Aging Gracefully with Dr. Pearlman

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Allison Todd

On Wednesday evening, we attended the second seminar hosted by Dr. Jennifer Pearlman at her clinic. The focus of the discussion was on the physical effects of aging on your appearance and the steps you can take to age in a graceful and healthy way.

The discussion highlighted how the aging process affects us physically over time and how hormonal shifts in our body such as menopause, can dramatically affect our appearance. The key takeaway was that it’s incredibly important to take care of your health, since it directly translates to your appearance.

Easy tips for skin care that we took home were:

The importance of drinking lots of water and eating plenty of colourful vegetables with high levels of antioxidants.

Always protect your skin from the sun throughout the entire year, not just the summer months!.

Manage your daily stress levels.

Quit smoking. Smoking can age your skin prematurely by up to 10 years, which means if you’re in your fifties there’s a good chance you’ll be looking closer to your sixties!

Dr. Pearlman and her staff also covered a variety of topics and options on how to look youthful, but not over done with cosmetics. She introduced us to a new line of make-up developed by celebrity make-up artist Michael Marcus. The goal of this new line of make-up is to help women age gracefully while looking their best. All of the products in this line are paraben free (paraben is a chemical preserve found in many beauty products such as shampoos, shaving gels and make-up) and all production is environmentally responsible. There was even a make-up artist on hand who demonstrated the benefits of each product and provided make-overs! We loved that each of the colourful lipsticks, eye shadows and foundations were named after women who were a source of inspiration to the line’s creator.

After Dr.Pearlman’s presentation, many of the attendees shared their own personal stories and anecdotes, some funny and some serious, on how they began to noticed the physical changes in their appearance as they aged. They shared what beauty solutions they had all tried in the past and what was working for them now. It was enlightening to hear from women of all ages in different stages of their lives, comment on their own personal experience with aging, and how they all found their own way to age gracefully.

Share this with your friends!

Keeping it Smooth

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Allison Todd

We all lead busy lives and including enough fruits and veggies into our diet can be a struggle. Canada’s Food Guide recommends that women between the ages of 19-50 should be eating seven to eight servings a day. To give you an idea of what that looks like on your dinner plate, you would have to eat 21 spears of asparagus or up to 140 grapes. That’s a lot of food to fit into your daily routine!

So instead of eating them, we revved up the juicer/blender and made these three delicious juices. They can accompany any meal or function as a tasty snack on the go. They all contain three to four servings of fruits or veggies (that’s almost half the daily recommendation) and are loaded with the vitamins you need to stay healthy. We suggest you try a few different recipes and keep a pitcher of your favourites on hand.

Here are the three we liked the best.

Spinach-Cucumber-Celery Juice (4 servings of vegetables)

2 cups packed spinach
1 cucumber
1 celery stalk

Spinach is loaded with vitamin K, which helps fights atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), lowers blood pressure and works to decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. It’s also a great source of vitamin A, which works to protect the mucous membranes found in the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.

Celery is a healthy source of vitamin A, dietary fibre and is also mildly anti-inflammatory.

Cucumbers are 95% water which makes them a great source for hydration. They’re also an excellent source of silica, which helps promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. Cucumbers are rich in vitamin A, K and potassium.
Citrus Style Immune Booster (4-5 servings of fruits)

1 14 oz grapefruit, peeled and cut into chunks
2 medium oranges, peeled and cut into chunks
3 kiwis, peeled and cut into chunks

Grapefruits contains lycopene, which may have an effect in the prevention of certain cancers, although further research is needed. They are also a good source of dietary fibre and vitamin A and C.

Oranges, as we all know, are an excellent source of vitamin C, but they are also a good source of thiamin and potassium, and a very good source of dietary fiber.

Kiwis are also loaded with vitamin C, which is essential to the formation and repair of tissue, particularly cartilage, blood vessels, tendons and skin. One cup of sliced kiwifruit provides 5g of fiber. Eating fiber will help fill you up, keep your digestive system running and work to lower cholesterol.

Super Berry Anti-Oxidant Fighter (3-4 serving of fruit)

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
2 cups peeled and chopped mango
¼ cup water

Blend together and add additional water to thin.

Fruits like blueberries contain antioxidants, which may help prevent cell damage by neutralizing free radicals.

Strawberries are not only delicious, but an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to produce collagen that strengthens the capillaries that feed the skin which results in improved skin elasticity and resilience.

Mangos are a great source of fibre, vitamin A,C and B6. Vitamin A plays a vital role in eye health and the maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Vitamin B6 is needed by the body for more than 100 enzyme reactions involved in metabolism.

Share this with your friends!

Acne at 50? Are you kidding me?

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Lisa Fielding

Menopause. Just when you gained control of the hot flashes, crazy mood swings and full beard, you discover menopause does indeed have a sense of humour… pimples. Remember how a pimple often was the first sign of an impending period…well guess what? Even when you haven’t had a period in 2 years, the pimples keep coming. Menopause really is the gift that keeps on giving.

So what is a somewhat sane person to do? Well after reading extensively on the subject, I discovered that much like a teenager, the root cause of all these pimples is…you guessed it…hormones. Once you enter the years leading up to and including menopause, your hormones begin the fluctuate leading to breakouts, much like you previously had before your period. Combine this with the fact that as we age, our skin cells turn over (shed) at a much slower rate and you have the perfect storm for a pimple filled face. Not all women experience this, but as we all know, even one pimple, is one too many.

So let’s review the golden rules of skincare and what you can do to keep your acne at bay.

Simple Ways to Minimize Acne

• Wash your face with a mild cleanser twice daily using warm, not hot, water.

• Be careful not to scrub your face, as this may cause more irritation.

• Clean your bed sheets, especially your pillowcase, weekly with mild, chemical-free detergent.

• Do not pick or pop pimples. This may cause secondary bacterial infections and lead to more scarring.

• Only use cosmetics, skin or hair care products, labeled non-comedogenic – meaning they do not clog pores and are less likely to cause acne.

• Keep your hands off your face. Your hands contain dirt and bacteria, which is easily transferred to your face.

• Manage your stress. Although stress doesn’t cause acne it has been shown to aggravate acne, which is why breakouts occur during more stressful times.

• Eat to nourish your skin. Recent studies are now suggesting that high- glycemic foods such as refined grains and processed sugars may, in fact, trigger acne breakouts. Low glycemic foods such as whole grains, lean meat, and fish may keep acne at bay because they stabilize blood sugar and prevent insulin spikes.

• Consider a hair, skin and nail supplement like femMED’s Hair, Skin & Nails to provide essential nutrients for optimal skin.

• For severe cases, where there are multiple lesions or cysts, consult a dermatologist.

• Resist the temptation to treat acne topically without first addressing the underlying cause of breakouts – hormonal imbalance.

For those women suffering from the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, consider a natural health product, like femMED Hormonal Balance or Menopause Relief.

Well there you have it. Stay tuned for my next blog on why menopause might make you more like a man or as I call it; “Why I Just Don’t Care Anymore”

Share this with your friends!

femMED Celebrates International Women’s Day

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Shawna Page

Founder and CEO Shawna Page created femMED when she found that searching the aisles on her own for the right products was frustrating and confusing. Out of that frustration, femMED, the first user-friendly, brand of comprehensive supplements designed specifically for women was born. Today femMED celebrates International Women’s Day and those women who through hard work and tenacity, made it possible to for a woman to follow her dreams.

International Women’s Day (originally called International Working Women’s Day)was first observed on February 28 in 1909. Its focus varied from a general appreciation and love for womankind (as celebrated on Mothers’ Day or Valentine’s Day) to acknowledging the economic, political and social achievements and milestones of women in society. Today, 104 years later, International Women’s Day is still celebrated around the world.

In celebration of IWD, we have chosen a few of the top contributions by women.

Radioactivity
Marie Curie was a physicist and chemist best known for her work on radioactivity; She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the only woman to win in two fields, and the only person to win in multiple sciences. It appeared that she died for her work. Marie Curie died from aplastic anemia, which is caused from long-term exposure to radiation.
Windshield Wiper
As Canadians, we appreciate this one a lot, and have Mary Anderson to thank for inventing the windshield wiper in 1903. Imagine the perils of driving in the rain, sleet or snow without this invention?
Disposable Diaper
Entrepreneur Marion Donovan created the alternative to cloth diapers with her invention of the disposable diaper in 1946. Although some moms and dads have reverted to cloth diapers for either environmental or personal preferences, parents the world over owe Marion a debt of gratitude.
Dishwasher
Josephine Cochrane did more for the hands of women around the world than Vaseline with her invention of the first mechanical dishwasher in 1886.
Barbie doll
Ruth Handler, in 1959 created the first Barbie. Handler first suggested the idea to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of Mattel Toy Company who was unenthusiastic about the idea. Ruth persevered and the first Barbie made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. The doll was named after Handler’s daughter Barbara . It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.
The brassiere (aka the bra)
Mary Phelps Jacob forever earned the respect and adoration of women when she invented the bra. Women of all shapes and sizes have embraced this invention, yet according to research from 2008, 75–85% of women wear a bra of an incorrect size.

These are just a few of the contributions that women have made to the world at large. Women continue to make their mark in the areas of health, business, and industry today.

Share this with your friends!

To Tempeh or Tofu? Which one to choose?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Allison Todd

Lately, we’ve been hitting a bit of a creativity slump in the kitchen. So we decided now was the perfect time to try something new, tempeh and tofu.

We’ve been wondering what our options might for including soy-based alternatives into our regular meals. We did some research and found a tasty recipe from our favourite foodie website, Chatelaine.com. We also found some delicious salad recipes to pair with our mains from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food: Good Food Fast and Cook Yourself Sexy by Candice Kumai.

First up was tofu.

Tofu is made with coagulated soybeans and water pressed together. It comes in a few different varieties based on firmness (soft, firm and extra firm). One of the reasons why tofu is so popular, is that takes on the flavours of the foods in which it is cooked, while its own flavour remains subtle. It also has a few health benefits. Eating it regularly has been show to help lower cholesterol and hypertension levels, and your risk for cardiovascular disease. It’s also a great source of calcium and vitamin E.

We decided to give this breaded tofu finger recipe a try. It’s a twist on breaded chicken fingers. The spice blend was flavourful but not too spicy which is good if heat isn’t your thing. We paired it with an orange and avocado citrus salad, and fresh cherry tomatoes. A 420g container of tofu cost us approx. $2.00, however, prices and brands may vary depending on the store. The prep was about an hour; so unless you have the time, keep this recipe for the weekend. The leftovers kept well overnight and were perfect for lunch.

Next it was Tempeh.

Tempeh is a made from cooked fermented soybeans shaped into a patty and is a great source of fiber. Approximately 4 ounces of tempeh equals 1/2 cup of fiber. To make it tasty, spices and marinades can be added during the cooking process. If you’re in a time crunch, you can also purchase your tempeh pre-flavoured. A pack of sesame garlic tempeh cost us approx. $5.00 (again, prices may vary). It makes a great addition to any meal, as a healthy pre-cooked protein alternative.

We lightly grilled the tempeh in strips on medium heat with a drop of olive oil, and paired it with a broccoli, chickpea and tomato salad. This meal was delicious, flavourful and easy to make. Prep was no more then 30 minutes total and both the tempeh and the salad were a big hit at lunch the next day.

We loved both these recipes and it was motivating to expand our culinary capabilities with health conscience meals. We recommend trying either of these recipes if you’re looking for some inspiration in the kitchen.

Share this with your friends!