Dry Hair from Moistue loss

Hair is much more dense than skin.

The layers of the cuticle are difficult to penetrate. Once you've used a good product that does penetrate and moisturize the hair you want to be sure to lock that moisture in.

If you don't close the cuticle the moisture won't do you much good. A cold or cool rinse helps close the cuticle down and seal in the moisture.

Try this extra hair cocktail to lock moisture in:

• To make the cuticle lie down and lay flat rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar. It's very acidic and leaves the hair with a fresh clean smell.

• Let it sit on the hair for a few minutes; then rinse with cool or cold water.

• Apple cider vinegar contracts the cuticle and locks not only moisture but color in as well. A vinegar rinse will give you less chance of color fade.

Osteoporosis prevention

Talk to your doctor

Speaking with your doctor is the best way for you to better understand your own risk for the disease, as well as prevention and treatment options.

Many people find that talking with their doctor about osteoporosis is difficult, sometimes because they aren't sure what they need to discuss.

Here are several questions to get you started; they are common concerns.

If your concern is about preventing osteoporosis:

* How do I prevent osteoporosis?
* How do I know if my bone density is low?
* How much calcium and Vitamin D is right for me? What are the best sources of calcium and Vitamin D?
* Based on my medical history, lifestyle and family history, am I at risk for osteoporosis?
* How do I know if someone in my family suffered from osteoporosis? What are the signs to look for?
* Am I currently taking any medication that puts me at a higher risk for developing osteoporosis?
* Do men get this disease?
* Am I too old/young to get this disease?
* What about exercise?
* Should I have a BMD (bone mineral density) test? What are the risks of a BMD test?
* How do I know if I have fractured a bone?
* I have had fractures in the past; could they have been caused by osteoporosis?

If you have osteoporosis or osteopenia, or are at high risk for the disease:

* What osteoporosis medications are available to help me?
* What are the benefits/side-effects of these medications? Will the medications interact with other medications I am already taking for other conditions?
* Am I too old/young to start medication?
* Should I have a BMD test?
* How can I know if the medications I am taking for other conditions will cause dizziness, light-headedness, disorientation or a loss of balance that could lead to a fall?
* Are osteoporosis medications covered by my provincial drug benefits plan?
* What sort of physical activity is best for me now?
* How much calcium and Vitamin D do I need? What are the best sources?
* How can I protect my bones from getting worse?



© Osteoporosis Canada,

Winter Hair fades

People tend to do a lot more color, highlighting and perms in the winter. Winter hair becomes, darker, duller due to less time in the sun. You can combat this with color or highlighting.

I think highlighting looks best. Lots of people already highlight, but those who don't probably should! It's a sure fire way to liven up the hair and make it through the winter doldrums.


Add moisture to your hair.

Especially necessary if you've had any chemical work on your hair. Look for a conditioner with cetyl alcohol.
It's the best moisturizing agent and is derived from coconut. The molecular structure of coconut is too large to penetrate the hair cuticle, but by extracting the molecule and altering its size you end up with cetyl alcohol.

Another ingredient to look for is cetearyl alcohol.

It's a very good moisturizing agent for conditioner and shampoo.
Most people can get away with a good moisturizing conditioner.
If your hair is very damaged or dry look for a moisturizing shampoo as well.

Hiar care in Winter

With the onset of cooler temperatures and the diminishing hours of sun comes a new set of hair care demands.

Some suggestions to keep you hair vibrant, well moisturized and looking its best throughout the winter season.

Adding moisture is especially important at this time of year and a major oversight by many people.

As we spend less time in the sun, the natural highlights nature paints into our hair become less noticeable and hair loses its healthy shimmering look.

The cold air of winter is more drying and less humid and therefore more abusive than other times of the year.
Indoor heating devices create a dryer climate as well.

All of this spells out duller looking hair.

SUMMER HAIR CARE

Summer is the perfect time for parties, swimming, vacationing and many of the outdoor activities we enjoy.

It is also the time of year that hair damage is at its worst. Humidity, long hours in the sun, chlorine and saltwater are all major culprits of dry, frizzy, and overall unhealthy hair. But this does not have to be the case…

If we take some simple precautions we can enjoy all that summer has to offer without the frustration of damaged tresses.

Ways to protect your skin while enjoying the warm summer weather such as:" Ways to maintain and protect healthy hair during the summer months.

A hat or head scarf is a great accessory to protect your hair from the sun's affect when going out.
Avoid hair lightening products.

The peroxide or metallic crystals in their ingredients can inflict severe damage on your hair. Also avoid lemon juice for the same reason…

Wash your hair in cool/warm water with a gentle, moisturizing shampoo.

Try cutting back how frequently you wash your hair. Especially during the summer months, over-washing strips hair of its natural oils and moisture.

Avoid hair products that contain formaldehyde or alcohol since those ingredients tend to dry out your hair.
Condition your hair daily if possible. Leave-in conditioners that contain sunscreen are also good investments.

If you don't have conditioners that contain UV protectants, apply regular sunscreen to your hair. It will wash out with a good shampoo when you get home.

Safflower oil replenishes hair with essential fatty acids.

Use a clarifying shampoo once or twice weekly (or if you have just been swimming) to remove toxins from the environment, chlorine, salt, or any residue in your hair.

Wet your hair before going swimming - This lessens the absorption of chlorine/salt in your hair and helps against "green" hair and/or color fading.

If you or your child has a green tint, try soaking your hair in tomato juice.
Place a cap over your head and let the juice sit for about 20 minutes. Then rinse, shampoo and condition well.

Natural is best - avoid heat-styling tools (blow-dryer, curling irons, etc.) as much as possible.

But if you do use them, spray in a leave-in conditioner first to protect your hair from drying out.

Drink lots of water. This is not only important for your health overall, but it is also necessary for healthy, hydrated hair.

This article is from Smart Living News

Taking Care of Yourself

Here are some ways to take care of yourself every day:
Get Enough Physical Activity:

Physical activity is an excellent stress-buster and provides other health benefits as well. It also can improve your mood and self image.

Try to accumulate 30 minutes of physical activity a day through walking, yoga, dancing, housework, yard work or recreational sports (tennis, volleyball, squash).

People who regularly engage in physical activity tend to eat more nutritious food which also can help the body better manage stress.

Maintain a Healthy LifestyleTreat yourself properly with adequate sleep and nutritious food.

Do Something You Enjoy:
Pick up an activity you used to do but haven't had time for or take up a new sport or hobby you've always wanted to try - maybe music or horseback riding lessons.

Share Your Feelings:
Talk to someone you trust - a friend, member of the family or clergy, or mental health professional - about what's bothering you.

Focus on the Present:
Don't waste energy worrying about the past. Keep your mind positively set on the present and future.

Laugh:
Try finding humor in a situation.

Humor is a powerful antidote to stress. It can be a great way to relieve tension and could be as easy as renting a funny video and watching it at home.

Benefits of Walking

The benefits of walking in terms of physical well-being have been well documented over the years.

Now research has shown that even a small amount of aerobic exercise can improve the mental function in seniors.

Walking heads the list over stretching and toning exercises, which are usually done inside as opposed to outside. One should do stretching and toning as part of a exercise program.

Walking exercises the mind as well as the body.

Think about what all goes on when you are out walking, for each step we take, there is a verity of mental activity going on, most of it we are not even conscious of.
Like the distance of each step we take, as we walk over rough ground or even stepping over a crack in the side walk. Mental were are calculating every part of our walk, everything we see , smell or hear stimulates our brains.
A treadmill can give you the exercise you need for the body but it does little for the mind.
No wonder the treadmill sit unused in the corner so much of the time.

A group of sedentary seniors aged 60 to 75, were randomly assigned to a walking program or a program that consisted of streching and toning exercises.
At the end of the period (6 months) the walking group showed a considerable improvement in "mental control functions" which included ability to plan, make decisions and concentrate while ignoring distractions.
These improvement were no present in the strecthing and toning group.

IN THE HOLE! Golf