Non-Toxic Toiletries Advice

Don’t forget that if you need advice at any point on what toiletries might suit you or which ones are the most ethical/green/non-toxic, please simply contact me. I will let you know which I think are the best and then tell you where to get them from. Simples.

Beauty Tip

When skin needs a bit of a perk-up, the temptation is to slather on a thick layer of foundation, but I’ve discovered that less is definitely more in this area. When I look a bit mottled, shall we say, I have found applying a light sweep of the Annemarie Borlind Compact make-up around the chin, base of the nose, under each eye and between the eyebrows makes such a difference, yet doesn’t feel at all ‘cloggy’. This helps you look fresh and hides a multitude of sins, but leaves your cheeks and forehead naturally rosy. Try it!

Get BBP Out Of Our Cosmetics!

A recent study has shown that butyl benzyl phthalate, or BBP, a chemical found in lipstick and nail varnish may interfere with the healthy development of breast tissue. BBP is a man-made substance that accumulates in fatty tissue and is part of a group of chemicals that mimic oestrogen. The concern has been so great that they have already been banned in teething rings and dummies across Europe. The Women’s Environmental Network is campaigning to have them removed from all cosmetics on sale in Britain. Glenville June 09

OJ Worst For Teeth Enamel

Orange juice is just about the worst drink for your teeth.  Its high levels of acid destroy enamel, and eventually will erode the entire tooth. People who drink fizzy stuff or fruit juices every day should consider changing their diet, say researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center, who discovered the harm the drinks can cause. 

“The acid is so strong that the tooth is literally washed away.  The orange juice decreased enamel hardness by 84 per cent,” said research team leader YanFang Ren.  His team found that the juices caused the most damage when they were sipped slowly over a 20-minute period.  So if you can’t give up the juice, at least drink it quickly – and brush your teeth twice a day, although leave a good half an hour before doing so as the enamel will still be so soft, you could damage it even more.

(Source:  Journal of Dentistry, 2009; 37: 424-31). WDDTY June 09

New AnneMarie Borlind Hair, Eye and Travel Goodies

As many of you know, AMB make gorgeous Hair products. Just to let you know, they’ve just updated the formulations and packaging, and gone back to a previous name SEIDE, which means Silk in German. There is now Mild Conditioning Shampoo for daily use (£7.75), Volumising for fine hair (£8.50), Strengthening for treated hair (£8.50), Normalising for oily hair (£7.75) and Therapeutic for dandruffy hair (£8.50) plus Strengthening Hair Conditioner (£11.25). All in large 200ml bottles except conditioner which is 150ml.

They have also launched 2 limited edition Eyeshadow Quartets following on from their use at the Miss Germany competition and to celebrate 50 years of AMB natural cosmetics. The first quartet is golden sand, olive, gold ocher and savannah brown (so great for tans) and the second is brighter: tea rose, aquamarine, plum and beige. As always, their cosmetics are mineral-based, non-animal and contain none of the usual nasties. The quartets cost £16.00 and come in a mirrored compact with applicator.

Finally, for those of you going on hols and who don’t want to take large skincare bottles with you, they have launched Travel Sets in ZZ Sensitive (reactive skin £24.50), LL Regeneration (over 30s £27.95) and System Absolute (anti-ageing £39.20) skincare ranges. They include cleanser, toner, day and night creams and cost and are great also as a trial before you buy larger sizes, or as a gift for someone.

To get any of these, contact Simply Nature on 01580 201 687 and give my name.

Oy! Green People Launch New Teen Skincare

No, I’m not being rude. The new skin range for teenagers is called Organic Young , or Oy! for short! There are six products, all organic with ‘no gunk’ or artificial perfumes, fair trade ingredients and not tested on animals – and, of course, no toxic chemicals. Decent prices, there is an easy 3-in-1 cleanser, make up remover and moisturiser for those who’ve got better things to do, a foaming anti bacterial face wash, cover and clear-it spot concealer, peel off-face mask to draw out grime, self-glow gradual tan and a moisturiser with F15 sun screen. You can get these from Nutricentre or The Natural Dispensary as usual. If you’d like a copy of the free brochure about it, please ask.

BMIs Bigger

Did You Know…that people are generally bigger than they were three decades ago? Between 1994 and 2004, the average male body mass index (BMI) in England increased from 26 to 27.3, with the average female BMI rising from 25.8 to 26.9. That’s about 3 kg – or half a stone – heavier. Oops..

Bath & Shower Care

Just to let you know that Weleda has launched a new Lavender version of their Creamy Body washes. These are really good value and come in Sea buckthorn (very nourishing and orangey, Citrus (smells like gin and tonic to me!), Wild Rose and now Lavender. Also, to remind those of you in love with the heavenly Lavender Bath Milk, that it also comes in Chestnut (for relaxing muscles), Citrus (enlivening), Pine (invigorating) and Rosemary (warming). I have a few of the citrus, sea buckthorn and baby washes left in stock (20% off!) but otherwise click onto Nutricentre or Goodness from the website.

Nuts Whole Hazlenuts – Great For Belly Fat Loss

More on nuts here…A study recently assessed the effects of three diets on people with metabolic syndrome (that is, high cardiovascular and diabetes risk): a low-fat diet, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil (1 litre a week) and a Mediterranean diet including 30 g of mixed nuts each day. The nut mix was 50% walnuts, 25% hazlenuts and 25% almonds, all unsalted, unroasted and fresh, of course. The study lasted for a year.

At the end of the year, the researchers discovered that 2 per cent of individuals eating the low-fat diet had reversed their metabolic syndrome to the extent that they no long appeared to it. However, those eating the Mediterranean-based diets fared significantly better: rates of metabolic syndrome fell by about 7 and 14 per cent in the olive oil and nut supplemented groups respectively. Compared to eating the low fat diet, eating the Mediterranean diet enhanced the chances of reversal of metabolic syndrome by 70 per cent. In short, in this trial of treatments for metabolic syndrome, the Mediterranean diet plus nuts was the winner, and the low-fat diet the loser.

Why should nuts be seemingly so beneficial for individuals with metabolic syndrome? Well, for a start nuts are generally very undisruptive regarding blood sugar levels. But then again, so is olive oil, and the diet enriched with this did not perform as well as the one enriched with nuts. Looking more deeply into nuts we know that they are rich in certain nutrients that olive oil may not offer. The stand-out nutrient that is likely to have relevance is magnesium. This nutrient plays a part in blood sugar balance and insulin function in the body, amongst many other things. 

(John Briffa Dec 08)

 

Online Home Study Weight Loss Course

Many of you have asked me in the past to set up a weekly weight management meeting (like Weight watchers etc), so you can have weekly support and motivation. But now I’ve gone one better! I will shortly launch a modular home study weight loss course online so you can do it wherever you are and with my support as and when you need it.

 

The course will have several modules that you read through at your own pace. It is packed with information I’ve gleaned over the last 20 years in natural medicine and is based on the successful Stop Dieting & Lose Weight course I designed and taught a few years ago (and haven’t had time to do again since with the clinic!) Each module ends with a set of tasks to complete which will mean you start to implement a weight management plan customized for you as you go along. It’s as if I were sitting next to you guiding you through, but this way, you can do it as quickly or slowly as you like. Each module stands on its own but added together will lead you through the whys and wherefores of managing your weight.

 

I haven’t yet finished the whole thing, but I know some of you are raring to go with your weight loss plans this new year and that’s why I’m telling you about it now. The first 3 modules, each about 20 pages, are available: Why Diets Don’t Work, Hunger, Insulin & Body Fat and Are You Intolerant?

 

You can read all about the course and individual modules shortly on the website (as soon as I have time to get it on!) Each module costs £10 and includes email support for questions and motivation as you need it (a darn sight cheaper than a £47 consultation fee to see me, although I’m here for that too, of course!)

 

I’m telling you about this now so you know what is there to help if you’re thinking of managing your weight better this new year! I should have it finished by the end of Jan.