Youthful, glowing skin that is smooth and soft is the goal of  everyday skincare.  The cosmetic benefits of Vitamin C are ideally suited to improving skin’s overall appearance.  Since Vitamin C has a large amount of antioxidant properties it  can block the effect of damaging free radicals.  This will provide skin with more flexibility, making it strong and firm while protecting from future signs of aging. That is why creams like Cellex C Advanced C Serum have Vitamin C to be applied topically.

Of course, it is always best to provide skin with Vitamin C by eating a healthy diet. Proper nutrition leads to beautiful skin. Since Vitamin C is metabolized by water in the body, it can be depleted more quickly than other vitamins.  The body utilizes what is required, and gets rid of the rest. When it is difficult to eat right, supplements can help replace needed amounts of this vitamin.

Vitamin C has evolved from a disease treatment to a beauty essential. The health benefits of vitamin C were recorded more than 70 years ago. At the time, it was used mainly to prevent the problem of scurvy in sailors.  Ironically, the very same nutrient is now used to reawaken the health  and beauty of skin.   Through careful study, the  healing properties of antioxidants have been applied to solve many skin problems.  By fighting off free radicals, antioxidants reduce the creation of wrinkles, halt aging, and keep skin in top condition.

The active ingredient, L-ascorbic acid, is very valuable for cosmetic purposes. It must be stored properly in order to be useful. L-ascorbic acid oxzidizes easily as soon as it comes in contact with the air.  Once this occurs, the helpful aspects are reduced. Skin will not receive the full effect if this is the case. Thus, it must be kept stable and protected. It does not  remain viable  for long periods of time.  It is importance to be vigilant in the selection of the proper skin products to ensure that they are truly the best.

The highest standard of lotions and creams contain very stable L-ascorbic acid at a low pH.  The low pH will make  skin more able to  sink in to skin effectively.  One possible problem with such products is the high level of acidity required. Some people are sensitive to this factor. Their skin can become irritated, red, or sting a bit. Concentrations must be kept at 10% for maximum success in increasing the production of collagen. One such product is Cellex C high potency serum.

So, we can’t have all work and exercise and dieting all the time. It’s time for a bit of fun… and food! I’m hungry. And so here are a few really good tomato juice recipes you can whip up in your vegetable juicer for before or after your workout. We all know tomatoes are packed with vitamins and minerals, so get juicing!

Tomato Juice Recipes #1 – Plain Ole Tomato Juice
5 tomatoes

Tomato Juice Recipes #2 – V8
3 Tomatoes
4 carrots
1 small beet
3 stalks of celery
1 cup of spinach
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 cup of kale

Tomato Juice Recipes #3 – Garlicy Tom Juice
2 tomatoes
2 apples
1 glove of garlic

Tomato Juice Recipes #4 – The Deep Deep Red
5 tomatoes
1 cup of beet leaves
1 tbs of lemon juice

Tomato Juice Recipe #5 – Breakfast Tom Juice
1 grapefruit
1 tomato
1 cup of white cabbage
1/2 apple

Juicing Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be juiced raw or they can be blanched or cooked first, based on your preference. Either way don’t juice the stems, they are poisonous! I prefer to juice tomatoes raw with their skins on to take advantage of the many antioxidants that congregate in the skins. However, it is a good idea to not drink raw tomato juice too often because it contains oxalic acid, a compound that can leech calcium out of the body. If you cook the tomatoes, the oxalic acid will become neutralized, avoiding this problem

Organic Tomatoes Vs Non-Organic Tomatoes
Endless studies show that there can be a  big difference between the nutrient content of organic and non-organic (intensively farmed) tomatoes. A study conducted by Betty Ishida and Mary Chapman at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Albany, CA found that organic ketchup contained three times as much lycopene (a potent antioxidant) as non-organic ketchup! It can be safe to assume this applies to tomatoes! So use organic tomatoes in your vegetable juicer recipes to get the benefits of extra lycopene. Non-organic tomatoes also get sprayed with carcinogenic pesticides that can play a heavy toll on the immune system.

Anti-Cancer Health Benefits of Lycopene
Lycopene is a phytonutrient that has undergo a lot of research in the past decade in its role to protect us from cancers. As an antioxidant, lycopene protects our cells from oxygen based damage that can lead to cancer. Animal studies have found that lycopene supplementation was especially effective at protecting them from developing prostate cancer. Although research in human males is still yet to be conducted.

Another study was focused upon the connection between blood levels of lycopene and colon cancer. It was found that patients who developed colon polyps ( a lump that often becomes cancerous) had 32% lower blood levels of lycopene than those who have developed no polyps. In this detailed study many other nutrients and lifestyle habits were also examined. However, low blood levels of lycopene and smoking were discovered to be the only risk factors for developing colon polyps.

What is a Weight Loss Patch? One of the newer methods of losing weight is a weight loss patch. Fortunately these patches are not a combination of over the counter diet drugs or pharmaceuticals designed to control the appetite. People that support the use of transdermal patches (to give them their technical name) in the treatment of obesity claim that the patch is better than any kind of diet pills because there is no need to remember to take each dosage on time. The patch is applied to the skin once a day and there is no need for any reminder to take the pill. Most of these weight loss patches deliver herbal supplements directly through the skin and into the bloodstream. Some of the active ingredients found in the different types of patches are Guarana, Chromium, and Fucus vesiculosus (natural brown seaweed).

Guarana is an herbal stimulant that has been marketed more in recent years than previously. Guarana is considered a stimulant, to some a replacement for caffeine. The herb can also be used as an antioxidant (prevents oxidization and prevents free radicals from forming) and a diuretic (increases the removal of water from the body).

Chromium helps regulate insulin functions and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. This will result in fewer urges to snack on refined sugars and carbohydrates. The reputation that it has as a fat burner is not proven, though various research done during studies of Chromium conflict on this issue.

Fucus vesiculosus, also known as Bladderwrack or brown seaweed, is one of the most popular ingredients for weight loss patches. The functional ingredient of Fucus vesiculosus is iodine. This is also the most effective weight loss patch because it boosts the metabolism. The iodine is used by the thyroid gland to produce hormones. Lower levels of these hormones can result in a low energy level and weight gain.

The Health and Fitness Connection suggests that medical advice is obtained before any weight loss patches or extreme weight loss techniques are tried.

Though the scientists and doctors swear that no cure is yet available for the common cold, there are several different herbs and vitamins that can help a person’s immune system fight the effects off and recover faster. Natural common cold remedies include vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E, as well as such herbs as Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Garlic.

Vitamins are a great way to help keep the body at its best to keep the immune system working well. Vitamin C, which is also known as Ascorbic Acid, and is found in rose hips, citrus fruit and certain vegetables, is a great supplement to take to keep the body prepared to defend itself against colds and other illnesses. Two other vitamins that are of great help to boosting immune systems are Vitamins A and E.

The herb, Echinacea, is a natural antibiotic that can help to boost a body’s natural immune system and enable it to fight off a cold. It needs to be taken immediately at the onset of a cold to do its best work. Goldenseal is also an herbal antibiotic that can help. It will also help to relieve both nasal and lung congestion. Garlic helps to relieve congestion as well. It can help to reduce the mucous in the nasal cavities and is supposed to also help cleanse blood.

A person can naturally fight off symptoms of a cold in other ways, as well. Colloidal silver is considered a natural antibiotic and it can be purchased as a nasal spray to help keep dry nasal passages moist and soothed. Gargling with salt water is another natural way in which a person can ease the discomfort of a sore throat. Tea, such as hyssop, lemon and other teas can help. Tea that contains antioxidants can be helpful as well, as they will aid in ridding the body of free radicals.

Omega 3 is a fatty acid that is found in high concentration in many types of fish. The list of purported benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids are quite incredible and becoming longer and the more credible every day. Many doctors are recommending that patients with certain ailments and medical conditions start taking a Omega 3 supplements daily.  Omega 3 benefits are surprisingly numerous and there are many reasons why a person might want to consider adding it to their daily diet.

Research studies are coming out with more reasons than ever to use Omega 3 fatty acids. One of the most promising areas of research seems to be understanding the role of Omega 3 in mitigating inflammatory responses in the body. Inflammatory responses, or hyperactive inflammatory responses seem to be a key factor in several diseases including atherosclerosis. It seems that Omega 3 fatty acids regulate the bodily inflammation cycle to relieve and prevent such painful conditions as arthritis, cystitis, and other inflammatory problems.

Omega 3 has also been linked to better brain function, and even with higher intelligence. Pregnant women and nursing mothers who take an Omega 3 supplement can have a positive impact on their babies’ intelligence and perhaps improve their recall, memory, focus and reasoning skills.

These supplements are also able to help children and adults who have Attention Deficit disorders, with or without hyperactivity, because the Omega 3 supplement aids in focus. Omega 3 can also help to prevent depression in certain people. Studies have shown that fish oil supplements can help to alleviate symptoms of psychosis, bipolar and depression.

Cancer is another issue that affects millions of people and the use of Omega 3 oils can help to prevent certain types of cancer. Prostate, breast and colon cancer have been shown to be prevented by Omega 3 because it stops healthy cells from mutating, inhibits unwanted cellular growth, and can even kill off cancer cells.

Cardiovascular benefits are the reason that many people take Omega 3. Fish oil has DHA, DPA and EPA that have been shown to work wonderfully on hearts and the veins and arteries that supply the blood to the heart. They can help a person to lower their cholesterol and triglyceride levels and regulate blood pressure while increasing HDL, or good, cholesterol levels.

Along with heart health, Omega 3 benefits also include benefits such as protection from strokes and heart attacks because fatty acids can break up clots before they do any damage, and aid in lowering cholesterol and plaque buildup. The benefits of Omega 3 are varied and vast. Adding Omega 3 fatty acids to a diet can help a person in many ways.