Japan Going Bananas Over Popular Banana Diet Craze

Diet plans to lose weight are always popular. And if the diet contains a food or food group that tastes good, then folks become hooked. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon, hoping for major weight loss. If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is. The cookie diet, the pineapple diet, the same colored food diet, etc.

But in Japan, bananas are becoming hard to find in supermarkets. Even Time Magazine is seriously reporting about the new Morning Banana Diet.

What is it?

Very simple. If you love bananas, then this is the diet weight loss plan for you. Maybe.

A pharmacist in Osaka, Japan says she created the diet for her overweight husband. Sumiko Watanabe wanted to speed up her hubby's metabolism to burn fat, and she did it by feeding him bananas. Mr. Watanabe says he lost 37 lbs!

According to Time, the Morning Banana Diet follows just a few rules:

"The Morning Banana Diet consists of one or more bananas with room-temperature water for breakfast; an optional snack at 3 p.m.; and anything you want for lunch and dinner. The catch: You can't eat desserts after meals, dinner has to be consumed by 8 p.m. , and you have to go to bed by midnight."

We all know that bananas are rich in potassium. But the yellow, creamy 100 Calorie treat is much more than that. Bananas are pretty close to being a perfect food. They are packed with fiber, iron, and protein, Vitamins B6 and C. And Bananas also stop your craving for sugar. And the fruit is high in minerals that reduce cholesterol. And they are great for pregnant women, because they contain good things that help keep blood sugars up.

Even model Cindy Crawford has talked about eating bananas as a healthy, filling snack.

Whether this is just another fad diet remains to be seen. We're not sure what kind of impact the Morning Banana Diet will have on diet-crazed people here in the U.S. At least, we have plenty of bananas to go around. In Japan, good luck trying to score some:

"Large stores don't have any bananas from noon, and even Ito Yokado (a major supermarket chain) runs out of them after 3 p.m.," said Tomoyuki Horiuchi, sales representative of Tokyo Seika Boeki Co., Ltd., fruit and vegetables wholesale company.

Over the past four months, Dole Japan has boosted its banana imports by more than 25 percent, but stores are still running out, Time said.

Hey, it beats eating a Pop Tart for breakfast.

Neutrogena New SkinID For Personal Acne Solution

Do you ever feel that your skin needs special, individual attention?

Think about it. When you're suffering from acne and breakouts, the same cleanser might not work for your roommate like it works effectively for you.

Acne is tough to deal with, and you are not alone. Statistics show that 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 have acne. And acne still erupts in those of us in our 30s and beyond.

Still frustrated?

The good folks at Neutrogena 3 have developed a very smart and dermatologically-sound plan for you, me, and all of us. The best part, it's an individually tailored SkinID Acne Solution.

You don't need a prescription for it. It's a 3-product regimen for $39.90. And there's a 100% money back guarantee. What we think is intelligent, is SkinID's evaluation. Simply visit the website, and take the thorough and individual evaluation.
http://www.skinid.com/econsumer/clearskin/index.view.

For instance, you answer questions based on important factors like these:

1. The state you live in.
2. The kind of acne you have---blackheads, whiteheads, etc.
3. The amount of sunlight you get every day.
4. Whether you pick at your face or not.
5. Whether you have rough patches of facial skin.
6. Where on the face you are oily.
7. Stress and if it is a factor in your life.

The experts at Neutrogena Dermatologics then tailor make an acne plan for you, and you alone. And the pros there have gone through thousands of SkinID individual evaluations and matched them with the best advanced products for clear skin.
http://www.skinid.com/econsumer/clearskin/about.view?sid_body=/clearskin/pages/about-story.html.

You don't have to suffer with acne forever. Neutrogena has done a lot of homework to develop this unique and individual Acne Treatment. It's like an in-office visit with your very own dermatologist.

No two pimples are alike. And Neutrogena is wiping out acne with a simple 3-product regimen.

Mineral Makeup Goes Liquid With Neutrogena

Kinder and gentler to skin. Clean and breathable.

That's what mineral makeup is supposed to be about. No we haven't tried it yet. But some of our friends seem to love the loose powder foundations and blushes.

Neutrogena always seems to be on the beauty forefront, and for a couple of months now, has been pushing its new Mineral Sheers Liquid Makeup.

Mineral makeup is very popular these days, and for a number of good reasons. That's why big names in the biz, like Jane Iredale and Bare Minerals sell it:

Battles dryness
Unclogs oily skin + pores
All natural, finely ground minerals from the earth
Allergy-free
Good for sensitive skin
No fragrances, no dyes
Protects skin from the sun

Neutrogena's Mineral Sheers Liquid Makeup ($13.99, drugstores, http://www.ulta.com/) comes ready with a silky brush for buildable coverage. Although it's in a liquid form, it is still light and airy, according to the brand. We love that it has an SPF 20. And it comes in a dozen shades, which is pretty generous. You have quite a range to select from.

There are also foes of the mineral makeup boom. Some women swear this makeup actually accentuates fine lines and wrinkles. And there are those who say their acne got worse after wearing this kind of makeup.

We like to say that everyone is an individual. What works for you, might not work for her, and so on.

We have one friend who works out hard four days a week, and she wears mineral makeup to the gym. She says the foundation hasn't failed her yet. It stays on throughout her exercise routine.

We are going to try the Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Liquid Makeup in a few weeks. We are attracted to the liquid foundation aspect of it. We hope it glides on easily and mattes our oily skin.

Rembrandt Really Keeps Teeth Whitest And Brightest

Rembrandt.

The name has been around for a number of years now. There have been many teeth whiteners that have promised you this and that, and produced average results. And some have quickly disappeared off store shelves.

But Rembrandt Teeth Whitener has endured for one simple reason: It delivers a whiter and brighter smile. Period. And Rembrandt has three powerful yet gentle-to-your-mouth products to maintain that beautiful smile.

Let's be honest here---your smile says plenty about your physical attractiveness. You don't need big, chicklet-sized veneers to be pretty. Look at Julia Roberts. Her mega-watt smile has opened many doors in Hollywood. And her smile is real, and her teeth are white. Nothing fake or phoney.




We took an honest look at Rembrandt's 3-pronged attack for the whitest and brightest at-home teeth whitening products:

Rembrandt 2-hour Whitening Kit ($20.25. Save $5. Visit: http://www.rembrandt.com/). You need molding trays and whitening gel to get the brightest smile around. The kit includes it all. Simply mold the trays to your mouth. Apply the Rembrandt whitening gel to the upper and lower comfy tray applicators. Wear them for 20 minutes. Remove the trays for 10 minutes. And repeat for 4 applications and a total of 2 hrs.

You end up with a visibly, gorgeous new smile. No more waiting months or weeks. One day in just 2 hours! The only company that can make that claim is Rembrandt.

And Rembrandt makes it easy to maintain your new bright smile with 2 more products:

Rembrandt Whitening Rinse with Fluoride ($5.99, 16 fl. oz.) Fresh mint flavor. The only rinse out there that "whitens teeth while actively restoring tooth enamel." Use it every day to protect your teeth and make them stronger.

Rembrandt Intense Stain Toothpaste with Fluoride ($7.49, 3 oz.) The third teeth whitening product in their line. An amazing toothpaste that "prevents plaque build-up, tartar, and gumline erosion." Clinically shown to lift those stubborn coffee and red wine stains. It, too, restores tooth enamel with special micro-polishing particles. Users remark that the toothpaste leaves your mouth very clean, just like a trip to the dentist.

As the folks at Rembrandt say: "Take care of your mouth. It can be brilliant."

Less PMS With Relaxing And Happy Saffron Spice

Saffron.

Most of you have heard of this exotic and ancient spice. And many of you have tried Saffron rice. But did you know that Saffron maybe be the answer to improving PMS or premenstrual syndrome? We had heard about this a couple of months ago, and just saw an item in October's issue of Allure magazine.

Saffron has been used in traditional Persian medicine for many years. In fact, Iran is the world's largest producer of saffron. And it is exported to more than 45 countries. And it certainly isn't cheap at $800 per kilo of saffron. The reason for its high cost? It's very difficult to farm. Saffron is harvested from the fall-flowering plant Crocus sativus, a member of the Iris family.

The word saffron comes from the Arab word zafaran, meaning 'yellow.'

According to a recent study that was noted in Allure, 50 women with a history of PMS, and ladies, we know who we are, were given two 15-milligram saffron tablets twice a day for two menstrual cycles or placebo pills instead.

76% of the women who were assigned the saffron tablets, had at least a 50% improvement in PMS symptoms. Those taking the placebo pills saw only an 8% improvement.

Scientists find that saffron calms down the stomach, and also acts as an anti-depressant, in the same way that Prozac does. And new research show that saffron is just as effective as Prozac in treating mild to moderate depression.

Before you begin any treatment for PMS, please check with your OBGYN. You want to make sure the spice does not interact with other medication you might be on. In addition, too much saffron can be deadly and leave one in a deep narcotic sleep. Of course, that would mean taking very large amounts. It's always best to check with your doctor before trying to begin a new treatment program yourself.

Still, quite a fascinating story about a farway, exotic spice, and how premenstrual syndrome could be connected.

Mia Hamm And Athletes Wear Mission Product Skin Care

Let's make this clear:
You don't have to be a super athlete like soccer legend Mia Hamm to wear Mission Product.

We stumbled across this exciting company recently, and decided it was time more people heard about Mission Product....Athlete Engineered Skin Care.

X-Games Gold medalists Gretchen Bleiler and Ryan Sheckler joined forces and developed Mission Product...skin care treatments designed by and for athletes.

These skin care items are effective, sweat-proof, and water-proof for the active woman and man on the go.

Mia Hamm loves the Mission Product Daily Offense Stick (Sun Stick) with an SPF 30($9.99, www.missionproduct.com, and sports stores).

This compact Sun Stick is perfect for your nose, cheeks, ears, lips, and neck. Just rub it in all over your face and go!

"SPF 30 offers broad long lasting protection from damaging UVA/UVB rays.
Nourishing oils, butters and Vitamin E moisturize, condition, heal your skin.
Dries quickly upon application, non-greasy, non-sticky, won’t sting your eyes and works perfectly with any skin type.
Pop it in your jersey pocket, seat bag or hydration pack for easy transport.
Preservative and paraben free ."

Mission Product also carries in its skin care line, these excellent treatments to battle the elements and soothe active skin:

After-Sun Revive Gel
Anti-Friction Cream
Foot Synergy Gel
Lip Protector SPF 20

Judge Throws Out Silly Hair Dye Suit Against L'Oreal

This one really caught our eye. It's been the buzz around hair salons the past few days.

Our Beauty Tip Today: Carefully examine all products bought in a box, before doing at-home beauty treatments.

Trust us...this will make sense in a moment.

Ever use a box of hair color bought at your local drugstore? No, it's not embarrassing to admit you dye your hair by yourself. There are millions of women who home-color.

This incident took place in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Charlotte Feeney had bought a box of L'Oreal hair color. Charlotte claims she purchased a box of blonde hair color. But what came out, was a head full of brunette dye. Charlotte says that the wrong shade was in the wrong box---a bottle of deep brown hair color was what she found instead. But Charlotte had no idea the dye was allegedly tampered with and proceeded to color her hair. This occured in 2005, by the way.

Charlotte was so devastated, she tried suing L'Oreal, according to the Associated Press:

"Charlotte Feeney of Stratford says she can never return to her natural blonde hue, a shock that left her so traumatized she needed anti-depressants.

She says she suffered headaches and anxiety, missed the attention that blondes receive and had to stay home and wear hats most of the time."

The Superior Court judge tossed the lawsuit against L'Oreal out of court last Monday, saying that Charlotte, "never proved her allegation that L'Oreal put brown hair dye in a box labeled as blonde."

And the L'Oreal hair color/cosmetics giant also had disputed the claim.

What's the lesson here? We believe Charlotte's story. It is very possible the hair dye was accidentally placed in her box or mislabeled as blonde color. Or someone could have purposely tampered with the bottles as a cruel joke.

Maybe Charlotte didn't pay attention to the color itself as she was applying it to her hair. Maybe she had never used this particular L'Oreal hair color before. She obviously didn't do the strand test. We're all supposed to do the strand test each time we color. But do we???

There are a lot of 'maybes' here. The least L'Oreal could do, is pay for the woman's visit to a professional hair salon to have her hair restored back to her favorite blonde look. L'Oreal is a major force in the beauty world, and should kindly help this poor woman out, out of court.

But as we stated at the beginning of our article, we must all be smart and alert when using any kind of at-home beauty treatments. Seriously. If you're going to do your own chemical peel, for instance, you want to make sure you follow the instructions to the letter. The same applies to at-home hair color, waxing procedures, and so on.

Carefully examine all products that come in your at-home box. It could mean the difference between beauty and disaster.

And as a dark-haired gal, well, deep brown isn't all that bad. We have fun, too.