The following are list of the best and worst supplements when it comes to ridding yourself of the following ailments:

MUSCLE PAIN:

Best – heating pads; the warmth from the heating pad penetrates to release muscle tension that releases aches and pains.  It is wonderful for chronic joint pain.

Worst – muscle creams

HEADACHES:

Best – Sage.  If used frequently for 3 months or longer you will also see a profound improvement in hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.

Worst – Evening Primrose Oil.  This doesn’t outperform placebos which are inactive.

CHEST CONGESTION:

Best – Cough Expectorant.  This will bring the phlegm up and out which is what you want – to get rid of it!

Worst – Cough Suppressant.  This keeps the cough down and you don’t want that.  You want it to come out.

CONSTIPATION:

Best – Probiotic supplements which gives the body back the bacteria that naturally helps you to digest.

Worst – laxative – chronic use and your body will forget how to do it on its own. This is only a quick fix.

GOOD NIGHT’s SLEEP:

Best – Chamomile tea which is a natural sedative.  Sleep on your right side as opposed to your left as this will give your heart a little extra room. Use a humidifier which will circulate the air and give you moisture to help you sleep soundly.

Worst – Alcohol (wine) – drinking before bed will give you a poor quality of sleep.  Sleeping on your left side will not give you as much space in your chest cavity giving you more problems for heart failure.  Using a fan as opposed to a humidifier will dry you out and cause you to wake up thirsty which will disrupt your sleep.  You will not get a relaxed sleep with a fan on in the room.

MIGRAINES:

Best – FEVERVIEW – 1200 mg a day.  This works medicinally to prevent your brain from dilating up.

Worst – Chamomile tea – this will only relax you, not get rid of your migraine.

ARTHRITIS:

Best – Chondroitin – 1200 mg a day. This has been shown to block enzymes that can cause problems and breakdown cartilage.  It reduces swelling and pain.

Worst – Arnica – this works well for muscles but not for joints.

LOW LIBIDO:

Best – Ginseng  - this will boost your sex drive!  It improves arousal in both genders.  Take 600 mg a day.

Worst – Yohimbe – causes rapid increase in blood pressure and heart rate.  This will get you excited but not for the right reason!

IMMUNITY:

Best – Astragalus – 1200 mg a day for stress and fatigue which can lower your immunity.

Worst – DHEA – mother of all stress hormones!

SOAPS TO PREVENT INFECTION:

Best – Foaming Hand Soap with olive oil.  This is a natural antioxidant that has two proven skin soothers like beta-kerotene and vitamin E which can also reverse sun damage.

Worst – Antibacterial hand soap – we don’t need the antibacterial in them because it can contribute to antibiotic resistance and dry your skin as well.

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Let’s face it, when it comes to diet and exercise, there is a ton of information out there and we don’t always know what’s best.  We are essentially lead in a million different directions never knowing which way to turn. Therefore, we end up on a never ending cycle trying to lose weight.  There are quite honestly, millions of things we could try to lose weight, but there are certainly a few things that are definitely worth incorporating into your diet.  I did the research and this is what I found:

DIET PILLS:

Best diet pills- Glucomannan which has tons of fiber

Worst diet pills – ones that have ephedrine which can cause sudden strokes

SNACKS:

Best snack – Inca peanuts (from Peru) which are loaded with Omega 3′s and Vitamin E which fights heart disease

Worst snack – any type of bar – they are usually made with lots of sugar or sugar alcohol that bloat you and the side effects are not worth it

METABOLISM BOOSTERS:

Best metabolism booster – Cayenne pepper

Worst metabolism booster – energy drinks which are usually a quick fix, but then cause you to crash after

EXERCISES:

Best exercise – lunges which work more muscles than sit-ups and essentially burn more calories for losing weight

Worst exercise – sit-ups: planks are much better and more effective for losing weight

This has worked for many people that have been on that never-ending cycle of battling weight loss so I thought it would be worth mentioning for others to read.  Good luck!

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If you want to reshape your body, then the key is to target your specific type of body fat.  To fight off stubborn pounds and to reshape your body for life then focus on the following according to your body type (big bottom or big middle):

For those with a big bottom type figure, fat is harder to get rid of but it is a healthier type of fat.  You are less likely to get heart attacks.  A good diet for those with big bottoms would be to eat low fat foods and to cut out saturated fats and processed foods. Include low fat dairy with every meal because the calcium in dairy increases weight loss.  It’s all about the carbs when you are heavier on bottom.  You can eat some carbs, but minimize the amount throughout your day and eat the good carbs not the bad.  A sample diet would be the following:

Breakfast:  low fat yogurt with granola and fruit

Lunch:  cottage cheese with vegetables and grilled chicken on the side

Dinner:  whole grains with lean meats such as a turkey burger on whole grain bread

Snacks:  protein shakes with low fat milk

Along with the diet would be a good exercise plan such as the following for those with big bottoms:

Do curtsey squats which work your entire lower body and then go into rows for your upper body.  This are called complexes:  squats and then rows performed back to back with no rest.  With this type of alternating workout, you get toning, resistance training, increased lean body tissue while increasing your metabolism at the same time!

For those with a big middle body type, the entire intestinal system is coated with fat that leads to your heart which is not good.  That is why those who have a bigger mid-section have higher rates of heart attacks.  Belly fat is linked to increased risk of type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and Cancer.  Furthermore, it slows down your metabolism.  The good news is, belly fat is much easier to get rid of since it’s visceral fat.  The #1 reason it is so hard to get rid of is because it’s linked to stress hormones.  So reduce your stress if you are heavier in the middle!  A good diet would consist of low carbs.  Rid yourself of refined carbs and eat anti-inflammatory foods like whole grains and healthy fats.  Replace simple carbs with buckwheat, amaranth, and barley and use healthy fats such as olive oils and avocados.  As for exercise, do lots of cardio.  Avoid steady cardio, however.  Do metabolic disturbance training.  Go slow and then fast where you crank it up and then back down after a minute.  This gives you an instant rush which uses both your aerobic and anaerobic system that boosts your metabolism in less time.  Essentially, this is more efficient, effective and fat burning in a shorter period of time.

While you are working on reshaping your body, it’s also good to learn some tips on how to look thinner in the process.  For those with big bottoms, dress with darker clothing on the bottom – make it pop up top!  Your blouse should hit the top or middle of your hips.  Wear wide-legged trousers and avoid cuts that hug hips and taper down.  For those of you with bigger mid-sections, wear v-shaped necklines to draw attention to your face and wear solid deeper tones on top.  Avoid billowy tops and busy or horizontal prints.

There is hope yet!  Try the methods above and begin to finally see some changes!

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Dr. Oz has collaborated with Jim Karas on a recent episode of his show where he discusses his NY Times Best Seller, “The 7 Day Energy Surge”.  Jim Karas says to listen to your body and do not reach for chemical energy such as coffee or energy drinks that will cause you to crash.  Too many of us are on a downward energy spiral and need to make positive changes to help improve our energy levels.

First, he says to makeover your morning.  When the alarm goes off, cover your eyes with the palms of your hands and massage the top of your head with your fingers while you inhale for 6 counts through your nose and exhale for 6 counts through your mouth. This will allow you to relax and give your body the oxygen that it needs.

Then wake up, turn on all the lights and open up the shades!  You need light!

Next, eat a power breakfast which is the most important meal of the day and will give you a great start!

Fourth, have a vitamin cocktail.  Mix magnesium (400 mg with 600 mg calcium) and tyrosine – 500 mg, 3 times a day.  This is an amino acid that helps cells talk to each other.  When you are stressed and your body cannot produce the right amounts, our bodies need this supplement.

Fifth, wheat grass powder which is packed with vitamins and nutrients can be found online for only $20.

Sixth, set the stage for sleep and listen to soothing music in the background 45 minutes before going to sleep.  Do this while you are getting ready for bed.

Last, be very well hydrated with lots of water throughout your day.  Eat high water content foods like fruits and vegetables!

Try these methods and you will see significant changes in your energy level!

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Let’s face it…once you hit 40, your body needs to work harder at fighting fatigue and losing weight.   Most women begin to feel more tired and put on weight for no other reason than our metabolism not working as well as it used to.  We also begin to see wrinkles and fine lines that were never there and some women even begin experiencing many hormonal changes.  Well, there are several ways to combat these inevitable changes in our body that will be discussed in this article:

In a recent episode on Dr. Oz, he discusses several areas in which women can begin to look and feel better after 40 and how to be your best in the second half of your life.

First, he discusses FATIGUE FIGHTERS.  Most women in their 40′s have chronic stress which causes you to be tired and wired!  Daily life with work and kids alone can cause women to have chronic stress.  Dr. Oz says to keep an energy booster box with you of the following three items that are fatigue fighters:  Edamame, cheese and ashwagandha tea.  Edamame is high in protein (11 gms in 1/2 a cup).  Cheese helps to stabilize blood sugar and ashwagandha tea decreases inflammation and helps boost your energy.  These are 3 very simple fatigue fighters that you can carry with you and will give you a significant boost of energy!

Next, he discusses HORMONE HELPERS.  At 40, menopause is around the corner and women begin experiencing lots of significant hormonal changes such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, decreased libido, and sleep disturbances.  Dr. Oz says that progesterone cream can be very helpful and to discuss this with your doctor.  It is much better to get a prescription than to get over the counter creams.  It is applied directly to the genital area.  After a few minutes, you will experience a tingling sensation that leads to a cascade of arousal.

Third, he discusses WEIGHT LOSS WONDERS.  Dr. Oz says that too much sugar increases your blood sugar making you more tired and want those sugary foods that pack on the pounds.  Change the foods you eat.  Eat healthier and measure your foods so that you are eating the right size portions of the appropriate foods.  One example of good foods are dried cranberry beans which are loaded with fiber to fill you up and have as much protein as a glass of milk  with only 120 calories in 1/2 a cup.  Another example is purchasing something called the EZ weight plate (ezweightplate.com) – only $20 online.  This allows you to manage your food intake and to appropriately measure your food.

Last, he discusses alternatives to BOTOX.  Gaba super antioxidant cream relaxes your fine muscles underneath the skin and works well underneath the eyes.  It’s only $59 online.  Also, PMD (personal microderm system) that takes 5 minutes to do your whole face.  This exfoliant is used weekly to stimulate collagen in order to slow down fine lines and wrinkles.  After, apply a moisturizer.  This can also be purchased online.

Dr. Oz provided some excellent information in this episode as well as listing a few of the best supplements for women over 40:

1 – Horse chestnut seed extract which helps with varicose veins.  $12 in health stores.

2 – Astragalus which is a pick me up for stress and fatigue.  Also $12 in health stores.  Take 200 mg twice a day.

3 – Borage oil supplement for skin and hair.  After 40, hair doesn’t have the same sheen as it used to when younger.  This helps the hair to look healthier and shiny and the nails to grow stronger and faster.  $9 in health stores.

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HGH is a very controversial topic and should be discussed.  On an episode of Dr. Oz, he discusses human growth hormone and its effect on women.  HGH is a natural hormone which is injected into the body to stimulate growth.  It was first used on children with stunted growth many many years ago.  Many women today consider it the fountain of youth and would do anything to take it, but is it safe?  It seems to be the latest anti-aging trend that many women are getting from their doctors, trainers and even over the internet!  Women say that they look and feel younger and have better sex.  Is it worth a try when we don’t know the effects?

Many people say that if you boost your hormone level with this synthetic HGH, you can feel DECADES younger, but doesn’t this mess with mother nature?  Can it shorten your life?  Apparently, it rebuilds elasticity and the skin begins to look younger. However, it is a potent agent and there has not been any long term data to show what may happen to those experimenting with this today.  We don’t know if it can cause cancer, diabetes, etc.  There is a good chance it will, but it is too soon to tell.

Short term studies have identified swelling, joint pain and carpel tunnel as symptoms of HGH use as well as elevated blood sugar which can lead to diabetes.  Without knowing the actual effects that HGH can have long term, are you willing to try it?

Dr. Oz does, however, offer ways to naturally and safely raise your HGH without injections.  These are definitely worth trying:

1 – L-Arginine – this is an amino acid which is a building block for growth hormone.

2 – Nut butter – take 2 tablespoons each day or eat more lean protein.

3 – Sleep – this is the most important!  You need to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night.  Use a cooling eye mask and block out light!  You will sleep better this way.  Also, get a sleep machine with low frequency sound.

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Most of us as we get older tend to have less and less sex in our lives because of every day stress and responsibilities.  Let’s face it, when we were younger with no kids and life had no stress, that was probably when we experienced the best sex of our lives. Well, we can change all of that if we just work hard at achieving it as we do with everything else worth working for in our lives.  Sex is important and we should not forget that.  Better sex will help reduce stress and keep you feeling rejuvenated!

Let’s start with foreplay.  Most of us seem to skip right over this when in actuality, this is the best part of sex!  It should last at least 30 minutes.  Remember, anything great is worth the wait!  The longer the foreplay, the better the sex!  Next, are aphrodisiacs. It’s important to set the mood with lighting, music or whatever else gets you in the right mood.   There are also a myriad of supplements such as ginseng and spices in foods such as pepper that help “spice” up your mood.  Women should also where high heels to feel sexier.   As for your libido, use a vibrator ladies!  The rabbit is a good choice.  It will definitely improve your sex life!

Moroever, many women as they get older experience painful sex because of vaginal dryness so try using natural oils, saliva and vaginal estrogen to improve blood flow.

One last thing, take the 100 day challenge and have sex every day for the next 100 days.  At least your significant other will be on board!  This will most definitely improve your sex life!

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