5 Superfoods That Improve Your Memory

Memory is crucial to success. In today’s technology era, we are constantly stimulated with information and overloaded with details concerning a new product or a project with a deadline. We are constantly managing our lives with blackberries, iphones, computers, planners and the classic post-it “note-to-self.” In order to keep track of everything in our lives and to perform our best, we must take care of ourselves on a macro and micro level. Nutrition plays an integral role in mental acuity.

It really annoys me when people use the term “superfood” to refer only to foods that are exotic, hard to find and only grow in one part of the world, like maca, goji berries or cacao. There is an abundance of “superfoods” everywhere, which I define as foods high in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

Ghee: Health Benefits

Every culture has it’s special cuisine, the different herbs being used, different vegetables and different oils.

Yet when you compare ingredients from different cultures, you’ll find that certain foods are used in every cuisine, albeit in a different manner.

Cabbage can be found in Korea in the form of Kimchi, in Europe in the form of sauerkraut and in the middle east in the form of marinated cabbage. All those societies have figured that the cabbage has nutritional benefits and combining it with spices produces a healthy dish.

Same with cooking oils and butters. For generation European’s used animal fat for cooking. They called it shmaltz and was the ingredient that added the distinctive taste to the dishes. Lard is used in other cultures, made of animal fat, and butter was used in Europe, made of cow’s milk.

A Comprehensive Guide To Foods That Increase Metabolism

If I had to come up with a list of FAQs, one of the most commonly asked questions I hear is this: “Are there foods I can eat to boost my metabolism?”

An efficiently functioning system allows your body to make the most of the nutrients you consume, and when you eat the right foods, they promote a healthy metabolism. It’s a positive feedback cycle that’s easy to develop when you eat whole, natural foods. By definition, your metabolism is your body’s ability to break down foods for energy and synthesize nutrients. When your metabolism functions efficiently, you will have more energy, expel waste more efficiently, and be less likely to gain extra weight.

A great thing about the Beauty Detox Solution is that it naturally promotes a healthy metabolism, because it is designed to continually cleanse your system to keep it working optimally. Each of the foods I recommend in the Beauty Detox Solution serves more than one purpose in the body, and many have a specific effect on your metabolism. Here’s my list of foods that will help heat up your body’s furnace.

1. Coconut oil

The One Day Cleanse

As I’ve always said, cleansing should be considered a verb, not a noun. What I mean by that is that you should incorporate long-term shifts in your lifestyle, which are far more affective in cleansing the body on a continual and deeper basis rather than short-term “detoxes.”  That being said, this “one day cleanse” is about helping you jump-start the process of getting on track with long-term lifestyle changes, or getting back on track, for those of you who have already been changing aspects of your lifestyle

For someone new to the program, incorporate these guidelines below and those outlined in The Beauty Detox Solution slowly and over time in order to avoid any drastic side effects. If you do too much too fast, your eliminating organs (liver, colon etc.) will be totally overwhelmed and overworked. This fast approach could lead to nausea, headaches and breakouts as your body begins to circulate the toxins that were previously tucked away and protected in fat. Short-term programs don’t really get out the deep toxicity anyway- think of how long you’ve been eating a certain way. Can it all magically leave the body in 3 days? No! Eat right to pull the toxins out of your fat, shed the fat, and feel fabulous for the long-term!

Cleansing is one of the post powerful instruments we have in our toolbox to bring our bodies (and our minds) back into alignment. After all, balance is one of the most important things in our lives, right? The important thing to remember about this “one day” cleanse is that is is meant to instill long-term habits, which I want you to keep doing after the one day is over. Most cleanses don’t teach you how to shift you long-term habits, which is really the key to looking and feeling your best.

What are the Best Nail Polish Brands For My Budget?

With such an array of different nail polish shades, formulations and brands out there, it can be pretty hard to choose just what nail polish brands will work best for you. No matter what your budget, you will be able to find some of the hottest, most trendy nail polish colors and shades out there that won’t break the bank.

Discount Nail Polish Brands that are worth your Time

Almost everyone associates “less expensive” with “cheap” and “inferior quality”, but when it comes to nail polish that does not necessarily need to be the case. There are a lot of budget brand nail polishes out there, such as Wet ‘n Wild.

Wet ‘n Wild is mostly known a being for a younger audience (pre adolescents to teens) but who’s to say that a grown woman can’t buy a $1 bottle of Wet ‘n Wild nail polish? This brand has a whole lot of different shades to offer, and though you may need to pass up on those special formulations (such as anti-chip formulas and quick dry formulas) if you have the time to wait for your nails to set, then this brand is a best bet.

TIP: Almost all brands of nail polish go on discount as a season fades out. Be sure to check your drug store or discount beauty store for some real steals!

N.Y.C. nail polish can also be found for as little as $1 in some discount beauty stores, and though these nail polishes are of a thinner consistency than more expensive brands, with a couple of more layers N.Y.C. nail polish colors look just as great as those $20 nail polish brands.

Mid Range Nail Polish Brands

Here’s where choosing a nail polish brand can be rather difficult, given that there are just so many mid range nail polish brands out there! A classic and true favorite is Sally Hansen. This nail polish brand offers a ton of top of the line trendy colors and a whole lot of different formulations, such as anti-chip, nail strengthening, and quick dry.

Another popular choice amongst women and definitely amongst salons is the OPI brand of nail polish. Always fresh and always fashionable, OPI nail polish is both well known for its quality and being a trendsetter.

High End Nail Polish Brands

The higher end nail polish brands are more of the department store brands, such as Lancôme and Chanel. Though these brands will set you back a few extra dollars, you certainly will not be disappointed. The quality of the nail polish and the hip, new colors that they bring out are to die for. Choosing these brands and the newest colors they offer is truly to be ahead of the trend.

Perhaps more important than the nail polish brand you choose is the colors that you chose to wear. If you are ever curious about what nail polish brands and colors are the “in” and which are “out” this season, ask a beautician at your local drug store or department store.

A quick flip through a fashion magazine will also give you a good idea of just what nail polish colors are currently walking down the runway and which ones will be soon. Most importantly, choose a nail polish color that reflects your personality and your mood! So what if neon orange is in style? If it isn’t “you”, then it’s not worth wearing.

How To File Your Own Acrylic Nails

For most of us women, growing long, beautiful nails on our own just doesn’t really seem to be possible. This is why we choose to wear acrylic nails. Acrylic nails are a popular choice as they are stronger than gels, they do not break as easily as gel nails, and they are less expensive to have applied.

Whether you have applied the acrylic nails yourself or you have done them at the salon, it’s important to know how to file your nails in order to maintain them and to keep them looking beautiful. If you have applied your own acrylics, then you will be able to file and shape the nails after the nail bed of the acrylic nail has been smoothed down. This process is also good for anyone who is in between salon visits.

Step 1: It’s important to have a high-grit emery board at hand in order to file acrylics. As acrylic nails are a lot thicker than a natural nail, you may need to buy a special emery board so that you will be able to file your acrylics.

Step 2: The position you want the emery board to be in before you file is beneath the nail, but also away from your finger. This may require for you to angle it a bit to get in the right position to file. Try holding the emery board so that it is just about perpendicular to the nail, but also slightly towards the side of your finger.

Step 3: Once you have the emery board positioned, move the emery board in a motion that is against the nail in both a downward and an outward motion. Do not file your nail in a back-and-forth motion like a saw as this will only damage the nail and cause it to become brittle and break. Continue with this step for all of your nails until the desired length and shape of the nail has been achieved.

TIP: If you want to create a greater curve to the nail, simply increase the angle of the emery board, but make sure that you continue with that downwards and outwards motion to protect the integrity of the nail.

Step 4: Flip the emery board over so that you are using the “low grit” side of the board. Run the low grit side of the emery board over the sides of the nail that were just filed to give you nails a truly polished look and feel.

If a nail is irreparable even with filing but you are in between salon visits, or you don’t have time to give yourself a manicure, you may want to consider applying an acrylic tip to the tip of that one broken fingernail. The acrylic tips will last on your fingernails for 2-3 weeks time, and if you do have a professional manicure the nail technician will be able to remove an acrylic tip that you apply to your fingernail for you.

How to Remove Gel Nails

Removing any false nails – whether they are acrylic, gel, fiberglass, or “other” – can be a bit of a pain, especially when you need to make that appointment with your manicurist to have it done.

You can remove your gel nails at home, though you will need to take special care when doing so as you do not want to damage your nail and nail bed, something which can cause irreversible damage. If you are thinking of how to remove gel nails from the comfort of your home, read the steps below before you begin pulling and filing away.

1. Begin by filing the gel nail off with a medium grit nail file. You will want to keep filing away at the gel nail until only a very thin layer of gel is left on the nail. File gently and in one direction if possible so that you do not risk damaging your natural nail that is beneath the gel nail.

2. Next, take some UV gel nail remover and warm it under warm running water for about 5 minutes or so. You will want to be sure that the gel is warm to the touch, but not scalding or ice cold.

3. Take a small glass bowl or porcelain bowl and then pour enough remover into the bowl so that your nails will be covered when they are submerged.

4. Get comfortable! Place your nails – and only your nails, if possible – into the remover until the gel softens. This may take several minutes, so relax in front of the television or get cozy and take a cat nap.

5. Next, take your orange stick and then gently begin to scrap away at the gel while your nails are still in the UV gel nail remover. If you do remove your nails from the UV gel remover solution, then your risk the gel hardening again (and this can happen far more quickly than you may think!).

6. Finish off by drying your hands with paper towels (you will not want to use your good towels as you may stain or even completely destroy them!).

7. Once your hands are dry, take a nail buffer and buff them until you are certain that all of the UV gel nail tip or nail has been completely removed. Your nails should feel smooth and not rough if you have done a good job buffing them.

8. Follow up with treating your nails with a moisturizing agent, such as a conditioning nail oil and/or a thick and luxurious hand lotion. Your nails will be quite damaged after the removal process, whether done in a salon or at home, so take special care to keep your nails moisturized and in good condition.

For the next couple of weeks after your gel nails are removed, take extra good care of your hands! Always wash up with an anti bacterial soap as your nails have lost several layers of keratin, thus leaving your nail beds more exposed to fungal and bacterial infections. Make sure you do give your natural nails a good 2-4 week break after any gel nail removal so that your natural nails can “regroup” and re-strengthen.