Beauty is more than skin deep

The quest for the Fountain of Youth has been going on for centuries and it still seems to elude us most of the time. The whole purpose of SmartFem magazine is to protect, serve and educate women and only work with people and companies that operate with the highest integrity.  It delights me when I find strong, intelligent women who are passionate about what they do and who share their gifts with others.

Cherylanne DeVita is one of these women and she was kind enough to share her story. I, like many women I know, have an entire drawer full of skin creams and serums that claim to erase the hands of time.  I once spent as much as $150 for a wrinkle cream with “guaranteed results and proven clinical studies.” The only thing it erased was my bank account.  I am very skeptical when it comes to lotions and potions and so-called anti-aging products.  In addition to the products not working, or irritating the skin, several of them contain toxic ingredients.  Having had a near fatal bout with skin cancer I do know first-hand, that what you put on your skin definitely makes a difference.

Cherylanne created DeVita Natural Skincare, a vegan and Paraben free line of skincare and cosmetics for women.  She shared with me her story and pain of having to deal with cystic acne all of her life.  Cherylanne actually cured her own acne with a formula she made on her own.  (She is a master chemist, did I forget to mention that?).  Her own esthetician told her to keep doing what she was doing as the results were remarkable.  I really enjoyed my time with Cherylanne… so much that my interview ended up being three hours long.   I was impressed with Cherylanne’s passion and commitment to women and to the environment. All of her products are all-natural, 100% Paraben free, PETA Certified Vegan and despite the gorgeous Chanel-esque packages, they are all recycled and Earth friendly packaging.

I asked Cherylanne for a tip for women about how to know that they were getting a safe product and she said to read the label, the active ingredients are mentioned first and if you need a dictionary to know what the ingredient is… it probably is not natural and may not be safe.  Despite how progressive the US is, it is still about 30 years behind when it comes to regulating our cosmetics.  Most of our cosmetics would not be allowed to be sold in Europe or in Canada due to many of the toxic ingredients of our manufacturers.   Most people would be horrified if you knew what was in your mascara (bat excrement), another toxic ingredient still found in red lipstick is lead.  The list goes on, if you knew what ingredients companies use in baby products you would be outraged.

It is good to know that there are women who will go the extra mile and take on these big companies to make sure that people have safe and healthy alternatives.  It is for this reason I am so happy and honored to feature Cherylanne DeVita as our SmartFem Woman of the Month.

 

Where do those crazy dreams come from, and what do they mean?

Everyone has crazy dreams occasionally.

Maybe you’re the one who only gets them sporadically and laughs it off, or maybe you’re the person who gets them so often that you wonder what on Earth is causing them and how your brain can dream up ventures that would make Alice’s trip to Wonderland seem like a normal walk through the park or a visit to the grocery store.

If it’s the latter, you’re not alone. I’m that way, too. No matter what, most nights my dreams take a turn for the topsy turvy and I wake up questioning how on Earth my mind creates these situations during the dead of night after a perfectly normal day.

In fact, last night I dreamt I was taking a college psychology class taught by my cat, Glimmer, who then asked me to stay after class to discuss the possible switch from Friskies Picnic Crunch to Meow Mix—something about lifestyle changes and eating healthier.

There are a lot of different opinions on why people have super odd or vivid dreams. Some of the more common reasons you will hear are diet, emotional state, medication, pregnancy, or big life changes. But even if you’re completely healthy, not pregnant, and emotionally sound, if you don’t get these types of dreams often, you’ll still get them occasionally, just because you’re human. No one really knows why, and that’s because every culture or psychologist has a different opinion on why.

According to an eHow health article, “very strange dreams are products of the goings-on in the subconscious mind,” which can give us insight into our lives. Unfortunately, that insight apparently has to be in riddles. That is why some people see the need to use dream dictionaries, which give dream interpretations such as dreammoods.com or mydreamvisions.com, where you can interpret the symbols within your dreams. Considering dream interpretation began in ancient times around 3,000 B.C., according to dreammoods.com, it may be impossible to know the origin of why certain symbols are interpreted the way they are, but they’re pretty widely accepted.

Different cultures believe dreams have different purposes or meanings, and it’s changed over time. According to dreammoods.com, the Chinese used to believe that an individual’s soul left their body at night to visit a dreamland. People in ancient Egypt believed that if you were someone who had odd or vivid dreams, then you were blessed—special. The native Americans believed that dreams pointed you in the direction of your meaning in life—your roll—your fate.

Today, most people just believe we dream because that’s how it’s always been or they believe that our dreams have meanings—that our dreams are our subconscious speaking to us. And the opinions of researchers differ drastically.

Sigmund Freud, a psychologist who studied dreams, believed that dreams represented our unconscious desires, thoughts, and motivations. He believed they were our repressed dreams. And Carl Jung, a Swiss psychotherapist, believed that dreams are what we repress during our waking hours—that they provide messages about the parts of ourselves that we neglect in our every day lives. This About.com article gives some other top theories. 

According to a WebMD article, Tom Scammell, MD, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, says no one knows why we dream. “There is a strong movement in the research community to research how sleep improves memory and learning,” Scammell says. “One speculative possibility is that dreaming allows you the opportunity to practice things you may or may not ever have to do, like running away or fighting off a predator.”

So are the crazy dreams you’re having normal? Absolutely. What do they mean? Well, given the vastly different opinions of people around the world that have changed over the years and the fact that there is still no consensus whatsoever, it’s really up for you to decide if your dreams have meaning. But if it hits March and you keep having that dream that your Christmas tree is chasing you through an endless field of red ladders and talking daffodils, you should maybe look into that.

Former Arizona Cardinal Reveals His Method for Rejuvenation

What is a Naturopathic practice? In short, a Naturopathic practice treats the body as a whole, focuses on correcting symptoms as opposed to suppressing them by maintaining optimal health, sustaining immunity, alleviating pain and preventing diseases. John Bronson, former Arizona Cardinal, recently experienced the positive effects of treatments received from Chambers Clinic.

Bronson signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted rookie in 2005, unfortunately he suffered a knee injury in the season opener at the New York Giants and spent the remainder of the year on injured reserve. Since then, Bronson dabbled in various therapies to correct his injury and finally found his solutions through visits with Chambers Clinic where he received multiple IV therapy treatments as well as acupuncture.

“I initially contacted Chambers Clinic because I wanted to try a medical treatment that was natural since my previous treatments were not correcting my pain,” said Bronson.

The IV therapy treatments Bronson received included homeopathic medicines that were primarily used to decrease inflammation. IV therapy treatments are also effective as an immune-system booster in treating difficult chronic infections and also useful in managing disorders involving severe pain. It is a way of getting vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and other nutrients into your bloodstream, by means of an intravenous solution.

Dr. Keith Chambers, NMD and medical director says, “IV therapy treatments provide 50 to 100 more absorbable nutrients directly in your system than your body can absorb through oral supplements. Nutrients entirely bypass the digestive system and are a great way to “kick-start” the metabolism, getting rid of toxins and re-establishing the distribution and balance of nutrients within every cell.”

“Acupuncture helped reduce swelling in my knee after injury and IV therapies have helped boost my immune system quickly after and during sickness. I believe it even helps prevent sickness when I feel like I may be coming down with something,” says Bronson.

“As a business owner, I cannot afford to be sick for any length of time. Every time I receive acupuncture or get infused with a nutrient IV, I feel re-charged and rejuvenated and I am able to relax in a great atmosphere, while receiving treatments at Chambers Clinic,” said Bronson.

Naturopathic practices are able to achieve optimal health, sustain immunity, alleviate pain and preventing diseases by addressing the following concerns: Joint or muscle pain/stiffness, back pain, neck aches, hormone imbalances, obesity/weight loss, energy levels, chronic fatigue, menopause, andropause, gastrointestinal issues, smoking and poor circulation.

New Year, New You

Want younger looking, healthier skin?  Put your best face forward this New Year with a VI Peel.  The VI Peel is a medical grade chemical peel that produces dramatic results with little or no downtime in about one week.

Obsolete peels of the past epitomize the “No pain, no gain” approach to skin care.  Before the VI Peel the deeper the peel, the more painful, the more downtime, the better the results.  The VI Peel represents a new generation of peels and is the first peel to combine the strongest and most effective acids, yet its virtually painless with little downtime.

The VI Peel is a leader in treating stubborn skin conditions such as Acne and Melasma.

For anti aging, VI Peel reverses the effects of sun damage, environmental factors and time, to enhance your skins natural beauty.  The VI Peel will also stimulate collagen and elastin, thus firming the skin over time.

Therapeutic Massage as a Holiday Escape

In addition to general relaxation, stress relief and muscle relief, therapeutic massage is great for injury prevention and rehabilitation. Quoted from a regular therapeutic massage client, “I have had back problems for 7 long years now and am in pain all the time. The only relief I get is from my massage.  Feeling better has changed the quality of my life; that’s due to therapeutic massage.”

So not only is massage beneficial to your overall health and well-being, therapeutic massage awards you that good feeling, something we all definitely need during the holiday season.  You will not disappoint anyone by giving them the “Gift of Massage.”

Is your schedule filled with holiday parties, work deadlines, holiday shopping and visiting in-laws and family?  Are you stressed about what to get your sweetheart as a gift?

Look no further.  The gift of therapeutic massage should be at the top of your list for everyone.  There is an endless list of benefits to therapeutic massage.  Therapeutic massage not only relaxes tight muscles but also unblocks toxins and releases endorphins in your body to reduce stress, relieve pain, decrease anxiety and increase your happiness.  You and your sweetheart both need a massage?  Excite those released endorphins in a Couples Massage Room to give the two of you a chance to catch up on alone time, escape reality for an hour or two, and spark a romantic flame during this busy holiday season.  Therapeutic massage will improve a person’s mental and emotional state to become peaceful and subdued opposed to stressed, anxious and restless due to the holiday season.

Treat Yourself for the Holidays…You’re Worth It

I have always thought of massage as a super luxurious, indulgent treat to create a sense calm and relaxation – almost a mini-vacation. Feeling good is what we all strive for, and when day-to-day activities such as walking, sitting, driving cause pain and discomfort that feeling of relaxation is not possible.

For me the aches and pains started around the ripe old age of 50.  Prior to that, I had had periodic stiffness in my back, but nothing that a bit of rest wouldn’t heal.  Six months ago, out of the blue I began getting shooting pain from my hip down my leg, sometimes even to my foot. This usually happened when I was sitting in the car or at my desk for a pro-longed length of time. Taking over the counter pain medication helped, but only temporarily – the discomfort would always come back.

A friend suggested that I get a massage – a therapeutic massage, by a professional trained to relieve the pain I was experiencing.

Recently I had the opportunity to experience a true therapeutic massage at Elements. Their tag line, ‘Not All Massage is Created Equal’ is absolutely true! From the minute I entered the studio the atmosphere, ambiance, and energy brought me a sense of relief – knowing that I was in an environment of healing. After filling out paperwork, I was assigned a massage therapist who was specifically trained to work the area of my specific concern. I explained to her my ‘history’ of discomfort and she knew exactly what to do. Her deft hands worked wonders on each of the areas where the pain was coming from. She managed to release the tension and soften the tight muscles that were in part causing my problems.

Afterwards, not only did I feel relaxed, but also a sense of relief. I knew that my journey on the road to healing and feeling better had begun. I was in ‘good hands’ both figuratively and literally with Elements and realized that therapeutic massage was the answer to what ailed me. I then proceeded to book three more sessions and was told about the monthly massage club.  What better gift to give myself, than the gift of good health and well-being? Elements Massage is the gift that never stops giving – so treat yourself for the holidays, you’re worth it!

Health Risks Point Beyond Financial Accounts with ID Theft

Amidst all the heavy promotional advertising that creates fear about the threat of “financial” ID theft and fraud, it’s time to educate yourselves about the greater threats beyond your bank or credit union.  The 2012 FTC Consumer Sentinel Report statistics indicate that 74% of all ID theft and fraud occurs outside of the financial world.  One of the non-financial segments growing rapidly with ID theft and fraud is healthcare.

The bottom line is that individual medical records can be stolen or perhaps worse: manipulated by thieves who intend to use your identity to pay for their treatments.  The ultimate risk is the chance of mixing the medical data of the thieves with your own… thus potentially compromising the accuracy of your own medical records.

According to a 2012 report authored by the Ponemon Institute and the Health Information Trust Alliance,

• 94% of 80 health organizations that took part in a survey admitted to at least one data breach during the previous 24 months;
• 45% said they knew about at least five data breaches, compared to 29% in the previous report

Over half of all these health organizations also admitted that they had little or no confidence in their ability to detect breaches.

A recent on-line article about the growing number of data breaches in the healthcare industry points to the increasing use of technology as a source of significant concern.

So, while you may have great “credit monitoring” services in place, this won’t protect you when medical fraud invades your privacy.  It is time to consider the ways to protect yourself beyond your financial accounts.  SmartFem has found a top quality resource for protecting yourselves and your whole family.  Follow our promotion for ID Recovery Pros and learn more.

 

Are You Allergic to Your Gold Jewelry?

Have you ever looked down at your hand and noticed that your ring finger has black or green marks, or that you have developed a red rash underneath your ring?  Have you looked in the mirror and noticed a dark mark on your clothing where your pendant hangs?  If so, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the alloy mix in your gold jewelry.  People who prefer white gold jewelry often experience these problems due to a nickel mix that is used in commercially made jewelry.  Nickel provides a “bleaching” effect that occurs when mixed with 24 karat gold, resulting in a white color. This process then requires rhodium plating to protect the wearer from very common nickel allergies. Within months the thin plating will wear off, causing some people to experience an allergic reaction due to the nickel contact against the skin. To avoid this, the piece of jewelry would need to be rhodium plated every 6-12 months.  Fortunately, there are many different types of alloys that can be used for white gold.

Yellow gold jewelry can also cause similar problems due to chemical reactions caused by medications, vitamins or the use of detergents while wearing your jewelry.   Hand lotions and cleansers can accumulate under your ring and cause irritation or severe skin rash, something we jokingly call ‘lotionitis’.  Properly cleaning your jewelry at home or having it professionally cleaned can alleviate ‘lotionitis’. If you want to do a quick clean at home, soak your jewelry in dish washing detergent and warm water, then rinse it clean and pat dry with a soft cloth. Avoid brushing your jewelry with any kind of brush or abrasive material, as that can scratch the metal and can harm some gemstones. Silver will need to be cleaned with nonabrasive silver polish.

Oh…   There is one more jewelry allergy that is certainly worth mentioning!   A spouse can sometimes be allergic to shopping for jewelry.  The solution?  While at OPUS, take a moment to fill out a wish list for your spouse to see the next time they drop by!

 

Give Yourself the Gift of “Gut” Health

The holidays promote overeating, over-drinking, and even overspending. On the flip side, many of us are embarking on new habits and diets as we learn the importance of balancing our systems. Great health and vibrant energy start with a healthy digestive system.

The nutrients in your food provide both the energy that fuels your life, and the building blocks needed to continuously maintain your body in its peak condition for running holiday errands. The digestive system is where vitamins, nutrients and minerals are absorbed, hence the importance of having a healthy gut tract to get the correct nutrition. Conditions such as depression, cancer, and autoimmune conditions are all linked to imbalances of the gut tract.

The high sugar, low fiber diet that Americans have been adapting to over the past few decades spikes throughout the holidays; cookies, candy, pies, and fatty meats to name a few culprits. This type of diet makes it difficult for sustaining the healthy bacteria that live in our digestive tracts.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology there are 2.5 million Doctors’ visits per year in the U.S. and hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on laxatives.

A healthy digestive system is necessary to maximize the nourishment from the food you eat and can lead to a person’s better overall well-being. It’s your digestive system that extracts the nutrients from food, absorbs, and assimilates them into your body.

These healthy bacteria, known as probiotics, are necessary for us to live. Not only is it necessary to have enough probiotics, but also the balance of certain strains are necessary for good gut health.

“The American College of Gastroenterology also states the probiotics function to:

• - Boost your immune system by producing antibodies.
• - Produce substances that prevent infection.
• - Prevent harmful bacteria form attaching to the gut wall and growing there.
• - Inhibit or destroy toxins released by certain bacteria that can make you sick.
• - Produce B vitamins necessary for metabolizing the food you eat, warding off anemia caused by deficiencies in B-6 and B-12 and maintaining healthy skin and a healthy nervous system.”

About 70% of our entire immune system exists in the gut tract. People with compromised immune systems likely have an imbalance in the gut tract. The same is true for people with autoimmune diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Celiac’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Many doctors are making the connection that these conditions should not simply be treated by pharmaceuticals, but realize they need to take steps to repair the gut.

Just as destruction of the gut tract does not happen overnight, it may take up to 18 months to repair it. This is a complicated process and many different treatments working together help the process. Herbs, Orthomolecular medicine (nutrients), homeopathy, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy and of course probiotics can help reverse gut damage and restore it back to health. Be sure and seek the advice of a physician that is licensed in these medical conditions before starting any program.

Good, healthy digestion is crucial to provide you with great levels of energy and vitality, productivity and creativity. It will help ensure your longer-term prospects for lasting health and longevity. The better functionality your digestive system has, the better use your body can make of the nutrients in your food, thus, the healthier you will be. Remember, to avoid a dreadful winter ailment during the holidays, moderation is key. The better nutrients and vitamins you put in your body, and the less junk food, the more you will promote positive energy and thrive this holiday season.

Passion…Follow it!

True Story:

When I was a freshman in high school, I skipped my last class of the day to watch the boys’ swim team practice.  I spent hours and hours in the comfort of the humidity watching the strength and the power and sleekness of the male swimmer.  When I was a sophomore, I volunteered to become a “flasher” for the boys’ gymnastics team. This meant I sat at the judges table in posted the scores.  I was as close to the action as you could get. Gymnastics: the art of physical perfection.

My junior and senior years were spent as a student athletic trainer for the football team.  Every game I spent on the sidelines, and every afternoon, in the locker room taping ankles, nursing injuries, and cultivating a passion.

I never dated any of the guys on those teams!  I am quite certain none of them even noticed me.  I was madly in love with athletics, not the athletes, to be honest.

I went away to college and studied the human body.  The more I learned, the more I craved to learn.  To this day, I can’t get enough.  It does not really matter what sport, or at what level, it is about movement.  It is poetry and it is science.   There is no limit to human potential.

Everyday I hear excuses why someone can’t do something.  I have been the cheerleader, the coach, and the slave master, but it is the people out there “just doing it” that are the inspiration, really.  Everyday I see someone go beyond any expectation they started with.  Everyday I witness the transformation that happens from getting off the couch and moving.   The option is to grow old, and soft, and weak, and sad.

Thirty two years ago, a little 14 year old girl could not take her eyes off the swimmers.  Human movement captivates me to this day.  Follow your passion, see where it takes you!  For me, it has taken me to places that level the playing field and I think that’s what I love most.

 

It’s not about what you look like.  It’s not about what you have.  It’s not about who you know.  It’s about what you can do.  It’s about hard work, commitment, and understanding that discomfort is a part of the game sometimes.  The discomfort makes us tough, and strong, and enviable.  It’s about reaching potential.  Everyone gets to be a winner; all you have to do is get up.

 

Move, dear public, just move!

http://www.mindbodyunlimited.com/

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