Early information from scientific studies suggests that beta-carotene might help people who already have Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The American Heart Association doesn't recommend taking supplements of beta-carotene until more is known, however.

Nutritionists categorize vitamins by the materials that a vitamin will dissolve in. There are two categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins—vitamins A, D, E and K—are stored in the fat tissues of the body for a few days to up to six months. If you get too much of a fat-soluble vitamin, it can be stored in your liver and may sometimes cause health problems. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.

Some people take mega-doses of fat-soluble vitamins, which can lead to toxicity. Eating a normal diet of foods rich in these vitamins won't cause a problem. Remember, you only need small amounts of any vitamin. In the case of vitamin A, overconsumption has been linked with an increased risk of fractures in postmenopausal women.

Some health problems can make it hard for a person's body to absorb these vitamins. If you have a chronic health condition, ask your doctor about whether your vitamin absorption will be affected.

How Much Vitamin A Is Enough?
It's recommended that women consume 800 mcg and men consume 1000 mcg of vitamin A daily.

Sources of Vitamin A

• Beef liver
• Egg yolk
• Cheddar cheese
• Fortified milk

Top sources of beta-carotene include:

• Sweet potato
• Carrots
• Pumpkin
• Cantaloupe
• Broccoli
• Apricots
• Spinach and collard greens

Can You Have Too Much or Too Little?
Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the United States, but it can cause night blindness, eye inflammation, diarrhea and other problems. Overconsumption of vitamin A can cause nausea, irritability and blurred vision in its mild form. In addition, the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet can turn orange if a person has a high intake of Vitamin A. Vitamin A toxicity can cause growth retardation, hair loss and enlarged spleen and liver in its more severe form. Vitamin A overdose can also cause birth defects and has been linked to increased risk of bone fractures in some people.

Vitamin Storage
If you want to get the most vitamins possible from your food, refrigerate fresh produce, and keep milk and grains away from strong light. Vitamins are easily destroyed and washed out during food preparation and storage. If you take vitamin supplements, store them at room temperature in a dry place that's free of moisture.

The Benefits of Vitamin C

Morning Walk

Office Exercises

Sitting much of the day causes loss of muscle tone due to inactivity. Here are a few light muscle-stretching exercises from four-time Mr. Universe, Bill Pearl. They can be done in the office with no equipment. (This is weight training without the weights— using only your body weight.) Use your imagination for other things you can do.

THE ANTIDOTE FOR SITTING

Sitting for long periods is a very recent phenomenon in human history. Many health problems of the modern world are either caused by or aggravated by the sedentary life.

In recent years, exercise has been shown to have beneficial effects for a variety of medical problems. From arthritis to back pain (the recommendation used to be “stay in bed”) to osteoporosis to cancer. Likewise, moving exercise can help decrease the chances of contracting office-related injuries and, if done sensibly, can help heal symptoms and speed recovery.

THE NEW APPROACH

In the last two decades, there has been an overemphasis on strenuous workouts in America. Running marathons, intense aerobic dance classes, competitive cycling, and swimming were often touted as necessary for good health. Experience has shown, however, that most people will not stick with an exercise program that is too strenuous. More recent studies show that even mild exercise, such as walking 10 minutes a day, can do a world of good. Or as Dr. Steven Blair puts it in his book Living With Exercise, “Standing is better than sitting, moving is better than standing…” If you have been sedentary for some time, try walking 5 minutes; then the next day 6 minutes, and so on. Or walk around the house during TV commercials.

Here are a few ideas for building some physical activity into your daily life.

ON THE JOB

• Take mini-walks - Walk during coffee breaks. Arrange a walk-and-talk instead of a sit-and-talk meeting.
• Climb stairs Walk at least some of the distance up or down in office buildings.
• Park and walk - Park farther away from the office (or the store when shopping), instead of trying to get as close as possible.
• Walk on your lunch break - You’ll return refreshed. Wear comfortable shoes.
• Move while on the phone - Stand and move around while talking on the phone. Do some stretches. (See p. 31.)
• Swing your arms, turn your neck, or wiggle your toes — any kind of movement helps.

OFF THE JOB

Use off-the-job time to exercise neglected muscles rather than straining those that are already overworked. Be creative.

Changing your work habits, better time management, and working with your boss or employer can help you manage and reduce your on-the-job stress.

1. Set realistic goals for what you can accomplish at work. Prioritize your tasks to focus on the important ones. If you have subordinates, delegate responsibilities to them as much as possible.
2. Burn off tension through exercise. Schedule some time in the morning, during lunch, or in the evening for a brisk walk, jogging, aerobics, or weight lifting, when you can escape the pressures at work. Try yoga and deep-breathing exercises, which can reduce stress, at the office.
3. Don't be afraid to take vacations. People can't operate at full throttle on the job day after day. When you do get away, leave your work cell phone and BlackBerry at home. You need to recharge so you can be at your peak when you get back to work.
4. Look for signs that you're getting burned out. If you routinely zone out on the job, think that none of your work matters, or consistently dread going to work, it's time to get help. Some 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), in which counselors help workers deal with day-to-day stresses -- strictly confidentially -- to keep them from becoming larger medical issues. If your company doesn't have an EAP, consider seeing a therapist or a career coach for guidance tailored to your needs.

8. Calves

Standing Calf Raises

This exercise can be done on the edges of stairs, wood blocks, books, etc. Do both legs at the same time to start with then, as you get stronger, do them one leg at a time. Hold a bag in your hand for resistance as you get stronger Stand on the edge of the block with only the balls of your feet on the block. Keeping knees stiff and bending only at the ankles, lower your heels down towards the floor. Go down until you feel a strong stretch in your calves. Reverse the direction without bouncing and push up as high as you can. Do this movement slowly to feel the contraction all the way up.

7. Triceps

Bench Dips

These can be done on the edge of a chair or bench. Sit on the side edge of a flat bench or the front edge of a chair. Place your hands on the edge of the chair right beside your glutes and grip the edge. To start with, your feet should be flat on the floor about two feet in front of you with your knees bent. Move yourself off the chair so you are now supporting yourself on your hands. Bend your arms, dipping your body down. Go down only as far as you feel comfortable, being careful not to bounce out of the bottom. Push back up, squeezing the triceps. It is important to keep your back close to the edge of the bench as you do these to minimize shoulder stress. When you're done the set, push yourself back onto the chair.

6. Biceps

Curls

• Stand with your knees slightly bent, arms at your sides, holding your resistance bags or two dumbells in your hands.
• The curl movement happens only at the elbow. With your upper arm pinned at your side and bending only at the elbow, lift the weight up to shoulder level.
• Your palm should be facing forward all the way up and all the way down.
• Squeeze hard at the top then lower slowly.
• Do the same with the other arm, alternating back and forth.

5. Abdominals

Crunches

Lie down flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Hold your hands wherever you feel comfortable (on your chest or beside your head - just be sure you don't pull on your head). The typical crunch is taught by instructing you to simply roll your upper torso forward. This is fine to start with. To increase the effectiveness of the crunch movement, push your chest and head up towards the ceiling pushing your lower back flat onto the floor. Your anatomy will automatically cause you to follow a crunching pattern. Hold at the top of the movement for a second and squeeze hard.

4. Legs

Squats Place your feet about shoulder width apart. Keeping your torso vertical and a slight arch in your lower back, start the movement by bending the knees. Go only as far down as you feel comfortable when first starting out. If you can go down until your thighs are just below parallel, do so. This is the full range goal. Using leg power, push yourself back up to the start position. Use your grip on the bar only for balance unless you absolutely need to pull yourself up. As you get stronger with squats, don't use the bar anymore. When you can do good, full-range reps without the bar, you can start using weight. For weight, use two duffel bags (evenly loaded) or two milk jugs, etc. Hold them at your sides and squat.

3. Shoulders

Presses Use something around the house for weight, e.g. soup cans or milk jugs with water in them. From a seated or standing position, hold the weights just above your shoulders. Push them up overhead slowly.

2. Back

Standing Rows These are done from a standing position. Loop a towel around a vertical pole or column or another fixed object so that the ends of the towel are pointing towards you and the towel is wrapped around the far side of the pole. Have your feet close up to the pole and lean back gripping on the ends of the towel and keeping your body stiff and straight. Row yourself up with both arms. Keep your back arched and row with your back.

Resistance Exercises:

1. Chest

Wall Push-Ups Stand facing a wall with your feet about 1 to 2 feet back from it. Place your hands on the wall just outside shoulder-width apart. Bending only at the elbows, lower yourself forward towards the wall then push yourself away from it. Keep your body stiff and straight during the movement.

Cardiovascular Exercises:

1. Walking

Walking is the simplest, cheapest and easiest form of cardiovascular exercise. It is the best starting point for anyone who is just starting to exercise. It is very low impact and is extremely convenient. Start slowly, then gradually work up to walking longer and faster. Finding a walking partner can help keep you motivated.

• Riding a bike is an excellent, no-impact form of cardio.
• Be sure to follow the rules of the road and ALWAYS wear a helmet.

• Swimming involves all the major muscles of the body.
• It is no-impact and is very useful for injury recovery
• The major drawback is that you must know how to swim.

Pomegranate juice has become popular in the past few years, but does it really live up to the hype? It looks like it.

Several recent studies have shown significant potential health benefits from drinking pomegranate juice. Here are eleven:

Fights Breast Cancer
Studies in Israel show that pomegranate juice destroys breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. It may also prevent breast cancer cells from forming.

Lung Cancer Prevention
Studies in mice show that pomegranate juice may inhibit the development of lung cancer.

Slows Prostate Cancer
It slowed the growth of prostate cancer in mice.

Keeps PSA Levels Stable
In a study of 50 men who had undergone treatment for prostate cancer, 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day kept PSA levels stable, reducing the need for further treatment such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.

Protects the Neonatal Brain
Studies show that maternal consumption of pomegranate juice may protect the neonatal brain from damage after injury.

Prevention of Osteoarthritis
Several studies indicate that pomegranate juice may prevent cartilage deterioration.

Protects the Arteries
It prevents plaque from building up in the arteries and may reverse previous plaque buildup.

Alzheimer's Disease Prevention
It may prevent and slow Alzheimer's disease. In one study, mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease were given pomegranate juice. They accumulated significantly less amyloid plaque than control mice and they performed mental tasks better.

Lowers Cholesterol
It lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and raises HDL (good cholesterol).

Lowers Blood Pressure
One study showed that drinking 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice per day lowered systolic blood pressure by as much as 5 percent.

Dental Protection
Research suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may be a natural way to prevent dental plaque.

This is another fruit that has been known for its therapeutic properties for generations. It is also a root of any home remedy and is normally used to help the stomach ( because they have special cleansing effect).

Lemon is one of the fruits that would strengthen your immune system. If you have flu or colds, try drink lemon juice. It will relieve the symptoms as well as halt the progress of most infection. Why ? Because of its antibacterial and antiviral properties.

1. Lemon act as blood purifier and improves the body’s ability to get rid of toxins.

2. Lemon fruit is excellent in fighting disease that's related to infection.

3. Buy lemon to get rid of certain insects. It’s mother nature’s version of insecticides and will help to repel mosquitoes and flies

4. Some people love antiseptics and would apply it to their skin whenever they have the smallest cut. The good news is you can use lemon on cuts too since it's nature's antiseptics. Not only that, because of its styptics property, it is said that lemon could be applied on cuts to stop bleeding.

5. Drinking lemon juice is useful for people with heart problem - because of its high potassium content

Everyone agrees on the importance of eating more fresh fruits & vegetables, but not enough people are following this important advice. Dietary experts recommend that every person should eat at least five servings of fresh fruits & vegetables every day. Increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables is one of the easiest changes you can make to increase your level of health, lose weight and gain fitness.

The latest food guidelines recommend that adults eat from five to nine servings of fresh fruit & vegetables every day. While that may seem like a lot, it is an important goal to strive for, and a very reachable one.

A serving of a fruit or vegetable is equal to:

1. 1 medium sized vegetable or fruit (such as an apple, orange or banana)

2. 2 small fruits (such as kiwi fruit or plums)

3. ½ cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruits or vegetables

4. ½ cup of 100% fruit juice

5. ¼ cup of dried fruit

6. 1 cup of green salad

Study after study has shown that a diet rich in fresh fruit & vegetables lowers the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases and conditions. One reason for the recommendation that everyone increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables is that many of these foods have been shown to have strong antioxidant qualities.

Many fresh fruits & vegetables have high amounts of many antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C. In addition to their importance as source of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables also provide essential dietary fiber.

Many people do not realize, that in addition to vitamin C, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits also contain significant amounts of fiber. Fiber plays an important role in digestion, and it is thought to have protective qualities against heart disease and some forms of cancer. In addition, fiber is thought to have the ability to lower high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Another great feature of fresh fruits & vegetables, especially to those watching their weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, and low calorie nature of these foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels of fats, and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for long-term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories than many other types of foods.

Fresh fruits & vegetables have a lot of advantages besides just their nutritional importance. For one thing, they taste great and add a great deal of variety to everyday meals. Fruits and vegetables come in such a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors that they can be used in virtually every meal. Those seeking to maximize their consumption of fruits and vegetables should get into the habit of using fruits in salads, as toppings and as garnishes.

No matter what your reason for following a healthy diet, we believe you will find that eating more fruits and vegetables is a delicious, as well as a nutritious, way to get the vitamins and minerals you need every day.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. When word gets around about your command of healthy diet facts, others who need to know about fresh fruits & vegetables will start to actively seek you out.

6 servings

• 1 head cauliflower
• 1 cup good quality olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 Tbs minced garlic
• 2 Tbs chopped parsley

Separate cauliflower into flowerets and cook just until tender. Drain and keep warm. Heat the oil and salt in a pan and cook garlic and parsley for 2 minutes. Pour over the warm cauliflower and serve with additional chopped parsley if desired.

Vegetable Combo
4 servings

• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1 cup each carrots, celery, and zucchini, sliced on a diagonal
• 1/2 cup each broccoli and cauliflower flowerets
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 dry white wine or chicken broth
• 1 Tbs light soy sauce
• 1 Tbs lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Heat oil in a non-stick pan. Add vegetables and stir to coat with the oil. Add garlic and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer the mixture, covered, for 2 minutes more. Serve immediately for maximum flavor and nutrition.

Rule #1 - Frustration With Rash

Even simple or easily treated rashes can cause an immense amount of frustration if you don't know what to do about them. Imagine not knowing you have athlete's foot. You may be able to tolerate itching and burning skin for a few days or weeks, but you will probably reach the point that it drives you crazy. The solution may be a simple over-the-counter skin cream, but if you don't know that, the cream doesn't do you any good.

Rule #2 - Rash Time

Most of the time a rash that has been present for a couple of days will go away on its own. Warning signs that should send you to the doctor sooner rather than later are pain, rapid swelling causing shortness of breath, bleeding blisters in the mouth or eyes, skin that is rapidly turning dusky or black, and large amounts of skin peeling in sheets. As you can see, using rash rule #1 of frustration will get you to the right place.

Rule #3 - Previous Experience With Rash

Rule #4 - Rash Likeness

Concealer for hiding dark under-eye circles

Concealer is the most effective tool for hiding dark under-eye circles. The best of the best is the Iman Corrective Concealer. It works so well because it is a liquid that dries to a matte finish. Blend from the inside corner of your eye to the outside until the concealer is completely blended with your skin.

Choose a color that's one shade lighter than your normal color if your dark circles are blue-black. If, on the other hand, if you have problems with puffiness as well as dark circles, go one shade darker than your usual color.

Concealers are effective at hiding dark under-eye circles because they're opaque (they don't let light through). Normal make-up isn't a match for truly dark under-eye circles.

Instead of struggling to hide your dark circles, consider investing in a product that can help to get rid of them completely. Learn more about our eye serum.

Other make-up tips for hiding dark under-eye circles

When you're applying concealer for hiding dark under-eye circles, use a light touch. Too much concealer will draw attention to the skin under your eyes.

If using mascara, don't apply it to the lower lashes. Flakes of mascara frequently fall from the lower lashes and make dark under-eye circles look darker.

Yellow-base concealer is generally the best choice for hiding dark under-eye circles. Remember to counter-balance the most prominent undertone in your dark circles.

Alternatives to hiding dark under-eye circles

Instead of hiding dark under-eye circles, get rid of them completely with a quality eye serum or eye cream. RevitaLume uses the latest discoveries in cosmeceutical technology to diminish dark circles right away. Learn more about RevitaLume.

Dark circles are a very common skin problem, which is troubling every second person in today's stressful lifestyle. People get rarely any time to get proper sleep and they lack of nutritional diet also, which is one of the many reasons of getting dark circles. Many people inherit this dark circle problem where they get it for no other reason.

People who face this dark circle problem can try certain easy remedies to reduce the darkness of the circles but none of them promises to diminish the circles completely. One needs to sleep properly and eat healthy diet to diminish the dark circles from the face. Some cosmetic creams promise to reduce the dark circles but they might give you puffiness around your eyes.

Remedies for dark circles: try certain homemade solutions to reduce the dark circles but keep trying till you see the results because it takes to reduce the dark circles from the skin. Be careful while putting anything around eyes because the skin around the eyes is very sensitive and if something enters into the eyes it can harm them.

Trying all such methods will definitely help you in reducing your dark circles.