What To Eat For Beauty, Brains And Good Health

Healthy eating is the most effective and least expensive preventive health measures we can take.

Here’s our list of Super foods. Tape it to the fridge, and make an extra copy to bring with you when you go grocery shopping. It’s not necessary to eat everything every day, but if you use this list to plan meals and menus, you’ll be eating from among the healthiest foods in the world.

Blueberries: They contain more antioxidants than any other fruit. One cup a day helps improve and preserve eyesight, and prevents cancer, diabetes, and age-related memory loss. Blueberries also contain a compound that has been shown to lower cholesterol as effectively as commercial drugs, with no side effects. Blueberries are the best choice, but strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, purple grapes, prunes and raisins are also good.

Coldwater fish: Salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, and sardines contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Two to three servings a week lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer, helps fight arthritis, and has been shown to improve memory, reasoning, and focus. Don’t like fish? Dark green, leafy vegetables, flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, seeds, eggs, and a variety of vegetable oils also provide Omega 3s, but in smaller amounts.

Nuts & Seeds: Walnuts are the #1 nut source of Omega-3s and anti-inflammatory polyphenols. All nuts are high in vitamin E. which prevents and slows cognitive decline, and promotes skin elasticity. Aim for one ounce a day raw or roasted. Good choices include almonds, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seed, and non-hydrogenated nut butters like peanut butter and tahini.

Avocados: They lower blood pressure, which promotes brain health. Eating ¼ to ½ a day also provides fiber, minerals, iron, potassium and healthy fat.

Citrus fruit: The Vitamin C in oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes helps in the formation of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm and reduces wrinkles.

Pomegranate fruit or juice: This fruit offers potent antioxidants that protect the brain from free radicals. Pomegranate juice has added sugar (to counteract its natural tartness), so don’t overdo it. Drink two ounces a day, diluted with plain water, or eat ¼ of a fresh fruit.

Tea: Two to three cups a day of freshly brewed white, green or black tea can enhance memory and focus, and provide potent antioxidants, which promote healthy blood flow and halt cellular damage. Studies have found a link between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers.

Dark chocolate: Look for a minimum of 70% cocoa. Unfortunately, more is not better. An ounce a day provides powerful antioxidant properties and natural stimulants, including caffeine, to enhance focus and concentration, and activate mood boosting endorphins.

Yogurt: Research shows that aging is accelerated by unfriendly bacteria in the intestines. Yogurt seems to destroy such bacteria. This might explain the longevity of ethnic groups whose diet contains a lot of yogurt. Make sure the label says “active cultures.”

Legumes: Beans, peas, and lentils are great for your heart, full of antioxidants, low in calories and high in protein and fiber. Black beans have the added bonus of boosting brain power. Eat one cup a day and break a little wind, it doesn’t contribute to greenhouse gases.

Leafy greens: Spinach is a great source of plant based omega-3 and folate, which lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. Folate also increases blood flow to the penis. Could this be why Popeye was so addicted to it? Eat broccoli, bok choy, kale, and romaine lettuce too.

Pumpkin: It’s not just for pie anymore! It’s loaded with iron, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and beta carotene. Pumpkin’s antioxidants protect cells from oxidative damage that causes aging. One study confirmed that subjects absorbed less fat and calories from their food when pumpkin was included in their diet; another is showing evidence that a substance in pumpkin reacts like ACE inhibitors (drugs used to treat blood pressure and heart disease).

Tomatoes: The red ones contain lycopene, which decreases the risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers. Watermelon, pink grapefruit, persimmon and papaya are good substitutes.

Sprouts: These are a concentrated source of the living enzymes that are lost when we cook foods. As we age, our body’s ability to produce enzymes declines. In addition, sprouts are a highly nutritious source of protein and vitamin C.

6 Reasons To Choose Mineral Make Up

Leaving home every day looking beautiful and gorgeous is every woman’s dream, and cosmetics are the means by which to enhance their facial features and complement their outfit.

Mineral make up

Mineral make up is the latest trend in the beauty world over the past couple of years and many cosmetic companies have added new mineral lines of make up to their shelves.

Prepared with sterilized and pulverized minerals and combined with a variety of natural inorganic coloring, many women choose mineral make up for its natural and skincare properties.

Despite this, many women still hesitate to switch to mineral make up and continue their traditional cosmetics. The benefits and reasons for using mineral make up are manifold:


Reasons to use mineral make up


Reason #1: Mineral make up is healthy

As already mentioned, mineral make up is as natural as it is claimed to be. Apart from the fact that it gives a natural feel and look, mineral cosmetics plainly eliminate use of synthetics like perfumes and other potentially harmful ingredients for skin.

Mineral make up adheres to natural oils in your skin and doesn’t leak into the pores, so it is considered as especially safe for your skin.


Reason #2: Mineral make up has anti-inflammatory effect

With its anti-inflammatory effect and presence of zinc oxide and titanium oxide, mineral make up makes your skin look smooth and natural. Even if you wear mineral make up for hours, it doesn’t form a wrinkle effect on your skin.


Reason #3: Mineral make up is versatile

When compared with traditional make up, if done right, mineral make up is more versatile. If you like, you can easily combine a mineral foundation with creams, skin moisturizers and even water to get the perfect consistency of liquid foundation.


Reason #4: Mineral make up has a stable shelf life

You can easily include mineral make up in your cosmetic or make up collection without any worry of throwing them away because they’re damaged.
Inert and plain, pure mineral make up has a long stable shelf life. As mineral make up doesn’t include any organic material, there is no chance of mineral products harboring bacteria.


Reason #5: Mineral make up gives long-lasting effects

Mineral make up not only has a stable shelf life, but also leaves a long-lasting effect on your skin. The minerals last a long time, so even a little can go a long way to give a natural feel.


Reason # 6: Mineral make up protects your skin from sun

The ingredients used in the manufacturing of mineral make up products in fact have the natural element of sun protection. However, it is wise to remember that it is not enough to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Tips for a Better Eyesight

Our eyes are two of our most precious possessions which connect us to the world. They express our deepest feelings and emotions, giving life to the wonderful things we see every day. The eyes are constantly taking in information while they are open, working non-stop to help us view the world.

The health of your vision is ultimately governed by the health of your eye muscles. But as we age, all the wear and tear on the eyes will start to weaken the muscles. Also, in today's age of video games, computers, and other electronics; we work our eyes a little too much.

In such cases, the most common way people improve their vision is by wearing prescriptive lenses. But better eyesight without glasses is no longer a dream today. Most people are not aware that you can improve eyesight naturally. Take a look at ways to improve eyesight naturally:

1. Have plenty of fish: Eat oily fish like salmon or tuna at least twice a week. Fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids which helps to reduce the risk of dry-eye syndrome. You can even have fish oil supplements.

2. Eat raw vegetables: Eat raw vegetables like carrots, broccoli and cucumber as they have Vitamin A which is essential for eye care. You can also drink plenty of fruit and vegetable juice to increase your vitamin A levels. Also, eat spinach as studies have shown that lutein (a nutrient abundant in spinach), may prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

3. Blink Regularly: Blinking is a natural preserver of your better vision. Blinking is your body's natural way of lubricating your eyes and preventing dry eyes. The more you blink the better it is for your eyes.

4. Avoid Stress: When you are stressed, you will find difficult to focus your eyes on a certain object. In other words, avoiding stress can improve your eyesight.

5. Use sunglasses and goggles: If you are working in an industrial belt or swimming, make sure to wear goggle. While swimming, goggles will protect eyes from chlorine, salt and other chemicals used in the water. Wearing safety goggles in an industrial belt will protect your eyes from the flying dust particles or other flying objects. When you go outside, always use sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun as well as from the drying effects of wind.

6. Regularly palm your eyes: Rub your hands together briskly to generate heat. Once warmed, place the palms over your eyes making sure to block all light. Breathe comfortably while palming your eyes. Do this for at least a minute, longer if you have the time available to you.

7. Have a chocolate: The dark variety of chocolate offers flavonoids which are important for the protection of blood vessels in the eyes.

8. Avoid staring: Staring is the most commonly practiced bad habit in regards to poor vision. Avoid sitting for long periods of time watching the T.V. or computer monitor. If your job requires you to work at a computer, stop once in a while (every 30 to 40 minutes) and look around the room at some distant point for 30 seconds.

9. Avoid dry air: Air from hair dryers, car vents, air conditioners and fans can make eyes dry, so avoid situations where air blows into your eyes. When you are in a car, point the air vents away from your face, and when you use a hair dryer, try to keep it away from your face.

10. Eye exercises: The goal of eye exercises is to strengthen the muscles on your eyes. These soothing exercises are a great addition to a healthy vision care routine:

• Squeeze your eye lids together tightly. Open, and blink rapidly several times. Repeat once or twice more.

• Try to move your eyes upwards and then roll the eyes. At first you follow clock rotation. After you make one rotation, reverse the direction

• To counteract the tendency to squint, look up while exhaling with eyes half open.

• Hold a pencil at arms length in front of your nose. Now slowly move the pencil towards your nose while focusing your eyes on the pencil.

11. Relaxation: Better eyesight without glasses also can be gained through eye relaxation. Consciously rest your eye muscles every now and then in order to give sufficient rest to the eye muscles.

It is not an easy task to improve eyesight naturally, at the same time it is not impossible. You can have the eyesight you desire using the above natural techniques. Remember eye care is important and not something that should be ignored even at the slightest discomfort.

Celebrity Fitness Secrets- What do they do to look so good?

This is a question most of us have caught ourselves asking, and apart from great genes, these are some of the secrets behind celebrity fitness and weight loss –

• Blake Lively’s fitness secret is fiber. According to celebrity nutritionist Cynthia Pasquella, fiber is what keeps Lively and others looking great; also fiber is great for the digestion and one of the reasons behind those washboard abs.

• Ben Affleck’s wife Jennifer Garner and her trainer Valerie Waters ensure that the pantry is kept clear of unhealthy foods such as cookies, refined flour, and other processed items. Stock only healthy food at home and make sure labels are read properly.

• The secret behind Audrina Partridge’s svelte form is advice from Christine Avanti, chef and clinical nutritionist and the small regular meals she recommends.

• For Jeremy Piven, it is organic, local and sustainable food choices, and a big no-no to packaged food items.

• Sandra Bullock depends upon the Simple Clean Food Plan, which is a food delivery service based out of Los Angeles and this is what helps ensure that she eats small portions of fresh food.

• For supermodel Cindy Crawford, moderation has always been the key – even pizza is not forbidden, but the portion is small, and salad forms the remainder of the meal.