Health

The Mystery Around Perimenopause

By Dr. Sherry Ross
By the age of 45 or so, there’s a good chance you already considered how perimenopause would affect you. There’s no accident that this period of hormonal disruption has been referring to for years as “the change.” You’ve most likely wondered: how will “the change” change me?

It’s different for everyone, but the constant questions I hear are: Will I have crazy uncontrollable bleeding for weeks on end? Will drenching sweats come on when least expected? Will sex become painful and sexual intimacy a thing of the past? To you all I say hold on there. First let’s talk about what exactly happens in perimenopause.

Perimenopause happens when your ovaries cease to function consistently, thereby upsetting your normal hormonal rhythm. This hormonal change usually happens within a couple years of menopause, but for some it can happen much earlier. The erratic and disruptive symptoms of perimenopause tend, however, to mark the beginning of menopause. Every decade brings about some emotional and physical change, but for women, the decade of one’s forties may pack the biggest punches of all. Between the typical 40-something anxieties of shifting relationships (divorce and dealings with hormonal or college-bound teens), self-esteem issues, job challenges and other midlife stresses, one’s 40s are challenging enough without the hormonal upheaval. In your forties, it’s not just life’s stresses that are affecting you emotionally and physically, it’s “the change,” the symptoms of which include, unfortunately: (more…)

The 3 Steps of Coaching Through a Successful Life Transition

By Carolyn Mahboubi

Life transitions are inherently painstaking.  The human brain does not like change and will do whatever it takes to resist it, often in ways we ourselves don’t consciously recognize.

But the sooner we understand that change needs to happen, whether we feel ready for it or not, the easier it becomes to navigate transitions to a successful conclusion.  

My passion around mastering the art and science of change was borne from my own life experiences.  I learned the challenge of navigating change at a young age, when my family fled Iran for the United States when I was just 11 years old.  My learning continued as a 16 year old who had to quickly find my footing as an entrepreneur amongst adults, then as a young adult who felt professional success but struggled to create satisfying intimate relationships.  I also confronted challenges as a full time working single parent who struggled to balance my life, and as a physically active woman who developed chronic pain and was unable to move forward both physically and psychologically in the way that I wanted.  Through these various phases of my life, I learned to make friends with change, even though sometimes it felt more like an uneasy alliance than a fulfilling relationship! (more…)

8 WOW Tips to get back on track for the New Year

By Lauren Haas
Studies show 80% of people that make New Year’s resolutions fail by February.

Instead of making unrealistic resolutions like, loose 20 pounds, exercise everyday, only eat organic or take on an extreme way of eating, use my Simple WOW Tips to achieve a life full of health, happiness and balance.

1. Eat real food from the earth not a factory: That means loading your plate up with vegetables, fruits, organic meat, wild fish, nuts, seeds, gluten free grains, beans and healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, coconut oil and organic ghee. (more…)

Free Yourself from Body Jail! 5 New Year Beauty Resolutions that Don’t Involve Dieting

By Fern Olivia
Fern OliviaOften times, the New Year brings forth an immense amount of pressure to shape up, perform, and “finally do things right.” We’re often really, really hard on ourselves when it comes to our resolutions. Let’s change that, babes. We’re doing the best we can!

Furthermore, there is immense pressure and expectation around the holidays, so although there is beautiful sacred symbolism embedded in the New Year celebration, it can be quite overwhelming, and often times, it’s the time we begin to be incredibly hard on ourselves and our bodies.

The truth is, it doesn’t take a whole year to create conscious and sustainable change, and it takes a lot less than a year to fall off the wagon and break the promises you made to yourself. Does that resonate with you? I’ve seen it happen time and time again with myself – and my clients. Through my desire to change this so we all can feel more empowered, I discovered a new way to approach resolutions, without the shame or expectation around the “perfect body” or “losing the 10 pounds you gained this year.” (more…)

Even Good cooking Oils Can Go Bad When Used at the Wrong Temperatures

Chef Gerard ViveritoBy Chef Gerard Viverito

Back in the 80s, the only cooking oil in home pantries was probably all-purpose vegetable oil (the exact vegetable a mystery). Today’s home cooks have many healthy cooking oil options, but it can be confusing trying to learn when to use them. If you’ve ever heated oil to the point where it starts to smoke, then you have exceeded its smoke point. Once it gets too hot, the oil just isn’t fit for consumption. Some oils can handle high heat better than others.

What’s the big deal about a little smoke? It’s not just the annoying high-pitched beep of your smoke detector going off. When an oil is heated beyond its smoke point, its molecular structure begins breaking down. It may even form trans fats. The oil may lose its nutritional value and give your food a bitter or burnt taste. The smoke from overheated oils isn’t even healthy to inhale. Once it starts smoking, the oil really shouldn’t be consumed. (more…)

Thanksgiving Recipes

By Virginie Degryse

Butternut Squash-Apple SoupButternut Squash-Apple Soup
Time: 1 h
Serves: 6

Coming fall these are my favorite flavors… I think that the apples bring a sweetness to the soup that makes it delicious! Sprinkle some seeds, some

crispy quinoa, chopped apples to make it more fancy!

Ingredients

  • 1 large butternut squash, peeled, cut, seeds removed and chopped
  • 2 small apples, cored and chopped
  • 1 onion, peeled and chopped
  • 2-3 tsp of olive oil
  • 2 tsp of turmeric
  • 1 tsp of ginger
  • 1/2 tsp of chili powder
  • 4-5 cups of stock
  • Salt and pepper

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The Cost of Cleaning Your Home

Lauren RashapBy Lauren Rashap

Having a clean home should never cost you something as valuable as your health, but that’s exactly what you’re putting at risk when you use household cleaners and laundry detergents filled with many of the hazardous chemicals on the market today.

The problem is, when the chemicals in these common household products hit your skin and lungs, they go directly into your bloodstream, bypassing your body’s natural defense system against toxins (the liver and kidneys).

This type of indoor pollution is particularly harmful to your health because just one application of a typical household cleaner can leave dangerous chemicals lingering in your indoor air for hours at a time. For people who spend a large amount of their day indoors, this can amount to a frequent chemical attacks on your lungs.

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Is your medicine cabinet back-to-school ready?

Alternative health expert Bryce Wylde advises that you may want to change how you prepare for cold and cough season

Kids will bring home more than homework once they’re back in school. They also bring home plenty of germs. The common cold is a leading cause of missed days from school. Parents should brace themselves for cuts, bites, scrapes and other maladies “We buy pencils and backpacks, but what about your back-to-school health supply checklist,” asks alternative health expert Bryce Wylde. (more…)

Back to school with Essential Oils

Esther KingWhether you homeschool, send your kids to school or go to school yourself, there are several different essential oils that can help transition from summer back to early mornings and homework.

1. In Tune. Designed to enhance the body’s ability to focus and support healthy thought processes. Whether you are the child, the parent or the teacher (or both!) this blend can help you focus and stay on task. Apply to the bottom of the feet morning and night and whenever needed throughout the day. Can also apply on the neck or rub well into the spine(dilution recommended).

2. Cedarwood. For promoting relaxation. Diffuse then rub into the bottom of the feet or dilute and apply to neck, wrists, neck, etc. This is a wonderfully calming oil and also great if your child is agitated or upset. It’s a wonderful oil to have in your home if you have a child prone to drama or tantrums (and also great for older boys who might not want to smell like a “girly” oil). (more…)

Makeup for Teens

By Stephi Maron
Stephi MaronWe are on a mission to change the way that people think about makeup as we believe makeup is not just for special events, but can be for everyday. We created Carte Blush for our clients who often see us more than 2x a month. Carte Blush is our unlimited monthly membership program valid at all Blushington locations that includes UNLIMITED complimentary makeup applications, faux lashes, airbrushing and brow maintenance services in store at all Blushington locations.

We provide access to the best in curated products founded by women and modern beauty services, in a gorgeous setting. One of our favorite services at Blushington is our makeup class. To celebrate summer, for the entire month of August, Blushington is offering their makeup 101 classes at no charge ($150 value). During the one hour class, (more…)