Health Archives - URimage @ Clarendon Wellness

Why too much alcohol is a big No-no!

It is a well known fact that too much alcohol is bad for you. This is why there are restrictions, but too much alcohol is bad for more than the obvious reasons we know like; drink driving, and less sense of consciousness. Did you know? too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning which could be a lifelong health problem and can even cut your life short if not handled.

It may sound obvious through it’s name, but there is probably a lot you do not know about alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks a toxic amount of alcohol, usually over a short period of time, also known as ‘binge-drinking’ or heavy drinking. Alcohol poisoning can cause certain areas of your brain, controlling basic life support functions such as heart rate control, breathing and your temperature to shut off.

Did you know? Just as little as four (for women) or five (for men), alcoholic beverages in a single occasion can be seen as binge drinking. During parties or special occasions this can happen easily and a lot of the time unknowingly be surpassed. It is also worth pointing out that women should not drink during pregnancy. Whilst the majority do not, some women tend to, BUT did you know? drinking while pregnant can actually cause your unborn child to develop foetal alcohol syndrome. In addition to this, drinking while pregnant heavily increases the chance of a miscarriage or premature birth.

But how exactly does alcohol poisoning occur?

Each time a person drinks alcohol, our liver needs to filter the substance out of the blood. The human body can only only process about one unit of alcohol per hour, as alcohol absorbs quicker into the body than food, so, when drank in a short space of time, your body will be unable to process this all. This can cause your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to rise. BAC refers to how much alcohol is in your blood stream. Did you know? you can measure the level your BAC through a Breathalyzer test (as done by many police officers), a urine test or a blood test.

To simplify how your BAC is analysed, imagine you have a bac of 0.10. This simply means, that 0.10 percent of your blood contains alcohol.

Here are some symptoms to look out for, if ever in doubt, seek medical help!

  • Confusion, unconsciousness, stupor (conscious but unresponsive) and sometimes coma
  • Irregular or slow breathing (less than eight breaths per minute or more than 10 seconds between breaths)
  • Cold clammy hands and bluish skin due to hypothermia
  • loss of co-ordination
  • vomiting repeatedly or uncontrollably
  • seizures

WOMEN! this is important!

Whilst alcohol is bad for both men and women, the lasting effects and the general risk factors are greater in women. As women have a lower body water temperature to men (the average female body only contains 52 percent of water in her body, whereas males have 61 percent of water in their body), a woman’s ability to dilute alcohol is a lot harder. As well as  this, women have less ‘dehydrogenase’, a liver enzyme designed to break down alcohol in the body, compared to men and so, because of this they have a Poor ability to metabolize alcohol.

In terms of longtime effects alcohol poisoning leaves on women, the risks of mouth, throat and breast cancer can become higher, your menstrual cycle can become disrupted leading to irregular periods, and you have a higher risk of liver cirrhosis and other alcohol-related liver diseases compared to men.

But, regardless of your gender, there are factors that can equally affect you.

  • Drinking on an empty stomach can lead to the peak blood alcohol concentration level being a lot higher than those who have eaten beforehand. Food plays a significant role in alcohol absorption in the body because it dilutes the alcohol while slowing down the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine where alcohol is absorbed.
  • If you are Asian (no matter the gender), your body can be affected by how it responds to alcohol. This is because approximately 50 percent of Asians have trouble metabolising alcohol due to a missing liver enzyme needed to process the substance.
  • Those who suffer from diabetes should beware of the negative effects of alcohol, as alcohol cause a sudden surge or a dangerous drop in their blood sugar levels. Alcohol may also slow down how diabetes medication works in your system and the effects medication has in controlling diabetes. This goes for other prescription drugs too.

Below is an image which shows just how much alcohol percentage is in some popular drink choices.

So, how can someone prevent alcohol poisoning?

The best way to avoid this in the first place is to drink the recommended amount of alcohol to begin with. This is no more than 14 units a week for men and women.

However, if you know you will be drinking more, stay hydrated between each drink with water to reduce hangover symptoms the next day. Eat before and during the time you will be drinking to help speed up the alcohol absorption rate, stick to clear alcohol like Vodka, gin or white whine, as these contain less congeners in comparison to drinks like brandy or whiskey. Most importantly though, STOP when you feel like your body is becoming overwhelmed by the alcohol – it will only help you.

PRP (platelet rich plasma)

PRP is a treatment used widely in the cosmetic and beauty industry to support healing through the extraction of the patients blood.

Why is blood needed?
Blood mainly consists of a liquid known as ‘plasma’ which consists of small solid components made up of red and white blood cells, in addition to ‘platelets’. Platelets are commonly known for their ability to clot blood however, they also contain hundreds of proteins known as ‘growth factors’.

These growth factors help promote healing as they encourage cells to migrate towards an injured or affected area in the body. As a result of this, there are several things PRP is used for as shown below:

PRP can be used to treat tendinitis, partial tendon tears, ligament injuries and osteoarthritis.

PRP can be used for hair restoration for those suffering from baldness and Alopecia.

PRP can be used for facials to improve the appearance of skin (also known as the ‘vampire facial’ as used by Kim Kardashian).

Recently, dentist have been using PRP treatment to increase cell growth.

So, how exactly does it work?

There are a few steps taken from the time you extract the blood to inserting the solution in to the patients problem area.

Step one:

Around 30-60 mm of blood is collected, usually from the patients arm, similar to a simple blood test procedure.

Step two:

The extracted blood is then placed into a rapidly rotating machine known as a centrifuge, where the platelet rich plasma is separated from the other components in the blood. This usually forms a ‘gold’ layer on top of the blood.

Step three: 

The platelets are then injected into the injured or area in need e.g bald spot, tendon, gums etc. Ultrasound guidance is generally used for accuracy.

These help to stimulate recovery or restoration by:

  • Enhancing collagen production
  • Increasing tendon stem cell production
  • Activating tendon cells to produce collagen
  • Stimulating blood flow
  • Making cartilage more firm and resilient

In addition to improving the appearance of skin, healing injuries or restoring hair growth, there are several other benefits to having PRP treatment done.

  • PRP helps to reduce scarring: For people who have been through surgeries, such a face lift surgery, PRP can be used to help decrease the appearance of these scars as well as tackling acne scars.
  • PRP can help you gain a speedy recovery. PRP therapy increases the number of platelets in the tissues, which can help speed healing for a faster recovery after surgery.
  • PRP is 100% natural. No chemicals or foreign substances are used. It is just your OWN blood.
  • No going under the knife/ it is a non-invasive procedure which means it is less painful, quicker and more affordable.
  • PRP reports to have lasting effects, so it is a good investment.

PRP has many benefits and with the rise of non-surgical procedures, it is an affordable alternative to treat several problems. Below is a video demonstrating the process a little more for a PRP facial (vampire facial).

What you don’t know about fillers

Fillers have become increasingly popular these days and are now more affordable and common, with celebrities from Kim Kardashian to Katie Price even being regular users of derma fillers. However, amongst all the popularity, there are actually several reasons why fillers should actually be avoided and rather, a non-invasive style of treatment be used.

To begin with, it is important to understand the actual use of fillers. Fillers are typically synthetic substances that are injected into problem areas such as skin folds, lines and tissues to reverse ageing and provide facial fullness. Also known as Dermal Fillers, these can also be used to plump up cheeks, tackle acne scars, smile lines, or be used as implants (for lips, cheeks etc).

But did you know? these fillers can actually leave holes in your biology? Fillers can inflame the nodules in your skin which can lead to excessive bumps and holes on the skin tissue. If this does occur, not only does it change what your skin will look like, these bumps and holes can only be removed through complicated surgical procedures. Surgery to correct bad surgery? is it worth it?

This is of course one of the many other negatives that having fillers has…

     Cheek filler gone wrong

Did you know?

When fillers are used in areas such as the under eye or cheek area; areas where fillers are not typically meant to go, this can lead to the filler producing excessive fluid like water, leading to swelling. Fillers can also lead to infections at both an early or later stage of it being in your body. This can depend on the hygiene of the place the procedure is carried out at, or that your body has reacted negatively to the foreign materials injected within it. More seriously, if a filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel, this could transport around your body, blocking the blood vessels relating to your brain, eyes or heart. If this does happen, you could potentially suffer a heart attack, stroke or permanent blindness. Fillers can also get messy and move from one area to the other leading to unwanted bumps and puffiness in areas that you do not want fillers to be in, and if this filler does happen to move around to places where the blood flow is blocked, this can lead to tissue death.

Other extremely common side effects include:

  • redness
  • swelling
  • pain
  • bruising
  • itching
  • rash

So what are the alternatives?

At URimage, we offer several skin treatments however, the most effective to replace the need for fillers are skin peels and Dermabrasion treatment, offering the same results as fillers, whilst being non-surgical, affordable and pain free.

At URimage, we offer a exfoliating Dermabrasion technique, which uses a rotating instrument to remove the outer layers of skin, usually on the face. This can help tackle fine lines, sun damage, acne scars and uneven skin textures without leaving holes or unwanted substances in your skin like fillers do. Our skin peel treatment helps to exfoliate dead skin and refine pores, this treatment stimulates new cell growth and collagen production, helping to reveal clearer, fresher and brighter skin. Our skin peel also removes the top layer of dead skin encouraging fresh, new skin to grow beneath. This in combination with our HIFU facial is a much greater and safer alternative than any filler treatments.

The negatives outweigh the positives that fillers have and with non-surgical solutions available for the same problems, it is safer to choose these as not only will the results be better, but the procedure will be a lot safer.

All About Epigenetics…

Have you ever wondered why twins can be non-identical, or perhaps you develop something that is not inherited by your parents? this is known as Epigenetics. Epigenetics can be defined as ‘the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself‘. This sounds complicated, but can be broken down to be understood more clearer.

Did you know? There are over 100,000 skin cells in one square centimetre of skin, and each one of these cells contain around 2 meters of DNA containing our genetic information. The genetic material in our bodies is known as a ‘genome’.

All the cells in our body contain the same DNA sequence. Whether this is our skin cells, muscle cells or liver cells; the sequence is the same even though these cells have different structures and different functions. So if the DNA is the same, why do each type of cells work differently? This is because different cells only express certain genes. Our DNA and something known as a ‘histome’ can be tagged by small chemicals which modify gene expression. This causes some genes to be turned ‘on’ and some genes to be turned ‘off’. For example, a liver cell will turn on the genes a liver cell requires, but turn off genes a muscle cell would need; this is known as Epigenetic modification.

Here are some facts about Epigenetics: 

Did you know?

Epigenetics is what makes us unique: Because of the fact different genes are turned on and off in different people, this results in us being different. From our taste buds to the way we are socially, to our physical features like skin colour and hair; this comes down to which genes are switched on and off.

Epigentics is reversible: If we could find the reasoning behind different combinations of genes being turned on and off, bad genes can be reversed which could lead to finding cures to cancer, obesity, health problems and even slow the process of ageing.

Epigenetics are everywhere: From what we do, what we eat and where we live, how healthy and active we are, these could overtime cause chemical modifications to these genes causing them to switch on and off overtime. For cancers and illnesses like Alzheimers, these genes are switched into the opposite state, away from the usual or healthy state.

Different habits can induce Epigenetic changes: Did you know? if a woman smokes while pregnant, this could lead to Epigenetic changes in three generations all at one time. Once in the mother, once in her unborn child and once in her child’s reproductive cells. This is why it is important to not smoke while pregnant.

Epigenetics sound like a complicated concept but as a matter of fact, broken down, it is much easier to understand. The human body is a fascinating system and learning how different parts of it function makes us want to treat it in the best way possible.

Toxins are ageing you!

It is no secret that the older we get the more we tend to age, but there are several aspects that can contribute to ageing quicker. One of the main ones is TOXICITY.

Toxicity can come in many forms, through our lifestyle, alcohol, fast food and GM foods and as a result of this, many people result to having a biological age higher than what they actually are.

At URimage we offer a variety of anti-ageing treatments to help correct this, but we also can assess your biological age and provide education on bespoke nutrition and regimes which can lead to a better quality of life and health.

Regardless, it is extremely important that we avoid these toxic factors as much as we can. This is why…

Toxic Lifestyle

Everything we do and put in to our bodies can determine whether or not we are leading a toxic lifestyle. If you were to compare your digestive systems to a plumbing system, think to yourself, would you describe it as severely clogged, occasionally blocked or free flowing. If it is any of the first two…this is an indication that you are leading a toxic lifestyle. An active lifestyle with nutritious home-cooked meals is needed in order to sustain a healthy lifestyle, on the other hand, binge-eating and having a sedentary lifestyle is toxic and will age you quicker, in addition to having countless other negatives.

Mindsets are also an important part of living a toxic-free lifestyle. When food shopping, ask yourself, do you read the labels? Labels are extremely important as they show the additives, fats and sugars different products can contain, and avoiding this is a sign that you are living a toxic lifestyle by purchasing products where you do not know what they consist of. Another toxic trait to avoid is oversleeping or sleeping at the wrong times. Scientifically the average human requires 8 hours of sleep to fully function. Many people however, can sleep up to 12 hours; sleeping late in the morning and waking up in the afternoon, starting their metabolic clock later than it should be, resulting in a slower calorie burn throughout the day.

With metabolic clock also comes another toxic lifestyle trait; eating late at night. Research suggest we should not consume anything after 8 o’clock, therefore midnight snacking’s or ‘late night desserts’ can contribute massively to a toxic lifestyle.

Here are 5 tips to avoid a toxic lifestyle 

  • Buy organic
  • Exercise
  • Eat garlic and broccoli everyday
  • Use non-toxic products in your home and on your body
  • Find out if you have a condition resulting to a toxic lifestyle

Alcohol

There are several effects alcohol can leave on our body which is why it is extremely important that this is drank in small quantities and moderately overtime. Did you know? In the long term, alcohol can have several negative effects to our internal body parts? Alcohol for example, can shrink the frontal lobes of your brain. Alcohol is also one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease which means it is damaging to the heart. In addition to this, it is well known that alcohol can cause liver damage, making it more difficult to fight of bacteria and viruses. As well as this, alcohol can increase your risk of throat, mouth and breast cancer, in addition to being a leading cause of pancreatitis, infertility and diabetes complications.

But alcohol as well as all the health risks, can be mentally damaging too. A large consumption of alcohol can result in acting aggressively towards others, increase your vulnerability and can at times lead to anxiety and depression. so, not only is this toxic for our health and internal organs, but it is also toxic for our mental state when drank in large quantities and regularly. This is beside the fact it contributes to ageing quicker enormously.

Fast Foods

It is no secret that fast foods aren’t great for us, but the one thing we often fail to see, is that fast food chains focus more on sales, than to provide a meal that is nutritional and will benefit our bodies well. Did you know? many fast food products contain a toxic chemical known as phthalate. This is the same chemical which is found in lotions, cosmetics and plastics, the same chemical, which was banned from being used, when making children toys back in 2008. Not only should this chemical not belong in food at all, it has also been linked to causing reproductive and infertility problems, in addition to being said to lower your IQ. This is of course, as well as the fact that fast foods contain copious amounts of salt, sugar and fat to increase the ‘taste’ people tend to love so much.

GM Foods 

Genetically modified foods or genetically engineered food, refers to food which has changes made to its DNA, often combining the genes from other organisms. Recently though, there has been evidence implying that GM foods are in fact, just as bad for you as any other toxic food. Experimentation carried out in the past, has shown GM foods to cause organ damage, accelerated ageing and immune system disorders. Since the revelation of GM foods in 1996, studies suggest that health problems have risen since the introduction of GM foods. Furthermore, GM foods are said to have an increase in use of herbicides a ‘weed killer’ chemical which links to cancer and hormone disruption. Genetic engineering interferes with then natural process of an organisms growth which has dangerous side effects. Mixing the genes of two different species can cause a release of new toxins and allergens in to the body. So, it is best to stick with what we know, such as organic and fresh produce that has not been tampered with or genetically constructed.

So, these, toxic foods and lifestyle habits are well-known factors which add to ageing quicker. When the negatives are listed down, it makes you wonder why we would affect our bodies in this way. It is ok to have these or do these things once in a while but should never become part of a daily lifestyle. Cook your own fresh foods, eat and drink at a reasonable time and maintain an active lifestyle, and you will notice just how much more youthful and healthy you will look and feel.

At URimage this is our prime aim.

The dangers of french fries and ‘diet foods’

When we think of foods that are bad for us, we generally assume this is because it contributes to weight gain but did you know? some foods we consume are actually life threatening? that’s correct, life threatening. On the other hand, there are foods out there claiming to be good for you through its branding and name but as a matter of fact are worse to eat.

 

French fries 

When talking about killer foods the most obvious one is the french fry or ‘chip’, also deemed as ‘death in a stick’.

Did you know that one portion of fries can contain up to 540 calories per serving, and being a food typically eaten alongside a greasy burger or pizza you could already be using your recommended daily calorie intake all on one meal! It is obvious through the name, that a French FRY is no healthy option, bathed in oil and dipped in sauces, so why are they so popular? This actually comes down to science. Genetically, people are prone to choosing foods to eat that are going to be tasty which calls for a lot of sugar or salt in the food, so, if you were to fry a piece of broccoli in a pool of oil and coat it in tons of sugar or salt, the chances are more people are going to want to it eat as opposed to a steamed version of broccoli.

Several fast food chains are known for their golden and crispy french fries, so much so, that when a study was carried out examining the science behind peoples love for a particular fast food chains fries, several factors were discovered which lead to the ‘love’ of these fries. The study revealed that 90 percent of the reason why fast food fries are so popular is down to the easily recognisable smell. Did you know? Fast food restaurants actually use a chemical in the vegetable oil they fry in that allows people to instantly recognise the smell of the fries. As well as this, fries contain salt, fat and a type of sugar known as dextrose which makes the fries ‘tasty’.

The most interesting thing that was come across when learning about fries though, was the fact that many fast food french fries are known to release a chemical called ‘dopamine’ into the brain, which triggers a feeling of pleasure amongst humans – so it could be said that french fries actually attract people psychologically.

But how do fries KILL? Fries are a very starchy food, and when cooked at a high temperature, this can form a chemical compound known as Acrylamide which has can have a toxic effect on humans beings. This chemical compound can cause deadly tumours in our lungs, glands and the thyroid. As well as this, past experimentation’s reveal that eating fries up to twice a week can lead to a shorter life span. So is the fry really worth it? No. In the same way fries psychologically entice us to be eaten, we should set ourselves the mindset that they are in fact, deadly.

 

Diet foods 

When a brand or company uses the word ‘diet’ you naturally assume that the products being sold will only benefit you. This however, is not always the case. There are actually many problems with diet foods which prove why you should always source and prepare your own meals, particularly when trying to slim down.

To begin with, the diet industry is known for selling ‘low fat’ foods, but what is not very well known is that a lot of these foods as a result of being low fat, are high in sugar. Diet foods can contain a minimum of 2 teaspoons of sugar per serving and at times contain enough sugar to equate the levels of fat that could have been inside the product. Not only does this actually encourage weight gain, diet products with so much sugar can increase your risks of acne, diabetes, heart disease and so much more. Take granola for example; an item thousands of dieters around the world eat for a ‘healthy breakfast’. Many types of granola contain molasses, syrups and oils and when mixed in with these ‘low fat’ but high in sugar yogurts, the calories and sugar levels begin to rise up.

diet foods also tend to play on our minds. When something is branded healthier, you may think that eating more of it will not matter because it is a ‘diet-food’. As well as this, because the food is not as filling, it takes more of the product to feel full which can cause you to be consuming more calories than you would eating a product that isn’t ‘diet friendly’.

At URimage, we understand that many people have body concerns, which is why we offer a range of non-surgical slimming treatments more effective than supposed diet brands, that are pain free and most importantly – affordable.

It is important to take care of ourselves setting the mindset that a healthy lifestyle will only improve our quality of life, this can start by avoiding the big no-no’s when it comes to food.

4 major benefits to drinking water

Did you know? as we get older, our cell permeability becomes lower. The less hydration our skin absorbs, the more leather like and dry it becomes leading to more fine lines and wrinkles. The texture of leather has zero permeability which is why with older skin, it is almost impossible to absorb moisture properly.

At URimage, we use a combination of advance technology treatments to repair the skins ability to absorb moisture, through the restoration of hylaronic acid within the skin, to provide the natural ability to keep skin hydrated as and when needed.

Drinking water is such an important element to every human beings diet; in fact, studies suggest an amount of 2 litres of water should be consumed per day- something relatively easy to achieve but often neglected or substituted for juices or hot drinks.

The benefits to drinking water are endless, but there are 4 key benefits that drinking water has.

Water contributes to flushing out toxins

Water can contribute massively to how toxins are flushed out of our bodies. A build up of toxins can cause acne, brain fog, bloating and many more unwanted problems.

So how does the body flush out these toxins? this actually comes down to our bodys’ lymphatic system. Our lymph nodes contain lymphocytes, which evaluate and destroy the harmful toxins in our body ensuring that the waste products in our body do not build up or congest our tissues. But where does water come into this? Well, water makes up 95 percent of our lymph fluid and the less hydrated we are, the less ‘fluid-like’ this fluid becomes which can cause lymph congestion and therefore slow down how our body flushes out toxins. The more hydrated we are, the better our lymphatic system can work to flush out these toxins.

Water helps with weight loss

Did you know that our bodies feel hunger and thirst in the same way? so next time you think you’re hungry, have a few glasses of water – you might just discover that you were actually thirsty as opposed to being hungry! Water is also a good way of suppressing hunger – something beneficial when trying to lose weight. Several resources suggest drinking a glass or two of water before eating a meal allows you to feel fuller leading to eating less. Studies reveal that a group of people who drank water before a meal ate 75 to 90 calories fewer compared to not consuming any water before a meal – it would take 15 minutes of fast cycling to burn 75 calories through exercise!

Replacing any drinks you have for water also helps reduce your calorie intake as water contains 0 calories, compared to an average cup of coffee with 2 teaspoons of sugar and milk, containing around 79 calories.

It is equally as important however, to exercise and partake in some form of cardio on a regular basis as this will help with our blood circulation. If you think about mountain rivers in comparison to slow moving rivers, you will notice how mountain rivers are a lot more cleaner than still rivers. This is because the fast pace of the water helps clear out any dirt or pollution as opposed to a slow moving river which instead, stores all of this. Our bodies work in the same way! the more we move and exercise, the cleaner and less ‘polluted’ our bodies will be.

Water improves the way your skin looks

Drinking water is said to help brighten your complexion causing you to ‘glow’, as well as helping to prevent acne because of the fact water flushes out bacteria from within.

Whilst our skin relies heavily on water for rejuvenation, it is worth keeping in mind that not just ANY water will work. Did you know? that sweetened water or ‘flavoured water’ for example, can negatively impact the skin. These contain high levels of sucrose and artificial sweeteners which can cause breakouts in addition to bloating and stomach problems and so, this kind of water is seen as a big taboo when it comes to the health of your skin.

In recent years, the phenomenon of alkaline water has grown. Our skin is made up of many cells, the ability to absorb hydration through these cells is known as ‘cell permeability’. Cell permeability is said to be 70% higher if the water is alkaline as alkaline water contains antioxidants that prevent the growth of ‘cell damaging, free radicals’ therefore slowing down the ageing process.

Water puts you in a better mood 

One of the main causes of fatigue is dehydration. Our body looses water through sweat, tears and urine and if this water is not supplied back to our bodies this can tire them out slowing down activity and how fast our immune system works. Dehydration can lead to a higher level of cortisol (the stress hormone) in our bodies, therefore drinking a good amount of water can help to balance this leading to feeling less stressed out when hydrated and essentially in a better mood.

Water also helps to run your internal system better so when you feel good inside this can affect your mood positively on the outside. Because water is known for providing energy, this allows people to want to become more active and energetic positively impacting their mood.

Confidence and health is important to URimage and drinking the right amount of water can contribute to this massively, it is important to ALWAYS stay hydrated.