Considerable memory loss is not an absolute result of normal aging. In fact what you experience is not memory loss but rather the reduction of speed by which your brain works which can be attributed to several factors affecting your physiology.

The study on brain health also revealed that even as you age, you are still able to do the brain-related activities that you have always been doing; at the frequency you have been doing it, when you were younger. You could still practice the good judgment and the intellect you have acquired through the years. Hence, your sense of reason and rational mind is not lost.

There is however a difference between normal aging from the abnormal one. The latter may result to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The ensuing discussions are focused on simple forgetfulness and not of the more serious ones.

Some of the factors affecting your brain health that can cause you to forget things are:

• Lesser use of mental abilities
• Stress, anxiety, anger that overworks your mind
• Accumulated effects of smoking, alcohol intake
• Lack of physical exercise
• Reduction in the speed by which your brain functions
• Poor nutrition
• Lack of sleep

Recognizing brain health as the most important aspect of human health, it is imperative that the ability of the brain to function properly must be addressed. To increase memory function is one major concern that needs to be attended to if you want your mental abilities to improve.

There are several natural methods to increase your memory

Regular Physical and Brain Exercises

When you exercise, your body and mind are kept alive. How does that work? Your blood circulates properly as you exercise. This results in waste being disposed of from your body, while bringing nutrients to the brain. This will eventually result to an increased memoryfunction.

It is recommended that exercise should be done for 30 minutes, three times a week. You can exercise to ensure proper cognitive functions. Brisk walking, jogging and swimming as well as reading, solving puzzles would greatly contribute to hone memoryskills.

Reading, recalling past events and names as well as taking mental quizzes are some of the best brain exercises you can adopt to increase your memory aptitudes and improve your brain health.

Practice The Habit of Meditating

Meditation is known to increase the power of concentration. It helps the brain function properly whether young or old. This exercise helps clear your mind and relax it.

A relaxed brain allows the mind to increase memory recall and concentration. It provides the mind space and time to recover and function properly.

Proper Diet

Poor diet leads to poor nutritional supply to the brain. The brain requires nutrients to function properly. To increase memory and have a healthy brain health, it is recommended that you take fruits and vegetables and observe a balanced diet. Do not miss a meal.

Drink plenty of water and eat your breakfast. Take in foods that are rich in B, C & E vitamins as these help in getting the brain to fully function thereby helping you develop excellent learning skills.

Proper Rest & Relaxation

Get at least 8 hours of sleep every day. Whatever your age is, your body and brain need to be rested. You increase you memory capacity and improve your brain health if you observe the 8-hour rule on sleep and incorporate self-relaxing activities in your daily routine.

Another thing you can do is to minimize activities that brings you stress. Look for ways on how you can do your activities without stressing yourself. Stress causes the brain to slow down. This results in lessening your ability to increase memory outputs. Your brain works well when you are relaxed.

Avoid Bad Habits

Taking in alcohol decreases nutrients in your body necessary for the proper functioning of the brain. Staying away from it guarantees a healthy brain and is a good way to increase memory.

Natural methods of maintaining brain health are still the best recommended methods by many medical doctors worldwide. This is because these methods have no side effects on the person’s well-being and health in general.

About The Author

Alex VanDyke is a fitness and health enthusiast. He is also writer and owner of http://brainenhancingsupplements.com/, a website providing information on brain supplements, nootropics, and articles designed to help you remember better, think clearer, and focus faster.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gadl/2444873959/

]]> http://www.theundergroundbootcamp.com/healthy-living/increasing-your-memory-using-natural-methods/feed/ 0 http://www.theundergroundbootcamp.com/healthy-living/natural-home-remedies-for-diaper-rash/ http://www.theundergroundbootcamp.com/healthy-living/natural-home-remedies-for-diaper-rash/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:40:55 +0000 Paulin Soleyman http://www.theundergroundbootcamp.com/?p=13230 Due to the delicate nature of their skin, and despite our best efforts to prevent them, almost all babies develop diaper rash, at some point. For some babies, this painful rash is a rare occurrence, while for other babies, diaper rashes are a frequent unwelcome nuisance.

Babies develop diaper rashes because their bottoms are usually covered with diapers constantly. Of course, the moisture that builds up under the diaper, along with the fact that diapers tend to get messy often, is the ideal setting for this painful skin irritation. It’s important to note that diaper rashes occur regardless of whether your baby is wearing a disposable or cloth diaper.

How To Preventing Diaper Rash

• Try to change diapers as soon as they get wet 
• When washing and drying your baby’s bottom, pay special attention to creases and skin folds
• Avoid using too much pressure or scrubbing your baby’s bottom
• Wipe or pat the delicate skin of your baby’s bottom gently
• Wipe from front to back to avoid transferring bacteria to the genital area
• Don’t tie the diaper too tightly. Allow some room for air to flow inside
• Avoid using harsh or perfumed soaps while washing cloth diapers
• Avoid plastic diaper covers
• Rinse cloth diapers thoroughly with very hot water
• Let your baby go bare bottom for 15 to 30 minutes a day

Natural Home Remedies For Diaper Rash

Most commercial diaper rash creams contain the following warning: “Do not use over deep or puncture wounds, infections or lacerations. When using this product avoid contact with the eyes. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away”. Even though I am not a parent yet, I know that as a parent I would think twice before covering my baby’s delicate skin with an ointment that contains such a serious warning. But, the good news is that all natural, homemade diaper rash creams are easy to make and are just as effective as OTC commercial diaper rash creams…and this is how:

• If your baby already has diaper rash, putting oatmeal in his/her bath water will help sooth the affected area.
• Wash your baby’s bottom with lukewarm water after every bowel movement and gently dab dry with your own homemade natural baby wipes (Find Recipe Instructions Here)
• One of the most effective ways of preventing diaper rash is to create a waterproof barrier between your baby’s delicate skin and his or her diaper.
  

• Natural Diaper Rash Cream Recipe: mix 6tbsp of organic virgin Shea butter with 4tbsp of organic virgin cocoa butter, 2tbsp golden Jojoba oil, 1tbsp of sweet Almond oil, 1tbsp of Chamomile essential oil, and 1tbsp of Lavender essential oil to create a sort of body butter. Rub a generous amount onto baby’s bottom after each diaper change.
  

• Virgin Organic Coconut Oil Diaper Rash Cream Recipe: Organic, virgin and unadulterated coconut oil is free from bleaching agents and can be used as a diaper rash cream, facial moisturizer, hair conditioner and even shaving cream. Virgin organic coconut oil is highly effective at reduce skin inflammation and soothing rashes. To make this natural diaper rash cream mix 1/2 cup coconut oil with 1/2 cup Shea butter and 2tbsp golden Jojoba oil, which is a natural fungicide, and apply to baby’s bottom after each diaper change.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/klamping/5002599848/

Of course, purchasing organic and natural baby products is a great way to reduce the amount of harsh irritants your baby is exposed to. However, in order to completely prevent your baby’s skin from being exposed to harsh irritants, try incorporating the following ten baby skin care tips within your natural baby care regiment.

Purchase Unbleached Disposable Diapers

Of course, cloth diapers are best. But, realistically speaking, dealing with cloth diapers is not practical for all parents. So, if you are a parent who relies on the convenience of disposable diapers be sure to purchase unbleached disposable diapers. This is because, as far as dioxins are concerned, they’re a family of organochlorins that includes one of the most toxic chemicals yet made.

In the past, dioxin traces were found in chlorine-bleached white paper and pulp products, including disposable diapers. However, today diapers are usually oxygen-bleached (using hydrogen peroxide), which forms no dioxin. But, hydrogen peroxide can still irritate some newborn babies’ skins. The good news is that there are affordable, unbleached, disposable diapers available on the market.

Sanitize Cloth Diapers Naturally

Washing cloth diapers at a temperature of 65°C or hotter and then drying them in direct sunlight will eliminate germs since the ultraviolet light has a sterilizing effect and a natural bleaching ability.

To sterilize your baby’s cloth diapers:

• Fill a small bucket with warm water
• Add a quarter of a cup of bicarbonate soda to the water and swish to dissolve
• Add 3 drops of lavender essential oil and 3 drops of tea tree essential oil as these essential oils have highly effective natural antibacterial properties
  
• Soak the cloth diapers in this mixture overnight then wash
  
• In place of fabric softener, add half a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse for softer cloth diapers
• Dry in direct sunlight
  

Never Use Commercial Talc On Your Baby’s Delicate Skin

Why? Contamination of wounds or body cavities with talc is liable to cause granulomas which is a form of inflammation. Inhalation of talc can also cause respiratory irritation in small children. But, worse of all, prolonged exposure to talc can cause talc pneumocomosis which is a restrictive lung disease. Talc is also liable to be heavily contaminated with bacteria including Clostridium tetani, CL welchii and Bacillus anthracis, hence it must be sterilized. Organic talc, on the other hand, is usually made with corn flour, arrowroot and white clay and is wonderfully safe and very effective at keeping your baby’s skin dry.

Hydrate Your Baby’s Skin With Natural Massage Oils

Mineral oils are often used in commercial baby oils but these oils are not highly effective moisturizers for a baby’s delicate skin (which loses moisture faster than an adult’s skin).

Instead use natural oils such as extra virgin olive oil or organic coconut oil which can soothe and moisturize your baby’s skin all day long. Likewise, don’t be afraid to add essential oils such as sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, chamomile oil, rose oil, and lavender and mandarin essential oils to your homemade baby massage oil mixtures. But remember to always do a test patch first and watch for any redness or irritation before using.

A Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Recipe

Homemade baby wipes are very easy to make. All you need to do is cut an entire roll of strong paper towels clear in half. Take out the cardboard inner roll. Mix two cups of purified water with 1/2 cup sweet almond oil, 1/2 cup of cool chamomile tea and a teaspoon of honey. Mix well. Honey is a natural antiseptic so it is great at keeping your baby’s bottom germ free and it will help treat an existing diaper rash. Soak the paper towels in this mixture and store in an air tight plastic container. Be sure to use your homemade baby wipes within a week in order to ensure their freshness.

Consider Soap Free Bathing

Newborns can be gently and easily wiped down with rose hydrosol. This is distilled water that contains healing and soothing aromatic rose extracts suitable for the most sensitive skin types. Best of all, this natural baby wash is very economical as you only use a small amount. 

Natural Care Tips For Your Baby’s Umbilical Stump 

Your baby’s umbilical stump must be kept clean and dry until it falls off naturally. To help the umbilical stump dry quickly, fold your baby’s diaper below the stump so that the stump is exposed to air. Avoid bathing your baby in a bath tub until the stump falls off. Try using the hydrosol wash mentioned above. Do not apply any commercial drying agents as they can cause skin irritations.

Natural Care Tips For Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is completely harmless. This condition is the result of overactive glands in your baby’s scalp that cause the skin of the baby’s scalp to look crusty and flaky. This severe drying of the skin has been attributed to the hormones the mother passes to her child at birth and can continue for several months.The gentlest and safest way to cure cradle cap is to wipe the area with sweet almond oil and/or coconut oil, leave it on for about five to ten minutes, then wash baby’s scalp with warm water.

I think it’s high time we look at how we go about setting the promises we make to ourselves before we add our own failures to those percentages. Let’s make those percentages a thing of the past.

Set Specific Goals

Elisa Zied, M.S., R.D., C.D.N, author of Nutrition At Your Fingertips says, “The more specific the resolution the better.” When you are vague like “I vow to eat healthier this year” you fail to take into account all the details that need to make that possible. Being specific may be more like, “I vow to eat more fruits and vegetables and to eliminate processed foods.”

Research the foods you plan to eat and the health benefits that you will gain from eating them/Research the negative impact the foods you are now eating are having on you. Find out why it is that you are eating the food that isn’t good for you. Is it comforting to you? If so what are other healthy ways you can seek comfort?

Make a chart to show you the progress you’re making. Document how many times you are implementing these healthy foods during your week.

Tell Everyone You Know

Post it on Facebook, tweet it, tell your family, blanket text your address book, tell all your friends, even your enemies for that matter. Research tells us that people who have accountability on their side are more likely to accomplish goals. Why do you think groups like AA and Weight Watchers are so successful? Your team may even have some great ideas to help you in your success. It’s a lot harder to let yourself down when you know you’re letting 50 of your friends and fans down – or giving your enemies ammo for gloating in your failure.

Reward Yourself

Set small, segmented goals and reward yourself often for accomplishing them. You will be far more motivated and more likely to carry through with the entire resolution. I have a degree in behavioral psychology and have been shaping behaviors in children and adults for over a decade. I use classical conditioning. I teach a desired behavior to the subject, reward them each time I see the behavior present. By doing this I ensure that the subject will do as I desire. To make sure the behavior sticks I begin to reinforce intermediately (every other or every 3 times the wanted behavior is present). This works wonders. Sometimes as quickly as 2 weeks I am able to see consistent desired behavior from my subjects. Eventually I fade the reward and the behavior remains.

When we follow through with our new year’s resolutions we create a nice happy dopamine cocktail in our brains. Whipping up this chemical cocktail in our heads will make us more likely to want to set even higher goals. As the years go by we become more and more amazing human beings. This stimulates parts of the brain that make us want to be smart this year. Create specific goals that define exactly what you want to accomplish and how you intend to do that. Keep yourself accountable and remember to reward yourself often for meeting your goals. If you do make a mistake pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start again. Here’s to a fantastic new year, my friends. I can’t wait to hear how you succeed.

About The Author

Sarah Stevenson, a.k.a., The Tini Yogini, is a Certified Yoga Instructor in Southern California. She has a degree in Behavioral Psychology and teaches not only yoga classes but also life affirming workshops. She also writes for Beachbody, which provides effective and popular workout videos, including the Insanity Workout, a high intensity interval training program for total body conditioning.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59632563@N04/6104751841/in/photostream/

A yeast infection, otherwise known as thrush, is caused when the fungus Candida albicans grows out of control in the body. Many people cringe when they hear the word yeast infection, however there may be a simple cure for it right in your own kitchen cupboard.

Our bodies naturally have the Candida fungus in our mucous membranes, specifically in the mouth, genitals, and skin. This fungus doesn’t become a problem until microbes in the body become unbalanced, creating the perfect breeding ground for the fungus to grow. Once the fungus begins growing, this is when it becomes a problem and turns into a yeast infection.

A yeast infection can grow in a variety of places, however most people only think of the genital region or the mouth (also known as oral thrush). A vaginal yeast infection exhibits a few different symptoms such as burning during urination, and excessive itching or irritation. A white thick cottage cheese like discharge may also accompany the other symptoms of a yeast infection.

A yeast infection of the mouth, or oral thrush, will present symptoms of white patches on the inside of the mouth. The white patches may become painful or bleed if rubbed; a loss of taste may also be present during oral thrush.

Many people don’t realize that yeast infections can also occur in the stomach, mainly the intestines or colon. When this happens, it causes a breakdown in the intestinal tract, allowing poisons and toxins to enter. Intestinal yeast infections can be difficult to diagnose and may sometimes require a blood test. Symptoms of intestinal yeast infections may include increased fatigue, cramps, bloating, gassy feeling, and diarrhea. These same symptoms can be a sign of many different things, this is why a blood test may be needed in order to diagnose a yeast infection of the intestines.

A variety of treatments are currently available over the counter to treat yeast infections; the problem is knowing which one really works. You can also make a trip to the doctor for a prescription but not everyone has the time or the money to pay that extra expense just to get rid of a yeast infection.

Apple cider vinegar may be the perfect cure for your yeast infection problems. Apple cider vinegar is an all natural bacteria fighter made from organic apples. This vinegar contains some very vital ingredients that include calcium, iron, sulfur, magnesium, and fluorine.

Organically grown apples are crushed and allowed to mature giving them enzymes and minerals that regular vinegars don’t have for a plethora of health benefits. A few of the health benefits that can come from apple cider vinegar use include balancing cholesterol levels, allergy fighting, a stronger immune system, increased stamina, and improved digestion problems, on top of being a yeast infection cure.

Most people would not even think of using apple cider vinegar for a yeast infection, but many people claim that it clears a yeast infection right up by restoring the natural balance of so called good bacteria in the body. This balance of bacteria in the body will work at keeping yeast at bay.

You can find apple cider vinegar douches at your local drug store, however many experts say that you should always be completely positive that you indeed have a yeast infection before using any type of douche. This is because a douche can push bacteria up into the body, so if you use an apple cider vinegar douche for something that is not a yeast infection, it could make the problem worse.

An apple cider vinegar bath may be a safer option when attempting to treat a vaginal or genital yeast infection. You can do this by adding a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a large basin or bucket of water, then using the water to wash the infected area; this works for men also. If you wish to take a full bath, you can add a half of a cup of the vinegar to your bath water and then soak in the bath water for approximately twenty minutes.

If you wish to use a combination of things, you can use the apple cider vinegar along with consuming yogurt that have live cultures, or some may prefer to put the yogurt on the affected area for a few minutes before soaking in an apple cider vinegar bath. You can try a combination of many natural things before heading to the doctor for a prescription.

You can also add apple cider vinegar to your diet. One important note to add is that you should always look for raw apple cider vinegar. The ones that you typically see in your grocery store are distilled versions of the vinegar. These distilled versions have lost all of the essential benefiting ingredients that make it so powerful during the distillation process. Typically, the only thing that the distilled version is good for is to be used as a cleaning agent. Raw apple cider vinegar may look a little cloudy and less appetizing as the distilled version, but vinaigrette and condiments will taste much better using the raw version while also reaping the many benefits that the apple cider vinegar has to offer. You can also do this in conjunction with a vinegar bath.

When using apple cider vinegar in food, keep in mind that too much of a good thing can be harmful. You should try to keep the amount of consumed vinegar a day to two tablespoons. This will ensure that your body doesn’t get too much of the acid in the vinegar.

To treat intestinal yeast infection, you may also use an apple cider enema by mixing the vinegar with pure water; it may help to relieve the itching that can sometimes be associated with yeast infection in the colon as well. The vinegar works for this because it creates an environment that the yeast does not like and will not thrive in. Not everyone will have the same response with vinegar for intestinal problems due to everyone’s varying bodily conditions; this is something that can be tried once to see what kind of reaction comes out of it as far as battling the yeast infection. If the infection becomes severe, the fungus may travel into the throat and esophagus causing difficulty swallowing food or liquids.

About The Author

Amanda Smith is a young web entrepreneur. She is the lead editor of a website providing valuable information on various ways to treat yeast infections naturally.

Of course, the experiences of our friends and family members, though they represent anecdotal evidence and not a controlled scientific study, naturally mean something to us. But I would propose that you listen sympathetically to the advice and stories of your friends and family members, but privately regard them as “discovery sources” — sources who can alert you to possible issues, but whose claims you take the time to check out rather than accepting them blindly. Below are five myths about diet that are often promulgated by our well-meaning buddies at the gym, but that, when checked out, don’t hold up.

Fallacy: Athletes should avoid caffeine at all costs.

Reality: Actually, by causing blood vessels to dilate, allowing blood to carry more oxygen to muscles, caffeine can boost your workout. Studies show that especially for lower body exercise (such as cycling and running), caffeine can boost the endurance of athletes. It is important to bear in mind, though, that caffeine also affects levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, changing an athlete’s perception of pain and discomfort — be careful not to use caffeine as a way to push yourself into overdoing it. As with all things, moderation is the key.

Fallacy: Fruit smoothies are the best possible pre- or post-workout snack.

Reality: This myth has been aggressively promoted by gyms who have juice and smoothie bars located on their premises. Unfortunately, as delicious as fruit smoothies are, and though they are undeniably well stocked with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants, smoothies can derail your fitness goals. Don’t assume that a good workout will make up for the high calorie and sugar content in a smoothie. If you are a raw vegan bodybuilder, a smoothie will likely do you a world of good, as it will help to make up for the calories that you aren’t getting at other meals. But if you are a meat and potatoes guy, or simply have put yourself on some sort of high protein diet, you’ll want to watch out for those extra calories and sugar. And if you are carb-loading before high intensity workouts, be especially careful with those smoothies (make sure you include them in your carb counts!). As with so many other foods, the value of a fruit smoothie depends on your particular situation and your particular health concerns.

Fallacy: There is no such thing as good fat.

Reality: While the concept of “good fat” might sound as though it was invented by a dieter in denial, it is actually backed up by solid science. Your brain and nervous system need fat in order to function, and your body also needs fat to use as fuel. The key is to avoid fats such as trans-fats and saturated fats, while making sure to include healthy unsaturated fats. How can you tell which is which? In general, you can feel safe avoiding fried foods and red meat, while including in your diet fats that come from fish, nuts, and vegetable sources such as avocados and olive oil.

Fallacy: If your diet is not low in salt, you are putting yourself on the road to a future high blood pressure problem.

Reality: Some people are sensitive to salt, and react to it with an increase in blood pressure. But the average person will not experience any difference in blood pressure in response to salt. Those who do, can easily address the situation without reducing salt, by making sure to include plenty of potassium (think greens, bananas, and beans) in your diet. The balance of salt and potassium is more important, if you are sensitive to salt, than the actual amount of salt that you consume, period.

Good luck with your workouts, and remember — nutrition science is changing all the time. Even dieticians have trouble keeping up with it. So don’t assume that the nutritional advice you hear at the gym is up-to-date. Check it out for yourself — or better yet, ask your doctor.

About The Author

Brett Warren is a fitness and weightlifting enthusiast from Boston, Massachusetts. He is passionate about nutraceutical science and loves his job developing workout supplements for Force Factor. Brett’s extensive background in biochemical engineering means he’s one scientist you don’t want to mess with. When Brett is not crushing it in the gym or working at Force Factor, you can find him spending time outdoors with his family.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-396284394

Why So Many of Us Hide Our Real Selves From The World

We hide our real selves from the world because often we are filled with self doubt, worries, sadness, guilt, hurts and disappointments. But, instead of hiding ask yourselves, “Is this the real me? Or, is this the me that my ego and belief systems have constructed? Often, these negative beliefs have been constructed by us, and accepted by us as truth. But, the sad thing is that nothing can be further from the truth.

Where Do These False Ideas About Ourselves Originate From?

They mostly came from others: parents, teachers, co-workers, and friends. These well-meaning individuals often plant the seeds of doubt and negative self perception by saying something like, “You’re getting ‘chunky’. Lose some weight so your cheeks don’t look so chubby in your school pictures”. We, on the other hand, hear, “You are FAT!” and cultivate this comment to the point that it becomes our truth. Thus, we allow our entire self perception to be controlled by some obscure comment.

No One Has The Right or Power to Dictate Who You Are!

Only you know who you truly are and what is in your heart. When you were born you entered this world without the burdens of your current negative belief system. You entered this world as a beautiful bundle of joy, filled with unlimited potential and possibilities. And the good news is that you have not changed! You are still, and will always be, a beautiful bundle of joy filled with unlimited potential.

Emotional Weight Loss Leads To Physical Weight Loss

Ask yourself this question:

If I stop all the negative talk that I currently engage in with myself such as, “I’m too fat! Why will anyone want to love me? I will never be thin. I always fail…ETC…How will you feel?

Do you think that you will feel emotionally lighter? Do you think that you will feel happier? Do you think that you will feel more confident? Now, how do you think your life will change if you go one step further and modify your self talk by only speaking positively about yourself?

How To Rediscover Your Radiance

Once you begin focusing on the positive traits within you, you will realize that your magnificence has always been there just below the surface.

Discover the positive aspects of yourself by asking yourself the following questions:

• What am I good at?
• Who has benefited by my presence in this world?
• What is in my heart that only I know?
• What do I like about my body?

Your goal is to make yourself feel good now. Once you begin to only observe what you feel is positive about yourself, you will begin to feel happy. Decide right here and right now that you will always look for the good within you and appreciate that goodness.

How Positive Affirmations Work

Your emotional state is the control valve that determines what you draw into your experience. How you talk to yourself creates your beliefs and programs your subconscious. So you need to ask yourself, “Do I want my beliefs and subconscious programming to be based on false negative thinking? Or, do I want my beliefs to be based on the fact that I am, and have always been, a perfect being?”

Choose To Love Yourself

Begin today to love and nurture yourself. Allow the joy, playfulness and enthusiasm that you naturally had as a child to flow into your everyday experiences. Allow yourself to celebrate each and every success, no matter how small. Love and appreciate yourself. Do this everyday and watch your weight begin to dissolve just as your negative beliefs about yourself begin to dissolve.

Photo Courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jetheriot/

In fact, due to the recent hard economic times, the number of families experiencing homelessness is amongst the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, throughout the United States. Worse yet, the average amount of time that families experiencing hard times stay in homeless shelters has more than doubled, due to the lack of affordable rental housing and sufficient employment.

Though often statistics make the problem of homelessness appear so overwhelming that many of us feel powerless to help, the fact of the matter is that there is a lot we can do to help those in need. Of course, we all need a place to start so I have put together the following list of charities that depend on the kindness of their community members to help the homeless in highly practical and effective ways.

Source

Donate The Basics

Socksnundies.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the homeless by providing them with the basic necessities of life, that most of us take for granted. Started by Jennifer Maulsby and her mother, a volunteer shelter director, this nonprofit organization accepts donations of new and unused socks, underwear, T-shirts, pajamas and toiletries.

Though to most of us these items may seem trivial, to the homeless they bring a degree of warmth and comfort as well as dignity and peace of mind. For instance, I know that as a woman, having clean underwear is far more than a simple matter of comfort. Likewise, imagine being the parent of a young child who does not have clean socks and underwear to wear after a bath.

Share The Warmth

newyorkcares.org

onewarmcoat.org

Winters are cold here, in NYC and a warm coat can literally be the difference between life and death. But, as all parents know kids outgrow their clothes, FAST! And for some families buying one or two warm coats, each year, for each child, is a heavy financial burden.

The above mentioned nonprofit organizations work with volunteers and sponsors within the community to organize coat-drives that keep thousands of children, throughout the United States, warm each winter. The following heart warming message comes from a father of four whose children received their winter coats from warm coats and warm hearts, “I am just so thankful to all of those involved in the warm coat project. I am a father of 4 kids who is having a bit of hard times. But thanks to you this winter will be a merry one full of fun and great memories of playing in the snow and being a family. Thank you”.

Volunteer Your Time

homelessshelterdirectory.org

One of the most effective and rewarding ways to help those in need is to volunteer your time. Homeless shelters, across the country, are in desperate need of volunteers to help with such simple tasks as making sandwiches and helping sort donations. The above directory can help you find and contact the homeless shelters in your area.

Stand Up For Kids

standupforkids.org

By simply texting STANDUP to 85944 you can donate $5 to STAND UP FOR KIDS, a nonprofit organization that strives to help homeless children and runaways under the age of 25, throughout the United States. In 2011, your donations helped this new, nonprofit organization expand to 5 major metropolitan cities and help get thousands of homeless kids and runaways off of the streets.

Tuck Homeless Children Into Bed

covenanthouse.org

Covenant House is a safe haven for thousands of homeless youth in need of shelter and direction in their lives. Unlike most homeless shelters, Covenant House does far more than provide homeless youth with basic necessities such as a nutritious meal and warm bed. Instead, the staff at Covenant House work with homeless youth to help them move down the path to independent adulthood and away from the risk of future homelessness.

By contributing just $35 to this worthy charity you can help them provide over 70,000 homeless children with food, shelter, warm blankets, clean sheets and most importantly, guidance.

Help End Homelessness

clicktogive.com

Doing your part to help end homelessness, every day, is FREE and EASY when you visit clicktogive.com/End-Homelessness.aspx. All you have to do is click the “Click To Give” button and watch as the site’s sponsors donate to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darwinist/

The inventors of these diets want you to believe that there is no other way to lose weight and keep it off. However, the reality is that there are a lot of healthy ways to lose weight and keep it off. But, in order to learn how to attain the fit and healthy body of your dreams you will first need to be able to spot the fad diets out there that simply do not work and can even be dangerous to your health, in the long run.

This article discusses the top 10 tell tale signs to look for when aiming to spot a fad diet…Remember, if it sounds too good to be true……It Is!

The Diet Plan Works With The Aid of A Magical Pill, Drink, Powder, Or Food

The weight loss industry is a $30 billion dollar per year empire. Most pharmaceutical companies and other supplement manufacturers, who are in no way regulated by the FDA, make massive amounts of profit marketing diet pills, fat burners and diet plans that promise never before seen results. Of course, most of these diet pills and fat burners are nothing more than caffeine pills that overstimulate people and suppress the appetite. Not surprising, those who use these products lose weight, not because of the mystical powers of these magic pills but because of the fact that they have been consuming less calories and being more active (The Only True Formula For Weight Loss!).

Of course, the main reason why the weight loss industry is so profitable is because pharmaceutical companies and those clever enough to “invent” weight loss supplements know how desperate many overweight people are to lose weight and so they know how easy it is to target this demographic. The fact that the FDA has very little jurisdiction over weight loss supplements makes it even easier on their bottom lines. As long as pharmaceutical companies and supplement manufacturers claim that their products are “all-natural” or “herbal” they can escape FDA scrutiny. In these instances the FDA will only step in to investigate when these miracle weight loss products cause serious harm or deaths like in the case of Ephedrine which was hailed as a miracle weight loss drug until a number of deaths due to heart attack were linked to it and caused its ban in the United States.

The Diet Plan Claims To Have Found A Unique Food Combination To Help You Lose Weight

The Master Cleanse diet is a prime example of a fad diet that makes this type of claim. (The above picture features the supposed miracle weight loss recipe of The Master Cleanse diet). There is no scientific evidence to support claims that certain food combinations will induce fat loss. Simply consuming fewer calories than you burn each day will lead to healthy weight loss. However, certain fad diets are able to give dieters the illusion of weight loss by helping them shed water weight. The so-called “detox” diets are notoriously known to rely on this scam. However, long-term reliance on these diets is dangerous and can lead to dehydration, malnutrition and gastrointestinal problems.

Dangers of Using Dieter’s Tea for Weight Loss

The Diet Plan Claims To Work Without Adequate Exercise

Most fad diets do not include a workout plan in their weight loss plan because at their core most fad diets rely on the claim that they can deliver amazing weight loss results without adequate exercise. In a sense fad diets flourish on the promise of helping dieters find the easy way out of obesity.

But, the fact of the matter is that fat loss is not possible without exercise. It is possible to lose weight (water weight and some muscle weight) without exercise if your idea of losing weight involves seeing the numbers on the scale go down. But, true fat loss, which is achieved by building fat-burning muscle and thus decreasing your fat to muscle ratio is only possible through exercise. For healthy weight loss you should aim to do at least 30 minutes of high intensity cardio, such as running, for 5 to 6 days a week and at least 1 hour of light weight training for 3 days a week. If you can’t do high intensity cardio activities such as running aim for 1 hour of low intensity cardio activities such as brisk walking.

A Walking For Fitness Weight Loss Program

The Diet Plan Claims To Help You Shed More Than 2lbs A Week

In order for any well balanced weight loss plan to be both affective and healthy, you should not aim to lose more than 1-2 pounds per week. Of course, this means that those who wish to lose weight in a healthy manner will need to invest some time into their weight loss efforts. Unfortunately though, the Internet is buzzing with fad diet plans that propose to help you lose 30 pounds in 30 days. These fad diets are nothing more than bizarre starvation diets.

My Favorite Bizarre Starvation Diet: The Cotton Ball Diet

The Diet Plan Is Based Entirely On The Powers of Fat Burners Or “Fat Trappers”

Fat burners and the so called “fat trappers” are the bread and butter of the weight loss industry. Of course, these magic pills are made up of nothing more than caffeine pills and unregulated herbal mixtures. The best advice I can give you regarding these products is, “Run! Run like the wind from these types of miracle weight loss products!”. Most of these weight loss products have side effects that will make the most desperate of dieters cringe. Of course, a prime example of a miracle weight loss drug with horribly embarrassing side effects is Xenical. All about Xenical

Will Fat Burners Help Me Lose Weight?

The Diet Plan Claims To “Boost Your Metabolism”

The sad reality is that weight loss products that claim to have the magical ability of boosting the metabolism are nothing more than caffeine pills and in some instances, pills made up of a dangerous and unregulated mixture of herbs. These pills do not boost the metabolism. A pill, powder or drink cannot speed up your metabolism. Instead, these pills agitate your nervous system and cause short and intense bursts of hyperactivity and anorexia followed by an even more intense “crash”.

Furthermore, most of these weight loss products are diuretics that speed up you heart rate and make your organs work faster thus flushing water out of your body. The temporary feeling of being thinner is short lived with these products and most dieters end up fatter in the long run because these so called metabolism boosting products actually slow down your metabolism by forcing your body to go into a natural fat conservation mode for survival purposes.

How To Keep Your Metabolism Young

The Diet Plan Is Based On The Consumption of One or Two Foods To Excess

Restrictive fad diets that emphasize the consumption of one food to excess are designed to wreak havoc on your overall health, metabolism, and digestive system. These diets do not work simply because no one can live on just one or two foods forever without suffering from serious malnutrition. But, the biggest danger of following such restrictive diets is psychological. Simply put, these types of diets mess with your head and can lead to all sorts of eating disorders ranging from anorexia to binge eating disorders.

For example, most of us have heard of the cabbage soup diet and the grapefruit diet. But, how many of us actually know someone who has tried one of these fad diets, lost weight, and kept it off? Probably none! I personally know a few people who have tried these diets, (against my advice) swore by them, and ended up failing miserably. Only a few of these people lost some actual weight but they all ended up fatter in 6 months than when they had begun the diet. That is because these types of weight loss programs are meant to be discontinued after a certain time meaning that when you go back to your normal routine, you can expect to get a high rate of “return” on your investment.

The Cabbage Soup Diet Review

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The Diet Plan Labels Carbohydrates As “Bad”

High protein diets that demonize carbohydrates are the latest weight loss craze. But, the fact of the matter is that we all need carbohydrates in our diets, particularly when we are trying to lose weight. Removing most of the carbs from your diet means that more fat (at 9 calories per gram) will replace those carbs (at 4 calories per gram). This is despite the fact that there are a wide variety of other health issues associated with a high protein, high fat diet. The biggest problem with low carbohydrate diets is the fact that they lack dietary fiber, healthy antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and a host of other vital nutrients found in fruits and vegetables.

Furthermore, most of the advocates of high protein diets omit the fact that excess protein will not help your body because your body can only use so much protein within a certain period of time. Consequently, all the extra protein you’ve consumed will be store as fat. Plus, let’s not overlook the fact that carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, and you will need that energy to get through your exercise routine which is the only thing that will help you lose weight and keep it off.

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The Diet Plan Does Not Encourage Proper Hydration

Water is absolutely essential for proper weight loss. If you’re not being told to drink at least 8, 8oz glasses of water per day, you are not getting good advice. Water helps your body mobilize and get rid of excess fat. It also helps your liver convert fat into energy, which in turn helps you burn more calories. Proper hydration also plays a key role in regulating your body temperature as you exercise. And interestingly, there is some recent evidence that suggests dehydration may be the root cause of stubborn diet plateaus.

Drinking Water Is Important For Weight Loss

The Diet Plan Claims To Work For All People Including Those With Medical Conditions

If a weight loss product or diet plan yields no warning for people with such serious health problems as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and so forth, than that weight loss product or diet plan should be looked at with suspicion. For example, the high fat content of a low carbohydrate diet can be very dangerous to a person with high cholesterol or high blood pressure and someone with diabetes should never tamper with his/her diet without consulting with a doctor. All healthy and credible weight loss programs will be concerned with the safety and well being of the people using them. Therefore, if there are no warnings, then you can be certain that your health and well being are not an issue of concern to the company that is marketing its weight loss product to you.

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Aromatherapy is the ancient practice of combining the scents of various volatile essential oils, including those derived from medicinal herbs, for the treatment of physical and psychological ailments.

The practice of aromatherapy is based on the notion that various scents can induce the body to stimulate its ability to heal itself.

The Link Between Aromatherapy and Our Psyche

For most of us, certain smells serve as powerful triggers that have a profound effect on our psyche. For example, when passing a bakery on the street and smelling the aroma of a freshly baked apple pie, most of us can close our eyes and envision the feeling we had as children standing in grandma’s kitchen waiting for her apple pie to cool on the windowsill.

Thousands of years ago, practitioners of various forms of what is today termed “alternative medicine” observed the fact that scents serve as powerful psychological triggers and began to experiment with these healing powers. Soon, they realized that certain scents are highly effective at treating various psychological ailments such as anxiety and depression.

Therefore, aromatherapy is heavily relied upon by practitioners of alternative medicine when attempting to treat psychological ailments. For example, aromatherapy essential oils are widely used by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine when attempting to give patients Ayurvedic massage for the treatments of such psychological ailments as depression, anxiety and insomnia.

What Are Carrier Oils?

Essential oils are very volatile and concentrated, meaning that they evaporate easily and are easily absorbed into the bloodstream via the skin. Practitioners of aromatherapy, therefore, never use essential oils undiluted because, in some instances, certain essential oils can burn the skin or poison the host if absorbed through the skin, undiluted.

So, what exactly are carrier oils? Simply put, carrier oils are natural oils, extracted from certain kinds of fruits, nuts and vegetables. They are called carrier oils because they literally help carry the essential oil when mixed and applied onto the skin.

Practitioners of aromatherapy believe that each kind of essential oil and each kind of carrier oil have their own properties and characteristics. To treat a specific ailment, a specific combination of essential oils and carrier oils must be used. The mixture is then massaged onto the skin or added to bathwater. Sometimes, this therapeutic mixture is put into an air diffuser so that it’s medicinal properties can be inhaled.

List of Natural Carrier Oils

Almond Carrier Oil

Almond oil is undoubtedly the most popular kind of carrier oil because it is easily absorbed into the skin. Almond oil is also high in Vitamin D and great at moisturizing dry skin. Therefore, practitioners of aromatherapy often use almond oil as the base carrier oil in treatments designed to help relieve mild skin conditions.

Apricot Carrier Oil

Apricot oil is rich in Vitamin A. Furthermore, Apricot oil is extremely light and can easily mix with other carrier oils. Therefore, practitioners of aromatherapy often mix Apricot oil with Almond oil. This mixture has been found to help slow down the skin’s aging process and help revitalize the skin by smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and diminishing skin discoloration brought on by aging.

Grape Seed Carrier Oil

Grape Seed oil is the least costly of all carrier oils. Because this carrier oil is inexpensive and widely available practitioners of aromatherapy have found thousands of ingenious uses for it. However, because grape seed oil does not clog the pores of people with oily skin, this carrier oil is most often used in aromatherapy treatments designed to combat acne.

Jojoba Carrier Oil

Jojoba oil has the ability to break down excess Sebum, which has been shown to cause acne and dandruff. Moreover, Jojoba oil is high in Vitamin E, which helps the skin maintain its youthful glow. Because of these attributes, Jojoba oil is often mixed with grape seed oil and the combination of these two carrier oils is used by practitioners of aromatherapy as a means to help those suffering from acne.

Sesame Carrier Oil

Sesame oil is the most medicinal of all carrier oils. Sesame oil also has a wonderful nutty scent that can help mask the unpleasant scent of some natural essential oils. Because sesame oil has antiseptic properties it is highly effective in treating fungal infections, skin infections and light wounds. Therefore, practitioners of aromatherapy often use sesame oil when attempting to heal the body, and purge the mind, of the effects of a physically and emotionally traumatic event such as a car accident.

List of Natural Essential Oils

Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile essential oil is capable of easing pain so the body can relax. This essential oil is also effective at soothing the skin. Therefore, practitioners of aromatherapy often use Chamomile essential oil when attempting to treat those suffering from nervous tension, headaches, and Fibromyalgia. This essential oil can also be used for the treatment of acne.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus refreshes as well as relieves congestion and pain, especially pain brought on by inflammation. So, the practitioners of aromatherapy use this essential oil for the treatment of colds, sinusitis and other respiratory problems. It is also applied to aching muscles and joints affected by rheumatism.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is the most widely used essential oil. This highly aromatic essential oil is often used for the treatment of ailments such as rheumatism and muscle tension as well as skin problems like acne and dandruff. However, Lavender essential oil is best known for its ability to ease insomnia. Besides being an effective cure for insomnia, Lavender essential oil is also known to help soothe and relax the body as well as enhance the circulation of the blood.

Lemon Essential Oil

The citrus in lemon is refreshing and can provide relief from congestion and pain. This is why lemon essential oil is often used by practitioners of aromatherapy to treat headaches and migraine. Lemon essential oil is also effective at treating digestion problems. This is not surprising given the lemon’s reputation as a “detoxifying” fruit.

Rose Essential Oil

Rose essential oil, a historic essential oil, is the most expensive and exotic of all essential oils. When choosing to purchase rose essential oil it is very important that you make sure the roses used to make the essential oil are 100% organic and free of all pesticides.

Rose essential oil has been used for centuries as an anti aging miracle product. This is because rose essential oil is great for the skin. This essential oil is often applied to skin that is dry, delicate or sensitive, making it softer, brighter and smoother. The scent of the rose also helps by relaxing the body. Therefore, this essential oil is also used to treat headaches, stress and insomnia which are all factors that can influence the health and beauty of one’s skin.

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