Probiotics the Latest Trend in Beauty Products

Probiotics may be the next big thing in skin care treatments, making their way from your digestive system into topical products and onto beauty-aisle shelves near you, thanks to dermatological researchers. The upshot: skin care treatments are popping up on the market with some science behind them.

“We are going to see it in face masks, face washes, creams, serums and more,” says Alexis Wolfer, editor-in-chief of The Beauty Bean and author of “The Recipe for Radiance: Discover Beauty’s Best-Kept Secrets in Your Kitchen.” “The way probiotics helps with your digestion is the same way it will help with your skin.”

Just as they are said to calm stomach inflammation, probiotics are billed as having a calming effect on skin redness and irritation like stubborn acne or rosacea flare-ups. Probiotics send signals that stop your skin cells from reacting to bad bacteria, reactions that cause, you guessed it, acne or rosacea, the American Academy of Dermatology reported this year and the Journal of Clinical Microbiology reported in 2009.

Probiotics in topical products can also act as a protective shield for your skin’s surface, keeping your skin healthy and putting a halt to future breakouts, the early research shows.

“When you apply a probiotic directly it can actually act as a barrier because it’s competing with the bad bacteria from taking hold,” says Whitney P. Bowe, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York.

“The skin is the largest organ in the body and when it’s compromised, then moisture can get out and bad bacteria can get in,” Bowe says. “Probiotics can help keep the bad bacteria out and the good in.”

7 Seasonal Skin Care Secrets for Glowing Skin All Year Long

We plan our wardrobe around the seasons, so why not our skin care routine? I mean, if we want glowing skin year-round, it only makes sense: Everything from changes in heat and humidity levels to sun exposure play a part in how our skin looks and feels, which means changes have to be made to our skin care routine too.

 

So does this mean you have to overhaul your skin care routine every season? Luckily, no. (Whew.)

“The condition of your skin changes with each season and while you don’t need an entire beauty routine makeover, there are some useful tweaks that you can add to your daily skincare depending on the time of year,” says Dr. Roshini Raj, women’s health expert and co-founder of TULA, a probiotic skin care line.
Fall
1. Focus on hydration
As the temperature drops, so does the humidity, and your once glowing skin starts feeling dry and parched. “During cooler months, you need to pay special attention to thoroughly hydrating your skin,” says Raj. “If you want to keep dry skin at bay, you must hydrate your skin on a daily basis.” The best time to apply your moisturizer is right after a shower, just before your skin is completely dry: “This will lock the water into the skin and will help ensure better hydration.”
2. Consider incorporating a face serum
This is also the time of year you might want to consider adding a face serum that specifically targets skin dullness. Look for a product that contains brightening ingredients like citrus extracts that will even out your skin tone so you can get your glow on.
Winter
3. Add probiotics to keep your skin balanced
“Winter leaves skin vulnerable to variations in the skin’s pH level, which […]

Your Body On Stress

Who isn’t stressed these days? Seriously, from two-year-olds applying to top notch pre-schools in NYC to retired grandparentsliving longer than expected, we’ve all got a lot on our plates. And as if the actual feeling of stress isn’t enough, its accompanied by a string of both annoying and painful physical effects, including pimples, hair loss, headaches, and stomach issues—the latter of which is by exacerbated by the sugar cravings brought on by said stress.

You know that exercise and a healthy diet will help, as will a solid 8 hours of sleep. But what else can you do to prevent all the terrible stuff that comes along with stress? A psychologist, a dermatologist, and a gastroenterologist weigh in on how and why your body freaks out under pressure and what you can do to remain cool, calm, and collected.

Body
“A stress response starts with the increased release of corticotrophin-releasing hormones,” says Dr. David Sack, psychiatrist and CEO of Promises Treatment Center in California. “There are positive and negative consequences in this increased release of cortisol. In short, it makes you resilient: your blood sugar stays up and you can tolerate stress, but chronic stress affects every organ in the body.” Norepinephrine released in the brain, heart, and blood vessels increases your blood pressure and makes your heart work harder, while an acute increase in epinephrine (essentially adrenalin) makes your heart rate go up.
There are two kinds of stress: acute stress, like the loss of a family member or a job, can be challenging, but your body responds and does recover. But chronic stress, checking emails at all hours and non-stop deadlines that force us to be continuously focused and attentive—actually does the most damage. (It even affects […]

HEALTHY HOLLYWOOD: CAMERON DIAZ’S GUT INSTINCT

No question, Cameron Diaz is one the most naturally stunning woman on the planet. She’s not overly made-up, dresses chic yet casual and seems like she could be every girl’s best friend and every guy’s gal next door fantasy.

At 42, she’s a self-confessed wellness junkie. The actress is diligent about exercise and her nutrition. She even wrote a book on health, entitled “The Body Book.”

One of her go-to tricks is getting a healthy dose of probiotics.

“When I take my probiotics regularly, I feel good, and I feel like I’m helping my body help itself,” Cameron writes in the book.

Probiotics is a big buzzword in the health & wellness industry. Probiotics provide an army of good bacteria that help fight off the bad bacteria in our gut. This, in turn, can lead to a better immune system, less digestive issues and even weight loss.

“They can also aid in digestion, provide nutrients and improve metabolism – they decrease gut inflammation, produce vitamins and help their absorption, and maintain the lining of the intestine,” explains celebrity health expert Dr. Roshini Raj, who is also a paid spokesperson for the probiotic beverage line, GoodBelly.

So, where can you find probiotics? They can be found in unpasteurized fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi or some yogurts.

“Just like the cells of our skin shed constantly, so do the cells of the intestinal lining, which is where the probiotics do their business,” adds Todd Beckham, co-founder of GoodBelly.

Folks interested in adding probiotics into their diet can also look into supplements and drinks enhanced with probiotics.

Another perk: probiotics do a body good on the inside and out.

“In terms of skin health, probiotics secrete anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory substances that help with conditions like acne, […]

Carbs – Their Role in Health & Weight Loss

This week’s post is from Roshini Raj, MD, a board certified gastroenterologist and internist, and one of Lose It!’s advisory board members!

What are carbs exactly?

Carbohydrates consist of starches, sugars, and fibers, and are found in grainy and starchy foods, like bread, pasta, potatoes, and fruit. Carbohydrates are either digestible (sugars, starches), or indigestible (fiber). Sugars and starches provide your body with energy in the form of calories and the fiber has four main roles; it:

Keeps your digestive system healthy: a diet rich in insoluble-fiber can prevent constipation, keep the important bacteria in your gut happy, and reduce risk for colon cancer
Improve Blood Sugar Control: fiber slows down the rate at which glucose (sugar) from food enters your blood stream. This means that your blood sugar doesn’t spike, your body doesn’t have to work as hard to manage a large dose of sugar, and you’re satiated for longer.
Keep you full for longer — foods high in fiber fill us up without too many calories!

How are carbs digested?

Step 1: The Mouth

Unlike protein and fat, carbohydrate digestion actually begins right in the mouth! Your saliva includes a starch-digesting enzyme called “Amylase.” Have you ever noticed that when you chew starchy foods for a long time, they start to taste even sweeter? That’s because this amylase in your saliva is breaking the starches in the food down into simple sugars! From your mouth, the food & amylase go down your esophagus and on to the next step of digestion.

Step 2: The Stomach

Not too much happens to carbohydrates in the stomach. The amylase enzyme from your saliva is deactivated by the stomach acid, and the carbohydrates just sort of hang out there – no digestion occurs here.

Step 3: The Small […]

Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Greek Yogurt

You might be surprised by some of the creative ways to use Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt, a variety made by straining off some of the liquid whey that gives regular yogurt its thinner texture, has become incredibly popular over the past few years. This is due, in part, to its high protein content; a six-ounce cup of Greek yogurt can have as much as 20 grams of protein, the same as about half a chicken breast (conventional yogurt has more like 9 grams).Aside from its nutritional edge over traditional varieties, Greek yogurt is appreciated for its unique texture; it’s much thicker and creamier than other varieties of yogurt, a characteristic that makes it useful for a number of other purposes both in and out of the kitchen.

One of the most important things to consider when choosing Greek yogurt is what’s in the ingredient list; not all Greek yogurts are made the same way or using the same ingredients. Some are thickened with modified corn starches or gelatin and the majority of flavored Greek yogurts have tons of added sugar. But, if you choose a plain, organic Greek yogurt made with milk and live and active cultures as the first ingredients, you can reap the many health benefits this creamy yogurt has to offer.

True Greek yogurt (strained, thickened milk with live and active cultures) has powerful probiotic properties. We often hear about the benefits of probiotics for digestive health (the live and active cultures in yogurt help balance out the good and bad bacteria in our guts) but new research is examining their health benefits of probiotics when applied topically. Though more research is needed, preliminary studies have shown that applying certain strains of “good bacteria” directly to […]

Probiotics: The Newest Trend to Hit Your Beauty Products

From yogurts to ingestible supplements, you might have heard of probiotics to encourage good digestive health. But now the beneficial bacteria is being highlighted for it’s potential skin benefits as well. Thanks to early research that indicates a link between probiotic use and skin treatments for those suffering from acne and rosacea, probiotics are popping up on beauty counters more frequently.

Just as probiotics offer a healthy dose of good bacteria to your gut via substances like yogurt, topical probiotics can also help to reduce inflammation, decrease skin sensitivity and reduce redness, according to some studies from the American Academy of Dermatology. In studies done by Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, topical probiotics have been praised for forming a protective shield or “bacterial interference,” which means they protect skin and prevent skin cells from “seeing” bad bacteria or parasites that can cause an immune reaction, aka acne or rosacea.
Topical probiotics are also being praised for their antimicrobial properties, which means they are able to create holes in bad bacteria and attack them. Finally, probiotics are said to have a calming effect. Via the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Bowe says they can calm the areas of skin cells that trigger reactions when in contact with bad bacteria that causes inflammation. All in all, probiotics seem to have a promising future in the beauty world. Check out some of the products we spotted on the market that contain the powerful ingredient.TULA Probiotic Skincare Discovery Collection, $49, at qvc.com
(Source: QVC)

Created by Dr. Roshini Raj, whom you might recognize from the Today Show and The Dr. Oz Show, TULA […]

Treat Acne and Rosacea with Probiotics

What’s good for the gut may be good for the skin. Probiotics have long been used and becoming increasing popular to manage digestive symptoms. But, they more offer skin and cosmetic benefits, too, related to their anti-inflammatory properties. According to the American Academy of Dermatology probiotics may help provide clearer skin, reduce redness and inflammation, and decrease sensitivity in patients suffering from acne and rosacea.
Probiotics and Skin Health
There are many ways that probiotics may improve skin health. Here’s what is known so far.

In and on our bodies are many microorganisms. Most of them are beneficial or at least neutral, but some of these microorgansisms can cause disease. The body mounts an inflammatory response to bad microorganisms. When it comes to the skin this can lead to redness and inflammation – the hallmarks of acne and rosacea. Probiotics “hide” the bad microorganisms preventing an inflammatory response from even occurring.

But, probiotics work in other ways to help treat acne and rosacea. Some probiotics have antibacterial activity and can kill the bad bacteria on the skin. Probiotic also decrease the ability of cells to trigger an inflammatory response in response to bad bacteria.
Gut-Brain-Skin Axis
Dermatologists now speak of gut-brain-skin axis. According to this theory stress plus or minus comfort foods slow digestion which in turn affects the composition of micoorgansims living in the gut to that of more bad bacteria. This then enables toxins to leak from the gut and be released them into the bloodstream where they travel to other parts of the body causing inflammation. This can then trigger flare ups of acne and rosacea in those predisposed to these conditions.

Based on this theory then there are at least three things sufferers of acne and rosacea can do to minimize […]

My Skin Care Routine As of Late! +bloppers

Have a look at why Beautysworld loves using TULA skin care line

UNBOXING: TULA SKINCARE + REVIEW

“Absolutely in LOVE with this product so far. Since my unboxing video I have had some time to try out the products and I’m loving everything so far!” Watch what else StyleMavenLA has to say about TULA skin care line