Cellulite and the Sauna

Saunas are one of the most enjoyable ways I discovered to detox my body and help reduce the formation of cellulite, which is a condition of toxicity as much as it is fat accumulation. The skin is the body's largest organ and one of the primary routes for detoxification. During a sauna, toxins are eliminated through the skin as an element of perspiration.

Something every woman should know about cellulite: cellulite develops from toxins that are trapped in the layers of skin tissue. If you're trying to lose cellulite, exercise will help somewhat, but detoxification will help the most. One of the more gentle and enjoyable methods of detoxification is the sauna.

Here are a few tips for taking saunas:

Saunas require you to use your own good judgment. Over a period of time, you can build up to rather long periods in the sauna, with great results. But you need to do that gradually. When you first begin doing saunas, stay in until you begin to feel uncomfortable. Initially, this might only be five or 10 minutes. If you find yourself becoming lightheaded or nauseous, it's definitely time to quit for the day.

After you have finished your detox sauna, take a shower. End your shower with cold water, even if for only a couple of seconds. Sometimes, I go back into the sauna. I always finish with a hot shower followed by a brief cold shower.

Always drink a lot of water before entering your sauna. I can easily drink more than a quart of water in a half-hour in the sauna. Taking a good vitamin and mineral supplement is also a good idea. It helps the detoxification process that's been stimulated by sweating and makes sure that you're not losing too much potassium via perspiration. Eating a banana before you sauna can also help keep your potassium level high.

As part of the shower, wash your hair to remove toxins from your scalp. Use clean towels and then throw them into the laundry, for they are now holding some of the toxins that have come out of your body.

Saunas are not recommended for some types of people. These include pregnant women, or women who might be pregnant. There is some disagreement about whether it might be harmful in early pregnancy, but why take a chance? Saunas are not recommended for those with high blood pressure or heart disease. Still, some books say saunas are helpful because they allow blood vessels to expand, thereby improving circulation. I urge you to consult your physician if you are someone with high blood pressure or heart disease.

If you're highly toxic from a known chemical exposure, this could be an effective way to help regain your health, however, it's a good idea to be under medical supervision.

Puffy Eyes: Treatments and Home Remedies

For normal puffy eyes that is not caused by other eye conditions, there are many ways to get rid of puffy eyes. The following list is only a few of the remedies and may not work for everyone.

• Wash face with ice cold water
• Place cold cucumber slices on your eyes. It is the cold temperature that is helping rather than the product itself. The aroma, however, can be soothing and relaxing. Slice them into 1/8" discs and let them float in cool tap water for a few minutes. Shake them off well before applying to your eyes..
• NYC dermatologist Ariel Ostad, MD, says that the alkaloids in potatos help reduce redness and inflammation. Slice a cold, raw potato into thin slices and place one on each eye for 10 minutes.
• For a less messy alternative, try putting 2 metal tablespoons in the fridge and use them daily by placing the backs against your eyes.
• Hemorrhoid cream, which is meant to reduce swelling, may work well. Be careful not to get it in your eyes. (This only works if you live in Canada. Hemorrhoid creams in the U.S. are no longer made with the active ingredient that reduces swelling.)
• Moisten two tea bags in cold water, chill them in the refrigerator and place them over closed eyelids for several minutes. Like the cucumber slices, the coolness reduces circulation, but the tea actually has a slightly astringent (tissue-shrinking) effect as well.
• Try a soothing eye cream with aloe and Vitamin E, which can be applied to the eyes

Puffy Eyes: Prevention

There's a lot you can do to prevent or reduce the appearance of puffy eyes:

• Get enough sleep. If you have puffy eyes all day, it could be that you're simply not getting enough sleep, or the quality of the sleep you are getting is poor. Puffiness under the eyes is a common symptom of sleep deprivation.
• Drink more water! Most people who find that they are prone to puffy eyes are usually dehydrated. Try this over a long term period and see the results. It's very effective.
• Elevate your head when you sleep. It's not unusual to have puffy eyes upon waking. A possible explanation for this may be that when you are laying down for several hours in a horizontal position and then stand up, the fluid that was resting under your eyes is suddenly being pulled down by gravity. This swelling, however, should subside shortly. To reduce it, you can try elevating your head while sleeping so that the fluid is not as drastically drawn down when you get up.
• Reduce your salt intake. A high intake of sodium may be causing you to retain more fluid, in which case reducing the salt in your diet may produce good results (not only for your eyes, but also for your health in general).
• Snack on bananas and raisins, both of which alleviate fluid retention.
• Drink cabbage or cranberry juice. Both are diuretics, which will help you "evacuate" some excess fluid. Don't turn to caffeine as your diuretic of choice, as it can interfere with sleep and bring back the puffiness.
• Exercise to improve circulation, which will help your body move fluid through your body, rather than letting it accumulate.
• Identify allergies that are causing your puffy eyes. For allergies and puffy eyes, find out the item causing the allergic reaction and minimize its use; doctors may also provide medication in the form of shots or prescription drugs.