Natural At-Home Remedies for Cellulite

Many women today fall into the pitfalls of purchasing products involving expensive regimes to remedy cellulite. Happily, many of the ingredients in the most effective treatments can be found right in your own pantry and can be used weekly at home to combat cellulite in a natural way.

Cellulite is the appearance of fat cells under the skin. Improving circulation will help break away the fatty cells from the dermis layer and absorb them back into the body. These ten natural remedies will help you remove toxins and combat cellulite with little effort.

1. A simple daily regime of vigorously massaging the cellulite-apparent areas with a wash cloth or loufah during showering will help combat poor circulation.

2. Since caffeine has the ability to constrict blood vessels, a quick and easy remedy is to take a cup of coffee grounds into the shower, rub them onto the skin in areas of cellulite, and then rinse away. The effect is enhanced if done in a warm shower followed by a rinse in cooler water. The warm water will expand the pores, allowing greater penetration of the caffeine, while the cooler water shrinks and closes the pores, aiding in the appearance of smoother skin.

3. Dead Sea Salts, while not necessarily on the shelf of every home pantry, are readily available and will increase metabolism of fat cells under the skin when massaged in during a warm shower.

4. Daily application of aloe vera to cellulite improves microcirculation of the skin and increases skin cell regeneration.

5. Crushed green tea leaves and ginko biloba, when applied to the areas of concern, are effective in removing toxins from the skin and reducing the appearance of cellulite.

6. Dry brushing your skin twice a day will strengthen the collagen pattern below the skin while at the same time promoting cell regeneration and removing toxins.

7. Regular exercise improves circulation and reduces the appearance of cellulite by combating the fatty deposits in your body. Exercise also builds muscle around cellulite which results in the stretching and smoothing of the skin.

8. Every doctor will tell you to break the habit of crossing your legs to improve circulation. This change in behavior also reduces the swelling of hydrating tissues under the skin that can be responsible for making cellulite more visible.

9. Dietary recommendations for reduction of cellulite include green tea for antioxidant and cellular repair properties, cider vinegar to promote pH and fluid balance in the body, and ginkgo biloba, a natural blood thinner, to increase circulation to the skin cell tissues.

10. Coconut oil can also be added to the diet to stimulate the thyroid and increase the metabolism of fatty cells which are instrumental in the appearance of cellulite.

These 10 simple tips are all-natural, can be found at home, and will save you money from buying expensive regimes to help smooth your skin. Implementing the above organic living choices will get you moving in the right direction to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Water Pollution

Environmental awareness has lead society to understand that population growth and industrialization dramatically impact our planet Earth. Pollution of our air and water are the result of our own technological advances, starting with the industrial revolution and the burning of vast quantities of fossil fuels. The products of industry themselves lead to greater pollution by finding resting places in our lakes, rivers, and oceans. There are many forms of pollution, however, this article will focus on water pollution. Future articles will cover other forms, such as air, noise, soil, and radioactive pollution.

Water pollution is a human-induced occurrence that negatively impacts groundwater and surface water bodies such as streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Although life on Earth would not exist without clean water, we disregard its importance and continue polluting. The Earth’s surface is covered by more than 70% water with over 95% of all freshwater trapped underground as groundwater. The geologic formations that contain useable groundwater, called aquifers, are relied upon by 53% of the Earth’s population for drinking water.

Approximately 14,000 people die every day because of waterborne diseases, primarily from untreated sewage in third-world countries, and at least 40% of the surface water bodies in the United States are too polluted to use for recreational activities such as swimming or fishing. It is estimated that 1.5 billion people do not have a safe drinking water source and almost two-thirds of the world could experience water shortages by 2025.

A water quality inventory taken in 1994 indicated the top 3 sources of water pollution fall in the categories of agriculture, municipal point sources, and urban runoff.

Top water pollution sources includes:

1. Agriculture
2. Municipal point sources
3. Urban runoff
4. Marine dumping
5. Radioactive waste
6. Oil spills
7. Leaking underground storage tanks
8. Eutrophication (algal blooms choking off surface water eco-systems)

Water pollution can have serious health impacts on both humans and aquatic life. A short list of potential health effects includes:

1. Microbial pollutants from wastewater – Ingestion of bacteria such as fecal coliform can lead to infectious diseases.

2. Heavy metals - Marine life can build up metals in their bodies and die or seriously affect those who eat them. Ingestion of heavy metals can lead to birth defects, cancer, or slow development.

3. Industrial waste toxins – Variable toxins have effects that range from mild to fatal. End results can be reproductive failure, poisoning, or immune suppression.

4. High nitrates – Ingestion of high nitrate concentrations in drinking water can lead to “blue-baby” syndrome, a blood disorder in babies under six months of age called methemoglobinemia that can lead to death.

While the deteriorating nature of our water sources may seem bleak, the United States has made great advances in the past three decades to curtail water pollution. The greatest advancement came in 1972 with the passing of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments, which became known as the Clean Water Act in 1977. The basic framework for regulating contaminant discharges, and working towards clean water, was laid down. While rules and regulations help with the enforcement of industrial pollution, there are things each of us can do personally to help curtail water quality impacts.

What can you do to help protect water quality in your area?

1. Conserve water – Less water used means less water to treat.

2. Watch what you pour down the drain - Don’t dispose of oil, paint, or other weird substance down the sink or toilet.

3. Environmentally-friendly products – Find alternatives for common products such as detergents, cleaners, and toiletries.

4. Pesticides and fertilizers – Do not overuse, make sure you follow the label, and properly store all pesticides and fertilizers. Garden organically whenever possible!

5. Litter – Don’t throw litter into any water body! Always clean up litter when you have the chance to do so safely.

6. Be heard! – Let your legislators know your opinions regarding water pollution laws and protection, especially with the rapid, present-day increase of urbanization. Also, make sure to report polluters to the appropriate agencies.

Global Warming Basics

The increase in the Earth’s air and ocean temperature, called global warming, is caused by the trapping and collection of carbon dioxide (CO2) and pollution in the atmosphere. This collection traps the sun’s heat and warms up the planet. The average temperature has increased at the fastest rate in history over the last 50 years, with the 10 hottest years in history occurring since 1990. By 2100, global temperatures will be anywhere from 3 to 9 degrees higher if action is not taken.

Sources of global warming are generally human induced and include:

1) Power plants, particularly coal-burning
2) Automobiles
3) Airplanes
4) Buildings
5) Methane
6) Nitrous oxide
7) Deforestation
8) Permafrost and tundra

Two interesting sources above are permafrost and tundra, which were previous carbon sinks that have now become carbon emitters. CO2 is released from the frozen permafrost and tundra as they melt from global warming itself!

Are bad things going to happen if global warming continues? Are they happening already? Is this really a serious concern? The simple answer to all those questions is… yes.

Here are some impacts from global warming that have already occurred:

1. Wildfires - Colorado, Arizona and Oregon have worst fire seasons ever in 2002
2. Drought - Montana, Colorado and Kansas have worst droughts ever in 2002
3. Floods - Texas, Montana and North Dakota experience some of the worst floods ever
4. Snow accumulation – Cascade Range has had a 60% decline in snow since the 1950s
5. Heat waves – Europe and India have heat waves that result in more than 20,000 deaths in 2003
6. Ice melting – The Arctic’s ice cap is experiencing a 9% declining rate of growth each decade
7. Hurricanes – Hurricanes have greatly increased in power and size over the last 35 years. The category 5 hurricane that hit New Orleans in 2005, Hurricane Katrina, may have increased in size due to higher sea temperatures from global warming.

Additional consequences if global warming is not curtailed include:

-Melting glaciers
-Rising sea levels leading to coastal flooding
-Warmer ocean temperatures and more intense hurricanes
-New pests and more insect-borne diseases
-Disruption of habitats leading to species extinction

The United States is the largest contributor to the global warming problem. With only 4% of the world’s population, the United States produces 25% of the total CO2 through coal and other fossil fuel burning plants. China, India, and Japan combined produce less than the U.S. The outlook is not so grim, as the technologies and solutions exist today to help curtail global warming. The United States can lead the charge to make cleaner running cars and cleaner power plants. You as an individual can reduce your carbon footprint and increase carbon offsets to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions too.

What can you do to help reduce global warming?

1. Learn and educate – Read as much as you can about climate change, pollution, and the greenhouse effect. Join a group to help promote the protection of our planet and educate others.

2. Automobiles – Sell your gas-guzzler and buy a more environmentally friendly vehicle. Reduce your driving through carpooling or public transportation.

3. Energy efficiency - Use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs. Check your windows and home insulation for efficiency. Investigate alternative renewable energy sources, like solar power and windmills.

4. Environmentally-friendly products – Find alternatives for common household items and purchase products made from recycled materials or created with renewable energy.

5. Be heard! – Let your legislators know you want them to develop an energy policy that moves away from fossil fuels. Contact corporations, such as the car-makers and fuel companies, and let them know you want them to produce safe, ecological products.

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