Lifestyle Blog

Atkins diet was unknown 35 years ago. Though it seems that ancient people – athletes particularly – followed a strict diet which is likewise Atkins basic.

Strict diet and severe exercises for Ancient Greeks

Long before dr Atkins finished his theory about ketosis and established his famous diet, ancient people had undertaken it, without any clue at all. Not only they were eating Atkins-style, but also they were strongly practicing regular exercise, as dr Atkins now recommends. Ancient Greeks spent a lot of time educating their bodies. Gymnastic exercises were very appreciated, children were trained and directed to follow a daily training program. After years of strict diet and heavy gymnastics, Greeks finally admitted that “too much and too strict” is not good for health, because this regimen exhausted the human constitution.

Greek Olympians followed meat-only diet

In fact, we talk about Greek people who ate fruits, vegetables, a lot of fish, breads. This was a regular eating regimen for ordinary Greeks, with the amendment that fish was the most common meat eaten in that seafaring region. Quite interesting is the fact that Greek olympians had a bit different eating regimen, a meat-heavy regimen, like the low-carb Atkins’s (not so refined, of course, no phases at all). The goal was to develop a lot of muscles and meat was enormously necessary. But not any Greek could daily afford meat on the table. Only upper social strata from Greece could afford it. The olympians also ate more rich-protein legumes which their bodies needed to keep a boost of energy.

Moreover, according to food historian Francine Segan, an ancient Olympic runner was put to undertake a meat-only diet. It seems that this tough exclusive diet was a must to win a competition. That works for runners. The fact that runners ate only meat started a sort of meat diet craze, pointed out the historian. Another condition to complete athletes’ diet was to expel bread right before competition, eating dried figs instead. Francine Segan admitted that he discovered that while he was searching information about famous Mediteranean cuisine.

Their diet was directed according to Pausanias. Those practicing heavy exercise ate pork and a particular kind of bread. Also, it seems that beef was later introduced in the ordinary diet of the athletes. Goat meat is mentioned, too, in “A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities”. Meat consumption was highly encouraged, as on the Atkins diet plan. Fats, too, since pork, is a fat meat.

Ancient preoccupation with health, diet and exercise is praiseworthy. A low-carbohydrate daily regimen, along with regular exercise are a simple and efficient scheme for losing weight and shaping the body. The ancient people knew it by trying it only. No theories, no calories, no ketosis, no debates around. Maybe they didn’t need to know how it works. “Mens sana in corpore sana” worked best for them.

Infidelity affects 8 out of 10 marriages in this country. This is a shocking statistic! What happens between the time the marriage vows are spoken and that first episode of cheating? It’s an assumption, of course, but I don’t think that 80% of the people who get married intend to cheat or be part of a love triangle.

I decided to tackle unearthing the real truth about how and why this happens. On one very popular web site there were 260 posts from both sexes commenting about forgiving and forgetting infidelities. I read every one of them. With one exception, the perception conveyed was that one party was an innocent victim of the other’s philandering. It seemed to me that everyone was looking at adultery as a cause of marital discord. From my perspective, there are only rare exceptions to the fact that adultery, cheating, or affairs are SYMPTOMS of long standing marital problems. The cause occurred possibly even before the marriage vows were uttered. Read the rest of The Essence of Infidelity »

Some people love holiday shopping, and others dread it. Finding the perfect gift can be stressful. Many men have trouble finding a gift that shows their love for the women in their lives. They want something feminine and practical, and, most importantly, something that the recipient will want to keep forever.

There is such a gift: cultured pearl jewelry.

Pearls are the perfect gift for every woman. Women who wear jewelry all the time love pearls, and so do women who only wear jewelry on special occasions. Women who are fashion-conscious and women who are not will be thrilled to have their own cultured pearls. Women of all ages appreciate pearls. Because pearls come in all styles and prices, it is possible to make an excellent choice for your budget.

A strand of cultured pearls is elegant but functional. It goes as well with a business suit as it does with a cocktail dress or casual blouse. Cultured pearls are an essential part of every woman’s wardrobe. A young girl’s first “real” piece of jewelry could be a pair of pearl earrings. She will wear them on dates, to graduation, and on job interviews. On her wedding day, these earrings could be the “something old” that she wears as she walks down the aisle. Your mother or grandmother probably has a strand of Akoya cultured pearls that she received as a gift years ago. A matching bracelet, ring, or brooch will show her how much you love and cherish her.

You do not have to be an expert on pearls to select and purchase them. With a little preparation, shopping for pearls can be easy. It is recommended to buy from a jeweler that you trust. Ask friends, relatives, and co-workers who their favorite jewelers are.

Once you have one or more fine jewelers in mind, you can start learning about pearls. By knowing to what to look for, you can ask informed questions and make a wise selection.

Pearls are judged according to five criteria:

1. Luster: Luster is a combination of surface shine and a deep, glow that radiates from within the pearl. To judge luster, look at your reflection in the pearl’s surface. The clearer and crisper the reflection, the better the luster and more valuable the pearl. You should reject pearls that are chalky or dull.

2. Surface: Because cultured pearls are natural, expect some small pits, bumps, or spots. As a rule, the fewer blemishes on a pearl, the higher its quality.

3. Shape: The rounder a pearl, the more valuable it is. However, less expensive baroque pearls can be very beautiful because of their irregularities.

4. Color: Cultured pearls come in silver/white, rose, cream, and gold shades. When deciding upon color, keep in mind that as a very general rule, lighter pearls tend to flatter lighter skins, and darker pearls tend to flatter darker skins. At the same time, don’t let rules dictate your preferences.

5. Size: Cultured pearls are measured by their diameter. The diameter of cultured pearls ranges from 2 to 10 millimeters. Larger pearls are more valuable, and more expensive than smaller ones, all things being equal.

Cultured pearl jewelry is the ideal holiday gift. As long as you know where to look, what to look for, and keep your budget in mind, buying pearls as holiday gifts can be easy.

Do you have the winter skin blues? Is the itching and flaking driving you crazy? Don’t worry; you can take steps to protect and soothe your body’s largest organ. With proper care, healthy, glowing skin is achievable during winter. Whatever your age, follow these helpful guidelines throughout the season.

No matter how dark your skin, you still need to protect it from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. Choose a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or more. Sunscreens containing Titanium Dioxide tend to leave darker skin tones looking “ashy”. A sunscreen gel is preferable and it absorbs invisibly into your skin.

I know it’s tempting, but taking long, hot showers drain essential moisture from your skin, leaving it dry and lacking in water content. Limit your showers to about 5-10 minutes Read the rest of Winter Skin Savers »

When choosing pearls there are a number of things to consider besides just the quality of the pearls. While there is no right or wrong way to chose pearls, here are a few tips you should consider.

Necklace Length

You can buy pearl necklaces in a number of different lengths. Generally speaking, shorter necklaces flatter long necks, while long necklaces are nice for smaller necks. The lengths and names are as follows.

• Collar – 12-13″
• Choker – 14-16″
• Princess – 17-19″
• Matinee – 20-25″
• Opera – 26-36″
• Rope – 37″ or longer

The most popular is the Princess length since it is a good length for both long and smaller necks.

Pearl Color

The pearl color does not affect the value of the pearl, instead it is completely in the eye of the beholder. Most people buy pearls that best match their skin tone. People with light skin usually buy white or pink pearls while people with darker skin tones tend to buy black or lavender pearls. In America, white pearls are the most popular, while in Asia, silver are the most sought after.

Pearl Sets

When buying pearl jewelry you should consider if you want an entire set, or just a certain piece. If for instance, you buy the necklace, and then later decide to buy the bracelet / earrings they may not match as well as if you had bought a set. Even if you buy the same size, and color, the style may not be the same. Some stores will allow you to buy the individual pieces of a set. So if you want to buy the other pieces at a later time, they will still match.

Clothing encompasses a wide range of apparel. From big and tall men’s clothing to women’s clothing. How we dress ourselves and what we wear tells the people around us a lot about who we are. Clothing has always been subject to change based on the dictates of fashion and whims. Some things however, about clothing don’t change. Quality. Quality clothing will always be in demand. Durability. Durable men’s and women’s clothing are always popular.

Clothing not only covers our bodies, it also allows us to enhance our appearance. A quality, sharp suit on a man makes him look more professional and successful. An attractive dress on a woman makes her look stylish and confident. There are so many different clothing options to choose from, that at times it can appear overwhelming. Don’t let that bother you. With a little thought and reflection you can come up with a clothing style that truly reflects who you are.

A few suggestions to consider are these: Decide what clothing you feel comfortable in. Is it a business meeting? Is it a casual night out? Whatever you’re going to be doing, the clothes you wear will only accentuate the real you and the right clothes for the occasion can go a long way to help you feel confident.

Take your time to select a few choice merchants that offer timeless, quality clothing at reasonable prices. Take your time, you’re not in a hurry, and focus in on what type of clothing you want. In other words, who do you want to be and then find the clothes to dress up that person.

Cosmeceuticals are the new wave in skin care. They are topical cosmetic-pharmaceutical hybrids intended to enhance the health and beauty of the skin. Skin is the largest organ in the body, both by weight and surface area. In adults, the weight of your skin accounts for about 16% of your total body weight. The skin separates the internal environment from the external. It is essential to protect and preserve the skin for your own personal health and self esteem.

Cosmetic skin care products only serve to cleanse and beautify. As opposed to cosmetics, cosmeceuticals will alter the structure and function of the skin. Let’s take a look at some of the ingredients and the science behind why they work.

Centella Asiatica is a botanical agent, which increases collagen production by inducing its precursor enzyme. This ingredient has a shelf life of 6 months, which is why you will not find it in stores. This amazing material reduces the appearance of stretch marks and is currently being researched for its effects on varicose veins.

The FDA recognizes Salicyclic Acid as a proven anti-bacterial destroying agent.

Retinol is a vitamin A treatment, which accelerates the skin cells natural exfoliation process and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Read the rest of The New Wave in Skin Care Solutions »

In this post, I will talk about Wedding Favor Creator. Wedding favors have always been a nice, personal gesture to include in your wedding preparations. Unfortunately, there are too many “cookie-cutter” type favors out there, which portray the couple’s lack of interest in providing something unique.

Here is a Wedding Favor Creator for you to use for your upcoming wedding or one that you’re planning for your best friend. You can mix and match to your heart’s content and according to the budget you have.

Small containers to use for candies, chocolates, small floating candles, decorative soaps, etc. (many of them can be purchased at your local dollar store)  Read the rest of Wedding Favor Creator »

Group-based diet and exercise lifestyle interventions over six years can prevent or delay diabetes for up to 14 years after the intervention period. But whether lifestyle interventions also lead to reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality remains unclear. These are the conclusions of authors of an Article in this week’s Diabetes Special Issue of The Lancet.

While several major clinical trials around the world have shown the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to reduce diabetes incidence in people with impaired glucose tolerance*, questions remain over how long post-intervention these strategies remain effective. Professor Guangwei Li, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, and Dr Ping Zhang, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and colleagues did the China Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study (CDQDPOS), which followed-up patients 20 years after enrolment.

In 1986, 577 adults with impaired glucose tolerance from 33 clinics in China were randomly assigned to the control group or one of three lifestyle intervention groups (diet, exercise, or diet plus exercise). Active intervention took place over six years until 1992, and in 2006 study participants were followed-up to assess the long-term effect of the interventions. Primary outcomes were diabetes incidence, CVD incidence and mortality, and all-cause mortality.

The researchers found that compared with control participants, the combined lifestyle interventions reduced the incidence of diabetes by about a half (51%) during the active intervention period, and by 43% over the whole 20-year period. The average annual incidence of newly diagnosed diabetes was 7% for intervention participants and 11% in control participants. At the end of the 20 years, 80% of the intervention group had diabetes, compared with 93% of the control group. Those in the intervention group spent an average of 3.6 fewer years with diabetes than those in the control group. While there was no significant difference between intervention and control groups in the rate of first CVD events, CVD mortality and all-cause mortality, the study had limited statistical power to detect differences for these outcomes.

The authors conclude: “This study has shown that, in Chinese people with impaired glucose tolerance, group-based interventions targeting lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise produce a durable and long-lasting reduction in incidence of type 2 diabetes…Since around 3 million excess deaths a year are attributable to diabetes worldwide, lifestyle interventions seem to be a justifiable public-health action both in developed and developing nations.”

In an accompanying Comment, Dr Jaana Lindström, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki and University of Helsinki, Finland, and Professor Matti Uusitupa, University of Kuopio, Finland, say: “We propose that lifestyle intervention should start much earlier, when people are normoglycaemic, to achieve true primary prevention of type 2 diabetes and its main consequence, cardiovascular disease. In this regard, both population-based strategies and those targeted at high-risk groups should be applied.”

Source : Lancet

Refference : Weightloss Guide

As our age becomes older, we cannot really expect that our condition will as fit as 10 or 5 years ago. Our age is getting old many problems with our body and our health. Many people are experienced with hair damage problem. This problem is not really affecting your health, but it will affect your confidence. Just imagine that your hair is fall every day without any control. It’s horrible. You can have very crucial confidence crisis. Hair damage problem actually can be caused by poor nutrition, lack of treatment and care, and also the chemical factor you use to your hair.

Don’t you ever hear the famous Philadelphia hair transplants? This is best way for you to have good looking and great confidence after your hair damage problem. Reputable doctor in Philadelphia conducts this hair transplant practice. You can visit the site in drpistone.com. You can see much information for your hair health.

You can also call or send them email to get free consultation. I am sure you won’t let your hair problem affecting your confidence.  If you don’t want this thing happen again to you, you can contact Dr. Pistone. Dr. Pistone will give you advice for transplanting your hair. Transplantation actually the best way, you can re-grow your hair with safe way. Contact them and get more consultation.