Archive for July, 2010

Facial exercise is another alternative to the surgeon’s knife. Facial Exercise requires only enough space to contort one’s face with enough free room to move a hand to assist the facial muscles or hold the neck while putting the cheeks, neck, lips and eyes through their paces. Advocates claim a regulare routine will knock years off and treat double chins, puffy eyes and sagging jowls, among other enemies of an attractive visage.

Eva Fraser’s “Facial Workout” and Carole Maggio’s “Facercise” are two popular books in this bodybuilding-like approach to a younger face. Carole Maggio advises double chin sufferers to clasp the neck with one hand, hold the chin up high and “smile strong and sit tall in your chair” while rocking gently back and forth, turning the head 35 times left and right to look over your shoulder.

Another popular facial workout is “the vowel exercise”. Say the vowels sounds of a,e,i,o,u. The key to making this exercise effective is to overamphasise and exaggerate the movement of the mouth to work the facial muscles. After going through the vowels 4-5 times tension and tightness in hte cheeks and neck shoudl be felt. This is an indication that the muscles are being strenghtened. For the jowls try these 2 exercises:

Step 1: Let your jaw hang down and back and separate your lips. The tip of your tongue will go behind your front teeth on your palate.

Step 2: Bare your teeth as though you were growling (no sound effects necessary). Look up at the ceiling, then use your neck and jaw muscles to put your head down to its normal position.

For more facial exercises, why don’t you get the two books we mentioned above and follow the exercises as prescribed by Carole Maggio or Eva Fraser and you will have a new face and neck. You can find these books at Amazon at very cheap prices..

The Beauty Therapy Room has placed a Superb Competition on its Facebook Page for every reader who logs on to the page from Sunday 18th July until 31st July 2010.

So why don’t you try and browse the Facebook Page and enter the competition!!

Hurry or you will miss it!!

Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protein called keratin, as are animals’ hooves and horns. Along with hair and teeth they are an appendage of the skin.

The growing part of the nail is the part still under the skin at the nail’s proximal end under the epidermis, which is the only living part of a nail.

In mammals, the length and growth rate of nails is related to the length of the terminal phalanges (outermost finger bones). Thus, in humans, the nail of the index finger grow faster than that of the little finger; and fingernails grow up to four times faster than toenails.

In humans, nails grow at an average rate of 3 mm (0.12 in) a month (as they are a form of hair). Fingernails require 3 to 6 months to regrow completely, and toenails require 12 to 18 months. Actual growth rate is dependent upon age, gender, season, exercise level, diet, and hereditary factors. Nails grow faster in the summer than in any other season. Contrary to popular belief, nails do not continue to grow after death; the skin dehydrates and tightens, making the nails (and hair) appear to grow.

Tofu (Chinese dòufu, Japanese t?fu), or bean curd is a soft white food made by coagulating soy milk, and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks. It is of Chinese origin, and part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu that has been processed in some way. Tofu has very little flavor or smell on its own, so it can be used either in savory or sweet dishes, and is often seasoned or marinated to suit the dish.

Tofu is low in calories, contains a relatively large amount of iron and contains little fat. Depending on the coagulant used in manufacturing, the tofu may also be high in calcium and/or magnesium.

There is a wide variety of tofu available in both Western and Eastern markets. Despite the daunting variety, tofu products can be split into two main categories: fresh tofu, which is produced directly from soy milk, and processed tofu, which is produced from fresh tofu. Tofu production also creates important side products which are often used in various cuisines.

Many forms of processed tofus exist, due to the varied ways in which fresh tofu can be used. Some of these techniques likely originate from the need to preserve tofu before the days of refrigeration, or to increase its shelf life and longevity. Other production techniques are employed to create tofus with unique textures and flavors.

Nutrition & Health Information

Protein

Tofu is relatively high in protein, about 10.7% for firm tofu and 5.3% for soft “silken” tofu with about 2% and 1% fat respectively as a percentage of weight.

Isoflavones

Soy isoflavones have not been shown to reduce post menopause hot flashes in women or to help prevent cancers of the breast, uterus or prostate.

Would you like to help us with the Charity Fundraising for “The Lennox Children Cancer Fund”?

Throughout the year, The Beauty Therapy Room takes part in the “Cuddly Toy Competition”, provided by The Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund and gladly helps to raise monies for the sick children and their families which the Charity looks after during their illness.

Due to the Financial Crisis that has hit every company in the UK, The Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund had announced an EMERGENCY APPEAL to all their supporters and fundraisers for a BIG HELP so they can continue their huge and great work with the children suffering from Cancer and to offer support to their families during their ordeal. The Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund needs to raise over £100,000 to be able to keep working and helping those children and their families. And surprisingly with the help of all their supporters The Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund is still able to help those children in need until these dates.

Therefore The Beauty Therapy Room will take part again in the Cuddly Toy Competition, and with the help of our clients we will managed to raise over £95 – our last target. We will need the help of our clients too to reach a bigger target this time, and if you want to check what this superb charity does for the children, you can browse their website: www.lennoxccf.org.uk 

You can read about the children they help and the very recent child is NOAH who was diagnised with Acute Myeliod Leukaemia in 2009. Sadly in January 2010 NOAH has relapsed and the treatment he received was not successful. For more informations, please go on the website of the charity and find out about NOAH and you will want to help him by raising monies.

There will be a box positioned in our reception for The Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund and we welcome any donation from anyone who would like to join us in raising funds for the charity. The Beauty Therapy Room will accept any form of donations for this charity, either cash, cheques and they will be sent to the charity. So lets help these children in their hour of need – no child should suffer from this horrible disease and no parents or family should see their child going through those horrible medical treatments and suffer the consequences ffrom them. In every family, there is some story about a dear beloved person who had to suffer from Cancer and we all know how devastating it can be on every member of this family!!

The Beauty Therapy Room wants to thank all our clients who have helped us in the past and will keep donating for the charity to raise more monies and reach higher target each time.

Cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne (Capitata Group) of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae), and is used as a leafy green vegetable. It is a herbaceous, biennial, dicotyledonous flowering plant distinguished by a short stem upon which is crowded a mass of leaves, usually green but in some varieties red or purplish, which while immature form a characteristic compact, globular cluster (cabbagehead).

Cabbage leaves often have a delicate, powdery, waxy coating called bloom. The occasionally sharp or bitter taste of cabbage is due to glucosinolates. Cabbages are also a good source of riboflavin. The cultivated cabbage is derived from a leafy plant called the wild mustard plant, native to the Mediterraneansea cabbage and wild cabbage, it was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Also  this vegetable is praised for its medicinal properties, declaring that “It is the cabbage that surpasses all other vegetables.”

The only part of the plant that is normally eaten is the leafy head; more precisely, the spherical cluster of immature leaves, excluding the partially unfolded outer leaves. Cabbage is used in a variety of dishes for its naturally spicy flavor. The so-called “cabbage head” is widely consumed raw, cooked, or preserved in a great variety of dishes. It is the principal ingredient in coleslaw. Cabbage is often added to soups or stews.

Medicinal Properties:

Boiled cabbage has become stigmatized because of its strong cooking odor and the belief that it causes flatulence. Boiled cabbage as an accompaniment to meats and other dishes can be an excellent source of vitamins and dietary fiber. It is often prepared and served with boiled meat and other vegetables as part of a boiled dinner. Cabbage can also be pickled in vinegar with various spices, alone or in combination with other vegetables (turnips can be cured in the same way).

Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C. It also contains significant amounts of glutamine, an amino acid that has anti-inflammatory properties. Cabbage can also be included in dieting programs, as it is a low calorie food.

It is a source of indole-3-carbinol, or I3C, a compound used as an adjuvant therapy for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a disease of the head and neck caused by human papillomavirus (usually types 6 and 11) that causes growths in the airway that can lead to death.

In European folk medicine, cabbage leaves are used to treat acute inflammation. A paste of raw cabbage may be placed in a cabbage leaf and wrapped around the affected area to reduce discomfort. Some claim it is effective in relieving painfully engorged breasts in breastfeeding women. Fresh cabbage juice has been shown to promote rapid healing of peptic ulcers.

Effect on the Thyroid Gland

Cabbage may also act as a goitrogen. It blocks organification in thyroid cells, thus inhibiting the production of the thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine). The result is an increased secretion of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) due to low thyroid hormone levels. This increase in TSH results in an enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)

The Beauty Therapy Room like to announce the start/birth of our NEW Facebook Page, and to browse, click on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Holborn-United-Kingdom/The-Beauty-Therapy-Room/117292148316395?v=app_2373072738#!/pages/Holborn-United-Kingdom/The-Beauty-Therapy-Room/117292148316395?v=wall&ajaxpipe=1&__a=10

In this page, you will find information about the Salon as well as what our friends, colleagues and clients post their views on it. In addition there is a Discussion page where you can post your queries about any topics on Health & Beauty and we will reply to your questions.

Also there are some Promotions and Offers going on, so why don’t you log on and find out about them. And don’t forget to tell your friends and colleagues so they can benefit from these promotions too!…

• Vitamin A – milk, cheese, meat, spinach, broccoli, carrots, peaches, and apricots.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – nuts, meat, whole grains, wheat germ, and brewer’s yeast.
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) - organ meats, egg yolks, whole grains, and brewer’s yeast.
• Vitamin B6 – organ meats, egg yolks, whole grains, and brewer’s yeast.
• Vitamin B12 - meat and dairy products.
• Vitamin C - citrus fruits, pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, tomatoes, potatoes, and green peppers
• Vitamin E - leafy green vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, dried beans, soybeans, and cold-pressed vegetable oils.

 A vitamin is a small molecule that is needed by your body cells to carry out certain reactions. Your body cannot make vitamin molecules, so the vitamins must come in through the foods that you eat.

The human body is known to need at least 13 different vitamins. Certain vitamins improve circulation to the scalp, are responsible for healthy oil in the scalp and others are important for hair growth and prevention of hair loss.

Astragalus (As-trá-ga-lus) is a large genus of about 2,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milk-vetch (most species), locoweed (in western US, some species) and goat’s-thorn (A. gummifer, A. tragacanthus).

Astragalus has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for literally thousands of years. Today, in the western world, it’s being rediscovered as a powerful adaptogenic herb with a remarkable ability to balance and boost immune function. With more and more people concerned about immune function today — especially with the swine flu pandemic on peoples’ minds — ancient herbs like astragalus are experiencing a resurgence in interest.

One of the best known herbs used in Chinese medicine, Astragalus

• strengthens the digestion and stimulates the immune system.
• It also aids adrenal gland function.
• It acts as a diuretic and dilates blood vessels.
• Astragalus can be used to boost the immune system in people who frequently suffer from infections such as colds.
• It can also be used in convalescence and to aid in cancer treatment and recovery from chemotherapy.
• Astragalus should not be used in cases of acute infections or fevers.

Astragalus is one of the best-researched immune system stimulants now available. It works like Echinacea, in that both herbs increase the number and activity of immune cells. However, Astragalus concentrates on building the immune system, and unlike echinacea, it can be taken on a daily basis. Echinacea boosts immune system activity and promotes fast recovery, especially when taken at the onset of symptoms. The most potent formulas have a peculiar tingling and numbing effect on the tongue.
Astragalus is another ancient Chinese herb that is frequently combined with ginseng to strengthen the body’s natural defenses, namely, the immune system. Astragalus has also shown some vasodilatory as well as anti-inflammatory action. Its anti-inflammatory effects occur, it seems, because it inhibits the release of histamines from mast cells. Quercetin, a polyphenol, works the same way. Consequently, astragalus could help relieve hay fever and other allergic conditions. I have personally used Astragalus as a remedy for my seasonal hay fever.