Paris Hilton Can Age You: 5 Tips to help with Skin Damage

There is nothing one can do in this HILTON- LOHAN infected society of sun tanned, bleached blond and idiotic, from telling all of you to stay out of the sun… because you will do it anyway. In your quest to look young and lively you are slowly degrading your skin and accelerating your aging process.

Sun damage is the cause for 90% of aging not to mention putting you at risk for skin cancer. SKIN CANCER. The same youth obsessed people will completely disregard the fact that tanning will age you, guaranteed and possibly kill you.

THE SUN IS AGING YOU, TANNING SALON’S ARE AGING YOU. Who are you killing yourself for anyway?

If all this doesn’t resonate with you and you still insist on being one of these over- tanned sorority girl types, I can give you some tips to combat SOME of the damage you are doing.

1. COFFEE- Studies show that for people who routinely drink caffeinated coffee there is a five percent drop in developing skin cancer. The coffee’s antioxidants protect the skin. Do not overdo the caffeine; keep it to two cups earlier in the day. Enjoy that venti skim latte with extra foam.

2. GREEN TEA- With all the benefits green tea provides, we can now add another reason to drink up. Studies have shown that green tea can reverse the effects of sun damage and fight skin cancer. With its powerful antioxidant properties and polyphenol activity, it provides anti-inflammatory properties. Have two cups a day; steep for five minutes. With summer coming up, make a pitcher of iced green tea with lemon and mint.

3. CARATENOIDS- These include veggies and fruits that include lypocene, beta carotene and lutein. Elevated levels of carotonoids in the blood have shown extra skin protection from damaging UVA rays of the sun. Carrots, leafy greens and tomatoes have proven photoprotective effects on skin. Eat them throughout the day, to keep levels high in your system. I do not advise the supplement versions because excess can lead to toxicity.

4. VITAMIN C- The King Kong of vitamins now can kill the harmful effects of sun on your skin. In turn the sun does deplete our vitamin levels, so we must consistently take in vitamin C in our diet. Alcohol, stress and pollution can zap the vitamin C from your system, so keep these forces at bay. If you go to the beach bring a vitamin C drink with you that you can drink throughout the day.

5. OMEGA–3’S- Found in fish (EPA) and (DHA) exert significant anti- inflammatory effects throughout the body. Studies show that people with high intakes of fish and nuts in their diet, show some resistance to sunburn. Add a handful of nuts to all your dishes and try to eat salmon at least twice a week.

THESE TIPS DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR SUN ABSTINENCE OR SUNBLOCK. The best solution to prevent wrinkling and skin cancer is simply staying out of the sun. Gone are the days of the orange QT tan disasters of our teen years. Now there are great, really natural looking self tanners and bronzers on the market. I love Neutrogena tanning foam or JERGENS gradual tan moisturizer. Add color with bronzer gels, like STILA products or powder bronzer from PAULA DORF or LOREAL.

Plus don’t forget that pale skin is beautiful too and has the capacity to look like much younger skin. Have fun and be beautiful!

Fiorella

Five Kefir Recipes: My Kefir Obsession Continues

There has not been a person who has crossed my path that doesn’t know about my obsession with kefir. Last week I wrote about all the benefits of this yogurt drink. It is a powerful probiotic with three times the healthy bacteria of yogurt. It is an immune booster, vitamin and protein rich ambrosia of good health. I’ve sipped it every day since I discovered it and my tummy has been flat ever since. I have researched and tested some tasty recipes that will sneak even more KEFIR into your diet.

Try these and enjoy!

KEFIR PARFAIT

Any flavor kefir- 1 1/2 cups
Berries
Fiber one cereal- 1 cup
Sprinkle of almonds or flax seeds

BASIL KEFIR DIP

1/2 lbs of fresh basil blanched
1 pint of plain kefir
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon
sea salt and pepper to taste

MASHED CAULIFLOWER

One head of cauliflower (cut and boil till soft)
1/8 cup (to thickness) of plain kefir
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Mash and blend like mashed potatoes

CREAMED KEFIR SPINACH

3 lbs of fresh spinach
2 shallots minced
2 cloves fresh garlic minced
4 tbs of extra virgin olive oil
2 cups plain kefir
Sea salt and pepper to taste
2 tbs of fresh mint leaves minced
cook over medium heat until mixed for six minutes

COLD BLUEBERRY SOUP

2 pints of blueberries (puree in blender)
1 cinnamon stick
2 cups of chicken broth or water
one pinch sea salt
2 tbs of corn starch
2 cups of kefir
cook over medium heat until slow boil, chill in fridge, serve cold

Enjoy!

Fiorella

5 Fattening Food Myths

Having a family member or friend as a nutritionist does not make one immune to making bad food choices or holding on to silly ideas about food. In the past ten years there has been a rise in the general knowledge and interest in health and nutrition, usually in terms of weight loss. With this rise of information, also comes confusion with conflicting information. From the latest diet guru to studies done by corporations (who want you to choose their food product) or just word of mouth. Needless to say, misinformation continues despite our vast resources of information.

People also have very personal relationships with food. Most have food fears and even strange food associations, all which affect their food choices. My friends and family, even though I am constantly annoying them with information or my latest food obsession, still have some very goofy ideas about food. Here is what I heard this week:

COTTAGE CHEESE- a friend of mine associated this dairy food with its synonym with “cottage cheese thighs”. She knows the two are not related nor does one lead to another, but she still has a strange anxiety about eating it. DON’T WORRY! Although there is no real relief for cellulite, cottage cheese certainly does not cause it. With 16 grams of protein per serving, and low in fat, it is a great choice for a quick snack.

STEAK AND EGGS are fattening. This credit goes to my mother. She used to drink vinegar in her teens to keep her weight down and is from the era of high carb, low meat mentality. She still avoids eggs and red meat like the plague. Lean red meats provide a low fat, high protein, b-vitamin, iron rich juicy meal that should be enjoyed at all costs. Eggs are my all time favorite complete protein food; I eat them everyday- mostly egg whites with 1-2 yolks.

CEREAL WILL MAKE ME FAT-my best friend blurted this out to me. She explained that for one week she had cereal for breakfast and noticed her pants were a bit tight. I told her that if she is eating a high fiber, low sugar cereal, there is no reason why she should gain weight, quite the contrary. High fiber cereals are in my weight loss arsenal of sweeping your system clean. The tight pants feeling was probably bloat from the fiber (which subsides in a few hours) not weight gain.

FRUIT FOR BREAKFAST-“you would be so proud of me”, a coworker told me today” I had fruit for breakfast” First of all, after 8 hours of overnight fasting, the first thing that you put in your mouth should not be something sugary unless it is accompanied by low fat or protein.

Plus you will be starved after two hours of the fruit breakfast. Boost your metabolism and keep hunger at bay with that lovely fruit with cereal or cottage cheese.

Milk IS BAD FOR YOU-“My high school health teacher told me that after childhood no one should drink milk” WHAT!! I got this piece of information by a fellow nutritionist. Low fat milk products are an excellent source of protein and calcium. Studies show that low fat dairy has been shown to aid in weight loss.

My advice is to start over again, put aside bad advice, wives tales and outdated sources. Change your emotional relationship with food and lower your anxiety with food fears. My advice is to use common sense, if it sounds strange, it is. Relax and enjoy your food!

Fiorella