Watkins Heritage Remedies - Independent Watkins Associate 323239

Taking good care of your skin such as avoiding the sun, using sunscreen, washing your skin gently and applying moisturizer regularly can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems. These simple skin-care habits will help you protect your skin to keep it healthy and glowing for years to come.

Did you know that smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles? Skin changes from smoking have been noticed in young adults who have been smoking for as few as 10 years. Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels including the vessels in the outermost layers of skin. This decreases blood flow, depleting the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health. All of these factors increase damage to the elastic fibers (elastin) and collagen which give your skin strength and elasticity.

The repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke may contribute to wrinkles as well. It's also possible that repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes may damage your facial skin over time. Sounds like a good idea to stop smoking for skin care, another good reason to quit!

After smoking two packs of cigarettes a day I think I'm doing pretty good, as I've only smoked about two packs in the last two weeks! The cravings are not as steady and intense and the habit is weakening. I can finally sit down, do some work and concentrate. My official quit day has come and gone so no more cigarettes for me.

The most embarrassing thing has been my behaviour! Being an addict makes a person do things that are strange and very out of character. Like sneaking around to have a smoke or even smoking old cigarette buts. Yuck! I feel like a criminal.

I'm reaching for a glass of water when I get the urge, water is a healthy replacement habit plus I have a few hard cardies handy and nicotine gum for the more intense cravings. First thing in the morning and after meals is the worst time for me right now. I know it will pass so I try to do something else to get my mind off wanting a cigarette. An interesting note; I'm not as cranky and irratable as I thought I'd be. Maybe it will come but in the mean time everyone around my house is lucky in that area.

My family has been very supportive and everyone says they are proud of me which is great. I also joined Quit Net and did a bit of exploring. It's free to join and they have a lot of resouces and support. It's easier to stop smoking if you have support. If you want to stop smoking cigarettes you might want to consider joining Quit Net too.

Another great information and resource site I'd like to share with today is How To Quit. Good luck in your journey to quitting for good!

Are you over stressed? Is everything piling up and weighing you down? Maybe you've tried pharmaceutical or herbal remedies, but weren't happy with the results for whatever reason. You might just want to try a proven natural therapy that has been used for generations to releive stress and make you feel better. So what is this miracle cure that makes us feel so great? It's laughter. Laughter is good medicine, it's nature's way of easing tension and helping us relax. So, take time to laugh every day and you'll be feeling better in no time.

How does laughter work exactly? Laughter works on several levels to make us feel better and less stressed. First, laughter works to relieve stress physically. When we laugh, stress hormones in our blood, like cortisol, are actually reduced. Laughter also gives us a mini workout, which improves out health and releases hormones that make us feel happier. Lastly, when we laugh, it helps boost our immune system. The stronger our immune system is, the better we feel and the more prepared we are to combat stress.

Laughter helps us emotionally release stress as well. Our bodies are designed to release excess emotions physically through acts such as laughing and crying. When we laugh, it releases some of our negative emotions as well. It can also change the thoughts that promote our emotions. Laughter helps us think more positively, worry less, and be less stressed. Even if laughter doesn't promote positive thinking, it can make you forget about your negative thoughts and feel better.

When you are laughing with friends or loved ones, you are also forming social bonds. When we are bonded with people, it promotes supportive relationships that can make us feel more supported and less burdened, so we feel less stressed out about our situation. Did you know that laughter is contagious? That's why it's easier to laugh with a group.

What can you do if life just isn't that funny? What if you can't find anything to laugh at? Fake it. Yes, that's right, fake laughing. A study done on forced laughter found that when participants were asked to watch a movie and either not laugh at anything or laugh at the jokes whether they thought they were funny or not. After the movie, participants filled out a survey on how much they liked the movie. Believe it or not the people who laughed rated the movie as significantly better and funnier. Laughing, forced or not, improves the way you view the world and helps to fight stress from your everyday life.

In addition to stress relief, laughing has also been shown to help you eat less, boost your immune system, increase your pain threshold, and even help you heal faster. Don't delay. Laughter is good medicine, go see a funny movie, share a joke or laugh for no good reason at all, and start laughing your way to a less stressful life today.

Focused deep breathing exercises can help you relax, and relieve tension and stress you've built up during the day. Many of our everyday lives tend to be too fast paced, causing us to be in a constant state of arousal, even if we have nothing to be excited about. This can cause emotional problems as well; including irritability, anger, and depression along with physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches. Relaxation breathing can relieve these symptoms, help you deal with addictions, aid in weight loss and can also be used to calm yourself before you go to sleep. There are a number of techniques and methods, it's just a matter of finding the right one for you.

The first step is to find a good position to be in for your breathing exercise. Each technique may suggest a different position including: lying on your stomach, lying on your back, sitting cross legged, sitting on your feet with your knees facing forward, or standing. No matter what the method suggests, you need to be in a position that makes you comfortable. If you're not comfortable, you're not going to relax no matter how you breathe. So find something that works for you. You may also try periodically changing positions throughout your breathing exercises; in fact, some techniques recommend it.

The next step is to use the proper breathing technique. Normally, we tend to take short shallow breaths. Breathing exercises involve taking longer, deeper, fuller breaths. This type of deep breathing changes the percentage of carbon dioxide in our systems, putting us in a more relaxed state. To accomplish this type of breathing, you should be sure to breathe by pulling your stomach in and out (toward and away from your spine). You should also make sure your shoulders stay relaxed; if the shoulders are moving up and down, your breathing is too shallow. An appropriate deep breath should bring out the stomach, chest, and collar bone.

The appropriate deep breath is very slow. It's best to allow about 5 to 6 seconds for each inhale and the same for each exhale; however, it is more important for you to focus on your technique rather than your pace. Breathe in deeply through your nose, and exhale though your mouth. A common yoga technique is to tighten your throat when you exhale so it sounds as if you're whispering.

Do your best to focus your attention on the breathing. The whole point of doing breathing exercises is to clear your mind of stress, not give you a better opportunity to focus on it. You'll probably find your thoughts wandering; just try to bring your mind back to your breathing when you do. As you have more and more experience, you'll begin to find it easier to focus on your breathing and relaxation rather than the worries of everyday life.

You may also find it helpful to practice visualization exercises while you're breathing deeply. Picture each muscle in your body and focus on it feeling relaxed. Once that part of your body is relaxed, you can move on to another part. You may also choose to focus on the stress physically pouring out of your body through your fingers and toes.

Whatever method you use deep breathing is a great way to reduce stress, help you lose weight, quit smoking and get to sleep or simply unwind at the end of a long busy day. Isn't it time you started practicing deep breathing?

Most of us would love to be able to remember things better. Whether you're a student studying for a test or an adult who's becoming more forgetful as you age, you're probably looking for something to enhance your memory. The best way to optimize your memory is to eat right and exercise, both your brain and your body. If you find that your regular diet isn't helping enough, there are safe, natural foods and supplements that will help give your memory the boost you're looking for.

Here are some important nutrients that will help enhance your memory along with other great side effects:

Choline. This is the main nutrient required in the production of acetocholine, the most essential chemical in retaining memories. Choline can be found in fish (particularly anchovies), eggs, liver, soy, and various nuts.

Vitamins. Getting enough of the B vitamins and vitamin C are essential for the production proper brain function. B vitamins have even been shown to raise scores on IQ tests. Taking a daily multi-vitamin like Watkins Superfood Multiple will ensure that you get enough of these vitamins.

Pyroglutamate. This is an essential amino acid that can be used to improve memory, concentration, coordination, and reaction time. It improves reception of neurotransmitters and aids in the production of acetylcholine. It is found in dairy products, fish, fruit, and vegetables.

Phosphatidylserine. This chemical has not only been shown to improve memory, but also to concentration, mood, and resistance to stress.

Omaga 3 Fatty Acids. These "good fats" can be found in fish, including: tuna, salmon, and mackerel. They can also be found in certain nuts and oils. This boosts the amount of acetylcholine and serotonin in the body which improves memory and mood.

Ginko Biloba. This is used to improve circulation, increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Ginko improves memory and gives you an energy boost. It has been show to help memory loss from normal aging and Alzheimer's. Be careful how much you take, it can have side effects due to its blood thinning properties.

Vinpocetine. This supplement is derived from the periwinkle plant and increases circulation. It has been proven to improve decision making and problem solving skills.

Carnitine. This is an essential amino acid that improves memory and brain function and mood; it also has antioxidant properties. Acetyl-L-carnitine is essential in the production of acetylcholine.

Glutamine. Another important amino acid for brain function. Along with the improved brain function, glutamine is an energy booster can help you break your addictions to stimulants. It also helps balance neurotransmitters and blood sugar levels.

Getting one or two of these nutrients can help you feel better and improve memory, but if you want to have optimal functioning and memory, it's best to get as appropriate amounts of each of these nutrients from diet and supplements. Watkins Brain Plus can help to bring back your memory while protecting you against age-related mental decline. It contains many of the nutrients mentioned above including; ginkgo biloba to help increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain; brahmi to enhance focus and concentration; L-tyrosine and natural herbs to promote mental alertness; and soy lecithin to provide phosphatidylserine and choline, which are essential for optimal brain function.



*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

If I'm honest I'll admit that I wasn't feeling that great for months but then I almost ended up in the hospital with a severe asthma attack. I noticed I was getting tired faster and just couldn't get motivated to go for a walk. There were a number of contributing factors to my getting sick, stress, weather, allergies, a virus and my poor body just couldn't cope any longer. I'm sure smoking didn't help either.

Getting sick should be my wake up call, I didn't smoke for nearly a week so it's a great time to quit. Now that I'm feeling better and back to my normal routine it's a hard habit to break. The cravings are hard but it's the habit I'm having the most trouble with I think.

I'm trying to reach for a glass of water rather than a smoke and there is no smoking in the house. I'm hoping that in a few days I'll be less antsy and be able to focus better. What's you story and what are you doing to quit?

We all know that the best thing that you can do for your health is to stop smoking. But it's easier said than done. Are you trying to quit, or maybe you've been thinking about it for awhile? Why not join us on a journey to stop smoking for good. Whether it's you first time quitting or your tenth time you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

I'd like to share this interesting site with you today Quit Net, it looks like it might provide some excellent resouces and support.

Let us know what's working for you, and what's not by posting you comments!

Are you entering menopause? If so you are probably experiencing the sudden heat, flushing, sweating, and heart palpitations associated with hot flashes. This symptom of menopause is not only uncomfortable, with episodes lasting up to thirty minutes, it's also severely distracting in your life. There are medical treatments that can help with hot flashes, but they can be extreme. You can always dress in layers, or turn the air conditioning up to high, but that's not always practical. So why not try a more natural remedy first? You don't have to live with the dreaded hot flashes, soy has been used for centuries to help relieve some or all of the symptoms associated with hot flashes.

Soy contains natural chemicals called isoflavones, which are a type of phytoestrogen a plant estrogen. These compounds are similar to and act like human estrogen in your body. Studies have shown that women who live in countries with a higher soy consumption have fewer hot flashes than women in cultures that don't eat soy. Many women who begin adding soy to their diet report fewer and less severe hot flashes. While soy does have the benefits of acting like human estrogen, it's effects are fairly weak. Women with mild to moderate hot flashes report decreases in their symptoms, but women with more severe symptoms may not experience as much relief. There are additional health benefits of soy as well, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and promoting bone health.

Soy can be found in many different forms. There are various types of soy food products and supplements. Watkins makes a great-tasting soy beverage that contains 50 mg of naturally-occurring soy isoflavones, the compounds in soy that are thought to be responsible for many of soy’s health benefits. SoyNilla also contains FiberAid®, a cutting-edge dietary fiber from arabinogalactan that promotes intestinal health and has been shown to support healthy cholesterol levels. Plus additional calcium and magnesium enhance the effects of soy in promoting strong bones; soy lecithin supports brain function, and Chromium Chelavite® supports your body’s metabolism. You get all this in a convenient high-protein, high-calcium, fat-free, cholesterol-free dry mix that can be blended with water, milk, or your favorite beverage for a smooth, creamy-tasting drink that takes only seconds to make. You'll find Watkins SoyNilla is a fast, convenient way to add soy to your daily diet.

As with any supplement or dietary changes, there may be concerns associated with soy. One is that because it acts as an estrogen in the body, it could effect the chance of breast cancer. It's always important to have regular mammograms and do self exams, even if you don't consume soy. Monitor your soy intake, consuming more than 50 grams per day may increase associated problems. Always consult your doctor or medical expert before making major dietary changes; they can help you figure out if soy is right for you.

While you can't avoid going through menopause, you can alleviate some of the symptoms. If you have problems with hot flashes and night sweats, eat right, exercise, and add some soy to your diet.