spagirl-talks

Chocolate...more than tasty!

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:06:58 +0100

Chocolate is an amazing treat for your skin. You ask why? Because chocolate is one of the most nourishing foods known to man. It contains calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, vitamins A1, B1, B2, C, D, E, phosphorous and chromium. In addition, it also contains a polyphenol called epicatechin which is a natural antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant that helps to guard cells from free radical damage which causes skin to age.

So how does this benefit your skin? The benefits are numerous, including, skin softening, wrinkle smoothing and skin rejuvenation. And...the anti-oxidant properties prevent the free radicals from causing damage to the skin's elastin and collagen strands. That's means younger looking legs ladies!

So you see....chocolate is more than just yummy! That's why, for the month of February, I'm offering you the chance to slip your toes into chocolate indulgence for your feet. Chocolate pedicures are now available through the end of the month! Call now to book your appointment! It's time to nourish your sole with chocolate!

Therapeutic massage....more than a luxury...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:12:42 +0100

Massage is more than a luxury! Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Touching is a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support. When you bump your head or have a sore calf, the natural response is to rub it to feel better.

What It Does!
According to the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, in an age of technical and, at times, impersonal medicine, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive, and humanistic approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself. Following is a brief list of the many known, research-based benefits of massage and bodywork:

- Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs,

- Stimulates the flow of lymph, the body's natural defense system, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer. Furthermore, increased circulation of blood and lymph systems improves the condition of the body's largest organ -- the skin,

- Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles,

- Reduces spasms and cramping,

- Increases joint flexibility,

- Reduces recovery time and helps prepare the body for strenuous workouts, reducing subsequent muscle pain of athletes at any level,

- Releases endorphins -- the body's natural painkiller -- and is proving very beneficial in patients with chronic illness, injury, and post-op pain,

- Reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred,

- Improves range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain,

- Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication,

- Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion,

- Assists with shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as reduces the need for medication, eases postpartum depression and anxiety, and contributes to a shorter hospital stay.

The benefits of massage are diverse. No matter how great it feels, massage isn't just a luxury, it's a health necessity.

Looking forward...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:37:48 +0100

Greetings! Looking forward to pampering you in the future! Have a wonderful week!

What are Parabens?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:22:40 +0100

Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The most common are butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. They are found in everything from toothpaste, to shampoo, to skin care products.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report “Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: Agents of Subtle Change?” reported that parabens displayed estrogenic activity in several tests. This means that these chemicals mimic your body´s own hormones and can have endocrine-disrupting action when they are rubbed into your body or washed down the drain into your drinking water. So…they interfere with your body´s endocrine system: your hypothalamus, your ovaries, your thyroid—virtually every system in your body. The EPA also stated that “continual introduction of these parabens into sewage treatment systems and directly to recreational waters from the skin leads to the question of risk to aquatic organisms.”

A new study of the University of Reading (UR) in the UK has found that, based on tests conducted, nearly every single woman with breast cancer has one or more paraben chemicals in her breast tissue, suggesting a possible link between the chemical and the disease. In the study, the group found that 99 percent of the breast tissue samples contained at least one type of paraben, while 60 percent contained at least five. And while the presence of parabens in cancer-infected breast tissue does not necessarily imply that the chemicals are responsible for causing the disease, it sure does lend suspicion to the notion that parabens could be a potential culprit.

What you put on your skin….can penetrate into your bloodstream! Think of a nicotine patch for those who are quitting smoking. The patch is placed on the skin and it releases nicotine through the skin! Keep that in mind when you are putting lotions and cremes on your skin! Bottom line…read your labels. Know what you are using and what it’s doing to your body!