Celery is a rich source of vitamin C and also contains a variety of other important minerals and nutrients. Vitamin C functions as an anti-oxidant to prevent the free radical damage that triggers inflammatory conditions. It is believed that celery can help reduce the severity of some of these conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Add celery leaves to your salad. Serve with low fat dressing.
• Try ants on a log (raw celery, peanut butter, and raisins).
• Add celery when making meat or vegetable soup.
• Add it finely chopped to potato or macaroni salad.
• Garnish with celery in soups or dips.
• Use celery when juicing other fruits and vegetables.
• Eat raw celery sticks as a healthy snack.

Kale or borecole is a form of cabbage (Brassica oleracea Acephala Group), green or purple, in which the central leaves do not form a head. It is considered to be closer to wild cabbage than most domesticated forms. The species Brassica oleracea contains a wide array of vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, and brussels sprouts. The cultivar group Acephala also includes spring greens and collard greens, which are extremely similar genetically.

Kale is considered to be a highly nutritious vegetable with powerful antioxidant properties and to be anti-inflammatory.

Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium. Kale is a very good source of iron and Carotenoids (which provide vitamin A).

Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane (particularly when chopped or minced), a chemical believed to have potent anti-cancer properties.

Kale freezes well and actually tastes sweeter and more flavourful after being exposed to a frost. Tender kale greens can provide an intense addition to salads, particularly when combined with other such strongly-flavoured ingredients as dry-roasted peanuts, tamari-roasted almonds, red pepper flakes, or an Asian-style dressing. In Ireland kale is mixed with mashed potatoes to make the traditional dish colcannon. It is popular on Halloween when it is sometimes served with sausages.. In Japan, kale juice (known as aojiru) is a popular dietary supplement.

Kale is easy to cook, just sauté it with some sliced garlic, add a few drops of a good olive oil and squeeze a bit of lemon juice all over. It is also a delicious addition to soups. But kale can be eaten raw. Wash it thoroughly and chop into small pieces before tossing and mixing well in a marinade of olive oil and sea salt. Try adding all or some of chopped red peppers, black pepper, vinegar, garlic, chopped spring onions and sun-dried tomatoes for a nutritious salad.

Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives.

Parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, from which the name is derived. Common parabens include methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216) and butylparaben. Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts.

Some parabens are found naturally in plant sources. For example, methylparaben is found in blueberries, esterification of para-hydroxybenzoic acid with the appropriate alcohol.  where it acts as an antimicrobial agent.  All commercially used parabens are synthetically produced, although some are identical to those found in nature. They are produced by the

Parabens are rapidly absorbed, metabolized, and excreted. In individuals with normal skin, parabens are, for the most part, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Parabens can, however, cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis and Rosacea in individuals with paraben allergies, a small percentage of the general population. No direct evidence of a causal link between parabens and cancer, however, has been shown.

The mainstream cosmetic industry believes that parabens, like most cosmetic ingredients, are safe based on their long term use and safety record and recent scientific studies.

We protect our skin with sunscreen, but what about our eyes? Most of us are aware of the dangerous effects ultraviolet (UV) rays have on our skin, but few of us realize the danger imposed on our eyes. UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial UV rays, can damage the eye’s surface tissues as well as the cornea and lens. UV radiation can burn the front surface of the eye, much like a sunburn on the skin.

UV Radiation

UV radiation consists of invisible rays from the sun. There are three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC rays do not pose any threat, as they are absorbed by the ozone layer. However, exposure to UVA and UVB rays can have adverse effects on your eyes and vision. Short- and long-term exposure to these dangerous rays can cause significant damage. It is important to note that UV radiation can also be given off by artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds and lasers.

Short-Term Effects of UV Radiation

If you are exposed, unprotected, to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you are likely to experience an effect called photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is an inflammation of the cornea caused by a brief exposure to UV radiation, usually when combined with cold wind and snow. Like a “sunburn of the eye”, it may be painful and may create symptoms including red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes.

Long-Term Effects of UV Radiation

Long-term exposure to UV radiation can be more serious. Scientific studies and research growing out of the U.S. space program have shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years may increase the chance of developing a cataract, and may cause damage to the retina, the nerve-rich lining of the eye that is used for seeing. This damage to the retina is usually not reversible. Cumulative damage of repeated exposure may contribute to chronic eye disease, as well as increase the risk of developing skin cancer around the eyelids. Long-term exposure to UV light is also a risk factor in the development of pterygium (a growth that invades the corner of the eyes) and pinguecula (a yellowish, slightly raised lesion that forms on the surface tissue of the white part of your eye.)

UV Radiation Protection

It is not yet known how much exposure to UV radiation will cause how much damage, but a good recommendation is to wear quality sunglasses that offer good protection and a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors, participating in outdoor sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun.

To provide protection for your eyes, your sunglasses should:

• block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation
• screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light
• be perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection
• have lenses that are gray for proper color recognition

If you spend a lot of time in bright sunlight, wrap-around frames can provide additional protection from harmful UV radiation by keeping UV rays from reaching the eyes. Also, remember UV eye protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults. Finally, even if you are wearing contact lenses that have UV protection, you still need to wear sunglasses. UV rays will likely affect the eye tissue that is not covered by the contacts. Your eyes will be more comfortable, too, with most of the bright light blocked.

GELeration From Jessica

The Beauty Therapy Room is happy to announce the launch of GELeration Soak?off Gel Polish, a unique gel in a bottle that is applied like a polish with the durable strength of a gel. This new Jessica Manicure called GELeration will be available from September 2010.

Available in 26 of JESSICA ’s best ?selling Custom Colours , GELeration lasts for more than three weeks with no chipping, peeling, smudging or fading and is easily applied

or removed in minutes by a Jessica nail technician. Created by JESSICA , the First Lady of Nails , GELeration is the first soak?off gel product to enable women to easily transition between gel and natural nails , and to protec t natural nails as they grow under the gel.

“GELeration gives active women the freedom to live their best, look their best, without slowing down. Women want strong , beautiful, high?gloss nails, but with busy professional and personal lives, don’t always have the time to maintain them. With GELeration, they can enjoy three? to?four weeks of perfect, worry ?free nails with minimal salon time and no damage to the natural nail. Women around the globe are discovering a world of everlasting colour.”

“Elegant hands and feet are an important expression of who you are and GELeration allows you to feel confident, powerful and sexy without sacrificing the activities that make you, without having to worry about chipping your polish or breaking a nail. You can go from gardening and athletics to a business meeting and an evening on the town knowing that your GELeration nails will be perfect. It ’s a freedom from limitations and a simple way to take care of you. Women who use acrylics or traditional gels will also love GELeration, a much more natural?looking option. GELeration will give their overly armored nails a stunning ‘makeunder.’

In a recent study, women who ate the most fruit and vegetables (8 or more portions daily) had a 15 percent lower risk of developing cataracts compared to those who ate the least – an average of just 2.6 servings. This ‘small’ amount is actually the average intake in the UK!

• Protect: Protect them from damage by not leaving them in water for a long period. Never use your nails as tools in opening containers, bottles, and cans. Use the sides of your fingers.
• Polish: Wear nail polish or clear nail hardener to provide a protective layer for your nails.
• Prevent: Prevent damage by wearing gloves when washing dishes, gardening, and doing housework.  And of course eat a balanced and healthy diet.

Cataracts are cloudy or opaque spots that develop on the usually translucent lens of the eye. When these spots first appear, you may not notice any difference in your vision. As the Cataract continues to grow, it will become more difficult to see medium-sized and larger objects. Most cases fall under the category of “Senile Cataracts” – commonly they accompany old age. And they are caused by damage from free radicals, the unbalanced destructive molecules that destroy cells in the body. Poor digestive function can be at the root of cataracts.

Symptoms of Cataracts are painless and usually progress in the following order:

• Blurring of details
• Temporary improvement of farsightedness
• Changes in color perception
• Difficulty driving at night
• Blurring of larger objects
• Darkening of vision
• Blindness

Root Causes

• Exposure to Ultraviolet or infrared light
• Poor diet, especially one low in antioxidants
• Obesity
• Poor digestion
• Smoking
• Radiation
• Heavy metal poisonning
• Mineral deficiencies
• Injury to the eye
• Long term use of steriods
• Diabetes
• Down’s Syndrome
• Heredity
• Pharmaceutical medications

A Bruise is an injury caused by a blow or a bump that does not cut the skin but breaks blood vessels underneath the skin. Blood seeps out of the vessels, producing the tell-tale black-and-blue discolouration, as well as swelling and soreness. The deeper the bruise, or contusion, the longer it will take to heal. Leg bruises, for instance, can linger for up to 4 weeks because legs vessels have greater blood pressure than arm vessels.

Falls, sprains, pinches, and suction can cause bruises. People who are anemic or obese tend to bruise easily. Nutritional deficiencies of Vitamin C, Iron, Vitamin K, Bioflavonoids and other nutrients can contribute to easy bruising. Bruising can also signal the onset of serious illness such as leukemia or hemophilia.

Symptoms: Red, black and blue, or yellowish skin discolouration.

Root Causes:

• Trauma to soft tissues
• Anemia
• Clotting disorders or other underlying medical conditions

General Recommendations:

• Essential fatty acids, found in fish oil or flaxseed oil, are required for tissue healing.
• Green formula that contains super green foods such as Chlorella, Spirulina, and rich in mineral such as vitamin K and C which promote healing of the soft tissue.
• Maritime pine bark or grape seed extract are rich sources of proanthocyandins, which promote tissue healing.
• Arnica Oil or Cream - applied topically over the bruise few times a day. This herb has an anti-inflammatory benefits.