Archive for: supplements
Men — This Flower May Be Lowering Your Testosterone
Men — there’s an unseen danger that may be preying on your manhood and you’re not even aware of it.
In fact, it may be hiding in common products you use every day , such as shampoos, soaps, lotions, and massage oils.
It’s even been used as an aromatherapy oil to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, and headaches.
It’s lavender… and it may be robbing you of your mojo!
Lavender And Testosterone -
A Bad Combination?
Sure it smells nice. But recent studies have shown that topical use of lavender oil may have an adverse effect on the testosterone levels of men and even lead to low testosterone syndrome. A 2007 study reported on in the “New England Journal Of Medicine” uncovered the negative effects of lavender oil as an endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors are compounds that interfere with the normal production and management of your body’s hormones, including the male hormone, testosterone, and the female hormone, estrogen. Specifically, the study found that lavender oil decreased testosterone and increased estrogen in men — a real threat to men who could develop female-like attributes like what’s often called “man-boobs” or “moobs”
Skin Savvy, Part II
Saturday finally felt like summer here in Maine so we made the most of the day from an early morning walk, to a round of golf and then two hour bike ride. A day outdoors is great for the body and the mind but it can take its toll on the skin. Fortunately, we remained skin savvy by wearing UPF clothing, hats and kept the sunscreen handy. Another great way to save your skin this summer is to protect it from the inside out. Some of the best summer foods also happen to be great skin savers.
A Salute to Support
Each year, it is estimated that the military discharges nearly 300,000 Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard members. For those of us who have been in the military or are members of military families, the transition to the civilian word can be challenging. My husband, Mark, worked tirelessly to develop an initiative here in Maine called the High Tech Patriot Program (HTPP) helping guardsmen and women attain high tech jobs. It was a win-win for the employer and the military member. Here are some of my other favorite organizations that may provide support to you and your family.
Five Not-So Forbidden Foods
Although I’m fascinated with ancient history and artifacts — I could totally be Indiana Jones, whip and all — I’m not a huge fan of museums. Everywhere you go, there are signs saying “Do Not Touch.” Truthfully, doesn’t it make you want to touch everything that much more? The same may be true when it comes to off-limits food. The more forbidden it is, the more we want it, right? If you’ve hung in there with me all month through the litany of what-not-to-eat’s for weight loss, you may be wondering if there is anything left to eat! The good news is there are some fun foods you can enjoy this summer guilt-free.
Beach Buff, Part II
Now that I’ve conquered the mini scooter world, I’m upgrading this summer to a Vespa (thanks Mom!). For an Italian girl, it just doesn’t get any better than that! Because it has more power than my little Bajaj, I had to go to scooter school — otherwise known as a mandatory motorcycle safety course. Of course, with more power comes more responsibility so I’m going to have to learn how to handle my classic Italian dream machine from starting, accelerating, maneuvering, avoiding obstacles and stopping safely. If your desire is to upgrade to a better, more powerful body this summer, you’ll need to know the rules of the “ripped” road.
Beach Buff
Last summer my dad gave us a scooter he’d had in storage for quite a while. It’s a little bitty thing — think motorized bicycle versus high powered rocket — but man is it fun to ride. We did some basic maintenance on it over the weekend, checking tire pressure, replacing gear box fluid, etc.. You could tell it had been idle for years by the black, sticky fluid that drained off. Now it’s running like a champ. It is amazing what the right fuel will do for a simple engine to help it perform at its peak. If you’re looking for leaner abs and a carved physique this summer, maybe it’s time to give your muscles a tune up too.
Jump Start to Slim Down
Are you one of those perky morning people who wakes up refreshed and ready to take on the day with a smile on your face, a head full of ambition, and a can-do attitude? If you had met me several years ago, you would have agreed that I was the polar opposite: grumpy, crabby, sleepy, sneezy…my own little version of the seven dwarfs! My family and co-workers knew to keep their distance until I came to life, which was usually around 10am. If you make more enemies than friends in the morning, maybe it’s time to look at better ways to fuel your day which may lead to a sunnier disposition and a slimmer you.
Fat Burners
I’ve always been a fan of clever marketing — you know those commercials that get your attention with funny lines, edgy graphics or memorable characters? My favorite spot lately is the guy who goes around telling people to feed their lawns. The hook is that he’s got a really cool, thick Scottish accent that gets your attention when he says, “Feed you’re lawn, Feed et!” Now, instead of the mundane spring task of seeding and fertilizing your lawn, you feel like Braveheart rallying his troops to slay the enemy in an epic battle of grass versus dandelions. With that image in mind and summer weather on its way, maybe it’s time we “burn the fat…burn et!”
How Do I Look?
One of my favorite classic skits from Saturday Night Live was when comedian, Billy Crystal, played Fernando, a superficial and overtly sexual latin night club performer who greeted everyone with the phrase, “Dahling, you look mahvelous.” His character lived by a personal credo that it was always “better to look good than to feel good.” Maybe we all have a little Fernando in each of us with our desire to look good. While I don’t believe we are all vain and self-absorbed like Fernando, could it be that we put a bigger price tag on our outward appearance than our inner health? This month, let’s focus on ways to feel good from the inside out starting with our body composition.
The A’s of April: Are You Worth It?
I’ve been working on a number of home improvement projects lately. This weekend I tackled the kitchen, walk-in pantry and guest bathroom — Ugh! What astonished me in cleaning out cabinets was all of the stuff I’ve accumulated from wedding gifts, to inherited treasures, to just plain junk. The hardest part of de-cluttering for me is letting go of things. It is a family characteristic to keep things if they pass two basic tests: could it be worth money or will I potentially need it someday. Forget the fact that just a minute ago I didn’t even know I owned it! Maybe you’re guilty of the same behavior especially when it comes to your health. You may not know what your health is worth until you lose it. As we close out April, let’s do some spring cleaning of our own and find out what your health is worth, now and later.
The Best Bodybuilding Supplements to Build Muscle When You Sleep
You do not build muscle while you are exercising in a fitness center. The body builds muscle soon after you workout once it can get over your workout routines, using power and size in order to deal with the additional intensity. Typically the ideal time the body has for the purpose of recovery as well as muscle development is actually as you sleep. Using the best bodybuilding supplements at night will certainly actually assist you to develop more muscle whilst you sleep.
The A’s of April: Attitude
Tysen Ober is a 23 year old soldier who recently returned from an overseas deployment to Kuwait. With no job, no school, and no relationship awaiting his return, Tysen knew this was his moment to do something big. And boy is it big! Tysen will be running 3,500 miles from California to Maine to raise money for wounded warriors. His hope is to inspire others to “get out, get active and get involved in giving back to this country.” His drive and vision inspired me to talk about how far we can all go with the right attitude (see the bottom of this article for ways to support Tysen’s quest).
The A’s of April: Apples
It must be a right of passage for most kids, watching classic Disney films like Cinderella, Snow White, Dumbo, and Pinocchio, just to name a few. In true Disney form, there is always a hero or heroine who must overcome his or her fears to defeat the evil witch, monster or various inanimate objects brought to life by overzealous animators. To this day I can’t tell you everything that happened in those movies as my view was inevitably obstructed by the clever hands-over-eyes technique employed whenever something scary was about to happen like the Evil Queen who tempts innocent Snow White to bite into a poisonous apple. “This is no ordinary apple. It’s a magic wishing apple,” says the queen, enticingly. Fortunately, for us, our apple crunching outcome is far more positive. As apple trees begin to blossom, check out the amazing health benefits of apples.
The A’s of April: Acupuncture
With four rambunctious children in the house, my parents always found creative ways to burn off our endless energy/wear us down in the evening. One of my favorite memories was going to the old fashioned drive-in movie theatre in town possibly because it was the only time we were allowed to dress in our pajamas in public! We cuddled under blankets and watched The Jungle Book. Big old Baloo was my favorite character, a lumbering bear who didn’t have a care in the world and yet was full of wisdom for a wide-eyed jungle boy named Mowgli. One thing for sure about Baloo was his ability to enjoy the “simple bare necessities of life” from back scratches on the bark of a tree to picking “a pawpaw or a prickly pear.” Maybe Baloo was onto something - the right prick can be painless and may just heal what ails you…”You better believe it baby.”
The A’s of April: Aromatherapy
In desperate need of a warm up, we ventured down to sunny Florida last week. Mark’s parents have a lovely home there and it has become our winter respite. Our daily routine includes tennis, golf and a swim in the pool which includes a walk by the neighbors Gardenia bush — my favorite flower. In fact, Gardenias were the centerpiece of my high school prom bouquet. While other girls had corsages, my date went all out with a bridal like bouquet that he insisted I carry it all evening. Okay, awkward! Even though the details of the dance have faded, I am amazed at the power of scent to trigger memories. It’s no wonder aromatherapy has become such a beneficial tool in our wellness arsenal. What better way to celebrate the bloom of spring than with the power of the flower.
The A’s of April: Alzheimer’s
Did you ever read the book, Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling? It was my favorite book growing up. Every summer I would lose myself in the mishaps and adventures of young Harvey, a spoiled rich kid lost at sea after falling off a luxury ship. Hoisted aboard a fishing vessel, he begrudgingly matured through discipline, responsibility and self-reliance. Little did I know that Harvey was based on a real person, Arthur Parker, and the two authentic fishing vessels, the We’re Here and the So Are We. It turns out the ships and many of their crew were my husband’s ancestors, go figure! Mark can date his American heritage back to the 1500’s. Knowing your roots isn’t just entertaining, it’s also vital to your health especially when it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
The A’s of April: ADHD
I’ve always had a pretty wild imagination so it was no surprise when my mom enrolled me and my sister in an after school program called “Peter Pan Players.” We were encouraged to channel our energy, both physical and mental, into interactive games. One time, we were asked to close our eyes and share what we envisioned. I described, in exhaustive detail, a horse drawn carriage gliding through a snow kissed forest with sleigh bells ringing out a haunting melody…ever sight and sound imaginable until the teacher finally had to stop me. When she got to my sister and asked what she saw, Marie frankly stated, “I can’t see anything, my eyes are closed!” It was obvious that we were wired very differently. How about you? Let’s delve a little deeper to learn more about our brains and behavior.
The A’s of April: Asthma
Learning to fish is a rite of passage for most kids, boys and girls alike. I remember catching my first fish on Kelly’s Island in Ohio while on our annual summer camping trip with family and friends. My elation turned to terror when I watched my poor little prize gasp for breath while it flopped around the bottom of the boat. With my arms flailing and my fish’s fins flapping, I managed to release the hook and return him to the water. Apparently, fishing was not my calling. It did, however, teach me good lessons in patience, coordination, boating and even a bit about biology. There are very few things that panic both fish and people more than the inability to catch our breath. As we continue our A’s of April series, let’s look at how we can improve our odds against asthma.
The A’s of April: Allergies
Like most military families, I moved a lot as a kid. By the time I was in 3rd grade, I had lived in 6 different houses. Fortunately, the last house my parents bought was on a beautiful lake in the midwest. It was an idyllic place to grow up and a great opportunity for a budding entrepreneur. Since we lived on the outskirts of town, it was easier to find odd jobs around the neighborhood. My neighbor, Uncle Art (his preferred nickname versus addressing him as “Mr.”), had a rolling 3 acre lot that required meticulous attention. It was my job to mow, trim and rake it several times a month for the generous compensation of $25 per day. To a teenager, cash was king, however, to an allergy sufferer it was a brutal endeavor. Now that I mow my own lawn, I’m thrilled to report that I can do it allergy symptom free. If your allergies bloom along with the spring flowers, relief may be in sight.
The Buzz
We have a large family especially on my mom’s side so visits to my grandparents focused around the kitchen table with laughter, stories and lots of food. As a kid, the traditional Lebanese dishes like tabbouleh and kebbeh were tough on my taste buds. Thankfully, my uncle Mitch rescued me with his favorite snack — a peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich! Let’s see what health benefits are buzzing around honey.
