Garlic in its natural form contains an antibiotic called allicin. It also contains sulfides. Garlic is said to fight against certain types of cancers.

Nomenclature

Common name:           Garlic, Rocambole, Ajo, Allium,
Stinking Rose, Rustic Treacle,
Nectar of the gods, Camphor of the poor,
Poor man’s treacle, and clove garlic

Botanical name:          Allium sativum

Usage

Garlic is great for almost any bacterial or viral infection including

• Coughs
• Colds
• Athlete’s foot
• Jock itch
• Ringworm
• Splinter
• Bee stings
• Intestinal parasites
• Staph infections
• Garlic has been used to aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol
• Asthma treatment to reduce the intensity of attacks
• Garlic is also said to boost metabolismGarlic can also be used as a mosquito repellent

How to use

Garlic cloves may be swallowed whole or infused in honey to make syrup

Garlic oil may be placed on any affected wound externally, Gauze can be used to separate skin and garlic clove(s).

Side Effects

• Allergic reactions
• Skin inflammation
• Stomach upset
• Bad breath when excessive intakes occur

So what’s the thing to do to shape up naturally? One key is exercise. You need to burn fat and the most effective way to do this is to exercise. The idea is not alien to you, anymore, that’s for sure, but there’s plenty of misinformation about exercise on the net and elsewhere that people don’t always get the results they desire.

There are different types of exercise and there are those that are specific to losing weight. If you want to lose weight fast, consider step aerobics, bicycling, swimming, and playing racquetball. These exercises let you lose between 500 up to 1,000 calories.

Quite a lot of people don’t exercise properly, the reason why they don’t lose weight easily. If you plan to engage in any of these cardio exercises, make sure to consult with your doctor first as these tend to increase your heart rate and make you sweat a lot, which may not be a good thing if you are a diabetic or have heart problems to begin with. If your doctor declares you to be fit enough to be doing cardio exercises, choose which of them you are likely to enjoy more.

If you want to go for step aerobics, it’s important that you begin the exercise slowly, then just gradually increase your speed as you go along. Remember, you cannot lose weight overnight no matter what you do, so even if you go full blast on step aerobics, you can not expect yourself to look fit and beautiful at the end of your first session. So, start slow, but be consistent. Consistency is very important in any weight loss program. Cardio exercises may be done for about 20-30 minutes, 3 or four times a week.

It cannot be denied that there may be times when you will feel bored with the routine and decide to temporarily stop doing the program, but this is the last thing you must do. In the event that you will feel bored, you can try a different program for the time being. Maybe you can ride your bicycle this time and drive around the park, or perhaps, you may want to try swimming. A change of routine can be motivating under the circumstances. On the other hand, if you don’t want to change your routine, the best thing is to ask a friend to do the exercises with you. Anything when done with a close friend is always enjoyable.

Before beginning your workout, spend some time warming yourself up. Stretch your muscles and take deep breaths. Then when you are through with your routine, allow yourself to cool down for 5 minutes at least and 10 minutes at most.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

Merry Christmas everyone! Stay healthy and stay organic!

A lot of people are not aware that their favorite shampoos, beauty creams and hand and body lotions contain chemicals that may cause cancer, hormonal imbalances, irritation, and ironically, pre-mature aging. Phtalates, propylene glycol, parabens, alcohol, fragrance, and SLS, to name a few, are all toxic to the body, yet these are the stuff our beauty products are made of! Even baby products contain these ingredients.

I shudder with disbelieve why regulating agencies approve the distribution of these products. Sure, the amount of one ingredient may be minimal, but the fact is, more than one toxic ingredient is present in each product, and how often do you use a certain product? Not just once, more two or more times everyday!

You don’t have to risk your health just to look beautiful because you can be both clean and beautiful without the chemicals.

Go organic with your choice of shampoos, beauty creams, lotions, make-ups, and experience real beauty.

* strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and plum because they are rich in antioxidants, and you know that antioxidants are responsible in fighting off free radicals that cause premature aging;

* green tea because it contains polyphenols that keep away bacteria that also promote aging;

* salmon and walnuts because they are high in Omega3 and Omega6, the fatty acids responsible in moisturizing your skin;

* avocados because it contains B-complex vitamins and essential oils. Eating avocados help to soothe irritated skin;

* mangoes because they are rich in Vitamin A. Mangoes help repair damaged skin cells;

* almonds because they are rich in Vitamin E, the vitamin that’s so essential in making your skin healthy.

Then of course, you must drink lots of water everyday because it keeps you hydrated.

However, despite the importance of exercise to the general health, a lot of people find this activity too tiring, too boring, time-consuming, and the like, and so planning to exercise takes a backseat and eventually forgotten.

Basically, exercise programs fall into four categories — aerobic exercises or endurance exercises, strength exercises, balance exercises, and stretching exercises, and as you explore each category, you will realize that there is bound to be an exercise that is just right for you.

Aerobic exercises help to build stamina and endurance. As such, they have to be done continuously for about 15 minutes at one time, and gradually, meaning you have to start slow, then gradually hasten your speed. There may be times when you feel dizzy, difficulty in breathing, chest pain or pain in the legs while doing aerobic exercises. When you experience these things, you are advised to immediately stop what you’re doing. The different types of aerobic exercises include basketball, swimming, cycling, running, playing tennis, and brisk walking, and these are often the choice of people who want to lose weight. Jumping rope, dancing, and using a treadmill, are great aerobic exercises which you can do at home.

Strength exercises are exercises that tone the muscles, and help you become more flexible, with better coordination. They also delay bone loss. In a way, strength exercises which also help in weight loss programs, are usually done by pulling something up against gravity. Ideally, strength exercises should be performed two or more times in a week, and the same muscle group must not be used consecutively for a couple of days. Leg press, sit-ups, push-ups, and squats are some types of strength exercises.

Balance exercises are exercises that are designed to prevent falls, especially in the elderly. The legs and the hips are given more importance in this exercise category.

Stretching exercises or flexibility exercises, are important preliminaries to the real thing. Often considered by many us unnecessary, stretching exercises, on the contrary, are necessary before engaging in a full-blown exercise routine. Stretching exercises should be done at least three times a week for you to be able to see desired results.

Consistency is important to achieve results. Keep in mind also that you cannot do these exercises abruptly and expect that you’ll get the figure you’ve been dreaming of in an instant. You need to be consistent when it comes to things like this, and being consistent does not mean a few hours, a few days, or even a few weeks. It actually takes some time before you begin to notice a change in you, and so you have to be very patient and dedicated.

For dry hair, mix one cup of coconut milk with two tablespoons of flour then massage onto your scalp. Let the solution stay for five minutes before rinsing it thoroughly. This treatment is most effective if done once a week.

An alternative treatment is to massage the scalp with olive oil or almond oil.

Dry hair is often the result of a diet that is deficient in zinc; so including zinc in your daily menu will help to lift your hair and make it soft and smooth.

If you have oily hair, carrots are powerful and effective substitutes to expensive shampoos and hair treatments. Puree carrots and apply on to the hair. Leave on for 15 minutes before washing it off thoroughly.

If you already have normal hair and want to keep it that way, puree cucumber and apply on to your hair. Let it stay on your hair for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly. This should give your hair, not only volume, but star-quality shine. Using white vinegar to shampoo your hair with also works well to make your hair beautiful.

Got a very important date and you ran out of shampoo? Break two eggs, and separate the whites from the yolks. Beat the yolks in a glass of hot water. Strain the mixture, then apply to hair. Leave on for one hour, then wash it off thoroughly with warm water. Follow this up with home-made conditioner composed of one whole egg, two tablespoons of castor oil, a teaspoon of vinegar, and another teaspoon of glycerine.

Diet plays a very important role in making your hair beautiful and healthy. Reportedly, drinking at least eight glasses of water, and eating protein-rich foods, cheese, milk, cereals, fish, milk, curd, and, of course, fruits and vegetables, have profound effects on the health of your hair.

If you are fond of eating cole slaw, keep it up. Cole slaw is more than just a delicious appetizer. As you must know, the basic ingredient in cole slaw is cabbage, and cabbages are well-known because of the presence of many nutrients.

Cabbages are very rich in Vitamin C. In fact, they are even believed to contain more Vitamin C than oranges. As such, cabbages play a very important role in skin care and anti-ageing.

Iodine and sulfur are abundant in cabbages. Such properties make cabbages an ideal alternative if you are trying to fight an infection, and if you are suffering from disorders involving the nervous system.

Headaches as well as blood impurities may be treated simply by eating cabbage.

There’s plenty of fiber in cabbages, too, thus they are able to prevent and treat constipation effectively. Cole slaw, minus the mayo, can also aid in weight loss, because of the low caloric content found in cabbages.

The juice of the cabbage has medicinal properties as well. Fresh cabbage juice has been said to heal stomach ulcers.

Cabbages can act as anti-inflammatory agents, and also as antiseptics, specifically for the colon. Being so, cabbages promote a healthy digestive system.

Moreover, you can protect yourself from cancer by including cabbage in your daily menu. Cabbages have phytochemicals that are responsible in treating or reducing the symptoms of certain types of cancer.

While there may be plenty of benefits of cabbages, they are often not recommended for those with goiter problems or those under MAOI antidepressants because these could aggravate the existing problems.

When searching for the perfect cabbage head, always look for whole cabbages. In short, do not buy cabbages that have already been halved or quartered because there’s bound to have a considerable loss in Vitamin C already. Ideally, pick something that’s heavy and solid with only about a couple of leaves from the outside.

In the event that you get bored with eating the same cabbage dish over and over again, you can modify your dishes. You can bake cabbages or grill them. The important thing is not to overcook the cabbage so as not to loose the important nutrients in the process.

Skin rashes and rough skin can be effectively treated with the application of avocado paste on the problematic areas. Sunburnt skin can also be relieved by rubbing avocado on the affected areas. Even beauty experts recognize the ability of avocado to smoothen the skin. Some beauty products, particularly moisturizing creams, contain avocado extracts.

Avocados do not just benefit the skin, though. They can also treat a variety of sexual problems, as well as disorders involving the digestive and circulatory systems. Avocados, too, especially the bright, ripe ones, can prevent certain cancers because they contain a lot of beta-carotene. They also have the ability of restoring energy levels and help you recover from sickness faster. Those who have just undergone hospitalization are said to recover faster when they have a daily dose of avocado. All these benefits of avocado make it an almost complete food. Thus, surviving a day with practically nothing else except avocado, is very much possible.

The only drawback of avocado is that it is high in calories. Therefore, if you are trying to lose weight, excessive intake of avocados may not be good for you.

Nonetheless, this is a great fruit to have in your pantry. So, on your next trip to the groceries, stock up on avocados. Choose the heavy, ripe, and unblemished ones. You will know your avocado is ready to be eaten if it is soft enough when you press your hands on it.

With all the health benefits of avocado, it is no wonder why this amazing fruit has earned the respect ad admiration of millions of people around the world. It is, indeed, a wonder fruit for good health.