That's Fit

Sometimes I don't know which one is worse: dealing with the bugs or dealing with the greasy, smelly, full-of-toxic-chemicals bug repellent! Thankfully there are natural ways to cope.

Throughout your life, your skincare needs change. As you entered puberty you required certain products to combat acne, and as you entered adulthood, perhaps the acne was no longer an issue, but you started having dry skin issues. That's totally normal.

Also normal is a change in your skincare needs as you age. You experience a decline in hormone levels, which affects your skin, causing it to dry out -- these changes generally begin to take place as a woman enters her 40s. Dry skin isn't the only problem, however -- at the same time, women begin to see more wrinkles, sagging, and age spots. Needless to say, the cleansers and moisturizers you used in your 20s are no longer the most effective choice.

My friend, Debbie, had the opportunity to try out some products by Emerita geared toward the specific skin problems of mature women and was very happy with the results, which is saying something because she has sensitive skin and is prone to allergic reactions. And so, for today's Fit Beauty feature, I thought I would share her experiences with you.

Would you consider your job stressful? Do you blame your career for any of your skin problems and signs of aging? Are you having a hard time finding a skin routine that really works?

I realize that stress comes from all different areas in life, but I swear that 90% of mine has always come from my work. I'm 30 years old and just started to finally get really serious about skincare, and I would love to know just how many of my wrinkles were first formed somewhere back in my employment history. I just know that those 12-hour nursing shifts and that boss who used to turn bright red while yelling out commands must account for at least half of them!

I've been considering taking the supplement Bromelain for the swelling that's settled in my lower tummy region -- a temporary side effect of my recent tummy tuck surgery. Bromelain, made right from the pineapple -- maybe I should just down a bunch of the actual fruit -- is known for aiding in the digestion of protein. It's also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, which is why I bought a small bottle of pills at the health food store the other day. The pills cost me $10. I took one.

I've never been a fan of supplements. Desperation, I guess, is what motivated my purchase, which clearly was a waste of money. Because I don't plan on swallowing any more pills. Here's why.

• How will I know if the remedy really works? In good time, my swelling will subside, says my surgeon. If I'm taking Bromelain at the same time as my tummy deflates, what will I credit for the result: nature or the supplement? This is how people get roped into supplements, says my oncologist. They have success and attribute it to the supplement when it may have been nothing more than good old fashioned healing.
  
  

• Bromelain has not been scientifically tested for use with inflammation. It's not even its primary function. Nope, digestion is its number one task and that hasn't been tested either. I have no idea what this stuff will do to my body. I took a bunch of echinacea at one point in my life for the common cold. An eventual skin reaction made me realize that while maybe my cold symptoms got better, a skin condition was not a great trade-off.
  
  

Science does support a few natural fixes for what might ail you -- see gallery below. But Bromelain is not one of them, which makes it so not for me. If you think it might be for you, you ought to consult this article before popping any pills.

I'm skeptical of supplements, alternative remedies, herbal fixes, and the like. I'm holding back, in fact, on purchasing something called Bromelain, a mixture of enzymes found in the juice and stems of pineapples. Bromelain is believed to help with the digestion of protein and believed to help combat inflammation. But does it really? Will it perhaps help reduce the swelling of my post-tummy-tuck belly? I'm not sure. Science isn't sure either.

Science is sure about these 10 natural cures, according to this St. Petersburg Times newspaper article.

• Tea tree oil for dandruff

• Acupuncture for migraines

• Yoga for insomnia

• St. John's Wort for depression

• Echinacea for the common cold

• Aloe vera for sunburn

• Chiropractic treatment for back pain

• Peppermint for indigestion

• Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint pain

• Chasteberry for premenstrual syndrome

Take a tour of the following gallery for the lowdown on these tried-and-true treatments. And don't forget to consult your physician before embarking on any medical journey.

Oprah arrived in my mailbox the other day. Well, Oprah's face arrived. On the cover of her June magazine. Looking all fresh and happy and feel-good-like. Which is why I like The Oprah Magazine. It makes me feel good. And I always end up learning a few healthy somethings after flipping through the pages. Which makes me feel empowered to feel even better.

Today, I learned that I should probably just buy regular foods at the grocery store. Nothing low-fat, nothing low-sugar. Low-fat peanut butter is often stocked with extra sugar and salt, says The Way To Eat guru Dr. Katz. Reduced-sugar cereals -- just bought a box with 25 percent less sugar the day before my magazine arrived -- tend to house more saturated fat and less fiber than standard versions. Bummer. There's a trend, says Katz: Highly processed products are being marketed as easier or more healthful alternatives when really, they are not.

Go with foods in their most natural state, says the good doctor. If your diet is healthful and is based mostly on veggies, fruits, whole grains, seeds, beans, lean protein sources, and nonfat dairy, then there's room for a bit of sugar or fat or perhaps some extra cream in a special recipe. Trying to decide whether to go for real whipped cream or Cool Whip? Katz says go for the real thing. The alternative, which will save you only 25 calories, is full of air, high fructose corn syrup, emulsifiers, and artificial flavorings.

The Dove Campaign For Real Beauty has been based upon the idea that, while our bodies might have flaws (real or perceived), we're all beautiful. It's a good message, and they're looking to boost the self-esteem of females of all ages, starting with young girls. I'm all for it -- it's important that women realize that they don't need to be able to trade clothes with their favorite actress or be stalked by paparazzi in order to be beautiful.

However, some discussion has recently surfaced saying that the women in the Real Beauty ads were retouched. Premiere retoucher, Pascal Dangin, told The New Yorker that there was a great deal of retouching done on those ads, "But it was great to do, a challenge, to keep everyone's skin and faces showing the mileage but not looking unattractive."

What do you think about this development? I can't say I'm surprised -- I appreciate the fact that Dove still used women of different shapes and sizes. I mean, these are regular women being photographed and filmed in their undies! I can't say I would object to a little digital help were I in their position. But, others feel that it destroys the message -- they're not showing "real" beauty if there's retouching. What do you think?

It amazes me sometimes how technology is always searching to create new chemicals and compounds to help us look younger and take better care of our skin when sometimes the best products are based on the most natural things.

Have you ever considered lily extract for soothing and balancing out problem skin? I admit I haven't, or at least hadn't until I read this article over at Natural Health. Most commonly used for its fragrance, lily extract also has antioxidant and antiseptic properties that make it a natural for skin care. It moisturizes, softens, clarifies, and even minimizes pores.

Look for for "lily extract" or "tincture of lily flower" on the label.

I like peanut butter. I like it on crackers, on celery, on apples, anything that takes just a dab of the stuff that I know isn't entirely healthy for me.

I've had many a recommendation that I ditch my usual Jif peanut butter and replace it with something natural in order to make my snacking more health-conscious. Until recently, I hadn't taken any action on these recommendations. But something caused me to pass by my trusty Jif the other day at the grocery store. Something took me right for the natural stuff. And I bought it.

It took some getting used to, my new peanut butter. The consistency, the texture, the taste, the liquid on top, the stirring, the required refrigeration. It's so different my kids knew right away that something was different when I tried to sneak it on their toast one morning. I didn't hook them. But I will. Because my new peanut butter is good. Really good.

If you want to make a snack switch like me -- peanut butter is a good snack because it contributes to fullness and makes you less likely to munch on other foods -- Family Circle magazine recommends these three picks.

• Smucker's Organic Peanut Butter: Available in creamy or crunchy, with no added salt and a bit of honey.

• Santa Cruz Organic: Made with rich Spanish peanuts and available in creamy or crunchy and light or dark roast.

• MaraNatha's Organic No-Stir: There's no messy top oil layer in this one. Easy to spread and very nutty and tasty.

That's Fit has sung the praises of mineral makeup before, but I haven't had the chance to chime in my two cents yet.

I love my Aromaleigh mineral makeup, and I have for years. I use the Voile Mineral Powder and the Pure Blush, in Rosewood. What I like best is the smooth finish, the lack of "sparkly-ness" which gives a completely natural look.

The biggest disappointment for me was when I found out Aromaleigh used parabens in their lipstick. To me, it went against everything the naturalness of their other makeup was all about.

Happily, I can announce that they have retired their chemical laden line of lipstick and introduced Color Infusion Lipstick. This new line of lipstick is as pure as they come and includes lovelies like shea butter and rose hip seed oil.

I couldn't wait to try it. I ordered samples of six different colors and I am happy to say that I love this lipstick. It is rich and creamy, has just enough color and is smooth enough that I don't even need a lip balm base like I used to wear. The colors are pure and true and so well formulated.

Nuance is my favorite, with Coquette, Crush and Rosebud running close seconds. Even Perfect, which is a pink that I normally wouldn't wear, is a lovely color.

So yay to Aromaleigh, for ditching the chemicals and creating lipstick that everyone will love.

Soy products are a great way to incorporate lean protein into your diet, and you don't have to be vegetarian to appreciate the benefits. However, while many people are familiar with tofu, I get a lot of puzzled looks when I mention tempeh. While both are made from soybeans, they're as different as salmon and steak.

This chart breaks down the differences between tempeh and tofu, and basically it makes the conclusion that tempeh is less processed than tofu, contains more protein and fiber, and therefore is somewhat better for you. And, to be honest, I actually prefer the taste and texture of tempeh to tofu. However, if you're used to cooking with tofu, you can't just substitute tempeh instead.

Click through the gallery for some recipes including tempeh. If you have a favorite recipe of your own, be sure to leave a comment!

I don't know about you but I went a bit crazy over the holidays. I munched on cookies all day, enjoyed a large, calorie-laden meal each night and topped off the day with a glass of wine or two. At least I (kind of) balanced it out by being active -- I went sledding and snowboarding a few times, which allowed me to get the old heart pumping. But in all honesty, it doesn't feel good to over-indulge like that--I was sluggish, didn't sleep well, and the week was topped off with a nasty cold. I'm better now and looking forward to getting back to my healthy routine.

Here's something that would benefit us all, whether we went overboard at Christmas or not: A post-holiday cleanse. I'm not talking about one of those harsh detoxes--rather, do a healthy, one-day vegetable cleanse.

For one day, eat nothing but veggies and the occasional fruit. You can take it a step further by pureeing the veggies and making it a liquid cleanse. Either way, make sure you drink lots of water and some herbal tea if you fancy. It's only for one day and it will help replenish all those nutrients that you traded for gingerbread over the holidays. It's made me feel worlds better and I suspect it will work for you too.

Based on my experiences, there seems to be a widespread belief that everything bought at a health food or organic store is, by virtue, healthy. Sorry to burst the bubble but this is totally not true--while organic and natural versions of foods you eat are healthier, they're not necessarily healthy. You still have to be on your guard at health food stores too.

Prevention Magazine recently looked into this misconception, and came up with a list of things to look out for. Here's what they found:

• Be careful with butter and oil alternatives -- most are still high in saturated fats
  
• Look out for prepared foods too -- macaroni and cheese is high in fat whether it's organic or not.
  
• Keep in mind that natural sugar is still sugar ... and it's still high in calories.
  
• Don't think that you can replace vegetables with any of the supplements health food stores offer.
  
• Don't trust the clerks -- they may not have proper training to know what's best for you.

However, things that typically are healthier? The health food store is a great place to pick up dairy products, meat alternatives, fresh produce and whole grain products.

Want to know more? Click here.

I'm a big believer in home remedies and natural approaches to various health issues, but I also believe that in some cases "natural" just won't cut it and technology may have the answer instead. But when dealing with alternative health approaches understanding the pros, cons, limits, and risks is imperative. Do you think you have a solid understanding of the basics? Here are a few of the biggest misconceptions people have about alternative medicine:

• "All natural" automatically translates to "all safe." Not true. Natural and herbal compounds often vary in strength, and they can interact and have serious side effects just like many prescription medications.
• "Alternative therapies are cheaper than conventional ones." Not true in many cases. Although they may have a cheaper price tag they often aren't covered by insurance.
• "There's little to no solid research to support the effects of alternative medicine." Not true, although many times research on alternative medicine is not documented and written about in scientific language, which can have a negative influence with doctors.

There's more on this list from Forbes so pop over there and take a look, and then share your thoughts on alternative medicine in our comments section!

A substance found in delicious fruits like mangoes and strawberries has found to be very effective in stopping the spread of cancer cells in the head and neck area, according to a new study out of Hong Kong this week.

Lupeol was found to be most effective when used with traditional chemotherapy drugs, and was noted as suppressing both the movement and growth of cancer cells. Not surprisingly, the compound was more effective than some cutting-edge pharmaceutical drugs as well.

No surprise there -- I continue to believe that a good vegetable (broccoli) and fruit (blueberry) cancer defense beats the tar out of drugs that have horrid side effects.