The Best Diet for your Body Type in 5 easy stepsWritten by Helen Laxton
Common sense (not to mention professional medical opinon!) suggests that a 'balanced' diet is best for almost everyone. By 'balanced', we mean that you strictly control your consumption of saturated fats and refined sugar, and be careful about how much protein you eat. Kind of makes Atkins Diet look a little shaky, doesn't it? The Atkins Diet, and other 'crash' diets are a knee-jerk reaction to a disturbing Western diet phenomenon - in short, our diet is getting worse, and we are ALL getting fatter!In most western countries (particularly USA and Europe) most citizens consume too much saturated fat (generally, rise of 'McBurgers' and other 'fast' foods is thought to be responsible for this). Likewise, we all eat too much refined sugar, which is a major component of most 'soft' drinks (or sodas) and is also found in horrendous quantities in refined white flour. The use of white flour in our bread has also contributed to a related problem - we tend to get too little fiber in our diets nowadays! Is fast food culprit? Given that over half of every dollar spent on food in USA is spent in fast food outlets nowadays, answer is probably 'yes'. Twenty years ago, an obese person would be center of some attention - a medical problem might be suspected. Nowadays, almost 1 in 3 Americans is obese, as are 1 in 5 Brits. The problem has gone from being small, to being (literally!) large. And this has happened in a single generation. So how can we get back to diet basics?
| | IHD - Beautiful Skin 101Written by John Russel
Most women shy away from being called “too sensitive.” But when subject is kin, they’re all too willing to wear scarlet S. According to American Academy of Dermatology, at least 40% of women believe they have sensitive skin, although most dermatologists report that only a fraction really do. Sensitivity – defined as skin that’s prone to irritation from products, weather, or stress – is a real (albeit misunderstood) condition. It’s not same as an allergy. It means you have a lower tolerance for irritating ingredients, such as fragrances and dyes. The evil twist here is that more skin reacts, more sensitive it becomes. Imagine normal skin having a natural barrier like Saran Wrap. People with sensitive skin have a disrupted barrier all time. But by identifying what disrupts that barrier and protecting it with right moisturizer, you can develop a thicker skin.1. Read Labels – Before applying creams, lotions, or makeup, read ingredients list. The fewer ingredients on label, better. All products and formulas should be free of fragrance, dye, and isopropyl alcohol (commonly known as rubbing alcohol). And beware of botanical ingredients and oils. Test each new product on side of your neck for a few days before using it on your face. 2. Cleanse – Wash you face with a milky, non-foaming liquid cleanser or a soap-free bar. Do not use a washcloth or any rough scrubber, which can be too abrasive for sensitive skin. Rinse face well by splashing with lukewarm water and pat with a soft towel, leaving skin slightly damp. There is no need to use a toner, which generally contains drying and irritating isopropyl alcohol. 3. Moisturize – Dab moisturizer onto damp skin in morning and night. Look for one that contains ceramides, fatty acids, or cholesterol, all of which help form a protective barrier against irritation. In morning, when moisturizer is absorbed, apply a sunscreen (with an SPF 15 or higher). It should also contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are least likely to cause reactions. Cheat Sheet 1. Choose right products. “Allergy-tested” means it doesn’t have ingredients that cause common reactions. “Noncomedogenic” means it won’t clog pores. 2. Read labels. Not everyone with sensitive skin is troubled by same thing, but most common irritants, in order, include fragrance, isopropyl alcohol, dyes, PABA, lanolin, sorbic acid, formaldehyde, and benzoic acid. 3. Don’t assume that natural products are safe. Some botanicals (rosemary, sandalwood, arnica) and essential oils (jojoba, tea tree, lavender) may irritate. 4. Test samples on neck for several days. If they don’t irritate you, they’ll probably be fine for your face. 5. Don’t try an arsenal of new products at once. Similarly, if skin breaks out, stop using everything, and reintroduce products one by one. 6. Be as gentle as possible. Use a creamy, liquid cleanser or a soap-free bar and rinse with lukewarm water. Avoid Buf-Pufs and washcloths. Pat with a towel and leave skin slightly damp. 7. Moisturize with a product for sensitive skin, or one that contains fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides. 8. Every day, be sure to apply a PABA-free sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
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