Sunday, February 12, 2017

Bath soaps, pH and skin… What do they have in common?


Heloooo everybody!

I`m very happy to come back to my posts! Let`s start with a simple question. Do you remember what does pH mean?

In simply words means "potential of Hydrogen". How much hydrogen could be present in a water soluble substances. Water in solution it`s found as H+ and OH- ions. If you have more H+ than OH- your solution could be acid. Otherwise, when you have more OH- than H+ your solution could be alkaline. When the amount of H + and OH- is equal we called this substance as neutral.  

And how is it important to our skin? Let`s figure out...  



SOAPS

Soap is made from a type of reaction called saponification. In other words, is a reaction from an animal fat (neutral) which splits into a fatty acid reacting with alkali carbonates (base), forming a salt that we call soap.

So… The most of soaps are … alkaline.

Alright, so far so good, but now I ask, what about the skin? What is the skin`s pH? Could you guess?


SKIN

One of the function of the skin is protect our body and promotes the wound healing. However, all this hard work is reliant under an appropriate pH and thickness or health of the stratum corneum cells, or better saying died cells.

The point is, the most of cleansers soaps increases skin surface pH and when it happens the died cells antibacterial capacity and barrier function is compromised. And, as consequence, you can see not only the increase of bacterial colonisation, but also the swelling of the stratum corneum which could affect its barrier function through the loss of natural humectants or the natural moisturing factor that holds water in the skin. This effect disrupts the skin`s barrier function, leading to dry, rough, red, scaly skin.  

Beside that, the surfactant in both soap and non-soap skin cleansers, they also damage cell structure and disrupt the waterproofing function of sebum leading to dryness.

And what about the infant skin?

Infant skin is clearly more sensitive than adults in terms of composition, structures, function and its susceptibility to infections. It is also has indispensable functions for their developments. It acts as a protective barrier, helps thermoregulation, exchanges gases, maintains hydration, and contributes to innates immunity. And guess what??? Its mildly acidic pH provides additional protection against pathogens.

This slightly acid pH it`s an important factor in protection against microorganisms, considering that their skin continues to develop for up 12 months after birth.

The whole of the bath

It keeps the skin free of irritant such as saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces and fecal enzymes, dust and microorganisms.

The concern is soaps and water pHs. The repeated use of cleaning agents can alter the skin surface pH in the long term. Traditional soaps have an alkaline pH, which can destroy the skin lipid layer and elevate skin pH, causing dryness and irritation.

Ok, how could we balance it? How could I help my skin? 

Have your heard about “syndets”?

It`s a term derived from “synthetic detergent” formulated from synthetic surfactants which have good detergent effect, with neutral or slightly acid pH, and cause less irritation. Taking a bath with this type of soap is better than take a bath with only water and the combination of water and regular soaps.

So the next time that you will look for a great bath soap for your skin you may have to look for syndets. They are mostly called as “cleasing bars” or dermatological bars. They also use the term soap free or soap without soaps.

But pay attention, small part of population could get some irritation from syndets. In this case, it`s recommended that you use a traditional soap.

Let us know if you have more question!
Cheers!


References:
Duncan, C N, et al. The effect of an acidic cleanser versus soap on the skin pH and micro-flora of adult patients: A non-randomised two group crossover study in an intensive care unit. 
Giusti M.D., et al. Skin Barrier, Hydratation, and pH of the Skin of Infant Under 2 years of Age. 

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Vitamin D X Sunscreen

And here I let the question:

Vitamin D or Sunscreen use?

Before we get in this discussion let's try understand some concepts first:

1) "What is solar radiation"?

Indeed there are a lot of previous studies about it, but the first and one most important was in the half of the nineteenth century when Joseph von Fraunhofer detailed, in 1814, a spectroscopic observations of the solar spectrum showing 574 dark spectral lines. And his explanation was based on the absorption in the Sun's atmosphere, which was given by G. R. Kirchhoff around 45 years later.

Excuse-me but I like a little bit of history! 

After these works some others came over, but based on mathematical equations to try define some process such as scattering, polarization and absorption of the light could affect and reach the Earth. 

In simply words, solar radiation could be defined as the light or energy which come from the sun in different ways. And as a results of those studies mentioned before, these "ways" were rearranged in the electromagnetic spectrum, that explains the different types of light waves. 

Light waves are vibrations of electromagnetic fields which shows low or high frequencies. The former has a low energy waves with long wavelength and the second shows the opposite, high energy and short wavelength. All of them are presented in our lives somehow, as shown the picture below.


    


As you can see at this picture the frequency is related to the energy somehow. Electromagnetic waves with longer wavelengths and lower frequency, have less energy than ones with shorter wavelengths and higher frequency. And here is the point! This is the reason why ultraviolet radiation could be dangerous. The energy is so high that may damage the cells DNA. 

2) "But, don't we need the solar radiation to produce Vitamin D and avoid diseases"?

Yes! Indeed we really need the solar radiation to keep us alive and warm in the Earth. It's essential for our biochemistry and for a nice feeling (mainly after a long winter!).

As I wrote some years ago, Vitamin D plays an important role to regulate calcium taken it by our food, that helps to build strong bones, teeth, send messages along your nerves and participate muscles contraction, as your heart beats, for example.

The ultraviolet light from the sun makes a type of cholesterol, found just under our skin, turn into something called vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. This Vitamin D3 it's carried to liver changing into more active form called 25-hydrovitamin D3. This molecule goes to kidneys and becomes more reactive form than before called 1,25-hydrovitamin D3.   



Vitamin D is found in some foods as beef liver, egg yolks, milk, salmon, sardines and shrimp. However, it´s presented as Vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol. In supplements we can found cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol. It means that we this radiation to take the vitamin D in an appropriate form. 

The deficiency of Vitamin D affects bones, muscle, brain, prostate, breast, colon and immune cells health. The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D controls more than 200 genes, including genes responsible for the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. The orders disorders are: schizophrenia, depression, lung function and wheezing illnesses.

3) "Sounds good, but if it's needed to the biochemistry balance in our body, why do the people use sunscreen"? 

The purpose of the sunscreen is protect our skin from the ultraviolet energy shown above, that supposed to be high enough to cause cells damages. 

The two types of ultraviolet radiation are: UVA and UVB. The UVA has a longer wavelength than UVB.  

visiblelightuvdiagram.jpg

The UVA rays are up to 95 percent of the total UV radiation being more prevalent and then, they penetrate in the skin deeper than UVB. 

Recent studies showed that although UVB causes skin aging and wrinkling, the UVA rays affect skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, where the most skin cancers occur. This is the reason that the people advise you use the sunscreen, to avoid these damages.


However, the point is the quality of the chemicals inside the sunscreen lotions, already discussed in this fun page. Some of them instead of protect you could cause health problems like unbalanced hormone or irritate the skin. And lately, most of people are believing that if you use these protective lotions you could avoid the Vitamin D absorption and develop diseases. 

Sunscreen use X Vitamin D

I open now the debate. Based on the last posts and what do you know, what do you think about it?

I believe that everything should be balanced. It's possible to get your irradiation needed to develop the Vitamin D before 10 am and after 4 pm. Between this time the energy by the ultraviolet waves is too high and really cause damages. 

Related to the sunscreen, choose one with physical blocks, as titanium oxide, and more natural as possible. Choose one that not only protects you from UVB but also from UVA, called broad-spectrum. Don't let you and your kids get the sun of the noon time, when it is the maximum irradiation. 

Yes, I believe that you may balance everything. The Vitamin D absorption, the quality of the sunscreen and your moment to enjoy the sun. Get the pleasure with the responsibility.   
             
Have a great summer everyone!

Barbara F. 

References:
Coulson, Kinsell L, solar and terrestrial radiation, 1975
http://www.skincancer.org/

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Brainwaves: The Quality of your thoughts _ Part II

Last post I gave a brief explanation and also described what is brainwaves, and finished writing that is possible to, at least, manage our thoughts and thus our brainwaves.

Indeed, there are a lot of ways to make it. Some people simply listen the brainwaves beats and feel comfortable with it. Others make affirmations quotes and read daily, mainly in the morning.

Now I ask you... What is there behind it?

If you are here, in this page, you probably read something about “how to be more positive” or “how to be happier” and the most of these reads give almost the same suggestions but they don’t explain exactly why it could be work.

I will try to help you understand it…

There is one thing that I always say in my workshops: “you generally wake up with same thoughts that you went to the bed the night before!”

And it’s true. If you go the bed thinking in problem, you will wake up with the same problem in your head, and if you don’t stop this thought, it could became a “believe” and you will fall in a negative spiral. Thus all of your day will be contaminated by this problem and in the most of cases, we don’t see the best solution and make a wrong or worst way to solve it.

All this event that I just described here is managed by hormones that could be released or suppressed according to our thoughts. Depending on these thoughts, the communication between neurons change and then, our brainwaves, will change in a way that could be hard to find a solution. This is the reason that is powerful you have the skills to manage your own thoughts to avoid this negative loop caused by a situation in our environment.

A suggestion that I give to here, is go to bed thinking about the things, events, people that you are grateful for. Try to get this gratitude energy, fill up your heart and spread it for all your body. Close your eyes and do it today! Your energy balance to sleep will really improve, and probably you will wake up better!



Our environment is very important. If it is too down chances are you find yourself in the same level, even if don't you want. This is the reason that is important to avoid toxic and negative people. All of us have energy spreading surround us and it’s already scientifically proven.

What's the message that I want to let here for you? 

I want that you pay attention about the quality of your thoughts. It’s very important, because some people say that think positively but they can not see much results. 

How to change it?

You can use the association of affirmation quotes and the use of brainwaves.

How?

First let’s see how an effective affirmations quotes could be. 

It’s important use the verb to be. I mean instead of you say,

“I want a new house” you can use “I am a new house owner”.
“I want to be a doctor” you can use “I am a doctor”.
“I want to lose weight” you can use “I am fit”.


Can you see the difference?

When we use the verb “want” we are putting our desires in the future and then you don’t have an idea when it will happen. And when it takes a long time to happen we can lose our hopes about that desire/wish/goals. When you are clear, objective and put the verbs in the present, you letting the things flow constant and faster. 
  
Second: imagine yourself doing what you want in your positive quote. And put your energy on it. Every. Single. Day.

Third: it is crucial because the most of people do the step 1 and 2 but they don’t practice the step 3.

Don’t worry in how to get or reach your goal/wish/desire! Because the worries create a stress barrier the avoid you reach your goals. I see a lot of people more worry about in HOW to reach their goals that they simply forget to work on it and the flow of achievement stops!

Now another question comes...    

How can you help this self-healing? How to dissolve this stress barrier?

The control of the brain waves could be important.

I will explain… Did you already pay attention the kid’s behavior, mainly between 2-6 years?

They usually don’t be worried or stressed too much about the problems. They solve their lives sometimes better than adults. The life looks like simple for them, right?

Why?

Because of the Theta brain waves. It’s dominant in kids. These waves put you in connection with yourself, improving your intuition, helping the solve problems, increasing the learning ability and long-term memory.

Why when they grow up they lose these abilities?

Because it is like a sponge in a child. It means that children can absorb easily the emotions from the environment from the adults who live surround them. However if we work on it, we can reach these brainwaves again.

We can use the waves for whatever we need. If you want to study for an exam you can use the gamma one. To keep awake you can use beta, for meditation you can use theta or alpha... 



So, for empower your thoughts, you can do:

1)      Use the verb in present tense to create your positive quotes;
2)      Put energy on your thoughts;
3)      Work on it, but don’t be stressed in how to get it. Listen the Theta waves it's very helpful.

I hope that this poster help you somehow.

We keep in touch! Take care!

Barbara Francisco




Friday, March 20, 2015

Brainwaves: Think healthier _ Part I


I have been seen many people talking about:

“You are what you think.”

But I have a question to you: Why is it so true?


It simple. It due to our brain.

Brain is a mysterious black box and still under studies. I have been studying some books and scientific papers that talk about it for the last years and now I will share with you some important topics that I learned and have been applied in myself, friends and who already attended to my workshops. You may see below some questions that I try answer in a simple way.




How does brain work to release waves?

Our brain releases waves. The waves are produced by neurons (cells brain) that communicate which other by electrical changes. This communication fall in a rhythmic fluctuation of electron potential between parts of the brain.  
Studies already found at least 5 types of waves that changes according to their frequencies. They are change from Delta type with slow, loud and functional frequency to Gamma which is fast, subtle and complex.


How does it change?


First thing that you have to understand is our brainwaves changes according to our activities and feelings. This is the reason the people say that we manage what we are think.  Our emotions are the key of this “brain-thoughts-waves” system.


What kind of wave do we have?


The 5 types of brainwaves are Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. They could vary the intensities inside the range of their frequency. It is a good deal try to keep them balanced, because too much or too low could really affect our lives.   


Gamma (27Hz and up):


It is associated with the formation of ideas, language and memory processing, and various types of learning. Who release too much Gamma could show high levels of intelligence, being compassionate, having high amounts of self-control, and feelings of natural happiness. This wave also linked to a perception of reality, boosting it through your five senses: the smells are more powerful, increasing your visual acuity, sharpening your hearing, and foods taste better. Powerful antidepressant-type brainwave.


Beta (12Hz-27Hz):


We usually produce it when we are awake.  It’s mental state of the most of people are in during the day and most of their waking lives. In this mode, you are able to think fast and quickly come up to logical solutions to problems. It´s ideal for solving math problems, conducting research, reading books, and writing articles. Many people with lack sufficient beta activity show mental or emotional disorders such depression, ADD and insomnia. Stimulating beta activity can improve emotional stability, energy levels, attentiveness and concentration. However the excess of this type of brainwave could let you stressful and  nervous. If this situation could even cause a Alpha Block phenomenon (very low or no Alpha wave production). 


Alpha (8Hz – 12Hz):


When it is dominant you could feel relaxed but not processing much information. Your brain thinking is slower and your mind is clear. At this point, your body has zero stress, tension and anxiety. It´s the state before sleep and when you just wake up in the morning. Also happens when you close your eyes. Associated with creativity, solve problems, better communication and clear thinking. Then it is associated with think positive.


Theta (3Hz-8Hz):


Light sleep or extreme relaxation. Most common in child which explain why they don´t feel stressful and why they don´t have afraid to try something new. When you access these waves you are trying an emotional connection with yourself. It is also related with strong intuition, advanced problem solving, learning ability, long-term memory improvement and the ability to hyper focus and boost immune system functioning.


Delta (0.2 to 3Hz):


It´s slow, loudest, deep and dreamless sleep. When is dominant your body is healing itself and resetting its internal clocks. You don´t dream in this state and are completely unconscious. When the delta waves increase you can release anti-aging hormones, increase empathy, heal the mind and repair your muscles and access the deepest possible states of relaxation, release the natural hormone for sleep, melatonin, and accessing deep states of spirituality. Very common in Tibetan monks.  


The type that each one most release, depends the lifestyle. For example, if you live under stress the most of time and sometimes you feel you can’t control it, it’s because you are producing too much Beta. If you feel slow, sad without a apparently reason and depressed you could releasing too much Alpha. The fact is all the brainwaves could affect the balance of hormones in our body and disturb or improve the biochemistry system inside us. 




Is it possible change the brain waves?

Yes. There are lot of ways. First you have to analyze your life style to figure out what kind of waves you probably release. Pay attention to your emotions and the roots of them. If you want feel less stressful, for example, find a way to put it out of you. You can try do an activity different that put yourself under this condition, like exercise, painting, yoga, play an instrument… Do what make you happier and relaxed. 
A other option is listen specific brainwaves beats according to what you want.

For this first part, I only show the main concept and how it works in you. For the second part I will show how can we use them in our favor, to help us think in a healthier way... 


Stay tuned, I will come back soon!


Barbara Francisco 


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

What do you know about Caramel colours?





What does call attention of consumer?

The color of your food! The aspect and the smell as well! 

What do food industries do to improve it?

Add food additivies!

There are thousands of types of food additivies, but today I will clarify just one that has been the center of controversy: Caramel colours.

It is widely used in food industry. Around 80% of colour added in food and drink is based on caramel. It is found in pop drinks, beers and sauces. 

The caramelisation is a natural process by heating food carbohydrates in the presence of selected catalysts. The first step is the dehydration reaction and then a polymerisation process begins. The final product is a mixture of different complex molecules of different molecular weight. In case of indutrial process, it is used glucose, fructose or sucrose as a starting material, with controlled heating and the addition of some catalysts.

There are four types of Caramel which will be describe below. The letter E is used in Europe and the roman numbers are used in America.

E150a, Caramel I, Plain Caramel, Caustic Caramel: 

Produced using carbohydrates under controlled heating. To improve the caramelisation process it is added acids, alkalis and salts. No sulphites and ammonium compounds are added.

It is the basic process. The difference between the other types of Caramels is the catalysts added. 
Let´s see: 

E150b, Caramel II, Caustic Sulphite Caramel:

Acids or alkalis could be used, but is added sulphite compounds as sulphurous acid, potassium sulphite, potassium bisulphite, sodium sulphite and sodium bisulphite. No ammonium compounds are used.

E150c, Caramel III, Ammonia Caramel:

Acids or alkalis could be added, but in this case is added ammonium compounds as ammonium hydroxide, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium phosphate. No sulphites compounds are used.

E150d, Caramel IV, Sulphite Ammonia Caramel (the darkest!):

In this type of Caramel, both sulphite or ammonia are added during the process. Example of compounds:sulphurous acid, potassium sulphite, potassium bisulphite, sodium sulphite, sodium bisulphite, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulphate, ammonium sulphite and ammonium hydrogen sulphite.



As you can see, for more intense colour more chemicals are added! The whole of catalits is participate the reaction accelerating it, and should be found totally separate from the final product. However, it is possible to find some trace of these compounds cited above.

Why are they widely used? 

Because they show great stability to pH, heat, light and oxidation.

And what is the Aceptable Daily Intake?

JECFA (Joint Expert Committe on Food Additives) set ADI: 

Caramel I _ "not specified"
Caramel II _ 0-160 mg/Kg body weight
Caramel III _ 0 - 200 mg/Kg body weight
Caramel IV _ 0 - 200 mg/Kg body weight

Now my question is: 

Do you really need it? 

I don´t think so... 

The most common Caramel type found is Class IV. Then, I suggest you to read the labels. You don´t need it and you can avoid it. It´s not a simple "melted sugar". 

Take care!

Barbara Francisco ;)

References:

1.A. P. DAMANT, Food Standards Agency, UK, Food Colourants. Charpter 8.
2. A. Kendrick , LycoRed Limited, UK, Natural food and beverage colourings. Chapter 2.
3 Oreste V. Brenna. Antioxidant Capacity of Soft Drinks. Charpter 6.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The chemistry of sausages!




Do you like sausage ? Salami ? Meat ? Ham?

And do you know what come together with them ?
Food additives ...


Widely used to prolong life´s food sodium nitrite/nitrate is added into these products. 

For centuries humans has been preserving their food with the use of salts in order to prevent growth of certain types of bacteria that cause spoilage. Indeed, in presence of this salt, bacteries find a dry environment and die. 

Sodium nitrite delays growth of anaerobic bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum, avoiding the rancidity and also prevents the release of bad odors during storage of the products.

But is it possible to know if is there nitrite/nitrate in certain product when you buy?

Yes! Pay special attention to the color. If it is pink is because there is nitrite/nitrate in your sausage, salami or ham.

And why is pink?

I'll explain :
Basically sodium nitrite/nitrate ( NaNO2/ NaNO3 ) is converted to nitric oxide (NO). This oxide combines with myoglobin , the protein responsible for transporting oxygen and gives the natural red color of meat . The result is the formation of a complex called nitric oxide myoglobin that keeps this red color longer.

According to the Committee of Experts on Food Additives ( JECFA - " Joint Expert on Food Comitte Aditives ) FAO / WHO ( Food Agriculture Organization / World Health Organization) were reassessed IDA limits to nitrite and nitrate ions. The acronym IDA is defined as the amount of a substance expressed in mg/kg body weight , that can be ingested daily for all of your life, without causing harm to human health .

Therefore, the IDA values established for sodium nitrite are 0 to 0.07 mg/kg body weight and nitrate ions limits are 0 to 3.7 mg/kg body weight. According to the literature a lethal dose of nitrite was 330mg/Kg body weight.

The problems caused by excessive intake of nitrite and nitrate is the possible formation of methemoglobin and the formation of N-nitro compounds.

Little complicated these names, isn´t?

Let´s understand it:

These ions are absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestine system), but nitrate is rapidly eliminated by renal system (kidney) . Nitrite combines with hemoglobin , the blood that carries oxygen cell by oxidation of ferrous ion to ferric ion . When this happens there is the formation of methemoglobin ( MetHb ) preventing oxygen transport. However, for our lucky, another enzyme called NADH-Methemoglobin reductase, which is found in red blood cells, converts them back into hemoglobin .

As you can see , this process is reversible . At low concentrations. Higher levels , this reduction system becomes saturated, and therefore raises blood levels of MetHb.

It is noteworthy that in children under 3 months of life, this process is very fast. Only a few grams is necessary to intoxicate a baby. So, all mothers who is reading this text, it would be advisable not eat so many products like these, in the period of breastfeeding.

Normally nitrite is eliminated by urine, which can be observed by its color change when you eat some hot dogs, for example. However, when nitrite poisoning occurs, the most common symptoms are: abdominal pain , dyspepsia, headaches and weakness. There are studies that relate intake nitrosating compounds (nitrate and nitrite) and intragastric formation of N -nitrosamines with gastric, liver and esophageal cancer.



There are some products at grocery stores without these preservatives, but it is better for you avoid them anyway. But if it's too hard do not resist a sausage or a hot dog take some following precautions :

1 ) Read the label. Sodium nitrite sometimes appears with the acronym E250 and E251 for sodium nitrate. Try to identify them and reduce their consumption ;

2 ) Increase your intake of antioxidants and garlic foods because they have chemicals that inhibit the formation of nitrosamines ;

And boil the product. So you pull out of some ammounts of preservatives and helps kill remaining bacterias.

Hope it helped you! It is just a tip!

You are what you eat! ;)

Barbara Francisco
Industrial chemistry


References :
DUARTE , MT Evaluation of the sodium nitrite content liguiƧas frescal and baked kind sold in the state of Rio de Janeiro . 2010.
SCHUDDEBOOM , Nitrates and Nitrites in LJ foodstuffs . 1993
Epley , R.J ; ADDIS , P. B. ; WARTHESEN JJ Nitrite in meat . Animal sceince.1992

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Five reasons for workout

Hi!!!!

Today I´m not tell you something so scientific. Just a little.

Some people ask me why I go to the gym training, although I´m skinny person. 

When I answer, I always give one of the reason, however the truth is: you and me don´t need a reason ore excuse to go to a gym or do some exercise.

When I was younger I was a dancer. I used to do ballet, jazz, street dance classes. I think I danced everyday, and I felt wonderful. Due to academics commitements, I had to stop and I didn´t find a way to continued. It was a mistake.

For all those years I didn´t nothing so important that i could call exercise. I just avoid elevators and try walk all day avoiding using cars (and I don´t have a car until today hehehe). Thus, year by year I just feel more stressful, little sad, without strenght to lift anything.

One day, in august of 2012, when I back to my home in Brazil, I was felling so stressful and angry that I remember what a good friend told me one day: "when I feeling very frustated and angry I go to the gym and lift a lot of weights."

Ok, it´s very good when you have a gym around your neighborhood. "The closest gym from my house it was 25 Km. What I can do now?" _ I thought. 

Well, I opened my laptop and searched. And found! A lot of examples of exercises that I could do by myself like a beginner. 

The results were awesome! I did not do heavy training, however I was moving. I could control my stress, my ansiety and close in good way my thesis. I found balance anyway.

I live this way in around one year. In august of 2013 I decrease the workouts, and stopped. I didn´t have place to do my workouts. Consequence: imsonia. I just slept 2 days in a week!

When I back to Ottawa, I back to exercises too. More intensity and more commitment. 

My mind about what I eat improve too. Everybody says to me that I can eat everything. It´s not thuth. In 2006 I did a blood exam and my cholesterol was high. Over the limit, even I didn´t get any weight. So, I can not eat everything, like you. I was eating two packages of cookies per day while I studing for finals exams at college. It was a surprise.

The fact is, you don´t need excuse or big reasons to move. Exercise is a right that everybody should do. And as a chemist, I suggest you try eat clean always is possible. Be healthy is not only a life style it´s a necessity. If everybody or the most of people eat clean, the food industry is going to stop product bad and unhealthy stuffs.

But if you want some reasons why I go to the gym, I´ll give you:

1) I can sleep 6 nights per week;
2) My menstrual cramps decrease significantly (Endorphin worked here);
3) My mood is better (Serotonin);
4) I found some muscles that I thought that I don´t have (reactions happened);
5) I don´t feel tired when I have to walk ro stopbus. 

And... I enjoying and feeling my body cleanear. 

Most of people when begin trainings wait the outside improvements, but I tell you, the better changes caming from inside. What happen outside is consequence from irreversible inner change.

I hope you enjoy too.

;)

Barbie