September 21st, 2011 • Posted by Lina Latief • Permalink
Pungent, peppery, and good for your skin
Watercress is a plant with small, round leaves that has a pungent peppery taste. It is rich in antioxidants, beta carotene, fiber, folic acid, vitamins C and E, and the minerals calcium, iron and phoshorus. Watercress has more calcium than milk and more iron than spinach. It is part of the cabbage family which includes cauliflower, mustard greens, rapini, kale, collards and kohlrabi.
Not only does watercress have important nutrients to help combat anemia, boost immunity, and reverse skin aging, its compound sulforphane has anticancer and antimicrobial properties. Because of its high iodine content, it can help improves thyroid function (Do not eat watercress if you have an overactive thyroid gland like hyperthyroidism or people who experience bladder issues like inflammation or infection.
In the May/June Issue of Skin Deep
Author: Shelley Burns
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August 30th, 2011 • Posted by Lina Latief • Permalink
For most of us, acne is an inherited condition of the pores. There are 5 layers of skin cells inside each pore. A healthy pore will shed a layer of these skin cells each day while an acne prone person will shed up to five layers per day which is called retention hyperkeratosis. The dead skin cells accumulate when the cells shed more quickly than the pore can handle which then form a plug known as microcomedone- a precursor to all acne. Also, hormonal fluctuations triggers the oil production inside the pore. In a normal skin, the oil production cause by hormone fluctuations will not affect the pores since the dead cells are not trapped inside the pores. In an acne-prone skin,the excess sebum cause by the hormonal fluctuations combines with the blockage from the dead cells will create the perfect environment for acne bacteria to flourish.
Acne is primarily a dead skin cell problem, the solution lies in products that prevent dead skin cells from building up in the first place. Treatments given by an expert is important but the recommended at home-care routine is extremely crucial to preventing the future microcomedones from forming.
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June 6th, 2011 • Posted by Lina Latief • Permalink
Pistachios, the "Skinny Nut", a dietary choice of the month
Pistachios limit the blood sugar (glucose) response found in the bodies of people who have metabolic syndrome**, a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The benefits:
*Contains fewer calories-about 160 per ounce-than most other nuts
*Serves as a good source of fiber and protein
*In-shell version takes longer to eat, enabling snacker to fill up faster
*Believed to lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol
**Sources-Studies from University of Toronto and Penn State, Western Pistachio Association
Dayspa June 2011
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May 6th, 2011 • Posted by Lina Latief • Permalink
Soluble versus insoluble fiber
Most of us know fiber is an important part of our daily diet because it promotes healthy digestion and regulates cholesterol and blood sugar. But what's the story with soluble fiber? Insoluble fiber helps move bulk through the digestive tract, preventing constipation and supporting regular bowel movements. Soluble fiber binds fats and delays stomach emptying sugars to be absorbed more slowly. This, in turn, lowers LDL(bad cholesterol) and promotes blood sugar regulation. Foods rich both soluble and insoluble fiber include flaxseed, oats, oat bran and psyllium husk.
Go ahead and enjoy a bowl of steel cut oatmeal for your next breakfast!
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April 5th, 2011 • Posted by Lina Latief • Permalink
Crossing Legs can cause spider veins?
Fact! Crossing our legs puts pressure on the veins in our legs. The pressure often cause our legs to have unsightly spider veins to pop up.
What else cause spider veins? Hormonal fluctuations especially during pregnancy, standing for long period of time and of course, we cannot rule out Genetics! Try a support hose for those days when you have to stand for a very long time on your feet.
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