Thursday, May 06, 2010
EYE, EYE, EYE -- is this Middle Age?
Our eyes change over time and nearly everyone who has reached middle age uses some kind of vision correction.
Things to be aware of:
The Retina becomes less light senstive and therefore, you need more light to see as well. Brighter lights in your work area or next to your chair while reading will help bring the printed words into clearer focus. I need readers when inside, but the outside light will allow me to see printing without glasses.
The Lens of the eye becomes less elastic. Thus the printed words are not as clear as they used to be. This makes it tough for the eyes to focus as agiley as in your younger days. Reading glasses or bi-focals will help see more clearly and even a magnifying glass will bring the smallest of print into focus.
The Lens starts to become more cloudy as we age. That makes it harder to see colors with the same vibrancy as we used to see them. Night vision may be reduced - the glare from headlights at night may really bother you. Sunlight hitting slick pavement (rain covered roads) may glare more than normal. Polarized sun glasses can help during the daylight. You may want to reduce night driving if it becomes too difficult to see.
Your eyes may feel dry because tear glands have lost some of their ability to produce moisture, an essential in keeping your eyes properly lubricated. Artificial tear drops can help with the discomfort. Computer usage may also contribute to eye dryness - there is a name for this "computer vision symdrome".
Make a few small changes in your work habits such as:
I have had this problem for some time. When I enter a dark room or am driving at night it is like a laser light show is going on. The peripheral vision has flashing lights going on and is very distracting. These come into your field of vision because your vitreous, the part of the eye that connects to the retina, begins to shrink with age - as early as your forties. The floaters and flashers are distracting and bothersome, but you can learn to ignore them without too much trouble. If you see a sudden, startling increase in the number of dots and flashes, however, see your eye care professional. This can indicate a partial detachment of the retina.
Things to be aware of:
The Retina becomes less light senstive and therefore, you need more light to see as well. Brighter lights in your work area or next to your chair while reading will help bring the printed words into clearer focus. I need readers when inside, but the outside light will allow me to see printing without glasses.
The Lens of the eye becomes less elastic. Thus the printed words are not as clear as they used to be. This makes it tough for the eyes to focus as agiley as in your younger days. Reading glasses or bi-focals will help see more clearly and even a magnifying glass will bring the smallest of print into focus.
The Lens starts to become more cloudy as we age. That makes it harder to see colors with the same vibrancy as we used to see them. Night vision may be reduced - the glare from headlights at night may really bother you. Sunlight hitting slick pavement (rain covered roads) may glare more than normal. Polarized sun glasses can help during the daylight. You may want to reduce night driving if it becomes too difficult to see.
Your eyes may feel dry because tear glands have lost some of their ability to produce moisture, an essential in keeping your eyes properly lubricated. Artificial tear drops can help with the discomfort. Computer usage may also contribute to eye dryness - there is a name for this "computer vision symdrome".
Make a few small changes in your work habits such as:
- Keep the computer screen 20-24 inches from your eyes.
- Keep the top of the computer screen slightly below eye level.
- Minimize the distance between your computer screen and any documents you use while working.
- Use drops to soothe irritated, dry eyes.
- Adjust the light in your work area to minimize glare on the screen.
- Take a break every 15 minutes to focus on an object in the distance.
- Blink frequently (not hard to do when your eyes are watering like mine).
I have had this problem for some time. When I enter a dark room or am driving at night it is like a laser light show is going on. The peripheral vision has flashing lights going on and is very distracting. These come into your field of vision because your vitreous, the part of the eye that connects to the retina, begins to shrink with age - as early as your forties. The floaters and flashers are distracting and bothersome, but you can learn to ignore them without too much trouble. If you see a sudden, startling increase in the number of dots and flashes, however, see your eye care professional. This can indicate a partial detachment of the retina.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Sugar and Cholesterol
Reducing your intake of sugar can also improve your cholesterol. The refined sugars that are added to soft drinks, bottled drinks and convenience foods damage cholesterol and other important blood fats, thus, increasing our risk for diabetes and heart disease. It is possible to reduce your sugar load without making it a huge sacrifice.
Studies performed at Emory University found that the more added sugars a person ate, the lower their "good cholesterol" and the higher their triglyceride levels.
Harmful vs Good Sugars -
Good sugar occurs naturally in foods such as fruits etc. Harmful sugars are those that are added by manufacturers (such as white sugar) Other added sugars may include sweeteners that are sometimes considered healthy, such as brown rice sugar, honey, cane juice etc. The fact that they are added to the foods is the problem. The average american eats 22 teaspoons of sugar daily. Cut that to 6 for women and 9 for men and you would see a dramatic difference in health.
How do you cut back? Soda pop is the larges culprit and source of added sugar. One 12 oz can contains 8 teaspoons!! Switching to diet soda isn't the answer as there are many questions around artificial sweeteners and the health problems they may cause. Actual studies have shown that people who drink diet sodas are more likely to be overweight than those who drank regular sodas. Artificial sweeteners may increase the appetite, especially for sweets.
Switch from sweetened cereal to unsweetened and add your own or a little organic agave nectar to sweeten. Eat fresh fruit and if you bake, use the organic versions of sugar. Avoid as many pre-packaged foods as possible.
Always, always read your labels and look for the least amount of sugars possible when purchasing foods.
Water is a good alternative to soda pop. It takes a commitment to switch, but if you really worry about your health, it can be done. Water is so important to eliminating impurities from our bodies - the benefit is tremendous!
Studies performed at Emory University found that the more added sugars a person ate, the lower their "good cholesterol" and the higher their triglyceride levels.
Harmful vs Good Sugars -
Good sugar occurs naturally in foods such as fruits etc. Harmful sugars are those that are added by manufacturers (such as white sugar) Other added sugars may include sweeteners that are sometimes considered healthy, such as brown rice sugar, honey, cane juice etc. The fact that they are added to the foods is the problem. The average american eats 22 teaspoons of sugar daily. Cut that to 6 for women and 9 for men and you would see a dramatic difference in health.
How do you cut back? Soda pop is the larges culprit and source of added sugar. One 12 oz can contains 8 teaspoons!! Switching to diet soda isn't the answer as there are many questions around artificial sweeteners and the health problems they may cause. Actual studies have shown that people who drink diet sodas are more likely to be overweight than those who drank regular sodas. Artificial sweeteners may increase the appetite, especially for sweets.
Switch from sweetened cereal to unsweetened and add your own or a little organic agave nectar to sweeten. Eat fresh fruit and if you bake, use the organic versions of sugar. Avoid as many pre-packaged foods as possible.
Always, always read your labels and look for the least amount of sugars possible when purchasing foods.
Water is a good alternative to soda pop. It takes a commitment to switch, but if you really worry about your health, it can be done. Water is so important to eliminating impurities from our bodies - the benefit is tremendous!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sugar and the Aging Process!
It is a fact of life, as we begin to approach mid-life, we will do anything to keep our youthful appearance. I am always amazed when I see a Hollywood star that I haven't seen for awhile and I don't even recognize her. Sometimes the face is stretched so out of place it looks like a wax figure.
We get injected with fats and synthetics to puff out our lips, cheeks and erase those wrinkles, and then, of course there is the ever popular BOTOX! Personally, I will never go there.
Do you know that restricting your intake of fats to a very low level can contribute to the aging process? Saturated fats help your skin resist the damage that oxidants can create. It makes your skin cells more resilient. Avocados, olives and olive oil are great sources of fat. You can also cook with coconut oil, peanut oil or even animal fats if you are not vegetarian. Walnuts, almonds and other nuts are also great sources of fat.
Now let's talk about sugar......the more sugar you ingest, the faster your body ages. Ditching sugar is the fastest way to look 10 years younger. Sugar activates a process in your body called glycation. Glycation occurs when sugar binds to your collagen and elastin fibers (building blocks of your skin), making them less springy and resilient. Those laugh lines won't bounce back into shape as quickly and sooner than later won't bounce back at all!
Eventually this glycation process produces damaged proteins called advanced glycation and produces (AGEs), which can lead to cellular dysfuntion, and ultimately, cell death. AGEs can play a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease, kidney failure, arthritis etc. So if more youthful skin isn't enough to cause you to ditch the sugar, these factors should be.
Have you heard the phrase "sugar feeds a cancer cell"? Processed sugar is like poison to your body and has no benefit at all. You can find natural sweeteners such as Stevia or even replace sugar with organic sugars such as evaporated cane juice. Your body will know what to do with the natural, organic sugar. Once you get used to a diet without sugar, you won't even crave it anymore. Stay away from the artificial sweeteners - they are bad news and that is a topic for another day!
We get injected with fats and synthetics to puff out our lips, cheeks and erase those wrinkles, and then, of course there is the ever popular BOTOX! Personally, I will never go there.
Do you know that restricting your intake of fats to a very low level can contribute to the aging process? Saturated fats help your skin resist the damage that oxidants can create. It makes your skin cells more resilient. Avocados, olives and olive oil are great sources of fat. You can also cook with coconut oil, peanut oil or even animal fats if you are not vegetarian. Walnuts, almonds and other nuts are also great sources of fat.
Now let's talk about sugar......the more sugar you ingest, the faster your body ages. Ditching sugar is the fastest way to look 10 years younger. Sugar activates a process in your body called glycation. Glycation occurs when sugar binds to your collagen and elastin fibers (building blocks of your skin), making them less springy and resilient. Those laugh lines won't bounce back into shape as quickly and sooner than later won't bounce back at all!
Eventually this glycation process produces damaged proteins called advanced glycation and produces (AGEs), which can lead to cellular dysfuntion, and ultimately, cell death. AGEs can play a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease, kidney failure, arthritis etc. So if more youthful skin isn't enough to cause you to ditch the sugar, these factors should be.
Have you heard the phrase "sugar feeds a cancer cell"? Processed sugar is like poison to your body and has no benefit at all. You can find natural sweeteners such as Stevia or even replace sugar with organic sugars such as evaporated cane juice. Your body will know what to do with the natural, organic sugar. Once you get used to a diet without sugar, you won't even crave it anymore. Stay away from the artificial sweeteners - they are bad news and that is a topic for another day!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Baby's Deserve the Best On Their Skin!!
I am attending my second baby shower in two weeks and feel lucky that I can take a gift of baby care products that are healthy for the baby!
Most common baby products that have been around forever contain two main ingredients "mineral oil" and "fragrance". These two ingredients offer absolutely no benefit and are two items that are major causes of allergic reactions. You could actually buy a gallon of mineral oil and add your own fragrance for less than $5 - so you are paying for packaging, advertising, distribution etc.
Babies have the most sensitive of skin and parents should be concerned about what they are putting on their babies. We are so marketed to and don't pay attention or study our labels and what the ingredients mean.
Ingredients such as shea butter and botanicals actually are GOOD for our babies. We would be very concerned about what we feed the baby, well let me tell you the skin absorbs what is put on it very quickly and toxins will travel throughout the body in a matter of seconds. The only good news is that mineral oil acts as a barrier and therefore won't penetrate. It actually can dehydrate the skin.
Remember those good ol days of sunning with baby oil and iodine? Remember how greasy you were?
I always recommend and give ABC baby care from Arbonne. The very best!
Most common baby products that have been around forever contain two main ingredients "mineral oil" and "fragrance". These two ingredients offer absolutely no benefit and are two items that are major causes of allergic reactions. You could actually buy a gallon of mineral oil and add your own fragrance for less than $5 - so you are paying for packaging, advertising, distribution etc.
Babies have the most sensitive of skin and parents should be concerned about what they are putting on their babies. We are so marketed to and don't pay attention or study our labels and what the ingredients mean.
Ingredients such as shea butter and botanicals actually are GOOD for our babies. We would be very concerned about what we feed the baby, well let me tell you the skin absorbs what is put on it very quickly and toxins will travel throughout the body in a matter of seconds. The only good news is that mineral oil acts as a barrier and therefore won't penetrate. It actually can dehydrate the skin.
Remember those good ol days of sunning with baby oil and iodine? Remember how greasy you were?
I always recommend and give ABC baby care from Arbonne. The very best!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
More On Soy
Soy has been touted over the past few years as a "wonder food", and mislabeled as a health food. Soy protein powders, soy bars, soy milk, soy meat replacements all are advertised as the "healthy choice" for you, the consumer. America's soybean growers have hit gold and even sell the waste product of soybeans as "soy isolate protein powder"; this food is refined, processed, and separated from the whole food. Even the whole food is problematic.
The isoflavens in soy cause toxicity in estrogen-sensitive tissue - ie the breast and uterine tissue as well as the prostate. It also can act to depress thryoid function resulting in decreased metabolism as well as other thyroid diseases. Soy products are now in virtually everything at the grocery store. You will find it in sauces, breads, salad dressings and even canned tuna. It contributes to the epidemic of both diagnosed - and an estimated undiagnosed - thyroid problems. Soy's thryoid depressing effects are likely contributing to the rise in obesity.
Soy lowers testosterone in men and causes malnutrition, especially in babies and children who drink soy formula or milk. Dozens of studies have shown soy to cause reproductive problems, immune problems and cognitive decline.
READ YOUR LABELS!!
The isoflavens in soy cause toxicity in estrogen-sensitive tissue - ie the breast and uterine tissue as well as the prostate. It also can act to depress thryoid function resulting in decreased metabolism as well as other thyroid diseases. Soy products are now in virtually everything at the grocery store. You will find it in sauces, breads, salad dressings and even canned tuna. It contributes to the epidemic of both diagnosed - and an estimated undiagnosed - thyroid problems. Soy's thryoid depressing effects are likely contributing to the rise in obesity.
Soy lowers testosterone in men and causes malnutrition, especially in babies and children who drink soy formula or milk. Dozens of studies have shown soy to cause reproductive problems, immune problems and cognitive decline.
READ YOUR LABELS!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Soy isn't all that it is cracked up to be!
We have been told time and time again that soy is a wonderful food and so beneficial to our bodies. The truth is that unless we are eating fermented soy, such as Miso and Natto, we are subjecting ourselves to some serious conditions.
Isolated Soy Protein is found in almost all processed foods. Soybean oil is in many, many things. It is a junkfood and has been linked to serious sexual abnormalities (because of it's high estrogenic effect), asthma, depression, diabetes, uterine cancer and numerous thyroid conditions. There are tons of studies out there, but of course big AG doesn't want you to know about them. Soy is a cheap ingredient to use in processing our foods.
Once the soybean has actually been fermented, it cancels out the negative effects. The fermenting of soy (such as misso and natto) creates phytobiotics, which increase the amount of nutrients in food and also helps your body to digest and absorb them.
The Japanese eat a lot of soy and have the longest lifespan of any other group of people. However, they eat mostly fermented soy products - they consume tons of fermented soy products.
All fermented foods are good for your healthy digestion. If you are interested in finding out how to create fermented food on your own - check out http://www.wholesomegoodness.net/.
Canned Sauerkraut is pasteurized and therefore all the good bacteria has been killed during this process.
Isolated Soy Protein is found in almost all processed foods. Soybean oil is in many, many things. It is a junkfood and has been linked to serious sexual abnormalities (because of it's high estrogenic effect), asthma, depression, diabetes, uterine cancer and numerous thyroid conditions. There are tons of studies out there, but of course big AG doesn't want you to know about them. Soy is a cheap ingredient to use in processing our foods.
Once the soybean has actually been fermented, it cancels out the negative effects. The fermenting of soy (such as misso and natto) creates phytobiotics, which increase the amount of nutrients in food and also helps your body to digest and absorb them.
The Japanese eat a lot of soy and have the longest lifespan of any other group of people. However, they eat mostly fermented soy products - they consume tons of fermented soy products.
All fermented foods are good for your healthy digestion. If you are interested in finding out how to create fermented food on your own - check out http://www.wholesomegoodness.net/.
Canned Sauerkraut is pasteurized and therefore all the good bacteria has been killed during this process.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Your Best Acessory - Priceless
Many of us are more than willing to spend $$$$ on accessories such as purses, jewelry etc. However, we tend to "cheap it up" when purchasing skin care and makeup. The level of importance here seems to be reversed. Our skin IS our best accessory!!
European women who are handed a $100 bill to spend on either skin care or cosmetics, will almost always choose skin care. American women will almost always choose cosmetics. Europeans know the value of a good skin care product and the results they see from using such. That is why your best skin care lines come from some of the European countries - especially Switzerland. Remember, the Swiss are known for fine products and precision.
Think of the 3 categories of skin care:
Economy - (American)
Avon, Revlon, Maybelline, Jafra, Mary Kay, Beauty Control to name a few.
Premium - (French)
Clarins, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Chanel, Lancomme for example.
Ultra Premium - (Swiss)
Arbonne, La Prairie, Caviar, Cosmet, Alchimie, Swiss Line are some of the top ones.
So when choosing how to take care of your "best accessory", think of what you want in results and make sure the product line you choose does produce results that are "Pure, Safe and Beneficial".
European women who are handed a $100 bill to spend on either skin care or cosmetics, will almost always choose skin care. American women will almost always choose cosmetics. Europeans know the value of a good skin care product and the results they see from using such. That is why your best skin care lines come from some of the European countries - especially Switzerland. Remember, the Swiss are known for fine products and precision.
Think of the 3 categories of skin care:
Economy - (American)
Avon, Revlon, Maybelline, Jafra, Mary Kay, Beauty Control to name a few.
Premium - (French)
Clarins, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Chanel, Lancomme for example.
Ultra Premium - (Swiss)
Arbonne, La Prairie, Caviar, Cosmet, Alchimie, Swiss Line are some of the top ones.
So when choosing how to take care of your "best accessory", think of what you want in results and make sure the product line you choose does produce results that are "Pure, Safe and Beneficial".
