We all know how bad smoking and drinking is for our skin, but who knew things like Botox injections and not wearing glasses could actually result in wrinkles? Check out these 8 different ways your lifestyle is screwing with your skin, and then find out what you can do about it with a little help from our experts.

1. You Don’t Clean Your Cell Phone

You talk on your iPhone all day long, but you never bother to clean it? Guess what? You may be compromising your complexion. “Studies show that cell phones are hotbeds for germs and bacteria that can rub off on your skin,” says Dr. Laura Skellchock, Boca Raton Cosmetic Dermatologist. You use your fingers to text and dial, and then hold your phone up to your face, so it’s important to wipe down your cell with a little hand sanitizer at least once a day.”

2. You Never Wear Your Glasses…Or Sunglasses

Don’t wear glasses? You’re not immune. The same thing can happen from squinting in the sun!

3. You’re A Junk Food Fanatic

Bad news for all you sugar fiends out there: poor food choices can lead to dull, dry, patchy, and even discolored skin! To keep your exterior looking healthy and vibrant, you need to start including antioxidants in your diet, warns Lauren Schmitt, owner of Healthy Eating And Training Inc. in Los Angeles. Antioxidants help protect against sun damage and skin cancer and may also help reverse wrinkles and discoloration.

“For example,” says Lauren, “Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen, which strengthens the skin. So make a fruit salad with grapefruit, oranges, kiwi, and strawberries, and snack on broccoli and red bell pepper strips throughout your day.”

Read more: http://www.thefashionspot.com/beauty/news/173849-8-ways-your-lifestyle-is-screwing-with-your-skin

85-year-old Alice Gross, who is soon to be a great-grandmother, said she tries to take Zumba class every day. She called exercise her “fountain of youth.”

“It keeps you healthy, it keeps you alive, it keeps you young,” Gross said.  “I don’t feel 85.  I don’t think about it.”

Gross said she enjoyed the moves and the beat of the music in the classes.

“There is something in that music that’s got a real force to it,” Gross said, adding that she has no plans on stopping any time soon.

Dr. Joyce Fogel, chief of Geriatrics at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, said exercise is important for seniors on many different levels.

“We know that exercise has benefits in managing high blood pressure, diabetes, and it’s very important for osteoporosis,” Fogel said. “I think that when people have memory problems that they more engaged they are and involved with other people and keeping busy, the better it is for them.”

Fogel advised that seniors talk with their doctors before beginning any new fitness routines, but said she was impressed with Gross.

“I think she should be the poster child for exercise in the elderly,” Fogel said. “Not everybody can do that, so it’s great that she can.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/05/10/85-year-old-woman-busts-move-at-zumba-class/#ixzz1uZKt8vCo

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Black Tea

The scoop: Black tea is the most common variety and accounts for about 75 percent of global tea consumption. Like many of the teas here, it’s made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which are typically rolled and fermented, then dried and crushed. Black tea has a slightly bitter flavor and contains the most caffeine—about 40 milligrams per cup. (A cup of coffee has 50 to 100.)

Health benefits: Black tea has high concentrations of the antioxidant compounds known as theaflavins and thearubigins, which have been linked to lower levels of cholesterol, says Rebecca Baer, a registered dietitian in New York City. Research has shown that people who drink three or more cups of black tea daily may cut their risk of stroke by 21 percent.

Green Tea

The scoop: Green tea has a more delicate flavor than black. The leaves are dried and heat-treated soon after they’re picked, which stops the fermentation process. It contains about 25 milligrams of caffeine per cup.

Health benefits: Green tea is full of antioxidants called catechins; a subgroup known as EGCG may ward off everything from cancer to heart disease, says Karen Collins, a registered dietitian and a nutrition adviser at the American Institute for Cancer Research, in Washington, D.C. One study found that each daily cup of green tea consumed may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by 10 percent.

Oolong Tea

The scoop: Oolong is similar to black tea, but it’s fermented for a shorter time, which gives it a richer taste. It contains about 30 milligrams of caffeine per cup.

Health benefits: It may aid in weight loss. “Oolong activates an enzyme responsible for dissolving triglycerides, the form of dietary fat that’s stored in fat cells,” says Baer. One study showed that women who drank oolong tea burned slightly more calories over a two-hour period than those who drank only water.

White Tea

The scoop: These leaves are picked when they’re very young, so white tea has a much milder flavor than any other variety, not to mention less caffeine—about 15 milligrams per cup. Loose tea may also contain more antioxidants than tea in bags, because the leaves are less processed.

Health benefits: White tea is another health multitasker. It offers the same potential cardiovascular and cancer-fighting benefits as other teas, says Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Association of the USA, in New York City. And some research suggests that it may offer benefits to people with diabetes. An animal study published in the journal Phytomedicine found that consuming white tea resulted in improved glucose tolerance and a reduction in LDL cholesterol. Some experts believe that this may eventually have implications for humans.

Flavored Tea

The scoop: In this category, aromatic extras, such as cinnamon, orange peel, and lavender, are paired with black, green, or white tea leaves.

Health benefits: Flavored teas have the same levels of antioxidants and the same health benefits as unflavored ones. Those flavored with superfruits, such as blueberries, may contain even more antioxidants, says Lisa Boalt Richardson, an Atlanta-based tea expert and the author of The World in Your Teacup.

But skip the sweetened varieties in bottles: You’re better off without that extra sugar, says Baer, who also cautions that flavored tea drinks are often watered down. “Some have such a low amount of antioxidants that you would have to drink 20 bottles to get the amount you would in a single brewed cup,” she says. One good antioxidant-rich, low-sugar bottled brand: Honest Tea (honesttea.com).

Herbal Tea

The scoop: Technically, herbal teas are not teas at all—they’re usually some combination of dried fruits, flowers, and herbs. Herbal varieties contain no caffeine. Avoid herbal weight-loss teas, which may contain dangerous laxatives.

Health benefits: There has been less research on herbal blends than on traditional teas, but one study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that drinking three cups of hibiscus tea daily could help lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. And evidence suggests that chamomile tea may promote sleep and that peppermint tea may calm the stomach.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/26/6-healthy-types-tea/#ixzz1tFWvQiwH

Good Fat: Unsaturated

These oils contain some saturated fat. But they’re considered heart-friendly, as they help lower levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol, and some raise the levels of good (HDL) cholesterol. They include polyunsaturated fats (like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help build cell membranes) and monounsaturated fats high in vitamin E, which is lacking in most Americans’ diets.

Canola Oil (7 percent saturated fat)

Made from: Seeds of the grapeseed plant.
Used in: Salad dressings, some margarines, frying food.
Pros: Good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Has a neutral flavor and a high smoke point.
Con: Has fewer antioxidants than olive oil.

Sunflower Oil (About 10 percent saturated fat)

Made from: Sunflower seeds.
Used in: Some margarines; processed snack foods, like cookies and crackers.
Pros: High in unsaturated fat. Flavorless and colorless.
Con: Susceptible to oxidation, so restaurants may use an unhealthy, partially hydrogenated variety.

Corn Oil (About 13 percent saturated fat)

Made from: The germ of corn.
Used in: Salad dressings, corn chips, some margarines, baked goods, microwave popcorn, general cooking.
Pros: A good source of omega-6 fatty acids. Neutral in flavor. High smoke point. Inexpensive.
Con: Often hydrogenated (which adds unhealthy trans fats) in processed and deep-fried restaurant foods.

Olive Oil (14 percent saturated fat)

Made from: Olives.
Used in: Salad dressings, some canned tunas, Mediterranean cooking; it’s drizzled on cooked foods for extra flavor.
Pros: Tastes good. High in antioxidants.
Con: The tastiest extra-virgin varieties are expensive.

Soybean Oil (15 percent saturated fat)

Made from: Soybeans.
Used in: Salad dressings, mayonnaise, sautéed dishes, processed snack foods (in its partially hydrogenated form).
Pros: A good source of vitamin E. Inexpensive and widely available.
Con: In this country, most soybean oil in prepared foods is hydrogenated (though the bottled form is not).

Peanut Oil (17 percent saturated fat)

Made from: Peanuts.
Used in: Roasted nuts, high-heat searing and frying.
Pros: Nutty taste. High smoke point.
Con: More expensive than soybean, sunflower, and safflower oils. Potentially allergenic.

Walnut Oil (9 percent saturated fat)
This rich-tasting oil is used in salad dressings, sautés, and marinades. It is high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and contains a small amount of vitamin E.
Downside: Heating can remove some of the oil’s flavor and produce a slight bitterness.

Avocado Oil (11 percent saturated fat)
Pressed from the fruit of the avocado, this oil has a nutty, buttery taste. It works well in salad dressings and for drizzling on vegetables and is also a good choice for frying and sautéing. Has health properties similar to those of olive oil.
Downside: It is expensive and can be hard to find.
Bad Fat: Saturated
These fats raise bad cholesterol, so a diet heavy in them may increase your risk of heart disease. Americans get about 11 percent of their daily calories from saturated fats. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 7 percent.

Margarine (About 18 percent saturated fat, 0 to 30 percent trans fats)

Made from: Vegetable oils.
Used in: Recipes for baked goods that call for stick margarine. Also used as an inexpensive substitute for butter.
Pros: Many tub margarines have been reformulated to contain mostly unsaturated fats, so check the label.
Con: Splatters if heated in a pan. Tastes synthetic.

Solid Shortening (20 to 30 percent saturated fat, 8 percent trans fat)

Made from: Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Used in: Processed foods, some baked goods, piecrusts.
Pros: “If you want a flaky piecrust, there’s nothing better than solid shortening,” says P.J. Hamel, a test-kitchen baker at King Arthur Flour, in Norwich, Vermont.
Con: High in trans fats.

Lard (About 40 percent saturated fat)

Made from: Pig fat.
Used in: Fresh or frozen piecrusts and other baked goods; certain cuisines, including American southern, British, Mexican, Norwegian, and Chinese.
Pros: Gives a delicate texture and taste to fried foods and baked goods.
Con: Hard to find in stores.

Palm Oil (50 percent saturated fat)

Made from: The fruit of the palm tree.
Used in: Processed foods, such as cookies, crackers, and microwave popcorn.
Pros: Nutty flavor. High in antioxidants. Long shelf life.
Con: Very high in saturated fat.

Butter (About 60 percent saturated fat)

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/16/good-fats-vs-bad-fats/#ixzz1saayNam2

The only class requirement? You’d better come ready to party.

Fox News’ Anna Kooiman recently went to Soul Cycle in New York City to find out about ‘Party Ride’ and why people are trading their Saturday night stilettos for sneakers.

Soul Cycle instructors combine the intensity of a full-body workout with the wild atmosphere of a nightclub, incorporating lights, glow sticks and even bubbles.

Party Ride instructor Danny Kopel said the class is always changing.

“When we teach the soul party, we might just pop out a few extra effects like a strobe light, or we might spray some champagne on the first row,” Kopel said. “It’s always just sort of a new bag of tricks.”

Riders don’t just burn fat and get their hearts pumping. Unlike other spin classes, they use hand weights to tone their cores and upper bodies.

So on weekends, instead of loading up on bar snacks and beer, riders are burning calories.

“It’s a much healthier alternative to going to a night club or something like that,” Kopel said.

Custom playlists and mood lighting allow riders to let loose and really pump up their confidence, leaving them energized.

Soul Cycle rider Joanna Carver said there is no other workout like it.

“The instructors are amazing, the music is great, the whole class (is) working together, and there is energy in the whole group,” Carver said. “Everything they bring to class makes it really fun.”

Soul Cycle’s popularity has recently become a bi-coastal trend, with other party-inspired workouts popping up all over the country.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/12/party-inspired-workouts-keeping-fitness-fun/#ixzz1rvbz1ora

One Step to Younger Looking Skin

Free radicals (oxidants), rogue molecules that form when your skin is exposed to sunlight, are the root cause of sun damage and skin aging. The process of skin aging is similar to what happens when the inside of an apple is exposed to open air–it begins to oxidize or age. Applying a combination of 100% natural plant based antioxidants to your skin on a daily basis,via a sunscreen or moisturizer, will boost your ability to counteract the build up of free radicals, and thus, help your skin remain more youthful.

What you want to ensure is that the antioxidants in your lotion or sunscreen are in fact “100% natural,” because synthetic antioxidants are ineffective against free radicals. Natural Mixed Vitamin E (d-Tochopherol), Green Tea Extract (Camellia Senensis), and Bio-Melanin (Date Fruit Extract) are examples of 100% natural antioxidants.

Michael J Russ, President, Oceana Naturals LLC

Two Simple Skincare Steps for Sensitive Skin

1.Mineral based makeup is a MUST for sensitive skin. Because it is free of fragrances and dyes, it is less irritating to skin. Plus, you apply it with a brush, so you won’t tug at your sensitive skin.

2. Use of fragrance-free moisturizer formulated for sensitive skin. Apply it right after you get out of the shower to lock in moisture, or start with a moisturizing spritz!

Dr. Laura Skellchock, MD, Cosmetic Dermatologist, Integrative Dermatology

Between 1970 and 2009, the rate of melanoma among women increased eightfold and quadrupled among men, according to Mayo Clinic experts who studied all medical records for 256 people in a county in Minnesota over that timespan.

However, death rates from melanoma fell during the same period, suggesting that early interventions may be helping to save some lives, said the researchers.

And while the results of the small study may not be representative of the entire United States, lead investigator Jerry Brewer, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, sounded the alarm about what he called a “dramatic rise in women in their 20s and 30s.”

“There is no such thing as a healthy baseline tan,” Brewer said.

“Even though young people have more of an understanding of the detrimental effects of tanning they are still not changing their behavior and they are tanning just as much or more as they did way back in the ’80s.”

Although the current study did not focus on reasons for the increase, Brewer said other researchers have found that people who use indoor tanning beds — a five billion dollar a year industry — are 74 percent more likely to get melanoma than non-tanners.

Jennifer Stein, a dermatologist at New York University Langone Medical Center, agreed that indoor tanning is a likely culprit.

“One possible explanation for this rapid increase in cases of melanoma may be the use of indoor tanning beds in teens and young adults, which has become so popular in recent years,” said Stein, who was not involved with the study.

Read more: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/skin-cancer-rise-among-young-adults-us-study-065620615.html

Women who use tanning salons have a somewhat increased risk of skin cancer, according to a study that adds to evidence that baking in a tan bed can be as bad as baking under the sun.

The study, by a team at Harvard Medical School, looked at data from nearly 730,000 nurses followed for 20 years and found that women who used tanning beds in their youth were more likely than others to develop skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma in particular.

Though many studies have linked tanning beds to a higher skin cancer risk, the link to basal cell carcinoma, by far the most common form of skin cancer, have been inconsistent.

“We … investigated whether frequency of tanning bed use during high school/college and at ages 25 to 36 years were associated with a risk of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma,” wrote Jiali Han and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

“Our data provide evidence for a dose-response relationship between tanning bed use and the risk of skin cancers, especially basal cell carcinoma, and the association is stronger for patients with a younger age at exposure.”

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/more-evidence-links-tanning-beds-skin-cancer-study-011213890.html