Wellness / Beauty / Inspiration
 ...in this issue

JANUARY 2006


IT ALL STARTS WITH A CLEAN FACE....
NATURAL BEAUTY: COLD SORE RELIEF w/ ESSENTIAL OILS  

It's that time of year. Cold sores. Fever blisters.

Caused by the herpes simplex virus, these unsightly eruptions are enough to ruin anyone's day. Prevention is difficult and most people will experience these around the edges of the mouth, or on the chin, at some time in their lives.

Common causes? KISS: Kissing-Illness-Sunlight-Stress. The "kissing" part encompasses any kind of contact with a herpes carrier. Besides direct contact, sharing drinking glasses or eating utensils is equally risky. Wash your hands frequently.

As with most viral infections, left alone they will go away within 10-14 days. With essential oil treatment, you can do better than that. Essential oils have a proven ability to interrupt the replication cycle of the virus, leading to rapid healing. An increasing number of studies are reporting positive outcomes with minimal side effects. When applied at the first sign of tingling, which signals an impending outbreak, essential oil treatments help prevent sores from forming. Applied after the appearance of sores, they help relieve pain and itching while they work to neutralize the virus and clear the skin of the unsightly sores.

Lip Rx is a 100% mix of organic oils known for their antiviral activity. The oils are carried in a healing base of Tamanu and lemon balm oils, strong antiviral agents. Keep on hand for immediate application to stop the invaders in their tracks.

Two of our olive oil lip balms are also made with antiviral essential oils. Lemon Mint Balm is made with lemon balm infused olive oil and contains the precious essential oil Melissa officianalis. Rose Geranium (Pelargonium roseum) , another antiviral agent, is the essential oil in the Rose Geranium lip balm. Both are formulated to keep those cold sores from forming in the first place.

Never underestimate the value of an excellent cleanser!

"... I went to several parties over the holidays, and at each one, several (really --- not one, but several) people would come up and ask what I had done as my complexion was so much smoother and glowing. I had done nothing more than start using your Essential Earth Cleanser right before Thanksgiving. Wow! ....." Lisa Brown, Williamsburg, VA.

 

Nature's Pharmacy:
WINTER WOES

CHAPPED SKIN BATH

PINE NEEDLES FIGHT CONGESTION, SORE THROATS, & COUGHS

KITCHEN HERBS FOR COLDS, COUGHS, & THE FLU



FOUNTAIN of YOUTH QUICK TIP: HAIR LENGTH  

"When your face starts going south, your hair needs to start going north."

So says conventional wisdom.

Need more proof?

Joan Rivers says so.




SKIN CARE COSMETICS: OPEN YOUR EYES  

Less is Younger ~~ Keep it Natural

Skin that is losing firmness needs less makeup, not more. Makeup tends to slide into and accentuate even tiny facial furrows. Mineral powders applied with a light hand reflect light and minimize wrinkles and sagging.

Eyelids tend to droop a bit as one ages which is why cosmetic eye-lift surgery is the most popular elective procedure. It is no accident that every other television personality of a certain age has permanently raised eyebrows and a wide-eyed gaze.

There are several easy ways to correct this situation on your own:

  • Resume the use of an eyelash curler. Be gentle. Be subtle. Softly curled lashes will open up your eyes and draw attention to the center of your eyes.
  • Use a light shade across the eyelid area, under the brow bone, and subtly feathered out towards your eyebrows and the sides of the eyes. Eye Primer used alone is also excellent for this and lasts all day.
  • Use an eye cream formulated to firm up the skin around the eyes and gently massage it into the lid area, moving your fingertips in a motion up and away from the center of the eye. Think of it as pushing your eyebrows towards the hairline. Do this twice daily. It works.

 

  
WELLNESS REMINDER: KEEPING WELL  
REMINDER: The best thing you can do to ward off catching a cold or the flu is to

WASH YOUR HANDS!

Use plenty of regular soap, sufficiently heated running water, and scrub thoroughly. Also, drying hands with a towel is more effective at removing germs than letting hands air dry.

 
WELLNESS: TRANS FAT  

NEWS YOU CAN USE: TRANS FAT

Products entering interstate commerce on or after January 1, 2006 must be labeled with trans fat content of the product. FDA

Sigh.... Isn't that just great; one more thing to worry about. As if we weren't already overloaded worrying about sodium, cholesterol, dietary fiber, not to mention calories. But there it is, so the Abbey is here to decipher it and show you how to make the most effective use of the information. Stay with me here.

What is "trans fat" anyway?

Trans-fatty acids ('trans fat') are often used to increase the shelf life and flavor stability of processed food. Trans fat is formed when liquid oils are made into more solid fats. Like saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, it raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol, that is known to increase the risk of heart disease. While saturated fat is the main culprit that increases LDL levels (Americans consume 4-5 times as much saturated fat as trans fat.), trans fat and cholesterol are also significant players in the disease process.

To add insult to injury, trans fat appears to lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, the "good" cholesterol, which protect your arteries.

Now, here is the painful part: The main sources of trans fat are foods made with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils such as vegetable shortenings, some margarines (especially margarines that are harder), crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, and baked goods. If you are thinking that the nutrition police have once again spoiled some of life's small pleasures, you're right.

What often gets overlooked, is that you need a certain amount of fat in your life. Fat is a major source of energy for the body and aids in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K, and carotenoids. Both animal and plant-derived food products contain fat, and when eaten in moderation, fat is important for proper growth, development, and maintenance of good health. As a food ingredient, fat provides taste, consistency, and stability and helps us feel full. In addition, parents should be aware that fats are an especially important source of calories and nutrients for infants and toddlers (up to 2 years of age), who have the highest energy needs per unit of body weight of any age group.

That said, the plan is to choose your fat wisely. Read food labels and try to make healthy choices. Check the nutrient values of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Total up the number of grams (g) of saturated fat and trans fat and look for the lowest combined amount. Also, look for the lowest percent (%) Daily Value for cholesterol (5 percent or less is the healthiest choice).

Finally, life is full of trade offs. If you just must have that chocolate cookie, do so but balance it with lower fat level foods elsewhere in your diet that day. Choose alternative fats when possible. As always, the best course of action is EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

Read more: HEART HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES