What causes neck wrinkles? The answer is simple and not so simple. The big answer is common – natural aging, excessive sun exposure, and in some cases rapid weight loss. The underlying answer is loss of hydration, gravity, and loss of healthy collagen fibers. A healthy diet and a good neck firming cream can help…a lot!

Just like most parts of your body, as you age, eventually you will begin to notice that you are getting wrinkles on your neck. It usually takes longer to notice wrinkles on your neck than you would on your face because it isn’t an area that is studied in the mirror. There are also some factors that can lead to the wrinkles showing up faster on the neck.

Part of the reason is that as we get older fat redistributes itself under the skin. We tend to lose fat around the neck, eyes and checks. The firm texture of unwrinkled skin is a benefit of having elastic skin that has collagen underneath it. There are a few factors that will lower these important attributes to wrinkle-free skin.

Too Much Exposure To The Sun

A lot of people do not realize how much the neck is exposed to the sun every day. You do not have to go to the beach to get damage to your skin from the suns UV rays. That exposure will eventually cause damage to your skin. To avoid this kind of damage you must pay extra attention to your face and upper chest when you are outside. That means that you put sun block not only when you go to the beach but every time that you wear a shirt that will not provide much coverage like a t-shirt or a sleeveless shirt.

Rapid Weight Loss

If you lose a substantial amount of weight too fast then there is also a chance that you will develop below your throat and under your chin (double chin). That happens because the skin is very flexible so on a person that is overweight the skin will stretch a lot more. When you lose that weight then more than likely your skin will return to place except in cases where the weight loss was extreme and fast. When that happens then the option to get the neck back in shape is to talk to a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon that will be able to remove the excess of skin or use a good neck cream to tighten loose skin. If the weight loss is through a surgery be sure to talk to your surgeon beforehand about options after weight loss.

Aging

Aging is one of those things that at this moment you cannot do much about. The reasons you get wrinkles with aging are a few. First is a combination of all the sun exposure throughout the years and in some cases poor skin care or weight loss. Creating and implementing a great skin care regimen early on will go a long way in helping you maintain firm, youthful appearing skin.

This should include a plan that involves daily use of a firming cream for the neck, as well as a healthy diet and exercise routine with plenty of water. In addition to this investing in high quality skin care products will help you address wrinkles topically. If these options aren’t enough there are several procedures that are deemed safe available for tightening and lifting neck skin in problematic areas.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, control diabetes or prevent disease, it’s important to be aware of the effects of the sugar in carbohydrates on your body and in particular, your blood sugar level.

Carbohydrates provide fuel for your body to burn for energy. However, the modern diet is often heavily laden with carbohydrates which release their sugar content very quickly and have a detrimental effect on your health.

In an ideal world, we want to see the level of sugar circulating in the bloodstream to be fairly stable throughout the day, supplying our energy needs. If we were to plot this on a chart, we’d want it to look like a sine wave, with no major peaks or lows.

The highs and lows correspond to the amount of sugar in the bloodstream, depending on whether you’ve just eaten or are getting hungry.

When you eat a carbohydrate with a fast releasing, high sugar content, the level of sugar in the blood stream rises sharply.

When there is too much sugar in the bloodstream, your pancreas releases insulin, taking the surplus sugar out of the blood and dumping it in fat stores. The more sugar there is in the blood, the more insulin is released and this can cause the blood sugar level to fall too low and you get hungry.

This is when many people will reach for a sugary snack or drink to give them a boost of energy. This works for a brief period, until more insulin is released and their energy dips again. And yes, you’ve guessed it, they eat another high carb snack or meal. So they can end up with the blood sugar level yo yo-ing throughout the day.

Ultimately, this can lead to a situation where your body becomes “insulin resistant” that is, it ignores the insulin instruction to dump excess sugar into fat stores and levels can become dangerously high. This leads to Type 2 diabetes, which is becoming more and more common.

So how do you avoid this and control the level of sugar in your bloodstream?

Back in 1981, the Glycaemic Index (GI) was invented by Dr Thomas Wolever and Dr David Jenkins at the University of Toronto. The GI is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. So the GI tells us about the quality of a carbohydrate.

Sugar has a GI value of 100 and other foods are measured against that. People were advised to eat mainly foods with a low GI (55 or less), or moderate GI value (56 -69). It was suggested that high GI value foods (70+) should be combined with a low GI value food, or avoided altogether.

Here’s some examples of GI values:

Food

GI value

Burgen mixed grain bread

34

Muffin

54

Special K

54

Cola

63

Croissant

67

Weetabix

69

Wholemeal bread

69

Crumpet

69

Bagel

69

Swede

72

Watermelon

72

Gluten free bread

79

Cornflakes

84

Puffed Wheat

89

Rice Milk

92

So you can see that Muffins, Special K were considered fine to eat. Cola, croissants, bagels were fine in moderation whereas watermelon was in the “to be avoided” group.

The big problem with only looking at how fast the sugar content of a food hits the bloodstream, is that it takes no account of just how much sugar there is in the food. Because some foods typically have a low carbohydrate content, Harvard researchers created the GL rating system that takes into account the amount of carbohydrates in a given serving of a food.

The GL looks at both the quality of the sugar – how fast it releases, and the quantity. The GL means the total “Glycaemic Load” on the body. It’s worked out by using a simple formula. Take the GI value of a food, multiply it by the amount of carbohydrate in a food and divide by 100.

So, why is this important? First, let me explain that if you want to keep blood sugar levels stable, maintain your ideal weight and enjoy good health, you need to aim for each of your 3 main meals having a GL value of 15. If you want to lose weight, then you’d aim for each of the 3 main meals having a GL value of 10. In order to keep blood sugar levels stable through the day, you’d add in 2 snacks mid morning and afternoon, each with a GL value of 5.

When we add the GL value into the table above we can begin to see the significance of the GL rating system:

Food

GI value

GL value

Burgen mixed grain bread

34

2 slices = 4 GL

Muffin

54

11 GL

Special K

54

30g serving 14 GL

Cola

63

250ml = 14 GL

Croissant

67

1 = 17 GL

Weetabix

69

2 biscuits = 11 GL

Wholemeal bread

69

1 thick slice = 9 GL

Crumpet

69

1 = 13 GL

Bagel

69

1 = 24 GL

Swede

72

150g = 7 GL

Watermelon

72

120g = 4 GL

Gluten free bread

79

1 slice = 10 GL

Cornflakes

84

30g serving = 21 GL

Puffed Wheat

89

30g serving = 16 GL

Rice Milk

92

250ml = 14GL

Under the GI rating system, Special K would be considered fine to eat, having a score of 54. But we can see that because it is all unrefined carbs it has a GL value of 14! Okay if you’re wanting to maintain your weight, but not if you want to lose weight.

A bagel, just squeezes into the “eat in moderation” bracket yet has a massive GL value of 24! That blows 2 main meals and 1 snack in just 1 bagel!!!

Puffed wheat has a high GI score of 89 which is reflected in the GL value of 16. One meal and 1 snacks worth!

However, look more closely at watermelon with a GI value of 72 which puts it into the “avoidance” group. It has so little sugar (just 6 grams) in it that the GL value is only 4, making it fine to eat. If we do the math with watermelon we can see how this works out:

72 x 6 = 432 divided by 100 = 4.32 rounded to 4GL per serving.

When you start looking at the GL value of foods, it becomes evident how easy it is to blow your blood sugar levels and mess up your diet. Snacking on a 250ml can of cola with a crumpet is a massive GL value of 27! I’ve known many people who drink nothing but cola, having up to 2 litres a day and can’t understand why they feel so ill.

Getting your diet back to basics is crucial if you want to avoid the disease conditions that are almost epidemic in the western world.

Dump white bread, processed foods, biscuits, cakes, cookies, chips.

Instead, eat granary bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains such as porridge oats, nuts, seeds and good quality proteins.

Having some protein with each meal will slow down the rate at which the sugar content of carbs is released. Ideally, eat small amounts little and often and take time to enjoy your food and listen to your body when it tells you that it is satisfied by what you’ve eaten. (And then STOP).

It happens to all of us at one time or another – we feel lethargic and just haven’t got the energy to do anything more than turn over and go back to sleep. Every now and then, that’s not an issue. You’ll have a duff day but come back to normal tomorrow. It’s when you feel lethargic twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, that you need to get a grip on yourself and get back to normality. Of course, if it was that easy, you’d have done it already. So what are the steps you can take to stop feeling lethargic all the time?

Check your diet

What you eat affects everything about you. It affects your weight. But it also affects your mood and your energy levels.

Sure, the occasional candy bar for an instant sugar rush won’t do much, if any, harm if it’s in moderation. But when moderation changes from once or twice a week to once or twice a day and then seemingly every waking moment then it’s no longer moderation. Sorry to be the bearer of that bad news!

Diet is important. Cut out the sugar drinks – and don’t just swap to the diet versions, they’re even worse for you. Eat more fresh foods. Maybe even visit the salad bar more than once a decade, being wary of the dressings and toppings as these are often laden with sugar and salt.

Drink more

Not beer or wine or spirits or soft drinks.

I mean things like water, tea and – in moderation (that word again) – coffee.

The majority of our body is made up of water and if we don’t keep ourselves hydrated then that doesn’t help how we feel.

So it’s possible that your lethargic tendencies are caused by lack of hydration.

Make a habit of keeping a glass of water close by you – not close enough that you run the danger of spilling it over your computer obviously – and keep taking sips at regular intervals. To start with, set a bleep up on your phone or whatever to remind you. After a few days it will become second nature and you’ll find yourself automatically reaching out for a drink of water.

Break state

That’s not an anarchic suggestion.

It means that you need to swap what you’re currently doing and do something else.

The old phrase “a change is as good as a rest” is at play here.

Whatever you’re currently doing to cause your lethargic feelings needs to be made to move on.

Breaking state by changing what you’re doing is an excellent way to do this.

Maybe go for a ten minute walk (that didn’t sound too onerous, did it?).

Flip channels on your television or, better yet, turn the TV off and do something else.

If you’re terminally bored then you’re either still a teenager, in which case lethargy is almost your natural state, or you need to find something else to do with your time.

Hair is something you don’t think twice about until it starts falling out. Sometimes, that is how it goes when it comes to hair. Sometimes you do not notice how much you truly love your hair until it is gone. Apply these tips to help you prevent hair loss.

Hair loss can also be caused by many temporary conditions, like anemia, stress, surgery, sickness and changes in weight. The temporary loss of hair typically starts 3 months after an event and typically occurs for roughly 3 months. Be aware of these concerns and use this understanding to your advantage.

Consider using aloe vera to prevent hair loss. Many people find this to be effective. Take some Aloe and apply it to your head at bedtime. The massage will stimulate blood flow to your scalp and the aloe vera may prevent more loss of hair.

Over time your hair can become unhealthy due to using too many harsh treatments, chemicals, and blow drying it too much. Be sure to use quality hair-care products that will keep your hair moisturized. Get a haircut from a hairstylist every few weeks to stop frizzies and split ends before they happen.

In order to prevent hair loss from occurring, and to help re-grow hair that has already fallen out, you may want to gently massage your scalp now and then. For best results when you massage your scalp, use a mineral oil to lubricate and soften the skin.

Stay away from toxins and pollutants if you want to maintain full and beautiful hair. Harmful substances that find their way inside your body make you less healthy, and as your body struggles to stay healthy, this can have an adverse affect on your hair and contribute to its loss. For example, you do not want to be near unhealthy traffic fumes or whenever you are dealing with toxic chemicals, gloves should always be worn.

Don’t brush wet hair. If your hair is wet, it is more prone to getting damaged. You can being brushing when your hair is at least fifty percent dry for best results. You can damage your hair if you brush it when it is wet and make it split.

Young men are often embarrassed by early hair loss, but it’s actually quite common. If you are so afflicted, don’t worry unduly. It has been known to strike even teenagers. Consider a shorter hair style if it starts to become noticeable. There are many people who are even attracted to this.

You mix the lime with the coconut and shake it all up, it’s not just the lyrics to a great song, it is a way to prevent your hair from falling out. To get the best results, apply this mixture on a daily basis. Make sure to gently massage it into your scalp on a daily basis. This can be done circularly for 10 minutes each time before shampooing.

One of the really important influences in stopping hair loss is your daily diet. Eat foods and drink beverages that are high in levels of both vitamin A as well as vitamin E, as both are documented as necessary nutrients for healthy hair. Incorporate fish, walnuts or olive oil into your diet to restrengthen hair.

If you are scheduled for chemotherapy, cut your hair or shave your head beforehand. This is the best way to remain in control and avoid the pain of going through noticeable hair loss.

There is no way that you can stop all baldness; you might be wrong if you think they will help. Just because a product works for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work for you. Research the products yourself and figure out what works for you to avoid wasting your time and your finances.

Create a paste of olive oil, honey and cinnamon. These ingredients can make the scalp and hair stronger. Before shampooing, apply the paste on the roots of the hair and scalp. Leave it in for about five minutes, then rinse it out and proceed with your normal hair-washing routine.

If you are lacking calories in your diet, you may experience hair loss. Make sure you are getting enough nutritious food to keep your body healthy. This can vary according to age and weight. Being sure to eat enough during the day is not only useful for preventing hair loss, but it also has a host of other benefits for your body.

It is important that you thoroughly research all hair loss products and treatments you use, so that you know all of the ingredients. You might convince yourself that you should spend more on a product that is the best solution.

How to clean your scalp and hair, and with which products, can be confusing for anyone who faces hair loss. If you possess more than a little hair on the top of your head, keep shampooing it.

Adequate amounts of vitamin C are pivotal in reducing the risk of hair loss. Vitamin C facilitates collagen production. Collagen is needed for healthy, living hair. If you feel that you are lacking vitamin C, eat more citrus fruits, or eat some vitamin C candy drops.

One important aspect of stopping hair loss is knowing when it began. There are times when the start of hair loss can be attributed to the use of a certain product. By solving these problems or getting away from a certain product, your hair may start to grow again.

When your hair is wet, don’t brush it. Wait until you have towel dried your hair and then allowed it to dry the rest of the way naturally. If your hair is still wet, the follicle at the base of each hair is very vulnerable and subject to damage. When you brush wet hair, you can speed up the rate of your hair loss.

It is very discouraging to see too much hair going down the drain. Finding a way to get hair back on your head can be priceless. Apply the tips offered here, and you will see positive changes to your scalp.