Senzimi is more about healthy skincare advice than product promotion these days, however it’s good to look back on one of the testimonials from the archives. Just to show we know what we’re talking about 😉
There are few worldwide health trends where opinions can vary so greatly as there are with colon cleansing. It’s a trend which clearly has people polarized around the world and it’s easy to understand why. It is however, interesting to observe that although the practice of colon cleansing, or enemas, isn’t mainstream in the US it is much more common in Western Europe. Does that mean that one country has it wrong and is there any evidence that it really works anyway?
Two European countries that really stand out for their acceptance and regular practice of cleansing are Italy and France. Both of these countries have some of the lowest obesity levels in Europe and have long been considered as healthy, skinny and clean living nations. So is it possible that there’s a link between colon cleansing and these trends?
Italians are the envy of many countries around the world, they have great culture, lifestyle and of course food. But it’s the latter that many would think is the downfall of a country like this.
Cleansing practices in Italy:
Interestingly in Italy it’s fairly common for adults to regularly cleanse their insides, or as they say there pulizia intestinale (cleaning the intestines). It’s believed that Italians are more open to non-conventional health techniques and this makes them one of the world’s leading markets for colonic irrigation and enema related products.
The Mediterranean Diet:
The Mediterranean diet has long been a source of the nations health. Eating lots of fruit and vegetables, grains, nuts and olive oil are seen as essential reasons why Italians have an edge in the health stakes. Their traditional diet is by default lower in salt and they consume lower levels of red mean than many countries in the world.
Portion Control & Moderation:
National dishes like pizza and pasta are hardly slimming, yet Italians have one of the lowest levels obesity levels in the region and have long been considered one some of the slimmest people in Europe. But it’s all about moderation. These may be national dishes but the secret is that people eat them irregularly and in smaller portions.
Much like Italians, the French have a reputation for being passionate about their food. France is famous for it’s culture, flair, diversity and above all it’s cuisine. So how do the French remain the envy of the world with their slim and stylish figures?
Attitude to Enemas – C’est la vie?
Maybe not quite, though it is a widely practiced health trend in the land of Baguettes. In the 17th century French King Louis XIV helped to establish the practice in France and it’s stuck since. In France they call it le nettoyage du colon (colon cleansing) and the practice is popular via self administered methods at home and professionally.
Passion for Food:
The French nation’s passion for food is evident everywhere you go, and this is one of the main reasons why the country stays so healthy. People are passionate about good food, quality ingredients and cooking well. Fast and nasty takeaways have traditionally had less of a place in France vs the rest of the world and people there enjoy the process of cooking.
Moderation:
Although the French have a world of delicious food at their doorstep, over indulgence is not a common trait. Drinking and eating and the all good things in moderation approach is alive an well in France.
The United States Stance on Cleansing
The states on the other hand have a more skeptical view on the topic and this is supported by a lot of negative articles that throw doubt onto the practice. Its easy to stand by that approach too. After all there aren’t lines of doctors wanting to back the health benefits of intestinal cleansing, many actually argue it’s unnecessary and potentially damaging too.
Health Trends in the States:
When comparing Western European countries to the US, portion size is the key factor that needs to brought into the spotlight. An average restaurant dinner serving in the US can be between 1.5 – 2 times larger than in Italy. Sodas and potato crisp sizes are all much larger in the states and this is clearly one of the main differentiating factors at play when making health comparisons between nations.
So What’s the Conclusion – Are French & Italians Healthy Because of Intestinal cleansing?
So we’ve looked at some countries where it’s popular to understand whether it’s working or not. Some would argue that it is, others could say it’s a weak link. The causal link between countries where colon cleansing is popular and lower obesity rates and lower rates of colon cancer are non evident. It would be remiss to suggest that this is a cause for lower figures as there are hundreds of other variables in the mix. What it does tell us is that countries like Italy and France are societies that are more open to alternative treatments (enemas and cleansing pills without being medically substantiated definitely fall into that category).
So is there an answer on legitimacy? No. However you can see that what works for some people doesn’t always work for others. History and habits go a long way towards influencing our thoughts and opinions on matters like this. The seeds were sewn in the 17th century for the French, whereas in other countries it’s still very much an alternative treatment.
I am not someone that will stick my neck out and recommend the practice, but I won’t rule out the benefits either. If it’s something that people think improves their health and well-being, then it probably will.
Understanding what skin type you have can have far reaching implications for almost every aspect of your life. Some readers may feel that they have a good understanding of what skin type they have, however you may be surprised to learn what you thought you knew is wrong. Understanding what your skin type is will lead you to buy better products for your skin, improve the look and appearance and feel better about yourself.
There are so many varied sources where women get their information from and these can act as conflicting sources of information. Make up and department store sales people may not be giving you the right advice, magazines and television leads to self diagnosis and women end up selecting products that are wrong for their face and body.
The typical categories are considered oily skin, dry skin and combination skin types. These are fairly limiting in their descriptive nature. For example you can have skin type oily and blemish prone or sensitive and dry. There are also variety of factors that can change your skin type. If you have acne or eczema then this is a change. Hormones are another variable which change your skin type. Higher stress levels result in changes too. The end point is that you are not one fixed skin type and different products are going to be your friend at different times of the month or year.
Understanding What Influences Your Skin Type
Although you can’t control all of these factors, it helps to build a picture of what makes your skin the way it is.
Ingredients that can make skin worse
We all know that eating oily foods makes our skin oily, however there are certain products out there that are causing us layers of problems that you need to be aware of.
Check the products you use to ensure that the ingredients aren’t potentially harmful to you. Alcohol, menthol, waxes, irritants, abrasive scrubbing agents and oil based fragrances could adversely affect you.
Determining Your Skin Type
There are a few ways you can test your skin type, some are more complicated than others. But this video will give you the easiest guide to follow in just 2 minutes.
There are many people in the world who suffer of weight problems, one of them being the obesity. This is an unfortunate event, and some people don’t really know how to deal with it. If it’s not dealt with, it can lead to other health problems, and some of them can also threaten your life.
Living healthy means that you have to have a normal weight, and this can be controlled too, but you have to want to make the adequate changes. If you’ve got a weight problem, then it’s time to deal with it as soon as you can, as losing weight can definitely help you avoid other serious health problems. Apart from this, it will also make you feel good about your body, improving your mood and the way you interact with others.
Depression and other problems appear when people feel that they can’t interact with others, when they can’t find their place in the world and when they feel that they’re not accepted by society. Rejection is hard to deal with, even if some people just imagine it. It’s not always the case, but losing weight it’s an important step towards feeling better about yourself.
Here’s how you can do it.
Start a Good Diet
Losing weight can be done with the help of the food. It’s unbelievable, yes, but it’s true. Usually, people are not careful about what they eat or when they eat, and this leads to obesity or other weight problems.
When you start a diet, don’t think of it as a diet, but think of it as an exercise for a better life. There are plenty of healthy diets that you can use, but if you want something customized, look for a nutritionist, as he or she is the only one who can tell you exactly what you can eat to achieve your goals. However, there are also diets that don’t forbid you to eat something in particular, so if you know you like food, choose one that can satisfy your needs.
Quit the Bad Habits
If you know you have some bad habits, like eating at night or between meals, smoking and drinking alcohol, favoring fast food or junk food, then it’s time to stop all of this. A bad habit will definitely improve your rate of success when 
you try to lose weight. This is because usually all this represents a mix of foods that only makes you get more and more weight – nothing works for your benefit, and you can end up with obesity or other problems.
Think Positive
Some people will find it hard to lose weight, even if they really want it. Because of this, you need to have a positive attitude towards this experience. It is indeed an experience and it will challenge your will and your ability to make healthy choices. When you start on this road, you need to challenge yourself every day and go over your known limits. You can include here your ability to refuse junk food, your ability to make exercises and everything else that you think that you can’t succeed.
Be Motivated
If your health is not a motivation enough, then think about how good will you feel if you’ve got less weight. Usually, people who gain too much weight have other hidden problems, and one of them can be the depression. This will limit your social life more than you think, but it will also limit the choices that you can make for improving your life.
Don’t hesitate and start doing something for yourself. Losing weight is just the first step that you can make for living healthier, feeling better and being happier!
