With Vitamin E, Easy Does It

Vitamin E supports metabolism and it’s an antioxidant that protects cells and tissues from harm.  So, you might think, the more the better, right?

Not so fast.

For adults, the RDA for vitamin E is 15 mg (22.4 IU).  Most of us get close to that without much effort.  Whole grains, leafy greens, soybean, canola, sunflower and olive oils, egg yolks, nuts and seeds are all good dietary sources.

Researchers have found that vitamin E supplements above 400 IU can be harmful.  The bottom line?  If you’re taking a multivitamin, choose one with a low dose of vitamin E because most of us get plenty of vitamin E by eating a balanced diet.

all my best,

Karen Cameron
www.IndependAid.com & www.Memoir-Maker.com

Source:  Wise Woman, (HAP Newsletter), Fall 2001

Best Ways to Bust Cellulite

There’s no permanent cure for cellulite, but there are ways to reduce its appearance. Don’t throw your money away on expensive products or treatments. Try one of these affordable, effective secret weapons first.

Up Your Water Intake

Water helps flush out toxins that hide in the fat layers beneath the skin and make cellulite lumps even more visible. Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day. Hydration also works to plump the skin and make it look less lumpy.

Reduce Salt & Sugar

By eating a healthy diet, you can help reduce cellulite. First, avoid too much sugar, which gets stored in fat cells and causes them to expand. Second, limit salt intake, since sodium causes fluid retention, making cellulite appear even worse. Consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar each day, and stay away from foods containing more than 200 mg of sodium.

Get a Kelp Kick

Kelp contains fucoxanthin, a xanthophyll compound found in green plants with chlorophyll, which helps the body burn fat. Studies show that ingesting kelp can help facilitate a 5-10% loss in body weight, thus reducing the appearance of cellulite. Add kelp to your diet regimen. You can purchase dried kelp for about $7; try adding it to miso soup or crumble it into stir-frys and salads. Or, you can get your kelp in 300 mg capsule form (about $10 a bottle) at your vitamin store.

Slather on a Cream

Aminophylline cream, when applied topically, helps break down fat in cells so it can burn easier. Aminophylline cream, available online for about $40 a bottle, should be applied to the affected area on a daily basis. To supercharge this treatment, add vitamin C, which helps to build collagen. Make sure you get 75 mg of vitamin C each day. One kiwi or a cup of strawberries will do the trick.

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that reduces the presence of free radicals responsible for the breakdown of collagen. Retinol helps maintain skin smoothness and makes cellulite bulges less visible.  Look for 100,000 IUs of vitamin A per 2-ounce jar. For best results, use 100% retinol cream with added vitamin A, C and E.

Caffeine creams work on the spot by breaking down fat cells, making skin smoother and less lumpy. The caffeine actually dehydrates the area where the cellulite is, tightening and firming the skin for a temporary smooth appearance. When purchasing these products, examine the ingredients, which are always listed in order of concentration. You want to choose a product with about a 5% caffeine concentration. Caffeine creams typically range in price from about $20-$100.

Try a Massager

Cellulite develops because fibrous connective bands between the skin and fat pull the fat to the surface, creating a rippled skin appearance. By creating friction, you can loosen or soften those bands temporarily. Massage helps by stimulating circulation and draining excess fluids. When the fat cells aren’t as “full,” the lumps appear smoothed. Try a massage product with battery-powered rollers.

When you look better, you feel better.  And, what Caregiver doesn’t want to feel better!?  These quick and cheap aids may do the trick for you.

all my best,

Karen Cameron
www.CheckInCalls.com & www.Memoir-Maker.com
Source:  The Doctor Oz Newsletter

The Anti-Alzheimer’s Diet

People who eat a lot of  nuts, fish, poultry and certain fruits and vegetables — and not much red meat, high-fat dairy, organ meat and butter — are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers at Columbia University Medical Center.  The study, to appear in the June issue of the journal Archives of Neurology, built on previous research that found that foods containing certain nutrients are beneficial for the brain and effective at warding off Alzheimer’s. The disease typically affects the elderly and is accompanied by debilitating memory loss.

Yian Gu, Ph.D., and colleagues tracked 2,148 healthy adults aged 65 and older over a period of four years. During the follow-up, 253 of the subjects were discovered to have developed Alzheimer’s, even though none of them showed signs of dementia when the study began.

Those who didn’t get Alzheimer’s had diets rich in seven different nutrients: vitamin E, vitamin B12, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids and folate.  “These nutrients may help prevent loss of memory and cognitive decline,” Gu said. “They may play a role in a variety of different mechanisms in the brain.”

The non-Alzheimer’s group got the crucial nutrients by consuming a lot of fish, poultry, oil and vinegar salad dressing, nuts, tomatoes, other fruits and green, leafy vegetables. They also ate little red meat, organ meat, high-fat dairy foods and butter.  “It’s important not only to take in a lot of good foods like vegetables and fruits but also not to take in a lot of bad foods like red meat,” said Gu. “Changing diet is a relatively easy way to go and gives us hope.  We can’t make any recommendations on what people should eat based on a single study,” she said. “But, it doesn’t hurt to follow this dietary pattern, eventhough we need more studies to confirm our findings.”

Source:  AOL Health Newsletter

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Get Your Daily Dose of Fresh Fruit

My girls and I love fruit.  I buy 2-3 bags of apples, 3-4 bunches of bananas, a dozen kiwi, and whatever berries I can find EVERY week.  Add to that in-season mangoes, pears, peaches, grapefruit, tangerines and a random papaya and you have an idea of what my shopping cart looks like.  So, when I saw the following list, I thought I’d share it on the blog.  Except for the sugar (which is natural, anyway), you can’t go wrong with a piece of fruit!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fibre. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange!

AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

EATING 2 – 4 ORANGES a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of  92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C and Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes.

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