Quick Sexy Hair Fix

Nurture Hair to Health

our biggest concern is usually how this will affect the way our hair looks. It's a natural concern for most women (and men!) to have. The health of our hair, however, is actually what we need to evaluate. From scalp conditions to what we eat, there are several areas related to health that you should consider if you notice a change in your hair growth and texture.

"Hair health depends on blood supply, circulation and nutrition," says ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Dr. Melody Hart. "It can also be from one's thyroid, liver hormones and stress levels." Whether you're suffering from hair loss or want to prevent it from happening, these expert tips will help you keep your hair its healthiest.

Eating and Drinking for Hair
Check the ingredients in the food you eat. Are your meals enriching? A lot of foods lack vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For instance, eating organic can greatly improve hair health, says Dr. Julia Tatum Hunter, dermatologist and founder of Skin Fitness Plus in Beverly Hills, CA. "The closer to nature—raw green foods—you eat, the more alkaline and healthy your skin and body will become," she explains. "You must address your skin and body internally and externally to achieve health and turn back the clock."

Hart also suggests eating foods rich in silica and sulphur such as onions, garlic, green leafy veggies and eggs. Sulphur, which is often dubbed the "beauty mineral" and can be found in its greatest concentration in hair, skin and nails, promotes circulation and decreases inflammation. Experts like Dr. Hart theorize adequate amounts of sulphur can help jumpstart hair growth in people with deficiencies. "Iodine and potassium foods, such as sea vegetables (like seaweed), also promote growth and thickness," she says.

As much as you love coffee, sweets, and salty snacks, reducing your intake of salt, sugar, fats and caffeine can also aid in fostering hair health. Instead of coffee or soda, drink water. Since the human body is generally composed of 60-80 percent water, when deprived of it, your cell health suffers. Dehydration directly impacts hair growth, so Dr. Hart suggests drinking at least six glasses of water a day

Dangers of Styling
From highlights to hair spray, your hair has been through a lot. Though some of these beauty treatments may seem harmless—hey, we're all guilty—they could lead to hair damage, which contribute to hair loss. "Virtually, all skin, oral, nail and hair care products have toxic ingredients and antimicrobials, which create more inflammation," says Dr. Hunter. "[Hair treatments] can exacerbate common skin problems like hair loss, and accelerate aging and deteriorating skin and body health."

But it's not just you! Dr. Hunter points out that inflammation begins afflicting us from birth. "Skin, the largest organ of the body, is used first to detoxify," she explains. "As it becomes inflamed from what we consume, absorb, and are exposed to (such as pollution and sunlight), the results are aging and hair loss."

Hunter suggests avoiding or decreasing the use of chemical irritants like hair dye and daily styling products. "The result will be a visible improvement," she says. "Doing so will also strengthen your [scalp's] natural but weakened ability to function. It will repair itself and you can experience hair re-growth."

Strengthen the Building Blocks
Whether you're guilty of putting your hair through a lot or a victim of aging and natural forces, you can help strengthen your follicles. Your body is a construction site so you need to provide the building blocks (quality ones, that is) to fight the causes of inflammation. "It's imperative to supplement the internal organs and skin layers with the missing tools to accomplish the job of building a firm foundation," Dr. Hunter points out.

Besides consuming foods that are fresh and high in sulphur, and drinking water, Dr. Hunter suggests eating healthy. "Your diet must be supported with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, nutrients and oils that continually replenish, strengthen and energize your entire body," she says. "Doing this will promote physical and psychological well-being and stop the epidemic of acne, hair loss, rosacea and skin cancers."

Other essential nutrients that aid in cell repair include, glutathione (the most important antioxidant for the body's immune system preferably in lozenge form), alpha lipoic acid (an effective antioxidant that prevents the symptoms of vitamin C and E deficiencies), and multi-minerals (minerals promote proper composition of body fluids, formation of blood and bone, maintenance of healthy nerve functions). The proper dosage of these nutrients will foster hair health.

Thermage Non-Surgical Face-Lift

Non-Surgical Face-Lift One of the newest anti-wrinkle options to hit the market, this medical device uses radio-frequency technology to eradicate lines and wrinkles that formerly could be reduced only with a surgical lift. It works by chilling the skin and then applying tightening energy from radio frequency. It's not entirely without discomfort, but the results are worth it. Dermatologists prep patients with a topical anesthetic and a strong painkiller before getting busy.

Botox Injections

This common procedure involves using small needles to inject traces of a substance that "paralyzes" the muscles underneath, where lines are forming — usually around the mouth and eyes and on the forehead. It temporarily freezes the muscles that form these expression lines, cutting down on the repetitive movements that help create wrinkles. It's fast, easy and relatively painless, but make sure to pick a doctor with experience, and undergo an allergy test first. You'll have to get Botox shots every few months, but the results are dramatic and, over the long haul, can delay the formation of wrinkles.

Stop Wrinkles Before They Happen

Good habits and good genes can only take you so far when you're competing against the biological clock. Like it or not, there will come a day when you'll look in the mirror and realize that some of those "smile lines" are sticking around. You probably know that day can be delayed if you eat right, exercise and guard against the sun. But if you, like the rest of us, don't always succeed with the healthy-lifestyle approach, turn to this list of fallback options from Charlene Haines of Euphoria Day Spa.

Are You at Risk for Prematurely Aging Skin

When you look in the mirror, are wrinkles and lines staring back at you? Inevitably, all of us will experience the reality of aging skin. Natural factors that we cannot control are behind part of this process.

However, certain behaviors accelerate the breakdown of our skin, leaving us with a complexion that looks older than it should at our age.

Do your behaviors put you at risk for prematurely aging skin? Take our quiz and find out.
by Chris Kissell

Go Red for Women, a national movement by the American Heart Association to fight heart disease in women, recently ranked the nation's most heart-friendly cities for females. The findings are more important than ever, because heart disease remains the number one killer of women in the United States. That's a scary thought, but there are things you can do to decrease your risk. Read on to find out which cities are best for your heart and what you can do to emulate their healthy-heart success.

10. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
9. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA
8. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA
7. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR
6. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Go Red for Women examined 22 factors that contribute to heart disease, including heart risk, general health and heart disease statistics, in the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the country. It's true that the five metro areas above are all located in the West, but that alone isn't what makes them so good for your heart. These cities are also known for their love of exercise and nutrition.

5. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA
4. Denver-Aurora, CO
3. San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland, CA

Denver and San Francisco stand out (along with Los Angeles at #9) as the thinnest metropolitan areas. One thing residents of these cities know is that a heart-healthy diet isn't without its pleasures. You can still treat yourself. Just remember to exercise, too! Even if your city doesn't have the stunning mountain views of Denver or the gorgeous Pacific Ocean sunsets of San Francisco, doesn't mean you won't benefit from a daily walk—it'll be good for your body as well as your mind.

2. Washington, DC

You may not have guessed it, but the nation's capitol has the lowest stress and hypertension rates. The key to living stress free is taking breaks when you need them. Discover 5 easy steps to lower your blood pressure, and find out just how stressed out you really are with this quiz.

1. Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, MN

Along with Boston at #5 and Phoenix at #10, the Twin Cities area has the lowest female cardiovascular death rate in the country. In addition to world-renowned medical facilities, Minneapolis has also made heart disease prevention and awareness a city-wide priority.

Avoid heart attacks

For a healthier heart, just do this

Get diet tips to keep your heart beating strong

 Heart-Healthy Cities,Healthy Hearts in the Twin Cities,District of Cardio Health,Weight for It,Tallying the 

How To Make Your Cheeks Look More Attractive

Cheeks are the most attractive part of your face.

Beautiful and healthy cheeks can give attractive look for your face where as dull and sloppy cheeks make you to look duller than what you are.

Making your cheeks to look more attractive is not a big process and it takes only few minutes.

Tips to make your cheeks attractive:

Cheek exercises

• Each part of the body will have certain exercise to make them active and strong. Performing cheek exercise is a simple task and no strain is required while doing it. In this exercise, you have to fill your cheeks with air and stay for some period and then leave it. Do it for 10 to 15 times.
• Another exercise that makes your cheeks to look beautiful is, fill air in one side of your cheeks and then move it from one side to another side.

Cheek make up

• Before applying blush on your cheeks, lightly blow on the applicator blush for removing excess blush to prevent uneven or harsh application.
• Apply blush on apple of cheek and blend carefully towards natural hairline.
• If you are going to apply two shades, first apply dark shade on the apple of the cheek and use a lighter shade for highlighting.
• Highlight your forehead, temples and chin.
• Use cheek color to enhance your complexion, but not to change your skin’s natural tone.

Cheek care

• Do not rub or pinch the pimples on your cheeks. This can make the pimples to spread. Pinching the pimples can also cause marks on your cheeks.
• Do not try to scrub your cheeks, as it can cause skin irritation for long period.
• Do not use too many products on your cheeks; it can cause irritation and itchiness on your cheeks.
• Massage your face and cheeks with several fruits and vegetables daily for 15 to 20 minutes. This makes your cheeks to glow with shine.
• Eating the right food necessary for your skin and cheeks will also be helpful to attain glow. Fresh fruits like apple, orange, banana, strawberry; vegetables like cucumber, carrots, cabbage and leafy vegetables (spinach) will be more helpful for you in making your cheeks to look more attractive.

Help for Hayfever Sufferers

April showers bring beautiful flowers—and allergies. If you don’t want to pop antihistamines all season to halt your hayfever, try a saline nasal rinse to get some temporary relief:

Done two or three times per day, rinsing flushes out excess mucus and pollen hanging around in your sinuses. (It’s not as gross as it sounds, really.) And the salt solution helps shrink inflamed blood vessels in your nose much like decongestants do, says James Dillard, MD, clinical director of Columbia University’s Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. If you have a squirt bottle with a narrow tip, he says, you can make your own solution at home. Simply mix 8 ounces of water, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and a sprinkle of baking soda, which thins the mucus. Or you can use a product like Sinus Rinse, which provides a packet of ingredients and a bottle to help you make your own concoction.

Nasal creams can also relieve inflammation and keep allergens out. A recent study found that a petroleum-based ointment applied to the inside of the nose reduced patients’ allergy symptoms by 60 percent. That cream, called Alergol, hasn’t hit the U.S. market yet, but Dillard says a dab of petroleum jelly on the end of a cotton swab should work as well.

By Eric Steinmehl...

Help for Hayfever Sufferers,allergies, colds, flu

Senator Kennedy’s Brain Tumor Dr. Raj Explains What It Means

This week Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s doctors announced he has a glioma, a type of brain tumor. Kennedy, 76, had a seizure on Saturday.

Glioma is a catchall term that includes many different types of tumor, including astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas, according to the American Cancer Society.

An estimated 21,810 people will be diagnosed with malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord this year in the United States—1.3% of all cancers, responsible for 2.2% of cancer-related deaths. Gliomas make up about 40% of all brain tumors and can be benign or malignant. Kennedy’s, located in the left parietal lobe, is malignant. Gliomas are most likely to occur in those aged 75 to 84.

For insight into prognosis—and the significance of seizures and headaches in the diagnosis of brain turmors—I talked with Roshini Raj, MD, a Health magazine contributor and an assistant professor of medicine at the New York University Medical Center.

What is the significance of the glioma, and the malignancy?
About half of primary brain tumors [tumors that don’t spread from somewhere else in the body] are gliomas, and they can be very serious. Sometimes it’s a slow-growing or a low-grade tumor, but if it’s called malignant it means it’s an aggressive from of brain tumor.

Where is the parietal lobe?
It’s kind of in the top and middle. There’s the frontal lobe, which is in front where the hairline is, and there is the occipital lobe, which is in the back, where you’d put your hand on the back of your head. I would say this is in between.

How can this type of tumor affect bodily functions?
Tumors of this type can cause effects both by directly invading brain tissue and therefore destroying brain tissue, or by exerting pressure on parts of the brain. In his particular location, the parietal lobe, it could certainly affect memory, it can affect movement so it causes weakness on the right side, it can cause speech difficulties, and then, of course, seizures, which he has already had.

Is a seizure often the first sign of a brain tumor?
If someone who’s never had seizures before all of a sudden develops seizures—especially in this age group—you have to be worried about a brain tumor. However, I would say brain tumors are relatively rare compared to other types of cancer, such as colon cancer or prostate cancer.

What other symptoms are a sign of brain tumor?
We mentioned seizures, but another one is headaches. Not to make people panic—most headaches are just headaches; they are not anything like this—but if there is an unusual headache that’s in a new location, that’s very frequent, and that’s accompanied by things like vomiting or nausea or blurry vision, that could be a sign of something more serious, like a brain tumor.

It’s always important to see a doctor about a complaint like that. Maybe [the Senator’s diagnosis] can be a wake-up call for some people.

How will this be treated?
It really depends on the size and the stage of the tumor. You have to really look closely at the biopsy. Sometimes these are treated with surgery, but more often they are treated with radiation and chemotherapy.

Why are these so difficult to treat?
We know these types of tumors tend to be more aggressive, meaning they spread more easily, they grow more rapidly, and they are not as responsive to treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy. Brain tumors in general can be difficult to treat. Ideally you’d like to remove a tumor surgically, but you have to be very careful when you’re dealing with the brain in terms of how much can you remove and still preserve the functioning of the brain.

In addition, they have the ability to project and spread to other areas of the brain microscopically.

It’s been reported that Senator Kennedy could have stage 3 or 4 tumor. What does this mean?
Basically once its stage 4, that means that you’re not trying to cure the tumor, it’s not going to be possible to do that. You’re just trying to contain it and prevent any further complication, possibly shrink it, but you’re not going to be able to get rid of it.

What sort of prognosis is associated with this type of tumor?
With these kind of tumors, it’s not very good, especially stage 4. About 1 in 5 people with the most aggressive type of glioma, glioblastoma multiforme, survive for more than two years, according to the Cancer Research UK.

For more information about brain tumors, read 3 Headaches That Require Emergency Attention, check out our Health A-Z Library, or visit these specific sites: Massachusetts General Hospital; National Cancer Institute.

By Theresa Tamkins

 Senator Kennedy’s Brain Tumor Dr. Raj Explains What It Means,brain tumor, cancer, Ted Kennedy,Health News