Ego Every Day

Winner Announcement! The results for Round 5 are in…

Sarah@ego — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:51:24 +0000

Here are our ROUND 5 WINNERS, who each receive a $100 Rebel Sport Gift Voucher!

Please find attached winners drawn earlier today.

J. Jackson WA Australia 6058

C. Williams WA Australia 6985

C. Shillats WA Australia 6070

M. Freedman VIC Australia 3161

S. Mills NT Australia 812

S. James Vic Australia 3075

M. Whittington QLD australia 4509

P. Johnston NSW Australia 2582

Z. Phillips SA Australia 5018

C. Pomery SA australia 5554

Congratulations to all our winners!

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Why women feel the cold more than men

Sarah@ego — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 01:49:25 +0000

All you men out there! Do you notice the winter breeze being harsher on your other half than you? It’s true! Find out why, courtesy of Body and Soul:

It’s not your imagination. Science has proven that females’ bodies are more sensitive to the cold.

Ever woken up in the morning to find your other half has thrown the blankets off, as he is too hot, while you’re still swaddled in them because you are cold? Or have you gone out for a walk rugged up in a coat, while he makes do with a thin jumper?

Well, you’re complaining for a reason – it is scientifically proven that women suffer more in the cold than men.

Getting chilly with it

According to many researchers, women feel the cold more than males, but their bodies are better at conserving heat when the weather turns colder. They are able to do this by shutting off blood flow to the skin and extremities to maintain their core temperature at 37 degrees. A drop below 35 degrees can cause hypothermia. As most of our biological temperature sensors are located in the skin, we feel cold if our extremities are cold, however warm our internal organs may be.

Associate Professor Nigel Taylor, at the University of Wollongong’s School of Health Sciences, is an expert on human temperature regulation and has studied the differences between men and women’s reactions to the cold.

“The main difference is the way we lay down subcutaneous fat [the layer of fat below the skin],” Associate Professor Taylor says. “An average woman will have a more even distribution of fat just below the skin surface, whereas this is thinner for guys.

“This is partly because an average woman might have 20 to 25 per cent body fat, whereas an average guy might have about 15 per cent. When we get cold, we conserve heat by reducing the blood flow to the skin.

“When a woman reduces the blood flow to the skin, the temperature of the skin drops as the blood has been moved below her layer of fat.

“A man will tend not to experience such a big change as a female, because he doesn’t have the same distribution of fat. This is why skin temperature is, on average, cooler for a woman than a man.”

This means women often feel cold before men do. “If we reduce the blood flow to the skin we’re going to get more messages from the cold sensors in the skin that we are chilly,” Associate Professor Taylor says. “So when a woman says she is cold, she really means her skin is cold.”

Cold hands, warm heart

Women’s hands and feet are also colder than men’s when the air temperature is cold. Research published in The Lancet medical journal in 1998 reported that women’s hand temperatures were, on average, 2.8 degrees lower than men’s.

Associate Professor Taylor says, “The blood flow to the hands and feet changes very rapidly so that we can lose or conserve heat. The blood vessels to the hands and feet are the first to constrict when we feel cold. So a woman will constrict the blood flow to the feet and hands before a man will, and this is why she feels colder.”

Despite this, The Lancet study also showed that women’s core body temperatures are, on average, 0.4 degrees higher than men’s – meaning they literally have cold hands, but a warm heart.

Mark Newton, an environmental physiology researcher at the University of Portsmouth in the UK, says it isn’t clear why women and men are different, but one possible theory as to why women have this system is that it enables them to survive freezing temperatures.

As females have less muscle mass than men, they need a more efficient technique of protecting their core body temperature.

A woman’s core temperature also fluctuates throughout her menstrual cycle. It goes from 36.9 degrees to a peak of 37.4 degrees, so she will feel the cold more acutely depending on which point she is at in her cycle.

In contrast, a man’s core temperature remains fairly steady at about 37 degrees.

Tips to keep warm include wearing lots of layers, heating homes and eating regular meals.

Cold all the time?

Hypothyroidism
The thyroid produces hormones to help your body convert oxygen and calories into energy. In hypothyroidism it works too slowly.

Diabetes
If your hands and feet feel numb or tingly, you could have type 2 diabetes. It develops when your body is unable to process insulin, the hormone that helps cells convert blood sugar into energy.

Raynaud’s
If your fingers, toes, ears or nose hurt when exposed to the cold, you may have Raynaud’s. The artery wall muscles go into spasm, interrupting the blood supply to hands or feet.

Anaemia
If you don’t have enough haemoglobin in your red blood cells, oxygen can’t be effectively carried from the lungs to the rest of the body. It is often caused by low iron.

Article Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health+healing/news+features/why+women+feel+the+cold+more+than+men,13259

Image Source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

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REVIEWED: Azclear Action Foaming Wash

Sarah@ego — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:00:14 +0000

Our Ego Everyday Test Drivers have reviewed Azclear Action Foaming Wash.

Azclear Action Foaming Wash is an effective antibacterial solution for the control of pimples and acne. It is a gentle cleanser that leaves skin clean and refreshed. It is also suitable for shaving.

BENEFITS

Contains glycerin to help leave skin soft and smooth without drying.
Removes dirt, oil and bacteria to leave the skin feeling clean and refreshed.
Is pH balanced to match that of the skin.

ACTIVES
Cetrimide 1.0%, and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.5%

PRESERVATIVES
Phenoxyethanol 1.0%

SIZES AVAILABLE
150ml bottle with non-aerosol foam pump.

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REVIEWED: QV Kids Wash

Sarah@ego — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:44 +0000

Our QV Test Drivers have reviewed the product QV Kids Wash.

Click here to read the reviews.

Kids won’t want to duck bathtime with QV Kids Wash. It’s a lightly foaming soap free cleanser, pH balanced to match the natural level
of the skin. Fun, colourful microbeads contain important vitamins A
(retinyl palmitate) and E (tocopheryl acetate).

BENEFITS

Gentle surfactants help cleanse the skin without removing natural protective oils.
Mild enough to be used morning and night.
pH-balanced, low-irritant formulation, free from fragrance, lanolin
and propylene glycol.
Suitable for dry, sensitive, itchy skin and eczema.

INGREDIENTS
Water (aqua), glycerin, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, lauryl betaine, xanthan gum, methylparaben, diazolidinyl urea, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, lactose, cellulose, citric acid, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, CI77289, CI77492, CI77007.

SIZES AVAILABLE
200ml bottle
375ml pump pack

Click Here to go to the QV Skincare Website

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INGREDIENT INTRODUCTION – Zinc Oxide

Sarah@ego — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:08:58 +0000

Zinc oxide is astringent, soothing and protective with some antiseptic properties. ^1,2,3It has been safely used in nappy creams, Calamine USP, eczema treatments, sunscreens and in products for slight skin abrasions, wounds and haemorrhoids for many years.²

Zinc oxide has been shown to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent, able to inhibit granulation4 and promote wound healing.⁴ Zinc oxide has also been found to inhibit bacterial growth when used in topical wound care products.^5,6

Zinc Oxide is used in Egozite Baby Cream for its skin protecting properties. It is used in Resolve Nappy Rash due to its ability to soothe, heal and protect the infected area.

Always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist, please see your healthcare professional.

The Merck Index. 12th Edition. Pg 1734 – 1735.
Martindale. The Complete Drug Reference. 32^nd edition. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 1999 pp. 1096.
Auger P et al. Treatment of cutaneous candidosis in guinea pigs: Effect of zinc oxide on the antifungal efficacy of nystatin. Mycoses 1988; 32(9):455-460.
Wetter L, Agren MS, Hallmans G et al. Effects of zinc oxide in an occlusive, adhesive dressing on granulation tissue formation. Scnad J Plast Reconstr Surg 1986; 20:165-172.
Agren MS, Chvapil M and Franzen L. Enhancement of re-epithelialization with topical zinc oxide in porcine partial-thickness wounds. Journal of Surgical Research 1991; 50:101-105.
Agren MS, Franzen L and Chvapil M: Effects on wound healing of zinc oxide in a hydrocolloid dressing. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993; 29:221-227.

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FEATURED ARTICLE – Red Nose Day

Sarah@ego — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:55:06 +0000

Red Nose Day¹

Red Nose Day is held annually on the last Friday in June. This major fundraiser for SIDS and Kids is into its 25^th year and continues to provide vital services and programs to the Australian community.

SIDS and Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and to supporting bereaved families through bereavement support, education, research, national awareness campaigning, advocacy and fundraising.

Each year SIDS and Kids fields thousands of queries through a bereavement support line. Ongoing professional support for families is available 24 hours a day through counselling sessions, after hours counselling, home visits and a range of support groups and events. SIDS and Kids programs are offered free of charge to all family members and friends who need support. For as long as they need them, SIDS and Kids are there!

Their current health promotion program, SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping, is evidence-based and provides families, infant carers and health professionals with information about how to reduce the risk of SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents and create a safe sleeping environment for babies.

The SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping program recommends:

Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side.
Sleep baby with head and face uncovered.
Keep baby smoke free before birth and after.
Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day.
Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult care-giver for the first six to twelve months.
Breastfeed baby if you can.

More information on this is available at www.sidsandkids.org

1. About Red Nose Day [online]. [cited 19 June 2012]. Available from URL: http://www.rednoseday.com.au/about-red-nose-day/

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REVIEWED: SunSense Everyday Radiance

Sarah@ego — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:00:38 +0000

Our Ego Everyday Test Drivers have reviewed SunSense Everyday Radiance.

For a sun-kissed look everyday, apply SunSense Self Tanning System Everyday Radiance as your regular daily moisturiser.
The cocoa butter and honey will keep your skin silky-smooth,
while the two tanning ingredients will create a beautiful golden glow
gradually. Simply apply daily as part of your skin care regime.

BENEFITS

Enriched with cocoa butter and honey
Suitable for all skin types
Fragrance-free
Dermatologically tested

SIZES AVAILABLE
200g flip top tube.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
For a sun-kissed look everyday, apply SunSense Self Tanning System Everyday Radiance as your regular daily moisturiser. The cocoa butter and honey will keep your skin silky-smooth, while the two tanning ingredients will create a beautiful golden glow gradually. Simply apply daily as part of your skin care regime.

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REVIEWED: QV Face Lip Balm

Sarah@ego — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:30:07 +0000

Our QV Test Drivers have reviewed the product QV Face Lip Balm.

Click here to read the reviews.

Moisturising balm and SPF 30+ protection keeps your lips soft and smoochable, even when you’re out in the wind and sun.

BENEFITS

Softens and protects even dry and sensitive lips
Uniquely shaped glide-on applicator is soft on lips.
Broad spectrum SPF 30+ protection.
Free from fragrance, colour, lanolin, PABA and propylene glycol.

ACTIVES
Octyl methoxycinnamate 4.0% (w/w) and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane
2.5% (w/w).

SIZES AVAILABLE
15g tube with glide on applicator

Always read the label and use only as directed
Caution: Avoid eyes.

Click Here to go to the QV Skincare Website

Click Here to read our blog, product reviews or join the QV Test Drive

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Winner Announcement! The results for Round 4 are in…

Sarah@ego — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 03:54:17 +0000

Here are our ROUND 4 WINNERS, who each receive a $100 Rebel Sport Gift Voucher!

Congratulations go out to:

Chee Keong Yong, NSW
Leanne Bree, VIC
Nicole Licastro, VIC
Vanessa Bonato, VIC
Jane Barnett, WA
Sharon Woods, Vic
Cheryl Ross, WA
Francis Vicente, VIC
Rebecca Phillips, NSW
Larry Norman, WA

If you would like to be in the running to WIN a $100 Rebel Sport Gift Card with SolvEasy simply Purchase any SolvEasy Tinea Cream 30g from any Pharmacy and enter your details here!

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Five tips for Winter Eating

Sarah@ego — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:39:32 +0000

Concerned about how your eating habits are going to effect next Summer’s bikini body? Here are five tips to keep you looking trim over Winter, courtesy of Body and Soul.

Avoid weight gain and stay healthy all season long with these simple and effective tips.

What’s your game plan for when those winter cravings kick in? Nutritionist Lisa Guy shares her best food tips for staying slim over the chilly period.

1. Choose your white foods carefully

It is tempting to reach for comforting “white” carbohydrate foods in winter such as cakes, cookies, white pasta, rice and breads.

These refined foods promote weight gain as they are digested quickly and cause your blood-sugar and insulin levels to spike. Making the switch to wholesome wholegrain varieties will help you maintain a healthy weight and keep you full for longer, as they are rich in fibre and help keep your blood-sugar levels balanced. Nutritious wholegrain choices include whole oats, quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, wholegrain pasta and grainy breads.

Other “white” foods to avoid include cream, butter and cheese – they are heavy on calories and rich in saturated fats. Instead, go for dishes made with antioxidant-rich tomato or vegetable-based sauces.

2. Drink two litres of water a day

We often forget to keep our water intake up during winter, yet it is important to drink plenty of water all year round for good health.

Don’t forget air conditioning and heaters can be very dehydrating.

Try to drink at least two litres a day. Herbal teas count too. There are many wonderful health-promoting teas to choose from such as ginger (great for improving circulation), green (a powerful antioxidant and can help promote weight loss), rosehip (rich in vitamin C), peppermint (good for digestion) and chamomile (helps calm your nerves).

3. Eat protein with every meal

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight is to eat good-quality, low-fat protein at each meal. Protein foods have a low GI and help to stabilise blood-sugar levels, which in turn will help curb sugar cravings and prevent you snacking on sugary carbohydrate foods. A good guide is to keep protein servings to the size and thickness of your palm. Some healthy protein choices include nuts, seeds, legumes (and legume-based foods such as hummus), eggs, fish, lean meat, chicken, low-fat dairy and soy products. Protein foods also help to create a feeling of fullness, preventing you from overeating.

4. Fill half your plate with fruit and veg

At least half of your diet should be made up of fresh fruit and vegetables (including legumes). Fruit and vegetables are an excellent source of important vitamins and minerals including vitamins A and C, folate, iron and calcium.

Purple, red and orange varieties are particularly high in potent health-promoting antioxidants. However, if you are watching your waistline, don’t overdo higher-GI vegies such as potato, sweet potato and pumpkin.

Aim to have about three pieces of fruit a day. Try adding fruit to your porridge, and make stewed fruit to have with muesli or natural yoghurt in the morning.

5. Start your dinner with soup

Have a small bowl of low-calorie soup before your main meal to help manage your weight.

Doing this is not only a great way to increase your vegetable intake, it can help reduce the amount of food and calories you consume in a meal, according to a study by Pennsylvania State University in the US.

To save time, make a healthy vegetable-based soup at the beginning of the week and freeze portions. Don’t forget to add immune-boosting ingredients such as garlic, ginger, onion and miso to help protect yourself from colds and flu.

Article Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/food+diet/diets/five+winter+food+rules,18093

Image Source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

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