The food and fluids we eat and drink have a greater impact on detoxification  and health than all other aspects of our lifestyle combined. These are the tangible chemical elements that we fuel and rebuild ourselves with daily. As such, the correct nutrition plays a vital role in detoxification.

Our modern diet is full of unnatural chemicals and unbalanced elements such as excess sodium and sugar. These are toxic to our body, and it struggles to process and eliminate them.  Wastes that cannot be removed get stored in our cells and, over time, build up making us ill and even leading to disease . Food items that should be reduced from your diet or avoided altogether include:

* Pre-packaged and processed foods: depleted of nutrients and contain many harmful additives which our body struggles to remove.
* All animal products: meats, fish, eggs and dairy. They are extremely hard for our body to metabolize efficiently and include saturated fats and other harmful elements.
* Coffee, alcohol and soft drinks: high in caffeine, sugar and other substances toxic to our liver, they compromise its ability to effectively remove cellular wastes and further add to the toxic load.

The right foods boost energy

A great deal of our body’s energy is used for its natural detoxification processes, a key to maintaining and optimizing health. Replacing this energy with the highest quality foods and fluids in the most easily digested form reduces the energy required for digestion, preserving it for cleansing and restoring.

Raw, whole and juice

Raw fruits and veggies in their whole form provide high quality nutrition and fiber for fuel efficient internal cleansing. Even more powerful is a juice detox of fasting on fruit and especially vegetable juice which promotes quick cellular cleansing. Fresh juice provides enzyme -rich nutrients which require minimal energy to digest. These nutrients energize and alkalize , flushing acid wastes from our tissues and out of our body.

Take it easy

Cooked whole foods such as brown rice, legumes and baked vegetables still retain some of their micronutrient content and are cleansing to an extent. However, their enzymes are destroyed when cooked above 118º F (48º C) and require extra effort to digest. This reduces the amount of energy available for internal repair and restoration.

Increase water intake

Water comprises 75% of a healthy adult body and is the solvent in which wastes and toxins are transported out of our body. Water also dilutes and reduces their negative effects. Ensure you drink at least 2 liters per day.

As our body detoxifies positive changes occur. Energy levels lift, aches and pains melt away, we feel clearer and look better, our eyes sparkle and skin glows. Consuming high quality fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis can ensure these benefits last for life.

To learn more about Beautiful Health, go to www.kasiaorganicsalon.com

Reference: Lifeco Company

Vegitables

Vegetables:

Avocado Beets Broccoli Cauliflower Celery Corn Cucumber Eggplant Fava beans Green beans Green peppers Kohlrabi Mushrooms Okra Onions Peas Potatoes Red peppers Shallots Summer squash Tomatoes Zucchini Greens Arugula Bok choy Cabbage Chinese cabbage Collard greens Cress Endive Garlic greens Kale Lettuce Mustard greens Radicchio Sorrel Spinach Swiss chard Tat soi Turnip Watercress

Fruits:

Apricots Asian pears Blackberries Blueberries Cantaloupe Casaba melon Cherries Crenshaw melon Currants Figs Gooseberries Guava Honeydew melon Huckleberries Lychee nut Mango Nectarines Papaya Peaches Plums Raspberries Strawberries Watermelon Seasonings Basil Chives Cilantro Dill Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme

Get info on  trends, promotions and tips to improve your “Beautiful Health” with our weekly newsletter at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com

References from : Lifeco. Company

PLEASANTON, Calif., July 15 /PRNewswire/ — Roche Holding AG, the world’s biggest maker of cancer drugs, recently announced the withdrawal of its Accutane acne medicine from the US Market. The decision was largely driven by falling market share, the product reaching the end of its life cycle, and the high cost of personal injury lawsuits. (i)

“While the withdrawal of Accutane comes on the heels of much public scrutiny, the bottom line is that physicians and patients need a viable alternative in their battle against acne,” says Alon Maor, President & CEO of Aesthera Corporation. Aesthera has developed and manufactured the Isolaz system, a leading device-based acne therapy and the only FDA cleared treatment for Comedonal and Pustular Acne. The device is also cleared for the treatment of mild to moderate acne including Acne Vulgaris.

“Acne Vulgaris is a disease which can cause longstanding psychological and emotional harm to patients. The need for a safe treatment solution such as the Isolaz that physicians and patients can count on is of paramount importance. I offer Isolaz treatments to all of my acne patients. It is a painless, quick and effective process,” says Amy Wechsler, MD, FAAD, of Amy Wechsler Dermatology in NY. Dr. Wechsler is one of only two physicians in the United States board certified in both dermatology and psychiatry.

“We’ve been using the Isolaz in our practice and are very pleased with treatment outcomes particularly in patients with severe acne,” says Tina S. Alster MD, co-investigator of a recent clinical study on the Isolaz titled “Treatment of Acne with Photopneumatic Therapy,” published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology. The paper studied the clinical efficacy of Photopneumatic Therapy for the treatment of mild to severe facial acne(ii). Earlier studies corroborate study outcomes and demonstrate an 88 percent reduction in papular, pustular, comedonal and nodular acne after 4 treatments without any of the side effects associated with systemic treatment alternatives.

To date, the Isolaz has been used to successfully treat over 200,000 patients who suffer from mild to severe acne, worldwide. “We’ve used the Isolaz to successfully treat patients with recalcitrant acne,” says Ava T. Shamban, MD, of Santa Monica, CA referring to results of a study she authored showing that 64 percent of acne patients who had not responded to oral medications (including Accutane), topicals and traditional lasers in the past had shown greater than a 75 percent clearance of acne lesions after treatment with the Isolaz(TM) system. (iii)

“To help alleviate the pressure caused by the withdrawal of Accutane, Aesthera is setting up an Acne Community Education (ACE) Initiative for patients and their physicians,” adds Alon Maor. The ACE Initiative, among other things, will provide a physician led web based forum to help patients better manage their acne and be proactive about treatment. It will also provide physicians with information on alternative non-systemic treatment therapies. For more information on the ACE Initiative visit www.AESTHERA.com or www.ISOLAZ.com

About Photopneumatic(TM) Technology

Photopneumatic Therapy, that powers the Isolaz(TM) and Isolaz Pro(TM) system, is a proprietary combination of pneumatic energy and broad band light. Photopneumatic devices are the only laser or light based devices cleared for the treatment of inflammatory acne, comedonal acne and pustular acne. They are also cleared for the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne. Photopneumatic treatments have an immediate visible impact on acne 24 – 48 hour post first treatment and are painless. Facial treatments take approximately 10 minutes, require no anesthetics or numbing creams and provide additional cosmetic benefits such as smoother appearing skin. Additionally, Photopneumatic Therapy is also cleared for the treatment of benign vascular and pigmented lesions and hair removal.

About Aesthera Corporation

Aesthera (www.AESTHERA.com) develops, manufactures and markets light-based aesthetic treatment systems – the Isolaz(TM) and Isolaz Pro (TM) platforms – based on proprietary Photopneumatic(TM) technology.

About Tina S. Alster, MD

Dr. Tina Alster is a board certified dermatologist. Her private practice, Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery is located in Washington, DC. To contact Dr. Alster or schedule an appointment, please call 202.628.8855. For more information, please visit www.skinlaser.com

About Ava T. Shamban, MD

Dr. Ava Shamban is a board certified dermatologist. Her private practice, The Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skincare is located in Santa Monica, CA. To contact Dr. Shamban or schedule an appointment, please call 310.828.2282. For more information, please visit www.shamban-md.com

About Amy Wechsler, MD

Dr. Amy Wechsler is a board certified dermatologist and psychiatrist. Her private practice, Amy Wechsler Dermatology, is located in New York, NY. To contact Dr. Wechsler or schedule an appointment, please call 212.396.2500. For more information, please visit www.dramywechsler.com

(i) Roche Pharmaceutical Press Release; Roche Discontinues and Plans to Delist Accutane in the U.S. Roche Pharmaceuticals, Nutley, NJ. June 26, 2009

(ii) Wanitphakdeedecha R, Tanzi EL, Alster TS. Photopneumatic Therapy for the Treatment of Acne. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, March 2009; volume 8, pp 239-241.

(iii) Photopneumatic Pore-Cleansing Acne Treatment: A Breakthrough Treatment Option for Non-Responders to Acne Therapies, Ava T. Shamban, MD, Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care, Santa Monica, CA, October 2006.

Pregnancy is a special time for you, when you are infinitely more aware of looking after yourself and your unborn child. Pregnancy is also a time of immense change to your body. While you need to be more aware than ever of what you do with your body, and what you put into it, pregnancy is also a great motivator. The thought of upcoming labor and birth is enough to help most women do what they can to ease the stress! For others, the great motivator is the future health of their baby – experts say that exercise and a healthy diet during pregnancy can help prevent your children wanting to overeat as they grow up, and endear them to exercise themselves. Of course, at its base it is a great way to strengthen your core muscles, improve balance and flexibility, and get out and meet other health pursuing people! We look at how to get fitter with Pilates in pregnancy.

What is Pilates?
Pilates derives its name from its creator, Joseph Pilates, who first used the system to rehabilitate injured World War II soldiers, and later, injured dancers. It is a catalogue of movements and postures. When you perform them, you’ll focus on your breathing, correct spinal alignment and muscle control.

Pilates is designed to help develop muscular endurance, balance and flexibility.

Why Do Pilates During Pregnancy?
You already know the benefits of exercising during pregnancy, you’ve heard them many times. The benefits of Pilates as opposed to other forms of exercise include:
•    Less back pain through a focus on posture and spinal alignment
•    Assistance in the prevention of leg cramps and varicose veins
•    Prevention of incontinence and related problems through a strengthened pelvic floor
•    Reduced likelihood of joint injury which is common during pregnancy. The increased muscle strength helps support your joints
•    Increased awareness of the pelvic floor muscles, leading to greater control during birth
•    Faster, easier labors because the muscles you use to support the uterine contractions are stronger

While each of these benefits can be achieved through other exercises, Pilates brings them all together. It also helps you pace yourself, and develop the strength and posture gradually.

Do’s and Don’ts of Prenatal Pilates
The principles of Pilates make it a great pregnancy exercise. However, there are various schools of Pilates, each designed to achieve different aims and suited to different people. Don’t just grab the first DVD you see in the supermarket and start Saw Sitting, Leg Fronting and Spine Twisting away at home. If possible, find an instructor who is experienced in prenatal Pilates. It is not only the positions which require you to lie on your stomach that are a no-no during pregnancy.

When beginning a Pilates routine while pregnant:

Please DO
•    Consult your natal doctor first about your suitability for the discipline. Take along information about the exercises to help inform them.
•    Inform your Pilates instructor that you are pregnant, so they can advise you of any unsuitable moves and give you extra guidance on adjusting for your condition.
•    Maintain awareness of your center of balance and know that you are more likely to fall.
•    Learn how to fall safely in pregnancy. Practice falling to your knees and shifting your weight downwards, to help prevent damage if you do fall.
•    Consider keeping up with Pilates practice at home – but ask your instructor which moves to perform and what to watch out for.

Please, Do Not!

•    Perform moves that require you to lie on your stomach or your back after the first trimester. The risks of lying on your stomach are obvious, but lying on you back can compress the large vein that carries blood back to your heart … and to the baby.
•    Hold your breath! Remember to breathe while maintaining your control.
•    Hyperextend your joints. They are particularly vulnerable because you have an enormous amount of the ligament and tendon softening hormone, relaxin, circulating in your body.
•    Do anything that causes dizziness, nausea or pain. With regard to how hard you work, you should be able to hold a conversation while working out during pregnancy.

Keep Bubba Safe While Working Out
The most important advice you’ll hear is to check with your doctor, keep it gentle, and follow the do’s and don’ts above. The most common adverse affects from doing Pilates in pregnancy are due to overextending the joints, losing your balance and falling, and lying on your back to do exercises.

Tips per Trimester for Pilates Moms

In the first trimester:
This is a great time to familiarize yourself with the routine, and start building the core strength that you’ll need in later trimesters to keep going with Pilates. Keep practicing your routine at home, and in the very early stages, practice the positions that require you to lie on your stomach and your back while you can.

In the second trimester:
You’ll need to stop the positions that require lying on your stomach and back, and start paying more attention to your balance. You’ll also need to realize that while you are growing more comfortable with the workouts, you will actually need to go backwards (in impact and exertion) to ensure your  safety.

In the third trimester:
Check out the range of sitting Pilates moves (find the DVD in the section below). Pay extra attention to your balance, and have a check-in with your doctor about when you’ll need to stop, and which moves are still safe. Keep your range of motion small with all movements.

Pilates for Labor

The improved circulation achieved through Pilates allows increased oxygen to the womb. This reduces distress to your baby during labor, while the breathing techniques you’ve learnt also help you to control your birth.

After Childbirth

If you have had a normal delivery then it is typically safe to return to Pilates within 4-6 weeks. If you’ve had a caesarian birth, wait 8 to 12 weeks. After labor Pilates is excellent for regaining pre-pregnancy shape. It also re-strengthens muscles that have been stretched.

Where to Find Pregnancy Pilates Instruction

If you are comfortable with a DVD, I recommend you look for Stott Pilates’ range of DVDs which looks at the different Pilates exercises you can do while sitting. These exercises are great for pregnant women during the last trimester – show your doctor the moves and ask when you should stop doing them.

Look for the following books online. They provide Pilates guidance and instruction specifically for pregnant women:
•    The Pilates Pregnancy: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility and Your Figure (Perseus Publishing, 2001) by Mari Winsor and Mark Laska
•    Pilates for Pregnancy: Gentle and Effective Techniques for Before and After Birth (Thorsons, 2002) by Anna Selby
•    Pilates for Pregnancy (Ulysses Press, 2002) by Michael King and Yolande Green

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader in, and advocate for, natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia natural line and stylist for Kasia Organic Salon, Kassie combines her experience as a former Pilates instructor and nutrition coach with her ongoing Functional Medicine research to apply a whole of body approach to “Beautiful Health.” She can be found at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

No matter if you are nine or ninety, knowing the basics and following a good sun care routine is essential for a healthy body. With summer just around the corner, it is important to get your facts straight and pick the right product that will ensure proper skin safety all season long.

The Sun and Your Skin: The Facts

Everybody knows that the sun can cause irreversible damage to one’s skin or worse, potentially deadly illnesses like cancer. And regardless of how exotic it looks, suntanned skin is not healthy skin. In fact, our skin tans because it has already been damaged and is frantically scrambling to prevent further harm. When UVA or UVB light penetrate the skin and begin to break down tissues (like all important collagen), the damaged skin begins to stretch, sag, darken and form premature wrinkles. To boot, skin becomes extremely dry, rough and begins to look older than its biological age, a process known as “extrinsic aging.”

Not only does the sun epoch skin more rapidly than any other aging factor, it can also cause serious illness and possibly death. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation about 23% of sun exposure is accumulated from ages 1 – 18 while another 23% takes places from 19 – 40 and another 27% from ages 41 – 59.  So even though all of us know how bad too much sun exposure is, according to the stats, we get a pretty even dosage of it throughout each stage of our lives.

Let’s take a closer look at some *skin cancer facts.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and the most preventable.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

Teens who tan are the most at-risk group for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

They are also one of the least informed.

Tanning beds increase the risk of skin cancer by 75%.

In America, one person dies of melanoma each hour.

Up to 90% of visible aging are caused by the sun or tanning beds.

White men over the age of 50 are diagnosed with melanoma more than any other group.

*Facts provided by SkinCancer.org

Sun protection should be in the form of clothing, sunglasses, scheduling outdoor activity outside the peak sun hours of 10 am and 2 pm when possible and using correct sunblock. While it is true that no sunscreen can be 100% effective against cancer (read that again), taking the proper safety measures make a world of difference.

The sun gives off two basic types of ultraviolet (UV) rays that affect our skin. These are UVA and UVB. UVB rays are shorter and more easily burn our skin. They do not pass through window glass and the SPF or sun protection factor listed on sunblocks relates to the amount of UVB rays that are blocked by that sunscreen. The UVA rays are longer wavelength and not only go through window glass but pass deeper into the skin causing deeper damage. They are used in tanning beds to help tan the skin without the early burn from UVB rays, however, don’t be misled they are still very damaging to the skin.

Sun Care: Chemical vs. Natural

Even those that may think they’re using the right protection may actually be doing more harm than good. An SPF of 30 is the highest a natural sunscreen can be. Therefore, people think they are better protecting themselves by using a higher, chemically induced SPF. But they are wrong. Chemical sunscreens with a higher SPF actually allow the UV rays to penetrate skin and then proceed to neutralize them on the skin. Plus, of the 900 sunscreens available on the market today, only a very small percentage actually protects skin they way that the package claims.

Scarily, a very high percentage of high SPF sunscreens are also brimming with chemical agents that, once introduced to the body, can invade the bloodstream. Ingredients like benzophenone-3 are proven endocrine disrupters causing hormonal imbalance in children and even in infants who breast feed.

There is an entire laundry list of agents to avoid many of which cause allergies, skin irritation, can increase estrogen levels and disrupt hormonal levels within the body. Jena Thompson, Natural Cosmetics Chemist, shares some of her “yellow flagged” ingredients to look out for.  See for yourself:

Oxybenzone/Benzophenone-3: Causes skin irritation, allergies, and hormone disruption. Another one of the most powerful free radical creators known.
Oxtinoxate or Octyl-methoxycinnamate: Increases estrogen levels
Homesalata (HMS): Increases estrogen levels
PABA, Padimate-O, or ocytl dimethyl: Causes damage to DNA, may have estrogenic activity, and can cause an allergic reaction.
Propylene Glycol: An industrial antifreeze; can cause liver and kidney damage. This ingredient is also known to produce the contaminant 1,4-Dioxane.
Dioxybenzone: One of the strongest free radical producers known.

www.Ewg.com

While this is not the entire “avoid” list, it definitely gives you an idea of how harmful chemical products really can be.

The Way Nature Intended

Natural sunscreens on the other hand lie on the skin, forming a protective barrier that allows no rays to penetrate, period. And while many chemical sunscreens irritate skin and clog pores, natural sunscreens provide added beauty benefits. Pure + Simple founder, Jean Eng says that “zinc is anti-inflammatory for sensitive skin and anti-bacterial for acne” while titanium is known for its equally healing properties.

However, natural sunscreens come with the stigma of an embarrassingly white nose that used to make serious skin care gurus kiss beach trips goodbye. But with today’s nanotechnology, zinc and other large particle agents have been whittled down to practically nothing – smaller than the wavelength of light, actually. With white nosed beachgoers a thing of the past, there is no reason not to use natural products with simple ingredients.

Ingredients to Look For:

Zinc Oxide: Topical agent for centuries; non-irritating; UV absorbing; anti-inflammatory; anti-bacterial; non-comedogenic
Zirconium Oxide: Coats skin; pigment toner; UVA blocking mineral; non-comedogenic
Titanium Dioxide: UV blocker; acts like a shield; non-comedogenic

SUNsational Skin Care

Measuring Sun Protection

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Contrary to popular belief, SPF shows us how long the sunscreen is active for, not the level protection. It is easy to figure out how long a sunscreen will protect your skin. If it usually takes your skin 5 minutes to burn without sunscreen, than an SPF 15 will protect you for 75 minutes while an SPF 30 while shield for about 150 minutes.

How to Choose and Apply Natural Sunscreens

Research: Unfortunately, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only indulges a small percentage of the budget on toxins in skin care; not nearly enough to cover all of the products on the market today. Obviously you’ll want to avoid any ingredient that is on the sidebar list but we also encourage you to do some research on your own to see what else you can dig up.

Ingredients: Stick with active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which not only block all harmful rays completely but also have complementary skin saving properties.

Go Green: According to lax FDA guidelines, companies can have up to 30% chemical agents in their product and can still label it organic. To ensure you’re getting something beneficial and nutritional for your skin, make sure that the USDA Organic Seal is on the label.

SPF: Now that you know how to measure SPF, get one that suits your lifestyle, preferably with an SPF 15 or higher. Make sure your using sunscreen daily.

Brian Zelickson, M.D. of Zel Skin and Laser Specialist says, “It is very important, just like when you are painting a wall in your home, that one coat is not enough for an even application.  Make sure you get good even coverage.”  Dr. Zelickson also believes it is important to re-apply sunblock every two hours or so if you are in the sun for long periods of time. He says that if you are in water or actively sweating, you may need to reapply more often.

Our Favorite Sun Loving Product Picks

Before you go picking out your sunscreen, there are a few more tips we need to dish. According to recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) studies, 4 out of 5 sunscreens are completely ineffective or contain unsafe chemicals. Lucky for us, the EWG didn’t leave us hanging and also provided a list of EWG and local favorite sunscreens that work and, most importantly, are safe.

Minnesota Whole Foods Favorites

* SPF 30+ California Baby No Fragrance Sunblock Stick: Easy-to-use stick that gives those “hot spots” a boost of extra protection. A winner for all kids!   $14.99, .5 oz

*Badger Face & Body Sunblock SPF30: Blocks both UVA and UVB rays, and thoroughly moisturizes your skin with Seabuckthorn Berry, which has cell rebuilding and restorative properties.  One of the safest out there! : $16.00, 2.9 oz.

* Jason Natural Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sun Block SPF30: A smart choice for sensitive skin as an hypo-allergenic sun block. Extra mild and safe for use on babies and sensitive adults.   $12.15, 4 oz.

EWG Sun Safety Favorites

* Tinted Kabana Sunscreen Organic. Made from 9 yummy edible-grade organic and natural ingredients.  It is tinted with the natural mineral iron oxides for a sunscreens without the characteristic whiteness. .  Provides the best broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection of any FDA approved sunscreen.   $18.00, 4 oz. www.kabanaskincare.com

* Sunscreen SPF30 by Soleo Organics: Provides three hours of waterproof protection, and made with botanical extracts and antioxidants.  Perfect for any outdoorsmen or beach trips.
$25.99, 2.6 oz; www.soleousa.com

* Trukid Sunny Days SPF 30+ Natural Mineral Sunscreen:
Offers strong protection all day long when applied every 80 minutes. Non-toxic and chemical free and had the best skin care rating of all kids skin care lines. $12.49, 4 oz. www.trukid.com

Local Dermatology, Zel Skin Specialist’s Sun Safety Favorites

* Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 35: Non greasy and free of fragrance, masking fragrance, perfume, parabens, lanolin, formaldehyde.
$19.50, 4 oz.

* Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen: Provide a wide range of chemical and fragrance-free sun protection for a sensitive face, children, sport and activity, and regular every day use.
$14.99, 5oz; www.crownlaboratories.com

More Beneficial Beauty Products

Local beauty hotspot, Kasia Organic Salon, has teamed up exclusively with La Bella Donna Minerals, educating clients that fewer ingredients mean more for your skin.

Kill three birds with one stone by getting crucial vitamins with penetrating qualities and minerals to create a protective barrier in all of your skin care. Mineral rocks provide zinc to improve skin, natural sunblock to prevent damage and, with the correct tint, a flawless even-toned complexion every day.

Some of our favorites include La Bella’s amazing lip products that contain Ceramide 2 which is designed to keep lips smooth and protected from the sun’s damaging UV rays.  The natural sun protection of SPF 20 gives you confidence of all day protection.

Loose Mineral Sun Protection with Simple Ingredients:
Micronized titanium oxide, bismuth oxychloride, zinc oxide, and iron oxides of SPF 20.

We’ve got you covered with:   Sustainable Style

Eco-friendly choices don’t have to mean looking granola. You can still by stylish and protected by choosing your clothes wisely. Most garments have some sort of Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). This number tells us how much of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVA rays the fabric absorbs. For example, a UPF 50 will only allow a measly 2% of UV rays to shine through fabric and onto your skin.

By now you’re thinking, “What about all of the clothes in my closet that I haven’t a clue about the UPF factor?” Here are a few easy rules of thumb to assess your current wardrobe:

The tighter the weave, the more sun stays out: Check out the weave by holding garments up to light. Washing fabrics like cotton can actually shrink the weave, making them more protective.

The thicker the fabric, the better the shield: While your worn white cotton tee offers about UPF 7, your favorite denim is a whopping UPF 1700!

The darker the color, the more your protected: Darker dyes simply absorb more light.

Fabric matters: Polyester, silk, and wool offer more protection than cotton, linen, and viscose. Hemp and bamboo are also great natural alternatives.

The looser, the better: We aren’t saying it’s an excuse to slub, but a looser fit increases the space between your skin and the clothing, allowing any extra light to diffuse.

Towel off: Many people believe wearing a t-shirt into water is helpful. But in reality it only increases the UPF by about 3%. On the other hand, a dry tee ups protection nearly 33%.

You might have all the protection you need in your closet and if not local hotspot, BIRCH Clothing, has you covered, literally, when it comes to sun care style.  The Skin Cancer Foundation is also an invaluable tool in finding protective shirts for the whole family.

http://www.skincancer.org/give-the-gift-of-protection.html

Fibre2fashion.com – Natural, “Green” Dyes for the Textile Industry

The Skin Cancer Foundation offers durable sun-protective shirts that block 97 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.  Learn more and give the gift of protection at: http://www.skincancer.org/give-the-gift-of-protection.html

Additional information on local and informative sun safety resources:

Zel Skin and Laser Specialist:  http://www.zelskin.com/yc_sundamage.html
Environemental Working Group:  www.ewg.com
Toxic Ingredients Database: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
Birch Clothing: http://www.birchclothing.com
W. 50th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
SkinCancer.org: http://www.skincancer.org/

Here are a few fun facts to get your brain cranking and the light bulbs flickering.

*Pads and tampons are not sterilized.

*The FDA does not require ingredients for these products to be listed.

*The March-April 2001 issue of E Magazine states that, according to the Center for Marine Conservation, more than 170,000 tampon applicators were found off the U.S. coast between 1998 and 1999. So much for soaking up the sun!

*In that same issues of E Magazine, waste consultant Franklin Associates’ claims that 6.5 billion tampons and 13.5 billion pads came to their journey’s end in landfills or sewer systems in 1998 alone.

*In her lifetime, the average woman uses 15,000 pads or tampons, totaling 300 pounds of debris which equals an entire trash truck full of waste product.

So by now that light bulb is burning bright (we hope!). And if those semi-disgusting facts didn’t do it for you maybe a little knowledge on the dreaded Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) will.

TSS is a serious disease that mostly affects tampon using women under 30. Women often report high fever, vomiting, sunburn like rash that peels, and a sudden drop in blood pressure as some of the more severe side effects. Milder side effects may also include nausea and diarrhea. While nobody is certain why this occurs, it could possibly be the way that tampons are treated. According to the Vegetarian Times, non-organic tampons are whitened with chlorine bleach and have been found to have trace amounts of dioxin, a substance deemed as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.
However, there has been far more research and testing done on the side effects of chlorine-bleached coffee filters than chlorine-bleached tampons — as if that makes any sense!

Ingredients matter – safe solutions

So instead of setting yourself up for possible illness and a very non-ecofriendly lifestyle, we suggest you test out some alternate methods of feminine hygiene; the most common of which is the Diva Cup (also called the Keeper and Moon Cup).  In a nutshell, the Diva Cup is a reusable tampon. It is easy to use, can stay put for 12 hours at a time, doesn’t dry out vaginal tissues, and is reusable for 10+ years.  You can sterilize it yourself, knowing that it wasn’t treated with anything harmful, and can avoid TSS all together. To boot, most Diva Cup companies offer a full refund if the product doesn’t suit your fancy.

After reading over these facts, it should become crystal clear that tampon and pad companies want nothing more than to sell you an overpriced product that can be absolutely detrimental to your health and the planet. Just try to find ingredients to tampons or a landfill that isn’t chock full of them. Then you will see for yourself that the answer both your health and the future of our planet (not to mention a clean beach to sunbathe on!) lies with alternate methods of hygiene, like the Diva Cup. Give it a try. What have you got to lose?

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader in, and advocate for, natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia natural line of skin care, expert in ammonia-free hair color services, and stylist for Kasia Organic Salon, Kassie combines her experience as a nutrition coach with her ongoing Functional Medicine research to apply a whole of body “Beautiful Health’ approach to hair care and styling. More information and educational articles can be found at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

What is your skin care routine?

A large majority of us are wayward when it comes to a consistent skin routine.  By incorporating the long-term benefits of nutritive, natural facial products and a consistent daily skin care routine, we benefit from a “beautiful health” complexion.
“I KNOW: many of you are making strides in your efforts to replace chemical-laden products in your bathroom with more health- and eco-conscious versions.

Take a good look at the way you are taking of your skin daily. Ask yourself the following questions.

* Is your skin having frequent dry patches or acne outbreaks?
* Do you need to review the way you take care of your skin?
* Are you using the wrong skin care products daily?
* Do you need to establish or simplify your facial skin care routine?

Did you find yourself answering “yes” to all or some of the above questions?

A good facial skin care routine should be simple to follow. It should not take more than 20 minutes of your time each day. Once in the morning and another time at night.

Kasia Beautiful Health Skin Care’s “6 basics.”

Cleanse
reFresh
Face Cleanser

Cleansing removes the top layer of dead cells, oil, perspiration and pollution. If your skin is not cleansed properly it becomes dull and flaky and the oil glands block up with dirt and cellular waste, causing breakouts and congestion. Cleansing also prepares the skin for moisturizing while ensuring the skin is not stripped dry (which can lead to over oiliness or dehydration).

TONE/Hydrate/Balance
toBalance
Face Toner

After cleansing the skin, the toner offers additional deep cleansing of the pores. It serves to hydrate, revitalize, soothe and balance the pH of the skin. It literally relaxes and tones the pores preparing them to more effectively receive the benefits of the moisturizer. Toner is also an effective fixative for make-up.

Exfoliate/Mask
soPure
Clarifying Mask

A build up of dead skin cells causes a rough and dull appearance. Removing the top layers of desiccated cells oxygenates the skin and speeds up the rate of cell growth, promoting a youthful, glowing skin. Kasia’s polished larch extract and the jojoba beads have smooth surfaces that will not scratch the surface of your skin.  Mask:
Kasia’s mask remineralises and rebalances the skin, assisting with tissue regeneration. Masks must be followed Kasia’s moisturizer or serum to prevent dehydration.

Moisturize

enMoist
Moisturizing Cream

This step creates a protective barrier against free radicals and moisture loss (one of the main causes of wrinkles). Natural and organic ingredients in a natural base has demonstrated significant and lasting effects on skin hydration and smoothness, and has been shown to actively restore and strengthen damaged skin. Feed your skin with water-soluble botanicals, organic extracts, vitamins and more!

Treatment Serum

byNight
Moisturizing Serum

All serums have different properties.  A good serum provides intensive care to treat problem or fragile areas and it aims to penetrate deep into the three layers of the skin to strengthen the cells as well as deliver active ingredients to your skin.  Moisturizerizers helps with the very topical layers of the skin by retaining moisture on the surface of the skin and preventing it from evaporating, a good face serum will actually help your moisturizer to penetrate deeper and provide effective hydration.  So, always allow time for your serum to be well absorbed into your skin.

Eye Cream
onCure
Eye Gel

The skin around your eyes is very delicate – it’s very thin skin, and does not produce any oil. So it is one of the first areas on your face that begin to show age. Even if you don’t have any wrinkles yet, it can still be a good idea to protect that area so that you can prevent future damage. An eye cream can help you prevent damage, and enhance your current “undercover” appearance.

To learn more and purchase  Kasia Beautiful Health Skin Care go to:
www.kasiabeautifulhealth.com

As a stylist, and through my Functional Medicine research into thyroid conditions, I routinely recommend clients experiencing the unexplained onset of dry, coarse or easy tangled hair to have their thyroid hormone levels checked. Once accurately diagnosed thyroid levels can be corrected with a combination of replacement therapy and careful nutritional attention. A good physician or naturopath practicing holistic medicine will prescribe you with thyroid replacement. Natural thyroid hormone replacement provides hormone bio-identical to that of humans, reducing the resistance and unwanted side effects sometimes experienced with synthetic replacements.

Good nutrition also goes a long way to ensuring healthy thyroid function. While some refined foods, wheat, dairy products, as well as caffeine can depress thyroid function, supplements can aid in improving body functions. Iodine is a vital component of a healthy thyroid, L-Tyrosine promotes healthy pituitary and adrenal glands, as well as a healthy thyroid. Saw Palmetto will strengthen your thyroid. Supplementing your diet with 250-500mg of Vitamin C each day will decrease inflammation and aid in immunity. 1,000mg of Calcium along with 200-600mg of Magnesium are contributors to the metabolic process. 400 IU of Vitamin E two times each day protects your heart.

The Omega-3 fatty acids provide anti-inflammatory properties and promote the functioning of a healthy immune system. Herbs are available in many forms and are readily available, but should be directed by a practitioner. Lemon Balm and Bugleweed will help return an overactive thyroid to normal. Lemon Balm will also hinder the hormones that stimulate the thyroid from binding. It may take several steps to adjust and maintain your thyroid hormone levels. Insist that you are supplemented to your ideal level and you will see a return to better health and enjoy more vital, healthier hair. After all, it’s your glory.

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader in, and advocate for, natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia natural line of skin care and stylist for Kasia Organic Salon, Kassie combines her experience as nutritionist and living foods educator with her ongoing Functional Medicine research to apply a whole of body “Beautiful Health’ approach to hair care and styling. She can be found at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

The following summarizes some of the many causes for hair loss:

Hair Disorders

• Hereditary thinning or baldness. Also called androgenetic alopecia, this is the most common cause of hair loss. When men have hereditary hair loss, a receding hairline is common as well as hair loss on top of the scalp. Women, on the other hand, tend to keep their hairline and have visible thinning over the front and top of the scalp. Very rarely, a man will experience the female pattern of hereditary hair loss and a woman will show signs of male-pattern hair loss. The reasons for this are unknown. About 80 million men and women in the United States have hair loss due to hereditary thinning or baldness.
  
• Alopecia areata. This autoimmune disease causes hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. It develops in people of all ages and causes hair to fall out in patches.
  
• Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. Developing in otherwise healthy men and women, cicatricial alopecia is a rare condition that destroys a person’s hair follicles. Scar tissue forms where the follicles once were and re-growth is not possible. Treatment attempts to stop the inflammation that destroys the hair follicles.

Disease

• Underlying medical condition. A warning sign for about 30 diseases, hair loss often can be stopped or reversed with treatment for the underlying disease. Two common underlying medical conditions that can cause hair loss are thyroid disease and anemia caused by an iron deficiency.
  
• Some cancer treatments. Radiation therapy and some chemotherapeutic medications cause hair loss. While hair loss is usually temporary, it can be the most traumatic part of therapy.
  
• Ringworm of the scalp. Without effective treatment, this contagious fungal infection, which is most common in children, can cause balding and scaling on the scalp.
  
• Trichotillomania. This impulse control disorder causes people to repeatedly pull out their own hair. Aside from a constant urge to pull out the hair on the scalp, sufferers often say they feel compelled to pull out their eyelashes, nose hairs, eyebrows, and other hairs on their bodies.

Stress and Hormones

• Physical stress. Significant hair loss can occur after a major surgery, high fever, severe infection, or even the flu.
  
• Hormones fluctuate. A dramatic change in hormone levels can cause hair loss – especially in women. Hair loss is common during menopause and after childbirth due to falling estrogen levels. When hair loss is caused by falling estrogen levels, the loss is usually temporary and hair re-growth occurs with time. If a woman is 40 years of age or older, she should not expect to see the hair of her youth with re-growth.

Diet

• Weight loss. Even people losing weight in a physician-monitored program can experience some hair loss 3 to 6 months after losing more than 15 pounds. This hair loss is common, and hair growth does return to normal.
  
• Vitamin A excess. Getting too much vitamin A through vitamin supplements or medications can lead to hair loss. Once the body no longer has an excess of vitamin A, normal hair growth resumes.
  
• Protein intake too low. When the body does not get enough protein, it conserves the protein it does get by shifting hair growth into the resting phase. Within 2 to 3 months, the person usually sees visible hair loss. This can be reversed and prevented by eating enough protein. Meats, eggs, and fish are good sources. Vegetarians can increase their protein intake by adding nuts, seeds, and beans to their diet.
  
• Iron intake too low. Consuming too little iron can lead to hair loss. Good vegetarian sources of iron are iron-fortified cereals, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, white beans, lentils, and spinach. Clams, oysters, and organ meats top the list of good animal sources of iron.
  
• Eating disorder. An eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia can lead to hair loss.

Medication
Prescription medications that can cause hair loss include:

• Blood thinners
• High-dose vitamin A
• Medicines that treat arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems, and high blood pressure
• Birth control pills. Some women taking or discontinuing birth control pills experience hair loss. This usually occurs in women with an inherited tendency toward hair thinning.

Hair Care Practices

• Hair cosmetics. Frequent bleaching or permanents can cause the hair to break. Regular or improper use of dyes, gels, relaxers, and sprays also can cause hair breakage. Dermatologists recommend limiting use of these hair cosmetics to reduce hair breakage.
  
• Blow dryers, flat irons, and similar devices. Frequent use of a blow dryer tends to damage hair. The high heat from a blow dryer can boil the water in the hair shaft leaving the hair brittle and prone to breakage. Allowing the hair to air dry and styling it only when dry will lessen this risk. Dermatologists also recommend limiting the use of flat irons, which straighten hair by using high heat, and other devices such as curling irons.
  
• Hairpins, clips, and rubber bands. When used to hold hair tightly, hairpins, clips, and rubber bands can break hair. When selecting hairpins, dermatologists recommend choosing one with a smooth, ball-tipped surface. Hair clips should have spongy rubber padding where they make contact with the hair. To minimize hair breakage, use loosely fitting clips and wear them in different areas of the scalp so that hair breakage is not localized in a specific area. Rather than using rubber bands for ponytails, try fabric scrunchies, which loosely hold the hair.
  
• Certain hairstyles. Years of wearing hair in a style that pulls on the hair such as a ponytail, cornrows, or braids can cause a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia.
  
• Too much or vigorous grooming. Too much shampooing, combing, or brushing (100 strokes or more a day) or doing any of these too vigorously can cause hair breakage. When hair breakage occurs, the hair appears shaggy or too thin. Dermatologists also caution against vigorously rubbing wet hair with a towel to dry it or combing wet hair. These also can cause hair breakage because wet hair is more elastic and more vulnerable to breakage than dry hair.

Dermatologists Can Get to the Root of Hair Loss
With so many causes, it can take a bit of detective work to uncover the reason for hair loss. Sometimes, more than one cause is responsible. And as we age, one cause may follow another.

To diagnose the cause of hair loss, a dermatologist usually begins by obtaining a detailed medical history. The patient is asked about medications taken, allergies, family history, and diet. Women are asked about their menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. The dermatologist also performs a detailed inspection of the hair and scalp and looks at the way the hair is distributed over the rest of the body. While examining the hair and scalp, the dermatologist will examine the pattern of hair loss and look for signs of illness, including any indication of a scalp infection. Sometimes a hair pull, blood test, or scalp biopsy is necessary to make the diagnosis.

Once the cause (or causes) is known, treatment or preventive measures can begin. It is important to realize that when it comes to hair loss, there is no quick fix. But dermatologists do have the knowledge and resources to halt hair loss and generate new growth for many patients.

Courtesy of American Academy of Dermatology – http://www.aad.org/

As owner of Kasia Organic Salon and a local natural skin line, I richly partake in the works of business-to-business and local manufacturering. Obviously noted that I take true altruism to the loyalty of this subject.

Polls employ that there is a growing body of evidence that local businesses are the best promoters of good jobs, high environmental standards, economic stability, smart growth, the “creative economy,” social equality, and political participation.

As I continue to pray and pursue where my new business commercial space will rooted, I look at my future surroundings as creative partner of a larger hub of free markets and like-minded progressives with emphasis on community empowerment.

“Listen to this Obama!”

THE STUDY.

A 2002 Economic Impact Analysis in Austin, Texas, was one of the first major studies to examine the impact of shopping at local businesses versus national chains. It found that for every $100 spent at a local bookstore or CD store, $45 stayed in the local economy. For every $100 spent at Borders, however, the local economic impact was only $13.

Those findings may seem intuitive enough—of course local businesses keep more money in the local economy— but less obvious is just how much difference shopping local can make.  If 10% of residential spending were redirected toward local businesses, it would give cities a $192 million economic boost and generate nearly 1,300 new jobs.

Therefore, when buying locally, that community sustains:

2 to 3 X’s job
2 to 3 X’s tax collections
2 to 3 X’s income/wealth effects  — WOW!

Can Local Businesses Beat the Global competition?

If we are serious about buying locally, we will have to change how we live. Consumers will have homework: What is produced locally? Where do I get it? Is it worth paying a little more? But it goes further, to changing habits. In Minneapolis, we have the Twin Cities Green Guide and Green Routes to find local products. But if I want to eat local in the winter, that’s a bit more challenging.

Understanding we are creatures of habit, and that Walmart is definitely here to stay, I simply write bring awareness to the robust alternative to choices that nurture the creative capacities of local businesses and enables communities everywhere to thrive in “such a time as this.”

Kassie Kuehl specializes in natural and organic beauty, a health coach/nutritionist, and local publications author who enjoys sharing the simple yet important message that beauty equals health. Her goal is to help others awaken to the power of the choices you make every day, and how those choices impact your health and well-being.

Read about “Beautiful Health” at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

Kasia Organic Salon
2922 Bryant Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
www.kasiaorganicsalon.com
612.386.4044