What every woman should know about Breast Cancer

Over 13,000 Australian women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer every year.

We hear so much about Breast Cancer these days, but how do we know what is fact and what is fiction?

The National Breast Cancer Center have produced a free DVD to give women the facts about risk factors, the types of breast changes to look out for, and also dispels some of the myths and misconceptions about the disease. It addresses women’s most most frequently asked questions about breast cancer.

The video also provides advice to women of all ages about what they can do to find breast cancer early.You can watch the video online or order a copy from National Breast Cancer Centre.

New Tahitian Oil Treatment Gives Women Beautiful Hair

If you’re like most people, you probably love your hair the second you step out of the shower. It looks just like hair in TV commercials, where long, beautiful strands glisten in the morning light. Then, as it dries, reality sets in and that once-gorgeous hair quickly frizzes up into a frustrating mess.

The truth is that many hair care products aren’t worth their weight in salt, let alone powerful enough to inspire a transformation of supermodel proportions. To get the results you’re after—those long, luscious locks that glisten in the sunshine every morning—you’ve got to think of your hair care products like you think of your skin care products. Ask yourself this: “What’s in this that’s going to actually transform my hair into the hair I want?”

In the case of most products, the answer, sadly, is “nothing.”

But with Carol’s Daughter, the answer is actually pretty remarkable.

Carol’s Daughter is a hair care brand that’s been around for two decades. The company utilizes a unique and special ingredient that the Tahitian people have relied on for thousands of years for its hair-reparative capabilities. The ingredient is called Monoi Oil, and it's created in a sacred 13-day ritual by combining coconut oil and gardenia blossoms found only in Tahiti.

It may sound too good to be true, but this natural ingredient has actually been scientifically proven to work.

Studies have shown that Monoi Oil offers emollient, soothing and purifying effects on the skin, while also providing long-lasting hydration. According to scientists, the benefits of Monoi Oil are comparable, and in some cases superior, to those of Shea butter and jojoba oil. 

Even better? The products that contain this exclusive ingredient boast some pretty remarkable clinical findings.

In the case of the Monoi Repairing Hair Mask by Carol’s Daughter, it was found that:

    96% less breakage, instantly when used with the Monoi Repairing Shampoo
    13 times longer hair life after only 1 use
    85% better conditioning and detangling after only 1 use

And the Monoi Split End Sealer by Carol’s Daughter was found to seal 93.3% of split ends instantly.

How They Work
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The Repairing Hair Mask nourishes hair from root to tip, improving the look and feel of damaged or chemically treated tresses, and infusing dry hair with rich nutrients and moisture.

The Split End Sealer binds frayed cuticles while conditioning and strengthening strands. Just use a pea-sized amount daily on wet or dry hair for a brilliantly smooth finish that seals split ends instantly—which means you can skip trimming them.

Combined, these products pack a serious one-two punch, and right now you can try BOTH of them—the Mask and the Sealer—at a special introductory rate through HairEnvy.com. You’ll also receive a FREE mystery gift and FREE 1-3 day shipping.

Solutions for Sensitive Skin

Sure, a rosy glow is a sign of a kick-butt workout (go you!), but if you're still sporting that flush long after you've left the locker room, you're probably among the 60 percent of people in the United States who say they have sensitive skin -- a number that's doubled during the past 30 years, according to Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles. Why the increase? Derms suspect that one of the main reasons is product misuse. "Women are choosing the wrong products for their skin," says Howard Sobel, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. That can lead to inflammation, the root of all redness. If you don't treat it, the condition may affect your complexion, making it more vulnerable to wrinkle-inducing damage, Dr. Sobel says. But now, help is on the way! We identified the five most common sensitive-skin complaints and asked top docs to share their best soothing secrets.

Treat Flaky Skin
-----------------------------
If you're experiencing scaliness, your skin is sending you an SOS: "It's so inflamed that the cells are lifting, which results in peeling," says Debra Luftman, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles. The probable cause is an irritant in one of your products or an allergic reaction to an ingredient.

Calm the culprits
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Treat inflammation with a 2.5 percent hydrocortisone cream and stop using scrubs, retinoids, and alpha hydroxyl acids. Also, fortify your skin with a moisturizer that contains niacin, like StriVectin-SD for Sensitive Skin ($79, strivectin.com). You should see a difference in just three days, notes Leslie Baumann, MD, a dermatologist in Miami.

Fight future flare-ups
-----------------------------
If it's an allergic reaction, which is characterized by a swollen rash, go to your derm, who can ID the allergen with a patch test. (Preservatives and fragrances are two biggies.) Choose products that are labeled "fragrance-free" and avoid those with a laundry list of ingredients. "Fewer ingredients mean fewer chances to react to something," says Jeanine Downie, MD, a dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey. Reconsider your cleanser, too. Foaming washes can strip away protective oils. Opt for a milky formula and make sure alcohol isn't one of the first ingredients. We like Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions Sensitive Facial Cleanser ($10, burtsbees.com).
Next: Soothe Stinging Skin
 -----------------------------
Sure, a rosy glow is a sign of a kick-butt workout (go you!), but if you're still sporting that flush long after you've left the locker room, you're probably among the 60 percent of people in the United States who say they have sensitive skin -- a number that's doubled during the past 30 years, according to Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles. Why the increase? Derms suspect that one of the main reasons is product misuse. "Women are choosing the wrong products for their skin," says Howard Sobel, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. That can lead to inflammation, the root of all redness. If you don't treat it, the condition may affect your complexion, making it more vulnerable to wrinkle-inducing damage, Dr. Sobel says. But now, help is on the way! We identified the five most common sensitive-skin complaints and asked top docs to share their best soothing secrets.

Treat Flaky Skin
-----------------------------
If you're experiencing scaliness, your skin is sending you an SOS: "It's so inflamed that the cells are lifting, which results in peeling," says Debra Luftman, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles. The probable cause is an irritant in one of your products or an allergic reaction to an ingredient.

Calm the culprits
-----------------------------
Treat inflammation with a 2.5 percent hydrocortisone cream and stop using scrubs, retinoids, and alpha hydroxyl acids. Also, fortify your skin with a moisturizer that contains niacin, like StriVectin-SD for Sensitive Skin ($79, strivectin.com). You should see a difference in just three days, notes Leslie Baumann, MD, a dermatologist in Miami.

Fight future flare-ups
-----------------------------
If it's an allergic reaction, which is characterized by a swollen rash, go to your derm, who can ID the allergen with a patch test. (Preservatives and fragrances are two biggies.) Choose products that are labeled "fragrance-free" and avoid those with a laundry list of ingredients. "Fewer ingredients mean fewer chances to react to something," says Jeanine Downie, MD, a dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey. Reconsider your cleanser, too. Foaming washes can strip away protective oils. Opt for a milky formula and make sure alcohol isn't one of the first ingredients. We like Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions Sensitive Facial Cleanser ($10, burtsbees.com).
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9 Tips For Better Sleep to Night

 

Have trouble dozing off at night? Put away your Sleepytime tea—a new technology might help you catch more ZZZs. A studypublished online in the journal Brain and Behavior suggests that a special therapy that matches musical tones to brainfrequencies may reduce symptoms of insomnia.

Twenty people with signs of insomnia participated in the study. First, researchers established the participants’ InsomniaSeverity Index (ISI)—a scale that measures sleep disruption. Then they separated the participants into two groups—a controlgroup, and a group that was given a therapy called high-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalicmirroring (HIRREM), or, as it’s commercially known, Brainwave Optimization.

HIRREM involves using sensors to detect electrical frequency bands in the brain. Once scientists identify a specificfrequency, they assign it a coordinating musical tone, which is then played back to participants via earbuds within 12milliseconds of frequency detection. The musical tones reportedly help correct any frequency imbalances between the twohemispheres of the brain. (Those imbalances can be caused by trauma, or extended periods of stress, which create a fight orflight response in the brain, according to Charles Tegeler, M.D., professor of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist andprincipal investigator of the study.

Participants who received the HIRREM therapy showed a significant drop in their ISI. The control group members, whooriginally reported no sleep improvement without the HIRREM, were also later administered the treatment and saw asignificant drop in their ISI scores as well. (Disclaimer: The study was funded by a grant from Brain State Technologies,LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz., the company that owns the technology used in the study.

While Tegeler says you probably can’t replicate these results at home, there are other ways to get better sleep that don’tinvolve an EEG. Try these tips the next time you need to get some serious shut-eye:

Don’t Focus on Sleeping
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The more you think about the sleep you are missing, the more stressed you will be. And more stress means even less sleep.If you wake up and can’t fall back asleep within 15-20 minutes, get out of bed. Do something relaxing outside of thebedroom, like listening to music or reading. If you lie there stressing out about falling back asleep, you’ll only get moreanxious. Understand that sometimes the quality of your slumber is out of your control.

Stick to a Schedule
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Regularity is sleep’s best friend. Try and adhere to a strict bedtime and wake time every day, even on the weekends. Whenyour body has a routine, it knows when to start winding down and preparing for sleep.

Check for Sleep Apnea
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Snoring is common, and although it’s usually harmless, it could be a symptom of a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. If youhave long pauses in your snoring (ask a friend/bedmate to listen), see your doctor. Sleep apnea, while sometimes lifethreatening, can be treated.

Turn to the Tub
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Your mom knew a thing or two about nighttime baths. The body starts to feel sleepy when it’s temperature drops. You canexaggerate that effect by taking a warm bath or shower and then lying down and letting your body heat get low.

Block Out the Light
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Even just a little bit of light can disturb your sleep. So make sure to shut off all your night lights and hallway lamps,not to mention TVs, laptops, tablets, and phones, well before you head for bed.

Exercise Earlier
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Regular exercise can actually improve your sleep but you need to schedule it for the right time. Working out too close to bedtime may cause your body temperature to stay elevated, which makes it harder to doze off. Try to finish exercising at least three hours before bedtime–preferably in the afternoon.

Avoid Heavy Foods and Booze
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Consuming heavy foods or alcohol before bed can cause indigestion, not to mention frequent trips to the bathroom. Andalthough drinking alcohol may make you tired and help you fall asleep faster, you will wake up more often and not get thequality of sleep you need to feel rested the next day.

Upgrade Your Pillow
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Choose a pillow that is supportive, comfortable, and suited to your sleeping position. A stomach sleeper and a side sleeper may need different pillows. Find the best pillow for your sleep habits.

Knock Boots
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Yep, sex before bed can help you fall asleep faster, too. Getting frisky releases feel-good endorphins which can relieve

stress, making it easier to fall asleep. Sounds good to us.

Weight Loss Tips: Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes

 In addition to your food and eating-related choices, you can also support your weight loss and dieting efforts by making healthy lifestyle choices.

• Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep has been shown to have a direct link to hunger, overeating, and weight gain. Exhaustion also impairs your judgment, which can lead to poor food choices. Aim for around 8 hours of quality sleep a night.
• Turn off the TV. You actually burn less calories watching television than you do sleeping! If you simply can’t miss your favorite shows, get a little workout in while watching. Do easy exercises like squats, sit-ups, jogging in place, or using resistance bands or hand weights.
• Get plenty of exercise. Exercise is a dieter’s best friend. It not only burns calories, but can actually improve your resting metabolism. No time for a long workout? Research shows that three 10-minute spurts of exercise per day are just as good as one 30-minute workout. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or park in the back of the parking lot. Every bit helps.
• Drink more water. You can easily reduce your daily calorie intake by replacing soda, alcohol, or coffee with water. Thirst can also be confused with hunger, so by drinking water, you may avoid consuming extra calories, plus it will help you break down food more easily.

Weight Loss Tips: Take Charge of Your Food Environment

Your weight loss efforts will succeed or fail based largely on your food environment. Set yourself up for success by taking charge of your food environment: when you eat, how much you eat, and what foods are available.

• Start the day with breakfast. People who eat breakfast tend to be thinner than those who don’t. Starting your day with a healthy breakfast will jumpstart your metabolism, plus, it will help keep you from binge eating later in the day.
• Serve yourself smaller portions. One easy way to control portion size is by using small plates, bowls, and cups. This will make your portions appear larger. Don’t eat out of large bowls or directly from the food container or package, which makes it difficult to assess how much you’ve eaten.
• Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. You will be more inclined to eat in moderation if you have thought out healthy meals and snacks in advance. You can buy or create your own small portion snacks in plastic bags or containers. Eating on a schedule will also help you avoid eating when you aren’t truly hungry.
• Cook your own meals. Cooking meals at home allows you to control both portion size and what goes in to the food. Restaurant and packaged foods generally contain a lot more sodium, fat, and calories than food cooked at home—plus the portions sizes tend to be larger.
• Don’t shop for groceries when you’re hungry. Create a shopping list and stick to it. Be especially careful to avoid foods at the ends of the aisles and along the perimeter, where grocers tend to sell high-calorie snack and convenience foods.
• Out of sight, out of mind. Limit the amount of tempting foods you have at home. If you share a kitchen with non-dieters, store snack foods and other high-calorie indulgences in cabinets or drawers out of your sight.