Archive for the ‘Spring Shape Up 2006’ Category

A Complete Look at Vitamin E

Tuesday, July 11th, 2006

Vitamin E or Tocopherol, is a fat-soluble vitamin in eight forms. It is an important antioxidant often found in skin creams and lotions. It is believed to play a role in promoting skin healing and reducing scars after burns or injury.

The most active form of vitamin E in humans is Alpha-tocopherol, which is a powerful biological antioxidant. The Recommended Daly Allowance of vitamin E is based on the alpha-tocopherol form. The Institute of Medicine indicates most North American adults get enough vitamin E from their normal diets to meet the current recommendations. However, they do caution those who consume low fat diets because vegetable oils are such a good dietary source of vitamin E.

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Popularity: 17% [?]

All about Sunspots

Tuesday, June 20th, 2006

The pigment that gives skin its color is melanin, which is produced in the outer layer of skin- the epidermis. Sunspots are areas of the skin where excess pigment has been released as a natural defense mechanism against exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light. Sunspots are usually flat and irregular in shape and appear several shades darker than your natural skin tone. They can appear on your hands, chest, back and even feet.

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Popularity: 17% [?]

Making Your Workouts Fun

Tuesday, June 13th, 2006

Every individual has their own sense of fitness satisfaction. For some it may be the pleasure of getting to a new place on a climbing wall, for others it may be a quiet early neighborhood run, for others the feeling of sore muscles. Satisfactions are as variable as our personalities. Satisfactions can also change over time due to priorities or circumstances. And once we experience satisfaction in one area, we most likely will want to pursue another. A satisfying fitness program is one that challenges you physically, improves the quality of your life and strengthens you emotionally.

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Popularity: 27% [?]

Swimsuit Styles

Monday, June 5th, 2006

Like many, if you are not at your goal weight, swimsuit shopping ranks up there with dental work. While attempting to find a perfect swimsuit, it will help if you consider a few tips.

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Popularity: 24% [?]

A Complete Look at Vitamin D

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006

Vitamin D helps maintain the normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream. It is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that is actually not a vitamin since human skin can manufacture it. It is however referred to as one, and is also known as calciferol.

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Popularity: 11% [?]

Getting the Most Out of Your Heart Rate Monitor

Tuesday, May 16th, 2006

Heart Rate Monitors can be very useful. If you are trying to loose weight, a monitor can help you workout within your fat burning heart rate zone. A monitor can also help you if you are training. It can help you perform each specific workout in the proper heart rate zone. Keeping track of your heart rate at various effort levels over time can keep you aware of your progress and help you adjust your workout programs so you can continuously improve. It is a great tool in tracking your fitness.

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Popularity: 26% [?]

Tips for Minimizing Your Pores

Tuesday, May 9th, 2006

We often blame our pores for our skin problems. These tiny openings in the skin contain hair follicles as well as sweat glands and sebum. They can easily become clogged, especially when dead cells from the skin’s outer layer don’t come off properly and stick together on the surface instead. This can cause bacteria to move in and release inflammatory factors that can lead to redness and pus. We often pick at our pores and apply creams and lotions but it is important that we wise up to common myths about them so we can minimize their size and improve our skin’s complexion.

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Popularity: 9% [?]

Understanding Electrolytes

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006

Electrolytes help regulate your body’s acid-base balance. They are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. They control how and where fluids are distributed, help muscles contract and relax, and regulate nerve impulses which help keep you functioning properly and exercising at full potential. If you have every felt dizzy after a long workout, an electrolyte imbalance might have been to blame. Other side effects from a large imbalance include excessive sweating, vomiting and diarrhea.

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Popularity: 9% [?]

A Complete Look at Vitamin C

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006

Vitamins are organic (carbon containing) molecules that mainly function as catalysts for reactions within the body. Catalyst allows a chemical reaction to occur using less energy and less time than it would under normal conditions. Normal body functions can break down and make a person susceptible to disease if there is a vitamin deficiency since catalysts are missing. Vitamins are found in food, beverages and some are within our own bodies. Our bodies require tiny amounts.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Successful Dieter’s Secrets

Sunday, April 23rd, 2006

The best weight-loss plan is the plan that is the most nutritious. When you are managing calories it is very important to have a good balance of food. That should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean sources of protein, low-fat dairy and whole grain, and high-fiber foods. If you want to eliminate certain foods- cut out all empty calories like sugar and soda.

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Popularity: 12% [?]

Health Benefits of Meditation

Tuesday, April 11th, 2006

Meditation is one of the top-10 alternative therapies used by the U. S. population. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that 8% of Americans use meditation as a health tool. No longer just for Buddhist monks and New-Age types, meditation is now appealing to mainstream business professionals, medical doctors and even healthcare companies. This is a result of the growing evidence which supports that meditation can promote physical healing.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

A Look at Home Complexion Treatments

Tuesday, April 4th, 2006

With today’s new at-home high-performance products you can schedule your own skin treatment sessions. If you use these products correctly you can get significant benefits without the appointments, needles or doctor’s fees.

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Popularity: 16% [?]

Getting The Most out of Exercise Machines

Tuesday, April 4th, 2006

Where can you always expect a crowd at the gym? At the cardio machines of course. Approximately 86 millions people a year use some type of cardio equipment to run, walk climb or bike, according to Fitness Management Magazine. The cardio machines can get your heart pumping, tone muscles and trim fat. There are the treadmills, the stair climbers, the elliptical trainers, rowers, ski machines or the stationary bikes.

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Popularity: 25% [?]