How To Live a Healthier Life

People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe me? Just tune-in to any source of advertising...you're instantly bombarded with the latest diet schemes and "Hollywood" food fads.

Here in America, we have built a thriving industry trying to control our weight and treat the consequences of over-indulgence. The cost of weight loss and obesity related health care treatments is staggering...Americans alone spend around $114 billion every year! And even with all this interest in losing weight, we continue to pack on the pounds like never before...

- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese...up about eight percent from earlier estimates.

- Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or almost nine million are overweight...triple the rate in 1980!

- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese.

For Americans, modern life may be getting TOO easy. Our cushy lifestyle means we expend less energy and consequently need fewer calories to sustain our normal body weight.

Think about it for a moment...

Entertainment no longer requires energy expenditure. In fact, it's usually quite the opposite. We now entertain ourselves in the comfort of our own home while watching TV and munching on our favorite snack. Whether it's television, computers, remote controls, or automobiles, we are moving less and burning fewer calories. Common activities that were once a part of our normal routine have disappeared...activities like climbing stairs, pushing a lawn mower or walking to get somewhere.

And please do not misunderstand me...I appreciate comfortable living just as much as the next person. But, here is the problem...

With all of our modern day conveniences and "cushy" style of living we have not adjusted our caloric intake to compensate for our decreased caloric expenditure. We consume more calorie rich and nutrient deficient foods than ever before. Consider a few of the following examples comparing what we eat "today" vs the 1970's (U.S. Department of Agriculture survey):

- We are currently eating more grain products, but almost all of them are refined grains (white bread, etc.). Grain consumption has jumped 45 percent since the 1970's, from 138 pounds of grains per person per year to 200 pounds! Only 2 percent of the wheat flour is consumed as whole wheat.

- Our consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased, but only because French fries and potato chips are included as vegetables. Potato products account for almost a third of our "produce" choices.

- We're drinking less milk, but we've more than doubled our cheese intake. Cheese now outranks meat as the number one source of saturated fat in our diets.

- We've cut back on red meat, but have more than made up for the loss by increasing our intake of chicken (battered and fried), so that overall, we're eating 13 pounds more meat today than we did back in the 1970's.

- We're drinking three times more carbonated soft drinks than milk, compared to the 1970's, when milk consumption was twice that of pop.

- We use 25 percent less butter, but pour twice as much vegetable oil on our food and salads, so our total added fat intake has increased 32 percent.

- Sugar consumption has been another cause of our expanding waistlines. Sugar intake is simply off the charts. People are consuming roughly twice the amount of sugar they need each day, about 20 teaspoons on a 2000 calorie/day diet. The added sugar is found mostly in junk foods, such as pop, cake, and cookies. In 1978, the government found that sugars constituted only 11 percent of the average person's calories. Now, this number has ballooned to 16 percent for the average American adult and as much as 20 percent for American teenagers!

Unfortunately, it would seem that the days of wholesome and nutritious family dinners are being replaced by fast food and eating on-the-run. We have gradually come to accept that it's "OK" to sacrifice healthy foods for the sake of convenience and that larger serving portions equate to better value.

It's time to recognize that we are consuming too many calories and it's time to start doing something about it! Each of us can decide TODAY that healthy eating and exercise habits WILL become a normal part of our life!

We can begin by exploring our values, thoughts and habits... slowly and deliberately weed-out the unhealthy habits and activities and start living a more productive and rewarding life. And remember, it has taken a long time to develop bad habits, so be patient as you work toward your goal!

Fitness Program Tips

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Get Healthier Life With Physical Activity

The Benefits of Physical Activity
Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help:

• Control your weight
• Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• Reduce your risk of some cancers
• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Improve your mental health and mood
• Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you're an older adult
• Increase your chances of living longer

If you're not sure about becoming active or boosting your level of physical activity because you're afraid of getting hurt, the good news is that moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like brisk walking, is generally safe for most people.

Start slowly. Cardiac events, such as a heart attack, are rare during physical activity. But the risk does go up when you suddenly become much more active than usual. For example, you can put yourself at risk if you don't usually get much physical activity and then all of a sudden do vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, like shoveling snow. That's why it's important to start slowly and gradually increase your level of activity.

If you have a chronic health condition such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease, talk with your doctor to find out if your condition limits, in any way, your ability to be active. Then, work with your doctor to come up with a physical activity plan that matches your abilities. If your condition stops you from meeting the minimum Guidelines, try to do as much as you can. What's important is that you avoid being inactive. Even 60 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity is good for you.

The bottom line is - the health benefits of physical activity far outweigh the risks of getting hurt.

If you want to know more about how physical activity improves your health, the section below gives more detail on what research studies have found.

Control Your Weight
Looking to get to or stay at a healthy weight? Both diet and physical activity play a critical role in controlling your weight. You gain weight when the calories you burn, including those burned during physical activity, are less than the calories you eat or drink. For more information see our section on balancing calories. When it comes to weight management, people vary greatly in how much physical activity they need. You may need to be more active than others to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

To maintain your weight: Work your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent mix of the two each week. Strong scientific evidence shows that physical activity can help you maintain your weight over time. However, the exact amount of physical activity needed to do this is not clear since it varies greatly from person to person. It's possible that you may need to do more than the equivalent of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week to maintain your weight.

To lose weight and keep it off: You will need a high amount of physical activity unless you also adjust your diet and reduce the amount of calories you're eating and drinking. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight requires both regular physical activity and a healthy eating plan. The CDC has some great tools and information about nutrition, physical activity and weight loss.

Reduce Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. But following the Guidelines and getting at least 150 minutes a week (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can put you at a lower risk for these diseases. You can reduce your risk even further with more physical activity. Regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels.

Reduce your risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which you have some combination of too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, or high blood sugar. Research shows that lower rates of these conditions are seen with 120 to 150 minutes (2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of at least moderate-intensity aerobic activity. And the more physical activity you do, the lower your risk will be.

Already have type 2 diabetes? Regular physical activity can help control your blood glucose levels. To find out more, visit Diabetes and Me.

Reduce Your Risk of Some Cancers
Being physically active lowers your risk for two types of cancer: colon and breast. Research shows that:

• Physically active people have a lower risk of colon cancer than do people who are not active.
• Physically active women have a lower risk of breast cancer than do people who are not active.

Reduce your risk of endometrial and lung cancer. Although the research is not yet final, some findings suggest that your risk of endometrial cancer and lung cancer may be lower if you get regular physical activity compared to people who are not active.

Improve your quality of life. If you are a cancer survivor, research shows that getting regular physical activity not only helps give you a better quality of life, but also improves your physical fitness.

Strengthen Your Bones and Muscles
As you age, it's important to protect your bones, joints and muscles. Not only do they support your body and help you move, but keeping bones, joints and muscles healthy can help ensure that you're able to do your daily activities and be physically active. Research shows that doing aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening physical activity of at least a moderately-intense level can slow the loss of bone density that comes with age.

Hip fracture is a serious health condition that can have life-changing negative effects, especially if you're an older adult. But research shows that people who do 120 to 300 minutes of at least moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week have a lower risk of hip fracture.

Regular physical activity helps with arthritis and other conditions affecting the joints. If you have arthritis, research shows that doing 130 to 150 (2 hours and 10 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity, low-impact aerobic activity can not only improve your ability to manage pain and do everyday tasks, but it can also make your quality of life better.

Build strong, healthy muscles. Muscle-strengthening activities can help you increase or maintain your muscle mass and strength. Slowly increasing the amount of weight and number of repetitions you do will give you even more benefits, no matter your age.

Improve Your Mental Health and Mood
Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and may help you sleep better. Research has shown that doing aerobic or a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes can give you these mental health benefits. Some scientific evidence has also shown that even lower levels of physical activity can be beneficial.

Improve Your Ability to do Daily Activities and Prevent Falls
A functional limitation is a loss of the ability to do everyday activities such as climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or playing with your grandchildren.

How does this relate to physical activity? If you're a physically active middle-aged or older adult, you have a lower risk of functional limitations than people who are inactive.

Already have trouble doing some of your everyday activities? Aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities can help improve your ability to do these types of tasks.

Are you an older adult who is at risk for falls? Research shows that doing balance and muscle-strengthening activities each week along with moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like brisk walking, can help reduce your risk of falling.

Increase Your Chances of Living Longer
Science shows that physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers. This is remarkable in two ways:

1. Only a few lifestyle choices have as large an impact on your health as physical activity. People who are physically active for about 7 hours a week have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early than those who are active for less than 30 minutes a week.
2. You don't have to do high amounts of activity or vigorous-intensity activity to reduce your risk of premature death. You can put yourself at lower risk of dying early by doing at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.

Everyone can gain the health benefits of physical activity - age, ethnicity, shape or size do not matter.

Fitness Program Tips

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Fix Your Worst Diet Habits

Ask yourself, is it worth the guilt?
By Joy Bauer

When it comes to food, the wrong habits can be disastrous. Here's how to help yourself eat better and have more energy.

Bad habit: Skipping meals

Letting yourself get too hungry is one of the worst things you can do if you're trying to lose weight. When you finally do eat, you're likely to gobble down too much. It's also much harder to make good choices if you're ravenous.

Fix it: Eat breakfast and then refuel every four to five hours. If you rarely stop once your day begins, plan what you'll eat. Consider easy options like microwaveable healthy meals, low-fat cottage cheese and fruit, or a high-fiber nutrition bar and a container of nonfat Greek yogurt. The healthy carbs and lean protein will provide long-lasting energy.

Bad habit: Eating out all the time

Restaurants are a caloric minefield. Portion sizes can be huge, and chefs often have a heavy hand with salt, fat, and sugar.

Fix it: If you can't cook at home, limit the damage. Avoid alcohol, which contains empty calories and loosens inhibitions, making it tougher to order wisely. Stick with water or have a glass of wine or a light beer if you really want a drink. Tell the waiter not to bring the bread basket, and order a salad instead. This will help curb your appetite. Ask for olive oil and vinegar on the side and go light on the oil. Next, pick a lean protein entrée, such as fish or chicken, and choose preparation methods that use little fat, such as poaching, grilling, or broiling.

Bad habit: Using food as comfort

Most people who struggle with their weight use food to help them deal with negative emotions or stress. When the food is all gone, the problem is still there, and it's been compounded by guilt over having eaten too much.

Fix it: Try labeling your feelings ("I'm sad, not hungry"), and remind yourself that eating won't solve things. Visualize how you'll feel after eating, and ask yourself if it's worth it. Then choose an alternative activity, such as calling a friend, taking a walk, or reading. Over time, these activities, not food, will be the first things you think of when you need a pick-me-up.

Bad habit: Eating when you're not hungry

Snacking even though you are full makes the pounds add up.

Fix it: The next time you're about to pop something into your mouth, assess your hunger level. If you're not truly hungry, don't eat. If you're a little peckish, allow yourself to get a bit hungrier. When you do sit down to eat, adhere to the Japanese saying hara hachi bu, which means "eat until you are 80 percent full." Chances are that in 15 to 20 minutes, you'll be perfectly satisfied.

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Posted in: Diet

The Real Secrets for Staying Young

Helpful tips to fight the aging process.

Scientists in search of the Fountain of Youth share their findings. You can try these tricks today.

“With aging, we’ve always studied things that decline,” says Changiz Geula, Ph.D., research professor of neurology at the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. But now she and other experts are looking instead to unlock the secrets of the “superaged,” those lucky individuals who seem to stay vital well into their 80s and beyond. Here’s some of their latest research, with advice on how you can add years to your life.

Stop eating so much

In Okinawa, Japan—home to some of the world’s oldest people—centenarians stop eating when they’re 80 percent full, says Dan Buettner, who studies longevity all over the planet and has written The Blue Zones: Lessons on Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest (National Geographic, 2009).

They’re onto something: Scientists at St. Louis University found that, while both exercising and eating less led to weight loss in the study’s volunteers, cutting calories also lowered production of T3, a thyroid hormone that slows metabolism. The researchers believe that lower T3 levels may also slow the aging process.

Make love

Women who enjoy sex live longer, says Mehmet Oz, M.D., professor and vice chairman of surgery at New York Presbyterian–Columbia University and co-author of YOU: Being Beautiful (Free Press, 2008). In fact, doubling your amount of satisfying sex can add up to three years to your life, he says. “Sex gives you the Zen moment you can’t find throughout the day otherwise.”

Use your brain

Dr. Geula, who has studied 80-year-olds who perform at the same level as people in their 50s on neuro­psychological tests, has found that the superaged have fewer brain tangles—deposits of protein linked to Alzheimer’s—suggesting that their brains have some sort of protection that normal brains don’t. While scientists puzzle this out, there’s a lot you can do to keep your own synapses firing. Learn Italian, take up the cello—even driving a new route to work can wake up sleepy brain cells.

Pour yourself some merlot

You’ve probably heard a lot about resveratrol, a compound in red wine and grape juice that seems to slow aging. One recent study found that resveratrol-fed mice had stronger bones and better motor coordination, and showed fewer “old age” problems like heart disease, inflammation, and cataracts. The jury is still out on whether resveratrol has the same effect on humans, but nutritionists say drinking red wine in moderation does have heart-healthy benefits.

Lose the muffin top

In one large study published last year, researchers who tracked 6,583 people for more than 30 years found that having significant belly fat in midlife can nearly triple your risk of dementia.

Eat more plants

In his study of centenarians, Buettner found the longest-living people tend to eat less meat and more beans, soy, and nuts.

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Posted in: Exercise,Fitness

Fitness Fads: The Weirdest, Coolest and Craziest Workouts from 1940 to Today

From Jack LaLanne to Jane Fonda, see which wacky workouts for women were nothing more than a fitness fad—and which have serious staying power.

1940s=No workouts for women

Guess what women’s fitness trend swept the nation in the 1940s. Um, nothing. Not a workout in sight. It's not surprising when you consider that in the '40s, many experts were still telling women that exercise could damage the uterus, according to Fitness for Dummies. Prenatal yoga and mommy-and-me classes have come a long way since then, huh?

1950s=Jack LaLanne's Glamour Stretcher

Right around the time that the federal government was getting serious about exercise (the President's Council on Youth Fitness was formed in 1956), Jack LaLanne was hosting "The Jack LaLanne Show"—one of the longest-running health-and-fitness shows in history, which went on the air in 1951. Eight years later, LaLanne developed the Glamour Stretcher. It was the first elastic band used for resistance training, though LaLanne may not have called it that. Marketed toward women, it was sold with a record called "Glamour Stretcher Time" that promised women a "lovelier, more exciting figure."

1960s=Vibrating belts

A vibrating belt that claims to "melt your fat away" sounds ridiculous now, right? In the '60s, the belts were a mainstay in women's spas and health clubs. It was thought that the jiggling would disrupt and melt away the fat. Joke all you want, but infomercials today have touted similar products—and most are still reportedly ineffective.

1970s=Roller skating

With the advent of polyurethane wheels that made gliding easier, roller skating made a huge comeback in the '70s. Olivia Newton-John appeared in her red and white skates on the cover of a July 1979 issue of People. She told the magazine, "Skating keeps my legs in shape."

1980s=Aerobics

Oh, the '80s … the era of neon, leg warmers, big hair and, of course, aerobics. Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., actually coined the term in 1968, but it was workout diva Jane Fonda who really propelled the craze in 1981 with her first exercise video and book. Fonda's leggings-and-leotard look may have faded (thankfully) along with the era's big bangs, but you can still find classes and DVDs that focus on similar moves.

1990s=boot-camp classes

Taking a cue from basic training, the boot-camp fitness classes that sprang up in the '90s offered intense tough-love motivation, often run by ex-military instructors. According to The Gym Survival Guide by Gregg Cook and Fatima D'Almeida-Cook, "The military aspect of this class stems from the idea of going through a chain of exercises strung together with little to no rest in between, as well as the idea of working in a team and fostering the spirit of camaraderie." Wearing camouflage not required.

2000s=Strip aerobics

Strip aerobics. Pole dancing. Sexercise. Whatever you call it, you've heard about it, you've seen it—you've probably even tried it. You can thank celebrity trainer Jeff Costa for jump-starting the movement. In 2001, he created Cardio Striptease for Crunch Gym. Carmen Electra liked it so much that she started her own collection of workout DVDs called "Aerobic Striptease." Pole dancing was a natural offshoot of the movement, and Sheila Kelley founded the S Factor workout, a combination of yoga, ballet, striptease and, naturally, pole dancing.

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Posted in: Exercise,Fitness

Shrug Off Shoulder Pain

By Emily Sohn, Prevention

Prevention

You walk for your knees, stretch for your back, and lift weights for your bones. But what about your shoulders?

Too often ignored, the complex joints require at least as much attention as your body's other high-maintenance areas: Shoulder pain accounts for 16 percent of all reported muscle and joint pain, second only to lower-back discomfort. The potential causes are myriad, from fraying cartilage and inflamed bursa to more serious tears in the rotator cuff, a juncture of four tendons at the top of the shoulder that help it rotate smoothly and keep it stable. Arthritis, pinched nerves, and a general tightening of the joint called frozen shoulder can also make daily activities—even washing your hair or brushing your teeth—difficult.

If you suffer an acute injury and have a full tear of your rotator cuff, surgery may be the option that offers the best chance for a complete recovery.

But if your pain develops gradually and without injury, you're better off initially trying rehabilitation and non-operative treatments. "The vast majority of women with shoulder pain don't require surgery," says Joseph Zuckerman, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases. Research shows that about two-thirds of patients with moderate shoulder pain can eliminate their discomfort without it. Here are some tips and a 15-minute exercise plan that will keep you swimming, golfing, and playing catch with your grandkids for decades to come.

Strength moves

At a glance

What you need: An exercise bench, an exercise ball, or a bed and light weights (1 to 4 pounds). You can also use cans of food, or filled small water bottles. Tip: Light weights best target the many small muscles around the rotator cuff.

What to do: Aim for three sets of 10 to 12 reps, once a day, three times a week, on nonconsecutive days. (If you can't do that many reps even with no weight, do what you can.) Do one set of each exercise before moving on to the second set. Start with no weight, then gradually add 1 pound every week or two, working up to 4 pounds over a six- to eight-week period.

Tip: Don't concentrate only on the lifting phase of the exercises; it's the lowering motion that best strengthens the rotator cuff. Do the exercise slowly, keeping the pace uniform in each direction.

Option: The exercises that follow can be done while standing if you don't have a bench. Make sure you bend over at the hips so that your torso is parallel to the floor. Bend your knees slightly and support yourself by placing one hand on your thigh as you work the opposite arm to minimize strain on your lower back.

The "I" flex

Hold a weight in right hand. Lie facedown on exercise bench, exercise ball, or bed with right arm hanging down, palm facing in. (If you have a bench, you can work both arms together for any of these moves.) Keeping elbow straight, slowly raise weight forward until arm is level with body, thumb toward ceiling. (If you imagine that your head is at 12 o'clock and your feet at 6 o'clock, your right hand should point to 1 o'clock.)

If you feel pain, don't lift as high, staying within a comfortable range of motion. Your shoulder will still benefit, and you can expand your range as your shoulder strengthens and feels better over the next few weeks.

Lower slowly. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides and repeat sequence with left arm rising to the 11 o'clock position.

The "T" move

In same start position and with same weight, turn palm forward and raise one arm at a time to 3 o'clock on right and 9 o'clock on left, thumb toward ceiling. (If done simultaneously, your body would form a T.)

The "Y" move

Next, raise arm to side, slightly in front of you. Do one arm at a time, bringing right arm to 2 o'clock and left to 10 o'clock.

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Posted in: Pain Management

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

'Non-surgical' doesn't always mean safe. Why these nine procedures and drugs could leave you disappointed—or worse.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

Botox breast lift

By Maggie Koerth-Baker for MSN Health & Fitness

Why do it: In spring 2008, high-profile New York dermatologist Patricia Wexler, M.D., began touting a new way to use Botox. Wexler claimed in interviews that by injecting the drug into the pectoralis minor chest muscle to temporarily paralyze it, she could make back muscles called rhomboids pick up the slack, so to speak. She said this forces the patient to stand up straighter, which in turn essentially gives the breasts a surgery-free "lift."
The problems: "It's nonsense. Worse, it's dangerous nonsense," says Michael McGuire, M.D., president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He and Patrick McMenamin, M.D., president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, agree that Wexler's procedure wouldn't work. And both doctors say injecting anything into the pectoralis minor is dangerous. Hidden beneath larger muscles and very thin, the pectoralis minor sits on top of the rib cage. On false move, and the needle could puncture a lung. McGuire and McMenamin also worry about whether paralyzing the pectoralis minor would make breathing more difficult, and whether the amount of Botox needed could reach dangerous levels.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

"Doctor fish" manicures and pedicures

Why do them: "Doctor fish," also known as garra rufa, love to eat dead human skin cells, which they suck off of the body, revealing fresh skin underneath. The fish have made a splash in Europe and Asia, where they're used for pedicures and to treat the symptoms of psoriasis, and are now becoming trendy stateside.
The problems: Living creatures are hard to sanitize. At least three states—Washington, New Hampshire and Texas—have issued regulations against doctor fish, saying there's no way to guarantee the fish are clean. Martin Grassberger, M.D., who's researched garra rufa at the Medical University of Vienna, says there's another concern. Some spas use a different species of fish called the chinchin, which feeds more aggressively than garra rufa. Chinchin can draw blood and spread disease, particularly in communal pools where blood-borne illnesses like hepatitis B can be passed by fish or through water to open wounds. If you try a fish spa, Grassberger says, make sure you get a private, sanitized basin of water and that the spa uses only garra rufa fish.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

Waxing

Why do it: Waxing yanks unwanted body hair out by the roots. It's faster than tweezing and lasts longer than shaving.
The problem: First off, burns from hot wax can be severe and are more common than you might think, according to the medical journal Burns. Waxing also leaves your body vulnerable to infection. In fact, the FDA advises people with weakened immune systems to avoid waxing entirely. Anyone using wrinkle creams or acne treatments that contain retinol should also rethink waxing. Retinol can make skin so sensitive that there's a risk of it peeling off along with the hair. But the biggest worry is topical skin-numbing cream, often used to make waxing and laser hair removal less painful. The FDA says drugs in the cream can end up in your blood. Use too much of it, or a cream that contains too high a concentration of the numbing ingredients, and the results can be life-threatening or even fatal. It's best to avoid numbing cream altogether, but if you do use it, the FDA says to choose a cream they've approved as safe, to use as little of the cream with the lowest amount of active ingredient as you can. The FDA also recommends leaving the skin uncovered (don't cover the treated area with plastic wrap or other dressing), and says to pick the correct cream with your doctor's help—not that of your hair stylist or spa technician.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

Eyelash-thickening drops

Why use them: Newly approved by the FDA, the drug Latisse promises thicker eyelashes. Latisse is actually a lower-dose version of Lumigan, a drug that's been used to treat glaucoma since 2001. Longer, thicker lashes were a surprising side-effect for those patients.
The problem: Itching and redness may hamper your ability to make the most of those newly lush lashes. In addition, Latisse may darken the skin on your eyelids or turn irises brown—permanently—not good news for anyone who really values their baby-blues. And, like with many drugs, Latisse may not be a good choice for pregnant or nursing women. The National Institutes of Health reports the active ingredient in Latisse is associated with low birth weights and miscarriage in studies on mice and rats. While this doesn't necessarily mean Latisse is dangerous for human fetuses, there haven't been any good studies so far. Fact is, we just don't know right now whether Latisse is safe for pregnant women or not.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

UV-activated teeth whitening

Why get it: Who doesn't want a mouth full of gleaming, pearly whites? Most whitening methods rely on hydrogen peroxide solutions, but some companies claim the hydrogen peroxide works better and faster when combined with UV lamps.
The problem: New research shows UV lamps don't boost the bleaching process, and even worse, can be dangerous. In February 2009, research published in the online version of the Journal of Prosthodontics showed no difference between teeth whitened with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and light or heat lamps, and those whitened with the solution alone. A January 2009 study in the British journal Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences went further. Not only does light-activation not work, the article reported, but it also exposes users to startlingly high levels of cancer-causing UV radiation. One lamp the team tested gave a dose four times as high as what you'd get from sunbathing for a full afternoon in midsummer.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

Permanent makeup

Why get it: Eyeliner, lip and brow color tattooed onto your skin can be a permanent solution for women who want the look of makeup all the time.
The problem: Colored tattoo ink isn't necessarily designed with the human body in mind. In fact, the FDA hasn't approved any tattoo inks, and many of the colored inks used for permanent makeup are the same as those used in the automotive and printing industries. The FDA has received numerous reports of allergic reactions in women who received makeup tattoos. These tattoos are also notoriously difficult to remove, even with newer technologies. If you decide later that you'd prefer a different color or no makeup at all, you could easily face multiple painful laser treatments and no guarantee of completely removing the pigment.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

Chemical peels

Why get one: Chemical peels, usually creams or serums containing mild fruit acid, can remove dead skin cells and help clear up acne, according to the Mayo Clinic. Peels can also encourage the growth of new, younger-looking skin cells.
The problem: Most chemical peels have relatively mild side effects, including a risk of oddly colored, patchy skin in women who are taking birth control pills; redness, scaling and blisters for those with sensitive skin; and the possibility of triggering previously dormant cold sores. The real danger comes from at-home peels purchased online, which have been known to cause painful, scarring burns. The problem is in the concentration. Most effective over-the-counter alpha-hydroxy acid creams contain about 8 percent concentration of alpha-hydroxy acids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. But you can buy AHA cream online, without a prescription, in concentrations as high as 60 percent. That strength shouldn't ever be used outside a doctor's office and can be dangerous, particularly if you're used to the 8 percent cream and didn't realize you were buying something so strong.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

Brava breast enhancement

Why have it: Introduced in 1999, Brava is a breast enhancement system that claims to help make breasts an entire cup size larger without surgery. The appeal pretty much speaks for itself.
The problem: According to clinical trials, Brava works, but the process is time consuming and rife with side effects. And the results will never be as dramatic as surgical implants. Brava is a set of plastic domes hooked up to a small vacuum pump. The domes are placed over the breasts, with the suction turned on, for 10 hours every day over for at least 10 weeks. If you miss a day, you have to add an extra one; some women report getting rashes and blisters from the long process. The good news is that women who use Brava do, on average, gain a cup size. But it won't work as well on women with extremely small breasts, or for those who have a low body-mass index. Some women have also been disappointed with the final results because temporary swelling can initially make it appear that Brava is working better than it really is. Ingrid Schlenz, M.D., a Medical University of Vienna researcher who has studied Brava, cautions that women who try the system need to be aware that final results don't match the initial ones.

Nine Cosmetic Treatments to Rethink

Thermage

Why use it: Approved by the FDA in 2002, Thermage uses heat generated by radio waves to give patients tighter, more taught skin; it's often promoted as a "non-surgical facelift." Oprah first championed the procedure, which is also known as ThermaCool, in 2003.
The problem: The episodes of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that touted the treatment aren't forthcoming about its potential side effects or effectiveness, according to a New York Times article from 2006. And Thermage doesn't really function as a face-lift substitute. While it can reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and acne scars, it's not likely to tighten jowls—patients who go in expecting a miracle probably will be disappointed. And while side effects are rare, doctors say they often get glossed over in breathless media reports. Thermage treatments can burn the skin, particularly if a doctor uses a higher setting in pursuit of grander results. The machine can also "melt" the fat under your skin, leaving you with scars, dents and grooves on your face. Neither complication is very common, but both happen often enough that doctors say potential patients need to be more aware of the risks.

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Posted in: Beauty,Skin Care