Your boyfriend or partner takes you out for the night and leads you to a darkened room.

You notice the room smells of roses and you hear a soft music playing in the background.

Then you notice an elongated table and think to yourself that it seems out of place but shrugs and moves on.

Then a uniformed lady suddenly appeared and asked you if you are ready for your treatment.

For what?

Unfortunately, it’s not the date of the lifetime. On the contrary, it’s anything but romantic.

You’ve actually entered the body wrap treatment room. This is the common scenario inside a spa salon that provides Body Wrap treatment. Body Wraps became popular in the 1980’s and 90’s and are still a big hit today.

But are Body Wraps really the solution to getting a fabulous body and losing weight?

The Body Wrap Process

Though it varies from one spa salon to another, the context and the process are technically similar. The Body Wrap is not exactly a massage treatment but if the person doing the Body Wrap is a massage therapist, then you can expect to be handled in that gentle and soothing way that these expert do.

At the bottom of the massage table is the thermal blanket followed by a plastic where the client is wrapped.  There are towels and sheets to keep you warm. The treatment begins with exfoliation where your body can either be dry-brushed or scrubbed. In this process, the oldest dead skin cells on the outermost layer of the body or the epidermis are removed. You can either use a mud scrub, pear and green apple scrub, salt scrub, or other ingredients that the salon may have.

After the exfoliation and body rinsing, the actual body wrap products (herbal, organic, and all natural) are then applied to your body and wrapped for 20 minutes. You can probably ask the therapist to give you a scalp massage if it’s included in the service of the salon.

After 20 minutes, you get unwrapped and you take a quick shower again. After drying off, moisturizing lotion is applied to the whole body.

Refreshing, right?

But what exactly are the Health Benefits of Body Wraps?

While Body Wraps will most definitely help tighten and tone your skin, there is no scientific proof that Body Wraps can help with slimming or weight loss.

Moisturizing Wraps will mostly rejuvenate and refresh your skin and pores, but like any other moisturizing procedures and products, it stops right there.

Slimming Wraps may appear to take off a few inches off your body but this is only because of the appearance of skin tightening, which gives the impression of a slimmer body. Come 2 days at most, you’ll get your old self again, flabby fat and all.

Detox Body Wrap on the other hand, takes out any impurities in the skin and pores but the actual detoxifying benefit has still not been clinically proven. Detoxification is all about removing toxic substances in the body. But with Detox Body Wrap, the only toxic substances being taken out of are those on the body’s outer layer – skin – not those that are inside your system.

Cellulite Wraps, the most used and most popular treatment consists of herbal ingredients and other herbal mixes. While there is no doubt that natural herbs are highly beneficial, the herbal ingredients in this body wrap procedure do not take away those unwanted dimpled skin. though you may feel like you are being vacuumed inside the Cellulite wrap, it does not suck away your body fats. It may however, appear tighter and better temporarily.

Is the Body Wrap worth it?

If what you are looking for is something that can make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, then it might be worth it. It can even get rid of dead skin cells and other skin impurities. But these wraps are not going to suck your fats away for you. You will still have to eat right and exercise daily. No shortcuts.

If you have been trying to lose weight, then you probably know by now that soda is the number one drink to avoid. Yes, it relieves you of stress but next time, it is not just stress you’re going to need relieving from anymore but loads of health issues too.

Before you get to know the disadvantages of a soda can give you, here are some benefits you can get.

Advantages

Boost of Energy and Mood

Due to its sweetness, soda is a great way of re-energizing your body if you are feeling a little sleepy and slow. It also has caffeine, which makes it all the more addictive.

Diet Suppressant

Soda is a carbonated beverage that has the tendency to make you feel full faster,  which can potentially decrease your food consumption. However, this may not always be the case as some people tend to eat twice as more than their normal consumption when their soda can isn’t empty yet, so to curb the appetite, it’s advisable to have the drink before any large meals.

Disadvantages

Zero Value

A soda is BIG in calories, 140 calories to be exact, but offer absolutely no nutrients whatsover. It is no-brainer why choosing food with 140 calories is better than a can of soda that would leave you hungry quickly. On top of this, it dehydrates you because of the sugar and caffeine content.

Sugar Danger

Since soda is all about refined sugar, drinking a can of soda a day doubles your chances of becoming obese. And since it promotes weight gain, you are also welcoming type 2 diabetes into your life. In case you don’t know, diabetes causes blindness, heart attack, leg and gum infections, diabetic retinopathy among others.

Gas

Because of the phosphoric acid content, it would sooner or later affect the digestive functions of your stomach, which would then lead to gas, bloating, gastrointestinal problems, and indigestion.

Dental Problem

One of the least heard problems associated with drinking soda is the cavities that it provides. The acid in soda dissolves the enamel, which weakens your teeth and causes the cavities and tooth aches.

How to Stop!

If you average about 10 cans per week of soda, quitting cold turkey is not going to work for you. Instead, require yourself to drink 1 can of soda a day at a specific time. When you “require” yourself to take that drink at a specific time, you would eventually become sick of it that you won’t even realize that you’ve already kicked the habit out. It seems that when you are “required” to do something, you have the tendency to “repel” against doing it. No? Well, take a look at your failed attempts to lose weight. Did you “require” yourself to eat 1000 calories a day at some point? Did you “require” yourself to exercise every Sunday morning only to give up after 2 weeks? Did yo “require” yourself to eat veggies and fruits instead of pizza and soda many times?

Your brain thinks it’s “hard work” so perhaps, using the same strategy, drinking soda would become a chore for you that you’d stop completely.

Try it! What have you got to lose? Your weight?

King Henry VIII, was not only known for his big role on the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church and for having 6 wives, but he was also known to have suffered from a traumatic brain injury, which had led to his mood swings, temperament, over-eating, and obesity. The king’s unhealthy eating in the later part of his reign had caused his rapid health decline and ultimately, his death. He was also believed to have suffered from gout and had to be moved out of his death bed using a mechanical invention because of his condition.

Gout, in the ancient times, was associated with overindulgence in food and drinks, for which King Henry VIII had been known for. Back then, only the royalty could have afforded the indulgence.

That is quite some history!

But Gout can not only happen to them alone especially when there are many people who are over-indulging themselves with unhealthy convenience meals these days.

More than such association, gout is a chronic, metabolic disorder that causes severe, burning pain and swelling. Gout happens when there is an abnormal amount of metabolism in the uric acid, which results to an abnormality in the blood and tissue.

Causes, Symptoms and Signs of Gout

Some people can generate too much or too little of uric acid depending on how the body metabolizes the food eaten. People who generate too much uric acid are called “over-producers” while those who cannot effectively eliminate uric acid in the urine are called “under-excreters.”

Who are at risk and What causes Gout:

-          Hereditary: people whose parents have gout, are 20% more likely to have it

-          Excessive intake of alcoholic beverages, especially beer, also increases the risk of gout

-          A diet rich in red meats, internal organs, yeasts, and oily fish are known to cause gout

-          Sudden change in uric acid levels such as trauma, starvation and dehydration, chemotherapy

-          People with diabetes and heart conditions and are already on medication for said illnesses may also suffer from gout

Symptoms and Signs:

-          Sudden onset of a hot, red swollen joint, usually appearing at the base of the big toe

-          1^st attack of gout may go away after a week or two but will come back with pain either on the same joint or on multiple joints

-          Kidney stones are also common and more frequent to people suffering from gout

-          Uric acid crystals can form from outside joints such as the earlobe, elbow and the back of the ankle

How to treat Gout?

While gout is said to be incurable as with most diseases associated with arthritis, people who are suffering from it can find ways to cope properly or make it less troublesome if the underlying causes of gout would be avoided

-          Increase fluid intake: This can help manage chronic gout, reduce joint pains, and avoid the risk of dehydration, which triggers gout attacks.

-          Eat food with fewer purines:  Purines are naturally found in many foods, but the uric acid buildup may be caused by the breakdown of purines, too. Avoid foods high in purines such as organ meats, sardines, and anchovies.

-          Eat plenty of fruits: Fruits provide complex carbohydrates and nutrients that are generally healthy and contain fewer purines. Fruits rich in Vitamin C such as tangerines and oranges, may help prevent gout attacks.

-          Choose the right kind of carbohydrates: Complex carbs with high fibers such as oats, sweet potatoes, beans, and vegetables are the right kinds of carbs should be in one’s diet.

-          Limit alcohol intake: This is a general rule for a generally healthy body and not solely for gout. Beer, which contains yeast, is the worst alcoholic drink that exposes a person to develop gout.

-          Eat less meat: Eat vegetables instead and limit the amount of chicken, pork, or lean beef consumed. Restrict it to 1 serving a day.

-          Eat healthy and exercise regularly: Obesity increases a person’s risk of gout. Gout is just one of the diseases one can acquire by being overweight so start eating healthy (avoid the dreaded D word) and exercise regularly.

Whether or not one has a royal blood is besides the point, because nobody chooses to be overweight and suffer from gout.

So stop making excuses and choose good health by and exercise regularly and eating the right food at the right time.

More than the sweet, juicy and delicious flavor of Lychee, it is also one of the  super foods that should be incorporated in your diet. Lychee is mainly cultivated from the provinces in Southern China, in South East Asian countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Taiwan, and also in the United States.A Lychee fruit matures in 80 to 112 days and can be available in market between the months of July to October.

The Lychee contains different types of vitamins and minerals, and apart from taking it as a whole, itcan also be consumed in forms of juices or drinks, jellies or jams, and sorbets or syrups.  It can be stored at room temperature for five days and up to five weeks in the fridge.

Health Benefits of Lychee

-          Lychees are rich in dietary fibers, which are very important for digestion and metabolism, and are a big must for weight-conscious people. They are also low in calories and do not contain saturated fats or cholesterol.

-          Like other citrus fruits, lychees are rich in Vitamin C, which helps your body in develop body resistance against infection. Lychees also contain many natural antioxidants, which help fight against free radicals and various cancer diseases.

-          Lychees are also abundant in Vitamin B-complex such as Thiamin, Niacin, and Folates. These are essential in helping the body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

-          Lychees also contain minerals like Potassium that controls heart rate and blood pressure, and Copper, which produces red blood cells.

-          Lychees can also treat coughs, colds, fevers, and sore throat.

Research studies showed that the pulp of the Lychee fruit contains flavonoids, which are said to be proven effective in treating breast cancer. Another research showed that the fruit is rich in Oligonol that has several anti-oxidants and anti-influenza virus elements. It also helps in improving the body’s blood flow, reducing weight, and protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Lychee fruits are not hard to find, prepare, and eat. One personal trick I do with this juicy fruit is that I pop it in the freezer first, and eat it when it’s all frozen up. This avoids the juicy mess while sending chills to my bone.

Do you like lychee?

I was a soda addict.  Diet soda in particular was my poison of choice. It was not because I was trying to lose weight that I chose diet soda. It was really because diabetes runs in my genes and I am trying to avoid that.

I don’t have any vice – no smoking or drinking – but oddly enough, diet soda became my vice and I justified that fact that it wasn’t addiction per se, so I kept drinking it. I don’t really recall when it started, but I do remember my every lunch and dinner meal being accompanied by a cold can of diet soda.

I would particularly drink diet soda for these reasons, maybe you find yourself drinking soda for these reasons as well.

1. Whenever I was feeling stressed. Diet soda was my instant pick-me-up
2. I didn’t like my lunch or dinner meal, and diet soda made it more  appetizing, which for some reason would result to make me eating more
3. Whenever I was feeling jovial and would tell myself that I earned it
4. I was addicted to the bubbly fizz and the first gulp was always the most potent one

Frankly I don’t know if drinking diet soda made me gain some weight, but I think that drinking regular soda would considering all the sugar content it has in 1 can. Yet despite that, it would always leave me feeling bloated after every can and it was the feeling I didn’t concern myself with initially, but being exposed to numerous health-related materials, it probably affected my subconscious mind, because now I don’t want to be 100% full all the time… and well, adding diet soda to my meal always goes beyond 100% of my limit.

I didn’t consciously have to tell myself to stay away from diet soda and say something like “must stay away or must say no to diet soda.” It just sort of happened. Or maybe I got desensitized to the taste of it after downing on a bunch of it that even the first gulp of the bubbly fizz is not as enticing as it was before.

Having experienced that, I know that telling you the negative effects of soda and diet soda to your health would do you no good. In fact, you might even already be numbed to that kind of information. You know that already. I am also not going to advise you to get your caffeine or fizz from something else, because it will just go out from your ears.

I will ask you though to compare and feel what it is like to be 100% full and 80% full after every meal, and how the soda or diet soda affects that meal, because being aware of that is how I got rid of my diet soda addiction.

Maybe it would help get rid of yours too. What do you think?

The people of Okinawa, Japan are found to have the largest life expectancy in the world. This is attributed to their genetic inheritance, lifestyle, environmental factors, and most importantly, their healthy diet and attitude towards food. The Okinawans live by the concept of “Hara hachi bu,” which translates to- “Eat until you’re 80% full.”

Now, how exactly is that? How exactly do we know that we are already 80% full in your stomach? Is there a bell that alerts us and say, STOP!?

People eat not only with their mouth or their taste buds but with their brains, too. Our brain sends signals to tell us that we need to consume food. But there are also signals that stimulate our desire to eat continuously that could unfortunately, lead to over eating. When desire takes over the need, the problem of over eating steps in and over eating is the most likely reason of being overweight.

The brain takes 20 minutes to process and recognize that the stomach is already full. So if we spend the whole 20-minutes eating, it will definitely go beyond the 100% mark. If we apply the “Hara hachi bu” concept, then what we should do is stop eating before that 20-minute window is up. Though it may feel like we haven’t eaten, after 20 minutes, we will notice and feel that our stomach is actually already full.

How to make the “Hara hachi bu” even more effective?

Apart from the Okinawans following this concept, their overall eating habits and lifestyle contribute much to their healthier bodies and longer life expectancies.

-          Choose the right kind of food. - The Japanese in general, eat food rich in protein such as fish and soy. These foods are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and isoflavones that are low in calories and fat. Fruits and vegetables also play an important role in their daily meal consumption. The daily recommended servings of food in a human body is met with these colorful variation of the fruits and veggies.

-          Cook your food right. - Steam, stir-fry, pan-grill, and simmer are the usual techniques Japanese do to cook their dishes instead of deep frying the food using unhealthy cooking oil like we normally do. They also usually serve broth-based soups at the start of a meal, which can help make them full sooner.

-          Be mindful of our eating – We like to multi-task whether it is eating while watching TV or eating while tending to other things, which all end in distracted eating habits, thoughtlessly stuffing more than enough food down to our stomach. We should chew our food slowly and and deliberately and take smaller portions of food instead.

-          EXERCISE! – Japanese love casual exercise – in fact walking and biking are part of the Japanese lifestyle. They are exercising without even putting much thought to it. Let’s face it, we don’t exercise, or maybe we do like once in a blue moon. So we should try to move as often as possible and incorporate exercise even as little as 20 minutes a day.

Hara hachi bu! Isn’t that quite a fun and healthy mantra you can say to yourself just before you start your meal?

Perhaps it’s due to the fact that more people are becoming wired-up from the demands in the office, and stressed from the obligations of being good parents that holistic health retreats industry is booming. Or this could also be due to marketing and advertisement that got people into thinking “hey, I need some ‘me’ time.”

Whatever is the reason for wanting to go to these health retreats, you probably want to know what this program is, what it can do for you, where it’s located, how much it costs, and if it’s worth it.

First, health retreats are all about promoting your health and wellness. So if you have been taking your health for granted for so long, going to such holistic retreat to “re-activate” your health back to greatness sounds like a great deal.

It aims to do the following for you:

-          Pampers you with daily massages depending on how many days you’ve signed up for

-          Cleanses and detoxifies your body and skin with healthy juice drink, bath scrubs as well as skin scrubbing

-          Teaches you meditation

-          Administers Yoga and Pilates classes and other fitness programs from certified fitness trainers

-          Provides health or skin consultation around 45 minutes to 1 hour

-          Offers organic or Spa cuisine during your stay

-          Brings in health and fitness workshops

Now of course, different health retreats offer different programs and you may not get all of them, but pretty much those listed above are the basic deals inclusive in the top wellness resorts in California, Florida, Hawaii, Bahamas, Australia, and Thailand.

No matter where these wellness resorts are located, they all aim to help you with your weight management, health problems like hypertension, depression, and spiritual healing like relaxation and mental clarity by instilling positive transformation to you during your stay.

Is it worth it?

Everybody needs a “me” time. Going to a holistic health retreat that ranges from $2000 – $4000 for a few days is not a necessity but a luxury. You have to understand that you could easily get your “me” time in just about anywhere else like in a beach front hotel or even in your room locked-in for a couple of hours. While unquestionably that it is great to be pampered, you need to know that if what you aim to get from these health retreats is to lose weight and be healthy, then no amount of stay in luxurious retreats is going to make the work for you – no matter how expensive it is.

Healthy living has to come from within. It does not even have to cost much.

And it definitely can be re-activated anytime, anywhere.

Juicing or Smoothing? Is one way of taking your fruits and vegetables better than the other? I think both methods win by simply giving us our much needed nutrients from natural fruits and vegetables – both we oftentimes neglect to include in our diet.

Here’s a Smackdown of what you get from Juicing.

Quick Nutrient Absorption. Most of the juicer fanatics claim that with the absence of fiber in juices, the nutrients become more concentrated and therefore, will not need to go through any digestive process.

It’s an Instant Energy Drink. Since juice doesn’t have to go through digestive process, chugging a glass of concentrated juice makes you more alert and gives you an instant pick-me-up .

Jam-packed with Nutrients. Vegetables and fruits can go together in smoothies. To get more from the juice, we can juice more than our usual and reap the benefits of powerful vitamins and minerals into our bod.  Imagine kind of having a glass with colossal amounts of phytonutrients that fight off diseases, colds, viruses, and even fights aging.

The Benefits of Indulging in Smoothies.

It’s a Meal in a Glass. Aside from just blending in fruits and vegetables, we can also add in a tablespoon of oatmeal, a handful or nuts, and a serving of whey protein for a complete satisfying meal in a glass! You get all the nutrients from a wider variety of food, not just the usual veggies and fruits.

Clean our Insides with Fiber. When we make a shake or smoothie, the important fiber that cleans up our intestines and stomach are part of the ingredients and do their cleaning duties. With these fibers, smoothies cleanse our system while at the same time promotes regularity for our digestive system.

Regulates Sugar Absorption in our Blood. The fiber in smoothies, helps slow down and regulate the absorption of sugar in our blood stream. Contrary to what we normally think, it will not give us “sugar rush” that we might get from juices. Smoothies are great for diabetics who want to receive healthful benefits of fruits without the sudden influx of sugar.

So, which one is really the true winner? Is it juicing or smoothing? The truth is, it all depends on what we are aiming for. It will also depend on our palate as there are some individuals who are not fond of the bits and pieces of fruits or vegetables when tanking up with a smoothie. The concentrated flavor from juicing may also be a bit too strong for some that it may affect their perception about smoothie’s health benefits. Regardless of which one is more popular, the point remains that both are incredibly beneficial for our body!

But what about you? Do you like juicing or smoothie better?

Even when you are satisfied with your current fitness routine, you probably are still looking for new fitness trends so you can further enhance your exercise. It just can be boring especially when you have been doing it for quite some time. This is the reason why innovators always try to come out with new ones.

Just like this Combat Rope for instance. You’re probably thinking long military rope or Indiana Jones.

Combat Rope Package:

1. Rope

• Measures: 40 feet in length, 3.81 cm in diameter
• Weight: 11.36 kilos.

2. Rope Training Manual

How it Works

You need to anchor the 40-foot rope at its middle so you’ll be able to use 20 feet of rope each arm. Workout variations can come from doing jumping jacks while holding the rope, slamming the rope on the ground simultaneously, or alternately creating a waving motion among others.

However, the Combat Rope seems to be famous for its ability to let you do whiplash motions exercise. This particular type of workout puts your arms, chest, and core to some serious moves that lead to toning and fat burning. It seems pretty simple but when it’s combined with other interval workouts for 30 minutes, it can be more effective in toning your body.

Resistance + Cardiovascular Training

This Rope is targets your upper body mainly on your core because you’re going to need to balance your upper body in order not be whipped out of where you stand.

The longer you use the Combat Rope with the combination of Resistance and Cardio Training, the rope becomes heavier because you come to expend more oxygen in the process. This in turn will strengthen your cardiovascular system and will increase your stamina.

Training Innovation

In today’s time, MMA or Mixed Martial Arts gyms have its own conditioning training programs that are whole lot more different compared to martial arts, which  are  focused solely on punching and kicking. If you compare conventional training with this decade’s training, everything seems different.

For example during abs training,  what you normally do is sit-ups and planks. But now, as long as your upper body is being worked out while trying to maintain some of your balance, it will touch and target the abdominal muscles up to the lower back as well. This simply shows that people and technology are getting creative and exercises are no longer just 1-trick phony. It’s like the more areas a particular exercise targets, the more efficient it becomes.

If you think about it, training with the Combat Rope, which does not come cheap at $159.99 may look primitive, but if you compare it with the workout routine you’re currently using, the rope targets more parts of your body in a single workout time. You might not even have to do bicep curls and chest presses at all and that will save you time for dating or whatever floats your boat.

I never truly cared about nor thought about toning my legs and thighs before until my guy friends teased me about it. Personally, I was more intent on toning my arms and abs.  I have forgotten exactly what they said about my legs but it made an impression on me. So from that day forward, I became conscious about other women’s legs and noticed how toned and shapely they were. And how they looked great in shorts and skirts.

So I made a conscious effort to look for workout videos that could hopefully tone my legs and thighs quickly, or at least quick enough for me to decide if it’s worth the trouble of doing it.

I wouldn’t normally have found infomercials for fitness equipment to be of any use. I find them too market-y (if that’s even a word). But since I was on the lookout of thigh & leg exercises, ThighMaster Gold naturally caught my attention.

This fitness equipment is a portable and easy-to-use toning gadget. Its main goal is to firm, tone, and shape the inner thighs but it can also work for other parts of the body. Suzanne Somers, an American actress, author, and business woman, was one of the first spokeswomen for ThighMaster.  ThighMaster was one of the very first products to be introduced in what is now a very common form of advertising- infomercials. This concept caters to people at home who make purchases over the phone. ThighMaster was among the first home fitness experience delivered using the infomercial concept and if it’s still around til now, then it only shows that this gadget works.

The ThighMaster’s Gold’s, which is ThighMaster’s descendant, comes with a simple design that does not look like it can really do anything out of the ordinary. Two twisted pieces of foamed tubing are joined in the middle with a hinge, which creates the resistance in the exercises. Though it may look simple, its purpose is not solely on the thigh alone. It can work out the chests, breasts, upper body and back, triceps and stomach as well.

This to me looks like a sound fitness equipment to tone up my leg muscles, and eventually stop the fats from jiggling. But will it be good enough for you?

Pros and Cons of ThighMaster Gold

ThighMaster Gold beats the bulky and complicated home fitness equipment in the market. It’s relatively an inexpensive fitness gadget at $20.00. ThighMaster Gold is best for you if you are also looking for leg and thigh workouts. I think having a tangible object that can help you do what it says it will works better – psychologically speaking – than following a set of workout. Having a tangible object like ThighMaster, for some reason, alters your brain and affirms the results.

This gadget is also great during those times that you simply do not want to go through your normal fitness program but want to exercise that specific part of your body while watching TV.

It is important to note however that ThighMaster Gold targets just what its name says. It is like a specialty gadget and you shouldn’t take it as a replacement for your overall workout. But this gadget is great as an added fitness exercise that may hasten the process of toning your legs and thighs.