Tips for Healthier and Younger-looking Skin

 

Wrinkles and sagging skin are a normal part of aging. Our skin contains substances called collagen and elastin which provide strength and elasticity, and help skin maintain its shape. As we age our bodies don’t produce as much collagen and elastin, which causes our skin to wrinkle and sag. However, there are ways to slow down the loss of collagen and elastin for healthier and younger looking skin.

 

Shun the Sun

Sun is the biggest culprit in aging skin. A lifetime of sun exposure damages the cells that make collagen and elastin, and accelerates the aging process in your skin. You can protect your skin by:

·  Limiting the amount of time you spend outside;

·  Wearing broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and;

·  Wearing protective clothing, when you are outside.

 

Banish the Butts and Axe the Alcohol

Cigarette smoke contributes to skin aging by promoting the breakdown of collagen in your skin. It also causes your blood vessels to construct, reducing amount of nutrients and oxygen that gets to your skin, which can also accelerate aging. The effects of smoking are most visible in the fine lines and wrinkles that form around the lips.

Alcohol has dehydrating effects which can dry out your skin and promote aging.

 

Carry-on with Cleansing and Maximize the Moisture

Facial cleansers remove the dirt, oil, and bacteria that can age your skin, without stripping the natural oils that keep your skin moist and supple. It’s best to use warm water, rather than hot; and to pat your skin dry, instead of rubbing. Moisturizers supplement the natural oils in your skin by sealing in the moisture that’s already in the skin, and creating a barrier against the weather and other drying elements.

All of these things can help preserve your skin and keep you looking younger longer. But there are also things you can do to help reduce any existing signs of aging.

 

Massage

Facial massage stimulates blood and lymph flow through your skin, and also stimulates collagen and elastin production. It can also exfoliate dead skin cells to brighten your complexion and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

 

Face Lift Devices

Face lift devices pull or stretch the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. They are usually work for a period of time during the day, or overnight, to train the skin into position. There are several face lift devices on the market including (non-surgical) “face lip strips.”

 

Anti-wrinkle Creams

Anti-wrinkle creams use substances that stimulate collagen production, or mimic the effects of collagen in your skin. These substances can include fruit acids, such as retinol or retin-A, which exfoliate the top layer of skin and stimulates collagen production. They can also include amino acids called peptides, which attract moisture to plump up the skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and stimulate collagen production.

 

Microdermabrasion and Chemical Peels

Microdermabrasion and chemical peels remove the top layer of skin to stimulate collagen production. Although both processes are similar, they are performed differently.

Microdermabrasion uses a fine abrasive to buff away the top layer of skin, promoting new skin growth and stimulating collagen production.

Chemical peels use mild acids to remove the top layer of skin, promoting new skin growth and stimulating collagen production.

 

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are injected into the skin to fill in wrinkle and creases. They are also used to replace lost tissue volume, such as in the lips and cheeks. There are several different types of dermal fillers, from natural to synthetic, including collagen, fat, and lab-made products like Restylane.

 

Categories: Healthier, Tips, younger skin

Cook Smart: Seven Health Boosting Cooking Tips

 

 

If you’re looking for easy ways to improve your family’s health, there’s no better place to start than in the kitchen. In fact the food you eat is perhaps the biggest factor in creating a healthy lifestyle. Eating the right foods can benefit every part of your body from promoting healthy skin and nails to maintaining a healthy heart and strong immune system.

If you prepare your own food, rather than relying on ready meals and takeaways, you’re already on the right track. But there are many simple changes you can introduce when cooking to make your diet even healthier. Here are seven ideas to try:

 

Get Grilling
When cooking meat, fish or vegetables try grilling rather than frying and you won’t need to use as much fat.

 

Savvy Seasoning
Too much salt in our diet can cause a range of health problems so add herbs or lemon juice for flavour rather than salt.

 

Extra Veggies
Serve one extra vegetable with each meal to boost your vitamin intake.

 

Cut the Fat

When cooking meat remember to trim off any excess fat for a healthier dish.

 

Steamy Stuff
Boost your vitamins – steaming rather than boiling helps vegetables maintain their vitamin levels. You may also find steamed veggies retain more flavour too.

 

Go Brown
Choose brown versions of everyday staples such as bread, rice and pasta which are healthier than the refined white options.

 

Keep it Varied
Don’t stick to the same ingredients day in day out; instead use a wide range of ingredients to ensure you are getting a balanced diet.

 

For more healthy tips, visit: www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/change-for-life.aspx

 

Categories: cooking, cooking meat, diet, Healthier, Healthy, nbsp

Healthy Habits: Six Steps You Can Take Each Day For A Healthier You

 

Whether it’s a resolution to be lose weight and get in shape or you want to prevent an illness later in life, there are some simple steps that you can take that will lead to a healthier body inside and out. Keeping a journal can help you see your progress after you start caring for your body.

 

More Water

Since the body is made primarily of water, the cells will need a way to rehydrate through the door. Keep a water bottle on hand so that you get plenty of water in your diet. Eliminate sodas because they can pack on additional pounds and add sugar that you don’t need. If you need flavor in your water, then add a small amount of lemon.

 

Exercise

This is the most important thing you can do for your cardiovascular health. Do something during the day that will raise your heartbeat. This will get the blood flowing to areas of the body that might not see that much blood flow, especially if you sit for long periods of time. Take a walk during lunch, or take the stairs instead of using the elevator.

 

 

Dental Care

You only have one set of teeth, so you need to take care of them in any way you can. Brush your teeth twice a day, and floss at least once. You should also visit your dentist once every six months for a routine check up to monitor any cavities that might develop, say the professionals at Eastgate Dental Centre.

 

 

Eat The Right Foods

Instead of packing chips and sweet treats for lunch and in the cabinets at home, try to create healthy snacks. If you have children, then make them fun so that they will enjoy eating healthy. Celery with peanut butter and raisins will look like ants on a log, and most children enjoy carrots with ranch dressing. Try to include a different fruit or vegetable every day.

 

Find A Buddy

While you’re reaching your goals of getting healthy, you might feel discouraged at times. Find a partner who you can call when you want to give up on your routine or someone who you can exercise with so that you have support.

 

Visit Your Doctor

One of the things that you want to do is get a physical. Your doctor can do blood work to determine if there are any concerns that you should watch for while exercising. You can also discuss the proper weight that you should be at and any help the doctor can offer in the way of medications.

When you make the decision to change your lifestyle, you will see a noticeable difference in your health. This can be a benefit in that you will likely live longer, and you will be able to do things with your family that you might not have been able to do before getting healthy. Continue the changes, and you can see a difference in the way you look and feel.

 

Categories: Healthier, healthy habits, Steps

Four Steps to Take for a Healthier Home Environment

 

Nowadays, people are more concerned about their health than ever before. It may surprise many people to find out how many things around their homes could potentially have a negative impact on their health. Things that we come into contact with regularly and use to live our daily lives could actually be hurting us. Let’s take a look at some simple things you can do to make your home a healthier environment for you and your family:

 

Dust Regularly

The dust that is around your house could potentially aggravate the allergies of the people living there if it is allowed to build up over a period of time. Dust can also contain various hazardous chemicals such as pesticides, fire retardants and lead. While it may be hard to believe, chemicals can become part of your house dust, even if they have not been used in your home for several decades. The most effective way to eliminate this dust is to remove your carpeting because allergens and dust can be easily collected by it. Replace it with non-vinyl linoleum, tile, cork or wood flooring.

 

Get Your Home Tested

Radon and lead paint are both serious dangers that should not be ignored. Brain damage and birth defects have been known to be caused by exposure to lead paint. Radon is a gas that is radioactive and causes cancer. When lead paint starts to disintegrate, the chips turn into dust, which in turn goes into the air. People living in the house breathe in this lead paint dust and this is how they are exposed. Radon gas comes from rock and soil breaking down under a house. This is why having your home tested for dangerous substances is of the utmost importance. According to a home safety tester, you can have a paint chip test performed by a lab for about thirty dollars. Radon test kits can be bought for about twenty dollars, and are well worth the cost for the safety and peace of mind they offer.

 

Don’t use Pesticides

Instead of using harmful chemicals to kill pests, use baited mousetraps, glue traps and other items that will not harm you. You should also wash dishes, tables and counter surfaces of any food debris to prevent attracting bugs.

 

Use a Water Filter

Even if you live in an area that supposedly has healthy drinking water, there could still be toxic chemicals in trace amounts. A filter will help you avoid them. If you suspect your tap water is unsafe to drink, an expert from Kamloops Septic Service advises discontinuing its use and having it tested immediately. Ensuring that you and your family consume only clean water is crucial to creating a healthier home environment.

 

These are just a handful of ways to make your home healthier. With some research, you can find other methods of controlling your home environment to keep you and your family healthy for many years to come.

 

Categories: Healthier, home environment, Steps

What Everyone Ought to Know About Corporate Wellness

Throughout the country, corporate wellness and wellbeing programmes are becoming more widespread. The buzz is catching on and the news is spreading that these programmes lead to healthier employees, cuts in healthcare costs and an overall happier and healthier working environment. The programmes themselves vary widely from simply offering healthcare information to employees, to fitness education, to subsidised healthy lunches to a company gym. Some employees are even offered financial rewards for reaching certain health standards.

 

If you are an employer who is thinking of implementing or improving a wellness programme in your workplace, then the results really speak for themselves. It is a simple matter of fact that healthy employees work more productively, but it has also been shown that employees who are involved in wellness programmes are more likely to be hard workers because they feel valued by their employers.

 

The financial incentives for running a wellness programme have also been well proved. Healthier workers have lower levels of absenteeism, which tends to cost the company money. They also need less time off for medical appointments, and have lower costs of health care. On top of that, retention rates tend to be higher and employee job satisfaction is increased, reducing the costs associated with a high staff turnover.

 

The health problems that employees are helped with through a wellness programme can vary hugely. For some it is a case of increasing their levels of exercise and physical activity. For many it is a case of losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Smoking cessation is always a big one, and some employers offer a lower level of health insurance premium to those who do not smoke. Some employees have problems with sleep, and this can be helped through some of the channels that wellness programmes open up.

Categories: Corporate, corporate wellness, employees, health, Healthier, Programme, Programmes, Wellness, Wellness Programme, Wellness programmes

Doctor"s Orders: How Marriage Makes You Healthier

Marriage changes your whole life. From the daily challenges of living your life together and maintaining a great relationship to starting a family and beyond, tying the not can be a roller coaster of emotions, financial implications and other assorted tests. However, those who are married also enjoy certain benefits that their single friends don’t, particularly when it comes to their health.

 

 

There are a whole host of health benefits that, according to research, seem to be prevalent among married couples. One great thing is that an engagement ring can be a good investment. For more information on that aspect specifically, search L.A. jewelry district online. Marriage gives long lasting benefits ranging from disease prevention to a more positive mental outlook. It would seem that getting hitched just might be one of the best things you could do for your well-being. Here’s a few benefits it can offer:

 

 

1) Happily Married Couples Are Less Likely To Experience Major Illness

As far back as 1856, researchers have studied the correlation between a good marriage and a healthier life. According to an article in the New York Times, married couples are less likely to suffer from pneumonia, have surgery, develop cancer or have heart attacks. Further, a study of multiple causes of death in the Netherlands found that in nearly every category, ranging from violent deaths to cancer, single people were at a higher risk than married.

 

 

2) A Strong Marriage Leads to Lower Stress

It may not feel like it after an argument, but marriage can actually reduce the hormones in your body that cause stress. A study conducted by the University of Chicago published in the Journal of Stress in August 2010 concluded that those who have a long-term bond, such as marriage or a committed relationship showed a reduced reaction to stress and an alteration to the hormones that cause it. Although marriage itself can be occasionally stressful, it appears that those with a strong bond are actually able to handle outside stressors better than their single counterparts.

 

 

3) Being Married Boosts Your Brain

Those who are married also experience a huge mental health boost from a happy relationship, particularly married men. According to a study by Robert M. A. Hirschfeld titled Psychosocial Predictors of Outcome in Depression, “Depression is more prevalent among the unmarried, and the onset of depression is more likely among the unmarried. Studies have also shown a higher cognitive function for committed couples, as well as a highly reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

 

4) Married People Live Longer

A 2007 study by the British Office of National Statistics looked into the correlation between being married and longevity with startling results. Not only did they find that those in a committed relationship were more likely to live longer and enjoy better health, but that the mortality rate for single men between 30-59 years of age was two and half times higher than married men. Out of all groups studied, it would appear that widowed men and single mothers fared the worst in health, suffering more chronic conditions than any other group.

 

While marriage can sometimes be a stressful, bumpy ride, the health benefits are undeniable. By focusing your life on creating a happy, committed relationship for you and your family, you’re ensuring continued good health in your home for now and the future.

 

Writer Melanie Fleury is happily married with four kids and believes that marriage has long lasting benefits. If you are in love and prepared for the commitment of marriage, it can be a wonderful step in your life. Start your journey with a visit or online search of the L.A. jewelry district when you decide to take the final plunge.

Categories: committed relationship, Couples, happily married, Health Benefits, Healthier, jewelry district, lasting benefits, live longer, Marriage, married couples, married men, nbsp nbsp

On a Budget? Don’t Let It Affect Your Diet

Everyone knows that fast food and unhealthy snacks are cheaper than organic foods, and this is part of the reason that people are becoming so unhealthy. Choosing home-cooked meals created from fresh ingredients seems so much more difficult than sitting down and ordering a meal that’s prepared for you, but your health is suffering as a result. And when you’re on a budget, it seems even harder. There are ways around this though – it’s simply a matter of making healthier decisions that don’t compromise on cost. For example, one of the easiest ways to make a healthier meal is to opt for whole foods – these are ingredients that have been harvested and packaged, without being processed in any way. As such, they’re usually cheaper than foods which have been given flavourings and preservatives. If you’re trying to eat healthier, these are a great way to begin as you have more control over what you’re eating. Another tip is to eat cheaper proteins. This is commonly associated with meat, as steaks and lamb joints can be pretty expensive. Opting for cheaper cuts, such as lean chicken or turkey, as well as eggs and whey, could help you stay healthy and on budget. It may not be quite as tasty but it does the job for less cash.

 

Frozen foods often get overlooked, but they’re a great way to stay on budget as well as making healthier choices. We often attribute frozen foods with unhealthy diets, thanks to the influx of ready meals and junk food, but frozen vegetables and fruits are often actually healthier as they’re frozen immediately after being picked, so that they retain more nutrients. They also save you time as they’re prepared before being frozen, so you don’t have to worry about cutting and removing anything when you come to cook them. They have a longer shelf life, so you can buy in large quantities without worrying about them spoiling in the back of the fridge. And they’re cheap, so you can get your five a day without it costing the earth. If you buy own brand, not just in frozen foods but across the board, you’ll save yourself money but not taste. Store brands aren’t lower in quality, they simply lack the fancy advertising and packaging. The taste is generally the same, but you’ll notice a big difference in how much you pay. And if you’re worried about lacking nutrients in your diet, you could use a supplement. Though they shouldn’t be relied upon, supplements are a great way of boosting your diet and ensuring that you don’t become deficient.

Use the seasons as a guide for what you should be eating, as you’ll pay less for the goods and also get fruit and vegetables at their best. For example, buying strawberries in the winter will cost you as you’ll be paying for the supermarkets to import them from other countries. By working out the seasons for your favourite produce, you’ll save yourself money, get ingredients that are packed with nutrients and also be better in flavour. If you’re finding that being on a budget is making you hungry, you may want to fill up on calorie dense foods, such as pasta and potatoes. They may not be loaded with vitamins and minerals, but they fill you up and are cheap to buy. Ingredients like pasta are also great store cupboard essentials, as they are cheap but last for ages. Canned goods are also great for this – tinned vegetables, fruits and legumes will bulk up your diet without costing you loads in waste and expensive fresh foods.

Categories: budget, diet, foods, frozen, frozen foods, Healthier, ll save, nutrients

Three Ways You Can Make Your Home a Healthier Environment

There are many ways you can make your home healthier for the environment as well as more comfortable to live in. Follow these 3 simple tips to make your home a healthier place to live so you can enjoy your home more successfully.

 

Window treatments make a huge difference

Your home can be greatly improved by the addition of window treatments that can keep your home cool in the summer, thus reducing your need to run the AC as frequently. Window coverings by Sunburst Shutters help block out light and cool the home naturally without the need for additional cooling. This saves money and reduces energy waste, making your home a healthier environment for everyone.

 

 

Clean your vents and change your filters out

Every time you turn your heater or AC unit on, the air goes through your filters to permeate the air. You can ensure that your family isn’t breathing old dust and dander by changing your filters and cleaning out your vents. Doing so helps prevent asthma and allergy related breathing issues, and having clean vents and new filters helps more air push through the home. Dusting on a weekly basis as well helps keep your air healthier even when you do not have your heating or air conditioning units on.

 

 

Go green with your cleaning supplies

If cleaning with harsh chemicals is something you are concerned about, then switch out your toxic cleaning supplies for healthier versions. You can buy green and organic cleaning supplies at your local grocery and supply store, or you can make your own cleaning supplies using items you already have. Baking soda, white vinegar, and lemon juice are great cleaning aides for anything from scrubbing floors to cleaning rust off of tile and are completely harmless as well as being inexpensive.

 

When having a healthier home is a priority, it’s easy to be a little more mindful by making a few small changes around the house. From installing great window treatments to block out the sun’s heat to cleaning simple filters and vents to make the air cleaner for everyone to breathe, it’s easy and inexpensive to make the home a healthier environment to live in. You can change many things or just incorporate a single one of these ideas and immediately notice how much healthier everyone feels. All it takes is simple change to make a large difference in your home.

Categories: environment, Healthier, Treatments