05/10/2012 In Skin Nutrition by bien-être

Ahhh plastic. We live in a plastic coated world. Toys, furniture, storage containers, electronics, food packaging, even surgical supplies can be and are frequently made of plastic. What’s wrong with this? Well, if we are bombarded by a substance that leaches hormone disrupting chemicals…lots. So, should we all flee our homes and go live in the woods Swiss family Robinson style? Mmm that does sound fun, but it’s probably not the answer to this growing problem. We may not be able to avoid plastic entirely, but it is possible to limit our exposure, especially in items that we ingest.

Back in 2009, US News blogged about the hormone disrupting chemicals that leach from plastic water bottles. While, sadly, all drinking water has some amount of hormone disrupting chemicals (from birth control and medications that flow into our water system and aren’t filtered,) the water tested from plastic containers had more than twice the amount! Knowing that these thin plastic bottles aren’t even cooled completely before being filled with H2O is even more reason to cut them out. When plastic is heated, leaching occurs at a faster rate.

But, plastic isn’t just found in water bottles, now is it? Most food and beverage items can be found in plastic. So, everyone should just switch to canned foods and drinks, right?
Maybe not… studies show that most cans used in canned foods like beans, vegetables, pasta, sauces, soups, sodas, and even infant formula…have a thin plastic lining inside the can. Ugghh!You just can’t win!

Speaking of infants...why are so many baby toys made of plastic? If you’ve ever seen a baby with anything in his or her hands, where does it do immediately after? Yep, the mouth. When did wood and rubber get the axe? There are wonderful companies still making natural baby toys, so it may be a good idea to keep it “old school” in this department.

Bottom line: choose your products wisely. What goes into your mouth (or your baby’s mouth) should be plastic free whenever possible. We are back to the “whole foods” method. Eat whole foods, and learn to cook (or have someone do it for you.) Eat convenience foods only when necessary, and purchase brands that do not use plastic. It’s impossible to avoid plastic entirely, but it can be quite easy to limit plastic where it counts.

Here are some easy tips to help you limit plastic leaching:

Invest in a glass or metal water canteen and refill with purified water.

Choose canned goods wisely. These articles here and here list some great brands that do not use plastic lining in their canned goods (and several of them can be found at Trader Joe’s!)

Purchase food fresh or in glass containers whenever possible.

Never microwave food or drinks in plastic containers.

Switch to glass food storage containers. We have these from amazon and love them!

If you have and infant or toddler, purchase wooden toys instead of plastic – especially when used for teething.

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05/01/2012 In Skin Nutrition by bien-être

I LOVE smoothies for breakfast, and as the months grow warmer, I love them even more. Smoothies make it ways to eat (drink) breakfast while getting ready for the day and checking emails. They’re a great way to pack in protein, antioxidants, vitamins and fiber first thing in the morning. The digestive system isn’t fully awake in the morning, so smoothies are a great alternative to heavy or carb-laden meals. I always have frozen organic berries on hand, but when I came across some extra blackberries, I had to invent a new recipe.

Black and Blue Coconut Smoothie

handful of frozen organic blackberries
handful of frozen organic blueberries
½ cup coconut milk (store bought, or better yet – make your own*)
1 scoop protein powder of choice (I like Clearvite and Warrior Food)
½ cup purified water

*You can make your own coconut milk with a young Thai coconut (available at most health food stores.) Here’s a great tutorial on opening a young Thai coconut, and an easy step by step recipe for making your own coconut milk!

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04/30/2012 In At Home Spa, Skin Nutrition by bien-être

Coffee may have caffeine and some beneficial properties, but it aint got NOTHIN’ on herbal tea! Every time you drink herbal tea, you are providing your body with skin-beautifying nutrients like vitamin C, antioxidants, gentle detoxifiers and anti-inflammatories. There are so many wonderful varieties to try, but my personal favorites are rooibos (powerful antioxidant protection,) Moroccan mint (peppermint is cooling, aids digestions and calms inflammation,) and chamomile tea (great for bedtime as its very calming and a de-stresser.)

Best Health Magazine agrees – I stumbled across this great little article on the benefits of herbal tea, and wanted to share it with you. I would add a couple more to this list: raspberry leaf and licorice root. Raspberry leaf tea supports the female reproductive system. Whether or not you are planning a family, supporting the health of these important organs is always a good idea. It’s also known to ease menstrual pain and help improve mood when hormones have gone a little wacky. Licorice root falls in the same category as dandelion and milk thistle in that it aids in gentle detoxification of the liver. It’s a great choice if you are doing a spring cleanse or if you’ve overindulged over the weekend.

I love coffee just as much as many of you, but have found that limiting myself to one small cup a day gives me just as much benefit as downing a venti latte (after a while, it’s just overkill) and adding in herbal tea throughout the day gives me a break from water but also gives me lots of extra benefits. Try it out, you may just get hooked!

Extra credit: Here’s even more information on the skin benefits of herbal tea.

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04/18/2012 In Skin Conditions, Skin Nutrition by bien-être

Everyone has candida. Certain levels of this fungus are considered healthy, as it keeps other harmful bacteria and fungus at bay. However, when candida becomes overgrown and out of control, it starts to wreak havoc on the intestines and digestive tract, moving from the gut to the bloodstream and then to the mouth, skin and nails. Candida overgrowth is a very common problem and often times shows up on the skin in the form of eczema, acne, rosacea, rashes, and athlete’s foot. I’ve mentioned candida overgrowth before, and it’s no joke!

One of the biggest culprits for candida overgrowth is frequent use of antibiotics.

The reason that antibiotics cause so many problems is they kill the healthy bacteria in our gut, and our healthy bacteria are needed to protect us from many problems. Once you’ve destroyed your healthy bacteria with antibiotics, numerous problems can take hold. The most common problem to take hold is candida overgrowth, and candida overgrowth can be at the root of numerous health conditions. -Natural News

We live in a time where antibiotics are a favorite go to for many different ailments, which means that they are often over-prescribed. I find this ironic that while antibiotics are often prescribed for acne, they are often the cause of candida overgrowth. No wonder many clients see a resurgence of these skin conditions some time after completing treatment. In some cases, antibiotics fail to clear the acne and can make matters worse indirectly down the road.

Sugar feeds candida in the gut, so anytime we indulge in a sweet treat or eat refined grains or citrus fruits we are feeding our candida…ew. Too much sugar or processed foods in the diet can both trigger candida overgrowth and continue to feed it, making it worse. Sugar is NO BUENO for your skin anyway – and I suggest avoiding it whenever possible. Sugar increases inflammation and feeds candida – these are two things you do not want more of if you are working to improve the condition and health of your skin.

For acne sufferers, I highly recommend testing for candida overgrowth. If you choose not to test for candida, you can eliminate ALL sugars from your diet and take a good quality probiotic daily to see if the acne clears. For extreme candida cases, additional supplementation may be needed to get rid of the excess yeast. This is especially important for those who’ve used antibiotics to treat their acne. There are natural remedies worthy of a try before yielding to antibiotics for acne. I really like Osmosis Skincare, LED Therapy, Grapefruit seed extract, and the anti-candida diet (or anti-inflammatory diet.) For more information on any of these treatments, contact bien-etre spa!

If you must go on antibiotics, make sure you follow them up with a really good probiotic. It’s my professional belief that for acne, antibiotics are not the cure all – although many dermatologists will suggest they are.

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04/09/2012 In Skin Care 101, Skin Nutrition by bien-être

Have you ever looked at the clock at 3pm and realized you haven’t left the computer, or eaten, since breakfast? How about the good ole sweet tooth that forces you to down a venti frappuccino or handful of peanut butter cups? This happens to a great many of us, and when it does – it wreaks havoc on our blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar level is the amount of sugar (glucose) preset in the blood at any given moment. Glucose is gathered from the food we eat and used as a source of energy for all body functions. The amount of sugar found in the food (or drinks) we consume is a huge factor in the amount of glucose it will provide for our bodies and the speed at which it goes into our bloodstream.

Everything we eat gets broken down through digestion and converted to glucose. The rate at which our food converts to glucose is determined by the amount of sugar in the food and how quickly it can be digested. Candy, for example, is almost pure sugar and will transfer glucose to the blood very very quickly without providing nutrition. Broccoli and fish convert to glucose much slower and provide the body with protein, vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health.

When your blood sugar level spikes or drops to frequently, it is out of balance. This triggers stress and cortisol production in our body and can disrupt healthy digestion, mood, and hormone levels. This stress shows up on the skin as breakouts, redness, uneven tone and dehydration. Over time, it can prevent the skin from properly healing and renewing itself as well and this can lead to premature aging or scarring. Bottom line: pay attention to your blood sugar level and keep it in balance.

People with diabetes suffer from chronic irregular blood sugar levels and need insulin to help maintain balance. However, you don’t have to be diabetic to be affected by a spike or dip in blood sugar level. Going long periods of time without eating, ingesting too many sugary or processed foods, or eating sugar or refined carbohydrates on an empty stomach can all trigger a spike or dip in blood sugar.

Keep Your Blood Sugar Level in Balance:

Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Eat every 3-4 hours except when sleeping (generally speaking, this translates to 3 meals and 2 snacks.) Need a good breakfast recipe? We LOVE this smoothie!

Upon waking in the morning, drink water before anything else (warm water with lemon works really well) to wake-up your digestive tract.

Make meals and snacks with foods that will be slowly transferred into glucose in the blood (stay away from refined grains and sugars and load up on veggies and lean protein.

Look at Fiber: fiber helps maintain energy levels and prevents a spike in blood sugar – look for it in natural whole foods like whole grains, vegetables, legumes, etc.

Limit or eliminate sugar ‘spikers’: soda, sports drinks, desserts, table sugar, and alcohol (this is ESPECIALLY important for those of you with skin imbalances you want to improve like acne, rosacea, scarring, hyper-pigmentation, and wrinkles)

*If you are eating carbohydrates or sugar, try pairing them with vegetables and protein (foods that are more slowly converted to glucose) in order to help slow the sugar spike in the blood.

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