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    Archive for June, 2011

    Mangosteen has been a big word in the herbal supplement arena for quite some time the reason for this is the xanthone flavonoids and other compounds found in Mangosteen The xanthone flavonoids and other compounds in Mangosteen fruit are responsible for its high level of antioxidant activity. In vitro tests have been conducted on XanoMaxtm Mangosteen 10% extract to determine the level of free radical scavenging ability in both watery and fatty environments. A major test recognized as the industry standard for measuring antioxidant activity is known as the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay.

    The ORAC test is an in vitro assay that works by measuring the amount of free radical damage done to a fluorescent probe (measured by a change in probe intensity). Antioxidants lessen the damage to the probe fluorescence, which indicates a reduction in free radical damage. This measure is used to quantify the antioxidant’s (or combination of antioxidants) capacity to quench free radicals. This quantification is known as the total ORAC value.

    The total ORAC value provides a relative measure of total antioxidant strength of any substance, allowing for comparison of different mixtures. A high ORAC value corresponds to a high total in vitro antioxidant capacity.

    The development of the ORAC test has led to a number of commonly eaten foods being assessed in terms of total ORAC scores per serving. Similarly, particular combinations of antioxidants, such as those in nutritional formulas, can also be assessed for their total ORAC scores. This has led to the ability to determine the potential usefulness of a particular supplement in increasing overall antioxidant capacity.

    When XanoMaxtm Mangosteen 10% extract was tested for ORAC value, the resulting antioxidant potential was over 3,500 ORAC units per gram of extract. Read the rest of this entry »

    Many people I know love eating out at different cafes and restaurants. They love trying out new places almost as much as they love returning to their old favorite spots. They love trying new menu items and discovering new ways to eat the foods they enjoy the most. Eating out can be both a wonderful and very dangerous thing.

    In America we are blessed to have restaurants dotting the streets of many streets in towns and cities of all sizes. We are rarely at a loss for places to eat out. One of the greatest things about eating out is that it saves time that many busy people do not have to waste. After spending long hours at our workplaces, few people have the time or energy to return home and cook a gourmet meal. Eating out seems to be a great solution at the end of a long, tiring day.

    Eating out can also be great because we can try a wide variety of foods and drinks that we don’t have the ability to make ourselves. No one loves eating the same basic foods over and over again, so eating out can be a good way to give our tastebuds something new.

    However, if we are not careful, eating out can also be dangerous for a couple of big reasons. First, we must use caution in eating out for the sake of our health. Most restaurants and cafes offer huge portions of items that are unhealthy to eat and drink. Eating out often means filling up on appetizers, a main course, a few high calorie beverages, and a dessert to finish off the evening. Think about how many calories you can consume during a meal like this. I am not, of course, saying that we should never enjoy eating out. I am, however, saying that we need to be careful, for our health’s sake, about eating out too frequently. We must be careful to watch our choices when we are eating out. Choose healthier items or commit to only eating half of the meal you choose. There are ways of eating out healthily, it just takes conscience effort.
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    Could something as basic as inadequate nutrition really contribute to excessive shedding of hair?

    Does sensible nutrition have a role to play in helping hair to regrow?

    The answer to both questions is yes! There is no doubt that poor nutrition and hectic lifestyles can contribute to hair loss. Modern diets can be associated with a number of nutritional deficiencies that are thought to contribute to hair loss:

    1. The refining of whole grains reduces the B vitamin content.

    2. Over cooking of vegetables destroys B vitamins.

    3. Raw leafy greens are absent in most diets.

    4. The vitamins that have been ingested are often re-directed to facilitate the digestion of nutritionally sterile carbohydrates like sugar and white flour.

    5. Stimulants like caffeine, nicotene and alcohol rob the body of vital nutrients.
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    Are you in shape for summer yet? Those sunny days are just around the corner and everyone is out browsing for their skimpy bathing suits. How will your new swimwear fit on you?

    Are those legs tone and those arms fit? Have you been keeping up with your daily crunches and sit-ups? That one always gets people. Those darn ab workouts. Although they can be a little irksome at times, they’re necessary to say the least. Come on, we all want a great set of abs. Why do you think we have so much ab exercise equipment storming the fitness market at all times? Regardless if you’re male or female, the abs are imperative. Are you testing out some of the new-age ab exercise equipment?

    The main question is, should you use any exercise equipment?

    When it comes to ab exercise equipment, I don’t have any. I prefer to do all my exercises without loads of machines. You know, pull-ups, push-ups, leg-raises, dips, ect. Now, this is not the route for every individual who is striving to stay fit. Many people prefer some of the latest benches, treadmills, stairmasters, and ab exercise equipment on the market. This stuff is great if you can afford it. Why not take advantage of any contemporary aids if available? My wife has one of those big rubber balls. While I’m sure they have a more politically correct name, I don’t know what it is. She uses this ab exercise equipment for a variety of stomach and back workouts. I have to admit that I was rather taken-back the first time I saw it. I could certainly see how it would provide you with a strenuous workout and build your muscles. She continues to use it daily for a variety of exercises.
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