Top 10 Natural
Health Beauty Tips
If you take a minute to think about some of the terms we associate with
beauty these days, bright eyed, a "healthy glow," vibrant, clear
complexion, it becomes clear that beauty and health go hand-in-hand.
Beauty does not come from applying expensive creams or having drastic
cosmetic surgeries--real beauty comes, quite literally, from the inside.
When you treat your body with respect, it will respect you in return, and
when your body feels good on the inside, it will show, through healthier
hair, skin and nails, to brighter eyes and a glowing smile, on the
outside.
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Here we've compiled the top 10 beauty tips to
get you started toward a more beautiful life, both inside and out.
- Drink plenty of water. Your body is
about 70 percent water, and if your cells get dehydrated they
will not be able to function efficiently. An abundance of
water is necessary to perform every task the body requires,
including the repair of damaged cells, which helps skin heal
and stay healthy. Experts vary on how much water is really
needed to stay healthy. A good rule of thumb is to drink when
you're thirsty, or, if you want a more precise guideline,
for every 50 pounds of body weight, drink one quart of spring
or filtered water per day (this is approximately 12 to 16
glasses of water a day depending on weight). Make sure the
water is pure, meaning it's free of fluoride heavy
metals, bacteria and other toxins that will cause your body
more harm than good.
- Maintain a well balanced diet. This includes
eating plenty of fresh vegetables (preferably organic), and making sure that
you eat a wide variety of them. A good way to do this is by picking out your
favorites from each color family (green, orange, red, etc.) and striving to
include each of them with your meals (at least your lunch and dinner). Other
important foods are low-glycemic fruits (again, organic if possible) and
high-grade biological protein that is free of hormones, pesticides,
antibiotics and other unsavory additives. Examples are free-range, organic
meats, wild-caught (not farm-raised) fish, free-range chicken, organic eggs,
quality farm-fresh dairy and nuts.
Of course, part of eating a healthy diet also means staying away from
unhealthy foods like refined sugar, trans fats, processed foods, fast foods,
desserts, soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices (they're high in sugar),
sweet drinks, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Ideally, all junk food,
including snack foods, french fries, fried foods, pizza and margarine, should
be avoided, along with unfermented soy products and pasteurized dairy
products. This may seem overwhelming, but don't get discouraged. Take it a
step at a time (don't try to eliminate everything in one day!) and you'll find
that eating a healthy diet is quite manageable.
You may want to start, for instance, by replacing soft
drinks and juice in your diet with pure water (add a squeeze of lemon or lime
for flavor). Then, once you're used to that, move on to eliminating desserts
or switching to free-range meat. In the meantime, if you're concerned that
you're not eating enough healthy nutrients, STUDENT FORMULA™
BEYOND BERRY™
gives your body just about everything it needs!
- Consume plenty of the essential "good" fats.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for healthy skin, brain function and so much
more. These can be found in a variety of foods including fish oil,
omega-3-enriched eggs and flaxseeds. Because it can be tough to eat right all
the time, you may want to opt for STUDENT FORMULA™
INSIDE OUT™
, which contains all the good fats (from fish
and flax seed oils) your body needs in one convenient supplement.
If you suffer from skin disorders like psoriasis, listen up. Taking fish oil
has been shown to improve conditions like these. How does it work? People with
psoriasis have greater-than-normal amounts of inflammation-causing compounds
in their skin. Fish oil inhibits the production of these inflammatory
compounds, and the result is healthier skin (and nails and hair).
Dry skin, too, is affected by the "good" fats. Without sufficient healthy
fats, your skin will be unable to seal in moisture and soon the skin will
become dry. To make matters worse, many people are following no-fat or low-fat
diets, which means they are not getting any of the healthy fats their skin
(and body) so desperately need. This fat deficiency will be particularly
noticeable during the winter months and can create very uncomfortable dry skin
with itching.
Healthy fats can be found in avocados, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and
mercury-free, coldwater fish such as salmon, or, if you're not eating enough
of these foods, in our STUDENT FORMULA™ Inside Out™. Also, a B
vitamin known as biotin will help extremely dry skin conditions by normalizing
the natural oils in your skin. Use 1,000-3,000 mcg as a therapeutic dose, or
100-500 mcg as a maintenance dose.
- Get your beauty sleep. About seven to eight
hours of sleep a night is recommended. If possible, it is best to get to sleep
around the same time each night and wake up around the same time each
morning--your body will appreciate the regular cycle. A good night's sleep in
a very dark room (you should put up room-darkening blinds and eliminate all
other sources of light and nightlights--even the light from your alarm clock
can disrupt your sleeping!) is one of the best beauty aids you can find.
Having trouble catching some shut-eye? Our STUDENT FORMULA™
JUST CHILL™
can help you relax and get a good night's sleep, even when sleeping is tough to do.
- Get some sunshine. Sunlight is an essential
element in staying healthy--everyone needs natural sunlight! It is suggested
that one hour of sun a day is necessary to achieve optimum health, because
fresh sunshine heals your skin with warmth and vitamin D (you should avoid
getting sunburned, though).
We all know that we need calcium for strong bones and
teeth, but to make sure the calcium you do eat can do its job, you also
need a good supply of vitamin D (it helps your body absorb calcium, protects
against bone loss and much more). Vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all but
a hormone-like substance that the body can only make when it gets enough
sunlight. Sunlight is also a natural mood elevator; most people feel more
energized and happier when the sun is shining. Check out the book
"The Healing Sun"
to learn more about the many health-giving powers of the sun. You may also want to try STUDENT FORMULA™
GREEN LATTE™
Super Green Food + Energy Drink, which helps provide an abundance of "sunlight" nutrients in one powerful drink.
- Clean your skin with soap and water every morning and
bedtime. Lather up with a glycerin or natural beauty bar (avoid soaps
that contain harsh chemicals and synthetic additives) and rinse by gently
splashing lukewarm water onto your skin. Lather again and this time rinse with
cool water (this closes the pores). Lightly rub your skin dry in a circular
motion, this improves circulation and gently exfoliates the skin. Lastly,
apply a moisturizer/sunscreen if needed.
- Take time to relax. You know what works best to
help you relax, but the key is to take the time to do it. Need some ideas?
Meditate, read a book, work on a hobby, go for a walk or take a bath. This
will help you look and feel better day after day. Always take time out to stop
and smell the roses.
- Exercise! It will do wonders for your skin and
overall appearance. A number of recent studies show that even multiple, short
bouts of exercise (five to 15 minutes of brisk walking several times
throughout the day) have heart and health benefits. Want more information?
Check out this recent study on exercise from Bastyre University:
http://bastyrcenter.org/content/view/287/
- Laugh often. Smiling and laughing are
infectious--in a good way. Not only will they boost your mood, but they'll
also make you look and feel more beautiful. Research is showing that it may
even increase your lifespan. So learn to laugh and smile every day--see a
funny movie, crack jokes and enjoy life! If you're looking for more of a
reason to laugh, here is some data on why it is so important:
http://www.helpguide.org/aging/humor_laughter_health.htm
- Good Diet. Yes, we are repeating ourselves here,
and that's because a good diet it is so very important. We cannot stress this
enough! There is a reason why the phrase "you are what you eat" became
popular. If you choose to eat primarily junk food and processed food, your
body simply will not receive the nutrients it needs to function at its best.
On top of that, your body will have to work to remove the extra toxins you're
ingesting in all of that junk food (it's not called "junk" food for nothing!).
On the other hand, if you eat a diet full of pure, whole foods, your body will
get all the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Only then will it have the
nutrients to devote to things such as skin and hair. (Your body will use the
nutrients you give it to first and foremost help you survive . if you only
take in a minimum amount of nutrients, they'll all go toward your basic
functions and there might not be enough leftover for the more "cosmetic"
functions of your hair and skin appearance. That's why people who don't eat
right often have a hard time getting shiny hair and smooth, clear skin.)
A QUICK TIP: Be Careful When Choosing Your Beauty Care
Products
Are you aware that most personal care products, especially shampoo and skin care
lotions, may contain harmful synthetic chemicals like sodium lauryl and laureth
sulfates, propylene glycol and paraben preservative systems? These chemicals
build up over time, plugging your pores, leading to the loss of oxygen, and
causing skin irritations and allergies.
The solution is to become a loyal label reader, even when it comes to your
toiletries. Seek out natural products from health food stores instead of the
conventional ones sold in grocery markets and beauty stores. Even if a product
says it's "natural," you still need to read the ingredient label, as some may
still contain toxic chemicals that you don't want to put on your body.
16 Extra Tips for a Beautiful Body, Inside and Out
- APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND FACIAL MASKS. Once in a
while, instead of using cleanser, moisturizer and/or toner, mix about 2-3 cups
of distilled water with a 1/2 cup of raw organic, unfiltered apple cider
vinegar. You can buy this at any health store (it is very reasonably priced).
Smooth the mixture gently onto your skin using a cotton pad or cloth. The
apple cider vinegar is extremely antibacterial, alkalizing and soothing to the
skin.
For a deep cleaning and nourishing treatment, you could also mix apple cider
vinegar into your mask instead of water. Also, consider taking saunas, or
steam baths--these can even be done at home! Here's how: Take a very hot bath
with the door closed and the heat turned on very hot. Throw some mineral salts
or seaweed into the water, and you will sweat out a lot of toxins. Afterward,
cool off with a shower and splash on some watered down apple cider vinegar.
You will look and feel fantastic.
- EXFOLIATE DEAD SKIN CELLS. Use a small, soft
loofah sponge that is barely damp to exfoliate all the dead skin cells and
dirt (these are the things that clog your pores) on your body. A loofah is
important, as washing with just your hands may not be enough to really
exfoliate all that dirt and dead skin. However, be careful not to scrub too
hard: scrub very softly using a bit of your face cleanser on the loofah.
- RAW GARLIC--NATURE'S MOST POTENT HERB. Here's
one you probably haven't heard before, so keep an open mind--and get ready for
garlic. Only the real thing will work for you--not the pills. This means
organic and raw. Put at least three cloves in a blender with juice (try
vegetable juice from spinach, celery and cucumbers) and drink it down (the
juice will be a little spicy).
Why are we suggesting you eat raw garlic? Garlic is the best, most effective
broad-spectrum antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-fungal herb, so it kills all
those bad bacteria lurking in your body without harming any of the beneficial
good kind. In fact, in laboratory tests it has been diluted to 1 part in
125,000 and it still killed bacteria. So, yes, it's great to eat if you get
sick or have a virus of any kind; it's great for your heart and blood--whole
books have been written about it. Another plus? Your skin will have a real
tough time breaking out if you have some raw garlic in your system. Just
remember, to get the benefits, only raw garlic will do. If you're worried
about bad breath, brush your teeth and use some (natural) mouthwash afterward.
(Chewing on a little fresh parsley makes a great breath freshener!)
- DO NOT OVERWASH YOUR FACE. We know that this is
the hardest thing in the world to do, especially if you're broken out. But, if
your skin is dehydrated from too much washing, your body will actually
over-produce oils to replenish your overly dried skin, thereby causing more
acne. This becomes a vicious cycle whereby you have to wash your face to keep
it clean, but washing too much can actually cause you to break out! It is very
important to promote the natural balance of your skin by not washing more than
twice a day and also using products such as moisturizers and toners that don't
clog pores.
- YOUR SKIN IS BEGGING FOR NUTRIENTS. Make sure
you are getting all the nutrients your skin needs to stay healthy. It is
vitally important that you eat and drink NATURAL NUTRIENTS all day long (see
above for some tips on a healthy diet).
- GET A GOOD SHOWER FILTER. It will cost you only
about $25, but will take out the chlorine, fluoride, copper, pathogens,
viruses, dirt, and other horrible pollutants that may be in your water.
Studies show that in a 10-minute shower, your body absorbs the same amount of
toxins as it does when you drink eight glasses of tap water! Remember, you're
trying to clean your skin and hair. The last thing you want to do is add in
more toxins that will age your skin, dry your hair, and make you break out.
- CUT OUT THE SUGAR. Some researchers aptly call
acne "diabetes of the skin," meaning your body has great difficulty digesting
sugar. Cut way down on sugar for a week or two and see if there's any effect
on your energy levels, mood and skin. This includes soft drinks and every
other food that contains a high quantity of sugar.
- CUT OUT THE JUNK. You knew this one was coming:
You should also attempt to cut way down on all of the toxins you consume
everyday in the form of processed foods, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol,
chocolate, cheese, cream, eggs, fried foods, hydrogenated oils, margarine,
fish, meat, poultry, and butter. This may seem very extreme, and we're not
suggesting you never eat any of these things again, but just be aware that
these foods are laced with antibiotics, poisons, chemicals, insecticides,
herbicides, toxins etc. Eat with awareness and sensitivity so that you know
which foods your body and skin react to the worst. (Some of the foods
mentioned above (meat, butter, poultry, etc.) can be good for you if you seek
out free-range, organic varieties that don't contain the added toxins.)
- GET AN ALOE VERA PLANT (about $5). Second best
would be pure organic Aloe Vera gel. If you have any scars or red marks, break
off a small piece, open the leaf and apply it to the area everyday. Guys, when
done shaving, rub the gel on your neck and tender spots or cuts. Ladies, same
goes for your legs and bikini line. Aloe Vera has been used for thousands of
years and has been called a "miracle plant" for its healing properties. Watch
razor burn diminish and cuts heal quickly without any scarring. Scars will
literally fade and disappear. I believe that a growing plant is much more
powerful than a bottled gel simply because it's alive and therefore will have
more potent properties.
- USE ALL-NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS. Use skin
care products that don't create free radicals and attack your body with more
toxins. Use products that will nourish, protect, and clean your skin with
nutrients without causing irritation, dryness, acne, or any of the other
serious problems associated with almost all commercial skin care products.
Natural skin care products can be found at most health food stores.
- WASH YOUR PILLOWCASE AND TOWELS FREQUENTLY.
There is a tremendous buildup of dirt and oils from your hair and skin on your
towels, pillowcases and more. Anything that touches your face should be clean
and fresh.
- STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE. This may seem painfully
obvious, but if you become aware of how much you touch your face during the
day with dirty hands, you will be surprised. You will find acne developing
wherever you scratch, rest your hands or play with your face. Watch carefully
during the day.
- ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! There is a physical,
mental, emotional, chemical connection that enhances your feeling of
well-being and is directly reflected in your face. If you notice just one side
of your face is constantly breaking out, and that happens to be your favorite
sleeping side, try a fresh pillowcase every night or try sleeping on your back.
- BRUSH YOUR LIPS WHEN BRUSHING YOUT TEETH. This
will help to quickly exfoliate this mucous membrane, which is not 'regular'
skin--this is why your lips dry out so easily. Short of certain medications or
having been ill, your lips are a good indicator of your internal hydration
level: hydrated lips = hydrated body.
- WHEN BRUSHING YOUR TEETH, KEEP THE FOAM OFF YOUR FACE.
This is especially important if you have a tendency toward little
bumps on your chin. This could be an allergic reaction to the chemicals in the
paste, and you may want to seek out a natural, chemical-free toothpaste.
- COMBAT ACNE. If you have acne-prone skin,
STUDENT FORMULA™
INSIDE OUT™
, zinc, vitamins A, B & E, echinacea, noni, tea tree oil and thyme may all help to soothe your skin from the inside out.
Here are some many Omega 3 fish oil references, which is the key ingredient in
our INSIDE OUT™ product
- Salonen JT, Seppanen K, Nyyssonen K, et al. Intake of mercury from fish,
lipid peroxidation, and the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary,
cardiovascular, and any death in eastern Finnish men. Circulation
1995;91:645-55.
- Pheatt N, Ed. Nonherbal Dietary Supplements. Pharmacist's Letter
Continuing Education Booklet 1998;98:1-51.
- Shils M, Olson A, Shike M. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 8th ed.
Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger, 1994.
- Akedo I, Ishikawa H, Nakamura T, et al. Three cases with familial
adenomatous polyposis diagnosed as having malignant lesions in the course of a
long-term trial using docosahexanoic acid (DHA)-concentrated fish oil capsules.
Jpn J Clin Oncol 1998;28:7625.
- Danno K, Sugie N. Combination therapy with low-dose etretinate and
eicosapentaenoic acid for psoriasis vulgaris. J Dermatol 1998;25:703-5.
- Prisco D, Paniccia R, Bandinelli B, et al. Effect of medium-term
supplementation with a moderate dose of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on
blood pressure in mild hypertensive patients. Thromb Res 1998;1:105-12.
- Gans RO, Bilo HJ, Weersink EG, et al. Fish oil supplementation in patients
with stable claudication. Am J Surg 1990;160:490-5.
- Vognild E, Elvevoll EO, Brox J, et al. Effects of dietary marine oils and
olive oil on fatty acid composition, platelet membrane fluidity, platelet
responses, and serum lipids in healthy humans. Lipids 1998;33:427-36.
- Mayser P, Mrowietz U, Arenberger P, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid-based lipid
infusion in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis: results of a double-blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. J Am Acad Dermatol
1998;38:539-47.
- Campan P, Planchand PO, Duran D. Pilot study on n-3 polyunsaturated fatty
acids in the treatment of human experimental gingivitis. J Clin Periodontol
1997;24:907-13.
- Singh RB, Niaz MA, Sharma JP, et al. Randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial of fish oil and mustard oil in patients with
suspected acute myocardial infarction: the Indian experiment of infarct
survival-4. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 1997;11:485-91.
- Sagar PS, Das UN, Koratkar R, et al. Cytotoxic action of cis-unsaturated
fatty acids on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells: relationship to free
radicals and lipid peroxidation and its modulation by calmodulin antagonists.
Cancer Lett 1992;63:189-98.
- Grimsgaard S, Bonaa KH, Hansen JB, Nordoy A. Highly purified
eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in humans have similar
triacylglycerol-lowering effects but divergent effects on serum fatty acids.
Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:649-59.
- Allard JP, Kurian R, Aghdassi E, Muggli R, et al. Lipid peroxidation
during n-3 fatty acid and vitamin E supplementation in humans. Lipids
1997;32:535-41.
- Andreassen AK, Hartmann A, Offstad J, et al. Hypertension prophylaxis with
omega-3 fatty acids in heart transplant recipients. J Am Coll Cardiol
1997;29:1324-31.
- Badalamenti S, Salerno F, Salmeron JM, et al. Lack of renal effects of
fish oil administration in patients with advanced cirrhosis and impaired
glomerular filtration. Hepatol 1997;25:313-6.
- Agren JJ, Hanninen O, Julkunen A, et al. Fish diet, fish oil and
docosahexaenoic acid rich oil lower fasting and postprandial plasma lipid
levels. Eur J Clin Nutr 1996;50:765-71.
- van der Tempel H, Tulleken JE, Limburg PC, et al. Effects of fish oil
supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1990;49:76-80.
- Toft I, Bonaa KH, Ingebretsen OC, et al. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids on glucose homeostasis and blood pressure in essential
hypertension. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 1995;123:911-8.
- Badalamenti S, Salerno F, Lorenzano E, et al. Renal effects of dietary
supplementation with fish oil in cyclosporine- treated liver transplant
recipients. Hepatol 1995;22:1695-71.
- Sacks FM, Stone PH, Gibson CM, et al. Controlled trial of fish oil for
regression of human coronary atherosclerosis. HARP Res Group. J Am Coll
Cardiol 1995;25:1492-8.
- Eritsland J, Arnesen H, Seljeflot I, Hostmark AT. Long-term metabolic
effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with coronary artery
disease. Am J Clin Nutr 1995;61:831-6.
- Shimizu H, Ohtani K, Tanaka Y, et al. Long-term effect of eicosapentaenoic
acid ethyl (EPA-E) on albuminuria of non-insulin dependent diabetic patients.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1995;28:35-40.
- Onwude JL, Lilford RJ, Hjartardottir H, et al. A randomised double blind
placebo controlled trial of fish oil in high risk pregnancy. Br J Obstet
Gynaecol 1995;102:95-100.
- Bulstra-Ramakers MT, Huisjes HJ, Visser GH. The effects of 3g
eicosapentaenoic acid daily on recurrence of intrauterine growth retardation
and pregnancy induced hypertension. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1995;102:123-6.
- Leaf A, Jorgensen MB, Jacobs AK, et al. Do fish oils prevent restenosis
after coronary angioplasty? Circulation 1994;90:2248-57.
- McVeigh GE, Brennan GM, Cohn JN, et al. Fish oil improves arterial
compliance in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Arterioscler Thromb
1994;14:1425-9.
- Sacks FM, Hebert P, Appel LJ, et al. Short report: the effect of fish oil
on blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in phase I
of the trials of hypertension prevention. J Hypertens 1994;12:209-13.
- Lau CS, Morley KD, Belch JJ. Effects of fish oil supplementation on
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug requirement in patients with mild
rheumatoid arthritis- a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Rheumatol
1993;32:982-9.
- Rossi E, Costa M. Fish oil derivatives as a prophylaxis of recurrent
miscarriage associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (APL): a pilot study.
Lupus 1993;2:319-23.
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