Look younger! Boost energy! De-stress! Thousands of products promise to make you look and feel like a Hollywood star. So what do the celebrities actually use? As it turns out, many A-list beauties forgo expensive pills and potions for old-fashioned natural remedies. Here, 10 stars share their secrets for staying healthy – naturally…
Catherine Zeta-Jones: “When I need to recharge, I dab my face with water mixed with a little witch hazel and lavender oil. It makes my skin look fresh and smooth and the lavender is so soothing.”
Why it works: “Lavender and witch hazel both work to calm inflamed skin, creating a healthy glow. And lavender offers a bonus benefit because its aroma has a sedative effect on the mind that eases you into a more relaxed state.”
Debra Messing: “I like looking at images of fashion. They help relax me and put me in a good mood. To me, fashion is just another outlet for creative expression.”
Why it works: Experts reveal that art takes you out of your left brain, which deals with linear, calculated thinking, and into the image-centered, free-flowing right side of the brain.
Drew Barrymore: “I love going to little bookstores and reading Shel Silverstein books – the ones with kids’ poems. They have great vibes, and I always leave the store in an up-beat mood.”
Why it works: “The brain’s limbic system can process only one emotion at a time. Reading something funny causes a cognitive shift in the brain that crowds out anxiety and stress.”
Gabrielle Union: “Pilates is great for energizing and relaxing all at once. Plus, the breathing patterns that are central to the exercise really help me concentrate.”
Why it works: “Deep breathing floods your body with energizing oxygen, your muscles unclench and your pulse slows, so you feel focused and refreshed without feeling wired.”
Gwyneth Paltrow: “Getting massages really helps relieve my tense muscles and overall stress. And that, in turn, helps me sleep better so that I get around 7-8 hours of sleep.”
Why it works: Massage therapists say that massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol while raising levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin. Research has shown that the sense of calm a massage generates improves sleep quality. No masseuse around? Try inducing the same effects by rubbing your feet for five minutes before bedtime.
Jaime Pressley, pre-pregnancy: “I take echinacea every day. It helps build up my immune system so that even if I get a cold, it’s less severe.”
Why it works: Echinacea enhances the activity of the immune system’s virus-killing white blood cells. The result is you’ll either nip a cold or flu in the bud or decrease its duration.
Jennifer Garner: “During a spa trip, I got a mineral mud rub to draw impurities out of my pores. It did a great job of revitalizing my skin and giving me renewed energy so now I use a mud mask at home to flush out the toxins in my skin.”
Why it works: “As mineral mud dries, it causes skin to release impurities and excess oil, which are absorbed into the mud, plus the massaging application increases circulation, which energizes the body and leaves skin glowing.”
Lucy Liu: “Sitting down to fresh sushi is always a mood lifter. Maybe it reminds me of my childhood or maybe it’s just the great taste.”
Why it works: The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish make it easier for feel-good chemicals like acetylcholine and serotonin to penetrate cell membranes.
Mariska Hargitay: “When I feel stress, I shut off the phone, lie on the floor and meditate for five minutes. It gives me the release I need to get through a long day at work.”
Why it works: If you focus on a word or image while deeply breathing, it turns off the part of the brain that controls the fight-or-flight response. Your heart and respiration rate slows, calming you physically and mentally.
Michelle Pfeiffer: “I put fragrant sachets in my dresser. Whenever I open a drawer, the scent drifts out and energizes me.”
Why it works: Numerous studies prove aromatherapy’s power, and it doesn’t take much to reap the benefits. Simply placing sachets around your home exposes you to their subtle scent. For instant energy, choose citrus or peppermint fragrances.
As always, be happy, and stay safe !
Bird
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