Do You Know the Benefits of Nutritional Supplements?

Nutritional supplements are one of the important things we can do for the overall health of our mind and body. Ideally, the sources of vitamins, minerals and nutrients are the food we take but sometimes due to faulty eating habits and improper diet there arises some gap in our nutritional requirements. We must know the role of nutrition in our proper health. Basically nutrition refers to the nurturing of our body, in our ability to keep it healthy and functioning as it is supposed to do. So it is very essential to take care that our nutritional requirements are properly fulfilled.

Also due to modern processing and farming methods, foods that should be high in certain nutrients no longer are. Another culprit in the nutrition depletion of foods is our food cooking and preparation. Like these there are many other factors contributing to the poor nutrient content of our foods.

Few latest researches have reported that due to environmental stress there is an extra burden on our immune systems. The best way to counter the stress on our body's health caused by all of these toxins and such is to support our body with proper nutrition. Since our foods are nutrient depleted, the only way to properly support our health is through nutritional supplements.

Others have turned to nutritional supplements in order to enhance everything from their workout regimes to their memory and mental functions. Taking vitamins and other nutritional supplements is a good way to be certain we get all the proper vitamins and minerals you need daily.

If you’re still uncertain as to whether you should take a nutritional supplement each day, ask for your doctor’s advice. This is particularly true if you’re on any prescribed medications. It is possible for some supplements to decrease the efficiency of some prescribed medicines and to interact with them, causing unwanted side effects. Nick Mutt

Antioxidants And Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) - Supplements And Foods

All About Antioxidants

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) is the antioxidant capability or strength of food. The method of measurement was developed by the National Institute of Aging in Maryland. Since then, it has become a very popular for rating antioxidant supplements.

My name is Spencer and I am a wellness consulant who helps people to find the very best, high quality supplements. (Actually, I show people how to get their supplements free or even get paid to eat them.) I work with hundreds of clients by phone, but in this article, I will discuss antioxidants, foods, supplements and the little known problem with using the ORAC rating system.

Antioxidants are chemicals that reduce the rate of oxidation in a particular context, and they play an important role in cell metabolism, acting as substrates for enzymes including peroxidases and oxidoreductases. Antioxidants form part of complex systems within the cells of all living organisms, and act to prevent chemical damage to cell components which would be caused by oxidation.

The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has recently recommended that people increase their consumption of antioxidants via high-ORAC foods. This was done in the hope of contributing to the overall health of the population.

Foods with high ORAC scores include acai, Montmorency tart cherries, prunes, raisins, blueberries, kale, spinach and cocoa. The highest ORAC scores are for foods such as black raspberries, pomegranates and wild blueberries.

Fresh fruits generally score between 500 and 900 ORAC units per 100 grams.

The United States Department of Agriculture published an updated list of the ORAC scores of over 100 common foods, including fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, seeds, grains and so on, in 2004.

The scores were reported as micromoles of Trolex equivalents (TE, which is a vitamin E derivative) per gram both for lipid soluble, or lipiphilic, and water soluble, hydrophilic, antioxidants in foods. These scores were thus a measure of the total ORAC in the individual foods. This method was widely considered to be more accurate than the previously documented one because lipophilic values were included.

Studies have shown that all plants contain various amounts of both lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant phytochemicals.

ORAC scores range from 140 TE per 100 grams for the watermelon to 1800 TE per 100 grams for the orange. For vegetables, scores lay between those obtained by the cucumber (115 TE) and the red kidney bean (14400). The nuts ranged between 2000 TE (cashew) and 17940 (pecan). Dried fruits had scores between 3037 (raisin) to 8578 (prune).

Spices such as clove and cinnamon had the highest ORAC values, at over 250,000 TE per 100 grams.

Commonly eaten foods scored as follows:

• apple (4275 TE per 100 grams);
• white potato (under 1100 TE per 100 grams);
• peanut (3166 TE per 100 grams); and
• tomato (400 TE per 100 grams).
  

Cocoa has a high value, giving dark chocolate a score of 13120 TE and white chocolate a score of 6740 TE per 100 grams.

In the Discovery of the Ultimate Superfood book, Young, Lawrence and Schreuder report the ORAC value of dried wolfberry as 30,300. This value is surpassed only by unverified marketing claims that acai contains 34,000 TE per 100 grams. There is an increasing trend for health food companies to use ORAC values in their marketing, although it is not certain that concentrated antioxidants are absorbed as easily by the body as antioxidants found in natural foods.

The little known problem with using the ORAC rating system....

Where does the rubber meet the road? Where it really matters is the antioxidant level and effect in the blood. ORAC rating is only good to such a point. It doesnt really tell us the amount of effect in the body. There is a research and development company that manufactures high quality supplements for optimal health from the cellular level up. This company has recently developed a way for the first time, to not only test antioxidants for the water soluble effect but fat soluble as well. Their discoveries have resulted in their antioxidant being shown in an independent study showing an antioxidant supplement that is many times more effective than the leading antioxidant products on the global market. Spencer Hunt

How to Properly Apply Blush - Contouring Your Face

Properly applying blush as part of your makeup routine can add so much to enhance and accentuate your facial features. For instance, if you have a round face, blush can elongate your face. If you have sunken check bones or cheek bones that are not really prominent, blush can define your check bones and give dimension.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a blush. The first is selecting the right color and the second is selecting the right blush for your skin type.

Blush Color:
When selecting your blush choose a blush shade that is correct for your skin tone. Additionally stay away from blushers that are to bright, too dark or to pale for your skin tone. Below are a few tips to help you choose the right color.

Fair skin tones are best suited to pink, tawny, and beige blushes. Darker skin tones look best in plumbs if they are cooler and auburns or rich bronzes if they are warmer. For olive to yellow skin tones, try blushes in copper, almond, and warm brown shades. Finally, tanned skin often looks best on warm colors like peach, coral, apricot, and orange. Varying the intensity of blush -- bolder colors for darker skin and softer colors for fairer skin-- will help you achieve a natural glow.

Fair skin tones -pink tawny and beige blushes
Warm skin tone - (you skin has a yellowish hue) brown shades
cool skin tones (your skin has a bluish hue) pink, tawny
Dark skin - plum and bronze shades
Sun tanned skin - orange, apricot, peach and coral shades
olive to yellow skin tones - copper, almond and warm brown shades.

In general bolder colors for darker skin and softer colors for fair skin will help you achieve a natural glow.

Blush Type:

Blush comes in a variety of textures such as creams, powders, and gels.

Powder blushers provide a natural looking finish. Generally it is easy to apply, goes on smooth and blends well. Apply with a wide brush after you have applied your foundation or powder. Select a texture that is sheer and can easily build upon. Additionally powder blush is recommended for oily.

Application: A wide good quality quality brush is recommended. To ensure an even application tap the excess blush off the brush before application to the face. A good blush brush will give you a nice application and follow the natural curves of the cheek bone. Smile in the mirror and apply the blush to the fatty part of the check going upward and back, blend as you apply. A good tip is to apply blush where color naturally arises. Use short up-and-down vertical strokes moving toward the top of your ear. Consider a teardrop shape with the thinner part at the top and the wider part pointing toward your nose.

Cream blushes are oil-free. Apply with fingertips to give a more precise and even result. Additionally, cream blushers blend easily and provide a natural result. Cream blushers are appropriate for normal to dry skin types. Furthermore, cream blush is recommended for dry and mature skin as it blends easily.

A proper blush application with the right color can add dimension to your face and accentuate your facial features. A blush can add depth and elongate your face and make it look thinner.

Tip to make a round face look longer and well defined:
Purchase a blush palette which enhances your skin tone. The palette should consist of a dark tone, medium tone and light tone.
Apply the darkest tone just below the check bones; even if not prominent at this time. Do not apply past the corner of the outer eye.
Apply the medium shade and blend well all the way to the hairline.
Finally, highlight the check bones with the lightest shade. You should see that your round face will look naturally thinner and has an apparent glow.

A blush palette will add dimension which can not be achieved with just one ordinary color.

Applying blush as part of your skin care routine can naturally enhance your complexion. Addtionally, blush can elongate the face and define cheekbones. CarolynSue