Antioxidants are chemicals that protect cells by neutralizing external forces (such as damage from the sun, pollution, wind, and temperature) and internal factors (for example, emotions, metabolism, and the presence of excess oxygen). Common antioxidants are Vitamins A, C, E, and beta carotene. These special chemicals assist in skin repair and the strengthening of blood vessels.

Which foods are rich in antioxidants?

Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as in other foods including nuts, grains and some meats, poultry and fish. The list below describes food sources of common antioxidants.

• Beta-carotene is found in many foods that are orange in color, including sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, squash, apricots, pumpkin, and mangos. Some green leafy vegetables including collard greens, spinach, and kale are also rich in beta-carotene.

• Lutein, best known for its association with healthy eyes, is abundant in green, leafy vegetables such as collard greens, spinach, and kale.

• Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots, pink grapefruit, blood oranges, and other foods. Estimates suggest 85 percent of American dietary intake of lycopene comes from tomatoes and tomato products.

• Selenium is a mineral, not an antioxidant nutrient. However, it is a component of antioxidant enzymes. Plant foods like rice and wheat are the major dietary sources of selenium in most countries. In the United States, meats and bread are common sources of dietary selenium. Brazil nuts also contain large quantities of selenium.

• Vitamin A is found in three main forms: retinol (Vitamin A1), 3,4-didehydroretinol (Vitamin A2), and 3-hydroxy-retinol (Vitamin A3). Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, egg yolks and mozzarella cheese.

• Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid, and can be found in high abundance in many fruits and vegetables and is also found in cereals, beef, poultry and fish.

• Vitamin E, also known as alpha-tocopherol, is found in almonds, in many oils including wheat germ, safflower, corn and soybean oils, and also found in mangos, nuts, broccoli and other foods.

This is intended to provide general information only. If you require additional information please contact our office at 888.931.3366. For details please consult your physician.

Have you ever worn an elegant dress or an amazing shirt out to a special occasion, only to look down in to see immense, embarrassing sweat stains?

You may have a personal problem called hyperhidrosis and we at Epione can help you by using BOTOX®.

The procedure is quite straightforward. First, your problem area is numbed using a special topical cream, and then a few drops of BOTOX are injected with a tiny needle. That’s it!

BOTOX® was approved by the FDA in 2004 for the treatment of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating) that is inadequately managed with topical agents. The BOTOX® injected into the underarms inhibits the release of a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, from nerve cells, blocking the signals that stimulate the eccrine glands to produce sweat. BOTOX® blocks the nerve impulse from reaching the area and, as a result, the sweat glands are inactivated.

So go out, be yourself at that big presentation or stressful event and feel self-confident that you’re sweat-free!

This is intended to provide general information only. If you require additional information please contact our office at 888.931.3366. For details please consult your physician.

Have you ever been so in love that you had your lover’s name, or other symbol, tattooed on your body? Did you take a dare in your youth and have a tattoo of a snake that started on your shoulder, wound its way down your arm, over your wrist, and ended at the end of your hand? And, now you are going for a job interview at a very conservative company, and you are afraid the snake will creep out from under your sleeve.

At Epione, there is help: Laser Tattoo Removal, which works by producing short pulses of intense light that pass harmlessly through the top layers of the skin to be selectively absorbed by the tattoo pigment. This laser energy causes the tattoo pigment to fragment into smaller particles that are then removed by the body’s immune system. The laser selectively targets the pigment of the tattoo without damaging the surrounding skin.

The most common areas that can be treated include arms, chest, back, buttocks, or anywhere else on the body with good circulation. These areas have more blood flow and are a better vehicle for the immune system which removes the ink.

This is intended to provide general information only. If you require additional information please contact our office at 888.931.3366. For details please consult your physician.

Everyone knows the trick to getting the perfect summer body is great abs. Here are a few tips for getting and maintaining a great stomach.

Many people think all it takes to get flat abs is hundreds of sit-ups or crunches. While you may be building up your ab muscles by doing these exercises, they will not remove any fat that might be sitting on top of the muscles. To show off your abs, you have to burn fat. To burn fat, you have to stoke your metabolism by building muscle. Replacing just 1 pound of fat with muscle will force your body to fry up to an additional 50 calories a day.

To build up the muscles in your abs, be sure to eat enough. Muscles are only formed when the body has enough nutrients available.

Sometimes exercise isn’t enough to remove those last, stubborn pockets of fat. Give Epione a call at 888.931.3366 to discuss the body sculpting options we have available for you.

There are many different causes for dark circles, or bags under the eyes. Dark circles are often hereditary, they tends to run in families so if one of your parents have them, chances are so will you. The skin under the eye is very thin, as blood passes through tiny capillaries close to the surface of the eyes, it creates a bluish tint. As you age your skin becomes thinner and the blood vessels or dark circles more visible.

Lack of nutrients in a diet can also cause dark circles to appear. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you may also develop dark circles below the eyes because extended exposure to the sun can weaken the skin.

What can you do to minimize the appearance of dark circles under your eyes? Be sure to drink enough water. Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 to prevent skin weakening caused by sun damage (EPIONE Full Spectrum Sun Protection). You may be surprised to learn that fatigue usually isn’t the cause of dark circles. But it is still important to get plenty of rest because the lack of sleep or excessive tiredness can cause paleness of the skin, which allows the blood underneath the skin to become more visible and appear more blue or darker.

Give Epione a call at 888.931.3366 to discuss the other treatment options we offer to treat dark circles under your eyes.

It’s summer vacation time and travelers face particularly daunting challenges in staying fit. Tropical drinks, tasty food and lots of lounging can wreak havoc on any diet. Vacation can be a great motivator for weight loss—there’s nothing quite like the prospect of spending a week in a swimsuit to get into the gym. But while traveling to and then reaching your destination, temptation can rear its ugly head in the form of fruity drinks, rich dinners and days of relaxing by the pool.

Getting There:
If you’re flying, the average airline meal packs more than 1,000 calories. If you call 24 hours ahead, you can request the low-fat or low-calorie option. Or better yet, bring fresh food with you.

If you’re driving, bring a cooler and load it with low-calorie snacks of your choice—fruit, carrots, cheese sticks, yogurt. A small meal every few hours will keep you from overeating down the road, and you’ll steer clear of those dangerous fast-food chains

Once There:
Mini-bars: If your hotel has a mini-bar stocked with candy, chips, and liquor you always have the option of refusing the key.

Avoid bad breakfasts: If you’re accustomed to starting your day with a light meal, breakfast on the road could be your dietary downfall. Perhaps the best choice of all: a little box of cereal from the buffet, skim milk, and a piece of fruit.

Pick and choose: This is your vacation. If you want wine with dinner, order it. But then pass on the bread. Get dessert—but split it with a companion. Make every meal an occasion. Seek out foods you really love and skip those you don’t. Eat only what tastes great. Don’t waste calories on foods you can live without.

Healthy foods can help with much more than a tiny waistline. Below we will highlight certain foods that will not only help you stay trim, but will keep your hair, skin and eyes looking fabulous.

Dying to get super shiny hair? Don’t want to pay all that money to get hot oil treatments? Eating foods that are rich in iron with give you not only shiny hair, but healthy looking skin as well. Shellfish, breakfast cereals and lentils are all a good source of iron. Vitamin E is also essential in getting that desired shine. By including sunflower seeds, olives and papaya in your diet, you’ll be sure to have the shiniest hair in the office.

Who doesn’t want healthier looking skin? Avocados are a great source of essential oils and B vitamins that will help nourish your skin. Got leftover avocados from dinner? Use them to make a great facial mask. Mangoes can also be extremely helpful in obtaining that fresh look. Rich in anti-oxidants, mangoes will help fight off free radicals - one of the primary causes of premature aging.

We all know the cucumber trick to get rid of those pesky bags under the eyes. Did you know that those bags under your eyes can be caused by a deficiency in essential vitamins and proteins? Eating foods like carrots, that are rich in beta carotene, will be excellent for the skin and eyes, and fruits that are rich in Vitamin C will strengthen the blood vessels and clear up your skin. Consider adding oranges, strawberries and even cashews to your diet to increase your intake of Vitamin C.

Healthy eyes are an important part of life. An essential element to maintaining healthy eyes is a good diet. Many diseases affect the eyes, but getting the right vitamins can lower the risk of these diseases.

Vitamin A is extremely important to keeping your eyes strong and healthy. The leading cause of blindness around the world is Vitamin A deficiency. Most dairy products are fortified with Vitamin A, but other good sources are carrots, spinach and other dark leafy vegetables, eggs and broccoli. Getting enough Vitamin A can also help improve night vision.

Vitamin B complex is helpful in reducing redness in eyes and can also improve eyes that experience light sensitivity. Foods that are rich in Vitamin Bs are pastas, breads, tuna, nuts and avocado.

Weak eyes would benefit from foods high in carotene. Carotene can be found in carrots, broccoli, cabbage and peas.

A healthy diet benefits not only your eyes, but your whole body.

Everyone has dealt with acne at one point in their lives. There are plenty of myths out there about the causes and cures for acne.

Does greasy food really cause acne? Have you passed on that chocolate bar because you were scared of breaking out? Fear no longer.
Scientists have been unable to find a correlation between diet and acne. Don’t overindulge though - a poor diet can result in many other health problems.

Tanning has long been heralded as a solution for acne. While it may work in the short-term, tanning may actually lead to more breakouts in the future because sun damage dries out and irritates the skin. Washing your face too much and scrubbing the skin can result in dryness and irritation as well resulting in more breakouts.

For great looking skin always wear sunscreen, such as our EPIONE Full Spectrum Sun Protection (SPF 30)

What is more sexy than a pearly white smile?

Here are some tips to make sure your smile stays dazzling.

• Avoid staining drinks like coffee, tea, and soda. If you absolutely need your caffeine fix in the morning, use a straw.
• Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, or after eating staining foods, such as berries. Be careful not to overbrush though, as this may strip away the enamel and allow staining more easily.
• Easy whitening options are available that you can do right at home. Brushing your teeth with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide (being careful not to swallow) will act as a whitening agent. Lemon juice mixed with a teaspoon of salt also has a whitening effect. While these techniques may not taste good, your smile will thank you.
• A good diet will always prove beneficial. Make sure to get plenty of calcium, as it is vital for strong teeth. Crunchy foods that require lots of chewing - carrots, celery and apples - will help remove built-up plaque as you chew.