Striving4Zen

Step one: cleanser
Obvious, yeah, but you must always start by washing your face to dissolve dirt, oil and grime, which can block pores and keep other products from getting in and doing their work.


Step two: exfoliant
Feel free to skip cleansing on days you exfoliate, since sloughing also removes dirt and oil, says Dr. Jeannette Graf, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine.


Step three: toner
Many experts don't promote toning, but there are exceptions. "It's good as a post-rinse following at-home microdermabrasion to remove tiny crystals, or as a soothing step following makeup removal," Graf says.


Step four: prescription products
"Always apply prescription topicals first, on clean, dry skin, to enhance their penetration," says Graf. Many are designed to be used twice daily, so make sure they're at the top of the order at night, too.


Step five: antioxidant serum
Think of layering skincare products as you would layering clothes in winter. "Start with the thinnest item and end with the thickest," Graf says. Free radical-fighting serums are crucial for daytime wear when your skin needs protection from the sun and pollution.


Step six: eye cream
Pat it on prior to moisturizing. "Topping an eye cream or serum with lotion will actually seal in its active ingredients," explains Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Cambridge, Mass., and president-elect of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. Your morning eye product should contain antioxidants, SPF and moisturizing humectants like glycerin and propylene glycol.


Step eight: moisturizer
Consider the chemistry of creams: "They usually contain more oil than water," Fein says. "So if you were to put them on first, your lighter, water-based gels and serums would slide off your face instead of sinking in." But by applying them almost last, they actually lock in your other products, boosting their efficacy.


Step nine: sunscreen
If your moisturizer doubles as an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen -- and you're spending the day indoors -- you can omit the additional sunscreen, Hirsch says.


Step 10: makeup primer
Whether using it to fill in lines, hide pores or just create an even canvas for color, silicone-based primer is your last step. It's like waterproofing your skin, says Jim Hammer, a cosmetics chemist at Pharmasol Labs in Easton, Mass. If you were to apply it before your day cream or sunscreen, those water-based products couldn't penetrate. "If you smooth it on after, your skin can absorb your moisturizer before the primer forms a slick film on top of it," Hammer says.



*of-course, each step (except sunscreen) is optional.


THANKS!

Labels: how-to, skincare

Realizing that people are willing to forgo the four dollars for a 700 calorie mocha for a dollar-fifty cup of coffee with milk that has much less calories, Starbucks will be adding a new beverage to their already long list of drinks. Welcome the “Skinny," a nonfat Latte made with sugar-free syrup. Starbucks is also adding a new sugar-free syrup flavor — Mocha — to the current selection of Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel, and Cinnamon Dolce.

Why is this cool? Well the tall (12 fl. oz.) Caffè Latte or Caffè Mocha ordered with sugar-free syrup, steamed nonfat milk, and foam contains only 90 calories. If customers replace their daily tall Starbucks Vanilla Latte with a Skinny Vanilla Latte they would save 700 calories and 35 grams of fat per week! Swapping out a daily, tall Caffè Mocha (made with 2% milk and no whip) for a Skinny Mocha would save 550 calories and 30 grams of fat per week. This means that Starbucks has finally taken the guess work out of figuring out how to get a yummy coffee without tons of calories. Look for the Skinny to be hitting Starbucks nationwide starting January 2008.

Thanks!

Labels: coffee, Skinny, Starbuck's

To keep loyal devotees, spas are moving beyond basic treatments to more personalized experiences that treat the whole person. Using music, biofeedback, meditation and yoga, spas are not only touting stress relief, but nutrition, fitness and how to get a better night's sleep.
By stressing healthy lifestyles, the industry hopes to demystify the spa for the estimated 75 percent of Americans who've never visited one.
"Spa is no longer just about lotions and potions," said Jim Root, chairman of the International Spa Association. "Spa is not a place, but a lifestyle of wellness, aliveness and happiness."
SOURCE

Labels: FYI, Holistic Health, living holistically, Spa

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 ounces avocado oil
1 1/2 ounces cocoa butter
1/2 ounce beeswax
4 ounces distilled water
1 teaspoon vitamin C powder
1/4 teaspoon vitamin A powder
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
10 to 25 drops essential oil of choice (optional)

1. In a double boiler over medium heat, melt the oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax. Remove from heat and add the water, mixing with a whisk or electric mixer until thick and creamy.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients, and store in a glass jar with a screw top.

To Use:
Use a dab on your fingertips and gently massage into clean skin as often as needed.

This formula will keep for 6 months.

Labels: DIY, dry skin, moisturizer, natural products, skincare

Step one: cleanser
Dissolve makeup, dirt, oil and daily grime so all those nighttime goodies can work on clean, bare skin.
Step two: retinoids/prescription skin care
Skin-smoothing retinoids take top precedence at night -- and not just because they're prescription products. "If your skin is moist from water or cream, a retinoid can become more irritating to skin," says Audrey Kunin, a dermatologist in Kansas City and founder of dermadoctor.com. Never apply retinoid products over any sort of serum or lotion, and only apply it after dark. "Sunlight can degrade retinoids, rendering them powerless," Fein says. Retinoids also increase your risk of burning by thinning your outermost layer of skin. If your complexion calls for a different kind of prescription drug, use that product here in place of retinoids.
Step three: hydroquinone spot treatments
According to Graf, hydroquinone and retinoids work synergistically, intensifying each other's performance. So wearing one on top of the other makes good sense. Why at night? "The sun, which promotes melanin production, can counteract hydroquinone's pigment-inhibiting effects," Hirsch says.
Step four: peptide serum
Peptides are most useful at night when the skin is in renewal mode because they heal and regenerate skin, and can even rebuild collagen, explains Graf. If you're already using one or more of the other products listed above, opt for a peptide-rich night cream instead of a separate serum to streamline your routine.
Step five: eye cream
Find a night version (no SPF) with reparative retinol or peptides.
Step six: night cream
At night, the skin's pH is lower, which means dead cells shed more easily. Microcirculation is higher, allowing the skin to make new cells and mend old, tired ones, says Graf. Smoothing on a healing night cream bolsters this activity. Hirsch says rich formulas are best because their thick, heavy base can help drive active ingredients into the skin. But if you're using retinoids, avoid creams with alpha hydroxy acids. "The two can inactivate each other when used back-to-back," Hirsch adds.

***Of course, each steps is optional. Not all steps are necessary.

SOURCE

Labels: Anti-oxidant, how-to, peptides, skincare

Here’s a quick list of vitamins from foods… are you getting enough of them?

Vitamin A: Carrot juice, greens, cold liver oil
Vitamin B: Rice polishings, brewers yeast, liver, blackstrap molasses
Vitamin C: Rose hips, alfalfa sprouts, citrus fruits
Vitamin D: Cod liver oil, sunshine!
Vitamin E: Wheat germ oil, raw seeds and nuts
Vitamin K: Alfalfa juice (chlorophyll), all leafy greens

SOURCE

Labels: food, healthy diet, natural health, Vitamins

To Beat Stress at Work Stretch It Out
When under stress, people don't turn to granola for comfort. Instead, they skip the gym, head for a double cheeseburger and fries at the nearest fast food joint and have a smoke, according to a 2006 random national survey of more than 2,000 people conducted by the American Psychological Association. Of those questioned, 59% said work was a leading source of stress and 47% said they were concerned about stress in their lives.
It's also not great for the bottom line, often resulting in absenteeism, lowered productivity, turnover and health claims. Research has shown that people who are stressed out are more likely to experience hypertension, anxiety or depression and obesity.
Just ask Beth Superfin, the senior manager for AOL Media Networks. Beth was skeptical at first about the idea of doing yoga in her office conference room. But she quickly got over it when she saw how easy it was to pop down the hall for a free, hour-long class at 6 p.m. with sought-after instructors, then return to tie up loose ends afterward.
Her company contracts with Balance Integration, a corporation that provides an array of on-site services to foster balance and creativity in and out of work. Fees range from a couple hundred to more than $10,000 a month, depending on what a company wants to accomplish, says Balance Integration president Tevis Gale.
"If I don't have a break to go to the gym, I get very thrown off," Superfin says. "It would impact my stress level, anxiety, focus, and overall I think my well-being."

Labels: Balance Integration, Holistic Health, innovative, living holistically, stress, yoga

Amid growing concern over drug-resistant superbugs and non-healing wounds that endanger diabetes patients, nature's original antibiotic - honey - is making a comeback.
More than 4,000 years after Egyptians began applying honey to wounds, Derma Sciences Inc., began selling the first honey-based dressing this fall after it was approved by the FDA.
Called Medihoney, it is made from a highly absorbent seaweed-based material, saturated with manuka honey, a particularly potent type that experts say kills germs and speeds healing. Manuka honey comes from hives of bees that collect nectar from manuka and jelly bushes in Australia and New Zealand.

Source

Labels: antibiotics, honey, manuka honey, natural therapy

Unfortunately, names can be deceiving. While corn syrup may originate as corn, its nutrient profile does not resemble corn at all. Unfortunately, corn syrup is basically a storehouse of calories and sugar, and not much else. It is found in so many processed foods, and some researchers feel that its commonplace role in the diets of many people may be anything but beneficial. While it is from a whole, natural food, I don't consider corn syrup to be a whole, natural food and avoid it when I can. The body supposedly does not process high fructose corn syrup in the same way it does cane or beet sugar. This not only affects the way that metabolic hormones function, but also causes the liver to send more fat into the bloodstream.

SOURCE

Labels: high fructose corn syrup, sugar

There’s a wonderful old Italian joke about a poor man who goes to church every day and prays before the statue of a great saint, begging, “Dear saint—please, please, please…give me the grace to win the lottery.” This lament goes on for months. Finally the exasperated statue comes to life, looks down at the begging man and says in weary disgust, “My son—please, please, please - buy a ticket.”
Prayer is a relationship; half the job is mine. If I want transformation, but can’t even be bothered to articulate what, exactly, I’m aiming for how will it ever occur? Half the benefit of prayer is in the asking itself, in the offering of a clearly posed and well-considered intention. If you don’t have this, all your pleas and desires are boneless, floppy inert; they swirl at your feet in a cold fog and never lift. So now I take the time every morning to search myself for specificity about what I am truly asking for. I kneel there in the temple with my face on that cold marble for as long as it takes me to formulate an authentic prayer. If I don’t feel sincere then I will stay there on the floor until I do. What worked yesterday doesn’t always work today. Prayers can become stale and drone into the boring and familiar if you let your attention stagnate. In making an effort to stay alert, I am assuming custodial responsibility for the maintenance of my own soul.

Labels: Eat Pray Love, excerpt, Wise Words

When it comes to helping employees stay fit, few organizations go further than the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in Manhattan. The for-profit school, which trains health counselors, spends nearly $700 a week to provide organic lunches and midafternoon snacks for its 25-person staff.
But the caring efforts go beyond the institute's recent lunch of tilapia with couscous, fennel and Brussels sprouts. The school also provides its team with free weekly chair massages and yoga classes.
"We want our employees to be in good health," says Suzanne Boothby, editorial coordinator for the institute. "I can't say that no one here has ever taken a sick day, but the program helps."
Small businesses in New York City, where health insurance costs are among the highest in the nation, are increasingly turning to wellness and preventative measures to keep their premiums down.
The moves range from sponsoring traditional weight-loss and anti-smoking campaigns to hosting on-site health fairs and relaxation workshops.
"Stress has a long-term impact on employee health and, therefore, a company's bottom line," says Miriam Belov, founder of The Wellness Agenda, a Manhattan company that organizes on-site stress-reduction programs that incorporate approaches like meditation and yoga.

SOURCE

Labels: health care, innovative, Institute for Integrative Nutrition, wellness

Splenda, best known for its marketing logo, "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar,” has taken the sweetener industry by storm, becoming the number one selling artificial sweetener in the United States.
But consuming foods that contain artificially or naturally sweetened substances can cause serious distortions in your biochemistry. For example, if you drink diet soda in an attempt to lose weight, they won't help you. Instead, diet soft drinks can actually double your obesity risks!
Nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can:
Stimulate your appetite
Increase carbohydrate cravings
Stimulate fat storage and weight gain

Chemically, Splenda is More Similar to DDT Than Sugar.

Labels: artificial sweeteners, dangerous additives, splenda

WHITE VINEGAR
Rid your windows of small, buttery fingerprints with equal parts vinegar and water. Use newspaper instead of paper towels for extra gleam.
Wood floors shine with 1/4 cup vinegar in a gallon of warm water. Double the vinegar for linoleum floors.
Polish wood furniture with 1/4 cup vinegar and a few drops of olive oil.

BAKING SODA
Ham drippings disappear when you sprinkle baking soda throughout the oven, spray with water, and let sit for several hours before rinsing.
Dip a halved lemon in baking soda to scrub off kitchen counter residue. Unclog drains with 1 cup baking soda. Follow with 3 cups boiling water and repeat.

CORNSTARCH
Remove oily stains (like salad dressing) by rubbing cornstarch onto the stain. Let sit for at least 20 minutes and brush off with a dry washcloth.
Sprinkle cornstarch (1 cup per medium room) on carpets to deodorize. Let sit for 30 minutes and vacuum.

Labels: cleaning, DIY, natural products

For those of you who like to shy away from the chemicals and the doctors, Barbara Close has a great DIY formula to help you zap that zit and clear up your skin.

The following Rosemary Acne Serum is taken from her book: Pure Skin: Organic Beauty Basics.

1 ounce hazelnut oil
6 drops rosemary verbenone essential oil
5 drops of juniper essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
1 ounce apricot kernel oil
2 ounce glass bottle

Pour hazelnut oil in bottle. Add essential oils, close bottle, and roll between palms to disperse the oils. Top off with apricot kernel oil, close bottle, and agitate a second time.
Cleanse and tone skin. Apply 3 or 4 drops to a cotton pad or finger-tips and wipe over entire face. To plump up the skin, use serum in conjunction with facial massage.

Source

Labels: DIY, natural products, skincare, zits

Exercise physiologists say there is little in the world of exercise as wildly exaggerated as people’s estimates of the number of calories they burn.
Despite the displays on machines at gyms, with their precise-looking calorie counts, and despite the official-looking published charts of exercise and calories, it can be all but impossible to accurately estimate of the number of calories you burn.
You can use your heart rate to gauge your effort, and from that you can plan routines that are as challenging as you want. But, researchers say, heart rate does not translate easily into calories. And you may be in for a rude surprise if you try to count the calories you think you used during exercise and then reward yourself with extra food.
One reason for the calorie-count skepticism is that two individuals of the same age, gender, height, weight and even the same level of fitness can burn a different amount of calories at the same level of exertion.
Even if you wanted to get a rough estimate of the calories an average person your size might burn at the gym, you might not want to trust the displays on cardio machines, with the possible exception of treadmills, said William Haskell, an exercise physiologist at Stanford. And with treadmills, the calories are not accurate if you hang on the bars.
Dr. Haskell once studied people using treadmills. Hanging onto the rails reduced the number of calories burned by 40 to 50 percent. The same thing happened with stair-climbing machines.
As for the calorie counts on machines like stationary bicycles and elliptical cross trainers and stair climbers, all bets are off, researchers said.
A major problem is that the machines get out of calibration. “They drift in speed and grade,” Dr. Haskell said. “If you go from one machine to another, it is obvious that at the same setting you are working much harder on one and much less on the next.”

SOURCE

Labels: Calories, exercise, fitness, myths

In general, decaffeinated green tea is simply a more processed form of the green tea that has not been decaffeinated. Like all foods, green tea will have its nutrient content decreased as it becomes more and more processed. It would be very rare for a processed food to contain the same amount of nutrients, or more nutrients, than a processed food. (The only exceptions would be artificially fortified or enriched foods that have had vitamins or other nutrients deliberately added back during the manufacturing process).

All green teas undergo some processing since some form of heat is necessary to stop the oxidation processes that occur naturally with freshly picked tea leaves. However, this processing can be very minimal and can leave the vast majority of nutrients intact.

There is no question that nutrients are lost from green tea in any decaffeination process. We've only seen two published studies in this area, however. We have been impressed by one very recent research study that showed very little loss (about 5%) of certain key phytonutrients (called catechins) from hot-water-decaffeinated green tea leaves. It's important to note, however, that this study involved fresh tea leaves that had not been either dried or rolled. The researchers themselves pointed out that far more catechins were lost in the case of dried or dried/rolled tea leaves. Still, it's encouraging that a decaffeination process can result in so little damage to these components. These research results were in keeping with a second animal study that showed significant skin protection from nutrients in water-decaffeinated green tea. In comparison with non-processed green tea, water-decaffeinated green tea lost about 16% effectiveness in protecting the skin cells of mice.

For individuals sensitive to caffeine, or individuals simply choosing to follow a caffeine-free diet, water-decaffeinated green tea or effervescence-decaffeinated green tea makes good sense to us. There is definitely a nutrient loss that occurs in the decaffeination process, but the degree of loss seems acceptable to us and would make a good trade-off for many individuals.

For more on this topic, please see:
Green tea (SOURCE)

Labels: decaffeinated, green tea

Rooibos is a naturally-decaffeinated and full-bodied tea that comes from a bright-green needled shrub in South Africa. When the needles are processed they turn red, and in Afrikaans, rooibos actually means red bush.
Not only is rooibos low in tannins, but it has a strong aroma and is one of the most popular drinks in South Africa. In addition to tasting delicious and being an excellent source of antioxidants (it contains higher concentrations than other teas), it can also be used as a toner on your skin to reduce puffiness and redness, especially around your eyes.

Labels: Anti-oxidant, rooibos, tea

Consumer Reports says you are wasting your money if you buy expensive wrinkle reducing face creams. According to CR, there is no connection between price and effectiveness.
Of course, it’s not surprising to the Beauty Brains. Since we know the raw materials that go into both ultra expensive and ultra cheap beauty products, we can sincerely report retail price doesn’t always reflect formula quality.
Most interesting about the study was the conclusion that no cream was noticeably effective. Some had slight improvements but none were deemed worth it. In lab studies, CR found the most effective product was Olay Regenerist (Enhancing Lotion, Perfecting Cream and Daily Regenerating Serum).

One surprise was a $335 product scored among the lowest of all the products tried.

The full list (in order of performance) is as follows:

Best to Worst - Wrinkle Reducing Creams

1. Olay Regnerist : $57
2. Lancome Paris Renergie: $176
3. RoC Retin-Ox+ : $135
4. Neutogena Visibly Firm Night Cream w Active Copper : $38
5. Avon Anew Alternative Age Treatment : $64
6. L’Oreal Paris Dermo-Expertise Wrinkle De-Crease : $40
7. StiVectin-SD Intensive Concentrate : $135
8. La Prarie Cellular : $335
9. RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle : $40

Labels: anti-aging, Consumer Reports, myths, skincare

I’ve posted several times on the debate over natural vs synthetic ingredients and I still recommend that you look for safe, efficacious ingredients and not worry so much about where they come from.
But I certainly don’t mean to imply that NO natural ingredients work. In fact, I just read a report in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (29, 219-238) that says avocado sugars are highly beneficial for skin.
A research team from Laboratoires Expanscience (that’s French, not a typo) have found that certain sugars found in avocados, like D-manno-heptulose, can improve the structure of the epidermis by boosting collagen. They can also provide a protective antimicrobial barrier.
This doesn’t mean you should smear fresh avocado on your skin. The sugars need to be deposited from the right kind of vehicle and they need to be left on the skin to work. While there are plenty of products with avocado oil on the market (Avo-med even has a line of pet care products with avocado,) we’re not aware of any products that use this sugar technology. If any of you Beauty Brainiacs out there find any, let me know and I’ll review them.
So there you have it – a fruit sugar that’s scientifically proven to help your skin. If you’re looking for natural ingredients, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Labels: avocado, Holistic Health, living holistically, skincare

I had the best frugalicious experience this weekend, and I couldn't wait to write about it!
Over a year ago, Daily Candy wrote about Cindy DiMaggio, an eyebrow specialist in Dallas that was trained under famed eyebrow expert Anastasia. I wanted to call Cindy immediately because my eyebrows were too thin and shapeless, but I decided to put it off. However, with the wedding coming up, I'm on a primping mission so I scheduled an appointment.
On Saturday morning, I headed to Salon Boutique to meet Cindy. I was a bit concerned because I had no idea how much it was going to cost. Money is tight with wedding planning and Christmas gifts, and I was afraid of getting coaxed into spending $100 on Anastasia products. I sat in Cindy's chair, and she briefly checked out my brows. She immediately told me to go to Walgreen's and buy some Castor Oil to restimulate my hair growth. I was told to apply the Castor Oil on my brows, underneath, and on top. It should be applied each night after I wash my face and before I apply moisturizer. She said to use the Castor Oil nightly and avoid plucking for six weeks to three months. After I rebuilt my brows, I could then revisit Cindy.
I couldn't believe it! I was expecting $100 visit, and instead I spent $4.00 at Walgreen's. I applied it for the first time last night. It was a thick oil (almost like Vaseline), which was a bit odd to apply. But, I know it will be worth it when I'm walking down the isle with gorgeously groomed brows. Once I do restimulate the growth, I'll be making regular visits to Cindy for a $22.00 wax. Apparently I cannot be trusted with tweezers!

Labels: castor oil, DIY, eyebrows, on the cheap

Target Corp. is among several retailers and grocery chains named in lawsuit that alleges milk sold at the company's stores was labeled "organic" when it really wasn't, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
The Business Journal previously reported that in October the U.S. Department of Agriculture was investigating whether organic milk sold by Minneapolis-based Target Corp. was in fact organic.
The USDA threatened to revoke the organic status of Boulder, Colo. -based Aurora Organic Dairy, which supplies Target with its organic milk under the company's Archer Farms label.
The federal complaints focus on Aurora Organic Dairy. The company recently made changes to its practices after the USDA found more than a dozen violations of organic standards, the AP reported.
The suit, filed on behalf of people who bought the milk, seeks class-action status and asks for customers' money back as well as punitive damages and attorneys' fees. It names Costco Wholesale Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Safeway Inc. and Wild Oats Markets Inc. and Target. The companies each sold Aurora's milk under their own store brand names.
Aurora has denied selling non-organic milk.

Here are a few of the most common suspicious ingredients:
Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum – Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Slows cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there’s an oil spill in the ocean, don’t they rush to clean it up – fast? Why put that stuff on your skin?
Parabens – Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body’s endocrine system.
Phenol carbolic acid– Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.
Propylene glycol – Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
Acrylamide– Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.
Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)– Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine”, a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived”.
Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.
Dioxane– Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin. Dioxane’s carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by “vacuum stripping”.
Warning: It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as “comes from coconut”.

Labels: chemicals, cosmetics, skincare

It protects against formation of damaging free radicals, and is also used to protect skin from blemishes, signs of aging or overexposure to sunlight. Coconut oil also keeps the skin’s connective tissues strong and supple.
Coconut oil offers a youthful appearance to your skin by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother.
It can even penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and strengthen the underlying tissues. It can be a factor in healing and repairing age-damaged skin — unlike most lotions.
Naturally, you want to choose a high-quality organic coconut oil free of chemicals, and without bleach or hydrogenation (which can irritate your skin), to experience its maximum benefits.

Labels: coconut oil, skincare

Wheat germ is truly a super food; it is high in nutrients since it is the embryo of the wheat grain and its job is to nourish the growing plant. So it makes sense that this embryonic "germ" is only about two to three percent of the entire wheat kernel, but contains 23 nutrients!
Sadly though, wheat germ is considered a waste product and is discarded after wheat is milled into white flour. Just add that onto the list of reasons why I am not so fond of white flour. Once the germ is removed, the wheat kernel is just starch. How nutritionally lonely.
An ounce of wheat germ contains four grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. It is high in iron, potassium and vitamins B1 and B3, as well as vitamin E. Wheat germ is also high in the minerals in magnesium and zinc.
You can find toasted wheat germ or raw wheat germ at health food stores, in the bulk bins of grocery stores, or online. It has a delicate, nutty, slightly sweet flavor and is often used as an ingredient in cereals. You can substitute a 1/2 cup of regular flour with wheat germ when baking. It is also great sprinkled over yogurt with fruit in the morning, but don't limit your germ to just baked goods. You can try it in a casserole, meatloaf or use wheat germ as a substitute for bread crumbs.
Fit's Tip: Wheat germ will go rancid quickly, so keep it refrigerated. You can also freeze germ and thaw it as you need it.

Labels: health food, superfoods, Vitamins, wheat germ

People use apple cider vinegar in skin care because it contains natural alpha hydroxyl acids that exfoliate and brighten the skin.

It restores the natural pH balance of the skin. Many soap and cleansers are very alkaline.

Ways to use Apple Cider Vinegar:
Use full strength or diluted with water as a facial toner to prevent acne, clogged pores and to balance the skin pH.
As a treatment for dandruff, massage 1/2 cup into your scalp, then rinse thoroughly with water. Can be used every day until the dandruff is gone, then you may use it periodically to prevent it from returning.
Gentleman who are prone to shaving related breakouts can use as an aftershave to prevent them. It can be used full strength or diluted with water or witch hazel.
Can be used on skin rashes to control itching and clear them up completely.
Soothe tired, sore, or swollen hands or feet by massaging with apple cider vinegar.
Treat the entire body by soaking in a warm tub with lots of apple cider vinegar added to the water.
Some claim that applying full strength at night will lighten age spots and other skin discolorations.

Labels: apple cider vinegar, Holistic Health, natural products, skincare

Whether it is called facial rejuvenation, acupuncture face-lift or cosmetic acupuncture, the aim is to tackle wrinkles, muscle tension that may be causing unsightly lines, as well as systematic issues standing between you and glowing skin. Just as with traditional needling, putting needles on acupuncture points stimulates the body’s natural energies, called qi, but with added benefits.

Whether cosmetic acupuncture works has yet to be proved. Some randomized, controlled studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective adjunctive treatment for hypertension, chronic pain, headaches and back pain. But there is no peer-reviewed research demonstrating that acupuncture diminishes wrinkles.

Still, an industry devoted to needling for youthful skin has grown in recent years.

Read more....

Labels: acupuncture, botox, face lift, living holistically

Roasting brings out the flavor of the nuts, and develops their sweetness. It is safe to roast nuts if done at a low temperature-typically a 160-170 degree Fahrenheit oven (at higher temperatures than this, research clearly shows damage to nuts' delicate fats) for 15-20 minutes will do the trick. Place nuts on a cookie sheet in a single layer. To enhance the "roasted" flavor, try putting a little Bragg's Liquid Aminos or soy sauce into a spray bottle and misting the nuts before roasting.

Avoid Commercially Roasted Nuts

Roasting nuts at a temperature higher than 170F will cause a breakdown of their fats and the production of free radicals. When nuts roasted at the high temperatures used commercially are consumed, the free radicals they contain can cause lipid peroxidation-the oxidizing of fats in your bloodstream that can trigger tiny injuries in artery walls-a first step in the build up of plaque and cardiovascular disease.

Labels: free radicals, Nuts, roasted nuts

Scientific studies have been piling up since '98 saying that bisphenol A (BPA) leaches out of polycarbonate water bottles—those popular Nalgene bottles—and that it can lead to "chromosomal aberrations," IN YOU, and, no, they're NOT the super spidey-strength kind.

So the time is NOW to switch to a safer alternative... (these are all aluminum free too, if that matters).

*We stole this title from these fine peeps. More recent studies are cited here.
According to several recent studies, polycarbonate plastic readily leaches a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into foods and liquids that are stored in containers made from it. BPA has been identified as an endocrine disrupting chemical, or a chemical that easily mimics hormones when absorbed by the human body. In the case of BPA, the hormone being mimicked is estrogen. Exposure to this compound at the wrong time can cause a cell division problem called aneuploidy in which chromosomes do not evenly split as a cell divides, leaving the two resulting cells with more or fewer chromosomes than normal. This uneven distribution of genetic material can in turn lead to cancer, miscarriage, and birth defects that include Down's Syndrome.

Sigg Oval Bottles 0.6L $19.99 Stainless Steel replica of 1941 Swiss Army Canteen—has FDA approved epoxy phenol resin coating to cut down on any possible mineral leaching
Guyot Shorty 24oz $14.95 uncoated stainless steel—wide mouthed so it will still fit your nalgene accessories—water filter, etc.
Klean Kanteen 27oz $19.95 w/stainless steel loop cap—uncoated food-grade stainless w/stainless cap even!

Unfortunately, polycarbonate plastic bottles and containers are identified by the plastic recycling symbol #7, which is used for a wide variety of plastics and plastic mixtures that fall into the "Other category." Unless this #7 symbol is accompanied by the letters PC, there's no sure way to tell if the container in question is made from polycarbonate or some other kind.

To be safe, environmental advocates suggest simply avoiding #7 plastics altogether and opting for safer choices for food and beverage storage. These better options include polypropylene (#5 PP), high density polyethylene (#2 HDPE), and low density polyethylene (#4 LDPE). No evidence has been found to suggest that these plastics leach toxic materials. Scientists advise against the repeated use of plastic water bottles made from plastic type #1 PETE as there is evidence to suggest that such bottles leach a compound known as DEHA, which is classified by the EPA as a possible human carcinogen, as well as acetaldehyde, which has received the same designation from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Labels: BPA, hormones, Nalgene, polycarbonate, water bottle

Learning skin care techniques is the best thing you can do for your face. Advances of science have proved that the skin can be a port of entry for medicines and nutrients. This is the basic principle of the patch delivery system. The most important requirement for delivering nutrition into the skin is to hydrate the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the top layer of skin that normally acts as a protective barrier.

To achieve hydration you must apply water to the surface of the skin for ten minutes, fifteen if you are very dry. Do this in the shower or bath, or with a facial steamer. Immediately after hydration is achieved pat dry and apply the serum. The windows of the skin will stay open for about ten minutes and gradually return to normal. During the open time your skin will drink in the nutrition. After the skin has returned to normal remove the remaining Vitalizer from the surface with the Restorative Toner. This important step rebalances the surface pH. Apply a day or night cream to finish.

Labels: skincare, tips

The labeling of fish as "organic" is controversial since the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not yet allowed for its organic seal to be used on fish. As of early 2007, it has not even come up with a standard that could be used as a basis for certification of fish as organic. Precisely because there is no USDA organics standard for fish, it is also impossible for the USDA to regulate organic labeling claims on fish imported into the U.S. from other countries.

At present, all fish labeled as organic in the United States are imported from other countries. In other countries, organic standards may be significantly different than U.S. standards. For example, fish labeled organic in other countries may carry residues of compounds and drugs that are prohibited in existing U.S. standards for other (non-fish) foods. When purchasing imported fish labeled organic, it is also important not to assume that the fish has either been wild-caught or farm-raised unless this characteristic of the fish is clearly reported on the packaging label.

Regardless of the organic versus non-organic issue, we do know that the fatty acid content of salmon can vary dramatically depending on foods eaten by the salmon. (This relationship between the fatty acid content of an animal food and the fatty acid content of its feed exists for all animal foods. The omega-3 fatty acid content of hen's eggs, for example, can be significantly increased by incorporating flax meal into their daily diet.) In the USDA SRS18 foods database, you'll find more similarities than differences between the omega-3 fatty acid content of wild caught versus farmed salmon. Fatty acid composition, however, is not the primary reason we favor purchase of wild caught over farmed salmon. The primary reason involves increased risk of toxicity associated with farming practices. We also don't like many of the environmental consequences that have been linked to salmon farming.

For more information on this topic, please see:
Salmon

Labels: Omega-3s, organic, salmon

The residents of the Japanese Island of Okinawa are known for living very long and active lives. The reason for this being the Okinawa diet, which is balanced but low in calories. A recent study was completed about the 'Okinawa diet' and reveals a link between a heavily reduced calorie diet and longevity. In animal tests, researchers reduced calorie intake by 40% and the animals placed on such regimens lived up to 40 percent longer than normal.
World- Science

Labels: diet, Okinawa, reduced calorie diet