Detox | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Mar 27, 2012

Understanding the Health Benefits of Green Tea

March 27, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Green tea has become more and more popular over the years. While people may have been attracted to green tea's ability to boost metabolism and burn fat, there are a number of reasons why green tea should be part of your diet. Let's take a closer look at the health benefits of green tea.

Metabolism Booster

There have been studies that have shown the weight loss effects that green tea offers. While it was once believed to simply be a by-product of the caffeine, even those that drank a decaffeinated version lost weight. While there are supplements that contain green tea extract, health professionals recommend drinking the tea instead. You should also avoid sweeteners, which could override the health benefits.

High in Antioxidants

Why are antioxidants important? Antioxidants do a number of things for the body depending on what type they are. In the case of green tea, the antioxidants work to protect the DNA and protect the body from cancer and blood clots.

Fights Cancer and Heart Disease

There are a number of reasons why green tea helps the body fight against cancer and heart disease. First of all, green tea is high in antioxidants. Second, green tea aids in weight loss and lowers cholesterol, which can both lead to heart disease. Green tea can also improve the flexibility of the blood vessels, which makes blood clots less likely.

Possible Prevention of Diabetes, Strokes and Dementia

As mentioned above, green tea's ability to aid in weight loss may help the fight against diabetes. Green tea can also be a great prevention against strokes. While studies have shown that green tea can prevent strokes, no one has figured out why. Last, but not least, green tea may be able to ward off dementia. As the tea is digested, chemicals are produced that protect the body against dementia.

While it is uncertain how much green tea should be drank each day, it is certain that there are health benefits to this beverage. It doesn't matter if you need to lose weight or not. It's easy to see that green tea can act as protection against many common diseases including heart disease, diabetes, dementia and even high cholesterol. Best of all, green tea is safe. The only thing you should watch out for is consuming too much. Drinking too much green tea can cause insomnia due to the high level of caffeine.

About the Author: Isabell Arms is an avid tea drinker who enjoys a nice mug of green tea each morning. She also enjoys sipping Oolong Tea and white tea and recommends goldenmoontea.com to anyone who wants to try a new blend of quality tea.

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Filed Under: Detox, Diet and Fitness Tagged With: Diet, Tea

Feb 24, 2012

The Pros and Cons of Detox Diets

February 24, 2012 By Carleenp 2 Comments

If you really want to kick-start your weight management routine, then there is perhaps no better way than with a detox diet. What's a detox diet? Well, it is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: it is a diet that cleanses (detoxes) your system. And detox diets make a lot of huge claims, both physically and mentally. So, should you go on a detox diet? Well, before you make that decision, you should first consider the pros and cons.

Pros:

Energy. It is a well-established fact that detoxifying your system can greatly increase your energy. Weight Loss. Unlike most other diets, detox diets are not necessarily aimed at the sole purpose of losing weight. However, weight loss is a natural byproduct of the detox process - and the weight generally comes off rather quickly.

Detoxification. One of the most dramatic and long-lasting effects of a detox diet is the detoxification of the body. When you cleanse your body of harmful chemicals that tend to be stored in the fat, your body is all-around healthier and less prone to illness.

Better eating habits. Because detox diets often focus on taking in only fruits and vegetables, and completely cutting out fatty and processed foods, going on a detox diet can be a jump start to establishing healthy eating habits that will last long after the diet is over.

Cons:

Detox methods. Although there are many different types of detox diets, most every one of them involves putting yourself through some uncomfortable processes. Examples of detox methods that can be difficult to withstand include fasting (sometimes for days) and colonics (similar to enemas).

Side effects. You can expect to experience some unpleasant side effects throughout the detox process, such as headaches, fatigue, emotional instability, difficulty sleeping, and more.

Malnutrition. Some doctors report that they see many patients who suffer from problems associated with malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies because of detox diets. That's understandable, considering detox diets are so strictly regimented when it comes to food - some even requiring you to eat little to nothing for extended periods of time - and any time you completely cut any one of the food groups out (even fat), you risk throwing your system off balance.

As you can see, there are many things to consider - both good and bad - before you embark on a detox diet. Also, remember that there are many different types of detox diets out there, so you should do your research to find the one best suited for you. And, as always, consult with your doctor first.

About the Author: Leonore Cuello is an EKG technician who works in a nutrition office that specializes in working with patients who have had bariatric surgery. Make sure you speak to a qualified nutritionist before trying any type of diet or detox to ensure your personal safety.

Filed Under: Detox, Diet and Fitness Tagged With: Detox, Detox Diet

Dec 28, 2011

5 Beauty Fixes After Overindulging On New Years

December 28, 2011 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Today brings a bit of a preemptive post!

While Christmas morning might be a big event for the kids, New Year's Eve is usually when the adults go a little wild with holiday celebration. Unfortunately, the late night, usual New Year's dressings of alcohol, rich food and sometimes too-cramped rooms and houses can make you look tired, puffy and worn out the next morning. A few quick and simple beauty rules can help you look more vibrant and awake (even when you don't feel especially awake!).

Tip 1: You Know It Will Be a Long Night, Be Prepared

Chances are you'll probably know if you have plans in advance for any New Year's celebration. Take advantage of this and plan ahead for the next morning. There's nothing worse than waking up after a late night and trying to pick out clothing or gather makeup and hair care supplies. If you have all of your morning routine items laid out in advance, you'll have a few extra moments to apply makeup, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, and not feel as rushed to get on with your day while trying to hunt down everything you need.

Tip 2: Hydrate Yourself

Long nights can take a toll on your body in more ways than you might realize, especially if you celebrated New Year's with a few traditional alcoholic beverages. Even though it's usually consumed in liquid form, alcohol can contribute to dehydration. Combined with fatigue, a possibly smoky environment if there were cigarettes present at the party, and consumption of possibly salty or rich snacks during the evening, chances are your body needs to replenish. Drink water, and moisturize your skin with a good hydrating cream, especially if your skin feels dry or rough.

Tip 3: Pay Close Attention to Your Hair

Just like your skin, your hair might need some special attention the morning after New Year's. Depending on your hair type and the environment that you spent the evening in, your hair may be dull, lank or oily the morning after, which can add to a and disheveled appearance. Take the extra time to shampoo it using a good shampoo formulated to your hair type, and condition it thoroughly.

Tip 4: The Eyes Have It

One mistake many women make after New Year's eve parties is trying to conceal eye bags and puffiness with heavy eyeliner. While it seems like this would draw more attention to the eyes themselves and help overshadow any puffiness, it will do exactly the opposite in practice. Less is more when it comes to eye makeup the morning after the celebrating. Use a cold compress, such as cucumbers or tea bags, on eye puffiness before applying makeup. Avoid dark eyeliner and eye shadow; instead, use only some mascara and light, shimmering eye shadow on upper lids.

Tip 5: Use Less Makeup

Your skin may need a day or two to recover, so avoid heavy makeup or blush that might accentuate wrinkles, lines or skin dryness. Caking on the makeup is one of the worst ways to try to conceal fatigue after New Year's celebrations or other long nights out, since the makeup will gather in crevices and can further dry out skin. Use a light powder to take the shine from your nose, and use concealer sparingly.

Take it easy this New Year’s Eve everyone! Have fun, but be safe!