Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

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!

By now, you know I like to pass along “natural” treatments for things people might be dealing with. So, I have found yet another natural treatment I thought perhaps someone reading this might benefit from.

We all know acne is an unsightly skin disorder which is generally most prevalent on the face and neck. Sometimes the back can be very affected but at least that part of the body can be covered up most of the time if one chooses. Typically acne is found in people between the ages of 12 to 24 years old and can be highly embarrassing for the sufferer. However, this doesn’t always hold true as I recently did an article on adult acne. But, whatever the age, we know that there are millions of acne sufferers all over the world.

There are ways in which you can reduce the visible scarring and redness associated with acne. We have talked about several things one can do. Obviously a good start would be to improve the diet so that you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also, eat foods containing anti-oxidants and omega 3, as well as foods high in vitamin E. Vitamin E is considered to be excellent for removing acne scars while improving the skin’s overall appearance.

You should also drink lots of water and make sure you get plenty of exercise. All of these thing help your body to remove toxins which can build up in the skin and cause acne. You should consider a cleanse product such as Isagenix if you are serious about removing impurities and toxins from your body. (see our “products page” for more info).

Here is another way to effectively help with acne. Aloe Vera. Aloe vera has powerful healing qualities. The extract from the aloe vera plant has long been used to treat cuts, wounds and burns and is considered to be equally effective at treating acne.

Aloe vera nourishes the skin while healing the skin and often the scars and redness associated with acne. It is in effect, both a moisturizer and an anti-inflammatory agent.

There are gels, creams and lotions containing aloe, or you can ingest aloe vera through juices and pills. You may want do a combination of both topical and internal for even greater results.

As with anything natural, consistency and patience are important. If you will commit to using aloe vera on a daily basis, perhaps it can help you lead a happier and more confident life!

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!

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!

Many adults who have always enjoyed unblemished, peachy looking skin are having a problem with adult acne. True, it’s not life threatening but it can be soul destroying.

Adult acne damages self-esteem and can be physically painful with scarring which can last a lifetime. Adult acne is on the increase and, contrary to popular belief, is not always caused by junk food diets or poor hygiene.

The main culprit for this scourge is genetic, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies and low immunity and stress. Unfortunately it can strike anyone at any time and there is no way of knowing if it will be a phase or there for the long haul.

Skin experts suggest that if you think you are suffering from more than just break outs, you should take immediate action and seek professional help. Adult acne generally cannot simply be treated by using a strong face wash and often needs to be looked at by a qualified skin professional or dermatologist.

One thing doctors fail to tell their patients is that intestinal health has been found to be important in the severity of adult acne. In one study, 50% of those with severe acne had increased blood levels of toxins that were being absorbed from a faulty gut. This suggests that many acne sufferers need a several-pronged approach, which not only helps the skin to return to normal functioning but also repairs and heals an impaired digestive tract.

It is vital to treat the skin from the inside as well as the outside by balancing hormone levels and using a good skin care approach. A good internal nutritional cleansing program such as Isagenix, would be beneficial with regard to decreasing toxin levels in the body.

Additionally, there are some foods which can help prevent acne:

• Calcium: A calcium rich diet has been found to help reduce the severity of acne. However, that does not mean you should mega-dose on dairy. In fact, it would be a good idea to eliminate cow’s milk and cheeses for a while as the lactose (sugar) in dairy product may be causing a hidden food intolerance. Instead, get your calcium from nuts and seeds, dried fruits, oily fish with bones, beans, green leafy vegetables, broccoli and shellfish.
• Vitamin A: Helps maintain normal skin functioning. Dietary sources include all the yellow fruits and vegetables, especially carrots and fish oils.
• Zinc: Helps your body absorb vitamin A. Good food sources include pecans, peanuts, shellfish, turkey and wheat germ.
• Bananas: Help the good bacteria in your gut. If your acne is severe, take a pro-biotic supplement also and drink at least two liters of water daily to help the body flush out toxins as well as increasing your intake of dietary fiber.

And, one final tip. Try to reduce the stress levels in your life. The largest study ever conducted on acne reveals that people under high levels of stress are 23% more likely to develop severe acne.

What you eat does not only apply to the shape of your body and the condition of your skin. Would you believe it applies to your hair also? A poor diet will contribute to thinning hair and hair loss. Before I posted that I expect to see people dealing with this issues at younger and younger ages due to the the decline in the diet and the extreme diets which abound. There are steps you can take to feed and grow your hair.

Breakfast is a really good idea for too many reasons to list here. And, it should be a good breakfast, not sugar/carbohydrate based. Good clean protein is a great way to get your day started. If you can’t face having meat in the morning, that’s fine. Try a protein smoothie with whey protein. They are so versatile. You can throw in frozen fruits such as berries and bananas. Add some fiber and you have a delightful, filling breakfast and are off to a good start for your day! This not only gives your body needed energy but you are also improving the condition of your hair.

Balance things out. Remember Grandma said all things in moderation? Be sure to have all of the food groups during your meals such as good fats, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. You should place a high priority on protein as it is a necessary building block for your body. A diet for hair loss sufferers should include good amounts of protein since it’s known to be a good stimulant for hair growth. I’m a huge fan of undenatured whey protein as it’s such a great, clean protein. At Fantasia we promote Isagenix. The basis of their program is their undenatured whey protein shake. They have chocolate and vanilla and unlike many protein shakes on the market, these taste great!

Have you ever seen a plant in dire need of water? It’s listless and limp. Give it a drink of water and watch it come alive. Well, your hair is the same way. Make sure you drink plenty of water, for overall health and for the health of your hair in particular. The recommendation for 8 glasses per day is good, but it you have been extra active or it’s a hot day, you may need more than this. If you have been working up a sweat, you need to replenish your body’s fluids. Water is a crucial part of a diet for proper hair care.

Today we know there are vitamins and minerals which are great for the hair. At Fantasia we sell Hair Support System which is essentially, supplements for the hair applied topically and taken internally. Protein is essential for healthy hair as mentioned above and so is zinc and iron. Lack of iron and zinc in the body contribute greatly to the development of hair loss.

Most of this is pretty basis stuff and good not only for feeding the hair but for your overall general health. Through the practice of having a proper diet, you can do a lot to prevent hair loss from happening.