Striving4Zen

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores.

I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

1. Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
   How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
2. Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
   How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
3. Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
   How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
4. Cinnamon: Helps control blood sugar and cholesterol.
   How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
5. Pomegranate juice: Lowers blood pressure and loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants.
   How to eat: Just drink it.
6. Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants.
   How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
7. Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
   How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
8. Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.'’ They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
   How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
9. Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,'’ it has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
   How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
10. Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
    How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
11. Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
    How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

You can find more details and recipes on the Men’s Health Web site, which published the original version of the list last year.

Source

Labels: beets, blueberries, cabbage, Dr. Bowden, health food, healthy diet, Jonny Bowden, pumpkins, swiss chard; greens, vegetables

Store-bought brown sugar scrubs are divine, but when their prices swing upward toward the $50 mark, that's a lit-tle high for most people. Fortunately, whipping up your own scrub couldn't be easier — and the results are just as good.

You will need:

• Honey
• Freshly grated ginger root
• Chopped fresh mint leaves
• Olive oil
• Brown sugar, light or dark

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl — it's up to you to decide how much ginger and mint you'd like, but a ratio of 1/3 olive oil to 2/3 brown sugar will provide a good base for the scrub. About a tablespoon of honey will provide an antiseptic quality to the scrub.

The best way to use this scrub is on dry skin; it's particularly good on hands and feet. After buffing your skin, rinse with warm water. You'll have incredibly softer skin for a small fraction of a name-brand scrub!

THANKS!

Labels: body scrub, DIY, ginger, scrubs

Bike and Roll is America 's leading bicycle rental & tours company, serving thousands of satisfied customers each year.

The success of Bike and Roll is based on a simple philosophy: We want our customers to have fun! This is achieved by offering only safe, top-of-the-line rental equipment; meticulously planned and organized rides and tours; and, by always providing outstanding customer service.

Biking keeps us young in spirit! And there is no better way to get around, see new things, and stay healthy and active.

You’ll love NYC by bike! Experience car-free, fun, easy riding along the scenic Hudson River Park Greenway. Circle Manhattan on the Greenway Path and see the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, South St. Seaport, Central Park, Times Square, and more! The best way to see the Big Apple!

Labels: bicycle, bicycling, Bike and Roll, cool spot, exercise, healthy living, innovative, NYC, service

Most of my readers know about the importance of routine exfoliation, especially as far as using a well-formulated AHA or BHA product is concerned. The benefits are apparent within days of use, and skin continues to improve with ongoing use. But what’s actually occurring when we apply an exfoliant?

Well, it depends on what method of exfoliation you use! Generally speaking, the concept is that the top dead layer of normal skin (called the stratum corneum) sheds on a regular basis (thousands and thousands of skin cells every few minutes). This shedding process is due to the physiology of skin (how skin cells function and grow). New skin cells are produced in the lower layers of skin (the stratum basal layer); they then move to the surface, changing shape as they go, eventually dying and forming the outer, protective layer of skin. These dead skin cells on the surface are eventually shed as other cells from the lower layers travel to the surface and push them off, creating new “dead” layers of skin each time.

When we are young skin cells are regenerated and turn over very quickly, about once a week for children. As you age, the rate of skin cell renewal changes ranging from about every three weeks through our teens and 20s, and then it slows as we age with the rate varying depending on the shape of skin (primarily meaning skin that hasn’t been sun damaged or lost estrogen). Sun damage and stages of menopause reduces the ability of skin cells to reproduce in a healthy normal manner. Other than being smart about sun protection, considering various options of hormone replacement therapy, using skin care products laden with antioxidants and cell-communicating ingredients, or using a prescription retinoid such as tretinoin there isn’t much else that can help improve cell production.

Separate from the regeneration of skin cells in the lower layers of skin, the shedding process on the surface of skin can also become inefficient causing a build up of skin on the surface. Sun damage, loss of estrogen, dry skin, oily skin, and disorders such as psoriasis or rosacea can all effect how “smoothly” this natural exfoliation process takes place. When normal or healthy exfoliation doesn’t happen, skin can become rough, scaly, thickened, discolored, and look more lined. Different forms of exfoliation help to remove the built up outer layer of skin to uncover a more normal, “younger” looking layer hiding beneath. The most effective skin-care options for helping skin with this essential function are a well-formulated (meaning pH-correct) alpha hydroxy acid (AHA—the ingredient on the label would be glycolic acid, lactic acid, or gluconoalactone) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA—salicylic acid is the only BHA ingredient).

AHAs and BHA are available from several cosmetic brands, including my line. Using such products on a routine basis (which for some may mean once or twice daily, others every other day, or just twice per week) helps loosen and dissolve overly thickened, built-up, stagnant dead skin cells that are getting in the way of the healthier skin cells underneath. An AHA or BHA product, or even a topical scrub (though this is far less effective due to the way it abrades skin), hastens the removal of these dead skin cells.

When we help the outer layer of skin function more normally, your face can truly look younger. The best analogy I can think of is to compare it to the heels of your feet. Before you get a pedicure the built-up dead layer of skin on your heels looks dry, rough, discolored, scaly, and lines are pronounced. Once that layer is removed, and it can be removed fairly aggressively without damaging anything, your heels look much better. Moreover, once you apply moisturizer, which can now absorb better because it hasn’t been blocked by the proliferation of overproduced skin cells, viola—you have “younger”-looking feet. I’m not suggesting we should be that aggressive from the neck up or on most parts of your body, but the same benefit of exfoliating the feet holds true for the face, you just have to be gentler than you are with your heels.

Exfoliation for facial skin can also unclog pores by keeping dead skin cells from blocking the pore opening so sebum (oil) can flow more normally, which helps reduce blemishes and blackheads and it also allows antibacterial agents penetrate to where the bacteria causing acne is hiding.

What about exfoliating too often? Does it hinder or harm cell production?

Some of you have asked me about something known as the Hayflick Limit. The Hayflick response is a phenomenon that explains how many times skin cells will be reproduced. There seems to be a preset genetic determination of the number of times a skin cell will be regenerated. This turnover limit is only about what happens in the lower layer of skin where skin cells are produced (the basal layer). What happens on the surface in regard to exfoliation doesn’t affect the number of times new skin cells are created. Exfoliation is strictly about the dead surface layer of skin and that doesn’t get anywhere near the lower layers where new skin cells are being reproduced. Removing top layers of skin doesn’t cause new skin cells to be formed; the two functions are not related. So you don’t need to worry about damaging new skin cells by using topical exfoliants. You do want to be careful to avoid exfoliants that are too strong or too abrasive because of the irritation and inflammation such products cause; this can harm skin more than help it, but that still doesn’t affect cell regeneration.

You may have heard or read that some cosmetic companies are proclaiming people should stop exfoliating skin. The reasoning is that by doing so you hold on to your epidermal (surface) cells longer, which creates a more youthful look. My response to any company recommending this course of action is that they don’t know what they are talking about. There is no reason to preserve our epidermal cells (the outer layers of skin), they die and shed normally! Routine exfoliation just helps them do it in a healthier, more normal manner. What they are confusing is the notion of wanting to preserve the basal layer of skin where skin cells are regenerated, but that is a genetic trigger and not something related in any way to how the surface of skin functions. If there is research showing that exfoliation changes cell regeneration I have never seen it, but I have seen lots of research showing that exfoliation is incredibly beneficial for skin. There is even research showing glycolic acid can reduce skin cancer occurrences, which is astounding.

For the health and appearance of your skin exfoliation is a key component. It is necessary for most all skin types and is as basic as a gentle cleanser, sunscreen, and the need for skin to get topically applied antioxidants and cell communicating ingredients!

Thank you, Paula!

Labels: epidermis, exfoliate, glycolic acid, Paula Begoun, skin care, tretinoin

Did you know that aloe vera juice is one of the most nutrition-packed and biologically-alive liquids on the entire planet?

Hardly any natural plant can beat its many benefits to your body.

Aloe contains more than one hundred thirty biologically active compounds and thirty four amino acids that act synergistically and create an awesome force for your health. Further, its average pH is a “balancing” 4.55.

It is truly a wondrous ‘gold mine’ of phyto-nutrients

Aloe vera is a desert plant that’s been treasured for centuries for its ability to enhance health. Records show that Cleopatra used it to protect her skin from the sun and stay young-looking, too.

Now you can do the same, and receive all these benefits:

• Soothing. Aloe vera enhances fibroblast function. Fibroblasts are remarkable little cells responsible for collagen formation. They also assist in the soothing of minor burns, cuts, scrapes and skin irritations.
• Immune support and function. Aloe vera provides natural support for your immune system. Since your skin is the first exterior line of defense and your immune system works around the clock protecting you, aloe vera’s natural immune enhancers give you an arsenal from which to draw.
• Helps produce collagen and elastin. Your skin replenishes itself every 21 to 28 days. Aloe vera adds a rich supply of building materials to produce and maintain healthy skin to support a youthful appearance! A daily dose of aloe vera could be just what your skin is thirsting for.
• Minerals. Minerals found in aloe vera include calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc. What a powerful storehouse! Since your skin absorbs anything you apply to it, using products with naturally occurring vitamins and minerals can contribute to your overall health.
• Vitamins. Aloe vera includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, folic acid and niacin. Your body simply cannot store some of these vitamins. Using aloe vera contributes to building your defense system against oxidative stress!
• Amino acid body-building blocks. Amino acids are your body’s own building blocks. Eight are essential and cannot be produced by your body, but seven of those eight are found in the aloe plant. Aloe vera comes closer than any other known plant to the duplication of essential amino acids.

SOURCE

Labels: aloe vera, amino acids, anti-aging, collagen, skin care, skincare

It may not be news to regular Enviroblog readers, but it's official: new shower curtain smell is caused by toxic chemicals.

A study commissioned by the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice looked at the chemical composition of PVC shower curtains bought at a variety of retailers (from Sears to Bed Bath & Beyond). They found, unsurprisingly, that shower curtains contain high levels of phthalates. They also found high level of organotins, and the single shower curtain tested for off-gassing released 108 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Which kinds of VOCs?

Not that there's any such thing as a good VOC, but these are some particularly nasty ones. In fact, seven of them are considered hazardous air pollutants by the EPA. All kinds of fun possible health effects too, from asthma attacks to liver toxicity.

But there is good news. Many retailers are offering a greater selection of PVC-free shower curtains, made of other types of plastic or fabrics. Sears (which owns Kmart) and Target both told reporter Tami Abdollah that their companies were phasing out PVC shower curtains altogether.

What's troubling is that it takes health and environmental advocates to get clearly hazardous products off the shelves. Our toxic chemical regulatory system leaves consumers to fend for themselves, without even giving them the information they need to make decisions.

Have I mentioned the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act? Yes? Just making sure.

Source

Labels: PVC, shower curtains, study, toxic

Dental Fillings: They are toxic, world’s largest health regulator admits

Amalgam fillings in our teeth are toxic and harmful to our health, America’s health regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has finally admitted after claiming for years that they were safe.

This unprecedented about-turn marked the sudden end of a lawsuit that had been mounted by advocacy groups, such as Moms Against Mercury, who are seeking to ban the use of mercury in amalgam fillings and children's vaccinations.

In an official statement, which has been posted on the FDA website, the regulator admitted that mercury-containing dental fillings “may have neuro-toxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses.”

The statement puts the US in line with a handful of other countries that already ban the use of mercury fillings in pregnant women. The FDA is calling for further research, and may announce a complete ban on amalgam fillings next year.

As we exclusively reported in an earlier E-news bulletin, Denmark imposed a complete ban on amalgam fillings this year. In the meantime, pregnant women, and people with “a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure”, or with high levels of mercury already, should talk to their dentists about safer alternatives, the FDA has announced.

Mercury has also been traditionally used as a preservative in children’s vaccinations, although the process of removing it began in 2000, and current stocks contain no mercury-based thimerosal.

Source

Labels: amalgam fillings, ban, FDA, mercury, study

Pesky calluses (aka layers of bulky dead skin cells) often appear on your feet, especially in the Summer months when you tend to be barefoot more. It's true that they help desensitize your feet from the sharp edges of pebbles and seashells, but for those of you who aren't taking extensive walks on the beach, they are unnecessary and unsightly. Calluses look dry, cracked and flaky, so it's a great idea to treat them if you're planning to flaunt your feet in sexy sandals this Summer.

To create a moisturizing coconutty-pineapple tonic, you'll need:

SOURCE

Labels: callus, DIY, feet

There's a little fury in all of us. In fact, Ayurveda has a name for that fiery energy inside your belly -- pitta. And during the summertime, your pitta needs to be checked and balanced. So we spoke with Manjula Paul, an Ayurvedic consultant at Ishta Yoga, to find out more about how to stay as cool as a cucumber:

Skip the ice cubes. Shockingly cold drinks deplete the spleen (that easily forgotten organ with the big job of breaking down fat). Drink water that's room temperature or, better yet, guzzle coconut water -- it's naturally cooling and packed with minerals and electrolytes.

Pick the right produce. Choose sweet (tangerines, cantaloupe, pears), bitter (dark leafy greens) or astringent (cranberries, celery) foods. They all balance pitta energy.

Quench your face's thirst. A few cucumber slices on the eyes or a splash of rosewater is all it takes.

Go with your gut feeling. Yoga poses, including the cobra, boat and fish all focus on your abdomen (for a complete list go here). And when your abdomen's happy, so is your pitta.

Source

Labels: ayurveda, healthy living, living holistically, staying cool

The safety of mass-produced cosmetic products, replete with chemical names we can’t pronounce, has recently been called into question by multiple consumer-lead organizations. Under current FDA guidelines aesthetic products are not subject to pre-market safety approval, while companies themselves are left to substantiate the safety of their ingredients.

Despite a minimum shelf-life, homemade skincare products are the cheap and simple way to purport the same benefits as higher-priced treatments. Since organic and natural treatments are developed around the healing properties of common fruits, vegetables, herbs, and oils, concocting your own will save you money while ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the ingredients.

FACE TONERS

Normal Skin

• 2 parts witch hazel
• 1 part apple cider vinegar
• 3 parts distilled water

Dry Skin

• 2 parts witch hazel
• 1 part rose water
• 2-3 drops of geranium oil (optional)

Oily Skin

• 2 parts witch hazel
• 1 part lemon juice
• 3 parts distilled water
• 2-3 drops lavender oil (optional)

Shake well before each use. Apply with clean cotton pad after cleansing face. Follow up with moisturizer. Can be stored in clean glass jar with lid (max one week).

Witch hazel has been used for centuries in daily skin care routines. It is a gentle astringent and cleanser and boasts anti-inflammatory qualities. With or without these other ingredients it is a perfectly well-rounded every day toner. Rose water helps add moisture to dry skin, while apple cider vinegar is a great pH balancer for normal skin types. Lemon juice has exfoliating properties, as it is a natural alpha-hydroxy acid.

FACE MASKS

Normal Skin

• 1/2 peeled cucumber
• 2 Tbs plain yogurt or cream
• 1 tsp olive oil

Combine ingredients in blender. Spread on face and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

This mask has a calming and cooling effect from the cucumber, while the yogurt enzymes allow the mask to gently cleanse and tone the skin.

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 2 Tbs honey
  

Mix well. Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Honey is a great anti-microbial agent and helps to moisturize the skin. Pumpkin enzymes are great at revitalizing the complexion by softly sloughing off dead skin cells.

Dry Skin

• 3 Tbs Avocado, mashed
• 2 Tbs Honey
• 1 Egg yolk

Mix ingredients well. Apply to face for 15 minutes. Wash with cool water.

A great combination to combat dry skin, all three ingredients have strong humectant qualities.
This one can also be used as a deep conditioning treatment for your hair! Just add 1/2 cup warm water to the mixture. Apply after shampooing and leave mask on wet hair for ten minutes. Rinse well.

• 1 Banana, pureed or mashed
• 1 Tbs olive oil

Mix ingredients. Apply to cleansed skin for 10-15 minutes. Honey may be substituted for olive oil. Rinse well with cool water.

What could be simpler? Bananas are great for nourishing dry and aging skin. They’re chock full of vitamins: potassium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, B, E, and F and have natural moisturizing properties.

Oily Skin

• 1/3 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/3 cup blueberries or 5 strawberries (optional)
• 2 Tbs honey
• 1-2 egg whites

Combine oatmeal and enough water so that a thick paste forms. Stir until desired consistency is reached. Add paste, berries and honey in blender. Add egg white after mixture is thoroughly blended. Apply to clean face. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with cool water.

Egg whites are great at refining the skin, making it more taut, and absorbing excess oil. Oatmeal is known for its binding qualities but more importantly it aids in removing dead skin cells and refining oily skin. Strawberries and blueberries have natural astringent and exfoliation qualities.
Vegan option: omit egg white and honey; instead add handful of very finely ground raw almonds to the blender and 1 Tbs water.

• 1 apple, pureed and deseeded.
• 1 Tb lemon juice

Mix ingredients. Apply to face for 10-15 minutes.

Apples are great at balancing combination skin, and they are natural exfoliators replete with alpha hydroxy acids.

Problem Skin

• Tomato, pureed and deseeded or 1/2 cup of undiluted tomato paste

Spread thin and even layer on face, avoiding eyes and lips. Leave on for ten minutes (a slight tingling may occur) and rinse well.

This mask helps to absorb surface oils, and specifically targets pimples and blackheads.

• 12 uncoated aspirin
• 2 Tbs warm water

Dissolve aspirin in enough warm water to make a slightly runny paste. Paste can be applied to cleansed skin directly, or added to 1/2 cup of either plain yogurt, aloe vera gel. Glycerin, sweet almond oil, or a clay mask.
This mixture does wonders for red pimples and large clogged pores.

Asprin, known as acetylsalicylic acid, is derived from salicin which comes from the bark and leaves of the willow plant. Aspirin is the buffered or neutralized form of salicyclic acid and thus has similar properties (non-abrasive exfoliation and skin renewal) when used topically on the skin.

Patch test this mask before applying to your face. If you have sensitive or dry skin this mask is NOT for you. Don’t try this if you are allergic to aspirin or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. When in doubt, ask your doctor before use.

BODY SCRUB

• 1/2 cup Olive, Sesame, Jojoba or Avocado oil
• 1 cup Epsom and/or Sea Salts

After rinsing body with warm water, dampen washcloth or sponge with oil. Dip into salt and gently massage over body. Rinse.
Experiment with adding 2 drops of an essential oil to main oil used. Try lavender, patchouli, ylang ylang, rose, neroli, or bergamot for a relaxing treat!

Disclaimer: We do not provide medical advice or recommend that our users make medical decisions based on our website. Instead, we hope that our readers will use this website as a reference in seeking medical and healthcare services and advice from qualified professionals.

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Labels: Anti-oxidant, DIY, food for the face, living holistically, natural products, skin care, skincare

Stylist Linda Rodin who has worked with every celeb from the late Herb Ritts to Madonna. Of course, she had access to every big-ticket “miracle” potion on the market through her connections, but like many of us, she was always disappointed. Rodin researched and experimented for two years until she found a concoction of essential oils that left her middle-aged skin soft and subtle. After positive feedback from her famous friends and even her doctor, her Olio Lusso hit shelves.

The blend of arnica, calendula, neroli, sunflower, and argan oil delivers a potent dose of antioxidants, fatty acids, and antibacterial benefits to moisturize and heal all skin types. After I tested so many other products, my naturally oily skin was painfully dry, tight, and flaky-- and, dare I say, magically transformed overnight with a few drops. My skin was more balanced, moisturized without greasiness; breakouts were less frequent; and I glowed. Beauty editors always test lines and move on, but Olio Lusso is now one of my classics.

$130 at Dr. David Colbert
119 Fifth Ave., at 19th St.

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Labels: Argan, arnica, essential oils, moisturizer, natural products, Olio Lusso, skin care

Long a symbol of longevity in Asia because of their health-promoting properties, shiitake mushrooms have been used medicinally by the Chinese for more than 6,000 years.

Shiitakes have four to ten times the flavor of common white button mushrooms. In addition to their robust/pungent, woodsy flavor and meaty texture, shiitakes provide high levels of protein (18%), potassium, niacin and B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

They have natural antiviral and immunity-boosting properties and are used nutritionally to fight viruses, lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure. Lentinan, an immunostimulant derived from shiitakes, has been used to treat cancer, AIDS, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibrocystic breast disease, and other conditions with impressive results. Researchers S. Suzuki and Oshima found that a raw shiitake eaten daily for one week lowered serum cholesterol by 12%.

Shiitake skin creams for firmer, brighter Skin

Redbook Magazine, January 2003, reported that cosmetic companies are making skin creams using shiitake mushrooms because shiitakes contain kojic acid. Kojic acid, according to Natural-skin-care specialist Nora Traviss, "prevents the formation of melanin, or pigment, in skin, resulting in a brighter, more even complexion." In addition, kojic acid has an astringent quality that temporarily tightens the skin and makes it taut. Manufacturers of shiitake skin creams include BeComing, SCO, and Chanel.

Source & Source

Labels: eating for good skin, health food, Holistic Health, kojic acid, lentinan, shiitake mushrooms, skin care, vegetable

If you think you're getting the full benefits of olives by including a little olive oil in your salad dressing, think again. Researchers in Heidelberg, Germany have looked at all different types and forms of olives-including black olives, green olives, extra virgin olive oil, and refined virgin olive oil-and brining processes used in the olive industry, and their results tell us that there are even more potential health benefits in olives than previously thought.

But to get all of these health benefits, you'll probably need to expand the forms and types of olives that you include in your Healthiest Way of Eating. For example, suppose you've been a devoted fan of green olives, but you have never ventured out into the black olive category. In this case, you are missing out on the type of whole olive with the greatest concentration of phenolic antioxidants and the greatest antioxidant capacity! Including some black olives in your Healthiest Way of Eating is going to increase your health benefits in this regard.

Or suppose that you only eat whole olives, and you have traditionally considered olive oil to be of little value when it comes to health. In this case, you're missing out on some particular antioxidants (like secoiridoids and lignans) that are especially concentrated in the oil. And you won't be able to settle for refined virgin olive oil, either. By insisting on extra virgin olive oil, you'll be doubling or tripling your intake of these unique antioxidants! (Since the processing of olives into oils can concentrate the olives' fat, it can also concentrate some of their fat-soluble nutrients. In addition, certain steps in the production process allow nutrients in different parts of the olive to combine with the oil, once again allowing olive oil to become more concentrated in certain nutrients.)

The olives you might want to focus less attention on are those prepared using the Spanish brining process. According to the research results of this study, this process seemed to take too great a toll on some of the phenolic antioxidants found in olives.

What potential health benefits might be associated with a greater emphasis on consuming extra virgin olive oil and an array of different types of olives? Researchers in this study concluded that olive oil and olives were very likely to be an even greater reason for the cancer-protective effects of the Mediterranean diet than previously suspected-and more specifically, more important for protection against breast and colorectal cancer, and in a somewhat surprising finding, against skin cancer as well.

Source

Labels: Anti-oxidant, eating healthy, health food, healthy diet, olive oil, olives

TOMATOES

What to look for: Choose tomatoes that feel slightly soft and heavy. Size doesn't really matter as long as the color is as red as possible.
Storage: Don't refrigerate tomatoes. Temperatures below 55 degrees will destroy the flavor and make them mealy.
How to use them: There's actually more heart-healthy lycopene in cooked tomatoes, so make a basic sauce or, for a twist, try roasting them.

STRAWBERRIES

What to look for: Opt for fragrant, firm and fully red berries. The smaller berries are often the most flavorful.
Storage: Strawberries mold quickly at room temperature, but can last for a few days uncovered in the refrigerator. They freeze well (and they're about to go out of season), so wash them, cut off the hulls and put them in a sealed bag with as little air as possible.
How to use them: Throw them into a spinach salad or try this super-simple recipe for balsamic berries.

PEAS

What to look for: Skip pods that are blemished, wilted or loose. They should look crisp, bright and plump.
Storage: Pods can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Before refrigerating, wash and dry them fully and put them in a plastic bag.
How to use them: If cooking, blanch peas in water to bring out their full color and crispness. Or make a simple summery side dish by pairing raw peas with avocado and lemon.

Source

Labels: fruits and veggies, lycopene, peas, strawberries, tomatoes

For each condition listed below, read about the natural ingredients that may help alleviate it.

Oily skin and visible pores

Look for: Astringent ingredients to penetrate skin quickly and accelerate the healing of skin blemishes.
Active ingredients: Witch hazel, jojoba oil, rosemary
Results: Skin looks refreshed without adding extra oils
Recommended ingredients: Rose petals, witch hazel, citrus fruits, rosemary

Source

Labels: DIY, living holistically, natural products, natural therapy, skin care

Scrubs exfoliate the skin, removing dull, dead cells. Sloughing off layers helps stimulate blood circulation, remove toxins, clean pores and reveal softer, glowing skin.

Peppermint Sugar Scrub
2 cups brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup sweet almond oil
1/2 cup apricot oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops vanilla essential oil

Mix dry ingredients together and blend well. Add oils to the mixture and blend thoroughly.

To use, stand in the shower or tub and gently rub a handful of the scrub into your skin in a circular motion. Start with your feet and work toward the heart. Do not use on face or delicate areas. Be careful since the oils can make your shower or tub slippery.

Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator and use within four to six weeks. You may safely exfoliate once or twice weekly.

Sweet Body Polish
3/4 cup sea salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
3 drops rose geranium essential oil
10 drops vanilla essential oil
1 drop neroli essential oil

In a glass or stainless steel bowl, mix the sea salt and brown sugar, breaking apart any lumps.

In a glass measuring cup, combine all four oils. Slowly add the oil to the dry mixture and combine well. Use more or less oil to achieve desired consistency. When ready to use, briskly rub onto skin, especially calves, knees, hands and elbows. Rinse off with warm water.

A note about scrubs

How to use a scrub:
Using gentle pressure, rub in a circular motion upward, toward the heart. This will help stimulate lymphatic flow.

Source

Labels: DIY, living holistically, natural products, scrubs, skin care

Organic and all-natural beauty treatments made with real fruits and vegetables are sprouting up like weeds. But most serums, lotions and potions still contain extra ingredients (preservatives and dyes) that we could live without. We consulted Whole Foods’ Whole Body senior global coordinator Jeremiah McElwee to find out how to whip up our own beauty remedies, using food products from the grocery store.

Oily Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp lemon juice

Normal Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar

Combine all ingredients. Scoop out 1/4 cup and gently rub all over your face using a circular motion, for at least one minute. Rinse with cool (not cold) water. Pat skin dry with a soft cloth. Store unused cleanser in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

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Labels: cleansers, DIY, food for the face, natural products

Hair-care products designed to help you straighten, smooth, and prevent frizz are everywhere, but the fact is you don't need a straight-hair, curly hair, or frizz-free hair routine to get great results. Actually, you don't need to focus solely on anti-frizz shampoos and conditioners, because they rarely differ from other shampoos and conditioners designed for other hair types, such as dry or color-treated (and when they do differ you are not going to see a difference in the results you get). It's more of a marketing angle than anything else. In the long run, the most important aspect of your hair care routine is the styling tools you use.

There are no products that can make hair smooth or put curls in place neatly all by themselves. You certainly have never seen a hair stylist put some shampoo, conditioner, and styling products in someone's hair and then send them on their way.

None of this means that there aren't some good shampoos and conditioners available to help make dry, frizzy hair smoother. Dove, Pantene, L'Oreal, and Garnier Fructis have brilliant (I mean really, really excellent) inexpensive options, as does John Frieda (which is a bit pricier but still is more reasonable than salon products). You may need to experiment to find which products work best for you--and they needn't be from the same brand.

A silicone hair serum is a concentrated product that is almost always non-aqueous and composed primarily of a silicone, such as cyclomethicone, dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane or phenyl trimethicone. These silicones are crucial for making hair look and feel healthy. In fact, they are so important that almost 85% of all hair care products contain them.

For fine or thin hair silicone serums are best used sparingly and for thick, coarse hair you can be a bit more generous. You can apply these on damp hair before heat styling and/or after styling to add more shine and reinforce a smooth, sleek style. If you are using a flat iron always keep in mind that hair must be completely dry (bone dry) before you use it. You can also use a straightening balm, gel, or lotion after the silicone serum to help hold hair in place. Combining them makes for smoother results and ensures greater heat protection than using either alone. Most women with curly, frizzy hair will find both products are needed to create and maintain a stick-straight hairstyle. You may also want to try applying the straightening balm, gel, or lotion first, and follow with a couple drops of silicone serum prior to heat styling. Experiment to see which order of application works best for you.

Just to reinforce the basics, be careful to use the silicone serum sparingly and not apply directly to roots, as this can make hair limp and create a greasy appearance. You may want to dispense a couple pumps of silicone serum in the palm of your hand, then mix with your straightening balm or lotion. The blend can be distributed through hair, beginning in the middle of hair's length, then working down toward the hair tips, then back up toward the roots (but stopping short of them for the reason mentioned earlier). After styling is finished, you can tame minor flyaway strands or frizzies with a dab more of either your straightening balm, lotion, or a teeny bit more of the silicone serum.

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Labels: frizzy hair, hair-care, Paula Begoun, straight hair, tips

Between the weather and my weight changes my rings are constantly swinging and wrapping the wrong directions.

If the gap is too small for a ring resize then I end up finger swapping unless I’m needing an inbetween. Oh the madness.

Instead of an ugly band aid or those awkward ring guards, there’s Ring Guard Solution. A gel that is applied to the inside of a band before wear, takes care of rings that slip, slide or fall off your finger. The temporary gel dries to a clear plastic to secure the ring in place. Best of all, you just peel it off after removing the ring.

P.S. Ring Guard can be added to clip-on earrings also to keep them from pinching so much.

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Labels: great idea, innovative, new product, ring guard

Many foods have been heavily promoted as being healthy. But not all of them are. Here are some foods which are far less “good for you” than most people believe.

Energy bars

Energy bars usually contain protein and fiber, but they may also be loaded with calories. That’s fine if you occasionally make one a meal, but most people eat them as snacks.

Granola

Granola sounds healthy. But it’s often high in fat, sugar and calories. Don’t be fooled by a seemingly low calorie count; the portion sizes on the label are usually tiny.

Salad Toppings

The pecans and Gorgonzola cheese on Panera Bread’s Fuji Apple Chicken Salad propel it into double-cheeseburger territory. Before ordering a salad, check its nutrition information.

Smoothies

Added sugars can make some smoothies the equivalent of drinking fruit pie filling. The smallest serving of Jamba Juice’s Orange Dream Machine has 340 calories and an astonishing 69 grams of sugars.

Sushi Rolls

Sushi rolls vary, and the fried bits and mayonnaise in some can really jack up the calories.

Yogurts

The “fruit” in yogurt is really jam (that is to say, mostly sugar).

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Labels: health food

WITH EYES ON THE BOTTOM LINE, COMPANIES TRY TO GET WORKERS TO SLIM DOWN AND SHAPE UP....

Across the city and beyond, a growing number of companies are trying to similarly open their employees' minds and otherwise encourage them to eat better, lose weight, exercise, tend to dormant medical issues - in short, to be healthier.

In recent years "wellness" has become quite the corporate buzzword: The magazine publisher Meredith Corporation is one of a rising number of firms with a "wellness manager." UPS employees can volunteer to be "wellness champions" and inform colleagues of company resources; Scholastic has an on-site "wellness center" in its SoHo offices.

Other increasingly common initiatives include smoking-cessation and weight-loss programs, on-site gyms and exercise classes, and health screenings in which employees fill out questionnaires about their lifestyles and take blood tests to determine risk factors. More than two-thirds of companies now offer such programs, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

"At first it was just something a few large workplaces were doing," says Marilyn Helms, a professor of management at Dalton State College in Georgia who's studied corporate health programs. "Now, with rising healthcare costs, the tide's kind of turning."

As Helms' words suggest, there are financial reasons for all this get-well gusto. Having healthier workers cuts down on health-care costs, as well as reducing sick days and medical leaves.

But the rationale goes beyond cutting costs. There's growing appreciation for the notion that healthier employees are happier employees - and more productive ones. "People do a better job when they feel good about themselves," says Deborah Musso, director of Sea Change New York, a wellness company that works with firms around the city. "This is what companies are getting to understand."

Tim O'Neil, the Meredith wellness manager, sees creating a healthier workplace as part of building a better business culture. "Anytime the company can help an employee feel better, enhance their level of energy and help create a fun atmosphere at work, it's mutually beneficial," he says.

Some employers are offering another incentive besides convenience: cash, vacation days or prizes. The Boston-based Tangerine Wellness has built a booming business setting up incentive-based plans that reward employees for shedding pounds or maintaining a healthy weight. At some companies, colleagues team up to compete in weight-loss contests, and the winners split a cash award or donate it to charity. Tangerine CEO Aaron Day compares the incentives to stock options. "People are used to rewards for measured results," he says.

Events like contests figure into other initiatives. At XMPie, a division of Xerox, 22 staffers teamed up for the Eat Well Live Well Challenge, which required colleagues to walk 10,000 steps and eat five cups of fruits or vegetables each day.

In addition to fostering healthier habits, the contest - which required workers to wear pedometers around the office to log their movement - was "a great morale booster," says marketing director Kimberly Meyers.

In addition to health coaches, the SoHo-based publisher Scholastic has an on-site wellness center staffed by a doctor and nurse practitioner - a perk 13% of companies offer, according to SHRM.

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Labels: Corporate Wellness, eating healthy, health trend, wellness, workplace

If you take vitamins, congratulations. You know you need some kind of daily supplement to help your diet. That's the good news.

Here's the bad news: They might not be doing anything for you.

They might even be harming you.

How do I know?

Researchers have now discovered that most vitamins do zip or worse because they're synthetic.

How would you know if you are eating synthetic vitamins? I promise you they don't advertise it.

Do this: Pull out your bottle of daily vitamins and look at the label.

Check and see if you see any of these synthetic ingredients on the label:

Labels: natural products, synthetic, Vitamins

Olives - In 2001 Australian scientists discovered that the more olive oil people had in their diets, the less wrinkles they had. The oleic acid found in olives and virgin olive oil is the key here. Oleic acid actually soaks through the membranes of skin cells plumping them up, which then makes fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. Organic extra virgin olive oil contains high levels of antioxidants like phenols, and vitamins E and A, which fight free radicals and thus prevent premature aging. Those antioxidants help neutralize the oxidation process, which is common to all fats, and preserve the properties of olive oil too. I know this may sound crazy but I take a teaspoon of extra virgin oil everyday. Make sure it is the extra virgin olive oil as it is the best for the skin.

Labels: anti-aging, Anti-oxidant, beans, berries, eating for good skin, wrinkles

Just when we thought we'd seen every kind of energy drink possible (calorie-burning, immunity, etc), a new one is billing itself as an anti-energy beverage.

Turns out, DRANK is a carbonated, grape-flavored beverage spiked with melatonin, valerian root and rose hips. Apparently it is "very, very popular in Houston," and it's sold throughout the south in liquor and convenience stores. So you can sit back, relax and sip into a more peaceful state.

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Labels: anti-energy drink, drinks, energy drinks, innovative, new product

One of the simplest changes you can make is to your diet. The foods you eat play an important role in your body functioning and how you adapt to your environment. By adding or eliminating certain foods to your diet you can change how your body functions and adapts. With a little experimenting, you can learn a lot about how dietary changes can help alleviate your allergies.

Here are some natural nutritional solutions to reduce your allergy flare-ups:

- Eliminate Dairy – dairy causes a production of mucus in the nasal and throat membranes that can result in a sore throat, hoarseness, bronchitis, and ear infections. Try substituting soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, coconut milk, and hemp milk.

- Increase Your Omega-3s – omega-3 oils and fatty acids are natural inflammatory agents that can reduce inflammatory diseases such as asthma and migraine headaches. They can also help treat a variety of skin disorders. Try adding foods like fish, nuts, flaxseed, and hemp seed oil to your diet.

- Eat Red Fruits and Berries – red fruits and berries are rich in antioxidants that support cardiovascular and respiratory health. They inhibit inflammation which is an underlying factor in allergies and contain an ingredient that helps alleviate pain. Try raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, pomegranate, blueberries, and blackberries to name a few.

- Add Cayenne Pepper – high in vitamins, calcium, and potassium, this pepper aids in healing the digestive system, rebuilding the tissues in the stomach and intestines, and eliminating bloating or gas. Cayenne can be added to almost any savory foods and it gives an extra kick too!

This year, get your allergies under control naturally. Enjoy your days outdoors and eat the foods that keep your body healthy and happy!

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Labels: allergies, berries, Dairy, diet, natural health, Omega-3s

Fruit Loops, Fruity Pebbles, and other technicolor cereals could be bad for kids, and not just because of the sugar high. Turns out, the food dyes used to create such candylicious treats could be contributing to childhood hyperactivity and other behavior issues.

Last week, the Center for Science in the Public Interest began urging the Food and Drug Administration to outlaw eight artificial food dyes, citing three decades' worth of studies that suggest the artificial dyes could exacerbate kids' behavioral problems.

The FDA, meanwhile, disputes the claim. Here's more:

Over the years, the FDA has consistently disputed the center's assertion. . . Julie Zawisza, an FDA spokeswoman, said Tuesday that color additives undergo safety reviews prior to approval for marketing and that samples of each artificial coloring are tested. She said the agency reviewed one of the studies that the center cites in calling for a ban.

"(We) didn't find a reason to change our conclusions that the ingredients are safe for the general population," Zawisza said.

In lieu of a full ban, the group is asking the FDA to add warning labels to foods that contain any of eight dyes: Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6. With so many multicolored food products being marketed to kids, children are far more likely to consume these dyes than adults. Considering that dyes are used primarily to make products more appealing to kids, it's no wonder that marketing-savvy companies want to keep using them. But since the unnatural ingredients add nothing to the food's nutritional value and may actually be harmful, I'm all for more regulation or at least warning labels, even if the connection to behavioral problem is up for debate.

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Labels: artificial colors, dyes, food additives, study, toxins

1. Protein In May early results were reported for the multipart study called "Diogenes" (a name created by combining the words diet, obesity and genes), which is being funded by the European Community. Researchers split 205 people who'd lost weight on a fixed diet over two months into five groups, each eating a different kind of diet, to see which group did the best at keeping the weight off. The results: participants who ate more protein were least likely to regain the lost pounds.

2. Nuts Although they are high in calories, research suggests that nuts help keep people thin. In one study with more than 8,000 participants, at the University of Navarra in Spain, people who rarely or never ate nuts gained slightly more over two years than those who munched on them at least twice a week (the results were adjusted for risk factors for obesity). Another study, at Loma Linda University in California, found that overweight women lost weight over six months when they were given almonds to eat and otherwise ate as they chose. Nuts contain mostly unsaturated fat, especially monounsaturated fats, which raise "good" cholesterol. They tend to be filling and may push the body to burn more fat, says Dr. Leo Galland, author of "The Fat Resistance Diet" (Broadway, 2005).

3. Fruits and Vegetables Women who consume five or more fruit and vegetable servings daily are more likely to maintain weight loss than those who eat fewer servings, according to the Centers of Disease Control. (How much is a serving? It's about a half cup of cut-up fruit, berries, or nonleafy vegetables, one full cup of leafy veggies or one medium-size whole fruit.)

4. Berries As you enjoy your daily servings of fruit, don't forget berries. Research at Doshisha University in Japan suggests that anthocyanins, the flavonoids that give berries (and other plant foods) a red, blue or purple color, alter the activity of genes found in human fat cells. In a separate study in which mice were fed anthocyanins, researchers found they didn't gain weight, even when they were given an otherwise high-fat diet that would typically plump them up.

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Disclaimer: I believe in eating these foods because they're healthy, not to make you skinny as per Newsweek.

Labels: anthocyanins, berries, eating healthy, flavonoids, nutrition, Nuts, protein, weight loss