The media today are reporting on new research that says that girls are starting puberty earlier than ever--some as early as age 7. Researchers speculate that rising obesity plays a role, since fat increases estrogen levels in the body. Environmental toxins, such as BPA and pthalates, and even common ingredients found in beauty and personal care products, like parabens, also cause changes in estrogen levels in the body.
According to researchers, not only does early puberty have negative emotional and mental affects on girls, but it can also increase their risk of breast and endometrial cancers when they get older, due to the fact that they have a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen.
This study is quite disturbing, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your daughters and granddaughters. First, choose the most natural beauty care products you can because these are the ones that tend to be free of estrogen-like chemicals. Second, choose organic (and, if possible, locally-grown) produce. It may be a bit more expensive than conventionally-grown food, but the peace of mind you get knowing you and your loved ones are eating more nutritious, cleaner, purer food is worth those extra few cents. And finally, make exercise fun! Go to the park and kick a ball around, play on the monkey bars, or go for a walk to your local store or library. Anything that gets you and your kids or grandkids moving will help prevent obesity.
For more information on estrogen levels and natural weightloss, visit my Web site.
Trying to reverse female hormone issues can be quite complicated, especially when you are 
trying to increase estrogen levels to offset menopause symptoms. And with all the negative side effects surrounding conventional hormone replacement therapy, many women don't know where to turn.
Fortunately, you don't have to look any further than bioidentical hormone replacement. Biochemically identical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones found in the human body. Moreover, they are produced in the laboratory from natural ingredients such as soy and wild yam, derived from plants, not horse urine. Since bioidentical hormones are biologically similar to the hormones your body produces, they do not appear to have the grave risks associated with conventional HRT.
The bioidentical estrogen that Dr. Lark typically recommends is estriol. Of the three types of estrogen produced within your body, estriol is the weakest and least potent. More importantly, several research studies have found that it is as effective as the stronger, more potent estrogens for treating menopause symptoms.
One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that estriol was particularly effective in treating vaginal atrophy, mood swings, and hot flashes. Researchers selected 52 symptomatic, postmenopausal women and separated them into four groups, giving each group either 2 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg, or 8 mg of estriol per day for six months. On average, women in every group experienced a decrease in their menopausal symptoms after one month of treatment. Furthermore, in the groups with the three highest dosages, women who had ranked their symptoms as severe now felt that their symptoms were very mild.
Estriol and all biochemically identical estrogen have to be prescribed by your physician. Estriol is available at most compounding pharmacies, as well as a few mainstream pharmacies, including the Women’s International Pharmacy in Madison, Wisconsin, which sends estriol formulations to physicians throughout the U.S.
For more information on bioidentical hormone replacement or other natural hormone replacement therapy options, visit Dr. Lark's Web site.
trying to increase estrogen levels to offset menopause symptoms. And with all the negative side effects surrounding conventional hormone replacement therapy, many women don't know where to turn. Fortunately, you don't have to look any further than bioidentical hormone replacement. Biochemically identical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones found in the human body. Moreover, they are produced in the laboratory from natural ingredients such as soy and wild yam, derived from plants, not horse urine. Since bioidentical hormones are biologically similar to the hormones your body produces, they do not appear to have the grave risks associated with conventional HRT.
The bioidentical estrogen that Dr. Lark typically recommends is estriol. Of the three types of estrogen produced within your body, estriol is the weakest and least potent. More importantly, several research studies have found that it is as effective as the stronger, more potent estrogens for treating menopause symptoms.
One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that estriol was particularly effective in treating vaginal atrophy, mood swings, and hot flashes. Researchers selected 52 symptomatic, postmenopausal women and separated them into four groups, giving each group either 2 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg, or 8 mg of estriol per day for six months. On average, women in every group experienced a decrease in their menopausal symptoms after one month of treatment. Furthermore, in the groups with the three highest dosages, women who had ranked their symptoms as severe now felt that their symptoms were very mild.
Estriol and all biochemically identical estrogen have to be prescribed by your physician. Estriol is available at most compounding pharmacies, as well as a few mainstream pharmacies, including the Women’s International Pharmacy in Madison, Wisconsin, which sends estriol formulations to physicians throughout the U.S.
For more information on bioidentical hormone replacement or other natural hormone replacement therapy options, visit Dr. Lark's Web site.
Don’t have the time to sit down to hot breakfast? These easy, beauty-enhancing breakfast options are all rich in the natural skin care ingredients that keep your hair and skin silky smooth, protein to even your blood sugar levels to help with natural weightloss, and fiber to protect you from heart disease.
- Hard-boiled egg with mixed berries and glass of almond milk
- Coconut yogurt with half a banana and ground flaxseed
- Whip up a delicious fruit smoothie:. Put a cup of almond milk, 1/2 cup mango, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup ground flax, and 1/2 cup of crushed ice in a blender. Blend and enjoy!
The best natural skin care around is hydration. In addition to drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day, you should also eat foods high in water and mineral content. An easy way to do this is with soup.
To help you out, I’ve included my two favorite natural skin care recipes for summer soup.
Strawberry Soup
Serves 6
2 pints strawberries, sliced
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 cup coconut yogurt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup rice milk
¼ cup xylitol
Watermelon Gazpacho
Serves 6
6 cups watermelon, cubed
¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons xylitol
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
To help you out, I’ve included my two favorite natural skin care recipes for summer soup.
Strawberry Soup
Serves 6
2 pints strawberries, sliced
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 cup coconut yogurt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup rice milk
¼ cup xylitol
- Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve chilled.
Watermelon Gazpacho
Serves 6
6 cups watermelon, cubed
¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons xylitol
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
- Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve chilled.
The third (and final) supplement I've incorporated into my natural weight loss plan is Metabo-X. Why this formula? For one thing, the Svetol (green coffee extract) has some impressive research behind it to help support natural weightloss. In one study, overweight subjects were given 400 mg of Svetol over a two-month period. On average, lost about 10 pounds and their BMI improved. Metabo-X has the same dosage as the weight loss study.
The other ingredients in Metabo-X: chromium and Sensoril (Ashwagandha), which have been shown to support normal blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. While I do not currently have issues in these areas, there is family history with each, so I feel like I'm helping to ward those issues off as well.
So there you have it. Three natural remedies for weight loss that have, to date, helped me lose over 27 pounds: Daily Answer, Silhouette, and Metabo-X.
The other ingredients in Metabo-X: chromium and Sensoril (Ashwagandha), which have been shown to support normal blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. While I do not currently have issues in these areas, there is family history with each, so I feel like I'm helping to ward those issues off as well.
So there you have it. Three natural remedies for weight loss that have, to date, helped me lose over 27 pounds: Daily Answer, Silhouette, and Metabo-X.
When watching your weight, it helps to prepare with a grocery list of natural weightloss staples.
The best way to ensure you can adhere to any natural weight loss plan is to make sure you always have a few staples on hand. It will help you ward off binges and help with appetite control.
• A variety of dried herbs
• A salt-free herb blend such as Spike or Mrs. Dash
• Brown rice
• Raw almonds
• Raw walnuts
• Soy or almond milk
• Almond butter
• Herbal or green tea
• Mineral water
• Liquid stevia (flavored if you like)
• Pure maple syrup
• Honey
• Xylitol and/or erythritol
• Olive oil
• Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
• Bagged organic lettuce
• Fresh fruits and vegetables (that fit your hormonal profile)
• Soy or goat yogurt
• Flaxseed
I’ve also found that the easiest way to make sure you have these staples on hand, as well as any other items you may need, is to organize your shopping trips. Before you head to the grocery store, plan out your meals for the next week, check your supply of the essentials I mentioned above, and make a list of needed ingredients to be sure you pick up everything you need.
The best way to ensure you can adhere to any natural weight loss plan is to make sure you always have a few staples on hand. It will help you ward off binges and help with appetite control.
• A variety of dried herbs
• A salt-free herb blend such as Spike or Mrs. Dash
• Brown rice
• Raw almonds
• Raw walnuts
• Soy or almond milk
• Almond butter
• Herbal or green tea
• Mineral water
• Liquid stevia (flavored if you like)
• Pure maple syrup
• Honey
• Xylitol and/or erythritol
• Olive oil
• Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
• Bagged organic lettuce
• Fresh fruits and vegetables (that fit your hormonal profile)
• Soy or goat yogurt
• Flaxseed
I’ve also found that the easiest way to make sure you have these staples on hand, as well as any other items you may need, is to organize your shopping trips. Before you head to the grocery store, plan out your meals for the next week, check your supply of the essentials I mentioned above, and make a list of needed ingredients to be sure you pick up everything you need.
Walk through any department store and you're bombarded with skin care products that claim to rejuvenate, rehydrate, replenish, and more. But if you turn that jar around and look at those products' ingredients, you'll find that most of them are impossible to pronounce...so how are you supposed to feel comfortable about what you're putting on your body?
Luckily, you don't have to spend money on a jar of chemicals to achieve incredible, wrinkle free skin. All you need to do is take a short walk to your kitchen.
Fruity Facial
All women want a wrinkle free face, along with freedom from acne, age spots, fine lines, and dryness. I love this natural skin care recipe so much because it contains avocado, a fruit high in iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E. And they are rich in oils that rejuvenate the skin, reduce eye puffiness, and leave skin soft, smooth, and nourished.
Combine:
1/2 cup non-instant oatmeal
1 cup mashed avocado
1-2 tablespoon honey
Blend ingredients until desired consistency. Apply mixture to skin and let dry for about 15 minutes. Rinse off.
Going wheat-free doesn’t have to mean losing out on the occasional treat. Try these great wheat-free, but flavor-packed desserts.
Oatmeal Cookies
Makes two dozen
Oatmeal cookies were my dad’s absolute favorite. Every time I make these, I can feel him with me, enjoying the moment.
½ cup canola oil
¼ cup erythritol
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 cup Pamela’s baking mix
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried blueberries
Gingerbread
Serves 9
The smell of gingerbread evokes so many amazing memories for me. The aroma alone sings of warmth, comfort, and home.
½ cup butter
½ cup erythritol
1 egg
½ cup light molasses
1 ½ cups Pamela's baking mix
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup boiling water
Oatmeal Cookies
Makes two dozen
Oatmeal cookies were my dad’s absolute favorite. Every time I make these, I can feel him with me, enjoying the moment.
½ cup canola oil
¼ cup erythritol
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 cup Pamela’s baking mix
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried blueberries
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix oil and erythritol together in a large bowl.
- Add egg, vanilla, and salt. Blend well.
- In a separate bowl, mix together salt, baking mix, baking soda, oats, and dried blueberries. Mix well with a whisk.
- Add to oil and egg mixture and mix well. (Add a few tablespoons of water if you want to thin out the dough.)
- With a tablespoon, scoop out dough and place onto a greased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until slightly brown.
Gingerbread
Serves 9
The smell of gingerbread evokes so many amazing memories for me. The aroma alone sings of warmth, comfort, and home.
½ cup butter
½ cup erythritol
1 egg
½ cup light molasses
1 ½ cups Pamela's baking mix
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup boiling water
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cream butter and erythritol for 30-45 seconds.
- Add egg and molasses and beat thoroughly.
- In a separate bowl, sift together baking mix, salt, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon.
- Add dry ingredients to egg mixture, alternating with boiling water, until well blended.
- Pour mixture into a lightly greased 8x8 pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Delicious warm or at room temperature.
Going wheat-free takes three to four weeks. First, choose your "must-haves" and your "do withouts," then explore the grocery store shelves for products that rock!
If you’ve taken me up on my challenge, great! If not, why not? If you are like many of the people I’ve counseled, you are likely overwhelmed with the idea of eliminating wheat. I’ll tell you what I tell them. Wheat is an ingredient…not an entire food group.
You can still have pasta, bread, pancakes, etc. You simply have to be smart, read labels, and get the inside scoop on the best products. Luckily, you read this blog, so the inside scoop is a given.
Three Steps to Wheat-Free
The first thing to do is “step down” rather than going cold turkey. What I mean by that is to decide what you eat that has wheat, then find a great substitution for it. Is bread your thing? Maybe its pasta or crackers? Perhaps it’s the Sunday morning pancakes with the family. Whatever it is, name it and write it down.
Next, decide what else has wheat that you can (or SHOULD) do without. I would suggest that baked goods and pastries go in this category. They are completely unnecessary from a nutrition standpoint and the sugar…well, you can do without it.
Finally, I would encourage you to whittle your “must-have” list back even more. After all, even wheat- and gluten-free products are still carbs. And, as we enter the summer, more and more women are looking for natural weightloss advice. So here it is…less starches, wheat or not.
The entire process should take about a month. Spend the first three weeks choosing yoru must-haves and eliminating the “do withouts.” Once your body has adjusted to no wheat and gluten, you can start to pare back your “must haves” to one or two.
Next time, I’ll give you the best of the best wheat-free products on the market and tell you how to get your hands (and mouths!) on them.
If you’ve taken me up on my challenge, great! If not, why not? If you are like many of the people I’ve counseled, you are likely overwhelmed with the idea of eliminating wheat. I’ll tell you what I tell them. Wheat is an ingredient…not an entire food group.
You can still have pasta, bread, pancakes, etc. You simply have to be smart, read labels, and get the inside scoop on the best products. Luckily, you read this blog, so the inside scoop is a given.
Three Steps to Wheat-Free
The first thing to do is “step down” rather than going cold turkey. What I mean by that is to decide what you eat that has wheat, then find a great substitution for it. Is bread your thing? Maybe its pasta or crackers? Perhaps it’s the Sunday morning pancakes with the family. Whatever it is, name it and write it down.
Next, decide what else has wheat that you can (or SHOULD) do without. I would suggest that baked goods and pastries go in this category. They are completely unnecessary from a nutrition standpoint and the sugar…well, you can do without it.
Finally, I would encourage you to whittle your “must-have” list back even more. After all, even wheat- and gluten-free products are still carbs. And, as we enter the summer, more and more women are looking for natural weightloss advice. So here it is…less starches, wheat or not.
The entire process should take about a month. Spend the first three weeks choosing yoru must-haves and eliminating the “do withouts.” Once your body has adjusted to no wheat and gluten, you can start to pare back your “must haves” to one or two.
Next time, I’ll give you the best of the best wheat-free products on the market and tell you how to get your hands (and mouths!) on them.
I’m not going to lie…breaking any addiction is really difficult, and giving up caffeine is no different. There are so many options, including going cold turkey, weaning off, and using substitutions. I personally opted for going cold turkey.
I knew that I would experience headaches, fatigue, and possibly even depression or anxiety. I account for this, I decided to quit on a Friday. That gave me a good three days to deal with the withdrawal and not have to worry about it affecting me at work.
The headaches came within a couple of hours, but I took a few aspirin and just rode it out. The next morning, I did use a substitution…Teeccino. This wonderful blend of healthy herbs, fruits, nuts, and grains from the Mediterranean region tastes as good as the fresh brewed coffee you buy at specialty shops, but it’s much better for you. Each ingredient is individually roasted and ground, then blended to create grounds that can be brewed right in your coffee maker. This definitely helped! I was able to have the smells and ritual of making coffee, but without the caffeine.
I also became a huge fan of tea. I allowed (and still allow) myself green tea, but swore off black. And herbal teas became a new, healthy addiction! My two favorite brands are Luxe Tea and Zhena's Gypsy Tea.
If you don’t want to go cold turkey yourself, Dr. Lark suggests slowly decreasing your caffeine intake by starting off by cutting your consumption in half for a few days. For example, if you drink four cups of coffee or soda a day, try going down to two cups. Once you can comfortably maintain this level, reduce your intake by half again (from two to one). In no time, you should be able to eliminate that final cup and start enjoying better hormone balance.
I knew that I would experience headaches, fatigue, and possibly even depression or anxiety. I account for this, I decided to quit on a Friday. That gave me a good three days to deal with the withdrawal and not have to worry about it affecting me at work.
The headaches came within a couple of hours, but I took a few aspirin and just rode it out. The next morning, I did use a substitution…Teeccino. This wonderful blend of healthy herbs, fruits, nuts, and grains from the Mediterranean region tastes as good as the fresh brewed coffee you buy at specialty shops, but it’s much better for you. Each ingredient is individually roasted and ground, then blended to create grounds that can be brewed right in your coffee maker. This definitely helped! I was able to have the smells and ritual of making coffee, but without the caffeine.
I also became a huge fan of tea. I allowed (and still allow) myself green tea, but swore off black. And herbal teas became a new, healthy addiction! My two favorite brands are Luxe Tea and Zhena's Gypsy Tea.
If you don’t want to go cold turkey yourself, Dr. Lark suggests slowly decreasing your caffeine intake by starting off by cutting your consumption in half for a few days. For example, if you drink four cups of coffee or soda a day, try going down to two cups. Once you can comfortably maintain this level, reduce your intake by half again (from two to one). In no time, you should be able to eliminate that final cup and start enjoying better hormone balance.
How many times have you heard to place sliced cucumbers on your eyes to reduce puffiness? Or to drink (or even make!) “spa water” with sliced cucumbers in filtered water. The reason? Cucumbers are high in silica.
Silica is a critical ingredient in healthy skin, hair, and nails, and it commonly declines with age. Studies show that daily silica supplementation significantly improves the condition of hair and nails. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 48 women with fine hair, those in the group who took silica enjoyed significantly thicker, stronger hair.
Silica also helps reverse graying and is critical for healthy bone density, which helps explain why prematurely gray hair is linked with bone loss.
So, if your goal is natural anti aging skin care, you can’t go wrong with cucumber. Just be sure to leave the skin on, as the majority of silica is found in the skin. Other silica-containing foods include beets, soybeans, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains. Combined with cucumber, aim to make at least one of these natural skin care ingredients part of your food-based beauty plan every day.
Silica is a critical ingredient in healthy skin, hair, and nails, and it commonly declines with age. Studies show that daily silica supplementation significantly improves the condition of hair and nails. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 48 women with fine hair, those in the group who took silica enjoyed significantly thicker, stronger hair.
Silica also helps reverse graying and is critical for healthy bone density, which helps explain why prematurely gray hair is linked with bone loss.
So, if your goal is natural anti aging skin care, you can’t go wrong with cucumber. Just be sure to leave the skin on, as the majority of silica is found in the skin. Other silica-containing foods include beets, soybeans, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains. Combined with cucumber, aim to make at least one of these natural skin care ingredients part of your food-based beauty plan every day.
Some women have wondered why Dr. Lark chose Indole-3 Carbinol (I3C) over Diindolylmethane (DIM) for her menopause relief formula, Harmony. Both I3C and DIM do the exact same thing, converting estrogen into beneficial metabolites, with clinical evidence to support them. DIM, however, is poorly absorbed, making it necessary to use special forms available on the market that enhance its bioavailability. These special forms do not work well in a multi-ingredient formula, and is about ten times the cost of I3C. I3C is effective, affordable, and compatible with the other ingredients in Harmony, which is why Dr. Lark ultimately chose it over DIM.
The benefit to green tea lies in the fact that freshly harvested tea leaves contain polyphenols, remarkable compounds with a host of therapeutic actions. In fact, the average cup of brewed green tea contains about 100 mg of polyphenols.
On the beauty front, these polyphenols in green tea give you a natural weightloss “kick” to help you burn calories. Polyphenols appear to block the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine, a brain chemical that regulates your metabolism. The higher your levels of norepinephrine, the faster your metabolism, which in turn allows you to burn calories even more efficiently.
In one study, researchers divided participants into three groups, giving them either a placebo (sugar pill), caffeine, or green tea extract, which was standardized to 50 percent of the active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Researchers found that those who received the green tea burned an additional 500 calories per week, with no changes in diet or physical activity. That equates to about eight pounds a year!
Plus, green tea is a great source of antioxidants, which have been shown to help prevent ultraviolet light-induced inflammation, dryness, and damage to your skin.
To take advantage of this great natural anti aging skin care gem, while also enjoying a natural weightloss kick, aim for about two to three cups of green tea a day.
On the beauty front, these polyphenols in green tea give you a natural weightloss “kick” to help you burn calories. Polyphenols appear to block the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine, a brain chemical that regulates your metabolism. The higher your levels of norepinephrine, the faster your metabolism, which in turn allows you to burn calories even more efficiently.
In one study, researchers divided participants into three groups, giving them either a placebo (sugar pill), caffeine, or green tea extract, which was standardized to 50 percent of the active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Researchers found that those who received the green tea burned an additional 500 calories per week, with no changes in diet or physical activity. That equates to about eight pounds a year!
Plus, green tea is a great source of antioxidants, which have been shown to help prevent ultraviolet light-induced inflammation, dryness, and damage to your skin.
To take advantage of this great natural anti aging skin care gem, while also enjoying a natural weightloss kick, aim for about two to three cups of green tea a day.
Loaded with unsaturated fatty acids, avocados are a wonderful natural beauty food that promotes soft skin, as well as healthy cell walls and strong nerves.
There are so many ways to incorporate one of Mother Nature’s most versitle natural skin care ingredients in to your diet. You can add slices to any salad or sandwich, or mash and add diced tomatoes for a quick guacamole to scoop up with celery.
Of course, one of my favorite avocado-based natural skin care recipes is a vegan chocolate banana smoothie. Place one cup coconut water (not the milk), 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, one avocado (pitted and scooped out of shell), one banana, and handful of ice in a blender and mix well. The avocado provides a great thick texture without altering the taste!
There are so many ways to incorporate one of Mother Nature’s most versitle natural skin care ingredients in to your diet. You can add slices to any salad or sandwich, or mash and add diced tomatoes for a quick guacamole to scoop up with celery.
Of course, one of my favorite avocado-based natural skin care recipes is a vegan chocolate banana smoothie. Place one cup coconut water (not the milk), 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, one avocado (pitted and scooped out of shell), one banana, and handful of ice in a blender and mix well. The avocado provides a great thick texture without altering the taste!
Nutrient #2 for Natural Weightloss: Green Tea
Green tea, and specifically green tea’s active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), decreases body weight and helps maintain that natural weightloss over time.
In one study, 50 obese men and women on a restricted-calorie diet who also received green tea extract lost an average of 30 pounds, compared to their counterparts who were on the same diet but without the green tea supplement and lost only an average of 11 pounds. And recently, researchers have found that decaffeinated green tea extract is more effective than regular green tea extract.
One brand of decaffeinated green tea extract I like is GreenSelect Green Tea Extract Phytosome. Take three capsules twice daily.
Green tea, and specifically green tea’s active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), decreases body weight and helps maintain that natural weightloss over time.
In one study, 50 obese men and women on a restricted-calorie diet who also received green tea extract lost an average of 30 pounds, compared to their counterparts who were on the same diet but without the green tea supplement and lost only an average of 11 pounds. And recently, researchers have found that decaffeinated green tea extract is more effective than regular green tea extract.
One brand of decaffeinated green tea extract I like is GreenSelect Green Tea Extract Phytosome. Take three capsules twice daily.
#5 Natural Skin Care Ingredient: Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide is a main ingredient in many sunscreens--but not necessary the cheaper brands. The cheaper brands in grocery stores and drug stores often include scary-sounding ingredients like octyl-dimethyl PABA, benzophenone-3; octyl-methoxycinnamate, homosalate, and 4-MBC (4-methyl-benzylidene camphor). Now let me ask you...do you really want to apply these unpronounceable things to your entire body every single day? I doubt it!
So when it comes to sunscreen--something you should be using each and every day--I like to recommend the most natural forms available. And it just so turns out that zinc oxide is an all-natural sun protectant that shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Two brands of natural sunscreen that I love are Soleo and UV Naturals.
Zinc oxide is a main ingredient in many sunscreens--but not necessary the cheaper brands. The cheaper brands in grocery stores and drug stores often include scary-sounding ingredients like octyl-dimethyl PABA, benzophenone-3; octyl-methoxycinnamate, homosalate, and 4-MBC (4-methyl-benzylidene camphor). Now let me ask you...do you really want to apply these unpronounceable things to your entire body every single day? I doubt it!
So when it comes to sunscreen--something you should be using each and every day--I like to recommend the most natural forms available. And it just so turns out that zinc oxide is an all-natural sun protectant that shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Two brands of natural sunscreen that I love are Soleo and UV Naturals.
#4 Natural Skin Care Ingredient: Tea Tree Oil
Every woman experiences the occasional blemish. Yes, it is frustrating to deal with problems that you thought you let go of when you exited your teen years...but fortunately, you don't have to use a teen product to deal with acne. The best natural skin care you can use to treat acne is tea tree oil, which you can find at health food stores.
Every woman experiences the occasional blemish. Yes, it is frustrating to deal with problems that you thought you let go of when you exited your teen years...but fortunately, you don't have to use a teen product to deal with acne. The best natural skin care you can use to treat acne is tea tree oil, which you can find at health food stores.
The antiseptic properties of teat tree oil have been used for centuries to clean and treat wounds. Even the early settlers of Australia and metal workers during the Second World War used this camphorous-smelling essential oil to treat cuts and insect bites.
After washing the affected area, place one drop of Australian tea tree oil directly on blemishes. Read the product label carefully to be sure the oil contains 50 to 60 percent terpenes (preferably terpin-4-ol) and no more than 15 percent cineole.
#3 Natural Skin Care Ingredient: Aloe vera
Aloe vera is more than just your common houseplant! It is also a gentle, effective anti-inflammatory, as well as a skin regenerator. I often recommend using facial cleansers that contain aloe if you have acne, eczema, or another condition that causes sensitive skin.
In addition, aloe can:
• reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain;
• keep exposed tissue moist;
• combat skin pathogens as effectively as the antibacterial preparation used on burns and skin ulcers at most hospitals, silver sulfadiazine;
• promote wound closure; and
• stimulate skin repair and regeneration.
Aloe vera is more than just your common houseplant! It is also a gentle, effective anti-inflammatory, as well as a skin regenerator. I often recommend using facial cleansers that contain aloe if you have acne, eczema, or another condition that causes sensitive skin.
In addition, aloe can:
• reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain;
• keep exposed tissue moist;
• combat skin pathogens as effectively as the antibacterial preparation used on burns and skin ulcers at most hospitals, silver sulfadiazine;
• promote wound closure; and
• stimulate skin repair and regeneration.
And studies have shown that Aloe vera reduces the scaliness, itchiness, and extent of seborrheic dermatitis; prompts the remission of psoriasis; relieves poison ivy; assists the healing of chronic leg ulcers; and speeds healing after dermabrasion, a technique used to remove acne scars and create wrinkle free skin.
#2 Natural Skin Care Ingredient: Collagen
Skin is built on a sponge-like framework of a protein called collagen, which supports the skin and gives the face its youthful, lifted appearance. Unfortunately, as we age, collagen weakens, causing your face to look less plump and wrinkles to be more apparent.
The good news is that studies show that the topical use of marine collagen can create the wrinkle free face you want. Applying collagen topically can cause immediate firmness and hydration of the skin, as well as create a significant increase in overall thickness. The key is to use concentrated collagen that’s formulated for optimal absorption, which you can find in a product called Wrinkle Reducing Collagen Concentrate with InstaFirm.
Skin is built on a sponge-like framework of a protein called collagen, which supports the skin and gives the face its youthful, lifted appearance. Unfortunately, as we age, collagen weakens, causing your face to look less plump and wrinkles to be more apparent.
The good news is that studies show that the topical use of marine collagen can create the wrinkle free face you want. Applying collagen topically can cause immediate firmness and hydration of the skin, as well as create a significant increase in overall thickness. The key is to use concentrated collagen that’s formulated for optimal absorption, which you can find in a product called Wrinkle Reducing Collagen Concentrate with InstaFirm.
Now that I've told you how to feed your skin from within with my top 5 supplement recommendations for wrinkle free skin, I am going to share with you what I consider to be some of the best natural skin care ingredients or products you should be using for a gorgeous, wrinkle free face. Let's get started.
#1: Olive-based squalane
All humans produce a substance called squalene, which serves as an oxygen carrier, an emollient, and an antioxidant in the body. Additionally, it is a component of sebum, the oily substance produced by our sebaceous glands that protects and "waterproofs" hair and skin. Squalene is also found in other natural sources, like olives. Because squalene is easily oxidized, its stable form, squalane, is used in skin care products to nourish and protect skin.
If you look at the ingredient list of many lotions on the market, one of the things listed is squalane--because it works! But what I don't like is the additional "fillers" that most products contain, like parabens and synthetic fragrances. Fortunately, there's a way to gain the amazing benefits of squalane without the fillers--Trilane. This product contains two ingredients: olive-sourced squalane and jojoba esters. which provide additional moisturizing benefits. Trilane is by far my favorite natural skin care product for dry, flaky skin that needs intense moisturizing.
#1: Olive-based squalane
All humans produce a substance called squalene, which serves as an oxygen carrier, an emollient, and an antioxidant in the body. Additionally, it is a component of sebum, the oily substance produced by our sebaceous glands that protects and "waterproofs" hair and skin. Squalene is also found in other natural sources, like olives. Because squalene is easily oxidized, its stable form, squalane, is used in skin care products to nourish and protect skin.
If you look at the ingredient list of many lotions on the market, one of the things listed is squalane--because it works! But what I don't like is the additional "fillers" that most products contain, like parabens and synthetic fragrances. Fortunately, there's a way to gain the amazing benefits of squalane without the fillers--Trilane. This product contains two ingredients: olive-sourced squalane and jojoba esters. which provide additional moisturizing benefits. Trilane is by far my favorite natural skin care product for dry, flaky skin that needs intense moisturizing.
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