HAIRCUT STYLES FOR MEN & Woman

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

12-23-09

Dec. 23--New Year's resolutions for many Americans will mean the latest diets and gym memberships.

But losing weight and keeping it off might be as much about the psychological struggles as the physical changes.

"Some people say losing weight is in the mind," said Judith Horvath, director of the psychotherapy training program at Texas Tech's Health Sciences Center.

The HSC psychiatrist said giving yourself a mental workout can complement healthful eating and exercise regimens.

"I think they need to go hand-in-hand," she said.

Psychological feelings make the holiday season one of the worst times of the year to embark on a program, Horvath said.

"Food can be used as emotional nourishment and to calm anxieties," she said. "The holidays stir up unfulfilled longings in people. People are reminded of the things they are missing out on."

But other emotions make losing weight hard year-round, Horvath said. Feelings of depression, a loss of control, rationalizing weight gain and low self-esteem can make losing weight seem like an impossible task, local experts said.

"Some people don't think they can allow themselves to look their best because they feel like they don't deserve to be a more attractive person," Horvath said.

Most of the morbidly obese patients treated at Lubbock's Advanced Bariatric Surgery Center are depressed, said David Syn, a bariatric surgeon who opened the practice in 2002. Many of them give up the antidepressants when they shed their extra pounds, he said.

They might also feel like they're losing a friend, like they must reach their ideal weight to succeed, or like they've already failed.

"If you look at the laundry list of diets they've tried on their own and failed, that can't have a positive impact on someone's psyche," Syn said.

Syn helps his patients overcome their overeating through surgery, counseling and education, he said.

"One of the great misunderstandings about what I do is that it's just surgery," said Syn, who spends hours with his patients before surgery and follows most for many years after.

"We are empowering people to take back their lives," he said.

Horvath said people striving for less dramatic weight loss can benefit from including family and friends in the process or talking to a professional.

The Texas Tech HSC Psychiatry Clinic provides a free counseling program for patients planning to lose weight, she said.

People should try to find distractions that help them stay away from food, Horvath said.

"They have to find out how to deal with the loss of satisfaction eating provides them," she said. "It's about exchanging the reward of food for the reward of achieving their goals."

Athletes put their skin through more and are exposed to the elements (i.e., sun, wind, rain, chlorine) more than sedentary people. Athletes are consistently sweating, training and showering, which leads to excessive loss of moisture to the skin and hair. Most city water systems contain chlorine; once the pores are opened from a warm shower or bath, the skin absorbs chlorine like a sponge. Chlorinated water can cause or exacerbate dry skin and rashes, and the inhaled steam can aggravate sinuses and lungs.
But chlorine is not the only chemical of concern. Adults put up to 126 unique chemicals on their skin each day, and up to 60 percent of what is put on the skin is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. One of every five adults are potentially exposed every day to all of the top seven carcinogenic impurities common to personal care product ingredients: hydroquinone, ethylene dioxide, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, PAHs, and acrylamide. The top most common impurity ranked by number of people exposed is hydroquinone, which is a potential contaminant in products used daily by 94 percent of all women and 69 percent of all men. Although these exposures may be small, they add up within the body. How do these affect an athlete’s performance in the long run?
With the recent crop of media attention about chemicals in drinking water, lead levels in cosmetics and phthalates showing up everywhere, more athletes (whatever their performance level) are looking for an organic and natural approach to personal care products. This goes hand-in-hand with their already diligent approach to their exercise, food and supplement regimen.
Another good reason why athletes should also be using our Sense Beautiful Science skin care line in addition to other selected USANA nutritional products.

Fish oil containing the Omega 3 essential fatty acid EPA helps to prevent wrinkles and can delay the aging process of the skin according to recent research published in the Journal of Lipid Research in 2005. Scientists have also found that fish oil containing EPA can limit the damage to the skin produced by overexposure to the sun and help to reduce the negative effect of UV rays. This has particular relevance when we consider the recent and dramatic rise in cases of skin cancers caused predominantly by exposure to the suns harmful rays.

Essential Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are known to play a critical role in promoting healthy skin. They help to regulate cellular function and maintain elasticity and suppleness in the skin. Consequently, a fatty acid deficiency will show up as skin problems. Most of us do not get enough of the Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet whereas Omega 6 fatty acids are in plentiful supply. Symptoms of Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency include skin problems like eczema, dandruff, dry and flaking skin and poor wound healing.

Three reasons why EPA is so beneficial to the skin?

• EPA is known to reduce inflammation by helping the body to produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. These are hormone-like substances that are responsible for regulating all the cells in our body.
• EPA helps to inhibit the production of androgens, which are hormones that influence the production of sebum in the hair follicle. Excess sebum production can lead to acne and other skin problems.
• EPA helps to limit production of Arachidonic acid, which is responsible for pro-inflammatory responses in the body, high levels of which are found in people with inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis.

Microdermabrasion is an effective, non-surgical way to get rid of acne scars, fine wrinkles and sunspots by exfoliating the top layers of the skin. No chemicals or laser beams are used, only aluminum oxide micro crystals that gently sandblast your skin, leaving it smooth and fresh. Micro dermabrasion also stimulates collagen production, helping your skin rejuvenate faster than normal. Also called the lunchtime peel, microderm abrasion takes up to one hour and has no downtime.

What Is The Difference Between Microdermabrasion And Dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is a mechanical procedure that uses a power driver hand-held device to remove the top layers of the skin. It may need general or a local anesthetic, depending on the treated area. Derma abrasion lasts between a few minutes and two hours, depending on the depth and area of the skin resurfacing. After dermabrasion treatment, the skin is red, swollen and extremely sensitive for about 10 days. Dermabrasion can offer visible improvement by treating deep wrinkles, scars, and hyperpigmentation.

Microabrasion is much less invasive. It can be performed in an beauty center, doctor's office or at home, using a personal home micro dermabrasion kit. A doctor uses a sandblaster-like hand-held device to spray and circulate high pressure flow of aluminum oxide crystals onto the skin. Used crystals and dead skin cells are then vacuumed back into the microdermabrasion machine, leaving the skin clean and smooth.

Starting early next year we will begin offering esthetic services at Bella Pelle Laser. In case you wondered, Bella Pelle means Beautiful Skin in Italian.

Peel It Off

Chemical peels are used to reduce scars, fine lines and pigmentation caused by acne, sun spots, or wrinkles due to aging. The chemical applied allows molecules to sink into the skin and will cause a tingling effect. The chemical can stay on the skin from 1 to 10 minutes and then it neutralizes or cools and is removed. As the chemicals seep into the skin, they boost collagen while lifting off the top layer, or the epidermis, of the skin. This causes a peeling effect. After a layer of skin peels off, it reveals the second layer or the dermis, which has fresher, tighter cells that are not as damaged.

Where, Oh Where?

Some mild chemical peel solutions may be applied to the face, neck and chest. More aggressive chemical peel solutions may only be applied to the face, avoiding the eyebrows, eyes, lips or any sensitive areas of the skin. The milder peel may be performed every 1 to 4 weeks, or as recommended by your physician or esthetician. A more aggressive peel may only be done once, after consulting a specialist or dermatologist. After any peel, the skin will likely feel tight, as if it is sunburned or wind burned. You may be given special moisturizer or a gentle cleanser to avoid irritation post-procedure.

Types of Peels

There are many types of chemical peels from superficial to deep. The most superficial can be done in the morning and a patient can then go to work, while a stronger peel may require a patient to take medication following the procedure and scabbing or excessive peeling may occur. Deciding which chemical peel is right for your skin requires a specialist, such as a dermatologist, or a certified professional, such as an esthetician.

Chemicals Used

There are different chemicals used depending on your skin type. A glycolic acid peel is an option, as is a salicylic, carbonic or lactic acid peel. These peels may be put on a patient's skin for 1 minute and up to 10 minutes. A deeper peel is a phenol peel which can take up to 2 hours and could take up to 2 weeks for the skin to heal. This is a serious procedure that can bleach treated areas or cause blistering. Always consult a dermatologist before undergoing this procedure.

EDMONTON, Oct. 25, 2009 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) --

Just three months of physical activity reaps heart health benefits for older adults with type 2 diabetes by improving the elasticity in their arteries - reducing risk of heart disease and stroke, Dr. Kenneth Madden told the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

Dr. Madden studied adults between the ages of 65 to 83 with controlled Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol to see how increased activity might affect stiffness of the arteries.

"The theory is that aerobic activity makes your arteries less stiff and makes artery walls more elastic," says Dr. Madden, a geriatric specialist at the University of British Columbia.

An improvement was seen in the elasticity of the arteries of the group that performed the activity compared to those who didn't exercise. "There was an impressive drop in arterial stiffness after just three months of exercise. In that time we saw a 15 to 20 per cent reduction."

The subjects were divided into two groups to either receive three months of vigorous physical activity (one hour, three times per week) or to get no aerobic exercise at all. Subjects were classified as sedentary at the beginning of the study but gradually increased their fitness levels until they were working at 70 per cent of their maximum heart rate, using treadmills and cycling machines. They were supervised by a certified exercise trainer.

Dr. Beth Abramson, spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, stresses the importance of lifestyle factors on heart health, especially with our aging population. "Almost everyone can benefit from active living," she says. "The Foundation recommends that, like adults of any age, older adults - with the consent of their physicians - need 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week."

Dr. Madden says that the exercise requirements may be viewed as controversial because of the age of the participants but the exercise level was safe and well tolerated. "There seems to be a knee-jerk reluctance to getting these older adults to exercise yet we used a vigorous level of activity and didn't have any trouble keeping participants in our study. They enjoyed the activity," Dr. Madden says. "People always underestimate what older adults can do."

Dr. Madden notes that realistically, seniors need someone to help them get started. "We need to learn how to do it effectively and how to do it safely," he says. "It could mean visiting your family doctor to find out about provincially funded programs, or joining programs for seniors that are offered at many local community centres."

Dr. Abramson recommends that seniors choose activities they enjoy, such as walking, gardening, golfing, dancing, or joining a yoga or tai chi class. If weather is a barrier, she suggests climbing stairs at home, joining a mall-walking group, or strolling the halls of their apartment building or retirement residence.

In his next project, Dr. Madden wants to find out if there is a less expensive but equally effective way to reduce the stiffness of arteries in older adults. "Our first step was to prove that it was at all possible for older adults to have reduced narrowing in their arteries due to exercise," he says. "Now we want to find out just how rigorous the levels of activity need to be to demonstrate the same results. The next step is to try studying a home-based walking program using pedometers. This is something easy for doctors to prescribe and cheap and easy for participants."

The HeartWalk Workout, a special activity program developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation to help people with cardiovascular problems get regular, healthy physical activity is available online at heartandstroke.ca. It helps people slowly build up exercise tolerance until they can walk at least 30 minutes, five times a week.

Statements and conclusions of study authors are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Foundation or CCS policy or position. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.

SOURCE: HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF CANADA

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
10-09-09

Oct. 7--Most people know that there are many benefits to maintaining a healthy diet. Longer lives, disease prevention and an ideal weight are all results of eating healthy.
But how can you know which foods to buy -- let alone which foods to eat? Now it may be easier than ever to decide.
Color is the key. If you know what you want to prevent or improve, there is probably a color associated with what you need.
Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals which are packed with vitamins and minerals. They can protect against things like the effects of aging, cancer and heart disease said Heather Boline, a registered dietitian at Freeman Health System.
Fruits and vegetables are categorized by color. These categories can help alert the healthy consumer of what benefits the fruit or vegetable has in store.
These color categories include red, blue/purple, yellow/orange, white and green.
Those in the white category, such as bananas, garlic, onions and potatoes, help with heart health, lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of some cancers. Cantaloupes, mangoes and sweet potatoes are all part of the yellow/orange category and help with the eye and heart health. Green grapes, kiwis, broccoli and spinach also help with vision and reducing the risk of cancer.
"Blueberries have the phytochemical anthocyanin which helps reduce age effects," said Boline.
If you are still unsure of how much of all these fruit and vegetables you need, there is a Web site that can figure it for you.
The site, created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can be found at www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov. The site considers your age, gender and activity level to measure how many cups of "fruits and veggies" you need in a day.
The CDC also recognizes the significance of the colors of fruits and vegetables.
"To get a healthy variety, think color. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients," according to the CDC site.
To make the benefits of fruits and vegetables more available -- and more appetizing -- there are lots of things you can do, said Boline.
"Try to buy different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Buy juices that are 100 percent juice, not juices with high-fructose corn syrup," she said. "Try to keep fruit on your counter at home or on your desk at work. You're more likely to eat it that way."
Boline also suggests keeping some vegetables cut up in your fridge.
"You're more likely to eat them if (the vegetables) are already ready to eat," said Boline.
There are also some treats you can make if a carrot just won't satisfy your sweet tooth. Smoothies, she said, are easy to make and a good way to get children to eat more fruit.
Boline also suggested low-fat, plain yogurt and adding your own fruit, such as frozen blueberries.
"The fact that the CDC is promoting 'More Matters' says a lot about disease prevention," said Boline.
"Fruits and Veggies -- More Matters" is an initiative by the CDC and the Produce for Better Health Foundation to promote an increase in fruits and vegetables in everyone's diet.
"Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers," according to the CDC.

This is a question we often receive. The answer is tricky. First the Legal answer:

• The FDA says that laser hair removal isn't permanent hair removal but permanent hair reduction.

What It Is : The only method of hair removal that is permitted to be called "permanent," electrolysis uses a tiny needle that slides down into the hair follicle until it reaches the cells responsible for hair growth.

"Electrolysis destroys the cells that cause the hair to grow. The hair will release and slide right out and it won't grow back there again -- it's permanent removal," says Patsy Kirby, executive director of the American Electrology Association in Bodega Bay, Calif.

The process can be uncomfortable, but local anesthetic creams can help.

Best For : Like other forms of hair removal, it is safe to do electrolysis anywhere on the body, though Kirby says the most popular place for women is the face.

How Long It Takes : Though the system requires that the removal be done hair-by-hair, Kirby says it's not as daunting a task as it might seem. "It can take up to 25 sessions, depending on how much you need removed, but each session may only be 5 or 10 minutes long," says Kirby.

Cost: Costs run between $40 and $90 per treatment, with 10 to 25 treatments (or more) sometimes necessary for permanent, lasting results.

Potential Drawback : Electrolysis can cause tiny scars where the needle is inserted. Though for most people they heal unnoticed, for blacks it means an increased risk of hyperpigmentation and formation of keloids. Thus, it's not recommended for this skin type.

With the onslaught of swine flu throughout the global community, there is a new push towards acquiring and stockpiling drugs that can be used to treat potentially lethal strains of influenza. source
According to medical science there is a pharmaceutical treatment option available called Tamiflu, that they say will treat swine flu.
But little do consumers know that there is a natural component within this mass-produced pharmaceutical. And what is this powerful ingredient? None other than the common herb star anise.
In fact, most people are unaware that over 40% of all pharmaceutical medications come from plant botanicals, including everything from common aspirin to powerful cancer-fighting medications such as tamoxifen.

The Origins of Star Anise

How Star Anise Oil Can Help

• Manufactured to the highest pharmaceutical standards
  
• The only full line of nutritional supplements listed in the PDR (Physicians Desk Reference) for pharmaceutical drugs.

The word emo means "emotional" which is a basis for these type of haircuts. These hairstyles are one of the hottest hairstyles among teenage boys. This style reflects personal and individual style of manner. You can add unique color to your hair to make it look more attractive.

The best way to style the emo haircut is make your hair Black with possible brighter colors such as blue, a maroon-red or a possible pink. These can be highlighted for more bright look.Emo can be a way of life, or simply a style adpoted. You can exactly tell that emo hairstyle is nothing but a different type of punk hairstyle. One of the most common misconception about emo haircuts is that emo hairstyle is possible only for long hair. You can style emo haircut with short as well as long hair.

‘Organic’ doesn’t quite mean the same thing whether you're in the food or in the cosmetic industry. To consumers it can mean ‘natural’, ‘green’, ‘chemical free’, or ‘found at Whole Foods’. But according to this article, the US organics market is completely confused.

http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Products-Markets/Study-highlights-confusion-in-US-organics-market.

Primarily because there is no industry-agreed meaning for terms like ‘organic’ or ‘natural’. Unlike the farming industry, these terms are not regulated for cosmetics. Companies can pretty much claim anything is natural or organic.

For example, imagine a body wash formula. It contains all kinds of synthetic surfactants, fragrances, preservatives and colors. But it also contains 85-90% water. A company might simply claim “90% organic or natural” and be telling the truth. Certainly, this isn’t in the spirit of what people believe organic to mean, but it is within the law.

Are organic products better?
Incidentally, natural or organic cosmetic products don’t really provide any added benefit for consumers. Most companies are just fooling you when they say their products are natural. What isn’t? And for companies like Burt’s Bees who strive to make ‘organic’ or ‘all-natural’ products, their finished products are mostly functionally inferior to more mainstream products. This is the real trade-off of natural or organic products. That and an incredibly higher cost for an inferior product.

Remember cosmetics are not food. No one has ever proven there is a benefit to ‘organically’ derived cosmetics.

Marie Bertrand
M.Sc. Microbiology & Immunology, U of Montreal

In the cosmetic industry Consultant to:

• L'Oreal Canada - Vichy, LaRoche-Posay
• Bioderma, Europe
• Uniprix Pharmacies, Quebec

• National Cancer Institute - USA
• Molecular Biology Specialist
• BD Biosciences
• Geneka Biotechnology