Cellulite: New Treatment Horizons

Call it "cottage cheese", “peau d'orange”, “hail damage”, or “the mattress phenomenon” most girls cringe at the mere mention of the condition called cellulite. If you're a girl you are plausibly haunted by the appearance of cellulite on your body on account of the estrogen hormone. Cellulite refers to the dimple-like skin texture that some people develop on their thighs, hips or buttocks. It's more common in women than in men, in part because of the way the fat, connective tissue and the muscles are aligned in women's skin. Cellulite is caused by fat deposits that push against the connective tissues underneath the outer layer of skin and is not caused exclusively by obesity or weight gain.

So what can be done about this pesky and unsightly problem?

Many companies have toted creams, massages, therapies and other topical ways of dealing with cellulite. All of them have been relatively ineffective for curing the condition; most might improve it for a short time but require continual maintenance.

Latest Treatment Buzz:

A New York Times article earlier this year highlighted a new and increasingly popular procedure that deals specifically with cellulite, known as Cellulaze. The treatment is aimed at people who have tried diet, exercise or other methods to treat cellulite to no avail. The procedure requires local anesthesia and involves making small incisions in your skin so a small pen tip laser can be passed underneath to break up the connective tissue that creates the dimpling effect.

Studies have shown that this laser treatment under the skin increases the thickness of your skin by 25% and the elasticity of your skin by 29% —significant claims that haven't been made by any other treatments. Thicker and more elastic skin can help flatten and smooth the skin surface to improve the appearance of cellulite. In addition, 93% of patients surveyed after the treatment were satisfied or very satisfied with their results at one year post their procedure, and all volunteered to recommend the Cellulaze cellulite laser treatment to a friend.

While Cellulaze is approved by the FDA to treat cellulite, like any other cosmetic surgical procedure, there are limitations to the treatment. Some women who had the procedure –had excellent results with no more signs of cellulite coming back, but few women saw some complications like bruising and swelling.

It is important to note that patient selection is very crucial while choosing this technology. If someone has a large amount of cellulite and loose skin; she is by far not the ideal candidate. Over zealous treatments can give side effects like seromas (fluid build-up).

Make sure if you consider this treatment do your due diligence and go to a certified and experienced doctor with liposuction experience. As with any new technology, it’s always best to do your research and get advice from experienced physicians before making any decisions.

Ingrown Hair

To have a hairless body OR not to have a hairless body that is the dilemma!

Anyone who as attempted body hair removal knows that the path is paved with ingrown hair, folliculitis, razor burns, and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Today we will look deep into the quandary we call ingrown hair. An ingrown hair occurs when a shaved, waxed or tweezed hair grows back into the skin, causing inflammation and irritation. Ingrown hairs are more common among black males ages 14 to 25. But an ingrown hair can affect anyone with curly and tightly coiled hair who shaves, tweezes, waxes or uses electrolysis to remove hair.

Commonly ingrown hairs present with localized pain, bumps, and coiled black dots in the hair removal area. Sometimes the ingrown hair area gets infected and we see more pain with big red inflamed and infected bumps with pus and blood. Either mild or severe frankly these bumps and blemishes can be embarrassing.

Symptoms:

Ingrown hairs most commonly appear in males in the beard area, including the chin and cheeks and, especially, the neck. They can appear on the scalp in males who shave their heads. In females, the most common areas for ingrown hairs are the armpits, pubic area and legs. Signs and symptoms include:

• Small, solid, rounded bumps (papules)
• Small, pus-filled, blister-like lesions (pustules)
• Skin darkening (hyper pigmentation)
• Pain
• Itching
• Embedded hairs

When to see a doctor
An occasional ingrown hair isn't cause for alarm. See your doctor if:

•  Ingrown hairs are a chronic condition. Your doctor can help you manage the condition.

•  You're a woman with ingrown hairs as a result of excessive unwanted hair growth (hirsutism). Your doctor can determine whether your excess hair is a result of treatable hormonal abnormalities, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Causes:

Hair structure and direction of growth play a role in ingrown hairs. A curved hair follicle, which produces tightly curled hair, is believed to encourage the hair to re-enter the skin once the hair is cut and starts to grow back. Shaving creates sharp edges in this type of hair, especially if the hair is dry when shaved. When the shaved hair starts to grow out, it curls back to re-enter the skin (extra-follicular penetration).

When you pull your skin taut during shaving, the newly cut hair draws back into the skin, causing it to re-enter the skin without first growing out (trans-follicular penetration). Using a double-edged razor also causes hair to re-enter the skin — the first blade pulls the hair out and the second blade cuts it, which allows the hair to retract. Trans-follicular penetration also occurs with tweezing, which leaves a hair fragment under the skin surface.

When a hair penetrates your skin, your skin reacts as it would to a foreign body — it becomes inflamed.

Risk Factors:

Having tightly curled hair is the main risk factor for ingrown hairs, so the condition is more common among blacks, Hispanics, and Middle Eastern populations.

Simple Solutions:

• Not removing hair is one way to avoid an ingrown hair.
• Using a scrub once a week helps to prevent in grown hair.
• Using a AHA or BHA (like glycolic or sylicylic acid) lotion on the area also helps in preventing the problem.
• If the area is infected and too painful see your dermatologist.

Hair Free Body Confidence

The minute a girl hits puberty the hormones kick-in and the problem of body hair becomes very real. Despite innovative contributions from medicine and technology the quest for the most efficient and effective method for depilation is still on. If you invest some time into learning what are the different methods available to de-fur the body you’d end up with a long list. Sifting through my long research list I found out that there are only three methods that click with me:

1. In a big hurry: grab a lady-razor
2. In a mood to splurge: go for the permanent laser hair reduction
3. On a budget: grab mechanical epilators. (My hero has always been Braun Silk-e’pil!!!)

Let’s get comfy and talk about hair-related body image and personal hygiene issues & of course the different depilation options (their pros and cons).

Staying Natural

Lets toy with the notion –letting your inner hippy be in charge and flaunting body hair in it's full fleecy glory.

Pros: Life becomes much simpler, no effort, no expense

Cons: Be prepared to be teased, ridiculed and name called publically and privately. Visually it is an undesirable picture, as civilized well-groomed society is so used to a clean hair free female body image.

Shaving:

We have multifold techniques for hair removal and shaving is arguably the most popular.

Pros: Cheap, convenient, time effective

Cons: The main drawback of shaving is that the hair grows back quickly. Most nasty aspect: the newly growing stubble feels thorny, sharp and so non-feminine. Some people claim hair increase in density (thickness). Ingrown hair, and folliculitis are frequent complaints among shavers.

Hair Removal For The Brave

Waxing:

Sugar based hair plucking.

Pros: Done at home it’s a relatively a cheap procedure, allows you to have hair free body for up to 3-4 weeks.

Cons: Done at salon; ends up being quiet expensive (as it is a repeat procedure), painful, messy and oh so! associated with folliculitis and ingrown hairs.

Laser Hair Removal:

Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation in a lay-girl’s vocab it means permanent hair reduction.

Pros: Almost Permanent hair reduction, elegant way to loose excessive hair.

Cons: Expensive, painful (depending on your pain threshold) and comes with risks of side effects if done under incompetent hands.

Mechanical Epilators:

A real effective technique, which involves ripping out the hair from the root (plucking). Most people are aware of waxing as a method of body hair removal, but less are aware that devices exist that act as automated tweezers. They are like electric shavers; difference is they use a spinning set of tweezers that rip out large areas of hair real quickly.

As this is my go-to choice for depilation -Let’s Dig Deeper….

Pros & Cons: The benefits of epilation are clear; you can get rid of hair for four or more weeks without having to constantly shave. However, you need to have the strength of will to survive the relatively painful initial work. Epilation can be relatively painful, but I think it is a lot easier to maintain than shaving and waxing. After all the hair is ripped out, it re-grows sporadically and in lighter forms, so it is easy to periodically remove what re-grows. Some people even report permanent reduction in the hair density.

The method is a little painful, but allows you to remove hair in minutes. And good news is the results last for weeks. Sometimes post-epilation skin reacts to the plucking force resulting in red raised bumps around the formerly occupied hair shafts. The irritation persisted for several days, but eventually heals, with perfectly smooth and hair-free skin. Some hairs re-grow, probably because their roots hadn't been ripped out, but they are few in number and it is much less painful to remove few stray hair than a group of twenty or more simultaneously.

The pain can be lessened by application of topical anesthetics or ice, taking some acetaminophen might help also. My advice; if you’re a girl get used to pain! You are ripping out clumps of hair, after all how are you not supposed to feel pain. On a chipper note I think women probably have it easier than men with epilation, since they generally have lighter and less dense hair.

I encourage any fellow brave girls to try this method of hair removal, since pain builds female character and this method delivers smooth and great results.

So finally which method to choose?

It depends on:

Where the hair is? -Shaving moustache hair = bad move.

How much hair are we dealing with? -No amount of bleach is going to achieve a Brazilian down below

What’s your pain threshold? -Waxing and epilation is not for the faint hearted.

What’s your skin type? -Sensitive skins may react badly to creams and waxing.

What’s your budget? –Laser and salon wax treatments cost mucho dinero

And remember: Just because our gal pals are waxers/shavers doesn't mean we should be. Try for yourself find out which method works for you. Happy selections!

Fillers Can Potentially Reverse The Process Of Aging

Theories proven by a few dermatological studies have shown us that it may be possible to slow down the skin’s aging process by boosting support of the dermal extracellular matrix.

As the skin ages, the extracellular matrix, which acts as a scaffold for skin cells, becomes fragmented, according to researchers with the University Of Michigan Medical School. Fibroblasts shrink and less collagen is produced causing the support structure to decline. In a new study conducted at the UM Medical School the researchers found that injecting the space between the skin cells with a filler enhances the structural support of the extracellular matrix.

Investigators injected a dermal filler into the facial skin of 21 volunteers aged 70 yr.s or above during a three month study. Data indicated that the filler stimulated fibroblasts to begin producing more collagen and boosted the support structure of the extracellular matrix. The researchers noted, that this increased support, appeared to further stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts and increase epidermal thickness, as they published it in their abstract. The entire layer of skin grew thicker with more blood vessels, which nourished the cells.

By altering the matrix using an external filler and increasing the internal pressure, they’ve shown that we can essentially trigger a signal for cells to wake up. This shows that skin cells in elderly people have the capacity to respond robustly in a very positive way to alterations in the mechanical property of their environment. We still need to know more about how these cells sense their environment, but in general it appears we have made a real difference in the structural integrity of skin.  The detailed findings of the study were published in the October issue of the Journal Of Investigative Dermatology.

Looking For Quick-fix Weight Loss: Here’s Another Lazy Option From Our Doctor-Bag Of Medical-Tricks

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We eat too much, but don't want to diet. Instead, we're adopting increasingly radical measures to shed the pounds. Today I'll share with you a new weight-loss fad recently gaining popularity among the ever-growing list of medical short cuts........ I present to you The KEN!!! (Ketogenic Enteral Nutrition diet). It involves eating absolutely nothing at all. 
Not possible…Possible!!

Let me share with you verbatim the Ginevra Tamberi story as she talked to The Guardian Newspaper: Ginevra Tamberi, a 21-year-old film studies student from Rome, born to very tall, very skinny parents. Her brother is blessed with a super metabolism who can eat 4,000 calories a day and remains one of nature's giraffes. But Ginevra is not so lucky. She eats one slice of bread and it goes down her throat and directly on to her neither regions.

Ginevra tried every diet introduced by modern science: the Aktins diet, the Dukan diet, the Scarsdale diet, the Zone diet, the cabbage diet, the onion diet. She saw a private nutritionist and a personal trainer. All to no avail!

Out of desperation she visited the plastic surgeon Marco Gasparotti. According to Ginevra, "Everybody in Rome knows Gasparotti." And everybody does, too: you cannot throw a brick in Italy and not hit Dr Gasparotti demonstrating his innovative techniques on some TV chat show. For Gasparotti is no slouch; he has a liposuction cannula to his name and has patented an elastocompressive cellulite-busting girdle called the Lipo Contour Elite Capri. He has also garnered countless international awards, and is at the very forefront of innovative ways of redraping skin and sucking out and resculpting fat that cannot be described to readers without causing barf attacks. In short he is a all things cosmetic genius!

Ginevra went to Gasparotti for liposuction. She wanted, as it were, to be vacuumed down a couple of dress sizes. But Gasparotti was not encouraging – liposuction. He promoted concept of improving shape and contour, discouraging comprehensive fat removal. Gasparotti had a new and better trick up his sleeve: the Diet Tube. A week later, after some medical tests, Ginevra returned to Gasparotti's clinic and she came out with a piece of plastic tubing sticking out of her nose. One end of the tube went down into her stomach the other was attached to a small electric pump.

For 10 days Ginevra wore the nasogastric tube. She ate nothing and the pump, working day and night, sending tiny amounts of a protein-filled liquid into her stomach to stave off hunger. The tube, the brave wearer says, didn't restrict her lifestyle. When she went out, she just popped the pump into her Prada bag and nobody in the street seemed to notice she had a tube up her nose. Do you find this surprising? I do! Normally you notice when people have tubes up their noses, just as you also notice when they are wearing gas masks. But then Rome is Rome.

On Diet Tube Ginevra experienced occasional moments of lassitude, but mostly she felt great. She says, "It was purifying everything. My skin was, like, unbelievable. It was so clean, so pure, like a baby's. Amazing!" Ginevra grew used to the faint buzzing of the pump, and didn't feel nauseous or hungry. But she did miss chewing. "So I was just having tea – green tea – all the time."

Didn't she get sick of the tea?

Her response, "If I see green tea now, I am going to die."

And what did her friends think?

"They're used to my strange stuff, my weird things." And anything was better than the onion diet…(she got a point there).

By the end of the 10 days, Ginevra had lost 7kg. She gave Diet Tube a break. Six months later, she had another go and lost a further 5kg. She is now a size 14, not a size 16–18. Her friends and family have also tried it. Ginevra's aunt, another of the family's non-giraffes, has lost 30kg. "My aunt is so happy, she could live on Diet Tube. I saw her with it and she was feeling so powerful. She was really putting herself into her cooking, making lasagne and parmigiana and polpettone and Mont Blanc." (Good for the folks around her!)

Last year, 1,500 patients underwent Diet Tube. Numbers are escalating – there are now eight Diet Tube clinics in Italy, centers in Barcelona, Athens and Madrid, and franchise negotiations underway for a dozen other countries, including the UK. The fact that such an outlandish procedure can flourish is hardly surprising. The diet has no significant side effects, and main side effects are just bad breath and some constipation because there is no fiber in the food solution.  However, patients with kidney disorders should not try the nose tube diet.

As a species we are getting fatter and fatter. We are also watching too many makeover TV programs and becoming increasingly susceptible to the idea of the quick fixes. Ten Years Younger, Bridalplasty, I Want A Famous Face, and Extreme Makeover have a lot to answer for. Invasive beauty procedures have been normalized and there are so very many to chose from: tummy tucks, liposuction, laser liposuction, gastric band, gastric balloon, gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve. If, for whatever reason, you are not up to dieting or spending time in the gym, there are so many short cuts. You can experiment with hypnotherapy or with algae or with Peter Foster's spooky remedies. Or you can resort to non-foods: egg white omelets, zero calorie jelly, oat bran, the abominable Dukan pancake. Or, you can take a very big breath, brace yourself and go for weight loss (or "bariatric") surgery.

The question now is where to stop?..... And while we have our thinking caps on why not ponder on  .....Why run from the good old-fashioned combos of healthy diet and exercise? 

.............But, if diet and exercise options fail us and nothing seems to work, now you know about another trick from the doctors bag that could help you.

Over weight is a manifestation of Excess in our lives, in our grocery lists! 
Time to stop, analyze & reflect!

Lead Red - Killer Pout Report From The Lipstick Jungle

When human race decided to embark on the journey of modern lifestyle we knew we will be dealing with a modern set of new risks as we move forward. I guess coz of that we're all pretty much accustomed to the feeling of being surrounded by health risks on daily basis and the lists are growing long and fast everyday. Some risks we ignore and live with and some we take seriously and go on rallies to fight. In the spirit of raising awareness today I'd introduce you to yet another free-to-pass-around poison in our quotidian lives. You decide if its worth living with quietly or should we be rallying-out boycotting-the-hell-out of this poison off-of-our-consumer-shelves.........Girls clutch your beauty bags and purse your red lips ----from the glamorous depths of your vanity pouches I call out --"Your Red Lipstick"!

There you have it!! Lips can kill!  The ur­ban legend can be true literally ….. especially if the kissers are enhanced with lethal red lipstick……containing Lead! The poisonous red earth color pigment which comes in the enticing shades of Rouge Volupte, Fire Splurge, Scarlet, and the Lover Red is capable of more than turning heads and sweeping the opposite sex off of their feet under the spell of your alluring pout……It can also slow poison you to stupor even maybe death!

According to a new FDA report 400 lipsticks (Yes a big whopping number 400 of them!) from leading brands such as YSL, Dior, L'Oreal, Maybelline, NARS, and Cover Girl, and many, many, many others contain Lead; .........a potential poison!

Lead Lipstick Ratings (Lethal Or Nawt):

Here’s a list of my favorite brands of lipsticks with FDA reported Lead levels.

(The higher the number of lead the higher is the danger and chance of side effects.)

• YSL 5
• Christian Dior 4
• Estee Lauder 3
• Lancôme 2
• Clinique 2
• Shiseido 2
• Chanel 2

Holy Heidi Salamane!! YSL is at the top of the list with whopping levels of Lead. Proof is in the pudding the higher the Lead level the more smudge-proof is the lipstick! Ladies adive no. 1: loose the long lasting ones if you know what I mean.

Lead Lipstick Controversies:

The FDA acknowledges the presence of Lead and yet still allows the sale of these products coz it believes that the level of Lead found in these lipsticks poses no safety risks.

But yet another consumer group, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, claiming to fight the just fight warns that …. Any Lead Is Too Much Lead! 

Where does that leave us gals? Every woman for herself I guess! Personally I prefer nude!

Lead Common Sense Argument:

Research has shown that Lead builds up in the body over time and Lead containing lipsticks applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels. You don’t need a degree in math to calculate that regular use = bad.

Markets are still lined with products with low levels of Lead. Regulatory bodies are admitting Lead as a harmful poison but are not prohibiting its distribution to the public. The latest studies are confusing us by showing that there is no safe level of lead exposure. And as no data is available on harmful levels of Lead our red is becoming all gray.

Hmmmn I guess its time for us to take the big girl pill and learn to identify the symptoms of Lead poisoning. The list of side effects might shed some defining light on our Lead poisoning conundrum.

According to the Mayo Clinic initially, lead poisoning can be hard to detect — ahem!— even people who seem healthy can have high blood levels of lead. Signs and symptoms usually don't appear until dangerous amounts have accumulated.

Hammered on Lead: - You'll have Symptoms like

• High blood pressure
• Declines in mental functioning
• Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
• Muscular weakness
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Memory loss
• Mood disorders
• Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm
• Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women 

Lead Lessons To Be Learned:

Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” might have looked fantastic in red lips but modern day fashionista’s think hard and think clear…… Red stands for danger for a reason!

Flaunting old Hollywood glam-factor red lips on regular basis can certainly raise your image ratings in certain (iffy) social circles over time reciprocating to the lethal Lead levels in your body ……if that’s what you’re aiming for you’re blame free.

In my prudent books from here on wards I am assigning red lips with only one vibe that reads: mature woman, good with her mouth careless with her life!

When worn by chronic magnets like Camilla Belle, Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie and Penelope Cruz my argument–that red lipstick may in fact serve as a wood cutter–comes to a quick close.

Now, the case is in your court gals: judge wisely!

Finally A Fun Exercise

Lead Test Your Precious Lipstick Collection:

1. Put some lipstick on your hand
2. Use a 24-14 K Gold ring to scratch lipstick
3. If the lipstick smudge color changes to black you know your lipstick contains lead

For The Deep Case Divers: Here's some official FDA gathered data.....knock your self out researching!!

Lipstick and Lead: Questions and Answers

Simple Secrets To Succor Your Skin

It is so true...... You are what you eat!!!!!

Eat as healthy as possible, having a good diet, makes your skin look healthy and beautiful.

Now lets talk serious.... preventing redness, brown spots, and hyperpigmentation pesky issues that add unwanted years to your vis-age. I unflinchingly believe in these tried & tested three easy-basic guidelines......... Don’t be shy read on & make them your-own-skin-habits and enjoy clearer improved skin/complexions. (You're welcome by the way) *Wink* .....Stay Radiant!

• Be gentle on your skin: Avoid harsh scrubs and rigorous towel drying, friction can cause irritation that makes skin look older. And anytime you have an ingrown hair, clogged pore, or even a scratch from your pet—don’t touch it!! Many women pick at their skin, not realizing it can cause post-inflammatory pigmentation and scarring.

• Stay away from smoke: Chemicals from cigarettes get into your bloodstream and find their way to your skin, making it sallow and spotty. Even if you don’t smoke, sitting in a smoky room or restaurant exposes your skin to the same chemicals that cause discoloration. 

• Say yes to daily SPF: You’ve heard it a million times, but have you gotten the message? My patients say they don’t use sunscreen because they don’t sunbathe, so I show them the freckles and little broken capillaries on their skin. I explain that they can get sun damage from simply walking to the car each day without sunscreen.

Modern Day Girl’s Hair Conundrums

Flash News: Dyes, straighteners and blow dryers may help make you stylish in the short term, but over time, harsh chemicals and heated styling devices can damage your hair.

I have been collecting questions about prevalent hair problems from my patients over the last few weeks today I'd try to adress the most common ones bringing to light the top causes of hair damage and tips on how to maintain a healthy and lustrous head of hair.

Are chemical dyes bad for the hair?

Chemical damage is one of the most common culprits of hair damage, as processed hair loses its natural moisturizers and the protective lipid layer of fat on the outside of the cuticle (responsible for making the hair shiny) is removed. The result is dried-out, dull, & frizzy hair.

What are the best ways to combat chemical damage?

• Use conditioning shampoos and conditioners regularly to improve the appearance of frizzy hair. 2-in-1 shampoos that remove oil from the scalp, clean the hair, and then condition the hair in the rinse phase also are good choices.
• Look for shampoos, conditioners, sprays, and creams containing dimethicone, which has been shown to decrease static electricity, increase shine, and improve manageability. 
• Hair serums rubbed through the length of the hair may also help.
• Of course the best option is to stop dyeing your hair. If you do dye, choose a shade that's within three shades of you natural color. Dyeing hair darker, rather than lighter, also generally is less damaging.

Can the sun damage hair?

Hair can get tanned and damaged, just like skin. Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or a tanning booths weakens the hair structurally, resulting in hair breakage and loss.

The best protection is a hat or an umbrella, though conditioners that contain a sun screen can help too. Just be sure to reapply after each shampoo.

Grey hair is most subject to damage from the sun, followed by blonde hair. If your hair is grey and you’re going to be out in the sun a lot without a hat, you may want to consider dyeing it dark; it's a trade-off, but damage from the sun is worse in this case than damage from the dye.

Can blow-drying my hair result in damage?

Yes. Water in hair is what makes it flexible. Heating appliances boil the water within the hair shaft, creating escaping steam. Hair bubbles form on the hair shaft, creating a loss of cuticle. Signs of heat damage include hair that smells burned, has frizzy ends, and breaks easily.

How can I dry my hair without damaging it?

Allow it to air dry, when possible. If you have to use a hairdryer, start out on the lowest heat setting first and gradually increase it.

Moisturizing the hair regularly will help the appearance of heat-damaged hair to some degree, but hair damaged by heat cannot be repaired. The affected hair will need to be cut off and allowed to regrow as healthy hair.

Since hair is alive, won't damaged hair just grow back?

One of the most common misconceptions about hair is that it is alive, when in fact hair is nonliving and does not heal itself once it is injured. So once the hair is damaged it cannot heal itself except through new hair growth at the scalp.

How about straightening my hair?

If you're straightening hair with a ceramic iron, put a moist towel in the device to protect the hair from direct heat. 

There's also a procedure called keratin hair straightening that uses gluteraldehyde or formeldahyde in combination with heat to straighten the hair’s natural bonds. After the chemical solution is applied to the hair, a keratin protein conditioner must be put on the hair to make it less brittle. The hair must be kept dry and not bent or manipulated for several days or the bonds will repair and the hair won't be straight.

Munch Your Way To Skinny

Remember the days when your metabolism was like a caffeinated mouse in a wheel? Yeah, me neither. If you aren’t one of those lucky gals who can eat whatever she wants and burn it off thanks to an annoyingly fast metabolism, look to these helpful foods to boost your metabolism.

Grapefruit

This diet super fruit (above) lowers the insulin levels in your body that trigger your system to store fat. Plus, it is rich in fiber, and your body must burn extra calories in order to break it down.

Green Tea

Green tea is the main source of epigallocatechin gallate, known better as EGCG. This healthy catechin speeds up your brain and nervous system, causing your body to burn more calories.

Yogurt

The high levels of protein present in natural yogurt require a lot of energy to be processed. Plus, the pro-biotic cultures found in yogurt help regulate your digestive tract.

Almonds

Almonds’ essential fatty acids help raise your body’s metabolism. Just don’t overdo it because they’re also very high in calories.

Coffee

Coffee has caffeine, which does give you a boost. Just ensure that you don’t exceed 2 or 3 cups a day, or you risk a host of side effects, including irritability and jitters.

Turkey

This protein-rich meat builds lean muscle tissue, which causes your body to burn extra calories and raises your metabolism.

Apples

Like grapefruit, this low-calorie snack is high in fiber, which your body must burn calories to break down. Plus, since apples help you stay full for longer, you’ll eat less.

Spinach

Popeye was right about one thing: spinach can help make you strong and healthy. In addition to speeding up your metabolism, it’s a great source of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron and vitamin C.

Beans

Low in fat and packed with protein, beans keep you full for long durations, and your body must burn extra calories in order to process this fiber-rich food.

Jalapenos

The capcaisin found in jalapenos causes your body to burn extra calories for hours after you ingest them, speeding up both your heart rate and metabolism.

Broccoli

Broccoli contains a highly effective metabolism-boosting team of nutrients: calcium and vitamin C. Calcium acts as a metabolic trigger, while vitamin C helps your body absorb more calcium.

Oatmeal

Because your body takes a long time to break down the fat-soluble fiber in oatmeal, this healthy food lowers your body’s insulin level and speeds up your metabolism as a result.

Soy Milk

Fortified soy milk is loaded with calcium, which helps boost your metabolism. Just stay away from the sweetened varieties.

Curry

Like jalapenos, curry increases the amount of calories your body burns and speeds up your metabolism.

Cinnamon

A little bit of cinnamon can go a long way. Add some zing to your daily cup of tea with this tasty spice to help your body metabolize sugars more effectively and maintain steadier blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can also help lower your cholesterol.

Hair Dietetics

Your body thrives on the right blend of nutrients, and your hair is no different. To get the best vitamins and minerals for healthy hair, choose foods packed with these nutrients.

Protein

More than 90 percent of your hair is made up of protein, so you need to have enough protein in your diet to support hair growth. Fortunately, most people get plenty of protein naturally from their diet. Foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products are high in protein. Vegetarians can get protein from plant sources such as soybeans, seeds, and nuts.

Beta-carotene

This antioxidant can help your body synthesize protein, may encourage hair growth, and may help prevent hair loss. Look for it in lots of fruits and vegetables, especially orange ones.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A fosters scalp health. Many orange fruits and vegetables — cantaloupe, apricots, squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots — are good sources of vitamin A, as is broccoli.

The B Vitamins

The nutrients in this family of vitamins, often called B-complex vitamins, may help promote hair growth and prevent hair loss and breakage. Vitamin B3 (niacin) may nourish hair follicles, while vitamins B5, B6, and B12 may prevent both hair loss and premature graying. B vitamins can be found in poultry, beef, fish, eggs, whole grains, beans, sunflower seeds, peas, nuts, leafy green vegetables, and fortified breads and cereals.

Biotin

A biotin deficiency can leave your scalp itchy and scaly. To help keep your scalp healthy, choose biotin-rich meats, fish, eggs, dairy foods, nuts, whole grains, and molasses.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. It also helps keep your blood vessels healthy, helps prevent hair breakage, and promotes hair growth. All the citrus fruits — grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines, and so on — are high in vitamin C, as are berries and melons.

Vitamin E

This antioxidant vitamin helps your cells repair themselves and facilitates your body's synthesis of protein; it also encourages hair growth and aids in circulation. It is plentiful in green vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, beans, nuts, and avocados.

Vitamin K

This vitamin can promote hair health. You'll find it in seafood, eggs, liver, dairy products, green vegetables, figs, cabbage, oatmeal, yogurt, and wheat.

Para-aminobenzoic acid

This nutrient might help stave off grey hair. Look for it in yogurt, whole grains, and some organ meats (like liver).

Minerals

A range of minerals, including trace minerals, can help promote hair growth and protect against hair breakage. Key among them are silica, calcium, iron, copper, and zinc. These minerals are found in a broad range of unprocessed foods, including meats, seafood, nuts, seeds, liver, eggs, rice, oats, whole-grain cereals, sunflower seeds, lettuce, onion, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, bean sprouts, leafy green vegetables, strawberries, dates, and raisins. Organic foods frequently have higher concentrations of trace minerals than conventionally grown foods.

Enjoy A Variety

For the broadest range of the best vitamins and minerals for hair health, eat a variety of nutritious foods. That way, you'll get the benefit of the micronutrients that are found in trace amounts. If you feel your diet may be lacking in any vitamins or minerals, talk to your doctor to see whether he or she recommends a daily multivitamin.

Wish you all great hair days!!