When talking about weight loss supplements there is an old school remedy that is often missed – Cider Vinegar. We’re all guilty of looking for the next weight loss mega supplement or fad, and sometimes this leads us to forget about the old faithful. The beauty about cider vinegar is that you might well have some already in your own cupboard, and if not you can always choose the popular apple cider vinegar tablets.

So exactly how does apple cider vinegar assist with your weight loss? The fact is, no one really knows for certain. Scientific studies have not been able to categorically prove anything with regards cider vinegar and its connection to weight loss. The reason to give cider vinegar a try is mainly down to previous results in tests and of previous and current users who have lost weight thanks to it.

There are a  some theories as to why cider vinegar helps in weight loss. It is believed that it speeds up a person’s natural metabolism, making our body digest and change food into energy quicker. Others have reported that cider vinegar actively burns the calories in your body to help you shift weight. Meanwhile other reports say that cider vinegar supports cleansing of the liver, an organ that can have a big impact on weight loss.

One recent experiment demonstrated that taking cider vinegar with or right before a meal can help you feel more full, and thus control eating habits. The test was a very small one, but the results looked very good. Admittedly Cider vinegar weight loss still has to be tested more before we can be sure just how much it helps. There’s evidence that ancient Egyptians used cider vinegar for weight loss, and with other evidence of its effect it seems to have a lot going for it!

There are a couple of different ways that cider vinegar can be used in your weight loss program. The simplest method is to add a small amount of cider vinegar to a glass of water or juice, and drink it with a meal. Alternatively you can buy apple cider vinegar tablets or capsules that, as per their name, have cider vinegar in them. Some of these supplements contain other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6 and lecithin, which may have more effect than cider vinegar alone.

Aside from weight loss properties, cider vinegar is extremely healthy for you. It is naturally potent in vitamins and minerals, and can assist with a number of medical problems and improve your general health. For example, cider vinegar contains potassium, which helps reduce blood pressure. It also contains fibre, which can absorb the cholesterol that can lead to  heart disease. Those are just a few examples of health issues it helps with – there are more such as help with digestion, sore throats, arthritis pain and even diabetes.

Despite all the benefits of using cider vinegar for weight loss, it has some down sides as well. The most important thing to watch out for is that cider vinegar is very acidic, meaning it can burn and damage your teeth, mouth or throat. It is very important that you dilute cider vinegar in water or juice before drinking it. As with any supplement or remedy always contact your doctor before trying cider vinegar if you have any serious medical conditions.

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The long-term effects of suffering from stress are well documented. They include cardiac disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, diabetes, heart attack, immune mediated diseases and more. In order to be able to reduce stress it is important for individuals to recognize the symptoms of stress in their lives. Only by recognizing the symptoms of stress will people be able to identify causes because without a symptom you won’t look for a cause.

Researchers believe that 12 million people in Great Britain suffer from mental health problems which include anxiety and depression and those numbers are even greater in the United States. Many of these mental health problems are related to the long-term effects of experiencing stress in your life. Psychologists believe that it is important to recognize early symptoms of stress in order to decrease the likelihood that there will be physical or psychological damage.

Physical symptoms of stress will include headaches which are repetitive and nature and different from the variety which we all experience now and then. In other words, it is following to have the occasional headache but getting them most days is important to take note of.

Other physical symptoms of stress can include muscle and back problems as well as general aches and pains and even skin issues. Acne is often the result of a change in hormonal balance which will be affected by the amount of stress and individual suffers. Weight gain is another warning sign of stress because many people are "stress eaters". This means that is when under stress people turn to food in order to comfort themselves. Unfortunately, most of these foods include cakes, chocolate, sugar and high processed snacks. All of these things will pile on the pounds.

Other physical symptoms include grinding teeth, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, and nausea, increased pain, frequent illnesses and increased sweating. Stress will negatively impact an individuals immune system which will cause them to become ill more frequently. Individuals who are stressed may also breath more shallow which results in frequent yawning as they are starving their body of oxygen.

Stress will also become evident in the emotional irritability and heightened sensitivity. This means that a person may find themselves crying more easily and more often than usual or may suffer from a general lumpiness that is unusual for them. In other people stress may cause them to withdraw or make less of an effort to keep up with their friends. Stress can also cause an individual to take less effort with their personal appearance and feel less bothered by their home environment as well.

The final type of symptoms are behavioural and psychologists believe that these are more likely to be noticed because they are more obvious. Some of these behavioural symptoms include the inability to make decisions, even trivial every day tasks which would normally be executed without hesitation are suddenly mind-boggling. Stress will also decrease the persons natural confidence and may results in a person who wavers on unimportant and important choices.

Other behavioural symptoms include breathlessness, irritability, frequently bored, worrying, nightmares, apathy and sexual problems or loss of libido. Individuals who find themselves getting angry easily and experiencing mood swings or having more problems in their relationships should consider the likelihood that they are feeling the physical and emotional results of stress in their lives.

It is important for people to identify the symptoms of stress that they are experiencing in their lives in order to recognize the necessity of identifying a cause. By decreasing stress people can improve their productivity, their time management skills and decrease the risk of experiencing any long-term physical effects which may place their life in danger.

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The Acai Berry and more recently the Maqui Berry are the two top super berries, both hailing from the exotic South America. The Acai comes from the dense rainforests of the Amazon, while Maqui is found further south, in the Patgonian area of Argentina and Chile.

Between the two the Acai fares somewhat better in taste, but what keeps consumers interested in these berries are their scientifically proven antioxidant contents and overall health benefits. Antioxidants protect our body against free radicals which are unstable molecules produced during day to day functioning of the cell. The antioxidant activity of these two berries is attributed to their content of a phytochemical, Anthocyanin. These antioxidant packed berries empower us to fight the pull of age, wear a healthy skin, stay active and look young.

Consumers, in their quest for the one which will promise a longer and disease-free life are now between two horns while searching for the overall better among the two berries.

The acai berry is an excellent source of anthocyanin. No one can argue against the benefits this berry provides to the human body.

The little deep purple Maqui berry on the other hand has now set the bar higher and in doing so set the wellness industry on fire. With its ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) content 4-10 times higher than that of the Acai berry the Maqui is set to become the new king of health supplements. Maqui berries also contain minerals such as iron, calcium and potassium; along with Vitamins A and C.

But the Acai does still win against the Maqui Berry in its rich content of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Finally, the factors that will drive home the popularity of Acai and Maqui berries are scientific research and raising public awareness of their superfruit credibility. Both the Acai and the potentially improved Maqui are touted to benefit weight loss, boost immune support, possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-carcinogenic properties, and definitely provide long term benefits like help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

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Are you setting up your own home gym? Equipping your space with the right exercise equipment can be fun. Are you wondering though what to look for in exercise equipment? Finding the right exercise equipment for yourself can be challenging. If you have an idea of what you want to buy, what part of your body you want to be worked on or what will fit in your exercise room you have conquered half of the challenge. If not then check out some exercise tips to help you work out what you want to achieve.

The first thing that you want to look at after you have determined how much space you have in your house is what you hope to accomplish in the way of fitness. Are you looking for some good cardio fitness equipment? Are you just trying to maintain good heart condition and fitness? Are you already in pretty good shape physically? Or are you out of shape and trying to get back into shape? Do you need to lose weight or just firm up? Does your upper half need more of the workout or does your lower half need more toning? The exercise equipment that you might want to consider purchasing will be based on your answers to these questions. If you just want to be heart healthy and go the maintenance route then you would likely benefit by a treadmill. If you want to lose weight a treadmill, again, is great. However, a rowing machine might be more beneficial as it burns more calories. If you are looking to build up your arms dumbbells are a great basis for a workout. You might want to just lose weight and get some good motion going on. In this case a DVD of aerobics would be excellent, as would a mini trampoline to jump around on.

How much money can you spend? The least expensive exercise equipment to have is a good DVD and a set of dumbbells. Also, a mini trampoline is quite reasonably priced. When selecting any type of exercise equipment you will want to look at how well it is made. Are the joints welded securely? Does the overall construction look adequate or are there areas of empty space and weakness? Is the brand reputable? Usually an off brand is not as well made as a more popular brand.

When you go shopping for your exercise equipment bring someone with you. Get their opinion on what to purchase. Try out each piece of equipment that you purchase. If it has to be ordered before trying it out then order it. Setting up a home gym can be fun, but make sure that you will be using the pieces of equipment that you will buy.

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The Acai Berry is a high energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree  collected in the rainforests of Brazil. It tastes like a combination of chocolate and berries. Acai berry has been classified as a “super food”; a food with high phytonutrient content. Phytonutrient basically means that something has a high nutrient level such as beta carotene.Acai berries are filled with antioxidants, amino acids and fatty acids that are considered essential. This has been a large part of the reason for it’s explosion into the health supplement market – though it is generally only found in specialist retailers – not your local supermarket for example.This berry is special in the properties it possesses for anti-aging. It has approximately ten times more antioxidants than red grapes. Because of this it can provide many benefits including fighting premature aging and promoting cardiovascular and digestive health.Acai berry has been most commonly touted as an aid in weight loss, leading to the development of the supplement in various forms such as capsules, tablets, smoothies and powders. This is because the high fibre content of the berry makes you feel fuller quicker when eating meals. It also aids digestion enabling you to process your food more efficiently.  Of course endorsements from Brad Pitt and Oprah have done no harm to the credentials of this potent health food supplement as a weight loss aid.Whatever your beliefs about the Acai Berry there are no doubts that it does carry many health benefits.  It has been called the super food by many and a weight loss miracle berry by others. Super food, anti aging wonder or weight loss drug?  It has many properties that are very exciting.  If this berry can do half of what is claimed then it is a very worthwhile addition to your daily supplement intake.

Technorati Tags: acai,acai berry,acai berries,supplements,super food,antioxidants,aging,anti aging,health,digestion,cardiovascular

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After our post on the Mangosteen and its affects on Arthritis a few days ago we had an email from one customer asking ‘what the hell are xanthones’? Fair enough – I better get to the point sharpish by the sounds of things. In a nutshell xanthones are natural occurring chemical compounds found in various organic materials – in our reference point the Mangosteen fruit. Many researchers actually believe that Mangosteen contains the strongest xanthones of any fruit, the most beneficial being Alpha Mangostin and Gamma Mangostin. This is why the Mangosteen is a largely sought after source of xanthones.As with most things health related, research continues into the various ways in which xanthones affect the human body. What has already been established is that xanthones are extremely potent anti-oxidants and, as such, are benficial in fighting illness and disease (including cancer and asthma). Xanthones have also been identified as having a positive effect on cardiovascular health, as well as being a natural anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory. As we mentioned a few days ago this has led to Mangosteen being widely used in the treatment of arthritis. This is due to its ability to treat inflammation, though this benefit could also extend to treating other ailments such as heart problems, headaches, MS, and circulatory issues. It’s fair to say Xanthones play a large role in Mangosteen being literally a super food!

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Acai Berry has received much publicity as a weight loss supplement but there is much more to this little super-berry than that. Acai Berry is high in essential fatty acids, high in fibre and has a very high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity) rating, a rating applied by scientists to measure the anti-oxidant levels in food and chemicals. The sum result of all of this is that acai berry supplements are literally bursting with healthy goodness.So what does all of this get you? Well for a start, the essential fatty acids in the berry are highly efficient in cholesterol control, reducing LDL levels while increasing HDL cholesterol. The fibre content mentioned means that Acai can be used as a digestive aid, supporting your bowels in processing foods. Meanwhile the high ORAC value gives the berry potent anti-oxidant status, cleansing your body of toxins and supporting its ability to fight off free radicals. You will also benefit from a boost to your immune system, ensuring your body is fit enough to fight off and prevent illness, disease and infection.As we mentioned before the Acai Berry is mainly known as a weight loss aid.  This is because of the potent combination of amino acids, carbohydrates and fibre that is present. This nutrition combo promotes a healthy metabolism within the body whilst acting as an effective appetite suppressant. Weight loss using acai has been confirmed by many of the reviews you will see of this product, whilst celebrity endorsements have added fuel to this fire. There is no doubt that the mere hype surrounding Acai Berry will raise doubt in peoples mind. There is little doubt though that no matter what your expectations of this berry, you will get plenty back in terms of health benefits.

Technorati Tags: acai berry,acai,weight loss,supplements,digestive aids,immune system,cholesterol

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A report in the International Journal of Clinical Practice has recently suggested that nearly 4 million people in the UK are at risk of heart disease unawares. Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the UK and this news has re-enforced recent calls for national screening tests.

Although advances in medications for heart problems should suggest a lower risk to the population, the fact is that our ever worsening lifestyle choices are outstripping any progress being made in science. Coronary heart disease is now recognised as being one of the most common killers and is augmented by the increase in obesity, by the continual presence of smoking, and by people becoming less and less active. This doesn’t even take into account any hereditary aspect of heart problems.

If you are over-weight, eat poorly or smoke heavily you are more at risk than most people and should get a regular check. Even if you’re not aware of any heart problems and feel healthy it is always better to get checked out just in case. It’s a little known fact that for most people by the time they find out it’s too late.

You can find out more on this topic from our recent article ‘How to Keep a Healthy Heart‘.

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It has been reported that a drug prescribed over 300,000 times in 2 years to reduce cholesterol levels could have a higher cancer risk. The BBC reported that:

“A New England Journal of Medicine study linked Inergy, a combination of two drugs, to a 50% rise in cancer cases.”

Despite the warning people are still being encouraged to continue using Inergy and to consult your doctor with any worries. The initial study done in Oslo was on such a small scale that further testing is required, with some experts suggesting that the results were probably an “anomaly”.

The British Heart Foundation have supported this stance with Dr Mike Knapton, from the charity, saying:

“There is no suggestion that statins increase the risk of cancer.

“The data from the big trials are encouraging but the evidence is not yet conclusive, because many of the patients studied have been followed-up for a relatively short period of time so far.”

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Following on from our recent article regarding heart disease is a chilling declaration in the Daily Telegraph that in the UK:

“one hundred thousand people are living undiagnosed with an inherited condition that means they could suffer a fatal heart attack at any time.”

The article reports on a hereditary disorder called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia that causes extremely high cholesterol levels in the body, a major indicator for coronary heart disease and heart attacks.

The most worrying thing is that despite it being the most common hereditary disorder in the UK, very few people have even heard of it. And it’s not just adults who are at risk:

“Children as young as eight with the condition may be prescribed statins for the rest of their lives to control their cholesterol levels and all offspring of affected patients should be tested by the age of 10 at the latest, the guideline is expected to say.

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia is the most common inherited disorder in the UK, affecting one in 500 people, yet there is no co-ordinated screening programme to detect it.”

The NHS have come under heavy criticism with only 15,000 people having so far been diagnosed, with calls coming for a National Screening test.

This re-emphasises the need to be vigilant when it comes to you and your familes health, especially for those with a family history.

If you wish to find out more about preventing heart disease and reducing cholesterol then take a look at our recent article ‘How to Keep a Healthy Heart’.

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