February 2008

Hello, and welcome to this edition of my Natural Alternatives Newsletter!

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue.

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Nature is the Physician of all Disease ~ Hippocrates
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IN THIS ISSUE:

1) MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS

2) CREATE A NATURAL COLD REMEDY WITH A HOMEMADE BODY SCRUB IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES

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1) MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS
By Diane Lancaster

Anybody who has tried to lose weight knows how difficult it can be. But for many people, the initial weight loss isn't the hardest part: Keeping it off over time is even more of a challenge.

Some research has focussed on hormones in the body that influence appetite, some on environmental cues to eat or to refrain from overeating, some on drugs to help with weight loss and still some on the self-reported habits of people who have lost weight and keep it off.

Metabolic hurdles: One of the ironies of weight loss is that the more you lose, the harder you have to work to lose more. This is, in part, because the body's metabolism slows down – meaning it burns less energy or fewer calories – both at rest and during exercise following weight loss.

Hormonal influences: Various hormones help regulate hunger and fullness. One tells the brain when a person is full. Another released in the stomach, stimulates appetite. Its level rises between meals and falls sharply after eating.

Environmental challenges: A person who is actively losing weight is often the recipient of praise and compliments from family, friends, etc. Many also enjoy the excitement of fitting into smaller clothes sizes as they lose weight. Once a person's weight has stabilized, however, the compliments become less frequent and the person may start to take the improvement in health for granted.

Some other factors in a person's environment that may pose a challenge are food packaging and restaurant serving sizes. Serving sizes started rising in the l970's and have paralleled the obesity epidemic over the past 30 years. People who eat out frequently need to learn to keep their calories in check, such as eating just half of the food served (bringing the other half home for a second meal) and limiting higher-calorie menu selections such as deep-fried, creamy or cheesy items.

TOP FIVE TIPS FOR MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS

1. Be as physically active as possible. Strive for 60 minutes a day and this can be accumulated over the course of the day in 10-15 minute intervals.

2. Monitor your weight regularly. Weighing yourself regularly alerts you early to small increases in weight so you can take steps to prevent larger ones.

3. Choose a diet that is adequate in whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein. People who moderate their fat intake are better able to control their appetite and prevent weight gain.

4. Seek ongoing support. If you lost weight with an organized program, stick with the program once you have reached goal.If you lost weight on your own or with support from family and friends seek ongoing support from them.

5. Get adequate sleep. Being well rested can help control appetite, prevent weight gain and give you more energy for exercise and meal planning.

Just as blood glucose control requires an individualized approach, so does losing weight and maintaining that weight loss. However, there are some tools that appear to help such as daily weighing; maintaining a low-calorie, low-fat diet; getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity in a day; getting enough sleep; learning to reward yourself when goals are achieved; and getting support from others facing the same challenges. The key, then, is finding ways to tailor these tools to your unique situation.

Submitted by Diane Lancaster: I am a long-standing member of Take Off Pounds Sensibly. Nutrition has been a way of life. I successfully lost 30 lbs over 35 years ago and manage to keep that weight in control ever since by eating sensible. Nutrition is all a matter of balance.

2) CREATE A NATURAL COLD REMEDY WITH A HOMEMADE BODY SCRUB IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES By Naweko San-Joyz

Are the constant aspirations of sneezing and sniffling in your office making you crave the sterility of a glass bubble? Are you self-medicating with so much vitamin C and Echinacea that you are two tablets away from diarrhea? Or, do you just wish there was a more natural way to guard against getting a cold?

Relax, a new form of cold season healing has arrived. Now you can fight the spread of a nasty, unwanted cold in the shower with a stress-relieving, germ-releasing body scrub. Even better, this flu-fighting scrub takes less than ten minutes to make.

You can find all of these ingredients at your local drug store, most likely in the first-aid section.

Ingredients

1.5-2 cups of Epsom salt (sodium magnesium)

1 16 ounce bottle of oil (mineral (baby), almond or jojoba oil will do)

1/3 cup glycerin

3-7 drops of essential eucalyptus oil

Utensils

1 large jar with a lid (make sure the mouth of the jar is large enough to comfortably fit your hand into)

1 large spoon

Mixing

Add one and a half cup of Epsom salt to the jar. Next, slowly pour in one cup of oil. Stir the mixture. Next mix in the glycerin. Feel free to adjust the level of oils and salt in your body scrub to suit your personal preferences.

Now, add two to four drops of essential eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus bears a strong fragrance so add just enough of this oil to suite your olfactory likings. Then, blend the eucalyptus oil into the scrub.

All you have to do now is place the lid on the jar and store your body scrub until soothing, shower time.

How this body scrub fights the common cold?

The key ingredient for this scrub is Epsom salt. This salt possesses several immune boosting effects. For example, the salt removes dead skin cells, while its drying effect dehydrates and kills germs on the skin's surface. Plus, Epsom salt releases bodily toxins and soothes stressed muscles.

The carrier oil and glycerin add another layer of immune protection to the skin by creating a moisture barrier that shields the skin from bacterial attacks.

The minty aroma of the essential eucalyptus oil rounds out this nurturing body scrub as it opens the air passages to encourage improved, deeper breathing. Plus, eucalyptus acts as an antibacterial agent, shoring up the skin's defence levels.

May you enjoy a cold-free cold season.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

Thank you for reading.

Livia P.
www.natural-health-and-healing.com
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

P.S. If you have a comment or suggestion, just reply to this e-mail. Your feedback is important to me.

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This newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is your right to educate yourself in health and medical knowledge, to seek helpful information and make use of it for your own benefit, and for that of your family. You are the one responsible for your health. You must educate yourself in order to make decisions in all health matters. My views and advices are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medicine, but simply a help you to make educated changes in order to help your body heal itself. If you have a medical condition or concern you should consult your physician.