If you want to check what sort of shape you’re in, one good way to find out is to determine your Body Mass Index or BMI. Simply relying on weight alone will not give you a sound assessment of your fitness state. You will need to consider your age and height to know if you are in ideal shape or not.

Your Body Mass Index estimates how much you should weigh based on your height and age. It is a fairly reliable indicator of how much fat you have in your body. Although BMI is not a direct measure of actual body fat, it is considered the best alternative to determine if your weight is healthy for your height. It doesn’t cost you a thing except probably a few minutes of your time and it’s quite easy to perform as well.

You simply need to get your height measurement and know how much you weigh. Enter your data into the specified fields of the BMI calculator, and with the click of a button – Presto! You’ve got your Body Mass Index.

The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults 20 to 65 years old are shown in the following table.

Please remember though that this information serves only as a guide and is aimed at healthy adults. Children, teens and older people have other factors to consider besides height and weight.

Also, for certain people who have more than average muscles in their body like athletes do, the resulting BMI might be higher than normal. BMI can even fall within the overweight category when in fact athletes and exercise buffs have healthy body shape and very little fat. This is so because muscles tend to weigh more than fat.

It helps a lot to keep your BMI below 25 but keep in mind that BMI alone cannot predict health risks nor can it assure you that you’re in the best of shape. Whatever your results are, the most important thing to remember is that eating a healthy and balanced diet, getting the right supplements and keeping physically active are the all-essentials to keeping your health at its prime.  Take all those into consideration together with your BMI and work your way to bringing your body to its best shape.

There’s no need to debate the fact that weight loss is much easier to attain with nutrition and exercise than just by nutrition alone. That’s the reason why so many exercise and work out videos as well as home gym equipment are flooding the internet.

The National Institute of Health (NHI) recommends that the average adult should get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each day, plus 2 to 3 sessions of more intense workout routines per week. It is vital to stick to an effective fitness plan. So it is recommended that these basic exercise tips be followed: set fitness targets, track workout progress, inject variety intoyour routine, exercise with a buddy, don’t rush things, wear comfortable clothing, and listen to what your body is telling you to avoid injury.

It takes a reasonable amount of will-power to stick to an exercise regimen. If you find it difficult to add exercise to your routine, there are a number of effective ways to get motivated. If you easily get tired of doing anything routine, add a twist to exercising by inviting family and friends. Walk the dog together with your partner or a friend or take an after dinner stroll around the neighborhood or local park with the kids or a next-door neighbor. Incorporate fun exercise or outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking or cycling. That way, exercise will seem to be more of a reward than a chore. And since outdoor exercise is always enjoyable, you are actually leading by example and teaching your kids to embrace exercise as a healthy and essential part of life.

Our children are growing up in a world that’s quite different from what we had – they spend more time in front of the computer or TV than anywhere else. Obesity among the youth is on a rise, but you can avoid that with your kids by getting them actively involved in their individual interests. If your child loves to read, walk together to the library or a nearby bookstore to pick out some books. If they show interest in art, go biking together to look for sticks, leaves, dried flowers or stones they can use for home projects. If they take interest in a particular sport, encourage them to undergo training or take part in organizing a team. Keeping them active is not only healthy – it’s also a great way to keep them out of trouble which may be caused by boredom. And they tend to grow into more responsible adults when they learn discipline and commitment early in life.

To get each member of the family involved, pick a time of the day when everyone is free. Most likely, that will be just before or after supper, and I’m almost sure that everyone spends this time watching television. Statistics show that the average person spends at least 2 hours a day in front of a TV. You can cut that by half by taking a brisk walk or playing a game of badminton just before supper. Thirty minutes to an hour of this 3 times a week provides much needed exercise. The body’s metabolism slows down by an average of 10% a decade, which explains why people tend to gain weight easily as they grow older. Weight gain at mid-life is inevitable, which makes weight-bearing exercise all the more necessary for ideal weight maintenance.

For those other times when it’s just not possible to get a workout, remain faithful to your weight loss plan by doing some adjustments to your diet. Get more fibre, fruits and vegetables – they’re good for you and don’t make you fat. Better still, give your body a great kick-start by getting into a cleansing or detox habit to maximize your weight loss efforts. A good detox elevates your body to its optimum level so you get efficient nutritional absorption and the added energy boost.

The Clean 9 Nutritional Cleansing Program is a 9-day detox designed to kick-off your weight loss or weight maintenance mission. The program includes a combination of cleansing and nutritional products carefully selected to provide your body with the essentials as it gets rid of harmful toxins that slow down the metabolic process. It also includes carefully selected meal plans, an exercise plan plus added support tools to complete a holistic weight loss program. Start off with a Clean 9 Nutritional Detox to maximize weight loss efforts and maintain a long-lasting healthy lifestyle.

Type the phrase “how to lose weight” into the search engines and you’ll get approximately 84,800,000 results. Most weight loss products and programs advertised on the web get the top search results more from clever web marketing strategies rather than from their true worth as effective weight loss diets.

So what is an effective way to really shed those pounds? We would need to burn 3500 calories to lose one pound of body weight. So if you cut your calorie intake by 500 a day, you would lose approximately one pound per week. That means giving up the equivalent of a hundred grams of mayonnaise or a small piece of smoked sausage per day. Or you may choose to stick with your current diet and opt for physical activity to burn those calories instead. In that case you’ll need to do 6 hours of knitting or typing, or about 3 hours of moderate housework to lose this much in a day. If you wish to do some exercise, 40 minutes of stationary cycling or power hiking should do the job.

Shedding those pounds naturally is of course the more desirable way. No matter how many diets are touted, a permanent weight loss solution will only work by changing some things in our diets, and taking part in regular physical exercise.

Certain natural ingredients such as Garcinia and Aloe Vera contain ingredients that can actually stimulate weight loss by inhibiting the conversion of carbohydrates into stored fat and regulating bowel functions to enhance toxin elimination. Nutrient components such as lecithin also help to burn stored fat. So having these ingredients in your diet can help you to lose weight effectively. Scientific research and procedures have incorporated these natural weight loss ingredients into products that have been specially selected for The Clean 9 Nutritional Cleansing Program, a unique detox and weight loss system that promotes healthy weight reduction practices.

The Clean 9 Program focuses on sensible calorie counting combined with exercise for effective weight loss. Starting with Garcinia, a natural appetite suppressant, in combination with Aloe Vera Gel and Bee Pollen, Clean 9 helps to reduce calorie intake while maintaining a healthy balance of nutrients in the body. Aloe Vera also promotes the flushing out of harmful toxins giving you the feeling of total wellness as you lose weight!

All the essential proteins and carbohydrates are provided in Forever Lite complete meal replacements and Bee Pollen, known to be the one single product that contains all the essentials of a complete, well-balanced meal. Bee pollen also contains loads of Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C and lecithin – which is vital to the fat burning process.

The Clean 9 Pack comes with a complete 9 day program guide; a comprehensive 9 day meal planner; a detailed exercise plan; a chart to monitor your progress; and a journal to record important notes during your Clean 9 weight loss experience. An unconditional 60-Day Money Back Guarantee comes with the pack, backed by an international distribution company with a proud and solid record in the health and wellness profession. The Clean 9 Program is an holistic 9-day start up pack that is properly supported by optimum nutrition and the support tools during your weight loss process.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a mere 5 to 10 percent weight reduction can result in life-saving health benefits. Overweight people can significantly reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels when they start a healthy weight loss program. Weight loss also brings substantial enhancement to general well-being, most notable of which are better mobility, higher energy and mood levels, and increased self confidence.

Walking is one easy way to begin your efforts at weight loss. Getting into a regular walking routine boosts your metabolism to help you burn more calories; it also tones up your muscles and strengthens the bones and joints. What’s nice about walking is that it can also be a social activity and requires no special training. Simply hook up with a group or a walking buddy and steer your way to better health. Here are some helpful reminders to get the most out of walking:

1. INVEST IN GOOD FOOTWEAR. You will be using it regularly so it pays to get a good, durable brand of walking shoes. People at a sports store can assist you in finding the right type of shoes for your feet and stride. Walking shoes are good up to 300 miles of use, so replace them when the treads are worn, just as you would your car tires.

2. DO SOME STRETCHING BEFORE AND AFTER WALKING. Perk up those muscles prior to walking to keep them flexible and avoid cramping.

3. PUT A PRIORITY ON SAFETY. When you walk, select a safe and secure location. The park or a sports complex are the best choices. In case there aren’t any nearby, walk facing oncoming traffic if you have to use the streets. Choose well-lit routes and walk with someone if possible.

4. DON’T LET THE WEATHER GET IN THE WAY. Unless it’s stormy, don’t let the cold weather keep you from taking your regular walks. Bundle up with a few layers and wear a hat and gloves. You will definitely feel better for the exercise during the colder months.

5. WALK AT LEAST 3 TIMES PER WEEK. Consistency is key to effective workouts, so get out and walk every other day. Then go daily – walking is a low-intensity workout, so it safe to do it everyday.

6. WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES. Avoid clothing material that sticks to the body. Choose the more absorbent ones that cool you off as you sweat or prevent moisture from cooling you down during your winter walks.

7. SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS. As with all other challenges you undertake, you can motivate yourself better and enhance your performance by setting realistic goals. Identify your targeted time, weight or distance, and when you achieve this, reward yourself. It really does help to make it fun and more worthwhile.

8. USE THE 10% RULE WHEN INCREASING DURATION. Over time, You may want to walk even longer than when you started. To be safe, add no more than 10% of walk time to your routine at a time.

9. UPGRADE TO HILLS AND OTHER CHALLENGES. When you’ve built up on resistance and strength, try some uphill routes to burn more calories. They’re also quite effective in strength training and muscle toning.

10. TUNE UP YOUR BODY. Optimize your total wellness by giving your body a detox twice a year. Cleanse your system of harmful toxins so you get an added energy boost and better immunity. Detoxing also eradicates food cravings and encourages functional balance in the body. The Clean 9 Program is a convenient 9-day detox regimen that cleanses and regulates internal body processes so it can function at its best. Just as cars need regular servicing and computers need scheduled disk cleanups, it is also important to do maintenance work on your body so it is always at its finest.

You’ve probably heard much about the benefits of drinking Aloe Vera Gel. This miracle plant has long been known for its amazing healing and detoxifying properties. It is also quite helpful in normalizing digestive functions and controls blood sugar levels quite effectively. More than anything, aloe vera has been widely used for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal capabilities. Nowadays, it has become a popular health drink to increase the body’s immunity against illness and disease.

So how much aloe vera should one take to get optimum benefits? It really depends on your reasons for taking it. If you don’t have any significant health issues, a small amount consisting of 2 fluid ounces or about 60 ml in the morning should be sufficient. For others who intend to boost their intake for specific reasons, they can take the same amount two to three times a day.

Younger people and the elderly generally need less, while a large person may need more. After drinking it for a little while, you should be the best judge of how much you really need. So it’s best to start out with small amounts and increase your intake gradually, until you arrive at the amount that brings you the benefits you’re looking for.

Aloe Vera comes with a label on the bottle that indicates a serving size of 8 fl oz. Please take note that this amount is indicated for comparative purposes only, so you get an idea of how much of each nutritional component there is in an 8-oz serving. This is not the recommended daily amount.

Since aloe vera is a vegetable juice and not a medicine, it’s safe to try out gradually increasing amounts to determine your personal requirements. As a guideline for general daily maintenance however, here are the suggested portions:

12 years and over: Give the adult dosage (2 oz/60 ml)

6-11 years: Give half the adult dosage (1 oz/30 ml)

3-5 years: Give a quarter of the adult dosage (1/2 oz/15 ml)

1-2 years: Just give a teaspoon at a time

Remember, these are only recommendations based on general guidelines. Most often, size and weight are good indicators, so if you have a larger than average 5 year old, you may increase the dose to 30 ml instead of just 15.

Can I mix aloe vera with other liquid drinks?

Most people take some time to accustom their taste buds to aloe vera. So you can actually take aloe gel with pure fruit juice or honey for improved taste. Or you may opt to take Aloe Berry Nectar which combines aloe gel with the taste of cranberries and apples for natural sweetness. Aloe Vera is also available in peach flavor with the Bits n’ Peaches aloe drink.

When is the best time to drink Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera gel is best taken on an empty stomach. We recommend you take it 10 minutes prior to your meal in the morning or before you retire at night.

When should I feel the benefits of Aloe Vera?

The benefits are actually person-dependent. We really can’t tell you when you will begin to feel the difference. Some may feel the benefits in a week or so, while others need a couple of months to notice some changes in the way they feel. It is really relative to other factors such as the amount of sleep and the level of exercise you get.

That is the reason why our Aloe Vera Gel and other products come with a 60-day money back guarantee. We want to assure your full satisfaction from our products.

With our guarantee, you don’t have to worry about dissatisfaction or wasted purchases. One to two weeks is not enough time to fully experience the benefits of aloe vera. We recommend you try it out for a full 60 days to find out if you want to continue taking Aloe Vera or any other product for your supplementation needs.

Are there any side-effects of using aloe vera?

Yes there are, but mostly good ones! But since aloe vera has detox capabilities, some users feel mild detox symptoms such as nausea or a slight headache, a rumbling tummy or some temporary changes in their bowel movements for 2 to 3 days. A few report minor allergic reactions although these are not dramatic – maybe just a spot or two, but it is important that you are made aware of these possible occurrences.

If you’re not too confident about the results you’re getting, we are here to guide you through so you get optimum results. We have years of experience guiding our clients through their detoxification and healing processes, and we can walk you through your unique experience.

Is it safe to take Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera is a natural vegetable juice, so unlike drugs or medication it is safe. It has been used safely for thousands of years. If you have any particular concerns or questions, please get in touch with us so we can guide you.

How should I store the aloe vera drink?

As with most natural foods, once you’ve opened the bottle, it should be stored in the fridge. Of course, the natural pulp will settle during storage, so shake the bottle before use. (Please note that the ‘use by’ period is found on the lid and the bottling date is on the bottom of the container.)

I’ve been drinking Aloe Vera Gel for 16 years and absolutely love the way it makes me feel. I hope you will enjoy the benefits as I have. Go to our Aloe Vera Drinks page for ordering.

To attain maximum performance, we need to cleanse anything regularly. The car goes through a regular oil change, our wardrobe gets a seasonal overhaul and the house is subject to an annual spring cleaning. So why not cleanse our bodies?

Our bodies are our most valuable assets and our accomplishment level depends on keeping it at its finest condition. The body receives a large dose of physical, chemical and psychological toxins in the air we take in, the food we take and the inevitable stresses that come with daily life. Under a heavy barrage of toxins, the human body reaches toxicity sooner or later. At this point, it can no longer flush out harmful elements on its own and may begin to develop signs of toxicity.

So what do we do with all of these toxins that remain in the system? Your body stores them in your cells, including fat cells and anywhere there’s weakness in your body. Toxins generally get stored in the weaker parts because they don’t repel the toxins as effectively as the healthy parts. Therefore the weaker areas become weaker and eventually become diseased. If this diseased area is left untreated, it may gradually deteriorate more and more into a full-blown ailment which might become difficult to treat.

The telltale symptoms of toxicity include prevalent headaches, unexplained exhaustion, increased sensitivity, decreased resistance to infections, aches and pains especially joint pains, and digestive upsets. These symptoms show up when the body is so overloaded with toxic elements that it is unable to perform its primary functions efficiently.

Toxins are cleansed from the body through its 5 elimination channels – the colon, the kidney, the skin, the lungs, and the lymphatic system. With toxin build-up, the five elimination channels get clogged, slow down, and can no longer push toxins out of your body so effectively.

For the body to cleanse itself of harmful elements, it must undergo a process of detoxification. Fasting is the most common detox process but it can be quite harsh to the body. A much gentler way is to do a cleansing diet that is designed to provide the body with all the essential nutrients as it flushes out the harmful toxins.

Clean 9 comes complete with everything you will need such as a meal planner and exercise guide, and comprehensive literature to walk you through the entire cleansing procedure.

By doing a regular internal cleansing, you encourage your body to be at its best. Optimizing peak performance inside and out is crucial to carrying out our daily responsibilities and our bodies truly deserve a regular spring-cleaning.

So much has changed in the weight loss industry lately, most significant of which is the shift from a strictly exclusive weight loss approach to a more comprehensive weight management system that includes detoxification, nutritional support and lifestyle changes.

A routine used in Asian cultures for generations, detoxification is about resting, cleansing and nourishing the body by flushing out harmful toxins and replacing these with health boosting nutrients to renew its ability to guard against disease and maintain optimum health.

The body has its own natural defense system and detoxification enhances this system by removing acidic deposits that accumulate and cause sluggish digestive functions.

Eliminating these dangerous toxins through detoxification reprograms the body and gives the digestive system the capacity to function more efficiently. The end result is a marked increase in metabolism and weight loss or maintenance is naturally enhanced.

Think of how many artificial substances you consume everyday. A significant percentage of the food you eat comes from a tin can, a bottle, or a vacuum sealed pack purchased from the supermarket. Many of the liquids you take in also come from processed juice concentrates, soda bottles or powdered preparations.

It doesn’t really matter where they come from: through the air you breathe, absorbed through your skin, digested through the foods you eat, or found in the water you drink, they are almost always hazardous to a person’s health.

A full cleansing detox can reverse the process and rid the body of these harmful elements. You won’t believe how great you’ll feel when the energy and nutrients sapped by these toxins are restored to your body.

Detox, detoxing, detoxification, detox diets – anything that relates to the word ‘toxic’ can sound quite intimidating. Medical research has proven however, that regular detoxification is a good health practice. With toxic elements all around us these days, medical experts find it beneficial to undergo internal cleansing once or twice a year. A week or so dedicated solely to a detox diet can reverse the ill effects of unexplained fatigue, skin irritations, allergies or low-grade infections, low pain tolerance, menstrual irregularities in women, delayed metabolism and even mental confusion.

One such comprehensive detox program is The Clean 9 Nutritional Cleansing Program, a complete detox regimen specifically designed to rid the body of unnatural chemicals and toxic deposits in just 9 days. As it detoxifies, Clean 9 subsequently refuels the body with essential nutrition designed to deliver significant energy boosts, cleaner and smoother skin texture, enhanced immunity and protection against illness, improved metabolism and digestion, and increased concentration.

After a thorough evaluation of its program components, Clean 9 is a worthwhile investment that can jump start your pursuit for optimum health and wellness.

Aloe Vera is packed full of the nutrients your body needs – inside and out – to feel GREAT and look AMAZING.

Lots of people are already familiar with the many benefits of using Aloe Vera on the skin – for rashes, cuts, bruises, sunburn and so on. But not so many people know about the health benefits of drinking aloe vera juice.

Firstly, aloe vera juice is completely safe and it’s very versatile. It’s actually called an “adaptogen” because it literally adapts to the body’s needs. Many of the benefits of drinking aloe vera juice stem from the fact that it naturally contains so many different nutrients: vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other trace elements.

These are all perfectly balanced in a proportion that is ideally suited for the body to utilise effectively for its own healing and repair. So it’s not quite true that aloe vera juice is a miracle cure. It’s more that it contains so much nutrition that’s vital for the body to heal itself…

Here, in no particular order, is a guide to the top ten health benefits of drinking aloe vera juice:

1. Detox – Aloe vera juice is a great natural aid to detox. With our stressful lives, the pollution around us and the junk foods we eat, we all need to cleanse our systems from time to time. Some people more often than others! Drinking aloe vera juice provides a fantastically rich cocktail of vitamins, minerals and trace elements to help our bodies deal with these stresses and strains everyday.

2. Healthy Digestion – A healthy digestive system makes sure that we absorb as many of the nutrients as possible from the foods we eat. Aloe vera juice has natural detoxifying abilities; and drinking aloe vera juice seems to improve bowel regularity and increases protein absorption. It also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and yeast in our gut. Aloe vera has been shown to help reduce and soothe heartburn and other digestive problems.

3. Natural Immune Support – Aloe vera is full of anti-oxidants – natural immune enhancers which fight free radicals within our body. Free radicals are the unstable compounds produced as a side-effect of our metabolism. They are thought to cause various ailments, as well as contributing to the ageing process. Drinking aloe vera juice regularly gives the body a regular supply of anti-oxidants, which can boost and enhance the immune system.

4. Reduce Inflammation – Aloe vera juice contains 12 substances which can slow down or inhibit inflammation, without any side-effects. Some people say that drinking aloe vera juice helps with their stiff, swollen or painful joints.

5. Collagen and Elastin Repair for Healthy Skin – Drinking aloe vera juice adds a rich supply of raw materials to your diet, which can produce and maintain really healthy skin. The skin replaces itself every 28 days. Using the nutritional building blocks of aloe vera, the skin can use these nutrients daily to help combat the effects of ageing. Aloe vera also helps in soothing minor burns, cuts, scrapes and skin irritations.

6. Regulate Weight and Energy Levels – Drinking aloe vera juice naturally allows the body to cleanse the digestive system. Our diets include many substances which can cause fatigue and exhaustion. Taken regularly, aloe vera juice ensures a greater feeling of well-being, allowing energy levels to increase and helps maintain a healthy body weight.

7. Daily Dose of Vitamins & Minerals – Aloe vera juice contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12 (the aloe vera plant is one of the few plants in the world to contain vitamin B12), C, E, Folic Acid and Niacin. The human body cannot store some of these vitamins, so we need to supplement them regularly through our diet. The minerals found in aloe vera include Calcium, Sodium, Iron, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Magnesium, Chromium and more… Plenty of good nutrition in aloe vera juice!

8. Amino Acids – The human body requires 20 amino acids to build protein; 8 of these amino acids are ‘essential’ which means the body can’t make them itself. Aloe vera contains 19 of these amino acids, and 7 of the essential amino acids. So drinking aloe vera juice tops up your body’s daily supply.

9. Dental Health – Aloe vera is extremely helpful for your mouth and gums. As well as its natural anti-bacterial and anti-microbial actions, it contains vitamins and minerals which promote cell growth and healing. There are some aloe vera toothgels available which contain a high level of pure aloe vera, which may help with bleeding gums and mouth ulcers.

10. Better than Nutritional Supplements – Recent research has shown that adding good foods to our diets, rich in naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, is far better than adding supplements alone. The good news is that Aloe Vera juice is considered a food, rather than a manufactured supplement. So drinking aloe vera juice is probably better than taking supplements alone, because our bodies can absorb all the nutrients in aloe vera more easily, and utilise them more effectively.

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This guide is by no means exhaustive, and is not meant to diagnose or treat any specific condition or ailment. But we do hope it has given you a good overview of some of the possible health benefits of drinking aloe vera juice; especially after the Clean 9 cleansing programme. We have the finest Aloe Vera juice, gel and aloe vera drinks on the market. Sourced from Forever Living Products, all our aloe vera drinks come with an unconditional 60-day money back guarantee. For more information, or to purchase some aloe vera juice, please go to our Aloe Vera Drinks page.