Parisian's Pure Indulgence

59 year old confesses- I should know better!

I hate eating breakfast, so there! Okay, well, maybe it's not a major sin (and the one you expected ;-), but it isn't a healthy choice either, especially at my age! 

We need fuel for our bodies first thing in the morning, at any age, but as we get older; it's even more important to keep our blood sugar levels up, throughout the day.

I arise at 6:30 am every morning and don't feel like having anything more than my 1 or 2 cups of coffee, until at least 10:00 am.  I love breakfast foods, just not at breakfast time!

3 years ago I decided that I must do something about my poor breakfast habits.  I discovered my solution at...Costco, in the form of a delicious breakfast smoothie! 

When my husband and I purchased a Vitamix Blender, the Rolls Royce of blenders (were told), I knew we were on to something.  We met, my soon to be best friend, during a friendly Costco demonstration. We stood at the demo booth for 30 minutes, mesmerized, as we watched our demonstrator whip up smoothies, and juices, and soups, oh my!  We sampled them all--isn't that what everyone does at Costco?--everything was delish; especially the smoothies. 

Today, I'm happy to report, I'm officially a breakfast person.  How can I not be happy, with the vast array of summer fruits available for my breakfast drink.  I've made smoothies with everything from vegetables to nuts...flax seed, almond milk, fruit, and occasionally all of the above.  I always come back to my two favorites I'm sharing here.

I use 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in all my smoothies now, almost religiously.  The oil boosts the flavor of the fruit, and gives my shakes a slight coconut flavor.

In case you haven't heard-or aren't on Facebook much-the benefits of incorporating coconut oil into our diet are many.  It's light and tastes great, but it's the health benefits that will keep me adding it to my breakfast drink.

Coconut Oil Benefits:  Using coconut oil can reduce hunger, boost thyroid function,  helping to increase metabolism, energy and endurance. It improves digestion and helps to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. 

Studies show that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketone bodies, supplying energy for the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients and relieving symptoms.

Can it help those of us in our 50's and 60's to prevent Alzheimer's?  We're not sure yet, but studies are being conducted to determine this.  With all the other benefits, I'm going to continue to include it in my morning smoothies; and remain hopeful that it can also help prevent this disease too. 

Smoothie #1

1 small banana

6 strawberries

4-6 raw almonds

1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil

2 Scoops Almased Protein Powder* (or protein powder of your choice)

2 small scoops ice

1-2 tablespoons water if shake is too thick

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

*Almased is the best protein powder I've found. I've tried many, but it's my favorite. I was chosen as on of the Almased success stories.  Read about it on the Almased web site.  

 

Smoothie # 2

 

 12-15 blueberries

6 blackberries

1/2 banana

2 slices pineapple

2-3 Tablespoons pineapple juice

1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil

2 scoops Almased Protein Powder

2 scoops ice

Blend all ingredients until smooth.  To your right is my breakfast or shall I say....brunch!  Yes, that is more to my liking.

I would love to hear what your favorite smoothie is.  Do you add Coconut oil to yours? 

5 Important tips for healthy, youthful looking skin after 50

Have you wondered why the products you used in your 30's and 40's aren't giving you the results you desire in your 50's? Simply put, we have different skin care needs as we mature.

Loss of elasticity and skin dullness are common complaints. Hyperpigmentation--usually sun related, Rosacea--redness, broken capillaries, under eye puffiness (bags!), and adult acne--hormonal, are all issues women over 50 can struggle with.

Here are 5 important tips to keep your skin at its best after 50.

1. Read your product labels - Be sure you are using skin care treatments that contain organic, high performance (plant based)botanicals.  We all know organic foods are better for us. It's the same with our skin care.

If the first ingredient on your skin care label is water--change products.  Do you really want to spend your hard earned dollars on a product containing mostly water?

The ingredients on cosmetic labels have to be listed in descending order of weight.  That means the first ingredient on the list generally makes up about 30%-90% of the product.

You should know--The first ingredient in most Parisian's Pure Indulgence skin care treatments is Organic Aloe Juice.

2. Cleanse and Exfoliate -  After 50 our skin can be dry and dull.   To perk your skin up, use a gentle botanical cleanser daily, and a exfoliating polish, 2-3 times a week.  Polishes are essentially used to get rid of the dead skin cells from our skin. If not cleansed from time to time, these cells can clog pores leading to problems like acne. They also age the skin faster by blocking proper blood circulation. 

*Important* -Please check the exfoliates you use for "Micro beads."  The beads from exfoliating personal care products and toothpastes, are washed down the drain after use, pass unfiltered through the sewage treatment plants and make their way into rivers and canals, resulting in plastic particle water pollution. Read which companies use them and why the Great Lakes are threatened.

3. For the most bang for your buck-Use a Serum -The molecular structure of a serum is designed for better penetration and absorption, and better efficiency in delivering the active (anti-aging) ingredients.  Look for anti-agers Retinol, Peptides, DMAE, MSM, Hyalauronic Acids, Alpha-hyroxy acid, Alpha Lipoic, and high concentrations of Vitamin C in your serums.  Remember, serums work best the longer you use them!

4. Moisturize Twice Daily- Always follow a serum with a good moisturizer.  Moisturizers are thicker and seal serums into your skin.  A good moisturizer will protect your skin from damage, especially if it contains SPF30.  Choose a moisturizer according to your own skin type. If your skin is dry, look for hydrating ingredients like Hyalauronic Acid--water binder, with the ability to attract 100 times its weight in water.  If your skin is sensitive, avoid parfums and fragrances in your moisturizer.

5.  Yes, you need a Eye Creme too!- Here's why:  The under eye area is the first to show your age. The skin is more delicate and drier than the rest of your face. It's also more sensitive. Have you ever used a product that caused your eyes to itch, get red, or tear up?  What the eyes really need are antioxidants, and skin-repairing ingredients, in soothing fragrance-free formulas.

Indulge your skin in Pure, Organic treatments and prepare to have youthful, healthy skin for decades to come!

 

 

 

 

This blog is sure to be my most controversial!

When did we begin to believe being suntan was somehow healthy looking? Seriously, when did SUNTAN=HEALTHY GLOW get programed into our brains?  

Here's what I see, when I look at someone tan:  Skin Cancer, shoe leather skin, wrinkles, someone who will be nipping, tucking, and laser resurfacing their sun worn skin, over and over.

I realize I'm a lone ranger here, why, because we HAVE been programmed to associate a suntan with healthy.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Sun is the greatest threat to your skin’s health and youth”

As a teen, I slapped the baby oil on, spritzed the "Sun in" into my hair and baked with the best of them.  I thought I looked great all golden and blonde!  Little did I know what I was setting myself up for years of sun damage that eventually caught up to me.

When did the Sun Craze begin?

The sun became associated with health when Arnold Rikli, the “sun doctor,” first used light therapy to treat consumption (tuberculosis).  He used light therapy to treat depression and "Madness" as well (madness- interesting huh?).  In the 1920s, many Europeans and Americans considered pale skin a mark of wealth and leisure until the early 20th century.

If there was a single person responsible for popularizing the tan, it was Coco Chanel, who bronzed herself on a yacht in the Mediterranean and declared in 1929, “A girl simply has to be tanned.” 

Historically though, pale skin has indicated high status. A tan signified that you had to work outdoors as a manual laborer, while pale skin announced that you could afford to stay out of the sun and spend time cultivating your mind.

Why are we no longer bursting with praise for our pale white skin?  Why not love and protect our own natural hue.

As Sarah Brown, Vogue’s Beauty Director, commented: “A healthy glow does not mean a tan, and I think that’s what we have to clear up. A healthy glow is your skin tone, glowing.” In 2008, The Skin Cancer Foundation appealed to people to stop tanning with the launch of Go With Your Own Glow, a PSA ad campaign, developed to encourage women to love — and protect — their skin, whatever its natural hue.

On the flip side of the coin, African American and Asian women are flocking to purchase skin lighteners!  UK-based scientist and consultant Dwain Neil proclaims, “Melanin which gives us our darker color protects us from dangerous UV rays. When you damage or remove that protection, you are leaving your skin more vulnerable to developing cancers." 

Ladies, we have to stop!

Stop trying to change what we're born with.

Does this skin look unhealthy to you? What would happen if we actually embraced the hue of the skin we're born into?

 

#IBN30- 8 ways to be Brain Fit after 50

A healthy heart over 50, ensures that our cells gets life-sustaining nutrients and oxygen by pumping blood throughout the body, but the brain is the control tower over our bodies.

According to Be Brain Fit, "Science has proven that being surrounded by clutter interferes with the brain’s ability to process information and is a continual source of stress."  

I just looked around at my desk, and thought, "Well, that explains it!!"  

Is this why I'm easily distracted?!

Research shows cognitive decline may begin in our early 40s--cheery news, eh? While decline may occur, there are many things we can do to challenge our brain, and give it a good workout. I'll be trying a few of these myself.

 

1. Learn to play a musical instrument or speak a new language. Both provide great brain stimulation. Learning a second language can develop new areas of your mind and strengthen your brain's natural ability to focus, entertain multiple possibilities, and process information.

2. If you’ve ever had the urge to embrace your artistic side, why not do it now? Creating art is a wonderful way to stimulate your brain and improve your well-being, 

Dr. Arnold Bresky is a physician who has created a program he calls the “Brain Tune Up” that utilizes art therapy for patients that have Alzheimer’s and dementia.

He has seen a 70% success rate in improvement of his patients’ memories. 

He believes by drawing and painting, they are connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain and growing new brain cells. 

3. Check out the latest Brain game apps for Baby Boomers- Lumosity Brain Training App is actually great fun!  I went to their site while writing this blog and signed up. I started to take some tests, when I realized --once again--I was getting distracted!!  Okay, back to writing.

4. Learn to Dance! - My fav!  Researchers say dancing opens up new pathways in the brain that improve mental capabilities. Keepings pathways active and generating new pathways, help maintain brain health and fitness. 

Dietary Brain fitness 

5. Coconut Oil -  the medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in treating Alzheimer’s disease.  Be sure to use organic, virgin coconut oil.

6. Omega-3 fatty acids - Wild-caught salmon is a top notch brain food due to its high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the most important nutrients for your brain. Grass-fed beef, grass-fed bison, pasture-raised pork, and free-range poultry and eggs are also good sources of brain-essential omega-3s.

7. Watermelon - Watermelon was recently found to have high concentrations of antioxidants, including lycopene, which may help prevent cognitive decline. It also offers significant beta-carotene.

8. Dark Chocolate! - dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Flavonoids are particularly effective at increasing blood flow, which is a key element when it comes to brain power. The better the blood flow to the brain, the more oxygen and nutrients it receives.

I think it's time to go eat some chocolate and clean my desk ;-)