Health & Beauty Tips  The following will help to improve the skins texture and appearance, your metabolism and your over all well being. Click on any of the following headings to view more information. w Drink more water w Improving you diet w Snacks w Stop smoking w Improve your posture Drink more water We often think we are hungry when really we are thirsty. Increase your daily intake of water by drinking water between meals when you think you are hungry. Drinking plenty of water will flush the body, therefore reduce bloating, improve the appearance of cellulite, reduce dark circles under the eyes and generally improve the skins whole appearance and texture. It will also improve the metabolism so you have more energy. Whilst drinking more water helps to rehydrate the body and benefits the skins appearance, lack of moisture in the air due to heating and air-conditioning in homes and offices dries out the skin. Investing in a humidifier will put the moisture back into the air and help your skin. As an alternative to purchasing a humidifier try placing a bowl of water in the room, near a radiator, as this has a similar effect.  [top] Improving your diet Crash dieting - try to avoid this as it can cause the metabolism to slow down and become very irregular. Cut down on fatty foods and dairy products - Dairy products can contribute towards food allergies, intolerance's and sensitivities. If possible grill, steam or boil food. Reducing your intake of sugary, 'junk', processed and refined foods, as these contain many chemicals and preservatives which are difficult to eliminate and cause congestion. Try to cut down on salt and salty foods as they cause water retention. Drinking too much tea, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks and refined fruit juices can dehydrate the body. Reducing your daily intake of these liquids is better for your body. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Try drinking a pint of water 30 mins before you eat this will fill  your stomach a little so you will not feel as hungry. Avoid eating late as it is harder for the body to digest. Having a cut off time of say 7-8pm after which you have a camomile tea or water will help you feel less bloated. [top] Snacks Eat more fruit and vegetables - cut up an apple, carrot and some grapes, keep them in a tupperware box, then when you feel like nibbling you can snack on these. This may sound boring but when you've done this for a while you won't want to go back to the crisps and chocolate. Have them as a real treat OCCASIONALLY! Keep a diary of everything that you eat, you will be surprised! This will make you think twice before you eat that biscuit the children left or that 1/2 packet of crisps! Throw it away!!! [top] Stop smoking Try to give up smoking. We all know this causes toxins in the body which will again slow down the metabolism and worsen the appearance of cellulite. Smoking prevents the absorption of Vitamin C into the body and will cause premature ageing i.e. deep wrinkles, blackheads etc. [top] Improve your posture Poor posture and body alignment can cause congestion and prevent the body from working properly. Be aware of your posture and don't slouch. When sitting at your desk or eating sit up straight, pull your tummy in and knees in front of you so your are not twisted. This will improve you posture and abdominal muscles as well as helping digestion. Consider an exercise class such as Pilates as this is fantastic for strengthening, flexibility and alignment as well as digestion. [top] Combine these tips and you are well on your way to a healthier you.
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