Category Archives: Beauty

Cellulite No More!

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Almost 90% of women suffer from cellulite to some degree with bith celebrities and us mere mortals all affected. We buy creams, lose weights and go for the latest treatments in an effort to fight this unknown enemy.

So what is cellulite and how can exercise help us battle it? Cellulite is generally found in the lower half of a womans body and makes our hips and bottoms look bumpy. This is caused by two main things -the fat stored in the cells and the collagen fibres holding th cells together. As the fat increases, it bulges through the vertical collagen fibres, like a pillow being pushed through a set of railings. Hence, we get those dreadful dimples of cellulite under the skin.

So how do we combat cellulite and destroy the dreaded dimples?

Burning body fat The best exercise to effectively combat cellulite is weight training. This can be a combination of lifting weights, body weight exercises, swinging a kettlebell, Bulgarian bag workouts or hitting the TRX for suspension training. It will get the body to burn fat, tone the muscles and strengthen connective tissue, which reduces the appearance of cellulite in the area. It also increases blood flow to help flush out the fat from the cells and allows more effective collagen reproduction to strengthen the collagen fibres.

Body fat lowering diet Carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, suga) are the enemy when it comes to cellulite, particularly white carbs. To tackle cellulite, you should be reducing your bread-munching and upping the vegetables and lean protein (lean meat, eggs, tofu, beans and pulses). We need carbohydrates for energy but they should be wholegrain and no more than a palmful each meal.

Collagen strengthening There are lots of treatments to help with this which suggest good results, such as creams, vibration sessions, light therapy and heat treatments. There are also some things you can do yourself such as self-massage to the area affected or having a deep-tissue massage.

Foam rolling is effective for increasing blood flow, helping the body release fat from the cells and improving collagen reproduction in the area.

The bottom line is you cant combat cellulite by doing only one of the above. To win the battle, you need to exercise effectively, balance your diet and increase the blood flow to the area regularly.

The Importance Of Good Nutrition During Pregnancy

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There are so many things to take into account when you are expecting a baby, but increasingly, medical experts and research scientists are of the view that proper nutrition during pregnancy is vital for the correct development of your child. Previously it was thought that nutrition was significant primarily from the point of view of the birth weight of your child, but it has now been shown to play an important role in the general health and resistance to disease of your child as he or she grows.

While pregnant it is important to modify if necessary ones diet, so that it is sufficient in nutrients to support the changing requirements both of the mother and the baby. The old saying about pregnant women “eating for two” may no longer strictly hold true, but it is nonetheless essential during pregnancy to consume enough calories, vitamins and minerals to be able to sustain and support the needs of a growing baby as well as the mother. The key to ensuring you meet these objectives is to eat a healthy, varied diet. Most mums-to-be are aware of this as a general principle, but some may not be exactly sure in practice what this should involve. If you find yourself in this position, then the good news is that there is plenty of helpful information which is readily accessible.

You may choose to consult your doctor or other health professional or perhaps you would prefer to seek out information online. If you would prefer a more face-to-face approach, but in a less formal environment than your doctors surgery or clinic, there are many agencies and services both in the public and private sector which offer invaluable nutritional consultation for pregnant women. Some of these take a more holistic approach, combining nutritional advice with a range of other complimentary therapies such as yoga, reiki and other relaxation therapies which have been shown to be beneficial to pregnant women.

Image – Freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

 

Is Your Perfume Safe To Apply On Your Body?

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Manufacturers of perfume are allowed to put any chemical in their fragrances without any safety assessment. These ingredients need not be revealed to customers for trade secret purposes and can make it to the sales counter without any pre-approval from the relevant government bodies. This rule has predated consumer awareness of the chemical component of perfume, which may not all be safe to apply to the body. Low dose chemical exposure can result in serious and long term effects on health.

Harmful Chemicals

The most common chemicals found in perfumes include acetaldehyde, ethanol, a-pinene acetone, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, acetone, linalool, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, a-terpinene, styrene oxide, limonene, camphor and many others.

Allergic Reactions

Some of the chemicals used in perfumes can cause damage to the immune system. This can lead to a potential lifelong allergic reactions like wheezing and headache because of exposure to triggering perfume ingredients. Fragrances are among the top 5 allergens which is one major cause of the asthma attacks, especially for children.

Impact on Reproductive Health

One of the most common solvents used in making perfume fragrances is diethyl phthalate. This is one compound which humans must have less exposure to as it can cause hormonal disruption. Too much exposure can have a negative impact on fertility and to the abnormal development of the reproductive organs in infant males. Adults may also ?experience damage to sperm count. Pregnant women are advised to avoid exposure to these hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Physiological Damage

Some of these chemicals are also known to be neurotoxins which have poisonous effect on the nervous system and the brain. The chemical benzaledehyde is a depressant and may cause skin, mouth, eye, and lung and throat irritation. Benzyl alcohol can cause irritation in the upper respiratory tract that can lead to dizziness, nausea, headache and even respiratory failure. Ethyl acetate has been linked to kidney and liver damage and anaemia. This is just the tip of the iceberg as acetaldehyde chemicals are thought to be ?carcinogenic.

Other ingredients are linked to negative physical and emotional symptoms which include mood swings, anxiety mood and depression. If you are feeling down at times, it may be because of the perfume you are wearing.

What You Should Do?

With the myriad of negative effects of the different ingredient in perfumes, it would be a good idea to begin reading labels on personal care products. If a manufacturer is not listing the ingredient, they may be hiding something. You should also beware of those using fragrance oil and labeling it as essential oil. Fragrance oils are naturally derived from flowers and leaves, while essential oils are synthetic. It is highly advisable for consumers to select those products with no added fragrance.

When you buy perfume it is not backed with any warranty – only an assumption that they are safe. It is your personal responsibility to check if they are safe to apply on the body by considering the chemicals included in the making of the perfume that you prefer.

Author Bio: Ungerer Limited is a global market leader producing and supplying fragrances, flavours, essential fragrance oils and aroma chemicals. With facilities positioned in the UK, USA, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Indonesia, China and Australia, and with representation in over sixty countries, they have a truly global presence. Their expertise spans several divisions: fragrances, flavours, essential oils and aroma chemicals.

Popular Diets That Restrict Carbohydrates

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Low-carb diets such as the Atkins and Zone Diet restrict carbohydrate consumption and emphasize eating products high in protein and fat. The Zone Diet is a popular nutritional approach which recommends that dieters stick to ration and portion rules. The list of restricted foods includes bread, sweets, and red meats. The Atkins Diet limits the intake of carbohydrates so that the body starts burning fat. Dieters can have eggs, meat, and other protein-rich foods, as well as oils, fats, and low-carb vegetables.

Photograph courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net

The Caveman Diet promises that dieters will build muscle mass and will lose weight. Dieters should have 5 ? 6 meals a day and can eat all foods that were staples during Paleolithic times (e.g. raw vegetables, game, roots). The Low GI Diet incorporates popular GI foods such as strawberries, porridge, ravioli, and full-fat milk. The plan helps dieters to stabilize their blood sugar and to lose weight. The Sugar Busters Diet advises dieters to eat dairy products, vegetables, cereals, and whole grains while taboo foods include sweets and starchy foods. The South Beach Diet emphasizes controlled portions and bans foods such as pastries, pasta, crackers, and cheese. Dieters can have wine during the second phase.

Shape Your Future

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When cruising along with my shopping trolley in the local supermarket, I pass the magazines on my way to the vegetable section. The bloke’s health magazines are littered with images of these perfect torsos with almost no body fat, oiled skin and of course, the muscles, beautifully carved from hours and hours in the gym.

The ladies health magazines have airbrushed images showing the most amazing, perfect size 6-8 figure and super-slim, terrifically toned midriffs.

These images are not realistic for the majority of us, unless we spend some of our spare time in the gym and eat a lettuce-based diet, which only a snail would find appetising

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There are three main body shapes and we should embrace these and enhance them as opposed to fighting them your body will always try to return to its natural shape.

Ectomorph usually tall, with a naturally slim build, lean muscles and long limbs. You know who you are, the people that can eat what they like and rarely gain weight. Exercise should have mainly resistance training, such as weights, kettleballs, ViPR and heavy punch bags. Get some cardiovascular in there but keep this down to once or twice a week.

Endomorph usually a more athletic looking shape, think upside-down triangle with wider shoulders and smaller waist. You are usually quite strong and lay down muscle easily but on the flip side you can easily put on weight if you have a couch-sitting, crisp-munching lifestyle. Exercise should be a balanced mixture of resistance training and cardio training such as circuit classes or a weights session followed by a blast of cardio (spin, rowing, swimming and running).

Mesomorph usually rounder, softer-shaped body with slightly higher body fat levels than the other two shapes. Think hourglass figures, with curves in the right places or the cuddlier guys. Exercise should involve plenty of cardio, with muscle conditioning sessions to tone those amazing curves. The new craze of metabolic training is excellent for you and training for strength or endurance in your weights sessions works a treat.

There is no such thing as the perfect body but there is a healthy, toned look for every shape.

 

Rosehip Oil – Better Than Botox?

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Do you like the sound of a product that doesn’t cost the earth  but can help improve the appearance of scars and wrinkles, as well as giving your skin a healthy glow? Thought you might, so why not get your hands on some organic rosehip oil? Rosehip oil is rich in essential fatty acids that your body cannot produce by itself and which help soften the skin and also smooth out marks and scars, including stretch marks, wrinkles and even old acne scars. Try out Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil at £16.50 for a natural wholesome alternative to injecting toxins into your skin!

The Secret To Great Looking Legs!

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No matter what the weather is up to, with our pick of the best buys around you can be looking great this summer without paying a fortune. After months of cold weather there is nothing quite like giving your legs a little attention. Legs, epecially the shin area, have a tendency to build up dry skin which can mean a less-than-stunning scaly look. Eradicate this with a good quality scrub. Use a sweeping circular action with a scrub such as Superdrug’s Arora Sweet Vanilla Body Scrub to get your legs looking and feeling smooth once more. It costs just £3.99 from stores nationwide.

After exfolialating, the next step to a new you is moisturising. Pretty basic, perhaps, but to get the best results you need to apply it as soon as possible after your shower or bath so as to retain more moisture. Why not try out Dry Leg Fix Instant Leg Smoother from Nip+Fab?

The last step is optional, but if your legs – no matter how smooth they now are – still look a bit peely-wally as my Granny used to say, then it’s time to give them a golden glow with Boots Soltan Beautiful Bronze Wash Off Instant Bronzing Lotion. Apply as you would any fake tan or bronzer, taking particular care around the knees.

And there you have it – three simple steps to get your pins ready to face the world this summer!