February 2007 Natural News

Article, Product Review and Healthy Recipe

Great Skin Foods - Stay Younger and Feel Good

Everything you put into your body will be reflected in your skin. If you have a diet high in fat, processed foods and little fruit and vegetables your skin will surely reflect that. In our teens, and 20s we're able to get away with a lot but once we hit 30 and beyond our skin isn't so forgiving anymore.

Here are a few must have foods to incorporate into your daily diet.

Green tea - Not only is this drink loaded with health benefits, it will also help the look of your skin by reducing inflammation and fighting free radicals that cause skin damage. So drink up.

Water - You probably already know this one but we need approximately 8 glasses of clear water a day (no sodas, soups or other drinks are included in this quota). For maximum benefits clear water is best. It helps purify your body and eliminates toxins.

Selenium - This powerhouse nutrient is found in foods such as turkey, brazil nuts, tuna and whole grain breads. Include at least one of these foods in your daily diet.

Fatty Acids - These are found in oils such as walnut and flaxseed. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are also rich in essential fatty acids.

Dairy - Low fat dairy products are high in Vitamin A which is beneficial to the skin. Low fat yogurt is also good for the digestive system which in turn helps skin health.

Fruits and Vegetables - A variety of fruits and vegetables are good for overall healthy skin but there are some foods in particular which are very high in powerful antioxidants and promote good skin health. Berries, such as blueberries, strawberries and blackberries are great for fighting against free radicals which can cause skin cell damage. Vegetables that are brightly colored such as red peppers, yellow peppers and sweet potatoes are also great skin foods.

Now that you know what to eat there are some things that should be left out altogether if you want to look young longer:

White Flour Foods - White bread, rice, pasta and sugar are less nutritious than the whole grain types and will cause inflammation in the skin which can lead to aging. Try cutting these items from your diet for two weeks and look in the mirror. Your skin should look less inflamed and fine lines will be less apparent.

Alcohol - dehydrates the skin and speeds the aging process, try to only have it in moderation. A little red wine may have some health benefits whereas beer does not.

Smoking - This will age you, cutback or better yet cut it out altogether. Your skin and lungs will thank you for it.

Processed Foods - Processed foods are loaded with sugar and additives, these wreck havoc on the skin and are best left out of your diet altogether. Sodas and other sugary drinks are not only bad for your health but can also rob your skin of essential nutrients. They're also not good for your waistline and have been known to cause cellulite (even the diet variety).

Product Review-Fitness Ball

Exercising equipment and memberships at gyms can be expensive. If you wish to exercise at home inexpensively, why not choose a fitness ball? Along with a DVD showing you how to use the ball, you can add this exercise to your routine. Priced between $13.00 and up, you can purchase a quality fitness ball online. Here are some features and workouts which you may find on the accompanying DVDs.

The Valeo Bodyball - 65 Cm Blue Exercise Ball, Chart & Pump seems to be the fitness ball of choice. It is part of the successful Fitness Gear line of products. Each exercise involves several muscle groups for total body workout. It is recommended by top fitness trainers and physical therapists. It improves balance, coordination and flexibility; promotes a healthier posture; and includes a wall chart of step-by-step instructions for a complete body workout program. It even comes with a high volume air pump.

There are three 10-minute workouts which can be done individually or combined since they focus on different areas. The first concentrates on the lower body with squats while holding the ball, balancing on it for and squeezing it with the upper thighs. The second tones the arms and back by lifting dumbbells while sitting or leaning on the ball and using it for pushups. The final routine is specifically for the abs: sit-ups, curls, yoga's plank and downward dog. Weights are recommended for the second routine.

It is also recommended by physical therapists to alleviate lower back pain. Considered durable and well priced, consumers boast they can perform core strengthening exercises without pain. Others claim they feel the burn in their abs and arms using the fitness ball.

Still others claim that these workouts are fast and effective. There are many creative uses for the ball in all of these workouts. Those who have purchased the DVD state that the upper body segments requires heavy and light weights, however, using five pound weights are effective especially when used the first few times. Some of the exercises are difficult the first time, but there are alternatives for beginners. A lot of the exercises in all the workouts require good balance and core stability.

All in all, this is an inexpensive way in which to exercise. Check this and the variety of fitness balls online and chooses one that incorporates a DVD, so that your exercise routine will be an enjoyable one.