Reader Replies: “Healthy” Defined! (As Best We Can)

Last week, we discussed defining the word “healthy” in relation to food, and decided it meant … oh, wait. We didn’t decide anything. As it turns out, a universally acceptable explanation of “healthy” is really hard to pin down.

But never fear, because it’s CHG readers to the rescue. Quite a few of you guys chimed in with your ideas on “healthy,” and there were a ton of solid points not mentioned in my post. Even better, we might have stumbled over a working definition. (It’s at the end.)

But first, in seven easy-to-follow categories, in near-original form, here are your thoughts.

(Note: there were some minor edits made for length, but otherwise, reader comments were left largely untouched.)

"Healthy" is MODERATION AND BALANCE

Anonymous: Healthy = moderation. In all things. Including moderation.

Wosnes: Someone else said it: moderation in all things, including moderation. There are definitely times to be immoderate. Not every day, but some days.

Wheatlessfool: It all comes down to balance and payoff for me … sometimes, that fudgy brownie IS healthy. Just not every day, and not replacing the foods I DO need to keep me feeling my best.

jenniferocious!: There has to be balance in life and while I strive to eat a majority of my meals from recipes and foods I would qualify as healthy, I also know its okay to indulge in a bowl of mac'n'cheese or having a frou frou coffee drinks once in awhile.

Debbie: I love my mama’s homemade mac & cheese, fried pork chops and green bean casserole. … If I ate it every day, I’d die in approximately 4.2 months, because … it’s high in fat, calories. BUT. If I only eat it once or twice a year – say, for my birthday – then it’s not bad at all. It’s an indulgence.

"Healthy" is LONGTERM

Kristen@TheFrugalGirl: It's important to look at the overall diet instead of trying to make sure every. single. thing. you eat is bursting with nutrition. I eat a lot of whole grains, fresh produce, and fresh dairy, and so I don't think a little dessert every day is going to kill me.

Joy Manning: When we are assessing the relative health of our diets, we should look at a whole week or month or year of meals and consider the variety of nutrition it provides, but also the pleasure. Getting pleasure from meals is, by my definition, part of a healthy diet. Whole ingredients + time and effort cooking + a wide variety of delicious real food = healthy over time.

"Healthy" is SMART SUBSTITUTING

Rebecca: By [the] strict definition, things like macaroni and cheese may not be "healthy", but they do qualify as "healthier" than typical versions of the same dish. And besides, who wants to be perfectly virtuous all the time?

Allison: I'm always interested in making unhealthy dishes healthy or even a little healthier. For example, I substitute pureed potato for cream and butter in any "cream of" soup, swap applesauce, mashed bananas, and avocados for milk and butter in baked goods, etc. Recently, I experimented with baked green tomatoes - still not exactly "health food," but at least a healthier version of a caloric - but oh-so-yummy! - treat.

"Healthy" is UNPROCESSED FOOD

Relishments: For me, healthy food is food that's has a low or reasonable amount of sugars and fats. It's not overly processed-ideally it's something I made, not something that came out of a box.

Kristen@TheFrugalGirl: I generally think that healthy food is food that's fairly unprocessed (real yogurt vs. watermelon Gogurt, homemade granola vs. Cocoa Puffs, fresh green beans vs. the canned sort, etc).

Daniel: I use a really simple shorthand to define healthy. If it's a first-order food with little processing, it's healthy enough. If it's a second-order food, meaning a food that's packaged and processed, it's unlikely to be healthy.

April: I think fake food is a much bigger health issue than fat. Skim milk may be lower in fat than whole milk, but it is a fake food--it certainly doesn't come out of the cow that way! … One could argue that God (or evolution, if that's what you believe in) knew what He/it was doing, and doesn't need to really be improved on.

Healthy is ACTUAL FOOD

Regina Terrae: For me, healthy food is produce-focused, like you said; fresh and seasonal and varied; uses naturally-raised meat as a condiment or at least in smallish portions; simple, unprocessed, whole.

Libby: For me, healthy means that the meal contains whole grains, beans and/or nuts, lots of veggies, and no meat or dairy. its also important to me that the meal is high in fiber and has little to no saturated fat (poly and mono are fine).

Allison: I have my own definition of healthy largely based on my own health goals: lots of healthy fats, calcium, garlic, leafy greens, berries, and protein - for … maintaining good heart, skin, bone, and muscle condition.

Wosnes: My own mantra is "mostly homemade." I aim for the opposite of Sandra Lee: 70% (or more) fresh food and 30% (or less) ready made products. I think I'm at about 85/15, including condiments.

Becca: Healthy to me is whole foods or just one step away (for example, I use frozen veggies when fresh aren't in season). … That being said, I am currently providing child care for a two year old and my 6 month old, so sometimes mac and cheese from the box keeps me sane.

"Healthy" is RELATIVE

Ross: Whether a person is overweight or underweight has food allergies or medical, religious, or ethical issues the definition is vastly different. … When I was a kid in my early 20's, eating healthily meant eating a piece of fruit or a salad once a month. Now it means watching how many calories I'm taking in a day, limiting my fat intake and the like. So, even as a person progresses through life their perceptions of eating healthy change.

"Healthy" is HOLISTIC

Marcia: Healthy isn't just the contents of an individual dish. It's also the content of your diet and lifestyle.

Regina Terrae: For me, healthy diet cannot be looked at in isolation from healthy lifestyle, i.e. getting the body moving every day.

Laura: “Healthy" is so much more than what you put in your mouth. It's a whole mental/emotional state. I try to eat things that are good for me. I also eat things that are happy for me. I find I'm much healthier and happier overall that way.

AmandaLP: "Healthy" is something that nourishes my mind and my body. I don’t care if what I am eating has tons of fiber and no sugar and lots of protein, if I hate eating it, then it is not healthy for me.

So, to sum, “healthy” (in relation to food) involves: a holistic, relative approach to eating implemented over the long term that emphasizes balance and moderation, smart substitutes, and unprocessed edibles/actual food.

I don’t know about you guys, but that sounds good to me. Huge thanks to everyone who wrote in. Y'all are pretty good at this.

(Photos courtesy of Daily Mobile, Taylorshock's Weblog, and How Stuff Works.)

Reader Replies: “Healthy” Defined! (As Best We Can)

Last week, we discussed defining the word “healthy” in relation to food, and decided it meant … oh, wait. We didn’t decide anything. As it turns out, a universally acceptable explanation of “healthy” is really hard to pin down.

But never fear, because it’s CHG readers to the rescue. Quite a few of you guys chimed in with your ideas on “healthy,” and there were a ton of solid points not mentioned in my post. Even better, we might have stumbled over a working definition. (It’s at the end.)

But first, in seven easy-to-follow categories, in near-original form, here are your thoughts.

(Note: there were some minor edits made for length, but otherwise, reader comments were left largely untouched.)

"Healthy" is MODERATION AND BALANCE

Anonymous: Healthy = moderation. In all things. Including moderation.

Wosnes: Someone else said it: moderation in all things, including moderation. There are definitely times to be immoderate. Not every day, but some days.

Wheatlessfool: It all comes down to balance and payoff for me … sometimes, that fudgy brownie IS healthy. Just not every day, and not replacing the foods I DO need to keep me feeling my best.

jenniferocious!: There has to be balance in life and while I strive to eat a majority of my meals from recipes and foods I would qualify as healthy, I also know its okay to indulge in a bowl of mac'n'cheese or having a frou frou coffee drinks once in awhile.

Debbie: I love my mama’s homemade mac & cheese, fried pork chops and green bean casserole. … If I ate it every day, I’d die in approximately 4.2 months, because … it’s high in fat, calories. BUT. If I only eat it once or twice a year – say, for my birthday – then it’s not bad at all. It’s an indulgence.

"Healthy" is LONGTERM

Kristen@TheFrugalGirl: It's important to look at the overall diet instead of trying to make sure every. single. thing. you eat is bursting with nutrition. I eat a lot of whole grains, fresh produce, and fresh dairy, and so I don't think a little dessert every day is going to kill me.

Joy Manning: When we are assessing the relative health of our diets, we should look at a whole week or month or year of meals and consider the variety of nutrition it provides, but also the pleasure. Getting pleasure from meals is, by my definition, part of a healthy diet. Whole ingredients + time and effort cooking + a wide variety of delicious real food = healthy over time.

"Healthy" is SMART SUBSTITUTING

Rebecca: By [the] strict definition, things like macaroni and cheese may not be "healthy", but they do qualify as "healthier" than typical versions of the same dish. And besides, who wants to be perfectly virtuous all the time?

Allison: I'm always interested in making unhealthy dishes healthy or even a little healthier. For example, I substitute pureed potato for cream and butter in any "cream of" soup, swap applesauce, mashed bananas, and avocados for milk and butter in baked goods, etc. Recently, I experimented with baked green tomatoes - still not exactly "health food," but at least a healthier version of a caloric - but oh-so-yummy! - treat.

"Healthy" is UNPROCESSED FOOD

Relishments: For me, healthy food is food that's has a low or reasonable amount of sugars and fats. It's not overly processed-ideally it's something I made, not something that came out of a box.

Kristen@TheFrugalGirl: I generally think that healthy food is food that's fairly unprocessed (real yogurt vs. watermelon Gogurt, homemade granola vs. Cocoa Puffs, fresh green beans vs. the canned sort, etc).

Daniel: I use a really simple shorthand to define healthy. If it's a first-order food with little processing, it's healthy enough. If it's a second-order food, meaning a food that's packaged and processed, it's unlikely to be healthy.

April: I think fake food is a much bigger health issue than fat. Skim milk may be lower in fat than whole milk, but it is a fake food--it certainly doesn't come out of the cow that way! … One could argue that God (or evolution, if that's what you believe in) knew what He/it was doing, and doesn't need to really be improved on.

Healthy is ACTUAL FOOD

Regina Terrae: For me, healthy food is produce-focused, like you said; fresh and seasonal and varied; uses naturally-raised meat as a condiment or at least in smallish portions; simple, unprocessed, whole.

Libby: For me, healthy means that the meal contains whole grains, beans and/or nuts, lots of veggies, and no meat or dairy. its also important to me that the meal is high in fiber and has little to no saturated fat (poly and mono are fine).

Allison: I have my own definition of healthy largely based on my own health goals: lots of healthy fats, calcium, garlic, leafy greens, berries, and protein - for … maintaining good heart, skin, bone, and muscle condition.

Wosnes: My own mantra is "mostly homemade." I aim for the opposite of Sandra Lee: 70% (or more) fresh food and 30% (or less) ready made products. I think I'm at about 85/15, including condiments.

Becca: Healthy to me is whole foods or just one step away (for example, I use frozen veggies when fresh aren't in season). … That being said, I am currently providing child care for a two year old and my 6 month old, so sometimes mac and cheese from the box keeps me sane.

"Healthy" is RELATIVE

Ross: Whether a person is overweight or underweight has food allergies or medical, religious, or ethical issues the definition is vastly different. … When I was a kid in my early 20's, eating healthily meant eating a piece of fruit or a salad once a month. Now it means watching how many calories I'm taking in a day, limiting my fat intake and the like. So, even as a person progresses through life their perceptions of eating healthy change.

"Healthy" is HOLISTIC

Marcia: Healthy isn't just the contents of an individual dish. It's also the content of your diet and lifestyle.

Regina Terrae: For me, healthy diet cannot be looked at in isolation from healthy lifestyle, i.e. getting the body moving every day.

Laura: “Healthy" is so much more than what you put in your mouth. It's a whole mental/emotional state. I try to eat things that are good for me. I also eat things that are happy for me. I find I'm much healthier and happier overall that way.

AmandaLP: "Healthy" is something that nourishes my mind and my body. I don’t care if what I am eating has tons of fiber and no sugar and lots of protein, if I hate eating it, then it is not healthy for me.

So, to sum, “healthy” (in relation to food) involves: a holistic, relative approach to eating implemented over the long term that emphasizes balance and moderation, smart substitutes, and unprocessed edibles/actual food.

I don’t know about you guys, but that sounds good to me. Huge thanks to everyone who wrote in. Y'all are pretty good at this.

(Photos courtesy of Daily Mobile, Taylorshock's Weblog, and How Stuff Works.)

Tobacco smoke and its effect on our health

The compounds in Tobacco smoke can affect your positive health, recent studies shows us that more that 50 percentage of male who smoke tobacco dies due to illness caused by tobacco smoke and overall life expectancy of chronic smokers decreases up to 10 years that of a non smoker. Tobacco smoking can cause decease that affect lungs and heart.

• Effects of Tobacco smoke on Respiratory system.

Smocking is the major cause of Lung cancer, exposure to tobacco smoke will also result in pulmonary and respiratory tract infections both through structural damage and through effects on the immune system. Tobacco smoke also trigger common cold, bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.

• Effects of Tobacco smoke on Cardio vascular system

Tobacco smoke entering our lungs have an immediate affect on our heart, witing a minute our heart rate increases due to the inability to supply oxygen to our body. Smocking will result in narrowing of blood vessels and arteries, it will result in the increased risk of stroke, atherosclerosis, and peripheral vascular disease so chances of heart attacks are hight for a smoker than a non smoker. Some studies have shown that tobacco smoke can change our hearts shape due to the ability of tobacco smoke to influence the cell division of heart muscles. Tobacco smoke can increase the blood cholesterol level.

• Effects of Tobacco smoke on Oral health

Intake of tobacco smoke will result is Oral cancer, smoking will rest in the staining of tooth and bad breath, chances of tooth loses are hight in smokers compared to non smokers. It will also result in loss of taste.

• Tobacco smoke and cancers

Other than lung cancer and oral cancer , there are wide range of other cancers which can develope due to the intake of tobacco smoke they are lung cancer, cancer of the kidney, cancer of the larynx and head and neck, breast cancer, bladder,[esophagus, pancreas and stomach.There is some evidence suggesting an increased risk of myeloid leukemia, squamous cell sinonasal cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer after an extended latency, childhood cancers and cancers of the gall bladder, adrenal gland and small intestine.

• Tobacco Smoke and Skin ageing

Smoking Cigarettes will result in premature skin ageing, it helps the formation of free radicals in our body, free radicals are molecules that can disease and damage to cell DNA, it further result in the shrinkage of capillaries that supply blood to our skin thus preventing the skin from getting vital oxygen and nutrients . Smoking produces enzymes that block collagen ( they are vital for skin elasticity ) supply to the skin. Smoking blocks vitamin A and Vitamin C which are essential for skin protection and health, they all factors will result in wrinkled skin. Studies have shown that people who smoke regularly look 10-20 years older than non smokers.

• Other effects on health

Prolonged tobacco smoke will result in Brain shrinkage, memory loss and decline in cognitive abilities, tobacco smokers are more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease. Tobacco smokers age faster than the non smokers, their body loses the athletic abilities.

Celebrity Eyelash Extensions | Permanent Eyelash Implants

Eyelash Extensions



Having an eyelash extension procedure can improve the appearance of your eyes and create dramatic accents that need no mascara.

Permanent Eyelash Implants

What is Permanent Eyelash Implants?



Many people find that they would like to extend their eyelashes, or make them thicker and fuller. There are many techniques used in order to forward this aim. It is possible to receive semi permanent eyelash extensions, use makeup (such as mascara), or even have surgical eyelash implants. These implants amount to having new, permanent eyelashes placed on the upper eyelid. While some people really enjoy the results of this procedure, others find the thought of surgery so close to the eye and its inherent dangers too difficult to face.

Permanent eyelash implants are in reality a transplant surgery. Understand the process of eyelash implant surgery, which is done under local anesthetic. Hair, including the follicle, is removed from the back of the scalp and then transplanted into the eyelash. Generally, about 30 hair follicles are implanted into each upper lash. The whole process takes 1 to 2 hours and is done as out-patient surgery.

Maintain your lashes with regular trimming because your hair continues to grow just as it does on your head. If you have especially straight hair, you may need to curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler for a natural look. If you have curly hair, your eyelash hair may need straightening.

If you feel that you have a valid reason to get this work done, you must make sure that you understand what will be involved. It is certainly not a cheap or easy option to choose and you will feel some level of pain due to the nature of the surgery and the area that is worked on.

Eyelash implants will cause aches and pains due to the nature of inserting individual hair follicles. It will also be uncomfortable having hair taken from one part of your body to be placed in another.

For those who desire a procedure that does not include a knife, and probably costs less, semi permanent eyelash extensions are available. These extensions are adhered directly onto the lash, and produce much the same effect (or better, since the extensions have curl to them) as implants. But they are painless, and you do not have to worry about the problems that can be associated with surgery. Additionally, because they are resistant to tears, sweat, sun, and even water (such as showering or swimming), they can last more than two months with proper care.

Procedure of Eyelash Implants:

Using comfortable, computerized local anesthesia (The Wand®), the procedure is completed in less than two hours in the office/out-patient setting. Hair follicles from the back of the scalp (‘donor area’) are harvested and then implanted into the eyelid. Absorbable stitches are used to seal the donor area, which remains undetectable both during and after the healing process. Usually 24 to 40 or more lashes can be placed per eyelid during a session. The implanted follicles (like the seeds of a plant) will grow and produce hair permanently. The newly growing lashes will possess the same characteristics as scalp hair. The lashes will need to be routinely trimmed and curled. An ‘eyelash perm’ is recommended for those patients with straighter hair.



Medication for pain relief is provided as well as medication to reduce swelling. It is recommended that the patient have transportation to and from the office. Several hours after the procedure, some mild discomfort may be experienced in the donor area, as well as the eyelid. Patients are instructed in the gentle post-op care and cleansing of the eyelid and lashes. Some mild swelling and/or bruising in the eyelid area may last about 10 days. The absorbable stitches may take up to one month to dissolve completely. It is recommended that eye makeup (including mascara) be kept to an absolute minimum during the immediate post-op healing period (1 week). Some patients may require an additional session of eyelash transplantation to reach their restoration goal.

resource : Dr. Bauman

How to Maintain Eyelash Implants?

1. Step 1

Stay out of swimming pools and spas for 48 hours after you receive the eyelash implants to ensure proper bonding. Postpone taking a shower for 24 hours after the implants.

2. Step 2

Maintain lush lashes by using an eyelash brush. This keeps them smooth and helps avoid unsightly clumping.

3. Step 3

Use water-based, but not waterproof, mascara. The waterproof mascara agents might compromise the bonding causing your eyelash implants to fall out.

4. Step 4

Steer clear of oil-based beauty products including makeup, makeup remover, cleansers, soaps and skin creams, which might also compromise the bonding.

5. Step 5

Apply a sealant when the eyelash implant procedure is complete in order to maintain the strength of the bond and protect the extension from breakage. It should make your eyelash implants last even longer.

6. Step 6

Touch up the implants every two to four weeks to maintain the lustrous look.

resource: eHow

Eyelash Conditioners which help stimulate increased length and density of eyelashes. The family of chemcial compunds such as prostamides, prostaglandin analogues and related molecules have been noted to substantially improve eyelash growth when used daily. Eyelash transplantation is used permanently redistribute follicles into the eyelid--which grow so long they need to be trimmed.

Celebrity Eyelash Extensions

The hot new celebrity trend which is here to stay Semi-Permanet Eyelash Extension giving you longer, thicker and natural looking eyelashes. Eyelash extensions are worn by celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Star Jones, Paris Hilton, Gwen Stefani, Lucy Liu, Naomi Campbell, Liz Hurley to name a few.



Semi-Permanet Eyelash Extension

How long will they last?

Well, for all your time and money, an eye lash extension will only last as long as the eyelash that it is glued to lasts. Everyone’s eyelash cycle is different, but the average eyelash life is about 2 months. Of course, your life style will play a major role in the length of time you extensions last. You can shower, swim and go the spa. They can even withstand the sauna or steam room. However, daily or extensive exposure to steam or intense heat may cause the bonding agent to loosen. You may need to go back to your salon to have a few eyelashes touched up, as they may fall off or lift up.

Eyelash Extensions Procedure and Results

Want to have lasting long lashes, then opt for eyelash extensions. Learn more about the eyelash extensions procedure, how it is done and look at the result photos before and after the eyelash extensions.

Have you ever wondered how come all female celebrities have that sexy, wide-opened, big-eyes look?
Why are their lashes so long, thick, curly and frame their eyes beautifully?

The answer is simple - eyelash extensions - a new new trend in makeup.

First of all, if correctly and professionally applied, they feel and look very natural!

Eyelash extensions are glued to your own eyelashes individually; they come in different color, lengths and thickness.

Applying Eyelash Extensions



Eyelash Extensions are single synthetic lashes that are attached to each of your individual eyelashes. If correctly applied, they are practically undetectable to you or anyone else. They will add length, thickness, and fullness that can't be achieved with traditional makeup.

A nice full application of Eyelash Extensions will take any where from 1 ½ to 3 or more hours depending on your technician's skill level and experience. This is a very tedious, time consuming procedure if done correctly, but the results are definitely worth it!

Eyelash Extensions Before and After



Eyelash extensions last only for a certain period of time. To be more concise, a set of extensions will only last as the individual hairs will stay glued.

This means approximately 2 months in which you can do everything just as usual.

resource :becomegorgeous.com

EYELASH EXTENSION TIPS

Remember these important rules about your eyelash extensions:

• Do not get lashes wet for12- 24 hours
• Avoid hot steam or sauna
• Avoid running water directly on your lashes
• Do not rub your eyes
• Only use water based mascara (optional)
• If applying mascara do so from middle to tip, avoid root area
• Use water based eye makeup remover
• Do not use a mechanical eyelash curler
• Do not pull on your lashes (this may cause your natural lashes to come out prematurely)
  

Don’t use waterproof mascara, as it will dissolve the bond with lash extensions. Many lash extension artists use medical grade adhesives, which are said to be totally safe around the eye area. Eyelash extensions are said to be safe for contact lens wearers as well.