Sunday Snippets

Tidbits of information I picked up this week:

• Thinning hair may not be genetics or "something you have to put up with". It can be a warning sign of anemia (check with your doctor who will order tests and prescribe folate if required), or a side-effect of medications. Check with your doctor if you experience increased levels of hair loss after starting new medication, particularly: retinoids, blood thinners, meds for high BP, antidepressants, oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. (Women's Weekly, 5/30/11)
• If you must give the kids a Happy Meal, pair it with OJ - oncologists have recently discovered that when high-fat, high-carbs meals are served with orange juice, the juice's antioxidants reduces the impact of the inflammatory compounds released. (Women's Weekly, 5/30/11)
• If you want to stop spider veins, cayenne pepper can help: it increases circulation by expending the blood vessel walls, reducing the stress on them and helping to prevent the nasty marks. (Women's Weekly, 5/16/11)..
• If you are like me and have tried green tea but are not a fan, there's no need to throw them out! You can make a face scrub - the tea's antioxidants protect skin from free radicals and repair signs of aging. Just steep 1 green tea bag in 3/4c. boiling water for 2-4 min. remove tea bag and cool. Add 1 Tbs sugar, stir in well, then add another tbs sugar. After well mixed add 1 tbs honey. Massage in face for 2 minutes and rinse. (one application (Women's Weekly 5/16/11)