The Pros and Cons of Dry Brushing
Dry brushing, long popular in Europe, is in vogue at American spas - and now there are plenty of products on the market to help you do it at home. But should you? Basically, dry brushing involves rubbing the skin with a dry, natural bristle brush. The process can be gentle or rough and may help slough off dead skin cells, but the other claims for it are pretty far-fetched: - Cellulite reduction or elimination. There is no reason to believe this is true. Fat is arranged in large chambers separated from each other by columns of connective tissue. If fat overflows these chambers as a person becomes overweight, or if the connective tissue slackens with age, the result is the classic pitting and bulging we have come to know as cellulite. But no massage or brushing technique has any significant effect on it.
- Toxic elimination. The idea that dry brushing can eliminate up to a pound of toxins a day, as some proponents claim, is ridiculous. Under most circumstances, the body does a good job of cleansing and purifying itself. If you feel the need, you can help speed the removal of unwanted materials by drinking more water, using steam baths or saunas to promote sweating, adjusting diet and fiber intake to ensure regular eliminations and getting enough aerobic activity to stimulate faster breathing. In addition, taking the herbal remedy milk thistle supports normal, healthy liver metabolism, aiding its important role in detoxification.
Dr. Weil recommends taking the health claims for dry brushing with a big grain of salt. If you enjoy it and believe it benefits you, there's no reason not to do it. But if you find that it irritates or inflames your skin, opt for a less abrasive spa treatment such as massage. | Are Vitamins Right For You? |
"Vitamins Don't Work" articles seem to reappear in national news outlets every couple of years or so. These stories usually follow the same format, stating that although more than half of Americans take supplements, there is little or no evidence that they actually improve health or help to lower the risk of chronic disease. But the fact is, the studies on which these articles are based are often flawed. For example, they may use inferior vitamins, get cut short before benefits can manifest, use poor screening methods to find the right study subjects, or be plagued by complicating factors such as members of the placebo group beginning to take vitamins independently. In Dr. Weil's view, the value of antioxidant vitamins has been scientifically demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt by the preponderance of studies showing benefit. Everyone should take a high-quality multivitamin daily. To learn more about vitamins and supplements, visit the Vitamin Advisor. The high-quality products it offers are aligned specifically with your health concerns - visit today and get your free personalized recommendation. |
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