Sun-Loving and Safe Skin Health

With summer finally here, it’s hard to resist the sun’s warm invitation to soak up your daily dose of vitamin D3.  It feels good, it looks good and, better yet, it's good for your health too, right? But too much of a good thing, could be harmful with sun exposure being associated with dangerous skin cancers like melanoma.

Sun-Blocking Solutions

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and covering up with UV-protective clothing are wise choices, but what about sunscreens? Recently, sunscreens have taken some heat for containing toxic ingredients that get absorbed into the skin. So while you’re trying to protect from UV-generated free radicals, you may be soaking up radicals of a different kind when you apply sunscreen creams.

You’re probably thinking, “Oh great, if sunscreen is bad, now what do I do to stay safe in the sun?” Well, keep in mind these concerns about sunscreen creams are based on new science, so it is not altogether clear yet whether these sunscreen creams are causing more harm than good. From what we do know now, it does make sense when looking for a good sunscreen to watch out for the ones that use many synthetic chemicals and opt for a more natural mineral-based filter like zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.

Consider eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables to supply many of the vitamins and minerals your skin needs for optimal health. Vitamin K2 found in foods like egg yolk, cheese and butter, supports bone health, cardiovascular health and the skin. Antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lycopene and vitamins C, E, and A, found in colorful fruits and vegetables, aid in blocking the sun’s UV free radicals that can harm skin cells and lead to sun spots or age spots, and skin cancer.

Get to Know the Skin You’re In

Skin is the body’s largest organ - the dermis. The pro-hormone DHEA has been found to be produced and metabolized in the skin. According to medical research done by Dr. Fernand Labrie, it was found that most hormones in post menopausal women are metabloised from DHEA in the skin. DHEA is also a base for skin oil or “sebum.” The body’s derma layer is constantly regenerating and quite absorbent which means it can take in both nutrients and toxins. Did you know that when you apply DHEA cream to your skin the risk of both chemical and UV carcinogens is reduced? Furthermore, the combination of coconut oil, vitamin E and co-enzyme Q-10 (found in Twist25’s DHEA cream) helps skin look and feel hydrated and helps fade keratoses, also known as “age spots” or “liver spots.”

Vitamin D3 is the Sunshine Vitamin.  It is the only vitamin the body produces in the skin or dermis from exposure to sun light (UVB).  Yet with today’s indoor living, clothing that covers most of our skin surfaces, and the use of sunscreens to reduce the risks of skin cancer, many people are deficient in Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 has many hormone-like functions.  It is an important pro-vitamin helping the body to utilize other nutrients. 

According to MedicalNews Today, “the energy from the sun changes a chemical in the skin to vitamin D3, which is then carried to the liver and the kidneys where it is made into active vitamin D.” But what if practicing sun-loving skin safety means you’re not getting enough? Per Medical News Today, “The Vitamin D Council states that the vitamin is important for muscle function, the respiratory system, cardiovascular function, brain development, and it even has anti-cancer properties.” Additionally, vitamin D3 increases the absorption of calcium–crucial for good bone health, especially as we get older. So if you think you’re not getting enough vitamin D3 from sun exposure, consider a vitamin D3supplement. But remember, sunshine on the skin in moderation is good for you!

Find the Right Skin Care Routine

You may have a regular skin care routine for your face, but consider a whole-body skin care routine. It doesn’t have to be complicated or long. To make it easy, try these four steps:

1.     Cleanse – Use an exfoliating sponge or loofa to wash with a paraben-free gel cleanser.

2.     Moisturize – Consider using coconut oil as a hydrating moisturizer. Read more about the wonders of coconut oil for the skin here.

3.     Protect – Find a mineral-based sunscreen that is right for your skin type.

4.     Supplement – Include Twist 25 DHEA cream,  Vitamin D3 and vitamin ADK capsules in your regime to lessen the appearance of “age spots” and assist in balancing derma layer hormones. To read more, checkout this article about Healthier Skin with DHEA Cream.

Have a safe and healthy summer. Remember, it’s the little things we do each day that all add up to make a big difference!

Laughter: Rx for stress

When is the last time you had a good belly laugh? You may have heard that laughter is the best medicine; know why? Laughter releases endorphins—hormones that help to reduce pain and relieve stress. Laughter also works muscles throughout our face and body; we breathe faster and our heart rate goes up which delivers more oxygen to cells throughout the body and burns calories.

Let’s talk stress.

When we’re stressed out, it shows up in our emotions, sleeping and eating patterns, and even social interactions. Sometimes the stressors are on the scene temporarily; and some stressors are just things we have to get used to, like traffic we just can’t avoid. Over time, these things that “stress us out” can lead to potentially severe and chronic byproducts of stress like anxiety, depression or high blood pressure.  Some call the symptoms of chronic stress, “adrenal fatigue.” Speaking of adrenal fatigue, we recently talked with Kelly Cappasola on the Forever Young radio show about adrenal fatigue and how DHEA cream Twist 25 can help. You can listen to that show here.

Medical science shows that when the body experiences stress, cortisol (also known as the stress hormone) increases to protect the body with an inflammatory response, a defense mechanism which could be good. But when cortisol levels remain high over days, weeks or months, it can cause us to gain weight, lose energy and drive, and seemingly steal our joy.

If you’re middle age, lacking energy and drive and notice you’re just not the go-getter you were in your twenties, you may be feeling the effects of adrenal fatigue.  Ask your doctor to test your cortisol, DHEA and thyroid levels. But if a manageable level of stress just has you down for a spell, try these natural self-help solutions first!

Find Happiness in the Little Things - Laugh

Don’t let the stress take over. Turn stress off.  Happy thoughts release endorphins with “blissful moments that can also give your well-being a boost.” We love the 5 steps to more joy from W.H. Auden of United Healthcare Services, Inc. Sometimes it’s the little things like laughter that make a big difference.

Breathe In, Stress Out

When too much energy is being exerted on the body’s response to stress, stop what you’re doing and take a breath. In fact, take several. Focusing on taking deep breaths can help take your mind off the stressors. Try some of these breathing exercises offered by Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D.

Stretch-Away Stressors

Studies have shown that practicing yoga or meditation can have great  antidepressant effects. Not only excellent for practicing breath control, yoga also helps focus the mind on various muscle groups, improves blood flow and oxygenates cells throughout the body. Stretching also clears toxins from muscle tissue. So if you’re feeling stressed-out, tell your excess cortisol to hit the road with a yoga posture, or just move around and stretch.

Find Balance with DHEA

The body’s most abundant naturally occurring pro-hormone, DHEA, is crucial to counterbalance cortisol levels. Unfortunately, DHEA gradually decreases after age 25, while cortisol levels steadily increase as we age. When the DHEA to cortisol ratio is 10:1, a healthier balance is found. DHEA is the only thing that counterbalances the negative effects of cortisol. Think of Twist 25 DHEA cream as yet another natural stress management solution. So maintain DHEA levels to feel and look your best and help reduce the negative effects cortisol can have.

More Natural Solutions

Erin Chamerlik, of Get Better Wellness Inc., offers some great ideas about stress management on her blog, noting, “the body can perceive stress from food and environmental toxins, nutrient deficiencies, and lack of appropriate sleep ...” She supports the idea of using bioidentical DHEA cream, and also suggests vitamin supplements, and herbal oils that can soothe the soul, relax you, and bring joy to your senses.

So how do you de-stress? Can you share a funny video or photo ? We love to hear from you!

Natural Tips for Healthier Hair

Hats Off to Martie!

We’d like to thank Martie Whittekin for inviting Hugh Woodward, President of Health2Go, to her show last Saturday (pictured). They talked about how DHEA cream helps the body make its own hormones naturally. Martie pointed out that the body’s’ production of some hormones, like cortisol, can wreak havoc when your body is under stress, and they discussed the relationship between DHEA and cortisol, and how DHEA counterbalances the negative effects of cortisol.  You’ll find the interview with Martie Wittekin on her Radio Martie website. It’s the  May 2, 2015 Healthy by Nature radio show.

Tips for Healthy Hair

Speaking of “hats off,” how’s your hair looking these days? Is it thinning, while your waistline is thickening? Frequently, our hair growth and thickness is an externally noticeable sign of our overall health. Most hair loss or thinning that people ages 35 and up experience is hormone related. estrogen, testosterone and thyroid levels should be maintained within normal levels to support healthy thick hair. We love what Harvard trained Dr. Sara Gottfried, M.D., has to say on the subject.

In addition to using Twist 25 Cream, also consider getting adequate Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin K2 daily There are simple natural solutions to help maintain proper hormone levels and overall health, …and hair and skin look better too:

Eat Your Veggies!

Adding more fiber to your diet, especially vegetables and fruits literally helps the body to get essential vitamins and minerals, and also eliminate excess estrogen. To really notice the beneficial effects, kick it up a notch, practice “clean eating”. Instead of reaching for packaged or fried foods, choose foods like carrots, nuts and berries as snacks, and drink good clean water instead of sodas. Eat pasture-raised organic meats {i.e., no added hormones} and make a tossed salad with lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc with many meals as possible. Season your steamed veggies and/or salads with a quick oil-vinegar-salt and pepper vinaigrette dressing or fresh lemon juice.

Use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar has been recommended by health advocates for centuries for varying uses – some proven by medical research – some not.  Just like with most things, vinegar is very safe and beneficial when used in moderation (1-2 tablespoons per day). The main substance in vinegar that explains its many folk medicine benefits is acetic acid.  Acetic acid helps to inhibit growth of some bacteria and other pathogens so it has been used as a cleaner and disinfectant, as well as a natural preservative. You may want to incorporate unfiltered organic vinegar into your diet daily by using it in food preparation such as salad dressing (1-2 tablespoons per day). Rinse your hair with vinegar to cleanse the scalp.  Its anti-microbial properties cleanse hair and scalp, leaving your hair softer and shinier too!

Sleep

Regular  deep night-time sleep helps maintain hormone levels because during deep REM sleep, usually between the hours of 2-5:00 in the morning, the body produces and processes many of the hormones it uses during waking hours. So sufficient sleep (8 hours) is not just great for the body, it’s good for your energy, mood and hair, too! According to medical research  published by Dr. E. Friess, et al, “DHEA administration induced a significant increase in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.”

DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone has been shown by medical research to have many health benefits. Please listen to videos posted by Twist 25 customers telling of their experiences.

How DHEA Boosts Sex Drive

Have you lost that loving feeling? Like many people aged 40 or older, you and your spouse may not be "feeling it" too often anymore. Sadly, this often spirals into a situation where couples become more and more distant from each other and can even become a slippery slope leading to divorce. Regular sex is, indeed, a crucial part of maintaining a strong bond with your partner, plus it’s been repeatedly shown to be beneficial for overall health and mental well-being , and feels great too! One of the wonderful benefits of using Twist 25 DHEA cream is that it helps boost both men’s and women’s sexual drive. So, as we approach Valentine’s Day, you may want to “do your heart some good” (DHEA supports cardiovascular health) and regain the feelings of love you had in your 20’s.

Counteract Sexual Declines as We Get Wiser

It's smart to be careful of products that claim to improve libido or boost sex drive. All too often, these are false promises that aren't backed up by science. To understand how DHEA can help enhance sexual drive, it is important to understand the things that cause it to decline in the first place.

Sex drive (as well as many other things) is driven by our hormones. Unfortunately, as hormone levels decline, people's libidos slow down over time. As we get older, our cognition begins to suffer, which can make us feel less connected to others. Also, our overall sense of well-being may be negatively impacted. For instance, depression becomes more and more common after age 35. Many people describe it as “just feeling blah.” These declines on the inside of our bodies are happening at the same time as things on the outside of the body make us not feel as physically attractive as we used to in our 20’s. Things like extra fat padding that seems to accumulate more quickly and easily than it used to, and muscle tone that seems to not be as shapely and firm as it used to be; and skin that’s thin, dry and papery – just not as soft and well hydrated as when we were in our 20’s. People after 40 generally start to not sleep soundly at night anymore either. They may toss and turn and sleep intermittently; but not be getting enough deep REM sleep to awaken feeling sharp, rested and alert. When combine all these things happening together starting after about age 35, it's easy to understand why couple's sex lives start suffering.

Studies Produce Evidence that DHEA Boosts Sex Drive

A year-long medical research study on DHEA and sex drive was appears in an article in Life Enhancement magazine. The results of DHEA supplementation were clearly shown to improve sex drive in women and men even though the DHEA was taken orally rather than using a bioidentical cream, which has since been shown to be the best way to use DHEA. What’s evident from the research findings is that higher DHEA levels allow women to feel mentally sharp, more focused, have softer more hydrated skin and get deeper sleep at night, so they feel rested, have energy and feeling of well-being – so naturally, when all these things are combined and you feel great on the inside and look great on the outside, sex drive comes back. Biologically, it makes perfect sense. Feel your best and look your best with Twist 25. In another study by the National Institute of Mental Health, men and women between the ages of 45 and 65 saw significant improvements in mood after taking DHEA daily for a month. In addition to having more energy and being in a better mood, study participants also experienced improved sex drive.

So, please don’t resign yourself to a life without sex as you get older. It’s good for your health and well-being to stay sexually active. There is probably no need for prescription medications, either. Get wiser as you get older by adding Twist 25 DHEA cream to your daily routine. Be alert and sharp of mind, be in a better mood, stay leaner and fitter, have nice soft skin, better cardiovascular health, and more. It is all the little things we do in life combined that make a big difference.

When choosing the right DHEA cream, be sure to choose a pharmaceutical grade bioidentical cream made from only top quality ingredients. Twist 25 is the best bioidentical DHEA cream available - tested to be safe and effective. Use Twist 25 cream morning and evening every day. Make your own hormones to feel your best and look your best.

Getting Stronger and Leaner with DHEA

Who doesn't want to be stronger and leaner? Most of us would be thrilled to lose weight and get into better shape, but it often feels like even the strictest diet and exercise regimens simply don't work. It's little wonder that people just can’t seem to find the time or “don’t feel like” going to the gym. Over age 35, it gets even harder to get motivated to exercise because hormone levels decline, so there is a subsequent lack of energy and drive. Many people drink energy drinks that can have detrimental effects on blood pressure over time or drink protein shakes to help build muscle. If you’re over 35, there is another more common sense approach that works better than any of these other things: DHEA.

DHEA

People often think of DHEA as an anti-aging supplement. But wait, what is “anti-aging?” Anti-aging is maintaining your health. Nothing can turn back the hands of time, but healthy lifestyle behaviors each day may help maintain things closer to when we were “at our best” or “in our prime.” Most people are at their healthiest, or physically fittest with regard to muscle tone and low muscle to fat ratio at about age 25. This is when we make the most DHEA, an important pro-hormone precursor for some 50 smaller carbon chain molecules we call hormones.

According to studies performed, DHEA helps people work out and get results. One study conducted with older women focused on improvements in leg strength, but DHEA helps many younger women and men, too, get more shapely muscle when they maintain higher DHEA levels, and allows them to push workout results to the next level. In a 10-month study by researchers at Washington University, men and women over the age of 65 were found to have less visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat if they supplemented their DHEA level compared to those who did not. Furthermore, recovery after workouts improves because DHEA helps to counterbalance negative effects of inflammation and cortisol production during recovery.

DHEA helps people to build shapely muscle tone, lose fat while doing so and thus notice improved results from exercise. Indeed, participants in the study saw significant results after using DHEA consistently. Results are even better when DHEA is used properly as a daily skin cream rather than as a pill. People find that Twist 25 DHEA cream combined with 30-60 minutes of exercise each day is the secret weapon they needed to get on track again.

As we’ve discussed before, one of the reasons people gain nice shapely muscle and lose weight is that using Twist 25 cream builds on itself. When people use Twist 25 DHEA cream they feel more rested and have more energy and focus so they go to the gym. Going to the gym and being more active during the day helps them sleep better at night, which in turn gives them more energy to go the gym. The incentive is more attractive, too, because results are more readily felt and visible from the effort. Over days, then weeks, then months, this healthy cycle keeps perpetuating itself, helping the body gain shapely toned muscle and lose unwanted abdominal fat.

You Still Need to Work Out

As exciting as the results of this study and other studies may be, there is one significant caveat: DHEA alone is not going to magically make your muscles bigger or stronger, or all of a sudden make you all skinny, lean, fit and trim. Sorry, but to improve your physique, strength and muscle tone or lose abdominal fat, people still have to exercise and eat right. Here's the good news though: The time you spend at the gym exercising will yield noticeable results, including faster recovery after workouts, visible improvements in muscle tone, less fat, better sleep at night more energy during the day.

Remember, it’s all the little things we do each day that combine to make a big difference in time. 

With so many advantages for health and appearance and lack of any dangerous side effects, it is easy to understand why so many people make Twist 25 DHEA cream a must in their daily routine. If you're 35 or up and into staying physically fit, and want noticeable workout results, using Twist 25 bioidentical DHEA cream is well worth your while. Try it. Feel the difference.

How DHEA Supports the Immune System

Did you know that in January 2015 the CDC is reporting widespread influenza infections in 47 out of 50 states in the USA.?

So what can you do to stay healthy and not be as vulnerable to getting the flu or a winter cold like so many around us? Use a daily skin cream called Twist 25. Why? Science shows that DHEA increases both the number of and the activity of natural killer cells. Like many people, you've probably already read about some health benefits of DHEA; Right? DHEA is a prohormone that’s metabolized in the adrenal glands, gonads, and dermis - the skin. 

By the age of 35 or so, levels of DHEA production begin to decline, so many body functions begin to not work quite as well as they used to. If you’re 35 or more, there are probably a few little differences in how fit you are, or how mentally sharp you are, or maybe you just don’t sleep soundly at night anymore. By using DHEA supplement cream, you can maintain levels of this crucial hormone precursor to enjoy a variety of health benefits to stave off these problems (and keep you looking younger, too).

Did you know, that DHEA cream supports the immune system too? In fact, this has been demonstrated in numerous medical research studies. This is yet another reason to use DHEA cream every day, especially with major flu outbreaks in 47 out of 50 states in the USA. (By the way Twist 25 DHEA cream is made and sold only in the USA) 

Medical Research Studies Show DHEA Supports Immune Response

There are a great number of medical research studies showing that DHEA helps improve immune function because DHEA increases the number of immune helper cells and significantly decreases the number of immune suppressor cells.  One study in particular has garnered a lot of attention in the medical community. Nine healthy, elderly men were given 50mg of DHEA every day over a period of 20 weeks. Researchers noted that the supplementation appeared to increase the activation of lymphocytes, which are cells that kills viruses and even the abnormal cells that are susceptible to becoming cancerous. They also noticed that T-cell function increased, which also helps to boost the immune system.

The Healing and Protecting Qualities of DHEA

In studies involving laboratory animals, researchers have also noticed that DHEA supplementation appears to restore cytokines to youthful levels. These are immune chemicals that aid in healing and protecting cells throughout the body. It makes sense that a hormone that helps the body fight aging would also support healthy immune function, and this is further evidence that DHEA can, indeed, help the body stay healthier, stronger and less susceptible to illness. We’re looking forward to seeing additional research on this subject to further illuminate the immune system benefits of DHEA supplementation, but so far, the results have been very encouraging indeed.

Stay Healthy with DHEA

No one likes being sick. We all know it’s important to get adequate sleep at night, drink plenty of water and eat right to stay healthy; and many folks also take supplements like vitamin C, zinc and/or other multi- vitamins to avoid getting sick and support  a strong immune system. Now you can add another important thing to maintain health: Twist 25 DHEA cream. If you already use it for its many great health advantages – Great, keep doing so. If you haven’t already used it, it's time to start. There is a major flu outbreak in 47 out of 50 sates right now! 

Five Tips for Making and Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions

The New Year is here! Like many people, you’re probably still remembering all those ideas for great resolutions that shot through your head on New Year’s Eve. Well now it’s time to stick with this time around. If you're ready to make a few changes and really want to make them stick, keep these five tips in mind to help you succeed with your New Year's resolutions:

1. Stick with a Manageable Number - When it comes to New Year's resolutions, quality trumps quantity. If you try to tackle too many things, you'll overextend yourself and are more likely to drop them all entirely. Try limiting yourself to just one or two. After all, you can take on new at least 2 new challenges in 2015; right?
2. Choose Something You Really Want - This may seem obvious, but people sometimes make resolutions based more on what they think they should do rather than what they really want to do. What kinds of changes would you really like to put into effect for the upcoming year? As you brainstorm ideas, go down the list. Which ones really excite you? Those are the ones to focus on.
3. Be Specific - One reason resolutions often fail is because they are too vague. For instance, saying you'll start eating better is well and good, but it doesn't give you much to go on. Why not say something like, "I will stop drinking sugary soda, and drink a nice glass of water instead." or something else more specific? Instead of saying you'll take steps to look and feel better, why not make a resolution that’s specific and great for you too. Something that would make you feel like exercising more, and help you recover better after workouts, get more lean muscle tone as a result, be in a better mood, and sleep better too. Something that helps you feel great from the inside and out; hmmmm- that would be an amazing advantage wouldn’t it? Wow…it’s pretty amazing that a simple health product like bioidentical DHEA cream could do all that.
4. Tell People - Sharing your resolutions with the world shows you want to hold yourself accountable. It may feel good to post about them on social media, but it's even better to tell a few close friends or loved ones about your success and discovery. Check with them about their progress in a few weeks.  They’ll be amazed when they hear you ask them to check in about improvements they’ve noticed, too. Knowing someone else who is having the same successes makes it a lot more fun. Success is a powerful thing.
5. Get the Right Tools - No matter what your resolutions are, having the right tools to get there is definitely important. For instance, don't just say you'll exercise more — buy a gym membership. Once you’re a paying member, commit to going 3-4 times every week. Don't just say you'll take better care of your skin and apply a healthy coconut oil base cream with Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10 and DHEA — get the best DHEA cream made to help your skin look and feel younger and healthier, while also reducing your risks of cancer. A small investment on your resolution makes you more likely to stick with it.

More than anything, be kind to yourself. If you fall of the wagon, don't beat yourself up. Just get back on and keep going. Perseverance is key. With these points in mind, you're sure to find it much easier to keep your resolutions for 2015. And as a hint - Health and happiness goals are usually easier to achieve with Twist 25 DHEA cream. So do your best, use the right tools to get there and stick with it. It’s all the little things we do that make a big difference over time. Perseverance pays off.

What are your resolutions for 2015? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from you and stating your goal here will help you begin to get there. Let’s go!