Howard Murad's Blog, page 41

8 Winter Skincare Tips

Cold winter air holds less moisture so it’s the driest time of year as far as your skin is concerned. Couple that naturally dry air with wind and indoor heating, which literally bakes moisture from the skin, and the result is often dry, irritated skin, cracked lips and blotchy red patches.

For years I have encouraged the following four winter skincare tips:

Exfoliate regularly;
Change to a thicker moisturizer;
Use a humidifier when you sleep; and
Refrain from overly hot showers and baths.

This year, I want to give you four additional tips to help improve your skin this winter.

Eat more seafood. Cold water fish, such as salmon and black cod, are naturally oily and that makes them excellent sources of essential fatty acids (EFA’s). EFA’s help keep your skin hydrated from the inside while also protecting it from the damaging winter environment. If you don’t enjoy seafood, you can get similar benefits by incorporating flaxseed oil into your diet.
Get to bed earlier. Darkness is your brain’s cue to produce more melatonin to make you tired and ready to sleep. With the onset of shorter days and longer nights, take a cue from nature and get to bed earlier. When you sleep, your skin and your body repair and regenerate. Inefficient sleep has been linked to everything from wrinkles to heart disease.
Eat your water. If you have dry skin, your cells could likely use hydrating. The best way to keep skin hydrated from the inside out is to eat your water. Increase your intake of raw fruits and vegetables during the winter months and you will not only be increasing your water intake (remember a cucumber is 95% water), you will also be providing your skin with the vital nutrients it needs to fight off winter weather damage.
Carry an extra pair of gloves and socks with you. If you live in an area where it snows or rains often, you know that water can sneak into your boots and dampen your socks. Damp socks can irritate already winter-worn heels and feet. If your socks get damp, dry off your feet, apply moisturizer and put on a fresh pair of socks. The same goes for your hands.  If they get wet, dry them, moisturize and put on fresh dry gloves. Keeping your hands and feet dry and moisturized will help keep your skin feeling and looking great.

And finally, don’t forget your sunscreen! Harmful UV rays are still present despite the colder temperature and onset of rain and snow. Make sure to use an SPF 15 or higher on all exposed skin.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world-renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

Follow Dr. Murad on Twitter

Engage with Dr. Murad on Facebook

Sources: WebMD , WebMD , Daily Mail , Columbia Health

Meet Murad Brand Ambassador R’Chelle Mullins

Happy #FitnessFriday everyone! Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Murad Brand Ambassador R’Chelle Mullins from North Versailles, Pennsylvania. She has combined a passion for skin care with healthy eating habits and a powerful new fitness training regime to look, live and feel #BetterEveryDay. Here’s her story; we know it will inspire you.

Since it’s #FitnessFriday, let’s start with your recent fitness transformation.

It’s no secret that over the past few years I’ve been in a battle against the bulge. I’ve tried every quick-fix diet plan you can think of, BUT what I never did was add fitness into the equation. I decided that enough was enough and it was time to take charge of my health and fitness. I hired a trainer and for five days a week for about two months now, I’ve been sweating it out in the gym. I went from literally crying my first day to squats off the box while lifting 25 pound weights (in each hand…that’s 50 pounds kids), and mastering 100 sit-ups at a time! Partnering the fitness with better eating habits has made all the difference. My physique is certainly changing. I’m pulling my too loose pants up and I honestly have not felt this good in forever! I can’t even explain how amazing I feel when I walk (sometimes limp) out of that gym. If I had known the feeling was so euphoric, I would have become a gym rat years ago!

We know you’re a big fan of Murad. How did you first discover our products?

I first discovered Murad about 4 years ago when I got really serious about taking better care of my skin. I’ve got a budding social media/brand management business and my blogging mentor sent me a few products. I’ve been a forever fan since then.

How do you embrace the Murad Inclusive Health® vision and strive to Look, Live and Feel Better Every Day?

How do you Look Better?

I use my favorite Murad product every day: Renewing Cleansing Oil.

How do you Live Better?

I run and do daily walks every day to clear my mind.

How do you Feel Better?

I glass of wine and not sweating the small stuff.

What or who is your primary source of inspiration?

My mom is my primary source of inspiration. She’s so strong and spirited and I never want to let her down. I seriously make some decisions thinking, “What would my mom think?”

What motivates you?

I honestly think the fear of failure motivates me. I have to be great, there are no other options.

Describe a day in the life of R’Chelle.

My day starts at 4:45am with me hitting the gym by 5:30am. After a good workout and breakfast, I’m typically starting my work day around 8am. I spend my mornings working on client accounts and trying to manage my three blogs and all of the social media platforms for each of my brands. Sadly, I’ve been all about work these days, so this is a reminder that I probably really need to get a social life!

What is your biggest success up until now?

My biggest success has been starting my own business. It was so scary to walk away from the security of a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck, but there has been nothing more rewarding than being my own boss.

Your favorite recipe is Crab Stuffed Salmon. Sounds yummy, can you share the recipe with us?

I start with fresh salmon steaks (cleaned) and turn them on the side to make a partial cut down the middle (almost like a pocket). Next, I lightly season the steaks with butter and Old Bay seasoning. Using fresh jumbo lump crab meat and small shrimp, I mix panko bread crumbs, light mayo and seasonings in a bowl and stuff the mixture into the salmon. Stick the stuffed salmon in the oven at 375 degrees for about 25-30 minutes (be sure not to overcook) and enjoy!

How do you incorporate Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health philosophy into your daily life?

Dr. Murad is so inspirational that it only makes sense to incorporate his health philosophy into my daily life. I keep The Water Secret on my nightstand for daily reading, especially since I’m on my journey to better health and fitness. Overall, the concept of #BetterEveryDay really inspires me to become a better version of myself every day.

What is your favorite Dr. Murad insight?

“Magic only happens when you create your own.”

Thank you R’Chelle for taking the time to share your story with us. And congratulations on the inspiring progress you’re making with your health and fitness. We can’t wait to try your Crab Stuffed Salmon recipe! Check out R’Chelle’s Murad Ambassador profile for more information and this blog post she recently wrote about her journey to becoming #BetterEveryDay.

6 Ways Social Relationships Help Conquer Stress

Did you know that your close relationships can actually help to reduce stress?

Social relationships relieve stress because they act as a support system, helping you feel better about yourself. Reduced stress, helps improve your immune system, regulate insulin and stave off problems with your coronary arteries.
Happiness increases when you are with a group of people you care about. When members of your family are happy, the effect can be “contagious.”
Close relationships are vital to helping you through times of stress. Being able to talk with someone you trust about your problems or daily life is a significant stress reducer. That person doesn’t have to try to fix the problem, just listen.
Research shows that those who have a strong social network stay healthier and actually live longer.
Having friends & family to turn to in a time of need is reassuring and comforting. By building strong relationships, you are also developing emotional health for yourself and those you are close with.
Studies have shown that when friends and family members come to you for support your feelings of self-worth increase.

An important element of this to remember is that the goal of building your social network is to reduce stress, not add to it. If you have a relationship that drains your energy instead of increasing it, you might want to rethink your relationship with that person.

The bottom line is that building strong relationships that are loving and supportive will reduce your stress, improve your health and increase your longevity.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world-renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

Follow Dr. Murad on Twitter

Engage with Dr. Murad on Facebook

Sources: PBS , WebMD , Mayo Clinic

 

Meet Noe Zelaya, Murad’s Distribution Center Manager

Murad is sold in over 40 countries, so our Distribution Center is very busy! A key member of the team that allows our product to fly off the shelves at a record setting pace is Warehouse Manager Noe Zelaya. We’re chatting with him today about why he loves his job, why co-workers call him “MacGyver,” and how he uses old wooden pallets to create unique works of art.

Additionally, for the first time ever on the blog, we are translating this post into Spanish. It’s our first bilingual post—as we continue to embrace Murad’s global presence in the marketplace. You can read Noe’s story in Spanish here.

Noe, tell us about your job here at Murad.

I ensure that the Distribution Center runs like a well-oiled machine by providing supervision for three very dynamic departments: Receiving, International and Returns. In the Receiving Department, we put our hands on  a combined average of 30 pallets with multiple SKUs on a daily basis; all with very sharp accuracy. Our International Department cranks out orders to be shipped all over the world. The Returns Department is a group of very talented individuals who not only process our customer returns, but have so much knowledge that they can go and help in almost every department here at the Distribution Center. In addition to supervision, I make sure our equipment is running sharp, and our facility is safe.  My unofficial job title at the DC is “Handy Manny” or “MacGyver.” If something is broken, I get the call. I have fixed everything from the desktop printers to the automatic tape machine, to an electrical connection for the new time clock. The way I see it, if something is already broken, what is the worst that could happen! On the other hand, if I fix it (and I usually do) I will be saving the company money, and in my book, that’s a pretty good skill to have.

How did you join Murad and how long have you been here?

After working for eight years at an automotive company, and acquiring my Bachelor’s in Business Management, I decided it was time to look in a new direction. I opened up a job-seeking site, and an ad for an Assistant Manager position was there. I got the name of the company, looked it up, and was very impressed with what I read—and I really connected with the mission statement. I went thru the interview process and with my skills, prior performance and some luck, I became a Murad employee, and now I have been here for over three years.

What do you love most about working at Murad?

I love how the company takes care of its employees, as stated in the mission statement, “We value everyone’s contribution,” and we really do. I like the fact that they take my ideas and opinions into consideration. I also like the fact that all employees are considered part of the Murad family.

You are known at Murad for your recycled palette artwork and charity efforts. Would you share some details about these efforts and interests for our readers?

Outside of work, there is a creative side to me. I like to build furniture and create art from repurposed materials. I have been known to pick up things from the side of the road, stop at yard sales, and get excited over wooden pallets. Many times people will see me staring at a pallet and say, “Oh! Oh!  The wheels are spinning, Noe is thinking of something he can do with that pallet!” I like to let my imagination guide me when creating art pieces. Seeing Dr. Murad paint at the DC has also inspired me to start painting. In keeping with the recycled theme, I’ve used everything from old dishwashing sponges, to extra house paint, to pieces of plywood taken from broken pallets for my paintings.

In addition to being handy and creating art, I am also involved with a non-profit organization, but let me tell you how I got involved. While helping my wife, who is a middle school principal, with a community art event for her students, I was introduced to Trash For Teaching. T4T is a non-profit organization that collects items from the corporate world such as plastic bottles, unused components, hardware, fabrics and much more. These items often cost corporations thousands of dollars to dispose of. By giving these things to T4T, the items are given new life. T4T then allows schools to come to their location and repurpose these items to create art pieces from what otherwise would have ended up in a landfill. I thought about the items Murad was disposing of, such as old displays and obsolete components at the DC, and realized that we too could be donating many of these items to T4T and actually saving the company money. Over the years that I have been involved with the organization, Trash For Teaching has grown from a place where teachers picked up art-making supplies to a community art-making center where teachers and the public can come and embrace the reduce, reuse, recycle principles while creating. I really enjoy supporting this non-profit organization because it is making efforts to build a creative society, and at the same time, teaching kids about recycling.

How do you embrace the Murad Vision and strive to Look, Live and Feel Better Every Day?

I look better by using Cleansing Shave for a soft touch. I live better by eating healthy and having a glass of wine. I feel better by spending time with my family, staying healthy and helping others.

What is your favorite Dr. Murad Insight?

“Stay in touch with your passion.” I believe I have been following this all my life. Being passionate about what I do is what has inspired me to achieve all that I have, and become who I am today. This is what makes me happy.

If you weren’t at work, what would you be doing?

If I am not at work, you can find me in my garage/workshop, at Trash For Teaching, or wandering the aisles at Home Depot looking for that one last item to finish up a project. Currently, I am working on a mixed media flag made out of a pallet, a painting for my son, a picnic table; and dreaming of the pizza oven I want to build in the back yard!

What is your favorite/must-have Murad product and why?

My favorite Murad product is Cleansing Shave. To me it’s a must-have, because it leaves my skin very soft and feeling moisturized.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us, Noe. We can’t wait to see how your art projects turn out!

If you’d like to read Noe’s story in Spanish or share with any Spanish-speakers click here.

Benefits of Family Time

This time of year is among my favorites because I love nothing more than spending quality time with my family. Spending quality time with loved ones is something we should be doing year round, not just for holidays and birthdays. In fact, taking time to be with family members has been shown to provide a number of significant health benefits, including lower stress, better eating habits, and even a longer life span.

Here are some of the main reasons why families that spend time together tend to be healthier, happier and more successful:

1. Positive Impact on Children

Children who have parents that frequently communicate with them have shown to be more successful at school. So, when your child asks the inevitable, “Why?” take the time to stop, listen to their question, answer and then ask questions back to them. And it’s not just about learning. Children whose parents participate in leisure activities outside of the home (picnics, movies, sports) also exhibit better academic achievements than those of their peers. Additionally, youths who communicate, are active and have close relationships with their parents exhibit fewer behavioral problems and are less likely to engage in violence.

2. Positive Impact on Parents

Spending family time together gives us an opportunity to reconnect, share stories and talk about our days. It’s common for spouses to complain that their partners never ask about their day. The simple act of showing interest in your loved ones’ activities can be positive for everyone in the family.

3. Beneficial to Older Family Members

As people get older, they tend to treasure time and memories more than material possessions. Studies show that senior citizens are most content when surrounded by family, sharing memories or simply sharing time. The key to making the time memorable is to tap into their interests from their youth. Did they love art? Paint with them. Did they love to read? Read with them or discuss a favorite novel. Do they love to reminisce? Go through old scrapbooks with them. Sometimes the greatest gift is just spending time together.

4. Everyone Benefits From Quality Time

Families who have dinner together five or more times a week have children that are less likely to be involved in substance abuse, teen pregnancy and depression. Regular family meals show lower rates of obesity and eating disorders in children and adolescents. Also, spending family time together has been shown to lower stress levels, help people quit smoking, maintain better eating habits and even prolong your life.

If you aren’t sure where to start for incorporating more family time into your schedule, I recommend beginning at the dinner table. Sharing a family meal is good for the spirit, the brain and the health of all family members.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world-renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

Follow Dr. Murad on Twitter

Engage with Dr. Murad on Facebook

Sources: Family Facts , Caring for Aging Parents , The Family Dinner Project , Huffington Post

Introducing Youth Builder® Bodycare

How Should You Treat Your Body?

Just as Well as Your Treat Your Face.

The skin is your largest organ because it must protect your body from head to toe.  Shouldn’t you return the favor? The skin on your face is more visible, but it’s not dramatically different and the skin below your chin responds just as beautifully to products designed with skin’s health in mind. That’s why we are thrilled to introduce a new generation of bodycare formulas we call Youth Builder, that unlock the potential of Murad’s most advanced treatment technologies to transform every inch of your skin. Youth Builder’s unique transformative formulas awaken the spirit with fragrant aromas of Lemongrass Vetiver & Bergamot while delivering on the Murad promise of real results.

These two new products are suitable for all skin types and available now for purchase on Murad.com.

Detoxifying White Clay Body Cleanser

Transform your shower into a detoxifying ritual with this rich, luxurious White Clay cleanser. Ginger Root Extract helps stimulate circulation while Safflower and Sunflower Oils impart moisture to skin, leaving it smooth and hydrated.

Check it out here.

Rejuvenating AHA Hand Cream

Rejuvenate your hands with this lightweight, quick-absorbing cream featuring Glycolic Acid (AHA) to improve clarity and texture. A Hyaluronic Acid-rich botanical extract improves hydration and protects the moisture barrier to keep skin soft and smooth.

Check it out here.

Also available for a limited time is a Preview Kit which includes smaller sizes of both products.

This new line of products make a great gift for anyone on your list!

Check back on the blog often for more skincare tips as well as tips and tricks to keep your entire body healthy from the inside out.

 

4 Useful Shaving Tips for Men

by Jeff Murad, Vice President of Product Development

Shaving is rough. It can easily cause irritation in the form of razor burn, folliculitis and ingrown hairs (aka pseudofolliculitus). In fact, shaving related skin issues are by far men’s biggest skincare concern. Facial hair growth is relentless and any irritation left over from yesterday’s shave will be compounded by todays. There are many fortunate men out there with light beards who either don’t have to shave or for whom shaving is a breeze. For the rest of us, here are some tips on how to prevent this vicious cycle and make shaving less of a daily ordeal.

1. Use a shaving brush. (From my experience, badger bristles work better than synthetic)

Soak the brush in hot water
Add a dollop of shave cream (or shave cleanser) right into the middle of the bristles
Placing the brush against the skin at a 90 degree angle. Use a circular motion to lather your shaving cream and to distribute the lather all over your face and neck.

This has two benefits:

The more you lather your shave cream, the better lubrication it provides your razor for a smoother shave.
The bristles themselves help uncover and bring to the surface hairs that your razor might otherwise pass right over.This will give you a substantially smoother shave. If you have exceptionally thick and/or curly facial hair, as I do, you may need to boost this pre-shave exfoliation even more with a  pre-shave facial scrub.

2. Prep your skin with a pre-shave facial scrub.

For the ultimate clean, friction-free shave, wash your face with a scrub loaded with beads (my favorite is Skin Smoothing Polish loaded with exfoliating silica grains) for a potent mechanical exfoliation before lathering up with your badger hair shave brush. Like really good BBQ ribs falling off the bone, your facial hairs will be ready to fall right out of your follicles after going head to head with a powerful scrub.

3. Your shaving products should include good antimicrobial ingredients

Your skin plays host to millions of microorganisms. Many of these are not harmful, and some are actually beneficial to the health of your complexion. Unfortunately, there are several pathogenic (or harmful) organisms, such as staphylococcus aureus (the bacterium responsible for staph infections), living in your skin’s ecosystem as well. Fortunately, skin is has a strong barrier that generally prevents these organisms from penetrating the skin and causing infection. But disruptions in the skin’s barrier, such as from a shaving nick, allow organisms to penetrate the protective surface biofilm and that leads to razor burn, inflammation and folliculitis. For this reason, it is important that your shaving regimen include some good antimicrobial ingredients such as Tea Tree Oil and Ginger Extract. Ingredients like these can be included in any or all of the products in your regimen, including your pre-shave scrub, your post-shave product, and in the shaving cream itself. (Tea Tree Oil is featured in in all of the products in the Murad Man line.

4. Use the right aftershave

The most important function of an aftershave is to soothe irritated skin. That’s why it should contain anti-inflammatories such as Vitamin E and Neem extract. The best type of aftershave will also offer you some antimicrobial benefits and mild exfoliation. I realize this seems like overkill. “I just dragged a razor across my face a dozen times,” you may be thinking, “Why do I need to follow that up with an alpha hydroxy acid?” Think of it like this: you have just given yourself a close shave – all of those hairs are temporarily so short that they don’t even peek out above the surface of your follicles, but your skin cells have not stopped proliferating. Without intervention, growth of skin cells can easily outpace the growth of your facial hairs and that can lead to ingrown hairs. For this reason, I recommend an aftershave with the addition of a bit of glycolic acid (such as Murad Man Razor Burn Rescue) to prevent this and to ensure that your next shave is smooth and steady.

To learn more about Jeff, read this great blog feature.

A New Store, a New Chapter

If you live in the Los Angeles area or have visited recently, perhaps you’ve heard about our new store.

A long time in the making, the 1500 square-foot storefront coincides with our celebration of Murad’s 25th anniversary this year. We like to think it is also a symbol of our continued evolution.

The store is truly our attempt at creating an environment that capture my Inclusive Health philosophy–which is to inspire people to look better, live better and feel better through a whole-person approach. In addition to offering our full range of Murad skincare products, the store will offer services and activities to provide customers with a personalized, engaging and informative experience.

Helping as many people as possible to achieve healthy skin and personal happiness has always been the cornerstone of my research, my medical practice and my life. Helping people is the reason I began making skincare products in the first place. The store is designed to be an extension of that. It is meant to be a place to empower people to not only look better through topical care, but to live better through proper nutrition and supplements, and feel better through emotional self-care and stress management.

My hope is that our store will serve as a place where our customers can bridge the gap between beauty and health. I hope to give them the tools and inspiration they need to make every day choices that support their overall skin health.

In addition to our full line of products, we will be offering Guided Skincare Applications, Inclusive Health Skin Consultations designed to reflect our whole-person approach and YouthCam Evaluations using a high-definition camera to measure lines and wrinkles. I believe that everything we offer ties in directly to my research and Inclusive Health philosophy.

As always, we’re excited to share something new with our customers and we hope that the store will be provide a wonderful and illuminating  experience for all who have the opportunity to visit with us.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

Follow Dr. Murad on Twitter

Engage with Dr. Murad on Facebook

Murad’s new global flagship retail location is located at 8207 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Visit our Murad Store page for more details.

Meet Actress Julie Benz

We’re so excited to be chatting with actress Julie Benz (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dexter) for today’s Meet Feature. Julie is a big fan of our products and embraces Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health philosophy. Let’s find out more about Julie’s skin care regimen, her healthy lifestyle and what inspires her.

Describe your first meeting with Dr. Murad.

When I first met Dr. Murad, my skin was a mess. From across the room, he diagnosed my skin issues and put me on the Resurgence program and within 2 weeks, my skin transformed and has been beautiful ever since. People now stop me and ask me what I am doing to my skin!

What are your favorite Murad products?

The Resurgence line obviously. The Resurgence Renewing Cleansing Cream is amazing. When I first met with Dr. Murad, I said I couldn’t use a cleanser on my skin because in my experience, all cleansers were too drying. I was shocked after using the Renewing Cleansing Cream because it does actually remove all of my makeup: light, heavy (when I’m on set), everything in between, gently. It does not dry out my skin at all, just makes my face feel clean. Another must-have product is Intensive Age-Diffusing Serum. It really does what it says; I cannot live without it!  My skin just glows.

How do you embrace the Murad Inclusive Health Vision and strive to Look, Live and Feel Better Every Day?

Photo credit: Vince Trupsin

How do you LOOK BETTER?

I wear sunblock and a hat EVERYDAY. It’s not enough to just wear sunblock; you really need the extra shade. Living in Los Angeles, I don’t know why I have a car with a sunroof– we never use it!

How do you LIVE BETTER?

Staying fit and working out are really important to me. Working out clears my mind and levels my stress. I have to workout every day whether it’s Pilates for strength training or spinning for cardio, it’s part of my lifestyle. Also, I try to eat as healthily as possible (but I do cheat once in a while)! Just like Dr. Murad’s Pitcher of Health 80/20 rule – my 20% is pure desserts, just not every day. It’s very important to me to eat foods with high nutritional value, while staying away from processed food. It really makes a difference. Processed food makes me feel sluggish and it’s harder for my system to digest, so I try to stay away from it as much as possible.

How do you FEEL BETTER?

I like to listen to a lot of music. Music can change your spirit and your energy. Whether it gets you up or makes you want to sing along, good music has the power to change your mood.

What’s your favorite Dr. Murad quote?

“Live life like you are on vacation.” This is now my personal mantra. I love this quote because it’s so true. When I’m on vacation, everything else drops away. It  forces me to regroup and recenter myself. I think about this quote when I’m driving in L.A. and it helps me relax.

Photo credit: Vince Trupsin

Describe a typical day in your life.

My favorite days are my weekend days. I wake up early and workout for two hours: (45 minutes in a spin class and one hour of Pilates). I love going to classes and being surrounded by other people. I love the comradery you feel from the class environment. Then, I take my two little dogs, Bamboo and Sugar, on a walk. They are a HUGE part of my life. They travel with me all the time. Actors live a bit of a “gypsy” lifestyle, so having two small dogs that can bring with me everywhere I go feels like bringing a part of home with me.

I also love to cook. I am always trying to think of creative meals to make for dinner. I buy fresh and cook fresh. Nothing frozen. Literally, my freezer is empty! And I don’t use the microwave. I heat everything up with a pan on the stove. It’s the best way to be sure my food keeps its nutritional value. And a typical day also includes a lot of reading: scripts, books, my kindle and my iPad.

If you weren’t an actress, what would be your desired profession?

I would be an athlete or somehow work in the fitness industry. I was a figure skater growing up, so fitness has always been in my blood (and an obsession!). If I weren’t acting, I’d love to be involved in physical therapy or training.

Any advice for aspiring actresses?

Believe in yourself more than anyone else. There will be so many people telling you why you shouldn’t do it. Tell yourself why you should do it.

What’s your favorite hair color for yourself: blonde, brunette or black?

I love being blonde. My goal is definitely to end up back at blonde. But I’ll tell you, my changing hair colors have been an interesting social experiment.  When my hair was black, people would tell me I was exotic, which is something I’ve NEVER heard before! It was nice to get that compliment. As a brunette, I think I was also more approachable; more people walked up to me and talked to me. But I’m really blonde on the inside.

Julie, we think you look amazing no matter what your hair color is! We know you’re busy, so thanks for taking the time to chat with us. We look forward to getting more useful tips from Julie on staying fit, eating right, and living an inspired life, so we can all Look, Live and Feel #BetterEveryDay.

Watch Julie in action in the video below. She shares how she saw a positive difference in her skin after using Murad Resurgence.

Dr. Murad and Dr. Mullur Team Up to Pay it Forward

Harnessing a Whole Body Approach to Help Our Nation’s Veterans

Supporting out troops is something that has always been important to Dr. Murad and the entire Murad organization.  Dr. Murad, himself a decorated veteran who served in Vietnam, has donated his time and knowledge to the VA hospital in Los Angeles for decades.

He is now teaming with Dr. Rashmi Mullur (a staff endocrinologist with the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA) to develop a program and study designed specifically to help treat veterans suffering from PTSD.

Like Dr. Murad, Dr. Mullur believes a whole-body approach to treatment – involving elements such as nutrition, yoga, art therapy, and simple lifestyle adjustments, can be more effective than simply spot-treating a condition. Dr. Murad and Dr. Mullur will launch their groundbreaking study early next year and are currently hard at work preparing for it.

We asked Dr. Mullur a few questions about her work and career and how she looks forward to working with Dr. Murad:

What’s your medical background?

I am an Assistant Professor in the department of Endocrinology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. I’m board certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Integrative Medicine. My primary clinical responsibilities are located at the VA-Greater Los Angeles Health Care System where I also supervise the training of medical students, residents, and fellows.  My current clinical practice remains heavily based in endocrinology and metabolism, but in the past two years, I incorporated a number of integrative and mind-body approaches to care of our Veterans. I’m also involved in shaping and creating a new division of Integrative Medicine at the VA.

Based on your past work, what’s an example of how you have applied holistic principles in your medical practice and research?

My research interests remain heavily focused on complementary and alternative medicine in addition to diabetes and metabolism. I successfully completed a study of a 10-minute yoga-based relaxation program in the management of diabetes. In the study, we were able to show that a gentle yoga intervention improved heart rate, blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar in diabetic veterans.

For the study you are about to launch with Dr. Murad, why were veterans with PTSD chosen as subjects for this program?

Our Veterans are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cultural stress. After serving our country, many return home suffering from PTSD, and it has been previously well established that veterans who suffer from PTSD have worsened health outcomes for a number of disease processes. In addition, these patients also face difficulties after active military service, and can have strained interpersonal relationships within their jobs and families.  I feel so honored to care for this group of patients, and it is a real pleasure to offer a holistic wellness program that can tackle some of these difficult problems.

What do you and Dr. Murad hope to achieve with this program?

In partnering with Dr. Murad, we are able to offer an integrative treatment approach to our Veterans. Since we know that chronic stress damages health over time and results in long-term illnesses such as chronic pain, obesity, cardiovascular disease and/or psychiatric disease, it is a real priority for us to address the causes of stress and minimize the damage from stress quickly.   Holistic interventions, like yoga, massage and art therapy, are not often utilized by this population because they are often viewed as a luxury rather than a part of health maintenance, but we hope to show how vital self-care is to health and wellbeing.  By providing a comprehensive approach to care that focuses on the whole individual, this program aims to provide a strategy to alleviate the burdens of post-traumatic stress.  We hope to show that this whole body approach to treatment can improve overall health and wellbeing and provide a viable tool to reduce stress and prevent chronic disease.

Thank you, Dr. Mullur for sharing your insight and expertise. On Veterans Day we celebrate the service of and honor all U.S. military veterans.

 

Photo credit: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Medical Media Dept.