Causes of Hair Breakage and How to Avoid It

Breakage unlike shedding is neither a natural or normal process but rather an indication of an imbalance between important forces within the hair strand. These forces are protein and moisture. Broken hairs do not fall naturally from the head, they are signs of mishandling or abuse.

Breakage may be caused by damage from the use of heat, exposure to the sun, rough handling or mechanical abuse and chemical processes such as relaxers or hair dyes. The older the hair the more vulnerable it becomes to breakage. This makes the ends of hair likely to break from typical, everyday wear and tear. In addition to everyday wear and tear on the older parts of hair, breakage may also result from a lack of moisture (conditioning) in the hair strands or too much protein in the hair cause by excessive protein treatments.

Even with the greatest care and pamper, some breakage is inevitable due to the delicate nature of our hair, especially if you have fine kinks and coils common to most naturals. All you can do is try to keep breakage to the absolute minimum. A few broken strands while handling your hair is not cause for concern. However if you start noticing several broken strands over a short period of time then perhaps you should be mindful of your hair's protein or moisture balance.

Pay attention to your nails before you handle your hair, make sure there are no rough edges to snag hair. Always be careful when handling hair and detangle with care beginning at the ends and working your way up. Also, be mindful of the tools you use in your hair and whether they are contributing to breakage. Give your hair ends some TLC (tender loving Care). Always remember they are the oldest, weakest part of your hair so they will be more prone to breakage. Do not skip or shorten your conditioning step. Condition your hair after each shampoo and deep condition often. This is especially critical if your hair has been colored or dyed. If you co-wash with traditional conditioners, remember that these typically contain protein and too much protein will lead to breakage and other hair damage. Check and read your labels very well. Keep hair ends in shape with regular trims and minimize the use of heat. This should lead to a reduction in breakage and help in maintaining a strong and healthy hair.

Food and You - How to Boost Your Mood With Food

America is known for being an obese nation. There are several laws that are being enforced in order to reduce the waist size and improve the health of Americans. For instance, the mayor of New York is trying to enforce limits on the size of sugary soft drinks that can be sold out of many establishments. Many of the sweet snacks and drinks that were in the school vending machines have been replaced by veggie chips, granola bars, and water. In certain stores, it costs more to buy a bottle of soda than a bottle of juice or water that is the same size. All of these efforts are being expended in an attempt to help us to experience a more fulfilling existence by being nutritionally fit.

Great lengths have been taken in order to equip our society with the knowledge it needs to be physically healthy. What about our mental health? The brain is part of the body and it can also be positively or negatively affected by what we eat. Certain foods will give us that brain burst that we are looking for and there are others that will depress our moods - causing us to foster emotions of hopelessness and irritability. For this reason, it is important for us to understand how foods affect our mood as well as our physical being.

One tip for lifting your emotional spirits and thrusting off the heavy baggage of emotional woe is to eat foods that are high in fiber and low in saturated fat. We should also eat foods that are rich in B12 and folic acid. Studies have shown that foods which contain B12 and folic acid help to prevent disorders of the central nervous system, mood swings and dementias. Foods like beans and greens usually have folic acid in them. Meats, fish, poultry, and dairy all contain B12.

Eating fruits and vegetables is another way to boost your mood indirectly. Fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that make your body function correctly thus making you feel healthier. A person that eats a lot of fruits and vegetables is less likely to be in a depressed state because they feel better about themselves which changes their overall outlook on life.

Another tip for controlling your mood is eating fish. Studies have shown that people who eat fish that is high in Omeg-3 fatty acid have a lower risk of displaying symptoms of depression. Salmon, sardines, tuna, and herring are all fish that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

While these tips may assist you on the road to living a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life, I realize that it is only the tip of the iceberg. Maintaining good mental health which leads to overall wellness is a daunting task. However, even if we start with these baby steps, we will still arrive at our destination which is a happier, healthier you and me.