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Why Celebrity Diets Don't Work For Non-Celebrities

The problem of obesity and being overweight afflicts millions of people around the world. No wonder, the preparation and marketing of diet and fitness programs have become a billion-dollar industry. But perhaps there is no other group of people that is more concerned about weight loss than those in the entertainment industry. In a job where a few extra pounds can cause an actor to lose a movie role, the use of weight loss programs and other fitness fads has become a necessity. In fact, being on a diet is already a given for actors in Hollywood.

For her role in the movie, Tomb Raider, Angelina Jolie went on a diet of steamed meat, vegetables and soya milk. She revealed that prior to making the movie, she did not normally eat breakfast but just smoked cigarettes and drank a lot of coffee. Jolie also said that she stopped using sugar on any of the food she consumed.

Madonna, on the other hand, has kept her figure by engaging regularly in yoga and by following a macrobiotic diet that consisted of whole grains, beans, vegetables, and all-natural sweeteners such as rice syrup, barley malt, and maple syrup.

Jessica Alba, the famous star from the t.v. series, Dark Angel, may be the earliest dieter in Hollywood. Starting when she was 12 years old, Jessica Alba says that her breakfast consisted only of egg whites and fruits. She added that she usually ate salad for lunch and vegetables or chicken for dinner.

Unlike her fellow female artists, Jennifer Lopez eats a lot of junk food when she is not doing any movie or if she is not preparing for a music video.

These artists get paid millions of dollars each year not only for their skills and talents in singing or acting. They also earn mega-bucks for product endorsements, magazine pictorials, and other business deals that involve the use of their pictures or images. The hair, face, and body of a Hollywood superstar are all quite literally the tools of the trade, or more appropriately, their investments. The better they look physically, the more movie or recording contracts they usually get. Of course, a little scandal here and the latest buzz there helps put them in showbiz headlines, too.

But for the most part, their physical image is the commodity that is bought by an eager public that follows their every movie or song. Some fans even copy their movie idols hairstyle or way of dressing. That is why it should be no surprise why the icons of Hollywood spend large sums of money to look good via natural means such as exercise, or through artificial methods such as botox injections and face lifts.

A lot of attention has been put into the so-called “celebrity diets” not only because these are supposed to be the “secrets” followed by the movie and music stars who are now in great physical shape. These diets have also been getting attention because not all of these diets are effective. The “Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet” and other celebrity diets are usually low in carbohydrates and calories. Some are just simple methods to lose “body water” and do not really promote health and fitness. Still, many people buy into these “miracle programs” because they somehow believe that they can achieve the same results.

But there are marked differences between how everyday people like you and me go on a diet compared to how the celebrities do it. There are also reasons why some of these celebrity diets do not work as well when used by non-celebrities.

Celebrities have incentives to lose weight since their careers and their million-dollar contracts depend a great deal on their physical appearance, or at least, according to how Hollywood defines physical beauty. Regular people do not have the same budget for a fitness or diet program. Quite obviously, regular people are not paid a single cent to lose weight --- maybe except for those people who join weight reduction contests on television.

Celebrities often spend thousands of dollars to hire their own personal trainer, personal chef, nutritionist, and other support staff. These support staff monitor and motivate the celebrities to follow their fitness routines and diet plan. Regular people usually workout on their own or just receive a few instructions during the first few days at the gym.

So then, what can non-celebrities do to lose those extra pounds?

One good alternative is to visit a doctor and ask for information about the use of a weight loss pill. Aside from doing regular exercise and cutting down on fat and sugar, a serious weight watcher can get a prescription for a weight loss pill that helps reduce the absorption of fat in the intestines. Whenever we eat food with large amounts of fat or sugar, these are absorbed by the body through the intestines. People with irregular schedules or no exercise at all tend to retain the fat and sugars in their bodies. Having no opportunity to shed the excess fat, these people eventually gain weight by having no control over the amount and content of food they consume.

A weight loss pill is usually taken after every meal and, thus, is very convenient to use. A common ingredient found in a weight loss diet pill is called Orlistat. Orlistat is usually sold under the brand name Xenical. Other preparations that offer the same effect are available in the market. However, the best weight loss pill is really a person's motivation. No fitness fad or rapid weight loss pill will work if a weight watcher is not motivated enough to exercise daily and not disciplined enough follow a sensible eating plan.

Indeed, not everybody was born to become a Hollywood superstar. But everyone can manage how and what they eat. Not all people have the opportunity to have a seven-figure salary or become famous around the world. But everyone can set aside time to exercise and keep one's self fit. By keeping fit, we all can be stars in terms of our health.

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What's In Your Personal Care Items

There are already numerous articles written on the hazards of chemicals in personal care products. Even Senator Edward Kennedy has written several letters to Congress regarding the health risks associated with using cosmetics that contain cancer-causing ingredients.

Personal care products that have been taught to be beneficial to you may be the very ones that may contain chemicals that is posing a serious threat to you and your family's health.

Believe it. Personal care products like soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and make-up usually contain cheap, synthetic chemicals and ingredients that are suspiciously harmful. . There are in fact more than 125 ingredients used on the skin suspected of causing cancer. 20 cause adverse nervous system reactions. And 25 are connected to birth defects. What you put on your skin penetrates and can enter your body.

Here are some things that the labels do not tell you about personal care products.

Fragrances. Just because it smells good doesn't mean it is. Oftentimes, the first things a consumer does when trying a personal care product is to smell it. If the product smells good the consumer is much more likely to want the product.

Oftentimes also, the label on the product gives the illusion that the scent is natural. A picture used in the product will lead to the conclusion that it must have come from that source.

More often than not, this is simply not the case. Most fragrances are of synthetic origin. Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients; many are toxic chemicals that cause or contribute to cancer. Manufacturers are not required to disclose the individual ingredients as they are considered trade secrets of their personal care products.

Reported symptoms are headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation shows that the chemicals on the fragrances of these beauty products can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.

It is therefore understandable why some countries have declared many scented products to be hazardous to public health. And have even gone to the extreme of banning the wearing of all cosmetic fragrances in most indoor public places.

Color Pigments. As with smell, looks can also be deceiving. Just because it looks pretty doesn't mean it is.

Color pigments are used to make the product look attractive. It does not really serve any beneficial purpose for any part of the body. Color pigments found in personal care products are made from synthetic and chemical ingredients such as coal tar. They also contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). You will find these ingredients in almost all cleansers that foam. These chemicals are even used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers.

Research indicates that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate causes inflammation of the skin and can weaken the immune system. Young eyes will not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. Be alert about these chemicals especially on baby shampoos.

Triclosan. The EPA registers Triclosan as a pesticide and is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Triclosan is so toxic it is measured in parts per trillion. These chemicals are the same ones used on personal care products as they are known for their antibacterial ingredient. Most often found in soaps and toothpastes.

How to show how harmful these chemicals are; one drop of Triclosan in 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools can cause hormonal disruption.

Mineral Oil. A petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic and clogs the pores. It interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins thus promoting acne and other disorders. It slows down skin function and cell development.

Where can you find mineral oil in its largest portion? Baby Oil. Note that Baby Oil is 100% mineral oil.

Contrary to what people believe, it is possible to create personal care products without the use of any harmful chemicals. The answers and solutions are found in nature. All it takes is study, research and a sincere desire to meet the health needs of consumers equally with profit needs.

Consider very carefully the health risks associated with exposing yourself to harmful chemicals and make it your resolve to no longer buy questionable personal care products from companies that have little regard for your health.

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Wonder Products For The Skin

There will come a time when you will be tired of those creams, those astringents and those drugs that claim to “make you look younger”. In your attempt to scratch some years off your skin, the frantic search for the perfect drug become harder. Advertising is everywhere; new products emerge almost every day. Even word-of-mouth is difficult to handle. What you don’t know is that the secrets to young-looking skin can be found at the comfort of a very familiar place: your home.

HONEY

Honey consists two kinds of sugars: fructose and glucose. Moreover, it also contains minerals like magnesium, calcium, sodium chlorine, phosphate, iron and sulphur. The vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and C are also found in honey. Taking honey in like your everyday multi-vitamin is heavily encouraged.

Honey is the oldest sweetener known to man. It is a good substitute for sugar in your food and beverages. Honey has also a good reputation in the medical field for treating certain diseases. In the Middle East, it is used to treat burns in the skin. Since these areas are mostly war-torn and hot, water is heavily scarce, if not contaminated.

Honey is known for its anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. Also , it works as a good moisturizer both for the skin and the hair. This is because honey has the ability to attract water. It is cheap and safe for sensitive skin. Apply honey to your face after washing it with water then wash the honey off with a mild facial wash. If you want to use it for your hair, apply honey to your hair like the way you apply conditioner then wash it off with a mild shampoo.

It is important that you wash it off properly because first, it might smell and second, you might attract ants to your face/ hair. And that’s really weird. Honey can also be used as a good body scrub if you mix it with sugar. The moisturizing and exfoliating effects are divine.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was reported having used vinegar and vinegar mixed with honey as an energizing tonic and a healing elixir. People suspected it was apple cider vinegar. How was apple cider vinegar created in the first place anyway?

Apple cider vinegar is a hundred-percent natural creation. It is a product of the two fermentation processes. First, the fermentation of apple juice to hard apple cider. After that, the second fermentation to apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar contains ALL THE GOODNESS from which the apple is known for. In fact, after the fermentation processes, it is packed with extra enzymes and acids.

Apple cider vinegar is known to smooth sunburns and to heal insect bites. Moreover, it can also be a hair treatment, as it can make the hair shine and treat dandruff. It also cures acne. When using this product to your skin, just apply apple cider vinegar to the area you want to treat evenly. Leave it for 15 minutes then wash it off with a mild facial wash/ shampoo. It also smells a bit, so wash it off the best way that you can.

Whether you take in these products or you apply them to your skin, they can really bring out the youngest skin that you can have. Beauty queens and celebrities all over the world swear by these kitchen wonders.

Quit all the search for the perfect cream because the potions you need are right in the comfort of your own home!

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