REALHEALTH THE GUIDE TO BLACK WELLNESS
Actress
Kenya Moore Why Parents Are So Key to Kids’ Self-Esteem
Take ItA Quick Off!Guide to Summer Hair Removal
Food Additives The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
Oh, Man!
Why Don’t Brothas Go See the Doctor?
SUMMER 2011 $2.99 US R E A L H E A LT H M A G . C O M
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RH CONTENTS
13 9
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(KENYA MOORE: COVER AND THIS PAGE) COURTESY OF KENYA MOORE; (MAN’S FACE) GETTY IMAGES; (PICNIC BASKET) DREAMSTIME.COM/BOWIE15; (CARUANA) COURTESY OF CLAUDIA CARUANA; (PETERS) COURTESY OF RHONDA PETERS; (BEETS) ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/LEONID NYSHKO
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editor’s letter
Parental guidance: How have you been treating your kids lately?
buzz
16 COVER STORY
child support
Actress Kenya Moore helps young girls build their self-esteem.
Why won’t more brothas go see the doctor?; girlfriend gatherings get sistas talking about safer sex; in the news: man cured of HIV; ways to stay healthy this summer; simple summertime skin defense tactics; stand up for your health
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critical ingredients
24
the bottom line
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fitness
28
15
nutrition
Say bye-bye to belly bulge; exercise smarter for better results
Are big breakfasts best for weight loss?; foods for PMS relief; fresh juice versus bottled or canned
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Do we need additives in food? PLUS: The colorant controversy
Cosmetic surgery may improve your assets, but at what price?
smooth moves
A look at the most popular ways to remove unwanted hair. PLUS: stuff we love and a cool hair health quiz
thoughts
Move on with your life: advice on how to let go of the past
Contributor Question of the Month How does summer change your regular routine? I walk more. I am easily doing five miles now. And I make easyto-prepare salads with fresh greens and ingredients instead of the calorie-rich soups and sandwiches I prefer when it’s colder out. —Claudia M. Caruana
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HIV activist and motivational speaker Hydeia Broadbent talks about HIV-related stigma in the African-American community. Check out our exclusive video.
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Have You Checked the Children?
REAL HEALTH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Kate Ferguson MANAGING EDITOR
W
Jennifer Morton SENIOR EDITOR
hen I first began researching this issue’s cover story about Kenya Moore and her commitment to building girls’ self-esteem and empowerment, I thought that she’d talk about how the media contribute to girls’ lack of these two much-needed confidence boosters. Instead, she told me about being rejected at birth by her teenage mother and disappointed by an overwhelmed father who was unable to provide his daughter with the support she needed to grow up feeling valued and secure. What Moore revealed made me stop and think. Despite the media’s influence on children, parents can still overcome the power that TV, movies and pop culture exert on kids. Think about it. Parents are the first people children spend a lot of time with. As their kids’ closest companions, parents are also their children’s first role models. In this unique and complex relationship there is so much parents can do to help kids realize their value. After all, children use their families’ support to strengthen their self-esteem. This helps them gain the confidence they need to negotiate what can sometimes be a hostile world. As I listened to the interview replay, I recalled a woman and her young daughter
Laura Whitehorn ASSOCIATE EDITORS
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ADVISORY BOARD
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Here’s to your health, JOAN LOBIS BROWN
Issue No. 26. Copyright © 2011 CDM Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. If you are an individual or organization and would like to subscribe to Real Health, go to real healthmag.com or call 800.973.2376. Send feedback on this issue to info@ realhealthmag.com or Real Health, c/o Smart + Strong, 462 Seventh Ave., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
who lived in the same building I did. The two lived two floors below me, in the apartment directly across from my mother. (The girl’s father and mother weren’t together, but he visited on occasion.) As the years passed, the woman’s routine verbal abuse of her child escalated. My mother befriended the young girl, who was then about 10 years old. When I visited my mom, I’d often meet her there. After the girl had lost her house key, her mother refused to give her another, so she’d go to my mom’s apartment and stay there until her mother got home from work. (It was either that or sit alone in the hallway to wait for her mother’s return.) As the girl reached puberty, she began to change. She became precocious and flirtatious, very aware of her flowering sexuality and its power to draw men’s interest. I found myself worrying about her. I felt that since she’d been denied her mother’s love and attention, it would be easy for her to take it from anyone who offered. Years later, I met this young girl again. She looked stunning and was pursuing work as a model. As we chatted, I watched her carefully. She still seemed fragile, like a child who continued to yearn for the love and approval her mother refused to give. Today, I sometimes think about this young girl and wonder what happened to her. My talk with Kenya Moore made me think of her again. Parents have the power to do such harm to their kids, or they can help forge the powerful self-esteem and self-confidence their children need to help overcome future challenges. Please, really give some thought to how you’ve been treating your kids lately.
Kate Ferguson, Editor-in-Chief katef@realhealthmag.com
realhealthmag.com
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BUZZ
This Is Sickening
GETTY IMAGES DREAMSTIME.COM
If black men care about their health, then why won’t more brothas go see the doctor?
f you’re sick and tired of seeing black men suffer from health problems that can be avoided or reduced by preventive or routine medical checkups, then join the swelling ranks of their loved ones. Why? Because black men are more likely than other population groups to suffer from undiagnosed or poorly managed chronic conditions, according to a number of studies on racial health care disparities. What’s more, additional research shows that, on average, African-American men die about seven years earlier than men and women of all other races. So why don’t many black men guard their health more closely? Well, past and present study findings may hold the key. A while back, several studies concluded that men who embraced traditional masculine roles, in general, were more likely to ignore their health because they didn’t want to seem weak. But a recent study done by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found just the opposite. Those findings showed that the more macho African-American men were, the faster they tended to get blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. But when they did delay health screenings, says Wizdom Powell Male call: Hammond, PhD, an assistant professor of The clock is ticking health behavior and education at the UNC for black Gillings School of Global Public Health, and men. the study’s lead author, the reason was that
they didn’t trust the medical establishment. Previous study findings showed additional reasons: For starters, some black men were simply afraid to go to the doctor. Other African-American men weren’t in the habit of seeking regular medical care. In addition, brothas also complained that they felt doctors were patronizing and disrespectful. Instead of a two-party talk about their health problems, the men said, doctors commanded them to make more healthy lifestyle changes, did not explain how to make the suggested fixes and later lectured them for not following directions. Other researchers agreed that these types of interactions show a power imbalance between black men and their docs. What’s more, this inequality is aggravated by black men’s lower socioeconomic status in America. Fewer black men are employed and have health insurance, so they are less likley to connect to care. Doctor visits drudge up these unpleasant issues—and who wants to deal with that? As a result, brothas often delay checkups, medical tests and critical screenings for cholesterol levels and blood pressure. But racial disparities could be overcome, Hammond says, if docs would try to better understand black men’s diverse backgrounds and health experiences—including the historical, cultural, social and economic barriers that stop them from taking a proactive role in their own health. Sounds like a plan that’s both good for business and good for black men’s health. —Kate Ferguson realhealthmag.com
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SP RIN G 2011 RE A L H E A LTH 1 1
BUZZ
A “CURE” FOR HIV?
It’s HIV Prevention Party Time Healthy Love Workshops make some noise.
A
group of giggling girlfriends call each other by their “sexy names,” chat about oral sex and fiercely compete to be the first to put a condom on a penis model correctly. Despite the fun and games, this isn’t a bridal shower or sorority tea. It’s a Healthy Love Workshop (HLW), an HIV intervention geared toward African-American women. “We work with groups of women who already know each other to build a certain comfort level,” says Dázon Dixon Diallo, founder of SisterLove Inc., the Atlanta community-based organization that has been developing these parties since the group’s birth in 1989. Recently, SisterLove and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put Healthy Love to the test in a study. They found that, three months after attending a one-time, three- to four-hour HLW session, women reported higher rates of condom use and HIV testing than their peers who attended the more traditional, less interactive “HIV 101” workshop. The study suggests that HLW works because the parties build on the support of a friendship group to encourage positive attitudes and proper condom use. Instead of asking women to come to a workshop, SisterLove goes to wherever the women normally meet—including sororities and private homes. The CDC is convening HLW parties in other cities. If outcomes match those from Atlanta, the CDC could approve HLW as an evidence-based prevention technique. The parties, says Mehret Mandefro, MD, a physician and HIV prevention researcher, “show HIV prevention doesn’t have to be complicated. A one-off intervention is practical because it fits in people’s lives.” Still, Mandefro emphasizes that we won’t make a real dent in HIV prevention for women without addressing domestic violence and abuse head on. One in four women have experienced such violence, curtailing their ability to demand safer sex. To definitively stop HIV’s spread among women, she says, “we need a real movement to address violence.” —Diana Scholl
More than
4 in 10: 1 2 RE A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
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When doctors eradicated HIV in an American man in Berlin, news outlets declared, “A cure for HIV!” But does a cure for one man mean there’s now a remedy for all? Not quite. The man, Timothy Ray Brown, had recurrent leukemia in 2007. Treatment for this type of cancer involves wiping out the patient’s entire immune system with chemotherapy and then supplying a new system through a bone marrow (a.k.a. stem cell) transplant. So Brown’s docs at the University Medicine Berlin cleverly found a donor who had a particular genetic quirk that makes the body resist HIV. The result? In December 2010, Brown’s medical team said evidence “strongly suggests” he has been cured of the virus. Nobel Prize–winner David Baltimore, PhD, who researches genetic therapies for HIV at the California Institute of Technology, said that unfortunately this case is “very difficult to duplicate—virtually impossible on a large scale,” because such transplants are very dangerous and expensive and the chance of finding the proper bone marrow donor so rare. But, Baltimore says, the news that HIV can be cured is “extremely encouraging. I see many people trying very hard to develop safe and effective genetic therapies for HIV that can be used on a wide scale.” With Brown’s cure as a starting point, we just might get there. —Benjamin Ryan
Number of African Americans unaware that meds can keep an HIV-positive mom from transmitting the virus to her newborn. Source: The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2009
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Behind the headlines
BUZZ
Keep Summer Fun Don’t let a picnic in the park or a hike in the hills turn into an evening at the ER. Despite its warm-weather benefits, summer is also a prime time for safety concerns. But you can avoid many of the season’s most common health woes—listed below—by simply being aware and planning ahead, according to Michael Zimring, MD, of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Dehydration. If you’re fatigued, have dry mouth and experience unusual thirst, get out of the heat and drink water. Poison ivy. Telltale signs include an itchy rash with blisters. Wash with water or alcohol within 20 minutes of exposure, and treat small areas
3,000:
The estimated number of people in the United States who die each year from a foodborne illness. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
ALL DRIED OUT?
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with topical steroids. For large areas, see a doctor. Mosquitoes. If you feel skin pain and that area itches, you may have been bitten by mosquitoes. Treat bites with cold compresses, but see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms. Foodborne illness. Suffering from cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting? Chances are, you may have a foodborne illness. Drink clear liquids, but see a doctor if you can’t keep them down. Heat stroke. If you experience weakness, confusion, dehydration and a hot feeling, use cold compresses and get to an emergency room immediately. —Katie Karlson
Couch Potatoes Should Take Heart
How to get rid of winter’s chilling effects on skin and gear up for summer’s sun.
Glued to your TV and computer screens? Here’s motivation to get you moving.
Wintertime’s low humidity outside coupled with dry heat inside buildings can cause skin to dry out and itch. The season’s blustery winds confound the problem. “Dryness is even more noticeable on brown skin because the scaling appears light against darker complexions,” says Amy McMichael, MD, a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina. To help your skin rebound from dryness, nourish it with moisturizer. Best bets? Opt for mild cleansers, and use thick moisturizers made with petrolatum or silicone and built-in sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. (Apply well and often to exposed skin.) If you’re older or more prone to dry skin, consider using moisturizers formulated to treat eczema—a chronic condition that makes skin dry, red and itchy. And again, don’t forget the sunscreen. Why such emphasis? McMichael sums up: “These products are the best defense against aging and Thick, yes. But skin cancer.” is SPF —Cristina built in? González
Sitting in front of a TV or computer screen for more than two hours each day makes you twice as likely to get heart disease or die prematurely, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers at England’s University College London found that people who spent more than two hours a day seated in front of an electronic screen were 125 percent more likely to have a cardiovascular event and 48 percent more likely to die from any cause. And exercising didn’t change that. Why? Because being seated reduces the activity of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that breaks down blood fats (triglycerides) to provide muscle energy. In other words, it lowers your metabolic rate—or how many calories your body uses to perform basic functions. If you can, take a two-minute walk every half hour you’re staring at a computer, and avoid TV—an activity linked to “negative mental states...and unhealthy snack consumption,” says Emmanuel Stamatakis, the study’s lead author. His advice: “Avoid sitting unless it’s necessary, and replace TV with more active forms of entertainment.” —Katie Karlson realhealthmag.com
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SU M M ER 2011 RE A L H E A LTH 1 3
FITNESS
Why it’s wise to say bye-bye to that bulging belly—now!
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thick midsection is often the butt of jokes, but excess abdominal fat is no laughing matter. Compared with padding elsewhere, belly fat is especially unhealthy because it increases your risk of death from cancer, heart disease and respiratory illnesses. And although it’s a man’s gut you see pictured here, women are more prone to belly bulge. In their case, it’s often because of menopause-related changes in metabolism and estrogen levels, says Roger D. Cone, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Obesity & Metabolism. The most dangerous kind of belly bulge is caused by visceral fat. This interior fat surrounds vital organs and produces hormones that can harm health. If you’re not measuring up (a waist circumference of 35 inches or more could be unhealthy for women), try a change of diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables and do 30 minutes of physical activity each day at least five times a week. Also try targeted exercises, such as doing pelvic lifts and tilts and drawing in the bellybutton (a.k.a. the cat-cow yoga position) to tone your tummy. Find descriptions of these exercises at mayoclinic.com. Search “belly fat” and scroll down the page to “Fight Back the Bulge.” —Cristina González
25 1 4 R E A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
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Percent of American adults who say they engage in no leisuretime physical activity. Source: The CDC, State Indicator Report on Physical Activity, 2010
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EXERCISE SMARTER Going from zero to 60 at the gym in seconds is risky business. Here’s how to work out right. An effective workout isn’t only about getting your heart rate going—it also means letting your body recover from exercise, according to Dennis Cardone, DO, an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at New York University’s Langone Medical Center. “Warming up has mostly a psychological benefit and [while the evidence is debated] is believed to help decrease muscle stiffness and help muscles contract more efficiently,” he says. “Cooling down helps muscles get rid of waste products that accumulate during exercise.” (Lactic acid buildup, for example can hamper performance.) Cardone suggests making the most of your workout with a five- to 10-minute warm-up exercise session well below your full capability. Perform the same movements (without weights) you’ll do during your workout. Cool down with another five to 10 minutes of the same exercises or easy walking, jogging or stretching. —CG
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Stay Ahead of the Curve
NUTRITION
Good Weight Loss Advice Don’t eat most of your calories at breakfast.
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4
s the first meal of the day, breakfast is an important source of energy. But it’s a mistake to think that loading up on early morning calories will translate into eating less later in the day. Truth is, this diet strategy could lead to eating just as many calories during other meals, according to a study published in Nutrition Journal. Another danger of a big breakfast? It might kill your appetite for lunch and cause you to overindulge at dinnertime, explains Jessica Shapiro, a clinical dietician at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. “Furthermore, if you consume a large meal with fat and carbohydrates there’s a good chance you’ll experience a huge drop in blood sugar levels,” Shapiro says. And that can trigger eating more foods higher in fat and carbohydrates. So what’s the best breakfast plan? Eat smaller portions of food from a well-balanced menu of protein, complex carbohydrates and some heart-healthy fat. Try this simple, waist-friendly fast breaker: eggs and whole wheat toast spread with mashed avocado. —Janique Burke
The number of ounces of 100 percent fruit juice that equals a full serving of fruit.
ALL IMAGES DREAMSTIME.COM: (PANCAKES) ANGEL IRUSTA MACHIN; (PLATE) MIKEEXPERT; (JUICE) DENISMART
CRAVE MONTHLY RELIEF? Certain foods may help you better cope with PMS. At least 85 percent of menstruating women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS)––a series of physical and psychological symptoms occurring before and during a woman’s menstrual cycle. These monthly hormonal changes can cause symptoms such as irritability, water retention, headaches and back pain. But you can better manage these conditions by eating the right foods and avoiding those that may trigger symptoms. For example, alleviate PMS irritability with calciumcontaining foods, such as yogurt and cheese. And eat raw nuts, bananas, poultry and fish to help relieve bloating and tiredness, advises Paola Mora, a registered dietician at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. But on the flip side, Mora recommends steering clear of caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods and refined sugar. Why? Because these ingredients can aggravate PMS-related symptoms. What’s the best PMS relief meal plan? Mora offers this simple recipe: A balanced diet coupled with exercise and rest. —JB
Source: fruitjuicefacts.org
Juicy Stuff
What’s the difference between freshly squeezed juice and the bottled or canned versions? Plenty. It may sound dramatic, but the big difference between freshly squeezed juices and their packaged counterparts is a matter of life and death, says Nivia L. Binett-Carroll, a certified holistic health practitioner and the owner of Excel Wellness & Rehab Services Inc. in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Freshly squeezed juice is “alive” and contains active natural nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and enzymes, compared with the nutritionally “dead” pasteurized juice found on store shelves. (Pasteurization is a heating process that not only kills dangerous bacteria but also destroys much of a food’s vital nutrients.) In addition, manufacturers add unhealthy preservatives to canned or bottled juices to extend their shelf life. Thirsty for a drink that’s alive with flavor and nutrition? Just remember, “Anything in excess is not good for the body—even freshly squeezed, natural juices,” Binett-Carroll warns. “These must also be balanced with a diverse diet.” Anything better than freshly juiced fruits and veggies? You bet. Eating them raw. —Kate Ferguson
CHILD SUPPORT Actress Kenya Moore knows firsthand what can go wrong when parents don’t meet their kids’ emotional needs. By Kate Ferguson
magine growing up and feeling invisible—to the most important person in your universe. That’s what happened to Detroit-born actress, producer, director and author Kenya Moore. She grew up seemingly unwanted and unloved by a mother who denied her existence. Today, the pain of that time still haunts Moore, a 1993 Miss USA pageant winner who broke into the entertainment industry as a sought-after model. Moore built a solid career in Hollywood on her stunning good looks and savvy business sense. She parlayed those gifts into money, power and respect for herself, an African-American woman on the 1 6 REAL HEALTH S U MME R 2011
Film industry power player Kenya Moore is passionate about teaching young girls to value themselves and express their creativity through sports and the arts.
GIRLS SUFFER SILENTLY AND NEED A WAY OUT.
end as time went by. “Years later, I was slowly reunited with my mom’s family,” Moore says. “But my mother continued to pretend I did not exist. Even when I was in her presence, she ignored me as if I was invisible.” Moore says she didn’t know if her mom had ever been diagnosed with a mental illness, but one thing was certain: This parental rejection wreaked havoc on her girlhood self-esteem. When she discusses her mother’s past actions, Moore doesn’t call it child abuse. But kids don’t have to be bruised and battered or sexually assaulted or molested to qualify as being abused. Emotional abuse or neglect, as Moore experienced, can also cause deep 1 8 RE A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
suffering and long-lasting trauma. “My mother’s demeaning and destructive behavior was deeply disturbing and hurtful to me, especially since I was just a mere child,” she says.
Through the years, Moore’s relationship with her mother remained nonexistent. And what about her father? “The short answer is that my dad always did the best he could,” she says. “But, obviously, some things were out of his control. He moved to Texas when I was 12, so he was not a part of my life on a daily basis and wasn’t there to give me emotional support.” For children who experience emotional abuse and neglect the consequences are far-reaching. Certainly this kind of rejection and abandonment damages a child’s self-esteem and mental health in general. As Moore flowered into a young girl, her pain surfaced. “I began acting out and hurting the ones who cared for me most,” she says. Acting out is, in fact, a predictable result of child abuse and neglect. Because abused children cannot express their emotions safely, explain mental health professionals, they clamp down on their feelings, which then may erupt in unexpected and unacceptable ways. But while in high school, Moore got the opportunity to put her behavior into perspective. “I was referred to a professional when I was in the 12th grade,” she explains. “Counseling allowed me to truly see that what happened to me was not my fault. It helped me to see that I wasn’t ‘crazy’ like everyone said I was. My behavior was merely me crying out for help, which is the case for most teenagers. Therapy showed me that I was better than my behavior.” According to a recent Dove SelfEsteem Fund study, 75 percent of girls engaged in acting-out behaviors, such as bullying, smoking, drinking and cutting, when they felt bad about themselves. What’s more, the study found 61 percent of teenage girls with low self-esteem spoke badly of themselves as compared with 15 percent of teen girls with high self-esteem. Today, many young black girls suffer from low selfesteem, which causes them to make poor choices and engage in risky behavior. That’s the primary reason why Moore says she launched The Kenya Moore Foundation, a nonprofit organization. “I created the foundation as way to give back and help other young girls who are silently suffering and need a way out,” Moore says. “For me, it’s a way to help them overcome their abusive home life and challenges so they can
(PREVIOUS SPREAD) COURTESY OF KENYA MOORE
move in a white male-dominated industry. Moore achieved professional success with roles in movies such as Waiting to Exhale and Trois, TV shows such as Girlfriends and The Jamie Foxx Show, in Jay-Z and Nas music videos and on the covers of magazines such as Upscale and Ebony Man. But even now as she enjoys her success as a highpowered Hollywood player, Moore, age 40, continues working hard to make sense of what happened to her. “My childhood was very complicated,” she explains. “My parents were both teenagers when they had me. Then my mother decided she would give me away and live her life as though she never had a child.” That decision remains incomprehensible to Moore. When she was just three days old, her mother abandoned her, leaving Moore’s paternal grandmother with the job of raising her. But Moore’s mother’s inexplicable behavior didn’t
achieve greater accomplishments in life with education.” Moore’s foundation gives scholarship money to bright young girls who are struggling and want to overcome their challenges. “Some of their stories make my heart bleed, and it’s difficult for me to manage [my emotions],” Moore shares. “I’ve cried so many times reading about what these girls are faced with.”
Currently, only girls from Moore’s high school alma mater, Cass Technical High School in Detroit, are eligible for the scholarships. To be considered, the students must submit essays that demonstrate how they’ve shown strength and overcome obstacles while working to maintain Cass Tech’s strict grade point average minimum. For Moore, the scholarships are also a way to support young girls, especially the ones saddled with emotional issues. Moore believes that young women in particular need a confidante they trust. “Ideally, that person is their mother,” she says. “But most often girls find it difficult to communicate with their parents. I had several role models who I turned to when I needed to be understood and counseled. For me, it was an aunt, a teacher at school and an older friend.” When she underwent therapy, Moore found it liberating to be able to talk to someone. She is a huge advocate of therapy and was a psychology major in college. Moore believes therapy and counseling can provide an outlet for troubled teens in need of mental health support. Looking back, as an adolescent in pain, short on self-esteem and self-confidence, Moore never dreamed then that she’d one day claim the Miss USA title. But she did. At the age of 22, Moore became only the second African-American woman to wear the crown. (The first was another native of Detroit, Carole Gist. Gist is among Cass Tech’s list of other notable alumni, such as entertainers Diana Ross, David Alan Grier and Lily Tomlin.) For those who want to know more about Moore, the actress recalls her life in a memoir, titled Invisible, that is due out later this year. “It’s been nearly 20 years since I first started writing the book,” she says. “It was an emotional journey for me, and I’m proud to have finally completed it. I’m looking forward to having the story inspire and help young girls negotiate their personal battles.” Today, because the media often portrays women as primarily one-dimensional people, it’s especially hard for girls to develop strong self-esteem, Moore says. “I advise young girls to be leaders not followers,” she says. “Draw close to God if you are spiritual or religious; have positive influences in your life; and be active in sports, music and the creative arts.” As Moore discovered for herself, these extracurricular activities give girls a stronger sense of self-esteem. By learning to value and love themselves, girls will not only develop confidence—they’ll also ensure they’ll never be invisible. ■
Empower Yourself! Everyone can benefit from these self-esteem tips.
1. LIVE CONSCIOUSLY: When you make a mistake, admit it and correct it, rather than ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen. Self-respect and power come from admitting your mistakes, learning from them and taking corrective action. 2. ACCEPT YOURSELF: When you look at yourself in the mirror, embrace your beauty rather than pointing out your flaws. True self-acceptance comes when you embrace your beauty and uniqueness. 3. BE RESPONSIBLE: Take responsibility for your actions instead of blaming others for your problems. Taking responsibility for your thoughts, words and actions will set you free from the pain of blame and guilt. 4. BE ASSERTIVE: You have the right to express your wants, needs and self-worth—and to have them treated with respect by others. Claim your needs as important, and respectfully assert yourself. 5. LIVE PURPOSEFULLY: You are capable of creating anything when your life has purpose, focus and direction. You have the potential to be so much more than you might imagine; the most important thing is that your life has meaning for you. 6. LIVE WITH INTEGRITY: Keep commitments to yourself and others. By honoring commitments, you demonstrate your integrity and credibility, and you earn respect. 7. RESPECTFUL SELF-TALK: Positive self-talk empowers you, makes you stronger and builds confidence. To eliminate negative self-talk do the following: (1) recognize it, (2) interrupt it and (3) replace it with a positive message. 8. RECEIVE FEEDBACK: By trusting yourself, you can keep others’ words in perspective without becoming defensive. Your strong sense of self-worth allows you to maintain your power and still hear what others have to say without feeling bad about yourself. Source: Reprinted courtesy of the National Association for Self-Esteem, healthyselfesteem.org. Authored by Sharon Fountain, sharonfountain.com; Sean Stephenson, timetostand.com; and Bob Younglove, pathassociates online.com.
SU M M ER 2011 RE A L H E A LTH 1 9
critical ingredients Do we really need additives in our food? BY GERRIE E. SUMMERS
If you find spoiled food unappetizing, prefer delicious-looking, tasty meals and demand the most nutritional bang for your buck, then you’ve just answered the question asked above. Without additives to preserve, enhance and fortify the foods we eat, people wouldn’t enjoy a steady supply of safe, fresh, nutrient-rich dishes that appeal to all five senses. > 2 0 RE A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
Hot dawg! Would you believe there are almost 40 additives in this traditional summer favorite?
Today, there are four categories of
additives. Under the 1958 Food Additives Amendment, Congress created the categories due to an increase of chemical additives and mounting evidence they posed potential health risks. Those four categories are divided as follows: food additives; ingredients generally recognized as safe (GRAS); prior-sanctioned substances; 2 2 RE A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
and food coloring additives. Of the four, two are exempted from the FDA’s testing and approval process: GRAS ingredients and priorsanctioned substances. GRAS substances include the universally used usual suspects, additives such as spices, herbs, salt and sugar. The reason these ingredients are generally recognized as safe is because they all have a proven safety record based on their pre-1958 usage history. In addition, their safety is backed by previously published scientific evidence. Like GRAS substances, those that received a prior-sanctioned classification are assumed to be safe in a specific food or context because they were used that way before 1958. Examples include sodium and potassium nitrate, which were approved before 1958 for exclusive use as meat preservatives. What that means is that they can’t be used in other foods, such as vegetables for example. “Sodium nitrite is used in processed meats, such as frankfurters and bologna, to prevent botulism [a deadly bacteria], so its use is necessary to keep these processed foods safe,” Brown-Briggs explains. But nitrites are also suspected of causing headaches, nausea, vomiting and dizziness in some people. Sodium nitrite is on a list of additives to avoid— the list is circulated by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a watchdog consumer group. Certainly, not all additives cause these problems. Many are actually vitamins, minerals and fiber. Manufacturers use these additives to fortify foods and make up for dietary deficiencies and nutrients lost during food processing. Some additives, such as spices and natural or artificial flavors and sweeteners, improve or enhance taste. Artificial colors are meant to improve food’s appearance; emulsifiers, stabilizers and thickeners are added for texture and consistency; and leavening agents allow baked goods to rise during cooking.
But before there’s any bread or cake baking, the FDA tests and approves the additives used in any cooking ingredients. Still, just because an additive lands on the FDA’s consumption approval list doesn’t mean it’s 100 percent safe for everyone. Science has limitations, and the agency admits that it “can never be absolutely certain of the absence of any risk from the use of any substance.” What’s also unappetizing is there’s always the possibility that the FDA can make a mistake. It might overlook a dangerous substance or be unduly influenced by powerful and wealthy food manufacturing corporations, which is why advocates created the CSPI. Along with its mission to educate the public about food safety, nutri-
Food for thought: The FDA says no substance we eat is risk-free. tion and health, CSPI also promotes government policies consistent with scientific evidence on health and environmental issues. This group can pressure the FDA to require further studies to determine the safety of additives; it can also suggest prohibiting a substance’s use; and it can request added warnings. Remember saccharin? In 1972 and 1977, the FDA proposed banning the
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he findings are sound. Studies show that some additives— any substance used in the production, processing, treatment, packaging, transportation or storage of food—have potential health risks. “People can be sensitive or intolerant to any food additive,” says registered dietitian Constance Brown-Riggs. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a list of over 3,000 ingredients in its “Everything Added to Food in the United States” database. There you’ll find listed many of the common ingredients used for cooking: salt, sugar, baking soda, spices, vanilla, yeast and colors. These ingredients are classified as either direct additives—those added to food for a specific purpose— or indirect additives, those that become part of the food in trace amounts due to packaging, storage or other handling. The FDA regulates both types of additives to ensure that foods are safe to eat and accurately labeled. As previously mentioned, some additives serve a specific function. Preservatives, for example, slow the process of spoilage caused by mold, air, bacteria, fungi or yeast. These additives help maintain the quality of the food and control contamination that can cause any number of nasty foodborne illnesses. Antioxidants, for example, are considered a type of preservative. They stop fats and oils and the foods containing them from going rancid or developing off-flavor, and they prevent cut fruits from turning that shade of unappealing brown when exposed to air.
artificial sweetener because it was concerned the additive might be linked to bladder cancer. The agency once required saccharin to have a warning label saying the sweetener was a potential health hazard. But in 2001, it lifted the warning because studies suggested that saccharin did not cause cancer in humans. Since then, other artificial sweeteners on the GRAS list, such as aspartame, have generated speculation. But the FDA considers aspartame—found in NutraSweet and Equal—one of the most tested and studied food additives the agency has ever approved. To date, only people with the rare genetic disorder phenylketonuria, or PKU, should definitely avoid aspartame, according to the FDA. The agency requires any food containing aspartame to clearly state on its label that the product contains phenylalanine, which can’t be metabolized by people with PKU.
In addition, the FDA also looked hard at
additives known to cause allergies, such as sulfites and MSG (monosodium glutamate). Sodium sulfite is a preservative used in winemaking and other processed foods. According to the FDA, one in 100 people are sensitive to sulfites. The majority of them are asthma sufferers. Sulfites are associated with wheezing, diarrhea, stomachache, hives and swelling, and the additive can also cause headaches, breathing problems and rashes in some people. “Sulfites actually help prevent color changes and are used primarily in dried fruits and vegetables,” Brown-Riggs says. “But this additive and FD&C Yellow No. 5 [associated with hives, itching and nasal congestion] and aspartame—all generally recognized as safe—might cause problems for susceptible consumers.” Another common and possibly problematic additive is MSG, a flavor enhancer. Many people, especially children, are sensitive to the additive, which can cause some to experience headaches, nausea, wheezing, changes in heart rate and difficulty breathing. Because MSG can precipi-
tate anaphylactic shock—an acute and life-threatening allergic reaction—individuals who are sensitive to this additive need to know the different names used for the ingredient, such as caseinate, yeast extract and hydrolyzed protein. Like MSG, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is also a common and controversial additive. HFCS is a refined sugar found in numerous processed foods. The sweetener increases LDL cholesterol levels and can lead to diabetes and other health problems. Then there’s caffeine. This stimulant is found naturally in coffee, cocoa and some teas. But caffeine becomes an additive when companies include it in beverages, such as soft drinks and energy drinks. Although caffeine does have its benefits, excessive amounts of the stimulant can cause heart problems, insomnia and birth defects—it can also leach calcium from bones (leading to osteoporosis). What’s more, caffeine is known to cause withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, irritability, lack of energy and sleeplessness. Apart from substances that are directly added into foods, there’s one unwanted indirect additive that sometimes makes its way into the food supply in trace amounts: pesticides. Farmers use these chemicals to keep crops healthy and protect them from disease or pests. When foods are harvested and sold, the amount of pesticides may be washed off or otherwise reduced. But some residue can remain in fresh produce and processed foods. How can we avoid pesticides and other bad-for-you additives? “It is very difficult for the average person to avoid food additives,” BrownRiggs admits. “The only alternative is to completely avoid processed foods.” But you can certainly cut down on additives. For starters, Brown-Riggs encourages her patients to eat fresh whole fruits and vegetables. As for meat, Brown-Riggs advises people avoid the processed stuff, such as burgers made from compressed meat byproducts of mysterious origins. Why? Because you never know what you’re eating. ■
DYEING TO KNOW
Does synthetic food coloring drive kids wild? Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held hearings to explore food color additive regulations. Why? Because the agency wanted to review relevant evidence that these additives might trigger behavioral changes in children. In 2008, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a watchdog group, urged the FDA to ban eight widely used certified color additives on the agency’s approved list. The center said research showed these additives were linked to children developing behavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The safety of synthetic food colorants has been a controversial topic for years. In 1973 allergist Benjamin Feingold, MD, found that removing artificial food dyes and preservatives from kids’ diets improved their ADHD symptoms. After Feingold’s study, the FDA agreed that a small number of preschool children could be sensitive to tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5). Since then, the FDA has been watching these color-producing chemicals for possible ill effects on kids. But why are food colorings used? To correct color loss due to light exposure and other conditions and to give colorless food, well, color. (Think green mint ice cream and red cherryflavored candy.) The thing is, it’s hard to prove that food colorings cause behavioral changes in kids. Study results remain inconclusive and inconsistent, and researchers say it’s hard to objectively measure a child’s hyperactivity. For now, the FDA won’t ban these additives, or even require warning labels on foods that include them. But some docs believe certain children may be especially sensitive to food colorings. What to do? Simply monitor your children’s diet and limit their intake of foods with color additives.—GS
So you’ve always wanted a more shapely booty. Advanced cosmetic surgery can make it happen. But sometimes you pay a steep price. BY CLAUDIA M. CARUANA
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WHAT’S YOUR BEACH-BODY BOTTOM LINE?
ah, to have a video vixen butt, or one like J.Lo’s, Kim Kardashian’s or maybe even raptress Nicki Minaj. If you’ve ever indulged those wishes, you’re not alone. And if you actually took the next step and consulted with a cosmetic surgeon about butt-enhancing procedures, you’re still in good company. In 2000, nearly 1,400 people had butt lifts. By 2010, the number of procedures had more than doubled to almost 3,300, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. And though more women than men usually opt for sculpted rear ends, men also go for improved assets: In 2009, for example, 223 men bolstered their backsides, as did 242 the following year. The reason for the overall uptick? Cosmetic surgeons say it’s because today’s improved butt enhancement procedures offer more ways and tools to enhance
buttock shape for the best customized results. Although it might seem like our interest in enhancing our backsides is taking a front seat for the first time, fact is our buns have always been on the forefront of beauty. Just look at artwork from the ancient world. Sculptures from the Paleolithic age, called Venus figurines, for example, appear to be preoccupied with curvaceous women or goddesses with “fat bottoms.” What’s more, when the Greeks built a shrine to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and sexuality, worshippers called the building the temple of Aphrodite Kallipygos (translation: “Aphrodite with the beautiful buttocks”). Flash forward 2,000 years (give or take a century), and many modern women still want what Aphrodite Kallipygos had, and badly enough to shell out big bucks for it. Figure-conscious females want a more alluring SU M M ER 2011 RE A L H E A LTH 2 5
silhouette, and a butt lift can give them that, says Constantino G. Mendieta, MD, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon based in Miami. Mendieta performs more than 350 of these procedures annually and has a multicultural clientele. “Most of my patients are Latina or African American, although Caucasian and European women also see me for butt enhancement procedures,” Mendieta says. “But different ethnic groups tend to have their own sense of what constitutes booty beauty. For example, most Latinas want higher, rounder buttocks. Asians prefer their butt lifts higher up so their legs appear longer, and African Americans tend to want enhancements placed lower.” Different ethnic groups may subscribe to unique ideals of the perfect butt, and yet one unified question could be posed to them all: Why mess with how much “junk in the trunk” they have? One of the main reasons, say cosmetic surgeons, may be because curves are in vogue and many people want whatever makes celebrity bodies stand out. (Think: Jennifer Lopez’s bubble butt.) Also, some people may believe their butts are too flat, too saggy or not shapely enough. They may feel self-conscious or hate the way their clothes fit. Whatever the case may be, butt enhancement surgery— using fat injections, silicone implants or a buttock lift— can give you the assets you crave. And improving or correcting a perceived physical flaw can lift your self-esteem and self-confidence. Up until a few years ago, most often plastic surgeons specializing in butt enhancement surgery used silicone implants. These implants became popular because they were available in many different shapes to meet patients’ individual needs and because they were tightly sealed to prevent silicone leaking into the body. Surgeons primarily used them to plump up the buttocks, but after a while, these implants could harden, become lumpy or even shift to a new location. As a result, surgeons developed newer procedures, such as the Brazilian butt lift. For this procedure, a surgeon removes fat from other areas of the body, including the thighs and hips, and then re-inserts it into the buttocks. Through the years, physicians improved on Brazilian butt lift techniques. When Mendieta performs his butt lift procedure he takes some of the needed fat from around the waist, “so a patient’s body will have a more curvaceous and sculpted appearance.” Mendieta calls this variation a Miami butt lift. And if a woman doesn’t have enough fat to remove for the procedure, he recommends “booty camp” and asks the woman to gain about 10 pounds before having the lift. Surgeons always remove more fat than will show in the butt lift’s final stage. This is because only between 60 to 80 percent of this fat will actually stay located in the butt, Mendieta says. The rest is reabsorbed by the body. These procedures usually take more than two to three hours and are done under general or regional anesthetic. What does all this cost? Well, butt lifts performed by a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon don’t come cheap. It’s not uncommon for costs to reach $20,000. What’s more, medical insurance doesn’t cover this cosmetic 2 6 RE A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
surgery. That’s why it’s not unusual for patients to seek cheaper procedures overseas. But some docs frown on this medical tourism. “This can be a problem,” says Frederick Lukash, MD, a New York– based board-certified plastic surgeon and author of The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery. To illustrate the dangers, Lukash ticks off a list of questions: “What happens if something goes wrong and you are in another country? Can you be sure that the procedures used are safe? Will you be able to find a cosmetic surgeon when you get back home who will be able to correct problems that may have occurred?” In fact, Lukash says, women whose offshore procedures were botched often ask him to correct their problems. However, he doesn’t do butt enhancement surgery so that’s one area he can’t rework. For women who consider going overseas he does offer this advice: You may be courting real trouble if you opt for cheap or quick procedures—here, there or anywhere. Take what happened earlier this year to 20-year-old Claudia Seye Aderotimi and three of her friends. These women came from the United Kingdom to the Philadelphia area to get silicone shots for their butts. Silicone is a chemical substance that, in injectable liquid form, is illegal for cosmetic use in the United States. But that hasn’t stopped countless women and transgendered people from seeking the injections. Often, those dispensing the shots are illegal practitioners working in seedy hotel rooms, spa back rooms, even in their homes, garages and basements. Some claim they use wellknown non-silicone face fillers, such as Juvederm, to inject into patients’ butts. It’s not difficult to find these fly-by-night frauds performing procedures in what are called “pumping practices,” Mendieta says, because some social networks recommend them. This wasn’t Aderotimi’s first visit to the same practitioner. Previously, the young women had gone to the same motel in November to get the butt-enhancing silicone shots. Aderotimi’s return for a second treatment may mean she needed a touch-up or wanted an even bigger booty. (There’s no standard amount of silicone illegal practitioners use, and the effects vary for different people.) Aderotimi yearned for a successful career as a hip-hop model and felt her natural assets would hurt her chances. But this time the wannabe video vixen’s ambitions would be the death of her. A few hours after she and another young woman with her had silicone injected into their buttocks, Aderotimi
SILICONE INJECTIONS ARE ILLEGAL, BUT THEY’RE A CHEAP RUMP PLUMPER.
was rushed to a Philadelphia hospital where, two days later, she died. Reports say the silicone used to inject Aderotimi was the industrial grade stuff—similar to caulking—not the medical grade silicone used in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Police believe the silicone may have traveled to Aderotimi’s lungs and heart and plugged a vein. But this incident is not the first time an unsuspecting woman desperate for a cheap way to enhance her looks suffered a fatality. Solange Magnano, a 38-year-old former Miss Argentina and model, died after getting a substance injected in her buttocks in Buenos Aires in 2009. Neither the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor the U.S. Food and Drug Administration keeps data on injuries or death from illicit injections. But a quick online search for “illegal butt injections” calls up many newspaper articles about women becoming ill or dying from these shots—and about law enforcement’s efforts to bust illegal providers. Think about it, and be realistic. Is it safe to trust an unlicensed individual to perform a medical procedure in a motel room, back room of a spa or an unheated basement? Do you know if the syringes are clean—or what they contain? Let’s do the math: One syringe filled with Juvederm typically costs between $800 and $1,300 per syringe, depending on the formula used and other factors. In some cases, you might need a second syringe to get the desired result. If your illegal procedure costs $1,500 total, do you actually believe you’re getting the real deal? Is your life worth the bargain? But cosmetic plastic surgeons are also concerned about patients who have unrealistic expectations about procedures. As one doc puts it: A butt lift won’t make you look like Beyonce or put you on the Victoria’s Secret runway. Julius Few, MD, a Chicago-based, board-certified plastic surgeon and director of The Few Institute for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, says most surgeons will screen patients for mental health issues. He also works with a psychologist who specializes in body image and cosmetic issues to make sure that patients are suitable for surgery. He also reminds potential patients that people need time to recover from butt enhancement surgery. “If you don’t follow instructions for after the surgery, you might as well not have had the surgery in the first place. You need to follow your surgeon’s protocol for recovery.” Few’s protocol includes sleeping on your stomach or side for two to six weeks, sitting for no longer than 45 minutes at a time and using a pillow when seated. In addition, he adds: “You also might not be able to shower for a few days after surgery; you won’t be able to work out at the gym for two weeks; and sex is not permitted for two to six weeks.” Realistically, Few knows that many women don’t think beyond how good this surgery might make them look. But his bottom line for a butt enhancement procedure is this: Check with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon; ask for recommendations and before and after pictures; and be prepared for people to notice there may be something “different” about you these days. ■
BUYING A BETTER BUTT?
You’ve done your research and know surgery’s right for you. Now get off your tush and read this. BEFORE SURGERY
Most cosmetic surgeons will ask for medical clearance before they will do butt lifts or other cosmetic procedures, says Constantino G. Mendieta, MD. Medical conditions such as obesity, uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure—along with diseases such as lupus—might mean surgery must be postponed temporarily, or even permanently. Discuss with your surgeon what to expect from the procedure, possible side effects, and how long it will take to get back into your regular routine. Remember, a butt lift isn’t as simple as getting a Botox injection to smooth away wrinkles. As part of your pre-surgery prep, know the following: What type of anesthetics will be used? Often, general anesthesia is used; other times, regional anesthesia. Which is your surgeon recommending and why? Who is administering the anesthesia? Is it an anesthesiologist, a medical doctor or a certified nurse-anesthetist? These medical professionals can administer the sedating medication and are present during the procedure. Do you have special health concerns or genetic conditions, such as sickle cell anemia and sickle cell trait, or other medical illnesses? If the answer is yes, then speak up. These or other medical conditions might influence the type, duration and delivery of anesthesia. Do you take herbal supplements? Tell the anesthesia provider about all your medications, including herbal supplements. Be honest about your use of recreational drugs— even in the past—and the amount of liquor you consume. These issues, too, are critical in determining the types and amounts of anesthetic that docs can give you.
AFTER SURGERY
Have a clear understanding of what the surgery is supposed to do and what will happen afterward. Will you wake up from surgery in a recovery room? How long do patients usually stay there? Will there be medication if you feel nauseous or are in pain? Let a family member or close friend coordinate your affairs, the discharge instructions and the medications you will take once home. And follow through on all of your surgeon’s recommendations.
smooth
moves
Yikes! Is that peach fuzz growing on your arms, legs and goodness knows where else? If so, here are a few of the most popular ways for women—and men—to remove unwanted hair. BY CRISTINA GONZÁLEZ
Maybe it’s one of Mother Nature’s ironic jokes: Why is it that we don’t have enough hair where we want it— on top of our heads—but there’s dark, fuzzy strands crawling up our arms, down our bellies, above our lips and basically on every surface we’d prefer be smooth and hairless. What’s a girl to do? From depilatories to tweezers to
pads, here’s a look at the five most common ways to defuzz and keep skin healthy and glowing, no matter the method used. Defuzzing, a.k.a. hair removal processes, fall into several categories, but all differ in terms of time commitment, cost and level of pain endured. These categories are listed in order of easiest to most complicated. They
3 0 RE A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
Take This Hair Health Quiz See how much you know about black hair care. 1. How often should you shampoo your hair? a. Once a day b. Once a week c. Once a month
2. Tight or aggressive braiding can cause hair loss. a. True
b. False
3. Pregnant women shouldn’t color, bleach or straighten hair until the third trimester. a. True
b. False
4. When combing, do the following: a. Comb from the bottom of the hair and work your way up b. Comb from root to tips c. Use only one size comb d. None of the above
5. Grease the hair and scalp each night for healthy hair. a. True
b. False
6. What nutrients below make hair healthier and stronger and are also good for the skin? a. Vitamin A b. Vitamin B c. Zinc d. All of the above
7. Wear satin or silk scarves and sleep on a satin pillowcase to prevent split ends and dried-out hair. a. True
b. False
8. When using at-home relaxers, protect scalp with a base, such as Vaseline or castor oil. a. True
b. False
9. Only comb a baby’s hair:
a. When the hair is dry b. When the hair is wet c. After putting baby oil on infant’s tresses
10. To avoid hair damage, only use a flatiron once each week. a. True
b. False
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Another common method of hair removal is waxing. This popular form involves applying a warm resin to the skin and covering the area with a cloth strip. As the wax cools, it traps hair underneath. When the strip is pulled away from the skin, it yanks both the wax and hair. “This removes hair from the root so hairs take much longer to regrow, usually several weeks,” Barbosa says. “The downside is that it can be uncomfortable. But many women get used to it over time.” And, while you stroll down the beauty aisle of your local pharmacy for an at-home waxing kit, you will most likely find two other defuzzing options: chemical depilatories and hair removal pads. Chemical depilatories or creams work by breaking
the disulfide bonds found in hair protein (keratin) and weakening strands so that hairs may be easily wiped from the skin’s surface. Hair removal pads are coated with small, rough crystals that scrape away hairs when moved in a constant circular motion across the skin. “But regrowth also occurs within a few days,” Barbosa cautions about both depilatories and pads. “And people should be aware that this method is timeconsuming for large areas of the body, such as the legs.” For African Americans, depilatories and removal pads require specific considerations. Black hair is often coarser and thicker, so chemical depilatories targeted to this population usually contain stronger chemicals. What’s more, constant use of removal pads on this type of hair may irritate the skin over time. But other options exist, including permanent removal. For electrolysis, a probe is inserted into the hair follicle and an electric current is passed down through the strand to permanently destroy the hair root. Similarly, in laser hair removal— specifically, in a process called photothermolysis—a light beam destroys the follicle. “Electrolysis and laser hair removal ultimately yield the longest-lasting results because they prevent future hair regrowth,” Barbosa says. But it usually takes several treatments to remove the thousands of hair follicles present at each site. In general, regardless of the defuzzing method employed, black skin requires special handling. Make sure to do a spot test before applying any product to large areas of the skin, Barbosa cautions. And if choosing laser hair removal, make sure the office you go to is equipped to treat dark skin. Also, avoid irritating products such as exfoliating scrubs or acne meds. But do apply moisturizers to soothe skin before and after any treatments. What’s the safest way to defuzz? There isn’t one, Barbosa says. “All of the methods are safe if correctly done, but electrolysis, waxing and laser hair removal must be performed by skilled practitioners.” Here’s to a fuzz-free summer! ■
1) b, 2) True, 3) True, 4) a, 5) False, 6) d, 7) True, 8) a, 9) b, 10) True
include shaving, depilation (using chemicals), smoothing (using hair removal pads), waxing and zapping (using electrolysis and lasers). All the procedures are safe and effective at removing hair, according to Victoria Barbosa, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Rush University Medical Center and owner of Millennium Park Dermatology in Chicago. But there are a few drawbacks for each process, she warns. Razors—the most common, simple and cheap form of defuzzing— shear away hairs at the skin’s surface. The downside? Because the root of the hair follicle remains intact, hair can quickly regrow, usually within one to five days. Plus, there’s also the problem of razor bumps, which can result when coarse, curly hair regrows and sharp-edged, angular hair strand tips curl down and pierce the skin’s surface. To overcome this problem, Barbosa suggests using shaving cream to soften hair and lubricate the skin so the razor can glide smoothly and evenly over the area. This allows for more bluntcut hairs, decreased friction and less skin irritation, which all lower the possibility of getting unsightly and uncomfortable razor bumps. What’s the upside? To reiterate: Razors are an inexpensive and reliable way to remove hair.
stuff we love A roundup of the latest, must-have finds for hair, skin, ucts are worth w ent. health and beauty, these products every cent. Remington Frizz Therapy Flatiron ($50) Tame frizz with conditionerinfused ceramic plates that help kinky curls get and stay straight and silky smooth.
gĂśt2b Kinkier Curling Mousse (8 oz., $5.99) Define curls and control unruly frizz with the amplifying power of mineral salt and glossifying nectar oil.
Ouidad Sun Shield Sun & Sport Leave-In Spray (8.5 fl. oz., $20) Condition and protect hair from summer sun damage and drying wind, salt and chlorine.
Biomega Silk Shampoo and Intensive Conditioner (10 fl. oz and 5 fl. oz., $17) Transform coarse, curly or frizzy hair with this combo’s silkening infusion of nutrientrich omega oils and mango seed extract.
Kevin.Murphy Full-On. Protection (5.1 fl. oz., $25) Spritzes on to defend against heat styling tools while delivering impressive hold.
THOUGHTS When Life Hands You Lemons Do like author L.A. Banks, a.k.a. Leslie Esdaile Banks. Tap into your creative juices and squeeze out a new life.
Made poor choices? Let go, then move on.
R
egretting past decisions or actions is a funny thing. Although your mistakes are history, you’re obsessing over them in the present—which often clouds your future. How do you break this negative cycle? First, accept whatever it is that you’ve done, advises therapist Elisa English, PhD, a licensed clinical social worker in New York City. Then, move on. “And allow yourself to cry if you must.” Second, speak to someone. “And that means talking to someone you know and trust or getting professional help,” English says. The reality is you cannot change something you did in the past. And, yes, sometimes if you’ve wronged someone, 3 2 RE A L H E A LTH S U MMER 2011
I
the burden of guilt can follow you far into the future. When this happens, it’s tempting to unload the burden, to confess the wrongdoing. But in fact, the best course of action is to consider before you confess. Still, if it helps you to reveal what you did, then spill it, English advises. “But if it really doesn’t make a difference in the life of the person you’ve wronged, you don’t need to create any unnecessary drama,” she adds. As English sums up, the best approach to regrettable actions is this: Benefit by using what happened to help you heal mentally and emotionally so you can grow and learn from your experiences. What more positive outcome can you ask for than that? —Kate Ferguson
realhealthmag.com
THE EXPERT SAYS Joyce Morley-Ball, EdD, (a.k.a. Dr. Joyce) owner of Morley-Ball and Associates Inc., a mental health therapy services firm in Decatur, Georgia, shares why it’s important to let go of past negativities. Why is letting go a must for your overall mental health? Because you cannot be healthy and whole and move forward if you’re holding onto negativity in your life. If you don’t let go of past negative events, they may invade your psyche and throw you off balance. How do negative experiences lead to failed relationships? When you bottle up unfortunate events, this makes it difficult for you to communicate effectively. The result? Depression, anxiety, constant stress or a bad attitude. So how do you let bygones be bygones? First, acknowledge the negative event and permit yourself to show emotion about it. Finally, discuss the experience with a loved one or a mental health professional. And while talk therapy is good, for extremely negative situations, people may also need meds to help. —Willette Francis
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Achieve Release
Ten years ago, I got the dreaded “something horrible has happened to your child” call. The day care center that watched my baby girl, Helena, phoned to say she’d been burned by an iron. The accident caused her to lose three fingers, left her with massive scars running up her arm and necessitated 18 skin-graft surgeries. As Helena recovered, I struggled to pay the mounting bills. One day, I saw a $2,500 grand prize essay contest and decided to enter. Writing distracted me from the difficulties, and eventually, my 10-page essay turned into a 600-page story. Then, I landed a book deal and started writing full-time. Through writing books [such as the Vampire Huntress and Soul Food series, and crime novels such as Betrayal of the Trust], I discovered a newfound freedom and way of self-expression. As I watched Helena struggle through physical therapy and heal, I learned that you must use every skill and gift the creator gives you. That’s what Helena did, and so did I. —As told to Cristina González
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This quiz explores how your level of self-confidence can influence the choices you make. There are no right or wrong answers. Just be as honest as you can. (Tally your answers as follows: Mostly first-choice answers = strongly self-confident; mostly second-choice answers = moderately self-confident; mostly third-choice answers = not very self-confident.) As a thank you, we’ll select three readers at random whose surveys we receive and send them a Denise Austin body shaping fitness DVD (suggested retail price, $9.99 to $12.99). Get ready to strut your stuff!
To enter our drawing, take the survey at realhealthmag.com/survey or fill out this form and mail it to Real Health, c/o Smart + Strong, 462 Seventh Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10018, or fax it to 212.675.8505. For official contest rules, visit realhealthmag.com/survey/rules.
1. Name:_______________________________________________________ 2. Organization (if you represent one):______________________ 3. Street address:_____________________________________________ 4. City & state:_________________________________________________ 5. Zip code:____________________________________________________ 6. Email:_______________________________________________________ 7. Phone:_____________________________________________________
15. You just got a new job but know you’re lacking in some computer skills. You:
8. You’re eating out at a restaurant and don’t like your meal. You:
❑ Say no and express your disappointment with the person
❑ Send the meal back
❑ Tell the person you’ll think about it
❑ Feel sure you’ll be able to learn on the job ❑ Figure you’ll just ask for help when you run into problems ❑ Worry that you’ll eventually be fired
16. Someone you want to impress asks you to do something unethical. You: ❑ Don’t say no outright, but make an excuse to get off the hook
❑ Say something but keep the meal ❑ Keep the meal and say nothing
17. What year were you born?_________
9. You pass a mirror as you’re walking. You:
18. What is your gender?
❑ Only briefly glance at your reflection
❑ Female
❑ Male
❑ Stare critically at your reflection looking for flaws
❑ Transgender
❑ Other
❑ Deliberately avoid looking at your reflection
19. What is your sexual orientation? 10. When someone compliments you, you:
❑ Straight
❑ Gay or lesbian
❑ Simply say, “Thank you”
❑ Bisexual
❑ Other
❑ Feel compelled to offer a compliment in return ❑ Feel uncomfortable
20. What is your annual household income? ❑ Under $15,000
11. Your day is filled with one mishap after another. You:
❑ $15,000–$34,999
❑ Take it in stride; tomorrow’s another day
❑ $35,000–$49,999
❑ Wonder if the world has turned against you
❑ $50,000–$74,999
❑ Obsess over each and every problem
❑ $75,000–$99,999 ❑ $100,000 and over
12. When you make a mistake, you: ❑ Acknowledge responsibility and try to correct the situation if possible
21. What is the highest level of education attained?
❑ Get angry with yourself for making a mistake
❑ Some high school
❑ Try to shift blame elsewhere
❑ High school graduate ❑ Some college
13. You’re considering a move to another state where you don’t know anyone. You:
❑ Bachelor’s degree or higher
❑ Figure you’ll eventually meet friends and don’t worry about it
22. What is your ethnicity?
❑ Check out community organizations you can join to meet people
❑ American Indian or Alaska Native
❑ Panic and begin to reconsider your move
❑ Arab or Middle Eastern ❑ Asian
14. You’re with friends when their behavior becomes extremely obnoxious. You:
❑ Black or African American
❑ Tell them you don’t care for the way they’re acting and leave
❑ Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
❑ Ask them to tone things down
❑ White
❑ Do nothing even though you’re uncomfortable with their behavior
❑ Other
❑ Hispanic or Latino
Summer 2011