2014modetrends

New sugar limits can be breached by a bar of chocolate

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A single bar of chocolate, three yogurts or a fizzy drink would take the average person over proposed daily sugar limits announced by scientific advisers to the Government.

The recommendations halve current limits, meaning that the average woman should have no more than five to six teaspoons (25g) of sugar a day, and seven to eight teaspoons (35g) for men.

Scientific advisers to Government signalled a war on sugar with draft recommendations that would require radical changes to the British diet.

The new proposed limits mean that many food products that fit within current daily allowances no longer will.

A 330ml can of Coca Cola contains 35g (1.2oz) of sugar, while a Mars bar has 33g (1.16oz) — both well in excess of the average 25g (0.88oz) limit for women and using up the full allowance for men. Three Waitrose low-fat black cherry yogurts provide 27g (0.95oz) in added sugars, exceeding the women’s’ allowance.

The advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) says that no more than five per cent of daily calories should come from sugar — compared with the current limit of 10 per cent.

Health officials say all age groups are exceeding current recommendations, with teenagers on average consuming 50 per cent more sugar than they should. The average adolescent drinks one 330ml can of fizzy drink every day.

On Thursday public health officials said families should think carefully about whether children should be allowed fizzy drinks at all, and said the public needed to be encouraged to swap such beverages for low-calorie versions, or water.

Dietitians said fizzy drinks had “no place” in a healthy diet.

On Wednesday the Government’s chief obesity adviser said parents should serve water with meals and ban fizzy drinks and juices from the dining table in order to reduce their children’s sugar intake. The new proposed guidelines also say Britain needs to boost its intake of fibre from 24 grams (0.8oz) to 30 grams (1.05oz) a day. The recommendations follow a six-year review of 600 scientific studies on consumption of carbohydrates, including sugar. Two thirds of adults in Britain are overweight or obese, and British girls below the age of 20 are now the most overweight in Western Europe.

A separate report by Public Health England outlines a range of measures that it will consider recommending to minsters in an attempt to reduce sugar intake, including taxes on sugary foods, restrictions on advertising and a clampdown on retail promotions relating to sugary foods.

Dr Alison Tedstone, the chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: “Eating too much sugar is harming our health; excess sugar and calorie intake leads to being overweight and obese, and consequently having a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and breast and colon cancer.”

The report warns that obesity could cost up to £50 billion a year by 2050 if current trends continue.

Experts warned of a health crisis with new figures showing that seven out of 10 people aged 45 and over are overweight or obese. Those below the age of 25 are the only group in which the majority are not overweight, the new statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: “These figures show that there is a looming health crisis for the nation. There needs to be a clear message that everybody needs to take control and watch what they are eating.”

Age UK, the charity, said not enough effort was made to encourage older people to adopt healthier behaviours. Ruthe Isden, from the charity, said: “Historically, public health approaches have been very focused on children, and it’s all about getting them while they are young and if you are old then ‘it’s a bit late to bother’. There is a really important need to turn some of that around and actually start talking to people about how it’s never too late.”Read more here:blue prom dresses uk

Get glowing by knowing what’s in your moisturizer

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With so many lotions and creams on the market, you may often wonder what ingredients to look for besides SPF. Whether you want to maintain the glowing skin you already have or need some help to bring out the radiance you miss, here you will find tips about which anti-aging moisturizing ingredients are right for you.

Want your moisturizer to start working immediately? Start with a clean surface so it can easily penetrate and start working its magic, says Tallahassee-based Jennifer Bradley, owner of her name-based skincare line. She says too much dirt and surface oil blocks the moisturizer from doing its job.

But first, it’s important to know your skin type — oily, combination, dry or sensitive.

Oily skin

“With oily skin, you need to be in a good cleansing routine. You need to cleanse morning and night,” said Bradley.

Anyone with an oil slick on their forehead knows it’s not always easy to remove the

dirt and grime with soap

and water alone.

Bradley suggests citrus-based cleansing products. Citrus minimizes the shine from the tip of your nose to the apples of your cheeks while giving your face that squeaky clean feeling. Citrus also works like a toner, so pores don’t appear the size of potholes.

Products with bergamot, a natural plant oil, help calm irritated skin. Plus, the botanical properties classify it as a

natural antiseptic and

anti-inflammatory.

“Bergamot takes away redness and inflammation, something that is common in oily or combination skin,” said Bradley.

When moisturizing your combination or oily skin, she says products with retinols

keep the skin “clear” and

free of breakouts.

Dry, itchy or flaky skin

Anyone with dry skin knows itchy, flaky skin prevails despite frequent moisturizing. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests avoiding the use of lotions with alcohol because of its drying effect on skin. After reviewing labels, you’ll notice alcohol is a

common ingredient among many products.

Bradley says people with dry skin benefit from applying a light serum under their moisturizer to get even better hydration. “If you use cream alone, it doesn’t penetrate into the skin,” she said.

Serums contain a binding agent that attaches to the moisturizer and helps it deliver more hydration in the cells, she said. Serums with squalene, a lipid produced by plants and animals (including humans and olives) are beneficial for persistent dry skin, she added.

Sensitive skin

Carefully read labels. Steer clear of products with pore clogging (comedogenic) ingredients like perfumes, petrolatum and lanolin. These ingredients may irritate or cause breakouts.

Some skincare professionals suggest products with plant-based oils like avocado or grape seed oil to keep pores clog-free.

An ingredient for all skin types

Hyaluronic acid continues to get widespread attention for its ability to fight fine lines and hydrate while giving the appearance of more plumpness.

“Hyaluronic acid is more like an amino acid; it’s a binder so it works well with the cream or moisturizer,” said Bradley.

Popular BB creams like Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB contain a cocktail of ingredients from hyaluronic acid and SPF to vitamin C. These creams help smooth out fine lines while plumping up the skin, giving it more radiance. Plus, the tint helps color correct uneven skin tone.

If you use SPF, keep doing it. Bradley and other beauty experts say it’s one of the

best ways to keep skin

looking youthful.

What about cold creams? What are they?

Brands like Ponds and Noxzema come to mind as cold cream options. Women ages 13 to well in their 90s still use the stuff for keeping skin smooth and relatively wrinkle free. While some women slather the creams to remove make-up, others use it as a standalone moisturizer. The mineral oil in Ponds cold cream washes away hard-to-remove mascara while the beeswax replenishes and seals in the skin’s moisture.

Cutting through product hype

When buying skincare products, sometimes it’s hard to find budget-friendly products with proven results. The American Academy of Dermatology offers a few tips when you’re deciphering the back of a bottle:

• Use products with antioxidants because

they offer sun protection during the day and help reduce damaging

free radicals

• Use products with SPF to prevent sun damage

• At night retinoids, peptides or growth factors are thought to help repair skin

• Growth factors are cell messenger compounds that help stimulate collagen and elastin production and distribution

• Peptides are proteins that help stimulate

collagen production

• Dermatologists can treat blackheads and papules with chemical peels, but they are not available over the counter.Also read here:backless prom dresses

Guest Report - 5 Reasons to Veg-Out This Summer

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One of the healthiest eating habits you can promote in your family is to eat more vegetables. Let them take the main stage on your plate by loading up with healthy greens and a variety of colorful vegetables.

Here are 5 reasons why eating them is so important:

· High in nutrition and low in calories, vegetables pack a powerful punch of vitamins and minerals from a whole food source. No package, no processing, no problems!

· Veggies are a low cost fuel source for the body. Because they are high in fiber, you will fill up faster.

· Eating vegetables is a simple but complex choice. These complex carbohydrates take longer to digest, keeping your blood sugar steady and your appetite under control.

· Eat vegetables for the cancer-fighting power of phytonutrients. Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and kale protect against colon, lung and stomach cancer.

· Variety is the spice of life! There are hundreds of different types of vegetables and many ways to prepare them. You’ll keep your diet healthy and interesting by eating more of them!

Do your health a favor and add more vegetables to your diet to “Feel Better and Live Longer!”.Read more here:formal dresses

10 foods to eat every day for perfect skin

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Are you tired of using different expensive and ineffective beauty products? It’s time to throw away all those ineffective products and start eating foods for perfect skin. I went from terrible acne five months ago to not having acne now. It was hard, but it was possible, and less expensive than turning to pricey products. While some foods can aggravate your skin, others can enhance it. Check out a list of 10 foods to eat every day for perfect skin.

1. Red bell peppers

Red bell peppers are a tasty vegetable that can be enjoyed either cooked or raw. One red bell pepper contains more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs. It also contains significant amounts of dietary fiber and vitamin B6. Moreover, it is rich in carotenoids that can help prevent wrinkles and increase blood circulation to your skin, helping it look more youthful. Due to their carotenoids, red bell peppers are also great to fight acne.

A red bell pepper is a perfect, low calorie snack that contains about 30 calories and has a really satisfying crunchy bite. Keep slices of red bell peppers in the fridge, so you will always have something healthy and tasty to reach for when you are having a snack attack. The fiber that a bell pepper contains will help you to feel full longer with very little calories. Plus, you will have a flawless skin!

2. Dark chocolate

This is one of my favorite foods to eat every day for perfect skin! Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and flavanols that promote glowing skin. The antioxidants in dark chocolate will help reduce roughness in your skin and protect it against sun damage. Moreover, cocoa relaxes arteries, increasing blood circulation that leads to healthier skin.

I usually buy cocoa powder or raw cacao for less fat. And if you like dark chocolate, eat your ounce of dark chocolate every day and make sure you choose at least 80% cacao content in order to avoid milk and added sugars found in a traditional chocolate bar.

3. Salmon

Salmon is an excellent food to fight stress, anxiety, and depression. Salmon also provides most of your daily vitamin D needs. And as you may already know, Vitamin D is responsible for keeping your heart, bones, colon and brain healthy. It also helps prevent colon cancer, anxiety, depression, heart disease and bone disease.

Salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are excellent for fighting inflammation, wrinkles and acne. Its high omega-3 content also helps hydrate your skin from the inside out. Moreover, eating salmon keeps your scalp hydrated and promotes strong, healthy hair.

4. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat with about 90 percent of calories as saturated fat. It contains lauric acid, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that keeps away viruses, infections, inflammation and acne. Coconut oil is also rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which are perfect for keeping your skin moist, soft, and wrinkle-free.

I use coconut oil as a body cream and consume 1 tbsp. of raw coconut oil every day. Coconut oil is especially good for your thyroid. Plus, there’s considerable evidence that this oil can help lose weight. So many health benefits, don’t you think?

5. Green tea

Well, so I know green tea is actually a beverage, but tea leaves come from a plant! Even though I love black tea, I drink green tea every day because I know that it is a great source of antioxidants and a unique amino acid, L-theanine that helps relax your body and lower stress.

When the tea is hot, the bionic brew releases catechins, a kind of antioxidant with proven anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea may also reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Drink 3 or more cups of tea every day for better results.

6. Spinach

Spinach is a healthy and nutrient-rich food you should certainly include in your everyday diet. You may hate spinach, but it is a wonderful source of iron, folate, chlorophyll, Vitamin E, magnesium, Vitamin A, fiber, plant protein, and Vitamin C. Due to their antioxidant abilities, Vitamins C, E, and A are especially great for your skin.

Spinach contains antioxidants that fight against all types of skin problems. Add it to your everyday diet and see what happens. By eating spinach, you’re just cleaning your skin from the inside out!

7. Seeds

Chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds are all great for your skin. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are both rich in selenium, Vitamin E, magnesium and protein. Selenium and protein keep all wrinkles away, Vitamin E enhances moisture in your skin and magnesium lowers your stress levels. The healthy Omega 3 fatty acids in flax, chia and hemp seeds are perfect for fighting wrinkles and acne. Plus, these seeds are rich in protein.

Just sprinkle seeds right on top of your salad or oatmeal and enjoy the great taste as well as perfect skin. I like to add seeds to a fruit yogurt, I think it tastes even better. I also add raw pumpkin seeds in my oh-so delicious smoothies.

8. Celery

Another food to eat daily for perfect skin is celery. Many of us underestimate this veggie, but celery contains Vitamin K that keeps the blood circulation healthy and helps to reduce high blood pressure. This can reduce your stress level, and as you know stress can cause bad skin, migraines and even cancer.

Celery also contains natural sodium, potassium and water, and can help to prevent dehydration. I hope you know that dehydrated skin means dryness, flaking, wrinkles, and even breakouts. Make sure you consume celery every day or at least every other day. If you are counting calories, don’t worry, celery is very low in calories!

9. Papaya

Papaya is a wonderful fruit which has a rich history and numerous nutritional benefits. It is very low in calories (only 39 calories per 100 g!) and also contains no cholesterol. So if you are trying to lose weight, consider eating papaya every day to maximize its health benefits.

A great beauty food, papaya is low in fructose and is excellent for digestion! The antioxidant nutrients found in it, including Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are great at reducing inflammation and acne. Moreover, Vitamin C may also protect your skin against sun damage.

10. Carrots

Carrots are good not only for your eyes, but also for your skin. They are especially good for clearing up breakouts. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and they help prevent the overproduction of cells in the outer layer of the skin. That’s where excess sebum combines with dead cells and clogs pores.

Another great reason to snack on some carrots is because Vitamin A reduces the development of skin-cancer cells. So make sure you nibble on a half-cup of baby carrots every day for perfect skin. I love carrots and I think they make a great snack.

You don’t have to eat all these foods every day, but even some of them would be great! Be sure to avoid junk foods, too much sugar, trans fats and refined carbs for the best skin possible.Read more here:blue prom dresses

Fasting may protect against diabetes

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Research shows that modest weight loss and regular physical activity can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent in patients with prediabetes, according to the CDC. However, researchers from Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, turned their attention to periodic fasting, a biological process in the body that converts bad cholesterolin fat cells to energy, thus combating diabetes risk factors.

Dr. Benjamin Horne, director of cardiovascular and genetic epidemiology at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, led this new research. In 2011, Horne and his team looked at healthy participants during one day of fasting. Their results revealed that water only fasting was linked to lower glucose levels and weight loss.

“When we studied the effects of fasting in apparently healthy people, cholesterol levels increased during the one-time 24-hour fast,” he said. “The changes that were most interesting or unexpected were all related to metabolic health and diabetes risk. Together with our prior studies that showed decades of routine fasting were associated with a lower risk of diabetes and coronary artery disease, this led us to think that fasting is most impactful for reducing the risk of diabetes and related metabolic problems.”

As a result of these findings Horne initiated this new study in which the team investigated the effects of fasting in prediabetics over an extended period of time. The study included participants who were prediabetic, men and women between the ages of 30 and 69 and had at least three metabolic risk factors including These risk factors included:

Abdominal obesity – having an apple shape rather than a pear shape.A high triglyceride level – a type of fat found in the blood.A low HDL cholesterol level – low HDL cholesterol levels increases the risk for heart disease.High blood pressure – the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the heart and lead to plaque buildup.High fasting blood sugar; mildly high blood sugar may be an early sign of diabetes.Participants in this study had different weights with some were obese.

Past research from other studies looked only at obese participants and focused on weight loss due to fasting. Weight loss did occur in this study – three pounds over a six-week period but the main purpose of this study was diabetes intervention.

According to Dr. Horne, in regards to this new study, “During actual fasting days, cholesterol went up slightly in this study, as it did in our prior study of healthy people, but we did notice that over a six-week period cholesterol levels decreased by about 12 percent in addition to the weight loss. Because we expect that the cholesterol was used for energy during the fasting episodes and likely came from fat cells, this leads us to believe fasting may be an effective diabetes intervention.”

The method of removing LDL cholesterol from the fat cells for energy should help negateinsulin resistance. In insulin resistance the body produces insulin but does not use it effectively. In those who have insulin resistance, glucose builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells, leading to type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

“The fat cells themselves are a major contributor to insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes,” said Dr. Horne. “Because fasting may help to eliminate and break down fat cells, insulin resistance may be frustrated by fasting.”

In closing, Dr. Horne remarks, “Although fasting may protect against diabetes.” “It’s important to keep in mind that these results were not instantaneous in the studies that we performed. It takes time. How long and how often people should fast for health benefits are additional questions we’re just beginning to examine.”Also read here:mermaid prom dresses