Emotional balance is considered mastered when our mind, body and spirit are in line with each other and we are in a space where we have done our inner work and we feel at peace. We need to pay attention that all situations and life issues are resolved, or at least aired, and pay attention to the feelings that emerge from within us.
Many times our emotional balance is ignored and passed off as stress, discomfort, boredom and distraction; and we try and fix it by all sorts of ways that really just don't work. Some of those fix-it methods are eating, eating comfort foods, shopping, sex, gambling, drinking, over working, and the list can go one, and we never get to the core of why we just can't feel better.
Emotional balance is as important as any other health aspect and some times even more, as it can accelerate our other health issues, in fact it can actually be the cause of other health issues. It is one of the most important aspects to the whole body balance.
When you are out of balance it creates stress and conflict in your relationships; and that is all of your relationships, which include family, employment, road rage, marital, friendships and right down to the shopping clerk. So you can see how emotional balance is as important as physical health, in fact even more so as it effects your physical health. You truly can't improve your physical health with out balancing your emotional.
A regular spiritual practice can greatly assist in centering you and maintaining clarity about those aspects of your life, which are truly important. This can be any kind of spiritual practice including yoga, meditation, qi gong, prayer, EFT; it is something good to practice on a daily basis and preferably in the morning and the evening. Feng sui is great for peace and tranquility in the home and work space, as with the proper placement of objects and de-clutter, it creates a calm soothing energy in your space.
If you feel your emotional balance is off, improving your diet is one positive step you can take, your mind, body and spirit can work much closer together if your food intake is in balance, that means eliminating items such as caffeine, sugar, processed foods, soda, alcohol, cigarettes and eating whole, organic foods.
Work on creating a positive outlook and attitude on life, always look for the good in everything and start being grateful, especially when you feel there isn't anything to be grateful for; you can always find something. When you do this it shifts your energy into balance. You will feel lighter, brighter and much more healthy.
Emotional Balance Is Essential For Healthy Living
Summer Exercises:
Shed that stubborn roll around your middle with circuit training as it ensures that you work your muscles in a slightly different way while strengthening your body at every angle. Do the exercises as a circuit; moving from one to the next one without rest. Complete a total of three circuits of these five exercises, resting for 1 min after each.
Here are the five exercises:
Squats: Stand with feet wider than your shoulders, toes slightly pointed out. Pretend as if you are sitting on a chair until the top of your thighs are parallel to the ground. Don’t let your knees cross over your toes. Pull your abs in and squeeze your hips as you come up and exhale. Repeat this around 25 times.
Lunge pumps: Stand with your feet apart, wider than the shoulders, abs pulled in, take a step forward, lower your body to kneeling position. Bend your back knee close to the ground; your front knee should never cross over your toes. Exhale as you come up. Repeat this 12 to 15 times for each leg.
Standing bicycles: Stand with feet wider than shoulders, place the hands behind your ears. Move your left leg up and across your body. Bring the right shoulder and elbow down and across your body. Exhale as your knee comes up. Do 25 to 30 reps each side.
Push-up plank and move: Begin in a push up position, hand wider than your shoulder, draw back your navel, walk with your feet towards your hands as far as you can. Then walk your hands out to push up plank position. Repeat the move. Exhale as you bring your feet close to your hands and repeat it for 15 to 20 times.
Crunches with raised hips: Lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Raise your hips off the floor, hold this position throughout the exercise. Pull your abs in and hands at your ears. Raise your shoulder blade off the floor and exhale. Don’t drop your hips down until you finish 20 to 30 reps.
Tips:
Always warm-up before workout and cool off with stretches after your workout. Keep sipping water during the workouts.
If you feel tired or fatigued, stop immediately. Remember it’s about working out smarter not harder.
Right kind of massage:
Getting a massage has become a popular way to reduce stress and muscle tension. But one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to a massage. There are several different types of massages and it is important to understand the differences among them and the relief each can provide. Here are some of the common types:
* Craniosacral massage: Treatment focuses on imbalances or blockages in the head, neck and spine areas.
* Deep tissue massage: Targets deep muscle tissue through direct pressure and friction on muscles using heavy strokes.
* Neuromuscular massage: Concentrates on painful areas in muscles. A massage therapist uses deep massage techniques to locate and release tender points in muscles.
* Rolfing: Focuses on the connective tissue that forms a web of support throughout the body. Practitioners often apply pressure in an attempt to realign connective tissues, which they believe become out of alignment by everyday stress.
* Swedish massage: Most common form of massage that concentrates on soft tissues near the surface of your skin. Therapist uses long, smooth strokes and kneading movements along the skin, working all areas of the body.
* Sports massage: Designed for athletes to focus on the specific muscle groups used in a particular sport. A sports massage therapist might use a combination of Swedish and deep massage to attend to muscle pain or stiffness.
Flabby, unfirm hands are quite an ugly sight:
Flabby, unfirm hands are quite an ugly sight. Here’s a simple program for creating tighter arms in the comfort of your home. The muscles being focused on are the triceps (back of the arm) and the biceps (front of the arm just below the front of the shoulder). You’ll be performing a tri-set, which means three exercises in a row without any rest. Select a weight that’s challenging, focus on impeccable form and concentrate on the muscle you’re working. The triceps are a larger muscle than the biceps, so there are two triceps exercises and one biceps exercise.
Tricep dips
* Take two benches or chairs, sit on one.
* Place palms on the bench with fingers wrapped around the edge.
* Beginners should start with feet on the floor and knees at a 90-degree angle. As you progress, move your feet out further until your legs are straight with a slight bend in the knees. Then use another chair/bench and place both feet on the other bench.
* Slide your upper body off the bench with your elbows nearly but not completely locked.
* Lower your upper body slowly toward the floor until your elbows are bent slightly more than 90 degrees.
* Contracting your triceps muscles, extend your elbows returning to the starting position stopping just short of the elbows fully extending.
* Inhale while lowering your body.
* Exhale while returning to the starting position.
Perform 12-15 repetitions and immediately go to the next exercise.
Dumbbell Double Biceps Curl
* Stand straight with a bit of distance between your feet. Your back too should be straight.
* Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your arms at each side and palms facing forward. Contracting the biceps muscles, raise the weights toward your shoulders stopping just short of the weights touching the shoulders.
* Slowly return to the starting position.
* Exhale while lifting the weights.
* Inhale while returning to the starting position.
* Your upper arms should remain stationary throughout the exercise.
Perform 12-15 repetitions and immediately go to the next exercise.
The Head Triceps Extension
* Stand with a dumbbell in your right hand. You can hold your left elbow if you need support.
* Press the weight over your head until your right arm is almost straight with a slight bend in the elbow at the top position.
* Do not allow the weight to touch your head or neck area.
* Slowly bend your elbow, lowering the weight until your arm forms a 90-degree angle behind your head stopping before the weight touches your back.
* Contracting the triceps muscles, slowly return to the starting position.
* Exhale while returning to the starting position.
* Inhale while lowering the weight.
* After completing the set on the right side, repeat on the left side.
* This exercise is not to be performed with very heavy dumbbells. The technique is more important than the weight.
You can also perform this exercise while seated on a bench.
All three exercises are considered one cycle. Beginners should perform one cycle on three alternate days of the week. Intermediates should perform two cycles on alternate days of the week and pros — three cycles. Wait one minute between cycles before repeating. To get best results this specialty arm workout should be incorporated into your exercise schedule which includes weight training and cardiovascular exercises.
Remove ugly splits successfully:
The hair splits when the cuticle is damaged and the fibres of the cortex unravel. This makes the mane dry, brittle prone to tangling and split ends. Perming, colouring, insufficient conditioning, or too much brushing or back combing, especially with poor quality combs or brushes can cause hair to split. Spiky rollers and hair pins, excessive heat and irregular trims can also cause aggravate the problem.
Split ends can not be mended, the only long term cure is to have them snipped off. What is lost in the length will be gained in quality. Frequent shampooing too isn’t recommended as this in itself is stressful to hair and causes split ends to extend up the hair shaft. Never have the dryer too near to your hair, or set it on a high temperature. Try conditioners and serums that are designed to temporarily seal split ends and give resistance to further splitting.
A trim once in two or four weeks should keep the problem at bay.
But before you head to the salon, here are something you should know.
* Do not comb wet hair.
* Use a good shampoo and avoid frequently changing your shampoo.
* Make sure you drink a lot of water as water contains minerals.
* Henna is recommended once a month.
* Oil your hair with a combination of almond oil and castor oil mixed and warmed together. After this, use turban therapy (the method of wrapping a towel soaked in warm water around the head) on the scalp, that will help penetrate the oil well into the roots.
Pamper your feet:
Apart from just looking ugly, neglected feet can also make life difficult for you. Here’s how you can avoid cracked feet.
Causes
Dry skin is one of the main causes of cracked feet. The sole of our feet has comparatively lesser number of sebaceous glands in comparison to any other body part. The skin in this area lacks the capacity to keep itself soft and this calls for more care.
Mild Cracks
Cracks appear when the area becomes very dry and starts peeling. If care is taken at the onset, it will save you a lot of trouble.
* Soak your feet in warm water, scrub off the dead cells and massage your soles with olive oil. This will increase blood circulation and the area becomes soft.
* Go for a professional pedicure which includes a treatment with paraffin wax, aromatic oils and minerals. This treatment activates the sebaceous glands, moisturises the feet and softens them.
* For an effective pedicure at home, soak your feet in warm water, scrub off the dead cells with a mixture of oatmeal and yogurt. Wash your feet clean after 10 minutes. Massage your feet with a rich vitamin E cream. Cover feet with a cling film and dip them in warm water. This helps the cream penetrate into the skin more easily.
Deep Cracks
Stop abusing your feet and try this enzyme pedicure.
* Clean the area with a chemical-free soap. Soak your feet in warm water till the skin becomes soft. Scrub off the dead skin gently with a pumice stone.
* Make a rich fruit pack with mashed banana, papaya or strawberry and apply a very thick layer on the feet. Cover the feet with disposable plastic socks. This cuts off the air supply to the feet, makes the area soft and kills bacterial infection.
* Leave this pack on for three-four hours. Remove the cover, massage gently and wash off with warm water followed by a cold rinse.
* Use a hydrating foot cream to moisturise the feet.
General care
* After a bath massage your feet with a moisturiser.
* Always wear good footwear with soles that are not hard.
* Don’t walk bare foot on hard surfaces.
* Wash your feet clean after spending time outdoors.
* Apply a foot cream at night.
Aloe Vera has many uses:
Aloe Vera has many uses. Externally, it is applied for burns and sprains. Internally, it can be taken for jaundice, constipation, loss of appetite and gas formation in the stomach. In burns, the juice or the pulp of the fleshy part of the leaf is applied externally. For sprains, the pulp or the juice may be gently rubbed over the affected part two to three times.
For all these ailments the juice or pulp of this plant is given. You can add a pinch of salt or sugar to the juice, which is bitter. For treating children with aloe juice, you can add honey, sugar, or jaggery to it. For a patient suffering from jaundice, the juice or pulp should be given by adding jaggery or sugar (salt should not be added).
The dose: Both pulp and juice of the aloe should be given in a dose of one teaspoonful (5 ml) thrice a day, preferably on an empty stomach. Keep a growing aloe in your kitchen windowsill handy as it is a great first aid treatment for burns. Aloe Vera will stop the pain almost immediately and even help in healing if a little of it is freshly applied after a few hours.
Goodbye to bad and unhealthy skin
If you want a healthy glowing skin first learn how to look after it and clean well.
Determine your skin type
There is no magic potion that can make ugly spots and pimples disappear overnight. But there are ways to rejuvenate the skin and bring it back to good health. Experts agree that taking regular care of your skin is the only way you can avoid problems and delay the ageing process. So cleanse, tone, moisturise and nourish your skin everyday. Within a week you will feel the difference. The skin has tremendous powers of self-regeneration when properly cared for and it is never too late to start.
Cleansing
Irrespective of the skin type, a thorough cleansing is a must. A film of dirt, stale sweat, oil deposits, stale make-up and other pollutants cover the skin and these are potent skin irritants. Cleanse your skin, according to your skin type. Splash your face with water then massage with a gentle face wash and work it up to a lather for about 30 seconds. A light massage will boost the supply of blood to the surface of your skin. Rinse until the soapy trace is removed. Pat dry your skin with a soft towel to absorb residual water from the surface of your skin.
Toning
Toning is again necessary for all skin types. It should follow immediately after cleansing. This helps in refreshing the skin. A good toning method is to keep cotton wool pads soaked in a bowl of skin tonic (any toner) in the refrigerator. After cleansing the skin, wipe with the skin toning pads and then pat the skin briskly with your finger tips. This stimulates the blood circulation. Gentle stroking movements can also be followed.
Moisturising
The most important part of the skin care routine is moisturising. Smooth your skin with moisturising lotions. Dot lotion onto your face, then massage it with your fingertips using light, upward strokes. This will leave a protective film on the skin, allowing make-up to be easily applied and ensuring there is a balanced moisture content.
Nourishing
Nourishing is a way of supplying emollients to the skin so that it can hold moisture better and perform its other functions. Use nourishment cream with Vitamin A to relieve dryness and maintain skin elasticity.
Facials
One should go in for a facial at least once a month. But before going in for a facial it is advisable to sit with the beautician to determine the skin type, its sensitivity and the damage on the skin. Facials must suit the skin type. Facials meant for tightening the skin is not meant for youngsters. Avoid facials that involve bleaches and scrubs. Scrubs sometimes leave the skin with ugly tiny grains making it rough. You know that your facial is going wrong is when the skin feels extremely dry and patchy, so watch out for those symptoms.
Hair
Hair care depends on the type of hair and differs from person to person, but one important tip for everyone is to keep the scalp free of oil and dirt. People with extremely oily hair can wash it everyday, those with normal hair can wash hair twice or thrice a week, and people with extremely dry hair should go in for a deep conditioning treatment before washing the hair. Oiling hair twice a week is advisable for people with extremely dry scalp, while those with an oily scalp should oil their hair once in 15 days.
Fruit Pulp
Our faces are usually the first to show the effects of seasonal changes. We then spend a small fortune on various products to restore our skin to its natural healthy glow. Often we don’t get the desired results despite using the best of products. Believe it or not, but your own fruit basket is filled with pure, natural ingredients which are not only good to eat, providing health and vitality on the inside, but are also beneficial externally. What’s more, fruit facials are being recommended like never before because of their gentle, non-abrasive properties.
The best way to look after your skin is to ensure you cleanse, tone and moisturise on a daily basis. Once a week treat your skin to a home facial to give your skin a boost of essential nutrients. And nothing works better than fruits.
First cleanse your skin, then exfoliate with a gentle face scrub and apply a fresh fruit or vegetable pack. To do this, gently scoop out the pulp, mash it and spread it on the face and body. Leave it on for 10 – 15 minutes, remove with lukewarm water, tone and moisturise. Try the following natural solutions:
Skin types
Dry: Mashed banana or thinly sliced slices melon.
Mature: Mashed avocado or apple pulp.
Oily: Thin slices of cucumber or pear pulp.
Normal: Peach pulp or thin slices of zucchini
Blemished: Believe it or not shredded cabbage works wonders!
Dull skin: Papaya pulp restores natural radiance.
How do they work?
* Apples help to reduce skin inflammation, and are a good source of vitamin C, and peptin which tones and firms the elastin and collagen fibres. These are essential for skin turgidity.
* Bananas stimulate cell production and are a good source of potassium, vital for nerve function.
* Avocado contains essential fatty acids which stimulate cell renewal and deeply nourish the skin. They contain the anti-oxidant vitamins C and E, which fight free radical damage as well as high levels of potassium and vitamin B6.
* Cabbage contains a substance called S-Methylmathionine which promotes healing. It also has a cooling, soothing effect on the skin and is a good source of vitamin C, which stimulates cell renewal.
* Zucchini are a good source of beta-carotene and vitamin C which all help in repairing environmental damage.
* Cucumbers are 96.4 per cent water and are therefore refreshing and cooling. They also have a neutralising effect on surface oil.
* Papaya contains a substance called papain which helps to break down the build up of superficial dead skin. They are also a good source of the anti-oxidants, vitamin C and beta-carotene.
* Peaches are exceptionally rich in vitamin C, providing one-third of the daily requirement if eaten. They stimulate the production of fresh new skin, restoring radiance to the complexion.
* Pectin is present in abundant quantities in pears. It firms and tones the skin, and is an excellent source of the all important vitamin C and potassium.
* Pears and bananas are most suitable for sensitive skins as they rarely cause allergic reactions. However, all of these face packs can be used by even the most sensitive skins as they are all gentle in their action and non-irritating.
* So save your pennies on costly products, get yourself down to the market and let Mother Nature work her magic!
Caution: If you are allergic to a particular fruit or vegetable please do not use it as this will cause irritation.
Copper Benefits:
Our skin, bones and brain benefit greatly from copper. Here’s how it can be beneficial to us:
Helpful component
Many are aware of the importance of iron in preventing anaemia, but few know that copper, also plays a critical role. Without small amounts of copper circulating in the body, iron cannot be absorbed from the intestinal tract or released from its storage sites in the liver and elsewhere.
The healing agent
Copper is an essential ingredient in the making of melanin — the pigment that is responsible for your skin and hair colour. It is also necessary in the formation of collagen. Copper deficiency leads to white patches.
Strong bones
Copper compounds are used in the treatment of numerous conditions characterised by arthritic changes, osteoporosis and inflammations.
Brain and nerve power
Copper is needed to build and maintain myelin, the protective sheath of nerves. It is also needed for the development of the brain from the embryonic stage.
Required dosage
The required copper intake, as per WHO standards is 0.4 to 2.0 mg per day for children and 1.5 to 3.0 mg per day for adults. It should not exceed 10mg a day.
Dietary source
The best source of copper for vegetarians lies in whole grains, nuts, raisins, lentils, chocolates, all cereals, potatoes, dark green vegetables, papaya, apples etc. Shellfish and red meat should be consumed by non-vegetarians.
Grow younger year after year
How old would you be, if you didn’t know how old you were? Most of us ‘feel’ atleast 10 years younger than we look. But the mirror seems to reflect a different picture. Being in the field of alternative medicine, I have a particular interest in foods and herbs that can hold back the ageing process. And what’s more, these foods are all around us.
By choosing to eat correctly, you can recapture many of your faculties that traditionally slip away with age. The way food and herbs fight disease, is by strengthening the immune system and combating free radical activity. Free radicals are the terrorists within the body that cause cellular damage and precipitate the ageing process. Antioxidants found in fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and vitamins douse free radical activity and prevent needless ageing. Here are some basic strategies to keep you young:
Take C0Q—10: As you age, your heart grows steadily weaker. Its pumping action becomes laboured as its machinery gets damaged by free radicals. Consequently, this leads to heart failure. Whilst we cannot stop the ageing process, we can control the rate at which we age. Much research documents that C0Q-10 restores energy production by heart muscle and improves heart function.
It has antioxidant properties that protect fat molecules from becoming oxidised. It protects arteries by preventing the oxidation of blood cholesterol. It strengthens the heart muscles thus preventing heart failure. Unfortunately, your body’s production of C0Q-10 begins to decline around the age of 30.
A prolonged deficiency affects heart function. Therefore, if you want your heart ticking, it is wise to take C0Q-10 supplements for its heart strengthening properties.
Lose weight if you are overweight: The heavier you are, the older you will feel and look. Being overweight also predisposes you to type II diabetes and a whole lot of other diseases like heart disease, osteoarthritis, cancer which are manifestations of premature ageing. Being 20 per cent above ideal body weight can make you more susceptible to type II dabetes. But the silver lining is that by just losing 7 per cent of your body weight you can reduce diabetes by 50 per cent and bring about better blood sugar control. Losing excess body weight has an amazing effect on insulin resistance. In other words, if you are an overweight, Type II diabetic and on antidiabetic medications, then by just losing a few pounds you can reduce medication and lower blood sugar effectively.
Take an antioxidant supplement everyday: Antioxidants are substances that neutralise free radicals, which play a significant role in the ageing process. Raw fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants. Therefore, it is wise to begin your day with a glass of freshly squeezed vegetable juice or fruit juice.
Control stress: As it causes needless ageing. While stress is all around us and is not necessarily bad, it is in the way we handle stress that causes ageing. Stress related medical and emotional problems have dramatically increased over the last few decades.
Stress, if handled incorrectly, can produce undesirable results. A student coming down with flu during the exams, an executive losing his job and suffering a recurrence of herpes. A person experiencing palpitations and difficulty in breathing when under fear are examples of stress affecting the body.
Under such stressful situations the inherent equilibrium in our body gets disturbed. When this disturbance persists over a period of time, we begin to age.
There are more antiageing strategies in this universe than one can think of. But the secret to the fountain of youth lies within each one of you rather than in global remedies. It is your commitment to your body that decides your state of health. It takes more than a New Year resolution to improve your health. Nevertheless, it is a beginning.
Eye Care:
Fundamental rule
Listen to your eyes. Whether they are sore, tearing, itchy or tired, they are sending you a message. Listen to them. If your eyes hurt when you have been working at the computer for too long, stop and take a break. Be receptive to your eyes.
Palming
A simple technique called palming can refresh your eyes when they are feeling tired( Remember the first rule! ).
The term 'palming' was coined by William Bates, the author of 2 books on vision improvement (The Bates Method for Better Eyesight Without Glasses/With Eye Chart) and (The Cure of Imperfect Sight by Treatment Without Glasses).
You just close your eyes and cover them with your palms, resting them on your cheek bones. Make sure you do not put pressure on your eyeballs. Relax and think of pleasant images. A variation is to imagine the 'blackest' black that you can. But the important thing is to keep your mind relaxed. There are more eye exercises available on the Vision Improvement Site.
Computer work
Nowadays, people spend a lot of time in front of the computer screen. Thus it is even more crucial to give your eyes adequate rest. Here are some things you can do:
If possible, do computer work without wearing your glasses. I know this is difficult for most people but this is enormously beneficial. I can only see the screen about 8-10 inches away, so I move the monitor nearer and shift my chair forward. Now my eyes don't feel as tried as before.
Look up across the room or out of the window every few minutes. Take a few deep breathes before continuing your work.
Stop work after every 40 minutes or so. Get up from your seat and take a walk around the place. Palm for a few minutes before going back to face the computer screen again.
Whenever possible, make use of your distant vision. Extended periods of time spent at the computer can really spoil one's eyesight, as you may have noticed. Seek out opportunities to see things that are far away.
Reading
When you are reading, do try to read without wearing your prescription glasses. Most people will find they can do so at a comfortable distance. Put the material you are reading far away just so that the letters can be seen clearly. Gradually, the distance at which you can read will increase.
Hair Care:
All the hair you’ll ever have on your head is determined at birth. That’s because hair grows from a root in your scalp and the number of roots cannot be changed.
Each hair grows from the root to a certain length depending on your unique genetic makeup, then slows down, then stops naturally. At some point, it’ll die and be shed. You lose about 100 hairs every day from this life cycle. The lost hair will be replaced by a new-growth shaft.
You can help make your hair grow longer by taking good care of each shaft: gentle brushing, using a mild shampoos, giving your self gentle scalp massages regularly, and limiting coloring and perms. You can increase the volume of individual hairs, and thus make your hair appear more full, with protein shampoos and conditioners that coat each shaft.
Your hair is mostly made of water. To be shiny and supple, your hair needs to be adequately hydrated. You lose water from the sun, too much processing, and blow- drying. Oil from your scalp coats each shaft and acts as a barrier against evaporation.
Your hair also needs proper blood circulation to remain strong, which can be increased with brushing and scalp massage. If you wear your hair pulled back in a French Twist or ponytail, give your hair a break once in awhile by letting it hang freely. Those styles put a lot of pressure on the hair, especially at the front hairline. Also, don’t use any uncoated elastic bands in your hair! Elastic grabs at the shaft and will break it.
Obesity:
How is it treated?
The FDA is calling the nation’s obesity problem an “epidemic” and released a report in 2004 with goals and actions focusing on a campaign entitled, “Calories Count.” Recommended actions include:
- enhancing the food label to display calorie count more prominently and to use meaningful serving sizes
- initiating a consumer education campaign focusing on the "Calories Count" message
- encouraging restaurants to provide nutritional information to consumers
- stepping up enforcement actions concerning accuracy of food labels
- revising FDA guidance for developing drugs to treat obesity
- working cooperatively with other government agencies, non-profits, industry, and academia on obesity research
Obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Weight loss reduces risk factors for complications associated with the excess weight, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. There are several treatment options for the management of overweight and obese individuals, including diet therapy, changes in physical activity, behavioral therapy, drug therapy, surgery and a combination of these.
The initial goal of weight loss therapy is to decrease body weight by about 10%. Once this goal is met, then further weight loss can be attempted. This weight loss will not occur overnight, but you can see a difference over mere weeks if you stay with your program. Once the weight is lost, maintenance of the loss needs to be implemented to ensure that the weight stays off.
Diet Therapy
Lifestyle modifications such as increasing physical activity and decreasing calorie intake are recommended instead of "dieting." Crash diets should definitely be avoided. The best approach to changing your diet is to talk to your doctor to find out what is best for you. Your doctor can provide you with dietary guidelines or refer you to a dietician for further help. Dietary guidelines will differ for each person depending on height, weight, concurrent health conditions, and desired amount of weight loss. A diet must be established that will allow for weight loss and be easy to comply with. Maintenance of your program is the key to keeping the pounds off.
Exercising is important to any good weight loss program. An aerobic exercise program reduces weight loss regardless of any changes you make in your diet. Adding 45 minutes of aerobic exercise a day is the equivalent of losing 400-800 Calories depending on your intensity. Minimally, that would result in losing one pound per week. Even if you can only exercise three times per week, that would still help you lose almost 2 pounds per month or 20 pounds over a year! Remember that this is without any changes in your diet. Dropping 500 Calories a day from your diet (the equivalent of one large French fries) will double your results.
Weight training and calisthenics also help you to reduce weight not by direct loss but by decreasing fatty tissue and increasing lean body mass. This will increase your metabolism and burn more calories while at rest.
Obese patients should start slowly with low-intensity walking or swimming and advance intensity as tolerated. If you have cardiovascular disease or other conditions that may make exercise very difficult, talk you your physician before you begin.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavior modification is common to all weight loss programs. Modification includes strategies that aid individuals to overcome barriers to comply with dietary changes and physical activity. Most behavioral modification programs encourage self-monitoring of both diet and exercise to increase one's own awareness of the activities. Modification strategies may also include stress management, social support, and stimulus control.
Combining behavioral therapy, diet therapy, and increased physical activity should be considered as initial "therapy" for weight loss. This combination should be continued for at least 6 months before proceeding to drug therapy.
Drug Therapy
After all other modes of losing weight have failed, you should talk to your physician about your options with drug therapy. Medications can be used to stimulate weight loss by either decreasing the appetite or inhibiting the absorption of fat from the intestines. Also, certain antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) may suppress the appetite by regulating levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Serotonin is thought to induce a feeling of hunger and fullness. Click on the links below to learn more about available prescription medications that can aid in weight loss.
Many health food and supplement stores promote various "natural" or herbal products for weight loss. Even though they claim to be effective and "natural," these products can be associated with certain harmful side effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stringent rules pertaining to the safety, efficacy, and quality that pharmaceutical manufacturers must follow in order to market drugs in the U.S. Manufacturers of herbal supplements do not have to follow these same rules to sell their products. For this reason, there is limited research evaluating supplements' safety and efficacy in the human body. As a result, anyone who chooses to take these substances does so at their own risk.
The most important thing to remember is that weight loss takes time and effort, and is a lifelong process. Also, it is important to set reasonable goals. Sensible weight loss does not occur overnight and it takes major changes in your lifestyle before significant changes in weight may be observed. Permanent weight loss can be reached by continued lifestyle changes.
Obesity:
Definition of Obesity
Obesity refers to an increase in total body fat. The easiest and most widely accepted method of determining whether you are obese is by measuring your Body Mass Index, or BMI. To calculate your BMI, follow these steps:
1. Multiply your weight in pounds by 705; divide by your height in inches; divide this number by your height in inches a second time.
2. You may also use an online BMI calculator at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Go to http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.
A normal BMI = 18.5-24.9; overweight = 25.0-29.9; obese = 30 or greater; and morbidly obese = 40 or greater.
Why Should I Care About Obesity?
Obesity has become an epidemic in the U.S. and other developed countries. As many as one-third of all Americans are obese based on the BMI criteria. In addition to body image issues, obesity causes significant health issues. It is the second leading cause of preventable death (after smoking), and is associated with type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, arthritis, gallstones, and certain types of cancer.
Description of Obesity
Often referred to as a disease, obesity is actually a sign of what may well be a spectrum of different kinds of disorders – genetic or environmental. In fact, there is no single definition of obesity. It may be simply an extreme degree of overweight - but a person can be overweight without being obese. A 250-pound, 6' linebacker, for example, may be overweight according to ordinary standards, but may actually have a below-average amount of body fat. In contrast, a person in a normal weight range but with very sedentary habits, could have a small muscle mass, be storing excess fat, and thus be classifiable as obese.
About one-half of all Americans are above their ideal weight, as determined by standard tables, and for the majority of them, the excess weight is in the form of body fat, not muscle mass. Of this group, half exceed their ideal weight by 20 percent or more. Hence, they are classified as obese.
Obesity has become epidemic in the U.S. and other developed countries. More than 58 million Americans are overweight, and that includes at least 1 in 5 children.
Two principal risk factors that lead to obesity, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity combined, are the second leading cause of preventable death (tobacco is first). Obesity is associated with significant increases in risk for type II diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, degenerative joint disease and psychosocial disability. Certain cancers - colon, rectum and prostate in men; uterus, biliary tract, breast and ovary in women - are more prevalent in the obese.
Causes and Risk Factors of Obesity
Until recently, obesity was considered the result of a sedentary lifestyle and the chronic ingestion of excess calories. This may be the principal factor for many individuals, but there is evidence of strong genetic, metabolic, and environmental influences in the development of obesity. Certain illnesses, such as Cushing’s syndrome or hypothyroidism, and medications, such as glucocorticoids, can also cause obesity. However, less than one percent of all obese patients have an identifiable secondary cause of obesity.
Diagnosis of Obesity
A physical examination, including a measurement of weight and height, is usually sufficient to diagnose obesity. A complete medical history, including age of onset, family history, eating and exercise behavior, smoking, alcohol use, and previous weight loss experience are all important.
Your physician may order blood tests, including fasting levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, to determine whether any obesity-related conditions are present.
Treatment of Obesity
Successful programs for weight loss reduction and maintenance should be started and followed under the care of a physician and/or a nutritionist. A weight-loss program may include:
- Exercise (the Surgeon General has called for 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week)
- A low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate, high fiber diet
- Behavior modification to change eating behavior
- Social support
- Medications
Although several diets (such as Atkins or South Beach) have become quite popular as effective ways of losing weight, none of them has been proven to be vastly superior in rigorously conducted, large-scale clinical trials. The key (and only) reason for the success of any dietary plan is that it make you consume fewer calories than what you are expending.
It is very important to discuss all medications you are taking with your physician.
Current guidelines recommend drug treatment for individuals, especially those with other obesity-related health conditions, who have failed to respond adequately to dietary and behavioral modifications. A limited number of medications are available for the treatment of obesity. Concerns about side effects have diminished enthusiasm for appetite-suppressant drugs, particularly fenfluramine, which carry serious risks and have been withdrawn from the market. Individuals who have taken either should be evaluated by a physician.
Phentermine remains available, but is approved only for short-term use. Sibutramine (Meridia) is approved for longer-term use, but may cause an increase in blood pressure and should be used with caution and only with regular medical monitoring.
Orlistat (Xenical) is a medication that blocks the absorption of dietary fat and is also approved for longer-term use. However, it causes unpleasant side effects (greasy stool), and you also need to supplement your diet with fat-soluble vitamins.
Although surgery (such as gastric bypass) is the last resort for the treatment of obesity, it can be extremely effective. However, it should be performed at an experienced surgical center, because such operations can carry significant risks, especially in the post-operative period. Consensus recommendations are to limit surgical therapies to patients with morbid obesity (BMI > 40).
Heart Attack:
Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies -- every second counts. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast! Today heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don't delay -- get help right away!
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.
Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
Heart Attack:
Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies -- every second counts. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast! Today heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don't delay -- get help right away!
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.
Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Blood Pressure:
One in every four adults has high blood pressure, and many don't know it. About 90 percent of middle-aged will develop high blood pressure in their lifetime, and nearly 70 percent of people with high blood pressure do not have it under control.
High blood pressure is also called hypertension. It has few symptoms, but many effects, including a very high risk of heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. Everyone should have their blood pressure checked regularly. If the top number is higher than 140, or the bottom number is higher than 90, a person has high blood pressure and needs a doctor's advice about lowering it.
If the numbers are slightly lower (120 to 139, or 80 to 89), a person has borderline high blood pressure and should talk with a doctor.
Many factors make blood pressure go up, including genes that we inherit from our parents, as well as what we eat and drink, how much we weigh, how often and how hard we exercise, and whether we smoke. Blood pressure also tends to go up as people get older, although many young and middle-aged adults have high blood pressure.
To bring blood pressure down, or keep it from getting too high, doctors often recommend exercise, a diet low in salt and fat, moderate or no alcohol use, no tobacco smoking, and weight control. You can't control your genes or your age, but there are things you can do to prevent or reduce high blood pressure even if you have genes that might make you more likely to have it.
Medication can also lower high blood pressure, but it often takes trial and error, or a combination of medicines, to bring down blood pressure once it has gotten high.
Genetics research, such as that led by the University of Michigan, is trying to find out which genes, and gene variations, are linked to high blood pressure — and use that information to develop tests and treatments for blood pressure problems. The Tecumseh Blood Pressure Study is crucial to this effort; the families taking part have agreed to let U-M researchers study their health, lifestyle and DNA to look for patterns and links to blood pressure.
Vitamin supplements
A person who doesn’t require vitamins is a rare find. Our food production methods (over farming, use of pesticides) coupled with the burgeoning fast food industry and poor cooking methods (over cooking, deep-frying) play a key role in depriving our bodies of important nutrients. When nutrient deficiencies interact with high levels of stress and little or no exercise, they result in lifestyle diseases like type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure etc.
It is clear from the growing incidence of lifestyle diseases that the food that we eat today does not provide us with optimum nutrients required to maintain a positive state of health. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide adequate nutrients if they are picked when ripe and eaten immediately. Today that is not possible as they are picked before they are ripe and then treated with chemicals to “appear” ripe but do not have the nutritional value of ripe vegetables. These “fresh” fruits and vegetables lose further nutrients as they travel from the farm to your kitchen.
Once in the kitchen, we overcook, deep fry, mishmash our food and even reheat the leftovers thus creating nutritional disasters. Such food has not more than 25 per cent nutrient value left in it. Therefore we cannot think of getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals only through food. Micronutrient deficiencies over a period of time reflect in terms of falling hair, lack lustre skin, weight gain, uncontrollable hunger, sugar cravings, low energy levels, mood swings, skin rash etc.
The polishing of rice into “polished white rice” and the refining of wheat into ‘maida’ has threatened our body into multinutrient deficiencies. Such food not only fails to nourish us, but also robs us of other nutrients in order to get metabolised, creating a shortage of chromium, B-complex, magnesium, zinc in the body. As we age, our capacity to assimilate nutrients decreases due to inadequate hydrochloric acid.
Frequent intake of antibiotics upsets the intestinal flora creating a shortage of beneficial bacteria.
Many people don’t like taking vitamin and mineral supplements, as they want to get everything from their diet. I truly wish this was possible, but this route just doesn’t work in this modern world. Today we are exposed to more environmental pollutants than ever before. This causes more free radical generation in our body and our food does not give us enough antioxidants to defend ourselves against these toxins. Therefore the need to take vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants like vitamin A, C, E, selenium.
Antioxidants: The best way to get antioxidants is to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as your primary source of antioxidants and also take supplements containing vitamin A,C,E and selenium. Choose fresh fruits over canned juices. Avoid boiling or overcooking your vegetables. You must steam, stirfry, lightly cook or eat them raw.
Consume Omega 3 fats: These reduce the damage caused by pollutants. These fats are found in the alsi seeds, fish, soyabeans, pumpkin seeds, and almonds. Avoid cooking in oils that go rancid easily. PUFA based oils derived from sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cottonseed, and corn get rancid easily and should be avoided. Olive oil is richest in MUFA and doesn’t go rancid easily. Other MUFA based oils are those derived from mustard seeds, tilseeds, and groundnut.
Antioxidants help to rev up your immunity and decrease your chances of falling prey to disease. Those who exercise regularly also need to take supplements of antioxidants as exercise generates more free radicals. All this business of living in today’s modern, toxic world creates the need for supplementation. Without optimum food intake combined with appropriate vitamin supplements we cannot expect to live a healthy life.
Study suggests some deodorants can harm lungs
Certain deodorising products, including air fresheners and toilet bowl cleaners, contain a chemical compound which scientists say may be harmful to the lungs. Stephanie London and her colleagues at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) examined 953 adults exposed to various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and found that one compound called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) may cause modest reductions in lung function, reported science portal EurekAlert.
VOCs are a diverse set of compounds emitted as gases from thousands of commonly used products, including tobacco smoke, pesticides, paints, and cleaning products. VOCs are also released through automotive exhaust. The researchers found that of the common VOCs analysed, which included benzene, styrene, toluene, and acetone, only the compound 1,4 DCB was associated with reduced pulmonary function.
1,4 DCB is a white solid compound with a distinctive aroma similar to mothballs. It is typically used as a deodorant in products such as room deodorisers, urinal and toilet bowl cleaners, and as an insecticide fumigant for moth control. “Because people spend so much time indoors where these products are used, it’s important that we understand the effects that even low levels might have on the respiratory system,” said researcher Leslie Elliott.
Aerobics:
Warm Up Before and Cool Down After
A good aerobics teacher will incorporate a warm-up and cool-down session into the class. Slow, gentle stretching before and after helps reduce your risk of injury and muscle soreness. It could be time to dance on over to a different class if your teacher is big on bouncing but light on stretching.
Go at Your Own Pace
The beauty of exercising to music with a group and being led by a teacher is that you tend to work harder and longer than you would on your own. That's good -- but not if you overdo it. Bouncing and straining to keep up with the class can lead to injuries. Aerobics class is not a competition. Go at your own pace. Allow your strength and flexibility to build gradually.
Watch Your Form
Good form brings better results and fewer problems. Tuck in your pelvis a little so your lower back is elongated. This protects your lower back when standing. Make sure your knee is aligned over your ankle, and no farther forward, when doing a lunge. Don't do moves that require you to lock or hyperextend your knees or elbows. Remember to monitor your breathing.
Look Straight Ahead
Looking down at your feet can cause neck and/or back pain. Pain has no place in an aerobics class or any other fitness activity. You're overdoing it if you're feeling the burn.
Wear the Proper Shoes
Don't wear just any pair of athletic shoes to aerobics class. Running shoes and tennis shoes, for instance, don't provide the cushioning and support you need. Look for shoes that cushion the ball of the foot, with good arch support that minimizes pronation (inward rotation) of the foot. Some cross-training shoes work well, so shop around.
Don't Bounce on a Bad Floor
Dancing on concrete, hardwood or linoleum-covered floors is asking for trouble. They're too hard. Dancing on a floor with too much padding isn't good either, because it allows too much rotation and pronation of the legs and feet. Ask your aerobics teacher about the floor you're dancing on. You know you've got a problem if she or he ducks the question or makes excuses.
Cellulite:
Cellulite is a form of fat that builds up in the body especially near the thighs, buttocks, upper arms and stomach. The skin looks like an orange peel — lumpy and dimpled. Cellulite also causes sagging of the skin and on excess formation, the entire shape of the part in which it accumulates loses its natural shape. It’s common in ladies who are obese and the formation generally takes place during pregnancy and menopause.
Getting rid of cellulite is very difficult. In beauty parlours heavy duty vibrators and vibrating belts are used to break the same. One must follow a strict regimen — treatment, diet and exercise. Deep massage, taken twice a week followed by a steam or sauna bath or a warm water immersion bath also helps. Naturopaths recommend sitting alternately in hot and cold water bath tubs (3three minutes hot water and one minute cold water) three times in every session.
Though there are several expensive creams and lotions available across the counter claiming to break cellulite, nothing can beat a good massage.
Skin brushing with cotton gloves, both in the morning and evening is also a very valuable treatment. This technique helps in removing toxic wastes directly through the skin and helps in stimulating lymphatic circulation. The procedure is very simple. Put on cotton gloves made with a thick cloth and apply friction on the whole body, starting gently and then using a firmer action as you get used to the treatment.
Start the friction from the soles of the feet and then come up to the legs, back and front, with sweeping strokes. On the thighs, all around, use small circular movements first and then sweeping movements from the lower part to the upper part of the thigh, extending gradually to the buttocks. Then apply friction on the hands starting from the palms to the shoulders using straight and circular movements.
Now, apply friction on the stomach with clockwise, circular strokes, extending gradually to cover the chest and neck. Take a dry cotton towel and holding the ends of the same in both the hands, apply friction across the back and also in criss-cross movements. Lastly, take a warm shower for 30 seconds followed by a cold shower for 30 seconds, repeating thrice at least. After bathing, keep yourself warm.
Diet should be strictly vegetarian consisting of fruits and raw salads. The following vegetable cocktail is rather useful.
100 ml beetroot juice
50 ml celery juice
50 ml cucumber juice
20 ml lemon juice
Mix the above four juices and drink it everyday, half an hour before breakfast.
One hour of brisk walking is recommended along with regular yoga practice.
Anti-Aging
Feeling like it’s time to correct years of sun damage, or do you just want to prevent wrinkles before they start? No matter what your goal is, here’s how to make your skin look fabulous
With all the recent advancements in skin creams, lately it seems as if the skincare industry has gone the way of rocket science (in fact, one creator of the pricey ‘cult’ cream Crème de la Mer used to work for NASA). Where once women made do with a dab of Pond’s Cold Cream, they now want anti-ageing products and lifestyle advice to help defy lines and wrinkles from a very young age. According to Nuala Briggs, skincare expert and founder of Harley Street’s Skin Therapy Clinic in London this is the right course of action – ‘you’re never too young to start taking care of your skin and protecting against sun damage with SPF creams’, she says. How, we wish we had listened to our mums and worn sunblock during all those summers as a kid.
Touch the mid-30s and everyone wishes that time stood still. Their biggest mistake? Taking their skin for granted when it was at its best. According to beauty expert Colleen Kirk, who has worked on famous faces like Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Vanessa Willams and Cher among others, abusing the skin at a younger age is the biggest beauty sin one can ever commit. She says, “When we are in our late teens and 20s we think we are invincible. We take our natural beauty for granted and wake up a little too late. Thankfully, with modern day beauty treatments, there is help even at late stages. But skin care should ideally start as early as your teens.” Here are some tips on age defying treatments.
Technology in skincare
One of the biggest advancements in skincare is the use of technology to make products that are powerfully intensive and help prevent further damage to the DNA so that your skin retains its youthful glow. These days new products are available in the market that are used on a seasonal basis. Says Coleen, “These are time defying intensive serums. They are meant to be used for 14 nights every season and they repair the skin, cutting down years.”
Stop wrinkles
The skin starts ageing right from the age of five. A good skin care regime right from your teens can make sure that you delay the onset of signs of aging and promote healthy skin. As skin ages, it loses its ability to restructure itself. An early skin care regime of proper cleansing and moisturising will be helpful in your early 20s. Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays is the most important aspect of caring for your skin. It not only protects you from cancer but is also required for a youthful appearance. After all, skin is the body’s largest organ and needs to be taken care of just like your heart. Never step out of the house without a sunscreen.
Tips:
I’ve been fortunate enough to be blessed with naturally beautiful skin. I never give it the attention it deserves. In fact I eat all kinds of junk food, drink aerated beverages and also enjoy heavy food.
Marooned on an island: The only beauty products I would want are a good moisturiser, a perfume and kajal. I don’t step out of the house without kajal.
Never forget to: Remove my make-up. I take as much time in removing it as I do in applying it. That’s the one important thing I always bear in mind.
Hair care: A warm oil massage once a week is necessary. I also pamper my hair with moisturising hair packs.
Home remedies: There’s nothing in particular that I follow, but I believe in the magic of fruits. I rub papaya and banana pulp on my skin regularly.
Favourite colours: Though I love vibrant colours, when it comes to make-up, I use neutral, earthy tones. I love light browns and beige. The best part is they go with all kinds of outfits and look good any time of the day.
Activate the Anti-Aging Process
The aging process begins when we enter the world and the effects of aging are evident in our bodies through out our lives. Beginning in our 20's, the signs of aging start to become noticeable. Genetically programmed chronologic aging causes changes in collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that supply firmness and elasticity to the skin. The genetic program of individuals is different, so the loss of skin firmness and elasticity occurs at different rates and different times in one individual as compared to another. As skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier and underlying fat padding begins to disappear. With the loss of underlying support by fat padding and connective tissues, the skin begins to sag; it appears less supple and wrinkles form.
Although wrinkles, lines and age spots are formed by the natural effects of getting older, one way to prevent them from appearing early on in life is to avoid direct sunlight and use sunscreens with SPFs 15 or higher. And, although most of us have some form of sun-damaged skin, there are ways to regain healthy, smooth skin. After many years of research, scientists, dermatologists and plastic surgeons have discovered that a variety of natural ingredients and vitamin extracts significantly help slow down and even reverse the signs of aging skin. These ingredients are now found in many physician developed and physician recommended anti-aging skin care products, which are specified below.
Vitamin A (Retinol) - Topical Vitamin A has been suggested to help build collagen fibers within the skin in addition to its more superficial exfoliating property. This is the basis for its use in minimizing the appearance of fine wrinkle lines. Vitamin A or Retinol is the main ingredient found in TYK Young Again, M.D. Forte, DDF and SkinScience products.
Vitamin C - Vitamin C or ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant and is considered vital in wound healing because it aids in stabilizing collagen. When applied topically, vitamin C can reduce fine lines and wrinkles and may lessen the severity of sunburns. This healing ingredient is found in SkinCeuticals, Cellex C and Obagi Cffectives skin care products.
Vitamin E - Vitamin E is another antioxidant that shows to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. When applied topically, vitamin E has been shown to improve moisturization, softness and smoothness and also provides modest photo protection. Vitamin E is found in Cellex C, Exuviance and MD Forte products.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) - AHAs are designed to smooth fine lines and surface wrinkles, to improve skin texture and tone, to unblock and cleanse pores, to improve oily skin or acne, and to improve skin condition in general. AHAs are the main ingredients found in MD Forte, TYK Young Again, Super Skin and SkinScience products.
Glycolic Acid - Glycolic acid is the most active and beneficial of the Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids (AHAs) in skin care. Once inside the cells, the acid triggers new formations of collagen to plump cells and the ground substances in the skin to reduce wrinkles on the skin's surface. Glycolic acid is proven to be very effective in the treatment of acne as well as in cosmetic uses. Glycolic acid is found in products by Gly Derm, MD Forte, Z. Bigatti and Super Skin.
Idebenone -Idebenone is the synthetic variant of the natural compund ubiquinone. Both powerful antioxidants, idebenone and ubiquinone shield skin from environmental damge, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce dryness and smoothe skin texture.
N-6 furfuryladenine (kinetin) - The nature-identical plant growth factor, furfuryladenine, retards the aging of plant cells as well as in vitro human skin fibroblasts. This natural, anti-aging ingredient has been proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and is exclusively found in Kinerase creams and lotions. This is a proven alternative for people with sensitive skin or people who are sensitive to products containing Retinol and Vitamin C.
Copper Peptides - Copper Peptides are the latest scientific breakthrough in skin rejuvenation. Copper has been found to naturally firm the skin, enhance elasticity, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Copper is the main ingredient in products by Neova and Osmotics.
Pal-KTTKS - Pal-KTTKS is an effective ingredient for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It's found to promote a smoother, younger complexion quickly, without with out expensive and painful chemical peels, surgery or injections. This patented peptide solution is found in StriVectin-SD.
Green Tea Extract - Green tea's anti-inflammatory and anti-growth qualities are found in many skin care products designed to reduce the appearance of puffiness, wrinkles, fine lines and large pores. Green Tea is found in the Dr. Brandt skin care line, Z. Bigatti and Gly Derm products.
TNS - The biotechnology of the skin's natural healing process has arrived with the first tissue repairing complex containing growth factors found in normal, healthy skin. Unlike anything else currently on the market, TNS is the next level of skin rejuvenation that delivers dramatic results, for smoother, softer, younger looking skin. TNS is found in SkinMedica's TNS Recovery Complex.
Many customers ask which anti-aging product is best and we always respond by saying that there is no "best" product. Since every individual's skin is different, the results of using anti-aging products will be different as well. We recommend that you consult with a skin care professional prior to use of any new skin care product to determine your skin type, skin condition and possible sensitivities to active ingredients. Your skin care professional may recommend specific products, or you can try a few on your own based on your consultation. If you are not happy with the first product you try, try another one. It's important that you choose a product and skin care regimen that makes you feel 100% comfortable with the look and feel of your skin.
Customers also inquire about when they should expect to see results from using anti-aging products. Again, we respond by saying that results will be different for each individual, generally due to the condition of one's skin prior to use. However, across the board, we say not to expect a miracle, as there is no anti-aging product on the market that provides overnight results. Whether you are trying to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness or age spots, the process is gradual and takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the severity of your problem areas. After allowing the products time to take effect as well as following product directions, you can be sure to notice significant improvement in the appearance of your skin.
To see the quickest results, you will have to undergo professional cosmetics procedures. While procedures such as laser treatments, injections and dermabrasion produce the fastest, most noticeable improvements, they are all are somewhat painful or uncomfortable and very costly. In addition, pre and post treatment plans are required to achieve maximum results, which consist of using skin care products, that are also proven to be safe, effective, painless and less expensive alternatives to professional cosmetic procedures.
Please note that with the use of any new skin care product, it is highly possible that your skin will react to the ingredients. You may experience irritation, redness, dryness or a mild breakout, which should only last for the first 3-5 days of use. If you experience any of these reactions for a longer period of time, please discontinue use and consult a skin care professional. It is also recommended that prior to using any new skin care product to consult with a skin care professional.