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recent years, most Americans have made healthier food choices a part of their every day lives. But what about the products we put on our bodies? Local professionals in the beauty business say the quality of the soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair color and cosmetics also affect our health and well being. And the customer base for such products is growing. “Knowledge of the benefits of organic food preceded this, but people are becoming more and more aware of using all natural beauty products,” says Amiee Boswinkle, a sales representative at Baums Natural Foods. “There’s a whole new movement out there. “ Jennifer Grow, a stylist at Studio One salon in highland, sees the emergence of green products as a cyclical one. “We are educating our clients, and our clients are educating us,” she says. Grow uses natural products such as shampoos from manufacturers Wen, Brocato, Simply Organic and eufora. People with sensitive skin and allergies tend to seek out these kinds of products, according to Grow. however, both she and Boswinkle say they are seeing an increase in customers not suffering from these problems, but have other reasons for using green beauty products. So what makes a beauty product green? Customers should look for words they can recognize in ingredient lists, Boswinkle says. Listings like water, aloe vera, oats, vitamin C, green tea, tea tree oil, and extracts of natural herbs and fruits. The price of green beauty products can be higher than conventional products. euphora products, for example, use fresh aloe, and honey is a popular ingredient in Simply Organic products. The price difference could be because non-green products are “cheaper to produce [since they have] harsher chemicals,” Grow says. Such chemicals common in mainstream products are parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, petrolatum, propylene glycol, silicone, ethoxylated ingredients, and ingredients with urea. The companies themselves are solely responsible for the safety of their goods before they hit store shelves, according to the FDA website, since beauty products are not subject to FDA approval before they are sold. Despite the prevalence of non-green products, green product lines will only grow in popularity, predicts Toni Lozano, supervisor of SpaPointe & hair Studio in Munster. “People are becoming more environmentally conscious, and there’s a real concern about toxins,” she says. “The desire to use [green products] is definitely out there.” —Susan Zajakowski
Beer: A heAlthier choice thAn wine?
Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages, but its health benefits have been largely ignored, while the benefits of wine have come to the fore. But some studies now show that beer is actually healthier than wine. Protection against heart disease comes from the alcohol itself. Ethanol lowers bad cholesterol and lowers the risk of blood clotting, which can lead to heart attack and heart disease. “Studies have shown that a moderate amount of alcohol lowers instances of gall stones, type two diabetes, and raises cognitive function,“ says Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, spokesperson for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it can be dehydrating, but Giancoli says that because beer has so much water, around 90 to 94%, there’s less of a chance of dehydration than with wine. “Beer contributes to your fluid content more than wine, which may also decrease the risk for kidney stones,” she says. Research has also shown that moderate alcohol consumption helps bone density. “Moderate beer drinkers have a protective effect and that’s because of silicon present in beer,” says Giancoli. Beer also packs more vitamins than
wine. “Because barley is a whole grain it has more B vitamins than wine. There’s also a small amount of B12 from the bacterial growth; B12 is usually only found in animal products, and is not found in wine. Beer also contains more selenium than wine, which is an antioxidant.” Which beer is better? Giancoli says the more malt in beer, the more B vitamins present. “Darker beer also has more fiber,” she adds. “Some beers with more hops are going to have more phytochemicals. Light beers will have fewer calories, however this is achieved by removing some alcohol or carbohydrates, which can change the taste. A more robust beer is more satiating and may prompt you to drink less.” There are potential health benefits to a moderate amount of alcohol, but one beer a day may suit some people and not others. “Beer is not a substitute for a healthy diet. Enjoy a beer with a meal, which is the healthiest way to drink it because alcohol on an empty stomach can be acidic to the stomach lining. Beer can even enhance the flavor of your meal,” says Giancoli. Recommended daily amount is no more than two 12 ounce servings for a man or one 12 ounce serving for a woman, says Giancoli. —Sharon Biggs Waller