A Fashion Accessory That Could Save Your Life

SpaFinder is an advocate of skin cancer awareness. They have an industry-wide campaign that focuses on understanding sun damage, self-examination, sunscreen use, and yearly full-body check-ups at the dermatologist. Over 65,000 people every year are diagnosed with melanoma, and 11,000 of those die. It is important to know when your skin is being damaged by the sun. SpaFinder is selling “I Will Reflect” bracelets to help raise awareness of skin cancer. The bracelet is white, but turns lavender when you have had enough harmful ultraviolet rays. It’s an easy and fashionable way to be reminded to go into the shade or reapply sunscreen. You can find the melanoma bracelet for $4.95 at
www.spafinder.com

Bumming a Cigarette Bums out Your Heart

If you think you’re beating the bad effects of cigarettes because you don’t smoke regularly, but still bum one now and then on a night out—you’re kidding yourself! Every puff you take increases your potential for arterial damage. A University of Georgia study found that sporadic smokers who smoked two cigarettes after two days of not smoking were 36 percent less responsive to blood flow changes than nonsmokers. After four cigarettes the arterial response was even worse. Impaired arterial response is the first step to heart disease. Cigarette smokers also have more build up of fatty deposits in their arteries. In fact, the Surgeon General has declared smoking “the leading preventable cause of disease and deaths in the United States.” Secondhand smoke will cause these same effects, so try to avoid it if possible. Smoking also decreases you HDL (good) cholesterol. And don’t forget—it’s bad for your lungs, too!

photo credit: vramak

Dandruff

Most people shed a few flakes of dandruff, particularly during the winter(myself included, oh the joys).   In the winter months the scalp and skin are morelikely to be dry.  There are individuals who have a hereditary tendancy to develop skin problems that can be triggered by certain foods.  These foods will vary from person to person but there are a few more common offenders: hot liquids, heavily spiced foods, and alcohol.  To control mild dandruff doctors usually recomend shampooing daily until the dandruff is under control and then go to twice a week for maintenance.  Dandruff shampoos contain zinc and/or selenium which work as an exfoliant to speed up the sheeding of the dead cell layers from the scalp.

Understanding Body Odor

Sweating is a normal function that helps the body maintain a normal temperature and excrete impurities out of the body.  There are two types of glands apocrine: which are located in the armpits, face, scalp, and parts of the trunk.  Then there are eccrine glands which are distributed throughout the body and give off a quart or more of perspiration through out the day (all the more reason to make sure you are getting plenty of fluids even if you are not exercising that day).

Typically the the eccrine excretion has no smell in contrast to the apocrine excretion which has a distinctive odor when broken down by the bacteria that live on the skin.

External factors that can effect body odor include: alcohol, garlic, onions.  Some people develop a defect in their ability to properly use a substance called trimethylamine which is found in foods high choline such as eggs, fish, liver and legumes.  When this takes place the skin will have a fishy odor after such foods are eaten.  Eliminating them from the diet will solve the smelly problem.

Some studies indicate that an increase in the intake of zinc and magnesium can help eliminate unpleasant odors. Good food sources for magnesium include: brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, seseme seeds, pine nuts, cashews, soybeans, hazelnuts, walnuts, and shreaded wheat.  Good sources of zinc include: wheat germ, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, cashews, seseme seeds, pecans, nori seaweed, and all bran. 
photo credit: dominikgolenia

Olive Oil - External use

Olive oil is one of the best oil you can use internally, but what about external use? Did you know that you can use olive oil to revive damaged hair? Saturate hair with extra-virgin olive oil, then wrap with a warm towel for 20 minutes.

photo credit:horaceko

How to Cut a Mango

This is the way how I was taught to cut a mango, it is by far the best way to enjoy one. Mangoes are loaded with beta-carotene - which helps the maintenance of healthy skin, good vision, and a robust immune system. It is also a powerful antioxidant, and has been shown to help guard against cancer and heart disease.

Product Review: "All" Free and Clear Liquid Detergent

Couple of years ago I had 2 anaphylactic shock, the first one was not so bad, my throat swelled up so much that I had to go to the ER for an epi cocktail shot to open up the airway. The second shock was severe, my face swelled up so bad that I was not able to see, I was barely breathing.

So ever since then, my home have changed quite a bit to accommodate my life threatening allergic reaction. One of the biggest change was laundry detergent. Thanks to my wife, she did her research and was able to find a detergent that will not trigger an attack for me. This detergent have no smell, it's gentle for the skin and does not aggravate my skin. Thumbs up!

Product Review: Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face wash

I have never been a fan of facial products, growing up I only knew about 3 things: Shampoo, Soap and hair gel. So life after marriage is an experience, there were times where my wife insisted on me testing certain products with her, I never quite got into it simply because they all make you smell like flower afterwards.

After lots of trial and error, I've finally settle on a product that I can recommend. Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash, this stuff rocks, it cleans your face, if you leave it on for a minute, you'll really feel refresh and it doesn't  dry up your skin like other products do. Price is $5 and you don't smell like a girl. Share your favorite product in the comment area.

Sunscreen - the Number game

Is there really a difference between SPF 30 and SPF 15? I asked Kathy Li (my sister in law), who worked as a formulator for Banana Boat. She said SPF 15 blocks out 95% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks out 97%. Depending on your activity and if you plan to be outside more than 2-3 hours,  the added benefit of SPF 30 may not be worth the cost. Always remember that there is no baby sun screen or waterproof sunscreen, re-apply hourly for maximum protection.

photo credit: Robert S. Donovan

Tanning Addicts

The summer is here and thus the motivation of bikini weather brings out the tanners. But is our obsession with vanity of a tan really worth it? Researcher Robin Hornung, a clinical associate professor of dermatology explains why tanning can be addicting and a hard habit to break even with the knowledge of cancer risk. More..

Mango Season and Poison Ivy

Mango season and poison Ivy.  Mango season is always something I get very excited about. That sweet tender fruit that melts in your mouth.  But while the scrumptious fruit holds its health benefits, it also can pose a risk for some unlucky individuals.  Mango is actually in the same family as poison ivy.  For individuals who have strong reactions to poison ivy it is important to try to have as little interaction with the peel as possible, as it can create the same chemical reaction, creating a rash.  If you are extremely allergic to poison ivy you may need hold off on the fruit as well.  A few ways to lessen the chances of a reaction: 1. Do not eat the fruit off of the peel (I have personally witnessed what a reaction to the lips can look like and its not particularly appealing..) 2. If possible have someone who is not allergic or has never had a reaction to poison ivy cut up the fruit (if I am around I would love to just know I will want a piece)  3.  Make sure the peel is disposed of and that hands and surfaces dealing with the peel are cleaned well.
photo credit: todbaker