Healthy Living: Improve Your Skin

Welcome to Healthy Living!

Most of us want to live a healthier life, but it is sometimes a daunting task trying to sift through the often-conflicting information we are given, in an effort to find what will work for us. We have all heard the ongoing debate about whether low-carb diets are healthy or bad for us and the varied opinions about which carbs we should be eating. There is the accepted opinion that coffee/caffeine has a harmful effect on your life and then the newer opinion that it is actually beneficial. The same is true for alcohol - red wine to be specific - does it kill brain cells or does is that negated due to the positive, healthy effects it seems to have on the heart? These debates are only the tip of the iceberg . . .
While the previous issues address what we should and shouldn't be eating, there is also the question of what to do if we have developed some ill effects (not feeling well, no energy, weight gain, disease) and want to reverse them. There are so many possible solutions. Do we fast - and if so what kind of fast (juice, water, fruit)? Do we need to detox? If so - how? Herbal cleanses, colonics, saunas, body wraps, sea water baths, Epsom salt baths? What herbs will help heal our bodies and in what quantities? And what about the alternative therapies: massage, Reiki, bio-feedback, hypnotherapy, meditation, light therapy, aromatherapy (to name only a few!)? Which of these would help us in our particular situation?
How to make sense of all this information? We would like to have this site be a place to discuss which things have worked for us (or haven't) and hopefully by sharing our experiences we will be able to help each other wade through all the possibilities and find our own paths to a Healthy Life!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Improve Your Skin - Sauna-style!

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Everyday, it is exposed to different toxins, dirt, stress, and more. While there are many ways to detoxify your skin, according to the skin experts, a sauna session is one of the best ways to clean, detoxify, and relieve stress from your skin. Not only is this technique very advantageous for your skin, but it also provides many benefits to your general well-being.

Making a sauna session a part of your beauty regimen is definitely one of the most effective and relaxing ways to unclog your pores. It is very advisable to those who have dry skin, oily skin or those who are prone to various skin problems such as acne or ingrown hair. After a sauna session, your skin feels smoother and tighter. Using a sauna is natural as opposed to skin peels and other skincare regimens which may actually introduce harmful chemicals into your skin's pores. You can create your own sauna at home or you can find other establishments such as gym or day spa, who offer this kind of service.

After having a relaxing sauna session, you may choose to follow it up with a soothing facial or body mask to remove the dirt and toxins from the pores which are now open making the removal much easier. Another choice is to treat yourself to a massage as a way to achieve deeper removal of toxins, this time from the muscular level as well as the skin.

If you are reasonably healthy, there is no limit to how often you can enjoy the benefits of the sauna. However, there are those who should not use the sauna. These include people who are: suffering from asthma, are pregnant or have high blood pressure. As with anything, make sure to consult with your health care professional to ensure that you an safely enjoy the sauna.