H1N1 and Vitamin D

I really didn't want to post about this because a) this is a beauty blog and b) I'm not a doctor, but recently my friend (a registered nutritional consultant and owner of foodspark.com) alerted me to the importance of vitamin D intake to help boost our immune systems. Most of us don't get enough vitamin D, and whether or not you plan on taking the flu vaccine, it can't hurt to make sure you're getting your daily recommended intake of all vitamins this season. If you google 'vitamin D and H1N1' there is a lot of information. You'll also come across a lot of conspiracy theories, etc. about this flu, and since I'd rather stick with facts, here is a good link to check out:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/h1n1-flu-and-vitamin-d.shtml

Hope you and all your loved ones stay healthy.

www.foodspark.com

The Stressroller: Rolling away my stress and loving it!

I love reading about how celebrities stay fit and feeling great. A while I back I happened upon a fitness magazine article in which 38 year-old mother of two Denise Richards mentions some of her favourite products. One of the items listed was the Stressroller, and I was immediately interested because a)I have stress! and b)stress is aging! and c)Denise Richards looks great, I knew this was worth investigating.

The Stressroller was invented by chiropractor-to-the-stars Dr. Stephen V. Jochen, and it's basically two balls (tennis ball size) enclosed in a cushiony, sturdy fabric that you place between your body and a hard surface (like a wall or floor) and roll yourself against to massage your muscles. I received mine about a month ago, and have been using it religiously ever since. There are several different body parts you can use it on, but I am finding it's doing absolute wonders for my back. According to the website (www.stressroller.com), tension and pain in the mid-back and neck can result in poor posture. We all know poor posture is very aging.

Here's a direct quote from the site on how it works:

"The pressure applied by StressRoller™ moves energy within the muscles, re-aligning the spine, increasing circulation and restoring the body to its natural state of balance and well-being."

It certainly feels really, really good and I will continue to use it as part of my fitness/wellness/anti-aging routine. I also find it excellent at alleviating headache pain, and I'm even getting a better sleep at night. This concept isn't new, however. For years I have heard about putting a couple of tennis balls in a sock and using in the same fashion, which I have not tried. What I do like about the Stressroller is that it's well made and the balls don't move. It's also much nicer looking than a do-it-yourselfer and has a little carrying bag with all instructions for use printed on little plastic discs that are attached with a keyring. Very convenient and very reasonably priced at $19.95.

http://www.stressroller.com

UPDATE: On April 29, 2009, The Stressroller was featured on Rachel Ray's 'Human Lab' series, you can check out the story here:

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/human-lab-back-pain/

Spring Fever (well, eventually, I hope!)

So here I am sitting in Montreal, this morning's temperature was -2 degrees Celsius and we still have some snow on the ground. It's hard to believe spring is just around the corner the way those last weeks of winter seem to really drag on. I used to do a lot of work for fashion magazines, shoots were sometimes done at their offices, and one of the things I loved best about being there was losing myself in the racks of clothing, getting a great preview of the upcoming season's fashions. It was particularly uplifting to go there in the dead of winter, all the spring and summer clothing would be on display, their lively colours and flouncy fabrics as a reminder (and as proof) that the warm weather was on it's way. Since taking a break from working in the fashion industry, I have no access to rooms full of pretty clothes to lift my spirits, and the spring merchandise has yet to really arrive here in Montreal.

So how have I coped this year with the seemingly never-ending Canadian winter? Well, aside from lots of exercise, I invested in one of those light therapy boxes and upped my intake of vitamins, particularly b-complex and omega 3. Most of all though, my favourite winter pick-me-up is devouring the spring issue of every FASHION MAGAZINE I can get my hands on. Usually with a nice cup of tea and some dark chocolate, while the baby sleeps.

I always enjoy seeing the spring/summer collections, even if I don't like the clothes the colours and textures are always so gorgeous and cheery. The makeup collections also provide some inspiration, and I find myself going through all my magazines and making lists of things to try out. Rather than wishing away the icy patches on my front steps, I'm am almost grateful to have a little more time to prepare for and anticipate the warm days. Nah, not really.

Happy Spring!

The Slantboard..

I had heard about this before, I forget where, but supposedly if you hang upside down and reverse the blood flow in your body, it has an anti-aging effect. Eva Mendes is apparently a huge fan:

http://www.sofeminine.co.uk/w/star/n467156/news/Eva-Mendes-beauty-hang-up.html

Seems to be working very well for her, it definitely makes my list of things to try.