Take Back Your Life 4Written by Stephen Ayers
Take Back Your Life 4 By Stephen Ayers In parts one, two and three of this series, titled “Take Back Your Life”, “Take Back Your Life 2” and “Take Back Your Life 3; we discussed importance of proper cell function, necessity of having and maintaining a balanced endocrine system, and role of vitamins and minerals, including certain trace minerals as they relate to wellness. Here in part 4, we shall examine antioxidant phenomenon and its indispensable part in furthering your efforts to maintain a state of wellness and optimum health. Information about antioxidants and their value to our health have been in news for quite some time. Research is ongoing and opinions abound. The facts are these. Our body cells left unguarded by antioxidant protection are susceptible to damage and degradation as surely as metal materials left out in weather are susceptible to rust. One way of attempting to get antioxidant protection for our cell is to eat foods rich in these nutrients. In fact, The National Research Council recommends 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, an amount that is difficult for most people to eat on a regular basis. Even for people who do, adequate antioxidant protection may not be gained because foods today are often depleted of many of nutrients that we need. This can be demonstrated, for example, by comparing amount of vitamin C in various oranges that are grown in different environments. To say nothing about obvious lack of enough of other catalytic elements such as flavonoids in foods and supplements alike, that function to augment and activate needed nutrients for optimal performance. That is why we need to take our cues from whole food based nutrient categories of dietary choices. A hundred years ago, while we may have believed that eating fruits and vegetables was good for us, recent discoveries coming from many research fronts reveal that we did not realize just how good for us consumption of fruits and vegetables really was. Today we know that regular consumption of these vital foods along with adequate food formed supplementation may protect us from developing many diseases. We know this because of obvious connection between oxidative stress and declining health. If we go further back in time, then our lack of understanding about value of food based nutrients and their contribution to wellness is more evident. For example, in centuries past, people believed that all foods contained only one nutrient. The ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates proposed this theory based on his simple observation that people are same regardless of where they live or what they eat. Even as late as beginning of 20th century, nutrients were divided into two broad categories proteins and other organic compounds. Vitamins were essentially unknown to us, so causes of major diet-related diseases, including scurvy, beriberi, night blindness, rickets, and anemia caused by lack of adequate vitamins C, B1, A, D, iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 respectively were also unknown. Green vegetables and fruit were thought to be more or less luxuries that were expensive sources of protein, energy, and bulk materials for proper bowel movement progresses. This, at time, prominent way of thinking produced such turn of century statistics as an average life span in U.S. of 47. And most people died of infections and diseases made worse by malnutrition and absence of any other means of wellness support such as might have been provided by good nutritional habits and wise supplementation. Much research during this past century brought to light all of what we know today about existence of known vitamins and other beneficial nutrients. During course of this activity of discovery, 11 Nobel prizes were awarded for vitamin discoveries and 20th Century earned, among other distinctions title of “Golden Age of Nutrition”. And now there is an appreciation for importance of vitamins, minerals, and other necessary nutrients in our daily diets as one way to avoid deficiency diseases and to support general health and wellness. Other interesting research, such as that including one done on animals consuming a diet containing a complex antioxidant supplement for 6 months showed decreased age-related cognition deterioration when compared with non-supplemented animals. This further demonstrates need for adequate antioxidant protection as a dietary practice.
| | 6 Steps to Super-Sexy, Summer Skin!Written by Yvonne Finn
6 Steps to Super-Sexy, Summer Skin!As is case with so many things we humans do, less is more. Skin care need not be as difficult, time-consuming or as expensive as some would have you believe. Step one: Drink lots of water! Skin loves water and responds almost immediately,by being plumped up and younger looking. Don't wait until you're feeling thirsty, to drink a cool refeshing glass of pure water. Another bonus to drinking water often is that it helps to fill you up, so you eat less at mealtimes and so never need worry about gaining weight. Step two: Get a professional facial for start of Summer season. Yes, I know there are many store bought, at-home-facials,but in my opinion and experience, they are never as thorough as those done by a salon or spa practioner. Besides, couldn't you do with some pampering? As well, you may find that your skin has changed over years and needs different skin care products than ones you are currently using. Remember, no matter how expensive or wonderful skin care is, if it's not right formula for your skin, it's not doing you any good! Step three: Summer eating is different from other seasons, it's easier! The varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables seem endless, add one new "favourite" to your diet. Vitamins, fiber, antioxidants are just some of natural benefits derived from friuts and vegetable. Plus they are delicous, too!
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