Health & Wellness

The term “natural” and “organic” are not the same. The market today is full of body care products labeled “natural.” Natural is merely an illusory marketing term which is not regulated in any way by the government.

A lotion, potion, shampoo, etc, labeled as natural does not necessarily mean it is mainly comprised of natural ingredients. Products labeled “natural” can often use synthetic preservatives and other un-natural chemical ingredients alongside plant ingredients. I believe I read somewhere that they only need to use 5% natural to label something “natural.”

Organic products, on the other hand, are made with ingredients grown without any synthetic chemicals, sewage sludge or GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) and are third-party certified. Organic products typically do not contain synthetic ingredients because a synthetic cannot be certified as organic. “Certified organic” means that an official certifying agency has approved that the producer has grown and handled the ingredients adhering to strict procedures. Only products which are grown according to the organic standards and verified by an approved certifier may be called organic or “certified organic.” All organic products must be certified as such to be called “organic.”

There is yet another term and that is biodynamic. Biodynamic is a method of agriculture, and a term coined by a Swiss organic skincare line. It is a holistic practice where all things are considered living inter-related systems- animals, plants and the solar system. Biodymamics is a sustainable form of ecologically responsible agriculture that predates the organic movement by replenishing the soil and adding vitaility to the plant, and or livestock. Unless you are looking at this particular line of Swiss skincare, my guess is that you are not going to come across the term “biodynamic.” But, in the event you do, now you know what it means.!

What does all of this mean? Make sure if you want pure, you go with organic as opposed to “natural.” The natural is probably going to be cheaper, but there’s a reason for that. It’s more than likely going to have ingredients in it that you don’t want to be putting on your skin.

Today we are hearing so many buzz words when it comes to what we surround ourselves with, what we eat and what we put on ourselves. I’m an HGTV junkie and all of a sudden I’ve noticed that now people aren’t just talking about remodeling, but it’s “green” remodeling.  Perhaps it’s because a lot of the shows originate in California, who knows?  It’s almost become a religious movement. For years we’ve been hearing about “organic” verses “traditional”. Let’s talk about what some of this means, particularly as it relates to makeup and skin care.

We are more aware today of the toxins we apply to our largest organ, our skin, in the name of comfort and or beauty. Up to 60% of what you put on your skin will be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. If you doubt this, perhaps you’ve never heard of nicotine patches to control cravings? Or how about the estrogen patches do dispense estrogen?

In a study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, that measured the amounts of environmental contaminants in humans, found an average of 91 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals in he blood and urine of volunteers. According to the Environmental Working Group, one way to reduce exposure to chemicals is to use organic natural products. Packaged Facts, a marketing research firm, reported that the American Cancer Society had listed 216 chemicals that caused breast cancer in animal test. 97 of the carcinogens are breathed in by humans or used in our consumer products, which included personal care products.

Mass merchants such as Target and Walmart are introducing natural and organic personal care products. Supermarkets like Safeway and Loblaws are expanding product ranges while some of the drugstores are launching their own exclusive products.

Consumers are willing to pay more for organics because of the perception that it is better quality. Buying organic supports organic farming and is one big step in lowering pesticide use. Organic products are more expensive because the ingredients used are more expensive. It is more labor intensive and has to conform to more stringent regulations. Organic skin care in particular, tends to be made with better ingredients. These products contain herbs, oils and juices produced without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers or genetically modified ingredients. In other words, they are better for the environment and the will leave less chemical residue on your skin. But, they are also more expensive than your average skin care products.

Holistic lifestyle savvy baby boomers started turning 50 in the mid-1990’s and have been steadily switching to natural skincare products to preserve their looks and health.

I’ll admit it. I’m a baby boomer and I want everything as natural as possible. This is such a broad topic, we will need to continue in another post.

Your crowning glory, your hair. We tend to forget that the practical purpose of having hair is to protect our skull. More than anything else, it’s tied in with our personalities and self esteem.

We know that hair loss is a common phenomenon among men and women and that it is more prevalent among men.

The most common form of hair loss in men is called androgenic alopecia. Hair loss which results in baldness can also result in the deterioration of a person; their self esteem, dignity and confidence.

As we have discussed, for women hair loss can be absolutely traumatic. Hair loss is sometimes a symptom of an underlying disease. Although there are many reasons which contribute to hair loss, the largest of these would be hormonal imbalance. It is well known that hormone secretion should be balanced in the proportion which in turn regulates various body functions.

One such hormone is thyroxine, secreted by the thyroid gland and some male and female hormones like estrogen and androgens are responsible for hair loss in the case of imbalance. Thyroid disease frequently causes general hair loss from hair on the head, but what is not commonly known is that a unique and characteristic symptom of hypothyroidism is loss of hair on the outer edge of the eyebrows.

Another factor we have discussed is long-term illness or surgery. Both of these create frustration and stress, which creates a hormone imbalance in our bodies.

Certain medicines and drugs for diseases, such as chemotherapy for cancer, drugs for depression, contraceptive drugs (which contain anti-coagulants) cause thinning of the hair.

So, how do we avoid hair loss? Try to use natural remedies or medicines as opposed to drugs. Avoid stress whenever possible. Consume foods with good protein which is needed for both your hair and nails.

If you suspect you are losing more hair than normal, consult a dermatologist. A good dermatologist experienced in hair loss will do a complete workup in order to access the various causes of hair loss and run tests that may identify other autoimmune conditions besides thyroid that may cause hair loss.

If you are taking levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, Levonthroid) and still losing hair, you may need to take other actions. Prolonged or escessive hair loss IS a side effect of some of these drugs for some people. You should note that many doctors are unaware of this even though it is a stated side effect in the patient literature put out by the drug company. So, don’t be shocked if your doctor is surprised by this. There are natural thyroid medications available, perhaps you will need to educate your doctor.

Some of the common nail complaints we hear are thin, dry, brittle and or cracked nails, horizontal or vertical ridges, rounded, curved or spoon shaped, white spots, hangnails, fungus, etc. Can you guess the root cause for these problems? If you said poor diet, you are correct!

According to R.G. Heft, author of Hot and Cold Diseases, a book based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines, the body digests, transforms food - nutrients in to blood in to structure, in to function, then, finally, in to health or disease. There are only two kinds of nutrients, foods either for building or for cleansing. Protein and fat, meat eggs, chicken, cheese, etc. build and fuel all structure and function. Water, sugars, minerals, fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten.

The correct amount of building and cleansing produces and maintains the correct amount of structure and function: size, thickness, strength, color,etc. of the nails. Any amounts, greater or less, in the extreme, tend to weaken, thin, break, thicken, distort and or discolor the nails.

The nails are primarily protein (keratin). Does that sound familiar, as in hair? Low protein and low fat (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, nuts and seeds) diets, in the extreme, tend to weaken, thin the blood, which then weakens, thins everything else, including the nails. Protein and fat build and fuel. Low protein and low fat tends to thin, fall apart which is great for excess (high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, tumors, cancer, etc.) that which needs to fall apart, dissolve, be eliminated, but not deficiency ( weak, thin, cracked).

Low protein, low fat (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese,beans, nuts, seeds, grains, etc.) and high carbohydrate diets in the extreme, tend to weaken digestion. Digestion digests or transforms food, nutrients into blood into structure and function.

Protein and fat build and fuel. Low protein and low fat diets, in excess, weaken all function, including digestion. Too many carbs (grain, pasta, bread, salads, raw vegetable, tropical fruits, juices, shakes, etc.), in the extreme, tend to dilute, clog and weaken digestion, acid and enzymes, decreasing nutrient absorption, blood, hair, skin, nails, bones, etc, and the general ability to transform.

Many women tend to eat low protein, low fat and high carb diets. Because of menstruation, they loose blood three to seven days every month for 30+ years. Blood carries nutrients. The combination of anemic diet and menstruation makes women more susceptible to blood, protein and fat deficiency, which tends to cause thin, cracked and or distorted nails.

So, according to R. . Heft, to have beautiful nails, you should increase protein and fat, especially animal products. Eat more green vegetables (kale, broccoli, collards, green cabbage, celery, etc.) Green vegetables are high in minerals and other cleansing nutrients that build the nails while improving circulation. Decrease raw vegetables, salads, tropical fruits, juices, smoothies, cold drinks, etc. if you suffer from weak digestion, fatigue, anemia, coldness, weak nails, etc.

Avoid coffee, caffeine, which tends to acidify the blood. Acidic blood tends to drain calcium and other minerals used to buffer.

So, if you really want nice nails, you might want to follow some of these nutritional guidelines. And it you find all of this too overwhelming, I would recommend using Isagenix to supplement your diet!

Have you ever thought that what you eat everyday could be contributing to your wrinkles? We often say as we age, ” I wish I knew of something magical to get rid of these wrinkles.” So, we run out and buy tons of the lotions and potions hoping they will work the magic. Or, we may do something even more radical and run to the plastic surgeon.

People are searching for that youthful, radiant glow. One top national plastic surgeon is on record in several magazines as saying that this radiant, youthful glow can not be attained surgically by tucking and tightening. However, it has been proven possible to revitalize skin and hair from the inside out, by what we eat and drink. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all wrinkles could be prevented?

There are certain foods that may help with premature aging. Anti-oxidant foods in particular. Here are some foods to keep the wrinkles away:

• Mono-saturated fat
• Olive Oil
• Fish
• Yogurt
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Legumes
• Veggies
• Fruit

Now, on the flip side of that. Here are some food which will create wrinkles:

• Saturated fats
• Fatty processed meats
• Soft drinks
• Desserts such as cakes, pastries
• Potatoes
• Margarine
• Snack Foods (man made)

Food is our best medicine. Changing one’s diet can take years off the face. Even something as simple as eating canteloupe a couple times per week can make a big difference. Doctors are even beginning to suggest eating more healthy foods and less low fat food to keep the hair and skin from becoming less dry.

The bottom line is that low-sugar diets high in varied fruits and vegatables, nuts, legumes and fish will help prevent the premature aging process. Other protectors include:

• Vitamin C - a wrinkle smoother
• Vitamin A - evens out the skin tones, works to prevent acne and dry, itchy skin.

So, with this as food for thought, hopefully your next meal won’t contribute to your next wrinkle! Bon appetite!

You are what you eat.  Ever heard that one before?  If you are concerned with being fit, you should be aware that about 80% of  proper fitness involves the food you eat.  Nutritionists agree, to be fit, you need to stay away from the trendy dieting plans and fake foods.

A better approach is to consume four to six balanced meals per day and get your protein from natural sources.  15-25 percent of your calorie intake should be from protein, 45-65 percent from carbs and 15-25 cent from fats. The type of carbs is important.  The “white” carbs are not healthy for you.  Instead, make your focus multi-grain pastas and whole-grain breads.

Drink plenty of water, not soda!  This will assist in your weight loss efforts.  For those not doing strenuous workouts, 3+ quarts per day is probably adequate.  For those who are working out, more water is needed.  A good rule of thumb- if your workout lasts more than an hour- you need to replace lost sodium, minerals and electrolytes.  Of course when it comes to sports drinks, I’m partial to Isagenix “Want More Energy” because they use no artifical colors/ingredients or sugar. (see products page for more information.)

If you are trying to lose weight, whatever works for you is good as long as it’s a common sense approach.  However, it will take time, if you lose it fast, you re-gain it fast.  Here are some tips on creating an illusion until you look the way you want to look.

Keep it simple.  Women heavier on top should use halter-style bathing suits.  Women heavier on the bottom can use skirt-style swim suits, this slims down the way they look in the eyes of the beholder.

Vertical stripes elongate, diagonal lines cut girth and horizontal stripes can widen where needed.

Before you head off to the beach (or lake in Minnesota), do a few push-ups and crunches to tighten up your muscles and look like a goddess.  Many models do this before their shoots.

If you are in the sun for extended periods of time, it can make your eyes look dark and swollen.  Keep a spoon in the freezer, then touch it under each eye to bring swelling down quickly.  If your swelling is not due to heat, hemorrhoid cream can do the trick.  This is another “model” secret.

Don’t over process your hair during the summer; let the sun naturally add highlights as the season moves along.

Avoid pastas the day before heading to the lake, along with other foods, this can cause bloating.

Want whiter teeth?  Avoid coffee and smoking.  Women can also wear darker lipstick shades to give the illusion of whiter teeth.

Got great calves you want to flaunt?  Break out the heels, sounds strange but it works!

If you have scars you need to hid, use Dermablend, a commercial product developed for burn victims.  (you can find it online)

Be careful with your skin.  Most of todays models are using spray-on tans rather than the real thing.

And finally, wear hats!  Fantasia has a full array of fun hats.

It is possible to look good just by employing a few of these tricks the models have been using for years.  Have fun at the lake!

Did you know that women can eat up to several pounds of lipstick during their lifetime? I know what you are thinking, why would anyone be eating lipstick? I thought only little kids ate lipstick? Well, we are all eating it. We apply it, then we eat and it’s gone. Where did it go? I rest my case! I’m fairly certain that if you knew on the front end that there was lead in the lipstick, you may not even want to wear it.
Are you aware that 60 per cent of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body? Looking good on the outside can sometimes be hazardous to our health and well being! If you cannot pronounce the ingredients on the label - it’s probably not something you should be putting on your skin.

That is why it’s important that you become a label reader; and not just at the grocery store. It’s really important that you know what you are putting on your skin and wearing on your face.

Look to see if there is alcohol or formaldehyde in products, they can be very drying and damaging to your skin and hair. And yes, they really do put formaldehyde in some of our personal care products! It’s not just used for embalming purposes, unfortunately!

Look for ingredients that are botanical and pure, that don’t undergo chemical processing during production. If this seems like a daunting task, it is very easy today with the Internet. All you have to do typically, is go to the company website and read. If you don’t see what you are looking for, call them or send them an email. A lot of skincare and makeup companies today are very proud of their ingredients and thrilled to let you know what is in their products.

I think the days of being able to unload “anything” on a consumer are gone. Today buyers are more informed and concerned about their health and well being. Perhaps there was a time when we assumed the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) was always on the lookout for our best interest. Well, we now know differently, particularly where personal care products have been concerned. I’m sure the FDA does some good things, I mean they recently pulled all of the tomatoes off grocery store shelves so we wouldn’t all end up with e-coli, so we probably need them for some things.

But, with the tools we have today at our disposal, there really is no reason not to be an informed consumer!

Despite what traditional medicine says, toxic build-up can cause weight gain and may interfere with conventional weight loss efforts.

Now that you’ve heard of nutritional cleansing, let’s talk about cleansing for weight loss. Cleansing approaches the body from a fundamentally different perspective than calorie-restricted diets. Instead of counting calories and eating less, a cleanse helps you to eat the right foods and supplements so your body can purge toxins and wastes that accumulate in the organs (such as the liver) and in adipose tissue or fat.

Conventional understanding of weight gain and loss tell us that the body stores fat when fed excess calories and breaks fat down for energy when food is scarce. According to this model, body weight is based on a person’s unique metabolic rate and how much food is consumed.

Holistic professionals present an alternative model in which it is that chemical toxins in our food (pesticides, preservatives, MSG, artificial colors and flavorings) and other poisons in our environment other than calories, make people fat.

Our bodies are well equipped with complex systems to drain toxins and metabolic wastes through the skin, kidneys, lungs, liver and colon. But, with exposure to food additives, synthetic personal care products, and chemicals in our water and air, the human body can be overloaded with chemicals.

Most of the toxic load is stored in the liver (around the midsection). Think of the men you know with the “gut”. Unfortunately, it’s not just men. Dr. John Grey, the author of “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, has titled this “liver gut” and talks about how even young girls today, who may be thin all over, have “liver gut”.

If weight gain is the body’s way of dealing with toxins so they can’t harm you, does it not make sense that a weight-loss diet that does not help the body to purge these stored toxins will only be a temporary fix?

Weight loss can’t last without some form of cleansing because the toxins that were stored in the fat tissue circulate in the blood stream and other systems of the body. The result of this can be headaches, fatigue, achiness, pain, dizziness, moodiness and other symptoms. for optimal functioning, the body wants to segregate these toxins that it cannot remove, which is why people regain weight after most diets.

If you are interested in clearing out the toxins polluting your body and achieving real, lasting weight loss, do some cleansing for weight loss. Along with that, here are some other tips:

• Stop eating/drinking diet products! These products do not promote health and are loaded with artificial sweeteners and flavorings which only contribute to toxins in the body!
• Eat nothing white. White bread, white flour and white sugar are all bleached and heavily processed. Again, they contribute nothing and rob the body of nutrients! These are your enemies!
• Stop eating artificial sweeteners. They may be “low cal” but for your body, they are even worse for your health and weight than white sugar.
• Don’t starve yourself. Starving yourself only slows down your metabolism. Eat raw foods, lots of fruits and vegetables. Use a lemon cleanse to keep your metabolism up with natural, easily processed sugars and lots of enzymes (make lemonade with real lemon juice and stevia). This will assist the body in breaking down the fat and old toxins.
• Go organic! This will lessen the amount of pesticides you are putting in your body.
• Add these foods to your diet: lemons, extra virgin olive oil (uncooked, as salad dressing) virgin coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and wolfberries (gogi berries). These foods will promote healthy weight loss and cleansing.
• Replace refined sugars with healthy sweeteners such as agave and stevia. These help balance blood sugar levels, support the pancreas and do not promote weight gain.

Cleanse with some superior nutritional/cleansing products such as Isagenix. You can take your health to a whole new level!

So, what’s all this buzz about nutritional cleansing and detoxification? Is there any truth to it, does it work? Is it something I should be doing?

That depends on who you talk to. My guess is if you talk to someone in traditional medicine they will tell you to save your money, it’s hocus pocus. But, if you talk to someone who has been dealing with health and weight issues for a long time and now that they have done some cleansing and detoxifying, they are suddenly feeling better, thinking more clearly and losing weight, they are going to tell you it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Just what is the whole thing about anyway? We live in a toxic environment. There are toxic substances in our food, air and water. Plus our lifestyle comes into play. If you smoke or use alcohol, you are accumulating even more toxins. Some vocations pose more of a hazard for toxins than others. For example, the beauty industry is a toxic environment because of the chemicals used for hair coloring.

The body can get along fine with a lot of toxins, for awhile. Then, it’s kind of like the rain barrel effect where one more drop can open the flood gates, in this case for sickness, disease or maybe just not feeling “like yourself”. Perhaps you don’t have the mental clarity you once did or you feel like you have to have a nap in the middle of the afternoon.

If this is you, I would suggest you try a cleanse for yourself so you can determine if there is any validity to it. I’m not talking about a colon cleanse but rather, what is referred to as a full body cleanse. I’ll admit, I’m prejudice, I would recommend Isagenix. And, that’s not just because Fantasia sells Isagenix. We sell it because we feel the products are superior to others on the market.

Try it for yourself, but give it a serious try. If you are just curious and don’t have major issues, try the 9 day cleanse. If you have some serious health issues, spend a bit more money and try the slower approach which is the 30 day protocol.

This way, you can judge for yourself as to whether or not there’s anything to it. I will tell you that there are many medical doctors today who are putting their patients on these products with great results. There is even a well-known oncologist in New York City who is touting the virtues of cleansing and the Isagenix products!

I’m sure you have heard so much negative about being in the sun that you think twice about even going to the beach to have fun.  Well, there is another side of the coin and that is that lack of direct sunlight is problematic.  So, we will examine the benefits of sunlight and consequences of not getting enough of it.

According to a recent study, not getting enough direct sunlight increases our chances of cancer by at least 70%.  Our bodies must have natural sunlight to synthesize adequate amounts of vitamin D in order to keep our bones strong and healthy and to support our immune systems.

We can get some vitamin D from food but it is also made by our bodies after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.  The major biological function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.  Vitamin D helps us absorb calcium which in turn, helps us to form and maintain strong bones and teeth.  Without the proper amount of vitamin D, bones start to become thin, brittle, soft or misshapen.  Vitamin D prevents rickets in children and osteoporosia and osteomalacia in adults.

So, what’s the bottom line?  If you take good-qaulity calcium supplements (best not to get it from dairy) and get adequate natural sunlight exposure or supplement with a good source of vitamin D such as a high quality cod liver oil, you could easily improve your health.

Here are some foods that contain vitamin D.

• Cod Liver Oil
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Sardines
• Whole Eggs (vitamin D is present in the yolk)
• Milk, nonfat, reduced fat or whole

Interesting, one would need to drink a minimum or a litre of milk per day to get the minimum requirements of vitamin D, which is around 400 IU.  If on the other hand, we were to expose at least 20% or our skin to sunlight all your round for up to 10 minutes a day, we would ensure adequate amounts of vitamin D.

Deficiency of natural sunlight and vitam D have been associated with the following conditions:

• adrenal insufficiency
• Alzheimer’s
• allergies
• autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis
• cancer’s of the colon, breast, skin and prostate
• depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• diabetes, type 1 and 2
• gluten intolerance, lectin intolerance
• heart disease, hypertension, Syndrome X
• infertility, sexual dysfunction
• learning and behavior disorders
• misaligned teeth and cavities
• obesity
• osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia (adult rickets)
• Parkinson’s
• PMS
• psoriasis

Phew!  I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to head for the beach!