Healthy World Digest, #23, February 2011

"Healthy nuggets of information to keep your motor humming."

Welcome to the 23th issue of our newsletter.

In this issue:

February, 2011

* A delectible herb for wrinkles

* Coffee boosts exercise sessions, again

* Fish oil supplements for lower breast cancer, depression

* B vitamins for depression

* Remedies, supplements, herbs for rosacea

* A delicious herb for wrinkly skin

Red pepper - its vitamin C boosts collagen, the breakdown of which causes wrinkles. So many ways to eat too. Chopped up in salads or stews, stir fried with onions, garlic and a meat of choice. Yum.

* Coffee boosts exercise sessions, again

We’ve been over this subject before. Briefly, using caffeine as a supplement, before an exercise workout can help boost your exercise session. But cautions abound.

This is not a recommendation to gulp 7 mugs of Starbucks Grande. It should not be done by persons with sensitivities to caffeine or with blood pressure or cardiac concerns or by people who are out of shape and just beginning to work out.

But for most people, the new studies suggest that around a cup of coffee taken ½ hour before a workout can increase power output of muscles. For elite athletes, taking 3 - 4x as much caffeine before competition can be the difference between a gold medal or none.

When I was an avid long distance runner, I used to go for a few cups of coffee about ½ hour before my run. It definitely helped with endurance. Now, I might have a small cup of coffee before a workout.

But, I don’t chug cups of coffee pre-workout anymore because that is just too much coffee for my middle aged body to use well. That, and I would have to go to the bathroom real bad during a run.

What I like doing is sipping a workout drink that contains a little caffeine. It helps me workout longer, keeps me alert when the loss of brain sugar usually leads to brain fog and helps stave off hunger until I complete my workout. Not bad for a little roasted herb, huh?

FYI, when I don't have a cup of coffee and if I feel like I'm lagging a bit, I use a scoop of GNC’s FastTwitch, and a tablespoon of protein powder in a quart of ice water and sip throughout my workout.

* Fish oil supplements for lower breast cancer, depression

Now, recent studies show fish oil supplements reduce the risk of breast cancer and depression. The recommendation is to take about 6 grams a day in divided doses. On days I eat fatty fish (mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna), I just skip the supplements.

* B vitamins for depression

Research suggests that increased vitamin B6 & B12 decreased risk of depression for older adults. Best advice is to take a B50 or B100 tablet. Break in half. Have ½ in morning, ½ in evening.

For Healthy World's other pages on depression visit:

Dehydration and depression

Dehydration and depression

Herbs for depression

* Remedies & supplements for rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin ailment that affects around 14 million people, about 5% of Americans. It primarily affects people over thirty years of age.

Characterized by a red flush to cheeks, risen blood vessels on your skin, or notable red blood vessels that branch out across the face, rosacaea can be quite ugly. Happily, it doesn't threaten health.

You can use a cold compress on affected areas to relieve pain and inflammation.

Two of the best supplements for rosacea are beta carotene & vitamin C.

Natural herbs for rosacea include apple cider vinegar (ACV) and chamomile tea taken orally. Take a couple of tsps of ACV with a tsp of raw honey a couple of times daily. Drink several cups of chamomile tea daily.

A light preparation of ACV, diluted with water and cooled chamomile tea bags, can be applied to affected to help with rosacea symptoms.

Finally, surplus water dilutes toxins and sediment easing elimination of toxins and sediment because it allows more to be eliminated by the liver. So fewer toxins and less sediment makes it to the skin.

For more, visit Healthy World’s targeted pages on rosacea.

Link between rosacea and dehydration

Supplements for rosacea

Home remedies for rosacea

Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to Healthy World Digest and tell me what you think.

See you next month!

Sal

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