Which Works Better: Oils Or Lotions?

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By Sharon Gnatt Epel

legslotionIf you are an American woman, chances are that you grew up watching your mama apply lotion to her face and body, but if you hail from Europe or Asia, you are more likely to be familiar with using oils to hydrate and nourish your skin.

There are many pros and cons to using each of these, but the main physical difference between them comes down to percentage of water content.

Lotions need water to emulsify (combine oils and liquids that normally resist being mixed together) and generally require heat to bind the ingredients so that they won’t separate. The downside of this process is that exposure to high temperatures can destroy whatever therapeutic properties are contained within the natural oils. Lotions are also looser in consistency, giving them a lighter, less-greasy feel on the skin. If you tend to have an oily complexion this may not be a concern, but a lighter weight also means that the lotion’s moisturizing effects may not last very long.

If you have dry skin, live in a cold or arid climate, or spend most of your time working indoors in an artificially heated or air-conditioned office, you probably want to use a moisturizer that will last all day.

If you have dry skin, live in a cold or arid climate, or spend most of your time working indoors in an artificially heated or air-conditioned office, you probably want to use a moisturizer that will last all day. Creams tend to be thicker than lotions, usually contain a higher percentage of oil, and their moisturizing effects last longer. A cream that contains a well-balanced combination of carrier (oily) and essential oils (dry oils) can not only moisturize skin and alleviate dry flaky patches: it can also offer significant antioxidant and health benefits while creating a gentle moisture barrier between your skin and the elements.

Whether you prefer to use a lotion, cream or oil, another important consideration is permeability: whether or not the moisturizer will just sit on top of the skin, or be easily absorbed within a short period of time. In order for a moisturizing agent to do any good, it must be able to penetrate the top layer of skin. Oils in general have a good history of doing this but can be a bit too oily for some people’s personal tastes. Lotions, on the other hand, usually won’t leave behind an oily residue, but their moisturizing benefits seem to evaporate within ten to fifteen minutes, leaving your skin as bone dry as it was before you applied the lotion.

womanarmupIf you are concerned about oils being comedogenic (causing acne or breakouts), you may be surprised to learn that many natural oils can actually be helpful to acne prone skin and will not cause clogged pores. It is the type of oil that determines the likelihood of breaking out, so it is a good idea to read product labels very carefully and research any ingredients that you are not familiar with. Even when a product is labeled non-comedogenic, it is not a guarantee that it is free of all comedogenic ingredients. Retin-A cream contains Isopropyl Myristate, a highly comedogenic and occlusive substance, yet in spite of this, many dermatologists prescribe it for acne-prone skin.

(By the way – if you tend to break out on your neck and back, the true culprit might be residue from your shampoo or conditioner. Make sure to rinse all hair products off your body to reduce the likelihood of irritating skin and clogging your pores).

Ultimately, the best way to figure out what will work for your individual needs is to buy small trial sizes or – preferably – samples of the products you are considering. Be sure to use them one at a time until you find the brand that suits you best. This method of trial and error takes a little time and patience, but is the most sure-fire way to discover which type of moisturizer and brand name will ultimately help protect your skin and keep it young-looking and healthy. Looking beautiful requires dedication and consistency, but when you consider that you have only one body to last an entire lifetime, it is a labor of love that is well worth the effort!

- Sharon Gnatt Epel is the CEO/Founder, La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare.

The Science Behind Bioidentical Hormones

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By Phyllis Bronson, Ph.D.

womanAs a biochemist I have been a researcher and clinician in the area of bio-identical hormone use, and their impact on women’s mood.

I have come to believe the ignorance surrounding this topic is the dark area of women’s health.

In 1997 Science News published its summary of two major studies detailing the huge difference between synthetic progestin and bio-identical progesterone; this research clearly underscored the potential for negative impact on cardiac function in women; this was not reported in medical journals. At that time I was starting my molecular research into the difference in the molecules and the results were astounding as evidenced in the following quote:

Phyllis Bronson has done years of molecular research; see the important quote below from her great chemistry colleague and mentor, Dwight Smith, Ph.D., former chancellor of the University of Denver:

“The research which Phyllis and I pursued here, resulting in a significant finding, involved the spectroscopic study of natural progesterone and the synthetic version developed by pharmaceutical companies. The structural differences between the natural and synthetic progesterone have significant implications for women’s health. The work which Phyllis has done generally in the chemical and physiological effects of bioidentical hormones has received wide attention through her numerous lectures and publications.”

I found that real progesterone has a profound calming influence on the nervous system and brain, and that women felt calm but not sedated.

I found that real progesterone has a profound calming influence on the nervous system and brain, and that women felt calm but not sedated. Often medical journals use the words progestin and progesterone interchangeably but they are not the same. In the Women’s Health Initiative Study which was halted in 2002; the major culprit was the progestin (Provera was mainly used in that study). The women using just Premain (though not ideal estrogen) did not have the problems found in women using the combination which halted the study.

This was an interesting time to be doing original research in women’s hormones.

We saw many women struggling with years of benzodiazepine use and even addiction who were able to eliminate their use after getting started on real progesterone, under a knowledgeable physician’s care. Properly made transdermal progesterone is made in a cream at a reputable (most are highly reputable) compounding pharmacy. The creams found in health food stores are simply too weak to impact mood and emotion, our area of concern.2

Estrogen is of vital importance to mood in women, for those who can use it.

Women are profoundly affected by fluctuations in their hormones, both natural as well as those from exogenous sources such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In 2002, after the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was halted due to unexpected safety concerns, the medical establishment largely recommended that doctors take women off their hormones. Women, particularly those vulnerable to chronic depression and related mood issues, knew they did not do well without their hormones, notably estrogen, but they had no place to turn.

According to the eminent scholar of women’s hormones, Jeffrey Dach, M.D., it is wrong to put women on anti-depressant drugs generally when what their bodies and minds and moods are crying for is primary estrogen (estradiol).3

As the less desirable estrogen, E1, rises as we age, the vitality-enhancing estrogen, E2, decreases, and brain fog and depression often set in. These are two of the first signs of serious estrogen imbalance.4

- Phyllis Bronson, Ph.D. – My book: “Moods Emotions and Aging: Hormones and the Mind- Body Connection” is being published July 15 by Rowman- Littlefield.

Healthy Tip # 208

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Another healthy tip courtesy of Dr. Lori L. Shemek

waterbottleMost people are walking around mildly dehyrated and are not even aware of it. They are suffering from joint pain, headaches, fatigue, lethargy, weight gain, hunger and much more – all due to a lack of hydration. Our bodies are mostly water, our brain is 80% water – so when the cells in the body are not adequately hydrated, cellular function slows down and so do our bodies. For example, without adequate water, our brain function slows resulting in headaches and/or foggy thinking, our metabolism slows resulting in weight gain and fatigue. Do not rely upon thirst as an indicator to drink water – by the time we are thirsty, our bodies are already 1-2% dehydrated. It is essential that we hydrate for optimal health and weight loss. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. If you weigh 120 lbs, drink 60 ounces of water every day.

- Lori L. Shemek, PhD, CLC, NC is the Health Expert for the ABC Show ‘Good Morning Texas’
and the author of the best-selling book “Fire-Up Your Fat Burn!”

A Natural Compound In Apples Can Kill Human Colon Cancer Cells

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applevectorBel Marra Health, who offers high-quality, specially formulated vitamins and nutritional supplements, reports on a new study that found that the natural sugars in apples, called oligosaccharides, can impede the growth and development of human colon cancer cells.

As Bel Marra Health reports in its article (http://www.belmarrahealth.com/cancer/new-research-shows-that-an-apple-a-day-could-keep-cancer-away/), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and incredibly, new studies have recently discovered an inverse relationship between the consumption of apples and the risk of cancer. In other words, the more apples a person eats, the lower their risk is for several types of cancer. The most recent research found that a compound in apples could actually behave as a natural cancer cure, killing colon cancer cells more efficiently than even chemotherapy drugs.

In the course of this study, the researchers isolated a natural sugar found naturally in apples, called oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides are a type of carbohydrate that contains between 3 to 6 units of simple sugar in their structure. In order to isolate the oligosaccharides from the rest of the apple, the researchers disposed of the skins, pulps, seeds and stems, and treated the juice of the apples with natural enzymes in order to break down the leftover apple compounds into pure oligosaccharides.

Once isolated, the oligosaccharides were added at various concentrations to human colon cancer cells, called HT29. At lower concentrations (about 0.9 parts per million or PPM), the oligosaccharides killed 17.6 percent of the colon cancer cells within just 36 hours. On the other hand, the chemo drug, which was administered at an even higher concentration, killed only 10.9 percent of the colon cancer cells. Although these results were impressive, the truly amazing results occurred when higher concentrations of oligosaccharides were used – at 9.0 PPM, the oligosaccharides killed a whopping 46% of the human colon cancer cells.

This breakthrough research showed that the oligosaccharides in apples can not only out-perform common cancer drugs when it comes to treating colon cancer, but that they are also a non-toxic alternative, without all of the health risks and severe discomfort caused by traditional cancer therapies. Unlike chemotherapy drugs, oligosaccharides attack only the cancer cells, and do not cause harm to the patient’s healthy cells. As such, treating colon cancer with oligosaccharides could mean avoiding the troublesome side-effects associated with cancer drugs such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue and hair loss.

Aside from the natural oligosaccharide content in apples, a study published in the Nutrition and Cancer journal in 2010 found that apple peels are also effective as natural cancer cures. The researchers found that apple peel extracts reduced the ability of several different varieties of cancer cells to survive. According to the study, the apple peel extracts decrease the level of a certain antigen found in cancer cells, and the reduction of that antigen results in a decreased ability for the cancer cells to grow and multiply. The researchers also found that apple peel extracts increase levels of a protein called maspin, which helps to prevent tumors from growing and spreading.

Bel Marra doctors recommend that people should harness the natural nutrition and cancer fighting properties of apples by eating two apples a day, including their skins. Be sure to choose organic apples, because conventionally grown apples are contaminated with toxic pesticides and herbicides which may actually increase risks for cancer. Also, choose locally grown apples when possible, because apples that are shipped from far away are picked before they are fully ripe and do not contain as many nutrients.

(SOURCE: Li Q., et. al. “Oligosaccharide from apple induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HT29 human colon cancer cells.” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 16 Mar. 2013.)

- Courtesy of PRWeb

People Trade Off Healthy Habits Due To Time Constraints

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healthywordsIn a study just released by a university in the U.S., they found that most people will either exercise or make healthy meals, but not both; making supplements like Prescopodene, which was created by Prescopodene Nutritionals, beneficial when it comes to losing weight as it doesn’t require any time at all.

Most people are busier than ever and don’t have much time to dedicate to all the areas of their health. They only allow a certain amount of time and whatever they can do, they can do. What they can’t is set aside. This means that anything that individuals can do to promote weight loss that won’t take time out of their schedule, such as taking weight loss supplements like Prescopodene, may help them reach their health goals.

In a study done by the Ohio State University, they reviewed data on over 112,000 American adults. Specifically, they looked at those that logged their activities for the previous 24 hours. They wanted to see how much time people spent exercising and preparing healthy meals.

They noted that of the 112,000 individuals, only 16% of men and 12% of women had completed any form of physical activity on the day prior. Averaging the exercisers with the non-exercisers, men took in roughly 19 minutes of physical activity and women only completed around 9 minutes.

When it came to making meals, men spent approximately 17 minutes preparing something to eat, whereas women averaged 44 minutes, more than double the amount. They took all of this information, reviewed it statistically and found that the more time a person spent in one of these areas (exercise and food preparation), the less time they spent in the other.

This suggests that people will generally only commit a certain portion of their day to healthful activities. So, if one area takes up too much time, they don’t make up for it with other time that they have designated elsewhere.

Therefore, weight loss supplements such as Prescopodene, which contains all-natural ingredients like green tea, vitamin C and vitamin B6, may help people lose more weight because they take no additional time other than is necessary to swallow them twice daily.

- Courtesy of PRWeb

Community Gardening May Be An Effective Weight Loss Method

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butterflysmallDoctors Health Press, a division of Lombardi Publishing Corporation and publisher of various natural health newsletters, books, and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, recently issued a statement commenting on a new study finding that community gardening may be an effective method for weight loss.

As Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin notes, in recent years, community gardening has become increasingly popular in urban areas. Basically, members of a community start their own vegetable garden on a rooftop or an available plot of land. What’s interesting about this trend is that its participants tend to have lower body mass indices (BMIs) and are far less likely to be obese than the rest of the community. BMI is a measure that represents the relationship between a person’s height and weight; a BMI of 25 or over indicates an overweight individual, while 18.5–24.9 indicates normal weight.

As the e-newsletter article “This Springtime Activity Could Bring Your Weight Down” reports, community gardeners in Salt Lake City, Utah, took part in a study examining how one’s hobby impacted his or her weight. A total of 200 participants were studied and compared to neighbors, spouses, and siblings. This cross-section is important to consider for a few reasons:

* People who live in the same community have access to the same things, particularly food choices. They shop at the same grocery stores and the same items are available to all of them.

* Spouses typically engage in similar activities, usually eating the same meals and participating in similar lifestyles.

* Siblings share similar genetics and may therefore be prone to similar health conditions and body types.

motherdaughtergardenThe Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin article states that the study found that female gardeners had a BMI two points lower than non-gardeners; this translates into an 11-pound difference for a 5’5” woman. There was an even greater difference for men—the BMI drop for a 5’11” male translated to a 16-pound difference. As well, female and male gardeners are less likely to suffer from obesity than their non-gardening counterparts by 46% and 62%, respectively.

However, the article notes that while the group in the study happened to be community gardeners, the results reflect an overall lifestyle; the gardeners get exercise, but they likely also eat the nutritious food they grow.

Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin concludes by stating that gardening can serve as a great motivation to get healthy and that anybody can garden, regardless of where they live. As well, this study further proves it’s not difficult to make the connection between diet, exercise, and health.

- Courtesy of PRWeb

How You Can Fight Common Sleep Disorders Like Snoring Or Sleep Apnea

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By Brandon Travis

sleepSleep disorders affect a large percentage of Americans, up to 40 percent as some studies have suggested, debilitating one of our most precious resources: sleep. We need sleep to perform even our most elemental tasks not to mention the more difficult ones like cognition, concentration, athletics or even operating a car. Getting a good night’s sleep is tantamount to being able to perform well in life and sleep disorders like snoring or sleep apnea make getting a good night’s sleep a constant struggle. However, there are plenty of tools you can use to combat snoring and sleep apnea and the rest you deserve.

While there are a plethora of known and unknown sleep disorders out there, ranging from night terrors, to narcolepsy, to work-shift sleep disorders, to restless leg syndrome, insomnia, snoring and sleep apnea are three of the most common. But in order to look at ways to fight these common sleep disorders, we first have to understand what causes them in the first place.

Insomnia is a very common sleep disorder, so common in fact that there really isn’t one specific reason for it; the causes depend upon the person and can range from anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, to lifestyle problems like diet and lack of exercise to stress to allergens. And though there are many prescription drugs available that can help you get to sleep, most of these medications leave you feeling groggy and unrested. However, simple lifestyle changes can sometimes be enough to pull you out of your insomniac funk and get some sleep: exercising regularly, amending your diet to include more natural foods, eating a bed-time snack of dairy and carbs, meditating, getting into a sleep schedule—all of these can bring about solutions to insomnia.

snoringSnoring and sleep apnea are often comorbid and have some of the same underlying causes and treatments. Snoring is the result of occluded breathing passages in the nose or throat; sleep apnea is when breathing is abruptly halted during sleep, resulting in gasps and oxygen depletion, and if untreated can have dire consequences. Both have their own different kinds and causes. The occlusion in snoring is often caused by blockage of the throat, either through fatty tissue, allergies, posture or a general degradation of the throat muscles; it’s most commonly found in adults over 40, the obese or overweight, chronic users of alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs/medication and more often in men than women. Sleep apnea has a couple different kinds: the first, obstructive sleep apnea is a result of the same blocked airways seen in snoring, and snoring is usually precipitant; the second kind is called central sleep apnea and has to do with failures of the central nervous system; the third is a combination of the first two and is called, appropriately, complex sleep apnea.

Thankfully, snoring and sleep apnea can be treated in many of the same methods. Losing weight and getting your body back to its recommended weight is one of the best ways to fight these sleep disorders, as is eliminating or minimizing alcohol and cigarette use—especially in the last couple hours before bed. You can also help to control these sleep disorders by adjusting your sleeping position, sleeping on your side or stomach instead of your back. If allergens are the reason, making your bedroom into a hypoallergenic chamber might be the way to go; which might mean that your dog or cat has to sleep elsewhere at night. Certain vocal exercises have also been found to alleviate some of the symptoms of snoring and sleep apnea as they build up the muscles in the throat. For more info on vocal exercises check out http://www.thestopsnoringexerciseprogram.org/. Changing your diet and getting into a regular sleep schedule can also be a big step in fighting these unpleasant sleep disorders.

Sleeping is a crucial part of our lives, and making sure we get the sleep we need sometimes seems like an uphill battle. By using these techniques, you should be able to turn the tide of the nighttime war and start your sleep disorders on a, hopefully permanent, retreat.

- Brandon Travis likes to spend his free time swimming and training for his next triathlon in the spring. He works in the health and wellness sector, helping people live better and healthier lives. When he’s not working out he likes to review sites like iRollover snoring device.

Three Best Strength Workout Routines For Women

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By Rod Devreese

womanstrengthworkoutWomen, especially on their late teens all the way to middle age have this one common frustration – to look as fabulous and fit as their favorite star. Lo and behold not all women are built the same. Due to factors universal to all of us – time, money, discipline, etc. not all women can have those to-die-for washboard abs or that firm behind that everyone is talking about.

Let’s face it; you can’t achieve that sexy physique with minimal effort but expecting maximum results. Advertisements on TV promise everything under the sun but mostly they’re all just a bunch of bull. Here are three surefire workout routines for women to pump up those problem areas specifically the arms, abs and lower extremities. Note that this will always be more effective if done with proper diet.

The Arms

Most women are afraid of lifting weights just because it might make their arms larger. Wrong. By forcing your body to burn calories more than they usually do, it essentially carves away the fat to reveal more lean muscle. Goodbye flabby arms!

Body weight training can be most beneficial for a newbie. By doing pull-ups and push-ups, you essentially gain the strength to lift your own weight. This prepares you for the big boys and all that iron. One can easily do this at home without need for any other equipment. As you progress and with proper supervision you can start on with free weights, gradually going heavier.

Push-ups with mountain climbers will give you a good cardio workout while firming essentially your arms, legs, chest and abs. You can do this by getting on the push-up position but with your arms straight and on the balls of your feet. Lift your right knee to your right arm. Hold for thirty seconds with your back straight. Do this with the other arm and leg. Then slowly bend your arms to ninety degrees and back up to the original position. Do this in eight to twelve repetitions.

The Abs

exerciseballWhole body exercises can make great abs like the push-ups I mentioned earlier. But to concentrate specifically on the abdominal muscles, crunches are the way to go. Add some resistance by doing this on an exercise ball. It supports the back and firms your butt. Sit on the exercise ball and slowly roll your back with your arms crossed. Lift your shoulders and tighten that abs. Release and get back to the original position.

The Lower extremities

The hips butt and legs are the most problematic areas in women. Plie squats with shoulder raises can be most effective. Do this by standing with your feet wide apart about shoulder length. Then slowly bend your knees up to ninety degrees while tucking your stomach in. Then raise your arms (preferably done with dumbbells) up to your head and slowly lower them. Do this for about five seconds in eight to twelve reps.

Train hard

The myth that men and women have to train based on their gender is wrong in so many ways. That notion that we are all created equal proves true at this point. Look at all the athletes out there. Strength training and high intensity interval routines challenge the body to adapt to the ever-changing movements. These workout routines are great for your heart and force your body to burn all that fat FAST!

- Rod Devreese is a health and fitness enthusiast as well as an author for www.AllWorkoutRoutines.com. His research and writing focus mainly on workout routines for women and workout plans.

MarketResearch.com Announces Release Of The Obesity Epidemic eBook

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newspaperMarketResearch.com announces publication of The Obesity Epidemic, an eBook that takes a dive deep inside the dynamic food and beverage sector, with special focus on the health and wellness market.

The Obesity Epidemic is a unique addition to contemporary business Solutions-oriented literature. In clear, engaging detail, it analyzes the difficulties Americans are facing regarding weight management and eating trends.

In this eBook, you will find alarming information on this epidemic. Obesity in the U.S. is increasing at an alarming rate. More than 68% of American adults fall under the category of overweight. The impact of obesity has widespread ramifications on the country’s citizens and economy. The national healthcare system is experiencing a sizeable strain, with obesity accounting for almost 21% of total U.S. healthcare costs.

The burden on the economy has led the Federal government to address the epidemic. Politicians around the country are implementing regulations, nutritional guidelines, and public health initiatives to attempt to control the obesity crisis. Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign focuses on improving nutrition and encouraging exercise with the aid of several federal agencies. The Federal Affordable Care Act, signed into law in March 2010, mandates restaurants list calorie counts on menus.

The Obesity Epidemic analyzes weight management and eating trends from the sociological, economic, and nutritional aspects of the marketplace. It is an ideal primer for food marketers and providers looking for market trends and consumer motivations for those who make food-buying decisions for their families.

Download The Obesity Epidemic eBook.

- Courtesy of PRWeb

New Study Adds Healthier Weight To List Of Community Garden Benefits

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motherdaughtergardenA study recently published in the American Journal of Public Health looked at a community garden in Salt Lake City and found that those who participated in the garden had a lower BMI (Body Mass Index) compared to peers who were not involved in the garden. A lower BMI can mean a healthier weight for individuals, healthier communities and lower health care costs. Throw in some vine-ripened tomatoes and the deal can’t get much sweeter. Community organizers, planners and health educators will want to check out “Community Gardens: 25 Things Everyone Should Know,” a timely pamphlet from Journeyworks Publishing. The easy-to-read format outlines some of the many benefits of community gardens and can help garner support and involvement for local projects. To get a free preview copy of this pamphlet, visit Journeyworks Publishing’s Healthy Communities review pack page.

Not surprisingly, people who garden tend to eat more fruits and vegetables. Increasing consumption of fruits and veggies is a key strategy for losing weight as well as for preventing chronic disease. Included in the Journeyworks review pack are samples of two additional pamphlets about the importance of eating more fruits and veggies and a brochure on the health consequences of obesity. Professionals interested in improving community health can get free preview copies of all these pamphlets by visiting Journeyworks Publishing’s Healthy Communities review pack page.

- Courtesy of PRWeb