Aloe Vera Benefits To Your Health

Aloe vera is a plant that is a member of the lily family. It has very succulent type appearance. The water storage capacity of these plants is very impressive as they can almost double in size after a heavy rainfall period. Also this plant is self repairing which means that if for whatever reason there is a tear in a leaf the plant will almost immediately begin to repair itself to prevent moisture loss. The dry regions of Africa is where the majority of aloe plants can be found.

There are literally hundreds of different varieties of aloe plants however only a handful are considered to offer great nutritional value and potential health benefits. The barbadensis miller variety of the aloe is considered by many to be one of the most beneficial as far as nutritional and health benefits are concerned. Aloe is primarily consumed as a drink but it is used in many other commercial applications and it is a great skin moisturizer as well as useful in providing the scalp with nutrients and thus can help people with dandruff problems.

Aloe has been reported to offer many health benefits including greater energy levels and endurance, improved immune function and better digestion. Aloe Vera gel has over 78 nutrients including over 20 minerals, several amino acids and numerous vitamins. Scientists are only just beginning to discover the power of Aloe Vera gel and its potential health benefits. However those that use aloe vera regularly in their diet report many health benefits.

In fact there are many that grow the plant right in their backyard. If the region you live in has dry climate then this plant could grow well there. Once the plant matures they simply slice a leaf off and extract the gel and mix it with a fruit drink or smoothie of some sort. There are many that believe aloe vera is the best herb as far as health benefits are concerned. It has been shown to be effective at reducing the levels of bad cholesterol, helping people with arthritis since it has powerful anti inflammatory properties and it also has the effect of alkalizing and neutralizing the generally acidic environment in most people's bodies.

It can also be useful at lowering blood pressure and providing the body with a great surge of essential nutrients that the body can absorb easily and use right away. Aloe vera can also be used in many first aid kits since it has great antibacterial properties and it has also been used to make many bandages. It is also great at lubricating the digestive tract and helping to keep you regular. It is critical to keep the colon moving because if things do start to get clogged then you may be setting yourself up for many potential health problems so if you suffer from constipation then aloe may help you.

Athletes can benefit from drinking aloe as it is a natural energy booster and will help to give you greater endurance. This is a far better alternative than taking risky supplements that can have many negative side effects. Aloe vera gel can also be applied directly to the skin as it is a fantastic natural moisturizer.

It is best to look for an aloe supplement that is made free of pesticides as these products tend to be of higher quality, look for the organic kinds if possible. Aloe vera gel can also be used as a preservative, for instance by dipping some of your fruits or vegetables in the gel it can increase shelf life significantly especially if the fruits and vegetables are of the organic type which tend to ripen and spoil much faster. Consider aloe vera gel as a natural herbal supplement to help you attain better health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shakil_Zaman

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Healthy Brain - Happy Brain!

In this article today I want to share with you, my 3 top tips to look after your brain. The brain is one of those organs in the body that we can tend to forget when it comes to fitness. Ask yourself – “Have you neglected the grey matter for too long?” If so, these tips will help your brain get into great shape in a very short period of time. Go easy on yourself - instead of trying to implement them all today, why not try and work them into you schedule over the coming days or even over the next fortnight.

Ok here we go.

1. Drink More Water. OK you may have heard me say this one before, however this is very important indeed! The brain is made up of 80% water and this water plays an essential part in its function. When we are dehydrated, we can reduce our sense of well-being and significantly reduce our performance and our learning. We are also seriously risking our long term mental health. On average, the human body can lose up to 2.5 litres of water per day. These losses are through the lungs, skin (sweat) and through our urine. We must aim to at least replenish this loss on a daily basis. Try drinking more water throughout the day and eating more fruit and vegetables, as these too are full of water.

2. Eat the right fats for your brain! The brain is made up of a total of 60% fat, which includes – saturated fat and cholesterol. Now most of us may at first consider fat to be unhealthy, however there are some fats that our brains need to function normally. 20% of the brains fat should be made up of essential fatty acids or Omega-3 and Omega-6. These two essential fatty acids are important as they can not be made within your body, so you need to make sure that you are getting them from your diet. Eat oily fish as these are a well-known source of Omega-3 and Omega-6.

3. Exercise. Keep your brain fit by keeping your body in shape! Scientists have shown us that regular exercise can massively reduce the effects of depression, anxiety and stress. In fact in a lot of cases, exercise can work just as well as anti-depressants. Keeping your grey matter happy will also keep it healthy! You can do this by introducing a daily brisk walk through the park or maybe take a dance class!

So there we have it! By increasing your water, eating the right amount of Omega-3 and Omega-6 and taking a daily brisk walk you will already be feeling great and looking forward to a bright future!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_MacKenzie

Dealing With Stress Through Healthy Living

Q: How would you describe the following, Christmas, Birthdays, New Year, Weddings and Anniversaries?

A: No not a time to celebrate or a time to be happy the word we are looking for is a time of Stress!

Yes all these times that should encompass happiness and celebration tend to give us sleepless nights, headaches and the feeling of a pressure cooker about to explode. Currently the credit crunch is hitting us all hard so we all need to be ready with the boxing gloves on to knock stress into touch.

Stress can be described as a person's inability to be able to cope with a situation or event. The symptoms can range from mood swings, flu, colds even hair loss but long term it can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. In the UK, stress-related disorders are responsible for as much as 60% of all absenteeism. This equates to around 180 million workdays and billions of pounds every year. Therefore, anything that can reduce the damaging effects of stress will not only make individuals happier but will also make companies richer. By now you should realise just how damaging stress can be yet stress in the UK is still not fully understood and people suffering from stress are often pervieved as weak or inadequate! The reality is stress affects us all one way or another and in many different social and business ways.

What's the difference between positive and negative stress?

Positive stress is when you are stressed or worried about something but ultimately in control. Negative stress is when you really are struggling to control the situation and this can have a significant affect on your health. The amazing thing about stress is that it is a silent killer and although it may not affect you straight away, it could do long term damage which may not arise for 20 or 30 years.

Personal Training and Stress

As an Expert Personal Trainer part of the initial consultation with any client involves building rapport and getting to know the client and some of the questions involved relate to stress. The most surprising part of this is that the majority of clients say they don't suffer from stress at all when in reality the majority of clients do. Most people perceive exercise as a way to combat being overweight and poor nutrition where in reality it can be a major part of combating stress.

Exercise and Stress

Have you heard of the terms "pent up stress or stress release valve" well in simple terms all the stress you are feeling is pent up in your body and you need to release it. When you encounter stress you produce excessive amounts of cortisol and adrenaline and the feelings of anxiety and anger can increase. A chemical called endorphins is needed to clear your system of all the stress and exercise creates these endorphins. If you don't clear the system then fatty deposits begin to form in the arteries and this can lead to high cholesterol levels and other heart complications. So whether you are stressed at work or home going for a brisk walk, run or any exercise can make you feel so much better afterwards, so get out there and cleanse the body!!

Top tips on stress:

1. Exercise - No matter how little it is, do something to get your heart rate up a couple of times a week, the more the better. Exercise evens out your blood sugar and keeps your stress levels easy to maintain . If you have a stressful day at work then release that stress by exercising in the evening even if its for a brisk walk. Do some exercise and you will notice the difference when you wake the next day.

2. Sleep - to alleviate and help stress you need to sleep properly, having broken sleep or waking in the middle of the night is a typical reaction to stress. Aim for getting at least 8 hours a night and if you do fall short over a period of time take the weekend to catch up on your sleep.

3. Water - As a personal trainer I can't stress enough how important it is. Water will help you feel better, help your body cope better, keep you focused, control headaches, the list goes on. Aim for at least 2 litres a day.

4. Food - I know you think you had heard it all before but eating fresh fruit and veg makes a difference also eat a decent breakfast every morning. People who are stressed tend to have bad and unreliable eating habits this will just make the stress get worse.

5. Eat foods rich in vitamins B and Zinc such as spinach and asparagus also fish oils such as omega 3 help keep the cortisal levels down. Avoid stimulants like tea, coffee, energy drinks and things like coke, as you drink them you'll crave them more and the Stress monster will love it!

6. Step Back - As I said before people don't always realise how bad there stress levels are, step back and look at the situation. Ask friends and family their thoughts you'll be surprised how others can see a difference in you but unless you ask they won't delve into the problem for you.

7. Above all if you can't think straight, are arguing with others, not eating, sleeping etc and don't feel in control seek help. You're not a freak or feeble you are suffering from a medical problem like any other.

Final word

If you do suffer from stress I hope some of this information has proved useful and has helped. Being someone who has had to deal with a large amount of negative stress in the past I can relate to this disturbingly common problem that really can chew people up and spit them out. Don't be that person.

Welcome to Train2Live Expert Personal Training in Coventry and Nuneaton. At Train2Live we believe regardless of who you are or your ability as long as you have a goal or have decided to make a change we can help support, motivate and educate you to get there. Train2Live provides a professional service, we endeavour to provide leading expert advice at all times and we are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. We offer a wide variety of services to try to reach out and help everyone. If you are a novice or a professional and are thinking or hiring a Personal Trainer look through our site and hopefully you will decide that we can offer you the best quality service available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Greenhough

Seven Ways to Access the Health-Giving Power of Raw Foods

Would you like to make a big positive difference in your nutrition with a minimum of effort? All you have to do is access the power of raw food.

Although some fruits and vegetables really have to be cooked to be edible (potato and rhubarb spring to mind instantly), there are many that will lose most of their nutrients if you overcook them.

We had a joke in naturopathic school about the 'old' Australian style of boiling vegetables until they were mushy and colourless: You could cook your veg this way, but you would benefit most if you then threw out the vegetables and drank the water they were boiled in; as that was where all the nutrients went to.

Vegetables do sometimes need to be cooked. Many contain phytic or oxalic acid, naturally occurring plant chemicals which deter insect pests. This phytic or oxalic acid will get in the way of mineral absorption, and also prevent us from absorbing the minerals in the plant. So by lightly cooking foods like silverbeet we are actually helping our digestion.

Because its hard to tell which vegetables have high levels of oxalic or phytic acid and which don't, the trick is to only lightly cook your veg, so that the phytic/oxalic acid is destroyed but the cooking hasn't continued long enough for nutrients to escape. A general rule of thumb for non root vegetables like beans, carrot, broccoli and cauliflower is 90 seconds cooking, either steaming or stir frying. Obviously some vegetables need longer cooking to make them palatable; like brussels sprout, potato and pumpkin.

Fresh fruit actually tastes better when its raw, and its so easy to prepare. By choosing to eat your fruit raw you're including more vitamin C and other antioxidants in your diet.

On a day to day basis, here is how you can increase the proportion of raw fruits and vegetables in your diet:

- leave the cans of fruit and vegetables on the supermarket shelf. Head for the fresh food department instead. Ideally, choose organic for better flavour and nutrition.
- avoid dried fruit; its really high in sugar
- when buying yogurt, buy the natural variety and add your own fresh fruit.
- Make sure you enjoy 2 to 4 pieces of raw fruit every day.
- Choose a salad for lunch either as a meal on its own, or as part of a salad sandwich.
- Use chopped fresh carrot and celery sticks for dips rather than crackers.
- Lightly steam or stir fry your dinner vegetables for only about 90 seconds so they're cooked but still crisp.

Naturopaths often refer to the 'life force' in raw fruits and vegetables, as these foods contain the optimum levels of vitamins and minerals. After a few weeks of choosing raw rather than cooked food, you will find that your wellbeing starts to improve naturally.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olwen_Anderson