Tips To Get Rid of Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, it's definitely one of the things that help spread the acne because bacteria lives in that environment. There are a few causes of oily skin. The first one is hormonal. If your hormones are imbalanced, you will have oily skin. What happens is when you are eating foods that raise your hormones, your body will produce more oil, so the bacteria will spread quicker. Another reason could be stress-related. Stress increases your hormones as well and causes your skin to be more oily. The third reason for oily skin is diet.

To prevent the onslaught of oily skin, you have to cut out on processed dairy. Things like cheese, milk, and ice cream that you usually buy from the supermarket comes from cows that are pumped with hormones so that they will grow quicker and produce more dairy. The problem with that is when you are digesting them, those synthetic hormones are interacting with your body and cause for more oil to be produced in your body. You can eat dairy, but make sure that they are free-range and organic.

Another thing that you can do is cut back on sugars. If you want to eat sugar, eat it in its natural form -such as sweet fruits. If you can completely eliminate both from your diet, the better.

Finances, relationship, and health are three major things that usually stress us out. Stress causes acne and slows down the healing process of your skin. It also increases the hormones to your adrenal glands, which produces more oil, making bacteria spread quicker and in turn cause acne breakouts.

To reduce stress, you can try meditation. just look up some videos on YouTube or Google, or just buy a book on meditation. It is really simple. You just sit there and quiet your mind. There are different kinds of meditation and all of them just takes away the stress, and calms your inner self and mind.

Instead of reacting to the stress, respond to it. Just decide to be stress-free and you will feel much better and look better.

Other things that can cause oily skin are touching your skin because it allows the bacteria to spread quicker and the oil allows it to replicate quicker. A lot of times, your hands are oily or you are touching things that are oily. So you better not touch your face when you do those things.

Cosmetic products can also cause oily skin. It makes your skin not able to breathe properly. It is advisable to use less of those or if you can, totally abstain from using cosmetic products. Allow your skin to breath and allow oxygen to make in contact with your skin as much as possible.

Those are some tips for keeping your skin not so oily. Follow the steps mentioned and you will see a more balanced and healthier skin.

Male Breast Enlargement Pills FAQ (Part One)

Breast Enlargement Pills is one of the most sought after male breast enlargement methods because popping pills is easy, and you can avoid embarrassing doctor visits and painful surgery. Let's explore some of the most frequently asked questions on male breast enlargement pills.

What is Breast Enlargement Pills?
Breast Enlargement Pill is an all-natural herbal dietary supplement that will help to increase breast size. Male breast augmentation pills come in two major forms: Herbal and hormonal.

What is Herbal Male Breast Enlargement Pills? Are they the same like what females are taking for natural breast enhancement?

It is the amount of Estrogen in a female or male body which determines the size of her or his breasts. Most of these pills contain Phytoestrogens which mimic the female hormone, Estrogen. males react to Phytoestrogens just as females do because the composition of breast tissue in males and females is similar.

What are the herbs found in Breast Enlargement Pills?
Most commonly used herbs includes Fenugreek Extract, Saw Palmetto, Fennel Seed, Mexican Wild Yam, Damiana.

How do Breast Enlargement Pills work for males?
The herbs used to make the pills are usually traditional botanicals that are specific to female reproductive functions and overall health and balance. The pills help to balance female hormones by causing the proper release of hormones naturally, which enhances and stimulates estrogen-sensitive breast tissue to produce new breast tissue growth. Thus, there will be an increase in breast size and improvement in breast health too.

Is it safe to take Breast Enlargement Pills?
Usually breast enlargement pills are made from all natural herbal dietary supplements containing absolutely no additives, fillers or lubricants. And no negative side effects have been reported so far. The FDA does not evaluate or test herbal products, however it is always good to make sure all of the ingredients in the pills are listed on the FDA's GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) list.

Does Breast Enlargement Pill really work to enlarge one breast?
Well, Yes and No. Different brands of Breast Enlargement Pills consist of different ingredients. The key is what are the ingredients used, and how are they combined in the right quantity to give the synergistic effect. Of course, the most logical way is to choose Breast Enlargement Pills that have the most ingredients and backed with money back guarantee. The best is they offer a full 100% Lifetime Money Back, so that you can take your time to see and evaluate the results. Most importantly, you should follow the dosage recommended by the company, and give yourself at least 3 months to see results.

What are the side effects of taking Breast Enlargement Pills?
There are no known negative side effects. Of course, as with any dietary supplement, men with special medical conditions are encouraged to consult with their physician before use. Apart from larger, more feminine breasts, pills may induce these feminizing physical changes like softer feminine skin, lesser amount of body hair, rounder hips, etc.

How Women Need To Eat To Help Balance Their Hormones Through Perimenopause And Menopause

Clearly, we know women are different from men - but when it comes to their health just how different? From menstruation to menopause and beyond, women are presented with a very unique health experience. Whether its pregnancy, PMS, fatigue or osteoporosis often hormones are involved in a big way. We now know that heart disease is a bigger concern for women than we thought especially in the postmenopausal years due to the decrease in estrogen levels. Osteoporosis as well as elevated cholesterol also becomes an issue for many during these years.

Usually a discussion of women's hormones is often only about estrogen and progesterone. What about the other hormones? Today women's fast paced lives have led to an overabundance of Adrenal burn-out which is often the reason so many women are exhausted these days. Insulin resistance is also on the rise with high starch and sugar foods being over consumed or worse yet - meals being missed - causing often dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance and adrenal stress levels can be determined through blood and salivary testing (for adrenals). Also, I often recommend women have their thyroid levels checked as well as that can also contribute to fatigue and weight gain. For adrenal support B-complex vitamins and adrenal support herbs like ginseng, ashwanganda are often recommended. For insulin resistance supplements like alpha lipoic acid, chromium as well as fish oil are often part of the protocol I recommend.

Women experience monthly and often daily hormonal cycles often affecting moods, weight and even brain chemistry. For example, serotonin - the "calming" brain chemical responsible for sleep, mood and pain sensitivity - is lower in women than men. Without sufficient amounts of serotonin women often crave carbohydrates causing weight gain and a rise blood sugar. A healthier solution is adding quality proteins and good fats to the diet to help raise serotonin.

Having worked with mostly with women throughout my career, I have noticed the two areas of greatest concern are: weight and fatigue. However, with more and more of the population entering peri-menopause and menopause other additional issues seem to crop up - like sleep disorders, hot flashes and bone loss. Symptoms can be greatly helped if the health and dietary recommendations listed below are adopted. Often misunderstood and yet touted on a daily basis is the notion that all foods should be evaluated on how many calories they contain versus the quality of the food itself. Our state of health and, subsequently our weight, is greatly dependent on the vitality of the food - the more vital and fresh a food is the more vital a person will be.

A woman's health is also dependent on having a healthy digestive tract. Constipation, bloat, heartburn and gas and even yeast infections indicate an unhealthy gastrointestinal tract. An unhealthy digestive tract will not perform correctly and weight imbalances, fatigue and other symptoms are often the result. Food allergies also constitute a burden on our digestive and immune systems often causing weight gain as well. One health regimen that I have become a big proponent of is a yearly detoxification program. To clarify, a proper detoxification program includes more than just colon cleansing it also focuses on the liver's detoxifying function. This process rids the body of an accumulation of toxins helping restore one's vitality.

Starting with a good diet is crucial when dealing with women's symptoms. Not just "a vegetable" per meal but many vegetables throughout the day at every meal if possible. Vegetables are chocked full of essential vitamins and minerals important for optimal health. Laboratory and clinical dietary assessment also shows that women are often deficient in protein. Quality protein like vegetables should be consumed at every meal.

A Good Balanced Diet should include the following Food Groups:

- Quality proteins - meat, fish, eggs, chicken, turkey

- Healthy fats - olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocados, nuts and seeds

- Non-starchy vegetables - broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, etc

- Fruit - all

- Starches - these foods should be limited, they include the following:

- starchy vegetables like corn, potato, squash, etc

- beans - garbanzo, kidney, black beans, etc

- complex whole grains - rye, quinoa, brown rice, etc

Eating is an important shared human experience and many women are not eating well. Often racing out while eating their breakfast or missing it altogether or munching their lunch while frantically multitasking? Not only do these habits stress out a women's already burn-out system but it can strongly affect how the food is processed and utilized. Are possible food allergens being created because the food is not properly digested? As a woman matures she can no longer get away with many of these "non nurturing habits". As part of my ongoing wellness coaching - I often recommend the "Do-Less-Program" where women make shorter "To Do" lists and learn how to take care of themselves first.

The specific health and dietary guidelines I recommend for women are as follows:

o Eat 5 meals per day - 3 meals and 2 snacks. Eating every 3-4 hours is best.

o Always eat proteins with carbohydrates and vise versa - do not eat either alone. Proteins alone will stress your adrenal glands and eating carbohydrates alone could prove problematic for blood sugar/insulin balance.

o Protein portions are usually determined based on body weight however on average, I would recommend between 2-5 ounces per meal and 1-3ounces per snack.

o Adequate amounts of pure filtered water - you should be drinking ½ your body weight in water (ie 150 lb. woman should drink 75 oz of water per day) - this helps to cleanse your body, improve elimination and improve hydration of the skin.

o Sleep Maintenance - it is important to have at least 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep - this helps bring a woman's overworked adrenal glands in order.

o Stress Management -again essential for maintaining proper hormonal balance - whether it is deep breathing, massage or various supplements - learning to relax is vital.

o Healthy Exercise - adaptive and stretching versus excessive aerobic exercise will have beneficial effects on a woman's hormones - especially the "tired" adrenals glands

o High Quality Supplements -it is very important to get the best quality supplements available. When using products with oils in them - like fish oil, CoQ 10, Vitamin E - it is so very crucial to get the best quality. Oils are vulnerable and can easily become rancid during and prior to processing

© 2007

What Are the Pros and Cons of the IUD?

To many women the IUD seems like the best alternative for birth control but not everything is easy street with this method. To decide if you want to use an IUD you should take a moment and consider the pros and cons of it. It is, of course, important to also discuss this with your doctor but this pro and con list should give you an idea of what the IUD is about. Let's start with the pros...

Pros of using an IUD
With an IUD you never have to worry about missing a birth control pill. The IUD is always in place and you will soon even forget that it is there. Whether you choose the copper IUD or hormone IUD, it will be a very convenient birth control in that you never need to think about it.

You can use the IUD for many years. It is enough to make yearly check ups just to make sure that it is in place but many women only switch IUD after 5 years of use. If you need birth control for more time than a year then this is a great option.

If you are sensitive to hormones you can use the copper IUD which doesn't influence your body the way birth control pills would. Also the hormonal IUD has a mild effect since it works locally.

Cons of using an IUD
Inserting an IUD can be very painful if you never gave birth. This is enough for some women to forget about this birth control method till after their first baby. You should also know that it is important to let an experienced physician insert the device or you might experience pain and discomfort.

With the copper IUD you should count on a year of heavy periods. The periods can be so heavy that you will experience fatigue and a loss of iron as a result of them. Prepare for this by stocking up on vitamins and by having the right amount of pads and tampons at home in time for your period!

The IUD can cause cramps throughout the month. This is a very individual thing and some women don't feel these cramps at all.

What Are The Causes Of Acne? - Acne Facts

Acne is a very common dermatological condition which can be quite disfiguring and have longer-term effects. It tends to affect adolescent people but is by no means limited to them. What are the causes of acne? Find the answers in our report, learn about the underlying causes and read about some acne myths that we debunk, too.

A Dermatological Disaster

The basis for an acne outbreak lies in the blockage of hair follicles in the skin. The follicles and associated sebaceous glands normally produce a natural protein called keratin. They also shed dead skin cells from the follicle lining, and a natural oil called sebum. In acne, keratin and sebum are produced to excess. The follicles become blocked by keratin, sebum and dead skin cells. The blockages lead to the symptoms of acne.

Once the follicles (or pores) get blocked, a specific bacterium called Propionibacterium which is normally harmless infects the blocked ducts. The result is inflammation and damage to the skin and underlying tissue. The bacterium (usually abbreviated to P. acnes) is anaerobic. This means that it does not use oxygen to survive. In fact, it does best in the absence of oxygen so it's perfectly adapted to cause maximum trouble in blocked pores.

It's All In Your Hormones

Both genetic factors and the body's hormones are key issues when considering what are the causes of acne. The rate of keratin production is linked to genetic factors. This is why acne has significant genetic dependency. In other words, it tends to run in families. Due to the presence of male hormones called androgens, the rate of sebum production increases in puberty. The male sex hormones cause enlargement of the sebaceous glands and increase the rate of sebum production.

The effect on the skin's pores varies. They may be blocked, become enlarged and appear as blackheads, papules, pustules and so on. Some may become closed pockets of dead skin cells, these are a very common dermatological feature known as milia and are not limited to acne. In girls and women, hormonal changes linked to menstruation may also contribute to the likelihood of an acne outbreak.

Just for the record, the androgens that are associated with acne are testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). There's another similar cause which does not arise naturally - steroids. The use of anabolic steroids can lead to acne as they have a very similar effect to naturally occurring androgens.

Although acne is frequently seen in adolescence and early adult life, it may break out later in life too. What are the causes of acne later on in life? Hormone activity naturally increases during pregnancy and as a consequence, pregnant women are disposed to suffering acne outbreaks. During the menopause, there is progressive reduction in the production of the female hormone estradiol, and acne is sometimes seen at this time as a result.

Other Causes Of Acne

There may be a relationship between stress and acne. Opinions do vary, but it is commonly proposed that an increase of stress may provoke or worsen an acne outbreak. The causality is still disputed. Although there is a likely correlation between stress and acne, it is not clear if the stress results from the challenges of enduring acne, or the other way round.

What are the causes of acne that we might be able to deal with ourselves? Perhaps we could avoid acne by making changes to our diet. There is good evidence that a high GL diet tends to make acne worse. GL is glycemic load, it expresses how much carbohydrate is present in the food and its effect on the levels of glucose in the blood. High GL food tends to cause large peaks in blood glucose levels which may in turn worsen the severity of acne, amongst other undesirable effects.

There is no evidence in favour of various popular myths, for example it is untrue that consuming products like chocolate gives rise to acne or makes it more severe.

Hormones and the State of Mind

We all know that hormones play an important part in our state of mind but it's not something that is much talked about in the self-improvement world. The reason for that is probably due to the fact that the hormonal factor could easily be used as an excuse in a variety of situations to justify a lack of performance.

That's not a good enough reason to stay in the dark about the influence of the hormonal system on our state of mind and overall productivity. People of goodwill don't look for excuses and will use any pertinent information to increase their level of effectiveness.

You don't have to be an endocrinologist to understand that strong emotions will illicit and immediate and powerful response from the glandular system, which in turn will affect the overall body chemistry or physiology. This can easily be seen in the cases of anger, frustration, fear and many other emotions.

The effects of hormonal release due to emotion is immediate and can last for considerable time thus maintaining the corresponding state of mind strong and active. That is the reason why it is so hard to eliminate certain unwanted emotions rapidly.

That phenomenon can easily be seen when you're trying to change the mood of a child who is angry or resentful for no good reason. You will make faces or tell jokes to distract the child and he'll break out laughing for a few instants only to revert to the initial state with fury. At the moment, he's not happy and will resent any efforts to make him feel better.

That is due to the hormonal influences on the brain. When we don't feel good, we don't even want to feel good and any effort by other to make us feel good will only make matters worse.

When faced with such a situation, there are two possible course of action available. We can either let nature follow its course and wait for the hormonal response to wear out or we can perform what is called a "pattern interrupt."

A pattern interrupt is a process that demands an immediate, conscious and active reactive participation. In other words, we need to get totally involved and focused on an entirely different subject.

As an example, there are days when I don't get off on the right side of the bed or when my mood is not all that it should be. When that happens, all that I have to do is go to the gym and get involved in a serious workout and very soon the negative mood changes and I'm back on the right track again.

Pattern interrupts don't have to involve physical activities. It can also be done on the mental plane. What needs to be done is to get involved in something that requires attention and concentration. It can be done through some kind of problem solving, by getting involved in an interesting discussion or even in playing some interesting game.

What is important to remember here is the fact strong emotions provoke a glandular and hormonal reaction that prolongs the unwanted emotion longer than necessary. Not only does it prolong the emotion but also it makes it difficult for us to even try to change that emotion.

When that happens, we are not powerless but we can do something about it. We can provoke a pattern interrupt and change the way that we feel in a matter of minutes. Doing so gives us a wonderful sense of self-mastery, self-control and ultimately self-esteem.

Telomeres, Hormones and Aging

Telomere length gives us a unique view of how your cells are aging. Knowing this can help you decide how aggressive your anti-aging program should be.

Telomeres are sections of genetic material at the end of each chromosome whose primary function is to prevent chromosomal "fraying" when a cell replicates. Think of the plastic tip of shoelaces, protecting the shoelace. Telomeres protect chromosomes in the same way. As a cell ages, its telomeres become shorter. Eventually, the telomeres become too short to allow cell replication, the cell stops dividing and will ultimately die - a normal biological process.

Telomere testing measures the 'biological age' of your cells. It is one of the newest advancements in age management and anti-aging. It's a simple blood test. Telomere testing determines the length of a person's telomeres in relation to their age.

Evaluation of telomere length is an indicator of how rapidly one ages relative to a normal population. Therapies directed at slowing the loss of telomere length may slow aging and age-related diseases. Therefore it has a role in any anti-aging/age management program.

Hormones and Telomere Length

Scientists have found that telomerase, the enzyme that repairs and regulates telomeres, is controlled and activated by hormones. Therefore, in order to keep ourselves healthy and with a high quality of life, I believe we must maintain all our hormones at optimal levels. Letting those hormones drop is to let the telomeres get short. When telomeres get short, cells age. Aging causes disease, and death follows. Studies show that optimal levels of the hormones testosterone and estrogen levels help preserve telomere length.

Optimal Human Growth Hormone (HGH) levels are also associated with telomere length. A 2009 study published by The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism looked at 2744 men and found that telomere length was positively associated with serum IGF-1 levels. IGF-1 is the indirect measurement of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) in the body. This positive association is reassuring to me when it comes to optimizing HGH levels.

Nutrition and Telomere Length

An inflammatory diet, or one that increases oxidative stress, will shorten telomeres faster. This includes refined carbohydrates, fast foods, processed foods, sodas, artificial sweeteners, trans fats and saturated fats. A diet with a large amount and variety of antioxidants that improves oxidative defense and reduces oxidative stress will slow telomere shortening. Consumption of 10 servings of fresh and relatively uncooked fruits and vegetables, mixed fiber, monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, cold water fish, and high quality vegetable proteins will help preserve telomere length.

Lifestyle and Telomere Length

One should achieve ideal body weight and body composition with low body fat (less than 22 % for women and less than 16 % for men). Decreasing visceral fat is very important. Regular targeted aerobic and resistance exercise, using burst training to optimize human growth hormone release, sleeping for at least 8 hours per night to optimize hormones, stress reduction to optimize cortisol, and discontinuation of all tobacco products are strongly recommended.

Nutritional Supplements and Telomere Length

Oxidative stress will shorten telomere length and cause aging in cellular tissue. Antioxidant supplements can potentially reduce oxidative stress very effectively, which will ultimately improve oxidative defenses, mitochondrial function, reduce inflammation and slow vascular aging. Targeted supplementation is key, as antioxidants work synergistically and must be balanced to work most effectively and avoid inducing a pro-oxidant effect. My favorite antioxidants are Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Melatonin, and Marine Krill Oil.

When Should Testing Be Considered?

I recommend testing once per year to evaluate the rate of aging and make adjustments in hormonal optimization, nutrition, nutritional supplements, weight management, exercise and other lifestyle modifications known to influence telomere length.