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Natural medicine dates back to ancient civilizations when people always turned to nature for natural therapies that helped their physical and emotional body obtain balance and order, relieve pain, improve health and treat illnesses. Since time immemorial, man has recognized that nature has countless elements just waiting to be discovered as helpful remedies in mans health maladies.


In fact, Hippocrates, considered to be the father of medicine, used countless botanical extracts and solutions available in nature to cure diseases as well as improve health and overall well being. Aside from herbal sources, natural medicine also uses therapies such as homeopathy, traditional Chinese and Oriental methods and other natural essences from the earth. They have been proven to be safe and have no side effects to say the least. Even modern medicine is slowly gaining interest in incorporating natural medicine with conventional medical practice.


One famous practice in natural medicine is aromatherapy where essences from plants such as flowers, leaves, seeds, twigs and bark are extracted to create essential oils whose scents are believed to help change moods, relax the mind and body, and treat certain ailments especially when coupled with other natural medications. Proofs that natural medicine is safe and that their efficacy is there is the fact that for centuries up to now, traditional Chinese and other Oriental methods of medicine are still widely practiced and some modern medical practitioners even in conventional medicine have adopted these methods. Of course the most common among natural remedies is the use of herbal plants.


Herbal medicine is common in almost all cultures around the world and its use dates back to thousands of years ago. Although plants and plant parts such as flowers, leaves, twigs and barks, are solely used, some cultures mix with these herbal extracts some animal or mineral products. The medicine may be in the form of tea, tablets, capsules, or any other forms of extracts.


A lot of food supplements and vitamins also incorporate plants essences as important ingredients. Natural medicine also includes other non-medicinal based healing and treatment such as mere exposure to sunlight or a get away to a place where there is fresh air and tranquil environment. Along with these other methods are forms of mind and body relaxation techniques that are primarily helpful in combating stress are meditation, massage, hypnosis, and mind and body exercises such as yoga and tai chi.


There are many proven benefits that natural medicine can bring about and with the rising costs of synthetically manufactured drugs and medicines; you might just find the perfect remedy that has always been in nature. Of course there should always be the intervention of a doctor and an expert in alternative medicine to make sure that the best possible ways of incorporating alternative medicines with conventional drugs will be of best benefits for you. Also, there is no better practice in preventing illnesses and promoting and maintaining a healthy body and well-being than to live the right life: proper and balanced nutrition, adequate rest, exercise, and a healthy disposition in life.

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Traditionally dieting and weight loss has been a concern for the ladies. However, this is no longer the case. Men are becoming a lot more aware of their appearance and how it can affect all aspects of their life. So I’m going to take a look at the factors that contribute to weight gain for men.

Fortunately for you guys, you have a head start in the staying slim game compared to women due to physiological factors. Here are some of the reasons why:

Higher Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

Your BMR is the amount of energy, measured in calories, required to keep the body functioning when at rest, or energy used for physiological processes like breathing, digestion etc. The male basic metabolic rate is 5% to 10% higher than in women of the same weight and height. The higher basic metabolic rate is attributed to differences in body size and body composition. This is why the average calorie intake should be about 2000 for women and about 2500 for men.

Lower body fat percentage compared to women.

The average man has a greater proportion of muscle tissue than the average woman and 50% less body fat. The average man has14% body fat compared to 24% in the average woman. This is because you don’t have to go through the whole child bearing process and therefore don’t require the extra fat.

The presence of testosterone.

The male hormone, testosterone, acts as an anabolic agent to promote increased muscle mass.

However, despite these factors, men can still gain weight. So let’s have a look at reasons for gaining weight.

Increased Energy Intake

If you consume more calories than you expend then the excess will be laid down as fat. 3,500 calories is the equivalent to a pound in fat. Therefore, if you eat an excess of 500 calories a day, then you will gain a pound of fat every week – scary isn’t it?

Decreased Energy Expenditure

Similar to the above point really. In today’s world of modern conveniences, everybody is less active, including you guys.

If you take into account that men were ‘designed’ to be physically strong and participate in strenuous physical activity since the dawn of time, then it is understandable that the modern world with its vast array of time- and labour-saving devices, automated transport and sedentary lifestyles, has reduced the amount of physical activity most men do to a fraction of what was once the norm.

So the moral of the story is GET ACTIVE! And there are plenty of fun activities, wink wink!

Alcohol

Men tend to consume more alcohol than females. As boring as it is, if you cut out the booze you will see an improvement in your waistline. Not only is it the actual alcohol itself that leads to the numbers creeping up on the scales but it is the extra food that seem to crave when drinking. I am sure you are all familiar with the munchies after a night out and that kebab stop on the way home from the pub. That said, you can still lose weight by just reducing the amount you drink and making a few subtle changes, such as switching to diet mixers with your spirits. The theory is the clearer the drink the kinder it is – so swap the rum for vodka if you are weight conscious.

Another thought….

As the gap between men becoming financially independent and the time when they settle down is increasing there are more bachelors living alone and having to cook for themselves. This may mean for some of you that you rely on fast food or convenience meals and not stick to three balanced meals a day. For those that this applies to, why not try cooking properly for yourself, you never know you might even enjoy it!

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Menâ??s Skin care issue

A man’s skin is about 20 percent thicker than woman’s, and it’s a lot more firm than hers because we have more collagen and elastin. Unfortunately, men have more active sebaceous glands; this means our skin tends to be oilier. Also, due to regular shaving, men’s facial skin tends to get dehydrated.

The skin is composed of four layers. They are:

* The outer, horny layer of dead cells

* The living, growing epidermis

* The dermis

* The layer of subcutaneous fat, which varies in thickness in different parts of the body

During teenage years, men develop their regular skin care habits because of the desire to always look best and retain the youthful facade as soon as possible. We might think that skin care products and skin care routines are for women only but this notion is certainly not true. Actually, there are lots of men’s skin care products that have skyrocketed in the market nowadays. And just like women, men can do different things to their skin by learning some simple basic procedures of skin care.

Before you consider buying any over-the-counter skin care products, there are a few basic facts about your skin you must know. These include:

Your skin type. It is oily, dry, normal, sensitive, or a combination?

The basic steps to a flawless face consist of two key elements: cleansing and moisturizing on a regular basis.

The right way to apply cleansers and creams on your face is in an upward and outward movement. The skin should not be stretched, dragged or pulled. Leave the cleanser on for a minute or two so as to loosen the dirt and make up. Remove it either using a cotton wool or with a tissue paper, again using an upward and out ward movement. Finally rinse with water.

Protecting ;

1. Avoid direct sunlight.

2. Use quality skin care products.

3. Eat food rich in Vitamin C.

4. Use cosmetic products containing glycolic acid and retinoic acid.

5. Chemical peeling using Alphahydroxy acids.

Cleansing the face 2-3 times a day; is adequate for normal skin. If your skin is oily a more frequent cleansing i.e. 4-5 times a day is necessary. If your skin is dry it is best to avoid frequent washing and you may have to use a suitable oil-based cosmetic cleanser instead of soap, which has a dry effect.

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As a family, the conception of a baby is an event that affects both the mother and the father. Often, the focus is primarily on the mother naturally. She is the one carrying the baby. But a pregnancy nutrition diet, health, mens food choices and the level of physical activity are all part of the big picture. The truth is that even fertility itself is affected by nutrition. If you have been trying to conceive with no results, it is important that both the man and woman look at their diet. A womans conception chances can be improved with a vitamin filled pregnancy nutrition diet. Health, mens nutritional status and the increased production of sperm are also major factors increasing successful conception possibilities.


The Same Plan


To put it simply, the healthier a mans sperm is, the better his chances are he will conceive. Sperm health includes sperm counts and sperm motility. With a pregnancy nutrition diet, health, mens dietary needs and basic overall nutritional requirements are met. So a father-to-be can follow the same plan as the mother-to-be. The only adjustment that needs to be made is for the size and weight difference between men and women.


A pregnancy diet plan follows simple but essential recommendations for proper nutrition. It provides the right amount of vitamins and minerals. The same plan that aids in the development of a healthy baby and keeps the mother healthy at the same time, can also aid in the very conception of that same baby.


– Vitamin C, D and E contribute to healthy sperm production


– The mineral zinc can increase sperm production


– Balanced diet improves overall health


– Eating brightly colored vegetables can increase sperm motility


– Eating brightly colored fruit can also increase sperm motility


– Vitamin and mineral supplements can reverse problems created by environmental toxins


– Vitamin and mineral supplements fill nutritional voids left by prepackaged foods


Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants. Antioxidants can help prevent damage to sperm caused by age and nutritional shortages. The organs that are important for reproduction are easily damaged by environmental factors also. Increasing antioxidants can prevent those factors from preventing conception. The bottom line is that good nutrition plays a critical role in improving the chances for conception. A pregnancy nutrition diet, health, mens issues and the babys development are the major concerns of a pregnancy.


A Healthy Family


There is not much that is more beautiful than a healthy baby. Nutritional health can play a major part in the days leading up to conception. Fertility is affected by stress, nutrition and physical problems. Stress and nutrition can be controlled to a large extent by our food choices. Planning for conception should include attention to pregnancy nutrition diet health. Mens health is just as critical to the procreation of the baby. Eating a balanced diet that provides all the essential nutritional requirements can one day mean the difference to having a baby to call your own.

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