If you are looking the most unique gift for your best friend, you may want to consider giving a gift certificate to your favorite restaurant. This gift is definitely perfect for the busy lifestyle of your best friend. However, no matter how convenient it is to dine out, a lot of restaurants still do not offer healthy foods.

Wrong choice of food will add inches to your waistline and may not be good for your health too. But if you know the right food to choose, dining out can be a healthy experience too. It is best that you go for foods in the menu that include lean meats, fish, veggies and fruits. If you will go to an Italian restaurant, instead of eating pasta with white creamy sauce opt for marinara sauce. Restaurants are starting to cater to health conscious people by offering healthy and nutritious foods too.

If you want to shape up and lose the unwanted weight, there are many ways to do it. You can take one of those quick weight loss supplements like 7-dfbx to see immediate results or you can do it the traditional ways The traditional ways of losing weight means eating well-balanced diet and getting enough exercise, a combination of these two methods is a sure-fire way to get rid of the unwanted weight. Among the very basic exercises that you can do includes the following:

• Brisk Walking – a forty-minute brisk walk will approximately burn 150 calories. However, if you cannot do brisk walking daily, make an effort to do it at least thrice each week.
• Swimming – this is the best exercise for those who hate sweating, 30-minute swim will burn around one hundred calories.
• Running or jogging – just like walking, this is one of the easiest routine to perform because it would not require you anything except you running gear. You can burn as many calories as you want depending on your running pace and distance.

Wii Fit is probably one of the best Wii games ever made. Although Nintendo didn’t claim that by playing Wii Fit, it will help you lose weight or become a healthy person. The game actually encourages people to become more physically active minus the boredom.

Nonetheless, by simply playing Wii Fit, you can perform some exercise routines which will serve as a complement for your regular exercise programs. It does not aim to substitute going to the gym but can be a good way to warm up.

Playing Nintendo game like Wii Sports will also help burn some calories. The Wii golf game will burn around 3 calories per minute and the game of tennis can actually burn 8 calories in one minute. There is still a huge difference between playing the real game instead of playing just the Wii games.

You will definitely sweat it out when playing Wii Sports or Wii Fit but the caloric burning is not as intense as when you actually execute the real thing. However, it is enough to help in your muscle endurance to make you perform the regular exercise routines a lot easier.

Are you a coffee-lover? Do you know that caffeine can affect your beautiful smiles? Coffee makes you feel alert and energized. However, the downside of it is the effect on the appearance of the teeth. If you do not want to have dental problems and worry about purchasing wholesale dental supplies; you may want to minimize your caffeine consumption in the future. Among the possible effects of caffeine on your teeth are as follows:

• Bruxism or teeth grinding that occurs when you are asleep and even during one of those stressful days. More frequently, you are not conscious that teeth grinding occurs.
• Coffee stains appear as yellowish marks due to excessive coffee consumption. Take note that caffeine is not only present in coffee, caffeine ingredient is also present in cola drinks, hot chocolate and tea.
• Weaker teeth are also another not-so-good effect of caffeine on your teeth. Too much caffeine intake will result into decrease in calcium. If you have weak teeth, then your teeth are prone to chipping and breaking.

Moms have a handful of things to do. Finding time to have a regular workout is almost next to impossible. However, it is very important to set some time to do a little workout because as you get older, the body fats become more and more stubborn. Thus, some would resort to the use of diet pills to make losing weight a lot faster and much easier too.

But a 10-minute workout routines is easy to insert in the busy schedule of moms. Here are some of the routines that busy moms can do throughout the day, you can even make it more fun by making sure that you listen to the groove of your favorite music in your apple nano:

• Modified Push ups
• Chair Dips
• Abs plank work out

10 minute workout can do wonders in your health. It will also keep you energized the whole day.

Click to expand
Source credit: Forensic Science Colleges

Most kids look forward to celebrating their birthday, as Moms we need to make sure that it will be a very special party. Being special does not mean being expensive. If you have an allotted budget for the party, there is no need to worry because there are ways to have a budget friendly kids’ party. All it takes is a little creativity and resourcefulness on your part.

First thing to do is to decide on the party theme. There is free software on the internet that will allow you to customize party invitations, banners and even party hats. All you need to do is to personalize the template and print.

Second, birthday parties should be fun; so think of games that would not require you to buy any props. Kids love to play Treasure Hunt, create a treasure hunting map for the kids to follow and enjoy. Play popular music and simply let the kids twist and dance.

When it comes to food, you will definitely save a lot of money if you will prepare and cook the food. However, if you are not the cooking-type mom; you can order food and mix and match menu of not-so expensive food.

During pregnancy, watching what you eat is very important for your health and your baby too. Remember that you are not eating only for yourself but for the child in your womb too.

While pregnant, it is a must to stay away from foods with preservatives and chemical additives. So avoid drinking sodas and stay away from sweets and fried foods. These foods do not contain the proper nutrition needed during pregnancy. It may even cause health problems during pregnancy.

Pregnant women’s hormones are erratic during this period, to avoid hormonal acne; proper nutrition is needed. Eating healthy foods will promote growth of the baby and will keep you healthy, fit and beautiful during your pregnancy.

The first time I heard about Alkaline water, I thought that this is another advertising gimmick where manufacturers claim miracles to be able to attract the consumers.  After a week of drinking it, I have noticed changes and improvement with my health.

Let me remind you beforehand that I am not promoting any particular brand of Alkaline water.  This post was not used for any testimonial sections in any website.  This is just my own experience which I want to share to all of you.

Alkaline water is rich in Calcium and Bicarbonate which are both good for the well being of our body.    It also contains Magnesium and Potassium.

I have learned that ph balance in our body is very important.  This refers to the acid – alkaline balance in the human body.  Too much acid can cause several health problems and complications.  To maintain ph balance and good health our body should be more alkaline than acidic.  Acidity can affect every single cell in the human body.  It can cause low energy, fatigue, excess weight, poor digestion, aches and pains, and even more serious disorders.   Alkaline water can help us maintain high ph balance, thus can keep us healthier.

The cycle of acidity in our body begins primarily as a result of three things:

1. Ingesting acids. Eating too many acidifying foods like processed sugar, meats, dairy, coffee, alcohol, etc. create an acid ash in the body. These acids can overload the body’s ability to neutralize them.

2. Creation of acids. Pathogens and microforms create acidifying toxins in the body. As the body becomes more and more acidic, bad bacteria, yeasts and other microforms proliferate in the body. Since these organisms are living, they eat as well as create resulting toxins. These toxins are often very acidifying.

3. Improper elimination of acids. Not all acids are the same; some are weak and some are strong. Weak acids like citric acid are much easier to neutralize than strong acids like uric acid. The body uses many systems in order to buffer acids including breath, mineral reserves, and fat. When the body’s buffering systems become compromised, excess acids build up.

The process of re-establishing  acid-alkaline balance begins with proper diet and nutrition. This includes eating alkalizing foods (vegetables, low sugar fruits, etc.), super hydration (drinking plenty of alkaline water that is ionic and structured), and proper supplementation.  (Source: www.alkaline.org)

After a week of drinking alkaline water, I have noticed that I have more energy.  This is very important to me considering that I wake up at 5am every morning and sleep late at night.

I also noticed a big improvement on my skin.  The skin breakages which were infected more than a week ago are all dry now, not itchy, despite the fact that I refused to take the much needed antibiotic my GP gives me all the time.

The PMS which I experience every month is also not happening now.  I am so happy with this.

I will continue drinking alkaline water and give more updates on my health improvement.  I also bought few bottles of alkaline water for my 89-year old mother-in-law to try.

More posts on Alkaline water, alkaline-rich food, and alkaline diet coming at LMC!

I have been dying to go to this Chinese Remedial and Natural Therapy place in the nearby shopping center.  Finally, I made it last Tuesday.  I regularly bring hubby there to have an hour remedial whole body massage.  I thought, however, that I need a massage too.  I want to get rid of all those muscle pains, stress and feeling of tiredness.  Hubby said, every after his session with the Chinese practitioner there, he feels so good and full of energy.  I want that for myself too.  I think I deserve it.

Instead of having an hour massage, I went for just half an hour body massage.  Oh boy!  It was worth it.  I paid $40 and I got $25 back from my private health insurance!  How about that?  So I think I will have it regularly.  Not only to pamper myself a bit, but to give my body and mind a sort of relief from all the stress.

The Chinese practitioner (Dr. Ma) there also recommended natural/ herbal pills for me to improve my hormonal imbalance during my period/ menstrual cycle.  The bottle contains 200 pills and costs $10!  I have to take 12 pills a day though.  So far, I feel energized and I think these pills are helping me a lot.

I have just found this 30 day diet plan from the Australian Woman’s Day Magazine online.  This seems to be a very interesting article with detailed outline of the 30-day recipes.  I thought that as long as the food in the diet plan are acceptably nutritious and healthy, anybody can take this challenge if ever willing.

Here is the link to the Day One diet plan and recipes.  Anybody who wants to have a look and try the 30 day diet plan can start from there.

I have always been on the look for healthy diet plans and recipes.  My husband needs to lose weight.  Also, there are many of my friends who keep on asking me for weight loss tips and how to maintain a slim figure.  Although, I know that I am not an expert or a professional dietitian, my friends know that I love to read and research on articles and issues like this.  Ironically, I love eating and I love food in the same ‘degree’ that I love to keep myself healthy and fit.

I hope you can find this article from Woman’s Day magazine helpful.

A follow-up article on ‘The Dukan Diet’, with lots of recommended recipes will be coming soon here at LMC.

I have always have this attitude that if we, parents, want to look after our family, we must first make sure that we look after ourselves.  Our health is very important for us to be able to stand all the tests of stress, tensions, loads and challenges of being parents and heads of our respective families.

Smoking is one of the main causes of illnesses that affect our body inside and out.  Unfortunately, smokers have this mind set of smoking as a way to reduce stress and give them the feeling that it is helping them to relax and unwind.

Lung problems, various types of cancer, skin disease, mouth infection, heart diseases…these are only few among the lot of health problems that smoking can give to us.

Books and CDs on how to stop smoking, herbal medications, pills, patches and even the most recently popularized E-cigarettes are selling like pancakes in the market but the question on effectiveness and reliability remains steaming in the air while money drains down consumers’ pockets.

There are lots of people in my life who are smokers.  I, myself, used to smoke at age 20 but decided to finally give it up when I noticed that my asthma developed and started to make me sick every month.  Looking back, I cannot believe I was so stupid to let this vice get into me.  Lucky though, I am the kind of person who can discipline myself if I need to.  It was just a matter of waking up and hitting my head so hard that I learned my lesson the hard way.

Tablets? Patches?  Cigarette replacements?  I had nothing of those.  It was my will power and determination that leads me to quitting cigarette in no time.  I firmly believe that our brain is very powerful.  My brain controlled my entire body and commanded it discipline and power to overcome my cigarette addiction.

Is there really an easy way to stop smoking?  I don’t think so.  Smoking is an addiction.  If you find it hard to quit smoking, perhaps it’s the right time to seek professional help and be serious about keeping yourself healthy, not only for your own good, but for the sake of your family.

I went to my GP (General Practitioner) last Friday.  I had my regular PAP smear test, breast examination and general check-up.  It feels good that I was able to accomplish something that I had difficulty squeezing in to my schedule for a long time.  At last, I was able to find time to do it.

I will get the result of the PAP smear this week.  For the meantime, I booked in for an ultrasound.  My GP wanted me to have an ultrasound to make sure that my uterus is good.  One of our concerns is my heavy monthly period which gives me a lot of discomfort every month.  My GP is not the only doctor who suggested pills for me to regulate my period.  I always refused to take it in fear of side effects.  She recommended IUD (intrauterine device) this time.  I was again hesitant at first, and told her I will think about it.  But she said though that I would be silly not to give it a go since I have to do something about my monthly problems and discomfort.  She is also aware that I am a fulltime mom to two young kids and a fulltime housewife.  So, this time I am giving it a go.  She referred me to a specialist.  After I get the ultrasound result I need to see the specialist.

Have you been to your regular PAP smear and breast check?  Make sure to see your family doctor or Obstetrician-gynecologist once a year.

Keep this in mind moms:  Health is wealth!

When I first heard about the Pasta Diet, I was thinking and wondering how pasta can help a person lose weight.  All I know is that my husband and in-laws, who are Italians, are having a hard time losing weight and controlling the weight gain and high sugar due to pasta in their diet.  They cannot live without pasta!  I tried to put my husband on strict diet with only two pasta dishes in one week- to which he felt really miserable as if I was depriving him of his comfort and staple food.

So thinking about the word ‘Pasta’ and ‘Diet’ together seems to be ironic.  But for those who are pasta lovers ‘Pasta Diet’ is a good news.  At last, they were thinking, there’s one realistic diet that won’t starve dieters!  That is the whole point.  Pasta contains complex carbohydrates that keeps us fuller for a longer period of time and supply the energy that we need everyday.  Thus, not making you feel hungry and craving for snacks in between meals.

This diet is based on all the provisions, needed for health. The Diet is very simple and practical. The combination of the provisions effects your metabolism and therefore you can lose weight easier than with other diets. You can lose up to 11 lbs (5 kg) in 2 weeks and it is suggested for everyone with metabolism problems.  (Source:  dreamdiet4free.com)

The secret:  *It is all about the other healthy ingredients that you put in your pasta.

*Taking control of the amount of pasta is of utmost importance.  Pasta diet does not mean that you can pig out on pasta three times a day!!!

*One cup of pasta in addition to other ingredients – like fish/seafood, vegetables, meat – is the ideal amount per serving.

Other references for recipes and daily menus:

http://www.prairie8.org/the-pasta-diet.htm

http://www.dreamdiet4free.com/index.php?id=20

Suggested LMC Pasta Recipes:

Prawn Spinach Pasta

Spaghetti Broccolli

Other Pasta Diet recipes coming soon at LMC!

Oral hygiene really starts from infancy.  We clean the baby’s mouth usually by wetting a piece of cotton with water and wiping the inside of the mouth.  It is very important to start the oral hygiene routine early in life and allow our kids to grow up with it.

Ivana had her first visit to the dentist when she turned five.  Kids are advised to have their teeth checked and cleaned professionally by the dentist before they start school.  It is alarming though that Ivana’s dentist have patients younger than her age and need dental treatment.

Here are some important points that are worth emphasizing regarding kids’ dental routine and oral hygiene:

*Brush your teeth two to three times a day.  Parents should assist in brushing the kids’ teeth to make sure that all areas were brushed properly.

*Floss; parents must floss their kids’ teeth.

*If the gum bleeds during brushing, do not stop brushing.  Instead, continue brushing until the bleeding stops.  This sounds ironic though as parents are worried that brushing bleeding gum will aggravate it and may cause ache.  But the dentist’s advise on continuous brushing when the gum bleeds works!

*Avoid sweets.  Even brushing teeth right after eating sweets would not help.

*Fruit juices are known to be good for us and it helps strengthen our teeth.  The thing is, fruit juices contain high amount of sugar as well as acid which is not good for our teeth.  If you want to give your kids juice, let him drink it all at once, preferably at the end of the meal – not in between every spoons of food during the meal.  This lessens the teeth’s exposure to acid.

*Encourage kids to drink water and avoid sweet drinks.

In Asian countries, the coconut tree is considered a tree of life.  This is because every part of it, and it’s fruit as well, is beneficial to mankind; nothing goes to waste.  The bark of the coconut tree, leaves, twigs and coconut shell are often used as building materials for native looking houses (we call this ‘nipa huts’) and even household items like sweeping brooms, sleeping mats, hats, bags, baskets, slippers, and a lot more.

However, the coconut fruit is the ‘star’ among all the parts of the coconut tree.  Coconut has been tested to be useful and beneficial to humans.  The coconut oil being produced from the coconut milk in its white flesh has been proven to help moisturize skin, help rapid growth and strengthening of hair,  and is said to be anti-bacterial as well that is good in disinfecting the skin.

Coconut water hit the Australian television recently emphasizing its health benefits.  The fact that coconut water does not contain any cholesterol, low in calories, low in carbs, 99% fat-free and is very low in sugar is what makes health buffs interested in the drink.  Coconut water mania is in Hollywood as featured in the news report showing celebrities holding their bottle of commercialized coconut water.

The health benefits of coconut water are amazing.

*Coconut water can control diabetes

*It can control the body’s PH balance and reduce the risk of cancer

*Helps boost poor circulation

*Treat kidney

*Helps get rid of urinary tract infection/UTI

*Helps the body fight viruses that fights herpes, AIDS and flu

*Carry nutrients and oxygen to cells

*Naturally re-hydrates body

*Helps maintain the body proper temperature and keep it cool

*Promote weight loss

*Increase or improve metabolism

*Boost the immune system

*Detoxifies the body

*Helps cleanse and maintain a healthy digestive system

*It is more nutritious than milk and healthier than orange juice

*It contains more potassium than sports and energy drinks

*It contains lauric acid (which can also be found in breast milk) that helps the body flush out toxins.

*It contains fiber that helps regulate intestinal health

I personally love coconut water.  My mom used to serve us coconut juice at least once a week.  We are aware of the benefits of drinking coconut water, but to learn that there are more and more discovered and tested benefits from it makes this product of nature loved by many.  Giving your kids a cup of coconut water few times a week or even everyday will surely be worth it!

I have been having a problem every now and then about my skin.  There are times when pimples would just pop out of my face.  Not only few, but a number of them.  I knew even before that I have this habit of not drinking enough water in a day.  I also know that my addiction with coffee, which gives me an overdose of sugar as well, is one of the causes of my pimples.

Aside from the fact, which we all know, that sugar can cause diabetes, obesity and even heart problems, there is more to it.  Too much intake of sugar causes the production of molecules in our body called “advanced glycation end products” or AGEs.  The more sugar you take in your body, the more AGEs you produce which in turn causes the damage to the elastin and collagen that your skin needs to avoid wrinkles.

Elastin and collagen are connective underlying tissues that make our skin firm and wrinkle free.

So that is the sad part about eating all our favorite sweets.  Eating sweets in moderation is the only way to avoid the problem that too much sugar can cause to our body.  We do not need to give it up though.  Moderation is the key.  As of early this week, I have started reducing my sugar intake.  That means, less coffee, no soft drinks, chocolates and ice cream and cakes only once in a blue moon…and a liter of water a day!

We all know that one of the options to maintain a healthy diet is to lessen, or even avoid, the intake of fatty food.  This is where steamed food becomes the best preference.  However, many might say that steamed food can taste bland or flavorless.  But there are lots of recipes that can give you a satisfying and great meals only by way of steaming the food.

The only thing that you need to start this healthy steam food diet is to avail of a good and easy to operate steamer.  We are all very familiar with the steamer which Chinese restaurants usually use.  But I love this Tefal steamer that I got at home.  Aside from the fact that it has more room to cook or steam a complete course meal for dinner or for lunch, the process of preparing, arranging and steaming it is so easy.

Prepare all the ingredients that you want to steam.  This may include fish or seafood, chicken or meat, vegetables and rice.  Season the aforementioned with the seasoning that you like, put the lid on and set the timer as required and according to the instructions in the manual.  The food stays juicy, delicious and healthy as the steamer retains all the nutrients in the food.

For more information on this read more on the published review on Tefal  3 in 1 Steamer.

I have always wondered why most French women have the slim figure when French food are full and rich in cheese, sugar, cream and even chocolate sauces on desserts.  French cooking gives me the impression of rich taste that I have specially indulged in their pasta recipes with cream and variety of cheese sauces.

Dr. Pierrie Dukan is a French nutritionist who came up with a diet program that claims to be the secret of slim and fashion fit women.  Dr. Dukan’s diet method has become popular due to claims of how effective it is especially on overweight individuals.  The Dukan diet has a reported effect of 3 to 5lbs. average weight loss per week.  The program has four phases which is so easy to follow and very effective.  It’s methodology is basically ‘all-you-can-eat’ in four phases for the entire program.  Dukan diet is based on natural protein food and no carb.

The four phases in the Dukan Diet are as follows.

ATTACK Phase:  All protein in the form of low-fat meat like beef, chicken, turkey; fish, cottage cheese, zero fat yoghurt, etc. 1.5 tablespoons of oat bran; water; and 20 minutes of walk everyday.

CRUISE Phase:  Nothing-but-protein days alternated by nothing-but-protein-and-vegetables days; water; 2 tablespoons of oat bran; 30 minutes of brisk walking everyday.  This phase could last upto two months.  You can switch to phase 3 when you have already reached your target weight.

CONSOLIDATION Phase:  Here you do not lose weight anymore, you just maintain the weight that you have achieved.  Food intake will basically be patterned to the Cruise phase but with subtle changes.

EAT WHATEVER YOU LIKE Phase:  This sounds so good, but diet should still be continuous although I should say that eating should be more enjoyable here considering the fact that you have already got used to the diet pattern in Phase three.  Here, eat a Phase 3 diet except on Thursday, because Thursday should be nothing-but-protein day.

Although I don’t need to lose weight (because I need to gain weight), I am very interested in purchasing Dr. Dukan’s book and learn from it.  The said four phases of the diet program seems to be really interesting as they are said to be extremely easy and bearable.  This is the kind of diet that won’t make you hungry or starve you.  Dr’ Dukan’s book “Je ne sais pais maiqrir’ (‘I don’t know how to lose weight’”) was released early this year and is now available at Amazon.

If you want a further detail on the four phases of this diet, here’s a link to an article:  http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2010/04/21/how-the-dukan-diet-works-the-french-diet-that-is-supposed-to-end-the-obesity-epidemic/

With all the beauty products that are in the market, from cosmetics, vitamins, food and drinks with anti-oxidants and oral supplements, consumers would usually ask one question:  Which among this plethora of products really works?

I can only recommend products that I have already tried for myself.  I am a person that is not really interested in cosmetics or make-ups although I have been trying several products lately.  I think as women mature we develop more interest in this product lines.  There anti-aging products that I have tried though even before I reached the age of 30.  Don’t be shocked.  It was not because I was feeling old but it was because of some health issues that I got to know them and try them.

I have recently mentioned in my earlier post about the Glutathione capsules.  I have known this anti-oxidant and beauty capsule for more than a decade now.  It was once popularized by celebrities who wanted to make their skin complexion fairer (What’s wrong with them?  Our Filipina or olive complexion is beautiful!)  I have also known a person who would takes the highest dosage allowable just to make her skin really fair (yeah, this one is obsessed!).  My dermatologist prescribed to me the glutathione capsules to make my skin healthier.  I am a sufferer of atopic dermatitis which can really get bad all year round.  Aside from the fact that I am allergic to dust and develop food intolerance when my skin has been damaged due to my allergy, my dermatologist prescribed glutathione as a supplement.  She suggested that I take 500-1000mg of glutathione every day.

What are the main benefits of Glutathione?

Glutathione is made of three amino acids – cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid.  It is known as the most abundant natural anti-oxidant that can be found in every part of the human body, especially the lungs, intestinal tract, and liver. However, the largest amounts of glutathione can be found in the liver, where it is used to detoxify harmful compounds so that they can be removed from the body through the bile.

Glutathione also helps keep red blood and white blood cells healthy to maximize the disease-fighting power of the immune system.

Glutathione has an anti-aging effect on our body as well.  Good supply of glutathione in our body helps our body fight free radicals that can expedite the wearing down of our body.

The retention and good dosage of glutathione will help boost our immune system.  There is also no known side effect of taking it in regular dosage.  What I love about glutathione is the noticeable effect on how good it did on my skin.  My skin was more young looking and blemishes are almost invisible.  It gives a glow on the skin that makes its appearance so fresh and supple.

Remember though that good diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle are still the key to looking young and staying well.