Health News

There are many factors that are responsible for skin damage. Skin also gets damaged by external factors. Sunlight is the main external factor that ages the skin. Ultraviolet radiation is electromagnetic radiation and can cause long term damage.

A harsh detergent is the general name given to ionic detergents, which can be harmful to the skin. These detergents are called ionic because their molecule gets charged up when they come in contact with water. Avoid using these products or look for similar products that have non-ionic detergents. Most quality vendors will supply these.

The hotter the water, the greater the chance of damaging the skin, as the rate of chemical reactions increases with temperature i.e. the molecules scatter at very high speed when the temperature rises. Hence it is advisable to take a bath with water that is warm and not hot and also you should not soak your body for too long and use bath softeners when possible.

Irritants can damage your skin in two ways. First, they have the capability to directly infect or damage cells of the skin. Second, they can cause an allergic reaction in the skin, which can release destructive free radicals and also metalloproteinase’s or MMP. Choose gentle cleansers whenever possible.

Excessive cleansing strips the layer of the skin sebum and the skin may become dry, it may also lead to skin sensitivity and other problems. You should avoid cleaning and washing the face with hot water and also don't wash your face more than two times a day. Use quality moisturizers often.

All the cosmetic stuff contains potential skin irritants. To keep your skin healthy, avoid the use of makeup when possible. If you have to use it, use a moderate amount, especially around the eye area. If you spend some time in finding the right product for you, you'll save money as well as reduce the possibility of damaging your skin.

Great News about Olive Oil

Tests have shown that increasing olive oil intake can reduce cancer by an astonishing degree, and the indicator is you urine!

Tiny substances in your urine show how efficiently your body is protecting against everyday cell damage, the damage which causes cancer. In a study using olive oil , men who increased their intake had fewer of the damaged substances in their urine samples. The decrease was comparable to what smokers experience when they stop. Now that's some powerful oil.

Olive oil is full of healthy substances which have numerous positive effects on our bodies. Researchers think that phenolic compounds in the oil have properties which fight cancer. Furthermore, it is believed that there is something anti carcinogenic about monounsaturated fat itself!

This means that olive oil, rich in monounsaturated fat, is great for the heart and also helps deter cancer. That helps explain why, in comparison to Northern Europeans and Americans, Southern Europeans, who eat loads and loads of olive oil, have lower rates of both heart disease and cancer.

But one caution to bear in mind: The men in the study didn't add olive oil to their diets. They used it instead of the fats they used to consume. All in all about five to six teaspoons a day. Use olive oil to replace all the butters, margarines, and shortenings in your diet. Using it on top of your usual diet will only lead to weight problems and other areas of concern!

Another fact about olive oil; it’s great for your skin. So feel good and look good by increasing your olive oil intake now.

Honey - More Than a Sweet Treat

People have used honey as a sweetener for thousands of years and, as with many natural substances, ancient people used it for its medicinal purposes. As a sweetener, honey is a far better alternative than refined sugar, which too many people use. Refined sugar has no nutritional value at all and actually robs the body of vitamins and minerals, it's also addictive. Honey, on the other hand is composed of glucose and fructose and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate.

Health benefits

Do you have a sore throat? Honey contains natural anti-inflammatory properties which help heal the infections quickly and naturally. It also has different phytochemicals which are non-nutritive plant chemicals which have protective and disease preventive properties that kill bacteria, viruses and fungus. Honey also contains Hydrogen peroxide, which is a well-known antimicrobial agent. This means it has a wonderful antibacterial effect and is great for healing wounds like mouth ulcers and cold sores.

Because of these properties, honey is also useful for external wounds like cuts, scratches and burns. This is due to the oxidase enzyme which is introduced to the honey by bees. This slowly releases the antiseptic hydrogen peroxide at an adequate level to be helpful against bacteria while not harming the skin tissue. Honey draws moisture from the body to the area of the wound. This helps prevent scarring and promotes much quicker healing for burns and bed sores if they have been dressed with honey early enough.

Honey is an excellent treatment for bacteria-caused diarrhea. Mixed with 4 parts water, the honey helps kill the bacterial infection and also acts as a dehydration agent due to its acids and natural sugars.

For skin problems, like acne or dry skin, mix a teaspoon of honey with the same amount of olive oil and lemon juice and apply to the affected area. The anti-bacterial elements and the ability to draw water from the body to the surface of the skin moisturize and repair the skin tissue. For dry or damaged hair, mix a table spoon of honey with a cup of warm water for a shine replenishing rinse.

Finally, honey is delicious and can be eaten or drunk in hundreds of ways. What better a way to start the day than a table spoon of honey drizzled over a bowl of fresh fruit? My kids love it and can't wait for their daily hit! What other medications can match that?

The Benefits of Garlic

Garlic is now widely recognized as one of nature's most effective healers and a remedy for various ailments. It also tastes great, and can be used as an ingredient in hundreds of interesting ways. Garlic is proven to help fight bacterial, viral and fungal infections if eaten regularly. There is enough evidence to show that it also combats digestion problems and enhances the immune system and helps protect the heart.

The Chinese have used garlic for centuries as a tonic and medicine. During the Great Plague epidemic in Italy in the middle ages, two prisoners in Florence were forced to bury hundreds of plague victims but never contracted the disease.There diet in jail was crushed garlic soaked in a flagon of sour wine!

Garlic is great for the heart

Garlic helps prevent heart disease because it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. In turn, this reduces destructive oxidation and prevents clotting of the blood,hardening of arteries and DVT. Circulation is improved by eating garlic, and symptoms of poor circulation, such as headaches, cramps and tingling in the feet or hands.

The French Paradox

Although other factors must be included, garlic's cholesterol lowering qualities are highlighted in southern European countries. Take France for example wherethe 'French Paradox' has been well documented over the years. Scientists and doctors believe that garlic, along with olive oil, and red wine, significantly reduce the chance of heart disease, even though the French eat a high fat diet!

Antibiotic properties

Garlic's antibacterial and properties are known to fight of numerous infections such as colds and flu and other lung and sinus infections. Skin infections are also known to decrease if garlic is added to a regular diet. Intestinal problems like: intestinal worms, parasites and bacterial infections are greatly reduced by eating at least one whole clove a day.

There are hundreds of great ways to eat garlic and a quick Goggle search will give you enough recipes to last a life time. A life time which will be lengthened by eating more garlic.

Each morning you wake-up and your face is covered by this dark shadow of a thing called facial hair. And each morning you hate having to shave them over and over. The bright side is that each hair follicle that you have keeps your face wrinkle-free.

Hair of your face acts as a kind of structure for it. Also men have far more collagen and elastin fibers. Elastin is the connective tissue that gives skin strength and elasticity.

Men’s skin is about 20% to 30% thicker than a woman’s skin. The thicker the skin, the better job it does in resisting wrinkles.

The glands of the hair also make oil – so a man’s face is usually oilier than a woman’s. The oil keeps moisture in the face and hydrates the skin making it plumper and youthful.

The next time you are shaving, think of it as an awesome skin exfoliation. When you shave you remove the outermost layer of skin – generally it’s dead and dull. Shaving keeps skin look new and youthful.

But shaving 8 times a day is not going to be fountain of youth. You’re face is going to age. There will still be the acne, blackheads, and skin cancer as well. There are some steps that you can do to protect yourself.

Most importantly, you have to protect your skin from the sun. Get a sunscreen that provides a full-spectrum of protection. Look for one that protects you from both UVA and UVB radiation. The SPF number listed is the rating of protection against UVB, which causes sunburn and many types of skin cancer. Look for a rating of at least SPF 15 when you’re shopping.

Here’s some advice of how to make sun protection part of your daily skincare routine:

Use a gel or a spray. Some men feel like lotions are too thick and creamy. Gels and sprays apply easy and are light on the skin.

Cover all of it. If you’ve got a bald spot on the top of your head – cover it up. Use a hat or put on plenty of sunscreen. Wear long pants, and shirts made from tightly knitted fabric.

Portable tans. If you have to have a tan – do it artificially. The active ingredient in artificial tanning agents is DHA and has been given the “thumbs-up” from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Protect your skin everyday:

Here’s some information about some products that you may use in your daily skin care regimen:

Cleansers. Fine for most skin types. Men with oilier than normal skin may want to use an astringent. Look for products that are dye and fragrance free if you have sensitive skin.

Razors. The more blades the better the shave. Multi-blade razors are great for giving a close shave. But African-American men may want to stay with a single blade because of the nature of their facial hair. Multi-blades can be painful to them and cause ingrown hairs. Also consider using an electric razor if you commonly suffer from razor burns and bumps.

Aftershaves. Most aftershaves leave the skin dried-out. Stay away from them if you have healthy skin. Or, look for a balm type that has moisturizers in it.

Retinoids. These help unclog porous skin and prevent it from clogging up again. Prescription strength retinoids are proven to prevent or reverse sun-induced skin.

Antioxidants. Skin creams with vitamin C are becoming popular. Make sure to look for topical serums rather than creams because only serums can be absorbed into the skin. Same holds true for vitamin E and green tea extracts.