Love the Skin You're In

When it comes to skin care advice, there is often a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Well, no more. Whether you live in a hot climate or cold, or if you have maturing skin or tattooed, we'll give you the best advice to protect your outermost layer.

Winter Skin Worries
Not only does cold air contain minimal moisture, which can cause drier skin and increased itchiness in normal skin types, it has a greater impact on aging skin, and people with health concerns like psoriasis and eczema, by exacerbating the symptoms.

Dry, Itchy Skin
To prevent dry, itchy skin, avoid taking lengthy or overly hot showers or baths. Try using a less abrasive soap, such as a non-soap cleanser, suggests the AAD, and apply moisturizers with lipids right after bathing. If your dry, scaly skin is a chronic occurrence, you may have eczema or atopic dermatis -- find out more about this skin condition's symptoms.

Stressed? Your Skin Needs TLC Too
When you worry, your body's stress hormone, cortisol, rises, which in turn can cause oily skin and acne outbreaks, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Other nasty byproducts of stress can include an increased risk of skin cancer and slower healing wounds.

Pregnant Precautions
Of course you're curious about stretch marks. According to the AAD, odds are stacked against you -- about 90 percent of women get them -- typically during the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. The good news? Moisturizer can improve the appearance of stretch marks and reduce itchiness. Sunless tanning products can hide them altogether, says the AAD. Prescription treatment creams or laser therapy are other options. Pregnant women may also have issues with itchy palms and soles. The AAD recommends switching to a fragrance-free non-soap cleanser or try using a chilled over-the-counter mentholated or oatmeal-based moisturizer to soothe the itch.

What Are Those Dark Patches?
Melasma, or hyperpigmentation, is the name you're looking for to describe those darker patches of skin on your face. They're typically found on the forehead, cheeks and above the upper lip and occur in women more often than in men, according to Harvard Health Publications. These marks are usually associated with hormonal changes, which is why pregnant women or women taking hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives may develop them. The AAD recommends wearing SPF 15 or higher to prevent the patches from growing darker. The spots can be concealed with makeup or treated with prescriptions.

Beat Breakouts
Adults with acne: the news is grim. According to the AAD, you can keep producing pimples into your 50s. Three factors contribute to adult outbreaks -- overproduction of oil, blockage of the hair follicles that release the oil, and bacteria growth, says the AAD. To prevent scars: do not pop or squeeze your zits. Wash with mild soap and warm water, but avoid vigorous scrubbing -- this can worsen the acne -- and alcohol-based astringents which strip your skin of natural moistures, says the AAD. Look for oil-free cosmetics and sunscreens. Medications are available too.

Fragrance Foul Ups
About two percent of Americans are allergic to fragrance, a component of most beauty products out there -- if you notice a skin reaction, try a hypoallergenic or fragrance-free version of the product.

Mature Skin: What to Watch for
As you age, time takes a toll on both the outer layer (epidermis) and inner layers of skin, meaning your skin is less able to retain moisture and protect against bruising, scarring, dryness and the sun's damaging ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, according to the AAD. You also lose collagen and tissues that keep the skin firm and protect against injury.

Cosmetic Complications
Immediately after getting a tattoo there are several complications you could have, including a skin infection, staph infection, or soft tissue infection. For the first 24 hours after the procedure, your tattoo may be swollen or ooze blood or clear, yellow fluid. However, if the fluid changes to creamy yellow, brown, red, or becomes pus-like, it may be the sign of infection. For piercings, a common problem is an itchy, red skin reaction -- or hypersensitivity to the nickel found in some jewelry. If this occurs, try wearing stainless steel, platinum, or gold jewelry. Hypersensitivity to tattoo pigments also may develop, but this occurrence is rare.

Caution: Hot Temperatures!
Hot and humid temperatures can really give your sweat glands a workout -- which can be a problem. As you age, your sweat glands take longer to produce sweat, meaning it takes you longer to cool off on a hot day. Seniors should pay particular attention to heat advisories. Muggy weather also affects the skin of infants and adults alike in the form of heat rash -- a red or pink rash that develops when sweat ducts are blocked or swollen.

Skin Cancer Prevention
To defend against skin cancer, wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. The AAD recommends adults do annual or semi-annual full body skin exams, either through self-examination or with a dermatologist -- checking for any new or unusual moles, marks, bumps or other changes. A recent study published in the May 2008 issue of the 'Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology' found that couples who perform skin self-examinations for each other increase their chances of finding a new melanoma earlier.

Not out of the Clear
"Anyone, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, can develop skin cancer, so it is important to practice sun safety," says the AAD. The difficulty is in diagnosing it, because the typical signs can be found between the toes or on the scalp. Melanoma is often left undiagnosed in people of darker skin tones until after the cancer has already spread. The AAD recommends that people with skin of color practice regular skin self-examinations and learn how to identify unusual moles or other signs of skin cancer.

Toxic Tanning
Yes, if you didn't know already, indoor tanning exposes your skin to what the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has declared a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). A majority of tanning-booth patrons are young women -- which may further their skin cancer risk. According to the AAD, a Swedish study presents strong evidence that indoor tanning, especially at a young age, increases the risk of melanoma. Other complications include skin aging, weakened immunity, and eye damage, including cataracts and ocular melanoma.

No Need to Get Red in the Face
Rosacea, a skin condition characterized by facial redness, affects nearly 14 million Americans and is often confused with adult acne because it affects people between the ages of 30 and 60 and its symptoms can include acne flare ups. Rosacea grows worse over time and is generally cyclic, peaking for weeks to months and then clearing up. Current treatments are often not effective at curing or reversing any skin damage, but medications can help control symptoms and prevent worsening.

Best Care for Psoriasis
People with psoriasis have skin cells whose rapid growth results in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Typical skin cells are shed every four weeks, while people with psoriasis produce new skin cells in a matter of days, giving that rash appearance. There is no cure for this skin condition, but medical treatment and medicines are available.



Source: AOL Health

Boost Your Mental EQ

Get your mind going with some cerebral quick starters

"Use it or lose it" certainly applies to your mind. If you challenge yourself by doing crossword puzzles, memorizing poems, or learning a new language for that trip abroad, you're more likely to feel--and stay--mentally sharp. Take a look at the following four tips that can also keep your mental motor revved.

Go for Green Tea. It's a much better pick-me-up than your typical Starbucks latte. The reason? Although it does have some energizing caffeine, it also contains theanine, a compound that has a stress-reducing effect on your brain. "It calms you while giving you mental clarity," says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic.

Have Bran for Breakfast. Eating a morning meal rich in fiber may make you more alert during the day. A recent study done at Cardiff University in Wales found that subjects who ate a high-fiber cereal in the morning showed a 10 percent reduction in fatigue, lower incidence of depression, and better cognitive skills. One theory: Fiber helps slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, so you have more energy for a longer period of time.

Pop a Peppermint. Oils in the peppermint plant increase alertness by stimulating your trigeminal nerve, "which is the same nerve that's activated when you revive someone with smelling salts," says Alan Hirsch, MD, director of the Smell and Taste Treatment Foundation in Chicago. Mints also contain menthol, which makes you feel cooler and more awake.

Rearrange Your Office Furniture. Think about it: Suddenly you can't just reach for the wastebasket unconsciously; you have to stop and flex your mental muscles to find where it is. You can also try taking a different route to work. These non-routine actions activate seldom-used nerve connections in your brain, to help strengthen and improve memory and make you less likely to succumb to fatigue.


Source: AOL Health

20 Superfoods For Weight Loss

Eat More, Lose Weight
It's time for a new slim-down mantra: Eat more to weigh less. No joke! The right foods help you drop pounds by revving up your calorie burn and curbing cravings. We consulted top experts for the best picks and asked leading chefs for easy, tasty ways to prepare them. Add these eats to your plate today, and you'll be slimmer and healthier in no time!

Eggs
Dig into eggs, yolks and all: They won't harm your heart, but they can help you trim inches. Women on a low-calorie diet who ate an egg with toast and jelly each morning lost twice as many pounds as those who had a bagel breakfast with the same number of calories but no eggs, a study from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge reports. "Egg protein is filling, so you eat less later in the day," says David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life (Bantam).

Eat more: Omelettes and scrambles are obvious choices, but if you can't cook before work, bake a frittata on Sunday; chill it and nuke slices for up to a week.

Chiles
One reason to spice up your meals: You'll crank up your metabolism. "A compound in chiles called capsaicin has a thermogenic effect, meaning it causes the body to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chiles," Zuckerbrot explains. Plus, "you can't gulp down spicy food," she adds. "Eating slowly gives your brain time to register that your stomach is full, so you won't overeat."

Eat more: Stuff chiles with cooked quinoa and marinara sauce, then roast them. To mellow a chile's heat, grill it until it's almost black, peel off charred skin and puree the flesh, Krieger says. Add the puree to pasta sauces for a one-alarm kick. Or stir red pepper flakes into any dish you enjoy.

Steak
Beef has a rep as a diet buster, but eating it may help you peel off pounds. In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women on a diet that included red meat lost more weight than those eating equal calories but little beef. "The protein in steak helps you retain muscle mass during weight loss," says study author Manny Noakes, Ph.D. Try to consume local organic beef; it's healthier for you and the environment.

Eat more: Grill or broil a 4-ounce serving of top round or sirloin; slice thinly to top a salad, or mix with veggies for fajitas.

Kale
Long sidelined as a lowly garnish, this green belongs center stage on your plate. One raw, chopped cup contains 34 calories and about 1.3 grams of fiber, as well as a hearty helping of iron and calcium. But kale's earthy flavor might take some getting used to. Spinach, another nutrient powerhouse, is a milder-tasting option.

Eat more: Mix chopped, raw kale into cooked black beans, says Jennifer Iserloh, founder of Skinny Chef Culinary Ventures in New York City. Or slice kale into thin strips, sauté it with vegetable broth and top with orange slices. Make it a meal by tossing the mix with quinoa.

Oats
"Oatmeal has the highest satiety ranking of any food," Grotto says. "Unlike many other carbohydrates, oats -- even the instant kind -- digest slowly, so they have little impact on your blood sugar." All oats are healthful, but the steel-cut and rolled varieties (which are minimally processed) have up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, making them the most filling choice. Instant oats contain 3 to 4 grams per serving.

Eat more: "Instead of using breadcrumbs, add oats to meat loaf -- about 1 cup for a recipe that serves eight," Iserloh recommends. Or try her recipe for turkey and oatmeal meatballs.

Lentils
Lentils are a bona fide belly flattener. "They're high in protein and soluble fiber, two nutrients that stabilize blood sugar levels," says Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D., author of The F-Factor Diet (Putnam Adult). "Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area."

Eat more: There are many varieties of lentils, but red and yellow cook fastest (in about 15 to 20 minutes). Add cooked lentils to pasta sauce for a heartier dish, Zuckerbrot suggests. "Their mild flavor blends right in, and because they're high in protein, you can skip meat altogether."

Goji berries
These chewy, tart berries have a hunger-curbing edge over other fruit: 18 amino acids, which make them a surprising source of protein, says chef Sarah Krieger, R.D., spokeswoman in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the American Dietetic Association. (They also have more beta carotene than carrots.) Snack on them mid-afternoon to stay satisfied until dinner. The calorie cost? Only 35 per tablespoon.

Eat more: Mix 1/4 cup of the dried berries (from health food stores) with 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup walnuts for a nourishing trail mix. Or for dessert, pour 1/4 cup boiling water into a bowl with 2 tbsp. dried berries; let sit 10 minutes. Drain, then spoon over 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt.

Wild salmon
Not only do fish fats keep your heart healthy, they shrink your waist, too. "Omega-3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity -- which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat," Grotto explains. And the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns. Opt for wild salmon; it may contain fewer pollutants.

Eat more: You don't need to do much to enhance salmon's taste, says Sidra Forman, a chef and writer in Washington, D.C. "Simple is best. Season a fillet with salt and pepper, then cook it in a hot pan with 2 tsp, oil for one to three minutes on each side."

Apples
An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay, finds a study from Penn State University at University Park. People who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack. "Apples are high in fiber -- 4 to 5 grams each --which makes them filling," says Susan Kraus, R.D., a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Plus, the antioxidants in apples may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by excess belly fat or an "apple shape."

Eat more: Apples are the ideal on-the-go low-calorie snack. For a pie-like treat, chop up a medium apple and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. allspice and ½. tsp cinnamon. Pop in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Buckwheat pasta
Swap plain noodles for this hearty variety; you'll slip into your skinny jeans in no time. "Buckwheat is high in fiber and, unlike most carbs, contains protein," Zuckerbrot says. "Those two nutrients make it very satiating, so it's harder to overeat buckwheat pasta than the regular stuff."

Eat more: Cook this pasta as you do rice: Simmer it, covered, over low heat. For a light meal, toss cooked buckwheat pasta with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions. Or make buckwheat crepes using our tasty recipe.

Blueberries
All berries are good for you, but those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch. They have the highest antioxidant level of all commonly consumed fruit, according to research from the USDA Agriculture Research Service in Little Rock, Arkansas. They also deliver 3.6 grams of fiber per cup. "Fiber may actually prevent some of the fat you eat from being absorbed because fiber pulls fat through the digestive tract," Zuckerbrot says.

Eat more: Instead of topping your cereal with fruit, fill your bowl with blueberries, then sprinkle cereal on top and add milk or yogurt, Iserloh recommends.

Almond butter
Adding this spread may lower bread's glycemic index (a measure of a food's effect on blood sugar). A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn't experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate only the slice. "The higher blood sugar levels rise, the lower they fall; that dip leads to hunger, causing people to overeat," says study author Cyril Kendall, Ph.D. "Furthermore, blood sugar changes cause the body to make insulin, which can increase abdominal fat."

Eat more: Try it for a change from peanut butter in sandwiches, or make a veggie dip: Mix 1 tbsp. almond butter with 2 tbsp. fat-free plain yogurt, Iserloh suggests. Or add a dollop to oatmeal for flavor and protein.

Pomegranates
The juice gets all the hype for being healthy, but pomegranate seeds deserve their own spotlight. In addition to being loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants, they're low in calories and high in fiber, so they satisfy your sweet tooth without blowing your diet, Krieger says.

Eat more: Pop the raw seeds on their own (many grocery stores sell them pre-shucked) as a snack at your desk. "Use them in salads instead of nuts," Iserloh says. "They're especially delicious on raw baby spinach with lemon-poppy seed dressing."

Yogurt
Dietitians often refer to plain yogurt as the perfect food, and for good reason: With its trifecta of carbs, protein and fat, it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. In a study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, people on a low-calorie diet that included yogurt lost 61 percent more fat overall and 81 percent more belly fat than those on a similar plan without yogurt.

Eat more: "Use low-fat plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise in chicken or potato salad, or top a baked potato with a bit of yogurt and a squeeze of lemon juice," Krieger says. You'll save 4.7 grams of fat per tablespoon. Look for Greek yogurt, which has more protein than other versions.

Quinoa
Curbing hunger is as easy as piling your plate with this whole grain. It packs both fiber (2.6 grams per 1/2 cup) and protein, a stellar nutrient combo that can keep you satisfied for hours, Krieger says.

Eat more: Serve quinoa instead of rice with stir-fries, or try Krieger's take on a scrumptious hot breakfast: Cook 1/2 cup quinoa in 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup orange juice for 15 minutes. Top with 1 tbsp. each of raisins and chopped walnuts.

Sardines
These tiny fish are the unsung stars of the sea. They are high in protein and loaded with omega-3s, which also help the body maintain muscle. And they're low in mercury and high in calcium, making them a smart fish pick for pregnant women. If the flavor doesn't appeal to you, "Soak them in milk for an hour; it will remove any trace of fishiness," Iserloh says.

Eat more: "Use sardines in recipes you like that call for anchovies, including Caesar salad and stuffing," Iserloh says. Or make a sardine melt: Toss whole sardines with chopped onions, fresh herbs and diced bell peppers. Put the mixture on top of a slice of pumpernickel or rye bread, cover with a slice of cheddar and broil.

Tarragon
You can use this herb, a staple in French cooking, in place of salt in marinades and salad dressings. Excess sodium causes your body to retain water, so using less salt can keep bloating at bay. Plus, tarragon lends a sweet, licorice-like flavor to bland foods. (Use the French version of the herb when possible; it's sweeter than other varieties.)

Eat more: Rub 2 tbsp. dried tarragon on chicken before baking or grilling. Or make a tasty dip by mixing 1 tsp. chopped fresh tarragon into 4 ounces low-fat plain yogurt and 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, recommends Jacquelyn Buchanan, director of culinary development at Laura Chenel's Chèvre, a fromagerie in Sonoma, California.

Parmesan
Drop that rubbery low-fat cheese and pick up the real stuff. Women who had one serving of whole milk or cheese daily were less likely to gain weight over time, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds. Low-fat dairy fans didn't experience the same benefit. Whole dairy may have more conjugated linoleic acid, which might help your body burn fat. "Parmesan is so flavorful, it's easy to stick to one serving," Buchanan says.

Eat more: "Grate Parmesan over roasted vegetables," Buchanan offers. Or snack on a 1-ounce portion with an apple or a pear.

Avocado
Don't let the fat content of an avocado (29 grams) scare you -- that's what makes it a top weight-loss food, Kraus says. "The heart-healthy monounsaturated fat it contains increases satiety," she says. And it's a terrific summer party food.

Eat more: Add avocado to your sandwich instead of mayo for a creamy texture and a shot of flavor. Avocados do contain a lot of calories, so it's best to watch your portions. One easy way to do it: Try Wholly Guacamole's 100-calorie fresh guacamole packs. They're easy to pack in your lunch and pair with chopped vegetables.

Olive oil
Like avocados, olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But that's hardly its only slimming feature. "Research shows it has anti-inflammatory properties," Kraus says. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome.

Eat more: Drizzle your salad with olive oil, and you'll increase the antioxidant power of your veggies, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition notes. Or toss pasta with a few teaspoons of olive oil, fresh basil and sautéed garlic, Kraus suggests. Add this oil to your summer menus for a flatter tummy by fall.


Source: AOL Health