I was baby sitting my little sister the other day and she pulled out her good old trusty hoola hoop to pass the time. It brought me back to the good old simple days so of course I wanted to try it out again. It honestly was a little tricky at first but I started to get the hang of it slowly and really got going, it surprisingly was a good workout! It is always so funny to me that something for little kids is fun but for adults it is a workout! Anyways I reluctantly gave back the hula hoop and watched my sister go to town, and I really started thinking and wondering how good of a workout it really is.

So of course I got online and did a little search while it was fresh on my mind!  ”Hooping,” Laurel House writes on Shine, “is becoming the exercise of choice for everyone from hipsters to boomers all looking to make their workouts do more in less time and actually enjoy it.” She goes on to write about a woman who lost two dress sizes in two months by hooping alone! “Most of all, people are happy when they’re hooping. It doesn’t even feel like exercise!” So will hula hooping benefit you? Laurel says that it can tone your abs, butt, arms, and thighs, as well as increase flexibility, strengthen your core and release toxins. Go grab a hula hoop today! Seriously!

There are so many oils out there that you can consume it’s hard to keep track of which ones are healthy and which ones aren’t. Especially when doctors keep changing their minds! One of the confusing oils to me is coconut oil. I’ve heard it’s bad for your heart but you can never know the truth until you go straight to the source. I’ve done the dirty work for you.

Coconut oil is mostly saturated fat, and that’s why it’s gotten a bad rap. But recently, saturated fats have been getting a second look because it turns out they’re not all the same. The saturated fatty acids that are abundant in butter, cream, and some meats have been linked to a higher risk of heart disease. However, coconut oil contains lauric acid and stearic acid (also found in dark chocolate), and these seem to behave differently in the body; early research suggests they don’t raise heart disease risk.

Until the results are in, don’t make it a point to consume coconut oil. And I wouldn’t substitute it for oils we know are beneficial, such as olive oil and canola oil or the best weight loss pills. There is one positive outcome from the renewed scrutiny of coconut oil: It will almost certainly prove to be healthier than trans fat, which has led some food manufacturers to begin using it as a replacement. If you are feeling “weighed” down by all that trans fat you need diet pills.

Studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world! Açaí (ah-sigh-ee) is the high-energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree. Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, açaí tastes like a vibrant blend of berries. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature’s perfect energy fruit. Açaí is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Although açaí may not be available in your local supermarket, you can find it in several health food and gourmet stores. It’s usually in juice form. If you are looking to lose some weight Acai is a perfect tool as well as diet pills. You can find the best weight loss pills.
Açaí pulp contains:

• A remarkable concentration of antioxidants that help combat premature aging, with 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and 10-30 times the anthocyanins of red wine.
• A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.
• An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

The fatty acid content in açaí resembles that of olive oil, and is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid is important for a number of reasons. It helps omega-3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane; together they help make cell membranes more supple. By keeping the cell membrane supple, all hormones, neurotransmitter and insulin receptors function more efficiently. This is particularly important because high insulin levels create an inflammatory state, and we know, inflammation causes aging.

Colon cleansers can be split into two different types.  There are the ones that require ingestion of some pill, powder, etc, and then there are those colon irritations that essentially stick a tube up your rectum to spray it out.  The safety would depend on a number of different things.  Experts say that colon irrigations actually damage the lining of the colon, so in other words, not so safe in that case.  But just because a product is natural doesn’t mean it’s completely safe. 

Some of these actually have ingredients that can be habit forming, and some can make your journey harder.  Of course diuretics which are common can be harmful, especially if that’s the only thing in the complex in general.  But even if you get the best ones, if you don’t take a multivitamin with it or it doesn’t already have vitamins supplemented, you could experience acne breakouts, stomach cramps, headaches, and otherwise at first.  It goes away over time and then you feel substantially better if you get one that works.  But the initial battle can be dealt with using a multivitamin or just a better quality formula in general.

Now if you’ve never been on a colon cleanse, you probably don’t know what to expect.  You’ve never done it before, you’ve never known the difference between toxins and no toxins, and you have no idea what the toxins do to get out or on their way out.  There are definitely ways to overcome 90% of the side effects, but some you just have to deal with.  If you want to avoid all the side effects you can, simply use the power of a good multivitamin. 

 Colon cleansers and the toxins tend to take essential nutrients with them, and so this is the main cause of most of the side effects.  For example, you may experience severe cramps, bloating, abdominal pain, gas, electrolyte imbalances, acne, dull skin, fatigue, insomnia, etc.  These are all avoidable by taking a good multivitamin and making up for the difference between the two things, and with this you can start feeling better in the start. 

Your skin will even start to brighten, reduce acne, etc from the start.  But there is one major side effect that can’t be avoided: black or dark colored defecation.  This may look nasty, and frankly it really is.  But the toxins have to go somewhere, and they have to go out of the body in some way.  It just happens to occur using that method of action. 

The ultimate fruit in many areas, apples can also help you to detoxify and cleanse your body.  It is an excellent ingredient, and my personal favorite application for it is apple pie.  There are multiple recipes for this as well as a small local bakery that I have a personal preference for.  I’ve seen people eat the core, which is a little much for me.  But there are so many differing varieties to choose from as well.  You can even dip them in caramel sauce if you want.

But since the beginning of time apples have been hailed for their knowledge promoting benefits, even in the times of Greek philosophy.  We have the tales of Johnny Appleseed who planted apples across the United States, and it has been central to some religious beliefs due to its 5 point star in the middle when you cut it in half.  In reality, they are high in vitamins and minerals as well as fiber, which can compliment a great or just good colon cleanser for greater benefits. 

It reduces cholesterol on its own and an apple a day keeps the doctor away.  You should eat the peel along with the rest of it, and of course there is applesauce for some, which can be loaded with vitamin C.  Just keep in mind when you buy apple based products that you should look at the label to see exactly how much apple you are actually getting.

Coffee and weight loss or coffee and colon cleansing, how exactly does it work?  In terms of weight loss, it could be said that the caffeine would promote a thermogenic effect, and it has actually been known to work as a natural diuretic, which equals the loss of water weight, not fat.  But still, were this all really true, I should be a stick by now! 

Anyway, studies are now suggesting that coffee is actually one of the leading inhibitors of weight loss.  I could’ve guessed this by the fact that most coffee related drinks are actually really high in sugars, calories, and you don’t just get the pure coffee.  Most people just don’t like the taste among other things.  And considering the fact that most Americans start off their days with a cup of coffee and we spend about $730 million annually, the statistics obviously suggest the same thing or at the very least that it doesn’t work the way we want for weight loss.  It is true for both regular and decaffeinated coffee just in case you are wondering.  This is why all major diet plans tend to suggest staying away from alcohol and coffee. 

Essentially speaking, coffee keeps you from calming down, making you feel edgy.  It is seldomly drunk by itself or without sugar and fats among other things.  Coffee makes your energy go up and down at exponential rates, and it sends important nutrients strait through the body as a diuretic instead of allowing your body to actually absorb them. And as far as cleansing, you need those nutrients, and unfortunately it isn’t getting rid of toxins.

When looking for a natural colon cleanser, there are a number of different ingredients to look for.  But here, we will cover more of the extra ingredients rather than those absolutely necessary to a very basic cleanser.

First of all, look for fruits and vegetables.  it is better if they are superfoods in general.  But if they are not, it is okay.  They are packed full of vitamisn and minerals, and in some cases, they also have powerful antioxidants.  these will all help in eliminating side effects and also providing your body with extra benefits.

Second, look for fibers.  Fibers work their way throughout your colon and essentially sweep it out over time.  When you do this, you further benefit your system in general and improve your digestive health in general terms.

Third comes probiotics.  Especially if you have IBS or other digestive health problems, probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus can provide your stomach with healthy bacteria and generally speaking improve your stomach’s condition and health and help you to feel better in general.

Finally, look for antioxidants.  Especially if the fruits and vegetables you use don’t have antioxidants, they can be extremely important.  Antioxidants in general kill off free radicals and help you to improve the condition of your body.  With antioxidants, your benefits extend far beyond that of a regular colon cleanser or health supplement in general terms. 

With all of these ingredients, you can achieve greater results with your regular colon cleanser.  The basic ingredients are of course important.  These ingredients just happen to compliment their benefits.