Acupuncture for Wrinkle Free Skin

Friday, July 23, 2010 by Susan Lark
My patients and female friends are constantly asking me about natural ways to create wrinkle free skin. I've written about many natural beauty care products and options in my blog, but one therapy that I am finding increasingly more effective is acupuncture!

I wrote yesterday about how helpful acupuncture can be for the relief of menopause symptoms and estrogen dominance, but it has been shown to also improve blood flow and the thickness, tone, elasticity, and smoothness of facial and neck skin through stimulation of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts have a few jobs, but one of the most important is they produce collagen to keep the skin nicely plumped and supported.

You can find a acupuncturist in your area here. And for more information on anti-aging skin care, be sure to visit my Web site.

Another Reason to Take Fish Oil

Friday, July 9, 2010 by Susan Lark
According to a new study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, taking fish oil can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

Researchers had about 35,000 women fill out questionnaires, which included questions about their past and present supplement use. About 8 percent of the respondents were taking or had taken fish oil at some point. Over the next six years, 880 women got breast cancer. Researchers found that the women who were taking fish oil when the study began had a reduced risk of one type of cancer--invasive ductal carcinoma, which is the most common form.

I recommend fish oil to treat and prevent a wide variety of health conditions and complaints. Just some of the reasons to take fish oil include natural appetite control; regulation of hormones, including estrogen dominance; creating wrinkle free skin; and alleviating perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes. I am so pleased that fish oil is starting to be recognized as a breast cancer preventive, too!

I recommend taking a minimum of 1,000 mg of fish oil per day.

For more information on menopause relief, effects of menopause, or menopause related problems, visit my Web site. While there, you can also sign up for my FREE eLetter or monthly newsletter.

My Natural Weight Loss Plan: Vacation Weight Loss Tips

Friday, July 9, 2010 by Lauren Kent
Walking to the beach - great exercise for natural weightlossMy family and I just enjoyed an amazing week at the beach. Sun, surf, sand... FOOD! I know a vacation can throw a wrench in many natural weightloss efforts. But, by planning ahead, and following a few tips, your vacation doesn't have to be one where you pack on the pounds. Here's a few things I did last week so that I didn't come back heavier than when I left:

1. Limit the dining out. I know for some vacations, this is very difficult. But, if you're renting a house, and have access to a kitchen, cooking at home can really make a big difference. When you cook for yourself, you know what's going in your food. When you eat out, who knows how much butter, oil, etc. they're putting on top of your food.

2. Get active. No, you don't have to go for a run or bike ride everyday, but you can at least get your body moving in fun ways. Chase your kids/grand kids around the beach. Have a beach ball toss. Go for a swim in the pool. Jump the waves in the ocean. All the activity can really make a difference to keeping with your natural weight loss plan.

3. Individual servings of fruits/veggies. If you are able to go food shopping during your vacation, putting fruits and vegetables into individual serving-size bags makes it really easy to just grab a healthy snack. Take a bag of cherries and divide them up into snack bags. Cut up watermelon into slices. That way, it's ready for you when you want it.

4. Splurge a little. You are on vacation after all. I didn't want to keep ice cream in the house, but we did take the kids to get ice cream one afternoon, and I got a small cup. It was delicious. And, I didn't feel like I was overindulging.

For more information on natural weight loss plans or other issues related to natural weightloss, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site. While there, you can also sign up for Dr. Lark’s FREE eLetter or monthly newsletter.

Microderm for a Wrinkle Free Face?

Saturday, July 3, 2010 by Kimberly Day
I am a huge believer in using the best natural skin care…and then I turned 40. Suddenly, I started getting paranoid that my face was going to look like a road map and that my pores would become the potholes on that road.

As I looked into amping up my skin care regimen, I was hard pressed to find safe, natural alternatives. Then I came across microdermabrasion (microderm) and decided to give it a try.

Microderm is used primarily to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and reduce pore size. Okay, I was listening. The procedure itself involves a suction cup and what feels like sand to exfoliate the skin at a deeper level than most over-the-counter products can achieve.

I signed up for two sessions at a local medispa and discovered two things:
  1. It is natural, in terms of no chemicals are used.
  2. The person running the machine makes ALL the difference in the world.
I had the exact procedure performed by two different people and my results were dramatically different (think better) with the second person. My skin was smooth, soft, my pore size was reduced, and it actually seemed to glow. Best of all, the effect lasted a few weeks.

If you are looking for a chemical-free way to enhance your anti aging anti wrinkle regimen, I recommend giving microdermabrasion a try. My only caveats are to avoid the procedure if you have sensitive skin and to do your research regarding technicians.

For more information on skincare or to sign up for Dr. Lark’s FREE eLetter or monthly newsletter, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Best Natural Skin Care Diets

Thursday, July 1, 2010 by Kimberly Day
There was a great article in the most recent issue of Elle magazine. They looked at several of the top natural weight loss plans on the market and had experts comment on how each individual diet affected the skin.

They looked at the Atkins diet, South Beach Diet, vegan diet, Mediterranean diet, raw diet, and low-fat diet. I immediately guessed that the Mediterranean would be their best natural skin care diet and I was right.

The Mediterranean diet is chock full of great essential fatty acids (keeps skin moist and helps attain a wrinkle free face), antioxidants (fights off free radical damage), and great lean proteins (maintain collagen and skin tone).

The vegan and raw diets are good in that you get lots of essential fatty acids to promote wrinkle free skin, as well as antioxidants to fend off those pesky free radicals. However, both diets run the risk of being dangerously low in protein. If you follow either of these natural weight loss programs, be sure to include lots of plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts and nut butters, and organic tofu once or twice a week.

The South Beach was next. The lack of sugars is great if acne is an issue, plus cutting sugar helps promote collagen production. The author suggests taking essential fatty acids and increasing water intake to prevent dehydrating the skin during the first two weeks of the program, when so many fruits and veggies are off the table (pardon the pun).

Low-fat weight loss plans are inherently bad for the skin by their very name…low fat. Your body needs healthy fats (i.e. essential fatty acids) to retain hydration and suppleness. If you insist on following this type of natural weight loss plan, add lots of fish to your diet and include a fish oil supplement.

Last was the Atkins diet. The author referred to this plan as “disastrous for the complexion,” due to the excess protein (causes calcium to plummet) and the acidity of the diet, which wreaks havoc with the skin. Not to mention the overabundance of saturated fat, which can lead to breakouts. Forgo this natural weight loss plan and opt instead for other, more skin-promoting programs like those listed earlier.

For more great weight loss and skin care tips, visit Dr. Lark's Web site. While there, you can sign up for her free eLetter, subscribe to her newsletter, check out her lastest products, and get more weight loss and beauty information.

Natural Weight Loss Plan Must-Have: Accountability

Saturday, May 29, 2010 by Kimberly Day
No matter how carefully you plan your menus and follow your exercise routine, none of it will matter if you don’t hold yourself accountable.

To help you make the transition from your current way of eating to one that supports your natural weight loss plan, you MUST hold yourself accountable to leaving your former eating habits behind so you can fully incorporate your new natural weightloss efforts.

Identify Your Problem Foods

First and foremost, you need to identify those foods in your current diet and decide which ones can stay (fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, etc.), and which ones need to go.

The most common problem foods include:
  • Wheat and gluten products (pasta, bread, couscous, bagels, etc.);
  • Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream, etc.);
  • Sugar (candy, baked goods, frozen treats, sweeteners, etc.);
  • Caffeine (chocolate, coffee, sodas, black tea, etc.); and
  • Alcohol.
Keep a Food Journal

You’ve heard it a million times before, but the reality is keeping a food journal really is a huge part of being successful in any natural weight loss plan.

There are several things to note in your food journal. The first (and most obvious) is to log what you eat and what time. The key is be honest. Did you have fries? Slurp down a milkshake? Don’t leave it out. Owning up to your slips is a critical part of the process.

Next, indicate WHY you ate it.
  • Is it just a habit?
  • Do you eat certain foods because they're part of your childhood?
  • Are you eating it because it requires little thought or effort, such as pizza and hamburgers?
  • Do you eat the same foods day after day because it's simple and easy?
  • Do you use the food or beverage to boost energy?
Also, start to identify those foods you may be addicted to. Sugar, caffeine, and alcohol are the most commonly accepted addictive foods, but dairy and wheat-products can be just as addictive.

Also mark your state of mind when you are eating. Are you an emotional eater, using food to comfort or dull some emotion, such as eating chocolate or potato chips when you feel needy, fearful, upset, or angry?

Make a brief note next to each food on your list about why you think you eat it. As you keep track of your food intake in this way, you can begin to identify patterns, bad habits, and emotional triggers. Then you can take start to take responsibility for your food choices, make better choices, and enjoy continued success on your natural weightloss journey.

Eating Out While Watching Your Weight

Thursday, May 27, 2010 by Kimberly Day
You can achieve healthy, natural weightloss AND eat out at the same time.

Dining out can often be a HUGE pitfall when you are watching your weight. Luckily, I have pored through the most common ethic food categories and put together a list of dishes to help you make intelligent menu selections, particularly if you are following a natural weight loss plan.

In general, you will want to order salads, non-dairy soups, vegetable or bean appetizers and side dishes, and vegetarian or fish entrées. I’ve found that most restaurants are willing to make up vegetarian entrées and platters at your request, even if they are not on the menu.
  • American cuisine: salad or salad bars, bean or vegetable soups, baked potatoes, rice, vegetable side dishes or platters, fish or shellfish entrées.
  • Italian cuisine: escarole soup, bean or minestrone soup, white bean salad, Caesar salad, risotto, polenta (cornmeal) with a mushroom sauce, grilled eggplant entrée, fish or shellfish entrées.
  • French cuisine: vegetable or seafood salads, nondairy soups, vegetable side dishes, stewed beans, fish or shellfish entrées.
  • Indian cuisine: lentils, rice pilafs, cucumber salad, curried vegetable or shellfish dishes.
  • Chinese cuisine: stir-fried vegetables, sizzling rice soup, tofu or bean curd dishes, steamed rice, shrimp and mixed vegetable entrées.
  • Japanese cuisine: Japanese salads, miso soup, sticky rice, sushi, side dishes and soups made with vegetables and tofu.
  • Mexican cuisine: mixed vegetable salads, tostada salad, bean and rice side dishes, bean or shrimp burritos, chicken or shrimp fajitas, bean or seafood tacos (skip the cheese and sour cream).

Natural Skin Care Recipe for Glowing Skin

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 by Susan Lark

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.

Great Wheat-Free Desserts

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 by Kimberly Day
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
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Mix oil and erythritol together in a large bowl.
  3. Add egg, vanilla, and salt. Blend well.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix together salt, baking mix, baking soda, oats, and dried blueberries. Mix well with a whisk.
  5. Add to oil and egg mixture and mix well. (Add a few tablespoons of water if you want to thin out the dough.)
  6. With a tablespoon, scoop out dough and place onto a greased cookie sheet.
  7. 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
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream butter and erythritol for 30-45 seconds.
  3. Add egg and molasses and beat thoroughly.
  4. In a separate bowl, sift together baking mix, salt, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon.
  5. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture, alternating with boiling water, until well blended.
  6. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 8x8 pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Delicious warm or at room temperature.

Balance Estrogen Levels with Probiotics

Friday, April 30, 2010 by Kimberly Day
If you have estrogen dominance and tend to eat a diet high in saturated fats, such as butter and dairy products (especially cheese and ice cream), you are likely stimulating the growth of unhealthy, anaerobic bacteria in your intestinal tract. These bacteria chemically change the breakdown products of estrogen into forms that can be reabsorbed back into the body, thereby elevating your own estrogen levels.

You see, when these unhealthy, “bad” bacteria take over your intestinal tract, they negatively impact the metabolism of estrogen, causing less estrogen to be detoxed from your body and allow more “free” estrogen to be reabsorbed back into the circulation, thereby increasing free estrogen levels within the blood. This is bad.

To suppress the growth of these unhealthy bacteria, you should not only reduce your intake of saturated fat (which can lead to the problem in the first place), you also need to increase your intake of probiotic-rich, fermented foods, which recolonize your intestinal tract with healthy bacteria. These include yogurt (preferably coconut-based), kim chee, pickles, and sauerkraut, as well as taking probiotic supplements like lactobacillus and acidophilus.

Natural Beauty Food #10: Water

Saturday, April 3, 2010 by Kimberly Day
Everything in your body depends on water. In fact, water makes up 82 percent of your blood, 75 percent of your muscle, 25 percent of your bone, 76 percent of your brain tissue, and 90 percent of your lung tissue! Plus, water neutralizes acidity, which can dry out your skin.

Additionally, water is a critical part of the detoxification process. This is key, as healthy detoxification helps to keep your skin blemish-free and even works to reduce cellulite.

You should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of filtered water each day to achieve soft, supple, wrinkle free skin.

I am personally a huge fan of Fiji water from the South Pacific. Renowned for the natural purifier and filtration system that this crystal clear, still water runs through, Fiji has an extremely high concentration of silica (83 mg per liter), which you may remember is an essential nutrient for your hair and skin, thanks to its collagen-building capabilities.

You can find Fiji Water in most grocery stores and convenience stores. The only downside is that it comes in a plastic bottle.

Natural Beauty Food #6: Wheat Germ

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 by Kimberly Day
Wheat germ is rich in vitamin E, which has mildly estrogenic properties. In fact, wheat germ contains the fatty acids and other nutrients that your body needs to support and produce hormones such as estrogen.

This is key for wrinkle free skin, as estrogen is responsible for the deposits of fat under the skin that give rise to the soft and fine-textured skin that many women enjoy when they are young. Estrogen also causes fluid and salt retention in the tissues, which helps plump up and fill out skin, giving you the best natural skin care Mother Nature has to offer.

You can use wheat germ much like flax, by sprinkling it on yogurt or oatmeal or adding to a smoothie. Additionally, you can reap the same natural anti aging skin care benefits from wheat germ oil. Again, you can add to smoothies or even take in supplement form. Dr. Lark recommends taking 2,000–2,400 mg in capsule form a day, in divided doses.

#3 Natural Skin Care Ingredient

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by Susan Lark
#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.

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

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Susan Lark
#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.

My Top 5 Natural Skin Care Ingredients

Monday, March 8, 2010 by Susan Lark
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. 

Supplement #5 for Wrinkle Free Skin

Thursday, March 4, 2010 by Susan Lark

#5 Recommendation for a Wrinkle Free Face: Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

EFAs are an excellent way to create moister, softer, wrinkle free skin. The moisturizing effect of these oils has been particularly evident in my younger patients who already have a high moisture content in their skin, so if you are at midlife, it takes a little longer to replenish your moisture content--in some cases, three to six months.

To ensure that you are getting enough EFAs in your diet, eat foods rich in omega-3s, like ground flaxseed (up to 6 Tbsp per day), raw pumpkin seeds, and cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, or mackerel (up to three times a week). You can also supplement with a high-quality fish oil.

Another form of omega-3s come from krill oil, an EFA complex derived from tiny shrimp called Antarctic krill. Krill oil’s fatty acid and phospholipid content makes it an ideal choice for delivering moisture and hydration to the skin. A clinical study showed that supplementation with krill oil had a positive effect on skin health and appearance, helping to produce wrinkle free skin by improving skin hydration.

You can find fish oil and krill oil at health food stores and vitamin shops.

Supplement #4 for Wrinkle Free Skin

Monday, March 1, 2010 by Susan Lark
#4 Recommendation for a Wrinkle Free Face: Olive pulp extract

I am a big fan of olive oil, not only for its health benefits, but for its beauty benefits as well. But did you know that olives only contain 15 to 20 percent oil? More than 50 percent of an olive is juice…and that juice is a very rich source of polyphenols--amazing antioxidant compounds.

Olive pulp extract is particularly rich in the polyphenol called hydroxytyrosol. Research on people given oral doses of olive pulp extract showed that the antioxidant capacity of their blood plasma increased as the dose increased. And, in animal studies,olive pulp extract has been shown to help prevent UV damage to the skin and help keep skin in its normal, healthy state. I recommend 100 mg of olive pulp extract daily.

One brand you can try is Olivenol from Life’s Vigor.

Best Natural Skin Care #3: Anti Aging

Saturday, February 27, 2010 by Kimberly Day

How did this happen? One day I woke worried about treating the occasional blemish and now I wake up worried about smile lines and forehead creases. When did I switch from needing anti-acne skin care to wrinkle free skin care? (Answer? About three years ago!)

Fortunately, the natural anti aging skin care market is exploding the pure, natural, and effective treatments for anti aging/anti wrinkles. And my two favorite are Organic Natralox and the Revenir system.

What I love about Organic Natralox is that it not only uses safe, naturally derived ingredients, but it is clinically proven to reduce wrinkles 30 to 50 percent in just one month! Plus, it helps minimize the appearance of age spots and other visible signs of aging, protects against free-radical damage, and reduces skin dryness and flaking.

As for Revenir, you can can’t get any more basic and yet high-tech that this. Revenir is a hand-held water device that deliver electrolyzed water solutions to help promote wrinkle free skin. In layman’s terms, you add a solution of pure ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and purified water to your Revenir device to create a powerful antioxidant solution that can penetrate your skin’s barrier all the way to the dermis. This is key, as the vast majority of “antioxidant” creams on the market do not get through even the top layer of your skin, let alone penetrating far enough to reach the dermis, where collagen is produced. Plus, the electrolyzation process used by Revenir increases the strength of the antioxidant solution—up to eight times the normal rate. In other words, Revenir fights free radical damage at the cellular level.

As a result, Revenir has been clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, soften rough skin, increase collagen and elastin production, and improve the overall health and appearance of the skin.

Supplement #3 for Wrinkle Free Skin

Friday, February 26, 2010 by Susan Lark
#3 Recommendation for a Wrinkle Free Face: L-hydroxyproline

L-hydroxyproline is a fermented form of the amino acid proline, which is the major component of skin collagen. It’s believed to work by boosting collagen production and supporting your skin’s ability to absorb and hold moisture—for improved texture and appearance, and healthier-looking, wrinkle free skin.

I recommend 500 mg of L-hydroxyproline or 1,000 mg of proline daily. Try Carlson Laboratories.