Are your sanitary products affecting your health?

We all know that when it comes to our body care, we want the best of the best, or at least the best of what we can afford. We put our trust in brands. And we expect them to deliver.

But is this the wisest thing to do when choosing our feminine hygiene products ?

More and more women are suffering each year from allergies and infections caused by intimate care products, which can easily be misdiagnosed .

So where do we go wrong?

Well, first of all, buying things we don’t need, like feminine hygiene deodorants/sprays, scented intimate soaps, perfumed tampons, described by GPs and gynaecologists as not only unnecessary and ineffective but also harmful as they can cause tissue irritation and inflammation (perfumed tampons are especially pointless as menstrual blood doesn’t have an odour until it’s exposed to air).

The best way to fight bad odours is by washing, changing underwear, changing sanitary towels and tampons on time, etc. All we have to do is keep the outside clean as the inside does a great job at cleaning itself (that’s why douching is not recommended -unless advised by a doctor- as it can wash out all those beneficial bacteria that are crucial for our intimate health).

Secondly, not knowing important facts about the things we buy. There are concerns regarding the substances and fabrics used in the making of tampons, sanitary towels and panty liners as well as the process of manufacturing itself.

Although cotton is the best option, health wise, most manufacturers use a combination of cotton and synthetic fibres or rayon, a regenerated cellulosic fibre (neither natural nor synthetic), which has a higher absorbent capacity. But to become fully absorbent, it has to be chlorine bleached, process which has an unwanted result: a byproduct called dioxin.

Dioxins are a group of chemicals formed during industrial heating processes. They are known to be teratogens (cause birth defects), mutagens (cause mutations) and carcinogens (cause cancer). Once dioxins get into our bodies they settle in the fat cells, where they will stay for the rest of our lives, building up over time, so increased exposure means increased risk.

They also pose a serious threat to the environment.

Most of the sanitary towels existent on today’s market have a plastic cover sheet with the purpose of making the wearer feel dry, fresh and comfortable. The downside? It has been linked to allergic reactions, with symptoms like redness, itchiness and/or sore skin.

When it comes to tampons, we are subjecting ourselves to even greater risks. The mucous lining of the vagina is one of the most sensitive parts of a woman’s body and it can easily be irritated by the synthetic fibres/blends or the chemicals used by manufacturers to increase absorbency (like surfactants).

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is, by far, the greatest tampon related risk: a rare but potentially fatal disease caused by a bacterial toxin called Staphylococcus aureus . “Symptoms of TSS can occur suddenly, usually during or just after a menstrual period: high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, muscular aches and pains, headaches, sore throat (cold or flu-like symptoms). Prompt medical attention is required as it is a potentially life-threatening infection. Three percent of women who get TSS die from it. Individuals who are hospitalised and who receive immediate treatment usually recover within 2-3 weeks”.

The reason why tampons facilitate it is because their use can cause tissue lacerations or ulcerations, allowing harmless bacteria to enter the vaginal lining. High absorbency ones are especially dangerous because, in some cases, they expand so much that they can actually adhere to the vaginal wall, increasing the risk of peeling, scraping and/or scratching the tissue when the tampon is removed.

Although some studies suggested that the chance of developing TSS while using all-cotton tampons is smaller when compared to rayon or synthetic blends, it is also known that regardless of the chemical composition, the higher the absorbency, the higher the risk.

Therefore, the risk can be considerably lowered by avoiding super absorbent tampons, by using 100% cotton ones, by changing them frequently, alternating the use of tampons with pads during the period, and by avoiding night time usage.

Conclusions?

Look after yourself, pay more attention to your hygiene products and habits.

Avoid perfumed toilet paper, perfumed tampons, sanitary towels and panty liners altogether.

Avoid high absorbency tampons (use a regular one and change it more often).

Avoid bubble baths as foam can attack the vaginal flora.

Use all natural cotton tampons, sanitary towels and panty liners.

Use cotton underwear (or at least with a crutch cotton lining).

Wipe correctly (front to bottom).

Stay healthy!

Nature’s miracles: Starflower Oil

 

A few months ago I paid a visit to my local Holland & Barrett shop to buy some vitamins and health supplements. As I was particularly interested in skin care products, I asked for the shop assistant’s help and she recommended me Starflower Oil capsules. She told me that since she has started taking them, her skin’s texture improved, her acne vanished and further more, her menstrual pains stopped. All these in a couple of months. So I bought 2 medium jars of 100 capsules and, as soon as I got home, I included one of them in a gift box I was preparing for my mom.

Of course, I completely forgot about mine until one day I got a phone from my mother, saying how wonderful the capsules were and asking me if it is possible to send her some more. At that time, during a routine check due to some unusual pains, the doctors found she had a fibroma in her womb. But then she noticed that the starflower oil capsules miraculously calmed her pains. They also calmed her mild rosacea - overall, she experienced a big improvement in her well-being.

I immediately did a search on the internet and I came across a wide range of information regarding the subject:

Starflower/ Borage Oil is extracted from the annual plant named Borage, which was introduced in Europe by Arabs, during the early years of the Middle Age. It was also naturalised in many parts of North America and can be seen growing in places like riverbanks, compost heaps, etc. Easily recognised due to it’s bright blue, star-shaped flowers.

Properties and benefits: Starflower/Borage has been used medicinally for more than 400 years (” in the research and treatment of cancer for over 700 years, as quoted by the Cancer Research Campaign, Registered Charity No 225838″) having a wide variety of benefits. The modern studies are centred around its seed oil, which is nature’s richest source of gamma linoleic acid, an omega 6 essential fatty acid, also known as GLA.

This acid (GLA) is ultimately converted in and by our body to substances called prostaglandins, which modulate the action of many hormones, being an important factor in the regulation of numerous bodily functions like: “inflammation, swelling and pain; pressure in the eye, joints or blood vessels; secretions from mucus membranes and their viscosity; smooth muscle and autonomic reflexes; water retention; blood clotting ability; allergic response; nerve transmission; steroid production and hormone synthesis.”

More and more recent clinical studies are showing that Starflower Oil is beneficial for a range of conditions like: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (inflammation and prevention of nerve damage), high blood pressure (hypertension), high levels of cholesterol, stress, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), skin conditions (such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea), female infertility, endometriosis, impotence, respiratory infections, coronary and vascular disorders, alcoholism (reducing post-drinking depression), obesity, childhood hyperactivity. Also may be useful in treatment of Alzheimer and schizophrenia.

Precautions and contra-indications: should avoided by people taking blood-thinning medication; during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to its effect on hormones. Not recommended to epileptics. Stop intake before any surgical procedure.

Image subject to copyright. Author: yummifruitbat. Source: wikimedia.

Away

My sincere apologies to all my readers for being quiet for so long. I needed a break to figure some things out. But now I am back and I will start posting again very soon.

Thank you for reading. And for your patience.

What does healthy skin mean?

Skin - the most amazing coat one will ever wear. Forget the furs, the must have parkas and take a second to think of  this wonderful creation we often take for granted. Our skin doesn’t just “sit” nicely on our bones and muscles, like a pretty coat on a hanger - it is alive and we tend to forget that. Because we see it as a whole - not the millions of tiny cells which tirelessly work together for us not to look like an uncoated KitKat bar (imagine that!).

We all want healthy, beautiful looking skin and for most of us a flawless look is a life long purpose, investing good amounts of money in cosmetics. We ceaselessly treat and hide our skin’s imperfections by rubbing, scrubbing, poking, squeezing, splashing shower gels, soaps, lotions, cleansers, toners, moisturizers, make-up, fake tan, most of which do more harm than good.

How about preventing? I am a firm believer that our skin mirrors how well our body systems work - from glands and hormones to vital organs. And, of course, it is the “barometer” of our lifestyle.
Having a healthier diet, drinking more water, exercising, taking vitamins and supplements could make an unbelievable difference for each of us.
I know is sounds like a huge thing to do but it isn’t that difficult: every now and then replace the good old
burger with a portion of steamed vegetables or fish; include a couple of fruits in your daily diet; drink 2 extra glasses of water and walk for 30 minutes every day. And in a couple of months you will notice a major improvement not only in the way you look but in the way you feel as well.

All these are tried and tested by me, and not because I wanted to lose weight or be prettier but because i realized it is better for my body in the long run. I have been a smoker for 7 years and even if I am quite
young I can already see the harmful effects of this stupid, really stupid addiction: enlarged pores, reduced skin elasticity, fine lines, lack of vitality, etc. So, in a way, I am trying to wash my sins by being more aware of how I treat my body.
It wasn’t easy to change my habits but i did it in a tricky manner, by making deals with myself: I left a glass on my bathroom’s sink so every time I look in the mirror I have to drink a glass of water; I put bowls of fruits all over the flat and every time I watch TV i have to eat a couple of oranges or apples or whatever I have. I avoid fizzy drinks, not because I don’t enjoy them but because they actually make me feel ill. Every meal I have, regardless of how healthy or not it is, must be accompanied by a fresh side salad or at least a few veggies. And of course, I try to have a 30 minutes walk around the center of the town every day.

I feel good that I am doing all these things and I feel good that I am trying. I am past the “complain then treat” phase. In the past few years I’ve learnt that i mustn’t fight my body/skin conditions but work with them. I’ve learnt that treating the cause is much healthier than fighting the effects. It takes effort but it’s well worth it.
Just like an ancient philosophy states: if the hand aches, treat the whole arm. If the arm aches, treat the entire body. If the body aches, then treat the mind and soul as well.

So when it comes to our skin I think that beauty really comes from within. We are what we make ourselves.
 

A word about “organic”

First it was the word “natural” . Now it’s…

…the label “organic” attached to a product is the latest marketing weapon. It sells and it sells well. So here are a few facts you should know about the “organic” label:
 

- definition: organic foods are produced according to certain production standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives.
For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

-approach: if you buy a moisturizer which has on the label “100% organic aloe vera” throw an eye on the ingredients list and ask yourself if the word organic refers to the whole product or… only to the 1% of aloe vera, floating in a pool of harmful man made chemicals. So natural/organic doesn’t always mean chemical-free.
Is it better for the skin? Sometimes, as the ingredients aren’t treated with pesticides/insecticides BUT, judging the effects, that doesn’t mean it works wonders as some high-tech, anti-aging cosmetics do. Therefore, you can get an organic moisturizer which does nothing else for your skin except…moisturizing.

- environmental safe? Not necessarily. The way the organic ingredients were produced may be but there are lots of other things to take into consideration like: packaging (recycled/recyclable, biodegradable), carbon footprint, etc.

Do you…

…find this blog useful? I am wondering as I have hundreds of hits each day but very little feedback. I would love to know what you think so please, don’t be shy and express your opinion! Thank you!

Aspirin facial mask

The reason for I decided to write a separate post for this mask (which I found here), is that the main ingredient is a drug. Therefore extra caution is required. OK, OK, I don’t want to sound like I am lecturing, just make sure that before trying this mask you have taken into consideration the following things:

-allergies; if you are allergic to aspirin, then DO NOT try it. No good can come out of it, unless you are a bit of a masochist.

- when getting the aspirin, check the ingredients list. Some contain caffeine, paracetamol, talc (!!!), etc., which are not good when applied on face. So use the good ol’ plain one (for example, the brand I am using has listed as sole ingredient aspirin, 300 mg).

- do not use it too often! I “indulge” myself twice a week, to treat occasional blemishes and for maintenance. Do not forget that anything we put on our skin eventually gets absorbed into our blood stream, then into our organs, which is a good enough reason to avoid overloading ourselves with any type of chemicals & drugs.

This mask is particularly good for acne-prone, oily skin but can be used on all types, with caution on dry skin, as it can over-dry, and on sensitive skin, as it can irritate (in which case it is recommended to discontinue the use of it).

What you need: 3-4 aspirins and a bit of honey (ideally organic; if allergic to honey just use the aspirin).

First, sprinkle the tablets with a bit of water (and I mean SPRINKLE, as too much water will make the mask useless). Let them melt, then add the honey (just a tad, maybe a teaspoon, if not less) and mix well. The consistency should be grainy. Apply it on face with gentle, circular motions, avoiding the mouth and eye area, and leave on for 5 to 15 minutes (depending on the type of skin).  When the time is up, rinse well with lukewarm water, using the aspirin grains to gentle exfoliate the skin, again, with light,  circular motions. Your skin should now feel very soft to touch and the size of your pores should be considerably reduced. Don’t forget to tone and moisturize.

Now, it is best for this mask to be applied in the evening as the acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) increases the sensitivity of the skin. If you do it during the day, please apply a sunscreen on top of your moisturizer before going out.

I have used it three times so far and WOW. It left my skin nice and soft, with a bit of a healthy glow. I can’t believe it has been on my doorstep all this time and I found out about it just now. Oh well, better late than never.

Have you tried it?

Homemade facial masks & remedies

Homemade facial masks:

It is said that normal skin needs a special treatment once a month while the other types of skin - dry, oily and combination - need it once a week. But we all know that we either tend to over use masks or not use them for a long period of time, depending on our lifestyle, which is often hectic and stressful.     
Ideally for each of us would be to try and establish a general body care routine, in weekends, when we could allow ourselves a few minutes for pampering. This would be highly beneficial, not only for our body, but for our mind as well (mens sana in corpore sano = a healthy mind in a healthy body).

The following are homemade facial masks recipes, tried and tested. But before you use them, please bear in mind that our face isn’t our stomach. Even if we are not allergic to some of the ingredients when we eat them, your skin may have a different opinion when applied on face. Therefore always test the mask on a small portion of skin, leave it on for a few minutes and if it doesn’t feel right or if you react in an unpleasant manner it would be best not to use it.
Also it is very important that all the ingredients are good quality, fresh and ideally organic.
Before you proceed, clean your face really well, including the areas wich tend to be ignored (like cheek edges, the areas under the chin and near the ear lobes, etc.). Regardless of how effective the mask is, it is best to avoid the eye and lips areas because the skin is very sensitive and delicate there and it can get easily damaged.
When using a brightening mask, don’t forget the neck, as you wouldn’t want to have a visible contrast between those 2 areas.
Choose a place where to relax and stay quiet, which is particularly important when applying gel masks (peeling masks) and clay ones, as the face needs to be completely still for 10 to 20 minutes - the movements of the facial muscles will stretch out the mask and prevent it from being fully effective.

The measurements seen here are subjective and can be modified to suit your needs.
*tbs= tablespoon
 

Combination to oily skin

1. Apple mask: mix one grated, medium size apple with 2-3 tbs of honey. Apply on face, leave for ten minutes then rinse with lukewarm water.

2. Orange mask: what you need for this mask is the juice of half an orange, half a cup of oatmeal and half of an egg white (you can also add a few drops of honey or jojoba oil to keep the skin moisturized)
First, beat the egg white, then add the oatmeal and the orange juice. Mix them well then spread on face and leave on for 10 minutes. Gently rinse with lukewarm water. This is also good for normal skin. It has rejuvenating properties.

3. Carrot mask: take 2-3 medium-sized carrots, cut them in pieces, boil/steam then mash them. Mix with 2-3 tbs of honey, put on face, leave for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water. Best used no more than once a week or at every 2 weeks as it can overdry your skin. It can also give you a slight natural tanned look.

4. Cucumber mask: depending of the type of cucumbers used, it is best for you to decide the ideal quantity for this mask. So put the cucumber in a blender where it should become a watery paste then add the white of an egg and a bit of milk powder, if possible (or a tbs of yogurt). Apply it on face and neck, leave on for 10-15 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. It is wonderful for cleansing, toning, moisturizing and brightening the complexion of the skin. It is also ideal for treating sunburns.

5. Honey facial mask: put a few tbs of honey into a bowl, rinse your fingers in warm water then dip them in honey and apply on face and neck. Leave it on till you feel your skin has absorbed the goodies from honey (10 minutes, perhaps) the rinse it off. It will leave you face glowing and very moisturized.

Dry skin

1. Nourishing mask: mix one egg yolk, one tbs of honey and a teaspoon of olive oil. Spread over your face and neck, leave on for 10-20 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. For extra nourishment and moisture, you can also add a bit of vitamin E oil.

2. Avocado mask: mash half an avocado, apply it on face, leave it on for 10-20 minutes the rinse with lukewarm water.

3. Banana facial mask: mash a small banana or half of a big one with a fork or in a blender. Then add 2 tbs of honey, a teaspoon of olive oil, mix well and spread evenly on face and neck. Leave on for 10-20 minutes then rinse off with lukewarm water.

Anti-aging homemade remedy

Mix 2 tbs of oatmeal with half a cup of milk and cook on low, stirring gently, till it becomes soft. Add 1-2 tbs of olive oil (cold pressed), mix well. Allow to cool then apply on face and neck. Rinse off after 15-25 minutes.

Natural Hair Care

 Natural Hair Care

A few tips:

* trim your hair regularly, especially the split-ends;
*when possible, try not to use your hair dryer but a cotton towel to gently dry your wet hair, in order to prevent heat damage;
*to strenghten it and gain shine, comb your hair with your head pointing down  in a sunny room with open windows or even on your balcony- ideally once a day, besides your normal brushing routine; use a good quality brush and a broad toothed comb on wet hair to avoid breakage (wet hair is very sensitive);
*do not overbrush your hair and avoid prolonged sun exposure; wear a hat when too cold or too hot;
*clean your bush/comb regularly with soapy water or even vinegar; needless to say that it’s not a good idea to use somebody else’s brush/comb.
*washing your hair every day is a damaging habit. Your hair will become dry after washing, greasy in the evening (as the sebaceous glands overproduce oil, just like on face) and sensitive on the long run. It is best to wash it twice, maximum three times a week (ideally once a month, but come on!).
*change your shampoo often, as the hair gets imune to it if used for too long.

Homemade hair masks:

1. Clean, shiny hair
After shampooing, rinse your hair with 1 cup of fresh lemon juice or fruit vinegar and gently massage the scalp (and the hair). Wash it off then apply your usual conditioner. Rinse again. Not recommended more than twice a month!

2. Olive oil & eggs nourishing hair mask
Mix 4-5 tbs of olive oil (preferably extra virgin, cold pressed) with 2 eggs. Apply throughly on
hair, cover with a shower cap or a plastic wrap and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Wash it off
with warm water then shampoo. The quantities depend on your hair length therefore feel free to experiment with your own measurements.

3. Olive oil & honey nourishing hair mask
Mix 3 tbs of olive oil with 2 tbs of honey. Apply on hair, cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water then shampoo (then rinse again).

More to come soon….
 

Stretch marks

Yes. I have them. I noticed the stretch marks one morning, a few years ago, and I haven’t a clue what caused them as I have always had the same weight, more or less. .

Leaving the physical aspect aside, stretch marks have a big impact on our personality as they completly transform the way we see ourselves. Sometimes, knowing you have them is even more annoying than actually having them. 

And the sad thing is… there is no way to completly remove them.

In the past, I have tried many stretch marks “lotions and potions”  but I didn’t see any improvements except perhaps a firmer, better toned skin.

But what I am using now is definitely working for me:

1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter formula Vitamine E Scar Serum - looks like a very thick gel and feels quite greasy and sticky. As one of its main ingredients is shark liver oil, it smells a bit fishy but it doesn’t bother me at all. Not many people can say the same thing though and some stop using it after a while because of its difficult to manage texture and unusual scent.

Ingredients: Tocopheryl Acetate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (Cocoa), Shark Liver Oil (Squali Lecur), Dimethicone, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract (Onion).

Directions for use: it is recommended to be applied 3 to 4 times daily, on affected areas (scars, burns, stretch marks), followed by a gentle but firm massage (ideally for about 30 seconds-2 minutes). Not intended for open wounds and it’s for external use only.

I use it twice a day and after each application I pat the areas with a towel, to remove the excess serum. If you decide to give it a try, I recommend it to be used at home, with at least 2 hours before going anywhere (you don’t want your clothes to stick to your body like a post-it on the fridge).

2. The second treatment I use is Rosa Mosqueta Seed Oil, which I found at my local aromatherapy & natural beauty products shop. This oil is highly beneficial for the skin, especially in its pure form. For more informations about it, please click here. I apply it twice a day (or once, when I am in my lazy mode) and although it’s….oily, it gets absorbed by the skin quite quickly, leaving it very soft and hydrated. I also use it on my face, either by pouring a few drops in my natural face masks or as a night lotion (even if I have combination skin, it doesn’t clog my pores) but I avoid applying it on live spots as it is, after all, an oil.

I have been trying these two products for almost a month now and I can already see that the stretch marks have faded and they became much more thiner. I will stick to it for as long as I can as it takes time and a well established routine to get satisfying results.

If any of you have stretch marks and you are using or used something that really works for you, please be kind and leave a comment as I am always willing to try new things. Thank you!

Edit: a very important thing to do, when it comes to stretch marks is to exfoliate. I suggest that every time you take a shower or a bath to pay more attention to these troubled areas, gently exfoliating them with a sponge (not too harsh!!! as you may damage the healthy skin layers) or even with home made mixtures like honey and oatmeal/cornmeal,  honey and brown sugar, olive oil and brown sugar, etc. This stimulates the regeneration of the skin and toghether with regular massages, which improve blood circulation, give amazing results. Try it for yourself!