8 Wonderful Ways to Use Epsom Salts

Relaxing and sedative bath: Soak in warm water and 2 cups of epsom salt.

Foot soak: Soothe aches, remove odors and soften rough skin with a foot soak. Add 1/2 cup of epsom salt to a large pan of warm water. Soak feet for as long as it feels right. Rinse and dry.

Soak sprains and bruises: Epsom salt will reduce the swelling of sprains and bruises. Add 2 cups epsom salt to a warm bath, and soak.

Splinter remover: Soak in epsom salt, it will draw out the splinter.

Face cleaner: To clean your face at night, mix a half-teaspoon of epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream. Just massage into skin and rinse with cold water.

Homemade skin mask: Apply the mask to damp skin. For normal to oily skin, mix 1 tablespoon of cognac, 1 egg, 1/4 cup of non-fat dry milk, the juice of 1 lemon, and a half-teaspoon of epsom salt. For normal to dry skin, mix 1/4 cup of grated carrot, 1 1/2 teaspoons of mayonnaise and a half-teaspoon of epsom salt.

Skin exfoliator: Massage handfuls of epsom salt over your wet skin, starting with your feet and continuing up towards the face. Have a bath to rinse.

Basic Salt Soak Bath Formula
Minerals and salts make the bath water feel silky and leave your skin cleansed and soft.

1 cup sea salts
2 cups baking soda
1 cup Epsom salts
1 to 2 tablespoons glycerin per bath

Combine the sea salts, baking soda, and Epsom salts in a bowl. Stir to blend. Pour 1/4 cup or so into the bath while the tub is filling. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons glycerin to keep your skin from drying out (more for dry skin, less for oily skin) and essential oils of choice.

Preparation time: 2 to 3 minutes
Shelf life: Indefinite
Storage: Glass jar with a screw top

Caution: Do not take hot baths and salt baths (including Epsom salt baths) if you have heart trouble, high blood pressure, or are diabetic.

Reference Annie B Bond

Epsom Salt - - Who Knew!

Oh, epsom salt—who knew that such an uninspiring ingredient could inspire such devotion? Read on for 8 ways to use epsom salts, including a relaxing bath, a face scrub and a hair volumizer. It’s also a miracle cure, helping to get rid of splinters and reduce swelling of sprains and bruises. One ingredient fits all! I always knew that soaking in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom Salts was good for relaxing muscles and drawing toxins from the body, but I could never figure out why. And it wasn’t until I spent some time at the Epsom Salt Industry Council web site that I learned that epsom salts—made of the mineral magnesium sulfate—are also a sedative for the nervous system. When magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, such as in a bath, it draws toxins from the body, sedates the nervous system, reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, is a natural emollient, exfoliator, and much more.
Adapted from the Epsom Salt Industry Council (Note: Check with a doctor before using if you have any health concerns.)

New Evidence That Dark Chocolate Helps Ease Emotional Stress

The "chocolate cure" for emotional stress is getting new support from a clinical trial published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research. The study found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed. This favorite treat also helped correct other stress-related biochemical imbalances.

Researchers noted growing scientific evidence that antioxidants and other
beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease
and other physical conditions. Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease
emotional stress. Until now, however, there was little evidence from research in
humans on exactly how chocolate offers the "stress-busting" effects.

In the study, scientists identified reductions in stress hormones and other stress-related
biochemical changes in volunteers who rated themselves as highly stressed and ate
dark chocolate for two weeks. "The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption
of 40 grams [1.4 ounces] during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of
healthy human volunteers," the scientists say.

Journal reference:

Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects.

Journal of Proteome Research, 2009;

Disclaimer: The information presented is for information purposes only. It is based on scientific studies or traditional usage. Consult a health care professional before using supplements or making any changes in prescribed medications. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."eWeightlossplus" does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided. Healthy mind is Healthy Smart ask before following any change in regimens. "eWeightlossplus" does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician to make sure this does not interfere with any medical conditions or medication perscribed. Healthy mind is Healthy Smart ask before following any change in regiments.

The Tightening Vitamin E

This vitamin and potent antioxidant should be replenished daily, as it is one of the most important factors for healthy skin. Aggressive supplementation of vitamin E will go a long way to revitalize the skin and even reverse its aging process, smoothing out wrinkles and lines and restoring a healthy, youthful glow. Take vitamin E as a supplement daily and boost the effect by applying a cream or serum high in vitamin E content.

We all want to look good, and the skin is one part of us we can’t hide. It is also the biggest organ we have, and keeping our skin in good shape is very important. The antioxidants can be very helpful when it comes to keeping our skin healthy and youthful. In addition, the skin produces and stores vitamin D, which is necessary for absorbing calcium. The skin is the organ that is most vulnerable to attacks from free radicals, for obvious reasons. It is constantly exposed to sunlight and pollutants such as cigarette smoke and ozone, which promotes the formation of free radicals. In fact, smokers often have prematurely aged skin, with wrinkles and lines equivalent to people ten years older. Because we often don’t protect our skin properly against pollutants and free radicals attacks, we are aging our skin faster than it has to and it becomes more prone to skin cancer. The most effective way to protect the skin is to use antioxidants actively, both in the form of supplements and by using skin creams rich in antioxidants. The skin is then doubly protected and the effects of the antioxidants are boosted and multiplied. Antioxidants can and should be used both on the inside and the outside to keep our skin healthy. Ideally, we should keep our skin cells bathed in antioxidants at all times. This is not as difficult as it may seem. A daily habit of taking antioxidant supplements and actively using skin creams will go along way toward this goal.

Antioxidants -- Inside and Out

YOU can't not AFFORD organic::: Perpare to Prevent health issues in your future. One way to start is organic, change one thing and work your way up the ladder. In any health issue it is better to skinny dip first instead of taking a "plunge"..adjustment mentally and physical need perfect timing. Make a schedule and time line of adjustments for you and your love ones. Baby steps are best.

Going organic is good for you and the Earth, but if you can't always afford it -- since organic can cost 50%-100% more -- experts recommend spending most of your organic food dollars on produce and the foods you eat most often. The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., recommends going organic on the "dirty dozen" -- produce that has the highest pesticide residues -- like peaches.

Going Organic

*Very important to recognize "organic" seal . . . no seal not Organic. Also refer to the FDA site on the Web it is a big knowledge base on what is and is not organic.

Look for the USDA Organic Seal

Don't confuse "free-range," "hormone free," or "natural" with organic. Look for the organic seal. That means the food is grown, harvested, and processed according to USDA standards that include restrictions on amounts and residues of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. Natural pesticides are allowed. Organic foods cannot be treated with any sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

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Those extra helpings of gravy and dessert at the holiday table are even more of a problem to
your waistline than previously thought.

    According to a new research report recently appearing online in The FASEB Journal, a diet that is high in fat and in sugar actually switches on genes that ultimately cause our bodies to store too much fat.
    These foods strike you with a double-problem as the task of converting high-fat and high-sugar foods to energy is made even more difficult because these foods also turn our bodies into "fat-storage containers."
    In the research report, scientists show that foods high in fat and sugar stimulate a known opioid receptor, called the kappa opioid receptor (KOR), which plays a role in fat metabolism. When this receptor is stimulated, it causes our bodies to hang on to much more fat than they'd do otherwise.
    According to the researchers involved in the study, "the data presented here support the hypothesis that overactivation of the kappa opioid receptors contribute to the development of obesity, especially during prolonged consumption of high-fat, calorically dense diets."
    To make this discovery, the research team conducted tests in two groups of laboratory subjects. One group had the kappa opioid receptor genetically deactivated and the other group was normal. Both groups were given a high fat, high sucrose, energy dense diet for 16 weeks. While the control group gained significant weight and fat mass on this diet, those with the deactivated receptor remained lean. In addition to having reduced fat stores, those with the deactivated receptor also showed a reduced ability to store incoming nutrients.
    Although more work is required, this research may help address the growing obesity problem worldwide in both the short-term and long-term. Most importantly, this research provides more proof that high-fat and high-sugar diets should be avoided. In the long-term, however, this research is even more significant, as it provides a specific target for developing therapies for preventing obesity and helping obese people slim down.
    "In times when food was scarce and starvation an ever-present threat, an adaptation that allows our bodies to store as much energy as possible during plentiful times was probably a lifesaver. Conversely, by removing that opioid receptor, we may have found a way to keep us from eating ourselves to death." concluded the researchers.

FASEB (The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) publishes online, Stanford University Library.

Western Diets Turn On Fat Genes

Olive Oil Erases Fine Lines!

The secret to smoothing crows' feet and fine lines? Olive oil! The reason? It's loaded with omega fatty acids that mimic the skin's own hydrating lipids. They lock in moisture and plump out those fine lines, making your skin look smoother and younger!

1/4 cup smashed chickpeas (effective exfoliant)
1 tsp. light olive oil
1/4 tsp. lemon juice
1 egg yolk
Stir all ingredients together until creamy. Smooth onto freshly washed skin. Relax for 20 minutes, rinse and pat dry! Keeps for 2 days in the fridge.

Make your own olive oil mask