Lemongrass Health Benefits and Medicinal Properties

I love the sweet citrus fragrance of lemon grass in Tom Yum soup, but I didn't know of its analgesic properties until I mentioned a nagging lower back pain to a Thai friend. She said that to relieve back pain, boil four handfuls of lemon grass leaves in 4 cups water for 5 minutes. Add to a bathtub of lukewarm water, and soak yourself in it. True enough, the herbal bath worked wonders and I felt a lot better the next morning. Click to continue

Dangerous Ingredients Lurking in Your Toothpaste

You may not believe this, but it's true. While toothpaste cleans and whitens your teeth, it also comes with hidden health dangers. Dental hygiene products that your family uses everyday may contain toxins that are associated with cancer, blindness, and even death. Click to continue

Stomach Bloating Natural Remedies

Life is unfair. Bloating seems to affect women more than men, and nobody knows what really causes it. A large meal can make your belly bloat and look bigger than normal, but did you know that stomach bloating can also occur for a variety of reasons? And, what can you do if you feel bloated? Click to continue

Exercise Ideas for Overweight People

Exercise is one of the best ways to lose weight naturally. However, for some people, particularly the overweight or obese, exercise is not an easy thing to do. Carrying too much weight can make workouts challenging. Many big people have bad knees or are unable to bend or move in the same way that other people can, and fear looking fat and silly. Click to continue

10 Tips to Improve Memory Power

Age certainly affects memory. You remember events less clearly and forget easily. You want better memory and fear losing the memory you have. Learning how to improve memory is really easy once you know the techniques. And, I'll show you ways to boost memory without losing your mind over it! Click to continue

5 Keys to Eating Healthy Fats for Weight Loss

We're always being told we should only put good healthy stuff into our bodies, but is it ok to eat fats? Most of us avoid fat in an attempt to lose weight yet emerging research shows that fat is a necessary part of a balanced diet. We need healthy fats to lose weight, for disease prevention and to feel satiated. Click to continue

Get Enough Calcium Without Dairy

Most of us know that dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt contain calcium. But what if you're lactose intolerant, you don't drink milk, or you simply don't like the taste or milk? How can you get enough calcium without dairy? Actually, milk isn't the only, or the best source of calcium, there are many other calcium rich foods. Click to continue

4 Powerful Anti-Aging Herbs

Everybody knows nobody can stop aging. But did you know there are certain natural herbs scientifically proven to have anti-aging properties? Anti-aging herbs can slow down the effects of aging and in some cases even reverse the damage on your body caused by a stressful lifestyle. Click to continue

4 Breast Exercises that Really Firm and Tone Your Bustline

The safest and easiest way to make breasts look bigger without surgery, and firm a sagging bustline is to do breast lifting exercises. As women get older, their skin loses elasticity and their breasts begin to sag. Breast exercises strengthens the pectoral (chest) muscles and keeps breasts from drooping, giving them a perkier, fuller appearance. Click to continue

How to Protect Your Teeth from Acid Erosion

Oranges, yogurt, and miso are good for you. But did you know that certain foods you eat and beverages you drink can lead to serious dental problems over time? Acidic foods and drinks such as citrus fruits, fruit juices, sports drinks, sodas and kefir are a cause of tooth erosion (enamel erosion), and can be particularly harmful to your teeth. Click to continue

Coconut Oil Health and Beauty Benefits

Move over olive oil, coconut oil is creating a buzz in health food stores these day. The health and beauty benefits of consuming coconut oil have been recognized in many parts of the world, especially in India and Asia for thousands of years. Why is coconut oil so highly valued as a source of both food and medicine? Let's find out more... Click to continue

Hula Hoop Exercises to Lose Weight

Hula Hoop exercise is no mere fad. Hooping a popular form of aerobic activity that can help firm, tone and burn body fat. According to the American Council on Exercise, you can burn approximately 200-400 calories if you work out for 30 minutes. For people who are overweight, and have trouble with any exercise program, you may want to consider hooping to lose weight. Click to continue

Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss

One very common question I often get from readers who're trying to lose weight is, "Can I snack while dieting?". Yes, you can. In fact, snacks can be helpful in your weight loss program if you pick the healthy ones. They supply your body with energy throughout the day, and keeps binge eating in check. Click to continue

How To Stop and Control Blushing

When a child blushes, it's cute. But when you blush easily for no reasons, it's embarrassing. Blushing is a natural response in social situations that make you feel uncomfortable or anxious. Click to continue

Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Would you believe that seeds, especially chia seeds offer a host of astounding mental and physical health benefits? No kidding. If consumed as a part of your diet, you may experience greater energy, stamina, endurance and even weight loss. So what makes chia seeds the next superfood that's superior and more popular than flaxseed? Click to continue

Male Menopause (Andropause) Symptoms and Treatment

My father never talked to me about male menopause and what andropause symptoms can do to a man, mentally, physically and emotionally. Maybe, he didn't know male menopause existed. But the truth is, andropause is real and it's not simply about aging. Let's look at how to identify and deal with the symptoms male menopause (andropause or viropause). Click to continue

Improve Bad Posture with Posture Correction Exercises

Your mom was right when she told you "Don't slouch, stand up straight!". And for good reasons. Having the correct posture is important; it promotes better body movement, keeps bones in healthy alignment and takes strain off muscles and joints. If you slouch, you tend to get severe neck and back pains sooner or later in life. Use these simple yet effective techniques to improve poor posture today. Read More

Leg Toning Exercises at Home for Women

Legs seem to be quite a problem for many women. And, if you can't find the time to go to the gym for a workout, you can still shape your legs by performing leg toning exercises at home. Knowing the best techniques to use in an enclosed setting will give you gym quality workout from the comfort of your own home. Read More

Aging Eye Problems

Few people realize how fast their eyesight deteriorates. As we age, a number of eye problems are also likely to occur – blurry vision, floaters, cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are some of the most common eye diseases associated with aging. Regular eye check-ups can help you detect many eye disorders in their early stages, and prevent vision loss. Read More

What Do Pap Smear Results Mean

If your pap smear results come back abnormal, do not panic. It does not necessarily indicate that you have cervical cancer. It is important for you to understand what do pap smear results mean. Read More

7 Bad Habits that Make Your Digestion Poor

A good digestive system results in effective weight management. However, bad lifestyle habits, including unhealthy food preferences can harm your digestion to a great extent. It can make weight loss difficult to achieve. That explains why before you start any diet program, it is very important that you kick off the bad habits and eliminate all the factors that make your digestion poor. Let's go through 7 things that can disrupt your digestive system, and what you can do to improve bad digestion. Read More

Super Foods to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

You panicked when the doctor told you that you've high cholesterol. Who wouldn't, after all high cholesterol comes with a string of heart-related diseases. But the good news is that you can significantly lower bad cholesterol (LDL) numbers naturally by changing the way you eat. Read More

Stop Underarm Sweating Natural Home Remedies

Excessive underam sweating is a common affliction faced by many. It is estimated that at least one in every hundred people suffers from excessive armpit perspiration, a condition which is known as Axillary Hyperhidrosis. Read More

Skipping into Fitness with Jump Rope

You know that jumping rope or skipping rope is a great cardio workout that burns calories and can be done just about anywhere. If you haven't touched a jump rope since grade school, let me go through the proper techniques of jumping rope so you won't hurt yourself, and have tons of fun while skipping to your heart's content! Read More

Sensitive Teeth Home Remedies

Nothing bothers me more than having sensitive teeth. My teeth would hurt so much that simple activities like brushing, flossing, sipping hot coffee and even breathing in cold air can sometimes be difficult. If you also suffer from sensitive teeth, find out how you can make teeth less sensitive with proven home remedies, and cure sensitive teeth once and for all. Read More

Walking for Fitness

I'm not a fitness buff but I get enough physical activity through daily walks. Walking is for everyone; it's safe, simple and great for the elderly or overweight people. Studies show that a regular walking program greatly improves your health – tones lower body, lowers high blood pressure, boost bone strength, burns calories and helps weight loss. Read More

Healthy Low Fat Chinese Takeout Restaurant Choices

Navigating the menu at a Chinese restaurant can be a tricky business especially if you're trying to eat healthy. Popular Chinese takeaway meals are often high in saturated fats and simple carbs. And, they can contain as much as your entire day's worth of sodium. Read More

Your Nails Are Health Indicators

Do yourself a huge favor, and look closely at your unpolished fingernails under a good light. Did you know that your nails can be indicators of possible health problems? Many diseases and conditions manifest themselves on the nails, and if you know how to read these signs, you could be warned in advance about a health condition you were unaware of. Read More

Watch Your Food Portion Sizes at Meal Time

You know that you've to eat less fatty food and move more in order to lose weight. And, one critical step in eating a healthy balanced diet is to know what is a healthy portion size of a particular food. Read More

How to Kill Germs and Sanitize Your Toothbrush

Let me ask a simple question – is your toothbrush clean? You'd probably answer "YES" without even thinking but the fact is, your toothbrush can be home to various potentially harmful germs even after being rinsed. It can become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, oral debris and toothpaste. Read More

8 Reasons Why Dancing Benefits You

Dancing has always been a part of my life. It's not only relaxing, but also a great way to stay physically active, no matter your age or size. If you find it very hard to fit an exercise routine into your busy and hectic lifestyle or if you're looking for a fun way to stay fit, why not take up dancing and dance your way to good health? Dancing offers a host of attractive health benefits – physical, mental and social – that's simply hard to refuse. Read More

Vitamin D – Benefits, Deficiency and Food Sources

The sun offers you more than just a tan. It also gives you Vitamin D, an important nutrient which is often overlooked. Emerging research suggests that vitamin D with its widespread health benefits, may be one of the best vitamins of all for your body. Read More

6 Reasons Why Your Boyfriend Is Making You Fat

Love makes you feel special but it can also make you fat. If you've always suspected that your new relationship is expanding your waistline, you can now blame your paunch on your boyfriend. Here are 6 reasons why having a boyfriend makes you gain weight and what you can do about it Read More

6 Natural Home Remedies to Treat Depression

Many people feel that medication is the way to treat depression. In fact, antidepressant is not a favorable remedy and emerging research suggests that certain natural home remedies may be effective in treating depression. Let's take a closer look at a few of these natural depression treatments. Read More

What Do Cholesterol Numbers Mean

You see them on your lab report but do you know what cholesterol numbers mean? Your cholesterol level is shown in several different numbers to indicate levels of different types of cholesterol – total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides. Read More

What Is the Best Milk to Drink

You've probably been told by your doctor to get about 1200 mg of calcium a day, especially if you're a woman. Getting enough calcium is important; it's supposed to increase bone density and help prevent osteoporosis. So, what is the best milk to drink – cow's milk, soy milk, raw milk, fermented milk (kefir), or raw almond milk? Read More

How to Get Skinny Legs

Summer time calls for short skirts and shorts. Super short outfits call for skinny legs. If your legs are not as slim as you want them to be, and you're wondering how to get skinny legs fast, then listen up. These tips are sure to get you ready to flaunt your hot looking skinny legs in those micro-minis. Read More

Top 10 Aphrodisiac Foods to Make Your Love Life Sizzle

Aphrodisiacs are believed to arouse sexual desire and improve sexual performance. Interestingly, the word aphrodisiac derives from the name Aphrodite in Greek mythology. She is the Greek goddess of love who rose from the sea on an oyster and then gave birth to Eros. Read More

How to Reduce Salt Intake

Like it or not, eating too much salt is bad for you. Sodium in excess has been associated with increased risk of stomach cancer, high blood pressure and heart disease. The recommended safe daily amount is about 1500 mg, with a maximum of 2400 mg. However, the majority of us are consuming amounts much higher than that, up to a whopping 6000 mg a day! Read More

Cure Sleep Apnea Naturally with Home Remedies

Sleep apnea, also known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is a common disorder that affects more than 18 million Americans. A majority of these people may not even know that they have sleep apnea because they are normally unaware of the surroundings whilst they sleep. It is usually the bed partner or room mates who point out the disorder. Although sleep apnea generally does not pose an immediate problem, it is still considered to be a serious condition. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause medical problems such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease. Read More

Bad Breath Home Remedies

Everyone has bad breath now and again. While most cases of bad breath or halitosis are not serious, it can be socially embarrassing. There are many ways to check for bad breath. Most people cup their hands over their mouth and nose, breathe into them and then quickly sniff their breath. However, it is not an effective method. We can't smell our own breath because we become accustomed to it. Read More

Plants as Natural Air Fresheners

We're inundated with advertisements, convincing us that we need a multitude of air fresheners to make the air "cleaner" and smell "fresher". Air fresheners available in the market contain chemicals – petroleum distillates, p-dichlorobenzene, formaldehyde, and aerosol propellants – which can be toxic and may increase the incidence of many health problems. Health risks from regular exposure to chemicals found in air fresheners may include headache, earache, irregular heart beat, depression, respiratory problems and diarrhea in babies. Read More

Coffee Health Benefits

If it wasn't for the coffee, I'd have problems staying awake at my desk. I'm sure many of you who start the day clutching a cup of coffee can relate. But you're worried. Is coffee bad for you? Believe it or not, coffee actually offers more than giving you a boost in the morning. Recent studies show that there are more health benefits that coffee brings than the risks. Read on to learn more about what coffee can do for you and your body. Read More

The Warrior Diet for Weight Loss

Skinny as a beanpole for thirty-odd years, I've never been particularly concerned with my weight and the way I eat. But right after the birth of my fourth child, I gained almost 50 pounds. I've tried several diets to lose weight; some worked but only for a while and others did not. Read More

Health Benefits of Turmeric

There is something really good about turmeric that many people are unaware. Turmeric, the yellow-orange spice, commonly used in Asian cooking offers a host of impressive health benefits. Read More

Choosing the Best Colon Cleanser

Your colon needs as much care and monitoring as your heart. The colon is like a sponge, absorbing a large amount of toxins in a given time. Chemicals from food or other sources, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and drugs all add to increased toxicity. If you don't get rid of toxic materials from your colon, it could lead to more serious health consequences such as constipation, blood poisoning and malfunction of the immune system. Read More

Reverse (Backwards) Diet Review

The Reverse Diet, also known as Backwards Diet, is based on the old adage "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dine like a pauper". Its founder, Tricia Cunningham, successfully lost 172 pounds in just 9 months, only by eating her meals in reverse order. Read More

Herbs for Hair Growth and Hair Loss Treatment

Across the globe, men and women who suffer from hair loss problems are relentless in their search for the most effective hair growth remedy. Although, there are a wide array of hair loss products and medications available in the market, most people find it difficult to choose one that suit them best. Read More

How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes

Smoking is a harmful and addictive habit that claims millions of lives every year. In fact, WHO estimates that smoking cigarettes kills one person every 10 seconds. Quitting smoking is difficult; you need will power to quit smoking. And, when will power is not enough, you should know the various ways in which you can stop smoking. Read More

Jet Leg Remedies

Jet lag, in simple terms, is the disruption of your body's internal clock. Your body reacts with the sudden change of time by developing symptoms such as indigestion, disorientation, irritability, insomnia and even constipation. How long the jet lag lasts depends on how many time zones you travel. A rule of thumb is that the number of time zones you travel is the number of days it will take you to completely recover. If you don't want to spend the first day of your vacation, feeling irritated and lousy, these tips will help you cure jet lag and feel refreshed after a long flight. Read More

Allergic Reactions to Wedding Rings – Cure Wedding Band Dermatitis

Wearing wedding rings may sometimes cause irritation and allergic reactions in some people. The skin underneath the wedding band may become red, bumpy, and itchy. Wedding band dermatitis may happen the day after you first wear it, or a few years down the road. Read More

Cure Headaches Without Medicine

Headache is a common problem experienced by most people. Generally speaking, there are 3 main types of headaches – tension headache, migraine headache and cluster headache. Tension-type headaches are by far the most common and are caused by some triggers such as stress, depression, eye strain, menstruation, tobacco, alcohol, hunger, dehydration or sensitivity to certain foods. Although you can get rid of a headache using medication, painkillers or drugs, they often have potential side effects. Hence, it is better to use natural home remedies to cure headaches. Read More

Eat Oatmeal to Lower 'Bad' Cholesterol

If you have high cholesterol levels, it is extremely important that you adopt healthy eating and lifestyle habits. There are many different types of food that are known to lower cholesterol and studies have found that oatmeal has cholesterol-reducing properties due to the rich source of water-soluble dietary fiber, particularly beta glucan. Read More

Best Foods to Raise Metabolism

No matter what diet you try, you just can't seem to lose weight. Well, the good news is there are foods that are scientifically proven to raise metabolism and help you burn excess body fat. We all know that in order to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat or reduce calorie intake. However, many dieters often eat too few calories that they crashed their metabolism. In fact, you must eat enough to burn fat. Read More

Natural Home Remedies to Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Almost every woman experience some menstrual cramps during her periods. Menstrual cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea, can be mild, moderate or even severe. Other symptoms that sometimes accompany menstrual cramps include nausea and vomiting, sweating, dizziness, and loose stools. Read More

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Age (Liver) Spots

Age spots, also called liver spots, senile lentigines, or solar lentigines are a common problem in people over 40 but they may also appear in younger individuals. Age spots are flat, gray, brown or black spots caused by either age or sun exposure. They often appear on the hands, face, back and feet. Although true age spots are harmless and do not require treatment, many people find them unsightly and opt to lighten age spots with skin-bleaching products or removed them through expensive laser treatments. Let's look at some age spots home remedies to get rid of age spots and prevent them in the future. Read More

How to Lower High Cholesterol Without Medication

It is well known fact that high cholesterol level, specifically LDL (bad) cholesterol, puts you at risk of developing heart disease. However, what most people don't realize is that, cholesterol is easily managed without drugs. You can lower high cholesterol level without medication through healthy eating and lifestyle habits. Although drugs work as well, most of them come with side effects. Read More

How to Reduce Sugar Intake

Many agree that sugar is bad since too much sugar in the diet leads to obesity and many weight-related illness. Reduce sugar intake and you'll soon see a positive change in your overall health. However, many of us are addicted to sugar hidden in food. Let's look at some of these foods and learn how to reduce sugar in your diet painlessly. Read More

How to Treat and Prevent a Backache

Backache is one of the most common ailments. It is a discomfort in the area of lower back and the pain could be acute or chronic. Although back pain can affect a person at any age but it is commonly seen with people above 50 years of age. If you experience backache for more than couple of months, you should seek medical attention. Read More

How to Make Homemade Protein Shakes

Homemade protein shakes are very popular among the health conscious since it is one of the best means of building lean muscle. However, many people are unsure of how to make the protein shake as healthy and nutritious as possible. Read on to find out a few basic principles that can help you make a homemade protein shake that is not only great-tasting but also meets your dieting goals. Read More

How to Cure Diarrhea with Home Remedies

Diarrhea occurs when stools become loose and watery or unformed. The symptoms for diarrhea can include vomiting, stomach pain, consistent thirst, fever, nausea or even dehydration. Home remedies for diarrhea are preferred to mainstream medicine because the latter is generally intended to treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause. If the cause of diarrhea is not removed, treatment of the symptoms will have only a temporary effect. Read More

Oatmeal Diet to Lose Weight

The health benefits of oatmeal are plentiful. Oatmeal not only provide us with Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are essential for our bodies to function properly but it is also a good source of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and iron. Another benefit of eating oatmeal is that it helps you to lose weight and fight off certain types of cancer due to the nutrients and fiber it contains. Hence, when you follow a 30-day plan of eating three meals of oatmeal everyday and a low-fat snack in between, you will surely lose about 2 to 5 pounds a week on the oatmeal diet. Read More

Are Chinese Diet Teas Safe to Lose Weight

Chinese diet teas have long been used by people to lose weight. Many companies have manufactured and distributed Chinese tea labeled 'Chinese diet tea' for those who want to lose weight since it is believed that tea has only 4 calories per serving, and the caffeine in tea is strong enough to boost metabolism to help burn more calories. Moreover, it is also believed that the polyphenols in tea helps in the digestion of fat, thus making it a Chinese diet tea. Read More

How to Treat Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) is a common injury caused typically by playing racquet sports, such as tennis and racquetball. Tennis Elbow occurs when the outer elbow bone area becomes inflamed and irritated by these sports or other everyday activities. Tennis Elbow is not limited to tennis players and can occur with any activity that involves repetitive gripping, turning, bending, or extending the wrist backwards. Read More

How to Lower High Blood Pressure

You don't have to rely on prescription medication to lower high blood pressure. High Blood pressure (hypertension) can be effectively lowered through healthy eating and lifestyle habits such as moderate exercise, gradual weight loss and simple stress management techniques. When you make these changes, you can lower you blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. Let's take a look at how to lower high blood pressure naturally without medications. Read More

Constipation Remedies – How to Get Rid of Constipation

Constipation is a common digestive problem that affects millions of people worldwide. If the bowels do not move regularly or are not completely emptied, you have constipation problems. Stomach pains, hard tools, difficulty in bowel movements, loss of appetite, drowsiness, nausea, pain in the lower legs and vertigo are some symptoms of constipation. Since constipation leads to many diseases, you must know how to get rid of constipation before it gets chronic and serious. Read on to find out a few remedies for constipation. Read More

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

Although stretch marks are not malign skin problems and do not cause anything dangerous to your health, they are very unsightly and can affect the self confidence of women especially young women. They often end up staying at home because of ugly stretch marks. Read More

How to Have Healthy Teeth and Gums

Your teeth and gum can stay healthy and strong throughout your life if you take proper care of them. If you don't practice good dental hygiene, plaque and tartar can easily build up and cause many problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Many of these dental problems are also linked to more serious health issues including heart disease and strokes. For people with diabetes, it's extremely important to maintain healthy teeth and gums since they have a higher chance of developing periodontal disease. By following these easy tips everyday, you can keep your teeth healthy and strong, and save money on expensive dental treatments. Read More

How to Treat Menopause Symptoms with Simple Home Remedies

Menopause can be defined as the transition period when the ovaries stop producing eggs. For most women, menopause occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, with the average age being 51. Many go through the menopause without any problems but there are some women who suffer from one or several of the symptoms associated with the menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, headache, insomnia, depression, weight gain, fatigue and so on. However, menopause relief is possible without turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). You can manage menopausal symptoms with herbal or natural remedies along with a few simple changes in your lifestyle. Read More

How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

With the holiday season just around the corner, we often find ourselves surrounded by delicious food that are too good to resist. So it's very easy to overeat and gain unwanted pounds. However, you can still enjoy the holidays using these 5 simple expert-endorsed healthy eating tips which will help you avoid holiday weight gain painlessly. Read More

How to Avoid and Prevent Cataracts

Cataracts is a common eye condition that develop as we age. It occurs when the lens of your eye turns cloudy and impairs your vision partially or even totally. While some of us develop cataracts at a relatively early age, there are people in their nineties that show no sign of cataracts at all. Here are several things which you can do to avoid and prevent cataracts: Read More

How to Buy Safe Weight Loss Pills

When it comes to weight loss pills, there are literally thousands currently available in the market. However, choosing weight loss pills which are safe for consumption can be pretty daunting since not all of the weight loss pills are good for you. In fact, some of them can be very hazardous to your health. Before you buy weight loss pills, consider the following to ensure that they are safe and effective. Read More

8 Easy Ways to Raise Metabolism

It's no secret that metabolism plays a great role in weight loss. When you've a high metabolic rate, the amount of calories your body burns increases and hence helps you to lose weight faster. Without optimal metabolism, your body will store the excess calories as fat for future use. There are several factors that influence metabolism including age, weight, hormonal changes, lean muscle mass, diet, genetics, stress and the amount of physical activity undertaken daily. While there are a couple of things which you cannot change, you can still raise metabolism through a few smart tips and techniques. Read More

How to Treat Nail Fungus with Home Remedies

Nail fungus (also known as onychomycosis) is a common condition in which fungi get under your fingernail or toenail and cause an infection. The infection can be in the nail or the nail bed. Once the fungus has attacked your nail, it starts to grow and spread. It is important that you treat the nail fungus as soon as the symptoms appear in order to prevent the infection of your other nails, saving you lots of unnecessary pain and embarrassment. Read More

How to Get Rid and Tone Flabby Arms

If you're a woman with jiggly, flabby upper arms and wear long sleeves to cover them, you're not alone. Sagging, flabby arms are common for many women and even for women who are of normal weight. Although getting rid of flabby upper arms is no easy task, it can be done through healthy eating and regular arm exercises. Read More

4 Surprising Reasons Why You Can't Lose Weight

You've been good; you haven't had a bite of pizza or a sip of soda for months but you still can't even shed a pound. So, what went wrong? Let's look at 4 reasons why you can't lose weight and what you can do to turn things around. Read More

Hemorrhoids (Piles) – Natural Remedies for Fast Relief

If you suffer from swollen and irritated hemorrhoids (also known as piles), you probably know that this painful condition is no walk in the park. Hemorrhoids are a swelling of veins in and around the anus. These veins can become overstretched that they push with extreme force, then rupture and cause rectal bleeding, inflammation and itch. Hemorrhoids (internal, external or prolapsed) affects millions of people across the world, and like them, you want to get rid of hemorrhoids forever. Knowing some of the easiest home remedies can greatly reduce the discomfort and aggravation associated with hemorrhoids, and provide much needed relief. Read More

Health Effects of 5 Most Common Household Toxins and How to Eliminate Them

Do you find yourself getting the sniffles when it's not even the allergy season or do you often feel under the weather while you're in your own house? Believe me, the chemicals in your furniture, the mold growing beneath your kitchen sink, water filter pitchers, couch cushions or something even worse is making you sick. Do you know that over time, these household toxins can build up in your body and overload your system? Read on to find out some of the most common household toxins which can be deadly and how you can get rid of them. Read More

How to Treat and Prevent Common Swimming Injuries

Swimming makes me feel like a baby – my mind and body relaxes as refreshing cool water cocoons my tired body into a totally weightless state. The benefits of swimming is in abundance. Swimming is one of the most popular sports in the world which can be continued throughout your lifetime. Swimming is a great full body exercise that tones your entire muscle spectrum, builds endurance, muscle strength and improves cardiovascular fitness. However, because of its repetitive nature of swim strokes, muscular injuries can happen with poor swimming techniques. Now, the question is which stroke can cause potential injuries? Read More

Unhealthy Breakfast Foods

I eat breakfast. Without food to pacify my growling stomach, I cannot function optimally. I need my daily wake-up cup of Jasmine green tea, freshly toasted whole grain bread and a fruit to kick start my day. Many people skip breakfast because of time constraint, or because they simply do not have an early appetite. But I strongly advocate the advantage of eating substantially in the first part of the day. When you get up in the morning, the last meal that you had would be at least 9 hours ago. And if your first meal of the day is lunch, that deprives your body of nutrients for more than 12 hours. With so many breakfast choices and ideas available, are you sure you are fueling your body right? Let's examine a few of the most commonly eaten breakfast foods and know what are the unhealthy breakfast foods. Read More

1500 Calorie Diet Sample Menu for Men

Most dietitians agree that calorie control is the key to successful weight loss. For a calorie controlled diet to work, it must be sustainable – one that fits into your present lifestyle, allowing you to live a normal life on normal foods without feeling deprived while you are achieving your health and weight loss goals. Low calorie diets are designed to create an energy deficit which causes your body to burn stored fat so that you will lose weight. Read More

How to Reduce Cancer Risks

Did you know that cancer is on track to be the number one killer worldwide by 2010? Cancer can affect anyone – regardless of age, gender, race and genetics but the risk for most type of cancers increases with age. Medical science often cannot explain why one person develops cancer and the other does not. But according to health experts, individual can take practical steps to dramatically reduce their risk of developing cancer. Read More

How to Prevent Obesity

Obesity is a growing concern in our country. About two-thirds of adults in America are officially overweight, and about half of those have graduated to full-blown obesity. That means more and more people are predisposing themselves to the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, infertility, gall-bladder disease, osteoarthritis and many forms of cancer. Read More

10 Delicious Ideas to Eat More Vegetables and Love it!

There's no doubt about it. Vegetables are good for you – they are nature's gift to mankind, bursting with Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many phytochemicals that have miraculous health benefits. Introducing fresh vegetables to your diet is the best thing you can do to save yourself from chronic ailments such as cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. You do okay with fruits but the BIG problem is, you don't like to eat vegetables. Want to find out how to sneak vegetables into food or your diet without knowing it? Here are 10 great ideas to eat more vegetables. Read More

7 Weight Loss Tips that Really Work!

Most of us have done it at least once in our lives; some had success while others failed miserably. Yes, I'm talking about the much dreaded weight loss challenge. Do you know that Americans spend in the aggregate $33 billion annually on weight loss foods, products and services in an effort to lose weight? Let's face it – dieting is no fun and definitely not easy for most of us. To sweeten the bitter pill and make your weight loss journey a little more bearable, take a look at these weight loss tips and tricks that actually worked for me. I lost 40 pounds. Read More

How to Choose and Eat Good Carbs

I don't deny that carbohydrates raise your blood sugar levels but cutting carbohydrates completely from your diet is almost impossible and certainly not necessary. In fact, carbohydrates are a healthy and important part of a nutritious diet. The trick is to choose the right or good carbs you eat and control the amount you consume. Here’s a guide on “what are good eats to eat”: Read More

Health Benefits of Raisins

My love affair with raisins started with the California raisins commercial in the 80s..... row of Motown rock stars raisins dancing and singing "Heard it through the Grapevine "... oh, they were so adorable and sure, they danced right into my life, my heart, my meals, my lunch box and my T-shirts! In fact, mom was pretty happy about that. She said "At least you are eating some fruit and not candy". Even till now, I snack on raisins because raisins have tons of health benefits that are just too good to resist! Read More

Dark Chocolate Offers Sun Protection Benefits

So, you've heard – tomato, more specifically lycopene, protects your skin against skin cancer. How about dark chocolate is good for your skin, dark chocolate protects the skin from sunburn and can help fight against skin cancer? If only you could see me now...I'm grinning from ear to ear because I happen to love both the sun and chocolates!

German researchers have shown that eating chocolates rich in cocoa solids and flavonoids can fight skin cancer. Dark chocolates, not milk chocolates, have powerful antioxidant properties, which can actually help to protect you from damaging oxidative stress. Dark chocolates are rich in flavonoids, the same antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables and whole grains that are known to help reduce Read More

Artificial Sweeteners Cause Weight Gain

I'm dead sure you know you shouldn't be drinking soda if you want to lose weight but what about artificially sweetened drinks? A trick to satisfying sweetness without the offending caloriesand side effects?

Researchers at Purdue University that artificial sweeteners may actually make it more difficult for people to control their food intake and body weight. In one experiment using rats, the researchers fed a group of rats yogurt with artificial no-calorie sweetener (saccharin) and another group of rats yogurt sweetened with real sugar. It was found that rats eating the artificial sweetener "consumed more calories, gained more weight, put on more body fat, and somehow didn't seem to be able to turn off their eating". Ever wondered why Americans are still fat despite Read More

Low Fat Food Facts

You chomp down a bag of fat free chips happily, feeling guiltless and thinking, mmm....life's wonderful, great snacks no fat! But hold it there, you might want to think again.

When a food label reads “no fat”, “fat free”, “reduced fat” or “low fat”, it doesn't necessarily mean lower calories. Very often, such products substitute high amounts of sugar or highly refined starches to make the food retain its original flavor and still taste good. Don't forget sugar contains 4 calories per gram and sugar converts to fat easily. That means you're really not saving calories from eating this sugar loaded, so called “fat free” treats. You're getting more calories than usual in every bite! Read More

Colors of Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables need not be all green and boring. In the past, people associate vegetables with fiber, Vitamins and minerals. Today, evidence shows that the phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables provide our bodies with a myriad of health benefits. People who eat more fruits and vegetables as a part of an overall healthy diet are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as cancers, coronary health disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Read More

Healthy and Delicious Oatmeal Ideas

If your idea of oatmeal is just oats, milk and a sprinkling of brown sugar, then you're in for a pleasant surprise. Helloooo...oats and brown sugar is SO yesterday; it only reminds me of my grandma! There are many ingredients which you can add to dress things up....so, why are you still eating that bowl of boring, mushy oatmeal? Here are a few delicious oatmeal ideas to brighten up your day! Read More

Eat Your Breakfast to Lose Weight

I made a very serious mistake when trying to lose weight a few years ago. I skipped breakfast. Like many dieters, I thought by not eating breakfast, I was saving calories and less calories means faster weight loss. Oh boy, I was SO wrong!

It may sound counter-intuitive but to lose weight, eat breakfast. Research have shown that people who don’t eat breakfast have a tendency to crave for high-calorie foods later in the day. In fact, breakfast eaters consume fewer calories on average than those who skip the first meal of the day. Read More

15 Delicious Ideas to Eat More Fiber and Love It!

You can't ignore the importance of dietary fiber in your diet but some people are still clueless about eating fiber. Today, let's look at some delicious ideas to eat more fiber and love it – absolutely painless!

1. Start your day with high-fiber cereal ( at least 5 grams fiber) such as All Bran, Uncle Sam and Special K Protein Plus. You can add sliced bananas, raisins or berries to up your fiber intake by 1 to 2 grams or try sprinkling some ground flax seed. A medium banana has 3 grams fiber.

2. Eat a whole orange instead of drinking orange juice at breakfast. An orange gives you 3 grams fiber.

3. Have a bowl of steel cut oats for breakfast. Toss in your favorite nuts and seeds. For just ¼ cup sunflower seeds, you get nearly 4 grams fiber. Read More

What Is Resistant Starch – Sources and Benefits of Resistant Starch

Resistant starch? I don't know about you, it sounds really gooey and definitely not delicious to me.... Yucks! No way, I’m not going to put that in my mouth. But goodness gracious me, I was so darn wrong!

Actually resistant starch has been a part of my diet all my life but I was unaware of it – It's found naturally in foods including lentils, split peas, kidney beans, navy beans, brown rice, barley, oats, rye, sesame, wheat, semolina, linseed, corn, cooked cold rice (such as sushi rice), cold pasta, and cold boiled potato. And, it's good for me. Anyway, what's this stuff called resistant starch? Read More

How to Eat Carbs and Still Lose Weight

To any follower of the Atkins diet, carbs is a BIG no-no. Breads sit lonely in bread baskets, carrots left untouched at dinner plates and pasta get shunned. I love carbs, I'm a carbo addict but I don't get fat eating carbs. It's not true that carbs make you fat, weight gain comes from eating too much calories. Low carb diets cause weight loss because they restrict calories. Your body needs carbs to function; carbs are the only fuel source for many vital organs, including your brain, central nervous system and kidneys. Yes, you can eat carbs and still stay slim. Here are some ideas on good carbs to eat. Read More

Why Is Fiber Important in Your Diet

When I was a kid, I used to wonder why my mom always made me eat "cardboard". Now don't get me wrong, I'm talking about whole-grain bread. I just hated the taste of such breads – they're dry and bland. No matter how much I protested and refused, mom would simply brush me off , saying "it's good for you, sweetheart....eat it!". Well, she was right. It was all about FIBER. Read More

Sun Protection Tips

As summer approaches and the weather gets warmer, most of us like to get outside, do some exercises, frolic in the sun and have fun outdoors. While you're enjoying yourself in the sun, whether a day at the beach or a few hours working in the yard, do you practise sun safety to protect yourself from harmful UV radiation? Read More

Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fats (Fish Oil)

When the words oils and fats are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to run for cover. What they fail to realize is that there are good fats and bad fats. Complete avoidance of intake of oils and fats would actually be detrimental – rather than beneficial – to their health.

The Truth about Fish Oil

Essential fatty acids must always be part of our daily diet – without them, we take one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAS. Read More

Health Benefits of Vitamin A

Vitamin A was first discovered back in 1912, by a Polish biochemist named Casimir Funk. He came up with the word vitamine, which was later given the name vitamin. Funk was the first to discover vitamins as we know them today, although vitamin A was actually the first one discovered, hence the letter “A” in the title of the vitamin.

You can find vitamin A in natural foods such as oranges and yellow fruits. It can also be found in vegetables as well, such as spinach and fats. When found in vegetables, vitamin A is water soluble, coming in the form of beta carotene. The beta carotene form of vitamin A can be eliminated from your body through natural processes, making it an excellent way to get vitamin A. Read More

What Causes Vitamin Deficiency

Everyone knows that the human body needs a certain amount of vitamins and minerals everyday to function properly and remain healthy. A well balanced diet can supply your body with the vitamins it needs, although problems and disorders can arise if your diet doesn’t supply your body with the vitamins it needs. The symptoms of vitamin deficiency will normally present themselves when the lack of vitamins is at an advanced level. Read More

Benefits of Cardio Exercise

In a long-term study of the health of the people of in the United States, the U.S. Public Health Service documented the chances of developing heart disease among various groups in the population. Long before the any symptoms appeared, epidemiological research could identify high-risk groups.

Among the highest risk factors are male sex, age over 35, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high levels of certain blood fats, and a family history of cardiovascular disorders.

Other researchers have added to this list another risk factor: the compulsive, hard-driving, highly anxious personality. The greater the number of severity, the greater the person’s overall risk. Read More

How to Sneak in Exercise Every Day

An explanation we often hear for not exercising is that we just don't have enough or no time at all. We lead hectic lives – rush to work, rush the kids to and from school, rush home, rush to cook, rush to eat and rush to sleep! It's a mad mad world! At the end of the day, we're so tired and the only thing on our head is to hit the sack. Exercising seems almost impossible these days. How do we find time to exercise? Read More

Best Exercise for Weight Loss and Fat Loss

Let's face it, there's no magic bullet in weight loss. The closest to a magic bullet is exercise. We become overweight when we take in more calories than we burn up. To lose weight, we need to create a calorie deficit through diet, exercise or a combination of both.

Exercise is crucial to any weight loss program. According to statisics, making exercise a part of your weight loss program can increase your results by up to 50 percent. Not only does exercise increase your metabolism during a workout, exercise also cause your metabolism to stay increased for a period of time after exercising, which means you burn more calories. Read More

How to Avoid Food Temptation While Dieting

Maybe you're thinking "just a tiny bite of that chocolate cake won't hurt".... Let's be honest, when food temptation strikes, do you cave in? Well, when you start eating a healthy diet, temptations – from media, co-workers, family members, fast food restaurants – to eat "forbidden" foods will creep up slowly on you every now and then. Is there a way to avoid food temptation and remain on track? Here's 5 fail-proof diet tips that are really useful. Read More

Are Carbs Good or Bad

I know of many friends who followed the low-carb Atkins diet and lost tremendous amount of weight. That leads me to wonder if carbohydrates has a detrimental effect on weight loss. Is carbohydrates a blessing or a curse? To unravel the mystery, we need to understand what are carbohydrates and what do they do in our bodies. Read More

How Much Water to Drink When Exercising

Good on you if you're eating well and exercising to stay healthy. But just pause for a moment and ask yourself whether you're drinking enough water to replenish lost fluids?

When you exercise, you lose water through burning calories and sweating. Sweating causes you to lose electrolytes – sodium, chloride, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Maintaining the right balance of electrolytes is crucial as electrolytes affect the amount of water in your body, blood pH, muscle action, and other important functions. If you don't drink enough water, you risk becoming dehydrated which will not only affect your sports performance but can also make you feel weak and cause muscle cramps, bad breath, dizziness, headache, and constipation. Read More

How Much Water to Drink a Day

All of us can't survive without it. No, I'm not talking about money but water, the vital source of live. Water, after oxygen is the second most element for survival. Water makes up more than two-thirds of our body weight and without water, we'd die in a coulpe of days.

All cells and organs need water to function – from regulating body temperature and bringing oxygen to the cells, to cushioning joints and removing waste and toxins from the body. Insufficient water intake can cause fatigue, lack of energy, headaches, constipation, dry scaly skin and chapped lips. Severe dehydration have an effect on your blood pressure, circulation, digestion, body weight, mental abilities and kidney function. So, the million-dollar question, how much water do you need to drink every day ? 8 to 10 glasses? Read More

How to Drink More Water EveryDay

I don't have to tell you this – if you want to lose weight, drink more water. Drinking water is an old trick every dieter could use to curb hunger. But, many of us do not drink enough water until we're almost completely dehydrated. It's too easy to forget to drink water. Here’s a list of really good water-drinking tips that worked well for me and I trust you'll find them useful too. Read More

Signs and Symptoms of Winter Dehydration

One of the biggest mistake many people make in winter is that they forget to drink water. In summer, dehydration is obvious – temperature soaring steadily, beads of sweat rolling off your brows, your vision starts to blur, you know you have to grab a glass or bottle of water and drink up. In contrast with summer, the signs and symptoms of dehydration in winter may be subtle and gradual, making dehydration difficult to detect. Read More

Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks

Don't you agree it's not easy to watch your weight and enjoy alcoholic drinks at the same time? Very often we're not mindful of our alcohol choices until our beer belly exposes the truth. Alcoholic drinks, like food, contain calories – the higher the alcohol content, the more calories it contains. Alcohol content of a drink can be calculated from its percentage alcohol content by volume (% ABV). Generally speaking, beer can have an alcohol content ranging from 0.05 to 10 percent, wine is usually about 5 to 13 percent while liquors and liqueurs can be as high as 14 to 40 percent alcohol. So, the next time whether you're at the bar or entertaining at home, be sure to make these low calorie alcoholic drinks your preferred choice. Read More

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much

Sometimes in life, we go overboard with certain things we shouldn't, and alcohol happens to fall under this category. You may think that occasional binge drinking is alright. Unfortunately, it can be just as bad for your health as regular bingeing. So, if you're going to party with alcohol over the weekends, it's wise know your alcohol limits – save yourself from the agony of hangovers, accidents and major health risks. Read More

Alcohol Effects on Your Health

Many people drink alcohol to celebrate joyous occasions; alcohol instills a sense of social confidence and promotes relaxation in the company of others. However, there are many who drink alcohol for other reasons – primarily to seek relief and disassociation from reality. While alcohol, particularly red wine, has recently touted to support heart health, the effects of alcohol abuse on your health can be very serious. Alcohol can affect your body and health in the following ways: Read More

How to Lose Belly Fat and Get Flat Abs

The only time a big belly looks sexy to me is on a pregnant woman and okay, maybe Father Santa. A huge round jiggling beer belly or excess abdominal fat on any other beings is not sexy or manly. Flat abs is sexy – you want it, I want it but not many people can get hold of it. One thing for sure, it takes hell of a great job to lose belly fat fast and maintain flat sexy abs! Contrary to popular belief, doing 100 or more abdominal crunches or sit-ups daily isn't going to help you to Read More

MSG Health Problems – Obesity

I don't know if this happens to you but it sure happens to me. Every time I pop open a tube of Pringles, I just can't stop eating – these chips are SO addictive! Darn, it only break my calorie bank, and that means two more laps around the park!

Who's this culprit that caused overeating? I tell you, this sinister guy is disguised under many other names – E621, MSG, monosodium glutamate, monopotassium glutamate, glutamate, glutamic acid, gelatin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed plant protein, autolyzed plant protein, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, textured protein, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast, yeast food or nutrient – see what I mean? Read More

How to Eat Healthy at the Salad Bar

I wonder how many of you guys can relate to this. You take your girlfriend out for a nice meal, she tells you she's not hungry, on diet, blah blah blah and feeling virtuous, she asked for a Southern Cobb salad without dressing. Mind you, that's a salad with 1080 calories! On diet, huh??

Many dieters think that eating salad is a no-fail strategy for weight loss. But are you sure salads are safe diet foods? Knowing what to pick at salad bars is a tricky business – fat lurks in seemingly innocent toppings or dressings amidst healthy pile of greens, preying on the unsuspecting YOU! Read More

How to Have a Healthy Liver

Okay, when it comes to heart health, you're an expert – you know what to eat and what not to eat for a strong healthy heart. But here's my question, what about liver health? Do you know the importance of a healthy liver and what constitutes a liver-friendly diet? I believe many of us are stumped.

Your liver is the largest gland is the body; it holds about one pint of your total blood supply at any given moment and is estimated to have over 500 functions. The liver is a major organ for detoxification. In brief, it removes toxins, drugs and hormones from your bloodstream. Toxins can come from the environment, the air you breath, the food you eat, the water you drink, and the contents of your bowels. Read More

Healthy Fast Food Choices for Kids

Taking your kids out for meals at fast food restaurants can sometimes be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you want to make your kids happy and allow them to eat whatever they fancy but on the other, you're concerned with the food choices offered on the kids menu. Read More

How to Make Instant Ramen Better with Healthy Ideas

When I was a struggling student in Tokyo back in 90s, I didn't have much money to spend on dine-out meals or takeaways – things are jaw-dropping expensive in Japan, I remembered the cheapest meal (¥ 900) I had was at a stand up noodle bar in Shinjuku – so I had to make do with whatever that was within my tight budget. Well, you might have guessed, the most wallet-friendly items in my grocery basket, are packets of cheap no-frills instant ramen or noodles. And, being a non-ramen guy, I had to learn to embrace the idea of slurping instant ramen 5 times a week! I tell ya, that was torturous! Read More

Health Benefits of Raw Garlic

One food which I avoid eating during lunch on dance days is fettunta/brushchetta – delicious Tuscan bread grilled to perfection, rubbed generously with raw garlic and then anointed with heart-healthy olive oil. No, I am not doing the Atkins diet and I love bread. Well, the only thing that bothers me (and my dance partner) is garlic, especially raw garlic. Read More

How to Grill Foods Safely

One of our family's favorite summertime activities is to have a barbecue party in the backyard. And, I've to admit, I'm all for it – that's probably the only time of the year, I get to sit back, relax with a nice cool glass of orange mint ice tea while my husband does the cooking!

Sad to say, barbecued or grilled foods can very unhealthy. Grilled foods are often associated with cancer; research studies show that people who consume the most barbecued red meat (beef, pork and lamb) has twice the risk of developing colon polyps, compared to those who did not consume grilled foods. Colon polyps can Read More

Health Benefits of Quinoa and How to Cook

Have you ever toyed with the idea of going vegetarian or cutting down your consumption of meat for health reasons, or maybe to help the environment? Well, I have and to be very honest, I was a little hesitant at first. My only concern was whether will I be getting enough protein on a vegetarian diet. After all, protein is the building block of life and they are necessary for tissue growth and repair. Read More

Key Nutrients for a Balanced Vegetarian Diet

The reason I became a vegetarian was because I was found to have high blood pressure, and being genetically predisposed to cardiovascular disease, I was advised to cut down on meat consumption. As an omnivore leaning towards carnivorism for all my 38 years, going cold turkey (no pun intended) or trying to wean myself off pot roasts, burger steaks, pork tenderloins, chilli dogs, and buffalo wings was daunting. Very daunting. Because I love my life too much to die too soon, I knew I've to do something – something that would change my life forever. That was why I turned vegetarian and there's no looking back. Read More

Which Olive Oil to Use for Cooking

Here's the scenario, see if you relate to it. You read about people in the Mediterranean region having lower incidence of colon cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's; they also live longer and have beautiful skin – all thanks to olive oil. Then, you find yourself in the supermarket aisle, staring at endless rows of olive oil in glass bottles, wondering which one to grab – extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, light olive oil, or extra light olive? Read More

Which is Healthier? Butter or Margarine

Which is better, butter or margarine? Butter versus margarine is definitely not a new debate. In fact, argument over "butter is better than margarine" has been going on for years ever since the buzzword – trans fats – took center stage. The reason to resurrect this issue again (yawn) is, I overheard a mom telling her daughter to pick a tub of margarine and not butter because "it's plant-based, and anything that comes from plants is good for you". Is she right? Read More