how well we think that we eat.

As I stated a moment ago the health benefits of green tea only address two of the major causes of illness and aging. This leaves us with three more areas that we still need to address if we want to continue to maintain our health
, which means that we have to make sure that we are taking in a wellspring of different nutrients. Focusing on just one won't do the trick.

Instead of simply relying on green tea pills we need to focus on finding nutritional supplements that feature this extract along with all of the vitamins, and minerals that our bodies need in order to maintain proper balance and function. There are many good multivitamins that will provide you with all of the nutritional balance that you need, just make sure that you are using the one that contains the highest purity level that you can get.

The only way that you can enjoy the health benefits of green tea is if the products manufacturer took great lengths in order to ensure that the substance going into their formula is of the highest quality, and potency. If they take all of the proper measures during the preparatory stages of the formulation then you will be able to get the most out of using the product.

Since there are so many different natural ingredients that will cure ailments other than those that green tea pills will it is good to have a strong mixture of those be part of your dietary formula as well. Look for products that also include such ingredients as alfalfa, bilberry, black cumin, ginkgo biloba, olive leaf turmeric, ginger, grape seed, myrrh, pine bark and milk thistle extracts if you want to be able to enjoy the wide range of benefits that these herbal ingredients will offer you.

All of these ingredients will only accentuate the health benefits of green tea, and along with a complete listing of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and immunity stimulators will keep your body running like a well oiled machine long into your golden years. As long as you consume products that containing this type of mixture you will enjoy things that taking green tea pills alone cannot give you.

Green Tea Extract and Weight Loss

    Green tea has always been known to have several health benefits, but who knew that it could contribute to weight loss as well?

 

    A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that green tea extract can increase metabolism and fat oxidation of the body. In theory, scientists believe that the weight loss benefits of green tea extracts are due to their caffeine content but the results of the study show otherwise as they discovered that green tea extracts have weight loss benefits beyond that of caffeine.

 

    In their study, the researchers administered alone the same amount of caffeine as that in green tea extracts but found that it did not make any significant changes in the body's overall energy expenditure. This led them to conclude that green tea extracts have ingredients in them that actively interact with each other, promoting increased metabolism and fat oxidation that lead to weight loss.

 

    Further findings indicated that a certain compound found in green tea extracts might be the ingredient that causes weight loss. These green tea extract compounds called Flavonoids may alter the way the body uses norepinephrine, a hormone that monitors how calories are burned. When flavonoids interact with other green tea extract ingredients, more calories are burned thus contributing to weight loss.

 

    Another ingredient that actively contributes to the weight loss benefits of green tea extracts is the compound catechin polyphenols. These compounds also interact with other green tea extract ingredients in order to promote weight loss by fat burning and thermogenesis (a process of losing energy by daytime heat).

 

    The great thing about the weight loss benefit of green tea extracts is that it does not have any adverse side-effects. Unlike other herbal products like ephedra and prescription drugs for obesity, green tea extract does not increase the speed of heart rates or raise blood pressure. In this regard, green tea extract is an effective and safer alternative to other weight loss products which may cause harm to the user.

 

    The study conducted by the University of Geneva on the weight loss benefit of green tea extract implicated that green tea extract can also help thyroid patients. According to dietitian Lynn Moss, M.S., R.D., green tea extract is a healthier choice for people with thyroid who may be too sensitive to stimulants. Green tea extract can promote weight loss by increasing metabolism without over stimulating the adrenal glands.

 

    A common beverage all throughout Asia, green tea has recently gained popularity in the West. Further researches were conducted to identify other health benefits of green tea extracts aside from weight loss. It was found that certain green tea extract compounds can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and even ulcers.

 

TOTAL WORD COUNT - 461

KEYWORDS "Green Tea Extract" - 20 (density = 4.3%)

"Weight Loss" - 14 (density = 3.0%)

    
 

 

 

 

    

Health Benefits of Green Tea Supplements in Combination With Natural Anti-Aging Supplements

I'm sure that by now everyone has heard about the many exciting health benefits that can green tea supplements can provide, but what is it about this substance that makes it so good for you? The most beneficial characteristic of a green tea supplement has to do with its antioxidant properties. Exactly how good these products are for you though depends primarily on how much of the extract you are actually getting.

There are several things that you want to be sure to look for when buying green tea supplements that will tell you whether or not the product will do anything for you. The first thing that you want to look for is whether or not the product you are looking at lists exactly how much of the extract you are getting, or how many leaves the product contains.

Another thing that should be included on the label of a green tea supplement is the exact amount of catechins, and polyphenols that the extract provides you. The quality of these kinds of products vary widely do to many different factors including the richness of the soil that the tea was grown in, and variations in the growing practices from farm to farm.

Given that all of these variables exist, including natural variances that occur from plant to plant, the products manufacturers must make every effort to ensure the only way for either the purity or the potency of green tea supplements to be determined is through the manufacturers testing the raw ingredients. There should also be testing conducted to ensure against possible contamination of the ingredients.

Let's take a look at what is the best method of delivery to fully take advantage of the health benefits that this substance has to offer. The debate over whether or not it is better to simply take the substance in beverage form, or through a green tea supplement has raged on for a while now, but the answer to the question over which is better seems quite simple if you really look at it.

The fact is that simply taking in either green tea in beverage form, or taking green tea supplements is not enough to keep your body healthy. Focusing strictly on ingesting this single ingredient no matter how good the source will leave your body deficient in other areas. That is why you need to look into a supplement that provides you with not only this ingredient, but many others also.

A high quality multivitamin that includes a complete listing of essential vitamins and minerals including a green tea supplement is what you truly need in order for you to continue to maintain good health. You body will greatly benefit from getting the additional nutrients, and you will still be taking full advantage of the antioxidant power that green tea provides.

You need green tea supplements in order to make sure that your body is running at full efficiency, but you also need much more. Make sure that the source of your nutritional supplementation is well rounded in order to keep your body firing on all cylinders, at all times.

1001 Manfaat Segelas Susu

Gatotkaca pahlawan kubu Pandawa dalam kisah Mahabharata dikenal sebagai tokoh berotot kawat, bertulang besi, dan berkulit tembaga. Keistimewaannya itu membuatnya disegani baik oleh kawan maupun lawan. Dalam perang Bharatayudha, hanya Kunta senjata ampuh milik Adipati Karna yang berhasil mengalahkannya. Sosok Gatotkaca mungkin sekadar cerita fiksi belaka. Namun bukan berarti Anda tak bisa menjiplak kehebatan putra Bimasena itu, terutama keunikannya memiliki tulang sekuat besi.

Dan untuk mendapatkannya, Anda tak perlu bersusah payah bertapa atau mendapatkan anugerah dari dewa. Cukup konsumsi 2-3 gelas (500-750 mililiter) susu tiap hari. Jika rutin melakukannya, dijamin tulang Anda bakal sekokoh kerangka tubuh Gatotkaca. Segampang itu? “Ya, susu memang membantu Anda membentuk tulang yang sehat dan kuat. Kandungan nutrisinya memberikan kemampuan bagi tubuh untuk menangkal osteoporosis (kerapuhan tulang),” kata Prof. Dr. Ir. Made Astawan, MS, pakar nutrisi dari Departemen Teknologi Pangan dan Gizi Institut Pertanian Bogor.

Banyak kelebihan
Salah satu nutrisi menonjol yang terdapat pada susu adalah kalsium. Bahan ini dikenal luas karena manfaatnya untuk memelihara kekuatan dan kepadatan tulang. Dalam proses yang dikenal sebagai penumpukan massa tulang, kalsium dan fosfor beraliansi membentuk kalsium fosfat. Elemen ini merupakan komponen utama yang berperan dalam pembentukan struktur dan kekuatan tulang. Segelas susu menyuplai 29,7 persen kebutuhan harian kalsium dan 23,2 persen kebutuhan harian fosfor. Nutrisi penting lainnya adalah vitamin D. Vitamin larut lemak ini menjaga kadar kalsium yang memadai dalam darah.

Segelas susu menyodorkan 24,4 persen kebutuhan harian vitamin ini. Di samping kalsium dan vitamin D, vitamin K yang terkandung dalam susu juga memiliki peran vital untuk mengamankan kekuatan tulang. Vitamin K1 mengaktifkan osteocalcin protein nonkolagen utama dalam tulang. Elemen ini mengikat molekul kalsium di dalam tulang. Tanpa vitamin K1 yang cukup, keberadaan kadar osteocalcin tak akan memadai. Ujungnya, proses penumpukan massa tulang akan terganggu. Anda bisa membayangkan sendiri akibatnya.

Ada hal lain yang Anda perlu ketahui : Susu tidak hanya bermanfaat bagi kesehatan tulang saja. Asupan ini juga mencegah hipertensi (tekanan darah tinggi), menangkal kanker usus serta menghindarkan Anda dari kekurangan energi dan protein. Kandungan nutrisi yang ada di dalamnya turut meningkatkan sistem kekebalan tubuh sehingga Anda tak mudah terkena berbagai penyakit. Satu berita bagus lagi, susu bermanfaat pula untuk membantu program Anda menurunkan berat badan. Pada sebuah studi yang dipublikasikan April 2004 di Obesity Research, para peneliti menekankan, mengonsumsi makanan kaya kalsium, khususnya produk susu rendah lemak seperti susu sapi, yogurt, dan kefr, akan membantu Anda mengurangi berat badan.

Dalam studi yang mengikutsertakan 42 subyek penelitian (32 orang menuntaskannya) ini, para peserta dibagi dalam tiga kelompok. Mereka diberi rancangan pola makan yang didesain untuk mengurangi berat badan satu pon (sekitar setengah kg) tiap minggunya selama 24 minggu. Rancangan pola makan untuk ketiga grup itu memiliki kandungan kalori yang sama. Grup pertama menerima pola makan rendah kalsium (430 miligram/hari). Grup kedua menerima rancangan yang sama dengan tambahan suplemen kalsium hingga total pasokan kalsium ke dalam tubuh mencapai lebih dari 1.200 miligram. Grup ketiga menghadapi menu makan yang dipenuhi produk susu sehingga pasokan kalsiumnya mencapai 1.100 miligram setiap harinya.

Hasil akhir studi tersebut, grup pertama rata-rata berkurang berat badannya 15 pon, grup kedua 19 pon, dan grup ketiga 24 pon. Dari total berat badan yang berkurang tersebut, grup pertama kehilangan lemak 19 persen, grup kedua 50 persen, dan grup ketiga 66 persen. Hasil ini menunjukkan, kalsium yang dibawa produk susu terbukti lebih efektif menurunkan berat badan dan melenyapkan lemak para pengonsumsinya.

Asupan praktis
Di luar kandungan nutrisi dan manfaatnya bagi kesehatan, kelebihan lain susu dan produk susu adalah ketersediaannya secara luas. Anda bisa mendapatkannya di toko sebelah rumah, pasar tradisional, swalayan, hingga hipermarket. Har-ganya pun cukup terjangkau tergantung jenis produk kemasan kepraktisan daya tahan penyimpanan, dan faktor-faktor lainnya. Tapi setidaknya dengan uang Rp 10-40 ribu Anda sudah bisa membawa satu liter susu cair atau satu kilogram susu bubuk ke rumah. Keuntungan lainnya, susu dapat dengan mudah dan cepat diolah menjadi hidangan siap santap.

Sedikit peringatan
Bagi mayoritas orang sehat, susu memang memberikan banyak manfaat. Namun bagi pengidap lactose intolerance, susu bisa menjadi bencana. Lactose intolerance terjadi karena enzim laktase di dalam tubuh menurun sehingga tidak mampu menguraikan laktosa (gula susu) menjadi glukosa dan galaktosa. Kondisi ini mengakibatkan laktosa tidak terserap di usus kecil, lalu masuk ke usus besar dalam keadaan utuh sehingga menyebabkan diare. Oleh karena itu, aktivitas enzim laktase harus terus dipelihara dengan cara membiasakan minum susu sejak bayi, balita (bawah lima tahun), remaja, dewasa hingga lansia (lanjut usia).

Jika Anda berhenti mengonsumsi susu, enzim laktase akan mati atau berkurang. Suatu saat bila minum susu lagi, enzim laktase tidak siap sehingga terjadilah diare. Untuk orang semacam ini, silakan susu berkadar laktosa rendah (low lactose milk) atau produk olahan susu rendah laktosa seperti yogurt, yakult dan kefir. “Susu juga harus dibatasi bagi penderita alergi protein susu. Untuk orang semacam ini, protein susu harus diuraikan terlebih dahulu menjadi hidrolisat. Bisa juga diatasi dengan susu nabati, contohnya susu kedelai,” tambah Made Astawan. Tapi bagi Anda yang memiliki kesehatan normal, jangan abaikan kehadiran susu sebagai penyempurna menu makanan sehat Anda.

The Truth About Beauty

by: Janice Wee

There is this saying that beauty is skin deep.

Then again, first impressions count.

Put it this way. Beauty is power. That was true centuries ago. That is true today.

When a beautiful woman walks into a bar, men flock to her and offer to buy her drinks. When an unattractive woman walks into the same bar, chances are, she would have to buy her own drinks.

A beautiful salesperson, man or woman is more likely to win the sale. Between a beautiful job seeker and an unattractive one, all other things being equal, the employer is likely to choose the good looker.

Like it or not, looks do count.

In the past, when women were dependent on men to support them, beauty was everything to a woman. A beautiful woman would have more suitors. She would be able to marry up. To marry a rich man who could take care of all her financial needs and that of her children. Long before commercial cosmetics existed, mothers would instruct their daughters on traditional beauty remedies. Simple beauty remedies like using mayonnaise as a moisturizer, or egg white as a firming mask were often used by women in the days before commercial cosmetics.

Then along came women entrepreneurs like Estee Lauder and other women from around the world. They converted traditional beauty recipes which worked for themselves into beauty creams that they sold to other women. Every woman has a right to look her most beautiful and these women were selling others their beauty secrets.

Women all over the world are willing to suffer for the sake of beauty. Long ago, in China, women in wealthy families would bind their feet. The Chinese back then view tiny feet as beautiful, so little girls have their feet bound, to prevent them from growing big and ugly. Now that long legs are considered beautiful, some women go through a very painful medical procedure that breaks their legs, and stretches their legs by a few millimeters a day through a painful device until they attain the height they want. With their newfound height, these girls can look forward to a wealthy, glamorous future as an international model.

In Europe, centuries ago, wasp waists and curvy bodies were considered beautiful, so corsets were worn to make the waist look much smaller. These were tied so tightly that women faint easily. All for the sake of beauty. Now, corsets are in again. These days, women and men subject themselves to surgery to attain the beauty they desire. Liposuction to remove the excess fat to contour the body. Breast augmentation for bigger breasts that are considered beautiful. Nose jobs, face lifts, the works.

Both men and women even have poison (botox) injected into their faces to paralyze their facial muscles in order to erase the expression lines we know as wrinkles.

There is also a return to natural beauty remedies. This time, commercial cosmetics use natural ingredients that women have used in centuries in the home beauty preparations.

With modern advances, beauty preparations are more effective than ever. Even doctors have developed their own skin care ranges. Acne can be a thing of the past with some of the latest acne treatments. Some doctors, both dermatologists and general practitioners offer facials which treat most of today's skin problems very effectively. After all, beauty is skin deep. Healthy skin is beautiful.

There is wisdom in the old ways women took care of their looks. Fresh food, exercise, plenty of water, plenty of sleep, soap and water. That's all the women in the olden days had in their beauty routine. These days, add a good sunscreen worn every day to protect your skin from the sun. A good toner, cleanser and moisturizer, a regular scrub and mask and you are done.
About the Author

The writer is the webmaster of Cosmetics Online , where you can find cosmetics, skincare, makeup and all the beauty products from your favourite beauty brand.

Beauty, Gratitude and the Open Heart

by: Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

 

"…beauty on your earth is a shadow of the beauty of our heaven, and it's a bitter thing to have a blindness for beauty on earth, for it makes a longer teaching to see the beauties of heaven." Spoken by an Irish spirit in the book The Boy who Saw True (anonymous author).

I have been counseling individuals, couples, families and business partners for the last 35 years, and am the author of eight published books. Since my work is spiritually based, I have developed many ways of helping people open their hearts to love. Opening to beauty is one of those way.

I have always appreciated beauty. Since I've been a small child, I've collect beautiful things - shells, rocks, wood, as well as works of art, and there are always lots of plants around. There is nowhere in my environment where there is not something beautiful to look at, both inside and outside in nature. When I walk through my home and the land around it, my heart fills with awe and love as I appreciate the beauty around me. I've done this so automatically throughout my life that it never occurred to me that many people do not open to beauty nor create beauty around them.

In working with some of my clients struggling to keep their heart open, I've mentioned focusing on an object of beauty, and have been surprised to find that many of them have no beauty around them - no plants, flowers, works of art or objects of nature. When they look around they see walls, appliances, computers and other buildings. Their left brain functions just fine in this environment, but what about the right - the creative, intuitive, spiritually-connected aspect?

I want to encourage everyone who reads this to consider feeding your soul with beauty. There is nothing like awe and gratitude for something beautiful to open the heart to gratitude in general. If you can love the intricate design in the bark of a tree, or the vibrancy of a flower, or the balance of a beautifully thrown piece of pottery - that might lead you into loving and appreciating the beauty of you and your own soul. It might open you to feeling gratitude for your life and the sacred privilege of experiencing your journey on this planet.

How much of your thinking time is spent being upset or unhappy about something? What if all that time was spent in gratitude for what you have and for the beauty around you? What if you were present enough in this moment to revel in the fact that you can turn on a faucet and have hot water come out? That you have food to eat and a bed to sleep on? If you are reading this, it is likely that you have a computer, which means you have more than most of the people on this planet.

Try this little experiment: find something of beauty - it can be as simple as a leaf, a flower, a photograph, a small work of art or the top of a tree out your window. Now let yourself completely open to the thing of beauty. Let yourself feel the beauty in your body - in your heart, your solar plexus, in your stomach, arms and legs, in your forehead. Let the beauty enliven your body and fill it with vitality. Breathe in the beauty and feel your body's reaction to it. Open to gratitude, thanking God for this experience of beauty.

Notice the peace and joy it gives you to be in this moment with this simple object of beauty. What would life be like if you spent more moments like this, in the present with beauty and with all you have? How much of your waking time is spent in this way?

Beauty and gratitude are soul foods. When you choose to open to them, you extend an invitation to love, peace and joy. This raises your frequency and opens the door to your spiritual Guidance. Your Guidance is always here for you, helping you on your soul's journey. Opening to beauty and gratitude, with a deep intent to learn about what is loving to you and others, will open you to your spiritual Guidance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?", "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By My Kids?", "Healing Your Aloneness","Inner Bonding", and "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By God?" Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com