Bloggy Health!

Smoking

Today we’re more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Smoking is restricted or banned in almost all public places and cigarette companies are no longer allowed to advertise on TV, radio, and in many magazines. Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 10 years or more; and that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dollars a year. It is also responsible for many other cancers and health problems.

These include lung disease, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke and cataracts. Women who smoke have a greater chance of certain pregnancy problems or having a baby die from sudden infant death syndrome. The message that ‘smoking is bad for you’ is an old one, so not everyone gives it their full attention. The most common method of smoking today is through cigarettes, either industrially manufactured or rolled with loose tobacco and a rolling paper. Other forms, though not as common, are pipes, cigars and bongs. Smoking is one of the worst things kids or adults can do to their bodies.

Health Effects of Smoking

Lung problems-Lung cancer is a difficult cancer to treat – long term survival rates are poor. Smoking also increases the risk of oral, uterine, liver, kidney, bladder, stomach, and cervical cancers, and leukemia. The lung damage which causes emphysema is irreversible, and makes it extremely difficult to breathe.

Spontaneous abortion-A number of studies have shown that tobacco use is a significant factor in spontaneous abortions among pregnant smokers that it contributes to a number of other threats to the health of the fetus. Second-hand smoke appears to present an equal danger to the fetus, as one study noted that “heavy paternal smoking increased the risk of early pregnancy loss.

Bad skin. Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin — which is why smokers often appear pale and unhealthy. An Italian study also linked smoking to an increased risk of getting a type of skin rash called psoriasis.

Cancer-Smoking causes cancers of the bladder, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx (voice box), esophagus, cervix, kidney, lung, pancreas, and stomach, and causes acute myeloid leukemia. Rates of cancers related to cigarette smoking vary widely among members of racial/ethnic groups, but are generally highest in African-American men.

Way to quit smoking

Pick a quit day Choose a date within the next two or three weeks to quit. Having a deadline makes it easier to plan how you will handle the people, places and situations that make you want to smoke. Try to choose a time that is not particularly stressful. But don’t wait forever for the “perfect” day – pick a quit date now and work with it.

Make a plan. Preparing to quit is an important first step. There’s no one right way to stop smoking, but smokers who lay the groundwork are much more likely to succeed. Make a list of the people, places, and pastimes associated with your smoking — anything that “triggers” your behavior. One of the hardest things about being a regular smoker and then giving it up is that you’ll always know how good that after-dinner smoke tastes. Come up with a plan for coping with each of those triggers. For example, after a meal you may want to get up and take a walk — or brush your teeth. If a cigarette automatically appears in your mouth when you leave work at the end of the day, substitute a lollipop or a toothpick.

Niquitin Products-You provide the willpower – Niquitin can help with the cravings. The therapeutic nicotine in our patches, lozenges and gum help control the physical symptoms so you can concentrate on tackling the other aspects of quitting smoking.

Ever wonder how to start a healthy skin care routine that doesn’t involve the usual 12 step process? Good news, because whether you’re 20 or 60 years old, male or female, we all want to have healthy skin, look our best and these three strategies can certainly help you out!

We all don’t want to look old before our time. The onset of droopy or saggy skin, blemishes, and dry wrinkled skin is just not healthy skin care it’s, in one word, depressing.

You probably have wondered how on earth a person that’s 40 years old looks 25 yet a different 40 years old person looks 60. Yes, it could be in their genes, however, most scientists generally agree that genetics probably don’t play any more than a 10% role when it comes to our health or appearance as we age.

So, what are the instant healthy skin care strategies that determine how we look and feel as we age?

Here are three healthy skin strategies anyone can use:

1) Healthy Diet

“You are what you eat” as the saying goes and it’s still true. Eating processed foods that are lacking nutrients leads to poor looking skin, not to mention poor health. By not getting the right amounts of essential nutrients daily, your skin over time looses collagen and elastin.

Therefore, you should protect your healthy skin (and health) from the inside out! Just eat a well-balanced diet…but, if you find that your diet is lacking in essential nutrients you can always add quality supplements.

2) Healthy Exercise

Believe it or not but healthy exercise does play a role in a healthy skin care plan. Reasonable exercise, you don’t need to be a fanatic because you just have to keep everything functioning properly and flexible.

3) Healthy Skin Care Ingredients

Even skin care products have ingredients that are healthier than others to use. For instance, products which contain parabens, dioxane, or mineral oil are far less healthy for you and your skin than ingredients that are found in natural skin care products. However, not all products labeled “natural” are and that’s why reading the label and doing a bit of research is worth the time.

I’ll give you a head start, here are a few healthy ingredients to look for in skin care products:

Phytessence Wakame — Natural? You bet…it’s a variety of kelp (native to the Japanese Sea). It’s rich in: sodium, iron, potassium, calcium PLUS B-group vitamins. Here’s what it does for you skin:

• increases skin elasticity
• slows down the activity of hyaluronidase (an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid in the skin)

Cynergy TK — Again, you’re wondering if this substance is natural. Yes…it’s extracted from the wool of New Zealand sheep. This is an exciting ingredient to be part of a skin care product because it’s almost like applying a liquid skin to your face and body. Here’s some of the things it does for your skin:

• boost production of collagen and elastin
• increase production of new skin cells
• improve skin hydration and elasticity
• reduce fine lines and wrinkles

Since Cynergy TK and Phytessence Wakame are extremely new and only currently used by small niche skin care companies, they’re practically unheard of in the Western world.

So, go ahead and start your healthy skin care routine. By understanding and implementing the three strategies outlined in this article, you and your skin are well on the way to looking and feeling younger…and making people wonder what your true age really is!

To learn more about healthy vitamins for the skin and other incredible natural ingredients for healthy skin care, visit my website today.

Summer is here at last! After many months kept under wraps, most bodies need some extra love and attention to get them ready to face the world this time of year. For even the most low-maintenance ladies, there are certain beauty treatments that are absolutely essential.

1. Eyebrow Wax and Eyelash Tint

Get your brows in shape with a wax. My advice would be to never try this yourself. Leave the initial treatment to the professionals, and you should find it easy to maintain yourself at home with tweezers. An eyelash tint will transform your eyes and eliminate the need for mascara. Try the blue/black tint for the darkest shade (never fear – it is not bright blue!). Both treatments are great value. They are inexpensive, can be carried out in your lunch break, and last for weeks.

2. Hair Removal

There are tons of easy and effective hair removal devices and products available. You can wax, shave, use a hair removal cream, epilator device, or even try laser hair removal for a more permanent solution. Whatever your method, in my opinion this exercise is simply non-negotiable. Try to incorporate hair removal into your regular beauty routine and it need not be a chore.

3. Pedicure

Give your tootsies a treat with a pedicure. Months in boots do our poor little feet no favours, and the reality is that hard skin removal may be required to transform our hooves before we dare venture out in sandals. Paint your toenails with a bright polish and you are hot to trot. Hope you have fun in the sun!