The benefits of Forskolin

First and foremost Forskolin is a chemical substance that is the root extract from the plant Coleus Forskolin, more commonly known as the Indian Coleus plant. The plant is part of the mint family and as the name suggests was first found in India.

The herb has been used throughout ancient history as a medical product to treat a variety of conditions such as heart and lung disease, insomnia, convulsions and intestinal spasms.

In modern times however the herb is used for a variety of different treatments. One of the big appeals of Forskolin is its weight loss capabilities. To certain people, how we look is an important part of their daily lives and aids in helping people feel good about themselves.

Forskolin can help with the reduction of fat and in turn speed up the process that may take weeks if not months with other dieting methods. Forskolin works in two ways. Firstly through stimulating Lipolysis, this is the breaking down of Lipids that contain fats. This is a lot faster than the traditional methods as it raises cAMP production in patients.

CAMP itself works as a function to regulate glycogen, lipid and sugar. It has deduced by scientists at the Penn State University College of Medicine that Camp production is impaired with many obese patients. From this it points to the solution that many obese patients may benefit from Forskolin.

The second method that Forskolin works is through increasing the levels of thyroid hormone production. Thyroid production is stimulated meaning that our metabolisms are sped up, which in turn, can lead to a loss in weight.

Another benefit of Forskolin is its ties to a healthy heart and lungs. Forskolin has been proven in a study from 1974 where the substance contributed to the dilation in the blood vessels of the heart. This has then led on to a lowering of blood pressure and aided in preventing blood clots from accumulating. Improved blood flow stems from this as well as an increased control of the flow of ions, which all link back to maintaining a healthy heart.

As well as all of these benefits, Forskolin is used in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema. It has also been shown to aid asthmatics with the flow of air as Forskolin aids in the relaxation of the airways to aid in the respiration process.

The typical dosage for Forskolin is usually 25-60mg per day divided into 2 to 3 doses. In a recent study, 6 overweight women were instructed to take 250mg capsules that contained 20% of Forskolin, twice a day over an 8 week period. The results were obvious with showing a loss on average of ten pounds. There were also signs of a reduction in body fat by 8%.

Forskolin also has no clear ties to any side effects and can be taken along other caffeine’s as it can also provide a boost in stamina. However it is important that you go and see your doctor before taking the product to ensure safety with your usage of the substance. But it looks as if Forskolin could be the answer, to every dieter’s dreams.

What makes Resveratrol the new health supplement to be reckoned with?

he answer is resveratrol. This natural compound has been quietly conferring its health benefits to millions of people for centuries. The Mediterranean Diet, famed for its association with long life, low rates of cancer and heart disease and continued wellbeing, counts resveratrol as one of its key ingredients. This is because it is found in a range of health-enhancing foods including peanuts, mulberries and red grapes.

Meet resveratrol

Like vitamins C and E, resveratrol is an antioxidant. Put simply, antioxidants are molecules that inhibit oxidation, a chemical process that occurs as part of the damage and ageing process in animal and plant cells. The body naturally contains some antioxidants, including enzymes, but relies on dietary intake for many more. In the same way that oranges are a great source of vitamin C, a range of berries and grape products, including wine, have been identified as natural sources of resveratrol.

What can resveratrol do for me?

As scientific research into this compound continues, more and more surprising advantages are being discovered. Animal studies have shown that it promotes longer life in mice, and it has repeatedly been suggested as an explanation for the ‘French Paradox’. This situation puzzled the medical profession for decades, with research prior to the identification of resveratrol in red wine providing no explanation as to why the French traditionally lived on a diet high in saturated fat, yet had a lower rate of heart disease and a longer life expectancy than many other countries.

Early studies have produced even more exciting results. Based on initial trials, it seems likely that resveratrol may have a future in fighting cancer, diabetes and a range of viruses including herpes, influenza and the frequently deadly CMV.

Anti-ageing effects

Unsurprisingly, resveratrol is touted as a great natural anti-aging product. Ageing is scientifically defined as a gradual process of cell damage and destruction. As resveratrol is known to slow down the ageing of individual cells by oxidation, the whole body benefits from a slowing down in the ageing process, effectively staying younger and healthier for longer.

Supplements

Resveratrol supplements come in a range of different forms, some of which are up to 1000 times more effective than red wine in delivering the antioxidant to the body. The advantage of the supplement form is that it allows the body to receive sufficiently high levels of the active form of resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) to be effective, in convenient capsules or creams that fit around an active lifestyle. Also, time-release preparations are now a reality, with Transmax being the first product that releases resveratrol over a controlled period to maximise its benefits to the body.

Resveratrol is a humble compound that has got both the scientific and the celebrity communities buzzing. Its proven benefits for health and its potential for medical cures go hand in hand to make it one of the most desirable products on display in today’s health food market.

Top Tips for Perfecting Skin at Home

Good skincare does not have to be about expensive moisturisers and bank-breaking facials. Healthy-looking skin can also be achieved with a balanced diet, regular exercise and vitamins. Despite skin being the body's largest organ it is also one of the most vulnerable areas of the body. Exposed to germs, insects, sun damage and pollution, if not looked after skin is quickly affected by these elements to cause blemishes, lines and wrinkles. By following certain lifestyle changes, these issues can be avoided and skin can appear dramatically improved.

Feed your skin

There are certain ground rules in achieving healthy and improved looking skin including hydration and diet. Research has proved that drinking at least 2 litres of water a day is essential in flushing toxins from the body; this not only helps internal health but also skin becomes clearer and less spot prone. Diet is also essential, as whatever is eaten tends to have an impact on skin. Introduce healthier, fresh options into your daily meals, including fruit and vegetables which are packed with vitamins and minerals. It is said that foods rich in omega-3 are also effective supplements to keeping skin firm and smooth for longer. Choose salmon, nuts and olive oil to gain a natural source of healthy oils.

Accompany a nutritious and balanced diet with regular exercise, good for the whole body, exercise increases circulation and helps keep skin supple and young and is also a good anti-aging tool. Sleep is also significant in keeping skin young and healthy, it is recommended that at least 8 hours of sleep is needed for the body and mind to fully relax.


Cleansing is key

Hygiene is also an important factor in keeping skin looking younger for longer, pores can get clogged up with grime, dust and pollution from the day and it is important that this is washed away regularly to avoid suffering from greasy, clogged up skin. Gentle exfoliation has always been a key part in the cleansing process, not only removing grime but also helping to remove dead skin cells from the body.

Extensive research has shown the detrimental affects that sun damage can have on the skin; various UV protection products are now available on the market. Working to block out the suns UV rays, which are often held responsible as the cause of skin cancer, sun damage also causes aging and blemished skin which cannot be repaired.

Supplement skin

Vitamins and supplements are an easy, effective and relatively inexpensive way of providing the body with essential goodness which fortifies skin. Just as important are the products used, always try to select products tailored to the appropriate skin condition, whether suffering from dry, oily, sensitive or normal skin. A commonly used product for the anti-wrinkle process in particular, is moisturiser. The best products to use are gentle or non-perfumed which are milder on the skin. Choose Resveratrol based products which offer impressive health benefits, including the encouragement of destruction of unhealthy skin cells and the regrowth of new tissue.

Nutrients for Younger, Healthier Skin

With many expensive and fashionable skincare products, cosmetics and treatments on the market offering to decrease wrinkles, lines and dryness it is difficult to find something that is suitable for your skin condition and budget. However, often overlooked, there is a much more effective, affordable and safer alternative available.

Natural products such as vitamins, supplements and super foods are a cost effective choice in providing your body with essential minerals and oils to keep your mind, body and skin healthy. Unlike other modern approaches, natural products provide a safer option to fight the anti-aging process. There is a wide selection of available products on the market made from natural ingredients, such as Resveratrol based treatments, which offer impressive health benefits for the skin.

There are many varieties of health and super foods which are packed with antioxidants and goodness that help provide skin with essential nutrients to improve your skins conditions, these include:

Green Tea

Rich in antioxidants, green tea helps to protect cell membranes and repair damaged skin cells caused by sun damage. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia have revealed that the polyphenol found in green tea helps to reactivate dying skin cells to leave skin looking younger for longer.

Berries

Berries are considered to be high in antioxidants which help protect skin cells. Blueberries in particular are packed with nutritional goodness which helps to neutralise damaging free radicals within the body. Other nutritious berries include blackcurrants, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries which all offer a natural formation of collagen which makes skin supple, smooth and younger looking.

Carrots

Carrots are a high source of beta-carotene and antioxidants, which are good for reducing the affects of sun damaged skin which is often the cause of premature aging. Carrots also aid the skins collagen formation helping skin to look younger and firmer. The vitamin A which is found in carrots helps to keep skin moist and hydrated avoiding dry skin which can lead to wrinkles and lines.

Salmon

Full of essential fatty acids, salmon along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed is essential for achieving healthy skin. The omega 3s found in salmon helps protect skin cells by keeping out harmful substances, reducing dryness and improving the skin's elasticity. Consuming more omega 3 foods such as salmon, helps keep the skin supple and youthful looking for longer. Also high in selenium, salmon improves overall skin problems and maintains skin health.

Dairy Products

Packed with vitamin A, dairy products are good for skin health and anti aging. Keeping skin moisturised and supple, products such as milk and yoghurt help to keep skin looking younger for longer. Dairy is also good for digestive health which is reflected in healthy looking skin.

What we eat daily plays a significant role in the health of our skin with food affecting internal and external health. Eating healthy foods rich with nutrients and vitamins will help protect skin from sun damage and replenish dead skin cells to leave younger looking skin.

Tips - How to Look Younger When You Are Getting Older

As well as the natural affects of aging, skin is constantly exposed to weather damage, pollution and germs, causing wrinkles and lines to appear over time. Whether approaching retirement age or in your thirties, keeping skin looking young and healthy is a result many of us strive for. With thousands of anti-aging products on the market it is hard to know what to use in order to postpone the inevitable process. As well as the wealth of creams, potions and treatments available there are also some simple changes to your daily routine that can help in the anti-aging process.

Keep skin hydrated

Dry skin is often the cause of wrinkles, lacking elasticity and firmness dry skin encourages the appearance of lines. Keeping skin hydrated is an essential part of the daily routine, research has suggested that all adults should drink up to two litres of water a day to keep skin moisturised and healthy. Drinking lots of water helps flush out unwanted toxins and poisons from the body, which has positive effects on the appearance of skin.

Moisturising also keeps skin moist and firm and helps to slow down the aging process, by introducing a complete cleansing and moisturising process into your daily routine skin will remain hydrated and wrinkle free for longer. Cleanser helps to clean away grime and dust ready for a high quality moisturiser to be applied, locking in moisture to dry and aging skin.

Enjoy an active life

Keeping active is also integral to looking younger for longer. The release of endorphins that exercise creates help to keep your mind, body and skin healthy and glowing. It also increases circulation to keep skin supple and young looking. Retirement is a prime time for being as active as possible and keeping skin younger looking, whether taking up a new hobby, going for walks or joining the gym, any type of activity which gets your heart rate going will work wonders for your skin.

Just as important is your bodies need for sleep, eight hours of sleep a day is recommended to give your body and skin time to relax and repair, leaving you feeling healthier and younger on the inside and in appearance.

Go natural

Skincare products should also be central to your daily routine and picking the right product for your skin is equally as important. There are many anti-wrinkle treatments out there which are not regulated and offer little beneficial effects. Choose recognised and experienced anti-aging products and supplements that have been tested and proved to work.

Natural skincare products provide a good source of vitamins and minerals that are effective in providing skin with essential oils and supplements, made from 100% natural and organic ingredients they work in tune with your body. The range of Resveratrol based products are ideal for anti-aging, made from a super enzyme which encourages the destruction of unhealthy skin cells and the re-growth of new tissue, the affects on aging skin are outstanding.

Resveratrol News

Resveratrol – the key to successful weight loss?

For anyone who is trying to lose weight, or who has tried to diet in the past, success is often elusive. The trouble is that while you might shed the weight, it is difficult to keep the weight off after the diet period ends. However, research is showing that the red wine compound Resveratrol may be a key ingredient to successful weight loss and keeping the weight off afterwards.

Calorie restriction

The classic method of dieting is reducing the amount of calories in the diet to levels below the daily requirement for the body. The body is, in effect, burning more energy than it takes in. The response to lower levels of glucose in the blood at any given time stimulates the conversion of fats and proteins into glucose for the muscles and brain to utilise.

This is also why it is recommended that you increase the amount of daily exercise you get. By increasing the number of calories you burn off in a day through exercise, you are speeding up the weight loss by stimulating your body to convert more fat into usable energy. However, extended calorie restriction diets are difficult to maintain in the long term.

Sugars, weight gain and the French Paradox

The link between excess sugar in the diet and weight gain are well documented. If we consume more sugar or glucose than our bodies need, the excess glucose is stored for later use by the body, and most often this storage is in the fat cells. The same goes for fat consumption. Fat is a high energy substance, and beneficial to the body in some forms. However, like sugars, if our diet contains too much fat the body reacts to store this excess energy for later use.

So what about the phenomenon called 'French Paradox'? Many researchers recognise that the French diet is often high in calories, especially in fats, yet France does not seem to have the rates of obesity and diet-related health issues as other Western countries.
The reason for the paradox may be because of the consumption of red wine in France and other Mediterranean countries. Scientists studying the effects of the polyphenol chemical compound Resveratrol found in red grape wine have shown that Resveratrol helps to prevent fat storage, and found that it actually inhibits pre-fat cells from changing into mature fat cells. Resveratrol also acts to lower the amount of sugars in the blood, preventing it from changing into fat. Interestingly, studies have also shown that Resveratrol can increase the levels of 'good' cholesterol in the blood.

Holding the keys to healthy living

Adding the health benefits of Resveratrol to a healthy diet and regular exercise may be the key recipe for successful weight loss. While the research continues into other health benefits of Resveratrol, users of supplements like Biotivia's Resveratrol report increased energy levels, a drop in blood pressure or a drop in weight. Losing weight can lead to other health benefits including decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes and other weight-related problems.