Why should I take Spirulina???

Hey Everyone!

I take Organic Spirulina every day. I do so because I have a tendency to run B Vitamin deficient and anemic (I also run Vitamin D deficient but that's for another post)  So this morning as I took my pill, I thought this would be a perfect topic for my blog as a healthy immune system is the foundation for healthy skin.

So here we go! Spirulina is a cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae). Cyanobacteria are found in almost every conceivable environment, from oceans to fresh water to bare rock to soil. Aquatic cyanobacteria are probably best known for the extensive and highly visible blooms that can form in both freshwater and the marine environment and can have the appearance of blue-green paint or scum. Scum? Sounds appetizing, right? Keep reading... Spirulina is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement as well as a whole food and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form.

Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source. It is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids, when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk. It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes.

Spirulina provides docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid (polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs) in the brain and retina. It comprises 40% of the PUFAs in the brain and 60% of the PUFAs in the retina. 50% of the weight of the neuron's plasm membrane is composed of DHA.*

Spirulina contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E. It has also been shown that people who use Spirulina regularly have had their blood pressure and cholesterol levels improved.

So... I know you all have seen the green powder at your health food store and it doesn't look tasty -- but in pill form, you don't even have to taste it (wink!)...

Protect your Body... Protect your skin!

Until Next Time

-Shermaine

Smoke and the Aging Skin

I... am a smoker..  There, I've said it!  I feel like I'm at an AA meeting.  But I'm trying to stop.   Anyone who smokes knows how hard it is to quit when things are good... But throw excessive stress into the mix and it's almost an impossibility.  We know about the damage that smoking does to the lungs (I don't know what color mine are right now), but did you know it affects our skin in a REALLY bad way!  It AGES us! 

Check out this tidbit of information from The Mayo Clinic... 

Smoking can speed up the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. These skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking. The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more skin wrinkling you're likely to have — even though the early skin damage from smoking may be hard for you to see.
And smoking doesn't cause wrinkles only on your face. Smoking also is associated with increased wrinkling and skin damage on other parts of your body, including your inner arms.
While the skin wrinkles may not be reversible, you can prevent worsening of wrinkling by quitting smoking now.
How does smoking lead to wrinkles? The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin. With less blood flow, your skin doesn't get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Many of the over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke also damage collagen and elastin, which are fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely because of smoking.
In addition, repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes and the facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles.

So...  How do you like that?  Not good at all is it?  I'm cringing as I'm writing!  Let's try to quit.  We are going to age regardless...  Let's not speed up the appearance of aging with the smoking.  Maybe we can do it together.  Send me a comment and we'll get on board!

Protect your skin,
Shermaine

Strawberries -- Who Knew?

It's Summertime!  This is the time we enjoy the wide array of fabulous fresh fruits... Especially strawberries!  But did you know that strawberries are great for your skin???  Let me tell you why.

Strawberries have a chock full of Vitamin C and antioxidants which help remove toxins from the body.  Well most skin problems -- specifically acne, come from an excess of toxins and oils in the body.  So.. remove the toxins, help the skin issue.

US Researchers say 1 cup of strawberries a day are a great way to not only help remove toxins, but it's a great boost to the immune system because of the Vitamin C.

Strawberries are in abundance now!  Enjoy their flavor and their benefits for your skin.

Until next time!

Psychodermatology

Hey Everyone,

 

Let me ask you... When you are upset or anxious, do you also itch? I know I do. And because I suffer from eczema, the smallest touch of anxiety and I itch like crazy. Generally, I can use topical cremes from the dermatologist to soothe it, but when I'm upset, nothing helps... And I have always wondered why... Well now the study of just this particular condition has a name... Psychodermatology - You knew someone would give bad nerves and itchy skin a formal name :)

Psychodermatogy is a field that addresses the impact of an individual's emotion as it relates to the skin.

"The mind and skin are connected on many different levels," Mallin tells WebMD. "A lot of nerve endings are connected to the skin, which wraps around the organs, so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin just as stress can be expressed through gastrointestinal symptoms, increased anxiety, or hypertension."

So when you begin to itch uncontrollably, take a second to evaluate your emotions. If you find that things are a little chaotic, take a minute to find a quiet area and collect your thoughts. It should make you feel a little better.

Pomegranate Oil - Have you heard?

The benefits of pomegranate juice have been getting a lot of press in recent years, and the extract of this juice has been finding its way into many new skin care products. Less well known, but perhaps even more significant, are the benefits of pomegranate seed oil.  Similar to pomegranate juice and extract, the oil from the seeds of the pomegranate provides a powerful anti-oxidant benefit, fighting free radicals that damage and age the skin. But pomegranate oil is also contains Omega 5 which is the only known botanical form of Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLnA), also known as Punicic Acid, and one of the most potent antioxidants known.

Pomegranate Oil is great for sensitive skin!  Because it does have healing properties, it's great for people with eczema (like me) who suffer from breakouts from time to time. 

Actually Desert Sierra Naturals will be featuring this amazingly powerful oil in upcoming products.  So look for it soon!

Aloe Vera - Mother's Miracle Plant

Hey Everyone,

If you are like me, your mother had the infamous Aloe Vera Plant sitting somewhere in the house. As soon as I got a burn or a "boo-boo", first thing my mother did was cut one open one of the leaves and apply the gel inside. I generally liked this method as opposed to the alcohol that burned like crazy! The Aloe Gel felt cool and soothing. My mother would make sure everyday for about a week she would put the gel on that spot, and in a relatively short period of time, the area was healed. No stinging & no medicinal smell. It wasn't until I got older that I realized why it worked the way it did.

Aloe Vera Gel (or Juice) has inflammation and/or swelling reduction properties which would explain why it works so well on burns; and is a great topical application for skin with chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis as it is soothing and helps to eliminate itchiness.

 

As always...  Mama did know best!

 

 

Parabens -- What are they and are they dangerous?

Parabens -- What are they and are they dangerous?

Hey Everyone!

Parabens? What the heck is that? Why is everyone freaking out about them? Well, I am going to let you know what they are, what to look for on your skin care labels and some of the effects. As always, I am going to let you come to your own conclusion at the end.

Ok... Parabens are preservatives used to keep products from spoiling; allowing it to stay on the shelf in your local drug store for what seems like forever. Many of your favorite skin care companies use these in their products. It can be found in everything from Shampoo & Bath Gel (remember... the skin absorbs everything...) to toothpaste. Most common forms of these are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben or butylparaben. So what does that mean to you??

A study conducted by Dr. Phillipa Darbre and colleagues at the University of Reading, United Kingdom, published in 2004, showed that there was substantial amount of paraben compounds in breast cancer tumors (18 traces of parabens found out of 20 tumor samples). It was suggested that parabens found in underarm deodorants migrated to the breast cells and eventually caused the growth of tumors cells in the breast of both women & MEN (yes... men have breast tissue also!)

Many people were also found to develop allergic reactions due to use of products containing parabens. Parabens may trigger various types of dermatitis (eczema) and other skin conditions. When absorbed by the body, it is suggested that parabens cause estrogenic effects. They mimic and behave like estrogen, leading to various interferences with the endocrine system.

Admittedly, there are no hard scientific studies that categorically point out parabens as bad and harmful to the body. So far, studies, such as the 2004 University of Reading research conducted, only indicate correlation between paraben intake and certain diseases. In other words, there are no very conclusive report that is widely accepted in the scientific community. In fact, the American Cancer Society has concluded that there is no good scientific evidence to support a claim that use of cosmetics such as antiperspirants increase an individual's risk of developing breast cancer.

So... Are parabens bad??? Well, if we listen to the American Cancer Society, there is nothing to support these claims, but I haven't seen anything to completely discredit the claims either (and I've looked!) ... So, I feel, that if you are really serious about your health and well-being, you may want to eliminate placing any product on your body that is linked to studies which suggest it causes cancer. But as always... The choice is yours. Protect your skin... Protect your body...