Now, that’s Some Serious Eye Candy

When it comes to makeup, the eyes truly have the most fun. (We have an  entire online app dedicated to the art of those soulful orbs.) With a dazzling kaleidoscope of shadows, liners and more to choose from, shopping for a new eye look is a lot like being a kid in a candy store. Now imagine if, instead of mineral color, you actually used real candy? That’s exactly what eye stylista Diana Mastova did in her latest culinary/cosmetic creation. Using confectionary toppings instead of makeup, Mastova whipped up this scrumptious, eye-stopping look, complete with rock candy blush and party sprinkle lipstick. Hey, we’ve always had a sweet spot for creative eye candy.

Recipe for the Perfect Pedi

Looking for a salon-style pedicure without the salon price? Julie Gabriel, author of The Green Beauty Guide, suggests you check your pantry—you may be closer than you think.

Ingredients
½ cup applesauce
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. sea salt
½ lemon
(Flowers optional)

Directions
Mix vinegar, honey and applesauce in a bowl. Squeeze lemon half and stir in the juice. Add salt and baking soda and blend well. Apply mixture to clean feet, and massage to exfoliate. Leave on for 3 – 4 minutes then rinse with warm water.

We Recommend
Once you’ve scrubbed and smoothed, lock in moisture with Happy Feet. This luxurious blend of cocoa seed, shea butter and lush botanicals rehydrates dry, cracked skin for visibly softer feet and toes.

Wedding Cake? How About Royal Pizza Pie?

It seems as the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton draws near, enthusiasts are getting crazier and more creative. Papa John’s jumped on the royal wedding bandwagon last week, having a food artist in the UK create a portrait of the lovebirds out of pizza! "Royal Wedding fever is sweeping the world so we couldn't resist having some fun and creating our very own pizza portrait of Kate and William to celebrate their forthcoming marriage," said Andrew Varga, Papa John's chief marketing officer.

At least we know Kate’s dress designer in this case! Her pizza gown is made of delicious cheese, and her veil is a cascading blanket of mushrooms. William's suit is made out of salami and peppers. I must say, this is fashion at its yummiest, fanaticism at its finest and nothing short of delectable artistry! Don’t they just look good enough to eat?

Don't Gobble Gobble 'Til You Wobble!

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. Dreams of my mom’s homemade dressing (that’s stuffing in a pan, y’all) and whatever gourmet goodies my brother-in-law/professional chef decides to make are already swirling in my head and making my mouth water.  As much as we all love these Turkey Day treats, they cause internal struggles within us. To gorge, or not to gorge? That is the question that tugs at our heart  strings and our waist lines. Well, I am a non believer in trying to give Thanksgiving a complete health makeover, since I generally try to maintain good eating habits to be heart healthy and in tip-top shape, but I always believe in cutting corners and trimming the fat.

Don’t Starve Yourself Beforehand

It seems logical enough to skip every meal before Thanksgiving dinner to make room for more, but that  is a terrible idea. Fasting all day will only mess-up your metabolism and cause you to overeat. You will also be more tempted to nibble while cooking. If you insist on trying to save calories before the big day, some nutritionists recommend reducing your daily caloric intake by 100 to 300 calories days in advance. That’s as easy as saying no to a latte or a slice of cheese on a sandwich or dessert each day.

Every Little Bit Counts

In the world of dieting, a calorie saved is a calorie earned, right? Think of ways to alter recipes to make them less fattening; like using egg whites instead of whole eggs, milk instead of heavy creams, or cheese made with 2% milk instead of the more fattening variety. Add some healthy dishes to the menu. The American Heart Association and the Go Red for Women websites both have delicious and nutritous recipes to try! Also, don’t fill your plate with ho-hum items you aren’t that interested in. Do you really want to eat those store-bought rolls and that boiled rice?  Do you seriously need to slather everything with butter and gravy? Don’t feel like you have to eat everything served, and be careful to not go overboard on your portion sizes! Also, watch-out for holiday beverages. Wine, cider, cocktails and hot chocolate are all filled with sugar, so consider drinking water throughout the day.

Timing is Everything

It is almost involuntary to go to the serving table for a second helping of turkey, ham, stuffing and sweet potatoes, but fight the instinct! After licking that first plate clean, wait 20 to 30 minutes before deciding whether to get more or not. Why not spend that time enjoying the company of your family and friends? It’s rude to talk with your mouth full anyways.

Don’t Give-in to the Laziness

All that dense, dinner decadence makes you drowsy, and it seems  like the couch and that football game on TV is calling your name. Instead of napping, why not add a little  physical activity to the festivities? Get the family to take a stroll around the neighborhood, or play some football in  the yard. If you have a Nintendo Wii or an Xbox 360 Kinect, get the family to play an interactive, controller-free game.  Even busting-out a card or board game is better than sleeping the holiday away. 

Halloween Smart Snacking

No matter how well you think you’ve gauged your trick-or-treater turnout this year, that candy surplus is almost inevitable. And while you may be able to pass some of the sugary burden onto your coworkers, when it comes to the break room candy bowl, it’s every girl for herself. While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional treat, by limiting the quantity and knowing which sweets to splurge on, you can keep those extra calories at bay and save your strength for the season’s main event—Thanksgiving dinner.

Don’t Go Nuts
If given the choice between pure chocolate and a nutty medley, keep in mind that the added ingredient(s) often come with added calories. A serving of peanut M&M’s packs ten more calories and three more grams of fat than its chocolaty cousin. However, if you’re jonesing for that extra crunch, pick almonds over peanuts. In addition to being slightly healthier, almond options generally contain fewer nuts due to their size and cost.

Go to the Dark Side
When research groups revealed the hidden health benefits of dark chocolate in 2003, sales of the cocoa confections went through the roof. Dark chocolate, it was discovered, is loaded with antioxidants called polyphenols, which are known to help lower blood pressure. However, when milk is added to the formula, it interferes with the antioxidant absorption, robbing the treat of any potential benefits. So, when pilfering your coworker’s candy bowl, opt for the darker fare and leave the milk chocolate for the less well informed.

Savor the Flavor
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Enough to satisfy the average sweet tooth and keep extra calories in check. At just 60 calories a pop, these savory suckers draw on their staying power to keep taste buds satisfied and compulsive “boredom” snacking to a minimum.

For a side-by-side comparison on how your favorite sweets stack up in sugar, calorie and fat content, check out aCalorieCounter.com.

Eat for a Healthy Complexion

We’ve all heard the age-old adage “you are what you eat”—that folksy caveat about the impact of dietary choices on the body. But could this kernel of conventional wisdom also apply to the skin? According to skin care experts who view the skin as the body’s largest organ (you read correctly), the answer is a resounding “yes”. So, is it possible to eat your way to fewer lines or blemishes? Maybe not entirely, but you can certainly give your skin a push in the right direction. Here’s a look at the top skin smart contenders vying for a spot in your shopping list.

Avocado
A powerhouse of vitamins and monounsaturated fats—the “good” fat shown to help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol—avocados help nourish the body’s cells and prevent moisture loss. For your skin, that translates to healthy hydration, which can mean fewer visible lines and wrinkles down the road.

Salmon
Salmon is a dieter favorite for a reason—it’s one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids on earth. Omega-3s have been shown to boost brain function, lower triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol levels and enhance immunity. In the skin, omega-3s help lock in moisture and may even aid recovery from UV exposure, according to recent studies.

Beans
Good news for vegetarians and chili fans—the legumes you love also love your skin. (Try saying that five times real fast.) Rich in isoflavones—powerful antioxidants—beans help ward off the free radical damage largely blamed for the appearance of premature lines and wrinkles.

Grapes
Another skin care favorite, grapes—along with blueberries and pomegranates—are an excellent source of antioxidants known as polyphenols. Like isoflavones, polyphenols help fight damaging free radicals in the body and skin. However, this berry-bound antioxidant may also help improve elasticity in the skin by nourishing strong collagen.

¡Caliente!

I absolutely love spicy food! It all started when I was working for a Cajun restaurant during college. I just couldn’t get enough of the tingly heat that jambalaya, gumbo and those sinful shrimp and grits had to offer. My spicy love affair continues to this day with Thai curry dishes, hot salsas, sushi with wasabi, oysters covered with horseradish, and of course, I add hot sauce to pretty much anything. If you can take the heat, hot peppers, curry powders and horseradish can inspire great recipes. These natural hot shots can add zing and zest to your diet, and they are also a great way to spice-up your meal planning!

Skin Benefits Of Peppers and Chilies
Hot peppers, like habañero, jalapeño, chili, cayenne and serrano, can vary in heat, but they all have daring and delectable benefits. Chilies and peppers are packed with vitamins A and C, and nowadays, Vitamin C is used for more than a case of the sniffles! It helps form collagen and aids in skin repair and healing. Vitamin C also fights free radicals, byproducts of metabolized cells, and it helps guard against ultraviolet rays. Vitamin A restores moisture to dry skin (A deficiency will make skin flakey!), and it also brightens, lightens and reduces sags and discoloration.    

What makes these fiery peppers so spicy is a component called capsaicin, and it brings more than scorching flavor to the table. The hotness  of a pepper is measured by the amount of capsaicin it contains on The Scoville Scale, ranging from low-heat pimentos, to jalapeños in the middle, to habañeros on the super spicy side. Capsaicin is a natural anti-inflammatory and blood thinner, which is helpful when you’re retaining water or feeling swollen. Capsaicin can help fight blood clots and improve circulation, and improved blood flow makes you look and feel healthy and beautiful. It makes your body release endorphins and is also used as a natural pain reliever. Adding peppers to your diet can increase your metabolism and suppress appetite, and I don’t know about you; but I love anything that is tasty and helps me stay fit!

Healing Properties of Curries and Horseradish
Curries are used in Asian cuisines across the continent, and they are absolutely delicious! Curries are actually a blend of many different spices, like turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and black pepper. They are packed with vitamins and minerals, and ironically, these spices are used for stomach troubles and good digestion.  Turmeric, known for its yellow color, is great on eggs and is found in mustards. It has healing properties and helps out damaged skin. Cinnamon is a natural antioxidant that can reduce stress and fight skin infections. Black pepper adds a great kick to many dishes around the world, and it helps break down fat cells. Cumin is also very popular in Middle Eastern and South American dishes, and this ingredient boosts digestion power and is a great source of iron.

Horseradish has to be one of my favorite condiments. I can’t get enough of that blazing prickle in my nose when I eat it. Horseradish and its Japanese counterpart, wasabi, are roots with some serious kick. Though their flavor is intense, the heat does not linger on your tongue nearly as long as when you eat a hot pepper. The spicy sensation deteriorates quickly. Horseradish has anti bacterial properties, and it’s an expectorant, meaning it is great for chest and sinus congestion.  Horseradish and Wasabi are bursting with antioxidants, iron, calcium and vitamin C, and these roots have been used to help fight many minor infections. If horseradish by itself is too hot for you, you can find all kinds of wacky condiment mixes, like horseradish brown mustard, wasabi mayonnaise and spicy cocktail sauce. Adding some healthy excitement to your dinner plate is as easy as strolling down the spice aisle of the grocery store!  Who knew that spices could be the spice of life?

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Inflammation means “to set on fire” in Latin. When a disease name ends in itis, it is an indicator of inflammation (i.e. arthritis, dermatitis, gastritis, tonsillitis and hepatitis). Inflammation leads to high blood pressure; Alzheimer’s disease; cancer; diabetes; gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, indigestion and heartburn; weight gain; heart attack; and stroke. Additionally, acne and rosacea are inflammatory diseases, which is why skin becomes red and plagued by pustules.

Most people don’t think of inflammation as a catalyst for making food choices, but perhaps it should be. “You are what you eat (and drink)” is more than just an old cliché; it’s a guide for sensible, healthy living. For people afflicted with inflammatory ailments, dietary choices can go a long way to help reduce suffering and reduce the effects of inflammation. Based on the nutrients you consume, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins are created in your body and affect its inflammatory response. Consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants helps your body to produce more anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. The key ingredients of an anti-inflammatory diet include:

Fruits and Vegetables
Eat at least nine one-half cup servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Eat organic, fresh, raw and green (the darker, the better) foods as much as you can, including onions, garlic, fruits, raw cilantro and parsley, fresh herbs, seaweed and organic whole leaf aloe juice. The antioxidants found in green leafy vegetables and colored fruits help prevent free radical oxidation that contributes to inflammation. It’s best to eat these foods raw, as cooking destroys some of their beneficial enzymes and antioxidants.

Healthy Proteins
Cell, muscle and tissue health depend on protein, and the best sources of proteins for an anti-inflammatory diet are omega-3 rich coldwater fish, free-range poultry and plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts and grains. Grilling, poaching and stewing methods are healthier ways to cook meat than frying and barbecuing, and replacing meat or fish with peanut butter or hummus once in a while creates a healthy change of pace.

Fabulous Fats
The fats found in olive oil, pumpkin and flax seeds, walnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts are sources of essential fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties. Avoid saturated and trans fats, as well as cottonseed, corn, peanut and soy oils, which contain omega-6 fatty acids that can compromise the beneficial effects of the omega-3 fatty acids.

Tips to Curb Your Cravings

Temptation is all around us during the winter months when you’re stuck indoors with nothing to do but reach for junk food and hope for warmer weather. Reality begins to set in when spring arrives and you’re forced to shed your sweatpants and put on your swimsuit. Here are a few simple tips from Pür Minerals to help you cut out the cravings and hit the beach running.

What Causes Cravings?
First, take comfort in knowing that most cravings don’t just come out of the blue; often, they’re signs that your body may need more energy. While your initial response may be to reach for that bag of potato chips, you can train your body to grab a healthy snack instead. When you snack on healthy foods like fruits and nuts, you’ll get the same amount of energy—minus the fat.

Spice Up Your Snacks
Let’s face it, celery sticks and apple slices may not compare to cookies and chips, but with a few slight alterations, you can turn this rabbit food into yummy treats. Spice up your snacks by adding a peanut butter to celery sticks or sprinkling cinnamon and Splenda® on your apple slices. Fiber-rich fruits, green, leafy vegetables and whole grains will not only leave your body feeling satisfied, but contain far less calories and fat as well.

Ration it Out
Now you know to reach for the healthy stuff, but another key to staying on track is portion control. To help curb your cravings, stick to pre-proportioned snacks. For example, if you bring an apple, a yogurt and a pack of oatmeal to the office, you will be able to keep track of how much you’ve eaten during the course of the day (and also prevent any unnecessary trips to the vending machine.) Another hot tip is to choose snack foods that require a little bit of work, like shelled peanuts or edamame.

Healthy Holiday Diet Tips

As the old saying goes, “Eat, drink and be merry!” Indeed, the holidays are a time to celebrate with friends and family, but all this socializing and merriment can bring with it added temptation and a few extra inches in the waistline. With turkey day rapidly approaching, here are a few small steps you can take in order to avoid packing on the pounds during the most joyous of seasons.

Don’t Skip Meals
This may seem like a good idea before your big Thanksgiving dinner, but this plan almost always backfires. Depriving yourself of food all day to save calories will only lead to overeating during the main event. Instead, get your metabolism going with a nutritious breakfast and follow with a light lunch. A small snack before dinner will also help curb your appetite and ensure that you don’t devour everything in sight in a fit of ravenous hunger.

Trim Back on the Trimmings
Cutting back on gravy, sauces, butter and other trimmings is a great way to shave calories. Your meal certainly won’t suffer without these small additions and you won’t have to loosen your belt when you’re done. The same goes for appetizers. They may seem harmless, but those deviled eggs, cheese and crackers and spinach dip are loaded with high-calorie cream, butter and mayonnaise. If you’re looking to whet your appetite, opt instead for carrot sticks, salsa or a handful of nuts.

Beware of Nog
Alcoholic drinks and holiday favorites like eggnog are typically loaded with calories. Try buying light or diet versions of your favorite juices, mixers and drinks. Another great way to keep yourself hydrated and reduce your caloric intake is to alternate your alcoholic beverages and delicious holiday brews with water.

Be the Life of the Party
Remember, holiday gatherings are all about spending time with your loved ones. So instead of hanging around the buffet table all night and watching those mashed potatoes like a hawk, get out there and socialize. Looking at old photo albums, playing a game of charades or going for a sleigh ride will help take the focus off of the food and put it back on your friends and family.

Get ready for the holidays with the Pür Brilliance 2008 Holiday Collection from Pür Minerals!