It is no secret that the beauty industry, which earns billions of dollars each year, is not necessarily the most honest, nor are they completely successful when it comes to results, though their bottom line certainly doesn’t show it. Men and women alike are constantly in search of the Fountain of Youth in a bottle and are willing to pay the big bucks for it. Pride and Envy may be two of the Seven Deadly Sins, but Vanity should be up there as one of the Seven Most Expensive Sins.

What we should be teaching our youth is that there is a way to eat that can be prophylactic. You can eat the right foods so as to prevent many of the skin problems that occur throughout your teens and into adulthood. Yes, some of it may be genetic, but the simple truth is still, “You are what you eat.” The environment wreaks havoc on our skin and if you haven’t learned by now, the right cream, the right ointment, or the perfect cleansing pad just doesn’t exist. Some products may work for some people; after all, any good moisturizer that you put on your skin is going to “plump” it up and “smooth” out those itty bitty wrinkles. What you want, though, is a life-long fix that will give your skin that healthy glow without resorting to those costly remedies after the fact. If the economy keeps going the way it’s going, celebs will be the only people that can afford those concoctions anyway.

With the right foods, you can do your body and your skin some good that will last and will make you look younger for much longer, not to mention the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that you won’t have to supplement, also out of a bottle.

The first food is rich in isoflavones, a potent antioxidant. Eat beans…lots of beans, or legumes, if you prefer. They come in all forms, such as black beans, peanuts, chickpeas, soybeans and lentils. The variety is endless as is the number of healthy recipes that you can use them in. Studies have shown that over time, eating legumes, along with vegetables and healthy fats, can reduce wrinkles by 20%. Besides reducing wrinkles, isoflavones can reduce the risk of heart disease, protect against prostate problems, ease the symptoms of menopause, improve bone health and reduce your cancer risk. Isoflavones are a natural plant hormone. Other foods that are rich in isoflavones are: tofu, alfalfa, red beans and black-eyed peas. You also may want to note that these same foods are often rich in estrogen, so as well as preventing many health problems can exacerbate others. In addition to these foods, eat foods like berries, broccoli, green beans, grapes, melons, onions, pears, tapioca, white rice and white flour that block estrogens.

Secondly, Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, the same as what is in olive oil. Studies have found that people with higher intakes of olive oil had fewer wrinkles than those eating butter, or using it to prepare their foods, and where butter is loaded with saturated fat, which is definitely not good for you, the monounsaturated fats in avocados account for 1/2 of the calories in this same food, which is also a “good thing”. Avocados are also high in vitamin C, which has also been proven to be good for your skin, as well as vitamin K which helps with those dark circles caused by pigmentation under your eyes. You can also eat peanut butter and almonds.

Carrots, along with red bell peppers, sweet potatoes and pink grapefruit are rich in beta-carotene, which are actually tiny orange pigments. They cozy-up into your skin and can give it a healthy, sun-kissed glow. Research has even shown that beta-carotenes can prevent premature aging from sun damage. Granted, some people worry that this orange pigment can make you look like you’ve taken a dive into a bottle of bad self-tanner, but the truth is that only excessive loads of carotene-rich foods can lead to carotenosis, which makes you turn orange. You’d have to eat an awful lot of beta-carotenes to accomplish that, but make sure if you start eating these beta-carotene rich foods to not take a supplement in addition to what you eat. The crunch of a good carrot beats the swallowing of a pill any day.

Blueberries and grapes are rich in polyphenols, an antioxidant known to help keep skin from sagging when you reach middle-age. Polyphenols strengthen the collagen, which improves the skin’s elasticity. Grape juice works as well as grapes, so feel free to drink up, though munching on grapes will be much more gratifying if you are also dieting, which is another way to tighten your skin and improve your overall appearance.

Omega-3 rich foods, such as salmon, flaxseed, sardines and walnuts are not only “brain foods” and “vein foods”, but contain the essential fats that become concentrated in your epidermal (skin) cells and help to retain moisture. A more recent study also found that mice, after just two weeks of supplementation with omega-3 fats, had a 20% quicker recovery from ultraviolet light (sunlight) exposure. When health experts recommend that you eat 2-3 helpings of fish each week, it makes sense to work Salmon into your diet. You can also eat Bluefin Tuna, mackerel, herring, rainbow trout, shrimp, mollusks and Alaskan king crab. Anchovies and sardines are also an option, though they tend to be high in sodium.

Last, but not least, drink water. Not quite as good as red wine, in some people’s books, water does your body good. Moisturizing means locking moisture, sometimes known as water, into your skin. Hydration is necessary to all of your bodily functions and the truth is that most of us don’t drink enough. One notable study concluded that just a bit over 16-ounces of water could measurably increase the blood flow to your skin. It is also likely to increase your metabolism and energy, with not a single calorie. Just drinking water before a meal is one diet strategy that works. It makes you feel full just before you eat so that you don’t eat as much. To be thinner AND to have good skin is a dream-come-true, isn’t it? You can also eat watermelon, peaches and celery if you can’t drink enough water. Those items, of course, have the added vitamin value.

So, there you have it. It is never too early to start eating healthy and the younger those habits are developed, the better. It is also true though, that taste buds evolve and change and that younger children may not find these foods as yummy as his or her parents do. But, if you want to get your pre-teen’s attention and increase the “good food” that he or she consumes, just mention the benefits they’ll get in the way of pretty, clear and healthy looking skin. That is a HUGE incentive to eat better and one that won’t cost you a fortune, at least compared to what those bottles of creams, ointments and preparations will.

One of the ways Tina eats healthy, is by growing and eating her own vegetables. She gets most of her plants and gardening supplies from Garden Harvest Supply. They have everything she needs from frost protection covers to garden seed planter!

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of death of American females. However, it is not just one disease and thus does not just have one set of causes. The term refers to all of the diseases and problems that affect the heart and the blood vessels. Thus, when researching what causes this malady, it is important to look at each of their risk factors for each condition. Common heart diseases are: heart failure, heart arrhythmias (or changes in the beat of the heart), as well as Coronary artery disease, which can lead to Angina, a chest pain. Heart disease is a scary reality, but it is not unavoidable. Knowing risks empowers us to change our personal behavior (such as smoking or over-eating) and walk into a healthier tomorrow.

But what causes heart disease?

High blood pressure: a leading cause.

Genetic disposition: African American and Hispanic American/Latina women are at a higher risk for than white women.

High Cholesterol: leads to clogged arteries, which can cause a attack.

Diabetes: can increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

Obesity: is a common precursor to coronary heart disease and attacks.

While it’s certainly a grave issue, most risk factors can be combated by a healthy, active lifestyle and good food choices. Read the rest of this entry…

I have to stay in hotels a load – any advice on level-headed options from hotel menus?

Yes, hotel set of choices will differ depending on where you’re in the world but, assuming ‘international’ normal hotels, choices can be surprisingly similar. If dining alone, simply have a main program – this will at once bring your calorie total down to a modest level. Choose everything grilled or roasted -fish and chicken being a good bet. Normally tenderloin is an incredibly lean hotel favorite. Lamb often comes with a fair portion of fat still joined, so maybe is greatest stayed away from.

Sauces can add a lot of fat and cals to your meal, so select wisely. Tomato sauces are all right, yet they may possibly be high in olive oil. Buttery prosperous cream sauces are ones to pass on, or have in extremely little sums. Ask the waiter for your meal devoid of the sauce, or for the sauce served separately so you can lay merely a dab on, if important. In addition call if you are not sure what a dish holds in the method of butter, oil or cream. Read the rest of this entry…

Eating healthy sounds complicated, expensive, time consuming, and it just seems like your best bet is to rely on what other people say and have done in the past. In reality there is a very easy way to eat healthy without breaking the budget. Learn about a whole foods diet. Whole foods are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. While on a whole foods diet you should avoid processed foods, refined sugars, artificial chemicals, and unhealthy fats. It is less of a structured diet and more of a focus on natural foods.

If you want to eat healthier but are on a strict budget, start by changing your priorities. How do most people plan a meal? One of two ways: either pick something they want to eat and make it regardless of what time of year it is and what they have in their pantry, fridge and freezer. Or people start with their freezer and look at the meats and use that as the basis for the meals. Both can have issues on your health and finances.

If you simply plan your meals without giving any care to what you have and what time of year it is, that means you are probably buying everything from your meal from the store. There are several reasons that this is bad. Read the rest of this entry…