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Dr. Trevor Cates

How to Care for the Skin on Your Body

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When it comes to skin care, we often focus on caring for the skin on our faces and neglect the skin on the rest of our bodies. But the truth is, the skin on your body and on your face is a direct reflection of what’s happening on the inside!

This means that the rest of your skin is just as important. Skin all over your body, not just your face, provides clues about your health. And just as your face has a delicate pH balance and skin microbiota (community of bacteria) that are crucial for its health, the same applies to the rest of your body. 

There are some differences between body and facial skin, but one thing is for sure: all of your skin needs proper nourishment from a healthy diet, a healthy lifestyle, and pure, natural, and pH-balanced skin care products. 

Six Differences Between Facial and Body Skin

  1. The skin on your face is more prone to sun damage because it isn’t covered up as much as the rest of the skin on the rest of your body. 
  2. Facial skin is also more delicate than the skin on your body, but the skin on the rest of your body is more prone to cuts and scrapes, and healthy skin is essential to promote a normal rate of wound healing, which ensures skin can do its job to protect the inside of your body.
  3. The skin on your body is generally a little thicker than the skin on your face, neck, and décolleté. Thicker body skin leads to an increase in dead skin cell build-up. The skin on the soles of your feet is the thickest skin on your body. 
  4. Body skin has fewer sebaceous glands than your face, so it is less oily than the skin on your face. The neck, shoulders, and chest have more sebaceous glands than other parts of the body, as well. This is one reason the skin on other parts of the body tends to be drier than the skin on your face.
  5. The skin microbiota (microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and fungi) vary greatly on the face compared to the rest of the body. That’s one reason why certain infections like athlete’s foot occur on the feet rather than the face.
  6. The skin on the rest of your body has a slower cell turnover rate, another factor in developing dry, scaly skin. Age also slows down the process of cell turnover. You may have found that your knees and elbows tend to be drier than other parts of the body. If your skin is dry all over, techniques such as dry brushing can enhance your circulation, remove dead skin, and detoxify the body.

The Spa Dr. Body Essentials

The Spa Dr. Body Essentials are formulated to nourish the skin on your body without hormone-disrupting chemicals.

CLEAN: Body Wash

Melt away perspiration, pollution, and debris from daily life naturally, with a cleanser that you can feel good about putting on your body. The Spa Dr.’s CLEAN: Body Wash is a luxurious and gentle body wash that contains gluten-free colloidal oatmeal, Hawaiian lava salt, bamboo extract, almond oil, argan oil, and coconut oil. 

Let’s learn more about these nourishing ingredients. Colloidal oatmeal is anti-inflammatory, soothing, and contains collagen-promoting polysaccharides. Hawaiian lava salt is rich in activated charcoal. In addition, charcoal is known for its detoxifying, deep cleansing, antimicrobial, soothing, and sebum-balancing properties. It also helps reduce pore size and softens skin.

Bamboo extract, which you can also find in our Skin, Hair and Nails supplement, has high concentrations of silica, which assists with collagen and elastin development.

CLEAN is also formulated with soothing aloe and arnica, two ingredients you can find in the Daily Essentials Step 1 cleanser.

Perfectly pH-balanced, CLEAN is free of synthetic fragrances, harsh cleansing agents, and other harmful ingredients. Not only is this body wash gentle enough for babies, but it is also effective enough to wash away even the most intense gym session. 

So many body cleansers leave skin feeling dry and parched, or “squeaky clean,” when instead, the skin should feel clean and nourished after bathing. CLEAN will not leave your skin feeling dry, and it contains mild essences zesty bergamot peel oil, and revitalizing grapefruit peel oil that add a pleasant scent. 

HYDRATE: Body Moisturizer

After cleansing with CLEAN and gently patting dry but leaving skin damp, you can moisturize with our second step in the Body Essentials line, HYDRATE: Body Moisturizer.

Saturate your skin with clean and pure moisture with this pH-balanced body moisturizer. HYDRATE is infused with skin-loving ingredients, including niacinamide, murumuru butter, MSM, gluten-free colloidal oatmeal, turmeric, green tea, wakame algae, apple fruit extract, plus apricot kernel oil, and camelina oil. 

How do these ingredients soften skin? The topical use of niacinamide can dramatically improve skin moisturization and helps barrier function. It also boosts collagen and elastin production, which helps achieve a more even-looking skin tone. Plus, softening murumuru butter readily penetrates the skin without clogging pores. Its high Vitamin A content helps soothe skin, and it is high in essential fatty acids that hydrate, such as lauric acid, which is also antibacterial. Some research has shown that apple extract relieves the occasional discomfort of sensitive skin and helps to significantly reduce wrinkles.

Finally, HYDRATE helps you drench skin with moisture while helping tone, firm, soften and soothe skin.  Moisture is locked in, helping to replenish the skin’s natural barrier without leaving a greasy residue behind. And you can choose from two varieties, unscented for those who are sensitive to scents, or lemon zest, which contains the essence of bright and energizing Sicilian lemon peel oil.

These products are suitable for most skin types, even sensitive skin. And if you are unsure of whether you are an Amber, Sage, Olivia, Emmett or Heath skin type, head to The Skin Quiz to find your type and what skin care habits and lifestyle changes will be best for you. 

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

PFAS

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They’re in shampoo. They’re in food packaging. And they’ve been found in water, soil, and forests. That’s why per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS – are called “forever chemicals.” 

This large group of human-made chemicals is used to make coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water – and they’re practically impossible to avoid. In fact, most people in the United States – about 97% – have PFAS in their blood. 

PFAS are virtually indestructible and used in just about everything from beauty and personal care products to food packaging, yoga pants, and menstrual care products. 

While they are convenient for manufacturing and use, the trade-off is they are harmful to human health and the environment: 

  • PFAS chemicals don’t break down in the environment
  • They travel through soils and contaminate water
  • They bioaccumulate in fish and other animals

Bioaccumulation is also a problem for humans. As people are exposed, they may take in more PFAS than they eliminate, which means these toxins are building up in the body.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Environmental Protection Agency notes PFAS have been linked to:

  • High cholesterol
  • Increased cancer risk
  • Changes in liver enzymes 
  • Liver damage
  • Immune system damage
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Obesity risk
  • Reduced vaccine response

And this list is only the beginning. In animal tests, PFAS chemicals have caused birth defects, low birth weight, and even death.

How to Limit PFAS Exposure 

Just because PFAS are challenging to avoid doesn’t mean you can’t reduce your exposure. There are several ways to limit PFAS by taking action and making certain decisions to limit risks.

1. Find out if PFAS are in your drinking water.

Is your water from a public utility or from a well? If your water is from a public source, contact your local utility to learn about what they are doing about PFAS. If you have well water, conduct regular testing to learn about your water quality. 

If PFAS are in your drinking water, consider using a water filter or installing a water filtration system in your home. My favorite type of water filter for drinking and cooking is reverse osmosis. You can also find filters for your bath and shower or a whole house filtration system.

2. Avoid eating PFAS-contaminated fish.

Follow local fish consumption guidelines and know where your fish are from. Research local areas of concern if you are eating locally sourced fish and seafood.

3. Reduce the use of products that contain PFAS.

If you’re wondering where to start, look for “fluoro” or “perfluoro” on the label. Other places PFAS commonly lurk are stain-resistance treatments and products, grease-repellent coatings (such as microwave popcorn bags), and non-stick cookware.

4. Rinse off after swimming.

Foam resting on top of lakes, streams, and rivers may be contaminated with PFAS. Avoid drinking or accidentally swallowing water while swimming, and rinse foam from your skin when you are finished. If your pets are swimming, rinse their fur when they get out. Foam that contains PFAS is usually a bright white color, lightweight, and might be sticky. 

5. Seek out natural skin care and cosmetics.

In skin care, cosmetics, and other beauty products, PFAS are used to smooth out the skin, give products shine, and improve the texture and consistency of products. Long-wearing lipstick and other long-wearing makeup products are likely made with PFAS. Dental floss is another product commonly made with these chemicals. 

In a collaboration between multiple universities in 2021, researchers tested 231 makeup products. They discovered more than half of these products contained PFAS. Waterproof products, such as mascara, foundation, and lipstick, contained the highest amounts. 

Wondering how to identify these ingredients? The FDA notes: “Some common PFAS used as ingredients in cosmetics include PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane, perfluorononyl dimethicone, perfluorodecalin, and perfluorohexane.”

To avoid PFAS, choose natural skin care and beauty products and seek out ingredients such as essential oils, plants, and antioxidants like Vitamin E.

6. Avoid eating packaged foods.

Food packaging, including disposable coffee cups, other to-go containers, and plastic films often contain PFAS. Seek out fresh, in-season foods, and store food in glass or ceramic to avoid potential exposure.

7. Swap toxic cleaning products for natural options.

Some cleaning products contain protective sealants that use PFAS. Choose non-toxic cleaning products made with essential oils, vinegar, and other natural ingredients. Better yet, make your own cleaning products at home!

8. Wear clothes with natural fibers.

It might surprise you to learn that many pieces of clothing today are made with plastics and chemicals, including PFAS. Clothing made with natural fibers such as linen, cotton, and bamboo can help reduce exposure. Water-resistant clothing is common in outdoor clothing and swimwear in addition to menstrual products, such as period underwear.

Some clothing brands have made commitments to stop using PFAS – so while you are shopping, look to see if the brand you’re wearing has stopped using these toxins in manufacturing. 

9. Avoid non-stick cookware.

When heated at high temperatures, non-stick cookware releases toxic fumes that should not be inhaled by people or animals. Choose cast-iron, ceramic, or stainless steel cookware instead, and store food in glass containers. Utensils should also be free of PFAS.

10. Do your research.

The best way to avoid PFAS at home, in your products, and in the environment, is to conduct research whenever you make a new purchase, whether it’s for clothing, furniture, home improvement products, or something else. You can also do research in your community by learning about waterways and public utilities.

Although PFAS chemicals are a concern, it’s important not to panic. Empower yourself to take action and do more to avoid toxins in your daily life, and at the same time, you can balance your health and hormones. 

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. 

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

 

6 Nutrients for Hormones

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Our bodies are beautifully designed to send nutrients from the food we eat out to every cell in the body to provide nourishment. Plus, restoring the body with nourishing foods will help promote your hormonal harmony. Your body will have the nutrients and environment needed to make and metabolize hormones properly. 

Many women are at risk for nutrient deficiencies when they rely on the standard American diet. This eating pattern is low in fruits and veggies and high in processed foods that contain added sugar, sodium, and trans fats that don’t support our hormonal harmony. In addition, certain medications like birth control pills as well as exposure to toxins (including alcohol and recreational drugs) can deplete the body of important nutrients. 

So what nutrients should we seek out to support our hormones? Here are six nutrients to promote hormonal balance.

Protein

Protein is an important macronutrient for hormonal balance because it provides your body with amino acids needed to make certain hormones like thyroid and estrogen. To get enough protein, eat two to three servings per day of clean animal (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) or plant (legumes such as beans and peas) proteins per day. A general serving size is 3 ounces of meat or fish, two eggs and ¾ cup cooked legumes. It’s important to choose clean sources that are organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and grass-fed.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Good fats help improve overall hormonal communication and have skin and heart benefits. The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish, such as Alaskan salmon. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed, walnuts, eggs from free-range hens, and grass-fed beef. If you have trouble getting these through foods, you can receive EFAs through high-quality supplements.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps support healthy levels of progesterone and adrenal hormones. Optimizing progesterone levels result in a brighter mood, better sleep, and regular periods, and supporting your adrenal hormones helps with your energy, resilience and sleep. Good sources of vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. 

Vitamin D

Sun exposure is the primary driver of natural vitamin D production in the body. Vitamin D is a pro-hormone and is essential for healthy hormones overall. Vitamin D deficiency impacts 50 percent of the global population with nearly 1 billion people of different ages and ethnicities affected. To avoid being a part of this statistic, get your 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels tested. After getting tested, you may want to take supplements with vitamin D3, which have been shown to support healthy estrogen production. The dosage of vitamin D3 depends on your needs, so be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider. 

Folate

Folate plays a role in serotonin production and adrenal function. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that acts like a hormone to help you feel happy, calm, and focused. The adrenal glands make hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline that help us respond properly to stress. Our average levels of folate tend to dip during winter months when foods rich in folate such as dark-green leafy vegetables are not as abundant. Besides dark leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds, whole grains, and liver also contain folate.

Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B-12 plays several roles in hormonal balance. Methyl-B12 (or methylcobalamin) helps with methylation which helps support healthy estrogen metabolism. High-quality protein is the best source of Vitamin B-12. If you have a philosophical reason or aversion to eating meat, consider supplementing with Vitamin B-12. If you do eat dairy and eggs, you’ll receive some Vitamin B-12 and protein from them. 

Consuming nutritionally-rich whole foods that are in season, helps us obtain the nutrients above plus other important vitamins and minerals as well as probiotics and fiber that help support a healthy gut and hormonal balance. For many women, taking supplements can help fill in nutritional gaps and help address root causes that lead to hormonal issues. At The Spa Dr., our supplements are designed to support your nutritional needs, and you can learn more about them in our store. If you’re not sure where to start, take my Hormone Harmony Quiz.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. 

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

 

Celebrating Aging: 12 Healthy Tips

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Have you ever thought it’s odd that birthdays are a celebration of aging?

I’m turning 50 this month and feel every year is worth celebrating. The bigger the number, the bigger the celebration!

This year for my birthday, I’m heading out with close friends and family on an evening snowshoe in the mountains of Park City to a yurt for a 4-course meal and live music.

Not everyone is as excited about aging. With years of gravity, injuries, illnesses, and toxin exposures, our bodies can start to feel burdened.

Whether you’re in your: 

  • 20s and 30s and think 50 sounds far away and old…
  • 40s and 50s and are starting to notice your body changing…
  • 60 and up and think 50 is young… 

I’m going to share some healthy aging tips with you.

These are discoveries from my patients and myself that help us defy the effects of aging.

I’m going to avoid the term anti-aging because there’s no such thing! We are all getting older… every single day. No anti-aging cream, anti-aging serum, or anti-aging supplement will stop time from moving forward. And that is NOT a bad thing. Every day we get wiser, and we have the opportunity to live a vibrantly healthy life for many years to come.

While we may have to work a bit harder to remain healthy and fit, our 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond can be some of the best years of our lives.

How we think about aging is part of the issue. And how we care for our bodies day to day makes a difference.

Genetics plays a role in the way we age, but lifestyle can alter the ways our genes are expressed. So, we’re not stuck with the hand we’re dealt in life. We do have options that impact our health today and for years to come.

 In my family, allergies, cardiovascular disease, and depression are a few of the health issues that numerous members of my family have struggled with. As I’ve grown older, I’ve seen some family members thrive while others struggled or passed away earlier than expected. I’ve also seen certain patterns that have helped direct the way I live my own life.

Looking at your own family patterns can help you know what your own aging process could look like. If you don’t know your family or if you want to know which genes you inherited, you can do genetic testing. However, there are certain lifestyle factors across the board (regardless of your genetic predispositions) that help you live a long, healthy life.

The biggest age accelerators are:

  1. Inadequate nutrition
  2. Toxin exposures
  3. Sedentary lifestyle
  4. Excess sun exposure
  5. Poorly managed stress
  6. Unresolved trauma
  7. Unaddressed injuries
  8. Infections and dysbiosis
  9. Inflammation

The good news is there are ways to address these age accelerators.

12 Ways to Resolve Age Accelerators

1. Eat nourishing foods and avoid toxic ones.

Eating healthy is easier than most people realize. Eating foods close to nature is key. Choose organic, locally grown, and seasonal as much as possible. Consume a variety of fiber-rich colorful fruits, veggies, and legumes to help support your gut health and provide antioxidants that protect against oxidative damage. Include healthy fats such as olives, coconut, and avocados. For omnivores, be sure your meat is organic, free-range, and grass-fed and your fish is wild for optimal nutrition and to reduce toxin exposures. (For a list of foods to avoid as well as top foods to eat, check out my books Clean Skin From Within and Natural Beauty Reset.)

Dr. Trevor Cates doing yoga

2. Move your body.

In today’s world, we sit in front of screens too often and for too long, but that is rapidly aging our bodies. Get up and move your body. What exercise should you choose? The one you’ll do! Find a movement you enjoy and that feels good to your body. That’s the kind that’s sustainable and that brings you results. Ideally, this will be a combination of stretching, cardio, and strength training. As we age, changes in balance and flexibility can create major risks for injuries, so performing exercises that support your balance is essential.

3. Reduce toxins in the places where you have control.

Toxins are everywhere around us – in our air, water, food, and personal care products. Some of these exposures we don’t have control over so focus your efforts on the ones where you have control – choose organic and clean foods and drinks, swap out plastic with glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers, switch to non-toxic cleaning supplies, and replacing toxic skincare products with clean ones. Toxins can also appear in surprising places like alcoholic beverages and even clothing and furniture.

The Spa Dr. Daily Essentials Skin Care System

4. Use non-toxic skincare products that nourish your skin.

There are many so-called “natural” or “hypoallergenic” skincare products in the market today, but most of them still contain toxic ingredients. Unfortunately, the FDA does not regulate these claims nor do they have strict standards on the ingredients in personal care products.

Skin care products marketed as anti-aging creams, anti-aging serums, and other anti-aging skin care often contain some of the most toxic ingredients.

Choose truly clean skincare products but don’t stop there. You also want them to nourish your skin and support your skin’s natural barrier function. Your skin has a beautiful skin pH and microbiome that helps keep your skin healthy and aging gracefully rather than rapidly, so it’s important to give it the nourishment it needs.

5. Only take medication when necessary.

While some medications are necessary, like a round of antibiotics to treat a life-threatening bacterial infection, many medications people take on an ongoing basis can be age accelerators. Some medications, like birth control pills, can create nutritional deficiencies and gut microbiome disturbances. Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping any medication to determine if this is something you need to be taking and for how long. Most medications are intended to be taken for a short term, but people often stay on them longer than necessary.

6. Don’t wait or put off taking care of health issues.

It’s easy to get busy with life and delay important screening tests like colonoscopies or put off addressing aches, pains, and other ongoing symptoms.

The longer you delay, the harder it may be for doctors to help treat your health issues.

When symptoms arise, it’s a sign that something is out of balance within the body, so pay attention to the warning and get help. If your doctor recommends something invasive and expensive or it doesn’t feel right, it’s wise to get a second opinion. Taking care of health issues also means addressing root causes such as hormonal and gut imbalances.

7. Manage stress as it arises.

Stress is part of life. We can’t live without it, but if we don’t manage stress it can be one of the biggest age accelerators. Cortisol and other stress hormones are essential for living, but when they’re too high for too long, they can worsen skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and rosacea. A high level can also lead to sugar cravings—and eating excess sugar increases inflammatory skin issues and unhealthy weight gain. There are many ways to manage stress such as the next five items below on this list.

8. Laugh, play, travel, and love.

What’s the point in aging if we’re not enjoying our lives? In addition to making life more enjoyable, laughter, play, travel, and love can boost our feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin and hormones like oxytocin and reduce stress hormones like cortisol. I encourage you to get in touch with your inner child to get out, laugh and play!

9. Build a community of healthy people.

You are who you hang out with. Research shows that who we spend time with impacts our lifestyle choices, so if we spend time with healthy people we’re more likely to embrace healthy habits. Studies also show that our microbiomes (especially skin and gut) are impacted by the people around us. Due to work and living situations, you can’t always control who you’re with but I encourage you to find support groups, memberships, and other communities that embrace healthy eating and active and emotionally aware lifestyle choices.

how to stop sugar cravings

10. Pray, meditate, breathe, and express gratitude.

Pick your favorite(s) and start today. If you already do one but not the others, try adding them to your daily routine. It only takes a few minutes in your day to say a prayer, close your eyes and focus on breathing in for a count of 5 and out for a count of 5 and thanking someone. These simple acts can instantly drop cortisol levels and boost your feel-good neurotransmitters. It’s free and easy. Plus, you may brighten someone’s day with words of gratitude.

11. Continue to work on your relationships.

Love and boundaries go a long way in relationships. Most of us struggle with boundaries and have a history of hurts and heartaches. There are ways to address this pain rather than ignore or fight it. Rather than continue to let people hurt you or cut them out of your life, see if there are ways to work through your differences. Oftentimes our family members and partners can provide us with big growth opportunities. However, if someone is physically or emotionally abusing you, get help, and do not let this continue to impact you or other loved ones around you. You deserve loving, healthy relationships in your life.

Dr. Trevor Cates in her garden

12. Spend time outdoors and appreciate the beauty in nature.

Studies have indicated that spending time in nature helps alleviate stress, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Being outdoors also helps support our gut and skin microbiomes, which is linked to longevity. When we take in the beauty in nature through our senses, it reminds us there is something greater that connects us all and makes life worth living fully.

Ideally, we do these twelve things every single day. If that seems daunting, start with a few and move your way up to as many as possible. At some point, it becomes intuitive. You’ll feel so good embracing this in your life, you won’t want to go a day without them. I know it’s possible. It’s how I live my own life, and I want this for you too because I know how great it feels – and because you deserve it today and for the years to come.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can order my book now on Amazon.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

Books blog

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Reading is one of the best lifestyle habits you can take up to feed your mind. It helps reduce stress, improves your vocabulary, and assists with cognitive health. The best part is, you can read for fun and enjoyment, or you can choose to learn something new – and you can do these at the same time!

February is Library Lovers Month. Visiting your local library is a great way to stay connected to your community, support authors that you love and find new ones, and feed your mind at no cost. Plus, in many communities you don’t even have to make the trek to the library – you can take advantage of using e-reader apps to check out books on your tablet or Kindle. 

To celebrate good books and everything libraries bring to our communities, I’m sharing some of my favorite books with you written by my friends and colleagues.

1. The Adrenal Reset Diet by Dr. Alan Christianson 

Dr. Alan Christianson is a naturopathic endocrinologist with a focus on thyroid disease. He has been actively seeing patients since 1996 and is a New York Times best-selling author of The Metabolism Reset Diet and The Thyroid Reset Diet. He’s also the founding president of the Endocrine Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the founding co-president of the American College of Thyroidology.

In The Adrenal Reset Diet, you’ll learn how to use carbohydrate and protein cycling to balance your hormone levels and improve blood sugar and insulin levels. And Dr. Christianson provides a pioneering plan for optimal thyroid function

2. Beyond the Label by Dr. Christina Bjorndal

Dr. Christina Bjorndal, ND, is an authority in the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and eating disorders.  She has overcome several mental health challenges herself and is now a licensed naturopathic doctor, co-founder of the Natural Terrain Clinic, and the best-selling author of 4 books on mental health.

Beyond the Label is Dr. Bjorndal’s guidebook for regaining mental wellness that will help take you out of the dark and into the light. She outlines how you can move from struggling with mental health to regaining optimal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

3. Hashimoto’s Protocol by Dr. Izabella Wentz

Dr. Izabella Wentz is trained as a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and holds certifications in Medication Therapy Management and Advanced Diabetes Care through the American Pharmacists Association. She pursued a degree in pharmacy with a dream of one day finding a cure for a disease and graduated at age 23. 

After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis at age 27, Dr. Wentz consulted with thousands of patients and summarized years of research before launching her first book. Hashimoto’s Protocol is her latest book and delivers a proven protocol to help sufferers of one of the fastest-growing thyroid disorders reclaim their lives.

4. Break the Mold by Dr. Jill Crista

Dr. Jill Crista is a naturopathic doctor, best-selling author, educator, and innovator. Dr. Crista’s books, memberships, and online courses support both patients and practitioners wanting concrete steps to address challenging health issues, such as mold toxicity exposures and Lyme disease. She has helped thousands of people heal from mold-related illness – and that’s the subject of her book, Break the Mold.

The problem with mold is that it can lurk without a trace – causing many people to be sick from mold and not even know it. Break the Mold delivers five proven tools to help you recover from mold sickness and how to avoid mold sickness in the future through your food and the environment.

5. MenuPause by Dr. Anna Cabeca

Dr. Anna Cabeca is triple board-certified and a fellow of gynecology and obstetrics, integrative medicine, anti-aging, and regenerative medicine. 

In her latest book, MenuPause, she provides five unique, six-day eating plans that put a “pause” on the symptoms of menopause. These eating plans are inspired by the cuisines of countries where women experience fewer menopausal symptoms overall. 

The five plans include: 

  • The Keto-Green Extreme Plan 
  • Keto-Green Plant-Based Detox 
  • The Carbohydrate Pause
  • The Keto-Green Cleanse
  • The Carbohydrate Modification Plan 

This book bridges the gap between what we eat and how it affects our hormones – and I promise you won’t feel hungry in the process!

6. Master Your Stress by Dr. Doni Wilson

Dr. Doni Wilson is a Naturopathic Doctor, certified professional midwife, certified nutrition specialist, and best-selling author. She’s been in practice for more than 22 years and has helped thousands of patients with health challenges related to stress. 

In her book, Master Your Stress, Reset Your Health: The Personalized Program to Calm Anxiety, Boost Energy, and Beat Burnout, you can stop accepting stress as part of life and learn to manage it and overcome anxiety. 

But more than tips to end stress, Dr. Wilson takes it a step further – she shows the key to breaking the stress cycle is to find and treat your unique stress type. This groundbreaking book, helps you identify your stress type based on research combined with her experiences with patients throughout two decades. Plus, it will give you the tools to make stress work for you, not against you.

Clean Skin From Within by Dr. Trevor Cates

7. Clean Skin From Within

Of course, I have to mention my books too! In my first book, Clean Skin From Within, I share with you my 2-week program to get glowing, naturally beautiful skin from the inside out.

If you have a common skin condition or just want to give your skin a boost, this book shares how to achieve clear, radiant skin by adopting a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. You’ll not only address the root causes of your skin troubles, but you will also create a plan for maintaining clear, vibrant skin in four steps:

  • Clean Plate (diet)
  • Clean Slate (toxin takeaway)
  • Clean Body (detox support)
  • Clean Mind (emotional cleansing)

Natural Beauty Reset by Dr. Trevor Cates Book Cover

8. Natural Beauty Reset

After over twenty years of seeing patients and writing my first book, I continually heard from women who still had questions about the connection between their hormones, skin, health, and aging. 

That’s why I wrote Natural Beauty Reset – to provide women with a step-by-step seasonal guide to address the underlying causes that are holding their bodies captive. 

In Natural Beauty Reset, you will uncover the real, overlooked causes for women of acne, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, chronic pain, and sleeplessness. You’ll accomplish this with a step-by-step, 7-day plan for each season to finally eliminate symptoms without medications that can create debilitating side effects or ‘Band-Aid’ solutions that do more harm than good. 

Plus, you’ll find more than 80 food and skin care recipes that you can use throughout the seasons. 

I hope this list inspires you to learn more about yourself and your health by reaching for a good book. Block off some alone time to truly learn, take notes, and make a plan to optimize your health. 

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can order my book now on Amazon.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

What Is a Konjac Sponge?

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During the last several years, Asian skin care products and beauty tools have grown in popularity in the United States and Europe. One of those tools is the konjac facial sponge – a gentle, plant-based tool that helps remove makeup, exfoliates skin, and leaves behind a smooth, radiant surface. 

The History of Konjac Sponges

Konjac sponges are made from a porous vegetable that grows in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The konjac plant has been used for centuries in food and traditional health practices – then the plant made its way into the beauty world. Konjac sponges were originally created to cleanse a baby’s skin because they’re so gentle. Since then, they have since gained notoriety as a gentle way to exfoliate the skin and have been used in beauty and skin care practices all over the world, especially in Asia. 

How is “Konjac” Pronounced?

Konjac is pronounced, “kaan-jak.” To hear how it sounds, I recommend searching “konjac sponge pronunciation” on YouTube and listening to a pronunciation guide. 

Benefits of Using a Konjac Sponge

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect substance to create a facial sponge out of. Many of today’s beauty tools are made with plastics that aren’t good for the environment and contain hormone-disrupting chemicals. Plastic products are also too abrasive for the delicate skin on our faces and necks. With a konjac sponge, you don’t have to worry about any of these issues since they’re natural, non-toxic, and gentle on your skin.

Here are some of the many benefits of using a konjac sponge for cleansing your skin: 

  • Made of 100% natural plant fiber
  • Non-toxic
  • Free from pollutants
  • Cruelty-free & Vegan
  • Naturally sustainable & environmentally safe
  • Gentle on skin, even sensitive skin
  • Biodegradable 
  • Provides effective exfoliation

Important Note: Be sure to select a konjac sponge that is 100% natural and does not contain artificial ingredients. Unfortunately, some konjac sponges contain artificial colors, fragrances, and other potentially toxic ingredients. 

In addition to these benefits, some konjac sponges have additional ingredients to promote skin health. The Spa Dr. Konjac Facial Sponge is infused with French red clay, which helps cleanse, detoxify, and exfoliate the skin. The result is skin that is smooth, soft, and clean.

How to Use a Konjac Sponge

You can use your konjac sponge morning and evening for the best results with The Spa Dr. Step 1 CLEAR: Gentle Cleanser to remove makeup and impurities.

  • Rinse and allow the sponge to fully absorb water. The sponge will expand in size and have a soft, bouncy, gel-like feel. 
  • Dampen your skin with warm water.
  • Apply an almond-sized amount of CLEAR: Gentle Cleanser to your skin.
  • Gently massage with Konjac Facial Sponge over your face, neck, and eye area. 

Yes, it’s true – konjac sponges are so gentle. You can even use them around your eyes to remove makeup.

When you’re done cleansing, rinse the sponge, squeeze the water out, and hang it to dry after every use. When it is completely dry, the sponge will shrink and become hard. 

To sterilize the sponge, place it in a bowl of boiled water for 1-3 minutes. Do this every two weeks to sanitize your konjac sponge. 

Because they are biodegradable, each sponge will need to be replaced every few months depending on how often you use it. When you’re done with the sponge, you can pop it in the compost pile! 

Using a konjac facial sponge is gentle on your skin and easy to use. It’s suitable for cleansing, even for sensitive skin types. Want to put your konjac sponge to use? Try it out with The Spa Dr.’s Self Facial How-To.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can order my book now on Amazon.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

 

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