Diet And 'Acne Food' Explained

Why is diet so important for you to have clear and beautiful skin? Eating right will always help the health of your body. In fact, many diseases today are related to bad eating habits. So what is "acne food"? Essentially, foods that help your immune system, which then helps skin health too. When eaten, this acne food will help ensure that you have clear skin. It can be thought of as one of the pimple remedies that you do not apply onto the skin, but works internally instead.

A change in diet may clean you from the inside. It is commonly known that foods low in nutrition do not do your body any favours. The fact is that a pimple is, essentially, an infection. It appears red and inflamed due to inflammation triggered by acne bacteria. We can help our bodies fight off (and even prevent) these infections by ensuring our immune system is as strong as possible.

Acne food combines natural sugars and fats. If you eat something like a garden salad, then an avocado (for example) is a must for the fat component. In the same way, sugars with cold pressed olive oil and olive oil with orange juice will stabilize blood sugar level and discourage the break out of pimples and acne.

Also, an acne food diet consists of plenty of water and fresh juices that will help you to get rid of toxins. A balanced diet cuts out all excessively fatty and oily food like french fries, pizzas, potato chips, and processed foods, since they do not help the body. It should be noted that, despite the myths about these foods causing acne, the reason to avoid them is actually because they do not add to the body's nutrient intake. Fresh fruits, whole grained foods and plant based foods that are rich in minerals and vitamins are "acne food" that will help to benefit the overall health of acne sufferers, and your skin will show it.

Since an "acne food" diet consists of foods rich in nutrients a good example of an acne food snack would be a salad comprised of things such as well-ripened fresh fruit, tomatoes, cucumber and avocados, prepared with extra virgin olive oil, and even sushi (raw fish). It is said to be ideal if you consume 2 egg yolks and 50gms of raw fish a day (it is 5 egg yolks and 100gms of raw fish for a man). This type of acne food has redundant protein and can increase blood protein level in your body.

Often people in search of "pimple remedies" find only disappointment instead of true help. The fact is that information is the BEST of the pimple remedies. The reason's because it is in understanding skin that one can get rid of zits long-term and truly get clear skin.

By shifting the focus away from merely discovering how to get rid of zits to the bigger picture of understanding skin, it becomes much easier to not only get clear skin, but also keep it healthy.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Minerals And Hormone Balance: What Women Need

It's no secret that minerals are required for every bodily process, but did you know that hormone imbalances can be blamed on mineral imbalances too? That's right - essential nutrients affect how our hormones work and that can have a huge impact on life in general. Hormonal imbalances can cause weight gain, decreased sex drive, weight gain, fatigue and PMS, to name a few.

Prescription medicines contain mind-altering pharmaceuticals that can disturb your natural hormonal balance and cause unwanted side-effects. Some people who use anti-depressants may experience increased suicidal tendencies, while lacking sexual desire and weight gain. Evidence has shown time and again that many conditions that are treated with pharmaceuticals could be avoided with proper nutrition.

Let's take a look at some of the hormones, and how you can address them using mineral supplements. A hair mineralysis is a great way to assess any imbalances and deficiencies that will help address symptoms.

Serotonin boosts excitement and enthusiasm. People who lack serotonin often experience sadness, poor sleep, lethargy, irritable bowel syndrome, PMS and sugar or carbohydrate cravings. Magnesium is essential for hormone development and nerve communication.

Dopamine functions in improving energy, self-confidence and self-discipline. Dopamine deficiency is evident when symptoms such as addiction, depression, hyperactivity and obesity are present. Selenium helps improve dopamine and research has shown that a low selenium intake is linked to depression.

Women in particular need essential minerals for optimum health. During her reproductive years, a woman is more likely to lack iron, while a menopausal woman will have to avoid iron supplementation. Here are some more reasons why women should consider mineral supplements:

Iodine assists hormone regulation, detoxification an nerve activation.

Selenium has powerful antioxidant properties for immune health and it helps to regulate thyroid hormone activity. There is a strong relationship between selenium and hormone regulation, particularly of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, luteotropic hormone, thyroid hormone and progesterone.

Zinc is often depleted by birth control, poor dietary habits, HRT, medications and alcohol consumption. Low levels of zinc have been linked to PMS, infertility and increased estrogen activity, as well as increased effects of ageing and an inability to handle stress.

Magnesium has been found to fight the effects of ageing in women, as it helps with muscle cramps and spasms, migraines and blood pressure, as well as PMS.

If you think that your hormones are out of balance, or that you might be mineral deficient, it's a good idea to consider a hair mineral analysis. This quick, accurate and painless procedure will show you exactly what your body needs to become healthy, energetic and performing at optimum level.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Do Not Neglect Bloating Stomach

The medical term for stomach bloating is 'abdominal distension'. Stomach bloating is usually caused by irregular functioning of the digestive system. Due to the malfunctioning of the digestive system gases are emitted out at a rapid rate and these gases get caught in your tummy causing your stomach to bloat. Stomach bloating is often found in women and in some cases they even gain considerable weight due to bloating. First of all, what makes our stomach bloat?

As a remedy for stomach bloating tummy and abdomen exercises have been suggested by many. But the truth is that, reason for the bloating of your stomach lies within your body. Hence, stomach bloating should be cured from within. A bloating stomach is not only a matter of discomfort to the individual but is also a social embarrassment. Who would want to walk around with a bloating stomach? Unhealthy colon, parasitic invasion of your digestive system, intestinal gases, fatty foods, flatulent foods- any of these factors can be contributing towards the bloating of your stomach. Foods that might lead to stomach bloating are dairy products, artificial gums and sugars, fatty foods, beans, peas, lettuce and cabbage. A high fiber diet also might lead to stomach bloating.

If you don't prefer medications made out of chemicals then you can use herbal medicines to get rid of stomach bloating. Several alternative treatments have specific medicines for treating stomach bloating, belching and flatulence. If your stomach is bloating because of harmful bacteria or parasites in your intestine then you should go for a colon cleansing program. You can even try colonic hydro cleansing therapy which fast, easy and reliable for getting your intestine cleaned. Several healing programs that are aimed to cure stomach bloating involve probiotics, supplementary vitamins, special enzymes that will assist the digestive system in reducing the intestinal gas. They deal with acid reflux as well. Avoid eating foods that might produce gas in your body. Change your dietary habits and start eating a balanced diet. Do not talk while eating. Eat slowly and chew your food properly. Do not drink too much of water or carbonated drinks while eating.#

Photo: Juicing-for-health.com

Fatty foods, junk food containing high amount of cholesterol should be avoided by all means. In case, you have lactose intolerance avoid taking dairy products. Artificial sweeteners, gums and chocolates also should be taken in limited amounts only. Once you start experiencing stomach bloating, observe the kind of foods you are taking and find out which vegetable or fruit or food is not going with your body. Avoid taking that particular food item in future. Stomach bloating, flatulence, abdomen cramps, belching all these denote bad food habits and improper functioning of your digestive system. The next time your stomach starts bloating, don't blame it on your tummy alone. Check your lifestyle also.

Consumption alcohol, smoking etc also indirectly influence the working of your digestive system. Do not use any medication without consulting a doctor. In case you are using homemade herbal remedies for treating your bloating stomach and if you happen to face any discomfort stop using those herbs immediately and rush to a doctor. Put an end to stomach bloating today for a healthier & happier life.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Thyroid Talk: A Pig’s Hormone Cured Me | Stephanie O'Quigley

Meet Stephanie, she is an Irish health, beauty, fashion and fitness blogger currently living in NYC. She launched her blog in 2012 following her passion and love for writing, fashion and entertainment but honesty, genuine interest and openness that radiates from her blog posts has helped to make her blog and social media into a real success.

Photo: Stephanie O'Quigley | Instagram

Starting as an intern for Marissa Carter, Stephanie moved on to work as a brand manager for Cocoa Brown but has moved to NYC now, sharing her experience and tips also about the life in the Big Apple.

She is an advocate for healthy living, healthy eating and fitness, being a role model herself by losing 5 stones in two and half years. She calls herself a 'clean eater' and says that at the end of the day it is all about how you feel.

Being healthy is not about restriction. It’s about making the best choices for yourself so that you can have the best quality of life possible. | Stephanie O'Quigley (Quote from the interview with Stellar.ie)

Stephanie has allowed us to share her experience about healthy living, healthy eating and weight loss and in this post you can learn all about Stephanie's experience dealing with under-active thyroid diagnose.

Photo: Stephanie O'Quigley | Instagram

'I was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid was I was about 15 years of age. After 11 years of constant medication changes and 11 years of being tired, I have finally accepted that hypothyroidism is going to be part of my everyday life, forever. That being said, I believe that I am in a relatively good place with my health;  almost symptom-free.

When I wrote this blog post (almost a year ago),  all of the questions were about how I’d become symptom-free and why I changed my medication so I am sharing my story.

To put it into perspective, for anyone who doesn’t already know, your thyroid controls:

• your weight (Low metabolism means slow conversion of fat into energy.)
• your energy levels (Thyroid hormones power you up.)
• your gastrointestinal health (Thyroid is responsible for stomach acid formation, essential for good digestion.)
• your nervous system (This is why low thyroid causes brain fog, forgetfulness, and depression.)
• your cardiovascular health (Many heart diseases could be avoided if the thyroid was properly checked.)
• your hormonal balance (This is why infertility is often caused by thyroid issues.)

Why did I change my medication?

'Change my medication?' 'But there is only one medication for underactive thyroid…'

Ahh, you see, that is what they tell you.

I was on Eltroxin for about 7 years before changing to Armour Thyroid. Armour Thyroid is a desiccated thyroid extract made from pig thyroid and is all natural, while Eltroxin is made completely synthetically. If I had to guess, Eltroxin is what 95% of the underactive thyroid sufferers are on (in Ireland). Eltroxin only replaces Thyroxine also called T4, while Armour Thyroid replaces everything a human thyroid has, namely T1, T2, T3 (triiodothyronine), T4 and calcitonin. All in all, porcine thyroid contains a wider range of hormones closer to that of humans.

PORCINE? Yes, Armour is made from a pig’s gland. Pigs are used a lot as our heart valves are like theirs and we use the skin in burn victims for grafting. After taking Armour for over 4 years now, I feel like a pretty normal person, much more so than I did when I was on Eltroxin alone.

Photo: Stephanie O'Quigley | Instagram

Why won’t my doctor prescribe a natural thyroid medication?

Sadly, TSH and T4 are the “gold standards” in testing for thyroid health amongst most doctors. By testing this way, your results are an indirect reading of your actual thyroid’s health. A good GP would look at a full thyroid blood panel as well as your symptoms and your health history. It’s widely proven that many people have “normal” TSH (within the range) in spite of having thyroid symptoms.

So, the way our thyroid is tested us not very thorough and because the result of Armour Thyroid does not fully show  in these standardized tests, the majority of GP’s refuse to prescribe a medicine that is not testable…(Is testable a word, I don’t know)

My advice? Find a doctor who will. It changed my life and it could change yours. I would travel to China for it.

For the past four to five years, I’ve grown back my eyebrows, had consistently good energy levels (for the most part),  normal hair texture, I don’t suffer from dry eyes and most importantly, I was able to change my life and get really, really fit.

Read my story and judge for yourself. I am not claiming natural medication is the way to go for everyone’s thyroid problems but it worked for me. I understand there are cons when taking Armour Thyroid (and that it is very expensive) but I am cautious and aware. Right now, this is the best option I have.

More thyroid reading

• Dr. Izabella Wentz, the Thyroid Pharmacist, and her book The Root Cause
• Dr. Kharrazian and his book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms?
• Chris Kresser’s blog – well researched and presented
• Janie Bowthrope and her book Stop The Thyroid Madness
•  Dr. Osansky’s website – especially good for people with hyperthyroidism

I am not a doctor but if you have a question you think I can help with, I would be more than happy to lend some advice. Message me on Instagram!

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Check out Stepahie's website and social media here:

Web: http://stephanieoquigley.com
Instagram: @StephanieOQuigley
Twitter: @StephanieOQ