Tonight's Teen Choice Awards red carpet was filled with young Hollywood starlets dressed in an array of fun and refreshing looks. We narrowed it down to four in particular who caught our discerning eye: Glee girl Lea Michele stunned in a metallic Versace minidress and killer satin pumps, while Selena Gomez looked fresh and spunky in a hot-pink mini by Dsquared2 and Herve Leger heels. Taylor Swift wore an ethereal white dress by Maria Lucia Hohan, while Nina Dobrev looked like a modern-day hottie in a dark teal dress from J. Mendel. Now it's your turn — who gets the best-dressed vote for the night?
Highly anticipated weight-loss pill wins approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of two new weight-loss drugs within the past month -- the first such medications in 13 years -- won't be a panacea for America's obesity epidemic, health professionals say.
And as the FDA's drug regulators reiterated when approving the two drugs, Qysmia and Belviq, no weight-loss medication should be used without also making lifestyle changes to facilitate weight loss.
"The bottom line is there's no such thing as a magic pill and I hope that individuals do not think by taking this pill that it will ensure long-term weight loss," said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. "We need to be reminded that diet and exercise are still critical."
Qysmia, formerly called Qnexa, was approved on Tuesday and is a combination of the weight-loss drug phentermine (brand name Adipex-P, among others) and the anti-seizure medication Topamax (topiramate).
It is only approved for people who are obese (a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or above) or overweight people (BMI of 27 or higher) and who also suffer from conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
Phentermine once was prescribed widely as the "phen" part of the fen-phen weight-loss drug, which was withdrawn from the market in 1997 after it was linked to both high blood pressure in the lungs and heart valve disease. The problems appeared to be related to the "fen," or fenfluramine, part of the combination, not the phentermine.
Qsymia was initially denied FDA approval in 2010 because of potential side effects, including heart palpitations and birth defects -- such as cleft lip in babies -- if taken by pregnant women.
Phentermine is believed to work by controlling appetite and Topamax by speeding up metabolism.
But Topamax also has side effects, including, possibly, numbness in the arms and legs, said Dr. Michael Aziz, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City, who added that having two drugs together could compound the side effects.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is stressing that Qsymia not be used by pregnant women. Nor should it be taken by people who have had a recent stroke or unstable heart disease as it can speed up heart rate. Neither should it be taken by people with glaucoma or hyperthyroidism.
And the drug can only be sold via specially certified drug stores.
"The concern is with it being overprescribed," Gans said. "There's the concern that too many people may have access to it when they simply need to make diet modifications and not look for some magic solutions."
The second drug approved in the last month was Belviq (lorcaserin), also for obese adults who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes.
Belviq seems to work by controlling appetite, Aziz said, but in trials it produced limited weight loss.
Belviq may cause serious side effects, including "serotonin syndrome," particularly when taken with certain medicines that increase serotonin levels or activate serotonin receptors, such as drugs used to treat depression and migraine. The drug may also cause problems with attention or memory, the FDA said.
Other common side effects of Belviq in non-diabetic patients include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, and constipation. In patients with diabetes, side effects can include low blood sugar, headache, back pain, cough and fatigue, the FDA said.
The cost of the drug is relatively modest, at least compared to other medications on the market, and may range between $100 and $200 for a month's supply, Aziz said.
But neither drug, despite the splash they've made in the news, is likely to make a significant dent in America's obesity crisis, with two-thirds of the population either overweight or obese.
"The problem that all the drug companies are overlooking is the fact that obesity is really multi-factorial," Aziz said. "It's not only related to diet and exercise but also to hormonal imbalances, stress and lack of sleep."
And as the FDA's drug regulators reiterated when approving the two drugs, Qysmia and Belviq, no weight-loss medication should be used without also making lifestyle changes to facilitate weight loss.
"The bottom line is there's no such thing as a magic pill and I hope that individuals do not think by taking this pill that it will ensure long-term weight loss," said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. "We need to be reminded that diet and exercise are still critical."
Qysmia, formerly called Qnexa, was approved on Tuesday and is a combination of the weight-loss drug phentermine (brand name Adipex-P, among others) and the anti-seizure medication Topamax (topiramate).
It is only approved for people who are obese (a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or above) or overweight people (BMI of 27 or higher) and who also suffer from conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
Phentermine once was prescribed widely as the "phen" part of the fen-phen weight-loss drug, which was withdrawn from the market in 1997 after it was linked to both high blood pressure in the lungs and heart valve disease. The problems appeared to be related to the "fen," or fenfluramine, part of the combination, not the phentermine.
Qsymia was initially denied FDA approval in 2010 because of potential side effects, including heart palpitations and birth defects -- such as cleft lip in babies -- if taken by pregnant women.
Phentermine is believed to work by controlling appetite and Topamax by speeding up metabolism.
But Topamax also has side effects, including, possibly, numbness in the arms and legs, said Dr. Michael Aziz, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City, who added that having two drugs together could compound the side effects.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is stressing that Qsymia not be used by pregnant women. Nor should it be taken by people who have had a recent stroke or unstable heart disease as it can speed up heart rate. Neither should it be taken by people with glaucoma or hyperthyroidism.
And the drug can only be sold via specially certified drug stores.
"The concern is with it being overprescribed," Gans said. "There's the concern that too many people may have access to it when they simply need to make diet modifications and not look for some magic solutions."
The second drug approved in the last month was Belviq (lorcaserin), also for obese adults who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes.
Belviq seems to work by controlling appetite, Aziz said, but in trials it produced limited weight loss.
Belviq may cause serious side effects, including "serotonin syndrome," particularly when taken with certain medicines that increase serotonin levels or activate serotonin receptors, such as drugs used to treat depression and migraine. The drug may also cause problems with attention or memory, the FDA said.
Other common side effects of Belviq in non-diabetic patients include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, and constipation. In patients with diabetes, side effects can include low blood sugar, headache, back pain, cough and fatigue, the FDA said.
The cost of the drug is relatively modest, at least compared to other medications on the market, and may range between $100 and $200 for a month's supply, Aziz said.
But neither drug, despite the splash they've made in the news, is likely to make a significant dent in America's obesity crisis, with two-thirds of the population either overweight or obese.
"The problem that all the drug companies are overlooking is the fact that obesity is really multi-factorial," Aziz said. "It's not only related to diet and exercise but also to hormonal imbalances, stress and lack of sleep."
Lady Gaga's fragrance will be the first black perfume
Haus Laboratories has posted a short video clip on the making of Lady Gaga's soon-to-be-released fragrance, Fame. In it we learn that Fame is the first ever black perfume -- "Black like the soul of fame" -- and that it takes a lot of industrial equipment and some shirtless men to make it. [The Cut]
Nelson Mandela's fashion line -- you read that right -- made its North American debut in New York City on Wednesday, which was also International Nelson Mandela Day and his 94th birthday. The collection of women's clothing and accessories is called 466/64, for his prisoner number and year in which he was sent to prison in South Africa. The brand is meant to boost South Africa's economy. [Styleite]
Stella McCartney announced she will fund a scholarship for exceptional fashion students studying at Central St. Martin's. [Telegraph]
Opening Ceremony opened a pop-up shop in London's Covent Gardens on Thursday, just in time for the Summer Olympics. [The Cut]
And Max Factor makeup artist Caroline Barnes unveiled the "official beauty look" that is to be worn by female athletes and presenter escorts during Olympics awards ceremonies. [Stylist UK]
Barney's New York is making its warehouse sale (Aug. 23-Sept. 3) available online -- so even if you live in one of the other 49 states, you can shop. [Fashionista]
Nelson Mandela's fashion line -- you read that right -- made its North American debut in New York City on Wednesday, which was also International Nelson Mandela Day and his 94th birthday. The collection of women's clothing and accessories is called 466/64, for his prisoner number and year in which he was sent to prison in South Africa. The brand is meant to boost South Africa's economy. [Styleite]
Stella McCartney announced she will fund a scholarship for exceptional fashion students studying at Central St. Martin's. [Telegraph]
Opening Ceremony opened a pop-up shop in London's Covent Gardens on Thursday, just in time for the Summer Olympics. [The Cut]
And Max Factor makeup artist Caroline Barnes unveiled the "official beauty look" that is to be worn by female athletes and presenter escorts during Olympics awards ceremonies. [Stylist UK]
Barney's New York is making its warehouse sale (Aug. 23-Sept. 3) available online -- so even if you live in one of the other 49 states, you can shop. [Fashionista]
What is Obesity & know when to seek help?
What Is Obesity?
Obesity is an excess proportion of total body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above normal weight. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9; a person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30.
"Morbid obesity" means that a person is either 50%-100% over normal weight, more than 100 pounds over normal weight, has a BMI of 40 or higher, or is sufficiently overweight to severely interfere with health or normal function.
What Causes Obesity?
Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns. For many people this boils down to eating too much and exercising too little. But there are other factors that also play a role in obesity. These may include:
Age. As you get older, your body's ability to metabolize food slows down and you do not require as many calories to maintain your weight. This is why people note that they eat the same and do the same activities as they did when they were 20 years old, but at age 40, gain weight.
Gender. Women tend to be more overweight than men. Men have a higher resting metabolic rate (meaning they burn more energy at rest) than women, so men require more calories to maintain their body weight. Additionally, when women become postmenopausal, their metabolic rate decreases. That is partly why many women gain weight after menopause.
Genetics. Obesity (and thinness) tends to run in families. In a study of adults who were adopted as children, researchers found that participating adult weights were closer to their biological parents' weights than their adoptive parents'. The environment provided by the adoptive family apparently had less influence on the development of obesity than the person's genetic makeup. In fact, if your biological mother is heavy as an adult, there is approximately a 75% chance that you will be heavy. If your biological mother is thin, there is also a 75% chance that you will be thin. Nevertheless, people who feel that their genes have doomed them to a lifetime of obesity should take heart. Many people genetically predisposed to obesity do not become obese or are able to lose weight and keep it off.
Environmental factors. Although genes are an important factor in many cases of obesity, a person's environment also plays a significant role. Environmental factors include lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and how active he or she is.
Physical activity. Active individuals require more calories than less active ones to maintain their weight. Additionally, physical activity tends to decrease appetite in obese individuals while increasing the body's ability to preferentially metabolize fat as an energy source. Much of the increase in obesity in the last 20 years is thought to have resulted from the decreased level of daily physical activity.
Psychological factors. Psychological factors also influence eating habits and obesity. Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. People who have difficulty with weight management may be facing more emotional and psychological issues; about 30% of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating. During a binge-eating episode, people eat large amounts of food while feeling they can't control how much they are eating.
Illness. Although not as common as many believe, there are some illnesses that can cause obesity. These include hormone problems such as hypothyroidism (poorly acting thyroid slows metabolism), depression, and some rare diseases of the brain that can lead to overeating.
Medication. Certain drugs, such as steroids and some antidepressants, may cause excessive weight gain.
Emotional Aspects of Obesity
One of the most painful aspects of obesity may be the emotional suffering it causes. American society places great emphasis on physical appearance, often equating attractiveness with slimness or muscularity. In addition, many people wrongly stereotype obese people as gluttonous, lazy, or both. However, more and more evidence contradicts this assumption. Obese people often face prejudice or discrimination at work, at school, while looking for a job, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression are common.
When to Seek Help for Obesity
You should call your doctor if you are having emotional or psychological issues related to your obesity, need help losing weight, or if you fall into either of the following categories.
If your BMI is 30 or greater, you're considered obese. You should talk to your doctor about losing weight since you are at high risk of having health problems.
If you have an "apple shape" -- a so-called, "potbelly" or "spare tire" -- you carry more fat in and around your abdominal organs. Fat deposited primarily around your middle increases your risk of many of the serious conditions associated with obesity. Women's waist measurement should fall below 35 inches. Men's should be less than 40 inches. If you have a large waist circumference, talk to your doctor about how you can lose weight.
Obesity is an excess proportion of total body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above normal weight. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9; a person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30.
"Morbid obesity" means that a person is either 50%-100% over normal weight, more than 100 pounds over normal weight, has a BMI of 40 or higher, or is sufficiently overweight to severely interfere with health or normal function.
What Causes Obesity?
Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns. For many people this boils down to eating too much and exercising too little. But there are other factors that also play a role in obesity. These may include:
Age. As you get older, your body's ability to metabolize food slows down and you do not require as many calories to maintain your weight. This is why people note that they eat the same and do the same activities as they did when they were 20 years old, but at age 40, gain weight.
Gender. Women tend to be more overweight than men. Men have a higher resting metabolic rate (meaning they burn more energy at rest) than women, so men require more calories to maintain their body weight. Additionally, when women become postmenopausal, their metabolic rate decreases. That is partly why many women gain weight after menopause.
Genetics. Obesity (and thinness) tends to run in families. In a study of adults who were adopted as children, researchers found that participating adult weights were closer to their biological parents' weights than their adoptive parents'. The environment provided by the adoptive family apparently had less influence on the development of obesity than the person's genetic makeup. In fact, if your biological mother is heavy as an adult, there is approximately a 75% chance that you will be heavy. If your biological mother is thin, there is also a 75% chance that you will be thin. Nevertheless, people who feel that their genes have doomed them to a lifetime of obesity should take heart. Many people genetically predisposed to obesity do not become obese or are able to lose weight and keep it off.
Environmental factors. Although genes are an important factor in many cases of obesity, a person's environment also plays a significant role. Environmental factors include lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and how active he or she is.
Physical activity. Active individuals require more calories than less active ones to maintain their weight. Additionally, physical activity tends to decrease appetite in obese individuals while increasing the body's ability to preferentially metabolize fat as an energy source. Much of the increase in obesity in the last 20 years is thought to have resulted from the decreased level of daily physical activity.
Psychological factors. Psychological factors also influence eating habits and obesity. Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. People who have difficulty with weight management may be facing more emotional and psychological issues; about 30% of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating. During a binge-eating episode, people eat large amounts of food while feeling they can't control how much they are eating.
Illness. Although not as common as many believe, there are some illnesses that can cause obesity. These include hormone problems such as hypothyroidism (poorly acting thyroid slows metabolism), depression, and some rare diseases of the brain that can lead to overeating.
Medication. Certain drugs, such as steroids and some antidepressants, may cause excessive weight gain.
Emotional Aspects of Obesity
One of the most painful aspects of obesity may be the emotional suffering it causes. American society places great emphasis on physical appearance, often equating attractiveness with slimness or muscularity. In addition, many people wrongly stereotype obese people as gluttonous, lazy, or both. However, more and more evidence contradicts this assumption. Obese people often face prejudice or discrimination at work, at school, while looking for a job, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression are common.
When to Seek Help for Obesity
You should call your doctor if you are having emotional or psychological issues related to your obesity, need help losing weight, or if you fall into either of the following categories.
If your BMI is 30 or greater, you're considered obese. You should talk to your doctor about losing weight since you are at high risk of having health problems.
If you have an "apple shape" -- a so-called, "potbelly" or "spare tire" -- you carry more fat in and around your abdominal organs. Fat deposited primarily around your middle increases your risk of many of the serious conditions associated with obesity. Women's waist measurement should fall below 35 inches. Men's should be less than 40 inches. If you have a large waist circumference, talk to your doctor about how you can lose weight.
Dentist HIV risk: 8000 advised to get checked
A Colorado dentist and oral surgeon put his patients at risk for contracting HIV and hepatitis due to unsafe injection practices, and state officials are set to notify patients who saw Dr. Stephen Stein over a 12-year period to inform them of their risk.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stressed that "there have been no infections linked" to the offices of Dr. Stein, who practiced oral surgery in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Denver.
The state said patients who received IV medications, including sedation, at Dr. Stein's offices "may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and/or hepatitits C."
State officials learned of the HIV risk the dentist may have exposed his patients to following a report of unsafe injection practices at his offices.
"Upon investigation, it was determined syringes and needles used to inject medications through patients' IV lines were saved and used again to inject medications through other patients' IV lines," the agency said in a statement. "This practice has been known to transmit infections."
The agency said the investigation into the HIV risk the dentist may have passed on to his patients is still continuing.
"State health officials are working with health officials at Tri-County Health Department and Denver Public Health due to the locations of Stein's practices in those counties," the agency added.
The agency said "patients may be at risk" if they received those services under the dentist's care between September 1999 and June 2011 at the Highlands Ranch office and between August 2010 and 2011 at Stein's Denver office.
The health department said it was working to obtain Stein's records so his patients "could be notified directly."
"Notifications are being sent to patients for whom the department believes it has correct contact information," the agency said in a statement. "Those patients should receive the letters within the next few days."
The department cautioned that records may be incomplete and urged patients who remember receiving IV medications at Stein's offices to get tested for HIV and hepatitis, as the dentist may have put them at risk for the diseases.
If you are unsure if you received IV medications at the dentist, the department is still advising to get tested. Patients who know they didn't receive such treatment do not have to be tested for HIV, the agency said.
If you're a patient of Dr. Stein's and need more information about your HIV risk, call CO-HELP at 1-877-462-2911 or visit http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/.
Symptoms of HIV and hepatitis might not show up for years, the department noted, meaning it's possible the dentist's patients might be infected and not know about it.
"Although testing cannot determine where or how someone was infected (at Stein's offices or from another exposure), it is important to know so treatment can begin," the agency said.
Data from any positive HIV or hepatitis tests taken by Stein's patients will be reported to the state since they are reportable conditions in Colorado.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stressed that "there have been no infections linked" to the offices of Dr. Stein, who practiced oral surgery in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Denver.
The state said patients who received IV medications, including sedation, at Dr. Stein's offices "may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and/or hepatitits C."
State officials learned of the HIV risk the dentist may have exposed his patients to following a report of unsafe injection practices at his offices.
"Upon investigation, it was determined syringes and needles used to inject medications through patients' IV lines were saved and used again to inject medications through other patients' IV lines," the agency said in a statement. "This practice has been known to transmit infections."
The agency said the investigation into the HIV risk the dentist may have passed on to his patients is still continuing.
"State health officials are working with health officials at Tri-County Health Department and Denver Public Health due to the locations of Stein's practices in those counties," the agency added.
The agency said "patients may be at risk" if they received those services under the dentist's care between September 1999 and June 2011 at the Highlands Ranch office and between August 2010 and 2011 at Stein's Denver office.
The health department said it was working to obtain Stein's records so his patients "could be notified directly."
"Notifications are being sent to patients for whom the department believes it has correct contact information," the agency said in a statement. "Those patients should receive the letters within the next few days."
The department cautioned that records may be incomplete and urged patients who remember receiving IV medications at Stein's offices to get tested for HIV and hepatitis, as the dentist may have put them at risk for the diseases.
If you are unsure if you received IV medications at the dentist, the department is still advising to get tested. Patients who know they didn't receive such treatment do not have to be tested for HIV, the agency said.
If you're a patient of Dr. Stein's and need more information about your HIV risk, call CO-HELP at 1-877-462-2911 or visit http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/.
Symptoms of HIV and hepatitis might not show up for years, the department noted, meaning it's possible the dentist's patients might be infected and not know about it.
"Although testing cannot determine where or how someone was infected (at Stein's offices or from another exposure), it is important to know so treatment can begin," the agency said.
Data from any positive HIV or hepatitis tests taken by Stein's patients will be reported to the state since they are reportable conditions in Colorado.
Top 7 Age-defying Foods
Yummy foods yet with powerful anti-aging properties to keep you young and healthy.
Diet for a Pretty Smile
Dried licorice root may fight tooth decay, new research has found. But if you're not a fan, these foods can also help keep teeth, gums, and breath healthy, says Mark Wolff, D.D.S., Ph.D., of NYU College of Dentistry:
Yogurt. The lactic acid may ward off periodontal disease, but skip the sugary varieties.
Sugar-free gum and hard candies. These promote saliva flow and also help fight cavities. Xylitol-sweetened ones work best.
Raw or firm vegetables. Chewing celery and other crunchy veggies helps "scrub" your teeth. Ones with vitamin C-broccoli; red, green, and yellow peppers-may also protect against gum disease.
Sweet Sip of Youth
Compounds in green tea may help guard against the sun's damaging rays, while berries provide a hit of wrinkle-reducing nutrients. To make:
1. Place 3 to 4 raspberries or blueberries in each section of an ice cube tray.
2. Fill the tray with iced tea or water and freeze.
3. Once frozen, place your cubes in a tall glass and fill with chilled green tea.
Gussied-Up Grapefruit
This favorite citrus fruit is already low-cal and bursting with wrinkle-fighting vitamin C. Add walnuts for healthy fats that help keep skin supple. To make:
1. Peel a grapefruit; cut into 1 ½-in.-thick slices.
2. Place walnuts in small bowl and microwave for 45 seconds to one minute.
3. Place five nuts, broken into halves, in the center of each slice and sprinkle with a pinch each of salt and ground cinnamon; a slice serves one.
Magic Potion
Pomegranates are a rich source of the wrinkle-reducing plant chemical ellagic acid. Use the seeds to top a dip, sprinkle them on salad, or make this festive holiday sangria:
1. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine one bottle (750 ml) semidry Riesling or other white wine, one cup pomegranate juice, and ¼ cup Cointreau. Add one orange, cut into ¼-in. slices; one granny smith apple, cored and thinly sliced; and ½ cup pomegranate seeds. stir well.
2. Cover and refrigerate mixture for at least three hours, or overnight.
3. Divide among glasses and top off with seltzer or club soda if desired.
The White Stuff
To get more from your workout, hit the dairy case. Drinking milk instead of a sugary drink after strength-training exercises could help tone your body and blast fat, say researchers from McMaster University in Ontario. The sleek connection: Milk has a high proportion of certain amino acids that build muscle (and preserve it when you're dieting). Aim for four daily servings of dairy, drinking at least a cup and a half of milk (nonfat is fine) after a workout, advises lead author Andrea Josse, Ph.D.; the other "doses" can be yogurt, if you prefer.
Talk about a good defense - guacamole, the MVP of Super Bowl parties, also helps reduce signs of skin aging. More points: salsa delivers wrinkle-reducing antioxidants. To assemble: put guacamole in a bowl and top with tomato-based salsa. serving size: 1 Tbsp. guacamole, with 1 tsp. salsa, spread.
A Side of Beauty
Give your salad a seasonal upgrade with a wrinkle-reducing combo of mango, avocado (its fat keeps skin supple), and lime. To make:
1. Place two Boston lettuce leaves on each of four plates.
2. Thinly slice one mango, one avocado, eight radishes, and ½ seedless cucumber. Divide among plates. Top each with a few mint or cilantro leaves.
3. Cut one lime in quarters; serve each salad with a squeeze of lime.
Blueberries & Yogurt
Diet for a Pretty Smile
Dried licorice root may fight tooth decay, new research has found. But if you're not a fan, these foods can also help keep teeth, gums, and breath healthy, says Mark Wolff, D.D.S., Ph.D., of NYU College of Dentistry:
Yogurt. The lactic acid may ward off periodontal disease, but skip the sugary varieties.
Sugar-free gum and hard candies. These promote saliva flow and also help fight cavities. Xylitol-sweetened ones work best.
Raw or firm vegetables. Chewing celery and other crunchy veggies helps "scrub" your teeth. Ones with vitamin C-broccoli; red, green, and yellow peppers-may also protect against gum disease.
Green Tea
Sweet Sip of Youth
Compounds in green tea may help guard against the sun's damaging rays, while berries provide a hit of wrinkle-reducing nutrients. To make:
1. Place 3 to 4 raspberries or blueberries in each section of an ice cube tray.
2. Fill the tray with iced tea or water and freeze.
3. Once frozen, place your cubes in a tall glass and fill with chilled green tea.
Grapefruit
Gussied-Up Grapefruit
This favorite citrus fruit is already low-cal and bursting with wrinkle-fighting vitamin C. Add walnuts for healthy fats that help keep skin supple. To make:
1. Peel a grapefruit; cut into 1 ½-in.-thick slices.
2. Place walnuts in small bowl and microwave for 45 seconds to one minute.
3. Place five nuts, broken into halves, in the center of each slice and sprinkle with a pinch each of salt and ground cinnamon; a slice serves one.
Pomegranate Punch
Magic Potion
Pomegranates are a rich source of the wrinkle-reducing plant chemical ellagic acid. Use the seeds to top a dip, sprinkle them on salad, or make this festive holiday sangria:
1. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine one bottle (750 ml) semidry Riesling or other white wine, one cup pomegranate juice, and ¼ cup Cointreau. Add one orange, cut into ¼-in. slices; one granny smith apple, cored and thinly sliced; and ½ cup pomegranate seeds. stir well.
2. Cover and refrigerate mixture for at least three hours, or overnight.
3. Divide among glasses and top off with seltzer or club soda if desired.
Milk
The White Stuff
To get more from your workout, hit the dairy case. Drinking milk instead of a sugary drink after strength-training exercises could help tone your body and blast fat, say researchers from McMaster University in Ontario. The sleek connection: Milk has a high proportion of certain amino acids that build muscle (and preserve it when you're dieting). Aim for four daily servings of dairy, drinking at least a cup and a half of milk (nonfat is fine) after a workout, advises lead author Andrea Josse, Ph.D.; the other "doses" can be yogurt, if you prefer.
Chips & Guacamole
Talk about a good defense - guacamole, the MVP of Super Bowl parties, also helps reduce signs of skin aging. More points: salsa delivers wrinkle-reducing antioxidants. To assemble: put guacamole in a bowl and top with tomato-based salsa. serving size: 1 Tbsp. guacamole, with 1 tsp. salsa, spread.
Mango & Avocado
A Side of Beauty
Give your salad a seasonal upgrade with a wrinkle-reducing combo of mango, avocado (its fat keeps skin supple), and lime. To make:
1. Place two Boston lettuce leaves on each of four plates.
2. Thinly slice one mango, one avocado, eight radishes, and ½ seedless cucumber. Divide among plates. Top each with a few mint or cilantro leaves.
3. Cut one lime in quarters; serve each salad with a squeeze of lime.
Botox to help stop Migraines @ NHS
Patients with chronic migraine can now have Botox jabs on the NHS.
Elaine Ransome, 28, an accountant from North Yorkshire, has benefited from the treatment.
'Some days were so excruciating I'd just lie in the dark,' said Elaine Ransome
'Some days were so excruciating I'd just lie in the dark,' said Elaine Ransome
My migraines started quite suddenly.
I’d always been healthy and never had a day off sick, then one morning in February 2010, I woke up with a dull ache in the side and back of my head which lasted all day.
After ten days of it, I saw my GP who found my blood pressure was high.
She thought that might have been the cause and prescribed medication, but it didn’t help.
The headaches were constant, every day, and getting worse.
Some days were so excruciating I’d just lie in the dark.
I tried ibuprofen and was prescribed various other medications, then I was referred to a headache clinic where I was told to drink plenty of water and avoid triggers such as cheese, chocolate and alcohol, but nothing seemed to work.
I also started seeing flashing lights, and felt dizzy and sick.
At one point I had to take four weeks off work and spent the whole time lying in a darkened room screaming in pain.
I couldn’t bear it any longer, so my GP referred me to Hull Royal Infirmary.
I saw Dr Fayyaz Ahmed there in January last year.
He diagnosed chronic migraine which he explained is an extreme headache lasting at least 15 days a month, of which at least eight are migrainous — meaning you feel sick and dizzy.
I couldn’t understand why I’d got them — I knew migraines were hereditary, but there was no history of it in my family.
He said some patients had seen a huge improvement with Botox injections in the head and neck muscles.
Dr Ahmed explained that the jabs weren’t then available on the NHS, but he had funding for a workshop to teach other doctors.
I jumped at the chance — anything to end the agonising pain that was stopping me living a normal life.
He warned there could be side-effects, such as droopy eyelids, neck pain and difficulty swallowing, but they were not common, and if you did get them they were mild and would be gone in a few weeks.
Also, as it was Botox, there was a risk I’d not be able to frown — but that didn’t bother me after all I’d been through.
I had the procedure a couple of months later.
I sat in a chair while Dr Ahmed injected 31 syringes of Botox into my forehead, temples, back of my head and my neck muscles.
There was no local anaesthetic, and the injections did hurt, but after months of agony I didn’t care.
I still had a headache when I went home, but Dr Ahmed had warned that it took time to work.
Within five days, the headaches were easing — I had them on four or five days a month, instead of 30, and they were bearable.
It was wonderful — I could get back to work, and go running, too.
The effect lasted six months, but then the headaches became more frequent and the full-on attacks came back again.
So last October I paid £600 to have more injections privately.
In April, Dr Ahmed found more funding, so I had another course of injections before the migraines could return.
Now I have a just a couple of headaches a month, and they are manageable.
I know I’ll need more to keep them at bay, so I’m delighted you can now get Botox on the NHS.
THE SPECIALIST
Dr Fayyaz Ahmed is a neurologist at Spire Hospital Hull and East Riding. He says:
One in seven of us suffers migraine, and 2 per cent of the population have chronic migraine, which means that these severe headaches affect them on more than 15 days a month.
Unlike ordinary headaches, migraine can mean patients feel sick, are sensitive to light and may have an aura which can cause visual disturbances, slurred speech and weakness and numbness on one side.
Chronic migraine can be disabling because people have to take time off work in pain and it disrupts their family life.
We know that migraine can run in families, and is more common in women than men because female hormones can trigger it — but doctors don’t fully understand what causes them.
One theory is that blood vessels may dilate and press on nerves, which then send pain signals to the brain — or that the brain itself sends abnormal pain signals.
Patients can try avoiding triggers, though in many cases this is a combination of things so it’s not obvious.
They can also take painkillers.
But using codeine or those containing caffeine and barbiturates can build up a tolerance to them, which can trigger medication-overuse headaches.
When the attacks are more frequent, doctors can prescribe beta-blockers such as propranolol (which work by reducing the release of pain messages from nerve endings), antidepressants (which work on brain chemicals such as serotonin), while anticonvulsant medications such as topiramate suppress the activity of brain cells.
But these medications may not suit everyone and some have intolerable side-effects, such as pins and needles and weight loss.
There are stronger drugs such as sodium valproate — a stronger anticonvulsant — but these can cause weight gain and hair loss.
Sometimes we offer a greater occipital nerve block — injecting local anaesthetic and steroid at the back of the head to reduce nerve pain signals.
This works in 50 per cent of people and reduces the headache by 50 per cent, but the effect is short-lasting and, due to the risk of hair loss, many patients do not fancy it.
When all else fails, patients could be offered occipital nerve stimulation — surgery to implant a stimulator under the skin to block pain signals to the brain. But this costs £30,000 and is rarely funded by Primary Care Trusts.
There are standard surgical risks, too.
The effect of botulinum toxin — which causes weakness in the muscles where it is injected — on headache was first reported 20 years ago when people who had injections for cosmetic reasons reported reduced numbers of migraines.
Then a large-scale study in the U.S. and Europe in 2010 found that Botox worked well in patients who had chronic migraine.
While we don’t know exactly how it works, we think that it reduces pain signals from various receptors to the brain.
Around 50 per cent of my patients with chronic migraine report a 50 per cent reduction in the frequency and severity of their migraines.
The procedure takes around ten to 15 minutes, with the patient sitting in a chair or on the couch.
Since it’s no more painful than acupuncture, patients don’t need an anaesthetic.
I use a very fine insulin needle to inject the Botox into the head and neck: seven injections into the muscles of the forehead, four in each temple, six on the back of the head and ten in the neck muscles.
It takes a few days to work, but lasts between four and six months. The patient can then have another course of injections.
Patients have months of relief from excruciating pain with no need for an operation or regular medication.
The procedure costs around £500 to £600 privately; one cycle of Botox treatment will cost the NHS around £350.
For more information about migraines visit migrainetrust.org and bash.org.uk
Elaine Ransome, 28, an accountant from North Yorkshire, has benefited from the treatment.
'Some days were so excruciating I'd just lie in the dark,' said Elaine Ransome
'Some days were so excruciating I'd just lie in the dark,' said Elaine Ransome
My migraines started quite suddenly.
I’d always been healthy and never had a day off sick, then one morning in February 2010, I woke up with a dull ache in the side and back of my head which lasted all day.
After ten days of it, I saw my GP who found my blood pressure was high.
She thought that might have been the cause and prescribed medication, but it didn’t help.
The headaches were constant, every day, and getting worse.
Some days were so excruciating I’d just lie in the dark.
I tried ibuprofen and was prescribed various other medications, then I was referred to a headache clinic where I was told to drink plenty of water and avoid triggers such as cheese, chocolate and alcohol, but nothing seemed to work.
I also started seeing flashing lights, and felt dizzy and sick.
At one point I had to take four weeks off work and spent the whole time lying in a darkened room screaming in pain.
I couldn’t bear it any longer, so my GP referred me to Hull Royal Infirmary.
I saw Dr Fayyaz Ahmed there in January last year.
He diagnosed chronic migraine which he explained is an extreme headache lasting at least 15 days a month, of which at least eight are migrainous — meaning you feel sick and dizzy.
I couldn’t understand why I’d got them — I knew migraines were hereditary, but there was no history of it in my family.
He said some patients had seen a huge improvement with Botox injections in the head and neck muscles.
Dr Ahmed explained that the jabs weren’t then available on the NHS, but he had funding for a workshop to teach other doctors.
I jumped at the chance — anything to end the agonising pain that was stopping me living a normal life.
He warned there could be side-effects, such as droopy eyelids, neck pain and difficulty swallowing, but they were not common, and if you did get them they were mild and would be gone in a few weeks.
Also, as it was Botox, there was a risk I’d not be able to frown — but that didn’t bother me after all I’d been through.
I had the procedure a couple of months later.
I sat in a chair while Dr Ahmed injected 31 syringes of Botox into my forehead, temples, back of my head and my neck muscles.
There was no local anaesthetic, and the injections did hurt, but after months of agony I didn’t care.
I still had a headache when I went home, but Dr Ahmed had warned that it took time to work.
Within five days, the headaches were easing — I had them on four or five days a month, instead of 30, and they were bearable.
It was wonderful — I could get back to work, and go running, too.
The effect lasted six months, but then the headaches became more frequent and the full-on attacks came back again.
So last October I paid £600 to have more injections privately.
In April, Dr Ahmed found more funding, so I had another course of injections before the migraines could return.
Now I have a just a couple of headaches a month, and they are manageable.
I know I’ll need more to keep them at bay, so I’m delighted you can now get Botox on the NHS.
THE SPECIALIST
Dr Fayyaz Ahmed is a neurologist at Spire Hospital Hull and East Riding. He says:
One in seven of us suffers migraine, and 2 per cent of the population have chronic migraine, which means that these severe headaches affect them on more than 15 days a month.
Unlike ordinary headaches, migraine can mean patients feel sick, are sensitive to light and may have an aura which can cause visual disturbances, slurred speech and weakness and numbness on one side.
Chronic migraine can be disabling because people have to take time off work in pain and it disrupts their family life.
We know that migraine can run in families, and is more common in women than men because female hormones can trigger it — but doctors don’t fully understand what causes them.
One theory is that blood vessels may dilate and press on nerves, which then send pain signals to the brain — or that the brain itself sends abnormal pain signals.
Patients can try avoiding triggers, though in many cases this is a combination of things so it’s not obvious.
They can also take painkillers.
But using codeine or those containing caffeine and barbiturates can build up a tolerance to them, which can trigger medication-overuse headaches.
When the attacks are more frequent, doctors can prescribe beta-blockers such as propranolol (which work by reducing the release of pain messages from nerve endings), antidepressants (which work on brain chemicals such as serotonin), while anticonvulsant medications such as topiramate suppress the activity of brain cells.
But these medications may not suit everyone and some have intolerable side-effects, such as pins and needles and weight loss.
There are stronger drugs such as sodium valproate — a stronger anticonvulsant — but these can cause weight gain and hair loss.
Sometimes we offer a greater occipital nerve block — injecting local anaesthetic and steroid at the back of the head to reduce nerve pain signals.
This works in 50 per cent of people and reduces the headache by 50 per cent, but the effect is short-lasting and, due to the risk of hair loss, many patients do not fancy it.
When all else fails, patients could be offered occipital nerve stimulation — surgery to implant a stimulator under the skin to block pain signals to the brain. But this costs £30,000 and is rarely funded by Primary Care Trusts.
There are standard surgical risks, too.
The effect of botulinum toxin — which causes weakness in the muscles where it is injected — on headache was first reported 20 years ago when people who had injections for cosmetic reasons reported reduced numbers of migraines.
Then a large-scale study in the U.S. and Europe in 2010 found that Botox worked well in patients who had chronic migraine.
While we don’t know exactly how it works, we think that it reduces pain signals from various receptors to the brain.
Around 50 per cent of my patients with chronic migraine report a 50 per cent reduction in the frequency and severity of their migraines.
The procedure takes around ten to 15 minutes, with the patient sitting in a chair or on the couch.
Since it’s no more painful than acupuncture, patients don’t need an anaesthetic.
I use a very fine insulin needle to inject the Botox into the head and neck: seven injections into the muscles of the forehead, four in each temple, six on the back of the head and ten in the neck muscles.
It takes a few days to work, but lasts between four and six months. The patient can then have another course of injections.
Patients have months of relief from excruciating pain with no need for an operation or regular medication.
The procedure costs around £500 to £600 privately; one cycle of Botox treatment will cost the NHS around £350.
For more information about migraines visit migrainetrust.org and bash.org.uk
Source
Healthy Teeth results to Healthy Body
Good teeth can do more than keep your dental bills low—they can help protect you from a whole host of health problems. The following are 5 good reasons why you should take great care of your chompers.
HEART DISEASE AND STROKE
A variety of studies have established that inflammation and bacteria in the mouth and gums can find its way into the bloodstream, leading to thickening of the arteries and increasing the risk of a heart attack; while fatty plaques that build up on the inside of the vessels can break off, go to the brain and cause a stroke.
Need further convincing? One recent study published in the British Medical Journal analyzed data from over 11,000 adults and determined that participants who reported brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70% increased risk of heart disease versus those who brushed twice daily. So do your heart a favor and brush up on good dental hygiene.
DIABETES
Doctors have long known that Type 2 diabetics have an increased occurrence of periodontal disease, but it turns out preventing gum infections may stave off diabetes in the first place. A recent study out of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health that followed 9,296 nondiabetic participants over 20 years found that people who had higher levels of periodontal disease had twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with low levels or no gum infections.
Although further research is needed to determine the exact reason, one theory proposes that serious oral infections can lead to low-grade inflammation throughout your body and that inflammation may destroy your ability to process sugar.
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
Keeping your mouth clean and healthy can also help keep your lungs protected according to a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology. In a pool of 200 participants aged 20 to 60, researchers found that patients suffering from a respiratory illness such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, an upper respiratory infection, or COPD had poorer periodontal health than those in the control group. The reason for this association likely lies in the bacteria caused by periodontal disease, which forms in the upper throat. From there it can easily be inhaled into the lower respiratory tract and can obstruct breathing or develop into more serious lung-related problems.
BREAST CANCER
As science continues to discover a very clear link between oral health and overall health, more and more studies are being conducted that explore different parts of the body. The latest study out of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden suggests that women may be over 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer if they have missing teeth and gum disease. Since this is one of the first studies of its kind, more research needs to be done to back up the results, but so far they seem to be on track with the current findings that poor dental hygiene can directly affect your general health.
PREGNANCY PROBLEMS
If you’re pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your oral health. Due to hormonal fluctuations and the increased blood flow throughout your body during pregnancy, you are more likely to notice changes in your teeth and gums. According to the American Academy of Periodontists, about fifty percent of pregnant women develop gingivitis, a condition that leaves gums inflamed, bleeding, swollen, or tender. Left unchecked it can lead to periodontal disease, a serious infection that could create problems in the delivery room. While research is still being done, several studies suggest there is a direct relationship between infected bacteria in your mouth and premature deliveries, low-birth rate, and preeclampsia. To be safe, be diligent about brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist, and make sure to alert her to any pain or problems that pop up over the nine months.
HEART DISEASE AND STROKE
A variety of studies have established that inflammation and bacteria in the mouth and gums can find its way into the bloodstream, leading to thickening of the arteries and increasing the risk of a heart attack; while fatty plaques that build up on the inside of the vessels can break off, go to the brain and cause a stroke.
Need further convincing? One recent study published in the British Medical Journal analyzed data from over 11,000 adults and determined that participants who reported brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70% increased risk of heart disease versus those who brushed twice daily. So do your heart a favor and brush up on good dental hygiene.
DIABETES
Doctors have long known that Type 2 diabetics have an increased occurrence of periodontal disease, but it turns out preventing gum infections may stave off diabetes in the first place. A recent study out of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health that followed 9,296 nondiabetic participants over 20 years found that people who had higher levels of periodontal disease had twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with low levels or no gum infections.
Although further research is needed to determine the exact reason, one theory proposes that serious oral infections can lead to low-grade inflammation throughout your body and that inflammation may destroy your ability to process sugar.
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
Keeping your mouth clean and healthy can also help keep your lungs protected according to a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology. In a pool of 200 participants aged 20 to 60, researchers found that patients suffering from a respiratory illness such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, an upper respiratory infection, or COPD had poorer periodontal health than those in the control group. The reason for this association likely lies in the bacteria caused by periodontal disease, which forms in the upper throat. From there it can easily be inhaled into the lower respiratory tract and can obstruct breathing or develop into more serious lung-related problems.
BREAST CANCER
As science continues to discover a very clear link between oral health and overall health, more and more studies are being conducted that explore different parts of the body. The latest study out of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden suggests that women may be over 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer if they have missing teeth and gum disease. Since this is one of the first studies of its kind, more research needs to be done to back up the results, but so far they seem to be on track with the current findings that poor dental hygiene can directly affect your general health.
PREGNANCY PROBLEMS
If you’re pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your oral health. Due to hormonal fluctuations and the increased blood flow throughout your body during pregnancy, you are more likely to notice changes in your teeth and gums. According to the American Academy of Periodontists, about fifty percent of pregnant women develop gingivitis, a condition that leaves gums inflamed, bleeding, swollen, or tender. Left unchecked it can lead to periodontal disease, a serious infection that could create problems in the delivery room. While research is still being done, several studies suggest there is a direct relationship between infected bacteria in your mouth and premature deliveries, low-birth rate, and preeclampsia. To be safe, be diligent about brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist, and make sure to alert her to any pain or problems that pop up over the nine months.
Haute Joaillerie From Chanel, Dior, Van Cleef, Vuitton, And More
“In the 1950’s, Christian Dior styled couture gowns with costume jewelry that looked real—I just did the opposite,” said Dior jewelry designer Victoire de Castellane of her latest haute outing, Dear Dior (left). “It’s an exercise in style without going literal.” For the mounts, she recast in gold various lace motifs culled from the couture archives; her particular favorite is the Broderie Grenade Irisée ring in a spectrum of precious stones with a rare Welo fire opal blazing at the center.
Now that it has a high-jewelry flagship on the Place Vendôme, Louis Vuitton is rocketing the Monogram flower toward new frontiers of time and space with Voyage dans le Temps. The house signature gets pixelized, extrapolated, and reconfigured, for example, on a large cuff in diamonds and grand feu enamel. The pièce de résistance: a lace Peter Pan collar reworked as a supple necklace with diamonds reprising the Monogram motif and a front closure inspired by the hasps on a Vuitton trunk.
Speaking of stars, the Chanel galaxy is expanding rapidly—this summer will see the opening of an in-house jewelry atelier on the Place Vendôme—and in that spirit, the house erected a sizable planetarium of jewels atop the Musée Branly. It included a mix of the old (a diamond star brooch from 1932, a recently unearthed film of the original 1932 couture jewelry collection, this collection’s namesake, below) and the new (a giant tactile screen table—touch a jewel, read the archives). And, of course, a dazzling constellation of 80 new jeweled pieces, set in the round beneath a starry dome.
Lucky charms from the world of flora and fauna, not least the four-leaf clover, are Van Cleef & Arpels‘ stock in trade. Elaborate pieces bearing the likenesses of terrestrial critters—carps, ladybugs, seahorses, frogs, stags, unicorns, strawberries, and, for the first time, bats—kept company with celestial ones, such as the Etoile Filante (shooting star, below) clip, which has a rotating head. More pieces, astral and otherwise, are on the horizon for fall: Come September, the house will host a major retrospective of over 400 creations at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
With her debut collection, L’Artisan du Rêve, Boucheron’s freshly anointed director of creations, Claire Choisne, offers up a lighter aesthetic that mines the jeweler’s roots, reinterpreting elements as it goes along. Take, for example, diamonds set both on and within crystal, a recasting of the jeweled scarf in multicolored sapphires and diamonds, and the elaborately inlaid Perle au Trésor, a piece roughly the size of a tennis ball that breaks down into a cuff and two brooches; inside is a necklace of pearls, opals, and thinly sliced diamonds. The house favorite chameleon is back, too, in diamonds that appear to transform depending on the gem he holds. - Tina Isaac
Now that it has a high-jewelry flagship on the Place Vendôme, Louis Vuitton is rocketing the Monogram flower toward new frontiers of time and space with Voyage dans le Temps. The house signature gets pixelized, extrapolated, and reconfigured, for example, on a large cuff in diamonds and grand feu enamel. The pièce de résistance: a lace Peter Pan collar reworked as a supple necklace with diamonds reprising the Monogram motif and a front closure inspired by the hasps on a Vuitton trunk.
Speaking of stars, the Chanel galaxy is expanding rapidly—this summer will see the opening of an in-house jewelry atelier on the Place Vendôme—and in that spirit, the house erected a sizable planetarium of jewels atop the Musée Branly. It included a mix of the old (a diamond star brooch from 1932, a recently unearthed film of the original 1932 couture jewelry collection, this collection’s namesake, below) and the new (a giant tactile screen table—touch a jewel, read the archives). And, of course, a dazzling constellation of 80 new jeweled pieces, set in the round beneath a starry dome.
Lucky charms from the world of flora and fauna, not least the four-leaf clover, are Van Cleef & Arpels‘ stock in trade. Elaborate pieces bearing the likenesses of terrestrial critters—carps, ladybugs, seahorses, frogs, stags, unicorns, strawberries, and, for the first time, bats—kept company with celestial ones, such as the Etoile Filante (shooting star, below) clip, which has a rotating head. More pieces, astral and otherwise, are on the horizon for fall: Come September, the house will host a major retrospective of over 400 creations at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
With her debut collection, L’Artisan du Rêve, Boucheron’s freshly anointed director of creations, Claire Choisne, offers up a lighter aesthetic that mines the jeweler’s roots, reinterpreting elements as it goes along. Take, for example, diamonds set both on and within crystal, a recasting of the jeweled scarf in multicolored sapphires and diamonds, and the elaborately inlaid Perle au Trésor, a piece roughly the size of a tennis ball that breaks down into a cuff and two brooches; inside is a necklace of pearls, opals, and thinly sliced diamonds. The house favorite chameleon is back, too, in diamonds that appear to transform depending on the gem he holds. - Tina Isaac
Art in Fashion Inspiration
Fashion designers have forever found inspiration in fine art—recall, for example, Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian collection for Fall 1965—and today, things are no different. Barring Sarah Burton’s exquisite jacquard creations for Alexander McQueen that evoked Gustav Klimt’s gold-flecked oeuvre, the latest Resort collections were full of references that you won’t pick up in Art History 101. At Helmut Lang, Nicole and Michael Colovos turned Kate MccGwire’s contemporary feather sculptures into a digital print on soft jersey pants, while Prabal Gurung looked to Aaron Moran’s reclaimed wood works, which gave rise to the shardlike motifs on shift dresses. Clothing you might find in a gallery or museum isn’t only for the ladies—just ask Raf Simons, who used oversize T-shirts as a canvas to display Los Angeles painter Brian Calvin’s unique portraits during his latest menswear show.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Ad Campaign for Burberry Body
Burberry launched a new advertising campaign signed by photographer Mario Testino under the art direction of designer Christopher Bayley for the latest iteration of Burberry Body in eau de toilette format this time. "Sensual and feminine, Burberry Body dresses the skin like the caressing touch of a trench, the house's icon".
Actress and model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley continues to grace the advert finding a new enticing pose to promote both perfume and iconic satiny trench-coat turned into a fetish object worthy of an erotica shop provided it is suggestively conveyed that nothing is worn underneath (check out after the jump for the beautiful black-and-white behind-the-scenes as well as the two commercials)...
The edt composed by perfumer Michel Almairac, the author of the original, incorporates two new accords: "tangy green apple" and "enchanting tea".
The scent opens on green apple, wormwood and peach followed by rose absolute, tea and sandalwood before leaving a sillage of cashmere wood, amber, musk and vanilla.
As one can note, there is a key woody note at all three levels of evaporation plateaux of the fragrance.
Here are exclusive behind the scene image and videos:
Actress and model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley continues to grace the advert finding a new enticing pose to promote both perfume and iconic satiny trench-coat turned into a fetish object worthy of an erotica shop provided it is suggestively conveyed that nothing is worn underneath (check out after the jump for the beautiful black-and-white behind-the-scenes as well as the two commercials)...
The edt composed by perfumer Michel Almairac, the author of the original, incorporates two new accords: "tangy green apple" and "enchanting tea".
The scent opens on green apple, wormwood and peach followed by rose absolute, tea and sandalwood before leaving a sillage of cashmere wood, amber, musk and vanilla.
As one can note, there is a key woody note at all three levels of evaporation plateaux of the fragrance.
Here are exclusive behind the scene image and videos:
* Courtesy of Mimifroufrou
Bees Uncover Link on Sugar Sensitivity And Metabolic Disorders
Scientists studying the genetics of honey bees found they reveal some insights into the link between sugar sensitivity, diabetic physiology and carbohydrate metabolism that may also be relevant to humans.
Lead author Ying Wang, a research scientist, in the School of Life Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), and colleagues, write about their findings in a paper published on 28 June in the open access journal PLoS Genetics.
Honey bees offer a useful model for studying what influences food-related behavior, such as the role of taste sensitivity in making choices between foods rich in carbohydrate and food rich in protein (for bees this is choosing between nectar and pollen).
A young bee's sensitivity to sugar predicts what she will forage for later in life, as Wang explained to the press:
"A bee's sensitivity to sugar reveals her attitude towards food, how old the bee is when she starts searching for nectar and pollen, and which kind of food she prefers to collect."
To study the processes that influence this, Wang and colleagues successfully inactivated two genes in the "master regulator" that controls the bees' food-related behavior.
When they did this, they discovered a possible molecular link between sweet taste perception and the state of internal energy.
"By suppressing these two 'master' genes, we discovered that bees can become more sensitive to sweet taste. But interestingly, those bees also had very high blood sugar levels, and low levels of insulin, much like people who have Type 1 diabetes," said Wang.
One of the genes they suppressed is called vitellogenin, which codes for a protein in the bee's fat cells and is similar to a human gene called apolipoprotein B. The other gene is called ultraspiracle, which partners with an insect hormone that has some functions in common with the human thyroid hormone.
The bee lab at ASU is run by the paper's senior author Gro Amdam, an ASU associate professor, who also runs a bee lab at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Amdam said if they can use the bees to understand how taste perception and metabolic syndrome are linked, it could be a very useful tool for research. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that together increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
"Most of what we know about deficits in human perceptions is from people who are very sick or have had a brain trauma. We know shockingly little about people in this area," said Amdam.
Amdam explained that taste perception evolved in humans as well as bees, as a survival mechanism to help distinguish between foods that might be poisonous (which tend to be bitter) and foods that might be rich in calories (which tend to be sweet).
In all animals, from insects to humans, a communication goes on between the internal energy state and taste perception that regulates food intake and maintains normal life functions in the body. Without this, poorly functioning taste perception can spur unhealthy eating behaviors and metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Amdam said this study has helped them realize they can use honey bees to understand how food-related behavior interacts with internal metabolism. The findings also give them insights into how to manipulate these behaviors in order to control metabolic disorders.
The team is now planning to find out how the absence of the two genes in the master regulator enhances bees' sensitivity to sweetness.
They have a hunch that it could be to do with the "fat body" in bees. This is the most metabolically active tissue in bees, it helps store nutrients and make energy, much like the liver and abdominal fat in humans.
Lead author Ying Wang, a research scientist, in the School of Life Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), and colleagues, write about their findings in a paper published on 28 June in the open access journal PLoS Genetics.
Honey bees offer a useful model for studying what influences food-related behavior, such as the role of taste sensitivity in making choices between foods rich in carbohydrate and food rich in protein (for bees this is choosing between nectar and pollen).
A young bee's sensitivity to sugar predicts what she will forage for later in life, as Wang explained to the press:
"A bee's sensitivity to sugar reveals her attitude towards food, how old the bee is when she starts searching for nectar and pollen, and which kind of food she prefers to collect."
To study the processes that influence this, Wang and colleagues successfully inactivated two genes in the "master regulator" that controls the bees' food-related behavior.
When they did this, they discovered a possible molecular link between sweet taste perception and the state of internal energy."By suppressing these two 'master' genes, we discovered that bees can become more sensitive to sweet taste. But interestingly, those bees also had very high blood sugar levels, and low levels of insulin, much like people who have Type 1 diabetes," said Wang.
One of the genes they suppressed is called vitellogenin, which codes for a protein in the bee's fat cells and is similar to a human gene called apolipoprotein B. The other gene is called ultraspiracle, which partners with an insect hormone that has some functions in common with the human thyroid hormone.
The bee lab at ASU is run by the paper's senior author Gro Amdam, an ASU associate professor, who also runs a bee lab at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Amdam said if they can use the bees to understand how taste perception and metabolic syndrome are linked, it could be a very useful tool for research. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that together increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
"Most of what we know about deficits in human perceptions is from people who are very sick or have had a brain trauma. We know shockingly little about people in this area," said Amdam.
Amdam explained that taste perception evolved in humans as well as bees, as a survival mechanism to help distinguish between foods that might be poisonous (which tend to be bitter) and foods that might be rich in calories (which tend to be sweet).
In all animals, from insects to humans, a communication goes on between the internal energy state and taste perception that regulates food intake and maintains normal life functions in the body. Without this, poorly functioning taste perception can spur unhealthy eating behaviors and metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Amdam said this study has helped them realize they can use honey bees to understand how food-related behavior interacts with internal metabolism. The findings also give them insights into how to manipulate these behaviors in order to control metabolic disorders.
The team is now planning to find out how the absence of the two genes in the master regulator enhances bees' sensitivity to sweetness.
They have a hunch that it could be to do with the "fat body" in bees. This is the most metabolically active tissue in bees, it helps store nutrients and make energy, much like the liver and abdominal fat in humans.
* Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Tips for a Healthier Hair
Here are some basic hair care tips that you can use to improve a healthy and beautiful and looking locks.
General
A healthy lifestyle will mean healthier hair for you. Excessive stress, smoking, not exercising and not eating nutritiously are not healthy for your hair.
Get enough sleep.
Hair Products (Gel, mouse, hair spary...)
Avoid using hair styling products with alcohol which dries out hair.
Avoid puting hair styling products directly on your scalp; if you put it on your scalp you'll clog the pores on your head.
Swimming
Before entering a pool, wet your hair so your hair will soak up the initial water instead of the chlorinated water.
When swimming where a cap to protect your hair from chlorinated water, if you choose not to wear a cap make sure you shampoo and condition your hair right after you are done swimming.
Drying
Hot air can be damaging to your hair so when using a hair dryer use the cool setting.
Don't leave the blowdryer in one spot for more than a few seconds, keep it moving and at a good distance away from your hair.
To speed up the drying process, pat your hair dry with a towell and let the remaining moisture in your hair dry naturally.
Gently use your fingers or a pick to untangle any knots while your hair is drying.
Combing/Brushing
Use a brush whose bristles are made from natural animal hairs, it is softer and more flexible, which means less damage will be done to your hair.
Hair is most fragile when it is wet so avoid brushing or combing when it's wet, or else it will cause breakage. Wait until your hair is almost completely dry before brushing it.
Use brushes/combs with widely spaced bristles/teeth and smooth tips. Sharp tooth combs can damage your hair, cause split ends, and scratch your scalp.
To keep your brushes and combs clean, wash them weekly using soap or shampoo.
Comb your hair to remove any tangles before brushing it.
Begin by combing your hair gently at the ends to get any tangles out and work your way up to the base of your hair.
Always brush/comb with a downwards stroke.
Avoid using plastic brushes/combs which create static electricity
Shampooing and Conditioning
Buy shampoos & conditioners that match your hair type. Trial and error is the best way to find out what specific hair product is best for your hair.
Shower with warm water; hot water can dry and/or irritate the scalp.
It is important to wash your hair; shampooing removes dirt, dead skin cells, hair oils, any hair products you may put into your hair.
When shampooing, rinse your hair out before applying any shampoo to remove any dust, dirt, and any other foreign items, then apply the shampoo onto your scalp and massage it gently with your finger tips and work your way outwards. After you are done make sure that you thouroughly rinse out your hair to remove any shampoo residue that may be left. Shampoo residue may dry your scalp/hair and or attract dirt. It is recommended that you only lather once to avoid drying your hair out. If you have oily hair, lathering again may stimulate your oil glands to create even more oil than normal.
You should wash your hair as often as you feel necessary to keep it clean but a general rule for oily hair is that you should wash it every day or every other day and for dry hair only wash it 2-3 times a week.
Try rotating the shampoo and conditioner periodically, your hair responds differently to different products.
Use a conditioner after shampooing; it'll moisturize your hair, give it extra protection, add shine, reduce static, and makes it easier to untangle.
Use a leave in conditioner; it'll hydrate and protect your hair. A leave in conditioner on your hair is the equivalent of moisturizer on your face.
When conditioning your hair, try to spread conditioner evenly through out your hair and leave it in for a couple of minutes before rinsing out your hair.
Put the conditioner in at about an inch away from the scalp, the roots of your hair contain the most oils and usually don't need the extra conditioning.
Be gentle when shampooing and conditioning. Don't use excessive force rubbing your hair, remember hair is most vunerable when wet.
General
A healthy lifestyle will mean healthier hair for you. Excessive stress, smoking, not exercising and not eating nutritiously are not healthy for your hair.
Get enough sleep.
Hair Products (Gel, mouse, hair spary...)
Avoid using hair styling products with alcohol which dries out hair.
Avoid puting hair styling products directly on your scalp; if you put it on your scalp you'll clog the pores on your head.
Swimming
Before entering a pool, wet your hair so your hair will soak up the initial water instead of the chlorinated water.
When swimming where a cap to protect your hair from chlorinated water, if you choose not to wear a cap make sure you shampoo and condition your hair right after you are done swimming.
Drying
Hot air can be damaging to your hair so when using a hair dryer use the cool setting.
Don't leave the blowdryer in one spot for more than a few seconds, keep it moving and at a good distance away from your hair.
To speed up the drying process, pat your hair dry with a towell and let the remaining moisture in your hair dry naturally.
Gently use your fingers or a pick to untangle any knots while your hair is drying.
Combing/Brushing
Use a brush whose bristles are made from natural animal hairs, it is softer and more flexible, which means less damage will be done to your hair.
Hair is most fragile when it is wet so avoid brushing or combing when it's wet, or else it will cause breakage. Wait until your hair is almost completely dry before brushing it.
Use brushes/combs with widely spaced bristles/teeth and smooth tips. Sharp tooth combs can damage your hair, cause split ends, and scratch your scalp.
To keep your brushes and combs clean, wash them weekly using soap or shampoo.
Comb your hair to remove any tangles before brushing it.
Begin by combing your hair gently at the ends to get any tangles out and work your way up to the base of your hair.
Always brush/comb with a downwards stroke.
Avoid using plastic brushes/combs which create static electricity
Shampooing and Conditioning
Buy shampoos & conditioners that match your hair type. Trial and error is the best way to find out what specific hair product is best for your hair.
Shower with warm water; hot water can dry and/or irritate the scalp.
It is important to wash your hair; shampooing removes dirt, dead skin cells, hair oils, any hair products you may put into your hair.
When shampooing, rinse your hair out before applying any shampoo to remove any dust, dirt, and any other foreign items, then apply the shampoo onto your scalp and massage it gently with your finger tips and work your way outwards. After you are done make sure that you thouroughly rinse out your hair to remove any shampoo residue that may be left. Shampoo residue may dry your scalp/hair and or attract dirt. It is recommended that you only lather once to avoid drying your hair out. If you have oily hair, lathering again may stimulate your oil glands to create even more oil than normal.
You should wash your hair as often as you feel necessary to keep it clean but a general rule for oily hair is that you should wash it every day or every other day and for dry hair only wash it 2-3 times a week.
Try rotating the shampoo and conditioner periodically, your hair responds differently to different products.
Use a conditioner after shampooing; it'll moisturize your hair, give it extra protection, add shine, reduce static, and makes it easier to untangle.
Use a leave in conditioner; it'll hydrate and protect your hair. A leave in conditioner on your hair is the equivalent of moisturizer on your face.
When conditioning your hair, try to spread conditioner evenly through out your hair and leave it in for a couple of minutes before rinsing out your hair.
Put the conditioner in at about an inch away from the scalp, the roots of your hair contain the most oils and usually don't need the extra conditioning.
Be gentle when shampooing and conditioning. Don't use excessive force rubbing your hair, remember hair is most vunerable when wet.
* Thanks to Hair Care Guide
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