Category Archives: health

Do You Zumba?.. You Should.. Here’s Why

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Zumba’s motto: “Ditch the workout. Join the party.”
This exercise class is sweeping our nation’s baby boomers off their feet.Zumba is different from other group exercise classes because it doesn’t feel like you are taking a class. Participants talk about as if it is a dance class, not an exercise class. Like most classes, beginners can start moving like long-time participants in just a few sessions.

The Zumba craze has taken over gyms and living rooms across the world. The Latin dance-inspired cardio class do work out your core, arm, and leg muscles while sweating to the music, and fans (including me) have professed burning thousands of calories in a session (although more realistic estimates hover around 400 to 500 calories per 45 minutes). There’s no disputing, however, that Zumba is a great way to work out, and celebrities agree. Continue reading →

Cabbage Soup Diet~ 7 Day Plan

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Have you tried this diet called Cabbage soup diet? If eating a bottomless bowl of cabbage soup, along with a few other low-calorie foods, for a solid week appeals to you, the Cabbage Soup Diet is sure to lead to quick weight loss. The 7-day Cabbage Soup Diet plan promises all you can eat — as long as you stick to the small list of allowed foods on alternate days, along with two daily bowls of fat-free cabbage soup. Other specific foods that must be eaten including fruit, vegetables, skim milk, and meat. Dieters are also advised to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.

Remember: This diet should only be followed for 7 days at a time, with at least two weeks in between.

Day One:

Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. For drinks- unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water. Continue reading →

Beauty Tips~ Use Lemon Juice To Treat Acne,Redness and Brighten Skin Tone

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With more acne medications hitting the market, some people have begun paying exuberant amounts of money to treat their acne. Some medications cost hundreds of dollars per month, so these treatments can be out of many people’s price range. For only pennies a day, you can make your own acne-clearing solution from the comfort of your own home. Lemons have been used for their health qualities for years, and they can help clear up acne. Continue reading →

Which “Big Girl Gone Slim” Looks The Sexiest? Jordin Sparks, J-Hud or Raven-Symone?

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Jordin Sparks recently rocked the red carpet thirty pounds lighter in a super alluring black get-up and with Raven-Symone‘s weight loss,I couldn’t help but think that Jennifer Hudson may have played motivator a bit. Either way, all three women are looking curvier, healthier and more luscious than ever. But who’s looks the sexiest in their slim girl swag?

Wellness Week 2011 is Here, Celebrate Healthier Living with Incredible SpaFinder Deals

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In celebration of the first week of spring, a nationwide event is taking place to encourage people to jump-start their healthy-living habits. It’s called Wellness Week. Top spas and fitness centers are offering half-price deals and special programs from March 21-27 as part of a nationwide initiative devoted to helping people jumpstart healthier and happier lives.  Continue reading →

Loliondo In Crisis

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The influx of patients into Samunge village in Loliondo has plunged the little village into a crisis as the area has been overwhelmed by large crowds of people and cannot cope with the estimated  more than six thousand people that flock the village on a daily basis from all over Tanzania and the neighbouring  countries. To forestall possible outbreak of communicable diseases due to the lack of sanitary facilities in the village, the government of Tanzania has been compelled to suspend the treatment and cure of chronic diseases by the retired pastor of the evangelical Lutheran church, who claims to have divine powers to heal. Stop by Alpha Mantai’s blog for a full story.

Thousands influx to Loliondo,Tanzania To Get the Miracle Cure from a Local Herbalist

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The Loliondo area in Tanzania is found near the world renowned wildlife sanctuaries of Ngorongoro conservation area and Serengeti National Park, both Ngorongoro and Serengeti are famous for tourism activities such as game viewing on the crater floor and Serengeti plains, walking adventures in Olmoti and Empakai craters. The area is in Maasai land and is located at the southern border of Ololosokwan at Serengeti.

But this time the area is making headlines for a complete different reason. Pastor Ambilikile Masapila, the local herbalist resident in the area, has added the attractiveness of the area, all roads lead to the area at the moment. The herbalist who is a retired pastor of the Lutheran church is making news by claiming that he is capable
Continue reading →

Serena Williams Health Scare

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Serena Williams is back home recuperating after two health scares she describes as “extremely hard, scary, and disappointing.”Her agents confirmed Wednesday that Williams suffered from a blood clot in her lungs last week and later needed treatment for a hematoma.”I know I will be OK, but am praying and hoping this will all be behind me soon,” Williams said in a statement. Continue reading →

Aretha Franklin Drastically Weight Loss

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Fox411 has sought a health expert to weigh in on Aretha Franklin’s 85 pound weight loss, and he says that given her age and the amount of weight she’s lost — simple diet and exercise alone are not enough to have brought on such drastic results.

Beverly Hills-based surgeon, Dr. Lawrence Koplin (who does not treat Franklin) noted that losing such a vast amount of weight in a short period of time is incredibly challenging with diet and exercise alone.

“Losing this amount of weight with exercise and diet would Continue reading →

Bikram Yoga Makes Me Hot

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If you are one of those people who loves Yoga and you’d like to try an unusual form of exercise that will improve your flexibility and strength, you may be interested in Bikram Yoga~a series of yoga poses done in a heated room. The room is usually maintained at a temperature of 95-100 degrees. As you can imagine, a vigorous yoga session at this temperature promotes profuse sweating and makes the body very warm, and therefore more flexible.Bikram yoga aims toward general wellness and claims the heated studio facilitates deeper stretching, injury prevention, and stress and tension relief. Bikram yoga is claimed to systematically stimulate and restore health to every muscle, joint, and organ of the body. There are two complementary aspects of the 26 exercises, asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), though many other branches of yoga also use these methods.

Hot Yoga Tips and Cautions

Wondering if you can “sweat out toxins” doing hot yoga? Read this: “Yoga/Hot Yoga Flush Out Toxins”

~It is essential to have your own yoga mat and towel when doing Hot Yoga since you will be sweating so much. Students tend to wear very little clothing for the same reason.

~Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after class so you don’t get dehydrated. It is not advisable to eat during the two hours before class.

~If you want to try Bikram’s method, make sure the Hot Yoga studio you choose has been certified to teach Bikram Yoga.

~Hot Yoga is not advised for pregnant women, since it can raise the core body temperature

Today’s Recipe~ Spelt Bread

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Spelt Bread
Yield: Two 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaves
Spelt is a bread wheat in use since Biblical times. Spelt is highly water soluble, which means the body can easily absorb its nutrients. Hold a few spelt kernels in your mouth and—unlike other wheat varieties—they immediately soften

Spelt bread has a pleasing, nutty flavor and a substantial texture. It makes great breakfast toast, canapés and sandwiches. For a lighter flavor and texture, use up to 50% white spelt flour.
Note: it is important that you don’t over-knead spelt dough.
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2 cups warm water (105° to 110° F)
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons sea salt
6 cups spelt flour (use any combination of whole or white spelt)
Combine the yeast, water and honey in a large warm bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes or until the yeast softens. Stir in the butter and salt and 3 cups of the flour. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon. Add the remaining flour in increments until the dough becomes too stiff to stir, then place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 6 minutes, adding any remaining flour as necessary, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Do not overknead.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot for about 2 hours or until doubled in bulk.
Grease two 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf pans. Punch the dough down to deflate it and divide it in half. Form each half into a smooth loaf and place in a prepared pan. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot for about 1 hour or until the dough has risen to the top of the pans.
Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Uncover the risen loaves. Place the pans on a heavy baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes or until the tops are light brown and crusty. Remove from the oven and tap out of the pan into the baking sheet. Turn the oven off and return the breads to the oven to crisp for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.Enjoy your nutritious bread!
Recipe Source~Rebecca Wood
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Today’s Meal ~Chile Garlic Shrimp

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Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (preferably Spanish)
10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 dried red chiles (plus more for garnish, if desired)
2 teaspoons brandy
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley.
Process:
Heat oil in a medium sauté pan over high heat. Sauté garlic until browned, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and chiles; sauté until shrimp are cooked through, about 4 minutes. Add brandy and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Transfer to a platter or divide equally among 8 small plates. Sprinkle with parsley, add salt to taste and serve.
Makes 8 servings
Pop a few of these to feel lively all night long—they supply energizing iron and protein. And capsaicin, the compound that gives chiles their fire, may kick up your metabolism.

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Please Support Me in The Fight to End Breast Cancer

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This year, I’ll be participating in a very special event called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure .This will be my first time participating in such event! 
I’ll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. Net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer research and community programs.
I’ve agreed to raise at least $2,300 in donations. I’ve set my personal goal at $2300. So I need your help. Keep in mind how far I’m walking – and how hard I’ll have to train. (I’ve already begun a daily regimen for the Seattle 3-Day for the Cure which will be held September 24-26) Know that any amount is greatly appreciated.


You can choose one of three ways to donate



1.) Online at http://www.the3day.org/goto/Rachel.Samanyi
2.) Call 1-800-996-3Day (3329) to donate over the phone
3.) Fill out the enclosed donation form and send it along with your check to the address on the form (if needed, please make additional copies of my donation form for those who may also wish to donate). Please note that mailed in donation may take up to 4 weeks to be processed and posted to my fundraising account.



According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, more than 200,000 women (and men) will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and nearly 40,000 will die from this disease. That’s why I’m walking so far. To do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you’ll share this incredible adventure with me – by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,
Rachel Samanyi
P.S. Ask your employer if they will double your donation through a matching gift program!

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Kim Kardashian Poses Nude For Harper’s Bazaar~"The Message;Embrace Your Curves and Who You Are"!

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Kim Kardashian’s stripping down to empower women to “embrace their curves.” The star of E!’s Keeping Up With The Kardashians is just one of three celebs (including Joy Bryant and Amanda de Cadenet) going nude and unairbrushed for the May issue of Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, where she opens up about how she really feels about her body for the mag’s annual “Naked Truth” edition. She do have a hot smoking body, but …. just not sure if it’s 100% natural, or there’s some nips and tucks here and there.


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Tip~Chopsticks Are A Really Good Dieting Trick

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Watching others using chopsticks can make it look so easy, but when you try it, you end up asking for a fork. Here’s how to say goodbye to that fork for good and put those chopsticks to work! I have always wanted to eat with Chopsticks, but I was too lazy / scared / discouraged to learn because everytime I tried to use them, the result were really bad. So I gave up trying.One day I was reading an article about how Chopsticks can be a really good dieting trick,it continued on saying, with Chopstick you eat more slowly and are more engaged with concentrating on your food, versus just shoveling it in. After I was done reading that particular article, I decided its about time for me to try again. My friends at work, walked me through on how to position my fingers and chopsticks to make it work. Finally tonight, I had an opportunity to put my skills into use.. We had Sushi for dinner, and I tell you, I was so impressed with the results…( be gentle ..lol… I am still in the learning process .. but I can now hold chopsticks and be able to lift food without dropping..)


The easiest way to explain how to hold chopsticks is to hold almost like holding pencil… Well, it’s not quit the same, obviously because you are holding two sticks, rather than one pencil. But if you can use a pencil, you can learn to use chopsticks.
First, rest one of the chopstick on the bottom on the thumb, at about 1 inch from the end (thick side) of the chopstick, and rest the middle of the chopstick on the side of ring finger at about 1/2 inch from the tip of the finger. This stick will remain stationary. Then hold the other chopstick with three fingers, thumb, pointing finger and the middle finger. This is the stick that moves to pick up food. Make sure the tip of both sticks meet. 


~~So how about you?Have you mastered the art of eating with chopsticks? What do you think? Does eating with them make a diffference in your perception of the meal?~~

Chopstick Rules
~~Do not hold the chopsticks when you are not eating. Rest them on a chopstick rest or a plate closest and directly in front of you, with the tips facing your left. Only rest the tip of the chopstick on to of chopstick rest or a plate, and the thick end should be on the table. You will do the same when you are done with the meal.
~~Do not drag a plate or bowl with your chopsticks.
~~Do not point with chopsticks or talk animatedly with chopsticks in your hand. Do not walk or run with chopsticks. (You’ll be surprised to hear how many people are injured by chopsticks!)
~~Never leave chopsticks stuck vertically into your food, especially into a bowl of rice. (At funerals, Japanese present a bowl of rice with chopsticks standing in the middle at the altar.)

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Today’s Meal~ Crunchy Wasabi Salmon with Lime

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Ingredients
3/4 cup wasabi peas (about 3 ounces)
4 (8-ounce) salmon fillets with skin (each about 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches thick)
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (about 1/2 large head)
1 (8-ounce) package trimmed sugar snap peas
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Lime wedges
3/4 cup wasabi peas (about 3 ounces)4 (8-ounce) salmon fillets with skin (each about 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches thick)1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (about 1/2 large head)1 (8-ounce) package trimmed sugar snap peas
2 tablespoons fresh lime juiceLime wedges


Process
Preheat oven to 400°F. Blend wasabi peas in processor until ground but with some coarsely crushed pieces. Lightly oil rimmed baking sheet. Arrange salmon fillets, skin side down, on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle fish with salt. Press ground wasabi peas onto tops of salmon fillets to adhere, covering tops completely. Sprinkle grated lime peel over salmon; drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Roast salmon just until opaque in center, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and sugar snap peas; sauté until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer 1 salmon fillet to each of 4 plates. Drizzle with lime juice. Mound cabbage-snap pea mixture alongside. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.

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Jennifer Hudson: Named The New Face (and Body) of Weight Watchers

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Have you seen Jennifer Hudson lately? She looks amazing..The secret behind Jennifer Hudson’s amazing body after baby? Weight Watchers. In fact, the new mom revealed she’s the new spokesperson for the company today. “With Weight Watchers I am enjoying the weight loss because I’m doing it the right way I feel empowered with what I’ve learned, everything from portion control to what foods will help keep me satisfied,” said the 28-year-old singer-actress. “It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet.”She has lost more than 5o lbs with Weight Watchers.

The Oscar-winning actress who has a 7-month-old son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., with her fiancé David Otunga, 28, also likes how the diet fits into her busy lifestyle. “I can follow the plan no matter where I am, still enjoy my favorite foods and even use the iPhone app to track my points,” she said. Hudson is no stranger to publicly discussing her weight: After being called “the big girl” as a contestant on “American Idol,” the singer transformed her body for her Oscar winning turn as Effie in “Dreamgirls” by packing on more than 20 lbs. with a diet of “cakes and cookies and lots of friend food,” she told PEOPLE.
Before WW

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