BENNETT BANNER • MARCH 17. 2000
Vitamins, TnTnerals may T)ietihg may be more do's than don'ts
make life easier for women
(NAPSA)- Most Belles know
Black women carry a heavy load in
life. To make our lives easier, we
need vitamins and minerals. A
new study published in Ameri
can Journal of the College of Nu
trition means good news for the
more than 80 percent of women
between the ages of 18 and 49 who
suffer with Premenstrual Syn
drome.
Nearly 40 percent of women
of childbearing age experience
PMS symptoms that are severe
enough to affect their daily rou
tines. Many of these women have
searched for years for relief from
such PMS symptoms as cramps,
water retention, mood swings and
cravings.
According to a 1998 study in
the American Journal of Obstet
rics and Gynecology, a dose of
1,200 mg of calcium per day re
sulted in a nearly 50 percent de
crease in PMS symptoms.
Among the other minerals re
viewed, magnesium had some posi
tive effects on headaches and mood
swings. Vitamin B6 also exhibits
promise in alleviating mood-re-
lated premenstrual symptoms
and vitamin E offers the poten
tial to improve emotional and
physical symptoms.
With regard to herbal supple
ments, borage seed showed no
strong evidenceof effectiveness;
however, primrose oil did show
some promise. Other herbs have
not yet been tested in well-con
trolled trials. In addition, inter
action between some herbs, such
as wild yam root, and medica
tions may cause adverse reac
tions.
Calcium, at this point, seems
to be the best choice for women
suffering from PMS. Since most
women do not consume nearly
enough calcium-rich foods in
their daily diets, some physicians
recommends that they consider
supplementing their diets to
safely obtain the recommended
level of 1,200 mg/day.
Women may wish to consult
their doctors about supplements,
like calcium, that could help al
leviate PMS symptoms. This
article contributed to by Monya
Tomlinson.
(NAPSA)- Freshwomen, are you
trying to lose that Freshman 15?
Are you just trying to fit into last
year's swimsuit? Doyoujustwant
to lose weight?
When trying to lose a few un
wanted pounds, what you do eat
may be far more important than
what you don’t
Taking a positive, proactive ap
proach and planning healthy, well-
balanced meals may improve your
odds of success, as will finding
ways to incorporate exercise into
your daily life.
By adding a few of the following
healthy habits, you may be able to
subtract a few pounds;
•Keep a journal and record what
you eat daily. Weigh yourself ev
ery morning and record it in your
journal.
•Exercise every day for at least 30
minutes. Everything active counts:
walking, jogging, gardening, mop
ping the floor, taking the stairs
instead of the elevator. Don’t
overdo it. Choose activities which
are fun, not exhausting. Frequency
and duration are more important
than intensity.
•When you do eat, eat slowly, chew
well and enjoy the full flavor of
your food. It will take at least 20
minutes for your brain to let your
stomach know you are satisfied.
•Eat only at the table, not in front
of the TV or at the kitchen counter.
•Watch out for boredom eating.
Instead drink a large glass of water
or cup of decaffeinated coffee or
tea. Stretch, walk around the block
or up and down a flight of stairs.
•Visualize yourself at your ideal
weight (maybe in your favorite
outfit, feeling self-confident and
energized).
•Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of
water a day to make you feel satis
fied and refreshed.
•Eat balanced meals and snacks-a
combination of carbohydrates, pro
tein and a little bit of fat.
•Eat a variety of vegetables, all
provide different nutrients.
•Eat whole fhiits over fruit juice.
•Choose poultry without skin, fish
and lean meat Remember that 3
oz. equals about the size of a deck
of cards.
•Use 3 egg whites instead of 1
whole egg.
•When dining out, decide what
you’ll have before you go. Re
quest low fat salad dressing on the
side and avoid sides like ft-ench
fries or onion rings.
•Consult your doctor before start
ing any weight loss or activity pro
gram. Eat at least one balanced
meal per day and not less than
1,200 calories.
To get a free menu plan for weight
loss and maintenance, check out
WWW .jenny go .com.
Nutritious meal bars can be a
convenient way to lose weight
when you’re on the go. This ar
ticle was contributed to by Monya
Tomlinson.
Beating hair blues
NAPSA)- The President's
Ball, Nubian Nuance, Black Col
lege Day at King’s Dominion, and
of course, summer are coming.
How are Belles going to deal with
their hair this season? Plan to beat
the hair blues by taking inventory
of your hair problems like split
ends, breakage, and dull hair.
Hair damage comes from cer
tain culprits, and the hair condi
tioning experts say three simple
questions can expose them:
1. Where have you been
spending your time lately?
If it’s indoors: Dry indoor air
can cause static and flyaway s. Y ou
need moisturizers that counteract
dryness and cuticle smoothers that
replenish shine.
If it’s outdoors: The sun’s UV
rays and environmental pollutants
are your greatest enemies because
they degrade the cuticle and the
hair’s inner core, encouraging
breakage. Fight back with natu
rally formulated strengtheners and
revitalizers that work from within
and contain provitamins and UV
filters that help protect color-
treated hair from fading and natu
ral hair from breaking.
2. What do you do to your
hair most often?
If you color your hair: you’ve
broken some important inner
bonds. In addition, you’ve raised
the cuticle, allowing moisture to
escape. Re-moisturize regularly
and reach for serious strengtheners
at least once a week.
If you use curling and pressing
irons: you’re sealing the cuticle
after depleting moisture. Put the
moisture back with a nourishing
formula, then seal the cuticle and
always direct air flow from your
blow dryer straight down the hair
shaft Use thermal tools at the mini
mum heat-setting necessary. If the
heat’s gotten too hot, reach for a
serious deep conditioner.
3. What Is your hair type?
If it’s fine: use products that
add volume and inner strength
without weighing hair down or
coating the cuticle.
If it’s curly: Moisture leeches
out at the crux of every curl and
your hair reflects less light, so it’s
a bit duller-looking than straight
hair. Use a light hairdressing to
add smoothness and shine.
If it’s color-treated: it’s a truly
modem type. Rely on products that
protect your color’s vibrancy while
strengthening your hair. This ar
ticle was contributed to by Monya
Tomlinson.
Are
you an
organ
& tissue
donor?
Ask your family today, and let them know your decision, too.
That way you’ll know, they’ll know, and there will be no question later.
For a free brochure, call 1-800-355-SHARE.
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