Recently in Health Category

For the 17th consecutive year April is National Stress Awareness Month (in addition to Earth Month of course!). With stress at an all time high, (thank you taxes), Rescue Remedy is marking the month by releasing the results of a 500-person stress survey. Below are some of the highlights--
• 80% of men and 79% of women surveyed felt that stress play a significant role in their life. These effects include change in mood, sleep patterns, relationships and how they work.
• The number one cause of stress? Money. 86% of men and 36% of women listed money as the cause of stress in their lives.
• 52% of women and 38% of men have tried relaxation methods to decrease stress levels. These methods include yoga, meditation, relaxation-cd's and over-the counter options.
What can you do about this stress? Jump for some insight from Rescue Remedy!

I don't go often enough, but when I do make it to a Yoga class I head to YogaWorks so I was excited when I got these tips from Kathryn Budig one of the Yogis there. See below for some of Kathryn's quick and easy yoga poses that can be incorporated into your day to help you relieve common issues!
Issue #1: Are your feet sore from those four-inch Louboutins?
"Alleviate the pain of wearing high heels by ascending and descending to chair pose, balancing on the balls of the feet with the arches and heels lifting," suggests Kathryn. "The pose will help you conquer the discomfort of this season's soaring heel heights."
How To Solve:
• Place the feet together and lift both arms parallel to the ground, palms facing down
• Find one point to gaze at and lift up onto the balls of the feet
• Continue to reach the heels away from the ground, creating lift in the arches
• Keep the gaze on one point, heels lifted, and begin to bend the knees
• Keep the belly gently pulling to the spine as the body descends until the bottom lands lightly on the heels
• Take five breaths without placing the heels on the ground and make a slow return back to standing
• Place heels back down
More after the jump!

I think people with blindingly white teeth are creepy (especially a certain Scientologist movie star with his maniacal smile!)-- but clean and natural looking white teeth?? Very sexy! I got bleaching trays once but it made my teeth so sensitive that I stopped after a couple of months. I swore off all bleaching products since then and have been satisfied with my teeth but lately I feel like they aren't as bright as they used to be (normal with age and regular consumption of red wine). 

I don't want to do anything drastic so I started using Go Smile! after its PR rep sent me samples.   The sample only lasted two days but it was enough to get me to buy more.  It's been a couple of weeks and I am noticing a very slight and subtle change in my teeth.  They just look a shade brighter, though not much whiter.  I also like the application process, brush it on like any other toothpaste, no sitting around with annoying trays in your mouth! Try for yourself and let me know what you think.  At Go Smile!

On a totally different note, I had a dream last night that my dentist cut my hair when I went in for a cleaning.  Very bizarre.

I couldn't sleep over the holidays because I was worried about the dinner for 20 I was planning the next night on Christmas Eve, the gifts for 50 family and friends that haven't been wrapped (or shipped in some cases) and my son's double ear infection. By 3 am, I was panicked that I'd never sleep and then remembered a PR rep had sent me aromatherapy pillow liners that are supposed to help you sleep. I dug around in my "goody" box and found the liner, stuck it in my pillow, and waited for sleep to come.

I wish I could say that I fell asleep immediately but I didn't. The scent was lovely and it did relax me but all I could think about was how I needed a massage but haven't had time for one and my masseuse Tracy at Cooper Spa will be taking maternity leave in January so I better get in there. Then I started worrying about her giving massages during her tri-mester and what if she went into labor while giving me a massage and do I try to deliver the baby or wait for help. (You know how the busy mind works!)
 
Anyhoo, the liners last from two to five days and come in a collection of 12 scents. $24.99 for eight scented liners that you can travel with. Me, I plan on putting them in my lingerie drawer. At Sleepscentsations.com

Awhile back I had the chance to speak with founder of Envision Beauty and Living Foods Expert Kimberly Snyder about raw food, healthy lifestyles, and her face care product The Solution. She had so many interesting things to say that I turned to her once again for some advice! Below you'll find some wonderful tips that Kimberly Snyder put together exclusively for Beauty Snob! They're 5 Diet Tips to Prevent Peeling and Flaking Skin during the hard winter months!

1. Bump up your consumption of Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids will prevent peeling and flaking, and promote youthful, smooth and radiant skin by keeping skin cells hydrated and strong. Omega 3 fatty acids maintain the structure and fluidity of cell membranes, facilitating the inflow of nutrients and the outflow of waste products. A great source of Omega 3 fats is the Açai berry, which is native to the Amazon forest but has recently started to appear in health stores and even some supermarkets. Açai has a hefty serving of Omega 3, 6 and 9, as well as fiber, amino acids, minerals and key vitamins. Other great sources of Omega 3 include flaxseed and flax oil and walnuts.
2. Get familiar with hemp seeds.
Hemp seeds contain gamma-linolenic fatty acids, a powerful type of anti-inflammatory Omega 6, which can specifically help keep your skin hydrated and prevent flaking. Hemp seeds, which are extremely mineral-rich and also pack 11 grams of protein in just 3 Tbs., can be purchased in any health food store and are a great addition to salads and winter soups.
More of Kimberly Snyder's Tips after the Jump!

There has been this whole scare of antiperspirant / deodorants that cause breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease because of the aluminum content. Well, I think we can all agree that we would rather smell than risk those dangers. And as it is, my memory sucks. There are conflicting studies but the one thing that got me to switch is the fact that the effectiveness is caused by little pieces of aluminum lodged into your pores to stop the sweat from coming out. I kind of gave more credence to medical technology in thinking that there was some special ingredient in antiperspirants that stopped your body from making sweat. But that is not the case, you still sweat - it is just being clogged inside of you and that does not sound like a good thing. I was disturbed enough to give non-aluminum alternatives a try, Tom's of Maine Natural Deodorant, being that it is my favorite brand for organic, natural products. OK, I know I talked a lot about sweat so I need to clarify immediately by pointing out loud and clear that this is a deodorant, not antiperspirant, so you will still sweat, it just keeps you from smelling. See, for me, my problem is mainly odor. I kind of sweat but that isn't what's keeping me from flailing my arms at will. It has been 3 weeks and I have to say, this is working for me. I like the Unscented, although it still has a slight lemongrass scent to it, and I have tried the Lavender, which I like but I prefer unscented just so it doesn't compete with my perfume. My husband tried it and he was like a leaky faucet so he had to stop. If you are a sweater, don't even bother. But if you're like me and just need odor control, why not go with a natural product? Tom's of Maine Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick, Lavender and Tom's of Maine Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick, Unscented are $5.49 each at Drugstore.com.

Stress can harm your body from the inside-out. That said, I've never been one to pop pills and call it a day. Even when I was at Cornell or all the way back to High School when those around me were popping away to calm down, stay awake, and study I didn't do it. Of course, some people have serious anxiety problems and I don't want to lump them together with those who self-medicate for the easy way out, but I wanted to share a remarkable product that I've been using for years that might just do the trick in calming nerves and alleviating stress. Being that my family is German I travel to Munich quite a bit and homeopathy is huge there. Nearly every pharmacy has a section dedicated to Bach Flower Remedies .  The Remedies have been used for over 70 years to provide an all-natural, approach to dealing with the short-term aspects of stress and best of all there are 38 different ones so you can pick the one that is specifically target to the stress you are experiencing. Click here to see the ones they tackle. I've tried their targeted remedies and a few of their newer products namely their pastilles which are gummy lozenges formulated using the original Rescue Remedy formula - while they taste good (almost addictingly so!), I haven't found anything to be as effective as the original Rescue Remedy Drops which combine the 5 flower essences that target the most common stressors -- just take a moment to yourself, drop a few drops directly on your tongue (or mix them into a glass of water, though I find that to be less effective), take a deep breath and hopefully it will help calm your nerves and body, at least in the short term, like it does for me:)

We ranted about the uselessness of Dr. Perricone's line of beauty products so it may surprise you to see a positive story on him. Both Tina and I have used the products and although I didn't break out in a rash, the results were, eh, so so. Well, the beauty of this story is that what I am about to tell you is FREE and does not require you to buy anything from him or anyone else (well, the market, but everyone's gotta eat, right?). I read his book, The Perricone Prescription: A Physician's 28-Day Program for Total Body and Face Rejuvenation (only $7.99 at Amazon) and was amped up about doing the 28 day diet to revitalize my skin and body. It totally makes sense, what you eat has got to be way more important than anything you can apply superficially to your skin. But knowing that I am terrible at dieting (the word "diet" just puts me in a panic and I have been known to hide in a corner with a pint of Ben and Jerry's in total unrelenting hunger and shame), I decided to start with the Three-Day Nutritional Face Lift^TM. I figured that I can do 3 days, rationalizing that the 4th day is not that long to wait for that pint of ice cream. I decided to get my parents on the plan as well, both of whom are wrought with health problems (my dad is a diabetic and my mom has high blood pressure). The first day was ok, the meals are not that different than how I normally eat so it was pretty easy. The hardest part was the ban on coffee!! The alternative he offers is green tea but my body does not respond to green tea. It tastes good and all but I need the coffee to jolt my body to awake mode in the morning. By the second day, we have all noticed unequivocal differences in our skin tone, skin clarity and energy level. It was totally amazing to say the least. It was especially apparent in my dad who has the most health issues, so rosy cheeks have been a thing of the past many decades ago, but lo and behold a simple diet of salmon and romaine lettuce brought back vibrancy and a much needed healthy glow. Although this experiment was a clear success, surprisingly I could not bear the thought of the 28 day diet. How much salmon can one eat? Not much. Well, 3 days worth to be exact. I love fish but I just can't eat the same thing again and again for an entire month. There are other fish options, like Chilean sea bass and black cod, which I love but I still couldn't do it. He does not really push those fish because they are not as readily available as salmon and obviously more expensive to be eating on a daily basis. I decided that when I needed to, I would just do the 3 day diet a few times a year. I generally follow a diet of fish and vegetable so I am getting all the Omega-3 acids that are so miraculous for the skin. I have copied the entire meal plan on the next page so you don't even need to buy his book to try it for yourself. It is published on the Dr. Perricone website.

I am currently obsessed with the Skin Deep Website, a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products from researchers at the Environmental Working Group. I have been on it all weekend looking up every brand in my bathroom, it was shocking how many items in my bathroom are rated "high toxicity" and that may cause cancer, render me infertile amongst many other scary hazards! Go through the site and search for your favorite products to see what you come up with. I could not find my favorite luxury brands such as La Prarie, Natura Bisse, Sisley or La Mer on the site, hopefully it is because their products are tested extensively to avoid causing hazard? (or maybe they were too expensive for the scientists to buy and test?).

There seems to be a pattern of beauty companies across the board with body lotions being listed as highly toxic even if their other products are of low or no risk (For example, Skinceuticals C&E ferulic is safe but the Skin Firming Body Cream is a high hazard- I am throwing mine in the trash tonight!). In fact, I am so freaked out that I have decided to use my son's baby products from California Baby (rated 0- low hazard) on my body until further notice. I am not one to scare easily and often ignore the urban legends of lipstick accumulating in the stomach etc but this really got my attention! Of course I will do more sleuthing with doctors in order to validate the site's claims, let me know what you beauties come up with.

Here's a thought, perhaps the reason Aveda products tested so high for toxicity is because they do not do any testing on lab rats....

The Healing Power of Diamonds:

Despite trying multiple luxury creams for review, Diamonds are still my best friend, as in Natura Bisse's Diamond line of products. Latest from the line is Diamond Magnetic, a holistic approach to Magnetic and Gem Therapy through the ancient art of crystal healing and the use of magnets. Not just pretty to look at, diamonds are powerful energy cleansers renowned for their ability to transform energy and to draw hidden imbalances to surface and release them bringing balance and harmony to the body and mind. Lucky me, I got to try Diamond Magnetic firsthand at Natura Bisse's headquarters over the summer and I have been anxiously awaiting the launch of the product ever since!

The specialist at Natura Bisse covered me in the diamond/iron dust concoction (a thick paste that promises to purify and cleanse the skin) and as I worried about how I was going to wash it all off before getting back in my very white dress she pulled out a crystal tool that looked like something out of a movie. She then started moving it across my arm and the mask LIFTED off my skin as if it was magic! What was left was sleek and velvety skin dressed in Diamond dust! There is a magnetic piece at the tip of the tool that attracts the iron in the mask which ensures a clean removal. How did I feel afterwards? Relaxed and happy, as if they lifted any stress I had with the diamond dust. I am a big believer in Holistic healing and with Diamond Magnetic I can heal and cleanse right at home!

This will be available at Neiman Marcus and Neiman Marcus.com in November, you must call and schedule an appointment to try it out for yourself! 214-363-8311

$270 for 10.5 ounces (it usually costs over $100 to receive a holistic energy healing session, this jar will last you at least a dozen treatments so it is well worth the price!)

Eat your way to health and beauty? How about eating yummy gummi bears? Borba's line of Acai berry gummi bears claim that they provide the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will restore your skin's radiance, clean your pores and clear up your skin. Too good to be true? Well, this is nothing more than any multi-vitamin that is essential to good health and the yummy gummi format is just like the kind we had when we were kids. The big deal is it contains acai berriers, which is the new miracle cure-all. Dr. Perricone has proclaimed it the #1 superfood. It is a berry from a palm tree that is grown in South America. Research has found that in the lab it actually killed human leukemia cells (it is not yet determined if it will prevent leukemia in humans). The potential of this fruit is not yet fully known but it is the richest in antioxidants of any food. It is highly perishable so unless you are a neighbor of the Amazon, chances are you will not be getting fresh acai berries. So the best you can do is freeze dried powder or alternatives like this Borba Gummi. I did pop a few in my mouth and they taste just like candy (the texture is smoochier and are sweeter than regular gummies). They recommend that you eat as many as you like but don't worry, 2 gummies are only 15 calories, 3 grams of sugar, totally fat free and organic. $25 for a pack of 136 gummies at Sephora.