ENTREVISTA
#1 - APRIL 2018
English edition
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EDITORIAL
EnJoy La Vida en Rosa Enjoy? Cancer? Can these words be put together? Are cancer patients interested in wellness or lifestyle topics? Shouldn’t their live revolve around their sickness? I will answer this with another question: who is the patient? A human being with a family, a life, dreams and ambitions like any other human, right? This person in my case is my sister, but it is also my friends. What do I talk to them about? About anything and everything, but barely ever do we mention the sickness as is, we talk about quality of life, their well being, their lifestyles, topics that truly matter in their day to day life. Because I do worry about the image we have of our own selves, cancer patients or not, because I am interested in our existing need to learn how to take care of ourselves, including loving our own self; because I see that we still have a long way to go until we stop treating people suffering from cancer as if they were the sickness themselves....we are releasing our new project, EnJoy La Vida en Rosa. With this, we want to bring answers to the questions we ask ourselves. We want to talk to people whose journeys can hopefully bring something new to the table. Why online? Because not everyone can have access to our magazine La Vida en Rosa. Because our readers are from every corner of the globe, like our topics, leaving all our medical articles to our magazine and website. EnJoy your readings! Valérie Dana, Director of EnJoy La Vida en Rosa
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Team Valérie Dana chose to move to Madrid almost 20 years ago. After working for a long time in advertising,
she took a step towards journalism and now runs the women’s magazine La Vida en Rosa. LVR is a wonderful magazine dedicated to women suffering from cancer. It elaborates on specific topics intended to accompany and help patients, and on lifestyle topics, which meets the patient’s specific needs while they are undergoing treatment. In addition, she is in charge of the association club rose, which organizes cultural events for women in Madrid. Her work is both a commitment and a passion. She is dedicated to it and does it with an open heart.
Rosa Sanz is a sex and couple therapist. She guides people with the intent of solving their problems,
helping them to enhance their sexuality and / or improve their relationships. Doing this from a positive and pleasant perspective on sexuality. In addition, she is a sexual trainer specialized in affection, with more than 20 years of experience in the field, where she addresses all types of groups, from children to elders, to teenagers and adults. She has been collaborating with La Vida en Rosa for a couple of years helping our readers getting to know each other better.
Sonia Marqués Camps has a degree in Journalism and a postgraduate degree in literary criticism. In recent years, she specialized in different projects in communications and health. She is our style editor in La Vida en Rosa and watches over our content in our paper edition magazine and in EnJoy La Vida en Rosa with a lot of love and professionalism.
Cléo Bennoun is fluent in Spanish and English, having grown up in Spain and studied in the United
States for seven years. Her work has been fundamental for EnJoy La Vida en Rosa, translating and adapting all of our articles into English. Cléo is currently doing a masters degree in International Business Communication at the Copenhagen Business School (CBS) while she works for the Danish bank Danske Bank in Group IT, renovating their internal communications system.
Isabel Molinero Ramírez is an Art Director. Her father once told her that time flies when your heart’s
content, and for her, this is the essence behind her work, which makes her time fly by when working on her art and designs inspired by the topic of emotion.She combines training and work experience in Interior Design, Art Photography, Communications and Public Relations, Marketing and Graphic Arts.She is currently specializing in Editorial Design and in seeking and capturing what makes people that want to showcase their dream through an emotional corporate identity, unique.Her professional goal is to not spend a single day without learning something new. That’s the key to her personal and professional evolution: constant learning. She brings to EnJoy La Vida en Rosa her freshness, vitality and passion for a job well done.
Pablo Gil is a photography director and advertising photographer, specialized in gastronomy and product
photography, with more than 18 years of experience in the Spanish audiovisual field. He trained at the EFTI International Center of Photography and Cinema in Madrid and at the NAD, Montreal Film School. He currently works in his audiovisual production company, Kamándula Producciones, both with advertising agencies and with post-producers in the field, doing advertising work for TV, VideoNET and Corporate Video. He has collaborated in many projects, as well as gastronomic editorial articles of famous dishes created by some of the most outstanding Michelin star chefs in Spain. He has been involved in La Vida en Rosa since its inception and knows how to get the best out of the people he ‘casts his eye over’. Edited in Madrid by Association Club Rose. ISSN 2605-0633 Enjoy la Vida en rosa (English ed.)
Total or partial reproduction of any article without previous authorization is prohibited. EnJoy La Vida en Rosa is a bi-yearly publication. It is an independent magazine. Copyright 2018 Association Club Rose. All rights reserved.
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Summ ENTREVISTA
EnJoy La Vida en Rosa. Editorial.
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As I began to love myself.
Every single woman is unique.
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Believe in yourself.
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mary ENTREVISTA
Seduction.
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Video: The fragility of life.
A complete and safe... sexuality.
How to forget about your eyebrows during cancer treatment.
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ENTREVISTA
Summ Primer, the product that changes everything.
Mom, I love you.
Surprise!
We are what we eat.
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mary What do bananas contribute to our diet?
A robot that cooks?
Moving to live well.
Create!
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As I began to love myself Charlie Chaplin
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As I began to love myself, I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is authenticity. As I began to love myself, I understood how much I can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call it respect. As I began to love myself, I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call it maturity. As I began to love myself, I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at exactly the right moment, so I could be calm. Today I call it self-confidence. As I began to love myself, I quit stealing my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and at my own rhythm. Today I call it simplicity. As I began to love myself, I freed myself of anything that is not good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that brought me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.Today I know it is love of oneself. As I began to love myself, I quit trying to always be right, and ever since, I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is modesty. As I began to love myself, I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where everything is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it fulfillment. As I began to love myself, I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection wisdom of the heart. We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing ,new worlds are born. Today I know that is life!
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Every single woman i unique ENTREVISTA
Interview with Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins, CEO of Clarins Group By Valérie Dana Collages - Isabel Molinero
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INTERVIEW
For Clarins, every single woman is beautiful and unique, and we could not agree more with their philosophy in today’s world, where it seems like aging is a punishment, and that enjoying life is something reserved for the younger generations.
What a better way to talk about wellness, the topic of this magazine, than by speaking with Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins, son of the Clarins brand founder, Jacques Courtin-Clarins. We had the pleasure of chatting with him during one of his visits to Madrid for the presentation of the brand’s latest innovating anti-aging product, Extra-Firming. In the prologue of his book, Doctor, I want to be the fairest of them all!, published in 2016 and designed for women that enjoy taking care of themselves and who want to feel good when looking at their reflection in the mirror, Dr. Courtin-Clarins talks about five essential factors when treating beauty: • health prevention through nutritional balance • the impact of stress (positive and negative) • good physical shape • energy and rest • wellness
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INTERVIEW
The Clarins brand has been dedicated to women for more than 60 years. It is one of the few that claims that women are unique. It draws attention in a society in which uniformity is celebrated. There is no such ideal woman, right? Why can’t we then stop prejudices against a curvy or bold woman? I, Olivier Courtin, have perhaps my ideal wife. It is, surely, different from the ideal woman of my brother or my children. So I can not say that ‘the’ ideal woman exists; but ‘my’ ideal woman is one that I can imagine. At Clarins, we do not have an ideal woman. We have women whom are all different, and we must listen to them to know what they really want. Every woman needs something different. The diktats, statistics, make us believe that the ideal woman exists. But fortunately, in real life, it’s not like that. In any case, women also have an image of the ideal man. As far as I’m concerned, the physical is not the main thing. Can a man really understand the needs of a woman? Our brand has been listening to women since the first day of its creation. Women speak much more than men, but we have to know how to listen to them. And then we have to interpret their words … What does wellness represent for you? Wellness is feeling good in our own head. It comes from the brain. Little is known about the strength of the brain; it will be discovered more and more and we will realize the power our brain has over our health. I think that people who are mentally healthy live better and longer than others. We must learn to use this tool. It is our job to learn to know ourselves. Meditation has a fundamental role in that; other cultures have understood it. It may seem boring, but I think it is simply because of ignorance, at least, in Europe. We are learning to move more, to eat better; we can also take care of our brain.
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Is what we eat important? I have written another book about food, Beauty in my plate. For me, there are several important things: food, physical exercise, self-introspection. It is not a book about dieting; I am simply talking about good foods for our health. You can eat everything (privileging the products from the earth), with moderation and above all, in a pleasurable manner. It is important not to guilt ourselves, but to enjoy. You have to have time to eat, without disturbing elements such as television or cell phones... We do not have many enjoyable moments in our day-to-day routine, but eating is one of them. You have to look at the food, eat it consciously. Are you an Epicurean? Yes. [We laugh] For me, pleasure is very important. We are lucky to have a conscience. You have to take advantage of it. Looking good, feeling good, is only affordable for wealthy people, at least it is marketed that way (exclusive treatments, faraway destinations to take care of ourselves ...)? Not at all. It has no relation. The important thing is to feel good. The head of the oncology service at a hospital in Madrid told me once that beauty products, and someone’s image, should not matter to a woman suffering from cancer. As a doctor, what do you think of this statement? (which I obviously do not share at all). I am totally against this affirmation. I think thinking like that is thinking like you did years ago; 50 years ago, people acted like that. In France, Clarins works with oncology services, we train beauticians so that they can give aesthetic care and makeup to women suffering from cancer. It is the doctors and chief of services themselves who have let them into hospitals, because the
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INTERVIEW
results are spectacular. Patients look better, feel better, and that has a positive effect on their health. At the Molitor Spa in Paris, we receive women and men whom suffer from cancer. They have access to aesthetic care, physical exercise, etc. Do we have to look good for ourselves or for others? You have to look good first and foremost for yourself. It gives us confidence, and then comes the seduction aspect of it towards others. A gray-haired man is attractive; to a woman, gray hair ages her. These kinds of phrases hurt us a lot. Why do men have this freedom that we do not have? The codes that have been invented by some are the reasons behind this. Although in this case, more and more women let their gray hair grow [in France, a social phenomenon has been created through the journalist Sophie Fontanel. She has just released a book on this topic and for months, she has posted photos on Instagram about the process of going from dark hair to a totally white mane. It represents a certain freedom outside of these diktats that our society wants to impose on us]. Men also worry about their image. A few years ago, a man that was not shaved was synonymous with careless, but now, a bearded man is more fashionable than ever; it conveys modernity and youth. Without a doubt, beauty brands (amongst other things) are to blame. At Clarins, we work with models that correspond to the products we sell. It’s not easy because the turnout is not always positive. Women want to identify with young people, they want to be thin and sporty. We continue with our approach but it is not always easy to please everyone while doing so.
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“For me, there are several important things: food, physical exercise, selfintrospection” The Clarins group works with set values: protecting the environment, helping people in difficult situations, the Arthritis Foundation or the election of the Dynamizing Woman, which rewards the social actions of a woman, which in Spain equates to Las Mamás de Aldeas Infantiles, while collaborating with La Vida en Rosa. Is social responsibility fundamental to you? We have always wanted to take action on the topics of environment and women. My father, from the beginning, has worked with women and has cared for them. In 1978, he created the project of the Dynamizing Woman, rebranded as Woman of Heart. It is essential that a company takes social responsibility. Our clients are mostly women; It seems logical to act towards helping women when talking about social responsibility. On the other hand, our products are based on plants that we find far away, sometimes on the other side of the world. We also help people who do not have water, for example, to create wells or to set up schools ... These actions give great strength to the Clarins company because our employees not only come to work but are also participants in this policy. A bond is created and people are happy to work with us. The investigation is paramount. However, don’t you think we forget about people’s emotional needs and that this affects their well-being? There is a psychological work that is not being done, or that is being badly done. This follow-up is fundamental for reintegration.
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Believe in yourself By Valérie Dana
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SELF-ESTEEM
It is the unfinished business of many people, no matter what their gender is. Our education and the established rules of a society that strives for gender equality, makes for many of us finding our own path in life equal to an impossible mission. Not all of us are ready for the bumpy roads ahead that life has in store for us. Do we need to go through an extreme situation in order to value ourselves as we deserve? Accidents and diseases are often the trigger that will wake us up and make us become aware of this issue. There is always hope in life. Inspiring oneself with someone else’s experience never hurts.
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“The disease is a gift, although it is very lonely. In our society, the sick brings us a lot of fear, because they are people whom, to some extent, are rethinking their lives, whom in the visible and the invisible are transforming themselves, whom in the end are asking themselves the right questions ... What if the sick people were, in fact, the people whom are the most ready to be cured ...? What if the disease was the verdict of a conflict? Could it be possible that, by labeling them as ‘sick’, we completely delegitimize that transformation, that submission, that revelation and set them into a new conflict ...? What if getting sick was not a ‘failure’? What if the disease was not a trauma but a liberation? Not only on an individual basis, but a collective liberation ... What if we stopped being afraid of the sick and listened to them, in depth, without fear of being infected with ‘that’? Would we learn from them? I do not know, I just ask ...”. Olga Hueso
“If we were born in these crazy and lucid years, is so we can do great things: how to be happy, how to forgive ourselves, recognize ourselves as goddesses and gods, here and now. To use words on our behalf and not against us.” - 28-
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Olga Hueso is a correspondent for peace. A custom made profession that suits her greatly, because she conveys a lot of sweetness. She has written Cartas desde mi luna, VPH, Live for Today, published by Cuadernos Rojos.
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SELF-ESTEEM
Value life Illness forces us to recapitulate, to stop and invent, to look around, and from our own experiences, we do not always like what we see. A disease, like any other ‘serious’ problem, stops our life, and in that detention, we urge ourselves to answer questions such as: Where do I come from, where am I going? How did I get here and how am I going to get out of this? Illness is a precious opportunity to take responsibility for our healing. An opportunity to live life to its fullest in the present time, to make the most out of every single moment while living on this planet. It opens our eyes to everyday miracles that we hardly ever realize: that we breathe, the sound of our voice, that our hearts beat, that we walk, and that when we are touched, we feel ... Illness is a new opportunity for us to commit here and now to ourselves ... Because, if it is not here, where? If not now, when? If it is not with myself, with whom then? Illness helps us reorganize our priorities. It gives us perspective and helps us fix and sustain a purpose, until the last consequences: healing. Illness as a ‘serious problem’ teaches us to relativize ‘not so serious’ problems. It revitalizes our faith in something even more mysterious than ourselves. It feeds our hope, helps us get rid of what we have to spare and be grateful for each new day … The disease is the wise teacher who teaches us again, as children, to embrace the hug, to kiss the kiss slowly, to laugh loudly and to dream big dreams. Let’s bless serious problems!
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Changes I used to believe that I had to be a moderator between the different parts of myself, now I have accepted myself in happy and complete totality, all of myself. The same happens with my family, and with the world ... I forgave, I let go, and suddenly, there was no need to defend myself, to attack, to label, or to control everything. I no longer had to be a savior for anyone, nor a righteous on a mission, nor a rebel without one. I resigned my position as CEO of the Universe. The truth is that it was exhausting! When I gave up and stopped fighting, suddenly, I had a lot of energy! And then, I took it and used it to witness how beautiful, in fact, my life was already. I felt very fortunate, very grateful, joyous ... When I stopped struggling and started enjoying, I knew I was innocent, free of guilt. Responsible and safe. And while all this was happening, I decided to write a book and tell it all ... Because I could not keep the discovery to myself.
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SELF-ESTEEM
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Consciousness
Today I am more aware of my strength but also of my vulnerability. Showing myself as I am is the most vulnerability I have ever experienced and at the same time it is what has made me the strongest I have ever been. I am thankful for that, although I’m still learning ... I believe that shining is our authenticity, it’s a path that lasts a lifetime, although the longest journey always starts with a first step. For me, that step was the book “Cartas desde mi luna, VPH, Vive por Hoy”. It was a series of blessed casualties that led me to publish this collection of 10 letters in which, like in a diary, I was telling my own transformation, live from the hospital room, from the bed in recovery. .. The day I wrote the last letter, it snowed. And I knew that I had healed, that I had a new blank canvas before me, like my garden still intact without any footprints ... Today, I am aware of the healing power of words, which weave invisible threads, which close scars, calm us, comfort us, and guide us in the darkness ... Words that allow us to express our own unique, tiny, intimate and at the same time universal truth ... I learned that I am not the only one who is afraid, who is lost, who has doubts. I learned that if I dare to say that I am learning how to be a human being, soon others will come towards me to hug me and they will also be encouraged to say ... “I ALSO have fears, I am also lost, I also have doubts, and like you, I am learning to be a human being...”. Today, I believe in myself and I trust that sharing my healing can bring inspiration and confidence to others.
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L I V E
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Seduction By Rosa Sanz
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FLOW
According to Fina Sanz (psychologist, sexologist and pedagogue), “seduction is what we do, consciously or unconsciously, as a search for recognition and appreciation from others.” It is a very accurate definition. In the end, seduction is a behavior that enables us to get something we want from others. Therefore, seduction is not limited to the realm of amorous conquest. It is also useful in our daily life: for a job interview, to sell, to teach, and of course, to keep our partner in love. The reality is simple, some people are very seductive and others are quite the opposite in that field ... What do those seductive people have that others don’t? Are they more attractive? That isn’t necessarily true; physical appearance can help but it is not the most important aspect. If we think a little, I’m sure we know of seductive people whom are not especially attractive or have an extraordinary physique. However, we tend to attribute too much importance to our physical appearance. On many occasions, if we have insecurities, we feel incapable of seducing or attracting someone ... Does the physique really matter? No, it does not. We all know of beautiful people with wonderful bodies, whom we may have fallen for at first, but whom we lost interest to due to their behavior, personality or beliefs. And, on the contrary, we can meet a person whom, a priori, does not attract us physically, but as the relationship deepens, that person’s personality and actions reverses that. Therefore, it is important to internalize that physical imperfections, which can worry us so much, should not limit our seductive abilities. It would be convenient to learn how to take advantage of our strengths and enhance our value, while disguising our weaknesses that make us feel uncomfortable, all in all accepting and valuing ourselves.
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Seduction is what we do, consciously or unconsciously, as a search for recognition and appreciation by others
Women with all sorts of confidence issues have continuously entered my office: some felt insecure about their stretch marks, others about their hair, about dark circles ... When my clients mentioned theses insecurities to their partners, their opinions on it were quite different. They either did not consider those insecurities the same way my clients did, or believed that those features are part of their personality, and something their partners actually like. Sometimes it is difficult to make people, like my clients, understand that others do not look at those details. Instead, they see the person as a whole and, often, what seems so important and limiting to some, goes unnoticed for the rest. Other people might genuinely like the feature that can bother someone else, and would never see it as a weakness or defect. We are often our worst judges. Why can’t we stop questioning our bodies and learn to love them? We have a wonderful biology that allows us to enjoy so many pleasures in life ... Let’s be grateful and fortunate for the ability to look, touch, taste, listen, smell, walk, catch, jump, run, love, think, talk, sing, dance ... Even when we don’t take care of our body, it still fights against all odds so that it can still function. Why censor it when we can love it and value each of the functions it allows us to perform?
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AUTOESTIMA
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It is important to internalize that physical imperfections, which sometimes worry us so much, should not really limit us when it comes to seducing
Perhaps we are so critical, due in part, to our society that tries to create homogeneous ideals of beauty, based on economic interests (fashion, cosmetics, commercial movies, television ...). It induces in us a need to constantly look for imperfections, even where there are none, in order to generate fake needs and sell us their products. However, why shouldn’t we feel proud of our differences, which make us unique? Why not seduce while feeling special and valuable? We all are, and if we can not believe that, we probably have some introspective work to do. Fortunately, as we were saying, we do not only attract others with
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FLOW
We do not attract only from the physical (biological part), we also do it from the psychosocial
our biological features, but also with our psychosocial ones. We know many seducers who do not have an exceptional physique and yet still know how to seduce us. What do these people have that others don’t? Precisely, that they love and accept themselves. One of the qualities that we find most attractive is confidence. Confidence is very attractive. To be confident, you need to know, value, accept and respect yourself. Having a positive self-esteem is imperative...! How can we try to seduce another person if we can’t seduce ourselves? This is reflected in our own non-verbal language, which then contradicts our verbal language.
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FLOW
Another characteristic we like in others is to be nice, which is usually accompanied by smiles, laughter and a good sense of humor. People who posses these virtues usually transmit good energy, creating relaxed and fun environments. Unfortunately, the essence of humor lies in the ability to laugh at oneself which means that we are comfortable with ourselves, despite our imperfections. In short, that we accept ourselves with them. And, of course, we can not forget the therapeutic effect of laughter and smiling, which increases our immune system. Who doesn’t like to be surrounded by this type of people who generate ‘good vibes’? Empathy, knowing how to put oneself in another’s place, is a wonderful quality that seducers usually have. We all like to be listened to, to have someone be concerned about our problems, to vibrate emotionally with someone, to feel special, to be taken into account … Another virtue of a seductive person is to be a good communicator, to be assertive. In other words, the seducer knows how to express his needs, he knows how to say no in a delicate way, without harming others. Assertive people do not admit that they are being disrespected and know how to defend their rights. Also, when they criticize, they do it in a positive way, avoiding being inconsiderate. On the other hand, they express feelings and affection clearly and participate pleasantly in conversations. These are some of the qualities that a seductive person has. In reality, they are social skills that allow us to relate better to others in all areas, not only in seduction. There are people who have acquired them easily, without being very aware of it. The good thing is that, as social skills, they can be learned and perfected.
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INTERVIEW WITH MIGUEL ÁNGEL TOBÍAS
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The fragilit of life By Valérie Dana Photos: Pablo Gil
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INTERVIEW
Having read Renacer en los Andes (from Luciérnaga publishing house), I have come to the ‘logical’ conclusion that Miguel Ángel Tobías is a kind-hearted reckless adventurer. His book, a priori, has nothing to do with the subject of cancer, but with the fragility of life, the importance of being surrounded by love and enjoying every moment that passes by. In his book, he wrote about his various near-death experiences. For this reason, I wanted to meet him in person. It was a very interesting meeting with a driven and caring man with clear ideas in mind.
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ENJ
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JOY
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A complete and safe... sexuality By Valérie Dana
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SEXUALITY
Sexuality, the taboo topic by excellence, still gives us a headache no matter what our age is. In order to reach a satisfying sexual life, the first step is to avoid surprises by using the appropriate protections. Are these methods safe for our health? Doctor Lucas Minig, head of gynecological services from the Valencia Oncology Institute Foundation (IVO), answers my questions.
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SEXUALITY
What type of contraceptives should a woman use at the start of her sexual life? How about throughout it? The choice should be based on numerous factors. There is not one right way for all to use contraceptives. For women that are casually dating, condoms are the recommended choice since it avoids pregnancies as well as being the only contraceptive that will protect her from STDs. It is important to note that this contraceptive must be used throughout the entire sexual experience and for all sexual encounters in order to be efficient. On the other hand, for women in stable relationships, the hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, the nuvaring, patches or the IUD are most commonly used.
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“The correlation between the pill and cancer is something that has been extensively studied throughout the last decades. On the one hand, it increases the risk for cervical and breast cancer, but in the other hand it decreases the risk of colon, ovarian and endometrial cancer”
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SEXUALITY
The IUD is recommended for women whom have already given birth. Obstetrics & Gynecology recently published an article that seemed to demonstrate that the IUD could lower the chances of getting uterine cancer. Is this a safe method to enjoy our sexuality? In effect, the IUD is commonly used in women whom have already given birth. This particular study observed the risk reduction of cervical cancer in women whom had used this contraceptive method. However, the mechanism by which these findings could be explained are not entirely clear. It has been thought that the IUD placement could generate a local microtrauma in the cervix capable of destroying premalignant lesions, and thus prevent the development of cancer. This study could open a very interesting line of research, aimed at finding other prevention strategies for cervical cancer. In any case, more research is needed in this regard.
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Is the prolonged use of the contraceptive pill dangerous? Does it increase the risk of breast cancer? The correlation between the pill and cancer is something that has been extensively studied throughout the last decades. On the one hand, it increases the risk for cervical and breast cancer, but in the other hand it decreases the risk of colon, ovarian and endometrial cancer. It is important to note that both breast and cervical cancer can be efficiently prevented by effectives methods such as early diagnosis including cervical citologies and mammographies. On top of that, a recent study observed that the full increase of breast cancer risk was found in only thirteen women out of every hundred thousand pill users.
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SEXUALITY
“I believe that a safe and responsible sexual relationship with occasional partners would have to be carried out with an adequate use of condoms”
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Can you eradicate the human papillomavirus, HPV? There are different vaccines that protect against certain types of viruses (low or high risk) but not all at the same time; that is to say, that although we are vaccinated, we can contract the virus. On the other hand, men do not usually know that they are affected by the viruses, and when it is the case, few communicate it to their partners. To make matters worse, using a condom, once the virus has been contracted, is useless. Can we really enjoy sexuality in the 21st century, knowing that not all couples are faithful and that, although we protect ourselves, we can not be 100% sure?
“Women must visit their gynecologist periodically to perform tests in order to get an early diagnosis of cervical cancer”
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SEXUALITY
It is estimated that almost 80% of sexually active women will be infected with the HPV virus at some point in their lives. 60% of men and 50% of children will be in contact with the virus. It is also known that 20% of newborns present signs of the virus on their skin, eyes and mouths. This shows that intercourse is not the only way to contract HPV, since we are exposed to it by a simple skin-to-skin contact. Women are at a higher risk because they have more exposed mucosa. The vast majority of women spontaneously get rid of it thanks to their immune system, which is the only way to eradicate the virus. This does take a while but in an indefinite amount of time. For a small minority, the virus persists and can cause premalignant and malignant lesions to the cervix. As of today, vaccines are available to protect women against the viruses that most frequently cause cervical cancer. In any case, HPV is a group of almost 200 different variants of viruses. Therefore, vaccinated women may also get cervical cancer in the future, but the possibilities are extremely low. Given that the most frequent channel for HPV to reach the cervix is through sexual intercourse, I insist that it is important to use condoms throughout the entirety of the sexual relationship and in all sexual relationships. Even so, it will not protect 100% of HPV infections, but it does fully protect women and men against other sexually transmittable diseases. In addition, women must visit their gynecologist periodically to perform tests in order to get an early diagnosis of cervical cancer. This way, they can rest assured that, if the diagnosis of a cervical cancer is made, it will probably be very small and with a very high curability rate.
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SEXUALITY
Should we protect ourselves when we practice oral sex? As mentioned above, HPV can reside in mucous membranes and this also includes anal, vaginal, penile and oral mucosa. We are seeing an increase in the pattern of diseases related to HPV infections in areas unrelated to the cervix and vagina, anal, penile and oral cavity cancer, although they are still infrequent. Therefore, whatever sexual relationship you choose to have, you should use always protection. What do you think about this tendency to not protect oneself “because I trust you” or to silence possible illnesses? I believe that a safe and responsible sexual relationship with occasional partners would have to be carried out with an adequate use of condoms. I insist that this will not only prevent the possibility of unwanted pregnancies, but also help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections such as HPV. In the case of stable couples, the dialogue of these issues and mutual trust are the fundamental pillars of a safe and enjoyable sexual activity.
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ENTREVISTA
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ENTREVISTA
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How to forget about your eyebrows during cancer treatment By Valérie Dana Photos by Pablo Gil
Hair loss is one of the side effects of certain types of chemotherapy. If wigs and turbans are used to dress the head, what can we use to dress up eyebrows, whose disappearance can be even more traumatic? We can use a pencil every day, you could answer. True, but keep in mind the inconvenience of having to draw them continuously, without mentioning the skill sets that that entails. I want to talk to you about a technique that lasts between six months and up to a year. Retouching won’t be necessary and it does not interfere with ongoing treatments. A dream come true thanks to Sabrina Eleonore, creator of un jour, un regard.
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LOOKING GOOD
Natural pigments as an alternative
We have found out through your own testimonies that eyebrow loss is even more traumatic than hair loss. To forget about their absence during a delicate time, there is a solution called eyebrow pigmentation. This approach, unlike microblading, is not a semipermanent tattoo. Its main advantage is that it is compatible with ongoing cancer treatments. We met with Sabrina Eleonore thanks to Natalia de la Vega, of Tacha Beauty. Natalia brings the best of wellness and beauty to Madrid. Sabrina is thirty-three and is incredibly compassionate. She loves people, which is apparent in her job; every single one of her strokes shows sweetness, but also firmness and affection. It does not surprise us that she collaborates with Natalia. Eyebrow pigmentation is very different from microblading. As the name indicates, the technique uses natural pigments instead of ink to draw the hairs. Our model tried first this method, but once she tried pigmentation, she preferred that technique. The difference, as she explained to us, is huge. She is not a cancer patient and she touches up her eyebrows once a month because they still grow. This is not the case for a cancer patient, whom will lose all of her hair and will have to wait for months before it grows back again.
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How does it work? On a person that does not have cancer, Sabrina draws the eyebrow, plucking and tracing the brow with a pencil until the perfect shape has been designed. If her client has cancer, she starts with the pigmentation process directly if she knows her client is going to undergo chemotherapy. If the client wants to use her technique from now on, in that case, she will redraw the line first. Sabrina told us that pigmentation is very different from microblading; it is a mix of techniques originating from Asia and South America that she has modified and made her own. It comes from the principle that, when we are sick, we want everything to stop and forget about what we have gone through. For this reason, resorting to this ephemeral technique allows the patient to progress in her journey, once the hair has grown back, without touch ups or explanations needed. Sabrina works according to the morphology of the client’s face, the hairline, the eyebrows, the cheeks, and the lips. Eyebrows can completely change the expression of a face.
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LOOKING GOOD
Avoid deep penetration into the epidermis Sabrina explained to us that for her, it is imperative to not penetrate the epidermis. If it’s superficial, it will rapidly disappear. If done this way, unlike with microblading, it will not dissolve in the epidermis and the pigment will not be able to expand.
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How long does dermopigmentation last for? Sabrina pointed out that depending on the person, the technique can last anywhere between six to twelve months. She mentioned that this technique must be utilize prior to the start of chemotherapy, and that the results should last throughout the treatment period. Hair needs between a year to a year and a half to grow after chemo, but it varies from person to person. The body uses that time to eradicate the substances from the treatment. Chemotherapy patients grow a kind of fluff once they lose hair. This fluff is dyed, and it eventually grows back with natural pigments through the months, until the hair finally becomes more voluminous. Although the hair is very thin, it will not be weakened by this process as the technique uses an oxidant that is at 0.3 (for hair, it is at least between 15 and 25). This way, the hair swells up and creates a pretty eyebrow line.
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LOOKING GOOD
Skin changes Treatments alter our bodies as well as our skin. Pores dilate, our bodies become sweatier, makeup lasts less than it used to. Skin tones can become more yellowish. The results of this can affect pigments even if they are mineral. They can change the skin tone when getting in contact with the skin. A darker tone than they eyebrow itself is always chosen, since, as hours go by, the color lightens up. It is advisable to take our time testing the right tones to see what works best on a case by case scenario. Thanks to her years working with cancer patients, the owner of Un jour, un regard has acquired a tremendous amount of knowledge and skills. For this reason, she prefers that her clients feel safe and informed at all times.
“Our job is to walk alongside and accompany that person”
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Accompany, beyond the technique itself Sabrina’s work goes beyond the technique itself. Thanks to the help of former cancer patients and cosmetic surgeons, the message communicated is that it is important to take care of yourself during the illness. When we love ourselves, we have a positive energy within ourselves easily transmittable to our environment. “Our job is to walk alongside and accompany that person”, she says.
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LOOKING GOOD
What you need to know...
A session lasts about forty minutes. It barely hurts. The eyebrow can be anesthetized with a cream one hour prior to the pigmentation process. The risk of getting an allergic reaction from it is minimal, except for people allergic to iron and nickel. The usage of single-used needles is essential, and they are made from iron. Sometimes, pigments can contain nickel, so it is recommended to test the technique on a different body part before the start of the process. Since the needle does not penetrate the epidermis, this technique is not usually problematic. The pigments used are always darker than the natural brow color, since they will lighten up after a few hours as their reach a natural color. In France, the process is free for cancer patients in associations. It usually costs between 500 and 2,000 euros.
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Primer, the product that changes everything By Valérie Dana
Having a well-rested appearance during and after a treatment is possible; you just need the right products and knowledge on how to use them. Once the skin is well hydrated, the key is to find a primer that will prepare the skin before applying makeup. But what is a primer? It’s a corrective base that must be applied before a foundation in order to modify the appearance of the skin.
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LOOKING GOOD
The skin and complexion change due to the treatments. It is a reality that can be improved by learning how to use the numerous products offered by the cosmetics market. Once we have found the hydration product that best suits us, we have to find a pre-base, which will give us luminosity but also make imperfections, redness, stains, etc. disappear. David Rodríguez, from Clarins, helps us choose the one that best suits our skin and explains how to apply it. What are the benefits of using a primer? Its formula corrects the complexion, which helps us achieve a perfect makeup. Does it suit all women and at any age? Of course, it can be used by every woman who wants to perfect her makeup. In addition, primers help maintain the hydration of the skin. If my skin has spots, redness and lack of luminosity, can I mix several primers? Of course, it is not usual but you can use different colors. How and when do we apply them? They are applied before we apply our makeup, in the areas that need to be corrected. The tones from 00 to 03 can be used even if we do not want to apply makeup afterwards.
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¿How to choos that best
Do you have apparent veins, dark circles or acne scars? Your color is peach. The result is a fresh and impeccable skin (tone 02).
If what we want is a brighter complexion, white tones will be our choice, because it will attract light (corresponds to tone 00).
If you are tired, use the rose; you will notice how it revitalizes your skin (tone 01). - 76-
If ral tra its (to
se the product suits us?
LOOKING GOOD
If you have redness, the green color will blur them, balancing the complexion (tone 04)
Is your skin yellow-toned and lacks luminosity? With a sallow skin, the color that suits you is lavender (tone 05).
we have spots, the col corrector will neualize them thanks to s orange pigments one 03). - 77-
More products
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2 3 1. The POREfesional Face Primer by Benefit This product is your weapon if you have wide pores since it is oil free. In addition to minimizing the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, it also helps fix the makeup. 2. Hyaluronic Eye Primer By Terry This product is an eyelid and eye contour primer. It is colored, which blurs and fills the imperfections in the eye area. 3. Dior Skin Forever & Ever Wear by Christian Dior It comes in universal tones, and it is applied between the moisturizer and the makeup base to perfect the finish of the skin. The primer instantly blends in with your skin texture, attenuating pores and imperfections. It helps the foundation to adhere to your skin so that your skin complexion is impeccable until the end of the night.
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LOOKING GOOD
4. INFAILLIBLE by L’Oréal Four primers that prepare and correct your skin. The green neutralizes redness, the pink softens your skin and reduces pores instantly. The gray illuminates your skin, and with the black primer, you can say goodbye to shininess. 5. Touche Éclat Blur Primer by YSL Three solutions to fix into place our foundation while enhancing the uniformity of the skin in a very natural way. The color orange neutralizes the dullness in medium to dark skin tones. Pink neutralizes the dullness in light skin tones and blue corrects the sallow appearance for all skin tones.
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ENTREVISTA
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Mom, I love you Mother’s day is around the corner, and I wonder what this festivity really means. A mother should feel cared for every day of the year. She’s in our life forever, no matter our history or our relationship with her. There is something very positive about growing older; it allows us to realize certain truths that we often fail to understand when we are younger. We look for answers for everything when sometimes they don’t exist; we simply have to accept, forgive, put ourselves in someone else’s position... I would love for no mother to suffer for not looking good or not feeling good. I wish for no mother to have to endure the gaze of others because she is different. I could wish for so many more things.... But life is the way it is, and the calendar gives us the opportunity to tell her once more a year ‘I love you’. So, let us not deprive ourselves from this wonderful gift that life has given us, our mother. V.D.
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ENTREVISTA
DR EAM - 82-
ENTREVISTA
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Surprise! Thinking about a gift for your mother? In addition to love every day, we can gift her flowers on this (and any other) special day, of course, but also one of these gifts that we love. You don’t need to be a mother to pamper yourself. It’s also okay to do it because you’re an amazing woman.
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Sun Visors by Sawirinas
Protection from the sun is a must since it transforms this moment into pleasure. These visors are handmade through the braiding of only natural palm leaves. In addition, they have an elastic back that allows you to comfortably adapt yours to any size.
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GIFT IDEAS
Acosta Jewel Clutch
A bag that looks like a jewel, the ideal complement that your mother will never get tired of. Very comfortable and compliments everything.
Gabrielle by Chanel
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Because we are all rebellious, passionate and free, or at least, we should be. And if we need a muse, Gabrielle could be ours...
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Kolokoline Bahia Necklace
A necklace that brings a je ne sais quoi to almost any clothing piece. This marvel transports us to the seashore, making us yearn for or want a vacation.
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Healthy Vegan, by Marie Laforêt (Beta editorial) You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy this book. It’s a mine filled with ideas to discover different types of dishes and to open ourselves to new ingredients.
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L’Eau d’Issey Pure, Nectar de Parfum de Issey Miyake
With just one drop, our day can change. Sometimes, Sometimes, well-being can be achieved with a detail that will change the course of our day. A single drop of perfume will immerse us into a luminous nature.
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TBS
A cot you w beach inspir propo pleasa
Pendant from the Heaven collection by Victoria de la Calva
A jewel that will take your mother to heaven. Moons and stars are made of white gold with sapphires and diamonds.
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Tous Touch by Tous Perfumes
Telling a tender story through a perfume is what Tous wants. This eau de toilette takes us to the desert, reminding us of the lines drawn by the wind in the desert sands. A mysterious fruity floral fragrance, daring and precious thanks to white flowers, vanilla and honey-sweetened almonds.
GIFT IDEAS
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S Gevertee
tton shirt that makes want to go to the h. This nauticalred French brand oses practical and ant clothes.
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Aire Loewe Fantasy of Loewe
The most sparkling and citrusy fragrance of the AIRE LOEWE collection, to increase your energy and good mood. Yes, a fragrance can make our day a little brighter...
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Half Cut by Dos Studios.
Asymmetrical vase made from noble wood for its base and 3D printed fibre at the top. A delicate object to make us falls in love.
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T-Shirt La Vida en Rosa
By acquiring our t-shirt, you can help us reach more patients.
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J’Adore in Joy by Dior
A perfume with scents of joy, like our magazine. A declaration of love for life, no matter what, because we deserve it.
Renacer en los Andes, by Miguel Ángel Tobías (editorial Luciérnaga)
Just read our interview to want to learn more about his adventures. A book that makes you think about life.
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ENTREVISTA
Nutr - 90-
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ition - 91-
We are what we eat By Valérie Dana
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NUTRITION
It is almost a miracle to not go crazy when we talk about nutrition. Every day, a new diet guaranteeing miraculous results is commercialized. Instead of expecting the impossible, we should start eating naturally and consciously, thinking more about our well-being and less about the perfect body, since perfection does not exist, but us humans do. Cèlia Puig, of the Association of Dieticians-Nutritionists of Catalonia, had the answers to my doubts.
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ENTREVISTA
NUTRICIÓN: SOMOS LO QUE COMEMOS
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NUTRITION
Many of our readers suffer from cancer, and they tell us that they ate well throughout their lives. What does it mean to eat well from a nutritionist’s point of view? Following healthy eating habits is a good tool to prevent diseases and promote a population’s’ health. It could be said that eating well from a nutritional point of view requires following a diet: • nutritionally correct, balanced and sufficient to avoid nutritional deficiencies and maintain an adequate weight. • that varies daily and throughout the week, and that includes foods from different groups: cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, eggs, etc. • appetizing and with good digestibility. Do we really know how to read labels? What products should we remove from our shopping cart? Food labels are the first source of information that reaches the consumer, providing useful information that allows the consumer to know the nutritional facts of these items, and their composition, which enables he or she to choose one product instead of another. In practice, the consumer should not settle for the written text on food packaging and should always read the ingredients list and its nutritional value. The most important thing is to be able to compare and contrasts labels of similar products in order to choose wisely the foods containing the least amount of calories, saturated fats, sugars and sodium. We must reduce the amount of processed foods we purchase, such as sausages, snacks, sugary and soft drinks, pastries, sweets, industrial sauces, etc. Instead, we should encourage the purchase of basic, fresh, seasonal and natural foods.
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For several years, we have been warned about the risk of being overweight and childhood obesity. Coincidentally, products filled with sugars are more present than ever in public places, such as metro vending machines. How can you explain this double policy? According to the WHO (World Health Organization), obesity is the epidemic of the 21st century. Spain presents very high figures of childhood obesity and preventing it has become a public health priority. There are many prevention strategies against childhood obesity aiming different areas: family and community, health services, education and business. In Spain, the NAOS Strategy has designed and worked on many actions and campaigns to promote health, in order to reduce the population’s consumption of fats and sugars. In recent years, agreements have been established with the food industry and food distribution companies to improve the nutritional quality of some products, as well as opting for the reduction of food and beverages vending machines. Although I agree that promoting healthy habits should be expanded and improved in all public places such as the metro and the media, to effectively act against children obesity and an overweight population, the whole family should be involved. How can we educate our children so that they understand the importance of eating well without falling into prohibition? The family circle influences children’s behavior. Children learn from what they see at home, parents are their role model, so the role of a parent is fundamental. It is recommended for parents to have a healthy lifestyle in order to encourage healthy behaviors in children. Currently, families have become more permissive with their choices of food for their children, in most cases to avoid confrontations, so a child is allowed to eat what he wants. When food is used as a behavioral punishment or reward, in addition to not achieving the intended purpose, it promotes the appearance of food phobias and alterations in eating behaviors.
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NUTRITION
Should we or shouldn’t we drink milk? It is said that only babies and elderly people digest it well. Most non-dairy milks sold as healthier alternatives contain tons of sugar. There is a lot of talk around vegan cheeses but in the end, they are purely made of oil. What should we believe? There are false beliefs around the negative effects of some foods, the best example being dairy, which is seen under a bad light at the moment. Unfortunately, many statements without scientific evidence are published, which generate confusion among the population. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese contain vitamins and minerals that we do not find in other foods. For many years, dairy products have been part of the human diet for their nutritional properties, which is why the consumption of milk and derivatives is recommended within the framework of healthy eating. There is no scientific evidence that suggest the ban of dairy in cancer patients. In case of diagnosis of milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance, it is justified to eliminate or reduce the consumption of dairy products as part of the treatment, and in such a situation, it is recommended to consume alternative vegetable drinks or derivatives.
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And what about meat? And eggs? Is it really healthy to eat eggs from hens raised in a dubious way? Does this have an impact on our health? Meat and eggs are foods of great nutritional interest that provide high quality proteins, vitamins and minerals. It is more advisable to consume eggs from free-range hens that have not been treated with chemicals and are fed organically, since the eggs will be tastier and more consistent. How to eat well without falling into madness? I don’t know if you’ve seen the documentary What the health. It seems like everything we eat is bad for our health, even organic products, because they are grown next to crops where all sorts of chemicals are used in order to cultivate them... We should consume food in a prudent way, and my advice is moderation. In this documentary you are referring to, they question the making process of many foods. Each one should be analyzed in relation to disease prevention and the available scientific evidence. If you have doubts or necessary needs involving food, a nutritional assessment can help you change your eating habits and get an optimal diet adapted to your own individual needs. A registered dietitian-nutritionist or a qualified professional must be consulted for this.
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NUTRITION
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NUTRITION
Are there any anti-cancer foods? There are many studies that relate specific foods or nutrients to the increase or decrease of cancerous risks. Chemical compounds have also been studied as carcinogens that can have anti-cancer properties. But most of these studies are done in laboratories or tested on animals and they have not shown strong evidence that diet is the cause or solution against cancer in humans. There are results of epidemiological studies that compare diets of people with and without cancer that indicate that the type of food consumed may lower or raise the risk of cancer. Many nutrients and other components of the diet have been studied individually to look for possible associations with cancer prevention. The most prominent are the well-known antioxidants, fruits, berries, nuts and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, tea, etc. In order to guarantee adequate nutrition, the individual must consume different kinds of natural foods and beverages, and increase their plant-based food intakes, varying in colors and culinary preparations. Nutrition plays an important role in the prevention of cancer and also during oncological treatment. Good nutritional support aims to improve an individual’s tolerance to treatment and to achieve a better quality of life overall.
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What do bananas contribute to our diet? By Valérie Dana
I always thought there was only one kind of banana, but in Spain, there are two different denominations. This fruit full of fiber, which 95% of Spaniards believe is a typical Spanish food, began to be cultivated in the fifteenth century in Southeast Asia. To really understand what the consumption of this food gives us, I have talked with Dr. Antonio López Farré, who has directed the realization of the book Banana of the Canary Islands and health. Why did you decide to write a book about the Canarian banana? We sensed that the Canarian banana has beneficial properties for our health. As we found scattered research on the subject, we tried to recover and compile them into a single study. In the book, we also analyzed what properties the Canarian banana has in terms of its nutrients, which could be beneficial to our health.
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ENTREVISTA
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“The Canarian banana has more potassium and less sodium than bananas grown elsewhere” What is the difference between a banana and a Canarian banana? From a genetic perspective and the origin of the plant, they are very similar. When taking the location characteristics where the fruit is grown into consideration, the nutrients are found to be different, due to the difference in soil and environment. The Canarian banana has more potassium and less sodium than bananas grown elsewhere. They have more soluble fiber, such as pectins, which are very interesting, since they are found to be satiating. These kinds of bananas also show differences regarding sugars: the banana has more simple sugars and is less starchy. There are important nutritional differences and perhaps - and this will have to be studied - their effects on health are different as well. Both the prologue of the book and the chapter dedicated to cancer mention the possible properties Canarian bananas have for human health ... Does the word “possible” mean that there are no scientific evidences about it? What is good for someone’s health is safe because there is concrete evidence. In the book, in each chapter, we have hypothesized about it and in the specific case of cancer, there are no scientific evidences about its benefits; there are hypotheses about its effects. Do you think we eat poorly? How is it understood that we are not benefitting from a diet that exclusively thrives on locally grown products? We do not feed ourselves poorly ... Spain is very wealthy in terms of locally grown foods, which is very important. It is true that we are losing our diet due to the way of life that we currently are leading: constant stress and excessive work overwhelms us and incapacitates us to devote time to eating correctly. Instead, we now eat quicker, thinking less about the foods we ingest. Obviously, that is deteriorating our rich Mediterranean diet. Elderly Spanish people have the obligation to pass on this diet to the younger generations. We have to ensure that this diet won’t get lost, even if they don’t understand the reason behind it. In the end, our actions now will impact our future selves.
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NUTRITION
Can you explain the difference between the different types of banana? What is the difference between a green banana and a very ripe one? Bananas contain starch (polysaccharide), which is an accumulation of glucose that vegetables contain. When it is immature, the main carbohydrate is starch. As it matures, this starch becomes simple sugars. The fruit with brown spots in this stage has more sweetness and therefore more simple carbohydrates, which makes it is easier to digest. The banana’s glycemic index also varies; it rises according to the fruits maturation, due to its transformation from starch to simple sugars. These sugars circulate through blood quicker, providing us energy.
“It is unrealistic that bananas will cause weight gain”
Are there no miraculous foods that prevent diseases? They don’t exist and they will never exist. It is also important to emphasize that food must be eaten whole to gain their nutritional values, unlike eating them through pills or powders, since they lose their nutrients. Could bananas reduce the risk of suffering from certain type of cancer? The answer to this question is still unknown, but our first thoughts deal with colon cancer, although we have to do more research on it. The banana is a source of dietary fiber that could potentially reduce the contact and friction between the intestinal matter and the mucosa. Many people do not eat bananas because they say it will help them gain weight. It is true that it is a very rich fruit ... It is unrealistic that bananas will cause weight gain. It is a satiating and satisfying fruit, therefore it takes away the desire to eat. It is an urban legend that exists but that is untrue.
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ENTREVISTA
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IN THE KITCHEN
A robot that cooks? By Valérie Dana
One of the pleasures in the kitchen is to touch food, mix it little by little and be present throughout the preparation of the dish. It can become a personal moment of almost magical evasion, but also of reunion. With lack of time and technological advances, a robot called Thermomix, which is about to turn 40 in Spain and has changed the lives of many of its enthusiasts, arrived in many homes. In addition to having the tools of a traditional food processor (chopping, kneading, etc.), it allows you to cook food, such as salt crusted fish. Until now, I found it difficult to associate the pleasure of cooking with the word robot. After the fourth edition of Mundo Thermomix, seeing six chefs of the stature of María Marte, Samantha Vallejo-Nágera, Paco Roncero, Mario Sandoval, Dani García and his mother, Isabel Reinaldo, and Óscar Velasco use it to its full potential, and shine, the truth is that it seems not only fascinating, but very practical. To try to understand this passion, what could be better than talking to Ignacio Fernández-Simal, general manager of Thermomix Spain, and María Marte, chef at the Club Allard restaurant, two members of the worldwide Thermomix family. Ignacio Fernández-Simal, smiling and affable, can be very pleased since Spain has more than 8,000 commercial agents. Thermomix is a special product. Their customers love it, to such an extent, that it’s hard for them to switch models even if theirs is very old. A true ‘thermomix community’ has been created with more than 200,000 users, becoming an incredible phenomenon.
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I like the feeling of the dough between my hands. How can you convince me to buy a Thermomix? Thermomix does not intend to replace anything at all. We want to make life easier for people. If you like to prepare a dough or any other dish but one day you do not have time, Thermomix is a solution. In addition, it guarantees the promised result [if the recipes are followed literally] and a clean kitchen. If you cook to relax and enjoy, you can continue doing so, of course, and use the Thermomix to prepare a dish when you cannot take the time to relax and enjoy cooking. Having a healthy and balanced diet is synonymous with wellbeing and can prevent many health problems. What types of dishes are made with this robot? From a health point of view, resorting to a Thermomix is better than buying already prepared dishes. For example, my daughter has become a fan of healthy eating without stabilizers or preservatives. She is making her bread and all of her meals with Thermomix. She uses it spontaneously because markets don’t offer her what she needs. All the dishes that we can imagine can be prepared with our robot, and it is an alternative for any type of person. We are trying to promote the value of health, and in this sense, it is a perfect ally to do so. In fact, one of the last books that we have released (in September 2017) is called Healthy Life. The ingredients, portions and types of recipes that we present allow us to cook in a healthy way and it is one of our priorities. Society moves towards this way of life, and nutrition plays an important role in our health. Thermomix is a device to which different accessories for steaming are added, to cook dishes such as a salt crusted sea bass. Is it compatible with a large family? Yes, in my house we are five and we cook everything with Thermomix. To go even further: I have a friend with eight children who uses it too. According to the recipes [there are more than 16,800], sometimes you have to do it in two batches, but it does work for a large family. You can cook everything: meat, seafood, etc. Meat, for example, is prepared according to individual taste, you could choose to sear it in a pan or bake it once it is steamed, if you wished to.
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IN THE KITCHEN
Is it affordable? The price is 1,190 euros. We have several options for the customer who buys it. You can pay this fee or enter our commercial network. The client who has time and an environment susceptible for finding new customers can, by selling six units, acquire his own Thermomix at no cost. From there, the client can decide if he wants to continue working with us.
Star Chef Maria Marte.
Who does not know María Marte? She is one of the few women with Michelin stars in the world. She arrived in Madrid with nothing and has become one of the most talented chefs in Spain. And she uses Thermomix...
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IN THE KITCHEN
Is cooking the right word when we talk about Thermomix? In the end, we do not cook, we throw in a robot the necessary ingredients for the elaboration of a recipe... Cooking is the correct word, even if it is to throw ingredients into a robot that makes life easier for us. Since we have to choose the raw ingredients, follow the measurements and take care of the recipes, step by step, it is still cooking. I think it gives us a pinch of professionalism when it comes to cooking, while also helping us to make it easier. Is it as if we were with all of your team in our kitchen? [Laughs] Exactly. It is the best way for the dish to be perfectly executed. Do you get equally delicious dishes with a robot? Of course. This robot is designed to make life easier for us and to cook to perfection very elaborate dishes. In fact, great chefs turn to Thermomix in their own kitchen. It saves us a lot of time. In addition, since you can balance time with heat, this allows us to do other types of activities in the meantime. Is it better than buying frozen? They cannot be compared. And I’m very sorry, but yes Are you going to bring it to the Dominican Republic with you to work on your new project*? Of course. Wherever I go, there will be one. Thermomix chases me. Whenever I participate in an event, people come to me saying “we are from Thermomix”.
*She leaves Spain to set up her project, a cooking school for disadvantaged women.
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BREATHE - 112-
ENTREVISTA
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ENTREVISTA
Moving to live well
Interview with Dr. Alejandro Lucía, research Physiology of Exercise at the European Univ By Valérie Dana
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ENTREVISTA
her of versity of Madrid.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) defines physical activity as any body movement produced by muscles that requires energy expenditure; this includes movements performed while working, playing, doing household chores, moving around or during leisure activities. The term ‘physical activity’ should not be confused with the term ‘exercise’, which is a more deliberate, structured and repetitive subcategory of physical activity that aims to improve or maintain a physical activity or various aspects of fitness. If the intensity level is moderate or higher, physical activity has health benefits. From the age of 18, we should invest at least 150 minutes a week in moving around (60 minutes if you are younger than this age). We should.... Because, right now, we are far from reaching these figures worldwide. Why is it so hard for us to move? Why don’t we understand that we put our health at risk by not doing so? Dr. Alejandro Lucia, researcher in Exercise Physiology at Universidad Europea de Madrid, answers our questions.
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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
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According to WHO, lack of physical exercise is one of the 10 mortality risk factors worldwide. We have the feeling that we hear about physical exercise at all times, but the figures show that mentioning it isn’t enough. What can be done to reduce a sedentary lifestyles? Basically, move. People don’t take exercising seriously. I’m a doctor, I studied medicine a long time ago, but no one ever taught me how important exercise is. And 25 years later, there is not a single one of the hundreds and hundreds of hours given to future doctors, explaining what exercising is and how important it is, and what kind of exercises patients should do. And this happens in Spain and outside of Spain. In medical schools, we are taught about diseases, but we are not taught how to promote health. Everyone knows that you should eat vegetables and fruits; that you should eat red meat in moderation and avoid processed products. But no one knows what kind of exercise to do, and neither do doctors. Beyond the physical benefits, exercising provides a feeling of remarkable well-being. Shouldn’t we start talking about the quality of life as an objective, rather than about perfect bodies, which is repeated mainly twice a year, after Christmas and before we put on bathing suits? We live in the world of aesthetics. Many times, the physical form is perceived as something aesthetic but it is much more, it is health. It is so easy to be sedentary in our society.... Escalators are everywhere; the elevator replaces the stairs and with cars, we go everywhere with barely any reason to walk. Activity is not part of our daily lives, and that is where the main problem lies. As far as doctors are concerned (and we have great doctors in Spain), we pay more attention to sportsmen and women over-exercising, even though nobody is able to define the maximum limit of the practice of a sport because there is still no conclusive research on the subject. On the contrary, what we do know is that by not exercising or leading a sedentary life, we put our health at risk.
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ENTREVISTA
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Having a fit society would significantly decrease doctor visits. Do you think that our government and political parties don’t value this issue? It is not valued in Spain or any other country. In the United States, Obama worried about the obesity epidemic in his country and that’s about it. The focus of attention in the media is always the same: nutrition. But no one talks about a physical activity boost. This is like giving an antibiotic to a patient without explaining when and how to take it.
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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
I am a member of a fantastic gym in Madrid, Viding, with trained monitors (this is important, because many centres are opening, where no one is aware of what the members are doing). It is a municipal centre, which means that it is very affordable and has special rates for families. However, many people think that only people with money can exercise.... Do we communicate exercising poorly? The problem is not economic, it is about setting priorities. Physical activity - when it is not physical exercise - is free. It’s about taking the stairs instead of the elevator, knowing that we have to walk at least 10,000 steps a day [there are many free apps that allow this count], not spending many hours sitting (you have to get up every hour to take a walk), walking to places instead of using a car, etc.. Unfortunately, in places where there is an elevator and a staircase, most people will choose the former. You choose comfort over health, that’s the problem. Physical exercise is a personal choice to lose weight, look better, etc. Does having an illness mean we have to rest? Never ever. I know that it is very easy for me to say that, and I have a lot of respect for all people who suffer from an illness. But rest is not an option. You have to sleep, you have to rest and the beds should be used only for that. We have to move, we should be promoting it from the hospitals. Feeling a little fatigue allows people to feel less tired in the long run, even if it seems paradoxical. It also reduces stress. The fear of exercising should be removed, but always with common sense.
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What could you say to a person who really feels powerless, which often leads to not being active whatsoever? I would say that the only way to gain strength is to exercise, although it sounds strange. Above all, strength exercises should be done, with weights and with the help of specialized trainers. Patients say they feel better and they are the ones who know the most about their disease. Should we follow the example of the United States, which devotes a good part of its children’s school time to sport? WHO warns that 80% of the world’s adolescents are not active... We must change this trend, of course, but there is no political attitude that goes in this direction. When will something be done? As always, on a large scale, when it is too late, when it really is a public health problem.... The messages should be more repetitive. We know everything about football clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona or Puigdemont because the media repeats it every day. When you really want something to be known, you make it known. But the issue of the importance of physical activity is not taken seriously enough... This is the reality.
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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
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Create! We propose to you an idea that will help you change your train of thought by crafting, while forgetting about everything else for a few hours by using your creativity, in order to breathe differently, to let your imagination flow. We have taken inspiration from Ana Carlile and the numerous proposals found in her book Naturaleza 365, published by Editorial Gustavo Gil in Spain.
Painted stones If you like to go on walks, you surely are used to stumbling upon many stones on the ground during your promenades. Next time, pick some of them up and get started. Hold a smooth river stone in the palm of one hand and a brush in the other. Now try to resist the temptation of painting it. The painted stones can be used as paperweights, to decorate plants or as children’s toys. With a simple frame, they can also become a precious work of art. Material: • Stones • Acrylic paint or ink • Finely-tipped brush • UV matt varnish for acrylic • Large brush for water-coloring
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CREATIVITY
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To begin, choose smooth and rounded stones. Not only will the outcome look prettier and be more pleasing to the touch, but painting on a smooth stone is easier than painting on a rugged and irregular one. Wash the stones in warm soapy water, rinse them and let them dry outdoors. Once they are dry, you can start painting on them. Use paint or acrylic ink (this fluid ink allows to paint delicate details and, once dry, has a smooth and matte finish). You will need a finely-tipped brush in order to achieve the best results. Inspire yourself with nature. You can paint anything, from a tree, to the patterns you discover on a leaf. If you have not worked with this paint before, start by making simple drawings and increase their complexity as you get used to using the brush and ink. Once you have applied the ink to the stone, let it dry overnight. The following morning, the stones will be ready for you to paint a layer of varnish over them, which will protect the drawing and enhance the stone’s color depth. Use a varnish that is compatible with the paint you chose to use, applying it with a thicker and softer water-coloring brush to obtain a uniform layer. The matt varnish works better, since it does not interfere with the natural beauty of the stone. When the varnish dries, your stones will be ready to be displayed one by one or as part of a collection. Play around with different combinations of stones; mix different shapes, colors and designs to create unique and eye-catching collections. You do not have to limit yourself to using only white paint. You can paint a stone black and, on top of it, add a white drawing in order to achieve a more striking appearance. You can also experiment with different colors, there are no rules: have fun.
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Did you find our content interesting? How about our new style? Do not forget about our next dates: In late May, the spring-summer edition of La Vida en Rosa is coming to hospitals in Spain. In mid-October, the autumn-winter edition of La Vida en Rosa will be available in hospitals in Spain. Our next issue of EnJoy La Vida en Rosa will be available in early December at revistalvr.com, available both Spanish and English.