What does your face tell you about your health?

During the embryonic period all major systems of the body i.e. the digestive system, the circulatory system, the nervous system and the excretory system form the entire facial structure. The lower part of the face indicates respiratory and digestive function. The upper part represents the condition of the nervous system. Both sides of the face represent the condition of the circulatory and excretory systems as a whole. Chinese medicine has emphasised the importance of facial diagnosis and treatment for thousands of years. Since the early Ming dynasty 960 A.D. - 1270AD, the empress and emperor's concubines have benefited from the healing process of facial acupuncture

There are general chinese medical principles of diagnosis to observe and discover the various manifestations of the physical and mental conditions.  For example, the Chinese have taught for thousands of years that a sign of low adrenal function are small ear lobes close to the head. The famous American physician Dr. Henry Bieler has said that in over fifty years of practice he can verify this claim. Low adrenal function can often lead to a life of delicate health. Hence a diet high in protein, rest and good quality sleep are essential ways to rebalance the adrenals. Read more about adrenal fatigue.

Fight the aging process with antioxidants!

Increasing evidence shows that the ageing process can be slowed down by increasing your intake of antioxidants. The World Health Organisation recommends 8 - 10 servings of certain fruit and vegetables daily. Not all fruit and vegetables have the same anti-aging properties. A good guideline to remember is that the more colourful the better! Fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries all have high antioxidant levels.

There is also great news for chocolate lovers as your chocolate fix is also giving you a real anti-aging boost. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidant flavonoids containing 4 times as much as green tea, but this is only true for dark chocolate rich in cocoa (approximately 70% e.g. Green and Black).

Recently nutritional scientists have discovered a potent antioxidant called Resveratrol. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have demonstrated that resveratrol activiates a longevity gene in yeast which extends the life span by 50%. Resveratrol is abundant in red grapes and good quality red wines.

For more information on antioxidants check out Patrick Holford's website where you will find a chart of the antioxidant levels in various foods.