Nail health tips and treatments

Most of us are very perceptive when it comes to analyzing our faces, necks and hair. Those are the features that are most obvious as we primp and prod ourselves each morning before work, and as we cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize each night before bed. We know that if our skin is dry it means that we should look into eliminating products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate from our routine. We know that if our hair is brittle and thinning we may want to investigate a serum with lots of anecdotal evidence to back it, like Junko’s DIY hair oil. But do we really ever take a look at something as inconspicuous and disregarded as our nails? Sure, we might take the time to polish them, but the health of our nails remains elusive. And even if we do notice a ridge here or some yellowing there, we often don’t know what caused it or how to fix it.

Yellowing:
Yellow nails can be caused by something as simple as wearing dark nail polish too often. The polish may actually stain the nail because of a reaction between the colorant and the nail itself. Sometimes, formaldehyde in nail polish may be the cause of yellow nails. Obvious solutions would include giving your nails a break from polish and sticking with formaldehyde-free brands. While there are nail whiteners on the market, a DIY concoction may also do the trick; try mixing hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, then allowing it to sit on nails for 4 minutes. Interestingly, psoriasis can cause yellow nails, so if you know that you have the condition skip the DIY stuff and head over to a dermatologist for treatment. Same goes for thickened yellow nails, which could indicate a fungus.

White spots:
Formally known as leukonychia, those little white discolorations that you see from time to time on your nails are usually caused by trauma to the nail (like slamming your finger in a door, for example). But if you’re positive that you haven’t injured your nails and you see the spots reoccurring often enough, then a zinc deficiency may be to blame. Supplements will more than likely solve the problem. Another cause of the white markings could be eczema. If they bother you, definitely make an appointment with your dermatologist to discuss possible treatments.

Brittleness and peeling:
Nails are composed of layers of keratin. If you’re hands are always in hot water thanks to a plethora of dirty dishes or if you live in a very cold, dry climate, your nails may begin to peel. Something as simple as keeping your nails polished, even with just a clear coat, can keep them protected. To prevent peeling in the first place, wear gloves when possible and try applying a moisturizing hand serum each day (maybe something like Pharmacopia Hand Cream). Another cause of peeling can be a lack of linoleic acid, which can be found in plant and fish oils (consumed internally) or in a topical cream like Reviva. A simple trick for reviving brittle nails is taking a biotin supplement, which has been shown to strengthen nails and increase their plate thickness.

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5 Healthy Breakfast Choices

Kick-starting your morning with a healthy breakfast is imperative — it is, after all, the most important meal of the day. Does breakfast in less than 10 minutes sound familiar?

It’s far too easy to grab something on your way to work. I'm guessing this will usually be a bagel, croissant or other pastry, as that’s what I’m often tempted to pick up when I’m running late. But eating a healthy breakfast is essential for maintaining energy and attention levels, as well as for helping you avoid snacking, but there are variations you should focus on, depending on diet, fitness regime and your ultimate goals.

We’ve chosen some of the most common athletic challenges and checked out what healthy breakfast choices are at your disposal when training.

1. The muscle-builder's breakfast
OK, so you can go the protein shake route, but really? They’re unpleasant and, unless you’re a complete muscle nut, no fun. You want to be enjoying your breakfast as well as building those biceps. Picking the right breakfast will not only help with muscle building but will also fill you with energy for the day ahead — a perfect pick-me-up. We’re looking to kick-start your metabolism and get your body into an anabolic state by going for high protein, along with some complex carbs and healthy fats. An egg-white omelet with shredded chicken is a winner.

Add some finely sliced chili to get the blood flowing and then serve with some avocado diced on top for a healthy fat. With a squeeze of lime (top off with cilantro if you have some), you have mastered the healthy breakfast choice.

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Arthur Murray Kids Classes

Kid's Ballroom Dance Classes! Every Friday Evening Beginning May 5th!  
Ages 5-9 at 6pm Ages 10-14 at 6:45 pm
REGISTRATION STARTS NOW! 808.944.0606

Your child will have lots of fun, while learning the discipline needed for Ballroom Dancing. Young boys will learn to be Gentlemen and young girls will learn to be lovely Ladies. They will be covering a wide range of dances, from the Sophisticated Waltz, to the Spicy Salsa, and of course everything in between.

"Music, Music, Music" By Theresa Brewer

The classes are 40 minutes long and only $10 a class if you buy a package of 10 or more. The classes never expire so you will not lose anything that you've paid for. They also have a drop in rate of $12 per class. Private Lessons also available.
 
Call today, and your child could be dancing tonight! 808-944-0606

Arthur Murray Dance Centre | 1860 Ala Moana Blvd,
Suite 407 | Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 |

*Parking just $3 with validation!  They have limited spaces available so we encourage calling ASAP to enroll!

Music: A road to a world with no borders, no boundaries, no flags,

no countries. Where the heart is the only passport you need.

~Carlos Santana

Brushing Tips

The modified Bass technique (below) is among the most popular for adults. Parents should supervise their children's brushing until age 9 or 10. Here are a few general pointers about brushing.

Brush at least twice a day.
One of those times should be just before you go to bed. When you sleep, your mouth gets drier. This makes it easier for acids from bacteria to attack your teeth. Also try to brush in the morning, either before or after breakfast. After breakfast is better. That way, bits of food are removed. But if you eat in your car or at work, or skip breakfast, brush first thing in the morning. This will get rid of the plaque that built up overnight.


Brush no more than three times a day.
Brushing after lunch will give you a good midday cleaning. But brushing too often can damage your gums.


Brush lightly. Brushing too hard can damage your gums. It can cause them to recede (move away from the teeth). Plaque attaches to teeth like jam sticks to a spoon. It can't be totally removed by rinsing, but a light brushing will do the trick. Once plaque has hardened into calculus (tartar), brushing can't remove it. If you think you might brush too hard, hold your toothbrush the same way you hold a pen. This encourages a lighter stroke.


Brush for at least two minutes.
Set a timer if you have to, but don't skimp on brushing time. Two minutes is the minimum time you need to clean all of your teeth. Many people brush for the length of a song on the radio. That acts as a good reminder to brush each tooth thoroughly.


Have a standard routine for brushing.
Try to brush your teeth in the same order every day. This can help you cover every area of your mouth. If you do this routinely, it will become second nature. For example, you can brush the outer sides of your teeth from left to right across the top, then move to the inside and brush right to left. Then brush your chewing surfaces, too, from left to right. Repeat the pattern for your lower teeth.

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Toothless chemical law is toxic to the public's health

The American Academy of Pediatrics' recent statement urging the federal government to do more to protect pregnant women and children from toxic chemicals is getting lots of attention in the media. The more meaningful question is whether the safety push will get the attention it deserves from Uncle Sam.

The pediatric group's request is hardly outrageous. It asks that Congress make the archaic Toxic Substances Control Act live up to its original mission and protect Americans from potentially poisonous substances in our products.

As it stands now, the act is a joke. It hasn't been revised in any meaningful way since first passing congressional muster in 1976. Since then, tens of thousands of chemicals have been introduced into the environment through new products, and we know little to nothing about whether they are making us sick.

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The act is our best chance of finding out, and making the manufacturing industry accountable, but that would require adding some teeth to a law this is mostly gums.

Out of about 80,000 chemicals being used by a host of manufacturers, the law has led to regulation on just five chemicals or chemical classes during the past 35 years. Some argue that the Toxic Substances Control Act is such a weakling that it couldn't even be used to ban cancer-causing asbestos.

Under the act, manufacturers are not required to test whether chemicals are safe before putting them in the products we use. That's a scary proposition given the increasing number of studies raising concerns about the behavioral, developmental and other health risks that may be associated with some chemicals, such as the ubiquitous bisphenol-A, or BPA, and phthalates found in many plastics.

The federal government isn't ignorant of these concerns. In January 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that, because of the potential human health impacts of BPA, it would study ways to reduce exposure to the compound in food packaging. Two months later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added BPA to its list of "chemicals of concern" and announced a "BPA action plan" that included requiring manufacturers to provide test data to help determine the potential impacts of BPA.

HIV may be risk factor in heart failure

"Heavy alcohol consumption, which is more prevalent among HIV-infected people, is also an established risk factor for heart failure," the study authors write.

Adeel A. Butt from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and colleagues analyzed data from HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected veterans enrolled in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study Virtual Cohort, the journal Archives of Internal Medicine reports.

The objective was to determine whether HIV infection was independently associated with an increase risk of heart failure (HF), according to a Pittsburgh statement.

A total of 8,486 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 2,391 were HIV- infected and 6,095 were HIV-uninfected. During the median (midpoint) 7.3 years of follow-up, there were 286 new heart failure events and 1,096 deaths.

"Participants with HIV infection were more likely to have Hepatitis C virus co-infection and cocaine abuse or dependence and higher reported rate of current smoking, but were less likely to have hypertension or diabetes," the authors report.

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Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp, Healthy

From a glance at the magazine stands, Americans appear obsessed with losing weight, cutting their cardiac risks and seeking to improve their odds against cancer. But where’s the focus on brain health?

The brain always has been mysterious and many people seem to believe little can be done to keep it sharp or to reduce its risk of injury and disease. Too many of us think it’s a matter of our genes or happenstance as to what occurs with memory loss, brain tumors, strokes and other disorders of the brain.

This may be true to some extent but the same might also be said of heart ills and many cancers. And while there may be familial predispositions, this doesn’t diminish the need to take steps to improve health and reduce risk.

Keith L. Black, M.D., chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, says Americans can do more to keep their minds sharp and brains healthy even as they age. His suggestions include: the simple and obvious (wear a helmet for sports); the simple and less obvious (eat certain foods to properly fuel the brain); and the simple and more obscure (could your cell phone use affect your risk of brain tumor?).

The theme is “simple” – these are changes most people can work into their everyday lives. Examples include:

Find a puzzle and solve it. The brain appears to respond to “exercise” – challenges that help keep it nimble. Whether games and puzzles help delay onset of dementia is the subject of debate and research. But people who keep busy with activities they enjoy – knitting, learning languages, reading – seem to have less memory impairment in later years. Hard scientific evidence may yet come; keeping your mind active through “play” and activity certainly won’t hurt in the meantime.

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