Colette Bouchez On Health, Beauty, Style , Attitude for Fabulous Women Over 40!

Finally! Foundations For 40+ Skin That Really Work!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:54:31 PDT

By Colette Bouchez

If you’re anything like me, finding a foundation that doesn’t go into fine lines (or deep lines) has been like looking for the holy grail or the Maltese Falcon: It’s just not going to happen.

In fact, I’ve found that regardless of who’s doing the promoting or what’s in the ads, most foundations touted as “anti-aging” - including mineral make-ups - have been a huge disappointment, failing to deliver on one of their key promises: To make our skin look younger. Or, at the very least, not make us look any older than we are!

But that’s about to change, with two exceptional foundations – one brand new – that I am excited to tell you not only deliver on their anti-aging promise, my personal experience shows they will far exceed your foundation expectations no matter your age!

So what are they? Read on!

Amazing Anti Aging Foundation # 1: Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Smooth Liquid Make-up with SPF 15.

What It Does: Takes foundation to a whole new level by creating a flawless, dewy (not greasy) formulation that brightens the skin, covers imperfections and – most important from an anti-aging standpoint - softens the appearance of lines and wrinkles both immediately and over time.

Perhaps most important of all: You not only look instantly younger the moment you put it on, the look lasts all day. Unlike other anti-aging foundations which tend to dry the skin, so that anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour later, you look like you're 105 – Cliniques Repairwear Laser Focus Smooth Liqu Make-up smooths skin immediately and keeps it looking that way for hours! I found it kept my skin looking moist, plump and line-free for an entire day. I also found it helps keep blush/bronzer in place as well, with fewer touchups needed during a 12 hour work day!

What makes it work: A cocktail of anti-aging ingredients that starts with whey protein to help skin look and feel firmer while working to diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles. To this is added the herbal extract Siegesbeckia Orientalis Extract as well as Palimitoyl Oligopeptide (two of the same ingredients you find in pricey anti aging creams) which work together like a support system to plump skin and fill in lines and wrinkles. To this is added Murumuru seed butter to help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier (so your complexion doesn’t dry out so make-up doesn't settle into lines and wrinkles) as well as vitamin E and SPF 15 to protect against further sun damage.

The end result is a foundation that covers and makes skin look better both immediately and in the long run, while you get younger looking every day! What’s not to love?

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All Smooth Make-up SPF 15 will be offered in 12 shades from fair to deep. For those of you who are aleady Clinique Skin Care fans, it works for skin types I and II.

Available beginning September 2011 at Clinique counters nationwide and at Clinique.com. Suggested Retail Price: $32.50

Amazing Anti Aging Foundation # 2: Temptu Retouch

What it does: Utilizes the flawless but ultra light anti-aging coverage of pricey air-brushed make-up in a portable, easy-to-apply liquid foundation.

In fact, if you've ever been anywhere near a television studio or movie set make –up room then you know that what gives celebs that flawless, ageless look is air-brushed make-up – an expensive, but effective type of air-powered spray that deposits tiny micro drops of foundation on the skin for a look that is absolutely flawless.

While at-home air brush make-up systems are available, the cost is high – and it’s not exactly like you can tuck it into your make-up bag on the go.

Enter Temptu Retouch – a portable, sem-liquid foundation with built-in brush that simulates the look of air brushed make-up without the fuss and muss. It fact, it’s made by the same people who make the pricey air-brushed versions!

How it works: The four main ingredients are abscorbyl palmitate ,a form of Vitamin C that helps prevent or counteract premature skin aging caused by oxidation, sun exposure or collagen breakdown; Vitamin E to improve skin’s natural barrier function and hold in moisture; aloe extract to heal, soothe and protect skin and help the foundation “glide” on skin; dimethicone – a cosmetic grade silicone that acts like a primer helping the foundation to adhere to your skin for a more natural looking glow.

While the coverage is not quite as good as the Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus foundation, if you're looking to hide minor skin flaws with great moisturization that keeps skin dewy and youthful - and not have it all settle into fine lines and wrinkles - then this is your foundation.

Temptu Retouch is available in 12 shades from Porcelain to Espresso, and comes with a built-in applicator brush. Availaable online at Temptu.com or in Sephora stores nationwide. Suggested Retail Price: $47.00

So there you have it – two products that really do what they say! So no more whining – you’ll look fabulous!

Colette Bouchez is the style director of fashion jewelry house CountryDutchess.com and author of 11 books. She frequently writes about beauty and health and her latest book is Country Dutchess Cheap Chic Diary: Online Fashion Organizer and Web Address Book.

Originally published in part in Colette Bouchez’s Beauty Buzz column on Examiner.com .

New study on recurring UTI infections yields surprising results

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:04:18 PDT

By Colette Bouchez

If you’ve been using nutritional cranberry supplements to keep your UTI (urinary tract infections) under control there is both good news and bad. A new study funded by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development and just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that antibiotics are more effective than cranberries at controlling recurring UTIs. But, the study also showed that antibiotics increase your risk of developing a drug-resistant bacteria - and that could be dangerous or even deadly.
Indeed, while the number of recurring infections was cut in half for those women taking the antibiotic, the benefits of those odds seemed to change when the women were also tested for antibiotic resistance.
After just one month of using the antibiotic TMP-SMX (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), resistance to this drug increased three-fold, to as high as 90.5 percent in some women. Resistance to other antibiotics increased as well. There was only a slight increase in antibiotic resistance in women who used the cranberry supplement.

As such, the study author Dr Mariëlle Beerepoot concluded that the use of antibiotics in the treatment of recurring UTIs “should be weighed against the greater development of antibiotic resistance.”

Cranberries vs antibiotics: Study details
The 12 month study involved 221 pre-menopausal women who reported having 3 or more UTI infections in the previous year. In a double blind study each of the women were assigned to take either one 480 mg capsule of TMP-SMX daily or 500mg of Cran Max, a cranberry extract capsule, twice daily. Neither the participants or the researchers knew which women were taking the drugs and which ones were taking the cranberry extract.

The end goal of the study: To determine the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections in each of the two groups over a period of 12 months; how soon the first infection would occur after starting preventive treatment; and development of antibiotic resistance to the E-coli bacteria responsible for most UTIs.

The study result: When the study code was broken and the results analyzed researchers learned that the women taking the antibiotic treatment developed 1.8 infections over the course of 12 months, compared to 4 infections in the women taking the cranberry extract. The number of women who developed any infection was slightly higher in the cranberry group than in the group taking the antibiotic.

Moreover the women taking the antibiotic took at least 8 months to develop an infection while the women taking the cranberry capsules saw infections occur after just 4 months of treatment.

So while it may appear as if antibiotics are a better choice for preventing recurring UTIs, that assumption changed when researchers also looked at the number of bacteria that became antibiotic resistance.

In the cranberry group, between 23% and 28% had bacteria that were resistant to antibiotic.
In the group taking the antibiotic, nearly 91% were found to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Moreover, after taking the TMP-SMX antibiotic for just one month, these same women also had increased resistance to other antibiotics including trimethoprim, amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin. After stopping the TMP-SMX antibiotic, resistance levels dropped to baseline. In the group taking the cranberry capsules, there was no increase in antibiotic resistance.

What this means to you -and what every woman should do:
To Continue reading: New study on recurring UTI infections yields surprising results - National Health News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/health-news-in-national/new-study-on-recurring-uti-infections-compares-cranberries-to-major-antibiotic#ixzz1Tqu8BH6w

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved.In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Beauty Buzz: New anti-aging breakthroughs for every budget!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:21:20 PDT

By Colette Bouchez

Whether you’re 40 and just beginning to see the signs of aging, or 55, 65 or more and looking to get rid of those wrinkly hands of time, if you're anything like me you can't resist a new anti-aging product.

As the fall season approaches we're seeing a bumper crop of such new treatments, all designed to tease and tantalize us with the promise of youth and a variety of new technologies and ingredients.

The good news: Whether you have ten bucks to spend – or a couple of thousand dollars at your beauty disposal - there’s something new to look forward to.

Here’s a look at four of the hottest new anti-aging treatments for Fall 2011.

Anti-Aging Treatment # 1: Ultherapy by Ulthera

What it is: A groundbreaking new device that promises the look of a full face lift and neck-tightening treatment without the surgery.

How it works: Based  in one of the oldest and safest medical treatments in use today – ultra sound ( yes the same ultra sound that shows you pictures of your developing baby) - Ultherapy uses these same sound beams to stimulate the production of collagen - the fibers that support skin and keep it looking firm and youthful.
“Ultherapy uses ultrasound technology to first visualize and ‘see’ what the skin looks like under the surface then delivers calculated ultrasonic energy waves that stimulates the body’s healing response to lay down new collagen. The Ulthera System is creating a brand new category in beauty and raising the bar for aesthetic medical procedures, “ says Dr. Ariel Ostad, a board certified Dermatologist and Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgeon in New York City who is one of the first in the nation to offer the treatment.

Results: Although it can take up to three months to see the full results, there is no brusing, scaring, and virtually no down time in the meantime! The best part: The final result can be quite dramatic, (click here for stunning before and after photos) lasting anywhere from one to five years.

Cost: Between $1,000 and $5,000 depending on the number of treatments needed and the size of the area requiring rejuvenation.   Must be done by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Anti-aging treatment # 2: Bio Bliss

What it is:  A brand new way of using painless, harmless electrical impulses to deliver high quality anti-aging ingredients deep into the brow area – including hyaluronic acid, vitamins and anti-wrinkle peptides. It goes where traditionally creams and lotions won’t reach.

How it works:    A number of anti-aging ingredients are pre- loaded into a fabric patch into which are also embedded tiny electrodes capable of releasing a mild current. After activating the on button, you place the self-adhesive patch on your forehead just above your eyebrows and leave in place for one hour, after which time the electrodes automatically turn off. In the meantime you can do anything you like - read a book, wash the dishes, or even take a nap!

Results: If you’re looking for that wrinkle-free brow without a Botox Cosmetic injection, Bio Bliss is for you. A clinical study conducted by dermatologists revealed that with just one, 1 hour treatment, BioBliss effortlessly, safely and painlessly reduced the appearance of brow lines and creases, with results that lasted up to 5 days.   Over time some results may become cumulative so you may need fewer treatments and results could last a bit longer.

Cost: About $25 per at-home treatment – or about $100 per month to maintain the look. For more information or to purchase online visit www.BioBliss.com .

Anti-aging treatment # 3: Dream Lift

What it is: A temporary fix for tired looking eyes that uses a small drop of gel adhesive to lift eye lids minimizing droopiness, wrinkles and bags.

How it works: A quick and easy 3 step process involves removing the thin strip from it’s paper backing, applying a small amount of gel adhesive , and then placing the nearly invisible strip into the crease of the eye lid, where it acts as a kind of extra support structure to the lid. Once applied they are nearly invisible – and can be worn with or without eye makeup.

Results: The results are instant ( we love that!) and the lifts do appear to stay in place for a significant number of hours. The adhesive gel is hypoallergenic and made from medical grade ingredients similar to eyelash glue - so it’s not likely to cause irritation. While there are some stunning before and afters, the look you get is dependent on how much drooping you have and how adept you are at placing the strip in the correct location – though with practice it does get easier.

Cost:The Dream Lift retails for $19.99 for 68 strips, and is available at CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Rite Aid and many other major retailers nationwide. It is also available online at GetDreamLook.com – where you get two sets (136 strips) for the price of one, but there is an $8.00 shipping charge.

Anti-aging treatment # 4: Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Gel

What it is: A brand new type of gel-based skin care formulation designed to offer intense moisturization lasting up to 24 hours to prevent dryness that would otherwise emphasize fine lines and wrinkles.

How it works: Because it’s a gel and not a cream the ingredients are better able to penetrate the skin helping to form a kind of “moisture pouch” under the surface that continually feeds cells all day long. A combination of antioxidant fruit waters and vitamin E also help defend skin from external aggressors ( like air pollution or even the drying rays of the sun) so skin looks plumper, moist and dewy all day – without any greasy residue.

Results: Another product where at least part of the results are virtually instant – the minute you put Moisture Rescue Gel on your skin you both see and feel an immediate difference in smoothness. Fine lines and creases do seem to disappear –and more importantly, remain invisible for most of the day. The reason? Within 1 hour after applying studies show the skins natural moisture barrier is actually strengthened to prevent dryness from occurring. This is something we found most cream or lotion moisturizers can’t accomplish – at any price.

Bonus: Because it’s a gel consistency it also acts almost like a make-up primer, keeping foundation and blush from going into fine lines and causing an aging effect. While this product is being marketed as “oil free” – which seems to be a buzz-phrase for young skin - we found it’s actually a perfect anti-aging moisturizer for over 50 skin as well. You would be amazed at much younger you will look when your skin is plump, moist and dewy – and your make-up isn't sliding into those crinkly crevices on your cheeks and around ips and eyes.

dCost: Moisture Rescue Gel sells for about $7.99 for a 1.7 oz jar – available at Drugstore.com, Walmart.com Walgreens.com,and most pharmacies. Also available: Moisture Rescue Lightweight Lotion with SPF 15 - $7.99 for 4.5 oz. and Moisture Rescue Foam Cleanser 6.8 oz for just $5.99.

Colette Bouchez is the design director of fashion jewelry house CountryDutchess.com and frequently writes about beauty and style. Her latest book is the Country Dutchess Cheap Chic Diary: Online Fashion Organizer and Web Address Book. To read more beauty news click here

Photo courtesy of Photorack.net

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.
This article by Colette Bouchez originally appeared on Examiner.com

Lavender & Botox: A Good Combination

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:18:20 PDT

By Colette Bouchez

Thinking about trying some anti-wrinkle Botox Cosmetic injections, but feeling just a bit squeamish about needles in your face? Try inhaling some lavender essential oil just before you hit the dermatologist's office and the whole treatment may seem a lot easier to endure.

That’s the suggestion of a new study just published in the June issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology by doctors from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute, both in Miami Beach, Florida.

Here, the researchers found that patients who were treated to the scent of lavender essential oils just before receiving their injection for wrinkles had a significant reduction in heart rate both pre and post treatment, when compared to those treated with a placebo scent.

Although the lavender did not appear to have any impact on the patient’s perception of pain, additional testing showed those who were exposed to the lavender just prior to treatment experienced an increase in parasympathetic nerve activity – which is the body’s natural calming system.

“Lavender has the potential to ease anxiety in patients undergoing invasive cosmetic procedures,” wrote lead study author Lisa Danielle Grunebaum MD.

How lavender eases anxiety

Although this is the first study to test the impact of lavender on Botox Cosmetic injections, the calming effects of this essential oil have been used in the medical arena for quite some time.

In one study on some 150 adults published by the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses, researchers found lavender oil to be extremely effective in reducing pre-surgical anxiety in a hospital setting.

In another study published in the journal “Phytomedicine” in February 2010, doctors found lavender oil was as effective as the anti-anxiety agents known as benzodiazipene (like Valium) in reducing and controlling panic attacks without the side effects or risk of addiction.

Of course none of this is news to aroma therapists, who have been calling on the almost magical properties of lavender for centuries to reduce anxiety and help folks relax. But how exactly does lavender do this?

Experts say that, like many fragrances, essential oils stimulate our sense of smell – which has a direct impact on our brain chemistry. Indeed, people who have lost their sense of smell are often found to have a greater incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety or depression.

On the flip side of the coin, people with an “overactive” sense of smell can sometimes experience great anxiety when exposed to odors that don’t affect most other people.

When you take a whiff of a lavender essential oil the scent enters your body through the cilia – which are ultra-fine hairs that line the inside of your nose. The properties of the scent pass from here directly into the area of your brain that controls mood and emotion. Depending on the scent, this can incite any number of reactions, from a calming effect (like you get with lavender) to a stimulating effect (which comes from smelling jasmine).

Moreover, smelling lavender has also been shown to increase the brain’s “alpha waves” which are produced when we are in a very relaxed state, so in this way it may help contribute to a sense of calmness.

How to use lavender

Continue reading on Examiner.com Beauty buzz: Lavender and Botox a good combination - National beauty news | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/beauty-news-in-national/beauty-buzz-lavender-and-botox-a-good-combination#ixzz1PW088Tmt

Colette Bouchez is an award winning medical journalist and author of ten books on women’s health including “The Hot Flash Solution”, a breakthrough guide for treating hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause naturally.

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. Originally published in the Examiner.com by Colette Bouchez . This blog may or may not benefit from the products and services mentioned or featured on these pages.

Hot Flash: Flaxseed May Not Help Menopause Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:56:58 PDT

If you’re one of many women turning to alternative medicine as a way of dealing with hot flashes during menopause or breast cancer treatment, you might want to cross flaxseed off your list. That's the suggestion of a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology which found this natural treatment ineffective in controlling hot flashes.

In this randomized, placebo-controlled study of 188 women, doctors from the Mayo Clinic and the North Central Cancer Treatment Group report they found no statistically significant difference in hot flash episodes among women eating crushed flax seed compared to those who didn’t.

This finding contradicts earlier research by the same group which suggested that 40 grams of crushed flax seed daily might be a safe and effective way to treat hot flashes.

"While our preliminary data from our 2007 pilot study showed a reduction in hot flashes associated with the consumption of ground flaxseed, our new study did not result in a significant decrease in hot flashes with eating flaxseed compared to placebo,” said Sandhya Pruthis, M.D., of Mayo’s Breast Diagnostic Clinic and a researcher at North Central.

Flax is a plant grown for both it's seeds and it's fiber. The seeds are what contain the nutritional value while the fiber is used in the manufacture of cloth and paper.

What Causes a Hot Flash?

Hot flashes can occur for many reasons, but the two most common are related to menopause and certain breast cancer treatments. The flashes themselves occur due to rapid changes in body temperature - changes that are ultimately linked to fluctuations in hormones, particularly estrogen.

In fact, while most women believe it is low estrogen that causes a hot flash, in truth, it is really the fluctuations of estrogen– the up-and-down movement that occurs during the “change of life” - that is really behind many menopause symptoms, including hot flashes.

Indeed, as estrogens levels rise and fall they send an erroneous message to your brain, specifically your hypothalamus gland the command central responsible for keeping your body temperature on an even keel. This erroneous message tells your brain that your body is overheated - even when you're not - and must dispense of all this excess heat immediately.

As a result your hypothalamus gland sends a chemical message to your blood vessels to rapidly dilate and release that excess heat.

This rapid release of body heat is what you experience when a “hot flash” occurs.

However, usally within about 5 to 10 minutes your brain figures out that your hypothalamus was “tricked” by those bouncing hormones, and that you really weren’t overheated at all. This in turn causes your brain to send out a new message to immediately stop releasing heat – which is turn causes blood vessels to constrict and the hot flash to subside.

Indeed, the fact that all this heat was released when you really weren't overheated is one reason why many women experience a brief bout of the "chills" after each hot flash.

Natural treatments for hot flashes

Natural treatments such as flax seed are thought to help hot flashes by stabilizing estrogen levels, thus keeping the fluctuations at bay. By doing so, the hypothalamus gland gets fewer “wrong” messages, so fewer hot flashes occur.

Now, however, this new study suggests that flax seed does not appear to have the ability to do this - and might not be the right answer for women seeking natural hot flash relief.

What the study does not tell us, however, is whether or not higher doses of the flax seed might work, or if using this treatment for a longer period of time might change the outcome.

That said, Dr. Pruthis suggests that if you enjoy including flax seed in your diet, you should continue to do so since there it has many other healthful benefits. In addition to being a good source of fiber which can help manage constipation and blood sugar (two other problems related to menopause) flax seed can also be a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, which have other important health benefits during menopause , including helping to control mood swings.

Other natural treatments for hot flashes include herbs such as black cohash, red clover and dong quai.

To learn more about natural treatments for menopause symptoms, including bioidentical hormones visit www.yourMenopause.com .

New Way To Predict Breast Cancer Recurrence

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:11:09 PDT

One of the most devastating aspects of being treated for breast cancer is the lingering fears over how long you'll remain healthy - and whether or not your cancer will recur

Now, in a study published today in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, doctors from Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center say they have discovered a way to take the fear out of post-cancer care with a new test that can determine with some certainty, who is likely to develop a recurrance and who will remain cancer-free.

At the same time the discovery also opens the door on a new type of immunotherapy vaccine that could help prevent the recurrence of breast cancer in all women.

The discovery, say researchers, involves a certain type of immune system cell that is present at the site of the breast tumor. By analyzing these cells experts say they can decipher clues that accurately chart a roadmap of how a patient's body will respond after the cancer treatment is over.

"We know that the body initiates an immune response when it detects cancer, and immune system cells are usually present at the site of the tumor," says the study's lead researcher, Masoud Manjili, D.V.M., Ph.D. assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at VCU Massey.

But, by analyzing these immune cells in a particular way, Manjili says they can determine the overall “ "biological response to the presence of cancer,” which in turn helps predict who will suffer a relapse and who will not.

Currently the two tests used to predict breast cancer recurrence are the Oncotype DX panel and the MammaPrint panel. While they do work, both focus primarily on genes that are being expressed by the actual cancer cells within the tumor.

The new test, says Manjili differs by looking instead for the overall immune system response to the presence of cancer – and this, he says, is what gives the best clues as to whether or not that cancer will recur.

Moreover, experts say it opens the door for a new type of immune boosting therapy that could very well reduce the risk of recurrences even in those women at risk.

“Our findings could lead to clinical trials that test whether using immunotherapy prior to conventional treatments in breast cancer patients with a high risk of relapse could prime the patients' immune system, much like a vaccine, to prevent the likelihood of relapse," says Manjili.

Study details

The study involved 17 female breast cancer patients, all treated at the VCU Massey Cancer Center. At the time of treatment, tissue samples were collected and maintained at the center for seven years.

After follow-up of all 17 patients, eight experienced cancer recurrences within five years, while nine remained cancer-free at seven years.

A closer look at the tissue samples of those who developed the recurrences – compared to those who did not - revealed a specific configuration of the genetic immune system marker, could predict those recurrences with over 85% accuracy.

The researchers say the next step is to study tissue samples from a large patient population to help validate and confirm the importance of the immune system biomarker. They also intend to further test the accuracy of the new biomarker with a long term study to see if, indeed, it can predict who will remain cancer-free over a longer period of time.

Until such time as the accuracy of the test is verified, the American Cancer Society continues to caution all women to remain vigilant about breast cancer screenings including reular mammograms, regular breast self exams,

and, for cancer survivors, regular checkups with your oncologist.

Colette Bouchez is an award-winning medical journalist and author of 10 books on women's health including The V Zone: A Woman's Guide To Intimate Health.

NYC Chic Goes Parisian: How To Get The Look

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Fri, 06 May 2011 11:19:17 PDT

Printed handbags are all the rage this season! Here’s how to get the look with an extra little bit of Parisian chic!

By Colette Bouchez

What do Paris and New York City have in common – other than fabulous restaurants, great chocolate and amazing places to view great works of art?

Well as of right now they have Kasia Dietz, a New York designer who moved to Paris and is taking the international world of design by storm . Her raison d'être: A collection of unique, reversible handbags, totes, and clutches in signature prints and handmade designs.

And while the bags may be "made in Paris with love,” they exemplify the international style her home town of New York is famous for.

The bags, which are all reversible, feature a variety of signature prints inspired by many of the bold eclectic prints of the 1970’s on one side. The other side features a subdued solid printed with whimsical messages in a bold signature font. The new Paris Collection features several phrase choices which allow the buyer to not only declare their love of Paris, but also show if they are a Left Bank or Right Bank kind of gal – which, in case you haven’t been to the City of Light is a lot like being a Down Town or an Uptown kind of New York City gal!

Made of canvas and all completely reversible, the reasonably priced handbags, clutches and totes make the ideal NYC-about-town bag, perfect for shopping , running errands, hitting the gym – or simply wandering the streets of some magical foreign place – like Paris, or, say, Brooklyn!

They also make a stylish and unique satchel for your file folders or magazines and most can easily accommodate a laptop or certainly a netbook, if you’re simply looking for easy, stylish transport.

With a style slightly reminiscent of Vera Bradley designs, and right in step with this season’s printed handbags, you can have a touch of Paris combined with New York City chic in a handbag you won’t see coming and going!

Kasia Dietz handbags are made in Paris and can be purchased at ww.kasiadietz.com. Retail prices range from $24 for purses, $78 for large totes and $90 for hand-printed bags. They are also available at www.SwelleBoutique.com

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The owners and participants in this blog may directly or indirectly benefit from the products and services mentioned herein.

This article originally appeared in the Examiner.com.

Recall: Clairol pulls 10 popular hair color products from store shelves

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:22:14 PDT

By Colette Bouchez

If you’re a fan of Clairol Natural Instincts home hair coloring, you might want to skip it this month and splurge on a trip to the salon instead. The reason? Proctor and Gamble – the parent company of Clairol – has just recalled 10 of it’s most popular shades for what they are calling “unwanted color results”.

The voluntary recall involves three color waves of Natural Instincts home hair coloring products including two shades of brown, six Creme shades of brown and red and two Vibrant shades of blonde. The products were all sold in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.
The company says problems stem from a mismatch between the dye and the ColorFresh! Revitalizer packet that comes packaged with the kit. ColorFresh! is used approximately 2 weeks after the initial coloring to help revitalize the shade. Except in this instance, you could end up with an entirely different color than you had before.
Although P&G is moving quickly to remove all the affected boxes of dye from store shelves, if you’ve already purchased one, the advice is to simply toss the ColorFresh! Revitalizer.The other components of the kit including the colorant and the conditioner are safe to use, says P&G.
A new supply of the hair coloring with the correct colorations are expected to be back on store shelves by May 11, 2011.

To see if your color is on the list, click here.

Other beauty-health news
In other beauty health news, last week an Italian company announced a brand new peptide they say can stop the formation of cellulite- that “orange-peel” skin that many women and some men tend to develop on their thighs, upper arms and buttocks. The peptide – known as Silusyne – is said to help decrease the number of adipocytes - those dimpled fat cells we call cellulite - by interfering with their development.

"We measured the ingredient on how well it can decrease dermo-hypodermal junction irrergularities [skin dimples].The fewer the number of fat cells, the fewer the irregularities," says Elena Canadas, marketing manager for Lipotec, the company bringing the new technology to market.
That said, you probably don't want to toss that beach coverup just yet: There is no word on whether the new peptide will make it's way into a consumer product any time soon.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out www.CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The original version of this story appeared on Examiner.com.

Fertility Over 40: Getting Pregnant In The Cloud

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:10:24 PDT

Photo Courtesy of GreenFertility.com

By Colette Bouchez

As the effort to get pregnant over the age of 35 can increase, sometimes to Herculean proportions, any piece of the puzzle, no matter how small, is worth finding. And that was truly the case last week when one of the biggest mysteries in reproductive medicine was solved: How exactly does his sperm know where to go find your egg - and once it does, what triggers the ability to get inside so fertilization can occur. This is important at any age, but for women over 35 and especially those over 40, the answer provides more information than the question asks.

Indeed now, two new findings - both published this week in the journal Nature - claim to have that answer and more - and it all hinges on woman's ability to produce progesterone, the hormone that, as we age, can be in short supply.

Indeed, new research published simultaneously this week by the University of California, San Francisco, and the Center of Advanced European Study and Research in Bonn, Germany, report that when an egg is ready to be fertilized, cells surrounding that egg release a "cloud" of progesterone aimed right at sperm.

That progesterone burst sends out a kind of biochemical "come hither" signal calling sperm to it's side. But more importantly, the progesterone acts directly on a unique ion chanel within the body of sperm which causes a rush of calcium to move from the head into the tail.

It is this rush of calcium, say researchers, that causes the tail of the sperm to begin beating almost manically, not only sending it flying to the eggs side, but also helping one sperm penetate the outer shell of the egg and get inside, so fertilization can take place.

"We think that progesterone acts directly as a ligant that binds this channel and gates it open," says UB Kaupp, of the Center of Advanced European Studies and Research and senior author of the first paper.

In the past, doctors always believed there was some type of silent, biocheical "radar" calling sperm to egg and many suspected progesterone played a role. But it wasn't until this new research came forward that the source of this silent call - and how it works - was fully indentified.

"It was a scientific mystery -- a puzzle," said Kaupp. And now, it seems that puzzle is solved.

Vitamins, progesterone & getting pregnant

While the research emphasizes the importance of proper hormone balance in order for pregnancy to occur, indirectly it also gives creedence to a growing notion that nutrients involved in the production of progesterone - namely beta carotene, and vitamins B6 and C- might also play a role in getting pregnant.

" When any of these vitamins are in short supply a woman's body simply can't make enough progesterone - the hormone necessary to to not only build the spongy lining of the womb necessary for an embryo to implant, but now , it seems, also necessary for making certain that sperm arrive at the right place at the right time, " says fertility expert Dr. Niels Lauersen, author of "Green Fertility: Nature's Secrets for Making Babies.

Equally important, says Lauersen, is that this research opens the door to developing new avenues of treatment for male infertility

"If the new research is correct then there are at least two new possibilities behind male infertility: Sperm that can't pick up the signal being emited by the progesterone, or sperm that can't process that signal in a way that increases tail motion necessary for swimming to, getting inside of, the egg," says Lauersen.

Either way, experts say it's clear that making babies involves more than just a casual meeting of sperm and egg - it requires real "chemistry" . And maybe that's what boy meets girl is really all about.

Colette Bouchez is a fertilty researcher and co-author of the book Green Fertility.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out www.CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The original version of this story appeared on Examiner.com.

CardioSmart: Free Online Tools Help Women Beat Heart Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:50:49 PST

By Colette Bouchez
Have heart disease? Wondering if you’re at risk? Looking for new ways to improve your heart health - besides eating all that leftover chocolate from Valentine's Day?

As we hit the midway point in the Wear Red/ Women’s Heart Health Awareness month, the American College of Cardiology is offering some important new tools for not just learning about your heart health, but taking control of your risks – and maybe even saving your own life!

Among them is a set of five free CardioSmart Survival Guides - easy –to-read and easy-to-use resources for five of the most common heart problems disgnosed today. These include coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia (or irregular heart beat), hypertension ( or high blood pressure) and heart attack.

Developed by cardiologists for use with their own patients, the survival guides not only help you to better understand these conditions if you have them – or you’re at risk for developing them - they can also help you talk to your doctor about the kind treatments and lifestyle changes that could make a huge difference in how your feel and in your overall health.

In each of the guides you’ll learn what the condition is all about, how and why it occurs, questions to ask your doctor to ensure you get the best care possible, and most important, tips for living well with each condition.

"These Survival Guides are designed to take some of the guesswork out of taking care of your heart and encourage open discussion with your cardiologist. Something as simple as educating yourself and making small changes every day can have a profound effect on your heart health,” says Ralph G. Brindis, M.D., M.P.H., president of the American College of Cardiology.

Indeed, each year more women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Indeed, heart disease -and the conditions associated with it - are the leading health concerns for both men and women today. Heart health awareness is one of the best ways to protect yourself and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure your good health for years to come. If you get a yearly mammogram, if you would never skip a Pap smear, then you owe it to your yourself to give your heart the same level of attention and care.

The free guides are part of CardioSmart.com, a nationwide online program developed by the American College of Cardiology to help reduce the risk of heart disease and help those afflicted live longer and better lives. In addition to the 5 survival guides you’ll find a cache of valuble free information and tools that can make a huge difference in your life. To those with loved ones afflicted by heart disease, CardioSmart can help you to better understand their health concerns and problems and help you to help them in all areas of their life and health care.

To download your FREE CardioSmart guides CLICK HERE

Originally Printed by Examiner.com.
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For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Exercising outdoors may be most beneficial to health!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 22:01:11 PST

By Colette Bouchez

If you want to get the most benefits from your exercise time, do it outdoors. That’s the suggestion of a new study just published in the leading research journal Environmental Science and Technology – and the latest piece of evidence in support of the new concept of “Green Workouts”.

According to a team of researchers from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry , the mental benefits of exercise – as well as the desire to keep up with your exercise program - are amplified when you exercise outdoors.

Dr. Jo Thompson-Coon, PenCLAHRC Research Fellow, commented: "The hypothesis that there are added beneficial effects to be gained from exercising in the natural environment is very appealing and has generated considerable interest. By using the data currently available to us we have added strength to the link between mental and physical well-being and outdoor exercise, but further research and longer, tailor-made and focused trials are needed to better understand this link."

To arrive at their conclusion the Peninsula researchers, in collaboration with the European Centre for the Environment and Human Health, analyzed data from 11 different studies comparing the results of over 800 adults who exercised outdoors to those who worked out in doors .

The result: Those who exercised outdoors saw considerable improvement in mental well being compared to those who worked out inside. Moreover, exercising in a natural outdoor environment was associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement. The outdoor exercisers also reported a greater decrease in tension, as well as a greater decrease in feelings of anger and depression.

To read more on this fascinating study and the new concept of Green Gyms, click here.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2011 - All Rights Reserved. Reprinted courtesy of Examiner.com

Pass It On: You Can Save A Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 23:43:26 PST

Share this short, wonderful, funny, but important video with the women who you just can't imagine life without! And for me, that means all of you!

Heart disease kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined - and it is reaching epidemic proportions. And you can make a difference - not just with your research dollars, but by spreading awareness about symptoms and treatments - and in doing so help protect the women in your life that you love. Visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/ to learn more - and find a free email service to tell 5 of the women you really love, that you really love them a lot!

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The creators and contributors to this blog may or may not benefit from the products, services and information mentioned herein.

Breast Cancer: Study Says Timing of HRT May Reduce Risks

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:07:43 PST

The HRT debate continues with new evidence showing that when in your natural life cycle you begin hormone therapy could make all the difference in terms of it’s safety. Here’s what every woman must know…

By Colette Bouchez

Could the number of years that pass between the start of menopause and the start of hormone therapy influence your risk of breast cancer? That’s the intriguing question posed by a new study, published this weekend in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Here, researchers from England’s Oxford University examined epidemiologic data from over 1 million women, with the idea of calculating the risk of breast cancer in relation to the menopausal time frame during which these women began hormone therapy.

What the study found: Women who started hormone therapy five years or more after menopause, had little or no increased risk of breast cancer, regardless of the type of hormone therapy used , how long they used it, or whether or not they were overweight or even obese – both contributing risk factors to breast cancer.

By comparison, women who started hormone therapy just before, or soon after menopause began, were at greater overall risk for developing breast cancer.

“A new finding of this study, which has been little investigated previously, is that the interval between menopause and starting hormonal therapy has a substantial effect on breast cancer risk,” says lead study author Valerie Beral, FRS.

According to breast cancer specialist Julia A. Smith, MD, PhD, the study provides us with an important piece of the breast cancer risk factor puzzle.

“Large epidemiological studies like this one don’t necessarily give us answers, but they do help us understand where to look for answers – and this study has done that by reiterating the importance of timing in the relationship between hormones and breast cancer ,” says Smith, director of the NYU Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Program and the director of the Lynne Cohen Cancer Screening and Prevention Clinic for High Risk Women at Bellevue Hospital Center, and Breast Cancer Preventive Care Program at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center.

Indeed, Smith says that while we have long known that hormones definitely play some role in breast cancer, it’s in the understanding of how they interplay with many other factors in our life and our health that will ultimately give us the kind of information that we need to nail down each individual woman’s risk profile.

“What’s been clear is that there is a delicate and intricate interplay between all the sex hormones and the risk of breast cancer – so much so that I don’t believe we will ever find a single correlation that is the answer for all women; and this is why timing of hormone treatment has come to light as such an important issue – it gives us one more very important piece of the personal risk factor puzzle,” says Smith.

More study specifics

To arrive at their conclusions, the researchers looked at the health records of some 1,129,000 women in relation to their use of hormones and their relative risk of breast cancer. They compared women who did not use hormones, to those who did, and most importantly, calculated the timing at which hormone use began in relation to the start of menopause. They also looked at various types of hormone therapy, including estrogen only and estrogen/progestin combinations.

What they found: After adjusting for other contributing risk factors (such as family history) the researchers found that the relative risk for breast cancer was higher among those women who had begun hormonal therapy during the perimenopause ( the time leading up to menopause) or soon after menopause began, than it was for women who waited 5 years or more to start hormone therapy. This held true both for women using estrogen –only formulations, or for those using combination hormone therapies.

How great was the increased risk? In women who did not use hormone therapy the risk of breast cancer was approximately .30 % while the risk among hormone users was as high as .61% in those who started hormone therapy either before or within the first 5 years of menopause. The risk for those who began hormone therapy 5 years or more after menopause was almost equal to those who never used hormones.

The question that now remains, however, is why the timing of hormone therapy appears to have such a crucial impact. Smith believes it may be linked to the logic of not interfering with natural body changes while those changes are taking place.

“Giving a woman hormones at the start of menopause – a time when her body is not just experiencing a loss of estrogen and progesterone, but a decrease in many different hormones – may cause the kind of imbalance that ultimately increases her risk of not just breast cancer, but possibly other hormone related cancers,” says Smith.

“We need to ask ourselves how much do we really need to interfere with the body’s natural processes at a time when those processes are changing,” she adds.

Indeed, we have learned in the past that young women in early puberty, whose breasts are undergoing development, are at greatest risk for the ill effects of chemical pollutants tied to breast cancer. Similarly, it may be that when a woman’s body is undergoing similar kinds of hormonal shifts on the other end of the age spectrum, her breast cells may also be more susceptible to influence from outside factors, including hormone use.

“There are enormous complexities and so much we do not yet understand – but one key thing that is coming to light is that the timing of when in our natural life cycle we choose to supplement natural losses may play a critical role in the outcome, or the effects of what we are supplementing,” says Smith.

In an editorial that accompanied the study, Rowan T. Chlebowski, M.D., Ph.D., of Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Garnet Anderson from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center noted that the new research is critical since it provides substantial support for similar findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) – a massive study of more than 1 million US women. He also added that the similarities between the patterns of breast cancer risk in both large groups of women increases the validity of both sets of results. This is particularly important in light of the fact that both groups of researchers used different methods of calculation, yet arrived at similar conclusions.

The owners or contributors to this blog may or may not benefit from the products and information featured herein.

Want To Lose Weight? Turn Down The Heat!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:20:18 PST

A new study shows that keeping your thermostat too high in winter could be keeping you from losing weight! Here’s what you need to know!

By Colette Bouchez

Could losing weight be as easy as turning down your thermostat? It could be, at least according to a new study just published in the journal Obesity Reviews.

Here, researchers from the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories in England offer important new evidence that reduced exposure to cold temperatures may impact the body’s ability to maintain a healthy weight.

"Research into the environmental drivers behind obesity, rather than the genetic ones, has tended to focus on diet and exercise – which are undoubtedly the major contributors. However, it is possible that other environmental factors, such as winter indoor temperatures, may also have a contributing role. This research therefore raises the possibility for new public health strategies to address the obesity epidemic." says lead author Dr. Fiona Johnson, of UCL Epidemiology & Public Health.

Indeed, the study points out that as the average indoor temperatures in both the US and the UK have been steadily increasing, that rise correlates just a little too well with the rising rate of obesity.

But it’s not just pure observation driving the research. Indeed, experts say there is some solid science behind the idea that temperature affects our metabolism – and that in turn affects our ability to control our weight.

How does it work? Research suggests that that exposure to seasonal cold helps keep our metabolism running at a faster, higher rate than it normally does when the body is warm and comfy. And this, say experts, means calories burn more quickly and easily.

Brown Fat Vs White Fat: How You Lose Weight

Perhaps even more important, however, the study authors point out that exposure to colder temperatures may change our ratio of brown fat to white fat – a factor that could make a difference how much overall fat we maintain. Indeed, brown fat differs from white fat in that it has the ability to be burned in order to create body heat. And in fact the body stores brown fat to have as a ready supply of energy.

However, recent studies suggest that increased time spent in warm conditions may mean the body maintains less brown fat – and that means we lose some of our ability to burn calories. The end result: We can gain weight even if we aren’t eating more.

Study co-author Marcella Ucci, UCL Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, says: "The findings suggest that lower winter temperatures in buildings might contribute to tackling obesity as well reducing carbon emissions."

The idea that cold may induce weight loss is not entirely new. In fact, former NASA scientist and entrepreneur Ray Cronise researched the impact of temperature on weight in astronauts and found that being a bit on the chilly side does indeed speed up metabolism, making it easier to burn calories.

Moreover, he says you don’t have to freeze and shiver in order to see the effects. Reportedly his research found that regularly exposing your body to 60 degree temperatures may give your metabolism enough of a boost to impact your ability to lose weight.

Tim Ferriss, author of the The 4 Hour Body is another proponent of what he calls “thermal dieting” – the use of temperature to control metabolism. He recently told ABC News “If you make it cold, the body will do everything it can to get back to 98.6. And it has to burn calories to do that -- heat equals calories."

A Word of Caution

While exposing yourself to colder temperatures may help you lose weight, it’s important to remember that some health conditions – particularly those caused by heart disease – can be exacerbated by extreme temperature changes, particularly sudden exposure to cold. In some people, exposure to cold temperatures may even cause a heart rhythm abnormality that could be fatal.

That said, if you want to turn down the thermostat a notch or two, it probably won’t harm you – and it might just help you to lose an extra pound or two. And oh yeah, your heating bills will be lower too!

Reprinted with permission from Examiner.com

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Cervical Cancer: Good Nutrition, Regular Screenings & Safe Sex Can Protect You

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:11:37 PST

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month – and it packs a powerful message no woman can afford to ignore. Here’s what you need to know …

By Colette Bouchez

As we spin head first into a brand new year – and a brand new list of resolutions we’re eager to tackle- it’s easy to let some of life’s more mundane tasks slip by - especially health screenings.

Which is one reason why health awareness months can serve such a strong and powerful purpose: They remind us of the importance of taking care of our health and move us in the direction of preventive care.

If you’re a woman, never is this more true than it is right now during January, the month dedicated to cervical cancer awareness - a disease which, while it affects some 12,00 women a year, can be prevented!

Indeed, with the help of 2 important cervical cancer screening tools – the Pap smear (which looks for abnormal cells within the cervix) and the HPV test ( which detects the human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer ) your doctor has the power to not just detect this disease at its earliest, most easily treated stages, but in many instances detect the kind of pre-cancerous cell changes that, once treated, can stop this disease from ever occurring.

Cervical Cancer: What You Should Know

Though it has a specific name, your cervix is actually the lower portion of your uterus. Here, the tissue is lined with a layer of cells that develop, grow and die, and are replaced by new cells, in a cycle that lasts anywhere from 7 to 14 days. The continuing turnover of these cells is one factor that determines cervical health

When, however, due to any number of health challenges these cells come under attack - including infection with the HPV virus - that normal life cycle becomes disrupted. Cells don’t die as they should, and as a result they begin to build up, causing the lining of your cervix to thicken and change in both shape and form. This cell “overgrowth” is known as “dysplasia” – a condition said to affect between 250,000 and 1 million women a year.

Fortunately, for some women dysplasia – even that caused by HPV - can revert to normal on its own. When your immune system is strong, and you are healthy, you simply overcome the HPV virus – or whatever factor is causing the cell build-up - and the dysplasia stops.

For a significant number of women, however, this isn’t the case. For these women, the HPV, if present, does not go away, and the dysplasia – regardless of the cause – continues to worsen. Eventually, if not stopped, these cell changes lead to the development of cervical cancer, which can progress at an alarmingly fast rate.

Unfortunately, the treatment for late stage cervical cancer involves removing not just the cervix, but the entire uterus and usually the ovaries , which is often followed by either chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of both.

The Good News: Studies show that if you catch those cervical cell changes early on, not only can the dysplasia be treated but in doing so the cancer can be prevented. If early cancer is detected, treatment is equally successful.

Treatments for dysplasia or early cervical cancer can include either electro cauterization or laser vaporization (both work to burn away or vaporize the pre-cancer or early stage cancer cells.) Other treatments also include the Leep procedure (which uses electrical current passed through thin wire loop to remove the abnormal tissue) or a “cone” biopsy (which removes a wedge shaped piece of the cervix containing the bad cells).

Preventing Cervical Cancer: What Else You Can Do

While having regular Pap smears and tests for HPV are two ways to protect your fertility, since the HPV virus is sexually transmitted, if you are not in a monogamous relationship (or your partner is not monogamous) you might also want to consider the protection of Gardasil – the first and only vaccine shown to protect against HPV. Although when it first appeared on the scene Gardisil was recommended only for young women, today it is also being recommended for any sexually active middle aged women as well.

Although the vaccine has been the subject of some controversy – with some women having experienced life –threatening and life-changing side effects – to date the vast majority of who have had the Gardasil vaccine appear to suffer no serious side effects or lasting problems.

If, however, you don’t want to get the vaccine, then practicing safe sex is a must – and using condoms is essential.

Perhaps most important to remember is that good nutrition can also make an important preventive difference in protecting against both cervical cancer and the effects of HPV . And there are a number of key vitamins that can help protect against the cell changes that lead to dysplasia – or in some instances even reverse dysplasia once it begins.

Among the most important are Vitamins C, E, and beta carotene ( vitamin A) , plus other carotenoids found in fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apricots, squash and cantaloupe.

What do all these nutrients have in common? They are all antioxidants, natural chemicals which enhance immune system function. And according to experts this could hold the key to protecting cervical cells from undergoing unhealthy changes.

How Vitamins Can Protect You From Cancer

Indeed, in a study at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, researchers found that women who had cervical dysplasia routinely had lower blood levels of both beta carotene and vitamin E when compared to healthy women. Moreover, there was also a direct correlation between the amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin E in the blood, and the stage of cervical abnormality – with the more advanced cases having the more significant nutrient deficiencies.

Likewise, a previous study also conducted at Albert Einstein, found that women who consumed less than 30 mg of vitamin C daily were 10 times more likely to develop cervical dysplasia than women who consumed more.

In studies elsewhere, doctors showed that topically applying vitamin A directly into the cervix was able to reverse cell changes associated with dysplasia in up to 50% of women

Still another key nutrient is folic acid or vitamin B9. How can this help? As you read earlier, cells lining the cervix renew themselves every 7 to 14 days – and in the process continually form new DNA. When the body is short on folic acid, studies show that abnormalities in DNA formation can occur – and that can mean a higher risk of dysplasia.

Conversely, keep your folic acid levels high – at least 400 mcg per day – and you may keep your DNA production humming along in a normal and healthy fashion.

So, along with regular screenings, practicing safe sex, and the addition of these nutrients to your diet, you not only have the power to reduce your risk of cervical cancer, but maybe even eliminate that risk entirely. And that’s the kind of awareness that can make a real difference in your life!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this FERTILITY BLOG is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The owners and contributors to this blog may or may not benefit from the products, services or treatments mentioned herein.

Can Soap Be The Link To Curing Cancer?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:05:00 PST

Could soap hold the key to killing cancer cells? A new study says it just might be so! Here's what you need to know ....

By Colette Bouchez

If a group of Japanese researchers are right, the same “science” behind why soap cleans our clothes just might hold the key to killing cancer cells.

As wild as this sounds, it’s the solid premise behind a new study being released today in the journal Science Transistional Medicine. It’s here that researchers offer proof that the same method that soap uses to trap dirt, grime and grease embedded in your gym socks and ultimately flushes it down the drain, so too can this same technology be used to target cancer cells and send them on their way.

The concept revolves around something called “micelles” – molecules that develop from a soapy substance and work to actually surround grease and grime, trap it and pull it from our clothes. In the new study researchers show how ordinary detergent micelles can be chemically modified to deliver a “ drug-laced arrow right to the heart of cancer cells.”

A Japanese team of researchers led by Mami Murakami designed micelles that were later shown to have the ability to release right on target a platinum based cancer-killing drug directly into the heart of the cells DNA – where the cancer originates. Because they target the “heart” of the cancer cell, they believe the micelle delivery system overcomes certain types of drug that occur when medicines try to get through cell layers – and can’t. Drug resistance is, in fact, a major obstacle in cancer treatment.

So what’s a micelle – and how does it do the “dirty work”?

Experts say a micelle forms when certain molecules – including soaps and detergents – are mixed with water. As they form micells are able literally entrap chemotherapy drug agents used to kill cancer cells, and then carry the cancer killing drugs directly to the tumor. Once there, the cancer cells literally suck up the micelles – and the next thing you know, the damaged DNA -and the cancer - is gone.

The question of course that remains is whether or not driving the drug to the heart of the cancer cell will have any better outcome - in terms of the drugs effectiveness.

Certainly in the development of a treatment known as "brachytherapy" doctors proved that delivering radiation "seeds" directly to prostate cancer cells worked better than wide spread radiation that attacked the entire groin.

And now again, the new study shows that this targeted approach involving micelles also works for chemotherapy drugs. Indeed, the researchers report that when encountered by the micelles, the cancer cells succumbed more easily and more quickly to the treatment than they did using other delivery systems . This they say is partly due to the activity of micelle itself and partly because the micelles are able to sneak past the defense proteins that normally surround a cancer cell and frequently deactivate the treatment before it has a chance to get to the actual diseased cells.

So, is this the magic cancer bullet we’ve all been looking for? Probably not - at least not yet anyway. And there is a long way to go before we know for sure if this approach works equally well on all chemotherapeutic drugs or even all cancers. Certainly it is the killing power of the drug - and not it's delivery system - that determines if a cancer treatment works.

But , that said, it is a positive step forward towards a destination that we just can’t reach soon enough.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The owners and contributors to this blog may or may not benefit from the information, products or treatments that appear on these pages.

Study: New Natural Treatment Promises To Increase IVF Success Rate & Stop Miscarriage

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:34:20 PST

A new study found that a simple natural oil emulsion could be the key to a more successful IVF. Here’s what you need to know…

By Colette Bouchez

If a group of British researchers are right, older women looking to increase their odds of a successful IVF – while also reducing their risk of miscarriage - could be as easy as using a simple, inexpensive soy-based oil treatment one week prior to when your fertility procedure takes place.

That’s the conclusion of some new research being presented later this week at the British Fertility Society Meeting in Dublin , Ireland on January 6^th.

Here researchers from Care Fertility, an IVF clinic in Nottingham, England will present evidence that an intravenous treatment using a prescription-only soy-based oil known as Intralipid prior to an IVF procedure , dramatically increases pregnancy success rates while reducing the risk of miscarriage.

Dr. George Ndukwe, of the Care Fertility Clinic in Nottingham where the study was conducted, told the Daily Mail: “Every day in my clinic I see women who have had numerous IVF cycles all with the same negative outcome and no baby. We are now devoting our attention to finding answers when nature goes wrong.”

According to Ndukwe and his team at least some of those answers can be found in Intralipid, the soy based fatty acid that researchers say plays a role in helping a newly implanted embryo attach to the mother’s uterus and begin to thrive.

The Study: Research on Intralipid involved 96 women – average age 37 - all of whom experienced at least 6 previous failed IVF attempts. Fifty of the women in the group received infusions of the soy-based oil, given by intravenous drip about a week before their IVF was to take place. Forty six of the women received no treatment.

All the women subsequently underwent an IVF procedure, which included removing their eggs, combining them with sperm in a laboratory dish , and then implanting the resulting embryo into the woman’s uterus.

The Result: Fifty percent of the women who received the Intralipid infusions achieved successful pregnancies, compared to just 9 percent of those not treated.

In terms of miscarriage, just two women who received Intralipid miscarried (about 8 percent) compared to seven miscarriages in the group who did not receive the infusions (about 64 percent).

What is Intralipid – And Can It Help You?

So what is this seemingly “magic” fluid called Intralipid? Lest you think it’s a brand new “miracle” drug, guess again. Intralipid was approved by the FDA in 1962 to help correct an essential fatty acid and calorie deficiency in those who are unable to eat normally – either due to gastrointestinal difficulties or the inability to swallow.

It consists of 20% Soybean Oil, 1.2% Egg Yolk Phospholipids, 2.25% Glycerin, and Water . Given as an intravenous infusion it bypasses the stomach and goes directly into the bloodstream to supply the body with several essential fatty acids. These are substances required for many biological functions, including reproduction – but they can’t be made by the body. As such they must be obtained via food, supplements, or in this case the intravenous infusion.

Reduce Inflammation – Get Pregnant Easier

Although the new study surrounding the use of Intralipid for fertility purposes is new, it’s important to point out that previous studies have found that other sources of essential fatty acids have had similar fertility-related results.

Indeed, in one study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that simply adding more foods high in an essential fatty acid known as Omega 3 to the diet had enough of an impact on reproduction to kick start ovulation in women with PCOS ( poly cystic ovary syndrome) who were not ovulating at all.

Other studies have shown that foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids ( like cold water fish, flax seeds and walnuts) can encourage a healthy conception in all women by reducing inflammation that can frequently impact the production of fertility hormones, as well as cause inflammation within the uterus that could result in pregnancy loss.

Indeed, Dr. Ndukwe suggests - and many fertility experts agree - that a leading cause of infertility in women today is related to inflammation, often the result of undiagnosed immune system malfunctions. This, he believes causes an excess production of white blood cells (called natural killer cells) which he says ‘fight’ the pregnancy by triggering the production of chemicals that attack the placenta or the embryo. And indeed, abnormally high levels of white blood cells have been shown in some studies to increase the risk of miscarriage.

In fact, currently the arthritis drug Humira – which reduces inflammation - is being used by some fertility experts to boost pregnancy rates in some women suspected of having inflammatory –related infertility. Moreover, Professor Siobhan Quenby, of Solihull Hospital and Warwick University, in England, has already successfully used an anti-inflammatory asthma drug to curb the immune response in a pilot trial of women plagued with chronic pregnancy loss.

And of course, there is the old standby of taking one baby aspirin a day beginning two weeks prior to conception and continuing throughout the first trimester, to reduce the risk of miscarriage – a regimen long prescribed by many fertility doctors. The active ingredient in the baby aspirin: the anti-inflammatory compound salicylic acid.

But it’s also important to remember that studies show that for many women, simply increasing their intake of essential fatty acids – particularly Omega 3 fatty acids – either via diet or supplements, can have a similar positive impact on reducing inflammation, while increasing conception rates and decreasing the risk of miscarriage in women who do conceive.

Moreover, once you do get pregnant, studies also show that essential fatty acids reduce the risk of premature birth while helping women avoid pre-eclampsia and possibly post partum depression after birth.

Is Intralipid Right For You?

The new study on Intralipid reports that the treatment is easily tolerated, has few side effects and is relatively cheap to administer. So in this respect, it may be worth talking to your doctor about adding it to your IVF regimen.

At the same time, however, remember that Mother Nature offers similar results via foods and nature-based supplements of essential fatty acids, including Omega 3’s as well as fatty acids known as linoleic acid and gamma linoleic acid, otherwise known as GLA.

To learn more about the power of all anti inflammatory essential fatty acids to boost your fertility naturally, as well as increase the success of your IVF procedures and reduce your risk of miscarriage visit www.GreenFertilty.com – or pick up a copy of Green Fertility: Nature’s Secrets for Making Babies.

Colette Bouchez is the co-author of Green Fertility: Nature’s Secrets for Making Babies.

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this FERTILITY BLOG is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Wishing you angels...

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:10:38 PST

Wishing you angels whenever and wherever you need them!
Happy Holidays from Colette Bouchez and RedDressDiary.com (Turn on your speakers for the heavenly sounds!)

To send an angel to someone you love, cut and past the link below

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d6a45314f4441344e6a673d0d0a&blogview=true

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Older Moms, Fertility Drugs & Breast Cancer: The Legacy of Elizabeth Edwards & The New Green Fertility Movement

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:14:02 PST

No one knows why a woman gets breast cancer; but research shows late motherhood and the use of fertility drugs could increase the risk. Here's what you need to know.

By Colette Bouchez

It was back in November of 2004, when, as a nation still giddy with excitement over a presidential election, we learned Elizabeth Edwards, wife of a then- leading VP candidate John Edwards, was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer, a particularly severe form of the disease.

Now, some six years later, we mourn her death, passing as she did last week at age 61, from complications arising from that original breast cancer which spread first to her bones and ultimately her liver.

While no one knows why any woman gets breast cancer, there are some factors that increase the risk. Among them is bearing children later in life, with some research suggesting the use of fertility drugs might play a role.

As such it begs the question, was Edwards – who became pregnant at age 48 and age 50 and has acknowledged the use of fertility medications - a victim of the very technology that is supposed to create life, and not end it?

"In light of what we now know about links between cancer and late-age pregnancy, and more recently, about hormone use and cancer, it's a valid question. Unfortunately, it's one that is, at best, difficult to answer," says Julia Smith, MD, director of the NYU Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Program and the director of the Lynne Cohen Cancer Screening and Prevention Clinic for High Risk Women at Bellevue Hospital Center, and Breast Cancer Preventive Care Program at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center.

What we know thus far: The risk of breast cancer naturally increase as a woman ages. Smith says it also rises in relation to the age at which a woman has her first child and her last child, beginning at age 30. “The older a woman is when she has her first baby and her last baby, the greater her risk of breast cancer in the future," says Smith.

According to news reports, Edwards was in her early 30s when her first two children were born -- a son, Wade, who passed away in an accident in 1996, and her daughter, Catherine, now 28. Edwards was approximately 48 when she became pregnant with her second daughter, Emma Claire, and about 50 when she conceived her son Jack.

While no one is certain exactly how Elizabeth Edwards conceived at such an advanced age, it has been reported her pregnancies were aided by the use of fertility drugs – hormone-based medications used to create multiple eggs and encourage the growth of a thick uterine lining necessary to sustain a pregnancy. And therein lies a second cause for cancer-risk concern.

Indeed, a growing number of doctors now worry that when you combine the intense estrogen overload associated with some fertility drugs, with the high estrogen levels that occur during pregnancy – all an age when a woman should naturally experience a decrease in these hormones - another breast cancer red flag appears.

“Right now we just don’t know if being hit with a blast of estrogen after years of decreasing levels increases the risk of breast cancer or if fertility drugs further fuel that risk. Women deserve to know, but we just don't have the answer yet, “ says Smith.

Some of what we do know, however, came to light via the massive Women’s Health Initiative study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2002. Here research on some 16,000 women taught us that a combination regimen of estrogen and progesterone commonly used to treat peri menopausal and menopausal symptoms increases the risk of breast cancer in some women.

But does that risk profile apply to women roughly in this same age group taking similar hormones not to avoid hot flashes, but instead to have a baby?

“ We don't know one way or the other if there is an increased risk of breast cancer associated with taking fertility drugs thus far, the data has been conflicting. But it's certainly a question that needs to be addressed further, and certainly needs to be answered,” said Margareta Pisarska, MD, co-director of the Fertility Program at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles appears to agree. “

Could GREEN FERTILTY Be The Answer?

Currently there is no definitive conclusion as to whether or not fertility drugs will increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer later in life. And while it may be some time before we know for certain, many fertility experts are not waiting around to find out.

Instead, they are moving forward with a rapidly growing movement known as “Green Fertility “ - a way of increasing a woman’s chances of conception, even women over 40, using all natural therapies. Alone or in combination with a brand new type of drug-free GREEN IVF, it could just be the safe, sane and possibly healthier alternative for the millions of women struggling with fertility issues.

Included in the green fertility treatment regimen are foods which focus on nutrients proven in studies to affect egg production and release in women and healthy sperm production in men; vitamin and nutrient therapy designed to balance hormones linked to common fertility problems; and specific types of exercise – like yoga - and a moderate weight maintenance program - all which studies have shown can boost fertility naturally.

Moreover, many “green” fertility doctors now also recommend a series of Chinese herbs, as well as acupuncture treatments to gently and safely encourage conception.

"Acupuncture works to restore the flow of Qi -- your essence, your body energy -- so with regards to infertility, treatment has a calming, restorative effect that increases a sense of well- being and ultimately helps the body to accept the creation of life," says acupuncturist Ifeoma Okoronkwo, MD, a professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine.

While taking the “Green” approach to getting pregnant can help the tens of thousands of couples diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” doctors say there are some conception problems – like blocked fallopian tubes or uterine scar tissue in women - for which the “green” treatments are simply not enough on their own to help. When this is the case, the answer may lie in the new “GREEN IVF “ - a natural cycle fertility treatment that works without the need for fertility medications.

Indeed, instead of bombarding her body with fertility drugs and hormones to increase egg production and release, the new Green IVF relies on vitamins, nutrients, diet and exercise to encourage fertility and then uses traditional IVF techniques to harvest a single, naturally produced egg. The remainder of the IVF treatment remains the same.

“ According to John Zhang,M.D., Ph.D., director of the New Hope Fertility Clinic in New York City, the new natural cycle IVF is “ Ideal for women who choose to live a drug-free and chemical-free lifestyle, or for those women who, because of age or fertility problems, are less likely to produce multiple eggs, even if heavy IVF drugs are administered.”

But does it work? A number of studies show that it does! In research published recently in the journal Fertility and Sterility, doctors from Rome, Italy found that in women who previously did not respond well to IVF medications, were able to have a healthy “green fertility” implantation at a rate three times that of women who took traditional fertility medications.

The bottom line: Whether you have a family history of breast cancer, or simply want to avoid the use of fertility medications and encourage a faster, healthier pregnancy naturally, then the Green Fertility movement may be your answer.

To learn more about Green Fertility including the new GREEN IVF visit http://www.greenfertility.com

Colette Bouchez is the author of the new book : Green Fertility: Nature’s Secrets for Making Babies” ( Ivy League Press, NY, 2010).

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The owners and creator of this blog may or may not benefit financially from the content of this presentation.

Keeping An Eye On Cataract Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:37:40 PST

A new way of performing cataract surgery promises to revolutionize this common operation. Here's what you need to know.

By Colette Bouchez

I remember the first time I suspected my Mom might have a cataract – a clouding of the lens of the eye that can begin to appear as early as age 45. We were in the dry cleaners, being waited on by a pleasant young woman, when my Mom decided to pay her a compliment.

“You look so lovely in that pink sweater”, she told the young woman, “ it really perks up your complexion.”

The young woman looked at my mother – not sure she heard right - and then to me. I just shrugged my shoulders indicating I wasn’t sure what was going on. You see the woman wasn’t wearing pink - her sweater was in fact, bright gold!

Indeed, one of the earliest signs of cataracts is a change in the way colors appear. Since pink and gold are already close on the color wheel, a vision problem that blocks even a tiny part of that spectrum can turn yellow to pink in a heart beat. Other symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, sensitivity to light, and problems with night vision - all of which my Mom was also beginning to experience.

Ultimately she was diagnosed with cataracts – a problem which affects millions of people every year - some as young as age 45. Eventually, she had them removed via what was, at the time, a fairly complicated surgery.

Today, that same surgery is much faster and easier, thanks to a variety of surgical advances including sophisticated lasers to do all the cutting.

Unfortunately, however, there remains one area of cataract surgery – the releasing of the clouded lens itself from the capsule surrounding it - that still requires manual surgery, and a precise one at that. In fact, it requires such precision that doctors liken it to cutting a perfect circle freehand - about the third of a size of penny!

Now, however, a brand new “marriage” of precision laser cutting and 3 D imaging reported today in the journal Science Translation Medicine promises to finally update this stage of cataract removal and in the process revolutionize the entire surgical experience – for both patient and doctor!

How does it work?

Using a new type of 3D optical “tomography”, doctors can use scattered light streaming from the cornea to form a three dimensional image of the live tissue of the eye. This in turn allows the surgeon to clearly and accurately “mark” the boundaries of the clouded lens, ( that tiny circle that needs to be cut) and with those markings in place, let the laser do cutting – without risk of damaging any of the surrounding eye tissue.
Moreover, by combining this new 3D tomography, with a femtosecond laser - (the same kind used in vision correction surgery) the accuracy of cataract removal increases by a dramatic margin.

“"Until this, we had no way to quantify the precision, no way to measure the size and shape of the capsular opening," says Daniel Palanker, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology at Stamford University who, along with William Culbertson, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, was a lead author on the paper.

Indeed, the researchers say the ultra control and precision of the new system allows surgeons to cut circles in the lens capsule that are 12 times more precise. It also leaves the cut edges twice allowing doctors to create a kind of bio-pocket into which they can easily slip the new plastic replacement lens.

"The results were much better in a number of ways — increasing safety, improving precision and reproducibility, and standardizing the procedure," said Palanker.

He adds that the new approach also makes the operation less dependent on the surgical skills of the doctor, which in turn allows for greater consistency of the procedure overall. For those having the operation, it means more predictable results - no matter who is doing your surgery- as well as a better, tighter fit of the new replacement lens. This helps reduce the chances of shifting and improves the overall alignment between the new lens and the pupil. This can be particularly important for those of us who will later require multi-focal lenses, such as "computer glasses".

Currently the system described in the study has been tested for precision in pig eyes and human eyes from an eye bank with excellent results. It was also tested for safety on rabbits and in human patients, with a clinical trial of 50 patients yielding good results. Researchers report an accuracy and precision rating 10 times that of current cataract procedures.

Currently the new surgical approach is expected to be available in a large clinical testing situation nationwide in the very near future.

Although this new approach to cataract surgery is being worked on by a number of medical laser companies, this particular study was funded by OpticaMedica Corporation of Santa Clara , California, with some of the researchers having a stake in the company and others being employees of the company.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

The New GREEN IVF - When Science & Nature Combine, Pregnancy Miracles Happen!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:30:44 PDT

In our new book on how to use the science of nature to help you get pregnant naturally, we also feature a chapter on the new GREEN IVF- a brand new advanced combination of science and nature that is defying even the most difficult pregnancy odds & helping couples get pregnant! Here's what you need to know ...

By Colette Bouchez

If you're over 35 and especially if you are over 40 and still thinking about getting pregnant ... well you have both my congratulations and my sympathy! While the world of reproductive medicine has certainly made pregnancy after age 40 a viable possibility, I have to hand it to any woman willing to take on the "terrible twos" and peri menopause in the same decade!

But for those of you who do want to take the "older mom" plunge, I want to tell you about a very exciting advance in the world of reproductive medicine. It's called GREEN IVF - a kinder, gentler, much more natural way of performing the traditional in vitro fertilization ( IVF) procedure that appears to be having some amazing results!

Indeed, among the most popular of all fertility treatments worldwide involves the process known as IVF or in vitro fertilization. While there are many different varieties of IVF and varying techniques that are used, the basic premise remains the same: To allow fertilization to take place outside the body in an environment that is medically created to optimize the chance for conception.

GREEN IVF is based on the same premise, with one very important twist - it leaves out one step! And that omission could be what turns your fertility odds completely around! Intrigued? I thought you might be !

GREEN IVF: What It Is & How It Works

From almost the time IVF began - the first birth took place in 1978 - one of the key factors allowing this procedure to work as well as it has, is the use of fertility drugs . These are medications designed to encourage the growth and development of multiple eggs while also allowing doctors to manipulate your hormones and in a sense “take control” of your fertility cycle.

The result: Instead of making and ovulating just one egg, a woman can make many eggs; instead of pregnancy occurring from one embryo, multiple eggs are combined with lots of sperm resulting in multiple embryos. Instead of just one fertilized embryo making it’s way to a woman’s uterus, multiple embryos are

transferred into her body. All of this increases the chance for pregnancy.

And for many couples these, and medications like them, become the deciding factor that allows conception to occur.

That said, the use of these medications are not without problems – including not only an increase in multiple births, but also many side effects – including the potential to increase woman's risk for certain cancers later in life. Moreover hte use of fertility drugs can add thousands and sometimes even tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of each IVF procedure.

Enter: GREEN IVF! Indeed, as all of these issues came together, a group of brilliant new fertility pioneers began to look for what might be a better way to combine science and nature – one that does not involve the use of these medications. Their thought: The less that medicine interferes with nature, the better the outcome might be!The result of this thinking eventually led to the development of ‘GREEN IVF’ – a natural cycle fertility treatment that relies primarily on the workings of a woman’s own body to lay the groundwork for the IVF procedure.

So, instead of bombarding your body with medications designed to force your system to produce an abnormally large number of eggs in a given cycle, Green IVF allows your body to do what it does naturally – i.e., grow, mature, and develop just one egg, the “ right “ egg, the “best” egg for fertilization. That one egg is then harvested, combined with sperm, and the single resulting embryo is placed back into your uterus – in almost the exact same way it would be if your conception had occurred naturally inside your body.

Indeed, with natural cycle IVF we are going back to the future : One egg, one embryo and one baby at a time!

Now if this seems as if it would not work well for women over 35 - particularly since natural egg production slows down as a woman ages - ironically, studies show that Green IVF actually works even better on women who have not responded to the typical egg producing medications.

Indeed, in one study published recently in the journal Fertility and Sterility, a group of reproductive experts from Rome, Italy found that in women who did not previously respond well to fertility drugs, natural cycle “GREEN IVF” was able to help them achieve a successful implantation at a rate nearly three times higher than those who underwent traditional IVF with drug stimulation. Although younger women had the best results, older women were certainly among those for whom the GREEN IVF approach worked even after traditional IVF attempts had failed.

Certainly, the traditional form of IVF is still among the most popular and the most widely used laboratory assisted pregnancy techniques throughout the world. But for a special group of women, the new GREEN IVF may be just what the doctor ordered!

So who is the best candidate for GREEN IVF? According to John Zhang M.D., Ph.D., director of the New Hope Fertility Clinic in New York City, and one of the true pioneers of natural cycle IVF, this procedure is “ Ideal for women who choose to live a drug-free and chemical-free lifestyle or for women who, because of age or poor fertility health, are less likely to produce multiple eggs even if heavy IVF drugs are administered.”

To learn more about the exciting new GREEN IVF – including the success rates, which women may actually benefit most as well as other important advances in getting pregnant naturally - at any age - visit GreenFertility.com – or pick up a copy of my brand new book Green Fertility: Nature’s Secrets For Making Babies.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Vitamin News: Good & Not So Good!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:08:09 PDT

If you’ve been loading up on vitamins to combat a number of age-related conditions, this week there is both encouraging and discouraging news. Here’s what you need to know.
By Colette Bouchez

Feeling a little down in the dumps? Try increasing your intake of OJ – or any food rich in Vitamin C. The reason? New studies show this common nutrient could be a mood booster!

In research just published in the journal Nutrition, doctors from McGill Univeristy in Canada found that vitamin C could improve mood , even in acutely ill hospitalized patients.

Lead researcher Dr. John Hoffer recently said, "Patients are rarely given vitamin supplements. Most physicians are simply unaware of the problem. Subclinical deficiencies of vitamin C and D have each been linked to psychological abnormalities, so we examined that aspect in our clinical trial.”

And, in fact, the trial proved that not only are many more patients than expected low on vitamins C and D, but that increasing levels of Vitamin C could make an important difference in mood.

Indeed, using an objective scale of mood determination, researchers found as much as a 34% increase in mood after supplementation of just 500 mg, twice daily with results becoming evident in just days. Vitamin D, while important for other reasons, did not appear to impact mood.

What researchers aren’t certain of, however, is whether or not the mood boosting effects are the same in people who aren’t deficient in vitamin C – or if the effects are limited to those who are. But either way it can’t hurt to pump up your vitamin C intake, particularly as we head into cold and flu season. Why does this matter?

First, there is good evidence to show that keeping C levels high could help your immune system ward off some colds and flu viruses.

But more importantly, studies show that when we are ill the body pulls vitamin C away from our tissues and redirects it into our immune cells, where it's needed to fight off infections. While this is a good thing, depending on our body's supply it could leave other tissues, organs and cells literally starving for this nutrient.

Making matters worse: Since blood levels of this nutrient are high (remember, it's there, it's just all concentrated in your immune cells) there is not likely to be any sign of deficiency - making it a difficult problem to diagnose.

Bottom line: You could be short on vitamin C and not even know it!

The way to get around all of this: Take a multi vitamin for sure. But even more important is to load up on foods rich in vitamin C such as citris fruits like oranges, grapefruits and lemons, as well as strawberries. Veggies high in vitamin C include tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and green peppers. This will help keep your natural supply of vitamin C high enough that your body can use it to fight off those colds and flus - and still have enough left over for other functions.

Thanks For The Memories: B Vitamins May Not Help!

As good as the news is about Vitamin C, there is less stellar findings to report about B vitamins and their role in cognitive function, particularly protection against memory loss.

In a new study published this week in the journal Neurology, researchers from the University of Western Australia found that B vitamins appear to not play as significant a role in protecting your memory as once thought. This is particularly true if you have high blood pressure, a condition that has linked to memory loss.

Indeed, after a two year study of men aged 75 or older – all diagnosed with hypertension – doctors concluded that supplementation with B vitamins played almost no role in reducing the risk of dementia.

“The results of this trial indicate that the use of vitamins B6, B12 and folate for two years does not change the rate of cognitive decline amongst men with hypertension aged 75 years or older,” concluded the researchers.

It’s important to note however, that this finding is in direct conflict with another study released last week showing B vitamins may indeed help with cognitive impairment such as memory loss by reducing levels of homocysteine – an amino acid thought to play a role in cognitive function.

So who’s right?

Australian study author Dr. Andrew Ford offered this explanation: “The most economical explanation for our findings… is that elevated plasma homocysteine is not a risk factor but merely a marker that reflects underlying common processes responsible for dementia.... and that homocysteine-lowering treatment with B-vitamins does not affect the long term cognitive function of people at risk.”

In short, if the research released this week is correct, elevated homocysteine levels are not the cause of, but rather only the body’s response to inflammation linked to memory loss. So, reducing levels isn’t going to make much of a difference on a long term basis.

And indeed this is what the new study found: While men who took supplements of vitamins B6, B12 and folate experienced a temporary increase in their ability to recall information and in their attention span, the improvements were just that - temporary with no long lasting effects over time.

Indeed, on a long term basis these B vitamins appeared to have little benefit in terms of mortality or in protecting against the development of dementia.

What the study did not show, however, was whether or not these nutrients might help those already diagnosed with dementia. And indeed, there is research showing that once dementia has set in, B vitamins could help slow the progress of memory loss and may even help improve temporary day to day functions, particulary if a nutrient deficiency exists. This is particularly important since as we age we lose the ability to pull vitamin B12 from our foods, so even if we are eating a good diet we can still come up short on B12. In this case, high potency B12 supplements, as well as supplements of B6 and folic acid may indeed help those who have already suffered clinical memory loss.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The owners and creators of this blog may or may not directly or indirectly benefit from products mentioned or advertised on this blog.

Get Into Your Skinny Jeans With Calcium - Vitamin D Supplements!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:04:36 PDT

A new study says those calcium and vitamin D supplements may do more than just strengthen your bones - they could help you lose weight too! Here's the big skinny on getting into those skinny jeans!

By Colette Bouchez

Whether you’re struggling to lose those last 10 pounds – or facing up the task of tackling a 50 pound loss or more – take heart. Brand new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that boosting your intake of both calcium and vitamin D may be your ticket to skinny jeans!

In research conducted at Ben-Gurion University in Negrev Israel doctors discovered that dieters who had a modest calcium intake of just 580 mg daily, and maintained a blood level of vitamin D around 30 nanograms per milliliter were able to naturally and easily lose more weight over a two year period of time than those lower levels of both.

“Our study suggests that both higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss,” wrote the researchers, led by Danit Shahar from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.

This new study tosses a bit more fuel on the fire burning around the idea that calcium-rich dairy products can help you lose weight. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that increasing your intake of dairy based products while dieting could make weight loss easier.

But while many dairy products, particularly full fat milk, ice cream and cheeses do indeed offer high levels of calcium, and some, like fortified milk also offer increased vitamin D, the high fat content can have some health concerns. This includes not only an increased risk of heart disease, but possibly an increased risk of estrogen-sensitive cancers for women.

And, in fact, since hormones are stored in fat, cattle which are given hormones such as estrogen (and many are) will yield a dairy product that could, for some women, increase some health risks.
And some believe that’s too much of a trade – off for losing a few extra pounds.

But if, in fact, the weight loss was tied not to the dairy products, but the calcium and vitamin D these products provide, at least theoretically, you should be able to gain the benefits without the risks by simply taking these nutrients in supplement form.

And that in fact is what one study published earlier this year has found. Reporting in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, doctors found that patients who consumed calcium supplements containing between 1,400 and 1,500 mg daily - with or without vitamin D3 – were able to better control that dangerous “belly fat” seen in the lower trunk and develop higher muscle mass in this same area.

That said, an earlier Canadian study found that the weight-loss benefits of calcium supplements in women may be limited to those who are calcium deficient – and that no additional weight loss benefits will be derived if you’re calcium levels are already up to speed.

So, what’s a gal to do? As with all things in life, moderation could be key. If you’re not taking calcium supplements then certainly you should talk to your doctor about adding at least 1,000 mg per day in conjunction with Vitamin D.

As to adding dairy products to your weight loss diet, experts say if you stick to low-fat varieties such as low fat yogurt, milk or cheese, and limit your intake to no more than 3 to 4 servings per day, you can gain the benefits without dramatically increasing any health risks.

Also remember you can get calcium from sardines, pink salmon, soy beverages, oatmeal, kale and fortified beverages such as orange juice.

FOLLOW-UP To BONIVA'S BIG OOPS! Several weeks ago we published "Boniva's Big Oops" - wherein we pointed out that the makers of the osteoporosis drug Boniva suggest spinach as a way to increase calcium intake naturally - even though this goes against what most nutritionists recommend. Because spinach contains oxalic acid -which interferes with your body's ability to absorb calcium big time - spinach is not a good choice to increase bone health. In fact, adding it to your diet may actually reduce the amount of calcium you are able absorb from other calcium-rich foods such as milk, cheese or yogurt. Since the article appeared we heard from hundreds of you who pointed out that not only are Boniva's erroneous ads still running on TV, but that these same ads advocating spinach as a calcium-rich food have even appeared in the WebMD magazine and on their website - where we all know the docs and nutritionists on staff know better.

So...if the Boniva folks don't think enough of your health to make the change in their ads and give you the correct dietary information to stay healthy, maybe you should think twice before accepting a prescription for this drug- who knows what else they are wrong about? Either way, talk to your doctor - she'll know what's best for you. And never stop taking a prescription drug unless you check with your doctor first.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The creators of this blog may or may not benefit from products mentioned or featured on this web page.

Don't Have A GYN Surgery Without This Fruit Juice!

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 13:02:08 PDT

New research shows a common fruit juice could help you avoid one of the most serious post-surgical complications. Read on to discover how to protect yourself!

By Colette Bouchez

If you’re facing any kind of surgery –even a minor operation – then you probably already know the risk of acquiring a hospital-based infection can be high. Among the most dangerous is MRSA (S. aureus) – the "staph" infection that is often resistant to medication and can have life threatening consequences, particularly following gynecological surgeries such as a hysterectomy.

Now, a new study says you may be able to protect yourself via the simple addition of a fruit juice drink to your diet. And that drink is cranberry juice!

In studies conducted at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), researchers reported that a cranberry juice cocktail was able to block a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in a way that prevented an infection from forming.

"Most of our work with cranberry juice has been with E. coli and urinary tract infections, but we included Staphylococcus aureus in this study because it is a very serious health threat," said lead researcher Professor Terri Camesano.

The results, she says, were surprising – and important.

Indeed, in the past studies have shown that cranberry juice may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by interfering with the ability of bacteria to cling to the walls of the urinary tract. This in turn prevented the creation of a “bio film” that would otherwise act as a kind of incubator encouraging the bacteria to grow. With no biofilm, no infection could develop.

While the protective mechanisms of cranberries was believed to be limited to E.coli – the bacteria most responsible for UTIs - today’s research shows that various forms of staph infection may also respond to cranberries protective effects. This , say researchers, is key since staph not only can cause a UTI but a range of infections from minor skin rashes to the potentially deadly toxic shock syndrome. Between 1999 and 2005 the number of deaths from the antibiotic resistant strain of staph known as MRSA ( S. Aureus) more than doubled.

While MRSA can affect both men and women and develop after any surgery, there is some evidence that women may be more susceptible, particularly if their surgery involves open an incision in the pelvic region, such as that used during an abdominal hysterectomy. Indeed, the US Centers for Disease Control reports that the rate of post operative infection following abdominal hysterectomy runs a close third, just behind open heart surgery and a colon surgery.

A recent study conducted by the University of Nottingham in England found that in particular women undergoing gynecological surgeries were at greater risk for post operative infections.

How Cranberry Juice Might Help You

The new study was conducted on urine samples taken from patients who recently consumed cranberry juice. When the samples were incubated in a laboratory dish with strains of either E.coli or S. Aureus (staph) bacteria, cells were unable to form the biofilm necessary to promote proliferation of the bacteria. The end result: The dangerous infections could not develop.

"What was surprising is that Staphylococcus aureus showed the most significant results in this study,” said Camesano.

"We saw essentially no biofilm in the staph samples, which is very surprising because Staph aureus is usually very good at forming biofilms. That's what makes it such a health problem,” she added.

Indeed, not only can staph infections quickly and easily form the biofilms necessary for bacteria to grow, once formed they can difficult to break down - so the infections continue to proliferate and thrive. Currently there are numerous strains of drug-resistant staph infections threatening to become completely unresponsive to any drug therapy.

While this new study on the protective effects of cranberries is far from conclusive, when presented recently at the national meeting for the American Chemical Society in Boston, it appeared to attract significant interest from other researchers. So, don't be surprised to see more on this in the coming months.

In the meantime, if you are facing a surgery anytime soon - but particularly a hysterectomy, or any type of bladder reconstruction - do check with your doctor about whether or not adding cranberry juice, whole, fresh cranberries, or a cranberry supplement to your diet prior to and just after surgery might help reduce your risk of infection. While there is no proof at this point, if your diet permits it, remember that cranberries are generally healthy, brimming with vitamin C and other antioxidants which can boost your overall health and could make recovering from any surgery faster and easier.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The owners of this blog may or may not indirectly or directly benefit from product mentions featured in the text or visual portions of this site.

Boniva's Big Oops: Osteoporosis Advice Not Sound

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Bouchez) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:53:43 PDT

In a recent TV commercial for the osteoporosis drug Boniva, actress Sally Field tells us to boost bone health by eating more calcium-rich spinach. But experts say that may be some very wrong advice. Here's what you need to know.

By Colette Bouchez

You can hardly miss the commercials featuring award winning actress Sally Field. The product is Boniva, the once-monthly bone enhancing prescription drug for osteoporosis, a bone thinning disorder that affects mostly women over age 50.

But what many of you may miss – or worse still pay attention to – is the big “oops” in the commercial.

And that "oops" is Ms. Field telling us we can also boost our bone health by eating high calcium foods such as “cheese and spinach”.   So where’s the goof? It’s in the spinach.
While spinach does indeed contain substantial calcium - which is good for your bones - it also contains a potent natural chemical known as "oxalic acid" . And that interferes with calcium absorption big time!

According to the Harvard Health Letter,   “ A cup of frozen spinach contains almost as much calcium as a cup of milk, but only a tenth as much is absorbed because of the oxalic acid.”

And a number of studies seem to prove this out. In data published in the journal Nutrition Research as far back as 1987,  researchers showed that when comparing calcium absorption from women eating cheese vs women eating spinach, those who ate the spinach absorbed far less of this important nutrient.

In fact, according to what is considered the gold standard of medical nutritional information - The 50th Anniversary Edition of the text book Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease (Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins), the authors write that “ The most potent inhibitor of calcium absorption is oxalic acid, found in high concentration in spinach, rhubarb, and to a lesser extent sweet potatoes and dried beans.”

The authors go on to write that calcium absorption from spinach is only 5% compared to compared to 27% from milk .

The other calcium inhibitor is phytic acid, which can be found in things like wheat bran cereal or dried beans.

So what does this all mean? It means that if you are relying on foods like spinach to get your calcium you're going to come up dangerously short.

Spinach Is Good – But Not For Your Bones

Spinach is, in fact, a wonderful vegetable, loaded to the brim with folic acid, one of the single most important nutrients for women. It also contains other B vitamins and vitamin C and it’s a great source of fiber. So certainly, it’s important to include spinach in your diet. And personally I love it!

But that said, if you’re eating it for bone health – as Boniva suggests – you’re not only going to come up dangerously short, you’re probably going to need a lot more of their bone enhancing drug in order to compensate for the calcium you're not getting by eating spinach!

Now of course I’m not saying that Boniva intentionally wants you to be low on calcium in order to sell you more of their bone enhancing medicine.   And I certainly am savvy enough to know that the commercial in question which pushes spinach as a good source of calcium was likely written by an advertising copy writer and not a physician or even a staffer at Genentech, the makers of Boniva .

But, while the Boniva website does list spinach as a “ minor” nutritional source of calcium ... it also places it in the same rank with broccoli and kale, both of which are way higher in calcium and don’t contain oxalic acid. What’s that about?

Perhaps of even greater concern is that if the powers that be at a major pharmaceutical company can’t even take the time to watch their own commercial – and spot the misinformation – it just begs the question, what else are they overlooking, in their research, in their test results, in the production of their medications?

It could be they are spending so much time and energy on giving us the perfect drug that they have no time to watch daytime TV.   I hope that's the case. But I don't know.

What I do know is that Sally Fields is an awesome actress with a powerful voice. But right now, thanks to Boniva, she’s giving us women some wrong and some potentially harmful health information . And that’s not good for us – or good for Sally.

They say you can’t believe everything you read about your health on the Internet. Apparently the same is true about you hear on TV. Maybe we should just spend a little more time reading books. Or how about  listening to our doctors...what you think?

For the latest health, beauty and style commentary for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The publishers and producers of this blog may or may not directly or indirectly benefit from any products or services that appear in or on this blog.