Avoiding Toxins in Skin Care Products

What’s really in your body wash, shampoo and conditioner?

You watch what you eat, exercise and try to make sure everything that goes into your body is good for you. But what about what’s going on your body? Did you know that more chemicals enter our bodies through our skin than through what we eat? Our skin is the largest organ in the body – and has greater potential to absorb harmful toxins.

Studies have shown that more than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient that has been related to cancer. In fact, a survey by the Environmental Working Group found that more than 25 percent of all women and one in every 100 men use at least 15 products daily that could contain toxins and carcinogens.

Toxins in Skin Care: Read the Labels

If you want to avoid toxins in your skin care products, the best thing to do is read labels. Look at the ingredients listed on the tube or bottle of your favorite shampoo, soap or moisturizer. Can you understand the ingredients? Or does it read like a science experiment? Educating yourself is key to keeping these toxins out of your body.

Back to School Nutrition for Kids

Courtesy: Elizabeth/Table4Five/Flickr Creative Commons

Better Nutrition for Children

“Children are one third of our population and all of our future.“

We all want our children and grandchildren to succeed in life – this includes doing well in school. But sometimes it’s not easy for some kids – attention disorders, learning disabilities or behavioral challenges make going back to school tough for everyone.

How Food Affects Performance in School

The foods children eat can play a huge role in their performance at school. Statistics show less than 50% of children consume the recommended number of servings in any food group on a daily basis. Nearly 80% do not eat the recommended level of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables! You’ve probably heard the news on obesity in children as well: one in three children today is overweight or obese; 20 to 40% of children are physically unfit.

How to Have More Energy

Tips to Have More Energy

Are you hitting snooze every morning? Dragging yourself out of bed or struggling to stay awake on the couch? Do you reach for another cup of coffee after lunch? Life is too short to go through it feeling exhausted all the time! It’s time to have more energy and feel better. The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to have more energy.

Have More Energy: Drink Enough Water

Even being a little dehydrated can make you feel wiped out. Dehydration can also make you feel slow at work and affect concentration. Drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day (that’s 8 8 oz. glasses) is the best – try it and see how you feel. If you’re physically active you’ll want to drink even more.

Top 5 Summer Skin Care Tips

Protect Your Skin This Summer

The Summer of 2012 is going down as a scorcher. Many parts of the country are dealing with record heat and lots and lots of sun. That means the job of protecting your skin from sunburn and sun damage has never been more important. Here are our top 5 tips for protecting your skin in the summer.

Summer Skin Care: Use Sunscreen

It should go without saying that you need to use sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage – but nearly half of men and nearly 30 percent of women say they have not used sunscreen in the past 12 months. That’s according to a recent survey from The Skin Cancer Foundation. If you need to be out in the sun, covering up with lightweight clothes for protection and using sunscreen are the best ways to protect your skin from burning.  If you feel yourself burning – get yourself into the shade.

How to Fight Summer Colds

Best Ways to Avoid a Summer Cold

When you think of colds you probably think of cold and flu season during the winter. In fact, summer colds are pretty common. The experts estimate about half of colds come from rhinoviruses and those viruses are most active in the spring and summer. But, you can protect yourself from summer colds and feel better during the summer months.  Here’s how.

Avoiding Colds: Eat Your Colors

First, eat your colors! Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants your body craves to be healthy. Foods like blueberries, raspberries, red bell peppers, spinach and tomatoes are superfoods for summer and can help you have a strong and healthy immune system.  Taking a multivitamin or supplement is also a good way to get the antioxidants you need.

Side Effects of Statins

Statin Drug Warnings

Statins are an incredibly common drug – used to lower cholesterol. In fact, statins are among the best-selling and most widely-prescribed drugs on the market – we’re talking about drugs like Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor. But – a growing body of research is starting to show the side effects of these drugs are piling up.

A brand new study shows that statins may be linked to fatigue. Researchers looked at more than 1,000 people and found those taking statins were more likely to have less energy and feel really tired when they were trying to exercise. The effect was even more pronounced in women taking statin drugs.

Statin drugs have also been linked to a rare and potentially deadly side effect called Rhabdomyolysis. It’s syndrome from direct or indirect muscle injury that cause severe muscle pain, liver damage and kidney failure.

Health Benefits of Having a Pet

How Pets Can Make You Healthier

Pet owners may read this and say “duh!”, but having a pet can have a great impact on your health. We’re talking about more than just the unconditional love a pet can give you. There are some serious health benefits that pet owners enjoy – compared to people without pets.

The Centers for Disease Control finds pets can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and improve your mood.  Pets can increase your chance of exercising and spending time outdoors – especially if you own a dog. You’ll need to walk your pet, go for a run with your dog or just take them to a park to relax and socialize.

Spending time with a pet can have a great impact on your blood pressure. One study found pet owners had lower blood pressure and heart rates compared to people who didn’t own a pet. And – researchers have shown that children can lower their blood pressure while petting their dog!

If you or someone you know is dealing with depression, owning a pet can really help your mood. Therapists have long prescribed pets as ways to recover from depression. Pets offer unconditional love, will listen as long as you are willing to talk and taking care of a pet can provide a great purpose to someone dealing with despair.