Archive for the personal care Category
Manuka Honey Health Benefits
27/02/2012 by admin.
Manuka honey is marketed as the health honey but is it really? What does this magical honey have that others do not and is it as good for our health as manufacturers would have us believe?
Even though its main constituent is sugar there is no question that honey is good for you. Honey is not only a natural sweetener but also has vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, folate, vitamin c, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. However, Honey can sometimes carry a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous for infants as they have underdeveloped intestinal tracts. Therefore, it is not recommended that you feed honey to a child under one year old.
Honey also has antioxidants, which can help counteract harmful free radicals. Free radicals are unpaired electrons inside our cell’s molecules. The unpaired electron searches for another electron to become stable. It then steals an electron from another stable molecule. Thus producing another unstable electron. This causes a chain of events, which may end up destroying the entire cell. It is thought that Antioxidants neutralise free radicals by donating an electron and therefore halting the destructive process.
In addition to these health benefits, honey is also said to have antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Honey has been used to treat wounds for infection for thousands of years. Recent research suggests that honey may be beneficial in treating some bacterial infections, which have become resistant to certain drugs. It has been suggested that it may be beneficial in treating MRSA.
The antibacterial properties of honey come from the Hydrogen Peroxide produced by the activity of the enzyme Glucose Oxidase. This enzyme, in standard honey, is reduced when light or heat is introduced. The more light or heat the honey is exposed to, the quicker the enzyme will be deactivated. This is where Manuka honey excels. The difference between standard honey and Manuka honey is said to be that Manuka honey’s antibacterial properties are produced from non-peroxide activity. This means that its antibacterial properties are not affected by light and heat and will not be deactivated.
It is easy to identify these Manuka honeys as it has a UMF rating. This means ‘Unique Manuka Factors’. This represents the antibacterial properties of the honey. The higher the UMF rating on the honey, the higher the antibacterial properties will be. These properties will have been independently tested in a laboratory.
Honey is a delicious energy provider with the added bonus of nutrients and antioxidants. If you are looking for something delicious to put on your toast in the morning, standard honey is fine. However, if you are looking for a honey that is not only delicious but retains its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, Manuka honey may be worth the extra cost.
For more information please visit www.naturalmatter.co.uk
Herbal Tea Health Benefits
29/01/2012 by admin.
Have a look at this Herbal Tea Health Benefits page. It lists many herbal teas and their suggested benefits. Herbal teas have been used for centuries to cure minor ailments. Whether or not you believe that they do have specific medicinal benefits, one thing the teas do have is a high vitamin content. Why not substitute your fizzy soda drink or your high caffeine jet fuel for a delicious fruity tea instead. Who knows, they may have those hidden health benefits after all.
For a fantastic range of organic herbal teas, including green tea and fruit flavoured teas visit the natural matter herbal tea page.
Warming Up and Cooling Down
22/11/2011 by admin.
Warming Up
You need to warm up for at least 10 minutes. Your aim is to increase your heart rate slightly and then move onto gaining flexibility. It is good to start with exercises that increase the heart rate so you are slightly warmer when you start your stretches. You are less likely to damage muscles this way.
Exercises that increase the heart rate slightly are gentle jogging, fast walking or jumping. You should feel that your heart rate is slightly raised as you begin your routine.
Exercises which increase flexibility include knee lifting, placing your hands on your hips and making a circular movement, raising and lowering your shoulders, gently tilting your head from side to side to stretch the neck and also gently stretching the back.
stretch mat fitness mat yoga mat
Cooling Down
Cooling down is also a vital part of your exercise routine. You want to return your cardiovascular system to its former level. When you are exercising your body is delivering a high level of blood to muscles. If you stop suddenly this flow continues when it is not needed, this could cause dizziness or even fainting.
Your aim is to cool down slowly and let the muscles cool down at the same pace. If you are running it is good to slow the pace to a walk, if you are weight training it is good to perform stretches of the muscles you have been using. Cool down should last for at least 5-10 minutes. Try to hold the stretches for a longer time than you did when you were warming up. Stretching the muscles you have worked also reduces post workout aches.
Back and Muscle Support during weight training
If you are weight lifting, it may help to wear a back support belt. This helps improve body mechanics and posture, ensuring that the back is supported when lifting heavy weights. Do not wear the belt expecting it to stop injury. It is a support. All support socks and knee braces are meant to support the body. They cannot prevent further injury. Make sure you do not exercise when your body is not 100%
lifting belt weight lifting belt reebok weight lifting belt
For fitness equipment visit www.naturalmatter.co.uk
Warning:- The information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any medical condition. Should you have any medical condition, always consult your doctor, before undertaking any change in exercise or dietary advice.
Exercise can be hazardous. If you use any of the ideas, techniques or suggestions discussed in these documents, all are undertaken at the reader’s sole discretion and risk.
Your Heart Health Tips
05/10/2011 by admin.
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vitamin e
Vitamin e is excellent if you want to prevent your arteries from thickening and can also increase the levels of ‘high density lipoprotein’ – which is good cholesterol. But if you have high blood pressure already, vitamin e can increase these levels so always check with your doctor before increasing your intake. |
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aspirin
Extensive research has been conducted into aspirin and significant benefits have been discovered concerning heart disease. It is a good idea to discuss with your doctor the benefits of taking aspirin, as it has been shown to be able to reduce the formation of blood clots. |
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garlic
Another great food for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol is garlic. It is recommended that you eat a whole clove a day. It is also possible to supplement your diet with garlic tablets. |
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ginger
This root vegetable is an excellent addition to any meal. Not only does it taste good but it is able to prevent heart disease and strokes. It does this by reducing internal blood clotting. It is possible to take the ginger in tablet, capsule or liquid form. |
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blood
pressure
You can watch your blood pressure closely by getting a home blood pressure monitoring kit, this will let you know if the actions you are taking to lower your levels are being effective or not. |
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vegetarianism Vegetarianism is particularly advantageous if you suffer with a heart problem or want to reduce your risk of heart disease altogether. There are fewer reported cases of heart disease among Vegetarians and Vegans (exclusion of dairy products, eggs and meat) because their diets contain less fat and cholesterol.
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isoflavones
Isoflavones can be found in soya beans, these have been shown to lower cholesterol levels and in turn heart disease. It is also possible to your supplement diet with Isoflavones in the form of tablets. |
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folic acid
Research has been conducted into Folic Acid and it has emerged that individuals who have good levels of folic acid are less likely to die of heart disease than those whose diets did not have enough. |
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sodium
Too much salt or sodium in your diet can cause high blood pressure. Try reducing the amount of salt you put into your food. It may also help to keep an eye on sodium levels in the food you are eating. The lower the levels the better. |
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workout
Regular aerobic exercise is really important as it strengthens the heart and lungs. It also keeps blood vessels working properly. People who do not take part in any exercise are twice as likely to develop heart disease than people who work out regularly. |
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relax
Learning how to relax is vitally important. Stress may be a contributing factor in heart disease and learning how to cope in stressful situations is essential. Relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga and have proved beneficial in coping with such situations. |
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fat
It is a fact that our daily fat consumption is over 35% of our daily calorie intake and this is a serious problem. It is recommended that we aim for around the 20% level. If you restrict your fat intake to about 10% of your daily calorie intake then there is significant research which suggests that, with the addition of exercise and relaxation techniques, an individual can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease. It may even be possible to unclog existing arteries. |
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family
Check if any members of your family have a history of heart disease of have died at an early age due to heart problems. Knowing your family history will enable you to be more aware of your own health and allow you to make health changes to combat a hereditary heart problem.
Exercise can be hazardous. If you use any of the ideas, techniques or suggestions discussed in these documents, all are undertaken at the reader’s sole discretion and risk.
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hawthorn
This is a great herb which strengthens the arteries and tones the heart muscle. It is possible to drink the herb as a tea, take it in extract, tincture or tablet form.
Warning:- The information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any medical condition.
Should you have any medical condition, always consult your doctor, before undertaking any change in exercise or dietary advice. |