RED LED LIGHT THERAPY

What is LED light Therapy and How does it work?

RED LED lights have specific wavelengths of red light that target the skin’s oil glands and reduce cytokines, a class of pro-inflammatory substances. It may also help improve skin’s barrier function by improving its ability to retain key elements it needs to heal. Red LED light therapy is also is believed to stimulate healthy collagen and elastin production by around 46% and helps reduce signs of aging.

RED LED Light therapy is great addition to a skin treatment after a lactic acid peel or a glycolic peel as it helps boosts the effects of the peel leaving the skin glowing and radiant for days after the treatment.

My Favorite Treatment to give to clients is a Lactic Peel Followed by RED LED light therapy.  I love the way their skin looks and I love how happy my clients are.  I suggest getting these done every 3 months.  Click here for a little more info and my website.

If you would like to book a Lactic Peel and LED Light Therapy Treatment, Mention this blog when you call 206-682-2727 to schedule and get 20% off!!!

5 Reasons to Avoid Sugar

Five reasons to avoid sugar.

By Barry North, PhD, MPH

The holiday season is a time perhaps more than any other when we are tempted to eat sugary treats that are also often laden with fat. No wonder we get sick and gain weight over the holidays. If you need some more convincing to avoid sugar not only during the holidays, but all year round, here are five good reasons.

1. Sugar is addictive. The fact that most people find it difficult to limit their sugar intake does not mean that they have character defects. Sugar is an addictive substance – start eating it and you’ll want more. Research has documented the addictive qualities of sugar in both animals and humans, and shown that sugar acts on the same dopamine receptors in the brain that drugs stimulate.

2, Sugar is empty calories. Refined sugar is sugar that has been processed, bleached and chemically treated. It has no nutritive value to the body.

3. Sugar makes you fat. Consumption of large amounts of refined sugar promotes weight gain since foods containing refined sugar are densely caloric, and generally contain little fiber, which leads to overeating. Consumption of refined and processed foods also displaces calories consumed from healthier foods like sweet potatoes and black beans.

4. Sugar depresses the immune system. According to one study, 100 grams of sugar (the amount in a 5-ounce chocolate bar and a soft drink) can suppress your immune isystem for up to six hours! Most likely the reason kids and adults who eat a lot of sugar get sick often is because their immune system gets depressed, not because they are exposed to sick people!

5. Sugar contributes to attention deficit disorder. Many studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of poor diet on children, especially kids with ADD and ADHD. One study involved a million New York City school children in 803 schools in which sugar, along with coloring agents, artificial flavors, and preservatives were gradually eliminated in foods consumed at school. In children who were unable to learn grammar and math, there was dramatic improvement. There was a 15% gain in learning ability as compared to kids not eating the improved diet.

What about artificial sweeteners? If you are thinking about using artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar you may want to reconsider your choice. Artificial sweeteners have been promoted to diabetics as a means for controlling blood sugar, and to overweight people to help with weight reduction. However, there is no evidence to indicate that these products are useful for either purpose. Published research available for many years indices that these chemicals are harmful. Now a growing body of evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners may actually promote weight gain.

Aspartame is found in many diet products and has been for many years. There are more adverse reports to the FDA about aspartame than any other food additive. Splenda (sucralose), an alternative to aspartame, is not a good substitute, despite what the advertisers say. There is evidence that Splenda also has negative side effects. One study in rats showed that Splenda causes severe adverse effects, including a reduction in the number of many strains of beneficial bacteria, and increase in fecal pH. Adverse changes in gut flora and pH contribute to decreased immune function, decreased ability to absorb nutrients from food, decreased production of serotonin, and many other adverse effects.

Bottom line – There’s really no good reason to use artificial sweeteners! And if you are looking for a healthy beverage, try filtered water!

_________________________

Dr. Barry North, located in Seattle, Washington, is a wellness educator and coach and a facilitator for the Wellness Forum, a Columbus, Ohio based organization that empowers people to take control of their health. An active sailor, kayaker, biker and swimmer, Barry long ago realized that to be able to continue doing what he loves to do, it’s important to remain healthy. He is passionate about sharing health information through classes, workshops, and consulting. Barry has a PhD in chemistry and a Masters of Public Health degree. He can be reached at 206-286-3820 or barry@123forwellness.com. http://www.123forwellness.com/

New Pictures

Its been way too long since I have written a post!  Life gets so busy sometimes.

I completed my 3 weeks on the vegan diet.  My skin looks good and some other things changed.  I decided on Thanksgiving that i was going to treat myself to my favorite cheese – Brie.  I went to the store, bought Brie and a baguette.  I came home, unwrapped the brie and just about threw up at the smell.  It smelled like the worst mold in the world. I put it down and walked away.  A few hours later I thought I would try a taste of it so I put some on a piece of bread and took a bite.  I promptly spit it out. I even had to rinse my mouth.  So, I think its safe to say that I no longer like Brie.  I haven’t attempted any other cheeses because the thought makes me feel nauseous.  The thought of meat makes me feel nauseous and going anywhere near milk is also not on my list of things i want to do.  Dairy has a whole new smell to me.  Its the weirdest thing.  I have not tried eggs.  I have had some butter with no problems…… bread and butter.  Yummy.

I dont think I will continue on the Vegan path and i dont want to be categorized as a vegetarian either so I think I’ll go without the titles and continue the Green Drink and eating as organic as possible.

Here is my latest photo. ( i just took it!)   My skin is much more even toned and free of break outs.

 

Break Up with Sugar

I noticed something different today. Okay, well, actually my boyfriend noticed.  I no longer get all moody and crazy when I don’t eat. I used to get home from work so hungry I couldn’t even carry on a conversation.  In fact, its been better that I be by myself while I’m making dinner or figuring out a snack because when I’m hungry, I’m not very nice.  And sometimes I don’t even realize I’m hungry – I realize I’m unreasonably angry first, that tells me I need to eat something. Once I eat, I snap right back to normal and calm.  I’ve long thought this was a sugar thing and it probably is.  I haven’t necessarily cut out sugar, but it is much less.  I have cut out fake sugar.  If I need a sweetener, I use Stevia or a little bit of Agave or Honey, but I try to use those sparingly.

Today, I ate a banana for breakfast and that was it until about 7pm. I felt great all day.  I’m not saying its good to not eat for a whole day, but I’m sure its not that bad. I’m just so happy my body has detoxed from the sugar! I feel good!! For now, I’m no longer a slave to sugar highs and lows.  This means, I will probably be incorporating some of this way of eating into my life for good.  I don’t want to go back to the way it was.

Yummy Vegan Lasagna Recipe

VEGAN LASAGNA ROLL-UPS

2 tbsp olive oil

1 large bunch broccoli, stems removed, finely chopped

1 16oz. bag baby carrots, chopped

1 16oz. box lasagne noodles

24oz extra firm tofu

1 tsp garlic

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

salt to taste

2 cups shredded Daiya mozzarella cheese ( i used cheddar)

2 24 oz tomato sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350, 2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and saute chopped broccoli and carrots until tender, about 7 minutes, 3. Place in large bowl and refrigerate until cool, 4. Cook noodles, drain, and lay flat until cool. 5. Mix tofu with garlic powder, oregano, basil, and salt to taste. 6. Add tofu mixture to bowl of broccoli and carrots; mix well with a spoon. option: you can add some ‘cheese’ to this mixture as well.7. Using a spatula spread 1/2 cup filling onto length of each lasagne noodle, leaving 1/2 inch at each end so the roll-ups don’t overflow; roll each one tightly.8. Spread half of the sauce on bottom of deep baking pan; place roll-ups seam side down. 9. Cook in oven 45 minutes. 10. remove and top with remaining cheese.  ( * i cooked with cheese the entire time with no problem since its not real cheese anyway!)

Don’t Feed the Caged Animal!

Day 12. I just enjoyed some stone cut oats and fresh berries.  Now I’m sipping on coffee…. I couldn’t give it up entirely, but I am drinking it black.

Lets talk about ACNE.  Acne is an animal of its own.  It terrorizes people of all ages and getting to root cause of it can be tricky since its not fully understood.

In some cases, Dairy may be the culprit. Particularly Milk, but if you are already dairy sensitive, it could be any dairy. Remember that your face will show it if there are problems in your body. The reason Milk is blamed for causing acne is because it contains Androgen Hormones ( testosterone). Before you go running off to order a SOY latte, make sure you know what kind of Soy you are drinking. You want to go as organic as possible since Soy contains hormones as well, particularly estrogen, which can cause a whole other host of problems. Many Nutritional sites do say to avoid Soy. Just FYI.

Eliminate as much sugar as possible from your diet. Especially all processed and refined sugar like high fructose corn syrup. In general, try to get back on fruits and other carbs.  Sugar substitutes aren’t any better, but I’ll go in to that more on a different day.

Time and time again I have seen people who have tried to treat their breakouts with Proactiv. Proactiv works for SOME people, but not all. It dries out your skin and kills bacteria.  For many people, its so drying that it actually causes the skin to produce more oil. Its a good idea to check in with an Esthetician if you have acne concerns.  An Esthetician doesn’t jump to medications like a Dermatologist does and will instead help you treat it in a way that won’t hurt your body or kill good bacteria or over dry your skin.  Many times I’ve had clients come in with concerns about acne and what we really needed to do was control the oil production.  An esthetician can also do glycolic or lactic acid peels that will help speed up the healing process. I’m a huge fan of glycolic acid as I have gotten great results with it.

Topic medications kill the good bacteria as well as the bad.

Oral antibiotics could help make your body build up a resistance to antibiotics plus it can contribute to a stronger acne bacteria.

Accutane can cause many problems starting with depression

Its best to try eliminating things from your diet and/or seeing an esthetician before you start on medication.

Other things you can do:

Get Plenty of Sleep.  8+ hours a night so you body has a chance to heal and repair itself.  Its important to sleep in a completely dark room.  I use a night time eye cover.

Exercise.  As always!

• Exercise regulates testosterone and linked hormones Dihydrotestosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone.
• When you exercise, stress hormones are flushed from the body
• Exercise helps your body absorb other nutrients in food that it uses to function properly
• Exercise improves blood circulation, reduces stress, balances your hormones
• Acne is heavily linked with depression and exercise is a proven treatment for depression.  Its possible that the same thing that causes depression causes acne.  If exercise treats the root cause of depression, it might treat the root cause of acne

great resource: http://www.acneresearch.org/our-system/

I “heart” vegan restaurants

I have always loved the many choices of amazing restaurants in Seattle and now I am particularly thankful for the vegan restaurants!  I’m especially thankful that they are delicious!!!

Tonight I had Vegan Chinese Food from Bamboo Garden in lower queen anne. They are considered a Vegetarian restaurant, but will accommodate any specific food needs.  They are also Kosher.  Over the weekend I had Vegan Thai Food.  I can’t wait to try out Plum Bistro and Cafe Flora.  The food is so good.  I love fake meat.  It tastes really good.

Other than that, I’ve been confined to Salads at restaurants which is the better choice I should have been making all along.

So… It is possible to be vegan and still be able to go out!  AND, its also possible to be vegan and get plenty of protein.

Protein Options:

Orgainic Soy

Organic Tofu

Quinoa

Rice and Beans

 

 

Day 10. Feeling Good

My skin is starting to look a little bit different.  The pores on my nose are always noticeable to me and the last couple days they have become much less noticeable.  My skin is also smoother and there haven’t been any new breakouts despite the time of the month!  For years I’ve been trying to figure out how to prevent those pesky period chin and jawline pimples, but haven’t had much success.  I always get at one or two.  This time, NONE!  SUCCESS!!!!

People keep asking me what I am eating.  Today I had the Green Drink at 7am.  A banana at 10am, A Veggie and Tofu Phad Thai ( that i made with yellow squash, bokchoy, broccoli, tofu, and rice noodles) for lunch, pumpkin seeds and apple slices for a snack later in the afternoon and then a hearty salad with some quinoa mixed in and, my favorite, avocado, for dinner. And a vegan chocolate chip cookie for dessert.  I saw them at Trader Joes and I couldnt help myself!  No animal products! Though, it is packaged. I think each day I make it without cheese or bread is a success and I deserve a vegan cookie.  ha!

I miss butter.  BUT, I am down 6 lbs so far.  Its not my main goal, but I might as well keep track of that too just to see.

 

What your Face could be telling you about what you are Eating

What your face could be telling you about what you are eating and how your organs are doing:

Horizontal Lines above the Eyebrows could be caused by waste accumulated in the intestines.  This means you will want to step up the daily raw greens and cut back on the dairy.

Vertical lines between Eyebrows could be caused by the liver not removing all the toxins.

Bags Under Eyes could be caused by eating too many sugars and pastas. Removing processed grains and adding in more greens to your diet should get rid of those bags within a week

Circles Under the Eyes caused by Bread and Dairy in the diet.  Adding in the Green Drink and adding Milk Thistle to that should help the circles go away (unless of course you are over stressed or really tired)

Circles and Bags under the eyes could also be a sign of adrenal exhaustion.

Crows Feet – too much processed food. This also indicates that your adrenals are being over worked and that oyour body is acidic and imbalanced. If you are a smoker, stop! If you are drinking tons of caffeine, stop or cut back. The Green Drink in the morning would be a great addition to your diet.

Lines around lips, nose and mouth – These lines point to digestions. Not enough toxins leaving the body and not enough minerals and omega-3 fats being absorbed. Adding 1/4 cup flaxseeds to your diet daily ( in the GREEN DRINK!)

SO, what I’m getting at is the Green Drink will save your life.  Ha! Ha! Ha!  Its really a hard thing to change your entire diet, but its not too hard to add in one Green drink a day.  Another great Green daily Drink is this Glowing Green Smoothie – Find it here: http://kimberlysnyder.net/2009/07/11/green-smoothie-recipe/

 

Glowing Green Smoothie:

• 1 1/2 cup of water
• 1 head of organic romaine lettuce, chopped
• 3-4 stalks of organic celery
• 2 organic apples, cored and chopped
• 1 organic banana
• 1/3 bunch of organic cilantro
• 1/3 bunch of organic parsley
• Juice of ½ fresh organic lemon

Add the water and chopped head of romaine to the blender. Starting the blender on a low speed, mix until smooth. Gradually moving to higher speeds add the herbs celery and apples. Add the banana and lemon juice last.

 

The politics of Cheese

I’m interested in Nutrition in the way that it affects the body and educating myself on how to eat the right things to promote well being, good health, and beautiful skin.  I don’t get too into the politics of Animal Products, but I thought this article, from the New York Times, on how the government is simultaneously warning us of obesity problems in the United States and promoting the sale of cheese. They did and interesting marketing plan with Domino’s Pizza where they added 40% more cheese to boost sales. It worked. Now Domino’s is back in the game, but what about the consumers who, by eating this pizza and all this cheese, are getting more and more obese? This Marketing campaign was funded $12 million by an organization called Dairy Management.  What is Dairy Management?  Its a marketing creation by the United States Department of Agriculture.

So, consider this article a little ” food for thought”     http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07fat.html?_r=2&emc=eta1