The Importance of Anti-Oxidents (carotnoids) in Your Body

Carotenoids represent one of the most widespread groups of naturally occurring pigments. These compounds are largely responsible for the red, yellow, and orange color of fruits and vegetables, and are also found in many dark green vegetables. The most abundant carotenoids in the North American diet are beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, lycopene, lutein, beta-crpytoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin.

What can high-carotenoid foods do for you?

Protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals
Provide a source of vitamin A
Enhance the functioning of your immune system
Help your reproductive system function properly

What events and lifestyle factors can indicate a need for more high-carotenoid foods?

Smoking and regular alcohol consumption
Low intake of fruits and vegetables
Food sources of carotenoids include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, and tomatoes. To maximize the availability of the carotenoids in the foods listed above, the foods should be eaten raw or steamed lightly.

Antioxident and Immune Enhancing Activity

In recent years, carotenoids have received a tremendous amount of attention as potential anti-cancer and anti-aging compounds. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants, protecting the cells of the body from damage caused by free radicals. Carotenoids, and specifically beta-carotene, are also believed to enhance the function of the immune system.

Promoting Proper Cell Communication

In addition to their antioxidant and immune-enhancing activity, carotenoids have shown the ability to stimulate cell to cell communication. Researchers now believe that poor communication between cells may be one of the causes of the overgrowth of cells, a condition which eventually leads to cancer. By promoting proper communication between cells, carotenoids may play a role in cancer prevention.

Do you know what your Carotenoid level is?

Recently released is a Pharmanex (a division of NuSkin) product called a BioPhotonic Scanner that is said to measure the level of carotenoids in your blood stream through the use of a laser light. The levels can read someplace between 10,000 an 55,000 depending on your level. The higher the number the better protected your body is from free radical damage. If the number presents too low, Pharmanex, their lifepak nano enhanced molecular delivery system anti-aging program, say that 5 times fast, is your answer.

This system consists of 60 packets each containing 7 capsules. The capsules contain a comprehensive anti-oxident, vitamin and mineral blend with phytonutrients. This powerful anti-aging formula protects the body with enhanced molecular delivery.
– nano-CoQ10 supports healthy heart function
– nano-carotenoids, such as astaxanthin and zeaxanthin, support cellular function and promote eye health
– nanotechnology significantly improves CoQ10 and carotenoid availability for easy absorption
Resveratrol and network of 60+ anti-oxidents protects cells
– CR-6 Liponutrients protect and nourish cells
– promotes healthy brain function with a super concentrated formula (delivers the same EPA & DHA as MarineOmega)
– TeGreen 97 and other polyphenolos work together to help protect DNA
– nourishes and protects cells with key phytonutrients equivalent tp 5-10 fruits and vegetables
– supports cardiovascular health
– builds and maintains strong bones
– helps correct nutritional deficiencies

Carotenoids may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Age-related macular degeneration
Angina pectoris
Asthma
Cataracts
Cervical cancer
Cervical dysplasia
Chlamydial infection
Heart disease
Laryngeal cancer (cancer of the larynx)
Lung cancer
Male and female infertility
Osteoarthritis
Photosensitivity
Pneumonia
Prostate cancer
Rheumatoid arthritis
Skin cancer
Vaginal candidiasis

If you want to discover what your anti-oxident level is, you will have to find a scanner near you. To find out more about this anti-aging supplement check out www.simplebeauty.nsedreams.com and click on lifepak nano.

Take caution with lipstick

Take caution when wearing lipstick or lip gloss during the day. Most lip products contain a reflective ingredient that gives your lips the shine after applying it to your lips. While that shine is what we are trying to achieve with it’s application it is also quite harmful for your lips.

You have heard that applying baby oil to your skin is not a healthy nor wise decision when out in the sun because it can promote sun damage or even skin cancer. Most lipsticks contain a form of baby oil, called mineral oil. It aides the sun in burning the thin, gentle skin on your lips increasing the cell breakdown and depletion of collagen. Collagen is what gives your lips their fullness. Without it we start to show signs of age with fine wrinkles around our lips. Most people don’t realize that wearing lipstick in the sun can cause premature aging. Next time you shop for lip products, be sure they contain an SPF of at least 30. There are some great products that are inexpensive out there. Maybelline and Cover Girl make one but the SPF is 15. Burts Bees has one with an SPF of 30. Color choices may be limited, but I’d rather be safe then sorry.

Danger Hours Under The Sun

Do you know that skin cancer is the fastest increasing form of cancer in America? The danger of the sun’s ultraviolet rays is definitely no light matter, for not only does it cause beauty hazards like premature skin aging but also serious health conditions. This is why many experts and health professionals highly advise us to stay away from the sun. If it can’t be helped, we must apply sunscreen protectors, wear shades, and bring umbrellas to ensure that we have all the protection we need.

More than protecting ourselves, however, we must also be aware of the most dangerous hours to be under direct sunlight. In the northern hemisphere, the danger hours are between 10 am to 4 pm, but most especially around noon time to 3 pm. If your kids like to play outside during these hours, make sure you make them play inside to protect them against the long-term damages and health risks of sun exposure. Do you know that today, even 20-year olds get skin cancer?

Even when the weather is slightly overcast, remember that the sun’s ultraviolet rays are still present and protection is still needed. Of course, it is much better to completely avoid getting in the sun during the danger hours. But on the days that you just need to, be armed with all the protection you need.

Image from this site.

Scary me……….

Recently I went to the dermatologist for my annual checkup. Of course having been a sun worshipper for many years before all the skin cancer warning we hear today, I knew I had sun damage to some degree. I know way too many people who have suffered from skin cancer complications…meaning it had affected other parts of their bodies. One person I know died at the age of 40 from skin cancer, the others had a variety of things removed. I make it a point now to get checked.

My dermatologist put me in a room and with that attractive white paper smock on, I sat in the room freezing to death waiting for him to come in. A portly man in his late 70’s entered wearing small goggle type glasses for better viewing of my skin. He stopped when we got to several moles (that I thought were harmful freckles) on my back, and turned out to be pre-cancerous moles. He said after pausing as he stared that they seemed ok for now but just as a precaution he wanted to remove them. No complaints here, I was thrilled he found them. The doctor then proceeded to turn off the light and handed me a mirror. He he then had what a appeared to be a black light and shone it on my face and had me look in the mirror…YIKES!!!!! I just about screamed, the person looking back at me looked nothing like me, but a bluish zombie with such horrible dark purple spots all over their face. The eyeballs of this person in the mirror were glowing white. What a scary sight I was! The doctor explained to me that the damage I was looking at was the sun damage that appeared UNDER my skin. The damage done by the UVB rays of the sun. My skin had been terrorized all these years by that glowing ball of fire in the sky and I did not even know it. I thought my complexion was just a out flawless, little did I know what lurked beneath!

The sun is very harmful for our bodies, mainly our skin. Although looking tanned is a nice idea, the sun will cause our skin to dry out, and become wrinkled as we age. It soaks up all the water content in our skin causing the skins surface to burn. Using baby oil only increases the damage we do to our skin. Protecting your skin with a high SPF in sunscreen is the key to keeping your body healthy and having your skin look younger longer.

Recently I discovered how to tell how much protection sunscreen gives us before we have to reapply it. You take the spf number, for example 30 and multiply that by 10, which gives us 300. The 300 is 300 minutes in the sun before we must reapply the sunscreen on our bodies. Just because a sunscreen says it is water proof or water resistant does not mean that we do not have to reapply the sunscreen, we most certainly do! So be smart and stay healthy and younger looking, apply sunscreen and dont leave home without it!

No fun in the sun

Recently I went to visit my dermatologist for a body check. This is when the dermatologist looks all over your body to make sure you do not have form of cancer on the skins surface. The idea of making the appointment came after speaking with a friend of mine to find out that her first husband had died of untreated skin cancer that affected his major organs. From the time they discovered it to the time he died was 3 months! He was 38 when this happened.
When I was younger, I was one of those teenagers that would apply baby oil liberally all over my body and lay on one of those foil mats and sun bathe. I did all those things they warn us about now a days. Visibly I have many freckles on my upper back and some dark sun spots on my face, under my eyes of all places. I was a bit scared of what the doctor may have found so stupidly I kept putting off making the appointment.

It was not until he put me in a dark room after handing me a mirror and putting on a special black light that I freaked out. Looking at the monster in the mirror really scared me. Most of my sun damage was not visible to the naked eye! A person I hardly recognized was looking back at me in that mirror. If my face were a Halloween costume under that black light, I would scare everyone! The sun damage was enormous. The doctor told me it was not so bad for someone of my age, he had seen worse. I assure you, that did not make me any better! He did suggest me covering up well with a minimum of spf 30 when in the sun directly or even indirectly to avoid any further damage, or worse yet skin cancer.

Laying in the sun, sun bathing causes us to lose our elasticity in our skin faster. We are prone to getting more wrinkles at even earlier ages with prolonged sun exposure. The sun burns our skin when tanning. If you have ever toasted a marshmallow, what happens first is the marshmallow starts to turn a golden brown, and then darker and darker until it catches fire. Well, while we will probably not catch fire, our skin is burning even while tanning. If a tanned look is what you are trying to achieve, try using a powdered bronzer or even a self tanner that requires no sun at all.

Having three children under the age of 13 and a brand new in ground pool in our yard, I am very concerned about the effects of the sun on my kids virgin skin. With the damage we are doing daily to the ozone, the sun is only getting stronger. The atmosphere is providing us less and less protection from damaging rays. I have started using a stronger sunscreen on my children. I tell them how important it is for them to protect their skin from the hazards of the sun. It may take us longer to get out of the house during summer months because of the sunscreen lathering up on everyone, but in the long run, it sure beats getting skin cancer or sun damage!

My friends and I used to have so much fun during the summer months, running around with no cares in the world, loving the sun. Now my kids are concerned about sun damage and staying in the shade, not wanting to go to the beach unless we have an umbrella (dare I tell them about the oceans reflection on beach goers). Although they now have to think about protecting their skin in the sun, they are growing up more mindful then we did as kids. Hopefully by some miracle there will be a cure for skin cancer (and all other cancers). But until then, lather that lotion on your kids, and yourself. Be wary of the effects the sun has on your skin, and most importantly…GO FOR A BODY CHECK at a dermatologists office!

Lip gloss inviting in skin cancer!

When I saw this headline on the news I had to read more. I am an avid lip gloss wearer and I never would have thought that lip gloss and cancer would even be used in the same sentence! I love my shiny wet look lip gloss, and it seems, that is the exact kind causing the problems. Experts say that the shiny, slickness of the lip gloss could be causing the sun’s rays to hit harder on your lips . Who would have thought!!!? Glosses can help the light penetrate the skin’s delicate tissues, this is so serious that it leads to the potentially fatal forms of skin cancer. How scary is this, it is estimated that there are about 3500 new cases of lip cancer diagnosed each year.

It is said that it’s the stuff that’s in the lip gloss that is causing the trouble. Our lips naturally have a protective layer but when we continually use gloss for hydration it squashes it down, leaving room for the UV rays to penetrate. It is also believed that the shine of the lip gloss also plays a factor since it is like “putting a magnifying glass on your lips”. So maybe we should be using lip balm with an SPF in it, instead of the cutesy glossy lip gloss?

I don’t know about you, but it will be kinda hard for me to give it up. I have lip gloss thrown everywhere in case of a lip emergency. Maybe I’ll try swapping some out for ones with SPF in it.

Sun’s Effects

The thought of a sunny day can bring a smile onto almost anyone’s face. Playing and spending time out in the sun can be an enjoyable and stress relieving experience, if it is done correctly. Soaking up some sun used to be thought to be healthy, after all you get that gorgeous tanned skin…how can it be bad for you? The sun itself is fine, the overexposure and rays is where you get into trouble. Invisible rays, ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB), cause the majority of the problems. Because there is no safe UV light, it is all bad for your skin and eyes. Too much sun can cause sunburns, wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer.

      When leaving the house you should always wear a SPF Sunscreen of atleast 15. The higher the SPF number the better the protection from the sun. Sunscreen should be worn even on cloudy days. Many people believe they will avoid the sun by tanning at a salon. But most tanning salons use UVA bulbs which are even worse than being out in the sun. UVA rays go deeper into the skin and cause premature aging and skin cancer. UVA and UVB rays, although invisible, both cause suntan, sun damage, and sunburn.

      Some ways to protect yourself from the sun is to wear shades, a wide brimmed hat, and clothes that cover more skin. It is also recommended to avoid going out between the times of 10am – 4pm, these are peak sun times and you are more likely to get a sunburn. Harmful UV rays are worse during summer, at higher altitudes, and places closer to the equator. If you do get a sunburn, you can try cool, wet compresses, baths, and soothing lotions. When driving or being in the sun wear sunglasses, they filter light and they protect your eyes from UV rays. However, they can not protect your eyes from tanning lights.

     Beauty is becoming more and more important. Tanning is thought to signify healthy skin, not true. Tanning causes more trouble than it is worth; premature aging and skin cancer! At what price will we continue to pay for beauty? Why not try sunless tanning!?

Sun WAR-shipers beware

Getting ready for a day at the beach should be simple and that includes your makeup routine. While the heavy makeup that you may use for a night out on the town or for the long sunless winters works well, the beach is a whole different world. Beach makeup should be light, fun, protective, and waterproof. If you’re hitting the waves soon, follow these tips for makeup perfection.

• Eyes: Nothing looks worse than a beautiful face masked with running black mascara. Unfortunately, the beach is one of the prime places for this makeup disaster to transpire. Between the blistering temperatures, the ocean, and the pool, your bound to have moisture of some type ruin your makeup. This makes the number one beach makeup must have water proof mascara. If you don’t have waterproof mascara you’re better off just going without it and preventing the dreaded raccoon eyes.

 

 

• Lips: Leave the bright color lip sticks at home and swap them out for some sheer lip gloss that encompasses your natural beauty. Regardless of what you choose to cover those lips make sure it’s ready to protect you from the sun. Choose lip glosses, sticks, and balms that offer SPF 15 protection. The salt water and dry air often found on the beach can also take a toll on your lips by removing moisture from them so make sure you choose something with added moisturizers.

 

 

• Your Skin: beach makeup should be light and ready for whatever the day may bring your way. Since you will be in and out of the water or perspiring due to the super hot temperatures, you may want to limit the amount of foundation and cover up you use and stick the bare essentials. Event hough you need little foundation, especially once the snow start to paint your face with that bronzed glow, you do need to pay a little attention to your delicate face. Make sure to moisturize your face daily. Look for moisturizers that offer that necessary sun protection. SPF 15 is generally the lowest you should go especially if you have fair skin that is prone to freckling and burning.

   

  Even though your skin routine should be simple while sitting beach side, when you go out for the evening you’ll want to glam up. Take advantage of the color the sun has left on your face and use translucent powdered in the areas you need them most like your t-zone . You can also use a bit of blush to really bring that beach goddess out. Be sun savvy and make sure your makeup matches your tone and only use it to bring out the glow not to cover it.

 

 

• Hair: Few things on the beach are kind to your hair. T he salt water and chlorine can leave it begging for moisture and the breeze can leave you in desperate need of a brush. Keep this in mind when you pack your hair accessories and make sure you have plenty of conditioner, hair ties to pull back those beach worthy tresses, as well as a hat for those days you just can’t win the battle with your messy mane