How To Moisturize Skin Naturally

Not taking any credit for this but wanted to share!

How To Moisturize Skin Naturally
By Paula Parker on July 20, 2009

Dry, itchy skin. It's uncomfortable and makes skin look older, who wants that? Using lotions and body oils works for some people, but many people can't use these products due to allergens and a sensitivity to certain skin irritants. For these people, using natural methods and products can moisturize their skin. There are foods you can eat--and supplements you can take--that help your skin retain moisture, too.

Step 1
Take warm--not hot--showers, using a body wash that does not have sodium lauryl sulphate, which can dry skin and cause irritation. While your skin is still damp from the shower, apply a moisturizer that has vegetable oils--like olive, coconut or almond--and not mineral oil, which comes from petroleum.

Step 2
Use a steam bath. If you don't have a steam facial, put a pan of water on the stove--you can add lavender essential oil, which is an antiseptic--and bring the water to a boil. Take the pan off the stove. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the pan until the steam subsides.

Step 3
Peel and mash papaya. Mix in 2 tbsp. of honey. Spread the fruit and honey mixture over your face and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it off and wash your face with a mild hypoallergenic soap. Exederm makes cleansers and moisturizers that are free from allergens and irritants.

Step 4
Add foods and supplements to your diet that promote healthy skin. Magnesium hydrates skin; foods rich in magnesium are meat, seafood, dairy, bananas and tofu. If you take a supplement, use no more than 400 to 800 mg each day. Vitamin A is used to fight wrinkles and can be found in fish oils, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy green vegetables, peaches, apricots, papaya and mango. Vitamin C builds the collagen in your skin; take 50 to 60 mg each day. Vitamin E prevents free radicals and is found in grains, legumes and nuts.

Step 5
Drink 8 ounces of fluids each day. Stay out of the sun, use sunscreen and wear a hat to protect skin from the drying effects of the sun.

Paula Parker - Since 1995, Paula K. Parker has written more than 2000 articles for publications including PB&J, Disney's Family Fun, ParentLife, Living With Teenagers, and Thomas Nelson's NYTimes Best-selling Resolve. After 17 years of homeschooling her five children, Paula discovered that motherhood doesn't stop with an empty nest.

Lack of Energy?

Common Causes of Low Energy & Fat

*Anemia or Low Blood Sugar
*Sleep disorders
*Chronic pain
*Allergies
*Underactive Thyroid
*Use of alcohol or drugs
*Depression, Anxiety and grief

*Poor diet or dieting too much
*Certain medications such as antihistamines, blood pressure meds, and steroids
*Illnesses such as infections, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Energy Boosting Foods
Topping the list of foods found provide to an energy boost include: eggs, figs, molasses, green veggies, almonds, beets, oatmeal, lentils, bananas, sardines, yogurt, apples, brown rice, cantaloupe and parsley. Of course lots of water should be on your menu too, as lack of it is the number one cause of fatigue.

In contrast, foods that can drain your energy levels and drag you down when blood glucose levels plummet after the initial high include:

• fatty, sugary snacks such as doughnuts, pastries
• fatty, salty snacks such as crisps, pork pies
• cakes, biscuits and confectionery
• alcohol - stick to a maximum of one glass of red wine daily if possible

*(Smaller meals throughout the day are much healthier for you and distribute the energy from food more effectively, maintaining balanced sugar levels. Another thing to consider is eating enough. If you drop your calorie intake below 1,000 a day, your body goes into starvation mode and thus slows your metabolism. Your body essentially forces you to slow down so that it can reserve energy.)

Exercise & Deep Breathing
The good news is that any amount of exercise is good for you, whether it's pushups on the living room floor, or doing some stretches in the shower. If you want to try some of the energy and body work methods, yoga, tai chi, qigong and reiki are all said to help improve energy levels. Try taking a few deep breaths while waiting at a red light or sitting on hold... The oxygen = energy and the bonus is relaxation!

Herbal Boosters, Nutrients and Vitamins

Make sure you get enough vitamin D, Iron, Zinc and vitamin E...

Some herbs shown to increase energy include: ginger, gingko biloba, licorice root, Siberian ginseng, carnitine, creatine, trimethylglycine, maca, rhodeola, royal jelly, turmeric, gotu kola, green tea, and maitake. Bee pollen is another thing you can try, often referred to as a "superfood".

If stress is the cause of your low energy levels, you can help counteract the effects by taking a special B-50 vitamin formula which contains more B vitamins than regular vitamin formulas. Other supplements you may benefit from include: L- Carnitine, coQ10, and NADH.

DTV - How's that workin' out for ya?

An initial web search will bring up a whole page of FCC and DTV websites dedicated to telling you the "good news" about DTV but scroll forward a few pages and the the news is not so cheery.
This was not a successful conversion for many and definitely not as inexpensive for the end user as it was advertised to be.
Why the delay from Feb to June? This was not just a matter of just hooking a little $40 box to a TV in 25% of homes (20M or so...) in the US... It was much bigger and more costly than that!

My opinion: There isn't more hype about the lack of available free TV or the cost/inconvenience to convert because the outlets to express disapproval are limited and many of those "suffering" with the change are not utilizing public outlets (such as the internet - many can't afford the internet in this economy!) to express concerns but calling gov't 800 numbers instead. Those who are using the internet sites are posting to blogs and commentary sites... that you will not find unless you are looking for them...

Oh - check out some of the reporting I found once I scrolled past the first 100 search results that support the DTV Conversion...
Consumer Affairs
Associated Content
IEEE Spectrum: Inside Technology
Twin Cities
KWQC in IA
Fox News
KYMA News
fox4kc discussion
topix poll - why so few respondents?
Do a google search for "Not happy with the DTV conversion" and scroll a few pages... if you are struggling with the conversion, you will find many others in your boat!


On a side note: Who has noticed that all convert boxes have a "built-in energy saver"? They automatically shut off after and hour or two of operation... ahhhhh...

Help for your everyday techie questions...

The Kim Komando Show: America's top weekend talk radio program about all things digital! Free tips, downloads, software, newsletters, advice, buying guide and more! What ever your technical/digital question may be, be sure to check out Kim Komando's website for a simple answer!

Rock on Kim!

*I have not been paid to endorse this.

Email Forwards: Which ones are junk?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while...
A recent rash of unbelievable email forwards inspired this post.

Before you forward things (missing child, "beware of..." or other take action emails) please do yourself and others a favor and check the facts... use a site like Snopes.com. No need to go spreading half-truths and rumors!

Happy Thursday!