Goji berries are showing up everywhere now – supermarkets, health foods stores, in candy, and in all types of juices and fruity drinks. This berry which is native to China and Tibet, is not a new breed of plant-it has just been gaining in popularity over the last d de or so. Goji berries have actually been used by Chinese doctors for thousands of years to treat and prevent all kinds of ailments.

Goji berries have been used in Chinese medicine for around 6,000 years. They are a very high source of vitamin C and have 500 times more vitamin C per gram than oranges do. They also contain high amounts of Vitamin A, B, E, selenium, and germanium. Goji berries have 18 amino acids and contain more than even bee pollen. Goji berries have been used to protect the liver, improve eyesight, treat sexual disfunction and infertility, cleanse the kidneys, improve circulation,  improve mood, regulate sleeping patterns, and prevent cancer.  Goji berries have been used in China and Tibet for a number of years but their popularity is growing more every year due to more promising scientific data related to the consumption of the Goji berry.

Eating Goji berries is very simple b use they can be added to a number of different foods. They can be bought alone and added into trail mix, granola, oatmeal, or other cereals. They can also be put into baked goods such as muffins or eaten alone. Goji berry juice is a little more expensive but also more effective as the juice is a more concentrated version of the actual berry. The juice can be drank alone or put into a smoothie for an extra burst of nutrition.

If you have tried repeatedly to lose weight or even just eat healthier but have a hard time sticking to the plan or knowing exactly what to eat don’t give up just yet. A dietician can be beneficial for people that want to make lifestyle changes in order to benefit their quality of life but just need a little push in the right direction. Dieticians are extremely knowledgeable and have been through rigourous training and education in order to be qualified for their job.

Dieticians are known as diet experts. They are full of knowledge about almost every aspect of nutrition and your diet and can be a great help to almost everyone in one way or another. Most people get their nutrition advice from less than qualified friends, family, TV commercials and magazines which are either lacking in knowledge or do not have your best interest in mind. It is shocking that less than 1% of people have ever consulted a registered dietician yet at the drop of a hat we will consult beauticians, counsellors, and personal trainers. If you have diabetes, cardiovascular problems, or high blood pressure a dietician can help you develop a meal plan that will satisfy you without compromising flavours  as well as provide proper nutrition bearing in mind your conditions. Dieticians are also great for people who have digestive problems. A registered dietician will work with your physician to give you a meal plan that will be easy on your digestive system as well as being nutritious. Furthermore, if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, a dietician can work wonders to ensure that you are more fertile and your baby is healthy.

Even if you are completely healthy and just looking to take care of yourself and your family, a registered dietician can give you the knowledge that you need to make those decisions. Eating a balanced diet can do so much for our health though sometimes it is not an easy thing to do. Make sure to get a referral from your doctor to ensure the dietician they recommend is properly registered and well trained.

If you want toned legs but don’t have a lot of time or a gym membership? There are a number of effective toning exercises which can be done at home – some of them can even be done while sitting down. Here are five ways to tone up your legs from home.

1. Thigh extensions. Leg extensions can be done from home or the office sitting in a chair. Start by sitting in a chair with a sturdy chair in front of you. Place your feet underneath the seat in front of you for resistance, and try to lift your legs as you contract the muscles of your thighs. This can also work without a seat in front of you just by simply extending your thighs forward and holding them in the air before slowly lowering down.

2. Thigh contractions. In order to develop and tone the muscles in your inner thighs place an object in between them such as a coffee cup or a pillow. Contract your thigh muscles in order to hold the object in place while lying with your legs flat out in front of you on the ground. Lift your hips off the ground and bend your knees while keeping the object sturdy in between your thighs.

3. The broomstick squat. Using a broomstick or other long object stand with your feet hip width apart while holding the broom stick straight out in front of you. Keeping it even and straight out in front of you, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor without letting your knee go out past your foot. Hold the broomstick straight and squeeze your thigh muscles, holding the position for ten seconds. Slowly come back up keeping the broom out in front of you. Repeat for 3 sets of 10. Not only with this squat tone your butt and thighs but it will also tone your arms and back muscles.

Having a lean and toned lower body doesn’t require much effort and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home. There are a number of simple exercises which if done consistently three times a week, will begin to make a difference in your muscle tone in as little as six weeks.

If you log long hours at the office and have a hard time staying fit b use of it, there are exercises that you can do at work to minimize this problem.

Working long hours can take a toll on the body – sitting in a stiff chair, hunched over a keyboard, and feeling the stress of your work load can all lead to a stiff body and weight gain. Here are three exercises that are easy to do at work.

1.  Wrist Stretch: Hold your arms out straight in front of you with your palms facing up. Grab the fingers   of one hand and pull them gently down towards the ground until you feel a stretch in your wrist. Hold each side for thirty seconds. This is a great exercise to release any tension in your wrists caused by typing.

2.  Side extension. While sitting in your chair, hold a water bottle or other easily graspable object with both hands and extend your arms straight above your head, keeping your arms straight. Keeping your body in one line, move your arms to the left and think of pushing your left hip out to the right as far as you can. Hold the position for 30 seconds to stretch the left side of your body, and slowly return to the centre. Repeat on the other side.  This exercise is great for getting rid of love handles as well as strengthening the abs and toning the upper arms.

3.  Leg extension. Sit in a stable chair and hold onto each side firmly. Keeping your abs tight, extend your legs straight out in front of you with your knees locked. Hold them up as high as you can for 30 seconds and lower them down again slowly. Repeat ten to fifteen times for tighter abs.

If you work long hours at the office, you should make at least a little time for some mid day exercise. It is important to get up, walk around, stretch, and do a few exercises that will help you loosen up and get the blood flowing.

If you are interested in bodybuilding you are surely aware of the amount of accessories and equipment that is available on the market today. These pieces of equipment claim that they are essential for your workout and will help you build muslce where no other equipment can.

The truth is you don’t need much for a great workout but there are a few things that can help you achieve your goal in more effective way. Here are three bodybuilding accessories that can improve your workout.

1.  Lifting straps.These thick straps are  used to be wrapped around your wrists as well as the barbell or dumbell you are using. It helps you lift more weight and keeps the barbell or dumbell from slipping. If you use them properly they minimize the amount of energy that is used from your forearms at the same time focusing on the muscles in your upper arms. Lifting straps are a great addition to your workout if you want to build strength in the upper arm region.

2.  Ab straps. Ab straps are two strong straps which hang from a bar that let you place your arms inside them, hanging from the straps.   Their function is to let you work the abdominal muscles just about anywhere. While you hang from the abs straps you simply lift your legs up towards your chest. They are a great workout tool if you have a bar at home or if your back hurts while doing ab exercises on the floor.

3.  Lifting belts. Lifting belts are another accessory which can prevent back pain. Back pain is commonly caused by lifting weights that are too heavy or if your body is positioned wrong. Lifting belts can help prevent lower back pain and are essential if you do a lot of squatting.

Although none of these tools are absolutely required for bodybuilding, they are accessories which can enhance your workout. None of them are expensive and they all come in handy for various workouts.

If any of us really had any idea how many toxins we are exposed to each and every day we would be scared. We would also understand why cancer and other deadly diseases are on the rise. We are exposed to toxins in so many ways every day through the food we eat, the surfaces our skin comes into contact with, through the products we use on our faces and bodies, and through the air we breathe . The degree to which toxins can affect us is still largely unknown but what is apparent is that toxin exposure can result in long term chronic illnesses, damage to our internal organs and skin, and even poisoning.

Although we cannot avoid all toxins we can minimize the number that we are exposed to. Start by making more natural choices in the products you use. Using all natural cleaning aids such as water and vinegar and also buying organic whole foods will cut down the toxins you are exposed to dramatically. In order to eliminate the toxins that you do have in your body, make sure you have regular bowel movements. Eat lots of fibre in your diet to keep regular-urination and bowel movements are the body’s most effective way of ridding you of toxins. Sweating is also an effective eliminating process. Hard work outs, hot yoga, and saunas are all great ways to sweat it out.

An effective cleanse is a must do at least once a year as it is extremely effective in eliminating toxins from the body. A cleanse is best to do during the spring and fall, when the weather starts to change. You can either make your own cleanse from whole, natural foods and water or you can buy various cleanses available at every health food store.

If you do one thing for your health this year it should be quit smoking. Even if you are an occassional smoker or have a cigarette now and then when you have a few drinks – no matter how much or how little you smoke, it produces so many harmful effects that it is just not worth it. Any attempt to quit smoking will make you stronger, healthier and better equipped to quit for life even if it doesn’t work right away.

Smoking destroys your body in many ways. It impairs your senses of taste and smell, restricts blood flow, causes heart disease and stroke, pollutes your body with thousands of toxins, and pollutes your lungs and bronchial tubes. The negative affects do not stop there but the list of what smoking does to you is far too long to list. You would never put your mouth on the exhaust pipe of a vehicle would you? Smoking is very similar to doing just that – you are inhaling toxic chemicals and causing illness in your own body.

The minute that you quit smoking, your body will begin to heal itself. After eight hours the carbon monoxide levels in your body begin to decrease and your oxygen levels return to normal. After two days your senses of smell and taste improve and your risk of having a heart attack begins to decrease. After three or four days of no smoking your lung capacity increases and you are able to breathe better. After a few weeks your blood flow inproves and there is no more nicotine left in your body. After a few months you lung functioning will increase by up to 30%. Continue with not smoking and after ten years your risk of dying from lung cancer will be half of what it would have been if you were still a smoker.

It takes over fifteen years for your body to return to the state of a non-smoker. If it takes you fifteen years to get back to normal can you imagine the damage you are doing to your body every single day by smoking? For more information on how to quit smoking click here.

We all wished we were more effective at what we do, whether its work, socializing, sports, parenting, etc.  If you ask anyone is particularly effective in anyone of these areas, they will most likely attribute their skill to enthusiasm (or interest) and practice, which underlining both is attention. Paying interest or paying attention, practicing over and over again, requires…attention.  How do we acquire the skill of attention?  Here are three simple ways to help you improve your ability to pay attention:

1. Do one thing at a time.  In today’s stressful world, we are constantly multitasking.  Start trying to focus your attention on one task at a time.  Fully immerse yourself in what you are doing. So for example, when your driving, try turning off the radio (and cell phone) and just enjoy driving, or when your eating, put down the newspaper and chew each bit slowly, or if your working on a project but have thoughts about what you are going to do tomorrow or next week – write them down to ponder later and just fully invest your time on the current project.

2. Meditate. Meditation is a word that is used often, but not as popular as a serious practice.  There is a reason for this.  The mind wants to stay active, and b use you haven’t worked on meditation, you have no way of calming it.  Meditation helps you develop concentration, but more importantly it provides the tools to be less reactive to thought.  It will help focus on what you are doing in the present moment with out worry or concern of past or future events.

3. Give yourself space.  Our lives are so busy, that often our homes becoming messy, our daytimers become full, our speech becomes fast, and to shut down.. we watch TV (which is really filling our minds more).  Try to organize your days, so you are doing less, but spending more time on each thing.  If you really look at what you do all day, if your like the majority, most of it is waisted time..filler.  Simplify, and make time to be successful in your priorities. Wake up a bit earlier and enjoy your breakfast, determine one or two things that is really going to make a difference in your career and puts lots of energy and attention on it, clear space in the day to give your family lots of attention – a sit down dinner will do. The idea is to organize to simplify and prioritize, so your attention is focused deeply on what you really care about.

If you can live in the moment more fully, you will find that your attention is on the task at hand.  This will help you be more effective in what you are doing and at the same time help you enjoy what you are doing more.  Anything you can do to quit the mind, while focusing your attention on the moment will help.  There is a book called The Power of Now wriiten by Eckhart Tolle that will give you some powerful tools to improve your attention.

Energy is one thing that a lot of people lack these day, especially in the longer, darker months. The stress of the economy mixed with working long hours and taking care of other responsibilities at home can have many people feeling drained and wondering how they are going to last through the day. Here are four amazing and healthy energy boosting foods.

Oatmeal. Oats are low on the glycemic index b use they contain a high amount of filling fibre. Eating oatmeal for breakfast fills you up and keeps you full. Most importantly, you won’t crash in the afternoon b use the carbohydrates are gradually released in your blood stream. Oats also contain Vitamin B which is great for an energy boost.

Pumpkin seeds: Not only are these tasty seeds good for you but they can give you a major energy boost. Pumpkin seeds contain magenesium which gives you energy and even increases your metabolism which helps your body burn fat at a faster rate. They are a great afternoon energy boosting snack or they can be put into your morning oatmeal.

Bananas. Bananas are an easy, cheap, and tasty food that is an easily digested form of carbohydrate. Bananas are also a rich source of potassium, an electrolyte that helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function. Potassium isn’t stored by the body for long periods of time, so unless you continually eat foods containing it your levels can drop quite easily.

Plain organic lowfat yogurt: Yogurt is one of the best foods available b use provides your body with healthy bacteria, aids with digestion, and even prevents bladder cacner. Not only does it give you energy but it contains tons of calcium, protein, and vitamin D & B with minimal calories. If you aren’t a fan of the taste of plain yogurt, try a flavoured kind but make sure it doesn’t have added sugar.

For the last d de or so dieting has been very popular and it will continue to be as long as the media and society is concentrated on body image so much. Some people will go to unhealthy extremes to lose a few pounds and almost every “diet” is not good for your body – only a balanced lifestyle is. Here are a few things you should definitely NOT try to lose weight.

1 A fast. Fasting can be dangerous, especially if you are an active person. Fasting involves not eating any food for an extended period of time. You can drink liquids during a fast but never eat real food. This can be dangerous in many ways- first of all your body needs foods in order to function properly. If it doesn’t have fuel your body will go into starvation mode which will actually slow down your metabolism making it harder for you to burn fat. Once you do start eating again you will put on more weight than you lose.

2. The hCG diet. The hCG diet is a very low-calorie plan where you can only have up to 800 calories per day. Along with a very restrictive diet you are supplemented with injections of the pregnancy hormone called hCG. Any diet that drops below 1,000 calories is really unsafe for most people, even if you want to lose weight. A normal diet should be around 1500-2000 calories on average. Furthermore, shots of the hCG are not proven safe so who knows what kind of long term damage you may be doing to your body.

3. Ear Stapling. Ear stapling has become popular due to acupuncturist practices where they staple the ear in order to help the patient control their cravings. When acupuncturists staple the ear they leave it in for a week or so at a time and advise the patient to rub the staple when they feel a craving and it is supposed to reduce your appetite. This may work for acupuncture but there are many things to consider. First is that an acupuncturist is trained on how and when to use ear staples. Another thing to consider is that there is no scientific proof that this even works and you are statistically more likely to get an infection or deformity than you are to lose weight.

If you want to lose weight, don’t resort to fad diets or any strict or restrictive diet of any type. Even if the weight comes off it is likely to pile right back on and then some when you start eating normally again. Not to mention extreme dieting can lead to all types of body problems when you start messing with your natural body rhythms and internal functioning.