Posts Tagged ‘foods’

Good hair day foods

Good Hair Day Foods

It’s not a novelty that our lifestyle has a major impact on our overall beauty. Our eating style has a strong influence on the way our tresses look even though the link might not be obvious from the beginning. Discover the best foods for gorgeous tresses.

Contrary to what most of us tend to belief, a good hair day doesn’t always depend on the weather or on the styling products we use. In fact the way our hair looks depends on the foods that we eat more than we could ever imagine. The fact is that unless we learn to nourish our hair from the inside, the hair products we use to care for our hair will have modest effects at best.

Truth to be told no hair care product can provide the nutrients necessary for hair growth and even if it would be possible to get all the necessary nutrients from hair care products the absorption of these nutrients would always be superior when the nutrients are acquired from natural food sources.

While all foods contain essential nutrients for the health of our hair, certain elements are found in greater quantities in some foods compared to others, making these foods more beneficial than others with similar properties. However it should be mentioned that a diversified diet is the best way to make sure that our beauty is enhanced naturally as it is virtually impossible to isolate only a few key vitamins and nutrients that can cover all your body’s needs simultaneously.

Whether you want a stronger and healthier hair or you aim to combat thinning hair and prevent hair loss the following foods will definitely offer a great deal of help.

Brown rice

An indispensable staple for those religiously follow the macrobiotic diet as well for those who love Asian cuisine brown rice is no only offers a quick sense of satiety but can also influence the way your locks look. Rich in fiber and especially rich in vitamin B, vitamin E and packed with high quality protein brown rice can fortify the hair cuticle making it more resistant to the harmful external agents that affect your hair on a daily basis.
Some studies have shown that due to the amazing combination of nutrients, brown rice can turn out to be a natural remedy that can promote faster hair growth.

Salmon

Aside from the Omega 3 fatty acids that are vital for synthesizing the fat soluble vitamins your hair needs, salmon contains another priceless nutrient for your hair: zinc. The benefits of zinc apply to a wide variety of hair problems such as dandruff, hair loss or hair thinning. Zinc can also be found naturally in food sources such as: soy products, nuts, egg yolks, yeast or pumpkin seeds but the zinc absorption is different compared to salmon. Wild salmon is a superior choice when it comes to the health of our hair due to the fact that the zinc contained in meat sources is absorbed in a higher percentage compared to the zinc contained in non meat sources.

Leafy vegetables

If eating vegetables for the health benefits they provide doesn’t sound that appealing then maybe the contribution they have to create long luscious curls might make you have second thoughts before dissing them from your menu. Dark leafy vegetables in particular are a a good source of iron a nutrient that has a major role in transporting blood filled with vitamins and nutrients to capillary vessels, stimulating hair growth.
Moreover, vitamin C as well as vitamin A found in abundance in green leafy vegetables help regulate sebum protection, increasing the number of the hair follicle at the same time. Make sure to include in your diet plenty foods such as spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage or swiss chard.

Lentils

An excellent source of protein coming from non food sources, lentils have amazing benefits for our hair. A single cup of lentils is able to provide over 90% of the recommended daily dosage of folic an essential antioxidant which promotes cell renewal encouraging hair growth. A good source of magnesium, which activates the enzymes of the scalp, lentils can help correct the imbalances that could lead to hair loss over time.

Low fat dairy products

Yogurt,milk or low fat cheese should definitely be part of your healthy hair diet. Source of calcium and a superior quality proteins such as casein low fat dairy products are among the best choices you can make if you are interested in having strong,healthy locks. When choosing low fat dairy products keep an eye on the sugar content of the product you are about to purchase. Make sure that the fat was not substituted with sugar to keep the taste intact because otherwise you won’t get the same benefits.

Don’t forget that your locks need moisturizing from and make sure that you drink enough water every day to keep your tresses in the best possible condition. Also make sure that you stay away from crash diets which can negatively affect your tresses and might even lead to hair loss if the diet is particularly drastic.

Foods that fight belly fat


Foods that Fight Belly Fat

Those who struggle with a fat belly know how hard it can be to get rid of it. Ambition and a smart approach can go a long way in ensuring that we get the flat belly we desire. But in order to get the results we want faster it’s important to know a few secrets that can make a world of difference. Find out what are the top foods that help flatten your belly.

When it comes to fighting belly fat and losing weight in general there are various approaches that can be applied with varying degrees of efficiency. While almost everyone seems to know the basic requirements for weight loss, most people struggle profoundly and often fail to achieve this goal because they don’t have a clearly defined strategy. While reducing calories is one of the first things that many people think of when trying to fight belly fat, this is only part of the equation.

Before even thinking about starting a diet a person who is truly determined to fight belly fat and lose weight at the same time should take time to learn about the science behind weight loss from various perspectives. It might seem like an obvious thing to do but many of us are always tempted to go for shortcuts and find an approach that delivers results without a lot of efforts.

Unfortunately, this type of mentality often backfires leaving us even more dissatisfied than we originally were. It’s a well known fact that the path to a flat stomach starts with a healthy but what not many people know is that certain foods work more efficiently than others in reducing belly fat.

However, it should be mentioned that without a healthy eating meal plan as well as a tailored exercise plan these foods alone will not be very efficient in flattering our belly. Here are the most efficient foods that fight belly fat:

Green tea has proven to be an effective weapon for weight loss as well as for for fat burning. Studies show that those that drink green tea regularly have at least 10% more chances of losing belly fat than those who prefer other types of beverages.

The explanation for this incredible fact is that green tea has components that help raise the basal metabolic rate of our body, making it easier to burn fat. What’s more green tea also has the ability to regulate glucose, making it easier to fight sugar cravings or even completely eliminating them. In order to get the benefits a daily consumption of 4-5 cups is required. Avoid drinking green tea in the late afternoon to prevent sleep problems.

Eggs have earned a bad rep in the past when it was thought that they could raise your cholesterol level. More recent studies have infirmed this theory, showing that eggs have a quite insignificant impact on your cholesterol levels.

Eggs are a valuable tool for fighting belly fat being a good source of high quality protein. Due to the high content of vitamin B12 which helps break down fat cells more effectively, eggs are a perfect choice for a healthy breakfast. If you really want to cut calories and get the same benefits you can take out the egg yolk.

Whole grains can help you get rid of twice as much abdominal fat compared to other simple carbohydrates even if the number of calories is identical. Very nutritious they can help curb hunger effectively being a necessary requirement for those who are trying to build muscle. Whole grains help lower your insulin levels which in tern will help speed up the fat burning process.

Low fat dairy products can help you burn up to 70% more fat if consumed 3 or 4 times a day. The explanation for this amazing effect relies on the fact that a high amount of calcium helps break down fat cells more effectively and what’s more it can even prevent it from forming. Not only that but low fat dairy products can help lower cortisol levels, a hormone that is partly responsible for belly fat. Aside from being an excellent source of protein, products like yogurt or kefir contain probiotics that might help speed up the fat burn even more.

Mushrooms are the only plant based food that contains vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for weight loss because the proper absorption of calcium depends on it. Those who have low levels of vitamin D in their bloodstream have trouble burning fat effectively.

It has been found that as little as three ounce serving of mushrooms can ensure 100% of the daily requirements of vitamin D. They do not contain any cholesterol, having only 44 calories per cup. Moreover, mushroom are an excellent source of zinc that is essential for many cellular metabolism processes.

Tags: foods that fight belly fat, get rid of belly fat, belly fat, foods that burn belly fat, healthy foods that burn fat, foods to lose weight, stomach fat, reduce belly fat

Foods that prevent wrinkles

Foods that Prevent Wrinkles

In the era of plastic surgery and cosmetic products designed to remove all aging signs the idea that something as simple as food can help us turn down the clock and prevent wrinkles might seem quite far-fetched. None of the less, certain foods have proven to be powerful resources we can use to maintain our youthful appearance.

Inn order to understand how food can help us prevent wrinkles it’s first important to understand how wrinkles are formed. As we age, several changes happen at a cellular level. The cell renewal process slows down, elastic fibers are not able to support the skin as well as they did in the past causing the skin to sag, the dermis loses some of its capability to retain moisture and nutrients and the collagen production beings to slow down.

Excessive stress as well as other environmental factors can influence the collagen production negatively, making the process of synthesizing the collagen protein harder and thus causing premature aging. As the skin elasticity begins to decrease fine lines and wrinkles being to form.

Our lifestyle has a major influence when it comes to how fast we begin developing wrinkles. Hydration, sun exposure as well as exercise are all important factors that can determine the overall aspect of our skin but our dietary choices are the ones that probably influence the health of our skin the most.

Having a diversified diet is crucial in order to maintain our skin healthy and youthful because our skin needs a great number of proteins, vitamins and minerals to maintain our skin elasticity.

If you really start thinking about it, most ”miracle” creams basically contain vitamins that can be easily be obtained form food sources. Retinol creams, the most efficient anti-wrinkles creams are purely based on vitamin A as their essential ingredient. In fact retinol is just the fancy name of vitamin A, which could be much better synthesized if obtained from food sources. Here are the top foods that can help you prevent wrinkles:

Beans

A miracle key ingredient of skin care creams, hyaluronic acid is naturally accessible in beans. Beans contain proteins and powerful antioxidants that facilitate the replacement of broken down collagen, an essential protein that helps maintain our skin youthful.

Tomatoes

A top source of antioxidants, tomatoes impact our skin in multiple ways. They contain a powerful antioxidant called licopene which helps neutralize the free radicals that contribute to skin aging. It has been said that licopene is a lot more powerful than vitamin E which is considered an essential vitamin for our skin. Moreover, tomatoes act like an internal sun block, increasing the body’s natural defense mechanisms and decreasing the damage caused by UV rays on the skin.

In order to benefit the most from the amazing benefits that licopene provides, you should cook or at least heat the tomatoes before eating them as in this way the licopene can more easily absorbed by our body.

Acai berries

Acai berries have received a great deal of attention lately being ranked as a super food due to the high content of antioxidants these fruit contain. Aside from the high content of antioxidants.

Acai berries contain a high amount of essential fatty acids that are essential for maintaining the skin’s connecting tissues firm and avoid skin sagging. Moreover, it seems that these fruits also enhance the natural barrier of the skin protecting it. Choose organic Acai berries to avoid ingesting pesticides.

Dark green leafy vegetables

Dark leafy vegetables are veritable nutritional powerhouses containing essential nutrients such as vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin K, calcium, lutein, quercetin as well as vitamin E. Lutein has a major role in maintaining skin elasticity while quercetin is a bioflavonoid that has anti-inflammatory properties.
The winning combination of vitamin A and vitamin K not only helps you prevent wrinkles but also helps you minimize certain skin imperfections and speeds up the healing of acne scars. Spinach, kale, broccoli, swiss chard or romaine lettuce are good are the most nutrient-packed vegetables.

5 special foods for glowing skin

5 Special Foods for Glowing Skin

Fruits and vegetables are rich in proteins and minerals essential for the beauty of the skin. The skin is the biggest organ of the body that protects us against bacteria and other noxious external factors, and sets the temperature of the body. It’s like the mirror that reflects our health. An attentive care could give the perfect results for a glowing skin. However, regardless of the quality of all beauty products we use, we sometimes feel like going back to the roots, to natural products, that can be a great source of nutrients for our skin.

An excellent glowing skin requires a lot of attention. Fruits and vegetables are the best solution when it comes to skin care. Not only they are a good source of minerals and nutrients, but they are easy to prepare and help you save a lot of money.

Cucumber
Its high content of vitamin E and water makes the cucumber one of the most effective foods for skin care and moisturizing. Crushed and applied on the skin it offers smoothness and freshness. It is also has a calming effect after a long sun exposure.
Its juice has purifying and detoxifying properties, avoids hair loss, prevents wrinkles and helps in treating acne and arthritis. It also useful in eliminating liquids and blemishes from the skin, to clear freckles and fortify hair and nails. You can apply slices on the eyelids in order to activate the micro-circulation and attenuate swelling.

Avocado
Originating from Mexico, avocado is rich in protein and vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, and beta-carotene making it helpful in skin regeneration and hair moisturizing.
Avocado flesh mixed with natural yogurt makes a wonderful mask for moisturizing dry skin, while mixed with yolks balances and smooths mixed skin. It can also be applied on hair as moisturizer.

Rice
Rice is the most consumed cereal around the world. Without proteins, low in calories and rich in carbohydrates, rice is ideal for minimizing gastrointestinal problems and is strongly recommended for those with high blood pressure, cholesterol or kidney infections.

Rice is valued for its healing and emollient properties, its capacity to calm epidermic irritations and pimples, and due to its content of gamma-oryzanol and antioxidants is used in anti-aging treatments.
In the beauty industry rice it is used in many recipes due to hydrolat, a substance rich in antioxidants able to stimulate collagen synthesis. Rice oil is the perfect remedy for sensitive skin, while rice powder is the best ally for oily skin in order to give a matte and soft look.


Cocoa
Besides being a delicious treat, cocoa stimulates endorphins, the hormones responsible for generating happiness. Rich in flavonoids, natural ingredients that reduce the risk of heart diseases or cancer, cocoa, due to its moisturizing and healing properties, is strongly recommended in beauty treatments meant for softening and hydrating the skin.
Cocoa is rich in vitamins such as A, B, C, D, E and K. This helps the skin to restructure and fortify, but also to activate the micro-circulation and fight against aging. These amazing properties made beauty companies to include its benefits in masks and moisturizing treatments.
For a great cocoa facial mask, mix cocoa powder, honey, heavy cream and oatmeal powder.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes are great remedy for a healthy skin as they are rich in vitamins A and C, as well as B1, B2, B5 and vitamin E. They are low in fat and calories, therefore most diets include tomatoes in order to lose weight. Tomatoes help in purifying the organism, reducing cholesterol, calming down arthritic pain, boost the immune system, induce sleep and invigorate the nervous system.
Tomatoes are 90% made out of water, are rich in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iodine, zinc, iron, copper and fluorine. Among their multiple properties, tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant responsible for protecting the body against free radicals, the main factors causing premature aging. Lycopene is a natural pigment that improves the look of the skin saving the collagen. You can use tomato juice as facial tonic, while a mask made of its flesh is appropriate for dry skin.

Immune system boosting foods

Immune System Boosting Foods

Are you tired of the constant flu and fatigue? Then you might consider some of the immune system boosting foods that would keep your organism on high speed regardless of the season. One of the great benefits of these would indeed be the fact that these ingredients are available for everyone. Include the healthy vitamins and nutrients in your diet to increase your energy and improve your mood.

As all our body functions and systems the immune system also need nourishing and conditioning. This can be best done with the help of a diet plan that includes some of the most popular and efficient immune system boosting foods. These due to their vitamin content as well as ability to eliminate toxins from the organism would furnish us with the proper energy load as well as the a protective shield against harmful external factors. Illnesses can pull down both our mood as well as physical condition as we might become tired and lacking any power to do our daily activities. In order to minimize the frequency of the low health periods it is important to adopt a health eating program that has all the necessary ingredients to preserve our spotless immunity. Regardless of being in the summer season or the rainy days make sure you prepare for the unexpected with the proper secret weapons. These are some of the most important immune system boosting foods to consume.

Garlic
Though it is one of the controversial ingredients due to its smell it is important to include it into our meal plan. Garlic is considered some of the healthy natural remedies to fight various disorders. From the immune system to digestive problems all can be easily treated and cured with a similar beneficial treatment.
Fatigue is indeed a problem especially if our lifestyle or profession doesn’t allow us to stay away from the office for a few days. Instead of increasing the chance for this condition, make sure you consume garlic on a regular basis
Use it as a must have ingredient for your delicious dishes and enjoy its antibacterial effect that can prevent and also ameliorate flu, inflammation and infections.Keep your flawless health with some of the foods that contain garlic or include fresh garlic in your nutrition plan.

Carrot
Beta-carotene is one of the main sources of top notch vitamins that are essential to keep the flue and colds at a moderate distance. Boost the resistance of your immune system with fresh carrots or drink carrot juice on a daily basis. Enjoy the nutritive as well as health benefits of this ingredients especially when you feel tired and low. The nutrients from carrots will be able to save your from the various bacterial infections. Immune cells form due to the intake of carrots in different forms, be it raw or juice. Feel confident to consume more of this vegetable as it would have an immediate positive impact on your mood as well as physical and mental condition.
Spinach
Popeye was not the sole fan of spinach as professional nutritionist also joined the party of the ones who encourage the regular consumption of this vegetable. The essential vitamins and nutrients from it would boost the production of immune cells which implicitly increases the resistance of the organism towards free agents. Folate is the basic element that would have the miraculous effect on our immune system.

Moreover you’ll also benefit of antioxidants that would help your organism get rid of the toxins and become stronger in the battle against chemicals as well as the harsh weather conditions. Your balanced diet rich in fresh spinach or dishes that contain this ingredients would be able to save your from bacteria as well as other severe infections.
Blueberry
The list of vitamins these tiny blue balls contain would be endless. Blueberries lead the top of immune system boosting foods due to their high antioxidant effect which originates from the Vitamin E and C content as the most important nutrients for a flawless health condition.
Besides the nice taste you’ll be also granted with an energy boost that would keep your immune system on high speed. Eliminate the toxins from the various sections of the organism and combat inflammation and other diseases with blueberries. Enhance the proper functioning of this body system with these cute and delicious fruits.

Sweet Potatoes
Similarly to carrots these are also rich in carotene, which would play an essential role on the battle against infections and illnesses in general. Detoxify your organism with the regular intake of sweet potatoes choose them over the other vegetables and make delicious salads, dishes that are not only tasty but will ensure your spotless health condition. The consumption of these potatoes would also boost the vitamin A production which is done by the liver. In this case you’ll be more than probably spared from the various bacteria that would attack your skin, However it is also well-known that sweet potatoes are also rich in Vitamin C that controls the proper hydration of the organism.

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