Mineral Oil: Friend or Foe?

For years, the French, who are the leaders in skincare have used mineral oil - fine grade mineral oil in their skincare products. There is no evidence that mineral oil clogs pores. A study was done years ago by a Dermatologist who used pure, not refined, mineral oil on the ears of rabbits and it clogged their pores. The study was flawed and he admits it - but unfortunately, the word about mineral oil being clogging got around.

Mineral Oil Myths

1. Mineral oil is contaminated with carcinogens. While it’s true that some petroleum derivatives contain carcinogenic materials (like some polycyclic aromatic compounds) the mineral oil that is used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry is highly refined and purified. It’s purity is even regulated by the US FDA and other international regulatory agencies. There is absolutely no evidence that cosmetic grade mineral oil causes cancer. And there has been plenty of testing done to ensure that fact. We could find no published reports in any of the dermatological or medical journals indicating a link between mineral oil and any forms of cancer.

2. Mineral oil dries the skin and causes premature aging. Mineral oil works as a barrier between the skin and the air. It acts as an occlusive agent which prevents water from naturally leaving your body through your skin. It will not dry out your skin or cause premature aging. Quite the contrary. It will provide moisturization.

3. Mineral oil robs the skin of vitamins. Since many vitamins are oil based, people assume that mineral oil will pull them out of your skin. There is no legitimate scientific evidence that this is true. Mineral oil has no effect on the vitamin levels in your skin.

4. Mineral oil prevents absorption of collagen from collagen moisturizers. Collagen in your skin lotions and moisturizers is too big to actually penetrate your skin. Therefore, mineral oil will have no effect on whether the collagen gets absorbed or not.

5. Mineral oil causes acne. In some people, mineral oil can exacerbate acne problems. However, most people will not experience any problems.

Source: Thebeautybrains.com

Eat...More Chicken!

These calories have been counted for you. Which would you choose?

You can have this...

Stouffer's 10oz Chicken Pot Pie

Total Calories: 660 calories and 37 g of fat.


Or you can have...

Roasted Chicken Dinner



4 oz. roast chicken breast with skin, 11/2 cups broccoli with 1 oz. shredded cheddar cheese, a buttermilk biscuit with 2 tsp. butter, and a light beer
Total Calories: 620 calories, 28 grams fat

Source: Glamour

Get Ready To Show Some Skin

Whatever your birth date, look even more amazing naked with these tips for showing off smooth, luminous skin all over.

Glow head to toe - The skin on your body ages the same way the skin on your face does. Cell turnover slows and collagen breaks down, causing scaliness and sagging. Keep skin supple with a body cream that contains exfoliating acids to remove dry layers. Look on the label for H2O-attracting hyaluronic acid and collagen-building peptides to soften and firm. Try Fresh Seaberry Restorative Body Cream, $29.

Make Veins Vanish - Spider veins. Most of us get them because as we age, valves in leg veins wear out. As a result, blood pools and veins become visible through skin. To erase them, ask your doctor about Asclera injections, which use a local anesthetic to damage nonworking blood vessels. Afterward, the vessels break down and the body absorbs them. It's about $400 a session, two or more are typical.

Diminish Dimples - The number of fat cells you have is determined by your DNA, but your diet and lifestyle can make them grow. When they plump up, they can press against skin's top layers, creating the rippling effect. There are many creams that might help, but most dermatologists still say the holy grail ingredient is caffeine, which draws water from cells, temporarily giving skin a tighter look. Use coffee grinds as a kind of 'scrub' for problem areas in the shower.

Nurture your neck - Your neck gets major sun, and lots of us don't use SPF on our necks. Lighten sun spots by apply a hydroquinone cream at night and a sunscreen every A.M. Try $5.50 for Ambi Skin Discoloration Fade Cream, with 2 percent hydroquinone. There aren't many sebaceous glands in the neck (Or eyelids), so skin can get extra dry, saggy and creased. To fight wrinkles, apply an anti-aging face cream or neck-specific treatment packed with mega moisturizers. For example, hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Rebuild Collagen Naturally - Sleep deprivation doesn't only wreck your mood; it can also hamper the production and quality of collagen, a building block of healthy skin. Six to eight hours of sleep a night.

Retinoids

1. Retinoid. The term describes vitamin A derivatives that unclog pores, boost collagen to reduce fine lines, and speed cell turnover to even out discoloration and smooth the skin—sometimes in as little as four weeks. The first retinoid—tretinoin—was FDA approved (under the brand name Retin-A) almost 40 years ago as a prescription acne treatment. Dermatologists soon noticed that patients on Retin-A experienced not just clearer but softer, brighter, less-lined skin. Today there are three prescription-strength retinoids: tretinoin (brands include Atralin, Avita, Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Renova), tazarotene (Avage, Tazorac), and adapalene (Differin). Many dermatologists find tazarotene stronger (and potentially more irritating) than tretinoin; adapalene is the gentlest but may be less effective.

2. You don't want to go to the dermatologist. While prescription formulas yield the most impressive results, an over-the-counter retinoid, called retinol, can also improve lines and discoloration. Because retinol is gradually converted into retinoic acid (the active ingredient in the prescription creams) it is less potent. Count on 12 weeks before seeing results.

3. You think a retinoid will make your skin sun-sensitive. "This is one of the biggest retinoid myths," says Doris Day, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center (and a Tazorac user herself). "The ingredient itself is sensitive to sunlight, which is why you should apply it before bed at night." A retinoid shouldn't make your skin any more vulnerable to UV rays than it would be after buffing away dead skin with a face scrub. Summer is actually a good time to start a retinoid: Humidity makes your skin less likely to dry out as it adjusts. Of course, apply sunscreen (SPF 30, at least) as diligently as you always do.

4. You're afraid your skin will look worse before it gets better. Retinoids can cause dryness, redness, and flaking—but if you ease in, you can avoid a rough transition. For the first two weeks, apply a retinoid every third night, says Leslie Baumann, MD, director of the Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute at the University of Miami (who uses Atralin). If your skin isn't irritated, ramp up to every other night for two weeks. Not dry or flaky? Go for it every night. A few other irritation-mitigating guidelines: Wait 15 minutes after washing your face before you apply a retinoid, and use one pea-size dab to cover your whole face. After a few minutes, apply a basic moisturizer to prevent dryness.

5. You think you can't afford it. Insurance coverage of a prescription retinoid, like Retin-A, varies by plan, and a 20-gram tube will cost about $75. But generic tretinoin costs about $40—not bad for a product guaranteed (by decades of science) to work. (For now, only tretinoin is available in a generic version.) Some drugstore retinol products are even less expensive. Look for ones with 0.1 percent retinol packaged in aluminum tubes (to protect the formula from air and light); I suggest trying RoC Retinol Correxion Deep WrinkleNight Cream ($22).


Don't use a retinoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids may deactivate retinoids, so don't layer them.
Waxing can cause excess redness on retinoid-treated skin; don't use a retinoid for several days before a treatment.
A small percentage of people with ultrasensitive skin can never tolerate a retinoid; if you're one of them, use a gentle physical exfoliator twice a week to soften your skin, and be extra-conscientious about sunscreen to prevent collagen loss in the first place.

Source: Oprah.com, Prevention.com/retinoids

Win The War On Fat: Eat Less Sugar

Eat Less Sugar


This commandment is both obvious and tricky.

The Obvious: Avoid soda, juice, sweetened teas and coffees, sugary cereals, and candy.
The Tricky: Sugar lurks in many processed foods, like crackers and flavored yogurt

The Advice: For one month, avoid any sugar unless it naturally occurs in food (like milk or fruit). When scientists at Cornell University examined the eating patterns of more than 14,000 people, they observed that those who ate the most baked confections and candy also ate the most fruit; so try satisfying your sweet tooth with the natural sugar in a peach or melon instead of a candy bar. Also, start substituting protein-rich snacks (string cheese, hard-boiled eggs) for seemingly harmless fare like bagels, popcorn and pretzels. The latter are primarily composed of starch, which your body quickly breaks down into sugar. So technically, you're still feeding your body high amounts sugar.


Source: Men's Health

Win The War On Fat: Eat More Fiber

Eat More Fiber

Fiber can rev your fat burn by as much as 30%. People who eat the most fiber gain the least amount of weight over time, reports a review in the journal Nutrition. Review author Joanne Slavin, Ph.D., R.D., says that fiber requires extra chewing and slows the absorption of nutrients in your stomach, so you feel full even though you haven't stuffed yourself. You'll also stay satisfied on fewer calories. Aim for about 25g a day--the amount in about three servings each of fruits and vegetables. Here are easy ways to add fiber to your diet:

1. Read the box - Pick a cereal that contains more than 10g of fiber per serving.

2. Snack on Berries - One cup of raspberries or blackberries contains 8g of fiber. Fill a bowl with a cup of each to top with yogurt or milk for a sweet alternative to cereal.

3. Bulk Up Your Smoothies - Mix 1/4 cup of flaxseed into any blended beverage to add 12 g of fiber.

4. Make Everything Mexican - One whole avocado contains 13g of fiber, along with loads of healthy monounsaturated fats. Slice one on top of a salad, sandwich or eggs.

Source: Men's Health

Win The War On Fat: Conquer Your Cravings

Eat Smaller Portions

There is a conspiracy to trick you into eating more. Everything form efficient busboys that clear the table so you forget how much you've eaten to "family-sized" bags of chips that enable us to stuff our faces.

Use Small bowls and spoons - You will serve yourself less food and eat less. Cornell researchers found that graduate students scarfed down 59% more of a salty snack from large bowls than those who served themselves from smaller bowls.

Drink from a tall glass - Given drinking glasses with the same capacity, we tend to pour more into a short glass than a tall one.

Always skip the value size - People who are given large boxes of pasta cook and eat more of it than people given smaller boxes, says Brian Wansink, Ph.D., author of Mindless Eating.

Conquer Your Cravings And Stop Bingeing

Healthy eating isn't about deprivation -- It's about simple planning and smart decisions. So eat real food that satisfies your hunger and your body's nutritional needs. Here's your four-step game plan.

1. Outsmart Your Cravings - People tend to eat around their cravings, snacking and nibbling until they've taken in 500 calories and still aren't satisfied. Instead of fighting the urge, find a healthier way to satisfy it. You curb the craving, and you get solid nutrition.

2. Eat Well On the Road - Avoid the airport food court by packing mixed nuts, energy bars, and granola bars. Make your own trail mix by combining 1/2 cup each low-sugar cereal, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, unsalted cashews, and raisins. Bag a few small servings and go.

3. Snack Smarter - It's not snacking when you're elbow deep in a chips bag. That, my friend, is gorging. Control the quantity. Buy prepackaged portions of snacks like chips, pretzels, and jerky. Or create your own by measuring out individual portions and stashing a few bags in your desk, car, or gym bag. Even ice cream comes in small cups. The carton can become a trough, ladies!

4. Control Late-Night Bingeing - Use the 'set snack' trick. People who ate the same snack 90 minutes after dinner for one month dropped 4 pounds in a Wayne State University study. They ate cereal. And beware hunger spurred by bored or TV ads. Take the dog for a walk, shop on ebay, anything to buy some time for your brain to tell you you're not really hungry. Or, brush your teeth and gargle. Nothing tastes good after that!

Source: Men's Health

Win The War On Fat: Seize The Day

Eat Breakfast Every Day


Begin by proving that you have the time for it. This weekend, time how long it takes you to nuke a bowl of instant oatmeal and eat it. We're betting less than 5 minutes, which isn't long enough to make you late for work. Then remind yourself why it's so crucial. "Not eating breakfast may reduce your metabolic rate by 10 percent," says Leslie Bonci, R.D., M.P.H., director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh medical center. This in turn increases your risk of obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes. "Keep a breakfast bar by your bed, or pour dry oatmeal or cereal in a bowl the night before," Bonci suggests. Leave a bowl of fruit or bags of trail mix near your front door so you can grab them in a hurry.

Seize The Day


You want to drop weight? Forget about it. Really - that's the crucial tip. Put the end goal out of the picture and narrow your focus to the day at hand. Ask yourself, "Did I get my workout in today? Did I make the right food choices?" Then go through it again tomorrow, always with an eye on improving. Here are Bob Harper's (Biggest Loser trainer) five real-world solutions for seizing the day.

1. Get over Gym Intimidation - The muscle heads at the squat rack aren't judging you. If they see someone out of shape trying to change, they'll do what they can to help you. Ask for a spot, or even some guidance. Just because those guys are ripped doesn't mean they don't struggle with diets and exercise plans.

2. Fight Through the Pain - Your neglected body won't be able to do what it once could. Start slowly and remember that post exercise soreness means you're making progress. Use this as motivation to put the past into your present. You'll see just how far you've let yourself go, but you'll know what you're eventually capable of.

3. Get Help From Friends - Support groups work. Websites like biggestloserclub.com are huge inspirations for weight loss. Share your story with peers and read how they overcame struggles similar to yours.

4. Forget Plateaus - Whether you lose weight every week or not, remember that your efforts are improving your overall health-from lowering cholesterol to cutting visceral (the most stubborn) body fat. And don't weigh yourself more than once a week. You'll just make yourself nuts.

5. Keep Getting Up - The wagon will leave you behind if you fall off. It's your job to keep chasing it down.

Source: Men's Health

Win The War On Fat: Boost Your Metabolism

Boost Your Metabolism


A British study found that participants who increased the percentage of protein-based calories in their diets burned 71 more calories a day (that's 7.4 pounds a year) than those on low-protein diets. Protein burns hotter than other foods sources. Jumpstart your metabolism early with two scrambled eggs or a few slices of lean turkey bacon for breakfast, then keep it up throughout the day with at least one protein-packed snack, such as almonds or cheese, and lunch and dinner built around legumes, lean meats, tuna or salmon.


Eat More Often - Skipping meals allows your body's calorie-burning furnace to go cold. Spread out your calories with min meals and snacks throughout the day. Try a cup of yogurt with fresh fruit or almonds (I'm getting sick of almonds, dammit) at 10:30am and a hard-boiled egg around 3:00pm.


Burn Fat Faster - Kick your metabolism into overdrive by performing this body-weight routine 12 hours before or after your regular weight workout. Move from one exercise to the next without resting. Do a total of up to four circuits.


Prisoner Squat - 20 reps. Squat until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
Pushup - 15 reps. Just like gym class
Lunge - 10 reps per side. Take a big step forward with your left food and lower your body until your front knee is bent 90 degrees. Pause, and then push back up to a standing position. Repeat with your right foot forward.
Decline Pushup - 10 reps per side. Put your feet on a box or bench as you perform a pushup. This will force you to lift more weight.

Go Green - Catechins, the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, are known to increase metabolism. In a 12-week double-blind study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants who consumed 690mg of catechins from green tea daily had lower body mass indexes and smaller waist measurements than those in the control group. Forgo instant or powdered varieties and instead steep 1 teaspoon of loose green tea leaves in hot water for 4 minutes.

Source: Men's Health

4 New Reasons To See Your Dermatologist

New tools in your doctor's arsenal aim to eradicate wrinkles with less pain.

Hot Ingredient: Lipo-Hydroxy Acid


The less irritating cousin of salicylic acid is a serious multitasker: LHA exfoliates, penetrates oily pores to dissolve blackheads, and prevents bacteria from clinging to the walls of pores and follicles where they can multiply. One study found 5-10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid. Expect to see it in more products. Two current ones to find it is 'La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Treatment' and 'Vichy Normaderm Anti-Acne Hydrating Lotion'.

1. LaViv - The latest wrinkle filler is made form your own collagen-producing cells, harvested from skin taken from behind the ear and grown in a lab. LaViv's plumping effects only become visible after the new cells are injected and begin to produce collagen, in two to three months (Says Fredric Brandt of the Dermatology Research Institute in Miami). The results may outlast other injectables.

2. Xeomin - Coming Soon. Joining the ranks of wrinkle relaxing Botox and Dysport, Xeomin is botulinum toxin that's missing some of the proteins in its rivals. Without them, the theory goes, the body is less likely to build up resistance, allowing Xeomin to work longer. There's another reason its arrival is causing smiles. Prices are starting to reflect that there are competitors to Botox.

3. Topical Botox - Should be here in 2-3 years. This gel form is applied by a dermatologist for thirty minutes and then wiped off. With the same staying power as injectables, it gives a natural-looking result. In tests on crow's-feet, 44% of patients reported significant improvement for four months.  Not a great percentage, but it means no needles.

4. Solid Hyaluronic Acid - Several years away. As a gel, the wrinkle filler can form lumps when injected under the skin. A new solid type resembles a thread that a doctor, using a needle, pulls directly below a wrinkle to immediately buttress it. Once in place, the thread swells to the size of spaghetti. It is expected to gain approval in Europe next year, and in the U.S. in 2013.

Source: Allure

Eat... More Starbucks!

The calories have been counted for you. Which would you choose?


You can have this...

Raspberry scone from Starbucks

500 calories, 26 grams fat

Or you can have this...

Starbucks Oatmeal and Coffee

8-oz. Starbucks oatmeal with 1 tbsp. dried cranberries and 1 tbsp. brown sugar topping, a banana and a 12-oz. skim caramel macchiato
434 calories, 3.5 grams fat

Stop Blaming Genetics

Q: I eat well and exercise and still have high cholesterol, could it be genetics?


A: Probably not, and you can also stop blaming you being overweight on genetics. Lifestyle is passed down from parent to child, which can result in overweight families. Being obese is not an uncontrollable feature. Put down the chips. Look at your lifestyle

Q: So how do I lower my cholesterol?


A: To get your LDL (Bad Cholesterol) levels to below 100 mg/dL and triglycerides under 140 mg/dL, eat fewer refined carbs, sugars, processed foods, whole fat dairy products, and red meat. Eat more whole grains, fruits, veggies, fish and lean protein. Limit alcohol and smoking. To raise your HDL (Good cholesterol) levels to 50 mg/dL or higher, add exercise. If you're already doing 30 minutes a day, do 45 minutes. Good luck!

-B

What Do The Stars Eat For Breakfast?

Poppy Montgomery 


Chocolate-Cherry Shake

1 Cup cold water
1 Cup frozen pitted cherries
1 Small banana
1 Acai berry frozen smoothie pack
3 Tbsp chocolate protein powder
2 Tbsp raw cacao powder

Blend all together. 276 Calories. Serves two!

Tiffani Thiessen

OatCakes with Applesauce

2 Cups rolled oats

4 Egg whites

1 Tsp Cinnamon

Vegetable Oil Cooking Spray

1/2 Cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 Cup sliced strawberries

Combine first 3 ingredients. Spread evenly into a skillet coated with cooking spray and cook on medium for ten minutes, flipping once. Top with applesauce and berries. 454 Calories. Serves two!

Piper Perabo

Salmon and Pickled Vegetables

"It's a traditional breakfast in Japan". A morning meal high in healthy fat will rev your metabolism to digest food more efficiently all day. Three ounces of salmon has 1.9 grams of omeg-3 fatty acids. Way better than bacon!

Supplements That Actually Work

So you want to lose weight, boost your sexual stamina, and add muscle. The supplements below have been vetted by scientific research as well as happy customers. If you seek help in pill form, start here.

Green Tea Extract - If diet and exercise aren't helping you shed pounds fast enough, green tea may give you the boost you're after. A 2009 analysis of 11 studies showed that the combination of caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea led to a small but significant weight loss. www.now-2-u.com

Red Ginseng - A Korean review concluded that red ginseng is more than twice as effective as a placebo for treating Erectile Dysfunction. Red ginseng contains ginsenosides, which are compounds that are though to increase nitric oxide synthesis, a process that can result in improved erections. You'll have to take it for several days or weeks to see results. First ask your doctor if other health conditions could be affecting your sexual performance. www.gonsi.com

Creatine Monohydrate - It's the most effective supplement for building muscle size and strength. It delivers maximum blood levels of active ingredients. www.atlargenutrition.com 

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