Blog Posts by TheDailyZeel

By: StacyAtZeel

The following article was contributed by Zeel Skincare Expert Barbara Lynn Cantone, President of Body & Soul Restorations, Inc.

Like lazy beach days and corn on the cob, sunscreen is a summer essential. But, as anyone who's ever perused the aisles at their neighborhood pharmacy knows, picking a decent sunscreen can be a confusing and frustrating process!

So many brands. So many ingredients. So many large words staring back at you from the shelves! All of a sudden, the fun of preparing for a little time in the sun is, well, no day at the beach at all!

To help make the process a bit easier, consider these three important elements the next time you're faced with the task of picking out sunscreen.

1. Broad Spectrum Coverage

Look for a sunscreen that will give you both UVA and UVB coverage. UVA rays can cause premature aging, wrinkles and skin cancer. Their partners in crime-UVB rays-can result in burns and cancer too, however.

UVB rays

By: StacyAtZeel

eggs-and-avovado-flickr-citeThe following guest blog on how to achieve sustainable weight loss comes from Zeel Nutrition Expert Natasha Uspensky, CHHC, AADP.

I'm sure by now you've read about the French diet paradox (those slim, beautiful women who somehow are able to eat pastries, butter, fat and wine without consequence), or have witnessed for yourself that enviable friend who consumes all the foods you wished you could eat, guilt-free, for brunch or lunch, and still manages to maintain her skinny physique.

What's the secret? It's something so easy and so engrained in our DNA that you won't believe how naturally you'll be able to reach-and maintain-your body's healthiest weight without uttering the word "diet" ever again.

From our hunter-gatherer ancestors to the cultures of East Asia, much of Europe and even the Pacific Islands, most of your calories should be consumed during the earlier part of the day, with dinner being a much lighter, more supplementary meal. Though

By: StacyAtZeel

lemon-water-flickr-citeIf the sound of lemon water and cayenne pepper-all day long, and without room for any other snacks or meals-sounds less than appealing, know that you're not alone. While cleanses, especially during summer, have been at the frontline of the dietary battleground for some time now (made popular by the Beyonce's, the Gwyneth's and other waist-watching A-list celebs), most nutrition experts agree-these pseudo liquid fasts should probably be cleansed from our vocabulary for good.

According to Zeel fitness and weight loss expert Johnny Nasello, "All of these diets have two things in common:"

1. "With these diets you lose 5 to 10 pounds really quickly, and with no additional physical exertion. This is a huge gimmick selling point for these diets. Who doesn't want to lose 5 to 10 pounds really quickly?"

2. "None of these diets provide a blueprint on how you should eat for the rest of your life. Nobody can maintain a restrictive or cleanse diet

By: StacyAtZeel

american-flag-cupcake-flickr-citeWhether you're headed to a friend's house for a daylong barbeque or packing up for an extended weekend at the beach, make this July 4 th healthy, fit and fun with these four summer-ready secrets from Zeel Expert and certified personal trainer Sarah Ann Corkum.

1. Get your workouts in early.

If you're staycationing or going away this weekend, be sure to squeeze in a 20-minute "destination run," do that workout DVD in your hotel room, or hit up your local gym first thing. Getting it done in the morning is the number one way to ensure that your workout is complete. Plus, you'll have more energy and spunk to enjoy the extra free time! (Reminder, this does not mean you get a free for all at cocktail hour.)

2. Make your weekend an active one.

Plan for activities that keep you moving all day long. Even if you're staying local, you'll probably still be able to take long walks and explore your neighborhood without the hustle and bustle of a fly-by

By: StacyAtZeel

pool-flickr-citeJuly 4 th doesn't have to be about food and booze-but let's face it, most of the time, that's what these summer soirees often center on. Zeel Expert Lynda Lippin doesn't suggest shunning the goods; rather, she offers five key pieces of advice for celebrating healthfully without denying yourself fulfillment or fun. If you're heading to a barbeque for July 4 th this week, be sure to remember these suggestions.

Plan your morning workout. Exercise the morning before the celebrations begin. Do whatever you can handle at as high an intensity as you can manage. HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) for 10 minutes followed by 20 minutes of some full body exercise (Kettlebells, TRX, Pilates and active yoga are good options) is a great place to start.

Mind your water intake. During barbecues, parties and other food and drink-filled events, be sure to alternate what you sip, drinking a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage. This will keep you fuller

By: StacyAtZeel

When Runner's World launched their Run Streak campaign for summer 2012, they did so with a purpose. Because while many of us spend all spring long getting our bodies beach ready, once warm weather strikes, it can be difficult to find the motivation to keep on working out.

Of course, you can head to the gym if you're looking to get your sweat on sans heat. But know that, just because the sun's a-shinin' doesn't mean you can't work out in the great outdoors. All it takes is a little mental determination and a few sound choices along the way.

Exercising outdoors this summer? (And based on the East Coast today, it's bound to be a hot one!) Bring along these five must-know tips for safe and effective warm weather workouts.

1. Hydrate. Most of us know to bring a bottle of H2O along when working out in heat. But did you know that it's important to hydrate before, during and after your workout too? Zeel Fitness Expert Christian Cruz says, "Drink plenty

By: StacyAtZeel

Unless you happen to possess some sort of Benjamin Button-like secret to aging, I think most of us would agree that, when it comes to strength, endurance and yes, our metabolism, it can be pretty easy to loathe that extra candle on the cake with every passing year.

So why do our metabolisms become increasingly sluggish with age? While there are many, many scientific factors at play here, the primary reason seems to be due to the slowing of our mitochondria - those little energy powerhouses inside our cells that use nutrients as fuel. Other reasons have to do with a hormonal shift and the potential onset of muscle wasting (muscle burns more energy than fat does, so as your muscle mass decreases, so does your metabolism).

But enough with the bad news. The real question is, how can we keep weight gain at bay when it seems like science is working against us? Zeel Fitness Expert Lynda Lippin, dubbed "genius" by fashion designer Donna Karan, offers her

By: StacyAtZeel

Every so often, we stumble across a study that tries to question something that's been long accepted in our culture. The matter of drinking while pregnant is the latest to reemerge, thanks to a recent series of five studies carried out by Danish researchers and published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which produced very interesting results.

Now, before you go getting all overly excited and pouring rounds of tequila, here are a few facts that you should definitely know.

• The researchers' goal was to study the effects of alcohol on three factors: a child's IQ, attention span and "executive function" skills, or the way they plan, organize and practice self-control, by the age of five.
• The study consisted of more than 1,600 women who averaged 31 years old. The women were recruited following their first prenatal doctor's appointment.
• Denmark's measurement for a single drink is more reserved than in the U.S. An