CWL Magazine Issue #20

6• Caribbean Wellness and our Foods: Getting back to our roots!

7• Going green and keeping clean 8• From Scrawny To Studly 10• The Art of Natural Science 11• Bio-Tech R&D Launched 12• Overcoming Alcohol Addiction 14• How to Eat Like a Dietician 15• I’ve Got A New Attitude 17• Making 2011 a Godly year 18• Being A Good Parent 18• Brain Teaser: What word?

20• Joel Sadler: Social Entrepreneurship in Science 23• Investing 101 with Scotia 24• Being more, Doing more & Achieving More 26• Resolutions 2011 29• Healing Music: A Caribbean Perspective

The foods that are most promoted are usually imported ones to us in the Caribbean, since more is known about them than our local foods.

Therefore, we seek out whole grain cereals and breads, fruits such as American apples, plum and grapes, and vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. How do our local foods compare?

30• 7 Steps to A Younger You By Monday 31• 5 Tips For Bonding With Her Better 32• 5 Tips For Bonding With Him Better 33• Upgrade Your Life: 12 Resolutions to Make This Year 34• Hot Topic in Health: Going Waw 35• Beauty Secrets From Around the World 37• Hosting a Wine Party 39• Home Sweet Home 40• Q&A with Nadine Notice 40• CW&L features Sharon Feanny

While a large number of a gym’s clientele are primarily concerned with fat loss, there are those who are more interested in lean mass increase.

Dr Hame Persaud is a renowned

medical professional who has established several health and dental clinics in collaboration with other doctors and providing pharmaceuticals for them in Jamaica. He is also a member of the National Indian Council in Jamaica and started the Premasat Sang Hindu Society for charity work.

Mark McDonald is a A.F.A.A certified trainer, Novice Mr Jamaica 2000, Junior Mr Jamaica 2000 and Heavyweight Mr Jamaica 2004. He is currently a trainer at Gymkhana Fitness Club.

Dr Alverston Bailey is a medical

graduate of the University of The West Indies, a member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and a certified medical review officer. He is also a family and occupational physician who practises in Falmouth, Trelawny, Jamaica. His primary research interests are diabetes; occupational hearing loss; health promotion and sexual medicine.

Paul Taylor is an academic and Assistant General Manager of Environmental Health Foundation. He has served at senior management levels in the financial services, maritime and education sectors for 15 years and holds an MBA (Dist.) and MA (Dist.) from the University of the West Indies.

Revd Dr Carlton Dennis is the pastor of Bethel Gospel Assembly in Kingston, Jamaica, and lectures at the Jamaica Theological Seminary and the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology. He is a wellsought after teacher and preacher. He has earned the following degrees: BTh (JTS, 1980) MATS (GCTS, 1983) MPhil (Drew Univ., 1990) & PhD (Drew Univ., 1995).

He is a graduate of Kingston College. He is married to Sharon and they have two sons, Alex and Shane and a daughter, Sharone.

| Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - March 2011

Issue #20 January - March 2011

Publisher Pelican Publishers Limited

Editor-in-chief Dr Henry Lowe

Editors at Large It’s 2011! We are happy to be back at it for another year, educating and entertaining you, our readers. This is a special time for us as we have listened to your feedback, discussed your comments and worked very hard to produce a magazine that is reflective of our mandate to promote healthy living while fulfillng your needs as the reader. I would say this first issue is a definite win-win! The cw&l team certainly hopes that you will enjoy the new look and also the interesting articles that we put together with you in mind. Skip to page 20 and read about the amazing success of our own Joel Sadler who has made waves internationally in the field of science and technology. We have gone all out and put together interesting and engaging features that we hope you’ll enjoy.

As the cover indicates, this is the ‘Resolutions Issue’. What does that mean for you? We want to encourage you to make this year your tipping point to success. That means taking the first step on the road to renewal or continuing on your journey with an attitude of gratitude for what’s good in your life and one of resolve for the goals you set out to achieve. By definition, a resolution represents a course of action which the individual or group sets and is determined to carry out. The idea of New Year’s resolutions has become so cliché that persons make them just for the fun of it or to fit in with colleagues and friends making different pronouncements as to their plans. What if you were to set realistic goals and consciously work towards achieving at least one or two for the year? This one act of could change your whole outlook or in some cases, something as important as your health. cw&l will be bringing you stories of real people battling with weight loss and other health issues over the course of the year. We hope that their boldness and courage will inspire you to work harder towards your own personal goals whatever they might be.

Another new and important feature is that we’ve branched out into the world of social networking! Follow us on Twitter @CW_Mag and become a fan on Pelican Publishers’ Facebook page. We look forward to your comments and feedback which we hope to include in upcoming issues.

Finally, thanks to the hardworking cw&l who continue to strive for excellence. The Environmental Health Foundation (EHF) has also played a tremendous role in the life of this publication and we look forward to their continued support and contribution. Thanks also to our loyal advertisers, we look forward to working with you in 2011 and beyond.

Mrs Janet Wilson-Lowe Mrs Venus McGregor-Lowe

EditorIal & Creative Director Latoya West

Contributors Mark Mcdonald Dr Hame Persaud Nordia Johnson Paul Taylor Magdalena Cooper-de Neuze

Revd Dr Carlton Dennis

Marketing/sales Jodi-Ann Barnes

Layout & Design Shane Dennis

Photograph Contributions Shane Dennis iStockPhoto.com

The Caribbean Wellness and Lifestyle magazine is published quarterly by Pelican Publishers Limited in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. © 2011 Pelican Publishers Limited No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers.

On behalf of all of us, here’s to health, wealth and living well!

Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - MarCH 2011 |

Physical Wellness

global demand for more herbal medicinal products in the form of nutraceuticals or supplements.

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or thousands of years, humans have suffered from various ailments, and for the same amount of time, people have tried to cure them by various means.

Cave paintings and symbolic artifacts found by archaeologists dating back to 8,000 BC suggest that the earliest humans believed in spirits and supernatural forces to deal with their ailments, and of course, in some cultures, this continues. Special individuals, like Shamen, were thought to be able to contact the spirit world and seek their help and guidance for their healing practices; these persons were possibly the first doctors. The Egyptians were thought to be the first “pharmacists” because they prepared prescriptions of ointments, potions, inhalers and pills by processing plant materials that were used to treat specific illnesses. Records show that they used many preparations including opium, cannabis, linseed oil and senna for their healing practices. Between 450 BC and 300 AD, the Greeks and Romans further developed and dominated medicine, and the Greek philosopher – Hippocrates – was noted as the Father of modern medicine.

Over the next few thousand years and up to the 1900’s, major milestones in medicine were achieved, including the discovery of the circulation system in 1628; and vaccination in 1796. Since 1900, myriad breakthroughs in therapy took place, mainly from the development of medicines from plants, and animals to a lesser extent. During the 1950’s to the 1970’s, a dramatic movement took place which saw a shift to synthetic chemicals in the development of drugs. Since the 1980’s, however, there has been a gradual return to the research and development of medicines derived from plant sources. This may, perhaps, be due to the high level of toxicity and the suspicions of the general public toward synthetic drugs, as well as a

The utilization of biochemistry in the modern era to extract medicinal components from plants has been greatly assisted by enhancements and advances in science and technology. So pronounced has been this enhancement, that complex medicinal extracts from plants, which could not have been discovered or identified, are now being done thanks to the phenomenal improvements provided by biotechnology.

Within this context, research into plant sources for medicinal products takes on added significance, and raises a level of excitement about the possibilities to be realized.

It is against this background that we give a brief overview of the current work of Dr Henry Lowe in his quest for anti-cancer drugs. In 2007, Dr Henry Lowe and his research partner, Dr Joseph Bryant of the Medical School at University of Maryland, announced the impressive discovery of anti-cancer / anti-tumour agents from extracts of Ball Moss (Old Man’s Beard), an indigenous Jamaican plant. Subsequent experiments showed that the Ball Moss isolates proved more potent than most leading anti-cancer drugs, such as Taxol, and with no noted toxicity.

(See photos below, which show the powerful anti-cancer effects of the semi-purified bioactive extracts from Ball Moss).

Although anti-cancer properties were identified against five of the major forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, Dr Lowe and his colleagues decided to focus on developing an anti-cancer drug for prostate cancer in particular, due to the high incidence of prostate cancer among Jamaican men, and men of African descent in general.

The Art of Natural Science

Not uncommon to the world of research and development, unscrupulous interests sought to benefit commercially and undeservedly from Dr Lowe’s work.

This resulted in litigation proceedings

by Dr Lowe, at great costs in the USA and Canada, which caused delays in the development of the final product.

Nonetheless, a semi-purified version of the drug has been put into a formula in the form of a nutraceutical/supplement called Alpha Prostate Formula (above), and will be introduced to the market by February 2011. This is a first step toward the development of a pure pharmaceutical anti-cancer product, which is expected to come fully on stream within three years.

The United States Government has awarded Dr Lowe a Patent for his research accomplishments to date. Like all commercial endeavours, further details of the commercial data on the nutraceutical formulation, as well as the upcoming final drug, cannot be divulged until all the necessary processes have been finalized, otherwise Dr Lowe faces the possibility of unscrupulous individuals or companies once again taking and using his intellectual property for their own purposes.

Has the future been discovered for prostate and other major types of cancer? Stay tuned to find out.

Photo showing induced tumor/cancer (left)

Treatment with Ball Moss After 7 days cancer/tumor disappeared (right)

| Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - March 2011

Bio-Tech R&D Launched

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he Bio-Tech R&D Institute was officially launched on December 2, 2010 by the Most Honourable Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica. Celebrated Caribbean scientist, Dr Lowe is joined as principal shareholder of the Institute by the Environmental Health Foundation, Dr Joseph Bryant of the University of Maryland Medical School, and Federated Pharmaceutical/Lascelles Limited.

The Institute which will operate primarily from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus is so far receiving good support from the local and international community. The event was well attended and saw several distinguished guests – diplomats; business leaders; academics – turning out to support this new and innovative venture which has positive implications for the growth and development of the not only the local scientific community but tangibles such as agriculture and the economy.

The goal for them is a healthy slice of a multi-billion dollar global nutraceuticals industry.

The Institute, will focus on the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals from various plants grown in Jamaica. It will also be introducing to Jamaica, cutting-edge biotechnology such as stem-cell research and development. Bio-Tech hopes to create a new ‘way out’ for Jamaica through science and technology and will be working closely with stakeholders, the University of the West Indies, the University of Technology, Northern Caribbean University, and the Science Research Centre, each of which will be issued, at no cost to them, with 2.5 per cent of the total shares of the institute.

One of the first plant-based natural products which the institute is slated to produce will be Alpha Prostate Formula, a nutraceutical that contains isolates, which has been shown to have powerful anti-cancer properties, particularly potent against prostate cancer.

The institute is also expected to provide training for local scientists and create entrepreneurial opportunities and to bring approximately $100 million in private-sector capital to scientific research and development in Jamaica.

1.

Honourable Bruce Golding Prime Minister (left) being greeted by Dr Henry Lowe, Executive Chairman of Bio-Tech R&D Institute Ltd (right), while Dr Kenneth Baugh, Deputy Prime Minister, looks on.

2.

Bruce Terrier, Managing Director of Lascelles Limited (left) shares plesatries with, from L-R, Her Excellency Leonora Rueda, Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica, Dr Henry Lowe and Dr Rupika Delgoda, Director of Research at the Natural Product Institute, UWI-Mona

3.

Representatives collecting shareholder certificates, from L-R: Dr Henry Lowe, Dr Percival Bahado-Singh, Dr Rupika Delgoda (UWI-Mona), Mr Bruce Terrier, Dr Joseph Bryant (University of Maryland), Ms Novelt Green (Environmental Health Foundation), Dr Herbert Thompson (Nothern Caribbean University)

4.

Chairman of the event, Professor the Honourable Errol Morrison, President of University of Technology (left), shares laugh with Distinguished Professor the Honourable Ossie Harding, President of the Senate.

Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - MarCH 2011 2011 | | Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - MarCH

Lifestyle & Entertainment

5 Tips For Bonding With Him Better

- Laura Schaefer 4. Appreciate his naturally upbeat nature

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omen have puzzled over it for years — why the heck do men do the things they do? Why do they profess their love for you one minute, then ignore you the next (say, when an Attila the Hun special turns up on TV)? Why can they not remember our birthdays? Let science explain some of these conundrums — and help you rev up your relationships!

have a smaller density of neurons in areas of the temporal lobe that deal with language processing. That’s why it’s probably a good idea to tell him directly how you’re feeling (‘I’m kind of hurt that you forgot I hate sushi’). Expecting him to infer from your hints could leave both of you scratching your heads.

1. Be patient with his memory

In fact, guys in general just aren’t as verbally adept as women are. Large parts of the cortex — the brain’s outer layer that does a big part of recognizing and using subtle language cues — are thinner in men than they are in women. A study led by Dr Godfrey Pearlson of Johns Hopkins University has shown that two areas in the frontal and temporal lobes that play an important role in language processing are significantly smaller in men.

Using MRIs, the Johns Hopkins scientists measured gray matter volumes in several brain regions in 17 females and 43 males.

Women had 23 percent more volume than men in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and 13 percent more volume than men in the superior temporal cortex. ‘Women,’ explains Dr Cahill, ‘excel in being able to come up with appropriate words, given cues.’ Men — not so much. Don’t expect him to chatter with you on dates with the skill of a girlfriend, and don’t assume he’s not interested in you if he occasionally lets the conversation lapse. Think of it this way: he’s simply basking in your moments of quiet companionship.

The hippocampus, where initial memories are formed, occupies a smaller percentage of the male brain than the female brain. If on your first date he can’t remember where you work, even though you told him all about it when you met, just remember that size matters… hippocampus size, that is.

Don’t take it personally. (Oh, and don’t be surprised when, months down the line, he has no clue you’ve just changed your hair.)

2. Don’t expect him to get hints

Have a crush on him? You may have to put it out there, because men aren’t as skilled at women at reading subtle emotional cues.

As Dr Larry Cahill of the University of California at Irvine puts it, “We have been assuming that the ways in which emotions are organized in the brain are essentially similar in men and women,” but they aren’t.

Parts of the limbic cortex, which is involved in emotional responses, are smaller in men than in women. Additionally, scientists at McMaster University have found that guys

3. Don’t take conversation lulls personally

Does he seem to be ‘up’ most of the time?

It’s not your imagination: male brains produce 52 percent more serotonin (the chemical that influences mood) than female brains, according to a study done at McGill University. And studies show that fewer men than women suffer from depression. Guys may also have an easier time rolling with life’s big stresses. If he tells you he recently lost his golden lab or suffered a job loss and doesn’t get all teary, it doesn’t mean he’s heartless; rather, he has healthy stores of serotonin in his system.

5. Don’t expect his take on your relationship history to match yours

He may be incapable of seeing your shared past the way you do. Brain images have started to show that men and women use their brains in vastly different ways. For example, women use the left part of the amygdala — the part of the brain that creates emotional reactions to events — to put memories in order by emotional strength, meaning that something emotionally important to them (like a great first date a couple of months ago) will be ordered in front of what they ate for breakfast yesterday. Men, however, use the right part of the amygdala to put memories in order.

Traditionally, the right hemisphere of the brain is associated with the central action of an event, while the left hemisphere is associated with finer details. Translation: you’ll both remember your first date, but he might not remember the color of your sweater or the light rain that was falling that night. It doesn’t mean he was checked out; it just means he’s a guy.

Laura Schaefer is the author of Man with Farm Seeks Woman with Tractor: The Best and Worst Personal Ads of All Time. Courtesy of Match.com Article photo courtesy of iStockPhoto.com

| Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - March 2011

Upgrade your life: 12 Resolutions to make this year

Just thought we’d give you a few ideas on how you can spruce up your life this year…and the word diet is nowhere to be found.

Take stock

1

ignorance will definitely cost you, so make a point of duty to read up on what is happening in the financial sector. Read the financial section of the papers and while you may not understand everything initially, if you do your research and ask questions, you will eventually.

Buy an item of clothing that’s so not you

2

maybe you’re not a stiletto kind of girl or a pink shirt kind of guy, but it’s good to actually step out of the box sometimes.

Switch your swatch-to the other wrist

3

according to New York psychologist Arlene Kagle whenever you make an adjustment to something, regardless of how small, your brain has to work a little harder and mental exercise helps to keep you sharp.

Stop apologizing already

4

don’t start off requests with preambles such as ‘it’s probably a bad time for you…’ or ‘this may be a silly thing to ask but...’

Don’t trivialize your requests or yourself.

Read one of those books your English teacher always spoke about

5

Great Expectations, Wide Sargasso Sea, Beka Lamb; the names we’re sure ring a bell. So you skipped reading them in school, well now is the time to catch up.

Give something back if you look around you it’s not hard to see that there are others who are in need. If only for an hour, volunteer at a children’s home, golden-aged home or animal shelter. Donate something to Food for the Poor, your local church or the family that lives down the street.

6

7

Renew a childhood passion did you always like to draw, write or play an instrument? Try taking it up again.

Do something you hate for someone you love

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whether it be a cricket match, a bad action movie or a visit to the in-laws; suck it up every once in a while.

‘My New Year’s resolution is simply to pay better attention to my diet. More specifically, I intend to stop skipping breakfast, and make a concerted effort to consume only foods that serve a positive purpose to my body.’

Latoya Aquart Project Manager

Add some colour to your life

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vivid colours can boost your mood, so go ahead and paint a wall somewhere a happy yellow or energetic red.

Stop why-ning

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why don’t I have a better boyfriend? Why does my job suck? A better question: ‘How?’ How do I get a better job, a better boyfriend?

Find a bra that fits

11

chances are, right now the bra you’re wearing does not fit you properly. In order to prevent cups that runneth over and underwires that dig, get measured by a professional or try an online bra size calculator at www.balicompany.com.

Learn to say no

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you will not always be able to grant every request or perform every task. Put your tongue against the back of your top teeth, make an oval shape with your mouth and let go.

‘This year I am actively seeking novelty, richness and diversity in my experiences. It has already started so I am hoping it continues.

I am also working for balance, substance and some excitement for my relationships. My wish for 2011 is good health for all and that everyone will live good and take care of each other.’

Tanesha Samuels Project Officer

Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - MarCH 2011 |

Lifestyle & Entertainment

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any persons in the Caribbean and worldwide, have begun to eat raw foods – some persons would say it’s the latest fad while others are swearing by its health benefits.

The ‘raw’ lifestyle is essentially the consumption of only or mainly raw foods, that is, food which is neither processed nor cooked; usually, this would form at least three-quarters of the overall diet.

The stricter a raw diet is, the higher the proportion of raw foods it must contain; correspondingly, it is believed that this increases the health benefits of such a diet.

Communities of raw foodists exist today, much in the same way that vegetarian groups, for example, share their common diet choice.

They believe that going on a raw food diet not only promotes good health, but also helps in weight loss, disease prevention, and even the curing and alleviation of many dangerous illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Some proponents of the raw food lifestyle have argued that a diet containing only raw fruits and vegetables is the ideal human diet.

Besides these foods, other raw foods include nuts, seeds, sprouts and juices.

CW&L spoke to lecturer and researcher, Dr Kadamawe K’Nife of the Office of Social Entrepreneurship, University of the what proportion of raw foods you incorporate into your diet.

You must get a juicer.

This is an essential part of the raw kitchen. You can juice just about any soft fruit or vegetable.

Certain foods such as wheatgrass need to be juiced in order to break down the fibre and cellulose, making digestion much easier.

You don’t have to be 100% raw to experience benefits.

A 100 per cent raw food diet is neither practical nor healthy for many. As with everything else in life, balance is necessary. It is up to you to decide

Raw food can increase mental awareness.

A study of raw food volunteers concluded that people who have been on a raw foods diet for two years or more experienced significant improvements on many emotional, mental, and spiritual levels.

Dining out doesn’t always mean ordering the salad.

Increasingly restaurants are becoming accustomed to serving a ‘raw’ option on the menu. If in doubt call ahead to see if the chef is ‘raw friendly’.

Hot Topic in Health: Going Raw

West Indies, Mona who is a practicing raw foodist. Dr K’Nife was quick to point out that eating raw foods should not be seen as a means to an end in the case of weight loss but in a more wholesome way, that of healthy and whole living. He embraced this lifestyle as a member of the Rastafarian community, a group that believes in the strong connection between all living things and the preservation of life. Hence, it was an easy decision for him. From a practical standpoint Dr K’Nife highlighted the economic benefits of eating raw and attested to the personal savings from going natural. He believes that it is even easier for persons living in rural communities to access several ‘live’ food sources around them. On the other hand he addressed some the concerns that exist such as deficiencies one may suffer from eating raw but believes that it is all a matter of knowledge and education.

Some raw foodists who enter into the lifestyle without the proper knowledge may encounter B12 deficiency issues but this is easily corrected by natural sources such as sea salt and wheatgerm according to Dr K’Nife.

So what’s your take? Does a raw food lifestyle make sense and is it safe? If you’re thinking about making this bold lifestyle change, CW&L gives you ten things you need to know about eating raw.

Raw honey can improve athletic performance and heal wounds.

The antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey have been known for centuries – going way back to the Greeks and Romans. Honey is not considered a vegan product.

Raw foods provide organic skin care.

Clear natural skin, reduction in acne, organic raw foods provide hydration and essential nutrients.

10 | Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - March 2011

Eating raw food can help you lose weight.

A raw food diet is an excellent way to lose weight. Cutting out meat, dairy, processed and cooked foods will inevitably lower your calorie intake but watch out for high fat foods such as avocados and nuts.

Raw food is not a religion.

There are many ‘gurus’ who claim that their dietary teachings will lead you to a path of enlightenment or elevated spirituality.

Think of a raw food diet as a lifestyle choice not a dogmatic set of rules or moral principles.

Combine a raw food diet with regular exercise.

Just because you eat raw, it doesn’t mean you will get super healthy automatically.

A suitable exercise program is needed to enjoy all the benefits of a healthy diet.

Uncooked is not always best.

Some foods actually exhibit higher levels of nutrients when subjected to cooking.

Conservative cooking such as steaming or boiling causes only modest loss of some nutrients, such as folate, while enhancing the bio-availability of others, such as carotenoids and lycopene.

Beauty Secrets From Around the World

I

f you were to travel to certain countries you would be amazed at the gorgeous, healthy, glowing skin the women there possess. You may want to think it’s just all those hours of flying that did a number on your complexion, but the truth is these women have been utilizing natural methods to take care of their skin for centuries and it works! So put down your passport, but be prepared to go on

an exotic journey.

Japan - The allure: flawless porcelain complexion | Secret ingredients: rice and seaweed Back in the olden days, rice bran was used as a substitute for soap. The entire body, including the face, would be soaked and scrubbed with it. In addition to getting rid of the dead skin on the surface, rice bran oil is rich in vitamin e and other skin brightening antioxidants. Seaweed is also another long used beauty aid. Thoroughly soak in water to get out the salt then place in a pan with about 16 ounces of water and cook at low heat for about 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a blender to make a creamy paste and add a teaspoon of lemon juice once it cools, before applying it to your face for about 20 minutes.

Another beauty secret that is probably not so much a secret, is to be careful in the sun.

Wear sunscreen and minimize your exposure as much as possible.

Australia - The allure: luxurious hair | Secret ingredients: rainforest plums and desert limes

The kakadu plum has been used medicinally by the Australian aborigines for over 40,000 years. It has the highest known vitamin c content of any plant on the earth and its antioxidant power has been shown to save hair from serious dye-damage. The desert lime grows under extreme temperatures in Australia and can be used as a natural heat protectant.

Eastern Europe The allure: fresh faced model appeal |Secret ingredients: milk, olive oil, egg white, grapes The women of Eastern Europe are very much into beautiful skin and a tried and true remedy used very often, is milk. Most of us have heard of the legendary queen Cleopatra, bathing herself in milk. The lactic

acid in the milk works wonders for the skin, try rinsing off your cleanser every now and then, with milk instead of water. For more concentrated benefits, boil milk until the surface gets crusty and once it has cooled, add a teaspoon of spoiled yogurt and mix into a mask. Egg whites also make a fantastic mask for oily skin. Just mix beaten egg whites, a bit of baking soda and shredded lemon and grapefruit peel. Let the mixture harden on your face and you’ll experience a youthful lift. While we may know the benefits of olive oil, we don’t tend to use it as much for beauty reasons, as we perhaps should. Rub yourself from head to toe in olive oil and remain that way for an hour or two. It may be a bit messy or smelly, but the silky skin you will be left with afterwards, will be totally worth it. The juice of grapes is packed with antioxidants. It makes a great face rub and if you crush the seeds, a facial scrub as well.

Pakistan The allure: silky skin | Secret ingredients: almonds, orange peel, watermelon, extra virgin olive oil Pakistani women grind the soft shells of young almonds into a fine powder and mix it with coconut milk or oil. Similar to rice bran and grape seeds, the almonds are a good exfoliator. Coconut oil has antiinflammatory and anti-fungal properties and is good for keratin; which the outer layer of skin is made of. Extra virgin olive oil is great for the hair and scalp, particularly if it is dry and itchy. Rub it in and wrap the head with a warm towel to allow it to soak in. For a skin brightening boost, take dried orange peel, crush it into a fine powder and add lemon juice and mashed watermelon and apply to face for about 20 minutes. This mask is packed with antioxidants and causes makeup to be applied more easily and flawlessly.

Water Whether you soak in the waters of the Dead Sea or mineral rich Milk River, soaking is a universal secret that is often forgotten about.

Certain waters are rich in minerals, possess healing qualities and help to relax the mind and body; which can translate to beaming skin. So the next time you have some down time, instead of rushing through your shower, draw yourself a nice bath instead. Consider adding any of the ingredients mentioned here and reap the fantastic beauty benefits.

Caribbean Wellness & Lifestyle January - MarCH 2011 | 11