Three Main Reason’s of Hair Loss -Prevention and Action

The three main reasons for hair loss in woman are: low iron, low thyroid and not enough minerals in the diet.

You can’t open a newspaper or magazine without seeing advertisements for hair loss solutions for men, but very few options are offered to women who are losing their hair. Over two-thirds of women suffer hair loss, and hair loss can be quite extreme—from thinning to bald patches. Thank- fully, few women go totally bald like men do, but there is nothing more distressing than watching your lovely locks fall out in abundance. Topical solutions for women rarely reverse hair loss. And the drugs that are available have been predominantly researched in men and do not address the underlying reasons for hair loss in women.

The three main reasons for hair loss in woman are: low iron, low thyroid and not enough minerals in the diet.

Low Iron and Hair Loss

One of the least known causes of hair loss is low iron. You do not have to be anemic to lose your hair. Your doctor may advise you that your iron levels are normal, but we know that low normal levels of iron will cause huge hair loss. Many women after childbirth and women during the perimenopausal years experience heavy periods. Simply being a woman of childbearing age automatically puts you at risk of low iron. Up to 60 percent of women have low iron and it is of ten undiagnosed. Due to higher iron requirements as a result of menstruation, women need 20 milligrams of elemental iron daily yet most of us are only getting 8 mg per day from our diet. Now that we are not eating as much red meat, even postmenopausal women and seniors are suffering from low iron.

Symptoms of iron deficiency may be any combination of the following

1. Skin: dry skin, sensitivity to cold temperature; pale complexion, thin, brittle nails, dull, lifeless hair.

2.Brain: Fatigue, light headedness, headaches, depressed or disturbed mood (anxiety), sleep disturbance.

3.Body symptoms: muscle weakness, aching joints, breathlessness or heart palpitations are, difficulty in swallowing.

Don’t Believe a Normal Iron Test

If your doctor tells you your iron is normal, ask for the test results. There are two iron blood tests: hemoglobin and ferritin. For hemoglobin, the test range suggested as normal by your doctor is 117–160 g/L for women. Yet hemoglobin below 140 g/L will cause significant hair loss. Ferritin, which is your iron storage, has a suggested test range of 15–160 ug/L; but to prevent hair loss and ensure thick hair, your reading should be above 40 ug/L.

In addition, for those who are either on thyroid medication or who have low thyroid but are not on thyroid hormone, there are key nutrients that can help support thyroid function. These include potassium iodide, tyrosine, ashwagandha, gugguls and pantothenic acid.  If you are on thyroid medication, take your medication first thing on an empty stomach and then take this supplement at breakfast. Once the underlying low thyroid is resolved and the TSH drops below 2, hair starts to grow back in six to eight weeks.

Hair follicles contain ferritin. When ferritin stores decline in the hair follicle, it affects the ability of the hair to grow causing non-pigmented
 fine hairs to develop.
  These hairs are often 
mistaken for androgenic alopecia. Low 
ferritin also causes the
 hair to change structure become dry, not hold the curl or color well and break easily. Hair loss can be gradual, a general thinning out over the years, or it can be sudden and startling.

Iron supplements represent another challenge because you will want an iron that does not constipate or cause digestive distress but is effective and fast acting.   Kassandra (Kasia Organics) recommends Premier Research Labs ErythroPro.  ErythroPro features highly bio-available iron (beet and rice bran-derive) that does not promote free radical production such as inorganic (rock) forms or iron (i.e. ferrous fumarate).  Instead, ErythroPro provides key blood factors from natural sources of folic acid, vitamin B12, copper, iodine and more.  Most women notice hair regrowth in as little as six weeks with this type of iron.

Low Thyroid Affects Up to 23 Percent of Women

Like low iron, hypothyroid or low thyroid hormone is an undiagnosed epidemic in Canada. Twenty-three percent of women are currently taking thyroid medication and up to 30 percent of women may also have subclinical or mild hypothyroidism whereby their thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is within the “normal” range of 0.5–5.5 IU/mL yet they still experience symptoms. Thinning hair, hair loss and loss of eyebrow hair are common symptoms of low thyroid. A deficiency in these hormones may also result in some of the following symptoms:

• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight • Sensitivity to cold
• Menstrual problems/heavy periods
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Headaches

It is important that you ask your doctor what your TSH test result number is because although it may be “normal,” research has shown that if it is greater than 2.0 IU/mL, chances are it is low thyroid that is contributing to your hair loss.

Mind your Minerals

It is a rare person who eats the recommended seven to 10 half cup servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Most of us eat only two to three servings a day and, on top of this, the modern lifestyle is rampant with “nutrient robbers”— e.g. stress, medications, the birth control pill, smoking, alcohol— that further deplete our nutritional stores. As a result, deficiencies in the key nutrients required for healthy hair are rampant. Zinc, silicon and selenium, for example, are critical to hair growth yet most people do not get enough.

Everybody should be on a multivitamin with minerals to prevent the nutritional deficiencies associated with not only hair loss but also chronic disease.

Start today with ErythroPro, Thyroven (a thyroid-support formula) if needed, and a great multivitamin with minerals and your hair will start to regain its youthful bounty. It is not normal to look down at the bottom of the tub and see nothing but hair swirling around the drain.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH AND BEAUTY:  Kasia Organic Salon is a leading pioneer in healthy beauty to fit your lifestyle. Follow us to ammonia-free /MEA/PPD Color, organic facials, and natural and organic products that support your life. –Kassandra, Owner

Resource: Lorna Vanderhaeghe, MS, is Canada’s leading women’s health expert and has been researching nutritional medicine for over 30 years.

Deodorant..Aluminum..it's in the pits! Must Read!

  At Kasia Organic Salon, we were first surprised to see that our Pure-oderant was the second best selling item.  We know it is clean, fresh, and non-toxic - but as we listened to our guests and mail deodorant across the U.S. the reason reveals itself through frustration of trying all the deodorants on the market that ...just don't work. 

Many guests surf the local health food store shelves and find  "crystal" deodorants as a alternative to try, but they again...just don't work.   Not only that,  but crystal deodorants contain Ionic aluminum, which have been found to create oxidative stress on skin and breast tissue. Most people don't realize that they're slathering on aluminum when they use these crystals.  Manufacturers will say that it doesn't contain "harmful aluminums."   Aluminum is aluminum.  It has no benefit or place in the human body, and only creates a state of toxicity within.

What is aluminum?

Aluminum is the world's most abundant metal in the earth's crust.  It is a versatile metal that is lightweight, relatively soft, and durable.  It is a fairly reactive element that combines with negatively charged ions or elements to form compounds such as aluminum oxide or aluminum sulfate.

How does aluminum enter the body?

We're exposed to aluminum in many ways:

• Trace amounts in drinking water
• Baked goods that contain alum-containing baking powder
• Foods with artificial colorants (aluminum lakes, example: yellow 5 aluminum lake)
• Cooking acidic foods in aluminum cookware (the acidity causes the aluminum to leach)
• Over-the-counter medicines such as Maylox and Mylanta
• Vaccines
• Topical products such as deodorants or anti-perspirants

How does aluminum affect our health?

Unlike some other metals such as potassium, sodium, or magnesium, aluminum has no benefit or function in the body.

• Aluminum creates oxidative stress on cells throughout the body, causing damage to DNA and aging on cells.  (Source)
• Aluminum-containing anti-perspirants keep the body from sweating and properly releasing hormones out of the body.  This is a suspected cause of breast and prostate cancer. (Source)
• Aluminum accumulates in bone tissue, thus weakening it.  (Source) It is a suspected cause of osteoporosis.  
• "Once absorbed, Al accumulates in bone, brain, liver and kidney, with bone as the major site for Al deposition in humans." (Source)
• Aluminum robs the body of magnesium, calcium and iron, and accumulates in the brain.  "Trace aluminum levels cross the blood-brain barrier and progressively accumulate in large pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, cortex, and other brain regions vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease. More aluminum enters the brain than leaves, resulting in a net increase in intraneuronal aluminum with advancing age. Aluminum is responsible for two main types of toxic damage in cells. As a pro-oxidant, aluminum causes oxidative damage both on its own and in synergy with iron. Aluminum also competes with, and substitutes for, essential metals-primarily Mg2+, iron and Ca2+ ions-in or on proteins and their co-factors." (Source)
• Aluminum has been found to cause granulomas. (Source)
• Aluminum is toxic to skin and creates oxidative stress (Source)
• Aluminum is absorbed highly by abraided or irritated skin. (Source)
• This study found that ionic aluminum created oxidative stress in breast tissue. (Source)

Informed Beauty -- stay FRESH with Kasia Pure-oderant!

Certified Organic

Made with a pure blend of hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that softens skin and eliminates odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours!

NO aluminum, alcohol, parabens or proplyene glycol — NO residue.

Scented with organic essential oils.

• Effective using hemp oil and mineral salts that eliminate odor-causing bacteria
• Soothing and healing aloe vera to softens the skin
• No aluminum chlorhydrate and no alcohol
• No tingly irritation and no staining
• We’re sure –  it leaves no white residue
• Hypoallergenic
• No harmful propellants, pit and ozone friendly
• No animal testing, just on hunks
• None pore clogging, breathe!

"Beauty sleep" and stress. More important than you think.

As you probably already know -- stress is bad for our health, and many of us are affected differently. Frustration can create havoc on your skin and as a matter of fact too much stress triggers your skin to start the aging process prematurely leading to wrinkles and fine lines before you want to have them.  Stress can actually age you as far out as three to six years!  

Stress causes our hormones to operate ineffectively, run down the wrong pathways and to become unbalanced.  Radiant skin comes from great skin care routines, protection from environmental damage and UV rays, good nutrition, adequate hydration, and getting plenty of sleep.

Dermatologist have come to agree that during hours of sleep, cortisol and insulin production inversely peak so that collagen production is accelerated.  Collagen production firms the dermal layers so evaporation is reduced and water retention is maximized.

 

Resting Tips for “Beautiful Health” Skin

Surroundings:

While you slumber, your skin produces more collagen, which gives it the support to counteract the forces of gravity.  If you have a radiant heater or air conditioner running, this can result in evaporation in your skin and water loss.  This contributes to dry skin, especially if you don’t use a high quality facial cream/serum, or do not replenish intake of water hydration through your day.

Bio-chemical Requirement

As the body enters the deepest stage of rest (Delta Sleep), our growth hormones peak and turn on cell and tissue repair.  When there is restless or limited sleep, we cut ourselves short of this crucial restorative process.

In order to give your skin beautiful health it deserves in repairing, rejuvenating, and producing collagen with minimum natural moisture loss, you need a good 6 – 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

Additional science on how stress can affect your skin include the following:

* Cortisol degrades collagen and directly leads to the formation of wrinkles in the skin.  When you live in a chronic state of stress your body finds it harder and harder to repair itself naturally and so you develop more wrinkles and fine lines.

* The stress hormone CRH can fuel inflammation in the skin and that in turn can cause acne.  Since acne is an inflammatory disease all it takes is in increase in inflammation in the body to cause more acne.  And if you are stressed you are more likely to pick at your breakouts which could lead to even more breakouts.

* Stress hormones can cause your body to release histamines, which can cause a range of skin conditions like dermatitis, irritation, hives, or inflammation or aggravate existing skin conditions like psoriasis.

* Stress can make your hair fall our and make your nails brittle

* Stress makes your eyes look tired.  This could be because you are not getting enough sleep since you are stressed out.  A chronic lack of sleep could lead to fluid stagnation under the eyes and then dark, puffy under-eye circles in the morning.

* Stress could cause your skin to enter mini-menopause.  A chronic flow of cortisol causes a drop in estrogen, which means your skin produces less collagen and less moisture.  Your skin could end up looking dull and dry as a result.

Research and hard facts.

Not just your skin…yes, your belly.

I have learned first hand the effects of too much of the stress and the ramifications of the increased hormone of cortisol.  Lack of sleep and rest leads to our adrenal glands pushing out too much of this belly fat-promoting, collagen-destroying hormone.  The flip side to this is that when getting enough sleep, our cortisol levels reduce. In fact, a landmark sleep study found that those who sleep between 7.5 and 8.5 hours a night secrete half as much cortisol as those only sleeping 6.5 hours or less a night. This can mean significant weight gain of 33 pounds or more!

Excess cortisol turns your once flatter stomach into fat deposit because the abdominal region contains four times more cortisol receptors than other areas in the body.

Researchers have also found that lack of sleep can cause cravings for sweet and salty foods.   We end up compromising and eating foods lacking any nutritional value and lack hydration.  Our waistline or our skin responds well to this kinds of lifestyle for a period of time.

Other studies have found that sleep deprivation leads to inflammation and oxidative stress. One of these studies found that women who don't get their beauty sleep experience disruptions with their skin barrier function, have more water loss in their skin and have extremely high levels of inflammatory chemicals circulating in their bodies.  If we are under chronic stress, cortisol will disrupt collagen production, making skin thinner and weaker.

If you need more encouragement to turn in early every night, then keep in mind that adults who sleep five or less hours a night have a 15 percent chance of dying early from any reason you can think of. Why? Because lack of sleep ages your body.

Supplement to Sleep

Supplements like GABA and melatonin are known to have a muscle-relaxing effect and may improve sleep quality. In turn, better sleep can lead to greater skin repair capabilities, a better-looking complexion with fewer wrinkles and dark circles and less overall dullness.

GABA is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter with a proven connection to the quality and quantity of sleep we achieve. The brain chemical -- gamma-aminobutryric acid, or GABA -- is involved in regulating brain activity.

"It's the brakes of your brain," says Karl Doghramji, MD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. "It stops activity."

Both sleep problems and anxiety disorders may result from problems with GABA, which helps neutralize the effects of glutamate, a brain chemical that causes excitement. When there is too little GABA, it causes those racing thoughts that characterize anxiety -- and keep you up at night.

Gaba increases the integrity of collagen and elastin and both preventing and counteracting sagging skin.

Melatonin is one of the most powerful antioxidants produced in the body. In addition, since it is both water and fat soluble, melatonin can reach almost every single cell in the body.

On the down side, however, since it cannot store in the body, it must be replenished daily. This would normally not be a problem, except when constant exposure to artificial light has significantly reduced production of melatonin in our bodies.

Mood Elevator: Nighttime melatonin levels are low in people with major depressive and panic disorders. Individuals with noticeable mood swings or who are melancholic also have depressed melatonin levels. Both seasonal affective disorder and non-seasonal cyclic depressions are related to the peaks and valleys of melatonin levels.

Contact Kassandra at  Kasia Organic Salon for any questions on what supplements may be best in assisting your "Beautiful Health!"

SOURCES: American Medical Association's 22nd annual Science Reporters Conference, Philadelphia, Sept. 11-12, 2003. Karl Doghramji, MD, director, Sleep Disorders Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; professor of psychiatry, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

Eating Right for Your Hair Type

What's one of the best-kept secrets for healthy hair?

As an "Informed Beauty" you probably will not be surprised that much of this is directly correlated to a healthy and balanced diet!   It is fundamental  that your grocery list contains  the right mix of high quality protein, veggies, iron, and other non-inflammatory nutrients can help improve the health, look, and feel of your hair.

 

Healthy Hair: Protein Is King

Your hair needs a well-rounded intake both from the outside- and inside that provides all the recommended vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. But it doesn't mean that when it comes to hair, all nutrients are equal, especially when it comes to protein.

A healthy body needs sufficient amino acids, and so does your hair.  A strand of hair is composed of mostly protein, therefore it needs protein to grow.  Protein creates a stronger hormonal and internal energy so your body can efficiently supply strong hair and nails.  There are 22 amino acids that combine to form different proteins, and 8 of these must come from the foods we eat. Our body uses these amino acids to create muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails and internal organs. Proteins help replace and form new tissue, transports oxygen and nutrients in our blood and cells, regulates the balance of water and acids, and is needed to make antibodies.

The Phase of Your Hair Growth

At any given time, about 90% of your hair is in the growing phase. For each individual hair, this growing phase lasts 2 to 3 years. At the end of that time, hairs enter a resting phase that lasts about 3 months before they are shed and replaced by new hair. If you don't get enough protein in your diet, a disproportionate number of hairs may go into the resting phase.

On a normal scalp, there are about 120,000-150,000 strands of hair, and about 50 to 100 strands of that are shed each day. Most people don't even notice that small amount. If a large number of hairs enter the resting phase at the same time, hair loss can become very noticeable.

Many of our clients at Kasia Salon are busy mothers and working women.  It is common to go through bouts of hair loss in ones life.  We often recommend taking inventory of  our guests stress levels and nutritional habits within a 3 month time period.   If this is a  problematic cause, it be reversed. By restoring protein to your diet, whether it comes from plants, such as beans and other legumes, or meat from animal sources, you can restore the normal hair cycle and stop the abnormal hair loss.

Iron and Other Nutrients

Protein isn't the only nutrient needed to maintain healthy hair. Iron, vitamin E, and trace minerals, such as selenium, copper, and magnesium to help keep your hair in good shape. These are all involved in the production of the various proteins that make up your hair.

Protein and Iron

Iron can make a very large impact on the health of ones hair.    This is especially true  for women (heavy menstral cycles)  and vegetarians. Not getting enough iron, like not getting enough protein, can cause hair loss.

Where do you find the best source of iron in your diet?  Meat    The best sources of meat is a organic land ean meat, like fish and chicken.

Good vegetarian sources of iron include pumpkin seeds, white beans, lentils, and spinach.  Keep in mind that iron from non-animal sources absorbs iron less efficiently from plants.

It is best to speak  with your doctor about your diet and hair concerns.  Your doctor can test the level of iron in your body to best determine whether or not you should consider taking an iron supplement.

Vitamin D and Your Hair

Another potentially important nutrient is vitamin D. Mirmirani says that though the evidence still isn't clear, some studies suggest that vitamin D may play a role in the hair cycle. "We can get vitamin D from the sun," Mirmirani says. "But dermatologists don't recommend a lot of sun exposure."

Dietary sources of vitamin D include fortified foods such as milk, orange juice, and cereals. But, Mirmirani says, according to some studies, many Americans aren't getting enough vitamin D. "And the actual recommended dosage is controversial," she says.  As with iron, she recommends talking with your doctor about your vitamin D needs and whether or not you should take a supplement.

Are Hair Supplements Necessary?

It is true that any hormonal, nutritional, or vitamin deficiency will cause hair loss. All the vitamins are important, although a B-complex, C, and E are very beneficial.  Getting the essentials is key and does not mean you need to buy special supplements for your hair.

Less stress, inflammation, and a balanced diet low in GMO grains is a promising return on your health and hair.  Although it will not hurt,  "beware of biotin" claims, as there hasn't been any good evidence that taking zinc or biotin supplements actually offers any benefits for hair.

Hair Health and Weight Loss Diets

Many women put themselves on a very strict calorie-deprived diet or fast detox and will lose weight very quickly.   Much of the time, the yo-yo effect on the body causes physiological stress, which also contributes to hair loss, beside the fact that the needed nutrients for anabolic activity is cut short.  After losing this weight, healthy individuals can expect their hair to  come back after weight stabilizes.

All in the Balance

It is important to remember that just like our work-life, exercise, mind, relationships, and food....."balance" is key.   A healthy diet, well-being, and the highest grade supplements  is best for you, and your hair.

Kassandra Kuehl is the founder of Kasia Organic Salon. Kasia Organic Salon is the pioneer of healthy beauty that delivers results to fit your lifestyle, because only Kasia is the authority in 100% natural products & services.  Visit www.kasiaorganicsalon.com and become an "Informed Beauty." 

SOURCES: Mayo Clinic: "Hair Loss." Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, spokesperson, American Dietetic Association. Carolyn Jacob, MD, Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology.

Aluminum Under Arms? Organic & Chemical-Free Deodorant

One of the most overlooked beauty products, in terms of its affect on your body, is deodorant. Often times, the general public is mislead or simply not informed of the health affects that can come with wearing "mainstream" deodorants.   Pure-odorant, a chemical-free and certified organic line of women's deodora  comes straight from nature with a pure blend of organic hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that soften skin and eliminate odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours.

Deodorants have become a part of everyday life for almost all of us. Antiperspirant deodorant is extremely common among women ... and unfortunately, so is breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Most commercial brands of antiperspirants and deodorants contain either aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. These compounds are very soluble and are readily absorbed by the body. Once in the body, the aluminum portion of the molecule ionizes, forming free radical aluminum, which passes freely across cell membranes and forms a physical plug, that when dissolved is selectively absorbed by the liver, kidney, brain, cartilage and bone marrow.

New evidence to be published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology indicates that parabens, chemicals found in underarm cosmetics and other products, can be detected in human breast tumors. Previous suggestions have been made that certain components of underarm cosmetics may contribute to the rising incidence of breast cancer. Even women that wear no makeup, lip gloss or hair products invariably use deodorant products - body odor is seen as one of the seven deadly sins, whether you’re at the office or out with friends! This 'essential' part of our beauty routines may have serious health consequences for us down the track.

Ingredients to avoid in deodorants...

While aluminium is the main deodorant/antiperspirant ingredient that has been studied for negative health effects, almost all of the common ingredients in supermarket deodorants are harmful to us.

Here are the effects of some of the common underarm 'hygiene' ingredients:

* Aluminium chlorhydrate, aluminium zirconium tetrachlorhydrex gly, and other aluminium salts: We talked about the links between aluminium salts and breast cancer, as well as  Alzheimer's disease. There may be further links to disease that haven't yet been identified.

* Parabens (all types): These are derived from toluene, which can both cause reproductive harm and mimic the effect of estrogen in the body, driving the growth of cancerous cells.

* Triclosan: This ingredient is a common antibacterial which cause contact dermatitis in many people, and is classified as a pesticide by the FDA.

* Talc: Even the humble talcum powder has been regarded with suspicion by cancer researchers. It may contain asbestiform fibers (yes, these are related to asbestos) - the level of asbestiform fibers in talc is unregulated.

* Propylene glycol: According to the NIOSH this is a neurotoxin. The EPA admits that it hasn’t been fully investigated for cancer-causing potential, despite being in almost every personal care product on the market.

* Silica: This skin irritant is often contaminated with crystalline quartz, which is known to cause cancer

* Steareth-n: (Where n is any number) reacts with ethylene oxide in the manufacturing process. Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen.

Best Selling - Kasia Pure-oderant

 

Certified Organic made with a pure blend of hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that softens skin and eliminates odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours!

NO aluminum, alcohol, parabens or proplyene glycol — NO residue.  Scented with organic essential oils.

* effective using hemp oil and mineral salts that eliminate odor-causing bacteria

* soothing and healing aloe vera to softens the skin

* no aluminum chlorhydrate; no alcohol

* No tingly irritation and no staining

* We’re sure, it leaves no white residue

* hypoallergenic

* no harmful propellants, pit and ozone friendly

* no animal testing, just on hunks

* no pore clogging, breathe!

Want Better Skin? Take a Look at What You are Eating

You've heard it before......  “You are what you eat”?

What goes into our bodies can make a difference on how we feel and how we look.  A healthy diet, along with exercise and sleep, fuels a healthy body, plain and simple.

Based on the principles of beauty, wellness and education, the Kasia team is dedicated to providing clients with the opportunity to renew and nurture their natural sense of beauty through holistic experiences, mindful services and pure products.

Get Beautiful Health and improve your skin by focusing on eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Next time you go shopping make sure foods with these eleven key nutrients are included in your grocery cart:

1. CATECHINS May reverse the effects of sun damage by neutralizing the changes that appear in sun-exposed skin. Foods include: dark chocolate, green tea, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, plums, raw apples & pears…

2. FLAVONOLS May reduce roughness in the skin and protect against sun damage. Foods include: dark chocolate, blueberries, black & kidney beans, soybeans, eggplants & tomatoes

3. LYCOPENE This phytochemical helps eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays. Foods include: tomatoes, watermelon, pink & red grapefruits, asparagus & red cabbage

4. NIACIN (Vitamin B3) An anti-inflammatory, soothes irritated skin and red, blotchy skin. Foods include: barley, bulgur, peas, tuna, salmon, anchovies, peanuts & chicken

5. OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS Believed to stifle your body’s response to irritation and attract water to skin cells to plump up the skin and reduce wrinkles. Foods include: salmon, walnuts, flaxseed, tofu, shrimp, halibut & soybeans

6. RIBOFLAVIN (Vitamin B2) Involved in tissue maintenance and repair and improves skin blemishes caused by rosacea. Foods include: mackerel, trout, almonds, sesame seeds, cheese, dry roasted edamame & bran

7. SELENIUM Helps preserve elastin, a protein that keeps your skin smooth and tight. Foods include: Brazil nuts, canned tuna, turkey, low-fat cottage cheese & oysters

8. VITAMIN A Maintains and repairs skin cells, a deficiency may result in a dry flaky complexion. Fights free radical damage that can prematurely age the skin and reduces the development of skin cancer cells. Foods include: sweet potato, mango, spinach, cantaloupe, carrots & eggs

9. VITAMIN C Essential to collagen production and the more collagen you have, the less creased your skin looks. May help repair and maintain DNA, basically bolstering cells’ ability to renew. Foods Include: dark leafy greens, broccoli, peppers, strawberries & oranges

10. VITAMIN E Protects skin cells from UV Light and other environmental factors that generate cell damaging free radicals. Its rich oils help protect against skin damage and premature aging. Foods include: olive oil, 100% whole wheat, kale, almonds, papaya & kiwi

11. ZINC Contains anti-inflammatory properties and affects sebum production a deficiency that may contribute to acne. Foods include: oysters, walnuts, chickpeas, cashews, nonfat and low-fat plain yogurt & milk

Don't forget to add your sunscreen (like Kasia Sunscreen), adopting a daily skin care moisturizing regime, and start looking at what’s on your plate. I assure you, some TLC care and nutrients will help your  skin look and age better!

Kassandra Kuehl is the founder of Kasia Organic Salon. Kasia Organic Salon is the pioneer of healthy beauty that delivers results to fit your lifestyle, because only Kasia is the authority in 100% natural products & services.  Visit www.kasiaorganicsalon.com and become an "Informed Beauty." 

Resources: http://www.reneerouleau.com/default.aspx Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN

The Effects of Sun Inflammation and your Beautiful Health

It's been one HOT summer consumed of sun filled days.   Unless you are out in  a thick layer of sun protective clothing,  chances are - you are suffering sun damage with extended time in the sun.  When you use sunscreens like octylmethoxycinnamate or benzophenone, no matter what level of sun protection, they are reporting (ie SPF 100), you  are sustaining significant sun damage in addition to the added inflammation from the ingredients themselves."Sunburns" are a physiologic reaction to specific DNA changes that can be prevented by chemical absorption of UVB rays.  But please do not confuse a lack of redness with a lack of damage. Collagen/elastin (and other forms of skin) damage occur with extended time in the sun, whereas "sunburn" redness and pain are the direct result of the swelling, increased circulation and an inflammatory cascade that were stimulated by the DNA lesion.

As always Informed Beauty -- we strive to educate our you on a natural and safe alternative as well as the "proper way" to expose yourself to the sun.

Why is Kasia SUNSHIELD  part of only 8% of Sunscreens on the market, considered SAFE?

FACT:  There are few active sunscreen ingredients that effectively block both  UVA and UVB rays.  Kasia uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are the only ones that are both safe and effective for UVA and UVB protection and  do not penetrate the skin but block or reflect the sun.

Hit List to AVOID!

Sure, avoid Parabens, but take extreme caution in avoiding sunscreens with Oxtinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone or Homosalate. These chemicals are toxic and have high absorption rates through the skin.  They act as either irritants, allergens, hormone disruptors or carcinogens.

Dioxybenzone and oxybenzone are quoted to be of the most powerful free radical generators known to man! YIKES!

Natural and Free from Harmful Chemicals

Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen, developed by local natural health and beauty care leader Kassie Kuehl, is a chemical-free sunscreen optimal for sensitive or traumatized skin and safe for children.

“Losing my 24 year old brother to skin cancer, I have grown well aware of the many underlying potential causes,” Kuehl said. “Unlike chemical sunscreens, I love that nature can provide remarkable ingredients that reflect and scatter away both UVA and UVB rays from your body by forming a physical barrier, without irritating or clogging your pores.”

Additional key benefits that set Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen apart from commercialized sunscreens:

• True broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection
• Safe for toddlers and children
• Non-chemical sunscreen
• Moisturizing and healing properties
• PABA-free and fragrance-free
• Light and smooth formulation ideal for daily use and can be applied under makeup
• Formulated for skin sensitive to traditional sunblocks and post-treatment patients
• Formulation of  5% zinc and 5% titanium

In short, green tea helps protect your skin’s cells by providing antioxidant protection.

• FREE of chemical laden fragrances…NON-zero….zilch.
• FREE of parabens (harsh chemical or any harsh preservatives)..
• FREE of Xenoestrogens!

The Sun and your Beautiful Health.

1. UV exposure to bare skin (regardless of the sun protection) should never exceed 4 hours a day if you can help it because the skin is simply not designed to handle it.
2. Chemical UVB sunscreens inflame the skin while inhibiting the skin's repair response/warning sign that is normally generated (aka sunburn) even though tremendous damage is still happening) and therefore should be avoided.
3. There are an amazing number of drugs that cause sun-sensitivity and you should make every effort to get off of them because they result in an inability for your skin to heal itself after sun exposure which increases aging, damage and cancer risk dramatically.
4. Sun-sensitizing drugs (including birth control pills) affect people differently. UV Protection Water will not stop the sunburn response in those people with substantial immunosuppression from medication but may work fine for many on those medications so a test is recommended.

The Wheat-free "Movement" to Beautiful Health

Do you wish you could have more energy,relief from gastro discomfort, and melt away fat deposits around your abdomen?

Many of our guests at Kasia Organic Salon have read through our "SCD" and "GAPS" books while processing their fabulous  Ammonia Free Hair Color.   Through putting myself on a specific wheat free diet, I have been able to help bridge that gap for others.  These "diets" have been a great blessing to many due to the vast majority of men, women, and families with gluten sensitivites, gut issues, low energy, and weight gain.   Through research and changed clients, I am very much persuaded of why this nation is falling into a nutritional crises .......lack there of.

Back to a flat stomach.....  According to cardiologist Dr. William Davis, you can achieve it. In his new book, Wheat Belly, Dr. Davis lays out a case for eliminating wheat in the diet to decrease systemic inflammation and weight gain.

According to Dr. Davis:

“When you remove wheat from the diet, you’ve removed a food that leads to fat deposition in the abdomen. Factor in that the gliadin protein unique to wheat that is degraded to a morphine-like compound that stimulates appetite is now gone and appetite diminishes. The average daily calorie intake drops 400 calories per day–with less hunger, less cravings and food is more satisfying. This all occurs without imposing calorie limits, cutting fat grams, or limiting portion size. It all happens just by eliminating this thing called wheat.”

If you are familiar with the paleo diet, this is the same frame of thought -  that wheat causes a myriad of health problems is something that you have probably heard before. The paleo community advocates eliminating all grains from the diet.  "Wait, haven't we been told by the government that whole grains are the staple of a healthy diet?  Think again...Dr. Davis’s book Wheat Belly specifically addresses the grain wheat.

Wheat is that the wheat of present day is different from the wheat that our ancestors ate.

How specifically does eliminating wheat from your diet help banish belly fat, according to Dr. Davis?

• Wheat raises blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods.
• Wheat contains addictive compounds, leading to overeating and psychological addiction.
• Wheat contains lectins, which are glycoproteins. Glycoproteins cause inflammation by disarming the proteins that line the intestinal tract that regulate which compounds are absorbed into the blood stream and which are not. This causes inflammatory compounds to enter the bloodstream. This process has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, skin diseases like dermatitis herpetiformis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and a variety of other inflammatory diseases, according to Dr. Davis.

Benefits of eliminating wheat:

1) Reduces appetite–”Normal” calorie intake is, on average, 400 calories less per day for the wheatless. The notion that a 50-year old, 150 pound woman needs 1800 calories per day will need to be adjusted . . . downward. 2) Reduces body weight and visceral fat–You might need to shop in the junior dress sizes. Men may find that clothes manufacturers don’t even make trousers for your waist size any more. (Ever try to find 31″ waist pants?) 3) Reduces small LDL particles–Meaning risk for heart attack is dramatically reduced, “need” for statin drugs reduced or eliminated. It means that the fictitious target numbers your doctor treats known as “LDL cholesterol” will need to be readjusted to accommodate the reduction or elimination of the true number one cause for heart disease in the U.S., small LDL particles. 4) Reduces blood sugar–Remove the amylopectin A of wheat and blood sugar drops, HbA1c (reflecting the previous 60-days blood sugar) drops, resistance to insulin drops. 5) Diabetes and pre-diabetes are no longer inevitable–The CDC predicts that 1 in 3 Americans will be diabetic in the coming years, another 1 in 3 pre-diabetic–it is nearly everyone’s fate, according to the numbers. Remove amylopectin A, remove lectin-induced leptin resistance, remove gliadin-induced appetite stimulation, diabetes and pre-diabetes for most go away. 6) Joint and bone health improve–Arthritis, joint pain, and osteoporosis, long considered the inevitable accompaniments of aging, are delayed or simply don’t occur once the acidifying effects of wheat are removed, the inflammatory pus-like properties of visceral fat disappear, and brittle cartilage effects of amylopectin A-induced glycation no longer occur. 7) Glycation comes to a halt–Provided you don’t feast on M&Ms and Coca Cola in place of wheat, irreversible glucose-modification of proteins–that causes hypertension, cataracts, osteoarthritis, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (stiff heart), conduction system disease leading to heart rhythm disorders and pacemakers, nervous system impairment (reduced sensation and coordination), and aging–subsides to its natural slow level.

So should you eliminate all wheat from your diet? If you are having some health issues and you want to get rid of some extra fat, it won’t hurt you to try  eliminating wheat from your diet for just 30 days to see how you do.

What exactly is in wheat that makes it so bad?

1) The gliadin protein of wheat has been modified by geneticists through their work to increase yield. This work, performed mostly in the 1970s, yielded a form of gliadin that is several amino acids different, but increased the appetite-stimulating properties of wheat. Modern wheat, a high-yield, semi-dwarf strain (not the 4 1/2-foot tall “amber waves of grain” everyone thinks of) is now, in effect, an appetite-stimulant that increases calorie intake 400 calories per day. This form of gliadin is also the likely explanation for the surge in behavioral struggles in children with autism and ADHD.

2) The amylopectin A of wheat is the underlying explanation for why two slices of whole wheat bread raise blood sugar higher than 6 teaspoons of table sugar or many candy bars. It is unique and highly digestible by the enzyme amylase. Incredibly, the high glycemic index of whole wheat is simply ignored, despite being listed at the top of all tables of glycemic index.

3) The lectins of wheat may underlie the increase in multiple autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in Americans, especially rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s).

In other words, if someone is not gluten-sensitive, they may still remain sensitive to the many non-gluten aspects of modern high-yield semi-dwarf wheat, such as appetite-stimulation and mental “fog,” joint pains in the hands, leg edema, or the many rashes and skin disorders. This represents one of the most important examples of the widespread unintended effects of modern agricultural genetics and agribusiness.

What can you eat on the diet you advocate? Eat real, natural foods such as eggs, raw nuts, plenty of vegetables, and fish, fowl, and meats. Use healthy oils like olive, walnut, and coconut liberally. Eat occasional fruit and plenty of avocado, olives, and use herbs and spices freely. Eat raw or least cooked whenever possible and certainly do not frequent fast food, processed snacks, or junk foods. While it may sound restrictive, a return to non-grain foods is incredibly rich and varied. Many people’s eyes have been closed to the great variety of foods available to us minus the wheat.

Diet Resources:  GAPS Diet

Reference: William Davis, MD Dr. Davis is a preventative cardiologist by training. He is a 1985 graduate of the St. Louis University School of Medicine and the Ohio State University Hospitals for training in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases. Practicing and writing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Davis is also the medical director of Track Your Plaque, an online heart disease prevention program.