Summer Health and Wellness Tips
Drinking Water
By: Amber Keinath
Today is the official beginning of the summer season. School is out and kids are back at home ready to be entertained.
With this new onset of the summer season comes many health concerns that you should be aware of before you plan your summer activities. The heat and sun can lead to many serious illnesses and accidents. Make sure you start your summer off right by knowing how to keep you and your family happy and healthy during this fun time of year!
I have put together a list of the top 7 things you should know for having healthy summer habits.
1. Sunscreen is important. This is not new information. However, make sure you choose sunscreen that does not have cancer causing ingredients in it. Recent studies warn against the ingredients PABA, benzophenone-3, homosalate, octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC) and 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4- MBC) due to the possible link to skin cancer.
2. Summer is a great time to get the necessary amounts of Vitamin D. While you can get small amounts in your diet, the best way to reach your needed Vitamin D levels is by sun exposure to the skin. Make sure the skin does not have sunscreen because it may interfere with the absorption of Vitamin D. 15-30 minutes is adequate unprotected exposure for Vitamin D. Be sure to practice safe sun habits. If you have any questions consult with your physician.
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Aromatherapy Massage and Massage Oils
Aromatherapy Massage Oils
By: Cristi Enache
Aromatherapy, as the name suggests, means treating the body using scents. Throw in massage to that and you have a healing treatment that stimulates the senses – touch, smell and even sight and hearing (when the setting is right and you have added mood lighting and relaxing music). With this modality, essential oils are used to massage so as to heal and promote wellness. Aromatherapy has been proven to improve one’s health, cognitive function and mood. An important aspect of the aromatherapy massage is the oils that are used. These essential oils can heal, kill bacteria, cure skin problems, invigorate the senses and relieve pain.
This is a holistic treatment program that lets you enjoy the smell of essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, rose and lemon. Drops of these oils are applied and rubbed into the skin, added to the bath water, or “burned” in such a way that it fills the entire room. As you inhale these pleasant scents, your nervous system and brain are stimulated and rejuvenated.
The oils used for aromatherapy massage are actually taken from botanical materials – flowers, trees, fruits, leaves, bark, etc. There are around 150 of these oils and these can be used by themselves or blended with other oils. Eucalyptus, bergamot, basil, jasmine, sandalwood and ylang ylang are just some of these. It is important that these oils are all-natural, oils that are synthetic will not be as effective. These essential oils contain chemical components such as ketones, esters, alcohols, terpenes and aldehydes that have health benefits to the body.
How To Decide On The Best Tanning Lotion For Tanning Beds
tanning lotion
By: Tim Gorman
Tanning beds are a very popular way to get a good sun tan without relying on the vagaries of the weather. They are thought by many to also be a lot less harmful than getting a natural tan. Tanning beds also have the advantage of being controllable; so that you can decide how much exposure you get to the rays. But even with a very controllable source of tanning, most people still prefer to use some sort of lotion. It is a growing market with a great deal of choice and it is not always easy to locate or find the best tanning lotion for tanning beds. There are great many different products on the market with the amount available seemingly increasing every time you go to the pharmacy. Fortunately with all of these choices there is a tanning bed lotion that is right for you and your skin.
Naturally, it really depends on what you want from the tanning bed lotion and how much you want to pay for it. Some tanning lotions are made to help you tan and make the effects of the rays more pronounced. Some people consider these types of lotions to be the best tanning lotion for tanning beds as it helps them to tan more quickly and effectively. Getting a good tan is in the shortest amount of time is what it is all really about and tanning bed lotions can help you to achieve that bronze, tanned look with minimum effort on your part.
Still others think that the best tanning lotion for tanning beds is one that gives you greater protection from the rays. Although there is still a reason to worry about sun damage to your skin when using a tanning bed and the problems that this can create, many people believe that this can be reduced or eliminated entirely by using a good tanning bed lotion. The fact is a lot of people now think that it is as good idea to use a lotion that gives them a good degree of protection against the rays.
For those who want a quick tan but do not just want to use a fake color the best tanning lotion for tanning beds could be one that combines both a degree of protection from the UVA rays emitted by the tanning bed lights and still allows you the luxury of obtaining a nice dark tan in the shortest amount of time. Finding the best tanning lotion for tanning beds comes down to finding a product that will meet your goals and aspirations when it comes to acquiring a nice dark tan.