Gorgeous Acai Bowls That Are Also Insanely Healthy For You

These drool-worthy shots will have you making acai bowls for breakfast in no time.

Berries galore

Have you jumped on the acai bowl bandwagon yet? The superfood from Brazil is poised to be everyone's favorite breakfast, and for good reason. This tropical fruit has multiple health benefits and tastes great (some say it tastes like ice cream!). You’ll not only feel full and satisfied after eating this sweet treat for breakfast, but you’ll also feel good about treating your body well. There is a catch, though—acai bowls can be expensive to make at home, since the fruit is native to Brazil. In the U.S., acai is sold as a frozen puree and is typically found at health food stores. Lucky enough to find the frozen puree? Blending in fruit and some sort of liquid such as coconut or almond milk can help you achieve the right consistency at home. Once you’re done, you can go wild adding fresh fruit or oatmeal to complete your healthy and nutritious acai bowl. Need some inspiration? Check out some of these mouthwatering acai bowls captured for Instagram.

Bananas and coconut

Want more superfoods in your diet? These are essential ones that every man and woman needs in their diet.

Fully loaded

Try these easy ways to make these superfoods even healthier than they already are.

Crazy for kiwis

If you love acai, you have to try out these paleo smoothies even non-dieters will love.

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7 Clear Signs You Need to Move More

Yes, exercise can help you lose weight, but you’ll be surprised at how many other ways it can radically improve your health and well-being.

You're suddenly experiencing pain

We’ve all had one of those mornings—you wake up and your lower back, knee, or shoulder is suddenly aching. But while you might be tempted to wait it out, certified personal trainers Jim Karas and Michelle Blakely suggest getting your body in motion. Just moving your muscles, loosening your joints, and getting blood pumping to that area of your body can be enough to lessen the pain, Karas says. Even clients who have faced longer-term pain, like that which comes with rheumatoid arthritis, have improved their daily movement and ability to do chores by getting regular exercise. After your workout, chow down on one of these foods that fight pain naturally.

You're constantly fatigued

If you’re tired all the time, even with adequate food and sleep, maybe all you need is to move a bit more. It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but a study from the University of Georgia showed that just 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise three times a week increased energy levels by 20 percent. Researchers said the findings showed how exercise directly acts on the central nervous system to decrease fatigue, in some cases as much as 65 percent, according to the New York Times. “I like to tell my clients that an object in motion stays in motion,” says Chicago-based personal trainer Traci Mitchell. “It’s kind of like getting that big boulder of motivation moving, and once it gets moving, your energy increases.” Here are more tricks to beat fatigue naturally.

You're stressed

“Stress levels have never been higher,” Karas says, and statistically, he is right. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University showed that stress increased 18 percent for women and 24 percent for men from 1983 to 2009. We’re more worried about finances, constantly bombarded by media and information, and too busy to decompress—and that stress could be making us sick. But just walking, running, or strengthening your body for 20 to 30 minutes three to four times a week is enough to significantly decrease your anxiety, and research shows that adding in music makes that exercise even more effective in fighting stress. “If you’re dealing with a difficult decision, probably one of the best things you can do, whether it’s personal or business, is to get out and put your ear buds on,” Karas says.

Your hormones could use some TLC

Exercise is an excellent way to help regulate your hormones, and you’d be surprised at how much that can impact how you think, look, and feel. For example, boosting your testosterone levels, which can be done through exercise, helps increase your metabolism, maintains youthful-looking skin, and keeps your brain functioning properly, according to Karas.

Your digestion is out of whack

A 30-minute run or brisk walk will do more than just increase your appetite for dinner; it will help you digest your dinner, too. Aerobic exercise quickens your breathing and heart rate, which in turn improves the contraction of your intestinal muscles. As a  result, your digested food passes more quickly through your intestines and out of your body, decreasing constipation. Moving in whatever method (walking, running, swimming, dancing, and even stretching or yoga) will help with digestion.  Enhance the healthy belly benefits your workout by adding foods that boost good gut bacteria to your diet.

Your time-management tricks are failing you

Personal trainer April Sutton says a lot of her clients approach her for assistance when they feel like they’ve lost control over how they structure their time due to overwhelming work and family commitments. “They can’t really think for themselves outside of their jobs because they’re so burnt out,” says Sutton. Trainer Michael Moody has clients prioritize exercise, and think about how other habits (how they eat, sleep, and how much they sit at work) can impact how they feel when they exercise. Becoming “human scientists of their body” helps people better understand how their lifestyles can impact their health, Moody says. From there, it’s a matter of correcting bad habits, and continuing to put aside time to exercise regularly. Besides exercise, successful people do these things after work.

You're not sleeping well

If you’re having trouble nodding off or staying asleep at night, you may need to move a bit more during the day. In a study published in the journal Sleep Medicine, researchers at Northwestern University found that insomniac middle-aged and older participants who exercised and were taught to sleep in a cool, dark room and go to bed at the same time each night got 1.25 more hours of sleep nightly than those who did not participate in physical activity. Whether you have chronic insomnia or you just haven’t been sleeping well lately, getting some aerobic activity in during the day will probably help you catch more Z’s at night. Here are some signs you're not sleeping deeply enough.

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Ginseng Benefits: How It Heals

Wars were fought over this ginseng, which has the power to boost immunity and enhance physical and mental performance.

Few herbs are as highly prized as ginseng. Wars were fought over it in China, where it has been used for 8,000 years. Today, a single root of wild Panax ginseng can command as much as $50,000. Of many ginseng variants, three are in common use. Asian/Korean ginseng (P. ginseng) and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius) are considered “true” ginseng, while Siberian/Russian ginseng is a more distant relative. The two Panax varieties may be white (the dried, unprocessed root) or red (the steamed, heat-dried root, thought to be pharmacologically more active). The uses of all three are primarily based on ginseng’s reputation as an “adaptogen” that boosts immunity and enhances physical and mental performance.

How Ginseng Works

Now widely cultivated, ginseng has been the subject of thousands of studies. The active constituents in the two Panax types are called ginsenosides, which act on the central nervous system. Research suggests that American and Asian ginseng boost the production of protective antibodies that help the body resist infections such as flu, the common cold, and other respiratory illnesses; Asian ginseng may also offer some protection against cancer and speed recovery after treatment. Siberian ginseng, which can help combat flu and herpes viral infections, contains substances known as eleuthorosides that stimulate the immune system, encouraging the body to produce protective T-cells.

Various studies show that ginseng may boost memory and concentration and combat fatigue. Two specific ginsenosides—Rb1 and Rg1—are thought to be responsible for improving cognitive function. Ginsenosides may also combat male impotence by reducing blood levels of the protein prolactin, which can cause erectile dysfunction. Asian ginseng appears to increase sperm levels and motility, as well as boosting sex drive; Korean red ginseng may also boost sexual arousal in women.

How to Use Ginseng

Many different types of ginseng are available in whole root, extract, powder, tablet and capsule form. You can also buy ginseng tea. Check to ensure you have the desired herb and follow label instructions or take as professionally prescribed.

Safety First

Though considered generally safe, Panax ginseng may interact with diabetes medications, antidepressants and the blood thinner warfarin, and may enhance the effects of flu vaccines. Ginseng has not been widely tested during pregnancy or breastfeeding so it is best avoided or used only under medical supervision during these periods.

Where to Find Ginseng

Varieties of ginseng are available in health food stores, some pharmacies or from a qualified herbalist.

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Bitter Melon Health Benefits: Can Bitter Melon Help Treat Diabetes?

Thinking of taking bitter melon to help treat diabetes? Read this first.

In tropical areas from China, Asia, and Africa to the Caribbean and South America, bitter melon is both a food and a medicine. Unripe, its fruit resembles a warty, green cucumber that gradually turns orange with bright red edible seeds as it matures. Despite an exceedingly bitter taste, the fruits and sometimes the leaves are widely used in a variety of ethnic dishes. Bitter melon is a major constituent of the Okinawan diet and, some say, is key to the renowned longevity of the Japanese island people. Modern research has largely focused on its potential for treating diabetes.

How Bitter Melon Works

Although the human evidence is not yet strong, laboratory studies show that bitter melon has a hypoglycemic (blood glucose-lowering) action, and helps to control insulin levels. The constituents thought to be responsible for this action are charantin, plus alkaloids and peptides that mimic insulin. They may also trigger the production of a protein that encourages glucose uptake in the body.

In addition, charantin appears to stimulate the growth of pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys beta cells; in other types of diabetes the functioning of beta cells is impaired.

Laboratory studies support other traditional uses of bitter melon, suggesting that different constituents have antiviral and antibacterial properties that might help to treat disorders including salmonella and E. coli infections, herpes and HIV viruses, malaria, and parasitic worms. An extract of bitter melon proteins is claimed to inhibit prostate tumor growth and a number of in vitro studies suggest it may have potential for combating other cancers and leukemia.

How to Use Bitter Melon

Traditionally bitter melon is taken as a fresh juice, decoction, or tincture. Concentrated fruit, seed, and whole herb extracts are also available as tablets, capsules, or powders. Follow label instructions or take as professionally prescribed.

Safety First

Take care if taking bitter melon with blood glucose–lowering medications as it can enhance their effect. It has a weak uterine stimulant activity so must not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Bitter melon should not be taken by people with glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) deficiency (a genetic condition most common in people from the Mediterranean and Middle East) due to a risk of hemolytic anemia.

Where to Find Bitter Melon

The fresh fruit is available in some supermarkets and Asian stores. Bitter melon supplements are available in health food stores or from a qualified herbalist.

Get More Natural Remedies Doctors Approve!

The book Doctors’ Favorite Natural Remedies offers effective ways to treat more than 85 health conditions and evaluates the most commonly used alternative therapies and supplements. Learn more and buy Doctors’ Favorite Natural Remedies here.

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How Much Invisible Fat Is Hiding in Your Favourite Food Items?

Do you pay attention towards every calorie and crumb that you eat in the day but let the fat content go unnoticed? If yes it’s time to understand all about fat content and take it into consideration too. Not to forget, fats are as important as all the other nutrients that you consume every day.

Don't Miss This

Greasy burgers, French fries and pizza, are all well known for their fat content and hence it’s no surprise when someone tells you that these are loaded with fat. But what you may not know is that many things that you perceive as low fat, may actually be just the opposite. These even include some vegetables and fish. One thing that we need to keep in mind, is that fat is an important component of our diet and not every fat is bad. What matters is that we closely evaluate the amount of fat that we consume day in and day out as well as the type of fat.

How much fat should you be consuming?

It is important to closely monitor the amount of fat grams that you have been consuming daily and to keep a tab on the right amounts of healthy fats. The daily recommendation of fat is no more than 20-30% of the daily diet. If you are consuming a 2000kcal diet, then you should probably be eating less than 65 gm of fat each day. However, it is easy to consume more than the required amounts of fats on a daily basis, especially in the case of invisible fats.

Invisible fats in food we all love eating

While we might be aware of the fat content of most of the foods but there are a bunch of other foods that tend to contain loads of hidden fats.

1. Movie theater popcorn (because of the way it’s processed, addition of butter, cheese and sugar)

2. Packaged meals with added sauces, butter, oil and salt
 
3. Chicken and other poultry if consumed with the skin

4. Packaged salad dressings (usually very high in fat content)

5. Highly marbled meats like red meat, lamb and pork (The white marbling is a thick layer of fat, easily seen in a slice of bacon)

However, it is important to realize that packaged snack foods and meals are the biggest sources of hidden fats. These foods contain high levels of trans fats which are listed as partially hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortenings (read the ingredients’ label carefully), which are responsible for the longer shelf life of these foods. Trans fats can act like demons as they have been linked to various health problems like high cholesterol and heart diseases. Hence, the consumption of these fats need to be restricted as much as possible.

Given the fat content of these commonly eaten food items, if you are not careful you might easily exceed the daily limits. Hence it’s important to include good fats i.e unsaturated fats in your diet, limit saturated and eliminate trans fats. Take care of your health and your heart and waistline will say a big thank you to you some day.

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Fruit Juices That Are Healthier Than You Thought

Orange juice: Prevents inflammation

Drinking a couple of glasses of OJ prevents the inflammation that can be triggered by a fast-food breakfast, making damage to blood vessels less likely, research shows. The protective effect may come from the juice’s high levels of flavonoids, plant pigments with anti-inflammatory properties. Drink a few ounces along with these healthy breakfast ideas.

Lemonade: Thwarts kidney stones

Several studies suggest lemonade can help ward off kidney stones, a painful problem that’s on the rise. If you’ve had kidney stones, cut your risk of a recurrence by as much as 90 percent with a daily dose of lemonade: Mix four ounces of lemon juice with two liters of water; drink straight up or sweetened, says Roger L. Sur, MD, director of the University of California, San Diego, Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center.

Grape juice: Boosts brain function

It’s a good source of anthocyanins, antioxidants that seem to enhance brain function. In one study, older adults who drank Concord grape juice daily for 12 weeks showed significant improvement on memory tests. These weird brain exercises can also help you get smarter.

Cranberry juice: Keeps your urinary tract healthy

At just 45 calories per cup, cranberry juice can prevent urinary tract infections and improve cardiovascular health, thanks to its powerful flavonoid antioxidants. Just make sure you're not not drinking "cranberry juice cocktail," as this drink is loaded with unnecessary sugar and calories. Here are other natural remedies for UTIs.

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7 Proven Ways to Treat Anxiety Without Any Drugs

Try these natural stress-relievers when you're feeling frazzled.

Eat less fat

Weight gain and high blood sugar from a high-fat diet could cause anxiety, found a mice study in the British Journal of Pharmacology. Once the mice moved to a lower-fat diet, their anxious symptoms decreased. Plus, eating more fat seemed to make antidepressants less effective. Pick lean cuts of meat and avoid cream-based sauces and dressings high in saturated fat. Check out these tips on using less fat when you cook.

Practice yoga

Anti-anxiety drugs often work by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the brain that helps regulate nerve activity. To boost GABA levels without a pill, give yoga a shot. Studies have shown that a session can increase GABA levels, decrease anxiety, and boost your mood. Try subbing a yoga class in for your usual exercise routine to drive away anxiety. Try these morning yoga stretches for instant energy.

Take a deep breath

It sounds basic, but this advice became common for a reason. When you’re stressed, your body turns to quick, shallow breathing during its fight or flight mode. But taking a slow, deep breath can stimulate the vagus nerve, which puts the brakes on that stress response and tells your body to relax. When anxiety starts to hit, inhale with your belly—not your chest—and let the air out with a long, slow breath. Learn more about healty breathing tips here.

Use a weighted blanket

Wrapping yourself in a weighted blanket applies deep touch pressure—the same comforting sensation as being hugged, held, or stroked. The pressure can help relax your nervous system and encourage your body to produce the mood-boosting hormones endorphins and serotonin. In one study, 63 percent of users said they had less anxiety after lying under a 30-pound blanket for five minutes.

Tackle your cell phone addiction

College students who felt addicted to their phones and the Internet scored higher on depression and anxiety scales, found a University of Illinois study. Those who just used their phones to kill time and beat boredom weren’t as likely to have those negative mental health outcomes. If you feel like you’re overly dependent on your phone, designate certain hours of the day to leave the screen off. Here are other ways technology can make you sick.

Get a good night’s sleep

You might feel like anxiety is keeping you up all night, but your lack of sleep may actually drive your anxiety, suggests a University of California, Berkeley, study. Participants were shown pictures, first after a full night’s rest, then after pulling an all-nighter. Images before each picture indicated if it would be an unpleasant or neutral picture, or if it was a toss-up which type participants would see. After a sleepless night, volunteers had more activity in their emotional brain regions when they didn’t know which type of picture to expect than when they were well-rested, especially if they were naturally anxious people. The researchers say extra sleep could help calm people who find themselves worrying too much about the future. Having trouble getting a good night's rest? Find doctor-approved sleep advice here.

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Summer Foods That Are Healthier Than You Thought

Reap these amazing health benefits from your favorite summer foods.

Papaya

This tropical fruit contains fiber that can bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon, and prevent them from affecting healthy colon cells. Plus, the folate and beta-carotene found in papayas are associated with a reduced risk of colon caner.

Watermelon

This beloved thirst quencher is packed with vitamins A and C, potassium, and the cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene, according to webmd.com. It’s also one of the richest natural sources of the amino acid L-citrulline, which helps regulate arterial function and may lower blood pressure, as discovered by researchers in a 2010 Florida State University study.

Corn

our eyes love corn on the cob. Corn is a good source of lutein, a powerful antioxidant that may help lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness in older adults. Cooking sweet corn unleashes beneficial antioxidants that can substantially reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, according to a study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. The longer the corn was cooked, the higher the antioxidants.

Celery

Next time you serve celery in your barbecue crudité platter, crunch on this: Celery boasts a surprising array of good-for-you nutrients, including anti-inflammatory compounds that soothe your digestive tract, disease-fighting antioxidants, and vitamins such as folate, vitamin K, and vitamin C.

Sunflower seeds

Take these out to the ballgame (or golf course). Sunflower seeds are a terrific source of vitamin E—a quarter cup provides more than 90 percent of your daily need, according to the Chicago Tribune. They also offer a healthy dose of such key minerals as manganese, magnesium, and selenium. Here are more super seeds you should be eating.

Mushrooms

Cooking Light notes that mushrooms are the only vegetable source of vitamin D; and “many compounds have been identified in mushrooms that show potential for boosting immunity and possibly protecting against cancer,” says Pino Rose in Foodist. Next time you're craving a meatless barbecue option, try grilling up a portobello mushroom instead of a veggie burger.

Coffee

Ahhh, iced coffee. You'll be glad to hear just how healthy your favorite summer cool-down drink is. Coffee contains polyphenol antioxidants that may help even out blood sugar levels. The Harvard School of Public Health found that women who drank just one cup of coffee a day had a 13 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Coffee consumption is also linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer, liver disease, and Parkinson’s disease. A Harvard Medical School study even shows that coffee intake may help reduce the risk of skin cancer.

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6 Signs Your Diet Is Making You Tired

You'll be shocked at which common eating habits and foods make you sleepy. Here's how to switch to high-energy foods.

You rely on coffee more and more

Coffee provides you with a morning wake-up call, and maybe an early afternoon pick-me-up. However, if you find yourself reaching for the coffee cup throughout the day, you might be compensating too much. Skipping the afternoon java could also boost your energy, along with these other fatigue-fighting tricks. Before drinking that fourth cup, reevaluate your diet and try to add more energy-rich foods.

You don't snack

When starting a weight-loss plan, you may want to cut out as many calories as possible; yet Mayo Clinic warns against this tactic. Going more than four hours between meals can leave blood sugar in the basement and you feeling lifeless. A healthy and well-planned diet allows for snacking. Try noshing on fruits and veggies with hearty fiber to fill you up. Here are some healthier snack ideas.

You’ve sworn off all sugar

Yes, sugar is the health villain du jour right now. Yes, you should be conscious of hidden sugar in packaged and frozen foods. And yes, if you are eating too much sugar, take steps to cut back. But be conscious that your body also needs some sugar to function. Avoiding an apple as a snack because it has natural sugar, for example, is a sign of taking diet restrictions too far. Foods like fruit or milk naturally have some sugar—along with a wealth of energizing nutrients.

You’re not eating carbs

Don't fear carbs. Your body needs grains to function well and not feel sleepy 24/7. The key to a successful diet is a well-rounded source of fiber-rich and complex carbs, according to WebMD. Check out these healthy carbs that nutritionists want you to eat.

You skip breakfast

You might be in the habit of grabbing a cup of coffee and running out the door, but if you find yourself feeling sleepy mid-morning or late-afternoon, it's a good idea to reevaluate your morning eating habits. A protein-packed breakfast helps balance your blood sugar and provides a steady stream of energy throughout the morning. Check out these suggestions for healthy breakfast ideas.

You’re exercising too much

Too much exercise and too few calories can put your body in starvation mode, says livestrong.com. Rather than losing more weight, your body will go into crisis mode. This causes you to store more calories as fat and leaves you feeling like a zombie. Rather than becoming obsessive about burning calories, try to live an active lifestyle and walk as often as you can during your regular day. Here are 16 ways you can lose weight by walking.

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Diabetes Fatigue — Get Your Energy Back

Fatigue is one of the most common and most disabling symptoms of diabetes. What causes all this exhaustion and how can we get our energy back? Some studies have reported that as many as 85% of people with diabetes experience fatigue, defined as excessive tiredness that interferes with one or more life functions. As a Diabetes Self-Management reader named Donnah wrote, “Since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, my housework suffers dramatically, I don’t do half of the things that I used to do with my child. When I do find the time and energy to do things, I am easily worn out and need to rest. I can’t even keep a job. I am on disability because of it and I hate this.”

Causes of fatigue

How does diabetes make you tired?
• High blood sugar makes blood sticky, so it can’t get through the capillaries as easily to bring oxygen to cells. You know how you get sleepy after a big meal? High blood sugar can mean having that feeling all the time.

• Insulin resistance keeps glucose out of body cells, so they don’t have fuel.

• High blood sugar also causes inflammation. Remember how exhausted you get with the flu? That is, in part, inflammation. The same thing happens with poorly controlled diabetes.

• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can cause fatigue.

• The mental stress of coping with diabetes can wear out your mind and spirit.

Many other conditions besides diabetes can cause fatigue. If your sugars are under control, but you still lack energy, consider being tested for:

• Sleep apnea, which causes exhaustion and is very common in diabetes. If you wake up tired, ask your doctor for a sleep test.

• Anemia, or a lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin (the protein responsible for transporting oxygen) in the blood.

• Low or high thyroid.

• Low sex hormones, especially testosterone.

• Chronic infections, such as oral, urinary tract, or vaginal infections, which are common in diabetes. Any of them can make you tired.

• Immune and other potentially related conditions, such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or multiple sclerosis. All of these are more common in people with diabetes.

Then there are things you can’t be tested for, but perhaps can change.

• Deconditioning. If you don’t move, your body gets weaker.

• Stress. This keeps your heart rate and blood pressure up, which drains your energy.

• Bad diet. Sugars and refined grains leave you tired. Consider eating a lower-carbohydrate diet.


• Shift work. Changing hours of sleep and activity confuses your body, and it may be difficult to get the sleep you need.

• Overdoing things. Running yourself ragged will wear you out.

• Depression. If there’s no reason to get up, your body won’t want to.

How to get your energy back

• Sleep better. It should be obvious, but our society denies it. We need to sleep. Before electricity, 9–10 hours a night was normal. Now we’re lucky if we get 7, and many people with diabetes get far less. See a couple of articles on getting better sleep here and here. Ask your doctor to be checked for sleep apnea.



• Naps are also great. It’s totally normal to be sleepy around 1 PM and 3 PM. That’s why many cultures encourage a siesta (rest) in those hours. Most jobs frown on napping, but if you can find a way, embrace your nap.

• Control your glucose better. Do what you can to bring your sugar down, whether it’s diet, exercise, supplements, or medicines.

• Get tested for anemia, thyroid, and other possible causes of your fatigue.

• Ask a pharmacist if your medications could be causing fatigue.

• Try juicing. A reader named Kat commented that since she started “juicing green leafy vegetables in the morning, with some wheatgrass…and eating a higher-protein and -fat, lower-carbohydrate diet, I have shaken off…the extreme fatigue that I used to have every day.”

• Supplements. Ginseng, vitamin B12, magnesium, alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q-10 are recommended by several authorities.

• Drink water. Dehydration often causes fatigue.

• Get outside more. Sunshine tells your body to wake up. If you can’t get sunshine, maybe buy a full-spectrum light that mimics the sun’s effects. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) marked “cool white” or “daylight” are also better than standard incandescent bulbs.

• Breathe. Try to stop what you’re doing every couple of minutes and focus on your breathing for a minute.

• Do some kind of gentle movement like walking or tai chi. Stretch your arms and legs. Sitting or standing still is tiring.

• Do some relaxation. Take breaks. Rest. Meditate or pray.

• Consider counseling for anxiety, depression, or high stress.

• If possible, spend time with people or animals who make you feel alive, not the ones who wear you out. Can you think of one person or creature who makes you feel better?

• Find something you love and apply yourself to it. You might even find something to do on the Internet. My blog The Inn by the Healing Path is full of stories of people healing by committing to what they love.

• Resist the madness. Our society is all about more, more, more. Faster, faster. This approach would fatigue anyone. Let’s focus on quality of life over quantity of stuff done or acquired. Find your personal balance between work, play, improvement, service, and rest.

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Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Pimples Overnight Fast

1.) Apply a Cinnamon and Honey Mask to Get Rid Of Pimples
Cinnamon and honey have natural antimicrobial properties. Together, they make a killer combination to destroy pimples. You need just one teaspoon of cinnamon and two tablespoons of natural honey. Preferably, you should use Manuka honey. This unique brand of honey, from the Manuka forest in New Zealand, has amazing healing and pain relieving properties. Mix the cinnamon into a paste then blend in the honey. Rinse your face and pat it dry. Then apply the paste to the blemishes and leave it there overnight.

2.) Whip Egg Whites to Get Rid Of Pimples
Egg whites provide a cheap, easy and quick way to remove pimples. They also eliminate scars. Egg whites contain vitamins and amino acids that help to kill pimples and re-build your skin’s cells. Separate 3 egg whites from their yolks. Whisk them properly and allow them to settle for 3 minutes. Apply the whisked egg whites to the pimples using your fingers. Wait for it to dry then repeat this 4 times. Then leave the final mask for 20 minutes, rinse off and apply a suitable skin moisturizer.



3.) Apply Orange Peels and Juice to Get Rid Of Pimples
The ascorbic acid and vitamin C in oranges make them a potent cure for pimples. And they are very easy to use. Simply rub the peels on the pimples and dab them with the orange juice. Before you do any of these, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the transfer of bacteria to your skin. You may also wash your face with warm water to open up the pores. Use different pieces of orange peels for each spot you want to treat. You may apply the orange juice with cotton buds. Leave the juice on your face for at least 1 hour before you wash it off.

4.) Use Neem to Get Rid Of Pimples
Neem oil and neem powder are powerful natural treatments for pimples. They have powerful antibacterial properties. You can get them to buy online or at the local organic or natural food store in your area. Rinse your face with warm water to open up the pores of your skin. Use cotton buds to daub the oil and apply it directly to the pimples. You can also mix the powder with a small quantity of water to form a paste and apply it to the spots. Leave the paste on throughout the night so it can penetrate the skin destroy all the bacteria in the pimples.



5.) Blend Strawberries and Honey to Get Rid Of Pimples
Strawberries contain a very important ingredient called salicyclic acid. This is the primary active ingredient is several commercial formulations used to treat pimples. Salicyclic acid stimulates the epidermis (the upper layer of the skin) to shed its cells faster. So the clogged pores open up and the bacteria get neutralized. This substance also encourages the development of fresh skin cells and the subsequent closing of the pores to prevent fresh infection.

Rinse your face with warm water. Then wash at least 3 strawberries thoroughly to remove all the dirt on them. Mash them carefully without allowing them to become watery. Add two teaspoons of honey and blend them. Add the mixture to your skin and allow it to stay for 30 minutes before you rinse it off.

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The Most Common Weight-Loss Blunders

1. Focusing on what you can’t eat.

“So many people embarking on a weight loss journey focus on what they can’t have—[such as] no sugar, no alcohol, no dessert, no bread, no cheese. I like to tell my readers to focus on what they can have and tally up all the filling and nutritious superfoods out there.”

2. Adopting an all-or-nothing attitude.

“[Don’t] eliminating foods you love. Too many people who are trying to lose weight develop the all-or-nothing attitude. This way of thinking can be detrimental in the long run. Instead of depriving oneself of foods they love, they should learn how to incorporate them into their diet in a healthier way. For example, love pasta? Instead of adding a creamy high fat sauce, add lots of veggies, grilled shrimp, and toss in olive oil and garlic. Can’t live without bread? Well, you shouldn’t have to. Make a healthy sandwich for lunch on 100 percent whole grain bread with grilled chicken, avocado, lettuce, and tomato.”

3. Replacing meals with liquids.

“Green juices and smoothies are very popular right now, and a lot of people will use these as meal replacements. Unfortunately, oftentimes these beverages aren’t made up of the right mix of nutrients. Green juices lack fiber and protein, which are key nutrients in keeping you full and helping you meet your nutrient recommendations, and smoothies are typically loaded in sugar from juice, sweeteners, or too much fruit, and can be really high in calories from oversized portions of healthy fat sources like nuts and seeds.”

4. Eating too few calories.

“The biggest pitfall I constantly see my clients falling into is the calorie counting trap. Many women come to me struggling to follow a 1,200 calorie per day diet and ask me what would help them to feel more full during the day. My answer is always to eat more! We live in a culture that is so obsessed with calorie counting that oftentimes we are depriving our body of the very nutrients that will actually help us not only to live healthier, but lose more weight. In my practice I try and help my clients transition from counting calories to counting nutrients because at the end of the day, what you eat is just as important as how much you eat.”

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