Swanson Health Products - Daily Tips

Fat for a Fresh Face

2009-12-23T06:00:00-08:00

Aging skin, it gets so dry. Yet when moisturizing lotion is applied the wrinkles do diminish--temporarily. That’s due to the fact that most creams made commercially tend to be mostly water. So once the skin absorbs the water, it plumps out like a balloon, but then the water eventually evaporates and the wrinkles reappear.

Yet there is a group of women renowned for their exotic beauty and their luscious skin, despite the fact that they spend a great deal of time out in the burning sun—Polynesian women. They look ageless. They look timeless. Their secret, quite simply is coconut oil. This oil is rich, creamy and free of pesticides and contaminants. It gives relief from dry, wrinkled and coarse skin. Coconut oil is found in a variety of their beauty products like creams, soaps and shampoos; it is even used as a lip balm.

Though these women spend so much time in the sun they do not have high rates of skin cancer, for not only do they use coconut oil to enrich their skin and hair, but they rub it into their skin like a sunscreen, and it works according to Dr. Bruce Fife, author of “The Coconut Oil Miracle.” They don’t wrinkle, they don’t scorch. Of course coconut oil contains antioxidants so that plays a big part in the health and appearance of the skin after use.

Coconut oil is easy to apply because being a saturated fat it is solid at room temperature. It takes a miniscule amount to replenish a dry, tired face—about an eighth of a teaspoon or less scooped right from the jar and into the palms to apply to the face and neck. Ah, smooth, glowing skin again instantly!

Can Plate Size Reduce Waist Size?

2009-12-22T08:59:03-08:00

Clean your plate. Don’t waste your food. You gotta eat what you took. As children we were all pushed to clean our plates. There was always that grim picture painted of the starving children in the world to spur us on to finish up our dinner and leave nothing on the plate.

In his provocative book, “Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think”, author Brian Wansink, PhD, says that plate size has a dramatic impact on how much we eat, and mostly unconsciously. Here’s what he found in experiment after experiment—people will finish what’s on their plates regardless of how much it is or how full they are. Plate size determines how much people will consume in any given setting. And Dr. Wansink insists that this behavior harkens back to that childhood dictum to clean your plate.

Given Dr. Wansink’s findings, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that it is recommended that we should eat off of smaller plates. A natural and easy form of portion control—no weighing, no measuring—a smaller plate could decrease the amount of food we mindlessly eat and thus weight loss would follow. However, it’s a little more complicated than that. Plate size alone does not determine how much we eat—we’ll finish the entire tub of popcorn or the whole carton of ice cream too! Commercial food marketers know well the allure of “super size” because while most people will not order two packages of fries, they will say “yes” to one super size portion, and of course, eat them all.

Another form of “plate control” is suggested in “The Sonoma Diet” by Dr. Connie Guttersen, R.D., and PhD. Among the many excellent dietary suggestions put forth in this book, like eating more good fats, monounsaturated fats that are found in almonds and olive oil for example, Dr. Guttersen recommends that you have a “plate and bowl of your own.” And, you need to measure that plate to make sure it’s no more than 9” in diameter and the bowl should not hold more than two cups of liquid. Then you are to divide your plate into portions. For example dinner would be comprised of 30% protein, 20% grains and 50% vegetables. Again, it’s a form of portion control, but it’s far less intrusive and clinical than the scale, or the measuring cup, or the measuring spoons. If plate control can translate to waist control then it’s an easy and valuable tool to employ.

Sing a Song for Immune Health

2009-12-21T06:00:00-08:00

You always knew singing in the car or shower made you feel good. There’s something about belting out a favorite tune that takes over your soul and rejuvenates it. But there may be some science behind this feeling of “healthy rejuvenation” that takes singing beyond mere metaphysical therapy. Singing out loud may actually boost your immune system. That’s right! It stimulates deep breathing, which increases the amount of health-boosting oxygen in your system. Research has also shown that singing can boost your blood’s level of immune cells. So, sing like there’s no tomorrow and belt out our favorite tunes as if no one were watching. It may boost your physical, as well as your mental well-being.

Make Your Own Minty Bath Bomb

2009-12-20T06:00:00-08:00

The October 26^th issue of “Woman’s World” magazine offered some tantalizing tips and homemade recipes to crank up the relaxation factor of bath time. Taking a hot warm bath is one of the oldest tricks in the book for decompressing, de-stressing and plain old relaxing. But there was one homegrown recipe that was too fun not to share: homemade minty bath bombs. Here’s how to make your own version of the fizzy, chalky tablets that maximize bath time decadence.

Ingredients:

· 1 cup baking soda

· 1 cup citric acid

· ½ cup cornstarch

· ½ cup light oil, such as sunflower or almond

· 2-4 Tbs. chopped mint or herbs from 2-4 mint tea bags

· 2 muffin tins or 2 ice-cube trays

Directions: Stir all ingredients until they form a crumbly dough-like mixture. Pack the mixture into the muffin tins or ice-cube trays. Let the bath bombs set overnight. Tap the bottom of the tin or trays to remove the bombs, hopefully in one piece, then let air-dry for at least a few hours. Then just plop one or two into a tub of warm water and enjoy the fizzy, minty experience. Store the rest in a plastic bag or resealable storage container and they’ll keep indefinitely.

Source: Woman’s World magazine, October 26^th, 2009

Make the Pain in Your Head Disappear

2009-12-19T06:00:00-08:00

Headaches are silent but can be severely debilitating. Whether a painful migraine or slight throb in the forehead, headaches can make it extremely hard for you to focus or go about your daily life. There are several things that can trigger headaches and migraines, including lack of sleep, too much caffeine or caffeine withdrawal, food allergies, eyestrain, fevers, low blood sugar, temperature and emotions.

The good news is that there are several vitamins and supplements, along with other remedies, that can help ease headaches and migraines. Getting enough rest, avoiding stress and tension can help prevent or reduce the frequency of headaches. Avoid foods and drinks that can trigger your headaches. Common culprits are food additives and salt. Also avoid perfumes and perfumed products as these can cause your headaches and can trigger headaches in the people around you. Taking potassium, evening primrose oil, along with vitamins B6, B3, C and E can also help. So can adding fresh ginger to your food. If you feel a migraine coming on, splash cold water on your face, turn off lights, lie down in a quiet place and close your eyes. Resting and sleep can sometimes help, as can applying a hot compress to your forehead.

Natural Ways to Kick Colds to the Curb

2009-12-18T06:00:00-08:00

It’s one of those big annoyances: a cold. It’s the sniffling, sneezing, coughing and all around miserable feeling illnesses that there is no cure for. Sure, there are several products on the store shelf that promise to relieve your symptoms, but there are some natural remedies that can provide relief and save your money.

First, rest up. Sleeping and resting will provide your body with energy to focus on fighting off the cold. Prop your head up with an extra pillow to help drain your nose. Take a nice, hot shower. The steam will moisturize your nasal passages and make you feel relaxed. Applying a hot or cold pack on your sinuses can help you feel more comfortable, too. Drinking hot liquids also helps relieve congestion and soothe your nose and throat, while keeping you hydrated. For sore throats, try a salt and warm water gargle, which will moisten them. Spreading menthol salves under the nose can help open up your nose and soothe skin that has been irritated by blowing and rubbing your nose. Using these remedies can help you feel better as you fight off your cold.

Source: WebMD

Wash Your Hands the Right Way

2009-12-17T06:00:00-08:00

Keeping your hands clean is one of the biggest and best things your can do to keep yourself from getting sick. Touching puts our health at risk because germs can live on all kinds of surfaces, and dirty hands puts us at risk for coming down with everything from a cold to the flu to an infection. The Centers for Disease Control recommends hand washing to prevent the spread of infection and illnesses. It’s so simple and easy to slow down the spread of illness by keeping hands clean. But are you practicing correct hand hygiene? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to properly wash your hands.

How to Wash Your Hands:

1. Wet your hands with warm water.

2. Apply soap and rub your hands together, making sure to scrub and lather all surfaces.

3. Continue rubbing for 15 to 20 seconds.

4. Rinse your hands under the water.

5. Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer. If possible, use a towel to turn off the faucet.

If soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizers will help reduce the number of germs on your hands. Just squirt some on your hands and keep rubbing it all over until they’re dry.

Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

2009-12-16T06:00:00-08:00

It one of the best things about the holiday season: food. From turkey to stuffing to pumpkin pie to festive decorated cookies, food is everywhere. It’s difficult to stick to diet plans when surrounded my mouth-watering meals at parties and different treats every day at the office. You don’t need a Christmas miracle to avoid holiday weight gain. You just need to keep these tips in mind.

Plan ahead. Eat a light, healthy snack before parties so you aren’t famished and don’t go overboard at the buffet.
Eat only when you’re hungry. Put only foods you want on your plate and eat slow. When you’re full, pop a mint in your mouth or sip water so while everyone around you is eating, you can have something in your hands or mouth.
Choose your beverage wisely. Alcohol is high in calories, so limit your intake of drinks. Watch out for soda, fruit punch and eggnog since these are packed with calories, too.
Exercise every day. Busy schedules often make us put exercising on the back burner, but physical activity can help burn extra calories, regulate appetite and can relieve stress.

Keep meals and snacks in perspective. One cookie will not make or break your diet and one big meal won’t make you gain weight. Overindulging on food and snacks day after day is what makes the scale numbers go up. Following these tips will help you keep your waistline in check this holiday season.

Source: UCLA Resource Handout

How to Have a Healthy Holiday Season

2009-12-15T06:00:00-08:00

It’s the time of year when it seems you have more things to do than time to do them in. Between the shopping, parties and baking, stress is high this time of year, sleep is hard to come by and junk food is plentiful. Plus being around crowded shopping malls and holiday events exposes you to all sorts of germs. All of these things can put your immune system at risk.

There are several things you can do to promote good health during the holiday season. First, stick to a sleep schedule. Taking on too much can also affect your sleep and stress level. You’re only one person and can’t do everything and be everywhere. Try only doing what you want to do, not what you feel obligated to do and ask for help when you need it. Make sure to set aside time to relax and rejuvenate your body and mind; whether it’s by reading, taking a bath or watching one of the countless holiday television specials.

Take a multivitamin and add in extra vitamin C can also give your immune system a boost. Remember to wash your hands frequently, especially when you’re out shopping in stores that are crowded with people and germs. While it may seem easier to grab some fast food in between shopping stops or to grab a handful of cookies, make sure you’re giving your body healthy, nutritious food to feed the immune system and promote overall health. Don’t forget to save time for exercising. It helps you feel refreshed and healthy.

No one wants to be sick over the holidays. Making sure to sleep, eat right and avoid germs can all help bolster your immune system during the hustle and bustle of the season.

Boutique Beauty Products

2009-12-14T06:00:00-08:00

Feeling the holiday shopping pressure? Don’t know what to get for your besties that have it all? How about making them specialty beauty products, à la you.

Natural Hair Care - Natural Coconut Honey Deep Conditioner for Hair

Ingredients:

4 tbls Coconut oil (Swanson Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil)
2 tbls Natural honey (Y.S. Organic Bee Farm Raw Honey)

Directions:

Place coconut oil and honey in a small plastic bag, seal the bag and place in a hot cup of water for one minute to warm through. Apply to hair and wrap in a towel for 20 minutes. Wash and dry hair as usual.

Natural Lip Balm – Natural Aloe Vera Lip Balm

Ingredients:

1 tsp. Aloe Vera Gel (Swanson Premium Aloe Vera While Gel)
1/2 tsp. coconut oil (Swanson Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil)
1 tsp. petroleum jelly (Un-Petroleum Multi Purpose Jelly)

Directions:

Combine the ingredients in a small glass bowl until well mixed. Heat for approximately 2 minutes in the microwave. Stir and pour into a small, sealable container. Let cool completely before use.