Health Matters

I subscribe to a variety of health-related newsletters that tend to clutter up my inbox, so I put them in a folder to read at a later date. I have so many that I've decided to a weekly 'Health Matters' post and pass along some of this interesting and valuable information. Here ya go...

4 Supplements You Should Know About

Fish Oil

Studies show fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, has many good benefits, including promoting heart health and preventing inflammatory diseases, as well as a wide-range of health benefits, including healthy development of the fetus during pregnancy, joint health, cognition and mood

Vitamin D3

Also known as the "sunshine vitamin", vitamin D3 is important for strong bones and teeth. In addition, recent findings show that it also plays a major role in the immune system and healthy cell development, heart health, muscle strength, and colon, breast and prostate health.

Magnesium

This mineral helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and is essential in the formation of bones and teeth. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Magnesium has been shown to help with effects of stress and PMS.

Selenium

Primarily used for antioxidant support and immune enhancement, selenium alters the metabolism of damaging substances and prevents an accumulation of free radicals. Selenium also works with Vitamin E and C in the body's natural antioxidant defense system.


9 Bad Habits That Can Cause Pimples
Bad Habit No. 1: Washing your skin too often
Though it's important to keep your skin clean, washing it too often will only make acne worse. Instead, wash your face in the morning when you wake and at night before bed.
Bad Habit No. 2: Vigorously scrubbing your skin
Scrubbing your skin with a washcloth, loofah, or harsh exfoliant will cause significant irritation — and may worsen your acne-prone skin. To prevent acne, always wash with only lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.
Bad Habit No. 3: Not cleaning sweaty skin
After you've had a tough workout or been outside in the hot sun, your skin may be covered with sweat. Don't let it dry on your skin — instead, always bathe or wash your skin promptly after sweating.
Bad Habit No. 4: Picking at your skin and popping your pimples
While it may be irresistible to pick or pop pimples, these behaviors can cause increased redness from squeezing the pus deeper into the skin and sometimes even scarring. Instead, keep your hands off your face and let pimples go back down to size with the help of an anti-acne lotion or cream.
Bad Habit No. 5: Skipping the shampoo
If you've got oily hair, that oil can seep down onto your face — and cause pimples. Make sure you wash your hair each day to keep excess oil off of your forehead, face, and back to help prevent acne.
Bad Habit No. 6: Getting hair products on your face
It's important to keep hair spray, gel, mousse, or other hair products off your face to prevent them from clogging up your pores. Cover your face when applying these products to keep them on your hair and off your skin.
Bad Habit No. 7: Eating greasy foods
While the food that you eat doesn't cause acne, greasy foods can make acne-prone skin worse because of the excess oil and grease that can get on the skin from the food itself. So stick to a healthy diet without greasy, fried foods to spare your skin — and your health.
Bad Habit No. 8: Using cosmetics that contain oil
If you've got acne-prone skin, the last thing you want to do is introduce even more oil. When you buy makeup and other skin products, look for oil-free options labeled with the terms "non-acnegenic" or "non-comedogenic" to help prevent acne.
Bad Habit No. 9: Stopping your acne treatment
If you're using prescription acne medications for your pimples, it's great news when your skin starts to clear up. But that doesn't mean you're free to stop using your medication. To keep a recurrent breakout at bay, finish all of your prescription acne medications as recommended by your doctor unless directed otherwise.


6 Steps to Concealing a Pesky Pimple
1) Hands off! No matter how tempting it seems, don't squeeze or pick at the pimple because you'll just end up with scabs and crusts that are impossible to hide with makeup. And worse — you could turn a whitehead into an angry red cyst.
2) Hold a cool washcloth against the pimple to help reduce redness and swelling.
3) Apply moisturizer or primer. This will control any flaking and provide a smooth surface for concealer. If you wear foundation, apply it first, before the concealer.
4) Find a stick concealer that's close to your skin tone. Sticks give you better coverage than liquid concealers, and they're portable, allowing for touchups during the day. I like Clé de Peau, Physicians Formula Powder Finish Concealer Stick, and Maybelline's Pure Concealer with 2 percent salicylic acid. Avoid green concealers — they'll end up making your pimple look green and drawing more attention to it.
5) Dab on the cover-up with your fourth finger, which has the softest skin. A warm finger helps the concealer melt into your skin better than a brush. Dab a bit at a time, let it set, and add more layers until the pimple is hidden.
6) Dust with loose translucent powder to set the concealer. For best results, use a fluffy powder brush to avoid disturbing your work.


10 Easy Ways to get Shiny, Healthy Hair
1. Say yes to hair serum.
Shine serums are available that have been specially formulated to give frizzy or unruly hair a sleek sheen. Find some great options at your local drugstore, beauty supply store, or hair salon. These products moisturize your hair with a light concentration of oils or silicone. To apply, use a pea-sized amount to start. Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up, rubbing it into wet hair with your hands. It’s important not to use too much serum, because it can weigh hair down, but if you feel you need more moisture, go ahead and add a bit more.
2. Use a leave-in conditioner.
Regular conditioners are great, but if you really want to pump up the shine, add a leave-in conditioner to your routine. These come in both spray-on and lotion forms. Apply them the same way you do shine serum (see tip No. 1).
3. Wash with cool water.
Beware of hot water! It can dry out your hair and leave it dull. Instead, after shampooing and conditioning, rinse with cool water. It closes the cuticle and that allows light to reflect off the hair, producing lots of shine.
4. Be smart about blow-drying.
As you’re blow-drying your hair, direct the dryer's nozzle down the hair shafts as you hold each section of hair with a round brush. Finish by pressing the “cool” button on your hair dryer — the cool air produces a reflective effect similar to that of a cool-water rinse after shampooing.
5. Spray on the shine.
When your hair is dry, finish your look with a spray-on shine product, such as spray mists made by Ojon and Pantene. Whether it comes in a pump bottle or aerosol can, a shine spray can be misted onto dry hair — no matter what texture it is — to give it an extra glistening effect.

6. Switch to a silicone flat-iron.
A flat-iron can help straighten hair, which usually looks shinier than wavy hair. But avoid overusing a flat-iron — all that heat-styling can be drying! There is a new type of flat-iron made by Bio Ionic, with silicone built into the plates rather than the typical ceramic or metal. The heated silicone glides right over the hair and straightens it in one pass. Silicone cuts the straightening time in half, which means less damage.
7. Get a glossing treatment.
If you really want to get your shine on, consider having a professional glossing treatment. These are often performed after a hair-coloring treatment, but you can get one without the dye job. It's designed to give you richer hair color with more depth, but it doesn’t actually have any pigment to it. A glossing is usually temporary, lasting about four to six shampoos, and glossing kits are available at some drugstores, so you can even try it out without hitting the salon.
8. Hydrate your body.
Drinking plenty of water will ensure that your hair is properly moisturized from the inside out. About eight glasses a day is ideal. Keep a bottle by your side and sip from it often!
9. Eat nutritious foods. 
Get your daily recommended allowances of vitamins A and E for shiny, healthy hair. Also, be sure you’re eating plenty of protein, which promotes hair growth. Eggs and nuts are excellent sources of protein.
10. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Shiny hair is healthy hair — so don’t abuse it! Limit your hair’s exposure to harsh chemicals, like the chlorine in pools, and lye-based hair-relaxing creams. Use heat-styling as infrequently as you can get away with, and avoid products that contain alcohol, which can dry out your hair and strip its shine.