Improve Your Skin With Pycnogenol

The Daily Mail informs us today of recent studies using an extract of maritime pine bark called pycnogenol can slow down the signs of ageing.

It has also proved that it can improve the skin elasticity by up to 25% and hydration by 8%.

The report, published in the Reputable Journal Skin Pharmacy and Physiology tells us of the recent studies carried out in Germany that involved women being given a supplement containing this extract.

Clinical Study

They were monitored for hydration, skin fatigue and elasticity over a period of 12 weeks.

At the end of the study, a biopsy was taken to check the levels of Hyaluronic acid, a crucial element in the skin that is responsible for maintaining its youthful condition.

The results were quite conclusive; production of the acid had increased by 44% with elasticity and hydration also showing great improvement.

The results were more apparent in those women who had dry skin.

The study also reported back that wrinkles were reduced by 3% and the skins smoothness had improved by 6%.

The Dr who led the study, A Dr Jean Krutman tells us

“To date, Pycnogenol is the only natural supplement that stimulates hyaluronic acid production in human skin.

‘And, we are encouraged by the molecular evidence confirmed in this study that shows nutritional supplementation with Pycnogenol benefits human skin.”‘

It is planned in the future to incorporate pycnogenol into a face cream, but until that has been tried and tested, the only way to take this skin enhancing supplement is in tablet form.

Where Can I Buy Pycnogenol

Holland and Barratt sell Pycenogenol from both their high street stores and on line, they sell the supplement in bottles ranging from £11.85 for 30 tablets ( a months supply)

 Buy Pycnogenol Online From Holland Barrett

Reduce Stress And Lose Weight

The Christmas holidays are a time to celebrate and be merry, but what happens after the event? We often find that we have gained weight through all the excess, maybe now we have a muffin top, and our favourite jeans just will no do up any more – its enough to make you go mad!!!

Don’t let your post christmas stress get the better of you, there is damning evidence that the more we stress out about our weight gain, the harder it is to lose it.

We can all react to stress in varying ways, some of us will simply become fretful and cry at the slightest thing, others will catch every cold and cough going, most of us will feel lethargic and depressed.

This is where the problem starts, not only does feeling this way make us seek the instant energy boosts that usually come from high calorie snacks, but it also makes getting rid of that Christmas weight that little bit harder

                   Excess Stress Hormones Promote Unwanted Fat Storage

 If you are stressed when you try to lose weight, you are more than likely to fail, the first thing you have to do is to try and pinpoint your stress type.

If you answer is yes to two or more in any of the sections, that is more than likely your stress type.

 Bloated And Stressed

•  Do you feel bloated after eating
• Do you suffer from IBS type symptoms
• Are you sensitive to any foods
• Are you on any long term medication such as steroids, or antibiotics
• Do suffer from headaches
• Does your diet include sugar and refined carbohydrates

If you have answered three or more to the above, the problem may well lie in having insufficient good bacteria in your digestive system. Low levels of these are known to cause sugar cravings and problems such as IBS and weight gain

 What To Do

Increase your intake of good biotics, vegetables are a good source of these and include artichokes, bananas, garlic, onions, chicory and leeks. There are also some rather good supplements and drinks that can help redress the shortfall.

Cut down on your intake of Caffeine, sugars and alcohol, as all of these can reduce the good bacterial.

Eat and chew slowly and if the problem persists, get checked for food intolerances.

 Wired And Stressed

•  Are you on constant alert
• Do you overreact to stressful events
• Find it hard to relax
• Unable to cope with things
• Have mood swings

This one of the most common stress types and can be the most harmful as it puts a great strain on the mental and physical systems. The stress hormones are controlled by the adrenal glands and when these are overdrive can trigger food cravings and ultimately weight gain..

 What To Do

Ensure that you intake plenty of protein, along with healthy fats and vegetables. (which are known to relieve stress) Eggs, fish and most meats are a good source of protein. Eat Fruit or take supplements high in Iron, Vitamins B and C, along with zinc and magnesium as these are often lost from the body when stressed.

If you exercise, reduce the regime slightly, avoid anything competitive and relax properly before going to bed

 Feeling Cold And Stressed

•  Do you always feel cold
• Are your hands and feet always cold
• Do you bloat
• Is your hair any thinner
• Find it hard to concentrate
• Feel lethargic
• Croaky or hoarse voice
• Wake up still feeling tired

These signs of stress are often caused by reduced operation of your thyroid gland (this is the gland that controls metabolism). By slowing things down to save energy it can slow your body’s natural fat burning processes, leading again to weight gain.

 What To Do

Ensure that your blood sugar levels are kept balanced, cut back on sugar and refined carbohydrates, eat plenty of protein and good fats with each meal. Reduce coffee and alcohol intake and take plenty of exercise as it helps to re-stimulate a sluggish thyroid gland

Eat Leafy greens as these are known to reinvigorate the metabolism, yet avoid things like raw cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower as these have been known to interfere with the function of the thyroid. Foods that warm you are great, try including chilli, ginger, tumeric and green tea into your diet.

Health Giving Benefits Of Green Tea

Foods such as Mackerel, Cod, and various shell fish are high in iron, zinc, selenium, or take supplements as these are all known to stimulate the thyroid and the metabolism.

 Ill And Stressed

•  Are you prone to asthma, arthritis, psoriasis or hay fever
• Do you suffer from frequent ear and throat infections
• Does your weight fluctuate
• Get headaches
• Have joint problems

These could indicate that your immune system is overactive, this suppresses the appetite satisfaction hormones (leptin and ghrelin) and saps energy. These combined can really affect our trying to lose weight.

 What To Do

Reduce sugar intake as it can cause harmful inflammatory reactions.

Boost your diet with an increased intake of vitamins C and E along with beta-carotene. The best source of these is brightly coloured vegetables such as Carrots. Various spices along with garlic and green teas are all known to help reduce sugar levels.

Make sure that you remain fully hydrated at all times, vegetables are a great source of fluid and actually the water in vegetables can actually enter the cells quicker that just drinking water.

Low levels of Omega 3 can also make certain conditions worse, which can bring on more stress, take a supplement containing omega 3 such as acai berry or eat plenty of oily fish to redress the levels.

Supplements Containing Omega3

 Tired And Stressed

•  Do you wake up still feeling tired
• Have energy dips
• Feel fuzzy headed and cannot concentrate
• Rely on sugar or caffeine drinks to give you a boost
• Not sleep very well
• Have fluid retention

The inability to rest properly will leave you and your body unable to function correctly without taking an unhealthy boost of sugar or caffeine

 What To Do

Eat more red meat, fish and eggs, try and boost the levels of iron, vitamins B and C and magnesium. The resulting increase in energy will leave you feeling less stressed and the body will function more normally. These increased energy levels will also help with natural fat burning, meaning that less is stored on your hips, bum and tummy.

 Demotivated And Stressed

•  Do you feel as if you cannot be bothered with anything
• Feel depressed
• Over eat or binge for that sugar rush
• Sleep badly
• Are you prone to SAD (seasonable affective disorder)

Its not willpower that you lack, it is stress that has lowered the body’s natural level of serotonin (the feel good hormone) It has been proven that reduced serotonin levels are linked to depression and also the urge to binge on high sugar foods, which leads to weight gain.

 What To Do

Take Supplements high in Omega 3 which increases serotonin levels, eat plenty of protein to provide energy to the brain. Cut back on sugar intake and take probiotic drinks or yoghurts to boost levels of good bacteria.

Above all -

Enjoy your self, take exercise, listen to music and have sex. These natural highs provide the body with natural opioids that help to reduce stress levels.

How To Boost Your Body After All the Excess Of Christmas

If you are reading this article, you are probably feeling the after effects of too much good food and drink over Christmas. This and the late nights along with virtual inactivity stuck in front of the TV, spreading germs around in our centrally heated houses can play havoc with our body in particular our immune system and energy levels.

If our immune system becomes under par, we are more prone to getting coughs and colds, on a more serious note, with a reduced immunity, we can also leave ourselves open to maybe more potentially nasty diseases.

There are some very useful foodstuffs that we often take for granted that can help boost a flagging immune system and provide us with a useful energy boost

Bananas – High in potassium and can give a much needed boost of energy. Also known to help lower blood pressure and promote healthy skin and hair

Brussel Sprouts – High in vitamin C which can boost immunity, skin, and general well being. Being high in glucosinolates they can help to maintain energy levels, help against conditions such as asthma and have properties that can dispose of potentially dangerous carcinogens

Onions – a natural antibiotic that can help lower cholesterol and reduce the possibility of blood clots. Onion soup is a proven remedy for colds and coughs

Avocado – Highly nutritious and rich in potassium, it helps to lower blood pressure and is high in anti oxidants that help to remove free radicals. These are the toxins that can cause bloating, constipation and some other more serious conditions

Oats – the perfect breakfast meal, high in iron and proteins that can provide a steady release of energy, known to lower cholesterol and soothe frayed nerves

Potatoes – Full of vitamins such as B and C, they also contain iron, fibre and potassium. Especially healthy when cooked in their jackets, and can help ease digestive disorders, Also thought to be beneficial to your digestive system

Carrots – High in Vitamin A and carotenoids, great for boosting eye sight, they also help to improve circulation and can help protect against vascular disease

Kale – Contains high levels of phytochemicals that help to boost the immune system, they can also help to pass oxygen to the tissues, boosting skin radiance as well as improving liver function and  the processing of food into useful energy. Has also been linked to good vascular health, improving blood flow and reducing the risk of heart problems.

Green Tea – Good quality green teas are high in antioxidants, known for their health giving benefits such as lowering cholesterol, reducing appetite and helping to cleanse the body of harmful toxins – an essential part of a natural body detox which will provide a boost in energy along with almost effective weight loss.

 Tava Tea is a powerful blend of 3 Green Teas specially formulated to help you boost your energy levels, eat less and cleanse your system.

Proven to boost vascular health and provide a gentle yet efficient detox, helping you to lose weight at the same time. Featured in the national press and on TV. Now is a perfect time after all the excesses of Christmas and the New Year to find out just what this amazing tea can do for you

 More About Tava Tea