Review: My experience with YourTea.com Tiny Teatox

Many of you have probably heard of Your Tea from Instagram. On their IG they post tons of customer photos of people who appear to have lost A LOT of bloat/weight, many claiming after just 7 days! I have to admit, I fell HARD for this hype... So I decided to try it. This was the first teatox I've ever done, so I decided to split a 28 Day teatox with my coworker, so we both did the 14 Day detox.

Claims: 
"My intricately balanced herbal blend will nourish and cleanse your digestive system, providing it the support it needs to replenish and restore back to its natural state. This cleanse will assist with reducing weight, easing bloating, increasing digestion functionality, improving skin clarity, increasing energy levels and alleviate issues associated with food intolerances. Formulated with Chinese medicine herbs and based upon Chinese medicinal principles, TinyTea is the only herbal cleanse on the market that does not produce a laxative effect. TinyTea has been created by qualified Chinese Medicine practitioners with considerable years of experience. I contain 42 teabags per box. Each teabag weighs 2.5g."

Ingredients:
oolong tea, jue ming zi, he ye, shan zha, lai fu zi, chen pi, mai ya (not that I know what any of this is)

The 28 Day Tiny Teatox is $55 for 84 teabags, for 3 per day (the 14 day teatox is $35 for 42 teabags). Shipping was $11 and it came within a week. My coworker drank it 3 times a day, and I drank it twice a day. On their box, pamphlet, and website, they are very confusing about how much you are really supposed to drink this tea for it to be effective. On the pamphlet it says 2 times a day, on the site it says 3. Yet on their site it says if it gives you too much energy, you can drink it 2x a day instead of 3. But on their IG they say the pamphlet was a misprint and you're supposed to drink it 3x a day to get the full effects. I found it did give me a bit much energy so I drank one in the morning and one in the early afternoon.

You are supposed to steep this tea for 5-7 min and drink it hot (not cold or iced) before or after a meal, and eat healthy while on it. It is not supposed to have side effects.

Again, this teatox claims to:

• reduce weight
• ease bloating
• increase digestion functionality
• improve skin clarity
• increase energy levels
• alleviate issues associated with food intolerances

Both my coworker and I experienced while on this teatox:

• weight gain 
• increased hunger
• increased bloating
• constipation
• tiredness

We noticed no change in skin clarity or alleviation of lactose intolerance.

I was extremely disappointed in this teatox because it did the absolute OPPOSITE of what it says it's supposed to do. I know everyone is different but I find it strange how me, my coworker, one of my ig friends, and many other people commenting on their instagram had the very same disappointing experience while on this tea!

The first day I drank this tea, it made me jittery and a little nauseous, so that's why I decided to drink it only 2x a day. I honestly don't think it tastes that bad (it tastes just like what you think chinese herbal tea would taste like I guess) but some bags are more bitter than others. For the first week I drank it, I felt more energetic. But after the 2nd week it all went downhill -- I was sluggish, painfully bloated, always hungry, and to top it all off, constipated. My coworker said she felt exactly the same. We thought maybe that's just how it is as the teatox does its work, so we went on to finish the entire box.... sadly nothing changed throughout. We were both constantly hungry and I actually gained a couple pounds while on this teatox... I wanted to do it mainly because I always feel bloated and thought it would help... NOPE, it made me 2x as bloated and I thought I looked pregnant. Also TMI -- We couldn't even poop for days at a time and it was always hard poop :( Eww I know but I gotta say it lol because it really is the exact opposite of what it's supposed to do!

I ate healthy but didn't work out, while my coworker did work out. Yet we still gained weight and were bloated, and a friend of mine on ig also said that normally she loves to work out and already had a flat stomach, but this teatox made her too sluggish to workout and also so bloated she thought looked pregnant too!

After I finished the teatox I felt horrible for about 2 weeks as the effects lingered. So I started making detox water with fruit and it was not even funny how much better I felt!!!

In this collage, the bottom right was how I looked the entire time while on the tiny teatox. The left and top right photos are after I was off it and drinking lime/cucumber/mint water for only 3 days! I was so much less bloated and feeling much less tired and my digestion issues went away. I recently got a Nutribullet for my birthday so I'm working towards a healthier eating plan making my own food and exercising more consistently. No more relying on supposed "miracle" detoxes!

I personally wouldn't do this tea again. I'm not sure if we got a bad batch... maybe they give out expired stock, so that's why our teatox did not work because it was OLD... my mom did insist that my teabags smelled "rancid" to her hmmm.... :/ Overall I wouldn't say don't try it, because it apparently seems to work for many people... but I'll say don't believe all the hype! Make your own detox water, work out, and you'll see better results!

The Skinny on Naked Juice

Have you heard of Naked Juice? Do you drink it?

I've been drinking a bottle of Naked Juice here and there (Green Machine and Berry Blast) since it's so expensive here (anywhere from $4-8 for a bottle), but only just yesterday found out about the huge controversy surrounding it... I brought home a bottle of Green Machine to my parents' house, and asked them if they wanted to try. Of course, I was met with "Ew, it looks weird." So I happily went on to drink the rest of the bottle myself. Fast forward to a few hours later, I get a text from my Dad saying "I think you better not drink that anymore..." and he proceeds to show me a post from his friend on Facebook, outing Naked Juice for false advertising.

I was horrified to read the claims against Naked Juice. I didn't know these lawsuits went back to 2011. I was skeptical at first but did my own digging on Google and here is what I found out:

• Naked Juice uses false advertising to fraudulently promise that its beverage products are "100% juice," "all natural," and "non-GMO"
• Naked Juice intentionally uses misleading language to give consumers "the false impression that the beverages vitamin content is due to the nutritious fruits and juices, rather than the added synthetic compounds such as calcium pantothenate (synthetically produced from formaldehyde)" and "Fibersol-2 (a proprietary synthetic digestion-resistant fiber produced by Archer Daniels Midland and developed by a Japanese chemical company), fructooligosaccharides (a synthetic fiber and sweetener) and inulin (an artificial and invisible fiber added to foods to ... increase fiber content without the typical fiber mouth-feel)."
• The suit alleges that 11 synthetically derived substances - including niacinamide, d-alpha tocopherol acetate, cyanocobalamin, and pyridoxine hydrochloride - are contained in Naked Juice drinks which it says belie the label's claims that the beverage contains only the "freshest, purest stuff in the world."
• "Even if the synthetic ingredients are safe--or even beneficial--they are still not what consumers consented to ingesting, and they are still not what (Naked Juice) warranted they were providing," the lawsuit says.

Sources:
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/health/food-and-nutrition/naked-juice-not-naked-advertised#
http://monrovia.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/monrovia-s-naked-juice-sued-again-for-false-advertising
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/26/pepsi-co-naked-juice-not-natural/2589717/

The latest news says "PepsiCo Inc. will no longer label its Naked juices as being "all natural," after a lawsuit complained that the drinks contain ingredients that don't fit that bill... The case highlights the confusion around the use of the word "natural" in in the industry. The Food and Drug Administration doesn't currently have a definition for what constitutes a natural product... Notably, the FDA says it's difficult to define a food product that is natural, since it has likely been processed and is no longer a "product of the earth."

Needless to say, I won't be drinking any more Naked Juice. This is terribly disturbing to me because I've been trying to eat healthier. Things labeled "all natural" instantly catch my eye. It's disgusting to know how marketing and advertising can be used in such deceptive ways... how are we as consumers who are trying to be healthier; know what is REALLY "good for you" and what is just false advertising???

Does spicy food increase your metabolism?

Have you ever heard of this claim? I honestly haven't heard of it until recently. I also recently started craving spicy food for the past couple of months (no, not pregnant :P). So now I have a newfound love for spicy food flavors, especially kimchi! Yum. Nong Shim Kimchi flavor saimin is my weakness right now:

So I was wondering, does this claim have any evidence behind it? If so, I would gladly eat spicy food ALL THE TIME... :P But here is what I found out:

• Over the years, various studies have examined the claim and suggested that certain spices can in fact increase metabolic rate by raising body temperature, though to what extent and for how long is unclear. 
• Capsaicin is the primary molecule responsible for the hot, burning sensation you get when you come into contact with spicy chilies. It is a member of a family of compounds called capsaicinoids, which have many beneficial effects including analgesia (pain relief), antioxidant potential and thermogenesis (calorie burning).
• Studies have shown that on average a meal containing a spicy dish can temporarily increase metabolism by about 8 percent over a person’s normal rate, an amount considered fairly negligible. 
• But besides a slight uptick in metabolism, spicy foods may also increase feelings of satiety. The researchers suggested that capsaicin may work as an appetite suppressant.
• In sum, while humans may get a modest boost in calorie burning immediately after a spicy meal, the effect is unlikely to be meaningful for long-term weight loss.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/health/nutrition/28real.html
http://blog.zocdoc.com/can-spicy-foods-boost-your-metabolism-fact-vs-myth/

So overall, spicy foods MAY have some effect on metabolism, but not a significant amount. It MAY help you eat less because it makes you feel fuller faster. Either way, I'll continue eating spicy food just 'cause I love it! Even a fairly negligible boost in metabolism is still something too ;P

I've made it through 1 week of Figurerobics!

For anyone following my fitness/health-improvement journey, I started doing Figurerobics one week ago. What is Figurerobics you ask? It is a workout routine developed by 46 year old Korean mom of 2, Jung Da Yeon. And she looks pretty much half her age. This is a huge motivation for me, as I would like to age gracefully! *cries* Figurerobics is geared towards Asian bodies, for slimming and toning, rather than muscle/curve-building.  This is perfect for me because I'm not looking to build muscle, get abs, etc. I just want to be trim, with a flat stomach and toned arms/legs.

I have been doing this workout for the past week:

And today I have also added in this workout:

What I like about Figurerobics is that it's simple! You don't need to go to the gym to do it. I do it right in my house. You don't need any special equipment either. I didn't have dumbbells for the 2nd routine so I just used food cans. It's easy to follow along with their movements. AND you will sweat and feel the burn!! I am in the "extremely out of shape" category so I would classify this workout as "brutal" in my book :P Well, it started out that way, at least. At the end of this week I definitely have less of a struggle getting through the entire routine. Today I was able to do the above TWO 30 minute workouts! That is an accomplishment for me lol XD

I've also been trying hard to eat healthier. I cut out rice from my diet (or only minimal portions once in a great while), drink more water, and don't snack throughout the day like I used to. I don't have a scale, so I'm not actually sure if I'm losing weight. But today I found out I could finally fit a pair of pants that I couldn't button a month ago! So I'm looking to keep up this 1-or-2-a-day workout routine and hope I can shed some pounds in the next few months :)

I want to look like Jung Da Yeon when I'm 46 with 2 kids, please!!!

 

Trying Figurerobics after reading this article! Just did this 30min session and I am pooped. I’ve been trying (obviously not very hard) to get into shape but unfortunately, I hate anything that has to do with exercise -_- but this workout is simple, you just follow along and you don’t need any special equipment to do it! Aiming to do a session of Figurerobics once a day and see how it goes.

I don’t consider myself “overweight" but in the past few years I have definitely put on some pounds. I don’t fit a lot of my clothes (mostly shorts and pants) anymore and I would like to change that because… I’m not willing to get rid of my cute shorts and pants lol. I would like to lose at least 5 pounds through exercise and eating healthy, and see where I can go from there. Will update on my progress as I go along!

What do you think of Figurerobics?
Know of some simple & easy workouts to share?

Edamame rice!

I've been eating lots of Nametake mushrooms & rice lately... soooo oishiiii~ hehe :3 If you haven't tried it, try it! It's good (: Figured I'd post the recipe of one of my favorite Japanese food bites since it's healthy AND yummy.

Edamame rice





















Ingredients:
4 cups rice, cooked and cooled
1 bottle ochazuke wakame furikake
1 bottle Shirakiku nametake mushrooms
1 package frozen, shelled edamame

Directions:
Cook soybeans for 7 minutes in boiling water, then drain. Mix rice, furikake, mushrooms, and edamame in a large bowl. Easy! Eat up (:

And for those shy to try, here's some info on the health benefits that might change your mind (;

Here's what you'll find in a half-cup serving of shelled edamame (or 1 1/8 cup edamame in the pods):

120 calories
9 grams fiber
2.5 grams fat
1.5 grams polyunsaturated fat (0.3 grams plant omega-3 fatty acids)
0.5 gram monounsaturated fat
11 grams protein
13 grams carbohydrate
15 mg sodium
10% of the Daily Value for vitamin C
10% Daily Value for iron
8% Daily Value for vitamin A
4% Daily Value for calcium

As you can see, that little serving of edamame gives you a bunch of fiber: 9 grams, about the same amount you'll find in 4 slices of whole-wheat bread or 4 cups of steamed zucchini. It has almost as much protein as it does carbohydrate. It contains around 10% of the Daily Value for two key antioxidants; vitamins C and A. And for a plant food, it's quite high in iron; it has about as much as a 4-ounce roasted chicken breast.

source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56288

---

What are parabens?

The notion of having possible carcinogens in your makeup and skincare (as well as food, hair, and body products) is a disturbing one. Ever since I actually decided to read the ingredients in the products I buy, I've found that parabnes are contained in almost every single one. If you don't know what parabens are, here's a little 411 on the topic. My views in regards to this issue are still a little up in the air, but I'm pretty wary at this point, no matter how small the risks are.

WHAT ARE PARABENS?

Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry. About 90% of all skincare and cosmetic products contain parabens. Preservatives are used to prevent bacterial growth and prolong the shelf-life of products. Typically, more than one paraben is used in a product and they are often used in combination with other types of preservatives. This allows the use of lower levels of parabens while increasing preservative activity. Parabens are widely used because of their efficacy as preservatives, their low cost, their long history of safe use and the unproven efficacy of natural ingredients like grapefruit seed extract.

Here’s a list of the different types of parabens:

- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben

- Methylparaben

- Propylparaben

- Isopropylparaben

- Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

- Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

- Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

- Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

- Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

- Parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

- Parahydroxybenzoate (p-hydroxybenzoate)

Parabens are used in:

- Cosmetics

- Shampoos
- Commercial moisturizers
- Shaving gels
- Cleansing gels
- Personal lubricants
- Topical pharmaceuticals
- Toothpaste

- Deoderant

- Food items

The controversy

However, controversy over paraben use in skincare and cosmetics has risen due to suggestions that parabens may cause cancer, accumulate in tissue and influence estrogen levels.In 2004, a study was published saying 20 different human breast tumors were tested and parabens found in all of them. However, no one could explain why they were there and whether normal tissue had parabens. The study didn’t determine if the ingredient was the cause of the tumors.

In 2005 the USA FDA (Food and Drug Administration) declared that parabens in the concentrations found in skin care products and cosmetics (up to 25%, but typically 1%) pose no logical risk to the consumer.In 2007, a French study suggested that parabens may accumulate in tissues. In the study, 0.45 mg of parabens was applied to the skin’s surface every 12 hours for 36 hours. The results showed increased quantities of parabens moving across the skin barrier for the first 24 hours. They also showed that parabens applied to the skin had no cumulative effect after 36 hours.

A 2002 study showed that 0.1% butylparaben in the daily diet reduced sperm production. However, this is hundreds of times more than the average skin care product application over the entire body. This means that it is impractical to assume that skincare products can reduce sperm production in humans.

Do All Cosmetic Companies Use Parabens?

Not all cosmetic companies use paraben preservatives and many have announced plans to stop using them now that questions have been raised about their safety.

Alternative Preservatives

Other effective preservatives like DMDM Hydantoin or Kathon have potential safety issues too, while Hydroxymethylglycinate can irritate the skin and the eyes. Other alternatives like grapefruit seed extract, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, tocopherol (vitamin E), vitamin A (retinyl), vitamin C (ascorbic acid) don’t work too well.

Conclusion

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) reviewed the safety of methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben in 1984 and concluded they were safe for use in cosmetic products at levels up to 25%. Typically parabens are used at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.3%.

Source:

http://beautifulwithbrains.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/the-parabens-controversy/

http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/06/21/what-are-parabens-and-why-should-you-avoid-them/

More reading:

The FDA's entry on parabens
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/cos-para.html

Wikipedia's entry on parabnes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabens

Are parabens really dangerous?

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/02/the-perils-of-parabens/

Companies that don't use parabens

http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/ParabenFree.html

Top 10 Synthetic ingredients to avoid

I had another list of ingredients to avoid, but I cannot find it, cannot remember the info, nor can I remember the source -_-;; So I found another good list of ingredients to avoid in makeup/skincare. This list is extensive and a couple of these ingredients are seemingly unavoidable. However, this list is also a teeny bit exaggerated. I think using "toxic" isn't the best word to use, but it's better to be safe than sorry, I suppose. All in all, I'd think it's okay to use products that contain these ingredients as long as you aren't having any adverse reactions to it.

Top 10 Synthetic Ingredients to AVOID

1. Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea — These are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens. They are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology). Two trade names for these chemicals are Germall II and Germall 115. Neither of the Germall chemicals have a good antifungal, and must be combined with other preservatives. Germall 115 releases formaldehyde at just over 10°. These chemicals are toxic.

2. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben — Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Methyl paraben combines benzoic acid with the methyl group of chemicals. Highly toxic.

3. Petrolatum — Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly, and mineral oil causes a lot of problems when used on the skin—it can produce photosensitivity (i.e., promotes sun damage), and it tends to interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. You are being sold a product that creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is very cheap.

4. Propylene Glycol — Ideally this is a vegetable glycerine mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions.

5. PVP/VA Copolymer — A petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays, wavesets and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since particles may contribute to foreign bodies in the lungs of sensitive persons.

6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — This synthetic substance is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It causes eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation "comes from coconut".

7. Stearalkonium Chloride — A chemical used in hair conditioners and creams. Causes allergic reactions. Stearalkonium chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, and is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which do help hair health. Toxic.

8. Synthetic Colors — The synthetic colors used to supposedly make a cosmetic "pretty" should be avoided at all costs, along with hair dyes. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6. Synthetic colors are believed to be cancer-causing agents. If a cosmetic has them in it, don't use the cosmetic.

9. Synthetic Fragrances — The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say "Fragrance". Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation, and the list goes on. Advice: Don't buy a cosmetic that has the word "Fragrance" on the ingredients label.

10. Triethanolamine (TEA) — Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

Summary
Look for natural ingredients in the products you buy. Do not use cosmetics that are artificially colored. Is the shampoo green or blue? Very likely it contains a coal-tar color. Does the product contain a synthetic fragrance? Don't use it. Are any of the chemicals listed above on the ingredients label? Don't use it. You may find out that some of your allergic problems will suddenly go away when you no longer use cosmetics with synthetics and petrochemicals.

Source: click here

When to toss your makeup

I had to find a new entry as a repost for this one. And again, unfortunately, I could not find my original sources nor could I remember all of what I wrote. But here is an equally informative guide on when to toss your makeup.

Source: click here

Storage
Once you open up your make-up oxidation begins and the ingredients start to break down. For this reason it is important to keep all make-up bottles, jars and containers closed tightly when not in use. It is also recommended to store your make-up in a cool, dark place because heat and bright light will cause the preservatives to break down and spoil the make-up quicker.

If you keep make-up in your purse for quick touch-ups be sure to put it and the application brushes all together in a makeup bag. Having containers, tubes and brushes floating around at the bottom of your purse can cause problems if tubes or jars open. It's not only a mess but bacteria can grow on open products and brushes when they are exposed to all the other items in your purse. It's best to keep everything neat and sanitary in its own bag.

When to Toss Make-up

Mascara
Because mascara is applied close to your eyes this product is the most susceptible to causing eye infections. You should replace your mascara at least every three months. If you have been sick or have had an eye infection you should not use your existing tube and buy a new one immediately. Be sure to never share mascara because bacteria can be passed along from person to person.

Powder-based Products
Face powder, powdered blush and powdered eye shadow can last for up to three years. Because there is no liquid involved there is less chance of the powder products breaking down or the color changing. Some powder eye shadows can begin to break up and fall apart as they get older. If this happens be sure to toss it out and buy new ones.

Creamy Products
Water-based foundation, cream eye shadow, cream blush, liquid lip gloss and concealer break down quickly and should be tossed out after one year. Oil-based make-up products can last a little longer and be kept for around eighteen months. If the make-up begins to discolor before that time you will know it is time to buy new products.

Retinol Products
The retinol in make-up products is only effective for about a month after opening it. Even though the make-up can still be used it will no longer have the advantage of the retinol effect. Since products with retinol tend to be more expensive it is best to buy the smallest tube or jar available so you will use it up faster.

Pencils
Eye and lip pencils can last for up to three years since they are renewed every time you sharpen them. Be sure to sharpen a new tip on your eye liner if you've been sick or have had an eye infection so you don't risk getting it again.

Lipstick
The tube style lipstick is the most forgiving when it comes to time. You can keep your lipstick for up to three years.

Natural Make-up Products
If you choose the natural products that contain fewer preservatives you will have to dispose of your make-up more frequently. Experts suggest giving your natural products about one-half the shelf life of regular make-up products.

Brushes and Applicators
You should keep your make-up brushes and applicators as clean as possible and replace sponge applicators often. It is recommended to wash your brushes and sponges with warm, soapy water once a week to ensure you aren't spreading bacteria on your skin and in your eyes.

Use common sense when deciding what make-up to throw away. If a liquid make-up begins to change color or gets thick and lumpy you should throw it away no matter how new it is. Product that begins to smell bad should be tossed too.

Cruelty-free companies

If you're a Peta2 supporter like me, or just love animals and don't want to use products that are tested on animals, these lists for kind living will come in handy:

• Companies that DO NOT test on animals
• Companies that DO test on animals

Top 10 health/beauty foods

Got this quick list from http://free-beauty-tips.glam.com/ Any added links are from my personal experience, opinion, and preference.

1; APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Has great healing properties, keeps skin supple. It's heavy concentration of enzymes peel off dead skin cells. It breaks down fat and helps to digest food properly.TRY THIS: Shiny Hair Recipe (for brunettes & redheads)

2; CARROTS
Maintains the outer layer of skin to prevent premature aging. Also good for your eyes!
TRY THIS: Burt's Bees Garden Carrot Complexion Soap

3; CHEESE
A slice or two of swiss, cheddar, or gouda added to your daily diet will help block bacteria in the mouth and prevent cavities.

4; CITRUS FRUITS
Holds the skin together by forming collagen. This is important because collagen cannot be added to skin topically. Cleanses and purifies.
TRY THIS: Burt's Bees Orange Essense Facial Cleanser

5; CRANBERRIES
Keep urinary tract lining healthy. Advised to drink if you have a UTI. Good anti-oxidant.

6; GARLIC
Helps combat wrinkles and restores tissue.

7; NON-FAT YOGURT
High in calcium, may help maintain a healthy digestive system.
TRY THIS: Plain Yogurt Facial Mask Recipe

8; SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes are full of vitamin A, known to be a remarkable anti-wrinkle agent. The result is clearer, smoother skin.

9; TOMATOES
Rich in vitamin A, C, and potassium.
TRY THIS: Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Complexion Soap

10; WHEAT GERM
Add 2-3 tablespoons to your daily diet (in cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc) to help get rid of pimples quickliy and effectively.

Eating Do's and Don'ts

Although I try to eat healthy, I don't always eat the best kind of foods lol :P Anyway, here's a quick list of some eating do's and dont's when it comes to the food groups you should be eating daily.

1; VEGETALBES

Eat 3-5 servings per day.

DO: Include atleast one serving of raw, leafy greens.

DON'T: Overload a salad with dressing, croutons, bacon bits, etc. This detracts the nutritional value of the actual salad.

2; FRUITS

Eat 2-3 servings per day.

DO: Eat atleast 1/2 cup of chopped or sliced fruits; this is one serving.

DON'T: Eat only jello with fruits in it, or fruit cups, etc. These are often full of added ingredients that make it taste better, but do not constitute a serving.

3; MEAT

Eat THREE 3-ounce servings a day, try to make 2 servings turkey or chicken. One serving of fish per day is ideal.

DO: Cut off ALL fat!

DON'T: Eat MORE than THREE 3-ounce servings of meat per day.

4; DAIRY

Eat 2 servings daily.

DO: Have 8-ounces of milk or yogurt; this is one serving.

DON'T: Eat ONLY icecream, cheese, flavored yogurt, or flavored milk! These are often full of added ingredients that are sweet but fattening.

5; FATS
Eat sparingly.

DO: Eat ONLY 2 servings a day (things like salad dressing, cooking oil, butter, mayonaisse, etc).

DON'T: Over-eat junk food, fast food, sweets, or desserts! These are full of fats and oils and may taste good, but are not always good for you.