Most women experience a lifetime of significant events; puberty which brings the onset of menstruation, single or multiple pregnancies, nursing of babies, and finally menopause. These events are associated with hormonal and other physical changes. In addition, there are chronic health conditions primarily associated with women like osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, etc. Whether they are a result of normal life events or illnesses, these physical conditions need to be supported with appropriate diet and exercise changes. Educating and providing health and fitness tips to women helps the entire family.
A healthy diet for women takes into consideration both age and physical condition. Did you know that there is a need for more iron with the onset of menstruation? Eating a well balanced diet is not just for pregnant women; it is important both before pregnancy and after the baby is born. Folate deficiency (a B vitamin that is also known as folic acid) can cause birth defects in the baby. There is also the common concern related to weight gain with pregnancy. It is important to adopt diet tips for weight loss provided by qualified professionals like registered dietitians and doctors. Drastic attempts to lose weight after the delivery of the baby can be a serious health risk. Aging increases the risk for osteoporosis due to hormonal changes with menopause. A diet that is rich in calcium combined with weight training exercises can help strengthen bones. There is also a decrease in the metabolic rate (need fewer calories for daily living) with aging. Also, flexibility and other health concerns can interfere with daily physical activity. The best fitness tips offer recommendations for all ages and fitness levels.
From an early age, women seek physical perfection based on unrealistic standards set by society. History clearly shows that the standards for physical beauty vary across cultures and time. Body weight is not just related to fat content; it is also a representation of muscle, bone and organ weight. Some of us have an hourglass figure, some pear-shaped while others may have fewer curves. Body shape is mainly defined by the skeletal framework, muscle structure and location where we gain weight; all of these attributes are genetically predetermined. Simply focusing on body weight and shape can lead to serious eating disorders in even young school girls. Help redefine physical beauty standards; set a good example by following reliable health and fitness tips.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
UV Light Health Benefits
As recently as 100 years ago UV light was used for treating tuberculosis, long before the advent of antibiotics. We now know that UV rays offer many additional health benefits. Based on modern scientific studies, such benefits can include the following:
Promoting the production of nitric oxide (NO), which provides protection against damage by UV light; NO also promotes cardiovascular health for the small capillaries in skin, provides an antimicrobial effect, and inhibits certain types of cancer
Regulating melatonin production from the pineal gland for synchronizing daily biorhythms
Treating skin diseases (e.g., psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, scleroderma)
Protecting against melanoma
Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Suppressing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Elevating mood by stimulating the release of endorphins
Regulating body temperature
Enhancing the role of skin as a barrier to microbes and environmental toxins
In spite of these health benefits, UV light remains a concern for the harm that it can do to skin. Skin cancer and photoaging are at the top of the list. The key to benefiting from UV light, while simultaneously reducing or avoiding its harmful effects, depends on a little common sense. Follow these two strategies for enhancing the benefits while at the same time minimizing any potential harm.
1) Limit overexposure to UV rays.
2) Promote protective skin health with the regular use of antioxidant-rich natural skin care products.
Limiting Overexposure
If anything, the single best piece of advice for everyone is to limit overexposure that leads to sunburn. Sunburn is the skin's defensive response to too much UV light. The redness and pain of sunburn are the skin's emergency responses to damage. Sunburn accelerates all of the negative consequences of overexposure to UV light.
The difficulty in determining how much exposure is too much is that, by the time sunburn appears, it is too late. It is wiser to keep several factors in mind before getting to that point. Skin color may be the primary factor. Lighter, untanned skin is the most susceptible to burning. It takes longer to burn darker skin, regardless of whether it is darkened by Mother Nature or by tanning.
Overexposure occurs more quickly when the sun is more directly overhead. In North America peak sunlight occurs around midday in summer at lower latitudes (i.e., further south). Winter UV intensity is more common at higher elevations, especially in areas where snow can reflect UV light. Sunburn that accompanies winter sports is every bit as fast and as damaging as it is in the summer at the beach.
Also keep in mind that high doses of UV rays at indoor tanning salons also can lead to overexposure. Tanning devices too often cause reddening of the skin, which is still an indicator for skin damage and photoaging.
Promoting Protective Skin Health
FDA-approved ingredients for sun blocks have little to do with promoting skin health. Indeed, quite the opposite is true. Filtering out UV light with sun block diminishes its potential health benefits. It is much more sensible to get the right exposure to UV light, while at the same time using the best natural skincare products for enhancing these benefits.
Truly protective herbal skincare products promote health in many ways. One of the most versatile ingredients for enhancing skin health is green tea, due to its powerful antioxidant, EGCG. This antioxidant invigorates skin cells, protects against DNA damage, and inhibits enzymes that destroy collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are the main strengthening and flexibility components, respectively, in skin.
Of course, combining green tea with other herbs that promote skin health care is the ideal strategy for keeping skin healthy as you take advantage of the benefits of UV light. A short list of examples of these other herbs includes angelica root, white peony, and ginseng.
Promoting the production of nitric oxide (NO), which provides protection against damage by UV light; NO also promotes cardiovascular health for the small capillaries in skin, provides an antimicrobial effect, and inhibits certain types of cancer
Regulating melatonin production from the pineal gland for synchronizing daily biorhythms
Treating skin diseases (e.g., psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, scleroderma)
Protecting against melanoma
Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Suppressing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Elevating mood by stimulating the release of endorphins
Regulating body temperature
Enhancing the role of skin as a barrier to microbes and environmental toxins
In spite of these health benefits, UV light remains a concern for the harm that it can do to skin. Skin cancer and photoaging are at the top of the list. The key to benefiting from UV light, while simultaneously reducing or avoiding its harmful effects, depends on a little common sense. Follow these two strategies for enhancing the benefits while at the same time minimizing any potential harm.
1) Limit overexposure to UV rays.
2) Promote protective skin health with the regular use of antioxidant-rich natural skin care products.
Limiting Overexposure
If anything, the single best piece of advice for everyone is to limit overexposure that leads to sunburn. Sunburn is the skin's defensive response to too much UV light. The redness and pain of sunburn are the skin's emergency responses to damage. Sunburn accelerates all of the negative consequences of overexposure to UV light.
The difficulty in determining how much exposure is too much is that, by the time sunburn appears, it is too late. It is wiser to keep several factors in mind before getting to that point. Skin color may be the primary factor. Lighter, untanned skin is the most susceptible to burning. It takes longer to burn darker skin, regardless of whether it is darkened by Mother Nature or by tanning.
Overexposure occurs more quickly when the sun is more directly overhead. In North America peak sunlight occurs around midday in summer at lower latitudes (i.e., further south). Winter UV intensity is more common at higher elevations, especially in areas where snow can reflect UV light. Sunburn that accompanies winter sports is every bit as fast and as damaging as it is in the summer at the beach.
Also keep in mind that high doses of UV rays at indoor tanning salons also can lead to overexposure. Tanning devices too often cause reddening of the skin, which is still an indicator for skin damage and photoaging.
Promoting Protective Skin Health
FDA-approved ingredients for sun blocks have little to do with promoting skin health. Indeed, quite the opposite is true. Filtering out UV light with sun block diminishes its potential health benefits. It is much more sensible to get the right exposure to UV light, while at the same time using the best natural skincare products for enhancing these benefits.
Truly protective herbal skincare products promote health in many ways. One of the most versatile ingredients for enhancing skin health is green tea, due to its powerful antioxidant, EGCG. This antioxidant invigorates skin cells, protects against DNA damage, and inhibits enzymes that destroy collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are the main strengthening and flexibility components, respectively, in skin.
Of course, combining green tea with other herbs that promote skin health care is the ideal strategy for keeping skin healthy as you take advantage of the benefits of UV light. A short list of examples of these other herbs includes angelica root, white peony, and ginseng.
The Advantages of a Breast Biopsy
At some point in your life, you may find a lump in your chest or abnormalities on your mammogram or ultrasound results. If the change seems suspicious, your doctor will want to perform a breast biopsy to test your breast tissue for cancer. While this may seem frightening, breast lumps are only cancerous in one out of five cases.
A breast biopsy is a very common procedure; almost one million are performed in the U.S. each year. Using a needle or surgery, a doctor will remove a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. There are different methods of taking biopsies, such as with a vacuum, punch, excision (surgical), and wire-guided. You will be given local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the lump.
The cells or tissue are studied under a microscope to see if they show signs of cancer. The pathology report may take one to two weeks to complete, and it is then sent to your doctor to provide a full picture of your situation.
If no malignant cells are found, the report will indicate that the lumps or abnormalities are benign, or non-cancerous. However, follow-up treatments may still be recommended by your health care professional because several non-cancerous conditions can cause these lumps to form. These include adenofibroma, fibrocystic disease, benign tumors of the milk ducts, and lumps of injured fat tissue. There are some questions you should ask your physician after receiving your breast biopsy results:
- Are the results final and definite?
- When should my next mammogram screening be scheduled?
If diseased cells are found, the report will detail more information to assist you in determining the next steps. More than likely, you will be referred to a cancer specialist who will order more lab tests, scans, and even surgery. Your pathology report is a tool for your medical team to determine the stage of your cancer and to design treatment options which best fit you. You could ask your physician some questions if your results show malignancy:
- Is the cancer growing slowly or quickly?
- Do I need more tests to learn the stage of the disease?
- Which type of breast cancer do I have? (Types can include ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, lobular carcinoma, or Paget's disease.)
- What are my treatment options? (This may include lumpectomy, radiation, or chemotherapy.)
- When will I need to start treatment?
- Will my growths respond to hormone treatments?
- Will surgery work in clearing up my condition?
Complications from biopsies are rare and the benefits of having your potentially cancerous lump inspected far outweigh the risks from any procedure. Some possible side effects from this procedure include an altered appearance in the area (depending on the size of the tissue removed), bruising and/or swelling of the tissue, soreness at the injection site, and infection at the injection site. Ensure that you follow your doctor's after-procedure instructions to reduce your chances of infection.
A breast biopsy is a very common procedure; almost one million are performed in the U.S. each year. Using a needle or surgery, a doctor will remove a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. There are different methods of taking biopsies, such as with a vacuum, punch, excision (surgical), and wire-guided. You will be given local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the lump.
The cells or tissue are studied under a microscope to see if they show signs of cancer. The pathology report may take one to two weeks to complete, and it is then sent to your doctor to provide a full picture of your situation.
If no malignant cells are found, the report will indicate that the lumps or abnormalities are benign, or non-cancerous. However, follow-up treatments may still be recommended by your health care professional because several non-cancerous conditions can cause these lumps to form. These include adenofibroma, fibrocystic disease, benign tumors of the milk ducts, and lumps of injured fat tissue. There are some questions you should ask your physician after receiving your breast biopsy results:
- Are the results final and definite?
- When should my next mammogram screening be scheduled?
If diseased cells are found, the report will detail more information to assist you in determining the next steps. More than likely, you will be referred to a cancer specialist who will order more lab tests, scans, and even surgery. Your pathology report is a tool for your medical team to determine the stage of your cancer and to design treatment options which best fit you. You could ask your physician some questions if your results show malignancy:
- Is the cancer growing slowly or quickly?
- Do I need more tests to learn the stage of the disease?
- Which type of breast cancer do I have? (Types can include ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, lobular carcinoma, or Paget's disease.)
- What are my treatment options? (This may include lumpectomy, radiation, or chemotherapy.)
- When will I need to start treatment?
- Will my growths respond to hormone treatments?
- Will surgery work in clearing up my condition?
Complications from biopsies are rare and the benefits of having your potentially cancerous lump inspected far outweigh the risks from any procedure. Some possible side effects from this procedure include an altered appearance in the area (depending on the size of the tissue removed), bruising and/or swelling of the tissue, soreness at the injection site, and infection at the injection site. Ensure that you follow your doctor's after-procedure instructions to reduce your chances of infection.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
The Standard American Diet Tips
Ever wonder why so many people are fat and sick? One reason has to be our diet. The Standard American Diet if filled with foods that are incredibly detrimental to your health. And this fact should be obvious! Obesity rates have skyrocketed over the last several decades. Today, one in five American deaths is associated with obesity. Obesity-related illnesses include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, liver disease, cancer, heart disease, etc.
All these illnesses can be traced to a metabolic dysfunction. What does that mean? It means people are eating the wrong foods. Just a few generations ago, the food available was mostly fresh and locally grown. Today, the majority of food is highly processed and filled with harmful chemical additives. Just look at the typical food served at home, in school, and in restaurants. Let's face it. Most of the food we eat is not healthy.
So why blame the Standard American Diet? Simply put, all the current research on obesity shows that diet is a very key component. When people abandon their traditional cultural foods - foods that their cultures have been eating for thousands of years - in favor of modern processed foods (high in sugar, refined flour, and vegetable oils), these people get fatter and sicker. For example, heart disease among native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders used to be nonexistent but today is one of the leading causes of death. Of all the lifestyle changes they have seen, a poor diet (i.e., the standard American diet) is the leading influence for the prevalence of heart disease.
In the United States (and most Western countries), diet-related chronic diseases represent the single largest cause of death. These diseases are epidemic in contemporary Western populations (affecting 50% or more of the adult population), yet they are rare in less Westernized people.
Now, I'm not recommending that you abandon modern society and live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Far from it. But if you want to lose weight and be healthier, avoiding the modern diet and eating more of a "caveman diet" or a Paleo diet would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Traditional culture studies are just one way of proving the dangers of the standard American diet. You can also look at correlations between factors of the modern diet and the rate of diseases. Of course, this begs the question. What is the standard American Diet?
While the Standard American Diet is not a food menu set in stone, it has certain characteristics that differentiate it from other diets. The foods tend to be high in sugar, salt, and vegetable oils and lower in healthy fats. As you might expect, the Standard American Diet is not good for your health. But this is only part of the story.
Click the link below to see 10 graphs showing why the standard American diet is bad for your health and waistline.
All these illnesses can be traced to a metabolic dysfunction. What does that mean? It means people are eating the wrong foods. Just a few generations ago, the food available was mostly fresh and locally grown. Today, the majority of food is highly processed and filled with harmful chemical additives. Just look at the typical food served at home, in school, and in restaurants. Let's face it. Most of the food we eat is not healthy.
So why blame the Standard American Diet? Simply put, all the current research on obesity shows that diet is a very key component. When people abandon their traditional cultural foods - foods that their cultures have been eating for thousands of years - in favor of modern processed foods (high in sugar, refined flour, and vegetable oils), these people get fatter and sicker. For example, heart disease among native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders used to be nonexistent but today is one of the leading causes of death. Of all the lifestyle changes they have seen, a poor diet (i.e., the standard American diet) is the leading influence for the prevalence of heart disease.
In the United States (and most Western countries), diet-related chronic diseases represent the single largest cause of death. These diseases are epidemic in contemporary Western populations (affecting 50% or more of the adult population), yet they are rare in less Westernized people.
Now, I'm not recommending that you abandon modern society and live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Far from it. But if you want to lose weight and be healthier, avoiding the modern diet and eating more of a "caveman diet" or a Paleo diet would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Traditional culture studies are just one way of proving the dangers of the standard American diet. You can also look at correlations between factors of the modern diet and the rate of diseases. Of course, this begs the question. What is the standard American Diet?
While the Standard American Diet is not a food menu set in stone, it has certain characteristics that differentiate it from other diets. The foods tend to be high in sugar, salt, and vegetable oils and lower in healthy fats. As you might expect, the Standard American Diet is not good for your health. But this is only part of the story.
Click the link below to see 10 graphs showing why the standard American diet is bad for your health and waistline.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Coconut Oil For Skin Essential
With an inexhaustible list of benefits linked to its use, coconut oil may just be the new 'superfood' on the block. Several research studies have confirmed the efficiency of this oil in enhancing skin and hair health, and in improving overall health as well.
Top 5 Uses of Coconut Oil
Enhanced Energy Levels
Coconut oil, unlike other oils, is built by medium-chain triglycerides, which explains why, it gets transformed instantly into energy. Quickly gulping down 2 tablespoons of this oil each morning could boost your energy levels by up to 5%.
Stronger Immunity
It is surprising how the simple coconut oil could improve immunity and also protect your body against many disease-causing agents. It contains impressive amounts of lauric acid, which is an effective agent that kills bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi, thereby reducing your chances of getting infected by them significantly.
Improved Brain Function
When digested, the compounds contained in coconut oil get synthesized into ketone bodies, which have a positive effect on the brain and help protect the brain against several disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Better Heart Health
It may sound surprising, but indeed, this oil can actually help reinforce the heart as well as protect you against heart problems. The consumption of this oil has been found to increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, thus reducing triglyceride levels and the accumulation of plaque in the arteries.
Irresistible Skin Benefits
The fact that coconut oil is the most suitable tonic for the skin could be what makes it the most loved natural beauty product these days. You'll find it in lots of moisturizers as well as skin creams, and why not? This oil is an abundant source of vitamin E, which plays a huge role in healing damaged skin, minimizing the appearance of stretch-marks, safeguarding the skin against the harmful UV rays as well as preventing microbial and fungal diseases of your skin.
What Makes Coconut Oil an All-Rounder?
This oil is often identified as the healthiest oil on earth; but what exactly is it that makes this oil so loved?
• It makes for a quick moisturizer- it mildly nourishes the skin and makes it feeling smooth and soft.
• It functions as an efficient diaper rash cream- minus the chemical compounds that you would usually find in a standard rash lotion.
• It makes for an excellent makeup remover.
• It can be used as a supplement for energy.
• Its MCFA and lauric acid content help increase metabolic rate naturally.
• It works the best in keeping the hair in place and also reducing frizziness
• When mixed with granulated sugar, it makes for an excellent body scrub.
• It can repair damaged skin faster, and is most effective in reducing fungal and bacterial infections when applied topically.
• It possesses a high smoke point, which is great for most stir-frys and baked meals.
• It could help improve insulin levels.
• When applied directly onto the skin, it can reduce the appearance of varicose veins.
• It acts as an efficient lubricant without disturbing the normal bacteria of the vagina.
• It might help clear away persistent acne and also reduce the appearance of acne-related marks.
• It can speed up weight loss.
• Consuming this oil may possibly improve sleep.
• When rubbed onto the scalp, it can also encourage hair growth.
• It helps increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium by the body.
How Can I Utilize Coconut Oil?
The best method to utilize this oil would be to attempt to add more of it to your meals. Switch to coconut oil while cooking your food and try replacing simple skincare products with this pure oil.
Following a very simple routine of applying coconut oil on your face right before you go to bed can certainly help keep the skin moisturized and nourished, which will give you that healthy radiance you've always coveted.
You can even try creating your own coconut oil beauty products at home.
There are tons of reasons why you should be choosing coconut oil and making it an integral part of your skin care regimen.
So go ahead and use the best of nature for your skin and body and don't forget to check out these impressive coconut oil beauty products recipes you can re-create in just a few minutes.
Top 5 Uses of Coconut Oil
Enhanced Energy Levels
Coconut oil, unlike other oils, is built by medium-chain triglycerides, which explains why, it gets transformed instantly into energy. Quickly gulping down 2 tablespoons of this oil each morning could boost your energy levels by up to 5%.
Stronger Immunity
It is surprising how the simple coconut oil could improve immunity and also protect your body against many disease-causing agents. It contains impressive amounts of lauric acid, which is an effective agent that kills bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi, thereby reducing your chances of getting infected by them significantly.
Improved Brain Function
When digested, the compounds contained in coconut oil get synthesized into ketone bodies, which have a positive effect on the brain and help protect the brain against several disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Better Heart Health
It may sound surprising, but indeed, this oil can actually help reinforce the heart as well as protect you against heart problems. The consumption of this oil has been found to increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, thus reducing triglyceride levels and the accumulation of plaque in the arteries.
Irresistible Skin Benefits
The fact that coconut oil is the most suitable tonic for the skin could be what makes it the most loved natural beauty product these days. You'll find it in lots of moisturizers as well as skin creams, and why not? This oil is an abundant source of vitamin E, which plays a huge role in healing damaged skin, minimizing the appearance of stretch-marks, safeguarding the skin against the harmful UV rays as well as preventing microbial and fungal diseases of your skin.
What Makes Coconut Oil an All-Rounder?
This oil is often identified as the healthiest oil on earth; but what exactly is it that makes this oil so loved?
• It makes for a quick moisturizer- it mildly nourishes the skin and makes it feeling smooth and soft.
• It functions as an efficient diaper rash cream- minus the chemical compounds that you would usually find in a standard rash lotion.
• It makes for an excellent makeup remover.
• It can be used as a supplement for energy.
• Its MCFA and lauric acid content help increase metabolic rate naturally.
• It works the best in keeping the hair in place and also reducing frizziness
• When mixed with granulated sugar, it makes for an excellent body scrub.
• It can repair damaged skin faster, and is most effective in reducing fungal and bacterial infections when applied topically.
• It possesses a high smoke point, which is great for most stir-frys and baked meals.
• It could help improve insulin levels.
• When applied directly onto the skin, it can reduce the appearance of varicose veins.
• It acts as an efficient lubricant without disturbing the normal bacteria of the vagina.
• It might help clear away persistent acne and also reduce the appearance of acne-related marks.
• It can speed up weight loss.
• Consuming this oil may possibly improve sleep.
• When rubbed onto the scalp, it can also encourage hair growth.
• It helps increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium by the body.
How Can I Utilize Coconut Oil?
The best method to utilize this oil would be to attempt to add more of it to your meals. Switch to coconut oil while cooking your food and try replacing simple skincare products with this pure oil.
Following a very simple routine of applying coconut oil on your face right before you go to bed can certainly help keep the skin moisturized and nourished, which will give you that healthy radiance you've always coveted.
You can even try creating your own coconut oil beauty products at home.
There are tons of reasons why you should be choosing coconut oil and making it an integral part of your skin care regimen.
So go ahead and use the best of nature for your skin and body and don't forget to check out these impressive coconut oil beauty products recipes you can re-create in just a few minutes.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Healthy Care For Women Over 40
Women over 40 often suffer many unpleasant side effects of approaching menopause. Their bodies turn into furnaces with no temperature regulation valve. PMS can become a semi-permanent state. Their skin simultaneously returns to spotty puberty and advancing age wrinkles. A good night's sleep can become a distant memory as night sweats, palpitations and insomnia hold them in an unrelenting grip of steel. Waistlines expand, sometimes alarmingly, and clothes start to pinch and squeeze. Life can be very unpleasant for a decade, or often even longer.
While simple to moderate lifestyle and dietary changes can bring relief for many, some of the recommendations might just exacerbate symptoms for others. I became one of those others. In the end, it was a totally unrelated incident which gave me the key. After some further research and immediate self-experimentation, I knew what was wrong. I also realized that I was not alone and that thousands of other women were finding immediate, and pretty much total, relief from many, if not all, symptoms.
I am not talking about any new wonder drug or fad diet. Nothing of the sort. I am talking about nature. About histamine, to be precise. A surprising number of women over 40 are, to some degree or another, histamine intolerant. By eliminating histamine from your diet for a month and then slowly introducing foods again you can see what foods you might be reacting to and how.
Histamine is in a lot of foods, most notably: strawberries, raspberries, cherries, citrus fruit, many exotic fruits, grapes, nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants/aubergines, etc.), chocolate, alcohol (except gin and vodka), red meats, dairy products, wheat, eggs, many beans and pulses, tea and green tea, fermented foods, many kinds of fish and seafood, processed food, soy products, some spices, and MSG.
If you think that histamine might be contributing to your symptoms (hot flashes, palpitations, headaches, migraines, indigestion, heart burn, bloating, abdominal discomfort, insomnia and irritability), or are not sure if it could be a cause, try eliminating many sources and see if you notice any improvements. It could also be a good idea to reduce consumption of grain products (bread, pasta, baked goods), processed foods, fast foods, MSG, artificial sweeteners and sugar. See what you react to and slowly introduce other foods back in.
While simple to moderate lifestyle and dietary changes can bring relief for many, some of the recommendations might just exacerbate symptoms for others. I became one of those others. In the end, it was a totally unrelated incident which gave me the key. After some further research and immediate self-experimentation, I knew what was wrong. I also realized that I was not alone and that thousands of other women were finding immediate, and pretty much total, relief from many, if not all, symptoms.
I am not talking about any new wonder drug or fad diet. Nothing of the sort. I am talking about nature. About histamine, to be precise. A surprising number of women over 40 are, to some degree or another, histamine intolerant. By eliminating histamine from your diet for a month and then slowly introducing foods again you can see what foods you might be reacting to and how.
Histamine is in a lot of foods, most notably: strawberries, raspberries, cherries, citrus fruit, many exotic fruits, grapes, nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants/aubergines, etc.), chocolate, alcohol (except gin and vodka), red meats, dairy products, wheat, eggs, many beans and pulses, tea and green tea, fermented foods, many kinds of fish and seafood, processed food, soy products, some spices, and MSG.
If you think that histamine might be contributing to your symptoms (hot flashes, palpitations, headaches, migraines, indigestion, heart burn, bloating, abdominal discomfort, insomnia and irritability), or are not sure if it could be a cause, try eliminating many sources and see if you notice any improvements. It could also be a good idea to reduce consumption of grain products (bread, pasta, baked goods), processed foods, fast foods, MSG, artificial sweeteners and sugar. See what you react to and slowly introduce other foods back in.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Cellulite Treatments
Cellulite - All women know what this is, right? Yet there is great disagreement and some controversy in the medical community as to what it is and whether or not it is actually a real thing, a real diagnosis! The WebMD website says that "its name makes it sound like a medical condition"! Well, this "non-medical" condition seriously affects and deeply troubles some 80- 90% of adult women! Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year trying to treat it. If all that doesn't qualify cellulite as a true condition worthy of respect and attention by our physicians then something's very wrong! Even so, there are many scary sounding "medical condition" names which have been applied to what we commonly call cellulite including adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. Common nicknames for cellulite include orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, quilted mattress skin, and seat cushion skin.
Multiple "causes" have been implicated (including genetic) but we still don't really know for sure. Cellulite is rarely seen in men - is it a hormonally linked condition? Why does cellulite predominantly affect the abdomen, buttocks and thighs - why these areas? No one knows but it does suggest a hormonal mediated mechanism; reminiscent of stretch marks (striae atrophica) and their common areas of distribution - remarkably similar! Cellulite also seems to appear during hormonally active periods in women's lives - adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause.
Most of us, doctors and patients alike, would recognize cellulite to be a dimpled, puckered, irregular appearing skin surface affecting large areas. Dimples may be cute on the face, but not on your thighs! The thighs, especially the outer thighs, seem to be the most commonly affected areas. At the microscopic level we know that something is happening to the architecture of the skin causing it to appear uneven, puckered and so unappealingly unsmooth. There seems to be a pseudoherniation (a bulging out without a true bulging through) of the superficial subcutaneous fat poking nearly through the tight fibrous connective tissue bands (which are supposed to act as retaining walls for the fat) underneath the skin. We see the sum total of all these bulges as an overall lumpy, bumpy look to the surface of the skin. It is very reminiscent of the way pillow material bulges in between the buttons of a seat cushion!
Doctors studying this dimpling phenomenon also recognized that depending on its severity, body position could also affect the appearance of cellulite. In 1978, the Nurnburger-Muller Scale was published:
The Nurnburger-Muller Scale(1978) for Cellulite Classification:
0 - no visible dimpling
1 - dimpling visible on pinch/squeeze only
2 - dimpling visible on standing only (not when lying down)
3 - dimpling always present/visible (whether standing or lying down)
There are a multitude of "options " available for treating cellulite today. A recent Google search on "treatments for cellulite" revealed 1.4 million hits! But do any of them really work? Dr. Molly Wanner (noted Harvard dermatologist) said "there is no treatment for cellulite". Noted dermatologist Michael McGuire of UCLA concurred (NY Times article, 2009).
Weight loss and strength training should help, but are not always the answer! Cellulite is not always associated with being overweight or out of shape. Skinny or overweight - you can still have cellulite. Many slender women in great shape are plagued with cellulite.
Nutritional changes and dietary supplements reportedly of assistance in the fight against cellulite include the use of gingko biloba, sweet clover, grape seed bioflavonoids, bladderwrack extract, oil of evening primrose, fish oil, omega 3's & 6's, soy lecithin, green tea, milk thistle, and niacin. Goals of these: boost metabolism, increase circulation, increase cellular nutrition, and increase fat metabolism/breakdown. So called anti-cellulite diets are designed to decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and increase fat metabolism. It is very tough to prove or disprove any of these claims or to determine if any of these intended effects are actually happening.
Anti-cellulite creams typically contain forms of methylxanthines (theophylline, aminophylline, caffeine) known to decrease blood vessel flow, decrease tissue fluids and to increase fat metabolism - but do they even get through the skin? Do the concentrations reach a level where they can be effective? Are they around long enough to effect any real changes? The evidence is very inconclusive for these creams and their effectiveness. Decreasing tissue fluids does have the effect of temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite. As you will see throughout this article, any technique temporarily decreasing tissue fluids will temporarily "work"!
Retin-A/retinols show some benefit via the overall improvements in skin quality that come with the better skin tone and smoothness they can effectuate. There is some evidence that incorporating Retin-A with some of the methylxanthine-containing creams might create a synergistic effect better than either one alone for reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Tanning does help minimize the appearance of cellulite. But tanning rays from the sun or from a salon booth work via a UV radiation damage to the skin! This carries more real disadvantages (skin aging, skin looks even worse long term, skin cancer risks) than any potential benefits. Artificial or spray-type tanning techniques are a much safer alternative!
Herbal, seaweed and other types of body "wraps" work by decreasing tissue fluids (i.e., they do work, but it is only temporary).
Deep tissue massage will theoretically increase local blood flow, eliminate toxins, and decrease the tissue fluids. The only one of these three which have proven (albeit temporary) effectiveness is the "decrease the fluid" claim! Massage as a part of any treatment method will result in at least temporary improvement in cellulite because it causes a temporary decrease in tissue fluids and a temporary "redistribution/shifting" of the subcutaneous fat as well.
The Endermology device uses a special roller vacuum/massage technique. This does help - but like many treatments - it is temporary. Short term, temporary treatments like Endermology seem effective because they decrease tissue fluids in the area, and/or effect a temporary fat "redistribution". As you will continue to see, this strategy is the basis for many cellulite treatment options.
The Silhouette device is essentially similar to the Endermology technology, utilizing the massage principles of decreasing tissue fluids and shift/redistributing of fat for temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Mesotherapy is very controversial as to its efficacy or consistency for fat removal alone. A lot of needles and injections are involved. The injected chemical cocktails are intended to induce fat "melting" not really for the treatment of cellulite. And even more irregularities in skin surface texture can result from a mesotherapy treatment because the melting is not necessarily uniform or even - i.e. more cellulite! Other reported problems include infection, rashes, and allergic reactions.
Radiofrequency (RF) is an integral part of several of both the non-invasive and minimally invasive machines and techniques available today. RF works by creating heat. This heat can melt fat and "shrink wrap" loose skin to various degrees. It makes sense that this should have benefits for cellulite - or does it? The results are inconclusive thus far and RF has therefore not yet been approved or cleared by the FDA as anti-cellulite treatment.
Vanquish uses RF to heat and kill fat cells in way similar to HIFU( see below). The skin can get very warm/hot (like an intense sun tanning exposure). A series of 6 - 8 treatment sessions, each lasting about 45 minutes is needed. Total cost is about $3000 -$4000.
Pellevé uses RF and massage for the (as expected) "temporary improvement" of cellulite.
Infrared light/red light as a type of non-invasive low level laser therapy (LLLT) seems to actually work - but (as all the research has shown) it must be the right wavelength of light to work.
Diode laser based systems depend upon a series of treatments to be most effective, as most treatments do. However, diode lasers can be a key component of a non-invasive LLLT system and will have benefit if the proper wavelength is utilized.
Smooth Shapes uses a vacuum massage plus a 650nm light and a 915nm laser. The massage effects are temporary. The low level laser therapy (LLLT) has more of basis for long term effectiveness but there is no research supported/peer reviewed published data on these light or laser wavelengths.
The TriActive machine uses a form of LLLT plus vacuum massage.
Liposuction is a great option for recontouring the body via the removal of troublesome localized fat deposits, but it is a poor choice for treating cellulite itself. Liposuction is very unlikely to make any areas of cellulite any better and can actually make areas of overlying cellulite worse!
SmartLipo laser lipolysis (fat melting) technology is a minimally invasive (not non-invasive) procedure. Theory: laser melts the fat, tightens the skin, causing overall smoothing. In practice - pretty good for getting rid of stubborn fat, rarely helps the cellulite.
Cellulaze is from the same company (Cynosure) that manufactures the SmartLipo machines. Cellulaze is similarly promoted as a "minimally invasive" procedure - but these are surgical procedures! A thin laser cable is inserted under the skin through an incision to melt the subcutaneous fat and snip the fibrous bands tethering the skin. It works - sort of - but not great. All the risks of a surgical procedure- recovery/downtime issues, infection, scarring - must be considered.
Subcision is a very old method developed to try to "release" and correct bound down, depressed, tethered scars via the actual surgical cutting of the fibrous scar bands under the skin. This technique is sometimes recommended in one form or another to treat cellulite. As a matter of fact, Cellulaze depends substantially on this strategy. The effectiveness of the subcision technique for treating cellulite has never been clearly established.
Collagenases are actual connective tissue dissolving enzymes which are applied to or injected under the skin, intended to loosen the tight, fibrous bands as a way to potentially smooth out the bumpiness. There are many ongoing studies, but this is still completely experimental.
HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This is a non-invasive, non-surgical way of targeting fat deposits for melting. The focused ultrasound generates intense heat under the skin, killing and melting the fat cells as a possible alternative to liposuction - but it really hurts! CoolSculpt uses fat freezing technology instead of heat to kill fat cells. Neither technology has been shown to have any positive effect on cellulite. For all we know, the effects of ultrasound or freezing on cellulite could be similar to that often seen for liposuction - not good!
The Verjú Green Laser is a completely non-invasive, non-painful, elegant technology that actually works! Please see our article, "The Verjú Green Laser: Non-Invasive Fat and Cellulite Reduction" to learn more about this exciting, new anti-cellulite technology!
Multiple "causes" have been implicated (including genetic) but we still don't really know for sure. Cellulite is rarely seen in men - is it a hormonally linked condition? Why does cellulite predominantly affect the abdomen, buttocks and thighs - why these areas? No one knows but it does suggest a hormonal mediated mechanism; reminiscent of stretch marks (striae atrophica) and their common areas of distribution - remarkably similar! Cellulite also seems to appear during hormonally active periods in women's lives - adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause.
Most of us, doctors and patients alike, would recognize cellulite to be a dimpled, puckered, irregular appearing skin surface affecting large areas. Dimples may be cute on the face, but not on your thighs! The thighs, especially the outer thighs, seem to be the most commonly affected areas. At the microscopic level we know that something is happening to the architecture of the skin causing it to appear uneven, puckered and so unappealingly unsmooth. There seems to be a pseudoherniation (a bulging out without a true bulging through) of the superficial subcutaneous fat poking nearly through the tight fibrous connective tissue bands (which are supposed to act as retaining walls for the fat) underneath the skin. We see the sum total of all these bulges as an overall lumpy, bumpy look to the surface of the skin. It is very reminiscent of the way pillow material bulges in between the buttons of a seat cushion!
Doctors studying this dimpling phenomenon also recognized that depending on its severity, body position could also affect the appearance of cellulite. In 1978, the Nurnburger-Muller Scale was published:
The Nurnburger-Muller Scale(1978) for Cellulite Classification:
0 - no visible dimpling
1 - dimpling visible on pinch/squeeze only
2 - dimpling visible on standing only (not when lying down)
3 - dimpling always present/visible (whether standing or lying down)
There are a multitude of "options " available for treating cellulite today. A recent Google search on "treatments for cellulite" revealed 1.4 million hits! But do any of them really work? Dr. Molly Wanner (noted Harvard dermatologist) said "there is no treatment for cellulite". Noted dermatologist Michael McGuire of UCLA concurred (NY Times article, 2009).
Weight loss and strength training should help, but are not always the answer! Cellulite is not always associated with being overweight or out of shape. Skinny or overweight - you can still have cellulite. Many slender women in great shape are plagued with cellulite.
Nutritional changes and dietary supplements reportedly of assistance in the fight against cellulite include the use of gingko biloba, sweet clover, grape seed bioflavonoids, bladderwrack extract, oil of evening primrose, fish oil, omega 3's & 6's, soy lecithin, green tea, milk thistle, and niacin. Goals of these: boost metabolism, increase circulation, increase cellular nutrition, and increase fat metabolism/breakdown. So called anti-cellulite diets are designed to decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and increase fat metabolism. It is very tough to prove or disprove any of these claims or to determine if any of these intended effects are actually happening.
Anti-cellulite creams typically contain forms of methylxanthines (theophylline, aminophylline, caffeine) known to decrease blood vessel flow, decrease tissue fluids and to increase fat metabolism - but do they even get through the skin? Do the concentrations reach a level where they can be effective? Are they around long enough to effect any real changes? The evidence is very inconclusive for these creams and their effectiveness. Decreasing tissue fluids does have the effect of temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite. As you will see throughout this article, any technique temporarily decreasing tissue fluids will temporarily "work"!
Retin-A/retinols show some benefit via the overall improvements in skin quality that come with the better skin tone and smoothness they can effectuate. There is some evidence that incorporating Retin-A with some of the methylxanthine-containing creams might create a synergistic effect better than either one alone for reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Tanning does help minimize the appearance of cellulite. But tanning rays from the sun or from a salon booth work via a UV radiation damage to the skin! This carries more real disadvantages (skin aging, skin looks even worse long term, skin cancer risks) than any potential benefits. Artificial or spray-type tanning techniques are a much safer alternative!
Herbal, seaweed and other types of body "wraps" work by decreasing tissue fluids (i.e., they do work, but it is only temporary).
Deep tissue massage will theoretically increase local blood flow, eliminate toxins, and decrease the tissue fluids. The only one of these three which have proven (albeit temporary) effectiveness is the "decrease the fluid" claim! Massage as a part of any treatment method will result in at least temporary improvement in cellulite because it causes a temporary decrease in tissue fluids and a temporary "redistribution/shifting" of the subcutaneous fat as well.
The Endermology device uses a special roller vacuum/massage technique. This does help - but like many treatments - it is temporary. Short term, temporary treatments like Endermology seem effective because they decrease tissue fluids in the area, and/or effect a temporary fat "redistribution". As you will continue to see, this strategy is the basis for many cellulite treatment options.
The Silhouette device is essentially similar to the Endermology technology, utilizing the massage principles of decreasing tissue fluids and shift/redistributing of fat for temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Mesotherapy is very controversial as to its efficacy or consistency for fat removal alone. A lot of needles and injections are involved. The injected chemical cocktails are intended to induce fat "melting" not really for the treatment of cellulite. And even more irregularities in skin surface texture can result from a mesotherapy treatment because the melting is not necessarily uniform or even - i.e. more cellulite! Other reported problems include infection, rashes, and allergic reactions.
Radiofrequency (RF) is an integral part of several of both the non-invasive and minimally invasive machines and techniques available today. RF works by creating heat. This heat can melt fat and "shrink wrap" loose skin to various degrees. It makes sense that this should have benefits for cellulite - or does it? The results are inconclusive thus far and RF has therefore not yet been approved or cleared by the FDA as anti-cellulite treatment.
Vanquish uses RF to heat and kill fat cells in way similar to HIFU( see below). The skin can get very warm/hot (like an intense sun tanning exposure). A series of 6 - 8 treatment sessions, each lasting about 45 minutes is needed. Total cost is about $3000 -$4000.
Pellevé uses RF and massage for the (as expected) "temporary improvement" of cellulite.
Infrared light/red light as a type of non-invasive low level laser therapy (LLLT) seems to actually work - but (as all the research has shown) it must be the right wavelength of light to work.
Diode laser based systems depend upon a series of treatments to be most effective, as most treatments do. However, diode lasers can be a key component of a non-invasive LLLT system and will have benefit if the proper wavelength is utilized.
Smooth Shapes uses a vacuum massage plus a 650nm light and a 915nm laser. The massage effects are temporary. The low level laser therapy (LLLT) has more of basis for long term effectiveness but there is no research supported/peer reviewed published data on these light or laser wavelengths.
The TriActive machine uses a form of LLLT plus vacuum massage.
Liposuction is a great option for recontouring the body via the removal of troublesome localized fat deposits, but it is a poor choice for treating cellulite itself. Liposuction is very unlikely to make any areas of cellulite any better and can actually make areas of overlying cellulite worse!
SmartLipo laser lipolysis (fat melting) technology is a minimally invasive (not non-invasive) procedure. Theory: laser melts the fat, tightens the skin, causing overall smoothing. In practice - pretty good for getting rid of stubborn fat, rarely helps the cellulite.
Cellulaze is from the same company (Cynosure) that manufactures the SmartLipo machines. Cellulaze is similarly promoted as a "minimally invasive" procedure - but these are surgical procedures! A thin laser cable is inserted under the skin through an incision to melt the subcutaneous fat and snip the fibrous bands tethering the skin. It works - sort of - but not great. All the risks of a surgical procedure- recovery/downtime issues, infection, scarring - must be considered.
Subcision is a very old method developed to try to "release" and correct bound down, depressed, tethered scars via the actual surgical cutting of the fibrous scar bands under the skin. This technique is sometimes recommended in one form or another to treat cellulite. As a matter of fact, Cellulaze depends substantially on this strategy. The effectiveness of the subcision technique for treating cellulite has never been clearly established.
Collagenases are actual connective tissue dissolving enzymes which are applied to or injected under the skin, intended to loosen the tight, fibrous bands as a way to potentially smooth out the bumpiness. There are many ongoing studies, but this is still completely experimental.
HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This is a non-invasive, non-surgical way of targeting fat deposits for melting. The focused ultrasound generates intense heat under the skin, killing and melting the fat cells as a possible alternative to liposuction - but it really hurts! CoolSculpt uses fat freezing technology instead of heat to kill fat cells. Neither technology has been shown to have any positive effect on cellulite. For all we know, the effects of ultrasound or freezing on cellulite could be similar to that often seen for liposuction - not good!
The Verjú Green Laser is a completely non-invasive, non-painful, elegant technology that actually works! Please see our article, "The Verjú Green Laser: Non-Invasive Fat and Cellulite Reduction" to learn more about this exciting, new anti-cellulite technology!
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