Instant Coffee or Drip Ground Coffee

Oh, so many myths, so little time!  Now as you read today’s health blog please bear in mind I am not advocating nor promoting the drinking of coffee.  I have however decided that today is the day that I shall debunk a myth.  Today’s health blog is generated as a result of a recent trip to Greece for a beautiful christening where my son and I were the god parents to a beautiful little boy named Dimitri.  This beautiful little boy happens to be my cousin’s Lena and Andoni’s son.  Their family and the christening were simply beautiful.  Oh, but I digress.  Let me get on with my point…

On one of the glorious days, quite a few of my family members, including my son and I, were sitting at one of those great little outdoor cafes that Greece is filled with.  A beautiful young niece of mine was seated next to my son and brought up the fact that frappes are much worse for your health than drinking espresso or drip ground coffee.  Now my ears perked up since the frappe coffee happens to be one of my favorite cold coffee drinks.  I do not drink it often I do however order it when I’m visiting Greece.  I chose not to say anything at the time of this conversation but I did decide at that moment that it was worth investigating.  For all of you coffee drinkers out there, and especially the frappe lovers in Greece; or anywhere else they may serve them, please be aware that frappe, instant coffee or Nescafe may not be as tasty as a deep intense drip ground coffee but it is certainly not any worse for your health.  This instant coffee has not been chemically altered, in fact at this point I should explain exactly how instant coffee is manufactured.

“Soluble coffee begins as real coffee.  It is roasted, ground, and brewed in a conventional way, before being turned into a powder or granules.  Powder is formed by spray-drying brewed coffee into hot air (up to 270 degrees C) and the coffee liquid turns into a powder.  It can create a good drink, but careless spraying produces a burnt taste.  Granules are formed by freeze drying brewed coffee.  This method produces a much more flavorful coffee.”

So you see my friends, although Nescafe may not be as deep, rich and flavorful as drip ground coffee; it does not appear to be any worse for your health than any other cup of java.  So since I do not drink all that much coffee, I will enjoy a frappe now and then, when visiting Greece on a hot summer day.  Which seems like a really good idea right about now.

Do Moisturizers Need to be Expensive?

Since recently I have blogged about cleansing your skin in the morning and the importance of toning.  I thought I should continue in the same vein and at least make some time to blog about moisturizing your face.  Now here’s an important tip…you really do not have to spend a ton of money on your moisturizer as long as you know what you’re looking for.  What are  you looking for?  Well, you can pick up a great moisturizer at your local drugstore as long as it contains:

• Lipids (ceramides, cerebrosides or sphingo lipids)
• Essential Fatty Acids (sunflower oil, grapeseed oil and primrose oil)
• Sunscreen

Now I should be frank with you, my moisturizer does not contain sunscreen however keep in mind that the sun is your face’s number one enemy, it causes wrinkles and discoloration.  Therefore although my moisturizer does not contain sunscreen, I am very cognizant to always wear large sunglasses and a hat in the sun.  If I am not wearing a hat I will certainly wear sunscreen.

Back to the moisturizer, so we’ve already discussed the fact that it need not be expensive.  Here’s something else that will help, some of the most expensive moisturizers contain vitamins A, C or E.  But just because they contain them doesn’t mean they contain a whole lot.  So if you must, buy your own good quality vitamins, break open the capsules and squeeze out the ingredients  into your moisturizer.

Now, the most important point I have to share with regards to moisturizer is how you apply it.  Please oh please when applying moisturizer to your face, and in fact all over your body, make sure your skin is damp.  Damp skin will create a thin film to trap moisture and your moisturizer will be far more effective for your skin.  I should however caution you, I do sometimes use olive oil all over my body when it is damp and I have been known to slip on the bathroom floor.  So be sure to  be cautious or you may end up with bumps on your head.  So if you decide to sometimes use olive oil, be as cautious as I have learned to be so you do not end up with bumps on your head.