With appointments to keep and traffic to beat most people will set an alarm to wake them from their slumber. Considered an annoying necessity one accepts as the only way to stay on schedule these ticking time bombs can do your body harm, depending on the type and intensity of the alarm.

Some sound like the mating call of migrating mammoth (muffled and monotonous) whilst others herald a high note even Mariah Carey would have trouble reaching. The net effect of which can be felt for several hours after the wake-quake has hit.

By shocking your system to start your day you effectively short-cut your natural sleep cycle which medical research has shown to raise stress levels within the body leading to subsequent lethargy, declined alertness and compromised immune function.

The primary side-effect being sleep inertia, a physiological state characterised by a decline in motor dexterity and a subjective feeling of grogginess immediately following an abrupt awakening. The impaired alertness may interfere with the ability to perform mental or physical tasks. Sleep inertia can also refer to the tendency of a person to want to return to sleep.

Various secondary effects are:

1) Inactiveness

2) Depression

3) Tension

4) Anger

5) Anxiety

How to avoid the harm of a conventional alarm:

Rather than rise like a rocket and risk exploding upon launch or veering off course make your morning less manic by awakening in a progressive manner. The benefits of which include better memory recall, prolonged alpha brain wave activity and cognitive function, as well as a general feeling of being refreshed after a good night’s rest.

Use soothing sounds not ear splitting shrills that raise your consciousness without raising your blood pressure.

The iSoundSpa alarm clock allows you to choose between natures harmonious sounds or one of the blissful beats off your iPod®.

More than a docking station with sensational sound the iSoundSpa helps create a calming atmosphere with it’s selection of six nature sounds (ocean, rain, night, waterfall, brook, and sunrise) and subtle blue readout.

So now you can rise to a rainforest feeling refreshed and ready for action!

Many of my skin care clients include foods with white refined sugar in their “cheat meals.” Although we are all entitled to a cheat meal during and after training you may want to reconsider the amount of white refined sugar you consume.

The prompts the question can candy cause collagen corruption and will those cheat meals lead to more face peels?

First, let’s have a quick look at the history of refined sugar.

The majority of sugar comes from sugar cane (Saccharum SPP), which is a tall grass that grows in tropical regions. The juice from raw sugar cane is traditionally used as sweetener from the Caribbean to India. Interestingly, raw sugar cane juice can be good for you. But back in the 1500s manufacturers started ‘refining’ sugar cane so that it could be easily shipped overseas. Over years, the process became more complex and dependent on chemicals. After the juice is pressed out of the cane stalks, the liquid is treated with chemical solvents to remove impurities. After a process that crystallizes the liquid, it is treated with bleach and other chemicals then filtered through bone char, a powder made from cow or pig bones. Brown sugar is made by adding molasses.

Refined sugar, known as white sugar, can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen. Collagen is a protein found inside and outside of cells. Putting it simply, it works with keratin to provide skin with strength, flexibility and resilience. Think of it as the “framework” of your skin. Like a building, if the framework is weak, the building will crumble “down”. White refined sugar breaks down the collagen protein causing skin to sag and wrinkle. In older persons, white refined sugar has been shown to increase wrinkles and dry aged skin. It produces an acidic condition in the digestive system. This drains the body of vitamins and minerals which could be benefiting your skin.

While foods that contain white refined sugar don’t actually cause acne, sugar in the bloodstream can cause inflammation of the skin making the appearance of acne more prominent.

Refined sugar, known as white sugar is a refined sweetener. It adds nothing but calories and taste to food. When reading ingredients, the word “sugar” can also mean high fructose corn syrup, refined cane sugar or white sugar.

You may be able to “workout” the calories from sugar by exercise. But you won’t be able to workout the effects of sugar from your skin.

Aging Antidote: Avoid sugar sag by treating your skin not your sweet tooth with one of Motion Medica’s botanical skincare products designed especially for athletes.

Science writer Susan Allport unravels why the disappearance of omega-3s from our diet may be responsible for the epidemics of obesity, heart disease, cancer. The article explores the connection between nutritional science and aging in relation to the daily decisions we make about our diet and how this effects our health.

Click here to read “The Vanishing Youth Nutrient” by Susan Allport.

STAR POWER MAKING A DIFFERENCE

NBC’s Emmy Award-winning campaign, “The More You Know” officially kicked off its 19th season in March with a new look, both on-air and online. The famous faces behind each message encourage viewers to get involved and is one reason why the show has been so successful. This season marks a major departure in both style and format from past editions of the campaign, while maintaining its commitment to inspire viewers to take an active role in improving the world we live in.

This year, “The More You Know” campaign focuses on Health & Safety and Education, with messages emphasizing:

• DIVERSITY/ANTI-PREJUDICE
• DRINKING AND DRIVING
• ENVIRONMENT
• INTERNET SAFETY
• MONITORING KIDS’ TV VIEWING
• NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• READING
• SMOKING
• VIOLENCE PREVENTION

These brief but informative video clips carry vital messages about important issues. To learn more about this campaign visit www.themoreyouknow.com