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Best Gifts Shops in Charleston

November 7, 2012 by

Whether you’re just passing through Charleston, or you’re here to stay, at these gift stores, you can find the perfect token to remember what you love most about the Lowcountry.

From candles to kitchenware, to cufflinks and cutlery—these keepsakes make a wonderful treat for yourself or your loved ones. Take a look at our favorite gift shops in Charleston, and remember—it’s never too early to get started on your holiday shopping!

  • Charleston Collections Gifts: Peruse the endless gifts and home accessories with accents of the Lowcountry. Check out their Charleston Candle collection and the locally designed dinnerware featuring scenes from the Holy City. For collectors of beautiful jewelry, this shop has a gorgeous line of sterling silver charms, pendants, bracelets, and even cufflinks.
  • The Silver Puffin: In downtown Charleston, you’ll find this locally owned and operated gift shop filled with charming gifts and handmade items. Tour their selections of glassware, tableware, local gourmet food, gift baskets, hand-crafted jewelry, and toys for the kids.
  • Harbor Specialties: Take a stroll through Harbor Specialties on East Bay Street, and try not to swoon over Michael Healy’s brass blue crab door knocker—just one of the many distinctive, bay-inspired gifts you’ll find at this little shop. Be sure to explore their apparel, purses, jewelry, hats, cutlery, and more!
  • Palmetto Moon: We adore this gift shop for promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its merchandise throughout October, their storefront boasting pink rain boots, Columbia jackets, mugs, t-shirts, and watches. Regardless of the month, you can find a piece of Lowcountry life at Palmetto Moon. And for the sports enthusiasts, you’ll quickly discover this is your go-to store for collegiate fan apparel!

Which is your favorite gift shop in Charleston?

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , ,

Foods to Eat for Heavenly Hair

November 5, 2012 by

Heavenly HairDoes you hair need a little more oomph lately? You may find the “rinse, lather, repeat” system just isn’t enough when it comes to healthy, resilient hair—and the reason may seem obvious: your hair needs to be nurtured to look its best.

And the best way to indulge your locks is by fueling them from the inside out. Incorporate these hair-friendly foods into your daily diet, and watch your hair transform from dull and drab strands into glossy lively tresses in no time!

Fruits and dark green veggies. It’s true—healthy hair begins with a healthy body, so it’s no wonder these fortified foods would be at the top of our list. In terms of your hair, leafy green vegetables like spinach and broccoli are an excellent source of vitamins and they provide you with iron and calcium—necessary nutrients for a full and thick head of hair. Fruits high in vitamin C and A help your body to produce sebum, which is an oily substance in your hair follicles that acts as a natural conditioner.

Foods with omega-3 fatty acids. Want to add a little vibrancy to your mane? Snack on flaxseeds and walnuts to add some serious shine to your hair. Fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring are a great source of omega as well.

Foods that produce beta-carotene. Carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, asparagus, and pumpkin are all foods that convert beta-carotene to vitamin A during digestion. Vitamin A not only nourishes your hair and skin, but it also prevents dandruff. Remember, a healthy scalp is the very foundation of soft and supple hair.

  • Beans. Snack on legumes like kidney beans and lentils for Rapunzel-like locks. These foods contain growth-boosting proteins that will increase the thickness and length of your hair. Additionally, beans also have iron, zinc, and biotin, which prevent hair breakage.
  • Cysteine-infused foods. The amino acid cysteine gives your body a healthy detox, all while promoting hair growth by actually increasing the thickness of each individual strand. This magical nutrient can be found in poultry, eggs, red peppers, garlic, onions, Brussels spouts, oatmeal, and broccoli.
  • Nuts. If you’ve been toiling with way to decrease hair shedding, look no further. Nuts—such as Brazil nuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and almonds—are one of the best sources of selenium and have minerals that keep your scalp and hair healthy. Additionally, they all have zinc, which can help prevent hair shedding.
  • Whole grains. This healthy diet staple is good for both your hair and your overall health. Not to mention, whole grains are an ample source of zinc and iron. Whole wheat breads and fortified cereals also sources of B vitamins, which promote happy strands by boosting your red blood cell count. Red blood cells will carry oxygen to the living portion of hair strands and therefore increase your hair’s growth rate.
  • Silica-rich foods. For stronger, more durable hair, include foods rich in silica into your diet. Some healthy choices include bananas, oats, and raisins—and when you mix all these together, you have a nutritious, beauty-fortified breakfast!

Do you have more healthy hair tips you’d like to share? Tell us your best-kept beauty secrets in the comments section below!

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , ,

Breast Reconstruction After Lumpectomy and Radiation

November 2, 2012 by

The below questions are answered by Dr. Richard M. Kline, Jr. of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.

Can I have a breast reconstruction two years after the lumpectomy and radiation?

Absolutely! While reconstruction with implants after radiation (even if lumpectomy and not a whole mastectomy were performed) can often be problematic (if not impossible), the chance of getting a successful reconstruction using your own tissue is very high. In the simplest scenario, it is usually possible to use tissue from the abdomen or buttocks to simply “replace” the breast tissue lost from lumpectomy and radiation.

Alternatively, sometimes a better result can be obtained if the lumpectomy is converted to a mastectomy prior to reconstruction. Finally, if the survivor is in a high-risk group for developing another breast cancer, she may wish to consider whether bilateral mastectomy is advisable prior to reconstruction. Usually reconstructing a lumpectomy defect will require only one side of the abdomen, so if the other side is not needed for reconstruction, it will be removed for symmetry and discarded.

What tips do you share with your patients for them to achieve the very best results from breast reconstruction?

1. Have a positive attitude! Patients who are excited about their reconstruction frequently do very well and tolerate any “bumps in the road” much better.

2. Education. Try to become very familiar with your desired type of reconstruction, both through reading and discussing it with patients who have been through it already. Knowing what to expect allays fears and makes everything easier.

3. If time permits, maximize your body’s fitness through diet and exercise, to the extent that you are comfortable doing so.

—Richard M. Kline Jr., M.D.

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Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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