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Actor Ryan O’Neal has told People magazine that his companion Farrah Fawcett, who has battled cancer for nearly three years, is now bed-ridden, bereft of her famous blonde hair and near the end of medical treatment.
“She stays in bed now. The doctors see that she is comfortable. Farrah is on IVs, but some of that is for nourishment. The treatment has pretty much ended,” O’Neal told People in an interview on the magazine’s website on Thursday.
Fawcett, 62, became an international sex symbol in the 1970s for her famous swimsuit poster and her role as one of a trio of female private detectives on the hit television show Charlie’s Angels.
She has stayed in the Hollywood spotlight ever since, and in September 2006 was diagnosed with anal cancer. Four months later, she declared herself cancer free, but the disease returned in May 2007.
O’Neal, himself a 1970s sex symbol and the father of Fawcett’s son, Redmond O’Neal, has been Fawcett’s on-again, off-again companion for many years.
He said the Texas-born Fawcett has now lost all the tousled blonde hair that drew the attention of her legions of fans. O’Neal keeps her locks at his home.
“I rub her head. It’s kind of fun, actually, this great, tiny little head. How she carried all that hair I’ll never know. She doesn’t have a vanity about it,” O’Neal said.
The interview comes one week ahead of a May 15 television special called “Farrah’s Story,” on U.S. network NBC, in which the star documents her battle against the disease, taking video of her visits to doctors in the United States and Germany and providing poignant moments of her and her family’s lives.
Redmond, who is currently in a Los Angeles jail for violating probation on drug charges, was briefly released late last month so he could visit his mother, and he is seen in the documentary climbing into his mother’s bed to curl up beside her while she is sleeping.
In a separate story set to run in the magazine’s print edition that hits newsstands on Friday, Fawcett is described as looking “hauntingly gaunt” in the documentary.
But O’Neal said Fawcett “hasn’t had last rites yet. We’re not there.” In fact, he said she still hopes for a “miracle” cure. “A last gasp,” O’Neal said.
Reuters
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An extract derived from a West African fruit may help overweight people shed pounds and lower their cholesterol, a new study suggests.
The extract comes from Irvingia gabonensis, also known as African mango, a fruit commonly eaten in West Africa. Lab research has shown that extracts from the plant’s seed may inhibit body fat production, through effects on certain genes and enzymes that regulate metabolism.
For the current study, researchers at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon randomly assigned 102 overweight adults to take either the plant extract or a placebo twice a day for 10 weeks. The study participants did not follow any special diet and were told to maintain their normal exercise levels.
By the end of the study, the extract group had lost a significant amount of weight – an average of roughly 12.5 kilograms – while the placebo group showed almost no change.
At the same time, they showed declines in “bad” LDL cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Dr. Julius E. Oben and his colleagues report the findings in the online journal Lipids in Health and Disease. The Fairfield, California-based Gateway Health Alliances, Inc. supplied the Irvingia gabonensis extract and partially funded the research.
The study is the first well-controlled clinical trial of the extract’s effectiveness as a weight-loss aid, the researchers note. But the findings, they write, suggest that Irvingia gabonensis could offer a “useful tool” for battling the growing worldwide problem of obesity and its related ills.
A few patients on the extract reported side effects, including headaches, sleep problems and gas, but the rates were similar in the placebo group.
The findings, Oben’s team concludes, should “provide impetus for much larger clinical studies.”
Reuters
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No matter how you slice it, diet is a dirty word. It smacks of deprivation and hunger pangs. To overcome the pain, you need a plan.
So WebMD asked the experts for advice, and put together their quick tips on how to get your weight lossgoing.
1. Know Your Weight Loss Goals
Consider how much you need to lose before you decide how to do it, recommends Brian C. Jacobson, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine and a gastroenterologist at Boston University Medical Center in Massachusetts.
Very overweight or obese. “For someone obese, I refer them to our weight loss center,” says Jacobson, who says people with a lot of weight to lose can probably benefit from a structured, supervised program.
If you’re slightly or moderately overweight. “I advise controlling portion size,” Jacobson says. “If you control portion size, you cut calories.”
To learn correct portion sizes, consult a registered dietitian or take a look at the new food pyramid at MyPyramid.gov.
Exercise also has to be part of your plan, Jacobson tells the do-it-yourselfers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean joining a gym. “Buy a cheap treadmill,” he says, and when you’re watching TV, hop on and take a walk.
Before starting a new exercise regime or weight loss plan, however, remember to talk with your doctor.
2. Understand Your Weight Loss Personality
Personality plays a role in our attitude towards food, says Thomas R. Przybeck, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, who has published on the topic of diet and personality. Know your tendencies and tailor your plan to conquer the unproductive inclinations.
Impulsive. “If you have a tendency to be impulsive, you might see a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer and go for it,” Przybeck says. Clearly you are a dieter who needs to remove those temptations.
Oblivious. If you tend to not pay attention when you eat — maybe you’re a TV snacker? — you need to avoid such situations if you want to control portions.
Uptight. “If you are highly anxious, you will probably have more difficulty,” Przybeck says. “Those who are anxious, nervous, and depressed might eat to feel better.”
Tenacious. Certain personalities don’t find it that difficult losing weight. “If you are highly self-directed, cooperative, and have a lot of stick-to-it-ive-ness, you are going to have an easier time,” Przybeck says.
Sociable. You tend to monitor your food intake better than others, Przybeck found.
3. Double Up: Diet & Exercise
When her heartburn patients ask which should come first, diet or exercise, Lauren Gerson, MD, MSc, director of the Esophageal and Small Bowel Disorders Center at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, says: jump in and do both.
“It’s a combination of diet and exercise [that will lead to weight loss],” she says.
4. Make a Firm Weight Loss Commitment
To be successful, it helps to understand why you want to lose weight. So before you begin a weight loss plan, ask yourself:
* Am I ready to do this?
* Is my motivation coming from within?
* Can I deal with occasional setbacks or lack of progress?
* Can I focus on weight loss fully? (If you’re in the midst of a job change or other distractions, for example, it might be better to resolve those issues, and then focus on weight loss efforts.)
Finally, be sure you’re committed to losing weight for yourself — not because someone else is pressuring you to do so.
Then, take things slowly, keep these tips in mind, and you should be on the road to weight loss in no time.
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A sparse form of fat that helps keep newborns warm is more common in adults than previously thought and that discovery that could lead to a new way to lose weight, researchers said on Wednesday.
Once activated by cold temperatures, so-called brown fat burns calories faster than regular fat. It is normally so dormant in adults that there has been debate over how much adults have or whether they have it at all.
In three studies in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report finding brown fat in most adults and discovering they can detect it by exposing people to cold. In some cases, adults who had more active areas of brown fat were thinner.
The hope is that if a way can be found to activate this brown fat and get the body to make more of it, people could burn off extra calories without additional exercise.
“Fifty grams of maximally activated brown fat accounts for 20 percent of your resting energy expenditure,” Dr. Aaron Cypress of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, who led one of the studies, said in an interview. “If you add that up, that’s 400 or 500 calories per day.
“Practically speaking, we have a great potential to have a new treatment in our armamentarium against diabetes and obesity.”
Dr. Kirsi Virtanen of the University of Turku in Finland and colleagues used positron emission tomography, known as PET scans, to find active brown fat deposits in five volunteers and also took little plugs of both types of fat. Brown fat became more active when the volunteers were cold, they reported.
“If the brown adipose tissue in this example were fully activated, it would burn an amount of energy equivalent to approximately 4.1 kg (9 pounds) of adipose tissue over the course of a year,” researchers wrote.
OBESE PEOPLE HAVE LESS
A team at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands found obese men had less brown fat than lean men.
“Taken together, these studies point to a potential ‘natural’ intervention to stimulate energy expenditure: turn down the heat and burn calories (and reduce the carbon footprint in the process),” Dr. Francesco Celi of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease in Bethesda, Maryland wrote in a commentary.
But Celi cautioned that the vision may be oversimplified.
Cypress said scientists must first find a way to activate brown fat and, perhaps, even persuade the body to make more of it. In addition, the new studies did not directly test whether activating this fat would make people lose weight.
Celi said further research may reveal that even if brown fat is activated, the body may find a way to compensate by getting people to eat more.
“If you think about it, if you eat three donuts, you hit that calorie count right there,” Cypress said.
“Using brown fat to treat obesity has been talked about for 30 or 40 years,” he said. “But people essentially gave up on it. Many said it didn’t exist in adult human beings and many said it didn’t have any connection to obesity and weight at all. What these studies show is that virtually every adult human being has functional brown fat in them.”
By Gene Emery
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Diving into a plateful of healthy food can feel like doing your taxes: a necessary evil in order to keep you in the black…jeans you love, that is. But when the food is healthy and tastes great, too? Hallelujah! Luckily, we have some menus that will keep you slim, satisfied and genuinely surprised that healthy food can taste that good. Each one has a healthy dose of protein, which is a waistline watcher’s best friend. Your body actually expends more energy digesting protein than fat or carbs, and protein-rich foods can postpone hunger pangs and boost your energy. Aim for about 50 grams of protein throughout the day and look for sources that are low in fat. Smart choices include my favorite nonfat Greek yogurt (15 g per 8-ounce serving!) or a 4-oz baked salmon fillet.
Try some of the protein-rich meals below, which are part of the 2009 SELF Challenge, our free online slim-down plan. To lose 1 pound a week, eat 1,800 calories; mix and match these meals to find your perfect eating plan.
BODY-SLIMMING BREAKFASTS
RICOTTA WRAP (350 calories): 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp nonfat ricotta, 2 tbsp slivered almonds, 1/2 cup berries and 2 tsp honey in 1 whole-grain wrap such as Flatout multigrain flatbread
YOGURT CRUNCH (350 calories): 5 oz plain yogurt, 4 walnut halves, 3 tbsp All-Bran, 1/4 cup granola and 3/4 cup cubed melon
BACON, EGG AND CHEESE MUFFIN (500 calories): Scramble 1 large egg in 1 tsp margarine and place on a toasted whole-grain English muffin spread with 1 tsp margarine. Top with 1 slice cooked turkey bacon and 2 tbsp shredded reduced-fat cheddar. Serve with 3/4 cup berries, 1/4 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt and 12 oz skim latte. Try this blogger’s tips to cut the cooking time.
LEAN AND LUSCIOUS LUNCHES
SHRIMP SALAD (400 calories): 10 cooked shrimp, 1/3 avocado, sliced, 1 tbsp slivered almonds, 2 tbsp each diced red onion and carrot, 1 tbsp prepared sesame dressing, tossed with 2 cups greens; 3 whole-grain crispbreads
TANGY TURKEY PITA (550 calories): 3 oz turkey breast, 5 olives, 3 tbsp feta, 2 tbsp each diced cucumber and tomato, 6 spinach leaves, 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tsp balsamic vinegar in 1 whole-wheat pita; 1 large orange
PEAR ‘WICH (650 calories): 3 tbsp almond butter, 1/2 large pear, sliced, 1/8 tsp cinnamon on 2 slices whole-wheat bread. Serve with the other half of the pear.
DELICIOUS, TRIM-DOWN DINNERS
FISH AND FRIES (400 calories): 4 oz cod rubbed with 1 tsp olive oil, seared (2 to
3 minutes per side); 12 Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, baked as directed on package; 1 1/2 cups sliced cabbage tossed with 2 tbsp reduced-fat dressing
CHICKPEA PASTA (550 calories): 1/3 cup chopped onion, 2 cups chopped zucchini, 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped, and 1/2 cup chickpeas sautéed in 1 tbsp olive oil. Mix with 1 cup cooked ziti, 2 tbsp Parmesan.
CHICKEN PILAF (600 calories): 3/4 cup cubed, cooked, skinless chicken mixed with 1 1/2 cups cooked Near East Whole Grain Wheat Pilaf drizzled with 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 cup steamed cauliflower with 1 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp fresh parsley
SATISFYING SNACKS
Turkey and cheese roll-up (100 calories): 1 oz sliced turkey breast, 1 oz sliced reduced-fat cheddar rolled up
Chocolate milk with nuts (150 calories): 1 cup light chocolate soymilk, 13 pistachios
Orange spritzer and almonds (150 calories): 8 oz orange juice mixed with 4 oz sparkling water; 7 almonds
Find more tasty (but healthy) meals—and totally free online logs where you can track your calorie and nutritional intake—at Self.com/challenge.
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief
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Mineral make-up is everywhere at the moment, but getting the application right can be a tricky process.
Here are some top tips for getting that perfect flawless finish from the experts at L’Oréal.
Use a brush
The superfine pigments in mineral makeup mean that a brush is the only way to effectively diffuse the minerals onto the skin.
It’s important to clean your brushes once a week to make sure you avoid the spread of bacteria.
Polish the formula into the skin
Make sure your skin is completely dry before you apply mineral make-up.
It’s best to wait 10 minutes after applying your moisturiser.
Tip the product upside down and shake. Run the brush along the inside of the lid.
Blow on the brush and tap to remove excess powder.
Press the powder onto the forehead, cheeks and chin and then rotate the brush around your face to create a smooth polished look.
Conceal your flaws
L’Oréal Paris Mineral Concealer can help mask under-eye circles and uneven skin tone.
To use, dip the special brush into the mineral concealer powder and tap off excess.
Apply onto imperfections and blend away at the edges, for more coverage, add a drop of water and blot away the excess with a tissue.
Get more from your minerals
Mineral eye shadows can be used to give a gentle wash of colour or a more intense effect.
Mix eyeshadow with a drop of water and apply along the base of the lashes to give eyes a smokey look.
Finishing touch
To finish off your look sweep a powder like L’Oréal Paris Mattifying Minerals over the entire face.
*The L’Oréal Paris Minerals range is available from all good pharmacies priced from $26.99 to $45.99.
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While most beauty experts would have you believe you need to spend big bucks on fancy lotions and potions to keep your skin, nails and hair in tip-top condition, it isn’t always the case.
We all know there is no replacement for a fruit and vegetable-heavy diet and plenty of sleep if you want to look your best, but there are a number of short cuts you can adopt to improve your appearance.
Best of all, most of them are cheaper than Pamela Anderson’s dress sense.
If your addiction to this season’s bright nail polishes has left your nails looking discoloured, don’t start dousing them in nail varnish remover in a desperate attempt to freshen them.
Instead, reach for the white wine vinegar. Put a dash on a cotton ball and then rub over your nails - they’ll be sparkly-fresh in no time.
Regardless of what you’ve heard growing up, expensive shampoos are no better than their cheaper counterparts.
While posh conditioners really do improve the look and feel of your hair, there is no need to splash the cash on what you wash your locks with.
Beauty editor of Britain’s More! magazine explains: “Shampoo washes straight out of your hair so doesn’t really have the chance to do much more than cleansing.”
Want a pout as perky as Angelina Jolie’s without pain of collagen injections? Look no further than your trusty pot of Vaseline.
Simply smooth some of the sticky cream onto your lips before bed and then tap around them with a clean toothbrush. In the morning, wash the Vaseline off and buff your lips with the toothbrush - your lips will be supersized and luscious.
If you’re used to slapping on expensive cover-up to hide the side-effects of a big night out, try this cheaper alternative - when you are applying your foundation, massage some onto the area around your eye, including your lid.
Dust with powder and then apply shadow as usual, with all traces of shadow banished for good.
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(ARA) - Skin care needs change with the seasons. With winter drawing to a close and warm weather on the horizon, now is the time to think about updating your skin care regimen for spring.
The transition from winter to spring is probably one of the most remarkable in nature - and for people, too. Winter snows melt away to reveal spring buds, and bulky sweaters find their way back into closets in favor of lighter, freer attire. Your skin care regimen should also leave winter behind. Here are some tips for making the transition from winter to spring skin care:
* Exfoliate - No matter how diligent you are with winter skin care, some buildup of dry, flaky skin is almost inevitable thanks to heavier clothes and dry air. To leave skin smooth and healthy — and to prepare for the warm weather ritual of hair removal — use a good exfoliant in the shower. Don’t, however, use strong, scrubbing exfoliants on the face, as they can actually damage skin and cause minute tears and abrasions on delicate tissues.
* Adjust your moisturizer — Winter’s dry air called for a stronger moisturizer, but warm weather brings increased humidity, which in turn can make you sweat and increase your skin’s production of natural oils. Switch to a lighter moisturizer, one that is not oil-based, and that includes a higher SPF protection for the happy hours you’ll be spending outdoors in the sunshine.
* Update your makeup for the season — Just as your makeup changes palette from season to season, so should the physical qualities of your makeup. Use a lighter foundation, perhaps substituting a powder foundation for liquid. Replace your moisturizing lipstick or lip balm with a lighter gloss that won’t leave lips feeling weighted down or oily. Put away those cream based eye shadows for lighter powders that won’t clump or run in warmer temperatures and humidity.
* Glow smart, not risky — Nothing says spring like a healthy glow, but traditional tanning achieved by sunbathing or going to a tanning salon can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer. Instead of getting a glow the risky way, opt for self-tanners. Today’s sprays and creams can help you achieve an even, natural-looking tan without exposing your skin to harmful ultra-violet rays.
* Put the brakes on breakouts — Warm weather means more fun in the sun, but it also means more sweating and more chance for acne breakouts. Ditch harsh chemical remedies or over-the-counter options that just don’t work in favor of a more natural way to control breakouts — heat. A simple hand-held device, ThermaClear, “zaps” pimples and blemishes quickly and easily, even in their earliest stages of development. A two-second application of heat can clear blemishes up to four times faster, sometimes in as little as 24 hours. Go to www.thermaclearbeauty.com to learn more.
* Eat for your skin’s health — You probably already know to avoid oily and fatty foods that can contribute to skin problems. But don’t forget to eat positively for your skin’s health as well. Take advantage of warm weather’s produce bounty to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that are good for your skin, like leafy greens and antioxidant rich fruits and berries.
* Survey your skin — Just as you visit a general practitioner or gynecologist to take care of your internal health, you should have an annual skin exam by a dermatologist. If you haven’t already had a complete skin survey, schedule one as the spring begins and repeat again at the same time next year. Your doctor will catalog all your natural beauty marks, moles and variations in skin tone and compare from year to year to ensure none change. Changes in natural blemishes can herald a more serious problem. Early detection has been cited as one of the most important ways to effectively treat skin cancer.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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Mineral make-up is everywhere at the moment, but getting the application right can be a tricky process.
Here are some top tips for getting that perfect flawless finish from the experts at L’Oréal.
Use a brush
The superfine pigments in mineral makeup mean that a brush is the only way to effectively diffuse the minerals onto the skin.
It’s important to clean your brushes once a week to make sure you avoid the spread of bacteria.
Polish the formula into the skin
Make sure your skin is completely dry before you apply mineral make-up.
It’s best to wait 10 minutes after applying your moisturiser.
Tip the product upside down and shake. Run the brush along the inside of the lid.
Blow on the brush and tap to remove excess powder.
Press the powder onto the forehead, cheeks and chin and then rotate the brush around your face to create a smooth polished look.
Conceal your flaws
L’Oréal Paris Mineral Concealer can help mask under-eye circles and uneven skin tone.
To use, dip the special brush into the mineral concealer powder and tap off excess.
Apply onto imperfections and blend away at the edges, for more coverage, add a drop of water and blot away the excess with a tissue.
Get more from your minerals
Mineral eye shadows can be used to give a gentle wash of colour or a more intense effect.
Mix eyeshadow with a drop of water and apply along the base of the lashes to give eyes a smokey look.
Finishing touch
To finish off your look sweep a powder like L’Oréal Paris Mattifying Minerals over the entire face.
*The L’Oréal Paris Minerals range is available from all good pharmacies priced from $26.99 to $45.99.
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Wit
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Vampy red lips are one of the hottest beauty trends around!
We never thought we’d see Kim Kardashian as a beauty icon, but the girl formerly known as Paris Hilton’s BFF, has recently surprised us with her glamorous new look!
Apart from her glossy locks and flawless makeup (loving the Bambi eyes Kim!) its her sexy scarlet pout that attracts us. Kim seemed to be taking inspiration from red lippie fans like Dita Von Teese and Gwen Stefani and she looked gorgeous as a result!
Red lipstick is making a real comeback and with a huge selection of shades to choose from, ranging from orangey-red to bluish-red, there’s guaranteed to be one to suit you. If you have pale skin, look for a red lippie with a blue undertone, while if you have medium-to-dark skin, opt for a more intense red with a brown base. Dark skin looks amazing with pinky-reds, bright fuchsia and orange-based poppy reds like Barry M’s lip paint in Pillar Box Red. We also love MAC’s lipstick in Lady Bug.
Follow Kim’s lead and keep the rest of your make-up light and neutral, avoiding dark eye shadow, for a modern take on retro glamour.
The best thing about this trend is, even if you’re wearing your favourite old boyfriend jeans and a vintage tee, a sweep of red lipstick will make you look and feel instantly fabulous!
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While I believe diets should be kept as simple as possible, I feel the same way about beauty products. Yes, I still spray on some perfume, even use some makeup here and there… but when I look at commercials touting ridiculously expensive anti-aging creams or lotions, they usually promote a natural, simple ingredient.
I’ve heard Sarah Jessica Parker mentioning that her shampoo has avocado oil, or another celeb mentioning coco butter for sunscreen.
Then it hit me: why not use that exact source? Why not take only the natural ingredient, and use only that? Since I believe in a simple-as-possible diet for optimal health, I decided to apply that to my skin care. So here they are: easy, simple, inexpensive vegan beauty recipes with well-documented success.
Tropical essence body lotion
-coconut oil.
Spread and massage ½ tsp into legs, face, arms, even hair.
That’s it. That’s the only ingredient. Go to Whole Foods or Sunflower market and pick up a bottle for $7-10. It’s less expensive than Pro Active and other lotions, for sure, and one bottle goes a long way. Many people might be skeptical to use oil on their face with the assumption that it could cause breakouts and leave an oily residue. Not true: the fatty acids in coconuts actually prevent bacterial damage (read: acne). Next, pure coconut oil has antioxidant properties that fight free radicals, which are the number one cause of wrinkles and poor skin. Coconut oil makes your skin soft, face glow, and the smell is great. The skin feels soft and silky, but not greasy. For more info on coconut oil, here’s a link. After a bath, try applying this on your dry skin instead of lotion moisturizer. For more information on coconut, see here.
Face moisturizer
-1 medium avocado
-Spritz of lemon
-1 tsp agave nectar
Mash the avocado, add the lemon juice, mix the agave, and apply to face. Use the rest for guacamole later. For the true spa look, add to slices of cucumber to the eyes to reduce puffiness if you’d like: cucumbers are a great source of silica, which keep nails strong and hair shiny. Avocados contain many of the same properties as coconut oil in their regenerating, smoothing ability. Avocados have many nutrients that the skin craves: vitamins A, E, C, along with iron along with potassium, and pantothenic acid. Lemon juice helps tighten and tone the face, but be sure to use in a small dose (like one would for food/drinks). Agave nectar is sweet like honey, but vegan and just as good for you. Agave nectar has anti-microbial elements and the ancient Aztecs used to apply agave nectar directly to wounds.
Skin-tightening cooling cream
-5 slices of watermelon
-spritz of lemon juice
Blend the watermelon and let sit in fridge for 10 minutes. Once the blended watermelon is chilled, add the lemon juice. Apply to face.
Other ingredients to combine and use in beauty remedies: I have to give props to this website I found:
http://allnaturalbeauty.us/hbr_ingredients.htm. This website explains how so many foods are fantastic for the skin, face and hair. Some of the foods are mentioned above, but the site also commends the exfoliating elements of coffee grounds, the astringent properties of apples, and ways to use thyme and fennel seed as a face wash. Feel free to experiment, since so many combinations of ingredients can be used. You can keep it simple or have fun combining any number of ingredients. Don’t worry if you don’t have some really obscure ingredients like ‘gram curd.’ Leave it out.
The most important, essential can’t-live-without item in your beauty regiment
Water. Hands down, bar none, H2O. Everything touted in expensive beauty products can be achieved by maintaining good hydration. Water is critical to joint lubrication, cell regeneration, regulates our body temperature, flushes fats, toxins, and other icky stuff from our system… water does everything that expensive skin products tout, only it is free, natural and better. Water will never give you rash, bad side effects, or anything else. Not only is water great for the skin, but drinking 64 ounces of water daily wards off food cravings, boosts energy, and improves vitality. Water helps you feel beautiful inside and out.
In sum, my Bath and Body Works brown sugar and fig lotion might be packaged very well… but I’ve discovered that all of its 28 ingredients (whatever disodium EDTA is) pale in comparison to the simple remedies of simple coconut oil and other easy natural concoctions.
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By: Sinead 0′Donoghue
Want to know the product that Thandie Newton can’t live without?
Yes another week has passed and yet another celebrity fan has come forward for budget beauty products, this time its Thandie Newton who has watching the pennies.
The stunning actress has revealed that her flawless looks are not down to the most expensive products on the market, but are thanks to SUQQU.
Ms Newon has fallen in love with SUQQU’s Mild Skin care soap and says that “the soap is a revelation.”
We gave this product a try and unfortunately the actress has got us addicted too. Never mind at £27, its one A-list buy we can afford to snap up!
The soap is available at Avon and to order your very own celebrity buy then call 0207 318 3538.
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There are many home remedies that you can use to treat acne and to prevent it. While chemical products can work, there are natural ways of fighting off these infections as well. Are these processes going to work for you? It is important to realize that not all acne can be treated and prevented.
Some of it is inherited. And, not all of these things will help you either. Some work for some people and others work for others. Nonetheless, here are some of the many home remedies that you can use for the treatment of acne.
1. There are some combinations of everyday items that can help you. For example, some claim that using one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder will help to rid the skin of zits.
2. If you already have acne, you can take a supplement of Colloidal Silver. This product is a natural antibiotic that can help to rid the skin of pimples. It can be taken in a pill form or applied directly to the pimple itself.
3. If you know anything about homeopathic remedies, you may want to try this combination. Kali Bromatum, Herpa Sulphuris, Antimonium Tartaricum, and Sulphur combined make a very good product for the prevention of zits. If you already have them, this combination can be excellent for getting rid of them faster.
4. Lavender oil is another excellent choice. This essential oil when applied to the skin directly can help to prevent and get rid of zits.
5. Another antibiotic to use is Tea Tree Oil. This product has gotten a lot of attention because of its many uses. In this case, you can apply it directly to the affected area to start seeing results. It will fight the infection and bacteria causing the pimples.
6. Looking for something that you may have at home to use? The use of garlic can also help. Most of the time, you’ll want to use garlic capsules though. They can help because it boosts the immune system allowing it to better fight off the bacteria.
7. Lastly, probably the most basic of all choices is just as simple as eating a well balanced diet and including exercise in your daily routine.
Mike Singh is a successful webmaster of http://www.stopping-acne-now.com. Find out more about acne causes and treatments or severe acne remedies .
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It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. Beyond this, hair loss can result from general nutrient deficiency. One of the problems with nutrition and hair however is that we can’t programme nutrients to do what we want - and hair growth is not a priority so nutrients may be used up in other areas first.
B vitamins (especially B6, biotin and inositol) have all been found to be important in hair growth, so a heavy duty B complex is recommended. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they destroy B1 and other B vitamins. Other important nutrients are manganese, magnesium, silica, kelp and vitamins C and E.
Stress worsens hair loss. It can reduce scalp blood flow, in addition to interfering with digestion and absorption. If stress is a consideration support the adrenals with vitamins B5 and C or glandulars.
Healthy hair needs good circulation and blood supply. Standing on your head - to raise body over head will boost circulation to your scalp, but ONLY attempt this if you are very healthy and fit! A more practical approach is an Indian head massage — it increases blood flow and circulation in the scalp, helps transport minerals to the scalp and is wonderfully relaxing. Organic cider vinegar massaged into the scalp opens up the pores. If you are actually losing hair from the root (as opposed to brittle hair) then the cider vinegar can help unclog sebum glands that sometime block causing the follicle to die off as hair cannot get through.
Essential Fatty Acids promote healthy hair, and water obviously is vital to avoid dehydration. Filtered or bottled water is best - glass bottles preferable to plastic to avoid taking in plasticisers.
Thinning, dry hair can be a sign of protein deficiency. Increasing protein (possibly as protein shakes) can restore vitality and sometimes colour. But if protein intake is good, another possibility is low hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is needed to digest protein. If you’re low in HCl, proteins are not digested properly, so the minerals they contain are not released. Mineral deficiencies could also be due to absorption problems in the gut. A ‘leaky gut’ can result from food intolerances, so if you suspect poor digestion, consider a food intolerance test when other symptoms suggest this.
Zinc has, in some cases of alopecia, been found to restore bodily hair growth as well as on the scalp.
Iron is often suggested after a study attributed hair loss in non-menopausal women to lack of iron.
Keratin - the hair protein - is predominately sulphur - which is probably why biotin is so useful as this is also predominately sulphur. MSM may be helpful for the same reason.
High copper has been associated with hair loss especially in women on HRT or who have taken the Pill. Good liver health will help keep copper down. Mercury, lead and cadmium toxicity have also been associated with hair loss.
Hair loss can also be due to hormonal imbalance especially post-menopausally, or with polycystic ovary syndrome. (PCOS can lead to elevated testosterone and hair loss). Herbal medicine can help here — some PCOS clients have had good results from taking saw palmetto and agnus castus. Horsetail (a good source of silica) may also help, but a herbalist should be consulted if you wish to take herbs.
Hormone imbalances promote copper retention. A thyroid self-test may be useful as thyroid activity is reduced in the presence of high copper. Calcium and copper often rise together. The balance of copper and zinc together is a better guide to copper levels than copper alone. Smoking and high consumption of chocolate, white wine and coffee can tip it the wrong way. B3 and zinc are good antagonists to copper. Essential fatty acids also help hormonal balance.
So how do you assess you mineral status? Hair Mineral Analysis can provide a detailed mineral analysis, plus personalised supplement programme designed to address imbalances. Learn more about Hair Mineral Analysis and discover how to how check your levels of nutrient and toxic minerals on my website below.
Joy Healey is a qualified nutritionist who studied for three years at the prestigious London Institute For Optimum Nutrition, founded by Patrick Holford a leading authority on health and nutrition.
For more information on Hair Mineral Analysis
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Stretch marks are one of the most common skin conditions. Most treatment methods for stretch marks attempt to eliminate the condition altogether. In most cases, these products only fade stretch marks. This means that it will undoubtedly take some time for you to experience results.
The good news is that some products are able to fade stretch marks that are old and more set into the skin. Instead of actually treating the skin, these products typically work to change the consistency of the stretch marks. To fade stretch marks, you may want to try one of the two products that claim to fade stretch marks that are both new and old.
Scarguard ScarCare works by providing a protective covering for the stretch marks so that they can heal on their own. The product does, however, contain ingredients that are beneficial for diminishing stretch marks. Vitamin E and silicone are two ingredients in ScarCare that will help fade stretch marks. You apply the product directly to your stretch marks twice each day. You should start to notice an improvement in your stretch marks in less than six months. If you are pregnant, you need to obtain approval from your doctor before using the product.
Scarguard Lightener is another stretch mark treatment product manufactured by Scarguard. This product fades stretch marks by lightening the skin. The product contains 2% hydroquinone, a skin-lightening chemical. If you choose to go with this product you need to also wear a sunscreen. You may experience a darkening of your skin if you apply the product to your skin and spend time in the sun without any sun protection. This product, like ScarCare costs $64.99. The cost is more than the average stretch mark treatment, but then doctors do not endorse the average product for stretch marks. Plastic surgeons use Scarguard products in their practice, so there is a good chance that you will experience success with Scarguard products.
Detailed information about stretchmarks, including tips on stretchmark avoidance and treatment, and also reviews of skin treatment products both traditional and new is available at stretch-mark-removal.org
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Salma Hayek is already one of Hollywood’s most gorgeous stars, and the actress tells PEOPLE that she plans to share her beauty secrets with a signature cosmetics collection that will keep the average woman’s budget in mind. “I’m trying to develop a line with a drugstore so that it is affordable for everyone,” she reveals. And she’s not taking the venture lightly. “We’ve researched for two to three years.
My grandmother was a cosmetologist and she used to make her own creams, but my whole approach is how can we get the essence of the really expensive ones, but for everyone to be able to afford.” But the details of the line are still under wraps. Hayek stopped herself, explaining, “I shouldn’t be talking about this!” Check back for more details on the collection.
Tell us: What do you think of Salma’s newest enterprise? Will you try out her cosmetics?
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Many people think that the only way to get a flat tummy is to do thousands of sit-ups every day. While these do play a part, most flabby abs are caused by an unhealthy gut, bad posture and a toxic diet. Janey Holliday, founder of Fit For A Princess, reveals the secrets of a flat stomach.
Avoid fizzy drinks, chewing gum and straws
Most intestinal gas is swallowed air. Swap sparkling mineral water for still - a wedge of lemon in this will contribute to a flatter stomach still as it’s a natural detoxer.Chewing gum not only encourages you to swallow air, but it also tricks the digestion system into thinking you are eating. This means you start to produce digestive juices that cause wind and bloating if no food is eaten. Drinking through straws also means you’ll be taking in air.
Avoid wheat and white foods
Wheat and ‘white’ foods like cake and pasta are often not whole grain. Because most of these kinds of food have little or no fibre, they can block up your system causing bloating and constipation. Replace wheat with sweet potatoes, oats, wild rice and oat cakes and eat lots of vegetables, salads, fish and whole-grain food.
Cut back on dairy
Once we leave infanthood, we no longer have the enzymes to absorb the nutrients in milk. Digesting it then becomes hard, creating mucous and acid in the gut. This upsets the balance of bacteria in the gut, causing difficulty with digestion and reducing absorption of nutrients. Sugar in milk may also cause problems in those suffering from candida albicans (thrush in the gut) because thrush thrives in a sugary, acidic environment and milk is acidic. By reducing dairy products, swelling should decrease in two weeks.
Drink herbal teas & hot water
Warm water by itself soothes digestion by relaxing your muscles. Herbal teas that will help are camomile and peppermint.
Don’t get stressed
When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol - a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. This helps you produce blood sugar and pour it into the bloodstream, providing energy for the ‘fight or flight’ response. Any excess sugar that isn’t used is stored as fat. Our adrenal system is a survival mechanism for helping us escape dangerous animals, but our bodies can’t distinguish such danger from work, financial or emotional pressure. Continued stress means the hormone is being released but not used, resulting in fat storage.
Have an Epsom salts bath
Epsom salts baths are one of the cheapest, simplest ways to reduce tummy swelling. Epsom salts - or magnesium sulphate - are traditionally used for treating aching muscles, sports injuries and for relaxing. They are commonly used by naturopaths and osteopaths, too, to ease stress and flush out toxins, as well to restore the body’s pH balance. You can buy the salts in most good pharmacies and dissolve some in a hot deep bath.
Take lactobacillus acidophilus
Otherwise known as the friendly bacteria, lactobacillus plays a vital role in our bodies. Researchers think that these probiotics are an essential link to proper health and well being, and help the body get more nutrition out of the foods we eat. Without enough of these, our intestinal ecology can be thrown off-balance causing pain, swelling and lethargy. It can also help reduce leaky gut syndrome, which affects millions of women. With this condition, large spaces develop between the cells of the gut wall, allowing bacteria, toxins and food into the bloodstream. One of the main symptoms of leaky gut syndrome is abdominal swelling and pain, wind and bloating, so excess flab on your tummy might not be reduced with sit-ups if you suffer from this. Buy good-quality organic lactobacillus capsules from a supplier such as Pure Bio (www.purebio.co.uk). Avoid High Street-branded drinks containing it. They might claim to improve gut function, but often the way they are made and their high sugar content make them ineffective.
Exercise
It’s really important to do cardio exercise if you want a flat stomach. This includes running, cycling, aerobics and swimming. Kickboxing works wonders on helping you get a good waist.
Avoid fruit after a meal
When eating fruit straight after a meal, the fruit starts to ferment, which causes gas and bloating. Your tummy will swell and the bloating can make you tired, making you reach for more sugary snacks. Avoid fruit in the afternoon.
Activate your abs
Place your hands on your tummy and cough. As you expel air, your tummy muscles tighten in towards the body. Hold that position as you go about your day. Keep your shoulders relaxed and breathe properly. You should be able to walk, talk, sit, shop and exercise like this. Over a few weeks, your tummy muscles will be stronger and tighter.
Do the right ab exercises properly
The best exercises for toning are crunch-based exercises done by activating all ab muscles, using the cough method and lifting the shoulders of the floor. Lengthen the spine as you come up, the slower the better, and have a pause and little squeeze of the ab muscles at the top. Imagine your tummy muscles are a sponge filled with water and, as you come to the top, you need to try to squeeze out the water. Return to the start position slowly and repeat.
There’s nothing quite like a flash of metallic eye pencil or slick of sparkly lip gloss to instantly revive your look. But according to Ariane Poole, one of the UK’s top make-up artists and famous for her real women makeovers on ITV’s This Morning, there’s a real skill to choosing the right shade and amount for your age and skin tone. Today, she shares her best tried-and-tested tips for adding sparkle at any age.
20 PLUS
In your 20s you can wear vibrant, metallic jewel colours. Go to town and have some fun.
Your skin should be luminous, so add a sweep of shimmering highlighter across the tops of the cheekbones. You can wear a sheer metallic shadow in a light shade (silver looks great) all over the eyes. A dash of emerald run along the base of the top lashes gives an instant wow effect to the eyes. Rather than just plain black mascara, add a touch of shimmer to the tips in a shade that complements your shadow - there are lots of coloured mascaras around. Finish with a soft flush of pink to the apples of the cheeks and a sparkly gloss to the lips.
30 PLUS
Getting the right balance is important. If you go for strong eyes, have softer-coloured lips.
Pick colours that are easy to use yet look stunning. Gold or coppers and browns with a gold fleck look sensational. Eyes, cheeks and lips should all be enhanced with combinations of shimmer and matte. Try a champagne-coloured shimmer swept all over the eyes, with an accent of gold or copper tone on the lids. Add definition with a dark brown gel or powder liner close to the lash line. Cheeks should be accented with a tawny blush and highlighted with a touch of soft golden shimmer, and lips will look wonderful in a warm nude shade.
40 PLUS
Keep your complexion looking radiant by priming it with a radiance booster. These can be worn under foundation or mixed with foundation.
Your 40s are a time when you can wear a more seductive look. A smoky eye can be striking, but try it in a different way, not the typical heavy black look, which can be too harsh. Plum shades are a fantastic alternative. Apply a plum shadow to your eyelid and bring it up slightly higher than the crease. Define the shape with a deep rich plum liner. Finally, highlight the brow area with a soft, pink champagne sheen. Keep the emphasis on your eyes by delicately adding a flush of muted rose on the cheeks. Lips can look elegantly understated with a pinkish nude, topped with a hint of shimmer.
50 PLUS
Don’t be afraid of a gentle hint of sparkle for an evening out. A thin line along the base of the top lashes will catch the light as you blink.
Elegance and sophistication are the key words in your 50s. All areas of the face need definition, but you don’t want to look over-the-top. Your complexion should glow, so try using a mineral-based foundation which gives the skin a dewy youthfulness. Eyes should be accented and defined. Too much matte shadow can make the eye area look dry and is ageing. A soft taupe shimmer on the lids gives the eyes a lift, but avoid browns, as they can make you look tired. Try a metallic navy shadow, which will accent and define the eyes in a modern way, reflecting blue back into the eyes, making the whites of the eyes look whiter. Lashings of mascara add an extra bit of definition to the eyes. Cheeks need a pop of peachy pink with a hint of shimmer - sweep a subtle shimmer powder over your blusher. Lips need definition and colour, so opt for pinks and reds, which are more flattering.
By ELSA MCALONAN, Image: imagekind.com
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Just 2 percent of those training to be dietitians have positive or neutral attitudes toward people who are obese, and the rest are moderately biased against their prospective patients, a new study has found.
“Essentially, this shows that future dieticians are not immune to weight bias, and there are negative attitudes toward obese patients that may have a negative impact on the quality of care,” said Rebecca Puhl, the study’s lead author and the director of research and stigma initiatives at Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.
Most of the almost 200 dietetic students who participated in the study had pejorative views about the attractiveness, self-control, overeating, insecurity and self-esteem of people who are obese. They also rated obese patients as being less likely than non-obese patients to comply with treatment recommendations. The findings were published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
But the students aren’t alone in their beliefs and share the biases with other health-care providers, Puhl said, adding that other studies have shown that many health professionals have negative perceptions about very overweight patients. Patients have reported “very many examples of providers who really make very stereotypical comments that suggest that they are making assumptions about a patient’s character, intelligence or abilities because of their weight,” she said.
Other signs of professional insensitivity, Puhl said, include weighing obese patients on freight scales because scales in a doctor’s office don’t accommodate their weight and not having blood pressure cuffs big enough for a heavy patient.
She said that the attitudes expressed by the dietetic students in the study show a lack of appreciation for how difficult it is to lose weight and for the biological factors involved. Also, the message that obesity results from a lack of self control ignores mounting scientific evidence that it’s difficult to lose weight and keep it off for a sustained period of time, she said.
“Most people, when they walk into an office, have already tried to lose weight and, more likely, they’ve lost weight and regained the weight,” Puhl said. “I think a better understanding and appreciation of the complexities and difficulties of weight loss are needed to reduce the stigma.”
The 182 students who completed the study were from 14 universities and had been enrolled in an undergraduate dietetics program for about two years. With an average age of 23, 92 percent were women, and 85 percent were white.
The researchers asked the students to respond to questions about a normal-weight male and female and an obese male and female. The people they were asked about shared the same health characteristics except for weight.
Dr. Nicholas H.E. Mezitis, an assistant professor of clinical medicine and nutrition at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, said that the findings might be misleading because of the small number of minority students and the predominance of white females among the participants. “If you get into ethnic communities, such as a black population, they all have different views,” he said. In some groups, he explained, being thin might not be seen as desirable.
“We also have to bear in mind that a lot of what these students are reading in magazines and such are taking them to the other extreme,” Mezitis said. “What’s desirable is very thin, and … these [obese] patients are way on the other extreme.”
Lona Sandon, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, added that students’ mentors need to provide positive role modeling. “If mentors reflect weight bias, then students are likely to do the same,” she said. “In addition, one’s own attitudes about body image may influence attitudes towards other’s weight.”
The study recommends adding stigma reduction to the standard curriculum for dietetics programs.
More information
The Obesity Society has more on weight-related bias.
By Carolyn Colwell - HealthDay Reporter
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