151 BEAUTY SECRETS
INTRODUCTIONPeople have obsessed about beauty since the beginning of time. The apple that Eve bit into was the first step into a worldview out of balance. Every civilization has its own definitions for beauty. In Ancient Egypt, both men and women applied natural pigments to their skin. This colored their bodies as they attempted to achieve favor with their “gods” because of their improved appearance. Jewelry and headdresses have been used by people with the intent to enhance their appearance. This has been true throughout all of history as people attempted to be viewed as more attractive to others. Roman women applied henna to their hair and made elaborate tattoos on their bodies. This is still true for some Arabic and Hindu and Greek women. Botticelli shows women as cherubs well rounded or “saftig” in his historical artwork. The contemporary trends of body piercing and tattooing are more of a resurrection of historical customs, rather than innovative and new practices. We will look at specific tips, old and new, to help you meet the current understanding of society’s definition of beauty. Let us begin. BEAUTY THROUGH THE AGESDon’t be deceived. It is not new for men and women to be concerned with the appearance of a beautiful body. Think about it. All the way back to ancient Egyptian times men and women have shown interest in the appearance of their bodies. Egyptians were as concerned about pleasing the “gods” as they were interested in personal enhancement. Truthfully, they seemed to be preparing their bodies more for the afterlife than for the present life. Just read about the excavations of tombs and mummies and study their findings. Remarkable and detailed pictorial displays show the extravagance of the aristocracy. Really, spend a little while looking at the details of some archeology reports from ancient Egypt. The abundance of silver and gold bracelets, pendants with jade or lapis, or gold rings with semi-precious stones is all evidence of a serious and deep connection to beauty and embellishment. Perhaps silver was more highly valued as a precious metal than gold was at that time. It was used widely to adorn the pots and boxes that contained their beauty supplies and materials. Many people wore false braids or wigs with threaded with jewels. Ornate pins and combs used by women were made from bronze, copper or silver. Even so, this was not only a matter of vanity. Much of their ornamentation and symbolism was related to their spiritual beliefs that particular metals were linked to powers from the gods. Both men and women painted their eyes a bright green with a copper based substance. They colored their lips with ochre red clay. Ornate hairstyles were special for the ancient Greeks. Each hairdo displayed a message proclaiming marital status, age, and social status. It was an expression of vanity. The Romans did similar things with hair as personal expression of rank and class. Women in ancient China wore jewelry also. Their preferences were jade and gold. Jade was only accessible for the wealthy. It was deemed more valuable than gold. When you think about the vanity of people around you today, keep in mind that it comes to us naturally from our ancestors. They too paid attention to beauty and adornments. Beauty. Is it truly only skin deep? Now there is the paradox. It is and it is not. Genuine beauty does start from the inside and is expressed outside. Wouldn’t you like to wiggle your nose and magically restore your soft baby skin? We really are out here with ‘what you see is what we got’ now. Unless some ingenious character finds a ‘Fountain of Youth’. Some ways to keep your skin fresh and healthy include these favorites: 1. Keep yourself hydrated. Drink WATER. And then drink MORE WATER. Drink eight glasses of water daily. Real glasses, not juice cups. Do not count soda or any other liquid even the low calorie varieties. They have high concentrations of sodium usually. Sodium works to retain fluid in your body. You need to keep that fluid flowing to free your body from toxins. Flush them out with water. 2. Protect your skin from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. We love being in the sun and having a terrific tan. But the facts show us that we can poison ourselves with too much sunlight. UV rays can cause skin cancer and causes skin to age faster. This contributes to those unwanted wrinkles. If the sun calls you to playtime, be sure to apply an effective sunscreen. Do not go out without it. 3. Apply sunscreen even for quick trips to the grocery store. Yes, you can get harmful UV rays even while driving your car! 4. Pay attention to the sunscreen you buy. There are different types of UV rays and they work in different ways. The time of year also makes a difference in how much damage the sun can do to your skin. Altitude is also important. UV rays are more intense at high altitudes. It is not only sunshine. It is UV rays. You can damage your skin on cloudy days. 5. Remember to use sunscreen on your lips too. 6. Put that sunscreen on BEFORE you go outdoors! Give sunscreen time to soak into your skin cells. 7. Read labels. All skin care products are not equal. Some have ingredients that can do more harm to your skin than good. A general rule of thumb is that the more ingredients on the list, the more potential there is for damage. These ingredients may irritate your skin:
8. Some ingredients are banned by the Food and Drug Administration and should be avoided:
9. Keep clean. Do not scrub your skin or you may cause damage. Use a warm and soft cloth. 10. Remember to exfoliate dead skin cells nightly. 11. Use genuine and creative facial masks. Excellent examples are sometimes made with regular ingredients in your kitchen.
12. Give yourself a facial with milk of magnesia. Use it straight from the liquid container and leave it on your face for about ten minutes before rinsing with warm water. 13. Use essential oils to moisturize dry skin.
14. If your skin is sensitive, try a Pepto Bismol facial. Apply with a soft cotton ball directly from the bottle. It soothes your skin just as it soothes the stomach. Cover your face and neck and let it dry before rinsing. 15. Use an antioxidant cream. Your skin is your first line of defense against environmental toxins that attack daily. Most damage to the skin comes from free radicals. When you expose yourself to toxins like air pollution or cigarette smoke, free radical production increases. Apply an antioxidant cream to your skin before applying your sun screen. 16. If you have oily skin, only apply a toner in the T zone, your forehead and nose. 17. To cure wrinkles, do not get them! Listen to your Mother. Stay in the shade. Cover your face. Stand up straight. Stop frowning. Stop squinting. 18. Unlike Cleopatra, in these days of nuclear energy and innovative technology wrinkles can become a thing of the past, for us. “Laser skin resurfacing” is supposed to work for those fine lines and wrinkles of any depth. This technique may make you think of the “light swords” in Star Wars movies. It zaps and vaporizes the lines and wrinkles. It is an outpatient treatment conducted in the doctor's office. Healing is supposed to take about a week. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is much faster than deep chemical peels or dermabrasion. 19. A less costly alternative treatment is a skin peel. Dermabrasion is one type. It sands the top few layers of your skin off, just like refinishing furniture! The procedure uses a rotating wire brush that even removes deep wrinkles. 20. A less abrasive treatment (pun intended) is a deep peel. This process uses an acid and is for moderately deep wrinkles. It is not as stable as laser resurfacing because there is not as much control over the acid solution. 21. A glycolic or beta peel will not change your wrinkles much but it will improve general skin tone and is less expensive. 22. Retin A can smooth fine wrinkles and give a healthy glow that removes mottling and gives a youthful blush to your skin. 23. Collagen injections seem simpler. They are temporary though. They last only a few months so you will need to repeat the treatment often. 24. Use hot wax instead of shaving your legs. It is much gentler on your skin. 25. One summer facial includes a tablespoon of brandy and a smashed peach. Put it on your face for about twenty minutes before rinsing. It is refreshing and zesty. 26. If your eyes are watery and red from allergies, fix them. Many medications are available to reduce or eliminate these symptoms. Red eyes detract from your appearance swiftly, like nothing else does. 27. Choose your eyeglasses to complement your eyes and not hide them. Select frames that are attractive. If yours detract from your appearance go back and ask a different sales person. 28. Consider switching to contact lenses if you can wear them. Remember to remove contact lenses when swimming. They can easily get lost in the pool. If you wear soft lenses you are vulnerable to a cornea infection from a parasite that lives in water. It is not killed by chlorine. It is a painful corneal infection that can cause partial or total blindness. 29. Take a look at different colored lenses. A complete makeover may be hiding for you within blue lenses. 30. Check out lasik. Lasik is a treatment for nearsightedness. If you are suited for this type of laser surgery it may give you a totally new perspective on life. Remember it is a surgical procedure. Take your time be sure you are visiting an experienced and skilled surgeon who has successfully completed many lasik procedures. 31. Vitamins matter. You can improve your sight and overall health of your eyes. Take vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene for your eyes. 32. Avoid caffeine. Caffeine has adverse effects on the process of focusing. That means coffee, tea, soda and chocolate. If you can’t eliminate them, at least cut back! 33. Use eye drops with caution. Artificial tears are okay. Limit or avoid using vasoconstrictors. They may simply make your eyes redder. They shrink the blood vessels on the surface of your eye. Ask your healthcare professional if you need more explanation on the differences. THE EYES HAVE IT!Did you know . . . eye makeup worn by the ancient Egyptians was more than just cosmetic? Both men and women used eye makeup. Surely it was decorative. It was also used for medicinal purposes and magical reasons. The Egyptian word for eye-palette is derived from their word "protect." If eyes had no makeup they were “unprotected”. Such an eye was at risk from the “Evil Eye”. So, while you apply your eye makeup, think about its history. It is a rite of protection that dates all the way back to Cleopatra. It was passed on through all this time to Betty Boop and to you. 34. Replace your eye makeup often. Mascara needs to be replaced at least every 6 weeks. The 21st century woman with her drawer filled with makeup magic is just as likely to still have the same tube used the night of the prom in that drawer. If so, toss it today. When you used the same mascara repeatedly you are susceptible to infections. Bacteria live and flourish on your mascara wand, even in your drawer. Get rid of it before it gives you trouble. 35. Apply a specialized eye moisturize to keep the tissues around your eyes soft and pliable. This skin is very thin and easily damaged. 36. Use a mascara that is specially formulated to produce a curling effect it you rather not use an eyelash curler. 37. The smoky, sultry look can be achieved with an eyeliner pencil and liquid. Apply the pencil and then smudge gently. Then apply your liner. Be careful. You do not need much. You will love the look. 38. Powdering your eyelashes before using mascara creates a better bond for the mascara to cling onto. 39. If your eyes are “puffy”, soak two teabags in cold water then place one gently on each eyelid. 40. A hemorrhoid cream will shrink puffy eye tissue almost immediately by reducing the swelling. 41. Dark circles can be reduced by placing a slice of raw potato under each eye. 42. Contrary eyebrows need to be defined and tamed. Use a toothbrush that has been sprayed lightly with hair spray. Gently brush the eyebrows and they will stay where you put them. HAND IT OFF!Did you know . . . we still use many beauty treatments from ancient times? One example is the East Indian art of painting hands and feet with henna. In India this custom is known as Mendhi has been performed for generations not only in India, but in the Middle East, in Pakistan and also in Africa. Traditionally women in India painted henna on their feet and hands, on the inside of their arms and up their shins for special occasions like weddings. These beautiful patterns on the hands are especially intricate. Your hands reveal your age by their condition. Some tips to protect those hands and reduce the damage to your skin may help. 43. Mendhi may not be especially viable for everyday USA, it might be one way to cover up some of those age spots. Try this. Put vitamin E oil directly on the spots to fade them. 44. Porcelana has been used since your Grandma was a young gal. For decades it has been used to remove age spots. 45. Protect your wrists too. If you are spending hours at a computer be sure to use a wrist rest to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. 46. Your nails? What kind? Do yours press on? Paint on? Or Glue on? Abundant choices are available. Make your selection. If you decide to have acrylic nails done in a nail salon is aware that it is at your own risk. There seem to be nail salons on almost every corner in the USA. If you salon does not sanitize or replace their instruments (files, nippers, brushers, etc.) in between EACH customer, LEAVE. Go early for your appointment when trying out a new salon. If it is a “walk in” shop, let someone else go before you. Stand or sit where you can see what is happening. Pay attention to how the nail tech is preparing for the new client. Are the instruments sanitized? Be alert to be sure she/he is skilled and does not accidentally break the skin. This is especially important if they haven’t sanitized their instruments. Your health is at stake here. You cannot be too careful. Diseases like AIDS and hepatitis are serious business. Anything you see that does not seem right or comfortable to you, just get up and get out. Look for an “upscale” shop next time. 47. Fingernails will crack or break if you file the corners. Do not file the corners. It weakens the nails. 48. If your have brittle fingernails, it may be from the soap or hand cream you are using. Perfumed hand creams often contain alcohol which will dry your nails and lead to brittleness. 49. If your nails are nails cracked, brittle and breaking, drink more water. YES. More water. At least 8 glasses each day. Eight ounces in each glass! 50. Increase your intake of vitamin A and calcium to heal dry and brittle nails. 51. Do you have a problem with hang nails? Add more protein, folic acid and vitamin C to your diet to improve nail health. 52. You need more protein if your fingernails have white bands across them. 53. You can reverse the process of splitting nails by adding some hydrochloric acid to your diet. 54. Fight dryness by adding more vitamin B12 to your daily vitamins. 55. Do you have white spots on your nails? Zinc might help. 56. Do your fingernails have cracks or cuts? You need more liquids. Drink more water. 57. How do your hands feel? Like sandpaper? Soften them by coating your hands with Vaseline. Put on cotton gloves before going to bed. When you awaken in the morning, you will have silky smooth skin on your hands. 58. Wear rubber gloves while you are cleaning even if they feel awful or awkward. Cleaning product chemicals are damaging to your skin. THESE FEET WERE MADE FOR WALKIN’Did you know . . . your feet sweat? The average human loses about one cup of liquid each day through their feet. Did you know that the foot of a baby is composed almost entirely of cartilage? The bones will harden as the feet grow. 59. Use a pumice stone on your heels after you shower. 60. Put a few drops of essential oil into your footbath. 61. Treat yourself to a pedicure. Pamper your feet. 62. Give yourself a foot massage. It is relaxing and rejuvenating. Take turns with your partner. 63. If your ankles or feet swell, you are probably holding fluids. Reduce your salt intake and try to avoid sitting with your feet hanging down for long periods at a time. 64. You may enjoy stilettos and they may make you feel beautiful and look sexy. In the interest of foot health and safety avoid long walks while wearing them. 65. Always wear sensible shoes. Sure! If that is totally unacceptable to you, compromise. Wear sensible shoes on your way to and from work. Keep your heels in a tote bag. 66. If you have extremely dry feet, apply a layer of cocoa butter to each foot. Put plastic bags on your feet. Put on a pair of oversize socks. Sleep. The next morning the skin on your feet will feel silky, smooth and soft. 67. To soften your feet, add milk to a footbath. HOW TO AVOID BAD HAIR DAYSCommon knowledge tells us that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory. Yet every woman has some days when she wants to cover up every disheveled strand. 68. Get a good hair cut! That is where it starts. If you don’t like the hair cut, there is not much you can do to your hair that will please you. 69. To get a good hair cut find and keep a great hair stylist. It can be hazardous to your hair to leap from one stylist to another. When it comes to something as important as your stylist, the old saying “you get what you pay for” seems true. It is possible to find a good stylist at “fast hair” shops. However, it may cost your hair more than you choose to spend. These shops generally hire new and young stylists with little experience. They earn minimum wages and are not required to invest in hair care products for their clients. Stylists at upscale shops and salons are most often independent contractors who lease space in the salon. The salon provides the work station, utilities and possibly a receptionist for the stylists. These stylists are usually more experienced and have a solid clientele. These stylists purchase the products they used for their clients, either from the salon or from other suppliers. They set their own prices. 70. Trimming your hair at home? Well then, do it right! Buy a pair of professional hair cutting scissors and use them for NOTHING else. Care for them properly and they can last for years to come. 71. Trimming your own hair requires technique and some skill. Start by just evening up the hair that frames your face. Gently hold a small section of dry hair (a few strands at a time). When you tug, the hair stretches and you cut off more than you wanted. Cutting beneath your fingers instead of on top of them also helps prevent cutting off too much. 72. Take care of your hair. Keep it clean! Dirty oily hair hanging in clumps is simply ugly. 73. Your hair is not standardized. Choose the correct shampoo for your hair type. 74. Do not shampoo oily hair everyday. It is a paradox but clean hair makes the problem worse. It allows oil to get into glands and that makes oily hair much more difficult to handle. Use a ph-balanced shampoo and scrub your hair and scalp well. Ask your stylist what she/he recommends you may need to change your shampoo. 75. Drab hair? Need a change? Try a few highlights. It is one way to brighten up your hair and face. 76. You want curls without the damage of a perm? Use a curling iron or hot rollers. Hot rollers give you more control, but you not those wispy, trailing curls. For those you need the curling iron. 77. Do not curl freshly cleaned hair. Shampoo the night before. With squeaky clean hair sometimes it is difficult to hold a curl. 78. Do NOT ever use a “sticky” hair spray before you use a curling iron or hot rollers on your hair. You can cause damage. 79. Naturally curly hair is a gift. Have your stylist cut it in layers to take advantage of a cascading curly look. 80. Athletic women, pay attention to the things you like to do when you select a hairstyle. 81. Coal tar shampoo products for dandruff may permanently stain blonde or gray hair. 82. Dreadful Dandruff! The “sure cure” is right in your kitchen. Vinegar! Pour vinegar into your hair. Let it dry for a little while, then shampoo. Repeat daily until dandruff disappears. It will. 83. Do you almost fall asleep in a stylist’s chair? Feel so relaxed? That is another reason to go to the salon. 84. Dry hair? Use hot oil. Alberto V05 has a great over the counter solution for dry hair. HOW IS YOUR SMILE?Did you know . . . you can get a knocked out tooth replanted if you act quickly? Don’t even bother to clean the tooth, just wrap it in a damp cloth and get to a dentist in a hurry. Within 30 minutes you have a 90% chance of saving it. 85. Do you wear braces? Get extra calcium. When your teeth are adjusted small gaps can form in the jawbone. These need to be restored with new bone. Take calcium as a supplement or eat lots of green leafy vegetables. 86. Your smile may be your best asset. Do not destroy the image with bad breath. Mouthwash alone will not kill bacteria that cause bad breath. Brush your teeth, your tongue and gums. Floss. If bad breath continues, check with your doctor. 87. Dentures? Full or partial? Ask your dentist if the dentures contain any metal. If not, place your denture in a safe container, cover with water and microwave for about two minutes. This kills more bacteria than just soaking in denture cleaner. 88. What about the color of your teeth? Discolored? Stained? Yellowing or discolored teeth can really detract from your overall appearance. Check with your dentist for a cleaning. Inquire about the professional whitening procedure. You might want to try a tooth whitener that you can use at home. IT’S THE LITTLE THINGSDid you know . . . even now with all of our education and enlightenment, most women do not give themselves regular breast exams? So why have a section about breast exams in a beauty book? If you plan to use the tips in this guidebook, you need to be here to do so. It is about your health and your body. 89. Add a breast self-exam to your daily beauty routine. You can do it in the shower or your bath, it does not take long. But DO it. More than 90 percent of all breast lumps are discovered by the woman herself. Most breast lumps are benign. Breast cancer cannot be prevented yet. One out of every ten women will have breast cancer at some time in her life. Regular breast self-examination (BSE) and periodic screening can detect breast cancer early and get it treated properly! Do not know how? Learn. Ask your doctor for a chart to teach you. Look it up online. Do it! 90. Stop stressing out! Easier said than done? The stresses that you are holding inside create those wrinkles and worry lines. It is worth it to learn better ways to live in a stressful world. 91. Get rid of the toxins in your body with a sea salt massage. 92. Go for a walk. It does not matter where. Walk in the forest, the park, around the block or on the beach. 93. Eat cheese. It reduces bacterial growth in your mouth and prevents cavities. 94. Get fit. Join a fitness group. 95. Be gentle with yourself. Be kind. Stop thinking you cannot do something. Tell yourself that you CAN. Your self-talk makes a difference in your attitude and health and beauty. 96. Eat more fruit! Get a collagen boost. 97. Be generous with helping others. Your outer beauty appears when you have been practicing inner beauty. 98. Learn to say NO! You can sustain control of your own life with a polite and firm refusal when needed. 99. Still concerned? Talk out your anxieties with a friend or counselor or relative. It’s the best way to release your anxieties. 100. Eat more tomatoes for potassium and vitamins A and C. They are good for you. “Love apples.” 101. Pace yourself. Learn to stop before you are exhausted. 102. Exercise. Get enough exercise. 103. Give yourself the gift of time for hobbies or other activities. Life that is all work and no play is tedious and tiring. 104. Do one thing at a time. Break up those tasks into smaller segments to feel less overwhelmed. 105. Eat more fish and fowl. Limit red meat consumption. 106. Set priorities. Superman or Superwoman does not live at your house! 107. Learn ways to solve problems with less stress.
Just knowing you have a plan can reduce the stress from that problem. Knowing how to approach problems is a huge help. 108. Pay attention to positive things. If you lose focus, think about the good things you have done or want to do. 109. Avoid varicose veins in your legs. Try not to stand for long periods of time. 110. Eat right. 111. Sleep. Get good sleep. How much is enough? When you no longer feel tired you have learned “enough” for you. People have different sleep requirements. 112. Laugh. Smile. Do it again. It does take more muscles to frown than to laugh. 113. Take a bubble bath. Treat yourself to some quiet time without the kids. 114. Go shopping! Take a shopping trip with a friend or go on your own just make it special. 115. Buy clothes that fit! If you have no idea about what works well together and fashion is a foreign language, bring a candid friend with you to help. 116. Do unscented cosmetics still give you a bad reaction? Read labels and buy “fragrance fee” instead. 117. Wear red lipstick for a change. 118. Take a vacation! Take a mini- vacation if you must. But getting away is a way to regain perspective on life. Pamper yourself. Or challenge yourself. It is up to you. 119. Surround yourself with scents. Use an aromatherapy candle in the kitchen and another in the living room. Remember they are candles. Extinguish them later. 120. Listen to music! Use music to soothe your nerves and set moods. 121. Try a full body wrap. You might like it! 122. Meditate. 123. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil in your next bath. 124. Buy some new sexy undergarments. 125. Is a tattoo right for you? Perhaps. Discreetly placed it can be alluring. 126. Be kind. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. 127. Learn something new. 128. Instead of your regular makeup try using a bronzer. 129. Help fade stretch marks by massaging them with vitamin E oil. 130. Suffering from menstrual cramps? How can you feel beautiful then? You can take the standard Midol. You could try a natural alternative. Raspberry leaf tea relaxes the uterus. The fragrance is refreshing too. You may find remembering this is a normal part of experiencing womanhood and its gifts will ease your discomfort. 131. Do something for you. Every day. 132. Do you want your eyes to look larger? Use a white eyeliner pencil directly under the eyes. 133. Eat for beauty! Carrots give you the same compounds as Retin A and contribute to reducing fine lines around the eyes. 134. Your face is your mirror to the world. Use a light foundation. 135. Baby oil can be used to remove makeup. 136. Bug bites are nasty! Nobody wants to smell like chemicals on your favorite summer trip. Using one of the citrus based essential oils to make your own repellant. Bugs do not like citrus. You solve your problem without smelling like an oil field. 137. When you are at the beach, give yourself a body rub with sand to exfoliate dead skin cells. Remember to reapply your sunscreen! 138. Personalize your perfumes with essential oils. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a mineral oil carrier. 139. Let someone give you a scalp massage. 140. Get a bikini wax. Be daring! 141. Shea Butter is the ultimate skin softener. 142. Stop smoking. Why say more? Stop. 143. Deal with PMS! What is beautiful about a cranky lady? PMS happens. It does not happen to every woman the same way, but for some it is dreadful and downright nasty. No one knows exactly what causes it but unless you have had surgery you need to face it. Here are some coping tips. Believe it or not, a low fat diet improves PMS. You might try an herbal approach. 500 milligrams a day of fish oil, evening primrose oil, or flaxseed oil can help relieve PMS and sore breasts. All of these natural ingredients are high in gamma-linolenic acid. You can find the oils in most health stores. Magnesium and beta-carotene can also improve the symptoms of PMS. 144. Yeast infections. Nasty. It is another miserable and anti-beautiful topic. The yeast fungus lives in the vagina 365 days a year. It usually gives us no trouble at all. Exactly what causes a flare-up infection is uncertain, but medical professionals agree that one cause is after you have been taking antibiotics for some other ailment. It can be triggered by something as simple as hormonal changes prompted by your menstrual cycle. Regardless of the cause, a yeast infection is no fun. You can get a prescription for a cream to get rid of it swiftly. A more natural approach might be to reduce sugar and fermented foods in your diet because they increase the growth of yeast in your digestive system. Eliminate refined sugar, baked goods, alcohol, caffeine and vinegar. Eat yogurt with live acidophilus content. Acidophilus are friendly bacteria which fight yeast infections. Be especially careful about your hygiene after urine or bowel eliminations. 145. Sometimes love can really hurt. There is nothing beautiful about genital herpes. There is no mystery about how it is spread. Sexual intercourse with an infected partner can give you the disease and a lifelong heartache. Know your partner. Prescriptions are available to help manage this once intractable condition. 146. Bee stings can cause a big red bump. If you are allergic to bee stings, follow your doctor’s instructions and be careful. Non-allergic people can ease the sting with a little dab of meat tenderizer to reduce swelling and minimize pain. A calendula flower, onions or garlic can each help treat the bee sting by dabbing it on or making a poultice. 147. Insomnia is not beauty. If you have trouble sleeping, try lemon balm tea. There are other herbal teas that also work well, but lemon balm is one of the best for a bedtime herb. 148. Pregnant and beautiful? Who are you kidding? Take all the beauty treatments and tips in this guide, multiply them by three and maybe, just maybe we might feel a little bit better about how we look and feel. Seriously, perhaps the worst side effect of pregnancy is “morning sickness.” Be careful about what you eat. Try a mint or peppermint. Brew a mild tea and sip it slowly. One old home remedy for nausea is raw or cooked cabbage. Sauerkraut supposedly soothes the intestines. 149. If you have ignored our recommendations and now have a sunburn, you probably do not feel beautiful. Breaking a stem from an aloe plant and rubbing on the affected areas. Or you can apply cooled black tea to the burn areas. Witch hazel works wonders on sunburn but we recognize it is a strong astringent and can be damaging to your skin with long term use. 150. Seek and maintain a *balance* in everything you do, from eating to exercise to daily activities. Balance and beauty complement each other. 151. Keep smiling. Wrapping it upWhen the primary goal of people was simply survival, there was not much of an issue with being too fat. At first, men had to work hard hunting, fishing, taking care of the family and overall just working hard and being physically active. The fittest survived. Others either perished or needed the help of someone else to meet his needs. In those days women also worked hard. Childbirth was sometimes lethal for either the mother or the child. So many infants died that women kept on reproducing to keep the family growing. Survival was their goal. They had no leisure for worry about what made them happy. They scrubbed, cooked, gathered food and wood and care for the children and the hearth. Look around. Things have changed. Except in developing countries or rural areas, people do not need to work as hard physically as their ancestors did. Fewer infants die and childbirth is no longer feared to be deadly for the mother. Hospitals, emergency rooms, ambulances, new technology and medicines have saved many lives. Families plan from one to three children. Usually to keep pace with the economy or neighborhood competition both parents work to support those children and their lifestyle. Men and women are both learning new skills. Fifty years ago it was rare to see men doing household chores, transporting children to and from daycare centers, changing diapers and spending a lot of time with infant children. A healthier lifestyle can be simpler. It comes from learning some of the essential components to happiness. Statistics reveal that people who are happier:
Extra money can make people feel happier, too. But the list above shows you what is truly essential for happiness. If you lack these attributes and still have money you may still feel somewhat empty. Improper nutrition can cause depression, overweight, illness and overall lethargy. When you know how and what to eat it can make a big difference in your feelings of wellness. Maybe you can toss junk food into your body while you are young and unaware. Your busy body is growing and may somehow get enough nutrition. However, after a while your body cannot handle this type of treatment anymore. Years of bad eating habits add up. Arteries clogged, cholesterol increases. Sleepless nights and excessive partying accumulate and take a toll on your body. You may suddenly awaken and wonder where your energy went. What happened to youthfulness? Age does not equal sickness. Age does not mean ugly. You can still wake up in the morning and think positive and joyful thoughts. People with sensitive families who compliment each other live happier lives. Look for something affirming to say to your loved ones every day. Take a look at your eating and exercising habits. Let’s talk. You can make changes. You can do this. Just do not try to change everything at once, unless you are a really rare individual who can do that. Focus on diet. Diet means the food you put in mouth, your daily eating habits, not just losing weight. Do not eat more calories than you can burn off. That is a good place to start with new eating habits. Do something extra and physical for 30 minutes each day. Perhaps this is three ten minute walks, or 30 minutes of vigorous aerobics or some combination of strength and aerobic activity. ADD TO YOUR LIFEWater. Water. You need more water. Add at least 4 more glasses of water to your daily routine. The general rule for water is 8 glasses per day plus one extra for every ten pounds overweight you are. Fats. Learn more about fats. There are different kinds. Some are worse for you than others. Avoid hydrogenated fats. These are fats that solidify. These are found in many store bought items such as cookies, crackers, cakes, muffins, chips. Read labels. Choose polyunsaturated fats. Choose fats such as olive oil. Eat fish to get omega-3 fats. Carbohydrates are fuel for you. Approximately 55% of your diet is carbohydrates. Calculate your need for protein in grams and aim for about 25% fat per day and everything else is ideally in carbohydrates. The heavier you are, the more protein you need and the fewer carbohydrates you require. Fiber try to get about 25 grams of fiber in each day. Protein intake should be about 20 % of your food intake. You can calculate protein intake in kilograms. The formulas are a little different for men and for women.
Try not to exceed more than 25 % to 30 % fat in your daily diet. This does not mean that fast food burger is off limits. It does mean that if you eat the 55% fat burger you need to cut down on other fat filled foods for the rest of the day. Keep it in balance. Make changes gradually. Change from whole milk to 2% by replacing two cups per day until you are ready to make the switch. If you are using 2% milk work your way into 1% and then down to skim milk. Add bran to your cereals or baking for extra fiber. Balance your diet with vegetables and fruits. Look at them as color variety on your plate. Maybe add an orange yam and some green beans. Or carrots and peas. Or have a bright red apple for a snack. It seems silly but when you eat more food colors you get a broader range of vitamins. Add raw foods to your eating plan. Make these changes easy on yourself. Do it one at a time. When you learn to live with all things in moderation you will be on the path to becoming more vibrant and more beautiful every day.
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