Anti Aging, Skin Care and Other Health and Beauty Articles

July 9, 2009

A New Weight Loss Solution

Image by tacit requiem via Flickr

Lately I have had difficulties in getting rid of my belly fat. It used to be easy for me to trim down a bit by dieting, but now, due to aging, I have a hard time keeping it off.

I've been thinking of doing something drastic, like buy Nuphedra or Fernslim from the local distributor. Both are hunger suppressants, which means you don't have to worry about your bowel movement.

I don't know which is better. As long as they work and there are no severe side effects, then it's all fine with me.

I've been promoting Fernslim in this blog, but this is the first time I mentioned Nuphedra. What caught my attention was the list of ingredients, which includes caffeine from Green Tea Extract, capsaicin from Cayenne pepper extract, and Phenylethylamine (PEA) found in chocolates. I believe the product is safe and possibly effective because of the natural ingredients.

Although the name is similar to the banned drug ingredient ephedra, Nuphedra is actually ephedra-free since its main acting ingredient is called synephrine, or bitter orange extract. Synephrine is chemically very similar to the ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine found in many OTC cold/allergy medications and in weight loss and energy supplements.

Labels: organic weight loss pills, slimming pills, Weight loss

July 5, 2009

The Night I Ended Up in Dueñas

Image by La Sanso via Flickr

My cousins from Chicago and Ontario came home just recently for a brief vacation. They stayed for a few weeks here in the Philippines for some rest and relaxation, which they badly needed. As expected, the whole family got together for a small reunion of sorts when we celebrated the house blessing for one of my cousin's house in Barotac Nuevo.

During the party we enjoyed updating each other on what's happening with our lives. One of these conversations centered on my nephew's schooling and how he was doing. My cousin NaNa promised Amiel a prize when he has shown he could maintain his class standing until the end of the school year. The prize will be one of those new PS3 players favored by many kids today.

That was one of the better news I had received that day in spite of the little tiff I had with my boyfriend, and the mistake I made when I took the jeepney to Barotac Nuevo. Instead of a BN jeepney I mistakenly took a Dueñas jeepney. I had to get down the Dueñas plaza and call my sister to come pick me up. Good thing my phone was still charged and I had bought a Globe call and text card earlier.

July 3, 2009

Managing Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Image via Wikipedia

Stretch marks are often seen during pregnancy because of the rapid stretching of the skin to accommodate the growing fetus inside. The skin can not produce enough collagen to cope with the rapid growth. This causes tearing in the skin where the collagen in the skin separates. Aside from pregnancy, other cases where stretch marks may appear include rapid weight gain and the enlargement of breasts before one's menstrual period or after breast enlargement surgery.

Based on some articles on stretch marks, scientists and doctors generally believe it is a genetic predisposition. This means that women who often develop prominent stretch marks on their stomach, thighs, buttocks, and breasts have mothers who surely have them, too. Most of these marks fade over time, but they do not completely disappear.

A lot of women and a few men swear by many cures and preventions. Some of these cures are homemade, while others can be easily bought over-the-counter from the pharmacy. Often these cures include almond oil, olive oil, and cocoa butter in their list of ingredients.

The over-the-counter brands that a few women have recommended include BodyShop's Shea Butter, Neal's Yard Massage Oil, Palmer's Cocoa Butter, and Innocent Oils' Angel Butter. These stretch mark creams and lotions contain moisturizers like lavender and neroli, and those much needed nutrients for the skin such as Vitamin E and antioxidants for their anti-aging properties.

Applying these stretch mark removal creams on one's skin after every bath can lessen the number and severity of the stretch marks. Also drinking lots of water can solve the dehydration problem. Pregnant women don't have to worry of retaining too much water. Water retention is caused by too much sodium in the diet. If you lessen the amount of salt or avoid eating salty foods, you won't retain too much water during pregnancy. Hence, goodbye elephant legs!