Try thalasso-therapy

Beauty may be skin deep but it also comes from the deep -the sea .Let's look at the properties found in seaweed ,which literally swims in marine goodness .

* A seaweed bath is a pure luxury worth indulging in .
* Famous for its relaxant properties ,brown shore seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) is an excellent as a cure for stress .
* Californian blue seaweed ( Spirula maxima ) combats fatigue and
slows down cellular ageing .

The virtues of seaweed
Seaweed plays an important role in natural beauty care .This versatile marine plant contains a high concentration of salt ,minerals ,vitamins and trace elements . Our own fluid organs ( blood .lymph ,plasma )contain properties very similar to those found in seaweeds. Among the most interesting seaweeds are Ulva undaria and Porphyra ,full of exceptional powers to combat free radicals and helpful in promoting a velvet skin ; then there is Sanguinea delestria ,rich in vitamins A and K ,and particularly effective in hydration .The regular use of seaweeds in the form of creams or masks provides a preventative and curative action against ageing for the skin .

Thalassotherapy and its role in your regime
For protecting the skin against the hazards of modern living ( stress ,pollution etc .) nothing beats a truly iodized rest .If you want to rediscover your beauty ,lissomness and ' joie de vivre ' then give yourself a thalassotherapy break . It is a completely natural cure while combines many benefit of the sea and rejuvenates both mind and body .The star of the show is seawater ,rich in trace elements (chlorine ,sodium ,magnesium ,calcium etc .),which ,in a bath , penetrates into the body through the skin .For best results the seawater should be heated to a temperature of 32 to 33 c (60 to 62 f) .If at all possible ,take two or three short cures every year - this will have the sane effect as a mini facelift .

Explore the power of water

Although not quite the same as using freshly-collected rainwater ,water therapy is nonetheless effective in replenishing thirsty skin .Clever use of mineral water will give your skin a real home cure .

Thermal springs in a bottle
Hard ,calcareous water is bad for the skin .If you have sensitive or easily irritated skin you should resort to nature for your daily skin care .Ranges of thermal and mineral waters contain trace elements ,although each water has different properties .
Natural benefits are intensified ,some time by as ten times ,by the cosmetic additives in thermal water .

>Using a mineral-water atomizer is still the best way to achieve freshness .Simply substitute for your usual toner .It can also be used after applying make-up to fix and prolong its wear .Or ,spray on any time of the day when you need to add a little freshness to your skin .
>Hold the spray about 20 cm (8in)away from your face ,spray , then leave to act for two to three minutes before drying .This is an ideal way to maintain the hydration of your skin .

Once you accept that hydration is one of the shin's most basic needs ,it should no longer seem an extravagance to give yourself a home spa.

Good use of water therapy
The best way to retain water in the cutaneous tissues remains the application of a water-therapy treatment directly onto the skin .There are nomerous formulas available and they have been produced with the express purpose of aiding the cell renewal of body and skin .Apply as you would an ordinary spray atomizer to cleanse or simply refresh the face ;then leave to dry naturally in the air ; finally blotting with a paper tissue .This will leave a protective film on the skin and feeling of total comfort .Used in the evening as a relaxant or in the morning as a toner ,water therapl is a friend to your skin.

>If you suffer from rosacea ,apply a soothing thermal or water compress directly onto your face .

* Thermal water treatments enliven the complexion .
* Water therapy also contains hydrating agents that help to counteract
dryness .
* The composition of thermal water is very close to the skin's own .

Find Out The Virtues Of Fruit

Strawberries ,apples and grapes-fruit-based cosmetics are all the rage .Face masks or creams using fruit acids are part of nature's treasure .Your skin will love you if you use them .

Multi-tasking molecules
AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids or fruit acids) have revolutionized the cosmetic industry. Extracts of apple ,sugar cane or whey are low-density moisturizers and powerful exfoliators .They play a two-pronged role ,hydrating the dry outer layer of skin whilst cleansing it and stimulating cell renewal .They are highly effective in removing the dead layer of skin and introducing a healthy new glow to your face .Studies have shown that AHAs production of collagen and can help your skin to retain its elasticity .

Using AHAs properly
Fruit acids can be found in many moisturizers .Enjoy a course of treatment lasting three months and wait a few weeks before embarking on another one .AHAs are also available in masks and give your skin an instant boost .Before you go out in the sun ,apply a total sunscreen to your face if using fruit acid products .They can make your skin more sensitive to the sun by thinning the top layer of skin .

Healthy Drinking

Maintaining a healthy balance of fluids is alwary essential ,especially when you consider that the body is make up of 80 per cent water ,but when detoxing it is particularly important to increase your intake of fluid to help cleanse the system and flush out any impurities .

Fruit juices : These can be drunk in addition to the recommended quantity of water .If buying pre-packed ,check the label that it is pure ,unsweetened juice and not the variety made up in water from fruit pulp . Better still ,if you have a juicer make your own .

Apple juice
275g(10oz) or 2 medium-sized hard apples

There is no need to peel the apple ,simply chop it up roughly and pop the pieces into the juice .Rich in vitamin C ,this is an excellent liver and kidney cleanser and assists the growth and development of a healthy nervous system.

Water : You aim must be to drink at least 1.75 litres (3 pints) of water a day .That may seem a lot and likely to cause several unscheduled visits to the loo, but after several days the body will adjust .And if drinking plain water becomes a little boring , try adding lemon ,lime ,honey or ginger to flavour it .
Herbal teas: Echinacea and fenugreek are reputedly the best.
Dandelion coffee : Available from health food shops ,this is sometimes drunk as an alternative to coffee.

Home-made fruit juices to try
If you have a juicer , you can make your own fresh juice using any of the following fruits :

• Apple
• Grapes
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Limes
• Mango

• Melon
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Strawberries
• Watermelon

Exercise and Relaxation

Exercise is the ideal way to get body system going and to increase the metabolic rate .Some exercise are better suited to the detox programme then others.

Walking
Gentle and easy ,walking stimulates the heart ,lungs ,muscles and mind .Begin with 10-15 minutes each day ,gradually building up to 30 minutes .Walk fast enough to work up slight sweat .

Swimming
Swimming works most of the major muscle groups and is an excellent aerobic exercise .Check if there are any classes at your local pool.

Cycling
This is one of the best types of exercise for building muscular endurance and toning up leg muscles .If you don't own a real bike ,the same benefits can be derived from an exercise bike - a good reason to join a local gym !

If you haven't exercised for a while :

• Don't exercise too strenuously to begin with - overtired muscles create waste products and put a strain on the lymphatic system .
• Whatever exercise you decide to do ,begin slowly and then build up gradually.
• Don't push yourself too hard.
• Try to find an exercise that frees the mind .
• Don't choose something you don't like - remember exercise should be enjoyable.

Bouncing

Bouncing on a'mini trampoline' for 5-15 minutes daily is perfect for helping to drain the lymphatic system.

Housework

It's official - a vigorous burst of housework can be as a trip to the gym ,and scrubbing the floor burns up 400 calories an hour ! So if you are concerned that your house is getting neglected while you are on the programme ,you could always integrate housework as one form of exercise .The secret is to do a job in half the time you would normally take ,putting maximum amount of effort in !

Exercise is good for you and it should also be fun .Set some time aside to enjoy an invigorating bike ride or play some favourite music and bounce on a mini trampoline in time with the rhythm.

Planning What Can Eat

By changing your eating habits and eating healthy foods regularly,your energy levels will be maintained throughout the day ,you will feel more alert and you will not be piling on extra pounds with that mid-morning chocolate bar.

The detox programme is not a diet and so you should serve yourself adequate helpings that each day should include :

• Three portions of vegetables
• Three portions of fruit
• Three portions of salad
• One portion of non-dairy yogurt ,cheese or milk
• Two portions of nuts or fish
• One portion of brown rice

The above list may seem a little daunting to you ,especially if you generally skip breakfast ,grab a quick sandwich for lunch and perhaps rustle up a shepherd's pie for supper.

The best advice when it comes to planning your daily eating schedule is to draw up some menus a week in advance so that you will know what you are eating for breakfast ,lunch and dinner on each of the days ahead .

Methods of cooking

If cooking is not your forte,then you will love the detox programme because there is practically no cooking involved ! In general ,the less food is heated ,the more nutrients it will retain .Of course ,there are exceptions ,such as fish which must be thoroughly cooked .If you prefer your vegetables slightly cooked, then avoid boiling ,slow-cooking or frying them ; use other methods ,such as stir frying ,grilling or just pop them into the microwave-these are far tastier and less likely to impair the natural the natural flavour and nutrients in the food.

While on the programme make sure each day you;

• Drink a cup of hot water containing lemon or lime juice each morning
• Drink at least 1.75 litres (3 pints) of water
• Take two liver tonics
• Take two kidney tonics
• Take a kelp supplement
• Take a multivitamin supplement for the first 15day
• Eat three meals a day
• Eat one portion of rice (preferably brown short grain)
• Eat three portions of vegetables (one of which should be raw)
• Eat three portions of fruit
• Eat three portions of fresh salad
• Eat one portion of a non-dairy product

Calorie Intake

All foods contained calories which are a measure of the amount of energy contained in that particular food .The number of calories your body requires each day largely depends on your age ,lifestyle ,etc .The general consensus is that the average woman needs approximately 1600 calories per day .If the calorie intake is reduced to lower than 1000 ,then the body is not getting enough to function properly and will begin to go into starvation mode.

Beauty's Salad

Ingredients :
1 apple
3 slices purple colour round cabbage
1 slice pineapple
1 stalk celery
1 bowel ice-cold water
2 strawberry

Seasoning :
1 bottle low-fat yoghurt
2 lemon

Method :
1 .Rinse apple ,strawberry ,pineapple and cut into small pieces .Rinse celery and round cabbage and cut into thin slices.
2 .Squeeze lemon juice .Pour half of it into cold water and then pour the other half into the low-fat yoghurt .Mix evenly.
3 .Soak pineapple ,celery ,round cabbage in the cold water for 5minutes and drain well.
4 .Place all the ingredients onto a plate and then pour in low-fat yoghurt .Ready to serve.

Functions :
Fruits are rich in fiber and vitamins .They are nature's precious product for slimming and beautification .Celery helps to make your skin more supple and elastic .It also contains iron which nourishes blood .The low-fat yoghurt used as salad dressing is not only low in calorie but also helps with bowel movement and prevent constipation.

Tofu

Tofu is a highly nutritious food that is rich in protein and minerals while low in fat .It is very low in calorie and can help to make you feel full. Tofu is also easily digestible .It is rich in trace minerals which help metabolism ,aid slimming,reduce cholesterol etc.

Honey

Honey is a natural nutrient that contain vitamin C,B,iron,potassium,sodium,calcium and other minerals. It helps to burn glucose in the body .Honey helps to kill virus, aid detoxification and lubricate your intestines.It functions to cleanse your body of impurities, burn excess fat, aid metabolism and attain slimming effect.

Kelp

Kelp is a product of the sea .It is a low-calorie dietary food .It is low in protein, fat and rich in iodine ,mannitol and and trace minerals .It helps to stimulate intestines wall and digestion,cure constipation ,reduce fat and cholesterol to attain slimming effect. Kelp functions to reduce fat and swelling .It is even recommended by doctors.

Friut Vinegar

Vinegar contain amino acid that can reduce body lipid .Drinking vinegar aid defecation ,balances your body's pH and can attain slimming effect. If you wish to drink vinegar to slim down ,it is advisable to choose natural made vinegar .There are many types of fruit vinegar with different flavour in the market such as apple cider vinegar which promotes metabolism ,reduces accumulation of lipid ,reduces cholesterol ,helps with constipation and attains slimming effects.

Green Tea

Green tea is unprocessed tea leaves .Most people like its fragrance .Processed green tea powder is readily available in the market .It is rich in vitamin C ,tea amino asid, caffeine, antioxitant etc .It can prevent cancer,skin aging ,reduce hypertension clear up heatiness, help with diabetes,enhance beauty and aid diagestion .The tea leaves by itself is not heating .Drinking green tea can reduce the accumulation of fat cells, aids defecation and reduce lipid.

Discover Trace Elements

We now know that what we eat has a definite effect on the skin ,thanks largely to trace elemment .It is therefore important to ensure you get enough trace element in the form of food or creams .

The role of trace element
Oligotherapy ,as it is called ,uses tiny amounts of mineral substances generally deriving from metals .Cosmetics experts are increasingly turning to this in the development of beauty programmes .It's a sad fact of life that we age every minute ; however ,by activating certain enzymes ,trace elements can help to suppress the cellular oxidation which causes the skin to age .Potassium is known primarily for its diuretic action but is also vita in balancing the hydrous exchanges carried out by the skin.Selenium is good for eliminating free radicals,whilst silicon is important in maintaining the skin's elasticity .Zinc is known for its valuable healing properties and antioxidants.

How to use these treatments
Our bodies are unable to produce micronutrients.So we have to absorb them in the form of food supplements or cosmetic products .The idea of combining interior health care is almost commonplace nowadays:you need only look in your local pharmacy to see the wide range of creams, lotions ,milks and gels.When using these,alwary ensure you follow the instructions carefully .
For additional anti-ageing care you can incorporate trace element with the vitamins A,C,E and B6 to act as synergy.But don't forget that one of the first principles of beauty is good nourishment.Fresh fruit and vegetable,in particular ,constitute excellent sources of trace elements .

>Choose trace elements according to your skin type.
* Oily skin:take zinc to regulate cellular activity and to control the secretion of sebum.
* Oily skin with a tendency to erupt :sulphur is good thanks to its ability to eliminate toxins.
* Tired or stretched-looking skin:take selenium to help combat cellular ageing.
> Be patient when using creams enriched with trace elements.You will need to apply them every day for a minimum of two months before you begin to see results.

KEY FACTS
* Following a health programme incorporating trace elements helps slow down the ageing process.
* Become more beautiful though your diet.
* For best results ,combine internal and external beauty care.