Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Unbalanced pH

Many physicians believe that acid-producing diet may hasten aging by preventing cells from protecting themselves. As Dr. Jeanette Graf, the author of Stop Aging, Start Living (Crown) describes in an article published last month, unbalanced pH may induce dull skin tone, bumps and wrinkles on your skin. High acidity intake may also lead to internal problems, such as thinner bones and low muscle mass. Dr. Graf states that only one quarter of your diet should be acid-producing foods, such as meat, most dairy, processed food or refined sugar. The rest should be alkaline-forming, such as fruits, nuts or vegetables.

Highly alkalinizing foods are asparagus, strawberries, sweet potatoes, kiwi and celery -- I've definitely noticed a great change in the tone and firmness of my skin after adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to my diet. I also have very few blemishes now. An immediate change shouldn't be expected -- as with many great things, your skin or health won't improve overnight. Though I've always stuck on a nutritious diet, I made drastic changes to it four months ago after realizing that I wasn't eating enough to get the results I wanted! It is important to remember to eat healthy food -- in a weight obsessed world, we tend to eliminate, eliminate, eliminate and forget to consume what the body seriously needs. As for example, I eat acid-forming yoghurt for the digestive benefits -- you can't achieve a balanced diet by completely disregarding any food group.

More information is available at the website of Experience Life Magazine.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Healthier, not less Tastier..

With no gluten, MSG or trans fat, Chef Bruce Aidells Chicken & Apple Sausages taste juicy and wholesome -- definitely not like substitutions to pork. The main ingredients are truly chicken and dried apples -- it is a rare occurrence when the name of the product matches the first two ingredients. The rest of the contents are just fruit juice concentrate, spices and salt. These sausages and fresh ground turkey meat have helped me stop craving for red meat. The secret to cooking moist and full-flavored white turkey meat is to add Thai fish sauce while sauteing it with fresh vegetables.

The most recommended fish sauce by foodies and professionals seems to be either Golden Boy or Tra Chang -- both are fermented slowly and do not contain artificial coloring or hydrolysed vegetable protein(which hastens fermentation). Good sauce has a strong flavor, so you don't have to worry about the high salt content(1 tbsp= 1400gms of salt). I only use half a teaspoon for each serving. Fish sauce is not just for Asian dishes -- it deepens the taste of pretty much any cuisine.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Flying Back Home


Simply can't wait to sleep on my own mattress again!

On the American Academy of Dermatology website, I found an article on the latest laser treatments -- fractional, plasma and Erbium:YAG.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Detoxify

Saunas utilizing far infrared waves are becoming popular in spas and homes worldwide. As the rays heat the body directly, the surfaces of the sauna do not heat up and the air stays “breathable”. It does not just activate the sweat glands, but penetrate deeper into the human tissues.

sunlightsaunas.com proclaims that: --

Detox from a far infrared sauna is seven to ten times greater than that of a traditional sauna because it functions at temperatures 60 to 80 degrees lower.

In a far infrared sauna, an average person can sweat out 20% toxins compared to 3% toxins in a conventional unit.

A 30 minute infrared sauna session may help you burn 200 to 600 calories.

A Japanese clinical study showed that seven out of seven cases of rheumatoid arthritis was treated successfully with whole body far infrared therapy.


Just don’t forget the contraindications – Make sure to drink electrolyte replacement water before and after use. Not only chronic conditions, but also medication or implants may induce adverse effects. To be on the safe side, make sure to talk with your MD before enjoying any type of sauna.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Paraben Free, Sulfate Free.

If you’re keen to use green products, I am sure you’ve read paraben or sulfate free on the cosmetic labels before. You know these ingredients are unhealthy, perhaps even harmful, but do you actually know what they are and what they may cause? Butyl, ethyl, methyl and propyl-paraben are chemical preservatives used in cosmetics. They have been associated with the disorders of estrogenic activity and have also been found in cancerous breast tissues. They are often used for its cost effectiveness and dependability.

Sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate are harsh surfactants that reduce the surface tension of the oils and dirt on the skin’s surface. This action helps to lift unwanted residues off the skin, but also irritates it by removing the natural protective barrier and needed hydration. It also may allow toxic ingredients to permeate further into the body. Sulfates are often used in shampoos, body wash and cleansers and the "over cleansing" may cause oil gland disorders such as dryness or acne on the scalp. I highly recommend Giovanni’s products for this reason -- this company does not use laureth or lauryl sulfate in their shampoos and as long as you buy their products online, they are inexpensive. Their Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo is great during summer, especially for dandruff or oily scalp. The product is vegan and the main ingredients are essential oils, which is also an added bonus.

Forgotten Anniversaries


Many apologies for run-on sentences -- After four years of wedded bliss seasoned with a great number of arguments and laughter, my husband and I am in San Diego for business/wedding anniversary. Yes -- we just realized that it's our fourth a day before.. I think our forgetfulness actually shows that we have a solid relationship. We've both forgotten that we were once single and that we decided one particular day to commit to each other!

After a horrendous night at Courtyard Marriott Rancho Bernardo, we are currently staying at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Please don’t misunderstand me – the staff was surprisingly courteous and helpful at the initially mentioned hotel. For the price, the morning buffet had quite an incredible choice from ripe berries, pancakes to even tofu, but unfortunately, the room was a contradiction to the freshness of food or the hospitality. I’ve never slept in such a dirty suite before – some unsanitary smell was coated with an overwhelming amount of baby powder. The bed linens were old – the color was no longer pure white, but stale yellow. The room was dark and a size of a quaint walk in closet. To make the idea of another night in the suite unbearable, the mattress springs creaked! How did they receive three and a half stars? Awarded only half a star more than the Courtyard, Rancho Bernardo Inn is worth much more so far. Yes, for a four-star resort hotel, the basic suite is small and the bathtub even smaller, but the Mediterranean styled hotel ground is beautiful – the night air infused with the scent of jasmine and other flowers was perfect for an evening walk. Though pricey, (a dinner for two will easily cost $100) in-room dining was appropriate for a four-star in California – neither extraordinary nor distasteful.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

P.S.

It might sound like a contradiction to my last post, but don't over dry the oily areas of your facial skin. When the skin is over dried with harsh astringent or active ingredients, your body will feel that it is necessary to create more sebum in order to compensate for the dryness created by the products used. This might be one of the reasons why you repeatedly get blemishes in the same area of your face.