Sunday, March 31, 2013

India's top court dismisses Novartis plea for Glivec patent

India's top court dismisses Novartis plea for Glivec patent

A logo is pictured on a building of Swiss drug maker Novartis before its annual general meeting in PrattelnBy Suchitra Mohanty and Kaustubh Kulkarni NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's top court has dismissed Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG's attempt to win patent protection for its cancer drug Glivec, a serious blow to Western pharmaceutical firms who are increasingly focusing on India to drive sales. The decision also sets a benchmark for several intellectual property disputes in India, where many patented drugs are unaffordable for most of its 1.2 billion people, 40 percent of whom earn less than $1.25 a day. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

Are Easter Eggs Good For Hair And Skin?

Are Easter Eggs Good For Hair And Skin?
Today is Easter so we’re re-running one of our favorite Easter posts. Spring is here and today is the day the Easter Bunny leaves a little surprise on your doorstep. No, we don’t mean rabbit pellets, silly, we’re talking about Easter eggs! To commemorate the occasion, here are our top 5 favorite facts about eggs [...]

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Today is Easter so we’re re-running one of our favorite Easter posts.

Spring is here and today is the day the Easter Bunny leaves a little surprise on your doorstep. No, we don’t mean rabbit pellets, silly, we’re talking about Easter eggs! To commemorate the occasion, here are our top 5 favorite facts about eggs in cosmetics.easter eggs

1. Beware Botox

The popular wrinkle paralyzing treatment, Botox, is packed in egg albumin to increase its stability. So if you have an egg allergy – beware the Botox!

2. The awesome ovum

The French company, L’Avenir, has launched a line of products using special technology that allows them to include whole eggs in topical cosmetic formulations. Until now, egg yolks couldn’t be used in creams and lotions because they could cause spoilage.

3. Oily eggs

We recently blogged about Phyto Phytonectar Oil Treatment. Did you know one of its ingredients is egg oil? Did you even know you could get oil from an egg? It’s true: eggs are rich in cholesterol-type compounds which can be extracted to yield rich emollient oils.

4. Walking on eggshells

We’ve had a lot of interest in our upcoming project on mineral cosmetics and many mineral cosmetics use calcium carbonate as a base. Guess what? Eggshells are 95% calcium carbonate, so they can be used to make mineral cosmetics.

5. Egg shampoo

Finally and most famously, there’s egg shampoo. Our favorite is Mario Badescu’s Egg Shampoo. It contains only 4 ingredients: Deionized Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, and Egg. Mmmm, I bet that smells good!

Happy Easter everyone!


Source: thebeautybrains.com

2 in China first known deaths from H7N9 bird flu

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2005 file photo, a dove rests at tree near a Chinese sign read as China at a park in Shanghai, China. Two Shanghai men have died from a lesser-known type of bird flu in the first known human deaths from the strain, and Chinese authorities said Sunday, March 31, 2013, that it wasn't clear how they were infected, but that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)BEIJING (AP) — Two Shanghai men have died from a lesser-known type of bird flu in the first known human deaths from the strain, and Chinese authorities said Sunday that it wasn't clear how they were infected, but that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.


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2 in China first known deaths from H7N9 bird flu

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2005 file photo, a dove rests at tree near a Chinese sign read as China at a park in Shanghai, China. Two Shanghai men have died from a lesser-known type of bird flu in the first known human deaths from the strain, and Chinese authorities said Sunday, March 31, 2013, that it wasn't clear how they were infected, but that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)BEIJING (AP) — Two Shanghai men have died from a lesser-known type of bird flu in the first known human deaths from the strain, and Chinese authorities said Sunday that it wasn't clear how they were infected, but that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.


Credit of the story

India's top court to deliver Novartis judgment

FILE – In this Jan. 29, 2007 file photo, Indian police officers block demonstrators protesting against Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG's case against the Indian government on drug patents in New Delhi, India. India's Supreme Court is to rule Monday, April 1, 2013, whether to deny a patent to Novartis AG for its cancer treatment in a landmark case that would allow Indian companies to continue producing cheaper versions of many lifesaving medicines. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File)NEW DELHI (AP) — India's Supreme Court is to rule Monday on a landmark patent case involving Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG that focuses on demands by major companies that their investments be protected, against Indian companies that say they should be allowed to continue producing cheaper generic versions of many lifesaving medicines.


Courtesy of Yahoo News

Saturday, March 30, 2013

5 Eating Tips For a Guilt-Free Easter

Easter is a day of celebration and indulgence in wine, red meats, and sugary sweets. While it's easy to go overboard in the Easter feast, it's all about balance. Yes, you are allowed your Cadbury Creme Eggs, but use these tips to keep you from completely falling off your diet plan.

  1. Start with the real breakfast of champions: You may not be able to control what's served at the brunch table, but you certainly can control what you eat when you wake up. Make a giant green smoothie or juice, to load up on nutrients and filling fiber.
  2. Drink plenty of water: Place thin cucumber and lemon slices in your water glass for a liver-detoxing and digestion-aiding beverage.
  3. Fill up on veggies: Before you dive into the cheese plate or Easter basket full of candy, munch on a plate full of veggie sticks or salad. The fiber will fill you up, so you are less inclined to overindulge in the bad stuff.
  4. Remember your serving sizes: Serve half of the plate with veggies, a quarter with grains, and a quarter with protein. If you prefer stricter measurements, forget the cups and teaspoons, and use your hand as a measuring cup. One thumb equals one serving of cheese. An open palm equals one serving of meat. A closed fist is one serving of fruit or vegetables. A cupped hand is one serving of grains.
  5. Enjoy bread and candy last: After you've filled up on veggies and protein, then enjoy the bread and butter, Peeps, jellybeans, or chocolate-covered caramels. While it's tempting to inhale five or six candies in one sitting, slow down and thoroughly savor each bite.
Read more...

Friday, March 29, 2013

Celiac diagnoses rose during 2000s: study

By Andrew M. Seaman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The number of Americans diagnosed with celiac disease continued to rise over the past decade but leveled off in 2004, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data on a small but representative sample of people living in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and found that between the years 2000 and 2010, the number of new cases of celiac disease increased from about 11 people per 100,000 to about 17 people per 100,000. "We're finding a lot more celiac disease," said Dr. ... Credit of the story

Sony, Olympus delay medical venture as regulatory approval on hold

Sony, Olympus delay medical venture as regulatory approval on hold

A logo of Sony is pictured at an electronic store in TokyoTOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp and Olympus Corp have again delayed the start of a joint venture to develop medical equipment because they have yet to gain approval from some regulators. "The examination by the relevant authority is taking longer than expected," the two companies said in a statement. They did not set a new date for operations to start. Plans by the Japanese companies to establish a joint venture to design and build medical devices have struggled to win approval in China, according to a source at one of the corporations familiar with the matter. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Scientists criticize Italy for allowing unproven stem cell therapy

By Catherine Hornby ROME (Reuters) - Scientists have criticized an Italian government decree allowing a group of terminally-ill patients to continue using an unproven stem cell treatment, saying such therapies may cause harm and risk exploiting desperate people. The treatment, created by the privately-owned Stamina Foundation, was banned by Italian medicines regulator AIFA last year after it inspected their laboratories, leading to a series of legal challenges by families of patients. ... Original Source

Brazilian doctor charged with 7 murders, may have killed 300: investigator

Brazilian doctor charged with 7 murders, may have killed 300: investigator

A view is seen of Hospital Evangelico where doctor Soares de Souza is accused of having killed up to 300 patients in CurtibaBy Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazilian doctor who was charged with killing seven patients to free up beds at a hospital intensive care unit may have been responsible for as many as 300 deaths, according to a Health Ministry investigator. Prosecutors said Dr. Virginia Soares de Souza and her medical team administered muscle relaxing drugs to patients, then reduced their oxygen supply, causing them to die of asphyxia at the Evangelical Hospital in the southern city of Curitiba. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

Restaurant meals for kids fail nutrition test: consumer group

By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The menus offered to children by most U.S. restaurant chains have too many calories, too much salt or fat, and often not a hint of vegetables or fruit, according to a study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The group, which has agitated for everything from healthier popcorn at the movies to calorie labeling in supermarkets, found that among almost 3,500 combinations surveyed, kids' meals failed to meet nutritional standards 97 percent of the time. ... Click here to read the rest

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

How Happiness Affects Your Health

How Happiness Affects Your Health
By Dr. Anjuli Srivastava In recent years, physicians, psychologists and economists have embarked on a journey to illuminate the connection between joy and wellness. Fascinating research exists, and there is value in understanding the effect of happiness on our lives. To start a conversation about...
Source: abcnews.go.com

Drop and Give Me Om: 4 Exercises That Complement Any Yoga Practice

Drop and Give Me Om: 4 Exercises That Complement Any Yoga Practice

Being a yoga purist might not be doing your body justice. A consistent yoga practice lengthens and strengthens muscles with time, but if you're ready to feel stronger in class now, a little cross-training goes a long way. Challenging your muscles outside of class will help you feel more comfortable and confident in new poses; maybe you'll even feel tough enough to try that Handstand Scorpion someday!

If you're a committed yogi, moving through these exercises might seem a little foreign at first. Trust that they'll only deepen your relationship with the asanas.

Source: Megan Wolfe Photography at J+K Fitness Studio and Jenny Sugar

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Record gene haul points to better cancer screening

Record gene haul points to better cancer screening

Cancer cells are seen on a big screen connected to a microscope at the CeBit computer fair in Hanover.By Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) - New research has nearly doubled the number of genetic variations implicated in breast, prostate and ovarian cancer, offering fresh avenues for screening at-risk patients and, potentially, developing better drugs. The bumper haul of 74 gene changes that can increase risks for the three hormone-related cancers, announced by scientists on Wednesday, is the result of the largest ever study of its kind. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Michigan official seeks grand jury to probe meningitis outbreak

Michigan official seeks grand jury to probe meningitis outbreak

Framingham police officers keep watch as federal agents search the New England Compounding Center company in Framingham, MassachusettsBy Dawson Bell LANSING, Mich (Reuters) - Michigan's attorney general on Tuesday asked state courts to authorize a grand jury to investigate whether a company linked to a deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections broke any state laws. The outbreak, linked to tainted steroids shipped in 2012 by the Massachusetts-based New England Compounding Center, has killed 51 people and sickened 730, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A representative of NECC declined to comment on the Michigan attorney general's announcement. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

Study Clarifies Link Between Fertility Treatments and Neurological Problems In Kids

Study Clarifies Link Between Fertility Treatments and Neurological Problems In Kids
Children born from in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments have shown a higher risk of developmental problems, but what is responsible for the heightened risk?
Source: news.yahoo.com

How Cold Sores Could Hamper Memory

The latest research shows that viral and bacterial infections could have lasting legacies on cognition. Read more

Monday, March 25, 2013

Inspection yields another compound pharmacy recall

BOSTON (Reuters) - The crackdown on specialty pharmacies that compound drugs into customized doses on Monday yielded another recall after an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration. Pallimed Solutions Pharmacy, which specializes in treating erectile dysfunction, said it issued a voluntary recall of 16 sterile compound products, including injectable testosterone. Pallimed of Woburn, Massachusetts, also said it agreed to stop all sterile compounding activities. ... Get the complete story

The best beauty looks at the 2013 Kids’ Choice Awards

The best beauty looks at the 2013 Kids’ Choice Awards
Forget the red carpet—for the Kids’ Choice Awards on March 23rd in Los Angeles, it was all about the orange carpet! On it walked teen and adult celebs, including top-paid female actress Kristen [...]

Forget the red carpet—for the Kids’ Choice Awards on March 23rd in Los Angeles, it was all about the orange carpet! On it walked teen and adult celebs, including top-paid female actress Kristen Stewart; Justin Bieber’s ex, Selena Gomez; and pregnant pop star Fergie. We’re taking beauty notes on a few key looks: Victoria Justice’s effortless waves, Lucy Hale’s hot pink lips and Jessica Alba’s hit of emerald green liner. Click through the pics to see all the looks (and when you get to the end, can you help figure out why Karina Smirnoff is doing that to her lips?). Fun times!


Source: beautyeditor.ca

Early number sense plays role in later math skills

Early number sense plays role in later math skills

This image provided by the University of Missouri shows an illustration part of a University of Missouri study that examined first-graders’ "number system knowledge." That’s how well they understand such things as that numbers represent quantities. Youngsters who didn’t have a good grasp of these concepts went on have lower scores on a key math skills test years later when they were in seventh grade. We know a lot about how babies learn to talk, and youngsters learn to read. Now scientists are unraveling the earliest building blocks of math _ and what children know about numbers as they begin first grade seems to play a big role in how well they do everyday calculations later on. (AP Photo/University of Missouri)WASHINGTON (AP) — We know a lot about how babies learn to talk, and youngsters learn to read. Now scientists are unraveling the earliest building blocks of math — and what children know about numbers as they begin first grade seems to play a big role in how well they do everyday calculations later on.



Source: news.yahoo.com

AstraZeneca settles Crestor patent row

AstraZeneca settles Crestor patent row

A worker leaves the AstraZeneca research facility in LoughboroughBy Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has seen off a remaining threat to its top-selling cholesterol drug Crestor by settling a U.S. legal case with generic firms Watson Laboratories, a unit of Actavis , and Egis . The settlement follows a U.S. appeal court ruling in December involving other firms upholding the patent on the medicine, which AstraZeneca is relying on as sales of other products tumble. AstraZeneca said on Monday that Watson and Egis had both conceded the Crestor substance patent was valid under the latest deal. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Avoid These 10 Immune System Snags

Avoid These 10 Immune System Snags
Science-backed tips to help you stay healthy.
Source: abcnews.go.com

Heart repair breakthroughs replace surgeon's knife

Heart repair breakthroughs replace surgeon's knife

In this Monday, March 11, 2013 photo, Atlanta cardiologist Dr. Spencer King demonstrates how a catheter is used to repair a diseased heart valve, at an American College of Cardiology conference in San Francisco. Many problems that used to require open-heart surgery now can be treated with minimally invasive procedures. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Have a heart problem? If it's fixable, there's a good chance it can be done without surgery, using tiny tools and devices that are pushed through tubes into blood vessels.



Source: news.yahoo.com

Avoid These 10 Immune System Snags

Avoid These 10 Immune System Snags
Science-backed tips to help you stay healthy.
Source: abcnews.go.com

Friday, March 22, 2013

Is fluoride toothpaste giving me cancer?

Is fluoride toothpaste giving me cancer?
Michelle says: I am not even sure I trust the dentists to do the teeth whitening. They say they can carefully control the application, but I am still really skeptical that the H2O2 itself cannot do long term damage to the enamel – and if one wants to be cynical – more business for them [...]

Post image for Is fluoride toothpaste giving me cancer?

Michelle says: I am not even sure I trust the dentists to do the teeth whitening. They say they can carefully control the application, but I am still really skeptical that the H2O2 itself cannot do long term damage to the enamel – and if one wants to be cynical – more business for them in the future in terms of cavities. After all this is still a profession that gives patients high dose fluoride treatments when the ex-head of the EPA under Clinton stated that when they did their internal testing, there was no more potent carcinogen than fluoride, and informed governments around the world are starting to remove it from the water supply.

The Beauty Brains respond:

Michelle’s comment comes from our recent post on using OxyClean to whiten teeth and we felt it deserved a quick rebuttal.

Is there a link between fluoride and cancer?

Fluoride and tooth decay share a long and interesting history. It all started with the discovery that people living in areas with water supplies with naturally occurring fluoride had lower incidence of cavities. This knowledge led to the addition of fluoride not only to toothpastes but to public drinking water. The latter prompted rumors of a Communist conspiracy which, mostly, have faded away.  Health concerns associated with fluoride remain but there seems to be little data to indicate there’s really a problem in regard to cancer. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, adding fluoride to water supplies has been “one of the greatest achievements in public health in the 20th century.”

More importantly, multiple animal and human studies have failed to show a link between fluoride and cancer. Researchers reviewed over 2.2 million cancer death records and 125,000 cancer case records from places where fluoridated water is used and found no indication of increased cancer risk. You can read all the details at cancer.gov.

Are governments removing fluoride from water supplies?

Michelle’s comment about “informed governments” removing fluoride from drinking water is interesting but we could find no evidence to support that notion. It is true that too much fluoride can cause a condition called fluoridosis which can initially cause teeth to turn mottled and brown eventually cause irreversible skeletal and nerve damage.  This condition is a problem in parts of the world which have high exposure to fluoride due eating food grown with fluoride-containing fertilizers, drinking ground water contaminated with excess fluoride, or breathing fumes generated by burning fluoride-containing coal. In those areas where this problem exists UNICEF is working on de-fluoridation programs with local governments. However this has nothing to do with cancer risk and it does NOT mean that governments are eliminating water fluoridation programs in areas that need it (in other words, areas that have low levels of naturally occurring fluoride.)

The bottom line

At the time of this writing, Michelle just posted an additional comment with some references that make a case against fluoride. You can read it here.  If you time to jump down the rabbit hole, we suggest you read this reference she provided. We responded with additional references from skeptical websites that basically repeat what we’ve said above. It looks like this controversy rages on and while we appreciates Michelle’s point of view we’re not convinced. Hopefully, if fluoride really is dangerous,  something will turn up in the mainstream, peer-reviewed scientific literature. In the meantime we’ll keep brushing with our Colgate with fluoride.

Image credit: http://fc07.deviantart.net/


Source: thebeautybrains.com

We Think the Future Is Closer Than the Past

A recent study finds that we might think of time as though we are literally moving through it. Christie Nicholson reports Read more

Meningitis Spreading Via Anonymous Sex in NYC

New York City health officials are urging some men to get vaccinated against meningitis amid an outbreak that has sickened 22 New Yorkers and killed seven. The dangerous strain of bacterial meningitis appears to be spreading through sexual encounters between men who meet through websites... Click here to read the rest

Why Should You Choose Laser Hair Removal?

Adding hair removal to the list of things lasers are useful for is now a reality. If you're tired of having to constantly shave and or use tweezers, or never want to suffer through the pain of waxing again, lasers are an alternative worth considering for hair removal. Laser hair removal is becoming the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the States as more and more people warm up to the thought of it. Source

Supreme Court to decide on deals to delay cheaper drugs

People line up for admission at the U.S. Supreme Court in WashingtonBy Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday over whether big drug companies can settle patent litigation with generic rivals by making deals to keep cheaper products off the market. U.S. and state regulators say the practice costs consumers, insurers and government billions of dollars annually. The Federal Trade Commission, which has dubbed these arrangements "pay for delay," has fought them in court for more than a decade with mixed success, culminating in the case now before the Supreme Court. ...


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Supreme Court to decide on deals to delay cheaper drugs

People line up for admission at the U.S. Supreme Court in WashingtonBy Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday over whether big drug companies can settle patent litigation with generic rivals by making deals to keep cheaper products off the market. U.S. and state regulators say the practice costs consumers, insurers and government billions of dollars annually. The Federal Trade Commission, which has dubbed these arrangements "pay for delay," has fought them in court for more than a decade with mixed success, culminating in the case now before the Supreme Court. ...


Read more

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Study finds no constipation, colon cancer link

By Trevor Stokes NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Long-term constipation doesn't raise risk for colon and rectal cancers according to a new analysis of the existing evidence. Past studies had suggested a possible connection, but researchers said those results may have been skewed by poor study designs. "Someone who's got chronic constipation is unlikely to be associated with colon cancer now or in the future," said study author Dr. Alexander Ford, senior lecturer at the St. James's University Hospital's Leeds Gastroenterology Institute in the UK. ... Get the complete story

Why do fingernails grow faster than toenails?

Why do fingernails grow faster than toenails?
One of our favorite daily pleasures is reading the post of the day from Today I Found Out. It’s a hodge-podge of esoteric information that never fails to entertain. Case in point – they recently addressed the question “Why don’t fingernails grow at the same rate.” Nail knowledge You should really check out the full answer, [...]

Post image for Why do fingernails grow faster than toenails?

One of our favorite daily pleasures is reading the post of the day from Today I Found Out. It’s a hodge-podge of esoteric information that never fails to entertain. Case in point – they recently addressed the question “Why don’t fingernails grow at the same rate.”

Nail knowledge

You should really check out the full answer, but here’s a quick recap. In case you never thought about it, the nails on your fingers and toes do grow at different rates. For fingers that rate is about 3.5 millimeters per month and for toenails it’s about 1.6 mm per month. No one knows for sure why this is true but there is a good theory that explains why nails grow at different rates. It involves the idea of “micro-trauma.”

Nail growth is determined to a large extent by blood supply. So, all other factors being equal, the nails that get the greatest supply of nutrients from the blood will grow the fastest? Interestingly, increased blood flow can be triggered by injury.  (The body’s natural reaction is to send more blood and nutrients to damaged areas.  Because your hands are constantly interacting with the environment your finger nails experience a greater degree of tapping and bumping than your toenails do (since they’re tucked away in your socks and shoes.) It’s thought that this constant barrage of “micro-trauma” is enough to trigger the body’s defense mechanism. So, more stress on the nail results in more blood flow which leads to more growth.  Clever, huh?

Image credit:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Fingernail_label.jpg


Source: thebeautybrains.com

Should science on brain injury inspire a ban on boxing?

Should science on brain injury inspire a ban on boxing?

File photo of two eleven-year-old Cuban boys facing each other in the ring during a boxing training session at an Old Havana neighbourhood boxing gymBy Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent LONDON (Reuters) - When Ireland's Katie Taylor was taking hits and striking blows for boxing's Olympic debut in an east London ring last year, John Hardy did not want to look. To this leading neuroscientist and molecular biologist, a boxing bout is little more than a session of mutual brain injury. He was horrified to see women boxing at Olympic level for the first time at the London 2012 Games. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Two More Compounding Pharmacies Recall Drugs Over Infection Fears

Two More Compounding Pharmacies Recall Drugs Over Infection Fears

Two More Compounding Pharmacies Recall Drugs Over Infection FearsFearing Contamination, Two Compounding Pharmacies Recall Drugs



Source: news.yahoo.com

Health officials: 1 in 50 school kids have autism

NEW YORK (AP) — A government survey of parents says 1 in 50 U.S. schoolchildren has autism, surpassing another federal estimate for the disorder. Click here to read the rest

Top Nutritionists Share 3 Ways to Evaluate Your Diet's

You know you've got to change your diet, but you're not sure where to start. We asked three nutritionists for their tips on how to evaluate eating habits to see how diet, good or bad, affects you. Read their tips below.

1. Ask Yourself These Questions
Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian and author of S.A.S.S. Yourself Slim, recommends clients ask themselves five questions so they can realize how off track they are. "If you answered no to any of these questions, you may be missing some things. However, you may already know this! The trick is finding ways to fill in the gaps each and every day," she explains.

  1. Do you eat at least two servings of fruit and three of veggies every single day, one serving being a cup, about the size of a tennis ball?
  2. Do you eat only or primarily whole rather than refined grains (brown or wild rice instead of white, whole-grain versions of bread, crackers, pasta, etc.)?
  3. Do you eat lean protein at every meal (beans, lentils, poultry, seafood)?
  4. Do you include healthy plant-based fats in each meal (avocado, nuts, seeds, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil)?
  5. Do you drink water with every meal?

2. Take a Blood Test
Blood work can help you recognize exactly what your diet is missing, says nutritionist Melissa Costello, founder of Karma Chow. In addition, just the act of eating cleaner will help your body understand what it does and doesn't need. "The cleaner we eat, the more the body will want clean food and begin to push out the bad foods," Melissa says. "It's a process, and can take time, but our bodies are so intuitive, and if we learn to listen to them, they will get what they need."

3. Keep a Food Journal

The best way to recognize holes in your diet, says registered dietitian Erin Palinski, is to journal everything you eat for three days. You might be surprised at how little produce you are actually getting. "On average, only one in three people get two or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This means your diet would be lacking in essential fiber and many nutrients, especially magnesium and potassium, which help to regulate healthy blood pressure levels," Erin says. "With heart disease being the number one killer of women and high blood pressure being a major risk factor for heart disease, it's critical to evaluate your diet and make sure you are getting in enough of these essential nutrients." She recommends getting potassium and magnesium from foods like tomatoes, whole-grain bread, and yogurt.

Read more...

What kind of product is John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer?

What kind of product is John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer?
LynCaf asks..This Flyaway Tamer stuff works really well at doing what it’s supposed to do. It flattens out flyaways without leaving anything heavy or sticky behind, and they stay in place all day. But $7-9 for 0.5 fl oz seems a little steep. I was thinking that I could refill the container (which is like [...]

Post image for What kind of product is John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer?

LynCaf asks..This Flyaway Tamer stuff works really well at doing what it’s supposed to do. It flattens out flyaways without leaving anything heavy or sticky behind, and they stay in place all day. But $7-9 for 0.5 fl oz seems a little steep. I was thinking that I could refill the container (which is like an extra large mascara tube) with something else once I use it up. But I can’t figure out what would work like this! It’s thicker than hairspray, but it’s not sticky like gel or liquid gel. Any ideas?

The Beauty Brains respond:

Let’s take a look at the ingredients to see what makes this thing tick.

John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer

Water, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Polyquaternium 55, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium 11, Diazolidinyl Urea, Fragrance, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Tocopherol.

It so happens that Frieda’s Luminous Color Glaze product has essentially the exact same ingredients! The Full Repair product sells for about $7-9 per 0.5 ounce (or about $16 per ounce) but the Color Glaze product costs about $6.00 for a 6 ounce bottle which makes is $1 per ounce.

One word of warning

We’ve seen two or three different versions of this product online and they all have different ingredients. One has dyes added to provide highlights and another has completely different chemistry. Make sure you get the clear one and the one that matches this ingredient list. Here’s a link to Meijer’s site where we found it.

Assuming you can find the right version you should have no problem transferring it to a smaller bottle for use on the go. Think of all the money you’ll save!

Image credit: http://farm8.staticflickr.com


Source: thebeautybrains.com

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Health officials: 1 in 50 school kids have autism

NEW YORK (AP) — A government survey of parents says 1 in 50 U.S. schoolchildren has autism, surpassing another federal estimate for the disorder. Original Source

Prevent Wrinkles By Removing Your Makeup

As a kid, did you ever sit and watch your mother remove her makeup with a bit of cold cream right before bedtime? It didn't make much sense at the time, but now of course it's easy to see that to mom, aging gracefully was just as important a priority as it is to you today. Source

Panel: Thumbs down on anthrax vaccine test in kids

WASHINGTON (AP) — Don't look for testing of the anthrax vaccine to begin in children any time soon. Read more

Monday, March 18, 2013

Tread Lightly: Labels That Translate Calories into Walking Distance Could Induce People to Eat Less

Tread Lightly: Labels That Translate Calories into Walking Distance Could Induce People to Eat Less

Tread Lightly: Labels That Translate Calories into Walking Distance Could Induce People to Eat LessTread Lightly: Labels That Translate Calories into Walking Distance Could Induce People to Eat Less



Source: news.yahoo.com

Sunday, March 17, 2013

China's new premier pledges reform, sees risks

China's new premier pledges reform, sees risks

China's newly elected Premier Li leaves a news conference after the closing session of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in BeijingBy Benjamin Kang Lim and Nick Edwards BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday ensuring economic growth was the top priority for his government, pledging to fight graft, tackle vested interests and calling for an end to a cyber-hacking row with the United States. Li's first news conference as premier, at the close of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp parliament that confirmed his appointment, covered topics that have been the principal focus of recent government rhetoric, with a strong emphasis on the necessity of reform to deliver long-term economic stability. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

U.S. soldier accused of Afghan killings faces "sanity" review

Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales and Judge Col. Jeffery R. Nance is seen in a courtroom sketch as he is arraigned on 16 counts of premeditated murder, six counts of attempted murder and seven of assault at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WashingtoBy Laura L. Myers SEATTLE (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier charged with killing 16 civilians, most of them women and children, near his Army post in Afghanistan is set to undergo a medical review on Sunday to determine his state of mind at the time of the killings and ability to stand trial. The review, known in the military as a "sanity board," will be conducted by three doctors at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, and will be completed by May 1, according to a U.S. Army spokesman. ...


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What's Your Favorite Breakfast Drink?

Many of us only begin to wake up with the help of our morning drink, and luckily many of our favorite breakfast beverages have a variety of health benefits. That can't-miss cup of coffee, for example, reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, among other diseases, while drinking tea has been shown to do the same. And yet another study recently showed that drinking coffee or green tea every day may reduce your risk of stroke.

It's not just warm drinks that can help you out; starting your day with a pressed juice, healthy smoothie, or glass of water with lemon can help you get much-needed nutrients and detox at the same time. So tell us: what's your favorite breakfast drink?

Get the whole story here.

Panasonic considers sale of healthcare business: sources

Panasonic considers sale of healthcare business: sources

A man looks at Panasonic TV sets at an electronic shop in TokyoTOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Corp is considering selling its healthcare business to raise cash as the consumer electronics maker fights to end losses with flat-panel televisions, two sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday. The troubled consumer electronics company has been selling assets, including real estate, to strengthen its finances. "As a part of our growth strategy, we are considering a number of options," a Panasonic spokeswomen said. Panasonic was planning to sell the profitable healthcare business for about 100 billion yen ($1. ...



Source: news.yahoo.com

Saturday, March 16, 2013

EU's planned tobacco curbs break WTO rules, Malawi says

(Blank Headline Received)By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - The European Union's plans for tough new anti-smoking rules would break international trade rules, Malawi has told the World Trade Organization, signaling a potential legal challenge from the developing world. Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, is concerned that EU plans to make cigarettes less attractive to new smokers will hurt a sector which provides more than 60 percent of its foreign exchange earnings, according to a WTO survey in 2010. ...


Courtesy of Yahoo News

Friday, March 15, 2013

What’s it like to go to a fragrance launch… in Paris? Behind the scenes at an over-the-top beauty editor event

What’s it like to go to a fragrance launch… in Paris? Behind the scenes at an over-the-top beauty editor event
Not gonna lie: sometimes being a member of the “beauty media” is pretty darn sweet. Like pinch-me-is-this-really-happening kind of sweet. That’s the only way I can describe a trip I took a few [...]

Not gonna lie: sometimes being a member of the “beauty media” is pretty darn sweet. Like pinch-me-is-this-really-happening kind of sweet.

That’s the only way I can describe a trip I took a few weeks ago to attend the Paris launch of the latest fragrance from the house of Nina Ricci. I mean, it’s not every day that you get invitations like this one:

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch invitation

At least not in my life, as a writer for various Canadian magazines and this here website you’re reading right now! I think I literally jumped up and down, and did a little dance, when I got it.

But since this site IS called BEAUTY EDITOR—and I’m an ex-beauty ed myself—I always like to give you guys a sneak peek behind the scenes of what this weird and wonderful beauty editing world is really like. So here’s the deal: invites like this one, involving international trips, can roll in quite regularly when you work on staff for any of the big magazines. It’s an incredible, extravagant perk, and now that I have a blog I can finally “open the kimono” (as Tim Ferriss would say) and show you how it all goes down.

The launch in question here was Nina L’Eau, a new fresh-floral scent that I was going to be writing about for a magazine (as well as telling you guys about… er, right now). A small group of us from Canada were flown to Paris, put up at an amazing hotel on the Rue Saint-Honoré—a.k.a. the BEST shopping street—and then delivered by our driver (!) to the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild in the 8th arrondissement.

Hotel Salomon de Rothschild

It’s an absolutely majestic building that is also a regular venue for Fashion Week shows and other fashion industry events.

Hotel Salomon de Rothschild

Image via Haïti Action Artistes.

Inside, this is what you’re first greeted with:

Hotel Salomon de Rothschild

Image via Madame Rêve Paris.

It’s all high ceilings, ornate mouldings and crystal chandeliers. So basically, my dream home.

We were led up the stairs and I really had no idea what to expect. Most launches, to be honest, are fairly straightforward presentations where you’re just told about the new product’s features and benefits over canapés and champagne.

Which is all very nice… but what happened next was completely over-the-top. We were told that we were entering the fictional “Nina girl’s” apartment, and in each room there was a teaser where we could discover a different part of her story. This came first:

That’s right—there was a LIVE SNOWY OWL just hangin’ out on a pedastal. (You can tell by my shaky videotaping that I was in shock!)

In another room, we found an enormous life-size silver tree and dry ice swirling all over the ground.

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

The next room was all pretty in pink (and will you look at this chandelier?!?) and we got to watch a video on the screen to further set the mood. (It was about the Nina fairies, and you can watch it here.)

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

By this time, it was dawning on me through my jet lag that this wasn’t the usual beauty launch, so I grabbed my iPhone (the right way ’round this time) and got some more footage just to take it all in:

Then, we entered a room where it was all about the fragrance notes (frosted neroli, apple blossom, gardenia, white musk). So there were platters and platters of the luscious ingredients:

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

I really want one of these tiered bowls of sugared fruit:

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

And how gorgeous is this blue and white pottery?

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

As for the next room, well, remember this guy?

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

It turns out they had not one but two owls at the event—and we were invited to actually HOLD the second one, whose name is Paloma. (Why owls? There’s one in the ad campaign, which I’ll show you in a sec.)

Paloma’s handler had us wear a glove before he perched her on our forearms, where she squawked and flapped her wings. But what an amazing animal! I loved her yellow eyes and beautiful white coat. Here’s the pic they took of us:

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

I have to say, she totally stole the show!

After that, we entered the final room, where we got to see more of the hotel’s grand decor, and rows and rows of the fragrance itself…

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

Here’s a close-up of the frosted glass packaging, meant to echo the frosted neroli note inside:

Nina Ricci L'Eau fragrance

At this point I should probably show you what the ad campaign looks like (you can see how the press event echoed all these elements):

That’s Swedish runway model Frida Gustavsson who’s the face, and she’s telling the story of a girl on the cusp of becoming a woman, which is what this scent is all about. (You get the symbolism with the apple, yes?) They wanted to address the question of what it means to enter womanhood, and to be discovering your powers of seduction and sensuality—but with the brand’s signature femininity, elegance and grace.

The dress Frida wears in the campaign is Nina Ricci couture, of course, and we got to see it up close and personal. (By the way, just to the left of the mannequin in this pic is the guy who created the scent, master perfumer Olivier Cresp.)

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

The gown is a one-of-a-kind that apparently took 15 seamstresses more than 300 hours to make. Here’s the back view (and see if you can spot a certain Beautygeek on the right):

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

Breathtaking. We all see these kinds of dresses on the red carpet, but when you get to view one in person… WOW.

The final touch? Plates of the most decadent French sweets:

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

I couldn’t resist photographing all of them because they were way too pretty:

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

Obviously, I left with a total sugar high.

Nina Ricci L'Eau launch - Paris

After that, we were whisked away from Nina’s dream-world back into reality… although I could’ve stayed inside that “apartment” forever! I’m telling you, it gave me a whole new appreciation for the emotional side of a fragrance. It’s not just about the notes!

Nina L’Eau is out in April for $62 (50 mL) or $74 (80 mL) at all fine department stores and drugstores across Canada.

Tell me:

Can you believe these types of events are par for the course when you’re a beauty ed?
What do you think of the campaign for Nina L’Eau? (And will you try this scent?)
What’s your favourite feminine fragrance?


Source: beautyeditor.ca