Oct 28, 2009

A Woman's Guide to Healthy Fitness Stretching

Stretching is one of the easiest exercises a women can do to make her body strong and fit. Stretching benefits the body by making the muscles supple and thus resistant to the wear and tear of strain and tension. It is why many people begin start their exercise routines with simple stretching to warm the muscles in preparation for more strenuous exercises.

However, the problem with stretching is that most people commonly take it for granted. Despite it being an easy workout, stretching is not given much importance, especially by women. As a result, instead of benefitting from stretching, the result is more damage to one’s body including possible injuries.

How Can I Make Stretching Beneficial?

Stretching practices the muscle’s ability to expand and retract. When the muscle is stretched too far, injuries are likely to follow. A muscle tear can be very painful.

The following tips should be followed during stretching to make it safest and most beneficial.

1)Wear comfortable and loose clothing. Make sure that the garments worn will not hamper the body’s movement in any way.

2)Do stretching first thing in the morning. It is best to do when the sun is still not up or when the sun is barely on the horizon. A blow of fresh air and the warmth of the sun are beneficial factors during stretching.

3)Do stretching regularly. Routine will allow the body to get used to the exercise, thus enabling it to adjust well to changes exercising may bring.

4)Your muscles are not elastic rubber bands. Make sure to warm up first to avoid causing strain. As such, one should do simpler activities like a few minutes walking to warm up the leg muscles. On the other hand, when one is engaging in a very strenuous exercise routine, stretching is the best preparation. However, make sure to finish off your exercise with stretching to conclude the exercise routine.

5)Do not overdo it. This is most applicable for those who will embark on stretching for the first time or after a long layoff. One should listen to their body. When the body begins to ache or when it shows signs of fatigue, one must learn to stop to avoid further damage.

6)Moreover, a woman should do stretching in slightly increasing levels of intensity and difficulty. This is to give the body time to adjust to stretching patterns as well as to prevent injury by suddenly embarking in a heavy routine.

7)Do not do stretching after meals. This will not give you the most benefit because digestion will prevent you from fully executing your stretching routine. It is best to do it before breakfast. Avoid eating a great deal much after stretching.

by: James Pendergraft

Women and Iron: A Guide to Anemia Prevention

Iron is one of the most important nutrients that a woman must have a sufficient supply of. This is due to a woman’s unique condition where she needs more iron than men in order to supplement blood production to replace those lost during her menstrual period. Because of this, it becomes even more important for women to make sure that she has enough iron supply.

Understanding the Effects of Iron Deficiency

When a woman’s body does not have enough supply of iron, the result is anemia. This is a common disease among women especially those who pay scarce attention to their iron intake. What is even more depressing to note is that some women are not even aware they have anemia until it is too late. In order to understand anemia better, listed below are the signs and symptoms of the disease.

1)There is a general feeling of weakness, fatigue, and general malaise. Women commonly experience this during or on the first few days after menstruation. Because iron provides vitality to the body and adds stability to blood supply, lack of it results in a general decline in body activity. Poor concentration is also common among women with anemia.

2)There is shortness of breath when one engages even in the lightest physical activity.

3)There is palpitation or a sudden increase in blood pressure as if the chest is pounding. This happens because the lack of iron reduces the body’s ability to carry oxygen to various parts of the body. As a form of compensation, the heart increases its output as manifested by an increase in blood pressure.

4)A pale skin is also noticeable in women with anemia.

5)In some cases, bone deformities also happen to women with anemia. However, bone deformities alone is not a reliable sign in detecting anemia.

6)A woman with anemia may also experience chest pains.

The most important thing to consider in detecting anemia in women is that most symptoms are hardly noticed. As a result, most women are not aware of their condition. On the other hand, complicating the picture is the fact that anemia shares a lot of symptoms with other ailments. It is therefore very important for one to seek immediate medical attention once anemia is suspected.

Best Sources of Iron to Counter Anemia

When taking iron, the body must also take calcium-rich foods. This is because iron as a nutrient is something that is not readily absorbed by the body. It needs another nutrient that can make its absorption faster. This is why calcium is needed because it facilitates iron absorption.

The following are good sources of iron:

1)From animals, the best sources of iron are red meat, liver, and eggs. However, what is considered to be the excellent choice of iron from animals are seafood such as tuna, salmon, and oysters.

2)From vegetables, one may obtain iron from wheat and oats, beans, spinach, and soy products.

by: James Pendergraft

Tips for Healthy Weight Loss for Women

If you are a woman and wish to observe healthy weight loss, then you should know that this does not have to be tough. In fact, you should never consider strenuous or drastic measures just so you could lose weight because there are a number of easy things that you can do to be able to achieve this while maintaining your overall health. Remember that great care should be taken in handling concerns that are linked to your health—and losing weight is one of them.

Normally, women start to gain to weight when they go through menopause or when they get pregnant. However, gaining weight should not be an issue during these times if the right kinds of food are consumed. Adequate and proper exercise can also help in putting a halt on this issue from ever happening.

Here are a number of healthy weight loss tips that you can take on even when you are pregnant, experiencing menopausal symptoms, or simply wanting to shed off some pounds:

1)Eat three apples every day. This may seem like a simple and boring tip that will raise doubts of its effectiveness. However, this could actually work and may help you shed off some two to two and a half pounds in a month for some two to three months, even if you will just observe this tip alone.

The best way to follow this tip is to eat these apples as your snacks in between every meal. However, if you want your apple-eating way of losing weight to work faster, then you can eat an apple before every meal. This will lead to the apples’ crowding out some of the calories that you might take in with your meals.

2)Take your breakfast every day and include eggs in it. Most of the women who have gained some weight skip breakfast almost every day. This is because they believe that doing so would help them in their trying to lose some of their excess weight. However, this is not the case as not eating breakfast would make you consume more during lunch because you will be very hungry then.

To avoid gorging on heavy meals and snacking during the day, you have to make sure you eat a hearty and healthy breakfast. One of the best foods that you can include in your breakfast diet is the egg because this is protein-rich and is guaranteed to fill you up.

1)Eating one can of black beans every day could help in your weight-loss diet. If you are looking for a superfood that should be added to your weight-loss diet, then this should be a can of black beans. This is considered a superfood because it contains 25 grams of fiber that is good for bowel movement and 25 grams of protein that will help in building lean muscle mass.

Eating a can of black beans would already help you in getting the amount of fiber you need every day. It is best if you will eat half of the black beans during your breakfast and half of it for your lunch.

by: James Pendergraft

The Basics of Healthy Living for Women

There are certain basics that make up a woman’s healthy living. If you want to stay healthy, begin by sustaining proper weight for your height and build. This can be done through regular exercise and a balanced, healthy diet. In fact, the risk for heart disease in women could also be decreased considerably through a diet that is healthy for the heart combined with regular exercise.

Studies have also shown that 50 percent of all the risks for cancer can be lessened by observing a diet that has been modified to contain high fiber, less or no red meat at all, and less fat. Limiting the intake of alcoholic beverages, heightened activities for exercise, and stopping smoking could also help.

Aside from these basics to healthy living for women, there are also other things that a woman must do to ensure that she remains healthy everyday. These include going through medical examinations specially designed for women.

The Pap Smear

There are also other things that women need to do so they can sustain their healthy living, and one of these is to visit their gynecologist at least once a year. This is for a yearly physical checkup that should include a pap smear for those women who are already sexually active. A pap smear is very important because it is the only known screening for cervical cancer that has played a major role in the decrease of its incidence rate.

The Mammogram and the Breast Self-Exams

Mammograms are also very important in women’s lives, especially those who are already in their forties and fifties. Although there is still an ongoing debate over the age when women should really start having their annual mammogram checkup, a lot of women start going through this when they reach their mid-forties. Self-examinations of the breasts should be started as early as puberty though so that this will already become a habit when they reach adulthood.

Here are also some other tips to sustain healthy living:

1)Daily calcium intake is very important for women. Not only will this prevent her from going through almost up to 50 percent of all the symptoms that come with pre-menstrual syndrome like cramps, mood swings, and headaches, it will also play a major role in preventing osteoporosis during menopause.

2)The wearing of sunscreens every day is also an important thing for a woman to do when she steps out into the sun. This is to ensure the health of the skin and to make sure that the skin is able to retain its elasticity, smoothness, and suppleness even as she ages.

3)Practicing safe sex all the time is also another important thing to be done by a woman when it comes to her healthy living. This means always using a condom, even if she is in a long-term relationship with only one partner. This is to help prevent the contraction of any sexually transmitted diseases

by: James Pendergraft

Pregnancy and Eating Disorders

Pregnancy can be the happiest moment in a woman’s life. It is during pregnancy when a woman reaches the point where she will fulfill her role as giver of life. It is said that a woman is at her most beautiful element when she is pregnant.

Despite all the rosy things written about pregnancy, there are plenty of risks and discomforts that a woman encounters during this stage. It is no surprise that women may complain about a lot of physical, emotional, and psychological difficulties during her pregnancy. There is the possibility of injury to the baby as well as the various risks that a mother will be faced with. However, one of the most noticeable changes in pregnant women is that they are very susceptible to eating disorders.

What Causes Eating Disorders in Pregnant Women?

The reason for eating disorders during pregnancy varies from woman to woman, and there are some who do not experience eating disorders at all. However, for those who do, it is important to take note of the reasons why eating disorders are encountered. These reasons include the following:

1)Inability to properly assess the situation. Some women think that they will lose their sexy figure during pregnancy. This usually stems from misinformation related to pregnancy. As a result, a woman is unable to come to terms with her condition, and one of the ways for her to cope with the situation better is through eating or sometimes skipping meals totally. Either way, the result is harmful to both the mother and baby’s health.

2)A woman may also experience eating disorders because of the hormonal changes in her body during pregnancy. When this happens, a woman sometimes loses appetite. Moreover, some women are prone to vomiting during pregnancy, making them experience changes in their eating habits and eventually develop eating disorders.

3)There is the need to carefully measure one’s food intake. Because of the fragile condition of a pregnant woman, it is important for her to eat in small quantities frequently instead of having one large meal in one setting. Moreover, meals should be equally spaced to allow the body sufficient time to digest them.

4)As a result of emotional stress. For women who became pregnant under stressful conditions, she may experience some inability or discomfort in accepting the situation. As a result, eating disorders are experienced.

What Are the Ways to Cope with Eating Disorders?

Coping with eating disorders is a must in order to make the pregnancy a joyful and safe journey. Coping with such disorders is one way for women to ensure the health of both the baby and herself.

1)An emotional assessment is needed. Here, counseling will help a lot. It is important that a woman is on a proper mental and emotional perspective when it comes to treating the pregnancy period. A healthy mental and emotional outlook results in a healthy and safe pregnancy.

2)A pregnant woman must seek frequent medical attention whenever problems related to pregnancy are encountered. This way, it will avoid situations where a woman may be unable to accept certain changes, which when ignored will worsen the situation.

by: James Pendergraft

Loving Your Hair

Hair comes in all diverse textures from kinky to curly to wavy to straight. It is truly one of the marvels of hair. One thing all women must know that you have hair options and your options are greater than ever. Ladies learn to know everything about your hair and the TLC your hair needs to stay healthy and luscious, and you can make every day a great hair day.

To keep your hair healthy and looking great, you need to know it's strengths and weakness, what stresses it and what it can and cannot do. Knowledge is power and the more you know about the true nature and structure of your hair, the healthier it will become and you will be able to tell your hairdresser what you want and feel in control instead of just saying do whatever you want and then hoping for the best!

Feed your hair from the inside, Include these essential nutrients in your daily diet, omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in salmon and flaxseed oil, protein found in soy, poultry, vitamins, and minerals found in fresh fruit and vegetables.

Remember healthy, great, looking hair is the goal and it is an achievable one. Harsh chemicals, excessive heat, and sun can cause dryness and damage. Shampooing, conditioning and styling are the building blocks of manageable, beautiful hair .Armed with the following information, you will be in control of your hair whether you regularly go to a pro or do your hair yourself at home. Just remember, we all can hair that we love, just by following some or all of these tips..

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Zimmerman

Young Mother - The Journey to Freedom

Every young mother knows how the journey starts. It begins from bringing forth a rare gem from within. A being that is so beautiful and cuddling that makes a mother swell with love, tears and joy. A baby is wonderful and a blessing to humans.

Although she possesses something that is so precious, uncertainty lies in as to what will happen to herself and her treasure. She loves her baby and wants the best for him but mentally she knows that the task ahead is daunting and fear grips her but afterward love, a way to victory, sets in and then the journey to freedom begins.

Every Journey has obstacles set in its path and these obstacles are faced by the young mother. These obstacles are many but some of them include:

I. Financial Obstacles The young mother needs to sustain herself during the journey. She needs finance or what we call money as she has to sustain herself as well as her baby (her treasure). Her baby is going to grow during the journey and needs all the love and care he or she can get to grow into splendor. Moreover, the young mother has to think of ways to achieve this and it's not an easy task.

ii. Emotion Obstacle Man does not act on logic but emotion for we are emotional beings. As a young mother, her emotions are constantly in battle. She might realize as time goes on in the journey that she has to learn to control her emotion

For instance those she calls her friends might suddenly abandon her to thread this path alone and this might make her scared, lonely and disappointed. Furthermore, she might be supported by her parents with love and care but the reality soon dawns on her that only she is the captain.

She is aware that it takes hard hard work, diligence, perseverance and discipline to achieve the state of control.

Other obstacles come her way which she must face but one thing for sure is that she has to determine one thing and that's whether she will succeed or fail? She must answer the question for her sake and her child.

Many young mothers are on this journey, some have given up but others have achieved freedom.

For young mothers who are out there, I have but to tell you:

1. You can achieve anything if you believe in yourself and dream big.

2. Have mentors probably matured mothers who have gone through this journey to direct you so that you can be prepared mentally.

3. Have objectives and goals. This is very important for they let you know where you are going. Set objectives for yourself. I suggest you discuss with your parents or mentors to assist you in drafting your goals.

4. Read books on different areas of your life. You are on a journey and you need all the information you can get. Read books on finances, taking care of babies, health and everything that pertains to you. No one is too young to achieve success unless you think so. There are so many young people achieving tremendous success. 5. Read biographies on women who are great achievers like Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and a host of other women.

You can achieve freedom. It's all in your hands.

Ikechi Awazie is an entrepreneur and motivational speaker. His ambition is to equip people to profit in Internet business and achieve their dreams. For young mothers who wish to overcome financial obstacles, I will like to encourage you by showing a case study of a young girl named Nori Envoy who achieved financial freedom. Check out case study.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ikechi_Awazie

Oct 27, 2009

Why does celebrity makeup always look so perfect?

Celebrity makeup artists have tons of tips and techniques for applying makeup that most people never heard of! Want to be one of the few in-the-know? We’ve gathered some great ones for you right here! Here you will learn some great makeup application secrets to get your most flattering eyes, eyelashes, eyebrows, concealer, foundation, blush and lips ever
!

Celebrity Eyes:

Makeup artists have many tricks up their sleeves to make celebrities’ eyes pop! They first put an eye shadow primer or some foundation on the eyelids, so that the eye shadow has something to hold onto. For eye shadow colors, they’ll select three shades which are variations on the same color (i.e. light green, medium green, and dark green), or in the same neutral color family (i.e. beige, brown, and dark brown). They will put the lightest color on the brow bone, the medium color on the lid, and the darkest color in the crease. This will emphasize the shape of the eyes and make them stand out!

Other tricks for glammed-up, red carpet eyes include lining the lower inner rim of the eyes with a white pencil to make them appear bigger and applying shimmery clear lip gloss to the top eyelids to make eyes sparkle. Celebrity makeup artists also apply shimmer powder under the brow bone to draw more attention to the eye area and they always smude eyeliner with a Q-tip to make it look less severe or smokier.

To create cat-eyes (like Brigitte Bardot in the sixties or Pamela Anderson today), celebrity makeup artists use dark brown or black eyeliner to exaggerate the end of the eye so it turns up slightly. If you decide to go this route, remember that smudging is the key to perfecting this look!

Celebrity Eyelashes:

Celebrity makeup artists also have many secrets for eyelashes! They always curl eyelashes first to maximize length and curl. They then dust them with powder which makes the eyelashes look much thicker after the mascara is applied! Celebrity makeup artists will often use two coats of mascara, the first will be a lengthening or separating formula, and the second, a thickening formula, to max out eyelash potential! Mascara clumps are combed out between coats.

For special occasions celebrities may use false eyelashes (their secret is dark eyelash glue) or may have eyelash extensions applied which are semi-permanent variations.

Celebrity Eyebrows:

Celebrity makeup artists know that enhancing the shape of the eyebrows is one of the most dramatic ways to improve a celebrity’s appearance. Celebrity makeup artists use Treezerman brand tweezers most often to shape eyebrows. They tweeze the hairs under the arch of the eyebrow to further emphasize it and pluck away any strays. Eyebrows are filled in with the feathery strokes of an eyebrow pencil in either “blonde “or “taupe” for blondes, “auburn” for redheads, and light brown or medium brown for brunettes. Only black-haired gals should fill in their eyebrows with a “dark brown” eyebrow pencil” and nobody should use a black eyebrow pencil as it looks too severe. A secret weapon of celebrity makeup artists is brow sealant, which keeps this brow look in shape all day.

Celebrity Concealer:

Amazing Concealer by Amazing Cosmetics is favored by many celebrity makeup artists. Concealer is usually applied with an eye shadow brush. It is applied in thin layers which are “built up” until the blemish is covered. Concealer typically is applied before foundation. For really red blemishes, makeup artists often use a green concealer first which tones the redness down under foundation.

Celebrity Foundation:

Laura Mercier Foundation is very popular with celebrities. Foundation is usually applied by celebrity makeup artists with a sponge for the most natural looking coverage. Celebrity makeup artists use a foundation primer which is worn between your moisturizer and your foundation. This product refines the skin and helps foundation stay in place all day. If you can’t spring just yet for celebrity products, try Revlon’s Color Stay Foundation with Soft-flex, which stays in place all day and comes in an extensive variety of shades.

Celebrity Powder:

Celebrity makeup artists almost always use loose powder in a translucent or skin matching shade. They will apply it with a puff and then dust it away with a big brush, or will apply it with the big brush, being sure to shake off any excess first. Then the celebrity will carry around a pressed powder or blotting papers in her evening bag for touch ups. Some celebrities skip powder all together for their dry skinned clients. Powder is great for keeping foundation in place for the longest period of time, however.

Celebrity Blush:

Nars and Stila blushes are very popular with celebrity makeup artists. While these are powder blushes, there are other makeup artists who prefer gel blush because of the dewy, healthy glow it imparts. Blush is never applied with anything but a big, fluffy brush. It is applied on the apples of the cheeks in circles, or is swept from the apples to the hair line. Shimmery blushes like Nars blush in Torrid can make the cheeks appear to be glowing, according to celebrity fans.

Celebrity Lips:

MAC lipliner in Spice is the shade thought to most closely resemble natural lip color for most people and is a favorite of celebrity makeup artists. Celebrities often use lip-plumping products like City Lips and LipFusion which have both won awards from Good Housekeeping! Lip gloss is applied at least to the center of the bottom lip to make it look fuller.

Sara Liz, M.A. is the Editor-in-Chief for Celebrity-Beauty-Secret-Goldmine.com. Visit http://www.celebrity-beauty-tip-goldmine.com for tons more celebrity beauty secrets for your body, hair, makeup, nails, skin, style, and weight-loss.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Liz

The Perfect Bridal Makeup for Your Wedding Day

It’s important that your makeup look its absolute best for your wedding day. Whether you plan to marry on a beach at noon or at night under the stars, by keep your makeup simple you will look and feel great. You don’t want to much, nor too little, a natural look is very important. This is not the time to be experimenting with new looks. Your makeup should enhance your beauty not hide it. Here are some tips to help with you achieve your pefect bridal makeup:


If you are having a facial done, make sure it is at least two weeks prior to your wedding.
If your skin is prone to breakouts, see your dermatologist 3 or 4 months before your wedding
Staying hydrated is important to keeping you looking refreshed. Drinking lots of water will also flush out impurities from the skin.
Eyebrows should be shaped 5-7 days before the wedding. Be sure not to pluck on your wedding day because you could land up with unattractive red bumps that are difficult to cover.
On your wedding day blend your makeup well and let set. You do not need extra makeup to please the camera – that’s a myth.
Choose a lipstick that lasts. Apply just prior to walking down the isle. Go easy on the lip liner. Be sure to check that you don’t have lipstick on your teeth.
Line and fill mouth with a neutral pencil to make lipstick stay on longer.
To lengthen wearing time of your lipstick, apply a light layer of powder over your lipstick then apply another layer of lipstick
If you are doing your own makeup, see a beauty consultant and purchase your make up at least 3 months in advance. Then practice until you’ve got the perfect makeup.
Waterproof mascara is a great idea just incase you get a little weepy.
A very light application of facial powder will set your makeup and reduce
Keep your powder, mascara, and lipstick in your purse so you can freshen up at a moments notice.
If you discover that dreaded pimple on your wedding day, do not squeeze it! Just apply a drop of visene to get the red out, cover with concealer, and apply foundation.
Wear a button shirt when applying your makeup so you don’t mess up your makeup. When slipping into your gown put a towel over your face so you don’t get makeup on your wedding dress.
Avoid glittery or dewy looks – these are not very receptive for photographs and you may come out looking greasy
If your wedding is outside be sure to apply sunscreen first
Water based foundation looks most natural in photos
For eye contouring, apply a dark but neutral in the crease of the eye. You can line the upper and lower lids (optional) with brown or grey shadow, smudging the outer corners
If you need to make your eyes look wider or brighter, use a white pencil to line the inside of the lower lids.
Don't get too much sun before your wedding. Sunburns, peeling skin and tan lines can sabotage your special day.
Make certain your wedding photographer is “not” using grainy film, because no matter how good your makeup is, with grainy film it will not look good
Make sure your wedding photographer is using high quality film so your photos do your wedding makeup justice
For your makeup to look good in your photos, it must be completely matte and in neutral tones, brides usually prefer a little color. Pastels look soft and pretty, but avoid glitter, shimmer and frosted eyeshadows.
Shine is the #1 enemy for photos.
Don’t apply white or black eye shadow
Olive complexions should not use gray shades
Pale complexions should not use vibrant colors.

To relieve stress you can have a makeup artist do your wedding day makeup. If you enjoy doing your own makeup but need some more tips, visit a makeup consultant.

It’s your day! You are going to look absolutely beautiful!

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. So stop by and visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/ We'll help you make your fashion statement! Remember looking good doesn't have to cost a fortune!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sher_Matsen

Ladies, Take Control Over Your Life!

Ladies there has never been a better time to take control over this chapter of your lives. Yes, I'm talking to you, the mature lady 50 and over! personally, I think it's important to have routine, something that makes us feel comfortable on a daily basis, in the knowledge, that what we are doing, is beneficial to us(as individuals) When you become happy and contented with "YOU" the process of starting to love yourself again will begin! It will radiate to others, your family and friends. It s not rocket science at all, but basic common sense, nourish your body and in return it will pay you back in a way you never thought would happen.

During its life the body is abused in a variety of ways, from the inside as well as the outside. The foods we eat, the drinks we choose all take their toll! Take stock, ask questions, write it down in your diary, but make sure you give yourself honest answers about what you want to change. For example: - Do you need to lose weight? Do you want to eat more healthy food? Do you want to put exercise into your daily schedule? What about relaxation? Do you drink enough water? Maybe you are a person who has yo-yo dieted for most of their life, but, found you got nowhere! It really doesn't have to be that way, all that is necessary, is for you to be redirected and it will work out!

Have you been feeling depressed, are you feeling lethargic, maybe you are bloated or simply over weight, whatever glove that fits, help is at hand. Our bodies get out of sync and it's not easy to find the right path to travel, especially if you don't talk about how you feel. Don't suffer in silence. Everything is achievable if you really want it to be! So do you? Until we reach our forties, we seem to be immune to any drastic changes to our physical appearance, but as soon as we reach a certain age our bodies begin to change whether we like it or not! The change is natural, it's a bit like a wake up call, for you, to respect your body and listen to its needs.

Look towards natural products in everything you do. That means on your skin, what you put inside your body, all are of paramount importance to you when reaching your goal Its no use being apathetic, this is the last chance you have of making a come back and it could be done in the most fabulous of ways. You will need only to possess three things. Patience. A Zest for Life. Will Power. Today, the populous eat too much, take little or no exercise. Certainly cannot find the time to relax. Stop! For the sake of you health and your precious body and its organs My new book entitled Looking Good Feeling Great Ladies 50 and over will be a must for your library.

It is packed full of suggestions and options to enable you to get back on track. Our bodies are a miracle of which we should all be very proud. It's not just for the young to be thinking of their hair and figure, but for everyone, no matter what age we have reached. Of course it will not be easy, but then what is? It's your choice. How you feel now -v- How you want to feel everyday for the rest of your life. Have you got what it takes? Stop lamenting, everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose, take a trip to my website, register, linger for a time, whilst you read the blogs and reviews, and maybe listen to the internet blog radio interview, before leaving make sure you have ordered the book. Believe me, it will act as your reference bible, you will wonder how you got along without it!

I'm Nina Bagnall, it's taken some time to get around to writing this book but now its finished I know that it will be of benefit to all the women who read It.! Every one wants to look good and feel great no matter what age they are but when we reach our fifties and beyond it becomes ever more important, for several reasons. Finding naturally remedies over the years has been fascinating and so very interesting, experimenting with different ones until I found the ones that suited me as an individual. Cooking is a passion and therefore eating healthily has also been a benefit. Now at 58 years old following a daily regime, I feel great, look good my mind is active and alert and every day is a good day. All my research gathered over the years has been compiled for you in my book to enable you to follow suggestions and options

http://www.NinaBagnall.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nina_Bagnall

Oct 26, 2009

THE MAKEUP AND SKIN HELTH

How dos natural skincare work
Skin is an amazing living organism and is the largest organ in our bodies. We wash it and put products on it but do we really understand how it works and the need for natural skin care to keep it protected and looking naturally beautiful? Our skin is made up of three distinct layers. The top or outer layer is called the epidermis. The second layer is called the dermis. This contains blood vessels, nerve endings, hair roots and sweat glands. The third layer is the subcutaneous fat layer containing larger blood vessels and nerves. It is of course the top layer that acts as the barrier to the elements and all the day to day pollution that it is in contact with. It is this layer that we should look after with a proper washing regime and using the right moisturising creams.
When our skin is dry it often feels rough and flaky. This is because it does not contain sufficient moisture. This top layer or epidermis plays a key role in helping contain moisture within the skin and normally consists of around 15% of water. When this moisture content falls below 10% the skin starts to dry out and that is when we complain of dry skin. It starts to appear flaky, it comes off in small white flakes and as the drying continues, the skin can crack ultimately leading to itching, irritation and even soreness. Some skin types are more prone to dry skin than others and most of us suffer from dry skin in the cold winter months when the sweat glands that are secreting moisture into the epidermis are less active. The skin has a constant process of rejuvenation, growing new cells and shedding the old dead cells. This natural process of exfoliation can usefully be aided by creams but they should not be so abrasive as to destroy healthy tissue or remove too much of the skin's natural defences.
Advertisements for skincare products often refer to the skin as being 'plumped up'. What this refers to are the tiny amounts of fat, salts and amino acids and liquid particles which are packed between the individual cells. This is nature's natural skincare process acting as a natural moisturiser for the skin, reducing moisture loss and keeping the cells plumped up visually, reducing the tiny lines that can detract from our skin's natural beauty and it is these lines that are visually ageing. However, we can easily destroy the skin's natural moisturiser through washing with caustic soaps and through exposure of the skin to the elements, with all the toxic chemicals that are around in today's environment. Altering the skin's natural balance can also effect its efficiency in cell regeneration and if new cells are not being grown the old ones will not be shed as efficiently leaving the skin looking dull and lifeless.
Helping nature's natural skincare process
Today's busy lifestyle means that our skin takes a battering from the elements and from all the chemical contaminants that we unavoidably come across at home and in the workplace. Recent research showed just how many unwanted chemicals we now have in our bodies. Some of these undoubtedly have been absorbed through the skin and most of these chemicals did not even exist 50 years ago. Unfortunately our quest for ever more cost effective cleaning, beauty and garden products has meant the introduction of new chemical concoctions, some of which are now being identified as potentially carcinogenic and dangerous and others as toxic. Our grandparents lived lives where natural skincare was the norm and undoubtedly skincare is more complicated today. But if we take time out to study the ingredients in our skincare products and chose them carefully we can chose the best natural skin care products.
Moisturisers are now an essential part of keeping our skin healthy and beautiful. A moisturiser is important in adding water to the skin to reinforce the skin's own natural process and to keep the skin fully hydrated. This has the effect of keeping the skin plumped up and taught, reducing those lines and keeping the skin subtle and youthful. When a good moisturiser is used the skin becomes slightly more translucent bringing out its natural skin colour and skin tones. Moisturisers not only hydrate the skin but a good moisturiser will also act as a barrier to slow down the evaporation of that important water content from the skin's cells and also to help prevent unwanted pollution from penetrating the skin's defences. Regular use of moisturisers is particularly important for those of us with dry skin or when the cold of winter dries up the natural secretion from the pores of the skin and the skin is shed too fast.
Helpful vitamins for natural skin care
In addition a good moisturiser should contain vitamins to enhance the skin's own defences. The number one natural helper is Vitamin A. This comes under a number of names of which Retinol is perhaps the best known. Vitamin A helps reduce fine lines and has restorative properties. The second key vitamin with great skin benefits is Vitamin E. This vitamin helps repair dry and rough skin and has has a proven ability to help retain moisture in the skin. It is also widely regarded as a healing vitamin. Vitamin B is another important vitamin having moisture retention properties and is sometimes used in place of vitamin E for those with very sensitive skin. Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant and defender against 'free radicals' which are molecules that age the skin as a result of pollution, smoking and sun exposure. Vitamin C can also enhance the synthesis of collagen which is an important skin protein that strengthens the resilience of skin. Finally vitamin K helps repair skin and is particularly effective against those dark eyes through tiredness and for spider veins.
You may want your natural skin care products to have a fragrance but you should always ensure that these fragrances are organic essential oils. Try to avoid products which contain synthetic fragrances which are usually alcohol based concoctions of chemicals. Essential oils in moisturising creams will be the subject of my next article.
Natalie Schunker is an authority on natural skincare and natural skin care products. Apart from writing about her passion she works with a small family business making quality hand made moisturising creams for the face and body. If you are interested in more information head over to - Natural Skincare.
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