7 celebrity health secrets

How celebs keep healthy

Celebs always seem to look healthy, and we’ve been on a mission to disclose their health secrets. We’re fed up of bumping into exes on the day that all our spots break out, or waking up with dry, dull hair on the morning of a big event. So, we’ve sussed out the top celebrity health secrets. This is the key to looking glowing, healthy, and wide-awake:

Celebrity health secret 1: Jennifer Anniston does yoga

Our favourite TV star keeps fit through yoga – an ancient exercise technique that connects the mind, body and spirit through strengthening poses, controlled breathing, and meditation. Yoga has a whole host of health benefits including its ability to lower blood pressure, boost blood flow, and strengthen the immune system.

Celebrity health secret 2: Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie takes shots of vinegar

Black Eyed Peas’ singer Fergie takes two daily tablespoons of organic cider vinegar to stay trim. Experts say that this is a tried and tested technique to shed the pounds, and it works. Vinegar flushes out fats in the colon, aids digestion, and helps to kick cravings. This is a perfectly natural way to aid the process of losing weight.

Celebrity health secret 3: Gwyneth Paltrow drinks green tea

Green tea has a whole host of health benefits, as well as a star-studded line of celebrity followers including Gwyneth Paltrow and Courtney Love. As well as being jam-packed full of antioxidants, green tea is a great way to hydrate the body because it contains antioxidants – polyphenols, to be precise – which help to block the growth of cancer cells. If green tea isn’t really your cup of tea (get it?) then try white tea, which is bursting with health benefits too.

Celebrity health secret 4: Kristen Bell just can’t stop laughing

She’s the famous voice of Gossip Girl, and also seems to be the voice of reason when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Kristen Bell has admitted in the past that she would never go on a no-carb, no-sugar diet. Instead, Kristen keeps healthy in a happier way: by laughing. Laughing eases depression, improves your immune system, helps to lower blood pressure, and keeps your heart healthy. The kind of laugh that makes your ribs hurt exercises your diaphragm and stomach muscles, as well as working out your shoulders and making you feel relaxed. Laughing is basically a mini workout. Nice one Kristen!

Celebrity health secret 5: Katherine Heigl eats mini meals

Katherine Heigl eats mini meals throughout the day to keep her body in tip-top condition. Eating something every couple of hours keeps your metabolism ticking over, so it ultimately helps you to lose weight. Eating small meals also makes you less likely to binge on unhealthy snacks throughout the day. In the past, Heigl has revealed that she eats five high-protein meals a day and follows a strict exercise regime.

Celebrity health secret 6: Emma Stone does Pilates

Pilates was originally developed to rehabilitate injured soldiers but has since become a way for us civilian folk to strengthen our bodies too. Emma Stone has confessed to being a fan of Pilates as, being naturally slender, she doesn’t need to slog away in the gym to keep her weight down – it’s alright for some! Pilates helps to build muscular endurance and stability, and is a great way to keep fit and tone the body.

Celebrity health secret 7: Beyonce hydrates with water

Beyonce’s toned curvy frame has always been the envy of girls everywhere. Her appearance in the Dream Girls movie sparked even more speculation after she dropped 20 pounds for the movie. Beyonce later revealed that she lost the weight on a master cleanse diet, which involves drinking lots of water to flush out the existing toxins in your body, before sticking to a strict diet full of precious nutrients. Drinking lots of water helps to get rid of waste toxins, cleanse the colon, and eliminates fluids that may be building up to cause cellulite, bloating, and poor complexion.

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/7-celebrity-health-secrets/

How to fall asleep in the heat

Bedroom feel more like a Swedish sauna than a tranquil haven? You need these top tips from the Women's Health team - no ice facial required.

     

© Shutterstock

                                           

1/ 'Best way to get to sleep in summer? I swear by a long run to tire myself out, followed by a cold shower. It's a shock to the system but grit your teeth, nothing gets your temperature down faster. Apologies to my housemates: that yelping coming from the bathroom was me.' - Katie Teehan, Deputy Sub-editor
2/ 'The only way I'll get any shut eye in summer is with thin sheets, the fan on full blast, windows open, little or no pyjamas, and an ice cold glass of water on my nightstand. Some might say that I go to extreme lengths to stay cool in the heat, and, well, they may be right.' - Alexia Dellner, Deputy Web Editor
3/ 'A crappy little oscillating fan perched on my bedside table and aimed straight at my face ensures a good night's slumber. Bonus: it gives me peaceful dreams about being out at sea!' - Agilene De Villa, Acting Chief Sub-editor
4/ 'I like to soak my feet in the bath in cold water while I'm washing my face in the sink – it cools me down just before I turn in for the night.' - Amy Grier, Features Editor
5/ 'My trick for a good night's sleep is a really long run in the evening followed by a quick shower and a boring book in bed. As soon as the lights are out, I'm zzzzzzz!' - Emily Murphy, Managing/Picture Editor
6/ 'My trick for a sleeping in the heat? Silk sheets and a peppermint pillow spray. Luxurious and cool.' - Farrah Storr, Editor
7/ 'Too hot to sleep? Easy. Just sleep naked.' - Anita Bhagwandas, Health and Beauty Editor
8/ 'If I have hot feet I CANNOT sleep! So I've invested in a cooling foot cream (Udderly Gorgeous Leg & Foot Treatment, £18.50 from cowshedonline.com) and my dreams have never been sweeter.' - Amelia Jean Jones, Editorial Assistant
9/ 'Just before bed, stand in the bath and hose your feet down with the shower head on the coldest setting you can bear. It instantly cools down your entire body and relieves (and cleans!) dusty sandal-worn feet.' -  Faye O'Sullivan, Deputy Art Director.

http://www.womenshealthmag.co.uk/health/sleep/1690/how-to-fall-asleep-in-the-heat/

10 ways to kill your cravings

How to overcome food cravings

Dieting would be oh so easy if it weren’t for those pesky cravings! Luckily, there are many things you can do to make cravings a thing of the past. Put down your fork, step away from the snacks and check out these 10 tips for beating your cravings.

Kill your cravings, tip 1: Address any deficiencies

If you experience regular, intense cravings for particular foods, it may be that you are suffering from a nutritional deficiency which your body is trying to address. It is believed that chocolate cravings can stem from a magnesium deficiency, while a lack of chromium in the diet can lead to sugar cravings. Maintaining healthy levels of zinc can also help to regulate your appetite. Make sure you are eating a wide variety of nutritious foods to address any deficiencies in your diet.

Kill your cravings, tip 2: Eat a little of what you fancy

Ever found that your cravings got worse the harder you tried to ignore them? A study published in the journal Appetite has suggested that many people crave the foods that they most attempt to resist. Rather than going cold turkey on your junk food addiction, having a little of what you fancy should help to reduce the temptation to binge on your favourite treats. You could try following the 80/20 rule; eating healthily 80 per cent of the time and being less strict for the other 20 per cent.

Kill your cravings, tip 3: Get active

Whether your cravings stem from hunger, boredom or lack of motivation, heading out for a run or hitting the gym could help you not to give in. Exercise is not only a great distraction from your cravings, a study led by a researcher at Loughborough University has also found that aerobic exercise can help to suppress your appetite. Furthermore, getting active will help you to feel great about your body, and you wouldn’t want to ruin all that hard work with a junk food binge now would you?

Kill your cravings, tip 4: Try healthier alternatives

Just because you’ve decided to eat healthily, that doesn’t mean you can never snack again. Rather than giving in to your junk food cravings, try experimenting with healthier alternatives, such as frozen yoghurt or sorbet instead of ice cream, seasoned popcorn rather than crisps and sweet potato wedges instead of fries.

Kill your cravings, tip 5: Buy some vanilla scented products

If you’re struggling to resist sugar cravings, try investing in a vanilla scented candle or air freshener for your home or wearing a vanilla scented perfume to curb cravings while on the go. A study at St George’s hospital, south London, found that using vanilla-scented patches on the back of participants’ hands significantly reduced their appetite for sweet foods and drinks.  It is believed that this is because the smell of vanilla can help to suppress sweet cravings

Kill your cravings, tip 6: Give yourself a happiness boost

Research has found that eating carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and potatoes stimulates the production of the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin in the brain. This may explain why many of us crave these ‘comfort’ foods when we’re feeling down. To cut your cravings, try to find healthier ways to give your serotonin levels a boost, such as meeting up with a friend, watching a comedy movie, taking part in an exercise session or smelling some uplifting essential oils such as neroli or lemon.

Kill your cravings, tip 7: Relax

Just as many of us indulge in comfort eating when we’re feeling down, stress can also be a powerful trigger for cravings. Research from the University of Cincinnati has shown that sodium in salt inhibits the body’s stress hormones, meaning that cravings for salty foods could be your body’s attempt to deal with stress. To overcome these cravings, try to avoid the things that cause you stress as much as you can and make relaxation a regular part of your routine. Find a healthier way to deal with stress when it occurs, such as working out, meditating or talking through your problems with a friend.

Kill your cravings, tip 8: Change your habits

According to research results published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, your environment can be a powerful trigger for food cravings. Maybe you associate going to the cinema with eating popcorn, for example, or watching your favourite TV show makes you reach for a snack. To banish habit-formed cravings, try to avoid the environments that trigger them. Take up a hobby that reduces your TV time, or walk a different route to work so as not to pass by your favourite coffee shop. By avoiding certain places or activities, you can help to kill those cravings.

Kill your cravings, tip 9: Start your day with a treat

While it may sound counterproductive, if your cravings are really getting on top of you, breakfast could be the perfect time to indulge.  Researchers from Tel Aviv University found that participants who ate a 600-calorie breakfast which included dessert lost an average of 40lbs more than those who had a smaller 300-calorie one. This is thought to be because the metabolism is more efficient in the morning, and also because giving into cravings first thing can help to banish them for the rest of the day.

Kill your cravings, tip 10: Get enough sleep

Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that not getting enough sleep affects our appetite-regulating hormones, meaning that we feel hungrier the next day and are also more likely to crave calorie-rich, high-carbohydrate foods. Not only that, lack of sleep decreases willpower, meaning that you are less likely to resist those cravings. To help reduce your cravings, make sure you get a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night.

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/10-ways-to-kill-your-cravings/#pagination-top
 

5 food cravings conquered

What your cravings really mean and how to overcome them

We all crave ‘bad’ foods from time to time, but your cravings could signal more than you think. Check out these hidden meanings behind five common food cravings and find out how you can overcome them.

What you crave: Chocolate

What you need: Magnesium

Chocolate is one of the world’s most commonly craved foods and, while you may feel as though you are addicted to the sweet treat, it is believed that what many of us are craving when we are hankering after some chocolate is in fact the mineral magnesium.

Healthy food swaps: Dark chocolate, nuts and seeds, medjool dates

To help ease chocolate cravings, make sure that you are getting enough magnesium in your daily diet through healthy sources such as nuts, seeds and pulses. Also, when those chocolate cravings strike, try switching to 85 per cent dark chocolate. Although chocolate can be high in fat, dark chocolate also has plenty of health benefits due to its abundance of antioxidants. Some of the reported health benefits include its ability to slow down muscle ageing, fight disease, prevent wrinkles, boost brain health and prevent heart disease. If dark chocolate doesn’t hit the spot, try snacking on medjool dates, which are rich in magnesium and a natural solution to sugar cravings.

What you crave: Pasta and bread

What you need: Serotonin

Research has found that eating carbohydrates stimulates the brain’s production of serotonin – the happy hormone. This may be why many of us crave stodgy ‘comfort’ foods such as pasta and bread when we are feeling blue.

Healthy food swaps: Sweet potatoes, lentils, beans

To get a healthy fix of carbs (minus the blood sugar crashes and energy slumps) opt for nutritious and low GI carbohydrates which will release a steady supply of energy and keep you feeling full for longer. Good sources of complex carbohydrates include beans, lentils, oats and sweet potatoes. As well as switching your carbohydrate sources, you can also reduce cravings by boosting your serotonin levels through exercise and mood-boosting activities. Try using uplifting essential oils such as neroli and lemon which also stimulate the production of serotonin in the brain.

What you crave: Sugar

What you need: Chromium

We are all tempted by sugary treats and desserts from time to time. However, if you find yourself experiencing regular, intense cravings for sugar, this could be a symptom of low levels of the mineral chromium in your diet.

Healthy swap: Grape juice, whole grains, apples

To maintain normal blood sugar levels throughout the day and keep those cravings at bay, try to snack on foods rich in the mineral chromium. Apples and whole grains are good sources of chromium and can also provide healthier solutions to sugar cravings. Snack on apple slices or porridge sweetened with honey or dried fruit next time you are tempted to indulge. Try also replacing your sugary carbonated drink with a glass of antioxidant-rich grape juice, which is also a great source of chromium.

What you crave: Burgers

What you need: Iron

Craving burgers, sausages or steak? Intense and frequent cravings for red meat could be a sign that you are deficient in iron – an essential mineral which is required for the production of healthy red blood cells.

Healthy swap: Lean meat, fish, pulses, nuts

Unless you are opposed to eating meat for ethical reasons, craving meat is not necessarily a bad thing, so long as you make healthy choices. Rather than filling up on highly processed and fatty sources of meat such as burgers, opt for quality lean meat such as chicken or turkey. Alternatively, oily fish is a good source of iron and contains many other health-boosting nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. For those who wish to refrain from eating meat, vegan sources of iron such as beans, lentils and nuts can help to ease your cravings.

What you crave: Salty snacks

What you need: To relax

You may think that your cravings for savory snacks are simply based on how good they taste, but research suggests your salt cravings could in fact be a symptom of stress. Research from the University of Cincinnati has shown that the sodium in salt blunts the body's natural responses to stress by inhibiting stress hormones, meaning that your cravings for salty foods could be your body’s attempt to deal with stress.

Healthy swap: Popcorn, baked potato, edamame beans

The best way to overcome stress-induced salt cravings is of course to find a healthier way to deal with stress. Experiment with different relaxation techniques, such as exercise, meditation or aromatherapy, to find one that works for you. If you are still craving salty snacks, opt for those rich in nutrients and low in fat (such as lightly salted popcorn) for a healthier option. As potassium can help to reduce the harmful effects of sodium on blood pressure and the heart, choose foods which are rich in potassium too, such as salted edamame beans or a lightly seasoned baked potato.
http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/5-food-cravings-conquered/

A to Z of home exercise equipment

What home exercise equipment to buy

Not everyone enjoys outdoor activities, communal workouts at the gym or exercise classes but that doesn’t mean that the door is closed to you for all the health and fitness benefits that exercise brings. Exercising at home can be very rewarding and there is a vast range of home exercise equipment available, from fitness club standard multi-gyms, to much more basic, yet functional kit.

We’ve taken the sweat out of choosing home exercise equipment and given you the low-down on functional products that’ll improve your fitness but won’t worry your bank manager. If you like to workout far from the madding crowds in a more private environment, then this article is for you and includes advice on:

• What to look for when shopping for home exercise equipment
• Best buys — what exercise equipment is hot and what’s not
• realbuzz.com ratings for a vast range of equipment

 Home exercise equipment — what to look out for

When choosing home exercise equipment, there are several points to consider before you buy:
Durability of exercise equipment. By definition, anything that you are going to exercise on or with is going to take some wear and tear, so before you buy, consider how frequently you intend to use the equipment (for example, daily, weekly or less frequently) and whether it will withstand your usage.
Size of exercise equipment. There are many extremely effective items of training equipment that you can easily use at home, such as dumbbells and exercise mats but items such as treadmills, bikes, rebounders etc. take up space which you may not have available. That ‘all singing and dancing’ multi-gym that looks great in the department store will need a dedicated room and even a rowing machine typically needs substantial space.
Suitability for your exercise purpose. The home exercise market is huge with a wide range of manufacturers producing equipment. Many items are extremely functional, but there is also a ‘fad and gadget’ market producing kit that purports to bring amazing benefits yet fails to deliver. Beware of wild claims from exercise equipment sellers and consult the following table before you buy.

The realbuzz.com home exercise equipment A to Z

Get to your nearest department store and you’ll be faced with a wide choice of exercise equipment. However, before you buy, consult the A to Z guide below in conjunction with our ‘best buys’ and you’ll ensure that you not only get good value for money — you’ll get good quality exercise too. The realbuzz.com rating is evaluated with respect to the following criteria:

• Effectiveness (training benefits)
• Ease of use
• Durability of exercise equipment
• Size (for home use)
• Value for money 

The realbuzz.com product test system
 Every realbuzz.com product test is carried out by our team of specialists from the relevant field, who comprehensively assess each product across a range of categories, assigning a star rating from nil to five stars for every category under review.

Entirely unsuitable
Poor
Below average
Average
Good
Excellent

Key:
RT = Resistance Training
FT = Flexibility Training

Equipment	Description	Cost (£)	CV Training	RT	FT
Abdominal cradle	A tubular frame to help exercise stomach and oblique muscles.	15-30
Rating for abdominal cradle:
Cross-trainer	A machine with a unique non-impact action for CV training.	50-3,000
Rating for cross-trainer:
Exercise mat BEST BUY!	A wipe clean padded mat to carry out exercises on.	5-20
Rating for exercise mat:
Home dumbbell set BEST BUY!	A small, lightweight set, typically comprising three to five pairs of weights.	10-20
Rating for dumbbell set:

Equipment	Description	Cost (£)	CV Training	RT	FT
Mini stepper	Micro version of a stepping machine, usually portable.	25-30
Rating for mini stepper:
Multi-gym	A large, multi-function piece of resistance training equipment.	150-5,000
Rating for multi-gym:
Pedometer	Not strictly a piece if exercise equipment, monitors how many steps you take per day.	4-15
Rating for pedometer:
Rebounder	A mini trampoline for CV exercising.	20-40
Rating for rebounder: Key: RT = Resistance Training FT = Flexibility Training Equipment Description Cost (£) CV Training RT FT Resistance bands Elastic ropes of varying strengths for resistance training. 5-15     Rating for resistance bands: Rower An indoor machine that replicates the rowing action. 50-1,000   Rating for rower: Skipping rope BEST BUY! A simple item, providing an excellent CV workout, also helping coordination. 5 (max)     Rating for skipping rope: Stability ball BEST BUY! A large inflatable ball to train core muscles and do a wide variety of exercises with. 10-20   Rating for stability ball: Equipment Description Cost (£) CV Training RT FT Stationary bicycle Indoor cycling 50-3,000   Rating for stationary bicycle: Step An adjustable height plastic step for carrying out aerobic exercises on. 10-40     Rating for step: Toning belts An abdominal belt which electronically stimulates muscles to tone up. 30-100     Rating for toning belts: Treadmill A rolling road (usually motorized) for walking, jogging or running. 80-5,000     Rating for treadmill: Home exercise training Whilst it’s very easy to spend many hundreds or even thousands on home exercise equipment, a far more modest outlay can give equal and frequently greater training benefits. If you’re looking to splash out on some items for exercising at home, £30 to £70 will provide you with everything you need to get started and enjoy comprehensive, total body training sessions, covering CV, flexibility, resistance training for toning and coordination. Some basic dumbbells, an exercise mat, stability ball and skipping rope provide a cheap, simple ‘home gym’, on which you can always expand at a later date. It doesn’t have to be hell to be healthy and it needn’t cost a fortune either. Choose your equipment with care and you’ll have all the ingredients to construct a balanced, all-over-body training program — and all in your own lounge, spare room or garage. http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/a-to-z-of-home-exercise-equipment/#pagination-top