Natural Life Choices

Mineral Makeup is made from pure minerals from the earth. Unlike regular liquid foundations, mineral foundations have a powder consistency but are much different than your usual pressed powder. Mineral makeup is free of those and other ingredients that could be irritating to the skin. Mineral makeup won’t clog pores, is less likely to promote allergic reactions, and is typically good for people with sensitive skin.

Mineral makeup is oil-free, alcohol-free. Make sure when you are researching mineral makeup you look for 100 percent mineral makeup. Mineral makeup is made from naturally occurring minerals like iron oxides, mica powder and titanium dioxide. What this means to you is that the ingredients you are applying on your face on a daily basis come straight from the earth, not from some chemist’s lab. Mineral makeup is virtually everywhere. It is touted on home shopping television, given precedence in beauty stores and raved about in magazines.

Mineral makeup is completely natural and it won’t clog your pores so your skin will be able to breathe. There are, however, some “imitation” mineral makeup products on the market that contain talc and other fillers. Mineral makeup is virtually exploding today’s beauty market. Many dermatologists report that because mineral makeup frequently eliminates classic “irritants” like fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes, and preservatives — it is considered “purer” and can be kinder to the skin . Mineral makeup is the latest innovation in cosmetics and is growing in popularity because of its many mineral makeup benefits. Whether you already use mineral makeup or want to try it for the first, read on to learn why mineral makeup benefits skin.

Mineral makeup is so gentle you can even sleep in it. Go on and give it a try you’ll be glad you did. Mineral makeup is non-comodogenic (it doesn’t clog pores), which is beneficial for all women. But this property of mineral makeup is especially welcome news for Asian women, who typically have more pore-related challenges. Mineral makeup is weightless and invisible, and covers your minor flaws beautifully—making your skin appear younger and smoother instantly. Because it’s made with pure minerals, you’ll find you need to use less—getting closer to that all-natural look you’re striving to achieve!

Mineral makeup is much less irritating than conventional makeup, leading to far fewer allergic reactions. This is true because mineral makeup is all natural- no additives, alcohol, or preservatives are used to create it, and thus no allergic reactions to these chemicals will occur. Mineral makeup is now poised to become a favorite amongst women of all ages who not only want to look great, but also choose to take money away from unethical sourcing and animal testing of big brand names. Mineral makeup is very different from “traditional” pressed powders and liquid formulas, so these makeup techniques will help you achieve your ideal look with our products!

The Natural pigments found in mineral makeup will give you long-lasting color that stays where you put it. The Natural mineral makeup and natural powder blush is kind to your skin. Daily use of a pure mineral powder makeup will let you see noticeable results at a price you can afford.

Women who have tried it say they will never go back to liquid or pressed foundation. I know we here at Natural Life Choices will never use anything other than Mineral Makeup. I have seen in beauty chat rooms to mainstream consumer magazines, women are raving about the light, natural, long-lasting glow that simply can’t be duplicated by other types of makeup. Women of color require mostly yellow/gold-based makeup and sometimes copper/red or even olive/green bases, while most Caucasians use pink-based makeup.

Mineral makeup does not turn your skin orangey or “ashy”, because it is made with the yellow/golden and other pigment rich undertones your skin needs.

I just wanted to bring out awareness that recently it has been released that the FDA has no control or approval process of cosmetics and has gone largely unregulated for decades.  I had seen a news cast last week on our local nightly news and I wanted to pass this along.  It was reported on WREG-TV about ingredients found in cosmetics in the U.S. had been banned in Europe and Canada for years.

Just remember, our pores to our skin absorb whatever you wash, rinse and apply to it and over daily use in spans of months and/or years in some cases, you can be doing more harm than good. 

Mineral makeup is so gentle you can even sleep in it. Go on and give it a try you’ll be glad you did. Mineral makeup is non-comodogenic (it doesn’t clog pores), which is beneficial for all women. But this property of mineral makeup is especially welcome news for Asian women, who typically have more pore-related challenges. Mineral makeup is weightless and invisible, and covers your minor flaws beautifully—making your skin appear younger and smoother instantly. Because it’s made with pure minerals, you’ll find you need to use less—getting closer to that all-natural look you’re striving to achieve!

I have been receiving huge amounts of telephone and email requests with so many not feeling well and are unsure if what they are experiencing are symptoms of Salmonella and if it would be wise to head over to the emergency room for treatment.

First and foremost Salmonella symptoms are curable and when more serious cases go untreated there can be long term effects such as chronic arthritis, bone infection, pneumonia and some have reported even menigitis.

Salmonella symptoms can last four to seven days and include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, gas and bloody diarrhea have also been reported as salmonella symptoms. Symptoms usually appear within 36 hours of exposure and last usually between four to seven days.

According to experts like Dr. Mercola:

“to effectively neutralize the salmonella bacteria, you or a child can safely take a high potency probiotic, like Culturelle, Nature’s Way, or Jarrow every hour until symptoms abate.

http://www.svmoms.com/2007/06/salmonella-in-v.html“

If you suspect or are experiencing any of these symptoms it is wise to contact your medical professional immediately and keep in mind that person-to-person transmission of salmonella occurs when a carrier’s feces, unwashed from his/her hands, contaminates food during preparation or through direct contact with another person. Usually the illness comes from food contaminated with animal feces found on or in raw meats, eggs, fish and shell fish and most commonly in poultry.

Wash all produce thoroughly before consuming and keep in mind that according to the FDA “Persons on antibiotic therapy were more apt to be affected in this outbreak. (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap1.html)”

Also, one last note, keep a close eye on your pets, cats and dogs are not immune to salmonella. If you see any salmonella symptoms in your pets, you should stop immediately using any pet products and dispose of it quickly and properly and you can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 if you have any questions or need reimbursement for any Hartz purchased product.

With all the scares and the news popping up all over about Salmonella and tomatoes and now peppers. It was reported WASHINGTON — The toll in the salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes has passed 1,000 confirmed ill, making it the worst food outbreak in years. Now the government says some types of hot peppers may be implicated, too.

Here are the latest news releases for your information.

Did you know that the longer you suffer with chronic anxiety or panic attacks, the more a PATTERN develops within you physically and emotionally?

It’s very true!

Basically, you get PROGRAMMED for anxiety and panic attacks which means you get easily triggered. You are like a loaded gun with ..

Source: Articles

Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning, and are a result of feeling out of control, intense fear or terror or anxiety that has reached extreme limits. They are caused by the autonomic nervous system which controls the sub conscious activities like breathing, digestion and circulation.  Its that awful feeling that once it starts your mind starts to play tricks on you, you begin to think that there is something physically wrong with your body, the more you concentrate on the thought that maybe you need to get to a medical professional, a hospital, the worse the panic attack becomes, the more you fear you are experiencing a heart attack or some other form of medical emergency, the worse the panic attack becomes.

Like a spiral effect with no end in sight.  Once you loose your ability to think clearly…symptoms of panic attack are not always easy to recognise.   How would you know you were having a panic attack?  Understanding your symptoms and their causes play a very important role in helping you and your doctor determine the best plan of action to treating them. 

Keep in mind drug treatments are not effective in dealing with the psychological causes to panic attacks and chronic anxiety, drugs can help with the physical symptoms of a panic attack only.

Next time you are faced with a panic attack try to remember one simple step….Breathe….breathe in slowly, count to 3 and then breathe out slowly, try to recover your calm, try to focus your mind on the breathing excersice and focus on maintaining a relaxed state, you’ll find yourself calming down and the panic attack symptoms should begin to lessen.

What is on the horizon for natural choices in vitamins and supplements? Are the huge drug companies seeking to protect their profits through legal bans and outlaws on supplements and vitamins?

How does BIG money effect our freedom of choice?

Lets take a closer look at the industry and its investors and just what they are trying to protect by moving our government in this direction, shall we . . .

One quote and outlook on the Pharma Industry and its investors is this: “Investors deserve the right to profit and not have their products pirated. It is therefore critical that rules established to protect those innovators and investors are enforced.[39] Investors, analysts, and the just plain curious all want to know how much the head honcho makes–and how one company’s chief stacks up against another’s. So here for your rubber necking pleasure are the 17 highest-paid CEOs in Big Pharma.[40]”

Vitamin B6, is there big money involved?

Vitamin B6 in bananas regulates blood glucose levels which can affect your mood. Kiwis are a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, and fiber.[4] Vitamin B6 is involved in several metabolic pathways of neural function, including neurotransmitter synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and sphingolipid synthesis and breakdown. During the 1970s and 1980s, studies were undertaken to examine the potential benefit of treating CTS with vitamin B6.[5] Vitamin B6 deficiency led to peroxidative stress: TBARS production was higher in the liver (+18.6%) and even more in the heart (+61%) of deficient rats as compared with controls. Furthermore, significant stimulation of glutathione-dependent enzymes occurred in both heart and liver of deficient rats: glutathione peroxidase activity increased in heart (+144%) and liver (+505%); glutathione reductase increased in heart (+54.9%) and liver (+15.5%).[6]

Vitamin B6 has been studied for the treatment of acute neuroleptic-induced akathisia (NIA) in schizophrenic and schizoaffective disorder patients. Preliminary results indicate that high doses of vitamin B6 may be useful additions to the available treatments for NIA, perhaps due to its combined effects on various neurotransmitter systems.[1] Vitamin B6 is being studied in the prevention of hand-foot syndrome (a disorder sometimes caused by certain anticancer drugs). Hand-foot syndrome is marked by pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or redness of the hands or feet.[2] Vitamin B6 is also an essential homocysteine re-methylation cofactor, and deficiency is associated with increase in blood homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease and may also have directly toxic effects on neurons of the central nervous system.[3]

An interesting point of view I found while reading:Health Freedom Warning: Drug Company Seeks to Outlaw Vitamin B6 to Protect Pharma Profits I highly suggest you read this full article also.

Its not such a mystery after all….I wonder where this is all headed.

_________________________________

References:

[4] http://www.palo-alto.med.va.gov/paloalto/saluteyourhealth/healthytips.doc
[5] http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1949298
[6] http://grande.nal.usda.gov/ibids/index.php?mode2=detail&origin=ibids_references&therow=383982

[1] http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-b6.html
[2] http://www.cancer.gov/templates/db_alpha.aspx?cdrid=471786
[3] http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/healthliteracy/2007/001536.html
[4] http://www.palo-alto.med.va.gov/paloalto/saluteyourhealth/healthytips.doc
[5] http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1949298
[6] http://grande.nal.usda.gov/ibids/index.php?mode2=detail&origin=ibids_references&therow=383982
[39] http://www.trade.gov/press/speeches/lavin_032807.asp
[40] http://www.pharmacycouncil.wv.gov/pages/archivednewsmay2008.aspx

PMS….those tiny three letters that turns sweet, patient, kind women into….well we all know that this picture here…kinda puts a face onto what we experience. Looking at this picture, I said to myself….Oh yeah…this is it…this tells the story without a word! Am I right?

Lets face it, PMS is one of the most common complaints amongst females younger than 40 years of age and for many over 40 that still have not had the pleasure of the next female hormonal changes, that wonderful hormonal cycle called…..(drum roll please) Menopause.

A female menstruates approximately 500 times in her life time, which is related to the number of eggs she can produce during that time. PMS is common, affecting from 30-80 percent of women and teens of reproductive age.

The most common behavioral symptoms of PMS are fatigue, forgetfulness, poor concentration, and mild mood changes, including irritability, anxiety and depressed mood. Lets not forget swollen fingers, bloated stomachs, headaches, acne, breast tenderness, backaches, food cravings, insomnia and changes in our sex drive.

PMS is a very common disorder afflicting millions of young women on a monthly basis. These symptoms can appear a few days to even 14 days before menstruation.

I am happy to report that FINALLY PMS is now recognized the world over as being a widespread problem. The issues is that most women’s experiences of PMS don’t fit into neat categories - they are far too varied. PMS can be the same or different for each individual and even each monthly cycle can vary from symptoms and severity.

Symptoms of PMS may worsen with age and stress. I know many women who have had hysterectomy who still complain of PMS if at least one functional ovary is left intact following the hysterectomy.

The PMS symptoms most often begin 1-10 days before your period and stop when your period begins. Unlike dysmenorrhea, or “painful menstruation”, true PMS symptoms appear before your period. PMS symptoms occur in the week or two weeks before your period (menstruation or monthly bleeding). The symptoms usually go away after your period starts and the cramps begin. So if your like most women, you experience PMS then find relief from the PMS symptoms which are replaced with…monthly bleeding and cramps. What fun.

Like this post? Publish It On Your Own Blog

Wrinkles, I have to smile when I look at this picture, sometimes wrinkles can be so darn cute! But, if you anything like me, they don’t look so “cute” when they are seen in the reflection of our bedroom mirror. So how did this happen? Or better yet, when did this happen? A winkle in time…one here, one there…is there something we can do, to slow down the process?

Well I’ve got some good news and some not so good news, so the good news is, there are many options and several great natural herbs that can help. The bad news is, we all age and a wrinkle, in time will win the race.

You see, wrinkles are caused by the skin losing elasticity as the body ages and from the long-term effects of muscle contractions from smiling, frowning and laughing. But they are also worsened by sun damage, smoking and from the stressful lives that we lead.

Moisturizers can provide a protective barrier over moist skin that prevents evaporation by trapping the water in the skin. Some other moisturizers will draw moisture from the air and are great for people with oily complexions.

“Herbal treatments cannot stop the aging process, but they can slow it down. Herbal antioxidants in skin creams stop the free-radical processes that destroy collagen. Herbal sources of alpha-hydroxy acids stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid, the body’s natural agent for moisturizing and restoring suppleness to the skin. Together with stronger treatments such as tretinoin (Retin-A), these therapies can soften existing wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles from forming”, according to Phillis A. Blach, CNC, Best-selling author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing.

Aging Fabulous recently posted a great review on 3LAB’s “h” serum. The product claims to reduce fine lines, diminish the effects of sun and actually reverse the symptoms of aging.[14]

Lets Talk Tackling A Wrinkle One Wrinkle At Time

Over time, body and skin cells start to slow down the production of energy cells. Lets face it we all know that less energy in our skin cells, we loose our skins ability to fight off free radicals, UV rays, stress and external pollution is — our skin’s immune system becomes vulnerable. With all the new products hitting our stores and T.V. sets daily, you can go to any pharmacy or beauty supply store and you’ll find probably hundreds of products that you can use as a wrinkle treatment, and of course there are even surgical procedures such as facelifts or Botox injections.

Coenzyme Q10 is a natural vitamin-like compound which can be found in each and every energy-producing center of every cell in our bodies. It is a substance that our bodies make naturally. Coenzyme Q10 is a great boost to heart health and is often touted in the news and media as an anti-aging ingredient. Try taking 100 to 300 milligrams daily, not only will it help energize your cells it can help with the detrimental effects of years of sunlight exposure to our skin.

Calendula yes they are beautiful flowers that are commonly also known as the marigold but don’t be fooled by its gardening beauty…calendula has been used for medicinal purposes and has been used in cooking, teas and lotions since the middle ages. Calendula petals have anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic (antibacterial and antiviral) properties, and may even offer immune-stimulating actions. Calendula is known to help stimulate skin cell growth and helps in our bodies production of collagen proteins.

Chondroitin Sulfate first note to anyone who is sensitive or has any type of allergic reaction to sulfate products and should be used with CAUTION if you suffer with sell fish allergy should stay clear of any type of natural supplement with chondroitin sulfate included. Chondroitin Sulfate 1,000 milligrams daily can help with pre-mature wrinkles (pre 35 year old wrinkles) by stimulating the growth of skin cells and can increase metabolic processes that helps our bodies skin retain and keep its moisture.

To sum this up there are Green Tea Creams, Aloe Gel and also Witch hazel creams all will help with building and assisting our bodies in protection against toxins and maintaining moisture in our skin, always remember to use natural oils and or creams to remove any makeup rather than soap. As always drink water and lots of it to maintain hydration, try to stay out of the sun and always use a SPF of no less than 15 when you are exposed. Remember our skin is just another part of our bodies “organs” and as such it receives its nourishment from our bloodstreams, so exercise, it increases our blood circulation.

We may not be able to stop the aging process which means wrinkles, but with knowledge, exercise the help of all natural products and a good diet, we can slow it down some.

Like this post? Publish It On Your Own Blog

As always, now here is the legal stuff thats a must read.

If you or someone you love has asthma, it’s important to understand the many triggers or causes of asthma. Once you identify and reduce exposure to the specific triggers or causes of asthma, you can take an active role in controlling your asthma and reducing the frequency of asthma attacks. For example, if you find that allergies are the cause of your asthma, you may have allergic asthma. Being aware of allergies and avoiding them can significantly help in asthma prevention by reducing the frequency or severity of asthma attacks.

If environmental pollution seems to be the trigger, it would be important to stay indoors during periods of heavy air pollution levels. Try to keep a log and find your individual specific causes or triggers of your asthma, and learn your body’s reactions times and make a conscience decision to make a plan to avoid these triggers and gain better control over your asthma.

An asthma attack from an allergic response to pollen is more likely to occur during extreme air changes, such as thunderstorms. Major weather changes, such as El Nino, can affect the timing of allergy seasons. Attacks can vary considerably in their severity and are sometimes relatively mild, but the condition is nevertheless a dangerous one. An asthma attack can easily spiral out of control at any time. This is particularly true for children.

You can keep track of your asthma symptoms to help you and your doctor create an asthma management plan. Keeping up to date on new asthma treatments and medications is also a great way to provide the best life possible. Some people with asthma have food allergies that can trigger asthma attacks, although this is not very common. Some food additives may also trigger asthma attacks. If you think particular parts of your diet may make your asthma symptoms worse, consult with your doctor or dietitian.

In some cases, a dog or cat may seem to cause no asthma symptoms. But its presence may keep the child’s airways slightly inflamed. This will set up the child for attacks brought on by other triggers, such as a cold or a change in the weather. In these cases, people may not realize that the pet is having an effect until they (or the pet) move away, and the asthma improves.

The most severe form of asthma is called status asthmaticus. In this condition, the lungs are no longer able to provide the body with adequate oxygen or adequately remove carbon dioxide. The buildup of carbon dioxide leads to acidosis, an acidic state of the blood that affects the function of almost every organ.

Ongoing research is developing new treatments for both allergy induced asthma and non allergic asthma. Other forms of asthma are exercise induced asthma, and non allergic asthma, triggered by cold air or asthma triggered by gastroesophogeal reflux disease.

Natural Recommendations:

Try some essential oil of thyme in aromatheray, it will help ease congestion, but DO NOT use this treatment during an acute asthma attack.

Antioxidant vitamins should be part of your daily routine such as:

• Vitamin C (1,000 milligrams daily)
• Vitamin E 400 International units daily)
• Beta-carotene (preferably taken in the form of leafy green veggies or yellow and/or orange veggies (i.e. carrots, corn) lots of fruits. Beta-carotene nutrients help to stop wheezing.
• Magnesium (500 - 1,000 milligrams daily, if you have frequent acute attacks)

Keep in mind that herbal treatments should not be used to treat acute asthma attacks. Everyone who is experiencing asthma either with themselves or is concerned about a loved one or child should always be discussed with your medical health-care practitioner.

Like this post? Publish It On Your Own Blog

As always, now here is the legal stuff thats a must read.