Media influence is very strong and has perfect pictures of perfect looking people with glamorous lives. The reality is that it is mainly media hype and touched up airbrushed photos, which can easily make men and women feel dissatisfied with their looks and wonder what could be done.
Demand for cosmetic procedures is ever increasing with liposuction, rhinoplasty, laser treatments, Botox fillers and facial peels being very popular.
Treatments have been trivialized but they are all medical procedures from which the body needs to heal and recover. There can also be dangers and side effects as with the recent scare in Europe over faulty PIP substandard breast implants. The French implants caused global concern after it was revealed they contained industrial silicone rather than medical-grade fillers and that they may be more prone to rupture and leakage than other implants. Women need to be very aware what it is that is being put in or injected into their bodies. Surgery is a risky business and surgery cannot make an old person young. Cosmetic surgery has its origins in reconstructive surgery following disfigurement caused by accident or illness. A few years ago when I visited the United States, where many cosmetic procedures originated, I saw many young women who all looked so similar as a result of cosmetic procedures. After a while they all looked so alike it was boring and you longed to see someone who looked unique. When everyone tries to look the same it is called cookie-cutter beauty. It is much better to make the best of yourself in your own unique way rather than wishing to be a second rate copy of someone else. We were all born unique and special and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
There is a lovely comment from Audrey Hepburn, who was considered a beauty in her day although not a classical 1950s beauty, as she did not have the curves of Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor; but she has a style and a beauty all of her own that came from within. When asked about beauty, this is what she had to say from the poem of Sam Levenson, “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for a slim figure, share your food with the hungry”.
Audrey Hepburn did not have face-lifts like so many Hollywood beauties but aged naturally and always looked naturally beautiful.
True beauty comes from within and true beauty lasts forever. This is what my father told me and it makes it very easy for me to accept that we will all age, but we can still be beautiful.
Life is a long journey and it is important to respect the body that carries you through that journey as a precious gift and to take care of it naturally. As you will know I promote healthy eating and exercise, as looking healthy is beautiful and taking care of yourself naturally has powerful long-term results.
Liposuction will not give you a slim body but healthy diet and exercise will give you a strong, healthy body and carry you through life. Exercise is one of the best beauty treatments and it is free: You can even do it in your own home. The endorphins released in the brain when taking exercise make you feel happy. A happy person is beautiful.
Face-lifts and fillers are temporary solutions, which will affect the way your face ages in a different way from the natural aging. I recommend facial exercises for keeping cheeks high up on their mooring and to preventing sagging. Cosmetic companies do not promotes facial exercising as it does not make them money but they are more effective in preventing sagging neck and eyes than any cream you can buy. For healthy skin, moisturizers are as important in harsh climates as is good hydration through drinking lots of water. Not only can the sun age the skin but the air-conditioning can make the skin very dry on the surface. For a fact sheet on using natural skin care and facial exercises e-mail [email protected].
Healthy Recipe of the Week
Banana Bread
Ingredients
285g/10oz plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
110g/4oz butter, plus extra for greasing
225g/8oz caster sugar
2 free-range eggs
4 ripe bananas, mashed
85ml/3fl oz buttermilk (or normal milk mixed with 1½ tsp lemon juice or vinegar)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in the flour mixture.
Grease a 20cm x 12.5cm/8in x 5in loaf tin and pour the cake mixture into the tin.
Transfer to the oven and bake for about an hour, or until well-risen and golden-brown.
Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
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