8 Super-Healthy Summer Foods You Should Be Eating

Many of summer’s fruits and vegetables are brimming with secret health benefits. Here are some of my favorites and why they’re a particularly good choice in the summer.

• Corn: Nothing says summer like fresh sweet corn. And did you know that two antioxidants—lutein and zeaxanthin—in corn may act like natural sunglasses, helping to form macular pigment that filters out some of the sun’s damaging rays? It’s true. The same antioxidants may also help lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration—the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60 (though much of the damage occurs decades earlier).
• Iced Coffee: An iced pick-me-up is a great way to start your summer mornings. Better yet: drinking a single cup of coffee daily may lower your risk of developing skin cancer. In one study of more than 93,000 women, published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, those who drank one cup of caffeinated coffee a day reduced their risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer by about 10 percent. And the more they drank—up to about 6 cups or so per day—the lower their risk. Decaf didn’t seem to offer the same protection.
• Tart Cherries: They deliver a host of health benefits. You may have heard that drinking tart cherry juice can help you get a better night’s sleep and quell post-workout pain (read more about that here). But did you know that compounds in tart cherries may also help you slim down and get leaner? When scientists at the University of Michigan Health System put rats on a high-fat diet supplemented with either a tart-cherry powder (equal to 1% of the weight of their total diet) or the same number of calories from carbohydrate, those that got the cherry powder gained less weight and body fat. Why? The anthocyanins in tart cherries activate a molecule that helps rev up fat burning and decrease fat storage.
• Tomatoes: There’s no question that sunscreen should be your first line of defense against the blazing summer sun. But eating tomatoes could give you a little extra protection: consuming more lycopene—the carotenoid that makes tomatoes red—may protect your skin from sunburn. In one study, participants who were exposed to UV light had almost 50 percent less skin reddening after they ate 2 1/2 tablespoons of tomato paste (or drank about 1 2/3 cups of carrot juice daily), in addition to their regular diet, for 10 to 12 weeks. Supplements, however, weren’t as effective: in the same study, those who received a lycopene supplement or synthetic lycopene weren’t significantly protected against sunburn.
• Watermelon: Staying hydrated keeps your memory sharp and your mood stable. It also helps keep your body cool (by sweating) during hot summer months. The good news is that you don’t just have to drink water. You can eat it, too: in addition to delivering skin-protecting lycopene, watermelon is 92 percent water (hence the name). Another boon? Research shows that eating foods that are full of water helps keep you satisfied on fewer calories. (Interestingly enough, drinking water alongside foods doesn’t have the same effect.)
• Raspberries: Raspberries are a great source of fiber—some of it soluble in the form of pectin, which helps lower cholesterol. One cup of raspberries has 8 grams of fiber—and a study in the Journal of Nutrition suggests that eating more fiber may help prevent weight gain or even promote weight loss. Over the course of a two-year study, researchers found that when study participants boosted their fiber by 8 grams for every 1,000 calories, they lost about 4 1/2 pounds. Try it for yourself. If you’re consuming 2,000 calories per day, aim to increase your fiber by 16 grams.
• Iced Tea: Sure, a tall glass of iced tea on a hot day is refreshing, but did you know it might also do your body good? Studies show if you drink tea regularly, you may lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and diabetes, plus have healthier teeth and gums and stronger bones. How? Tea is rich in a class of antioxidants called flavonoids. Regardless of the variety—black, green, oolong, white or herbal—maximize the power of tea’s flavonoids by drinking it freshly brewed. If you want to keep a batch of cold tea in your refrigerator, “add a little lemon juice,” recommends Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. The citric acid and vitamin C in that squeeze of lemon—or lime, or orange—help preserve the flavonoids.
• Blueberries: Fresh blueberries straight from the berry patch are a special treat! Turns out the antioxidants in them may help ward off muscle fatigue by mopping up the additional free radicals that muscles produce during exercise, according to recent research out of New Zealand.

via: eatingwell.com

 

Teeth Whitening Tips

Does a megawatt smile have to cost megabucks? After all, some dentists have questioned the safety and effectiveness of home-whitening kids. We went to the experts to learn the truth about whitening your teeth.

The first thing to know, most teeth-whitening products can’t reduce every type of stain. “They’ll help if you have surface stains caused by things like coffee, smoking, and wine,” explains Lyndon Cooper, D.D.S., Ph.D., former president of the American College of Prosthodontists. “They can also help some intrinsic stains, caused by things like too much fluoride.” But if you have stains caused by trauma or a genetic problem, these products won’t help.

If you’ve always had yellow teeth, you should see a prosthodonist—it could be one of the more severe types of stains. If your teeth gradually discolored over the years, however, the problem probably exists on the surface, meaning you can whiten them without the aid of a professional. Here’s how.

• Whitening toothpaste: “These have bleaching chemicals and a mild abrasive that helps clean the tooth,” says Dr. Cooper. “And you don’t need to worry about the abrasive scratching your enamel.” If your teeth can handle the brushing, they can usually handle the paste. Just don’t use them more than three times a day, and consider combining the toothpaste with one of the other methods below.
• White strips: “The bleach enters the pores of your teeth,” Cooper says, “and lightens the inside of the enamel, making them up to two shades lighter.” A common concern is that bleach dehydrates the tooth, causing white spots, but it’s not a major problem. “The tooth recovers very shortly after bleaching,” Cooper says. “Avoid wine, coffee, and chocolate for up to 40 minutes after whitening,” he says. “These bleaching products open up the pores in your teeth, exposing them to anything you put in your mouth afterward.” Another thing to keep in mind: Sensitivity. If the strips cause any pain, stop using them and see a dentist or prosthodontist.
• Dentist-supervised bleaching trays: Haven’t heard of ‘em? A dentist customizes trays to your teeth and gives you a whitening agent to use at home. How long you keep it in your mouth and how often you use it depends on the prescription. Unlike the white strips, this whitens all of your teeth—not just the ones in the front. Not just that, it allows for a higher concentration of bleach, which is why this method is the most effective. The drawbacks: “Just be extra careful if you have sensitive teeth,” says Dr. Cooper. “This should be supervised by your prosthodonitst or dentist, because of the high levels of bleach.” It will also set you back at least $300. Dr. Cooper has one last piece of advice: Begin your teeth-whitening regimen—even whitening strips—a few weeks before your annual dentist visit. “This way your dentist can address any sensitivity issues,” he says. “And if the product doesn’t work, he or she can determine if the discoloration is more serious.”

7 Makeup Tips from Professional Makeup Aritst

So you want to look like you just stepped off the runway or fresh out the set of a movie? Here are 7 makeup tips from a few makeup artist.

• Get this vintage-y, super-rich lip color to last all day by applying lipstick with a lip brush and topping with a coat of translucent powder, three times in a row. It won't budge. You can top with gloss if you'd like. - Amy Nadine, head makeup artist for Mark
• For a full brow look, even if you've over plucked, grab brow powder in a shade that matches your brows and a brow brush. Start by brushing brows up, then fill in with powder under the arch for a more pronounced look. - Sharon Gault, makeup artist
• If you don't know what you're going to wear, keep makeup simple, clean and not too done. Try applying a touch of an earthy color (such as sage green) on the lids and keeping the rest of the face neutral. - Lisa O'Connor, makeup artist
• To make skin glow as if you've been drinking 10 glasses of water a day, highlight cheekbones with a frosted off-white shadow. - Gregory Arlt, makeup artist for MAC
• To tone down a too bright cheek stain, apply a touch of foundation over the stain to give cheeks a more subtle flush finish, like you just pinched your cheeks. - Lori Taylor, Smashbox Regional Training Executive
• Under sweltering conditions, don't continuously powder your face as you do your makeup or the result will look cakey. Wait until just before you're ready to go out, then blot excess moisture and set with powder. - Lisa O'Connor, makeup artist
• If you want a matte lip look without buying a new shade, simply dust a bit of powder over your lipstick to tone down the shine. - Sharon Gault, makeup artist for Smashbox

5 Hair Tips from Professional Stylist

Here are 5 quick tips to have your looking like you just came from the salon:

• The trick to getting that thin piece of hair to stay wrapped around a ponytail elastic is to slide a bobby pin through the end of the small piece and then roll the bobby pin upward toward the elastic (like you would roll hair up in a curler). Slide the pin in under the hair elastic to secure the piece. - Craig Carter, hair stylist
• Want this '40s-inspired loose curl? Curl two-inch sections with a 1-inch curling iron and pin at the scalp. Spray with flexible-hold hairspray and wait 30 minutes. Then remove the pins and comb out - but be gentle or you'll create static and pouf. - Gianni Rostti, stylist for Warren Tricomi
• Even flat hair can have extreme volume with a few simple steps. Start by misting a styling spray that volumizes (like Paul Mitchell Extra Body Finishing Spray, $14.95, at salons) throughout hair. Then use a small (1-inch) curling iron to create curls all over your head. Let the curls cool completely, then brush hair out and back comb or tease for even more volume. Finish with hairspray. - Sean James, hair stylist
• For a sleek but non-greasy looking ponytail, smooth frizzies by gliding a matte sculpting wax, like ghd Sculpting Wax Matte Finish, $26 over the top layer of hair before securing it into a ponytail. - Craig Carter, hair stylist
• You can achieve soft, touchable curls in one of three ways: pin curls, hot rollers or braids. (For pin curls, roll hair up and secure each curl with clips or bobby pins, then blow-dry.) Let hair set for as long as possible, then take down and secure curls with a light hairspray. - Hasblady Guzman, hair stylist for Aveda

How to minimize pores

While it's impossible to shrink the actual size of your pores, there are ways to minimize their appearance. Start by reducing the amount of oil on your skin, which can clog up your pores and make them look bigger. Wash your face twice a day with an exfoliating cleanser that contains ingredients like salicylic acid to slough away the gunk in your pores. Follow that up with an oil-free, noncomedogenic moisturizer (use one with at least an SPF 15 during the day since sun damage can stretch out your pores). Once a week, use an at-home microdermabrasion or chemical peel kit to remove dead skin cells so your skin looks smoother and your pores are less noticeable.

Applying Sunscreen

We all know that UV rays cause signs of premature aging such as dark spots, large pores and wrinkles. But slapping on some sunscreen in the morning doesn't mean you can be worry-free for the rest of the day. There are four key SPF application rules all dermatologists recommend to keep your skin safe:

 

• An ounce of prevention—literally. You need to use a full ounce of sunscreen (think of a shot glass full) to adequately cover your entire body. For your face, a quarter-size dollop should do the trick. Also, use a sunscreen that has broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher. Need to stock up on sunscreen? Check out these great SPF picks.
• Reapply every two hours. UVA rays actually breakdown sunscreen, which is why you need to slather up every couple of hours, especially if you're at the beach.
• Don't overlook the nooks and crannies. The most common places for skin cancer to pop up? Between your toes, on your scalp, and in your ears, so be sure to slather on the sunscreen from your head to your feet and everything in between.
• Apply it before you go outside. It takes about 15 minutes for most sunscreens to be effective, so slather it on before you even step into the sun.

 

How To Remove Blackheads Step By Step

Blackheads are hard to get rid of but not removing them early makes it very difficult and painful later on. They’ll also leave big holes in your skin when you finally get them out. Follow these steps to extract blackheads.

Step 1 – Exfoliating Scrub

1. Exfoliate your face thoroughly with a facial scrub for five minutes.
2. Focus on the areas with the most blackheads like your nose, lip area, forehead and cheeks.
3. Rinse with warm water.

Step 2 – Facial Steam

1. Add two tablespoons of baking soda to a pot of water and bring it to a boil.
2. Drape a towel over your head and steam your face for five minutes.
3. This opens your pores and softens your skin making extraction easier.

Step 3 - Extraction

1. Use clean fingers or facial sponges to gently squeeze your skin on either side of the blackhead until it pops out.
2. For deep stubborn blackheads use a blackhead extractor. Gently press down over the blackhead until it comes out.
3. Wipe a clean cotton ball soaked with astringent over the area to sterilize.

via: black-women-beauty-central.com