September 2009

Have you ever wondered if it was dangerous to inhale the dust from mineral makeup powder? Health experts are free to admit that at this point no one really knows -- little research has been conducted on potential harmful effects of breathing these powders. Minerals like zinc and titanium, found in most mineral makeup, are safe when applied to healthy skin. But in micronized nanoparticle form (powdered) these minerals can have dangerous, even toxic properties. These dangers increase when applied to damaged skin or when inhaled, according to Jane Houlihan, research director of the consumer watchdog agency, The Environmental Working Group. Certainly people who work in the facilities that manufacture these powders may be at higher risk of lung disease and certain cancers. If you use mineral makeup my advice to you -- don’t inhale!

According to Dr. Eric Ravussin, a prominent exercise research expert, exercise may be useless for weight loss and may actually be making it harder to lose weight. WHAT? Exercise is critical for good overall health and has been shown to help prevent disease. But exercise stimulates hunger so people who exercise tend to eat more. Exercise weakens your brain's self-control muscle. After a vigorous workout you may feel a greater sense of entitlement and indulge yourself with a bag of chips, cookies or high calorie drink. If you spend 60 minutes sweating it out at the gym and then treat yourself, Dr. Ravussin and his colleagues believe that “from a weight-loss perspective, you would have been better off sitting on the sofa knitting.” The study that supports Dr. Ravussin’s research is complicated but, the bottom line – it is what you eat, not how hard you try to work it off.

If you are trying to lose weight and you need a little inspiration, try Prevention’s Weight Loss Simulator: www.prevention.com/mvm. It’s a fun way to make the time to be good to you.

Good Health!

Terry

“Put down the Twinkie.”
~Dr. Phil

August 2009

Contrary to a popular Internet rumor – baby carrots are not preserved in bleach or made from rotten carrots. Baby carrots are the brainchild of a California farmer by the name of Mike Yurosek who was tired of throwing away tons of malformed carrots. Yurosek came up with the idea of cutting these carrots down into 2-inch sections, peeling them and selling them as baby carrots. Before baby carrots are packaged they are treated with a chlorine wash. That’s because chlorine washes are an FDA approved antimicrobial treatment to protect consumer health. Chlorine kills the bacteria that cause food borne illness like E coli and salmonella. Almost all precut produce including frozen vegetables and fruits are washed in chlorine and thoroughly rinsed before they are packaged. The chlorine used in these washes is the same kind of chlorine used to treat municipal drinking water. And finally, the “white blush” as it is called in the industry, which sometimes appears on the surface of refrigerated baby carrots is a harmless discoloration resulting from moisture loss and/or abrasion during storage. It has nothing to do with chlorine and does not affect the taste or nutritional value of the carrots. You can learn more about how baby carrots are processed by checking out the information at http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/babycarrot.html.

If you are considering Botox injections you may want to make an appointment before the government decides it is a good idea to tax cosmetic surgery. Max Baucus, Democratic senator from the state of Montana and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, recently proposed a 10 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery procedures as a way to fund President Obama’s $1 trillion dollar overhaul of our nation's health-care system. Political insiders say that the “Botox Tax” isn’t likely to go into effect but you never know. Everyone thought Minnesotans had learned a valuable lesson and would never elect another “entertainer” to represent them on a national level and we all know how that turned out.

It’s okay to fantasize about living the life of a Real Housewife of New York City. It’s okay to buy yourself a hula hoop and use it to tone your tummy. And, it’s okay to make today the day you make the time to be good to you.

Good Health!

Terry

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
~Oprah Winfrey

July 2009

In June, a 30-year old woman from New York filed a lawsuit against Avon claiming that Anew Professional Stretch Mark Smoother burned and scarred her skin. A reaction that is almost unbelievable since this product received such great reviews from industry experts and customers and even won the prestigious Cosmetic Executive Women's Insider Choice Award. So now the question some people in the industry are asking: Is it possible this woman inadvertently purchased a counterfeit product? Counterfeit cosmetics have become big business and are easily purchased from websites like eBay and at independent kiosks. Protect yourself. Only purchase cosmetics and skin care products from an authorized dealer.

In recent years, health conscious women have been encouraged to add soy to their diet for its protein and estrogen like qualities. Today, soy milk and soy based energy bars are big part of the health food business and perceived as a healthy snack alternative. But, just two glasses of soy milk a day, over the course of one month can change the timing of a woman’s menstrual cycle. And what would you think if I told you that consuming too much soy may lead to Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS)? Dr. Irwin Goldstein, a professor of surgery at UC San Diego and the head of the Sexual Health Program at Alvarado Hospital, defines PSAS as the “spontaneous, intrusive, and unwanted genital arousal — consisting of throbbing, pulsing or tingling without the person's sexual interest or desire." While it may sound like the answer to a lazy libido, it’s not. Imagine being sexually aroused 24/7, 365 days a year! Not a good thing unless you are the main character in a Harlequin Romance novel. In the most severe cases of PSAS, patients report spontaneous orgasms and/or the need to “self stimulate” multiple times a day to relieve pelvic tension. Maybe it’s time to rethink that soy latte habit.

Step off that elliptical and take a brisk walk outside. It is a good way to clear your head and refresh your exercise routine. And it is a great way to make the time to be good to you.

Good Health!

Terry

“I believe it is how we respond to the challenges we face in life and what we learn from them that is most telling about who we truly are.”
~Jenny Sanford, First Lady of South Carolina