Yes, there is a fountain of youth and it arrived at my front door today in a canister with big black letters that read TOKI.  A japenese product developed by Lanelabs, TOKI means porcelain-like skin and all the women in Japan have it and the women in america want it. 

Toki is unlike other anti-aging products we use since most are a topical cream or serum and cannot penetrate deep into the dermal or lower layers of the skin. 

TOKI is rather a powdered lemon flavored collagen drink that you mix into a hot or cold beverage and drink up to 3 times per day.  It contains Active collagen, Calcium and Mucopolysaccharides that include hyaluronic acid which is produced by the body naturally and gives our skin it’s volume and elasticity, but as we age we do not produce as much.  By taking internally in the form of a drink, essential nutrients are able to travel through the blood stream and into the dermis layer improving your skin’s texture and appearance.  Clinical studies have shown that TOKI can actually diminish fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.  It can also improve overall elasticity of the skin resulting in a more youthful appearance and of course porcelain skin. Sounds good to me - well here I go my first TOKI experience added to my morning green tea… tastes good.  I will keep you posted on my results.  In the meantime click here for before and after pictures as well as additional information.

I started taking this supplement about a month ago called Methylsulfonylmethane or short form MSM.  It’s basically an odorless, tasteless form of natural sulfur that is found in low levels in our body as well as in seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits and cow’s milk.  I stubbled upon it accidently after researching vitamins and antioxidants. From the many articles and forums I read through I found many women that had been able to get rid of melasma after several months of use and even though this hasn’t happened for me yet I have, however, experienced it’s other effects which includes a more even complexion, softer skin and not just my face but I noticed a huge difference on the skin of my heels which became alot softer and less dry and cracked. Another noticable effect was some of my old scars had softened up and became less noticeable.  The daily dose I am currently taking is 1000mg 3 times per day of pure MSM.  It is recommended to start on a low dose and work your way up so your body can adjust to it.  Taking MSM with Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) will increase it’s effects since they work synergistically together and Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis.

Since MSM is naturally occuring in the body you cannot overdose on it and it is completely safe.  Sulfur can actually help slow down the aging process since it is an essential mineral for the formation of collagen which as we age our body is unable to rebuild damaged collagen so we therefore develop wrinkles.  Our body does not produce enough MSM so taking a supplement keeps a steady amount circulating in our system.  What your body does not absorb will pass through your body naturally. It’s up there with water. MSM is the fourth largest mineral in the body.  It helps the cells to become more permeable and therefore increasing the flow of nutrients to the cells and removing toxins. MSM is called natures “secret beauty mineral” because not only does it make your skin more youthful but it also promotes strong and healthy joints, hair and nails.  I have to say my hair has been growing faster and also looks more glossy since taking this.  MSM aids in detoxing the body and controls acidity in the stomach as well as helps in the production of choline in the liver and has many other benefits I have not mentioned.  Just one more supplement to add to your list of many…

We all know the importance of consuming enough fish in our diet, especially the fish high in Omega 3 and low in mercury such as wild salmon and tuna and the advantages this will have to our overall health.  The problem is most of us don’t eat our 3-4 servings of fish per week and this can wreak havack on our bodies causing heart disease, diabetes, joint pain, learning disorders and skin problems to name a few.  Omega 3 fatty acids are  important for us since our bodies do not produce this source on it’s own.  By eating enough fish or supplementing with Omega 3 we can avoid alot of unnecessary health problems. 

PharmaOmega makes this easy for us.  They have created different formulations of Omega 3 for specific needs like keeping our heart healthy, fighting inflammation, for pregnancy, children, focus etc.  Omega 3 is great for children of school age who have difficulty with concentration.  It helps to improve their behaviour and attention span. For mom’s it ensures a healthy pregnancy and after. Omega 3 is great for aches and pains and it’s also called “brain food” for a reason, it helps to keep our minds healthy.  Omega 3 has also been known to inhibit cancer and diabetes.  The list goes on… you’ve heard the benefits now make sure you get your daily dose.

Ah, the joy of pregnancy and then the long awaited arrival of so much unconditional love.  It’s no wonder we want only the best for both moms and their babies and so does Otopia Organics.  Only 100% natural and organic ingredients are used in Otopia’s extensive line of moisturizers, lotions, toners and washes.  For mum smooth and rich moisturizers and lotions that nourish and protect skin while hydrating to enhance skin’s elasticity and tone and helping to minimize the appearance of stretch marks.  Other products include massage oils and breast balms. Each of their products offering something specific and necessary that the skin needs during this 9 month period and after.

Otopia takes great care in their newborn and baby products with specifically formulated extra gentle hair and body washes, lotions, massage oils and spray mists.  No aromos and no added essential oils here.  Only the purest ingredients for babies soft skin. 

Otopia Organics products are also available in travel sizes and a wonderful gift idea for any expectant mum.

Visit www.otopiaorganics.com for their full line of mum and baby products.

I picked up an excellent book a couple of weeks ago at the drugstore that I couldn’t put down called The Antioxidant Miracle by Lester Packer, Ph.d.  Dr. Packer is a scientist who specializes in antioxidants and how they function in our bodies.  He is the director of the Packer Lab at Berkley, California State University, and who for the last few decades has focused on 5 key antioxidants that when combined produced increased effectiveness than when just taken by themselves. The network antioxidants include Lipoic acid, CoQ10, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Glutathione. 

If you are interested in reversing or preventing the signs of aging, keeping skin supple and wrinkle free, preventing cancer, diabetes, gum disease, increasing your energy, not to mention your sex life! as well as reversing bad genes you need to read this book.  Even though it’s been years since it’s been written the information still holds true and knowledge is power and if taking antioxidants will keep you healthy and strong way into your older years then we all need to know about it.

Lester Packer goes on the explain the benefits of each antioxidant in the antioxidant network.  His main focus was on the effects of lipoic acid and even though I won’t go into too much detail here on each I will touch upon what he mentions… sorry too much information to write in one post.  Firstly, in order to understand antioxidants you need to understand their opposite side “free radicals”.  Free radicals are in all of us and they are necessary - they can be helpful or hurtful.  When free radicals attack we need antioxidants to neutralize their effects.  Antioxidants are basically stopping the free radicals from destroying your healthy cells.  Now since the antioxidant has stopped the free radicals and eaten it up it is able to recycle and regenerate itself with the help of other network antioxidants. I find this completely amazing.  With age our body does not produce enough antioxidants to do this therefore it is necessary to supplement.  Certain antioxidants are not even produced by the body such as Vitamin C so taking a daily dose is recommended especially if you are not getting it from nutritional sources. 

Through Dr. Packer’s work, Lipoic acid was shown as being the most powerful antioxidant in the entire network - it actually helped to increase the levels of effectiveness of Glutathione, Vitamins C and E and CoQ10.  In another post we will go on to discuss each of these antioxidants, their importance and how it affects the other network antioxidants.  But I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Antioxidant Miracle since the information is so vast but easily read and understood.

I am all about fast, immediate results and that includes detoxing my body.  I write about detox products alot… detox foot pads, detox foot bath, detox diet, and only because I use them and am a big believer in different ways to detox your body so it’s in prime optimal condition.  This liquid detox is a new one available from Verseo - the 48 Hour Cleanse.  A purifying and revitalizing formula made with natural antioxidants that offers a fast acting way to cleanse your body of waste and regenerate it with powerful nutrients.  This natural colon cleanse is fortified with fruits and vegetables.  The perfect aid to your new diet or to just detoxify and cleanse your body.  Feel healthy fast. Visit Verseo for more info.

Cellulite is not the most attractive thing on a woman and unfortunately some of us are more prone to this then others.  Thankfully, skin care companies realize our need for specific body treatment products. Glytone being one of them, has created the Lipo-Lift Serum to aid in diminishing the dimpling effect or also referred to as ”orange peel” skin.  Ingredients include caffeine and Salicylic Acid.  Improves tone, texture and firmness of your skin.

The plastic surgeon to the stars Dr. Robert Rey, better known as Dr. 90210 has joined forces with Australian lingerie designer Bruno Schiavi and developed a sleek line of Shapewear under garments that will give women a sexy, smoother and definitely more controlled body shape.  I have to say he’s become quite the celebrity plastic surgeon and this line of body enhancing lingerie is a must for women who don’t want to go under the knife but are looking for some immediate improvements.

With the holidays here it’s hard not too over indulge in yummy desserts and greasy foods.  Definitely not the best feeling afterwards but there is a way to justify it all by using the Hollywood Detox Body Wrap .  The celebrities have been detoxing their bodies and benefiting from the results and at one time the Detox Body Wrap was only available in select spas but now you don’t have to leave your house to have one done.  Not only will the detox body wrap draw out toxins from your body but imagine also losing up to 6 inches!  The great thing about this body wrap is that it produces immediate longterm results.  Just think being able to eat what you want without gaining an inch! Works on our most common target areas - the butt, thighs, chest and arms. It also tones and tightens. There are so many wonderful benefits to this detox wrap and a must especially if you want to fit into that little black dress:)