By Susan Bowerman, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., F.A.N.D., Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training, Herbalife October 18, 2016 I recently had the pleasure of representing Herbalife Nutrition at this year’s Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo…
Different times in life call for different skin care regimens. Here are a few beauty secrets for you young ones in your 20s.
Ahh, to be young again. I certainly don’t want to date myself, but I barely remember my twenties at this point. Don’t get me wrong, I embrace my age; each new decade comes with a whole new world of experiences. One thing I certainly remember is the transition from teenage years into the 20s being a big one. It’s in our 20s when we come of age. Doors are opened to a whole new world of both bad and good when it comes to skin.
In teenage years, waking up with a tiny blemish was disastrous. In your twenties, however, you have a whole slew of new things to worry about. The first signs of aging are starting to appear, making it more challenging to keep your youthful skin. It’s time to take a look at your current skin care regimen and the individual products you’re using, and perhaps make some lifelong adjustments. It’s better to start with good skin care habits early than wait until your youthful skin looks more mature.
Remember when you turned in your training wheels for the big girl bike? Well, it’s time to do the exact same thing with your skin care regimen. If you’re in your twenties, here are five beauty secrets that you need to know.
It’s been engrained into our brains from a very young age that facial cleansing is a must. We know that it’s something that we must do every single morning when we rise and shine, and every single evening before going to bed. Cleansers help to remove all of the dirt, oil and other impurities from the skin. Women, removing makeup is an absolute must, and even more so as we enter our twenties.
In addition to daily cleansing, now is the time to kick things up a notch with a good exfoliating scrub. Scrubs are essential when it comes to getting rid of those drab, dead skin cells that build up on the surface. Those yucky, dead skin cells can clog our pores and lead to breakouts. We all want to avoid breakouts at every cost, no matter what age. In addition to removing the dead skin cells and helping you achieve the look of youthful skin, a proper exfoliation also allows all of your other skin care products to work better. Just by removing that barrier of excess skin cells will allow your serum, toner, day and nighttime creams to penetrate deeper into your skin so you’ll receive their maximum benefits. Invest in a good facial exfoliating scrub immediately and commit to scrubbing your face up to three times a week to keep your youthful looking skin.
Many people don’t even know what a skin serum is and they certainly don’t understand just how important serums are when it comes to maintaining youthful looking skin. When you’re in your twenties, consider adding a serum to your daily skin care regimen. It’s the one beauty secret all 20-somethings need to know!
When you’re in your twenties, your lifestyle may change considerably. New responsibilities arise, which means you may need to say so long to late nights on the prowl and sleeping in the next morning. You may have a bit more stress in your life and your “beauty sleep” may be compromised. It’s essential to make sure your youthful skin has all of the proper hydration that it needs to look and function at its best. Invest in a good facial moisturizer and night cream right away. Never miss an opportunity to moisturize your skin. Proper hydration will keep your skin looking young and fresh. You may have been able to skip your night creams up until now, but in your 20s, start taking advantage of those products that will deliver benefits to your skin while you catch some much-needed zzzzzs.
Before the age of twenty, there’s little attention to the skin around eyes. But, like many things in life, there will come that moment when its importance becomes very obvious. Now is the time to make the leap into adding eye products into your skin care regimen. The skin around your eyes is different than the skin elsewhere on the body because it lacks in both sweat and oil glands. That means this area of your face is highly susceptible to dehydration. Also keep in mind that first signs of aging usually pop up around your eyes. It usually starts out gradual with just a tiny expression line and then bam! One day you suddenly wake up with crow’s feet. Invest in a hydrating eye cream and/or a firming eye gel. Give your eyes the extra tender, loving care they deserve. By the time you reach the age of 30, you’ll be very glad that you did.
Anti-aging products are not just for mom and grandma. If you’re in your twenties, you need to embrace this term whole-heartedly. These words are very positive, and will surely become your go-to words when investing in skin care products. Our skin ages at different rates due to many different factors, including our lifestyle. Why not invest in anti-aging products as a proactive measure to keep skin looking good? Do it now. Trust me. Secret or no secret, this is something you must do in your twenties. You must put up the good fight against the signs of aging at all costs. Look for creams, serums and lotions with anti-aging benefits across all categories. This includes fine lines, wrinkles, spots and moisturization. You’ll be glad that you did.
Written by beauty expert, Jacquie Carter. Jacquie is Director of Worldwide Outer Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife.
When I was little, there was a guy down the street who bucked the Halloween candy trend, and instead pulled quarters from behind our ears. His place was really popular, but he also knew all the kids in the neighborhood, so we all knew that one quarter was the limit ——no circling the block and coming back for more. But now it seems that in this era of supersizing ——where more is always better and there are almost no limits ——we’ve managed to supersize Halloween, too.
No longer is it just about scary costumes and fun with friends and family. The focus seems to be more on who can collect the most candy. I don’t recall exactly what I used to carry my loot, but I’m positive it wasn’t a pillowcase ——which, thanks to its light weight and large size, seems to be the preferred method for hauling Halloween booty.
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I don’t want to spoil anyone’s holiday—but when you recognize that Halloween revelers spend the evening collecting a staggering 600 million pounds of candy from strangers, perhaps there are things we can do to make us feel as if we’re contributing just a little bit less to the madness.
We’ve learned some lessons from food psychology research that might well apply here.
For example, we know that people eat less from smaller bowls or plates than larger ones—people judge ‘how much they have’ based on how well it fills up a plate, bowl or cup. We also know that people serve themselves less when they’re dipping or pouring from small containers rather than larger ones.
So what if we dole out candy from a small bowl rather than a huge cauldron? Maybe kids would take a little less. And, if we provide our own kids with smaller containers for collecting goodies, they might be satisfied with less, too. All they really want is to go home with a full container—whatever size it is. So out with the pillowcases—and bring back the old-school plastic jack-o’-lanterns.
The other thing we’ve learned is that the more variety we’re faced with, the more we’re likely to serve ourselves, too. We tend to eat more at buffets for this reason. The same should hold true for candy. If you offer the little goblins an array of candy, they’re probably going to try to take one of each—and you might feel a twinge of guilt for indulging their gluttony. But limit your offerings to just one type of candy, and it’s more likely they’ll just take one.
You could, of course, buck the candy trend altogether, too. Pulling coins from behind kids’ ears may have lost its appeal, but you could pass out small packs of nuts, colorful stickers, pencils, temporary tattoos and Halloween-themed party favors—all guilt-free alternatives to traditional sugar-laden treats.
Written by Susan Bowerman. Susan is Director of Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife. Susan is a Registered Dietitian and a board-certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics.
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By Theodora Anagnostakos, Herbalife Independent Distributor I’m from Queens, New York and I describe my age as “40 plus 2 years young.” I’m a single mother of four children, ages 10 to 22. In October 2014, while working as a…
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By Meghan Magid, Director, Sports Marketing, Herbalife October 18, 2016 Rio hosted a spectacular Olympics, full of exciting duels, somersaults and races. Herbalife also had a strong presence in Rio this summer with its sponsored National Olympic Committees and athletes garnering…
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Did you know there’s more than one type of dietary fiber? Eating a wide range of plant foods will help you meet all your needs.
I don’t need to tell you that fiber is important in your diet—you already know that. And, you probably also know that most people don’t eat as much fiber as they should. But what you may not know is that in addition to eating enough fiber, you also need to eat enough of the different types of fiber. That’s because not all fibers function exactly the same way—different types of fibers have different effects on the body. So, just as you should aim to eat a wide range of foods in order to get a wide array of nutrients, a varied diet helps to provide you with enough of the different types of fibers, too.
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Simply put, fiber is the structural component of plant foods, so it’s found in vegetables, whole fruits, beans and grains (like corn or brown rice)—there’s no fiber in meats, fish or poultry.
The average American falls far short of meeting the fiber recommendation of 25-30 grams a day. In fact, most of us only eat about 10 grams a day, which means we may be missing out on the health benefits of dietary fiber. Fiber, of course, helps move the digestive process along, but high fiber foods also provide the sensation of fullness, so they help with hunger control. And, certain fibers also support the growth of friendly bacteria in your digestive tract.
If you don’t eat as much fiber as you should, it’s best to increase the amount you eat gradually over a few weeks. Adding too much fiber to the diet in a short period of time might lead to abdominal discomfort and gas, so take it slowly to allow your system time to adjust. Also, drink plenty of liquid to allow the fiber to soften and swell.
There are two broad classes of dietary fiber—soluble fibers and insoluble fibers.
Soluble fibers are found in the highest concentration in apples, oranges, carrots, potatoes, oats, barley and beans. As the name suggests, soluble fibers are just that—they dissolve in water. And, when these fibers dissolve, they thicken up. If you’ve ever cooked oatmeal at home, you probably noticed that as it cooks, it gets thick and gluey. That’s because the soluble fiber in the oats is dissolving in the liquid, which makes your oatmeal thick and a little bit sticky.
When these fibers come in contact with the liquid in your stomach, they swell up and thicken, too, which is why they help keep you full. Soluble fiber also slows the absorption of glucose (sugar) from the blood stream and it can help to keep blood sugar levels more even throughout the day. Soluble fiber is also the type of fiber that the healthy bacteria in your lower digestive tract like to feed on, which encourages these friendly bacteria to multiply.
Insoluble fibers also support the health of your digestive system, but in a different way. Insoluble fibers don’t dissolve in water—instead, they simply absorb water in the lower tract, which makes the fiber more bulky. This type of fiber, found in the highest concentrations in vegetables, wheat bran, corn bran, rice bran and most other whole grains, speeds the passage of waste through your digestive system, so it helps to keep you regular.
There’s one other interesting type of fiber, called ‘resistant starch’. When you eat fruits, vegetables, grains and beans, they contain different types of carbohydrates—sugars, starches and fiber. Usually, the starches are broken down into individual sugars during the digestive process—but some simply defy digestion. Beans, bananas and oats are the major sources of these ‘resistant starches’ that deliver some of the properties of both soluble and insoluble fibers. Since resistant starch doesn’t break down (and stays more or less intact as it travels through the digestive tract) it traps water, adds bulk and helps with regularity—much like insoluble fiber. But, resistant starch acts like a soluble fiber, too—it offers up a feast to the healthy bacteria that live in your lower intestine, and it may also help blunt rapid rises in blood sugar, much like water-soluble fibers do.
Maybe you’ve never thought about it, but it’s actually fairly easy to tell the two fibers apart. When you make barley soup or boil potatoes, you can easily see how the liquid thickens up—that’s because barley and potatoes are high in soluble fiber. On the other hand, when you cook brown rice—a whole grain that’s rich in insoluble fiber—it doesn’t get sticky because the fiber doesn’t dissolve. Instead, it simply absorbs water as it cooks, causing the grains to swell up.
Another easy way to see the difference is to open up a can of beans (rich in soluble fiber) and then open up a can of corn—a grain that contains mostly insoluble fiber. Both the beans and the corn are water packed, but if you take a close look at the liquids in the can, they look very different from one another. Since the corn fiber is insoluble, the liquid that it’s packed in looks watery, rather than sticky or gluey. But the liquid in the can of beans is much thicker, because the water-soluble fiber in the beans has thickened up the water that the beans are packed in.
Written by Susan Bowerman. Susan is Director of Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife. Susan is a Registered Dietitian and a board-certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics.
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Waxing, shaving, threading, and more … learn the best way to remove unwanted facial or body hair!
Hair removal is a subject that elicits strong opinions. After all, it’s something most people have to contend with – from just a few stray hairs to a whole forest, most people feel that they have at least a couple of wayward hairs that need to be managed. But what’s the best way to do it? Whether it’s shaving, waxing, threading or newer technologies, there are so many options for hair removal that deciding what’s right for you can be overwhelming. I’ve compiled this guide to work through some of the advantages and disadvantages of each hair removal method, so you can ultimately choose the best hair removal method for you!
Hair removal 101: Learn about your options
Shaving is the process of removing hair with a sharp razor to cut the hair off at the skin’s surface. This method of hair removal can be used on virtually any body part, and is often the go-to method for men who like the feel of a close shave. Shaving works best if you have light or fine hair and, trust me, a sharp blade will make the world of difference when it comes to shave quality and potential discomfort.
Pros: Shaving can be an inexpensive way to get rid of unwanted hair. Done correctly, it should be painless and shaving can be effective for short-term hair removal.
Cons: Shaving may get rid of hair, but will only keep hair away for a few days in the best case. Hair reappears faster than it would with other methods…there’s a reason for the saying ‘five o-clock shadow’! Shaving is also not recommended as a first choice hair removal system for those with very dark body hair, because you may still be able to see the hair root just below the skin even after shaving. Also keep in mind that because you’re working with a razor, you’re susceptible to cuts and razor burn.
Bottom line: If you need a quick fix for getting rid of body hair, shaving will do the trick. Just beware that hair will reappear quickly and blunt ends created by shaving can exacerbate stubble.
Waxing is an age-old method of hair removal that entails putting warm wax over an area of unwanted hair, then using a cloth or paper strip to rip hair out by the follicle. It works well for those with dark or coarse hair.
Pros: With waxing, hair appears to grows back more slowly because you are removing each hair directly by the follicle. You will typically be hair-free for about two to eight weeks depending on the texture of your hair and your personal hair growth cycle. Waxing can be relatively inexpensive depending on whether you choose to go to a professional or attempt it at home. Many people say that the pain of waxing diminishes each time but individual experiences do vary.
Cons: Ouch! Waxing is known to be painful. You’ll also need to pay attention to your exfoliating routine to ward off ingrown hairs.
Bottom line: Waxing is good for keeping unwanted hair away for a few weeks at a time. Waxing is a great solution for larger body areas such as legs, arms, and underarms, for a few weeks. Be prepared to feel a small amount of pain to achieve smooth skin.
Sugaring is a form of hair removal that’s very similar to waxing: hair is removed at the root. Sugaring involves applying a warm gel or paste to your skin, then removing the ‘sugar’ with a cotton or muslin strip. Sugaring paste is also usually made from natural ingredients such as sugar, honey and lemon.
Pros: Sugaring paste or gel is usually a mixture of natural ingredients. This can mean there is less risk of skin irritation, making sugaring a great option for those with sensitive skin. The risk of accidental burning is also reduced because sugaring paste or gel is typically applied at a lower temperature than wax. Similar to waxing, sugaring will keep hair away for two to eight weeks.
Cons: Much like waxing, there is a pain factor associated to this method of hair removal. It can also be difficult to find salons that offer sugaring as a service because most offer waxing. If sugaring is available, it tends to be a little more costly than waxing. For both sugaring and waxing, ensure the salon or practitioner maintains good hygiene standards.
Bottom line: If you have sensitive skin, can bear the pain, and are willing to pay a little more, sugaring is a great hair removal option. Hair will stay away longer and, over time, your follicles may be less noticeable. Sugaring can be a great long-term hair removal method.
Threading is an ancient form of hair removal that originated in the Middle East and South Asia. As the name suggests, threading involves using a cotton thread that is twisted around individual hairs, then pull the hair out at the root. Threading is a typical choice for eyebrows or other small areas of unwanted hair (particularly on the face).
Pros: Threading is much quicker than tweezing, usually taking only a few minutes to achieve a polished brow area. It’s an inexpensive way to get shapely eyebrows, and the pain is about the same as plucking. If you go to an experienced professional, they can quickly shape your brows to the arch that best suits your face and eye structure.
Cons: Threading is recommended as a hair removal method on small areas; it’s not an option for removing body hair. It can be very painful for men because men have thicker facial hair.
Recently, there have been concerns around the hygiene of threading and you’ll need to decide how you feel about the process – if you’re unsure, ask to watch the technique before booking your appointment. If done incorrectly, hair won’t be pulled from the roots and may instead be snapped at skin level, which means noticeable regrowth occurs sooner.
Bottom line: Threading is a great hair removal option for the eyebrow area or for women looking to remove any other unwanted facial hair. Make sure to ask your friends for recommendations or do your research and go to an experienced professional.
Depilatory creams are chemical-based creams that remove hair by breaking down the hair structure itself. A depilatory cream is applied to an area of unwanted hair, and removed after 5-10 minutes, usually with a warm washcloth.
Pros: A depilatory cream will remove hair with less pain than other methods of hair removal. It’s a quick procedure, can be done at home, and most depilatory creams are relatively inexpensive.
Cons: Depilatory cream results will last longer than shaving, but not as long as waxing or sugaring. You can expect to see hair resurfacing after a few days, though it sometimes lasts as long as a week. One common complaint about depilatory creams is the smell – although this has improved greatly in recent years!
Also, be careful not to leave a depilatory cream on for too long as it could damage the skin. As always, follow instructions and be sure to try a patch test before using a depilatory cream for the first time. Some people may find that they have an instant reaction or will feel itching or burning within a few hours of use, so a patch test is critical!
Bottom line: If you want to remove body hair quickly with minimal pain, and want results that will last longer than shaving, then a depilatory cream is a good option. Just make sure not to leave it on too long!
Laser hair removal and electrolysis offer the closest thing to permanent hair removal available, but they certainly aren’t an option for everyone. ‘Laser’ refers to an intense pulse of light, which means it carries a risk of burns and should only be performed by a certified professional. Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needle into the hair shaft to destroy the hair producing cells.
Pros: These options are often billed as permanent hair removal, and some people have been able to say goodbye to unwanted hair for good.
Cons: Both electrolysis and laser hair removal can be painful – although, subjectively, I’d say less so than waxing or sugaring. Costs can also be high and, unfortunately, these methods aren’t suitable for all skin types. If you have darker skin then you may find these options are not recommended. Laser hair removal works by firing a pulse of intense light at a hair, ultimately damaging the follicle (where the hair is produced). This can reduce or stop hair growth, but is most effective if there is a significant difference between the hair color and the color of the surrounding skin. In very light hair (white, red or blonde) melanin levels are too low for laser hair treatment to be effective.
Bottom line: Put in some research to decide if lasering or electrolysis is right for you. Know that you’ll have to be patient; each treatment must be scheduled according to your hair growth cycle and usually several treatments are needed to remove hair permanently. Ultimately, laser hair removal can be an effective way to decrease the quantity of unwanted body hair, but you’ll need to weigh the pros against time and cost.
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Even though technology has improved significantly over time, it doesn’t mean that more modern hair removal techniques are any better than ancient ones. In my experience, I don’t think there is a single best way to get rid of hair, but through trial and error you will discover your preference and the best hair removal solution for you.
Written by beauty expert, Jacquie Carter. Jacquie is Director of Outer Nutrition at Herbalife.
Find out more at: http://ift.tt/1b0P47N
You don’t need a bad hair day in your life, so let’s make them a thing of the past.
We all love those days when our hair is soft, , shiny and manageable. When our hair decides it’s not going to cooperate and takes on a mind of its own, things can go from good to bad, and bad to worse quickly. A bad hair day can seriously zap our self-esteem and make us want to go into hiding. I have on several occasions wanted to call in sick to work because of my unruly hair! Now, of course, I’ve never done that, wink-wink, but the thought has crossed my mind. Here are some things we can do to help our hair look its best so we can resist the urge to hide when a bad hair day strikes.
Stop the Hair Abuse
I confess that I abuse the heck out of my hair. I know it’s not good, but sometimes it’s the fastest way to get my hair under control. Even though I turn to heat styling and pile on products, I know that long term, I’m doing more harm than good. This is one of those times when I need you to listen to what I say, not follow what I do. And, hair abuse is not gender biased. I know some guys out there who spend way more time fussing with their hair than some of us ladies. The bottom line is, in order to have more good hair days, we must be kind to our hair.
Stopping the abuse is our first priority. Put down those super-hot hair dryers, curling tongs and flat irons, and give your hair a break. Excess heat is damaging, as it depletes moisture from our hair and scalp and, over time, can strip away our natural protective oils. The result? Hair that’s dry, frazzled and prone to breaking.
Give your hair a break from the heat. If possible, attempt to air dry at least once a week to give your hair a break from damaging styling tools. When you do use heat styling tools, use the lower settings on your styling devices and try a heat protection spray to create a barrier between your hair and the heat to help prevent damage. The sooner you stop the abuse, the healthier your hair will start to look.
Some days are so hectic that your hair just doesn’t have a chance. And most bad hair days are really your own fault. You may be better off skipping your morning shampoo if you don’t have the time to do it right.
So, you just put in the extra time and effort to be sure you rinsed all of the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair. Then what do you do? If you’re like me, you start piling on the styling agents—protection spray, hair serum, styling gels, mousse, hair sprays and shining agents. It never ends.
Truth is, the more products you pile on, the greater your chances are of having a really bad hair day. Hair products can weigh your hair down and make it look dull and lifeless. Lighten up on the products and let your hair breathe.
Written by beauty expert, Jacquie Carter. Jacquie is Director of Worldwide Outer Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife.
by Samantha Clayton, senior director, Worldwide Fitness Training, Herbalife October 13, 2016 A new study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry shows that depression and stress, if left unchecked, has unknown effects on metabolism and can even override the effects of…
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By Samantha Clayton. Samantha is Senior Director of Worldwide Fitness Education at Herbalife.
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